The Djinn turned to the group. “Okay, now to decide the leader. You will each appoint one person you believe to have shown the best qualities of being a leader today. You may not choose yourself. You have five minutes to consider your answer.”

The succubus immediately went to work, sidling over to the dullahan.

“Hey big guy, will you vote for me? I promise I’ll give you a good time if you do,” she purred into his helmet, “Don’t worry, I heard the ghoul was going to vote for you. If we all vote for each other, I’m sure we’ll all be given a chance to be a commander of the army. That’s the test here, for us to trust in one another.”

She licked her lips, knowing full well that the ghoul had promised her moments before that he would vote for her unconditionally.

The dullahan nodded and she grinned, confident in her victory.

He had no doubt that this test was about trust. However, where was the trust to be placed? The dullahan had realised long ago during his long life, that you can only trust yourself. He grunted, knowing full well what his answer had to be.

The Djinn gathered the three and they wrote their votes on paper.

The ghoul had chosen the succubus. The succubus had chosen the dullahan. And the dullahan…had chosen the ghoul!

“What?” screech the succubus, eyes black and her face distorted in her anger. The dullahan simply sighed.

“I cannot trust the feelings of the team. I can only trust myself…and feelings…and my honest feelings are that the ghoul has shown our team what teamwork truly looks like. That we’re more than just the sum of our parts and what leadership truly looks like, is often just to set an example of how to act. Of how to live,” he said simply while the succubus scowled.

Just as she was about to retort, there was a sudden flurry of commotion towards the back of the crowd.

They turned as the group parted to reveal Satan himself striding through the crowd, his crimson coat bright against the dull haze of purgatory.

“Ho Ho Ho, what’s this,” he roared deafeningly, “I heard that there was an interesting test going on in this town and wanted to see this for myself. Did I miss it?.”

The Djinn hesitatingly explained his methodology and the tests he had subjected the crowd in order to determine the leader of the crusade.

Satan roared with laughter as he listened to the Djinn’s recounting of the events and the eventual group that were the winners.

“Ho Ho Ho, remarkable,” he boomed, a sharp-toothed grin running from ear-to-ear, “such unique and well-thought out ideas. Hmm since you’ve shown such growth, I expect much from all of you.” He paused.

“Okay, I’ve decided – you three may all become commanders of your own units in my conquest. And you Djinn, you will be my personal aide and adviser. Report to my quarters in a week when we set off for the surface.”

With that, as suddenly as he had appeared, he strode out of sight and left the town. The trio cheered as they realised that they had all succeeded in gaining favour with the demon lord.

Oh man, thought the Djinn wearily, just these tests alone wore me out so much. How am I going to keep up with managing an entire army. Sigh, what a hassle…