[1] The Laid-Off Demon King Finally Finds His Union
"Name?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCA6gt2bop
"Ludwig... Former Demon King of the Seventh Hell, currently an ex-corporate slave of a black-hearted company."17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeGIi5Cmjk
"Reason for termination?"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9vAWGYs8r
"The HR Hero slashed my employment contract with a holy sword."
At the Tokyo branch of the Demon Kings' Union, a three-headed hellhound in a suit adjusted its glasses. The middle head sighed: "Another victim of the 'Goddess System'... Fill this out."
The "Membership Application" it slid over suddenly auto-filled in blood-red text:17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbAar1zLBC
☑ "Voluntarily renounce human annihilation"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2WGTvwLql
☑ "Agree to use dark magic against capitalists"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5w2TLf37k
❓ "Accept union-assigned infiltration missions" (blinking)
"Wait, what does 'infiltration' mean?" I asked warily.
All three heads grinned in unison: "Exactly what it says—you're getting rehired."
[2] Turns Out "Black-Hearted Corporations" Are Just the Goddess Church's Outsourcing Partners
"Welcome back to 'Celestial Enterprises, Inc.!'" The HR manager smiled like a demonic possession. "After executive deliberation, you're being transferred to the 'Special Strategies Department'!"
My new employee badge read:17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3ynLSzDBY
"Ludwig · Hell's Seventh Branch · Anti-Overwork Tactical Consultant"
And my new office... was right next to Hoshino Akira's.
"Surprised?" The manager whispered. "The HR Director personally recommended you."
—What?!
Just then, my phone buzzed with a message from "Unknown Number":17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo69j48nDbS
"Don't react. Look out the window."
I turned. On the opposite rooftop, Hoshino was watching me through binoculars, holding up a whiteboard:17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqitUYHijbq
"Union plant? Worst. Actor. Ever."
[3] The Demon Kings' Union's "Legal Struggle" Tactics
"Listen up—modern demon kings don't commit genocide. We file labor complaints." The union rep (an ancient lich-turned-lawyer) lectured via PowerPoint:
"Overtime violations?" → Summon hellhounds to chew through power lines
"Psychological abuse?" → Have ghosts haunt management's dreams
"Illegal layoffs?" → Report directly to the Otherworld Labor Standards Bureau
"But what if... HR is a Hero wielding a holy sword?" I raised my hand.
The room fell silent.
The hellhound slowly bared its fangs: "Then we enact the 'Special Clause'—"
It slid over a contract burning with black flames:17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteG299N8Vc
"DEMON KINGS' UNION · ARCHNEMESIS ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT PACKAGE"17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvdXAyPck3
Includes: Holy Sword Insurance, Memory-Restoration Potions, Hero Weakness Database (incl. childhood photos)
[4] The Truth About the "Goddess System" Is Darker Than Expected
Late at night, I hacked into the company servers and discovered the true nature of the "Goddess System"—17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvI0cbubOq
A massive faith harvester, converting employee despair into divine power!
Voluntary overtime → +10 Faith
Overwork hospitalization → +50 Faith
Suicide → +100 Faith
And in Hoshino's HR file, it clearly stated:17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprXbPvpdLt
"Employee ID: NO.1 · Memory Seal: 89% · Next Phase: Promotion to 'Corporate Angel'"
"...Damn it!" I slammed my fist on the keyboard—only to hear a shing behind me.
Hoshino leaned against the doorframe, her holy sword half-drawn.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQonUqakXM
"Ludwig," her golden eyes glowed in the dark, "who... are you really?"
