The scene where Kiriwo shows Iruma around the Apparatus Battler from the demon's perspective. It got surprisingly long as did my thoughts afterward. Also, it's Kiriwo's thoughts, so their will be mentions of death and misery, although there is not in depth detail.

Drawing Attention

Kiriwo relaxed as the other boy, 'Iruma' waved the fan over his face. The boy was doing it in order to help him recover after the explosion that had led to their second encounter. Demons who knew his rank generally treated him like trash, even first years who shared it. He wasn't angry about it. That was how things were. Getting actual concern and care was new for him. But it was nice, too.

Not to mention, Kiriwo could imagine it would make things all the worse for Iruma if he found out the truth of who was behind the events that would take place during the Battler Party. To have to live with the knowledge that he poured all that energy into helping someone like him.

If Kiriwo couldn't get Gabu-ko up and running and had to go out there and cause havoc by his own hand, he'd have to remember to say hi to Iruma along the way. Maybe he'd even drag him along as a hostage or something. That would be fun.

Even if it didn't make Kiriwo recover any quicker right now, the though soothed his frazzled nerves for the big event, a little.

That breeze from the fan helped him relax, too. It was so nice and he let Iruma know he appreciated it.

While continuing to recover, Kiriwo noticed Iruma studying the room with interest. "Sorry, it's kind of a mess. Have a look around if you wanna."

"Thank you, that's very kind." Iruma replied, rising from his spot where he'd been sitting and taking his invitation to explore the room.

After all this time being ignored as he worked and tinkered, Kiriwo had the sudden desire to show off a little. Not give away his actual plans, of course but maybe the separate pieces that he'd worked so hard to either collect or create.

He rose and walked over to Iruma, who was examining various items. "You probably know this already but these apparati use magical energy to function."

"Right…" Iruma replied, looking a up with what might have been cautious curiosity.

"Exactly as the name of the battler indicates, we study magical apparati from all over and are thus inspired to make our own magic items." At least, that's what everyone was supposed to see when they investigated the battler. Until recent years, this was more or less a front of its real purpose; a gathering point for demons interested in returning to their origins. It had been that way for some time…At least, since his Big Bro had taken it over.

It had been a useful front though, as many magical apparati could prove extremely useful to their causes. Unfortunately, due to his role in things to come and his low rank, Kiriwo had been forced to let that purpose fall to the wayside. Perhaps if someone with a higher rank had been left to take over…oh well, if he succeeded, there would be far more demons returned to their origin than the maintenance a little school club ever could achieve. Even if it was the club that had inspired him to embrace his nature and nurtured his desire to break the system and spread the misery.

Of course, Iruma clueless to this, mind focused on the creation of apparati, asked, "woah, really? You make that collar, too."

"Uh, Actually, this collar's a bit different." Kiriwo really hoped the other boy didn't talk about it too much. He'd been caught up in the moment when Iruma crashed into him earlier and had seen no other way to alleviate the others curiosity about being drawn to him so hard as to barrel him over then mentioning it's link to the gluttonous feeder ring he wore. Such a legendary item, made from such a rare metal.

If knowledge of his collar's existence got to the wrong demons…well, the metal was neither easy to find nor cheap to obtain. Certainly, beyond the means of a low powered creature such as himself. No doubt he'd be questioned about his benefactor and he couldn't have that.

Honestly, after what little he'd learned about the ring, Kiriwo had heard, he was glad that the collar still had all of it's magic. The idea of years of work building it up to be gone in an instant…well he's sure the despair on his face would be beautiful but the idea of having to tell Big Bro Bal that he'd had his magic stolen like that…

Well, it didn't happen. So, no harm, no fowl, right?

Deciding it was best to distract Iruma and himself from collar related thoughts, Kiriwo walked over to the shelf behind the other boy. "Check this out." He pulled down one of his favorite pieces, which had the added purpose of being a method for measuring Gabu-ko's power output, "This ball shines when you store magic in it."

In the face of Iruma's fascination, Kiriwo couldn't fight the urge to show off with his own magic. So, this was what admiration felt like, huh? Kiriwo really liked it. Totally worth abusing his limit. The amazement on the younger boy's face was also worth the blood the teel haired demon ended up coughing up a moment later.

Iruma caught Kiriwo as he stumbled, overcome by an all too familiar dizzy spell as a result of his sudden magical deficit, "Are you okay?"
"Perfectly fine," Kiriwo reassured with a smile, "this happens all the time."

Maybe Kiriwo should have quit there.

Maybe he should have slowed down and avoid repetitively using up his magic and exposing his weakness? Probably.

Was that going to stop him? With a chance of missing out on Iruma's enjoyable amazement for Kiriwo's battler or sweet concern etched into his features? Concern for him?

"All the time?!" Iruma asked, his tone helping Kiriwo come to his decision.

Not a chance. Why in the netherworld would he stop now?

The moment he'd recovered enough to maintain his balance, Kiriwo reached for a familiar little toy, "And here's a paper doll that moves when you infuse it with magic." He placed it on the table, gathered his energy and "Hup!" the doll began to dance.

"Wow…Cool!" Iruma exclaimed.

And then Kiriwo was out of magic again.

Next thing Kiriwo knew, they were sitting down, Iruma fanning him once more. Now that he thought about it, he was enjoying fussed over, too. Maybe he'd play into his weakness in the future so he could get more attention like this from time to time. Not to mention, how demons reacted to the display would also be a good way to get a measure of their character, so he could better plan how to interact with them.

Like Iruma, who clearly wouldn't take advantage of a weakness right in front of him. Oh, he was so nice to be around and he would be so much fun when Kiriwo finally ruined the assumption that being a regular ol' fragile weakling also meant that he helpless, gentle little thing.

But why focus on something that didn't happen yet when the moment right now was so good, anyway. He didn't get to enjoy things like this very often. Honestly, it had been years since anyone had been this friendly with him. And Iruma hadn't gotten bored or creeped out and wandered off yet, either.

Kiriwo looked at the other boy and said, "Well, since you came by, I wanted to show you at least a few of the things we've got here, but as you can see, I'm rather frail and I don't have much magic. Not to mention I blew up an apparatus prototype I'd been tinkering with."

"Oh, were you able to get it working again?"

"Oh, you wanna see it!" Kiriwo had never gotten to show Gabu-Ko off to anyone, too scared of how they react. It would be so easy to get his project banned just on its premise, alone. But he wouldn't get very many more chances show it to anyone, since time was running out, now.

Plus, he had a feeling about Iruma, that rank and power scales didn't mean as much to him as to most demons. What a chaotic mindset that must be, to toss the thoughts that made up the very basis of their society to the side like that.

Iruma smiled joyfully in response to his request, "Sure!"

Kiriwo led Iruma over and threw back the curtain, introducing his beloved device that he had poured years of work into. "Dun Dun Duh Duh! It's my prototype! The Magic Enhancement Apparatus: Gabu-Ko!"

"Go what?"

"Just as it's names suggests, it's supposed to enhance one's magic but it's very difficult to use." Kiriwo felt his heart sink at the thought at, despite having poured all that effort into it, he might never see it turn on for it's true purpose."

Iruma's eye fell to the scattered pieces of its battery, lying on the floor "are these the parts for it? They look like puzzle pieces."

"Yup. Would ya want to touch them?"

"Don't Mind if I do."

As Iruma began picking up the pieces, Kiriwo began describing the difficulties he'd been having with it, meanwhile, recalling how, before finding the battery, he'd been frustrated at having to rely on the school's energy supply for the machines output, which certainly wouldn't cut it. Finding the battery had been a stroke of luck and he'd remodeled the whole thing for it. He knew that if he could get it to work, he would finally be able to get it to function enough in order to… Finally realizing that he had let his mind wander enough and had been subconsciously spouting what seemed like technobabble for a while now, he trailed off and returned his attention to Iruma…

…To find the boy had completed in seconds what he'd failed in months. No way! Wow! Assembled on your first try!" At the sight he felt several emotions at once. Amazement, which he openly expressed to Iruma. Relief, because the plans for the Battler Party could move forward. And deeper, a swirl of negative feelings within him over the hours he had toiled. All that work and Iruma could just…he savored it all, both the positive emotions and the wonderful flavor of despair. And all of it thanks to the boy standing next to him.

"You're amazing Iruma!" Kiriwo leaned over toward the other boy and asked, "Have you ever made any of these things before?"

"W-well…well I…uh?" So, he did have some experience! And here he'd been acting all clueless. Maybe to make Kiriwo feel better? Or maybe he was just shy…

"Go on!" Kiriwo prompted. "I want to hear all about…"And then he was spitting up blood again…

"Not again!" Iruma exclaimed in wonderful horror.

It really was an accident, this time. Kiriwo had let himself get far too excited.

Once they sat down and Kiriwo caught his breath again, he admitted as much before declaring "you sure ore talented Iruma." He meant it, too. To be able to put something like Garbo-ko's heart together like that was incredible.

"Well," Iruma replied, "ever since I was little, I've been good at building things." The boy became lost in memory. Not the happy kind, either. "I would fix random appliances and make my own light bulbs. Lots of stuff. "

"Ap…what? I don't know what those are but it sounds like you've had it rough."

The way the boy laughed was one he recognized from his time before realizing his desires, when he'd dance uncomfortably close to events surrounding his past and family. Oh, how Kiriwo longed to know more, both about things Iruma worked on and the history behind that laugh.

Kiriwo wondered if Iruma had ever been exposed to the idea of returning to origins. What would his view on the concept would be? Could this demon, who seemed to care not for the power hierarchy and might have darkness in his own past, be swayed to embrace it even without the extra push?

How desperately lonely was Kiriwo getting to jump to such thoughts at even the slightest of prompting?

All questions that would take time to answer…

So, when Iruma changed the subject by asking whether he thought the battery would work now, Kiriwo let such thoughts fall to the wayside and smiled, focusing on the question that had tormented him for years.

"Definitely." Never had the word felt so good. All that worry, for all that time and now, everything was ready to go.

And, after all his help, there was no way Kiriwo was going to deny Iruma a chance to see Gabu-ko work when he turned it on for the first time. So, he asked, "Could you bring me that ball I showed you?"

As Iruma rushed to grab the orb, Kiriwo set everything up and placed the sphere so it completed the magical circuit.

Then, finally, it lit up and it was even better than he'd imagined.

"At last, it worked!" Kiriwo exclaimed, part of his mind already jumping to which object he might want to use for the party. He'd had a few in mind but wanted to be careful. This was going to be a special occasion, after all.

"Oh wow! So pretty!"

The exclamation jarred Kiriwo from his own thoughts, and he laughed at the exclamation before taking another look at Gabu-Ko, not for its power output or for what it would do in a few days but just how it appeared, right now. "Isn't it though. Gabu-Ko's truly an amazing machine. Even if you don't have much magic, it can draw out the most of what you do have."

Kiriwo started reflecting on the way of the world, mind returning from beauty and wonder to consider the power structure and what Gabu-ko could mean for it. "It's hard to survive in the netherworld for those without magic to spare. Currently, what's valued most in this world and this school is One's rank. The hierarchy's clear. If possible, I want to create magical apparati that will allow weaker demons a level playing field with the stronger ones. It's my wish that this will help close the power gap for good."

He switched off the machine and opened the door to its battery, praising the machine, "you did such a good job."

"You have an amazing dream Kiriwo."

"Well, I can't talk about it too loudly, yet. I'm pretty sure it's the last thing high ranking demons wanna hear." And, all things considered, this Gabu-ko would probably be destroyed with the school. So, if he finally could talk about these one day, it would be with one of its successors, not this first prototype before him. "But anyway Iruma, you have so much magic and are really talented. Any battler would have you."

Iruma looked at him thoughtfully. "Can I ask you a question Kiriwo?"

"Hmm."

"Well, supposing I didn't have any magic, could I still join this one?" Such a strange question. He really did consider demons separately from their power, didn't he?

"If you actually didn't have any magic, we'd be just alike. Even if you had a little, I'd love to have someone as gifted as you Iruma. What this battler needs far more than magic, is technique." Not to mention, Iruma had a lot of potential. His mind was already spinning so many plans together around the boy. Some ending at the party, others going further. Maybe…maybe not. Kill him? Take him? Break him? Hmm…

But once again, all thoughts for later.

The rest of the afternoon, Kiriwo showed Iruma several apparatuses, some of which he'd been having trouble with. The boy had a knack for fixing things and loved doing it. The smile on his face was so nice.

Kiriwo wondered what face the other would make if he ever knew the utter despair he'd just helped unleash. He bet it would be a hundred times better.

I like the idea of Kiriwo legitimately liking Iruma but having the issue of also obsessing over misery and unable to separate the feelings. With a demon's likelihood to go primal being linked to how miserable they are, I could see these wires easily being crossed for someone who has already returned to origins.

On top of that, he isn't really used to people being nice to him, having only previously gotten any relatively friendly treatment from one kid his age, years ago. And that only friendship led to his going primal in despair when he failed in his attempt to help her at a critical moment. Everything he is at the time of the series arguably arose from that tragic moment where all his misery built up and flipped that switch in his mind way past wicked phase.

Then Baal stepped in and makes everything worse. Up to meeting him, Kiriwo logically knew how messed up he was. Then Baal told him that Demons were supposed to be that way and he embraced it. This might have been what inspired him to want to spread the misery, by any means necessary. Who knows how much of Kiriwo's nature is a result of Baal's meddling?

Warning: Manga Spoilers below.

On a distantly related note, I am going to throw out a few thoughts on Baal based on what we've seen of him so far.

First, I wonder if Baal's intentions, as a great strategist, are actually to send the world into chaos or to create a problem that he can easily quell with his army (which his title of "Tactician of the South" implies he has) so that he can get better standing in the Demon world.

Still, I could see Baal's plans from day one involving getting his loyal followers to do everything he demands and then under the bus at just the right moment. Stepping forward and ridding the world of a threat organized by the terrifying six fingers and their supporters with a wave of his hand…isn't someone with such talent and willing to risk life and limb in such a way worthy of a demon king? It all depends on what approach he's planning and how expendable the Six Fingers are. And, if he has an actual army, they start look pretty expendable to me.

He could also actually want anarchy. I don't know how well he'd do in a collapsed society, considering he clearly likes his luxury so much and would be putting it at risk in a world fallen into chaos. Although, once again, if he has an army backing him, said anarchy could also be stage one of a hostile takeover.

I could see it either way, depending on which approach he thought would get him more power in the end.

Speaking of power plays, it seemed to me that Baal was also aiming for turning Sabro Sabnock into a puppet when he planned to suggest him as a possible option for future Demon King. I also can't help but wonder how long he'd been planning to use Sabnock in that fashion. After all, being the Demon King has been a major goal for Sabock as long as he can remember. Judging from how friendly Sabnock was, Baal's had plenty of time to whisper in his nephew's ear about 'might equals right' for a proper demon king. Good thing Sabnock is smart enough to think for himself and has had influences like Iruma, the Misfit Class in general, and the Demon King Battler, lately. Otherwise, he might have agreed to go along with his uncle's plans for him.

I also suspect that Kiriwo's collars are produced by Sabzan Sabnock, Sabro's dad, under whatever blackmail Baal is using to get his cooperation. I'm wondering if a member of the Sabnock family actually made the ring and Sabzan might even be using left over metal from that to make the things. The Sabnock family ability is to create more of any metal they bite into, after all. So, if he has enough to bite into, he can make more of it.

So, I think Baal is a manipulative monster who's been bending people to his will through force or brainwashing to suit his purposes for years. Purposes that are hard to figure out, except that they leave him with more power.

I'd also love to hear other people's thoughts on this.