Chapter 11: Job Information
Outside Sakata's cabin.
Watching Kanna holding two slices of cake, a squid skewer, and a cup of milk tea in her small hands, Kouya helplessly covered his face, letting out a long sigh that turned into mist in the cold evening air.
This Demon King is completely disillusioned with this face-obsessed world!
Just because that blue-eyed little dragon said, "It's delicious," all of you idiots started fighting to offer her food, piling desserts and snacks like a tribute to some tiny goddess. You look exactly like cat slaves or dog slaves wagging their tails for approval!
If it weren't confirmed that this blue-eyed dragon didn't use charm magic, I'd really think you were all brainwashed! The way they smiled at her—those foolish grins—honestly made him want to vomit blood.
"Alright, I'm heading home," Kouya finally said, stopping under the streetlight. The glow illuminated the faint irritation on his face. "You should head back early too."
Kanna lowered her head, clutching the food like a treasure.
She didn't say a word, only turned silently and walked toward the park. Her tiny feet made almost no sound on the pavement. Under the yellowish light, her shadow stretched long and thin, until it disappeared completely around the corner.
Kouya turned the other way, hands in his pockets, shoes crunching lightly against the gravel.
She's a dragon, after all. There's no way she'd be bullied. Even if she looks fragile, those big eyes could probably scare half the city if she wanted.
Any thug daring to mess with her would probably get eaten in one gulp—an "ah-woom" and gone.
The night was quiet—almost too quiet.
The cool evening breeze brushed past his face, carrying the faint scent of blooming cherry blossoms. It added another layer of chill to the pale moonlight above. In a dark corner, a few pink petals detached from a branch, fluttering down like snowflakes, melting into the night.
"In this weather, if she doesn't cover herself, she'll catch a cold," Kouya muttered absentmindedly.
He blinked, realizing how random that sounded. Why was he even worrying about that kid? It wasn't his business.
Yet that image of her small back, walking away into the dark, stuck in his mind.
"That blue-eyed little dragon seemed weak—is it because the magic in this world is too low?" he murmured, tapping his chin.
"She seems to know that dragon maid, but she wasn't around during dinner, and Kobayashi and the others didn't mention her either... strange."
"From the way she looked, she's wary of humans, barely speaks except to say things like 'I want to eat,' or 'delicious.' It's almost like she's still learning how to talk..."
He frowned slightly. "So, she's all alone right now?"
Kouya stopped walking.
The wind blew again, sending a swirl of petals across his vision. The chill of the night seeped through his clothes, biting his skin.
After a moment of hesitation, he sighed and turned back.
...
The park at night was nearly empty, silent except for the rustling of leaves.
The streetlights flickered faintly, painting patches of gold over the dark ground. Shadows danced beneath the trees as the breeze passed through.
There, sitting on the swing, was the blue-eyed dragon girl. Her tiny frame was dressed in gothic-style clothes, the kind that looked both cute and strangely melancholic. She swayed gently, resting her chin in her palms, her legs too short to touch the ground. Her eyes were locked on the distant apartment building.
That was where Kobayashi lived.
So she was watching us from here before?
This poor, lonely sight of hers—it's just too sad. Someone should take her in before she freezes to death.
As for taking her home himself?
Absolutely impossible!
The place was already cramped. Another body inside, even a small one, would make it suffocating. Besides, the Demon King didn't like living under the same roof with strangers—especially quiet, blank-faced ones.
"But..."
He hesitated, pulled out his phone, and started typing.
"Cousin, are you there?"
A few seconds later, the screen lit up with a reply. It was clearly the dragon maid's number. "Kobayashi-sama just went to bed. Is there something you need, Kouya-chan?"
"Um, it's like this," Kouya typed back quickly. "When I was leaving earlier, I saw a little girl in the park—white hair, around eight or nine, wearing a pink short-sleeved dress, eyes as blue as the sky. She looked homeless, and I felt uneasy leaving her there. Do you know if she's one of your neighbors?"
"Eh? I just moved here not long ago, so I don't really know the neighbors... I'll go check right now!"
"Thanks."
He had barely sent the message when a sudden flash of light came from Kobayashi's balcony. The dragon maid's silhouette appeared against the glow, and in the next instant, massive wings spread open.
The wind roared as she leapt into the air. Her wings cut through the night, circling once before diving like a comet.
Boom!
The ground trembled slightly. Dust billowed into the air as a startled voice echoed: "Kanna? What are you doing here?"
The little dragon looked up blankly, her eyes shimmering faintly. There was a hint of grievance as she whispered, "Tohru-sama..."
A few minutes later, the two stood beneath a streetlight.
"You said you got kicked out for playing pranks? Really?"
"Oh, that's Kobayashi-sama! She's not a bad person at all... She's the best person in this world!" Kanna said in her soft, sleepy tone.
Tohru sighed. "Honestly... what am I going to do with you? And this food—where did you even get it?"
"A man bought it for me," Kanna replied.
"A man? A poker-faced guy?" Tohru frowned. "Figures. Humans can't resist cute faces. Come on, let's go home."
Under the cold moonlight, Tohru took her hand. The two figures slowly walked back toward the apartment, their shadows merging and stretching across the pavement.
Before stepping inside, Kanna turned her head to glance back at the park. Her small face was expressionless, but her eyes shimmered faintly with something unspoken.
Kouya, hidden by the trees, scowled. "Poker-faced guy? If I'd known, I wouldn't have bothered!"
He stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked off toward home.
...
The night passed quietly.
At exactly seven the next morning, Kouya's alarm went off, and he opened his eyes immediately. Habit.
Since it was the weekend, no school. Finally, a quiet day.
He washed up, fried an egg, toasted some bread, and poured himself milk. The smell of breakfast filled the tiny apartment.
He sat down, ate in silence, then flipped open his wallet. The sight made his brow twitch.
Almost empty.
Though he wasn't reckless with money, he never hesitated when something caught his eye. Comfort was a priority, after all.
"Looks like I need to find a way to earn some cash," he muttered, booting up his computer.
The monitor glowed blue as he began scrolling through job listings.
"Supermarket hiring two cashiers. High salary, good benefits..."
"Soap sales representative needed..."
"Ueport Café hiring female servers for opening. Maid outfit optional—preference given to those who wear it..."
"Kitagawa Bathhouse hiring three apprentice bath attendants..."
He scrolled, expressionless. "No. No. Definitely not. Hell no."
Kouya wanted a peaceful life—but not at the cost of standing behind a register or scrubbing old men's backs.
When he needed money, he'd find a job, earn enough, and disappear again into relaxation. That was his philosophy.
"Nothing worth it?" He sighed, moving his cursor to close the page. But before he could click, a new listing refreshed right before his eyes.
"Chiba Detective Agency: Hiring professionals with high pay. Work hours flexible, compensation based on task difficulty. For details, call..."
Kouya blinked. "A detective agency? Now that's interesting. Flexible hours, no bosses, and maybe even some excitement. Sounds like a win."
He leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk curling his lips. "Though... this kind of job usually isn't normal. But then again, nothing in this world is anymore—angels, demons, dragons. What's one more mystery?"
With that thought, he picked up his phone and dialed.
"Hello, good day," came a soft, elegant voice—smooth like silk.
"Hello, I'm Kouya. I just saw your job post online and wanted to ask for details."
"Hello, Kouya-kun. Since our agency handles rather 'special' cases, we typically hire only 'professionals.'" The woman's voice carried a faint smile.
It was a voice like drifting sakura petals, calm and composed. "It's difficult to explain over the phone. If you have time, please visit our office for a personal consultation."
Kouya nodded to himself. "Alright, I'll come by."
After hanging up, he sat in silence for a moment, the faint hum of his computer filling the room. Then he shrugged, clicked open the news feed, and began reading casually.
Time slipped by quickly. Before long, the clock read 10:30 a.m.
Then came the sound—three sharp knocks.
"Knock, knock, knock."
That rhythm was too familiar.
Kouya froze, then groaned. "If it's not that idiot angel who gets her kicks poking people with her fingers..." He stood, already frowning. "Then who the hell else could it be!"