with all these practical functions, there was no effect on the driving performance and seat comfortability.
Leather covered the seat. In the front was a high-capacity basket; in practice, there was a choice to add in containers to hold all sorts of goods.
"How is it? It covers all of your requirements."
A male wearing work clothing all covered in the stench of motor oil pointed at it and spoke, using a voice filled with confidence.
"… …Not yet. Just looking at it without trying it out won't do."
The other young man pondered, a difficult look across his face. As a result, the one covered with the stench of motor oil said,
"I knew you would say that. I've already got it covered. I have immense pride in my skills. You could ride it for a hundred years and it wouldn't be an issue."
At the same time, he crossed his arms in a provoking manner.
"Then I look forward to it."
The young male hid a smile as he got on for a ride.
"Oh… This is…"
Because the young male could not help but make a sound, the corner of the other person's mouth rose.
A delicate figure, watching the two men from the side, unhappily whispered.
"… …What sort of farce is this?"
The young male completely paid no mind to those words, with two arms on the handlebars, exerting all of his strength to step on the right pedal.
In that moment, he let out a cry of amazement.
"OOOH! Amazing! So light! Having a gear chain unexpectedly makes it this light!"
Flying out the warehouse, the young man treaded on the bicycle, clank clanking, yelling with a smile spread wide across his face.
"I've decided on this one!"
"Thank you very much. Maou-chan, seeing the relationship between you and me, I'll give you a discount. How about ¥29,800."
"Hirose-san, you're the best! Ah, that person over there will pay. Suzuno, please."
The young man called Maou turned towards the kimono wearing maiden unhappily sitting on a metal chair to the side of the warehouse, raising his chin.
The man covered in the smell of machine oil perked up his eyebrows, facing the young lady.
The maiden, called Suzuno by Maou, revealed a fed up look, pulling a small calico purse from her goldfish-patterned handbag.
"Honourable shop owner, that earlier conversation, what was the meaning of that?"
Leaving from Sasazuka Station of the Keio Line in Shibuya, Tokyo, the shop is a five-minute walk. Hirose, manager of the "Hirose Bicycle Shop", located in the Bosatsu Street Shopping District[1], grasped the towel wrapped around his head, smiling as he wiped his sweat.
"It was to keep with the mood. But, are you really having this young lady pay? Are you Maou-chan's girlfriend?"
Because of that, the flesh on her face contorted.
"I hope you will not make this sort of joke. It is only because I am forced against my will that I am paying. Sadao-dono, how long are you going to fool around? The anti-theft registration still needs to be completed. Hurry back."
"Hey, hey."
Riding on the sparkling, brand-new, high-grade city bicycle, Maou Sadao returned with a huge grin.
Attached to the aluminum frame was an all-directional light reflector, along with a light that would automatically light up when it became dark, as well as Maou's most desired six-speed gear shift, all on the Bridgestone city bicycle.
"The bicycle is 29,800, anti-theft registration at ¥300… …take out the remaining ¥100 and it will be ¥30,000."
"Thank you for your kindness."
Suzuno unfolded three neatly folded ten thousand yen bills and gave them to Hirose.
"Well, thank you for your patronage. Since you are already here, young lady, would you also like a bicycle? How about it?"
Even at Hirose's recommendation, Suzuno shook her head.
"Because I have yet to undergo the necessary training, this will be all for today."
"Necessary training?"
At Hirose's confusion, Suzuno then earnestly explained.
"It is said that, while a driver's license is not required, one must use supplementary implements known as 'Training Wheels' to practice."
Because of these words, Maou imagined the delicate Suzuno in a kimono, treading on a kiddie bike equipped with training wheels. He nearly laughed out loud.
"Perhaps that was unexpectedly very cute."
"You're not thinking of something ridiculous, are you?"
Seeing Maou's reaction, Suzuno glared at Maou.
"Really… … Honourable shop owner, please give me the receipt."
"Hmm? Oh, uh, it will have to be hand written, is that okay? It needs a seal since it's 30,000."
"For the heading, please write 'Saint Ignold Corporation'."
Maou was surprised after hearing that.
"Hey, hey, that is…"
However, Hirose did not mind the heading as he wrote it down, tearing off the receipt."
"Here, thank you. Maou-chan, I sold you a good one. Make sure to treasure it."
"Uh, yeah… …"
As Hirose watched them leave, the two walked along the shopping district, in the direction of their apartment.
Maou wheeled along the brand new bicycle, unable to contain his joy, while Suzuno walked under the shade of her umbrella because of the summer heat, pulling a long face.
"Anyway, what are you doing getting a receipt?"
"If one were to diligently record savings and expenditures, in the future, after your subjugation, when I return to 'the other side', I may get the corresponding amount if I were to ask for a reimbursement."
"'The Demon King I planned to subjugate had me buy him a bicycle'…you mean?"
Suzuno, from underneath her umbrella, stared at Maou.
"Do you want me to tell all the priests that the Demon Lord Satan is a stingy demon that nags others for a bicycle?"
"It is currently the age that requires those at higher positions to understand appropriate behavior. What is wrong with being frugal and ordinary? Furthermore, I have my circumstances."
This ordinary civilian, both economizing yet tooting his own horn, the "Demon Lord", suddenly turned around and looked at a shop they had passed.
"Suzuno, wait a moment. I'm going into this stationery store."
Maou parked his brand new bike along the road, entering the store after carefully locking up the bicycle. It was, rather than call it a stationery store, a store where little kids would purchase toys and snacks. Suzuno, not knowing what Maou intended to do with the item he bought, felt confused.
"Why did you buy super glue?"
"Hahaha, listen well. Look at this!"
Maou secretly smiled, pulling a small red piece of plastic from his pocket.
"This is a light reflector from the Dullahan that you wrecked. From that time when I got called in by police, I was able to bring this back. Clearly, you can see where this is going."
As he spoke, Maou glued the light reflector on the new metal basket.
"Therefore, this ordinary bicycle has inherited the will to protect its master from the majestic soul of the Dullahan! Henceforth, you will be known as Dullahan the Second!"
"… …Yes, that is not a bad name."
Having feelings toward an object isn't bad, but not only is it something that must be ridden everyday, also giving a bicycle a name… One looking on from the side cannot help but feel sorry for this sort of upright, honest male.
"Are you satisfied? Let us continue, Demon Lord."
Moreover, the other person is the enemy of mankind, ruler of demons——Demon Lord Satan.
The maiden, known here as Kamazuki Suzuno, let out a deep sigh, ignoring Maou's reply as she took a step forward.
Suzuno walked on, sullen, with a cool, glass ornamental hairpin inserted into her hair, the white rays of the midday summer sun glancing above her umbrella.
※
Demon Lord Satan. That is the name of ruler of demons who wanted to conquer the world, from the distant alternate world, Ente isla.
Maou Sadao. This is the name of the youth resorting to work to maintain his livelihood, living a distance away from Downtown Tokyo.
Not only humans, even the gods would never think that the Demon King that cherished his ambition to conquer the world would nowadays be floundering about in Sasazuka in Shibuya, Tokyo, enduring daily work to scrape a meager living.
Since the defeat in battle against Hero Emilia Justina and drifting along to this world, "Japan", more than a year had already passed.
Making the six tatami-size Room 201 of Villa Rosa, a wooden apartment of sixty years located in Sasazuka, as the temporary Demon's Castle, becoming an employee to solemnly start on the road to independence, the Demon Lord Satan——was also Maou Sadao, in which the past several months, suddenly became all tensed up.
Although the first year was both poor and difficult, he would diligently work everyday, just as before.
Afterwards, approximately around the end of August, he was able to find stable part-time work one station away from Sasazuka Station, at the Hatagaya MgRonalds[2] in front of Hatagaya Station. Working hard to enter his employer's graces, Maou was able to find, within the struggles of life in Japan, some regularity.
However, chasing the fleeing Demon Lord, the Hero Emilia, calling herself "Yusa Emi", quickly appeared and until now, the peaceful daily life quickly crumbled.
Whether or not a law-abiding lifestyle reliant on working part-time as well as living frugally, in regards to the Demon Lord, could be considered peaceful, there is still room for discussion.
Still, the Demon King was betrayed as well as pursued by a former subordinate, while the hero, in reality, was also betrayed by human society; these events can be grouped together for shattering the daily rhythm.
After these events were settled, returning to the daily lifestyle required picking up the enthusiasm for part-time work, achieving the typical daily routine; however, in order to maintain this kind of lifestyle, the Demon Lord put in all of his energy.
Despite the Hero always coming from the third train station away to pick a fight, despite the cleric from the Church moving in next door bearing foods that brought harm to the health of demons as well as trying to take the Hero back, the Demon Lord, however, for the purpose of once again carrying out his ambition to take over the world, persevered wi
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