Chapter 4 : ALEPH (1)

"As I was saying, Iruma-sama," Asmodeus said, trailing just a half step behind him, "it was the most magnificent display of dominance I have ever witnessed in my entire academic career. To make a teacher your familiar—truly, legendary! No demon has achieved such a feat in centuries!"

Iruma gave a soft sigh. "You've said that already, Azz ."

"I shall keep saying it until it's recorded in the history books!"

Iruma glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "You're really intense, you know that?"

"I'm simply loyal to your greatness , Iruma sama."

Iruma didn't reply, but a small smile tugged at the edge of his lips. He turned his eyes forward again, falling back into silence.

That's when a blur of green zipped past them—and spin around them.

"Whoa! You're the guy that everyone's talking about!"

Iruma blinked.

The girl standing in front of them had wild, frizzy green hair, two braids bouncing on her shoulders, and eyes like excited gemstones. She wore her cloak half-buttoned, socks mismatched, and a massive grin plastered on her face.

"I'm Valac Clara! You're iruma, right? You're so COOL! I heard you made a teacher your familiar! That's insane! Wanna play?!"

Asmodeus immediately stepped in front of Iruma, frowning. "Watch your tone. You're speaking to Iruma-sama."

Clara tilted her head. "Iruma…sama?"

Iruma raised an eyebrow.

He could feel her energy pouring off her like static—unpredictable, loud, but… not threatening.

Still, his words came out cold.

"I don't play."

Clara blinked. "Huh?"

"I don't play," Iruma repeated, turning to walk past her.

Asmodeus nodded. "You heard him. Step aside."

But Clara didn't move. In fact, she darted in front of Iruma again, this time holding out a strange snack shaped like a tentacle. "Okay, okay, then just try this! I made it myself! It tastes like regret and lemon juice!"

Iruma paused.

"…What?"

"You can't be super serious all the time," she said, poking his cheek gently. "Your eyes are all tight. That's a sadness eye thing. I read that somewhere… maybe?"

Iruma stared at her, silent.

Asmodeus looked horrified. "You—You dare poke Iruma-sama?!"

Clara didn't even blink. "Wanna play tag?"

"I said no."

Clara grinned wider. "Okay. Then I'll walk with you until you say yes!"

Iruma frowned, glancing at Asmodeus . "She always like this?"

"I do not associate with… her kind."

"That's rude," Clara pouted.

Iruma sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. His old instincts screamed at him to walk away. To ignore her. But… something about her felt familiar.

Like she wasn't trying to dig into him.

She just wanted to exist beside him.

"…Fine," he muttered. "But I'm not chasing you."

Clara lit up like a firework. "Wheee! Iruma-kun is the coolest! You too, sparkly tall guy!"

"I am Asmodeus Alice! Not 'sparkly tall guy!'" Asmodeus snapped.

"Iruma-Chi and Azz-zz! My new best friends!"

Iruma closed his eyes. "It's… Asmodeus . Just call him Asmodeus ."

"You dare nickname me?!" Asmodeus shouted.

Iruma shrugged. "You'll live. Just Ignore."

And for the first time in days, Iruma laughed—just a little.

Clara grinned at the sound.

Clara's eyes were stars. "So you'll really play with me?! Like, for real? Real real?!"

Iruma crossed his arms and gave a slow nod. "Yeah… But only if you don't overreact."

Clara froze. "Eh?"

His voice was calm, low. A faint edge of seriousness behind his tone.

"I mean it," Iruma continued. "No screaming. No leaping over tables. No popping out of nowhere like a cannonball. Just… chill."

Clara tilted her head, visibly trying to compute what "chill" meant.

"C-Chill like an ice cube?" she mumbled.

Iruma gave a small smile. "Exactly. If you can do that—I'll keep my word."

Clara straightened up, nodded like a soldier. "I, Valac Clara, promise on my emergency snack pouch! I will be a good, chill friend!"

She was vibrating from the effort, barely holding in her usual explosion of energy.

Iruma slowly extended his hand. "Then it's a deal."

Clara gasped softly and grabbed it—shaking it wildly, up and down like a wind-up toy gone rogue.

"IRUMA-CHI! YAY! YIPPEE! What can we play? What can we do? OH! I've got a rock shaped like a pie if you want to name it—!"

Iruma chuckled softly, pulling his hand back. "Not now."

Clara froze mid-bounce.

"Huh?"

Iruma looked up at the sky above Babyls, eyes dark but calm. "We just got out of a lot. I need a bit of quiet first."

"Oh…" Clara blinked, then gave a thumbs up. "Roger that, Iruma-chi!"

She gently zipped her lips and pantomimed tossing away the key. Then gave a silent spin on her heel, doing a small dance across the path, humming softly to herself without a word.

Asmodeus stepped up beside Iruma, arms crossed.

"…Was that wise, Iruma-sama?"

"She needed someone to take her seriously," Iruma replied quietly. "Even if she's strange."

"She's more than strange. She's a trouble maker."

Iruma's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Sometimes Trouble do makes things feel less heavy."

Azz blinked, studying him.

"You continue to intrigue me, Iruma-sama."

Clara pirouetted one more time, then called out with a grin—still keeping her volume low:

"I'll wait for you, Iruma-chi! No screaming! Not even one tiny explosion!"

Iruma raised a hand lazily in reply. "Appreciated."

---

Next day , The Netherworld morning was calm, purple clouds lazily drifting through the distorted sky. Inside the grand Sullivan mansion, a boy with raven-black hair sat at a polished table, a floating screen in front of him.

"Iruma-kun," Sullivan said warmly, swirling a cup of tea as he appeared beside him, "are you ready to learn more about the school?"

Iruma glanced sideways. "Sure."

He still wasn't used to this. The lavish surroundings, the strange customs, the overeager guardian who had adopted him like a puppy at a shelter.

But even so, a part of him—deep inside—had decided: If I'm going to be here, I won't waste it.

Sullivan waved his hand, and the screen lit up.

"Let's start with something important—the ranking system in Babyls."

"Ranks?" Iruma asked.

"Yes!" Sullivan grinned. "In this world, every demon is assigned a rank, from Aleph (Rank 1) to Yodh (Rank 10). It shows your power, your influence, your status!"

He raised one clawed finger dramatically.

"Actually, technically, there's a Rank 0—no title at all—but that's only used for wild beasts or extremely weak demons. Most demons enter Babyls at Rank 1."

Iruma narrowed his eyes. "And me?"

The screen shifted, showing his name:

SUZUKI IRUMA

Current Rank: ALEPH (1)

"Rank 1," Sullivan said, nodding. "Perfectly normal for a first-year."

Iruma leaned back, arms crossed.

"So demons climb the ranks to prove their strength?"

"Yes!" Sullivan beamed. "Through duels, accomplishments, studies, and even recognition from others. It's very flexible—very dramatic!"

A chuckle escaped Iruma's lips, low and slightly sardonic.

"So, this school's basically a battlefield with homework."

"Oh Iruma-kun~" Sullivan's eyes sparkled. "That was such a devilish thing to say! You're starting to sound like Naughty boy!"

Iruma smirked faintly. "Guess I'm adapting."

"Smile like that again! Just one more time—click click click—!"

Iruma's head tilted slightly. "Stop that, old man."

Sullivan sniffled. "You're so cold, Iruma-kun… It's adorable."

The screen then displayed a pyramid of the ranks.

Rank 10 – Yodh

Rank 9 – Tet

Rank 8 – Heth

Rank 7 – Zayin

Rank 6 – Vav

Rank 5 – He

Rank 4 – Daleth

Rank 3 – Gimel

Rank 2 – Bet

Rank 1 – Aleph

Iruma scanned it quickly. "Ten ranks… I'm at the bottom."

"Don't worry!" Sullivan said, patting him on the shoulder. "Every great demon starts somewhere!"

Iruma's gaze darkened slightly.

Then I'll climb it. Quietly.

---

Iruma stood, slipping on his black coat like a second skin. "Okay, then. What class am I in?"

"Ah! That's the fun part!" Sullivan said, clapping his hands excitedly. "You'll be attending—drumroll, please—the Misfit Class!"

Iruma blinked. "Misfit?"

"Yes, yes! It's a special first-year class with students who are... let's say, a bit too colorful for the usual students. But very promising! You'll be with your new friend Asmodeus~ and your homeroom teacher is... Kalego!"

"Huh, that crow?" Iruma said.

"Well, yes. But you must address him as your teacher."

"I will, don't worry, but it won't be any fun, right?"

Iruma let out a small, amused breath.

"Asmodeus and that professor in one room? Sounds Trouble."

Sullivan giggled. "It's a very lively place! But listen closely, Iruma-kun, because this is what I wanted to tell you— kalego is actually pretty good Guy . He is to strict ."