The Week of Avoiding Violence
Oga woke up one morning, stretching as usual, and glanced at his right forearm.
"...Huh?"
There it was. The dreaded Zebel Spell mark, which had previously grown monstrously large after his fights, was now... smaller. Significantly smaller. A faint red sigil glowed faintly, like it had been gently erased.
Oga's eyes practically sparkled. "Yes! Finally! All that playing, dodging fights, avoiding even minor scuffles... it worked!"
He leaped out of bed, Baby Beel clinging happily to his back, sparks crackling intermittently from excitement. "Look, look, Beel! The mark's shrunk!"
Beel babbled delightedly, his green hair bouncing as he leaned forward to inspect the mark. Sparks crackled from his tiny hands, but instead of harming Oga, they seemed celebratory.
Oga spun around triumphantly, waving his hand like a victorious samurai. "Hah! Eat your heart out, Hilda! I don't need fights! I can be peaceful... and still survive Ishiyama High!"
Hildegarde Enters
The door creaked. Hilda appeared, hands on her hips, glaring at Oga with a mixture of exasperation and menace.
"...What are you doing smiling like a lunatic?"
Oga smirked. "Hilda! Look at this! My Zebel mark's smaller! Your precious Demon Lord-parent power? Diminished! I'm free!"
Hilda's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Oga... you what? You deliberately avoided combat to shrink your mark?!"
Oga nodded proudly, puffing his chest. "Exactly! No unnecessary fights, no injuries... just a week of careful, non-violent living. The mark shrunk! Victory is mine!"
Hilda's hands twitched, almost itching to attack. "...You imbecile."
Before he could react, she lunged forward and smashed his gaming console. Sparks flew.
"...Hey! What the hell!?" Oga yelled, hopping backward. "That was my limited edition console! My—my—my strategy tool for peaceful mark reduction!"
Hilda crossed her arms, smirking. "You're supposed to increase the mark, Oga. You're supposed to grow the Zebel Spell's power. Instead, you deliberately decreased it. How dare you!"
Oga groaned. "Damn it! You could've at least said please don't touch my stuff before—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
From the corner of the room, sitting elegantly with legs crossed, Kogen appeared. A grin stretched across his almost too-perfectly beautiful face. A bowl of popcorn in hand, he tilted his head, eyes glittering with amusement.
"Darling," Kogen said casually, popping a piece of popcorn into his mouth. "Your misery is simply delightful. Look at you, flailing, trying to outwit a tiny baby and that... unfortunate maid of yours. Truly a masterpiece."
Oga froze. "...What did you just call me?"
Kogen's grin widened. "Darling. Your pain and frustration make a lovely movie to watch."
Oga's face burned bright red. "I-I-I... no, no way! I—"
He shook his head violently, trying to suppress his blush. "...I'm not blushing. You're... weird. That's all!"
Kogen hummed, unbothered, and munched another piece of popcorn. "Such denial is charming, darling."
Oga groaned, muttering to himself. "...Why... why did I even—"
Beel giggled, sparks popping from his hands in glee as if mocking Oga's discomfort.
The Playroom Disaster
Before Oga could recover, Hilda clapped her hands. "Enough talk! It's time for Beel's playroom."
She disappeared for a moment and returned with an enormous pile of demon-world toys. A crib that looked like a miniature fortress, puzzles that glowed faintly, and blocks inscribed with runes.
"Here," Hilda said, tossing the pieces at Oga. "Assemble. And keep the baby busy. This will help him thrive."
Oga stared at the mountain of magical chaos. "Are... you kidding me? How is a normal human supposed to assemble this?"
Before he could protest further, Kogen leaned forward, popcorn dangling from his lips. "Oh, darling... I can't wait to see this. Truly, the suspense is exquisite."
Oga flinched. "...Stop calling me that!"
Hilda rolled her eyes, already starting to assemble the structure with terrifying precision. Oga hesitated, then reluctantly began helping.
The playroom went up surprisingly quickly—until it activated itself.
With a loud whoosh, the room transformed into a magical cage. Oga and Hilda found themselves trapped inside with Beel. Sparks flew everywhere.
"...Wait, what!?" Oga shouted. "Hilda! What the hell did you build!?"
Hilda raised an eyebrow. "...A playroom. But clearly, you need... supervision."
Beel clapped, delighted. Sparks flickered across the cage.
Kogen laughed, leaning against the wall outside the cage, tossing popcorn like confetti. "Darling, your predicament is divine. You and she, trapped... such a cinematic moment!"
Oga groaned. "...What is this? Some kind of movie to watch?"
Kogen tilted his head. "Yes, darling. Your pain and frustration definitely make a lovely movie."
Oga froze again. "...Did you just call me... darling again?"
Kogen shrugged, smiling faintly. "...I did. Truly, your reactions are the highlight of my afternoon."
Oga's blush intensified. "...I-I am not blushing! Must... stay... cool..."
Beel babbled happily, crawling over the cage bars. Sparks shot into the ceiling as he attempted to reach a puzzle toy placed before him.
The Puzzle Challenge
Oga turned to the toy. "Okay... apparently, we only get out if the baby completes this... thing. Easy, right?"
Beel, of course, had other ideas. He smashed the toy into pieces, sparks flying.
"...Of course he did," Oga muttered, rubbing his temples.
Hilda sighed. "You could always fight your way out, Oga."
Oga groaned. "...Fine."
He focused, channeling his Zebel Spell power into a single punch. BAM! The cage shook violently, leaving a crater in the floor—but his mark flared red, growing bigger than before.
Kogen clapped slowly from outside. "Darling... so very dramatic. Magnificent, truly."
Oga's face burned again. "...Stop. Stop talking like that!"
Demon World Toy Chest
As Beel rummaged through a bag of demon-world toys, he pulled out a chest. With a click, the chest glowed, and Oga and Furuichi transformed into nurses—complete with ridiculous frilly outfits.
"...What the—!?" Oga yelled, adjusting the hat that was now atop his head. "...Hilda! What the hell now!?"
Beel clapped gleefully. Sparks zapped the floor.
Hilda smirked. "A lesson in caregiving, Oga. Doctor mode. Perhaps you'll learn to control your mark while helping the baby."
Oga groaned. "...Control my mark by playing doctor? I—fine... let's do this."
Furuichi muttered, "...Why am I here again...?"
The nurse transformation was somehow permanent until Baby Beel's medical game was finished. Oga had to assist him in treating imaginary injuries on demon world dolls, all while juggling supplies that sparked, sizzled, or exploded randomly.
The Explosive Conclusion
After several failed attempts—burns, sparks, and minor explosions—Oga discovered a useful tool hidden in Beel's costume. For a brief, shining moment, he successfully treated the toys. His mark shrank slightly.
"...Yes! Finally!" he cheered.
Beel, however, was not done. He pressed a button on the costume. A massive explosion of confetti, sparks, and minor smoke engulfed the room.
Oga coughed violently, wiping soot from his face. "...What! Why!?"
Hilda laughed, thoroughly entertained. "...Your mark returns, Oga. My precious child cannot thrive with a weak vessel."
Kogen, still munching popcorn outside the cage, clapped slowly. "Darling... a magnificent finale. Truly, a spectacle worthy of applause."
Oga froze. "...Did you... did you call me darling AGAIN!?"
Kogen simply shrugged, eyes twinkling with amusement. "...It's the truth. Your pain and chaos are exquisite."
Oga's face burned brighter than the sparks flying around him. "...Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
Beel babbled happily, crawling onto Oga's chest as if to say you're mine. Sparks danced.
Oga could feel the mark growing again, not from violence, but from pure exasperation.
He gaped at Kogen. "...Why... why does it feel... weird when you say that?"
Kogen tilted his head innocently, oblivious to Oga's internal struggle. "...Darling, perhaps you're finally appreciating my commentary?"
Oga's blush deepened. "...I... I am not! Stupid... must... focus... dump this baby before anything else!"
Beel clapped again, sparks fizzing over Oga's head.
Narrator: "And thus ended another day of training, chaos, and blush-inducing commentary in the Oga household... or should we say, the personal theater of Kogen's amusement."