— — — — — —
After hearing from the Black Crow gang boss that Tatsuya Himekawa was the one pulling the strings behind all this…
"So, what now?"
"Is that even a question? Obviously I'm going over there to beat the hell out of the brat who thinks he can challenge me."
Kazuma tossed the Black Crow leader onto the ground and handed baby Beel to Hilda.
"I… I'm alive!"
The gang leader collapsed to his knees, watching Kazuma and the others walk away. For a moment, he really thought he'd survived.
But the next second, a black blade pierced straight through his throat. A pair of shadowy hands covered his mouth and dragged him into the darkness.
No one would ever know a slaughter had happened here. No one would know where the Black Crow gang went.
"It's been so long and still no message. What the hell are those idiots doing?"
Tatsuya Himekawa sat on his couch, scrolling anxiously through his phone. According to his calculations, it shouldn't take that long to get from here to the school, deal with things, and report back.
But no matter how much time passed, nothing came. A bad feeling gnawed at him.
And then—
BAM!
The flimsy front door exploded inward as Kazuma kicked it off its hinges.
"Damn, this place really was hidden. Nearly walked right past it," he said casually, stepping inside.
He stopped in front of the white-haired man. "Tatsuya Himekawa, right? Hard to miss a guy with a shiny jet-plane hairstyle."
"You're the new teacher at school." Himekawa's eyes narrowed. "If you made it here safely, that means those trash already lost to you. Not that I expected much from them anyway."
He glanced at the two blonde women and the green-haired baby behind Kazuma. Recognition flashed across his face—surprise first, then a relaxed smile.
"So the rumors were true. You're strong. Name your price. Help me take over Ishiyama, and I'll pay whatever you want."
"You're a teacher. You work for money, right? I can give you ten times, a hundred times what you get now. Hell, I can give you a job in my family's company."
He pulled out a suitcase from behind the couch and flipped it open, spilling stacks of cash in front of Kazuma.
Street punks sometimes aren't swayed by money simply because they don't know how nice money actually is. But adults? Adults bend easily—unless you just haven't offered enough.
"That's all? Not nearly enough to buy me."
Kazuma didn't even look at the money. He clenched his fist and walked toward Himekawa step by step.
"Hahaha, I knew you were my type. Now I want you to submit to me even more."
"You're strong, right? Let's fight one-on-one. If you win, take the money. If I win, you become my underling. Think it over. Don't let anger kill your brain cells."
"You've got two wives and a kid. You need a house. You need formula, clothes."
"When your kid grows up, you'll need money for school, college, marriage, work, a car, a home—everything costs money."
Himekawa stood up, still smiling, but something in his heart twisted. Especially when he met Kazuma's eyes.
A chill spread through him. That look… that was the look of someone who genuinely wanted to beat the shit out of him.
His hand slipped to the electric baton hidden at his waist. This thing could release 800 volts.
"Kid, here's some advice: stop talking so much crap in a fight. Punch more."
Before Himekawa could react, Kazuma's fist slammed into his stomach—so fast the eye could barely follow.
"Urghh!"
Himekawa shot upward, smashed into the ceiling, and spat out blood.
"So fast… and so strong… what a freak…"
He felt his ribs crack. The 0.8-centimeter ceramic armor plate under his shirt shattered instantly. The leftover force hurled him into the ceiling and broke even more bones.
"Take this!"
He ripped himself free of the ceiling, ignored the pain, and swung the electric baton at Kazuma.
Bang!
"Too slow, kid."
Another punch sent him flying. Kazuma's recent chalk-throwing practice had really improved his control—it was impressive. Himekawa wasn't dead yet.
"Da-dada!"
Baby Beel kicked excitedly in Hilda's arms, wriggled free, and scrambled toward the fallen Himekawa at surprising speed.
"Master!"
Hilda chased him down and scooped him up again—but the next moment, Himekawa suddenly lunged upright.
He rushed at Hilda and pointed the electric baton at her.
"Ha! Got you off guard! This is my strategy—cough, cough— damn…"
Pain twisted his face. His insides felt shredded. Every breath sliced at him from the inside. The torture was unreal.
"Help, I've been captured~" Hilda said it in a perfectly flat tone while staring calmly at Kazuma.
"Dadada~!" Beel chirped happily.
"For a second, I actually wanted to turn around and leave."
Kazuma looked at the two of them. Beel messing around was normal, but Hilda? She was just messing with him at this point.
He really did feel like walking out the door.
"You're such a cold, heartless man," Hilda said expressionlessly.
"Just finish him," Kazuma muttered.
"Damn it! Are you taking me for a clown?! I'm serious here! I'll really do it! I swear I will!" Himekawa screamed.
"This thing is real! Someone really will die if I press it!"
"Only one person here is dying today," Kazuma replied. "If you drop that baton even a centimeter, I'll blow your head off."
His good mood was completely ruined. Time to end this farce.
"You trying to scare me? I don't scare easy! I'll do it! I'll shock her! Then your woman and your kid—dead!"
"Hold on," Kazuma cut in. "The kid is my kid. But that woman? Definitely not mine. She's just a maid. Don't get it twisted."
Tohru finally snapped. "That's right! How did she suddenly become the wife? I was the first one to accept Kazuma's proposal!"
Ugh! These people aren't scared at all! Damn it, damn it, damn it!
Himekawa's rage boiled over. He glanced at the baby, then the blonde woman. Grinding his teeth, he charged at Kazuma with the baton.
"Damn it! My perfect plan failed before it even started!"
Even knowing he couldn't win, he refused to run or harm a baby. He'd rather die than grovel.
"Gotta say, you've got some guts," Kazuma admitted. "Didn't expect that from you."
"Of course! I'm Tatsuya Himekawa!"
Himekawa swung the baton even though he knew he'd never land a hit. Kazuma was too fast—he couldn't so much as touch him. But he still swung.
What else could he do? Run? Pathetic. Kneel? He'd die first.
Kazuma caught the baton with one hand.
"You wanna hit me, right? Fine. I'll give you one chance."
"You… you arrogant lunatic! Take this—1000 volts!"
Himekawa's eyes lit up. This was a golden chance. He slammed the button.
No human could withstand that. Kazuma would drop instantly.
He'd win.
"Himekawa… money can get you far. But sometimes strength matters more. With no power, you're just livestock waiting to be butchered."
Kazuma crushed the baton in one hand. The electric surge didn't even faze him. Lightning danced uselessly across his fingers.
He smiled at Himekawa.
"Sensei...Kazuma-sensei, I… I get it now. I'm sorry. I'll pay compensation, okay?"
Himekawa stared in horror. This wasn't exaggeration. This man really was a monster.
Was he even human?
"Sure, then I'll finish this in one punch."
Kazuma patted his shoulder, then, in the next moment, threw a punch.
Himekawa shot upward like a missile, smashing through layer after layer of ceiling before finally bursting into the open sky.
"What a nice… blue sky…"
That was the last thing he saw before he lost consciousness. Whatever happened afterward was a mystery to him.
"Done. Let's go eat." Kazuma dusted his hands.
"What're we eating? I want meat!" Tohru said immediately.
"Our master needs milk. I need to buy formula," Hilda added. "Not sure if human-world formula works for demon babies. If not, I'll have to return to the Demon Realm and get proper milk."
"Da-da-da!"
Little Beel waved excitedly. He really wanted to fight someone too. He was convinced he'd gotten much stronger.
...
Afterward, Kazuma, Tohru, Hilda, and Beel grabbed a meal outside. On the way, Hilda spotted a TV.
"What is that thing?" she asked.
"A TV. Don't you have them in the Demon World?"
They looked over. The TV was playing one of those ridiculous, melodramatic family soap operas. Who even watched this stuff?
"No, we have TV. But I've never seen… this. Let's wait a bit. I want to watch." Hilda instantly got sucked into the cheesy drama, sat down, and refused to move.
"So now we know who watches this trash," Kazuma muttered.
"Don't watch it here. If you want, I'll buy you a TV. Watch as much as you like," he said generously.
"Mm… no, it's fine. I'm not that desperate." Hilda looked tempted but quickly shook her head. Kazuma didn't seem rich. She couldn't just demand things because she liked them. She was selfish sometimes, but she still took her duties seriously.
"Use your tiny salary for Beel's formula. I'll find my own way to get a TV," Hilda said firmly.
"…Tiny salary? Do you think I'm broke?"
For a moment, Kazuma genuinely felt insulted.
"Isn't that the case?" Tohru chimed in.
"What?! Tohru, you too? Beel, do I look poor to you?"
Kazuma lifted the baby so they were eye-to-eye.
"Dah," Beel nodded.
"If you had money, why would you live in an empty classroom at the school?" Hilda asked. "Rich humans all live in fancy houses. Living at school doesn't make you look like someone with treasures."
"If you're so short on money, you can just tell me," Tohru added sweetly. "I can bring you plenty of jewels from home. Humans value those a lot, right?"
"You...."
"I'm just too lazy to buy a house. I'm actually very rich!"
Kazuma puffed out his chest. "Fine. I'll prove it today. I'll show you the true extent of my financial power. Poverty has nothing to do with me!"
"Wahaha...!" Beel cheered.
So they began their shopping trip. But their peaceful stroll didn't last long.
"Lady Tohru!"
A small white blur launched itself into Tohru's arms.
"Huh? You're… Kanna? Why are you in this world?" Tohru looked down at the tiny dragon girl clinging to her.
Kanna Kamui blinked up at her. After a moment, she muttered, "Mm… because Lady Tohru disappeared. So I came looking."
"Honestly, you managed to find me? Even knowing I came to this world, this place is huge. You pinpointed me accurately. That's impressive," Tohru said, genuinely surprised. No one else even knew she had left.
Kanna nodded. "Lady Tohru, come back with me. I need you."
She grabbed Tohru's hand.
"Sorry, Kanna. I'm with him now, so I can't go back."
Tohru hugged Kazuma's arm proudly. She'd started a new life here and wasn't eager to return.
Kanna stared at him, cheeks puffing up in outrage.
"Give Lady Tohru back."
She charged forward, ready to use the full might of a mighty dragon to obliterate Kazuma.
Except… she no longer had her power. So it ended up being a tiny "punch punch" against his leg. She wasn't tall enough to reach his chest.
"Kanna… your strength really dropped," Tohru said.
"It's because Lady Tohru is too special. Magic in this world is too thin… huff… so I can't... recharge…" Kanna panted. "I'm tired."
Her little punches didn't hurt Kazuma at all. They were so soft he barely felt them, while Kanna exhausted herself.
"You didn't come looking for Tohru. You got kicked out, didn't you?" Kazuma teased. Seeing this little girl suddenly made him miss Kayano and the others. He'd have to visit them soon.
"I-I did not!" Kanna squeaked, her tail snapping straight in panic.
And her stiff voice betrayed everything.
.
.
.