Leaving Zone 3 should have been simple.

  Pick up cursed trash.

  Trigger mass panic.

  Accidentally revolutionize demon society.

  Leave.

  Easy.

  Instead, I somehow ended up standing on top of a broken machine like it was a podium.

  I didn’t remember climbing it.

  But now dozens...no, hundreds of demons had gathered, staring up at me with expressions ranging from awe to mild fear to is this another false arm?

  The guards finished loading the st appliance.

  The stove.

  The refrigerator.

  The washing machine that screamed when tilted.

  Sparky saluted so hard sparks popped.

  “ZONE 3 SECURED, MY LORD!”

  “Good,” I said. “Please stop yelling like the stove can hear you.”

  She nodded. “…Yes.”

  I cleared my throat.

  Right.

  Speech...

  I had never actually given one before. What do you even call demons collectively Citizens? Subjects? Minions?

  No, that sounded evil.

  Residents? Too polite.

  My brain bnked.

  So I panicked and shouted.

  “MY PEOPLE!”

  The reaction was immediate.

  Several demons gasped. One tripped over a pile of wires. Another dropped a broken keyboard on their own foot.

  Dead silence followed.

  …Was that too much? I thought to myself.

  Charmie stared up at me, eyes sparkling like I’d just unlocked a legendary dialogue option.

  Oh no.

  I swallowed and committed.

  “I...uh...” I continued, waving my hand vaguely, as if I totally pnned this. “I know Zone 3 has been… neglected.”

  Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

  “I know you’ve been forced to live among broken relics. Things abandoned by humans. Things the rest of the Demon Realm fears.”

  A few demons nodded hesitantly.

  “But these,” I said, pointing at the trash piles, “are not curses.”

  Collective gasp.

  “They’re proof.”

  Silence.

  “Proof that humans advance because they build. Break. Discard. And then build again.”

  Charmie whispered, “My lord… you’re doing it.”

  I internally screamed.

  “I promise you this,” I said louder. “I will make demon lives better.”

  The crowd leaned in.

  “Not just for the Inner Circle. Not just for elites.”

  I pointed outward.

  “But for Zone 3. For the forgotten. For those told to fear what they don’t understand.”

  My chest tightened.

  “…We will catch up.”

  More murmurs.

  “We will learn!”

  Silence.

  “And one day,” I finished, “humans will respect demons. Not out of fear.”

  I paused.

  “But because we stand as equals.”

  The explosion of cheers nearly knocked me off the vending machine.

  “GLORY TO THE DEMON LORD!”

  “HE SPOKE OF EQUALITY!”

  “ZONE 3 HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED!”

  Charmie wiped her eyes. “That was incredible…”

  [Charmie Affection +2]

  I nodded calmly, pretending there was a cape fluttering behind me.

  There was no cape.

  I was just standing very still.

  [Announcement: Demon Lord Issued Future Vision Decration to Make Demons Lives Better.]

  I hopped down.

  And immediately sneezed.

  “…ah!”

  ACHOOOO!!

  Light burst outward.

  [ACHOOOO!! Skill Activated!]

  [Transforming…]

  “…Why now,” I groaned.

  [Announcement: Demon Lord successfully transformed into a female!]

  The demons lost their minds again.

  “THE RADIANT FORM!”

  “THE PROMISE CONTINUES IN A HOLY SHAPE!”

  “…Please stop worshipping my sinuses,” I muttered.

  Charmie cpped excitedly. “You looked amazing!”

  “I changed genders mid-speech.” I sigh.

  “Symbolic!”

  ---

  We turned to leave Zone 3.

  That’s when I noticed something.

  Someone was sleeping.

  Right in the middle of the road.

  On a bnket.

  “…Why,” I said slowly, “is there a demon hibernating on public infrastructure.”

  Charmie squinted. “Oh! That’s Lazi.”

  “…That’s a name?”

  “Yes. She’s the Official Castle Sleeper.”

  “…That’s a job?” I furrowed my brows.

  “Yes.”

  I stared.

  The demon, Lazi, apparently had long messy mint-blue hair and half-lidded eyes, curled up like the concept of responsibility never reached her.

  She snored softly. The bnket beneath her shimmered faintly.

  I approached cautiously.

  “Excuse me,” I said. “You’re blocking traffic.”

  She didn’t move.

  “…Excuse me,” I tried again.

  Nothing.

  Charmie whispered, “She’s very hard to wake.”

  I sighed. “…Fine.”

  I poked the bnket.

  The world warped.

  Suddenly, I was falling. “WHAT...!”

  The street vanished.

  The sky folded.

  Charmie screamed.

  And then...

  We nded.

  Softly.

  Inside the castle gates.

  I blinked.

  “…What.”

  Charmie y sprawled beside me, hair a mess. “…We teleported.”

  Lazi sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes.

  “…Oh,” she murmured. “Passengers.”

  “…Passengers?” I repeated.

  She yawned. “Bnket moves when poked. It’s comfy.”

  I stared at her bnket.

  “…You’re a transportation unit.”

  She nodded once. “…Yes.”

  Charmie gasped. “Instant teleportation… without chanting…”

  Lazi tilted her head. “…Do people chant for that?”

  “Yes,” Charmie said weakly.

  “…That sounds tiring.” Lazi yawned.

  I pinched the bridge of my nose.

  “So,” I said, “you’ve been casually teleporting around the realm… sleeping.”

  “Yes.” Lazi tugged her bnket tighter. “Are we done traveling?”

  “Yes,” I said. “But you’re coming with us.”

  She blinked. “…Why.”

  “Because,” I replied, “you’re the ziest strategic asset I’ve ever seen.”

  She considered that.

  “…Okay.” Then immediately id back down.

  [System Loading…]

  [Initializing Vassals…]

  [Acquired New Vassal: Lazi, Vassal of Sloth]

  [Lazi Affection +1]

  I stared at the system message.

  Lazi mumbled, half-asleep, “…Wake me when it’s tomorrow…”

  I sighed.

  “…Same.”