Chapter Text
Iruma Suzuki, fourteen years old, was not having a good day. You see, dear reader, Iruma was a total pushover. His parents were anything but the responsible and caring type, so young Iruma learned early on to just deal with everything thrown his way. Say "yes", just nod, and be a very good boy. That was how his life had been until the fateful day these two idiots went too far.
"Iruma! Can we sell you to a demon? We really need the money, please?"
"Yeah, son, we really need your help here. Be a good boy and let us sell you, alright?"
Well, what was he supposed to answer to that?
His mother and father had drawn a very intricate circle pattern on the floor that would be a pain to clean up later. He just knew he had to clean it up as soon as the next best thing caught their attention. After so long, Iruma had two best friends and they were called bucket-chan and sponge-kun. One a lovely soft pink and the other an energetic spring green. He really liked how soft the sponge was, but we are getting off track here.
Iruma just stared at his parents as the dread started to loom over him. Sweat ran down his back. Of course he would say yes eventually, but that didn't mean he had to like what was going on around him. He didn't want to be sold to a demon! It would be alright to say no just this once, right? Right!? But that meant he would let them down… oh well. He just had to get along with his parents' crazy ideas again and survive through it long enough to make it back home. Somehow. Then life could go back to what it was for him. He couldn't just miss work like that! He promised to be there when they went to catch those big tuna fish.
Soon after he had accepted his fate there was a dark, flaming poof and smoke rose from the center of the circle. Long clawed hands wrapped themselves around Iruma's face and played with the sharp-looking ahoge on his head. The demon, it was pretty obvious that the being behind him was a real one, was looking at Iruma like he was a piece of meat on display. Tall as their summoned visitor was, the poor boy would probably be little more than a snack to the dark one.
Then the evil aura just vanished like it had not even been there in the first place. Iruma was flung over the demon's shoulder like a bag of rice and they were off with a snap and a grin.
"ƧӨ ЩΉΛƬ ƧΉӨЦ'D I ᄃΛᄂᄂ YΛ?"
"Uh, excuse me… uh, sir?" Iruma wheezed out.
The demon was silent for a moment before a huge smile split his face in two. With a laugh he booped Iruma's nose.
"Sooo, how's it now? Can you understand me?
Iruma, understandably, screamed.
"I'll take that as a yes! So, what's your name?"
"I- I'm Iruma!" the boy answered.
"Iruma. I uru-maah ha! Haha. Nice to meet you, Iru-boy. Say your parents aren't the brightest candles in the torture-chamber, eh?"
"Whaa!?"
"Ah, sorry, sorry. I totally forgot to introduce myself. I am Derkila, and from this day on I'll be your new guardian because your old ones suck."
Iruma let out another meep. His face was as pale as a sheet of paper by now.
"You see, kids are a treasure where I'm from. The way they were treating you was just…" Derkila stuck his tongue out, "I'll give you something better. I mean, I've never had a kid nor did I really want one but you are adorable. How hard can it be to raise you? And the best thing is: with the contract your parents signed you are all mine! Mine, mine, mine! So what do you say, Iru-boy, let's go and have some fun!"
"Hold on! Wait- you- I- but- whaaaa!?"
But the demon, Derkila, just continued to ramble on about all the fun things the two of them could do together now; "... we could burn a river, or throw imps at people, or egg the thirteen idiots' seats, or just nap in my favorite spot. I've got to show you that spot! Or we could make music! Poro-chan and I used to do that when he visited me… or maybe…"
Iruma, blessed be his heart and innocence, couldn't follow anymore and went limp in the tall demon's arms. He didn't wake up for the rest of the flight to wherever fate would lead him from now.
"Wherever" would turn out to be a huge bed with sparkling purple bed sheets, duvets and black bat-shaped pillows. A royal red canopy above it kept the light out as best as it could. For Iruma, who was used to sleeping on the floor, this was a terrifying thing to experience. It was both heavenly, amazing and comfortable, but also an alien feeling so strange it sent shivers down his spine.
The door flung open as his new guardian waltzed into the room.
"Iruma! You're awake. The long flight must have taken a lot outta you. What do you humans call it? Jet-lag? Anyway I let ya sleep in and made us some lunch. C'mon, let's dig in."
Iruma was grabbed and pulled out of bed and into the arms of his very tall demonic guardian. He was anything but scary now that Iruma had seen what the scary-looking man was really like. Weird? Sure, but he did not seem like he wanted to hurt him. In fact, Iruma felt fairly safe in the demon's arms. He just wished Derkila wasn't so damn tall.
Breakfast followed soon after they made it downstairs. The house he was in was surprisingly human-like. For what must surely be hell it was friendly enough. Iruma thought some bits of decor looked downright goofy, like someone had left childish Halloween decorations out. It made him relax a tiny bit and smile a little.
Then he saw the food and his mouth was watering. He didn't know if he could eat any of it, and most of the dishes were very strange indeed, but he was so hungry he just needed to eat while he could do so. He wasn't a picky eater. He could not allow himself to be picky.
"Woooow! So much food…" he gasped, a happy twinkly aura surrounded him.
"Eh hehe, why thanks, Iru-boy. I don't cook that often but I hope you like netherworld food. Eat as much as you like. I've got enough money to feed an army or two. Dig in, kid."
Really, Iruma did not need to be told twice. He shoveled food into himself like his life depended on it and this was his last meal. The heart-shaped meat with these little nubby legs tasted a bit like pork while the bubbly pink soup reminded him of carrots. Then there were some dishes he just had no equivalent to compare them to. One dish was very sweet and the other soft and salty. He decided he loved all of them equally.
"My my you're a glutton."
"Ah! I'm sorry! I can spit it out again- uh, I think?"
"Nah." Derkila laughed and ruffled Iruma's hair, "here in the netherworld it's a good trait to have. Good job, kid. One day you'll make it far here. You're going to be one hell of a demon."
Derkila looked curious for a moment or two. Then he leaned back to look at the ceiling while Iruma finished his meal. There were hardly any leftovers, which made Derkila grin.
"I've decided to send you to school. Babyls is the most prestigious elite demon school around here, and I'm a good friend of the headmaster. I want you to go and make some good memories there, maybe you'll be able to befriend someone too while you're at it?"
"But I'm human! I can't go to a demon school. I'll be eaten or something!"
Derkila hummed deep in thought. Then he removed one of the many golden rings he wore and placed it on Iruma's right middle finger. With a bright blue glow the human boy was gone, and in his place stood a tiny blue demon with big, round eyes.
"Well… you're still human, I'm afraid I can't change that, kiddo, but at least you look like you can fit in now. Nobody's gonna suspect anything. Just keep the ring on and everything will be fine."
Derkila added more softly, "I promise, you won't be eaten. I'll make sure of it, okay?"
…
Eventually, Iruma felt something stir in his heart. For once he wasn't asked or begged to do something. There was no "please" in the demon's little speech. He just told Iruma what he wanted to do and left the rest up to the terrified human boy. Really, all that he wanted was to go home and forget that this had ever happened, but Derkila was the first who didn't pressure him into something. He was one of the few who did not use Iruma's kindness against himself. He wanted to have fun, simple as that, and he wanted to have fun with Iruma by his side.
He has lived a life of hardship and pain. He never had a chance to be just a boy, or go to school and make friends like that. Iruma has always just been there for his parents who were so grateful that they would sell him for money. No, this was his chance to have something he never had before. He just had to make sure he could trust this demon first. That would be alright, right? It didn't hurt to think about this before he did something. He hoped.
"Before I say yes, can I ask you something?"
Derkila nodded. His eyes were hidden by his hair but Iruma had no problem imagining how he was looking at him with curiosity.
"If- if I go and pretend to be a demon, are you going too? What I mean to say is… you are the only one I know here and you seem friendly enough. I'm sorry if this is sudden or too much! Just, I guess…"
"You don't want to be alone anymore." Derkila finished for Iruma.
He didn't get a verbal response, but the nod was enough to melt the demon king's heart. Damned be these adorable puppy dog eyes. He swore Iruma had some sort of charm power that nobody knew about.
"I'm scared."
And didn't that just break the demon's heart.
Derkila didn't want to return. He hated being trapped in a job he never asked for. He hated how nobody wanted to think if he was around, as if everything was on his shoulders alone. Why have thirteen idiots when not one of them could do something without badgering him first? No, they needed to learn to function without him around. He hoped Iruma would understand.
"There may be a way for me to do so. I can't speak about why, but I don't want to be found. Really, trust me on this you'll find out soon enough from someone who's way better at explaining. I can go with you, but you must swear to me to never reveal my true name without my permission. Iruma, please. This means a lot to me."
Ah there it was. The magic word.
"Please" really got him every single time.
"Okay. What should I call you then?"
Another flash of magic had shrunk the demon king to be just a little taller than a regular human, with his hair tied up in a man-bun to look as short as possible, his hairstyle did look somewhat like Iruma's own. This had the side effect that he could see the bright and mischievous eyes of the demon, hidden behind dopey round glasses. The lenses made these eyes look larger than they actually were. Almost – just almost – this demon managed to look goofy.
"Call me Alikred, and I'll be your dad from now on. That way we won't get into trouble with the demon border patrol and you get someone to actually be a parent to you. It's a bonus that it keeps Sully off my ass. Heh, I'll be looking forward to seeing you have a lot of fun at school." Derkila said with a big smile.
"What?! That's just your name backwards! That's never going to work!"
And Derkila just laughed until his enchanted glasses slipped off his nose. Oh, he knew Iruma was fun. He just hadn't expected the boy to be that hilarious. His presence would cause a wave of change to sweep through his netherworld. He would fully support and encourage his boy.
This would be fun!
Then it hit Iruma. ~I'll be your dad from now on~
What?!
"Now hold on we don't even look alike, how's that going to work? Besides, you can't just claim to be my father! It doesn't work like that!" the very human boy yelled at the much bigger demon.
"Oh? Call it a life-hack, my boy. After all…" Derkila chirped before his aura turned as dark as the abbadonian abyss, "I own you now."
Strangely enough, Iruma was not impressed by that little display anymore. Apparently by now all the fear had just left him. Derkila was about as scary as a poodle. He was so nice to Iruma as well, so maybe living with the demon wouldn't be that bad. Besides, it wasn't like he could just say no. Mr pushover went along with everything, as usual.
Meanwhile Derkila was rushing around in that house of his. It may have looked barely lived in, but it was not cold. It reminded Iruma of a holiday apartment, just with strange decor.
"Hmm. Why yes but… we do look at least a little alike, no? Hey hold on, I've got something!"
The next thing Iruma knew was that he was dressed in an oversized blue uniform with a red bow. The red brooch that held it in its place seemed to stare at him. All in all, the outfit was without a doubt terrible.
"You look adorable in my old school uniform! It's perfect!"
"Why would you keep that?!" Iruma yelled right back only to be ignored. The happy flowers around Derkila's head were too much for his shout to pass.
"It's too big…" Iruma mumbled.
Indeed. The sleeves of the uniform went way past his hands and made him look like he was a cloth octopus. With a snap of clawed fingers that problem was fixed. Magic was such a convenient thing to have, no?
"There. All settled. Now let's get going or we'll be late for the entrance ceremony. I'll deal with Sully. You just go have fun with the other kids. And, Iruma? Remember, I've got you. Nothing will harm you as long as I'm around. Alright?"
It was said so confidently and softly, Iruma just had to believe it. For now. He believed all the way to the school. He believed as they walked towards the gigantic fortress with wings that was Babyls and then he still held on just a little longer as they sat down in the auditorium. Iruma believed Derkila, who still had his hand on his shoulder and grinned such an easy grin from behind his glasses that it made the boy's heart fill with warmth. Yes. Iruma thought he would get through this.
The school song freaked him out. His new guardian just laughed and told him to hum it instead. If anyone asked he could claim some wild story about how his singing voice was deadly or something. Naturally, Iruma declined. He was a terrible liar. The humming part however was something he liked. It made it easier and he was indeed grateful for the idea.
He got separated from Derkila soon after the first years got sorted into groups. As he was walking around campus he didn't notice the tall pink demon exiting the building at the same time as he was trying to enter it. The crash was a glorious one that had both of them fall on their backs. As soon as the dust had settled Iruma felt his heart drop and face pale.
He had just crashed into the super scary demon that had held the opening speech, Asmodeus Alice.
"I'm so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going. I'm sorry Asmodeus!" Iruma wailed in panic.
"Tsk. Stand tall and face me with dignity."
"Yes, sir!" he's going to eat me!
"You dare to touch me? Such vile transgression must be punished swiftly. A duel shall clear this between us. I, Asmodeus Alice, order you to fight for the right to bump into me!"
Alice was a fairly… passionate Individual, apparently.
Iruma yelled as the first fireball went past his head. Then the second, and fourth. He kept this dance up for 20 minutes straight.
Now, dear reader, Iruma was very unfortunate. You see, his trash bag parents used to expose him to the wildest and most dangerous situations. Even as just a helpless baby, he was neck deep in danger. Thus he learned to avoid it with incredible perception. The overwhelming crisis aversion ability was born. Iruma's offense may be nonexistent, but his defense is near perfect.
"Why you! Why can't I hit you!?" Alice roared in frustration.
Naturally, Iruma had to apologize again. Twice.
The other students started to murmur among themselves. Some were in awe of how seemingly easy it had been for Iruma to dodge, while others laughed how he must see Asmodeus as below him. It wasn't like that but they didn't know what was going on inside Iruma's head. The poor boy wished someone would help him out of there. Where was his new guardian when he was needed?
"So? Is that it?"
"Huh?"
"Am I really so below you that you won't even grace me with an attack from yourself? Do you believe me to be such a bug under your heel? Hmm?"
"N- no! That's not it I just-"
But Alice was faster and much more stubborn, "then get ready for here I come! If magic won't work I'll just have to beat you with martial arts!"
And thus we find an enraged Alice with a flaming sword storming towards an absolutely afraid Iruma. It was really too bad that the demon of fiery passion didn't know about the overwhelming crisis aversion ability and how Iruma can use it to not just avoid danger, but to also deflect it. With a swift move that was half instinct and half muscle memory, Asmodeus Alice had been shoved just right to pass him.
Well, and now he was heading for a bunch of innocent bystanders. How wonderful.
"Watch out!"
Immediately Iruma jumped after Alice. He grabbed the demon around the midriff and pulled as hard as he could. They started to tumble and stumble, and eventually fell backwards. Now if Iruma had read some sort of forbidden spell that would prevent him from falling over then he might have ended this fight clean and nicely, but in this world he had not. Instead he had Derkila's ring and of course it would respond to its wearer's distress.
Within a heartbeat, Asmodeus Alice was defeated with a single hit. He was knocked out with a single accidental headbutt from the human in disguise.
"Ah! I'm so sorry!" was barely heard through the cheering of the crowd.
A while later Iruma sat in the principal's office under the watchful gaze of Sullivan the chairdemon. As the boy squirmed in his seat Derkila in his disguise walked in to check up on his "son". He really hoped the magical glasses were enough to fool Sullivan. He absolutely did not want to be dragged back to work himself.
"Ah you must be young Iruma's father. My, the resemblance is uncanny."
Iruma almost fell off his chair and Derkila was sweating bullets big enough to flood half of the room. Metaphorically speaking.
"Bad bad Iruma-kun! No fighting other students on the first day!" Sullivan scolded playfully.
He held up a finger to get everybody's attention, making both Iruma and Derkila go cross eyed for a moment.
"I will not expel young Iruma, but I can not overlook this incident. As his father I expect you to make sure this won't happen again, uh…"
"Alikred. Ali for short. Nice to meet you Mr principal sir!"
Sullivan hesitated a moment. He looked thoughtful.
"Have we… met before?" he asked eventually.
"Nope! Well, maybe? I'm just a single father with a lovely son. Iruma won't get into fights again, right Iru-boy?"
"Yes sir!"
Before Sullivan could reply the door flew open and Alice entered with a most serious expression on his face. The pink demon's fists were clenched and his red eyes looked like volcanic rubies. For how soft and lovely his color scheme was, Asmodeus looked terrifying.
Then he bowed. Before Iruma. On the floor and really deep.
"You defeated me. I bow down before your power, and as per netherworld law, hereby submit to you. I shall be your servant from now on, master Iruma." He gravely said, but then he perked right back up and smiled brightly, "I shall burn everyone in your path to greatness sir! With me by your side the whole school will be at your command!"
"Wha-"
A strong and healthy laugh echoed through the room as Derkila patted Iruma on the back.
"Good job, kiddo! Now get over there I need a picture! You too Sully - yes just like that, devi~. Now say: hellfire!"
Nobody would ever be able to decipher what was yelled in that moment, but the picture taken was a true treasure for the finger-snapping scrapbook.
However, after the two students and strange single father left, Sullivan felt the blood in his veins freeze for a moment.
Sully…? But… nobody has called him that since…
His mustache twitched. He had to get Iruma alone to ask some questions. If he was who he thought he was then he would finally get the one thing he desired most. Opera would deal with the reconnaissance and details. For now, Sullivan needed to plot.
Who was Iruma? And what was this Alikred hiding?