The accidental enslavement of Naberius Kalego had immediate and disastrous consequences.
For the students of the Misfit Class, it was the most spectacular event in Babyls history; for Iruma, it was a waking nightmare.
Kalego, once the epitome of terrifying composure, was now Iruma's familiar—stuck in a perpetually irritated, smaller demon form, complete with the humiliating pink scarf. He spent the entire day glaring daggers at Iruma, his hatred radiating in palpable waves.
Alice, of course, was ecstatic. "Iruma-sama! What magnificent non-verbal power! To subdue a demon of Kalego-sensei's rank and force him into a contract—it shows unparalleled strength! Truly worthy of the future Demon King!"
Clara, delighted, started trying to pet the miniature Kalego, calling him "Kero-chan" and offering him strange, leafy snacks, which only intensified the teacher's rage.
Delkira, observing the situation with a mixture of immense pride and strategic planning, knew this incident meant their quiet life was over.
The rumor of a ridiculously powerful freshman who subdued a teacher would reach every corner of the Netherworld, and more importantly, the Thirteen Crowns.
****
The next day, the entire first year was gathered for the Rank Reveal Ceremony. This was where the demons' official rank, determined by their magical power and achievement, was announced. Iruma's initial rank should have been the lowest, Gimmel (3), or perhaps even lower, given his human upbringing.
The Principal, Grandpa Sullivan, took the stage with his usual theatrical flair.
"Now, for the announcement of the first-year ranks! This rank determines your privileges, your power, and your path to greatness!"
The ranks were called out, with Alice naturally receiving the highest rank for a freshman, Dalet (4). Alice looked proudly at Iruma, ready to defend his master's inevitably low rank.
When the magical monitor flashed, Delkira, watching from the security room with Opera, held his breath. He had sealed Iruma's immense power, but he hadn't fully considered the volatile nature of half-demon bloodline magic.
The screen flashed Aleph (1) for Iruma.
The lowest possible rank.
Iruma sighed in relief.
Good.
I'm low-ranked.
No attention.
However, Sullivan, determined to give his grandson a gentle push toward the spotlight, stepped forward.
"Hold that thought!" he boomed, waving his hand.
The Aleph rank on the screen was suddenly obscured by a chaotic, swirling magical interference—a deliberate act of tampering only a demon of Sullivan's power could manage.
"My dear grandson Iruma-kun," Sullivan declared, ignoring the gasps of the crowd,
"is still adjusting! But fear not! We shall use a magical device to calculate his true potential!"
Sullivan pulled out a glittering, complicated device—a relic from the Demon King's treasury—and held it over Iruma.
Iruma felt the device humming, pulling at the dormant, sealed power within him. He tried to resist, but the device, designed to measure a king's level of power, was relentless.
The screen flared, the magic of the seal momentarily cracking under the pressure.
Instead of a rank number, a single, ancient, impossibly high character—a symbol reserved only for a being of ultimate, uncontrollable power—flashed for a split second before the seal snapped back into place.
Sullivan, seeing the momentary flash, smiled knowingly and quickly declared,
"Ah! It seems the device malfunctioned! Such overwhelming potential! Let's just assign him the rank of Bet (2)! He's just getting started, after all!"
The crowd was bewildered. A technical malfunction during the Rank Reveal? And a meager Bet rank for the boy who enslaved Kalego? It only added to Iruma's mysterious, unsettling reputation.
That evening, Iruma, Alice, Clara, and the perpetually furious tiny Kalego-familiar (who was obligated to follow Iruma) were ushered into their new home: Babyls' Royal Tower.
This was the official residence of the Principal, an enormous, luxurious structure far grander than their seaside home.
Opera showed them around the extravagant quarters, explaining the household rules while pointedly ignoring the miniature, snarling demon clinging to Iruma's shoulder.
Alice was awestruck.
"This is befitting of Iruma-sama! Though I must protest this insolent creature on your person," he said, glaring at the familiar-Kalego.
Iruma was overwhelmed, yet he felt a strange sense of belonging. The air here was alive, humming with magic. He finally understood what his father meant about the void in his heart—this chaotic, vibrant, terrifying world was the missing piece.
Later, in a hidden chamber deep within the Royal Tower, Delkira sat with Sullivan, a bottle of dark, expensive wine between them.
"You risked too much, Sullivan," Delkira said, the weight of the throne settling heavily on his shoulders. "That symbol... the seal almost broke."
Sullivan shrugged, taking a sip of his wine.
"A little risk is necessary, Del-chan. We need to show them he is strong, but not too strong. A Bet rank with a mythical reputation is far safer than a high rank with no experience." He looked at his King with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Besides, watching Kalego in that tiny form is well worth the risk."
Delkira allowed a slow, deep smile to spread across his face.
"Indeed. It is quite... motivating." He raised his glass.
"To the accidental Demon Prince, and the chaos he brings."
Iruma, meanwhile, was curled up in his enormous new bed, trying to sleep despite the presence of his tiny, furious homeroom teacher glaring at him from the nightstand.
Just a little more time, he thought. Just until my power is completely ready. He had a kingdom waiting for him, but first, he had to survive high school.