Chapter 10: Just One of Those Classic Tropes

“By the way, Ren, do you even have a driver’s license?”
Watching the scenery zip by, Doroshi casually asked Ren, who was driving.

Steering the limousine with ease, Ren didn’t turn around but answered confidently.
“Of course I do. Back when ‘Ren’ was still human, I already had a license.”
“When it comes to driving, I’m confident I could handle a top-tier sports car at 700 kilometers per hour smoothly in the city—essential skills for Lady Doroshi’s personal maid.”

‘Uh, no, that’s definitely not an essential skill for my maid! 700 kilometers per hour? You’d be flying off the ground! Are you steering with your tentacles or what?’
Doroshi mentally unleashed a triple quip.

But what did she mean by “when Ren was still human”? Wasn’t she always a demon god?

As they neared the school, Doroshi had Ren park the conspicuous limousine in a secluded corner away from the crowd.
She slipped out like a thief, glancing around to ensure no other students noticed, then waved back at Ren.
“There’s just too much to process right now, and I’m still confused. How about we talk more at my place after school?”

“If that is your wish, Lady Doroshi.”
Ren bowed slightly, watching Doroshi enter the school with a faint smile playing on her lips for reasons unknown.

Staring at the large sign reading “Shino University Affiliated High School,” Doroshi’s lips pursed slightly.
Her expression stiffened, as if she’d swallowed a fly, and she cautiously stepped onto the campus.

Compared to her lively chat with Ren, she seemed to lose all energy, her entire demeanor turning dull.
At school, any dreams of a rosy life had long been out of reach.

Doroshi made herself appear aloof and withdrawn.
Entering her classroom, she didn’t greet anyone, beelining to her desk in the corner and slumping onto it.

She hated school even more than home.

“Sigh…”
Letting out a soft sigh, Doroshi closed her eyes in silence.

After starting high school, she’d been at the center of an incident.
Misunderstood ever since, she gradually became isolated, always alone.
Even now, she had no intention of clearing up the misunderstanding or playing the “make friends” game with classmates.
She just wanted to coast through high school like this.

That’s why she dreaded school days—nothing good ever came from them.

Soon, the bell rang.
Oddly, the teacher who entered was her homeroom teacher, a young man with glasses who wasn’t scheduled to teach this morning.
For some reason, a bad feeling surged in Doroshi’s chest.

Her hunch was spot-on.

Following the teacher into the classroom was a girl in the Shino University Affiliated High School uniform, as if it were the most natural thing.
Her doll-like, refined features, vibrant red hair tied in half-up twin ponytails, and sparkling purple eyes drew every gaze.

“Let me introduce our new transfer student, Kimihiro Ren, who’ll be joining our class today.”

Amid the teacher’s words, Doroshi confirmed it—the transfer student was none other than Ren, the maid who’d seen her off earlier.

“Ugh.”
Doroshi’s face twisted.

‘I knew it! It’s that classic anime trope—the transfer student!’

At the same time, the classroom fell into a stunned silence.
Doroshi understood their reaction.
When she first saw Ren, now with red hair, she’d been just as shocked by her stunning appearance.

Even now, Ren’s otherworldly beauty and aura left Doroshi entranced.
It was as if Ren possessed a magnetic charm—perhaps because she was a demon god.

After a long silence, the students snapped out of it, and the room buzzed with their excited chatter.
The teacher clapped his hands, not scolding them—he hadn’t exactly been calm when he first met Ren either.

“Please quiet down. Now, Kimihiro, introduce yourself.”

The red-haired girl picked up a piece of chalk and wrote her name on the blackboard: Kimihiro Ren.
Glancing at the teacher, she set the chalk down and began fabricating her backstory with a natural expression.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Kimihiro Ren. I transferred here due to my parents’ work. My hobbies are cooking and housework.”
“I look forward to getting along with all of you.”

Ren’s introduction was elegant and reserved.
Of course, Doroshi knew the bit about her parents’ work was complete nonsense, and her eyelids twitched.

“Didn’t expect Ren to follow me to school.”
Doroshi stared helplessly at the red-haired girl on the platform, wanting to let out a long sigh.

It was obvious—Ren’s target was her.
The maid was even more intense than she’d imagined.
‘Is this what it feels like to be chased by a super-obsessed fan?’

“That’s all. Make sure to get along with your new classmate.”
The teacher scanned the room, noticing no empty seats, and called out two boys.
“Suham, Mochitomi, go to the storage room and bring a new desk and chair.”

With a beautiful transfer student involved, the boys were unusually eager, rushing out without a hint of complaint.
Boys will be boys.

Throughout it all, Ren stood at the front, wearing a gentle smile, quietly observing the students.
At first glance, she seemed to be looking at everyone, but in reality, her attention was solely on Doroshi.

Doroshi wondered what a demon god like Ren was feeling up there.
‘She’s not thinking something like “these are just annoying human monkeys,” is she?’

Suddenly, Ren’s gaze landed on Doroshi, and their eyes locked for a moment.
To the demon god, no one else in the room warranted a second glance.

Her polite smiles to the class were merely a facade, a bare minimum of courtesy as a maid.
It was all to avoid embarrassing her master, Doroshi, or causing her trouble.
Only Doroshi deserved her genuine smiles.

As Doroshi suspected, Ren was indeed maintaining a fake smile while inwardly scorning the students and even the teacher.
‘These are just bothersome bugs,’ she thought.
‘Except for Lady Doroshi, of course.’

If not for their roles as “Lady Doroshi’s classmates” or “Lady Doroshi’s teacher,” Ren would see them as mere dust, not even living insects.

Soon, the two enthusiastic boys returned with a new desk and chair.
The teacher let Ren choose her seat, and she directed them to place it at the back of Doroshi’s row.

The legendary protagonist seat!

After setting it down, Ren politely thanked the boys, sending them back to their seats practically giddy.
Luckily, two students sat between Ren and Doroshi, acting as a buffer against the maid’s intense gaze, letting Doroshi breathe a little easier.

Ren placed her prepared school bag in the desk drawer, elegantly adjusted her uniform skirt, and sat down.
The girl in front of her immediately turned around, excited, to greet her.
“Hi, Kimihiro! I’m—”

Ren’s inner irritation flared, but she maintained her courteous facade, engaging briefly before dismissing her.
‘This bug is blocking my view of Lady Doroshi.’

Doroshi glanced back, catching Ren’s polite exchange with the classmate.
But something felt off—Ren’s demeanor seemed different from when they talked, almost like she was just going through the motions.

Still, Ren, the self-proclaimed demon god, was considerate of Doroshi’s school life, avoiding any trouble and seemingly getting along well with classmates.
Feeling a bit relieved, Doroshi slumped onto her desk.
Class was starting—time for a nice nap.