The Demon Commander in My House
"D-Desperatio...!"
Bayul was stunned yet again. He had assumed the demon was just some random demonkin who'd gotten lucky and stumbled into his life. After all, it wasn't unheard of for demons to wander into the human world with nothing better to do.
But what did he just say? Desperatio?
Had he heard that correctly? Was something wrong with his hearing?
This was no ordinary demon. This was a Demon God — the master of the Temple of Despair within the Academy, and the ninth-ranked demon in the Demon Realm's succession. If he remembered correctly, he was said to be the commander-in-chief who led the Demon King's armies.
A being like that worked as a servant in my house? Sweeping floors? For real?
It was so absurd that — thankfully or unfortunately, he couldn't tell which — he felt very little fear. The demon was plenty intimidating, but a strange conviction had taken root in him that this being wouldn't harm him.
"You have eyes that know me well. You even had a copy of my holy scripture. Did you ever read it?"
Oh, right — the affinity!
That's why Priest Wagner had given him a copy of the scripture, remarking that he sensed an extraordinary affinity with the God of Despair. Bayul remembered how stunned the priest had been that he — not even a believer — possessed a stronger affinity than a high-ranking clergyman. At the time he hadn't understood why. Now, somehow, he thought he did.
"...So that was your doing."
"My doing? What doing?"
"I was told I have an affinity with you. And I'm not even a believer."
"Ohh, that."
Death spoke as if it were obvious — as if to ask why Bayul didn't already know.
"Well, we spent so much time together, didn't we? My affection rating for you is pretty high too."
"...You have affection for me?"
"I told you, didn't I? It had been ages since I'd seen a spirit, so it was fascinating. Nice to see one again, too. Though eating has become the more important thing these days. Ah, now I'm hungry. There's never enough food around here. When are we going back to the realm?"
"...When you say 'in ages,' does that mean you saw spirits in the old days as well?"
"Obviously. How old do you think I am?"
Apparently feeling brushed off, Death scowled fiercely.
"And that affinity of ours — as long as it works in your favor, it won't ever hurt you. In particular, it can serve as a warning in itself to anyone who wields demonic power. I carry quite a bit of weight in the Demon Realm, you see."
This being had the gall to look displeased, when even a word of thanks would have been too little — by Bayul's usual temper, fists would already have flown, and then some.
But I have to hold it in.
Right now, dodging the firing was the more urgent matter.
"When you say demonic power, do you mean the power of those who have contracted with demons?"
"Good, you know your stuff. To be precise, those who borrow a demon's strength. Now do you see how incredible an affinity with me actually is? So, about what just happened — I'd like us to pretend it never occurred."
"Do you know more about spirits?"
Death was clearly annoyed that Bayul kept deflecting instead of answering, but he decided to indulge him for now.
"...What if I do?"
"Could you possibly tell me?"
"Anything at all about spirits?"
"Yes."
"Then will you cancel the firing?"
"...Do you truly want to be a servant that badly?"
"Yeah! Just let me stay on as your servant and I'll answer every question you ask, honestly."
"Anything at all?"
"Within the limits of what I know."
See? Pretty good deal, right?
Death stared at Bayul's lips with bated breath, willing them to part and give him the answer he wanted.
But contrary to his hopes, nothing changed.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
"Ugh, come on — why not?"
"Because I cannot live under the same roof as demons. Not just any demons, mind you — a Demon God, no less."
"You've been living just fine until now, so what kind of nonsense is that?"
Irritation flared, and Death's tone turned coarse.
"That's honestly unfair of you! Do you have any idea how hard I worked at cleaning? You think anyone can clean like that?"
"I'm sure not just anyone can. You'd have used demonic power, after all."
"......"
Which is exactly why I never found a single speck of dust. And why, even when he was slacking off and lazing about, the moment Rita started nagging, he would clean with ghostly speed — which was why Bayul could never quite bring himself to cut him loose, and things had dragged on until now.
"Let me say it once more. Please go back. If you're looking for recreation, I'll help you find somewhere else."
It wasn't that he was ungrateful for everything they had done. Finding his mother's portrait a while back was one thing, and they had helped him in plenty of other ways besides. It was all true.
Which was why Bayul felt a pang of guilt at having to say this.
But living under one roof with demons...?
It was genuinely unthinkable. If his father ever learned of any of this, he would worry, naturally — and he certainly wouldn't leave Death be.
His father versus Death.
Who would win in a fight?
Even knowing Death was a Demon God, Bayul — swayed by the eternal truth that blood runs thicker than water — predicted his father's victory. Somehow, he simply couldn't picture his father losing to anyone.
"What? Recreation? You think I came here for fun?"
"Is that not the case?"
It had been Death himself who said he'd taken the job because he was addicted to Rita's cooking.
"Of course not! Do you take eating lightly? Eating is a sacred act. How dare you attach a vulgar word like 'recreation' to it?"
"...I'm sorry, what?"
"Do you have any idea how precious every single meal is to me? You're just used to it because you get to eat Rita's cooking every day."
Death seemed genuinely furious. Bayul couldn't fathom why anyone would attach such meaning to the act of eating, but the sheer consistency of his conviction left him only astonished.
"Big brother! Brother Death! Are you in here?"
It was then that Bar's voice rang out from outside the room. He opened the door with the utmost caution and poked his face in.
"Hey, we're busted, so just come in."
"...I beg your pardon?"
While the dim-witted Bar failed to grasp the situation at once, Amon understood Death's words immediately and strode boldly into the room ahead of him.
The blind gardener and the one-armed cook.
I really was a fool, wasn't I.
It had been an absurd pairing from the start — a strange one to any degree — yet he had failed to notice and had even brought them all the way to the Northern Ice Mine. There was no one else to blame. After all, Bayul was the one who had hired them.
"However did you get caught?"
At Amon's question, Death gestured at Spinel with his chin.
"She recognized me."
"Oh my. How wonderful, to have grown capable of recognizing a Demon God."
Apparently the spirits were visible to Amon as well. No — sensible to him. His eyes remained closed as ever.
"But we have a problem."
"Please, go on."
"We're being let go."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"We got fired. You know what firing is? When your employer doesn't like an employee, he can cut them loose whenever he wants. That's a firing."
"Ah, I see."
Amon nodded along, as if he truly hadn't known. But unlike his composed reaction, Bar's face drained white as he screamed his opposition.
"No! That absolutely cannot happen! If that happens, I'm a dead man! Please, spare my remaining arm!"
"Y-your remaining arm?"
Bayul was bewildered by the cry.
"Don't tell me that arm...?"
"I said the food tasted bad one time and he flew at me. You know I can't stand disrespect."
Watching Death answer so casually, Bayul was swept up in a strange tangle of emotions. He had spent months with Death, yet now that he knew his true identity, he seemed like a completely different person.
Had he simply failed to see what had been there all along?
"You heard him, didn't you? My brother here is that ignorant — no, that terrifying. I-I still want to learn more cooking from Master Rita! If my last arm gets cut off too, it'll be a disaster!"
"Bar, I'm sorry, but——"
"How about we negotiate instead?"
Death cut in, interrupting Bayul mid-sentence.
"You'll tell me about spirits, you say? I'll pass. I'll find that out myself, with my own two hands."
"Not that offer."
"...Then what?"
"On top of that, I'm prepared to do something much bigger for you."
The corner of Death's mouth curled up wickedly. His opponent was a demon. Who knew what kind of lie he might spin? Bayul would have to keep his wits about him.
"You're searching for the Spirit Stones, aren't you?"
"......!"
"What's with the shock? Knowing that much isn't exactly an achievement."
"You mean you know where the Spirit Stones are?"
"No, I don't."
"Then why bring it up?"
"Because I'll help you find them. The more hands, the better, no?"
He had hit Bayul dead center. It was true — Bayul needed to find the Spirit Stones above all else. It was still only conjecture, but the stones were deeply tied to the weather, and they had played a part in Spinel's growth as well.
"...I'll have to decline. Thank you for the offer."
It would have been a lie to say the proposal didn't tempt him. But however urgent his need, he was not about to work alongside demons. Not once in his life had he ever heard of a good outcome from allying with them.
"You're really going to have a rough time, I'm telling you! When it comes to finding hidden things, nobody's better than Bar!"
"That's right, you can count on me! It's my specialty, after all!"
Bar nodded along with burning enthusiasm, but Bayul had no intention whatsoever of changing his mind.
"I apologize, but my spirits and I are enough. Please, all three of you, go back now."
"Gaaah! How many times do I have to say it?! I can't go back!"
"Ugh, this is suffocating!"
Death's expression turned abruptly ferocious. In an instant the air in the room grew cold, and a flicker of red glimmered in his pitch-black eyes.
"Commander."
Amon swiftly stepped in front of Death.
"What!"
"Allow me to persuade him."
So please calm your power, sir. Now is not the time for reckless action. Let us think this through, coolly.
So much for hearts speaking to hearts — but whatever the method, Amon's persuasion made Death back down.
"Young Master Bayul."
"Speak."
"Have you ever heard the term symbiosis?"
"Symbiosis...?"
"Yes."
Amon continued his explanation.
"From what I understand, young master, your knowledge of spirits is severely lacking at present. You must be at a loss, too, over how to go about finding the Spirit Stones. We can help you with both."
"And in return, we get to keep eating Rita's food?"
"Hahaha! If you insist on being so blunt about it, then yes."
All three of them were exactly the same. It simply boggled the mind that the search for the Spirit Stones and their appetites could be bartered against each other. When it came to their obsession with food, he had to admit they were truly something.
Bayul asked in a slightly weary voice.
"If I told you to leave, all the way to the end — would you actually go?"
"No."
Death answered without a moment's hesitation. Stepping out from behind Amon, he declared it like a verdict.
"So it's you who'll have to give up."
"And if I still refuse?"
"Hmm. I suppose we'll smash something nice and big to pieces, and then pick the conversation back up."
This was practically a threat. Whatever Bayul said, it was clear Death had no intention of leaving right now. He had been well and truly caught in the clutches of these bizarre demons.
Haah... I suppose I have no choice.
Faced with Death's blazing eyes, Bayul finally raised both hands in surrender.
"Then let's set some rules."
"Rules?"
"Yes. Now that I know who you really are, we can't go on living as we did before."
"Fair enough. All right — let's hear these rules of yours."
"This will take a while, so let's move over there first."
Bayul went to the sofa and settled onto one end. Death and his two brothers took the opposite side, while the spirits lined up in a row behind Bayul. Only their positions had changed — the standoff remained exactly as it was.