You'd think nearly getting stabbed to death by an assassin would be the scariest part of my night.It wasn't.
The real nightmare was walking into the Demon Academy cafeteria the next morning.
Now, don't misunderstand—this wasn't some gloomy pit filled with chains, bones, and cauldrons of boiling souls. Nope. Demons, as I had learned, ran their institutions like eccentric billionaires who got bored with Hell's clichés. The cafeteria looked suspiciously like a five-star human hotel buffet—long tables, glittering chandeliers, fountains of glowing nectar instead of water, and demon chefs in pristine uniforms yelling at apprentices for overcooking eyeball stew.
I shuffled in with my tray, feeling like a zombie. Not because I wanted brains, but because every muscle in my body ached from the fight. The Ledger had absorbed the assassin's final breath and rewarded me with a neat little credit line—
[ +320 Chaos Credits ][ +1 Reality Fragment ]
Oh, and apparently, his death had also unlocked a "Ledger Insight."
[ Insight: Every death is a deposit. Every life spared is an investment. ]
Sounds poetic, right? Too bad I had no idea what it meant.
I rubbed my temples, muttering, "I need coffee… or blood… whichever works faster."
The moment I sat down, whispers spread like wildfire.
"Isn't that him? The weak human who barely survived the entry test?""He looks like a sack of bones. Can't believe they let him live.""Hah, watch—he'll probably choke on his food next."
Mockery, snickers, outright laughter—demonic school spirit at its finest.
Now, usually, I'd ignore it. But today, my patience was thinner than demon paper. I slammed my tray on the table, glaring at the nearest heckler—a lizard-skinned demon with horns bent sideways like cheap antennae.
"What's your problem?" I snapped.
He grinned, flashing needle teeth. "Nothing, Director."
That single word froze the entire room.
Director.
The mockers who didn't know me yet had laughed without care. But those who did know—or at least had heard rumors—blanched like they'd just swallowed lava. A dozen chairs scraped back. A few demons even dropped to one knee instinctively, their eyes wide with panic.
"D-Director? He's that one? The one who sits above branch leaders?""Idiot! You mocked him!""Forgive us, Lord Director! We didn't recognize your esteemed presence!"
And just like that, the cafeteria flipped from comedy club to funeral hall.
Me? I froze with a fork halfway to my mouth, staring at the trembling crowd.
"…What?"
See, the problem was I wasn't officially introduced yet. No big ceremony, no announcement. To half the academy, I was just some nobody who scraped through tests. To the other half, thanks to whispered gossip and last night's little "incident," I was already a mysterious powerhouse appointed by forces they couldn't comprehend.
Two versions of me existed in the same room:
A weakling human barely clinging to life.
A terrifying hidden master whose casual presence bent the system itself.
Guess which one I preferred?
Neither. I just wanted to eat in peace.
But of course, life had other plans.
The Ledger's pages fluttered in my mind, glowing faintly.
[ New Transaction Available. ][ Challenge Triggered: Duel of Survival. ][ Reward: Chaos Credits, Soul Points. ][ Condition: Opponent has been selected. ]
I blinked. "Opponent? Who—"
The answer arrived in the form of a hulking shadow slamming open the cafeteria doors.
A troll demon, twice the size of the lizard guy, stomped in, veins bulging. His tusks scraped the ceiling, and his breath could've killed a cow. He pointed a sausage-thick finger at me.
"You! Human worm! You dared kill one of ours last night. Today, you pay!"
Oh, fantastic. Word about the assassin had spread.
The mockers who thought I was weak grinned eagerly, expecting me to get squashed. The believers who thought I was a Director trembled, whispering that this must be some "grand test" to demonstrate my unfathomable might.
Meanwhile, I sat there with cold eggs on my plate and a very strong desire to crawl under the table.
"…Can't I just eat breakfast first?"
The troll roared, shaking the chandeliers. "Fight me outside, or I'll crush you here!"
The Ledger chimed.
[ Duel Accepted. ][ Arena: Training Grounds ]
In the blink of an eye, the world twisted. The cafeteria vanished, and I stood in a massive coliseum—sand beneath my feet, black stone walls rising high, and thousands of spectral demons filling the stands. An illusion, but it felt real enough to make my stomach drop.
The troll cracked his knuckles, saliva dripping. "Prepare to die, little Director."
"Stop calling me Director! I don't even—"
But the fight had already begun.
He charged like a boulder rolling downhill. Dust exploded around his feet, his fists like meteors aiming for my head.
Instinct screamed at me to dodge, but I wasn't fast enough. His fist grazed my shoulder, and pain shot through my entire body like a lightning bolt. I stumbled back, coughing blood.
[ Warning: Body Durability Low. ]
"Yeah, no kidding!" I gasped.
The Ledger's pages flipped open, showing me an option.
[ Convert Chaos Credits → Temporary Strength Boost? ][ Cost: 100 Credits. Duration: 5 minutes. ]
I hesitated. Spending savings on a fight this early felt reckless. But then another prompt appeared.
[ Alternative: Gamble Investment. ][ Double or Nothing. Risk all Credits for exponential growth. ]
Gamble? Now? With my life?
"Fine! Do the safe one!" I shouted.
The page glowed, and a burning heat spread through my veins. My muscles swelled, bones hardening, reflexes sharpening.
When the troll swung again, this time I sidestepped with inhuman speed. His fist smashed into the arena floor, leaving a crater.
I countered with a punch of my own. To my shock, the troll staggered back, blinking at me like I'd just grown horns.
"Impossible! You were weak!"
"Surprise," I wheezed, shaking out my hand.
He roared and came again, this time faster. But the Ledger guided me, almost like invisible threads tugging at my limbs. I ducked, parried, and drove a knee into his stomach.
[ +50 Chaos Credits ][ Opponent's Vitality Lowered. ]
Wait—was I earning credits mid-fight?
The realization sent adrenaline surging through me. Every dodge, every strike wasn't just survival—it was profit. The Ledger wasn't just a system; it was a business model.
"Alright then," I muttered, eyes narrowing. "Let's make an investment."
I rushed him. To the audience—half mocking, half reverent—it probably looked like a calculated display of terrifying mastery. To me, it was a desperate scramble to not get flattened. But blow by blow, I pushed the troll back, chipping away at his stamina.
Finally, with a roar that shook the arena, I drove my fist into his jaw. The troll flew backward, crashing into the wall with a sickening thud before collapsing.
[ Duel Complete. ][ Reward: +500 Chaos Credits, +3 Soul Points. ][ Reputation Shift: "Hidden Power" reinforced. ]
The arena dissolved. I found myself back in the cafeteria, trembling, sweaty, but very much alive.
The entire hall was silent.
Then—
"Unbelievable…""He toyed with the troll like it was nothing.""Truly worthy of a Director's seat."
Dozens of demons bowed their heads. The mockers from earlier looked ready to wet themselves.
Me? I just collapsed back onto my chair, stabbing my cold eggs with shaking hands.
"…I really, really hate mornings."
Silence reigned in the cafeteria long after the troll demon hit the wall.Not just silence—reverence.
Hundreds of eyes followed my every twitch, every breath, as though I might explode into divine light at any second.
If only they knew the truth—that I was running on five minutes of borrowed strength and a breakfast that had gone cold faster than my will to live.
I shoved another bite of eggs into my mouth, chewing noisily just to break the tension."Don't stare. It's rude," I said around the food.
Immediately, chairs scraped back. Dozens of demons bowed their heads in unison, their voices trembling."As you command, Lord Director.""Forgive our insolence, Lord Director.""Your majesty's table manners are… extraordinary."
I choked. Table manners? I was literally just chewing.
The Chaos Ledger pulsed faintly in my mind.[ Reputation Updated: Reverence +2 ][ New Title: "Silent Strategist" ]
Silent Strategist? I'd just been too tired to talk!
I rubbed my face, groaning. This was becoming a pattern. I tried to live, eat, and maybe sleep once in a while, and demons twisted it into some grand cosmic performance.
At least the Ledger seemed pleased. Each new reputation marker was like adding another layer of armor—social currency, as valuable as Chaos Credits themselves.
Still, it was exhausting. I finished my meal under suffocating silence and tried to sneak out. Of course, the moment I stepped into the hallway, whispers followed.
"That punch! Did you see how precise it was?""Rumor says he broke the troll's jaw with one finger.""No, I heard he crushed the troll's soul with a mere glare."
I stopped mid-step. "…Glare?"
A passing succubus nearly fainted when I muttered the word, bowing low."Forgive me, Director! Your glare is too mighty for weaklings like me!"
I staggered away before she actually started crying.
The day dragged on with more nonsense.
In combat class, the instructor—a scarred veteran with glowing red eyes—called me forward. His lips curled into what I thought was a cruel smirk.
"Human. Demonstrate your technique."
Snickers erupted. Some demons still thought I was a joke, clinging to their first impression of me. "He'll trip over his own feet.""Watch, the Director title was probably a mistake.""Haha, I bet he can't even lift a sword."
The instructor handed me a blade the size of a lamppost. My arms nearly gave out on the spot. I tried not to show it, but sweat beaded down my back.
The Ledger, sensing my misery, offered a prompt.[ Convert Credits → Strength? ][ Cost: 200 Chaos Credits. Duration: 10 minutes. ]
I sighed. "Fine. Do it."
The weight lightened instantly, as if the sword was an extension of my arm. I swung it experimentally—too hard. The blade whooshed past and slammed into the ground, sending cracks across the stone floor.
Gasps filled the arena.
The instructor's smirk froze. His eyes widened. "Controlled destruction… incredible."
Controlled? I'd just failed basic balance.
The Ledger dinged cheerfully.[ Reputation Reinforced: "Unpredictable Genius" ]
Behind me, the mockers were pale as chalk.
"…He's insane. He could have killed us all with that swing.""No, no. He meant to. It's a warning. We should stay out of his way."
I gritted my teeth, smiling weakly. "Right. A warning. Totally meant it."
The class ended with me being excused early—"to preserve the safety of others," the instructor claimed. Which was demon code for: we're terrified of you, please leave before you break something else.
By the time evening rolled in, I just wanted to crawl into bed.
Unfortunately, the day had one last surprise.
Walking back to the dormitory, I turned into a narrow corridor—and froze. A group of demons blocked the way, their faces twisted in sneers. Unlike the cafeteria crowd, these ones clearly didn't buy into the rumors.
"Well, well, if it isn't the 'Director.'" Their leader, a sharp-faced demon with eyes like burning coals, spat the word with mocking venom. "You think you're something special, human?"
His cronies chuckled. "Rumor says he killed a troll. I say it was rigged.""Maybe the troll was drunk.""Or maybe this human just got lucky."
Ah. So here they were—the skeptics. The ones who hadn't yet been swallowed by the tidal wave of misunderstanding.
I raised my hands. "Look, I'm really not interested in another fight today. Can't we just—"
The leader lunged, claws slashing.
The Ledger reacted instantly.[ Ambush Detected. ][ Survival Protocol Activated. ]
My body moved on instinct, sidestepping. His claws grazed past my chest, cutting only fabric. My heart pounded. If not for the Ledger's nudge, that would've been my ribs.
The others surged forward.
I had no choice. My fist lashed out, colliding with one demon's jaw. He crumpled with a groan. Another came at me from the side—I ducked, driving my elbow into his gut.
[ +20 Chaos Credits ][ +1 Soul Point ]
Wait—again? The Ledger was rewarding me for every takedown.
Suddenly, the ambush wasn't just survival. It was an investment opportunity.
My lips twisted into a grin. "Alright, let's make this profitable."
I weaved through their attacks, every movement clumsy to me but terrifying to them. They saw precision where I saw panic, strategy where I saw blind luck.
Within minutes, the corridor was littered with groaning demons. The leader, bloodied and shaking, stared at me with horror.
"You… you're not human, are you? No human could—"
I leaned down, meeting his gaze. "Boo."
He fainted on the spot.
The Ledger hummed.[ Ambush Repelled. ][ Reward: +300 Chaos Credits, +2 Reality Fragments. ][ Reputation Reinforced: "Director Untouchable." ]
I dragged myself back to the dorm, collapsing onto the bed. My body screamed in pain, but the Ledger's cold pages comforted me with glowing numbers.
Credits growing. Soul Points accumulating. Fragments stacking.
Every fight, every misunderstanding, every accidental rumor—it all added up.
And as much as I hated to admit it, a tiny spark inside me burned brighter with each survival. Maybe… just maybe… this cursed game wasn't just about suffering. Maybe it was about building something far bigger.
Still, as I drifted to sleep, one thought haunted me:
"…I really hope tomorrow doesn't involve another cafeteria fight."