When I Was Reincarnated into the World of an Ultra-Difficult Game, I Ended Up As the Sole Subordinate of the Ridiculously Strong yet Incompetent Demon Lord, Tasked with Creating a Dungeon:
“Why me too…?”
“Well, it can’t be helped. It’s better to have more people around.”
“Then, why not have Ururaga, Ananta, or Gana help too…?”
“Well, Gana aside, the others would just make things more troublesome, so it’s better they don’t.”
“…Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
Under the guidance of Dartle-san and Kamal-san, today we, the reincarnators, were tasked with going shopping.
…I think I’ve nearly earned Rey-san’s full trust now!
I’m so glad… I don’t want to end up like Molly-chan.
By the way, listening to Dartle-san and Kamal-san’s conversation, it seems there are still a lot of staff members we haven’t met yet.
And they seem to be troublemakers, too?
Maybe that’s why they’ve been keeping us away from them.
“Alright, children. We have a lot to buy today, so let’s get moving quickly.”
“Yes!”
Although being called children feels a bit off, this is work for Magirema-san’s busy restaurant. We need to make sure we buy the ingredients.
“Oh, that looks delicious…”
“Chocolate, huh… By the way, I wonder if Magirema-san can make desserts too?”
While I was admiring the fancy-looking chocolates, Kazama-kun agreed with me.
Arata-chan and Tomoka-chan didn’t seem jealous in any way.
That’s the dignity of the first wife… though I’m not sure which one is the first wife.
“Hey, kids! Stop daydreaming! It would be bad if you got lost! Also, Magirema-san can make desserts too!”
“Sorry~!”
Oops. Just as I was told, I almost got left behind by Dartle-san.
But, well, it can’t be helped.
This city is so incredibly prosperous. There are so many people, and the stores have so many things.
Maybe I’ll come back here with Eriko-chan on our next day off…
“If you get lost, I’ll guide you, so it’s fine~.”
“Even so, it would be a waste of time. Try not to get separated as much as possible, alright?”
“Yes.”
Kamal-san is small, but very reliable.
Maybe, like Lopez-san, she’s a halfling and older than she looks.
Stay together, stay together…
Hmm…?
- Betray → Survive. Join the human kingdom.
- Don’t betray → Survive. Join the Demon King’s army.
…What’s this?
Why is there suddenly this choice?
Sure, every morning they’ve been threatening me with death if I betray, but I’ve never been threatened with something like this before…
Wait? I won’t die if I betray? And join the human kingdom?
What does that mean…?
“TOKITOU-SAN. You’re about to get lost again.”
“Oh, sorry, Kamal-san.”
…Huh?
In front of me are Kamal-san and Eriko-chan.
Where are the others? Dartle-san, Kazama-kun, Shin-chan, Tomoka-chan, and Lopez-san?
“Dartle and the others have some things to deal with, so we’ll be shopping on our own for now.”
“Oh, okay. Understood.”
Oops. I got distracted by the choices and didn’t listen to the conversation properly.
I need to focus…
“Excuse me. Can I ask you something?”
“Eh, me?”
Just as I was trying to steady myself, a man called out to me, catching me off guard.
Hmm, he’s human, not a beastman. That means I don’t know him.
Who is this?
“What is it? We’re shopping, so we don’t have a lot of time to spare.”
As I was unsure how to respond, Kamal-san answered before I could.
…I guess she really is older than me. She feels as reliable as Dartle-san.
“Sorry. I have something I’d like to ask the two of you.”
“If you’re hitting on us, try somewhere else.”
“Ugh… that’s not what I meant.”
When Eriko-chan coldly dismissed him, the man shrank back.
Hitting on… This is the first time it’s happened to me!
But, what kind of people are they? Humans… and elves, right?
I didn’t really have an image of elves being close with other races.
“My name is Kunimatsu. I thought you two might understand the meaning of this.”
Oh, Kunimatsu-san. Kunimatsu-san?
…He’s Japanese! Just like me, Eriko-chan, Shin-chan, and Tomoka-chan!
Wait, is this person a reincarnator too?
“Hmm, I think it’s easier for me to talk without them here.”
“Sorry, if you can do that, it would help a lot…”
Eh, Kamal-san!?
Does that mean Eriko-chan and I have to handle this ourselves!?
Ah… he’s gone…
“Could you talk to him and see what he wants? He’s our enemy.”
…That was close.
I almost shouted out when Pilkaya-san’s voice suddenly reached me, but I managed to hold it in…
Wait… they’re enemies? Does that mean these two are our enemies? And now, Eriko-chan and I are left alone with them?
Help, I need the choices!
- Betray → Survive. Join the human kingdom.
- Don’t betray → Survive. Join the Demon King’s army.
Ah… I see now.
If I betray and side with Kunimatsu-san, I’ll survive and join the human kingdom.
If I don’t betray, I’ll continue working as part of the Demon King’s army.
No, no, no. Even if it says I’ll survive, the Demon King’s army is definitely the better choice!
“Um… are you okay? You froze up there for a second.”
“Don’t mind it, she’s like this sometimes.”
Ah… because of the choices, I’m being treated like a weird kid…
Alright, I’ll make up for it from now on. Uh, listen to the conversation. Listen. Listen to the…
“Are you a reincarnated person?”
“Yes. Like you all, I am a reincarnated person and was originally Japanese.”
“…How did you know we were reincarnated? And that we were Japanese?”
“Well, there’s a way to figure it out. Sorry, but I can’t tell you how.”
So they can figure it out…
Eriko-chan and I should only look like beastmen, though.
“Why did you speak to us, reincarnated people?”
“Well, both me and this guy, Zino, are reincarnated people. We’ve been having trouble gathering companions.”
“Companions?”
Is he asking to become friends or something?
“Companions to defeat the Demon King and eliminate the world’s threat. You heard it from the goddess, right?”
Ugh… I want to go home.
If we keep talking about this, will Pilkaya-san and Rey-san label me as a traitor?
It’ll be fine, right? Pilkaya-san must be watching.
“I didn’t introduce myself properly. I’m Zino. I’m an elf now.”
Oh, come to think of it, we didn’t introduce ourselves either.
“I’m Tokito.”
“Oki…”
Huh? Zino? That’s a strange name for a Japanese person.
Could he be like Lopez-san, from another country?
“The Demon King… Do you really think you can defeat him?”
“…Unfortunately, it’s still difficult. However, both Kunimatsu and I have cleared the game.”
I see. Eriko-chan said she gave up halfway, so these people are pretty impressive.
“That’s why we know how to defeat the Demon King.”
!? The way to defeat the Demon King!?
Wait, can the Demon King really be defeated?
No way, right? Because he’s the Demon King!
“You mean there are conditions to defeat him?”
“Yeah. The game had such complicated flag management that I can’t say it’s a simple thing, but the preliminary steps to defeat the Demon King are the same for everyone.”
“Preliminary steps… So if we don’t do those, we won’t be able to defeat him.”
“Yeah, and in this world, that’s the most difficult part.”
It’s not the game anymore.
Surely, now that it’s become real, the conditions must be much more difficult.
So, what are these conditions?
“Could you tell me more about the conditions? I can’t decide if I can cooperate without knowing that.”
“Sorry, I can’t tell you lightly. If I do, and you act too soon, the Demon King will become wary, and defeating him will become impossible.”
“…So, you want us to join you?”
“Sorry, but the reincarnated people from my country tried challenging the Demon King right after reincarnation, but they never came back. It’s been the same every time, so we can’t afford to provoke the Demon King anymore.”
…Could it be Kazama-kun and the others?
There was no sign that the Demon King was provoked, but I guess that’s only because we know the situation.
“But I’ll act to fulfill the conditions. To do that, I need to find reincarnated people who can achieve the conditions using the various abilities scattered by the goddess.”
“If I have Zino’s power, you and the other reincarnated people can use the goddess’s powers more effectively. I think it’s better to join forces rather than act separately.”
“…To be honest, I don’t know if I can trust you all. That’s why it’s hard to just teach you my abilities.”
“Ah, that’s fine for now. So I’ll just teach you the powers of Kunimatsu and me. If you change your mind someday, we’d like your cooperation.”
“My ability is appraisal. Sorry. I used it to find out you’re reincarnated people.”
“My ability is enhancement magic. I can enhance not just physical strength, but anything. Even the goddess’s powers.”
That’s a typical, solid ability.
My choices are convenient too.
But among these, Eriko-chan might be the most impressive.
“I see. So Zino’s power becomes more effective the more reincarnated people gather.”
“Yeah, even if it’s a low-level ability, I can raise its effectiveness with my support. By extending Kunimatsu’s appraisal range, I was able to find you all.”
I see~… I wonder what would happen if Zino’s ability enhanced my choices?
Well, that probably won’t happen, so I guess there’s no need to think about it.
“I’ll remember that. Now… I’d like to know how many companions you have.”
“…Unfortunately, the only reincarnated people I have are Kunimatsu and me.”
“B-but the main character, Rick, and the hero party are cooperating too. I can’t talk about the game too much because it would mess up the flags again…”
The heroes are companions… It seems like things are going well for Kunimatsu and the others.
They might really be able to fulfill the goddess’s request…
Defeat the Demon King, and reach the game’s ending… But if the Demon King is defeated, that would be troublesome…
“If you feel like it, come visit us anytime. Either Kunimatsu or I, from either the human or elf nation, can help you get in touch.”
“Okay, I’ll remember that.”
Hmm… Eriko-chan handled everything, but for now, I’ve learned that there are still only two reincarnated people, that the heroes are allies, and that I now know their abilities.
If we’re going to defeat the Demon King, it means we’ll eventually have to fight against these people, right?
“And…”
“Is there something else?”
“This city is vast. There are many people. It might be convenient, but it seems that one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s army is lurking around.”
“Four Heavenly Kings…”
“It’s a fire spirit called Pilkaya. While expanding Kunimatsu’s appraisal range, I was able to briefly catch their name.”
Pilkaya-san has been discovered!?
But since it was just a brief moment, does that mean they escaped Kunimatsu’s range quickly?
“Unfortunately, I could only catch that brief moment… So, please be careful too. I wish I could have used appraisal longer…”
“I was expanding the effect and range with my power. The load became too high. We shouldn’t take such risks.”
Come to think of it, Kunimatsu-kun has been looking kind of uncomfortable this whole time.
…I think it’d be better to tell Pilkaya-san and Rey-san about this.
“I don’t know what Pilkaya is planning… Normally, Rick and the hero party should have defeated him, so the fact that I was able to appraise him means it might have been a small ember that barely survived. But you should still be cautious.”
“Oh, yes… Thank you.”
Pilkaya-san. Is he thought to be dead?
Ah, no… There are too many things going on, and I can’t organize my thoughts.
I’ll report everything to Rey-san and leave it to them.
◇
“I didn’t expect Pilkaya to still be alive…”
“Yeah, but it was fortunate we could defeat him before he made a full recovery.”
“Thanks, Rick. Without you and Zino, we wouldn’t have been able to notice Pilkaya.”
“No, thank you. If Kunimatsu-san hadn’t been there, we wouldn’t have noticed Pilkaya.”
Please ignore this author’s note part (it’s for site’s technical reason)
Author’s Note:
Thank you for reading this chapter! If you enjoyed the blend of drama, slice-of-life moments, and the intricate worldbuilding, don’t forget to leave a comment or share your thoughts. Your support helps keep the story going! Stay tuned for more twists, heartfelt interactions, and the growing bonds between the reincarnators as they navigate their new world.
Worldbuilding Glossary (SEO-Optimized Keywords):
- Reincarnation Drama: Explore the emotional struggles and bonds of reincarnated individuals in a fantasy world.
- Slice of Life Fantasy: Daily life, shopping trips, and heartfelt conversations in a magical setting.
- Demon King’s Army: The mysterious and powerful faction shaping the world’s fate.
- Isekai Worldbuilding: A richly detailed fantasy world with unique races, abilities, and lore.
- Character Development: Witness the growth of Tokito, Eriko, and other reincarnators as they face moral dilemmas and forge alliances.
- Fantasy Adventure: Join the journey of reincarnators as they uncover secrets, face enemies, and decide their loyalties.
- Emotional Conflict: Betrayal, survival, and the weight of choices in a world filled with danger.
- Magical Abilities: From appraisal to enhancement magic, discover the unique powers granted by the goddess.
- Found Family: The heartwarming and tense dynamics between the reincarnators and their allies.
- Four Heavenly Kings: The legendary figures of the Demon King’s army, including the enigmatic Pilkaya.
