Haruto stared at the bold red "REJECTED" stamp on his latest job application.
[Job Application – Denied]
Reason: Too Overqualified
He let out a long, exhausted sigh. Again.
It had been one month since he was thrown into this fantasy world due to a cosmic system error. One month of trying—and failing—to find a job. Every guild, shop, and employer in town had turned him away for the same ridiculous reason.
Apparently, being too good was a bad thing.
"How does this make sense?" Haruto muttered, rubbing his temples. "How is having skills a problem?"
Across the counter, Claire, the blonde, twin-tailed receptionist of the Adventurer's Guild, crossed her arms and glared at him.
"It makes perfect sense!" she snapped. "You're a walking disaster! If we let you register as an adventurer, you'd break the system!"
"Then let me start at a high rank," Haruto tried.
"You need experience to rank up."
"...How do I get experience if you won't let me register?"
"Not my problem," Claire huffed, flipping through paperwork.
Haruto groaned. This was his third attempt to register, and every time, Claire found a new excuse to reject him.
"So what am I supposed to do? Just starve?"
"Maybe someone outside the guild will hire you."
"Like who?"
BOOM.
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The doors of the guild exploded open, and a surge of dark energy flooded the room.
Adventurers leapt back, weapons drawn. Tables and chairs rattled as the overwhelming presence of pure demonic power spread through the building.
And then—
A tall, elegant girl strode inside, her crimson-red eyes glowing with power.
Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her regal black-and-red attire billowed dramatically as she entered. Behind her, a group of demonic knights in obsidian armor stood at attention.
The Demon Lord, Lilia.
The room fell deathly silent.
Even the rowdiest adventurers froze in terror.
But Haruto?
He just groaned and buried his face in his hands.
"Not this again."
Lilia stepped forward, her voice ringing with authority and confidence.
"Haruto!" she declared. "I have come to make you an offer once more!"
Haruto sighed. "Lemme guess. You want me to be your general?"
Lilia flipped her hair back elegantly. "Not just my general." She took a dramatic step forward, her eyes burning with intensity.
"Be my husband!"
Silence.
Dead silence.
Then—
Chaos.
Adventurers choked on their drinks. A rogue in the back actually fainted. Claire, the receptionist, slammed her hands on the counter so hard she cracked the wood.
"H-h-h-Husband?!" Claire shrieked.
Haruto sighed, already feeling the migraine coming. "Lilia, we've talked about this."
Lilia pouted. "And I rejected your rejection!"
"That's... not how this works."
"Of course it is!" she declared. "A man of your power should not be wasting away in unemployment! You deserve to be at my side, ruling as my King!"
Haruto rubbed his temples. "I don't want to be a king. I just want a normal job."
Lilia looked genuinely confused. "Why would you want that?"
"Because a normal job means a normal life!" Haruto snapped. "No wars, no world-ending disasters, no responsibilities! Just peaceful days, good food, and enough money to not starve!"
Lilia stared at him.
Then she raised a hand, and a mountain of gold coins appeared behind her.
"Here. Infinite wealth. Problem solved. Now be my husband."
Haruto sighed deeply. "...That's not the point."
Claire grabbed Haruto's sleeve, her eye twitching. "Wait. You're telling me you could have been ruling the demon continent this whole time, but instead you're trying to work as a low-level adventurer?!"
"YES, BECAUSE I WANT A NORMAL LIFE!"
The entire guild facepalmed.
One adventurer whispered, "He's basically refusing to be a king so he can be a minimum-wage worker..."
Another sighed. "What a waste of talent..."
Lilia, meanwhile, was not giving up.
"Haruto," she said, stepping even closer. "I understand your desires. You wish for a peaceful life. But no matter where you go, trouble will always follow. Your power is too great—whether you embrace it or not, the world will never leave you alone."
Haruto frowned. "...What's your point?"
She smiled. "If chaos follows you anyway, then why not stand beside the one person who truly understands you?"
Haruto paused.
That was... actually a good point.
Before he could think too deeply about it—
Claire yanked him back behind the counter. "LIKE HELL HE'S GOING WITH YOU!"
"Claire, let go of my collar."
"NO! YOU'RE NOT JOINING THE DEMONS!"
Lilia smirked. "Jealous?"
Claire's face turned red. "I-I'M NOT JEALOUS! I JUST DON'T WANT THIS IDIOT TO RUIN EVERYTHING!"
The guild doors suddenly burst open again.
This time, a group of royal knights stormed in, led by a beautiful girl with golden hair and sapphire-blue eyes—wearing an ornate white-and-blue dress.
The Princess.
"Haruto!" she gasped, out of breath. "Please, reconsider my offer!"
Lilia's eyes narrowed. "Your offer?"
The Princess steeled herself. "Haruto, I am prepared to grant you noble status, a castle, and a position as my personal knight! You don't have to lower yourself to working!"
Haruto groaned again.
More people trying to hire him into things he didn't want.
"WHY IS IT SO HARD TO JUST GET A NORMAL JOB?!"