This chapter is a bit farcical this time.

“Phew. I’m exhausted, but somehow I managed to pull things off.”

After defeating the “Demon King of Dominating Herculean Strength,” I have returned to the “White Fog and Black Swamp Forest” since the summoning has been lifted.

After a while, Ryo will also accompany Ichiko back to the Nasu family basement. Therefore, I’m also heading there for the briefing session.

And when I arrive, Ryo and Ichiko are already there. However, Ichiko’s wounds are still not healed, and Ryo is tending to her.

“Yo. I’m glad both of you made it back safe and sound.”

“Yeah, so it seems. I’m truly relieved.”

“Thanks.. by the way. Thank you.”

They both accept my words with open arms. This means that they are in a “dere[i]” phase..

“But now that I reflect on it, it was you who originally sent Ichiko to the ‘Demon’s Fortress’. Then, any further thanks would be excessive.”

“Now that you put it that way, yes. A crappy Kurokiri is still a crappy Kurokiri.”

How dere they are..

“Ah, that reminds me, while you were gone, Ichiko, I received a full-body massage once from Kurokiri.”

“What! You trashy Kurokiri! How dare you do such a thing while I was gone! Unforgivable!”

“Although it was called a massage, he really had a nasty way with his hands..”

There was never a de.. re.. phase! There was never a dere phase! I’ll say it twice since it’s a major issue!

In all honesty, right now I’m devastated and curled up in a corner of the room.

Well, since I can’t stay depressed forever, let me return to the issue at hand.

“Hah, at any rate, bring out your statuses, Ryo and Ichiko. Let me have a look to check how far you guys have grown.”

“I understand. I’m curious to learn how much Ichiko has grown too.”

“I don’t like it when a scrappy Kurokiri commands me to do something, but it sure has a pleasant feeling to be told by Lady Ryo. Oh, this is my status. Stupid Kurokiri.”

Name: Kurokiri (King of the Devouring Black Fog)

Class: Demon King

Race: King of the Devouring Black Fog

Level: 3

HP: 1810/1810

MP: 2080/2080

SP: 2030/2030

Status

Strength 40

Dexterity 55

Agility 56

Sensing 45

Intellect 61

Spirit 72

Luck 10

Skill

?Dungeon Creation?, ?Monster Creation?, ?Devouring Black Fog?, ?Cycle?, ?Mist Plosion?

Title

?King of the Devouring Black Fog?, ?White Fog of Ambush?, ?Lord of the Kirijin? New! ?The Demon King Who Has Looked Outside?, New! ?Demon Slayer?, New! ?The One Who Vanquished the Demon King?

Name: Nasu Ryo

Class: Student

Race: Kirijin

Level: 6

HP: 354/354

MP: 420/420

SP: 378/378

Status

Strength 16

Dexterity 24

Agility 18

Sensing 16

Intellect 32

Spirit 32

Luck 10

Skill

?Heal?, ?Fog Cloak?, ?Heal Proficiency Ⅰ?, ?Detoxification?, ?Anti-paralysis?, ?Mist Slap?

Title

?The King of the Black Fog’s Kin?, ?Healer of the White Fog?

Name: Hisano Ichiko

Class: Assassin

Race: Kirijin

Level: 5

HP: 399/399

MP: 336/336

SP: 357/357

Status

Strength 21

Dexterity 30

Agility 32

Sensing 32

Intellect 14

Spirit 16

Luck 10

Skill

?Short-range Teleportation?, ?Fog Cloak?, ?Dagger Proficiency Ⅰ?, ?Decapitation?, ?Keen Edge?, ?Long Edge?

Title

?The King of the Black Fog’s Kin?, ?Assassin of the White Fog?, New! ?Demon Slayer?

“As for the three new titles that have presented on my side, there are.. ?The Demon King Who Has Looked Outside?, ?Demon Slayer?, and ?The One Who Vanquished the Demon King?.”

“?The Demon King Who Has Looked Outside? is presumably due to me summoning you outside.”

“The ?Demon Slayer? is also mentioned on my part, so I suppose it has something to do with the number of goblin-based demons that I have defeated.”

“?The One Who Vanquished the Demon King? is.. exactly as it sounds.”

“Exactly as it is.”

“It is exactly so.”

Concerning this title, I suppose it makes sense. So, the next topic, or rather.. this should be the main subject of our discussion.

“So, why is there a difference in level between me and Lady Ryo?”

“That intrigues me as well.”

“Oh, yeah. I was wondering about that too. However, I’m positive that I handed the two of you the same amount of experience, you know? Hence, perhaps this is a difference in occupational compensation.”

Therefore, on the subject of occupational compensation:

Even though I said that, there is not much to be discussed. Occupational compensation is a compensation that is applied to each occupation, like the 5x status or the begging for life compensation that I carry for the Demon King’s part. When there are good things, bad things also accompany them.

“So, for students (occupation), there’s probably a +compensation for the experience they gain.”

“I see. So assassins would be compensated for surprise attacks?”

“I believe you are most likely right, Lady Ryo. While I was inside the ‘Demon’s Fortress,’ I was able to defeat my opponents without fail if I could execute a sneak attack.”

Well, as far as occupational compensation is concerned, that’s about it.

Aside from the demon king, nobody can ask Help-kun, so I can only comprehend it intuitively.

“While we are on the subject, I can tell what ?Detoxification? and ?Anti-paralysis? are, but what is ?Mist Slap??”

“It is a water-based physical attack that concentrates mist and magic power in the hand and strikes the opponent. You know, it is effective against Kurokiri too.”

“Seriously?”

“Absolutely.”

“How wonderful, Lady Ryo.”

Well, you’ve learned a tricky technique.. But, with Ryo’s muscle power, it won’t be a threat to me. Even so, her high intellect does pose a bit of a concern.

“Incidentally, did you encounter any problems in the dungeon this time when I summoned you, Kurokiri?”

“Oh, about that. I didn’t experience any problems in the dungeon. Although if there is an intruder in the dungeon while the Demon King is away, that would be a different story.”

“More specifically?”

“Who knows?”

The two of them are shooting scornful eyes at me, but I don’t know about things that I have no knowledge of. Well, though even I can foresee what will happen. For the most part, the orders that I issued in advance to the demons and traps will be canceled, right? Or maybe it’s even more stringent than that.

“Anyway, I’m pleased to see that both of you are progressing well.”

“I suppose so.”

“So what are the plans for the future?”

At this point, I am a little lost in thought and muse on what I need to accomplish.

“Hmm.. for the time being, you two are free to work on whatever you want as long as your connection to me isn’t discovered. And if there’s an individual you’d like me to convert them into a kin, contact me and bring them here.”

“What about you, Kurokiri?”

“In the meantime, I will be establishing the third level of my labyrinth since my level has been elevated.”

“I understand.”

“Understood.”

“Okay then, the briefing session is over.”

Afterwards, we split up and I move back to the first level.

T/N:

[i]?I don’t think I need to explain what this means since I think everyone can get it. But just on the safe side, it’s a short form of tsundere. The subsequent chapters will be better (It’s only this chapter that is bland and ridiculous. Even the author themselves wrote that this chapter is farcical lol)