As a result of the Division Party and the battle royal, Iruma had become more popular than ever. Whispers followed him, eyes lingered longer, and more students called his name with excitement. He tried to hide from the crowd, feeling his stomach twist at the thought of everyone finding out he was human. But the new Iruma—the colder, sharper Iruma—just didn't care enough to panic.Let them look. If they see through me, they see through me.He tugged his hood lower and walked faster.
He turned a corner and bumped into Ameri.
"Iruma!" she said quickly, brushing her hair back.
"President? What are you doing here?"
"Looking for an acquaintance. I must hurry," she answered, then disappeared down the hall.
Acquaintance? Iruma stared after her, his brows furrowing. Ameri rarely acted so flustered. Weird... who could she be looking for?
Before he could think further, a tall adult stepped in front of him.
"Are you Iruma?" the man asked.
They ended up sitting on a bench, the man's sharp gaze fixed on Iruma. He had an air of quiet authority—rigid posture, calm breath, but eyes that scanned and dissected.
Iruma felt like he had seen him before. Or at least, felt him before.
The man recalled his earlier confrontation with Sullivan. He'd questioned the Headmaster about Robin's report—about the strange student at Babyls—but Sullivan had brushed him off. Only when Sullivan released a suffocating aura did he retreat, knowing the power imbalance.
Now, here sat that student.
The man grabbed Iruma's face gently but firmly, tilting his head as if studying a rare creature.
"You were brought here by Sullivan, weren't you? Against your will? You're a human."
Iruma didn't move, only blinked once. His stare was steady. Cold. Calculating.
The man smirked.
"You remind me of another human I met."
"Did you catch him?" Iruma asked, voice flat.
"I did," the man said with a smile. "The upper half went to the lab for study, and the lower half..." He paused for effect. "Was eaten."
Iruma narrowed his eyes.
"...I'm joking," the man said. "The human was protected. Returned to the Human World, actually. Though we had to erase his memories."
That part surprised Iruma.
"More demons are returning to the originator lately," the man continued, his tone more serious now. "That's dangerous for humans. If you're one of them, say the word. I can help."
He was about to ask more when Ameri appeared.
"Father! What are you doing?"
Iruma blinked. Father...?
"You know him?" the man—Azazel Henri—asked.
"Of course," Ameri said. "Iruma has accomplished many things at school. He's an excellent demon."
Henri raised a brow.
"You seem to think highly of him."
"We talk often. Alone. Over tea," Ameri added.
"...Why?"
"To talk about love," she said, cheeks pink. "And the future."
Henri turned pale.
"We're not at the point where I'd call you my father," Iruma said flatly, as if predicting the man's thoughts.
Henri wobbled, overwhelmed, and Ameri caught his arm.
"Come on, let's get you to the infirmary," she said. "Bye, Iruma!"
Iruma exhaled, then muttered to himself. That guy scared me. But a part of him understood. Protection. That's what mattered most. That's what he needed to prioritize from now on.
Clara and Alice found him soon after.
"Iru-ma chi! Come on, class is starting!"
As they walked together, Iruma looked up at the Netherworld's dark skies.
I can never tell anyone I'm human.
Still, something about his last conversation lingered in his mind.
Henri hadn't figured it out. Despite his suspicion, Iruma's cold tone, calculated words, and almost predatory detachment made him hard to pin down. Henri could speak human languages—but Iruma didn't feel like a human. He felt like something else. Something dangerous.
Something that didn't fear being found out.
Despite the buzz still surrounding the Division Party and Battle Royale, Iruma and Ameri had quietly prepared for something else entirely—something far more chaotic: an Akudol concert.
They had won two front-line tickets through a special Dancing competition . Ameri was hesitant at first—the student council president attending a wild, glittery concert wasn't exactly dignified. But Iruma had simply said:
"You should enjoy yourself once in a while, Ameri. Besides... we can listen to the music together."
Together. That one word was enough to change her mind.
What neither of them knew was that in the distance, behind a column of demon-shaped statues, Clara was hiding with her whole body pressed to the wall, eyes wide and sparkling with mischief. She could hear everything.
"Iruma-chi and red hair demon... going to the concert... together?!"
She bolted so fast she left behind a cartoonish dust cloud.
"AZZ-KUN!!"
"Wha—? Clara?"
"Iruma-chi's going to the Akudol concert with Red Hair demon!"
"...That sounds exaggerated." Alice crossed his arms, skeptical.
"Look! There!" Clara yanked him by the arm and pointed across the courtyard. In the distance, Iruma was calmly talking to Ameri again. They seemed... comfortable. Focused.
Alice frowned.
Master Iruma and the Student Council President? Maybe they're just... talking. That's all. He shook off the thought.
But Clara wasn't letting it go.
"WE'RE BUYING TICKETS TOO!!"
She dragged him to the booth, and by the time they managed to get some, it was too late for front-line seats. The only tickets left were in the back row.
Evening fell. The Netherworld skyline lit up with bright purple moons and glittering stars.
Outside the massive concert arena, young demons lined up in wild costumes, waving glow sticks and chatting excitedly. But all eyes suddenly turned when two figures stepped into view:
Ameri walked with quiet grace in her usual black-and-red formal dress.
Beside her, Iruma—wearing a high-collared, short-sleeved shirt, its crisp white fabric glinting in the spotlights, and black bandages wrapped around his wrists—moved with calm confidence.
He looked like a noble. Or a warrior prince.
Whispers rose among the crowd.
"That's him...!"
"The one from the Battle Royal of Misfit!"
"The demon who broke the record!"
"Iruma-sama!"
The crowd began cheering softly, then louder, as if recognizing royalty among them.
"Iruma! Iruma!"
Iruma didn't flinch. He simply nodded once to acknowledge the voices, his calm gaze scanning the arena. Ameri, beside him, looked impressed but composed.
"Seems like you're famous now," she said.
"...I don't mind," Iruma replied. "As long as we get to hear the music."
They walked together through the glowing archway into the concert hall, stepping into the pulsing light, unaware that two familiar figures were scrambling for seats way in the back.
Clara, bouncing on her feet. Alice, arms crossed.
"This seat is too far! I can't even see Iruma chi's face from here!"
"We're here to see the Akudol, Clara."
"But Iruma-chi's here toooo!"
As the lights dimmed and the Akudol idols stepped on stage, the roar of the crowd shook the entire arena. But Iruma and Ameri, in the very front row, remained calm.
They shared a look—calm, mutual, perhaps even... warm.
And then, the music and dance began.