'Such gray clouds,' thought Jubei from the garden balcony. Although Circe had asked him not to use fire magic anymore, he could not refuse her teaching him more about it. By agreeing, Circe had prepared many potions during those days.
Only a week had passed since he died in his world… and since a shit deity decided to mess with him even after death. Remembering that was, for Jubei, a severe headache.
But somehow he had ended up in this body. Son of an unknown mother… and of the Demon King. Leaning over the balcony, he could see that, as far as the eye could see, there were only gray, stormy clouds.
'It's funny that, being a demon, I live so high in the skies.' He thought ironically.
"Young Jubei." Circe approached him.
"By order of the king, three of your... brothers have departed to the south," she reported with a tone of displeasure toward them.
"...Circe," he turned to her.
"I'd be glad if you reported that they were expelled or something tragic," he replied with a hint of irony.
"That is impossible, young Jubei. They are all candidates to inheri—"
"You're quite harsh on your brothers, dear Jubei. And here I was, coming to see you with enthusiasm," interrupted a refined and elegant voice as it crossed the doorway.
"Igniel… sorry! Honestly, I wasn't including you," he replied.
Unlike his other brothers and the inhabitants of Demons Hells, including the Demon King, the only people who seemed not to feel contempt for Jubei were Circe and Igniel, the third son of the Demon King.
"Haha, I know," he laughed, placing a pair of boots on a small table. "But I came to see you because you still haven't returned the relic you stole. You're always causing trouble, aren't you?" He glanced at him sideways. "This time Father is really furious, haha."
"Hey! But yesterday I told you I didn't know what you were talking about, brother."
'That's right… I really don't know what he's talking about.' Jubei thought, since ever since he arrived in this world, he had been blamed for everything. Igniel came to see him day after day to ask the same thing.
"Listen, I don't believe you, little brother." He cast him a suspicious look.
Jubei turned his head to the side. Circe smiled when their eyes met.
'How calm she looks with that beautiful smile… I also want a break, even if it's just for one day.'
"My lord Igniel, young Jubei says he did not take it, and I believe him. Please, I beg you to stop harassing him," she grumbled firmly.
'Circe defended me. Without a doubt, she's the one who understands me the most in this place.'
"...Very well, I'll let it go for today," he replied resignedly. "I'm glad you have a good assistant, little brother." He said it while looking at Circe with a smile. She looked away, slightly embarrassed.
Circe was very kind to Jubei; she had been even to the former Jubei, though perhaps it was only because she had arrived in Demons Hells just three months ago and, since then, had begun working as the assistant of the sixth son.
"I'll be busy for a week in Fortress Valley. The city has been very restless since the hero's party killed General Gin; Father ordered me to choose a new general, haha."
"Wow, it looks like you'll be very busy. Take care, Igniel."
"Are you worried about me? Do you want to come?"
"Not a chance. I heard that city is very violent; they even execute half-demons and bastards."
"Haha, you're right, though that was almost a decade ago," he replied with his carefree smile. "Anyway, it's time for me to go, little brother. Goodbye."
He left.
"Young Jubei, Lord Igniel forgot those boots on the table."
"Damn it, I'll go tell him." He ran to the door and rushed out without paying attention.
"Bro—!"
Bang!
His call was interrupted; he fell on his backside after colliding forcefully with someone at the doorway.
"This is terrible! L-lord Ash, a-are you all right?" said a girl's voice, exasperated.
'Ash?' Jubei pushed himself up, still seated on the floor, and raised his gaze.
"You wretch, how dare you touch my lord Ash with your filthy body?" said the same girl as she crouched beside him.
"You just woke up and already you want to go back to sleep, despicable being?" commented the other assistant who had come with him.
"Katherine… Leonor," Ash stood up after speaking in a serious tone, patting his uniform.
"This miserable bastard… I'll turn him to ashes."