Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun: Babyls Academy Rom-Com Mayhem
Iruma Suzuki has a secret: he's a human attending a school full of demons. His goal? Blend in, keep his head down, and survive. Simple, right?
Except nothing about Iruma's life is simple. Sold to a demon by his garbage parents, adopted as the beloved grandson of the Netherworld's most powerful chairman, and now enrolled at Babyls Academy—the most prestigious demon school in existence—Iruma just wants a quiet, peaceful school life.
Too bad his inability to say no to anyone in trouble keeps gett
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun: Babyls Academy Rom-Com Mayhem - The Distance Between Friends
The pale blue light of the magic lamps spilled through the classroom windows, casting long shadows across the stone walls.
One week since enrollment. As Suzuki Iruma walked the corridors of Babyls Academy, countless gazes pierced his back once again today.
"That's the honor student everyone's talking about." "Is it true he beat the top-ranked student?" "I hear Lord Asmodeus keeps him at his side."
Whispers traded back and forth. Iruma pretended not to hear and quickened his pace. His sleek black short hair swayed slightly with each step. His deep brown, round eyes narrowed in a troubled expression.
(I keep telling myself I just want to blend in, and yet...)
He sighed inwardly. On the middle finger of his right hand sat the Gluttonous Ring that Sullivan had given him. The black stone caught the lamplight and glowed dully.
That was when it happened.
"Lord Iruma, good morning."
A clear voice came from behind him.
He turned to find a tall demon standing there, bright pink fluffy hair swaying. His purplish-red eyes gazed at Iruma, shining softly. Faint burn marks traced the fingertips of both hands—remnants of fire magic training. The top-ranked student's badge gleaming on his black uniform spoke to his status.
"A-Aris-kun. Good morning."
Iruma returned the greeting with a touch of nervousness.
Asmodeus Alice. The top-ranked demon who had challenged him to a duel on the very first day of school, and who now swore loyalty to Iruma as his "friend." Ever since that duel, his presence at Iruma's side had become a given.
"Today as well, I shall protect you at your side, every moment."
Aris placed a hand over his heart and bowed reverently. The gesture was aristocratic, without a trace of affectation.
"Y-yeah. Thanks... but I'm really fine on my own, you know?"
Iruma said hesitantly.
But Aris shook his head with a serious look in his eyes.
"What are you saying? You are the most watched person in this academy. If something were to happen, it would be too late."
"I-is that so..."
"It is. Besides—being at your side is the greatest happiness I could ask for."
Hearing that, Iruma couldn't bring himself to refuse.
Given his nature, there was no way he could trample on someone's earnest wish.
"...All right. Then I'll take you up on it."
The instant Iruma said it, Aris's face lit up.
"Thank you! I, Asmodeus Alice, will protect you with every fiber of my being!"
Aris beamed and fell perfectly into step beside Iruma.
In that moment, piercing stares rained down on the two of them from every corner of the corridor.
"...No fair." "I want to get close to Lord Asmodeus too." "Who is that honor student, anyway?"
Barely-concealed whispers. The glares of the female demons in particular were terrifyingly cold.
A chill of cold sweat crept down Iruma's back.
(Ahh... of course it turns out like this...)
He cursed his inability to say no, silently, in his heart.
When they reached the classroom, Aris sat down beside Iruma as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
More precisely, he had smiled at the student sitting next to Iruma and asked, "Would you mind switching seats for me?"—and moved them without leaving room for argument.
"Um, Aris-kun. Aren't the seats assigned...?"
"No problem at all. That I belong at your side is already recognized by the academy."
"Is it...?"
"Yes. Yesterday I submitted a request to our homeroom teacher, Professor Kalego, and received formal permission."
Iruma's eyes went wide.
(When did he even file that paperwork...)
Aris's sheer drive had gone beyond surprising him—it was almost admirable.
"During cleaning duty and class changes as well, I will be at your side to protect you. Rest easy."
"R-right..."
Iruma could only nod vaguely.
From the back of the classroom came the voices of the female demons.
"Did you see that? The honor student has Lord Asmodeus waiting on him hand and foot." "Who does he think he is?" "And he doesn't even have the lineage for it."
The voices were deliberately pitched loud enough for Iruma to hear.
Iruma shrugged.
(Don't let it get to me, don't let it get to me...)
He told himself that, but it was still uncomfortable.
Morning classes ended, and lunch break arrived.
Iruma headed to the academy cafeteria, the Grand Cafeteria, together with Aris.
The cafeteria was filled with the smell of simmered demon-beast meat. The signature dish was eight verd—and it was where the members of the Misfit Class gathered.
"Lord Iruma, this way. I've secured a seat by the window."
Aris escorted Iruma to the window seat.
"Ah, thanks."
As Iruma sat down, Aris took the seat across from him.
"For today's lunch, I've prepared simmered demon-beast meat, a salad of magical vegetables, and a blood-red fruit tart for dessert."
"Wait, you prepared all of that?"
"But of course. I already have your preferences memorized."
Aris smiled smugly.
Iruma gave a wry grin and picked up his spoon.
"Thanks for the food."
One bite of the stew. The rich savor of demon-beast meat spread through his mouth.
"It's delicious..."
"I'm glad it suits your taste."
Aris's eyes crinkled happily.
That was when a loud voice rang out from the cafeteria entrance.
"Suzuki Iruma! You're in here, aren't you!"
Iruma jumped and turned around.
A single demon stood in the cafeteria doorway.
Spiky hair, blazing red eyes, and above all, an attitude brimming with confidence. He wore his black uniform loose, the Misfit Class badge gleaming on his chest.
Sabnock Sabro. The hot-blooded member of the Misfit Class, a boy who dreamed of becoming the Demon King.
He strode into the cafeteria and planted himself in front of Iruma.
"You! You're my rival!"
Iruma blinked blankly.
"...Huh?"
"I said you're my rival! You beat the top-ranked student—how could I, of all people, ignore you!"
Sabro clenched his fist and launched into an impassioned speech.
"I'm the man who'll become the Demon King one day. And you're a worthy wall to stand in my path. So I'm officially declaring you my rival!"
"A-a rival—what am I supposed to do, exactly...?"
Iruma asked, bewildered.
"What are you supposed to do? Isn't it obvious! We hone ourselves against each other, we who aim for the throne! We push each other higher, we compete—and one day we settle it at the very top!"
"I-I'm not aiming to be Demon King, though..."
"Nonsense! A man who defeated the top-ranked student, not aiming for Demon King? Impossible!"
Sabro wasn't listening at all.
"Anyway, starting today, you're my rival! Remember that!"
Leaving those words behind, Sabro stormed off like a whirlwind.
Iruma stared blankly after him.
"...What was that about?"
"Sabnock Sabro of the Misfit Class. A hot-blooded soul who dreams of the Demon King. It seems he's regarded you as his rival ever since the duel at the entrance ceremony."
Aris explained calmly.
"I see..."
"Rest assured. I will not permit the likes of him to do you any harm."
"I don't think he's actually trying to harm me..."
Iruma smiled wryly.
Lunch break over, Iruma sensed something strange in the air as he walked the corridor toward afternoon classes.
Students passing by kept glancing his way, whispering to each other.
The quality of their stares was clearly different from before.
(What's going on...?)
Iruma tilted his head.
"Lord Iruma, come here a moment."
Aris took Iruma's arm and drew him to the edge of the corridor.
"What is it?"
"It seems a strange rumor is circulating."
"A rumor?"
"Yes. A rumor that you and I fought a 'duel of love.'"
"...Huh?"
Iruma froze.
"Furthermore, the rumor has grown embellishment upon embellishment, developing into such fascinating claims as 'the top-ranked student proposed to Iruma' and 'the two meet secretly every night.'"
Aris spoke flatly—yet with a note of amusement.
"W-wait a second! That's all made up, right?! The duel happened, sure, but proposals and secret meetings—none of that is true!"
Iruma denied it frantically.
"Yes, none of it is true. But isn't it amusing?"
"It's not amusing! Why would such a rumor even..."
"Most likely Shax Reed of the Misfit Class spread it for fun. He does enjoy that sort of thing."
Iruma clutched his head.
(Shax-kun... why would you do that...)
"Anyway, I have to deny the rumor..."
"Why? I merely stated the facts. That I dueled you, that I swore loyalty to you—all of it is true. However the rumor spreads, it doesn't concern me."
Aris declared it with a cool expression.
"Th-that may be so... but the proposal and the secret meetings aren't true, are they?"
"They may become true in time."
"They won't!?"
Iruma's voice rose before he could stop it.
At the sound, every student in the corridor turned to look at once.
"That's the one..." "The one rumored to be with the top-ranked student..." "Secret meetings every night—is that really true?"
The whispers grew louder.
Iruma's face went bright red, and he hung his head.
(Enough already...)
After school that day.
Iruma walked the corridor of the main building alone.
Aris had said he had errands to run and gone back to the dormitory first. At last, Iruma had a moment to himself.
But the rumor had spread throughout the academy.
"That's the one—the top-ranked student's lover." "I hear he beat him in a duel and got a proposal out of it." "Apparently they meet secretly every night."
Students passing by fixed him with curious stares.
Just walking down the corridor, Iruma found himself the center of attention.
(I went around explaining it's all a misunderstanding, but...)
In fact, after lunch break, Iruma had tried several times to deny the rumor.
But each time, his good-natured personality got in the way.
"Excuse me, I dropped my textbook..."
Whenever he spotted a younger student in trouble, he couldn't just leave them be.
"It's okay. Let me help you pick them up."
And the sight of him helping only fueled further talk of what a "kind person" he was.
"Look, that honor student is being so nice to a younger student." "He really is something special, isn't he?" "Maybe that's why the top-ranked student fell for him."
The more kind Iruma was, the more the rumor swelled.
The more he tried to blend in, the more he became the center of the academy's gossip.
Iruma heaved a deep sigh at the hopeless vicious cycle.
(Even if I despair, the situation won't change, and my stomach won't fill...)
Thinking such thoughts, he turned the corner of the corridor.
That was when his feet stopped in front of the bulletin board.
There was a notice he didn't recognize.
"What's that...?"
Iruma approached and read the notice.
'Notice from the Forbidden Books Administration Bureau
Surveillance Record of Persons of Interest
Subject: Suzuki Iruma (Babyls Academy Honor Student)
Reason: Requires surveillance following duel with top-ranked student Asmodeus Alice
Note: Individual hearing already conducted by Student Council President Azazel Amelie'
Iruma's breath caught when he found his own name.
(M-my name is... on a Forbidden Books Administration Bureau...?)
The Forbidden Books Administration Bureau. An organization under the direct authority of the Demon Realm Council, tasked with collecting and sealing books from the human world as "dangerous knowledge."
Why would such an organization be watching him?
And moreover—an individual hearing already conducted by the student council president.
(Student Council President Azazel Amelie... I've never even met her.)
A cold chill ran down Iruma's spine.
That shadow in the black uniform he'd glimpsed at the corner of the corridor after the entrance ceremony. Maybe it hadn't been his imagination after all.
"...Did I do something?"
Iruma murmured to no one in particular.
No answer came.
Beneath the purple sky, the pale blue light of the magic lamps fell quietly over the corridors of Babyls Academy.
Iruma couldn't tear his eyes from the notice.
The academy life he'd hoped would be peaceful had,
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