I'm Not a Devil Either

Let's turn back time a little.

Freshly expelled from Totsuki, Sogo Doma was wandering aimlessly around the Doma Main Residence, looking around—or, more accurately, just killing time.

"Beep beep, beep-beep-beep..." He hummed a tune no one could understand. Though he was cautious by nature—or, rather, a coward—Sogo Doma was always cheerful. He could find ways to amuse himself, and with a little wind at his back, he'd turn into a happy windman and fly back to the Celestial Empire.

He hadn't been wandering long when he came upon a grand mansion.

"The Council Hall? A place where a bunch of old guys sit around talking nonsense. Boring."

He was just about to leave when he heard the sounds of an argument coming from inside.

"The young master of the Shinomiya Family is a fine choice..."

"No, the young master of the Suzuki Family is the best choice."

The more he heard, the more benevolent the smile on Sogo Doma's face became. Then the Doma Branch Family came out to talk, and he finally barged in.

With both hands in his pockets, he kicked the door open and made a glorious entrance into the Doma Family Council Hall.

To put it in a more chuunibyou way:

Sogo Doma has arrived!

The tremendous bang made the family heads from the various clans in the Council Hall turn to look.

At the sight of the newcomer, the first to react were the branch family members.

"Y-Young Master Sogo."

Sogo Doma smiled broadly. "Ohayo, everyone. You seemed to be having such a lively discussion that I decided to invite myself in. So, what were you talking about?"

Some of the family heads reacted as well, whispering among themselves.

"He's the D-Doma Sogo, the disgrace of the Doma Family?"

"I heard he's a complete idiot who's useless at everything he tries."

"Master Gui Long has gone to a lot of trouble over him."

"Has he forgotten his manners, too?"

"He actually barged into the Council Hall like that? Even Young Master Taihei wouldn't dare."

But when they saw Sogo Doma's smiling face, someone couldn't help shivering...

"W-What does Young Master Sogo want? Is he rebelling?"

"If Master Gui Long finds out..."

In the end, an old man from the branch family stepped forward.

"Young Master Sogo, this is no place for you to cause a scene. If Master Gui Long finds out..." His words carried the air of someone relying on a powerful backer.

But before he could finish, Sogo Doma slapped his fist into his palm.

"I see. So you still acknowledge Doma Gui Long."

Before the words had even faded, Sogo Doma lunged forward and appeared behind the branch family elder. "If you still recognize Doma Gui Long as the head of the family, how dare you discuss the marriage of the Doma Family's 'treasure' without permission?"

"I-I haven't..."

"You old fool, I know you. You're Niwa Doma, right? You're a member of the branch family. It would be bad enough if you didn't do your duty and protect the main family, but now you've brought along a bunch of nobodies to try and pressure them..."

As he spoke, Sogo Doma suddenly tightened his grip.

"N-No, Young Master Sogo..."

Crack!

A sharp snap rang out.

"We're all members of the Doma clan, after all. I'm not a devil, so I'll just break one of your arms."

The crisp sound of breaking bone and Sogo Doma's words made every family head in the Council Hall shiver. Why did he dare to do this?

What gave him the nerve?

Even if Taihei Doma were here, he wouldn't do something like this! To put it bluntly, every one of them was a respectable person in the eyes of others.

They couldn't find an answer.

The reason was that Niwa Doma, his arm broken, was writhing on the ground and shouting, "Ah! My arm! My arm..."

Sogo Doma's smile didn't waver. "Don't worry. It's just a fracture. I always keep my word. But if you keep groaning, you might..."

"D-Doma Sogo, e-even Master Gui Long wouldn't..."

"Thud!" Sogo Doma didn't let him finish. He stomped on him again. "Is that so? That old man really is soft-hearted."

After the stomp, Sogo Doma raised his head and swept his gaze across everyone present.

"Y-Young Master Sogo, w-we didn't mean to..." One of them couldn't take the pressure of that gaze and stepped back twice as he spoke.

But before he could finish, Sogo Doma cut him off with a smile that was, once again, utterly benevolent. "I know you. You're the head of the Murakami Family. I hear your construction business has been doing well lately."

What did he mean by that? The Murakami Family Head stepped back again, thinking as he answered, "Young Master Sogo, you flatter me. It's just a small business, just a small business..."

"By the way, I'm thinking of trying my hand at construction, too. Do you think I should start by destroying the Murakami Construction Company?"

"N-No..." Though he knew rationally that Sogo Doma couldn't do it, for some reason the sight of that smiling face made the Murakami Family Head's heart pound with dread.

Sogo Doma suddenly stepped closer and lowered his voice. "Chiba Bridge and Mutsu Plaza are both being handled by the Murakami Group, aren't they? I heard those two projects are hiding some pretty big losses."

Thud, thud, thud!

This time, the Murakami Family Head retreated several steps. "H-How could you possibly know that?"

Sogo Doma stepped closer again. "Tell me, with this information in my hands, could I destroy the Murakami Family?"

"..."

"N-No, please don't!"

"Oh dear, what an insincere request."

"I'm begging you!" As he spoke, the Murakami Family Head began to kneel and bow until his forehead touched the floor.

But a hand stopped him.

He looked up.

Sogo Doma's smiling face greeted him. "Don't worry. I told you, I'm not a devil either. Niwa Doma lost an arm, so you can lose a leg."

Crack.

Another crisp snap of breaking bone.

"Hiss!"

Everyone present sucked in a breath. The Murakami Family Head had just had his leg broken. What exactly had Sogo Doma said to him?

"Ah!" The pain of his broken leg made the Murakami Family Head cry out. But what unsettled everyone even more was that he kept apologizing. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"Don't worry, I told you, I'm not a devil. So, who's next?" Sogo Doma raised his head again.

The respectable men all backed away in fear.

The disgrace of the Doma Family? Who had even said that?

They didn't know whether he was a disgrace, but his ferocity and courage were genuinely terrifying! Did they think they didn't want to fight back? But Sogo Doma had moved behind Niwa Doma so fast—how the hell were they supposed to fight back?

At that moment, they missed their bodyguards more than ever. Why weren't bodyguards allowed at the meeting?

After waiting for about ten seconds, Sogo Doma spoke again.

"Not a word? Then this time, it'll be Mr. Matsuzaki." He pointed at a portly man near the front and smiled. "Today must be your lucky day, Mr. Matsuzaki. Out of so many family heads, you were the first one I picked. What great luck."

The Matsuzaki Family Head: "..."

Lucky, my ass. You must mean the opposite of lucky!

"Mr. Matsuzaki is in the restaurant business..." Sogo Doma paused. "The restaurant business is great. There's an old saying in the Celestial Empire: 'Food is the people's heaven.' Thanks to the work you do, Mr. Matsuzaki, ingredients become delicious cooking. It's a great contribution, a great merit..." He sounded a little over the top.

Even the Matsuzaki Family Head standing beside him felt embarrassed. "You're too kind, too kind."