Chapter 2: I’m a Pacifist

To be honest, the very first thing I thought when I realized I’d been reincarnated into another world was simply: what a pain.

But now, I honestly think this life is way easier than working myself to death as a salaryman back on Earth.

Guess it must be because of all the good deeds I did, huh? Yeah. Must be. Otherwise, I’d have had to keep working for another few decades, same as the countless other laborers out there. Well, maybe I would’ve gotten fed up halfway and killed myself, but still.

Compared to that, life in this other world is ridiculously easy.

The details are a hassle, so I’ll skip them, but suffice it to say: I’ve never worked once since I was born here, and yet I live a reasonably comfortable life.

A life of endless sloth. There’s no greater pleasure. For someone like me, who actually values modest living, this level of comfort is more than enough.

"Unemployed!? Never worked a day in your life!? And you call yourself a Demon King—the hands and feet of the Great Demon Lord—living it up!? It’s just that you’re not working, isn’t it!?"

The only real headache in my life right now is this woman the Demon Lord sent to me.

Don’t know her name. She’s ridiculously pretty. Constantly screeches. That’s it—those three traits are her entire character profile. She’s basically just a mob character with a little extra detail.

From my perspective, she’s just a nuisance with all her constant nagging. Doesn’t suit my calm temperament in the slightest. Proof enough of just how skilled the Demon Lord is at petty harassment.

"So… what was it again?"

Like so many other reincarnators, I was born into this world as a dime-a-dozen demon. Lucky for me, though, this world’s pretty easygoing.

Life’s cheap, sure, but with just a little effort you can live a lazy life. Or even with no effort at all.

Makes me feel like an idiot for ever working in Japan. I can say it now: I wish I’d been reincarnated way earlier.

"Heroes! The heroes! They’ve attacked! Now’s the time to rise up! Get out of bed already!"

"…I’m a pacifist."

Seriously, I don’t get how this girl has so much energy.

I gave her, flailing her arms like an idiot, a cold look. Change her out. Change. Bring me someone better.

Honestly, I wish she’d stop waking me up when I’m sleeping peacefully. No wonder I’m always sleep-deprived—she barges in at weird hours.

Fine, have your enthusiasm, but at least spare a thought for people who don’t.

Reminds me of my old boss, who’d stay late every day working overtime no one asked for, dragging down everyone else’s motivation. Forgot his name.

"Pacifist!? A Demon King, a pacifist!? Has your brain finally started rotting!? This is an imperial order! An imperial order from the Demon Lord himself!! Do you even understand what that means!? Getting a direct command from him is an incredible honor, and you—"

I understand. It is an honor.

But no honor in the world can beat sleep.

"…Change. Change her out. Bring back the last slothful one."

"Huh? Change?"

"Yeah. Change. You—change. You’re noisy. I don’t like you."

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaa!?"

She bugged her eyes out dramatically, like veins were about to pop on her forehead.

The woman standing before me was a demon.

I’m a demon too, and so is the Demon Lord.

But there are all kinds of demons. They’re divided by attributes.

You know, like in myths, religions, or manga back on Earth—you hear about stuff like that.

What was it again…? Something like ruin, destruction, whatever. Seven or eight of them, sounding all pompous.

"The previous attendant retired! Apparently, they felt ashamed of being ‘slothful’! Do you even get what that means!? They looked at you and decided to use you as a negative example! You understand, right!?"

"I see."

"I see!? That’s it!? That’s all you have to say!? One word!? One word only!? Ahhh, this man is impossible!"

What a pointless story.

Honestly, I barely even remember what the last one looked like. The only thing I recall is that they were quieter than this one.

I am a demon. My attribute is “Sloth.”

A Demon King who governs indolence and abandonment, evasion and decay, stillness and decline, inertia and melancholy.

From under my blanket, I peered at the Demon Lord’s lackey.

"So tell me—do you really think someone like me… is going to move?"

"Tch… this man is…!"

Not to brag, but I could sleep forever. And that’s not even because I’m a demon—it was true even before I reincarnated.

I only worked because I had to survive, but on days off, I always slept them away. Which is why I don’t even remember how or when I died.

Honestly, compared to those guys who got run over by trucks or stabbed by random psychos, I was probably the lucky one.

Not that it matters now.

Still, I had to give this noisy woman some kind of order, if only to shut her up. Being a Demon King may sound grand, but it has its hassles.

"Tell Kanon."

That one line was enough to silence her.

For all her noise, she’s faithful to her duty, trusted enough to be dispatched to a Demon King, and competent besides.

With my duty done, I finally tried to drift back into the dream world… only to feel her tugging on my blanket again.

"Wait…! You haven’t even said anything yet!! Why are you trying to sleep already!?"

"…Figure it out."

If I put in even a little effort, there’s no way a demon of her level could stop me from sleeping.

As she pulled at my blanket, my arms, even my hair, my consciousness sank once more—into the abyss, into the peaceful dark.