The Devil You Know (Inside an Adult Game As A Former Hero - Chainsaw Man SI Chapter 1)

"Um, ah, I'm sorry, Mister, uhh..." The redhead man in front of me, who acted like a boy much younger than his looks, stumbled while talking to me. The redhead was handsome, but his demeanor made his looks meek and cute, rather than dashing.

I woke up in a shed with this guy looking at me shocked and then started apologizing profusely.

Saying stuff like, he was sorry for dragging me from my home. That he wanted another Hero to take his place since his situation is difficult.

At my silence he eventually had to just sputter, not knowing what to say.

I wasn't silent because I was angry. Well, maybe I should if I had still been human but...

I couldn't help look at myself, examining my being and this shit is wild.

More noticeable than anything else was the sheer power I felt coursing through my body, and yet somehow instinctively I held it in. Hiding it, waiting for that opportune moment.

What 'opportune moment'? Why do that at all?

Because of what I am.

"Kid," I finally spoke up. "No. Wait, you're not a kid. But honestly from the way you talk..."

"Huuu..." The boy-Man looked down, in a solemn mood. As if my words were heard hundreds of times, but hearing them again still hurt.

He looked cute.

"Ow!" The redhead cried out at me flicking his forehead. Men shouldn't look that kawaii.

"Stop looking adorable. Straighten your back, will you?" I called out.

"Y-Yes!" The guy did as told. His sad expression still looked adorable. Fuck me, I'm not gay and even I want to cuddle him.

...Wait, am I still straight? Would my emotions, likes and dislikes still be the same as when I was human? I mean, I still have my memories from before but...Huh.

I don't feel sad at my old life just suddenly being gone. In fact, the suddenness, the shock of this sudden twist of fate was...elating.

This has to be because of my new nature, right?

Am I still me? Or as I a copy that was transformed into what I am?

Thinking on this philosophical conundrum I walked outside the hut, to see the night sky, the moon lighting the forest around us, and I could see a small village a little distance nearby.

I stopped and kept staring at the sky. It was filled with stars.

"It's..." I found myself smiling. "It's beautiful."

Seeing such a sight the modern world denied me because of light pollution from cities, I couldn't help but feel wonder at this simple sight.

To be able to still feel things like that, maybe I haven't completed changed into some monster. Just...had a different perspective added.

"Yeah, I...I guess." Said the red guy who followed me like a lost puppy. Okay, I really need to get this guys name.

I gestured for him to follow and went toward a tree and sat down leaning against it. He copied me.

"So, what's your name?" I said. "And what's your story, because I may have been a bit out of it, but I could have swore you said something about a...soul suicide ritual?" I tilted my head, giving him a confused look.

I mean, dude. There are less painful ways of killing yourself.

"I, um, yeah...My, my name is Cloud. The-"

"Pfft, 'Strife'?"

"Huh?"

"Oh, sorry. I thought you were gonna say your name is 'Cloud Strife'. You know, like, oh wait, you wouldn't know. Sorry, never mind." I waved him off as I rambled.

"Huh. So there's a noble with my name that's actually famous and liked." Cloud gave a self-deprecating chuckle.

God, the self-loathing coming off this kid was ridiculous.

Oh yeah, I can sense emotions now. That's a thing. I could even touch them.

I could see an invisible tendril made of my energy, trying to reach into Cloud. Connect to him. Pull on that Trust he feels toward me, and enflame it.

I cut off that link from forming. Pulling it back rather than succumb to instinct. For this one I wanted the Trust to build naturally. I just didn't feel like manipulating this kid. Not with my powers at least. Not now.

"Depends on who you ask. Some think he's an angsty emo teenager." I commented.

"What's an 'emo'?"

"Short for 'overly emotional'. Which really doesn't work because the guy is not a teenager."

"Huh."

"Also he had a bit of a fucked up life, so he should be excused for being a bit standoffish."

"...Heh," Cloud gave a sad chuckle, almost like he was pulling back a choke not to begin crying. "Is everyone named 'Cloud' just meant to have a shitty life? Am I cursed because of that or something?" Oh. He actually started crying.

Guess, now that he's calm, everything is crashing down on him. God dammit.

"Hey, hey," I moved forward and hugged him. The guy froze. Not in fear or repulsion. Just shock. From his emotions...what the fuck? Did seriously no one hug this guy before? "Easy, easy. You're not cursed. I guarantee it, it's gonna be okay."

That broke the damn. Cloud just started crying freely. Crying how his role as a Hero, that he can't avoid it, that it's crushing him, that he can't escape it. Crying about his friends that are planning to humiliate and abandon him. Crying about his childhood friend and first love leaving him. That his team betrayed him-And I had to stifle a shiver happening from the emotions of that-and planned to humiliate him in front of all continents important aristocrats. Crying and saying he's sorry for dragging me into this.

I just held the poor kid, gently rubbing his head, while telling him it's gonna be okay.

...He really looks a bit too pretty as a guy. He'd make a convincing trap. He has the slender built for it. If he was a woman, I would have totally went for-

Huh. I can actually do that? My powers just revealed if I pull someone under my influence long enough, if they Trusted me enough, I can just...change them physically like that.

Looking back at the kid with contemplation, I wondered if I should go for it.

Actually is that really what I want to do? Is that what I will make my new goal in this life to be?

Build-a-waifu from this clearly damaged cinnamon roll?

These questions are gonna be in my mind for a while.

Cloud thankfully started to calm down.

For now, I think I should help him, as thanks for this new interesting life he unknowingly gave me.

"I'm, I'm sorry. I ruined your shirt." He said, blushing and pulling away. I let him.

"Meh, it's fine. It sounded like you needed to let that out." I said calmly, as I moved back to sit against the tree.

"Ye-yeah." He sniffed, and tried to quickly clean up his face, so he doesn't look bad in front of me.

"Look, Cloud, it sounds like you're in a pretty shitty situation that no one bothered to help you navigate. I'm sorry, you had to go through that. Really I am. There's not much I can do about you being a Hero, because well, you're the Hero." I began to say.

"Yeah, again I'm sorry. I'll try to find a way to get you home..."

He paused at seeing me hold my palm up.

"Stop. I don't have a home to go back to." I paused for a moment, thinking on my next move. Cloud was too kind. "More like a home I don't want to go back to."

"Why?" He asked.

"Because it's Hell."

Cloud laughed lightly. "Yeah, I guess I understand that." He looked up to see me smiling, but not reacting. Cloud blinked a few times in confusion at my reaction.

"Cloud, I'm going to do something for you, that I'm not gonna do for anyone else in this world." I said.

"...W-What is it? I mean, thanks? Why?" Cloud said feeling uncertain and worried at the change in atmosphere.

"I'm going to be honest." I told him bluntly.

"Um, I mean, isn't that...normal? People usually are when talking to each other." Cloud asked, blinking in confusion.

"Is it really? Based on your experience. Are people really honest with each other? Are they with you?" I said, and Cloud looked down with a downtrodden look. I wanted to apologize and pat his head, but held back "If you hadn't guessed, I'm not from this world."

"Yo...You're from another world?" Shock and awe filled the redhead, before guilt filled him for pulling me here.

"Hey, now. None of that." I said playfully and he looked back up at me. "I told you, I don't want to go back 'home'. It's not a nice place." Cloud looked on in confusion, but patiently waited for me to explain.

There was a hint of dread in him now. That feeling that something is wrong. That something could go wrong, and that delicious emotion, was also there. Starting to very quietly chime in the back of his mind, reminding him that it existed once before.

"Because it's a bad place?" Cloud tried to smile in a reassuring way, while chuckling.

I smiled back, but didn't chuckle. That worry in the pit of Cloud's stomach crystalized.

"I'm not from this world. I'm not from the world adjacent to this, that you call the Demon World." I looked Cloud dead in the eyes, with complete seriousness. "But I am from Hell."

Cloud stilled, his words caught in his throat. "You...You..." His face started to pale.

"Yes, Cloud. I'm not human."

As if my words were finally the key to break, his spellbinding freeze, Cloud sprung into action jumping back.

Then stumbling. Then trying to draw his sword.

Then fumbling trying to grab it.

...Okay, now I just feel bad.

"Y-You're a Demon." Cloud declared, finally holding the Holy Sword pointed at me.

"No." I stood up and walked till the blade was an inch from pressing into me. "I'm a Devil."

Cloud gulped, before steeling his nerves. His hands were still shaking.

"You...You're a Devil. What's the difference?-No, I have to slay you all the same." He said, trying to shake himself from losing track, from focusing on the Betrayal he felt, even if it was irrational.

He didn't know me, but in those few minutes, he came to Trust me. Yet, he couldn't help but hope that something was different with this situation. That maybe I was just lying and it was all a cruel joke. That Fear only added another drop in the bucket of my power.

"The difference." I answered, ignoring his declaration to kill me. "Is that I am a being born from the Fears of mankind. Me? I'm born of a fear that this world just profuses endlessly." I grabbed Cloud's Holy Sword with my fingers, not even slightly affected by it, and pushed it away despite Cloud trying to push against me. "I should not be this powerful, yet in this world, I can rightfully declare myself the Strongest Devil."

"...I'm a failure." Cloud let go of the Holy Sword. It felt cluttering to the ground. He fell down to his knee, just lifeless, having given up. "The world is doomed because of me."

"No, it isn't." I scoffed at that.

"I summoned you." He looked at me, glaring. Fucking cute. "I brought you here, and now you'll destroy this world. The Demon King didn't even need to bother, when I just achieved his goal for him." He looked down, tears starting to form in his eyes again.

"Nah, fuck that guy."

"Huh?" Cloud's head wiped up to stare at me, with such hope it...it kinda hurt that I wasn't gonna take advantage of it.

"I told you, I'm a Devil born of humanity's fear. If there are no more humans, I cease to be." I explained. "Probably." The Chainsaw Man manga never explained what happens if all mankind died. But Devils probably don't want that.

"So what, you'll just take over the world to rule over humanity with fear to sustain yourself." He spat out, bitterly.

"None of that either." I kneel down to eye level with him, and place a comforting hand on his shoulder. Cloud tense, but didn't move, probably thinking it's futile to do so anyways. "I'm going to help you."

"...Huh?" Cloud said, dumbfounded.

"I." I pointed at myself. "Am going." I pointed at him. "To help you."

"But, but...but why?" Cloud look on in fear, confusion, distrust and hope.

"Because I like you." I said bluntly, making Cloud's face go blank in incomprehension. "I guess you could say I feel grateful to you for this new life, and I want to repay you for that." I explained, ease Cloud's tension at bit. "Also you're cute, and I don't know if I want to bed you or not, and if I want you as a feminine boy or transform you into a woman."

"Eeek!" Cloud leaned away as he hugged himself like a maiden. I laughed out loud, because fuck me, his reactions are the best. "Seriously!" He cried out and I laughed some more. Once I quietened down again, I found Cloud looking at me with a serious anxious expression. "No, seriously, why would you want to help me? Why would you care?"

"I already told you why. If you don't want to believe me that's on you." I sighed and shook my head, before meeting his eyes with equal seriousness. "And as for trusting me? I will do something that even us Devils consider sacred. Not because we care about its sanctity, but because it's something that's part of our being. To break it, costs us dearly." I said to Cloud who's eyes widened at my words. "More binding than a childhood promise, a marriage vow, or even an oath to your goddess. I'm speaking of a contract. One that will give you power, in return for paying a price of my choosing."

Cloud gulped, but now he wasn't leaning away from me. He was listening.

"A bargain with the Devil. What kind of Hero would that be? Goddess Iris would strike me down the instant I do so." He tried to argue.

"Not really. Do you honestly think that Goddess is all that involved in the affairs of this world? Does she actually care, when she makes people like Lorian, or fucking Gis into Heroes?" I said with venom in my tone, that Cloud couldn't help but relate to, making him Trust me more, even if subconsciously. Shit, I think even if I don't use my active powers, there are still passive unconscious ones at play. "No, I think she checked out a long time ago, is just doing the bare minimum." I told him. "Besides, even if she declares you a 'heretic' and hunts for you, I'll shield you. Even if she decides to smite you, I'll protect you." I smiled like a friend. "Come on, what else exactly have you got to lose?"

"...I'm a Hero."

"And I'm not telling you not to be." I shook my head. "I'm just asking you, aren't you tired of being stepped on?" I said, and Cloud couldn't help but listen. "Aren't you tired of always being one step behind? Of always just not seeing what others are seeing? Of just not being good enough? Because I assure you, it's not because you're inherently lower than the other Heroes."

"I'm...I'm not?"

"No. Every one of them had an advantage you didn't, that they started off with. Money, status, training, and now political and military backing should they need it. Everyone is starting ahead while you're just getting to the starting line. I'm simply offering to even the scales." I extended a hand for him. "Besides, if you are worried about what I'm gonna do that much, then keep me around. Have your eyes on me and under control. Because even if I'm a Devil, I'd be your Devil." I then laughed at a thought that came to mind. "Besides, wouldn't it be funny if you killed the Demon King and saved humanity with the help of a Devil?"

Cloud stared quietly at me. He didn't know say, yet his thoughts kept running in circles at everything I just said. There was a sense of resignation in him, and yet hope kept on shining.

Slowly he extended his hand and took my own into it.

"What," Cloud swallowed his spit as if just now realizing his actions, and the implications started to set in. "What should I call you?"

Hmm, I do need a name.

Something profound. Or should it be unexpected?

"Call me, Murphy."

On the nose but unexpected.

After all, I'm not karma coming to collect its due. I am the Betrayal Devil.