#977 Getting Wild

I’m Clemon, your everyday demoness, happily rescued.

All those nasty people who tried to kidnap us got nabbed.

There were dozens, but not one got away.

All thanks to the army troops swarming in.

“Hey, Gray Silva! Great job again!”

“You’re late again! Waiting until everything’s over to barge in? Isn’t this your turf? Shouldn’t you be handling this?”

“Does it matter who takes out the bad guys as long as they’re gone?”

Wait, isn’t the guy arguing with Master just a regular customer?

He always said he goes to the café to slack off.

But now, he’s looking all serious in a uniform...?

One of the soldiers runs up to this “customer” and says, “Commander, we’ve detained all the bandits. We’re ready to transport them to jail.”

“Before that, give them a quick interrogation here. They’ve got more of their kind out there, so find out where. Be a bit rough if you need to; time’s ticking.”

“Sir!”

The soldiers spring into action at the customer’s command.

So, this guy really commands soldiers? And they called him “Commander”...?!

“No way. Are you really the demon army’s Commander?!”

“Oh? Surprised? But I can’t blame you. I don’t exactly look the part most of the time.”

Wait a minute, is he really the legendary Belphgamilia?!

The one hailed as the strongest among the Heavenly Four, even called the ‘Demon King’s right hand’...?!

“Well, I’m more shocked to see you here, actually.”

“Gah!”

Ouch, that stings...!

And Master?

He’s still here but completely silent. He’s not even looking my way.

Ignoring the awkwardness, Lord Belphgamilia teases, “Well, you’ve answered my question just by being here. Those guys lured you with a job offer, didn’t they? And you fell for it.”

“Urk-”

“Was Gray Silva’s place really that bad? Pay’s decent, shifts are flexible—it seems like a good place to work to me.”

P-Please stop being so blunt!

Especially right in front of him...!

“Everyone’s free to choose their job, especially part-timers. But you have to be more careful about suspicious offers like that.”

No, you’re mistaken, sir!

...Well, he’s not entirely wrong, but still...

I glance at Master. He’s still avoiding my gaze.

“Oh, worried about Gray Silva? Makes sense. A café owner who takes down gangsters would make anyone curious, right?”

“W-Well, yes...!”

Tonight is just full of surprises...!

“Didn’t it ever strike you as odd that Gray Silva’s human? Even with the recent peace, it’s still rare. Plus, he moved here before the new Human Kingdom even formed.”

I-Is that so?

I didn’t know anything about Master before I started working under him...!

“Turns out he’s a former top-notch mercenary who made a name for himself in the human army.”

“Hey, Belphgamilia...”

“Come on, she already knows both sides of you. We might as well spill the whole truth.”

A mercenary?!

I thought he was just a down-and-out café owner, but he has that kind of past?

“During the war, he was feared by our army. Always striking from the shadows, knowing our weak points. Our only saving grace was that he never held a high military position. If he had, we might’ve lost.”

Coming from Lord Belphgamilia himself, it sounds all too real.

If even the demon army’s top commander respects him, Master must’ve been really something.

“But times change. The human-demon war ended, and peace arrived. Soldiers became redundant, especially mercenaries for hire.”

True...

“That’s how Gray Silva ended up retiring from being a mercenary and going straight. He was recommended by a friend, and now he’s running that café over there. I mean, a hero who’s been through so many battles deserves some peace, right?”

“You’re one to talk. You’re the one bringing chaos into my peaceful life.”

“Am I? Ehehe...”

Finally, Master Gray Silva speaks up.

“They saw my past record and started bringing me all the tough cases in this city. I can’t even practice making coffee anymore.”

“Still, it’s kind of you to help out so diligently. Thanks to you, the gangs infesting the city are being wiped out at an incredible pace!”

“Back in the Human Kingdom, I used to deal with underground organizations, too. I’m better suited for this than actual warfare.”

“And this time, you saved the young lady, didn’t you? That job ad was so sloppy it was almost a blind spot. The army completely missed it. It’s thanks to sharp eyes like yours that we caught it in time.”

Is it just me, or is Lord Belphgamilia showering Master with praise?

He’s so unreliable back at the café, always messing up orders… But in reality, he’s this amazing?

“We worked so hard to bring peace, it’s a shame to let those sewer rats run rampant. I just want to live in peace, too.”

“After the disarmament, a lot of the Demon King’s soldiers were let go. We tried to provide as many jobs as we could with help from the Human Kingdom, but many still ended up jobless and turned to crime. The gangs we caught today are full of those guys.”

Lord Belphgamilia casually mentioned how the city’s been a bit unsafe lately.

“The Demon Kingdom provided plenty of new jobs for the retired soldiers. If they still turned to crime, that means they were rotten to begin with. Those types should be arrested without mercy and sent to the mines or galleys.”

“You’ve been a huge help cooperating with us, Gray Silva! You’ve cut down on so much hassle. We really owe the saint for sending you here!”

“I doubt Lord Saint meant for me to end up with this job.”

The conversation is lively.

Then, another soldier from the army rushes over...

“Your Excellency, we’ve finished interrogating the suspects. We’re ready to start the transport...”

“Okay, got it. But can’t you summarize those reports later? It’s such a hassle.”

“Well, about that, sir... We’ve been interviewing the rescued women and sending them home with escorts, but one of them...”

The soldier looks in my direction.

Me?

“Oh, right, don’t worry about her. We’ll handle her escort. No need to trouble yourself.”

“Wait, hold on...!”

Master seems flustered.

“Looks like everything’s sorted out, so I’m heading home. Gray Silva, your work as the Demon King’s special investigator is done. Now, you can focus on being a café master. See you later!”

And with that, Lord Belphgamilia leaves.

Wait, leaving just the two of us here isn’t fair!

“...Clemon, you wanted to quit your part-time job, didn’t you?”

“Eek!”

Master’s confirming this now?!

Things were already awkward enough!

“You came here because you were looking for a new job, right? Dissatisfied with working at the café, you ended up getting caught in this mess. I’m sorry for putting you in danger.”

“No, no, no! The only reason I got into this mess is because I’m a careless fool. It’s not your fault, Master!”

“Still, if I had provided a more satisfying work environment, this wouldn’t have happened. Let me make it up to you by helping you find a safer, better job.”

Wait, wait, wait...!

I only looked for a new job on a whim and got tricked, which is my own fault...

So Master, don’t look so defeated...!

“Oh, that’s right! I think I can be more helpful from now on!”

“?”

I learned about your secret (?) job today, Master.

I’m sure it was meant to be a secret, but if I support you as your assistant, things will go smoother both on the surface and behind the scenes.

“I’m aiming to become a bureaucrat, so having connections with people like Lord Belphgamilia and other top officials is beneficial. It’s a win-win situation! Please keep me on as your employee!”

“Well, if you’re okay with it, then I’m more than happy...”

Yes!

I’ve suddenly found a new interest in my current job!

On the surface, he’s a café master!

But behind the scenes, he’s a top-notch agent working on special government missions!

And I’ll be the brilliant assistant supporting him!

I’m going to give it my all!!!!