The Daily Life of the Demon King

Alex and his robo-dog, G.I.R., stood in a dark alley in the city of Tokyo. Although Alex was currently in Tokyo Prefecture, the city he found himself in, Tokonosu, was quite large and densely populated. However, he wasn't interested in the exact number of its inhabitants. Those destined to die were already dead, and the lucky survivors were hiding, trying to endure the first night of the zombie apocalypse.

Alex, however, was preoccupied with something else: he wanted to study the capabilities of the current zombies before they began mutating. So far, he had discovered that zombies became more active and aggressive at night. The most critical observation was that they were no longer blind at night, relying not only on sound but also on sight.

Standing over his second test subject, Alex pondered which spell to try next. He knew that in the future, he might need to reveal his abilities, so he wanted to understand how the virus reacted to healing magic.

"Well, what are you staring at that corpse for? Are you going to do something, or do you just want to waste time?" came a familiar voice. Hlökk appeared behind Alex in her spiritual form, urging him to hurry up.

"I'm deciding what to use for the experiment. I'm still troubled by why the spell 'Ingal' worked, yet the person didn't come back to life. The body reverted to its normal state, but the person remained dead. So many questions, and I don't even know where to start," Alex replied, shaking his head and exhaling smoke through his nose.

"Then try again, but this time use your eyes to see the essence of the zombie," suggested Reginleif, who appeared behind him and adjusted her glasses.

Alex nodded, taking her advice, and decided to conduct a new experiment with "Ingal." This time, he used magic to simultaneously look into the very essence of the zombie. When the spell worked, the person appeared on the floor once more. At first glance, they no longer seemed like a zombie.

However, as Alex examined their essence, he noticed something astonishing. The foundation of the person's existence was missing, yet their soul was still present. Although calling it a soul was a stretch—it had become shapeless, resembling an old cartoon ghost: faceless, mouthless, with a white body and black voids for eyes.

Now Alex understood why "Ingal" hadn't revived the person. The essential foundation for existence was gone, and the soul had become amorphous. This revelation raised even more questions. Where had the foundation gone? After all, a soul couldn't exist without it.

"Strange and fascinating at the same time," Alex muttered, tearing his gaze away from the body on the floor.

"Did you see something, darling?" Göndul asked, appearing behind him.

All the Valkyries connected to Alex through their spiritual bond eagerly awaited his explanation. They were reluctant to leave Alex's spiritual space, as being near zombies disgusted them.

"Yes, their bodies still contain a soul, but it has become formless, and the foundation is gone. It's strange—a soul shouldn't exist without a foundation. Too bad I got rid of Shido; he would've made an excellent test subject," Alex said with a hint of regret in his voice.

"Now you sound like a true mad scientist," Geirölul chuckled.

"Maybe," Alex admitted with a smirk. "But I need to learn more. For example, can this virus infect a demigod or even a god? I have so many questions that they're driving me crazy."

"You're not planning to experiment on us, are you, big brother?" Göll asked, her voice tinged with slight fear.

"Do I look like a complete monster? I'd rather grab a few worthless demigods or gods from Tartarus than experiment on you. Without your voices in my head, I'd be bored," Alex quipped, taking a drag from his cigarette.

Göll finally calmed down, silently chastising herself for doubting her older brother's character. Over the time they had shared their spiritual bond, she had learned much about Alex and understood that he would never harm the innocent, let alone his own family. It was simply not in his nature. He always placed honor and the protection of his loved ones above all else.

Burning the zombie's body, Alex leisurely made his way to his next target. G.I.R., left in the background, sat peacefully on nearby steps, entirely absorbed in his game. Despite the apocalyptic chaos surrounding them, the robot dog maintained an air of serene detachment, as though the events had no relevance to him.

Alex crouched beside another harmless zombie lying motionless on the ground. Deciding to test how healing magic would affect this lifeless shell, he carefully touched its surface and activated his magic.

Healing, as widely known, eradicates infections and viruses, stimulating the body's regeneration. However, instead of being enveloped in a soft glow, the zombie's body began to jerk and writhe as though something inside it was trying to break free.

Without hesitation, Alex erected a magical barrier around the zombie to protect himself and his surroundings, then observed closely. Black tentacles, adorned with menacing spikes, tore through the decaying body and lunged toward nearby zombies with severed limbs. However, the barrier halted them, and the tentacles thrashed violently against the invisible wall, desperately seeking their targets.

"Interesting… I didn't expect healing magic to have such an effect on a zombie," Alex murmured, thoughtfully stroking his chin.

"What is this abomination? Why did these tentacles emerge from its body?" Hrist's darker side asked, appearing behind him with a scowl.

"Healing stimulates tissue regeneration," Alex began to explain, his gaze fixed on the writhing tentacles. "Mana substitutes the body's nutrients and eliminates anything foreign. However, the virus has already become part of the body, so the healing magic must have accelerated its development. This caused a mutation. It confirms my theory that zombies will eventually start evolving."

The tentacles, writhing and trembling, looked like something out of a nightmare. Alex circled the barrier, carefully examining their structure. With so many zombie types in existence, he could spend all day naming them.

As he scrutinized the tentacles, Alex realized they weren't related to Ouroboros but something entirely different. He recalled seeing something similar in a game or perhaps a movie, though he couldn't place it. The Valkyries, present in their spiritual forms, watched the experiment with keen interest, quietly discussing the unfolding scene among themselves.

"These tentacles remind me of something," Alex muttered, furrowing his brow. "But it's not the Ouroboros virus… more like something out of an old movie or game."

Unable to pinpoint the memory, he decided not to overcomplicate matters and burned the body along with the tentacles inside the barrier. Alex knew there were many experiments still ahead.

Approaching the next zombie, which began growling despite its severed limbs as he drew near, Alex paused to think.

"Why do they react to me but not to G.I.R.?" he wondered but quickly deduced the answer: the robot wasn't made of flesh and thus didn't trigger the zombies' instinctive drive to attack.

This time, Alex chose to use the Inglum spell. Its nature was to transform a living being into a vengeful zombie, fueled by hatred and pain directed at the one who killed it. Alex prudently activated a barrier around the zombie to prevent any potential fallout.

" Inglum," he said calmly.

The spell's energy enveloped the zombie, and Alex froze, waiting to see what would happen this time.

A magical circle appeared beneath the zombie's body, glowing with a soft red light. Gradually, this light began to envelop the zombie, dissipating as it went. The zombie's body began to slowly regenerate: severed limbs, which G.I.R. had previously detached with his saw-sword, rapidly grew back. However, the process didn't stop there. The zombie's muscle mass began to increase, transforming it into something of immense size.

Alex watched the ongoing changes with clear interest. He knew exactly what zombies created with the Inglum spell should look like, but this result was clearly outside the norm. The only explanation was that Inglum had triggered a mutation far stronger than the previous healing spell.

When the process was complete, the zombie before Alex resembled a Tank from the game Left 4 Dead. A massive mutant, with bulging muscles and a terrifying appearance, it snarled and violently slammed against the barrier, trying to reach Alex.

"Didn't expect to encounter something like this," Alex muttered thoughtfully, studying the mutant.

"Are you talking about your games, where you run around and shoot zombies?" Skalmöld asked skeptically, appearing behind him in her spiritual form.

"Something like that," Alex huffed. "Though I haven't played in a while. There's simply no time for it. The only time I could relax was that day in Hawaii with Becca. Other than that, I'm always doing something. The work never ends."

Skalmöld didn't immediately know how to respond. She knew all too well how hard Alex worked and how he sometimes forgot to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Whether it was Orario, Night City, or even Valhalla, he was always busy with something. Eventually, she hugged him from behind, trying to offer some comfort.

Alex felt her support and quickly regained his composure. After all, there was always a degree of fun in his tasks. Where else could he encounter such unique types of enemies and test himself in battle? Feeling calm again, Skalmöld returned to the spiritual space, not wanting to distract him from his thoughts.

Meanwhile, Alex was thinking about visiting the world with Totsuki Academy, enjoying high-class cuisine, and inviting his whole family for a joint vacation.

The burnt Tank left only ash behind, and Alex, shrugging his shoulders, turned his attention to the remaining zombies, still writhing on the ground.

"Seems like I've figured out everything I wanted. If I remember anything else later, I'll just act according to the situation," he said quietly.

Alex destroyed the remaining zombies in the alley, but thoughts of the future still lingered. If this world could really spawn zombies from games like Left 4 Dead, then other types were likely to appear in the future. Especially dangerous for him would be the infected from Dying Light, like the Jumpers or Volatiles.

These creatures had quick reactions and were deadly dangerous. And if hunters from Left 4 Dead started appearing as well, that combination would be the most unpleasant. Among these two worlds, the special zombies were the most troublesome.

Letting out a slight sigh, Alex called over G.I.R., who had been absorbed in his game the whole time.

"Had enough of the game?" Alex asked, glancing at the robot dog.

"I want new armor, it's awesome!" G.I.R. replied excitedly, showing off his character from the game Monster Hunter.

Alex shook his head and sat G.I.R. on his shoulder. A thought flashed through his mind: it might be a good idea to get his motorcycle Fenrir and ride through the zombie-infested city. Summoning the bike, Alex immediately opened the weapon compartment and began filling it with weapons from his inventory to be prepared for any situation.

First, he pulled out the katana he had intended to give to Saeko. Two katanas ended up in his hands: one with red sheaths, crafted by his fiancée Hephaestus, and the other with black sheaths, which Alex had forged himself out of boredom. He paused for a moment, but soon decided that Hephaestus's katana would make a more fitting gift. Carefully placing it in the weapon compartment, Alex continued.

Next, he retrieved a rifle for Rebecca, a pair of pistols, and, with some effort, took G.I.R.'s favorite saw-sword so that the robot dog wouldn't cause any trouble. After completely filling the motorcycle's compartment, Alex felt ready to move on.

He sat on the bike, placing G.I.R. in front of him to make sure he wouldn't fall off and later complain about "betrayal." With everything prepared, Alex summoned the remaining weapons: the katana Yamato appeared on his waist, and the Blue Rose revolver was secured on his back.

As soon as he started the engine, he felt a light embrace around his waist. Turning his head, he saw Göndul, who was smiling and resting her chin on his shoulder.

"I've always wanted to ride something like this," she said.

"Then hold on tight," Alex smiled.

Göndul tightened her hug, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Alex slowly drove out of the alley and onto the open road.

Once on the street, he immediately noticed the zombies aimlessly wandering the area. But as soon as he appeared, their burning eyes simultaneously locked onto him and Göndul.

"Darling, I don't want to rush you, but I really don't like how they're staring at us," Göndul said, pointing to the crowd of zombies. "I know you can handle it, but their gazes are still unnerving."

Alex smirked:

"A zombie apocalypse is when even the most unpopular person becomes a star, chased by hordes of fans. Well, zombies, to be exact."

"You're such an idiot, darling," Göndul laughed and gently tapped him on the head.

Alex laughed along with her and pressed the gas, heading toward their temporary base. As he drove, he noticed more and more zombies aimlessly wandering the streets. To avoid drawing too much attention and attracting a whole horde of zombies, he cast a silencing spell on the motorcycle, making it nearly silent.

Arriving at the gas station where their base was located, Alex noticed from a distance that, during his absence, a large number of zombies had gathered around. He stopped the motorcycle nearby, carefully surveyed the area, and said:

"Göndul, return to my spiritual world."

"Don't forget to take me for another ride, darling," she said with a smile, kissing him on the cheek before disappearing.

Alex watched with a slight smile as the zombies aimlessly wandered the gas station's grounds. The only logical conclusion he reached was that they were remnants of the horde heading toward the bridge.

Starting the motorcycle's engine, Alex charged straight into the crowd, making a sharp turn right in front of them. He then jumped off the bike, drawing Yamato. With one swift and precise motion, he sliced through the entire horde, cutting them into pieces.

Sheathing the sword, Alex leisurely got back on the motorcycle and drove it to park near the bus. After surveying the area once more to ensure there were no zombies, he jumped onto the roof of the building and settled into his chair.

As usual, G.I.R. sat beside him, once again engrossed in his video games. Alex decided to kill time by watching a random movie on his phone.

Morning came quickly. From time to time, solitary zombies appeared at the gas station, and Alex effortlessly dealt with them using makeshift items from his pockets. One even received the "honor" of having its head pierced by a gold coin.

Pulling his gaze away from the phone screen, Alex noticed the rising sun. The time showed 6 AM. Deciding to give everyone another hour of sleep, he put the phone down and lit a cigarette, enjoying the view.

Plans were already forming in Alex's mind. He decided to focus on rescuing those who were closest. First priority: Rika and her group at the airport. They could add some much-needed combat strength to his team, which was mostly composed of students and, in the future, their families.

The Sai family had enough guards capable of participating in raids, but the problem lay with her father. He allowed the survivors to sit idle while his people risked their lives every day.

As much as Alex wanted to get rid of the useless people, there weren't many options. However, he had a plan to make everyone work, even the laziest.

"If the group gets bigger, we'll need more transportation to move everyone. What do you think, G.I.R.? What's the best course of action?" Alex asked, glancing at his robo-dog.

G.I.R., who had been playing games all night, paused the game and set the console aside on his lap.

"We can reinforce a few big buses and take people to the port. Then we can steal a military ship," he replied in his childish voice, considering the suggestion.

"You're right. I was planning to steal a ship anyway, but we'll need to make an effort to get everyone to the base. Now we just need to decide which base to head to: the one near Tokyo, Yokota, or Okinawa?" Alex continued, thinking through his options.

G.I.R. fell silent for a moment, hacking into a satellite to check databases and find out where to locate a ship big enough for everyone. He was searching for a vessel with weaponry to ensure protection in case of an infection from sea creatures.

Alex gave the robo-dog time for analysis while he sank into thought. He fully understood that he wasn't a hero or a savior, but the situation required him to save as many people as possible. However, large groups always brought problems, including conflicts due to differing viewpoints.

"There's a massive aircraft carrier in Okinawa right now. The base is empty, so after saving the 'meat sacks,' I suggest we head there and steal it," G.I.R. finally stated his conclusions.

"Don't call them 'meat sacks.' Some of your 'moms' are still people," Alex chided him, giving his head a light tap.

"A meat sack is a meat sack. A mom is a mom," G.I.R. retorted sulkily.

Alex just smirked, watching his little helper dive back into his game.

Alex shook his head, deciding not to argue with the robo-dog. His thoughts turned to the choice of a location for a temporary base, from where they could start rescuing the survivors. The police station was out—it was too noticeable—and the mall was too dangerous: it could house both rational people and armed idiots.

That left two options: the power plant, which was a closed-off area and inconspicuous, or the bank, which could also serve as a reliable shelter. However, Alex decided to leave the final decision to Rebecca—she knew more about such things.

An hour passed quickly, and it was already 7 AM. Time to wake everyone up and start making plans. Calling G.I.R. to follow, Alex headed downstairs and surveyed the room. Everyone was still asleep: Rebecca was nestled in a corner, rifle in hand, Brunhild was peacefully napping nearby, leaning against her spear.

The other girls from the first group had huddled together in a tight circle, clearly preferring to stay close to Rebecca and Brunhild. Rei, Saeko, Saya, Shizuka, and even Kyoko were at the center of this improvised camp. The rest of the group, consisting of the schoolchildren Alex had rescued later, were at the far end of the warehouse. Alex snorted, turned to G.I.R., and signaled to start the music.

"Goooooooooooooood Morning, Vietnam!" Alex shouted, breaking the silence.

G.I.R. immediately activated the speaker, playing an upbeat song that fit the situation. Everyone jumped in surprise, quickly scanning the area for danger. Their eyes quickly focused on Alex, who stood there, smiling smugly, while the music blared on, preventing them from fully relaxing.

"Turn off that damn music!" Rebecca yelled, throwing the first object she could find at Alex.

Alex easily caught the flying empty beer can. It seemed Rebecca had decided to unwind a little while he was on roof duty last night. He waved his hand, signaling G.I.R. to turn off the music once everyone had fully woken up.

"Good morning, my dear survivors! Congratulations, you made it through another night. Now, let's get to work. Freshen up, have breakfast, and get ready to load supplies into the bus. We've got a lot to do."

Rebecca grumbled as she got up, lazily kicking Alex in the leg before heading off for a snack. Brunhild, without saying a word, simply looked at him with an empty gaze before reaching for her morning coffee. Gradually, the others started waking up and getting ready.

Alex, sitting off to the side, enjoyed sipping the coffee that Saeko had brought him, as she settled down beside him. He watched the group, realizing that it was time to change clothes—walking around in bloodstained clothes was clearly not a good idea.

Rebecca, slurping instant noodles, glanced at Alex skeptically:

"So, what do you have to say about last night? Don't tell me it was quiet. In a zombie apocalypse, there's never quiet."

All eyes were on him, waiting for a response. Alex considered how much information was worth sharing.

"First of all, my theory about zombies being more active at night has been confirmed. What's worse, they've started seeing in the dark—that's bad news. Secondly, I'm sure the zombies are going to mutate, and it's just a matter of time. When that process starts, it's hard to predict. So, we stick to the plan: rescue the survivors, head to the port, steal a ship, and head to Okinawa."

His words made everyone think, but no one argued—Alex already had a clear plan in mind, and it was obvious he knew what he was doing.

Those who didn't know the full potential of zombies felt a bit of dread hearing about the possible mutation. Rebecca and Brunhild immediately realized that Alex had discovered something last night and, most likely, conducted a few experiments as he claimed. Brunhild considered whether to contact her sisters, who were in his spiritual space, to learn more. Meanwhile, Rebecca tried to calculate how long it would take for the zombies to begin mutating, recalling that in games, it usually took anywhere from a week to a month, depending on the virus type or mechanics.

"And why Okinawa? Are you planning to give us a vacation, or do you think there won't be zombies there?" Takashi asked sarcastically.

"Takashi, shut up! Alex hasn't finished yet, and you're already inserting your comments," Rei snapped, scolding him.

Takashi turned away sulkily, deliberately acting like everyone had abandoned him again. Rei only scoffed at his behavior. Alex just shook his head, wondering what drove Takashi. Perhaps he truly believed everyone could be saved without a concrete plan. Rebecca rolled her eyes, clearly disapproving of such people. She was irritated by those who could only make snide remarks but never suggested anything useful.

"It's fine, Rei," Alex calmly interrupted the argument. "Actually, there's a military base in Okinawa. It has an aircraft carrier that we can temporarily 'borrow.' Also, the base will allow us to stock up on weapons and ammunition. In the meantime, we'll gather supplies on the way."

The group fell silent, and everyone agreed that Alex's plan was the best possible option at the moment. The only concern was the lack of manpower, but Alex reassured them that he would rescue everyone he could find on the way to the port.

"Now, quickly finish breakfast and start loading the bus. Perishables go on top, long-lasting items go at the bottom. The most important thing is gasoline. Drain it from whatever you can. It's our fuel and weapon," Alex commanded, urging everyone to hurry.

After breakfast, the guys got to work, moving boxes of supplies onto the bus. Alex tasked Kyoko with keeping track of the supplies, confident that her responsible nature as a teacher would help. Kyoko nodded and, before the group began unloading, started recording the contents of the warehouse. Meanwhile, Alex stepped outside to check the situation.

After confirming that everything was calm, he gave the order to start loading. For the gasoline, it was decided to bring the bus closer to the pumps so they wouldn't have to carry the cans over long distances.

When the group stepped outside, everyone noticed a brand-new motorcycle that hadn't been there the day before.

"Where did this motorcycle come from? It definitely wasn't here yesterday," Rei remarked, pointing to the black bike with an unusual design parked next to the bus.

"It's Fenrir! Never thought I'd see this model in real life. It's amazing!" Kohta exclaimed, rushing over to the motorcycle.

Kohta, forgetting everything, began inspecting the bike like an avid fan, not tearing his eyes from the details.

"And how did it get here? I get that it's some iconic thing from a game, but that doesn't explain how it showed up here," Saya said, looking at Kohta with mild disdain.

"This isn't just 'some game'! It's a legend, you just don't get it!" Kohta tried to defend himself, continuing to admire the motorcycle.

"You want a punch in the face, fatty?" Saya asked with a squint, threateningly pointing at him.

Kohta immediately deflated, made a hurt expression, and returned to the warehouse for another box.

"It's my motorcycle. G.I.R. brought it here using remote control," Alex explained calmly, answering the unspoken question from the group.

They first looked at Alex, then at the robo-dog standing nearby. Realizing that the explanation was veering into fantasy territory, the group collectively decided to ignore the details. After the appearance of two robo-dogs, they had stopped being surprised.

Brunhild, who had never seen Alex's motorcycle before, took a genuine interest in it. Rebecca, on the other hand, remembered how often she had ridden with Alex on that bike during their spontaneous dates while working.

"By the way, you're lucky. I've got something for you," Alex said, waving the girls over.

He approached the motorcycle, pressed a button on the panel, and hidden compartments on both sides opened, revealing weapons. Kohta, returning with a box, noticed this process. His eyes lit up with excitement, and he began fanboying again upon seeing such an unusual feature.

Ignoring the reactions of those around him, Alex calmly began distributing the weapons.

"Alright, let's start. Here's your rifle, Rebecca. You'll grab the ammo yourself. A katana for Saeko. A folding spear for Rei. Saya, I'm not sure what to give you. Pick something, but please, don't accidentally kill anyone," Alex said with a slight smile as he handed out the weapons.

"Hmm, actually, I know how to shoot. I've been training since I was a kid, just so you know," Saya replied proudly, picking up a pistol and twirling it in her hands.

"What about me?" Shizuka raised her hand enthusiastically.

"You get nothing. I'm afraid you'll hurt yourself before you hurt anyone else," Alex remarked dryly, eyeing her.

"How rude! I'm very responsible, in case you haven't noticed," Shizuka pouted, pretending to be offended.

"Yeah, yeah. When I see your responsibility, we'll talk. For now, be a good girl," Alex said, placing a hand on her head and ruffling her hair slightly.

Shizuka nodded obediently but continued to pout. Alex just smirked and shifted his gaze to Kohta, who was looking at the motorcycle with such adoration as if it were his idol.

"Kohta, I've got something for you, too. Give Rebecca her pistol back, I've got toys you'll like more," Alex said with a slight smile.

Kohta's eyes lit up, and he quickly returned Rebecca's pistol before rushing over to Alex with an eager expression. Alex handed him both a handgun and a submachine gun. Kohta began muttering in admiration as he examined the weapons, but soon received a kick in the rear from Saya. Struggling to regain his composure, he hurried back to the bus, continuing to help with the loading.

Alex glanced at the others.

"You'll get your weapons when you learn how to use them. I don't want anyone accidentally shooting their own," he said seriously.

The guys simply nodded, understanding the responsibility. Takashi shrugged and silently returned to his work.

While the men carried heavy boxes of supplies, the women helped move the lighter items to speed up the process.

To be continued...