It was during one morning that a disgruntled devil or fiend in her case stalked out of a convenience store in anger. She wasn't really leaving by choice though.
The store owner had a broom in his hand and was currently pushing her out.
" And stay out!" The store owner shouted at the fiend. He was fuming but still held himself back. Cause he knew, he couldn't win if a hypothetical fight broke out.
But he really wanted to hit this annoying woman.
Who could blame him?
What would you do if someone entered your shop, opened the food, ate without paying and somehow managed to make a mess of the dairy section?
And worse… the noise. He never knew what "noise" was until the moment this woman stepped into his store.
" Power Will Remember This Injustice!" The wronged fiend shouted back. " WHEN POWER BECOMES OVERLORD, SHE SHALL RETURN AND CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF THIS PITIFUL SHOP!."
" Yeah, yeah. And I'm going to become the Prime minister," the man mentioned, his voice dripping with sarcasm before returning to his store.
Power stood there for a moment longer, simmering and cursing at the man. Then she cursed at the gawking pedestrian. And finally she cursed the Sun for good measure.
Afterwards she stomped her way towards the next store.
Deep down though, she still felt wronged. Deeply wronged. It wasn't her fault she was hungry. No one ever blames a predator for chasing prey. It's nature's way!
And it definitely wasn't her fault for tasting the milk sold. She just wanted to make sure it was right for Meowy. She refused to go back to feeding Meowy that mouldy, disgusting pile she used to get.
It was all the stupid humans' fault with their endless laws. Rules. Restrictions. Stupid things always telling her what to do. She was the one of the most strongest devils, mind you!
While stomping down the street she fished out a list from her pocket. The short piece of paper had a list of chores specifically made for her. And she hated it. All of it. Stupid Aki.
Unfolding the crumpled paper she looked at the list for the 4th time this morning.
.Cigarettes(any is okay)
. Newspaper( Today's paper!)
.Milk
.Tuna
The list was small but daunting. It was a gross misuse of her excellent talents. These were all a servant's task. And she wasn't one. She was the Greatest Fiend alive. And the strongest.
" Stupid Denji," she muttered under her breath over and over like a personal mantra.
People naturally moved out of her way. They'd long learned at this point to ignore devils like her. But she caught the occasional side glance, the fearful glance.
And that improved her mood. Just a little. Striking fear always made her better.
Finally she arrived at the next store. As soon as she stepped inside, a strong scent hooked her attention. The faint but lingering metallic smell of meat. Raw meat. And blood.
Her mouth began to water. Without thinking she drifted towards the Butchery like a predator drawn by instinct alone.
She was almost at her destination until someone stepped in front of her.
A scrawny, tall teenager in an apron stood in her way. He was fidgeting and kept glancing at her horns.
Though annoyed at the sudden interruption, Power allowed a small smirk to form on her face. The human's fear was palpable and it made her happy. The previous store owner was obviously broken and mentally unstable. That, of course, was the only reason he acted that way towards her.
This was how all proper humans should act in her presence.
Awestruck and fearful.
She puffed up her chest in an effort to make herself seem taller than the really tall teen.
" What is it, human?" she demanded.
The teen's eyes darted away from her horns to her face before his cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment.
" Uh-uhh…. W-welcome to Kokoro!" He stammered, " H-how may I help you, Miss?"
Power blinked. Then her smirk turned into a full blown smile. Finally, a human who knew how to treat her with proper awe and respect.
" This one demands, you give her meat," she declared, pointing dramatically towards all the meat. " The freshest, bloodiest meat you have!"
The boy looked at her in shock. " W-which meat do you want specifically, Miss?"
Power's annoyance started growing again. " Didst thou not hear my words the first time? Fetch me Meat, I said!"
Before she forgot she also took out her grocery list and shoved it onto the boy's hand.
"Fetch me this aswell human," she mentioned before sauntering away from the confused boy.
Finally free from mortal burdens and with a servant doing her tasks for her. Power made her way to her original destination.
She paused by the display case, gazing at all the delectable meat just in reach with the eyes of an experienced connoisseur.
Power's eyes gleamed with a feral joy of sorts, the kind that came from anticipation. A majestic rack of ribs, links of sausages and cuts of marbled Wagyu beef all vied for her attention. She then pressed her face closer to the glass, her breath fogging it slightly.
" Meat…." She murmured softly. " Soon, you shall know greatness. By entering mine stomach."
"Mama, what is that lady doing?" A small child nearby said.
Power glared back at the child until she backed away slowly, clutching her mother's hand.
" Don't stare," the mother admonished, pulling her child closer and walking away.
" They're even letting the animals shop in the same store as us? Ohhh! How the mighty have fallen!" An older woman mentioned with sorrow.
Power's head snapped towards the source of the voice. She took one step forward, then another, meat forgotten for the moment.
" Old hag," Power said, her voice sweet and her eyes glinting with amusement and malice. " You must be some great devil of Hell, to dare speak thusly in mine presence. Or else have thy wits fled with age, and senility possess thy brain."
The old lady scoffed. " And you must be the filth they scraped off the streets to work the cash registers. Oh, wait I almost forgot. You don't even work! You freeloaders just take and take!" She sneered.
" Your ilk should be- "
Before she could finish, Power leaned in her face inches from the woman's. " Your words do cut me to the quick! To think, a withered bag of flesh, to dare affront mine excellence?"
" I should take your spine as a trophy. A monument to thy idiocy. But I have heard your years have toughened thy hide, like old leather. Sadly, I like my food tender."
The old lady staggered back, clutching her purse with a shriek of indignation. " You lunatic!"
"Queen Lunatic," She corrected smugly, turning back toward the counter. " Now, where were we Meat man? Ah, yes. I require a feast to celebrate my freedom. And throw a bone in there I feel like chewing."
The butcher blinked. "Uh…. Do you want beef, pork or…"
Power's eyes went wide and started shining like a child at a candy store. " I said meat!"
She barked, slapping the counter. " Beef, pork, all of it! Bring me all the meats of the land! Cow! Pig! Maybe even chicken if drenched in blood!"
The butcher hesitated, then nervously eyed the growing line of customers now backing away.
"Ma'am, this isn't like a ….buffet. You have to pick something. Weight, cut, type…"
Power stared at the man blankly. Then raised one finger, pointed at the steak and said, " That one. And that one. Five of those sausages. No, six. And give me the biggest bone you have,"
She then leaned forward, whispering conspiratorially, " Also if… you have any that has… a little scream left in it… I'll pay extra."
The butcher blinked once more and some part of him berated him for coming to work to work today. " I'll… see what I can do."
As she waited, her face still glued to the case she felt eyes on her. Not the stare of the people behind her but of something more unsettling.
The stare made her shiver and the hairs on her neck stood up straight like soldiers waiting for orders. She glanced back discreetly but only saw the pitiful humans still maintaining a distance. She didn't know where the look came from but she wanted out. Now.
Power slowly stood, then waited for an opportune moment to make a run for it. Before she could make any move the boy from earlier approached her with her supplies. He was smiling this time. More confident.
And with that unnerving, patient stare still on her? She didn't like the boy's sudden confidence.
" H-Here you g- "
-------------------------------------------------