"So you said all the weird stuff only happens at night? Then why exactly are we here in broad daylight?"
Ren adjusted the collar of the suit the police had stuffed him into—sharp, perfectly tailored, and way too formal for his liking. An employee ID hung around his neck, swinging as he walked beside Hinano and the freshly promoted Yusaburō.
Today, Ren Kuroda was supposedly the son of a major corporation's CEO, here for an "exchange program."Hinano was his secretary.Yusaburō—stoic as ever—was his bodyguard.
Because the company insisted that any investigation be conducted in plainclothes, the Metropolitan Police Department had no choice but to disguise the whole team. A major taxpayer had certain privileges, after all.
And so, this ridiculous charade was born.
The reason they started the operation during the day was simple: after the rat-demon fiasco, Yusaburō had learned his lesson the hard way. Before tackling anything supernatural, they needed intel—real intel.
And when it came to supernatural matters, only one person here actually counted as a professional.
Unfortunately, that professional was Ren.
Ren had resisted, of course. Based on Hinano's description, the creature supposedly haunting this place barely qualified as dangerous. Its demonic power sounded unimpressive—hardly worth a site visit.
But Hinano and Yusaburō were having none of it.
Before the rat-demon incident, Ren had also said, "It's just the weakest type."And the result?It nearly killed both of them.
So they insisted: Ren had to come investigate in person. At least enough to identify what they were dealing with before they finalized tonight's plan.
Only after Yusaburō solemnly promised to apply for the highest-tier commendation if this case was solved perfectly did Ren grudgingly show up.
The corporation occupied three floors of a commercial high-rise—levels eleven through thirteen.
The supernatural disturbance had been occurring exclusively on the top floor, in the elite staff offices.
In this country, there was a long-standing joke about "lower ranks toppling higher ranks": the more capable a person was, the higher the office you gave them. And this time, the problem had arisen precisely in that uppermost, prestigious zone.
When Ren stepped into the thirteenth-floor office area, he immediately sensed it—a lingering, faint demonic aura hanging in the air.
It wasn't strong. Barely above the rat demon he'd fought before.But it covered the entire floor like a thin mist.
Whoever the culprit was, they had clearly taken this entire level as their den.
But when Ren swept the area with his Demonic Energy Perception, something strange happened.
The presence… wasn't here.
There were only three possibilities:
One: The demon's strength vastly surpassed Ren's, making it impossible for him to detect.Two: The demon possessed an exceptional hiding ability—one more advanced than his perception.Three: The demon simply wasn't inside the building at the moment.
Ren quickly ruled out the first. The remaining aura was too weak; no way this thing outranked him.
Besides, if the creature were that strong, the Non-Nature Countermeasures Unit would never have sent a regular like Yusaburō.
So only the second or third possibilities remained.
If it was the third? Great—easy, no issues.
But if it was the second…
That was a problem.
Ren hadn't bothered suppressing his own demonic energy when entering. If the demon was hiding nearby, it likely sensed his presence already. There was a very real chance it would refuse to show itself during tonight's operation—meaning tonight would be a complete bust.
"So? What is it?" Hinano asked nervously. "Is this the really dangerous type? Something we ordinary people can't handle?"
Yusaburō mirrored her anxious expression. During the rat-demon assault, he had somehow held it together—but seeing Ren serious now worried him more than any actual monster.
"Ren… is this one even worse than the last?"
Before Ren could answer, the company's CEO approached.
"Young man, please—our company is in your hands," the CEO pleaded. He was in his mid-thirties, sharp and capable-looking. "I've been trying to contain the rumors, but some are spreading among employees. If this continues, our reputation will plummet, and our top staff may resign out of fear."
He clasped his hands.
"If you can resolve this for us, I'll make sure you receive a reward worthy of the effort. Please—help us."
Ren had originally stayed silent because he was analyzing the lingering aura.
But now?
Someone was offering extra money.
His mood instantly improved.
Honestly, reward or not, he was already involved—because at that moment, his system chimed.
Ding!Residual demonic power detected: Demon "Tsuchikabe."He has shown no signs of harming humans. You have decided to subdue and recruit him.Reward: 100 Human Reputation Points, 300 Demon Reputation Points.
Ding! Questline triggered: "Become the Lord of Tokyo's Demons!" (1/3)As your power grows, so too does your ambition. The Rat Demon King incident proves that a true demon king cannot be without subordinates.Recruit demons you deem worthy and build your own Hyakki Yagyō—the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.First Stage Objective: Recruit at least ten demons of three different types who willingly follow you.Reward: 1,000 Demon Reputation Points; Oni Clan Power Awakening x1.
A flood of system messages filled Ren's head. So that's who the troublemaker was—Tsuchikabe, a minor demon species.
But the new quest title…
Become the Lord of Tokyo's Demons?!
Ren groaned internally.
"Ambition is rapidly growing"?Build a Night Parade of One Hundred Demons?Recruit subordinates?
What the hell was this system talking about?!
I just want to be lazy, Ren complained to himself.
How did I suddenly become some rising conqueror of Tokyo's yokai underworld?!