"Welcome to the 100th floor!"
Luke spread his arms wide as Solo, Belphy, and finally Lilith—who had struggled fighting for elevator space against a tidal wave of employees—stepped into his office.
Color exploded everywhere.
The room looked like someone had forced a tech startup, a circus, and a preschool into a blender. Fake trees, rainbow slide, bean bags shaped like questionable animals, and a huge wacky-font sign that read "BOOGLE" dominated the space.
Belphy stares, offended.
"What the hell is this? I thought your aesthetic was… spooky and intimidating."
"Huh? Why would you think that?" Luke blinked innocently. "If you mean my castle, that was the previous demon king's taste, not mine."
Lilith muttered, "There was a previous demon king…?"
Another sudden twist that won't be answered by Luke.
"I prefer something colorful! Something that truly represents me! A vibrant demon! Hahaha!"
"Hmph. Yeah. A deranged clown." Lilith snickers.
Luke clapped his hand. "Anyway! As per my contract with Solo 130 years ago, I have exclusive rights to manage demon life using the tech built by the government. And among all the companies I own in this tower, I personally manage Boogle—the company organizing all the information in Murica!"
He puffed out his chest proudly.
"I also named it Boogle as a tribute to the company from Solo's old world!"
Solo blinked.
But I never told him what Google's office looked like… Does he actually like this nightmare of a design?"
"It's only been a few months since Boogle introduced internet to the public," Luke continues, "and as expected, the public reception has been AMAZING—mainly because I advertise it myself! Hahaha!"
Recreational Room
They enter a massive spherical chamber, glowing with sci-fi sterility. Thousands of monitors cover the curved walls, each showing a live feed of various Murican citizens. In the center hangs a floating control platform staffed by Boogle employees.
Lilith's eyes widen.
"These are… Murican people."
"Yes!" Luke grinned proudly. "All of them are workers who use computers and the internet for their jobs. It's almost 9 A.M., so they're logging in."
Belphy frowns. "Why does everyone look exhausted and depressed?"
"It's Monday," Luke answers as if it explains all of existence. "Half of them worked through the weekend to hit deadline, and the other half actually enjoyed their weekend—so now they're depressed because reality hurts."
Solo frowned. "Are you about to have a video meeting with all of them?"
"Nope! They don't even know they're being watched."
Lilith froze.
"…So you built Boogle to spy on Muricans?"
"Spy? Nooo," Luke waved casually. "This is my reward for investing in Solo and Murica. You'll understand in a moment."
He stepped onto the central platform and put on a headset. He checks the time—9:00 A.M. sharp.
"Connect me to the tower."
"You're connected, sir."
Luke adjusted his mic.
"Attention all floors. This is your CEO, Lucifer Morningstar."
Across the tower, demons froze mid-task, staring toward the speakers.
"It's Monday…
RELEASE THE CLIENTS!!!"
The command echoed like a war cry.
Demons immediately started typing rapidly on every floor, sending emails, messages, and calls.
TING
KRIIING-KRIIING.
Notifications explode across Murica.
And then—
"NOOOO!!!"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I NEED TO REVISE IT AGAIN!?"
"Sniff… sniff… sob sob…"
A wave of despair hit simultaneously.
Demons screamed, threw things, punched walls, puked, or cried dramatically over their desks.
Luke threw his head back and burst into manic laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THIS IS WHY I STOPPED BULLYING DEMONS FOR A CENTURY AND LET YOU ALL PLAY GOVERNMENT AND 'PROGRESS'!"
Solo, Lilith, and Belphy flinch. Luke's aura was shifting—becoming sharper, darker, more honest.
Luke adored misery.
He adored despair.
Especially when inflicted on people who were proud, powerful, and hard to break.
Killing them was boring. It's too quick, too easy, and demons welcomed death.
But humiliating them?
Breaking their pride and leaving them alive with the pain?
Luke lives for it.
"THIS—THIS IS MY NEW HIGH!" Luke cackled.
"THE ONCE FEARED, ARROGANT DEMONS—SHATTERED! CRUSHED! HUMILIATED! WITHOUT ME USING A SINGLE DROP OF POWER! HAHAHA!
The trio exchanged nervous glances.
This was the true demon king.
In the past,
When a necromancer almost created a new magic, Luke destroyed his research so he'd start over.
When a warlord conquered tribes, Luke defeated him and left him for revenge-seeking enemies.
When Belphy finally completed a painting, Luke vandalized it.
Luke is the reason demons never built a functioning civilization. Why "demon invasion" was called "the great escape" by demons themselves.
Ironically, the only demon he never bullies is Lilith—not because she's strong, but because her biggest wish is to meet a charming demon prince who isn't an asshole. The universe already did the bullying for him there.
Luke throws his arms wide.
"DON'T YOU THINK THIS IS THE BEST FEELING EVER!?"
Belphy mutters, "Ugh… psycho."
Lilith shivers. "He's scarier now than in his true form…"
Meeting Room
Luke listens to Solo's plan, then bursts into hysterics.
"You want me to make demons kind and thoughtful!?" Luke said, wiping laughter tears, "DEMONS? AHAHAHAHAHA! Best Monday ever!"
"Belphy will make all needed materials," Solo said calmly. "But we need you to handle the marketing plan and execution."
"Ugh…" Belphy groaned.
Lilith's added. "We'll subsidize and give tax re—"
"I'll do it," Luke cuts in instantly.
Lilith blinked. "…You'll do it?"
"OF COURSE! This is insane and hilarious."
Belphy whispered, "Huh. That was fast."
"So?" Luke continues, "How would you do the contract?"
Lilith explains. "Well, the government will make—"
"Not that contract," Luke interrupted with a sharp smile.
His aura thickened, and kept staring at Solo. "I said… how will YOU do the contract?"
Lilith shot to her feet.
"LUKE! YOU WANT A DEMON CONTRACT WITH SOLO AGAIN!?"
"Asking the Demon King for a favor is never cheap," Luke sings.
Lilith starts transforming in fury, but Solo lifts a hand.
"It's fine… I came prepared."
Luke clapped like a happy child.
"Excellent! Now, you two—please give us the room."
Lilith hesitated, but Solo gave her a reassuring nod. She and Belphy reluctantly left, slamming the door.
Luke leans forward, amused.
"You know, I'm glad. Even after a century, you still bring fun ideas."
"I adapt," Solo sighed. "I need to if I'm going to get revenge on the goddess."
"Remember, I don't hate her," Luke said lazily. "She practically gave me this playground. So if you think you can use 'revenge' as bargaining—no."
"I'm giving you something you actually want."
"Oh? But I already have what I want. Do you remember why I never left demon territory even after the barrier fell?"
"Because the outside races felt like… ants."
"Exactly. Weak. Boring. Demons are the only race worth tormenting. And do you remember why I never enslave them?"
"Because slavery breaks pride, and they become numb. Like humans."
"Ting tong! Exactly!" Luke grinned.
"Bullying is an art. Not too often, not too rare. Timing is everything."
He leaned forward.
"You promised me a society where millions of demons suffer despair five days a week for the rest of their lives—without me lifting a finger. And you delivered. So what more can you offer?"
"You currently control the souls of… what? Half of Murica?"
"Fifty-three point eight percent," Luke corrects proudly.
Solo looked him dead in the eye.
"What if I make those souls even more desperate—without breaking them?"
Luke narrows his eyes.
"…Go on."
"And I can increase that 53.8% to 80%. Maybe more."
Luke's eyes glowed. "Really? Children too?"
"…yes."
Luke bursts out laughing.
"HAHAHA! If anyone else said that, I'd call it bullshit. Fine. In return, I'll manipulate demon public opinion however you want… in three years."
"I need it in six months."
"Che… You're killing me. One year. Fastest I can do."
"…Deal."
Luke offers his hand. Solo hesitates, then takes it.
A blast of demonic aura erupts around them.
"NGH-!" Solo gasps as letters begin carving into his soul.
"Sorry, bro," Luke says, grinning. "You remember the procedure."
Through clenched teeth, Solo forces out:
"…I, Alex Solomon… hereby request the Demon King Lucifer Morningstar's assistance… and in return… I will grant him… social media."
---
A Marine-13 helicopter lifts off from Hellicon Valley with Solo, Lilith, and Belphy aboard. Down below, Luke waves like a happy tourist.
"Kekeke… Solo, you knew demons would never be free. You just replaced the goddess's barrier with your own—called progress. You sold their souls to me and made them believe your grudge was theirs."
He laughed.
"That's why you're my best bro. The most evil among us. HAHAHAHA!"
In one year, the campaign became a massive success.
Demon obediently followed Solo's abrupt non-expansionist policy.
Luke enjoyed a tidal wave of emotions thanks to social media—especially angsty teenagers.
Murica's mental health industry enjoyed record-breaking profits.
PRESENT TIME…
Ravendawn, Raven City
One year into friendly relations with Murica, Ravendawn had transformed. Electricity, highways, railroads, and even internet spread across the province. In exchange, they granted Murica mining rights for resources they didn't even know existed.
Other nations called Murica stupid for not conquering Ravendawn. But Solo, born in 21st-century Earth, knew better:
A poor neighbor is a dangerous neighbor.
A wealthy neighbor becomes a customer.
Now, wealthy Ravendawns walked around in 17th-century clothes while holding Murican smartphones. Horse-drawn wagons still roam the streets, but trains and buses—run by Murican companies—connect their cities.
Raven City, however, struggled. With the capital moved back to Dawn City, revenue declined.
Rather than repelling demons, this fortress city now begged demons to visit. But unlike Dawn City, they lack attractions.
No beaches.
No scenic mountains.
Just grasslands full of monsters, hills full of monsters, and the Black Forest—which is filled with even more monsters.
Muricans see Raven City as "just another Murican town."
But the new king, Lucius, is clever. Since transportation has become cheap and safe, he pivoted to adventurers. Raven City is now one train ride away—24 hours instead of two weeks. Even the bus is faster than the old monster-ridden caravan routes.
The only downside?
Murican transport companies constantly complain about adventurers.
Delays due to oversized shields stuck in doorways.
Broken seats from overweighted armor.
A cleric accidentally sanctifying the station vending machine
Business as usual.