Power spreads faster than fire in the Demon Realm.
One day, I was just a clueless human stumbling into the Director's chair. The next, rumors of "Director Arvale" had already slipped past the organization walls and wormed their way through taverns, shops, schools, and even the royal halls.
I didn't know this at the time. All I knew was that when I stepped out of my office the following morning, more demons than usual were staring at me. Some bowed too quickly. Others avoided eye contact like I'd burn holes through their skulls.
"Is this normal?" I whispered to my secretary.
She bowed. "Yes, Director. Word of your… performance in the training grounds and marketplace has spread. Everyone knows you cannot be mocked."
Couldn't be mocked? If only she'd heard my own thoughts during those fights.
Across the city, inside the Demon King's palace, nobles sat around a long obsidian table. Candles burned with blue flame, shadows dancing on polished black marble.
"Who is this Director Arvale?" a duke asked, his forked tongue flicking as he spoke. "Reports claim he destroyed a challenger's weapon without moving."
Another noble sneered. "Lies, perhaps? Or exaggerations. The outer demons love their gossip."
But a princess leaned forward, her crimson eyes sharp. "Exaggerations spread because something real happened. This 'Director' is climbing quickly, too quickly. Should we allow a stranger—human-looking, no less—to gather this much authority?"
At the head of the table, the Demon King sat silent. His aura pressed down like a storm, every noble sweating under the weight of it. Finally, he spoke.
"Watch him. Do not interfere yet. Power reveals itself under pressure. If this Rayan Arvale is truly formidable, he will show it soon enough."
Meanwhile, I was not showing anything formidable.
I was just trying to eat breakfast.
The organization cafeteria felt like a luxury restaurant. Golden chandeliers, silver trays, waiters with horns polished to perfection. Even the chairs looked more expensive than my old apartment back on Earth.
I sat quietly with a plate of something that looked like scrambled eggs but tasted like spicy jelly. Across the hall, I heard the whispers.
"That's the Director?""He looks ordinary.""No, don't be fooled. He's hiding his aura. Didn't you hear? He broke a weapon just by breathing!"
I nearly choked on the jelly-eggs. Breathing? When had I destroyed anything by breathing?
The Ledger buzzed in the corner of my vision.[ Reputation Reinforced: "Breath of Destruction." ]
I wanted to slam my head into the table.
Of course, demons who didn't know my title still felt brave enough to test me.
A group of rowdy students from the academy barged into the cafeteria. Their uniforms were half-buttoned, horns still small—clearly young nobles trying to show off.
One sneered. "So this is the so-called Director. Looks more like a lost scholar to me."
The room went silent.
I froze, fork halfway to my mouth.
"Careful," another student whispered. "They say he can kill with a glance."
The first laughed. "Glance? Then let's test it."
He strode up to my table, slamming his hand down. Plates rattled. "Director Arvale, show me your power. Or admit you're a fraud."
My palms went clammy. I looked down at my plate.
The Ledger appeared.[ Transaction: Convert 5 Chaos Credits → Minor Fear Aura. ][ Transaction: Convert 15 Chaos Credits → Illusionary Pressure. ][ Transaction: Do Nothing. Risk Exposure. ]
I gritted my teeth. Fifteen credits gone.
A wave of invisible pressure rippled out from me. My body stayed still, but the entire cafeteria shook as if a mountain had leaned forward.
The student staggered back, face pale, legs trembling. He collapsed onto the floor.
The other nobles scrambled to pull him away, bowing so fast their horns nearly snapped.
"Forgive us, Director!""We were blind! Please, spare us!"
The crowd erupted into whispers.
"He didn't even lift a finger.""Terrifying.""Truly a demon among demons."
The Ledger purred.[ Reputation Reinforced: "Silent Tyrant." ]
I pushed the last of my jelly-eggs around the plate, appetite gone.
Later that evening, back in my office, the secretary handed me a sealed letter.
"From the royal palace," she said softly.
My chest tightened. "The palace?"
"Yes. An envoy wishes to meet you in three days' time. They claim it's for a 'harmless exchange of ideas.'"
I groaned. Harmless exchange? With royals? Nothing about that sounded harmless.
The Ledger opened.[ New Scenario: Royal Interest. ][ Objective: Survive the Meeting. ]
I dropped the letter onto the desk, face in my hands.
"Ledger," I whispered, "you're going to kill me faster than any demon."
But somewhere deep inside… I felt a flicker of something else.
Excitement.
For the first time, I realized that every misunderstanding, every rumor, every survival had pushed me one step higher. And soon, I'd be standing face-to-face with the Demon Realm's royalty.
The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
Was I climbing… or digging my own grave?
Three days later, the envoy arrived.
The entire headquarters buzzed with tension. Staff polished the floors until they gleamed, demons stood straighter than usual, and even the chandeliers burned brighter.
Me? I was hiding in my office, staring at the mirror.
"Okay, Rayan," I muttered to my reflection. "You just need to… not die. Smile? No, too creepy. Frown? No, too scary. Neutral face? Yeah, neutral face."
The mirror version of me looked like a constipated philosopher.
I sighed. "This is going to end badly."
The Ledger hummed in my vision.[ Scenario: Royal Envoy Test. ][ Objective: Uphold Authority. Survive. ]
Yeah. No pressure.
The envoy entered with an entourage of armored knights. He was tall, elegant, his horns polished like onyx blades. His cloak shimmered with enchanted runes, and his eyes glowed faintly crimson.
Every demon in the room bowed low.
"Director Arvale," the envoy said smoothly, voice carrying like silk and steel. "I am Lord Saryx, representative of the royal household."
I stood behind my desk, pretending to be calm. "Lord Saryx. Welcome."
He studied me. His gaze wasn't mocking like the students' or suspicious like the nobles'. It was sharp, calculating. The kind of gaze that saw through lies.
My stomach twisted.
"Rumors spread quickly," Saryx said. "They claim you are invincible, that challengers fall before you without effort. That your vision reforms schools and markets alike."
My mouth went dry.
Saryx's lips curled into a faint smile. "We shall see if rumors match reality."
He snapped his fingers. One of his knights stepped forward, slamming a spear into the ground. The arena shimmered into existence behind them—an illusion woven by royal magic.
The crowd gasped.
Saryx gestured. "A duel. Not to the death. Simply… proof of your worth."
My heart sank. Another fight. Of course.
The knight lunged first. His spear whistled through the air, runes glowing.
I panicked.
The Ledger opened.[ Transaction: Convert 20 Chaos Credits → Illusionary Clone. ][ Transaction: Convert 30 Chaos Credits → Chaos Disruption Pulse. ][ Transaction: Risk Death. ]
Thirty credits vanished.
A pulse of chaotic energy burst out from me. The spear's glowing runes shattered, fragments scattering like sparks. The knight staggered, dropping his weapon.
The crowd gasped.
"He destroyed a royal weapon!""With a single glance!""Unstoppable!"
I was trembling, trying not to vomit.
Saryx's expression shifted, just slightly. He raised a hand, stopping the duel.
"Enough," he said. His gaze locked on me. "You are… interesting."
He bowed slightly, the gesture shocking everyone present.
"On behalf of the royal household, I acknowledge your authority, Director Arvale. The palace will… be watching you closely."
And with that, he and his entourage vanished in a ripple of crimson light.
The hall exploded with whispers.
"The envoy bowed!""He acknowledged the Director!""This means the royal family recognizes him!"
I stood frozen behind my desk, sweat dripping down my spine.
Recognized? By the royal family?
I wanted to curl up under the desk and cry.
But instead, I nodded solemnly, as if this had been part of my grand plan all along.
The Ledger hummed smugly.[ Reputation Reinforced: "Royally Endorsed Strategist." ][ Reward: +1 Reality Fragment. ]
That night, I collapsed into bed, staring at the ceiling.
From a terrified human lost in the Multiversal Trial… to a Director recognized by demons, nobles, and now even royalty.
It was insane. Impossible.
And it was only the beginning.