Chapter 19: The Demon King’s Dad is Coming?! (Part 1)7:00 AM – A Normal Morning… Until It Wasn’tI was just about to start my shift at Hell’s Finest Hotel when the Demon King burst into the lobby.

  Not walked. Not entered normally.

  BURSTED.

  As in, he kicked down the front doors like a guy who just found out his rent increased.

  Kenji yawned. “Morning, boss.”

  The Demon King ignored him and grabbed my shoulders. “Rento. Emergency.”

  I sighed. “What is it this time? A god trying to erase the world? Another mafia war? Did the spaghetti restaurant finally sue you?”

  He shook his head. “Worse.”

  Kenji blinked. “Worse than the spaghetti wsuit?”

  The Demon King gulped.

  Then spoke the four words that sent chills down my spine.

  “My dad is coming.”

  7:05 AM – Processing This InformationI stared. “Your… dad?”

  The Demon King nodded.

  Kenji frowned. “Wait. You have a dad?”

  The Demon King sighed. “Kenji, where do you think Demon Kings come from?”

  Kenji shrugged. “I dunno, evil factories?”

  The Demon King ignored him.

  I took a deep breath. “Okay, expin. Why is this a problem?”

  The Demon King crossed his arms. “Because he’s coming to inspect the hotel.”

  Kenji whistled. “Ohhh, so he’s like a strict boss?”

  The Demon King’s face paled.

  “No. He’s a traditionalist. He doesn’t believe in ‘jobs’ or ‘hotels.’ He thinks I should be ruling the world.”

  Kenji gasped. “BRO. HE’S A BOOMER.”

  I groaned. “Let me guess. If he sees you running a hotel instead of conquering kingdoms, he’ll—”

  The Demon King finished, “Destroy everything.”

  Kenji nodded. “Yep. Cssic boomer behavior.”

  7:30 AM – Operation: Hide the HotelThe pn was simple.

  Step 1: Pretend the hotel is actually an evil ir.Step 2: Make all employees look like minions.Step 3: Survive.

  Kenji folded his arms. “I call this pn ‘Fake It Till You Make It.’”

  Melodia adjusted her knife holster. “Or till we die.”

  I sighed. “Let’s get to work.”

  8:00 AM – Preparing for InspectionWe redecorated the hotel.

  Lobby chandeliers? Repced with floating dark crystals.Customer service signs? Changed to ‘Bow Before Your Overlord.’Friendly staff uniforms? Now spiky armor.Kenji looked in the mirror. “Bro, I look like a final boss.”

  Melodia tied her hair back. “I look the same.”

  Kenji frowned. “Yeah, but you already look scary.”

  Melodia smiled. “Thank you.”

  Meanwhile, the Demon King practiced his ‘evil ruler’ act.

  He sat in a dark throne, gred at us, and said in a deep voice:

  “Mortals. You dare waste my time?”

  Kenji gasped. “BRO. CHILLS.”

  I sighed. “Alright, fine. This might actually work.”

  Then—

  BOOM.

  8:30 AM – He Has ArrivedThe front doors EXPLODED.

  A massive figure stepped inside.

  And when I say massive, I mean—

  8 feet tall.Glowing red eyes.A beard that looked like it could punch me.The Demon King visibly gulped.

  Kenji whispered, “Bro. That’s your dad? He looks like he eats volcanoes for breakfast.”

  The Demon King’s Dad—Demon Emperor Baalzaroth—scanned the room.

  Then he spoke in a voice that could shatter mountains.

  “Son. You dare call yourself a ruler?”

  I grabbed Kenji’s arm. “Okay. I’m out.”

  Kenji grabbed my arm back. “Nope. We’re in this together.”

  I sighed. Why me?

  8:35 AM – The Inspection BeginsBaalzaroth stomped through the hotel.

  He inspected every detail.

  The spiky thrones? “Acceptable.”The dark crystal chandeliers? “Satisfactory.”The staff? He paused. “…Why do you have humans working here?”Kenji froze. “Uhhh…”

  I tried to think fast. “We’re… hostages?”

  Kenji gasped. “BRO. GENIUS.”

  Baalzaroth stroked his beard. “Hmph. Good. Keep them in fear.”

  I forced a smile. Yep. Fear. Definitely not minimum wage suffering.

  9:00 AM – The Dinner TestBaalzaroth sat at a long evil dining table.

  The Demon King gulped. “Father. I have prepared a feast.”

  Kenji leaned over. “Bro. We don’t have a feast.”

  The Demon King grinned. “We do now.”

  Then he snapped his fingers.

  A waiter appeared—holding a single burger from Burger Castle.

  Kenji gasped. “BRO. HE SUMMONED FAST FOOD.”

  Baalzaroth stared at the burger.

  Then took a bite.

  …

  Silence.

  …

  Then—

  He stood up.

  I grabbed Kenji’s arm. “RUN.”

  But instead of destroying the hotel, Baalzaroth nodded.

  “Impressive. I shall allow you to continue… for now.”

  The Demon King blinked. “Wait. Really?”

  Baalzaroth crossed his arms. “This ‘fast food’... it has potential.”

  Kenji’s eyes widened. “BRO. DID WE JUST INVENT FAST FOOD FOR DEMONS?!”

  Baalzaroth smirked. “Perhaps you have more of my blood in you than I thought, son.”

  The Demon King forced a smile. “Haha… yeah… totally.”

  I whispered, “We are so dead.”

  9:30 AM – A New ProblemBaalzaroth stood. “Very well. I shall stay for one week… and observe further.”

  The Demon King’s smile froze.

  “…I’m sorry, what?”

  Baalzaroth smirked. “I want to see how you rule.”

  Kenji gasped. “BRO. HE’S MOVING IN.”

  I sighed. This job just keeps getting worse.

  To Be Continued…