Chapter 2 - All the Better

Early that morning, Gordon of the dark elf race woke up humming.

“It’s our first meeting. I can’t leave a bad impression.”

He shaved and tidied his hair, then finished getting ready with a neat suit. In the mirror stood a handsome, black-haired dark elf.

“Mm. Good.”

Today was the graduation ceremony for the Demon King Military Academy’s ninety-ninth class. Having completed their training, the prospective Demon Kings would become full-fledged Demon Kings and be assigned to their respective dimensions. He was an adjutant who would serve one of them.

‘Gordon Dairik, top graduate of the Demon Training Academy.’

While the Demon King Military Academy trained Demon Kings, the Demon Training Academy raised demons to serve them. Its highest-performing students, in particular, became adjutants to Demon Kings. As the top graduate, Gordon was slated to become the adjutant of Berge, the Demon King Military Academy’s top graduate.

No, the assignment had already been made, and he had received information on Berge in advance.

‘Of the great demonic dragon race.’

‘A genius who has never once lost first place.’

‘Unparalleled talent.’

‘The most outstanding individual in the history of the Demon King Military Academy.’

The documents, filled with nothing but praise, made him all the more pleased. It was only natural for an adjutant serving a Demon King to wish to serve the finest Demon King possible. In that sense, Berge Deias, the top graduate, was the best lord he could ask for, and Gordon was a dark elf blessed with the greatest of fortunes.

‘With him, we could conquer any dimension.’

Having graduated at the top of his class, Berge would surely have plenty of benefits waiting for him besides Gordon himself. With those benefits added to the two of them working together, there was nothing they couldn’t accomplish.

“We will now begin the graduation ceremony for the Demon King Military Academy’s ninety-ninth class.”

Gordon arrived at the auditorium in high spirits. Before he knew it, the hour had come, and the hall was filled with demons of every kind. He headed toward the back of the stage with some familiar faces.

“So, what do you think? About the Demon King you’ll be serving?”

“Not bad. Cold and brimming with charisma—the very model of a great Demon King.”

Those whose futures as adjutants to Demon Kings had been decided chatted quietly about their lords. It was idle talk: who would serve whom, what someone else’s Demon King seemed like, and so on. Naturally, Gordon drew the most interest and envy.

“I saw Lord Berge earlier. You could tell he was the top graduate. He looked different from the others.”

“I agree. There was something about him none of us could approach. It felt as though anything would be possible with him.”

“They said he was a demonic dragon. He really is different.”

His peers’ praise made Gordon’s shoulders rise with pride. No adjutant disliked hearing their lord praised. He was grateful to Berge Deias for completing military academy at the same time he had graduated.

As they chatted, the graduation ceremony drew toward its end. At last, the chairman began presenting the badges, and Berge Deias stepped onto the dais.

“He looks magnificent.”

A height of 190 centimeters. A powerful build and a natural air of intimidation. Truly, the dignity of the top graduate.

‘The man I’ll serve from now on. The man who will write a legend.’

Gordon’s heart swelled with anticipation. He imagined a future in which they conquered countless dimensions together and left their names in history.

“We will now begin the oath for the graduates who are to become our new Demon Kings.”

“Berge Deias, our top graduate, will lead the recitation.”

That was how he felt until it was time to swear to uphold The Demon King’s Guide.

“Berge Deias?”

“Please begin reciting the great Demon King’s Guide at once.”

Even when Berge hesitated for some reason instead of reading the Guide, Gordon thought nothing of it. He had been told that Berge followed the Guide more faithfully than anyone, so he assumed the occasion had simply moved him.

Never had he imagined that Berge would utter such outrageous words.

“I cannot.”

“I cannot swear that idiotic oath. Following The Demon King’s Guide is no different from carrying a hatchling’s corpse into a dragon’s lair. It’s stupid, fucking moronic. That Guide is garbage!”

Not even in his wildest dreams.

“...”

Gordon’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.

* * *

“Is that the screwup?”

“How dare he insult the Guide? The bastard deserves to die.”

“Who’s that beside him? There’s an idiot willing to associate with that screwup?”

“I heard he’s the screwup’s adjutant. The assignment was already finalized, so he can’t back out.”

“Poor fellow. How did he end up with someone like that...?”

“Tsk. Such a waste of a talented top graduate, rotting under a screwup.”

Gordon closed his eyes against the murmurs around him. Tears came at the misery of his plight. Meanwhile, Berge, seated across from him, extended his hand with perfect composure, utterly unperturbed.

“Good to meet you. I’m Berge Deias.”

“...”

Gordon stared silently at the hand. He didn’t want to take it. In the end, however, he had no choice.

‘Lunatic. Son of a bitch. Even tearing you apart right now wouldn’t be enough.’

After Berge Deias’s bombshell declaration, Gordon had felt the full weight of his changed circumstances. The vicious rumors he could still hear were only the beginning.

[“What? The Guide established by the first Demon Emperor and followed countless times is garbage?”]

[“Like carrying a hatchling’s corpse into a dragon’s lair?”]

[“They say he’s always been top of his class. Has he gone completely mad?”]

[“Someone like that is the top graduate? What the hell are they teaching at the Demon King Military Academy?”]

The demons were furious. The Demon King’s Guide was the legacy of the first Demon Emperor, who had unified the chaotic Demon Realm and directed its power outward. To demons, the Guide was a faith. It was inviolable, something no one must ever tamper with.

And Berge had done just that.

[“The military academy must reveal whether the grades were manipulated!”]

[“Trash that disparages the Guide has no right to be a Demon King!”]

[“Strip him of his qualifications as a Demon King and send him to the Golan coal mines!”]

Protests erupted. Given the demons’ violent nature, violence and terrorism accompanied them as a matter of course. For now, the target was the school, but there was no knowing when that anger would turn toward Berge—and Gordon, who had to serve him.

“... Why on earth did you do that?”

Thus, Gordon could hardly keep the edge out of his voice.

“Do what?”

“The Guide! The Guide!”

He huffed with anger.

“If you’d simply sworn the oath, everything would have gone perfectly! Your achievements and reputation had set you up to enjoy the very best of everything!”

He could not understand it. To throw away the glory promised to him with his own words—how foolish could he be? Why would the top graduate do such a thing?

No, why would he disparage the great Guide at all? How could anyone in their right mind utter such outrageous words? Was he even a demon?

A trace of disgust showed alongside his anger. But instead of answering, Berge changed the subject.

“I hear you went to the training academy?”

“...”

Immediately after the graduation ceremony, Gordon had gone to see the training academy’s chairman. He had begged him to cancel the assignment. He didn’t want to become Berge Deias’s adjutant.

[“I heard the news. They said someone had earned the highest grades in the history of the Demon King Military Academy, so I had high hopes. I never imagined he would be such a screwup. It makes me wonder whether their professors have all gone mad.”]

[“Unfortunately, I cannot cancel it. Once a bond has been established, it must endure to the end. That rule has been handed down since the first Demon Emperor.”]

[“Just because that screwup disregarded the Guide doesn’t mean we can become just like him, does it?”]

The image of the chairman clicking his tongue and patting Gordon’s shoulder still lingered before his eyes.

‘Why did I have to graduate at the top? I could have made one little mistake and come in second!’

But however early regret came, it was already too late.

“... The benefits.”

“Hmm?”

“Will you still receive the benefits?”

The things Berge would receive for graduating at the top. If those remained, they might offer a little consolation.

“Unfortunately, they’ve all been canceled. Because I insulted the Guide.”

Damn it!

Yes, of course they had. A reactionary who dared insult the Guide couldn’t be left unpunished. For such a serious criminal, even dismemberment would not be enough. They had probably stopped at withdrawing his benefits only because they still had some hopes for him.

He was still the top graduate, so they might as well put him to work. In the Demon Realm, punishment meant working criminals hard and making them sacrifice themselves for the realm, rather than simply killing them.

‘But why did I have to...?’

Surely he, too, was one of the benefits bestowed upon Berge.

Oblivious to his feelings, Berge extended his hand.

“Anyway, this is how things have turned out. I look forward to working with you.”

“...”

Gordon could not bring himself to take that hand.

* * *

The office of Alkain Blamif, a grand duke of the Demon Realm.

I hurried there at his summons.

“Have some.”

As I settled onto the plush sofa, Alkain personally poured me blood-red wine. The faint, metallic scent of blood curled around my tongue.

“I’m not particularly fond of you either. Whether you were born this way or grew arrogant from graduating at the top, I have no desire to let someone who dares insult the Guide live.”

He delivered those chilling words calmly.

“Is that so?”

I sipped my wine without concern. I could do so because I knew his temperament well: if he truly intended to kill me, he wouldn’t have arranged a private meeting like this.

“However, you may be a rebellious screwup, but you are also the military academy’s top graduate. The demons are questioning the evaluation, but I know the chairman well. He would never take bribes or let personal interests distort his assessments.”

That was also why he had served as the academy’s chairman for hundreds of years.

“Your talent must be genuine. However much of a screwup you are, I think it would be a shame to waste talent like that. The other grand dukes may feel differently.”

“...”

“Repent of your folly and apologize, even now.”

CLACK

Alkain set down his glass.

“Kneel before the statue of the first Demon Emperor and swear to uphold the Guide. Apologize again and again, and beg everyone for forgiveness.”

If I did, he would use his authority to minimize the harm that would befall me however he could.

His whisper was enticing.

“But if you remain stubborn to the end, I intend to send you to Arain, the dimension under my jurisdiction.”

Arain. The most difficult of the five dimensions where the Demon Realm’s conquest operations were currently underway. The number-one assignment every Demon King avoided. The place where the most Demon Kings in history had lost their lives.

“You understand what it means to go to Arain with only a single adjutant, don’t you?”

I did. Even Demon Kings who took large retinues failed there one after another. Going with only an adjutant would be as good as suicide.

“Well? You still have a chance.”

He gave a chilling smile. I could feel his certainty that I would naturally beg for forgiveness. That amused me, so I smiled back.

An ordinary Demon King would probably have bowed his head at this point. But I wasn’t ordinary.

“I’ll go.”

“Yes... What?”

“My position hasn’t changed. I respect the first Demon Emperor, but the Guide is garbage. Whatever it may have been in the past, at least now it is foolishness that lets the means take precedence over the end.”

“You insolent...!”

RUMBLE

“... You really will have to die before you come to your senses. Has graduating at the top made you so reckless that you can no longer tell right from wrong?”

The air trembled beneath his thick killing intent. But I didn’t so much as blink.

“Perhaps it has.”

I had already died, so dying wouldn’t actually bring me to my senses. No, it would be more accurate to say that dying once had finally brought me to my senses.

“So I’ll go to Arain rather than apologize.”

The number-one place to avoid? The place that had devoured the most Demon Kings?

All the better.

Because that was where I would find the vermin who had mocked me and toyed with me. Because it had been my assignment in my previous life.

‘Just wait, you hero bastards.’

This time, I would tear out their throats with my own claws.