The Lazy King

Chapter 1: Acedia, Part 2: I’m a Pacifist

Chapter 1: Acedia, Part 2: I’m a Pacifist

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 I’ve been a good boy. Yep. That must be it.

If that wasn’t 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 I’ll skip them, but from the moment I was born into this world, I haven’t worked for a second of my life. Even so, I’ve managed to attain quite a comfortable lifestyle.

It’s laziness without end. There’s no greater pleasure than this. At the very least, for someone who respects the poor, I’m satisfied with this life.

“Unemployed!? No work experience!? How could it be that one of the Great Demon King’s arms and legs, a Demon Lord is lazing around!? You just don’t want to work, right!”

Right now, the only headache I have is this woman the Great Demon King sent.

I don’t know her name. She’s quite a beauty. And she screams at me. If you’re looking for her characteristics, I guess that’s about it. She’s 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 don’t fit together.

I’ll bet the Great Demon King tried to send over whoever would annoy me the most as a form of harassment.

“… And what was this about again?”

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 don’t try, it’s 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.

“It’s a Hero. A Hero! A Hero’s attacking! See, now it’s finally the time for you to rise! Please get off of the bed already!”

“… I’m a pacifist.”

I can’t understand why she’s 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)

I’d really like it if she stopped waking me whenever I was peacefully sleeping. She keeps waking me at irregular hours, so I’m always sleep deprived.

It’s fine if she has motivation, but I’d like her to think of all the people who don’t.

When you’re 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.

“Pacifist!? The Demon Lord’s a Pacifist!? Have maggots finally made their way to your rotten brain!? This is a direct order! The Great Demon King’s direct order!! Do you understand the meaning of that? The Great Demon King has personally dispatched you, and it’s supposed to be an honor…”

I understand. Honor.

I just can’t defeat this drowsy feeling.

“… Change. Change. Go bring in the lazy attendant I had before.”

“Eh? Change?”

“Yes. Change. You loud. I hate.”

“Whaaaaaaaaat?”

The woman opened her eyes wide in an exaggerated gesture. It’s as if I can see the veins just poping out of her forehead.

The woman in front of me is a demon.

I’m also one, and so’s the Great Demon King.

But even if you categorize them under one name, there are various types, and we’re divided by attribute.

That means, I forget the number, but it’s that… you know, that thing in earth’s religion or legend, or manga or something. You’ve 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.

“My predecessor retired! He said something about ?Sloth? 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!”

“I see.”

“I see!? Your impression is, ‘I see’!? Two words? Only two words!? Ah, damn it all. The hell’s with this man!”

It was a topic I didn’t really have interest in.

In the first place, I don’t really remember the past guy’s 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 ?Sloth?.

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 King’s underling.

“And do you think that’s enough… to make someone like me move?”

“Ku… This man is…”

I don’t mean to brag, but I’m a man who can sleep for as long as I want. This isn’t just because I’m 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 don’t 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 isn’t that easy.

“Go report what I’m about to say to Kanon.”

With that one sentence, the woman fell silent.

Despite everything, I guess she’s still a professional, and she was personally sent by that Great Demon King. She’s 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.

“Wait… Wait a god damn second!! You haven’t said anything yet, why are you sleeping again!?”

“… Take a guess.”

If I get serious, there’s 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.