Chapter 1 - Acedia (1/2)

Part 1: Ah, this is a Pain

Ah, this is a pain.

I apologize for the sudden question, but do you know about the concept of otherworldly reincarnation?

I had never heard of it until I reincarnated, and I don’t think its usage was that common in my former world, but its meaning is just as it sounds: being reincarnated into another world. In most cases, the person affected usually retains the knowledge of their past life, and gets some sort of special power or something.

I don’t really get it, but you start a new game with new strength.

And it’s not like I was strong in my former life or anything. Ah. Ha. Ha.

For example, on a planet called earth, in a country called Japan, in a place called Tokyo, I was born. Well, I doubt you’re really interested, so I’ll skip that part. Anyways, this world has a few people like that distributed here and there, and quite a few of them hold some important offices.

Like Hero, or adventurer, or saint, or inventor, or noble, or stuff like that. Apparently those people often follow that pattern.

I wonder how they manage to do such pain-in-the-ass jobs. They’re just like normal rocks on the side of the road, and I really don’t care, but I can’t help but be impressed by their motivation.

If you ask me why I’m saying these things…

…

… What? Why am I wasting energy moving my mouth to say these pointless things?

“… The Great Demon King has given you a direct order. Please go and write a proper report!”

Loud.

Unable to escape the annoying voice by my ear, I stuck my elbow into the bed, and turned over.

The one nagging into my ear was a woman whose clothing was all made with black as the base color.

Her disposition was as cold as a doll’s. There’s no doubt that she’s quite a beauty.

How useless.

I stick my elbow into my pillow to prop myself up, and looked at the woman who was knitting her eyebrows at me—the Great Demon King, King of Destruction, 『Kanon』’s something something knight brigade’s member, I think.

“And… what was that again?”

“A report! I’m the one who should be angry here, right!? Even though we were dispatched at the same time to all the demon lords, why is it that I’m the only one who can’t go back yet…”

“Ah, you sure have it rough…”

“Please quit screwing around! Write. Your. Damn. Report!”

I don’t get what’s she’s trying to say.

Why do I have to do something like that?

Ah, my arm’s tired. I once again fell into my pillow. I’ve wasted some energy on a useless thing.

She violently shakes my shoulders. Her shrieking voice is just way too annoying.

I raise only me head, and look at the woman who’s supposed to be from the Great Demon Lord.

For Christ’s sake, if you have the time to be doing this, go do your job. Your job.

“Oy, you. Go write the report.”

“Wha… what!? W-why do I have… in the first place, what should I write…”

“I’ll leave it to you. I’m busy.”

I grabbed the cover, but the woman grabbed my arm as I wriggled into it.

Dammit this is a pain. After I’ve said this much, she still plans on annoying me?

I’m tired. I’m sleepy. I really don’t care.

And wait, what sort of report is she on about?

“In the first place, weren’t you the one to say it, Demon Lord!? That writing was a pain so you would talk and I would write it all!?”

“… Talking has gotten tiring, so just write whatever you want.”

I tossed over the square box that had fallen off of the mattress.

It’s my official seal. It seems that I have to stamp it on reports. It’s a pain to get up to find it, so, I always keep it under the covers.

Regardless of whether she writes what I speak, or reports whatever she wants, I can see that the contents will be fiction, so there’s no point.

The woman frantically moves her arm to catch it, before staring at me with a blank expression.

“… Then, later.”

“What!? Wai…. Again, this is… get up!”

This time, I just ignore her screaming voice, and pull the covers over my head.

In a few seconds, my conscious drifts away, and the annoying voice is merely a sound in the distance. My mind escaped my body.

Um, I think there was something I was supposed to say. What was it again?

Ah… my name.

My name is… Leigie Slaughterdolls. I forgot whatever name I had in Japan long ago.

Once upon a time, on Earth’s Japan, I was a Salary Man who dedicated his hours to a company, and now, I’m just a poor, ordinary Demon Lord in service to some Great Demon King.

Part 2: I’m a Pacifist

Let me be a little honest here. When I first noticed that I had reincarnated into this world, my first thought was that it was a pain. That was all.

But right now, I think that rather than being a Salary Man on Earth, my current life is much easier.

This must be because I’ve been a good boy. Yep. That must be it.

If that wasn’t the case, then I would have been forced to work for the next few decades. Just like the laborers that exist all over the place. Well, perhaps I would find it a pain, and kill myself along the way.

In comparison, this otherworldy life is exceedingly easy.

Giving the specifics is a pain, so I’ll skip them, but from the moment I was born into this world, I haven’t worked for a second of my life. Even so, I’ve managed to attain quite a comfortable lifestyle.

It’s laziness without end. There’s no greater pleasure than this. At the very least, for someone who respects the poor, I’m satisfied with this life.

“Unemployed!? No work experience!? How could it be that one of the Great Demon King’s arms and legs, a Demon Lord is lazing around!? You just don’t want to work, right!”

Right now, the only headache I have is this woman the Great Demon King sent.

I don’t know her name. She’s quite a beauty. And she screams at me. If you’re looking for her characteristics, I guess that’s about it. She’s just a bit higher than the rest of the mob.

For me, her screaming is quite an annoyance. For someone as calm as me, we really don’t fit together.

I’ll bet the Great Demon King tried to send over whoever would annoy me the most as a form of harassment.

“… And what was this about again?”

When you compare the rest of the reincarnated in this world to me, who was born as a dirt-cheap devil, I guess the only saving grace is that this world was exceedingly easy to live in.

The value of life is just a tad bit low, but if you try a bit, you can enjoy an idle life. Even if you don’t try, it’s possible.

I feel like an idiot for working my ass off in Japan. I can only say this in hindsight, but I wish I reincarnated earlier.

“It’s a Hero. A Hero! A Hero’s attacking! See, now it’s finally the time for you to rise! Please get off of the bed already!”

“… I’m a pacifist.”

I can’t understand why she’s so energetic.

She raises both of her arms above her head, and makes a request to me as she looks over me with cold eyes. Change, change. Please give me a more decent one.

(TL: A line used in… certain clubs to exchange for another woman)

I’d really like it if she stopped waking me whenever I was peacefully sleeping. She keeps waking me at irregular hours, so I’m always sleep deprived.

It’s fine if she has motivation, but I’d like her to think of all the people who don’t.

When you’re pointlessly brimming with spirit, you end up wasting your time pointlessly doing overtime. Ah, I just remembered a superior that worked in my division. Forgot his name, though.

“Pacifist!? The Demon Lord’s a Pacifist!? Have maggots finally made their way to your rotten brain!? This is a direct order! The Great Demon King’s direct order!! Do you understand the meaning of that? The Great Demon King has personally dispatched you, and it’s supposed to be an honor…”

I understand. Honor.

I just can’t defeat this drowsy feeling.

“… Change. Change. Go bring in the lazy attendant I had before.”

“Eh? Change?”

“Yes. Change. You loud. I hate.”

“Whaaaaaaaaat?”

The woman opened her eyes wide in an exaggerated gesture. It’s as if I can see the veins just poping out of her forehead.

The woman in front of me is a demon.

I’m also one, and so’s the Great Demon King.

But even if you categorize them under one name, there are various types, and we’re divided by attribute.

That means, I forget the number, but it’s that… you know, that thing in earth’s religion or legend, or manga or something. You’ve probably heard about it.

Um… right, Wrath, or Decay or stuff like that… that thingy with seven or eight things. It sounds really high and mighty.

“My predecessor retired! He said something about 『Sloth』 being pitiful to look at! Do you understand what this means!? Looking at you, the Demon Lord, he got tired of his own attribute! Hey!”

“I see.”

“I see!? Your impression is, ‘I see’!? Two words? Only two words!? Ah, damn it all. The hell’s with this man!”

It was a topic I didn’t really have interest in.

In the first place, I don’t really remember the past guy’s face. All that I remember is that it was a lot quieter back then than it is now.

I am a demon. My attribute is 『Sloth』.

Depravity and resignation, escape and decay, suspension and stagnation, inertia and dejection. A Demon Lord reigning over that sort of thing.

From under the covers, I take a peek at the Great Demon King’s underling.

“And do you think that’s enough… to make someone like me move?”

“Ku… This man is…”

I don’t mean to brag, but I’m a man who can sleep for as long as I want. This isn’t just because I’m a devil. It was like that before I reincarnated too.

In order to live, I reluctantly took up work, but on my off days, I slept the whole time. Because of that, I have no memory of when, where or how I died.

I guess that makes me luckier than all those reincarnators who were hit by a truck or slashed by some slasher.

Well, at this point, I don’t really care.

The screaming woman is still trying to issue orders.

Even being a Demon Lord is just like being a feudal lord, so I guess it isn’t that easy.

“Go report what I’m about to say to Kanon.”

With that one sentence, the woman fell silent.

Despite everything, I guess she’s still a professional, and she was personally sent by that Great Demon King. She’s supposed to be skilled.

Having said what I wanted, I finally resolve myself to return to the world of dreams once more, and again, the woman tries to pull my cover off.

“Wait… Wait a god damn second!! You haven’t said anything yet, why are you sleeping again!?”

“… Take a guess.”

If I get serious, there’s no way a demon of this level would be able to get in the way of my sleep.

I feel the futon, my arms and my hair being pulled, as I let my mind fall into the abyss. I fell into the depths of that peaceful darkness.

Part 3: It’s not like I’m a NEET or Anything

I don’t mean to brag, but it’s not like the only thing I do is sleep.

When I get hungry, I eat, and when it’s time for cleaning, I do get off of the bed.

Right, I just don’t work. It’s not like I’m a NEET or anything.

“… You really are the worst. That’s what society calls a NEET.”

“I’m on unearned income.” (TL: Google it)

“No, it’s not like you’re living like this for free or anything, right!?”

No to me, it kinda feels free.

I’m not really worried about it, but if possible, I prefer my bed to be soft. And so, when they come to clean, I do get off of it. For a change of pace, I did think of changing my room every now and then, but I don’t want to walk in the hallway, so the idea was rejected. I’m not that desperate for a fluffy bed.

The greatest reason I’m grateful for having been reborn a devil, is that no matter how much I sleep, I never get a headache.

I take a big stretch after I get off the bed, and lower myself into a sturdy chair made of wood.

It’s my favorite. Apparently it has quite a history behind it, and it’s quite valuable, but I’m none too knowledgeable. When I lean back and let it swing back and forth, it’s as if I’m a baby being rocked to sleep in a cradle. It makes me sleepy.

“Oy, wrap that around me.”

“Yes. As you wish, my liege.”

The maid who had come to clean has a bright smile on her face as she brings the blanket over.

It’s this. This is how you’re supposed to be treating the existence called the Demon Lord.

Demon Lord isn’t just some random title. I have my own retainers, and some land.

It’s all what I was granted by the Great Demon King, but I don’t really care. What’s essential is that the people I’ve been granted all take good care of me.

I don’t mean to brag, but I can’t clean, cook or do laundry. The only thing I can do is sleep.

I say my thanks, as she wraps it around the armchair.

And as I was relaxing like that, the Great Demon Lord’s subordinate sent me flying.

She thrust at the chair with an incredible amount of power. My body floats in the air for a while before I crash head-first into the wall.

What power. Every time she hits me, I start to remember my past life as a human, and confirm the fact that this is, indeed, another world.

Is it just my imagination, or is this woman’s treatment of me getting worse, and worse?

“Ah… my liege!? A-are you alright!?”

“Yeah.”

“Quit screwing around!”

The woman stamps her foot in frustration. With just that action, the floor that’s supposed to be protected with a barrier of the highest class begins to creak.

Her expression is like that of a devil. Um, when did she get here again?

The maid lifts me by the armpits, and sets me back on the chair.

She thrusts her finger at the Great Demon King’s follower.

As she’s my subject, of course, the maid is also a devil. I don’t know her attribute. IF I may add, I also don’t know her name.

I’m bad at remembering people’s names. Most of the time, I just don’t have any interest.

“The one who should quit is you, Lize Bloodcross! Even if you’re a supervisor sent directly from Kanon-sama, your attitude towards our Demon Lord goes beyond what could be called rude!”

I see. So this woman had a name like Lize.

Now that you mention it, I get the feeling that she introduced herself when she was first stationed here.

“The hell are you saying!? It’s because you guys are like this, that that Demon Lord over there never has any intentions of working!”

Even I couldn’t stay silent at such a remark.

“No, even if they weren’t here, I have no intention of working, you know.”

“As expected of Leigie-sama!”

The maid is looking at me with sparkling eyes of admiration. I wonder if she realizes that I don’t know her name.

And I wonder just what part of me she’s admiring.

Well, all of it doesn’t really matter.

With feelings of resignation, I closed my eyes.

“Wait… Don’t sleep! Didn’t you just get up!?”

“Lize, the Demon Lord is sleeping! Please be quiet!”

“Haaaaa!? Why are all you people so soft on this Demon Lord!? And wait, why is this thing a Demon Lord anyways!? All he does is sleep!”

Ah, she’s loud.

Ah, all of this is a pain.

There are plenty of demons, but very few Demon Lords.

The method for determining a Demon Lord is simple.

Class: 『Demon Lord』

The ones who have that are the Demon Lords.

Classes are a concept that didn’t exist in my previous world, but to put it simply, it’s like your occupation.

By rising in Class, humans are able to access various incomprehensible superpowers… various forms of something called Skills. I don’t know the details, and I don’t know on what system they work. I don’t even know if there’s a set system. What’s important is that by dabbling in your class, you can get to use some convenient powers, and that’s all. Even without any effort.

What’s more, reincarnators usually end up with some special classes. Like Hero, or Savior or Sage.

In my case, I was born with 『Demon』 as my class.

After a few years of living a depraved life, it became 『Demon Lord』 before I even noticed it. Having Classes change is apparently something that happens all the time. I get the feeling that there was some criterion on who would advance Classes, but I don’t really remember.

Anyways, in the end, I became a Demon Lord without putting in any effort, and I was suddenly able to use some strange powers freely.

In that sense, giving an answer to this woman’s question would be easy.

I became a Demon Lord by doing nothing but sleeping. It wasn’t by my will.

That’s all I can say, and I don’t have any answers besides that.

But it’ll be a pain, so I won’t speak up.

“Demon Lord Leigie of the Slaughter Dolls! As a member of the Great Demon King’s personal 『Order of Black』, I command you in the name of Great Demon King 『Kanon』! Lead your Legion, and head to the Prison of Flames. Bring ruin to the Demon Lord who hath gone against us, Granzer Esther!”

“Don’t want to.”

Why? For what reason would I have to go to some random place for some guy I don’t know?

“Huh? You plan to refuse a direct order under the Great Demon King’s name? Do you truly understand the meaning of such an act?”

“…”

I truly did not care, so I was going to answer, ‘No Idea’, but I felt that would make things complicated, so I stayed silent.

It’s a problem of personality. I don’t think I’m ever going to come to an understanding with this woman. I hate pointless things, and I hate troublesome things even more. What I love is sleep and spare time, and I care not for anything else.

I call over the maid watching over us, and say a single word.

“Iyo.”

“… Understood.”

The maid respectfully bows her head.

She made quiet steps as she departed from the room. I finally closed my eyes once more, only to feel my head get smacked again.

It was an amazing display of strength. My favorite chair was smashed to pieces beneath me, and cracks spread across the ground as I crashed into it.