Life in Vain: Jobless Reincarnation

110 – Demon, Lord, Demon Lord

The girl- Demon Lord? ...Girl. Let's go with girl because she's definitely not acting like a demon lord.

Anyway, the girl was inconsolable, crying and shaking at my feet with her head pressed against the ground.

Fortunately, Stella didn't start crying too. Though I felt like my baby sister was giving me a weird look.

But anyway, after some placating and reassurances, as well as handing over a plate with some of the grilled meat I had cooking, the girl calmed down.

Just to show that I wasn't a threat, I held Stella again and stood a few paces away from the girl, gesturing for Ruijerd to do the same.

And like that, we waited. Me standing with Stella in my arms, Ruijerd next to me, and the girl seated on the floor, carefully holding the plate I served her and nibbling on the grilled meat. Almost like a slave or abused dog eating while in fear of their owner.

Ruijerd watched the girl eat a bit before looking at me. "Are you a god, Rudy?"

"Of course not!"

"But you said you had a god as your adversary, didn't you?"

I paused.

...Ruijerd had a point. Even so.

"I'm not a god. I'm planning to be a godslayer, yeah. But a god? No."

Gods were limited, after all.

...Well. That should be the case. I was starting to think that Being W might be on the level of a 'Creator God.' One with a capital G.

Needed to come up with countermeasures and trump cards for that. Three wasn't enough last time, so I definitely needed more. A whole stacked deck instead of a few cards. Maybe more players too. One person probably wouldn't be enough...

I frowned and then looked at the girl.

She looked back up at me and flinched, quickly lowering her gaze. "T-This One apologizes!"

My frown deepened and I said, "This One?"

"T-This One means- I-I mean, *I* am not worthy! I am just a tiny scrap on the wayside! My power is nothing compared to your vast might! S-So... Please don't eat me too!"

"Gaga?"

It seemed like even Stella was confused about the situation. My baby sister babbled and then turned to look at me.

"Yeah, wish I knew what was going on too, Stella." I mumbled.

Ruijerd glanced at me and then at the girl and said, "Demon Lord Kishirika Kishirisu. That's your name?"

The girl glanced at Ruijerd and nodded. "Y-Yes! Th- I am Kishirika Kishirisu!"

Ruijerd frowned. "Demon Lord? Not Great Empress?"

The girl quickly shook her head, staring at me again. "I-I would not dare proclaim such a thing before the Magic God! Never!"

Ruijerd blinked and then turned to look at me. "Rudy. You... would not have happened to transfer my curse to yourself, have you?"

I shook my head. "I shouldn't have...? But why? Is this how people usually react to you?"

Ruijerd nodded. "Yes. Fearing they would be eaten, terrified beyond belief..." He let out an amused smile and said, "Though I have never been called a god before. Demon and Monster, yes. But a god..."

I sighed and the looked back at the girl. "Kishishi... Kishiru... You know what? I'm calling you Rika."

"Y-Yes!" The girl quickly set down her plate and knelt to the ground again. "I-I accept the name given, Magnanimous Magic God!"

I felt a headache come on. Seriously wished I had an aspirin. And that healing magic worked on stress headaches. Also wanted to rub my forehead, but I was holding Stella, so I just had to deal with it.

"Just call me Rudy."

"Yes! Master- No, Your Magnificence, Rudy!"

"Again, just Rudy."

"Y-Yes, Master Rudy!"

I felt my eye twitch and looked at Ruijerd.

He stared back. "What?"

"You aren't going to start calling me Lord or Majesty, are you?"

"Did you not say that you hated nobility? I will respect your wishes."

Rika started shaking more after Ruijerd said that.

Stella giggled.

I poked her cheek and said, "Glad someone's finding this funny." I shook my head and then looked back at Rika. "Look. Rika. I'm pretty sure you're mistaken here. I'm not a god or whatever you think I am. And I didn't summon you here to be a slave or anything. I just wanted some extra help."

Rika stared at me. And then she stared at Ruijerd. And then back at me. "...Are you not going to roam the Magic Continent and absorbing the Demon Lords and clans to increase your magical prowess?"

I coughed.

Ruijerd raised an eyebrow.

"O-Of course not- Wait."

A thought came to mind.

Summoning spells... They normally just summoned things from across space. But space and time were linked. And with the chaotic flux of spacetime from Being W's crazy Uno Reverse on me...

"Quick question, Rika."

"Y-Yes, Master Rudy!"

...She wasn't going to drop the Master part, huh?

I decided to ignore it and continued talking. "What year is it?"

I forgot the exact year, but it should be something like 415 or 416 on the Armored Dragon Calendar this year...

"I-It is year 15 of the Magic God Emperor Calendar, Master Rudy!"

Ruijerd blinked. "Magic God Emperor...?"

Yeah. Definitely had a headache. But...

"And on the Armored Dragon Calendar?"

"T-That..." Rika stopped to think and then said, "I... Think it should be the year 426?"

I groaned. "I agree, Rudeus. God I hate multiverse theory..."

Stella giggled.

Rika tilted her head, confused.

-LIV-

"So... Master Rudy is not the Magic God? And you did not decipher the race trait of my clan and revert to a child after losing a clash against Hitogami?"

I rubbed my face and patiently said, "I'm not. And I didn't." I paused. "Though Demons have weird magics, huh? Is that why your mana is so low? Did *you* die and revert to a child?"

Rika nodded. "Yes. This One- I-I mean, *I* am prone to accidents and misfortune and recently perished in a clash against the knights of the Milis Holy Order."

"Right..."

After calming Rika down, it was round two of introductions.

This time though, I made it a bit more comfortable instead of us just all sitting on the cold stone floor.

I made Stella a little carseat cradle to set her in and then three chairs for me, Ruijerd, and Rika.

Rika was across from me, while Stella was on my left and Ruijerd on my right.

"Anyway. I'm not that guy. I'm just a kid."

Rika looked at Ruijerd and said, "...But you still have Ruijerd Supardia as a general."

I resisted the urge to sigh and said, "Ruijerd isn't my general, subordinate, or whatever. He's a friend. Got it? FRIEND. I'm not some Demon Lord, God Emperor, or whatever going around trying to subjugate the world, alright?" I looked at Ruijerd and said, "Tell her, Ruijerd."

Ruijerd gave me a serious look and said, "Are we not, my Lord?"

I froze. "O-Oi."

After seeing my face, Ruijerd's chuckled and patted my head. "It's a joke, Rudy. And you should be less serious."

I sighed. "Trying my best here. As much as I'd love to just hole up somewhere and play with Stella while making sure she grew up healthy, we're running against the clock AND the unexpected."

Ruijerd nodded and pulled his hand back. But after that, he paused and said, "However. If subjugation is required to ensure the safety of you and your sister..."

"Stop that."

Ruijerd smiled and nodded his head.

...But he didn't say he wouldn't.

Ugh. I'm too young for this. I'm supposed to be a kid enjoying life playing with his best friends, not dealing with all this hassle...

At this rate, I'm going to have gray hairs before I even-

Oh wait. My hair already turned white.

Rika kept staring at me.

I stared back.

Rika pursed her lips and muttered, "I suppose Master Rudy is different from that handsome man. Master Rudy is more carefree and relaxed instead of vengeful and obsessive. And the color of mana is different as well..."

"Right. I'm just a normal human kid who wants to get home. And I'm asking for your help."

Ruijerd muttered under his breath. "Rudy is far from a normal human child..."

"I heard that."

Ruijerd smiled.

Rika looked between me and Ruijerd again. And then she looked back at me. Once more, her mana shifted and the swirly green-colored mana flowed into her eyes.

After a few moments, Rika slowly nodded. "...Okay. I agree." A bit of vigor returned into her eyes and she nodded. "Yes. Though I have been plucked from the depths of time and space to arrive in this world... This must be the workings of fate itself." Light sparkled in her eyes and she stood up, holding her hand out to me. "You! My fated contractor!"

"...Please just call me Rudy." I stood up and hesitantly grabbed her hand. "Please."

"Then Rudy!" Rika grinned and said, "This One forsakes her name! To ensure the genocidal Magic God Emperor Laplace is not reborn, This One shall be christened anew as Rika and guide you on your path!" She let go of my hand and then crossed her arms together, laughing. "Hitogami, you insolent betrayer! This Kishirika Kishirisu- No, This Rika shall have her vengeance at last for the death of her mother and fiance! Bwahahahaha!"

...Alright. So it's confirmed that there's definitely something about me that makes people around me ridiculous.

I looked at Stella.

She stared back at me, babbling.

"...You aren't some secret bombshell waiting to go off either, are you, Stella?"

She giggled and held out her hands, giving me an innocent smile.

I picked her up and said, "Of course you aren't. My cute and innocent *imouto* wouldn't do that to me, right? Would you?" I reached out and tickled her chin.

Stella giggled harder and then started blowing raspberries at me.

I smiled at her and then looked back at Rika.

She stared at me, determination and excitement sparkling in her dark eyes.

Honestly, Rika looked more like Norn and Aisha waiting to play with me than a Demon Lord.

Wait.

Demon Lord.

So from what Rika implied, going full subjugation wasn't a good thing to do. But it gave me an idea. Especially since I already had a tower and basically claimed some land.

"Hey, Rika."

"Yes, Rudy!" Rika hopped over and stood before me. "Ask me anything! Rika will ensure you do not repeat the same mistakes as that handsome one!"

I couldn't see Ruijerd since he was standing off to my right side, but I felt his judging gaze on me.

Hey! It's not my fault my life is weird. I'm a normal human, I swear.

...Ah wait. This was going to end up like me being a 'genius' at this rate, wasn't it?

Yeah, denying this isn't going to help.

Instead...

"So hear me out. Ruijerd, listen too. What if we *pretend* I'm a demon lord?"

"..." Rika gave me a blank stare.

"..." I felt Ruijerd's judging gaze on me.

"W-What? It'll work! And besides, this place isn't safe for humans, right? So if we just... Actually, let me just draw this out. It'll probably be easier to explain..."