Damocles Grand Hotel.
Nestled in a quiet, out-of-the-way corner far from the heart of the Darklord Citadel, its surroundings were secluded and serene. Yet the hotel itself spared no extravagance—its opulent decor radiated sheer luxury.
Amid the Citadel’s sea of plain, utilitarian buildings, its lavish architecture stood defiantly unique, perfectly matching its elite clientele.
A mysterious girl in a black veil and witch’s hat walked with head bowed, shadows from her brim swallowing her eyes. She wore a light, alluring crimson slip dress beneath a gauzy red shawl. Shoulders carved like jade, waist bound by silk, her skirt swayed gently with each step, occasionally kissing the drizzle to ripple the raindrops.
“Shunchang Road… No. 78…”
Her cherry lips parted beneath the veil, voice husky yet dripping with lazy charm—a sound that plucked heartstrings like a musician’s plectrum.
“Should be around here—”
She lifted her head now and then, scanning the streets ahead and beside her. Clutching an interview letter and hand-drawn map from a succubus HR rep, she navigated toward her destination.
Golden strands escaping her hat clung damply to her forehead, adding a touch of delicate charm. A tiny transparent umbrella shielded her as raindrops drummed a hurried rhythm against its surface.
The drizzle had pattered softly since mid-afternoon, weaving a misty veil over the Citadel—a city branded by the Church as the *Source of Ten Thousand Evils*, the *Nexus of Chaos and Corruption*, the *Endgame of the Seven Sins*, the *Embodiment of All Wickedness*, and the *Savage Heretic Nest Sworn to Eradicate Humanity*.
Magic-crystal neon signs flickered to life along the streets, their warm, hazy glow dancing with raindrops. Yet the girl remained alert. Her pace was steady, posture elegant but coiled tight—ready to roll, dodge, and counter with a thrown dagger in one fluid motion.
Footsteps of passing demons, distant carriage wheels splashing through puddles, the crisp tap-tap of rain on her umbrella… none could steal even a trace of her focus.
Shopfront lights bled through the rain curtain, painting warm, inviting patterns on wet pavement. The golden-haired girl glanced up at rain-glistened signs, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
*Could a demon’s domain… feel so alive?*
A mobile stall selling steaming jiaozi. Parents leading children into candy shops. Office workers rushing home with briefcases…
If not for their grotesque, inhuman forms, she’d have thought herself in a human capital’s residential district.
“Left… right… straight—then right again…”
She gripped her childlike sketch-map, eyes darting between its lines and street landmarks.
*Good thing the Demonlord tightened border checks after the data breach,* she mused. *Who’d suspect the thief would stay—and infiltrate the Citadel itself?*
A smug smile tugged at her lips.
“Ah. Here.”
She crumpled the map, tossed it into a bin, and faced the Damocles Grand Hotel.
Her throat tightened as she stared at the gold-trimmed revolving glass doors.
*Demons building something this lavish… almost civilized—*
A sudden itch clawed deep inside her chest. She shuddered, fumbling a pillbox from her pocket. Two sweet capsules dissolved on her tongue, releasing bitter powder. She waited at the entrance until the strange tremor faded, then exhaled.
*Back home, I’d stroll into places like this without blinking…*
She squared her shoulders and stepped inside.
“Here for the Demon City newcomer interview? This way—”
A sleek human-shaped attendant in a black uniform and glossy stockings intercepted her at the door.
After a tense nod, she was escorted to the conference hall on the administrative floor.
The moment the magic elevator doors slid open, hushed whispers flooded her ears.
Dozens of bizarre demons filled the waiting area—hulking brutes, multi-eyed horrors, creatures of scale and shadow—all crammed onto benches.
“Tch. What’s a human girl doing here? Did they scrap standards for this interview?”
“A pretty human… rare sight.”
“Smells delicious~”
Dozens of stares pinned her—shock and mockery dripping from their gazes.
She gave a soft, dismissive sniff and strode past them, head high. Finding an empty seat in the corner, she buried herself in the sign-in sheet.
As she passed, the demons’ sneers faltered under an invisible pressure.
“…Miscalculated. Not human after all.”
“Some kind of mimicry… that thick demonic aura—”
“…A demonkin?”
“…Interesting.”
Her pen paused mid-stroke. A bitter, knowing smile ghosted across her lips.
*Even these freaks… see me as one of them.*
She finished the form swiftly and handed it to the petite examiner—a girl barely taller than the desk.
“Sixteen candidates present. You’ll receive number tags now. Enter the conference room one by one when called for individual interviews.”
The young dragon girl stood rigid in a pencil skirt, black stockings, and thick-rimmed glasses—playing the stern OL despite her flat chest and doll-like frame. She adjusted her glasses with a middle finger, voice crisp:
“I, the chief examiner, will score your performance. Scores are confidential. Results arrive by mail within two weeks.”
Murmurs erupted.
“Wait—you hold all the power here?!”
“This is rigged!”
“Since when does the Citadel even *have* interviews?!”
Lilith clapped once.
A human girl stepped out of the conference room, Holy Sword gleaming in her grip. Its blade pulsed with condensed demonic energy, light fracturing the air. Every demon there knew: one swing could flatten this floor.
Silence crashed down.
Lilith smiled sweetly.
“As the newly appointed Warden of the Dungeon Department, I swear this process is fair, impartial, and transparent. No nepotism. No bias. We bury no talent. We tolerate no fools. You’ll leave this interview feeling refreshed—entering happy, departing happier.”
The demons sank back into their seats. Some rehearsed answers under their breath; others fidgeted with trinkets, tension thick as the rain outside.
Lilith watched them, nostalgia flickering. *This feels like those awful job hunts back in my past life…* Then she grinned. *But now? I’m the one holding the pen. Heh.*
“Ahem. Candidate No. 1, please enter.”
A giant emerald slime slid off the bench, wobbling nervously as it clutched its number tag. It followed the two girls into the conference room.
Alquett shut the soundproof door with a *click*.
Fifteen demons remained in the hall.
