Chapter 1: Acedia, Part 2: I’m a Pacifist
The Lazy King
Let me be a little honest here. When I first noticed that I had reincarnated into this world, my first thought was that it was a pain. That was all.
But right now, I think that rather than being a Salary Man on Earth, my current life is much easier.
This must be because Iâve been a good boy. Yep. That must be it.
If that wasnât the case, then I would have been forced to work for the next few decades. Just like the laborers that exist all over the place. Well, perhaps I would find it a pain, and kill myself along the way.
In comparison, this otherworldy life is exceedingly easy.
Giving the specifics is a pain, so Iâll skip them, but from the moment I was born into this world, I havenât worked for a second of my life. Even so, Iâve managed to attain quite a comfortable lifestyle.
Itâs laziness without end. Thereâs no greater pleasure than this. At the very least, for someone who respects the poor, Iâm satisfied with this life.
âUnemployed!? No work experience!? How could it be that one of the Great Demon Kingâs arms and legs, a Demon Lord is lazing around!? You just donât want to work, right!â
Right now, the only headache I have is this woman the Great Demon King sent.
I donât know her name. Sheâs quite a beauty. And she screams at me. If youâre looking for her characteristics, I guess thatâs about it. Sheâs just a bit higher than the rest of the mob.
For me, her screaming is quite an annoyance. For someone as calm as me, we really donât fit together.
Iâll bet the Great Demon King tried to send over whoever would annoy me the most as a form of harassment.
â⦠And what was this about again?â
When you compare the rest of the reincarnated in this world to me, who was born as a dirt-cheap devil, I guess the only saving grace is that this world was exceedingly easy to live in.
The value of life is just a tad bit low, but if you try a bit, you can enjoy an idle life. Even if you donât try, itâs possible.
I feel like an idiot for working my ass off in Japan. I can only say this in hindsight, but I wish I reincarnated earlier.
âItâs a Hero. A Hero! A Heroâs attacking! See, now itâs finally the time for you to rise! Please get off of the bed already!â
â⦠Iâm a pacifist.â
I canât understand why sheâs so energetic.
She raises both of her arms above her head, and makes a request to me as she looks over me with cold eyes. Change, change. Please give me a more decent one.
(TL: A line used in⦠certain clubs to exchange for another woman)
Iâd really like it if she stopped waking me whenever I was peacefully sleeping. She keeps waking me at irregular hours, so Iâm always sleep deprived.
Itâs fine if she has motivation, but Iâd like her to think of all the people who donât.
When youâre pointlessly brimming with spirit, you end up wasting your time pointlessly doing overtime. Ah, I just remembered a superior that worked in my division. Forgot his name, though.
âPacifist!? The Demon Lordâs a Pacifist!? Have maggots finally made their way to your rotten brain!? This is a direct order! The Great Demon Kingâs direct order!! Do you understand the meaning of that? The Great Demon King has personally dispatched you, and itâs supposed to be an honorâ¦â
I understand. Honor.
I just canât defeat this drowsy feeling.
â⦠Change. Change. Go bring in the lazy attendant I had before.â
âEh? Change?â
âYes. Change. You loud. I hate.â
âWhaaaaaaaaat?â
The woman opened her eyes wide in an exaggerated gesture. Itâs as if I can see the veins just poping out of her forehead.
The woman in front of me is a demon.
Iâm also one, and soâs the Great Demon King.
But even if you categorize them under one name, there are various types, and weâre divided by attribute.
That means, I forget the number, but itâs that⦠you know, that thing in earthâs religion or legend, or manga or something. Youâve probably heard about it.
Um⦠right, Wrath, or Decay or stuff like that⦠that thingy with seven or eight things. It sounds really high and mighty.
âMy predecessor retired! He said something about ãSlothã being pitiful to look at! Do you understand what this means!? Looking at you, the Demon Lord, he got tired of his own attribute! Hey!â
âI see.â
âI see!? Your impression is, âI seeâ!? Two words? Only two words!? Ah, damn it all. The hellâs with this man!â
It was a topic I didnât really have interest in.
In the first place, I donât really remember the past guyâs face. All that I remember is that it was a lot quieter back then than it is now.
I am a demon. My attribute is ãSlothã.
Depravity and resignation, escape and decay, suspension and stagnation, inertia and dejection. A Demon Lord reigning over that sort of thing.
From under the covers, I take a peek at the Great Demon Kingâs underling.
âAnd do you think thatâs enough⦠to make someone like me move?â
âKu⦠This man isâ¦â
I donât mean to brag, but Iâm a man who can sleep for as long as I want. This isnât just because Iâm a devil. It was like that before I reincarnated too.
In order to live, I reluctantly took up work, but on my off days, I slept the whole time. Because of that, I have no memory of when, where or how I died.
I guess that makes me luckier than all those reincarnators who were hit by a truck or slashed by some slasher.
Well, at this point, I donât really care.
The screaming woman is still trying to issue orders.
Even being a Demon Lord is just like being a feudal lord, so I guess it isnât that easy.
âGo report what Iâm about to say to Kanon.â
With that one sentence, the woman fell silent.
Despite everything, I guess sheâs still a professional, and she was personally sent by that Great Demon King. Sheâs supposed to be skilled.
Having said what I wanted, I finally resolve myself to return to the world of dreams once more, and again, the woman tries to pull my cover off.
âWait⦠Wait a god damn second!! You havenât said anything yet, why are you sleeping again!?â
â⦠Take a guess.â
If I get serious, thereâs no way a demon of this level would be able to get in the way of my sleep.
I feel the futon, my arms and my hair being pulled, as I let my mind fall into the abyss. I fell into the depths of that peaceful darkness.