By the time Oga managed to limp back home, bruised and sore from Aoi's fury, the household looked like a war shelter. Misaki was sitting at the table, hair disheveled, slamming her forehead into a cup of cold tea. Oga's father had sunglasses on indoors, muttering something about noise complaints and property damage. Oga's mother was calmly chopping vegetables with a serene expression that only a woman who had endured twenty years of family chaos could manage.
And in the middle of it all, Kogen sat slouched against the wall, Beel cradled on his lap. His silver eyes were half-lidded, his movements slow, like a machine running out of power. Even he—usually detached, unflinching, colder than death—looked worn down.
Oga dropped onto the floor with a heavy thud, his face planting into the tatami.
"...This house is cursed."
"Patience, darling," Kogen murmured in his usual calm but tired voice, absently stroking Beel's hair as the baby squirmed. "He will calm down... eventually."
"Eventually?!" Oga barked, lifting his head like a zombie. "It's been four nights! Four! I'm gonna die before he stops crying!"
Just then, the front door slid open. A gust of cold night air swept in, and Hilda's sharp heels clicked against the floor. She entered with her usual air of elegance despite the faint dark shadows under her eyes. And in her arms—something wrapped in black cloth, glowing faintly purple.
"I've returned," she announced, her tone cool but with a trace of irritation. "From the demon world. With a solution."
Oga pushed himself upright, eyes blazing with desperate hope. "Please tell me it's chloroform."
Hilda glared. "Idiot." She pulled back the cloth dramatically, revealing... a toy. Or at least, something vaguely resembling a toy. It was a grotesque contraption: shaped like a rattle, but with spikes, tiny wings, and an orb at its center that pulsed like a beating heart. The second she lifted it, it let out a loud, distorted tune—something between a lullaby and a war cry.
"BEEEL BEEEL BEEEL~ SLEEPY-SLEEPY LORD~"
The sound reverberated through the house, rattling windows.
Everyone froze. Even Oga's mother paused her chopping.
"...What the hell is that?!" Oga roared, grabbing his ears.
"This," Hilda said calmly, holding it like a sacred relic, "is a Night Subjugation Rattle. A demon-world artifact. Designed to lull Demon Lord infants into sleep during their yearly growth ritual."
The toy blasted again, louder this time.
"LULLA-LORD~ LULLA-LORD~ CRY NO MORE OR BE DESTROYYED~"
Oga's father spat out his tea. Misaki clutched her head. Even the neighbors probably felt the vibrations.
But then—miracle of miracles—Beel's crying began to quiet. His wide eyes blinked, fixated on the strange demonic toy. Within moments, his squeals softened to small hiccups... then to tiny yawns.
And then—finally—Beel nestled against Kogen's chest, sucking on his thumb, drifting into sleep.
The house fell into stunned silence.
Oga stared. "...It actually worked?"
Hilda smirked, brushing her hair back. "Of course. You should be grateful."
But as Oga was about to mutter a begrudging thanks, another noise filled the air.
Kogen's breathing.
Soft. Even. His silver eyes shut. The mighty, stoic Kogen—Death incarnate—had succumbed to sleep right along with Beel, his long lashes casting shadows over his pale skin. Beel rested peacefully on his chest, both of them in perfect synchronization.
Oga's jaw dropped. "...Oi. Oi! Don't tell me he—!"
Misaki whispered, awe in her voice. "Wow. He fell asleep too. They look... kinda cute like that."
Oga snapped his head toward her. "Don't say cute! This isn't cute, this is—this is—!" He waved his arms wildly. "This is just unfair! Why do they get to sleep while I'm stuck wide awake?!"
But Oga's shouting was drowned out as the toy kept singing on its own, the demonic lullaby louder and louder, as if mocking him.
"GO TO SLEEEEP~ GO TO SLEEEEP~ OR BEEL LORD WILL EAT YOUR SOUL~"
The neighbors peeked from their windows again. Some slammed them shut. Others groaned into pillows. One man threw his futon out of sheer frustration.
From across the street, a bleary-eyed neighbor muttered, "First the baby, now... whatever that is. These people are demons."
Back inside, Oga collapsed onto the tatami in defeat, covering his ears.
"I can't... I can't take this anymore."
But then, for the first time in days, the house—despite the toy's infernal song—had peace. Beel was asleep. Kogen was asleep. Hilda adjusted her gloves with a satisfied look. Oga's parents sagged in relief. Misaki yawned, finally letting herself doze against the wall.
And Oga... well, Oga stayed awake, glaring at the ceiling, his ears assaulted by the toy's unholy screech.
"SLEEP, OGA-SAMA~ OR FACE DOOM~"
"...I'm gonna smash that thing," Oga muttered through gritted teeth, "first thing in the morning."