Back to the Office Heroes Cause HR Nightmare Demon King Gets Jealous Again
The retreat ended at dawn on the third day.
The heroes left through the portal looking sunburnt exhausted and strangely content. The Sword Saint had won the arm wrestling tournament against three imps and a minor demon lord. The Mage Prodigy had convinced the succubus secretary to share her secret mana cocktail recipe. The Holy Archer and the priestess had spent half the night teaching healing spells to a group of wounded minions who now called them by first names.
Beelzebub watched them go with folded arms and narrowed eyes. His tail lashed once behind him slow deliberate. He did not speak until the portal closed with a hiss of smoke.
They are too comfortable he said voice low dangerous.
I glanced at him from my spot on the black sand still in swim shorts clipboard tucked under my arm. They are employees now Your Majesty. Comfortable employees are productive employees.
He turned crimson gaze locking on mine. Productive employees do not stare at you for three hours straight during hot spring soaks.
I raised an eyebrow. You were counting?
His ears flushed dark. I notice everything.
The tail flicked again closer this time brushing my calf before retreating.
I smirked. Jealous of the interns?
Beelzebub stepped forward towering blocking the rising sun. His wings half spread casting me in shadow. Protective.
The word came out rough almost a growl.
I tilted my head up meeting his eyes. You keep saying that.
Because it is true. His voice dropped lower claws flexing at his sides. They are new. They do not know you. They do not know what you have done for this place. For me.
The last part came quieter almost reluctant.
I studied him for a long moment. The ruthless Demon King who had once leveled kingdoms now stood here ears pink tail restless because a group of former heroes had laughed at my jokes.
I reached up placed a hand on his chest right over the spot where his heart thundered beneath rune scarred skin. They are not a threat.
He exhaled sharp breath hot against my face. They could be.
I squeezed once. Then let go. Come on. We have work waiting.
The portal took us back to the castle.
The main hall looked the same obsidian floors crimson torches floating contracts burning in mid air. But the energy was different. Minions moved faster heads higher. The Four Heavenly Kings stood in the corner pretending to review reports while openly watching us arrive.
Leviathan smirked. Welcome back lovebirds.
Beelzebub glared. The temperature dropped ten degrees.
Asmodeus laughed. Relax boss. We behaved while you were gone. Mostly.
Belphegor yawned. I slept through it all.
Mammon held up a ledger. Profits up twelve percent since the retreat. The heroes are already submitting expense reports for sunscreen.
Beelzebub ignored them all. His gaze stayed on me.
I cleared my throat. Back to business. First item the heroes' first full day. Orientation is done. Now they need tasks.
I opened my clipboard. Sword Saint assigned to security detail. Holy Archer to archery training for minions. Mage Prodigy to mana research lab. Priestess to medical wing.
Beelzebub nodded once. Acceptable.
Then he added quieter. I will supervise.
I looked up. Supervise?
Yes. His tail curled. To ensure... efficiency.
I sighed. Fine. But no glaring. No threats. No accidental fire breathing.
His ears flushed. I will be professional.
The heroes arrived five minutes later looking slightly hungover from the retreat barbecue.
The Sword Saint saluted awkwardly. Reporting for duty Director.
Good. I handed him a schedule. Patrol the outer walls. Train the imps in sword basics. No decapitations.
He nodded. Understood.
The Mage Prodigy bounced on his toes. Lab access? Finally!
Yes. I pointed down the corridor. Do not blow up the castle.
No promises he grinned.
The priestess smiled shyly. Medical wing?
Healing duty. Start with the burn ward. Minions get hurt a lot.
She bowed. I will do my best.
The Holy Archer just nodded arrow quiver already on her back.
Beelzebub watched every interaction. His wings stayed half spread. Tail lashed slow.
When the heroes dispersed he stepped closer voice low. They smiled at you.
I turned. So?
They should not.
I raised an eyebrow. You are jealous of smiles now?
He looked away ears red. They are new. They do not understand.
Understand what?
What you are to me.
The words hung heavy.
I studied him. The ruthless king who ruled through fear now stood here vulnerable because a group of ex enemies had been polite.
I stepped closer placed a hand on his arm. They are employees. Nothing more.
His gaze snapped back crimson eyes intense. Promise.
I squeezed once. Promise.
He exhaled slow. Then nodded.
The day went to hell quickly.
The Sword Saint accidentally sliced through a training dummy that turned out to be a disguised mimic. It screamed and latched onto his leg.
The Mage Prodigy mixed a potion that exploded in purple glitter covering half the research lab.
The Holy Archer shot an arrow at a shadow thinking it was an intruder. The shadow was a minion's pet bat. The bat was fine. The minion was not.
The priestess healed everything but tripped over a loose contract scroll and face planted into a pile of burning paperwork.
By noon the castle was chaos.
Beelzebub stood in the main hall arms crossed watching the disaster unfold.
His tail lashed faster.
When the Sword Saint limped in covered in mimic slime Beelzebub stepped forward voice ice cold.
Report.
The Sword Saint straightened despite the pain. Minor incident Director. Mimic in training room. Dealt with.
Beelzebub's eyes narrowed. You let it touch you.
It was fast.
Beelzebub's claws flexed. Next time it will not be.
The Sword Saint swallowed. Yes sir.
I stepped between them clipboard raised. Enough. He is new. Mistakes happen.
Beelzebub looked at me ears flushing slightly. He was careless.
He is learning.
Beelzebub exhaled through his nose. Fine.
But when the Sword Saint left Beelzebub turned to me voice low.
He looked at you when he reported. Like he wanted approval.
I sighed. Everyone wants approval from HR.
Not like that.
Jealousy again?
He did not answer. Just stepped closer wings folding around us blocking the hall from view.
His tail curled around my ankle possessive.
You are mine he said quiet fierce. They forget that.
I met his gaze. I have not forgotten.
His ears went redder. Good.
He released me tail uncoiling slowly.
The rest of the day passed in similar fashion.
Explosions. Healing mishaps. Minions running screaming. Heroes apologizing profusely.
Beelzebub stayed close always watching always one step behind me. His presence kept the chaos from spiraling too far. But every time one of the heroes spoke to me his tail flicked. Every time they smiled his ears flushed.
By evening the castle was exhausted.
I sat in my office reviewing incident reports.
Beelzebub leaned in the doorway wings folded arms crossed.
Long day he said.
Very.
He stepped inside closed the door behind him.
They are incompetent.
They are new.
They are dangerous.
I looked up. Because they talk to me?
Because they look at you.
I set the clipboard down stood up walked to him.
You are ridiculous Your Majesty.
He looked down ears pink. I am not.
You are jealous of your own employees.
He growled low. They do not deserve your attention.
I reached up cupped his face one hand on each cheek. Forced him to meet my eyes.
They get work attention. You get everything else.
His breath hitched. Crimson eyes widened fractionally.
Everything?
Everything.
His tail curled around my waist slow careful.
Then he leaned down forehead resting against mine.
Good he whispered.
I smiled. Now go scare some minions. I have reports to finish.
He pulled back reluctantly tail uncoiling.
As you command Director.
He left.
But the door stayed cracked open.
And I knew he was still watching.
Protective.
Jealous.
Mine.