HKWM | Chapter 9

“Did you hear? The Holy Empire has dispatched knights.”

“Must be some demon worshippers stirring trouble somewhere, huh? This isn’t just a one-day affair.”

“No, man, even the Grandmasters and the Vice Commanders are involved.”

These past few days, I’ve spent most of my time exploring every nook and cranny of the domain or eavesdropping on conversations to gather information. It’s paid off quite well. Like finding out that this place we’re staying at is part of the Roman Empire’s Lloyd Viscounty…

“Seriously, I saw it with my own eyes!”

“Leila did that for real?”

That Jimmy and Leila from the bakery are having an affair… I guess that’s none of my business.

“If the Grandmasters themselves are involved, something serious must be up. Has something actually happened?”

“No idea, man. They’re stirring up places close to the Holy Empire first, and with the atmosphere this tense…”

…Surely it can’t be because of my demonic energy.

Just like there are demon worshippers, there are those who venerate the gods and angels. Demons gain power from human corruption, and angels from human faith. It’s fundamental to this world that demons reward those who offer sacrifices to them, and angels empower those who believe and follow them.

But I’m not sure what impact it would have on me that the Holy Knights, almost servants to the gods and angels, are causing such disturbances. Especially since I’m a demon harboring a human like Noah.

Even if I commit no evil, just wandering the Human World could be perceived as a significant threat by them.

“Anyway, that’s not what’s important right now…”

It was about time to hire a tutor for Noah. He had to learn how to live ordinarily, which would mean interacting with others, not demons like me, but basic education had to come first.

However, finding a tutor posed an unexpected challenge. It turned out it was not easy due to the damned caste system which kept commoners from being wealthy enough to afford tutors, and those with the knowledge and teaching ability were typically nobles who wouldn’t deign to teach a commoner.

So, given my unclear identity, there seemed no way to hire a tutor under the current circumstances.

“How am I supposed to get a noble title now…”

Back in the Demon Realm, I was a grand noble, and here I am, a mere peasant in the Human World?! The irony of such a novel-like development was frustrating. Once again, I was reminded that there are too many things in this world that can’t be solved by magic alone.

“Noah, it’s no use. Looks like I need to make a trip back to the Demon Realm.”

I needed to fetch more money for living expenses and also get some advice from the others, though they were not exactly reliable.

“How long will it take?”

“Not sure. It could take a few days. I need to bring back some snack money for you too.”

“I’ll eat less from now on.”

I burst out laughing, and Noah’s lips turned downwards.

“Well, you’re not much help. I’ll come back as soon as I can. Make sure you eat properly, and don’t just snack for meals.”

“…If you’re worried, come back quickly.”

The child, who seemed either like an emotionless doll or a detached supreme being, had surprisingly proposed a deal tempting enough even for a demon. I was pleased with his growth and chuckled again, nodding my head.

Then I hastened to step through the spatial gate to keep my promise with the child.

The first place I headed to was Lust’s castle. Frankly, Lust and Gluttony were the only ones worth asking since they were the only options available.

Lust was out in the wasteland in front of the castle, playing cards with Gluttony. As soon as they saw me, they casually waved a greeting.

“I went to the castle earlier, but you weren’t there. Where were you?”

“In the Human World.”

“You’re always holed up in the castle until I call you out for a card game. Found something interesting this time?”

I later learned that Lust was a master of sharp retorts. Though annoying to hear, there was no malice, and it was all true, making it hard to argue since it hit right at the heart. Maybe knowing how to strike right at the heart makes one a better tempter…

“Why are you fussing over me when you guys hardly leave your castles?”

“That’s true.”

Even their agreement was awfully quick. Anyway, after becoming an Archdemon, I often met with Lust and Gluttony to play cards or drink tea, but since we all hardly ever left our castles, it was like a gathering of loners.

“Anyway, I’ve been busy with childcare.”

“Can you speak plainly?”

“Just as I said. I somehow ended up picking up a human child and am raising it.”

“…Why?”

“Just because.”

Lust and Gluttony stared at me then finally nodded. Demons occasionally engage in bizarre activities and are whimsical creatures, so raising a human didn’t seem particularly odd to them.

“But the kid’s a commoner, so it’s hard to find a tutor. Any ideas?”

Lust’s response was straightforward.

“Why not ask one of your minions? Surely you’ve got one who knows a lot about the Human World.”

“I don’t have any.”

“You mean to say you have no minions who know about the Human World?”

“No, I mean I don’t have any minions.”

For a moment, Lust’s face, which had just formed eyes, a nose, and a mouth, seemed to express intense disdain. Did he create facial features just to make that face? Damn this demon!

A minion, in nice terms, is like a secretary; in harsh terms, a subordinate. Most Archdemons have at least one or two minions for convenience, and among them, Sloth has the most because having more minions allows one to be lazier, according to them.

Even the previous Wrath, who loved picking fights, had a couple of minions, so Lust’s reaction was understandable.

Creating a minion is straightforward: just a mutual agreement to a binding contract is enough. The power gap between an Archdemon and a demon is vast, so resistance is rare, and in cases where there is resistance, it is usually quelled by force, making the notion of mutual agreement almost a joke.

“Anyway… is there a demon who knows a lot about the Human World?”

“Hmm, how about seeking Phoras?”

“Who’s that?”

“A demon who loves exploring knowledge and research. He probably knows a lot about the Human World too.”

Gluttony, with his unusually thin and long body, scratched his slender waist as he explained. Meeting another demon still felt awkward… And did I even need to go to such lengths?

‘But if I have a demon who knows about the Human World as a minion, it might make not only finding a tutor but also handling future matters easier.’

While I was pondering, Lust tilted his head towards Gluttony and asked.

“The one who got beaten up by Wrath? That might be difficult, right?”

“Hold on, what are you talking about?”

“Not you, the previous Wrath.”

It turned out that there was a precedent for acting all-knowing and getting beaten up by Wrath. Not a pun, but that was actually what happened.

And although ‘beaten up’ was the term used, it seemed to have been a life-and-death situation. My face instantly crumpled.

“Is it really okay to go find him?”

“Well, he did spare him, didn’t he?”

“That’s not the problem…”

As I fumbled for words, Gluttony helpfully gave me Phoras’s coordinates and added,

“If you really don’t like it, you could always ask the Information Guild. They handle just about everything in the Human World.”

“Thanks, we’ll play cards next time.”

“It’s weird hearing you say thanks. Anyway, you’re not just ducking out because you lost big last time, are you?”

“…Do I look like Greed to you?”

I avoided Gluttony’s skeptical gaze and quickly stepped through the spatial gate. Sharp guy…

When I arrived at the coordinates Gluttony had given, I saw a building that seemed to be Phoras’s residence. It wasn’t a grand castle like those of other Archdemons, but it was sizable enough to be called a manor.

Demons generally have their own domains, and this place was probably Phoras’s territory. However, I briefly wondered if it was alright to just show up unannounced.

“Well, he must have given the coordinates for a reason.”

Other Archdemons had suddenly appeared in my domain before. Thinking it no big deal, I knocked on the door. After a long wait with no response, I knocked harder, but it was the same.

“Maybe he’s out?”

If there was no response this time, I would use magic to detect his location. As I knocked with considerable force, there was a loud sound, and the door shook violently.

At that moment, a cacophony erupted from inside. It sounded like things falling and breaking.

Wondering if something had happened to Phoras, I tried the doorknob, but it wouldn’t budge.

Thud—crash!

I forced the door open. Amid the noise, I ignored the sounds that seemed like explosions and entered. Despite the ruckus, the house was eerily quiet, and there was no sign of disarray.

I used magic to scan the manor and felt a strong demonic energy from the top floor. It had to be Phoras, so I stepped through space immediately. As I walked between endless bookshelves filled with books, it seemed like a library, fitting for a demon who loved knowledge.

Striding through, I spotted someone who looked like Phoras frantically stuffing books into a bundle.

“Are you Phoras?”

“Wha-ah!”

Startled, Phoras collapsed on the spot. His hair, shining like the sun-drenched blue sea, shimmered, and eyes of the same color turned towards me.

With his slightly upturned fox-like features, he looked utterly terrified, not at all haughty. His large eyes seemed ready to spill tears, and he trembled as if not from any incident but from trying to escape me. I swallowed the sigh rising in my throat.

‘How badly did the previous Wrath beat this kid…’

So this was why it was supposed to be difficult… I spread my hands in front of me to calm Phoras down.

“I won’t do anything, so calm down.”

“Yes, yes?”

“I promise not to touch even a hair on your head.”

“Really… are you sure?”

“If I was going to hit you, I would have done it by now.”

“Yipe!”

Ah, shoot. My bad. Now it was up to me to soothe the frightened Phoras after my slip-up.