Chapter 8
“Hup-two, hup-two!”
“Hey! The formation’s breaking! Stay focused!”
“Put strength into your legs and run!”
The demons were running around the training ground in a perfectly maintained formation—not a single one out of line.
They’re on their 43rd lap right now.
From what I’ve observed over the past week, once they hit 50 laps, they’ll probably start sword training.
And as for what I’m doing while watching them…
“Bya… (I’m gonna die…)”
I was lying sprawled in a corner of the training ground, gasping for breath.
Not because I trained with them.
No, it’s just…
“Hand.”
“Handstand.”
“Foot.”
“Fetch.”
Because I’ve been obeying every single demand from that damn bastard Martin.
‘Am I a dog? No—even dogs don’t do handstands, you lunatic!’
I was cursing him out in my head, but the truth was—I couldn’t refuse.
On the first day I got the quest, Martin told me to “fetch.”
Even though I’d already thrown away my human dignity, that felt like too much, so I refused.
And then—
Main Quest <Let’s Get Close!>
Gain favor with all 1st Legion members (1/35) — NEW!
My affinity dropped instantly.
‘Yeah, system, go die.’
So I fetched the stick he threw.
I needed to survive, after all.
Since then, Martin kept making me do things like this—like he found it fascinating to have something obey him.
Seriously…
‘This pisses me off.’
Once I can properly move my limbs, I’m going to punch him. I swear I will.
But… it wasn’t all bad.
Main Quest <Let’s Get Close!>
Gain favor with all 1st Legion members (7/35) — NEW!
Without realizing it, I’d gained favor with five more demons.
‘No idea why, though.’
Maybe they felt sorry watching me struggle to please Martin. That’s my best guess.
Anyway—
Time Remaining: 70 hours
Only three days left.
After seven days, I’ve barely completed one-fifth of the quest.
‘What do I do…?’
A lifelong loner is now stuck with the hardest quest imaginable…
Even if I wanted to strike popular poses, I’m stuck in a baby’s body. I can’t do anything. Ugh, I could cry.
“Lady Sekina! It’s mealtime!”
Arthur approached with a bright smile.
Despite running 50 laps around this huge training ground, he didn’t have a single drop of sweat on him.
‘What a monster.’
Clicking my tongue, I gulped down the milk he offered.
“Commander, today is the council meeting. Please stop bothering Lady Sekina and head over.”
“I… not bother. Sekina… enjoyed.”
Who?
When?
I froze mid-sip, stunned.
Hey, Arthur—no, I didn’t enjoy it at all. Please stop him.
I stared at Arthur desperately—but…
“Really? Hmm… then you can continue after the meeting. If you skip again, the Demon King will get angry. Lady Sekina, you’re okay with that, right? Please bear with it for a bit.”
Not okay, you bastard.
I was about to explode from frustration.
I need to finish this damn quest quickly… what do I do?
I clenched my gums while chugging the milk.
“Oh, Commander, are you heading to the council?”
“Travel safely!”
“Don’t hit anyone again!”
“And don’t break anything!”
Completely unaware of my suffering, Martin left, ignoring the greetings.
“Shall we take a short break too?”
“Yeah. Rest until Lady Sekina finishes eating.”
“Yes, sir!”
The demons immediately flopped onto the ground.
“Hey, who fell behind while running?”
“If it were me, I’d be too embarrassed to even lift my head.”
“Hey! That’s because you tripped me!”
“Excuses, huh?”
“You bastard, get over here!”
Same chaos as always.
Sigh. Must be nice. Meanwhile, I might die in three days.
“Oh, Lady Sekina, you’re done already?”
Arthur took the now-empty bottle from me.
“Bya! Byaa! Mya! (Give me another one! I’m still hungry!)”
“No. You already had three this morning.”
“Myaaa! (Give it!)”
“No.”
Maybe because he’s a father of two, Arthur has started to understand me—and refuses me when needed.
But this isn’t enough to fill me!
‘Just one more would be perfect…’
So I clasped my hands together.
“Mya…”
Then I widened my eyes and puffed out my lips.
“Myaaa…”
The most pitiful expression I could muster.
Even if he’s a demon, he should have some heart, right?
“Ahem!”
As expected, it worked.
After clearing his throat, Arthur reluctantly pulled out another bottle.
“F-fine. Just one more.”
“Byaa! (Should’ve done that earlier!)”
Grinning brightly, I opened my mouth.
Right then—
“Wow…”
A nearby demon suddenly leaned his face close to mine.
“Lady Sekina, now that I look closely… you’re really cute.”
What nonsense.
I’m cute even without looking closely.
I ignored him.
“Hey, what’s so cute about a humanoid?”
“No, look carefully. There’s something strangely charming. Those chubby cheeks…”
“Hm. Maybe?”
“I guess so?”
Are these idiots treating me like a zoo animal?
Still sucking on my milk, I glared at them.
But they didn’t notice.
“Hey, that expression is even cuter.”
“Yeah, those murderous eyes… gave me chills.”
“Lady Sekina, can I poke your cheek just once?”
As if.
I glared harder and tried to turn my head—
Ding!
Main Quest <Let’s Get Close!>
Gain favor with all 1st Legion members (11/35) — NEW!
“…?”
Four people at once?
‘Don’t tell me… because they think I’m cute?’
That suspicion turned into certainty immediately.
“Huh? What’s going on? Why are you guys having fun without me?”
“Oh, Lady Sekina’s so cute. I wanted to poke her cheek.”
“Why am I being left out? I want to try too!”
Main Quest <Let’s Get Close!>
Gain favor with all 1st Legion members (13/35) — NEW!
This is it.
“Byaa!”
Here—my cheeks. Poke them all you want.
“Me too! Me too!”
“Let me try once!”
Poke poke poke.
It didn’t feel great, but I could endure it.
“Wow… are babies always this cute?”
“Lady Sekina, can you smile one more time?”
“Over here! Look this way!”
Because I’d found a way to win over these demons instantly.
As expected—cuteness rules the world.
‘Time to show my ultimate move.’
A skill I mastered in my previous lives.
The technique I used to survive—pretending to be a harmless baby.
“Myaaha! (Ultimate Cute Combo Slash!)”
“Hahaha! So cute!”
“Iyah! (Ultimate Cute Strike!)”
“Ahh! I’m going to faint!”
Ding ding ding!
Notifications rang nonstop.
Winning over demons? Easier than studying.
“Hoo…”
After finishing the council meeting, Riat let out a sigh, slipping his monocle into his pocket.
—The Pope has awakened.
Those were the words of Calvin Moduara, commander of the 4th Legion responsible for intelligence.
The Pope, who had been half-dead for six months, had miraculously recovered.
And since it came from Calvin—the man who had never once been wrong—it was undoubtedly true.
‘Damn it.’
Riat exhaled deeply.
Since the Demon King’s power had been sealed, the demon realm had been steadily collapsing.
It was inevitable—it was a world sustained entirely by the Demon King’s power.
With that control gone, monsters had lost their reason, attacking indiscriminately—even other demons. As a result, demons were losing their territory.
There were still safe zones—but for how long?
They needed to break the seal as soon as possible.
‘That damn Pope… he should’ve just died!’
Ugh!
Decades ago, demons who had descended into the human world were nearly wiped out by the Pope.
Since then, they’d tried to blend in—eliminating monsters that leaked into the human world.
Fortunately, they saved a prince from a monster horde and were granted the title of border count.
Things had seemed stable after that—but—
—How can we trust those with no proper origins?
—We still find them suspicious.
—You must receive temple approval before leaving the northern territory.
The Pope had opposed them.
Even though they’d perfectly concealed their demonic energy—what did he see?
For six months while he was unconscious, things had gone smoothly.
But now…
‘Our plans just got a lot more complicated.’
They needed to restore the Demon King’s power quickly.
‘If only that homunculus would grow faster.’
The one who could bind relics and gain power—Sekina.
“Hm.”
Riat changed direction, heading toward the training ground, assuming she’d be there with Martin.
And when he arrived…
He rubbed his eyes, briefly denying reality.
“Lady Sekina! Over here!”
“Smile this way too!”
“We’re waiting here!”
…What the hell is going on?
