"The system issues a warning."

"-Emergence conditions are unmet."

“Emergence conditions? Those are nothing if I decide they’re nothing. Have you ever seen a demon follow the rules?”

Crack!

With a single motion, I tore the chains from my neck.

“Think carefully. If you’re really planning to fight me…”

"-The system is considering the ‘Destroyer of Worlds’ proposal."

“Hmph.”

Finally, some sense.

I threw the broken chains into the infinite void around me.

“…I really should stop bluffing so much.”

The skin on my fingers, which had torn off the chains, was gone. Even as a demon, the dimensional rift the system had dragged me into wasn’t in my favor. Truthfully, I couldn’t manifest fully as a demon here—I hadn’t met the emergence conditions, after all.

It seems even invaders have minimum standards to follow.

Of course, if I wanted to end things here and now, I could. But my goal was to negotiate and convince this system to accept me.

Damn sibling. They’d better buy me some steak after this.

"-The system is considering the ‘Destroyer of Worlds’ proposal.
This will take some time."

"-A conclusion is being drawn."

It seems my show of strength had worked better than expected. The system was seriously weighing my proposal.

In the meantime…

“Hey, can we drop this whole ‘Destroyer of Worlds’ nonsense? It’s cringe-worthy.”

I couldn’t help but cringe myself.

Titles that I had casually shrugged off in my past life now felt unbearably embarrassing. Hearing them now made me want to kick off my blanket in the middle of the night.

“Just call me Jung Da-on. That’s my name now.”

"-The system agrees with your request."
"-The system now recognizes you as ‘Jung Da-on’."

"-A conclusion has been reached."
"-The system will grant quests to ‘Jung Da-on’ to manage and monitor their rehabilitation."

“Oh?”

It actually worked.

Sure, I’d used a bit of force to speed things up, but I didn’t expect the system to reach a conclusion so quickly.

Not bad for a bunch of blockheads.

“Quests, huh? Let’s hear it.”

Since the system seemed willing to compromise, I decided to genuinely consider its offer.

That was until the details came up.

"-The system does not allow synchronization of abilities between ‘Jung Da-on’ and the ‘Destroyer of Worlds’."
"-‘Jung Da-on’s abilities will remain restricted."

“Hm.”

I glanced at the remaining chains on my limbs.

Fair enough. I’d anticipated this. No ruler would hand a weapon to a proven destroyer.

If I regained my full power, even this planet’s S-rank hunters would be nothing more than floating seaweed before me.

But then came the real issue.

"-If ‘Jung Da-on’ performs actions in line with societal standards, restrictions will remain."
"-If ‘Jung Da-on’ violates societal standards, the system reserves the right to terminate their existence."

I immediately shouted.

“Are you insane? You dare talk about my life like that?”

To the system, I might be an invasive pest in its carefully tended garden. But I was no ordinary pest.

I was offering to be a beneficial one, like a pollinator.

Besides, ‘Jung Da-on’ was just a regular human. For the system to take direct action against me was a blatant violation of its purpose.

“I’m offering to live quietly as an insignificant being, and you propose this? If I were going to accept such a deal, I might as well start racking up evil deeds. Shall we see how that plays out?”

"-The system expresses willingness to negotiate further."

... Still, the fact that this stubborn idiot even proposed a quest was a step forward.

If I truly intended to live as a regular human for my sibling’s sake, then some compromise might be necessary.

Let me think.

The conditions, minus the life-termination clause, weren’t entirely terrible.

“Societal standards… huh.”

A vague and disputable phrase.

It was that vagueness, with room for interpretation, that I liked most.

“By agreeing to this petty quest, I’d become one of the most capable watchdogs in existence, protecting your precious world. Shouldn’t humanity show me some courtesy in return?”

"-?"

“If you’re so keen on punishing me for violations, then shouldn’t you reward me for adhering to societal standards? You know, like lifting my ability restrictions when I contribute to humanity?”

"-The system expresses doubt."

“Contributing to humanity means acting in their interest, right? So if I do that, release my restrictions. After all, you’re supposed to help humans hunt monsters. Keeping me handicapped only hurts your side.”

It was a logical argument.

As someone already deemed S-rank by the system’s ability assessment, I’d be required to participate in hunter activities.

If the system restricted me, I’d be a liability, not an asset. And frankly, I wasn’t keen on dying to monsters I once could’ve crushed beneath my feet.

"-The system agrees to the terms of the agreement."

“Well, at least you have some intelligence.”

"-A new quest has been created for ‘Jung Da-on’."
"-Do good deeds, and you will be rewarded¿"

“...What?”

The quest title appeared ridiculous. And what was with that upside-down question mark?

“Do good deeds, and you will be rewarded.” A phrase so outdated it felt like a relic. In this hyper-capitalistic society, where even human life was reduced to monetary value, it was laughable.

“Though my sibling does believe in this nonsense.”

For the powerless, words like that are all they have for comfort.

"-Querying abilities for ‘Jung Da-on’."
"-Status: Normal"
"-Quest in progress (details available)"
"-Potential ability grade: S-rank"
"-Strength: LV. 1 (no cap)"
"-Endurance: LV. 1 (no cap)"
"-Mana: LV. 1 (no cap)"
"-Overall level: LV. 1"

The stats displayed now were vastly different from when the system had assessed me as the Destroyer of Worlds. For an untrained high school senior, they were perfectly normal.

"-When societal standards are met, ability restrictions will gradually lift."
"-When societal standards are violated, restrictions will tighten."

Looking at the system message, I couldn’t help but smirk.

“The quest title doesn’t matter.”

Honestly, I liked the conditions—except for the quest name, of course.

If I’d never interacted with the system, that would’ve been ideal. But given the situation, I resolved to make the most of it.

My original plan was to struggle through medical school, become a doctor, and support my sibling. But if I could make more money as an S-rank hunter, so be it.

I hated the idea of working for the benefit of these stupid humans, but as long as I lived as one, I couldn’t avoid compromise.

“Fine. It’s a deal.”

"-The isolation of ‘Jung Da-on’ is lifted."
"-Time resumes."

Just like when I’d been dragged into the dimensional rift, the scenery around me returned.

The students, oblivious to what had just occurred, were still buzzing about my S-rank assessment.

The attention was suffocating. And it wasn’t just amazement in their gazes.

Jealousy, resentment, astonishment, and vulgar curiosity.

“Damn, what stupid luck… that orphan.”

Among them, I caught the mutterings of the same guy who’d picked a fight with me earlier in class.

“Hey.”

I pointed directly at him with my middle finger.

“Huh? Wh-what?”

His eyes widened in shock.

He’d assumed I was a quiet pushover—someone too timid to retaliate.

How predictable.

“Better watch your step at night, you little punk.”

“What, what?”

I circulated mana through my body. It responded obediently, like a long-lost friend.

Whoosh!

The dusty gymnasium air began to swirl around me.

A classic display of power—old-fashioned, but always effective.

The guy’s face turned pale. Anyone familiar with the news would recognize the signs of a hunter on the verge of losing control.

The concentrated mana density alone would be enough to suffocate ordinary people.

“Th-threatening an ordinary person is illegal!”

“It would be illegal if I actually killed you.”

"-The system reminds ‘Jung Da-on’ of their quest."
"-‘Jung Da-on’ cannot engage in unethical actions that violate societal standards."

Yeah, yeah. I get it, you collective intelligence freak.

Crackle!

Mana surged through my body, condensing at my fingertips. Sparks of blue flame danced from my nails.

“But you called me an orphan. For three years, no less.”

Had I been a regular person, that would’ve hurt deeply.

“You were the ringleader of all the bullying, weren’t you?”

Even if I’d ignored it out of laziness, it was time to run an experiment.

“If I’m angry enough to blow my top, isn’t that perfectly reasonable?”

I intentionally scanned the faces of the other students, taking in their expressions.

“And wouldn’t most people agree that, in this situation, you’d deserve a good beating?”

The moment I stepped closer to the guy, the system responded.

"-The system defers judgment to societal consensus."
"-Assessing..."

“Eep!”

The student, overwhelmed by the murderous aura, stumbled backward and collapsed.

"-The majority of societal members find ‘Jung Da-on’s actions acceptable."
"-Ability restrictions lifted. Check your status window."

When I saw the system message, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Ha! See?

Modern society really is a playground for demons.