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 bundle of energy, Clara arrives
The weekend cafeteria, the Grand Cafeteria, was a little quieter than usual. The smell of simmered demon-beast meat drifted softly through the air. Iruma sat at a corner table and picked up his spoon. His sleek black bob caught the pale blue glow of the magic lamps and shone faintly. His round, deep-brown eyes softened with relief behind the rising steam.
(Alone today. I can eat in peace...)
Two weeks since enrollment. Alice had gone out that morning on family business. For his first solo lunch in a while, Iruma felt just a little lighter. On the middle finger of his right hand sat the Gluttonous Ring Sullivan had given him. The black stone clouded over in the steam from his soup.
"Thanks for the food."
One bite of the stew. The rich savor of demon-beast meat spread through his mouth. The signature dish cost eight vals. It was the hangout of the Misfit Class, and the flavor was the real deal.
(It's good...)
Iruma was about to lift his second spoonful when it happened.
"Hey, hey!"
Suddenly a bright green, fluffy pair of twin-tails popped up right in front of him. A big ribbon bobbed up and down. Huge yellow-green eyes sparkled with curiosity. A crumpled wrapper was poking out of her uniform pocket.
"You're a face I've never seen before! A new student?"
Iruma froze mid-motion, spoon halfway to his mouth.
"Uh, y-yes. I'm Suzuki Iruma..."
"Iruma! I'm Clara — Valac Clara! Nice to meet you!"
Without waiting for a reply, Clara plopped down in the seat across from him. Then she plucked the bread off his tray.
"Ah, that's..."
"Delicious!"
Clara took a bite and grinned, showing her fang.
"Um, uh..."
Not knowing how to react, Iruma just blinked.
"Iruma, you smell like something interesting!"
No sooner had she said it than she jumped up, moved to his side, and clung tightly to his shoulder.
"Whoa!"
"Sniff, sniff... what is this smell? It's like the human world... no, wait, more like, all fluffy..."
Clara pressed her nose to his neck and sniffed away. Iruma's body had gone completely rigid.
(Too close, too close, too close!)
"You've got so much energy..."
Even so, her straightforward brightness drew the words out of him sincerely.
"Right, right? Clara's second to nobody when it comes to energy!"
Clara let go of his shoulder and this time thumped her own chest.
"Clara's the oldest of six siblings! So if I don't have energy, I can't take care of my little brothers and sisters!"
"I-is that so..."
Overwhelmed by her momentum, Iruma still felt a flicker of warmth toward her.
"And so, Iruma! Clara wants to be friends with you!"
Clara pressed her hands together and stared intently at his face.
"Huh? Friends?"
"Yeah! Friends! Clara's just so, so curious about you! So let's be friends and play lots!"
Iruma's brows drooped in a troubled frown.
(Friends... here we go again...)
"I mean, I guess that's fine..."
"Yay!"
Clara hopped up and tried to hug him again.
That was when it happened.
"—What do you think you're doing?"
A cold voice rang through the cafeteria.
Iruma and Clara both turned toward it.
Alice stood in the doorway. His fluffy pink hair was slightly bristling. His purplish-red eyes glinted sharply. Faint burn marks marked his fingertips. The top-ranked badge gleaming on his black uniform trembled with rage.
"Alice..."
"Don't touch him, Valac Clara."
Alice advanced toward them, one step at a time.
"Whaaat? Why not? Iruma's my friend!"
Clara clung even tighter to Iruma's arm.
"I have sworn to guard Lord Iruma at his side. What do you mean by laying hands on him so brazenly?"
Alice's voice was quiet. But behind that quiet, a boiling fury was plainly visible.
"Clara wants to be friends with Iruma too! Don't get in the way!"
Clara looked straight up at Alice.
"I am the one who guards Lord Iruma."
"Then Clara will guard him too, together!"
"Absurd. As if a little girl whose only virtue is energy could guard Lord Iruma."
"'Only virtue is energy' — that's mean! Clara's mad now!"
Sparks flew between them.
Demons all over the cafeteria began to gather, murmuring.
"What's this, what's this? The top-ranked and Valac Clara are fighting over Iruma." "Iruma again?" "Who is that guy, anyway?"
Caught between the two, Iruma could only flail.
"H-hey, don't fight..."
"Please be silent, Lord Iruma. This is between me and that girl."
"Iruma's Clara's friend! It's got nothing to do with you, Alice!"
"...'Alice'?"
A vein twitched at Alice's temple.
"Hey, is this that famous love triangle thing?!"
A jeer flew out.
Shax Lied sat at a table near the entrance, grinning as he watched the three of them.
"Top-ranked versus Valac Clara — a love duel with Iruma on the line!"
"If it's a love duel, I'll be the referee!"
From another table, Sabro rose to his feet. Spiky hair, blazing red eyes. His black uniform hung open, the Misfit Class badge shining on his chest.
"As one who aims to be the Demon King, I'll see this contest through!"
The cafeteria had become a full-blown battlefield.
"A duel? Bring it! Clara won't lose!"
Clara clenched her fists, raring to go.
"Hmph. I accept. Though wagering Lord Iruma is disrespectful."
Alice wasn't backing down an inch either.
"Why is it coming to this?!"
Iruma shouted. But no one paid his voice any mind.
"Then let the love duel for Suzuki Iruma begin!"
"Wait a second, nobody said anything about that!"
"The referee shall be none other than Sabnock Sabro! The rule: whoever wins the spot beside Iruma first, wins!"
"Don't just make up rules!"
"Let's go, Valac Clara! It's on!"
"Ooh!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
The three of them were fully in duel mode.
"Whatever! Clara's gonna play with you tomorrow too, Iruma!"
With that sudden declaration, Clara bolted out of the cafeteria.
"H-hey, wait! What about the duel?!"
Sabro scrambled after her.
"...Hmph. She fled."
Alice stared coldly at the doorway Clara had vanished through.
"I think she just went home on her own, more like..."
Iruma sighed.
"Lord Iruma."
Alice stood directly in front of him.
"Starting tomorrow, I will come to the cafeteria without fail as well."
"Huh?"
"I cannot allow that girl to get any closer to you."
Alice's eyes were dead serious.
"R-right..."
Under the gaze of the entire cafeteria, Iruma gave a small nod.
(It's going to get noisy again...)
Something stirred in his chest.
(But...)
Iruma thought of Clara's smile.
(No one's ever paid this much attention to me before.)
That night.
In his dorm room, Iruma sat on the edge of his bed.
Outside the window spread a purple sky. The pale blue light of the magic lamps fell quietly into the room.
Knock, knock — a sound at the door.
"Lord Iruma, it's Alice. May I have a moment?"
"Alice? What's wrong?"
When Iruma opened the door, Alice stood there with a solemn expression.
"There is something I wish to discuss."
"Sure, come in."
Alice entered and sat in the chair across from him.
"Please be careful around Valac Clara."
Alice spoke in a low voice.
"Careful? Why?"
"That bloodline ability is dangerous."
"Bloodline ability?"
Iruma tilted his head.
"The Valac family's bloodline ability is 'produce anything she has seen.' Literally — anything she has laid eyes on once, she can pull out of her pocket."
"Anything...?"
"Yes. Anything at all. Weapons, food, and..."
Alice paused.
"If she ever sees something connected to your secret, Lord Iruma, it will be beyond recovery."
A chill ran down Iruma's spine.
(My secret... that I'm human...)
"That is precisely why I said I would guard you at your side. Please do not let that girl get too close."
Alice's warning was utterly sincere.
"But..."
Iruma pictured Clara's innocent smile.
"Clara's not a bad kid. She's energetic, and honest..."
He stopped there and fell silent.
Clara's bloodline ability could expose his secret.
That was, admittedly, terrifying.
But his wish to be her friend was genuine too.
(What am I supposed to do...)
Inside Iruma's chest, caution and the desire for friendship quietly collided.
The next morning.
The instant he opened the classroom door, Iruma regretted it.
"Morning, Iruma!"
Clara was waiting at the entrance, beaming.
"Today I'm sitting next to you!"
Clara tried to hop into the seat on Iruma's right.
"That seat is my designated spot, Valac Clara."
Alice cut in without missing a beat.
"Then Clara takes the left!"
Clara headed for the left seat this time.
"The left is also under my surveillance."
"Aww, no fair!"
The two glared at each other over the spots on either side of Iruma.
"Uh, hey, both of you, calm down..."
"Iruma's Clara's friend!"
Clara latched onto his left arm.
"I am the one who guards Lord Iruma."
Alice wrapped a hand around his right shoulder.
"H-hey, both of you!"
Iruma's body was pulled left and right.
"No fair — me too!"
A girl's voice came from the back of the classroom.
"I want to sit next to Iruma too!"
"Me too!"
The whole classroom erupted.
"Calm down, you two! Everyone!"
Iruma raised his voice as loud as he could.
But Clara's straightforward "Iruma's Clara's friend!" and Alice's earnest gaze, "I am the one who guards Lord Iruma"—
Both pierced straight into Iruma's heart.
(I can't refuse...)
Iruma looked back and forth between their faces.
(They're both so serious...)
"...Fine. Both of you, then. Please."
Iruma forced the words out.
The classroom stirred.
"You're okay with that?!"
Sabro shouted from the back.
"Iruma, you really are a sinful man!"
Shax burst out laughing.
"Yay! Clara got the spot next to Iruma!"
Clara squeezed his left arm even tighter.
"Lord Iruma... understood. Then I shall take the right."
Alice kept his hand on Iruma's right shoulder and smiled in satisfaction.
(What on earth is going to become of me...)
Sandwiched between the two and swaying left and right, Iruma heaved a deep sigh in his heart.
Beyond the classroom window, the purple sky spread quietly.
The pale blue light of the magic lamps lit the three of them in sharp relief.
Iruma's school life — the one he'd hoped would be peaceful — had taken another step toward the noisy side.
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