One Sarcastic Survival

SUS

Kalego's point of view:

I knew something was wrong the moment I laid eyes on that so-called "demon" Iruma. He's been slipping through every test I've thrown at him, but none of it makes sense. Demons like him don't exist—if he even is a demon.

It's infuriating. The way he smirks, the way he talks, and the way he somehow manages to escape my grasp at every turn—it's unnatural.

I've dealt with liars, cowards, and deceivers, but this one... this one is different.

After today's tests, my suspicion grew. No demon with clipped wings could perform like he did. And those sarcastic quips of his? There's something far too... human about them. But there was no way he could be human, right? A human in the demon world would be easy prey, especially here at Babyls.

Yet, Iruma moves with a confidence that's unnerving. He's always talking back, deflecting, dancing around the truth. If there's one thing I hate more than arrogance, it's the audacity of someone trying to fool me.

Enough is enough.

I've watched him long enough, and I'm done with his games. If he wants to play, I'll drag him out into the open. Today, I'm cornering him, and he won't talk his way out of it. I'll finally get answers.

I waited until he was alone, walking down one of Babyls' many winding halls. He was humming to himself, like he didn't have a care in the world. 

Smug little fool. 

I stepped into his path, blocking his way.

Me: YOU!

He froze for a second, then that infuriating smirk appeared on his face.

Iruma: Ah, Kalego-sensei. Fancy seeing you here. Need something?

Need something? 

Yes. 

The truth.

I narrowed my eyes, stepping closer. He didn't back away, but I could see the flicker of unease in his eyes.

Kalego: Enough with the games. There's something off about you, and I'm going to find out what it is.

Iruma blinked, his smirk faltering slightly before bouncing back.

Iruma: Off? Me? Come on, Kalego-sensei, I'm just your average, everyday school kid.

That's exactly the problem.

Me: Average demons don't dodge death like it's a sport, nor do they throw sarcasm in the face of danger. You barely pass each test, but you always manage to escape failure. No real demon acts like you.

Iruma scratched the back of his head, chuckling nervously. I could see his eyes darting, searching for an escape.

Iruma: Wow, thanks for the compliment. I guess I'm just... special?

Special, my ass. 

You're hiding something, and I'm going to find out what.

I stepped forward again, my presence looming over him. His smirk was still there, but I could see the cracks forming.

Me: Special? If that's what you want to call it. But I think there's something you're not telling us.

I crossed my arms, observing every shift in his posture. He was nervous. Good. That meant I was close. He wasn't a normal demon, and it wasn't just about his clipped wings.

Mr: You don't fight like a demon. You don't act like a demon. And those wings of yours... they've been clipped, haven't they? That's why you can't fly.

Iruma's eyes widened for just a second, before he quickly plastered on that annoyingly confident grin again.

Iruma: Clipped? Maybe. Guess I'm just not as powerful as everyone else.

Liar.

You don't even look as if you know what it means to have clipped wings.

Me: And yet, you manage to get through every challenge, don't you? Barely.

I leaned closer, watching him squirm under my gaze. He was too fast to be an average demon, too clever to just stumble through these tests. It didn't add up.

Is he hiding his true power?

Iruma shrugged, laughing awkwardly.

Iruma: Guess I'm just lucky?

Me: Luck doesn't explain everything. You have the agility of a demon but the attitude of a fool.

I saw it again—a flicker of panic in his eyes. He was trying to figure out how to slip away, like he always did. But not this time. I was too close. I could almost see through the cracks in his facade. He wasn't going to run from this.

He's too weak to be hiding real power. 

Could he be hiding something else?

Iruma opened his mouth, no doubt ready with another witty retort, but I didn't give him the chance.

Me: You think you're clever, but I see through you. You're hiding something, and I'm going to figure out what.

I waited, watching him closely. He was good, I'll give him that. He almost looked calm, almost like he was going to brush me off with another sarcastic comment. But this time, I wasn't backing down.

Iruma: Hiding something? Me? Nah, I'm an open book. Just a clipped-wing demon trying to get by.

I wasn't buying it. He was slipping through my fingers again, but this time, I wasn't going to let him get away so easily. I reached out, grabbing him by the shoulder. His body tensed.

Me: We'll see about that.

For a moment, I could feel his energy shift. He was fast—too fast. Before I could react, he slipped out of my grasp, darting to the side with that infuriating speed of his.

Iruma: Gotta go, sensei! Places to be, tests to pass! You know how it is!

Damn it! 

He was already halfway down the hall before I could blink. 

How does he always do that?

I stared after him, my irritation growing with every second. He was slipping away again, just like always. But this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

He's hiding something. 

Whether it's his power, his background, or something else entirely, I'll find out what it is.

As I stood there, watching him disappear into the distance, I couldn't help but notice something else. He didn't move like a demon. He didn't fight like a demon. And despite everything, he never really used his wings. Not once. What kind of demon avoids using their wings? And why does he always manage to slip away?

Could his wings really be clipped? 

Or is it something more?

The thought gnawed at me. There was no way he could be human. Humans don't survive in this world, let alone thrive. But if he's not human, what is he? And why does he act so differently?

No matter. 

I'll figure it out soon enough. 

Iruma, you're not getting away next time.

I turned, walking back toward the main hall. Tomorrow, I'd test him again. And this time, he wouldn't slip through my grasp. One way or another, I'd uncover the truth.