I don't own Mairimashita! Iruma-kun
(All of this Belongs to the one and only: Osamu Nishi)
Chapter 1: A Flight of Fancy
Rise of the True Demon King: Iruma!
"Ugh…"
The slight groans of a man could be heard from a warm bed. Soon, a light restlessness could be heard from him, the man trying to understand his surroundings. He tried to get up from the bed, but something held him down, concerning him immediately.
"What the hell happened? Where the hell am I-" Was all the voice could get out, before he felt a pair of arms wrapped lovingly around his neck. Looking down to where the arms were attached to, the man could only sigh, as he laid back down onto the bed.
"Oh yeah, I remember now… Damn you Chairman…" Was all the man could say, before holding the other person sleeping with him tighter into him, said person sighing lovingly in content. The man sighed once more, before drifting back into sleep.
Sometime Ago at the Nameless Flea Market…
A place within the Netherworld that all demons from all over come with only one thing in mind, commerce. Nothing more, and certainly nothing less. Since for all demons, the very concept of commerce is ingrained into their very being. Everything a demon is, and everything they do, requires some form of commerce. Whether it be through material means, or in status quo, demons cannot help themselves in dealing in business, for what could be more demonic than a beneficial deal?
And while the Netherworld may have countless markets and shopping districts, the Nameless Flea Market was special. Almost as big as a small town, and located smack dab in the middle of nowhere, the Nameless Flea Market stands to be the Netherworld's largest shopping district. And to ensure it's security, it was surrounded by long stretches of hot sand and desert, forcing only the most determined demons to venture forth to it's shops and wares. The Nameless Flea Market also functioned as a designated space that any shopkeep can attend through invitation. While housed here, those invited can sell their wares at any price that isn't three times its worth.
As an added measure of security from bandits and ruffians, the market was also fortified by four massive walls, all spanning well over an 50 stories into the air. And with such a large marketplace, of course it would have its own conglomerate, equipped with its own hierarchy and manpower. The entire market was tended, and manned by a company of elite demons guards and highly influential economists. Each one of them that had businesses across the Netherworld that spanned from the main continents, all the way to the forbidden lands. Needless to say, they rule over the market to ensure that free market enterprise was ensured and practiced fairly, to ensure their late King's wishes were upheld for as long as the Nameless Flea Market stands.
Filled with colors that language itself cannot describe, and smells and noises that go beyond imagination, the Nameless Flea Market stands as a bedazzling jewel amidst a vast, nameless desert. The stalls that are housed in this space vary from the sizes of towering buildings, to the most humble of huts. A miasma of dialects could be heard, all of which were on the topic of doing business. And as if we're trying to make it apparent, four massive gates that connected to each wall, only held a massive blank sign, symbolizing the area as a true, free market. But like all markets, there are rules that must be followed.
Within its space, no one shop could be set up for more than a day, and no one merchant or trader can make more than what their wares are worth three times over during their time of operations. But the most important rule was that a merchant couldn't take back a deal once it was struck, and this rule also applied to the customer as well. All deals and contracts are binding, and a deal is only as good as the word of those who spoke of it. Such is a demon law, and demon nature. These rules are followed with scrutiny, with no questions or exceptions. And if one were to break them, the market itself would forcibly throw them out. Either by way of literally throwing them and their shop for miles by way of gravity magic, or by opening a fissure within the earth big enough to swallow their entire shop whole.
Though the rules may be strange, it more than makes up for what this shopping district can provide. From hitman services, to sating the most perverse of fantasies. From the most under-the-table drugs, to the most bizarre rarities and eateries. Even legendary weapons from the time of angels could be found here, and it isn't unheard of to procure services that enable one to see their own future and fate, even extending to others if that is what one would like. To put it simply, Any-and-Everything can be bought, sold, traded, and found in this marketplace. The catch was if you can find a shop that can accommodate your needs within the day, for all shops, big and small, tear down their stalls by closing time, and scramble themselves thoroughly for the next day. It is to ensure all customers, and guests have an equal chance to browse most of the wares that every stall has to offer.
In addition to scrambling the shops, any products purchased that are deemed illegal to the outside Netherworld can only be used on the market area. There have been the occasional demon or three that have circumvented this rule, but in the face of such a grand market place, it wasn't too much of an issue. But if ever the odd fight broke out, the demon guards are more than ready to get a few stretches in.
One could say that the Nameless Flea Market, or by how most demons would call it, the "NFM", was every shopkeeper's goal in their career. The moment that they are invited to sell their wares in this sacred space, their name is scorched forever in history as a place of interest. And nothing can stop a demon from interacting with something interesting, forever solidifying business for that person's shop. All names of every shop that has ever conducted business in the NFM can be traced back to the Nameless Ledger, an accounting book of legend. So is the effect of the Nameless Flea Market. A wayward gift that was heavily refurbished by the late king Derkila, and is soundly maintained by his loyal companions that will ensure its existence for eternity.
It is here in this great market place that we see the great demon Sullivan causally flying through the many stalls that the NFM had to offer, hoping he could find a gift for his grandson. After all of the recent troubles that have happened, what with imposter teachers, to an enemy faction that seems to be targeting Iruma specifically, Sullivan decided he might find a gift that might ease his grandson's mind, if only for a moment.
"Hmm, I don't think Iruma-kun would like a set of centaur barbells, he already has Opera for that." Sullivan said as he passed by a stall that specialized in gym equipment.
"I also know Iruma-kun isn't a fan of intricate furniture…" Sullivan said once more as he passed by a stall that held an assortment of strange chairs, couches, and tables.
"Hmph! He for sure doesn't need any sort of performance enhancing drug!" Sullivan said with a pouting frown, seeing a line of demons waiting at a stall that sold power steroids, and body altering pills.
"Tempting, but Iruma-kun wouldn't like it if I bought him another dress, ho ho ho silly me!" Sullivan said to himself with glee, passing by a stall that sold a myriad of dresses and gowns, all of which were beautifully stitched and woven.
"Actually, Iruma-kun might like a makeup kit, so let's get it just in case!" Sullivan cheerfully said as he went and bought a deluxe makeup kit from a very famous brand being sold at a ludicrously low price, happy he didn't forget his presence warding detection glasses and special 'Hide-n-sneak' suit this time around.
Although he had managed to pick up a gift, Sullivan still wasn't satisfied with his progress. It was just that nothing really called out to him, which was a let down since he passed by at least three miles worth of stalls. It was as if the stalls themselves weren't going to cater to his little Iruma, and Sullivan had half a mind to give those three miles worth of stalls a one way ticket to the desert. But being the calm demon he was, he would have to sit on his hands for that one, lucky them.
Just as Sullivan was about to up and leave the NFM, a small glint of light caught his eye. Looking towards where the glint of light came from, he then saw a little stall, no bigger than the living room back at his mansion, save for a few additional rooms attached to it on the sides. He then looked above him to see what the stall went by, and in big golden letters it read out:
"Living Dolls: A Lifetime Pal!" Sullivan whispered to himself, a rush of curiosity flooding as he had finally found a stall that caught his interest. Walking inside the shop with a skip, Sullivan did only what he thought was a proper greeting.
"~Hello?! I would like one of these Living Dolls please!~" Sullivan called out in a sing-songy tone, happy he was able to find an interesting stall.
What he got as a response was a gruff voice, grunting loudly in the air, as if it were waking up from for the first time in hours. About six feet away from where Sullivan was, a body soon emerged from a mound of junk. Loose papers and what looked like chipped pieces of fine rock fell off from it, the body walking at a steady pace towards Sullivan. All the while, said demon watched on with a deadpan expression as the body in question dusted itself from all the junk that was stuck onto him.
"To whom do I owe the pleasure of waking me up from my moment of peace?" The person spoke, standing in front of Sullivan. The person was now revealed to be a man that was as tall as Sullivan.
The man stood tall and hunched over, a hand on the back of his head since he was still sleepy. He was incredibly built, his arms and legs showing their bulk through the outfit he wore, even though his clothes were thick. His skin was a shade of brown, akin to that of baked clay. He wore a short but full, black beard that was groomed nicely. His hair was styled short and cut, his black hair then connected seamlessly to his beard. A pair of goggles could be seen on his head, cracked and chipped, signifying that it's seen some action over the years. He wore a long, dark brown alchemist cloak that held golden lines that formed intricate patterns on his back and sleeves. And underneath the cloak looked like the man wore a padded leather vest. His hood piece was ripped off, judging by the loose threads coming off from it, and he wore heavy brown gloves, scuff and scorch marks riddling them all the way to the wrists. He wore black, metal reinforced boots that gave off heavy steps as he walked, and he wore dark blue, almost black pants that held metal knee guards on both legs.
Everything about this man screamed he was experienced, that he held great wisdom behind those hands. But his most prominent feature he had were his eyes. His left eye held a shade of dim gold, like old coins that had lost some of the luster, but held the same value. While his right eye shone a vibrant green hue, like newly developed leaves on a young tree, just sprouting on the first day of spring. He was a pretty interesting guy to witness, but his behavior was something to be desired. And yet, there was something about him, something that felt very familiar to Sullivan. So much so, it was reminding him of a certain demon from a different time. A twinge of nostalgia then flowed through him of older times, but Sullivan merely shook it off, chalking it up to mere coincidence. I mean surely it couldn't be, that demon had been missing for centuries now, and most have presumed him dead. Sullivan wanted to keep that train of thought going, but he knew that business was being conducted. So by softly shaking his head, Sullivan regained his focus, answering the man with a touch of politeness.
"That would be me, good sir." Sullivan spoke in a formal voice, eyeing the man as he spoke.
"Hmph, at least you have the decency to tell the truth." The man said in a deep voice, rubbing the sleepiness out of his eyes, irking Sullivan as he spoke more. A moment of silence passed between the two, the man doing his best to wake himself up.
"Alright mister, I didn't hear much as I was walking up here, something about you wanting one of my dolls, right?" The man said gruffly, finally awake from his afternoon nap.
"That is correct sir, I would like to procure a living doll from your shop." Sullivan said cheerfully as he watched the man with a closed eye.
"Hmph, ok. What do you intend for my doll to do for the one you're buying this for?" The man asked, his voice deep and strong like an ocean, or a mountain.
"My my, now how did you know that I was buying this for someone else? For all you know, I could be buying this doll for myself." Sullivan said with a raised eyebrow, watching the man with deeper interest.
"C'mon now mister, you really expect me to believe a guy like you wants another henchman running around, doing whatever crap you ask them to do? Hell, I'm pretty sure you have too many people to boss around with the power you're trying your damnedest to hide. So please, I might be getting on with the years now, but I ain't that old yet. Shit, even with all that warding crap you got on, you'd have be a total numbskull of a demon to not feel just a tiny whiff of the power you packing. So by going off all the things I've stated, I'm almost certain you ain't buying a doll for yourself, so cut it out with this mystery act you got going on." The man said with an unimpressed grunt, crossing his arms as he watched Sullivan snicker to himself.
"Impressive, you're one of the few demons that can't be swayed with warding magic, how quaint. Be that the case, what I have on currently should make me look completely mana-less, and yet you saw right through me. That takes some very serious skill and a fundamental understanding of mana you simply don't see in your average demon. And if I'm allowed to talk further on this subject, you frankly don't even see this level of skill with demons who aren't swayed easily with warding magic as well." Sullivan spoke with whimsy, making the man simply stand there and listen intently.
"Might I add, even without your innate skills, you don't seem like the type of person to fall for tricks. Heh, you've just deepen my curiosity about you even more, and I would love to continue business with you sir." Sullivan said mischievously, the man merely grunting at his antics.
"Hmph, you can talk good, so you got that going for yourself. But I still have my doubts about making this doll for you." The man said pensively, eyeing Sullivan with scrutiny as he spoke.
"Besides, it may say "Doll" on the front of my shop, but the doll I'm making you is very much "Living." Much like a demon who goes through their first familiar summoning, the doll I'm gonna make you will replicate that event. So for all intents and purposes, I expect the person I'm making this for will take care of them as if it was their own familiar. And if I'm being honest, I treat everyone of the dolls I make as one of own kids, so don't blame me for caring about them. Can't imagine what I'd do if I found out they were getting mistreated in some way or another." The man said with a frown, sizing up Sullivan as he waited for his answer.
"I'm both happy and relieved that you care so much for your product, even going as far as calling them as an equivalent to your own children. It just tells me that you truly care for your craft. As for your question, yes, I intend to give this doll of yours to my grandson. You see, recent events have made him feel very uneasy, and I feel well intentioned gift could ease his worrying mind. So please be at ease sir, I can assure you that my grandson is the responsible type, and he will give the utmost care and attention to your creation, as if it were his own familiar, or should I say family?" Sullivan spoke seriously, looking at the man with eyes that spoke the truth.
As if a heavy weight had taken place in that moment, the man and Sullivan stood there in a thick silence. Both demons eyed each other intensely, their respective wills crashing into one another, signifying each other's intent. And after what felt like hours of intense staring, which in reality was only a minute, the man sighed out loud, as if he was admitting defeat.
"*Tch* Guess you mean what you say. Alright, I'll take your word for it then. But should I feel, and or hear one complaint from my kid, I'll be sure to have them return to me immediately. All while they are carrying a suitable compensation fee, agreed?" The man spoke in a defeated tone, making Sullivan grin, shaking his head in agreement.
The man irked at Sullivan's actions, but he was already committed to the task. Such is the custom in the NFM, the man then put out his hand, facing Sullivan squarely in the eyes. Knowing far too well what comes next, Sullivan easily took the man's hand, and shook it firmly and steady, nodding at the man as he did. The man, although not in the mood to work, appreciated that there was still a demon who could at least look him in the eyes for a handshake. Strangely enough, this demon's particular grip was oddly familiar. Chalking up to it being a coincidence, the man then sighed again, preparing for the procedure of doll making.
"Alright, before we do this, my price for one of my kids is going to be a million and quarter golden devi coins. Don't worry, I also accept bank notes and credit." The man said easily, to which Sullivan only chuckled.
"Oh my Devil, such a price for a little one, wouldn't you say?!" Sullivan spoke whimsically, to which the man grunted roughly.
"What can I say, I need to make a living some way, and the doll I'm making you is very similar to that of a familiar summoning. My doll can be summoned at anytime by the person I make them for, along with them having their own name. They'll also come with all the bells and whistles I can put on them. Not only that, I can assure you that the quality is 2nd to none, should the person I'm making this for will be worth this heavy of an investment." The man reasoned out, watching Sullivan happily shake his head in agreement.
"But of course, my grandson is worth all of this and so much more. However, I'll be the judge if this doll of yours is worthy of him." Sullivan said seriously, to which the man only grunted, not phased by his intimidation.
"Hmph, they'll be worthy alright. Ok, now that we got that outta the way, I'm gonna need just a single piece of the demon that I'm making this doll for. That piece could be a chipped off chunk of horn, a torn off claw, a drop of saliva, or even a strand of hair. Really anything that is a part of them in some way." The man said, getting answered immediately by Sullivan, who pulled out a long strand of Iruma's hair from a scrapbook, located neatly in his breast pocket. Grunting at his response time, the man then started up the procedure. Sullivan watched with great interest, watching as the man began his process.
Taking in a big breath of air, the man then brought together his hands, and looked intently at the ground. Soon a vibrant summoning circle appeared before him, creating itself in response to the man's will. It shimmered brightly with purple lights, and radiated vast amounts of incredibly potent mana in the air. This greatly surprised Sullivan in the process, watching how fast the summoning circle had made itself. The mana output that came off the summoning circle was another surprise, as the mana itself would be incredibly intoxicating for regular demons, but for Sullivan and the man, it was a merely another well of energy. But what was most spectacular was what came out of it. In the middle of the summoning circle, A blank doll made up of an equal mix of pure Orichalcum and Demon King's Rhodium came to being. It stood more than six feet in height, lifting its arms to its sides. In the middle and headspace of the doll lied Iruma's strand of hair cut evenly in half, gingerly placed in the areas where it's heart/core and mind/matrix would be. Sealing itself shut, the doll stood there silently, waiting for the next step.
"My goodness, I assumed he would have a pre-made catalyst in hand to combine with the hair, leading up to a bound statue. But to make a genuine, elemental doll from scratch. He even made spaces for a thinking matrix, and a core slot. Not to mention the quality of its condition, it's nothing less than flawless. Such a fine control over one's own mana is unheard of. Along with the ability to manufacture such pristine materials from seemingly the air itself..." Sullivan thought to himself, his curiosity and interest flaring up even more.
"And not just that, just look at that summoning circle! It takes total concentration to erect a summoning circle without preparations or external forces, and the time it would take for it to form would be at least two minutes. And even with both preparations and external forces, it would take a demon of phenomenal skill to create one so seamlessly, and in no time at all no less. Regular demons simply cannot achieve this level of skill, and among those with the skills to do so, even they would have severe trouble creating one so flawless, let alone one in an instant. But the most interesting thing from this whole ordeal is this demon's mana! For a demon to posses such powerful and plentiful mana, along with having a seemingly never ending supply of it..." Sullivan thought to himself once more, his mind working overtime to make sense of the events before him. He knew that this demon in particular was going to be interesting, but after looking at him internally with his 'Chair-Demon's Eyes', the man before him was nothing short of wellspring of mana. It shouldn't be possible, but from what his eyes were telling him, the man in front of him seemed to be a natural producer of mana. This meant that he was a demon with an infinite amount, considering his body makes the stuff passively.
Trying his best to hide his growing excitement, Sullivan felt another twinge of nostalgia now, this time much stronger. It was so strong it made his mustache twitch involuntarily. His mustache twitched to the point where it was almost annoying him now, since the memories that keep washing over him were of that missing demon again. But it surely couldn't be right? I mean there was no way he would settle down in a run down shop in the NFM for the Devil's sake! And yet, the more time he spent with this demon, the more the memories came, making Sullivan smile inwardly again, as another memory came back to his mind.
"A mana producing demon should be impossible by demon standards... And yet, I've seen this type of demon before, or should I say bloodline? Ho ho ho! There's no feasible way, it just couldn't be, could it? So why is my heart pounding this hard? Could he really be him? After all this time, have I truly found him again? There is only one branch of demons that can produce mana of their own accord, and he was their best. I'll get to the bottom of this, even if it kills me, damn it! Both I and the Netherworld needs to know if you're him!" Sullivan thought to himself, now crossing his arms, and watching the man a lot more closely . He flashed another grin, as he caught a glimpse of the man again, he face serious with the work before him. With the guidance core of the doll now acquired, and the preliminary matrix set in place, the man then talked into the air once more.
"*Whistle* Your grandson is gonna have one hell of doll, I can tell you that much. The dolls I make are in response to the material provided by you. And it seems your grandson is a pretty good judge of character. Heh, not bad at all! Not many demons left down here with that kind of heart. You should be proud of your grandson's character." The man said earnestly, surprised that such a high quality doll had been formed.
Not many demons could even get a pure element to manifest, meaning their dolls would be made up of poor man's copper, pig iron, inferior steel, and anything along those lines. Not to mention that their dolls would also be riddled with dents and holes, scuffed up with scratches and burns that could run as far and long as the doll itself. The reason those marks appeared were to symbolize how rough and twisted their hearts were. So to see such a pristine doll form in such a way, while being made up of such fine material, to put it simply, it made the man happy. The man felt at peace in that moment, knowing that there is at least one good demon out there worth their salt.
"But of course. Not a day goes by that I'm not proud of my grandson. In fact, he does nothing short of impressing me every chance I get to witness him. With how he goes about solving his own hardships, and the problems of others, it isn't a stretch to say his a miracle worker of sorts. I'm happy that he is my grandson, and I'm sure he's going to make great changes in the Netherworld in the years to come." Sullivan said with honesty, a light, wiggly aura radiating around him.
"Heh, I'm sure he's happy to be yours as well. A demon with this quality of a doll has to have a heart stronger than diamonds! Though manners can be taught, and etiquette can be learned, one's heart is up to the person that has it. So at least I can rest easier knowing your grandson isn't some scumbag." The man said with a smile, making Sullivan smile with him.
"Alright, let's continue the procedure." The man said with a solid voice.
The doll was then bathed in waves of golden light, all coming from the summoning circle, which was now glowing a radiant gold. What followed next was the doll's outer shape being molded by the waves of light, into a more person-like form. Its hips soon expanded in width, while its thighs also grew. Its chest swelled in size, while it's waist shrunk accordingly. Outlines of eyes then began to appear on the doll's face, along with a small mouth and nose. The ears then took shape, along with a cascade of flowing hair falling softly along the shoulders of the doll. The hair itself was incredibly long, almost reaching the doll's ankles. To the man and Sullivan, the doll was taking on a very womanly appearance.
After a few more waves of light had passed along the doll, the doll's appearance had been completed. Now revealing a woman before them, the doll held a serious looking face, along with very sharp, and beautiful features. Its hair was long, so long that it reached pass its ankles, and onto the shop's floor, shining radiantly among the golden lights. It also held strong, wide hips that could break through the hardest of metals, and a bust that could make any mature woman flare up in competition; to put it bluntly, the doll had made itself nonsensically beautiful. So beautiful in fact, that the man almost thought that something wrong had happen in the doll making process, only to be notified by his internal systems that everything was working perfectly fine. This only made the man tilt his head in confusion, but decided not to question it. Going off by that result, it seemed that the doll had, and for no other reason, made itself that beautiful just to impress young Iruma upon their arrival, but that reason wasn't known to the man or Sullivan, nor will they ever know about it.
"Very odd, it seems this little missus in particular has decided to take on the image of a woman. Normally, most of my clients have their dolls take on a man's image, and they're usually ugly in comparison, no offense to my other kids of course. It seems your grandson knows some pretty looking ladies, and that he gets along better with women, is that true?" The man asked with a sly look, looking at Sullivan with curious eyes, only to be met with a mischievous look of his own.
"If you put it nicely like that, I suppose that is the case. Let's just say my grandson doesn't understand the wiles of women yet. He befriends them so easily, yet never seems to see that his actions make it incredibly hard for them to act on their feelings for him." Sullivan said with a small sigh, not realizing him saying that made Iruma sneeze incredibly loud out in the open at that moment, concerning those around him.
"Heh heh! You make this guy sound more interesting the more work I put into the little missus here. By the way, is it alright if the doll stays a woman? I can change its gender if you want, but it seems the doll wishes to be a woman in its creation. I want to stick to what the doll wants, to make it easier for them to serve your grandson in whatever purposes he wishes to use them in." The man said easily, looking at Sullivan for an answer. Once he got a nod from him, the man then went on to the next step.
A large grid of harsh, green light then formed instantly in front of the doll, the summoning circle shimmering a bright green hue. The grid of light then slowly passed the doll, as if it were scanning it. It then made two more passes, ensuring there were no irregularities, or defects. Afterwards, the grid of light vanished, and the man then took a more proper stance, looking at the doll with seriousness.
Doll Guidance Core Outline: Confirmed!
Doll Preliminary Matrix: Established!
Outer Appearance Shaping: Completed!
Cautionary Scans: Green Light!
[*All prior steps have been achieved, beginning final steps to completion*]
"Alright, now let's get your grandson a new pal to hang around with, hmm?" The man said with a hearty smile, as he then moved both of his hands away from each other in a grandiose way. And in that moment, a brilliant spark of green and gold energy swirled around him and Sullivan.
"Hands of Creation: Sentience!" The man bellowed loudly, his voice loud enough to shake his shop lightly, and Sullivan himself. It was at that time the man's voice shook Sullivan to his core, making him remember another old memory.
The memory involved that missing demon again, only this time, it was him yelling loudly, followed by a torrent of comical punches and kicks aimed towards him, leaving him beaten up on the ground comically. But throughout the whole time he was getting attacked, he kept that same, dumb looking smile, letting everyone know he was simply just having fun. This made Sullivan smile brighter, as that memory was a particular favorite of his. But he was then taken out of his trip of memory lane, as he felt a massive wave of mana being expended from somewhere. Looking back at the man, he soon got his answer.
A tidal wave of extremely potent mana had erupted from the man's chest. It almost looked like a stream of bright green and golden water, flowing out of him and into the doll. The doll in question shook violently, and if it were going to explode due to all the mana that was going into it all at once. To any normal demon, they would've immediately ran away due to how hectic everything looked. Not to mention how damaging that type of mana is to a demon. Just one touch from it could burn off the hand of an average demon. Huge gusts of wind came off from where the doll stood, and big arks of lightning spewed forth between the man and the doll. The arks of lightning threatened to set fire to the shop, but one look from the man made the lightning think otherwise. For most demons in the Netherworld, they would've been out the area in no time, but for the man and Sullivan, nothing was more fun than experiencing something interesting, and this was no exception. But in this wild attempt in using creation magic, the man realized what he had done.
"Guess I made the missus a bit stronger than usual from my other kids. Well, all the better for your grandson. Think of it as appreciation for your modest behavior in light of my rudeness." The man said apologetically, only getting a raised eyebrow from said demon.
"What do you mean in light of-" was all Sullivan could say before he saw the final nail in the coffin. The last thing he needed to see in order to confirm something in his mind.
The thing Sullivan was talking about was taking place, as the man then brought both of his hands together in a clapping motion. Immediately after, the flow of mana shut off, and the doll stopped shaking. Whistling to the air, a very familiar hand gesture had cemented Sullivan's. A simple crack of his knuckles, and clap of accomplishment made Sullivan look downcast, trying his best to hide his face wide grin. With one more clap, a calm moment took hold, as both the man and Sullivan found themselves taking a deep breath in. The man then looked at the doll with one eye, his green one, and what followed was like an act in a magic show.
A thick green mist came off from the man's open eye, rushing towards the doll and wrapping it in a veil of green. After ensuring the doll was properly covered in mist, the man then looked over towards Sullivan.
"Alright, we're almost done with your grandson's doll. I just need you to give me two more specifications for her. One is a personality, and the second is a certain affinity with for an element." The man said with a solid voice, waiting for Sullivan's answer.
"Hmm, two very interesting things to ask me. I didn't think it possible to assign certain quirks and traits to a golem before, let alone a doll." Sullivan said with a mischievous grin, watching as the man's eyes perk up with acknowledgement.
"With how intricate you create these golems, and how high quality you make them, I'm honestly surprised how you don't have any more clientele here." Sullivan said with a curious tone, the man only looking at him with a bittersweet look.
"Ah, I had a feeling you were different from the usual rift raft that comes in here! Yes, essentially I make living golems, several leagues more advanced and complicated than a mere doll. Unfortunately, due to my 'clientele', for lack of a better term, they don't really understand that distinction, and end up loading the poor thing with way too many conditions. And what usually happens next results in my poor kids breaking apart, left in shambles, or blow up in bits and pieces. Hell, that's the reason I rarely get business nowadays. Everyone thinks I'm a hack or a con-man due to them thinking most of my stuff is junk." The man said with a huff, crossing his arms in frustration. Sullivan could only look at the man with understanding eyes, knowing full well when your image is beyond your control.
"Anyway, what would you like for the little missus to have?" The man asked Sullivan, watching him patiently make his decision. After taking a moment to think to himself, Sullivan came up with an answer that reminded him of an old friend.
"For me, to be able to serve your king to the fullest, one must be able to hold their own ambitions. In all cases, it's completely rubbish to have subjects that will bend to your rule so easily, and without a single thought for themselves. But, to have those who have their own ambitions, and are willing to serve alongside their king, well, I feel like that makes for a far stronger subject. For their time serving a worthy leader will in no doubt bring them closer to achieving their own ambitions, while bearing witness to their own king's success." Sullivan said seriously, his regal aura now being apparent as he spoke. As a result, he left the man quiet for the first time in many years.
"Basically, make that cutie of a doll have its own dreams! And maybe then, it could serve my grandson the best it can!" Sullivan said happily, putting two of his index fingers on his cheeks, pulling them into a smile. Looking at the man with a silly expression, Sullivan merely hummed a joyful tone as he eyed the man.
The man was left in a thinking state, for he knew what Sullivan said was true. Having mindless yes men in your group can only lead you to your destruction, and a bad case of ego inflation while you're at it. But that being the case, that man had a hard time thinking of what dream he could impart onto the doll. It was at that instance he heard the doll's voice for the first time internally. Although this was normal in the doll making process, hearing a woman's voice speak so strongly had startled him. Moments of time passed, as the man listened intently to the woman's plea and passion, and like the big pushover he was whenever it involved his kids, the man relented, sighing to himself loudly considering what he was about to do.
"I gotta say, you have one hell of a grandson, making me work overtime. But sure, I can fulfill your request. Rest assured, your grandson's missus is gonna have her own ambition, so she will not stagnate his. My final question to you is what affinity do you want her to have?" The man said, looking one more time at Sullivan for an answer. And the answer that came out of him surprised him once more.
"If I had to choose, then I would have to go with Earth. I feel like my grandson needs a person with strong roots, and solid foundation. He already has so many companions that go along with his whims. So for a change of pace, he should have a person that will ground him to reality. A person who he can rely on when times are too tough, and the adversaries too plentiful. A companion that can apply a firm hand, and use a gentle touch when needed. And nothing symbolizes that ideology more than earth magic." Sullivan said easily, making the man grin widely.
"Heh, I couldn't have said it better myself. You really are looking after that grandson of yours. Only hope he can treat this little missus with the respect she deserves." Was all the man said before speaking out loud for the final time. Once the specifications were adhered to, the green mist dissipated, leaving behind a fully clothed doll that looked very much like a beautiful woman.
Mana Transference: Achieved!
Power Levels: Nominal!
Soulbinding: Successful!
Affinity Acquisition: *Earth*
Ambitions: Set!
The man said out loud into the air, before creating one more piece of the doll's construction. Taking out two perfect gemstones from his inner cloak pocket, he then clasped both hands onto them, and squeezed gently for a moment. What came afterwards was a small flash of pinkish light, and what replaced the gemstones in his hands were a small, diamond heart, and a small diamond tree. Warm to the touch, these little diamond figurines held great detail, and pulsed a gentle warmth around each of them.
"Ho ho ho, you used a pink diamond as a base? My my, that's a bit much for just a golem's heart, isn't it? And I assume that tree is the golem's mind? You truly are going the full mile with this golem." Sullivan said with a mischievous tone, though when the man faced him, he was immediately taken out of it.
"Yeah, you might be right. But you see, these dolls are the closest thing to children for me. And what kind of parent doesn't want their kids to have the best in life? If I'm gonna give them up so easily, then I'm gonna give them the best things I got with the time I have with them." The man said earnestly, looking at Sullivan with a look that shook him to his core one more time.
Just like how King Derkila had up and left for no reason, this demon had also left right after he had graduated from Babylus. In doing so, he had left a lot of colleagues, higher ups, and companions in a mass state of confusion, wondering where the hell he was going. He was a demon so capable, he was recognized as a 13 crown's candidate during his last year of Babylus. He was even scouted out by Sullivan at one point, and was forcibly put under his wing for a time. But due to his overt carefree nature, he never pursued any paths that would further his career. Having such talents, and not making use of them, to say it made many of his colleagues, and companions aggravated was an understatement. The only response he gave to those who knew him was that he wanted to go at life at his own pace, and nothing in the world would make him change that. And just like King Derkila, he was a demon who was extremely strange.
Instead of being greedy, like most demons, he was always known to give stuff away. He was always that one demon that donated to those whoever needed the help. Be it his services, or his materials, that demon would always be happy to give what he had to help his fellow demon. Sometimes he went too far however, giving the clothes on his back, food from his plate, or the blood from his arms. It was due to this behavior, he eventually got the title of The Charity Demon. He was met with harsh criticism from his companions, with the occasional hits to the head, and the days with that demon were never boring. Many would say he was loved, and most would say he was very much treasured. And on the day he left, he had created a massive hole in the hearts of all that knew him.
To this day, little to no one has seen him since, some even speculating that he had passed away in a quiet manner. But Sullivan, and the many others that were close to him knew better, that that man was far too capable to up and die a nameless death. So they believed he was still out there, making trouble for himself in ways only he himself could cause. But now, standing before him was a demon that held a disposition that resembled that very demon, and Sullivan was going to try his damnedest to confirm his identity.
"There's only one way to know if it's truly him…" Sullivan said to himself, looking at the man who held the small heart and tree with care.
The man then walked slowly up to the doll, which stared back at him silently. Positioning the heart at the chest of the doll, he gently pushed it through it, the heart melding with the doll. He did the same with the tree, putting at the forehead of the doll, then pushing it gently, the tree melding into the doll as well. The man then closed his eyes and whispered one phrase into the ear of the doll.
"Time to wake up sweetie…" The man spoke softly, moving away from the doll, but not before lovingly kissing its head as the doll soon shook softly.
A gentle warmth then made itself known, filling the shop up to the brim. A warmth that only those with children would know, it was a pleasing experience. All the while, a shimmering light could be seen coming off the doll. It then began to move gracefully. A lovely shade of skin soon covered the entirety of the doll. Resembling the man's skin, the doll's skin kept covering every inch of itself, until everything was fully wrapped. Next came the eyes, as a shade of bright brown came to be, and soon her nose and lips came next, each cute as a button. Her ears then formed, small and uniform, and her hair became colored in an instant. A shade of dark brown, much resembling that of milk chocolate was her hair, and it tied itself into a braided ponytail. Finally, her body filled out the clothes she wore. Although looking a bit tight for her, it seemed that her clothes would hold for now. As for her clothes, she wore a dark blue, workman's overalls. They overlapped a light grey, long sleeved shirt. She wore brown gloves much like the man that made her, and she had on dark brown boots. To the uninitiated, she would've looked like a farm girl, but to the man, she looked like a damn fine alchemist.
And once a few more moments of time passed, the doll then sat itself on the ground, their eyes closed, as if waiting for something. The man then spoke for a final time for the procedure to end.
"From this day forward, your name will be Ein. May it serve you well and the one you deem worthy to serve. I also hope it takes you to places that I can't even imagine. Oh, and one more thing, try to do a better job than your old man, heh heh." The man said with sincerity and a laugh, watching the doll with a parent's love.
In accordance with the man's decree, the doll then stood back up, and with a burst of warmth and bright light, the doll opened its eyes. Once all the action and liveliness had settled back down, the doll moved about the shop curiously, touching everything in sight and feeling out the world through her hands. It was a cute sight, with both men watching a living golem experience what living was for the first time. But by the time that Ein reached the man, her eyes sparkled, and she ran up to the man, giving him a strong hug. A deep, mature sounding voice then came off from the doll, surprising Sullivan as he watched in the distance.
"Papa! Thank you so much for granting my wish!" Ein said enthusiastically, hugging the man as hard and tight as she could.
"Aw don't think too much on it kid, you also don't have to thank me for something like this. It's only natural that I try to give you what you want dear." The man said lovingly, resulting in Ein burying her head deeper into the man. The man then looked over towards Sullivan, a look that spoke volumes to the demon.
"I already know you will, but please take care of her. This part of the job is always the hardest for me, but it all works out if my client can provide my little one a good home. In return, I hope my little missus here can serve your grandson to the best of her abilities." The man said happily, rubbing the top of Ein's head as he spoke. Sullivan only nodded in appreciation, happy the procedure was a success.
"I've given her a dynamic core that'll only grow stronger with time, and it'll also strengthen tenfold the more that your grandson advances in his rank. She's also equipped with a true matrix, meaning she has free will and the ability of higher thought, and true foresight. I've also poured a ton of my own mana into her, that way she has a basis on how to store and create her own. She's also packing a multitude of advance magics, and she can learn as much as you'll let her. Not only that, she has an incredibly strong body, tougher than a mountain if I'm being honest. If anything, she's just as strong, if not a little stronger than your grandson is currently, judging by the strand of hair you gave me." The man said easily, explaining the details the best he can, ensuring that there aren't any missed details.
"You have my word that my family and I would be delighted to host such a beautiful woman. My only hope is that Ein over here would be able to settle down with such a drab demon like myself." Sullivan said with a small bow towards Ein and the man, making said woman blush just a tad at his gesture. Though the man still had a hard time letting go of his newly built daughter, he knew that this demon was going to take care of daughter in the end.
"Considering how perfect my kid is, I'm sure she can settle down with a downtrodden demon like yourself just fine." The man said easily, laughing heartily when he saw Sullivan's annoyed expression. It was then the man had an idea pop into his head, startling both Ein and Sullivan.
"Shit! I almost forgot the finishing touches! Wait here Ein, let me go in the back real quick." The man said excitedly, leaving Ein standing by herself, while he raced to the back of his shop.
Sounds of loud rummaging could be heard in the distance, as Ein was awkwardly standing next to Sullivan, who only chuckled at her pensive nature. Doing his best to make himself approachable, Sullivan made a balloon animal appear from his hand, and tried giving it to her, only for Ein to look at the man unimpressed.
"I may have just been born, but I'm a woman of sophisticated tastes and interests." Ein said with her arms crossed, looking at Sullivan expectantly. Her voice held such a depthness and maturity to it, it made Sullivan look at her with a tilted head. For someone who had just been born, Ein showed a level of maturity that rivaled that of Opera's already.
Though surprised, Sullivan merely took the woman's challenge to heart. Having already experienced this type of behavior from a certain cat butler, Sullivan looked at Ein with a fond smile. With a certain giddiness, he then placed balloon animal to the ground. The balloon animal then transformed itself into an ornate table, complete with two intricate chairs, two lovely cups of hot tea, and a set of fresh biscuits ready to eat. Walking over to the chair nearest to Ein, he slowly pulled it out for her, motioning for her to take a seat. Ein, now a tad bit more impressed, moved to the seat, and sat down politely. Sullivan did just the same and picked up the cup of tea and took a sip. Ein did the same, but the moment she did, she tasted a wonderful tasting tea. Lifting her head over to Sullivan, he merely laughed at her reaction, and told her the flavor.
"My my, you seem to like the taste. Would it surprise you that it's rubber flavored!" Sullivan spoke whimsically, watching as Ein's eyes went even wider, remembering that this whole tea set was made from a balloon animal.
"My dear, it is alright to have an interest in sophisticated, even complicated things. But one must also keep in mind that sophisticated things can also be simple and fun! It is alright to enjoy things you want to enjoy, there's no need to keep up any pretenses. Life goes by fast enough as it is, so why hide the things that make you happy? There's nothing wrong with having a little fun in the world." Sullivan said truthfully, eyeing Ein in a calming gaze.
Ein in turn took Sullivan's words to heart, her first lesson in life, and what a lesson it was. To have the right to enjoy anything she wanted, was she really allowed that? Her only purpose in her creation was to serve a demon named Iruma, and for as long he wanted her to. Nothing else was mentioned that she could do anything besides that. But with the ambition that she was provided with, a selfish wish that was granted lovingly by her creator/papa, she was determined to learn more of the world. She hoped by doing so, it would assist her in serving Iruma-sama at her full potential.
"Hmm, you are right sir, forgive me for my impudence." Ein said respectfully, bowing her head towards him in forgiveness. However, said demon wasn't going to have any of it.
"Oh you, not even five minutes alive and you're already demonstrating far more manners than many of the demons residing here. I am certain you'll come to love your new home with us. Oh dear, where are my manners? My name is Sullivan, my apologies for not letting you know sooner." Sullivan said sweetly, while looking at Ein fondly. He knew full well Ein was going to be yet another influential piece in Iruma's growth as a man, and as a demon.
"Right? She's a keeper, my daughter isn't she?!" The man said excitedly, running back from the back of the shop with two new gemstones in his hands. Motioning towards Ein to stand in front of him, Ein got up from her chair and walked over. The man then asked Ein to present her back to him, which Ein did immediately.
"I don't want that fine demon over there to feel inconvenienced to have to carry you around whenever he flies, nor do I want you to feel like a bother among others if they have wings themselves. This may be the last time I see you, so I'm gonna make sure you have something to remember me by!" The man said happily. This made Ein both happy and sad, knowing this really might be the last time she would ever see her papa.
Having both gemstones in his hands, he then squeezed them gently. A flash of grey light coming off from his hand, and what came out of it were two small diamond figurines of a set of wings and a tail. He then placed both figures in their respective areas, the wings on her upper back, while the tail went just above her tailbone. He then gently pushed them into Ein, and stepped away once both figures melded into her.
In the first few moments nothing happened, but in a flash, two huge, powerful wings erupted from Ein's back, and a lovely dark brown tail came from her backside. Looking in awe at her new wings and tail, Ein tried moving her wings and tail, and much to her surprise, they did. As if they were a part of her the whole time, both wings and tail just felt right to her. On the verge of crying, Ein made a beeline to her papa, hugging him once more at his consideration. Silently sobbing into him, Ein could only mutter soft thank you's, for her papa was the best papa there was.
"C'mon Ein, stop it with the thank you's. Just know that I'll be on your side no matter what, alright? I just hope you remember me fondly as you rack up the years." The man said with a happy smile, feeling Ein cry harder at the stupid things her papa was saying.
"Using more diamonds as bases I see. To think you'd use polished ones at that. You really must care for your kids." Sullivan said, watching the two fondly.
"Anything for my kids I guess. Those diamonds should make for a solid foundation for a strong set of wings, and a nifty tail. I need to make sure she has a demon's essentials before she gets out of here." The man said easily, facing Ein forward, and proudly presenting her to Sullivan. Ein then bowed in respect for her papa.
Watching the display of charity made Sullivan feel all warm inside, and in that moment, snapped his fingers. A poof of light, pinkish smoke flashed in the shop, and out came a comically large chest full of gold coins, conveniently appearing right in front of the man. The man in turn let go of Ein softly and ran his hand across the chest, looking towards Sullivan as he was feeling it.
"Just one more question for you, good sir." Sullivan said in his egg-like form.
"Name it mister, I'm sure I got an answer for it." The man, running his hand against the chest again to make sure everything was in order.
"Why choose the name Ein? Surely there is a meaning to it, yes?" Sullivan asked with a raised eyebrow, watching as the man grew a faint smile.
"Yeah, there is. That name is from my late mother. One of the few people that went along with my naïve foolishness in the past. All the way until she parted ways with the world..." The man said fondly, glancing at Ein as he spoke. Ein in turn was excitedly testing out her new wings, gently flying around the shop, just earshot away from the two demons.
"You just didn't see demons like her anymore. But when you do, you do damn well to keep'em safe and secure. Just something about them makes you want to make them smile all the time, you get me?" The man spoke with a strong voice, remembering the wonderful times of his past.
"I know Ein is going to make many companions within her time, and she has that feeling of being a person you wanna see smiling all the time. So it definitely seemed appropriate to give her a name worthy of her caliber if you ask me." The man said finally, beaming at Ein once he was done talking.
"Ho ho ho, didn't take you for a sentimental type of person, that's for sure. But nonetheless, that's a wonderful reason. I'm certain your mother is quite happy with giving your daughter that name." Sullivan said joyously, his mind now finally made clear with the identity of the man before him. Though Sullivan figured now wasn't the time to make it known just yet, but very soon, he'll surprise the man the best way he knew how.
"Thanks for the kind words mister. You really do know how to talk to people, that's for sure. I just hope she'll make it out there, y'know?" The man said with a hint of worry on his face, now facing Sullivan.
"I know she'll do wonders out there, this you have my word. Though I'm not a demon who just gives out handouts." Sullivan said teasingly, patting the back of the man. The man in turn smiled a genuine smile, one that only cemented his image even more in Sullivan's mind.
"I wouldn't want it any other way. Ain't no way a kid of mine is getting any special treatment. They're gonna earn their worth by their own hands." The man said proudly, watching Ein finally walk up to him after she was done tearing out her wings.
The man then placed his hand once more onto the chest, double checking it to see if Sullivan had made good on his promise. Crouching down towards it, the man made a few little knocks on the sides of the chest, as if feeling the amount of payment within it. The man's face then dropped in mood as soon as he was done however, looking over to Sullivan with an unimpressed look.
"Hey mister, you know you're a little heavy right?" The man said with a frown, looking at Sullivan expectantly.
"Think of it as a little gratuity for providing me such wonderful service!" Sullivan said with a silly expression, watching as the man was still staring back at him with the same look.
"You really think adding another quarter thing of gold is just gratuity for you? You're about to pay me a million and half for Ein." The man asked, now standing up to Sullivan's height.
"Yup!" Was all Sullivan said, taking on his more comedic, egg-like form to make it apparent that he was serious.
A moment of intense staring passed, with the man watching Sullivan for any ulterior motives in question, however, Sullivan merely smiled back mischievously, occasionally waving off towards Ein, who bowed respectfully in response. Even more moments passed, until finally the man sighed in relief, clapping both hands to his face roughly. This surprised both Ein and Sullivan, seeing as the man now had two red hot imprints of his hands on his face.
"That's great to hear. Ok, just leave about five hundred of those gold coins on the counter over there, and you can be on your way. Thanks for your humble patronage mister!" The man said easily, whistling to himself as he began to walk towards the back of his shop to his makeshift bedroom. However, he didn't see the absolute shocked expression of Ein, or the madly grinning face of Sullivan.
The man was about to enter his bedroom, before he was tackled roughly to the floor by Ein. Looking completely surprised, he went to see why Ein tackled him. What he saw scared him, as he bore witness to an angry Ein who had tears in her eyes. Feeling concerned, the man then got up, but not before getting playfully punched by Ein, who was feeling frustrated with her papa. Though it was playfully, considering what she was made of, the punches felt a hell of a lot heavier than any normal demon.
"What's the matter Ein?! The demon that bought you is a fine one!" The man reasoned out, the punches getting more intense as he kept talking.
"It's not Sullivan-sama that's the problem, it's you who's being the big idiot here! Why are you selling me for pennies?! Am I not worth a million to you?!" Ein said angrily, her eyes now crying streams of tears, feeling hurt that her papa would sell her for so low.
Wasn't the agreed deal more than a million? If so, why mark down the price to a decent air conditioning unit? For Ein, it felt like her papa was just trying to let her go as fast as he could, that she really wasn't worth much to begin with. She was going to keep yelling and punching him, but she was stopped when she felt two strong hands wrap around her arms. Looking up from her rage, she saw the man smile lovingly at her, to which Ein couldn't help but cry harder. The man then put her head into him, to which Ein could only bury herself in.
"I'm sorry if you felt insulted by me asking for just a small thing of gold, but I intended for that demon to use the rest of the money on you. I mean, he was just about to use that money to buy you just now, right? Why not just let him use that money to provide for you instead?" The man said sheepishly, not realizing he had made the wrong impression with Ein, who was silent due the whole time he was talking.
The man then looked over to Sullivan, who was still grinning madly at him, which made him feel a small twinge of nostalgia. Looking at Sullivan with a look that was asking a question, the mischievous demon merely chuckled, answering him immediately.
"I had a feeling you were an odd one. But yes, if you wish, I'd be more than happy to use these funds and much more to ensure Ein's growth and progression. Nothing like education and day-to-day experience to broaden one's horizons." Sullivan said, watching Ein fondly as she was still attached to the man.
"Both agreed and appreciated mister. Always a good thing to know that your kid is gonna have a solid foundation in life." The man said once more with his genuine smile, flashing that image of The Charity Demon once more to Sullivan, who only grinned again.
The man then got up from the floor, Ein still attached to him with her iron grip, not letting go for anything. But a few calming head pats and a strong grip on her arms, and Ein found herself letting go. Facing her papa with an ugly, crying face, the man merely closed his eyes and smiled.
"I'm sorry papa, I thought you were giving me up like trash…" Ein muffled out, exhausted from all the emotions that were swirling around inside her for the first time ever.
"Ah, don't sweat it kid, your papa's just a big idiot sometimes. I should've been more clear with how things were gonna go down." The man said easily, making Ein sniffle out a small smile.
"Be a good kid, alright Ein? To me, you're gonna change the world by being with that demon's grandson. Just feels like it, y'know? Heh heh, go can make you old man proud kid!" The man said jovially, gently patting Ein's head one last time, before walking her over towards Sullivan, who had the courtesy to pull out a personal handkerchief for her to use.
"Thank you, Sullivan-sama, I apologize for my childish behav-" Was all Ein could get out, before she felt a gentle hand on her head.
"Oh sweet thing, you needn't worry about things like this. Showing your emotions as openly as you do takes far more strength than most demons down here can even approach, let alone attain. It is simply another level that you've achieved in your few moments of living, be proud of it young Ein, I certainly am!" Sullivan said with a knowing smile, happy that Ein is finding more about herself.
Ein was embarrassed to no end, but deep down, happy that Sullivan-sama was so understanding. The man in turn only grinned, happy to see his daughter was being treated so kindly. Gently pushing Ein towards Sullivan, the man flashed Sullivan one more smile, said demon taking Ein's hand gingerly.
"Well, be careful on the way out and take care. Thanks again for your patrona- Oh for the Devil's sake! Where were my manners before all of this? The name's Abe, if you wanted to know. Almost went the whole way through our deal without mentioning it once! That one was on me, sorry mister." Abe said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head as he talked. Ein could only chuckle silently at her papa's antics, whereas Sullivan only grinned with his eyes closed.
"Oh I know who you are, Abrams, and I have to say, you're looking positively vibrant the last time we've spoken with each other." Sullivan said easily, his eyes still closed. Abe, now known as Abrams, let out a polite laugh, not picking up on the fact that Sullivan knew who he was beforehand.
"Heh, really now? Thanks for the kind words mister. Though I have to apologize for my rudeness again, I can't remember who you are." Abrams said once more, taking a closer look at Sullivan, still not realizing who the demon was.
"Oh come now, you don't have to bother with the thought. Besides, it was a very, very long time ago that we've seen each other anyway. Though I must admit, you haven't lost your edge at all. In fact, you seem to have grown beyond what my juniors, colleagues, and myself have ever hoped to imagine for you." Sullivan said solemnly, his eyes still closed. Abrams could only tilt his head at him in confusion.
"Uh, thanks? Ok look here mister, I really don't remember much of anything from back then. So much time has passed, that I'm pretty sure a lot of people that I used to know have probably forgotten about me by now, and for a long while. Besides, judging from the power you're packing, you're just barely at the level of an old man I knew back then, Chairman Sul-" Abrams was about to continue, before it hit him.
Like a switch being flipped on, or if the rain had just started to pour, Abrams' mind had finally caught up with the situation. In that moment of time, a wave of realization and nostalgia had flooded the entirety of Abrams. From the horrible memories of training and hardship with Chairman, to the endless laughs he had shared with him and his old companions, the wave of memories that crashed into him was almost too much. But Abrams wouldn't buckle down to something as small as this, and after a moment to compose himself internally, He was about to face Chairman with a strong gaze. However, he was caught off guard when he saw the look that Chairmen gave him.
"You damn idiot. You made a lot of people worry about you, me included, for far too many years. So many questions about what the hell you were doing all this time, all to find you running a small shop in the NFM. Out of all the places, you…" Sullivan said in a low, deep tone, eyeing Abrams with one open eye. The space around them vibrated lightly, Ein watching expectantly at the whole situation. Of course her papa was in trouble for his stupidity, only fair she stays out of it.
Finding himself at a lose for words again for the second time in one day, Abrams tried very hard to make a reason, any reason for leaving for as long as he did... But unfortunately, nothing came to mind. At least, nothing that could really validate it, aside from wanting to see what would happen. Cursing his quick wits for not bailing him out this time, Abrams began to sweat profusely. Feeling an intense aura, he soon figured out that the energy that was being released was coming from Chairman Sullivan himself. The sheer amount power that being exerted from him was beginning to overload all of the warding gear he had on, making Abrams sweat even harder.
"U-Um I can explain c-clearly Chairman! Y-You see, I-" Abrams couldn't even finish his sentence, before he felt two strong hands on his shoulders, both of them belonging to Sullivan.
"Nope, I'm not going to hear your excuses, especially not here of all places. No, I have a better place in mind." Sullivan said with a cheery smile, the strength in his grip not easing up.
Sullivan then snapped his fingers, two long pieces of elegant cloth appearing next to Abrams, wrapping themselves around him firmly. He was going to ensure that Abrams wouldn't escape this time, or any time, ever again. After securing the missing demon, Sullivan then spoke again.
"Once we get there, you'll have all the time in the world to tell me what kind of life you've been living, Abrams. Oh I can't wait to hear the stories you've accumulated throughout your period of carefreeness." Sullivan said with a peppy voice, releasing his wings. Looking once more at Abrams, who was letting out comedic tears, he then looked over to Ein.
"Care to come with me to your new home, Ein?" Sullivan said with an outstretched hand towards her. Ein smiled sweetly, taking his hand earnestly.
"Of course, let's go home, Sullivan-sama. I also want to hear what papa has to say. I'm interested in the history between you two." Ein said respectfully, releasing her wings as well. Sullivan chuckled at Ein's frightening intuition, only about ten minutes being born, and she's already this clever and sharp, what more if she learned from others?
Both Sullivan and Ein then walked out of the shop, Abrams being dragged along with them from Sullivan's cloth bindings.
"Ein, you need to convince Chairman to-" Was all Abrams said, before he felt a calming hand on the side of his cheek.
"Papa, you need to face the situation head on. No more weaseling, ok?" Ein said calmly, watching in glee at her papa's paling face. Abrams then shifted his focus onto Chairman Sullivan.
"Chairman please! At least let me get a few things from the back-!" Was all Abrams could say before he was sent flying into the sky, signifying that both Sullivan and Ein began to fly.
Sighing to himself, Abrams resigned himself to his fate. Nothing more he can do anyway, what with Chairmen being the one that had him in bindings. Abrams at least hoped that these turn of events were going to be interesting.
"Well, bright side is that it can't get any worse, right?" Abrams thought to himself, trying really hard to see the bright side of the situation, and not finding any. Though he was only answered with a smirk from Sullivan, who knew that the coming days were going to be a blast of fun and awe, considering Abrams was a walking monkey wrench.
"The days are about to get a lot more fun, Iruma-kun…" Sullivan said excitedly, the cloth binds gripping Abe a bit tighter in response.
In Kitchen in the Sullivan Household...
"Achoo!" Iruma sneezed out, startling the sheer life out of Clara, who was over for the day. Today was going to be all about baking, and of course, Clara was the only that was allowed to do the actual baking. Asmodeus couldn't make it today since his mother asked him to stay at home for family dinner, much to the despair of the pink haired demon.
"Iruma-chi, you've been sneezing a lot today, have you come down with ghoulie pox?" Clara said jokingly, watching as Iruma was wiping his nose. Iruma then looked over to Clara with a smile, resuming his mixing of cookie batter in the mixing bowl.
"I don't have a clue Clara, I'm worried I might actually be coming down with something." Iruma said truthfully, getting bombarded a second later by a wave pill bottles and blankets. Clara wasn't going to just stand there and let Iruma get sick. So she did what Clara does best, and started creating a bunch of stuff that cures sicknesses, much to Iruma's easy going nature.
"Not if Clara can do something about it! I'm going to nurse you back to health with my healing power and womanly charms!" Clara said happily, now wearing a classic nurse's outfit, making Iruma laugh.
"Don't worry Clara, I'll be fine. But weirdly enough, it does feels like everything's gonna change around here." Iruma said laughing, making Clara look his way.
"What do you mean by everything's gonna change Iruma-chi?" Clara said with a quizzical look, holding a comically large needle full of strange liquid, pointing directly at him.
"That's the strangest thing Clara, I have no idea what I mean by that, it just feels like it, y'know?" Iruma said with a smile, moving Clara's needle away from him.
For some reason, Iruma felt that the flow of the world really was about to shift in the coming days, yet he didn't know why. Little did the young man knew, a shift in the world was understatement for what was about to happen. An adventure was about to take place that would surly change how the Netherworld would function from that day on.
Author Notes:
Heya, just wanted to say thanks for reading! Binged the shit outta Iruma's manga and good lord, a story popped up in my head. Hope you guys enjoy it, and I'll see you in the next one!