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Anime Gate: Devil Familia in a DxD Mashup World [Completed]
Coreal
[Lynn Valifer]
Race: Devil
Rank: Super Devil
Authority: None
Familia: Utaha, Miko, Saeko, Shizuka, Mahiru, Yuuko, Hana, Seitenshi...etc
Skills: Devil's Piece Devil's Contract Magic Release
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World 1: Highschool of the Dead + Gakkou Gurashi (Finished)
World 2: Black Bullet (Finished)
World 2.5: Inuyasha (Finished)
World 3: Demon Slayer (Finished)
World 4: Bleach (Hasty End)
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A half-blood Devil with a blessing systemjust like in DanMachibut he exists in a messy mashup world like {High School DxD}, {Strike the Blood}, {Food Wars!}, {Mieruko-chan}, {Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata}, {OreGairu}, and who knows what else.
But thats not allthis Devil has a game-changing ability to cross over into completely different anime universes.
Which world will he cross over to next?
Update Schedule: 13 chapters daily
For every 100 Power Stones, there will be 1 Bonus Chapter (Max: 7).
I just want to sayI usually post more than that, but I'd really appreciate your support!
I spend hours making these chapters the best they can be, so your little encouragement goes a long way.
When I see comments, reviews, and Power Stones, I know people love it, and that pushes me to work even harder to deliver more chapters with high-quality translation.
And all I'm asking for is some Power Stonesnot a huge deal, right?
If anyone thinks I'm making a big fuss, just know that 90% of readers don't comment or do anythingbut if I miss a single day or post one chapter instead of two, there's no shortage of complaints.
So, what should I do?
When I see people enjoying the story, I can easily translate 10 chapters a day because I genuinely love doing this. I always translate the story that I love after all. So it's a win-win for everyone!
I really hope you think about it. If you were in my shoes, you'd understand how much it means to get a simple "thanks" for all the effort put in.
So did you drop your stones here?
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Special Devils
Kasumigaoka Utaha (Archivist Devil)
Yotsuya Miko (Spirit Devil)
Busujima Saeko (Blade Devil)
Marikawa Shizuka (Healing Devil)
Shiina Mahiru (Fallen Angel Devil)
Kanoe Yuuko (Ghost Devil)
Yurikawa Hana (Life Devil)
Seitenshi (Ideal Devil)
Fuse Midori (Nekomata Devil)
Tendo Kisara (Vengeful Devil)
Isayama Yomi (Karmic Devil)
Yukinoshita Yukino (Ice Devil)
Yukinoshita Haruno (Shapeshifter Devil)
(When I updated the Special Devils list, all the images of Ordinary devils below were deleted, so I'm going to separate them.)
Ordinary Devils & skills
Miyamoto Rei (Piercing Spear)
Takagi Saya (Insightful Eye)
Takagi Yuriko
Senju Kayo (Gastrea Factor: Dolphin)
Minami Rika (Firearm Mastery) & (Gastrea Seed: Eagle)
Ebisuzawa Kurumi (Combat Stamina) & (Gastrea Seed: Rhino Beetle)
Naoki Miki (Gastrea Seed: Tibetan Antelope)
Takeya Yuki (Gastrea Seed: Red Fox)
Wakasa Yuuri (Gastrea Seed: Sloth)
Megumi Sakura (Gastrea Seed: Mongoose)
Tina Sprout (Gastrea Factor: Owl) & (Battlefield Topology)
Shiba Miori (Master of Strategy)
Muroto Sumire (Extreme Medical Expertise)
Yuigahama Yui (Harmonizer)
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The 12 Zodiac:
Aries-Taurus-Gemini-Leo-Virgo-Libra-Sagittarius-Capricorn-Aquarius-Pisces
Cancer (name: Luna) A Crab
Scorpio (name: Stella) A Scorpion
[Zodiac Pilgrimage]. This ability was divided into four phases: Spring Pilgrimage, Summer Pilgrimage, Autumn Pilgrimage, and Winter Pilgrimage.
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Spring Pilgrimage
[Aries Crown]
Summons Aries Starfire to envelop the body, granting explosive speed and a burning attack.
[Taurus Gate]
Creates a massive gate engraved with Taurus symbols, capable of blocking physical attacks and reflecting a portion of the damage as a shockwave.
[Gemini Mirage]
Creates a phantom duplicate that mimics the user's movements and shares senses but has no physical attack power. Useful for deception. If the mirage is destroyed or dismissed, the user can instantly teleport to its location for a surprise attack.
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Summer Pilgrimage
[Cancer Cocoon]
Summons a stardust cocoon that heals anyone inside.
Power of the Crab of Weight (grants the concept of "Weight").
[Leo Spear]
Hurls a long spear forged from solar energy; its power scales with the user's fighting spirit.
[Virgo domain]
Unleashes a domain that analyzes enemy weaknesses and forcibly equalizes a specific stat (like speed or strength) between both parties.
...
"Tea, coffee, or soda?"
Sona and Rias stared in silence at the can of soda in front of them. There wasn't even a cup of tea or coffee in sight.
Was this even a real choice?
"Sorry, looks like soda is the only thing I have."
Sona: "..."
Rias: "..."
Lynn leaned back slightly on the sofa, completely ignoring their speechless expressions.
Sona Sitri and Rias Gremory.
Having watched two seasons of High School DxD in his past life, Lynn was quite familiar with them.
But that was about it.
Since arriving in this world, he had never crossed paths with these two before.
Now, they suddenly showed up at his place, leaving him utterly confused.
"So, what brings you both here?" Lynn finally asked.
"I'm Rias Gremory. Just call me Rias," she introduced herself briefly before glancing at Sona, signaling her to go first. Meanwhile, Rias kept staring at the soda can, hesitating whether to open it.
"Sona Sitri."
After stating her name, Sona placed a parchment on the table.
Lynn's eyes narrowed slightly.
The parchment was covered in dense writingbut not in any human language.
"Demonic script..."
Seeing those characters made Lynn feel a bit dazed.
Ever since he started living in the human world, it had been a long time since he last saw the writing of devils.
And yet...
Lynn's gaze shifted downward.
"The House of Valifer's crest..."
Valifera once-noble Devil household in the Underworld.
And his full name? Lynn Valifer.
This was his second life.
Just a few days ago, he had fully awakened his past memories.
In this life, he wasn't a pure humanhe was a Half-Devil. But because of that very identity, he had been exiled from the Valifer family at the age of seven and forced to live among humans.
And now, trouble had found him because of that last name.
That parchment? It was a marriage contract.
A contract between the House of Valifer and... the House of Sitri.
Lynn's expression turned strange.
Now he understood why they had come.
Normally, as a half-devil, he wouldn't even be considered for a marriage pact with the Sitri family.
But years ago, the Valifer family was wiped out overnight.
Since he was the last surviving bloodline, he had automatically inherited this marriage contract.
However...Lynn glanced at Sona Sitri, who sat there with a blank expression.
It was obviousshe wasn't here to uphold the contract.
"So... she came to call off the engagement?"
"A transmigrator... getting hit with a broken engagement event?"
"Isn't this the beginning of a Xianxia story? A DxD Xianxia version?"
After some thinking, Lynn got straight to the point. "You want to annul the engagement?"
Sona and Rias both froze. They exchanged glances before Sona spoke. "Apologies, but I will compensate you."
There was a flicker of guilt in her eyes.
After all, Lynn was the last surviving member of his family, and here she was, personally coming to break off their engagement. It felt a little heartless.
But she simply couldn't accept a marriage with someone she had never even met beforeespecially without any emotional connection.
"Fine, I agree."
Lynn accepted without hesitation.
Not because of any so-called "compensation"he just didn't want to deal with unnecessary trouble.
If he remembered correctly, Sona Sitri had an overprotective older sister who was a freaking Maou (devil King)?
He had no interest in following the Battle Through the Heavens script where, after breaking off the engagement, this older sister would come knocking next.
Sona opened her mouth slightly, stunned by his quick agreement.
She hadn't expected the annulment to go this smoothly.
After all, this was an engagement with the Sitri family!
Anyone from the Underworld would kill for such a marriage contract.
Especially Lynnthe last heir of Valifer.
With the Sitri family's help, he could have rebuilt his family's legacy.
Yet, he agreed to let it go just like that?
This wasn't how things were supposed to go.
She had originally planned to solve this through a Rating Game, expecting resistance.
But now, she was at a complete loss.
"...I didn't prepare an annulment contract," she muttered absentmindedly.
Lynn sighed. "You're really bad at breaking off engagements, huh? There's a printing shop downstairsgo print one and bring it up."
"...Oh, okay."
Sona instinctively stood up.
"Wait, no!"
She shook her head and sat back down.
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "What now?"
Sona took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. It's... complicated. A simple contract won't work."
She explained, "This is my personal decision. My family does not support breaking off the engagement. Even if you agree, it won't be recognized by the four current Maou."
She sighed inwardly.
She knew exactly why her family refused to let go.
During the Underworld's civil war, the Valifer family sacrificed a lot to help her sister become a Maou.
This engagement was part of that agreement.
But then, Valifer was wiped out overnightwhich was a huge embarrassment to both the Sitri family and the new Maou faction.
If the Sitri family canceled the marriage now, it would completely shatter their credibility.
This was something only she could resolve.
"So what's your plan?" Lynn asked.
Sona's expression turned serious. "I challenge you to a Rating Game!"
"Rating Games are above all rules in the Underworld. If I win"
"Stop."
Lynn interrupted her, his gaze turning cold.
"You do realize why the Valifer family was wiped out, don't you?"
Sona's body tensed. "...A revenge attack from the Old Maou Faction."
Lynn continued, "Then do you understand what will happen if my last name gets exposed?"
Sona's heart skipped a beat.
The answer was simple.
He'd die.
Lynn crossed his legs, his voice now completely cold. "You're really only thinking about yourself, huh??"
"I... I'm sorry..." Sona looked shaken.
"You're really only thinking about yourself, huh?..."
She repeated those words in her head.
The air in the room grew heavy.
Clink!
A crisp sound broke the tension, drawing Lynn's attention.
Sona's body relaxed slightly as Rias popped open the soda can.
Rias smiled at Lynn. "I've never tried carbonated drinks before. Thought I'd give it a shot."
Taking a small sip, she immediately stuck out her tongue. "Ah, I really can't get used to this."
Placing the can down, she turned to Sona. "Now that you're done, it's my turn to talk."
Hearing that, Sona felt a huge wave of relief and bolted upright.
"Sorry for disturbing you!" she blurted before rushing out, keeping her head down the entire time, not daring to look at Lynn.
Rias chuckled.
She had never seen Sona act like this before.
Once the door closed, Rias turned back. "Apologies. Sona really didn't think this through."
Lynn simply nodded. "So, what do you want, Rias?"
Smiling, Rias waved her hand, summoning a glowing purple magic circle.
A set of chess pieces materialized on the table.
"These are your Evil Pieces," she said.
"Use them wisely and rebuild the Valifer family."
With that Rias and Sona left quickly.
Just as Lynn was contemplating how to recruit his first follower, his phone suddenly buzzed.
Incoming Call: Aoyama Nanami.
"..."
Lynn's eyes widened.
"Shit! I forgot about the half-price bento sale!"
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.
.
Private Kuoh Academy ~ Occult Research Club.
Rias and Sona sat across from each other.
After some time, Sona had finally calmed down. She adjusted her glasses and spoke in a low voice, "Rias, this time, I was the one who made a mistake."
"Sona..."
Rias wanted to comfort her, but Sona cut her off. "Just like ... like Lynn said."
A complicated emotion flickered in Sona's eyes as she continued, "I was only thinking about myself, completely ignoring his situation."
Rias was silent for a moment. Then, she took a sip of her tea and chuckled. "Now that's the Sona I know..."
When others made mistakes, she would point them out without hesitation. But when she made one herself, she admitted it openly.
Sona also took a sip of tea, regaining her usual composed demeanor.
"So, what about your engagement?" Rias asked curiously.
The plan to break off the engagement had been a complete failure.
Although Lynn didn't resist the idea of breaking it offin fact, he had been rather cooperativethe result was obvious.
Sona paused for a moment before saying, "Forget about the Rating Game. That would expose him to the Old Maou Faction's attention."
"I'll try to persuade my family myself."
Rias could hear the determination in her voice and joked, "If you ask me, Lynn isn't bad at all. Why not just go along with it?"
"..."
Seeing Sona fall into silence, Rias, who knew her well, was immediately surprised. "Wait... are you actually considering it?"
"I didn't have a bad first impression of him," Sona admitted honestly. "If it comes down to it, I'll try to develop feelings for him."
Rias' eyes widened in shock.
Something was off!
Something was really off!!
She vividly recalled Lynn's cold, indifferent gaze, his emotionless voice.
And that unforgettable sentence: 'You're really only thinking about yourself, huh?'
"Hiss"
"Sona, you're not... into that kind of thing, are you?"
'Like... a masochist?' thinking inwardly.
"Into what?" Sona asked, confused.
"No, hahaha, nothing at all," Rias laughed awkwardly, avoiding her gaze.
'Surely not... right?' Rias began really thinking about it.
"Weird."
Sona frowned but didn't press the issue. Finishing her tea, she stood up to leave.
"Oh, right."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a set of keys.
"I noticed his living conditions weren't great. The Sitri family owns some property in Minato, Tokyothis is the key to one of the apartments. If you get the chance, give it to him for me as an apology."
Leaving those words behind, Sona activated a magic circle and disappeared.
Rias opened her mouth but ended up swallowing the words 'Why don't you give it to him yourself?'
Private Kuoh Academy ~ Student Council Room
A flash of red light.
Sona suddenly appeared.
"Tsubaki, I need a bath."
"Yes, President."
"And my clothes need to be washed."
"Yes, President."
"...Wait! I'll wash my own underwear!"
"Thanks a lot for reminding me, Nanami."
"I'll treat you to ice cream next time."
Carrying the discounted bento he had fought for, Lynn left the convenience store victorious after saying goodbye to Nanami.
By the time he stepped outside, the sky had darkened.
With a plastic bag in one hand, he absentmindedly toyed with a black chess piece in the other.
"So, Nanami has the potential to be reincarnated as a devil too..."
"Too bad she refused to let me implant this into her body."
Lynn sighed, a bit disappointed.
"Can you see me?"
"Can you see me?"
A cursed spirit with an unnaturally long tongue blocked Lynn's path, its sticky saliva dripping onto the pavement, producing a sizzling, corrosive sound.
Lynn gave it a look of pure disdain.
The long-tongued spirit twitched violently.
"You can see me!"
"You must be able to see me!!"
"Youaaaargh!!"
Before the spirit could enjoy this rare opportunitya human who could see itred flames erupted from its body, instantly incinerating it into nothing.
"You picked the wrong target," Lynn muttered.
"I'm a devil, after all."
His gaze swept across the other cursed spirits gathering around him.
Each one trembled under his sight.
Lynn shook his head and ignored them.
There were simply too many of these low-level curses; he couldn't be bothered dealing with them all.
Besides, after unlocking his past memories, he had kinda figured out what kind of world he was in.
A Real Anime Crossovers Universe. Yep!
For example, his identity
The sole heir of a devil family from the Underworld, a freshman at Shuchiin Academy, where his homeroom teacher was Minamiya Natsuki, and the school had a Totsuki Culinary Division.
Oh, and the convenience store clerk, Aoyama Nanami.
And now, with all these different types of spirits infesting the streets, Lynn had a strong suspicion that this world also had a Yotsuya Miko.
"Hm?"
Lynn paused, eyes narrowing slightly.
On his status screen, the ability Evil (Devil's) Chess Pieces was glowing faintly.
This was another function of the Evil Piecesif someone nearby had the potential to become his servant, it would notify him by flashing.
Lynn immediately released his magic, scanning the area.
A few seconds later, his eyes lit up. "Found it!"
Pinpointing the location, he changed directions and rushed over.
His potential servant wasn't in a good situationcurrently being chased by a devil.
Yes, a devil.
Not all devils were like himones who followed human laws.
Of course, it could just be a stray devil.
From what he sensed, it was only at a low-class strength level. No real threat to someone like him, who was on the verge of breaking into high-class devil status.
---
"Huff... Huff... Huff..."
Heavy breathing echoed through a deserted alleyway.
Kasumigaoka Utaha gritted her teeth, forcing her leaden legs to keep moving. Her black stockings were tattered, her legs covered in scrapes and bruises, but she hardly noticed. All she could do was run.
Faster! Run faster!!
She could feel that thing behind her, chasing her, savoring the thrill of the hunt.
She didn't know if she would survive, but she knew one thing
If she stopped, she would die.
So, faster!!
Bam!
Suddenly, she crashed into something warm.
But instead of relief, only one thought filled her mind I'm doomed.
"Looks like you could use some help?"
Gasping for air, Utaha looked up.
A handsome face came into view, but she had no time for such thoughts.
"R-Run! There's a monster behind me!!"
She had no strength left. If not for leaning completely against this boy, she would've collapsed already.
She couldn't run anymore, but he still had a chance.
"A monster? You mean that thing?"
Lynn pointed behind her, his other arm steadying her in his embrace.
Utaha turned to look.
A creature with the upper body of a naked woman and the lower half of a spider was drooling as it stared at her.
She swallowed hard and forced a bitter smile. "This close... Looks like you won't be able to escape either."
"Why would I run?"
"It's just a low-class stray devil, after all."
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.
.
"A stray devil? ...Wait a second!!!!"
Utaha snapped out of her thoughts and hurriedly asked, "You know what this thing is?"
Lynn nodded.
Hope flickered in Utaha's eyes. Could he be a hunter...a devil hunter?
If there were stray devils in this world, then it made perfect sense for devil hunters to exist too, right?
Yes, that had to be it!
She subconsciously nodded in agreement with her own logic.
This woman what the hell is she thinking?
Lynn shot her a glance, then checked his status panel. It confirmed that she had the potential to become his servant.
Utaha Kasumigaoka She looked like an ordinary person, but as a character from an anime world, she had to have some hidden potential.
"Hey, if I help you deal with that thing, will you agree to one condition?"
Utaha was startled. "What condition?"
Lynn took out an Evil chess piece. "Let me shove this into your body."
Utaha's eyes widened in shock, her face turning red with embarrassment and anger. "Are you even a proper devil hunter?!"
"Devil hunter?"
Lynn gave her a weird look before grinning. "Nope. I'm A Devil."
"Ha?!"
Utaha's brain short-circuited.
"Food! Food!!"
Of course, the stray devil wasn't going to wait for her to process everything.
In her panic, Utaha quickly shouted, "Fine, fine, fine! I agree!!"
"Alright then, the contract is sealed."
Lynn raised his arm.
Magic surged.
Boom!!
A crimson vortex formed around Lynn's right arm. A red pillar of light burst forth, swallowing the spider-like devil whole!
The powerful shockwave sent Utaha's black hair flying wildly in the wind.
"Ahhh!!"
A bloodcurdling scream echoed within the red light. A few seconds later, the scream faded, and Lynn stopped channeling his magic.
Utaha's lips trembled. "W-What was that just now?"
"Just a simple magic blast."
Gulp.
Utaha swallowed hard, shivering.
Is this still Earth?
"That spider monster"
"It's dead. If we're lucky, there might be some remains left."
Utaha finally relaxed but way too soon.
"Now, let's talk about our deal." Lynn twirled the chess piece in front of her.
Utaha instantly tensed up, looking at him in disbelief. "You you were serious?!"
"Of course. devils always honor their contracts."
"Haha ha"
Utaha's lips twitched.
Should she run?
She hesitated for a moment, but then recalled what had just happened. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
There was no way she could escape.
She shut her eyes tightly, trying to mentally prepare herself.
'It's just like getting bitten by a mosquito.'
'This guy is definitely a pervert!'
'Still better than getting eaten by that monster'
'Damn it! My first time and it's with a freaking chess piece?!'
'That said he is kinda good-looking'
'Ahhhhhh!!'
Utaha's mind was in total chaos.
When she opened her eyes again, they were filled with resolve.
She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, then suddenly lifted it, shouting, "Come at me!!"
Lynn: "..."
What kind of crazy scenario was she imagining now?
Do all novelists have this wild of an imagination?
Though he was internally complaining, he still appreciated the view.
While staring, he smirked. "Even if you seduce me, I'm still going to insert it~"
Utaha's face burned red. She gritted her teeth. "You're absolutely doing this just to humiliate me, aren't you?!"
"Wait!" Utaha suddenly snapped, her eyes widening. "Why are you unbuttoning my shirt?!"
Her wine-red eyes glared daggers at him as she growled, "I knew it! You're not satisfied with just using an object, you damn pervert!"
"Hold on! Where the hell are you putting that?!"
"You'll see. This spot is perfect for inserting it."
A red ripple spread across Utaha's chest as the chess piece sunk into her body.
Lynn looked up and locked eyes with Utaha.
" It actually went in?"
Utaha's voice trembled.
Lynn scratched his head. "I think so?"
"Think so?!"
Utaha glared at him like he was an irresponsible deadbeat dad.
Lynn shrugged. "Hey, this is my first time too. I've got no experience."
"Then take responsibility, you bastard!!"
Thump!
Thump! Thump!
Utaha suddenly froze as her heartbeat rapidly accelerated. Heat surged through her body, and an overwhelming power welled up from within.
"Now what?"
Utaha looked panicked.
Lynn thought for a moment. "Probably the reincarnation process?"
"Probably? Again?!"
[Ding! Congratulations! You have gained a servant: 'Utaha Kasumigaoka'!]
[Ding! Your servant 'Utaha Kasumigaoka' is undergoing the reincarnation ceremony!]
[Ding! Your servant 'Utaha Kasumigaoka' has reincarnated as a special devil: 'Archivist devil'!]
[Ding! You have obtained the skill 'Archivist devil'!]
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.
.
Archivist Devil?
Lynn's eyes lit up.
The moment Utaha Kasumigaoka became his servant, his physical abilities and magical power saw a significant boost.
It felt as if he had broken through some kind of barrier, smoothly advancing to the rank of a High-Class Devil.
Seeing that Utaha's transformation wasn't quite finished yet, Lynn opened his status panel.
---
[Lynn Valifer]
Race: Devil
Rank: High-Class Devil
Authority: None
Servants: Utaha Kasumigaoka
Skills: Devil Piece, Devil Contract, Magic Release, Archivist Devil
---
Lynn confirmed his rank before focusing on the new skill, Archivist Devil.
[Archivist Devil]
Devil's Grimoire: Capable of recording magic, sorcery, and other abilities, which can then be cast through the grimoire. The more detailed the recorded information, the more complete the ability's replica.
Devil Assimilation: The user's body merges with the Devil's Grimoire, allowing them to embody and channel everything recorded within.
Accelerated Magic Growth.
"Seems like a pretty good skill."
Lynn studied the description carefully, feeling that it had a lot of potential.
"Wait, this is...?"
On the other side, Utaha's reincarnation ritual had concluded. She stood there, staring blankly at a thick, floating book.
The book was pitch black, giving off a metallic sheen, and looked incredibly heavy.
"Hold on."
Lynn took her grimoire.
As Utaha's master, and since he possessed the Archivist Devil skill himself, her grimoire was essentially linked to his.
He opened a blank page, pulled a pen from his pocket, andafter giving her chest a rather intense looklowered his head and began writing in the book.
Utaha's cheeks instantly burned. That's when she realized she was still completely exposed.
Flustered, she quickly adjusted her clothing and nervously scanned the surroundings. Only after confirming no one else was around did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
As for Lynn?
"Well... He probably doesn't count as human."
"Besides, he'd already seen everything anyway," Utaha muttered to herself.
"All done."
Lynn finished writing and handed the Grimoire back to her.
She took it, curious.
---
[Utaha Kasumigaoka]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Strength: i0
Agility: i0
Endurance: i0
Magic: i0
Innate Skill: [Archivist Devil:]
Devil's Grimoire: Capable of recording magic, sorcery, and other abilities, which can then be cast through the grimoire. The more detailed the recorded information, the more complete the ability's replica.
Devil Assimilation: The user's body merges with the Devil's Grimoire, allowing them to embody and channel everything recorded within.
Accelerated Magic Growth.
---
Staring at her own status, Utaha's tone became somewhat complicated. "So... I'm not human anymore?"
"Congratulations."
Utaha shot her 'master' a glare at his sarcastic remark before sighing in resignation.
What else could she do?
At the very least, being a devil didn't feel bad.
She hadn't turned ugly, nor did her body mutate into something grotesque like that other spider devil.
In fact
She clenched her fist.
Her body... felt powerful!
And then there was this Devil's Grimoire.
An actual supernatural artifact straight out of fantasy!
With all these benefits, she found herself quickly accepting the reality of her transformationmaybe even feeling a little excited to test her newfound strength.
But first
"What do these 'i0' values for Strength, Agility, and Endurance mean?"
Lynn explained, "Those are your ability stats."
Though slightly different from the DanMachi system, the general logic remained the same.
Ability stats ranked from I to S, with each tier covering values from 099, 100199, and so on. S-rank ranged from 900999.
There were also rare cases where someone could exceed S-rank, reaching SS or even SSS.
Lynn's System functioned much like the DanMachi oneexcept for differences in rank names, the absence of a magic slot, and the lack of development abilities.
After a brief explanation, Utaha nodded in understanding.
So basically... grind levels to get stronger?
Yeah, she got it.
"So, where do we go to farm EXP?"
Her eyes gleamed with excitement.
Supernatural abilities?! Who could possibly resist that?!
She needed to fight something. Now.
"Hm... Maybe right here?"
Lynn pointed toward the alleyway's entrance.
The recent burst of magic had incidentally evaporated Spirits lurking in the alley.
Now that the alley had lost its dominant spirit, weaker Spirits were swarming in, eager to claim the territory.
Following his gaze, Utaha's expression twitched. "What the hell are those things?"
She stared at the grotesque, misshapen Spirits with tongues dragging across the ground, a shiver running down her spine.
"Yeah, they're definitely monsterstechnically called Spirits."
"Spirits?"
So they're literally ghosts?!
Before she realized it, Utaha had instinctively moved behind Lynn at lightning speed.
Lynn: "..."
"I thought you wanted to grind levels?"
He grabbed her and pulled her back in front.
Utaha immediately clung to his arm. "I-I wasn't ready yet!"
"You can see me?"
"You can see us!!"
"Oh... looks like one of them noticed you."
Lynn calmly freed himself from the softness pressing against his arm. With a warm smile, he gave her a gentle push forward.
"Go get 'em, Utaha!"
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.
.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes widened in shock, her pupils flashing with disbelief.
That damn evil devil, Lynn!
He actually pushed heran innocent, beautiful girlstraight into danger without hesitation, leaving her to face the cursed spirit alone?!
She wanted to curse him out.
But as the spirit loomed closer, a wave of fear gripped her heart. There was no time to scold Lynn now.
What do I do?
What do I do?!
Wait!
The Devil's Grimoire!
She was a Devil now! A mere cursed spirit shouldn't dare underestimate her!
With newfound resolve, she snapped open the Devil's Grimoire, ready to unleash its full power!
Smack!
Utaha slammed the Grimoire shut.
The clean, blank pages staring back at her filled her with despair.
She had just become an Archivist Devilshe hadn't recorded any abilities yet!
"You can see me!!"
The cursed spirit's guttural shriek was right next to her.
Its rancid breath blasted against her face, making her long black hair flutter. Her mind went blank.
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!!"
Acting purely on instinct, she swung the Grimoire with all her might!
Boom!
A powerful shockwave ripped through the alley.
The Swing of Utaha!
The mighty skill of the Utaha activated! It was super effective!
"Aaaaagh!!"
The cursed spirit let out a final shriek before disintegrating into nothing.
Utaha cautiously opened one eye. Seeing the cursed spirit completely gone, she gasped in disbelief. "Did... did I just do that?"
"Nice work, Utaha."
Lynn strolled up beside her, giving an encouraging nod.
Utaha let out a sigh of reliefonly to glare at him with resentment.
Lynn, on the other hand, felt no guilt whatsoever.
Come on, as his servant, wasn't it only natural for her to grind levels and power him up? Did she really expect him to do all the work?
Besides, there was no way he'd actually let her die.
These spirits were weak. Even if Utaha stood still and did nothing, they probably wouldn't even be able to scratch her. She was a lower-class devil now, after all.
"How do you feel?"
Utaha shot him another glare, then took a deep breath to compose herself. Regaining her usual grace, she replied, "Not bad."
Lynn chuckled. If he hadn't just witnessed her flailing around in panic, he might've actually believed her.
"Since it's 'not bad,' why not keep going and chase these spirits?"
"Huh?" Utaha was dumbfounded.
"Just kidding."
Utaha gave him a deadpan look. "That didn't sound like a joke at all."
Lynn ignored her complaints. "For today, just get used to things. Starting tomorrow, we'll officially begin leveling up."
Utaha's eye twitched, but she said nothing.
Lynn turned and started walking out of the alley.
Utaha instinctively followed.
As they stepped onto the main street, Lynn tilted his head slightly and gestured forward with his chin. "Tell me, don't you want to get stronger?"
Utaha followed his gaze.
The streets were swarming with cursed spirits.
Some were standing, others crouching. Each had a hideous and eerie posture.
And every single one of them was asking the same question to the passing pedestrians:
"Can you see me?"
Utaha opened her mouth, then fell silent for a long moment before finally muttering, "...Has Japan already fallen?"
Cursed spirits. So many cursed spirits.
"These onesand the one you just defeatedare nothing more than low-tier grunts."
"Low-tier..." Utaha clenched her fists.
She understood what Lynn meant.
If these were the weak ones, then there had to be stronger ones out there.
Besides, it wasn't like she had a choice anymore.
She wasn't human now. She was a devil.
And one with a 'master' at that.
Closing her eyes briefly, she took a deep breath. When she opened them again, they were filled with determination.
"I understand."
She turned to face him properly.
"Please, make me stronger, Lynn."
"Hmm?" Lynn suddenly remembered something and smirked playfully. "What should you be calling me now?"
Utaha paused, then looked at him with disgust. "Perverted Master."
Lynn took a moment to process it.
Not bad. Even with the 'perverted' part, it had a certain charm to it.
Pulling out his phone, he said, "Let's exchange Line contacts. It'll make things easier."
Utaha gave him a weird look after seeing his icon's name. "Sigma man?"
A notification popped up.
'Utako has joined the group chat.'
Seeing the message, Utaha raised an eyebrow. "What's this?"
"Our servant chat group."
"I get that, but what's with the group name?"
Utaha held up her phone, showing the name 'Lynn's familia Harem Group.'
The words burned into her eyes.
Lynn looked confused. "What? Isn't it accurate?"
Utaha was left speechless. How was he saying this with such confidence?
Seeing her expression, Lynn seemed to realize something. "Relax. You're my first servant, so for now, I'm all yours. Consider it a privilege of being the first."
"Who the hell wants that kind of privilege?!"
Utaha felt like she was burning through all her energy just from arguing with him.
Still, she had to admithe was right about one thing.
She was his first servant.
If he ever got more servants in the future, that meant she would be their senior.
If this really turned into a harem, then she, without question, would be the head wife.
Utaha's lips curled slightly.
...Wait, no!
Why the hell was she even thinking about that?!
She quickly shook her head, pushing those weird thoughts away.
Damn it, it was all because of this ridiculous group chat name!
After exchanging contacts, Lynn stretched. "Alright, it's getting late. Time to head home."
Utaha hesitated, then glanced at the cursed spirits roaming the streets. "Are... are you sure I'll be okay?"
She was a little worried she might get killed on the way back.
"Relax. As long as you pretend you can't see them, they won't attack."
Utaha blinked. "So regular people really can't see them?"
That explained why the spirits were everywhere, yet no one on the street seemed to care.
Thinking back, before she became a devil, she hadn't been able to see them either.
But now that she knew they had always been there... the thought sent shivers down her spine.
Especially the ones sitting on people's heads.
"If you're still scared, I could walk you home," Lynn offered. "Consider it another privilege of being my first servant."
Lynn actually wasn't entirely jokinghe wasn't too comfortable letting Utaha go off alone just yet.
Sure, she had the power of a lower-class devil and a unique ability as an Archivist Devil.
But she had zero experience.
Accidents could happen.
"No need," Utaha refused immediately.
Before Lynn could ask why, she continued:
"I'm going to your place."
Lynn: "...?"
.
.
.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I just feel safer being around you."
Utaha crossed her arms, her eyes scanning the nearby curses, feeling anything but safe.
This decision wasn't made on a whim.
First, ever since she started high school, she had been living alone in a rented apartment.
Second, she highly doubted her home was free of spirits.
Rather than returning to a place infested with malicious entities, staying with Lynn was the better choice.
At least she'd be safe.
And... well, it was easy on the eyes too. Thinking of this, Utaha sneaked a glance at Lynn.
If she didn't know he was a Devil, she would've thought he was some noble's young master. ...Or maybe a noble among Devils?
"That's all?" Lynn asked, looking disappointed.
Utaha's eyelid twitched.
Alright, with his brain filled with nothing but indecent thoughts, there was no way this guy was some noble gentleman!
...Then again, nobles were all scumbags anyway.
Stepping into Lynn's home, Utaha slipped on his spare indoor slippers, curiously observing her surroundings.
"What? Is my place weird or something?"
"No, I'm just a little surprised." She set her bag down.
Earlier, she had dropped it while running from the curses. Once things settled down, she went back to retrieve it.
"You're a Devil, yet you live in such a normal place."
Grabbing two cans of cola from the fridge, Lynn shrugged. "Even Devils need money to live in human society."
Speaking of which, he sighed dramatically.
When he arrived in the human world at seven years old, life had been tough.
Thankfully, his status as a Devil had some perks.
Taking on minor exorcism jobs helped him earn a bit of cash.
At least he managed to buy this place outright.
...
Lynn popped open a can and handed it to Utaha.
She took it with a nod of thanks, sipping as she sat on the couch.
Her gaze drifted slightly, unfocused.
Too much had happened today.
The shock was immense, and exhaustion settled in.
Even though her body had been revitalized after becoming a Devil, her mental fatigue remained.
After some time, a small 'ding' sound snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Dinner's ready."
Seeing the supermarket's half-price bento, Utaha couldn't help but comment, "For a 'Perverted Master,' your dinner is pretty half-assed."
"You eating or not?"
Lynn handed her a bento, and she wordlessly took it, skillfully digging in.
Judging by how naturally she ate it, she clearly wasn't new to convenience store dinners.
And she had the nerve to call him out.
After finishing her meal, Utaha finally got to the important question.
"So, what exactly are we gonna do?"
Lynn paused for a moment before answering, "Since we're just starting out, your main job is leveling up by taking down enemies... and making money to support me."
"...What?"
Utaha blinked in disbelief.
She pointed at herself, then at him. "Me? Supporting you?"
She was just a high school girl!
Had she already reached the stage of financially supporting a man?!
"Don't worry. Once you get a bit stronger, you can take on exorcism jobs. You'll level up and earn cash at the same time."
Well, that did make sense.
Utaha was successfully convinced.
Not that she had much choice.
Lynn was her master now, in every possible way.
Even if she protested, he had the final say.
"Speaking of getting stronger..."
She channeled her demonic energy, materializing the Devil's Grimoire.
"Can I learn magic? Maybe some Onmyouji techniques?"
She was determined to fill this grimoire with powerful spells!
Smacking evil spirits with a book was way too unladylike!
"Uh..."
Lynn opened his status screen and checked his skills.
Then, he fell silent.
Utaha had a bad feeling. "Don't tell me..."
Lynn spread his hands helplessly. "I've been in the human world since I was seven. I never learned any magic."
Smack!
Utaha facepalmed.
Great.
Looks like she was stuck with 'Book Smack' for now.
"Relax. As a Devil, I've got connections."
Well... connections he had literally just made today.
But hey, a connection was a connection!
And with the weekend coming up, they could get started soon.
The next morning.
Yawning, Utaha walked downstairs in a daze.
Half-asleep, she noticed someone sitting on the couch.
"...Huh?"
"When did a man move in?"
"Wait!"
Her mind snapped awake as yesterday's events came flooding back.
"Yo! So it's black lace huh? Good choice."
Utaha instinctively tugged her shirt lower, covering the exposed area.
"Tsk tsk. Surprisingly stacked."
Lynn's gaze shifted, now locked onto the slight underboob revealed by her movement.
Utaha immediately raised her arm to cover her chest
Which only made the black lace more visible.
Utaha: "..."
Screw it.
Just end the world already!
After running back to change, she returned with a deadpan expression, staring at Lynn.
"Enjoyed the view?"
Lynn gave her a thumbs-up. "A feast for the eyes."
Utaha bit her lip, feeling her ears heat up.
How the hell was this guy so shamelessly blunt?
Whatever...
"Let's go."
Their destination: Kuoh Academy.
.
.
.
The location of Kuoh Academy wasn't exactly close to Tokyo's Minato zone.
Lynn and Utaha spent over two hours on the train before finally arriving at Kuoh Town.
This long journey only made Lynn even more envious of Rias's teleportation magic, which was shown in the anime.
Utaha curiously observed her surroundings. "So, where exactly are we going?"
"Hmm to a Devil family's territory."
"Huh?" Utaha stopped in her tracks, staring at him in shock. "A Devil family's territory?"
Her movements instantly became more cautious. She lowered her voice and whispered, "Are you sure it's okay for us to just say it like this?"
Seeing her acting so sneaky, Lynn reassured her, "Relax, I have a pretty decent relationship with the people in charge here."
Well probably?
"That's good to know." Utaha let out a breath of relief, though she still seemed a bit uneasy.
After all, they were dealing with actual Devils.
So far, the only Devil she had encounteredaside from that stray Devilwas Lynn.
She had no idea what other Devils were like.
At the Front Gates of Kuoh Academy
A girl with long black hair tied into a high ponytail, nearly reaching the ground, stood quietly by the entrance.
The moment she saw Lynn, her eyes lit up. She quickly walked over, clasped her hands in front of her skirt, and greeted them with a gentle smile:
"You must be Mr. Lynn. I'm Akeno Himejima, a servant of the President. She asked me to escort you."
"Thanks for the trouble, Akeno-san."
Stare
Utaha couldn't take her eyes off Akeno's figure.
That body was just unreal!
She glanced down at herself. She had always been pretty confident, but in this match-up, she had to admitshe lost.
Completely.
Noticing Utaha's gaze, Akeno simply smiled softly. But, almost imperceptibly, she straightened her back just a little more, making Utaha even more frustrated.
After teasing Utaha a bit, Akeno led them toward the Occult Research Club located in the old school building.
Along the way, she gave them a guided tour of Kuoh Academy, preventing any awkward silences between them.
---
The Occult Research Club
"President, Mr. Lynn has arrived."
Rias flipped her vibrant crimson hair as she stood up from the couch to welcome them.
"Lynn, welcome to Kuoh Town."
She put on the demeanor of a gracious host, smiling warmly. "Since you've come all this way, let's sit down and chat first."
"Akeno, prepare some tea for our guests."
"Yes, President."
As Utaha sat down, she noticed a petite girl in the corner of the sofa.
Rias introduced her, "This is my servant, Koneko Tojo. She's still in the middle school."
"Nice to meet you, senpais." Koneko greeted them with a monotone voice.
Lynn took a look around, admiring the luxurious decor. Then something struck him. "Rias, you only have two servants?"
Rias paused for a moment before brushing her hair behind her ear with a small smile. "That's right. I prefer quality over quantity, so it's difficult to find suitable members."
Lynn pondered.
'No Kiba Yuuto or the others?'
'Was it because they hadn't been recruited yet? Or was this some kind of butterfly effect due to the crossover setting?'
"This girl must be your servant, then?" Rias's gaze shifted to Utaha.
She had only just sent the Evil Piece yesterday, yet today, Lynn already had a servant.
"They must have been close beforehand," Rias speculated.
"No Sacred Gear fluctuations. No signs of any training."
"She seems like a completely ordinary human..."
"Utaha Kasumigaoka."
Utaha introduced herself confidently, but her eyes inevitably drifted toward Rias's chest.
This master-servant duo...
Her expression turned complicated. Then she glanced at Koneko, and finally, she felt a little better.
Koneko: "?!!"
(Cat instincts: On high alert!)
"I already know why you're here."
After all, they had communicated over the phone yesterday.
Understanding that Lynn had never received formal training in the Underworld's Devil system, Rias pulled out an incredibly thick, black leather-bound book.
It was about the size of two bricks stacked together.
Lynn's eyelids twitched.
"This is 360 Applications of Magic, a standard guide in the Underworld. It contains basic magical techniques."
Rias offered a slight apology. "Sorry, but I can only provide general techniques for now. More advanced skills are usually exclusive to each Devil family."
Lynn nodded in understanding. "This is more than enough."
Just this one book alone would take a long time to go through.
Good thing he had a labor force.
Lynn pushed 360 Applications of Magic toward Utaha with a smile. "It's all on you, Utaha Beast."
"...?"
A big question mark practically appeared over Utaha's head.
Also, what the hell was with that weird nickname?!
She wanted to complain, but since they were on someone else's turf, she had no choice but to swallow her frustration.
She turned to the massive book in front of her, feeling an impending headache.
Well, at least she didn't need to understand it. She didn't even need to learn it.
All she had to do was record it.
Utaha gritted her teeth.
"Fine! Time to copy!"
.
.
.
After obtaining what he wanted, Lynn didn't rush to leave. Instead, he took the opportunity to ask Rias about the current situation in the Underworld.
For exampleThe movements of the Old Maou Faction.
Though Lynn didn't feel any particular attachment to the House of Valifer, nor did he have any intention of avenging them, the fact that he carried this surname was bound to bring him trouble sooner or later.
Like his engagement with the Sitri Clan, andThe revenge of the Old Maou Faction!
He needed to prepare in advance.
While recruiting his own peerage and strengthening his power, he also had to keep an eye on their movements to avoid ending up like his unfortunate familywiped out before they even knew what hit them.
At the end of the day, it all boiled down to a lack of strength.
He needed to speed up his recruitment.
At the very least, he had to reach the level of a Maou as soon as possible.
"Ever since the Valifer extermination incident, the Underworld has intensified its crackdown on the Old Maou Faction."
"They haven't been seen for quite some time now," Rias shared the latest intelligence while glancing at Utaha, who was busy scribbling away.
'That bookIt doesn't look like an artifact.'
'More like some kind of ability.'
Rias couldn't help but remind, "You're welcome to take that book with you. It's not exactly classified information."
Lynn took a sip of the tea brewed by Akeno and said casually, "No worries, she has to copy it down anyway."
Even though Utaha had only been copying for a short while, Lynn could already feel an influx of magical knowledge about power manipulation filling his mind.
What's more, he realized that his "Archivist Devil" ability was different from Utaha's.
For instance, while Utaha needed her Devil's Grimoire to utilize recorded abilities, he could use them directly.
It was as if the 'Archivist Devil' state was permanently active for him.
Didn't that mean his awakened abilities granted him some sort of additional perks?
Completely absorbed in his newfound insights, Lynn didn't notice the dagger-like glare Utaha was sending his way.
'Easy for him to say while sitting there comfortably!'
'This was nearly 2,000 pages long'
The thought of her bleak future filled with endless copying made the light in Utaha's eyes completely fade.
Why did it have to be a Archivist Devil?!
Ah such deep resentment
Rias looked at Utaha, slightly worried. "Is she really okay?"
Lynn noticed Utaha's pitiful expression and couldn't help but chuckle before turning to Rias.
"Miss Rias, does this book contain any spells related to automatic writing?"
Utaha's head snapped up, her eyes brimming with desperate hope as she stared at Rias.
"There is one."
Rias nodded and thought for a moment before adding, "I believe it's around page 130."
Rustle
The sound of frantic page-turning filled the air.
Seeing this, Lynn took another sip of tea, content with his good deed.
He really was too kindhe simply couldn't bear to see his servant suffer!
"Found it!" Utaha exclaimed in delight.
Rias smiled at her reaction and said, "This spell is fairly simple. If you want, I can give you some guidance while you learn it."
Utaha flashed her a polite smile. "Thank you, but I don't think that will be necessary."
She bowed her head once more and resumed writing in the Devil's Grimoire.
Rias blinked in surprise before glancing at Lynn.
Didn't they ask about the spell to make copying easier?
Why is she still writing it out by hand?
"All done!"
Utaha set her pen down, stretched, and then activated her magic with a look of anticipation.
Buzz
The Devil's Grimoire suddenly radiated a dazzling light!
On the page where 'Auto Writing' was recorded, a small white magic circle emerged.
A delicate white quill materialized in midair.
'It worked!'
Utaha cheered inwardly.
It was real magic!
Even though it was just a minor spell, it was still enough to make her excited.
"This is"
Rias' eyes narrowed slightly.
Indeed, it was the 'Auto Writing' spell.
Did she master it just from copying it down? Or was the key factor the act of transcribing itself?
And that strange Grimoire.
Rias had many thoughts racing through her mind as her eyes gleamed with curiosity. She then smiled and praised, "I didn't expect Utaha-san to master 'Auto Writing' so quickly. Lynn-san's servant is quite remarkable."
Then, with a subtle shift in tone, she continued, "If I remember correctly, Lynn-san's residence is quite far from Kuoh Town."
"There's a teleportation spell on page 777. How about learning it now and setting up a marker here? That way, traveling will be more convenient."
Utaha's performance had piqued Rias' interest.
She wanted to see whether Utaha's quick mastery was due to exceptional talent or something else entirely.
The teleportation spell on page 777 was a standard Underworld technique, but its difficulty rivaled some noble bloodline-exclusive magic.
Even she had spent a significant amount of time mastering it.
She didn't believe Utaha could learn it in such a short span.
Lynn immediately saw through her intentions, but he didn't interfere. In fact, he even encouraged it. "Go! Utaha."
Despite only being with him for a little over a day, Utaha already understood what Lynn was implying.
She flipped the book to page 777.
Without hesitation, the white quill started recording.
Rias didn't have to wait long.
As soon as the quill stopped, Utaha, following Lynn's signal, activated her magic.
Buzz
A massive purple magic circle, dozens of times larger than before, appeared above the Devil's Grimoire!
Its intricate runes were enough to make one's head spin.
At least, Utaha had no idea what they meant.
But that didn't mattershe didn't need to understand them!
This was the power of the Archivist Devil!
Rias stared at the magic circle, momentarily stunned.
Her eyes reflected utter disbelief.
'She actually mastered it?'
'And in such a short amount of time??'
Even Akeno and Koneko were drawn in.
As Rias' servants, they were well aware of how difficult this spell was.
A newly reincarnated Devil, with no prior exposure to the supernatural world, had managed to grasp a high-difficulty spell in mere moments.
If this was pure talent, it would be considered heaven-defying.
But clearly, Utaha hadn't 'learned' the spell in the traditional sense.
Rias' gaze fell on the Devil's Book, a smirk forming on her lips. "What an interesting ability."
"Transcription? Or perhaps Record and Replicate?"
"As long as she records knowledge in that book, she can use it."
Lynn clapped. "As expected of the esteemed heiress of the Gremory familyfiguring out Utaha's ability so quickly."
"Let me formally introduce you: Archivist Devil, Kasumigaoka Utaha."
"Archivist Devil" Rias murmured before remarking, "A fitting title."
Taking a deep breath, she asked, "I wonder, Lynn-san, just how far this ability can go?"
Lynn propped his chin on his hands and smirked. "The limit, huh? I'm not entirely sure. Why don't you test it out yourself?"
A mere book on magic techniques wasn't nearly enough to satisfy him.
Time to show off, Rias.
.
.
.
"I see... So that's why you had Utaha-san showcase her ability?"
Rias finally understood, casting a complicated look at Lynn.
Lynn wore a smug expression, as if saying, "You got me."
A mere common magic technique wasn't nearly enough to satisfy him.
He had flipped through that black-covered book earlier.
Too much theoretical knowledge.
A lot of repeated contentlong-winded and tedious.
As for the magic spells inside, most were basic, like "Auto Writing".
The most valuable one was probably "Teleportation Magic"
But there were barely any powerful, wide-range, or highly practical spells.
Since he was already here, Lynn naturally wanted to score some high-level skills.
So when he noticed Rias's growing curiosity about Utaha's ability, he seized the opportunity to push things further.
Might as well take a shotwho knows what he could get?
To be honest, Rias had taken the bait completely.
She was genuinely curious about how far Utaha's "Archivist Devil" ability could go.
With a helpless smile, Rias sighed. "Alright, you win."
"Akeno, bring me the 'Lightning Magic' scroll."
"Yes, President." Akeno didn't hesitate.
She never questioned Rias's decisions.
"Lightning Magic."
Rias slid a parchment scroll toward Lynn. "This is an Ultimate-class spell, the most advanced magic I currently possess."
Lightning?
Lynn casually glanced at Akeno.
If he remembered correctly, her specialty was lightning-based magic.
Rias was really offering up something precious.
Lynn unrolled the scroll and skimmed through it.
Yeah, he had no clue what it meant.
Instantly losing interest, he handed it off to Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Your turn, Utaha-beast."
This time, Utaha didn't even react to his nickname. She eagerly took the scroll.
"Whoa!"
Ultimate-class magic!
Just the name alone sounded powerful!
She was seriously impressed with Lynn now.
In just a few words, he got the devil princess to hand over an Ultimate-class spell!
Suppressing her excitement, she opened the scroll.
Dense, incomprehensible text swam before her eyes, making her dizzy.
Yeah... No idea what any of this means...But she knew exactly what to do.
Just copy it!
As she transcribed, Rias explained what Ultimate-class magic meant.
In simple terms, it referred to spells capable of unleashing power on par with a Maou.
"Done!"
Utaha stared at the freshly written text in her Devil's Grimoire, eager to try it out.
She instinctively began channeling magic
"Wait!"
Rias's eye twitched, stopping her just in time.
"Lightning Magic is too destructive. Let's move outside first."
She had nearly witnessed the destruction of the Occult Research Club.
Realizing her mistake, Utaha awkwardly laughed. "Uh... sorry."
Rias shook her head. "It's fine." She then led the way outside.
Behind the Occult Research Club, in an open space.
Utaha's Devil's Grimoire floated in front of her, pages flipping rapidly with a flurry of rustling sounds.
"Lightning Strike!"
Utaha called out firmly.
The pages of the Grimoire froze on a specific spell.
A one-meter-wide blue magic circle formed in the air.
Crackle!
Without hesitation, a thick blue lightning boltabout the size of an oak treeblasted forward!
BOOM!!
The lightning struck the ground, leaving behind a one-meter-wide crater.
Electric sparks slithered across the ground, crackling like restless serpents.
"So powerful!"
Utaha stared at the scene in disbelief, barely registering that she had cast the spell herself.
But...She suddenly felt exhausted...
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed backwardstraight into a firm yet warm embrace.
Lynn caught her, quickly assessing her condition.
It looks like she overexerted herself and completely drained her magic.
Rias stepped forward, examining Utaha before glancing at the crater.
"She should still be a Low-class Devil, right? That last spell probably drained all her magic power."
She stole another glance at the exhausted Utaha and then at the crater in the ground.
Although the spell's power wasn't fully unleashed due to her low magic reserves, the technique itself was flawlessly executed.
No cost, no sacrificesjust recording the spell's information and casting it.
And given what she had seen, Ultimate-class magic wasn't even the limit of this "recording" ability.
Wasn't this... a bit too overpowered?
Suppressing her swirling thoughts, Rias looked at the limp Utaha still leaning against Lynn and suggested:
"Why don't you restore her magic, Lynn?"
"Seems like that's the only option."
Magic restoration?
How was that supposed to work?
With her Magic completely depleted, Utaha could barely speak. She struggled to open her eyes, wanting to see how this "magic restoration" worked.
Then
She saw Lynn's face getting closer.
Wait!
Something's not right!
"Mm?!"
Her lips were suddenly sealed by something warm.
Her body... felt so hot...
And something... was flowing into her...
.
.
.
The so-called "magic restoration" was a method of restoring magical power through the exchange of bodily fluids.
Among Devils, magic restoration was often considered a reward from the master to their servant.
"So... that's why you stuck your tongue out? Right?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka's eyelashes quivered slightly. Her cheeks were burning red, and her lips were tightly pressed together. Her crimson eyes flickered between looking at Lynn and avoiding his gaze entirely.
"To maximize the effectiveness of magic restoration, of course," Lynn responded confidently.
He was being completely serious about restoring her magic.
It's just that... since Utaha had overexerted herself, the intensity of the restoration had to be a bit stronger.
"Oh my, how unexpectedly pure."
Himejima Akeno narrowed her eyes, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
Utaha's body tensed up instantly.
'Wait.'
'Did that mean they had all been watching the whole time?!'
'Social death.'
Utaha was internally losing her mind, but she forced herself to appear calm. Taking a deep breath, she suppressed all her chaotic emotions.
Still... her heart was pounding uncontrollably.
She stole a quick glance at Lynn and muttered under her breath, "Well, I guess my first kiss is his now."
"How are you feeling now?" Rias asked with concern.
"I think... I'm fine?"
Utaha gave a slightly awkward smile.
Rias examined her briefly before nodding with a grin. "Looks like Lynn's magic restoration was quite effective."
Utaha froze.
Did she really have to bring that up?!
Rias, however, wasn't done marveling. "I can't believe Utaha-san was able to master an Ultimate-Class Spell so quickly. What an extraordinary ability."
Just this single power alone gave Utaha immense potential.
Once she fully grew into it, she could easily rival Akeno.
Even Rias herself was envious of such a servant.
Hearing this, Utaha finally recalled what she had just done and turned her gaze toward the crater left behind by the Lightning Strike.
She fell into thought. "It's powerful, but I feel like it's still lacking something."
That was why she had poured all her remaining magic into that one attack.
"Of course."
As a lightning specialist, Akeno explained, "A fully unleashed Lightning Strike can affect the weather itself. Right now, Utaha-san, your magic power isn't enough to bring out its full potential."
"I see..."
Utaha nodded in understanding.
As an Ultimate-Class Spell, the technique was complete, but she couldn't yet wield its full might.
Still... this was good enough.
Lynn raised a finger, and a tiny, black lightning snake danced at his fingertip.
The moment Utaha's Devil's Grimoire recorded the Lightning Strike, Lynn had silently mastered it as well.
As a High-Class Devil, he could do much more with it.
For exampleSilent Lightning.
No sound. No magical fluctuations.
All of its energy locked within this tiny, crackling black spark.
Only when it hit its target would all that destruction be unleashed in an instant.
And so, no one present noticed his actions.
ExceptFor Akeno, whose sensitivity to lightning was unparalleled.
Her violet eyes widened slightly, staring at the black lightning in Lynn's hand in shock.
This lightning it felt like Rias's magic.
Lightning imbued with the aura of destruction
Lynn simply smiled at her before casually dispersing the lightning in his palm.
Akeno, too, smiled faintly and averted her gaze, but her heart was anything but calm.
Even though it was black, the structure of that spell was undoubtedly Lightning Strike.
And the black color wasn't an issue either.
As much as she hated to acknowledge it, her own bloodline had given her lightning that was different from normal.
What confused her wasLynn had only glanced at the spell scroll, hadn't he?
Then why did he already seem so proficient?
That level of mastery over Lightning Strike even she couldn't replicate it.
Lynn Valifer.
The last remaining bloodline of House Valifer.
He was definitely not as simple as he seemed.
Meanwhile
Rias was still deep in thought, sighing with a hint of regret. "Even an Ultimate-Class Spell wasn't enough to test the limits of Utaha-san's ability."
Lynn chuckled. "It's fine. If you ever want to test more, just let me know."
Rias shot him a glare. "No thanks. I already lost an Ultimate-Class Spell. Who knows what I'd have to give up next time."
"Tch. What a shame." Lynn clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Given the Gremory family's resources, he was sure they had more than just one Ultimate-Class Spell.
Not to mention, Rias had a big brother who was a Maou. That was a gold mine waiting to be tapped.
Since he had gotten all he could for now, Lynn prepared to leave.
Before they left, Rias asked Koneko to show them around Kuoh Town.
"So... why are we at an arcade?"
Utaha looked at Lynn and Koneko in disbelief.
"K.O.!"
"Lost again." Koneko stared blankly at the screen as her character collapsed.
"Senpai, you're strong."
Her tone was as flat as ever, but Lynn could hear the sincerity in her voice.
"Hey, haven't you two played enough? If we don't hurry, we'll miss the last train home."
Utaha checked the time, her right leg bouncing impatiently.
For some reason, seeing Lynn and Koneko having so much fun annoyed her.
"You're right." Lynn decided to end the session.
Although he had learned Teleportation Magic, he hadn't placed a coordinate at home yet, so they still needed to take the train.
"See you next time, Koneko."
"Senpai." Koneko tugged at his sleeve and handed him a piece of paper.
It was a summoning contract.
A personal one, exclusive to her. "Senpai, I want to learn martial arts!"
Koneko gazed at him with absolute seriousness.
Lynn glanced at the Street Fighter machine beside them.
Ah.
So that's the kind of "martial arts" she meant.
"No problem. If you ever want, come over to my place."
As they walked away, Utaha crossed her arms and followed closely behind.
"Tsk! Calling her Koneko now, huh."
Lynn gave her a confused look. "Why do I feel like you're jealous?"
"Hah? Me? No way"
Utaha started to retort but then... her mind froze.
Wait.
Was she jealous?
Her gaze flickered to Lynn's lips.
Oh no.
She was falling for him!
But they had only known each other for two days?!
Her mind raced through everything that had happened, lingering on the magic restoration incident. Her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.
"Why'd you stop walking?" Lynn turned back to her.
Utaha snapped out of it, ran up, and grabbed his arm, tilting her head slightly. "Fine. I admit it. I might be a little jealous."
Lynn blinked before laughing. "Well, try to hold back. I am, after all, a harem-building Devil."
"...You really are a lustful Devil, huh."
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.
.
After Lynn and the others left, only Rias and Akeno remained in the clubroom.
"Akeno, what do you think?" Rias had been pondering over Utaha's abilities.
A Sacred Gear user?
But there were no traces of Sacred Gear energy.
As a High-Class Devil, Rias had confidence in her judgment.
Could just a human really awaken such an overpowered ability?
As for awakening abilities after becoming a reincarnated Devil, that thought never even crossed their minds.
After all, there was no precedent for that in the Underworld.
The reincarnation ritual only turned a person into a Devil, at most granting them the abilities associated with their Evil Piece rank.
At the end of the day, Evil Pieces were just tools created to compensate for the dwindling Devil population.
Akeno shook her head. "If even you can't figure it out, there's no way I can."
Rias sighed and muttered, "If only Utaha was my servant"
"With abilities like that, I could've trained her to the point where she could have defeated that damn Firebird's servant before that incident ever happened!"
With the Gremory family's resources, she was confident in this.
Knock knock!
Just as Rias was enviously thinking about Lynn, a knock came at the clubroom door.
"Sona? What brings you here?" Rias was surprised.
Sona glanced around the room before asking, "He was here, wasn't he?"
"Your intel is as sharp as ever." Rias smiled wryly.
Sona replied matter-of-factly, "I am the Student Council President, after all."
"Then you probably also know when he left, don't you?"
"Of course."
Otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to come here now.
Thinking about something, her ears turned slightly red.
Sitting comfortably across from Rias, Sona asked, "So, what did he come here for?"
Rias briefly explained Lynn's purpose, and Sona fell into thought.
"I have some water-based magic spells. Next time he comes by, could you pass them to him for me?"
Rias was silent for a moment before cautiously asking, "Sona don't you think you're paying too much attention to him?"
"He is my fianc."
"Sona! Weren't you planning to break off the engagement?"
"..."
Sona fell silent for a moment before changing the subject. "That keydid you give it to him?"
Rias froze.
Stare
"Ah, sorry, sorry!"
Rias quickly pressed her palms together in apology. "There was so much going on, I completely forgot!"
Sona sighed. "Then give it to him next time along with the magic spells."
Rias nodded awkwardly, deciding not to bring up Sona's growing interest in Lynn topic again.
Tokyo Lynn's Home
Lynn looked at Utaha's suitcase and suddenly asked, "So, we're officially living together now?"
"Having a beautiful girl like me as your roommate is a once-in-a-lifetime blessing. You should be grateful." Utaha snerred.
On their way back, they had stopped by Utaha's place to pick up some essentialstoiletries, clothes, her tablet, and other electronics.
Oh, and as it turned out, her apartment did have a cursed spirit lurking inside.
Utaha casually wiped it out with a flick of her wrist.
After mastering lightning magic, she had become quite arrogantshe barely even considered evil spirits worth her time anymore.
Still, that didn't mean she wanted to live alone in that place.
Once they finished unpacking, Utaha looked at Lynn with anticipation. "Alright, it's time for that, right?"
"Exactly. Take it off."
Lynn's face was completely serious.
Utaha hesitated for a moment, then clenched her teeth, stomped her foot, and took off her outerwear.
"I I don't need to remove my underwear too, right?"
Her cheeks were flushed red as she bit her lip.
"No need! I can still see it clearly." Lynn hesitantly said.
Utaha sighed in relief.
As long as he could see it, that was enough.
Any more than this and
No, even like this, she still felt awkward.
"Seriously, why did you have to engrave such an important thing there?!"
"It was the most convenient spot at the time." Lynn shrugged.
"Besides, didn't you originally want me to put it"
"Not another word!"
Utaha quickly covered Lynn's mouth, glaring at him with eyes full of embarrassment, her face burning bright red.
"It's your fault for saying something so misleading back then!"
"Mmmph" Lynn raised his hands in surrender.
Only after getting her moment of victory did Utaha finally let go.
Using his magic, Lynn forced out a single drop of his blood and let it fall onto Utaha's body. The previously hidden status data of her blessing immediately became visible.
---
[Kasumigaoka Utaha]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 I7
Agility: I0 I5
Endurance: I0 I6
Magic: I0 I133
Innate Skill: [Archivist Devil] (Description omitted)
---
"Your magic stat jumped by over 100not bad at all."
Encouraging her, Lynn copied down her status and handed it to her.
Utaha, however, wasn't pleased. "But the other stats barely went up at all"
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "Tell me, besides that one time you smashed a cursed spirit with a book, have you done any physical activity at all?"
"Uhh"
Utaha was at a loss for words.
Now that she thought about itno, she really hadn't.
Lynn spread his hands. "There's your answer."
"Considering you don't train physically at all, it's already impressive that your other stats increased even a little."
Utaha frowned. "So basically, I'm turning into a glass-cannon mage?"
Unacceptable!
She had to start working out!
If nothing else, she at least needed to increase her agility.
If she ever encountered an enemy she couldn't defeat, she needed to be able to run away!
"Alright! Let's go hunt some cursed spirits and grind experience points!" Utaha, fired up with determination, grabbed Lynn and dragged him outside.
Lynn didn't discourage her enthusiasm.
Even though it was only a tiny amount, he could feel a slight increase in his own magical power from Utaha's blessing update.
For a High-Class Devil like him, it was barely a drop in the ocean.
But small gains added up over time.
And once he had more servants, if each of them improved even a little, it would mean huge benefits for him.
Late Night A Certain Dark Alley
"Lightning!"
"Hey, you need to train your other stats too, you know~"
"D-Damn it!"
"Grimoire Swing!"
Utaha held up her Devil's Grimoire and slammed it into the cursed spirit.
(The Devil's Grimoire: Really? )
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_ _ _ _ _
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Shuchiin Academy
"A club?"
Utaha looked puzzled.
It was Monday, and Lynn and Utaha had arrived at school together. Their presence immediately caught the attention of their classmates.
"Isn't that Utaha-senpai from the second year? Why is she coming to school with Lynn?"
"No way... don't tell me those two are...?"
Utaha was a well-known figure at Shuchiin Academy. With her stunning looks and figure, along with her infamous habit of sleeping in class yet still maintaining top grades, she was practically a legend.
Meanwhile, Lynn, despite being a new student, had already gained popularity among the girls due to his otherworldly good looks and unique aura.
Their sudden appearance together naturally caused a stir. But neither of them paid any attention to the whispers around them.
Utaha, still curious, asked, "Why do you suddenly want to start a club?"
"Rias suggested it," Lynn explained. "She said that if I'm going to build a peerage, I should establish a base where we can gather and operate more efficiently."
Utaha thought for a moment and realized it made sense.
Right now, Lynn only had her as a servant, so it wasn't much of an issue. Plus, she was already living with him. But as the peerage grew, it would be inconvenient for everyone to always gather at his house.
She imagined a packed household full of people and immediately agreed. "As expected of the Devil princess, she really thinks things through."
Lynn nodded.
His priority was recruiting more members for his peerage. Thanks to this being a crossover anime world, Shuchiin Academy was filled with talented individuals who would make excellent servants. Having a club would make it easier to attract them.
"Have you decided on a name for the club?" Utaha asked.
"Hmm..." Lynn thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "How about the Service Club?"
Utaha stopped walking and gave him a complex look. "I have to say... that name suits you perfectly."
The Service Clubserving whom?
The answer was obvious.
Utaha felt that no name could be more fitting. After all, this was a club for a Devil and his servants.
"So you approve?" Lynn smirked.
"But wait just in case someone else takes the name first, we should have a backup." Lynn continued.
Utaha scoffed, "Who in their right mind would pick such a name?"
"You never know," Lynn shrugged. "This world is full of crossover characters."
Lynn was thinking of someone. "What if Yukinoshita Yukino is in this school too?"
"Alright, fine," Utaha relented. "What's the backup name?"
"Supernatural Research Club."
"You're literally just copying Rias' club!" Utaha was surprised at how bad Lynn's naming sense was.
Lynn frowned. "Should I come up with another one just in case"
"No need!" Utaha cut him off. "The Service Club is more than enough. There's no way anyone else would use such a ridiculous name!"
3:00 PM Faculty Office
"The Service Club? That club already exists."
"..."
Utaha was stunned as if she'd been struck by lightning.
"Wait... that weird and suspicious name actually belongs to a real club?!"
"You think it's weird, yet you also wanted to use it," a black-clad girl in gothic lolita fashion commented from behind the desk.
Sat on the other side of the office was Natsuki Minamiya, the teacher in charge of club registrations.
Utaha felt like she could read the unspoken words behind her gaze.
She awkwardly smiled and looked away.
Lynn, on the other hand, wasn't too surprised. Instead, this confirmed the existence of Yukinoshita Yukino in this world.
"In that case, we'll go with our backup namethe Supernatural Research Club."
"That name also suits you perfectly," Natsuki Minamiya remarked as she stamped the application form.
"Just remember," she added, "a club needs at least three members. Make sure to recruit one more soon, or the school will reclaim the clubroom."
"Thanks, Natsuki-chan."
"I told you not to add '-chan' to my name!" Natsuki Minamiya glared at him.
On the Way to the Clubroom
"So... Pervert-kun, you and Natsuki-sensei seem pretty close?" Utaha asked curiously.
Pervert-kun...?
Lynn shot a glance at this disrespectful servant but answered anyway. "She was one of my former clients."
"Clients? You mean for that exorcism business you mentioned before?"
Lynn nodded. "Yeah."
Utaha finally understood. "See? The Supernatural Research Club is actually a perfect fit for you."
She failed to notice one key detailNatsuki had used the word also.
That meant, in her mind, both club names suited Lynn. Natsuki Minamiya knew he was a Devil.
"By the way, there are quite a few spirits roaming the school." Utaha casually mentioned.
"But they're all weaklings. Not worth bothering with."
"Normal people can't even see them, anyway."
Clubroom
Clatter
Lynn opened the door to their newly assigned clubroom.
A wave of dust greeted them.
"How long has this place been abandoned?" Utaha coughed, waving the dust away.
She glanced around and nodded in approval. "It's filthy, but at least it has all the desks and chairs."
Then she noticed something in the corner.
A small, shriveled spirit was squatting there, looking weak and pitiful.
Lynn saw it too.
"Alright, time for the first club activitycleaning up our headquarters."
"Oh, and dealing with the trash." He gestured at the ghost.
"...I knew it." Utaha sighed.
Her body moved on instinct at Lynn's command.
This was the perfect time to use magic.
She shut the door.
A flash of white light filled the room.
"Magic: Cleanse!"
In an instant, the room was spotless.
The spirit vanished silently, without a trace.
Utaha stretched and smirked. "Magic is so convenient."
Lynn, now comfortably seated, announced their next objective.
"Time for our second club activityrecruiting new members."
"Leave it to me," Utaha said confidently.
She summoned her Devil's Grimoire and flipped through the pages.
"Magic: Poster Creation!"
After putting up a recruitment poster on the bulletin board, Utaha clapped her hands in satisfaction. "All done!"
Then she noticed a black-haired girl staring at the sign.
"Hmm...Supernatural Research Club..."
Miko Yotsuya read the name and immediately thought of the spirits haunting her daily life.
She had tried everythingbuying prayer beads, visiting shrinesbut nothing worked. A mere student club wouldn't be able to help her.
She turned to leave.
But Utaha stepped in front of her with a knowing smile.
"Hey, wanna join?" she asked.
"You look like someone who really needs our help."
Miko froze.
"...!"
.
.
.
Utaha sized up the timid-looking girl in front of her, a knowing smile curling on her lips.
Ever since becoming a Devil, her sensitivity toward certain supernatural occurrences had heightened. If one observed closely, they could see that whenever this girl's gaze landed on a curse spirit, her body would noticeably tense up.
'This girl... can see them.'
Utaha quickly reached a conclusion.
The ability to see curse spiritsthis was definitely a special talent.
And perhaps, just perhaps, she was exactly the kind of recruit Lynn needed for his peerage.
This girl had to be brought to him.
Despite her sharp tongue, Utaha had quickly embraced her role as Lynn's servant after becoming his peerage member. Since Lynn needed to expand his ranks, it was only natural for her to do her part and help him.
"So, how about it? Want to come take a look?" Utaha extended the invitation to Yotsuya Miko.
Miko hesitated.
Her instincts told her that this so-called Supernatural Research Club was probably no different from the shrines she had visited beforejust another place that couldn't solve her problem.
But that one sentence from Utaha lingered in her mind.
'You look like someone who really needs our help?'
Why had she said that?
Had she noticed something?
Seeing Miko's hesitation, Utaha knew she had won.
Hesitation meant she was already considering it.
She just needed a little push.
Without waiting for a response, Utaha grabbed Miko's arm and made the decision for her.
"Alright then, let's go."
"Huh?!"
Slam
The door to the Supernatural Research Club swung open.
"President, I may have... abducted someone."
Utaha stepped aside, revealing Yotsuya Miko standing timidly behind her.
Miko cautiously scanned the room and let out a breath of relief.
A space free of curse spirits! A sanctuary!
Lynn glanced at Miko and immediately recognized the opportunity before him.
"Nice work, Utaha-beast!"
"Oh?" Utaha raised an eyebrow. "And what's my reward?"
"How about some Magic restoration?"
At the mention of 'this,' Utaha's face flushed as certain past memories surfaced.
Still, she didn't refuse. Instead, she smirked and said, "I'll save it for later. When I need it, I'll come collect."
Lynn gave her a surprised look.
Was it just him, or was Utaha getting bolder around him?
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Turning his attention back to Miko, he pulled out a form and handed it to her.
"Miko-san, please fill this out."
Miko blinked in surprise. "Huh? You know my name?"
"Of course."
But Lynn didn't offer any explanation.
Miko hesitated for a moment before taking a seat and accepting the form.
Since she was already here might as well see what it was about.
Then she glanced at the title.
Supernatural Research Club Membership Application?
She froze.
She never said she wanted to join!
"Um" Miko was about to refuse when Lynn suddenly spoke in a low, ominous tone.
"Miko-san you can see them, can't you?"
"Eh?"
"EHHHH?!"
Miko's body stiffened like a statue, her pupils trembling in sheer terror.
Could it beThat this handsome young man in front of her was actually a disguised evil spirit?!
Was this whole 'Supernatural Research Club' just a ploy to lure her in?!
Tears welled up in her eyes, and her face took on a pitiful expression, as if she was on the verge of crying.
Her thighs trembled uncontrollably, and something might have leaked a little.
She desperately wanted to do what she always didpretend she saw nothing.
ButShe was holding the application form!
It was over.
Miko's life was about to end.
'Guess this is it for me...'
Lynn stared at Miko, his expression turning strange.
Even Utaha, standing beside him, couldn't help but glance toward Miko's thighs.
Sometimes, a Devil's sense of smell was way too sharp
'Did she just pee herself?'
Lynn and Utaha exchanged silent looks.
"Relax, Miko-san. We're not spirits."
But Miko wasn't listening anymore.
Or rather, she couldn't listen anymore.
Oh, sure! He says he's not a spirit!
But evil spirits could lie! They did lie!
"You might not know me, but surely you've heard of Kasumigaoka Utaha?"
"Kasumigaoka Utaha?" Miko blinked in confusion.
Come to think of it, she had recognized her face earlier
"Wait You mean that Sleeping Beauty?!"
Utaha's eye twitched, and she subconsciously curled her toes in embarrassment.
Being called that title to her face was utterly mortifying.
'Ah, crap!'
Miko realized too late that she had said it out loud.
She cautiously peeked at Lynn and Utaha, relieved to find that neither of them had suddenly transformed into monsters.
Maybe just maybe she had been mistaken?
If they were truly evil spirits, she wouldn't still be standing here, right?
Calming down slightly, Miko replayed everything in her head.
But she still couldn't help but ask in a tiny voice, "You're really not an evil spirit, mister?"
"Of course not!" Lynn assured her firmly.
Miko let out a breath of relief.
"We're Devils, after all. No way we'd be confused with those garbage curse spirits."
"D-Devils?!"
Miko, who had just started to relax, froze up all over again.
And with a voice on the verge of tears, she wailed, "That's even worse!!!"
.
.
.
Sinister, cunning, terrifying, evil.
Manipulating people, corrupting them, tormenting humans for fun.
The bringers of disaster.
These were Miko's preconceived concepts about devils.
When Lynn said they were devils, she had her doubts, wondering if they were just trying to scare her.
But as someone who had witnessed the truth of the world firsthand
Evil spirits exist, so the existence of devils isn't that far-fetched either!
"Alright, President, stop scaring her," Utaha interjected, seeing Miko trembling in fear. She didn't want Lynn to traumatize the girl too much.
'It's Utaha-senpai!'
Miko swore this was the sweetest voice she had ever heard in her life.
So, so it was all just a joke?
Devils don't actually exist, right?
Relieved, Miko shot a grateful look at Utaha, her nerves easing up a bit.
Lynn simply shrugged. "Fine."
"So, do you want to join the Supernatural Research Club?"
Miko steadied her breathing and looked down at the club application form in her hands.
When she first arrived, she had no intention of joining.
But then there was that one sentence"Miko-san, you can see them?"
She couldn't get it out of her head!
"Um"
Lynn gave a simple introduction. "Just call me Lynn. Like you, I'm a first-year at Shuchi'in Academy."
"Alright, Lynn-san," Miko nodded before hesitantly asking, "Lynn-san can you also see them?"
"Of course."
Lynn nodded without hesitation. "Why do you think the Supernatural Research Club exists?"
As expected!
Miko's eyes lit up. It felt like she had finally found someone who understood herlike she had found hope. Eagerly, she asked, "Then Lynn-san, do you have a way to deal with them?"
One misstep, and she would be in danger.
She couldn't keep living in constant fear!
"A way?"
"Mhm!" Miko nodded and looked at Lynn expectantly.
Lynn smirked. "Of course."
YES!!
Hearing the answer she desperately wanted, Miko felt like jumping for joy.
Finally!
Finally, she was going to
Miko immediately stood up and bowed deeply. "Please! Let me return to "
"Just kill them, and that problem is solved."
Lynn and Miko spoke at the same time.
For a brief moment, the clubroom fell into silence.
Lynn stared at Miko, completely speechless.
After a pause, Miko stiffly looked up at Lynn's calm expression and stammered, "K-Kill them?"
Those evil spirits?
Her?
No way, no way, no way!
That's impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
"As I said before," Lynn continued, staring at Miko. "Do you want to join the Supernatural Research Club?"
"Or rather, Miko-sando you want to become my servant?"
Miko fell silent for a moment before cautiously asking, "If I join the club I'll be able to kill evil spirits?"
"Of course."
Lynn gave a firm answer.
Could this really work?
Miko wasn't sure.
She had never seen anyone actually manage to kill an evil spirit before.
But
She didn't have any other options.
Might as well trust Lynn!
Like a drowning person grasping at a straw, she didn't want to let this chance slip away.
Besides, it was just joining a clubwhat did she have to lose?
She instinctively ignored the word servant, assuming it was just another way of saying club member.
"Alright, I'll join!"
Miko's gaze was firm.
Lynn smiled. "Welcome to the Supernatural Research Club, Miko-san!"
"Oh, by the way" Just as Miko was about to smile, Lynn continued, "Devils are real, you know."
Miko froze, then pouted. "Lynn-san, you're still trying to scare me."
Lynn didn't replyhe just grinned and then
His back twitched unnaturally.
Riiip! Two holes tore open in his Shuchiin Academy uniform near his waist.
A pair of black wings unfolded.
Whoosh
A powerful gust of wind swirled through the clubroom as his wings flapped.
Miko's pupils dilated in shock.
''A a devil?!''
The moment Lynn revealed his devil wings, Miko's brain completely shut down.
Lynn folded his arms, resting his chin on his hands, his crimson eyes gleaming with a mysterious glow. "Miko-san, now that you've seen my true identity, you can't run away anymore~"
'If I refused would he kill me to keep the secret?'
He would, wouldn't he?
He definitely would, right?!
Tears welled up in Miko's eyes as she screamed internally.
Then, without hesitation, she dropped to her knees in the most perfect dogeza of her life.
"Please command me, my Devil Lord!!"
"Recruiting servants sure is a straightforward process." Utaha gave Lynn a knowing look.
Lynn simply shrugged before conjuring a devil's chess piece.
"Well then, pick a spot on your bodyI'll be inserting this into you."
Seeing Lynn take out the chess piece, Utaha's eye twitched slightly.
Miko looked up with a tearful smile, her voice trembling. "U-Um Devil Lord, may I ask what is that?"
"A reincarnation ritual," Lynn explained. "You'll be reborn as a devil and awaken supernatural powers."
"With those powers, evil spirits will be nothing more than pests for you to crush."
Miko blinked.
So this was the way to kill evil spirits?
She would have to abandon her humanity and become a devil?
She stole another glance at Lynn's wings and sighed internally.
It seemed like there was no other choice.
Surprisingly, once she made up her mind, she found she wasn't as reluctant as she thought she'd be.
Now that she thought about it
Rather than staying human and continuing to live in fear, wouldn't it be better to become a devil and gain supernatural powers?
Besides
Lynn, though a devil, had only revealed his identity after she agreed to join the club.
If she had refused back then, he probably would have just let her go.
Not to mention, he had actually warned her once before.
She had just chosen not to believe him.
After mentally preparing herself, Miko's gaze grew resolute.
She was going to become a devil!
.
.
.
"Have you made your decision?"
Yotsuya Miko clenched her fists and nodded firmly.
Lynn reminded her, "Once you become a Devil, your life belongs to me. You'll have to serve me for eternity."
S-Serve?!
Miko's face suddenly flushed as her pupils trembled violently.
Here it comes!
The price of making a deal with a Devil!
She stole a glance at Lynn.
Hmm... it doesn't seem too bad?
Even if he's a Devil, he's really handsome!
And since she had already made up her mind, there was no room for hesitation now!
"N-No problem."
Though she was determined inside, she couldn't help but feel shy when she said it out loud.
After all, serving him... sounded so embarrassing!
Lynn toyed with the Devil piece in his hand, the corners of his mouth curving into a slight smirk. "Then let's begin the reincarnation ritual."
"Ah, yes!"
Miko immediately straightened up, suddenly feeling a wave of nervousness.
What exactly would the ritual be like?
Oh, right!
Didn't she have to choose a spot on her body?
She quickly looked herself over, as if deciding on the best location.
Utaha, watching her, couldn't help but offer some advice. "I suggest your back. Based on my experience, that's the best spot."
If Lynn hadn't made the decision for her, she would have chosen there too.
Lynn nodded in agreement.
After dealing with Utaha, he finally understood why the gods in DanMachi engraved blessings on the back.
"Alright, my back then."
Miko quickly followed the advice and blinked. "Then what?"
Lynn gave a bright, sunny smile and said, "Take off your top."
"Huh? H-Huh?!"
Miko's eyes widened as her face turned an even deeper shade of red, her hands flailing in panic.
Wait, what?
Was it already time for that part of the deal?!
S-She wasn't ready yet!
Miko's mind spiraled into chaos.
Utaha facepalmed. She saw this coming.
Miko's reaction made it painfully obviousshe had completely misunderstood.
Unable to watch any longer, Utaha quickly reassured her, "Relax. He just needs to see your back."
Hearing that, Miko finally calmed down.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and reopened them.
Her face was still flushed, but she had clearly regained her composure.
"I understand."
Miko slowly turned around, facing away from Lynn, and removed her top.
She hugged it to her chest, covering herself as much as possible, revealing only her smooth, pale back.
"S-Should I undo the strap?"
Miko's voice trembled slightly.
Exposing her back like this to a boy she had just met
So embarrassing!
Lynn thought for a moment, then decided it might obstruct his view. "Yeah, undo it."
Miko's body tensed, but after taking another deep breath, she slowly reached behind her.
Click.
The strap came undone, and the fabric slid down slightly.
If one looked closely, they could even see a faint curve at the sides.
Not making her wait too long, Lynn pressed the Devil piece against Miko's back.
A cold sensation spread over her skin, making Miko shudder.
Like ripples on a lake, the Devil piece slowly sank into her body upon contact.
Thump!
Miko's pupils dilated as the sound of her heartbeat echoed through the room.
Something was awakening inside her!
At the same time, changes appeared on her back.
Lines of text materialized:
---
[Yotsuya Miko]
Tier: Low Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Innate Abilities: [Spirit Sight] & [Spirit Devil]
[Spirit Sight]
Spirit Vision
Increased Magic Growth Rate
[Spirit Devil]
Special Attack against Spiritual Entities
Forced Control over Spirits
Spirit Absorption
Devil Transformation (linked to Spirit Absorption, unleashing stored power)
"Spirit Devil fits her perfectly."
Lynn glanced at the data and smiled, mentally saving the information.
His second servant, acquired! And another special Devil at that.
Utaha also leaned in for a look.
"Spirit Devil..."
Her abilities seemed more varied than her own, but as a "Archivist Devil," she refused to think she was inferior!
What caught Utaha's attention the most, though, was the ability above Spirit Devil.
Unlike that one, which came from her Devil reincarnation, Spirit Sight seemed to be an ability Miko had possessed all along.
Recalling that she herself had only gained one ability after reincarnation, Utaha felt complicated emotions.
Miko was clearly more talented than her...
But as she saw the pleased expression on Lynn's face, she let go of those thoughts.
At least she was the one who brought Miko here.
That means she helped Lynn, right?
With that in mind, Utaha's mood brightened again.
Once the ritual was complete, Miko was left in a daze. She clenched her fists and felt the newfound strength in her body.
Way stronger than when she was human!
She also felt a strange itch at her lower back and waist.
Miko had a guessit was probably her Devil wings.
Not only that, but she also felt an itch at the base of her spine.
Could it be a Devil's tail?
"You're about to flash everyone~"
Utaha, seeing Miko so focused on her body's changes that she let her top slip, teased her with a deadpan tone.
Ah!
Miko yelped in her mind, quickly hugging her top and fumbling to put it back on.
Utaha sighed, reached out, and fastened the strap for her with a click.
Once she was fully dressed, Miko blushed and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senpai!"
Utaha waved a hand dismissively. "We're both part of the same peerage now. Helping each other is only natural."
Meanwhile, Lynn received a notification.
[Ding! You have acquired the servant 'Yotsuya Miko'!]
[Ding! Your servant 'Yotsuya Miko' has reincarnated as a special Devil: 'Spirit Devil'!]
[Ding! You have gained the abilities 'Spirit Sight' and 'Spirit Devil'!]
[Ding! Your power has increased!]
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Also, advanced chapters are available at: patreon.com/_Coreal
(Bonus chapter for the first 100 stones!)
Thanks for your support! I hope you enjoy reading this story.
Lynn opened his status panel.
[Lynn Valifer]
Race: Devil
Rank: High-Class Devil
Authority: None
Peerage: Kasumigaoka Utaha, Yotsuya Miko
Skills: 'Evil Pieces,' 'Devil's Grimoire,' 'Archivist Devil,' 'Spirit Sight,' 'Spirit Devil'
---
Nothing much had changed, except for the addition of Yotsuya Miko in the peerage section and two new skillsSpirit Sight and Spirit Devil.
For Spirit SightOther than his vision feeling a little clearer, Lynn didn't notice any significant changes from acquiring this skill. As a devil, he could already see spirits and supernatural entities without issue.
However, what this skill did tell him was that Miko's Spirit Sight was at an incredibly high level.
Shifting his attention to Spirit Devil, Lynn's eyes gleamed. This ability was practically a spirit's worst nightmare! It was clear just how much resentment Miko had built up toward spirits over time.
As for his rank, he was still a High-Class Devil.
Despite the system notification about his increased power, Miko was only a Low-Class Devil, so the boost wasn't too significant.
When Utaha had been reincarnated, Lynn had already reached the threshold of Middle-Class Devil, which had allowed him to ascend straight to High-Class. But to level up again that would take more work.
"What if I recruited Natsuki-chan into my peerage?"
The thought crossed Lynn's mind. His Devil's Piece-granted blessing system was similar to the Danmachi world's Falna, yet the two were fundamentally different.
For instance, Falna used the Lv1, Lv2 system, whereas his system categorized ranks as Low-Class, Middle-Class, High-Class Devils, etc.
Both systems shared a common trait in that newly reincarnated devils started with I0 stats, but in Lynn's case, not every member began as a Low-Class Devil.
If he were to reincarnate Natsuki, Lynn had a feeling her rank might start at High-Class, or perhaps even higher.
That alone would grant him a tremendous power boost.
ButRecruiting Natsuki wouldn't be easy. This would take time.
Besides, while Miko and Utaha were still Low-Class, with his blessing system, their growth was only a matter of time.
Temporarily setting those thoughts aside, Lynn turned to see Miko adjusting her clothes.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
Miko's eyes sparkled. "I feel amazing!"
Ever since becoming a devil, her body felt lighter, her mind clearer, and even her confidence had skyrocketed!
Right now, she was itching to test her new powers on an evil spirit.
Seeing this, Lynn handed her a sheet of paper.
Miko looked at it, puzzled. "What's this?"
"Your blessing data."
Lynn briefly explained the Falna-like system of his peerage.
Once she understood, Miko carefully examined the details.
Low-Class Devil.
"So I'm at the bottom tier of devils, huh"
Well, at least that meant plenty of room for improvement. Miko was pretty optimistic about it.
She glanced at her stats. i0 across the board. Well, that was normal for beginners.
Then she scrolled down andSpirit Sight.
"So this is the damn thing responsible for me seeing ghosts, huh?"
Miko's feelings were complicated.
Thanks to this ability, she had lived a very stressful and very terrifying life.
If she hadn't been reincarnated, who knew how much longer she would've had to endure it?
Shaking her head, she continued reading.
The moment she saw the next skill, her eyes lit up like high-beam headlights.
Spirit Devil!
"I love this skill!"
Miko was now desperate to find an evil spirit to test her new powers on.
"Lynn-sama, when are we going to start grinding levels?!"
She looked up at him, eyes sparkling like a cat begging for treats.
Her way of addressing him had also changed naturallyfrom Lynn-san to Lynn-sama.
Lynn smiled, patting her head gently before pointing at the sun outside.
"If you don't mind exposing your devil identity to humans, then we can go right now."
"Uh"
Feeling the warmth of his touch, Miko's ears turned red, and her excitement simmered down a little.
"L-Let's wait until night, then."
---
Meanwhile
Utaha, who had been writing in her Devil's Grimoire, briefly paused when she saw this affectionate master-servant interaction.
Then, as if nothing had happened, she resumed writing.
Only this time she was pressing her pen against the page way harder than necessary.
(Devil's Grimoire: .)
"Failed."
Utaha finished writing and casually stepped between Lynn and Miko, handing her Grimoire to Lynn.
Lynn flipped through it.
It contained records of Miko's two abilities.
They had tested whether Utaha's Archivist Devil skill could record and replicate these new abilities.
The result was clear: it couldn't.
"As expected."
Neither Lynn nor Utaha were surprised.
After all, Archivist Devil was described as a skill that recorded learnable magic and techniques.
Spirit Sight and Spirit Devil, however, were unique innate abilities awakened upon reincarnation.
They weren't something that could simply be copied or learned.
Lynn patted Utaha's head. "No worries. Archivist Devil is already plenty strong."
"I-I don't need comforting"
She said that, but she didn't pull away from the head pats, either.
Miko, on the other hand, wasn't paying much attention to their interaction.
She had peeked at the Devil's Grimoire and curiously asked, "What's this?"
"My awakened ability," Utaha replied matter-of-factly.
Since she had read Miko's abilities, it was only fair that she shared hers as well.
Miko was amazed. "That's awesome"
Utaha simply shrugged.
Archivist Devil was awesome, after all.
With that settled, Miko filled out her Club membership form and exchanged contact information with Lynn and Utaha.
Once Lynn added her to the peerage group chat, she stared at the group name with a weird expression.
So she was one of the harem.
What surprised her even more was that, aside from Lynn, the only members were herself and Utaha.
Which meant once the peerage grew, she would be one of the founding members?!
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, she continued discussing plans with Lynn-sama and Utaha-senpai for tonight's training session.
However
"I feel like I'm forgetting something"
Miko muttered to herself.
---
Meanwhile
At the main entrance of the school building
Yurikawa Hana: "Where's Miko?"
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[Miko: Sorry, sorry! Something came up, and I totally forgot about you.]
[Hana: Hmph! Miko, you're mean!]
[Miko: I'll buy you daifuku tomorrow as an apology!]
[Hana: Two of them!]
[Miko: No problem!!]
---
After apologizing to Hana by messages, Miko finally let out a sigh of relief.
"This should be a good spot."
Lynn stopped in front of a deserted alleyway.
Hearing him, Miko put her phone back into her shoulder bag.
It was a dark, windy nightperfect for exorcising evil spirits!
Lynn scanned the area, picking the weakest curse spirit for Miko to practice on.
"That one should do." He pointed toward a spirit lurking ahead to the right.
Miko followed his gaze.
It was a bloated, greasy-looking spirit.
She took a deep breath and then stepped forward with determined strides toward the disgusting entity.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself, as she got closer, she couldn't help but feel tense. Her breathing instinctively grew quieter, and her scalp tingled.
To her, spirits had always been the stuff of nightmares.
Overcoming that fear was no easy task.
Emotions flashed through her mind one by one.
Finally, she stood face-to-face with the grotesque spirit.
"Can you see me?"
"Can you see me?"
Time to end this.
Farewell, Mr. Evil Spirit!
With unwavering eyes, Miko locked gazes with the greasy spirit.
The spirit froze for a moment before its expression visibly twisted into excitement. "You can see me! You can see me!!"
"That's right! I can see you!"
"Ah~ I've always wanted to say that~"
Miko suddenly felt a wave of satisfaction wash over her.
The spirit hesitated again, seemingly surprised.
It had never encountered such a fearless human before.
But it didn't think too much about itits grotesque mouth twisted into a grin as it let out a shrill roar. "I'll eat you! I'll eat you!!"
"Eat me? More like, eat this bag!"
Miko had no intention of dirtying her hands.
With a swift motion, she hurled her shoulder bag straight at the spirit, embedding it with magical energy as it flew.
Zzzzt
The moment the spirit came into contact with the bag, it reacted as if it had just met its natural predator. It only had time to let out a miserable scream before vanishing instantly.
Miko blinked, momentarily stunned. "That was... really easy."
A natural counter to spiritual beings.
In mere seconds, the spirit had been completely obliterated.
She hadn't even used much magic.
Glancing down at her bag, she muttered, "Huh. Are spirits actually this weak?"
"This one was just weak," Lynn reminded her. "Spirits have different ranks, and this was clearly a low-level one."
"I see."
Miko scratched her cheek, dialing back her overconfidence.
"That said, with your current power, dealing with most spirits shouldn't be a problem."
Lynn reassured her before continuing, "Now, let's try out some of your other abilities as a Devil."
"Yes, Master Lynn!"
"Forced Spirit Control"
Miko took a deep breath and focused her magic.
A nearby spirit's gaze dulled, and in an instant, she took control of it.
"I did it!"
Excited, she directed it to attack another spirit.
Roar!!
The two spirits immediately lunged at each other.
Seeing this, Miko took control of a few more spirits and sent them to gang up on the unfortunate target.
The besieged spirit was utterly dumbfounded.
Under the merciless beating of its fellow spirits, it quickly perished.
Miko exhaled slightly and reported, "Right now, I can only control about ten spirits at once."
'Low-level spirits.' Lynn mentally added the missing detail.
"That's already impressive," he said, clapping his hands in encouragement.
Miko could only control ten low-level spirits, but as for him? He could do much more.
After all, he was a high-ranking Devil.
Once Miko had rested for a bit, they moved on to testing another ability of her "Spirit Devil" skill.
Miko gathered the ten spirits together. Her eyes flashed as she parted her lips.
"Spirit Absorption!"
"Aaaaaaahhhh!!"
The spirits let out agonized wails as their bodies distorted, twisting toward a single point as if sucked into a black hole. They were compressed into small, crystal-clear purple beads.
Miko picked up one of them.
A moment later, it decayed like sand blowing in the wind.
Miko blinked, focusing on how she felt before hesitantly saying, "I think... nothing really changed?"
She absorbed the remaining nine beads one by one but still felt no difference.
Lynn rubbed his chin in thought.
"Alright, that's enough for today."
With that, a magic circle flickered beneath their feet, enveloping Miko and Utaha in its glow.
"Huh?"
Miko barely had time to react before they vanished from the alley.
Lynn's Home
A violet glow flickered in the living room.
The three of them appeared instantly.
Miko's eyes widened in amazement. "That was... incredible!"
In just a blink, they had arrived in an unfamiliar place!
Utaha, on the other hand, wasn't fazed. Having visited Kuoh Town, she was already used to Devil magic.
She even took a moment to explain things to Miko.
But Miko was more interested in something else.
"So this is Master Lynn's home?"
She eagerly looked around.
Utaha: "..."
I just explained an entire teleportation spell, and that's all you got from it!?
Of course, Lynn hadn't brought Miko here just to admire his house.
"Miko, take off your clothes."
"...Again?" Miko was briefly startled but obediently started undressing.
After all, she had already gone through this before.
Utaha made a guess. "Updating her blessing, huh..."
A drop of Lynn's blood fell onto Miko's back.
---
[Yotsuya Miko]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 I1
Agility: I0 I2
Endurance: I0 I1
Magic: I0 I9
Skills: [Spirit Sight] & [Spirit Devil]
---
"As expected..."
Her stats had increased by 13 points, likely 10 from Spirit Absorption alone.
Even her physical stats had improved.
Spirit Absorption? Nah it's EXP pills?
Lynn's expression turned strange.
This ability... might be a little overpowered.
If she consumed a high-ranking curse spirit, would she skyrocket in strength?
There had to be a limit, right?
They needed more testing.
After copying down her updated stats, Miko got dressed and checked them over.
"Wow, my stats went up so fast! And even my strength increased?" She flexed her arms, confused.
Was it from swinging her bag?
"It must be 'Spirit Absorption,'" Utaha concluded.
Catching onto the nature of Miko's ability, she muttered enviously, "What a ridiculous skill..."
At that moment, Miko's phone rang.
"Oh no! I forgot to check in with Mom!"
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At the Yotsuya residence.
"Thank you for bringing me back, Lynn-sama!"
Yotsuya Miko stood at the doorstep, bowing slightly as she thanked Lynn.
Lynn waved it off. "No problem. I needed to come here to set a teleportation marker anyway."
"Um..." Miko hesitated for a moment before lowering her voice. "Would you... like to come in for a bit?"
Lynn glanced at the slightly opening door behind her and chuckled. "I think you'd better explain the situation to your mother first."
"Ah..." Miko stiffened and slowly turned her head, only to see the door had indeed been left open just a crack.
With a resigned sigh, she muttered, "Alright."
"Well then, see you tomorrow." Lynn gave a casual wave before stepping away and disappearing in a flash.
"Miikooo"
Miko's neck shrank in reflex.
Standing behind her was her mother, Yotsuya Touko, who sighed dramatically. "So this is why my dear Miko came home so late... She was out on a date with her boyfriend."
"Poor, poor Mom. I waited for you, even let the food go cold, and now I'm still starving..."
"I'M SORRY, MOM!" Miko apologized immediately, bowing deeply.
Touko grinned. "Alright! I'll forgive you... but next time, bring your boyfriend over for a visit!"
"Huh?!"
The Next Day
Supernatural Research Club
Miko arrived a little later than usual.
After leaving Hana behind yesterday, she had promised to make it up to her, so they had gone out for daifuku together. Only after parting ways with Hana did Miko rush back to school.
"I really need to learn Teleportation magic..." she thought to herself, recalling how effortlessly Lynn had teleported the night before.
During class, she had asked about it in the "Lynn's Harem Chat Group." However, when Utaha-Senpai sent her a massive wall of complicated theoretical knowledge, Miko immediately gave up.
"Yeah, nope. I'm just not cut out for studying..."
Standing outside the clubroom, she let out a small sigh of defeat before pushing the door open.
Inside, Lynn was seated by the window with his eyes closed, lost in thought.
To his side, Utaha was tapping away furiously on her tablet.
However, what truly caught Miko's attention was the massive, grotesque spirit in the middle of the roomso large that its head nearly touched the ceiling. And it was... tied up?
"Yiiaaaaa!!"
The bloated spirit let out an ear-piercing shriek.
Miko quickly stepped into the room and slammed the door shut behind her.
The speed at which she moved made it clear she was afraid the spirit's screams would echo throughout the entire school.
"Relax. Normal people can't see or hear it," Lynn said, opening his eyes.
Of course, that didn't mean Natsuki wouldn't send him a message complaining about the noise later.
Miko sighed in realization. "Ah, right..." She scratched her cheek awkwardly, then turned to the massive spirit. "Uh... so... what's the deal with this thing?"
She wasn't sure what to make of this situation.
Since when did the Supernatural Research Club... start abducting spirits?
If this had happened just a day earlier, she never would have believed it.
"This is a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit," Lynn explained. "Use Spirit Absorption on it, Miko."
"Oh! Right!" Miko quickly snapped to attention.
So this was an experimentto see just how effective her Spirit Absorption ability really was.
Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand, palm facing the spirit, and commanded firmly:
"Spirit Absorption!"
A hum resonated through the air as her magic activated.
The spirit's body began to ripple.
"AAAAA!!"
Sensing danger, it started thrashing wildly, desperately trying to break free from its bindings.
But... that was all it could do.
Lynn observed Miko closely as she started to breathe heavily.
"A Grade 2 Cursed Spirit... It's still a bit much for her right now."
Moreover, it wasn't even turning into an experience orb for her.
"That's enough," Lynn said, stopping Miko before she exhausted herself like Utaha had before.
Though, he wouldn't exactly mind helping his subordinates recover their magic in other ways...
"Haaah..." Miko exhaled, stopping her magic. Seeing that the spirit remained unchanged, she looked down in disappointment. "I'm sorry, Lynn-sama. I'm too weakI couldn't even weaken it."
Lynn simply patted her shoulder. "It's fine."
"Honestly, this is the expected result."
If there were no restrictions, he could just bring over a Special-Grade Cursed Spirit for Miko to absorb, and she'd level up like crazy.
Stepping closer to the bound spirit, Lynn casually patted it. "Alright, you're useless now."
The magic ropes binding the spirit instantly tightened.
"ARGHHH!!"
With one last scream, the spirit was crushed and exploded into nothingness!
Unnoticed by the others, tiny dust-like particles drifted toward Lynn, absorbing into him.
Spirit Absorption.
Unlike Miko, who compressed spirits into purple orbs before absorbing them, Lynn could directly absorb them as they dispersed.
He closed his eyes and felt it.
His power had indeed increased.
Though, not as much as when Utaha and Miko had turned into devils under his command.
After all, every time his subordinates grew stronger, he also received a portion of that power.
If he really wanted to boost his strength, the best approach was still recruiting more subordinates and helping them level up.
Spirit Absorption...If he could absorb a Grade 1 or even a Special-Grade Cursed Spirit, his power would surge dramatically.
But...
"Cursed Spirits of that level aren't exactly common..."
Well, he'd leave it up to fate.
Maybe he'd ask Natsuki to keep an eye out. While she didn't specialize in Spirits, she had colleagues who did.
That said, even if he found a Special-Grade, he wasn't sure if he could handle it.
Even though [Spirit Devil] granted him an advantage against spirits, he wasn't entirely certain how effective it would be.
Better to be cautious.
"All done?" Utaha stretched lazily, setting her tablet down.
That old hag, Machida Sonoko...
Just because she had missed a deadline, the woman had said such cruel things to her.
A year ago, this would've devastated her.
But ever since she met Lynn, everything had changed.
Not just her life as a devil, but even her approach to writing.
Maybe she should start a new novel...
How about...
The Devil Lady and Her Loyal Servant?
Utaha glanced at Lynn, eyes sparkling with amusement.
If Lynn knew what she was thinking, he'd probably say she was getting way ahead of herself.
Smirking to herself, she chuckled.
Lynn sighed. "I just uploaded a file to the group chat. Check it when you get a chance."
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(200 ps bonus)
Group File: Underworld Basic Knowledge.docx
"The Underworld?"
Yotsuya Miko blurted out in surprise as soon as she saw the words.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, on the other hand, remained much calmer.
After all, she had already learned a little about it from Rias before.
But that was the extent of it.
She only knew that it was the homeland of the Devil race, but as for the specifics, she was still quite unfamiliar with it.
Lynn explained, "Rias sent me this. She said it was made to help reincarnated Devils quickly understand some basic knowledge about Devils."
"If you're interested, you can take a look. Consider it some light reading."
Both Utaha and Miko were immediately drawn to the document.
For Utaha, understanding more about Devils might even provide some valuable material for her new novel.
As for Miko, she was simply curious.
Besides, it would be pretty embarrassing to be a Devil without knowing anything about Devils!
Both of them sat in their seats, quietly reading through the document.
Weaknesses of Devils, other supernatural races, Evil Pieces, Rating Games, the current Four Great Satans, and more...
"Sirzechs Gremory?"
Utaha paused when she came across the name.
"Gremory..."
Same surname as Rias... Could it be?
"That's right. One of the current Four Great Satans is Rias' older brother."
"Hah?!"
Utaha's eyes widened in shock. "I never would've guessed that such a friendly and approachable lady had that kind of background!"
'Rias?'
Miko glanced up at Lynn and Utaha.
'Was she a friend of Lynn-sama and Utaha-senpai?'
"A Satan, huh..."
Utaha sighed but couldn't quite grasp the full significance of it.
After all, beings of that power level were way beyond her reach. She had no real concept of what a Satan was truly capable of.
After all, she was just a weak and pitiful Low-Class Devil.
Yep... she had just read about the classification of Devils.
Now that she had confirmed her status as cannon fodder, her feelings were... complicated.
"So that's how reincarnated Devils and Evil Pieces work..."
Utaha mused, "I never imagined that even Devils would have issues with population shortages."
But...
"Evil Pieces have specific roles?"
She thought back carefully. When Lynn reincarnated her as a Devil, she didn't recall receiving any special role or power boost.
"You don't have to worry about that part."
Lynn explained, "You should've seen who invented the Evil Pieces, right?"
Utaha nodded. "One of the current Four Great SatansAjuka Beelzebub."
"That's right."
Lynn nodded and continued, "But the Evil Pieces used for my peerage were created by me."
As he spoke, he casually raised his hand. A shimmering Evil Piece formed between his thumb and forefinger, gleaming with an almost divine radiance.
Utaha's beautiful eyes widened, and her lips parted slightly in awe.
"So that's why..."
From the moment she read about Evil Pieces in the document, she had found it strange.
According to what she read, reincarnated Devils who were turned using Ajuka Beelzebub's Evil Pieces didn't gain exclusive abilities.
Before now, she had thought she was special.
But when she saw that Miko, after joining Lynn's peerage, also awakened a unique ability, Utaha started to question things.
Was she really that special?
After all, she had just been a completely ordinary human before turning into a Devil.
Someone like Miko seemed way more exceptional than her!
But today, she finally understood everything!
The special one wasn't her.
The special one was Lynntheir master!
"The Blessing System... you created that too, didn't you, Lynn?"
Utaha's tone was filled with certainty.
"You could say that."
"You're truly incredibleachieving something even the Satans couldn't."
Utaha gazed at Lynn, her eyes shimmering with admiration and affection.
Yes, even the Satans couldn't achieve what he had.
If she were to be bold about it, Utaha believed that no other existence in this world could compare to Lynn.
Even though they were both called Evil Pieces, the ones created by Ajuka Beelzebub and the ones created by Lynn were clearly leagues apart.
Just the Blessing System alone made Ajuka's Evil Pieces look like child's play.
Thanks to reading Underworld Basic Knowledge, Utaha now had a clearer understanding of how Devil ranks worked.
Low-Class Devils, Middle-Class Devils, High-Class Devils, Ultimate-Class Devils, and so on...
Each rank was an enormous hurdle.
And leveling up one's power was an excruciatingly slow process.
Yet for her and Miko, it was as simple as training and slaying enemies.
If other Devils learned about this, they would probably be so jealous they'd grind their teeth to dust.
Some would likely even beg to join Lynn's peerage.
Of course, there would also be those who coveted this power for themselves.
Gulp.
Utaha swallowed hard.
She had never realized that becoming Lynn's peerage member was such an opportunity!
Even the hidden perks of being a Devillike an extended lifespan and slowed agingwere things she had only learned about today.
Even a mere Low-Class Devil could live for hundreds of years.
And with the Blessing System, she could keep leveling up!
"Phew..."
Utaha let out a deep breath and started reflecting on herself.
Back when Lynn wanted to make her his peerage member, she had been reluctant.
She had even thought he was some pervert trying to take advantage of her.
But now that she looked back...
She should've clung to Lynn's leg, sobbing and begging to be taken into his harem!!
Duang! Duang! Duang!
Utaha started banging her forehead against the desk.
"?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
What kind of pose was this?
Was she getting lost in her fantasies again?
Swoosh
Utaha suddenly shot up from her seat, stepped forward, and cupped Lynn's face in her delicate hands.
"The reward you promised last time."
Her eyes were serious.
"Magic restoration!"
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"T-This... This is magic restoration?!"
Yotsuya Miko covered her face with both hands, but her wide eyes peeked through her fingers, staring intently at Lynn and Utaha.
"Utaha-senpai... so bold!!"
Her face turned bright red, heat surging through her entire body. Her thighs squirmed slightly as an unfamiliar warmth spread within her.
A moment later
Utaha pulled away from Lynn's lips.
Her gaze was hazy, her expression dreamy, with a faint trace of intoxication lingering in her eyes, as if still immersed in the afterglow of the kiss.
Soft...
Lynn silently evaluated the sensation in his mind with just one word.
Utaha blinked and snapped back to reality. Suddenly, her hands trembled as she realized what she had just done.
W-What the hell was that?!
Dignity! Where was her dignity as a maiden?!
She abruptly pulled her hands back, straightened her posture, and casually brushed her hair behind her ear, trying to maintain her composure. However, her voice came out slightly shaky:
"D-Don't misunderstand! I just think that giving the Master some benefits is a basic duty of a retainer."
Lynn raised an eyebrow with an amused look and said teasingly, "Wasn't that actually me giving my retainer a reward?"
"After all, you were the one who wanted 'magic replenishment.'"
Utaha stiffened slightly before pouting, "There wasn't any magic flowing into me just now, so it doesn't count!"
"Next time... I'll come back to claim it properly."
With that, she awkwardly turned around, her body stiff and movements uncoordinated as she shuffled toward the door.
"I-I just remembered something! I have to go!"
BANG!
The door of the Club room slammed shut.
Outside, Utaha leaned against the wall, her heart pounding like crazy.
"My body... feels so hot..."
She panted lightly, hugging her own arm, her gaze slightly dazed.
That was too impulsive!
She had just... acted on instinct.
Raising a hand, she touched her lips and suddenly let out a silly giggle.
'That was my second kiss.'
'It felt much stronger than the first one.'
And this time... she had taken the initiative!
"Hehe..."
Utaha found herself lost in thought.
Her inspiration was overflowingshe had the sudden urge to write it all down.
Material!
Yes, this is all just for gathering writing material!
Utaha had an epiphany.
Then, she suddenly realized
"Crap! I left my tablet in the clubroom!"
Inside the clubroom
"She's surprisingly innocent."
Lynn recalled Himejima Akeno's previous assessment.
It was spot on.
Meanwhile, Miko was battling an internal struggle.
Not only had she just witnessed what felt like the kiss of the century, but before she could even process it, Utaha's words had thrown her mind into turmoil.
'Giving the Master benefits is a retainer's duty?'
Is that true?
Is this... an exclusive tradition among Devils?
Her hands trembled slightly as she flipped through the "Basic Knowledge of the Underworld" document at lightning speed.
Nothing! There was no mention of this anywhere!
But Utaha-senpai just did it.
As a fellow retainer, should she do the same?
Would something bad happen if she didn't?
Would Lynn-sama... abandon her?
Miko's mind flashed back to the section on Stray Devils.
A Devil who loses their Master, or worse, is abandoned by them, becomes an outcast in the Underworld.
No! I don't want that!!
Miko suddenly shot up from her seat, determination in her eyes, and walked toward Lynn.
Lynn: "..."
Why did this scene feel so familiar?
"You..."
Before he could say anything, Miko quickly leaned down and placed a fleeting peck on his cheeklike a dragonfly skimming the surface of water.
"T-That was a benefit for Lynn-sama!"
Blushing furiously, she blurted out the words and grabbed her bag, dashing out the door at full speed.
BANG!
The door slammed shut.
---
Outside, Miko exhaled deeply, her face still burning red.
But then... she felt an intense gaze on her.
Turning her head slowly, she found herself staring into a pair of wine-red eyes.
"Ahaha... Utaha-senpai! You're still here..."
Miko gave an awkward laugh, then quickly said, "I-I have something to do! I'll be going now!"
She fled for her life.
Utaha narrowed her eyes. "She had something to do too?"
Inside the clubroom
Lynn touched his right cheek, still slightly damp from Miko's peck.
He absentmindedly stroked his chin and muttered to himself:
"Utaha-beast... you're really a good woman..."
The words Miko had blurted out made it clearshe had definitely misunderstood something.
But that was fine.
Lynn decided to make this misunderstanding a reality.
A moment later, the Group Chat received a new announcement:
["Giving the Master some benefits is a retainer's duty."]
Lynn stared at it for a second, then decided to tweak it a little.
He removed the word "some" and changed "giving" to "providing."
Now, the message read:
["Providing benefits to the Master is a retainer's duty."]
And just like that, the first official rule of the Lynn familia was born.
Lynn nodded in satisfaction.
But then, his eyes suddenly narrowed.
---
On his status panel
His hidden [Devil's Contract] skill had begun to appear and glow.
"Finally..."
His crimson pupils gleamed faintly.
The flyers, designed as a "contract opportunity," allowed Devils to cross worlds under the pretense of fulfilling wishes.
In truth, they were a tool for invading other worlds, plundering their resources and talents.
"Someone finally fell for it!"
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Fujimi Academy.
Saeko Busujima swung her newly acquired katana, cleanly slicing through the head of a zombie.
"What has this world become?"
She flicked the blood off her blade, holding it in front of her. The reflection in the polished steel showed her deep blue eyes, as well as the swaying figures of the undead closing in from behind.
"Shizuka-sensei, get down."
"Huh?"
The voluptuous blonde woman blinked in confusion, but her body reacted faster than her mind, crouching instinctively.
Whoosh
Saeko moved decisively, her katana slicing through the air in a perfect arc.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three zombies collapsed lifelessly to the floor.
"Wow! Saeko-chan, that was amazing!" Shizuka Marikawa, still crouching, clapped her hands together in awe, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
Saeko sighed, glancing at her before placing a finger to her lips, signaling for silence.
Shizuka quickly covered her mouth with both hands, her wide eyes fixed on Saeko.
"It's safe to stand now, Shizuka-sensei."
"Mmm!" Shizuka nodded eagerly, grabbing the medical kit she had taken from the infirmary and following closely behind Saeko.
As they moved through the hallways, Saeko continued cutting down the undead, her mind racing.
The zombies weren't difficult to handle, butThere are just too many of them.
She glanced through a hallway window, peering outside.
A dense horde of zombies was swarming toward the school. With this many, the first floor had probably already been overrun.
Saeko gripped her katana tighter, her fingers whitening.
Even with her exceptional sword skills, she was still just human.
She could get tired. She could get injured.
But the undead? They knew no exhaustion. No pain.
"I know we can't stay here."
"But"
"How do we escape?"
Saeko stared at the endless sea of undead and felt the weight of despair settle in her chest.
But giving up wasn't the way of the Busujima family.
"Shizuka-sensei, are you prepared to risk everything to push forward?" She sought Shizuka's opinion.
"Hmm" Shizuka placed a finger on her lip, thinking. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, her eyes lit up. She reached into her cleavage.
"Ah, found it!"
She pulled out a black, ominous-looking parchment.
"Why don't we ask Mr. Devil for help?"
She presented the parchment like a treasured artifact, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Saeko: "..."
Expecting anything logical from this airheaded nurse had clearly been a mistake.
But seeing the hopeful look in Shizuka's eyes, she reluctantly accepted the parchment.
[The Devils's Contract Summoning Scroll]
It looked fairly authentic.
"Hehe."
"Saeko-chan, don't underestimate this scroll!"
Shizuka whispered conspiratorially, "It appeared in the infirmary out of nowhere! Every time I tried to throw it away, it just came back!"
"Even fire couldn't burn it!"
"This has to be the work of a real devil!"
She nodded, completely convinced.
Or it could just be some student's prank?
Saeko wanted to say that, but before she could, a pen was shoved into her hand.
She silently glanced at the swaying assets of her companion and muttered, "Do you have some kind of dimensional pocket in there?"
'Sigh.'
'Might as well humor her.'
Saeko took the pen and signed her name at the bottom of the parchment.
"Alright, that's enough playing"
Before she could finish her sentence, the empty hallway was suddenly flooded with a blinding light.
A low hum filled the air. A complex black magic circle appeared beneath her feet.
Saeko's pupils shrank, and she instinctively tightened her grip on her sword.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed.
"Are you my contractor?"
Saeko looked up in silence.
Standing before her was a young man with black hair and crimson eyes, exuding an undeniable aura of nobility.
"Is this a real devil?"
She couldn't believe it.
But the magic circle beneath her feet was undeniable proof.
Rip
Black wings tore through the back of his academy uniform, unfurling elegantly from his waist.
"Genuine article," he said casually.
Saeko's breath caught in her throat. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
Smack!
The devil's wing abruptly slapped away a sneaky hand reaching toward him.
"Ow! That hurt!"
Shizuka crouched behind him, clutching her hand and blowing on it as if that would ease the pain.
Saeko twitched. She took a deep breath before asking, "Shizuka-sensei what are you doing?"
"Ehehe"
Shizuka chuckled sheepishly. "I just wanted to touch them to see if they were real."
Saeko: "..."
Could you at least show some basic respect for the devil?!
What if he decided to turn the world into a living hell?!
---
Then again, maybe the world already was a hell.
As Saeko and Shizuka exchanged words, the devilLynnwas deep in thought.
From the moment he saw Saeko, he knew exactly where he was.
Highschool of the Dead.
For him, and more importantly, his subordinates, this world was actually quite convenient.
A perfect place to farm experience.
Especially since his followers were still low-leveled.
In fact, Lynn had been wondering how to help people like Utaha and Miko level up efficiently.
The modern world made it tricky. Spirits existed, sure, but they mostly appeared in populated areas.
And fighting them while keeping things under wraps?
Too inefficient.
But with this interdimensional summoning?
Problem solved.
A world overrun by zombies = A natural low-level grinding zone.
Future club activities? Secured.
Every day after school, they could hop over here and farm XP.
Not to mention
This world had individuals with high potential.
Lynn glanced at the notification flashing on his interface: [Evil Pieces Available].
He had a feeling that recruiting followers here would be much easier than back in his original world.
"So"
Lynn's lips curled into an enigmatic smile as he looked at Saeko.
"Contractor, what is your request?"
Saeko took a deep breath.
She hadn't expected the parchment to actually summon a devil. It shook her very perception of reality.
ButThe world had already changed beyond recognition.
A devil appearing? It almost made sense now.
Since he was already hereMight as well ask.
Saeko's deep blue eyes flickered as she hesitantly spoke:
"Um Mr. Devil."
"Can I ask you to save the world?"
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"Save the world?"
"Sure."
Without the slightest hesitation, Lynn agreed to Saeko Busujima's request.
It didn't matter what the request wasaccepting it first was always the way to go. After all, when and how it got done was entirely up to him.
With a warm smile, he spoke thoughtfully, "I have two plansone is more aggressive, the other more conservative. Which one would you like to hear first?"
Could he really do it?
Saving the world?
Saeko's eyes widened in surprise.
She had asked more out of curiosity, wanting to see how this so-called 'Devil' would react to such an absurd request.
She hadn't expected him to take it seriouslylet alone offer two different plans!
It seemed that what was an apocalyptic crisis for humanity was nothing more than a trivial matter to this Devil. His power was likely far beyond what she had imagined.
And, contrary to the legends, he wasn't hideous or terrifying at all. In fact, he was far more agreeable and approachable than she'd expected.
Pushing aside the distractions in her mind, Saeko pondered for a moment before saying, "Tell me the aggressive plan first."
"The biggest threat to this world right now is these undead, right?"
Lynn walked up to the window, gazing at the swarming masses of zombies below.
"That's right," Saeko said solemnly. "This crisis erupted suddenly this afternoon."
She turned to face him, her expression serious. "I don't know the exact state of the world right now, but with a virus this infectious, its spread must be terrifyingly fast."
"In the worst case scenario, the entire world could be overrun."
As a modern youth, she had seen zombie movies before.
She just never imagined that one day, they would become reality.
The thought of an entire world filled with these wandering corpses made her fall silent.
"And on top of that, even though this catastrophe has broken out, there's been no sign of the military responding."
She had already prepared herself for the worst.
"No problem," Lynn replied casually. "Even if the entire world ends up like this, I can just... wipe the surface clean."
Well, with his current strength as a High-Class Devil, that wasn't possible.
But just because he couldn't do it now didn't mean he wouldn't be able to in the future.
Saving the world didn't come with a deadline.
He could always do it after he became a Maou, or something even stronger.
Until then, this zombie-infested world would serve as perfect nourishment for his future peerage.
'Wipe... the surface?'
Did he mean what she thought he meant?
Saeko's eyelid twitched as she stared at Lynn.
He didn't seem to be joking.
Even humanity's ultimate weapons couldn't cleanse an entire planet, could they?
But...If it was a Devil...
"If you really did that," Saeko murmured, "wouldn't you also wipe out the surviving humans?"
Just like the undead.
Lynn shrugged. "That wouldn't be my problem."
'Such a callous attitude... definitely Devil-like.'
'Even though he looked completely human'
Her gaze landed on the name tag on his uniform.
[Shuchiin Academy]
'Wait, Devils... go to school?'
She pushed the question aside for now and decisively rejected the aggressive plan.
"Let's hear the conservative plan instead."
As expected.
Lynn's smile grew even gentler.
"This one is much simpler."
He turned to face Saeko, the corners of his lips curling up slightly.
"I will grant you the power to grow strong enough to save this world yourself. Then, you'll be free to decide how to do it on your own terms."
Lynn had two goals in this world.
First, establishing a consistent hunting ground for his peerage to gain experience.
Second, recruiting new peerage members. And Saeko was an undeniable talent.
Hearing the second plan, Saeko froze for a moment.
To be honest, saving the world had never been her priority. At least not right now.
Her number one goal was simply to survive.
So the promise of strengththe ability to growwas what truly drew her in.
She needed power.
She needed power to survive in this world.
And she needed power to protect others.
She glanced at Shizuka Marikawa, who was happily oblivious to everything happening around her.
Shizuka: "Naa?"
She still looked completely lost.
Saeko Busujima and the Devil were seriously discussing how to save the world?
A Devil?
Saving the world?
Wasn't that the punchline of some ridiculous joke?
And yet, the Devil himself had actually provided real plans!
"So kind!"
Shizuka had an epiphany.
Saeko: "..."
Without her protection, even if Shizuka didn't die to the undead, she would probably fall victim to other humans.
And in that case, dying to zombies might be the better fate.
In the apocalypse, humans could be more terrifying than monsters.
Saeko let out a quiet sigh, then spoke firmly, "I'll take the second plan."
The power to grow strong enough to save the worldThat should at least help them survive.
"That quick?"
"Aren't you going to ask what the price is?"
Saeko's gaze remained calm. The mention of a "price" didn't shake her in the slightest.
She had learned by the age of five that there was no such thing as a free lunch.
Especially when making a deal with a being like a Devil.
Shizuka, however, gasped. "Eh? There's a price?!"
Right, things that even a five-year-old understood, some people still didn't get even in their thirties.
Saeko ignored Shizuka completely and met Lynn's gaze with unwavering determination.
"If it's something a Devil would desire, you may take anything from me."
"My body, my soul, my emotions, or even my memories."
All she needed was power.
Power to survive alongside her friends.
Lynn was silent for a moment, then grinned. "That's quite the resolve."
"But don't worry. The only thing I need"
"Is you."
Saeko blinked in surprise, then smiled.
"I am honored."
"Then from now on, I belong to you."
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Saeko Busujima sold herself without hesitation.
Not even a shred of doubt.
After all, he was a Devil.
The kind of Devil who casually spoke about "cleansing the surface of the Earth" as if it were nothing.
If he really wanted to do something, she wouldn't be able to resist anyway.
Taking the initiative might even leave a good impression.
To be honest, she was already surprised that the Devil was seriously discussing the details of her request with her.
Even when she made an outrageous request like "saving the world," he had actually come up with legitimate plans.
It completely shattered her preconceived concepts about Devils.
Entrusting everything to this Devil standing before her didn't feel like a bad choice. Besides, she would gain power in return.
For someone who had already lost everything, this deal was more than fair.
"I'll gladly accept everything that you are." Lynn didn't hesitate in the slightest.
Recruiting Saeko as his servant was one of his goals from the start. Since she was so cooperative, there was no reason to refuse.
He raised his hand, and a black chess piece materialized in his palm.
Saeko frowned slightly. "What is that?"
"A Devil's (Evil) Piece. Once it's inserted into your body, you'll become my servant and officially reincarnate as a Devil."
"I see."
Saeko nodded in understanding.
So
Reincarnating as a Devil = Gaining power?
Becoming a servant = Being a subordinate?
She roughly grasped the concept.
"I understand. What do I need to do next?"
She eyed the chess piece in Lynn's hand with a complicated expression.
Did he use the word "insert"?
"No rush."
Lynn smiled and withdrew the chess piece. In its place, a small black lightning bolt flickered between his fingertips.
"It's a bit noisy here. Let me clear things up first."
Saeko's eyes widened as she stared at the black lightning, a chill running down her spine.
Supernatural power!
Even as an ordinary human, she could feel the sheer terror it radiated!
Lynn flicked his finger toward the hallway's end.
The corridor was crowded with countless undead, clawing their way up the stairs.
A few were already staggering toward their group.
Lynn chuckled. "Go."
The moment his words fell, he snapped his fingers.
The black lightning shot down the hallway like an untamed beast, moving at blinding speed.
Saeko instinctively tried to follow it with her eyes, but before she could fully turn her head, a deafening explosion roared through the building.
BOOM!
The entire school trembled violently.
Shizuka stumbled, instinctively crouching by the wall. "W-what just happened?! An earthquake?!"
Saeko ignored her.
When she finally turned her gaze to the hallway, her pupils shrank.
Scattered across the floor were the charred remains of the undead.
The staircase at the end of the corridor was completely gone, replaced by a massive hole in the building.
Even now, the edges of the hole continued to sizzle and burn, gradually expanding in size.
Saeko stared in awe at the devastation left by the lightning strike.
Just a single attack had caused this level of destruction?
AndShe glanced at the corridor, where the burnt husks of zombies lay motionless.
The black lightning hadn't even been aimed at them, yet it had incinerated them just by passing through.
'What terrifying power!'
Saeko's heart pounded wildly. When she looked at Lynn again, her eyes gleamed with something close to fanaticism.
Lynn retracted his hand with satisfaction.
A mere casual flick of his fingers had done all that.
If he unleashed his full power, he could likely reduce the entire academy to ash in an instant.
"Alright, it's quiet now."
Lynn used his magic to scan the area.
They were on the third floor.
Now, not a single undead remained.
And no humans, either.
The hallway was physically cut off.
If any more zombies wanted to come up, they'd have to stack themselves like a human pyramid for a while.
Hearing his words, Saeko's eyelids twitched.
The third floor was really quieter now, but
She glanced out the window.
That deafening explosion had attracted a massive horde of undead from all directions.
Whatever, as long as the Devil was happy.
Lynn pulled out the Evil Piece again. "Now, let's begin the reincarnation ceremony."
"Yes."
Saeko straightened her posture, eyes serious.
She had no idea what the "ceremony" would involve.
How exactly was that chess piece supposed to be "inserted" into her body?
"First step!"
Saeko listened intently.
"Take off your top."
Saeko blinked, momentarily confused.
Take off my clothes?
She replayed the words in her head to make sure she hadn't misheard.
After a brief silence, she sighed and began undressing.
A few seconds later, holding her removed blouse, she asked, "Do I need to take off everything?"
Lynn nodded. "Just loosen the back strap and turn around."
So that's all?
Saeko exhaled in relief.
It was still embarrassing, but at least some parts would remain covered.
Though what exactly was the Devil going to do once she turned around?
As she shifted, she happened to glance at Shizuka, who was still huddled on the floor.
Saeko: ""
"Sensei, the shaking is over."
"Huh?"
Shizuka blinked in confusion before noticing Saeko standing there in nothing but black Underwear.
Tilting her head, she asked, "Saeko-chan, are you feeling hot?"
'This clueless teacher when will she finally understand the situation?'
Saeko sighed and unhooked her bra strap.
Her generous chest bounced slightly as it lost its restraint.
Lynn wasted no time, pressing the Piece against her bare back.
"Nnhhhh"
Saeko shivered slightly, feeling her face heat up.
She was a woman, after all
Stripping down in front of someone she had just met felt incredibly shameless.
Would the Devil think she was some kind of loose woman?
Should she have hesitated a little longer, acted a bit more reserved?
But before she could dwell on those thoughts, the chess piece fully merged into her body.
A crisp, mechanical voice echoed in Lynn's mind.
[ Ding! You have acquired the servant 'Saeko Busujima'! ]
[ Ding! Your servant 'Saeko Busujima' has reincarnated as a special Devil'Blade Devil'! ]
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Thump! Thump-thump!!
Saeko Busujima had no room left for stray thoughts.
The moment the Evil Piece entered her body, an intense transformation began.
Her heartbeat quickened, her blood boiled, and her muscles and bones underwent significant changes.
But what caught her attention the most was the strange itching sensation along her back, waist, and tailbone.
"Nnhhhh..." Saeko let out a soft breath. "Something... feels like it's coming out..."
She didn't resist the sensation, letting whatever was happening take its course.
Rip
Her fair skin writhed for a moment. Then, in the next second, a pair of black wings burst forth from her back!
At the same time, a tail with a heart-shaped tip wriggled its way out from under her skirt, swaying in the air before poking Lynn's face.
Lynn instinctively grabbed it and started rubbing it absentmindedly.
"Haaah~" Saeko's knees buckled, and she instinctively braced herself against the wall, her top underwear slipping slightly to reveal soft, delicate skin.
She gasped, her eyes becoming hazy.
Seeing this, Lynn released her tail.
Freed from his grasp, her tail quickly recoiled in embarrassment, disappearing back under her skirt.
"Whew" Saeko exhaled deeply.
"Not bad," Lynn commented.
It was his first time seeing a newly reincarnated Devil openly displaying both wings and tail.
When Utaha and Miko had undergone their transformations, they had forcefully suppressed the urge.
Saeko shot Lynn a sultry glance before retracting her wings and tail as well.
Only then did Lynn shift his focus to her newfound abilitiesthough, in the back of his mind, he made a mental note:
'From now on, allowing the master to pet their tail should be a mandatory rule for my followers.'
---
[Saeko Busujima]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Abilities: Bloodlust & Blade Devil
Bloodlust
The stronger the desire for slaughter, the faster stats increase.
Removes certain limitations.
Blade Devil
Slashing Technique
Swordsmanship (Can master blade techniques instantly upon seeing them)
Accelerated Strength Growth
Accelerated Agility Growth
Devil Transformation (Weaponized Body)
-----
-----
A third followerobtained! And another special Devil, at that.
At this point, Lynn was starting to doubt the so-called "probability" of his Devil's Pieces.
Three followers, and every single one had transformed into a special type of Devil.
Or maybe... the transformation depended on the talents of the individual?
Setting that thought aside for now, Lynn focused on Saeko's abilities.
"Bloodlust..."
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
Then again, considering Saeko's hidden nature, it wasn't all that shocking.
His gaze moved to "Blade Devil."
The "Swordsmanship" ability was remarkable. Whether it was swordplay or blade techniques, she could instantly master them just by watching.
And then, the first skillSlashing.
No further explanation, just one word.
"The fewer words, the more overpowered the ability," Lynn mused. This skill was likely something truly ridiculous.
After recording a copy of her abilities, Lynn gestured for Saeko to put her clothes back on.
As she adjusted her clothes, Lynn took a quick glance at his own status screen.
Not much had changed, except for the addition of "Bloodlust" and "Blade Devil" to his skill list.
Once Saeko was finished, Lynn handed her a copy of her ability data.
"What's this?" she asked, puzzled.
After a brief explanation, Saeko nodded in understanding.
Being familiar with the concept of leveling up, she quickly grasped it.
"No wonder you said this power could grow strong enough to save the world..."
Murmuring in awe, she turned her attention to the document.
Her eyes lingered on one line.
Master: Lynn Valifer.
So this... was her master's name.
Saeko repeated it in her mind, engraving it deeply into her memory before continuing.
Skipping past all the "I0" stats, she arrived at her skills.
The moment she saw the first one, her grip on the paper tightened, and she subconsciously looked up at Lynn.
Noticing the unease in her eyes, Lynn gave her a reassuring smile. "Relax, Saeko. We're Devils now."
Saeko froze for a moment, then a bright smile spread across her face.
Yes... she was a Devil now.
Human morality no longer applied to her.
What was wrong with a Devil who loved the thrill of the kill?
As long as...
As long as Master doesn't find me disgusting...
Would he? Would he despise this part of her?
A flicker of anxiety crept into her heart.
After finishing her analysis of her skills, she couldn't help but marvel at how perfectly they suited her.
Perfect skills for the perfect killer.
Poke-poke!
Suddenly, Shizuka Marikawa jabbed Saeko's waist from behind.
Saeko turned toward her, raising an eyebrow. "What is it, Shizuka-sensei?"
Finally snapping out of her usual airheadedness, Shizuka stared at Saeko's waist, her mind replaying the image of those black wings.
Then, she whispered cautiously, "Saeko-chan... are you not human anymore?"
"Didn't you just see it happen?" Saeko said calmly.
"Then I don't wanna be human either!"
Saeko: "...?!"
Placing her hands on her hips, Shizuka declared loudly, "I wanna be a Devil too!"
Saeko: "..."
A serious expression crossed Saeko's face. "Do you understand what that means?"
To be honest, if Shizuka became a Devil, she would definitely have an easier time surviving in this world.
Having just undergone the transformation herself, Saeko knew exactly how powerful it made her.
Stronger body, heightened reflexes, and... that intoxicating well of magic within her.
With just those enhancements alone, she could take down hordes of the undead with ease.
Not to mention the Devil's Blessing system and the powerful abilities she had awakened.
If Shizuka joined them, it would be the right choice.
A leap forwardbeyond human limits.
If Shizuka became a Devil, Saeko wouldn't have to constantly worry about protecting her.
She clenched her fists, her breathing heavy.
And besides... Lynn didn't seem opposed to expanding his household of followers.
Or rather, wouldn't this be exactly what he wanted?
Still, as her friend, Saeko had to make sure Shizuka understood what she was asking for.
"Shizuka, do you really understand what it means to be a Devil?"
"Of course! I'm super smart!" Shizuka beamed proudly.
Then, with a giggle, she leaped forward and wrapped her arms around Lynn's arm.
Lynn instantly felt himself sink into a very soft embrace.
Shizuka tiptoed closer, eyes gleaming mischievously. "Becoming Devil-sama's petI got it right, didn't I?"
Saeko: "...?!"
.
.
.
In a way, Shizuka Marikawa wasn't wrong.
"Alright, as long as you understand what you're getting into."
Seeing that she was aware of the consequences, Saeko Busujima didn't argue further.
'ButWhile their master was open to accepting new followers, it wasn't like he'd take just anyone, right?'
She wasn't sure if he'd even be interested in her Shizuka-sensei.
"Master, what do you think?" Saeko sought his confirmation.
'Master?'
'She adapted to her new identity fast.'
Lynn glanced at Saeko with satisfaction.
Shizuka, too, understood who had the final say.
She clung to his arm and swayed playfully. "Please, take me in as your pet, Mr. Devil!"
It was the first time Lynn had received such a request, but there was no reason to refuse.
His Devil's Piece ability flickered on his status panel, proving that Shizuka had the qualifications to become his servant.
"No problem." He agreed without hesitation.
"Yay!"
Overjoyed, Shizuka jumped up in excitement.
Saeko let out a breath of relief and felt genuinely happy for her.
Lynn summoned another Piece, but before he could say a word, Shizuka released his arm and started unbuttoning her clothes one by one.
Her smooth motions made Saeko's eye twitch.
"Why are you so skilled at this?"
"Eh?"
Shizuka paused for a moment before responding, "Didn't Saeko do the same thing?"
She looked to Lynn for confirmation.
"That's right. Keep going."
Lynn nodded approvingly.
Without hesitation, Shizuka removed her white blouse, leaving only her pink underwear.
"Alright, turn around."
Shizuka hesitated. "Does it have to be on my back?"
"You can choose, but the back is the most logical spot."
"I see..."
She seemed to ponder for a moment before patting the lower part of her smooth, soft stomach. "Then please put it here!"
Lynn: "..."
Now it was his turn to fall silent.
Was this woman doing this on purpose or just being clueless?
He asked flatly, "Are you shaved?"
"Huh?"
Shizuka froze.
Saeko covered her face in embarrassment.
She reminded, "Sensei, after becoming a servant, the engraved blessing data will be visible on your skin. It's best if there's no obstruction."
"And"
Saeko continued in a low voice, "If you put it so low, are you planning to take off your panties every time your blessing gets updated?"
This woman was she really a natural airhead?
Saeko started having doubts about her.
Placing it on her uh..that part.... was she trying to seduce their master from the get-go?
If she had known she could choose, she might have done the same!
Saeko's face reddened as she silently grumbled.
"That's not what I meant!"
Shizuka quickly refuted, flustered. Then, after some hesitation, she asked, "Then... can it be a little higher?"
"That should be fine."
Lynn wasn't completely sure.
If her skill descriptions were too long, it might get covered up.
But
If it did happen, he'd just make her remove everything blocking the text. He wouldn't mind helping her take care of that problem.
He was a good master after all.
"Alright then, let's do it!"
Shizuka puffed out her chest.
Lynn pressed the Devil's Piece against her upper abdomen.
"So cold~"
She shivered, making Lynn feel a little dizzy from the motion.
The piece sank into her body, and soon, she experienced what Saeko had felt earlier.
Her breathing grew heavy, her warm breath carrying a faint orchid-like scent. Her body flushed with heat.
"Nnyahhhhh..."
Just like Saeko, Shizuka didn't hold back.
Two delicate black wings emerged from her lower back.
A tail with a heart-shaped tip swayed gently as it extended.
Shizuka brought her tail forward and curiously touched it.
"Mmm~"
Her body shuddered, her face turning red as her thighs pressed together, rubbing slightly.
But her hands didn't stopin fact, she touched her tail even more.
As someone who had already received 'that' from Lynn, Saeko twitched at the sight.
This airheaded teacher had no sense of restraint!
"Sensei, just so you know"
"We're still standing right in front of you."
Shizuka's body froze. She quickly let go of her tail and turned to Saeko with an innocent expression. "W-What is it, Saeko-chan?"
Meanwhile, she secretly retracted her wings and tail.
Seeing the 'evidence' disappear, Saeko just rolled her eyes and sighed. "Never mind."
Whew
Shizuka let out a relieved sigh.
Lynn, on the other hand, wasn't paying attention to their antics. His focus was on Shizuka's blessing data.
---
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: i0
Agility: i0
Endurance: i0
Magic: i0
Unique Skills: Healing Devil
Healing Devil
Bodily Fluids Restoration (blood and other fluids can heal wounds, restore stamina, etc.)
Status Recovery (able to heal abnormal conditions)
Accelerated Stamina Growth
Devil Transformation (Milk Mode)
Lynn: "..."
Good news: There was enough space to display her blessing data. There was even a bit of extra room.
Bad news: The upper part was covered because of her big...things. He couldn't see her name and level.
But what really gave him mixed feelings was this Healing Devil skill.
"Milk Mode? hmmm...it sounds weird?"
Still, it was clearly a healer-type special Devilvery fitting for Shizuka's role.
[Ding! Congratulations, you've acquired the skill 'Healing Devil'!]
Lynn: "..."
He wasn't exactly thrilled to have this skill.
For Shizuka, it was 'Milk.' But for him
Yikes
He wasn't even going to think about it!
Lynn decided this skill was going straight to the corner to collect dust.
After regaining his composure, he prepared to copy down Shizuka's blessing data.
But then he paused.
He muttered, "Lift up your chest. It's blocking your name and level."
"Huh?"
Shizuka took a moment to process that before going, "Oh, okay," and lifting it slightly.
"Alright."
Lynn finished copying the data and handed it to her.
"Mmm, mmhmm."
Shizuka nodded as she read through it, muttering, "So Mr. Devil's name is Lynn, huh."
"Healing Devil? That's perfect for me!"
Seeing the name and effects of her skill, Shizuka's eyes sparkled with excitement.
She loved healing people!
"But what's 'Milk Mode'?" She looked at Lynn with confusion.
"Uh you'll find out later."
Lynn wasn't sure if she was genuinely clueless or just pretending.
This woman often did bizarre things under the guise of being an airhead.
Like picking that specific engraving spot.
"Saeko-chan, do you know?" Shizuka turned to Saeko.
"Nope, and I don't want to even think of it!"
Saeko's answer was firm.
"Oh, okay."
.
.
.
Recruiting two new members in one go, Lynn's strength had once again increased.
He had a feeling that his next breakthrough wasn't far off.
[Devil's Contract]was truly an amazing skill!
Just one trip across worlds had already brought him two new subordinates, not to mention this training ground.
A total win!
As Shizuka Marikawa finished adjusting her clothes, Lynn briefly introduced the two women to the concept of his familia.
After a short explanation, Saeko nodded. "I see. So our familia's main base is actually in another world?"
She couldn't help but glance at Lynn.
Her Master was capable of crossing worldsAs expected of him!
"Eh? Another world?" Shizuka blinked in surprise. "So curious!"
"Don't worry, I'll take you there when we get the chance."
"Mmm!"
Hearing the answer she wanted, Shizuka nodded eagerly like an excited puppy, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"But before that, we need to take care of things in this world first."
Saeko's expression turned serious. "Master, please give your orders!"
"No need to be so formal, Saeko."
Lynn spoke in a relaxed tone before continuing, "I plan to turn this world into a permanent grinding spot for our familia. What do you think?"
Saeko paused for a moment, then carefully considered his words. "Given our world's current situation, that makes sense."
The undead here weren't too strong, but they existed in overwhelming numbers. A perfect place for lower-ranked subordinates to farm experience.
"Then it's decided!"
Lynn clapped his hands, setting the plan into motion.
"First, we need to establish a safe base for our familia."
"Not only will it serve as a residence for you and Shizuka, but also as a resting place for familia members who come over."
"Since our numbers are still small, we don't need anything too large. As long as there are enough rooms, proper facilities, and a comfortable living environment, that should be enough."
Saeko nodded and carefully memorized all of Lynn's requirements. She had already learned about the other familia members from him before.
Two more girls. That put her at ease.
After all, since they'd likely be living together, it was better if they were all female.
One man was enoughher Master.
"Ah! I've got an idea!"
Shizuka suddenly raised her hand. "Rika's house! It perfectly fits Master's requirements!"
Saeko frowned slightly. "Rika?"
"Mhm!" Shizuka nodded enthusiastically. "She's a friend of mine, a police officer. Super strong!"
Lynn immediately made the call. "Alright, let's head there first. Shizuka, lead the way."
"Aye Sir!"
Lynn also remembered that place from the original story.
A nice house, plus There were some firearms hidden there, if he recalled correctly.
Though, at this point, those guns probably wouldn't be of much use.
After all, Devils had their own ways of fighting.
With a plan in place, the three of them prepared to leave Fujimi Academy and head to Rika Minami's home.
Saeko planned to take out more zombies along the waynot only to train her stats but also to test her current skills and strength.
Of course, more importantly, she had a certain desire to satisfy.
"Rika's place is a bit far from here. How about we take a car?" Shizuka suggested, suddenly pulling out a set of car keys from somewhere.
"...Wait, weren't you just naked? Where were you keeping that?!" Saeko couldn't help but question.
"Hehe!"
Before Saeko could say more, a noise echoed from the end of the hallway.
"W-Where did the stairs go?!"
"Shh! Keep it down! Do you want to attract all those things?!"
"Mmph"
...
Saeko thought one of the voices sounded familiar. "Master..."
Lynn understood what she meant and reassured her, "It's fine. Let's check it out since we're leaving anyway."
At the destroyed stairwell. Saeko looked up and saw the people above.
"Rei Miyamoto?"
"Saeko-senpai?"
Both of them were stunned.
They hadn't expected to run into each other under these circumstances.
Lynn glanced up as well.
As expected, they were characters from the original protagonist group.
ButSome people were missing.
If he remembered correctlyWasn't the main protagonist supposed to be here? Along with that chubby guy?
Had the timeline changed?
Thinking for a moment, Lynn quickly realized what had happened.
What had changed?
He looked at the destroyed stairwell.
Wasn't this the biggest alteration?
A single lightning strike had wiped out the protagonist and a supporting character?
Maybe not. Perhaps the loud explosion had attracted more undead than in the original timeline, causing them to get separated.
Even if they were still alive, dealing with that many zombies wouldn't be easy.
Not that it mattered. Lynn had no interest in other men.
"Hmm pink and white."
From his position, he had a clear view under the skirts of Rei Miyamoto and Saya Takagi.
"Ugh"
Rei and Saya quickly realized what had happened.
Noticing the boy, they hurriedly clamped their skirts shut.
"Uh, Saeko-senpai what's going on?" Rei asked in a hushed voice.
She looked around at the completely wrecked surroundings, confusion evident in her eyes.
The stairs were gone. How were they supposed to get down?
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(10 reviews bonus)
"Hey!"
After some talk, Rei Miyamoto leaped down from above, landing straight into Lynn's arms like a homing pigeon returning to its nest.
Lynn felt the impact of the girl crashing into his chest.
"Thanks!"
Rei quickly stepped back, bowing deeply, but couldn't help sneaking a glance at Lynn's arms. Her ears turned slightly red.
'Such strength!'
'He caught me so effortlessly, as if I weighed nothing.'
Next was Saya Takagi. She was a bit more timid, keeping her eyes tightly shut as she jumped, too scared to look.
Only when her feet touched the ground did she finally relax.
"I'm alive!"
After discussing it together, they had decided jumping down was the best option.
They thought they'd at least get a little hurt, but it turned out to be way easier than expected.
It felt almost unreal.
After thanking Lynn as well, the group was finally reunited.
But one problem down, another still to go.
Rei looked below.
Zombies! So many zombies!!
Even though the staircase was gone, the zombies had unintentionally stacked themselves up, forming a hideous pyramid.
If they didn't figure out a way to leave, these things would eventually climb up.
"What do we do?"
Rei instinctively turned to the only man present.
While Rei and Saya found the sight of the undead terrifying, Lynn didn't even bother looking at them. "Saeko, take care of it."
"Huh?"
Rei and Saya blinked in surprise.
Saeko-senpai?
How was she supposed to handle this?
"Yes, Master!"
"M-M-Master?!" Both girls' eyes widened at Saeko's response.
Wait, was this some kind of roleplay?
They exchanged glances, unable to stop their thoughts from running wild.
What kind of relationship did this guy have with Saeko-senpai?
Was he her boyfriend?
---
Saeko licked her lips, her eyes shining with excitement.
She had been itching for a fight ever since she saw the zombies.
But she had been holding back, waiting for Lynn's command.
Now, finally, the moment had come!
Time to test the power her Master had given her!
Shing!
Her blade slid out of its sheath.
The golden hues of the setting sun reflected off the steel, giving it a dazzling glow.
As she gripped the handle, an instinctive understanding filled her mind.
With a swift motion, she slashed downward!
Swoosh!
A white arc of energy shot toward the undead!
Splat!
The stacked-up zombies were instantly severed! Blood gushed from their wounds!
A closer look revealed that the cut was absurdly smooth, as if made by a veteran swordsman.
"Hah..."
Saeko exhaled, her breathing slightly heavier as she watched the blood splatter.
But Lynn frowned slightly.
Noticing this, Saeko immediately tensed up, carefully watching for his reaction.
"Next time, aim for the head. Otherwise, it's inefficient." Lynn advised.
Zombies were annoying like that.
If you didn't destroy their heads, they wouldn't die easily.
Saeko's previous attack looked impressive, but since the heads hadn't been severed, most of the zombies were still moving.
"Understood, Master!"
Saeko let out a small sigh of relief.
Thank goodness. He didn't dislike her.
That brief moment of bloodshed had awakened her hunger, exposing a bit of her true nature.
Lynn's frown had scared hershe thought he might have found her disgusting.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down.
This time, she swung her sword with precision, aiming exclusively for the zombies' heads.
---
Meanwhile
Watching Saeko's overwhelming display of power
Rei and Saya were completely dumbfounded.
'S-Sword wave?!!'
'Saeko-senpai just unleashed a freaking sword wave?!!'
'What kind of anime nonsense was this?!'
They exchanged another glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
Had humanity already evolved during this apocalypse?!
"Wow! Saeko-chan, that was amazing!" Shizuka looked happy.
'Wait, Sensei, you're not even surprised?!'
'That was sword animation skill!! Something totally supernatural!!!'
Rei and Saya screamed internally.
Their minds were overflowing with questions.
They wanted to ask Saeko so badly.
But seeing her increasingly crazed smile
They swallowed their words.
Too scary!!
---
Ten Minutes Later
Saeko finally stopped swinging, her breathing slightly ragged.
Below, the area had turned into a gruesome slaughterhouse.
"How do you feel?" Lynn asked.
"Subarashi!" Saeko's voice was downright ecstatic.
Lynn assessed her condition.
Ten minutes of nonstop slashingYet she was only a little out of breath.
This suggested that energy-based attacks didn't drain her stamina too much.
Though she probably hadn't noticed yetShe actually didn't need a sword at all.
She could release slashes from her hands, feetany part of her body, really.
After all, she was a Blade Devil.
But Lynn chose not to tell her just yet.
Instead, he encouraged her. "Good job."
Saeko instantly snapped out of her bloodthirsty state.
Master just praised her!!
Her eyes sparkled, and her thighs pressed together tightly.
Something was coming out!
"Since there are no more zombies, let's move on." Lynn didn't head toward the now-destroyed staircase.
The floor below was soaked with blood and corpsesdisgusting.
Besides, the whole point of this had been to let Saeko gain experience.
If they had wanted to leave earlier, they could've just jumped out the window.
Crash!
Lynn lightly tapped a third-floor window, shattering it instantly.
He glanced at Rei and Saya, who were trembling, clinging to each other in fear after watching Saeko go berserk.
Ignoring their emotions, he casually grabbed them both like kittens and stepped onto the window ledge.
"W-Wait"
Realizing what was about to happen, they tried to protest.
But before they couldLynn leaped from the third floor!
'MHFFAAAAAAAHHH!!!'
They wanted to scream!
But they were afraid of attracting zombies, so they just clamped their hands over their mouths, silently crying in terror.
Even after landing safely, their legs felt like jelly.
"Alright!"
Shizuka and Saeko followed, effortlessly jumping down.
For themnow lower-tier devilsthis height was nothing.
Rei and Saya let out bitter laughs.
'Yeah it was official.'
'Humanity had evolved.'
'But it seemed they had been left behind.'
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.
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Fujimi Academy
Lynn and his group strolled leisurely toward the parking lot.
Any zombies they encountered on the way were swiftly beheaded by Saeko with a single stroke. None of them could get within three meters of Lynn.
Rei and Saya followed behind them, shrinking their necks like frightened cats.
Their eyes occasionally flickered between Saeko Busujima and Shizuka Marikawa before ultimately landing on Lynn.
'It was obviousSaeko-senpai and Marikawa-sensei had already transcended normal human limits.'
'In fact, Saeko-senpai was terrifyingly strong!'
'And yet, both of them subtly deferred to that man.'
'Who exactly was he?'
No one would tell them. Even now, they didn't even know his name.
And they didn't dare ask.
Parking Lot
"Ah! I found this!"
Shizuka waved at Lynn, standing beside a yellow-green school bus.
They then decided to board the bus.
The area was eerily silent, as Saeko had already taken care of the zombies around them.
"Uhh..."
Shizuka sat in the driver's seat, staring at the controls, looking a little lost.
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
"Quick! There's a bus here!"
Moments later, the bus suddenly dipped as someone climbed aboard.
The first to step in was a man in a black pinstripe suit.
"It's him!"
Rei Miyamoto shot him a look of disgust before spotting Takashi Komuro behind him. Her eyes widened in shock.
"Takashi? He's actually with this disgusting man?"
"So he wasn't any good either. Hmph!"
Years ago, he used to chase after her constantlythankfully, she never gave him the time of day.
She shot him a look of disdain before closing her eyes.
Seeing Koichi Shido again filled her with anger, but she held her tongue.
This bus already had an owner.
Maybe, because of her connection with Saeko-senpai, she and Saya were allowed to board this safe vehicle.
She had no intention of causing trouble and getting kicked off.
Still, she worriedhad this disgusting man also evolved somehow?
Koichi Shido scanned the bus.
There were only a few students on board. The only adult was a female teacher.
His confidence soared.
"Ahem!"
He cleared his throat, preparing to make some grand speech to seize control of the bus.
"Saeko." Lynn just said the name.
In a flash, Saeko appeared in front of Shido.
His pupils shrank in shock, but before he could utter a word, a sharp pain shot through his abdomen as he was sent flying out of the bus.
Rei's eyes lit up with satisfaction, feeling a wave of relief. "Shido is still just an ordinary human. that's good"
Lynn's expression remained indifferent.
He had noticed Shido's group a while ago.
The lightning strike should have caused enough chaos to shift events from the original timeline.
A horde of zombies several times larger than in the original story had swarmed Fujimi Academy, yet somehow, Shido still survived.
Truly, pests were hard to get rid of.
But the moment he saw Takashi, he understood.
"Ah. So he's riding on the protagonist's luck."
...
Shido groaned, clutching his stomach in pain as he glared at Saeko with a mix of fear and fury.
He shouted angrily, "I am a teacher at Fujimi Academy! Attacking a teacher like this is an insult to authority!"
Takashi frowned and stepped forward. "Senpai, please apologize to Shido-sensei!"
He admired Shido's ability to unite people in this crisis.
As long as they followed his lead, they could survive this apocalypse.
If only the people on this bus handed over control, they too could join Shido's group and increase their chances of survival.
But they just attacked Shido without reason!
Takashi was furious.
Especially since, among the passengers, he spotted the girl he had always admired.
"What if Rei loses the chance to join the group because of this?"
He started to panic.
Saeko glanced at him coldly before stepping past him and looming over Shido.
Shing!
The blade flashed.
Shido froze, a cold sweat running down his forehead.
"I'm not killing you here because I don't want your blood dirtying the bus."
"Wait"
Shido's eyes widened in terror.
A thin red line appeared across his throat.
Thud!
His head hit the ground, eyes frozen in disbelief.
The other survivors were stunned into silence. The blind admiration in their eyes turned to confusion and fear.
Takashi stood frozen.
Shido-sensei... was dead?
"What have you done?!"
He lunged forward, reaching to grab Saeko's collar.
Before he could touch her, his arm was severed in one swift motion.
Plop.
"AAAAAHHHH!"
Takashi screamed as his arm hit the floor.
"Did you think I wouldn't kill you?" Saeko's icy voice sent a chill down his spine. She raised her blade again.
Takashi, now drenched in cold sweat, turned to Rei in desperation. "Rei!"
Saeko frowned and looked at her. "You know him?"
Takashi's eyes lit up with hope.
For old times' sake... because he had always liked her...Maybe she would say something to save him?
Rei's brows furrowed in disgust.
The way he called her name made her skin crawl.
They were barely acquaintances, yet he acted like they were close.
"We were in the same class once. Not really familiar."
Shing!
Saeko's blade fell.
Takashi was dead.
Lynn raised an eyebrow in thought.
So, in this world, Takashi and Rei's relationship was different?
Saeko flicked the blood off her blade and swept a cold gaze over the remaining survivors. "Anyone else want to step up?"
Silence.
She sheathed her sword.
The doors closed. The bus started moving.
No one dared to make a scene again.
Killing two people had sent a clear message.
Saeko felt no discomfort from taking human lives.
A blade must do its job. That was one of her creeds.
She was now her master's sword, and it was her duty to cut down those who got in his way.
Considering they only killed two and let the rest live, they had already been merciful.
---
Meanwhile, Rei snuck a glance at Lynn.
Shido's death had lifted a weight from her heart.
She felt grateful to Saeko-senpai.
But she knewSaeko only acted because of him.
Her heart pounded as she gazed at Lynn's handsome face.
"He's... a man worth relying on."
Saya sat beside her, barely daring to breathe.
Her usual arrogance was nowhere to be seen.
Saeko patted her lap and smiled warmly at Lynn. "Master, would you like a lap pillow?"
Her tenderness was a stark contrast to her earlier ruthlessness.
Lynn didn't hesitate. He laid down, resting his head against the soft warmth.
Saeko gently massaged his head with delicate fingers.
Lynn enjoyed her service as he pulled out his phone.
The different world's signals should've been useless.
But thanks to his Devil's Contract ability, he could still connect to other world signals.
Effectively creating a Cross-World Chat Group system.
Like a Multiversal Chat Group.
He made a mental notenext time, he should bring more phones so he could add Saeko and the others.
For now, he pinged Utaha Kasumigaoka.
[Sigma Man: @Utako Kasumi]
[Sigma Man: I'm not coming home tonight.]
[Utako Kasumi: ???]
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PS: Just a little more to reach 200 stones and get another bonus chapter...
[Lynn's Familia Harem Chat Group.]
(Sigma Man: [Image] [Image] [Image])
Lynn snapped a few pictures of the scenery outside the school bus window with his phone.
Desolate streets, abandoned cars, blood splattered everywhere, and grotesque-looking undead rushing toward the bus at the slightest noise.
[Utako Kasumi: ???]
Main World.
Utaha clicked on the images, which looked like something straight out of a zombie apocalypse movie.
"A new zombie film release?"
She couldn't help but wonder.
Was Lynn inviting her to go see a movie together?
But before she could get too excited, reality set in.
[Sigma Man: I'm in another world. Just recruited two fresh new Familia members.]
[Sigma Man: Lap pillow, massage.jpg]
[Utako Kasumi: !!!]
Utaha instinctively ignored the first message and clicked on the last image instead.
'Enemy spotted!'
"That woman is a formidable rival!"
Gripping her phone tightly, Utaha stared at the image of Lynn, his head resting on a pair of plump thighs.
Gone for just an afternoon, and he had already ended up who-knows-where, recruiting new members?
And on his very first day as a Familia leader, he was already lying on another woman's lap?
[Utako Kasumi: So, this is why you're not coming back tonight?]
Utaha bit her lip.
'Was he planning to spend the night with that woman?'
The thought left her feeling a little empty inside.
From the moment she became part of Lynn's Familia, she knew this would happen.
Lynn had never hidden his intentionshe was always upfront about being a man destined to have a harem.
Even the name of their chat group made it blatantly obvious.
And she had accepted that.
She knew a man like him would naturally attract women. Hadn't she, too, fallen for him in just a few days?
She had never felt this way before.
But still! She was here first!
Utaha bit down on her lip, then snapped a picture of her own legs and uploaded it to the chat.
[Utako Kasumi: Black stockings.jpg]
[Utako Kasumi: Do they look good?]
[Sigma Man: Thumbs up!]
[Utako Kasumi: Come back tonight, and you can use them however you like~]
A mere lap pillow? She could do that too!
At the same time,
Yotsuya Miko peeked at her phone screen, her eyes widening.
"Senpai you're so bold!"
[Ding!]
Another message notification popped up in the chat.
Quickly, Miko checked the screen.
[Sigma Man: Too bad. I need to establish a temporary base in this world tonight, so it'll be easier for you all to level up when you get here.]
"A-Amazing!"
Seeing Lynn's response, Miko gasped in admiration.
"To turn down such a tempting offer!"
"So that's what it means to be a real Sigma."
"Not swayed by beauty, wholly focused on the greater goalLynn-sama is truly a man destined for greatness!"
Meanwhile
Utaha sat frozen, staring at her screen in disbelief.
Rejected?
Did she lose her charm?
"No Lynn is just prioritizing the Familia's growth. Yeah, that's it!"
She clenched her fist in realization.
Even though he was their master, he still went through the trouble of crossing worlds just to secure a safe training ground for them.
"Crossing worlds must be exhausting"
Utaha suddenly had an epiphany.
"That's why he had no choice but to rest on that woman's lap!"
As for the other details about the zombie-infested world? They had long since been pushed to the back of her mind.
Zombie World.
Lynn put his phone down and relaxed, enjoying Saeko Busujima's soothing massage.
Chatting in the group had been a way to confirm they could still communicate across worlds.
It was also to let Utaha know he wouldn't be back tonightso she wouldn't worry.
As for her black stockings?
She was already his. He could enjoy them whenever he wanted.
SuddenlyThe bus screeched to a sudden halt, jolting everyone inside.
With his head resting on Saeko's thighs, Lynn was treated to a delightful visual experience.
"W-What happened?"
The abrupt stop made Takagi Saya a little nervous.
"It seems the road ahead is blocked," Shizuka Marikawa muttered, troubled.
Everyone turned to look ahead.
The road was jam-packed with abandoned cars.
It looked like this place had been a traffic bottleneck when the zombie outbreak hit.
With no way forward, the bus was effectively stuck.
"Seems like we'll have to continue on foot from here," Saeko sighed.
Her sword skills were sharp, but cutting through obstacles wouldn't clear a path for them.
Even Shizuka's Healing Demon ability was useless in this situation.
Technically, with their enhanced lower-level demon strength, they could push the cars asidebut it would take way too long.
Nobody objected to walking, but Lynn simply said
"No need. Just charge through."
"Eh?"
Rei Miyamoto and Saya Takagi were stunned.
"Charge through?"
Looking at the sea of abandoned vehicles, they were completely lost.
But Saeko didn't even waver.
If her master said to charge, then they would charge.
"Yahoo~!"
Even Shizuka got excited.
"Bumper cars, let's go!"
She restarted the bus's engine, revving it up with enthusiasm.
"W-Wait!"
Rei panicked, trying to protest.
But before she could finish her sentencethe bus launched forward.
'They're crazy!'
Rei and Saya instinctively shut their eyes, raising their arms to shield themselves.
Snap!
Lynn casually snapped his fingers.
A black magic circle enveloped the moving bus.
A half-dome-shaped barrier of dark energy surrounded them completely.
BOOM!
The bus slammed straight into the first obstacle with a thunderous crash.
But thanks to the protective shield, there wasn't a single dent or jolt from the impact.
After a long pause, Rei finally opened her eyes only to see the bus effortlessly plowing through the vehicles ahead.
"This is"
She was dumbfounded.
After a few seconds, she sighed, mixed with envy and awe.
"Supernatural abilities really don't play fair."
With that little detour settled, the bus continued on its path.
By nightfall, they finally reached Rika Minami's house.
Lynn took a quick look at the spacious home and nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad. This should work as a temporary base for the Familia."
After scanning the place with his magic to confirm there were no undead inside, he gave instructions.
"Shizuka, take the others and get the place in order. Saeko, come with mewe'll clear out the surrounding zombies."
"Yes, Master!" x2
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There are about 50 advanced chapters available at my Patreon, and no need to worryI didn't translate them hastily or anything. I started translating this book about 20 days ago, so every chapter has been properly revised.
patreon.com/_Coreal
Bang!
Under the moonlit streets
With one final slash, Saeko Busujima severed the head of the last zombie in the area. Only then did her heavy breathing gradually calm down.
She wiped her thigh, her face flushed with a dazed expression. "My body... it's all sticky now."
Leaning against a nearby wall, Lynn quietly watched her solo performance unfold.
"That was truly a beautiful slaughter."
He clapped his hands, offering his approval.
Saeko lowered her head slightly and murmured, "Forgive me, Master, for letting you witness such an unsightly side of me."
"No need to apologize. I actually like seeing you like this." Lynn looked happy as he was thinking.
"She is practically born for battle and leveling up!"
"This is exactly the kind of talent my Familia needed."
And with the presence of [Bloodlust], Saeko's growth rate would be off the charts! Her potential far exceeded that of an ordinary recruit.
She was an absolute gem.
Saeko's eyes suddenly became misty. The unease in her heart had completely dissipated.
Master said... he liked her true self.
A rush of excitement flooded her body, causing an involuntary tremor. She barely managed to suppress a gasp.
"Let's go. Time to update your Falna."
Lynn was eager to see Saeko's new stats. He was curiousjust how far could someone with [Bloodlust] progress in a single night?
"Y-Yes~"
Saeko's voice wavered slightly as she fought to steady her trembling body, following closely behind Lynn.
Rika Minami's Residence
When Lynn and Saeko returned to the living room, they found Rei Miyamoto and Saya Takagi in the kitchen, taking inventory of supplies while preparing dinner.
The two girls knew their current position in the group well. When it came to fighting the undead, they were no match for Lynn, Saeko, and the others with supernatural abilities.
So, they focused on logistics instead.
At the very least, they wanted to be useful.
If they were nothing more than freeloadersenjoying protection without contributingthen not only would their conscience weigh on them, but they knew they'd eventually be abandoned.
Right now, Lynn's team was the safest place in the world for them. They had no intention of leaving.
Seeing their diligence, a satisfied look flashed across Saeko's eyes. Even though she had become a Devil, she was not heartless.
She got along well with Rei and didn't want to see her struggling alone in this world.
That said, if they weren't willing to adapt, she wouldn't plead their case with Lynn either.
She was now his servanther loyalty belonged to her Master.
This arrangement was fine.
Providing logistical support made them useful to the Familia.
If Lynn chose to bring them in as Familiars, they might even become Devils like her, gaining supernatural strength.
And if that didn't happen...At the very least, they could help ease their Master's loneliness.
With that thought, Saeko started mapping out potential roles for Rei and Saya in the Familia.
---
Second Floor
In a clean, unused bedroom
Saeko skillfully removed her school uniform, leaving only her undergarments.
"Forgive me, Master. I must have worked up quite the sweat earlier. I might not smell pleasant."
And perhaps it wasn't just sweat.
"It's fine. This won't take long anyway."
Hearing that, Saeko let out a breath of relief. As long as he didn't mind.
She lay face down on the bed, unfastening her bra strap, exposing her smooth, bare back.
Lynn pricked his finger, letting a single drop of blood fall onto her skin.
A ripple spread outward, revealing her Falna.
---
[Saeko Busujima]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 E435
Agility: I0 G289
Endurance: I0 F306
Magic: I0 E411
Innate Abilities: [Bloodlust] (Details omitted) & [Blade Demon] (Details omitted)
---
Her growth was insanely fast!
In just half a day, she had completely surpassed Utaha, who had been with him from the start.
At this rate, Saeko might be the first in the Familia to level up. Not just thather stats might even exceed S-rank, reaching SS or even SSS levels!
"Saeko, I have a feeling you'll be the first among the Familia to advance."
Lynn copied down her updated stats.
"Really?"
Saeko's eyes widened in surprise.
She eagerly took the paper with her stats, completely forgetting to fix her clothes.
"My highest attribute reached E-rank already...?"
She could feel a tangible improvement in her physical abilities after the update.
"This level of growth in just one day is beyond what most people could ever achieve."
Lynn gave her some perspective, as she had no benchmark for comparison.
Hearing that, Saeko nodded. If Master said it was good, then it must be good!
Then, Lynn mentioned Utaha's first Falna update for comparison.
"I see So Utaha-senpai only gained around 100 points her first time?"
Now she truly understood just how terrifying her growth rate was.
A quick calculation showed her total stat increase was around 1,500 pointsten times that of her senpai!
Saeko's gaze flickered toward [Bloodlust].
"So, this is why..."
Her expression turned complex.
She had once tried to suppress this part of herself.
Yet now, as a Familiar of Lynn, that very trait had become her greatest strength.
Even bettershe could finally embrace it.
And all of this was thanks to Master.
Her expression turned resolute, confidence filling her heart.
She reached out, gently grasping Lynn's strong hand. Locking eyes with him, she spoke seriously:
"Master, I will become the sharpest blade in your arsenal."
She guided his hand forward, past the thin fabric of her undergarments, pressing it against her chestright over her racing heart.
"Can you feel my determination?"
Lynn gave it a firm squeeze.
"Mmm~"
Saeko's breathing hitched, her face turning crimson as she gazed into his eyes.
"I think I need a deeper feel."
Lynn's expression was solemn.
Saeko's chest rose and fell sharply. She did not refuse.
From the moment she became his Familiar, she belonged to him.
"Saeko is still a bit dirty... Please, allow me to serve you in the bath first, Master."
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Before becoming Lynn's sword, Saeko Busujima decided she should first become his sheath.
But before the sword can rest, it needs to be properly maintained.
Saeko's eyes were filled with focus.
Cleaning came first, then sharpening it again.
Anyone who has used this sword knows that if you want it to last, it needs frequent honing.
Saeko had some knowledge of this. And finally, she had the chance to put it into practice.
"Whew"
Sharpening the blade was an exhausting task. Thankfully, the preparation was already done.
---
Saeko's long, silky purple hair lay messily across the bed.
She turned her head to the side, unable to meet Lynn's gaze. "Mm..."
Her mind was blank.
The newly forged sheath was still a bit tightit would take time to break in and take the shape of the sword.
One time wasn't enough of course, so...
---
Outside the door.
Rei Miyamoto's hand, raised to knock, froze in midair.
She had come to call them down for dinner, only to stumble upon an... important ceremony of the blade being sheathed.
Her skin flushed pink in an instant after hearing the sounds. It couldn't be mistaken.
She wanted to pretend she hadn't noticed and quietly leave, but her feet refused to move, as if nailed to the floor.
As time passed, Rei's breathing grew heavier.
After a long moment, she hastily adjusted herself and rushed away.
---
Downstairs
Saya Takagi gave Rei a suspicious look as she saw her come down, her face still red. "What took you so long?"
"N-nothing."
Rei averted her eyes and quickly said, "You must be hungry. Let's just eat first."
"What about the others?"
Saya frowned slightly, feeling it wasn't right for just the two of them to eat.
"Uh... Shizuka-sensei fell asleep in the bath."
"And what about Saeko-senpai and... Lynn-senpai?"
They had learned Lynn's name from Shizuka earlier.
"They're... having a deep discussion about swords. Really into it. I doubt they'll be coming down anytime soon."
Rei awkwardly explained.
"Is... that so?"
Saya felt something was off.
The next morning
As the first rays of light filtered through the curtains of the apocalyptic world, Lynn opened his eyes to see Saeko curled up in his arms.
He had seen her in the throes of bloodlust, yet now, her peaceful sleeping face created a stark contrast.
No matter how much she enjoyed the thrill of battle, in the end, she was still a woman.
"Master..."
As if sensing his gaze, Saeko murmured softly.
Lynn ran his fingers through her silky hair, not in a hurry to get up.
Reaching for his phone, he opened Line.
The night before, every half-hour, Utaha Kasumigaoka had pinged him in the group chat.
At the time, though, he had been occupied with the sheath ceremony and didn't have time to respond.
[Sigma Man: @Utako Kasumi, help me tell Natsuki-chan I'll be absent today.]
Utaha, who had barely slept all night waiting for his reply, felt her heart turn cold.
Silence the whole night, as if her messages had been lost in the abyss.
And now, first thing in the morning, he asked her to take care of something for him?
The reason was obvious!
Utaha's grip on her phone tightened, her chest tightening with frustration.
She took a deep breath to calm herself.
Then, with rapid-fire speed, she replied.
[Utako Kasumi: ****?!!]
Lynn chuckled lightly and let it be.
---
Main World.
With dark circles under her eyes, Utaha stomped her way to school, muttering under her breath.
"Cheating cat... Shameless woman... I was first..."
"Take a day off? Yeah, right!"
...
Shuchi'in Academy - Faculty Office
"That's all, Ms. Natsuki."
"Got it."
Minamiya Natsuki approved Lynn's leave without question.
Leaving the office, Utaha slumped in defeat.
'So spineless!'
She cursed herself.
Then she opened her shopping app and typed: Bunny Girl Outfit.
"War."
"This is a woman's war."
Her eyes burned with determination as she placed an order for a particularly daring outfit.
"You started this."
"This time, I'll let you take the lead."
Utaha bit her lip, her voice filled with the sorrow of a so-called 'losing heroine.'
"At the very least, I'll be second!"
---
"Eh? Just the two of you?"
Shizuka Marikawa yawned as she came downstairs, wearing nothing but a thin dress shirt.
Rei and Saya, sitting on the couch, gawked at her appearance.
Saya turned crimson, stammering, "T-T-T-T-T"
Shizuka tilted her head in confusion. Looking down, she finally realized and knocked her head lightly. "Oh well, this was the only thing that fit from last night."
"By the way, where are Saeko and Master?"
Rei flinched at how naturally Shizuka called Lynn 'Master.'
And Saeko, too...
Rei blushed even harder before hurriedly saying, "They're probably still sleeping. They... went to bed really late."
The more she spoke, the quieter her voice became.
Oblivious to their reactions, Shizuka cheerfully made her way to Saeko's room.
"W-wait"
Rei opened her mouth, hesitating.
Wouldn't it be better not to disturb them right now?
Slide
Shizuka swung the door open without hesitation.
"Saeko, the sun's already up"
Her words cut off abruptly.
She blinked at the sight before her.
Saeko, caught in the act, raised her head and wiped her lips before offering a soft, mischievous smile.
"Shizuka-sensei, you came at the perfect time."
Saeko extended an invitation.
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That day.
The midday sun was blindingly bright.
Lynn walked downstairs feeling completely refreshed. Shizuka's Devil transformation was strong, but he still had the upper hand. And he even used her own ability "Milk Mode" against her.
Even though it was 2 vs. 1, he showed them why he was their master. Of course, today's focus was Shizuka.
"Having a harem is absolutely amazing," Lynn thought, enjoying the best time of his life since transmigrating.
---
In the Living Room
Miyamoto Rei and Takagi Saya exchanged odd glances when they saw Lynn. Their cheeks were flushed, and they avoided making eye contact.
Shizuka left the door open, so the sounds were too loud to ignore.
As the afternoon approached, around 3 PM, Lynn returned to the main world and used the world anchor from his Devil's Contract to establish a passageway to the Apocalypse World inside the Supernatural Research Club's room.
Of course, this passage could only be activated with Lynn's permission. Under normal circumstances, it just looked like a decorative door.
Even if someone outside his peerage (familia) saw it, they wouldn't think anything was strange.
Even if they tried walking through, they'd just appear on the other side of the room instead of actually traveling between worlds.
Once the setup was complete, Lynn @-tagged all the club members in their group chat, telling them to meet at the Supernatural Research Club room after class.
After that, he teleported to the shopping district, bought two smartphones, and registered two new numbers.
These were for Saeko and Shizuka so they could join the familia chat group and stay in touch more easily.
By the time he returned to the clubroom, Kasumigaoka Utaha and Yotsuya Miko were already there.
Utaha looked at him with a wounded expression. "Oh? You actually decided to come back?"
Lynn scratched his chin and replied, "Actually, I'm staying in that new world again tonight."
Utaha's face stiffened. She opened her mouth to say something, but then, like a deflated balloon, she lost all color.
"Utaha-senpai, get a hold of yourself!!" Miko shook her in a panic, afraid something was seriously wrong.
"By the way, Miko, you should let your family know that you'll be staying over there for a while too." Lynn said while looking at Utaha.
"Huh?" Miko froze.
Meanwhile, Utaha, who had just been depressed, instantly lit up again, fully revived.
So they were all going to be staying in that world together?
As long as she wasn't too far away from Lynn, that was fine!
Utaha clenched her fist, her eyes burning with determination.
She absolutely wouldn't let that sneaky cat get too far ahead!!
---
Lynn had arranged a training plan for them.
At 3 PM, they'd head to the Apocalypse World, then spend the entire night fighting zombies.
Once they got tired, they'd rest there and return to the main world in the morning, arriving directly at school in time for class.
Lynn mainly wanted to prevent them from falling too far behind Saeko. Miko was fine, but Utaha's personality was more competitive.
That said, some differences couldn't be overcome by sheer effort alone.
At the very least, he wanted to make sure Utaha didn't fall too far behind before she came to terms with it.
Besides, with Shizuka the Ultimate Support around, leveling up his familia was going to be easy.
During his incredible experience with her yesterdayafter hours of trying things for the first timeLynn had, by chance, already figured out how to make use of Shizuka's abilities.
Mainly her incredible milk output.
After tasting half of it himself, he confirmed its miraculous effects.
Not only was it deliciously sweet, but its recovery boost was insane. Because of it, he could go all day without sleeping.
The remaining half? He planned to save it for when Utaha and Miko ran out of stamina while fighting monsters.
Just one sip and they'd be back to full power!
Of course, this couldn't be overused.
Their bodies wouldn't get tired, but their minds still would.
Once per day should be enough.
After Miko explained things to her mother and got permission to stay over at a friend's house for a few days, Lynn led them to the dimensional Gate marked as Apocalypse World.
Utaha and Miko curiously examined the portal.
Hearing Lynn talk about another world in their group chat hadn't really felt real before.
Especially for Utahashe had been too focused on competing with other girls and hadn't paid much attention.
But now?
The realization that they were about to cross into another world made her nervous and excited.
An isekai, huh?
From the photos Lynn had shared, it didn't seem like a pleasant world.
But still
Their first-ever interdimensional trip was about to begin!
"You two ready?"
Utaha and Miko took a deep breath, their expressions turning serious.
"Ready!" x2
A flash of white light filled the Supernatural Research Club room.
---
Apocalypse World
White light flickered in the living room.
Miyamoto Rei and Takagi Saya exchanged a glance, still unable to process what they were witnessing.
Earlier, when Lynn left, his sudden disappearance had already stunned them.
And now?
Seeing him return in the same way, but with two new girls, was even more shocking.
They were told that Lynn could travel between worlds?!
Their minds raced.
If he could move between worlds, did that mean he wasn't originally from theirs?
Could it beThat all the supernatural powers they'd seen so far came from Lynn?
After all, aside from him, Saeko, and Shizuka, there was no trace of supernatural abilities in this world.
At that moment, they felt as if they had discovered the truth!
No wonder Saeko and Shizuka treated Lynn with such respect.
And even called him MasterIt all made sense now!
This realization led them to another thoughtBack at their Academy, Lynn wasn't wearing their school uniform.
That only added to the credibility of their theory.
If Lynn really was the source of their powersDid that mean they could obtain power too?
The more they thought about it, the more their gazes toward Lynn burned with intensity.
They wanted that power.
Even if it meant calling him Master as well.
As the white light faded, Utaha and Miko curiously looked around.
"Huh Doesn't seem all that special?"
"Welcome to the Apocalypse World familia Base!" Saeko greeted them warmly.
Apocalypse Worlda name Lynn had coined to represent this world.
Saeko found it quite fitting.
Hearing the voice, Utaha's eyes naturally fell on Saeko.
The sneaky cat's scent
She scanned the four girls in the room, her eye twitching.
'Did everyone in this world have insane harmonies?!'
'They even rivaled Rias and Akeno!'
'Damn it'
Utaha, once again, lost to reality.
'Hah The world is truly unfair.'
She spiraled into self-doubt.
Miko quickly introduced herself: "Yotsuya Miko. Just call me Miko. I only joined recently, so I'm not really a senpai."
Utaha collected herself and added, "Kasumigaoka Utaha. You can call me Utaha."
"Busujima Saeko. Just Saeko is fine."
"Uh! Shizuka is my name"
Introductions finished, they were all somewhat acquainted now.
Utaha and Miko quickly realized only Saeko and Shizuka were official familia (peerage) members.
The other two?
Temporary extras?
But probably not for long.
The way they looked at Lynn practically screamed, Please make us yours!
Utaha smirked. 'Tch, typical.'
Lynn clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"Alright, let's get started."
The best way to bond?
Fight together.
"Time to grind some EXP!"
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[Ding! Saeko Busujima has joined the group chat!]
[Ding! Shizuka Marikawa has joined the group chat!]
Before heading out to farm experience, Lynn handed the phones he brought from the main world to Saeko and Shizuka.
This world was still a modern world, so they were familiar with phones and group chats. However, the phones in their world no longer had any network service.
Upon entering the chat, the first thing they noticed was the very eye-catching name of the group.
Saeko Busujima chuckled, finding the name quite fitting. After all, everyone in the group was a part of their master's wings.
"Yay! I'm officially part of Master's harem too!"
Shizuka Marikawa reacted enthusiastically, clearly thrilled to be a part of Lynn's harem family.
'These two women...'
Kasumigaoka Utaha folded her arms and analyzed them closely.
'Did they not have any normal modern societal values?'
When she first saw this name, she was speechless for quite some time.
'Hmoh! Women in an apocalyptic world truly couldn't be judged by normal standards.'
---
Leaving the faction's base, a desolate cityscape unfolded before them.
Utaha and Miko paused in their steps, a strange feeling rising in their hearts.
What lay before them was a street covered in blood and...many zombies.
The stench of decay filled the air, making it thick and suffocating. Both Utaha and Miko felt an instinctive wave of nausea.
On the other hand, Saeko and the others remained unfazed.
They had already seen plenty of this yesterday. Even Rei Miyamoto and Saya Takagi, who were mainly in charge of logistics, were used to such sights by now.
"You good?" Lynn asked, walking ahead of them.
"Inhaleexhale"
"Cough, cough!"
The two took deep breaths in an attempt to relax their bodiesonly to get choked by the pungent smell.
Covering their noses, they forced themselves to respond, "W-We're fine!"
"No way I'm gonna lose to the others!" That was Utaha's thought.
"I can't disappoint Lynn!" That was Miko's thought.
Seeing this, Lynn gave a command. "Saeko, make some noise and lure the zombies here."
"Yes, Master!"
Saeko unsheathed her katana and swung it, sending an energy slash toward a nearby building.
Boom!
A three-story building in the distance was sliced open, a fine crack appearing as part of the wall crumbled down with a loud crash.
Utaha paid close attention to Saeko's abilities. Inwardly she declared her victory.
"That flying slash must be her power, huh?"
"Doesn't seem like much."
"My Archivist Devil abilities are way better!"
"This time, the victory is mine!"
As the noise rang through the streets, the zombies began to gather once again.
"So these are... actual walking corpses....real zombies." Seeing them for the first time, Utaha and Miko both shuddered.
"Alright, time to fight!"
Saeko licked her lips, excitement flashing in her eyes, before charging ahead.
"Damn it!" Utaha refused to be left behind.
Even though this was her first time facing zombies, and she hesitated for a moment, she quickly reminded herself
She had already fought curse spirits before, so a bunch of zombies were nothing!
More importantly, she refused to let that sneaky cat steal the spotlight!
Summoning her Devil's Grimoire, she commanded
"Lightning Strike!"
Boom!
A bolt of blue lightning crashed down from the sky, instantly frying seven or eight zombies gathered together.
Seeing the result, Utaha's tension eased significantly. She even snuck a glance at Saeko as if to sayPretty cool, huh?
Saeko simply smiled and praised, "That's a powerful ability. As expected of the first member to join the faction."
"..."
Utaha felt like she had just punched cotton.
'Damn it! This woman... totally ignored my provocation!'
Saeko then advised, "The zombies' weak point is the head. Aim there, and it'll be easier."
"Thanks for the tip."
Although she had her issues with the sneaky cat, she still appreciated the advice. She was just feeling a little conflicted.
She was here first. The first to meet Lynn. The first to become his follower.
"Utaha, don't forget to train your other stats too," Lynn reminded her.
She sighed. "Yeah, yeah..."
With a snap, she shut her grimoire to use it physically.
(Devil's Grimoire: ...)
By evening
Smash!
Utaha crushed a zombie's head using her grimoire.
She stared at it in silence. "Can I still use this again?"
(Devil's Grimoire: I wasn't made for this You *******...***!)
Utaha felt a slight pang of guiltbut it quickly faded. After all, her magic had already wrapped around the grimoire, preventing it from actually touching anything dirty. It just looked disgusting.
"Ugh..."
Another zombie shambled toward her.
She prepared to repeat her previous move but suddenly staggered.
Her magic... was running low.
Whoosh!
A sharp slash cut through the air, instantly decimating the approaching zombies in a clean line.
Turning around, Utaha wasn't surprised to see the sneaky cat standing there.
"Thanks."
After fighting alongside her, she had at least gotten used to her presence.
But a sneaky cat was still a sneaky cat!
She glanced downonly to see those things bouncing wildly.
Utaha deadpanned. "That unnatural bounce frequency... you should seriously apply for a Guinness World Record."
Saeko: "?"
"Utaha, take a break and recover your stamina."
"Phew..."
Utaha let out a breath. She was exhausted.
Her body was still fine. But keeping her grimoire active constantly drained her magic.
Looking up at the darkening sky, she realized
Today had been the most physically active day of her life.
Endless hordes of zombies. Just making a noise attracted more of them.
This place was literally a perfect grinding spot.
For three straight hours, she had been fully immersed in farming!
"Here, drink this."
Saeko handed her a bottle of milk.
"What's this?"
"...It restores stamina."
Saeko's expression was complicated.
She and Lynn had 'enjoyed' some earlier.
The results had been... remarkable.
Utaha hesitated.
With that look on her face, this definitely seemed fishy.
"No thanks, I'll just replenish my magic."
"Replenish... magic?" Saeko was confused.
Utaha scanned the area.
Found him!
She took a deep breath.
After holding back all night, she was definitely collecting some interest today!
'Hmph! Just watch, sneaky cat!'
Lynn was busy analyzing his team's growth.
Next thing he knew, Utaha was standing before him, looking up at him with those deep scarlet red eyes, filled with an unreadable emotion.
"Master... I'm out of magic..."
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"Master... I'm out of magic..."
Even though she was trying to regain some ground in front of Saeko, this "begging for a kiss" posture still made her cheeks heat up.
Lynn glanced at the milk cans carried by Rei Miyamoto and Saya Takagi, who were in charge of logistics.
Then, he noticed Utaha Kasumigaoka looking at him with puppy-like, expectant eyes.
Forget it, he might as well do it himself.
After all, his saliva had the same effect.
Lynn increased the dose and activated the fluid-based restoration effect of his [Healing Devil] ability.
"Mmmph!"
Utaha's eyes widened slightly.
Not just her magic powerher stamina was also recovering?
"Did Lynn's replenishing skill get an upgrade?"
Fully refreshed, Utaha was filled with curiosity.
But she didn't forget what was more important to her.
After wiping her mouth, she returned to Saeko's side.
With precise and fluid movements, she cut down a zombie, showing no signs of her previous exhaustion.
"Well?" she asked smugly. "Magic replenishment, pretty useful, right?"
Saeko suddenly understood. "So that's what replenishing magic is?"
She recalled last nightdespite being utterly exhausted, with just one "injection" from her master, she found herself engaging in another round of intense combat.
No wonder they did it all night.
Saeko nodded in agreement. "Yes, replenishing magic is indeed useful....and also for stamina!"
Utaha: "???"
Damn it!
She suddenly rememberedthis woman had crawled into Lynn's bed last night!
Just replenishing magic?
She and Lynn had done this and that...all night without getting a rest.
This woman!
Utaha gritted her teeth.
"Utaha."
Saeko suddenly spoke. "I've sensed it from earlier."
That inexplicable hostility. It wasn't the kind that enemies had for each other.
It was more like... romantic rivalry?
"You like Master, don't you?"
Saeko smiled warmly.
Utaha was stunned for a moment, then admitted frankly, "Yeah, I do!"
"Then you have nothing to worry about."
Utaha: "?"
'This sneaky cat... What does she mean by that?'
Saeko smiled. "I'm here to join you all, not to break you apart."
Utaha froze.
'Ahhhhh! This sneaky cat is exactly the type all men love!'
'She can even say something like this so openly...'
But there was one thing Saeko had misunderstood.
Utaha pouted. "You've got it wrong. Right now, I'm the one joining you guys."
"?"
Now it was Saeko's turn to be confused. "You and Master..."
"That's right, you're ahead of me."
"So... I was the first?" Saeko's face instinctively lit up with joy.
"Tch!"
Utaha clicked her tongue in annoyance.
She knew this woman would react this way after learning the truth.
Even though they all knew that, eventually, they'd all be completely claimed by Lynn.
No one could have him exclusively. But the order still mattered!
And she had completely lost the initiative.
Not that she could blame anyoneshe had let the opportunity slip away herself.
After clearing the air, the two became much closer.
And then Utaha learned some devastating news.
"WHAT?!"
"The second spot was taken too?!"
Thud!
Utaha fell to her knees, utterly defeated.
Miko Yotsuya, who had been watching everything, made her judgment:
"Saeko Busujimathe dignity of the first wife!"
"Utaha Kasumigaokathe tragic loser."
Late at Night.
The girls were all panting heavily from exhaustion.
Tonight had been an exhilarating grind for experience points!
Utaha and Miko had experienced the true wonders of this world.
"Was that milk some kind of recovery item?"
Miko seemed nostalgic.
She had been on the verge of collapse, but after downing a can of milk, she was instantly rejuvenated.
It had fully restored her endurance.
"Uh..."
Hearing Miko's question, Shizuka blushed and instinctively hugged her big and soft twins protectively.
Saeko's expression also became slightly strange.
"Hm?" Miko looked puzzled. "What's wrong?"
"No, it's nothing," Saeko shook her head. "It is a type of recovery item."
As for how it was made... well, she could discover that for herself later.
---
Lynn's Bedroom.
This was the room Saeko had specifically set aside for Lynn.
It was the largest room in the house.
Not only was it spacious, but the bed was also hugeperfect for multiple people to...
Ahem, perfect for everyone to update their Blessings (Falna) together.
"Heave-ho!"
Shizuka Marikawa was the first to strip completelyleaving only a pair of pink panties.
Then, with a dramatic leap, she landed on the bed, her soft curves jiggling.
Burying her face into the plush mattress, she took a deep breath before rolling onto her back, waiting for Lynn to update her Blessing.
Saeko didn't hesitate either, leaving only a pair of purple panties.
The two of them had already done everything with Lynn, so there was no need for modesty.
They displayed themselves openly before him.
Of course, noticing Utaha and Miko's dumbfounded expressions, Saeko felt the need to explain.
"Our clothes got dirty while fighting zombies. If we don't take them off, we might dirty Master's bed."
'Dirty?'
Utaha and Miko glanced at the barely stained clothes.
'Yeah, right...'
Utaha's gaze flickered. "Y-Yeah, that's true. My clothes... do seem a little dirty."
Her voice trembled slightly, but her hands did not hesitate.
She pulled off her top.
Her fingers trembled as they reached the clasp of her bra.
But after glancing at the fully stripped Saeko and Shizuka...
She clenched her teeth, stomped her foot, and took it off!
The black lingerie slipped down.
Utaha felt her face burning up.
Of course, she wasn't as bold as Saeko or Shizukashe still covered her chest with her arms while sliding off her skirt.
But she kept her black stockings.
Saeko and Shizuka had bare legs.
That was her advantage!
"Utaha-senpai, you..."
Miko's voice was complicated.
'Weren't they in this together? How could she betray her like this?!'
'What was she supposed to do now?'
Staring at the three on the bed, Miko felt completely out of place.
Weren't they just here to update their Blessings?
Why did it turn into this? And...Aren't Blessings on the back?
Suppressing the urge to complain, Miko sighed and removed only her top, lying on her stomach and unhooking her bra.
Lynn, seeing they were all ready, began updating their Blessings one by one.
Then he reached Utaha.
She was lying face-down like an ostrich.
Lynn sighed. "Did she forget where her Falna was?"
Lifting his hand, he gave a firm smack on her soft backside.
"Utaha, turn over."
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PS: Please leave some stones for this humble translator!
(the 400 stones bonus)
"Ahhh..."
A crisp sound echoed from the bedroom.
Kasumigaoka Utaha felt a burning sensation on her backside and couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Only then did she remember that her "blessing" had been inscribed on the front of her body.
Awkwardly, she turned over.
On the way, her eyes met Yotsuya Miko's doubtful gaze. Utaha's own eyes darted away in embarrassment.
'So humiliating!'
Miko couldn't believe it. The same senior who had once advised her to have the blessing inscribed on her back had chosen to have hers placed on the front!
"Utaha-senpai..." Miko's expression turned complicated.
"Your hands are in the way."
Lynn reminded her again.
"Ugh..."
Utaha trembled once more, then turned her head aside, closed her eyes, and, with fluttering eyelashes, slowly lowered her hands.
Freed from its constraints, her soft boobs naturally shifted slightly.
As he updated her blessing, Lynn inevitably got to appreciate a unique and captivating sight.
He had already seen both Saeko and Shizuka's, but Utaha's had its own distinct charm.
Each had their own appeal.
---
[Kasumigaoka Utaha]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: G255
Agility: H146
Endurance: H159
Magic: F361
Unique Skills: [Archivist Devil] (Details omitted)
---
---
Next was Miko.
[Yotsuya Miko]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: H103
Agility: H146
Endurance: I89
Magic: G274
Unique Skills: [Spirit Sight] (Details omitted) & [Spirit Devil] (Details omitted)
---
After recording all their updated stats, Lynn said, "All done."
Hearing this, Miko and Utaha hurriedly put their clothes back on.
Meanwhile, Saeko and Shizuka remained unfazed in their relaxed states, but Utaha and Miko had no time to worry about them.
The four girls took the blessing data from Lynn and began reviewing it.
Lynn, in turn, analyzed their progress.
Shizuka didn't need much explanation. She was a support-type devil, so her stats naturally wouldn't grow as quickly.
Still, for her first day, the progress was decent.
As a devil, she did have combat potential, just not as prominently as Saeko, who was a natural-born killer.
Saeko, of course, required no further discussion. Her [Bloodlust] skill gave her an inherent advantage over most others in raw stat growth.
Utaha had taken down a decent number of zombies that night as well.
Compared to before, her stat growth was actually quite solid.
That said, as one of Lynn's servants, she had already been completely overtaken by Saeko in just a single day, which was a little sad.
As for Miko, her stats had also improved reasonably well, but her [Spirit Devil] ability hadn't played much of a role in this world.
Realistically speaking, she would be far more suited to a world where spiritual entities were prevalent.
For now, her leveling efficiency was lower. It would be best to build up her foundations here first.
After reviewing their stats, the girls all seemed fairly satisfied.
Their hard work that night hadn't been in vain.
However, when Utaha, with Saeko's permission, took a look at her blessing data, she immediately fell into a deep existential crisis.
"Wait... You're telling me you only became Lynn's servant yesterday?!"
Saeko smiled and nodded.
Utaha: "..."
"Ah!" Miko suddenly exclaimed, "Utaha-senpai looks like she's lost all hope again!"
Utaha let out a sorrowful cry. "[Bloodlust]?! Why does such an overpowered ability even exist?!"
She was doomed!
Completely and utterly outclassed in every possible way!
The Next Morning.
Yawning, Utaha stepped out of her room.
She had been so naive.
She had thought staying in this world would give her more time to be close to Lynn.
She hadn't expected last night to turn out like that!
Utaha felt like the entire house had been filled with the noises of Saeko and Shizuka acting like ravenous beasts!
She had nearly ground her teeth to dust in frustration.
Even worse... she had ended up listening to those sounds while imagining Lynn...
Aaaaaaagh!
Utaha shook her head furiously, trying to erase the filthy images from her mind.
It was all Saeko's fault for saying, "Utaha, do you want to join us?"
Who the hell would join you?!
Although... she had been slightly tempted for a moment.
But her dignity as a woman had brought her back to her senses.
At the very least...Her first time should be something special between just her and Lynn, right?
Utaha thought about the bunny girl outfit she had ordered online earlier.
She wondered when it would arrive.
Creak
Miko pushed open her door, revealing deep, dark circles under her eyes.
Utaha and Miko exchanged glances, both letting out an awkward chuckle.
Miko sighed.
The whole blessing update process had already been shocking enough for her.
But the real shock had come afterward.
"This house... Isn't it a bit too much? Like one of those videos where people just never stop..."
The fact that she was now part of this same group made Miko sigh even deeper.
"Mom, I can't guarantee what kind of person your daughter is going to become..."
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For the next period, Lynn's followers settled into a routine of three simple activities:
Eating, sleeping (sort of), and beating up the Zombies.
It's worth noting that Miko initially stayed in the Apocalypse world for a few days but ultimately decided to return home before evening.
After all, she still had a mother at home.
If she spent too many nights away, her mom would start worrying. Especially since she had once seen Lynn walking Miko home, she had somehow gotten the impression that Miko was living with her boyfriend.
If Miko stayed out too much longer, her mom might start preparing to be a grandmother!
Supernatural Investigation Club
As usual, Utaha and Miko were preparing to head into the Apocalypse world.
Since both of them had become quite familiar with it by now, Lynn decided not to accompany them this time.
His exact words to them were: "As mature followers, you should learn to grind for experience on your own."
As their leader, he couldn't always babysit them through battles.
He had his own things to take care of.
Very important things....
Lynn's Home.
In the living room, Koneko Tojo was curled up against Lynn, watching the 'Defeat' screen on the TV with a slightly disappointed expression.
No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't surpass her senior Lynn.
Lynn patted her head in reassurance. "Don't worry, you were really close this time. Just a little more and you would've beaten me."
Koneko leaned back, gazing at his chin before murmuring, "You've said that so many times before, Senpai."
"Ha, have I?"
Seeing that Lynn honestly couldn't remember, Koneko sighed.
"Oh well. Just being able to play games with you makes me happy."
She stood up and prepared to teleport back home using a magic circle.
But just before leaving, she suddenly paused as if remembering something.
"Oh, right."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out two objects. "Rais-buchou asked me to give these to you when she heard I was coming over."
"They're from Sona Sitri?"
After Koneko left, Lynn inspected the items.
A key and a water magic scroll.
He raised an eyebrow, not sure what Sona was up to.
To be honest, their first meeting hadn't been all that pleasant.
And after that day, they hadn't really interacted much.
Sona had never brought up the idea of participating in a Rating Game again either.
Lynn had assumed that was the end of it.
But now she'd sent something through Rias, using Koneko as the messenger.
"Hmm"
"Oh well. Might as well accept it. No point wasting a free gift."
"The water magic scroll can be copied into the Devil's Grimoire for Utaha."
"As for the other item"
He picked up the key, noticing an address attached to it.
He glanced out the window.
The sky was getting gloomy, with rain likely on the way.
With nothing better to do, he decided to check it out.
On the way, a light rain had started to fall. But for a Devil like Lynn, it was easy enough to coat himself in magic so that the raindrops never even touched him.
...
"This should be the place, right?"
He wasn't entirely sure.
Looking around, he considered asking someone for directions. That's when he noticed a blonde girl sitting alone in a nearby park.
Something about her seemed familiar. Like he'd seen her in an anime before.
Lynn opened his system panel to check.
Sure enough, his Devil's Piece ability was flashing wildly.
Well, that confirmed it. With a small shift in direction, he changed his course toward the park.
Might as well recruit a new follower while he was here.
At Park
Sitting on a swing, drenched in the rain, Shiina Mahiru blinked in mild surprise as a pair of shoes stopped in front of her.
Looking up, she saw a young man with messy black hair and striking red eyes.
She felt no particular stir of emotiononly a reflexive response.
"I appreciate your concern, but this is by choice. I won't catch a cold."
Lynn: "..."
Damn. That was way too smooth.
Her rejection was so natural, so perfectly executed, that he had no idea how to respond for a second.
Clearly, she had done this many times before.
Noticing his expression, Mahiru hesitated slightly.
Had she been too harsh?
Other people had approached her earlier, and she had instinctively turned them away.
But was that rude?
As she wrestled with her thoughts, Lynn spoke up again.
"You look like you could use some help."
"No, I"
Mahiru began to decline out of habit, but Lynn interrupted her.
"Maybe I should put it more clearly."
His deep red eyes locked onto her warm caramel-colored ones. "Would you like the assistance of a Devil?"
"...Huh?"
Mahiru was stunned.
People often called her an angel, but today, she had met a man claiming to be a Devil?
.
.
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"D...Devil?"
Mahiru didn't know how to react.
'Another chuunibyou?'
'No, if I said nothing, will that make the Devil guy feel awkward?'
She hesitated, worried about being rude.
"Wow, so you're a Devil, huh? That's an amazing..uh ability?!"
Lynn: "..."
"If you put a little more emotion into that line, it'd sound way more convincing."
"Sorry." Mahiru lowered her head apologetically.
Ah... it felt like she messed up.
Lynn shook his head. It was obvious she didn't believe he was a Devil. But that was normal.
He had already tried recruiting Aoyama Nanami at the convenience store multiple times, but she had always brushed it off.
For ordinary peopleor rather, for those who had never encountered the supernaturalwho would believe Devils were real?
Thinking about it, Lynn took out a long-forgotten Devil contract flier.
It was a tool made by the Devils of this world to handle business.
If a customer needed assistance, they could use the flier to summon a Devil and make a request. In exchange, the Devil would take something of equal value as payment.
"If you ever need help, just call my name using this."
Mahiru absentmindedly accepted the flier, then suddenly realized, "Oh, so this is just a sales pitch."
Lynn ignored her remark and simply said, "Remember my nameLynn."
After handing over the flier and introducing himself, Lynn turned to leave.
But just as he was about to step out of the park, he stopped and turned back.
"?"
Mahiru looked at him, confused.
"Do you know the way to Apartment 5011?"
Mahiru: "...I'll take you there. That's the unit right next to mine."
Apartment 5011.
"Thanks for showing me the way, Mahiru-san."
Mahiru shook her head. "It's nothing."
Then, she entered her own apartment next door.
Seeing that, Lynn stepped into 5011.
The moment he opened the door, he could feel the aura of wealth.
"Tch, tch, as expected of the Sitri family's young lady. This place is extravagant."
What greeted him was luxurious decor and high-end brand-name furniture.
As for the other facilities? Everything was top-tier.
He wasn't sure if the place had always been like this or if someone had deliberately prepared it after giving him the key.
Either way...He wasn't going to say no to a free luxury apartment.
"Alright, first things firstI should set up a teleportation marker here."
"Also I need to see if my bed is big enough for my activities!"
Meanwhile...
Since Mahiru had gotten wet from the rain, she decided to take a bath before she caught a cold.
She stripped off her clothes and tossed them into the laundry basket.
At that moment, the Devil flier Lynn had given her fluttered out and landed on the floor.
Mahiru paused for a moment, then picked it up.
In the bathroom...sitting in the bathtub, Mahiru stared at the flier, lost in thought.
"Devils... can they really be real?"
She suddenly chuckled to herself.
How ridiculous.
Who would believe such a thing?
Summoning by simply calling a name? That was the kind of thing only children would fall for.
She tried to recall the name. "Lynn, wasn't it?"
"Hmph~ Let's see if I can expose this scam!"
Fixing her gaze on the Devil flier, Mahiru muttered, "Appear before me, Lynn."
The moment she spoke, she laughed.
Laughing at how childish she was being.
But then
Buzz
A dazzling light flashed inside the bathroom. A glowing purple magic circle emerged from the flier.
In the next second, Lynn's figure appeared and fell straight into the bathtub with a splash.
Lynn and the naked Mahiru locked eyes. His tone was complicated as he said, "You sure picked an... interesting place for a summoning."
"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!"
The loud scream echoed from Apartment 5010.
Later, in Apartment 5010's Living Room.
Now fully dressed, Mahiru sat across from Lynn, blushing furiously as she handed him a cup of hot tea.
Her gaze darted around the room, unable to meet his eyes.
She had... been completely seen.
Sitting on the couch, Mahiru let out a silent wail of despair.
Lynn took a sip of tea. "So? You summoned me so soonwhat kind of help do you need?"
Mahiru gave an awkward laugh.
Could she really say that she had only summoned him to confirm the flier was fake?
Who would've thought it would actually work?!
And more importantly...Mahiru hesitated. "Lynn-san... are you really a Devil?"
"Authentic and certified."
Lynn shrugged. "And besides, didn't you see it yourself?"
"I just... still find it hard to believe." Mahiru's emotions were complicated.
'So Devils... really do exist?'
'But Lynn didn't seem like the Devils from myths and legends.'
Mahiru was puzzled.
'Aren't Devils supposed to be evil?'
'Lynn-san isn't just handsomehe doesn't feel dangerous at all.'
"So? Have you made up your mind?" Lynn looked at Mahiru.
"Made up my mind about what?" Mahiru blinked in confusion.
"Your request."
Lynn looked at her, exasperated.
What was up with this girl? Did she summon him just so he could watch her take a bath?
Was she into exhibitionism or something?
Mahiru finally caught on.
"A request..."
She awkwardly played with a strand of her hair.
'What now?'
'Letting Lynn leave without asking for anything would feel like a waste.'
Ah... speaking of requests, she did have something in mind.
She remembered what happened earlier.
Today, her mother had lectured her again.
Even though she tried so hard to be a good girl, she still couldn't earn her parents' love.
Taking a deep breath, she looked straight at Lynn with newfound determination.
"Lynn-san, please teach me how to be a bad girl! I beg you!"
Being an angel... was exhausting.
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P.S: Drop your stones for more chapters!
Your support motivates me to update more!"
(500 ps bonus)
"A bad girl..."
Lynn pondered for a moment.
There were many ways to "go bad."
But would Shiina Mahiru be able to handle it?
If she wasn't careful, she might end up completely broken.
Lynn's crimson eyes flickered slightly. "If you want to be a bad girl, how about trying to become a Devil?"
"Huh?"
Mahiru froze.
"You mean... a Devil, like you?"
"That's right."
Lynn nodded. "When it comes to being 'bad,' a Devil fits the role perfectly, don't you think?"
Mahiru considered his words.
She had always been called an angel. If she really became a Devil, what would that be like?
"If I become a Devil, will I look weird?" she asked hesitantly.
"Do I look weird to you?" Lynn stared into her eyes, letting her take a good look.
Unable to handle his gaze, Mahiru turned her head slightly. "Fine, I'll do it! I'll become a Devil!"
'Wow... she agreed way too easily.' Lynn was a little surprised.
Normally, someone in her position would have the same reaction as Miko
They'd be terrified. Maybe even scared to the point of wetting themselves.
"Because you don't seem like a Devil at all, Lynn-san," Mahiru said with a smile.
Even though he called himself a Devil, he was nothing like the ones from legends.
Besides
As a human, she had never truly been happy.
Would her life be different if she changed her identity?
She wanted to know.
"Just so you know, if you become a Devil, you'll be my servant from now on," Lynn warned.
"Servant?" Mahiru tilted her head in confusion.
Lynn gave her a brief explanation about Devils and their servants.
"I see..." Mahiru blushed slightly. "So becoming a Devil means... entrusting everything to you, Lynn-san?"
She hesitated.
Was she really going to give herself to a man she had just met today?
A man who was also a Devil?
She had no idea what might happen.
"Lynn-san, do you really need a servant that badly?"
"Of course."
"Even someone like me?" Mahiru felt insecure.
Having grown up in a household where she was never truly wanted, she had no idea what kind of talents she possessed that would make a Devil want her.
Noticing her hesitation and doubt, Lynn answered without a second thought:
"Of course! Mahiru, I need you!"
She froze.
For a moment, it felt like something struck her heart.
For the first time She felt needed.
Her breathing quickened, and she placed a hand over her chest, feeling her heartbeat.
She suddenly recalled something her mother had once told her: "You're just an unwanted child!"
'No, Mother. From now on, I am wanted.'
"Lynn-san, my life is in your hands now."
Lynn smirked.
Another servant acquired.
This went unexpectedly smoothly.
He had no idea how much of a role Mahiru's mother played in this outcome.
A tiny rebellious spark had ignited within her.
The angel wanted to fall.
In Mahiru's bedroom
She lay on her bed, her face flushed as she exposed her back.
"Why do I have to show my back to become a Devil?!"
"Well... you could choose the front instead?"
Lynn thought he was being quite democratic about this.
Mahiru immediately refused. "No, that's absolutely unnecessary."
Burying her face in the blanket, her ears turned bright red.
She briefly questioned whether she had made the right decision to become a Devil.
Was this really a normal servant contract?
But as soon as the Devil's piece entered her body, it was already too late for regrets.
"Nnhhhh..."
She could feel the transformation happening.
Her body was burning, and power surged within her.
And then
Poof!
Two black wings extended from her lower back.
A heart-shaped tail lazily swayed behind her.
"This is..."
Mahiru's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she reached out to touch itonly to shudder violently.
Her fair skin instantly flushed pink.
Her breathing grew heavy, and she hastily retracted both her wings and tail, her face burning with embarrassment.
Sneaking a glance at Lynn, she worriedly thought: He... he didn't notice that, right?
Meanwhile, Lynn's attention was focused on Mahiru's status screen.
---
[Shiina Mahiru ]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: i0
Agility: i0
Endurance: i0
Magic: i0
Unique Skill: [Fallen Devil] (also known as [Fallen Angel Devil])
-[Fallen Devil]-
Gains Holy, Light, and Dark attributes
Fallen Wings (Unleashes light-dark feather attacks when wings are spread)
Accelerated agility growth
Devilization (Chaos Mode)
---
Seeing her abilities, Lynn's expression turned odd.
So, even after reincarnation, she remained an angel?
No, she had fallen.
[Fallen Devil]
A fusion of Fallen Angel and Devil traits.
How... bizarre.
But then
[Ding! You have acquired the skill "Fallen Devil"!]
Lynn raised a hand and released a bit of magic.
Buzz
A thread of light magic flickered into existence.
He reached out and touched it
No burning sensation.
His expression grew complicated.
So now, as a Devil, not only had he lost his weakness to light, but he also possessed power that was effective against Devils?
Hiss
Lynn sucked in a breath.
A single skill had erased his natural Devil weaknesses!
Light and holy energy were traditionally the greatest threats to Devils.
Under equal circumstances, Devils were naturally at a disadvantage against exorcists, angels, and Fallen Angels.
But now, thanks to Mahiru, that weakness was gone!
Amazing!
Angels were amazing!
Maybe he could even pretend to be a Fallen Angel now?
"Lynn-san? Is something wrong?"
Mahiru looked at him curiously.
"Mahiru, you're my lucky star!" Lynn smiled at her.
"Uhh..."
Flustered by his direct praise, Mahiru blushed but felt happy nonetheless.
After imprinting her status, she got dressed and checked her abilities.
She had already been briefed on how the system worked.
"Fallen Angel..."
Seeing this name, Mahiru nearly lost it.
Angel??? AGAIN?
Mahiru: "..."
Seeing her speechless reaction, Lynn barely held back a laugh.
Still, he explained the skill's importance properly.
"I see..."
Mahiru's eyes softened, and she smiled. "As long as it's useful to you, Lynn-san, that's all that matters."
Falling? So what?
Falling was amazing!
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(The 600 stones bonus)
Note that the familia = Peerage for Lynn so the author uses both words. Like when talking to Rais, he says 'Peerage,' but most of the time, he says 'Familia.' I hope this won't be confusing for anyone.
I hope you find the story interesting, and I assure you it will get even better when the Black Bullet world opens later.
If you have any suggestions for improvements, feel free to comment, and I'll work on them. I only started translating two or three months ago, so I'm still improving.
Enjoy your Reading
[Lynn's Familia Harem Chat Group]
[The Traditional Woman of the Busujima Family: "Fallen Angel?"]
[The Girl Who See: "Huh? An angel is invading the devil chat group?!"]
Yotsuya Miko, who was grinding experience in the zombie-infested world, was completely confused.
"An angel... in a devil's lair?!"
"Oh, wait."
"I missed the word 'fallen'."
"But still...A fallen angel? That's not exactly reassuring!"
She still remembered reading about the Three Faction War in the "Underworld Basics" file shared in the group!
[Fallen Angel-sama: "That's not my fault! I just became Lynn-san's new servant. And he wanted me to use this username... that's all..."]
Shiina Mahiru's face turned slightly red.
She knew this name would stir up some unnecessary attention in a chat group full of devils.
But...Mahiru glanced at Lynn's face from the side.
When it came to Lynn-san, she really couldn't say no.
"Lynn-san, would you like to have dinner together?" Mahiru asked expectantly.
It had been a long time since she had a meal with someone at home.
Lynn had no reason to refuse a meal prepared by his new familia.
"This is delicious!"
At the dining table, Lynn gave the highest praise.
Compared to Utaha's instant noodles, this was a million times better!
Mahiru's eyes curved happily.
Apocalypse World
Kasumigaoka Utaha stared at the chat messages.
So while she was here working hard to level up, Lynn had gone off somewhere and brought back another woman?
[Lynn's Familia Harem Chat Group.]
[Kasumi Utako: "@Sigma Man, Master, I need a magic refill~"]
"Ew~"
Miko shuddered at Utaha's message, her skin crawling.
Then she noticed Utaha giving her a death stare.
"..."
"Ahaha... Senpai, I'll just go grind experience over there!"
Miko bolted away immediately.
"Hmph~"
Utaha let out a soft snort.
But a faint pink blush crept up her neck.
It wasn't just because Lynn had brought in another womanshe felt a small sense of crisis.
She suddenly thought of the "bunny outfit" she had ordered before. And her face got even hotter.
That outfit had arrived a while ago.
But she had sealed it away in her closet the moment she saw it.
She hadn't checked the details when she placed the order.
Who would've thought that the "outfit" would have an openable bottom part?!
Who the hell designed such a "convenient" thing?!
[Ding!]
A new message in the chat brought her back to reality.
She quickly checked it.
[Sigma Man: "Isn't Shizuka's milk still available?"]
Utaha's lips twitched.
Ever since they updated their Blessings together, Shizuka Marikawa's [Healing Devil] ability had been fully exposed.
Who the hell would want to drink that?!
It was nothing compared to Lynn's saliva!
Waitno!
What the hell was she thinking?!
This is way too shameless!
Elsewhere, Yotsuya Miko, who had just escaped from Utaha, saw the messages and her expression turned strange.
She still remembered what she had said back then.
"Drinking breast milk is something you do before you turn two, so why is this happening now?"
Should she also... switch to drinking Lynn-sama's saliva too?
Uh...
Both options felt weird.
Miko was stuck in a dilemma.
Main World
Lynn looked at the chat, feeling a bit speechless.
Was Utaha getting more and more obsessed with his saliva lately?
Oh well.
Since he was planning to take Mahiru to test out her [Fallen Devil] ability anyway, he might as well visit them.
"Huh?"
Mahiru blinked. "Another world?"
Hearing that Lynn was taking her to another world left her completely stunned.
This was moving way too fast!
First, she reincarnates as a devil.
Now she's going to another world?
Mahiru never imagined that becoming a devil would mean completely breaking away from her past life so quickly.
Her life... was beginning to fill with new colors. Being a devil was amazing!
Mahiru's caramel-colored eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Even traveling between worlds is possible?"
"Lynn-san is truly incredible."
Under Mahiru's gaze of admiration, Lynn activated his magic.
A teleportation array formed beneath them.
With a flash of purple lightLynn and Mahiru vanished.
Supernatural Research Club
Mahiru was still in a daze.
"That was teleportation!"
"Hah! Where is this?" she asked.
"The Supernatural Research Club. Our familia's base at the school," Lynn explained casually.
He also told her to come tomorrow to officially join the club.
Mahiru was also a student at Shuchiin Academya pureblood student, no less.
Her parents might have neglected her, but there was no doubt she came from a prestigious family.
Just before stepping into the portal leading to the "Apocalypse World," Mahiru asked curiously, "Is everyone in the familia leveling up in another world?"
"That's right."
"Great! Then I have to work hard too!" Mahiru clenched her fists and pumped herself up.
She wanted to be someone Lynn needed even more!
Apocalypse World.
Lynn had barely arrived.
But before he could even settle in
Utaha somehow immediately locked onto his presence and rushed over.
Her eyes lit up.
'See?'
'Even though he said Shizuka's milk was enough, he still came for me.'
'Hmph~'
"Everyone, meet the new member of the familia."
Mahiru bowed slightly, smiling. "Hello, everyone. I'm Shiina Mahiru. Please take care of me."
Utaha froze for a moment.
'Okay, so maybe he didn't just come for me.'
She felt a little disappointed.
Lynn bringing a newbie here only meant one thing.
Time for the standard new member ability test.
But...Since he was already here...
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Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze was hazy.
She licked her lips, swallowing all of Lynn's saliva, fully committed to maximizing the magic replenishment effect.
Shiina Mahiru, who had just joined Lynn's peerage, widened her eyes, her pupils trembling violently.
As a newcomer, witnessing such an intense scene right off the bat was too much for her little heart to handle. It pounded wildly in her chest.
Seeing her exaggerated expression, Utaha looked away, clearly exasperated. She muttered under her breath, "Such a big deal over nothing."
It was just magic replenishment.
Yeah, that's all it wasmagic replenishment!
Utaha quickly composed herself, even going so far as to explain the concept to the newcomer while sharing some 'experience.'
'So that's how it works?'
Mahiru's expression was odd.
'ButWhy did it feel like Utaha-senpai's intentions weren't exactly pure?'
Curiosity got the better of her, and she continued listening.
"..."
'Wait!' Utaha abruptly stopped her explanation.
'Why was I even explaining this to a newbie?!'
'What if Mahiru started using this excuse to 'replenish magic' and harass Lynn in the future?'
'Lynn was already busy enough every day. He needed his rest!'
"? Utaha?"
Mahiru tilted her head in confusion.
Why did she stop? She wanted to hear more!
Lynn didn't concern himself with their little side drama.
If Mahiru could quickly get along with the rest of the peerage, he had no complaints.
He glanced over at Miko, who was staring at him eagerly, and raised a brow. "What's this? Do you need magic replenishment too, Miko?"
"N-No! I-I"
Yotsuya Miko panicked, waving her hands frantically.
But Lynn could clearly see that she looked exhausted, so he walked right over to her.
"This won't do. If you don't recover your stamina and magic, how are you supposed to level up properly?"
"Mmph!"
Miko's eyes widened in shock!
A soft touch pressed against her lips.
A pink shade spread across her cheeks.
Despite the embarrassment welling up inside her, her body made no attempt to pull away.
Her hands, unsure where to go, rested hesitantly on Lynn's chest.
'I-Is this my first real kiss?'
Her eyes glazed over.
'StrangeIt kind of tastes like orange-flavored lip balm'
'MmmWait, isn't this Utaha-senpai's flavor?'
It didn't last long.
Lynn soon pulled away.
But Miko still felt like she was floating, absentmindedly touching her lips.
Her first kissWas actually kind of nice?
On the other side, Utaha rolled her eyes at the scene.
She absentmindedly kicked at the air, muttering to herself, "Knew Miko wouldn't escape this fate either."
At this rate, was Miko going to surpass her?
The mere thought made Utaha freeze for a moment.
No way!
She needed to find an opportunity to throw herself into Lynn's bed!
Mahiru was slightly taken aback.
She finally understood the true meaning behind the name of the 'Lynn's Peerage (Familia) Harem' chat group.
She whispered under her breath, "So it really is a full-fledged harem"
Then, inevitably, her thoughts drifted to herself.
Her face flushed slightly.
Was she going to end up like that too?
With Miko's magic replenishment taken care of, Lynn turned his attention back to their progress in the Apocalypse World.
It had been half a month since he arrived.
By now, his peerage had explored most of the area around their base.
In fact, the local supply of zombies was starting to run low.
Utaha and Miko were fine since they only trained at night on weekdays.
But Saeko and Shizuka were different. Since they were originally from this world, they didn't have to worry about school or work anymore.
With nothing else to do, all they did was fight and kill zombies.
Well, mostly Saeko.
Before the apocalypse, she had always suppressed her true nature. Now that she could finally let loose, she was going all out with reckless abandon.
Poor Shizuka had been dragged along for the ride and was constantly complaining.
But the results were undeniable.
Saeko's growth rate was insane!
A few days ago, when updating her status, her Strength had broken past SS and reached SSS!
But that also meant she was reaching the limit for a Low-Class Devil.
If she kept going, she wouldn't see much more improvement unless she trained for years.
If today didn't bring any further progress, Lynn decided he would officially rank her up.
Of course, he hadn't forgotten the main reason he brought Mahiru here.
"Mahiru, let's test your abilities."
"Yes!"
Mahiru straightened her back, nervous but determined, clenching her hands together.
It was finally happening.
She had no idea what her abilities would actually be like.
Reading about them wasn't the same as experiencing them firsthand.
"Saeko."
"Yes, Master!"
Hearing Lynn's call, Saeko immediately understood what he wanted.
She launched forward like an arrow, her incredible speed leaving cracks in the ground.
Her physical abilities had improved so much she had practically reached the peak of a Low-Class Devil!
Within minutes, Saeko had lured a group of scattered zombies toward them.
"So these are zombies?" Mahiru took a deep breath, gripping her hands tightly.
Lynn had already explained the world's situation to her before they arrived.
But facing them in person was a whole different story.
Lynn thought about Mahiru's abilities.
After some consideration, he gave an order: "Rei, bring me a handgun."
"Ah, yes!"
Miyamoto Rei was briefly startled but quickly ran off to grab a weapon.
They had long since discovered the firearms stash in Rika's room.
But Lynn's familia had never needed them.
They had tested them out for fun, then left them to collect dust.
But Mahiru might be different. Her Fallen Wings were undoubtedly a large-scale attack ability.
But the cost would likely be high.
With her magic reserves, she wouldn't be able to use them continuously.
That meant she needed a more precise, low-cost attack option.
Imbuing bullets with magic and using firearms for pinpoint strikes could be a viable approach.
While waiting for the handgun, they had something else to test.
"Mahiru, try summoning your Fallen Angel Wings."
"Okay!"
Mahiru nodded seriously, closing her eyes and focusing on the energy within her.
"Mm"
Her back tingledsomething was coming out!
Whoosh
Black feathers scattered through the night sky.
A pair of massive black wings, nearly three meters across, emerged from her shoulder blades!
The dark color, so deep and rich, contrasted with Mahiru's naturally pure appearance, creating a strangely enticing blend of holiness and corruption.
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.
.
Staring at the black wings on the back of Shiina Mahiru, Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes flickered with surprise.
She couldn't help but ask suspiciously, "This girl she wasn't actually an Angel before, was she?"
Those wings were clearly different from their Devil wings!
"Looks like this newcomer isn't so simple." Busujima Saeko leaned in, giving her evaluation.
"You sneaky cat."
Utaha rolled her eyes at her, feeling a bucketful of resentment.
Listening to her "music" every night before bedhow could she not hold a grudge?
---
On the other side.
Mahiru flapped her wings and curiously reached out to touch them.
They were warm! They were truly a part of her body like her tail.
Thinking about that tail, Mahiru's face flushed slightly.
A tail that was a nasty organ!
Lynn walked up beside her and reached out to touch them as well.
"Hmm, kind of like petting a cat."
"Uh" Mahiru's eyes wavered in slight panic.
Lynn's touch gave her a strange feeling.
When she touched them herself, it didn't feel like this.
Why was it different when Lynn did it?
It felt nice.
A strange urge welled up inside hershe wanted to lie in Lynn's arms and let him keep stroking her.
"Mahiru, try attacking those zombies."
Lynn's words snapped her back to reality.
"Ah okay."
Mahiru immediately became flustered.
Lynn sighed. "Use your wings."
With his reminder, Mahiru calmed herself down.
Taking a deep breath
She swung her black wings forward with force!
A strong gust of wind blew her golden hair into disarray.
One by one, the black feathers shimmered with both white and black light.
Swish
A sound like the tearing of air whizzed through the night sky!
Boom! Boom!
The feathers pierced through the zombies, blasting into the filthy ground and leaving crater-sized holes.
The power was decent. For a lower-ranked Devil, this was already quite impressive.
Lynn shifted his gaze from the ground to the zombies.
What intrigued him more was Mahiru's light-and-dark attributes.
The zombies struck by the light-infused feathers slowly dissolved, as if burned by searing flames, releasing wisps of white smoke.
Meanwhile, those hit by the dark-infused feathers were devoured by a sludge-like energy, vanishing entirely.
Burning and corrosion?
Mahiru's abilities seemed to add some kind of debuff to enemies.
AndLight attributes really were a natural enemy of Devils.
Lynn turned his head to look at Utaha and the others, who had unknowingly distanced themselves by several dozen meters from Mahiru.
When their gazes met, Utaha gave an awkward smile and uneasily rubbed her arm, looking at Mahiru with clear apprehension.
"Master, are you sure Mahiru wasn't actually an Angel?"
Utaha's expression was complicated.
Could it be that Lynn had actually corrupted a real Angel?
Otherwise, how could she explain Mahiru's light attribute and that divine aura?
When the light attribute appeared just now, Utaha felt like she had encountered her natural predator, sending chills down her spine!
Even Saeko and the others weren't spared.
With all this commotion, calling Mahiru a Devilwho would believe it?
"Mahiru, show them your Devil wings."
Lynn didn't waste time arguing and simply told her to prove it.
Mahiru quickly revealed her Devil wings.
Mahiru's fallen angel wings were a skill, not her real wings.
And she didn't want any misunderstandings with her fellow familia members because of her abilities.
In her eyes, since everyone was Lynn's followers, they were like family. And she cherished family deeply.
So, she didn't want any unnecessary conflict.
"Well turns out she really is a Devil."
Utaha's tone was still conflicted.
A Devil with traits exclusive to Fallen Angels. And even possessing the holiness of an Angel?
ThisIt was hard to judge.
"Lynn-sama, the gun."
At that moment, Takagi Saya came running over, panting, her chest bouncing with each step.
Lynn took the gun from her.
"Hmm, a Desert Eagle."
It didn't quite suit Mahiru's petite frame, and the recoil was quite strong.
But then againShe was a Devil.
"Infuse it with your light attribute and see what happens."
Mahiru took the gun, looking serious as she slowly infused it with light energy, then
Bang!
"Ah I missed"
Mahiru curled her toes in embarrassment.
"That's on meI forgot you've never handled a gun before."
Lynn thought for a moment, then stepped behind Mahiru, placing his hands over hers.
Mahiru bit her lip and instinctively folded her wings inward, allowing Lynn to press closer.
Lynn didn't hesitate, gripping her hands firmly and instructing, "Keep infusing light energy."
"Mm~"
Mahiru's tone sounded off.
Lynn's breath was so close.
Her earsHer weak spot had been touched
Her chest rose and fell more noticeably, her body softening as she unconsciously leaned into Lynn's embrace.
Utaha: ??
Practicing shooting has such benefits?!
Saeko's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Looks like I need to learn how to shoot too."
Utaha followed up without missing a beat. "Then I can't fall behind. I'm the most diligent learner, after all."
Yotsuya Miko: ...
I can't watch this.
Are they really here to learn shooting?
Bang! Bang! Bang!
While everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Lynn guided Mahiru's hands, firing bullets into the zombies.
"The effect is mediocre." Lynn frowned slightly.
But it wasn't Mahiru's fault.
"Ordinary human weapons can't handle too much magic."
"But it's still barely usable."
It seemed he needed to find Mahiru a proper weapon.
AndZombies couldn't really showcase her light attribute's advantage against Devils.
They needed to find a stray Devil to test on.
Lynn let go of Mahiru's hands.
Mahiru suddenly felt empty.
She stood there, dazed for a moment, before realizing she was still leaning against Lynn.
"S-Sorry!"
Mahiru quickly straightened up, her face burning red.
"No worries. If you want to lean on me, you can stay like that forever."
Lynn smirked, teasing the angelic girl.
F-F-Forever?!
Whoosh
Mahiru felt her brain overheating.
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After testing Shiina Mahiru's abilities, Saeko helped her gain some experience.
Once they were done, Mahiru had no intention of going home.
A house where she lived alone... there was nothing worth going back to.
With a determined look, she said, "Since I've become one of Lynn-san's familiars, it's only right for me to take care of him!"
"So, housework, cooking, and all thatjust leave it to me!"
Rolling up her sleeves, she radiated enthusiasm.
Ah... such a strong sense of domesticity...
Utaha and Miko exchanged subtle glances.
Miko began to reflect on herself.
She hadn't really taken care of her master much...
Determined, she decided she'd ask her mom for cooking lessons as soon as they got back!
As for Utaha, she had taken care of Lynn for a while back when they lived together.
But she had done a terrible job at it.
To the point that Lynn had outright banned her from the kitchen.
Recalling those embarrassing memories, Utaha slumped in defeat.
---
"Saeko, let's begin the level-up process."
"Yes, Master."
Busujima Saeko removed her clothes and lay face down on the bed, waiting for Lynn to grant her a level-up.
As he let a drop of his blood fall onto her back, her Status appeared.
---
[Busujima Saeko ]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: SSS 1378
Agility: SS 1096
Endurance: SS 1035
Magic: SS 1028
Unique Abilities: [Bloodlust] (Details omitted) & [Blade Devil] (Details omitted)
---
Her stats had nearly hit their limits. No matter how much she trained, they probably wouldn't increase much more.
Lynn praised her, "Not bad. You've done really well."
No, "not bad" was an understatement. Among his familia, only Saeko had reached this level. The others weren't even close.
And her growth rate was on an entirely different level.
[Bloodlust] was truly a powerful ability.
"Mmm~" Saeko let out a soft hum.
Just hearing Lynn's praise made her feel happy for a long time.
"Alright, time for the upgrade." Lynn focused and placed his hand on her smooth back.
This was his first time leveling up a familiar, so he wasn't sure what to expect.
"Level Ascension!"
He silently activated the skill.
The Devil's Piece ability on his status screen lit up instantly.
At the same time, a glow spread across Saeko's back.
Buzz
The glow lasted for a moment before fading, revealing her updated status.
---
[Busujima Saeko]
Rank:Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Abilities: Bloodlust & Blade Devil
[Bloodlust]
The stronger the desire for slaughter, the faster stats increase.
Removes certain limitations.
[Blade Devil]
Slashing Technique
Swordsmanship (Can master blade techniques instantly upon seeing them)
Blade Armor.
Accelerated Strength Growth
Accelerated Agility Growth
Devil Transformation (Weaponized Body)
Development Ability: Swordmaster (Increases attack power when using bladed weapons): i
---
"A Development Ability?"
Lynn was momentarily surprised.
His Blessing System now included development abilities after leveling up.
She had also officially become a Mid-Class Devil.
And...Lynn squinted.
Her Devil Blade skill had undergone slight changes.
Blade Armor?
He decided to set that aside for nowthere were more pressing matters.
Because of this level-up, not only had Saeko advanced...
As her master, he had also received a feedback boost, breaking through from High-Class Devil to Ultimate-Class Devil.
System notifications popped up in rapid succession.
[Ding! Your familiar 'Busujima Saeko' has advanced to Mid-Class Devil!]
[Ding! Your power has increased!]
[Ding! Your rank has broken through!]
[Ding! Your skill 'Devil's Piece' has undergone a slight change!]
Lynn narrowed his eyes at the last notification.
Devil's Piece was his core abilitywhether the change was good or bad, he wasn't sure.
Opening his status screen, he examined the details.
---
[Lynn Valifer]
Race: Devil
Rank: Ultimate-Class Devil
Authority: None
Familia: Kasumigaoka Utaha, Yotsuya Miko, Busujima Saeko, Marikawa Shizuka, Shiina Mahiru
Skills:
Devil's Piece
Devil's Contract
Magic Release
Archivist Devil
Spirit Devil
Blade Devil
Healing Devil
Fallen Devil
---
His rank had indeed changed. High-Class Devil had become Ultimate-Class Devil.
With five familia members now, plus Saeko's level-up, his own power had finally undergone another leap forward.
Rising two ranks in less than a month...
If people found out, they'd probably be insanely jealous.
Especially someone like Rias, who had been stuck at High-Class Devil for a long time.
Feeling his strength surge, Lynn couldn't help but smile.
But the most important thing was still the change in Devil's Piece.
Focusing his mind, he clicked on the skill.
In an instant, he found himself surrounded by an endless starry sky.
His eyes widened in confusion.
"This is..."
Touching his chin, he observed carefully.
"Five chess pieces... orbiting around me?"
Lynn frowned in thought. "So what does this mean?"
Five pieces... they likely represented Utaha and the others.
And he, as their master, was the core at the center?
So...Did this starry space represent his familia shape?
"..."
"So after all that... I just got a fancy new display?"
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(800 power stones bonus)
"As expected, it's really weak." Lynn sighed.
He wasn't exactly sure what was happening, but he knew that Devil's Piece wouldn't change for no reason.
He didn't know if this change was because of his rank-up or some other reason.
For now, he set the mystery of Devil's Piece aside and turned his attention back to Saeko.
After copying down her updated status, Saeko, still undressed, carefully examined the changes to her stats.
Her rankShe was now a Mid-Class Devil.
She had already felt the transformation in her body during the upgrade.
It was a fundamental change.
It felt like her body was filled with an explosive power, a strength that hadn't been there before.
She could tellher current self could easily overwhelm her past self.
And more than thatShe could feel that her skill Blade Devil had undergone some kind of change.
Sure enoughWhen she saw the new ability Blade Armor added under Blade Devil, her eyes lit up with understanding.
She focused her mind.
Shing!
A sharp, gleaming blade suddenly extended from Saeko's right arm.
"So this is Blade Armor" Lynn muttered in thought.
Saeko curiously examined her new ability.
"It feels strange," she murmured.
It was as if the blade was an extension of her own flesh and blood.
She flicked the blade lightly with her delicate fingers.
A crisp metallic sound rang out.
"It's really durable."
Saeko was very satisfied with this new power.
Now she no longer needed to search for a suitable weapon.
The sword she had brought from school had already been worn down after weeks of intense battles.
This ability came at just the right time!
FinallyThere was the new Development Ability.
"Swordmaster?" Saeko muttered.
"It suits you perfectly." Lynn patted her head.
Like a cat, Saeko closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly, enjoying her master's touch.
"Master, I've taken another step closer to becoming your sharpest blade," she said, blinking up at him expectantly.
She was clearly waiting for a reward.
Lynn smirked and gently pinched her chin.
No words were needed between master and servant.
That night, the rain poured down.
That night, the sounds didn't stop.
That night, someone new couldn't sleep.
For the first time, Shiina Mahiru was spending the night at the familia base in the World of Highschool the Dead.
And it was proving to be quite the experience.
"T-The sounds are too loud"
Wrapped up in a blanket, Mahiru pulled it over half her face, her caramel-colored eyes peeking out.
At that moment, her eyes looked a little moist.
The Next Morning
At dawn, Kasumigaoka Utaha took one look at Shiina Mahiru's dark circles and burst out laughing.
"So this is what you get for not going home!" she teased.
Mahiru blushed in embarrassment and hurried off to make breakfast.
However, her enthusiasm caused two particular people to start feeling uneasyMiyamoto Rei and Takagi Saya.
They had always considered themselves responsible for the team's logistics.
But if Mahiru took over even that
Miyamoto Rei and Takagi Saya exchanged glances, both coming to the same realization.
Over the past few days, through conversations with Saeko and the others, they had gradually come to understand Lynn's true identity.
A Devil. A being they had only ever heard about in myths and legends.
And yet, here he was, standing right in front of them.
At first, it seemed unbelievable.
But then again, these past few weeks had been filled with unbelievable things.
First, the apocalypse happened, turning most of humanity into Zombies.
Then, Saeko and the others started displaying supernatural powers.
Saeko's sword aura, Utaha's magic, Shizuka's healing tonics, Miko's spirit attacks
And yesterday, a literal Fallen Angel had appeared before them!
Everything defied common sense.
Not to mention, everyone here was Lynn's servantexcept for the two of them.
They had already considered becoming his subordinates. But they feared they weren't worthy.
After all, if Lynn had wanted them as his servants, wouldn't he have claimed them already?
They still remembered what Saeko had told them about their duties as part of the support teamincluding keeping Lynn entertained.
Back then, they had even fantasized about what that might mean. And they had mentally prepared themselves.
"This is the apocalypse," they had told themselves. "If we want to survive, we have to make sacrifices, right?"
"There aren't many men left we can't stay single forever, can we?"
"And it's Lynn. He's strong, handsome, reliable, and has supernatural powers. If it's him, it wouldn't be so bad, right?"
They had convinced themselves.
They had even started looking forward to it.
And yetNothing happened.
Nothing at all.
It was frustrating.
But todayThey had waited long enough.
Determination burned in their eyes.
Lynn stepped out of Saeko's room feeling refreshed.
Last night, he had been quite thorough in "ba...uh training" Saeko.
Even as a Mid-Class Devil, she couldn't afford to slack off.
As he walked into the living room, he immediately noticed something.
Rei and Saya were staring at him.
Their eyes were full of expectation.
Lynn hesitated.
"Uh you two"
"Master Lynn!"
Both of them suddenly stepped forward.
"Please make us your servants!"
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Advanced chapters available at: patreon.com/_Coreal
A perfect dogeza.
Lynn lowered his head slightly, giving his evaluation with a serious expression.
Miyamoto Rei and Takagi Saya had their foreheads pressed firmly against the floor, their large chests squished beneath them, visibly distorted from the pressure.
Lynn simply watched them without saying a word.
The atmosphere grew heavier, the silence stretching unbearably. Neither of them dared to move, but as time passed, their hearts sank deeper, a sense of despair creeping in like an encroaching shadow.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had also witnessed the scene unfold.
After spending half a month together, she had grown quite familiar with Rei and Saya. She didn't have a bad impression of them.
At first, they had a certain spoiled air about them, but it wasn't anything too unbearable.
Just looking at their appearances and figures, it was clear that before the apocalypse, they had been the kind of girls who drew plenty of attention.
A bit of pampering was only natural.
If not for the end of the world, they would have had promising, comfortable lives ahead of them.
Both came from well-off familiesTakagi Saya, in particular, was practically a noble young lady.
But then, the apocalypse happened, and everything crumbled under the relentless wave of the undead.
Over the past half-month, though, they had adapted.
Their work in logistics had become increasingly efficient and well-organized.
Their former delicate demeanor? Completely gone. At least to Utaha, they were no longer irritating.
She couldn't understand why Lynn hadn't accepted them as his servants yet.
They were beautiful girls, after all.
And from what she knew about Lynn, if he hadn't intended to take them in, he probably wouldn't have brought them along in the first place.
Still, whether or not they became part of his peerage (familia) was Lynn's decision. As one of his servants, Utaha had no intention of interfering.
Meanwhile, from the kitchen, Shiina Mahiru peeked out, her little head sticking out just enough to observe. She was still holding a ladle in her hand.
She let out a soft "Eh?" before poking Utaha's side and whispering, "Wait they're not already part of the peerage?"
Utaha shook her head.
Minute by minute, time ticked away.
Just as Rei and Saya felt the last traces of hope slipping away, Lynn suddenly smiled.
"Alright."
The two girls' heads snapped up, their eyes filled with disbelief. Then, realization hit, and joy flooded in, their emotions surging uncontrollably.
Tears streamed down their cheeks.
Rei wiped at her eyes, choking on her words. "I I thought Lord Lynn didn't want us anymore."
"M-Me too," Saya sobbed, burying her face in her hands.
That feelingthe sudden drop into the pits of despair, only to be pulled back up into heavenwas unforgettable.
Lynn reached out, placing his hands gently on their heads, his thumbs softly stroking their hair.
"Relax. Good girls deserve rewards."
"You two have done well these past weeks. Naturally, I'll reward you."
At that, Rei and Saya broke down completely, sobbing uncontrollably.
Rei, still on her knees, crawled forward and wrapped her arms around Lynn's leg, clinging to him like her life depended on it, tears soaking into his pants.
All the emotions she had suppressed came pouring outthe confusion, fear, anxiety, and uncertainty of living in the apocalypse.
Every single night. Until Lynn accepted her, she had never once felt safe. She would often jolt awake in the middle of the night, haunted by nightmares of being discarded.
Terrified that one day, she would wake up only to see Lynn's cold gaze and hear the words: You're no longer useful.
So now, receiving his acknowledgment, she wanted nothing more than to merge herself completely into him.
Seeing Rei's reaction, Saya quickly followed suit, hugging Lynn's other leg tightly.
In an instant, his legs were completely trapped between two soft, trembling bodies.
Lynn's eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion, his lips curling into a deep, knowing smile.
"Ah, without a doubt, that's the smile of a Devil," Utaha muttered internally.
Lynn truly lived up to the title of Devil.
Seeing his expression, Utaha finally understood what he had been doing all this time.
Lynn had seen right through Rei and Saya from the beginning.
Even in the apocalypse, they hadn't fully let go of their past mindsets from modern society.
That was why, at times, traces of their former selves still surfaced.
But nowThere was no trace of that left.
They had been completely tamed by Lynn.
The methods of a Devil were truly terrifying.
"Oh wait, I'm a Devil too? Never mind then."
Once their crying subsided, Lynn patted their heads and took a seat on the couch.
Rei and Saya immediately stopped their tears and scrambled to kneel in front of him again, positioning themselves so his hands could rest easily on their heads.
"How obedient."
A flash of satisfaction crossed Lynn's eyes.
Waiting half a month had paid off.
Though he had expected them to last a bit longer, he wasn't disappointed to see them surrender today.
What Lynn didn't know was that Rei and Saya had given in long agothey were just too scared to admit it.
If they voiced their desires and were rejected, what would they do then?
Living in this apocalyptic world had already smoothed out all their rough edges.
Compared to other survivors, they were incredibly lucky to have found Lynn.
Not only was he powerful, but he was also incredibly attractive.
To them, giving themselves to him wasn't a lossit was an absolute gain. Because Lynn would grant them power in return!
Lynn reached out and pinched their cheeks before conjuring two Devil's Pieces.
"Let me confirm thisonce you become my peerage, you will belong to me completely."
"Mm! Mm!!" x2
Rei and Saya nodded vigorously, eyes shining with anticipation, without a hint of hesitation.
"Good. Then strip."
Without any delay, they quickly started undressing.
They had never witnessed a Devil's Reincarnation before, nor did they know why they had to remove their clothing.
But! If Lord Lynn told them to strip, then they would strip!
Not knowing if he meant only the top or the bottom, they played it safeAnd removed everything.
They did it swiftly, without hesitation.
In mere moments, two completely bare figures knelt before Lynn.
Their heads tilted upward like obedient puppies, gazing at him pitifully.
But if one looked closely, a soft pink blush had spread across their skin.
It was their first time exposing themselves entirely to a man.
They had undressed quickly, but that didn't mean they weren't embarrassed.
Still, their fear overpowered their shame.
What if they hesitated and missed their chance to become Lynn's servants?
Fighting back their shyness, Rei and Saya bared themselves completely for Lynn.
Lynn, unfazed, openly admired the view.
After all, from now on, they belonged to him.
Holding the chess pieces, he asked, "Front or back?"
Rei and Saya exchanged glances before answering in unison: "Whichever Lord Lynn prefers!"
""
"Good!"
.
.
.
Miyamoto Rei and Takagi Saya both left the choice to Lynn, so naturally, he was going to engrave the blessing wherever he liked.
Nobody could say Lynn wasn't democratic now.
He had given them the option. But since they insisted he chooseWell, what could he do?
He had no choice but to respect their decision.
With a firm smack on each side, Lynn's hands pressed directly into their soft, big chests, enjoying the sensation as he placed the Devil's chess pieces inside.
"Mm~"
"Ahh!"
Two completely different gasps filled the air, giving Lynn a mix of visual and auditory pleasure.
Rei bit her lip, her eyelashes trembling slightly as she avoided his gaze, her whole body burning up.
She wasn't sure if it was due to the Devil reincarnation ritual or something else.
Saya, on the other hand, was breathing heavily, her legs going weak. She could no longer stay kneeling and had to lean back on her hands, unintentionally revealing something mysterious.
Rei glanced at her and immediately felt a chill in her heart. Her eyes toward Saya subtly changed.
Scheming girl!
Blushing, she also pretended her legs had given out, letting her hips touch the floor while spreading her knees just a little.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was utterly dumbfounded, her face instantly turning bright red.
Shameless! Absolutely shameless!!
These two!
She really hadn't noticed before!
She was a fool!
Why was she even standing here watching Lynn train his new subordinates?!
This kind of scene was way too much for her!
---
In the Kitchen
Shiina Mahiru had just about finished preparing breakfast and was coming out to watch the drama, only to be met with Utaha's exaggerated expression.
"What's wrong?"
Mahiru tilted her head in confusion and was about to turn her head when
Whoosh!
Utaha lunged at her, shoving her back into the kitchen.
"Mahiru, promise medon't look! Don't be curious!!"
Utaha's eyes were filled with urgency. "You'll break! You'll absolutely break!!"
Especially for a girl as pure as MahiruThat room was hell itself!
"Eh?"
Mahiru blinked.
Now she was really curious.
But seeing Utaha's desperate plea, she simply smiled and said, "Okay, I promise."
'Truly an angel.'
Utaha looked at that angelic smile and couldn't help but sigh.
---
Back in the Living Room
The reincarnation ritual was complete. Lynn withdrew his hands.
As expected, Rei and Saya both revealed their newly-formed Devil wings and tails.
Lynn's gaze fell on their chests, and two streams of information appeared before his eyes.
[Miyamoto Rei]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: i0
Agility: i0
Endurance: i0
Magic: i0
Innate Skill: [Piercing Spear] (Enhances attacks with polearms, adding a piercing effect. Increases strength growth rate.)
[Takagi Saya]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: i0
Agility: i0
Endurance: i0
Magic: i0
Innate Skill: [Insightful Eye] (Enhanced dynamic vision. Ability to perceive weaknesses.)
---
---
It appeared!
A normal Devil reincarnation!
Lynn was actually a bit surprised.
His gaze turned somewhat complicated as he looked at Rei and Saya.
In a way they were still rare in any other peerage.
But even if they hadn't become special Devils, just having his blessing system made their potential far greater than other Devil servants.
For example, a certain red-haired princess who shall not be named
After all, his blessing system was a direct pathway to Maou-level powerpossibly even beyond.
In terms of potential? Most Devil servants couldn't even compare.
Lynn turned his attention back to Rei and Saya.
While they hadn't become special Devils, they still had awakened innate skills.
'As expected of the main cast from a post-apocalyptic survival story.'
At that moment
Lynn's system notifications popped up.
[Ding! You have obtained new servants: Lower-Class Devils 'Miyamoto Rei' and 'Takagi Saya'!]
[Ding! Your power has slightly increased!]
[Ding! You have obtained the skills 'Piercing Spear' and 'Insightful Eye'!]
Not bad. His skill list was growing again. Overall, these two skills were quite useful.
At the very least, they had practical applications.
[Piercing Spear] granted a piercing effectthough it was limited to polearms.
Still, it wasn't bad.
He just wondered if it would work with a magic-formed spear
[Insightful Eye]the enhanced dynamic vision might not be that useful for a High-Class Devil, but the ability to see weaknesses?
That was very useful.
At the very least, it allowed him to target vulnerabilities with precision.
After finishing his evaluation, Lynn shared the information with Rei and Saya.
The two, still completely unclothed, eagerly checked their stats with excitement.
Skipping over the basic attributes, they focused entirely on the last section.
"Piercing Spear!"
"Insightful Eye!"
Seeing their respective abilities, they gasped, eyes shining with joy.
For Lynn, these were decent skills.
But for Rei and Saya? They were god-tier!
"[Piercing Spear] is perfect for me!"
Rei had been a spear-wielding athlete in high school.
She was already a master of the weapon.
Now, with a skill that enhanced her specialty, it was like she was born for it!
Saya wasn't disappointed either.
Not only did [Insightful Eye] cure her nearsightednessthough that might have been due to Devil transformationBut the enhanced vision let her observe things in far greater detail!
And the ability to see weaknesses?
That was huge!
But most importantlyThey were Devils now!
Their physical abilities had skyrocketed.
And inside them, they could feel a new kind of energyMagic.
They had finally stepped into the supernatural world.
And all of itWas thanks to Lynn-sama's gift.
Thud!
Rei and Saya dropped to their hands and knees before him, lifting their white hips high into the air.
"Lynn-sama, please grant us our reward for serving you!" x2
Lynn smirked.
Ahh, it was time to reap the results of his training.
"Wait"
Eavesdropping from the kitchen, Utaha couldn't take it anymore.
She rushed into the living roomBut it was too late.
Lynn, Rei, and Saya were gone.
"Wait! I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ON THE TRAIN YET!!"
"Damn it!"
.
.
.
PS: More power stones = More chapters
Shuchiin Academy - Faculty Office
Sitting behind her desk, Minamiya Natsuki looked at Utaha and couldn't help but sigh.
"Why is it you again asking for Lynn's leave?"
Boof!
Utaha felt like she just took a critical hit to the heart.
It wasn't like she wanted to be here!
She had been carefully plotting how to get herself into Lynn's bed, but somehow, she still got cut in lineby not one, but two people!
She was about to cough up blood from frustration.
Who would have thought that Rei and Saya, who always seemed so reserved, could be this bold?!
It was one thing to let Lynn "educate" them in the living room.
But then, they hit her with a sneak attack at the last moment!
What was she supposed to do?
She couldn't just barge into Lynn's room, yank them out from under the covers, and demand to go first, could she?
She just couldn't.
BesidesFor them to take such a step, they must have made up their minds completely.
Utaha had no reason to stop them.
Outside the Faculty Office
Shiina Mahiru looked at Utaha, who seemed a little out of it, and asked with concern, "Utaha, are you sure you're okay?"
She had been acting weird ever since they got back from the Apocalypse world.
"I'm fine!"
Utaha forced herself to snap out of it.
After leaving Natsuki's office, one thought had been running through her mindHow could she naturally get herself into Lynn's bed?
Her wine-red eyes glimmered with determination.
She needed Saeko's help!
3 PM. Supernatural Research Club
"Lynn-san, here's my club application!"
Mahiru handed a completed form to Lynn.
Utaha clapped her hands in celebration. "Nice! Now our Supernatural Research Club officially has four members!"
Well, except for the fact that, aside from the president, everyone else was a beautiful girl.
Once Mahiru had officially joined, the group was ready to head to the Apocalypse world.
But just as they were about to leave, Lynn suddenly said, "Mahiru, stay here for a bit. I'll take you somewhere later."
"Huh?"
Mahiru tilted her head in confusion but nodded. "Okay."
Utaha and Miko exchanged glances but didn't ask any questions. They simply stepped through the portal leading to the undead world.
Lynn then took out his phone and checked his messages with Rias.
---
[Rias: Stray devils?]
[Rias: There are a few in Kuoh Town. I usually let Koneko use them for training.]
[Rias: If you need them, just use a magic circle to teleport over. I've already adjusted the barrier so you can pass through freely.]
[Lynn: Got it.]
---
That was a conversation from earlier.
After realizing that Mahiru's ability wasn't fully effective against the zombies, Lynn thought of stray devils.
But finding them himself would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
So, he reached out to the lady of the Gremory household, who owned an entire town as her territory.
And sure enoughStray devils were no big deal for Rias.
Who knows?
Maybe he could borrow something else while he was thereLike a good weapon for enchantments?
Preferably something with holy attributes.
"Let's go."
Lynn gently placed a hand on Mahiru's waist as a magic circle lit up beneath their feet.
Kuoh Town ~ Kuoh AcademyOld School Building
A violet glow shimmered in the air as Lynn and Mahiru materialized inside.
Rias paused what she was doing and looked up.
"Looks like I came at just the right time?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow as he noticed Rias's half-dressed appearance.
She wore nothing but black lace underwear on the bottom, with only a loose white shirt on top.
Rias shot him a look. "If you'd arrived any earlier, I might've greeted you with a blast of destruction magic."
She then calmly buttoned up her shirt. Not at all shy, she picked up her skirt from the floor, pulled it on, and sat down on the couch.
She flicked her damp crimson hair, sending water droplets flying.
Clearly, she had just finished showering.
Lynn had teleported in right as she was getting dressed.
But she wasn't angry about itAfter all, it wasn't like he had seen everything.
And more importantly, she had a pretty good impression of Lynn.
"Is this your new servant?"
Rias curiously examined the blonde girl beside Lynn.
Something felt off.
For some reason, this girl's aura didn't match that of a devil at all.
"Shiina Mahiru. Cute, isn't she?"
Lynn chuckled, ruffling Mahiru's hair.
"Mm"
Mahiru lowered her head, blushing.
Lynn's hand was so big and warm.
ButShe felt like he was treating her like a child.
She wasn't sure how to feel about that.
"She is adorable."
Rias nodded in agreement.
No matter how you looked at her, Mahiru was undeniably a stunning beauty.
Lynn sure had good taste.
But what surprised Rias even more was how quickly he was gathering servants.
"You work fast," she remarked. "I can't believe it's been less than a month, and you already have two servants."
She couldn't help but compare herself.
From the day she received her Evil Pieces to now, nearly two years had passedAnd yet, she still only had Akeno and Koneko.
She hadn't even found a suitable candidate for a Pawn piece yet.
'Sigh'
Thinking about it, Rias couldn't help but feel frustrated.
If things kept going at this pace, would she even be able to achieve her goal?
"Two?"
Lynn hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to tell her the truth.
After a brief pause, he decided, "Actually Mahiru is my fifth servant."
Rias: "What?"
.
.
.
Rias stared in shock. "F-Five?!"
Hadn't it been less than a month since she gave Lynn his Evil Pieces?
How was this even possible?
Did he just recruit anyone he came across?
Rias frowned slightly at the thought but quickly composed herself.
After all, it wasn't really her place to say anything about someone else's peerage.
Besides, with someone like Utaha in Lynn's group, it was clear that his peerage wasn't weak.
Of course, what she didn't know was that while Mahiru was indeed the fifth, Lynn's peerage was far larger than just five members.
In fact, he had just added two more to his ranks but was busy making them adapt to the shape of his peerage.
---
Kuoh Academy Occult Research Club
"Lynn-san, here's your tea."
As usual, Himejima Akeno served Lynn a cup of tea.
Of course, she also handed one to Shiina Mahiru.
"Thank you," Mahiru said politely, accepting the cup.
"Akeno, it's been a while," Lynn said casually.
"Ara, I'm surprised you even remember me, Lynn-san." Akeno smiled playfully, holding the tray with both hands. "I thought you were too busy playing with the cat to remember that the President and I even exist."
Lynn's frequent gaming sessions with Koneko had not gone unnoticed by Rias and Akeno.
At one point, Rias had even feared that Koneko was about to be stolen from her.
Thankfully, Lynn at least had the decency not to poach her directly.
Hearing Akeno's remark, Rias sighed and shot Lynn a slightly resentful glance.
Lynn, however, remained completely unfazed as he took a sip of tea.
"What's wrong with enjoying some cat therapy?" he asked calmly.
Rias responded with a deadpan look. "The problem is, you're petting someone else's cat."
"President, Senpai, I'm right here."
Koneko spoke up, expressionless as ever. "Can you at least consider my feelings?"
Rias gave an awkward chuckle before quickly changing the subject. "So, Lynn, what exactly do you need stray devils for?"
Lynn smirked mysteriously. "You'll see soon enough."
After all, Rias and the others would be coming along too.
It was her territory, so it was only natural that she'd want to supervise.
Kuoh Town Abandoned Church
Rias, Akeno, Lynn, and Mahiru arrived via teleportation.
"There's a newly arrived stray devil inside," Rias explained. "It's already at the level of a mid-tier devil."
This was the weakest stray alive one she could find within Kuoh Town.
She pushed open the church's creaky wooden doors.
Creeeak
The eerie sound echoed through the empty hall, disturbing a few birds perched inside.
"Heh heh heh"
A sinister chuckle rang out.
"More foolish little things, wandering in just to die?"
The stray devil turned around, revealing its grotesque form.
Its entire body was pitch black, and instead of normal wings, it had massive, claw-like appendages that resembled giant hands.
Its bloodshot eyes glowed menacingly, and drool dripped from its jagged mouth, sizzling as it corroded the floor beneath.
Zzzzt!
The acidic saliva burned through the wood, filling the air with a foul stench.
However, Lynn and the others barely reacted.
After all, this was just a mid-tier devil trying to act intimidating.
That being said, this was Mahiru's first encounter with a stray devil, and she was a little scared.
The Apocalypse world had been terrifying, surebut those creatures had no real intelligence.
This was different.
She instinctively moved closer to Lynn, gripping his sleeve tightly.
Meanwhile, the stray devil, seeing that its scare tactics had failed, awkwardly froze in place.
Then, it sniffed the airAnd its expression immediately changed.
"Devils?!"
It suddenly realized that it had been hunted all the way from the Underworld.
"Damn it! I ran all the way here, and you still won't let me go?!"
It roared in frustration, but its feet unconsciously stepped back.
Clearly, life on the run hadn't been easy for it.
"Ara, looks like there's been a little misunderstanding~," Akeno chuckled lightly.
Lynn ignored the stray and turned to Mahiru. "Mahiru."
"Y-Yes!"
Hearing her name, Mahiru instinctively straightened up.
Then, she realized what Lynn wanted her to do.
You got this, Mahiru!
Don't let Lynn-san down!
She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and stepped forward.
Rias raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about this?"
"Mahiru's power level is only that of a low-tier devil."
"Hmm" Lynn thought for a moment before snapping his fingers.
Snap!
Suddenly, chains of magic erupted from the ground, instantly binding the stray devil.
"What the hell is this?!"
The stray devil thrashed wildly, but the chains didn't budgein fact, they tightened even more.
Rias and Akeno's expressions changed.
Akeno, who was usually all smiles, opened her eyes slightly and exchanged a serious glance with Rias.
That spell had revealed a lot about Lynn's abilities.
Not only did it require precise magical control, but the sheer quality of his magic was on another level.
If they tried something similar, it wouldn't be nearly as effortless.
Just how strong was Lynn?
Rias put those thoughts aside for now and focused on Mahiru.
She wanted to see what Lynn was planning.
With the stray devil immobilized, Mahiru relaxed slightly.
Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, she pulled out
A gun?
Rias: "???"
Before anyone could question it
Mahiru raised the gun, and a brilliant white light gathered at the muzzle.
BANG!
"AAAAAARGH!!!"
The stray devil shrieked in agony as the light-infused bullet struck its body.
It convulsed violently, its grotesque face contorting in pain as dark veins bulged beneath its skin.
The bullet hadn't pierced throughbut that wasn't the point.
Thanks to its mid-tier devil toughness, ordinary weapons wouldn't have done much damage.
But light was different.
The divine energy spread through its body like poison, devouring its flesh from the inside out.
Chunks of its outer skin dissolved in seconds, exposing raw muscle, veins, and even bone.
If it weren't for Lynn's restraints, it might have been able to put up some resistance.
But now
"Mid-tier devils sure are tough."
Lynn nodded in approval.
"Mahiru, go all out and use it."
Mahiru: "..."
Stray Devil: "@#%&$!!"
.
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PS: Don't forget to drop your stones
"Is that... Light?"
Rias's expression turned complicated as she watched Mahiru Shiina continuously test the effects of light energy on the stray devil.
She turned to Lynn and asked in disbelief, "Lynn, did you just recruit an angel as your servant?"
"An angel?"
Lynn thought about Mahiru's nickname and casually replied, "You could say that."
Rias: "..."
She was starting to really admire him.
No wonder he wanted to find stray devils.
So he was testing how effective light was against them?
'Wait'
Rias's face stiffened as a sudden realization hit her.
'Why was Lynn testing this?'
A sense of unease crept into her heart.
'Was it... preparation to deal with the Old Satan Faction?'
She wasn't wrong.
That was exactly what Lynn had in mind.
By testing the effects, he could get a rough idea of their capabilities.
If those lunatics ever came knocking, he'd have a trump card ready.
After observing for a while, Rias couldn't help but have a few questions.
'Hold on...'
'Can a reincarnated angel still retain their light abilities after becoming a devil?'
She had never seen Akeno use light-based abilities before.
Rias discreetly glanced at Akeno, who had suddenly fallen silent.
'Was it because of her bloodline that she didn't want to use it? Or did she simply not retain that ability?'
Despite her curiosity, Rias didn't want to bring up Akeno's past.
That was a pain she knew Akeno would rather forget.
---
After a while, Rias looked at the stray devil, now completely lifeless on the ground, and felt her eyelid twitch.
That... was a brutal end.
Mahiru was panting heavily from exhaustion.
Rias glanced at the weapon in her hands and remarked, "That human weapon doesn't suit her."
"Oh?"
Lynn's eyes immediately lit up. "Oh? Then do you have something better in mind? What do you have for me?"
Rias: "..."
She gave him a look of exasperation.
"Are you treating me like Santa Claus?"
Lynn shrugged. "What can I say? You're the only rich, kind-hearted, and gorgeous noble lady I know."
"Hmm! Kind-hearted and gorgeous..."
Rias extended her hand to the side, conjuring a magic circle.
A white and gold flintlock pistol materialized in her grasp.
"Take thisFlare Gun."
Lynn's eyes gleamed. "Does it have holy attributes?"
Rias: "???"
"You're seriously picky?!"
Kuoh AcademyOccult Research Club
Rias sighed and rubbed her forehead in frustration. "I just gave away the Flare Gun that easily?"
Akeno handed her a cup of tea with a gentle smile.
Rias picked it up and muttered in frustration, "Akeno, why didn't you stop me back then?"
Akeno chuckled, "Because, my dear President, you had already fallen under the spell of his 'sweet-talking' magic. There was nothing I could do."
Rias sighed again. "I'll just treat it as an investment."
Yes, an investment!
She actually had high hopes for Lynn.
Although they had frequent contact through their phones, they had only met in person three times.
Yet each time, she could sense subtle changes in him.
Especially this time...Her expression grew serious.
"Akeno, did you notice? Compared to last time, Lynn seems..."
"More unfathomable?"
Rias hesitated but nodded.
His strength had clearly grownby a lot.
That was the feeling she got.
"Unfathomable, huh..."
Akeno's gaze darkened slightly.
To this day, she hadn't forgotten the black lightning that danced at Lynn's fingertips the last time they met.
She murmured, "President, have you ever considered..."
"That he has always been unfathomable? You're only realizing it now."
Rias was taken aback. "Is that so?"
She wasn't sure.
During their first meeting, apart from being struck by his personality and looks, she hadn't noticed anything particularly special about him.
But today felt... different.
And thenHer expression shifted as she thought about Lynn's servants.
Whether it was Utaha or Mahiru, both were insanely talented.
An Archivist devil servant, and now... an Angel + Devil mix servant?
She thought about Lynn's other servants.
Muttering to herself, she said, "Could it be... all of Lynn's servants have some kind of special ability?"
"Looks like I really need to study Lynn more closely."
Rias made up her mind.
At the very least, she needed to learn a thing or two about servant recruitment from him.
Akeno smirked playfully. "President, wanting to 'study' a man this closely is a dangerous sign, you know~"
"You're overthinking it, Akeno."
Rias smiled and shook her head. "Lynn is Sona's fianc. How could I possibly have feelings for him?"
Akeno raised an eyebrow. "Oh? But isn't Sona planning to annul that engagement?"
"Heh..."
Rias let out a cold chuckle.
"I have a feeling she's already changed her mind about that."
Knock, knock!
The sound of someone at the clubroom door interrupted them.
Rias: "..."
"See?!"
She shot Akeno a look before sighing. "Akeno, go ahead and invite Sona in."
Akeno: "..."
Even she couldn't hold back a small laugh.
Shaking her head, she opened the door and welcomed Sona inside.
Sitting across from Rias, Sona hesitated for a while before finally speaking.
Her gaze was uncertain, as if she was struggling with something.
Seeing her like this, Rias didn't even bother pretending anymore. "You're here to ask about Lynn, aren't you?"
"Ah... um... yeah."
Sona's gaze flickered.
Rias sighed, massaging her temples.
Then, in a calm voice, she briefly explained Lynn's purpose for recruiting stray devils.
Hearing this, Sona frowned slightly.
"Five servants already? Isn't that... a bit too fast?"
Wouldn't that risk gathering a team of ordinary talents?
Rias didn't mention Mahiru's abilities to Sona.
Just like she hadn't mentioned Utaha's before.
After all, that was Lynn's business.
He trusted her enough to let her witness his servants' abilities, but that didn't mean she had the right to share it with others.
Seeing Sona's worried expression, Rias couldn't help but tease, "Isn't this better for you?"
"If things escalate to a Rating Game for the engagement, you'd win easily, right?"
Sona fell silent before firmly stating, "I won't participate in a Rating Game."
Doing so would inevitably expose Lynn's lineage to the Old Satan Faction.
And thatShe would never allow.
Rias paused for a moment, then reminded her, "Sona, does Serafall know about your plan to cancel the engagement?"
"If you keep dragging this out, who knows what she might do?"
Sona's expression froze.
She had completely forgotten about her troublesome older sister.
"I... I'll talk to her."
.
.
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I know the updates have slowed down these past two days, guys, but I'm really sick right now. I have a bad cold and cough that's only getting worse.
Once I get better, I'll do a mass release.
"As long as you understand the seriousness of the situation."
Rias simply reminded her before letting the matter drop.
After all, this was Sona's issue to deal with.
But after spending time with Lynn, she didn't want unnecessary troubles to affect him.
At the end of the dayLynn was also a victim in all of this. Forced into an arranged marriage.
Even though he had agreed to the annulment, that wasn't enough. He wasn't allowed to just walk awayhe had to resolve it through a Rating Game.
It felt all too familiar.
Rias couldn't help but feel a sense of shared suffering.
ButShe had her family and her Maou brother to rely on.
Lynn was all alone.
Not only thatHe had to hide his identity, avoiding the Old Satan Faction that might come after him. Banished to the human world at a young age, cut off from his clan
And yet, he was still being dragged into their mess.
How tragic Lynn!
A wave of motherly compassion suddenly surged within Rias.
And to think she was feeling regretful over giving him an enchanted weapon earlier.
But that didn't matter!
If Lynn wanted it, then she'd give it to this poor person!
She glanced at Sona, her eyes suddenly flashing with an idea.
Lynn's peerage probably lacked light-attribute and holy-based spells, right?
"Ahem!"
"Hm?" Sona looked at her in confusion.
Rias carefully chose her words before speaking.
"If you're really worried about Lynn, why not prepare some light-attribute and holy spells for him?"
"...?"
Sona looked even more confused.
"Light-attribute and holy spells? For Lynn? For a Devil?"
'Had Rias lost her mind?'
Sona shot her a suspicious look.
'What kind of nonsense is this?'
Rias froze for a second.
How was she supposed to ask Sona for light and holy spells without exposing Lynn's peerage?
She fell into deep thought.
Seeing her dilemma, Akeno chuckled and stepped in to help.
"Our dear President here isn't quite sure why, but it seems that Lynn-kun does need them."
Well, technically, that wasn't a lie.
After all, when Rias gave him the Flare Gun earlier, Lynn had even asked if it carried holy attributes.
"Oh, I see!"
Sona suddenly understood.
So it was Lynn who wanted them.
She had no idea why a Devil would need something that countered his own kind.
But if Lynn wanted it well, whatever.
Sona thought for a moment.
Light and holy attributes naturally counter Devils.
Spells or weapons with those attributes weren't easy to come by for their kind.
ButThat wasn't a problem!
Sona's expression turned serious as she looked at Rias.
"Rias, there have been a lot of Fallen Angels lurking around Kuoh Town lately, haven't there?"
"Don't you think"
"They're getting a little too noisy?"
Fallen Angels should have plenty of light and holy-based spells, right?
Rias: "?"
Sona, you're being way too extreme!
That could cause a full-blown diplomatic incident!
Shuchiin Academy Supernatural Research Club
"Lady Rias sure is generous," Shiina Mahiru mused as she carefully examined the Flare Gun.
The weapon wasn't just beautifully crafted, its compact size also suited someone like her perfectly.
And more importantlyIts performance was outstanding.
The infusion of light energy was completely smooth, with no resistance whatsoever.
In fact, it felt almost effortless.
Not to mention, the efficiency of its magic power utilization was terrifyingly high.
It completely outclassed the ordinary human weapons she had been using before.
Lynn explained, "According to Rias, this gun is only behind the level of an artificial Sacred Gear."
"Sacred Gear?"
Mahiru tilted her head slightly, unfamiliar with the term.
"A weapon crafted by the gods is naturally called a Sacred Gear." Lynn explained.
Mahiru's eyes widened slightly in disbelief.
"This world actually has gods?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "Devils exist, so what's so strange about gods?"
"Ah well, you have a point." Mahiru looked a little embarrassed.
"Mahiru, this world is much bigger than you think," Lynn said, his eyes deep and unreadable.
"If you don't want to stay at the bottom, then keep leveling up."
"Until you reach the very top."
He still hadn't forgottenThe hidden threat left behind by his family name.
The Old Satan Faction.
That time bomb was bound to explode sooner or later.
The strength of a High-Class Devil alone was nowhere near enough.
Seeing the weight behind Lynn's words, Mahiru fell silent for a momentthen nodded firmly.
"I'll do my best!"
Motivated by their conversation, Mahiru practically radiated newfound determination.
After bidding Lynn farewell, she immediately headed to the world of the zombiesTo grind for experience!
Watching her retreating figure, Lynn couldn't help but smile.
Softly, he murmured
"I'm looking forward to it"
His expectations for Mahiru were high.
[Fallen Devil.]
She was already at a level where she could easily pass off as a real Fallen Angel.
If she ever crossed paths with the actual Fallen Angels, who knew what kind of interesting things might happen?
And besides
Swoosh
Lynn spread his Fallen Angel wings.
Unlike Mahiru, he had eight of them.
"This 'Governor General of the Fallen Angels' position"
"Maybe I could take it for myself? Or just pretend to be?"
.
.
.
PS: Don't forget to drop your stones here
"Huh? Is someone cosplaying in that classroom?"
At Shuchiin Academy, a blonde girl dressed like a gyaru looked on curiously.
"Ah... they're gone."
---
Supernatural Research Club
Lynn retracted his wings.
Impersonating the Governor of the Fallen Angels...Kinda interesting, but not really.
What mattered most was the growth of his peerage.
The zombies in their base in the 'Apocalypse World' were nearly wiped out.
If this kept up, his peerage's efficiency in farming experience would only decline.
Maybe it was time to consider changing locations?
Still, no rush. He'd wait for Saeko's report first.
Now that Saeko had reached the Mid-Class Devil level, he had sent her out for solo exploration in further regions.
Hopefully, she'd find somethingmaybe even a better base for the peerage.
Also, now that she was a Mid-Class Devil, Lynn wasn't sure if zombies still provided her with any experience.
He opened his system panel.
The [Devil's Contract] skill remained completely inactive.
No idea when he'd get access to a second world.
At least, right now, his peerage was thriving. Owning an entire world meant they weren't lacking ordinary resources.
Lynn even had his peerage gather valuable materials and sell them in the main world.
That way, they could at least sustain themselves comfortably.
Even after graduation, none of them would have to resort to getting normal jobs.
Actually... his apartment was starting to feel a little too small.
But Sona had given him a house before, so that was fine.
...
Speaking of Sona, he couldn't help but think about Rias.
"Come to think of it, Rias really gave me quite the gift this time."
The Flare Gun suited Mahiru perfectly.
The advanced lightning magic? That was Rias' way of testing out Utaha's abilities.
And this time? Just one casual compliment and she handed him such a valuable weapon?
Rias really did consider him a friend.
Thinking about it, Lynn felt it was only right to maintain a good relationship with such a generous friend.
He pulled out his phone and found Rias on his contacts.
[Lynn: "Rias, the gift is perfect. Thanks a lot! I owe you a meal sometime!"]
After putting his phone down, he rubbed his chin.
That should be good enough, right?
Just then, his phone buzzed.
At first, he thought it was Rias, but it turned out to be a message from the 'Lynn's Harem familia Chat Group.'
[The Traditional Woman of the Busujima Family: "Master, during my exploration, I found a woman who claims to be Takagi Saya's mother."]
[The Traditional Woman of the Busujima Family: Image.jpg]
Lynn clicked on the picture.
A mature woman with long purple hair and an elegant demeanor appeared on screen.
Though, she looked completely exhausted.
[Drill Twin-Tail Girl: !!!]
[Drill Twin-Tail Girl: That's my mom!!]
Lynn's expression turned a little odd.
"Well, damn... it really is her."
If he remembered correctly, Takagi Yuriko was supposed to have a temporary safe zone.
Thinking it over, he sent a message in the chat.
[Sigma Man: What's her situation?]
[Traditional Woman of the Busujima Family: By the time I found her, she was exhausted and about to be surrounded by zombies. I saved her.]
---
Apocalypse World
Takagi Saya anxiously stared at the chat messages.
[Sigma Man: In that case, bring her back.]
"Mmm!"
Takagi Saya covered her mouth as tears streamed down her face.
Mom was safe!
Meanwhile, at Kuoh Academy
Sona sat in silence, staring at Rias.
Rias, holding her phone, stiffened. She awkwardly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
She had left her phone on the table, so when Lynn's message came in, Sona saw it.
And now, this atmosphere...
Sona spoke in a low, almost ghostly voice. "Since when... did you two get so close?"
Dinner? Nah!
That was a date invitation!! Yep!
And what's this about a gift?!
Did Rias secretly give Lynn a present behind her back?!
"Ahaha... it's just a small thing, nothing worth mentioning."
Yes, the powerful Flare Gun was now nothing worth mentioning.
Rias composed herself and explained, "I've been helping Lynn out a little lately, so it makes sense for him to treat me to a meal, right?"
She carefully observed Sona's reaction.
Seeing that she wasn't overreacting, Rias sighed in relief.
Then, she solemnly declared, "Don't worry, Sona. He's your fianc. There's no way I'd make a move on him!"
Hearing Rias' assurance, Sona felt a strange sense of relief.
She had no idea why, but she did.
Still...She had overlooked something.
Ever since that first awkward encounter, Sona had been avoiding Lynn.
Even when she wanted to give him something, she did it through Rias.
And now? Rias and Lynn had grown closer than ever.
But wasn't she the fiance?!
This couldn't go on!
Bottom line
Seeing Rias getting along with Lynn so well made her feel uncomfortable.
Sona knew she needed to make a change!
Apocalypse World.
"It's an honor to meet you, Lord Lynn. My daughter has been in your care these past days."
Lynn's expression turned strange.
This mother and daughter... really had a knack for kneeling.
.
.
.
Lynn looked down at the voluptuous woman before him, analyzing her carefully from his elevated position.
Takagi Yuriko lowered her head, allowing him to examine her freely.
From what Busujima Saeko had told her on the way here, she understood that this man was the highest authority in this place.
More importantly, she now knew that her daughter was alive and well here. The news filled her with immense relief and gratitude toward the man who had taken Saya in.
With that gratitude in mind, even if Lynn were to offend her deeply, she wouldn't hold any resentment.
At the same time, she hadn't forgotten the incredible sword strike Saeko unleashed when she rescued her.
A single slash had cut through the densely packed Zombies, beheading them all in an instant, like a row of dominoes falling in perfect sequence.
Seeing it with her own eyes, Yuriko immediately recognized it as an extraordinary, supernatural power! And yet, despite Saeko's immense strength, she still revered this man as her master, without the slightest hesitation.
She didn't fully understand whyperhaps due to her limited knowledgebut there had to be a deeper logic behind it.
One thing, however, was clear: in this place, Lynn's word was absolute.
So, all she needed to do was lower her head and obey. More than thatshe wanted to prove her value, to show that she could be useful.
She understood that living here without contributing anything wasn't an option.
Unlike some who might take their daughter's presence as a guarantee of shelter, Yuriko didn't think that way.
Still, the hardships of the past few days, coupled with the prolonged uncertainty about Saya's fate, had drained her completely.
She was exhausted, barely holding herself together. Noting her fatigue, Lynn didn't say much. He simply gave an order: "Saya, take your mother to rest."
"Thank you, Master!"
Takagi Saya shot Lynn a grateful look, her eyes slightly red, before leading Yuriko to her room.
"Did you just call him Master?" Yuriko gave her daughter a curious glance.
She had no idea what Saya had been through during her time here, but she could tellShe had changed. A lot.
And that title
Calling someone 'Master' like thatit was unexpected, bold even.
But Yuriko could see that Saya said it willingly, with no reluctance at all.
Before she could ask further, exhaustion overtook her, and she collapsed onto the bed, sinking into a deep sleep.
Living Room
Miyamoto Rei watched the emotional reunion between Saya and Yuriko, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
She couldn't help but wonderWas her mother still alive?
---
Lynn's Bedroom
Lynn updated Saeko's blessing.
He frowned slightly. "Your progress has barely increased."
Saeko checked the blessing details on her hand, falling silent for a moment.
"Looks like those zombies aren't giving me any worthwhile experience anymore." She sighed lightly.
At this point, cutting down the zombies was even easier than slicing fruit.
Of course, they wouldn't be much help for her growth.
Lynn thought for a moment before suggesting, "In that case, I'll take you to my world to grind some experience when we get the chance."
The efficiency might not be as high, but at least she'd gain something.
Saeko's eyes lit up with excitement. "Your world I'm really looking forward to it."
After that, Saeko reported on the progress of exploration in the surrounding areas.
And thenThey indulged in their favorite pastime. And as always the sounds were so loud.
Utaha, eavesdropping from outside, blushed as she listened in. Her face burned red, but her determination only grew stronger.
She decided.... Tomorrow
Tomorrow, she would definitely talk to Saeko.
Tomorrow, she would absolutely make sure she ended up in Lynn's bed!
...
Takagi Yuriko was jolted awake by a series of high-pitched, rhythmic cries.
She turned her head slightlyher daughter's face came into view. But it wasn't the peaceful, sleeping expression she had imagined.
Instead, Saya's cheeks were flushed, her breath uneven, her eyes hazy and unfocused.
Yuriko blinked in surprise, then slowly lowered her gazeHer pupils shrank in an instant.
Almost as if sensing her mother's gaze, Saya turned her headAnd locked eyes with Yuriko's complex, unreadable expression.
Saya instantly froze.
Her face turned beet red in a split second.
She suddenly sat up, flailing her hands in the air, desperately trying to explain herselfbut quickly gave up.
There was no way to explain this!
Seeing her daughter's embarrassment, Yuriko simply smiled, reached out, and gently ruffled her hair. With a sigh, she said, "Saya, you've really grown up."
Saya felt like she wanted to disappear on the spot.
Sensing her daughter's distress, Yuriko quickly changed the subject. "Saya, tell me more about this place."
She had only just arrived, and while she acknowledged Lynn as the master of this place, she still felt uneasy.
Grateful for the distraction, Saya immediately began recounting her experiences over the past few days.
However, amidst their conversation, the background noises from the other room continuedhigh-pitched and unrestrained. A hint of awkwardness lingered between the mother and daughter.
"I see," Yuriko finally said after a long pause.
The master of this place was actually a Devil. And every woman here was his follower.
Even her own daughter was no exception.
It didn't take long for her to accept this reality.
After all, she had personally witnessed Saeko's extraordinary power.
With something so supernatural right in front of her, how could she not believe?
As for her daughter becoming someone else's possessionShe didn't feel any anger or sorrow about it.
In an apocalypse, simply surviving was already a miracle.
Not to mention, Saya wasn't just survivingshe was thriving!
She had food, shelter, and even gained supernatural strength!
What was there to be upset about?
If anything, she was grateful!
The only thing that slightly bothered her waswhy had Saya taken so long to become Lynn's follower? Hadn't she fallen behind the others?
If it had been her, she would have clung to him from day one.
She gently stroked Saya's hair.
Saya was still just a child. She probably didn't fully grasp the advantages she had.
She also didn't understand how lucky she was to have encountered someone like Lynn in the middle of an apocalypse.
Thinking about it, Yuriko felt that for Saya to have come this far was already impressive.
"Saya, you've really grown up," she sighed again.
But just saying this wasn't enough. Saya was already far behind the others.
Whether it was Lynn's affectionor anything else.
And in a domain filled with Devils, how could she ensure her worth?
Yuriko's expression gradually became firm.
"Saya, your mother will help you."
"Huh?"
Saya was caught off guard, unsure of what her mother meant.
But Yuriko only smiled, saying nothing more.
She was still an untouched woman, after all. She and Saya weren't related by blood.
Perhaps Saya had already noticed that.
She had never had a father, and even their hair color and facial features didn't resemble each other in the slightest.
Wellexcept for their figures.
Yuriko was well aware of the truth.
There wasn't much she could contribute in this place.
Her only value was her body.
She felt fortunate that, because she had adopted Saya, she had never been with a man before.
Otherwise, her worth would have been greatly diminished.
And besidesThough they weren't related by blood, she was still Saya's rightful mother.
If she and Saya worked together, wouldn't the effect be even better? A mother and daughter?
---
The Next Morning
At dawn, Utaha pulled Saeko into a corner.
Fidgeting awkwardly, she whispered, "Saeko, tonight can I ask you for a favor?"
.
.
.
PS: Drop some stones for me pls
Saeko's eyes lit up with delight. She smiled approvingly. "Utaha, are you finally taking this step?"
As a woman raised in the most traditional ways of the Busujima family, she was more than happy to help.
After all, helping their master expand his harem was only natural.
Kasumigaoka Utaha crossed her arms, shifting uncomfortably. "Tch, it's not like I had a choice. You've been monopolizing Lynn for yourself for too long."
"Have I?"
Saeko fell into deep thought.
Now that she thought about it yeah, maybe she had been monopolizing him a bit too much. She scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Well, it couldn't be helped. Once you got a taste of it, stopping was the hard part.
Especially when Shizuka joined, her milk seemed to provide unlimited stamina, making none of them stop or even take a break.
She nodded seriously. "You're right. I apologize. I'll make sure to be more considerate from now on."
It wouldn't be fair to keep Lynn all to herself.
Utaha opened her mouth, stunned for a second.
Yep.
This woman was exactly the kind that men couldn't resist.
A complicated look crossed Utaha's face.
She had lostcompletely and utterly!
But tonightEverything would change!
She clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with determination.
"Saeko, I'm counting on you tonight!"
"No problem!" Saeko agreed without hesitation.
It was just switching rooms for the night, right? No big deal.
Though she was a little curiousHow exactly was Utaha planning to do it?
3:00 PM - Supernatural Research Club
Before heading to the clubroom, Utaha made a quick stop at her and Lynn's house, stuffing a certain "battle outfit" into her bag.
Then, sneakily and with her face slightly flushed, she made her way into the clubroom.
Lynn gave her a puzzled look. "Yo~ Utaha-beast, are you about to evolve?"
He couldn't help teasing her.
At his words, Utaha stiffened like a cat with its fur standing on end.
She flinched and started rambling incoherently. "E-Evolve? Ahaha I-I guess so?"
So...Suspicious.
Suspicious as hell.
Lynn narrowed his eyes at her.
Utaha's gaze darted around the room as she clutched her bag tightly, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Knock knock!
Suddenly, someone knocked on the clubroom door.
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
Even Yotsuya Miko and Shiina Mahiru looked surprised.
"Someone's actually visiting the Supernatural Research Club?"
Miko and Mahiru exchanged glances, both sharing the same confusion. Meanwhile, Utaha sighed in relief as if she had just been saved.
Lynn, still slightly puzzled, spoke up. "Come in."
Since someone had actually come, there was no reason to turn them away.
The door swung open.
A beautiful girl with long, straight black hair walked in, her gaze cool and assessing as she surveyed the room.
Behind her, a second girl with a cute appearance hesitated at the doorway, her brown hair tied up in a bun.
Seeing everyone's eyes on her, the second girl fidgeted nervously, forcing an awkward smile.
"Y-Yo!... H-Hello?"
She shifted uncomfortably, clearly uneasy about being in a so-called "Supernatural Research Club."
A nervous look flashed across her face.
Was this place legit? Were they really dealing with supernatural stuff?
Wait there weren't actual ghosts here, right?
Her eyes darted around, scanning the room as if expecting a ghost to pop out at any second. Yet at the same time, she cowered behind the black-haired girl like a terrified puppy.
'Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui, huh'
Lynn immediately recognized them.
But he had no idea why they would come here of all places.
"Hey! This is the Supernatural Research Club?"
Yukino's cool voice rang out, her sharp gaze analyzing every person in the room.
A single man surrounded by three absolutely gorgeous girls?
Her eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.
"Without a doubt, this is the Supernatural Research Club." Lynn pointed at the nameplate on the desk.
Yukino's expression remained neutral. "Apologies, for a second, I thought I had walked into some kind of harem club instead."
Miko and Mahiru's mouths dropped slightly, both visibly caught off guard by her blunt remark.
Then, as if realizing she wasn't wrong, their faces turned a little red.
Well She she's not wrong.
"Oh?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha studied Yukinoshita Yukino with great interest. 'Sharp-eyed, isn't she?'
"Ha? No one's going to refute that?" Yukinoshita Yukino frowned again.
What kind of club is this, exactly?
She turned her scanning gaze toward the only man in the room. "Are you the president of the Supernatural Research Club?"
Lynn's expression remained as calm as still water. He didn't answer her questionjust looked at her.
That single glance made Yukino's breath hitch.
Even though he wasn't doing anything, there was an inexplicable pressure bearing down on her, making it difficult to breathe.
She bit her lip, her gaze stubborn.
A chilling sensation crept up her spine.
Her heartbeat quickened, sweat beaded on her forehead, and her body started trembling slightly.
"Why why is this happening?"
"Huff Huff"
"Yuki?" Yuigahama Yui tugged anxiously at her sleeve.
And just like that, the overwhelming pressure vanished in an instant.
Thud!
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the cold floor.
"Yuki!"
Yuigahama Yui gasped, quickly crouching down to check on her.
"Huff Huff"
Yukino panted heavily, her eyes unfocused.
"Yuki, are you okay?" Yui was visibly distressed, practically breaking into a cold sweat.
Under Yui's worried voice, Yukino gradually regained her senses.
She weakly waved a hand and said in a barely audible voice, "I I'm fine."
Forcing herself to stand up, she steadied her body.
Lynn, resting his chin on his hands, his crimson eyes deepening, finally spoke: "Now can we talk properly?"
Yukino was silent for a moment before bowing her head in a rare show of tact.
"Apologies."
'Ah she got put in her place, huh?'
Miko and Mahiru both had the same thought.
Utaha, meanwhile, was struggling not to laugh.
'Tsk! Tsk! She's behaving now.'
'Well, that's what happens when you waltz in with a condescending attitude. No one's gonna give you respect if you don't give it first.'
...
"So, what's the reason you're here?"
Yukino finally got to the point. "I was recommended here by Professor Natsuki."
She was still somewhat shaken.
'This man'
'No, this Supernatural Research Club'
'It's the real deal.'
This was the first time in her life she had ever experienced something like that.
Not even her sister not even her high-ranking mother had ever made her feel this kind of deathly fear with just a single look.
The president of the Supernatural Research Club
He's definitely someone from the underground world.
She was sure of it!
"Natsuki-chan?"
Lynn sighed.
That woman always sending him trouble.
Pulling out his phone, he immediately messaged her.
[Natsuki-chan: "Aren't your Supernatural Research Club guys supposed to handle supernatural incidents?"]
[Natsuki-chan: "(Screenshot attached.)"]
It was a screenshot of the club application form.
Supernatural Research Clubnaturally, they investigate supernatural events.
Which means they also accept supernatural-related requests.
"..." Lynn was speechless.
"Alright. Just for Natsuki-chan, I'll hear your request."
Yukino let out a long breath, finally relieved.
.
.
.
"Huh? I still can't believe it..."
"Our club actually takes on requests?"
Walking toward the old school building, Utaha couldn't help but question it out loud.
Back in the Supernatural Research Club, Yukinoshita Yukino had already explained the request.
The school was planning to renovate the old school building, so the student council started drafting a reconstruction plan.
But then strange things started happening.
Some students claimed they saw shadows moving. Others swore the desks and chairs would shift on their own. And some even said they saw Hanako-san in the restroom!
The rumors just kept getting wilder.
To put an end to the chaos, Student Council Secretary Fujiwara Chika had approached the Service Club for help.
Yukino, naturally, scoffed at the idea of ghost stories meant to scare kids and confidently took on the request.
And then ....she and Yui ran back like frightened cats with their tails between their legs.
Because the chairs in the old school building really did move on their own!!
That was also why, when Yuigahama Yui first stepped into the Supernatural Research Club, she was so on edge.
She was already traumatized.
Not willing to let the request go unfinished, Yukino sought out the Supernatural Research Club on the recommendation of Professor Natsuki.
Which led to what had happened earlier.
"SeriouslyThere's a whole club dedicated to supernatural cases in this school."
"So why didn't Fujiwara Chika just ask them in the first place?"
Yukino couldn't help but complain internally.
Trailing behind the group, she heard Utaha's comment and felt her eye twitch.
These people can they really be trusted?
But then she recalled what had happened earlier in the clubroom, and she instinctively shuddered. Her gaze drifted toward Lynn. "Who is he, really?"
"Yuki, are you sure you're okay?"
Yuigahama Yui looked at her with concern.
"Yuki is she sick?"
"No, it's probably because of that incident."
"Wait! So why are we going back there again?!"
Elsewhere
A lively girl with short, orange hair blinked in surprise.
"Huh? Is that Miko?"
Yurikawa Hana's eyes lit up when she spotted Yotsuya Miko, but then she suddenly remembered something.
And her cheeks puffed up in anger.
"You traitor, Miko!"
"You joined a club and completely abandoned me!"
A month ago, they were always heading back together after school. But now, all of a sudden, she was the only one left.
Every night, walking home aloneso lonely and depressing!
And every time she asked Miko what club she joined, Miko always dodged the question with vague answers.
"Well, well! Looks like I finally caught her in the act!"
Hana narrowed her eyes and carefully trailed behind Miko, making sure not to be noticed.
She was going to find out the truth about this mysterious club!
The Old School Building
Yotsuya Miko looked up at the looming structure, and her eye twitched.
"This place isn't some cursed spirit's lair, is it?"
Her spirit-sight revealed everything clearly.
Aside from the first floor, the entire building was absolutely drenched in malice.
A thick, eerie mist of black and purple completely engulfed the upper levels.
Only the first floor was somewhat safe.
Under these conditions, the fact that the student council members and others managed to run out alive was already a miracle in itself.
Miko glanced at Yukino and Yui with a complicated expression.
"Something wrong?" Yukino paused.
"She's just amazed you actually made it back alive." Utaha's voice came from behind her, low and teasing. She even blew a soft breath against Yukino's neck for extra effect.
"Eek!"
Yukino jolted, shivering before glaring at Utaha. "What's with all this talk about life and death? You're making it sound way worse than it actually is!"
"Are we really going in?" Shiina Mahiru looked a little worried.
She might not have Yotsuya Miko's ability to see spirits, but as a Devil, she could naturally perceive supernatural beings.
So both she and Utaha could see exactly what Miko was seeing.
Also, Lynn had already used his magic to scan the placethere was just a single Grade 1 Cursed Spirit.
Lynn was unfazed.
To him, this thing wasn't even worth mentioning. But for Miko and the others yeah, this was definitely pushing their limits.
Still, it could be a valuable experience.
Even if they were just here to spectate, they'd at least get something out of it.
But hold onsomething wasn't adding up.
[Lynn: "A giant Grade 1 Cursed Spirit roaming the old school building, and no one's dealing with it?"]
[Natsuki-Chan: "Heh, if you wanna know, go ask those idiots on the school board."]
[Lynn: "..." ]
As expected.
No matter where you go, there's never a shortage of fools in charge.
They wanted him to work for free?
Not happening.
No way in hell.
[Lynn: "A Grade 1 Cursed Object as compensation isn't too much to ask, right?"]
[Natsuki-Chan: "I'll put in the request for you."]
It's not like she was paying for it anyway.
In the faculty office, Minamiya Natsuki readily agreed.
It wasn't her resources on the line, so why would she care?
---
In Front of the Old School Building
"Okay, now we're talking."
"Speaking of which, is Jujutsu Kaisen also part of this messy mashup world? I need to check later."
"But for, let's just wait for my reward."
Lynn leaned against the railing, feeling much better now.
At least Natsuki's guarantees were trustworthy.
[Natsuki-Chan: "Stop calling me 'Natsuki-chan'!!!"]
[Lynn: "That's what you're named as in my phone, so nope!"]
Ignoring her protest, Lynn put his phone away and gazed up at the third floor of the old school building.
His sharp eyes pierced through the layers of sinister purple mist, revealing the truth hidden within.
Then, he grinned.
"Tsk. A mere Grade 1 Cursed Spirit and you're making this much of a scene?"
Seeing Lynn's expression, Utaha and the others immediately understood
The Cursed Spirit inside the old school building was screwed.
"Alright, let's go. Someone's already made a good offer for this job." Lynn casually waved his phone.
"Cursed Object?"
Utaha and the others were confused.
"It's basically a special kind of weapon."
Lynn explained briefly, then turned to Miko.
"This time, you're the main fighter."
He had decided to let Miko claim the reward. After all, this kind of thing suited her abilities perfectly.
But Miko was completely dumbfounded.
"Huh?"
Did he just say she had to fight a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit?!
"Relax, I'll be here to back you up. Once you've gained enough experience, I'll finish it off."
Lynn glanced at his Familia members and sighed.
Not one of them was ready to take the lead yet.
When the hell was he finally going to live a carefree, lazy life?!
"So can someone please explain what's going on?" Yukinoshita Yukino raised her hand, signaling for attention.
Ever since this conversation started, these guys had been spouting all kinds of weird terms Cursed Spirits, Cursed Objects
None of it made any sense!
And wait, wasn't her club the one that took on this request?
What was this about rewards? Who even offered a reward?!
What she didn't know was that the Service Club was nothing more than Minamiya Natsuki's puppet.
From the very beginning, this request had been made directly to Lynn by Natsuki herself
Poor Yukino.
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"To put it simply, there's a Cursed Spirit occupying the old school building. That's all you need to know."
Lynn had no interest in explaining further.
Besides, for ordinary people, knowing too much about things like this wasn't exactly a good thing.
Yukinoshita Yukino opened her mouth slightly, wanting to argue that, as the one who issued the request, she had the right to be informed.
But the moment she met Lynn's gaze, her body tensed up, and she instinctively shrank back.
That fearso deeply ingrained it felt almost instinctualmade it impossible for her to speak.
In the end, all she could do was bite her lip and silently sulk.
Never in her life had she met such an unreasonable man.
And never before had she encountered someone who didn't abide by the unspoken rules that governed human society.
Not even her sister could compare to this
For some reason, that thought sent a strange thrill through her.
She hated to admit it, but she had lost the courage to argue back.
"Haaah"
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down.
Then, with a complicated expression, she looked at Lynn once more.
At this moment, maybe she was pathetic. But stillAt least she hadn't come away empty-handed.
Lynn's words had given her something.
Cursed Spirits
That term likely referred to malicious spirits, ghosts, or something of the sort.
So they really existed?
"Ghosts"
She pressed her lips together.
So the moving chair wasn't just her imagination after all
"Y-Yukino"
Yuigahama Yui looked like she was about to cry.
Ghosts were just way too scary!!
"The old school building incident is now under the jurisdiction of the Supernatural Research Club. If you're scared, you're free to leave."
Lynn didn't care about their presence in the slightest.
To be honestBoth Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui had the potential to become his Familia members.
Ever since they entered the Supernatural Research Club, his system had been flashing, indicating that his Devil's Piece ability could be used on them.
Though Yukino still needed some training.
"Go back?"
Yui's eyes lit up.
Did this mean she wouldn't have to deal with ghosts anymore?
'Hell yeah!'
She turned to Yukino with eager, expectant eyes.
But Yukino hesitated.
She clenched her fists tightly.
'Am I really okay with this?'
"Haaaah"
Letting out a slow breath, her gaze became resolute.
She had made her decision.
After allIt was just a floating chair, right?
Yeah, sure, it was a little scary.
But still! She wanted to see the truth of this world with her own eyes.
"Yui, you should head back. I'll handle this request from the Service Club on my own."
She wanted to go inside.
But there was no reason to drag Yui into this mess.
This was just her own selfishness.
Yui froze for a moment.
Then, without hesitation, she blurted out "No way! If you're going, I'm going too!"
She was scared.
Terrified, actually.
But if she just gritted her teeth and pushed through, she'd be fine probably.
Honestly, she had zero confidence in herself.
But if Yukino went in alone she'd be scared too, right?
As her friend! She couldn't just leave her behind!
Yukino was stunned. "No, really, you don't have to"
"I'm a member of the Service Club too, aren't I?"
Yuigahama Yui interrupted her, flashing a bright, reassuring smile.
"Besides, we're friends, right? How could I just let you go off on your own?"
'Friends'
Yukino's gaze wavered for a moment.
A barely noticeable smile flickered across Yukino's lips.
"Alright, let's go together."
Seeing that they had made their decision, Lynn nodded. "Good. Then let's get ready to head out."
"But first"
His gaze sharpened.
"Before we step into the old school building, let's deal with the little pest hiding behind us."
Lynn turned around, his eyes landing on a girl with short, orange hair and a well-endowed figure. She was peeking out from behind a wall, curiously watching them.
The moment their eyes met, she instinctively grinnedthen froze. "Ha! I have been caught?"
Yotsuya Miko followed Lynn's gaze and immediately exclaimed in shock.
"Ha Hana?!"
"Hehehe"
Seeing that she'd been discovered, Yurikawa Hana stepped out from her hiding spot and quickly ran to Miko's side, clinging onto her arm.
The overwhelming difference... that incredible softness...
Every time Hana hugged her like this, Miko was reminded of it.
She couldn't help but mourn her own... shape.
Butafter meeting someone today with a figure similar to hers
She suddenly didn't feel so bad anymore.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "?"
Why did she suddenly feel a strange sense of malice directed at her?
"Hana, what are you doing here?"
Miko asked, puzzled.
"Isn't it because of you, Miko?!" Hana pouted and huffed.
Hearing that, her frustration bubbled up.
"You totally ignored me when I asked about your club! So, of course, I got curious and followed you!"
Miko scratched her cheek awkwardly.
'Well did I really have another choice? The Supernatural Research Club is basically a Devil's headquarters And Hana is just an ordinary person.'
She nodded to herself, convinced she had made the right decision. Hana couldn't see spirits, and it was probably for the best that she never did.
Bringing her into this place just seemed like a bad idea.
"And also"
Hana pouted again, her voice carrying a hint of grievance.
"Miko, you haven't gone shopping with me in ages"
Miko broke into a cold sweat.
'Hmm! Yeah I have been neglecting her lately.'
But what could she do?
She'd been spending every day grinding in the Apocalypse World to gain experience!
If she fell behind, things could get really bad.
"S-Sorry, sorry!"
All she could do was apologize.
"Alright! I forgive you!" Hana thumped her chest, acting all generous as she accepted Miko's apology.
"Huh?"
Miko blinked.
That was too easy?
She didn't even have to bribe her with sweets?
Something felt off.
"Hehehe"
Hana giggled mischievously. "But, in return, I'm joining your club activity today!"
"I heard everything! You're going on a haunted school adventure, right?! That sounds so fun!"
Her eyes practically sparkled with excitement.
Hana had one thought at that moment: this club sounded awesome!
She could spend more time with MikoAnd participate in fun club activities too!
Miko was completely dumbfounded.
"Huh?!"
'Hana wants to come along?!'
Miko opened her mouth to refuse
But before she could say anything, Hana gave her the most pitiful, teary-eyed look.
"Mikoooo~"
Miko let out a deep sigh.
"I've got a bad feeling about this"
SomehowShe had the eerie premonition that Hana was about to become one of Lynn-sama's Familia members too.
Best friends, huh? Was the promise to stay together forever a curse or a blessing?
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"Is this really okay?"
"Bringing her along...a normal person?"
Yukinoshita Yukino sighed, her gaze unconsciously drifting toward Yurikawa Hana, who was happily chatting with Yotsuya Miko.
'She actually followed us all the way here.'
'She has no idea how serious this is. It's like she thinks this is some kind of elementary school field trip. Tsk!'
"..."
"Normal person?"
Lynn reminded her, "Aren't you one too?"
Yukino blinked.
'Ha? That's... true.'
But at least she knew what was going on, which made things a little different, right?
Lynn, however, didn't hold back. "It's just the difference between one burden and two."
Ouch. No way to argue with that...
Meanwhile, Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly commented, "So it was you guys who took the 'Service Club' name first, huh?"
Yukino: "???"
"Wait, you mean"
"Yep," Utaha folded her arms and continued, "Our club president originally wanted to use that name, but you beat us to it."
"Someone else actually wanted that club name?" Yukino mentally sighed.
She glanced at the three uniquely charming girls of the Supernatural Research Club, then at Lynn, and said in a strange tone, "Well... I guess you guys really do live up to the 'Service Club' name."
"Heh, if you came up with that name, you're not exactly pure-hearted either," Utaha smirked.
As soon as they stepped into the old school building, an icy chill swept over them.
"Ugh"
Yukino and Yui shivered instantly, rubbing their arms for warmth.
"It feels even colder than last time." Yukino looked at the others.
They didn't seem affected at all.
Not even Yurikawa Hana, who was supposed to be just an ordinary girl?
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Hana leaned closer, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"You... don't feel cold?" Yukino couldn't help but ask.
Hana thought for a moment, then flashed a bright, energetic smile. "Not at all!"
"Heh, looks like you're the only normal one here." Utaha activated Taunt, and it was super effective!
Yukino gritted her teeth.
Lynn ignored the brewing rivalry between Utaha and Yukino.
Instead, he shifted his gaze toward Hana.
The others probably couldn't see it. But he could.
That overflowing life energy.
"Another talented one, huh?"
"Once this is over, I should find a way to recruit her into my Familia."
Then, he turned his attention back to the school building.
From the moment they stepped inside, he had been hearing a woman's voice.
It sounded like she was... complaining?
"Lately, more and more people have been coming to the old school building..."
A resigned sigh echoed from deep within.
Then, right in front of them, an old, worn-out chair suddenly floated into the air
And wobbled its way toward Lynn, as if preparing to attack.
"I-It's here!"
Yuigahama Yui let out a startled scream, then immediately clamped her hands over her mouth, afraid of making things worse.
But her body was already trembling.
"A ghost."
"A real ghost!"
Yukino, too, stopped arguing with Utaha.
Seeing the exact same scene as before, her pupils shrank in fear.
Meanwhile, Hana's eyes widened in excitement. "Whoa! That's so cool!"
Her enthusiasm left Yukino and Yui completely speechless.
Hana, on the other hand, just looked surprisedcompletely oblivious to how serious the situation actually was.
But while it was terrifying for them, the same couldn't be said for Lynn and the other Devils.
"Alright, here we go!"
Floating in midair was a tall, busty beauty with long, straight purple-black hair, pale skin, and narrow eyes. She was struggling to lift a worn-out chair, wobbling as she floated.
She muttered in a spooky voice, "Look, look! It's a floating chair! Hurry up and run, or the big ghost will eat you~"
"Run! I'm a super scary ghost hoo~~"
Lynn and the others: "..."
Kanoe Yuuko floated there for a while, but when she saw that none of them reacted, she let out an exhausted sigh and put the chair down.
"Ugh!"
"Damn it... are today's students really this fearless?"
She suddenly appeared right in front of them. "Hey! Why aren't you running away?!"
She floated up to Yukinoshita Yukino and shouted in her face, only to find that Yukino was just staring blankly at the now motionless chair.
"Huh? Why did it suddenly stop moving?" Yukino muttered in confusion.
She instinctively ignored Hana and others and turned to Lynn instead.
Kanoe Yuuko: "....."
"Well, obviously, because I got tired!"
Yuuko then sighed. As expected, no one could see her.
But she had to make them leave.
The big spirit upstairs was way too scary!
If they went in, things would get really bad.
Especially that one girl who had a strangely strong life force... it was so warm...
"Hmm? A guy surrounded by cute girls?"
Kanoe Yuuko subconsciously teased before waving a hand in front of his face.
"Can you see me? Can you? Can you? Hehe~"
No reaction.
She knew it was pointless, but she couldn't just stand by and watch these people walk to their deaths.
Recently, she had been stirring up a lot of supernatural incidents, scaring away plenty of students.
This time would be no different!
Just as she was about to leave
A warm, firm hand suddenly grabbed her arm.
"Eh?"
"Ehhhh?"
Kanoe Yuuko's floating body jolted to a stop, her eyes widening in shock.
"Miss... super scary ghost?"
Lynn smiled slightly. "Mind telling me what happened here?"
"Y-Y-You can see me?!"
Her red eyes widened in both surprise and excitement.
"Of course," Lynn nodded. "In fact, everyone here can see youexcept for those three."
He gestured toward Yukino, Yui, and Hana.
The rest were Devils, so naturally, they could see her.
Kanoe Yuuko's pale face immediately lit up with unconcealed joy.
She instantly clung to Lynn's chest, looking up at him with sparkling eyes as she repeatedly asked, "Really? Really? Really?!"
Lynn lowered his head slightly.
Her lips were so close that she was practically breathing on him.
Well, if spirits even needed to breathe, that is.
"Miss Ghost, we really can see you."
Kasumigaoka Utaha stepped forward, her expression unreadable as she forcefully pulled the overly affectionate ghost girl away from Lynn.
"Ahh~"
Kanoe Yuuko let out a blissful sigh.
It had been decades!
Decades of floating around in loneliness.
No one had ever been able to see her.
But today!
Not just oneso many people could see her!
So happy!!
She basked in her joy for a moment before suddenly freezing.
"Wait a second! If you guys can see me..."
"Then that whole scene just nowme pretending to be a ghost, moving the chair and everything..."
"You all saw it clearly, didn't you?!"
Yotsuya Miko and the others nodded.
Kanoe Yuuko let out a wail of despair.
"W-Why didn't anyone stop me?!"
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Advanced chapters are available at: patreon.com/_Coreal
Yotsuya Miko blinked in surprise. "Wait spirits can get embarrassed?"
The sight of a spirit feeling awkward was oddly amusing.
Yuuko's toes practically curled in the air from secondhand embarrassment.
She immediately refuted, "we were humans too, you know!"
"Uh s-sorry, my bad!" Miko scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"Y-You guys are actually talking to a ghost?"
Yukinoshita Yukino's voice trembled slightly, while Yuigahama Yui shrank behind her, too scared to even peek out.
"Eh? Where? Where is she?"
Yurikawa Hana kept looking around, trying to spot the ghost.
Yotsuya Miko: ""
Classic Hana.
But unlike the spirits they had encountered before, this one was different.
Not only could she communicate, but she had also been actively causing disturbances to keep students away.
"A kind spirit, huh?"
Lynn glanced at the glowing [Devil's Piece] on his status panel, then back at the floating ghost in front of him, a strange look in his eyes.
A spirit could actually become part of his familia?
Expanding the diversity of Devils, huh?
Driven by curiosity and a dedication to researching the [Devil's Piece], Lynn felt it was worth a shot.
Once this request was over, he'd find a way to bring Yuuko along.
For now, he set the thought aside and focused on listening to her story.
Her name was Kanoe Yuuko.
She was an old spirit, or as ordinary people call her, a ghost.
She was a bound spirittied to this place.
Because she couldn't leave the old school building and had nothing to do, she spent most of her time asleep.
But one day, when she woke up again, something had changed.
The sky above the old building was swarming with Cursed Spirits.
They were all low-level spirits and couldn't actually harm her, but
They had invaded her territory!
Well, mostly, they were just disgusting to look at.
At some point, some kind of magical array had appeared in the old school building, trapping these Cursed Spirits inside.
SoKanoe Yuuko simply drove them all up to the second floor and moved the array to the stairway, preventing them from coming back down.
Eventually, these spirits started attacking each otherAnd then, one terrifying combined Curse was born.
Kanoe Yuuko shivered just thinking about it.
She never expected that driving them upstairs would result in something so terrifying.
If not for the array, she probably would've been done for already.
But now, the array was covered in cracks, and she wasn't sure how much longer it would last.
Still, she was oddly calm about it.
She'd already been a spirit for decades, just floating around with nothing to do.
If she disappeared completely well, it wouldn't be that big of a deal.
After hearing her story, Lynn quickly pieced together what was going on.
Someone was intentionally raising Cursed Spirits.
They had sealed them in an enclosed space, letting them devour each other to create a more powerful Curse.
Kanoe Yuuko's actionstrapping them upstairshad only accelerated the process.
No wonder Natsuki had called the student council idiots.
Sure, Cursed Spirits were easy to create, but they were a nightmare to control.
If things got out of hand, the consequences would be disastrous.
Lynn had Miko explain the situation to the three who couldn't see spirits.
Yukinoshita Yukino was surprised.
"So the floating chair was actually Miss Yuuko's way of keeping students away?"
An unexpectedly kind ghost?
But still
She looked up.
As expected, she couldn't see anything.
Frowning slightly, she sighed.
"Even if you tell me there's something terrifying up there it's hard to believe when I can't see it."
She glanced at Lynn and the others.
Aside from Lynn, everyone else could see it?
Was it something they were born with or was there a way?
After hesitating for a moment, she asked, "Is there a way for us to see it too?"
Lynn gave her a quick look.
"There is."
"But are you sure you're ready for it?"
"Once you see the real world there's no turning back."
His voice dropped into a low, serious tone, making Yukino and Yui break out in a cold sweat.
Yukino hesitated for a moment, then clenched her teeth. "Rather than being left in the dark I'd rather know the truth!"
"Utaha, give her a buff."
Utaha summoned the Devil's Grimoire at Lynn's command.
There were plenty of spells that allowed humans to see Cursed Spirits.
As the book materialized in Utaha's hands out of thin air, Yukino's pupils shrank.
This woman actually possessed supernatural powers?!
Utaha activated a spell from the Devil's Grimoire"Revealing Sight"on Yukino.
A golden beam of light shot directly into her eyes.
She instinctively shut them tight.
A strange sensation, as if something was washing over her eyes, flooded her senses.
It lasted only a moment before fading.
Then, Yukino abruptly opened her eyes.
And right thereA tall, elegant woman with long purple-black hair was floating in midair.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"This is Miss Ghost?"
She felt a chill spread from the top of her head down her spine.
So it really was floating.
Taking a deep breath, she slowly turned her gaze toward the second floor.
And then
"...Ugh"
A cold sweat instantly drenched her back.
A dense, purple mist, thick like storm clouds, loomed over the entire old school building.
It was suffocatinglike stepping into the depths of hell itself.
"This is the real world" Yukino's voice trembled.
For the first time in her life, she felt like everything she had ever known was a lie.
Her fragile perception of reality, already riddled with cracks, shattered completely.
"What? What?!"
Yurikawa Hana's curiosity piqued, and she immediately chimed in.
"I wanna see too! I wanna see too!"
Utaha casually cast "Revealing Sight" on her as well, then turned to look at Yuigahama Yui.
Her gaze seemed to ask, "Do you want it too?"
Yui gulped and glanced at Yukinowho stood frozen, visibly shaken.
She hesitated for a moment.
Then, clenching her fists, she firmly nodded.
Another golden beam shot into her eyes.
"Ahhh! This is terrifying!"
Even the usually carefree Hana gasped at the sight of the overwhelming purple mist.
"Ah, but Miss Ghost is really cute."
Yotsuya Miko: ""
Classic Hana, still as scatterbrained as ever.
Kanoe Yuuko, surprised by the compliment, blinked before responding gracefully,
"Thank you, dear. You're quite cute yourself."
"Ehehe~!"
On the other side
Yui looked like she was about to cry.
She wanted to be as carefree as Hana.
But she couldn't.
She absolutely couldn't!
Was this still the same world she thought she knew?
As they struggled to process the shocking reality they had been thrown into, Lynn casually walked toward the second floor.
Yukino instinctively reached out, as if to stop him.
Was he reallyGoing to fight a monster capable of causing this kind of chaos?!
Shouldn't the school be responsible for dealing with something like this?!
Even Kanoe Yuuko seemed hesitant to let him go.
But before anyone could act, Lynn had already reached the base of the stairs.
He raised his hand
And lightly tapped the cracked array disk.
Crack
Crack, crack
BOOM!
The already fragile sealing array shattered into dust in an instant.
"ROOOOOAAAARRRR!!!"
As if sensing its release, a soul-shaking roar erupted from the depths of the second floor.
Lynn turned back to the group with a calm smile.
"Now thenlet's start the real mission."
"I'm dead!" Yukinoshita Yukino felt her soul leave her body.
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Kanoe Yuuko froze.
Did this guy not understand what she just said?
The monster upstairs was seriously terrifying!
"Don't worry, Miss Yuuko. Lynn is really strong," Shiina Mahiru reassured her with a gentle smile.
As expected of an angelic presence like Mahirushe could calm anyone's nerves.
That said, none of them had actually seen Lynn go all out before.
It just always felt like he was omnipotent, effortlessly handling every situation.
Whether it was Kasumigaoka Utaha, Yotsuya Miko, Mahiru, or anyone else in his Familia, they all had blind faith in him.
"Fine, whatever. It's already come to this anyway." Yuuko let out a sigh.
Shaking her head, she braced herself and ignited her fighting spirit. "I've had enough of that thing upstairs! Every night when I'm trying to sleep, all I hear is 'Boom! Boom!' as it slams into the walls!"
"It's ruined my sleep so much that I've got dark circles under my eyes, and I feel like I'll die from lack of sleep!"
"Today, I'm finally settling this score!"
"Uh Miss Yuuko, aren't you already dead?" Yotsuya Miko couldn't help but point out.
Yuuko shot her an exasperated look. "Why do you always have to ruin the moment?!"
"Damn it"
"Even ghosts have their dignity!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
After a furious roar, heavy footsteps echoed from upstairs.
Each step felt like it was stomping directly on Yukinoshita Yukino's heart.
Her face turned pale as a sense of helplessness washed over her.
A massive, tumor-like creature crashed down from the staircase behind Lynn.
Yukino's breath caught in her throat.
What the hell is that thing?
"Y-Yukino w-what do we do?" Yuigahama Yui stammered.
"Y-Yui...we we can only trust them now..."
BOOM!
An entire section of the old school building's wall was instantly blasted inward!
The sheer weight of the creature shattered the staircase, sending rubble flying in every direction!
The moment she saw the creature, Yukino felt her heart stop for a second.
So terrifying!
So. Damn. Terrifying!
Even if she tried to act strong, she was still just a girl.
Facing a monster like this, how could she not be scared?
As for Yui, she was already paralyzed in fear.
"Eww! That's disgusting!" Yuriwaka Hana groaned, her appetite for dinner vanishing on the spot.
Damn it!
This cursed spirit had just committed the ultimate crimeruining her appetite!
This was officially the most enraging thing she had ever experienced.
Messing with her food? That was unforgivable!
Even Kasumigaoka Utaha and the others, who had never seen a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit before, couldn't help but frown at its hideous appearance.
Yotsuya Miko, on the other hand, was getting Post-traumatic stress disorder flashbacks.
This thing reminded her of some very unpleasant memories.
"YAAAAAH!!"
The tumor-like monster let out an ear-splitting roar!
A powerful shockwave blasted through the room, making their clothes ripple violently!
"So noisy..." Lynn muttered in annoyance.
With a casual wave of his hand, a dark magic circle materialized, sealing the creature's putrid mouth shut.
"Mmph?!"
Its deafening cries were cut off instantly, leaving the old school building in an eerie silence.
The monster gawked in disbelief, desperately writhing as if humiliated. Then, furious, it lunged straight at Lynn!
"Watch out!" Yukino instinctively shouted.
But Lynn didn't even bother turning around.
BANG!!
A loud crash echoed through the entire abandoned school building.
But at that moment, a ridiculous scene unfolded inside.
The massive spirit suddenly froze mid-air, as if it had slammed into an invisible barrier. Its huge body compressed from the impact, deforming grotesquely.
And then
Due to the force of the collision, it was launched backward at an even greater speed than before!
BOOM!!
The creature smashed into the wall, sending dust flying everywhere. It stopped moving.
"..."
Silence.
The entire room fell into stunned silence as Yuuko, Yukino, and the others stood there, utterly dumbfounded.
'This This curse spirit doesn't seem that strong?'
Yukino quickly shook her head.
'No. It's not that the curse spirit is weak.'
'It's that this man is too strong!'
The president of the Supernatural Research Club
No wonder.
No wonder he had been so calm and confident.
No wonder Natsuki Minamiya-sensei had told her to seek out the Supernatural Research Club for help.
Because this man was terrifyingly powerful!
A curse spirit that could easily smash through walls, collapse staircases under its weight, and shroud the entire old school building in its eerie presence
Had been defeated.
No, it wasn't even a real fight.
Lynn hadn't even really attacked yet, and the curse spirit had already been reduced to a pathetic mess.
Thinking back to how she had treated Lynn at the club earlier, Yukino couldn't help but shudder.
'Lynn-senpai wouldn't hold grudges over something so small, right?'
Yuuko, on the other hand, understood the situation even better.
After all, she had been living in the old school building alongside that curse spirit.
She knew how terrifying it was.
"He's a reliable man, huh?"
Meanwhile, Hana kept things simple. "Miko's club president is amazing!!"
Lynn turned to his companions. "Utaha, Miko, Mahiru. It's your turn."
He had no interest in wasting his time on this curse spirit.
With his power as an Ultimate-Class Devil, this kind of first-grade curse spirit wasn't even a challenge.
Especially considering this thing was just a combination of low-level curses fused together.
But
It was perfect for Utaha and the others to gain combat experience.
"Understood!" x3
With determined expressions, the three girls stepped forward to face the motionless curse spirit.
For Lynn, this creature was nothing.
But for them, it was a real battle.
"Don't give it a chance to recover!" Utaha was the first to act.
The Devil's Grimoire in her hands flipped rapidly before stopping on a page labeled "High-Tier Magic: Lightning."
"Lightning Strike!"
A powerful magic circle appeared above the grimoire
CRACKLEBOOM!!
A bolt of brilliant blue lightning crashed down onto the curse spirit!
Smoke curled from its grotesque body, and if one sniffed carefully, there was even a faint burnt smell.
Mahiru wasn't about to be outdone.
She raised the Flare Gun she had received from Rias and fired a bullet infused with holy energy straight into the curse spirit's body!
Against these supernatural entities, holy energy was an especially effective weapon.
Miko, on the other hand, didn't have many offensive abilities. And there were no other weak curse spirits nearby for her to control.
However, her "Spirit Devil" ability had a unique effect on spectral beings!
She simply channeled some of her spiritual energy into a simple release technique
Yet it ended up dealing even more damage than Utaha and Mahiru's attacks!
Yukino stood there, mouth slightly open as she watched the three of them work together, unleashing various supernatural abilities in perfect coordination.
Her feelings were complicated.
"The supernatural Research Club"
"So everyone in it possessed supernatural abilities?"
They were all students from Shuchiin Academy. But somehow, she felt like she and them weren't even attending the same school.
While she had been talking about changing the world by changing people's weaknesses, pursuing what now seemed like some naive and idealistic dream
They had probably been somewhere out there, fighting monsters like these all along.
Compared to them She felt she was really was just a joke.
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Shuchiin Academy, Old School Building
Yukinoshita Yukino fell into silent reflection.
She felt defeated.
She was even starting to doubt herself.
In a world like this, where supernatural powers existed, could someone like hersomeone without any abilitiesreally change anything at all?
"Go, Miko! Kick its ass!!"
Yurikawa Hana cheered loudly from the sidelines, waving her arms in excitement as Yotsuya Miko continued her battle.
Her naturally clueless personality meant she didn't find it strange at all that Miko had suddenly gained supernatural powers.
"Haaah"
Hana's voice snapped Yukino out of her thoughts.
She let out a breath.
Now wasn't the time to be worrying about things like that.
She shifted her focus back to the fight.
---
Utaha was slightly out of breath.
Fighting a curse spirit stronger than them meant she had gone all out from the start.
Her magic was running low
She turned to Lynn. "Master, replenish me."
For Utaha, this was already a natural request.
"Wait a second!!"
Yukino's eyes widened in shock.
What did she just hear?!
Did she just call Lynn Master?!
She whipped her head back and forth between Utaha and Lynn, trying to decipher their relationship.
Boyfriend and girlfriend?
Or was "Master" just some weird thing they were into?
And what the hell did "replenish" mean?!
Up until now, Lynn's Familia had referred to him as "President" while at school to avoid unnecessary attention.
But in the heat of the moment, Utaha had slipped up.
Smack.
Lynn didn't bother explaining.
Why should he?
He was a Devil.
What was there to explain?
His Familia needed to replenish their magic, and as their Master, it was his responsibility.
He gently held Utaha's face and kissed her.
Yukino was completely shaken.
Her pupils trembled.
This was itundeniable proof.
They definitely had that kind of relationship!!
Shouldn't there be some consideration for the occasion?!
The whole mood had suddenly shifted from an intense battle to a romance scene!
As their lips parted, Utaha could feel the energy Lynn had transferred into her.
"Oh my~ So you two have that kind of relationship, huh?"
Kanoe Yuuko floated over, lazily draping herself over Lynn's back, eyes filled with curiosity and mischief.
Utaha narrowed her eyes at the spirit girl.
"You. You seriously have no sense of personal space, do you?"
Yuuko had been sticking close to Lynn from the start.
"Have you been single for the last 800 years or something?" Utaha shot back.
Yuuko didn't seem bothered by the remark.
Instead, she pressed her chest against Lynn a little harder.
"Well? Soft, isn't it?"
Her slanted eyes held a teasing glint.
"Hmm No bra?" Lynn was surprised.
"I don't really need those"
Pervert.
This ghost was a total pervert.
Utaha gritted her teeth in frustration.
Smack!
Before she could lash out, Lynn gave her a firm slap on the butt. "Quit messing around and get back to the fight."
"O-okay!"
Utaha's face flushed red as she hurried off to rejoin Miko and Mahiru.
Yuuko blinked, looking a little dumbfounded.
That actually worked?
She was hoping to tease Utaha a bit more.
"P-President"
Yotsuya Miko panted, nearly out of stamina and magic.
Seeing this, Lynn didn't waste wordshe simply replenished her energy.
Yuuko: "Huh?"
Yukino: "!"
Yui: "?"
W-What was going on here?!
Yurikawa Hana's eyes went wide as she gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
"Miko! So bold!!"
WaitBut Lynn had just kissed Utaha moments ago, right?
So then who was the actual girlfriend here?!
Hana's brain struggled to keep up.
"Mahiru, do you need it too?"
After releasing Miko, Lynn turned to Shiina Mahiru.
Mahiru's face was flushedpartly from exhaustion, but mostly from embarrassment.
There There was no other choice.
She hadn't brought any of Shizuka's natural potions, soThis was her only option.
After all, she couldn't afford to waste this opportunity to gain experience.
"Haaah"
She let out a deep breath, her voice barely a whisper.
"P-please take care of me, Lynn-san"
And just like that
Shiina Mahiru had her first "magic replenishment."
Her gaze turned hazy.
"So this is what Lynn-san tastes like"
"Wha A-all three of them?!" Yuuko fell into stunned silence.
Even as a spirit who had been around for sixty years, she had never seen anything like this before.
"Ah So it really is a harem club, huh"
Yukinoshita Yukino stared blankly, feeling like her entire worldview had crumbled.
Noher entire outlook on life and values were shaking at their foundation.
No wonder, back when she first called the Supernatural Research Club a Harem Club, no one had argued against it.
Because there was simply no need to argue.
"Y-Yuki did that curse spirit just use an illusion attack on me?"
Her friend, Yui, was trembling. "Why why am I seeing them all making out with the same guy?!"
"No, you're not hallucinating. That was real." Yukino couldn't help but say it.
"EHHHHHHHH?!"
Some time later
Utaha, Miko, and Mahiru were once again running low on stamina.
Seeing this, Lynn casually raised his hand
A bolt of black lightning shot through the air.
BOOM!!
The already weakened curse spirit took a direct hit!
The devastating energy of the lightning completely shattered it, reducing it to its purest formraw cursed energy.
"Spirit AbsorptionActivate."
A high-grade cursed spirit condensed into a single experience crystal, which Lynn casually stored away.
"Okay, mission complete."
Lynn pulled out his phone and snapped a picture, sending it to Minamiya Natsuki.
[Natsuki-chan: "I told you to exorcise the spirit, not demolish the damn building!!"]
Lynn glanced around.
From the outside, the old school building looked fine.
But inside? It looked like a fire had broken out.
[Lynn: "That's your problem to deal with. Just make sure my payment is ready."]
[Natsuki-chan: "" ]
Yukino stood there, dazed.
They had been fighting with everything they had, yet in the end, all it took was one move from Lynn, and the cursed spirit was gone.
What a terrifying man.
Her gaze toward Lynn was now filled with awe and fear.
Never. Never mess with this guy.
At the same time, her mind was flooded with countless questions.
Like How can they have these powers? What the hell is "magic replenishment"?!
Based on her observations, after kissing Lynn, Utaha and the others seemed to regain all their energy.
SoWas kissing him actually some kind of combat sustain method?!
She had so many questions about Lynn and his group.
But after this mission, she probably wouldn't have any further involvement with the Supernatural Research Club, right?
After all, she and Lynn belonged to completely different worlds.
---
"Ahhh"
"So tired!"
Utaha groaned, rubbing her sore shoulders.
"This felt more exhausting than fighting zombies."
Even after three rounds of replenishment, they still hadn't been able to defeat the cursed spirit.
"Well, it was a high-grade spirit. You guys aren't quite there yet."
Lynn shrugged before adding
"That said, after this fight, I bet your stats will see a solid increase."
Utaha, Miko, and Mahiru's eyes lit up.
They had fought against a high-grade cursed spirit for so longjust how much would their abilities improve?!
"Sigh Are you guys leaving already?"
Kanoe Yuuko floated over, her expression a little lonely.
Alone in the old school building she felt really, really lonely.
Seeing this, Lynn extended his hand.
"Wanna consider joining my Familia?"
.
.
.
Familia?
Yukinoshita Yukino's heart tightened. She had a bad feeling about this.
Hurriedly, she spoke up, "Well, since the request has been completed, Yui and I will be leaving now."
She lowered her head slightly, avoiding eye contact with Lynn. Then, grabbing a slightly dazed Yuigahama Yui, she quickly left the old school building.
She had the strong feeling that if she stayed any longer, she'd get caught up in something absolutely ridiculous.
Today had already been overwhelming. Not only had her worldview been shattered, but she had also begun questioning her own beliefs about life itself.
She needed time to process everything.
Inside the old school building
"Ah... they left."
Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "Master, do they not qualify?"
Aren't they beautiful girls?
Hmm.
That was the pattern Utaha had noticed.
Generally speaking, as long as someone was a beautiful girl, they had the potential to become Lynn's familia.
And Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui were obviously beautiful girls, weren't they?
Lynn shrugged. "Obviously, they qualify."
'As expected.'
A knowing glint flashed through Utaha's eyes before she tilted her head in confusion. "Then why?"
"Why let them leave?"
Lynn suddenly smiled. "Utaha, you're misunderstanding something."
"They need me. I don't need them."
His gaze was deep, and though his tone was calm, it carried weight.
Utaha was briefly taken aback before breaking into a smile. "That's true."
They had no idea what kind of opportunity they had just walked away from.
Nor did they realize what they had lost.
Lynn didn't care about their departure. Instead, his attention shifted to Kanoe Yuuko.
He was quite interested in the idea of a ghost reincarnating as a devil.
"So?"
"Want to come with me?"
Yuuko's eyes lit up, but the spark quickly dimmed.
She had finally met someone who could see her, and of course, she wanted to leave the old school building with him.
But
"I can't," she said bitterly. "I'm a bound spiritI can't leave this place."
Lynn smirked. "That's easy. Just become my familia."
"Familia? This word again?"
Kanoe Yuuko blinked in confusion.
Lynn had mentioned 'familia' earlier, but before she could ask about it, the conversation had been interrupted by that girl.
Now she was curious.
Noticing her reaction, Lynn's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Of course, I mean becoming a reincarnated devil."
As he spoke, he spread his devil wings.
Kanoe Yuuko's eyes widened. "Wait you're serious about this whole 'devil' thing?"
Lynn shrugged. "One hundred percent real."
Kanoe Yuuko turned to look at Utaha and the others. "What about them?"
"They're all my familia."
"Which means... They're devils, too."
Utaha and the others exchanged glances, then, as if on cue, they spread their own devil wings.
"Whoa! Miko, you suddenly look so cool!"
Yurikawa Hana's eyes sparkled with excitement as she stared at Yotsuya Miko, looking as if she wanted to reach out and touch the wings.
Yotsuya Miko twitched at the corner of her eye.
Sometimes, she really admired how utterly oblivious Hana could be.
Meanwhile, Yuuko was still in a state of mental shock.
As an old ghost, she had truly seen some crazy things today.
"So devils actually exist?"
Her expression was complicated.
She might be old, but she was terribly inexperienced.
Being bounded to the old school building meant she knew next to nothing about the world.
Lynn shrugged. "If ghosts can exist, why not devils?"
"Uh..."
"You know what? That actually makes sense."
Kanoe Yuuko thought about it.
Before she died, she never would've imagined she'd become a ghost. And now, she had been one for fifty or sixty years!
"Becoming a devil... actually sounds kinda fun."
Her eyes flickered with an indescribable emotion.
Then, just as suddenly, that light dimmed.
"Is this really possible?"
"Can you really take me away from here?"
Kanoe Yuuko was doubtful.
After all, in the past fifty to sixty years, she had tried countless times, but each attempt ended in failure.
"If you don't try, how will you ever know?" Lynn's tone was lighthearted.
As if the restrictions of a mere bound spirit could possibly surpass his [Devil's Piece].
"You're right!"
Kanoe Yuuko froze for a moment, then her gaze became firm.
She decidedshe would become a devil!
Maybe then, she could finally leave this place?
And even if she still couldn't, at least she'd have a new identity. That didn't sound too bad, either.
Besides
A sly smile appeared in her narrow eyes.
"If I still can't leave the old school building after becoming your familia, you better come visit me, okay?"
She pouted pitifully. "You wouldn't want your familia to be all lonely, would you?"
Ah...
As expected of a Japanese ghost. This level of emotional manipulation was spot-on.
Lynn's voice was firm. "Don't worry. I won't leave you behind."
Yuuko flinched.
For some reason, those words touched her.
At first, she had only thought of this as an amusing experience, but now her reasons for becoming a devil were starting to change.
Following this guy didn't seem like a bad idea at all.
"Then, this humble lady shall entrust everything to you"
She flashed a teasing smile.
"My dear Devil-Sama."
Her gaze was full of conviction.
Lynn smiled. "You won't regret it."
Then, as if she had just realized something, Yuuko's face stiffened.
"Waitcan a ghost even reincarnate as a devil?"
She was, after all, already dead.
Lynn paused, glancing at the glowing Devil's Piece on his system panel.
Then, with absolute certainty, he declared, "If I say it's possible, then it's possible."
Yep.
If the Devil's Piece said it could be done, then it could be done.
"Alright! Let's do it!"
"Uh what do I need to do?"
Kanoe Yuuko looked a little confused.
Lynn summoned a Devil's Piece, then hesitated slightly before shifting his gaze toward the airheaded Yurikawa Hana.
There was still an outsider here.
He had considered recruiting her into his familia eventually
But clearly, she wasn't one of them yet.
Normally, letting an outsider witness a devil reincarnation ritual wasn't a big deal.
But his ritual was uniqueit also involved engraving a divine blessing (Falna).
Someone who wasn't part of his familia couldn't be trusted with that.
Kasumigaoka Utaha and the others quickly realized this.
Yotsuya Miko's expression also turned serious.
She trusted Hana, but when it came to her Master and their familia, she had to be cautious.
"Huh?"
Yurikawa Hana blinked, confused by everyone staring at her.
Feeling the pressure, she looked around, clueless.
Yotsuya Miko sighed and gave her a gentle nudge. "Hana, maybe you should step outside for a bit?"
Yurikawa Hana immediately pouted. "Miko, are you abandoning me again?"
Yotsuya Miko: "....."
'Why did she make it sound like I was some kind of heartless playboy?'
Seeing that Hana still wasn't getting it, Yotsuya Miko's expression became serious.
"Hana, this is an internal familia matter, you"
"Then I'll just join you guys!"
Yotsuya Miko: ".....?"
.
.
.
"Yep! I'll just join you guys!"
Inside the old school building, Yurikawa Hana's voice echoed loudly.
Yotsuya Miko blinked.
Wait that actually makes sense?
But
Did Hana even have what it takes to be accepted as one of the Master's familia?
Yotsuya Miko looked up at Lynn.
Lynn smiled at her before saying, "Then let's do it together."
"You and Yuuko will both reincarnate as Devils and join my familia."
Yotsuya Miko let out a breath of relief.
"Yay!"
Yurikawa Hana cheered and hugged Miko tightly.
Miko sighed helplessly but couldn't help feeling happy.
Becoming one of the familia was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for ordinary people like them.
Knowing the truth of the world but having no power to act That would be a miserable existence.
Just like how she had been before.
Hana had already stepped into this world.
Becoming the Lynn's familia that was her fortune.
Meanwhile
A little distance away from the old school building, Yukinoshita Yukino finally let out a sigh of relief.
But her mind kept circling back to one word.
"Familia?"
Even though she had chosen not to stay and listen further Her sharp mind had already pieced together the bigger picture.
Maybe
The girls in the Supernatural Research Club were all Lynn's familia?
Maybe
They had supernatural abilities because they became Lynn's familia?
"Haaah"
She exhaled deeply and gave up thinking about it.
When she had faced that cursed spirit in the old school building, one thing had been made painfully clear to her.
She was just an ordinary person.
Against creatures like that, she could do nothing!
She had no desire to be caught up in supernatural affairs any longer.
"Y-Yukino"
Suddenly, Yuigahama Yui tugged at her sleeve, her voice trembling.
"L-Look!"
Yukino frowned and raised her head, only for her pupils to shrink in shock.
"Can you see? Can you see?"
Yukino's face stiffened.
On the streets of Shuchiin AcademyThere were spirits everywhere!
NoIt wasn't just Shuchiin!
She looked further beyond the school gates.
Even outsideThe entire city was swarming with spirits!!
"Y-Yukino"
Yuigahama Yui forced a smile, her lips trembling as she stammered, "A-Are those?"
"Don't say it!"
Yukino sharply cut her off.
Yui instantly fell silent.
"Just act like we can't see them" Yukino muttered under her breath.
On the surface, she looked composed.
But if one listened closely, they would hear the slight tremor in her voice.
"Can you see me?"
If these spirits realized they could be seenSomething terrifying would happen, wouldn't it?
Her lips turned pale.
Why
Why had the world become like this?
Was this the real truth of the world?
Suddenly, she recalled what Lynn had said back in the old school building.
"Once you see the real world, there's no turning back."
So this was what he meant by "no turning back"?
She clenched her fists tightly, her heart pounding rapidly.
What should she do? What could she do?
Just then, a cursed spirit appeared before themhooded, its face twisted in a hideous snarl, its breath carrying a rotten stink.
"Can you see? Can you see me?"
Terrifying.
These spirits were terrifying!
Should she
Should she go back to the old school building and find Lynn and the others?
But they had left so decisivelywould they really go back with their tails between their legs?
"Can you see me!!"
Suddenly!
The spirit lunged forward!
Yukinoshita Yukino's body trembled slightly.
Something... had leaked out...
Inside the old school building.
Since the process of turning them into Devils was about to begin, Lynn needed a clean room.
So, the group followed Kanoe Yuuko to her personal room.
"Great! Looks like my room hasn't been affected at all."
Floating in midair, Yuuko spread her arms wide and smiled.
"Welcome to Yuuko's private shelter!"
Lynn glanced around.
Yep, it had a very girly vibe.
Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed. "I never expected someone who looks so mature to have such a cute and girlish room."
Then she muttered under her breath, "Not to mention, she's technically a fifty or sixty-year-old ghost"
Lynn took out a Devil's Piece and asked, "Who wants to go first?"
Hana enthusiastically raised her hand high, but then she dove straight into Lynn's chest, rubbing against him affectionately.
"Me first! Me first!"
Lynn smiled. "Alright, then take off your clothes."
"Huh?"
Yuuko froze for a moment, looking at him in surprise before grinning playfully. "So, the ritual for turning into a Devil has an interesting requirement, huh?"
She pressed her body against him slightly, then pulled down her collar, revealing a deep separation while putting on a shy expression.
"L-Like this?"
Lynn showed no embarrassment, admiring her for a moment before stating, "You need to take everything off."
Kanoe Yuuko's expression stiffened slightly. "S-Such a greedy man."
She wasn't wearing anything underneath.
But since he had already said it
Slowly, Yuuko began removing her clothes, revealing her stunning figure to Lynn without hesitation.
"EHHHH?!"
Hana covered her eyes but left a big gap between her fingers.
She actually took it all off!
So embarrassing!!
Kasumigaoka Utaha twitched slightly. "This ghost really doesn't wear anything!"
"Hmph!"
Yuuko puffed up her chest. "Wearing clothes is uncomfortable for a ghost, you know."
Lynn picked up the Devil's Piece. "Front or back?"
After a brief explanation about engraving the Blessing, Yuuko finally understood.
"Oh, I see. So that's why I had to take off my clothes."
Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she feigned shyness. "W-Well wherever you like, Lynn."
Since she had already given her consent, Lynn didn't hesitate and placed it on the front... After Shizuka did the same, it became his favorite spotbut can anyone really blame him?
"I-It feels like something is entering me!"
Kanoe Yuuko moaned, her face flushing.
Kasumigaoka Utaha gritted her teeth. "This woman she's definitely doing this on purpose!"
Buzz
The ritual was complete.
Yuuko's Blessing information appeared.
[Kanoe Yuuko]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Abilities: [Ghost Devil]
[Ghost Devil]
Will-o'-the-Wisp
Earthbound Spirit (Activates Domain: Twilight Maiden's Sanctuary)
Demonization (Ultimate Ghost Mode)
[Ding! You have obtained Familia member 'Kanoe Yuuko'!]
[Ding! Your Familia member has reincarnated as a special Devil'Ghost Devil'!]
[Ding! You have acquired the skill 'Ghost Devil'!]
[Ding! Your power has slightly increased!]
.
.
.
So, she really did reincarnate as a Devil.
Seeing Kanoe Yuuko successfully undergo reincarnation, Lynn couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
Even though his [Devil's Piece] had already informed him of the outcome, ghosts were, after all, bodiless beings.
It felt like there was something mysterious hidden within this [Devil's Piece] skill.
"A Ghost Devil..."
Checking the skill's description, he noticed something interesting about the "Earthbound Spirit" ability.
This was the first time Lynn had seen such an ability with a domain.
He focused and sensed it himself.
Then, his expression turned a little strange. "This is... the old school building?"
"Interesting."
As for the will-o'-the-wisp ability, aside from adding another tool to his arsenal, it didn't seem all that useful.
Besides that, he also seemed to have gained a new stateA ghost mode, just like Yuuko.
Which meant
From now on, he could pass through walls too?
On the other side, Yuuko was staring in amazement at her new Devil wings, playing with them in disbelief.
"I really reincarnated successfully..."
"But..."
She looked down at her body with a puzzled expression.
"It still looks transparent."
Even after reincarnating as a Devil, her ghostly traits hadn't disappeared.
Lynn handed her a copy of the blessings information he had imprinted. "Check your skills, and you'll understand."
Yuuko scanned through the details, skipping over the basic abilities that didn't seem too useful at the moment.
"Ghost Devil?"
Her mouth twitched.
"So, I'm both a ghost and a Devil now?"
Lynn nodded. "Pretty much."
"Well... okay."
She accepted the setting rather quickly.
"Will-o'-the-wisp..."
She mumbled to herself.
"Could it be...?"
Closing her eyes, she guided the energy within her body.
Whoosh!!
Ghostly blue flames ignited out of nowhere, surrounding her.
Yuuko let out a chuckle, though her lips twitched slightly.
"Well, that completes the set of classic ghost traits, doesn't it?"
Then, there was the Earthbound Spirit ability.
Was that some kind of hint?
Regardless, the outcome was good.
At the very least
"I don't feel connected to the old school building anymore!"
Yuuko's face lit up with joy.
This meant she was finally free from the prison known as the "old school building"!
Actually, she hadn't really left it.
The old school building had simply left with her.
Lynn wasn't sure if he should tell her that.
Forget it. He'd let her figure it out on her own.
"Alright, next upYurikawa Hana."
"C-Coming!"
Hearing her name, Hana tensed up, nervous and shy.
She hadn't expected that reincarnating as a Devil would require taking off her clothes...
But she didn't want to be separated from Miko!
Determination flashed in her eyes.
Without hesitation, she quickly stripped off her school uniform, leaving only her Underwear.
She hesitated for a moment before asking in a small voice, "Um do I have to place it in front, too?"
'Miko's leader prefers it in the front, right?'
She stole a glance at Kanoe Yuuko.
'ButThe front is too embarrassing!'
Blushing furiously, she fidgeted nervously.
Even though she was a bit of an airhead, she was still a high school girl!
Lynn noticed her discomfort and reassured her, "It's fine. Just exposing your back is enough."
He wasn't some kind of pervert who would force his followers to have their blessings imprinted on the front.
Hearing this, Hana let out a sigh of relief.
She turned around and unfastened her back clasp, revealing her smooth skin.
Lynn placed the Devil's Piece on her back.
A cool sensation spread across Hana's body.
Buzz
[ Ding! You have obtained the follower "Yurikawa Hana"!]
[ Ding! Your follower has reincarnated as a special Devil: "Life Devil"!]
[ Ding! You have acquired the skills "Life Energy" and "Life Devil"!]
[ Ding! Your power has slightly increased!]
Hana's blessing details appeared before him.
[Yurikawa Hana]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Abilities: [Life Energy] & [Life Devil]
[Life Energy]
Life Drain: Absorb life energy through eating.
Enhanced Stamina Recovery.
[Life Devil]
Regeneration: Consume life energy to heal, with the effectiveness depending on the energy used.
Life Aura: Convert life energy into an aura.
Devil Transformation (Life Reaver Mode).
Ninth follower, get! And another special Devil!
Lynn focused on Hana's skills.
First is [Life Energy]!
Just like Miko's [Spirit Sight], this was another follower with a unique innate skill!
Though considering the massive life energy Hana possessed, this outcome wasn't too surprising for Lynn.
Then, the next skill[Life Devil]!
The moment he saw the description, Lynn's eyes lit up.
Regeneration!
That was a rare ability for him.
Using life energy as fuel to regenerate...
Lynn pondered over it.
[Life Devil] and [Life Energy] were linked skills.
But that was actually a good thingat least now, the life energy that would have otherwise gone to waste finally had a use.
Not to mention[Life Devil] was more than just that.
It has Life Aura ability!
A power system separate from magic. But...Aura-based abilities seemed to be more suited for close combat.
Time to find someone to grind for gold.
"Should I go after Rias again?"
Lynn stroked his chin before his eyes suddenly gleamed.
"Wait, there is also Natsuki-chan!"
He suddenly thought of Natsuki's juniorSasasaki Misaki!
Lynn chuckled to himself.
Getting some benefits from Natsuki wouldn't be easy.
For now, he decided to keep this in mind for later.
Lynn copied Hana's blessing details.
She quickly put her clothes back on and looked at her status.
"Uh... I don't understand any of this."
Hana looked troubled. "Miko, Miko! Help me read my abilities!"
Yotsuya Miko let out a helpless smile.
'Hana, you're such a dummy...'
But the moment she saw Hana's status, her expression changed.
'Wait... Dumb Hana is actually this strong?!'
With the old school building incident wrapped up, Lynn and his group headed toward the Supernatural Research Club, bringing Yuuko and Hana along.
Yuuko took one last look at the old school building behind her, feeling nostalgic.
It all felt surreal.
After all, she had lived there for sixty years.
---
Supernatural Research Club.
Hana was filling out her club application.
Meanwhile, Yuuko was making a fuss. "I wanna join too!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at her with half-lidded eyes. "What club does a ghost even need to join?"
"Ha?!"
"Do ghosts not have human rights?!" Yuuko complained.
"Alright, let's start our club activities now." Lynn stepped in to stop the argument.
"Club activities?"
"What are they, what are they?!" Hana and Yuuko both looked curious.
Lynn smirked. "Simple. We're heading to another world to fight monsters and level up."
"Huh?!" x5
.
.
.
As Hana and Yuuko stepped through the dimensional gate, they couldn't help but stare in awe.
"Is this really another world?" Hana murmured, scanning their surroundings.
To their surprise, it didn't look too different from their modern-day reality.
Lynn called over Miyamoto Rei and had her show Hana and Yuuko around, letting them get familiar with this world. He also had them test their abilities on a few zombies to see how well they could fight.
As for Lynn himself?
He had something else to take care of.
Lynn was preparing to update the blessings for his familia when he noticed something.
"Where's Utaha?"
Just as he was about to look for her, Utaha came rushing back, acting all sneaky as if she had been up to something.
Lynn narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously.
She'd been acting strange since they left the Club.
Utaha avoided his gaze, her face slightly flushed.
Tonight she would finally belong to Lynn.
Just thinking about it made her blush even more.
Lynn, unaware of her thoughts, spoke up. "Alright, time to update your blessings and see how much you've improved."
Lynn's Bedroom
"Alright, Utaha, you're up first. Lie down on the bed."
Utaha nodded and, without hesitation, took off her top.
She had gone through this process several times before. Even though she still felt shy, she had gotten used to it.
Lynn placed his hand on her back and manually updated her blessing.
Feeling his fingers move across her skin, Utaha unconsciously squeezed her thighs together.
---
[Kasumigaoka Utaha]
Race: Devil
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: A823
Agility: A877
Durability: A827
Magic: S999
Unique Abilities: [Devil's Grimoire] (Details omitted)
---
Lynn raised an eyebrow as he copied down her updated blessing info.
"Utaha, your magic stat has probably hit its limit. The rest of your stats are also at their peak. Are you ready to level up?"
Unlike Saeko, who had a cheat-like skill Bloodlust, Utaha's growth had more natural limits. Thanks to their previous hunts, she had finally reached the threshold for an upgrade.
Utaha checked her blessing and realized that raising her stats any further would be incredibly difficult.
"Then let's do it."
Lynn proceeded with the upgrade.
---
[Kasumigaoka Utaha]
Race: Devil
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Abilities: [Devil's Grimoire]
[Devil's Grimoire]
Devil's Grimoire: Can record and release magic, sorcery, and other abilities. The more detailed the recorded information, the more complete the reproduction.
Demonization: Merges body and grimoire, temporarily wielding all recorded abilities.
Accelerated Magic Growth.
Development Ability: Thunder Break (New!)
Nothing about Devil's Grimoire had changed.
But she had acquired a development abilityThunder Break.
Probably because she frequently used lightning magic.
Lynn himself didn't receive much from her leveling upno major change in his Devil's Pieces skill, not even a slight enhancement.
The only bonus was that he also gained access to Thunder Break.
Well, better than nothing.
Utaha took her updated blessing sheet and, upon seeing that she had advanced to a Mid-Class Devil, a small smile appeared on her lips.
She murmured to herself, "Finally... I caught up to Saeko."
Honestly, she had always felt a little pathetic.
Despite being Lynn's first Familia member, she had been surpassed in everythingwhether it was strength or even in her progress with Lynn.
She had completely fallen behind.
But tonight... everything would be different!
While Lynn was updating Miko's blessings, Utaha casually asked, "Master, have you been going to Saeko's room every night lately?"
"Hmm?"
Lynn glanced at her in surprise. "You didn't know?"
"???"
"Aren't you the one standing outside the door eavesdropping every night?"
"!!!!!!!!!!"
Utaha's eyes widened in shock, and she stammered, "W-what are you talking about?! I-I would never"
The more she spoke, the weaker her voice became.
"I-I just remembered something I need to do! S-so, I'll be leaving now!"
Utaha scrambled to get up from the bed in a panic, her face burning hot.
Lynn sighed. "Put your clothes on first."
Utaha froze for a second before obediently getting dressed.
Miko and Mahiru exchanged glances, both seeing the same thought in each other's eyes.
'So Utaha-senpai is this kind of person, huh'
---
Some time later...
Lynn finished updating both Miko's and Mahiru's blessings.
"Miko, your stats are almost at their limit. I think you'll be able to level up in just a few more days."
"As for you, Mahiru, you are still new to the Familia, so it's natural for your stats to be a little lower."
He reached out and gently ruffled Mahiru's soft hair, reassuring her.
Feeling the warmth of Lynn's palm, Mahiru's cheeks flushed.
Her thoughts drifted back to the earlier magic replenishment.
Her gaze unconsciously fell on Lynn's lips.
Thin soft
But back then, they were in the middle of a fight, so she didn't really get to savor the experience.
And back then she could still taste the remnants of Utaha and Miko on his lips.
Maybe maybe she should try again?
"Lynn-san, I'll work hard to level up!"
Mahiru's eyes glowed with determination, and she spoke seriously.
Then, in a smaller voice, she added,
"When I level up, can I get a reward from you?"
As she spoke, her face turned redder and redder.
No one knew what she was thinking about.
"?!?!"
Miko's eyes shot wide open in disbelief.
'Mahiru is this bold?!'
'She looks so gentle and innocent, but she's actually this forward?!'
Lynn chuckled and gently patted Mahiru's soft cheeks.
"Don't worry. Even if you don't level up, if there's a reward you want, you can always ask for it."
He was always generous with his Familia.
"Really?!"
Mahiru's eyes sparkled.
Then, she hesitated for a moment before whispering shyly,
"C-could we replenish magic again?"
"The first time I d-didn't get to enjoy it properly"
Lynn blinked.
Mahiru was surprisingly bold. He didn't expect that.
"What, you don't want to?"
Seeing that Lynn hadn't responded, Mahiru's expression faltered, and she lowered her head in disappointment.
'Does Lynn-san not like me?'
Her heart felt a little uneasy.
Lynn sighed and pinched her cheek lightly, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Ow" Mahiru pouted, rubbing her face.
"What? Do you not want the reward anymore?"
Mahiru brightened up instantly, then eagerly leaned in close.
This time, there was no one else's taste lingeringjust Lynn's own.
""
Miko's expression was complicated.
'At this rate is there even a place left for me in this Familia?!'
She clenched her fists slightly.
'Maybe maybe I should be more proactive, too?'
'Utaha-senpai what are you even doing?!'
'Weren't we the first ones to join the Familia?!'
.
.
.
After rewarding Mahiru, Lynn took a moment to check on Kanoe Yuuko and Yurikawa Hana.
"Haah! Take this!"
Hana was full of excitement, her fists wrapped in golden energy as she ruthlessly smashed a zombie's skull.
"Hmm..."
"She really suits this power."
Lynn then shifted his gaze to Yuuko.
In this zombie-infested world, her ghostly state gave her a huge advantage.
The zombies couldn't see her. They couldn't even hear or feel her.
So she could slaughter them without resistance.
"Looks like you two are adapting quickly," Lynn commented.
Hana's eyes sparkled. "Ah! Boss!"
Then, without hesitation, she clung to Lynn's arm. "Boss! This otherworld stuff is amazing!"
"But um"
She hesitated, her cheeks slightly flushed as she mumbled in a small voice, "I'm a little hungry."
Hungry?
Lynn checked her condition.
She had burned through a lot of life energy.
Thinking about how life energy could be replenished, he considered something.
Would Shizuka's recovery potion work just by drinking it?
"Rei, get a bottle of Recovery Potion No. 15 for Hana."
"Yes!"
Miyamoto Rei quickly brought over one of Shizuka's recovery potions.
Lynn handed it to Yurikawa Hana. "Try it out."
Without hesitation, her eyes lit up as she popped open the bottle and gulped it down.
"This milk is amazing!"
Hana looked blissful.
She never expected there to be such high-quality milk in the world!
This was pure happiness!
'This milk...uh?'
Miyamoto Rei, who stood nearby, had a complicated expression.
'Forget it Let her figure it out on her own.'
Meanwhile, Lynn was observing her condition.
Her life energy, once reduced to a tiny ember, suddenly flared back to life.
Shizuka's recovery potions were definitely effective.
On the other side, Kanoe Yuuko had also floated over after spotting Lynn, immediately hanging her body over him.
She took a deep sniff, her gaze turning a little amused.
"So many different girls' scents"
Her Master was quite the harem protagonist.
In just a short time, she had already gotten familiar with the other Familia members.
And they were all beautiful girls!
A small excitement stirred within her.
Would Lynn do this and that with her too?
The loneliness she had endured for sixty years...She could feel it bubbling up again.
---
By evening, Yotsuya Miko and Yurikawa Hana left the Apocalypse world together.
Hana cheered, "Finally, I can go home with Miko again!"
Seeing her so happy, Miko couldn't help but smile.
"Hana, how does it feel to be part of the Familia?"
"It's so much fun!" Hana was brimming with enthusiasm.
"Everyone in the Familia is amazing! Boss is so cool!"
"And the milk is delicious!"
"Milk?"
Yotsuya Miko's smile froze.
That very questionable potion
If it wasn't necessary, she'd honestly rather receive Lynn's magic replenishment directly.
Just thinking about it made her heartbeat quicken a little.
And then, she inevitably thought about Mahiru's reward.
Her expression turned dazed.
Everyone was being so bold.
Not just Saeko and the others, but even Mahiru.
Even Utaha-senpai seemed to be preparing something.
Only she was doing nothing...
Other than magic replenishment, there hadn't been much real progress.
The other girls in the Familia all lived under the same roof as their Master.
Only she still went home separately.
Oh. And now, Hana had joined too.
Even though she was new, Miko understood that it was only a matter of time before Hana got eaten by their Master.
After all, every girl in the FamiliaWas part of their Master's responsibility.
After all, they were all beautiful.
In a Luxury Apartment
Yukinoshita Yukino lay in bed, her gaze slightly unfocused.
Then
A cursed spirit crawled onto the ceiling above her.
"Can you see me? Can you see...meeee?"
Yukino's expression stiffened slightly, doing her best not to show any reaction.
But under the covers, her hands clenched tightly.
YeahEven at home, she was surrounded by cursed spirits.
She pulled out her phone, shifting her gaze naturally to the screen.
Just then, a message popped up.
[Yui: "Yuki I'm so scared"]
Yukino's fingers froze for a moment.
She bit her lip, guilt welling up inside her.
If it weren't for herYui wouldn't have ended up like this.
If she had just listened back then, if she hadn't stubbornly entered the old school building everything would have stayed normal, right?
This was all her fault.
And she had even dragged Yui into it.
She bit her lip harder, her eyes growing misty.
She was so so useless.
At the very least
At the very least, she had to save Yui!
Should she seek help from the Supernatural Research Club?
Her thoughts were scattered.
No first, she would check the shrine.
Maybe there was a way.
If notThen she'd have no choice but to turn to the Supernatural Research Club for help.
After all, out of everyone she knew,
They were the only ones who could handle something like this.
Apocalypse World
Kasumigaoka Utaha sneaked into Busujima Saeko's room, looking around cautiously.
Seeing that Lynn wasn't there, she let out a sigh of relief.
Then, she took out the outfit she had stuffed in her bag.
The exposed bunny girl costume.
Her cheeks flushed.
This outfit was way too too much!
She held it up, looking at the lower part of the design.
How could it be that revealing?!
She took a deep breath.
"Screw it! Just change!"
Forcing down her embarrassment, she put the outfit on.
And immediatelyShe felt so exposed.
She let out a small whimper before throwing herself onto the bed.
Burying her upper body under the blanket, she left her lower half uncovered.
The moment Lynn walked in, the first thing he would see would be a pair of beautiful, black-stocking-clad legs, slightly parted, with soft curves
There was no way he could resist!
Utaha felt that her strategy was perfect. "At least becoming the fifth isn't that bad."
Half an hour later
Lynn was about to make his usual trip to Saeko's room.
But on the way
He was stopped by Takagi Yuriko, who had been waiting for him.
She smiled slightly, a mature charm in her expression.
"Lynn-sama, I have a favor to ask. Would you mind coming to Saya's room for a moment?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow but followed her.
The moment he entered the roomHe saw Takagi Saya.
Face flushed, body bare, eyes avoiding his as she fidgeted.
Meanwhile, Takagi Yuriko remained calm, offering him a gentle smile as sheSlipped out of her clothes and gracefully knelt down.
"Please, Lynn-sama"
"This might be the only value I have left."
Lynn looked at her for a momentAnd didn't hesitate.
When someone willingly delivered themselves to his doorstep, how could he refuse?
Without a word, he pulled Yuriko into his arms, pressing her against the wall.
Saeko's Room
Kasumigaoka Utaha, half-asleep, vaguely heard some strange sounds.
She had been hiding under the covers for too long and was starting to feel lightheaded from lack of oxygen.
"Huh? What is going on?"
"These sounds seem familiar."
.
.
.
The Next Day - Morning
At breakfast, Utaha absentmindedly poked at her food with her chopsticks.
She had no appetite.
With a slightly resentful gaze, she looked over at Saeko, as if silently asking
"Why didn't Lynn visit your room last night?"
Saeko just chuckled and shrugged. "Can't be helped. Wherever Master decides to go, no one can predict."
She thought for a moment and added, "I remember one time, Master didn't even come to the Apocalypse world."
Utaha froze, recalling that moment.
And then, she felt even more depressed.
That night, Lynn had spent the entire time gaming with Koneko all night long.
Without her even realizing it, he had gotten that close to Koneko?!
WaitCould it be that
The women of the Familia were no longer enough to satisfy Lynn?
Utaha's thoughts spiraled wildly, and she eventually arrived at a conclusion.
She couldn't just let this continue.
If she wanted to offer herself, was there even a chance he wouldn't accept?
The Weekend Higurashi Shrine
Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui stood at the base of the torii gate.
"Yuki will this really work?" Yui tried her best to resist the urge to look around nervously.
It had been a few days since the incident at the old school building.
After facing cursed spirits daily, they had gotten somewhat used to dealing with them but it was still terrifying!
Living in constant fear every day had drained them completely.
They were so exhausted that dark circles had formed under their eyes, and they had lost all their energy.
There had even been a few times they had been so scared they peed themselves.
Even worse, some of the cursed spirits were so cunninglurking in disguise, blending into the surroundings, only to reveal their twisted forms in an instant
It felt like they were just moments away from being discoveredfrom having their secret exposed.
If this continued, how was it any different from being dead?
Yukino's face showed her fatigue as she bit her lip. "This is the last shrine in the area. If this doesn't work"
Then they'd have no choice but to seek help from Lynn.
"Let's go."
Taking the lead, Yukino stepped onto the shrine's staircase.
As they climbed, they kept their eyes on their surroundings, watching carefully.
"Yuki I don't see any cursed spirits!" Yui's voice carried a hint of excitement.
Yukino's eyes also brightened slightly, hope flickering within them.
Maybe
Maybe this shrine could really help!
After a long climb, they finally reached the top.
Right in front of the shrine's main hall
"Hello! Are you here to pray?"
Higurashi Kagome, dressed in a shrine maiden's outfit, held a broom in her hands as she curiously looked at the two of them.
Yukino hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, we're here to pray."
Kagome smiled. "Alright, follow me."
Yukino and Yui exchanged a glance, then quickly followed.
This shrineThe atmosphere felt strong.
Maybe just maybe!
As Kagome led them around a corner, passing by a small-looking shrine
"YAAAAAA!!"
A terrifying, inhuman scream erupted from beneath the shrine.
Yukino and Yui instantly froze in place.
W-What the hell?!
Did they did they just hear something weird?!
Yukino cautiously glanced around, but she didn't see anything unusual.
Only then did she let out a breath of relief.
It it must've been her imagination.
She had been too stressed lately, so maybe she was just hearing things.
Just as she started to relax
BOOM!
BANG! BANG!
Yukino tensed up once more, her body stiff.
"Ahaha"
Kagome let out an awkward laugh as she helplessly glanced at the sealed well nearby.
Lately, strange sounds had been echoing from that well, scaring away visitors.
'Ugh if this continued, the shrine was going to go bankrupt.'
"Sigh"
"Umm, really, it's nothing, absolutely nothing, just just well..."
Higurashi Kagome looked a bit embarrassed.
She really wasn't lying.
Even though strange sounds kept coming from the well, every time they opened it to check, nothing was there.
And the shrine itself had never experienced anything truly supernatural.
But visitors naturally, they were scared.
Seeing Kagome's awkward expression, Yukino subtly glanced toward the source of the noise.
It wasn't a curse?
But it was still really strange!
They should hurry up, complete their prayers, and leave.
Not that she was sure if it would work.
...
A while later, Yukino and Yui left Higurashi Shrine.
"It didn't work, huh?"
The two exchanged glances, falling into silence.
The reason there were no curses at that shrine was probably because of that strange noise, right?
Higurashi Shrine
Kagome groaned. "Mom, if we don't do something about this soon, the shrine is doomed!"
Her mother sighed as well. "Mom doesn't have a solution either. Why don't you think of something, Kagome?"
Monday Shuchiin Academy
3 PM ~ Supernatural Research Club
Yukino took a deep breath, bowed deeply, and said, "Please, I beg you, Lynn-senpai!"
Lynn, sitting across from her, remained indifferent.
From the looks of her, she had been through a lot recently.
"Exorcism services outside of school start at 5 million yen. Just prepare the money."
Finally, after being on hold for a long time, his exorcism business was back in action.
"F-Five million?" Yukino stiffened.
Five million yen...
Her sister or mother could probably afford it, but that didn't mean she could easily get that kind of money.
Should she ask her sister for help?
Yukino hesitated.
She didn't want to involve her family in supernatural matters because of her own problems.
But it seemed she had no other choice.
"Please wait a moment."
She stepped out of the Supernatural Research Club, biting her lip as she dialed a number.
The call connected.
"Oh my, what a rare occasion! Yukino actually called her big sister~!"
A lively voice came through the phone.
"N-Nee-san."
On the other end, Yukinoshita Haruno's hand paused mid-action.
She put aside what she was doing and narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Yukino your voice sounds strange."
"Did something happen?"
Yukino went silent for a moment before finally saying, "It's nothing. Um can you transfer five million yen to me?"
Haruno fell silent.
Five million wasn't a big deal for her.
But what did Yukino need that much money for?
Something about this didn't sit right.
Taking a deep breath, Haruno decided to probe a little, using a playful tone.
"Yukino, what do you need the money for? Don't tell me you're keeping a boyfriend?"
The line went completely quiet.
Haruno sighed. "Yeah, figured you wouldn't answer."
"Fine, I'll send you the money. But!"
Her tone sharpened slightly.
"I'm going to find out exactly what you used it for."
Click.
The call ended, leaving only the dial tone.
Yukino sighed, exasperated. "I knew it would turn out like this..."
But this was the only option left.
At the very least, she couldn't let Yui suffer any longer.
She couldn't do anything about the spirits roaming the streets, but at least their homes should be peaceful, right?
With that thought, she put her phone away and walked back into the Supernatural Research Club.
"The money is ready."
Lynn glanced up at her, nodded, and said, "Utaha, Miko, go with her."
Five million yen wasn't even worth his personal time.
Besides, this was just a simple exorcism.
Utaha and Miko were more than enough to handle it.
Lynn had far more important matters to attend to.
"Finally!"
The Devil's Contract had officially taken effect again.
.
.
.
Yuigahama Residence
Since Mrs. Yuigahama wasn't home, Yui took the opportunity to invite Yukino, Utaha, and Miko inside.
Kasumigaoka Utaha scanned the room, checking for any particularly troublesome spirits. Finding nothing too outrageous, she left the rest to Miko.
These spirits were of no use to her at her current level anyway.
Yotsuya Miko, however, had a special ability that made her exceptionally effective against spiritual entities.
With just a casual stroll through the house, she poked each lingering spirit one by one. The moment she touched them, they popped like balloonscompletely vanishing without a trace.
Watching Miko exorcise them so effortlessly, Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui fell silent.
These spirits, which had terrified them daily, were nothing more than fragile glass ornaments in Miko's hands.
This... This was the difference between an ordinary person and someone with supernatural abilities.
A tinge of regret surfaced in Yukino's heart.
'A Familia... huh.'
A flicker of reminiscence passed through her eyes.
Deep down, she felt a pang of regret.
Back then, in her rush to escape from supernatural affairs, she had left without hesitation.
But just as Lynn had saidThere was no turning back anymore.
She had even considered ways to make herself "unable to see" the supernatural again.
But wouldn't that just be self-deception?
Even if she couldn't see them, she already knew the truth. She would still be aware, still be afraid.
If she had already stepped into this world, then why bother running away?
She let out a slow breath, calming herself down.
Quietly, she waited for Miko to finish her purification.
She knew this exorcism was just a temporary fix. It didn't address the root causeat most, it would bring some temporary peace.
'Supernatural abilities...'
If she could wield them too, would things be different?
Lost in thought, she stared blankly ahead.
---
Supernatural Research Club
Lynn activated [Devil's Contract], vanishing from the Club.
Shiina Mahiru rested her chin in her palm, quietly watching the spot where Lynn had disappeared. She murmured, "May your path be ever prosperous."
Tokyo Area
Seitenshi, the governor of the Tokyo Area, held a freshly rejected copy of the New Gastrea Law in her hands. Her eyes were filled with frustration.
"Why?"
The Cursed Children were human too.
Shaking her head, she sighed and turned to the next document in her stackonly to freeze in place.
"This is..."
She picked up a piece of black parchment covered in strange, indecipherable runes.
Just staring at it made her feel lightheaded.
"Pray to the Devil, sign the contract, and he shall answer you?"
There were no recognizable words or characters on the paper.
And yetsomehowshe had understood it perfectly.
"A supernatural phenomenon?"
Her expression stiffened.
"A Devil, huh..."
She glanced at the New Gastrea Law sitting on her desk.
Then, closing her eyes, she interlocked her fingers in front of her chest.
If making a deal with the Devil was what it took to pass the law and protect the Cursed Children...
Then so be it.
Without hesitation, she signed her name on the parchment.
She blew lightly on the ink, helping it dry faster, and let out a small chuckle.
"Will you really answer me, Devil?"
There was a hint of anticipation in her gaze.
She knew it was unlikely. But she still hoped.
A powerless girl, burdened with this role she never asked for...
If sacrificing herself meant she could do something good for the worldShe would gladly accept that fate.
This was probably just someone's prank, right?
Someone must have seen how stressed she was and left it here to cheer her up.
That was the only explanation.
Or so she thought
Until the parchment in front of her suddenly burst into a radiant glow!
"Eh...?"
Seitenshi's lips parted slightly, her eyes widening in shock.
A deep, unfamiliar voice echoed
"Hmm! Are you... my contractor?"
Thump-thump!
Her heartbeat instantly sped up. Her eyes went round as she felt her throat go dry.
'I-It's real? The Devil... actually answered?'
A wave of helplessness washed over her.
A Devil that had to be terrifying, right?
She didn't dare to breathe too loudly, her body stiff as she slowly turned her head.
And then she saw him
A young man.
For a moment, she blinked in confusion.
'Wait... a handsome Devil?'
'No, no, no. He has to be human, right?'
A wave of relief rushed through her.
Of course.
There was no such thing as Devils in this world.
It had to be a prank.
But the effects were incredibly realistic...
Where exactly did this man come from?
Still dazed, she watched as Lynn casually walked up and picked up the New Gastrea Law from her desk.
"Getting this law passed... that's your request?"
"Black Bullet, huh..." Lynn smirked.
This world really could use a Devil.
After all, sometimes it takes a villain to deal with villains.
And while he wasn't a villainhe was a Devil.
"Um... excuse me, sir..."
Seitenshi hesitated, unsure how to address him.
"Just call me Lynn."
"Ah, alright... Mr. Lynn!" She fumbled for a moment before finally composing herself.
Taking a deep breath, she slipped back into her usual authoritative demeanor, her amethyst eyes sharpening.
"First questionhow did you even get in here?"
Though her tone was firm, her hand had subtly moved closer to the emergency alarm.
Lynn, unfazed by her cautious movements, simply shrugged and replied in a relaxed tone "Didn't you summon me yourself?"
"I... did?"
Seitenshi froze.
"The Devil's Contract. You literally just signed itdid you already forget?" Lynn gave her an exasperated look.
"E-Eh? But wasn't that just a joke?"
"A joke? Who told you that?"
"Well, it's just that... Mr. Lynn, you don't exactly..."
She was about to say "You don't look like a Devil," but before she could finish
Lynn grinned.
And with a single motion, his massive, jet-black wings unfurled behind him.
"I am a Devil."
Seitenshi's mouth opened, but no words came out.
W-Wings?!
T-This was real?!
Her mind went blank.
She had never been in a situation like this before.
No one had ever taught her how to negotiate with a Devil!
Her brain, usually so sharp, scrambled for a response.
Meanwhile, Lynn chuckled.
'Seriously?'
'She summoned a Devil, and now she's acting all surprised?'
Without giving her time to overthink, he folded his wings back and got straight to the point.
"I'll take your request. Once it's done, I'll come back for what I want in return."
"W-Wait!" Seitenshi blurted out, stopping him in his tracks.
Her request... right.
She had wished for the law to be passed.
If Mr. Lynn really could make that happen... then maybe this wasn't so bad?
If he truly was a Devil, then perhaps he had the power to accomplish it.
But she needed to know
"Mr. Lynn, your goal is to ensure the New Gastrea Law is passed, correct?"
"That's right."
"Then... how exactly do you plan to do it?"
She knew all too well that many high-ranking officials were firmly against the law.
That was the main reason it kept getting blocked.
What method would a Devil use?
Lynn's lips curled into a smirk.
"How?"
His voice was calm.
Cold.
"Simple. I'll just kill everyone who disagrees."
.
.
.
"K-Kill.... everyone?!"
Seitenshi's mouth hung open, her eyes blank with shock.
Ah. Confirmed.
That was definitely something only a Devil would say.
She shot up from her seat in an instant, hands trembling slightly in panic.
"No, no, noabsolutely not!"
This was bad!
Had she accidentally opened some kind of Pandora's box?
Her chest tightened, and for a brief moment, she wanted to cry.
She had to take responsibility for this!
Taking a deep breath, she bowed deeply.
"Please, Mr. Lynn, I beg youdon't do that!"
All she wanted was to protect the Cursed Children, not go to the extreme of killing everyone who opposed the law!
Lynn leaned casually against her desk, his deep eyes gazing out the window. His voice, however, remained indifferent.
"The request is yours, but how I complete it... is up to me."
As he stared at the city outside, his mind was already analyzing what he could gain from this world.
Right now, his Familia had two major priorities:
Recruit More Members: The more Familia members he had, the greater the feedback loop of power he would receive, making him even stronger.
EXP Resources: The experience required for his members to level up was just as critical. Strengthening them meant strengthening himself.
Everything else?
Not important.
At least, not until he became a Maou.
For now, he wasn't about to waste time on anything outside those two goals.
And honestly
His Familia was still pathetically small.
There was no room to focus on anything else.
So, his objective in this world was crystal clear.
Recruit. More. Members.
After all, this world had millions of unique, special lolis.
Even if only a tiny fraction of them were reincarnated as Devils, each one would provide him with a steady stream of power.
Then How About Millions of lolis?
Even if they started as Low-Class Devils, their sheer numbers alone would skyrocket his power!
Maou? Super Maou?
Lynn's saliva production increased.
His lips curled into a grin.
A very disturbing grin.
For the first time, Maou-levelor even something beyond thatfelt incredibly close.
"I will treat them well and give hem a future."
Even though Lynn had a suspicious smile right now, he wasn't thinking of anything illegal. After all, he wasn't into lolisactually, he despised those who were.
"Hehehe! Millions of Familia members."
With the massive resource pool of the Apocalypse world, he wasn't worried about supporting them.
Besides
Once they were reincarnated as Devils, the Gastrea Virus inside them would be completely eradicated.
They wouldn't have to live in fear of mutating into monsters.
He was here to save them.
A righteous Devil.
Yep! He was a good devil.
Right now, though, his Familia was severely understaffed.
With just himself and a handful of members, gathering all the Cursed Children wouldn't be easy.
He needed a tool.
A very useful tool.
Lynn's gaze shifted back to Seitenshi, who was practically tied in knots with anxiety.
Oh?
Didn't he already have the perfect tool right here?
Smiling faintly, he spoke in a slow, deliberate tone "You don't want the Cursed Children to suffer anymore, do you?"
Seitenshi's breath hitched.
Her light blue eyes filled with determination. "Mr. Lynn... I want to protect them."
They were human, too.
They deserved to be protected and treated fairly.
That belief had never wavered.
"But"
"Killing all those people would throw human society into chaos!"
She wasn't naive.
She understood the reality of the situation.
Many of the people in power were corrupt and disgusting.
She despised their filth and hypocrisy.
But they were still the ones governing society.
If they all suddenly died, a massive power emptiness would form.
Without leadership, order would collapse.
And with the Gastrea threat looming over them, an unstable society would only crumble further.
As Seitenshithe ruler of Tokyo Areashe could not allow that to happen.
She could only hope the Devil she had summoned would understand.
Anxiously, she watched him.
Lynn suddenly chuckled.
"Human society in chaos?"
He tilted his head slightly. "Then why not just wipe out humans altogether?"
"...Eh?"
Seitenshi's brain froze.
If humans were gone, then of course society wouldn't fall into chaos anymore?
Ssss
Wait. That actually made some sense.
But!
Why did Mr. Lynn suddenly jump from one extreme to another?!
This This wasn't right, was it?
No way
Could it be that solving problems at the root... was simply how Devils thought?!
Lynn didn't bother explaining.
Him? A good devil? Who's the fool that believed that?
He then walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at the world beneath him.
His crimson eyes swept over the crowds marching through the streets, holding up banners that read:
"We will never forgive the Gastrea!"
"Expel the Cursed Children!"
"Kill them all!"
Their voices filled the streets as they paraded their hatred for all to see.
Lynn watched them for a momentthen grinned.
In a quiet, almost whispering voice, he murmured:
"This world really only needs Devils."
Ah
There it was.
The Devil's whisper.
"Only Devils?"
Did that mean Devils were about to invade the human world?!
Had she really opened Pandora's Box?
Anxiety twisted in Seitenshi's chest.
But when she followed Lynn's gaze and looked outsideShe fell silent.
Protests against the Cursed Children's rights.
Scenes like this happened almost every single day.
Even without the enhanced hearing of a Devil, she could tell exactly what those people were shouting.
In the end
The reason the New Gastrea Law never passed wasn't because of politics.
It was because of the cold indifference of the people.
"...Why?"
Those children were the ones protecting them.
The ones defending Tokyo with their lives. And yet, this was how they were treated?
Seitenshi felt nothing but disappointment.
And now, hearing Lynn's words, she suddenly understood.
Even a Devil couldn't stand to watch humanity's cruelty.
Humanity was truly a failure.
Lynn withdrew his gaze, turning back toward her.
Sunlight streamed through the window behind him, casting his figure into shadow.
Only his ruby-red eyes gleamed with an unnatural brilliance.
Seitenshi saw him standing there, bathed in the light And in that moment, a thought flashed through her mind.
"A Devil that looks like an Angel?"
Lynn stretched out a hand toward her, his voice light with amusement.
"Well? Do you want to become the first Devil in this world?"
Seitenshi stared blankly at his outstretched hand.
A Devil? Her?
"You feel it too, don't you?"
"The weakness and powerlessness of being human."
His eyes flickered with an unreadable glow, his words cutting straight into her heartmerciless and sharp.
Seitenshi said nothing.
"You are the highest ruler of Tokyo."
She remained silent.
"Yet you couldn't even pass a single law."
"You're disappointed in yourself too, aren't you?"
"You want to change things, don't you?"
"Hah"
Seitenshi's breath hitched.
Lynn's words pierced through her chest like blades, stabbing deep into the wounds she had long tried to ignore.
She couldn't help but rememberThe Cursed Children beaten and humiliated on the streets.
The ones forced to hide like rats in the sewers.
The ones who died fighting for Tokyo, sacrificing themselves to protect the very people who despised them.
And finally
She remembered that day, in the meeting hall The moment the New Gastrea Law was brought forward.
The endless, cold-hearted rejections.
"Denied."
"Denied."
"Denied."
Her lips trembled.
Softly, she murmured:
"If I become a Devil can I change all of this?"
.
.
.
Seitenshi wanted change!
She wanted to change her weak and powerless self!
She wanted to change the fate of the Cursed Children!
She wanted...To change this twisted world!
As she stared at Lynn's outstretched hand, an inexplicable impulse surged in her heart.
But!
She hadn't forgotten Lynn's extreme words.
"Why not just wipe out humanity?"
"A world with only Devils is enough."
Still
The thought of eradicating humanity was just too terrifying.
A bitter feeling welled up inside her.
What she truly wished for was the coexistence of humans and the Cursed Children.
Even though the New Gastrea Law had been met with an overwhelming 82% disapproval from Tokyo's citizens...
Even though it had been collectively rejected by those in power...
Even though, realistically, the chance of humans and Cursed Children living together in harmony was almost nonexistent...
Would it really have to be an all-or-nothing scenario where only one side could survive?
The Cursed Children were human too!
Her gaze grew uncertain, filled with hesitation.
Seeing her expression, Lynn pressed on.
"Also, if you choose this path, you can cure the Cursed Children! Oh, then they wouldn't have to be called 'Cursed' anymore."
Her eyelashes trembled. "What do you mean, Mr. Lynn?"
Lynn smirked.
"The so-called Gastrea Virus? To Devils, it's nothing worth mentioning."
Her eyes widened in shock, her violet pupils filled with disbeliefalong with a faint glimmer of hope hidden deep within.
Her voice quivered. "Mr. Lynn... can you really cure them of the Gastrea Virus?"
Yes!
Lynn was a Devil!
Maybejust maybehe could truly solve the problem of the Gastrea Virus!
Seeing the look on her face, Lynn's smile deepened.
Leaning close, he whispered into her ear, "Now that you know there's a way to save them... are you really going to just stand by and watch?"
Seitenshi bit her lip, clenched her fists tightly.
She couldn't just stand by!
She had done everything she could for the Cursed Children.
But without exception, all of her efforts had ended in failure.
She was powerless.
Even as governor of the Tokyo Area, she had been unable to change anything.
The Cursed Children were still discriminated against, still oppressed!
And now
A way to save them was right in front of her!
There was no way she could let this opportunity slip away!
Besides...This might be the only thing she could ever do for them.
As long as she could save the Cursed Children...
Seitenshi took a deep breath, bowed deeply, and pleaded, "Please, Mr. Lynn!"
"Save those children!"
"As long as you can save them, I..."
She shut her eyes, voice trembling as she forced out the final words.
"...I'll do anything!"
Lynn's grin widened.
As expected, she was someone willing to sacrifice herself for others.
"Then, let's start by making you a Devil."
She remained still, eyes closed, but her eyelashes trembled violently.
A deal with a Devil always came with a price.
As the highest ruler of the Tokyo Area, she had seen the filth and corruption of humanity.
She knew better than anyone what this meant.
Becoming a Devil... then so be it.
As for Lynn's idea of wiping out humanity...
A sense of helplessness washed over her.
She didn't want humanity to go extinct.
But she also wanted to help the Cursed Children.
The fate of humanity..... She would leave that to her future selfher Devil selfto decide.
For now, she chose to run away from that dilemma.
Cowardly? Maybe.
But it was the only option she had.
---
Lynn didn't hesitate. "Take off your clothes."
"!!!"
Her eyes shot open instantly.
Her pupils trembled violently as she parted her lips slightly.
Did she... need to take off her clothes to become a Devil?
She wanted to ask.
But in the end, she only let out a deep sigh.
She had just said she was willing to do anything.
Was she really going to hesitate now, just because she was asked to remove her clothes?
She thought about the Cursed Children, forced to live in the sewers like rats.
Slowly, with trembling hands, she pulled down her dress, leaving only her light blue underwear.
She shut her eyes tightly, unable to meet Lynn's gaze.
But she could feel ithis eyes on her, making her body burn with an unfamiliar heat.
"Turn around and expose your back."
Lynn decided not to place the Devil's Piece on the front of her body.
With how flustered she already was, doing so might be too much of a shock.
She might even pass out.
As expected
When she heard Lynn's words, she let out a quiet breath of relief.
Facing away from him still felt strange, but at least she didn't have to look him in the eye.
Once again, she told herself 'Avoiding the problem may be cowardly, but it works.'
So, she turned her back to him.
She pressed her lips together, waiting nervously for his next command.
Inevitably, a few inappropriate thoughts flashed through her mind.
Her eyes widened in embarrassment. A deep shade of red colored her face.
Her whole body trembled as she leaned forward, pressing herself against her desk.
Click.
Her bra strap... came undone!
Wait
Was he really going to?!
"I-I'm not ready yet."
Just as her thoughts started running wild
A cold sensation touched her skin.
She flinched.
A quiet gasp escaped her lips.
Somethingsomething was entering her body!
Her temperature spiked. A surge of power erupted from within!
Her very body and blood were being rewritten.
She almost let out a moan.
Biting down on her lip, she desperately suppressed the urge.
It was... right above her waist.
Her butt, even.
She had tohold on!
Meanwhile, a notification popped up in Lynn's mind.
[Ding! You have obtained a new Familia member: Seitenshi!]
[Ding! Your Familia member has reincarnated as a special Devil 'Ideal Devil'!]
[Ding! You have acquired the skill 'Ideal Devil'!]
[Ding! Your power has increased slightly!]
"Ideal Devil?"
Lynn's eyes narrowed as he looked at the flawless skin on her back.
The blessing information appeared before him.
---
[Seitenshi]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Abilities: [Ideal Devil]
[Ideal Devil]
Peace Domain (Within this field, no living being can harbor hostile intent.)
Devilization ("Ideal Collapse" Mode 3.6)
Utopia (A unique barrier where time stands still in eternal harmony.)
---
---
"A control-type ability?"
Lynn wasn't entirely sure how [Ideal Devil] worked.
For now, he set it aside.
After imprinting a copy of her blessing information, he patted her back and said, "It's done. The reincarnation was a success. You're officially a Devil now."
Still leaning against her desk, Seitenshi blinked in a daze.
Just like that she had become a Devil?
Her body felt so much stronger.
And there was something elsesomething strange inside her.
Was this the power of a Devil?
Questions filled her mind, but then she rememberedshe was still half-naked.
Her face flushed crimson.
She quickly fastened her bra strap and pulled her dress back up, adjusting it hurriedly.
Once she was fully dressed again, she finally let out a breath of relief.
And thenA piece of paper was suddenly pushed in front of her.
"This is your blessing information. Take a look."
"???"
She stared at it, confused.
.
.
.
Lynn gave a simple explanation of the Blessing System's abilities.
Hearing this, Seitenshi's eyes flickered with realization.
She tightly gripped the piece of paper detailing her blessing, her heart filled with complicated emotions.
She had always dreamed of saving the Cursed Childrenbut lacked the power to do so.
The only way to achieve her goal was by making a deal with a Devil.
She had expected things to turn strange. After all, Devils were said to be wicked, treacherous beings.
She had already prepared herself to offer everything.
So why... why had things turned out like this?
Upon reincarnating as a Devil She had gained immense physical strength, supernatural magic, an extended lifespan, and slowed aging.
She looked at the blessing information and pressed her lips together.
This was A complete and utter reward!
"..."
Seitenshi remained silent, her expression torn.
Did someone like her... truly deserve such a thing?
She was nothing more than a figurehead.
At just seventeen, she had been pushed into her position as a mere mascot.
Smack!
A warm, broad hand landed on her head.
Snapping out of her daze, she tilted her face slightly upward and blankly stared at Lynn.
"How does it feel to be a Devil?"
Her gaze dropped, unable to meet his eyes.
Softly, she whispered, "It... feels amazing."
Her body still appeared delicate, but she could feel the explosive power hidden within her.
Now that she was a Devil, she could accomplish things she never could as a human.
Like the Cursed Children after unlocking their abilities
No. Even stronger than that!
After all, she was only a Low-Class Devil right now.
With the Blessing System, she had limitless potential for growth!
"But..."
Biting her lip, she hesitated before asking in a self-conscious voice, "Lynn-san, why did you choose me?"
Obviously, it was because she signed the [Devil's Contract]. And because the [Devil's Piece] had lit up for her.
That's what Lynn thought to himself.
But he didn't say it aloud.
He could tellher mindset was a little off.
On the surface, she carried herself as a noble, calm, and composed ruler.
But deep down, she was just a sensitive, insecure girl.
At the end of the day, despite holding the highest authority in the Tokyo AreaShe was still just a student.
"Do I... really deserve to follow you?" Her voice was filled with uncertainty.
"Don't overthink it."
Lynn ruffled her hair with a chuckle.
"It's not up to you to decide whether you're worthyit's up to me."
Well, technically, it was up to the Devil's Piece.
And since the piece had recognized her
"Without a doubt, you're exactly the kind of talent I need."
She stared at him, dumbfounded.
His warm smile shattered the haze of self-doubt in her heart.
Lynn pinched her cheek lightly and continued, "Besides, your status is pretty useful in this world."
Gathering the Cursed Children would take far longer without her help.
Right now, his Familia didn't have enough manpower.
Hearing Lynn's words, her gaze turned serious.
"Please, give me any command, Lynn-san!"
Now that she was allowed to follow him She would prove her worth!
She refused to be just a pretty face!
Lynn, still pinching her cheek, smirked.
"No rush. First, take some time to test your own abilities."
"Mmm..."
It was only then that Seitenshi noticed Lynn was still pinching her cheek.
She pursed her lips slightly but didn't resist.
Compared to the blessing Lynn had granted her, a little face-pinching was nothing.
Still...
It was the first time a boy had touched her like this, and she couldn't help but feel a little shy.
Forcing herself to focus, she turned her attention back to the blessing information in her hand.
Following Lynn's suggestion, she ignored her base stats, which were all currently at i0.
However, her gaze lingered on the section labeled 'Master' for a moment.
"Master..."
A strange feeling stirred within her.
Her heartbeat quickened, and she hastily shifted her eyes to the Unique Abilities section at the bottom.
"[Ideal Devil]"
A complicated look crossed her face.
That name... it gave her a strange, indescribable feeling.
Was it mocking her for being an idealist?
"Hmm! Peace Domain and Utopia."
Those were the exact societal structures she had once strived for.
Yet, she had never been able to make them a reality.
In fact
She hadn't even taken the first step.
"These abilities... suit me perfectly."
She had always been a peace-lover, never one for conflict.
A true pacifist.
Seeing that she had finished reading her status, Lynn leaned back in her office chair and casually flipped through the documents on her desk.
Among them were policies like The New Gastrea Law, The New Humanity Project, Special Forces Reports, and Cursed Children Welfare Plans.
He glanced through them but couldn't make sense of any of it.
After skimming briefly, he gave up
Even though he had watched Black Bullet before
This was now a real, living world.
Many of its social structures were different from the ones in his original world.
Thinking about it, he decided not to come up with a strategy himself.
He had someone far more familiar with this world right in front of him.
Why waste brain cells?
Tapping his finger rhythmically against the desk, he spoke up.
"I plan to reincarnate all of the Cursed Children as Devils."
"Once they become Devils, the Gastrea virus in their bodies will be completely neutralized."
"And in the process, I gain more Familia members."
"Familia? What does it mean?""
The newly reborn Devil, Seitenshi, tilted her head in confusion.
She knew that, after signing the contract, she now completely belonged to Lynn.
But she wasn't familiar with the concept of Familia.
Lynn patiently explained it to her.
"Oh! I see."
She finally understood.
Basically, they were servants who followed and served Lynn.
She had no objections.
After all, becoming Lynn's subordinate had already granted her great power and potential.
More importantlyHe had promised to save the Cursed Children.
As for the Cursed Children themselves? She was sure they would be overjoyed.
Even if they weren't granted power, just being accepted by someone would be enough to make them happy.
And nowOn top of that, they would even regain normal bodies!
To the Cursed Children, Lynn was nothing short of a miracle.
"Lynn-san, what do I need to do?"
Her expression was serious and determined.
"Find all the Cursed Children and gather them together. Once they're ready, I'll reincarnate them one by one."
That was his order.
The Holy Son took a deep breath.
Her blue eyes shone with unwavering resolve.
"Understood!"
.
.
.
Gathering all the Cursed Children wasn't going to be easy.
The first problem?
Despite being the highest authority in the Tokyo Area, Seitenshi's influence extended only within its borders.
Even then, her power was largely symbolic, lacking true authority.
She could push for changes, but her authority was often restrictedjust like how she failed to pass the New Gastrea Law.
Furthermore...
The Cursed Children weren't completely without oversight.
For example, there was the International Initiator Supervision Organization (IISO).
They saw the Cursed Children as nothing more than valuable assets and tools, having already gathered many under their control.
They even wielded significant international influence, to the point where even shethe supposed ruler of Tokyohad to tread carefully around them.
Trying to take back the Cursed Children under their control would inevitably lead to conflict.
Seitenshi furrowed her brows as she carefully laid out all the challenges before her.
Lynn, however, remained calm.
"You just need to focus on gathering the Cursed Children."
"As for everything else"
"I'll take care of it."
Seitenshi fell silent.
His words made her think about something she had been avoiding for a long time.
'Why not just wipe out humans altogether?'
She swallowed hard, her voice laced with hesitation. "And... after saving the Cursed Children, what do you plan to do next, Lynn?"
"Hmm I'll probably eliminate humanity," Lynn said casually.
By then, his strength would likely rival that of a Maou.
Erasing most humans wouldn't even take much effort. He saw no benefit for them to live.
"Ugh."
Seitenshi's face darkened.
But she still wasn't ready to give up.
"Please, give me some time!" she pleaded, lowering her head.
"I'll start by setting up shelters in the outskirtsto take in the abandoned children there."
"I'll also crack down on black market trafficking and rescue every Cursed Child I can."
"And finally"
Her gaze burned with determination.
"I'll negotiate with the IISO and other regional leaders to have them send their Cursed Children to Tokyo."
"In the process, I believe you'll see the good that still exists in humanity, Lynn!"
"When that time comes, please reconsider wiping them out!"
By the time she finished, her eyes held a silent plea.
Seitenshi was, at her core, a kind person.
She wanted both the Cursed Children and humanity to have a future.
And so, she begged Lynn to give them timeto give the world time.
Maybe if Lynn saw something beautiful in the humans, he might change his mind?
As for whether Lynn was capable of eliminating humanity She had no doubts about it.
Lynn's gaze deepened.
He stared at Seitenshi with interest.
Even after becoming his Familia, she was still willing to fight for humanity's sake?
'How naive.'
'Seitenshi, your perspective is too limited.'
'You stand at the topbut you can't see what's truly beneath you.'
'You think the corruption and cruelty you've witnessed are the worst of it?'
'No.'
'The truth is far uglier.'
Lynn understood this world's reality all too well.
Were there good people? That's for sure.
But they were the minority.
Lynn didn't mind letting them live.
The rest? They were another matter entirely.
The more he learned about this world, the clearer its filth became.
And once the political machine known as "Seitenshi" was set into motion, the entire system would begin to shift.
What would she do when she finally saw the true depths of this world's depravity?
He was looking forward to it.
---
The prolonged silence made sweat bead on Seitenshi's forehead.
But finally
"You have my permission."
"Do as you see fit, Seitenshi."
Lynn's voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable glint in his eyes.
"I look forward to seeing what you'll do after you witness the truth."
Seitenshi exhaled, a faint smile forming on her lips.
"Thank you, Lynn!"
"Thank you for giving humanity a chance."
Lynn simply chuckled.
He had always been tolerant with his Familia's requests.
Besides
Turning all the Cursed Children into Devils wasn't something that could be done overnight.
But he had plenty of time.
For nowHe'd let her play her game.
Because once every single Cursed Child became his FamiliaWouldn't he be the one to decide this world's fate?
Meanwhile Lynn's Familia Harem Chat Group
[Kasumi Utako: "Master, how's the new world? Fun?"]
[Sigma Man: "Not bad. Killing people here could be pretty entertaining."]
[Kasumi Utako: "???"]
Lynn gave the group a quick rundown of this world's situation
And chaos erupted.
In the Apocalypse World, Saeko unleashed a terrifying killing intent.
[The Traditional Woman of the Busujima Family: "Heh The humans in this world are even worse than the zombies."]
[Kasumi Utako: "Wait, so they enjoy the protection of the Cursed Children while oppressing them at the same time?"]
At Supernatural Research Club, Kasumigaoka Utaha stared at the messages, utterly baffled.
How could people be this disgusting?
Even Shiina Mahiru frowned, her normally gentle gaze clouded with worry.
If this continues the Cursed Children will be wiped out.
They're just kids
Mahiru hesitated for a moment before voicing her concerns in the chat.
[Sigma Man: "Don't worry, Mahiru. The Cursed Children will rise again."]
[Sigma Man: "Because we're here."]
Busujima Saeko licked her lips in excitement.
The bloodlust she had suppressed for so long was beginning to boil over again.
That world needs a Devil's purge.
[Sigma Man: "Once the shelter is set up, everyonehead to the Black Bullet world."]
[The Traditional Woman of the Busujima Family: "Understood, Master."]
The group members eagerly responded.
They all wanted justice for the Cursed Children.
Lynn chuckled.
Seitenshi had said she would arrange personnel for the shelterBut he didn't trust anyone.
BesidesThat shelter?
It was going to be his Familia's base.
No outsiders allowed.
As for manpower?
The moment he reincarnated the first Cursed Child into a Devil
He'd have more than enough.
After all Who better to help these little girls than the other little girls?
The Next Day
A meeting was held by Seitenshi.
She presented a proposal
To designate an abandoned warehouse district in the Outer Area as a shelter for Cursed Children.
Her tone was firm. "Everyone, I will be proceeding with the shelter project for the Cursed Children. Please cooperate."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Several people discreetly glanced toward Tendo Kikunojyo.
Seeing that he showed no reaction, one of them immediately stepped forward.
"Seitenshi-sama, I strongly oppose this."
Seitenshi sighed internally.
She knew this road wouldn't be easy.
But she hadn't expected
That the first step would already meet resistance.
.
.
.
Ever since Seitenshi proposed the shelter plan
The meeting had devolved into endless bickering.
But in the end, their arguments boiled down to a single point:
Humanity's resources were already stretched thin just maintaining the frontlines.
There was no way they could spare manpower or supplies to house the Cursed Children in the Outer Area.
Seitenshi sat silently, her face devoid of emotion, listening without a word.
Then, just as the meeting was about to end, she finally spoke
"Mr. Tendo Kikunojyo, do I no longer have the right to allocate even a single district for the Cursed Children?"
The room fell into complete silence.
Almost everyone lowered their heads, pretending they hadn't heard her.
Finally, the man she called outTendo Kikunojyoopened his eyes.
"...I approve of Seitenshi-sama's proposal."
And just like that
The proposal passed.
Seitenshi turned to leave, but Kikunojyo remained seated, silently watching her back as she walked away, his expression unreadable.
"...Seitenshi-sama has changed."
Beside him, a subordinate cautiously leaned in.
"Kikunojyo-sama, what should we do about the shelter?"
Kikunojyo didn't look at him. Instead, he replied in an indifferent tone
"Just follow protocol."
"...And make sure the explosives are planted inside. Once enough of them are gathered, send them all out of this world."
The subordinate stiffened.
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
At the End of the Hallway
Seitenshi froze mid-step.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she turned backLooking straight at Kikunojyo.
Devils had exceptional hearing.
And just now
She had heard everything.
How could you?!
Her heart trembled.
She had always known Kikunojyo opposed some of her policies
But at the very least, on the surface, he had helped her many times before.
That was why she had trusted him.
Had she never become a Devil She might have never known that the very man who just supported her proposal
Was already plotting the Cursed Children's destruction behind her back.
Her gaze darkened as she turned away.
And, without a word, she walked back to her office.
---
Meanwhile
Kikunojyo frowned.
'Why did Seitenshi turn back just now?'
A sense of unease crept into his heart.
---
Inside the Office
Seitenshi sat stiffly at her desk, her expression blank.
"Are the Cursed Children really that unforgivable?"
"Why? Even"
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
Kikunojyo could not be trusted.
If even her most trusted minister had such plans Was there anyone in this world she could truly rely on?
No.
Now wasn't the time for such thoughts.
She needed to tell Lynn.
Otherwise, this could lead to a crisis.
Lynn might actually wipe out all of humanity in his rage, right?
She hesitated for a moment, then made a call.
"Hello, this is the Tendo Civil Security Corporation."
"Miss Kisara, it's me."
Seitenshi quickly explained the situation.
"Five hundred thousand?"
Tendo Kisara gasped before nodding firmly.
"Understood, Seitenshi-sama! Consider it done!"
She hung up.
And thenKisara's face lit up with excitement.
Five hundred thousand yen for just running an errand?!
This was insane!
Meanwhile, Outer Area
Lynn observed the buildings around him, nodding in satisfaction.
Seitenshi picked a decent spot.
Just then
"You're the five hundred thousandLynn?"
Kisara approached him, blurting out the first thought in her head.
She had rushed over immediately.
After all, who would sit still when five hundred thousand yen was on the line?!
And just as Seitenshi describedThere was no mistaking him.
"That's me," Lynn replied, raising an eyebrow at her.
She hesitated for a moment, then tiptoed closer, glancing around cautiously before whispering in his ear
"Seitenshi-sama asked me to warn yoube careful. They've planted explosives in the shelter."
Lynn's expression remained calm as he chuckled. "Thanks for the warning."
Kisara: "???"
That's it?
No shock? No anger?
What a weird guy.
Shrugging, she turned around and waved as she skipped away.
"Message delivered! I'll be off now!"
Lynn watched her go, then shifted his gaze to the glowing notification on his interface
[Devil's Piece has been activated.]
His expression cooled as he turned toward the warehouse under renovation.
So much for taking things slow. Some people clearly had different plans.
But first, he needed to get Seitenshi to join the familia chat group.
Communication would be a nightmare without doing so.
A While LaterLynn's Familia Group Chat
[Ding! Seitenshi has joined the chat!]
[Seitenshi: "Hello, everyone. I'm Lynn-sama's newest Familia member."]
Seitenshi glanced at the chat title"Lynn's Familia Harem Group"and let out a helpless sigh.
But before she could process it further
[Kasumi Utako: "So, you're the leader of Black Bullet's world?"]
[Seitenshi: "Um just for the Tokyo Area."]
[Kasumi Utako: Are you really a Devil?]
[Kasumi Utako: Why haven't you drafted a human extinction plan yet?]
[Seitenshi: "?"]
She blinked at her phone, stunned.
[The Traditional Woman of the Busujima Family: "Would you like me to provide cross-world human eradication services?"]
[The Traditional Woman of the Busujima Family: "I'd be happy to oblige~"]
Seitenshi: "..."
[Seitenshi: "Ahaha It seems everyone here has strong opinions about my world's humanity"]
Her hands trembled slightly as she held her phone, her expression complicated.
This was bad.
Her world's reputation within the Familia was absolutely terrible.
[The Girl Who Sees: "Hey, can we turn them into Curse spirits instead? I need a little more experience to level up."]
[Kasumi Utako:"...No problem."]
A Few Days LaterOuter Area
The abandoned warehouse had been fully renovated.
A bright flash of white light filled the empty space And suddenly, a group of beautiful women stepped through the portal.
They scanned their surroundings, unimpressed.
"...This is it? Doesn't seem like anything special."
Lynn clapped his hands, drawing their attention.
"Firstour Familia's primary mission in this worldsaving the Cursed Children!"
"Mm!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha and the others nodded in agreement.
"Secondturn this world into our personal grinding dungeon!"
"...Gastrea, huh"
Busujima Saeko licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
A brand-new slaughter experience.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, watching this, quietly took a step away from her.
"Oh, rightYuuko."
"Yup~?"
Yuuko floated over, immediately clinging onto Lynn and rubbing against him.
Utaha, watching this, clenched her teethout of jealousy.
Lynn picked up a bundle of explosives, grinning.
"Let's return this to its rightful owner."
Yiuko blinked.
"Ara~ Looks like someone's about to have a really bad day."
Lynn smiled deeply. "Oh, and make sure to get the address from Seitenshi."
.
.
.
That Night
Tokyo - Tendo Estate
Kanoe Yuuko strolled through the streets, casually lugging around a bundle of explosives.
But since she was in her Ghost Mode, no one could see herOr the things she carried.
---
Above the Tendo Estate
Yuuko floated high above, checking her position.
Then, her body shifted Ultimate Ghost Mode!
An ability from her [Ghost Devil] skill that allowed her to switch between being visible and invisible at will.
"Hehe~!"
She playfully greeted the Tendo family members patrolling the courtyard.
The sudden voice made them freeze, looking around in confusion.
"Yo!"
"I'm up here~"
Their heads snapped up
And their eyes widened in shock as they saw a girl floating in midair.
"W-What the hell?!"
"A human... floating?!"
Panic erupted across the Tendo estate.
A full-blown uproar broke out.
"Silence!"
An elderly man stepped out of the house.
The moment his eyes landed on Kanoe Yuukohis pupils tightened sharply.
A Cursed Child?!
But noher eye color was different.
A new type of Gastrea?
Impossible. Such a Gastrea weren't supposed to exist!
Had the experiments finally broken through?
Why was she here of all places?
The Tendo Elder sensed a chill run down his spine.
But he still kept his composurebarely.
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to speak. "...Miss, may I ask what brings you here?"
Yuuko glanced around.
Not seeing her target, she asked, "Tendo Kikunojo... hmm, I think that's the name, right?"
'She's here for the head of the family?!'
The Elder's instincts screamed at him.
Before he could react
Kanoe Yuuko pulled out the explosives from behind her back.
"W-Wait!"
He barely got the words out before
"Returning these to their rightful owner~!"
BOOM!!!!
The explosion lit up the night sky, as if trying to swallow the darkness whole.
A deafening blast shook the entire estate.
Yuuko clapped her hands together, satisfied.
"Mission complete~!"
For a [Ghost Devil] like her, this was child's play.
She hovered around the ruins for a final check ensuring not a single person survived.
Then, she floated back to the Familia's base
Seitenshi's Bedroom
Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, Seitenshi gazed at the distant Tendo estate.
She had already guessed the outcome the moment Kanoe Yuuko asked for the address in the chat group.
She let out a silent sigh.
"You really shouldn't have messed with Devils."
ButTendo Kikunojo had already left for Osaka.
By sheer luck, he avoided his fate.
"I wonder what expression he'll have when he returns?"
The Next DayTokyo's Breaking News!
"TENDO FAMILY OBLITERATED OVERNIGHT!"
"NOT A SINGLE SURVIVOR LEFT IN THE ESTATE!"
"Only Tendo Kikunojo and a few family members in Osaka escaped the tragedy!"
---
Tendo Civil Security Corporation
Tendo Kisara sat at her desk, gripping the newspaper.
Her expression twisted, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Then
"HAHA!! HAHAHAHAHA!!"
Her laughter turned manic, her entire body shaking.
"The great Tendo Familybrought to its knees?! HAH!"
"Tendo Kikunojo, you old bastard!"
"I bet you NEVER thought this day would come!"
"Too bad You just had to be the one to escape."
She gritted her teeth, her eyes burning with hatred.
"...But next time, it'll be me holding the blade to your throat."
Knock, knock.
A sudden knock at the door.
Tendo Kisara quickly composed herself.
"Come in."
BAM!
The door swung open forcefully.
Satomi Rentaro stormed in, his face dark and stormy.
Kisara glanced at him coldly, then smirked. "Oh, look who it isTokyo's great politician. What brings you here?"
The disdain in her voice was obvious.
She had never gotten along with Satomi Rentaro.
Why? Because he is Tendo Kikunojo's adopted son.
And she hated him by association.
Rentaro slammed the newspaper onto her desk.
"Kisara."
His voice was grim.
"This was no accident."
"The explosion at the Tendo estate was deliberate."
"Kikunojo-sama has personally tasked me with investigating!"
"As a member of the Tendo familyhelp me uncover the truth."
"I swear, I'll bring the culprit to justice!"
Rentaro's eyes were sincere.
He thought this investigation might bridge the gap between Kisara and the Tendo family.
But
"Don't act so familiar," Kisara cut in, her voice cold.
"The truth of the incident?"
Hah
She almost laughed.
She was thrilled about what happened.
Did he really think that just because she still carried the Tendo name, she felt any attachment to that family?
Did he forget why she left in the first place?
And now he came running to her, expecting her to help?
Disgusting.
Honestly, she was more interested in whoever did this.
Someone out there had done her a huge favor.
"Sure," Kisara smirked, her voice laced with mockery.
"Mr. Politician, make sure you investigate thoroughly. And when you find out who did itbe sure to tell me first."
She needed to thank them properly.
But
Explosives, huh?
Kisara's expression turned thoughtful.
She had a pretty good idea who the culprit might be.
Tokyo, Outer Area
Lynn's Familia members were on the move.
They had officially begun taking in the Cursed Children from everywhere.
Inside a newly renovated warehouse, Lynn stood in front of thirteen Cursed Children, studying them.
They were all tense, hands clenched tightly, their eyes flickering with nervousness.
Strangers + A new environment.
It was normal to make them uneasy.
"Only thirteen?" Lynn turned to Busujima Saeko.
That felt low.
Saeko lowered her head slightly. "I apologize, Master. We searched through thirteen different hideouts today, but each group stayed hidden and only sent one child to check things out."
Lynn's eyes narrowed slightly.
So these kids were scouts.
Testing the waters.
"Smart."
In this world, there were plenty of "shelters" that were just traps
Places that lured in Cursed Children, only to sell them off or use them for human experiments.
It was a common horror in this world.
The word "shelter" meant nothing to these kids.
If not for Seitenshi's backing, he doubted even thirteen would have come.
Just how much had these children suffered to develop this level of caution?
Lynn scanned them again.
Malnourished.
Thin.
And many of them were trembling ever so slightly.
Their eyes kept darting around
Scared.
But still
They came.
Were they gambling on human kindness?
Or was it simply because they had no other choice?
"No one takes this kind of risk unless they're desperate."
Lynn smiled gently and reached out
Resting his hand on the head of the girl standing in front.
The moment he touched her
She flinched, her eyelashes trembling, her body shaking uncontrollably.
But
She didn't move away.
She knew that if she didn'tShe might get hit.
But then again
Even if she moved, she would get hit anyway.
So she just didn't move.
.
.
.
"Huh?"
When Lynn placed his hand on her head and gently ruffled her hair, she was completely taken aback.
Violence. That was all she had ever known. Every adult she had encountered either hit or yelled at her. Rough, cruel hands.
But this
This was the first time anyone had treated her with such kindness.
She had finally met a good person!
She was certain of it.
Lynn had no idea that just a small gesture of kindness had earned him the title of a 'good person' in the eyes of the little girl.
Thirteen Cursed Children.
Lynn's eyes flickered slightly.
He didn't recognize any of them from the original story.
Then, he looked at his system panel.
The skill [Devil's Piece] glowed faintly.
As expected.
Just as he had assumed, the Cursed Children were all qualified to become part of his Familia.
Even if they had no names or appearances in the anime, the unique genes in their bodies made them different from normal humans.
Knowing they could be reincarnated as his Familia members put his mind at ease.
Otherwise, saving all the Cursed Children would have required a different approach.
There were plenty of overpowered beings in his world, and many had the ability to cure the Gastrea virus infecting the Cursed Children.
For example, the Angels.
But Lynn had no way of contacting them.
And more importantly The ability to travel between worlds it was best if no one outside his Familia knew about it.
Lynn didn't rush to reincarnate them right away.
First things firstThey needed a proper meal.
"Shizuka, I'll leave these kids in your care for now."
Marikawa Shizuka, who had been crouching and patting a little girl's head, immediately stood up.
She patted her, uh rather big chest, put on a reliable expression, and said with confidence, "Just leave it to me!"
Lynn hesitated for a moment.
This should be fine, right?
After all, among his Familia, there really wasn't anyone more suited for childcare than Shizuka.
Marikawa Shizuka squatted back down and pulled a can of milk from between her cleavage, offering it to one of the Cursed Children with an eager smile. "Want some?"
Lynn: "..."
Maybe he should find someone more reliable after all.
Shizuka took the Cursed Children to bathe and change into clean clothes.
Later, they all sat around a long dining table, waiting for their meal.
The Cursed Children looked bewildered.
They stared at their freshly changed clothes, fidgeting nervously.
Were they really allowed to wear something so clean and pretty?
"Lynn-san, dinner is ready."
Shiina Mahiru stepped out of the kitchen, wearing an apron and carrying a steaming bowl of soup.
When all the dishes were placed on the table in front of the Cursed Children, Lynn clapped his hands lightly.
"Alright, let's eat."
The Cursed Children exchanged uncertain glances.
One of them hesitated before speaking in a trembling voice. "I-Is this really for us?"
Their meals had always been rotten vegetables, moldy leftovers
Was this the legendary last meal before execution?
"Go ahead, eat."
Lynn gently patted her head.
She swallowed nervously.
Then, cautiously, she took a small sip of the soup.
The warmth spread across her tongue, and the rich flavor overwhelmed her senses.
She froze.
Her eyes glistened with tears.
She had never
Never tasted anything so delicious in her life!
The realization hit her all at once, and she immediately dove into her food, as if she had to savor every bite before it disappeared forever.
Seeing this, the other Cursed Children followed suit.
Soon enough
A peculiar scene unfolded in the dining hall.
The children ate desperately, their hands moving nonstop, but at some point, their faces had become streaked with tears.
Shiina Mahiru pursed her lips as she watched.
It was just an ordinary meal yet they ate it as if it were the most extravagant feast in the world.
After finishing their meals, the Cursed Children sat motionless in their chairs, dazed by an unfamiliar feelinghappiness.
"From now, you are safe!"
One of the girls, Moriko Noda, looked at Shiina Mahiru's gentle expression and couldn't help but ask, "Mahiru-sama are you an angel?"
Shiina Mahiru blinked in surprise, then smiled softly. "No, I'm actually a Devil."
"Ehhhh?!"
The Cursed Children gasped in shock.
Then, after a moment of confusion, one of them asked, "Mahiru-sama you're like us?"
"Hmm Why do you think that?"
"Because everyone calls us monsters demons things like that."
Shiina Mahiru's expression grew complicated. She forced a smile and said, "That's just because they fear you."
After a short pause, she continued, "So, what do you think? Would you all like to become Devils like me?"
A Devil like Shiina-sama?
A Devil who was warm and kind?
"If you become Devils, we'll all be family."
Shiina Mahiru didn't use Lynn's usual persuasive wordsthis wasn't about building a harem.
Lolis were off-limits, right?
"Family!"
The Cursed Children's eyes lit up.
"I want to! I want to be family with Mahiru!"
"Me too! Me too!"
They longed for family.
If they had a family, maybe they wouldn't have to scavenge through dangerous places just to survive.
Lynn smiled and took out the Devil's Pieces he had prepared in advance.
Shiina Mahiru turned to look at him.
"Alright then, let the reincarnation ritual begin."
[Moriko Noda]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Abilities: [Gastrea Factor: Mole] (Earth Pulse Perception)
---
---
[Tamako Nishida]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Abilities: [Gastrea Factor: Hedgehog] (Temporarily spikes defense)
The Cursed Children sat in a row, their upper bodies bare, feeling a strange sense of nervousness.
Lynn went through the reincarnation process for each of them, one by one.
As expected, all of them became ordinary Devils.
Which made senseafter all, special Devils were rare.
However, due to the Gastrea virus in their bodies, each of them came with a unique skill.
That was something Lynn had anticipated.
The system notifications kept ringing in his ears:
[You have obtained the skill "Gastrea Factor: Mole"]
[You have obtained the skill "Gastrea Factor: Hedgehog"]
[You have obtained....]
[...]
[Your overall power has slightly increased!]
[Ding! Your skill "Devil's Piece" has undergone a minor change!]
After reincarnating all of them, Lynn took a moment to assess himself.
Hmm A slight boost in strength, but not enough for a breakthrough.
There was still a long way to go.
Just thinking about reincarnating this many Cursed Children one by one gave him a headache.
And when he imagined reaching a Familia of a million lolis
Wouldn't he bleed to death every time he updated their blessings?!
He opened the Devil's Piece skill to check for changes.
The familiar starry void appeared before him.
Even though he had gathered quite a few Familia members, only seven pieces revolved closely around him.
"Only special Devils qualify to be here?"
His gaze shifted further into the distance.
There, scattered like grains of sand, stood over a dozen piecesfar yet close at the same time.
In another direction, only two pieces stood alone, looking isolated.
"Those should beMiyamoto Rei and Takagi Saya."
With a thought, Lynn willed the two pieces into his grasp.
[Miyamoto Rei]
[Takagi Saya]
As expected.
He tapped on Miyamoto Rei's piece.
Immediately, her Blessing Information surfaced from the piece.
He could now check the details of their blessings directly from here?
"Hehehe! Subarashi!"
.
.
.
Not only could he view the Blessing information, but at the bottom of the display, there was now an additional [Update] button.
Lynn's eyes flickered with realization.
He picked up [Saeko Busujima]'s piece to check, but this time, he didn't see an [Update] option.
A flash of understanding crossed his mind.
"So, special Devils are different from ordinary Devils."
Even though they were all his Familia, special Devils not only possessed unique abilities but also had an incredibly high potential ceiling.
It was just like an organizationthere were both high-ranking executives and lower-tier members.
At the very least, this meant that he wouldn't have to manually update the Blessings for ordinary Devils one by one in the future.
Within his Familia, special Devils were the high-ranking officers, while ordinary Devils were the standard members.
Lynn thought about it for a moment.
This change actually seemed quite beneficial.
After putting [Rei Miyamoto] and [Saeko Busujima]'s pieces back, his gaze returned to the flowing sand-like scenery formed by the Cursed Children's pieces.
[Factor Genome]
A new skill?
Lynn looked at it with some curiosity.
His [Devil's Piece] skill could actually generate new abilities based on his Familia?
He tapped on it.
---
[Factor Genome]
status: In Development
Gene Archive (Recorded: Mole Factor, Hedgehog Factor,...)
Gene Fusion (Dual-Factor Integration)
Note: Currently Incomplete
---
(A/N: The genome is the complete set of genetic instructions found in a cell, including all of its DNA (or RNA in some viruses))
---
Lynn: "..."
What kind of ability was this?
Looking more closely, he noticed that the recorded Gastrea factors all came from the Cursed Children he had turned into his Familia.
But for now, these factors didn't seem to have much use to him.
After all, with his strength as an Ultimate-Class Devil, these relatively minor abilities weren't necessary.
Still, if he gathered enough of them, something interesting might happen.
Exiting the [Devil's Piece] interface, Lynn returned to realityonly to see the Cursed Children poking at their newly grown wings in disbelief.
"W-Wings? We grew wings?!"
"Wait Does this mean our corruption level is too high? Are we turning into... Gastrea?!"
"But I don't feel anything strange"
Some of the girls looked anxious.
Shiina Mahiru quickly stepped in to calm them. "Relax, everyone. You've simply been reincarnated as Devils."
Hearing her words, the Cursed Children slowly settled down.
Then, they recalled what Mahiru had said earlier: 'Do you want to become Devils?'
"So that was real?! We actually became Devils?!"
They exclaimed in amazement.
Before, when they had been asked to remove their clothes, they thought it was for a Gastrea virus corruption check.
After all, in a shelter, having someone with a dangerously high corrosion level could lead to unpredictable dangers.
They had understood that much.
But this this was an actual Devil reincarnation ritual!
"It's gone! It completely disappeared!"
Moriko Noda shouted in excitement. "That awful pain it's completely gone!"
Due to years of Gastrea virus erosion, Cursed Children often suffered from neurological pain.
"Mahiru, check their status."
Since this was a shelter, Seitenshi had naturally provided equipment to measure Gastrea virus corruption levels.
After a while, the tests were complete.
The virus inside them had vanished completely.
They stood frozen in place, murmuring, "So does this mean we're no longer Cursed Children?"
"That's right."
Lynn smiled. "You're Devils now."
"Devils"
Their eyes lit up.
"Then does this mean we can live past ten.....even fifteen?!"
"Not just fifteen. Devils have very long lifespans."
Shiina Mahiru reassured them with a gentle smile.
Hearing this, their eyes immediately welled up with tears.
"Yay!"
"This is amazing!"
"Becoming a Devil is the best!"
They jumped for joy, laughing and cheering.
Tamako Nishida hesitated before stepping forward, looking up at Lynn with hopeful eyes.
"L-Lord Lynn Can I bring others here too?"
Gathering her courage, she continued,"I I want everyone to become Devils too!"
If they could all become Devils, then they could finally live normal lives!
Lynn smirked and patted her head. "Of course."
"Bring as many as you want. No matter how many, I'll take them all."
This was exactly the outcome he wanted.
Now that the first batch had experienced the change, more Cursed Children would willingly come to the shelter.
As word spread, they would naturally invite others as well.
It was far more efficient than waiting for Seitenshi to arrange everything.
As for what to do with these girls
Lynn thought about it and decided not to send them out to gain experience.
They were only around ten years old. Let them live a carefree life for a few years first.
When they grew older, they could decide for themselves what they wanted to do.
A growing familia needed development, after all.
There would always be a place for them in the future.
HmmHe would need to arrange a teacher for them.
After some thought, Lynn sent a message to Minamiya Natsuki.
[Lynn: "Natsuki-chan, want to join my Peerage?"]
[Natsuki-chan: "??!"]
[Natsuki-chan: "Have you finally lost your mind and decided to go after a loli teacher??"]
[Lynn: "So you admit you're a loli?"]
"Tsk."
Seeing that she didn't reply, Lynn shook his head in amusement.
Main World Faculty Office
Minamiya Natsuki ignored Lynn's follow-up message.
Still, she found his boldness rather amusing.
That Devil actually had the guts to flirt with her?
She narrowed her eyes, resting her chin on her hand.
Lately, Lynn's strength had become harder and harder to grasp.
Every time they met, she could sense a significant shift in his power.
That last incident with the Grade 1 Cursed Spirit had been a small test on her part.
In the past, Lynn wouldn't have agreed so easily to deal with a Grade 1 Curse.
After all, as a Mid-Class Devil back then, it would have been troublesome for him.
But last time, he accepted without hesitationonly asking for a Grade 1 Cursed Tool as payment.
It was clear he had grown confident in his abilities.
What had this Devil experienced in just two months to make his strength skyrocket?
If there was one major differenceLynn had been gathering a lot of Peerage members lately.
"Looks like he's at least at the High-Class Devil level now," Natsuki murmured.
As a high-ranking attack mage, she understood Devils quite well.
To be able to create a Peerage, a Devil had to be at least High-Class.
However
Her big, doll-like eyes reflected a hint of doubt.
She glanced at the student files spread across her desk.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, Yotsuya Miko, Shiina Mahiru, Yurikawa Hana.
Scanning their profiles, her confusion only deepened.
"They're just ordinary people?"
"A human Sacred Gear user?"
Natsuki frowned.
Utaha often took leave from class to visit Lynn.
They had met a few times, and apart from the Devil aura lingering around herThere was no trace of a Sacred Gear.
Why would he recruit normal humans?
"...They're all beautiful girls, though."
"That guy could he be using his Devil status to build a harem at school?!"
.
.
.
"Huh?"
Minamiya Natsuki was growing more and more suspicious about Lynn's choice of Peerage members.
And the more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that her suspicions were correct.
Otherwise, why would he recruit so many ordinary, beautiful girls into his Peerage?
Grinding her teeth, Natsuki muttered, "That Devil he's actually trying to corrupt Shuchiin Academy!"
Was that brat just now making a real harem proposal to her?!
"That damn kid he actually dared!"
BANG!
The faculty office door suddenly swung open.
"Yo~!"
"Who pissed you off so much, Natsuki-chan?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka teased as she walked in.
Natsuki's brow twitched."I've told you countless timesdon't add '-chan' to my name!"
"It makes me lose authority in front of the students!"
"Ah it's fine, it's fine."
Hiratsuka Shizuka waved it off casually."You're so cute anyway, the students will listen to you regardless."
Smack!
"Ow! That hurts!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka instantly clutched her head in pain.
Natsuki expressionlessly withdrew her folding fan."If you're just here to mess around, leave. Otherwise, state your business."
"And next time, knock before entering!"
"Jeez, no mercy as always, Natsuki-ch____"
"Ahem! Natsuki-san."
Noticing Natsuki raising her fan again, Shizuka quickly straightened up and got to the point."Natsuki, has anything strange happened with Yukinoshita Yukino lately?"
"Yukino?"
Natsuki furrowed her brows for a moment, then relaxed.
"You mean the Service Club president?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka's eye twitched.
Every time she heard that name, she couldn't help but feel awkward.
"If we're talking about something unusual"
"Would experiencing a supernatural event count?"
"Supernatural event?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka's expression turned serious.
Coming from a wealthy family, she had some knowledge of such matters.
But as an ordinary person, she rarely had the chance to encounter them firsthand.
StillIf it really involved the supernatural, things could get troublesome.
How was she supposed to explain this to Yukinoshita Haruno? She had already promised to figure out her little sister's problem.
"Hmm maybe you should ask the president of the Supernatural Research Club?" Natsuki didn't feel like explaining, so she simply threw the problem onto Lynn.
"The president of the Supernatural Research Club, huh"
Hiratsuka Shizuka's face turned solemn. "Got it!"
Leaving behind a quick word of thanks, she hurried out of Natsuki's office.
"Hmph. Seems like more and more people are looking for that kid lately."
Natsuki muttered under her breath.
She already knew That the school board was investigating the Old School Building incident.
They had probably traced it back to the Supernatural Research Club by now.
ButLynn was a Devil.
No matter how powerful a human was in the mortal world, when faced with the supernaturalThey were nothing.
"Shinomiya Unyo, you'd better not mess with a Devil."
Shuchiin Academy Board of Directors
Shinomiya Unyo stared at the documents in his hand, his brows furrowing.
"Are we certain this wasn't Minamiya Natsuki's doing?"
As a director of Shuchiin, he was well aware of Natsuki's true identity.
With the Shinomiya family's influence, he had long known that this world was not as simple as it seemed.
But there was a sayingThe more you know, the more you fear.
The more he learned about the truth of the world, the more uneasy he became.
He, too, wanted a supernatural power! But the money and influence that had always worked in the human world were utterly useless when it came to even approaching that realm.
All he had managed to obtain were some basic knowledge and worthless techniques.
He had no talent, nor did he have the time to study them.
So, he decided to take a shortcut.
Wouldn't it be easier to raise a loyal Cursed Spirit instead?
WellThat plan had clearly backfired.
He had managed to nurture one, but he couldn't control it at all.
If it weren't for the expensive sealing array, it would have caused a disaster long ago.
Yet, he didn't dare to report any of this.
After all, he was the one responsible. And it would have affected his position as the Shinomiya heir greatly.
So, with the array breaking down, he could only sit on edge, hoping that the human Magic Instructor, Minamiya Natsuki, wouldn't just stand by and watch as Shuchiin turned into a living hell.
AndHis gamble had paid off.
But it wasn't Natsuki who had taken action.
"The Supernatural Research Club?"
His eyes flickered.
A mere school club... actually had this kind of power?
A burning desire ignited in his heart.
Resting his chin on his hand, he fell into deep thought.
A student's identity often made things much easier.
"Kaguya."
"It's time for you to contribute to the Shinomiya family."
In a Caf
Yukinoshita Haruno absentmindedly stirred her coffee, her gaze fixed outside the window.
She had finally found time in her schedule, so she rushed over as soon as she could.
For the past few days, Yukino's situation had been weighing on her mind.
"...Ugh! I hope to get some good news!"
After a while, she spotted Hiratsuka Shizuka's figure and immediately brightened up.
"Shizuka! Over here!"
Once Shizuka sat down, Haruno leaned forward eagerly. "So? Did you find anything?"
Shizuka rolled her eyes.
She hadn't even had a sip of water yet.
But since this was about Yukino, she let it slide.
After a moment of hesitation, Shizuka spoke. "Haruno have you ever heard of supernatural events?"
"Huh?"
Haruno was dumbfounded.
The Yukinoshita family was a prestigious household in Chiba, but in Tokyo, their influence was hardly significant.
In Tokyo social circles, people often mocked them as mere countryside elites.
Her father was a politician, but just a council member. So to her, the supernatural was nothing more than fantasy.
"..."
"Shizuka, you're not messing with me, are you?" Haruno said unsurely.
Shizuka smiled bitterly. "Knew you'd say that."
Haruno fell silent.
She could tellShizuka wasn't lying.
So the world she thought she knew wasn't complete? Were the rumors true?
A dazed look crossed Haruno's face as she muttered, "So... Yukino really did encounter something supernatural?"
"I don't know all the details, but Yukino was probably just shaken. She might just need time to process it." Shizuka nodded.
Then why did she suddenly need five million yen?
Haruno suddenly recalled that detail.
However, she chose not to mention it to Shizuka.
Shizuka continued. "Before coming here, I did some digging. Someone suggested I check with Shuchiin Academy's Supernatural Research Club. There might be a connection."
"Supernatural Research Club?"
Just from the name, it was obviously related to supernatural events.
But...It was just a club run by students, right?
Haruno didn't think much of it.
"Mm... if I remember correctly, the club president's name was"
"...Lynn, wasn't it?" Shizuka said all she knew.
Haruno's eyes widened.
Lynn
That was the name on the account Yukino transferred money to!
It hadn't been long since the transaction, and Haruno had already used her connections to investigate the recipient's identity.
She never expected...
It would turn out to be the president of the Supernatural Research Club.
Her brows furrowed.
Looks like I need to pay a visit to that club.
.
.
.
Black Bullet World
Late at night.
Inside a single house, a group of young girls were chattering non-stop, their voices filled with excitement.
Clearly, they were still hyped up and overjoyed.
"Lord Lynn must be an angel!"
"No, he's a Devil! A Devil!"
"That's right! Angels never came to save us!"
"Then he must be a god!"
"I told you, he's a Devil! A Devil!"
"Uh the Devil of kindness?"
"Ah! He should be treated like a god!"
"It's decided! When I grow up, I'm going to become Lord Lynn's shrine maiden!"
"W-What?! Only I can be Lord Lynn's shrine maiden!"
"Hey! Stop arguing! We're all Lord Lynn's"
"Yay!!"
After their heated debate, their excitement finally settled, and one by one, they drifted off to sleep.
The Next Morning
At dawn, the Cursed Children woke up early.
Even though they were only around ten years old, their harsh lives had forced them to mature quickly.
Lynn had not only taken them in but had also turned them into Devils, completely removing the curse of the Gastrea virus.
To them, Lynn was their god!
They had made up their mindsthey would repay Lynn!
So, they eagerly waited for him to give them something to do.
Seeing their anticipation, Lynn chuckled.
He didn't reject them.
They needed a sense of purpose, a way to prove their worth.
Only then would they feel truly needed.
"Alright, then. I'll leave the mission of bringing back your fellow Cursed Children to you."
"Yes!!" x13
Outer Area
Tamako Nishida arrived at an abandoned sewer entrance.
She crouched down and knocked rhythmically on the manhole cover.
A moment later, a small head cautiously peeked out.
A worn-out hat sat atop her head, her white hair messy and dirt-streaked.
Her thin eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her purple eyes carried a hint of nervousness.
When she saw it was Tamako Nishida, she finally let out a breath of relief.
Her voice was weak.
"Ta-Tamako you're back"
"Midori-chan! I brought good news!"
"Huh? R-Really?"
Fuse Midori quickly stepped aside. "Come in, quick!"
Tamako nodded and slipped into the sewer entrance with practiced ease.
She sighed inwardlyher new clothes were going to pick up the smell again.
After steadying herself, she looked around at her companions inside the underground hideout.
This was just a small shelter. Including herself, there were only
They all turned to her with eyes full of hope.
Tamako didn't disappoint them.
"Everyone, listen up!"
"Our savior has arrived!!"
---
Meanwhile
Similar scenes were unfolding at twelve other hideouts.
After a short while
Thanks to the efforts of the first group of Cursed Children, the restthough hesitant, anxious, and skeptical
Ultimately chose to trust their companions who had shared their struggles.
One by one, they prepared to leave their wet, suffocating underground homesAnd head toward the shelter created by the so-called "god" their friends spoke of.
In the central zone, where all the hideouts connected, two military-green trucks were parked.
Busujima Saeko leaned against one of them, keeping a sharp eye on her surroundings.
The Outer Area wasn't safe.
Gastrea creatures roamed the area, often attacking the Cursed Children.
According to the first group's reports, they would be transporting a total of 113 children this time.
A migration of this scaleif they ran into Gastreacould easily cause panic.
As long as they didn't encounter anything too high-level, Saeko could handle it.
Yeah as long as it wasn't a Stage IV Gastrea, she could kill it while ensuring the children's safety.
"They're here."
Suddenly, Saeko spoke up, her gaze locking on Tamako Nishida, who was waving at her from a distance.
She smiled slightly.
"They've arrived?"
On the other truck, Marikawa Shizuka jumped down and started scanning the area.
"Mhm."
Actually, Lynn assigned this mission to Busujima Saeko and Marikawa Shizuka because they were the only two in his Familia who could drive.
When Lynn found this out, he was speechless.
Without hesitation, he urged the others to practice their driving skills.
Of courseIf they could master teleportation via Magic Circles, that would be a different story.
Not to mentionIf they could actually learn it, it would make transporting the Cursed Children way easier.
In the end, he still decided to leave the mission to his Familia and not take action himself. After all, if he had to do everything, what was the point of having a Familia?
---
"Saeko-neesan! Shizuka-neesan!"
Tamako led thirteen little girls in an energetic march toward them.
Saeko greeted them with a gentle smile and said, "Go wait in the truck first. You're the first group to arrive."
The Cursed Children behind Tamako exchanged uneasy glances.
They were nervous, their eyes darting around as they avoided looking at Saeko directly.
One of them even shrank back, as if trying to make herself invisible.
After a brief pauseWith Tamako's reassurance and guidanceThey finally climbed into the truck.
Before longThe second, third, and fourth waves of children arrived without issue.
Everything was going smoothly.
Until the fifth group showed up.
"Huh? What's going on?"
Leading a group of Cursed Children, Moriko Noda suddenly cried out in alarm.
Crack
A faint tremor spread beneath their feet.
It felt like something was moving underground.
The next second!
A massive monster burst out from the ground behind the children!
"Ahhh!"
The sudden attack sent the last girl in line tumbling to the ground.
When this girl turned back, her face frozen in terror.
What she sawWas a monstrous creature that looked like a hybrid of a centipede and a spider.
It had no visible facial featuresOnly a massive, vertical mouth lined with three rows of zigzagged fangs.
Sssshhh
A faint, poisonous mist seeped from its abdomen.
"This is bad!!"
---
Inside the truck
The children who had already boarded screamed at the scene unfolding before them.
Their hearts sank.
"We're We're going to die!"
"What do we do?! What do we do?!"
"We need to help her!"
All the Cursed Children were overwhelmed by fearAnd the pain of knowing one of their own was in danger.
But just as despair crept in
Saeko drew her sword.
She raised the bladeAnd swung in the direction of the Gastrea creature!
SHZZZ!
A brilliant white slash cut through the airSlicing toward the monster at an incredible speed!
The Gastrea had no time to react.
The blade cleaved through its tough exoskeleton like paper. The sound of flesh tearing filled the air.
BOOM!
The creature's upper body was severed clean in half
And crashed onto the ground!
"Huh?"
The Cursed Children stared in shock.
A stunned silence filled the truck.
Then
"That That was so cool!!"
A small voice whispered in awe.
Noda Moriko blinked in surpriseBefore quickly snapping back to reality.
"What are you all standing around for?! Move!"
The others snapped out of it, immediately grabbing the fallen girl and sprinting forward.
"It's not dead yet!"
Moriko, well aware of Gastrea biology, shouted out a warning.
Saeko's eyes narrowed.
Sure enoughdespite having its upper body severedthe creature's lower half remained standing.
From the exposed wound, dark, writhing masses of flesh squirmed, desperately attempting to regenerate.
"The core, huh?"
Saeko's sharp gaze scanned the creature's bodyBut she couldn't immediately spot the core.
"Oh well"
"If I can't find it"
"I'll just keep slicing until I do."
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Saeko's sword flashed through the air several more times.
The spider-like Gastrea was dismemberedIts body parts scattering across the ground.
"Oh There it is."
After reducing the monster to minced meat, Saeko finally spotted its core.
She wasted no wordsAnd destroyed it instantly.
Then, she sheathed her swordAnd turned to the children with a gentle smile.
"No need to worry, you're safe."
.
.
.
{Lynn's Familia Chat Group}
[The Traditional Woman of the Busujima Family: [Image].jpg ]
Busujima Saeko... took down a Gastrea for the first time so she sent a photo.
After all, Gastrea was harder to kill than Zombies.
[Kasumi Utako: "Ew, that's so gross!"]
[Seitenshi: "Um, everyone, please be careful. If you don't destroy the core, Gastrea won't die completely."]
[Seitenshi: "Only weapons made from Varanium can effectively suppress their regeneration and deal real damage."]
[Seitenshi: "I'll make sure to get Varanium weapons for our Familia as soon as possible!"]
---
Saeko calmly waited for the rest of the Cursed Children to arrive, sharing her experience in the group chat on how to kill a Gastrea.
Thankfully, no further incidents occurred along the way.
Once the final group of Cursed Children had boarded the trucks, both military vehicles roared to life and set off.
---
The sound of heavy engines echoed as the trucks pulled into the Lynn Shelter.
The newly rescued Cursed Children anxiously peeked out, their eyes filled with uncertainty and apprehension as they took in the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Phew!"
Marikawa Shizuka jumped down from the driver's seat, her massive melons bouncing dramatically as she landed.
Hands on her hips, she proudly declared, "Safe arrival!"
Seeing that Saeko and Shizuka had returned, Shiina Mahiru and the others quickly gathered around.
Lynn glanced at the two trucks filled with Cursed Children and nodded in satisfaction.
"Now, this is efficiency."
"As expected, letting little girls help other little girls was the right approach."
Cursed Children might not trust adults much, but when it came to their fellow Cursed Children, their guard was significantly lower.
With their peers leading the way, gaining their trust hardly required any extra effort.
Hovering in mid-air, Kanoe Yuuko gasped, "Whoa! So many lolis!"
She then looked at Lynn with a solemn expression. "At this rate, you're definitely going to become the God of Lolis someday."
The Cursed Children stared wide-eyed at the floating big sister before them.
"A... A floating lady?!"
They exclaimed in shock, their eyes filled with amazement.
"Heh heh."
Yuuko smirked, thoroughly enjoying their reactions.
She had even gone out of her way to activate her Ultimate Ghost Mode, making sure she was fully visible to them.
---
Under the guidance of Nishida Tamako and the first group of rescued children, the 113 new Cursed Children disembarked in an orderly manner.
Tamako and the others stood before Lynn, tilting their heads up to look at him, their eyes shining with anticipation.
"You all did a great job."
Lynn praised them without hesitation.
"Hehe!"
He rewarded each of them with a gentle head pat before instructing Shizuka and the others to take the new arrivals to get cleaned up.
Once they were bathed and dressed in fresh clothes, Lynn would begin their Reincarnation into Devils.
"113 of them, huh? That's no small task"
Lynn mused to himself.
But then he thought about his long-term goala millionand suddenly, 113 didn't seem like much at all.
---
"..."
"Eh? W-We have to take off our clothes?!"
The newly arrived Cursed Children reacted with shock, their faces turning red with embarrassment.
Even though they were only around ten years old, they still had a vague understanding of what it meant.
However, out of trust for Nishida Tamako and the others who had brought them here, they suppressed their embarrassment and obediently exposed their backs.
Then, they lined up for the Reincarnation Ceremony.
"Um Will we really turn into Devils?"
One of the girls murmured anxiously.
But once the first girl successfully transformed, all doubts disappeared.
"It's real! We're really Devils now!"
The devilish wings sprouting from the first girl's back served as undeniable proof.
Hiding within the group, a small girl named Fuse Midori cautiously observed the newly transformed Devils.
"If they become Devils does that mean the Gastrea Virus will disappear?"
"I... I hope everyone can be saved"
Finally, it was her turn.
She wrapped her arms around herself, her back hunched, holding the front of her clothes tightly to her chest.
Her face flushed red with embarrassment, and she avoided eye contact with Lynn entirely.
A wide hat cast a shadow over her face, hiding most of her expression.
Lynn glanced at her, feeling a sense of familiarity. A memory suddenly surfaced in his mind. 'Wait, isn't she that cat-like loli?'
Curious, he asked in a gentle tone, "What's your name?"
Midori flinched at the sound of his voice, lowering her head even further.
In a voice barely above a whisper, she mumbled, "F-Fuse Midori"
Lynn's eyes flickered in realization.
'So it really is her.'
Smiling slightly, he gently asked, "Can I see what's under that hat?"
Midori's entire body stiffened, her breathing suddenly uneven.
'It's happening'
Her eyes widened with anxiety. Her small hands clenched into fists.
Underneath that hatwas a pair of cat ears.
It was because of those ears that her mother abandoned her.
Ever since then, she had always been alone. No one had ever accepted her.
'Because of these ears'
Her pupils trembled as a deep sadness took over her eyes.
Would she be abandoned again?
No, she couldn't hide it.
If she wanted to stay, she had to be honest.
Even if it meant being cast aside again
Her vision blurred with unshed tears.
Her voice shook. "I I can"
With trembling fingers, she reached up and hesitantly pulled down her hat.
A pair of cat earsonce squashed under the hatpopped up, springing back into place.
Now fully exposed, her cat ears twitched slightly.
Midori bit her lip, anxiety gripping her heart.
Would she be separated from everyone now?
She didn't want that
She didn't want to leave
But it couldn't be helped, right?
A girl with ears like these would always be rejected.
She started to resign herself to it.
No one would want someone like her
Just as she sank into despair
A large hand suddenly rested atop her head.
"Huh?"
A warm sensation spread from her right ear.
It felt like she was being gently petted?
Midori's entire body shuddered, and her face instantly turned bright red.
'W-What is he doing?!'
The unexpected touch yanked her out of her spiral of self-loathing.
Her purple eyes trembled in panic.
"Just as I thoughtyou're adorable."
Lynn's eyes lit up like he had just found a rare treasure.
'A-Adorable?!'
'Ah! Is he talking about me?!'
Her head spun, her thoughts a jumbled mess.
This This wasn't how things were supposed to go!
"Midori. Can I call you that?"
Lynn's voice came from behind her.
Midori instinctively straightened her back, clutching her hat to her chest as if it were a lifeline.
"Y-Y-Yes!!"
She stammered, completely flustered.
Lynn's hand continued stroking her head, his fingers brushing over her soft hair and twitching cat ears.
The sensation was amazing.
The texture of her ears and hair was so good that he didn't want to stop.
"Midori." He smiled.
"Be my exclusive kitty."
"W-WHAT?!?!"
Midori's eyes widened in shock, completely filled with disbelief.
The other Cursed Children gasped.
"Whoa! That's so bold!"
"Midori-chan is so lucky! She got Lord Lynn's special affection!"
'S-Special affection?!'
'M-Me?!'
Midori's face turned an even deeper shade of red, like a fully ripened apple. Her brain short-circuited on the spot.
"B-But why?"
She stammered, struggling to find her voice.
"My ears they're because of the Gastrea Virus"
She had always believed they were a curse.
But Lynn simply tilted his head and said "Aren't they cute?"
In that instant, Midori felt as if she had been shot through the heart.
Everything she had ever believed was completely shattered.
Her ears weren't disgusting?
They weren't something to be ashamed of?
Someone thought they were cute?
A warmth she had never felt before began to spread through her chest.
Her vision blurred again as she wanted to crybut this time, it wasn't because of sadness.
It was something else entirely.
Something she had never felt before.
.
.
.
Due to the cat-type Gastrea virus in her body, Fuse Midori had an incredibly sharp sense of smellso much so that she could even use scents for prophecy.
And she was sure that Lynn-sama's words held no scent of lies.
drip! drip!
Midori stared blankly at the ground, her head bowed low as large teardrops fell.
'He called me cute'
She bit her lower lip, trying hard to suppress her sobs, but the tears wouldn't stop flowing.
Lynn watched as she trembled and sniffled. Gently, he turned her around.
"If you want to cry, you can do it in my arms."
Midori's breath hitched.
Her tears surged forth uncontrollably as she threw herself into Lynn's embrace, arms wide open.
"Lynn -sama!!"
Lynn held her close, stroking her soft hair gently.
She must have suffered so muchNot just Midoriall of the Cursed Children.
That's why he has to wipe this twisted world clean.
Even if Seitenshi's plan succeeds, he will still wipe them out.
Why? It's simplejust because he wants to.
He already decided.
Within the Shelter, silence hung in the air.
Aside from Midori's muffled cries, not a single sound could be heard.
The other Cursed Children stood frozen, watching her, their eyes filled with emotions they couldn't put into words.
They had all been abandoned before.
They understood her pain better than anyone.
And nowLynn
They would never forget him for as long as they lived.
Because he didn't just accept Midori.
He accepted all of them.
After a while, Midori's sobbing gradually softened.
"Lynn-sama will you abandon me?"
Her voice was muffled against his chest, tinged with hesitation and fear.
Even though her instincts told her what his answer would be, she still couldn't help but ask.
She needed to hear it.
With her own ears.
Lynn didn't answer right away. Instead, he asked once more
"Midori will you be my exclusive kitty?"
The answer was obvious.
Midori lifted her head. Her eyes met his warm smile.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Then, without hesitation, she buried her face in his chest again and nodded firmly.
"Midori wants to be Lynn-sama's exclusive kitty!"
This time, there was no nervousness, no fear, no hesitation.
Only pure, unwavering determination.
"Then it's settled."
Lynn continued to hold her, letting her cling to him for a while longer.
But soon
"Master, when are you going to spoil me like that too?"
A voice suddenly interjected.
It was Kanoe Yuuko, watching with a teasing smile. "A ghost doesn't count as a pet, huh?"
Midori jolted in realization.
She had completely forgottenThey weren't alone!
'S-So embarrassing!'
It was way too quiet just now! That's why she got carried away!
She quickly pulled away from Lynn's embrace.
But when she turned around, all the other Cursed Children were staring at her with playful, knowing looks.
"Ahhhh!"
Her face instantly turned bright red.
Lynn chuckled. "Alright, let's continue the reincarnation ceremony."
'Oh right!'
'The reincarnation ceremony!!'
Midori's body stiffened.
She completely forgot that she was still naked!!!
Lynn-sama definitely saw everything.
"Oh no"
She felt like steam was about to come out of her head.
Unable to think straight, she mechanically turned around, exposing her back to him.
It wasn't until she felt the cold touch of the Devil's Piece against her spine that her mind slowly started to clear.
'If it's him'
'Even if he saw me it's fine right?'
She was already his pet.
'But still! It's so embarrassing!!'
As the Devil's Piece fully merged into her bodyThe reincarnation ceremony was complete.
[Ding! You have acquired Familia member: Fuse Midori!]
[Ding! Your Familia member 'Fuse Midori' has reincarnated as a Special Devil!]
[Ding! You have gained new skills]
Lynn temporarily muted the system notifications and examined Midori's blessing information.
---
[Fuse Midori]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Abilities: [Gastrea Factor: Cat] & [Nekomata Devil]
[Gastrea Factor: Cat]
Cat Claws (Can extend sharp cat-like claws from her fingers.)
Scent Clairvoyance (Can perceive others' emotions and fate through their scent.)
Enhanced Agility Growth Speed
[Nekomata Devil]
Soul-Corroding Azure Flames (Releases eerie blue flames that inflict the "Corrosion" status on enemies upon contact.)
Fate Tracker's Scent (A divination-like ability that grants the user "First Strike" in battle.)
Devilization Cursed Nekomata
The first Special Devil among the Cursed Children had been born!
Her Gastrea Factor: Cat was expectedit was part of her nature due to the virus.
However, the Scent Clairvoyance ability added a layer of mystery to it.
Lynn quickly skimmed past the basics and focused on Nekomata Devil's skills.
A skill that corrodes enemies after hitting them
A skill that grants First Strike in battle
Interesting.
Both abilities carried unique mechanics.
He hadn't expected Midori's potential to be this good.
And more importantly, both of these skills could be incredibly useful for him as well.
Especially Fate Tracker's Scentthat First Strike ability seemed like it could be game-changing.
Lynn chuckled. "Midori, you're my lucky kitty."
"U-uh"
Midori's face instantly turned red at the praise.
Lynn copied down her blessing details, and once she had finished getting dressed, he handed them to her.
Since she had just undergone the reincarnation ceremony, she already had a basic understanding of the blessing system.
She lowered her gaze and began reading through the details.
Inevitably, her eyes lingered for a moment on the "Master" section.
From today onward she was his kitty.
No longer a stray.
A faint blush crept onto her face as she continued reading.
She skimmed past her base statsall stuck at I0and went straight for the skills.
Seeing Gastrea Factor: Cat listed there made her expression slightly complicated.
After all, it was this very factor that had made her suffer for so long.
Yet nowIt had become her skill.
But it didn't matter anymore.
Now that she was a Devil, the Gastrea virus was completely gone from her body.
This was simply a skill preserved by the blessing system.
And more importantlyThe reason why her cat ears hadn't disappeared after her transformation was probably because of this skill.
"That's a relief."
Midori let out a small sigh.
The same thing that once made her an outcastWas now something that made her happybecause Lynn liked it.
Finally, her eyes drifted to the last skill set.
[Nekomata Devil].
Her vision swayed slightly.
These abilities seemed incredibly powerful.
But right now, she wasn't sure how to use them effectively.
She gripped the paper tightly.
'Would these abilities be of any use to Lynn-sama?'
If she could help him, even a little
That would be enough.
While Midori was lost in thought, Lynn casually pulled out his phone and snapped a few pictures of her.
Click!
Midori blinked in confusion and looked up.
Her eyes were full of curiosity.
Click!
Perfect shot!
Lynn scrolled through his contacts until he found Rias.
[Lynn: (Image: Confused Kitty.jpg) ]
Sent and seen ~
[Rias: "???" ]
[Lynn: "I finally got my own kitty!" ]
[Rias: "!!!" ]
.
.
.
Kuoh Town Kuoh Academy Occult Research Club
Seated on a plush leather sofa, Rias Gremory stared at her phone, reading the message Lynn had just sent her.
Her blue eyes sharpened slightly as she noticed the cat ears atop a certain girl's head in the attached image.
"Did Koneko just lose her spot as the only cat?"
Curious, Rias tapped on the image and examined it closely.
"Yep, that's definitely a cat-girl"
"But where did Lynn even find her?"
"And what did he mean by "his own kitty"?"
"Did that mean he had already recruited her into his Peerage?"
"Was she a Nekomata, just like Koneko?"
Rias shook her head, feeling a little baffled. Just where was Lynn finding these high-quality recruits?
As a master of a Nekomata, she had a fair understanding of their kind.
Especially considering Koneko's infamous sister.
Even though she had killed her own master and became a stray devil, there was no denying her immense strength.
Propping her chin up with one hand, Rias fell into deep thought.
Now, he got himself a Nekomata.
And there was an Angel.
And before that, that Archivist Devil
"Damn it."
They were all ridiculously powerful recruits!
She glanced at her own empty clubroom.
Akeno was quietly experimenting with making better black tea.
Koneko was gnawing on something.
Rias sighed. When would her club finally feel full?
She glanced at Koneko and smirked.
"Koneko, I've got something interesting to show you."
Koneko tilted her head. "Hm?"
Still munching on a bag of potato chips, she wandered over.
As soon as she got close enough, Rias shoved the phone screen right in her face.
Koneko blinked in confusion, her gaze slowly focusing on the message.
[Lynn: [Image: Confused Kitty.jpg]]
[Lynn: I finally got my own kitty!]
Koneko's mind blanked.
She didn't even process Rias's message.
Her attention was completely locked onto Lynn's words.
And thenHer world collapsed.
Plop!
Koneko's hand went limp, and her bag of potato chips slipped to the floor.
Lynn-senpai has his own kitty now?
Rias sighed dramatically. "Such a shame, Koneko. Looks like Lynn already has his own kitty now. You"
She leaned in with a teasing smile.
" might've just lost your special place."
Koneko stood frozen for several seconds.
Then, slowly, she snapped back to reality.
Expression unreadable, she silently bent down to pick up her fallen chips.
HoweverAs she stood back up, her lips pressed together ever so slightly.
"President," she asked, her voice calm. "Lynn-senpai's Peerage must be nearly full by now, right?"
Rias raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"
Koneko's tone remained neutral. "Then why is it that, despite starting his Peerage a year later than you, he already has so many members while you still only have me and Akeno-senpai?"
Rias was speechless.
That was a direct hit.
She opened her mouth to say somethingBut nothing came out.
There was no comeback.
She slumped back onto the sofa, devastated.
Meanwhile, Akeno watched from the sidelines, her eyes narrowing in amusement.
"Ara ara~"
'Koneko sure was talking a lot today.'
'Was someone feeling a little flustered?'
Having successfully defeated her club president, Koneko returned to her seat.
She grabbed another chip and popped it into her mouth.
But for some reasonIt didn't taste good anymore.
Silently, Koneko pulled out her phone and typed out a message.
[Koneko: "Senpai, this weekend, a spar?"]
As she stared at the screen, she felt her heartbeat quicken.
Why was she nervous?
[Ding!]
A reply popped up.
Koneko quickly checked it.
[Lynn: "No problem."]
"Phew."
She felt a little relieved.
Black Bullet World
After replying to Koneko's message, Lynn continued conducting the Reincarnation Ceremony for the remaining candidates.
Finally
All the 113 Cursed Children had become Devils.
Once the tests confirmed that they were completely free from the Gastrea virus, the Cursed Children burst into tears of joy.
Years of suppressed emotions came flooding out all at once.
Lynn didn't stop them.
It was better to let it out now than to keep it buried inside.
After today, they could finally choose a new life.
Watching them flap their newly-formed Devil wings and take flight, their laughter echoing in the air
Lynn couldn't help but smile.
Beside him, Fuse Midori clutched his finger tightly.
Seeing the other children cry tears of relief, her own eyes reddened.
Everyone is finally saved.
But there were still so many Cursed Children out there, still suffering.
The thought made her tighten her grip on Lynn's hand.
Feeling her emotions, Lynn gently patted her head with his other hand.
"Don't worry. Everything will get better."
Midori took a deep breath.
Just hearing his words was enough to calm her down.
"I'll do my best too, Lynn-sama!"
Her eyes burned with determination.
This wasn't just Lynn's responsibility It was their responsibility, as Cursed Children.
Lynn had already accepted them, freed them from the Gastrea virus, and even granted them new power.
That alone was an unimaginable blessing.
So finding and saving the others That was something she would do herself!
After all, Lynn had even granted her a stronger body!
Lynn, seeing her spirits lift, didn't dwell on it and shifted his focus back to himself.
---
Checking his status panel, he noticed a new name: Fuse Midori ~ Nekomata Devil
His Devil's Pieces had been updated, now displaying Midori's name.
And his Factor Genome's status was still In Development.
It had absorbed a lot of Gastrea factors, but when would it fully mature?
Or what exactly did it need to evolve?
As for his power levelHe was still an Ultimate-Class Devil.
Even turning over a hundred Cursed Children hadn't caused a major breakthrough.
That saidHe could still feel his strength increasing.
It was slight, but he was approaching the next stage within Ultimate-Class.
A gradual but ridiculous improvement.
And this was just from reincarnating a hundred or so Cursed Children.
This world had millions of them
Waiting for him to claim.
Lynn took a deep breath, calming himself down.
He couldn't rely solely on reincarnating the Cursed Children.
He also needed to raise his Special Devils' strength.
"Looks like Utaha and the others won't be getting a break anytime soon."
Evening in the Shelter
That night, the Cursed Children gathered for their first dinner in the new shelter.
The darkness in their eyes had completely faded, replaced by hope for a new future.
Just as Lynn was about to sit
"Lynn-sama."
A soft whisper reached his ear.
Shiina Mahiru leaned in close.
"The supplies the government sent"
She paused for a second.
"are far less than what Seitenshi promised."
Lynn's expression didn't change.
It was as if he expected this.
"Don't worry."
His voice was calm.
"Even before the Dimensional Gate was built, I already had Saeko collecting resources from the Apocalypse World."
"For now, we have enough."
"But still"
Lynn's lips curled into a mischievous smile.
It was about time he gave Seitenshi a little reminder.
---
[Lynn's familia Group Chat]
After informing Seitenshi about the missing supplies, he soon received a reply.
[Seitenshi: Nani?!!!"]
.
.
.
---
---
I'm still sick but feeling much better now, so expect more chapters soon!
Also, thanks for dropping your Power Stones, even though I didn't ask. Honestly, I don't really care about rankings or anything, but seeing your support makes me feel appreciated. You guys are the best!
I'll do my best to reach the author ASAP since I've seen another amazing books and really want to translate them.
Thanks again!
Tokyo Area
Seitenshi stared at the message on her phone and all she felt was shame.
She had made bold claims, yet...
She couldn't even handle something as simple as supplying resources?
She was as useless as ever...
It was pathetic.
"...Why?"
Why did they have to withhold even the most basic supplies?
The Next Day
Seitenshi once again issued orders to allocate resources to the shelters.
But this time, she didn't just return to her office after giving the command.
She wanted to use her Devil's enhanced hearing to listen in on the conversations of those below her.
Just like before...If not for her Devil's hearing, she wouldn't have realized that the man she had placed so much trust inTendo Kikunojowas actually scheming behind her back.
The very same man who had once supported her idea of establishing shelters for the Cursed Children was the same one who, right after the meeting, immediately ordered explosives to be planted.
Even now, just thinking about it made her sick.
So using her Devil's physique, Seitenshi quietly made her way to the supply distribution site.
She perked up her ears and listened closely.
"So, we're doing it the same way as last time, right?"
"Of course."
"Those damn Cursed Children, do they really deserve so many supplies?"
With just a few short sentences, it felt like something had struck Seitenshi deep inside.
"Hah, the higher-ups are already pocketing most of it. There's barely anything left to take."
"Still, rather than letting those monsters use it, I'd rather feed it to my dog!"
"Hahaha! Yeah, feeding it to a dog would be a better use! Actually, just throwing it away would be better than giving it to these monsters!"
Seitenshi stood there in a daze, her pale hands unconsciously tightening into fists.
So that's how it is.
That's the truth.
From top to bottom, not a single one of them was decent!
Her gaze grew cold. Without lingering any further, she turned and swiftly returned to her office.
As she stared out the floor-to-ceiling window at the crowd on the streets, her eyes were filled with uncertainty.
If this continued, she would have no way to convince Lynn to give humanity another chance...
What should she do?
She closed her eyes.
And when she opened them again, they were filled with unwavering determination.
These people were the true enemies of humanity's survival!
It didn't matter if it was Tendo Kikunojo or those low-ranking staff membersThey were all obstacles standing in the way of proving to Lynn that humanity still had goodness in it!
They had to be purged!
As long as these people were eliminated, kindness would once again take control of society!
Tokyo Airport
Tendo Kikunojo had just returned from Osaka.
His expression was dark and foreboding.
He had lost his home.
His entire operation had been ruined.
No one would be in a good mood after suffering such losses.
"Lord Kikunojo."
Satomi Rentaro, who had been waiting for a long time, stepped forward to greet him.
"Ah, Rentaro."
Seeing his foster sonwhom he had high hopes forKikunojo's grim expression finally softened slightly.
The two walked side by side, making casual conversation.
"Did you get any news on who was responsible for the attack on our family?"
Satomi Rentaro responded seriously, "I've found some leads."
"Tokyo's last major explosive transaction happened just a few days ago."
"It was carried out by a high-ranking official with the surname Morimura. I find him suspicious."
"Morimura?"
Kikunojo's steps faltered slightly. Though his face remained expressionless, his mind was in turmoil.
Wait wasn't Morimura the one I ordered to plant the explosives at the shelter?
Why the hell did he plant them at my house instead?!
Tendo Civil Security Corporation
With Satomi Rentaro's intel, Tendo Kisara was the first to learn about the origin of the explosives.
"So, it really was that day!"
Her breathing quickened slightly, with excitement flashing in her eyes.
"So it really was that day!"
She couldn't help but recall how calm Lynn had been when he first heard about the explosives.
"Was it him?"
"No, it had to be him!"
She never expected him to pull off something this incredible!
Kisara was really impressed!
After all, Tendo Kikunojo and the entire Tendo family were giants in Tokyo's political and economic sphere.
Yet Lynn had the power to bring them down in one swift move!
Kisara's eyes narrowed slightly, her thoughts stirring. "Seitenshi must have figured it out too"
The explosives at the shelter That was something Seitenshi had asked her to warn Lynn about.
This was a huge incident, yet Seitenshi's only response had been a simple message of comforting and an investigation order?
That doesn't make sense.
Sitting at her desk for a while, she took a deep breath, then grabbed her sword and left the Tendo Civil Security Corporation.
Tendo Kisara was about to confirm her suspicions.
Outer Area The Shelter
The Cursed Children who had already been taken in were now fully mobilized.
After undergoing the Reincarnation Ceremony, all of them had gained the power of low-ranked Devils.
At least now, their safety wasn't a major concern.
Of course, due to the Gastrea's regeneration ability, even as low-ranked Devils, they couldn't deal any real damage.
But at the very least, they could escape when needed.
So, Lynn didn't assign them combat duties.
Instead, he had them conduct a population survey, tracking the number of Cursed Children and their hiding spots.
Just yesterday, there were only 113 confirmed Cursed ChildrenTwo trucks were enough to transport them all.
But now, after their mobilization, it was clear that two trucks wouldn't even come close to handling the sheer number of them.
Not to mention, encountering Gastrea along the way was always an unpredictable risk.
Lynn planned to have them record the information first, then Kasumigaoka Utaha would use her Devil's Grimoire to set up teleportation magic.
This way, he and Utaha could use magic to transfer them in batches, making the process much faster and safer.
The only issue wasIt would put a heavier burden on Utaha.
After discussing it in the group chat, Utaha responded immediately:
[Kasumi Utako: "No problem! Leave it to me!"]
[Kasumi Utako: "But"]
[Kasumi Utako: "Master~ Just make sure to 'recharge' me properly later, okay? "]
Seeing her message, Lynn chuckled and set his phone down, falling into deep thought.
"The Gastrea's regeneration is definitely a problem."
For someone like Saeko, dealing with low-stage Gastrea wasn't an issue.
She could find their core and destroy it before they had the chance to regenerate.
But the low-ranked Devils didn't have that kind of precision or power.
"We need to speed up the development of specialized anti-Gastrea weapons."
Lynn's eyes narrowed.
In the Black Bullet world, the Cursed Children weren't the only important asset.
Gastrea themselves were valuable monster resources.
And conveniently, they were even divided into five distinct stages, making it perfect for power-leveling Saeko and the others.
If he wanted them to reach Ultimate-Class Devil levelor even Satan-Class
Then he needed to equip them with weapons specifically designed to counter Gastrea, making it easier for them to gain EXP.
Without Varanium Weapons, their grind efficiency would take a serious hit.
"That useless Seitenshi is completely unreliable"
Just as he was contemplating where to 'borrow' these resources from, Kanoe Yuuko suddenly floated over and draped herself across his lap, taking a deep breath as she inhaled his scent.
"Master~ A beautiful, long-haired JK just arrived at the door~"
.
.
.
Tendo Kisara stood in the completely transformed shelter, momentarily dazed.
Hadn't she just been here a few days ago?
Why does it feel completely different?
Her violet eyes flickered as she glanced around, watching the little girls moving around looking happy.
"Are all of these Cursed Children?"
Busujima Saeko nodded calmly. "Yes."
Kisara was stunned.
The place was clean, tidy, and the children even had smiles on their faces!
Are these really Cursed Children?!
The Cursed Children she knew wereFilthy. Lifeless eyes. Emotionally numb. Timid.
That was what she had always seen in them.
Even in other shelters, the Cursed Children remained the same.
She didn't know the reason was simple, these shelters were built by humans.
And humans hated, feared, and discriminated against them.
They suffered from abuse, oppression, insults, violenceAnd evenHuman experimentation.
In the end, the shelters weren't much better than the streets.
Sometimes, they were even worse.
To some, shelters were nothing more than a tool to exploit government welfare policies set by Seitenshi.
Kisara still knew how these shelters worked, which is why, even when Seitenshi asked her to visit Lynn's shelter, she didn't take it seriously
She had even scoffed at it.
Just another guy trying to profit off the Cursed Children.
But after the explosion incident, her perception of Lynn began to change.
After all, he was the man who blew the Tendo family.
And now, seeing the shelter againShe realized she had still misjudged him.
"The Cursed Children here"
Kisara's eyes wandered.
They were completely different from the ones she had seen before!
Their eyes had light in them!
They had hope!
They had dreams for the future!
What exactly happened to them?
What did Lynn do?
Kisara was at a complete loss.
Lost in thought, she was soon led to where Lynn was waiting.
Lynn's Office
"We meet again, Miss Kisara."
Snapping out of her thoughts, Kisara looked at Lynn with a complicated expression.
"Just call me Kisara."
The last time they met, she hadn't paid much attention to him.
It was just a mission request, and she had no intention of forming any deeper connection.
But after what happened to the Tendo family, she couldn't help but grow curious about him.
And now, after seeing the state of the shelterHer curiosity only deepened.
She took a moment to really look at him.
Huh?
There was something about him that didn't seem of this world.
Not only that, but he also carried an undeniable air of nobility.
Even more so than her, a legitimate noble lady from an elite school!
"So then, Kisara, what brings you here this time?"
Lynn leaned back, slightly surprised that she had sought him out.
After all, aside from Seitenshi's request last time, the two had no real connection.
"Did Seitenshi send you again?"
Kisara shook her head. "No, this time it's purely personal."
She hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing her words.
Then, her gaze shifted to Saeko, who was standing in the room.
She looked like she wanted to say something but was holding back.
"Don't worry," Lynn said casually. "Saeko is my person. You can speak freely."
"Alright."
Kisara shrugged before looking directly at him.
She took a deep breath and then, with absolute certainty, asked "The destruction of the Tendo family That was your doing, wasn't it?"
As she asked, her violet eyes gleamed with certainty.
Lynn didn't hesitate. "Technically, I had someone else do it."
Kisara was momentarily stunned. "You're just going to admit it that easily?"
"I'm a Tendo, you know. Aren't you afraid I'll expose you?"
She couldn't understand it.
He was speaking so casually Did he not fear Tendo Kikunojo's revenge?
Lynn simply tilted his head and asked, "Are you actually going to report me?"
"Absolutely not!"
Kisara crossed her arms in front of her chest in an X, her voice firm.
Lynn just shrugged, as if saying, 'See?'
Kisara: ""
She muttered under her breath, "Why does it feel like you know me way too well?"
Lynn chuckled but kept his thoughts to himself. 'Not like I can just tell you I've seen the anime, right?'
"By the way, what's your relationship with Seitenshi?" Kisara's violet eyes gleamed with curiosity.
Lynn thought for a moment before replying, "Master and servant."
Kisara's eyes widened in shock. "Wait You're Seitenshi's servant?!"
That explains it!
No wonder Lynn was able to smuggle so much explosive material into the Tendo estate without anyone noticing.
No wonder, after such a massive incident, Seitenshi barely reacted.
If this was all her doing, then everything made perfect sense!
Kisara's excitement grew as her mind connected the dots.
"Could it be that Seitenshi finally realized how filthy Tendo Kikunojo is and decided to get rid of that old bastard?!"
She was practically panting with anticipation, licking her lips as an intense killing intent surged from her eyes.
Lynn gave her a deadpan look.
"First of all, you got something wrong."
"Seitenshi isn't my master. She's my servant."
Kisara frozethen rolled her eyes at him. "Yeah, sure, like I'm gonna believe that."
Still, Lynn's interruption helped her calm down a little.
"Anyway" Kisara suddenly raised a thumbs-up. "Well done!
"Anyone who goes against the Tendo family is my friend!"
Kisara folded her arms confidently. "If you need my help, just say the word!"
After allShe figured he was bound to face retaliation from Tendo Kikunojo.
Since he had helped her take revenge, it was only fair to return the favor.
Lynn stroked his chin. "How about supplying me with some high-quality Varanium weapons?"
Kisara's body suddenly stiffened.
Her arms dropped to her sides, and she let out a nervous chuckle.
"Uh, you do realize these weapons are super expensive, right?"
She coughed awkwardly before quickly adding, "How about thisanything except money, just ask!"
Lynn's lips curled into a smirk.
"Alright, thenwant to join my Familia?"
"Familia?"
Kisara blinked, confused.
Before she could react, a playful voice chimed in
"Oh wow! Master just sent out a harem invitation!"
A spectral figure suddenly appeared from the shadowsKanoe Yuuko.
Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she dramatically gasped.
"H-H-Harem?!"
Kisara's face turned beet red in an instant.
W-Was Lynn after her body?!
A ridiculous thought popped into her head.
But before she could process itShe suddenly noticed something strange.
Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at Yuuko.
"Wait a second. Are you flying?!"
.
.
.
After some time
"Wait You're saying you're all Devils?!" Tendo Kisara looked completely stunned.
After listening to Lynn's detailed explanation, she felt even more confused.
This had to be a joke, right?
"Yuuko."
The moment Lynn spoke, Kanoe Yuuko obediently revealed her wings.
Kisara's eyes widened in shock. "W-Wings?!
She stammered, taking a step back.
Was this real?!
Maybe she was just a Cursed Child?
No, that didn't make sense.
Yuuko was clearly older than fifteen, and besidesShe didn't have red eyes.
Kisara took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down.
"Alright, let's just assume you really are Devils."
She narrowed her eyes at Lynn. "Then what's your goal?"
She felt that these Devils had some kind of ulterior motive.
After all, Devils weren't exactly known for being good-hearted beings.
She stared at Lynn with a serious expression.
"Hmm" Lynn paused for a moment before answering, "Saving the Cursed Children."
"Saving the Cursed Children?"
Kisara blinked in confusion. That doesn't sound like something a Devil would do.
But before she could process it
"And wiping out humanity along the way."
"??????!"
Kisara's entire body tensed, her pupils shrinking.
I knew it! He really is a Devil!
His goal was to destroy humanity!
Wait.
Suddenly, Kisara's expression changed as she realized something.
She urgently asked, "If you're destroying humanity then that includes Tendo Kikunojo, right?"
Lynn gave her a blank stare. "Isn't that obvious?"
Why would he destroy humanity and leave Kikunojo of all people alive?
But the fact that this was her first concern after hearing 'destroy humanity' was interesting.
Kisara's face lit up with excitement. "Then I'm in!"
Destroying humanity? That's exactly what a Devil should be doing!
After all, they are called devils for a reason.
Of course, the important thing for Kisara was that the Tendo family was included in that destruction.
If she could get her revenge, then who cared if humanity was wiped out?
What did the lives of humans have to do with her?
Besides, according to Lynn, once she joined his FamiliaShe'd be a Devil too.
That meant she wouldn't even be human anymore.
And honestlyHumanity deserved to be destroyed.
A twisted smile stretched across Kisara's face as she grabbed Lynn's hands tightly.
"Come on! Turn me into a Devil already!"
"Devils are the best!!"
Yuuko quietly floated backward at the sight of Kisara's dark transformation.
She muttered under her breath, "Saeko, I think we found someone just like you."
Busujima Saeko: "???"
She tilted her head. "Huh? But I'm pretty gentle, aren't I?"
Yuuko: ""
---
Lynn glanced at Kisara, who was fully consumed by her obsession with revenge.
She was willing to become a Devil if it meant taking down her enemies.
A woman willing to do anything, no matter how ruthless.
He liked that.
"Alright, then. Take off your clothes."
Kisara's twisted expression froze.
The single sentence snapped her out of her dark thoughts instantly.
She stared at him suspiciously. "Are you really a reasonable Devil?"
What does stripping have to do with joining a Familia?!
Lynn casually explained the Reincarnation Ritual and the Blessing System.
Kisara hesitated, then mumbled under her breath, "If you're messing with me, you're dead meat."
Despite everything, a part of her still doubted whether Lynn was truly a Devil.
But her thirst for revenge had clouded her judgment.
As long as there was even the slightest chance she had to take it.
Pain, destruction, even the end of humanity itself None of it mattered.
As long as she could get her revenge, she was willing to give everything to a Devil.
With her mind made up, Kisara took a deep breath.
She slowly removed her Miwa Girls' Academy uniform.
Even though she was mentally prepared, when she stood exposed in front of Lynn, her face flushed red.
Out of instinct, she tightly covered her chest.
"Turn around."
Taking a deep breath, Kisara turned her back to Lynn, revealing her smooth, bare skin.
A moment laterShe felt something press against her spine.
It was the Devil's Piece.
Her body trembled slightly as she braced herself.
Suddenly, a surge of heat flooded her body.
The energy flowed through her veins, rapidly reshaping her from the inside out.
At that moment, she understood.
So Devils really did exist.
And this powerIt was real.
Kisara couldn't suppress the moan that escaped her lips.
Her body suddenly felt light.
The years of pain and illness she had enduredVanished in an instant.
Whoosh
Wings and a tail sprouted from her back, the undeniable proof of her transformation.
At that moment, Kisara felt better than she ever had in her life.
The Birth of a Special Devil
With this power getting revenge would be easy!
[Ding! You have obtained the Familia member: Tendo Kisara.]
[Ding! Your Familia member, Tendo Kisara, has reincarnated as a Special Devil!]
[Ding! You have obtained a new skill]
A glowing status screen appeared on Kisara's back.
Lynn shifted his gaze to examine it.
---
[Tendo Kisara]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Tendo Sword Style], [Asura state] & [Vengeful Devil]
[Tendo Sword Style]
Tendo Sword Drawing Style
Enhanced Strength Growth
Enhanced Agility Growth
[Asura state]
Activating this grants the "Asura" state, enhancing all attributes.
[Vengeful Devil]
Vengeance Mark (Marks a target as an enemy, placing them in the "Hatred" faction.)
Queen of Vengeance (Deals extra damage to marked enemiesdamage increases the higher the hatred value.)
Devilization (Final Form: Sinful Rebirth)
---
---
Lynn was surprised.
This was the longest status log he had ever seen from a reincarnated Familia member.
"Straight to Mid-Class Devil? Kisara, you've got serious potential."
Kisara's eyes lit up."Oh? Are you saying I'm strong?"
"Very strong." Lynn nodded without hesitation.
Just looking at her skill list, it was clear how powerful she was.
Among his current Familia, even the most talented member, Saeko, had started as a Low-Class Devil.
But Kisara? She had skipped straight to Mid-Class.
That alone proved how terrifyingly capable she was.
Lynn copied down her status information for record-keeping.
Meanwhile, Kisara finished dressing and took a look at her new stats.
Seeing her own Blessing log, she gave a satisfied nod.
But when her eyes landed on [Vengeful Devil], they practically sparkled like lightbulbs.
"This skill this is literally made for me!"
She lived for revenge!
A skill that enhanced her power against her enemies?
Absolutely perfect.
A dark gleam flashed in her eyes.
Her fingers gripped Lynn's shoulders firmlyalmost a little too hard.
"Lynn-sama, when are we starting the destruction of humanity plan?"
She was itching to cut Tendo Kikunojo and the rest of this rotten family into pieces.
.
.
.
"No rush."
"The Familia's top priority is saving the Cursed Children."
"Destroying humanity is just a side bonus."
Lynn patted Tendo Kisara's head, bringing her back to her senses from her darkened state.
"She should be like this because of her Asura state!"
Lynn glanced at his skill panel and noticed a few new additions.
"Hmm"
"Maybe I should test them out sometime?"
[Vengeance Mark] and [Queen of Vengeance]Were pretty interesting.
"Tsk! This damn system didn't change it to 'King of Vengeance' for me."
"Hmm...whatever, no one can see the system panel anyway."
Kisara, feeling the warmth of his hand on her head, gradually regained her composure.
No rush?
WellIf Lynn said no rush, then there was no rush.
She understood her place very well.
That 'Master' title in the Familia wasn't just for show.
Besideswith the power Lynn had granted her it was more than enough for her revenge.
She just needed to endure for a while longer.
Tendo Kisara took a deep breath.
"Ha? Was it because I had become a Devil? ...It actually feels pretty nice."
That insane rage she used to struggle withIt felt like she could control it now.
The constant, maddening whispers in her head had faded away.
It was peaceful.
She turned to look at Lynn, a strange emotion flashing through her eyes.
Was it because she had become his Familia member?
Was that why it suddenly felt so easy?
I need to repay him!
Tendo Kisara's attitude became firm, her expression one of complete determination.
She was ready to bleed and sweat for the Familia!
"Lynn, is there anything I can do?"
Her current state was unbelievably good!
No more mental suffering. Even her revenge target was now within reach.
This wasThe most relaxed she had ever felt!
All because she had become part of Lynn's Familia.
But
She couldn't just accept that without doing anything in return!
"Please, give me orders!"
Lynn wasn't the type to hold back when it came to his Familia.
If she was part of his team, she would be put to use.
And luckily
Tendo Kisara's status as the President of Tendo Civil Corporation was extremely useful.
He already had a plan in mind.
The Cursed Children in the Outer AreaIt was only a matter of time before they were all taken in.
Now, it was time to focus on the ones inside the other areas.
Lynn turned to Kisara. "First, have Saeko and the others register as civil officers through your company."
Moving around would be much easier with official police IDs.
Who knows? They might even be able to snatch a few Cursed Children being trained by the government or IISO.
As for going through Seitenshi?
Lynn's eyelid twitched.
When he watched the anime, he didn't think much of itAt least on the surface, she had some presence.
But in realityShe was a useless ruler.
The only real contribution she could make to Lynn was giving him this shelter.
And that was probably the best she could do.
After giving Kisara a rundown of his Familia members and their current mission
"Saeko, bring me a phone."
Lynn handed Kisara a special phone that could connect to the Main World's network.
And just like thatShe was added to the group chat.
[Ding! 'The Crazy Tendo' has joined the chat!]
Tendo Kisara stared at the group name, her face heating up slightly But she pretended not to notice and quickly scanned the member list instead.
ThenShe saw the name 'Seitenshi'.
Her eyes went blank for a second.
Then she turned to look at Lynn, completely dumbfounded.
"Seitenshi-sama is really your servant!?"
Lynn shrugged. "Told you. You just didn't believe me."
Tendo Kisara opened her mouthbut for once, she had no idea what to say.
Tokyo's highest rulerWas actually someone else's servant.
Who the hell would believe something like that!?
"Seitenshi-sama has betrayed humanity before me?!!"
Tendo Kisara's brain exploded with pure disbelief.
This was even more shocking for her than meeting a Devil!
"By the way," Lynn added casually, "she's the first person from your world that I reincarnated as a Devil."
"Oh and she was the one who summoned me here in the first place."
Tendo Kisara: "W-What?"
[Lynn's Familia Group Chat]
[The Crazy Tendo: "@Seitenshi, so it was YOU who brought a Devil into this world?"]
[Seitenshi: "???"]
A Few Days Later
[Lynn's Familia Group Chat]
[Kasumigaoka Utaha: "@Sigma Man, Yukinoshita Yukino's big sister is looking for you."]
[The Girl who sees: "Ha? Names can be changed?"]
[Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Yep!"]
Main WorldShuchiin Academy, Supernatural Research Club
Kasumigaoka Utaha narrowed her eyes slightly as she studied the mature woman in front of her.
This womanShe was definitely here because of Yukinoshita Yukino.
"So? What did your club president say?"
Yukinoshita Haruno smiled politely.
She had rushed over the moment she found some free timeOnly to discover that the club president wasn't even here.
Was he out dealing with a supernatural case?
Her curiosity was piqued.
[Ding!]
[Sigma Man: "Busy."]
Utaha put her phone away and smiled.
"Sorry, our club president is currently busy saving lolis."
Haruno's expression twitched.
Saving lolis?
Did some kid get caught up in a supernatural incident?
Ever since she learned about the supernatural, she couldn't help but connect everything to it.
Taking a deep breath, she smiled again.
"Maybe I can help? Would you like to talk over coffee?"
Utaha's smile remained unchanged.
"What a coincidence. I also have to go save lolis."
Haruno's smile froze.
Again with the lolis!?
Was she just making up excuses to get rid of her?
Before she could say anything, Utaha ignored her completely and pushed open the door to the Club.
Her Devil's Grimoire was going to be useful soonshe couldn't afford to waste time on small talk and delay her Master's plans.
Black Bullet World
Lynn put down his phone.
Yukino? Haruno? whatever.
He didn't have time to deal with them right now.
It was nothing urgent anyway.
Over the past few days, his newly reincarnated Devil Cursed Children had been gathering intel.
And the results were astonishing.
"4,365 Cursed Children in Just One District!?"
And there were dozens of these districts in just the Tokyo Area.
If this pattern heldThat meant there were roughly 200,000 Cursed Children in Tokyo alone.
Beyond Tokyo?
There were still four other major regions in Japan: Sapporo, Sendai, Osaka, and Hakata.
Roughly estimatingThat meant Japan had over a million lolis.
Worldwide?
Lynn shook his head.
No point thinking that far ahead yet.
For nowHe needed to gather all the Cursed Children in Tokyo first.
With 200,000 of them, he should be able to power up significantly.
Once his strength increased, expanding to other areas would be much easier.
Inside the Shelter
A flash of brilliant white light illuminated the area.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stepped through the Dimensional Gate.
Her eyes flickered as she stared at Lynn's lips.
Almost instinctively, she licked her own lips.
Thenher face flushed slightly.
"Master I'm ready."
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Advanced chapters available at: patreon.com/_Coreal
Using the Devil's Grimoire, they had just teleported another batch of Cursed Children.
Utaha let out a small breath, slightly panting.
She gazed at Lynn with sultry eyes.
"Master"
"Magic replenishment"
Lynn didn't hesitate to reward her.
Honestly, he could have handled the teleportation of all four thousand Cursed Children by himself. However, given how scattered they were, it would have taken considerably more time.
By splitting up, he and Utaha improved efficiency.
Whenever Utaha was almost drained, she would take a break at the shelter and wait for Lynn to replenish her magic.
After repeating the process multiple times, Utaha was starting to feel the pressure.
Not physically.
Not even in terms of magic.
But mentally.
She was exhausted.
Lynn noticed this, of course.
After restoring her magic, he spoke up, "Alright, Utaha. Leave the rest to me."
It would take a bit longer, but that wasn't a big deal.
"No!"
Utaha shook her head firmly. "I can still keep going!"
Lynn frowned slightly. "I don't need you to push yourself."
He never wanted his Familia to suffer.
Even so, Utaha shook her head again. "I really can"
"It's just"
She hesitated, pressing her lips together as if struggling with something.
Lynn frowned, unsure of what she was trying to say.
Finally, Utaha bit her lower lip, leaned into his chest, and tilted her chin up.
A soft, misty breath escaped her lips.
"Master"
"Can you increase the dosage?"
"Increase the dosage?"
Lynn narrowed his eyes at her.
That's when he noticedher normally pale, elegant neck was flushed red.
"Phew"
Utaha pulled away slightly, her crimson eyes shimmering with a delicate mist.
With a fresh injection of energy, her spirit was completely revitalized!
Lynn watched her with uncertainty. "It shouldn't have any effect on restoring mental fatigue?"
ButLynn glanced at Utaha's energized state and sighed, shaking his head.
Fine. If it works, it works.
Besides, there were plenty of bodily fluids with a more potent effect than his saliva.
If it came down to it, he could just give her a stronger dose.
He can even use [The Milk Mode] for her.
She'd probably be thrilled.
They worked late into the night.
At long last, the teleportation of all four thousand Cursed Children was complete.
Utaha wiped the sweat from her forehead, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
Then, pressing her fingers against her temple, she winced.
Her headache was splitting
As expected, she had pushed herself too hard.
Still, when she saw Lynn's satisfied smile, she couldn't help but smile back.
It was all worth it.
Lynn praised her, "Thanks to you, Utaha. Otherwise, I might've been at this until sunrise."
Utaha shook her head, forcing a weak smile.
"Yeah. She had definitely overdone it. She needs a high-quality energy injection." Seeing her condition, Lynn thought for a moment before speaking.
"I'll give you a reward tonight."
"A reward?"
Utaha's eyes lit up instantly.
Her headache? Gone.
Her exhaustion? Nonexistent.
Her eyes practically sparkled like stars as she eagerly asked, "Any reward I want?"
Lynn gave her a strange look.
Why did it feel like she just got a full recovery with a single sentence?
He nodded, curious about what she had in mind.
Of course, he'd be giving her an energy injection either way, but if she wanted something specific, he wasn't going to be stingy.
Hearing his response, Utaha's face instantly turned a shade of deep red.
She hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath.
"Master Tonight, can you rest at our home?"
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she avoided his gaze.
"Our home?"
Lynn paused, thinking for a moment.
He had quite a few homes which one was she referring to?
"T-That one"
Utaha's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Just the one that belongs to only the two of us"
Lynn blinked, then looked at her oddly.
Wasn't that his personal home?
The one he had painstakingly built up from scratch?
Sure, it was a little small compared to his other residences, but it held sentimental value.
And yet, with just one sentence, Utaha had somehow claimed half of it for herself.
This sneaky little minx.
Still, Lynn wasn't the type to be oblivious.
He nodded and agreed without hesitation.
Might as well see what kind of scheme, Utaha was plotting this time.
Seeing him agree, Utaha's face lit up with joythen, almost immediately, she started panicking.
"T-Then, I'll head back first!"
She bolted out of the Black Bullet world in a hurry.
That bunny girl outfit she bought the other day It had to be put to good use!
Watching her flustered retreat, Busujima Saeko chuckled softly. "Master has quite a few women now. If we don't fight for opportunities we won't get any."
She absentmindedly touched her lower abdomen.
Perhaps it was time to bear Master's devil child.
Meanwhile, back at the shelter
Over four thousand Cursed Children were packed into the space.
Nervousness was evident on their faces, their eyes filled with uncertainty and fear.
However, with the devil lolis comforting them, they managed to stay calm.
For now, they simply stood quietly, waiting for further arrangements.
"What a sight"
Tendo Kisara, another member of Lynn's Familia, had come to see the situation for herself.
Seeing the sheer number of children, she couldn't help but let out a sigh of awe.
Lynn, on the other hand, felt a headache coming on.
At the time, he had focused solely on saving the Cursed Children, but now that the reality of the situation was setting in
Gathering them was just step one.
The real challenges lay aheadconverting them into Familia members, providing housing, food, clothes, education
And most immediatelywhere the hell was he going to fit all of them?!
The shelter was way too small for this.
"Saeko," Lynn called out.
"Tomorrow, go to the Apocalypse world (HOTD) and see if there's a place big enough to house tens of thousands of people. Then, clear it out."
"Yes, Master," Saeko responded without hesitation.
Lynn went into deep thought.
A space for tens of thousands should be enough for now.
Besides, zombies weren't much of a threat, especially to the lolis who had been reincarnated as devils. Their safety wouldn't be a problem.
For now, though, there was no need to rush things.
They'd start the reincarnation process tomorrow.
After an exhausting day, both physically and mentally, everyone needed rest.
The Cursed Children, in particular, had been through a rollercoaster of emotionsfear, anxiety, uncertainty it had drained them.
Not to mention, it was late.
Most of the kids were already struggling to keep their eyes open.
They could deal with everything else tomorrow.
Main World
Lynn returned home.
Then, without hesitation, he pushed open the door to Utaha's bedroom.
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Lynn: "?"
He silently backed out of the room, double-checked the door sign, and confirmedthis was indeed Utaha's bedroom.
Lynn turned his gaze toward the bed, where a pair of silky black-stockinged legs stretched out before him.
His eyes traveled upward. Utaha's hips were slightly raised, and at the back, a small, fluffy, white tail twitched slightlylike a bunny's.
Utaha had unleashed her nasty devil tail and combined it with the bunny custom to make the amazing new bunny tail.
Lynn's expression turned a little complicated.
As if sensing his stare, Utaha's perky backside gave a tiny, involuntary shudder.
"Phew"
Lynn let out a breath and, without hesitation, snapped the door shut behind him.
If she was being this considerate there was no reason to refuse.
Smack!
He couldn't help himselfhis hand came down hard.
A sharp, crisp sound echoed through the room.
Utaha buried her face into the pillow, muffling a low whimper.
Her face was burning hot.
Lynn smirked. "Utaha, are you ready for your reward?"
Utaha lifted her head slightly, breathing shakily.
Her dazed eyes shimmered as she murmured, "Master I'm yours today"
Lynn paused for a second, then chuckled.
"Utaha, prepare for your glorious evolution!"
Lynn Chose to activate his Devil Healing (Milk Mode.)
Energy Injection Activated.
Dosage: Increased.
Finally, after multiple doses, Utaha was exhausted and defeated.
The Next Morning.
Utaha's eyes snapped open, her face flushing red.
"M-Master! My tail!"
Lynn gently pinched the tip of her tail.
A sharp jolt shot through her entire body.
Her legs twitched as if she had been electrocuted.
Lynn leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear.
"Utaha, last night really helped me see a new side of you."
Utaha's gaze darted away.
She had been a little too bold last night.
But the emotions she had been holding back for so longshe just couldn't suppress them anymore.
Smack!
Lynn released her tail, giving it a light tap.
"Utaha, your reward isn't over yet."
"Eh?! W-Wait!!"
Utaha's eyes widened in panic.
"I-I can't take any more!!"
Overflow Detected.
Shuchiin Academy Teacher's Office.
Minamiya Natsuki stamped another leave request without even looking up.
"So it's you delivering his excuse this time?"
Yotsuya Miko stood awkwardly, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
She let out a nervous laugh, her toes subconsciously digging into the floor.
"Uh y-yeah"
Lowering her head, she muttered softly, "It's it's also for second-year student Kasumigaoka Utaha-senpai"
Natsuki's hand froze mid-stamp.
A brief silence.
Then, she scoffed coldly. "Tch. That damn womanizing Devil!"
Black Bullet World Afternoon.
Shiina Mahiru rested her chin on her hand, staring blankly at the Cursed Children playing in the distance.
But her mind was somewhere else entirely.
She mumbled softly, "Lynn still hasn't come back yet"
Hovering in midair, a certain ghost girl squirmed restlessly, her cheeks flushed a suspicious shade of pink.
"So lucky I want a reward too," muttered Kanoe Yuuko, her ghostly form twisting in anticipation.
Hearing that, Mahiru glanced up at her.
This ghost was also a serious competitor.
She had zero sense of personal space and was constantly throwing herself at Lynn.
A woman who truly embodied the first rule of Familiacomplete devotion to their master.
Finally, an hour later.
Lynn and Utaha stepped through the portal.
Utaha clung tightly to Lynn's arm, her chin slightly raised, eyes darting sidewaysas if she just so happened to glance at Mahiru and the others.
The moment Lynn appeared, Yuuko clung to him without hesitation.
Utaha narrowed her eyes at Yuuko's behavior, but her imposing aura instantly vanished.
She reached out, ready to pry the clingy ghost off.
"You desperate old virgin! Don't distract Master from important business!"
"Important business?"
Shiina Mahiru glanced at the time and twitched slightly.
5 PM.
And you're talking about not wasting time?
From last night until nowthat was nearly an entire day!
She couldn't help but let her thoughts wander.
Just what exactly had Utaha been doing all this time?
Yotsuya Miko curled up in a corner.
I'm not here. You can't see me. I don't exist.
"Hey, hey! Miko! Come grind levels with me!"
Miko froze, wanting to cry but having no tears left.
Hana! Could you at least acknowledge the mood in the room?!
While the Familia members argued, Lynn finally began the reincarnation ceremony for the Cursed Children.
Meanwhile Outer Area
A large truck drove into the outskirts of the city. Its bright IISO logo stood out clearly.
The truck rumbled to a stop near a sewer entrance.
Several workers in uniforms climbed out, their faces twisted with disgust.
Behind them, a muscular man stepped down, dragging along a blank-faced young girl.
The man barked, "Hurry up and grab a few of them so we can report back."
Clang!
One of the workers roughly pried open the sewer grate, then shouted down into the darkness.
"Hey, you little brats! Get your asses up here! We're taking you to enjoy life!"
"Hahaha!"
The others laughed coldly.
Enjoy life?
In reality, it meant cruel training, forcing them to become toolsto die protecting those who paid for their lives.
But really, what greater honor could those freaks ask for?
Their sneers deepened.
This was the only fate that monsters like them deserved.
Even the burly man holding the girl looked at her with undisguised contempt.
The little girl bit her lip, her heart filled with silent despair.
ButAs time passed, no one emerged from the sewer.
The workers frowned.
"The hell?! You expect me to go down there myself?!"
One of them peered into the filthy tunnel, his face twisted with disgust.
"Tch! Those brats are really pushing their luck!"
Grumbling, one of the men climbed down.
A few seconds later
Silence.
Then he scrambled back up, his face pale.
"T-They're gone!"
The group exchanged confused glances.
"Did they move locations?"
One of them muttered, brows furrowed.
The IISO, the international organization in charge of managing the Cursed Children, knew the exact locations of all hideouts in the outer district.
Whenever they needed more "tools", they would just round them up like cattle.
But todaytheir usual prey had vanished.
"Damn it! Just our luck!"
"Move to the next location!"
Hours Later Midnight.
The entire outer Area had been thoroughly searched.
Yet, aside from Gastrea monsters, there wasn't a single Cursed Child in sight.
Even after checking every known hideout, they found nothing.
The IISO workers stood in the empty ruins, staring at the deserted streets in disbelief.
"Where the hell did all the Cursed Children go?"
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By the time the night deepened, Lynn had finally completed the reincarnation of over four thousand Cursed Children into his Familia.
Even for him, it was a relief to be done with the process.
Among them, the last girl to be reincarnated seemed a little familiar.
"Hmm"
"A character from the original story?"
He placed his hand on her head.
Senju Kayo looked up, her face emotionless.
"Thank you, Lord Lynn, for granting me a new life."
Though her words were filled with gratitude, her tone was empty.
No joy, no sadnessjust pure indifference.
Lynn lowered his gaze, locking eyes with Kayo's lifeless stare.
Even though she had become a Devil, and even though the Gastrea Virus inside her had been erased, there was still no emotion on her face.
She should be happy, right?
His gaze shifted down, scanning her status.
[Senju Kayo]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Gastrea Factor: Dolphin]
---
She hadn't been reincarnated as a special Devil.
Which made sense.
Even though Kayo had a brief appearance in the original story, she wasn't particularly exceptional.
The Dolphin-type Gastrea Virus was far from being a notable strain among the many variations.
Unlike Midori, who had an instinct for divination and could "smell" fate, Kayo possessed no such talent.
A normal Devilthat was only natural.
Kayo continued to stare silently at Lynn, as if she was trying to memorize his face forever.
Then, placing both hands over her stomach, she spoke calmly.
"I'm hungry."
Lynn: "..."
Why does this feel like I just adopted a stray cat?
Shaking his head, he ordered someone to prepare food.
He glanced at the crowded shelter, filled with loli Devil heads everywhere.
His eye twitched.
Can Mahiru even handle this?
Even as Devils, feeding over four thousand hungry little girls was no simple task.
Some Time Later
Shiina Mahiru collapsed onto the table, exhausted.
Her hands were shaking.
Even the spatula she was holding was smoking from overuse.
Utaha couldn't help but sigh. "Master, we can't keep this up forever."
Mahiru was completely overwhelmed.
The rest of the Familia had helped out, and they had barely managed to provide enough food.
If this continued
"Haaah"
Lynn fell into deep thought.
He needed a better logistics system.
Though, honestlyThe solution was simple.
Train the lolis.
Instead of doing everything for them, it was better to teach them how to handle logistics themselves.
After all, they were already Devils.
They had survived hardship, so they wouldn't complain about some extra work.
For now, they could set up their own supply chain.
But more importantlyThey needed a bigger place.
Just as Lynn was thinking about thisA message popped up in the Familia chat.
[Busujima Saeko: "Master, I found a military base. From the looks of it, it should be large enough to serve as a temporary shelter."]
[Busujima Saeko: "There are plenty of supplies here, too. Even without scavenging, we should be able to sustain ourselves for a while."]
[Busujima Saeko: "Also while searching for the base, I encountered some survivors."]
[Busujima Saeko: (Attached Image).jpg]
Lynn glanced at the message Saeko had sent before finally opening the attached image.
What he saw wasA group of high school girls with brightly colored hair.
And standing behind themA tall, dark-skinned woman carrying a sniper rifle.
Oh, and alsoA pink-haired girl.
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
Minami Rika?
As for the high school girls, he wasn't too familiar with them.
"Huh!?"
Marikawa Shizuka suddenly let out a surprised gasp.
"That's Rika!"
Hearing that name, Shiina Mahiru, Kasumigaoka Utaha, and the others exchanged looks.
It wasn't unfamiliar to them.
After all, Lynn's Familia had taken over her house in the Apocalypse World.
After thinking for a moment, Lynn sent a message.
[Sigma Man: "That dark-skinned woman is Minami Rika. Bring all of them to the military base."]
Since they were already occupying her home, it was only fair to help her out now that they had met.
As for the four other girls and the pink-haired oneIt didn't really make a difference.
One more, one lessit wasn't a big deal.
BesidesThey were all girls.
At the very least, they could help take care of the loli Devils he had just reincarnated.
After receiving Lynn's reply, Busujima Saeko turned to Minami Rika and her group.
"Looks like my Master has agreed to take you in. Let's goI'll take you to the base."
"Oh? 'Master,' huh?"
Minami Rika adjusted the sniper rifle on her shoulder, giving Saeko a meaningful smirk.
Though beneath that smile was a hint of deep wariness.
Minami Rika knew all too wellBusujima Saeko was terrifying.
She had personally watched Saeko unleash a single flying slash, not only wiping out every zombie on the streetBut even slicing an entire building in half.
Was that something a human could even do?
And yet, she had seen it with her own eyes.
No matter how unbelievable it was, no matter how shocked she feltThe reality was right in front of her.
She exhaled deeply.
Was following this woman really the right decision?
And what kind of person could possibly be her Master?
The girls beside her didn't seem to overthink it as much as she did.
"Yay! We can all live together!"
A purple twin-tailed girl bounced around excitedly.
The brown-haired girl beside her immediately grabbed her arm.
"Keep your voice down! You'll attract the zombies!"
"Huh? But didn't Saeko already take care of all the zombies?"
"Stop calling her by name so casually! Kurumi, You sure warm up to people fast"
As the girls playfully bickered, none of them noticed the trace of concern in the pink-haired girl's eyes.
Military Base
Under Saeko's guidance, the group arrived at the base.
"Wow it's huge!"
The high school girls all gasped in amazement.
"Looks like we can live here for a long time."
"But"
"We should probably clear it out first."
Saeko drew her sword.
With a controlled slash, she sent a flying blade of energy through the air.
Despite its terrifying power, she made sure not to damage the base's infrastructure.
"No matter how many times I see it it's still unbelievable."
"Saeko, you're definitely not human!"
Minami Rika clicked her tongue, then raised her sniper rifle.
"Alright, I'll pitch in too."
A Short While Later
The military base was completely cleared of zombies.
Saeko didn't leave a single corner unchecked.
ThenShe pulled out a pre-prepared coordinate device from Lynn and activated it.
Within momentsA brilliant light flickered across the base.
Lynn and Marikawa Shizuka appeared out of thin air.
"W-WHAAAT!?"
Kurumi let out a startled scream.
"It's it's ACTUAL teleportation magic!?"
Minami Rika was just as shocked.
Her voice was laced with disbelief.
"Ever since the zombie apocalypse began, the world just keeps getting harder and harder to understand."
Just as she was processing everything
Her eyes suddenly widened.
From behind Lynn, a massive, blonde-haired man waved enthusiastically.
"Rika~! Long time no see!"
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Apocalypse World - Military Base.
Lynn inspected the facilities and supplies one more time before nodding in satisfaction.
"For now, a single military base like this should be enough to accommodate the Cursed Children from all of Tokyo."
After setting this place as a new shelter, Lynn saw Shizuka catching up with Minami Rika, leaving him with nothing to do for the moment.
So, he took the time to organize the results of his recent reincarnation event, where he brought over four thousand lolis.
He then began checking his progress.
First, in terms of overall strengthhis rank hadn't changed.
He was still an Ultimate-Class Devil.
However, he could feel his overall power increasing. Even though he remained an Ultimate-Class Devil, he was far beyond the level he was when he first reached this rank.
As for new skills, most of them were Gastrea-related abilities, all of which had been integrated into his [Gastrea Factor Codex].
[Gastrea Factor Codex (Factor Genome)](In Development)
Gene Archive (Collected: Mole Factor, Hedgehog Factor,..)
Gene Fusion (Dual-Factor Fusion Available)
Factor Assimilation (Can parasitize other living beings and implant a 'Gastrea Seed,' turning them into puppets under the host's control)
Note: Incomplete Features
---
Lynn narrowed his eyes.
A new ability had been added to the Gastrea Factor Codex.
With a thought, Lynn tried to use the Gastrea Seed, and a dark purple-black organic mass floated before him.
"This seed has the spider factor?"
Lynn was slightly surprised.
It seemed that the Gastrea Seed could now materialize the factors he had collected and grant them to others.
However, anyone who received these factors would fall under his control.
Lynn also felt that he could create Gastrea Seeds that weren't under his control.
So basically...Could he now create new humans that possessed Gastrea abilities but without the virus itself?
Lynn: "..."
"Doesn't seem very useful for the familia."
"Maybe I cam use it for trades in the future?"
"Hmm"
A stable source of income for his Familia, perhaps?
But for now, he had no idea what to trade or who to trade with.
Oh well, better than nothing.
Meanwhile
Shizuka had finished catching up with Rika.
After hearing about Shizuka's experiences during this time, Rika was left speechless.
She couldn't help but marvel at this dumb woman's insane luck.
So, does that mean... silly girls always have good fortune?
Becoming a Devil and gaining supernatural powers...
Rika was momentarily lost in thought.
She now understood the source of Saeko's strength.
"That's amazing!"
Ebisuzawa Kurumi's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Can we become Devils too?"
(A/N: From Gakkou Gurashi ~ School-Live!)
Hearing this, Rika immediately perked up.
Becoming a Devil? She wouldn't mind that at all.
"Wait! Doesn't becoming a Devil mean joining his harem?"
Naoki Miki quickly shut Kurumi up, then stole a glance at Lynn, her face turning slightly red as her mind wandered.
A-a harem? That's just too indecent!
Meanwhile, Rika wasn't the least bit embarrassed.
For an adult, decisions were made based on pros and cons.
And from her perspective, joining Lynn's Familia as his woman or servant was nothing but a win.
Not only would she gain supernatural power, but she could also escape this hellhole of a world and step into a higher realm.
Besides...Lynn was exactly her type.
And in this apocalypse, there probably weren't many men left.
If she didn't follow Lynn, wouldn't she be single for the rest of her life?
Sure, she could meet other men, but she had been picky for nearly thirty years!
Joining Lynn's Familia was a solid deal!
Unlike Miki, Rika had no hesitation.
She turned to Shizuka and asked directly, "Hey Shizuka, can you ask your Master if he's still accepting new people?"
"Eh?"
Shizuka blinked in confusion, then suddenly hugged Rika with a delighted expression, rubbing her face against Rika's chest.
"That's awesome, Rika! We can be together again!"
Miki: "???"
She looked at Rika in disbelief.
Just like that? You're giving yourself away so easily?!
What about a woman's dignity?!
Nearby, Megumi Sakura gently patted Miki's head and smiled. "Miki, sometimes, there's just no other choice."
"Wait, even you, Megu-nee?!"
"Miki."
Megumi's gaze became slightly serious. "This world is already over."
"Don't you want to survive together with everyone?"
"Of course, I do!"
Miki blurted out before falling into silence.
Yeah.
Wasn't this a stroke of luck?
After all, this was the supernatural we were talking about.
And judging by Saeko and Shizuka
This so-called MasterDidn't seem so bad?
"Alright, I get it."
Miki gave up resisting.
"Hehe!"
Ebisuzawa Kurumi hugged her tightly, comforting her. "It's okay, Miki! This way, we can all stay together forever!"
Hearing this, Miki chuckled.
That's right!
At least everyone gets to survive!
And we'll all be together!
"Does No One Care About Our Opinion?"
Takeya Yuki and Wakasa Yuuri voiced their dissatisfaction.
"So, Yuki, Yuuri, do you want to come along?"
Kurumi held out her hand toward them.
"Of course!" 2
Yuuri replied calmly, "Not like we have a choice."
After all, this was an apocalypse.
If given the chance to survive, who wouldn't take it?
Standing nearby, Saeko Busujima smiled. "Looks like Master just added six more beauties to his collection."
A Devil's hearing was excellent.
Lynn and the others had heard their entire conversation loud and clear.
Lynn simply shrugged, unfazed.
More additions? Fine by him. At least they were easy on the eyes.
Plus, he needed more people to take care of the Devil lolis.
And one of them was a teachershe'd surely be good at looking after others, right?
Lynn had gained six new Familia members.
Unfortunately, none of them turned into unique Devils.
Minami Rika gained the skill [Firearm Mastery], allowing her to instinctively use any gun she picked up and even push its capabilities to the limit.
Her strength and endurance had also started improving gradually.
As for the others
Well
Aside from Kurumi, none of them showed any particular talent.
Even Kurumi only awakened a skill called [Combat Stamina].
Oh well.
They'd make great support personnel. And they all seemed to enjoy life.
Perfect for taking care of the Devil lolis.
All six of them stood bare-skinned.
Aside from Rika, the rest were overwhelmingly embarrassed, trying desperately to cover themselves.
Rika, on the other hand, casually flipped her purple hair and leaned in as Lynn walked past.
"Master, are you staying the night?"
There was a certain gleam in her violet eyes, a mysterious allure hidden beneath.
She was all woman.
Turning around, Rika pressed her body against Lynn, her lips near his ear as she whispered, sending a warm breath across his skin.
"Master, I'm clean, you know?"
She understood a man's preferences.
This was her advantage.
Lynn could feel her soft, supple figure pressing against him. He hesitated for a moment.
A tanned, seductive onee-san... A new experience wouldn't be bad?
"Shizuka, want to join in?"
Rika invited Shizuka with a playful smirk.
"Eh?"
Shizuka blinked in confusion.
Why did this feel so familiar?
She glanced between Saeko and Rika.
Hmm
Was she getting invited again?
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.
.
The Next Morning.
As the morning light streamed in, Lynn gently pushed aside two soft bodies and sat up.
In the end, as Rika's best friend, Shizuka Marikawa had agreed to join.
She said it was for guidance. Since Rika lacked experience, she figured she could help guide her.
Rika stirred awake as Lynn moved, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her sharp, cat-like eyes glinted with a teasing hint of amusement.
"Mmm... Master, why not stay in bed a little longer?" she murmured sleepily.
Lynn patted her head.
Rika blinked, then instinctively started getting down as her face was about to reach his private brother
Lynn quickly caught her, sighing.
"Eh?" She looked up at him in confusion. "Master, you don't want to?"
Lynn paused for a moment before loosening his grip slightly. "Let's handle business first."
Rika chuckled softly, then obediently sat up, awaiting his instructions.
As she moved, the blanket slipped off her shoulders, revealing her smooth, graceful figure.
Lynn lifted a finger, and a dark purple-black crystal hovered at his fingertip.
Rika hesitated, eyes narrowing slightly. "This is...?"
"A Gastrea Seed."
Lynn didn't go into the details of Gastrea biology. Instead, he simply explained, "This crystal contains an eagle-type factor. It should suit you well."
He hadn't expected the ability he acquired just last night from the Gastrea Codex to come in handy so soon.
For standard devils, he could now bestow them with a suitable Gastrea Seed.
Of course, he had no intention of controlling themhis peerage were his people.
"An eagle?"
Rika's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Lynn nodded. "This eagle-type factor grants [Eagle's Eye], which should enhance your sniping ability."
He had recorded multiple eagle-based factors, but each factor granted unique abilities.
Eagle's Eye, in particular, was perfect for Rika.
"Master..."
A hazy, sultry look flashed through Rika's sharp eyes. She absentmindedly licked her lips.
For some reason, she suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to... serve her master in every way possible.
Seeing her drifting into a strange state of mind, Lynn pressed the Gastrea Seed into her body without hesitation.
"Ah..."
Rika gasped, her breath quickening as a mysterious power surged through her.
Her violet eyes glowed as if a clear stream washed away the fog clouding her vision.
A few moments later, the sensation faded.
Rika's pupils contracted slightly as she looked out the window, murmuring, "I can see so much farther... and... my ability to track moving targets has improved tremendously."
Now, she could catch even the smallest details in rapid motion.
Satisfied, Lynn turned her body slightly to examine her Blessing Status.
---
[Rika Minami]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I2
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Firearms Mastery] & [Gastrea Factor - Eagle]
[Firearms Mastery]
Expert in handling firearms.
Strength increases gradually over time.
Endurance increases gradually over time.
[Gastrea Factor - Eagle]
Eagle's Eye (Enhanced vision and dynamic motion tracking).
---
As expected, a new skill Gastrea Factor - Eagle had appeared in her status.
Lynn wasn't surprised.
He copied her updated blessing and handed it to her.
Rika took it, her excitement obvious.
She had been slightly disappointed yesterday, thinking her abilities were too ordinary.
But todayMaster had rewarded her.
Feeling grateful, Rika set down the paper and eagerly slipped back under the covers.
Lynn exhaled slightly.
To his right, Shizuka Marikawa was still sleeping soundly.
Two Hours Later.
Naoki Miki and the others stared at Lynn, Rika, and Shizuka with complicated expressions.
T-three people...?!
Their minds struggled to process what had just happened.
Saeko Busujima, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed.
She had already gotten used to it.
Occasionally, she was even one of the leading stars in these situations.
Lynn glanced at the group and casually said, "Take off your clothes."
"EEEEHHHHHH?!?!"
Chaos erupted instantly.
"W-Wait It's our turn now?!"
Even the usually composed Wakasa Yuuri couldn't maintain her cool.
"H-Here?!" Naoki Miki stammered.
Sakura Megumi's body wobbled slightly, her face heating up at an alarming rate. She looked like she was about to pass out.
Lynn: "..."
"I just need to give you all a permanent buff."
Rika had already "helped" him earlier, so Lynn wasn't in urgent need of their "services" right now.
"O-Oh I see"
After his explanation, they all let out sighs of relief.
But for some reason, an odd, indescribable feeling still lingered between them.
They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with unspoken emotions.
...
Once they had removed their clothes, Lynn went around and implanted a Gastrea Seed into each of them.
"Whoa, this is amazing!"
Ebisuzawa Kurumi tested her new ability, her expression one of pure amazement.
She had already awakened a unique skill before, but it was more of a passive buff rather than an active power.
Besides, who would ever complain about getting more skills?
Since Kurumi mainly fought with a shovel, Lynn granted her the "Gastrea Seed Rhino Beetle."
Her ability became:
[Gastrea Factor: Rhino Beetle]
Power Arm (Increases energy transfer efficiency up to 98%)
---
For Takeya Yuki, he gave her the "Gastrea Seed Red Fox."
[Gastrea Factor: Red Fox]
Geomagnetic Perception (Allows her to sense objects within her range using Earth's magnetic field)
---
Wakasa Yuuri received:
[Gastrea Factor: Sloth]
Metabolic Efficiency (Optimizes energy consumption, allowing her to function at peak performance with minimal exhaustion)
---
Megumi Sakura got:
[Gastrea Factor: Mongoose]
Progressive Teaching (Improves adaptability and learning speed over time)
---
And finally, Naoki Miki:
[Gastrea Factor: Tibetan Antelope]
Environmental Adaptation (Enhances survival abilities in various conditions)
---
After updating their blessing, the girls were all excited to test their new abilities.
Seeing this, Lynn didn't bother stopping them.
Instead, he walked toward the center of the military base.
Gathering his magic, he spread it across the entire base
HOOOOOO
In an instant, every last trace of the zombiesrotting bodies, bloodstains, and filthwas completely purged from the area.
The entire base was spotless.
This was one of the most convenient spells in Lynn's arsenal, and he used it quite frequently.
Hmm
Maybe he should look into a magic spell that could automatically cook food?
That way, he could prepare meals for the Devil Lolis without any hassle.
Although, if given the choice, he'd much rather eat food cooked by Shiina Mahiru, his little Fallen Angel chef.
After tidying up the base, Lynn activated a Dimensional Gate.
"Operation: Devil Loli RelocationSTART!"
Megumi Sakura nervously watched the glowing portal.
Lynn had already explained to her what was coming.
The ones arriving would be young girls, around ten years old, who had never received a proper education.
Meaning, their learning and upbringing would be her responsibility.
The pressure was immense.
After confirming with Shiina Mahiru through their group chat, Lynn turned his gaze back to the Gate.
Figures began stepping through one by one.
Leading them was Senju Kayo, the girl with the Dolphin Factor.
"Wow! This really is another world!!"
.
.
.
The Devil Lolis were brimming with curiosity about this new world. Their wide, sparkling eyes darted around, taking in everything.
However, not a single one of them acted out of line.
They all stood quietly in place, waiting for Lynn's instructions.
Seeing this, Megumi Sakurawho had been entrusted with their carefinally let out a sigh of relief and patted her chest.
At first glance, these kids seemed pretty well-behaved.
ButIsn't there a bit too many of them?
A tinge of worry crept onto Sakura's face.
Could she really take care of all these children?
"Don't worry, Megu-nee, we'll help too," Wakasa Yuuri reassured her, giving her a light pat on the shoulder.
"Speaking of which"
Ebisuzawa Kurumi suddenly gave Lynn a strange look and muttered, "Why are they all lolis?"
Then, as if she had just uncovered some shocking truth, her eyes widened.
"Wait don't tell me our Master is actually some kind of Loli God?!"
She gawked at him in disbelief.
The others twitched but had no answer to her question.
After giving the Devil Lolis a basic rundown of the world's current situationespecially regarding the Zombies CrisisLynn left them in Megumi Sakura's care.
Of course, with Senju Kayo around to oversee things, it shouldn't be a problem.
"Kayo."
Hearing her name, Kayo immediately froze before slowly looking up.
"Yes, Lord Lynn? What are your orders?"
Lynn took out a book Rias had gifted him before:
"360 Applications of Magic".
He handed it to Kayo.
Gently patting her head, he said, "Your task is to master everything in this book as quickly as possible, then teach it to all the Devils."
Kayo, as the holder of the Dolphin Factor, had a sharp intellect and an exceptional learning ability.
That's why Lynn entrusted her with this mission.
Since they were Devils now, they needed to learn what it meant to be Devils.
"I'll do my best!" Kayo nodded seriously, then hesitated for a moment before asking: "Will you come back to see us?"
Lynn blinked in surprise before chuckling.
"Of course."
He ruffled her hair and added, "Before long, you'll be able to return to your original world whenever you want."
This time, Kayo's voice was much firmer. "I'll do my best!"
As she left, Lynn watched her back for a moment before turning toward the Dimensional Gate.
"First stepTake control of Tokyo."
Black Bullet World
Lynn had intentionally left behind the first batch of Cursed Children who had reincarnated as Devils.
They had valuable experience when it came to rescuing and protecting other Cursed Children.
There would be many more places where they would be needed in the future.
After returning to the Black Bullet World, Lynn wasted no time issuing his next order.
The Cursed Children within the city had already been handed over to Tendo Kisara for management.
As for the first wave of Devil Lolis
"Start expanding our reach. Bring back as many Cursed Children as possible."
Led by Fuse Midori, the Devil Lolis were thrilled.
No one was more passionate about rescuing Cursed Children than they were.
Meanwhile
Rumors about the mysterious activities in the Outer Area had begun spreading.
Tendo Family Residence
Tendo Kikunojo listened to the reports, his brows furrowing.
"Is there something unusual happening?"
A subordinate quickly replied, "The only notable activity is a newly established Cursed Children Shelter."
He continued, "Based on recent observations, they seem to have taken in a large number of Cursed Children."
"There's a strong possibility that IISO's recent failures are related to them."
Kikunojo's frown deepened.
He hadn't forgotten what had happened last time.
He had set up explosives, hoping to eliminate themYet somehow, they ended up blowing up his own house instead.
That shelter was far too alarming.
A sharp glint flickered in his cloudy old eyes.
Those monstershow could they be worthy of salvation?
"Send people to incite the public. Have them visit that shelter and cause a stir."
"Yes, sir!"
Kikunojo planned to use the same tactics he had always relied on
Manipulating public opinion.
Turning the people against them.
A Few Days Later
The shelter had taken in another large group of Cursed Children.
Lynn completed the final reincarnation process for them.
With each new Devil, his strength surged once more.
He clenched his fists.
BOOM!
The air around him shuddered from the sheer force.
Exhaling in satisfaction, he smiled.
Then suddenly
A commotion broke out in the distance.
"Cursed Children, get the hell out of here!!"
"Why should we take in those monsters?!"
"They're all devils! They should just go back to hell!!"
Lynn frowned as he listened to the offensive shouting outside.
"Mr. Lynn."
Shiina Mahiru approached, her normally gentle eyes now carrying a cold glint.
"A group of civilians has gathered outside the shelter. They're protesting, trying to force us to drive the Cursed Children out."
At those words, the Devil Lolis inside the shelter lowered their heads.
They had just undergone their rebirth as Devils, but they still carried the burden of their past as Cursed Children.
"Oh?"
Lynn smirked.
"So, someone's finally making a move, huh?"
Then, he turned to the Devil Lolis.
His expression softened into a smile.
"Raise your heads."
They hesitated before slowly looking up, uncertainty in their eyes.
"Remember, you are not Cursed Children anymore."
Lynn stood up, spreading his arms wide.
"From now onyou are Devils!"
"D-Devils."
The Devil Lolis trembled slightly.
Lynn's lips curled into a smirk.
"And as Devils... you should act like Devils!"
"Go do what Devils do best."
What... Devils should do? Heh! Wasn't it clear from the start?
"Saeko."
"Yes, Master!"
Busujima Saeko licked her lips in excitement.
"It's been too long since I've cut someone down."
Outside the Shelter
A crowd had gathered, holding up signs that read "Cursed Children, Get Out!"
Their voices were filled with righteous fury.
"Cursed Children don't deserve special treatment!"
"Get those monsters out of here!!"
"Leave! Leave! Leave!!"
Then
Creak.
The shelter's massive doors slowly swung open.
From within, Saeko Busujima stepped outkatana at her hip, eyes filled with killing intent.
But the protestors didn't seem to notice.
Seeing someone emerge from the shelter, they immediately assumed they had won.
They tilted their chins up, looking down at her with condescending arrogance.
"Hey! So you're the ones sheltering those freaks?"
"You're really sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!"
"Those devil children should've all died out there in the Outer District!"
"Bring them out here! NOW!"
"Cursed Children, GET OUT!!"
"GET OUT!!"
The crowd roared, brimming with self-righteousness, acting as if they were carrying out justice for humanity.
Saeko, however, simply sneered.
She reached for the hilt of her sword.
Shing!
The unmistakable sound of a blade being drawn echoed through the air.
"Hah! What, you gonna fight us?"
"You think drawing a sword will scare us?!"
"So, you're really willing to turn your blade against normal peopleall because of those monsters? That proves you're no better than them!"
Even as Saeko drew her weapon, the protestors didn't back down.
They weren't afraid.
They were convinced she wouldn't dare to attack.
After all, they had the numbers.
And more importantlythey were on the side of justice!
Their eyes burned with misplaced courage.
As if they were unstoppable.
As if they couldn't be touched.
"..."
Saeko sighed.
"You're all so damn noisy."
A crazed glint flickered in her eyesher bloodlust reaching its peak.
Shing!
A flash of white steel sliced through the air.
Splurt!
The loudest protestor suddenly froze mid-shoutThen, blood gushed from his neck.
And this blood splashed onto the stunned faces of those around him.
The air reeked of the smell of blood.
And then
Silence.
A deathly, suffocating silence.
The crowd had gone completely still.
They stood frozen, as their brains hadn't fully processed what had just happened.
Then, at last
"S-She She just killed someone!!"
The first scream of terror rang out.
The crowd snapped back to realityand the fearless, righteous expressions they had worn just moments agoWere completely wiped away.
Their so-called bravery shattered like glass.
In its place, pure, unfiltered fear took hold.
When faced with actual violence, when a real blade had been swung, they finally realizedThey weren't invincible.
Saeko grinned, her expression twisted in delight.
"This... is what it means to be a Devil."
Behind her
The Devil Lolis watched in awe.
And in their eyesA new, dark light had begun to shine.
.
.
.
"Act like a Devil."
"Do what Devils do."
These words kept echoing in the minds of the Devil Lolis.
Still, they were still just children who had once lived as humans.
And no matter how much they had suffered, the thought of killing someone still made them hesitate.
Until
"Ah! It's him!"
One of the Devil Lolis suddenly cried out, her wide eyes locking onto a man among the protestors.
"A year ago... that bastard beat Rin-chan to death!"
Her voice trembled, her eyes welling with tears, bloodshot from rage.
She could never forget that day.
She and Rin-chan had gone into the city to beg for foodonly to be tricked and lured into an alley.
"Rin-chan she chose to protect me and.."
She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
Her voice dripped with hatred.
"And that woman over there! When I went to the city, she was the one who tried to kill me!"
"And That man, he also....."
As the Devil Lolis spoke, their voices grew louder.
A trial was unfolding.
And as they looked around at the faces of the protestors, they finally realized something.
Not a single one of them was innocent.
"Kill them!"
Their hesitation shattered.
Their eyes turned cold.
No more mercy.
FWOOSH!
With a single flap of their wings, the Devil Loli army launched their attack!
"AAAHHH!! MONSTERS!! DEVILS!!"
The protestors screamed in terror as the Devil Lolis came flying toward them.
In that moment, their worst nightmare had become realityThe Cursed Children had evolved.
They truly were the Devil breed.
And after seeing Saeko's blade cut down a man before their very eyes, their mental defenses had already crushed.
"RUN!"
"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!"
Someone finally snapped out of their daze and screamed
And just like that, panic exploded through the crowd.
The ones they had mocked, beaten, and oppressedHad finally risen up to strike back.
And worseThey had picked up the blade.
The oppressors became the hunted.
The crowd scattered in all directionsbut no matter how fast they ran
How could mere humans outrun Devils?
SHING!
A man gaspedhis hand flying to his throat
Blood.
His eyes widened in horror as he realizedhis throat had been slit.
The Devil Loli who had struck him down froze for a second.
She had just killed someone.
And yetShe felt good.
A strange sense of relief washed over her.
Like a weight had been lifted from her chest.
Years of pain and sufferingrage and despairIt all ignited at once.
SHING! SLASH!
The streets were painted red using blood.
"NO! DON'T KILL ME! PLEASE!"
"I was wrong! I'll never call you monsters again!!"
"II swear, I'll support the Cursed Children! Please!!"
THUNK!
The man's head rolled onto the ground.
The Devil Loli who had struck him down stared at his corpse, her face cold and emotionless.
She felt nothing.
Because she knewHe wasn't sorry.
He was just afraid to die.
And nowhe was dead anyway.
A Massacre.
A true massacre had begun.
The Devil Lolis descended from the sky, not sparing a single soul.
From afar, Saeko simply watched in silence.
She could have ended it all with a single swing of her sword.
But she didn't.
Because this
This was something they had to do themselves.
Not just to release the years of suffering they had endured.
But to accept the truthThey were Devils now.
And above allTo understand one simple fact.
The roles have reversed.
They were no longer the ones being hunted.
They were the ones doing the hunting.
By the time it was overNot a single soul was left alive.
The Devil Lolis hovered in the air, staring down at the massacre below.
For the first time in years, the heavy weight in their chestsHad completely vanished.
The ones who had once oppressed themWere nothing but weaklings.
Just like they had once knelt and begged for mercy
Now, their enemies did the same.
"..."
"Rin-chan I finally avenged you"
One of the Devil Lolis whispered, her voice trembling, her eyes brimming with tears.
She wasn't the only one.
Every single one of them had tears in their eyes.
Years of sufferingGone in an instant.
From now onThey were no longer Cursed Children.
No longer victims.
No one would ever oppress them again.
Because they were Devils.
TodayThey had been truly reborn.
"How's it going?"
Saeko turned to look at Kanoe Yuuko, who was hovering nearby.
Yuuko glanced down at the phone in her hands and flashed a thumbs-up.
"Recorded in full 360-degree HD. No blind spots!"
Saeko's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"Perfect."
Yuuko casually uploaded the footage to the group chat.
And thenShe tagged a specific person.
Seitenshi.
---
"..."
Seitenshi's face turned pale.
Lord Lynn had already made his move against humanity?!
Her fingers trembled as she scrolled through the chat messages
And when she finally understood the full story She fell completely silent.
Why?
Why did they have to provoke the Devils?
Seitenshi slowly closed her eyes.
She had spent so long trying to save humanityOnly to watch them dig their own graves.
She took a deep breath.
And when she opened her eyes againThe warmth was gone.
InsteadA new coldness settled in her gaze.
One she herself had never noticed before.
She whispered to herself
"Foolish, ignorant people"
"Must be cleansed."
At that momentA new message popped up in the chat.
[Tendo Kisara: "Hah! Nice work! I've been sick of those bastards for a long time!"]
Seitenshi saw the messageAnd then a bitter smile spread across her lips.
Even the people of this world despised them.
She barely had time to process that thought before another message arrived.
[Sigma Man: "Seitenshi, there's someone pulling the strings behind this. Any idea who?"]
Seitenshi hesitated.
She wanted to give an answerBut the truth was
Every protest, every public demonstration against the Cursed ChildrenThere was always someone behind it.
Always someone in power pulling the strings.
And yetShe didn't know exactly who.
After a long sigh, she finally replied
[Seitenshi: "I'm sorry, Lord Lynn. I can only say that it's someone from the higher-ups but I don't know exactly who."]
Another message popped up.
[Yuuko: "Tsk. Useless as always."]
Seitenshi's fingers froze over the keyboard.
She bit her lip.
Useless.
A fitting title.
Even she thought so.
Then
[Sigma Man: "In that case, let's just kill them all."]
Seitenshi's heart clenched.
Her hand hovered over the screenWanting to type something.
Wanting to stop this.
But in the endShe didn't.
Lord Lynn had already given humanity a chance.
And they had thrown it away.
She closed her eyes once more.
And when she opened themThey were colder than ever.
"Rotten, filthy rulers"
"Must be cleansed."
.
.
.
[Lynn's Familia Harem Chat Group]
[Tendo Kisara: "Heh, heh, heh! Finally, we're making a move against them!"]
[Tendo Kisara: Lord Lynn, Lord Lynn! Can you leave those Tendo bastards to me?]
---
Tendo Civil Security Corporation
Kisara's eyes darkened, a sinister gleam flashing through them as she instinctively licked the corner of her lips.
[Sigma Man: "They're all yours."]
"Huff"
The moment Lynn gave his approval, Kisara's breathing turned rough, almost feverish.
"Tendo Kikunojo"
"Are you ready for hell?"
Outer Area - The Shelter
Lynn stroked his chin, deep in thought about their next move.
Now that they had massacred the protesting crowds, there was no turning backconflict with the humans of Tokyo was inevitable.
"Looks like it's about time."
His eyes gleamed coldly.
At first, expanding his Familia had been difficult due to the lack of manpower.
Rescuing the Cursed Children had been a slow and tedious process.
But now
With nearly seven thousand Devil Lolis under his command, they could extend their reach across all of Tokyo.
The only issue left was transportationit was still a time-consuming and labor-intensive task.
"I wonder how the girls in the Apocalypse world are doing with their training"
Thinking of this, he opened the group chat.
[Sigma Man: @Senju Kayo, how's their training coming along?]
When Lynn had sent the Devil Lolis to the Apocalypse world, he had left behind an important textbook"360 Applications of Magic."
The first thing he had them focus on was Dimensional Teleportation CirclesA crucial skill for relocating the Cursed Children efficiently.
It was also essential for handling the current situation. But after just a few days of training, he wasn't sure how much progress they had made.
After allDimensional Teleportation was a high-difficulty magic. Even Mahiru and the others were still only half-understanding it.
The only one who had fully mastered it was Utaha.
[Senju Kayo: "Reporting to Lord Lynn, most are struggling with the training."]
Lynn wasn't surprised by that.
[Senju Kayo: "But I've noticed that I'm learning this spell pretty easily. It might have something to do with my Dolphin Factor."]
[Senju Kayo: "So I gathered others with similar traits and focused on training them together."]
[Senju Kayo: "Now, we have nearly a few hundred who have successfully mastered Dimensional Teleportation."]
Lynn's eyes lit up.
He hadn't expected the Dolphin Factor to provide a natural advantage in magic learning.
Nor had he expected Kayo to be this smart.
She had recognized her own strengths and gathered others like her to train together.
Good.
Very good, Kayo!
[Sigma Man: "Well done, Kayo!"]
A few hundred Lolis capable of teleportationEach leading a squad to evacuate the Cursed Children across TokyoThat was more than enough to get the job done.
As expectedThe "Loli-leads-Loli" strategy was the right approach.
[Senju Kayo: "As long as I can help Lord Lynn, I'm happy."]
---
Apocalypse World
Senju Kayo stared at her phone screen, her face was still emotionless.
But she had a little smile.
"Finally"
"I was able to do something for Lord Lynn."
---
On the other side of the room
Fuse Midori read Lynn and Kayo's chat, her lips pressing into a thin line.
She
She wanted to help Lynn too.
But unlike Kayo She wasn't as smart.
---
Back in the Chat Group
Lynn issued a command.
[Sigma Man: "Since that's the caseThe Tokyo Cursed Children Evacuation PlanStarts now."]
[Sigma Man: "And while we're at itPurge all humans in Tokyo."]
[Yuuko: "So the day has finally come"]
[Busujima Saeko: "Heh I wonder if slaughtering them will help me gain some experience points."]
Probably not but who knows?
[Shiina Mahiru: "I will follow Lynn wherever he goes!"]
[Lord Lynn's Kitty: "M-Me too! I'll do my best!"]
As soon as Lynn gave the order, the chat erupted in excitement.
Seitenshi: "..."
Seitenshi sat still, an uneasy expression on her face.
But after a momentHer gaze hardened with determination.
[Seitenshi: "Lord Lynn, leave the human purge to me."]
[Sigma Man: "?"]
[Yuuko: "?"]
[Busujima Saeko: "?"]
[Yotsuya Miko: "?]
[Tendo Kisara: "Wait are you really Seitenshi? Quick, whoever possessed her, get out of her body!!"]
Seitenshi's words hit like a stone thrown into a still lake, causing massive ripples.
Even Lynn was taken aback.
"Seitenshi ?"
After a moment of thought, he sent a message.
[Sigma Man: "How exactly do you plan to do this?"]
[Seitenshi: "Once Lord Lynn has evacuated all the Cursed Children from the Tokyo Area"]
[Seitenshi: "I will use the Legacy of the Seven Stars to summon Stage V Gastrea."]
As soon as she hit send, Seitenshi felt all the strength drain from her body.
She had never imagined that one day
She herself would be the one to create humanity's extinction.
[Sigma Man: "Oh?"]
A glimmer of amusement flickered in Lynn's eyes.
[Sigma Man: "Are you sure about this?"]
He truly hadn't expected Seitenshi to be this ruthless.
[Seitenshi: "Please, Lord Lynn!"]
[Seitenshi: "Let me handle this one thing!"]
[Seitenshi: "I want to see How humanity, after losing the Cursed Children...will react when faced with a world-ending Gastrea disaster!"]
Her eyes burned with unwavering resolve.
This
This was humanity's last chance.
Maybe
Maybe, when faced with destruction, they would finally come together
Maybe, they would finally show the brilliance of human nature.
MaybeThey could even change Lord Lynn's mind.
ButIf humanity still failed
[Seitenshi: "When humans are infected with the Gastrea virus they, too, will transform into Gastrea."]
[Seitenshi: "At that point they'll simply become experience points for the Familia."]
[Tendo Kisara: ""]
[Tendo Kisara: "Damn I never expected you to be like this, Seitenshi."]
Tendo Kisara's expression was complicated.
She never would have imaginedThat Tokyo's highest ruler, the so-called last hope for humanity, the idealist who believed in coexistence between humans and Cursed ChildrenWould be this merciless when it came to wiping out humanity.
She was planning to squeeze every last drop of value from them before erasing them completely.
Lynn, however, saw something else in Seitenshi's actions.
"Humans in this worldwill never fail to meet a Devil's expectations."
[Sigma Man: "Fine. I approve."]
---
The moment Lynn's message popped up, Seitenshi let out a deep breath.
"I hope"
"That humanity won't disappoint me."
"Otherwise"
[Sigma Man: "Thenthe Cursed Children Evacuation Plan begins now!"]
The moment the words were spokenA blinding light filled the shelter.
.
.
.
The Dimensional Gate linking the Apocalypse World to the Black Bullet World fully opened.
In an instant, over seven thousand Devil Lolis poured out from the gate, swiftly spreading across Tokyo, their crimson eyes scanning the city as they began their search for the Cursed Children.
Inside the Shelter
Yotsuya Miko approached Lynn, requesting an update on her blessing.
She wanted to contribute to the mission, but before that
She figured it was about time for a level-up.
Lately, whenever she had spare time, she had been grinding experience by hunting curse spirits.
And now, she could feel itshe had pretty much reached the limits of what a low-class Devil could achieve.
Stripping off her top, she turned her back to Lynn.
---
[Yotsuya Miko]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn
Stats:
Strength: S999
Agility: S999
Endurance: S999
Magic: S999
Innate Abilities: [Spirit Sight] (Omitted) & [Spirit Devil] (Omitted)
---
"Good! You're ready to level up," Lynn commented as he patted her back, imprinting her status.
With all stats maxed out at S999, unless she had something like Saeko's Bloodlust skill to break past the limit, this was her cap.
Continuing to grind at this level wouldn't make a difference anymore.
Miko exhaled in relief.
Honestly, she could have leveled up a while ago, but she had held back, wanting to maximize her stats first.
"Master, please level me up!"
Lynn didn't hesitate.
"Level-Up!"
A glow enveloped Miko's back as her new status took shape.
---
[Yotsuya Miko]
Rank: Mid Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Innate Abilities: [Spirit Sight] & [Spirit Devil]
[Spirit Sight]
Spirit Vision
Increased Magic Growth Rate
[Spirit Devil]
Special Attack against Spiritual Entities
Forced Control over Spirits
Spirit Absorption
Devil Transformation (linked to Spirit Absorption, unleashing stored power)
Development Ability: Spirit Suppression I (Causes fear in spiritual entities when using Spirit Sight.)
---
"Not bad," Lynn nodded, imprinting her updated blessing and handing it over.
Miko quickly dressed and examined her new status.
"Mid Level Devil"
She had finally caught up to the others.
Clenching her fist, she could feel the surge of newfound strength coursing through her.
Becoming a Mid-class Devil made her way stronger than before.
"Spirit Suppression"
Her amber eyes flickered slightly.
"Yeah my Spirit Sight feels different somehow."
Shiina Mahiru watched Miko's advancement with a complicated expression.
She had fallen behind again.
It couldn't be helpedshe had joined Lynn later than the others.
Her stats were also close to the threshold for leveling up, but she hadn't quite reached the cap yet.
She needed to grind a little longer.
"Ugh I wish I could level up soon too," Kanoe Yuuko pouted, floating nearby with her hand on her chin.
Lynn smirked.
He was happy about Miko's level-up and even more so because the Tokyo Plan was still in motion.
Once the plan was complete, the entire Tokyo region would be crawling with Gastrea.
And without a doubt, there would be plenty of Stage IV Gastrea lurking around.
For Saeko and the others, this would be a perfect opportunity to level up.
Saeko might even break through to a High-Class Devil in one go.
Then after updating their blessings, Miko and the others set off for Tokyo to retrieve the remaining Cursed Children.
Tokyo In A Shopping Mall
A blind white-haired loli, her face wrapped in bandages, stood calmly.
Around her neck hung a shabby wooden sign, and at her feet sat a cracked ceramic bowl.
"I am a Cursed Child from the Outer Area."
People passing by glanced at the sign, their gazes filled with disgust.
Due to the heavy surveillance in this area, they refrained from physical violencesettling instead for glares and a few muttered insults before walking away.
The white-haired girl, however, remained unfazed. As if oblivious to their disgust, she began to sing.
A sweet, gentle melody drifted through the corridor.
Ding!
A crisp sound echoed from the ceramic bowl.
"Ah! Thank you!"
Her face lit up with a smile, but as she crouched down to pick up the coin, she realizedit was just a soda can pull-tab.
Disappointment flickered across her face.
"Haha! She's still falling for it!"
Two young men walked away, laughing with their arms slung around each other's shoulders.
"She never learns, does she?"
"Yeah, but isn't that what makes it fun? Every time we come here, she's an easy source of entertainment."
"Haha! Damn right! Cursed Children should just drop dead already!"
"Who the hell would ever care about trash like them?"
It was clear this wasn't the first time they had done something like this.
The girl's expression faded back into blankness. She continued singing, hoping thatjust maybeher voice would spark a sliver of sympathy in the hearts of passersby.
But judging by her still-empty bowl
That hope had already been crushed.
Busujima Saeko stepped into the scene at that moment, her sharp gaze sweeping over the two laughing men.
She licked her lips instinctively.
Their master had left the cleansing of humanity in the hands of the Seitenshi.
Howeverhe had also told them something else.
For the time being, they were free to do as they pleased.
And if that meant killing a few people along the way well, that was perfectly fine.
After all, when faced with such filth, it was hard to resist taking action.
Shing
A sharp gleam flashed.
Saeko's blade sliced through the air.
In an instant, both men were cut in half.
Blood splattered across the corridor.
"AAAAAHHH!!"
Screams erupted as panic spread through the mall.
"Eh?"
The white-haired loli, blind and unable to see what had happened, tensed up.
"Is is it a Gastrea?" she asked hesitantly.
Pat.
A soft hand rested on her head.
Saeko's voice was gentle.
"Little one do you want to come with me?"
"Eh?"
The girl flinched, her expression uncertain.
"M-Me?"
Saeko thought for a moment before rephrasing.
"How about becoming my Initiator?"
"Eh? EH?!"
The girl gasped, her face filled with disbelief.
"M-Me? Even someone like me is that okay?"
She couldn't understand it.
Why would anyone choose her as an Initiator?
She was blind.
She wasn't useful in any way was she?
---
Similar events unfolded throughout Tokyo.
The Devil Lolis moved unhindered.
If they encountered humans they didn't like, they simply killed them.
No hesitation. No remorse.
"A-AHHHH!! The Cursed Children are revolting!!"
"They're attacking humans!!"
"I always knew it! They're monsters! We should have exterminated them all from the start!!"
Slice
Before he could say another word, his head rolled off his shoulders.
A Devil Loli, her wings flaring, flew toward another target.
That man's voice had dirtied her ears.
---
From behind a floor-to-ceiling window, Seitenshi watched as chaos engulfed Tokyo.
Yet, contrary to expectations, there was no sorrow in her expression.
Instead
She felt relief.
"The fate of humanity doesn't matter anymore."
---
Tendo Household
Ever since news of Tokyo's uprising broke out, Tendo Kikunojo's brows had been furrowed deeply, never once relaxing.
"The Cursed Children Are they crazy?"
How could they rebel against humanity?
"I knew it! Those monsters can't be trusted!"
ClickClick
Suddenly, the sound of crisp footsteps echoed through the halls.
Tendo Kikunojo's eyes flickered with surprise.
An unexpected guest had stepped through the Tendo family's gates once again
.
.
.
Tokyo Tendo Residence
Inside the newly rebuilt Tendo estate, Tendo Kikunojo sat in silence, his sharp gaze locked onto Tendo Kisara.
After a long pause, he finally spoke in a deep voice.
"I never expected you to come back."
Kisara grinned, but there was something terrifying in her eyes.
Her fingers rested on the hilt of her cursed blade.
"You old bastard. Bet you never saw this day coming, did you?"
Kikunojo remained seated, his tone calm and unwavering.
"You've grown bolder in the time you've been away from the Tendo family."
Truthfully, Kisara's return had caught him off guard.
But did she concern him?
Not in the slightest.
At the end of the day, she was still just a foolish little girl.
"Hmph. Still as arrogant as ever, I see."
Shing
The cursed blade was drawn.
A chilling glint reflected off the polished steel, mirroring Kisara's twisted expression.
"Die."
Kikunojo's aged hands grasped the katana before him, and for a brief moment, his clouded eyes shone with clarity.
His voice was sharp as a blade.
"Kisara You may have earned the full inheritance of the Tendo sword style."
"But"
With a swift motion, Kikunojo rose to his feet, unsheathing his sword in an instant.
"Never forgetthe techniques you use bear the name 'Tendo'!"
Kisara let out a cold laugh.
Then
Black flames erupted around her body.
She didn't even bother making a dramatic declaration of vengeance.
She didn't need to.
Asura state: "Activated."
Her pupils gleamed with bloodlust.
Vengeance Mark: Mortal Enemy.
Skill Activation: "Queen of Vengeance."
Special Effect: Enhanced Damage Against Marked Hated Targets.
Boom!
The very air trembled.
In a blink, Kisara vanishedmoving at an inhuman speed.
By the time Kikunojo's pupils dilated in shock
Shing!
A single slash.
His swordshattered.
A thin, nearly imperceptible line sliced through the air behind him.
Kisara had already reappeared at his back, her eyes gleaming as she admired the fresh droplets of blood on her blade.
Kikunojo stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief. His lips trembled.
"H-How How could this be?"
Splurt!
A fountain of blood sprayed from his body, staining the walls.
His face was frozen in shock as his body collapsed.
Even in death, his eyes remained openunable to accept his fate.
Kisara smirked.
Pure. Absolute. Satisfaction.
But
"Not enough."
"Still not enough."
Slash!
With her blade still dripping with blood, Kisara strode forwardheading deeper into the Tendo estate.
Whoever she encounteredshe cut down without mercy.
Screams filled the halls.
"Kisara! It's meyour brother!"
"I was wrong! I know I was wrong!"
"Pleaseplease, spare me!"
"Have mercy"
Splurt!
Another head rolled.
Another corpse fell.
Stepping out of the blood-drenched mansion, Kisara took a deep breath.
The Tendo clan was gone.
WellAlmost.
There was still one person left.
Herself.
The name Tendo held no meaning anymore.
She murmured to herself.
"I wonder What is Lynn-sama's surname?"
Perhaps
It was time for her to take a new name.
Thud!
SuddenlyA young man dressed in black rushed onto the scene.
His expression was fierce, but the moment he laid eyes on Kisarahe froze.
"Kisara?"
Thenhis gaze dropped to the bloodied sword in her hand.
His face went pale.
A terrible realization dawned on him.
"Wait No Don't tell me"
Without another word, Satomi Rentaro dashed past her and ran into the Tendo estate to make sure.
Moments laterHe returned.
His expression was dark, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
His bloodshot eyes locked onto Kisara.
And then
He growled, voice trembling with rage.
"TENDO KISARA!"
He gritted his teeth, his fists trembling.
"WHY?!"
"Why did you do this?!"
Tendo Kisara gave him a cold, indifferent glance.
"Isn't revenge normal?"
Satomi Rentaro let out a bitter laugh, his rage boiling over.
"This This isn't justice!"
"I won't allow it!"
Kisara scoffed, looking at him as if he were an absolute fool.
"Allow it?"
"Who the hell needs your permission?"
With an expressionless face, she sighed, clearly unimpressed.
"You know the thing I hate most?"
"People who won't shut up about 'justice' this, 'justice' that."
Boom!
Her long black hair whipped around wildly as a dark aura surged from her body.
The whites of her eyes were gradually swallowed by inky blackness.
She raised her swordpointing it directly at Rentaro.
"If you're standing on their side"
"Then that makes you an enemy too."
Rentaro marked as a vengeance target.
Skill Activation: "Queen of Vengeance."
Special Effect: Increased damage against sworn enemies.
Devilization: Final Form "Sinful Rebirth."
All physical attributes enhanced.
"Sinful" state activated: The greater the malice, the faster the damage.
A sharp whoosh cut through the air.
Kisara disappeared before Rentaro's very eyes.
His pupils contracted
His artificial eye activated at full power, scanning for her shape.
But
Nothing.
Just nothing.
BANG!
His instincts kicked in, and he barely managed to raise his arm
CLANG!
A sharp metallic ring echoed as his cybernetic limb deflected the incoming strike.
His sleeve was sliced open, revealing the glowing blue glow of his cybernetic arm.
"Oh?"
Kisara arched an eyebrow, momentarily surprised.
She hadn't expected him to have a trump card like this.
Nor had she expected his cybernetic enhancements to be this good.
ButShe had no intention of clashing with him head-on.
Her form twisted.
In a flash, she vanished from his sightreappearing behind him.
Schlick!
Rentaro gasped, blood trickling from his lips.
His eyes flickered with disbelief.
A blade had pierced straight through his chest.
"H-How!"
He never imaginedThat Kisara could be this strong.
Kisara whispered in his ear, her voice laced with cold amusement.
"Satomi Rentaro"
"Take your fake righteousness and go join that old bastard, Tendo Kikunojo, in hell."
"I'm sure he'll be needing you down there."
Tokyo
The entire city shuddered with fear.
People locked themselves inside their homes, their voices trembling with terror.
Days Later
The chaos finally began to settle.
Some of the braver survivors ventured out to check the state of the city.
The streets were emptier than before, eerily silent.
ButThere was something missing.
The Cursed Children were nowhere to be found.
The survivors let out sighs of relief.
"Hah Good riddance!"
"Those damn monsters should just stay gone forever!"
"Damn it, what the hell was the government doing these past few days?! And the policewhere the hell were they?!"
As they continued their bitter complaints
---
Seitenshi stood before the Legacy of the Seven Stars, her gaze unwavering.
ThenShe issued her final command.
"The Gastrea are about to invade Tokyo. All citizens are to report to the frontlines for battle."
When the decree spread, the survivors froze.
"What?"
"Us?" On the frontlines?!"
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
"Why the hell should we be the ones fighting?!"
"What the hell is the government doing?! Isn't this their job?!"
"What about the Cursed Children?! Send those freaks to fight instead!"
"Yeah! Only the Cursed Children can handle the Gastrea!"
"Send the Cursed Children!"
A new wave of protests erupted.
People took to the streets, shouting and demanding answers.
But soonThey realized something terrifying.
All the Cursed Children were gone.
Just like they had always wished for.
So now?
.
.
.
That day, humanity was once again reminded of the terror of the Gastrea. And this time without the protection of the Cursed Children.
"No! No! I don't want to face the Gastrea!"
Panic spread like wildfire.
"Where are the Cursed Children? Hurry up and bring them back to protect us!"
"Please, we're begging you! Just like before, protect us again!!"
"We promise! We'll accept the New Gastrea Law! We'll ensure the rights of the cursed children are upheld!!"
Desperation made them suddenly sound just, even compassionate.
ButIt was all a lie.
They weren't truly regretful. They weren't seeking redemption.
They were just afraid.
They pleaded, offering promises, swearing to change. Yet, the Cursed Children remained nowhere to be seen.
A heavy silence hung in the air.
And thenThe ugly side of humanity raised its head once more.
"No! No way! I have to get out of Tokyo!"
One desperate cry became the spark.
That Stage V Gastrea...It was an unstoppable disaster.
They had to escape.
The citizens quickly snapped out of their daze, grabbing their belongings, dragging their families along, and rushing toward the airports, train stationsAnywhere but Tokyo.
They had to get to Osaka! Or Sendai!
Anywhere but here!
Tokyo was in complete chaos.
And yet, no officials stepped forward to stop them.
BecauseThere were no officials left.
Seitenshi stood by the window, her face unreadable as she gazed at the rioting Tokyo below.
Disappointment settled deep within her heart.
"No... it won't work..."
Leaving Tokyo was not an option.
---
At the airport
A single slash cut through the air, blood staining the ground.
Tendo Kisara slowly sheathed her blade, standing at the front alongside an army of Devil Lolis.
"No one is allowed to pass."
Her icy voice echoed throughout the entire airport, sending shivers down the spines of those present.
Especially when they realizedShe had just killed someone.
"Th-Those Those are Cursed Children with wings"
Fear seeped into their voices as they trembled.
These winged Cursed Children were different.
These ones would actually kill them.
But
Behind, there was an endless horde of Gastrea.
Between monsters and devils, they had to choose.
"Screw it! I'm getting out of Tokyo today!!"
A man roared in defiance.
Splatter!
Blood rained across the airport.
Tendo Kisara and the Devil Lolis didn't hesitate.
Humans had only two choices:
Die now.
Or be infected by Gastrea and die later.
Tokyo was now a sealed city.
No one leaves. No exceptions.
Their eyes widened in despair.
Behind themGastrea.
Before themDevils.
They had nowhere to run.
---
Meanwhile
Lynn was reincarnating over two hundred thousand Cursed Children.
He summoned hundreds of thousands of Devil's Pieces at once, manipulating them with his magic, pressing them onto the bodies of the young girls before him.
ThenPower surged.
An endless wave of strength poured into them.
A tidal wave of pure magic erupted from Lynn, twisting the very air around him with its sheer force.
He clenched his fists, exhilaration flooding through him.
He was now one step closer to reaching the level of a Maou.
---
A few days later
The Gastrea Stage V.
The Zodiac GastreaScorpio.
A monster the size of a mountain, its entire body covered in jet-black armor, descended upon Tokyo.
It slowly crept toward the city.
The people shuddered in absolute terror.
They wanted to run.
But they couldn't.
And as for resisting...Just laying eyes on the beast made their legs go weak.
Hate? There wasn't even the will left to hate.
Where were the Cursed Children now? Why weren't they protecting them?
Weren't the Cursed Children supposed to atone for their sins by defending humanity?
They were the ones cursed, the ones who should suffer!
Why were they being punished instead?!
Even now, at the brink of extinction, Humans did not repent.
Only fear.
...
The Scorpio Gastrea moved slowly, but its mere presence had already unleashed a flood of destruction.
Stage I. Stage II. Stage III. Even Stage IV.
Countless Gastrea swarmed Tokyo like an unstoppable tide.
Without the protection of the Cursed Children, the ordinary people were utterly powerless, incapable of even resisting a Stage I Gastrea.
"AAAAAHHH!!"
Tokyo was drowning in screams of despair.
Seitenshi stood silently, watching the chaos.
Her blue eyes held no emotion.
No sadness. No anger.
Only a cold, unattached understanding that humanity was beyond saving.
Even now, in their final moments, they cursed and blamed others instead of looking inward.
"These people"
"They aren't worth saving."
With no hesitation, she turned around and lowered her head slightly toward the man sitting at the desk behind her.
"I apologize, Lord Lynn. I was too naive."
Lynn sat with his legs crossed, casually twirling a pen between his fingers. He didn't respond.
If his Familia hadn't been short on manpower, gathering the Cursed Children wouldn't have taken so long. And he would have wiped out all humans much earlier.
Seitenshi's plea for help had simply been a passing entertainment in the meantime.
After all, humanity was already doomed from the moment he appeared in this world.
And soon, in their despair, they would become nothing more than a never-ending source of experience for his Familia.
Seitenshi clenched her fists, waiting anxiously for his response.
ThenShe bit her lip, her face turning red.
With trembling hands, she reached for the hem of her white dress, slowly slipping it off her shoulders, revealing her flawless, white body.
Then, she knelt.
Pressed her forehead to the floor.
A perfect, formal dogeza posture.
"I apologize, Lord Lynn."
Her voice wavered, but she forced herself to continue.
"This is the only way I know how to atone for my arrogance."
She understood.
She had overstepped.
She had asked too much.
She had been selfish, so she had to make amends.
ButShe had nothing else to offer.
Lynn lacked nothing.
Not wealth. Not power. Not influence.
Even her own body had long since belonged to him.
But stillThis was all she had left to give.
Her pale skin burned with a soft blush as she whispered, voice barely above a breath:
"L-Lord Lynn I I even took the time to study certain skills."
"I-I hope I can please you."
Oh?
Lynn raised an eyebrow, amused.
His sharp gaze swept over her trembling form, and she shivered under his scrutiny.
Then, he rose from his chair, standing over her, looking down with a smirk.
"Well then"
"Let's see"
"if your studies paid off."
"Y-Yes"
"Ahh~~"
---
Tokyo
Humanity drowned in despair.
Those who didn't dieTurned into monsters.
Twisted by the Gastrea virus.
Consumed by pain.
By hatred. By fear.
That day, Tokyo fell.
.
.
.
Tokyo Area
Schlkk
With a swift motion, Busujima Saeko sliced through a Gastrea, its body collapsing to the ground in a heap of blackened flesh.
She glanced around the desolate streets, then pulled out her phone and sent a message to the group chat.
[Busujima Saeko: "Minato district confirmedno human survivors."]
One after another, similar reports flooded the chat.
Another district.
No survivors.
And just like that, Tokyo had officially become a Gastrea-infested wasteland.
Without the Cursed Children's protection, the city didn't even need the massive Scorpio Gastrea to arriveits summoned minions had already wiped everything clean.
[Sigma Man: "Well, in that case let's start grinding EXP."]
[Sigma Man: "Make sure to switch to Enchanted Weapons."]
After issuing the new Familia mission in the chat, Lynn stood in Seitenshi's office, still dressed in his sleepwear.
He gazed out the window, surveying the ruined city.
"This place is an EXP goldmine," he muttered, watching Gastrea occasionally crawl through the streets.
And beyond thatLynn looked into the distance.
The Stage V Scorpio Gastrea was slowly making its way toward Tokyo.
If the calculations were right, it would take about four days to reach the city.
"Tokyo Dungeon Raid Boss."
That's what he decided to call it.
For now, the Familia's goal was simplegrind EXP.
And with such a massive boss, there was no way they'd let it go to waste.
Not to mentionLynn glanced at his status panel.
[Gastrea Factor Codex] was glowing faintly because of the Zodiac Gastrea.
Which meant, sooner or later, Scorpio had to die.
As for the other Cursed Children across the Black Bullet world?
Lynn had already assigned them all to his 200,000 Devil Lolis.
And among them, there were some familiar faceslike Aihara Enju.
But no unique, special Devils.
He had expected that. No disappointment there.
Bottom lineA 200,000-strong Low-Class Devil Army, with more recruits constantly being reincarnated, was more than enough to flatten this world.
Lynn only needed to wait and collect his Familia's growth until he reached Maou-level.
Osaka
With Tokyo gone, the rest of the world fell into chaos.
People from all over Japan gathered for a meeting in Osaka.
But only silence filled the meeting room.
"Tokyo didn't send out any distress signals?"
The higher-ups looked around, dumbfounded.
As if in the blink of an eye, an entire human cityvanished.
Not a single warning. Not a single broadcast.
And while the world panicked over Tokyo's fall
200,000 Devil Lolis began deploying worldwide.
Shuchiin Academy ~ Faculty Office
Sitting across from Minamiya Natsuki, Lynn was greeted with an unimpressed glare.
"You actually remember to show up for class?" she scoffed.
Lynn spread his hands, giving a helpless shrug.
"Can't help it. Been really busy lately."
Natsuki snorted. "Busy expanding your harem, you mean?"
Just thinking about the girls in his club made her blood pressure rise.
This lustful Devil was corrupting the entire school atmosphere!
Lynn, unfazed, shrugged again.
"How can you call it a harem?" he said casually.
"It's a Familia. Get it right."
"Familia?" Natsuki was confused.
"It's the name of my peerage!"
Natsuki gave him a deadpan look. "And that's different how?"
"At least it sounds better."
" "
Natsuki was speechless.
Lynn smirked at her speechlessness, then smoothly added, "So? Natsuki-chan, wanna join my har ahemFamilia?"
Her face darkened instantly.
This damn lustful Devil was definitely about to say harem!
He wasn't even trying to hide it!
Whap!
Without hesitation, Natsuki flicked open her folding fan and whipped it toward his head.
"You disrespectful, shameless Devil!"
Smack!
A crisp sound echoed through the officeBut the fan never hit its target.
It stopped mid-air, as if blocked by an invisible barrier.
Natsuki's sharp eyes flickered.
This lustful DevilHad he gotten stronger again?
He had always been able to release his magic externally, but to control it with such precision?
That was something new.
"I have to ask," she said, lowering her fan slightly.
"You've been leveling up really fast lately. Too fast."
Lynn grinned. "Curious?"
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming mischievously.
"If you join my Familia, I'll tell you."
Natsuki narrowed her eyes.
"I'm actually not that interested."
Tch.
She tapped her fan against the desk, making a sharp tok tok tok sound.
"But," she said, "as a Devil, shouldn't you at least make sure your Familia's quality isn't unqualified garbage?"
The implication was clear.
Stop recruiting random schoolgirls from Shuchiin Academy!
Lynn chuckled, stroking his chin in amusement.
"So, you don't trust my Familia's strength, huh?"
His eyes suddenly lit up with an idea.
"What do you say," he suggested, "we expand our previous collaborationbut this time, my Familia gets involved?"
Sure, Utaha and the others had already traveled to another world, but they still weren't fully familiar with the supernatural side of the main world.
Letting them work with Natsuki could be a good way to gain experience.
Plus, while farming EXP, they could earn some rewards on the side.
After all, despite their dual-world authority, they still lacked rare supernatural artifacts.
"You're serious?"
Natsuki flicked open her fan, half-hiding her face as she studied him carefully.
She had doubts.
Those students from Shuchiin Academy?
ButShe did need more manpower. And dealing with the government was an absolute pain.
Lynn, despite being a Devil, was at least someone she had worked with for a long time. They had a mutual understanding.
After considering it for a moment, she gave a slight nod. "Alright, but"
Her gaze sharpened. "You better not slow me down!"
Lynn smirked but said nothing. He had complete confidence in Utaha and the others.
"Alright then, let's get down to business. Why did you call me here?"
"The approval for that Grade-1 Cursed Artifact finally came through."
"It should be arriving shortly."
Lynn raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
With everything going on in the Black Bullet world lately, he had almost forgotten about that request.
It wasn't long before a knock came at the office door.
"Come in."
With a soft creak, the door swung open.
A beautiful girl with long, jet-black hair stepped inside.
Her piercing, amethyst-like eyes immediately drew attention.
"This is Isayama Yomi, from the Environmental Countermeasures Bureau. She came from Kyoto."
Natsuki gave a brief introduction.
Lynn glanced at her, and almost instantly, the Devil's Piece in his status panel lit up.
Another potential Familia member.
But at this point, he already had more than enough. And with the future army of millions of Devil Lolis in the Black Bullet world, he wasn't exactly desperate for more members.
Of course, if an opportunity presented itself, he wouldn't turn it down either.
Yomi wasted no time on small talk. She was direct and efficient.
She pulled out the artifact she had broughta Grade-1 Cursed Object.
"The Warped Mirror."
She placed a cracked, bronze mirror on the table.
"This mirror is the physical form of the Kotodama Curse Yokai. It was sealed by the legendary Abe no Seimei."
Her cool, emotionless voice explained its origins.
Lynn listened attentively, quickly grasping the artifact's abilities.
It could distort reality to a certain extent
Would this be useful for Miko?
Before he could dwell on it further, Yomi, having completed her task, turned to leave.
But before she could, Lynn handed her a Devil's Contract Flyer.
Her expression shifted slightly as she recognized it.
As someone from a government agency dealing with the supernatural, she naturally had some knowledge about Devils, Angels, and the like.
Yomi turned to Natsuki, as if asking for confirmation.
Natsuki paused for a moment, then gave Lynn a deadpan look before sighing. "Just take it. You never know when it might come in handy."
Even she wasn't sure of Lynn's full power anymore.
Having one of his contracts could mean the difference between life and death.
And at that point, she figured Yomi would probably end up joining his Familia anyway.
After a moment of hesitation, Yomi pocketed the flyer.
Once she left, Natsuki gave Lynn an unimpressed look.
"You lustful Devil, you've got your eyes on another one?"
Lynn shrugged. "Consider it just another strategic move. Who knows if an opportunity will arise?"
Back in the Black Bullet world, Lynn handed the Warped Mirror to Miko.
"Distorting results?"
Miko looked at it with confusion.
Curious, she turned toward a Gastrea in the distance and activated the artifact.
Normally, the Gastrea would have just passed through the alleyway.
But as soon as Miko focused her intent, the creature suddenly slammed into a wall instead.
Her eyes widened in realization.
"Oh! So that's how it works!"
Nearby, Kanoe Yuuko floated over, looking envious. "When do I get a weapon like that?"
Currently, they were all using mass-produced weapons, but those were just temporary.
Lynn tapped his chin in thought.
He really needed to start providing his Familia with better custom weapons.
Right now, aside from Miko's new artifact, even Saeko's katana was just a normal weapon, only enhanced to suppress Gastrea's regeneration.
It had no special properties otherwise.
This made him think of the Sacred Gears from the main world.
Though, those were mostly random, luck-based finds.
What he really needed was a world that specialized in powerful weaponry.
---
A few days later
Lynn's Familia was ready to take on the Stage V Scorpio Gastrea.
Before the battle, Lynn updated everyone's Familia Blessings.
Saeko, Utaha, and Miko all received significant stat boosts.
Most of the other members, aside from Yuuko, and the newly joined ones, had all advanced to Mid-Class Devil rank.
Notably
Shiina Mahiru's Agility and Magic had maxed out at S-rank.
Meanwhile, Marikawa Shizuka's Endurance had also hit S-rank.
"I'm finally a Mid-Class Devil!"
Shizuka, still naked, stretched lazily while holding her status report.
She then cracked her neck and sighed, "That was exhausting~."
Mahiru, gripping her own status sheet, let out a small breath of relief.
She wasn't as fast as Saeko, but at least she wasn't too far behind.
"Alright," Lynn clapped his hands.
"Let's begin the Tokyo Dungeon Raid Boss"
.
.
.
Outskirts of Tokyo Area
Lynn stood quietly with his Familia, facing the massive form of Scorpio.
"That thing is huge!" Shizuka gasped, her eyes wide with shock as she instinctively took a step back behind Saeko.
Saeko felt she was treated as a shield but she didn't say anything. After all, Shizuka was a Healing Devil. As long as she focused on her role as the team's healer, that was enough.
Turning her gaze back to the towering beast, Saeko felt her blood start to boil. The urge to kill was getting hard to suppress.
But before that they needed to clear out the small fry.
Her eyes shifted toward the approaching hordes of Gastrea. Her main target: the Stage IVs.
Miko, on the other hand, looked troubled.
As a Spirit Devil, her abilities were excellent against spiritual entities, but when it came to physical combat
She was definitely at a disadvantage.
She sighed. Out of everyone, she was probably going to gain the least from this monster hunt.
Meanwhile, Yuuko floated around excitedly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. For her, this was nothing but funafter all, the Gastrea couldn't even see her.
Lynn, seeing that his team was eager to fight, waved his hand forward. "Move out!"
"No one shall stand in our way!"
With that command, Saeko dashed forward like an unleashed warhorse, slashing down countless Stage I, II, and III Gastrea as she made a beeline for a Stage IV.
Tendo Kisara clicked her tongue in annoyance before charging in as well, unwilling to be overshadowed.
Her swordsmanship was already outstanding, even before she became a Devil. Though her old body limited her stamina, her sheer explosive strength allowed her to seriously wound even Stage IV Gastrea.
But now, as a Devil, she was even stronger.
Meanwhile, Mahiru and Utaha also went after their own Stage IV targets.
As Mid-Class Devils, they couldn't let Saeko and Kisara hog all the spotlight.
The only ones left standing awkwardly were Miko and Hana.
Miko hesitated for a moment, then turned to Hana and declared, "Hana, I'll help you level up!"
"Huh?" Hana blinked in confusion before grinning. "Really? Finally, we can fight side by side!"
With her hands on her hips, she pointed at a large Gastrea. "Miko, let's take that one down together!"
Miko followed her gaze and immediately felt her eyelid twitch.
That was a Stage IV.
She forced a smile. "Uh, Hana, that one's a bit too much for you right now Let's start with that one instead."
She pointed at a Stage II Gastrea, which was extremely smaller.
"Huh?" Hana pouted. "But it looks tiny"
"Trust me, it's good enough!"
Before Hana could argue, Miko grabbed her hand and led her toward the smaller enemy.
On the other side, Yuuko drifted lazily through the air, occasionally launching sneak attacks to steal some experience.
Since the Gastrea couldn't see her and it wasn't like she could take on a Stage III head-on.
So why bother? Leeching experience was easier!
---
Everyone else was working hard to rack up experience.
Except for one person.
Shizuka stood beside Lynn, waving her fists. "You got this, everyone! I've prepared plenty of healing potions for you all!"
Lynn's eye twitched before he smacked her plump buttocks with a loud smack.
"Ouch!" Shizuka yelped.
"Go get some experience yourself!" Lynn ordered.
"Uuu" Shizuka whined but reluctantly trotted off to find some Gastrea to fight.
The battlefield soon became a chaotic chorus of battle cries:
"Lightning Strike!"
"Come at me! Hehehe~! Let me kill more~!"
"You are also my enemy!"
Lynn watched for a moment, ensuring everyone was safe, before turning his attention back to Scorpio.
With every step the massive beast took, the Gastrea Factor Codex in his system panel shone even brighter.
Lynn was curious. What would happen to this ability once Scorpio was defeated?
Meanwhile, in the Main World - Kyoto
After delivering the cursed artifact to Lynn, Isayama Yomi didn't waste any time before heading back.
Technically, a Grade 1 Cursed Relic did require a high-level escort, but that alone wasn't enough reason for her to come all the way to Tokyo.
She had another mission.
Right now, she sat in a quiet caf across from a petite young woman.
The girl wore a white hat over her short, light-blond hair. Her deep-purple eyes were bright and full of wisdom.
Taking a sip of her coffee, Yomi spoke. "Miss Goddess of Wisdom, I'd like you to share the relevant details of this incident with me."
The young woman smiled. "Iwanaga Kotoko. Just call me Kotoko."
"Alright, Miss Kotoko," Yomi responded smoothly, staring directly into the other girl's eyes.
Kotoko sighed dramatically. "You come all the way here, barely take a sip of your coffee, and then stare at me like I'm a criminal. So rude"
"Apologies," Yomi said, though her face remained expressionless, her gaze still locked onto Kotoko.
"Alright, alright" Kotoko finally surrendered, raising her hands in defeat before standing up. "Rather than hearing me explain, why don't you see for yourself?"
They stepped through a hidden barrier, revealing a seemingly unremarkable Shinto shrine.
Yomi's eyes narrowed slightly.
Kotoko continued, "When I discovered something unusual, I asked my contacts to help conceal this place."
Looking up at the shrine, Yomi's expression grew serious.
A dense aura of Yokai filled the air.
"...There's no doubt. This is the presence of the Hagoromo Gitsune!"
Her heart tightened.
Shing!
Without hesitation, she drew her sword, preparing to investigate further.
But before she could move, Kotoko grabbed her arm, her voice was filled with amusement and concern.
"You're just going to rush in like that?"
Yomi froze for a moment, looking at her in confusion.
Kotoko twitched the corner of her mouth. "Are you sure you can handle this?"
"You're not even going to notify your organization?"
She was having second thoughts.
The only reason she even brought Yomi here was because she was part of the Environmental Countermeasures Bureau. Otherwise, there was no way she'd drag her into something this dangerous.
If something was related to that demon fox ykai, Hagoromo Gitsune, could a single teenage girl really deal with it?
Yomi hesitated, then shook her head. "I don't know"
"But if we wait any longer, it might be too late"
Her expression turned serious, her eyes filled with determination.
She was fairly confident in her abilities, but she wasn't the type to boast recklessly.
This wasn't the first time she had dealt with an incident involving the presence of such a legendary yokai.
She had already resolved six cases on her own.
No problemyet.
But she also knew that one mistake could mean disaster.
"This girl is so damn stubborn"
Kotoko sighed, rubbing her temples.
If she'd known this would happen, she wouldn't have gotten involved in the first place.
"Still, you can relax."
Yomi suddenly remembered something and decided to reassure Kotoko. She pulled out a black summoning flyer that Lynn had given her.
"This is?"
Kotoko looked at it in confusion.
"A Devil Summoning Contract."
"As long as I channel my energy into it, a Devil will appear and help me through the crisis."
"Of course"
"There is a price to pay afterward."
"Hah?" Kotoko squinted.
A humana Devil hunter, no lessrelying on a Devil??
She wasn't an expert on Devils, but she'd heard plenty from yokai rumors.
A Devil summoning contract was something she'd never seen in person before.
Using a Devil's power was disgraceful for a human, but it was still a possible solution.
At the very least, Kotoko felt a little more at ease.
As long as the summoned Devil was strong enough.
"Alright! Then let's do this with full focus!"
Black Bullet World.
The sky darkened.
Saeko and Kisara had been fighting fiercely for what felt like forever.
At some point, the two had fallen into an unspoken competition, their attacks becoming sharper and more aggressive.
Meanwhile, Utaha and Mahiru handled the remaining threats.
Seeing that they were all panting from exhaustion, Lynn clapped his hands and called them back.
It was time.
Next upScorpio.
"The remaining Gastrea are yours to handle, Hana."
All the high-level Gastrea had already been wiped out.
Leaving the lower-tier ones to Hana and the other lower-ranked Devils was perfect for their growth.
The battle against Scorpio, however, was a different story.
The real battle would be led by him.
Partly to test his current strength. Partly because of the Gastrea Factor Codex skill he had.
Before the battle, though, there was one important matter.
Magic replenishment.
Seeing his exhausted Familia members looking at him expectantly, Lynn smirked and went around, "rewarding" each of them.
"Eh? Again?"
Shizuka pouted.
Ever since everyone realized that Lynn's magic replenishment ability had the same effect as her recovery potions, her items had been completely abandoned.
"But I worked so hard on them"
She grumbled under her breath, but then quickly lined up with the others, her eyes full of anticipation. "Whatever, I'll just drink them later when I feel tired!"
Utaha rolled her eyes and muttered, "You're just as bad as the rest of us."
Even Shizuka preferred Lynn's method over her own potions.
Not long after, the replenishment was complete.
Lynn's Familia turned their attention to Scorpio.
Saeko's expression was grim.
The easygoing attitude from earlier had completely disappeared.
Anyone would feel some tension when facing a monstrous creature the size of a mountain.
A beast of this scale could wipe out an entire area just by shifting its weight.
"So we're finally up against this thing."
Utaha gripped her Devil's Grimoire, wondering if her maximum Lightning Strike output would even scratch it.
As if sensing their attention, Scorpio paused for a moment.
Then, it opened its massive jaws and let out an ear-piercing screech.
The shockwave sent violent gusts of wind across the battlefield, rustling their clothes and shaking the air itself.
But
Lynn frowned.
That sound it almost sounds like it's crying
"Strange!"
.
.
.
Yo
Now that was 10 chapters for being in the top 20 last week.
Thanks for your support! I'll try to drop another mass release soon.
"Lightning strike!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha flipped open the Devil's Grimoire, and a bolt of brilliant blue lightning cascaded down from the sky, slamming into the Scorpio's black shell with a deafening crack!
Crackle! Sizzle!
Under the immense heat, the black shell instantly turned red-hotthen was pierced straight through!
A surge of deep purple blood spurted out, painting the sky with its color.
But in the blink of an eye, the exposed flesh regenerated at an alarming speed, sealing itself back up with another layer of that impenetrable black armor.
Utaha's face stiffened. Frustration crept into her voice. "That did... absolutely nothing."
"Creatures at this level... Even varanium weapons wouldn't be enough to suppress its regeneration."
Saeko pulled her bloodied katana from the Scorpio's shell, but within seconds, the wound she had inflicted was gone, as if she had never struck it at all.
Faced with such an opponent, even someone like Saeko had to admitthere weren't many viable options.
Thankfully, they weren't here to take it down alone.
Lynn was the main force in this fight.
Having recently advanced to mid-tier Devils, Saeko and the others unleashed their skills on the Scorpio in rapid succession, pouring everything they had into the battle.
Finally, they were all exhausted.
"Huff... Huff..."
Gasping for breath, the girls collapsed into the arms of Kanoe Yuuko and the others, who quickly helped them recover.
Utaha, still panting, forced a smile. "With how much effort we put in against that big thing, we better get a decent amount of experience, right?"
Tendo Kisara suddenly mused aloud, "What if we actually rank up to high-tier Devils after this?"
Utaha shot her a look. "We just became mid-tier Devils a few days ago, and you're already aiming for high-tier?"
Saeko thought for a moment before shaking her head. "We aren't the main attackers in this fight. Let's not get our hopes too high."
"That said..."
Her lips curled into a subtle smile as she recalled the thrill of slaughtering numerous Stage IV Gastrea. Almost instinctively, she licked her lips.
"We did take down quite a few high-level Gastrea. We should see some improvement."
Hearing that, Utaha let out a sigh. "Saeko, if anyone's ranking up today, it's definitely you. You were already close to advancing before the fight."
It hadn't been that long since their last battle, but Saeko had been steadily growing stronger with every kill.
Utaha bit her lip, a hint of frustration in her eyes.
Saeko only chuckled in response. She had no complaints. Her ambition was clear She wanted to become the familia's sharpest blade.
There was no room for hesitation. No time to slow down.
Whenever she had free time, unless Lynn had other orders, she was always training, always fighting, always killing.
It wasn't boring to her.
On the contrary, it was a kind of joy.
After all[Bloodlust] wasn't just the name of her ability. It was a part of who she was.
"Hmph!" Kisara crossed her arms and declared, "I'll be the sharpest blade!"
Saeko: "...?"
She glanced at Kisara with a confused expression.
What's with this girl stealing my line?
Still, she only smiled softly.
Words were just words.
Saeko knew the true test would come when they clashed in battle.
At that moment, as Lynn stood alone before the massive Scorpio, something unexpected happenedthe colossal creature suddenly stopped moving.
"Whoa... So cool" Utaha murmured, completely entranced by the sight. "As expected of Lynn!"
There was something about his lone figure standing against a mountain-sized monster that was simply breathtaking.
A single man against a titan.
They stared each other down, locked in a silent battle of wills.
"Wait... Did it just back down?" Utaha's eyes widened.
Why?
The Scorpio had been fiercely attacking them just moments ago. What changed?
Lynn was also puzzled.
Though its cry earlier had sounded like one of distress, perhaps even intelligence, there was no room for mercy.
Lynn stared at the hideous, twisted behemoth before him and sighed.
A massive, slow-moving target like this was nothing more than the perfect training dummy for him.
Even against Saeko and the others, the Scorpio had struggled to land a single hit due to its lack of mobility.
Aside from its terrifying regeneration and destructive capabilities, it was utterly useless.
There was no need to prolong the fight.
Lynn spread his arms wide
Buzz!
Above the Scorpio, an enormous black magic circle materialized, stretching across the sky and enveloping the entire monster within its range.
"Eeeyaaaahhh!"
Sensing an imminent threat, the Scorpio let out a screech and unleashed a concentrated beam of violet energy from its mouth.
Boom!
But the moment the beam neared Lynn, it struck an invisible wallA magical barrier.
A simple yet powerful defensive technique.
With his current strength, Lynn's barrier wasn't something the Scorpio could even scratch.
Rumble...!
Above, the magic circle crackled with raw energy, sending tremors through the sky.
ThenA wave of black lightning crashed downward.
The sheer force of the attack turned the very sky dark, swallowing the battlefield in a fierce explosion of energy.
It was enough power to obliterate all of Tokyo in an instant.
The resulting shockwave sent violent gusts rippling outward, shaking the earth beneath them.
Utaha and the others could only stare in awe, their mouths slightly agape at the sheer magnitude of the destruction before them.
It was the first time they had seen Lynn unleash an attack of such overwhelming scale.
Saeko tightened her grip on her sword.
"Lynn-sama is truly powerful..." Shiina Mahiru's eyes were blank, her gaze fixed solely on Lynn's figure.
Yuuko clung tightly to Saeko's shoulder, fearing that the monstrous winds would blow her away.
Even ghosts had weight, but that didn't mean they couldn't be swept up in this chaos!
"So cool!!"
Hana's eyes sparkled like a pair of bright bulbs.
She vigorously shook Miko's shoulders, her excitement overflowing. "Miko! Miko! Do you think we'll be able to fight like Lynn-sama one day?!"
Miko, still rattled by the spectacle, was forced out of her shock. "Umm maybe?"
After all, they had the Blessing System.
"Yay!"
With the answer she wanted, Hana jumped up in excitement.
She wanted to be just as cool as Lynn-sama!
With her antics breaking the tension, the girls finally snapped out of their daze.
Their gazes turned to Lynn's back, filled with admiration.
This was their Master! This was their Lynn-sama!!
"Haa"
After a while, the roaring black lightning finally subsided.
Lynn exhaled slightly, relieved.
Casting such a large-scale lightning spell had consumed a considerable amount of magic.
ButThe result was more than satisfactory.
Lynn surveyed the now-empty space before him.
Scorpio was gone. Completely erased.
Standing in place, Lynn opened his personal interface to check the changes in the [Gastrea Genome Codex].
---
[Gastrea Genome Codex (Factor Genome)]
Status: In Development (1/12)
Gene Archive (Recorded: Mole Factor, Hedgehog Factor,...)
Gene Fusion (Dual-Factor Fusion Available)
Factor Assimilation (Can parasitize other living beings and implant a 'Gastrea Seed,' turning them into puppets under the host's control)
Twelve Zodiac: Scorpio
---
Lynn's eyes narrowed.
Twelve Zodiac, Scorpio?
What the hell? Did he just collect a Stage V Gastrea as a genetic factor?!
Curious, Lynn focused his mind and entered the "Devil's Piece" space.
Suddenly, the moment he arrived, a surprised yelp echoed through the void.
"Master! That hurts!"
Lynn: "?"
He blinked in confusion.
And then, from the starry sky, a small and delicate figure emerged.
As the image became clearer, Lynn finally saw her face.
Her long, dark violet hair had wine-red highlights, styled into uneven twin spiral curls. A gothic hair accessory sat on one side, its edges resembling tiny thorns.
Her eyes shimmered like amber, deep within them a faint, scorpion-tail-shaped pattern.
Lynn blinked. "You're Scorpio?"
"Yep! Master!" she chirped sweetly, looking up at him with bright, innocent eyes.
Lynn: "..."
Seriously?
Was he some kind of loli magnet now?!
Why did every strange thing end up as a loli in his presence?!
"And you are?"
"Stella O'Brien."
"Just call me Stella, Master."
Lynn rubbed his temples. "So what exactly is happening here?"
Stella tilted her head cutely, tapping a finger against her lips. "Hmm well, Master, you and I have already formed a contract!"
"A contract?"
Lynn frowned.
After listening to her explanation, he sighed and gave her a look of exasperation.
Basically, she was now something akin to a Familia member under his command.
"Alright, so what can you do?"
Stella thought for a moment, then beamed. "Right now, I can summon a phantom projection of Scorpio!"
Lynn: "That doesn't sound very useful."
Stella pouted. "It'll be different once all the twelve Zodiac arrive!"
Lynn narrowed his eyes. "Wait are you saying you want me to collect the rest of the Zodiacs?!"
Stella blinked innocently. "Master doesn't want to?"
Lynn hesitated.
Damn it. He kinda did.
It wasn't his fault! The collection list in his skill panel was practically taunting him!
A grand Twelve Zodiac title, and only one acquired?
The sheer imbalance made his skin itchit was a nightmare for his completionist tendencies! Tsk. As a gamer, he couldn't stand seeing an unfinished panel; everything had to be maxed out.
Stella giggled sweetly, then added, "Oh, and Master, I have another function too~!"
As Lynn raised an eyebrow, Stella transformed into a radiant light and floated high into the starry sky.
Lynn froze.
Then, rubbing his chin, he muttered with an odd expression, "So now this starry sky has Scorpio?"
He turned to look at the vast, empty space surrounding it.
The Twelve Zodiac! Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
So yeah.
It did feel a little empty
.
.
.
Anime Gate: Devil Familia in a DxD Mashup World [Completed]
Coreal
As Stella hung in the starry sky, Lynn stood there for a moment, observing in silence before exiting the "Devil's Piece" space.
He had an odd feeling.
It was as if this space was nurturing an entire universe.
Shaking his head, he decided to set that thought aside for now. The completion of the starry space within the "Devil's Piece" was still light-years away. It was too distant a goal to focus on at the moment.
One step at a time.
Closing his personal interface, Lynn walked toward Utaha and the others. His gaze, however, shifted to a distant spot.
"I see you~!"
Far away, a blonde-haired loli hiding within the ruins stiffened.
"Ah... I've been discovered..."
Her voice was monotone, almost like a mechanical recitation.
The others followed Lynn's gaze toward the source of the sound.
"A little bug snuck in?" Saeko's voice was calm.
None of them were particularly surprised by the situation. It was natural for someone to come investigate Tokyo's sudden downfall.
But since she was here, leaving wasn't an option anymore~
Tina Sprout's body stiffened.
She hesitantly stepped out of the ruins, making it clear she had no hostile intentions.
"Based on the current intelligence analysis, Tina is completely outmatched. Therefore..."
Tina slowly raised both hands, assuming the posture of a prisoner surrendering herself.
"Tina wants to be captured."
Lynn: "..."
Saeko's lips twitched slightly, and she seemed momentarily speechless.
But... well, at least she knew how to adapt.
Tina had seen everything from a distancethe way Stage V Gastrea had been obliterated in an instant.
She had no choice but to surrender.
And Lynn had, unintentionally, acquired yet another loli.
He sighed, shaking his head subtly before gesturing with his hand.
"Alright, let's go back. Time to update your blessings."
[Busujima Saeko]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: SSS 1378
Agility: SS 1096
Endurance: SS 1035
Magic: SS 1028
Unique Abilities: [Bloodlust] (Details omitted) & [Blade Devil] (Details omitted)
Development Ability: Swordmaster I
---
Lynn took one look at Saeko's status and nodded to himself.
"Alright, this should be the limit."
He couldn't help but marvel at how fast she had grown.
Saeko let out a soft breath before smiling slightly. "Then I leave it to you, Master."
Lynn pressed a finger against her back.
Level Up!
"Nngh..."
A suppressed moan escaped her lips, causing Mahiru and the others to blush furiously.
Saeko... why did she sound so... seductive?!
She had to be doing it on purpose!
Moments later, her blessing was updated.
---
[Busujima Saeko]
Rank: High-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Abilities: [Bloodlust] (Details omitted), [Blade Devil] (Details omitted) & [Black Erosion Blade]
[Black Erosion Blade]
Bacterial Resonance: Absorbs trace amounts of Gastrea virus upon weapon attacks, converting it into stamina recovery.
Blood Massacre Awakening: Consecutive kills cause the weapon to be gradually covered in black erosion patterns, eventually increasing attack range by 200%.
---
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
Seeing abilities related to the Gastrea virus appear, he immediately understood.
It was because Saeko had slain so many Gastrea.
Lynn recorded her updated blessing.
Saeko's eyes were drawn to one line the moment she saw it.
High-Class Devil.
Then, her gaze shifted lower.
[Black Erosion Blade]
A smile spread across her lips.
"This must be because of the Gastrea creatures..."
Lynn briefly explained his theory.
But honestly, anyone who saw "Gastrea Virus" mentioned in the skill's description could make the connection.
After hearing Lynn's explanation, Saeko nodded in understanding.
"However..."
Lynn stroked his chin thoughtfully. "This skill is useful in the Black Bullet world."
After all, it included a stamina regeneration effect.
But it was only effective against Gastrea.
If Saeko left this world, the skill would essentially become half-useless.
Saeko simply smiled. "Better than nothing."
Then she added, her eyes glimmering with a bloodthirsty light, "Besides..."
"Now I can kill even better in this world... and grind more experience."
Seeing Saeko awaken a new skill, Miko suddenly had a thought.
"Wait... doesn't this mean we all have the potential to awaken new abilities?"
A surge of excitement bubbled in her chest.
Her Spirit Devil ability was practically useless!
Sure, it worked wonders against spiritual beings, but when it came to fighting normal monsters?
She was practically helpless!
She had even considered studying magic techniques to compensate.
Unless she could gather powerful cursed spirits...
But...She had yet to encounter anything strong enough.
And even if she did, she probably wouldn't be able to enslave it.
How frustrating!
But if she could awaken a new skill...Maybe things would finally change?
Miko's heart pounded in anticipation.
"A new skill?!"
Hearing Miko's speculation, the others also got excited.
But their excitement was short-lived after Lynn updated their blessing.
---
"Tch."
Utaha clicked her tongue in disappointment. "So it's only Saeko, huh..."
Miko's face fell, her hopes completely crushed.
Lynn patted her back, offering her an alternative.
"If you can't enslave strong spirits, why not befriend them and form contracts instead?"
"Contracts?"
Miko's expression gradually brightened.
Wait... befriending spirits?
Her face instantly stiffened again.
She still hadn't forgotten the times spirits scared her so badly she nearly wet herself.
Spirits... all of them deserved to die!
Recalling her past humiliations, Miko felt her whole body heat up in frustration.
She was burning up!
Meanwhile, Lynn continued updating the blessings for the others.
Utaha and the others, who were already mid-tier Devils, had significant increases in their stats, but they hadn't yet reached the limit for a rank-up.
Lower-tier Devils like Yuuko and Hana, however, successfully ranked up to mid-tier Devils.
Aside from the rank-up, there weren't many other changes.
Possibly due to her frequent use of her fists in combat, Hana developed the [Pugilist I] ability.
As for Yuuko, she gained:
[Netherworld Resistance I] (Grants immunity to spirit-related mental attacks; Increases all stats by 20% in dark environments or areas filled with negative energy.)
"That's a pretty solid ability," Lynn commented.
Yuuko grinned and immediately pounced on him, rubbing her soft chest against his head.
"Master, master~ When will you finally experience the taste of a ghost?"
Her sly eyes gleamed mischievously as she whispered teasingly.
Lynn twitched slightly at her words.
If he ignored an invitation like that, he really wouldn't be worthy of being the protagonist.
He patted her lightly. "Come to my room tonight."
Yuuko's eyes lit up instantly!
The sixty-year-old ghost virgin was finally going to give away her precious first time!
"Then you better not forget, Master~"
Leaving behind those words, Yuuko practically floated away in joy.
Well she was a ghost, after all.
Utaha, watching this unfold, just smirked without saying anything.
Shiina Mahiru opened her mouth slightly, then pressed her lips together, feeling a bit gloomy.
She had seen this coming for a long time.
Yuuko was way too forward with Lynn!
Always teasing and flirting with him at every opportunity.
This was bound to happen sooner or later.
Still she had met him before Yuuko did!
The most frustrated one, though, had to be Miko.
"Hey, Miko, weren't you the first to become part of the Familia?" Hana asked curiously. "Have you ever y'know climbed into his bed?"
"C-Climbed into his bed?!"
Miko's face turned bright red as she stared at Hana in shock.
That was way too harsh!
Hana ...Are you secretly evil inside?
Seeing Miko's reaction, Hana gave her an "Ah, I see" kind of look.
Miko's expression darkened.
Don't you dare "understand" me like that!
I'm sorry for not having climbed into his bed yet, okay?!
As she fumed internally, Hana suddenly spoke up with a serious expression.
"Don't worry, Miko. I'll help you!"
"W-What?"
Miko stammered, completely caught off guard.
H-Help her?
H-How exactly?
Miko felt both embarrassed and a little curious.
Definitely not because she wanted to know the details!
Hana, looking determined, patted Miko's shoulder like a true big sister.
"Don't worry, Miko! Once I get into the president's bed, I'll help you too!"
"...Huh?"
Miko's eyes widened in shock.
So that's what you meant?!
I can't believe you, Hana!
You said you'd help, but you're just trying to get in first!
This friendship is OVER!
Miko glared at Hana with betrayal in her heart.
Hana, you traitor!
Meanwhile, it was finally Tendo Kisara's turn to receive her blessing update.
She looked somewhat expectant as she quickly removed her top, baring her smooth back in preparation for Lynn's touch.
A moment later
Lynn placed his hand on her back.
Her blessing information surfaced.
---
[Tendo Kisara]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: C613
Agility: C687
Endurance: E437
Magic: E497
Unique Skills: [Tendo Sword Style], [Asura state], [Vengeful Devil], & [Lament of the Fallen]
---
Lynn scanned the details.
Her level hadn't increased, but
"Your stats have risen significantly."
Due to [Tendo Sword Style], Kisara's strength and agility had grown rapidly.
Not to mention all the battles she'd been fighting lately.
And just like Saeko
"You've also awakened a new skill."
.
.
.
[Lament of the Fallen]
Mark of Hatred (Deals 50% more damage to Gastrea.)
Final Declaration (The next attack is guaranteed to hit the target's weak point.)
Another new skill related to Gastrea.
"Final Declaration, huh? Seems pretty useful."
Lynn copied down the updated blessing information for Kisara.
Seeing her newly acquired skills, Kisara chuckled to herself.
She wasn't any weaker than Saeko!
After finishing Kisara's update, Lynn turned his attention to Tina.
"Alright, it's your turn now."
Tina blinked in surprise and pointed at herself.
Lynn nodded silently then explained to her what she should do.
After a brief pause, Tina sighed and began taking off her clothes.
"Damn lolicon pervert"
She muttered under her breath but obediently exposed her back to him.
Lynn pressed a Devil's Piece onto her back, and her blessing information surfaced.
---
[Tina Sprout]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills:
[Gastrea Factor: Owl] (All stats increase during nighttime combat.)
[Battlefield Topology] (Automatically generates a 3D tactical map by analyzing terrain, airflow, and sound.)
---
"So, she's not a special Devil"
But having two skills was pretty decent.
"Battlefield Topology huh."
He nodded to himself.
"Seems like she has the potential to be a great tactical commander."
After copying her blessing information, he briefly explained her current situation.
Tina took a moment to process everything.
Then, her eyes widened in realization.
She examined her wings with curiosity. "So this is why the Cursed Children have been disappearing?"
She then understood that the Cursed Children no longer had to fear turning into Gastrea!
After all, the Gastrea virus was completely gone from their bodies.
Tina stood frozen in place, feeling as if she had been blessed by the goddess of fortune.
No. More accuratelyShe had been blessed by her new Master, Lynn.
Slowly lifting her gaze, she memorized his face.
He was their savior, the one who had rescued the Cursed Children.
Taking a deep breath, she bowed her head solemnly. "Thank you for granting me a new life!"
For the first time, she felt a trace of gratitude toward the humans who sent her on this Tokyo mission.
She lifted her head, her expression filled with determination. "I'm familiar with Osaka and America. Please assign me to those regionsI'll provide support there!"
Tina had made up her mind.
She would lead the way and bring all the Cursed Children back!
Lynn patted her head, entrusting her with the task. "Alright, I'm counting on you."
Still, he had his doubts.
If he remembered correctly, Tina's owl factor caused her to be practically useless during the day due to extreme sleepiness.
Would that weakness disappear now that she had reincarnated as a Devil?
Shaking his head, he moved on to the next task.
More and more Cursed Children were arriving from different parts of the world.
He needed to reincarnate them into Devils as soon as possible.
Late Night Lynn's Bedroom
"Master, I'm here~"
Yuuko phased through the wall.
"Huh?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow as he glanced at her.
She tilted her head down to inspect herself. "Master, do you not like it?"
She was wearing a loose, pure white robe.
"No, I like it."
Lynn smirked and pulled her down from the air.
"Ah!"
---
The Next Morning
Yuuko licked Lynn's skin with her soft pink tongue.
"Master, how does a ghost taste?"
Her long, narrow eyes gleamed with mischief as she traced circles on his chest with her fingers. "Compared to Utaha and the others I bet it's a whole new experience?"
Lynn rubbed his chin and replied righteously, "I believe such matters require extensive testing and repeated experimentation before any conclusions can be drawn."
Yuuko paused, then rolled her eyes at him.
A sly glint appeared in her gaze as she floated up, still bare-skinned.
"There are many perks to being a ghost, you know~"
"Like unlocking more 'creative' positions?"
Lynn's eyes narrowed as he let out a satisfied exhale.
---
Main World
Afternoon Lynn's Apartment Living Room
Having left his Familia in charge of handling the Black Bullet world's affairs, Lynn found himself with nothing to do.
He sat in the living room, sparring with Koneko once again.
Nearby, his kitty, Fuse Midori, pouted as she stared at Koneko, who was sitting on his lap.
She felt her territory was being invaded.
Meanwhile, Koneko was absentmindedly playing a handheld game, occasionally glancing at Midori.
Then, as if on a whim, she deactivated the magic that hid her cat ears.
"Huh?"
Lynn looked down and raised a brow. "Koneko, why are your ears showing?"
Koneko pursed her lips. "My magic's a little unstable"
Magic instability?
Lynn's expression turned a bit odd.
But he didn't say anything.
Midori, however, continued staring intentlyher tail flicking aggressively.
This shameless cat!
She's definitely doing this on purpose!
Koneko hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, "Senpai, my ears are really itchy"
She was clearly asking for head pats.
Lynn was briefly stunned, then a smirk appeared on his face as he reached out and placed his hand on Koneko's head.
His large hand gently rubbed her soft cat ears.
"Mmm"
Koneko trembled slightly, and then her breathing turned heavier.
Lynn froze mid-motion.
Is she about to go into heat?
His expression turned odd.
If he remembered correctly, weren't young nekomata at risk of serious health issues if they went into heat before fully maturing?
With that thought, he immediately stopped.
Koneko looked up at him, her golden eyes misty, staring blankly as if wondering why he had stopped.
Just as Lynn was trying to think of an excuse, Midori suddenly pushed in between them.
"Master!"
She burrowed into Lynn's chest, her eyes filled with unshed tears.
She felt abandoned.
There was no time for shameher master was about to be stolen away!
Lynn sighed and placed his hand on Midori's head, gently patting her as well.
"Mrrr"
The moment she felt his touch, Midori instantly cheered up, a silly grin spreading across her face.
Koneko froze, her expression going blank as she silently watched Midori. The strange feeling from earlier completely vanished.
Lynn let out a small sigh of relief.
Looks like she won't go into heat after all.
He honestly hadn't expected that just rubbing Koneko's ears would cause such a reaction.
Looks like he'd have to be more careful in the future.
As he watched Koneko and Midori silently competing for his affection, a thought crossed his mind.
Having two cats wasn't so bad after all.
I wonder if Rias would be willing to transfer her over?
Just as Koneko and Midori continued their silent battle over head pats, the apartment's doorbell suddenly rang.
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
At this time?
His familia members were all busy grinding experience in the Black Bullet world
"Can it be Natsuki-chan?"
---
"Master! I'll get it!"
Hearing the doorbell, Midori momentarily forgot about competing with Koneko. She wanted to be a good, responsible kitty!
She opened the door
Only to see a refined beauty wearing thin-framed glasses, exuding an air of intelligence.
Midori blinked in confusion. "You are?"
She had never seen this girl before.
Sona was also slightly surprised when she saw Midori.
"Sona Sitri," she introduced herself before asking, "Is Lynn home?"
"Master?"
Midori hesitated for a moment before stepping aside. "Please come in."
''Master, huh''
''Is she one of his peerage members?''
As Sona stepped into the living room, she was slightly nervous, her thighs unconsciously pressing together.
But
Her steps came to an abrupt halt when she saw Koneko sitting comfortably in Lynn's lap.
A flicker of shock flashed through her eyes.
''Why is Rias's peerage member here?''
''And why are they so close?!''
Her fists clenched slightly.
She took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure.
A cold glint flickered in her eyes before quickly disappearing.
"Rias"
"You said you won't seduce my fianc?"
"Then what the hell is this?!"
"You're even using catgirl tactics on him!"
"Calm down, Sona! Stay calm."
At that moment, Lynn finally noticed Sona's presence.
"Oh? What a rare visitor."
Lynn had no ill feelings toward Sona.
After all, she had given him a house and some magic spells.
Of course, those gifts had technically been delivered through Rias
Ever since the broken engagement, this was only his second time seeing Sona.
He had assumed she would be avoiding him until the engagement was officially dissolved.
And yetHere she was.
Lynn had no idea what she was thinking.
But if she came looking for him, there could only be one reason.
"So, is the engagement finally dissolved?"
Sona visibly stiffened. "E-Engagement?"
She suddenly remembered that was still a thing.
"N-No, that's not it"
She looked a little awkward.
Lynn was silent for a moment before asking, "Then why are you here?"
Without a word, Sona pulled out a stack of scrolls, spell formations, and weapons before dumping them onto the floor.
Lynn's eye twitched.
Sona took a deep breath before explaining. "These are..."
"Holy-attribute spell: Penance Chain"
"Light-attribute spell: Radiant Engraving"
"The holy weapon: Nail of the Penitent"
"And a light-attribute weapon: Photon Collapse Hand Cannon"
Lynn was speechless.
What the hell is going on?
.
.
.
An awkward silence filled the air.
Lynn stared at the pile of magic scripts, weapons, and various items scattered across the floor, speechless.
Finally, after Sona had finished taking everything out, she spoke. "T-This is your compensation?"
Sona hesitated for a moment before explaining, "I heard from Rias that you've been looking for holy and light-attribute artifacts recently."
"Compensation?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow, recalling their previous conversation.
If the engagement was annulled, she promised him compensation.
"But we haven't actually broken off the engagement yet, have we?" Lynn asked, puzzled.
Sona stiffened slightly, stumbling over her words. "W-Well it's only a matter of time"
"Fine, whatever."
Lynn reluctantly accepted her reasoning.
It wasn't like he could refuse if she was dead set on giving him stuff.
"By the way..."
Lynn narrowed his eyes slightly. "Did you rob the Church or something?"
Hearing that, Sona regained her composure, pushing up her glasses as she calmly responded, "Just some insignificant pests."
"Pests?"
Lynn's eyelid twitched, but in the end, he decided to let it go.
No point in exposing her when he was the one benefiting from this.
These holy and light-attribute artifacts would be perfect for Mahiru.
Wait Would it be bad to give Mahiru something that Sona gifted him?
Then again, Mahiru was already his, so technically, giving it to his Peerage wasn't the same as giving it away.
"Midori, make Miss Sona a cup of tea."
For bringing all this, she at least deserved that much.
Sona pursed her lips slightly.
"Miss Sona"
"He calls Rias by her name, though"
For some reason, that thought made her chest feel a little tight.
She silently turned her gaze toward Koneko, who was still nestled comfortably in Lynn's lap.
Feeling the cold stare, Koneko stiffened slightly before locking eyes with Sona.
Koneko: ""
She remembered that Sona had an engagement with Senpai, right?
Was it really okay for her to be sitting on his lap like this?
Wouldn't that be inappropriate?
ButShe was just a cat, wasn't she?
Unable to handle Sona's intense gaze any longer, Koneko quietly stood up. "Senpai, I'll head back now."
Without waiting for anyone to stop her, she activated her teleportation magic and disappeared from the apartment.
---
With Koneko gone, silence returned to the apartment.
Sona sipped her tea, feeling the awkwardness settle in.
She had come here on impulse.
But because of their rather eventful first meeting, the dynamic between them was now a little strange.
She wanted to ease the tension.
But the only solution she could think of was throwing more money.
After finishing her tea rather quickly, Sona took her leave.
Lynn, on the other hand, was completely confused by her actions.
Did she really come here just to drop off gifts?
Wait a minute
Was this woman trying to sugar mommy him?
At that moment
[Ding!]
His phone buzzed.
[Rias: "What did you do to Koneko?"]
Kuoh Academy ~ Occult Research Club.
Rias stared at Koneko, who had just returned from Lynn's place and seemed off.
After pondering for a moment, she sent Lynn a message.
This stateIt was obvious.
She was in heat.
Rias' expression turned complicated. Lynn that bastard, he wouldn't have
[Lynn: "Does rubbing the ears count?"]
The moment she saw his reply, Rias blinked in confusion.
That's it?
She had assumed something much worse.
Rias shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
ButWas Koneko really that innocent?
Just having her ears rubbed and she was already like this?
At least she hadn't gone full-blown heat modeit was still manageable.
Rias rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
"Maybe I should just forbid Koneko from seeing Lynn anymore."
It hadn't even been that long, and she was already showing her ears to him.
Next time, was she going to show her tail too?
"My little girl is all grown up," Rias sighed like a mother sending her daughter off to marriage.
[Ding!]
A new message popped up.
[Lynn: [Image Attached]. "Also, tell Sona thanks for the generous donation."]
Since Sona was being this generous, shouldn't the esteemed Miss Rias follow suit?
Lynn was hinting at her hard.
[Rias: "???"]
Rias' expression turned complicated.
The picture was filled with magic scripts, spells, and holy/light-attribute weapons.
She didn't even need to askshe already knew Sona was behind it.
Not too long ago, she had received news.
A Fallen Angel church in Kuoh had been wiped out.
And without a doubt, Sona was responsible for it.
Diplomatic incident! Diplomatic incident!!!
She did all that just to deliver holy-attribute weapons to Lynn?!
Sona
You
You've fallen for him, haven't you?
This incident was definitely going to reach the Four Satans.
At leastSona had been rational about it.
She had specifically chosen to target the weakest faction of the Three Great Powersthe Fallen Angels.
So, in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't that big of a deal.
"Still, lady Serafall is definitely going to find out about this"
Rias sighed helplessly.
---
UnderworldLeviathan's Office
Sona's actions were swiftly placed on Serafall's desk.
Staring at the report in her hands, Serafall frowned. "Destroyed a Fallen Angel stronghold in Kuoh?"
"Sona did this?"
She found it hard to believe.
This didn't seem like something Sona would do at all.
But as she read through the entire report, her expression froze.
Then, she clenched the papers tightly, gritting her teeth.
"My dear Sona she really went this far for that man?!"
She wasn't okay with this.
Serafall's eyes welled up with tears before she resolutely declared, "It has to be that man!"
"That man must've threatened Sona with breaking off the engagement!"
"Uuu Sona, you've suffered so much"
Of course, Serafall knew the truthshe had been aware of Sona's plan to annul the engagement from the very beginning.
But this wasn't a simple matter.
It concerned the entire Underworld.
Serafall, along with Sirzechs and the other two Satan-class Devils, were part of the new generation of rulers. Their foundations in the Underworld were still shaky.
If they failed to fulfill their promises, the Underworld would only become more unstable.
Sure, they could suppress everything with sheer powerbut then, how would they be any different from the old Satan factions?
And soThe engagement between the Sitri and Valifer families became a stabilizing force for the Underworld.
Aside from her, the other three Satans all valued it greatly.
As a Satan herself, Serafall understood their reasoning.
"Still, I just can't let Sona bear this burden alone!"
Her eyes burned with determination.
This engagement was originally hers to begin with.
For Sona's happiness
Her expression turned unreadable as she fell into deep thought.
A Few Days LaterBlack Bullet World
The fall of Tokyo sent shockwaves across the world.
Every major power turned their attention to Tokyo.
Then, they were stunned again.
Scorpio was dead?
ButHow did he die? Who killed him?
No one knew!
Just as they prepared to investigate, they suddenly realizedSomething was wrong in their own city!
The number of Cursed Children was mysteriously decreasing!
---
Lynn had reincarnated another batch of Cursed Children, growing stronger once again.
Then, on the map of the Black Bullet world, he marked an 'X' over the location of Sendai.
Sendai had fallen after Tokyo.
Shuchiin AcademyFaculty Office
Sitting at her desk, Natsuki squinted her eyes with an exasperated expression.
"Yomi is missing?"
After putting down her phone, she massaged her temples.
Finding people?
That wasn't exactly her forte.
Then, she suddenly remembered the Devil flyer Lynn had given Yomi.
She wondered if Yomi had used it.
It would probably cost her an arm and a leg, but At least she'd stay alive.
Considering Lynn's current strength, even Hagoromo Gitsune wouldn't be much of a problem for him.
After some thought, she sent Lynn a message.
---
Black Bullet World
Lynn received Natsuki's message.
"Isayama Yomi"
He recalled the long-haired woman from a few days ago.
ButHe couldn't sense the Devil flyer's call across worlds.
Turning around, he left for the main world.
---
Main WorldA Certain Shrine
Isayama Yomi and Iwanaga Kotoko were in a miserable state.
Kotoko shot Yomi a resentful glare.
If not for this woman, she wouldn't be in this mess.
Feeling a little guilty, Yomi awkwardly apologized, "Sorry for dragging you into this."
Her voice was weakshe was clearly exhausted.
Looking around the area, her eyes filled with endless fatigue.
This
This had to be some kind of illusionary space.
That was the conclusion she and Kotoko had come to.
ButEven knowing that, they had no way to escape.
"So"
Kotoko said firmly, "This definitely has something to do with Hagoromo Gitsune."
Yomi simply let out a weak "Mm."
She barely even had the strength to speak.
Kotoko sighed.
"So why haven't you used that 'save-my-life' flyer yet?"
Hearing this, Yomi hesitated. "Given our situation if I use it now, I'll probably have to pay a steep price, right?"
Kotoko rolled her eyes. "We're already at this point."
"No matter how big the price is, can it be worse than this?"
Even if they didn't summon the Devil, being trapped here indefinitely was no different from dying.
"But"
Yomi was still hesitant.
Kotoko had had enough.
Without another word, she reached into Yomi's pocket and pulled out the flyer.
Yomi was momentarily startled.
But Kotoko ignored her reaction, flashing her a sweet smile before raising the Devil flyer high.
"Please help us, Mr. Devil!"
As soon as the words left her mouth
The flyer in her hand glowed brilliantly.
A magic circle instantly unfolded.
Lynn's figure slowly emerged from within.
HoweverUpon seeing Yomi and Kotoko, Lynn raised an eyebrow.
"So who's the employer?"
.
.
.
"She's the one."
Iwanaga Kotoko quickly pointed at Isayama Yomi.
Lynn glanced at Yomi, then at the devil contract flyer still in Kotoko's hand.
"Uh"
Kotoko gave an awkward chuckle before shoving the flyer into Yomi's hands.
"."
Yomi opened her mouth as if to say something but ultimately just sighed in silence.
No helping it.
After all, she was the one who dragged Kotoko into this mess.
But who could've expected things to go south like this?
Every other time, things had gone smoothly.
Yet this time
Yomi's eyes flickered slightly.
This time, they had run into a really powerful yokai.
She cursed in her mind before meeting Lynn's crimson eyes. After a brief pause, she nodded. "Yeah, it's me."
Lynn nodded in return.
Now that the client was confirmed, things would be simple.
His gaze shifted to take in their surroundings.
The sky was dim, with 108 floating bronze mirrors hovering in the air, their edges inscribed with ominous crimson runes.
Strangely, the mirrors didn't reflect them.
Instead, they showed various historical scenessome depicted burning cities, others serene spring gardens.
As if each mirror contained an entirely different world.
"This place is weird," Yomi warned. "Every mirror reflects a past battle."
"Kotoko and I already shattered eight of them."
Hearing this, Kotoko scratched her cheek sheepishly.
To be fair, Yomi had done all the work. She had just analyzed the situation, yet Yomi still included her in the count.
Yomi continued, "I figure if we destroy all the mirrors, we'll be able to escape this strange space."
Her expression grew heavy.
Just breaking eight mirrors had already left her in a battered state.
And there were still a hundred left.
If it were just her and Kotoko, they'd never make it out.
That's why Even though she had hesitated before summoning a devil Now that he was here, she had no more doubts.
She was even beginning to consider what price she would have to pay.
As for whether Lynn could actually get them out of here?
Someone capable of chatting casually with Natsuki-dono probably wasn't weak.
Kotoko, meanwhile, was discreetly sizing up the summoned devil.
Something felt off.
Weren't devils supposed to be hideous and terrifying?
Why was this one so good-looking?
"Wait That's the Shuchiin Academy uniform" she muttered under her breath.
So he's a student at the same school?
Can this guy really be trusted?
Suspicion flickered in her eyes.
---
"Alright, I've got the gist of it."
Between Yomi's explanation and his own magical probing, Lynn had already figured out the nature of this place.
In short
If he wanted to be direct, he could just blast through it with raw magical power.
This was just an illusion space.
For someone of Lynn's level, it was a joke.
If he wanted to be more refined about it, he could just use the Blade Devil to cut through or use a Lightning Strike to shatter everything.
"Alright, let's talk payment first."
"Eh?"
Kotoko blinked, surprised by his bluntness.
Yomi, however, remained expressionless.
In fact, she looked somewhat relieved.
Since Lynn was already talking about payment, it meant he was confident he could get them out.
Now, the problem was on her end.
What could she offer?
Yomi glanced down at herself.
Aside from her body, she possessed her prized sword, Shishiothe heirloom katana of the Isayama family.
WellShe understood that the choice wasn't really hers to make.
After all, this was a deal involving two lives.
Yomi sighed inwardly.
She felt like she had already sighed more today than in her entire life.
Steeling herself, she said seriously, "Whatever the devil lord desires, he may take."
At the very least, she would get to live.
She didn't want to leave Kagura behind
Thinking of her sister Kagura, her heart softened slightly.
Lynn, seeing this, didn't hesitate.
"Alright, then join my peerage."
Yomi wasn't surprised.
For a human, she was considered quite the talent.
"Fine."
She nodded without hesitation.
Once she had made up her mind, she wouldn't regret it.
Lynn raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by how quickly she agreed.
Kotoko, on the other hand, nearly yelped in shock.
"peerage? What does that mean?"
She blinked her seemingly innocent eyes at Lynn, curiosity shining in them.
Lynn didn't look at her, answering casually, "In simple terms, it means she's now part of my harem."
"H-Harem?!"
Kotoko was completely dumbfounded!
Did he really have to say it so openly?!
Were all devils this straightforward?!
She couldn't understand it at all!
Even Yomi stiffened slightly.
Did joining a peerage mean fulfilling the duties of a wife too?
She felt a bit uncomfortable but managed to keep her expression neutral.
Her gaze wavered slightly.
So she was getting married just like that?
But then againMaybe this wasn't so bad?
Even though they'd only met twiceno, wait.
He was a Devil.
Yomi felt conflicted.
If she really had to fulfill a wife's duties, she was going to need some time to adjust.
Iwanaga Kotoko, seeing Yomi lost in thought as if she was daydreaming, couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Lynn glanced at Kotoko with an amused expression. "What's wrong? Thinking of joining my peerage too?"
"N-No way!"
Kotoko frantically waved her hands and even took a step back.
Sure, this Devil was handsome and pretty much her type, but joining a harem? That was a bit much...
She forced a smile. "Uh, well, my delicate little body probably couldn't handle the 'impact' of someone like you, so I'll pass."
"No worries. Once you become a Devil, your body would naturally strengthen."
Kotoko froze, then looked like she was about to cry. "D-Devil-san, I have a loli's body! There's no way I'd even fit!"
Lynn's expression turned strange. "Alright, alright. I was just messing with you."
Now that the payment was settled, there was no need to stick around.
"It's time to leave."
Hearing that, Kotoko patted her chest in relief.
Then she tilted her head in curiosity. "So, Devil-san, how do you plan to get us out?"
She and Yomi had been trapped in this space for days.
She knew very well how strong Yomi was, but even after fighting so many battles, Yomi had barely managed to break eight mirrors before she hit her limit.
How was this Devil going to do it?
She figured he would follow the rules too, right?
Based on her observations, this space had specific rules.
Through Yomi's battles, she had already confirmed two of them.
First, the gaze rule.
If someone stared at a mirror for too long, the scene within would materialize into reality, forcing them into combat.
Second, the obsession strike.
Each mirror contained an echo of its creator. Breaking a mirror meant facing the lingering will of its owner.
That was what drained Yomi so much.
Her heart was already fragile, and the constant barrage of negative emotions was mentally exhausting. If she pushed any further, she felt like she'd drown in their obsessions.
Kotoko relayed her findings to Lynn, her voice laced with concern.
But Lynn simply raised a hand. "No need to worry."
"All I need is..."
"A single move."
"...??" Kotoko blinked in confusion.
A surge of black magic exploded from Lynn's body!
Like roaring flames, his aura swept across the entire space in an instant.
Crack! Crack!
The illusionary mirror space couldn't withstand the sheer magnitude of his power. Fractures spread through the air, followed by
BOOM!
The entire mirror dimension shattered!
The golden hues of the setting sun bathed them in light as reality reasserted itself.
Kotoko's eyes widened, her voice trembling. "A-Are you sure he's just a Devil? He's a full-on monster!"
She had never encountered a Devil before, but comparing the raw power Lynn had just displayed with what she knew of other supernatural beings, it was clear
This guy was on a completely different level. He was a monster.
"A-A Devil?"
"H-He's terrifying!"
"Run! Run for your lives!!"
"W-We're doomed! Goddess of Wisdom-sama has been taken by a Devil!!"
The yokai scattered in every direction, screaming nonsense about how their Goddess of Wisdom was about to be devoured.
...
Kotoko twitched. Her small hands clenched into fists.
Seriously?! Those guys were beyond unreliable!
Meanwhile, Yomi stared blankly at Lynn. "You actually..."
"You just used raw magic to break through?"
It was such a simple and brute-force approachbut damn, was it effective.
This man...
No, her soon-to-be master...
Could he be on the verge of reaching the level of Satan?
Hiss
Yomi's normally calm expression cracked as she sucked in a breath.
Was she about to take a shortcut to the top?
Becoming a peerage member of a future Satan?
This was a massive win...
---
"Let's begin the reincarnation ritual."
Yomi's body tensed.
But before she could react, Lynn, while gazing in one direction, added, "Though I'd love to get started, we've got a little pest to deal with first."
Pest?
Yomi and Kotoko both blinked in confusion.
Then they heard itthe sound of heavy footsteps.
"Well, well, I was wondering why you were taking so long to come out from my mirror Space."
The two women turned towards the voice.
A massive fox stepped into view.
"Yaaaaaa!!"
.
.
.
"YAAAAAA!"
A deafening roar erupted from the demon fox's massive, foul-smelling maw!
Isayama Yomi's gaze sharpened as she instinctively drew her treasured bladeShishio.
"My spirit beast!"
"Ranguren (Nue)!"
With a sharp call, a colossal mythical beast materialized beside hera fusion of various creatures, bearing the head of a lion, the face of a monkey, and tails of squirming snakes.
The next second, both master and spirit beast charged forward in unison!
BOOM!
A lightning slash struck the golden-glowing demon fox.
But the force of the impact sent a numbing shock through Yomi's hands.
She narrowed her eyes and looked closelyShishio's blade had landed on the fox's body, yet there wasn't even a scratch!
Her heart immediately sank.
Ranguren lunged with its jaws wide open, clamping down on the demon fox, only to tear away mere wisps of golden light.
The massive demon fox looked down coldly at Yomi before suddenly lifting its front paw
Boom!
Yomi reacted quickly, raising Shishio to block the strike.
Even so, the sheer force behind it sent her flying backward!
"Damn it!"
Yomi clicked her tongue in frustration.
She couldn't even put up a fight against this yokai.
The demon fox let out a disdainful snort. "Since you've come this far"
"Prepare to become my sacrifice!"
Its piercing gaze locked onto Iwanaga Kotoko.
Huh?
Sacrifice?
Me? Why me???
Kotoko blinked in disbelief before immediately darting behind Lynn.
She clung to his back and looked up at him with pleading eyes.
"D-Dear Devil, you'll protect me, right?" she asked in a soft, pitiful voice.
Lynn stroked his chin and narrowed his eyes. "Was that part of our contract?"
"C-Contract?"
Kotoko froze on the spot.
Wait a minute did we even set any terms back then?!
Before she could protest further, the demon fox lunged, its massive maw descending right over Lynn's head.
"Yaaaa"
"Tch what a noisy pest."
Lynn's gaze turned ice-cold.
With a simple wave of his hand, a brilliant white slash shot forth!
The demon fox's screech was abruptly cut off.
Blood spilled from its neck as its severed head crashed onto the ground with a heavy thud!
Its enormous body slowly disintegrated into golden light, leaving behind only a single fox tail on the ground.
Lynn narrowed his eyes.
The tail twitched.
Then, as if realizing the danger, it suddenly escaped!
Lynn didn't even hesitatedark chains of magic erupted from his hand, wrapping around the tail and yanking it back.
The tail trembled violently, struggling with all its might.
But Lynn remained unfazed. He simply tightened his grip
"Hmm?"
A phantom figure flickered into existence before him.
Their eyes met.
Lynn smirked slightly. "Well, well Hagoromo Gitsune herself."
"Hmph."
Hagoromo let out a cold snort, seemingly realizing that retrieving her tail was impossible.
So, she left him with just one message: "Take good care of it."
Then, her spectral form shattered into nothingness.
Yomi, who had just managed to recover, nodded. "That confirms it. She's in Kyoto."
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "And what about the nine-tailed fox Yasaka? She is the leader of the Kyoto Yokai, right?"
Yomi hesitated. "The Countermeasure Bureau suspects that Hagoromo may be collaborating with the Alliance of Hell."
Lynn froze for a second.
"Hell?"
"Hades?"
Lynn: "..."
This Mashup anime world was way too complicated.
Even Hagoromo was working with Hades now?
Waitdid she even qualify for that?! That was Hades after all!!!
Shaking his head, he decided not to dwell on it.
Instead, he turned to Yomi. "Let's go. It's time for your reincarnation ritual."
Yomi fell silent for a moment.
But she didn't refuse.
Her lack of protest was answer enough.
Lynn then shifted his gaze toward Kotoko, a knowing smirk playing at his lips.
"Looks like you dodged a bullet this time."
"Ahaha" Kotoko let out an awkward laugh.
Seeing Lynn and Yomi heading down the mountain, she quickly followed.
But before leaving, she stole one last glance at the now-empty shrine behind them.
At the Foot of the Mountain
Kotoko was still trailing behind Lynn and Yomi when she suddenly felt a gaze on her.
She stiffened.
Turning slightly, she saw Lynn looking at her with a rather amused expression.
Kotoko immediately put on her most innocent face and blinked.
"Can I watch the reincarnation ritual?" she asked with feigned curiosity.
"No."
Lynn rejected her instantly.
Kotoko pouted. "Not even a little negotiation?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. "There is."
"Oh?" Kotoko perked up slightly.
"Become my Familia."
"Yeah, no thanks." Kotoko rejected him just as quickly.
She then sighed dramatically. "Fine, I'll take my leave then."
But just as she was about to go, she suddenly grinned and pulled out her phone.
"Buuuut~ how about we exchange contacts?" She winked playfully.
Lynn didn't refuse.
She was, after all, a potential future Familia candidate.
---
Meanwhile
At the base of the mountain, a cheerful voice rang out.
"Yukino! There's a shrine here too!"
Lynn shifted his gaze.
Two familiar figures came into view.
Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui.
"Ah! It's President Lynn!"
Yui gasped in surprise.
Hearing that, Yukino also turned to lookOnly to see Lynn walking down from the shrine with two girls beside him.
For a moment, she stiffened.
Lynn merely nodded at them in greeting before continuing on his way with Yomi.
Standing still, Iwanaga Kotoko's eyes flickered with curiosity.
President Lynn...?
She had already learned his name when they exchanged contact information.
But...President, huh...
Is he the head of some club at Shuchiin Academy?
Kotoko leaned closer to Yuigahama Yui and suddenly asked, "Hey, do you know which club Lynn belongs to?"
"Wah!" Yui was startled by the sudden question, but after recognizing Kotoko as the girl who had been following Lynn earlier, she sighed in relief and patted her chest.
Kotoko, unfazed, repeated her question.
Yui blinked in confusion before answering, "Oh! He's the president of the Supernatural Research Club!"
Hearing that, Yukino's gaze also turned toward Kotoko, her expression slightly wary.
However, it wasn't really classified information.
Even if Kotoko hadn't asked Yui, she could've easily found out at school.
Asking Yui was simply the easiest route.
"Thanks."
With that, Kotoko turned and walked away.
---
"Hey, Yuki..." Yui suddenly poked Yukino's arm, her expression conflicted. "Should we really not join the Supernatural Research Club?"
She might have seemed carefree, but living day after day in fear of curse spirits and supernatural threats was exhausting.
If the Supernatural Research Club had the power to deal with those things, then... why not join?
Yui couldn't understand why they wouldn't.
Yukino opened her mouth but hesitated.
Hmph! Join... Lynn's harem?
IMPOSSIBLE!
Yui's voice lowered, filled with frustration. "Yuki... I really can't take this life anymore..."
Yukino felt a pang in her heart.
"I'm sorry, Yui!" she muttered.
Yui shook her head. "It's fine. As long as we join the Supernatural Research Club, we should be able to fix our problem."
She truly believed that.
Because she had seen Lynn fight with her own eyes.
"No!" Yukino suddenly raised her voice.
Yui flinched in surprise.
Whoa, Yuki got really serious all of a sudden...
Realizing her overreaction, Yukino looked down, apologetic. "Sorry, I got a little too worked up."
Then she looked up again, placing both hands firmly on Yui's shoulders, her eyes filled with determination.
"Don't worry, Yui. The consequences of what happened to you... I'll take responsibility for them."
She had made up her mind.
If becoming part of a harem is the price to gain power... Then at least, I will bear it alone.
She would gain that powerand use it to protect Yui for the rest of her life.
That was how she would atone for dragging Yui into this mess.
"Let's go."
With unwavering resolve, Yukino turned and walked away.
"Eh?" Yui blinked, then turned to look back toward the shrine. "Wait, aren't we gonna check it out?"
Yukino shook her head.
She had already made her decision.
No point in second-guessing it now.
Besides... A shrine that a Devil had visited... was it even sacred anymore?
She hadn't forgotten the Supernatural Research Club's exorcism requests.
There was a good chance that something... wicked was lurking there.
Given their current condition, it was best not to take unnecessary risks.
Lynn brought Isayama Yomi back to his apartment.
On the way, he gave her a rundown on the Familia system and the benefits that came with it.
Even someone as usually expressionless as Yomi had her eyes sparkling by the end of it.
An unlimited potential blessing system?
A whole new world?
It was like a door to an entirely different reality had just opened for her!
Taking a deep breath, she mentally prepared herself.
---
At the Apartment
"Welcome home, Master!" Fuse Midori greeted Lynn as he walked in, then turned to study the new guestYomi.
A new Familia recruit, huh?
That was the most likely explanation.
---
The Bedroom
"Alright, take it off."
Yomi shivered slightly but then, with slow and steady movements, removed her top.
Lynn pressed a Devil's Piece against her smooth back.
Suppressing the strange sensations coursing through her body, Yomi remained silent and still, waiting for the transformation to complete.
Behind her, her status information began to take form:
[Isayama Yomi]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills:
[Spirit Sense: Parade of a Hundred Demons]
[Sword Heart: Sightless Reverse Flow]
[Karmic Devil]
.
.
.
Yo~ your Coreal is here
Ahem, I made an auxiliary chapter to organize the Familia names and add their images. Hope you can check it out and add your own images if you have any!
Also, I posted six chapters today because I noticed people really love the story. As long as you're enjoying it, I'll do my best! Anyway, I'm also excited to see what happens in the upcoming worlds, hehe~
One last thingif this fanfic gets deleted (since it seems someone has been spam-reporting books lately), I have been posting the same story on ScribbleHub under the same name, and I'll make the chapters free on my Patreon later.
Just a heads-up in case anything happens.
[Isayama Yomi]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Spirit Sense: Parade of a Hundred Demons], [Sword Heart: Sightless Reverse Flow], [Karmic Devil]
[Spirit Sense: Parade of a Hundred Demons]
Can perceive spirits and malicious presences within range.
Marks the target's weak points.
Deals double damage against spirit-type enemies.
[Sword Heart: Sightless Reverse Flow]
Sacrifices vision (fighting with closed eyes) to greatly enhance hearing and spiritual awareness, entering the "Mind's Eye" state.
In this state, physical attacks gain spiritual penetration and allow the user to predict enemy movements.
[Karmic Devil]
Wields the power of Karmic Flames.
All attacks inflict "Karmic Burden", gradually accumulating with each strike.
Whenever the target kills, betrays, or deceives, their sins manifest as black flames that ignite from within.
The intensity of the flames corresponds to the weight of their sins.
Devilish Transformation: Hellfire Incarnation.
Karmic Flames?
Lynn raised a finger, and with a soft whoosh, black flames flickered to life.
"Flames of Sin..."
He carefully examined the nature of the fire.
It adjusted its intensity based on the karma of the target.
In other words, the greater the burden of sin, the stronger the fire.
"Now this... is interesting."
After copying the details of Yomi's blessing, Lynn handed it to her.
"Karmic Devil..."
Yomi dressed herself while reading over the information.
"This... actually fits my abilities perfectly."
She drew her treasured blade, Shishio, and with a mere thought, black flames coiled around its edge.
Yomi examined them carefully. "They don't feel hot?"
A realization dawned on her.
The fuel for these flames wasn't heatit was karma.
The greater the sin, the fiercer the fire would burn.
After experimenting with her new power for a while, Yomi lowered her gaze and respectfully addressed Lynn.
"Lynn-sama, what are your orders?"
Now that she had become his subordinate, her respect for him had deepened.
The benefits of becoming a devil, combined with the blessing system, were an incredible opportunity.
But... would she be required to sleep with him?
Though her face remained calm, a trace of unease stirred in her heart.
Lynn studied her for a moment, considering what to do next.
Then, he remembered Hagoromo Gitsune.
His fingers absentmindedly stroked the soft, silky fox tail in his grasp, which twitched slightly in response.
A strange expression crossed his face.
"Wait... is this thing still connected to Hagoromo Gitsune?"
He recalled the shadowy figure he had seen before.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
"That was... Otome Yamabuki, wasn't it? So she was revived just like in the plot? Ah! How messy this world will become!"
After thinking it over, he decided to keep Yomi stationed in Kyoto for the time being.
"You'll remain in Kyoto for now."
This arrangement had several advantages:
She could gather intel on Kyoto's supernatural activities.
His Familia's influence would expand into Kyoto.
Most importantly...
Lynn narrowed his eyes, gazing at the fox tail in his hand.
"Wait patiently for me to come get you?"
Yeah, no way. He wasn't just going to sit around and wait for Hagoromo Gitsune to come knocking.
"Understood!"
Yomi answered without hesitation.
With complicated emotions, she left Lynn's apartment.
Before she departed, Lynn handed her a Teleportation Magic Manual.
As a genius from an exorcist family, Yomi had excellent learning capabilities.
"With this, she'd be able to visit Lynn's club anytime, travel between worlds more easily, and gain experience."
"Could she even continue working for that Countermeasures Bureau now that she's a devil?"
Lynn doubted that she could hide her transformation for long.
While human powerhouses in this world were rare, they weren't to be underestimated.
Surely, the Bureau had ways to differentiate between humans and devils, right?
Pondering this, he decided to ask Minamiya Natsukiand maybe negotiate for a little compensation while he was at it.
---
Natsuki's Side
Receiving Lynn's message about his compensation, Natsuki's expression darkened.
"This damn greedy devil..."
Then, she received another message asking about Yomi's future position.
[Natsuki: "Wait. Yomi is your servant?"]
[Lynn: "Yep! She is now."]
[Lynn: "But she wasn't when you first contacted me, was she?"]
[Lynn: "Two different cases. So my compensation isn't changing."]
[Natsuki: "..."]
Reading his response, Natsuki was at a loss for words.
This devil had no shame.
But arguing with him was pointless.
Whatever.
If he wanted something, she'd just give it to him.
It wasn't her problem to deal with anyway.
[Natsuki: "What do you want?"]
Lynn stroked his chin, thinking about Yurikawa Hana.
So far, Hana's combat style was far too basicjust wrapping herself in Flames and punching things.
What a waste of her potential.
Lynn quickly made up his mind.
Each of his special devils was worth nurturing.
Not only did they provide far more feedback than regular devils, but their growth potential was monstrous.
Ordinary devils had weak abilities, low potential, and even their feedback was negligible compared to the special ones.
So naturally, Lynn prioritized them more.
"A teacher to train my subordinate in close-combat Flame techniques?"
Natsuki read his message and instantly thought of someone.
Perfect.
It was time to give that person some extra work.
She agreed without hesitation.
As for whether Yomi could still work at the Bureau?
She didn't even have to think about it before responding "Don't worry, they're not going to give up on such a useful enforcer."
She understood the situation of humanity far better than Lynn did.
Becoming a devil's subordinate? That wasn't a dealbreaker.
Even if someone were the host of a high-grade cursed spirit, the Bureau would still take them in without hesitation.
Humanity was simply too short on talent.
[Natsuki: "Of course, some highly sensitive intelligence related to humans will be off-limits to her."]
Lynn didn't mind at all.
As long as she could provide intel about potential Familia recruits, that was enough.
As for human affairs?
A devil like him had no real interest in those.
In factmost non-human races didn't care about humanity at all.
Only Sacred Gear users managed to attract their attention.
That was the sad reality of this world.
Humans were not the protagonists here.
---
Meanwhile
Just as Yukinoshita Yukino returned home, the doorbell rang.
Outside stood her sister, Yukinoshita Haruno, wearing her usual bright smile.
"Yukino, how about a little chat?"
She blinked at her sister's sudden visit, but after a brief silence, she stepped aside to let her in.
In the living room, Haruno took a sip of water before speaking with a teasing grin: "Yukino, you've been acting strange lately."
She leaned in a little closer, deliberately making her voice playful.
"Don't tell me you actually used my money to hire a boy toy?"
Yukino's expression remained indifferent.
"No need to play dumb. You already know where the money went."
From the moment she asked her sister for funds, she was certain Haruno would investigate.
Honestly, she was more surprised that it had taken this long for her to bring it up.
Haruno, however, was frustrated.
She had gone to the Supernatural Research Club multiple times, only to hit a dead end each time.
The club president was impossible to track down.
Just thinking about it made her grind her teeth in frustration.
But more than thatIt left her feeling helpless.
Haruno had always been successful in human society.
But when it came to the supernatural She was completely powerless.
Without understanding the club's true background, she couldn't make any reckless moves.
One mistake could drag their entire familyand Yukinointo something dangerous.
And yet Yukino already seemed caught up in it.
Haruno sighed internally but kept her composure, not letting any emotions show.
Tapping her fingers against her forehead, she feigned an exasperated tone:
"You're still as unlovable as ever, Yukino."
Yukino's calm gaze didn't waver. "If you have something to say, just say it."
Haruno paused.
Then, her usual playful expression faded, replaced by something serious.
She decided to be direct.
"Yukino You've gotten yourself involved in the supernatural, haven't you?"
Her tone left no room for doubt.
Her eyes locked onto Yukino's, refusing to look away.
Yukino flinched slightly but quickly composed herself.
So that's why she took so long to ask She must've dug deeper than I expected.
Hearing her sister's question, Yukino hesitated.
She wasn't sure how much Haruno had uncovered.
But at this point, there was no hiding it anymore.
She sighed. "Yeah."
Haruno froze for a moment.
Then, she exhaled slowly, her expression complicated. "So it's true"
To be honest, while she trusted Shizuka Hiratsuka's words, she still had lingering doubts about the supernatural.
But hearing it directly from Yukino?
Now, there was no room for doubt.
It was real.
Her sister would never lie about something like this.
Taking a deep breath, Haruno made up her mind.
If Yukino was involved, then she wouldn't sit back and watch.
Haruno stared at her sister, her expression serious and determined.
"Yukino, I'll help you."
She didn't know what Yukino was going through
But she could tell her sister needed help.
And as her big sister, it was her responsibility to step up.
Yukino was momentarily stunned.
But
This was her problem.
She couldn't drag anyone else into it.
Her voice was firm.
"It's fine, Haruno. I already have a way to handle it."
Haruno's eyes widened slightly.
She had a solution?
She fell into deep thought before finally speaking.
"The Supernatural Research Club?"
Yukino pressed her lips together, saying nothing.
Haruno gave a knowing nod.
It made sense.
For both of them, the only real connection to the supernatural was the Supernatural Research Club at Shuchiin Academy.
"You're planning to ask them to fix whatever's happening to you?"
Haruno's expression grew more certain.
"That five million yenwas it for them to solve something?"
"So they take requests for supernatural problems?"
She was piecing it together.
Yukino remained silent.
Haruno sighed.
Then, she finally asked the most important question. "So what exactly happened to you?"
She knew Yukino was involved in a supernatural event.
But she still had no idea what it was.
At her sister's question
Yukino's body stiffened slightly.
She wanted to cry.
Don't ask, Haruno
What was she supposed to say?
That she could see them?
She tried her best to maintain a calm facade.
Because out of the corner of her eye
Through the window
A cursed spirit with a twisted, gaping mouth was staring right at her.
Cold sweat ran down her back.
.
.
.
Haruno eventually left, still feeling both doubtful and worried.
"Yukino" she muttered with a helpless shake of her head.
Some things, she could let her sister handle in her own way.
But when it came to personal safety, shouldn't Yukino at least talk to her family and ask for help?
"Sigh."
StillEven if Yukino wouldn't say anything, Haruno had her own ways of finding out.
Her informant at Shuchiin Academy would take care of it!
Yes, that's rightyou're up, Shizuka!
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Huh? Again?"
After hanging up the phone, Hiratsuka looked completely speechless.
Wait, so your sister's life is important, but your friend's life isn't?
Supernatural stuff? Yeah, no thanksI want nothing to do with that!
Sure, she had fantasized about being the protagonist of an anime before, but
Now that something like this was actually happening in real life, of course, she'd want to run away!
"Just keeping an eye on Yukino shouldn't be too much of a problem, right?"
She hesitated, but in the end, she made up her mind.
Yukinoshita Yukino was still her student, after all.
Helping students with their troubles was a teacher's duty!
The next day - Kyoto
Isayama Yomi casually returned to the Environment Countermeasures Bureau.
She didn't think there was anything strange about walking into the Bureau as a Devil.
But her boss clearly had a different opinion.
Jinguji Ayame stared at Yomi with a complicated expression, feeling deeply troubled.
She had already heard the news from Natsuki last night.
When she first learned what had happened, she was completely in disbelief.
But nowHere Yomi was, standing in front of heras a Devil.
One of her best subordinates had gone on a mission and ended up selling herself to a Devil?!
Sure, it was out of her control
But stillShe couldn't help but feel frustrated!
Another promising human talent stolen by the Devils!
Ayame was losing her mind!
Ever since Devils gained the ability to reincarnate other races using their Devil's Pieces, humanity's already limited pool of talent had suffered even more.
And to make matters worse
That damn Devil not only took her member but even had the nerve to demand payment from them for it!
This was ridiculous!
Unacceptable!!
At the end of the day This was all that damn Witch of the Void's fault!
She asked her to find someone for help, and she found a Devil instead?!
Though, to be fair, Yomi was the one who summoned him herself.
Yeah, there was really no helping itShe had to do whatever it took to survive.
Ayame didn't blame Yomishe just had a massive headache.
"What are you planning to do from now on?" she asked.
Yomi blinked at her in confusion before replying, "What do you mean? I'll just keep doing what I've been doing."
Ayame: ""
"Your Devil master didn't give you any orders?"
"Hm He just told me to keep doing what I normally do."
"Alright, then."
Ayame frowned.
What was this Devil thinking?
Placing his people inside a government organization?
What was he up to?!
Not that she had a choice in the matter.
Yomi was already a valuable asset, and now that she was a Devil, she was probably even more useful.
Ayame was tempted.
They were already using witches who made contracts with Devils, so what difference did one Devil member make?
"Fine," Ayame said decisively.
"But won't it be hard to explain to your family?"
At that, Yomi paused before calmly answering, "Doesn't matter."
Afternoon.
Yukinoshita Yukino took a deep breath and stood outside the Supernatural Research Club.
She had spent the entire afternoon sitting alone in the classroom, struggling with her thoughts, before finally making up her mind.
She was going to sell herself out.
From last night until now, she had been trapped in a cycle of doubt and hesitation.
But through that internal battle, she realized: admitting your own weakness wasn't a sign of weakness.
She had always prided herself on being strong.
Yet she had constantly ignored her own fragility.
The incident at the old school building had torn away that illusion.
She saw her own weakness clearly.
Finally, she accepted her own weakness.
She now understoodtrue power was having the courage to admit your own fragility!
Goodbye, weak and helpless self!
With newfound determination in her eyes, Yukino grabbed the door to the Supernatural Research Club, pulled it open without hesitation, and bowed deeply without even looking inside.
"Lynn-senpai, please let me join you!"
She had mustered every ounce of courage she had to say those words that had been weighing on her heart for so long.
But then
Silence.
A long, suffocating silence.
Cold sweat began to form on her forehead.
W-Why wasn't anyone saying anything?
Was she not sincere enough?
Did she not even qualify to join Lynn's Familia?
Or worse
Did Lynn-senpai not like her?
Yukino's mind spiraled with anxious thoughts, and deep inside, a sense of fear crept in.
If Lynn didn't accept her
Then this was it.
Her entire liferuined.
That realization sent a wave of panic through her.
She had spent so long hesitating, struggling with the decision of whether or not to join Lynn's Familia but she never once considered Would Lynn even want her as a Familia member?
Why would he?
Just because she was cute?
There was a time when she might have arrogantly thought that.
But Lynn's other Familia membersweren't they all beautiful cute girls?
Fear and uncertainty wrapped around her like a fog.
It wasn't that Lynn needed her.
It was that She needed Lynn.
With her head lowered, her gaze drifted down to her own "imperfect" body.
"Ugh"
"Huh?"
"Hey isn't that Yukino?"
"What's she doing?"
The sudden voices echoing down the hallway pulled Yukino out of her thoughts.
She instinctively straightened up, looking toward the source of the voices, only to freeze in shock.
The Supernatural Research Clubroom was completely empty.
Realizing this, she let out a long sigh of relief, though her legs suddenly felt weak, forcing her to brace herself against the doorframe.
"Eh? It really is Yukino!"
Stiffly, Yukino turned her head and saw Yuigahama Yui walking toward her, arm-in-arm with a blonde gal.
"Yukino, you" Yui's expression was complicated.
Yesterday, Yukino had refused outright when they talked about joining the Supernatural Research Club.
Yet now here she was, standing at its door.
Meeting Yui's gaze, even someone like Yukino couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable.
"Well, well, it really is Yukino, huh?"
The blonde gal, Miura Yumiko, clicked her tongue in amusement. She had never seen Yukino looking so vulnerable beforethis was big news!
Yukino's expression remained blank, emotionless.
Even though she had just been caught in a somewhat embarrassing situation, she didn't care.
ButYui's gaze made her feel uneasy.
"I have things to do. I'll be going now."
Yukino chose to retreat, turning away and leaving in one smooth motion.
"Wait! Yukino!"
Yui instinctively moved to chase after her.
"Huh?"
Miura Yumiko blinked in surprise, then quickly called out, "Yui, weren't we also going tommph!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Yuiwho had taken a few quick steps forwardwhipped around and tied a hand over her mouth.
Yukino hesitated mid-step, turning back to look at Yui.
Feeling Yukino's gaze, Yui's body stiffened. Slowly, she turned to face her.
A brief silence stretched between them.
There was a Silent Understanding between them.
Finally, Yui spoke. "Yukino, can we talk?"
"Mm." Yukino nodded.
Miura Yumiko watched as Yui and Yukino prepared to leave together, and her expression darkened.
"Yui, you're just going to ditch me like that?"
Yui tensed up, fumbling for words. "Yumiko, it's just um this is kinda hard to explain, so"
She wanted to say, please don't follow us?
But she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud.
"Hmph!"
Yumiko crossed her arms, looking annoyed but clearly determined. "Oh, now I have to know what's going on. I'm coming too!"
Yui let out a deep sigh.
Yukino shot her a glance, her expression carrying a faint warning. "Just rememberyou might not like what you find out."
"Tch, like I care!"
The more they tried to push her away, the more curious she became.
Faculty Room
Minamiya Natsuki sat in her chair, lazily fanning herself as she scanned Yurikawa Hana with narrowed eyes, full of doubt.
"So, this is the one you claim can use Ki Flames with her fists?"
Hana looked like a completely normal student.
Where exactly did she seem capable of wielding something as advanced as Ki Flames?
As a teacher at Shuchiin Academy, Natsuki had an eye for talent. There was no way a student's hidden potential would escape her notice.
"What? You don't believe me?" Lynn smiled.
Natsuki didn't answer, but her expression said it all.
"Wanna bet? If I'm right, why don't you become my Familia?"
Natsuki's face immediately darkened. "You damn pervy lolicon, I swear I'm gonna throw you in jail one day!"
"Eh? Is Natsuki-chan joining Lynn-senpai's Familia too?!"
Hana's eyes widened in shock.
Smack!
A folding fan appeared out of nowhere, landing hard on Hana's head.
"Ow!"
"Don't call me 'Natsuki-chan,' and definitely don't add a '-chan' to it!"
Retracting her fan, Natsuki shot Hana a glare. "And for the record, when did I ever say I was joining his Familia?!"
Hana rubbed her head, mumbling under her breath.
"If Lynn-senpai sets his sights on you, there's no escaping it"
"Natsuki-chan, you'll end up as a Familia member for sure!"
Natsuki looked at Lynn and Hana then said, "Let's go. I'll take you to find that idiot."
.
.
.
Shuchiin Academy, Sports Field
Sasasaki Misaki watched as Natsuki approached with two Devils in tow, her face full of resignation.
"So... you just sold me off to the Devils like that?"
Natsuki remained calm. "Sold? That sounds terrible. No, this is you being hired as a teacher for the Devils."
Misaki blinked. "Does that mean I get paid per class?"
Natsuki's expression didn't change. "You can try applying for it. Or"
She pointed her folding fan in Lynn's direction and continued, "You could ask them?"
A shiver ran down Misaki's spine.
Her mouth twitched. Ask a Devil?
She glanced at Lynn, who seemed gentle on the surface, but just standing there, he exuded an overwhelming presence that sent chills down her back.
This guy was definitely insanely strong.
Asking someone like him for a salary?
Might as well just sign her own death warrant.
Misaki slumped in defeat.
Natsuki patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't look so down."
"Soon enough, people will be calling you the Devil's Teacher. That's something to be proud of, isn't it?"
Misaki shot her a glare. "Wow, thanks. Really appreciate it."
"You're welcome." Natsuki hid her mouth behind her fan, but her lips curled up in amusement. She couldn't help but chucklethis idiot's reaction was priceless.
"Ahem!" Misaki cleared her throat, forcing herself to regain her composure.
"Alright, no use complaining. Let's start with some sparring!"
She firmly placed both hands on Hana's shoulders and declared loudly, "Are you ready, Hana?!"
"Ah, y-yes!" Hana flinched at Misaki's sudden burst of enthusiasm, instinctively straightening her posture.
Misaki nodded in satisfaction. "Ohh, not bad, not bad at all!"
"You've also got the perfect build for martial arts training."
Hana's face turned red from being praised, and then, as if suddenly realizing something, she blurted out, "Wait hold on"
"Uh um so, Miss Natsuki and Miss Misaki you're not normal humans, are you?"
Now you realize that?
Lynn, Natsuki, and Misaki all had the exact same thought.
Misaki finished assessing Hana's physique and nodded approvingly. "Not bad. Now let's see your Ki Flame ability."
As the P.E. teacher of Shuchiin Academy, Misaki had a strong impression of Hana.
After all Anyone would remember a student who stuffed their face with food while running laps in gym class.
Back then, Misaki had taken note of this girl with a seemingly endless appetite.
Never would she have guessed that the next time they met, Hana would already be a Devil.
It was kind of surreal.
But still Hana had just been a regular student before. And now she had mastered Ki Flames?
Misaki was skeptical.
But surely, Devils wouldn't bother lying about something like this.
Natsuki had her doubts as well, which was why she had decided to tag along.
Otherwise, she would've just let Lynn and his people find Misaki on their own.
She knew Lynn wouldn't joke about something like this.
But the idea of Hana possessing Ki Flames was still hard to believe.
If Hana weren't a Shuchiin student, Natsuki probably wouldn't have reacted so strongly.
But, this happened right under her nose.
Hana hadn't even been part of Lynn's Familia for that long.
After receiving Lynn's message yesterday, Natsuki had looked into Hana.
Before becoming a Devil, she had been nothing more than a regular person.
Natsuki narrowed her eyes and observed Hana carefully.
Lynn, noticing this, smirked slightly.
"Hana, show them what you've got."
Hana's eyes sharpened, and in an instant, she activated the life energy within her.
In the next moment, golden flames erupted from her body, completely enveloping her.
She looked just like a Super Saiyan!
Misaki's eyes widened in shock, and she exclaimed, "The quality of this Ki Flame is incredible!"
Natsuki squinted, analyzing Hana's aura.
There was no doubt about itHana had definitely mastered Ki Flames.
And at this level of quality
Natsuki's gaze shifted to Lynn, her brows furrowing.
She muttered under her breath, "Just what the hell did he do?"
She had a strong feeling that Hana's rapid growth had everything to do with Lynn.
Was he actually being selective about who he recruited from Shuchiin?
Her eyes held a hint of surprise.
Before, she had thought taking in ordinary students as Familia members was pointless.
But today, she was proven wrong.
Just based on the quality of Hana's Flames alone, she was already among the most gifted humans in existence!
And now, she was a Devil
Wait.
If Lynn wasn't just randomly collecting members for his Familia, then
Could it be that Utaha, Miko, and the others also had an amazing talent?
Natsuki fell into deep thought.
If that's the case
Then what does that make her, someone who failed to recognize their talents?
So many talented individuals at Shuchiin
And they were all taken in by this Devil?
Rather than dealing with this reality, Natsuki would actually prefer if Lynn was just fooling around.
---
Meanwhile
Misaki stared at Hana with a complicated expression.
She's exactly the type of student I'd want to train
But she's a Devil now.
Misaki took a deep breath.
Well, since things have already come to this
The Devil Teacher is officially on duty!
Her eyes turned serious. "Alright, show me a few punches."
Hana nodded, equally serious. "Haa! Hah!"
Misaki: ""
Watching Hana's awkward movements, Misaki's expression turned speechless.
That's some impressively clumsy punching
Still, their training session gradually found its rhythm, and after observing for a while, Lynn and Natsuki left the scene.
On the way back
Natsuki's tone was complicated. "So you're really not just fooling around?"
Just seeing Hana alone was enough to shatter her previous belief that Lynn was simply building a harem at Shuchiin.
Lynn shrugged. "I'm a Devil with ambition."
Of course, that didn't mean the harem part wasn't true.
But there was no need to share that with Natsuki.
She hesitated. "So, Utaha, Miko, and Mahiru they're all talented in some way too?"
Lynn gave her a knowing smile. "Want to find out?"
Seeing that expression, Natsuki remained expressionless. "No thanks."
Yeah, this guy was definitely going to try recruiting her into his Familia.
At a bench in Shuchiin Academy
Yukino sat with two other girls.
"Huh?" Miura Yumiko frowned, looking confused. "What are you guys even talking about?"
Supernatural this, harem club that
"Are you guys chuunibyou?"
She narrowed her eyes and placed a hand on Yui's forehead. "Yui, did you catch whatever weird disease Yukino has?"
"I always knew that weird Service Club was suspicious!"
"Ahaha" Yui laughed awkwardly, waving her hands. "It's not like that, Yumiko"
She had no idea how to explain.
Yukino, on the other hand, remained expressionless. "Yui, there's no point reasoning with someone who doesn't have a brain."
"You wanna fight?"
"Alright, alright." Yui quickly stepped between them.
After arguing for a while, Yumiko finally huffed. "So, in the end, you're saying that the president of this so-called Supernatural Research Club is openly building a harem at school?"
Ah
She completely ignored the supernatural part.
So they were just seen as chuunibyou after all.
"If that's the case, then I'll just report him."
"Wait!"
"No!"
Yukino and Yui panicked and immediately stopped her.
Yumiko frowned. "You guys you're not being threatened by this club, are you?"
"It's none of your business," Yukino said with a slight scowl.
She didn't want any outside interference messing up her dynamic with Lynn.
"Please, just let it go." Yui pressed her hands together, pleading.
Yumiko clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed, but she secretly made a mental note.
Supernatural Research Club, huh
Meanwhile, at the Fallen Angel headquarters
News from Kuoh Town had arrived.
"A branch got wiped out?"
Azazel rubbed his messy hair, sounding a little annoyed.
Hah wasting his precious Sacred Gear research time for something like this?
"Just send someone to clean up the mess."
"Yes, sir!"
The subordinate turned to leave, but Azazel suddenly stopped him.
"Wait."
He opened his eyes and scanned the report carefully. One particular name stood out.
Sitri was involved?
Of course, it wasn't the Sitri Clan he was concerned aboutit was Serafall.
"Hmm...."
"Never mind, just clean up the mess."
"Understood."
Elsewhere, a certain Fallen Angel officer who heard the report had a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"A branch destroyed"
"Now that's big news"
"Big enough to start a Three Faction War."
.
.
.
The next day
In the afternoon, outside the door of the Supernatural Research Club.
Yukinoshita Yukino was once again standing here.
Worried that yesterday's situation might repeat itself, she had rushed over as soon as classes ended.
This time, she wasn't alone.
Yuigahama Yui was with her.
That's right.
After their talk yesterday, the two had come to a mutual understanding.
Yui didn't believe her current problem was Yukino's fault. After all, she had been the one to insist on coming along in the first place to watch the ghost, so she couldn't blame anyone else.
This was something she had to deal with herself.
She couldn't just rely on Yukino every time she was in trouble, right?
Not only would that be a burden to Yukino, but what if she wasn't there in time?
Even if this really was a 'Harem Club'
Yui's cheeks flushed red.
If she stepped through this door would she would she really become one of Lynn's girls!?
Just the thought made her feel like her whole body was burning up.
But stillAt the end of the day, all of this was just speculation between her and Yukino.
To find out the truth, they had to see it for themselves.
The only thing they were certain of was that every member of the Supernatural Research Club possessed supernatural abilities!
And that was enough!
"Let's go, Yui."
Yukino's voice broke the silence.
Compared to yesterday, she seemed much more composed.
After all, she had already mentally prepared herself for this.
Following their encounter with 'that thing' yesterday, her thoughts had become even clearer.
The complicated emotions she had been struggling with had completely vanished.
Now, the only thing making her anxious was whether Lynn would allow her to join or not.
Beside her, Yui nodded firmly.
Her hands clenched into fists, a clear sign of her nerves.
Yukino took a deep breath, steeled her resolve, and grasped the door handle.
Then, without hesitation, she pushed it open!
The sight that greeted them was a room bathed in soft light, curtains swaying gently from the breeze through an open window.
Seated at the head of the table was Lynn, calmly sipping tea.
By his side, Shiina Mahiru was elegantly pouring him another cup.
For a brief moment, Yukino was struck by the contrast.
An angel and a devil
She quickly shook her head, pushing the thought away.
Lynn glanced up, his crimson eyes locking onto Yukino and Yui.
"Oh? What a surprise."
He was mildly intriguedafter all, it had been quite some time since Yukino last stepped foot into the club.
Taking a slow sip of tea, he observed them in silence.
Mahiru smiled gently. "Are you two here with another request?"
"A request"
Yukino murmured, before shaking her head slightly. "I suppose you could say that."
The next moment, she bowed deeply.
"Please allow us to join the Supernatural Research Club!"
Beside her, Yui hurriedly followed suit, her hands clasped together in silent pleading, heart pounding in her chest.
Lynn paused, amusement flickering in his gaze as he looked at Yukino.
"That's unexpected. This doesn't really seem like something you'd do."
Yukino stiffened at his words, recalling her very first visit to this club.
"This is the Supernatural Research Club?"
"Heh? For a moment, I thought I had walked into some kind of Harem Club."
Ah
She had really been bold back then.
How naive.
"I was ignorant at the time," she admitted, her voice quiet but steady.
Once she had broken past her mental barriers, saying it aloud wasn't so difficult after all.
Because the truth was She had already made up her mind to step into this supernatural world.
Lynn raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
This is the same Yukinoshita Yukino?
Sensing his strange gaze, Yukino pursed her lips and quickly looked away.
To be honest, even though she had resolved herself, a woman's pride still made her feel a deep sense of embarrassment.
But she forced herself to suppress it with sheer logic and determination.
Taking another deep breath, she reaffirmed her request.
"President Lynn, please allow us to join the Supernatural Research Club!"
Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her nerves.
She was afraid.
Afraid of rejection.
After all, compared to Lynn's existing followers, what did she really have to offer?
The room fell into silence.
Lynn said nothing, simply looking at the warm tea in his cup.
Yukino held her breath, her forehead lightly glistening with sweat.
Yui's hands were practically drenched, her nerves at an all-time high.
She never wanted to go back to the constant fear of being surrounded by supernatural threats!
The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly tense.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lynn spoke.
"Mahiru, get them the club registration forms."
"Understood, Lynn-san."
Mahiru smiled warmly as she handed over two neatly prepared forms.
Yukino accepted the paper with trembling hands, unconsciously releasing a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
Even so, her fingers still quivered slightly.
"Here, Yui."
Her voice sounded a little shaky.
For a few moments, only the sound of pens scratching against paper filled the room.
Then, Lynn spoke again.
"Are you both certain about this?"
The two girls paused, exchanging a look.
What they saw in each other's eyes was unwavering determination.
They had had enough of living in fear.
"Absolutely!" x2
Their voices were firm and resolute.
Lynn's eyes gleamed with amusement as he leaned forward slightly. "Do you two know what it truly means to join the Supernatural Research Club?"
Both Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui shuddered at his words.
"D-Does it mean... joining the harem?" Yukino's voice trembled as she spoke.
Lynn smirked. "...Well, you're not wrong."
Strangely, instead of feeling more nervous, Yukino let out a small breath of relief upon confirming her suspicions.
Lynn's lips curled into a faint smile. In terms of power, Yukino and Yui would be barely at the level of low-class Devils. Under normal circumstances, accepting them into his Familia wouldn't be much of an upgrade for him.
But what ifjust what ifthey turned out to be special Devils upon reincarnation?
Every special Devil was an invaluable asset to his Familia.
As soon as they finished filling out their club application forms, just as they were about to relax, Lynn spoke again.
"Now then, let's begin the real ceremony."
"Wait, what?!"
"What ceremony?"
Both girls stared at him in confusion.
Lynn rested his chin on his hand, his crimson eyes gleaming with mischief. "Take off your clothes."
"T-Take off our clothes?!"
Yui's face turned beet red, and she let out an involuntary yelp.
Was this... Was this really happening?!
Right now? Here?!
Yukino bit her lip, but her hands didn't hesitate.
She had already come to terms with this yesterday.
She had something she wantedand if she had to obey to get it, then she would do so without question!
She had already made up her mind. The only thing that caught her off guard was how fast this was happening.
Without much hesitation, Yukino slipped out of her uniform, revealing her slender figure.
Her breathing grew erratic, her body felt unnaturally warm, and her ears burned.
Yui, still shocked at how decisive Yukino was, hesitated for a moment before shakily following suit.
As soon as their backs were exposed, Lynn nodded. "That's enough."
Hearing that, both girls sighed in relief, quickly dropping their hands from their skirts and instinctively crossing their arms in front of themselves.
Yukino, however, couldn't help but wonder.
Just the upper body? Why?
Was this some kind of test of obedience?
Countless questions swirled in her mind.
Then, right before her eyes, two pieces materialized in Lynn's hand.
Her eyes widened.
Supernatural poweragain.
Just seeing it reassured her that everything she had done so far was worth it.
Next Lynn gave them a brief explanation.
...
"Devil's Piece..."
Yukino and Yui listened in stunned silence before finally processing it.
So... Lynn was a Devil?
At this point, they weren't even shocked. Instead, they accepted it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Becoming Devils? So what?
As long as they could gain strength and change their current circumstances, nothing else mattered.
Nothing at all!
With newfound determination, Yukino and Yui turned around, exposing their bare backs to Lynn.
Lynn pressed the Devil Pieces onto their back.
In that instant
A surge of power coursed through their bodies.
At the same time, a mechanical voice rang in Lynn's mind.
[ Ding! You have acquired new Familia members: "Yukinoshita Yukino" and "Yuigahama Yui"! ]
[ Ding! Your Familia members have reincarnated as special Devils... ]
Magical inscriptions formed on their backs, revealing their newfound statuses:
---
[ Yuigahama Yui ]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Harmonizer] (When multiple teammates are present, a "Bond Barrier" is automatically generated based on their level of trust.)
---
[ Yukinoshita Yukino ]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Cold Wall of Reason] & [Ice Devil]
[Cold Wall of Reason]
Temporarily increases all stats by 30%.
Doubles the purity of magic power.
Nullifies enemy "Deception" and "Disguise" abilities.
Converts 50% of incoming damage into magic consumption.
[Ice Devil]
Grants mastery over ice magic.
Snow Rose: The more injuries sustained, the stronger the defense.
Devilish Transformation: Awakens the "Frozen Mirror" Domain.
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PS: I'll try to post more today, so how about giving me your stones for fair trade? Hehe~
Inside the Supernatural Research Club.
Lynn carefully examined the blessing information that had appeared on the backs of Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui.
As expected, they had been reincarnated as Low-Class Devils.
His gaze shifted to Yukino's blessing details.
Finally, another Special Devil.
Lynn raised his hand, a faint frost forming at his fingertips, rotating gently.
A new offensive technique.
Not bad.
---
Lynn then copied their blessing details and handed them over.
After Yukino and Yui finished getting dressed, they looked at the blessing information with some confusion. Seeing this, Lynn had Shiina Mahiru explain it to them.
A moment later
Realization dawned on them.
So, reincarnating as a Devil was just the first step into the supernatural. Becoming part of Lynn's Familia was only the beginning!
Blessings leveling up and awakening new abilities!
Yui felt a rush of excitement.
She had finally obtained supernatural powers!
Haunted by Curses? Not anymore!
Even Yukino, who was usually calm and collected, couldn't suppress her emotions.
She had made the right choice!
Joining the Supernatural Research Club and becoming part of Lynn's FamiliaIt was the best decision she had ever made!
Yukino let out a small sigh, a rare trace of warmth in her voice.
She had finally taken a step in the right direction.
"Thank you, President."
Without hesitation, Yukino lowered her head in gratitude, expressing her deepest appreciation to Lynn.
Seeing this, Yui quickly followed suit, mimicking Yukino's gesture as she thanked Lynn as well.
After that, the two couldn't resist the urge to test out their newfound abilities.
"Wow, Yukino! You actually turned into an Ice Devil!"
Yui watched in awe as Yukino waved her hand, causing delicate snowflakes to dance in the air. Her eyes filled with admiration.
Compared to that, all she had was a single abilityHarmonizer.
Its only function was to create a Bond Barrier based on the level of trust between team members.
Yui let out a sigh, feeling a little disappointed.
Seeing her reaction, Yukino withdrew her icy display, opening her mouth as if to say somethingbut ultimately, she remained silent, unsure how to comfort her.
Lynn had said that reincarnating as a Special Devil was based on probability. Yukino had simply been lucky.
Still, Yui only stayed dejected for a brief moment before quickly perking up again.
Even if she hadn't become a Special Devil, just being a Devil was more than enough!
She clenched her fists and reignited her fighting spirit.
Seeing this, Yukino subtly relaxed.
She didn't want Yui to feel burdened or unbalanced over something like this.
Once they had settled their emotions, Lynn spoke up, "Right now, the Familia has two world dungeons for grinding experience. You two should try them out."
Lynn didn't recruit members just to let them laze around.
If they joined, they had to contribute.
Grind. Level up.
Only through continuous effort could they provide him with better returns!
"Dungeons?"
Yukino and Yui exchanged confused glances.
Noticing their uncertainty, Mahiru stepped in to explain once again.
A little while later
The two girls were completely dumbfounded.
"N new worlds?"
They could hardly believe what they were hearing.
Becoming Devils and receiving blessings was already shocking enough.
And now, they were being told that the Familia had control over two separate worlds!?
Lynn, unfazed by their stunned expressions, leaned on his chin and asked, "So, do you want to start by fighting Zombies, or would you rather take on Gastrea?"
The two fell silent, analyzing their options.
Fighting Zombies would be relatively simplethey weren't particularly strong, and combat experience wasn't necessary. Given their newfound powers, dealing with them would be easy.
Gastrea, on the other hand, were far more unpredictable. There were various types, some much harder to deal with. One wrong move, and they could easily find themselves overwhelmed.
As they hesitated, Lynn suddenly suggested, "Or, how about exorcising Curses first?"
"Curses?!"
Yukino and Yui instantly snapped their heads up, eyes wide in shock.
Then, without hesitation, an eager fire burned in their eyes.
They had suffered at the hands of Curses for far too long!
Seeing their obvious enthusiasm, Lynn understood their choice immediately.
"Mahiru, call Miko back. Have her train the newcomers."
Lynn had no intention of personally training them.
When it came to dealing with Curses, Miko was the expert.
Now that the Familia had grown significantly, he wasn't about to handle everything himself. That's what subordinates were for.
While waiting for Miko to arrive, Lynn casually asked, "So, what about your Service Club?"
Yukino and Yui suddenly froze.
Oh right
They had completely forgotten about that.
After thinking for a moment, Yukino replied, "We'll follow your decision, President."
Lynn nodded. "Then keep it running as a sub-division of the Supernatural Research Club."
Shuchiin Academy had no shortage of talented individuals, and the Service Club could serve as a potential recruitment channel.
Who knew? Maybe they'd discover more promising candidates there.
"Yes."
Yukino let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Since she was the one who had originally founded the Service Club, she was happy that it could continue.
Of course, if Lynn had ordered its dissolution, she wouldn't have hesitated to comply.
Not long after, Mikohaving received the summonsarrived at the clubroom.
The three of them then set off together.
As they walked, Yukino's expression turned a little complicated.
"What's wrong, Yukino?" Yui asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
Yukino shook her head. "It's just that... this isn't quite what I expected."
After all, she had assumed this was more of a harem situation.
Yotsuya Miko immediately confirmed her thoughts. "Well, technically, all of the Familia members are part of Master's harem."
Yukino was momentarily stunned by how straightforward that was.
"Then... why...?"
Why hadn't anything happened?
The only thing he had done was make them take off their tops during the reincarnation ritual.
That's it?
Now that she thought about it, Yukino didn't even consider that to be a big deal anymore.
She still felt a little embarrassed, but since it had already happened, what was there to worry about?
Before joining the Supernatural Research Club, she had even mentally prepared herself for something much more extreme.
Even the part about removing clothesshe had convinced herself that it was just a standard procedure for the reincarnation ritual.
But in the endNothing happened.
Why?
Miko pursed her lips before saying, "Because there are way too many people trying to get into Master's bed already."
Yukino: "...?"
Yui: "???"
Both of them were completely dumbfounded, their brains momentarily shutting down.
Miko gave them a knowing glance and added solemnly, "Even I'm still waiting in line, so you two new recruits better be prepared to queue up behind me."
She wasn't about to let these newcomers cut in line.
Yukino and Yui exchanged glances and swallowed nervously.
The competition in the Familia... was insanely fierce!
One Week LaterBlack Bullet World
With an army of devil lolis overwhelming the battlefieldand with occasional interference from Lynn himselfhumanity had suffered a complete defeat.
Many humans had either perished or been infected by the Gastrea Virus.
Meanwhile, Lynn's Familia had gained nearly three million Cursed Children.
After officially integrating them into the Familia, his level had skyrocketed.
In fact, Lynn had already broken through to the Satan (Maou) level when his Familia reached the one-million mark.
At this point, reincarnating more low-class Devils didn't provide him with much feedback anymore.
But he still chose to reincarnate the remaining Cursed Children into his Familia.
First, it completely eliminated the Gastrea Virus in their bodies.
Second, there was always the slim chance that some of them might be reborn as special Devils.
And third, they were valuable additions to his ever-growing forces.
In the future, when he encountered another world in need of manpower, he could simply deploy the devil Loli Army.
Plus, diversifying the talents within his Familia was always a good thing.
For example, some of them could specialize in forging, research, or magic studies...
Also, Lynn attempted to install an additional Gastrea Factor in them, but all of them failed.
Except for one.
Tina Sprout, now a Mid-Class Devil, successfully received a second Gastrea Factor.
From this, Lynn theorized that the number of Gastrea Factors a Devil could possess was tied to their strength.
Low-Class Devils could only handle one.
Mid-Class Devils could handle two.
And theoretically, each rank-up would allow them to gain one more.
Aside from the mass reincarnation, Lynn also gained two new talents: Shiba Miori and Muroto Sumire.
He embedded Devil's Pieces into both of them.
---
[Shiba Miori]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Master of Strategy]
[Master of Strategy]
Battle Simulation: Enhances the execution ability and weak-spot targeting of all allies based on the completeness of battle plans and gathered intel.
Weapon Synchronization: While wielding a self-crafted weapon, consumes magic to temporarily enhance its performance. Additionally, grants an anti-Gastrea buff to all allies' weapons.
---
[Muroto Sumire]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Extreme Medical Expertise]
[Extreme Medical Expertise]
Pathogen Analysis: Upon contact with enemy blood or tissue, immediately analyzes infection patterns and grants Inoculation Resistance to all allies.
Forbidden Treatment: Injects a self-crafted serum to cure all abnormal statuses at the cost of personal life force. If used on a Gastrea, it causes mental instability.
Although neither of them were special Devils, their abilities were incredibly valuable.
They were the perfect candidates to manage the devil Loli Army.
As usual, Lynn installed a Gastrea Factor buff on both of them.
"You're all set," he said, handing them their Falna reports.
Without waiting for questions, he simply left.
"If you have doubts, just ask the other Familia members."
After Lynn left, Miori and Sumire both let out a deep breath.
The sheer speed at which their world had changed was dizzying.
Everything felt unfamiliar.
And the fact that they were now in...The devil Headquarters?!
Both of them flapped their new devil wings, feeling an odd sense of surrealism.
---
Meanwhile, in a quiet space, Lynn finally took a moment for himself.
He pulled up his personal status panel.
[Lynn Valifer]
Race: Devil
Rank: Satan-Class
Authority: None
Familia Members: Utaha, Miko, Saeko, Shizuka, Mahiru...
Skills: "Devil's Piece," "Devil's Contract,"....
Lynn's Familia was expanding at an exponential rate.
And soon, he would have an army strong enough to rival entire worlds.
.
.
.
Lynn stared at the level display on his status screen and sighed in satisfaction. "Finally... I've reached the rank of Maou!"
He clenched his fist, feeling the explosive power coursing through his body. When he was just an Ultimate-Class Devil, he couldn't fully control his aura. But now? Now he could suppress or unleash it at will.
His mastery over magic had also improved significantly. Just a flick of his finger, and he felt like he could easily wipe out an entire city block. Of course, he still needed to test the full extent of his power, but it was undeniablehe had become much, much stronger.
Next, he checked his abilities.
[Devil's Piece] hadn't changed much, which led him to believe that its growth was tied to the quantity and quality of his familia members who had become special Devils.
However, [Devil's Contract] had undergone an unexpected transformation.
Curious, Lynn tapped on it for a closer look.
[Devil's Contract]
Worlds Invaded:
Highschool of the Dead (86.29%)
Black Bullet (56.73%)
Invasion Methods:
Contract Summoning
Forced Invasion
---
Lynn raised an eyebrow. His familia had already conquered these worlds, and now they were displayed within this skill interface. But what did those percentages mean?
Was it world exploration progress? Or the degree of control he had over them?
He wasn't entirely sure, but one thing was clear: as long as he pushed them to 100%, the problem would be solved.
Whether it was Highschool of the Dead or Black Bullet, both had effectively become his familia's playgrounds. It was only a matter of time before he reached full control.
Then his eyes moved down to another section.
[Contract Summoning]this was the method he had used before to travel between worlds, relying on contracts with individuals to gain access.
But now, there was a new option: [Forced Invasion].
Lynn muttered the words and chuckled. "Now this is what a real Devil's invasion should look like."
Forced Invasion was an exciting option. He was looking forward to seeing which world he could invade next.
"Devil's Contract, find me a new world quickly! I can't wait!"
---
Then just as he finished sorting through his gains, Tendo Kisara arrived.
She approached, carrying a stack of boxes. "Lynn-sama, here are Legacy of the Seven Stars' Relics you requested."
During his conquest of the Black Bullet world, Lynn hadn't forgotten about the Twelve Zodiac Stage V Gastrea. However, it wasn't like he could search the entire world looking for them.
That's where the Legacy of the Seven Stars' Relics came in.
Lynn scanned the boxesthere were a total of twelve.
Even though he had already acquired Scorpio, he had Kisara bring it along anyway.
Just then, a faint illusionary figure appeared on his shoulderStella. She was practically clinging to him, her eyes locked onto the relics with anticipation.
"Master!" she called out sweetly, her gaze filled with longing.
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying there's a fragment of your soul in these?"
Honestly, he was quite curious about the relics himself.
Click!
He opened one of the boxes, revealing a metallic container engraved with complex symbols. There was nothing particularly special about itexcept it was emanating Stella's energy.
Thanks to his [Spirit Devil] ability, he could sense it immediately.
"Mhm!" Stella nodded eagerly, practically vibrating with excitement, but she restrained herself from grabbing it outright.
Now it made sense why the Zodiac Gastrea were so obsessed with reclaiming these relicswithout them, they were incomplete.
Lynn thought for a moment, then handed the Scorpio relic over to Stella.
"Yay! Master, you're the best!" she squealed, rubbing her face against him before grabbing the relic excitedly.
As he watched her, something else crossed his mind. "Wait I remember the Twelve Zodiac aren't all alive anymore, right?"
Stella's movements froze, and a deep sadness, mixed with hatred, filled her eyes.
She spoke softly, "Yes... Taurus and Virgo were killed by humans."
Lynn nodded in understanding. He had never asked Scorpio about her pastif she hadn't mentioned it, it probably wasn't a pleasant memory.
Still, the Twelve Zodiac were valuable to him.
Sensing his thoughts, Stella reassured him, "Don't worry, Master. As long as we have all the Legacy of the Seven Stars' Relics, we can restore them!"
"Oh? What do you mean?" Lynn asked, intrigued.
Stella smiled. "It's all thanks to the special space you created."
She went on to explain that each relic contained a fragment of their souls. If placed within the [Devil's Piece] Space, they could be reborn as their respective Zodiac signs.
"I see..."
Lynn smirked. That was a relief.
"Alright, no need to waste time then. Let's begin."
"Operation: Zodiac Recovery, Start!"
Originally, he had planned to use the relics to help Saeko and the others level up, but now that he knew the Zodiac were going to be his familia and strengthen his abilities, there was no need for them to go through such suffering again.
After all, when he had forcefully placed Scorpio inside, she had complained non-stop for days.
So without hesitation, Lynn activated the ritual.
The next moment, the world trembled.
Eight massive Stage V Gastrea creatures began moving toward Tokyo in unison.
Fortunately, Lynn had already instructed Kisara to inform the familia in advance. Saeko and the others had been mentally prepared for this.
---
"This is quite the sight" Saeko muttered, watching the approaching beasts.
Meanwhile, Lynn frowned. "Wait a minute aren't we missing one?"
There were originally twelve Zodiac Gastrea, but since Lynn has Scorpioreal name, Stellaand two of them are no longer alive, that means there should be nine Stage V Gastrea still attacking.
"Hehe~"
Stella chuckled. "Cancer is... a little special after all."
Half a day later
After some effort from both Lynn and the 8 Zodiac Gastrea, they finally met face to face.
Lynn stood at the center, completely surrounded by 8 Zodiac Gastrea. Yet, he felt no pressure at all. If anything, he was leisurely observing them, casually sizing up their appearances.
That was the confidence of strength.
Even if all the Zodiac Gastrea attacked him at once, the only ones who would end up dead... would be them.
On the other hand, the Zodiac Gastrea themselves were hesitant to act rashly. Seeing how calm and composed Lynn was, they instinctively held back, unsure of what to do.
The air grew tense, filled with an odd atmosphere.
Truthfully, even for them, this was a first.
Summoning all the Zodiac Gastrea at once? No one had ever told them how to handle this kind of situation.
This...
Was this human... different from the others?
Or rather, was he even human?
Just as the silence stretched on, a familiar voice rang out
"Hey there, everyone!"
It was Stella.
Seeing her, the Zodiac Gastrea immediately stirred with excitement.
"Ahh, it's Stella!"
Clearly, they knew her well.
Finally, after Stella explained the situation, the Zodiac Gastrea began to understand.
And then, their eyes locked onto Lynn with an almost feverish intensity.
The thought crossed their minds To abandon these monstrous bodies and return to a humanoid form... Well, maybe not exactly human, but at least something close to their past selves.
That didn't sound bad at all.
This world's humans were already doomed. There was no one left to take revenge on.
With nothing else to do, why not start over?
"I see..." A calm, cool voice cut through the discussion.
Stella turned and smiled knowingly. "I knew you'd show up, Luna."
Lynn followed her gaze.
A small girl, about the same size as Stella, emerged from the shadows.
She had soft, jellyfish-like pale blue hair, fading into a pearly white at the tips, with a glowing crescent moon hairpin nestled atop her head.
She wore a frilly, puffed-sleeve dress adorned with wavy patterns and tiny embroidered crabs.
A seashell-shaped bag hung from her shoulder.
This must be Cancer.
Lynn had sensed another presence hidden among the Gastrea earlier but hadn't bothered to call it out.
Now that he saw her up close, he couldn't help but think No wonder Stella said she was special. She looked completely like a little girl.
Had she been living among humans all this time, disguised as one?
"So, Luna... want to join us?" Stella invited with a grin.
Luna hesitated for a moment.
By now, she fully understood that Lynn was the one responsible for wiping out humanity.
And honestly?
That was amazing.
Not only had he helped them exact their revenge, but he also gave them a way to resurrect Taurus and Virgo.
A part of her was... excited.
Moreover Luna glanced at Stella.
She looked so happy.
Luna murmured in her heart, "If Stella trusts him, then there's no reason to doubt."
The Twelve Zodiac never betrayed one another.
As fellow victims of human cruelty, their bond of trust was incredibly strong.
So, a small smile formed on Luna's lips. "Why not?"
She giggled. "This big brother who destroyed humanity... is quite to my taste."
With Luna's agreement, the remaining Zodiac followed suit.
Then, with Stella's guidance
Their massive Stage Five bodies crumbled into dust, leaving behind only their spiritual forms, which were absorbed into the Devil's Piece space.
"I'm Evelyn. Please take care of me from now on!"
"Tess..."
One by one, the little Zodiac girls introduced themselves.
And yeah, all of the Twelve Zodiac were girls, just like the Cursed Children.
Finally, CancerLunaentered the space as well.
At last, inside the space of [Devil's Piece], ten constellations now hung in the sky.
Lynn stroked his chin, feeling that the process had gone surprisingly smoothly.
These little girls... were way too easy to convince.
They trusted him so easily?
Well...
He wouldn't disappoint them.
Back at the Familia base, Lynn returned the Legacy of the Seven Stars' relics to their rightful owners.
The moment he did, a wave of excited cheers erupted from within the Devil's Piece space.
Seeing their happiness, Lynn couldn't help but smile as well.
Then, with a flick of his hand, he tossed Taurus and Virgo's relics into the starry sky.
With that, the constellations of Taurus and Virgo returned to their rightful places.
The Devil's Piece space was now home to the complete Twelve Zodiac!
Lynn studied the scene and noted, "Taurus and Virgo look a little dim..."
"That's unavoidable," Stella said, sadness flickering in her eyes.
Lynn gently patted her head in silent comfort.
Then, he turned his attention to his skill
Gastrea Genome Codex.
At long last, it was complete.
.
.
.
[Gastrea Genome Codex (Factor Genome)]
Gene Archive (Recorded: Mole Factor, Hedgehog Factor,...)
Gene Fusion (Dual-Factor Fusion Available)
Factor Assimilation (Can parasitize other living beings and implant a 'Gastrea Seed,' turning them into puppets under the host's control)
Zodiac Pilgrimage (Scorpio, Cancer... Taurus "Unavailable," Virgo "Unavailable")
---
Lynn's gaze landed on the final effect of the [Factor Genome].
"Zodiac Pilgrimage..."
Seeing this ability, Lynn felt it was strong enough to be a standalone skill. Being lumped into the [Factor Genome] almost felt like an injustice.
This ability was divided into four phases: Spring Pilgrimage, Summer Pilgrimage, Autumn Pilgrimage, and Winter Pilgrimage.
Currently, Lynn's power only allowed him to access the first stageSpring Pilgrimage.
Spring Pilgrimage had three core abilities:
[Aries Crown]
Summons Aries Starfire to envelop the body, granting explosive speed and a burning attack.
[Taurus Gate]
Creates a massive gate engraved with Taurus symbols, capable of blocking physical attacks and reflecting a portion of the damage as a shockwave.
[Gemini Mirage]
Creates a phantom duplicate that mimics the user's movements and shares senses but has no physical attack power. Useful for deception. If the mirage is destroyed or dismissed, the user can instantly teleport to its location for a surprise attack.
---
After reviewing the effects of Spring Pilgrimage, Lynn smirked.
"Let's test it out."
Finding an open space, Lynn activated [Aries Crown] first.
Fwoosh!
Stardust-like flames instantly wrapped around his body.
Lynn exhaled and touched the starfire coating his skin.
No burns. Good. That meant it wouldn't harm him.
He rubbed his fingers through the flames, watching as tiny flecks of starry light scattered like cosmic dust.
There was something mesmerizing about ita mix of mystery and power.
Then, it was time to test the speed boost.
With a thought
BOOM!
The starfire flared violently as Lynn stepped forward.
Whoosh!
Like breaking through space itself, his speed exploded. In an instant, he streaked across the air, leaving a trail of starlight behind him.
One second later
The starfire dissipated, and Lynn came to a halt, breathing steadily.
He was still at the Familia base.
It looked like he hadn't moved, but in reality
He had just circled the entire planet in that single second.
Almost at the speed of light.
Of course, that wasn't even him going all out.
"Maintaining this state for long is going to be tough..."
Lynn frowned slightly before relaxing.
Even if he couldn't sustain it for long, it was more than enough in battle.
[Aries Crown]a terrifyingly strong ability.
And it wasn't just about speed.
"Fire is still fire... I should test its burn damage next."
After canceling [Aries Crown], Lynn prepared to try [Taurus Gate].
Given its description, it seemed to be a defensive ability.
A minute passed, and Lynn stood there with a blank expression.
Nothing happened.
"Oh... right. Taurus isn't restored yet. It's shown as 'Unavailable'"
Annoyed, he sighed. "Fine. Next one."
[Gemini Mirage]!
Shing!
A faint shimmer appeared before him, like light reflecting off a mirror.
Then, a perfect copy of himself stepped out of the distortion.
Lynn scrutinized the clone closely.
"It really looks just like me."
Reaching out, he tried to touch it, but his hand passed right through.
"Just an illusion, huh..."
Not only that, but it seemed the clone required direct mental control from him.
"Compared to [Aries Crown], this one feels kinda weak."
He tested the range by moving a thousand meters away and then dispelled the clone.
Suddenly
A realization struck him.
With just a thought, he felt the lingering connection between himself and the clone
Instantly, his body flickered.
Whoosh!
Lynn reappeared exactly where the clone had been standing a moment ago.
He rubbed his chin. "Alright, it's not crazy powerful, but at least it's useful."
Spring Pilgrimage alone already gave him some interesting abilities.
And there were still three more stagesSummer, Autumn, and Winter.
Though he couldn't use them yet, the descriptions alone made it clear Zodiac Pilgrimage was insanely powerful.
Lynn glanced over at the [Devil's Piece] space, where the Zodiac girls were playing happily among the constellations.
Each of them now had their own personal palace within their respective star signs, and every palace had its own unique characteristics.
But that wasn't all.
Just as Lynn had gained the Zodiac Pilgrimage ability
The Zodiac girls had also obtained their own enhancements.
Aside from summoning Gastrea shadows, they each had unique powers:
Aries had mastery over Starfire.
Scorpio controlled the deadly Stellar Venom.
Even though Lynn couldn't yet use the higher-tier Pilgrimage skills himself, summoning the Zodiac girls to fight in his place would be just as effective.
"This setup why does it feel so much like a vampire's Blood Servants?"
Main World.
The moon hung high in the sky.
After grinding for experience, Yukinoshita Yukino dragged her exhausted body back home. She had yet to experience Lynn's magic replenishment firsthand.
Not because she didn't need it, but because she simply hadn't had the opportunity to spend time alone with him.
If she ever did get replenished by him...
Just imagining the scene made Yukino's ears heat up.
For her, something like that was already pushing the limits of what she could handle.
Besides, the Familia had recovery potions available. But once she found out how Shizuka made these potions, she decisively refused to use them.
The thought alone was just too weird. She couldn't handle it.
She could probably accept Lynn's magic replenishment easier than using those milk potions.
So Being tired was fine. It was just another form of training.
That being said Lately, her life had felt so fulfilling.
It was as if Yukino had found a new purpose.
At the same time, Yukinoshita Haruno also noticed her younger sister.
Seeing Yukino's utterly drained appearance, Haruno instinctively furrowed her brows.
Coming home this late was already concerning and suspicious.
After all, Yukino wasn't the type to go out with friends, and she prided herself on her independence.
So where had she been this whole time?
Sure, she was back now. And her clothes weren't disheveled or dirty.
But still It was hard not to overthink things.
Haruno bit her lip in frustration and let out a small huff.
"You're home awfully late. Where exactly were you?"
Her brows knitted in displeasure, and her tone carried an accusatory edge.
But of course, Yukino wasn't the type to be rattled by such things.
Expression calm, she replied, "That's none of your concern."
Leaving those words behind, she pulled out her keys and opened the door.
Haruno was momentarily stunned, only then realizing she might've overstepped.
"Ahwait! I was just worried about you!"
She immediately switched tactics, slipping into her usual playful, coaxing tone.
Yukino sighed, exasperated. "If you don't have any other business, you should go home."
"Whaaat? So heartless, Yukino~ I waited so long for you to come back, and you won't even offer me a cup of tea?"
Haruno pouted dramatically, her expression exaggerated.
Yukino rubbed her temples, already feeling a headache forming. "Fine. Come in."
Haruno's face instantly brightened with a radiant smile.
---
In the Living Room.
Haruno casually leaned back on the couch. "So, Yukino, I heard you joined the Supernatural Research Club?"
The info had come straight from her inside sourceHiratsuka Shizuka.
"That's right."
Yukino nodded.
"So that's how you're dealing with your little 'problem'?"
Haruno glanced around the spotless, curse-free apartment and noted the newfound ease in Yukino's demeanor.
"That's right," Yukino confirmed.
"Then," Haruno's eyes gleamed with curiosity, "mind telling me how you solved it?"
She was genuinely interested.
After all, she could tell just by looking at her sister that Yukino's 'problem' had been resolved.
Even though Yukino came home late looking completely worn out, her overall state was far better than before. The gloomy air that once clung to her had vanished entirely.
It was clear something had changed.
But how?
Did that mysterious club president, Lynn, use supernatural means?
Haruno was dying to know.
However, Yukino fell silent at the question.
Mostly because she had no idea how to explain it.
If she told Haruno that she had completely offered herself to a man in exchange for supernatural power
That would be a disaster waiting to happen.
Not to mention what would happen if their mother found out
The thought alone made her nervous.
"Sorry. That's classified information."
Haruno: ""
She shot Yukino an annoyed glare.
But Yukino remained unfazed.
"Fine."
Haruno suddenly stood up, brushing off her skirt.
"If you won't tell me" she said with a mischievous smirk, "I'll just find out myself."
With that ominous declaration, she turned and left the apartment.
---
Downstairs.
Haruno pulled out her phone and made a call.
"Buy me a haunted house. Immediately."
"Huh?"
The voice on the other end was clearly bewildered.
"I said, get me the most haunted place you can find."
She was determined.
Supernatural Research Club, huh?
Yukino wouldn't tell her what was going on?
Then she'd just make them come to her!
If they took on supernatural extermination requests, she'd simply create a reason for them to investigate.
"Fufufu~"
Haruno chuckled to herself, already imagining the possibilities.
Who knows?
Maybe tomorrow, she'd get the chance to hire Yukino herself.
Her lips curled into a playful smirk.
"Alright then, Supernatural Research Club."
"Let's see what secrets you're hiding."
.
.
.
The next day - Afternoon
Supernatural Research Club
A knock echoed at the clubroom door.
"Sis?"
Yukino, who had been preparing tea for Lynn, looked up in surprise.
Haruno's face stiffened.
The moment she opened the door, she was met with the sight of her little sister making tea for a man, looking like a loyal wife.
Haruno forced a smile, barely holding back her emotions.
Taking a deep breath, she deliberately avoided looking at Yukino and instead turned her gaze to Lynn.
"You must be the club president, right?"
This man likely held supernatural powers.
If he could tame Yukino to this extent
She clenched her teeth.
She wasn't jealous.
Not at all.
She was pissed!
How dare he make her sister serve him!
Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
Yukino, on the other hand, felt a little awkward.
Getting caught like this by her sister
"I heard that your club takes on exorcism requests outside of school," Haruno said, cutting straight to the point.
Lynn responded in a flat tone, "Exorcism services start at five million yen."
To be honest, his Familia didn't really need money anymore.
But he also didn't go out of his way to look for outside jobs.
His Familia members needed something to keep them busy, after all.
To know Saeko had already become a High-Class Devil.
So if they ran into a weaker world next time, she and the others could handle an invasion on their own.
As their master, he deserved to live a life of leisure.
"No problem!"
While Lynn was daydreaming about a slacker lifestyle, Haruno immediately agreed without hesitation.
A mere five million yen? That was nothing.
Lynn, unimpressed, turned to Miko.
"Miko, you handle it."
After a moment of thought, he added, "Yukino, you go too."
Since it was her sister's request, it was only right that Yukino handled it.
"Yes," Yukino sighed, glancing at her sister helplessly.
Haruno, however, raised an eyebrow.
"You're not coming, Mr. President?"
Lynn gave her an amused look.
"You want me to step in personally?"
"You probably can't afford it."
Haruno puffed out her chest confidently.
"Relax! There's nothing the Yukinoshita family can't afford!"
She was the eldest daughter of a political powerhouse in Chiba.
Was hiring an exorcist supposed to bankrupt her?
Lynn paused, then asked, "How much is your family worth?"
Haruno shot him a puzzled look, unsure why he was asking.
But she still answered, "About five billion yen."
"Great. That'll be the price."
"Huh?"
Haruno's eyes widened.
Was this guy messing with her?
"What, don't need my help anymore?"
Lynn's calm gaze landed on her.
It was like a thunderclap in her mind.
Haruno's breath hitched.
Her thighs instinctively pressed together.
S-Scary!
Just one look.
Gulp.
She swallowed hard, then forced an awkward smile.
"N-No need to trouble you, sir!"
Her sharp intuition screamed at her.
This man was on a completely different level.
He was dangerous.
Extremely dangerous!
Haruno screamed internally like a terrified dog.
---
After leaving the academyA tense silence filled the air.
"Yukino, are you sure this is okay?"
Haruno hesitated.
Being around that man felt incredibly dangerous.
Just one glance, and she knew.
All human schemes and tricks were meaningless before him.
If he wanted, he could flip the entire table.
Haruno prided herself on her ability to read people.
So she backed off immediately.
"What do you mean?"
Yukino frowned, confused by her sister's question.
What problem?
She was having the time of her life!
Every day, she could feel herself getting stronger.
For the first time, she felt like she had a real purpose.
How could there be a problem?
Haruno opened her mouth, glanced at Miko, then sighed in silence.
After a while
The three of them arrived at an abandoned building.
Miko and Yukino circled the place, scanning carefully.
Their conclusion?
"No spirits here."
"None?"
Haruno blinked, then glanced around as well.
Even though she couldn't actually see anything.
But wasn't this place supposed to be haunted?
Haruno pouted.
"Oh well, onto the next one!"
---
Half an hour later
Another abandoned site.
"Still nothing."
Yukino and Miko spoke in unison.
Haruno's expression twitched.
"Next one!"
They went through five locations.
Finally, they stood in front of an old apartment complex.
Miko looked up.
A bloated, grotesque spirit loomed overhead, staring down at them.
"You can see me?" it whispered.
Yukino sighed.
"Looks like you finally stumbled onto one this time, sis."
After visiting so many places, she had figured out her sister's true intention.
She didn't tell her anything yesterday, so today she took matters into her own hands and came to investigate.
She even picked all the locations rumored to be haunted. Probably spent last night buying up all the information she could find.
She clearly wasn't familiar with the places while they were making their way here.
"What do you mean, 'finally stumbled onto one'? I told you this place was haunted!" Haruno huffed, unfazed by being exposed.
But then something clicked in her mind, and her expression stiffened. A sense of unease crept over her.
"Wait a minute!"
Haruno's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you saying... this place is actually haunted?"
Yukino ignored her sister's reaction and turned to her senior Familia member, Miko, seeking confirmation with a glance.
Miko nodded and said, "Just a Grade 2 Curse. You should handle it yourselfI'll support you."
With that, she pulled out her mirror, a tool that could influence reality itself. Perfect for assisting in battle.
Yukino shot her a grateful look before taking a deep breath, steadying her focus on the Curse.
It was her first time facing a Grade 2 Curse.
"Wait!" Haruno suddenly panicked. "You guys have been saying weird things this whole timewhat's actually happening here?!"
Yukino frowned and snapped, "Sister, step back!"
"...Huh?"
Haruno was momentarily stunned.
This was the first time she had ever seen Yukino like this.
But after getting yelled at, she instinctively quieted down and backed away to a safer distance.
Still...
Yukino yelled at her?
She was definitely getting back at her for this later!
While she was grumbling to herself, the Grade 2 Curse finally took notice of them.
It grinned, revealing its grotesque, foul-smelling mouth. "You can see me! You can see me!"
With a deep whoosh, it leaped from the top of the building, diving straight at them!
Miko raised her mirror.
The Curse, which had been charging toward them, suddenly twisted mid-air and crashed into the ground instead.
Boom!
A loud, dull impact shook the area.
The sheer force of the crash cracked the cement floor.
Haruno's eyes widened in shock as she stood frozen in place.
She couldn't see anything, but the ground had just collapsed out of nowhere.
"T-There really is something?!"
Her voice trembled.
She had experienced a lot in life, but this was her first time encountering something so eerie. She couldn't help but feel a chill down her spine.
Was Yukino really about to fight some invisible creature?
She turned to look at her sister, worry written all over her face.
Then she saw it.
A cold mist began to swirl around Yukino, and delicate snowflakes started drifting down from the air.
"Huh?"
Haruno was completely dumbfounded.
But Yukino wasn't stopping.
She gracefully swept her hand forward, and the surrounding snowfall transformed into ice spears, launching toward the target.
The Grade 2 Curse tried to dodge, but Miko's mirror made it froze in place.
Crackcrack
As soon as the ice touched the Curse, it spread like poison, engulfing its entire form in an instant.
A beautifully sculpted ice statue now stood at the base of the old apartment building.
Haruno stared blankly at the scene before her, feeling like she was trapped in a dream.
This couldn't be real.
Yukino... had actually become Yukino, the "Ice Queen"!
Would she change her name to Elsa now?
Haruno turned her gaze to the ice sculpture.
Although she could barely make out its deformed shape, she knew there was some kind of grotesque monster frozen inside.
But...
She couldn't see it!
Yukino didn't pay her sister any attention. She calmly walked up to the frozen Curse and lightly tapped it with her fingertips.
Boom!
The ice statue shattered into powder.
The Curse inside it vanished into nothingness.
Miko watched with admiration, a hint of envy in her eyes.
She wished she had such a cool ability...
With the Curse dealt with, Yukino turned to Haruno and said flatly, "Sister, your request has been completed."
Haruno, still in shock, remained silent, unable to process what had just happened.
Yukino sighed.
She could understand this reaction.
After all, she had gone through the same thing herself.
Her sister would probably need some time to adjust.
She stepped past Haruno, ready to follow Miko to hunt more Curses and gain more experience.
Slap!
Suddenly, her arm was grabbed.
Yukino turned back in surprise and saw Haruno forcing a smile, her grip trembling slightly.
"Yukino... this time, you've really stepped ahead of me."
Yukino pressed her lips together but said nothing.
Haruno had always been the one who stood ahead.
Yet now, Yukino had surpassed her.
And far more quickly than she had ever expected.
Yukino gave her sister a concerned look but ultimately left without saying another word.
She couldn't do anything to help her sister.
She never could.
After Yukino left, Haruno's face twisted into a mix of emotions.
She turned back to look at the old apartment building, an uneasy feeling creeping up her spine.
Goosebumps covered her skin.
Shivering, she quickly left the area as well.
On the way back, her expression gradually returned to its usual warm and charming demeanor.
"This... is my chance."
"A chance for meand for the Yukinoshita family!"
.
.
.
On the way back home, sitting in the car, Yukinoshita Haruno was deep in thought.
So, everything changed when Yukino joined the Supernatural Research Club.
Yukino definitely didn't have that kind of supernatural power before.
"Gaining power So that's what she meant by finding a solution?" Haruno murmured to herself, slightly dazed.
"But still"
"There must've been a price to pay for that power"
Haruno recalled how Yukino acted like a little wife in the club. Now she fully understood the reason behind it.
Turns out, she had essentially sold herself to that club president.
The thought of it made Haruno a little angry. That was the precious little sister she had carefully raised for over a decade!
But since things had already come to this, Haruno quickly changed her perspective.
Perhaps, through Yukino, the Yukinoshita family's influence could rise even higher?
She recalled how she had struggled to break into Tokyo's elite circles, enduring countless social battles and hardships.
"Hmph"
Suddenly, Haruno chuckled to herself.
Since they didn't want to let her in, she would just change tactics and bring them to their knees instead!
Two days later - the Yukinoshita household.
After listening to Haruno's explanation, Yukinoshita RukaHaruno and Yukino's motherstill found it hard to believe.
Supernatural events?
Her younger daughter had even gained supernatural powers?
The more she heard, the more unbelievable it sounded.
She knew Haruno wouldn't lie about something like this, but
"You're sure about this?"
Even though she trusted her eldest daughter, Ruka couldn't help but be skeptical. After all, unless someone saw it with their own eyes, ordinary people wouldn't believe such things existed.
Haruno sighed helplessly. "Just wait until Yukino gets home, and you'll see for yourself."
Good thing she had called Yukino in advance and asked her to come back. Otherwise, explaining all this would have been a nightmare.
They didn't have to wait long. Soon, Yukino returned to their home in Chiba.
As soon as she stepped through the door and saw her mother and sister waiting for her, Yukino felt a bit uneasy.
Given how sharp Haruno was, she had probably already figured out how Yukino gained her powers.
Would she be scolded?
She sneaked a glance at her mother's serious expression and sighed internally.
Even so, she had no regrets.
Once she sat down, Haruno got straight to the point. "Yukino, show Mom what you can do."
Yukino remained silent.
Ruka shot a glance at Haruno.
This daughter of hers was getting more and more fearless.
Neither of them said anything else, simply staring at Yukino intently.
After a moment of being scrutinized, Yukino sighed in resignation.
She had known this day would come sooner or later.
Without a word, she raised her hand. A delicate snowflake materialized in her palm out of thin air.
"Hah"
Ruka inhaled sharplybut the sudden chill from Yukino's ice made her shiver, causing her to cough instead.
Seeing this, Yukino quickly dispersed the snowflake.
After a few moments of coughing, Ruka still felt a lingering coldness and couldn't help but shudder.
Then, she turned to Yukino with an expression of pure disbelief. "So Haruno was telling the truth?!"
Her daughter had really become a supernatural being?
Yukino remained silent, but her emotions were complicated.
It was the first time she had seen her mother so flustered.
But what worried her more was the inevitable questioning and reprimands.
Selling herself to a Devil in exchange for powerwhat mother could possibly accept such a thing?
Ruka took a moment to calm her complicated emotions. Then, she recalled something Haruno had mentioned earlier.
A price had to be paid to gain supernatural power.
So, what had Yukino sacrificed?
Noticing her daughter's nervous demeanor, Ruka could already make a guess.
She felt a mix of frustration and admiration.
Yukino actually had the resolve to go through with something like this?
Was this really the same daughter she had known all these years?
As the matriarch of the Yukinoshita family, Ruka quickly regained her composure. Her frustration faded just as fast.
After all, her anger stemmed only from the fact that her daughter had made such a major decision without consulting the family.
Otherwise, she had the same mindset as Haruno.
Since things had already happened, the Yukinoshita family had to seize this opportunity.
After all, in normal circumstances, she couldn't see any other way for their family to climb any higher.
Might as well lean into the supernatural world and carve out a new path!
Who knows? The Yukinoshita family might even rise to the top of human society!
"Yukino, you did well this time."
Ruka smiled approvingly at her daughter.
Yukino: "...?"
She was completely dumbfounded.
W-What just happened?
Her mother wasn't mad?
In fact, she seemed supportive?
Her expression stiffened as a wave of frustration washed over her.
So, her mother really didn't care about her, huh?
"Yukino, can you tell us the details?"
Ruka, of course, noticed her daughter's feelings. But right now, the future of the Yukinoshita family was more important.
Yukino hesitated for a moment before replying, "I need to ask my club president for permission."
After all, what she could and couldn't say was ultimately up to Lynn to decide.
Ruka's expression turned a bit complicated.
Her daughter had already started prioritizing an outsider over her own family
Soon, after receiving Lynn's approval, Yukino briefly explained the existence of Devils and how contracts worked.
Of course, she didn't reveal a single word about the other worlds, the Blessing System, or the existence of special Devils.
Even if it was her own family, they weren't part of the Familia.
"I see..."
Yukinoshita Haruno and their mother, Yukinoshita Ruka, both wore thoughtful expressions.
Surprisingly, neither of them seemed particularly shocked or upset about Yukino becoming a Devil's Familia member.
Honestly, compared to marrying off Yukino to some random nobody in the future, joining a Devil in exchange for power didn't sound like a bad deal at all.
But more importantly...Yukino was now a Devil herself.
And Lynn's Familia seemed... a little too large already.
Most importantly, it was entirely made up of women!
Yukinoshita Ruka frowned as she scrutinized Yukino.
She was certainly cute, but... That figure of hers...
Could she even compete?
Yukino immediately sensed the unspoken judgment from her own mother and, without a word, crossed her arms over her chest.
Seeing this, Ruka withdrew her gaze, thought for a moment, and then delivered her final decree:
"Yukino's existence has made me reconsider the future development of the Yukinoshita family!"
Sitting up straight, she regained her dignified composure and spoke in a serious tone.
"Our Yukinoshita family mustabsolutely mustbind ourselves to Lynn-sama!"
Haruno wasn't the least bit surprised.
From the moment she arrived, she knew exactly what kind of decision her mother would make.
Yukino, on the other hand, fell silent.
Still, she didn't reject the idea.
After joining the Familia, she had personally witnessed Lynn's overwhelming power and the strength of his followers.
Her mother making this decision... honestly, it was a relief.
"However..."
Ruka hesitated, casting another glance at Yukino before sighing softly.
"With just Yukino alone, our family's standing within Lynn-sama's circle might not be high enough."
After a moment of contemplation, she made up her mind.
"Haruno, you should also request to join Lynn-sama's Familia."
"...What?"
Haruno was speechless.
Yukino was equally stunned.
Wait, what did she mean?
"Hmph!"
"If I wasn't enough, then how could Haruno be?"
Yukino narrowed her eyes in frustration, clearly unconvinced.
Haruno, meanwhile, rubbed her temple.
Yukino... there are just some things you can't compete in.
She glanced down at her own curvy figure and fell into deep thought.
Joining Lynn's Familia, huh...
She was definitely tempted.
What did it feel like to wield supernatural power?
But... Yukino had mentioned that not just anyone was qualified to join.
That made her a little nervous.
More importantly, she absolutely couldn't accept the idea of losing to Yukino.
"...I understand."
Without hesitation, Haruno agreed.
Yukino shot her a complicated look.
"Alright then," Ruka nodded in satisfaction. "Tomorrow, Haruno, you'll head to Shuchiin Academy."
"Oh, and one more thing."
Ruka suddenly added, "Make sure to bring the sincerity of the Yukinoshita family with you."
Supernatural Research Club
Haruno, who had been waiting for this moment, immediately sought out Lynn.
Sitting leisurely in his chair, Lynn glanced at the document on his deska share transfer agreement for the Yukinoshita family's businesses.
With a chuckle, he remarked, "You guys sure went all in on this, huh?"
Of course, to him, the Yukinoshita family's assets weren't all that impressive.
But for them, this was a huge move.
Haruno bowed her head slightly.
"Please, Lynn-sama, accept this as a token of our family's sincerity."
She was well aware that their wealth might not mean much to a Devil like Lynn.
But this was everything the Yukinoshita family had to offer.
And also...
Haruno looked up, her gaze unwavering.
"If possible, please accept me into your Familia."
"...Oh?"
Lynn rested his chin on his hand, intrigued.
"Yukino should have already told you what becoming my Familia member means."
"Of course!"
Haruno nodded without hesitation, then smiled confidently.
"It means joining Lynn-sama's harem, right?"
The room fell into complete silence.
She had just blurted it out.
Without a hint of embarrassment.
Haruno continued, her tone unwavering, "For me, that would be the ideal outcome."
The Yukinoshita family had long been inactive.
Eventually, she would be forced into an arranged marriage for political and financial gain.
If she had to live that kind of life, she would much rather dedicate herself to someone truly powerful.
Spending her life with Lynn instead of some revolting, money-grubbing elites?
That was the greatest fortune she could ever hope for.
"Besides, Lynn wasn't just powerfulhe was handsome, capable, and charismatic."
He could grant her supernatural power.
And possibly even elevate the Yukinoshita family further!
When she weighed the pros and cons, this was an absolute win.
Her eyes burned with determination as she declared:
"Pleaseaccept me into your harem!"
Silence.
The entire room fell into an eerie stillness.
Shiina Mahiru and the others stared at Haruno in disbelief.
They hadn't expected her to be this... shamelessly straightforward.
Yukino silently turned her back, refusing to acknowledge her overly enthusiastic sister.
Even Lynn was momentarily stunned.
This woman...
She wasn't normal.
She really wasn't.
She was willing to go all in without hesitation.
Still...
Lynn smirked.
"Thenas you wish."
.
.
.
Lynn had always been open to new members.
So if Yukinoshita Haruno didn't meet the qualifications to become part of his Familia, no matter what, he wouldn't have accepted her. That was non-negotiable.
The same went for the Yukinoshita family's business assetsLynn had no reservations about taking them in either. After all, once they were under his Familia, they essentially became part of his domain.
Lynn planned to have the Yukinoshita family handle the distribution of resources his Familia acquired from different worlds. It was about time they expanded their business in a more diversified direction. Every world had its unique assets, and a proper supply chain would be crucial in leveraging them effectively.
After settling some other affairs, Lynn turned his gaze toward Haruno.
"Alright, take it off."
Haruno showed no surprise.
She had already heard about this from Yukino and was mentally prepared for it.
Without hesitation, she removed her clothing and turned her back to Lynn, exposing her bare skin.
Lynn pressed the Devil's Piece against her back. The cold touch sent a slight shiver through Haruno, a mix of nervousness and excitement welling up inside her.
A moment later, a surge of power flowed through her body. The blessing of the Familia manifested across her skin.
---
[Yukinoshita Haruno]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Strategic Mind] & [Shapeshifter Devil]
[Strategic Mind]
When devising long-term plans or strategies, her thinking speed and logical clarity improve based on the complexity of the plan.
If a target has psychological weaknesses or unresolved conflicts, the success rate of verbal persuasion is significantly increased, potentially allowing indirect influence over their decisions.
Less effective against pure instinct-driven individuals but exceptionally powerful against high-intelligence targets.
[Shapeshifter Devil]
Perfect Facade: Can freely alter appearance, voice, and even fragments of memory, creating highly convincing illusions.
Devil Persona: A personality mode optimized for deception and strategy.
"Another special Devil, huh?"
Lynn stroked his chin, musing over the implications.
It seemed that the Yukinoshita sisters had some seriously impressive potential.
That said, while Haruno was classified as a special Devil, her abilities weren't particularly combat-oriented.
She would be perfect to be in charge of managing the Familia's finances.
After copying down her Familia status, Lynn nodded. "Alright, you're all set."
Haruno swiftly redressed herself and took the paper containing her new status.
After Yukino briefly explained how the blessing system worked, a glimmer of excitement appeared in Haruno's eyes.
She hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise!
"Shapeshifter Devil..." Haruno murmured, repeating the words to herself.
Was this ability a reflection of how she had always worn a mask in her daily life?
Yukino, who had been listening intently, perked up at the mention of Haruno's ability.
It looked like her sister had also become a special Devil.
"Perfect Facade, huh..."
Yukino thought about her own ability.
Wasn't one of her skills supposed to make her immune to deception and illusions?
A small smirk tugged at her lips.
A little victory for her.
Once Haruno had some time to get used to her new powers, Lynn shifted the conversation to her upcoming responsibilities.
"Finance?" Haruno blinked, then nodded. "I see. Not much different from what I was doing beforejust on a much larger scale."
It was essentially an expansion of the Yukinoshita family's business, just under the Familia's banner.
Her abilities clearly weren't suited for combat, and while she felt a twinge of envy for Yukino's ice-based powers, she quickly brushed the thought aside.
Her skill set fit her personality.
"The Familia controls resources from two entire worlds. You'll be responsible for using the Yukinoshita family's business connections to distribute them."
"Wait..." Haruno narrowed her eyes. "Two worlds?"
She had a sharp mind, but even she struggled to comprehend the full implications of that statement.
Seeing her reaction, Lynn briefly summarized the state of affairs in the Black Bullet world and the Apocalypse World.
Haruno's eyelids twitched.
She had just joined a Familia that had already conquered two entire worlds?
And one of those worlds had its human civilization completely wiped out?
She sucked in a deep breath.
For the first time, she truly grasped what it meant to be part of a Devil's Familia.
A single misstep could mean extinction for an entire species.
If that wasn't the definition of a Devil, then what was?
That said, the more she learned about the Black Bullet world, the more she found herself thinking
They should have wiped out those humans even more thoroughly.
After getting a full briefing on the situation, Haruno wasted no time formulating plans for their economic expansion.
She was incredibly thorough
So thorough that she even wanted to capitalize on the materials from the ruined cities.
As she spoke, confidently outlining her strategies, Lynn nodded along.
Not that he understood anything of what she was saying.
Business wasn't exactly his strong suit. As the master of his Familia, Lynn had one simple goalenjoy life without unnecessary burdens.
"Speaking of which..."
Haruno suddenly blinked, her curiosity piqued. "Has Yukino already done it with Lynn-sama?"
"SisSister!!"
Yukino nearly jumped out of her seat, her reaction akin to a cat.
Shiina Mahiru and Yotsuya Miko pursed their lips, both slightly taken aback.
This older Yukinoshita sister... she was certainly bold with her words.
"Ohhh."
Haruno smirked at Yukino's reaction, then scoffed.
So their mother was right not to put any hopes on Yukino.
She had already joined the harem, yet she was still waiting for Lynn to make the first move?
Haruno glanced around, her eye twitching slightly.
With the women in the Supernatural Research Club, there were already enough to keep Lynn occupied for an entire month.
If you wanted something, you had to take the initiative!
Clearly, Yukino didn't understand this at all.
Even among Lynn's Familia, there was an undeniable difference between those who had been with him intimately and those who hadn't.
Since Yukino was unreliable, it was up to her, Haruno to act.
For the rise of the Yukinoshita family!
To offer her most precious first time!
Taking a deep breath, Haruno leaned in close to Lynn, her voice laced with a seductive charm. "Lord Lynn, would you like me to accompany you tonight?"
"S-Sister?!"
Yukino was completely stunned.
Never in her life had she seen her sister act this boldly.
Was Haruno really just throwing herself into their club president's bed like that?
It seemed that she still had a lot to learn about the world of adults.
Of course, Yukino wasn't the only one shocked.
Even Miko and Mahiru were staring, wide-eyed.
This newcomer to the Familia was already trying to cut the line?!
WTF!
Lynn, for his part, was a little surprised by Haruno.
Still, as he always believedhe never turned away someone who came to him willingly.
As long as you took the first step, he would make sure you experienced an unforgettable night.
"I'll be looking forward to tonight."
"You won't be disappointed."
Haruno's heartbeat pounded in her chest.
Now that Lynn had actually agreed, she found herself feeling slightly dizzy.
After all, this was her first time dealing with something like this.
But she quickly steadied herself.
However, someone else was not nearly as composed.
D-Did he really just agree?!
Yukino instinctively turned toward Miko, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"Didn't we agree that there was an order?!"
Miko awkwardly averted her gaze, avoiding eye contact.
Her little scheme had been completely exposed in just a week!
For maintaining the dignity of a senior member of the Familia...
But the competition in the Familia was way too fierce!
Seeing Miko's reaction, Yukino couldn't help but sigh in defeat.
She had only just joined and was already being taught a harsh lesson by her seniors.
"Yukino, I'll be borrowing your room tonight."
"W-What?!"
Still reeling from shock, Yukino barely managed to process her sister's words before she took another direct hit.
Herher room?!
Her sister and the club president, in her bed?
The mental image formed instantly.
Her sister, bare-skinned, tangled up with their club president, on her bed
With a flushed face, Yukino wobbled unsteadily.
Without thinking, she blurted out, "What about me?!"
"...Huh?"
Haruno gave her a strange look. "Obviously, you'll be sleeping in the living room."
"Oh."
Haruno suddenly paused, then smirked playfully. "Or do you want to join in?"
J-Join in?!
Yukino's eyes spiraled in confusion.
That night
In the end, Yukino slept in the living room.
There was absolutely no way she could ever do something like that!
She buried herself under her blanket, hiding her burning face.
But even with her ears covered, she couldn't block out the undeniable sounds from upstairs.
Her face turned impossibly red.
"Sister you're so loud"
She whispered unconsciously.
"Why did I even come back home?"
Wouldn't it have been better to just rent a hotel room?
Why did she have to torture herself like this?
As she lay there, Yukino twisted and turned, her entire body restless as if tiny ants were crawling all over her skin.
"Lord Lynn, what do you think of this position?"
From upstairs, Haruno's voice rang out loud and clear, almost as if she wanted Yukino to hear it.
Yukino gasped, her breath uneven, until finally, exhaustion took over and she drifted off into a restless sleep.
The Next Morning
With deep dark circles under her eyes, Yukino glared at her sister.
"Why aren't you wearing any clothes?!"
"What's the big deal?"
Haruno, completely unfazed, grabbed two cold drinks from the fridge.
Her body was still feeling hotshe needed something to cool down.
"Be good and head to school."
"Ah!"
As if suddenly remembering something, Haruno gave her a teasing wink. "Oh, and don't forget to call Lynn's school and tell them he won't be coming in today."
"I'm still not satisfied after all."
With that, she turned and walked back upstairs.
Yukino stood frozen in place, utterly speechless.
.
.
.
Afternoon
"So this is what Yukino saw before..."
Haruno hugged her chest tightly, staring intently at the hideous curse spirit before her.
As she approached the curse spirit, eerie whispers echoed in her ears.
"Can you see me? Can you see me?"
Haruno exhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves.
Lynn, noticing her reaction, reassured her, "Relax, these types of curse spirits are weak."
"Got it!" Haruno nodded, wasting no time as she unleashed her magic toward the curse spirit.
Sizzle
The curse spirit let out a shriek before vanishing into nothingness.
"Huh? Did I really just do that?"
"Without a doubt," Lynn confirmed with a nod.
Haruno beamed with joy, like a child receiving praise.
After eliminating a few more curse spirits, Lynn spoke up. "Try using your Shapeshifter Devil."
"Huh?" Haruno hesitated. "But my Shapeshifter Devil doesn't really have combat abilities, does it?"
"Not necessarily..."
Lynn, after trying it with Haruno yesterday, he had a feeling there was more to [Shapeshifter Devil] than they had previously discovered.
"I see!" Haruno nodded, taking a deep breath.
"Shapeshifter Devil!"
Buzz
Her pupils flickered wildly as countless figures flashed before her eyes.
As long as she knew someone, she could transform into them.
And the deeper her understanding, the more perfect the Shapeshifting.
In the next moment, her mind locked onto a figure that stunned her.
It was...Lynn!
She and Lynn were already quite familiar with each other, right?
If that was the case, then why not try disguising herself as Lynn?
Haruno focused her mind, and her body suddenly became foggy.
Then
"Nothing changed?"
Haruno frowned.
Did this mean she didn't know Lynn well enough yet?
Unacceptable!
Tonight, she had to get to know him even more deeply!
Since she couldn't disguise herself as Lynn, Haruno naturally switched targets.
She smirked. "Alright then, let's go with you, Yukino!"
Buzz
The new Yukino modified her chest slightly and gasped, "So realistic!"
Lynn's lips twitched, barely holding back a laugh.
That's how you're confirming its accuracy?
Haruno nodded in satisfaction and focused her mind once more, adjusting her demeanor until her entire presence perfectly mimicked the real Yukino's.
Then, suddenly, an idea struck her.
"Lynn-sama, do you want me to stay in this form tonight?"
"Uh"
"You really know how to play, huh..."
Haruno then steadied herself and carefully felt out the state of her Shapeshifting.
"Wait!!!!"
Haruno's eyes widened as she sensed something hidden deep within her.
She raised a delicate hand and focused her mind.
Whoosh
In the next moment, delicate snowflakes formed in her palm.
Seeing this, Haruno froze in shock.
"Isn't this... Yukino's ability?!"
Lynn, watching closely, finally understood.
So that's what [Shapeshifter Devil] was really capable of?
Lynn pondered for a moment before speaking. "Try testing its power."
Hearing his request, Haruno nodded and swung her hand forward.
Whoosh
A gust of icy snow surged ahead!
"So short..."
Watching the frost barely extend a meter forward, Haruno couldn't help but complain.
"Hmm..." Lynn rubbed his chin, analyzing the situation. "It could be because your own power level is too low, or maybe your understanding of the target isn't deep enough."
"Or..."
"It might be that abilities copied using [Shapeshifter Devil] are naturally weaker than the original."
Hearing Lynn's analysis, Haruno nodded eagerly.
She was an expert in business matters.
But when it came to things like this, Lynn was undeniably the professional.
His reasoning made a lot of sense.
That said...
"Even if the copied abilities aren't as strong as the original, I'm already super satisfied!"
With that, Haruno deactivated [Shapeshifter Devil].
Her face was lit up with excitement.
Originally, she thought it was just a simple transformation ability.
But now, realizing she could actually use the abilities of her disguised identity That was completely beyond her expectations!
She could replicate other people's abilities.
"Your potential is impressive," Lynn praised.
Maybe once Haruno leveled up more, her replicated abilities would also grow stronger.
With special Devils, anything was possible!
After gaining some experience, Lynn took Haruno to explore the worlds of Apocalypse and Black Bullet, giving her a proper introduction to their situations.
That night, naturally, they stayed in another world.
Haruno even planned to use [Shapeshifter Devil] to give Lynn a variety of experiences.
Unfortunately, [Shapeshifter Devil] couldn't withstand intense impacts, and the experiment had to be abandoned halfway.
But this only strengthened Haruno's resolve to upgrade her ability.
With how useful [Shapeshifter Devil] was, she absolutely had to make it stronger!
Main World
Seeing that her sister and Lynn hadn't returned, Yukinoshita Yukino let out a sigh of relief, though she couldn't quite explain the feeling in her heart.
Tonight, she could finally sleep in her own bed again.
...
Bedroom
Yukino sniffed the strange scent lingering in the room, her eyes locking onto her bed with an expression of pure disbelief.
"This bed... can I even sleep in it anymore?"
She was conflicted.
In the end, with a red face, Yukino lay down on the bed.
"There aren't any spare sheets, so... I guess I have no choice."
She muttered softly.
A Few Days Later
After finishing her review of the Familia's situation and drafting a series of plans, Haruno finally returned to her homethe Yukinoshita household.
"How was it?"
Her mom, Yukinoshita Ruka asked, unable to contain her curiosity.
"It was amazing!"
Haruno's face turned red as she hugged herself, her voice dreamy. "Lynn-sama's arms are so strong... When he lifted my legs to put"
"Stop!"
Ruka cut her off, her face dark. "I didn't ask for those kinds of details!"
"Eh?"
Haruno blinked in confusion. "Then what do you want to hear?"
"Your abilities! The Familia's status!"
Haruno smirked and then, in an instant, her appearance changed.
Before Ruka stood a perfect copy of herself.
"???"
Ruka was stunned.
"This is...?"
"Shapeshifter Devilmy ability," the other Ruka said.
Ruka clicked her tongue. "Not just your appearanceeven your voice and aura are identical...?"
Haruno smiled. "What do you think? Pretty good, right?"
Ruka nodded. "It suits you."
"I think so too. And also..."
Haruno suddenly acted shy. "Lynn-sama likes it a lot too..."
"That night, I used your form and"
Ruka's hand trembled, nearly spilling her tea. Her face twisted in horror. "You ungrateful child, what the hell did you do?!"
"Haha!"
Haruno burst out laughing and canceled her disguise.
"Relax, relax, I was just messing with you..."
Hearing that, Ruka exhaled deeply, though her heart was still pounding from the shock.
"Of course..."
Haruno gave her a mischievous smile. "If Lynn-sama wanted it, I wouldn't refuse~"
Ruka froze on the spot.
Haruno leaned in close, whispering, "I hope you can understand me, Mother."
Ruka's face darkened as she clenched her teacup tightly, but in the end, she let out a silent sigh and awkwardly changed the topic. "Just tell me about the Familia already..."
Haruno's eyes flashed with mischief. She felt a small sense of satisfaction, a bit of revenge.
After all, her mother had been pressuring her for so long.
Haruno smiled sweetly. "Mother, I'm afraid I can't tell you anything about that."
Ruka's eyes widened in surprise.
Haruno continued in a slow, deliberate voice. "Because, after all, you're an outsider to the Familia."
Ruka opened her mouth, wanting to argue.
She had already tied the entire Yukinoshita familyincluding both her daughtersto this cause, and she was still considered an outsider?
Was her own daughter betraying her?
Ruka fell silent.
Haruno, seeing her reaction, didn't push further. After all, Ruka was still her mother.
"Don't worry, Mother," Haruno said as she stood up. "Even if I can't tell you the details, one thing is for sure"
She turned to leave, her voice filled with confidence. "I will carry the name of Yukinoshita to heights you couldn't even dream of."
With that, Haruno left Chiba.
After she was gone, Ruka sat there in silence, her head lowered.
Finally, she let out a deep sigh. "Let them do as they please..."
But...
The Familia...
Ruka's eyes gleamed as she recalled something Haruno had said earlier.
Using her appearance...
"That ungrateful girl... How could she even say something like that?"
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she muttered under her breath.
Would that Lynn brat really like her... now that she was older?
Meanwhile
Miko, Yukino, and Yui were leveling up as usual when something unusual happened.
"Help!!"
A desperate cry echoed from Higurashi Shrine.
.
.
.
A sudden rumble erupted from within the nearby shrine.
"Huh? What's going on?" Yui yelped in surprise.
Yukino frowned, hesitating before speaking. "That direction... I think it's Higurashi Shrine?"
She had been there before with Yui, so the place was familiar.
Just as her words fell BOOM!
The rumbling grew louder, and the trees on the mountainside above the shrine began toppling one after another.
Miko's expression turned serious.
Suddenly, an enormous centipede-like monster burst out from the mountain!
It had the body of a centipede with a hundred legs, but its head bore the twisted face of a woman, making for a truly terrifying sight!
In front of the monster, a girl in a Shuchiin Academy uniform was running frantically, tears streaming down her face.
"H-Help me!!"
Yukino and Yui were both stunned.
"Wait... that's Kagome?!"
The girl was none other than Higurashi Kagome, the one who had welcomed them when they last visited the shrine.
But now what the hell was going on?
There was no time to hesitate.
Without thinking, Yukino and Yui rushed forward.
Seeing this, Miko followed without hesitation. Using her magical perception, she could tell that the centipede creature wasn't that strong.
They could handle it.
"Kagome!" Yui called out, catching Kagome's attention.
Kagome paused for a split second upon seeing them, but then she shouted, "Don't come any closer! There's a monster!!"
Even in her panic, she didn't want to drag anyone else into danger.
This thing was obviously after her!
Yui blinked, then was unexpectedly touched. "Kagome... you're such a good person!"
Feeling the disgusting, rancid breath of the monster behind her, Kagome felt absolute despair.
Seriously? I'm about to die, and you're giving me a compliment?!
Goodbye, Mom!
Goodbye, world!
Just why!
I haven't even had my first romance yet!
Was she really going to die without ever experiencing love?!
At that moment, Yukino suddenly stepped in front of her.
Kagome's eyes widened in shock. "Wai!"
Before she could finish speaking, she saw Yukino raise her hand, conjuring ice-blue snowflakes out of thin air.
With a graceful swing of her arm.
BOOM!
The monstrous centipede crashed onto the ground, frozen in place!
"Huh?" Kagome stared in shock.
Yukino frowned. "Let's move away from here first."
"O-okay!" Kagome quickly obeyed, putting as much distance as possible between herself and the immobilized monster.
Yukino kept her eyes locked onto the centipede monster, still struggling on the ground.
Her current power wasn't enough to freeze it completely in an instant, but putting it in a paralyzed state was no problem.
"Miko!" Yukino called out.
"On it, on it!"
"Wait, let me buff you guys first!" Yui quickly activated her skill, Harmonizer.
Miko didn't hesitateshe gathered her magic and unleashed a decisive attack.
For a mid-level Devil like her, dealing with this kind of monster was a piece of cake.
In no time, the centipede monster let out its final breath and collapsed.
Seeing this, Yui sighed in relief.
Among the three of them, she was the only one who wasn't a Special-Type Devil.
But at least she could support her teammates with buffs.
Meanwhile, Kagome stood frozen, staring at the scene before her.
What... just happened?
A monster had crawled out of the well, and now she had just witnessed a group of high school girls with supernatural powers take it down like it was nothing.
Mom... is this really the same world I knew?
"Who... who are you guys?" Kagome asked cautiously, now that the danger had passed.
Yukino glanced at Miko and Yui, but seeing that they had no intention of explaining, she sighed and stepped forward.
"Shuchiin Academy's Supernatural Research Club."
"Wait, what?" Kagome looked completely dumbfounded.
She had heard of the Supernatural Research Club before.
Because It was a club full of beautiful girls!
And their only male member was the club president!
The club was practically famous among the students at Shuchiin.
Especially among the boys, who were filled with jealousy and resentment!
"So the Supernatural Research Club... actually deals with real supernatural phenomena?!" Kagome asked in disbelief.
"Something like that," Yukino replied vaguely before cutting to the point. "What about you? What exactly happened?"
At the mention of this, Kagome couldn't hold back her frustration.
"It's that weird well!"
"It's been making strange noises every day, and today, they got even louder. So I opened it to take a look, and then..."
She paused, shuddering at the memory. "Well, you saw what happened. That monster crawled out of it!"
She hesitated before asking, "Can your Supernatural Research Club do something about the well?"
Yukino hesitated. "This is our first time encountering something like this, so we're not entirely sure."
Kagome's shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"But..."
"Our club president will definitely be able to handle it."
"Really?!" Kagome's eyes lit up, and she quickly grabbed Yukino's arm, practically begging. "Please, you have to ask your president for help!"
Yukino opened her mouth, hesitating before saying, "But..."
"Our president doesn't work for free. He's expensive."
"Expensive?"
Kagome was stunned.
Yukino nodded and said, "Our Supernatural Research Club charges for exorcisms outside the school."
"Just so you know, having one of us take action starts at five million yen."
"Five million?!"
Kagome's eyes widened in shock before she collapsed to the ground, her face void of all hope.
It was over.
Her one glimmer of hope had been crushed by something as simple as being broke.
Seeing her reaction, Yukino, Yui, and Miko understood she probably couldn't afford it.
After thinking for a moment, Miko stepped forward and handed Kagome a flyer, something modified by Lynn.
Previously, there had been an issue where cross-world summoning didn't work, so Lynn had taken it upon himself to fix that by modifying the Devil's Contract.
Now, even if he was in another world, he could still sense when he was being summoned.
"What's this?"
Kagome looked at the flyer in confusion.
"Next time you're in danger, just shout, 'Devil Lord Lynn, please help me!' and one of our Supernatural Research Club members will show up."
"Of course, you might have to pay an unexpected price"
Kagome quickly stored the flyer away and nodded gratefully. "Got it!"
Wait, why 'Devil Lord'?
She found it a bit strange but chalked it up to the club's sense of humor.
With Kagome's immediate crisis resolved, the trio turned their attention to the massive centipede's corpse.
"So what do we do with this?"
"Just leave it here?"
"Hmm Should we ask the president?"
---
After receiving their message, Lynn instructed, "Send it to the Black Bullet world and hand it over to Muroto Sumire for research."
Might as well make use of it.
Who knows? Maybe they'd discover something useful.
But
"Higurashi Shrine? Kagome?"
Lynn narrowed his eyes.
"Didn't expect to run into an Inuyasha character in this world."
Kagome's appearance was certainly unexpected.
"That means the Bone-Eater's Well exists too, huh?"
A thought struck him.
If he remembered correctly, the well connected to 500 years in the past.
That timeline Would've been right around the underworld's civil war.
Curious, Lynn took a single stepand in the blink of an eye, he was at Higurashi Shrine.
Behind the shrine, a worn-out well stood quietly.
Lynn approached and studied it carefully.
"There's definitely some kind of energy here"
But since he lacked time-space manipulation, he couldn't tell if it was actually related to time travel.
After some thought, he simply jumped in.
Thud.
Lynn landed lightly at the bottom of the well, deep in thought.
No feeling of a time tunnel.
SoHe looked up at the night sky above.
"I didn't go back 500 years."
Lynn frowned.
Was it not the right time? Did it require the Shikon Jewel?
Or maybeIt needed a specific person?
Pondering this, Lynn's figure vanished.
---
A second later - Kagome's bedroom.
Lynn materialized in the room, glancing around.
A pink, girly setup.
On the bed, a girl in pajamas
"Huh!"
Kagome suddenly froze, her eyes widening in shock.
"Y-you How did you get in here?!"
Lynn thought for a moment. "I walked in?"
Why did that sound like a question?!
Kagome internally screamed.
More importantly
"Who the hell are you?!"
She clutched her blanket and scooted to the far end of her bed, eyes full of caution.
This guy was dangerous.
He had just appeared out of thin air!
Completely unnatural!
And after encountering supernatural events today, she was convinced of it.
"President of the Supernatural Research Club."
Lynn introduced himself casually.
"Huh?"
Kagome blinked, then stammered, "B-but I didn't summon you!"
She glanced at the flyer on her desk.
Yup.
She definitely hadn't summoned him.
"Just think of it as if you did."
"...Huh?"
Was he forcing a sale?!
Lynn asked, "Don't you want to solve the well's problem?"
"Of course!"
Kagome nodded without hesitation.
"Then it's settled."
Lynn nodded, then effortlessly picked her up and walked toward the well.
"W-wait, wait, wait!"
Kagome yelped, "I haven't even changed my clothes yet!"
"Not important."
Halfway there, Lynn suddenly said, "Don't forget my payment."
"After all, the well isn't mine."
"And you're the one who wants it fixed, aren't you?"
Kagome: "..."
Her spirit deflated, and she mumbled weakly, "But you saw it yourself. Our shrine is poor"
Lynn grinned. "Don't worry, the price I want you can definitely afford."
Kagome: "!!!"
.
.
.
Higurashi Kagome had a complicated expression.
She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off but at this point, there was no turning back.
Besides, she was genuinely curious about the secret hidden within that ancient well.
---
Higurashi Shrine
Standing before the old well, Lynn spoke up. "Let's go."
"Go?" Kagome looked around in confusion. "Go where?"
Lynn silently pointed at the well.
Kagome's face stiffened as she stretched her neck to peer inside. A pitch-black abyss, seemingly bottomless, greeted her.
She shivered instinctively.
"Do we really have to go down there? That monster came out of this thing, you know!" She hesitated, nervousness creeping in.
But Lynn didn't care about her reluctance. Without hesitation, he grabbed her by the waist and leaped straight down.
"Aaaaahhhhh!!!"
Kagome's scream echoed through the well.
The inside of the well looked completely different from before. It was like stepping into a time tunnel, flashes of historical images passing by.
Dark, resentful energies of numerous yokai filled the space.
Lynn remained expressionless, releasing a faint burst of magic that instantly shattered the ghostly forms trying to pounce at them.
"So, it really is tied to her."
He glanced at Kagome, who had closed her eyes in fear. Then he also closed his own eyes, trying to sense the shifts in space-time within the well.
But
"As expected, it's not that simple."
Lynn frowned.
The energy of space-time was at a level far beyond what he could easily grasp. Capturing it was proving to be quite difficult, and he didn't have the luxury of lingering here for too long.
In the blink of an eye, they had reached the bottom.
Kagome was still screaming.
Lynn calmly reached out, covering her mouth to silence her physically.
"Mmmph!"
She blinked in confusion before realizing that nothing had happened.
"Huh? Nothing changed?" She sighed in relief, patting her chest.
Lynn shot her a look. "If you keep your eyes closed the whole time, of course, you won't notice anything."
Kagome gave an awkward laugh.
Then, she looked up at the exit. The night sky remained the same.
Then they heard faint noises in the distance.
"Let's go take a look," Lynn said.
"Five hundred years ago"
Lynn was curious about this era too.
Saying no more, he tightened his grip on Kagome's waist and jumped out of the well effortlessly.
"Wha?!"
Kagome's eyes widened in shock as she took in the scenery.
"This is this still my home?"
She didn't remember the shrine's backyard looking anything like this.
Then she spotted the giant tree in the distance.
"It looks exactly like the one at home!"
"What the heck is going on?!"
Kagome was completely dumbfounded.
Lynn didn't bother explaining. Instead, he turned eastward.
A massive surge of yokai energy rose in the distance!
Judging by its intensity, it was on par with a high-class Devil.
Lynn frowned slightly.
There wasn't a scene like this in Inuyasha, was there?
Then again, this was already a mashup of anime worlds. Surprises were expected.
Suddenly, a huge creature crashed down from the sky!
A giant boar-like yokai with an arrow lodged in its forehead.
Lynn sensed a powerful purification energy emanating from the arrow.
"This power could it be Kikyo?"
Lynn was slightly surprised.
Meanwhile, Kagome gasped at the sight of the yokai barreling toward them. Her mouth opened, about to scream in terror
Lynn was fast as he closed her mouth.
Then a sharp, powerful slash flew out, slicing the yokai into pieces before it crashed into the ground!
Blood splattered across the earth.
Kagome gulped down her fear and instead stammered, "Th-That was amazing!"
The Supernatural Research Club's president was seriously strong!
She felt a sense of security!
Kagome inched a little closer to Lynn.
Only to feel his warm hand grip her waist again.
"Eh?"
Before she could react, Lynn took off toward the east in a flash.
Kagome was internally screaming.
'Can't he find a less rough way to travel?!'
Musashi Province Kaede's Village
The village was completely surrounded by yokai, leaving no room for escape.
Blue ogres, red ogres.
Wolf demons, snake demons
A chaotic mix of yokai unleashed attacks upon the barrier protecting the village!
BOOM!
A ball of demon fire slammed into the barrier.
"Human girl! Hand over the Shikon Jewel to me!"
A massive purple-black snake demon lashed its tail against the barrier, its voice filled with arrogance.
The other yokai howled with laughter at its words.
Then
A loud crack echoed through the air!
The attacking yokai all paused for a moment.
Then their eyes turned blood-red with greed, their breathing ragged.
"Haha! The barrier's finally breaking!"
"The Shikon Jewel is mine!"
"Once the barrier shatters, it's every yokai for themselves!"
They all roared in excitement, their hopes of obtaining the Shikon Jewel soaring. However, their eyes were also filled with wariness as they glanced at one another.
The power of the Shikon Jewel was too enticingit wasn't something that encouraged cooperation! If not for their common enemy, the human priestess, they never would have joined forces in the first place.
Crack... crack...
The barrier trembled, on the verge of shattering.
---
Inside the barrier
A priestess dressed in traditional white and red robes stood firm, her gaze as calm as ever as she watched the frenzied monsters outside.
Her dark eyes were deep and unwavering, her delicate yet resolute features framed by long, flowing black hair tied back with a simple white ribbon. A bow was slung across her back, exuding an air of ancient solemnity.
"Lady Kikyo, I don't think the barrier will hold much longer."
A steadfast-looking man stepped forward, his voice laced with concern. Fear flickered in his eyes as he looked at the horde of demons outside, but he didn't back down. Instead, he stood beside Kikyo at the village's edge, prepared to face the monsters head-on.
Many villagers, much like him, had gathered behind her.
Kikyo wasn't fighting alone.
Even if they couldn't help much, they refused to let her face danger by herself.
Kikyo's gaze swept over the countless demons. Her expression remained cold and unreadable, but deep down, she felt the weight of the situation.
Ever since she took custody of the Shikon Jewel, the village had been under constant attack. But this time it was worse than ever.
These demons hadn't come randomly; they were organized, as if following a plan.
There weren't any high-level demons among them, but their sheer numbers made up for it. The barrier wouldn't last much longer.
And even if it broke, Kikyo was confident she could still deal with them.
But
Her lips pressed together as she looked back at the villagers.
The village would inevitably suffer in the battle.
People would die
'No, I can't let that happen.'
'This is my responsibility.'
Kikyo took a deep breath, her resolve hardening.
With a steady hand, she pulled an arrow from her quiver.
She drew her bow and released.
A brilliant flash of white light streaked through the sky, cutting through the night like a shooting star.
"Sacred Arrow!"
Boom!
The arrow struck the massive snake demon right between its eyes.
Kikyo's gaze sharpened as she infused the arrow with her spiritual energy, triggering an explosion of purifying light.
The blast instantly wiped out a portion of the enemy ranks.
But the demons only hesitated for a moment before surging forward once more, quickly filling in the gap.
The priestess was powerful, sure.
But there were too many of them.
If she pushed them too far, they'd just merge into a larger, more monstrous form!
They would claim the Shikon Jewel no matter what!
"Raaaargh!!"
Instead of retreating, the demons grew even more frenzied.
The barrier was cracking apart, its fractures growing wider.
Kikyo continued firing her arrows, desperately trying to hold them back.
ButIt was pointless.
She knew it.
A deep sense of helplessness weighed down on her.
She was strong, but she had no large-scale attacks to wipe them out all at once.
And she wasn't naive enough to believe this attack had happened by chance.
Someone had orchestrated this from the shadows.
What should she do?
For the first time in her life, Kikyo felt powerless.
Had she been too arrogant to take the Shikon Jewel for safekeeping?
A bitter thought crept into her mindperhaps she should have left the village the moment she took possession of it.
Because of her, the villagers were suffering.
Kikyo lowered her gaze, her voice soft as she murmured,
"Oh gods"
"If you can hear me
"Please answer me
"Please save this village"
The mighty priestess revealed a moment of vulnerability.
And as a priestess, the first thing she thought to do was pray to the gods.
But
"It's useless, isn't it?"
A bitter smile tugged at her lips.
She had been praying since the day she became a priestess.
Yet never once had she heard a response.
Sometimes she wondered
Was she even a good priestess? Had the gods ever truly existed? Why had they never answered her?
And now, she expected them to?
As that thought crossed her mind, something unexpected happened.
The demons outside suddenly froze.
Whoosh
A small flame flickered to life in the darkness.
A mere ember, dancing like a tiny star.
Then, in the blink of an eye It erupted into an inferno, spreading like wildfire!
The sea of demons was instantly engulfed in the raging blaze!
The night sky burned.
The villagers inside the barrier stared in stunned silence, unable to comprehend what was happening.
"Is is it a god?"
A trembling voice broke the silence.
And that was all it took.
"Yes! It must be a god! A divine miracle!!"
"The gods have finally answered our prayers!!"
"The gods are watching over us!!"
The people of the village fell to their knees, bowing toward the raging flames.
Despair vanished from their hearts, replaced by newfound hope.
If the gods were here Then they would be saved!
"A god?"
Kikyo stared at the fire in a daze.
And then, through the flames, a figure emerged.
A tall man walked forward, his steps slow and deliberate.
Behind him, the inferno raged, glowing with an eerie, star-like brilliance.
Lynn lifted his gaze, crimson eyes locking onto Kikyo's.
Then he grinned and spoke.
"The gods of Japan are long dead."
"Priestess"
"How about becoming a Devil?"
.
.
.
Everything seemed to tremble.
"The gods of Japan are dead?"
Lynn's words struck Kikyo like a bolt of lightning, shaking the very foundation of her beliefs.
As a shrine priestess, she had been raised to respect the gods, taught of their existence and power. She had devoted herself to them, believing in their will.
But now
A man stood before her, claiming that the gods were no more.
Kikyo took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
It shouldn't be true
Maybe this man was simply someone who blasphemed the gods.
And yet Somewhere deep inside, she felt that what he was saying might be right.
Her gaze fell upon Lynn.
"Devil?"
The word sounded foreign to her, unfamiliar and unsettling.
Having lived in Musashi her whole life, Kikyo had little knowledge of Devils beyond what she had read in ancient texts. The descriptions she had come across painted them as ominous beings.
Devils were higher beings than these Yokai and demons.
Was this man the same?
Her expression grew serious, fingers tightening around her bow.
Even though he had saved the village, she couldn't afford to let her guard down.
Lynn, as if oblivious to her wariness, raised his hand and tapped on the barrier.
A soft BANG sound echoed.
Crack.
Before her eyes, the barrieronce strong enough to withstand the relentless attacks of countless demonsbegan to crack. Within moments, it shattered into countless glowing fragments that dissipated into the air.
Lynn gave her a friendly smile. "Aren't you going to invite me in? The door's already open, after all."
Kikyo stiffened.
A barrier that had withstood so much undone with just a casual tap?
The power needed to annihilate a horde of demons in an instant
She shouldn't be surprised.
A real Devil?
She kept her thoughts to herself but maintained her composure.
"Thank you for your assistance," she said, lowering her head slightly in gratitude, though her face remained unreadable.
"And now"
Her eyes gleamed with caution. "May I ask what brings you here?"
Though he had saved the village, it would be careless to trust him blindly. The existence of the Shikon Jewel was too great a temptation. And given that he called himself a Devil
Kikyo felt guilty for suspecting her savior.
But she had no choice.
Meanwhile, Lynn studied her with amusement.
It really was Kikyo.
Had something gone wrong with the time-space coordinates of the Bone-Eater's Well?
The Kikyo standing before him was alive and wellyoung, even.
Well, no matter. This was a crossover world, where anything was possible.
He flashed what he thought was a friendly smile, then raised his hand. "Are you worried about this?"
Kikyo's breath hitched as her eyes landed on the object he was holdinga glowing purple jewel, pulsating with an ominous light.
The Shikon Jewel.
When?
Her heart clenched as she instinctively gripped her bow tighter.
This man
He was terrifyingly strong.
She had placed the Shikon Jewel in the shrine, ensuring its safety.
And yet
It was now in his hands.
She hadn't even noticed when he took it.
Whether he had stolen it with unimaginable speed or used some unknown technique, it made no difference.
Lynn, the self-proclaimed Devil, was someone she absolutely could not afford to provoke.
Still smiling, he tilted his head. "So, will you invite me in now?"
Kikyo exhaled, stepping aside and bowing slightly. "Please, come in."
Seeing this, Lynn chuckled and put away the Shikon Jewel.
Kikyo pursed her lips but said nothing.
The jewel it wasn't corrupted?
As she mulled over this, a sudden voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Wait for me!"
A girl came running up, breathless from exertion.
Kikyo blinked in surprise. "And who might this be?"
Lynn glanced at Kagome before answering casually, "Hmm my trainee shrine priestess?"
Kikyo lowered her gaze, repeating his words softly.
"A shrine priestess under a Devil?"
Kikyo wasn't sure how to feel about that.
Kaede's Village.
Inside a simple straw hut, Kikyo, Lynn, and Kagome sat on the floor.
A young girl nervously brought them cups of hot tea.
"Here, guest tea."
Her hands trembled slightly as she served them, revealing her lingering fear.
Kagome forced a smile, still struggling to make sense of the situation.
Just what the hell was going on here?!
Did she somehow travel back in time to the past?!
Kikyo remained composed, her expression calm. "Apologies for the lack of proper hospitality."
Her gaze, however, was locked onto the Shikon Jewel in Lynn's handthe same jewel he was casually tossing in the air.
Her heart clenched with tension.
As Lynn threw the jewel upward, Kikyo's breath hitched, her chin instinctively tilting up as her eyes followed its arc.
Afraid that something might go wrong.
Seeing her reaction, Lynn chuckled lightly.
Kikyo froze for a moment, then quickly restrained herself, shifting back into her usual cold and composed demeanor.
"Lord Lynn, the Shikon Jewel is an extremely dangerous existence."
She straightened her expression and began explaining the jewel's dangers.
Kagome, sitting upright beside her, listened intently, nodding along with increasing seriousness.
However, before Kikyo could continue, Lynn cut her off. "So? Have you given my proposal any thought?"
Kikyo blinked in confusion.
Lynn said with a smile. "So, what do you think? Want to become my shrine priestess?"
"Eh?! Shrine... shrine priestess?!"
Before Kikyo could respond, Kagome let out a shocked cry.
She didn't hear Lynn calling her 'the Devil's trainee shrine priestess.
She only knew that a shrine priestess was someone who served the gods.
But what Lynn was suggesting...
Did he mean for Kikyo to serve him instead?
H-He had such a weird fetish.
Kagome's mind raced, and before she could stop it, an embarrassing image formed in her head.
Her face instantly turned bright red.
Then, as if remembering something, Lynn's voice turned slow and deliberate. "That includes you too."
"...Huh?"
Kagome stiffened, slowly turning her head to look at Lynn, disbelief written all over her face.
"M-Me? A shrine priestess?"
Lynn nodded, smirking slightly. "Don't forget about your debt."
Kagome's mouth twitched. "You never said the payment was becoming your shrine priestess..."
"You're free to choose not to pay, of course."
For a brief moment, Kagome's eyes lit up.
But before she could speak, Lynn's voice turned dark. "I just can't guarantee what might happen if you don't."
A chill ran down Kagome's spine.
Without hesitation, she dropped into a dogeza position, forehead pressed to the floor. "I'm sorry! I'll do my best to be a good shrine priestess!"
She had already witnessed Lynn's terrifying strength.
Defying him? Absolutely not.
Besides, becoming Lynn's shrine priestess might not be a bad thing.
After all, she had already seen real monsters with her own eyes.
The thought of being protected by someone as powerful as Lynn...
Honestly, it wasn't the worst deal.
At least Lynn's overwhelming strength gave her a sense of security.
Meanwhile
Lynn, pleased with Kagome's quick compliance, turned his gaze toward Kikyo.
Kikyo pressed her lips together, then softly murmured, "I'm sorry."
Even though Lynn had saved Kaede's Village, converting to serve a Devil was simply too much to accept.
Lynn's voice grew soft, almost whispering. "Kikyo, you wouldn't want Kaede Village to be destroyed, would you?"
A chill crawled up Kikyo's spine.
What... did he mean by that?
Her heart pounded.
If this terrifyingly strong man truly wanted to destroy Kaede Village
She wouldn't be able to stop him.
Suddenly
Clink.
The crisp sound of the Shikon Jewel hitting the table filled the air.
Kikyo's eye twitched as she saw Lynn casually toss the jewel onto the wooden surface.
"If you don't deal with this problem..."
"Kaede Village is doomed, sooner or later."
Kikyo was startled by his words but also let out a breath of relief.
So that's what he meant...
Her gaze hardened. "I will take the Shikon Jewel and leave the Village."
"Oh? And then?"
"...Then?"
Kikyo hesitated, not understanding his question.
"Even if you leave with the Shikon Jewel, it will still attract demons wherever you go."
Lynn tapped his chin in mock thought. "Maybe I should start calling you the Wandering Calamity Shrine priestess?"
Wandering... Calamity... Shrine priestess?
Kikyo's heart clenched.
Did that mean that no matter where she went, disaster would follow?
If she carried the Shikon Jewel with her, that scenario seemed inevitable.
Lynn's voice dropped lower. "Can you truly protect it forever?"
"As a human, don't you have limits?"
"Are there not things you simply cannot do?"
Kikyo fell silent.
She thought back to today's crisis in Kaede Village.
She could have escaped with the Shikon Jewel on her own.
But if Lynn hadn't stepped in
The villagers... they would have all been slaughtered.
Now that she thought about it The people of Kaede Village calling Lynn 'a god'...
Didn't seem so far-fetched anymore.
After all, when she prayed for divine intervention
The gods had, as always, remained silent.
The one who answered her prayers Was a Devil.
Perhaps... Lynn was right.
The gods of this land were already dead.
If that was the case, then devoting herself to a Devil...
The gods wouldn't hold it against her, right?
After all
Who said a Devil couldn't be a god?
Kikyo took a deep breath, looking up at Lynn.
"If I become your shrine priestess... will it solve the problem of the Shikon Jewel?"
.
.
.
"If I become your shrine priestess, can you really solve the problem of the Shikon Jewel?" Kikyo's words carried a weight that shattered her own convictions.
A god that could not help its people was useless.
That was what she had come to believe.
Lynn smiled.
The moment she spoke, he knew he had won.
He picked up the Shikon Jewel again, deliberately drawing Kikyo's gaze.
The fact that it remained untainted was one of the reasons she was even willing to trust him.
"Whether it can be solved or notyou'll witness it for yourself."
Kikyo hesitated for a moment at Lynn's words.
Then, she watched as an eerie glow surrounded his hand as he reached... inside the Shikon Jewel?
The power of [Spirit Devil] allowed Lynn to sense the abnormalities within the jewel the moment he touched it.
Insidethere were human souls... and an enormous number of vengeful yokai spirits.
For him, this was the perfect situation for his ability.
Lynn's expression shifted slightly before he tightened his grip and pulled.
A moment later, a spherical mass was extracted from the Shikon Jewel.
Kagome blinked in confusion before glancing down at it with a complicated expression.
Kikyo's gaze also turned strange.
Lynn paused briefly before giving a sharp pull.
"Nngh...!"
A pained voice echoed from the Shikon Jewel.
And with his motion, a woman in shrine maiden robes suddenly materialized inside the thatched hut.
"Eh?"
Blinking in surprise, Midoriko found herself staring at her surroundings in confusion.
"L-Lady Midoriko?!"
Kikyo nearly jumped in shock.
She had just met her idolalive!
Kikyo's voice seemed to pull Midoriko back to her senses.
Taking in her surroundings, she then looked down, flashing a gentle smile at Lynn as she asked politely,
"My lord, while I'm grateful that you freed me from the Shikon Jewel..."
Her eyes flickered to his hand, which was still resting on her chest.
"...Could you possibly... let go first?"
Lynn shrugged. "Sorry, this was just the easiest way to pull you."
Midoriko pressed her lips together in silence before shifting her attention to the Shikon Jewel. Her voice turned solemn.
"Now that I'm out... the jewel is unstable."
As soon as she said that, the Shikon Jewel began trembling violently, releasing a sinister energy.
Sighing softly, Midoriko seemed to resign herself to her fate.
"It seems... I must return and continue my eternal struggle against the yokai inside."
Just as she moved to step back into the jewel, Lynn casually reached out and grabbed her head.
"Now that I've saved you, you're mine."
Midoriko stiffened.
Before she could say anything, Lynn's hand plunged back into the jewel.
This time, he pulled out a grotesque, writhing mass of yokai consciousness.
"Wait!" Midoriko gasped, alarmed. "If you release them, the entire world will be in danger!"
"The world?" Lynn let out a chuckle. "You're giving them too much credit. At most, they'd cause some chaos in Japan."
"Isn't that dangerous enough?!" Kagome shuddered.
Even Kikyo tensed.
The aura coming from that thingit was strong.
"L-Lady Midoriko has been fighting against this all this time?"
If it were her, she wouldn't have lasted a second!
"Hahahaha!! Midoriko!!" the yokai consciousness howled, its voice a chaotic mixture of different entities. "Are you finally afraid?! Have you given in?!"
"HAHAHA!!"
"More fights!!"
"Fight!!"
The overlapping voices filled the hut, nearly bursting their eardrums.
Lynn's eyes glowed with interest.
A perfect meal.
"Spirit Devour."
Squelch.
The mass of yokai instantly began twisting in agony.
The [Spirit Devil] ability was a natural counter to spiritual entities like this.
"Wait!" The yokai shrieked, panic setting in. "W-What are you doing?! What are you?!"
Lynn ignored their protests.
He simply crushed, compressed, and
"S-Spare us!"
Their voices cut off abruptly.
Plop.
A deep purple orb, almost identical to the Shikon Jewel, landed on the table.
Lynn casually picked it up, flicked it into his mouth, and bit down.
Crunch.
It was crispy.
...Like fried chicken.
Midoriko's jaw dropped in horror.
There were powerful yokai spirits within that thingsome of them were even great demons!
And he just... ate them?
Kikyo stared at the now-dulled, ordinary-looking Shikon Jewel in silence.
Lynn's method of "solving" the issue was... simple and crude.
But it also proved just how ridiculously strong he was.
For Kikyoand even her idol Midorikothe existence they had spent their lives battling against had been something they could barely seal away at best.
Yet before Lynn, they had been completely powerless.
To become the shrine priestess of someone like that...
Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing after all?
Midoriko's expression shifted several times.
She knew more than Kikyo did.
She understood that, to certain beings, even great yokai were nothing more than insignificant pests.
But still...
That was seven or eight great yokai consciousnesses fused together!
And countless other yokai mixed in!
That level of power should have been terrifying!
Yet Lynn had swallowed them down like a snack.
Midoriko looked at Lynn with a complex expression.
Just who was he, really?
After absorbing the yokai consciousness, Lynn's brow twitched slightly. As expected of the Shikon Jewel, something coveted by countless yokai, even great ones.
Just devouring one fused consciousness had already pushed his already maxed-out stats forward a little.
What a boost!
"Alright, now that that's taken care of..."
Having enjoyed his "experience pill," Lynn glanced at the two shrine maidens and the shrine maiden-in-training, smiling. "It's time to talk business."
Kikyo didn't hesitate. Her cold yet resolute eyes locked onto Lynn's as she spoke firmly, "I pledge my service to you, Lord Lynn."
To her, Lynn, who had just resolved the crisis of the Shikon Jewel, was no different from a god.
Not to mention, she had already made her decision before. Kikyo was not one to go back on her word.
Lynn grinned and clapped his hands. "Kikyo, as expected, you're a woman of your word."
Then, he turned his gaze toward Kagome.
Kagome hesitantly raised her hand. "I-I'll join too."
Finally, all three of them turned to Midoriko.
Midoriko: "???"
"Would you like to become my shrine maiden?" Lynn asked, extending an invitation.
"Huh?" Midoriko's face turned crimson. She clearly understood what Lynn was implying.
To serve him?
After some thought, she shyly replied, "O-Okay..."
That easily?!
Kagome looked at Midoriko with surprise.
But Midoriko had her reasons.
First of all, she was already dead.
What was standing here was merely her soul.
Secondly, it was Lynn who had freed her from the eternal agony of struggling inside the Shikon Jewel.
She was incredibly grateful to him.
Not to mention, he had also resolved the Shikon Jewel's issue entirely.
Offering her useless soul to him was the only form of repayment she could give.
Seeing her agreement, Lynn nodded in satisfaction.
Three new Familia members secured.
And high-quality ones at that
Aside from Kagome, Kikyo and Midoriko were both powerful shrine maidens.
Especially Midorikojust by relying on her soul's strength, she had managed to maintain a bizarre balance against that monstrous yokai consciousness within the Shikon Jewel.
Lynn couldn't wait to see what abilities he would unlock from them.
"Well then, time to undress!"
"Huh?!"
Kagome was completely dumbfounded. "Undress?!"
Kikyo also fell silent.
Midoriko opened her mouth as if to say something but hesitated. Then, with a confused expression, she mumbled, "Can souls even undress?"
As she was thinking about it, her clothes suddenly vanished with a soft "whoosh," leaving her bare.
Midoriko quickly hugged herself, trying to cover the important parts. Her face was so red it looked like steam might start coming out of her head.
Kagome watched Midoriko with a complex expression. "As expected of... a mature woman..."
Midoriko had stripped so fast it had left her stunned.
So bold!
Even Kikyo, usually composed, looked at Midoriko in disbelief.
The image of her idol suddenly was crushed in her mind.
Midoriko-sama...
Was she always this... open?
Panicking, Midoriko put her clothes back on.
She then stared at the floor, face burning in embarrassment.
The small hut suddenly fell into silence.
In the end, it was Kikyo who broke it.
Her eyes flickered with realization, and she spoke with certainty. "I understand now."
"It's a purification ritual..."
Hearing Kikyo's words, Kagome also had a moment of enlightenment.
There was indeed such a record in shrine maiden teachings.
And since her family ran a shrine, she was somewhat familiar with it.
A purification ritual was meant to cleanse the body and soul in preparation for the descent of a god.
Lynn's request actually made sense
Kagome nodded with conviction. "That's right! A purification ritual!"
Lynn fell silent.
Was that really what he meant?
With the excuse of a purification ritual in place, Kikyo, Kagome, and Midoriko all visibly relaxed.
Kikyo spoke up. "Not far from the shrine, there's a natural hot spring."
"We can perform the purification ritual there."
"Oh!" Kagome's eyes sparkled. "A hot spring!"
Midoriko also found herself yearning for the experience. Though, she wasn't sure if a soul could actually feel the warmth of the water.
Immediately, three pairs of expectant eyes turned toward Lynn.
Seeing their anticipation, Lynn nodded. "Alright, let's go soak in the hot spring."
As for whether it was truly a purification ritual
Seeing their enthusiasm, he wasn't about to say anything to ruin the mood.
Speaking of which
As their "god"...
It was only natural that he would oversee the purification ritual, right?
It had been a while since Lynn had enjoyed a hot spring himself. This was a great opportunity to chill.
.
.
.
At the shrine, in the back mountain
Kagome looked around eagerly. "Where is it? Where's the hot spring?"
Kikyo smiled slightly and waved her hand.
A barrier shimmered into existence.
A faint blue glow flickered, and as Kikyo stepped forward, her figure disappeared as if passing through a bubble.
Kagome's eyes widened. "Whoa! That's amazing!"
Midoriko floated around, resting her chin on her hand as she observed. "A very advanced barrier. Even I wouldn't have noticed it."
Hearing this, Kikyo stepped out of the barrier again. "You flatter me, Lady Midoriko."
The two then delved into a discussion about barriers, exchanging knowledge enthusiastically. Kagome, on the other hand, was starting to doze off from all the technical talk.
"Alright, you two will have plenty of time to discuss this later," Lynn said, wrapping an arm around Kikyo and Midoriko before pulling them both into the barrier with him.
"Huh? Lord Lynn is coming in too?!" Kagome's face turned bright red, looking embarrassed.
Lynn, unfazed, stated matter-of-factly, "Isn't the purification ritual meant to welcome the descent of a god?"
"If I don't go in, what's the point?"
"Ugh" Kagome had no way to argue against that logic.
Upon stepping inside the barrier, Lynn's view expanded, revealing a spacious hot spring surrounded by mist.
"Not bad at all," Lynn mused, slightly impressed.
Then, with a commanding wave of his hand, he declared, "Alright, you may begin the purification ritual!"
A little while later
Lynn leaned back in the hot spring, leisurely observing the women's actions.
Kikyo and the others instantly froze in place.
"What's wrong? Isn't serving a god part of a shrine maiden's duty?" Lynn questioned with a smirk.
Kikyo bit her lip, her hands trembling slightly, but eventually, she resolutely removed her shrine maiden attire, her face flushing red.
Seeing her junior acting so decisively, Midoriko didn't want to be left behind either.
Being a soul had its advantages.
With just a thought, her clothing vanished into nothingness. Midoriko hugged herself tightly before quickly slipping into the hot spring, exhaling in disappointment.
"As expected I don't feel anything," she murmured. "Well, I am just a soul"
Lynn pondered for a moment before beckoning her over with a gesture.
Midoriko's face turned even redder, mistaking his intent. She thought Lynn was going to do something to her.
Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself.
From the moment she decided to become Lynn's shrine maiden, she had already prepared for this.
This was her way of repaying him!
With her resolve firm, Midoriko wobbled forward hesitantly.
Still feeling shy
Lynn observed her nervous demeanor and thought to himself, "I should've brought Yuuko along. She would definitely help them loosen up"
Finally, Midoriko reached Lynn and, avoiding eye contact, stood there stiffly.
Lynn patted her thigh and said, "Turn around."
"H-Huh?!"
"Y-You want it from behind?"
Midoriko trembled slightly, lowering her head as she slowly turned around. Then, as if understanding his intentions, she adjusted her posture slightly to make things easier for him.
However
When the Devil's Piece pressed against her back, a flash of surprise crossed Midoriko's eyes.
That's it?
Before she could let her thoughts run wild, a strange power surged into her body.
"Ah!"
Midoriko's eyes widened.
She felt
As if her soul was gaining a sense of physicality.
At the same time, a system notification echoed in Lynn's mind.
[Ding! You have acquired Familia member 'Midoriko.']
[Ding! Your Familia member 'Midoriko' has reincarnated as a Special-Type Devil.]
On Midoriko's back, glowing script appeared, displaying her new status.
---
[Midoriko]
Rank: Ultimate-Class Devil
Position: Bishop
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Position Skill: Magic Resistance (Enhances resistance against magical attacks.)
Unique Skills: [Soul-Devouring Battle Priestess] & [Four-Soul Devil]
[Soul-Devouring Battle Priestess]
Weapon Manifestation: Can manipulate souls to rapidly form weapons.
[Four-Soul Devil]
Aramitama: Symbolizes courage, conflict, and power.
Nigimitama: Symbolizes harmony, mediation, and compassion.
Sakimitama: Symbolizes wisdom, logic, and creativity.
Kushimitama: Symbolizes happiness, love, and vitality.
All base stats receive a significant boost.
Devil Transformation (Four-Soul Mode).
Lynn's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing her status.
"An Ultimate-Class Devil?!"
Midoriko's starting rank was this high?
However, considering how she had fought against that powerful collective yokai consciousness within the Shikon Jewel for so long, it made sense.
Then there was the concept of positions.
It seemed the Devil's Pieces had undergone some changes.
Lynn stroked his chin thoughtfully. "So, if someone reincarnates as an Ultimate-Class Devil, they automatically gain a position?"
And not just thata unique skill as well.
Magic Resistance wasn't much, but it was still something.
Then there was Soul-Devouring Battle Priestess, clearly linked to Midoriko's ability to manipulate souls.
And as for 'Four-Soul Devil'
As he read the description, Lynn's heart pounded.
"Four-Soul Devil"
He murmured the title, feeling a strange sense of excitement.
The description of [Four-Soul Devil] was vague, barely giving any concrete details about its actual effects.
The more mysterious a skill like this was, the more potential it likely had hidden within it.
Lynn focused his mind and decided to test out the power of [Aramitama].
Boom!
A sudden surge of power exploded within him!
It felt as if something inside him had erupted like a detonated core!
The sheer force was overwhelming, almost giving him the illusion that he could crush mountains with a mere thought.
Lynn exhaled deeply and temporarily deactivated [Aramitama].
"So, [Aramitama] is a strength amplifier"
But that couldn't be all.
The nature of battle, the essence of struggleit felt like it was enhancing his combat instincts as well.
Next, he activated [Nigimitama].
Closing his eyes, he carefully examined its effects.
So far, he didn't feel anything particularly related to affinity or compassion.
But balance?
Curious, Lynn decided to test something. He called upon his [Fallen Angel Devil] abilities, bringing forth both his light and dark energy.
And thenFor the first time, the two opposing forces began merging together.
Although the process was slow and unstable, it was happening.
Lynn stopped and pondered for a moment.
If [Nigimitama] could harmonize different powers, then this ability might be extremely valuable in the future.
Moving on, he activated [Sakimitama].
The moment it activated, his mind became incredibly clear.
Wisdomhis thoughts flowed like never before!
Instantly, he realized how to use previously useless skills in ways he never considered before.
After a brief test, Lynn deactivated [Sakimitama].
That hyper-intelligent state vanished, leaving him with a sense of loss.
For a moment, he felt dumber.
Shaking off the strange sensation, Lynn proceeded to test [Kushimitama].
This time, he felt a massive increase in his life force, but nothing else seemed to change.
"Huh?"
Just as he was contemplating the effects, Kagome finally mustered the courage to step into the hot spring.
Trying to be sneaky, she attempted to slip in unnoticed.
However, the moment her foot touched the water, she lost her balance and fell forwardright into Lynn's arms.
Reflexively, Lynn caught her.
Kagome bit her lip, her body trembling slightly as heat rushed to her face.
Lynn glanced at his skill description.
[Kushimitama] (Symbolizes Happiness, Love, and Vitality).
Lynn lightly kneaded Kagome's soft skin, concluding that it likely meant "luck" more than anything else.
Having tested all aspects of [Four-Soul Devil], he copied the status information onto paper.
Don't ask where he got paper in a hot spring. Magic. The answer is always magic.
He handed the status sheet to Midoriko, who looked at it in a daze.
"So that's what he really meant"
She murmured to herself, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Lynn turned his attention to Kagome.
"Alright, your turn."
Kagome hesitated for a moment before timidly nodding. Blushing deeply, she turned her back to him.
Even with the refraction of water, her silhouette remained stunningly clear.
Lynn pressed a [Devil's Piece] against her smooth back.
A moment later, she felt the same sensation Midoriko had experienced.
[Notification: You have acquired Familia member 'Higurashi Kagome'!]
[Notification: Your Familia member 'Kagome Higurashi' has reincarnated as a Special-Type Devil]
---
[Higurashi Kagome]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Purification Power] & [Connecting Devil]
[Purification Power]
Spiritual Energy
Special attack against evil beings
[Connecting Devil]
Key to Connecting Pathways (Currently Linked: 'Modern Era 500 Years Ago')
Devil Transformation (Gateway Mode)
---
Kagome's stats weren't particularly outstanding, but [Connecting Devil] was extremely useful.
At the very least, he wouldn't have to rely on the Bone-Eater's Well to travel through time anymore.
In this world, there were plenty of places even teleportation magic couldn't reach.
For example the Underworld.
If he wanted, he could have Kagome establish a connection, allowing direct access whenever needed.
"Not bad. That's a really useful ability."
Lynn gave her an encouraging pat on the back.
Kagome felt an intense heat spreading through her, staying silent as she accepted the blessing system information.
Still
She really was a devil now.
Before, she thought it was just some weird joke.
So that means Yukino, Miko and the others must be devils too?
Now she finally understood why Shuchiin Academy's Supernatural Research Club was full of girls.
It was a complete harem!
.
.
.
P.S.: That was six chapters, so it's only fair that everyone drops six stones, right?
(A little info: The four mitama each represent a different aspect of the soul. 'Mitama' means 'soul' in Japanese, so each form's name reflects its naturee.g., Nigi-mitama means 'gentle soul.')
(These four mitama appear in many anime, so I left them in Japanese. I only watch anime with subtitles, so this clarification is for those who may find the names unfamiliar. I'll also add the skill effects whenever a form is used, so you don't need to worry about that.)
That's it. Enjoy reading the story now.
...
Finally, it was Kikyo's turn for the reincarnation ritual.
Lynn pressed the Devil's Piece into her.
With a hum, a soft glow spread across her bare back as her blessing took form.
---
[Kikyo]
Rank: High-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Purification Power], [Combat Priestess], [Cleansing Sorrow] & [Purifying Devil]
[Purification Power]
Spiritual Energy
Special attack against evil beings
[Combat Priestess]
Increased Agility Growth Rate
Increased Magic Growth Rate
[Cleansing Sorrow]
Purification Spiritual Energy
Special Attack Against All Evil Beings
Immunity to Curse-Type Negative Effects
[Purifying Devil]
Untainted Soul
Special Attack Against Dark Attributes
Special Attack Against Corruption
Devil Transformation
---
Seeing Kikyo's skill set, Lynn was at a loss for words.
She was supposed to be a devil, yet nearly all her abilities were anti-devil?
A bunch of exorcist-style powers stacked on top of each other
Oh, right. He was her master.
That made it fine. Right?
Lynn copied her blessing onto parchment and handed it to her.
Then, he fell into deep thought: "When I'll get kicked out of the devil race?"
Kikyo stared at her status, her eyes distant and unreadable.
Was this truly a divine blessing? A gift from the gods?
As everyone examined their newfound abilities, Lynn took the time to give a quick rundown of their Familia's current situationthings like otherworldly talents, different dimensions, and so on.
"Other worlds?!" Kagome gasped, her face full of disbelief.
Today had been a series of endless shocks.
First, she was attacked by demons. Then, she was saved by the supernatural research club. Then, she traveled through time with Lynn, only to somehow end up as his harem member? And now, she was a devil?
Her brain was struggling to process all of it.
And now she was being told that they had access to another world where Familia members could level up?
"You mean we can actually go to another world and have adventures?" she asked.
"Of course," Lynn nodded.
The Familia's main purpose was to grow stronger and feed that strength back to him.
He turned his gaze to Kikyo and Midoriko.
The worlds currently available to his Familia had already lost their value for High-Class and Ultimate-Class Devils.
Lynn sighed. This was becoming a bit of a problem.
"Well, first things first"
He looked at Kagome. "Are you ready for the descent of a god?"
Kagome stammered, "W-Wait, isn't it supposed to be a purification ritual?"
"Godly descent is part of the purification ritual."
"Ugh"
Kikyo and Midoriko visibly tensed, their bodies stiffening in response.
Seeing their reactions, Lynn added, "Kagome's still inexperienced as a priestess. You two should take more responsibility."
The Next Morning.
Lynn exhaled in satisfaction.
After being served by the three priestesses, he felt incredibly refreshed, his mind clearer than ever.
Midoriko absentmindedly reached out with her delicate fingers and absorbed Lynn's white sperm once more.
The next second, her exhausted body suddenly regained its vigor.
Feeling the miraculous effect, she murmured, "This truly is the power of a god"
Yep! Lynn used his [Milk Mode].
With a splash, Lynn rose from the hot spring.
Midoriko and Kikyo snapped out of their daze and hurried over.
"Lord Lynn, allow me to dress you."
Only Kagome remained asleep, snoring softly with a trail of drool at the corner of her lips.
Once he was dressed, Lynn patted Kikyo's shoulder.
"Take me on a tour of the village."
"Ok"
Kaede's Village.
The sun was shining brightly.
In the rice fields, villagers worked hard, as if last night's demon attack had never happened.
"The people here are used to this sort of thing," Kikyo said, her voice tinged with melancholy.
Ever since she became the guardian of the Jewel, Kaede's Village had lost its peace.
But now
She glanced at Lynn, a rare warmth flashing in her cold eyes.
Her god had answered her prayers.
"Lady Kikyo!"
As they walked through the village, the people greeted Kikyo with a mix of warmth and respect.
She responded with a composed nod, always maintaining a step behind Lynn, subtly marking his higher status.
The villagers noticed.
They cast curious and cautious glances at Lynn, then quickly looked away, bowing respectfully.
For Lady Kikyo to show such deference, this man must be someone truly important.
Not to mention
The miracles he had performed the previous night were still fresh in their minds.
As they walked, Kikyo quietly filled Lynn in on this era's details.
Then
A strange, high-pitched buzzing noise reached their ears.
Lynn and Kikyo turned toward the sound.
A massive insect, resembling a wasp but with blood-red compound eyes and powerful pincer-like mandibles, lurked within the foliage, watching them.
Upon realizing it had been spotted, the creature flapped its wings and attempted to flee.
Lynn narrowed his eyes, studying its appearance closely.
"Kikyo."
"Yes?"
"Do you know of Naraku?"
"Or rather... Onigumo?"
Hearing this, Kikyo frowned, pondered for a moment, then shook her head. "I'm sorry, Lord Lynn, but I've never heard of him."
Lynn paused.
So, this world had undergone quite a few changes. Even Kikyo hadn't encountered Onigumo, but...
It didn't matter.
Naraku still emerged in the end.
The mastermind behind yesterday's attack on Kaede's Village was likely that demon. He must have set his sights on the Shikon Jewel.
Lynn speculated, though he wasn't particularly concerned about Naraku.
At best, the guy was just an upgraded cockroach.
Lynn rubbed his chin.
Maybe?
Kagura and Kanna should make for excellent additions to the Familia as well.
He'd have to find an opportunity to bring them in.
That said, finding Naraku was going to be a hassle.
After explaining Naraku's situation to Kikyo, she nodded in understanding. "So that's how it is..."
"No wonder the demons yesterday acted as if they were following a plan. Someone was pulling the strings from behind the scenes."
A cold glint flashed in Kikyo's dark eyes.
The two continued chatting for a while.
Lynn began to think about how best to utilize this era.
Since he was already here, it would be a waste not to take advantage of it...
He should inform Saeko and the others first.
Feudal Japan was overflowing with powerful demons, including high-level and even great demons.
For someone like Saeko, who had reached a bottleneck in her progress, this was the perfect hunting ground!
---
Elsewhere.
In a damp, dark cave, Naraku sat shrouded in shadows, his expression shifting between anger and unease.
"The informant at Kaede's Village... was eliminated..."
Thinking back to the scene from the previous night, Naraku couldn't help but shudder.
That man...
With a single breath, he had engulfed the night sky in flames. In mere seconds, the demons had been reduced to ashes.
Since the day he was born, Naraku had never witnessed such a terrifying existence.
Absolutely not.
He must never provoke that man.
"I'll remain dormant for now..."
"Until that man leaves..."
Not far away, Kagura watched Naraku in silent shock.
Was he... trembling?
It was the first time she had ever seen Naraku look like this.
Was it because of that man?
An idea flickered in her mind.
She recalled the man who seemed almost godlike.
So even you have someone you fear, Naraku...
Kagura exhaled softly, a peculiar gleam in her ruby-red eyes.
Beside her, Kanna remained expressionless, merely glancing at her sister.
Was she planning to chase after her freedom?
---
A few days later
Lynn's Familia used Kagome's power to open a time rift and traveled five hundred years into the past for a group expedition.
"So, this is the world from five hundred years ago?"
As soon as Utaha received the news, she rushed over.
Leveling up was a non-stop grind for her.
And she had heard there was a nice hot spring here.
Just what she needed to chill.
Maybe even...do it again with Lynn...
Utaha's breathing grew a little heavier.
Clearly, she was envisioning something rather improper.
Meanwhile, Saeko glanced around. Not seeing any demons in sight, she looked a little disappointed. "Where are the demons? I really want to cut something down."
Utaha: "..."
This woman was getting more and more unhinged.
"Don't worry, you'll get your chance."
Lynn's voice reached her ears just in time.
"Master."
"Kikyo," Lynn turned to them. "Help the Familia members get accustomed to the environment. Then, find some great demons for Saeko to practice on."
The Gastrea creatures from the Black Bullet world were no longer of any use for a high-level Devil like Saeko.
But this chaotic era? Now, that was just perfect.
Great demons could be troublesome, but with the new natural demon slayerson their side, there was nothing to worry about.
Utaha studied the three shrine maidens in traditional priestess dress, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Shrine maiden outfits had a certain... charm to them.
She made a mental note to buy a few for future use.
Yukino, standing nearby, had a complicated expression. "Kagome-san... So you ended up becoming one of the Familia members as well..."
"Ahaha..." Kagome scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Not only had she become a Familia member, but she had also been completely eaten that night.
Well...
Serving a god was part of a priestess's duty, right?
Kagome began convincing herself.
After ensuring everything was settled, Lynn rubbed his chin, considering his next move.
Maybe he should visit the Underworld of this era.
"But! How do I even get there?"
Lynn froze.
The Underworld in this period was in complete chaos, and all known passageways were sealed off.
Getting there wouldn't be easy.
At a time like this, he needed someone with all the right connections.
---
[Rias: "You want to go to the Underworld?"]
At Kuoh Academy's Occult Research Club.
"Lynn... Why does he need to go to the Underworld?"
Rias looked puzzled.
[Rias: "Sending you the coordinates."]
[Lynn: "I owe you one!"]
Rias pouted.
That damn Lynn. Always full of empty promises.
She had been looking forward to that date he promised her for ages...
But nothing.
Was he just saying it to brush her off?
Rias pouted.
Lynn received the coordinates Rias sent him.
He hesitated.
"These are from five hundred years in the future... Will they even work?"
He tested them.
"Nope. As expected."
[Lynn: "It didn't work! Got any other ideas?"]
[Rias: "....??!"]
.
.
.
[Rias: "if we can find the legendary Meido Stone, we can directly open a path to the Underworld."]
[Rias: "But... the Meido Stone... it hasn't been seen for a very long time."]
"The Meido Stone?" Lynn muttered as he stared at the message on his phone, sent by Rias. His mind started working.
The Meido Stone, huh...
It might not exist in modern times, but it definitely existed in ancient times.
And conveniently, he knew exactly where to find one.
Western Lands
The battlefield between the Inu-yokai Clan and the Leopard Cat Clan was soaked in blood and violence. The golden sands were painted red with bloodbath.
"You damn dogs! Today, I'll show you the true might of the Leopard Clan!"
Boom!
The war raged on, fists and claws tearing through flesh. The Leopard-yokai fought like crazed beasts, their faces twisted in frenzy as they tore through their foes.
Their massive bodies rampaged across the battlefield, but the Inu-yokai were not about to back down. One by one, they revealed their true forms, engaging in a brutal battle to the death.
Pain, screams, excitementemotions flared like wildfire.
---
At the rear of the Inu-yokai army, a small figure stood amidst the towering demon forms. Hidden in their shadows, he was nearly unnoticeable.
His silver hair cascaded down to his waist, shimmering under the light like liquid metal. Two crimson stripes adorned each of his cheeks, as if they were painted by flames. Yet, the most striking feature was the ice-blue crescent moon on his forehead.
"Sesshomaru-sama! The Leopard Clan is at its breaking point!"
"With you leading us, the Western Lands will only have one ruler!"
Sesshoumaru listened
to the sycophantic praise with a face of utter indifference.
His golden eyes swept over the battlefield, unimpressed.
The Leopard Cats... were nothing special.
He had no interest in the weak. He simply observed.
---
"The chief! The chief is joining the fight!"
"Hah! You dog bastards better prepare to die! Our leader will tear you to shreds!"
The battlefield trembled.
A massive shadow descended from the sky. A colossal Leopard-yokai, over dozens of meters tall, landed with a thunderous crash!
Boom!
"ROOOAAARRR!"
The beast's blood-red eyes gleamed with malice as it swung its massive claws, instantly tearing dozens of Inu-Yokai to shreds!
"Oh?" Sesshoumaru's golden eyes flickered.
"Finally, a worthy opponent."
In an instant, he vanished.
And the next moment
He was standing atop the Leopard Chief's head.
A terrifying aura erupted from him as he struck downward without hesitation.
BANG!
The Leopard Chief's skull caved in from the impact. Its eyes bulged out, nearly popping from its sockets.
"It's Sesshomaru-sama!"
"Sesshomaru-sama has entered the fight!"
The Inu-Yokai erupted in excitement at the sight of their leader in action.
"It's him again!"
The Leopard-Yokai shuddered, fear gripping their hearts.
Over the past few years, Sesshomaru had slaughtered too many of them.
He was a monster.
"Damn brat!" The Leopard Chief snarled, his pride wounded.
"When I was battling your father, you weren't even born yet!"
"HAAAH!"
With a furious howl, deep blue flames erupted around him.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. Not underestimating his foe, he immediately leaped into the air.
The Leopard Chief, wreathed in yokai fire, shot upward, charging straight at him.
Sesshoumaru revealed his true form.
BOOM!
Two colossal demons clashed, sending shockwaves through the air!
The sheer force of their collision sent lesser demons flying!
The battle raged fiercely.
And Suddenly
BOOOOOOOM!
Like a falling meteor, a shadow wreathed in black flames crashed into the battlefield with terrifying force!
The impact created a massive crater, swallowing the surrounding sands. The shockwave alone crushed countless demons, their blood soaking into the desert.
Sesshoumaru's pupils shrank.
His massive Inu-Yokai form was sent flying backward, smashing into the ground.
Even the Leopard Cat Chief wasn't sparedhe plummeted from the sky, and crashed into the ground, dazed.
The Leopard Chief spat out a mouthful of sand, his expression dark and uncertain as he stared at the center of impact.
Sesshomaru, having reverted to his humanoid form, narrowed his golden eyes coldly.
As the dust settled, a black-haired, red-eyed figure emerged.
Lynn.
he smiled politely. "Excuse me, but could someone tell me where Sesshomaru's mother is?"
He had originally planned to search the area for clues, but upon spotting the Inu-Yokai, he decided to make a direct entrance.
Looking for my mother?
Sesshomaru's brow furrowed slightly.
"Hah?! So, you're that bitch's plaything?!"
The Leopard Chief sneered, baring his fangs. "You dare interfere in my battle? I'll kill you!"
Appearing before Lynn in the blink of an eye, his razor-sharp claws slashed toward him!
Lynn glanced at him indifferently and sighed. "Man, the local demons here sure aren't very friendly."
BOOM!!
The Leopard Cat chief's massive body twisted and contorted before exploding into a rain of flesh and blood!
Crimson droplets painted the sky.
Sesshoumaru's pupils shrank in shock.
What was that?!
He hadn't even seen the attack.
"C-Chief?!"
The Leopard-Yokai stared in horror.
Their leader had been reduced to nothing but chunks of meat in the blink of an eye.
They were doomed.
Their tribe was finished.
"Now then, can someone kindly tell me where Sesshomaru's mother is?"
Lynn flashed what he thought was a friendly smile.
But in the eyes of the others, it was like the devil himself was grinning at them right before their demise.
Dead silence.
Seeing no response, Lynn lost interest and clicked his tongue.
Then, his crimson eyes shifted toward Sesshmaru.
Sesshmaru's body tensed instinctively.
It was pure instinct!
His body... was reacting in fear?!
For the first time, alarm bells rang in his mind.
A faint sweat formed on his palms, and he subconsciously reached for his sword, seeking a sense of security
But his sword was gone?
A flicker of shock passed through Sesshmaru's golden eyes.
Then, he saw Lynn idly toying with a blade.
His Tenseiga?!
Sesshmaru: "..."
"So, this is the Tenseiga?"
Lynn gave it a casual swing, and the soul-reaping underworld messengers scattered across the battlefield were instantly cut down.
The fallen demons who had already lost their lives blinked in confusion as their souls returned to their bodies, reviving them.
However, only those whose corpses remained intact stood up again.
"Interesting..."
Lynn chuckled.
If this world didn't have an established underworld system, then wielding this sword could disrupt the balance, couldn't it?
Right now, the underworld should be in chaos, which was the only reason a weapon like the Tenseiga could slip through the cracks.
Since he had it now, there was no reason to give it back.
Might as well bring it back to his Familia for research.
Who knows? Maybe they could develop something interesting out of it.
Lynn's gaze shifted past Sesshmaru, and he let out a small laugh.
"Well, that was fast."
A woman appeared, her expression as cool and distant as the moonlight.
Her silver hair cascaded down to her ankles, shimmering like stardust.
A deep violet crescent moon adorned her forehead, emitting an eerie, ethereal glow, while two crimson markings beneath her eyes gave her an air of otherworldly elegance.
Her soft lips parted, her voice as cold as the night wind, laced with undeniable authority.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"I need to borrow the Meido Stone." Lynn got straight to the point.
"Aunt, don't give it to him!" Sesshmaru shouted, only for Lynn to kick him away.
Lynn smirked. "Huh, from my info, I thought you were his mother. But you really look way too young for that."
Ryougetsu Senhime didn't respond. She simply studied him for a moment before unfastening the deep blue crystal from around her neck.
Without hesitation, she tossed it to Lynn.
Sesshmaru's lips twitched as if he wanted to say something, but a single glance from Senhime silenced him.
This man... was not someone the Inu Yokai could afford to provoke.
It was wiser to step back.
Besides, she had questions of her own.
The violet crescent moon on her forehead gleamed faintly as she spoke again, her voice carrying an icy weight.
"You are not of this era, are you?"
"Oh?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, then let his gaze fall to the crescent mark on her forehead.
"You're right." He didn't bother hiding it.
Senhime's golden eyes flickered. "Since I have given you the Meido Stone, may I ask you something in return?"
"Sure."
Lynn agreed without hesitation.
"In the future, does the Western Lands of the Inu Yokai still exist?"
Lynn's smile was warm.
"Never heard of it."
Senhime's expression stiffened, and she fell into silence.
The Inu Yokai of the Western Lands...
Extinct?
She massaged her temples, an uncharacteristic frown gracing her elegant features.
As the princess of the Western Lands, the survival of their bloodline was her responsibility.
Lynn, meanwhile, observed her with interest.
His Familia skill, Devil's Piece, was glowing faintly.
This woman...
She would make a fine addition.
A powerful Yokai like herif reincarnated as a Devilwould at least start as an Ultimate-Class Devil.
Now, how should he go about recruiting her?
Senhime remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
"Do you... have a way to transport people across time?"
A glint of intrigue flickered in Lynn's eyes.
"You want me to take the Inu Yokai into the future?"
"That's right."
Upon hearing that their kind no longer existed in the future, this was the solution she arrived at.
If their bloodline could spread across different points in time, the Inu Yokai would never truly go extinct.
But...
It all depended on the man standing before her.
Her golden eyes fixated on Lynn with intensity.
Lynn stroked his chin before breaking into a smile.
"Well, I could do that... but..."
He tilted his head slightly. "A mere Meido Stone isn't enough to cover the cost of such a request."
She took a deep breath. "Whatever you wantif the Inu Yokai possess it, you may name your price!"
At the very least, their clan was wealthy.
Lynn paused before giving her an amused smirk.
"Are you sure about that?"
Senhime's heart tightened.
Why did she suddenly... Have a bad feeling about this?
But...
For the sake of her clan's future
Her cold golden eyes burned with determination as she gave a firm nod.
"I am certain!"
.
.
.
"I'm certain!"
Senhime's voice was cold yet resolute. This was her duty as a princess of the Inu Youkai!
No matter the costshe would bear it all!
Seeing her unwavering determination, Lynn couldn't bring himself to let her down.
"Alright then, you'll do."
"...Huh?"
Senhime blinked, unsure if she had misheard something.
"What did you just say?" she asked, uncertain.
"You heard me right. I meant you."
Senhime: "..."
W-What did he mean?
Was he saying the price for his help... was her?
Her mind struggled to process it.
Seeing her reaction, Lynn chuckled. "Would you like to become part of my Familia?"
"Familia?" Senhime repeated, tasting the word.
"Like the relationship between a god and their shrine maiden?"
She was well-versed in supernatural matters and immediately grasped his meaning.
Her eye twitched, and her expression darkened.
She, a proud princess of the Inu Youkai, was being asked to serve someone?
One of her subordinates couldn't hold back. "Princess, there's no need for you to make such a sacrifice!"
The other Inu Youkai warriors were equally outraged.
For the sake of their race's survival, offering up their princess? That was unacceptable!
Anger flared in their eyes as they glared at Lynn.
Even Sesshmaru stepped forward, his expression ice-cold.
He knew this man was beyond their ability to fight, but he would never bow to anyone.
Even if it meant death, he would die standing.
Forcing the Inu Youkai to submit?
Impossible!
Yet, before anyone could act, an overwhelming force erupted from Lynn's body.
"Ghhhhh!"
The Inu Youkai warriors' eyes widened in terror. A moment later, they all collapsed onto the sand, unable to move.
Sesshmaru's composed expression finally cracked.
He gritted his teeth, his body trembling violently. Then, with a heavy thud, he too collapsed to the ground, prostrated against the sand.
Sesshmaru: "...!"
A wave of humiliation and fury surged in his heart.
Damn it!!
Before this overwhelming presence, was he really no different from an insect?
He was forced to bow his head!
On the other side of the battlefield, the Leopard Cat Tribe, still mourning their fallen leader, were caught in the same pressure.
Without understanding what was happening, they too fell to their knees, faces pressed against the sand.
At this moment, only two figures remained standing on the battlefield.
Senhime said nothing, but her heart clenched.
Thankfully, none of her people were actually harmedjust immobilized.
That alone was enough to make her sigh in relief.
This man... was terrifyingly strong.
Like some ancient entity of the Underworld...
She wasn't sure what she was reminded of, but she felt a strange sense of familiarity.
Lynn, meanwhile, had no intention of being unreasonable. He had just borrowed the Meido Stonethere was no need to slaughter her people immediately afterward.
But a little punishment?
That was unavoidable.
With a faint smirk, he turned to Senhime. "So, have you made up your mind?"
"Is this the extent of your resolve?"
His words pulled her back to reality, and she stiffened, her fingers nervously rubbing against her thumb.
Resolve...
She never imagined she would end up offering herself.
The Inu Youkai possessed vast treasures, after all. He could have asked for rare minerals, or even a few of the legendary fangs left behind by Tga.
Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile. "Our Inu Youkai have countless treasures. Are you sure you don't want any of them?"
Lynn shrugged, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "If you belong to me, then doesn't everything the Inu Youkai own already belong to me?"
Senhime's golden eyes widened, her cold expression finally cracking.
This shameless man!
Was this his plan from the beginning?!
Her lips parted slightly, unable to find words. Her expression seemed to ask'How can someone say something so outrageous with a straight face?!'
Lynn chuckled and added, "If you don't hurry up and decide, I'm leaving."
His voice was like a devil's whisper, tempting and pressuring her at the same time.
Could she really gamble everythingher people, her own futureon this man she had just met?
Senhime hesitated.
This was about her entire race. Her entire life.
She had to be careful.
Lynn, however, had no interest in waiting any longer.
Senhime was certainly an excellent candidate for his Familia, but it wasn't like he had to recruit her right this second.
Even Natsuki hadn't officially joined yet.
Without another word, Lynn channeled magic into the Underworld. A deep blue glow burst forth.
A rift split open in midair!
As he poured in more magic, the rift expanded.
In moments, it grew large enough for a single person to step through.
Lynn turned, casually waved at her, and stepped inside.
"Goodbye."
Senhime's eyes widened in shock.
This irresponsible man!
Seeing that Lynn was about to disappear, Senhime panicked. Without thinking, she transformed into a smaller version of her true form and darted after him at incredible speed.
The next second, the portal to the Underworld shut.
The crushing pressure that had held down the Inu Youkai and Leopard Cats vanished instantly. They let out collective sighs of relief and struggled to their feet.
"Where's the princess?"
The Inu Youkai exchanged glances, confused. Their faces had been buried in the sand the whole time, so they had no idea what had just happened.
"She... she didn't really run off with that guy, did she?"
The Inu Youkai: "..."
A deep sense of frustration settled over them.
"Hah! Our chief is dead, and now your princess has been taken away too!"
The Leopard Cats took delight in their misfortune, their grief over losing their leader momentarily forgotten.
As long as the Inu Youkai suffered, it was a good day for the Leopard Catseven if their own leader had died.
Sesshomaru lifted his gaze and glared coldly at them.
He couldn't do anything about that man, but as for them?
His hand moved toward his waistthen he froze.
Right. Tenseiga had been taken too.
...He was even angrier now.
"Die."
No longer able to hold back, Sesshomaru lunged at the Leopard Cats.
Underworld.
Lynn sighed as he glanced at the little demon clinging to his shoulder.
Senhime awkwardly scratched at his coat with her claws.
She had acted on impulse and followed him in.
Now what?
If she remembered correctly, wasn't the Underworld in total chaos right now?
She often used to spy on the Underworld, so she was fairly familiar with the situation.
And the Underworld was terrifying right now!
Senhime trembled.
But she quickly forced herself to appear calm.
"I know the Underworld well. I followed you so you wouldn't get lost."
"Oh? How kind of you." Lynn smirked at her.
"I thought you were just in a hurry to become my Familia."
Senhime bit her lip and turned her head away, refusing to meet his gaze. Her paws, however, clutched tightly at his coat.
Here, in the Underworld, only someone as strong as Lynn could give her a sense of security.
Seeing such a human-like expression on a fox's face was quite amusing for Lynn.
Not bad.
The little fox was actually quite pretty.
Snow-white fur, a crescent moon on her foreheadthere was a certain elegance about her.
Senhime lifted a paw and poked Lynn. "Actually there's nothing really interesting in the Underworld."
"How about we leave first?"
"If you're scared, you can go on your own."
Lynn's words struck like a hammer.
"Who's scared?!"
Senhime frowned. This guy had such a nasty way of speaking!
She was a royal of the Western Inu Youkai.
For a moment, her expression returned to its usual icy composure, as if suddenly remembering her noble status.
Boom!
A massive explosion erupted in the distance.
The sheer intensity of the magic made Senhime shudder. Her cool facade crumbled, and in one swift motion, she burrowed into Lynn's collar.
Lynn was speechless.
"Are you really a royal of the Inu Youkai?"
Senhime peeked out with an embarrassed look.
Under normal circumstances, she was graceful and dignified.
But today was different. Given the current situation, she figured she was allowed to be a little cowardly.
As they spoke, the owner of that terrifying magic appeared.
Grayfia stood there, expressionless, having just wiped out a group of devils.
She fixed her gaze on Lynn.
"Are you here to kill me too?"
This man was strong.
Grayfia could sense it.
But despite feeling his overwhelming power, she had still come to face him.
She had never seen him before.
Not someone from the Old Satan Faction.
Could he kill her?
Tired of everything, Grayfia welcomed the idea of dying in battle.
"Kill you?"
Lynn shook his head and smiled.
"No. Instead of killing you, I'd rather take you in as part of my Familia."
He hadn't expected that his first step into the Underworld would lead him straight to Grayfia.
It would be a shame not to recruit her.
Familia?
What did that mean?
Grayfia frowned slightly.
The Underworld was in turmoil, and the concept of Evil Pieces hadn't been introduced yet.
So she didn't quite understand what Lynn meant.
Senhime squinted at him from within his coat.
Was this man some kind of god of lust?
Why did he always want to make women serve him?
Seeing Grayfia's confusion, Lynn thought for a moment and rephrased his offer.
"Would you like to be my queen?"
"...Queen?"
Grayfia was taken aback.
"Are you proposing to me?"
Lynn pondered for a moment. "You could see it that way."
Grayfia fell silent, feeling oddly conflicted.
This was a first.
For years, she had known nothing but endless battles.
And today, she had encountered a weirdo.
"Sorry, but I still have unfinished duties."
Grayfia turned down his proposal.
But she made sure to remember the face of the man who had just proposed to her upon their first meeting.
She studied Lynn's features carefully.
Not an unpleasant face.
"If the war ends I might consider marrying you."
With those parting words, Grayfia headed toward the next battlefield.
.
.
.
"Rejected? Hehehe~"
Watching Grayfia walk away, Senhime popped out from hiding, a teasing tone in her voice.
Lynn glanced down and saw her two twitching puppy-like ears. His lips curled slightly, and without thinking, his hand reached out, gently rubbing them.
"W-Wha?!"
Senhime shuddered, her eyes widening unevenly in shock.
Shethe mighty princess of the Western Lands
Was beingPetted like some cat?!
Her first instinct was to bare her sharp fangs and sink them into his hand, letting him know exactly what kind of mistake he was making.
"Think of it as your rent," Lynn suddenly said.
Rent?
Her expression froze as she glanced at her current situation.
Right she was stuck in the Underworld, relying on Lynn for a place to stay.
Fine. Whatever.
Just for now, she'd tolerate it.
She consoled herself and allowed Lynn to continue his playful rubbing.
If you couldn't fight it, enjoy it.
And, well His technique wasn't bad at all.
She closed her eyes in satisfaction.
Lynn chuckled softly, shifting his focus back to more important matters. Grayfia had turned him down, but he wasn't particularly upset about it.
After all, recruiting his Familia had never been an easy process.
Like Natsuki, the first person he had met, wasn't officially part of his Familia yet.
"Has the war ended?"
The ongoing civil war in the Underworld didn't interest him much.
Lynn's figure blurred as he suddenly reappeared in front of Grayfia again.
Her pupils shrank sharply.
Fast.
So fast that she hadn't even registered his movement.
Internally, she was startled. But outwardly, she remained calm, her expression unchanged except for a slight furrow in her brows. "What do you want now?"
Was he planning to kidnap her and force her into marriage?
She couldn't help but wonder, though she wasn't particularly worried.
From what she could sense, he was powerful.
But she wasn't weak either.
Lynn's expression remained calm. "Do you know where Valifer's territory is?"
Valifer?
Grayfia blinked before pointing westward.
"Thanks."
The moment her words fell, Lynn vanished, leaving behind a faint shimmer of sparks in the air.
Just to ask for directions?
Grayfia was speechless.
Who was this man?
As a key figure in the Old Satan Faction, she knew all the powerful devils in the Underworld.
Lynn was a complete unknown.
With such strength, he should have made a name for himself long ago.
Was he someone who could actually end this war?
The thought unsettled her.
She was tired of all this fighting.
If someone could put an end to it she would welcome it.
---
Meanwhile, after following Grayfia's directions, Lynn arrived at Valifer's territory in the blink of an eye.
Coming to the Underworld, he had his own goalto awaken his magic's true nature.
As a descendant of the seventy-two pillars of the Devil Nobility, his magic should have possessed a unique trait.
Yet, up until now, it had remained dormant.
Now that he had a chance to explore the past Underworld, he was determined to figure it out.
Even though he already wielded the power of a Maou-level being
Certain magic traits could be terrifying game-changers.
Like Sirzechs' Power of Destruction.
His rise beyond the Maou level and into the level of Super Devils (Transcendental Beings) owed much to the unique nature of his magic.
If Lynn could unlock his own, it would be a major boost.
Surveying Valifer's land, he noted the tense and oppressive atmosphere. The rigid formations of soldiers standing at the ready indicated that the war was still raging.
"Valifer is part of the Old Satan Faction?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
How the hell did a family from the Old Satan Faction end up betrothed to the Sitri Clan, a Reformist faction?
Shaking off the thought, he casually strolled toward Valifer's manor.
His completely unbothered demeanor immediately attracted attention.
"Who goes there?!"
A high-class devil in the army glared at him, gripping the hilt of his massive sword, his aura exuding vigilance.
Anyone bold enough to walk straight into the midst of a Maou's army was either an absolute fool
Or completely confident in their power.
The commander's eyes were full of caution as he studied Lynn.
The other devils in the camp also took notice, their bloodshot eyes reflecting their deep-rooted bloodlust and killing intent.
The prolonged war had twisted their emotions, driving them to extremes.
Especially the Old Satan Faction.
They thrived on cruelty and slaughter.
But Lynn? He didn't even acknowledge them.
Didn't speak.
Didn't look at them.
Just kept walking forward.
To him, they were nothing more than background noise.
For him, the so-called Old Satan army only had four Ultimate-Class Devils.
The rest? Just fodder.
"Bastard!"
The commander's face twisted in fury at Lynn's blatant disregard.
This guy was way too arrogant!
Lord Beelzebub was inside discussing important matters. If this idiot disturbed him
Just thinking about Beelzebub's violent nature sent a shiver down the commander's spine, his back instantly drenched in cold sweat.
"Take this bastard down!!"
The devils, who had been itching for action, let out excited howls the moment they received the order.
whoosh
Like a swarm of bats, their wings spread out simultaneously, filling the sky and blotting out the sun.
Both the ground and the sky were crawling with devils!
They had completely surrounded Lynn, leaving no gaps.
"You dare act so arrogant in front of the Devil King's army?!"
"Hah! I'm gonna rip his head off and kick it around like a ball!"
In an instant, the entire atmosphere of the Valifer territory turned bloodthirsty.
Inside the Valifer Manor - Conference Room
The head of the Valifer clan furrowed his brows and whispered to his butler, "What's going on outside?"
The butler cautiously responded in a hushed tone, fearing he might disturb their esteemed guest. "Master, it seems some fool is trying to enter with force."
The Valifer clan leader cast a wary glance at the man sitting before him, eyes closed, seemingly resting. Seeing no reaction from Beelzebub, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.
In the next instant, Beelzebub's eyes snapped open.
A sinister light flickered within them, his grin twisting into something feral and cruel. In a hoarse voice, he muttered, "Oh? Looks like a fun new toy just walked in"
The Valifer clan leader tensed up immediately, cold sweat pooling in his palms. A sense of unease gripped him.
"A little appetizer"
Beelzebub stood up, looking toward the window before his body burst with magic. Like a cannonball, he shot out of the building.
---
Meanwhile
Held in Lynn's arms, Senhime clung tightly to him.
The speed had been too much for her. Even now, she was still feeling dizzy.
After regaining her senses, she realized something They were completely surrounded.
"??!"
For a moment, her body stiffened.
Just from her senses alone, she could tell that there were at least four Great Yokai (Daiykai) present.
Seriously, this underworld is crawling with these guys!
Butshe quickly relaxed.
After all, she was technically Lynn's temporary pet right now.
With that in mind, her sharp golden eyes swept over the gathered army. Cold indifference and disdain gleamed in her gaze.
"???"
The devils felt a strange sense of humiliation.
Did a mere dog demon just look down on them?
Rage immediately exploded among them!
"Skin that mutt alive!!"
In the next moment, waves of devils lunged toward Lynn.
Lynn remained calm, as if he wasn't the one being surrounded.
He raised a hand and lightly clenched his fingers.
A burst of light erupted from his palm!
Light magicHoly magicevery ability effective against devils activated at once!
A blinding radiance spread in an instantLike the descent of the sun itself!
The Devils' eyes widened in shock, as if they had just witnessed the gates of Heaven opening!
The moment the magic swept through them, their bodies reacted as if drenched in acid. Corrosion spread rapidly across their flesh.
Their agonized screams echoed through the Underworld!
The army was annihilated in an instant!
Even their commander, a high-class devil, collapsed to his knees, drenched in cold sweat, body trembling uncontrollably.
"D-Did Heaven just invade the Underworld?"
He couldn't help but think that.
Lynn's magic... everything about it screamed 'Angel.'
A sense of pure terror washed over him.
In mere moments, the battle had ended!
Low-class and mid-class Devils were instantly annihilated by Lynn's magic.
High-class Devils were either dead or severely crippled.
Even the top-ranked Devils could barely stand, but Lynn's magic gnawed at their bodies like a relentless poison.
If this continued, they would all die!
Lynn's expression remained indifferent, showing no emotional waves.
"How interesting! So interesting!!"
Beelzebub finally arrived at the scene, his eyes filled with burning excitement.
"A devil with the power of an angel?!"
"Hah! What a ridiculous joke!!"
He looked utterly crazed, his gaze fixed on Lynn like a hunter eyeing prey.
If he could seize that power for himself, thenHe would be the absolute ruler of all devils!
With this power, who could ever challenge him again?!
He must figure out the secret behind this power!
Capture him. Then dissect him.
Beelzebub's thoughts raced wildly.
Then, as if unable to contain himself any longer, he lunged at Lynn.
Like a starving beast, desperate for its next meal.
Lynn's eyes flashed with a cold light.
Four-Soul DevilActivate!
Purifying DevilActivate!
Fallen Angel DevilActivate!
Aries Crown, Unleashed!
One enhancement after another stacked upon his body, making him feel as if an entire universe was surging inside him.
Even his breath made the air around him crackle with sparks.
The sheer rush of powerIt was thrilling.
Right now
He felt unstoppable!
.
.
.
"Lord Beelzebub!!"
The commander of the army, barely holding on, was shocked to see Beelzebub's arrival, his heart pounding in fear.
If Lord Beelzebub witnessed them in such a pathetic state, there would be hell to pay. He trembled in fear.
But Beelzebub paid no attention to them. His eyes were locked onto Lynn.
Then, like a thunderclap, his figure shot forward, an overwhelming pressure erupting from his body!
A green mist-like magical aura spread out.
"Aaaaargh!"
The devils caught in the green mist screamed as their bodies withered in an instant, as if something had drained them dry.
Senhime trembled.
Sensing danger, she wasted no time diving into Lynn's embrace, her arrogant demeanor vanishing completely.
Beelzebub's eyes burned with an eerie light, his monstrous power surging as he charged straight at Lynn!
Lynn, however, simply grinned, his eyes flickering coldly.
Dark energy exploded around him, tiny flickers of light dancing like fireflies in the night.
His deep red eyes held an unfathomable depth, as if they contained an entire universe.
BOOM!
A terrifying aura erupted skyward!
Like a blade slicing through the heavens, the thick clouds above were instantly torn apart!
For the first time in ages, the ever-gloomy Underworld was bathed in sunlight.
Lynn exhaled slowly, his breath crackling with arcs of electricity as it cut through the air.
The abilities of the Four-Soul Devil made his mind exceptionally clear.
His combat instincts were sharpened to perfection with every buff effect stacked on him, as if battle itself was ingrained into his very muscles.
Lynn looked up, smirking as he locked eyes with Beelzebub.
Beelzebub's pupils shrank in shock.
The magic power leaking from his body recoiled, as if a mouse had encountered a cat!
What the hell?!
The aura radiating from Lynn sent a chill down Beelzebub's spine.
The bloodthirst in his eyes faded slightly, and reason returned to his mind.
Confusion and doubt filled his mind.
Just moments ago, their auras had seemed evenly matched, but in the blink of an eye, Lynn's power had skyrocketed far beyond his own!
That holy magic energywas that not his full strength yet?!
For the first time in ages, hesitation crept into Beelzebub's heart.
But while Beelzebub wavered, Lynn had no intention of stopping.
Since obtaining his new power, he hadn't yet had the chance for a proper fight.
And now, a Devil King, a Maou, had walked right into his path. A perfect test subject!
Lynn's eyes gleamed with excitement as he smirked at Beelzebub.
The next secondA blur flashed through the air!
Beelzebub's pupils contracted violently.
A clenched fist filled his entire vision.
One punch!
BOOM!!
A devastating impact, like a star exploding, landed directly on Beelzebub's face!
A shockwave exploded outward from the impact, swallowing everything in its path!
The sheer force sent out a shockwave, spreading violently in all directions!
The ground, solid and firm, was torn apart like fragile paper.
Massive boulders were crushed to dust!
The surviving devils' eyes bulged as their bodies twisted under the sheer force of Lynn's attack.
"Aaaaargh!!!"
Their screams of agony filled the airbefore abruptly cutting off.
The army... had been officially annihilated.
Meanwhile, Beelzebub, who had taken Lynn's punch head-on, felt like he'd been hit by a falling meteor.
BOOM!
Like a broken doll, Beelzebub was sent flying!
His body slammed into a crystalline steel mountain range, the impact shaking the entire area!
The near-indestructible crystal-steel structure groaned under the pressure, spiderweb cracks spreading across its dark surface.
"Cough... Cough..."
Lying amidst the rubble, Beelzebub's nose was crushed in, a clearly defined fist mark imprinted on his face.
Lynn's magic, devastatingly effective against devils, seeped into his body.
His very life force was slowly being drained away...
What the hell just happened?
One punch.
Just one punch?!
How could he not withstand a single attack?!
Beelzebub's chest heaved violently.
He was starving.
Desperately hungry!
His Gluttony magic kicked in.
A terrifying vortex formed in the sky above, sucking in massive amounts of magic to replenish his strength.
Beelzebub greedily devoured the surrounding magic power, slowing down his life force depletion.
But...Damn it!
Fury burned in Beelzebub's eyes as he pushed his Gluttony magic to its limits, trying to consume and assimilate the light-attribute energy within him.
"Pfft!!"
A mouthful of blood spewed from his lips!
His eyes widened in disbelief.
He suddenly looked much older, his vitality draining away.
"How... How is this possible?!"
Even angelic power, while painful, should have been something he could eventually digest through Gluttony.
But thisThis wasn't just light magic!
Tap.
A soft footstep echoed.
Lynn's figure appeared before him.
He watched as Beelzebub forcibly swallowed his magic, and his eyelid twitched hard.
Damn, this guy was ruthless.
A bunch of anti-Devil attributes stacked together, and this lunatic just gulped it down in one go?
"You!"
"What the hell did you do to me?!"
Beelzebub's voice was hoarse with fury, but Lynn could hear the tremble hidden in it.
Beelzebub was dying.
Lynn chuckled softly, a tiny spark dancing at his fingertip. Then, using the Harmonization effect of his Nigimitama form from [Four-Soul Devil], he infused it with Karmic Flames.
This guy had definitely accumulated a ton of karmic burden. Perfect.
Thinking that, Lynn flicked his finger.
Fwoosh!
The small spark, mixed with Karmic Flames, ignited as if it had met an endless fuel source and erupted instantly!
"AAAAAAHHHH!!"
Beelzebub screamed in agony, his very soul feeling as if it was being incinerated.
He gritted his teeth, rolling frantically on the ground, trying to extinguish the flames.
But the fire wasn't normalit didn't go out. It only burned fiercer.
Beelzebub panicked and instinctively activated Gluttony again.
In the next second, the very ability meant to consume energy acted like an accelerant, spreading the Karmic Flames from the inside out, completely incinerating him!
The Old Satan Faction's Devil King of Gluttony, Beelzebubdead!
Lynn shook his head.
"Devouring everything you see will only get you killed..."
As he watched Beelzebub burn to literal nothingness, Lynn rubbed his chin and muttered, "A Maou, huh"
"Are they really this weak?"
"No, you're just too strong!"
Seeing Beelzebub's complete obliteration, Senhime timidly peeked out from behind Lynn's chest, still shaken by the devastation around her.
The entire landscape had changed
Everywhere she looked, deformed corpses of devils littered the battlefield
She let out a shaky breath, feeling incredibly conflicted.
This was her first time witnessing combat at this level.
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she never would've believed itthis was caused by a single punch!
Honestly, that Beelzebub guy was terrifyingly strong.
The moment she laid eyes on him, her instincts screamed at her to run. Every fiber of her being was on high alert!
And for good reason
Just the leakage of his magic had sucked dry powerful beings on par with her!
And yet
Her gaze grew complicated.
Someone that powerful was still taken down in one punch by Lynn?
She thought about the time she had bared her fangs at him and shuddered.
From now on, she was going to be very well-behaved.
Once Beelzebub was completely reduced to ashes, Lynn deactivated all his power-ups.
That was a good fight.
After this battle, he now had a general grasp of his current strength.
Although he and Beelzebub were both at same level, there was a fundamental difference
Lynn simply had too many abilities and tricks up his sleeve.
Just the layered effects of all his power-ups made him an absolute Devil Terminator.
To be safe, he had even marked Beelzebub as his enemy with the Vengeance Mark before the fight.
And with Four-Soul Devil's Harmonization ability, he had slipped a bit of Karmic Flames into his Starfire attack.
With the kind of karma Beelzebub had accumulated
The fire had detonated instantly!
All in all, the layered combination of specialized attacks meant Beelzebub never even stood a chance.
Now that he had tested his strength, Lynn nodded in satisfaction.
In the next moment, he vanished, reappearing at the House of Valifer's ancestral home.
He had deliberately controlled his power to avoid damaging this area.
The Valifer Clan had been spared.
Inside, the atmosphere was tense.
When the clan head saw Lynn, he forced out a smile even worse than crying.
"L-Lord Angel?"
Even though he could smell the devilish aura on Lynn, his instincts screamed otherwise.
He didn't dare believe it.
Because what kind of Devil has Light and Holy magic?!
Thinking about the terrifying power Lynn had just displayed, the Valifer clan head trembled violently.
If he mistakenly identified this being's race and offended him their entire clan could be erased in an instant!
Lynn shot him a calm look and said, "I'm a Devil."
The clan head stiffened like a statue.
We're dead. We're so dead!
Seeing him frozen in place, Lynn spoke again, his tone neutral.
"You're the clan head?"
"Y-Yes!" the Valifer head stammered, nodding rapidly.
"Then you know how your clan awakens its magic traits, right?"
Magic traits?
Hearing this question, the clan head was visibly surprised but didn't hesitate to nod.
"Yes, I do! I really do!"
"Good."
Lynn nodded and casually walked into the Valifer estate, taking the seat of honor in the main hall.
The clan head and the rest of the Valifer family stood there anxiously.
Faced with a being who had easily killed Beelzebub, they felt like helpless fish on a chopping board, unable to resist.
But
In the Underworld, the strong ruled. This was normal.
So, they quickly adjusted their mentality.
After receiving Lynn's request, they hurried to fetch their books on awakening magic traits.
Lynn flipped through the pages, skimming the contents.
"I see"
His eyes flashed with understanding as he read about the Valifer clan's magic traits Conversion and Theft.
He continued reading about the awakening methods.
"Stimulating the survival instinct?"
Living in human society, he had never been in a situation desperate enough to trigger that.
And honestly, he probably never would.
That method's out.
Then there was
"The family ritual?"
.
.
.
"The Theft Ritual?"
It's basically just stealing something?
Lynn was speechless. Well, it sure fit the theme of awakening his magic trait.
---
After some time
Standing at the center of the ritual, Lynn looked at the target he was supposed to steal from and felt even more dumbfounded.
"You want me to steal the Infinite Dragon God, Ophis?!"
"Screw that, this magic trait isn't even worth awakening!"
The moment he saw the theft target, Lynn turned around and walked away without hesitation.
The others, who couldn't see his target, were left utterly confused.
Only the head of the Valifer family, staring at the successfully completed ritual, had an intense gleam in his eyes.
This lord... could he actually have Valifer bloodline?!
Could it be... that the Valifer family is about to rise?
Just the thought of Lynn's terrifying strength made the Valifer clan leader breathe heavily, his hands trembling in excitement.
The butler, mistaking his reaction for fear, cautiously reminded him, "My lord, Lord Lynn has already left."
"What?!"
The Valifer patriarch snapped back to reality, gripping the butler's arm with anticipation. "Then... did Lord Lynn leave any instructions?"
The butler shook his head.
The clan head looked disappointed.
The butler hesitated before adding, "Well... there was one thing..."
A glimmer of hope reignited in the patriarch's eyes.
"Lord Lynn just took some of the family's stored treasures before leaving."
The Valifer patriarch's hopes crumbled instantly, his heart sinking as he rushed toward the storage room.
When he saw the completely emptied vault, he fell into stunned silence.
Just some treasures?
Damn it!
There's nothing left!
After a long pause, his voice trembled as he muttered, "It's confirmed Lord Lynn..."
"He's definitely a true Valifer!"
A thief who never leaves empty-handedyep, he fits right in!
The Valifer patriarch wanted to cry.
But the bad news didn't stop there.
The butler, face grim, added, "My lord... the Gluttony King Beelzebub and his entire army were wiped out in our territory..."
The patriarch stiffened in horror.
We're doomed!
How were they supposed to explain this?!
After a long silence, the Valifer patriarch suddenly lifted his head, his gaze firm as righteousness filled his demeanor.
"I have long despised the Old Satan Faction's cruelty!"
"From today onward, the Valifer family will officially become the vanguard of the Reform Faction!"
The butler: "...?"
Without wasting a second, the patriarch began issuing orders. "Pack up everything! We're moving to the Reform Faction's stronghold!"
We need to get out of herefast! Before it's too late!
"Oh, and one more thing!" the patriarch suddenly added, "See if we can find Beelzebub's corpse and bring it with us."
Whether it was the destruction of the army or Beelzebub's body, both were perfect evidence for their loyalty to the Reform Faction!
Even though it was Lynn who did it, Lynn was a Valifer, so... it was totally justified!
In a way, he felt a bit relieved that Lynn had completely emptied their family vault.
At least that saved them the trouble of packing.
While the Valifer family fled in haste, news of Beelzebub's death reached the Old Satan Faction.
Damaidosu Zereikel Asmodeus couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Beelzebub... is dead?!"
"And his entire army as well?!"
Aside from the untouchable Lucifer, Beelzebub was the strongest among them!
And now he was just... dead?
Wasn't he supposed to be gathering support?
Did he end up getting himself killed instead?
Tsufaame Tereaku Leviathan fell silent before confirming, "Yes, Beelzebub is indeed dead."
This wasn't the kind of joke any devil would dare to make.
"However..." she continued, "the devil army he led was only part of our forces. The rest of the army will be under our command."
"That's our only option now," Asmodeus sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration.
Lucifer never took action and barely managed anything.
And now, one of their top fighters was dead.
They never expected Valifer, who was supposedly loyal to the Old Satan Faction, to betray them for the Reformists.
And they actually succeeded?
That was an entire devil army, plus a Maou!
All taken down by Valifer?
Something about this whole situation felt incredibly off.
At House Beelzebub
Shalba Beelzebub was utterly frozen after hearing the news.
He stood in silence with an overwhelming hatred burned in his eyes.
"Valifer..."
"Just you wait!"
He would train harder than ever, ascend to the rank of a Maou, and inherit Beelzebub's title!
Then, he would settle the score with Valifer.
And with the entire Reform Faction!
The rightful rulers must be the Old Satan Faction!
Meanwhile, at the front lines
Grayfia received the shocking news and paused, her expression turning strange.
"Valifer?"
Wasn't that where that man said he was going?
In her knowledge, Valifer didn't have any real powerhouses.
So...It had to be him.
Grayfia's eyes flickered with realization.
She frowned in thought. "Is that man part of the Reform Faction?"
But if so, why didn't he attack her?
Someone capable of killing Beelzebub could have easily killed her as well.
Grayfia was puzzled.
As for Beelzebub's death, she felt... nothing.
Regardless of whether it was the Old Satan Faction or the Reform Faction, if one side completely dominated the other, this endless war might finally come to an end.
Grayfia thought back to that manthe one who had proposed to her upon their first meeting.
"He's even stronger than I imagined..."
Her eyes shimmered.
Could he be the one to bring an end to all of this?
Once the thought took root, she found it hard to suppress.
She wanted to know the truth.
Her heart, numbed by years of war, suddenly felt a flicker of urgency and anticipation.
She had suffered long enough.
If there was even the slightest hope, she had to hold onto it.
Reform Faction Territory
When the entire Valifer Clan arrived in the Reform faction's stronghold, Sirzechs and Serafall exchanged a brief glance before turning to listen.
Then came the newsBeelzebub was dead.
Wait, what?
Did the Old Satan Faction just get rid of one of their own?
This was great news!
Sirzechs and Serafall couldn't help but feel a burst of joy at the revelation.
An Old Satan Faction Maou, gone just like that?
"Well done!" Sirzechs declared, putting on a serious expression. "The contribution of the Valifer Clan will never be forgotten by the Reform Faction."
Valifer had truly gifted them a massive victory.
A proper reward was in order.
Hearing this, the Valifer Clan Leader let out a quiet sigh of relief.
They were now completely cut off from the Old Satan Factionaligning with the Reform Faction was their only chance at survival.
Of course, if Lord Lynn was willing to lead them, that would be even better.
Maybe, just maybe, they could secure a satan seat for themselves?
Sirzechs and Serafall offered them a series of rewards, even publicly announcing their alliance due to Valifer's unique position. If they played their cards right, they might attract more like-minded allies from the Old Satan camp.
At the same time, they also learned a name.
"Lynn?"
Sirzechs and Serafall exchanged glances, their expressions turning more serious.
Beelzebub had been killed by this man?
A Maou had fallen.
Anyone capable of killing Beelzebub was undoubtedly at Maou level themselves.
Lynn Valifer?
The Valifer Clan actually had someone of this caliber?
Their expressions darkened with contemplation.
This Lynnhe had to be taken seriously.
---
Meanwhile, Somewhere in the Underworld
After leaving Valifer, Lynn wandered through the Underworld, lost in thought.
The Infinite Dragon God... could he really steal her?
Now that he thought about it, maybe "stealing" wasn't the right word.
If she willingly followed him, would it even count as stealing?
Still, Lynn wasn't foolish enough to rely solely on his past-life knowledge.
This world was already completely different from what he remembered.
He couldn't afford to underestimate anyone.
After all, she was a Dragon Godfar beyond what he could handle right now.
And there was also the Khaos Brigade to consider.
What if she came looking for him instead?
That wouldn't be stealing, right?
Nestled in Lynn's arms, Senhime had been silent ever since they left Valifer.
Her little paws were fidgeting, clutching at her sleeves as if deep in thought.
Ever since she had witnessed Lynn's true power, she couldn't shake the memory of his earlier invitation.
Was it time to make a decision?
Her fluffy face scrunched up in conflict.
Lynn noticed and raised a brow. "You need to pee?"
He had seen this before.
Hadn't Miko ended up in a similar situation?
It wasn't surprising. A single trip to the Underworld, and she had already witnessed a battle at Maou level. Peeing herself from fear would've been understandable.
Lynn gave her a knowing look, but without hesitation, he grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and tossed her outside.
"W-Wait!"
Senhime panicked, grabbing onto his sleeve.
"I-It's not that!"
She hesitated, then let out a long sigh of relief, as if reassuring herself.
Finally, she turned to look at him, her white fur tinged with a faint blush.
Lynn blinked. "Huh?"
What kind of setting was this?
Senhime took a deep breath, seeming to reach a decision. Then, she slowly rolled onto her back, lifting her paws to him.
"???"
Lynn's expression twitched. "What... are you doing?"
"S-Submission! It's a sign of submission!"
Senhime's voice trembled with embarrassment as she turned her head away, unable to meet his gaze.
A royal of her status... exposing her belly to a man!
Ugh
But she had no choice.
Back in Valifer's house, she had done her research.
Even in the terrifying Underworld, Lynn stood at the absolute peak.
Beelzebub.
One of the strongest beings in the Underworld.
And yet, with a single punchhe died.
The memory made her shiver.
And then she thought back to the time when her Clan was about to be at odds with Lynn.
Their entire bloodline had nearly been wiped out!
Senhime let out a weary sigh.
This world was far too vast.
Even the strongest yokai were nothing more than drifting leaves in a storm.
The petty struggles back in the West Land suddenly seemed laughable.
Having seen the true vastness of the world, Senhime had thought long and hard.
And she had made her choice.
For the survival of her clan's bloodline.
For the future of the yokai.
Some sacrifices had to be made.
This was the duty of a royal.
Taking a deep breath, she straightened herself, her golden eyes filled with resolve.
"Please allow me to join the familia."
.
.
.
---
Ahem. I won. Yep!
Remember when you said it was an error and the name was Valefor? Well, as you can seeit's not.
The magic trait confirmed that I translated it right. Sure, Valefar would've sounded smoother, but hey, the author went with it. Not my fault.
Now drop all your spirit stones maybe they'll be enough to heal my broken heart.
Hearing Senhime, Lynn showed no surprise.
From the moment she followed him to the Underworld, it was clear where her heart leaned. After witnessing everything that had transpired and seeing his overwhelming strength firsthand, the scales in her mind had completely tipped in his favor.
But stillLynn wanted to make sure.
"You've made up your mind?"
"Yes!" Senhime's gaze was firm.
The Western Lands were just a small corner of the world.
The Dog Yokai (Inu-yokai) were merely a minor race.
At least, from the perspective of those at higher levels of power, that was the reality.
Senhime wanted to see her people rise, to reach heights that even their ancestors had never dreamed of achieving!
And if she followed Lynn...
Maybejust maybeshe could make it happen!
Her eyes burned with determination at the thought.
Lynn noticed her expression and smirked slightly. "Then..."
"Congratulations, you're now my second pet."
"...Huh?" Senhime blinked in confusion. "Why second?!"
She pouted in dissatisfaction. As royalty among the Dog Yokai, she had always strived to be first in everything!
Lynn's expression turned a bit odd.
Of all things, that's what she cares about? Didn't she hear 'pet'?
Seeing her reaction, he explained the situation regarding his first pet.
When Senhime heard the name Fuse Midori, she immediately huffed. "Ugh, another damn cat!"
The Dog Yokai and Cat Yokai had never gotten along.
Lynn continued explaining his Familia's situation. When she learned that their numbers had already surpassed three millionmost of them being young girlsher gaze toward him became... peculiar.
"...Loli freak?"
Lynn wanted to deny it, but
Three million lolis?
Yeah, there was no way to argue against it.
With a calm smile, he reached out and rubbed her exposed belly without hesitation.
Senhime flinched, her face flushing red, but she didn't move away from his touch.
As he "disciplined" her, Lynn casually explained the process of becoming part of his Familia.
Including the Devil reincarnation ritual and all that.
Senhime's golden eyes widened in shock. "Lynn-sama this isn't some kind of perverted ritual, is it?"
Suspicion flickered in her gaze.
Lynn shrugged. "You just need to expose your back."
"Oh..."
Wait, hold on That's still embarrassing!!!
"If I reincarnate as a Devil, will I lose my Dog Yokai bloodline?"
She had learned a lot about Devils in the Underworld.
Becoming a reincarnated Devil wasn't something she was against.
But
Her Dog Yokai heritage was important to her.
"Don't worry."
Lynn gently stroked her head as he reassured her. "Reincarnating as a Devil only removes negative conditions. Any beneficial bloodlines will coexist with your Devil traits."
Just like how Akeno retained her Fallen Angel blood even after reincarnating as a Devil.
In essence, all reincarnated Devils from other races were hybrid Devils.
"I see..." Senhime breathed a sigh of relief. As she continued listening to Lynn's explanation, her eyes gradually sparkled with excitement, her heart pounding with anticipation!
Special-type Devils. The Blessing System.
Unlocking potential. Enhancing abilities. Evolving into higher tiers
So much power!
This was undoubtedly the key to surpassing her current limits!!!
Senhime's breathing grew heavy.
She had made the right bet!
With Lynn-sama's blessing, she could definitely lead the Dog Yokai to new heights!!
"Lynn-sama, please grant me your blessing!"
Lynn rubbed his chin. "You sure you wanna do it here?"
Senhime paused, then shook her head, glancing around.
The sudden rush of excitement immediately vanished.
At any moment, a random Devil could show up.
She definitely didn't want anyone other than Lynn seeing her transformation!
Lynn chuckled at her reaction.
"Let's head somewhere more private~."
A rift, just wide enough for a person to pass through, appeared in front of them.
Through it, they could see a lush, vibrant landscape.
The gateway connecting the Underworld to the human world had opened.
Without hesitation, Lynn took Senhime with him and left the Underworld.
Musashi Province - Kaede's village
"Where is this?" Senhime asked, curiosity flashing in her eyes.
"Think of it as a temporary base for my Familia."
When he had opened the portal, Lynn had conveniently adjusted the coordinates.
He had returned directly to Kaede's village.
Boom! Boom!
Just as they were chatting, the ground of Village trembled.
Midoriko flapped her wings, shouting loudly into the village, "Everyone! I've lured in a big one!"
Behind her, a towering figure, like a moving mountain, stomped forward with earth-shaking footsteps.
"Damn woman! How dare you humiliate me like this!!"
His furious roar was so loud that it made their eardrums ache!
His muscles bulged, veins protruding all over his body!
Six arms flailed wildly, stirring up gusts of wind!
"Pfft"
Utaha couldn't hold back her laughter.
The Tsuchigumo's ears twitched, his rage growing even more intense!
The sunlight gleamed down, making his now-bald head shine brilliantly!
That woman!
That damned woman!!
How dare she mess with his beautiful hair!!
"You despicable woman!!"
His steps quickened, shaking the very ground!
The villagers watched in shock, pausing their work at the sight.
"He's huge!"
"Just his footsteps alone feel like an earthquake!"
Despite their amazement, not a single one of them moved.
Above the Village, a radiant barrier shimmered briefly.
With both Kikyo and Midoriko reinforcing it, the village was now as solid as a fortress.
A mere large yokai like this didn't stand a chance against its defenses.
The villagers even had the leisure to chat amongst themselves.
"How long do you think this guy will last?"
"Fifteen minutes?"
"He looks like a powerful yokai, so maybe he'll hold out for a while."
"The shrine maidens serving our Lord are terrifyingly strong!"
The Village's once peaceful and predictable life had taken a turn ever since Lynn's Familia arrived.
Senhime lay sprawled in Lynn's arms, her dog-like eyes wide in astonishment. "Tsuchigumo!"
That was a famous Great Yokai!
Even the powerful Western Dog Yokai clan didn't want to mess with him.
"Looks like they've gotten pretty used to fighting already..."
Lynn observed Utaha and the others, nodding approvingly.
"Are all of them part of Lord Lynn's Familia?"
Hearing Lynn's words, Senhime, who now had some understanding of the Blessing System, had a realization flash in her eyes.
Were they using the Tsuchigumo to increase their stats?
Using a Great Yokai as a sharpening stone?
Her eyelid twitched at the thought, then shifted her gaze to Midoriko.
This woman gave her an incredibly dangerous feeling.
But with her around, things should be fine.
"Finally, an opponent worth killing!"
Busujima Saeko licked the corner of her lips, her eyes practically glowing red as she charged forward!
"Tch!"
Tendo Kisara refused to be outdone, shouting, "He's mine!"
Then, like a phantom, she dashed toward the Tsuchigumo!
The Tsuchigumo glanced at the small insects rushing toward him with disdain.
But in the next moment, shock flashed across his eyes.
Slash!
His flesh split open, and bright red blood splattered onto the ground, instantly corroding the grass and flowers around it!
The Tsuchigumo clutched his chest in pain, a massive wound now carved into him!
Humiliated and enraged, he couldn't believe he had been wounded by these tiny pests!
"I'M GONNA CRUSH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!!"
With a furious roar, he slammed all six arms into the ground, causing spiderweb-like cracks to spread toward the village's entrance.
Midoriko swiftly countered, forming three talismans with a flick of her wrist!
Golden chains materialized out of thin air, wrapping around the Tsuchigumo's massive legs!
"Arghhh!!"
The Tsuchigumo howled in fury!
"Utaha."
Midoriko's clear voice rang out.
"Got it!"
Utaha flipped open her Devil's Grimoire. "Lightning Strike!"
Crack!!
As soon as she spoke, a thick pillar of lightning crashed down from the sky, frying the Tsuchigumo black!
Just as he spat out a mouthful of black smoke, a white arrow came spinning toward him.
Whoosh!
"Sacred Arrow!"
Still reeling from the lightning strike, the Tsuchigumo barely had time to react before the arrow pierced his knee!
Boom!
With a loud crash, he dropped to one knee!
"Arghhhhhh!"
The arrow, infused with purifying spiritual energy, burned him painfully, making him let out a tortured scream.
That cry was like a signal.
Shiina Mahiru spread her angelic wings, a volley of light and dark feathers raining down upon the Tsuchigumo!
The others unleashed their own attacks as well, launching a coordinated and merciless assault!
With Midoriko's timely support, it wasn't long beforeBoom!the Tsuchigumo collapsed, lifeless.
Clap! Clap!
Lynn applauded, drawing everyone's attention back to him.
"Not bad, our Familia is really starting to shape up."
Senhime was dumbstruck!
A legendary Great Yokai taken down so easily?
She glanced around at Midoriko and the others, her body instinctively trembling.
Lynn-sama's Familia was terrifying!
Wait she was about to join them too, wasn't she?
Then it's fine!
Senhime immediately perked up again.
"Master!"
Utaha and the others ran excitedly to Lynn's sideonly to notice Senhime nestled in his arms.
Utaha leaned in closer, a strange expression on her face. "And this is...?"
"Your new pet?"
As she spoke, she reached out, wanting to touch it.
But Senhime bared her teeth at her in warning!
A noble princess would only allow Lord Lynn to touch her.
"Tch, stingy."
Utaha muttered in dissatisfaction.
Senhime snorted and turned her head away.
Seeing this, Lynn casually placed his hand on her head and ruffled her hair, leaving her completely defenseless.
"Kikyo, arrange a quiet room."
Kikyo glanced at Senhime, a knowing look flashing in her eyes.
"Understood, Lord Lynn."
Inside Kikyo's hut
Kaede curiously looked at the small white dog in Lynn's arms, her hands itching to pet it.
But she was quickly pulled away by Kikyo.
Outside the hut, Kaede looked up at Kikyo and asked curiously, "Big sis, is that Lord Brother-in-law's pet? It's so cute!"
B-Brother-in-law?
Kikyo's cheeks turned slightly red, but she didn't refute it. Instead, she smiled and patted Kaede's head gently.
Her little sister really knew how to talk.
A hint of melancholy flashed through Kikyo's eyes.
Would Kaede be qualified to become Lord Lynn's shrine maiden?
---
Senhime muttered, "Tsk! Not that good."
Lynn patted her head. "Alright, stop being picky."
Hearing this, Senhime hesitated for a moment before releasing a silvery moonlight glow.
A noble and elegant woman appeared in the hut.
Her long white hair cascaded to the floor, and she wore a light purple kimono. Her golden eyes carried a cold allure, but there was an unnatural blush on her face.
Senhime glanced at Lynn, an indescribable look in her eyes, before quickly lowering her gaze.
Lynn had already explained the process of the reincarnation ritual to her.
Even though she was mentally preparedIt was still incredibly embarrassing
Her heart pounded slightly faster.
Since she had made her decision, there was no point in hesitating anymore.
Turning her back to him, she slowly slipped off her kimono, revealing her smooth, fair skin.
Half-exposed, her shoulders tinged pink. Her cold voice trembled slightly. "Please grant me your blessing."
Seeing this, Lynn didn't hesitate. He condensed a Devil's Piece and pressed it against her back.
Senhime's breathing grew heavier.
Something within her body was changing.
Her yokai blood boiled!
Her golden eyes turned crimson!
And just like that
The Devil's Piece merged into her body without any resistance.
At the same time, a familiar notification sounded in Lynn's mind.
[Ding! You have acquired Familia member "Senhime."]
[Ding! Your Familia member "Senhime" has reincarnated as a Special-Type Devil.]
A new status screen appeared.
---
[Ryougetsu Senhime]
Rank: Ultimate-Class Devil
Position: Castle (Rook)
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Position Skill: Special Physique
Unique Skills: [Inu Yokai Princess], [Underworld Moon Seal] &[Eclipse Devil]
[Inu Yokai Princess]
Naturally exerts dominance over dog creatures, inducing an aura of suppression.
Dog Demon Blood: Upon entering "Berserk" mode, all stats increase by 60%.
Royal Blood Protection: When taking fatal damage, triggers "Underworld Banishment"transports the body to the underworld for 3 seconds before returning with 30% max HP restored.
Agility Growth Acceleration
Strength Growth Acceleration
[Underworld Moon Seal]
Summon Hellhounds
Underworld Crescent Slash
Activates "Underworld Moon" State
[Eclipse Devil]
Under moonlight, all stats increase by 20%.
Deals bonus damage against Yokai.
Eclipse Barrier: Reduces the "Magic" and "Agility" stats of all enemies within the barrier by one rank.
Demonization: When possessed by the Moon Deity, gains a pseudo-divine authorityhowever, it can only be activated on the night of a New Moon. After use, the user will experience 12 hours of extreme fatigue.
Development Abilities:
Demonic Yokai Blood: A
Netherworld Resistance: S
Lynn stared at Senhime's skills in amazement.
He didn't expect this little pup to have so many abilities.
She even had two high-tier development abilities!
Her potential was incredible!
Lynn's gaze landed on [Eclipse Devil], especially the "Demonization" ability.
"Divine Authority"
"Pseudo?"
Lynn's expression turned odd.
Had she already reached the realm of Authority so soon?
Opening his own status screen, he glanced at his empty Authority section.
Well.
That "pseudo" tag really says it all. Guess it's not the real deal yet.
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PS: Don't forget the stones
Also you can support me and read advanced chapters at: patreon.com/_Coreal
Inside the straw hut
Lynn shook his head and imprinted Senhime's blessing information.
"It's done."
Hearing Lynn's voice, Senhime shuddered slightly and immediately transformed back into her Inu-Yokai form, leaping into Lynn's arms.
Her heart pounded, her face was burning hot, and even her breath felt scorching.
She was so embarrassed! While Lynn was checking the blessing system, she almost couldn't help but revert to her true form.
Being half-naked in front of a man...
As the dignified princess of the noble Dog Demon (Inu-Yokai) clan, when had she ever been in such a situation?
Now that she had returned to her familiar form, Senhime finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, unable to contain her excitement, she eagerly checked her blessing information.
The moment she successfully reincarnated, she could distinctly feel that some kind of shackle within her had been broken!
Her strength, which had previously reached its peak with no room for improvement, now had the potential to climb even higher!
Senhime carefully examined her blessing details.
Then, inevitably, her eyes landed on the skill [Eclipse Devil]more specifically, its ability, Demonization.
"Moon God Possession... granting pseudo-divine authority?"
Her pupils contracted sharply at the description, and she couldn't help but exclaim aloud.
"Divine Authority??!"
Her claws gripped slightly tighter, her golden eyes widening in shock.
Just by becoming Lynn's familiar, she had already touched upon the realm of gods?
It was as if all she could hear now was the sound of her own heartbeat!
Many powerful yokai, and even higher beings, had desperately pursued divine authority for years
And yet, she had obtained it so easily?
Even if it was just a pseudo divine authority, it was still divine authority!
Her hands trembled, her breathing quickened.
Simply by becoming Lynn's familiar, she had already brushed against the threshold of divine power!
She curled up, pressing herself even closer to Lynn, instinctively cuddling against him.
This is a golden opportunity!
I must cling to it tightly!!
Lynn didn't pay much attention to her little gestures.
He was also examining his own panel, looking at the effects of [Eclipse Devil].
Unlike Senhime, his Moon God Possession had no restrictions requiring the new moon, nor did it have a post-usage weakness period.
Just who exactly is this so-called Moon God?
Lynn narrowed his eyes.
He even began to doubt whether this world had a Moon God at all.
Shaking his head, he pushed the thought aside.
He ruffled Senhime's fluffy puppy ears. "Enough staring, you're drooling."
Senhime instinctively wiped the corner of her mouth before shooting him a resentful glare.
Lynn reminded her, "Instead of gawking at your blessings, wouldn't it be better to start training and gaining experience?"
"Who knows"
"Maybe if you level up enough, that 'pseudo' label might just disappear~"
Senhime: "!!!!!"
Her eyes widened in shock!
It made too much sense!
But she didn't really want to leave this cozy little spot she had just claimed
Senhime hesitated.
With the reincarnation ritual complete, Lynn pushed open the old wooden door.
Utaha immediately approached, curiously eyeing Senhime. "So, does she stay in fox form all the time?"
fox?
"You're the fox!"
Senhime glared at her. "I am a noble Dog Demon!"
Utaha: "..."
"So I should call you a dog?"
Senhime: "You..."
"Ahem..." Kikyo stepped in to explain, "Most high-ranking yokai have the ability to take on human form easily. I assume Lady Senhime is no exception."
"That's right."
Senhime lifted her chin proudly, and with a flash of silver moonlight, she transformed into an elegant and refined woman, her golden eyes gazing down at Utaha.
Utaha was momentarily stunned before rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "Okay I'll admit, she does look pretty noble."
That aura of grace was something not just anyone could fake.
"Wait why didn't you stay in human form from the start?" Utaha gave her a weird look.
"Shouldn't you be, I don't know, using that form for something important?"
Senhime: "???"
She blinked in confusion.
What was that supposed to mean?
The reincarnation ritual was donewhat else was she supposed to do?
Seeing her clueless expression, Utaha fought back a smirk.
This mutt is so naive.
For now, she mentally removed Senhime from her "competition" list.
A woman who didn't even understand how to seize an opportunity...
She was not worthy of being her rival.
Kikyo, standing nearby, also let out a small chuckle.
Only those who had spent enough time in the Familia knew just how fierce the competition for Lynn's attention really was!
Wanting to serve Lynn?
That required fighting for the chance!
Some members who had joined before her still hadn't even gotten an opportunity yet.
It all made sense now!
The reincarnation ritual might just be the biggest chance anyone could get.
Kikyo was relieved that she hadn't hesitated back then.
Maybe it was because she had a partner at the time...
Recalling that day, her cheeks turned slightly red.
Meanwhile, Senhime, completely oblivious, reverted back to her puppy form and nestled into Lynn's arms once again.
Lynn-sama's scent smells so nice.
She took a deep breath, her eyes suddenly becoming hazy. Without thinking, she stuck out her soft pink tongue and licked Lynn's neck.
Utaha froze at the sight.
Lynn's eyes flickered slightly as he observed the scene.
Senhime could make a face like that?
This was a brand-new experience.
He pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of the dazed dog demon in his armswho, despite the name, looked more like a fox than a dog.
Senhime: "???"
Still in the middle of licking, she suddenly stiffened and snapped back to reality.
Meanwhile, Lynn casually sent the picture to Rias.
Got a new petof course, he had to show off.
[Lynn: [Senhime].jpg]
[Lynn: "My second pet. What do you think?"]
Occult Research Club
Rias sighed. "Koneko, looks like you've got more competition for the pet spot."
Koneko: "??"
---
Musashi Province - Kaede's village
After some idle chat, Lynn started thinking about this era.
For the Underworld
There was only one person he was interested inGrayfia.
He had to make her part of his Familia.
As for the human world, there were plenty of useful things here too.
Yokai, for example, were natural resources.
Not to mention, their bodies were literal treasure troves.
Especially high-ranking yokai!
Look at inu-daiykai, Tgahis fangs alone were used to forge legendary swords like Tessaiga and Tenseiga.
His Familia was in desperate need of weapons. Gathering some high-quality materials while leveling up would be perfect.
Lynn stroked his chin. "We don't have any blacksmithing talents, huh?"
Outsourcing wasn't really an option either.
They needed a weapons department.
So far, Saeko and Kisara's blades were just mass-produced junk weapons.
Decent enough for slaughtering Gastrea, but nothing special.
He wondered if [Devil's Contract] could connect him to a world with top-tier blacksmiths.
Suddenly
A crisp notification rang in Lynn's ears.
[Devil's Contract] had found a world?
Lynn's eyes lit upuntil he heard the next message.
[Ding! The invasion percentage of the world "Highschool of the Dead" has reached 99.99%!]
[Ding! Distributing experience based on contributions!]
[Ding! Saeko's contribution: 32.35%, converted into experience points!]
[Ding! Utaha's contribution: 7.8%, converted into experience points!]
[Ding! ]
Lynn: "..."
Shaking his head, he checked the details and was immediately surprised.
"Invasion percentage?"
Only now did he realize what those numbers on [Devil's Contract] actually meant.
"So does that mean the invasion is complete?"
"And it even distributes experience based on contributions?"
Lynn's eyes gleamed. The only question washow much experience did they actually earn?
World invasion should grant way more experience than just grinding monsters, right?
More importantly He could now monitor the Highschool of the Dead world?
With a single thought, a virtual map appeared before him.
He swiped through it and zoomed into Tokonosu City.
The map adjusted instantly, displaying a desolate cityscape.
Scattered zombies roamed the streets aimlessly.
After a quick glance, he located his Familia's base.
At the base
The tanned beauty, Minami Rika, was teaching a group of little girls how to shoot. The atmosphere looked pretty lively.
It seemed like they had been busy while he was gone.
Otherwise, the invasion percentage wouldn't have reached 99.99% so fast.
Lynn pulled out his phone, opened the group chat, and sent a message.
[Lynn's Familia Harem Group]
[Minami Rika: "Boss, you guessed right~"]
[Minami Rika: "We used our devil mobility to explore the entire world and even found quite a few survivors."]
Rika sent a bunch of pictures.
[Minami Rika: "If Master liked any of the women here, I can bring them back anytime~"]
[Utaha: "Are you holding a selection ceremony?"]
[Minami Rika: "Ho~ Utaha, you understand me well~"]
[Sigma Man: "Do you take me for some kind of degenerate?"]
Lynn straightened his posture righteously.
[Minami Rika: "..."]
[Minami Rika: " Master~ the girls here and I miss you. We want to 'serve' you properly~"]
A Seduction Attempt?
[Sigma Man: "I'll visit tonight."]
Lynn smirked: "Utaha, Saeko. Time for a Blessing update."
Utaha raised an eyebrow.
A sudden Blessing update?
But since it was Lynn's command, she obeyed without question.
Main World, Lynn's Apartment
One by one, Lynn updated his Familia's Blessings.
"Saeko's stats increased by nearly 2000. She'll be able to level up soon."
Lynn's eyes flickered.
Just one world of zombies had given a High-Class Devil like Saeko such a boost.
And she only accounted for 32% of the contributions.
Lynn rubbed his chin. "Conquering worlds gives a ton of experience"
He wondered if the experience gain was fixed or if it scaled with world difficulty.
Saeko, after receiving her Blessing update, was stunned. "Why did my stats increase so much?"
Lynn explained the mechanics of world invasion.
Saeko and the others' eyes immediately lit up. "Who knew there was another way to gain experience besides grinding and training?"
"My turn, my turn!"
Utaha pushed Saeko aside and sat expectantly in front of Lynn.
Facing him directly.
She was completely unbothered by the situation now.
In fact, she even leaned forward slightly, hoping to make Lynn react and take her on the spot.
Better than letting that tanned vixen lure him away tonight!
Lynn smirked and flicked her forehead. "Well, let's treat this as practice. But next time, Mahiru gets updated first."
Utaha clutched her reddened forehead and pouted. "Hmph, as if it's my fault you lack self-control Ah!"
She gasped, biting her lip as a shiver ran through her body, her breathing growing heavier.
Lynn acted immediatelybut who could blame him with so many naked girls around him?
Shiina Mahiru's lips parted slightly.
After having some good time with Utaha, Lynn proceeded with her update.
"Not bad, Utaha. You gained over 600 stat points."
Utaha panted slightly, her gaze sultry and dazed. "That's it?"
Lynn shrugged. "Can't help it. You didn't contribute much."
"Wait."
"Besides Saeko, were you all slacking off?"
Utaha froze.
"Who the hell can keep up with that killing machine?!"
Lynn nodded in agreement. "Fair point."
Saeko, standing nearby, simply smiled.
What was wrong with loving slaughter?
Finally, it was Shiina Mahiru's turn.
Lynn checked her stats and smiled.
"Mahiru, you're ready to level up."
.
.
.
"Mahiru, Utaha, you can both level up now."
Shiina Mahiru nodded enthusiastically.
Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced over, her expression complex. "Mahiru's stats they're all maxed out?"
There was a hint of envy in her voice.
She herself only had magic at max, while all her other stats still had room to grow.
"Mahiru, have you been grinding way too hard lately?"
A junior in the familia catching up to a senior so fast? How was that even possible?
Mahiru lowered her head, a bit embarrassed. "I've been spending a lot of time in the Black Bullet world recently."
Utaha looked incredulous. "And you still had time to take care of Master?"
After all, in the main world, Mahiru was the one handling all of Lynn's daily necessitieshis food, clothing, and overall well-being.
Realizing this, the others shot Mahiru complicated looks.
Especially Yotsuya Miko.
She looked a bit awkward before sighing helplessly.
The cursed spirits she had encountered lately were just too weak. Spirit Devour wasn't giving her any satisfying results at all!
Which meant Mahiru had completely surpassed her in experience.
"I want a Grade 1 Curse!" she thought desperately.
On the other side, Lynn didn't waste time and immediately performed their level-ups.
---
[Kasumigaoka Utaha]
Rank: High-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills:[Archivist Devil] &[Endless Inspiration]
[Archivist Devil]
Devil's Grimoire: Capable of recording magic, sorcery, and other abilities, which can then be cast through the grimoire. The more detailed the recorded information, the more complete the ability's replica.
Devil Assimilation: The user's body merges with the Devil's Grimoire, allowing them to embody and channel everything recorded within.
Accelerated Magic Growth
[Endless Inspiration]
Generates "tactical drafts" in combat through continuous analysis of the enemy and environment, boosting team crit rates and resistance to abnormal statuses.
Requires a large intake of sweets post-battle to restore brain function.
Development Abilities:
Lightning: G
Creation: B
Seeing Utaha's new skills and development abilities, Lynn suddenly asked, "How's your new novel doing lately?"
"Eh?" Utaha was caught off guard before her lips curled into a pleased smile. "It's selling like crazy!"
"The Devil Lady and Her Loyal Servant?"
"Yep, yep!" She nodded eagerly, looking quite proud of herself.
"I see..." Lynn rubbed his chin. "Mahiru, tomorrow, make sure to buy a copy for every member of the familia. We should support familia members' creative endeavors, after all."
"Understood," Mahiru said obediently, making a mental note.
Utaha's smile stiffened. "Uh that's really not necessary"
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "???"
Utaha let out a deep sigh.
Sure, the novel was doing well, but... It completely turned into a harem story!!
That wasn't even what she originally wanted to write!
Yet, it was selling ridiculously well.
To make matters worse, the main characterwho was obviously modeled after herselfended up as the ultimate loser heroine.
Unacceptable!!
Why did it have to turn out this way?!
Internally, she was losing her mind.
"Please please don't read it!" she pleaded, looking absolutely pitiful.
Lynn smiled, patting her head reassuringly. "Don't worry."
Utaha sighed in relief.
'As expected of Master! He truly cares about me'
"Every familia member will get three copiesone to keep, one to read, and one to recommend to others."
"...!!!"
He was a devil!
Now, there was no escaping it.
Everyone silently made the same realization: Guess we have no choice but to read it now
After copying down Utaha's status updates, Lynn moved on to Mahiru's level-up.
A soft glow shimmered on Mahiru's back as her status evolved.
---
[Shiina Mahiru]
Rank: High-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills:[Fallen Angel Devil]&[Obsession Corridor]
[Fallen Angel Devil]
Gains Holy, Light, and Dark attributes
Fallen Wings: Can manifest Fallen Angel wings and launch Light-Dark attribute feather attacks.
Accelerated Agility Growth
Devilization (Chaos Mode)
[Obsession Corridor]
Sets a personal "Obsession Anchor" (can be a person or an idea).
Current Obsession: Earning rewards from Lynn-sama.
Growth Acceleration: Actions related to the obsession grant +30% EXP gain.
Development Abilities:
Light Wing Amplification: C
(Each level increases flight speed by 10% and aerial evasion by 15%; unlocks Holy Light Particle Blink for short-range teleportation.)
Seeing Mahiru's newly awakened skill, Lynn's gaze turned complicated.
"So I became an obsession?"
After thinking for a moment, he pulled Mahiru into his embrace.
"Eh?" Mahiru blinked in surprise.
Lynn gently patted her head. "It's a reward~."
Mahiru's eyes widened, her heart pounding wildly.
She felt as if some hidden potential within her had just been unlocked in that instant.
She wanted it.
She wanted more rewards!
The other Familia members saw this scene and immediately started making a fuss.
"Hey, that's not fair! We want rewards too!"
If this continued, wouldn't Mahiru end up monopolizing all of their Master's attention?
Then, they saw Mahiru's newly awakened skill.
"Mahiru, you're so sneaky." Utaha narrowed her eyes.
Damn it!
She wanted a skill like that too!
What the hell was [Endless Inspiration] supposed to be?!
Meanwhile, Mahiru stared at her new blessing information, dazed.
What an amazing skill!
Now, she had a reason
Mahiru's breathing grew a little heavier, joy flashing in her eyes.
Wouldn't this be a little unfair to the others in the Familia?
For a moment, she hesitated.
No! Mahiru, you're a bad girl!
Yep! It's fine.
---
After making sure that everyone in the Familia had finished collecting experience from the world of Black Bullet, Lynn systematically updated the blessings of all his Familia members in one go.
After receiving the feedback, he carefully assessed the Familia's current strength.
Two Ultimate-Class Devils, four High-Class Devils, and several Mid- and Low-Class Devils.
At this point, they could completely lead an invasion of another world.
And they'd earn merit for conquering a world!
Familia members could then use that merit to gain more experience, which would, in turn, benefit Lynn.
A perfect cycle!
A life of leisure was just within reach!
Evening World of Black Bullet
As promised, Lynn arrived.
Clinging to him as always was the Inu-Yokai Senhime.
At the Familia's base, a group of little girls eagerly awaited his arrival.
The moment Lynn appeared, they all cheered!
"It's Lord Lynn!!"
"Lord Lynn finally came to see us!!"
With just a few words, the Devil lolis completely surrounded him.
His legs, his armsevery part of him was clung onto by these little devils.
Senhime poked her head out, looking utterly confused.
Then, she locked eyes with a pair of crimson-red pupils.
Tina Sprout puffed out her cheeks and glared at Senhime. "Tch! That's my spot!"
Senhime: "?"
Before she could even react, Tina had already leaped onto Lynn's neck, wrapping herself around him triumphantly, sending a smug look toward Senhime.
"Hah, brat."
Senhime rolled her eyes dramatically.
She was a mature adult! There was no way she'd stoop to a child's level!
That's what she told herself but her tail twitched slightly, brushing against Tina's armcompletely by 'accident.'
In the next second
Tina was sent flying a hundred meters away, looking completely dumbfounded.
"Hmph!"
Senhime smirked inwardly.
Brat, trying to compete with her for territory?
You're two hundred years too early!
But looking at the sea of little devil heads around her, Senhime had a strange expression.
So Lynn truly was the God of Lolis!
She made a mental note In the future, her clan would dedicate lolis to his worship.
Lynn chuckled as he comforted the enthusiastic little devils.
Having survived as Cursed Children, these lolis were incredibly well-behaved, never annoying in the slightest.
At the very least, Lynn quite enjoyed their affection.
"Been a while, hasn't it, Kayo?"
Lynn placed a large hand on Senju Kayo's head and ruffled her hair.
Kayo looked up at him with her usual expressionless face.
But the warmth on her head made her heart leap with joy.
After a while, the Devil lolis finally dispersed.
At Night
Dinner was already served. But... it wasn't food.
Lynn glanced at the scene before him, his expression unreadable.
A certain someone had been restrained, hands tied behind her back, hips raised high.
His gaze shifted to Minami Rika. "Did you make them do this?"
Rika shrugged. "I just gave them a little push."
Naoki Miki's face was bright red. "Why am I the one tied up?!"
Ebisuzawa Kurumi muttered beside her, "Miki, with your strength, you could easily break free, you know?"
Miki turned her head away, playing dead.
Kurumi scoffed, her expression one of complete understanding.
Takeya Yuki and Wakasa Yuuri had already buried their heads like ostriches.
But deep down, they were screaming.
Why
Why did it turn out like this?!
Sakura Megumi's eyes darted around, unsure where to look. Her body fidgeted nervously.
Lynn raised a brow, sensing a challenge.
So, he decided to punish her.
"Eh?"
"EHHHHH?!"
Megumi's eyes widened in shock as she felt something she had never experienced beforesomething penetrating her from behind!
But she was tied, so she could only take it all.
"Ahhhhh~"
Soon, rhythmic sounds filled the room, attracting quite the audience.
Kurumi stared at Megumi intently, her eyes full of curiosity.
And thenShe no longer needed to be curious.
Everyone was in this together.
Everyone was tied as their hips raised high, ready for their time.
Two days later
Lynn took two full days to feel satisfied, especially after Rika joined. It required a huge effort from him.
Then, he went to retrieve his pet.
The moment Senhime saw him, she bounced into his embrace.
She sniffed him, detecting the scents, her gaze turning resentful.
"So"
"You came to another world just to do this?"
"No."
Lynn glanced at his system panel, where the [Devil's Contract] notification flashed.
A small smirk appeared on his lips.
"Now, it's time to get to work."
.
.
.
---
PS: I'm about to finish my exams so a mass release is coming everyone. Just drop your stones as more stones the more chapters I'll post later
Apocalypse World, Familia Base
Inside the Familia's meeting room
Lynn sat at the head of the table. Saeko, Utaha, Kikyo, and the others took their seats one by one.
Excitement, anticipation, and seriousness filled the air in varying degrees.
Aside from the low-class Devils, all of Lynn's Familia members were present.
After all, their master had obtained the coordinates of a new world!
Everyone here had already learned this from the group chat.
Saeko and Utaha, having experienced and benefited from world travel before, were eager and filled with curiosity about the new world.
Meanwhile, those who had joined the Familia more recently, like Kikyo, were visibly tense.
Lynn tapped the table lightly, drawing everyone's attention.
"You all know the situation." He spoke calmly. "This time, we are invading a world."
Saeko and the others straightened up, listening intently.
Lynn gestured to the screen behind him, revealing the names of three worlds:
Demon Slayer
Bleach
Date A Live
That's right.
For some reason, this time the Devil's Contract had opened access to three different worlds at once.
Not that Lynn minded.
If anything, it saved them the trouble of searching for a new world to invade once they were done with the first.
Lynn placed his finger on the name Demon Slayer and announced, "After careful consideration, this will be our Familia's first invasion target."
Ever since these worlds had appeared on his Devil's Contract, Lynn had been planning the best approach to take.
First of all, the difficulty levels varied.
Demon Slayer was the easiest by far. Muzan Kibutsuji? Hardly worth his time.
Meanwhile, Bleach and Date A Live would be much more challenging.
Thus, Demon Slayer was the ideal starting point for the Familia's first major world invasion.
"For this mission, I've decided that Midoriko, Kikyo, and Mahiru will lead the expedition."
Lynn had made this decision a while ago.
Demon Slayer was the perfect world for the Familia to get some hands-on experience.
Kikyo tensed for a moment, but then straightened up and nodded. "Understood, Lord Lynn!"
An entire world invasion...
Kikyo took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. It was her first time participating in such an event, and now she was being entrusted with a leading role...
Lynn noticed her unease and reassured her. "Relax. With you, Mahiru, and Midoriko leading, this mission will be a breeze."
"But" Mahiru hesitated, concern visible on her face. "Are you sure it's okay to leave this task to us?"
After all, this was a world invasion!
"Don't worry, little Mahiru!" Midoriko grinned confidently, straightening her posture. "Your big sis here is more than strong enough for this!"
Lynn chuckled. "Indeed. The strongest threats in Demon Slayer barely reach the level of a mid-class Devil.
"Kikyo's purification abilities and Mahiru's light-based powers are the perfect counters against demons."
The others listened in curiosity, and Lynn took a moment to summarize the key details about the world they were about to invade.
By the time he finished, Kikyo and Mahiru had noticeably relaxed.
Sunlight-weak demons?
Their purification and light-based abilities were practically tailor-made to destroy them.
"Muzan? Five brains and seven hearts? He can regenerate even if you cut him to pieces?"
Midoriko blinked and muttered, "Can't we just extract his soul and purify it?"
Utaha scoffed. "Only you would come up with that."
But with that breakdown, it was clear that this world wasn't much of a challenge for them.
The tension in the room faded, replaced by growing excitement.
For many in the Familia, this would be their first true world invasion.
Before, in the Apocalypse World, Lynn had been the vanguard, and they had mostly reaped the rewards afterward.
In Black Bullet, they had only played minor roles.
This time, though, they would finally have the chance to contribute to the Familia's conquest!
And they hadn't forgotten The experience gained from world invasions would be distributed according to merit.
The realization made their blood boil with anticipation.
Seeing this, Lynn clapped his hands. "Now then, let's talk about our main objectives for this invasion."
Unlike their previous world crossings, this time the Devil's Contract had provided specific tasks to increase their hold over the new world.
"First, we need to recruit talent into the Familia."
Converting powerful individuals from this world into Devils would increase our invasion progress.
Lynn rubbed his chin. "I'll grant you all temporary authority to use Devil's Pieces."
"If you find someone worthy of joining, the pieces will notify you automatically."
The room went eerily silent.
Then, Utaha slowly raised her head, took a deep breath, and asked in a heavy tone
"Wait does that mean we're basically scouting for harem candidates on your behalf?"
Lynn grinned. "Ding ding! Correct answer! Your reward? You've just been promoted to the Harem Supervisor!"
Utaha's eye twitched violently. "Who the hell wants that job?!"
She wasn't stupidshe knew that was basically the same as the outdated concubine selection!
Utaha shot him a resentful glare.
Meanwhile, Midoriko rested a finger on her lips, tilting her head thoughtfully. "So we're going to have new sisters?"
No.
More likenew competitors.
Miko and Mahiru exchanged glances, sensing an immediate threat to their positions.
Lynn continued discussing the plan.
"Next, we need to expand the Familia's influence in the Demon Slayer world."
"Influence?" Miko tilted her head slightly in confusion.
Lynn's gaze lowered slightly, a strange smirk tugging at his lips as he spoke in a low voice, "I want that world to hear only one voice"
"Our Familia Devils."
That thought flashed through Utaha and the others' minds. Yet, they only felt excitement.
Their master, Lynn, had issued the highest order.
The entire Familia sprang into action.
The Devil Loli Corps was divided into various departmentscombat, logistics, commerce, research, and more. Each sector was further split into specialized teams like magic special forces, assassination squads, and others.
Everything operated in perfect order.
Meanwhile, Lynn assigned Saeko and the other high-tier combatants to the Familia's battle division, forming a multi-world vanguard team.
Each member was strategically placed based on their abilities.
For the Demon Slayer world, naturally, individuals with light-based abilities like Kikyo were chosen for the mission.
As for the Bleach world, Lynn had his sights set on sending Miko.
Given her affinity for dealing with spiritual entities, her abilities should be quite 'friendly' toward that world.
Miko's ability to devour spirits would undoubtedly be a major asset.
However, at her current strength as a mid-tier Devil, Lynn wasn't entirely reassured.
She'd need to ascend to a high-tier Devil first.
The Bleach world was no joke.
With powerhouses like Genrysai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Yhwach, and Sosuke Aizen running around, none of them were easy opponents.
Not to mention that world had something called the Soul King.
"Speaking of which"
Lynn stroked his chin thoughtfully. "The Soul King"
"Can I eat it?"
Meanwhile, in another discussion group
Kikyo, Midoriko, and Mahiru were strategizing their approach.
Recruiting people for their master's harem wasn't difficult.
ButMaking an entire world listen only to Devils?
That was a tall order.
"Should we wipe out humanity like we did in the Black Bullet world?" Utaha suggested.
Mahiru hesitated. "We may be Devils, but wouldn't that be too extreme?"
"Besides"
"The humans in the Black Bullet world didn't deserve to live. Other worlds might be different."
Utaha nodded in understanding before offering another suggestion. "Then how about ruling over humanity?"
Saeko frowned. "Ruling an entire world sounds like a hassle."
Silence filled the room for a moment before Kikyo finally spoke up.
"What if we make them worship Devils?"
"Worship Devils?"
The others blinked in surprise.
"Exactly!" Kikyo nodded firmly. "Just like I worship Lynn-sama."
"If they worship Lynn-sama too, wouldn't that solve the problem?"
As a shrine maiden, Kikyo was well-versed in matters of faith.
She had already begun contemplating how to establish a Devil-centric religion in that world.
"I see!"
Utaha's eyes lit up with realization. A smirk crept onto her lips. "You're saying we should use faith to shape the world's beliefs?"
Kikyo nodded slowly. "Uh I think so?"
As a shrine maiden, she simply felt that Lynn deserved a shrineor something similarin every world.
She had a duty to spread Lynn's name across the multiverse!
The others pondered her words and soon came to the same conclusion.
Spreading faith was indeed a solid plan.
"But would people really worship Devils?"
"Heh."
Utaha suddenly let out a dark chuckle, her expression turning ominous.
"We're Devils, aren't we?"
"If they won't worship willingly, we'll make them."
After hearing their plan, Lynn's crimson eyes gleamed with intrigue as he stroked his chin.
"Faith, huh"
Not bad.
Lynn had no intention of eradicating humanity like he did in the Black Bullet world.
If every world invasion ended with humanity's destruction, that would be far too extreme.
Even the Old Satan Faction wasn't that radical.
BesidesHe was a Devil of the new age!
A law-abiding, ideal Devil!
Yep! He was a good Devil!
Back on the academy, Minamiya Natsuki herself had even awarded him the title of "Model Student Award."
Still, Human beings were complicated creatures.
Faith alone wouldn't be enough.
They also needed fear.
To be honest, Lynn didn't really care about the Demon Slayer world.
It was just a training ground for Kikyo and the others.
So he'd just let them handle it however they saw fit.
.
.
.
"Bring the faith and fear together to that world!"
Lynn made the final decision.
Without waiting for the "Devil's Contract" to activate, he directly clicked on "Forced Invasion."
Demon Slayer World
A woman with black hair, Purple eyes, and butterfly-shaped hairpinsgreen with pink edgescame to a halt.
Her gentle demeanor remained unchanged, but a frown formed between her brows.
Kocho Kanae examined the paper in her hand. "Is this the work of Muzan?"
She hesitated.
Carrying something like this, she didn't dare return to the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters. If it had any tracking function, the entire organization could be wiped out in one fell swoop.
Just as she was agonizing over her predicament, the Devil's Contract suddenly glowed.
A projection of a man with black hair and crimson eyes appeared.
Kanae's eyes widened in shock. "A demon!"
Such an abilityit had to be some kind of Blood Demon Art!
Her grip tightened around her sword as she instinctively took a defensive stance.
What was going to happen?
Lynn glanced at her, frowning slightly at the term "demon."
Then, he simply said, "I'm a Devil."
"...Huh?"
Before Kanae could process the situation, the contract in her hand radiated a dazzling light.
A black vortex expanded in front of her.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed from within the darkness.
A woman with an icy demeanor stepped through, clad in a shrine maiden's red and white robes.
Behind her A horde of winged, tiny girls?
Kikyo's cold gaze swept over the stunned Kanae before she spoke.
"Do you wish to believe in Devils?"
Kanae: "...What?"
Main World
After sending Kikyo and the others to the Demon Slayer world, Lynn returned to his apartment.
He wasn't worried about Kikyo and Midoriko's abilities. They could handle themselves.
As for the Bleach world, that would be left to Miko. Once she reached the High-Class Devil level, she'd be sent there to gain experience.
Besides, there were plenty of resources in that worldZanpakut, Kido, and all kinds of mystical artifacts.
They would all be perfect for enhancing his Familia.
Especially Utaha, his "Archivist Devil." She would undoubtedly benefit the most.
"The Bleach world is tough" Lynn rubbed his chin. "Better take it slow."
As for Date A Live
Well, he had to admit, the Spirits were quite tempting.
Recruiting them into his Familia sounded like a solid plan.
On the other side of the room
Senhime snuggled against Lynn's chest, baring her teeth in irritation as she glared at Fuse Midori.
Not backing down, Midori shot her a glare right back.
Even if Senhime was an Ultimate-class Devil, she wouldn't let her take all of Lynn-sama's head pats!
Suddenly
Buzz.
A magic circle flickered within the apartment.
A moment later, Koneko materialized.
Then she froze.
She blinked, looking at the two women staring daggers at each other, before hesitating. "Uh Am I interrupting something?"
"No, you came at the perfect time!" Midori declared, pulling Koneko over as if she had found an ally.
"We're the same race! We should unite and drive out the outsiders!"
"Outsiders?"
Koneko tilted her head before glancing at Senhime.
Understanding dawned in her golden eyes.
So this was
The enemy.
She must be the second-ranked "pet," huh?
Strong.
Koneko's gaze turned serious. She could feel the powerful aura emanating from Senhime.
Senhime, meanwhile, examined Koneko with a mix of curiosity and condescension before remarking, "Lynn-sama, is this one of your pets too?"
"P-Pet?!"
Koneko's composure shattered instantly. The seriousness in her eyes disappeared, replaced by a look of pure shock.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Lynn, however, shook his head. "No."
Boom!
His words struck like a lightning bolt.
Koneko stiffened.
Denied?
Her vision blurred, her body swayed, and the world around her seemed to lose its color. She looked like she was about to collapse at any moment.
Midori cast her a worried glance.
Lynn rubbed his chin. "For now, she's not my pet."
For now!
Koneko's vitality instantly returned.
Yes, yes! That made sense!
Right now, she wasn't Lynn-sama's pet.
But right now was temporary.
One day, she would reclaim her rightful place!
...Wait.
Koneko suddenly realized something.
Wouldn't this be betraying her Peerage?
Rias's gentle smile flashed through her mind, making her feel conflicted.
She sighed, giving up on thinking about it.
That was a problem for future Koneko.
For nowIt was war!
She turned her sharp gaze to Senhime, who had taken her rightful spot in Lynn's embrace.
Senhime lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes smugly. "What are you looking at?"
Lynn belongs to the strong! And... she is the strongest here!
Meanwhile, in the Demon Slayer World
Kocho Kanae stood frozen, staring at Kikyo and her group.
And beyond them
A sea of tiny, winged devils eagerly clenching their fists, ready to claim the world in Lynn-sama's name.
"Devils?"
A sense of foreboding washed over Kanae.
It felt like something truly terrifying had just been unleashed.
Maybe this really was a Blood Demon Art?
Some kind of spatial technique?
Kanae's gaze sharpened as she raised her Nichirin Blade. "You all must be... demons, right?"
A technique that could tear open space itself, along with...
An entire army of demons?
That man from before...
Could he be... Muzan Kibutsuji?!
The thought sent a shudder through Kanae's heart.
Kikyo: "..."
"We are Devils."
With no other choice, Kikyo repeated herself.
Kanae blinked in confusion, tilting her head. "Is there a difference?"
Kikyo wanted to explain, but she was abruptly cut off by Utaha.
"I mean..."
"What's the point of arguing with her?"
Utaha's eyes flickered as the [Devil's Piece] system in her mind sent her a notification.
This woman... was marked as a potential addition to their master's harem.
She let out a snort, feeling a little annoyed, then declared, "You're our prisoner!"
If we're going for a forced invasion, we might as well act like it!
"Prisoner?"
Kanae's expression grew serious. "And you still say you're not demons?"
"Flower Breathing: Fourth Form, Crimson Hanagoromo!"
Kanae took a deep breath, her blade sweeping upward in a brilliant pink arc, cutting toward Kikyo with breathtaking speed!
Clang!
A crisp metallic sound rang out.
Kanae's pupils shrank in shock. Her sword had struck a translucent, pale blue barrier, and no matter how much force she put into it, it wouldn't budge!
A defensive Blood Demon Art?
Just as that thought crossed her mind, she saw Kikyo raise her hand. A slip of paper covered in strange runes rested between her fingers.
"Bind!"
With a single command, golden chains materialized out of thin air and shot toward Kanae at lightning speed!
Kanae's eyes widened as she kicked off the ground, trying to escape.
She instinctively swung her sword in an attempt to block, but the chains moved even faster than she could react!
In an instant, they coiled around her body.
Kanae felt her limbs tighten as the chains constricted, winding around her arms, looping across her waist, and wrapping her up tightly.
Clang!
Her Nichirin Blade slipped from her grasp and clattered to the ground.
She gasped for breath, feeling the chains wrap even tighter around her.
The clinking of metal echoed through the air as the bindings secured her ankles, locking her in place.
Thud!
Kanae collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.
She bit her lip, struggling against the restraints.
Clink, clink
Too tight. Kanae's eyes widened as her legs instinctively pressed together.
Utaha stared at the bound Kanae, her expression hard to describe. "Kikyo... your technique..."
"You're awfully good at this, huh?"
Kikyo's cheeks flushed red, her usual cold demeanor faltering.
W-Well...
This was the same technique she had used with Lynn before...
Kanae panted, her face burning as she glared at Kikyo.
"Ugh... Just... kill me already!"
Utaha crossed her arms and made an X with her fingers. "Denied!"
Then she waved her hand dramatically. "Mission accomplishedLynn's future harem member successfully captured!"
"Oh... oh?"
Mahiru's expression turned complicated. Was this... something to celebrate?
H-Harem?
Kanae's heart skipped a beat.
Wait... was she being offered to that man from before?
Lynn?
Wasn't he supposed to be Muzan Kibutsuji?
But...At this point, did it even matter anymore?
She was already doomed.
Caw! Caw!
Suddenly, a loud cawing echoed from above.
A crow frantically flapped its wings, soaring away into the distance as if it had just witnessed something terrifying.
Saeko turned to Kikyo. "Should I take it down?"
Kanae's heart clenched.
Kikyo hesitated before shaking her head. "No... let it go. Let the whole world know that devils have arrived."
Hearing this, Kanae exhaled in relief.
At the very least, she had to get this information back to her comrades.
Main World
Meanwhile, Lynn was playing a game with Koneko when he received a message from Utaha.
[Utaha: 'Kocho Kanae, bound and helpless.jpg' ]
[Utaha: "Master, master! Look, we successfully captured another future harem member for you!"]
Lynn clicked on the image, zoomed in, studied it for a moment, and then gave it a like.
[Sigma Man: "Nice work. Did you do this yourself?"]
[Utaha: "Nope, it was your adorable shrine maiden~"]
[Kikyo: "...Utaha, please stop."]
Koneko, who had been watching from the side, glanced at the screen, her expression turning strange.
"Senpai..."
"Is this the kind of thing you're into?"
She lowered her gaze, glancing at herself.
With her body type... could she even pull off something like that?
The thought made her chest tighten.
Koneko pursed her lips, her voice dropping slightly.
"So... you really do like big ones, huh?"
Lynn pulled Koneko closer, gently patting her head.
"It's fine."
"Small ones are cute too."
Koneko bit her lip, clearly unconvinced.
.
.
.
Demon Slayer World
After capturing Kocho Kanae, Kikyo gave a direct order:
"First, find a suitable place and establish the Devil's Cult!"
"We shall spread Lord Lynn's will to this world!"
The little devil girls flapped their wings and flew off into the distance to scout the area.
Kanae Kocho's eyes widened in shock as she took in the scene before her.
So many flying demons?!
Her heart clenched as a wave of despair washed over her.
With this army of demons, how could the Demon Slayer Corps possibly win?
Her expression darkened.
After a while, one of the little devils returned to report. "Lady Kikyo! There's a large cult headquarters in the northwest called the Paradise Faith Cult. The place is massive!"
Kikyo's eyes flashed. "Good. Let's check it out."
---
Paradise Faith Cult Headquarters
Kikyo frowned as she looked at the grand structure before her. "What an ominous place."
Step.
As if sensing their presence, a figure strode out.
He wore a black cloak and a hat adorned with the words Paradise Faith Cult Leader.
His pale platinum blond hair rose slightly, and his eyes shimmered in rainbow colors. On his left and right eyes, the words "Upper Rank" and "Two" were inscribed.
"Upper Rank Two!"
Kanae's pupils contracted, and her heart sank.
"Oh? What's this?" Doma's eyes gleamed with intrigue before his expression twisted into delight. "Could it be that gods truly exist in this world? To think they'd send me such a feast of lovely girls!"
Utaha's gaze turned ice-cold. "This guy is utterly disgusting."
Kikyo's voice was calm but firm. "No need for words."
She raised her bow.
"Sacred Arrow!"
Swish!
A glowing white arrow shot forward at blinding speed.
"Huh?"
Doma blinked in confusion.
Why why would someone dare to shoot at him?
Kanae was equally shocked.
Waitweren't they on the same side?
"Be careful! He's Upper Rank Two! His strength is terrifying!" Kanae blurted out. "Without a Nichirin Blade, you can't kill a demon!"
As if confirming her words, Doma watched the incoming arrow with utter indifference.
He didn't even feel the need to dodge.
He simply parted his lips and uttered two words.
"Frozen Lotus."
The air around him dropped in temperature as a chilling mist formed, materializing into a crystalline wall of ice between him and the arrow.
Shhhhk!
The Arrow pierced straight through the ice and continued toward Doma's forehead!
Doma blinked in surprise.
This woman she's quite skilled.
But still
Without a Nichirin Blade, killing him was impossible.
That was his thought.
" How?"
His skin suddenly felt like it was burning.
That moment of doubt was his last.
The Purifying Arrow tore through his skull, and his rainbow-colored irises dilated in shock.
Fsssshhh!
A wave of searing smoke rose from his body.
"Aaaaaaahhhh!!" Doma shrieked in agony.
"Impossible!"
"How could this happen?!"
Doma collapsed, his face twisted in disbelief.
His body was burning away, as if he were standing beneath the sun itself.
"I I'm Upper Rank Two!" His words barely escaped his lips before his body was completely purified.
With Doma gone, Kikyo turned to Kanae, raising an eyebrow. "What were you saying just now?"
Kanae opened her mouth, swallowed hard, and finally muttered, "N-Nothing"
She stared at the empty spot where Doma had stood, her mind in turmoil.
A demon so overwhelmingly powerful had been eliminated effortlessly?
With just a single arrow?
A chill crept up her spine.
Who no, what were these people?
D-Devils
For the first time, she truly contemplated the meaning of that word.
At the very least, they clearly weren't demons.
Otherwise, Upper Rank Two wouldn't have perished at that shrine maiden's hands.
But stillDevils doesn't sound like a good thing either
Kanae's expression grew complicated.
What will become of this world?
---
With Doma dealt with, Kikyo performed a large-scale purification, wiping the Paradise Faith Cult Headquarters off the map.
"Still feels disgusting" Utaha grimaced.
"Yeah. Let's find a different spot"
Kanae opened her mouth to object, but before she could say anything, Utaha silenced her with a single spell.
"Mmph?!"
Kanae: "???"
"You're a prisoner. You don't get a say."
Infinity Castle
Far away, in Muzan Kibutsuji's domain, his eyes snapped open.
"Doma is dead?"
His voice was hoarse as the last memories of his fallen Upper Rank flickered through his mind.
A chill ran through him.
The scar on his neck throbbed in pain.
.
.
.
Main World Lynn's Apartment
Lynn stared at Kanae, who had been sent over by Utaha, wrapped up like a neatly packaged present.
She squirmed on the floor, bound in an almost artistic fashion, her body wriggling as she let out muffled whimpers.
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Lynn sighed and sent a message to the group chat.
[Sigma Man: "Utaha, you're looking more and more like a devil."]
[Utaha: "No need to thank me, Master~ "]
Lynn shook his head.
His gaze returned to Kanae.
With a snap of his fingers
Boom!
The golden chains shattered into dust.
ButSo did her clothes.
Kanae: "???????!"
Lynn remained perfectly composed. "Oops. Used too much force."
With another snap, her clothes were restored.
Kanae finally let out a sigh of relief.
ButHer gaze turned resentful.
He saw everything
After finally having the silencing magic lifted, Kanae gasped for air, taking in deep breaths. Not being able to speak for an entire night had been absolute torture!
"Um..."
She hesitated, her gaze shifting toward Lynn with uncertainty and apprehension.
Those people from yesterday... they were his subordinates, right?
"I assume you've more or less figured out what's going on by now?" Lynn asked.
"Ah, yes!" Kanae immediately straightened her posture, sitting on her knees before him, feeling more nervous than ever.
After being forced to accompany Kikyo and the others all day yesterday, she had overheard quite a bit. Her eyes were slightly dazed. But...
It seemed real.
Only devils could possibly possess the kind of power that could take down an Upper Moon Two with a single arrow, right?
But then again
Kikyo's abilities didn't exactly seem like what she had imagined devils would have.
But that didn't matter now!
The Devil Cult
Yesterday, when Kikyo was preaching to her, she repeatedly referred to Lord Lynn as the First Devil, the God of devils. Those names were now firmly imprinted in her mind.
Should she join the Devil Cult or?
Her thoughts were in chaos.
Kikyo had mentioned that Lord Lynn and the Devil Cult would bring about a revolution in their world!
Kanae couldn't help but recall the scene from yesterday.
Upper Moon Two had been killed in an instant.
The impact of that moment was beyond anything she could describe.
Only those who had personally fought demons knew the sheer terror of the Upper Moons.
And yet
He had been annihilated in a flash.
A wild thought struck her, making her heart race.
Could this power destroy Muzan?
Could it really be possible?
"Lord Lynn, do you think humans can live peacefully?"
Kanae's eyes shimmered with curiosity.
Lynn chuckled. "As long as all the man-eating demons are exterminated, then of course, peace is possible."
Kanae stiffened at his words.
"Y-You have a point..."
She sighed and then hesitantly asked, "Lord Lynn, will you truly eliminate all the evil demons?"
"Without a doubt."
"Your world only needs one dominant forcethe devils."
Lynn's words were firm and unwavering.
Kanae stared at him, momentarily stunned.
If the devils could eradicate Muzan and his kind, then perhaps...
It wouldn't be so bad to place her faith in them.
She turned her gaze toward the window, taking in the outside world.
A world where devils existed wasn't necessarily a bad thing, was it?
Closing her eyes, she recalled the countless comrades she had lost in battle against the demons.
Then, she thought about Kikyo and the othersdespite being devils, their behavior was nothing like that of the man-eating monsters she had fought.
Well aside from them taking her captive.
The devils were completely different from the creatures she had been fighting against all her life.
At the very least, even after a thousand years, Muzan had never been able to do something as absurd as crossing into another world.
Taking a deep breath, Kanae made her decision.
"L-Lord Lynn, please allow me to become a believer of the Devil Cult!"
She was willing to offer herself to the devils!
For the sake of eradicating Muzan and his demon race!
Lynn smiled, clearly satisfied with her response.
"Alright, then as always... Ahem! Take off your clothes."
"...Huh?"
A massive question mark formed in Kanae's mind.
"Is this... part of the ceremony for joining the Devil Cult?" she asked hesitantly.
"Of course."
Lynn's expression remained completely serious.
Kanae's eyelid twitched as she struggled internally.
She had already been seen naked once before.
ButDoing it herself was an entirely different matter!
"You only need to expose your back."
"O-Oh"
Hearing that, Kanae let out a sigh of relief.
Compared to stripping completely, just showing her back wasn't that hard to accept.
Though it was still incredibly embarrassing
She took a few deep breaths before carefully removing her outer robes.
Then, slowly, she undid her Demon Slayer uniform,
"Nn"
Kanae's face flushed as she turned her back to Lynn, her entire body feeling uncomfortably warm.
Lynn, unbothered, conjured a Devil's Piece and pressed it against her bare back.
As the power surged into her body, Kanae let out a soft moan before quickly covering her mouth in embarrassment.
A moment later, her status appeared before Lynn's eyes.
---
[Kocho Kanae]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Flower Breathing] & [Blessing of Flowers]
[Flower Breathing]
Crimson Spider Lily Eyes
Slight agility boost
[Blessing of Flowers]
Surrounds the user with invisible petals when activating skills, enhancing agility.
The petals possess purification effects, offering resistance against curses and poisons.
---
After recording her status, Lynn handed the information to Kanae.
"This is?"
Kanae looked confused.
"The power you received in exchange for selling your soul to a devil."
After understanding the purpose of the Blessing System, Kanae's breathing became ragged.
SheHad been acknowledged by the God of Devils
Meanwhile, back in the Demon Slayer world
At the Butterfly Mansion
A messenger crow delivered devastating news.
Crash!
A bowl shattered on the floor.
The crisp sound echoed through the entire mansion.
Kocho Shinobu stood frozen in place, her mind blank.
"Sister"
"My sister was captured?"
.
.
.
Butterfly Mansion
With a grim expression, Kocho Shinobu grabbed her Nichirin blade and stormed out of the mansion.
She had to bring her sister back!
---
At the same time, after completing her reincarnation ritual, Kocho Kanae returned to her world.
Seeing Kikyo, who was troubled over finding a proper location for the Devil Cult, Kanae suddenly spoke up.
"Miss Kikyo, I actually know a rather suitable place."
Hearing this, Kikyo's usually cold eyes lit up. She stepped forward and grabbed Kanae's shoulders firmly.
"Where?"
As a shrine maiden devoted to her lord Lynn, anything related to him was of utmost importance.
Seeing this, Kanae couldn't help but sigh inwardly. "Miss Kikyo is truly faithful..."
But then again
Thinking about the changes in herself after becoming one of Lynn's followers, she could somewhat understand.
She, too, would need to offer her prayers day and night!
Strengthening her resolve, Kanae smiled and said, "The Ubuyashiki Mansion."
Without hesitation, she sold out her former lord, Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
To Kanae, converting them to serve Lynn should be considered an honor for them.
Kikyo, barely able to contain her excitement, immediately declared, "Let's establish the Devil Cult!"
Taking a moment to collect herself, Kanae added, "But it might take some time to convince them."
"No need for that."
A rare smile appeared on Kikyo's cold face. "I'll take a squad of our devil army with me and 'persuade' them."
Kanae twitched at the words.
Then againOnce they witnessed Kikyo's power, they should come to their senses, right?
Kanae wasn't entirely sure.
"Count me in."
A voice interrupted.
It was Busujima Saeko.
Kikyo blinked in surprise.
Saeko smiled. "I'm quite interested in Miss Kanae's sword techniques from yesterday."
As she spoke, her breathing subtly changed.
"That was called the Flower Breathing, right?"
Kanae's eyes widened. "Y-You you already learned it?!"
She had only briefly demonstrated it yesterday, and Saeko had already picked it up?
Saeko's eyes gleamed. "I assume there are more breathing techniques like it?"
Kanae could only nod in silence.
With their objectives clear, Kikyo, Kanae, and Saeko, along with a squad of devil loli warriors, soared toward the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters.
Anyone they passed along the way dropped to their knees in reverence, assuming they were witnessing the arrival of deities.
Of course.
Those who knew what demons were could only tremble in fear.
---
Kikyo paid no mind to being seen by the common folk.
Or rather
She intended for them to see.
Lynn had said that faith must be accompanied by fear.
Where the devil goes, all shall bow!
As they pressed forward, a young girlone who bore a striking resemblance to Kanaesuddenly stepped into their path.
Kocho Shinobu drew her blade, her eyes brimming with cold fury. "You're the ones who took my sister, aren't you?"
"..."
Kikyo turned to Kanae with a complex expression. "Your sister?"
Kanae nodded.
"Has your sister always been this reckless?"
Kanae gave an awkward but polite smile.
"Huh?"
"Big Sis?"
On the other side, Shinobu froze in place upon seeing Kanae.
Kanae waved with a smile. "Shinobu, would you like to join the Devil Cult?"
Shinobu's pupils shrank as she fixated on the wings sprouting from Kanae's back.
"...?!"
She's been turned into a demon!!
"I have not been turned into a demon!"
Kanae flew toward her, flicked her forehead, and huffed. "Did you not notice the sun overhead?"
"Oh?"
Shinobu blinked, realization dawning upon her.
That's true!
Then what exactly had happened to her sister?
Kanae gave her a brief rundown on the Devil Cult.
"Reincarnated as a devil blessed by the Devil Lynn?"
Is this for real?
Shinobu shot Kanae a suspicious look.
Did they brainwash her after taking her captive?
Seeing how little progress she was making, Kanae felt slightly frustrated.
Shinobu, in turn, kept staring at Kanae's wings.
Could it actually be true?
---
Kanae was certain that once Shinobu witnessed Kikyo's power and Lynn's greatness for herself
Joining the Devil Cult would only be a matter of time.
Soon, they arrived at the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters.
The sight of their overwhelming devil army instantly caused a massive uproar.
"Stop! This area is off-limits!"
Rengoku Kyojuro stepped forward, his eyes widening in shock upon seeing Kikyo and her group.
Demons?
A demon army?
Damn it! The demons have even evolved?
They can walk in sunlight now?!
And worsethey had found their way to the Ubuyashiki Mansion!
Kyojuro's expression hardened as he braced himself for battle, fully prepared to lay down his life.
Seeing this, Kanae stepped forward. "Miss Kikyo, allow me to handle the negotiations."
"The Flower Hashira?"
Kyojuro's eyes narrowed.
"You're the one leading the demons here?"
After some time, at Ubuyashiki Mansion
Thanks to Kikyo's purification abilities, Ubuyashiki Kagaya was now completely free of his family's centuries-old curse.
With renewed vigor, he declared, "Amane, I leave the negotiations with the shrine priests to you!"
Ubuyashiki Amane: "...Huh?"
She turned to look at Kikyo's calm yet chilling expression and sighed helplessly. "Understood."
She had made the decision in advance.
The Ubuyashiki Clan had been cursed for a thousand years, and yet, this shrine maiden, Kikyo, had effortlessly dispelled it
So the Devil Cult was a sure thing.
Kikyo continued diligently spreading the word of Lynn in the Demon Slayer world
Shuchiin Academy
Inside the Supernatural Research Club
Ryougetsu Senhime anxiously poked at Lynn's arm as he leisurely flipped through Utaha's novel titled The Devil Lady and Her Loyal Servant.
"Lynn, could you return to the past for a bit?"
Lynn closed the book and looked down at her. "You've finally remembered your own people?"
Senhime gave an awkward chuckle.
"You're really not the most responsible royal, are you?"
She pouted. "But aside from being an Inu-Yokai, I'm also Lord Lynn's Familia now..."
"I was thinking of the familia...yeah."
"..."
"Good. You're aware of your priorities."
Lynn rewarded her with a head pat acting like he believed her.
"Hehe~~"
After a moment of thought, Lynn spoke. "Alright, let's go."
Coincidentally, Sumire Muroto had sent word that her research on using yokai to forge weapons had made progress, but...she needed insights about making such weapons.
The Inu Yokai (Dog Demon) clan... should still have a decent relationship with Totosai, right?
.
.
.
Kaede's Village
"Lord Lynn!"
Higurashi Kagome beamed as she ran up to him.
Seeing her fully dressed in a shrine maiden's red and white robes, completely assimilated into this era, Lynn couldn't help but comment, "You... haven't been going to school at Shuchiin lately, have you?"
Kagome's cheerful expression froze.
"Oh no, I'm so dead!"
She squatted down, clutching her head in despair. "Mom's definitely going to scold me when I go back!!"
"Well, since it's come to this, I might as well not go back for now!"
Kagome perked up with renewed determination.
School?
Screw school!
Leveling up is more important!
Lynn chuckled at her antics.
Then his gaze wandered over her.
"By the way..."
"You're starting to look more and more like Kikyo in that outfit."
"Eh? Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Lynn squinted his eyes. "Once Kikyo returns, I'll update both of your blessings together."
Senhime: "???"
"Are you really just talking about updating blessings?"
Lynn shrugged.
Last time, he had updated three shrine maidens at once, which had been quite the experience.
He couldn't just ignore this opportunity, could he?
Kagome's cheeks turned slightly red, clearly understanding his implication.
"I-I got it..."
She stammered before dashing away.
She didn't refuse, though...
Lynn smirked as he watched Kagome's flustered retreat. Then, he felt a tug on his clothes.
Looking down, he saw a small black-haired girl gazing up at him.
"Brother-in-law, when is Sister coming back?"
"Kaede, huh..."
Lynn patted her head, recalling Kikyo's latest report in the group chat.
The Devil Cult had secured a location.
Now, it was just a matter of gathering suitable Familia members and expanding their influence.
They had been doing well, especially Saeko.
She had beaten every Hashira and, as a bonus, learned all the breathing techniques. Now, she was in the process of mastering them.
Lynn opened his status panel and checked the Demon Slayer world's invasion progress.
36.94%?
He raised an eyebrow. Seems like the Demon Slayer Corps held quite a large portion of the world's power.
"It should be soon."
Lynn answered.
"Has anything unusual happened in Kaede's Village lately?"
Kaede shook her head. "Lady Midoriko and Sister's barriers are strong. Nothing has happened."
Lynn took a walk around the village with Kaede, observing the ongoing construction.
A shrine was being renovated.
Before heading to the Demon Slayer world, Kikyo had already begun setting up a base for preaching in this era.
"Such a dedicated shrine maiden..."
Lynn sighed with admiration.
He'd have to reward her properly when she returned!
Now then...Time to take the little puppy back to the Western Land.
Western Land
Ever since Ryougetsu Senhime's disappearance and the death of the Leopard Cat Tribe's chief, both the Dog Demons and Leopard Cats had plunged into chaos.
"Damn it!"
Toran, one of the Leopard Cat's Four Kings, snarled in frustration.
Just one Sesshomaru had managed to hold all of them back!
She furiously hurled an ice spear at him, only for Sesshomaru to deflect it with ease.
"Sesshomaru, you won't last much longer!"
"The Dog Demons are doomed to be trampled by us Leopard Cats!"
As her words fell, a fireball shot toward Sesshomaru from behind!
He sidestepped effortlessly, parrying their combined attacks with ease.
Compared to the pressure that man had put on him, this was nothing.
Sesshomaru's grip tightened around his new blade.
A fair-skinned woman with black hair and crimson eyes lurked in the shadows, observing the battle between the Dog Demons and Leopard Cats.
She had rushed here upon hearing that the one Naraku feared had appeared in the Western Land.
"That white-haired dog looks pretty strong too..."
Kagura the Wind Sorceress murmured. "But..."
"I wonder if he can kill Naraku."
Kagura's thoughts then drifted to Lynn.
If it were him, surely he could do it?
After all Ever since he showed up, Naraku had completely stopped making moves around the Shikon Jewel.
---
On the battlefield...
Just as Sesshomaru and the Four Kings were locked in combat
Suddenly!
A blinding white light illuminated the center of the battlefield!
The next second, Lynn appeared.
Sesshomaru and the Four Kings froze, their faces stiffening.
"I-It's him...!!!"
Toran screamed internally, but... she dared not show any emotion on her face.
Having seen Lynn's power firsthand, she knew just how terrifying he was.
Revenge?
She couldn't even muster the will for it.
Toran gritted her teeth, ashamed of her own weakness.
But... the survival of her people was more important.
A heavy silence fell over the battlefield.
Even the other Dog and Leopard Demons were too afraid to make a sound.
Lynn took in the familiar scene and greeted Sesshomaru casually.
Sesshomaru flinched.
Meanwhile, Kagura, sensing the change, turned her gaze toward the battlefield
And saw him standing in the sky, black-haired and red-eyed.
Her eyes widened.
It was the same man from Kanna's mirror!
The moment he appeared, the entire Western Land's war stopped.
Even that terrifyingly strong white-haired dog was trembling?
Kagura clicked her tongue in amazement.
Then, her eyes met Lynn's, who suddenly grinned at her.
Kagura froze.
Shit! I've been spotted?!
She instinctively reached for her feather, ready to flee
But a large hand grabbed her by the neck before she could.
Lynn studied her with amusement.
"Naraku sent you?"
Hearing that name, Kagura's eyes gleamed.
He knows Naraku!
She quickly nodded.
Well technically, she came on her own, but... blaming Naraku wouldn't hurt.
"Oh"
"That clown actually has the guts to act now?"
Yep! That's it!
Not taking Naraku seriously at all! It's him.
Kagura's eyes sparkled as she stared at Lynn, as if engraving his image into her mind.
She had even forgotten that her heart still rested in Naraku's hands.
Seeing her barely restrained excitement, Lynn smirked.
This woman really can't hide anything.
"You want me to kill Naraku?"
Kagura stiffened.
Shit! He saw right through me?!
"N-No?!"
She tried to deny it, but
Lynn's gaze darkened, sending a chill down her spine.
Kagura instantly caved, dropping to her knees with a trembling voice.
"I-I'm sorry, my lord...!"
"I shouldn't have had such reckless thoughts!"
Lynn smirked. "If a simple 'sorry' could make things right, we wouldn't need the police, would we?"
Police?
Kagura blinked in confusion.
Lynn was just throwing out an excuse.
A willing Familia member, delivered right to his doorstephow could he refuse?
"As punishment"
"You belong to me from now on."
Kagura: "!!!"
.
.
.
Western Lands
The war between the Dog Yokai Clan and the Leopard Cat Clan had once again come to a standstill due to Lynn's arrival.
This time, the outcome was going to be different.
Senhime had made up her mind
She was going to purge the entire Western Lands!
From now on, there would only be one voice in the Westhers and Lynn's!
Dog Yokai Territory - Royal Palace
Lynn sat on the throne, his fingers gently stroking the silky white fur of Senhime.
Kagura knelt at his feet, biting her lip.
"I'm sorry, Lord Lynn"
Kagura's face was tinged with bitterness. "My heart is under Naraku's control. If I betray him, I fear"
Just thinking about the near-death torture she had suffered before sent a shiver down her spine, her crimson eyes flashing with fear.
ButIf this man were to intervene
Kagura hesitated before looking up, hope flickering in her red eyes.
YetLynn's expression remained calm. He made no promises.
Kagura's heart sank.
Why would a powerful figure like him bother making an effort for someone like her?
Despair crept into her eyes
Then suddenly, Lynn twirled a Devil's Piece between his fingers and casually remarked:
"Your heart, huh?"
"What if I just give you a new one?"
Kagura: "?"
She lifted her head, confusion clear in her gaze.
Lynn smirked. "Well? Do you want it?"
Kagura's breath hitched.
Give her a new heart? Was that even possible?
She had her doubts, but
She also wanted to try!
Even the slimmest chanceshe had to grasp it tightly!
Kagura longed to break free from the cage called Naraku!
Lowering her head, she spoke with firm resolve. "Please, Lord Lynn, grant me a new heart!"
Lynn's smirk widened. "Then"
"Strip."
Kagura hesitated for a brief moment, then bit her lip and slowly removed her kimono.
There wasn't the slightest hesitation in her movements.
Exposing the location of her heart for the ritualit was a logical step.
That's what she told herself.
Then, Lynn pressed the Devil Piece against her chest.
"Mm"
Kagura's breathing became heavier. The cold sensation against her skin sent a tremor through her body, causing ripples to spread within her.
As the process of turning into a Devil progressed, the emptiness in her chest gradually filled
Thump. Thump.
Kagura froze.
That wasA heartbeat!!
At the same time, a crisp sound echoed in her mind, like a chain snapping apart!
The connection between her and the heart Naraku controlled
It was broken!
Tears spilled down her cheeks before she even realized it.
She was finally freefree as the wind!
At that moment
Blessing information began to spread from her chest.
---
[Kagura]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Dance of the Dragon ], [Dance of the Dead] & [Wind Devil]
[Dance of the Dragon]
Summons raging tornadoes capable of throwing enemies into chaotic storms while worsening their injuries.
[Dance of the Dead]
Controls corpses as puppets.
[Wind Devil]
Wind's Blessing: When in open spaces, all stats increase by 30%. Can detect movement within a 1km radius. When attacked by wind-based magic, automatically generates a counter wind vortex to neutralize damage.
Wings of Freedom: Burns life force to temporarily exceed limits, doubling flight speed. Grants absolute resistance to binding-type skills.
Devil Transformation: Winds of Fate.
Another special Devil had delivered themselves to him. Lynn was in a great mood.
He then imprinted Kagura's Blessing information onto a document.
Kagura's eyes filled with confusion. "This is?"
"Your Blessing."
Lynn explained briefly, and Kagura immediately clutched her Blessing information tightly, her heart pounding faster.
Not only had Lynn-sama given her a new life
He had given her a path to power beyond her limits!
Kagura's slender fingers brushed over her chest.
She could feel itHer new heart was now whole.
Tear-streaked but smiling, she didn't even bother putting her kimono back on. Instead, she threw herself onto Lynn, sobbing in joy.
"Lynn-sama"
"Lynn-SAMA"
She kept whispering his name as if engraving it into the depths of her soul.
Lying on Lynn's lap, Senhime shot an annoyed glance at the naked woman.
ThenShe blinked.
Something hard was pressing against her belly.
Her pure white fur instantly turned pink. She jumped away in a flash.
Kagura, startled by the sudden movement, turned her head
And the next moment, her face flushed at what she saw.
"I-I'm sorry"
Kagura stammered, her face burning. "It it was my fault for getting carried away"
"I-I'll take responsibility!!"
Her eyes shone with determination, as if she had made some grand decision.
Senhime's eyes widened. "Wait!!"
"What are you two planning to doon my throne!?"
She was speechless, yet her body instinctively glanced at the door.
No way
She absolutely couldn't let any uninvited guests come near to see her throne used like that!!
The Next Morning.
The sun rose.
Senhime crouched near the doorway, occasionally rubbing against it, her white ears tinged with a faint pink.
Her sharp senses kept replaying the events of last night in her mind.
They actually did that on her throne?!
Could she even sit on it again?
Senhime was conflicted.
Meanwhile Kagura lay on Senhime's throne, her flawless body exposed as she slept soundly. Her chest rose and fell in a peaceful rhythm.
Lynn gently ran his fingers through Kagura's silky black hair.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she woke up, her crimson eyes still a little dazed.
Then she saw Lynn looking down at her, smiling.
Kagura's face flushed red, and she quickly averted her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.
She was a little embarrassed by how bold she had been the night before.
But
No words could truly express the gratitude she felt for being granted a new life and breaking free from her cage.
Thinking of the Blessing System, her heart burned with anticipation.
Now, she could finally take revenge on Naraku with her own hands!
Kagura's eyes filled with determination.
She exhaled deeply, then gazed at Lynn with unwavering resolve.
Everything she had nowIt was all thanks to him.
From this day forward, She was the wind that followed only him.
After leaving the palace, Lynn remembered something important and instructed Senhime to summon Totosai in the name of the Dog Yokai Clan.
A short while later
Totosai burst into tears. "Here is everything I've ever known!"
Lynn flipped through the weapon-forging techniques that Totosai had meticulously compiled into a book and nodded in satisfaction.
Totosai sighed in resignation.
This is pure exploitation
After thoroughly looting the Dog Yokai Clan's treasure vault, Lynn headed to the Black Bullet world.
When he handed over the materials to Shiba Miori, she was ecstatic. "With this, I can definitely create weapons that will satisfy everyone!"
Miori was, after all, the daughter of a weapons manufacturing company. She had some experience in forging weapons.
Since there weren't any more specialized craftsmen available at the moment, the Familia's equipment division would have to rely on her for now.
Not that she seemed to mindshe was clearly enjoying herself.
Meanwhile, Muroto Sumire, her hair a mess, sat with empty eyes as she began reporting her latest research findings.
"I analyzed the Gastrea Seed that Lynn-sama provided and successfully extracted a gene fragment from a yokai. By combining both, I created a new Gastrea Factor, which I've named the 'Yokai Factor.'"
"Oh?" Lynn raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."
This was something he hadn't expected.
"What's its practical use?" he asked, intrigued.
"Could it work like the Gastrea Seed and grant the Familia members abilities?"
Muroto Sumire nodded. "Theoretically, yes but"
"But?"
"The Yokai Factor contains an unstable element. If injected into a human, it could cause violent outbursts, loss of rationality, and uncontrollable rage."
She rubbed her temples in frustration.
Lynn pondered this for a moment.
"Sounds like Inuyasha when he loses control."
"Hmm"
"Once Kikyo returns, you should discuss this with her," Lynn suggested, stroking his chin. "Maybe"
"her purification abilities can help stabilize it?"
Hearing this, a spark of realization flickered in Sumire's eyes. She fell into deep thought.
After briefly discussing things with Shiba Miori and Muroto Sumire, Lynn went on to check the status of his Familia.
Once he finished, he returned to the main world.
In his apartment
Lynn stroked his chin. "The Familia"
"Isn't it a little too scattered?"
A base in the Apocalypse world, another in the Black Bullet world, and now a new settlement in Feudal Japan's Kaede's Village.
It felt like
"Managing everything efficiently is going to be a pain"
Lynn muttered to himself.
As he was deep in thought, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Ding-dong!
Ding-dong!
Lynn raised an eyebrow and glanced outside.
The sky was gray, and a light rain pattered against the windows.
He was about to call for Mahiru to get the door, but then he remembered she was busy training.
Shaking his head, Lynn went to open it himself.
Outside stood a very beautiful girl with long, pale-gold hair and red eyes.
She slowly lifted her gaze. "Not Mahiru?"
Though her tone was flat, Lynn felt like it was meant to be a question.
Was she looking for Mahiru and knocked on the wrong door?
"Mahiru isn't home right now. It's raining outsidewhy don't you come in first?"
The girl hesitated for a brief moment before stepping inside without a second thought.
Lynn: ""
She wasn't even wary of him being a stranger.
Lynn studied her closely. She looked somewhat familiar.
"Mashiro."
"Shiina Mashiro."
Her tone remained flat as she blankly introduced herself.
Shiina Mashiro?
Lynn blinked, recalling the name.
"What's your relationship with Mahiru?" he asked, curious.
Mashiro tilted her head. "Cousin?"
Lynn twitched slightly. That actually made sense. Yep, he should have expected something that simple from that chaotic mashup anime world.
Click.
He closed the door behind her.
As she changed into indoor slippers, Lynn noticed her clothes were wet.
With a snap of his fingers
Woosh!
Mashiro's clothes trembled slightly before a warm sensation spread over them, instantly drying them.
"Eh?"
Mashiro froze.
Her clothes were dry?
She turned to look at Lynn, her golden eyes staring blankly at him.
.
.
.
[Lynn's Familia Harem Chat Group]
[Sigma Man: @Fallen Angel-sama, [Shiina Mashiro.jpg] ]
[Fallen Angel-sama: "???"]
---
Demon Slayer World
Receiving the message, Shiina Mahiru was momentarily stunned. "Mashiro?"
"Why is she at Lord Lynn's place?"
It didn't take long for her to get the full story from the chat.
[Fallen Angel-sama: "Lord Lynn, I'm heading back right away!"]
[Sigma Man: "No need to be nervous, you can come anytime. After all, I wanted to reward you for not changing your name in the group chat."]
[Sigma Man: The other traitors thought too highly of themselves, tsk. I mean, what's wrong with 'The Girl Who Can See'? Ha? @Yotsuya Miko"]
Miko saw the message but pretended not to see at that moment.
---
MeanwhileMahiru still felt a little nervous.
Knowing her cousin, she was bound to be a handful for Lynn.
Thinking about Mashiro's complete inability to take care of herself...
A sense of foreboding settled over Mahiru.
She turned her gaze forward.
A pale-skinned, black-haired man with sharp fangs stood before her, gripping a Nichirin Blade with a wary expression.
"Sorry, mister demon, but something urgent just came up."
With a flap of her wings, countless glowing white feathers shot out toward one of the Twelve Kizuki, Kaigaku!
"I need to wrap this up quickly!" Mahiru's gaze sharpened.
"What?!"
"Are you underestimating me?! Damn it!!"
"Thunder Breathing!"
Mahiru remained calm as she spread her fallen angel wings.
Sizzle
The feathers shot forward at blinding speed!
Kaigaku had no time to react before his body was pierced through by countless beams of light!
Thin wisps of smoke rose from his wounds.
"Aaaaah!"
Kaigaku screamed in agony. "Why is there sunlight in these feathers?!"
The barrage of light magic feathers didn't stop after piercing him; they continued, crashing into a distant mountain.
After a brief pause, Kaigaku's body disintegrated, vanishing along with the peak behind him.
Gulp.
Kocho Shinobu, who had followed behind, swallowed nervously.
"The Devil Cult... is so terrifying!"
A glint of determination flashed in her eyes.
Her small hands clenched instinctively.
Shinobu's fighting spirit surged!
She had never forgotten her vowTo take revenge on the demons!!
She had already joined the Devil Cult for that.
Pressing her lips together, Shinobu made her decision.
She would follow in her sister's footsteps.
She would pray to the boss of the Devil Cultdevil Lynn!
And she would seek the power to destroy demons!
Main World Apartment
Lynn sat on the couch.
Shiina Mashiro crouched at his feet, staring intently at his fingers with her eyes.
Seeing this, Lynn casually moved his index finger to the right.
Mashiro's gaze followed.
He moved it up.
Mashiro tilted her head, eyes still locked onto his hand.
Lynn chuckled.
Why did this feel so much like teasing a cat with a toy?
After staring for a while, Mashiro suddenly spoke. "Magic!"
Her tone was full of certainty.
Then, she instinctively pulled out her sketchpad and began drawing.
Thankfully, when Lynn had dried her off earlier with magic, he hadn't forgotten about her bag.
Not long after, an image of Lynn appeared on the sketchpad, vividly lifelike.
"Huh?"
Wait, since when was he wearing a cape? And where did that wizard hat and staff come from?
Lynn ruffled Mashiro's hair, messing up her soft golden hair. "No need for extra embellishments."
Mashiro shook her head to escape his hand.
Then, without hesitation, she started undressing.
Lynn blinked in shock. "Wait, what are you doing?"
"I got rained on. Bath."
Her words were simple, logical.
ButNever mind that she was in a guy's apartment and hadn't he just dried her off with magic?
"Rita said, 'If you get rained on, take a bath!'"
Mashiro's voice remained flat, but her movements were swift.
In no time, she had stripped completely.
Lynn's gaze swept over her, taking in every inch with an appreciative eye before he finally spoke.
"Did Rita ever tell you that you shouldn't undress in front of a man?"
Mashiro froze, her small face scrunching up in thought.
In the end, she shook her head. "Lynn is different."
Lynn: "???"
His expression turned strange.
Was she implying he wasn't a man?
Damn it! He had to prove it, right?
"Lynn is a magician!" Mashiro's tone was firm.
Lynn rubbed his temples. "So"
"A magician isn't a man?"
Mashiro blinked. "Same???"
"What do you mean, 'same'?!"
She shook her head firmly. "Not the same!"
Lynn sighed, rubbing his forehead.
Did he just acquire a human pet?
After a moment, Lynn turned to the completely naked Mashiro.
"Weren't you going to take a bath?"
Mashiro blinked in confusion before realization dawned. "Lynn, help me."
Lynn: "???"
"Who usually helps you bathe?"
"Rita. Maid."
Today, Lynn had finally met a true "big baby."
"Well" With a smirk, he scooped her up in his arms. "Alright then, I'll give you a thorough scrubbing, inside and out!"
Mashiro tilted her head, feeling her heartbeat quicken the moment she was lifted.
She instinctively clutched her chest, confused by the sensation.
---
After some time
When Mahiru rushed back, panting, she was met with a rather lewd scene.
Her expression stiffened, and she nervously twisted her fingers together, gripping them tightly.
"You two..."
Her breathing became a little heavy. For some reason, she had the unsettling feeling that Mashiro had defeated her.
"Mahiru."
Shiina Mashiro greeted her with a calm, almost indifferent tone.
Mahiru felt a headache coming on and sighed helplessly. "You can call me sister from now on."
Then, she picked up a pair of pink panties from the ground and held them out toward Mashiro, who was currently only wearing one of Lynn's white dress shirts, completely bare underneath.
With a serious expression, Mahiru commanded, "Mashiro, put these on!"
Mashiro stared at her blankly, showing no reaction.
Mahiru sighed, then pushed her down and forcibly helped her put them on!
Once Mashiro was properly dressed, Mahiru finally exhaled in relief. Then, with a flushed face, she turned to Lynn.
"I'm sorry, Lynn, for all the trouble."
It was embarrassing! To think that their Familia's leader had to bathe Mashiro because of herit was beyond shameful!
Lynn, however, only smirked. "It's fine. Not only did I get an eyeful, but I also got my hands full."
Mahiru's face burned as she muttered softly, "If Lynn wanted to..."
He could always come to her instead...
But she was too embarrassed to say the last part out loud.
Still... why was Mashiro the one getting all the rewards?!
She was the one who came first!
Feeling a little frustrated, Mahiru sulked silently.
Lynn, on the other hand, was curious about Mashiro's condition. "Has she always been like this?"
Mahiru hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Mashiro... can't take care of herself at all."
"She's always had our aunt and a maid looking after her, so it's never really been an issue."
Hearing this, Mashiro suddenly spoke up. "Lynn... is my first man."
Mahiru: "...????????!"
Lynn chuckled. "Oh? Now I suddenly count as a man?"
Mashiro lowered her head, unsure why she had said that out loud. Her heart was beating faster than usual.
Lynn then chatted with Mahiru for a bit longer, casually asking about the progress of the Demon Slayer world, when Mahiru's phone suddenly rang.
She gave Lynn an apologetic look before answering.
Seeing the caller ID, she pressed her lips together slightly.
"Sorry, I have to take care of something at home."
She stood up, her expression unreadable.
Lynn nodded thoughtfully.
It was probably something to do with her family.
But...Mahiru wasn't the same as beforeshe was a Devil now.
Click.
The door to Lynn's apartment closed behind her.
---
Outside, standing near Mahiru's apartment, Shiina Sayo spotted her exiting from next door and looked visibly shocked.
(A/N: The ultimate cold-hearted BITCH had finally appeared.)
After a brief silence, (bitch) Sayo asked coldly, "What were you doing next door?"
Mahiru's expression was blank. "None of your business."
Sayo: "....??!"
She widened her eyes in disbelief.
Mahiru had never spoken to her like that before!
She couldn't help but raise her voice. "Mahiru! Is that really how you talk to me now?!"
Mahiru remained calm and indifferent. "Ms. Sayo, if you have nothing important to say, please leave."
"...?!"
Sayo couldn't process what was happening.
Since when did Mahiru become like this?
Had the world turned upside down?
Where had that obedient, well-mannered Mahiru gone?!
Enraged, Sayo snapped, "Who corrupted you?! Was it the guy next door?!"
Her gaze darted toward Lynn's apartment.
Mahiru frowned. "Are you done talking?"
She never realized how annoying this woman could be.
And right now, Mashiro was still alone with Lynnan unpredictable variable!
"Hmph!"
Sayo scoffed and strode toward Lynn's door. "I want to see for myself who turned you into this!"
Smack!
A sharp sound echoed through the hall.
Sayo froze, clutching her cheek in shock.
But more than the pain, what truly horrified her was Mahiru's speedshe had appeared in front of her in an instant!
Mahiru's eyes were cold as ice.
"You can do whatever you want, but don't touch Lynn," she warned. "As for Mashiro, I'll take care of her. Now leave."
Sayo bit her lip, deeply shaken that her own daughter had just slapped her.
But...
Looking into Mahiru's icy gaze, an unsettling fear crept up her spine.
Mahiru wasn't the good girl anymore.
Defeated, Sayo left in humiliation.
Mahiru, on the other hand, felt incredibly satisfied, a smile playing on her lips.
She was now a bad girl! Hehe~!
But... it still wasn't enough.
Mahiru's breathing quickened as she turned back to Lynn's door and walked inside.
Lynn looked up at her with amusement in his eyes. "All done?"
The moment she stepped into the living room and saw Lynn sitting there, Mahiru felt a faint heat on her back.
The mark of Obsession was active.
-Obsession Anchor: Lynn-
Her eyes lit up.
She had found a reason!
Pressing her lips together, she quickly walked up to Lynn.
Lynn had already heard everything through the door.
Mahiru hesitated for a second before nodding firmly. "Mhm."
He had been paying attention to her all along.
Realizing this, she bit her lip, her caramel-colored eyes flickering with hesitation.
"Lynn..."
"Mahiru needs... a reward..."
.
.
.
---
A Coreal Note: Just wanted to let you all know I haven't forgotten about the mass releaseit's almost done! Hope you haven't forgotten to drop your stones either...
[Shiina Mahiru]
Rank: High-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills:[Fallen Angel Devil]&[Obsession Corridor]
[Fallen Angel Devil]
Gains Holy, Light, and Dark attributes
Fallen Wings: Can manifest Fallen Angel wings and launch Light-Dark attribute feather attacks.
Accelerated Agility Growth
Devilization (Chaos Mode)
[Obsession Corridor]
Sets a personal "Obsession Anchor" (can be a person or an idea).
Current Obsession: I want the real thing.
Growth Acceleration: Actions related to the obsession grant +30% EXP gain.
Development Abilities:
Light Wing Amplification: C
(Each level increases flight speed by 10% and aerial evasion by 15%; unlocks Holy Light Particle Blink for short-range teleportation.)
Apartment - Living Room.
Shiina Mahiru sat on Lynn's lap, her gaze hazy, lips glistening slightly as Lynn was gently patting her head.
Shiina Mashiro, watching the two, suddenly remarked, "Romance anime."
Hearing Mashiro's voice, Mahiru snapped out of her daze. She bit her lip, her breathing quick and uneven.
Burying her face in Lynn's shoulder, she murmured softly, "Not that..."
Her voice was almost inaudible, but Lynn caught it.
"I... I want the real thing..."
Lynn's eyes darkened slightly. "Have you made up your mind?"
"...Umm!"
Receiving her answer, Lynn didn't hesitatehe scooped her up and carried her straight to the bedroom.
"???"
Mashiro watched them leave, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
Bedroom.
Mahiru lay on Lynn's bed, her long golden hair spread out around her.
Her face was burning.
Flushed and breathing heavily, she instinctively wanted to turn her head away.
ButShe steadied herself, meeting Lynn's gaze head-on.
"Lynn-san..."
"...Please look at me properly. And... and don't look anywhere else."
The moment she finished speaking, Lynn took that as a signal as he removed all her clothes.
Lynn was determined to make this angel fall completely!
"Mmm..."
Mahiru felt the engraved mark on her backObsession Corridorburning hotter and hotter.
As if a volcano was erupting!
Lynn noticed and updated her blessing.
---
[Shiina Mahiru]
Rank: High-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I56
Agility: H112
Endurance: I83
Magic: H101
Unique Skills: [Fallen Angel Devil](Omitted) & [Obsession Corridor]
[Obsession Corridor]
Current Obsession: Lynn-san, more, more, even more!! Do it!
Growth Acceleration: Actions related to the obsession grant +30% EXP gain.
Development Abilities: Light Wing Amplification: C
---
Seeing Mahiru's Obsession Corridor, Lynn's eyes narrowed.
He lifted Mahiru's legs and was about to take real action when
Creak
The bedroom door let out a tiny sound.
Mahiru lifted her head and locked eyes with a pair of deep blood-orange pupils.
"Mashiro?"
Mahiru blurted out in shock before hurriedly shouting, "W-What are you doing?!"
Mashiro peered inside through the gap, speaking in a calm tone. "Collecting material for my manga."
"Manga?! Wh Ahhhhhh~!!!"
Mahiru was about to say more, but the devil, Lynn, felt it was time and launched his attack in front of Mashiro!
"M-Mashiro..."
"D-Don't look..."
"Nghhhh..."
Mahiru's Obsession Corridor burned intensely.
Her base stats suddenly shifted with every thrust!
---
Stats:
Strength: I56 I57 I58
Agility: H112 H113 H114
Endurance: I83 I84 I85
Magic: H101 H102 H103
---
Lynn's gaze sharpened slightly at the sight.
"Mahiru, this is just training that we will have to do a lot in the future."
"So scream as much as you want!"
Mahiru's fallen angel wings spread wide, intensifying Lynn's feelings.
Fall, dear angel!!
The Next Morning.
Sunlight streamed through the window into the bedroom.
Mahiru's golden hair shimmered brilliantly under its glow.
Lynn patted her. "Mahiru, retract your wings."
"Mmm..."
She buried her face deeper, avoiding his gaze. The fallen angel's wings hurriedly withdrew into her body.
Lynn brushed aside her hair, checking the blessing details on her back. His expression turned complicated.
"She gained over 600 points in her stats?"
Was last night that good?
And this skill of hers might be way too overpowered. It was just one night?
Lynn's expression changed slightly. "Mahiru, if you keep this up, you might surpass Saeko soon."
"You can live here from now on."
Mahiru bit her lip, her face flushed crimson, caramel-colored eyes misted over.
But...She didn't refuse.
After lingering in bed for a while longer, Lynn finally got up and opened the bedroom door.
And there, leaning against the hallway wall, dressed only in an oversized white shirt, was Shiina Mashirofast asleep.
Her clothes? Who knew where they went.
Lynn clicked his tongue and shook his head, then pinched her nose.
"Mmm..."
Mashiro wrinkled her nose, her hands instinctively reaching upward like a drowning person grasping for air.
Soon, she gasped awake, her eyes reflecting Lynn's face.
Dazed, Mashiro grabbed Lynn's sleeve and pulled herself up.
She pointed to the spot where she had been sitting and blinked at him. "Yesterday. Good material..."
Lynn's eyelid twitched, his gaze shifting downward.
After seeing the state of the wet wooden floor, his expression turned even more complicated.
"After you left the room, did you... listen the whole night?"
Lynn had to admither dedication was impressive.
"Material!" Mashiro emphasized, reaffirming her relentless professional spirit.
"Fine, fine. Material."
Lynn ruffled her golden hair in exasperation before heading to the living room.
He grabbed a cola from the fridge.
Pop!
Gulp, gulp.
"Ahhh, refreshing!"
"Well, Mashiro, get ready to hear more material," Lynn said as he returned to his room, intending to increase Mahiru's stats.
.
.
.
A Few Days Later.
At Lynn's apartment, after updating his Familia members' blessings
Kasumigaoka Utaha frowned as she checked her stats, then glanced at Mahiru's.
Something felt very, very off.
Extremely off.
"Mahiru."
Utaha's tone was deep. "Your recent stat growth is a little..."
"Ridiculous!"
She grabbed Busujima Saeko's blessing details and compared them side by side with Mahiru's. "You're almost catching up to this crazy woman?!"
"And also..."
Utaha looked at Mahiru's Obsession Corridor ability, her expression conflicted.
"What exactly is 'Lynn-san, more, more, I need more!!' supposed to mean?!"
Mahiru hurriedly covered her face, her voice barely a whisper. "U-Utaha..."
"P-Please don't say it anymore..."
She tried to run but then walked slowly again. After all, the angel's body... was already overflowing!
"Hmm..."
"Kikyo, how's the progress in the Demon Slayer world?"
After updating her Blessing, Lynn casually asked about the situation in the Demon Slayer World.
"Everything is going smoothly, Lynn-sama."
Kikyo's usually cold eyes softened as she looked at Lynn and spoke gently, "We have completely replaced the belief in gods of that era."
"As for the remaining demons, they're insignificant."
"However"
A glint flashed in Kikyo's dark eyes. "I plan to publicly judge Muzan Kibutsuji in front of the Devil Cult's main temple!"
"With this, our Familia's influence in that world will reach its peak!"
"Sounds good. Do as you see fit."
Lynn approved her plan, then asked, "Have you figured out how to deal with Muzan?"
Kikyo pursed her lips and sighed. "His strength isn't really a problem, and his regeneration isn't a concern either."
Both her purification abilities were perfect counters.
"However"
"He's just way too good at hiding!"
"Finding someone like him isn't difficult for a shrine maiden."
"The problem is where he's hiding. That's a bit tricky."
Kikyo looked slightly troubled.
Lynn immediately understood. "The Infinity Castle, huh"
Yeah, that makes sense.
Right now, no one in the Familia has spatial abilities.
Only Higurashi Kagome could probably force open an entry point.
ButGiven how paranoid Muzan is, there's no way he'd let an unfamiliar face into the Infinity Castle.
Lynn smirked and pulled out a Devil's Contract flier.
"Let's see if our dear Demon King wants some help from a Devil."
Kikyo's eyes lit up at the sight of it.
If they could get the contract into the Infinity Castle, wouldn't that mean they could freely enter?
And knowing Muzan, he might not let people in easily, but would he be able to resist his curiosity about something mysterious?
"I understand, Lynn!"
Taking the Devil's Contract, Kikyo felt that the day they conquered the Demon Slayer world wasn't far off.
After thinking for a moment, she added, "Lord Lynn, the Devil Cult in that world has also gathered some potential Familia members."
"When do you plan to visit? I'm also free most of the time now."
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she asked.
Ever since the Cult was established, as a shrine maiden, she hadn't properly served Lynn yet.
She felt terribly irresponsible!
Lynn thought for a moment before replying, "No rush, I'll come after you guys clear that world."
"Understood!"
Rather than being disappointed, Kikyo seemed even more motivated!
After updating the Blessings, the Familia members stuck around instead of leaving.
They had been grinding experience points non-stopsurely, they deserved some time to relax.
Kasumigaoka Utaha spotted Shiina Mashiro and teased, "Is this a new member of the Familia?"
Mashiro's expression didn't change. She responded in her usual monotone, "No."
Utaha blinked in confusion. "Huh?"
"Oh my, looks like you haven't been feeding her well," Utaha smirked at Lynn.
"Utaha, don't bully the newbie," Kanoe Yuuko giggled as she floated behind Lynn and hugged his head against her chest.
"Master~ I wore my bra today, just as you wanted."
Ever since they left the old school building, Lynn had insisted she wear one.
Even though Yuuko found it uncomfortable, she still listened to him.
Lynn enjoyed the head massage she was giving him and stroked his chin. "Technically speaking, Mashiro isn't really a Familia member yet."
"What?!"
The entire apartment fell silent in shock.
Even Yuuko momentarily stopped nuzzling him in surprise.
Utaha's eyes widened in disbelief. "Master, you mean you still haven't added her to your harem?"
Has he changed?!
No way!
Absolutely not!
Mashiro tilted her head in confusion, then glanced around at all the other women in the room before nodding as if she understood. "Harem! Manga!"
Lynn shot Utaha a knowing look. "Thanks for the reminder."
Then, he turned to Mashiro and extended his hand. "Mashiro, would you like to join my harem?"
Mashiro was silent for a moment before she spoke three words.
"Harem King Lynn."
She placed her hand in Lynn's.
But then she shook her head.
Her action left Lynn and the others confused.
Mashiro's eyes were serious. "Lynn is my master."
Understanding dawned on them all at once.
"So..."
"She doesn't want to be in the harem she wants to be a pet?!"
"Another weird girl."
Lynn chuckled. "Then strip."
"Strip?"
Mashiro tilted her head again, looked at the other girls, and nodded as if realizing something.
Taking off clothes? That's nothing new to her!
Not knowing what Lynn wanted, but trusting him anyway
In a few swift movements, she was completely undressed.
"You didn't have to strip that much," Utaha muttered, her expression complicated.
This airheaded girl sure had a natural talent for charming men.
Lynn, seeing that she was ready, pressed the Devil's Piece onto her.
A soft glow enveloped Mashiro.
Her eyes widened slightly as she felt power flow into her body.
She recalled seeing Lynn use magic before.
"I'm becoming a"
"A magician?"
The light faded, revealing her Blessing information.
---
[Shiina Mashiro]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Artistic Instinct] & [Painting Devil]
[Artistic Instinct]
Highly sensitive to artistic skills.
[Painting Devil]
Paint Weaponry (Unlocked: "Ultramarine," summons tides of paint.)
Blank Canvas Domain (Creates a 50-meter radius sketch space, forcibly turning everything within the area into line drawings. The path of enemy attacks is visualized, and trajectories can be predicted for five seconds.)
Devil Transformation (Incomplete background.)
---
Lynn stroked his chin, looking at her abilities.
Then, he snapped his fingers.
Buzz
Color drained from the room as everything turned into black and white sketches.
"Whoa!?"
Utaha looked at herself in shock. "I turned into a manga character?!"
The others were equally astonished.
Only Mashiro, the original user, remained puzzled.
"Manga"
Looking out the window, Lynn noticed his domain extended beyond the stated 50 meters.
"Wonder if it'll evolve further."
He withdrew the domain and recorded Mashiro's Blessing.
Then
A guest arrived.
Lynn smirked and teleported ahead, appearing right in front of Minamiya Natsuki, who was preparing a space-manipulation spell.
Natsuki paused, narrowing her eyes. "That commotion just now was your doing, wasn't it?"
"Oh? What a rare visitor."
Natsuki huffed. "You think I came here for fun?"
Just seeing Lynn, she knew that disturbance had to be his fault.
"Anyway, I come here to warn youthe church's holy swords were recently stolen."
"As a Devil, you better keep a low profile!"
.
.
.
(Take this mass release attack)
"So you better keep a low profile for a while."
After saying that, Minamiya Natsuki activated her space magic and vanished.
She had to clean up the mess Lynn had just caused in the area.
With the general public in a panic, some magical intervention was necessary to calm things down.
Lynn rubbed his chin as he stared at the spot where Natsuki had disappeared. From her words, he understood just how much of a commotion his domain expansion had stirred up.
"Huh? The same storyline is happening in Kuoh Town? Doesn't seem to have anything to do with me."
Still, as a friend, he felt obligated to give Rias a heads-up.
"But about the stolen Holy Swords..."
Lynn narrowed his eyes, feeling a strange sense of dj vu.
"It must be that damn fallen angel bird?"
A flicker of understanding flashed through his gaze.
Well... whatever.
After all, he was now so powerful that he didn't care anymore, and he even had a rich red-haired lady who had been quite generous to him.
Not to mention, there was also his rich fiance and a cute pet-in-training.
Lynn pulled out his phone and sent Rias the message anyway.
Kuoh Town - Kuoh Academy
Occult Research Club
Rias blinked at the message she had just received.
"The Holy Swords were stolen?"
That was definitely a serious issue!
But... What did that have to do with her in Kuoh Town?
Though a little puzzled, she still replied:
[Rias: "Thanks for the heads-up, but everything seems normal in Kuoh Town so far."]
[Rias: "By the way, about that meal you promised... when are you treating me?"]
She hadn't forgotten.
[Lynn: "Next time, for sure."]
Sitting in the clubroom, Rias puffed up her cheeks, staring at her phone.
"Liar."
But it wasn't about the meal itselfshe actually had something she wanted to ask him.
After some thought, she sent another message.
[Rias: "How about this? I'll treat you instead."]
[Lynn: "Okay, you set the time."]
[Rias: "..."]
She stared at the screen, pouting.
"So it's not that he's too busyit's just that he doesn't want to pay!"
"Hmph!"
Feeling slightly annoyed, she stood up and walked over to the full-length mirror in the clubroom, examining her body. Then, she turned to Akeno, who was gracefully practicing a tea ceremony.
"Akeno, be honest..."
"Have I lost my charm?"
She was having a mini crisis.
After all, at Kuoh Academy, she still had plenty of admirers.
So why did she feel like a completely unremarkable woman in Lynn's eyes?
Not even worth a single meal?
"Ara~ Ara~?"
Akeno paused, then put down her teacup and looked Rias up and down before flashing a teasing smile.
"With a body like yours, you could make men fall at your feet with just these curves."
Hearing that, Rias' cheeks flushed slightly.
"It's not that exaggerated..."
But...
Thinking of Lynn, she sighed again.
Akeno's eyes gleamed mischievously as she chuckled.
"Are you worried about how to seduce someone?"
Rias rolled her eyes. "What seduction? Don't make it sound so bad."
After a pause, she added, "I'm heading to Tokyo in a few days."
Akeno: "???"
She blinked in mild confusion.
What for?
Then she suddenly froze.
There was only one person in that area who had any connection to Rias.
Lynn.
"Ara~ ara~...."
Akeno smirked, her eyes glinting with playful conspiracy.
"Rias... are you finally making a move on Sona's fianc?"
"Do you need help?"
The clubroom fell silent.
Koneko stopped munching on her snacks, her eyes locking onto Rias with a cautious gaze.
"President..."
Her tone was flat, emotionless.
Yet somehow filled with meaning.
Rias' expression stiffened. She shot a glare at Akeno before sighing.
"Use your tiny brains and think. Do you really think I'd go after Sona's fianc?"
She spoke with absolute righteousness.
"I'm her best friend!"
"Can I do something like this? Hmph!"
To prove her innocence, she waved a hand dramatically.
"Fine! We'll all go together! Consider it a club trip!"
A few days later.
[Rias: "Sorry, something came up. Might have to cancel."]
---
Occult Research Club.
Rias frowned at the two unexpected visitors sitting on the sofa across from her.
Shidou Irina and Quarta Xenovia, completely unfazed, met her gaze.
"Not long ago, the Excaliburs Holy Swords were stolen from the Vatican, as well as from the Protestant and Orthodox churches," Irina explained.
Rias and Akeno showed no reaction.
After all, Lynn had already warned them.
Rias narrowed her eyes. "So what? That has nothing to do with us Devils."
Irina shrugged helplessly. "Can't be helpedthe thief came to this town."
Rias stiffened before frowning deeply.
Great. More trouble.
"Oh, and by the way," Irina continued, pausing before her voice turned grim. "The culprit is..."
She let the words hang before adding coldly:
"Kokabiel."
Rias' heart skipped a beat.
After the church representatives left, Rias immediately messaged Lynn.
[Rias: "You were right. The church people came."]
[Lynn: "Need this Devil's assistance?"]
Just as she received that message, a glowing magic circle appeared above her phone.
A contract scroll materialized out of thin air.
Rias instinctively caught it, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"Did... did a Devil's contract just get delivered to me, a Devil?!"
Tokyo, Lynn's Apartment
After receiving Rias' message, Lynn wasn't surprised.
"The Holy Sword arc is happening a little earlier than expected..."
Was it the butterfly effect?
His mind drifted to the batch of holy artifacts that Sona had previously sent him, and his eyelid twitched.
Case closed?
---
[Ding!]
A new message popped up in the group chat for his Familia harem.
[The Noble Puppy: (Rykotsusei.jpg)]
[The Noble Puppy: "Lynn-sama, I'm about to complete the dragon hunt. Your loyal puppy will return to your side soon~"]
A regal, elegant beauty sat high in a palace among the clouds, sending a message that completely clashed with her noble demeanor.
[Busujima Saeko: "A Dragon? I'd Love to Slay One! Mind If I Tag Along?"]
She was just a step away from leveling up to an Ultimate-Class Devil and saw this as the perfect opportunity.
[The Noble Puppy: "???"]
[Tendo Kisara: "I also want to join in! Let me get some action too!"]
[The Noble Puppy: "..."]
Ryougetsu Senhime's golden eyes flashed with annoyance.
She was having a conversation with her Lord Lynn, and these two women just had to interrupt!
"Princess, the clan members are ready!"
Just as she was about to say more in the group chat, a maid entered the room.
Senhime paused before responding in her usual cold tone, "Alright."
"I'll leave once those two get here."
"The hunt for the dragon daiykai begins!"
.
.
.
After some time
"ROAR!!"
A deafening dragon's roar shook the sky!
A massive creature, with the body of a dragon and a humanoid face, ascended into the air. Its skin was an eerie Purple-gray, its hair was Gray, and its body stretched hundreds of meters long!
Its giant crimson eyes locked onto the inu-yokai below with a murderous gaze.
"Hahaha!! Unbelievable!!"
"That damn dog went through all that trouble to seal me away, and now..."
"Now his own descendants have freed me?!"
"How amusing! Absolutely hilarious!!"
Ryukotsusei threw its head back in laughter at the sheer absurdity of the situation.
It snorted, its eyes glinting coldly. "Don't think that just because you released me, I'll let go of my grudge against you, Inu-yokai!"
"Hmph! So noisy."
Ryougetsu Senhime sat elegantly in the clouds, not even bothering to look at the beast, as if it were beneath her notice.
Sesshmaru gripped his sword hilt tightly, his expression serious.
"So this is..."
"The opponent my father once faced?"
Busujima Saeko's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Now that's a worthy target!"
Tendo Kisara widened her eyes in disbelief. "This thing is really a dragon?"
"It's massive! Easily on par with Gastrea!"
Ryougetsu Senhime waved a dismissive hand, her face full of disdain. "At best, it's just another yokai. Don't go glorifying it."
"Alright, let's farm some experience."
With that, Saeko and Kisara wasted no time charging straight at Ryukotsusei.
Seeing this, Senhime's eyes grew a bit more serious.
She couldn't let Lynn's harem suffer any injuries under her watch.
Sesshmaru, feeling his battle instincts flare, also dashed into the fight.
Clang!!
His blade clashed against the dragon's skin, producing an ear-piercing sound.
"Tch! So tough!"
Sesshmaru frowned.
This was an opponent that couldn't be defeated with brute force alone.
No wonder his father had only been able to seal it away.
Watching Saeko and Kisara attack without a care, Sesshmaru felt his pride stir.
Ever since Senhime had returned to the Inu-Yokai clan, she kept preaching about how under Lord Lynn's leadership, the clan would achieve greatness.
But he didn't like it.
When did the noble inuyokai become someone else's pets?
He could see that Senhime had completely submitted to that man!
So nowOnly he could carry the honor of the inuyokai!
His gaze hardened as he renewed his assault on Ryukotsusei.
"Hmph!"
Ryukotsusei scoffed, utterly unfazed by the attacks of these mere insects.
After a moment, Senhime looked up at the crescent moon overhead.
Hunting Ryukotsusei wasn't just a whim.
Since her reincarnation as an [Eclipse Devil], she hadn't properly tested her new abilities.
"That's enough."
Her sudden words caught Saeko's attention, and without hesitation, she and Kisara withdrew from battle.
Sesshmaru hesitated, but eventually backed away as well, though reluctance was clear on his face.
Ryukotsusei sneered, its crimson eyes locked onto Senhime. "Hah, finally stepping in, are you?"
A true foe.
It knew Senhime was a worthy opponent.
After all, Ryukotsusei was a legendary yokai!
A mere decade-long seal was nothing to it. Now, it was back at full power!
"ROOOOAR!"
With a monstrous bellow, the entire valley trembled!
A wave of demonic energy erupted, turning boulders to dust as the ground quaked violently!
Sesshmaru's pupils shrank as he raised an arm to shield himself from the violent energy, his clothes billowing in the gusts.
"That bastard It was just toying with me earlier?!"
HUMMM
Ryukotsusei opened its massive mouth, unleashing a blinding energy blast straight at Senhime!
Sesshmaru instinctively felt a twinge of concern for his aunt.
Yet, Senhime remained seated in the clouds, her cold gaze unwavering.
Her lips merely moved.
"Tear apart the blackened sky, let the New Moon bow before my blade"
"Praise the Moon God"
"Demonization, Start."
Using the Demonization skill of the [Eclipse Devil], the Pseudo-divine authority of the Moon God was granted.
Darkness engulfed the night sky, swallowing every star until only the moon remained, hanging high.
Threads of lunar light wrapped around Senhime, deepening her already icy aura, transforming her into an untouchable goddess.
And thenThe moon twisted, bending into the shape of a celestial bow.
Swish
A luminous arrow of moonlight streaked down from the heavens!
Ryukotsusei's crimson eyes widened in horror, reflecting the descending arrow.
"You you've surpassed the limits of yokai!!"
"Impossible!!"
"No way!!"
"Authority?! Hah! You have a god's authority?!"
"Hahahaha? Ridiculous! How can that be?!"
Laughter mixed with tears as the dragon was swallowed whole by the arrow.
BOOOOM!!
A deafening explosion echoed across the land!
Yet, Senhime remained untouched, unaffected by the explosive destruction she had unleashed.
Sesshmaru's pupils trembled at the apocalyptic sight before him. He swallowed hard.
A real God's authority
Just as he was processing this, Senhime suddenly spoke.
"Sesshmaru."
He stiffened at the sound of her voice.
"Lord Lynn granted me this power. What do you think?"
Sesshmaru's eyes widened, his entire being shaken.
A god's authority
Was a mere gift from that man?!
After a long silence, his expression shifted.
"Lord Lynn would probably want to harvest that yokai materials, right?"
Senhime blinked.
She had overlooked that detail.
But wait! Sesshmaru's sudden shift in attitude Wasn't it a little too fast?
Already calling him 'Lord'?
Well, that was a good sign
She had long seen through the thoughts of Sesshmaru and all the inuyokai.
As Lord Lynn's subordinate, she wouldn't always be in the Western Lands.
One day, leadership would pass to Sesshmaru.
And she needed to ensure the inuyokai knew their place.
Both the inuyokai and she herselfWould forever be Lord Lynn's loyal puppies.
---
The next day
"Saeko, good news!"
"You're ready to level up."
.
.
.
[Busujima Saeko]
Rank: Ultimate-Class Devil
Position: Knight
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Position Skill: Godspeed C
Unique Abilities: [Bloodlust], [Blade Devil] & [Black Erosion Blade](Details omitted)
[Bloodlust]
The stronger the desire for slaughter, the faster stats increase.
Removes all growth limitations
[Blade Devil]
Slashing Technique
Natural Swordmaster (Can master blade techniques instantly upon seeing them)
Blade Armor
Domain: Blade Prison (activates a domain where everything is covered by the concept of "slash," causing enemies to trigger counterattacks with every movement)
Accelerated Strength Growth
Accelerated Agility Growth
Devil Transformation (Weaponized Body)
Development Ability: Swordmaster & Elevated Killing Intent
Swordmaster: C
(Increased damage when using sword-type weapons)
Elevated Killing Intent: A
(Emits a tangible aura of bloodlust that causes enemies weaker than the user to fall into a "terror" state, reducing all stats by 15%.)
(Every enemy slain increases the user's attack speed by 1%, up to a 50% cap)
In the apartment...
Lynn glanced at the blessing info glowing behind Saeko and said, "Saeko, it looks like there's been a lot of changes since you hit Ultimate-Class."
"Yeah, aside from the raw power boost, I can feel something different in me too," she nodded, raising her hand slightly.
Voom
The space around them rippled, and in an instant, the entire apartment was replaced by a purgatory-like domain filled with countless swords.
Clinging weakly to Lynn's chest after returning from the past era and overusing her pseudo-divine powers, Ryougetsu Senhime opened her eyes wide. "What the heck just happened?"
Invisible slashes cut through the air, streaking toward a single point. Saeko stood still, her mind commanding the domain.
She blinked, slightly surprised.
"This is..."
"Domain: Blade Prison," Lynn explained as he handed her the updated blessing info.
Saeko read through it carefully, pausing at one entry.
"Huh? Elevated Killing Intent?"
Her eyes sparkled, a grin forming as she instinctively licked her lips. "That sounds like a perfect fit for me."
"It definitely is," Lynn agreed.
The first effect reminded him of Conqueror's Hakigreat for wiping out weaker enemies in bulk. The second gave her short-term buffs based on kill count. It suited Saeko's love of battle perfectly.
Not just SaekoLynn himself also received a bit of feedback.
He closed his eyes.
[Zodiac Pilgrimage]. This ability was divided into four phases: Spring Pilgrimage, Summer Pilgrimage, Autumn Pilgrimage, and Winter Pilgrimage.
The Spring Pilgrimage had already been unlocked before, and now the Summer Pilgrimage was glowing as well.
"Summer Pilgrimage"
[Cancer Cocoon] Summons a stardust cocoon that heals anyone inside.
[Leo Spear] Hurls a long spear forged from solar energy; its power scales with the user's fighting spirit.
[Virgo domain] Unleashes a domain that analyzes enemy weaknesses and forcibly equalizes a specific stat (like speed or strength) between both parties.
Then he heard a sweet voice in his ear.
"You can finally use the Summer Pilgrimage now!"
Lynn's eyes gleamed.
"Stella?"
He focused, shifting his awareness into the space of the [Devil's Piece].
There, various constellations shimmered in the starry sky.
Ten tiny girls swarmed around him, clinging to every inch of his body like affectionate kittens.
"Master! Master!"
Stella practically bounced. "Taurus and Virgo woke up!"
Lynn's gaze sharpened, and he quickly made his way to their respective astral domains.
Inside each, a small loli lay sound asleep.
"They're still unconscious?"
Stella looked conflicted. "They've reformed their bodies, but their minds haven't fully awakened yet."
Lynn nodded slowly.
Still, that meant he should be able to use [Taurus Gate] and [Virgo Domain] now.
He turned his gaze to the starry sky of the [Devil's Piece].
The positioning of his pieces had shifted again.
Senhime, Kikyo, Utaha, and Mikotheir pieces floated in one section.
Saeko and Shizuka's were in another.
Kisara and others were grouped in a separate zone with the devil lolis.
"Looks like it's organized by their original worlds now," Lynn murmured.
"What kind of changes will that bring?"
Then, after chatting a bit more with the lolis in the starlit realm, Lynn exited the [Devil's Piece] space.
---
"Maybe I should let them out to play sometime."
Just as he reached to close his status panel, something caught his eye.
[Devil's Contract]
Invaded Worlds:
Highschool of the Dead (Completed)
Black Bullet (94.78%)
Demon Slayer (69.34%)
Main World: (5.01%)
Pending Invasion:
Bleach
Date A Live
---
"Main world?"
Lynn blinked in confusion.
"Wait a second... am I invading my own world?"
He froze.
He was... an outsider?
Taking deep breaths to calm himself, he closed his eyes and activated the [Four-Soul Devil]'s "Sakimitama" mode that symbolizes wisdom, logic, and creativity.
After all, in this crazy world that mashed up anime like High School DxD and Strike the Blood...
Maybe he really wasn't from here in the first place.
So why didn't it count as an invasion of this world before?
His eyes opened, a sharp gleam flashing through them.
Fine.
He'd go all in.
He looked at the invasion percentage of the main world: "5.01%."
Lynn murmured to himself.
His influence on this world really wasn't that high.
That 5.01% probably only came from recruiting a few members for his Familia, leveling up to an Ultimate-class devil, and that slight impact he made back in the past.
If he wanted to fully invade this worldwhat more did he need to do?
The [Devil's Contract] didn't give any clues.
Maybe it was similar to what he had to do in the "Demon Slayer" world.
With the Sakimitama mode active, he felt intelligence flooding his mind like a tidal wave. His brain kicked into high gear.
"It should be my familia's influenceor rather, my influence."
After all, the Familia revolved around him.
The Three Major Factions: Fallen Angels, Devils, Angels.
In the world of DxD, you couldn't avoid those. And he was taking a place in two of these factions
Suddenly, he remembered the incident with the Holy Swords in Kuoh Town.
"Maybe I should start with the Fallen Angels to increase my invasion?"
Test the waters using them.
He instinctively recalled that day when he unfolded his Fallen Angel wings.
"Maybe I could take the Governor position from Azazel?"
A smirk crept onto his face.
What started as a joke might just become reality.
"Azazel, you're getting old."
"The position should go to someone else now."
Fallen Angels, Devils, Angelshe'd take over them all, then use them to expand his influence across the whole world! Even the angles wouldn't be spared.
Because this world wasn't just the High School DxD universe.
There were yokai, vampires...Otherworldly evil gods...
Thinking about it that way, invading this world felt like a massive task.
Lynn rubbed his temples.
"World invasion, huh..."
He opened the [Devil's Contract] again.
Clicked on "Highschool of the Dead."
(Contributions: Saeko 32.35%, Utaha 7.8%, ... 3.21%, ... 1.43%)
Lynn paused, running calculations in his head.
Altogether, his Familia's contributions only added up to around 73%.
Nearly 27% was just missing.
He squinted.
Was the [Devil's Contract] screwing him over?
[Ding! The host's Contributions for Highschool of the Dead have been preserved!]
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
Alright. At least it had some integrity.
But what could he do with these contributions?
He wasn't sure.
Still, as long as he kept pushing forward, he'd figure it out.
After finishing his analysis of the [Devil's Pieces] and [Devil's Contract], he looked up.
Saeko had finished reviewing her blessing info and had already changed back into her outfit.
Senhime, still feeling weak, was lying lazily in her bed.
"I wonder when I'll get to level up..."
She sighed.
Was she supposed to wipe out all the yokai in the world?
She wasn't the type to enjoy killing.
And not all yokai were evil either. It's not like she could just go slaughtering innocents.
Lynn patted her puppy ears.
"Just invade more worlds."
Senhime's eyes lit up.
"Then... is there a world that suits me?"
Lynn thought for a moment.
"Demon Slayer" was too low-tier for her. Better to use that world to help others level up.
Even Midoriko was just there to keep an eye on things.
As for the Bleach world...
Nah, Senhime alone probably wouldn't be able to do anything there.
Midoriko's soul abilities might be really effective in that world.
Actually, could Yuuko, in her ghost form, sneak into Soul Society?
Lynn was curious.
He should toss her in there and find out.
And as for Date A Live...
He wanted to play around in that one himself first.
Just as that thought passed, a flash of light filled the apartment.
A magic circle lit up.
Senhime groaned, "Ugh, that damn cat again!"
And sure enough, Koneko appeared in the magic circle.
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you guys dealing with the Holy Sword situation?"
Koneko casually pushed Senhime out of the way and snuggled into Lynn's lap.
Senhime bared her teeth in annoyance but couldn't do anything.
She was too weak right now.
A dog can get bullied by a cat when it's down...
Like how Tom used to bully Spike really badly when he was weak.
Koneko replied calmly, "The Church said they don't trust devils, so they rejected our help."
"Fools," Lynn muttered.
Then, his eyes narrowed. "Hmm....We've got company."
Senhime twitched her nose, immediately showing disgust. "It's another stinky cat."
Another flash of light filled the room.
"Found you~ nya~!"
.
.
.
Inside the apartment
A magic circle pulsed into existence on the floor, glowing with purple light.
Click.
A long, curvy leg stepped out, geta sandals clicking sharply against the wooden floor.
"Found you~ Nya."
A lazy yet seductive voice echoed out from the magic circle.
A moment later, a tall and curvy woman stepped through it. Her slim waist contrasted sharply with her full chest, creating a striking shape.
She wore a black and purple kimono adorned with golden accessories around her waist. Her expression was sultry, and her sharp golden eyesvertical pupilsradiated a mix of wildness and danger.
But the most eye-catching features were the black cat ears on her head and the twin-tailed black cat tail swaying behind her.
Kuroka?
Lynn blinked in surprise.
But then...
He gave her a strange look.
"Was she always this traditional? Did I watch the wrong anime or what?"
His eyes scanned her alluring figure.
No skin-showing at all. Not even a thigh.
Kinda different from what he remembered.
Still... maybe just her choice of outfit.
Koneko was nestled in Lynn's arms. When she saw who stepped out of the circle, her eyes widened in shock.
"Big sister?!"
She tensed up and started to rise, but A hand gently rested on her shoulder.
"Relax, Koneko," Lynn said with a calm chuckle, pulling her back into his embrace.
Koneko froze, but a strange sense of comfort washed over her as she leaned into him. The anxiety she'd just felt disappeared completely.
Her mind went a little fuzzy.
'Lynn-senpai is so strong'
'His body feels so reassuring.'
Meanwhile, Kuroka's gaze sharpened. Seeing her precious little sister cuddled up in some random guy's arms, her golden pupils flashed dangerously.
"Ho? So you're Shirone's man, nya?"
Her tone was unreadable, but her mind raced back to when ShironeKoneko nearly went into heat not too long ago.
It was him, wasn't it?
This bastard!
Her mood turned icy.
She meets her sister again for the first time in forever, and this guy is just casually hugging her like it's nothing?
Her ears twitched in irritation. She was one breath away from pouncing at him.
"Big sis, why are you here?"
Koneko asked, keeping her tone calm, though her tiny fists clenched.
Her sister's power was no joke.
Far beyond even Rias or Akeno. Kuroka had been listed as an SS-class threat in the Underworld.
She couldn'tmustn'tlet Kuroka hurt her Lynn-senpai!
A fiery determination lit up in her golden eyes as she stared down her sister.
Kuroka blinked, a bit surprised, and then smiled softly. "Not bad, Shirone. I like that look in your eyes."
All for that guy, huh
She turned her attention to Lynn again, her gaze darkening slightly.
Should I kill him?
"Sis!"
Koneko's voice rose as Kuroka's gaze lingered.
"Alright, alright."
Koneko frowned. "Why are you here? What do you want?"
Kuroka sighed, her golden eyes gleaming. She reached out a hand toward her sister. "I came to take you home."
"Take me...?"
Koneko froze, then frowned harder. "You didn't come back for me back then. Why now?"
"Sorry, nya~" Kuroka scratched her head. "I was too busy running for my life. Didn't have time to bring you along."
"..."
"I'm not going with you." Koneko's tone was firm.
"Oh? Because of him, right?"
Kuroka narrowed her eyes.
"Shirone... didn't you almost go into heat because of him?"
Koneko blushed fiercely. "H-How did you know that?!"
"That doesn't matter. What matters isyou're staying for him, right?"
She turned to Lynn. "Being near this guy... it's dangerous, nya~"
"Before long, you might be walking around with a baby cat, nya~"
"B-Baby?!"
Koneko stuttered in panic.
"Tch. Even if I have to use force, I'm taking you with me."
Force?!
Koneko's eyes went wide. She remembered her sister's terrifying strength.
"No! Stop!!"
She panicked.
She couldn't let Lynn-senpai get hurt because of her!
Smack.
Suddenly, a large hand landed on her head and gently ruffled her hair.
The familiar move made her ears and tail pop out instinctively. Her eyes relaxed as if by reflex.
Kuroka twitched.
Wha my little sister has been completely tamed?!
She stared daggers at Lynn, grinding her teeth.
"You've got some guts."
Lynn, meanwhile, had his left hand on Koneko's head and his right elbow propped on the couch armrest, chin resting on that palm. His crimson eyes calmly observed the kitten in his lap.
Then he looked up and spoke flatly.
"You've been talking a lot this whole time."
His gaze slowly lifted until his wine-red eyes locked with Kuroka's golden cat-like ones.
Something about that look made Kuroka shiver.
'What the hell... nya?'
'Instinct?'
'Am I... afraid?'
She stiffened.
There was nothing outwardly special about himso why did her instincts scream at her?
Her combat-hardened instincts raised a red flag. Something was wrong here.
Her toes curled unconsciously.
"You know..."
Lynn's voice was emotionless as he looked at her.
"Trying to take someone's pet without asking the owner... that's a bit rude, don't you think?"
"Pet?!"
Koneko froze.
And thenAn unfamiliar warmth spread in her chest.
Lynn-senpai... finally acknowledged her as his pet!
"..."
"Owner? Pet?!"
Kuroka's whole body tensed like she'd just been shot.
Her golden eyes darkened with fury.
"Owner, huh..."
"Hehehehe..."
"You've got balls, I'll give you that..."
Unpleasant memories came flooding back!
Fwoosh
A dark purple aura surged up around her like writhing serpents, coiling and twisting across her entire body.
In a flash, her figure blurredshe lunged at Lynn with frightening speed.
But!
A blade, gleaming with icy light, suddenly blocked her path.
.
.
.
Before Kuroka could reach Lynn, a blade suddenly blocked her path.
"So fast!"
Kuroka's pupils shrank in shock. She immediately twisted her body, leaving only a ghostly afterimage behind as she retreated.
At the same time, several talismans appeared in her hands and shot out toward her opponent!
Whoosh!
Just as they floated through the air
Slash!
A white flash cut clean through them, slicing every single talisman midair.
But the slash didn't stop thereit surged forward, continuing straight for Kuroka!
She had just relocated, but was forced to use a space technique again to narrowly dodge the attack.
Busujima Saeko stood, cold-eyed, watching Kuroka.
"You want to hurt Master? You'll have to go through me first."
Kuroka paused, then chuckled softly. "So, this man should be a high-class devil too?"
"No... he must be even stronger than that."
She reminded herself not to judge just based on the fact he had a peerage. After all, even Maou nowadays can be just a peerage devil.
And his youthful appearance meant nothing in this world.
He might only look a couple years older than Shirone, but... the aura of his servant was dangerous. Even as just a servant, she felt too strong.
'Just who is this man Shirone's clinging to?'
Kuroka's thoughts raced.
Even if she couldn't take Shirone away today
She needed to make one thing clear: Her sister had a scary big sister watching her back!
So don't go thinking she's easy prey!
Resolved, Kuroka raised her hand. A rune-embedded orb of white light formed at her fingertips and shot forward.
Saeko's eyes flashed with the thirst to kill. Her blade roseand cleaved the light orb clean in two.
Boom!
A small explosion rang out.
Unfazed, Saeko dashed forward.
And then
Flash!She appeared directly in front of Kuroka.
'She's really fast!'
Kuroka's pupils dilated again.
That insane speedagain?!
Saeko's blade crashed down, slicing through Kuroka.
But the target vanishedonly an illusion. Saeko's brow twitched ever so slightly.
"She's fast and slippery... teleportation techniques?"
"Then"
"Domain Expansion!" Saeko called out, calm and resolute. "Blade Prison."
Vrrrmmmm
In an instant, the apartment vanished. A barren battlefield appearedswords stabbed into the earth all around.
The eerie wasteland caught Kuroka off guard.
"Just changed the scenery, huh?" she said with a light laugh.
A purple magic circle rose behind her as she traced a symbol into the air. A swirling magic ring formeddrawing on both senjutsu and yokai power.
But just as she prepared to unleash it
Whirrrrr
Her eyes widened as a storm of slashes surged toward her.
No time to cast anything. She once again used her movement technique to relocate.
Whoosh!
Again?! Another wave of slashes zeroed in.
"What the hell is this domain?!" Kuroka cried out then she used her Defensive Magic.
A soap bubble-like shield surrounded her, blocking the attacks just in time.
"So, should I just wait until that woman runs out of magic to sustain her domain?"
Kuroka frowned.
But now she could tellthis swordswoman?
Definitely an ultimate class.
An ultimate class devil as a servant?
Her golden eyes shifted toward Lynn.
That guy... he's gotta be at least ultimate class himself.
Well! He had to be an Ultimate-Class Devil. It wasn't like he could be a Maou... right?
Meanwhile
Konekostill curled up, enjoying Lynn's headpatswatched the fight intently. Her golden eyes shifted from tension to confusion.
Wasn't her sister supposed to be one of the most dangerous devils in the Underworld?
Yet she was barely holding her own against Saeko-senpai?
Then it hit her. Her eyes widened. 'Saeko-senpai... is just as strong as my sister?!'
"My time has come!"
"Lynn-sama~, I wanna play with this bad kitty too~."
Ryougetsu Senhime narrowed her eyes at Kuroka.
From the moment this "smelly cat" showed up, she'd been itching to throw hands.
It's just that she had used her Moon Goddess possession yesterday and was still feeling the drain.
Lynn, noticing, conjured a small magic circle and pulled out a recovery potion from Shizuka's reserve.
"Want a sip?"
Honestly, he wasn't sure if it could fully recover from the aftereffects of Moon Goddess possession.
Senhime's eyelids twitched.
Even as a new member of Lynn's Familia, she knew exactly what that potion implied.
No way would she, a royal, drink someone else's juices. She still had her pride and would never drink this potion unless she was near death.
Besides, there was a more efficient way to recharge...
Her heartbeat picked up.
Still, she was both embarrassed and extremely curious.
But might as well try it? It was bound to happen eventually.
Decision made.
Senhime threw herself onto Lynn's shoulder. A silver moonlight shimmered around hershe transformed into her elegant, queenly form and leaned against him.
"I... I wanna try... the other way..."
"The Magic Replenishment!!"
Lynn's expression twitched slightly.
She had just been in dog form not long ago... but hey.
He never said no to his Familia.
Magic ReplenishmentStart!
Senhime's lashes fluttered as her lips met his.
Warmth flooded inher weakness vanished in an instant!
Something... entered her.
"Nghh~"
Her breath quickened. Her gaze turned hazy.
But within seconds, she was fully recharged.
Koneko stared at Lynn's now-glossy lips, swallowing as her gaze dropped.
Two words echoed in her head.
"Magic Replenishment..."
Whatever she was imagining made her face flush hot.
Senhime finally stood up, forcing herself to calm down.
She looked toward Kuroka, smirking. "Bad news!"
"Hehe~! I'm joining the fight."
BOOM!
A terrifying wave of pressure exploded from her.
Koneko's gaze was drawn to it.
Her little mouth fell open.
"So strong..."
Lynn-senpai's peerageevery single one of them were monsters!
Kuroka's eyes shot open as Senhime entered the battlefield.
"Another Ultimate-Class?!"
What kind of cursed luck was this?
Was she under some kind of misfortune star today?
She had seriously misjudged this place.
She only came because she thought Kuoh Town would be safer while the Maou's attention was elsewhere...
But this place was a den of monsters!!
Now, with both Saeko and Senhime staring her down like predators...
Kuroka raised both hands, forced a smile, and chuckled awkwardly.
"Uhh... maybe we had a little misunderstanding?"
"How about stopping the fight?! I actually love peace the most!"
Senhime smiled with a predator's grin. "Hehehe~"
Kuroka took one look and didn't hesitateshe activated her teleportation array, ready to run.
This place was a death trap! She even made a barrier
"Trying to escape?"
Suddenly, her shoulder dropped as if a mountain had landed on it.
A cold voice whispered in her ear.
All the fur on her body stood on end.
DangerREAL danger!
.
.
.
"You think you can come and go as you please?"
Lynn's voice rang out like thunder in Kuroka's mind, shaking her to the core.
Her golden, slitted pupils trembled uncontrollably.
The heat radiating from the hand on her shoulder felt burning.
"When... when did you enter my defense barrier...?!"
A very bad feeling filled Kuroka.
Her senses were sharp, her dynamic vision unmatched, and yetshe hadn't even seen what had just happened.
Shatter!
Her barrier... even a Maou shouldn't have been able to break it so easily!
And that overwhelming aura...
"Don't tell me... this guy is actually a Maou?!"
Her eyes widened with disbelief.
Cold sweat soaked her back.
A chill raced straight up to her skull.
With a stiff neck, Kuroka turned to look at Lynn beside her and forced an awkward, crooked smile.
"M-Mister... I didn't know who I was messing with, nya~"
Instant submission.
She knew damn well she couldn't bluff her way out of this.
But even as she spouted words of apology, her fingers moved slowly...
Lynn glanced down.
Kuroka's face froze.
"He... He noticed!"
Too late to turn back. A dark purple spell symbol ignited at her fingertip, spreading out with a rush of thick, toxic energy.
It was a powerful Mist Poison curse, especially effective against devils and yokai!
Not that she expected it to take down someone of his level...
But even a single second of distraction would be enough!
Just enough to get the hell out of here.
"Purify."
A calm voice echoed beside her ear.
Whooom
A radiant white light burst forth from Lynn, sweeping over everything.
The poisonous mist recoiled in terror, vanishing instantly like it had never existed.
Kuroka blinked, her body stiffening again.
"I... I'm so screwed..."
"Naughty little stray cat... you're not being very obedient."
His words sounded like divine judgment in her ears.
Without hesitation, she sprang forward, leaving behind a phantom afterimage, trying to bolt for the window with her kitty agility!
But
Clink clink clink
Golden chains shot out from Lynn's hands, wrapping around her with a metallic ring.
---
One minute later - Back inside the apartment
Kuroka, now tightly bound, hung her head and followed behind Lynn.
"Forgive me, nya~!"
Lynn lounged on the couch, looking down at her. One hand lazily held the golden chain extending from her pale neck.
A sealing spell.
Something he had learned from Kikyo and Midoriko.
With Lynn's level of power, even an Ultimate-class devil like Kuroka had no way of breaking free. The more she struggled, the tighter the chains bound her.
She had already learned that the hard way.
Kuroka squirmed uncomfortably.
"Ugh... these chains are way too tight..."
Suddenly, with a tug, the chain tightened around her neck.
Her head tilted up instinctively, golden cat-like eyes meeting Lynn's crimson gaze.
She bit her lip, looking away.
"Crap... total disaster..."
Who would've thought that Koneko's man was actually Maou-level?!
If it were anyone under Maou-tier, she would've been confident she could overpower them.
But Maou was Maou for a reason.
She gave Koneko a sideways glance, her expression complex.
"You really know how to pick a man...Shirone"
Koneko blinked. "Huh?"
She didn't quite get the look her sister was giving her, but... she knew Lynn-senpai was amazing!
Koneko looked up at Lynn with her golden eyes full of admiration.
Even her invincible big sister had been taken down so easily.
Was he really a Maou?
Like the president's older brother?
The realization hit her like a brick.
It was even more shocking than reuniting with her sister.
Kuroka: "What the hell???"
She stared at Koneko in disbelief.
"Your big sis is being tied up by your man right now, you know! Shouldn't you be a little more concerned?!"
Maybe it was the look she was giving her, but Koneko finally turned her attention toward Kuroka.
Kuroka instantly began making desperate eye signals: "Come on, help your sister out! Beg your man for mercy!"
Koneko glanced away awkwardly, muttering under her breath.
"It's... sister's fault..."
Kuroka: "Meow meow MEOW?!"
Her heart skipped a beat, her face full of disbelief.
"Koneko, you're really siding with him?!"
"Ouch!"
"That hurts! Way too much!"
"My weak heart can't take it!"
Of course
Even though Koneko had a rough past partly because of her, Kuroka was still her older sister.
There's no way she wouldn't care.
Koneko hesitated, then reached out and tugged at Lynn's sleeve, her voice soft and worried. "Senpai, please..."
Lynn gently patted her head and said calmly, "Relax. For your sake, I won't kill her."
K-Kill her?!
Both Koneko and Kuroka froze on the spot.
Has it gotten that serious already?
Kuroka felt like collapsing from the stress.
Thank god he's my Shirone's man.
Otherwise, big sis would've been seeing Shirone from the afterlife...
Of course, Lynn was just scaring them.
With Kuroka's power as an Ultimate-class devil, she'd be a solid asset to his Familia.
Lynn narrowed his eyes. "However..."
"You can avoid the death sentence, but not the punishment."
Kuroka didn't hesitate to lower her head. "I await your orders."
Once she realized the overwhelming difference between them, she adapted fast.
She had tried running, after all.
Koneko didn't argue either. In fact, she seemed a little supportive.
If her senpai wasn't strong, who knows what her sister might've done.
She definitely needed a good lesson!
Lynn, seeing this, summoned a devil's piece.
"Then..."
"Become my servant, Kuroka."
Kuroka's eyes widened.
The moment the devil's piece appeared, she got a bad feeling.
No way!
Is she seriously going to become someone's servant again?
Her gaze turned complicated, shadows of old memories flickering behind her eyes.
Senhime, off to the side, clicked her tongue. 'Another pet? At least it's another cat and not someone special like me, right?'
Koneko noticed the devil's piece in Lynn's hand and understood.
Oh... so Lynn's adding sis to his Peerage...
"If sis loses control, her powers become unstable," she warned, a bit worried.
The things Kuroka did in the Underworld were still fresh in her memory. She didn't want her sister to hurt her senpai one day.
"Don't worry. Once she joins my Peerage, that won't be a problem."
"Besides..."
Lynn suddenly smiled. "With your sister's power, you think she can actually threaten me?"
...Okay, that's fair.
Thinking back to how powerful Lynn was, Koneko finally relaxed.
Becoming Senpai's Peerage member, huh...
She placed a hand over her chest, feeling a little down.
Why does it feel like sis beat me to it...?
Kuroka's expression stayed grim for a while, then suddenly, she gave a low chuckle.
Her golden eyes locked onto Lynn.
"You sure you wanna take me in?"
Her slitted pupils shimmered with something unreadable. She grinned.
"Don't you know..."
"I'm an SS-class stray devil, officially listed as highly dangerous by the Underworld."
"If you take me in, you're asking for a world of trouble."
She stared him down, strangely curious.
Curious to see what kind of decision Lynn would make. What kind of expression he'd show.
Even if he might be as strong as a Maou...
Surely he can't just ignore the Underworld's rules, right?
There are four Maou down there.
Was he really ready to go against all of themfor her?
Lynn didn't respond. He just smirked.
RIP!
He suddenly tore open her kimono and, before Kuroka could even react, shoved the devil's piece into her chest!
Her mind blanked.
The answer... was clear.
Her heart began to race uncontrollably.
An emotion she'd never felt before exploded inside her.
He actually did it?!
Even as the devil's piece merged into her body, she couldn't snap out of it.
Huff... huff...
Her breathing grew ragged, her eyes dazed as she stared blankly at Lynn's face.
Was it confidence? Something else?
Whatever it was
Kuroka couldn't help but think...
"This man...doesn't feel so bad, nya~."
.
.
.
Inside Lynn's apartment
"Not bad, not bad, nya~!"
Kuroka was kneeling on the floor, her alluring figure highlighted by the chains wrapped around her, proudly showing off her curves.
Behind her, her cat tail swayed gently, a sign of her delight with her new master.
The kind of boldness it takes to challenge the entire Underworld...
Nya~
Just imagining it gave her a thrill
Something... something's about to burst out, nya!
Rubbing her thighs together anxiously, Kuroka's golden, slit pupils stayed fixed on Lynn's face, like she was engraving him into her soul.
Their children would definitely be powerful, right?
Her eyes lit up at the thought.
She wanted to...Have his babies, nya~
Yep. Kuroka was absolutely going into heat.
"No way!"
Koneko suddenly stood up and shoved her hand into Kuroka's chest, trying to yank out the Devil Piece Lynn had embedded in her.
But once a Piece is inside, you can't just pull it out, especially not like that.
"Sis will cause trouble for Senpai!" Koneko said with firm resolve.
Thanks to Kuroka's earlier reminder, she finally rememberedHer sister was a wanted criminal in the Underworld!
If Senpai became her master, he'd definitely attract a lot of unwanted attention!
Even as she searched but couldn't find the Piece, Koneko bit her lip. She knew it was already too late.
What now...?
She looked lost, overwhelmed by guilt.
This all started because of her!
If Senpai got hurt because of it... she'd never forgive herself.
Kuroka, annoyed at having her mood ruined, rolled her eyes and scooted back to avoid Koneko's persistent groping.
"Hands off, nya~ That part belongs to Master now, you know~"
Master?
Koneko twitched, her face blank as she stared at Kuroka in disbelief.
You're already calling him Master?
Wasn't that a little too fast?!
Kuroka didn't care about her sister's look.
She crawled across the floor on her knees, slinking to Lynn's feet, and then
Buried her face against his leg, rubbing up and down while sniffing him like a loyal cat.
She looked like the perfect little pet.
Koneko: (Internal alarm bells ringing) DANGER!!!
Lynn looked a little surprised too.
He hadn't expected her attitude to do a complete 180 so fast.
Well, if she was going to be this obedient now, there was no need to keep punishing her.
With a thought, he released the "binding spell."
Kuroka blinked as she felt the restraints on her body fade away, then noticed the golden chains around her were dissolving into light.
Her eyes sparkled.
Then, with a mischievous glint, she grabbed one of the loose chains still held by Lynn and pulled herself up, whispering hotly into his ear
"Master~ You don't have to undo this one, okay~?"
"You can use it however you want. Nya~"
Lynn's eyelid twitched.
This one really knows how to play.
Koneko, meanwhile, just stared blankly at her sister.
"Pervert sis..."
Though beneath her deadpan expression, she was still deeply worried.
Smack.
A gentle hand rested on her head.
Koneko looked up.
"Don't worry," Lynn said calmly.
It was just the Underworld.
His goal... was way bigger than that.
Then suddenly, Lynn felt something wet on his ear.
A pink tongue was flicking at it like a curious kitten.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Kuroka, her golden eyes narrowed.
"Master... your smell? You've already done it with another woman, nya~"
Kuroka was a little bitter inside.
Damn. She was late.
Had someone already gotten pregnant with his child?
On the side, Senhime walked up with an annoyed look, pushing Kuroka's head away with a sharp glare.
"You sneaky cat."
She hadn't expected that just a moment ago, this woman had been ready to fight to the death or escape at any cost...
Now, just from becoming Lynn's Familia, she turned into a clingy, flirty mess!
Kuroka didn't get mad. Instead, she sniffed Senhime's scent and her eyes flashed with mischief.
"It's not you!"
"Loser dog, nya~"
Senhime's scent was nowhere in Lynn's.
Clearly, she hadn't claimed anything yet.
"L-Loser dog?!"
Senhime blinked, confused.
She frowned, starting to get it.
"..."
After identifying Senhime as a non-threat, Kuroka totally ignored her and turned her attention back to Lynn with sultry eyes.
Her sudden loyalty wasn't just because of Lynn's strength or how boldly he stood against the Underworld.
There was something else.
That Devil's Piece he gave herit was definitely different from the ones in the Underworld.
Just thinking about it, her eyes flickered with curiosity.
When it was inserted, she felt something in her break open.
Something unfamiliar had been added inside her...
Her Yojutsu and senjutsu became noticeably more stable.
What the hell was that?
She looked confused.
Lynn pointed at her chest.
She looked down.
"Nya? There's... writing there now?"
Her eyes widened in shock.
But her chest was too big, she couldn't see clearly.
So she opened her top, revealing the blessing info so Lynn could read it for her.
[Kuroka]
Rank: Ultimate-Class Devil
Position: Bishop
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Position Skill: Magic Resistance
Unique Skills: [Yokai-Sage Resonance] & [Calamity Devil]
[Yokai-Sage Resonance]
Stabilizes the fusion of yokai energy and senjutsu.
All yokai-based attacks inflict "Ki Corrosion" effect, gradually weakening enemy's magic resistance
[Calamity Devil]
Fallen Sage Yokai Flames: A fire born from a mix of pure senjutsu energy and corrupted yokai energy. Can burn souls and spatial structures.
Reversal Vortex: Deploys a domain that forcibly reverses the cause-effect link between attacker and target. Duration depends on the user's magic power. All attacks targeting the user have a 50% chance to be reflected back at the caster.
Devil Transformation (Calamity Cat God)
Developmental Abilities:
Youjutsu Mastery: EX (Massively boosts curse-type technique success rate. Strong against holy-type enemies.)
Curse Resistance: S (Completely immune to curse-based attacks. Converts 30% of absorbed curses into yokai energy reserves.)
---
---
Burning souls and spatial structures?
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
Not bad, another countermeasure in the arsenal.
"Reversal Vortex..."
"A shame it's probability-based."
Shaking his head, Lynn continued reading.
Development Ability: Youjutsu Mastery.
Perfectly aligned with Kuroka's growth.
"Special effectiveness against holy-type enemies?"
"So now I finally have an anti-angel effect?"
Lynn mentally tallied his special attack attributes:
Anti-devil abilities: How high can you count?
Anti-holy attributes: barely one.
"Tsk."
His expression turned a little strange.
At this rateClearing the Three Great Factions might not be far off if he got more anti-holy effects.
He then focused on the changes in his body.
His magic had surged yet again, and he now had access to Senjutsu.
Not to mention the barriers, magic, curses, and all sorts of strange secret arts Kuroka had mastered.
It felt like he wasn't far from another level-up.
He opened his status panel.
No change in level.
Still at Maou-class.
"Just when will I be a Super devil, huh"
After checking his condition, Lynn briefly explained the abilities granted by his blessing and how the system worked.
Koneko tilted her head slightly. "Why can't I hear anything?"
Some kind of secret transmission technique?
On the other side, Kuroka's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Nyahahaha! Something this good actually happened?!"
Her hands trembled slightly.
Ever since becoming an Ultimate-Class Devil, she had only been able to refine her techniques. Her fundamental power hadn't seen much improvement.
She always felt like she'd hit a ceiling.
But now She had the chance to climb even higher than she'd ever imagined!
"Huff Huff"
She panted, her pupils tinged with bloodshot veins.
Excitement!
Ecstasy!
As expected!
This devil's piece was special!
NoHer new master, Lynn, was special!
A faint, sultry glint entered Kuroka's eyes as she looked at Lynn.
"Master~" she purred, her voice carrying a husky sweetness with a teasing drawl. "Do you want to have a baby with me~?"
Koneko's reaction was immediateshe jumped in front of Lynn, eyes serious.
"I won't let you take senpai!"
"Nya~?" Kuroka blinked, then pressed a finger to her lips. "But..."
"I'm already his, you know~?"
Koneko stiffened.
Her eyes flickered to Kuroka's chest, where faint markings were visible.
She pursed her lips.
Was this some kind of secret among Lynn's peerage?
Or was it a unique crest exclusive to them?
For a momentShe felt a little jealous of her sister.
She had been here first.
Yet Kuroka had pulled ahead.
Her mood dropped slightly.
Meanwhile, Ryougetsu Senhime was arguing with Kuroka again.
For some reason, she just couldn't stand that damn cat.
'Damn sneaky cat! Shameless pussycat! Thieving cat!'
'And now she wants to have Lynn-sama's baby?!'
'Pfft! As if!'
'Does your bloodline even deserve to mix with Lynn-sama's?!'
If anyone should be having his children, it should be herthe noble princess of the Inu-ykai!
As Koneko sank into a silent daze and Senhime argued with Kuroka
A soft poke at Lynn's back caught his attention.
Busujima Saeko blinked at him, then leaned in close, her voice a sultry whisper.
"Master, I'd like to try something new~"
Her gaze drifted toward the golden chain in Lynn's hand.
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
He lifted her and went to his room.
---
In the next moment
A loud, high-pitched sound echoed through the house, startling the three in the living room.
Koneko snapped out of her daze, her body tensing.
That was... Saeko-senpai's voice?!
Kuroka clicked her tongue in amusement. "Tch, look what you did? It should have been me!"
Senhime, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes dangerously.
She didn't care about the others, but this damn cat
She needed to be away from Lynn.
Meanwhile, Koneko, unable to hold out any longer, began showing signs of being in heat.
Seeing this, Kuroka quickly cast a spell to help her snap out of it.
Without another word, Koneko bolted from the room, her face flushed.
If she stayed any longer
She was afraid she wouldn't be able to control herself.
.
.
.
---
Mass release as promised! Gonna try to keep this up every week.
Not gonna tell you to drop your stones here save 'em and terrorize some other author into posting bonus chapters instead, lol.
Actually, you know what? Someone should just make a reader-only Discord server. I'll even join with my alt account as a reader. Imagine the chaos... author says "Bonus chapter every 100 stones" then BAM, 1k stones in a day. We'll drain them dry one by one, believe me. Kekeke~
Anyway, hope you guys enjoy the story! Yeah, the author's been stretching some chapters a bit lately, but that's kinda normal, I guess.
Oh, and lastly go check out my fanfic Multiverse Share! Pretty sure you're gonna love it.
---
Support me and read advanced chapters at: patreon.com/_Coreal
Kuoh Academy - Occult Research Club
Seeing Koneko's figure appear, Rias raised her brows in surprise.
"Back so early today?"
Koneko pressed her lips together and let out a quiet "Mm."
Rias frowned slightly and glanced at Akeno, exchanging a look.
Something's off.
Akeno gave a subtle nod.
Since Koneko wasn't saying anything, they couldn't exactly pry.
Koneko took a moment to calm herself down, but she still seemed conflicted.
The president and the others probably don't know yet, right?
About Senpai Lynn's power.
And not just his powerbut that of his familiars too.
Including her sister, that makes three Ultimate-class Devils!
That's basically on par with the Four Great Satans of the Underworld!
Even just thinking about it, Koneko felt shaken all over again.
Just how did Senpai pull this off?
She remembered when he was only at Mid-class Devil level.
And now, this fast
She took a deep breath, debating whether to tell her president.
If Rias found out, she'd definitely be stunned.
She then thought about Kuroka.
If news about her sister got out, it might cause trouble for Senpai.
Even though she trusted Rias and Akeno completely
Yeah, better keep it to herself for now.
The next day.
Lynn stepped out of his bedroom feeling refreshed.
Yesterday with Saeko? Smooth as hell!
Kuroka practically teleported over like a cat who caught a scent, sniffing him with a slightly resentful look in her eyes.
Before she could say a word, a puppy's head popped out from under Lynn's shirt and stared at her with an expressionless gaze.
"Meow?"
Kuroka flinched. "When did you sneak in there?!"
Ryougetsu Senhime huffed coldly and didn't even bother answering, maintaining her usual aloof aura.
Kuroka just rolled her eyes and twitched her nose.
"You're not even joining them, so what's the point of being in there? Useless mutt."
If it were her, she would've joined ages ago!
Kuroka started thinking deeply.
Hmm maybe that's a plan?
She'd just joined the familia yesterday and took some time to understand the whole situation.
Besides the whole jaw-dropping world invasion plan there was that harem situation.
A legit, full-blown harem!
There were even over three million lolis who'd grow up somedayand they would all be waiting their turn!
If it goes one by one, when the hell will her turn come?
Time for group activities!
Of course There's no way she's ending up on the same bed as that little puppy-girl!
And definitely not as allies!
Kuroka's golden slit pupils flickered mischievously, a sly smirk creeping onto her face.
Allies though hmm...
First one that came to mindShirone!
Sisters working together? Unstoppable combo!
She knew exactly how her sister felt about Lynn.
That whole deal with the ears popping out as soon as he touched her head, and the tail twitching up when his hand slid down...
Kuroka saw all of it with her own eyes yesterday.
Shirone had completely become Lynn's pet!
But hey, Kuroka was totally fine with that!
Strong bloodlines need more bed wrestling!
And more importantly Their master's overwhelming power!
From granting blessings to bestowing special devil abilities
To invading worlds and plundering the multiverse!
Before meeting him, she couldn't even imagine something like this.
Now that she's with him, she couldn't even think how high she might rise!
She would get to see the wonders of other worlds!
Just the thought of it sent shivers down her spine.
Her desire to carry on her master's bloodline was growing stronger by the second, nya~!
She had to pull her sister Shirone into the haremah, into the familia circle!
As the big sister, it was her duty to guide her little sister to the right path!
And following Master? That's definitely the true path of life, nya!
As for that so-called Crimson-Haired Destruction Princess? Pfft, totally lame.
She's not even worth a single strand of Master's hair.
And about Shirone still being underage... hmm...
Kuroka blinked, tapping her finger on her chin, mumbling to herself: "Maybe we can let Shirone just use her hands a little... at least she'd feel like she's participating... nya~"
Afternoon - Shuchiin Academy
Supernatural Research Club
Lynn suddenly got a message.
[Kikyo: "Master, we've successfully captured Kibutsuji Muzan!"]
Lynn blinked in surprise.
[Kasumigaoka Utaha: "That thing didn't even seem all that smart. Looked like he got tricked way too easily."]
---
Demon Slayer World
Muzan was trapped inside a barrier radiating purification energy.
His face was as dark and twisted as ever.
This Devil Cult that suddenly appeared basically steamrolled over the demon ecosystem like a natural disaster.
As the Demon King, he shouldn't have just stood by and watched.
But...
These women... each one of them is more terrifying than the last!
What stuck in his mind the most was the scene of Upper Moon Six's death.
A woman holding a black book casually waved her hand toward Upper Moon Six.
A lightning bolt, like divine punishment from the heavens, crashed down!
Direct hit!
One strike.
Upper Moon Six got completely annihilated!
All that "not dying unless exposed to sunlight or cut by a Nichirin Blade" crap?
Totally useless against these women!
So all Muzan could do was stand there helplessly, watching his subordinates fall one after another.
Well then... may as well use them to test the limits of this Devil Cult!
That was his plan anyway.
Worst case scenario? He could always hide away for another few hundred years. He had time to spare.
He even brought one of their flyers back to the Infinity Castle.
Who would've thought...
That plain, ordinary piece of paper could actually summon a bunch of devils!
He didn't even have time to react before they started shouting, "For the Devil Cult! For spreading Lord Lynn's will!" while packing him up like luggage.
And this barrier... damn thing radiated a sun-like energy that made him feel absolutely miserable.
If he tried to force his way out...He would die!
His instincts screamed at him!
Kocho Shinobu looked at the utterly defeated Kibutsuji Muzan trapped inside the barrier, her eyes blank with disbelief.
Lately, it felt like she was living in a dream.
Since when were demons... this weak?
For a thousand years...
The Demon Slayer Corps had fought desperately against Kibutsuji Muzan...
But in the hands of the Devil Cult?
He didn't seem any different from a random low-tier demon.
After today... would there be no more demons left in this world?
Was her long-harbored hatred finally going to be fulfilled?
"Sis..."
Shinobu turned blankly to her sister, Kocho Kanae.
Kanae smiled gently, patting her on the head. "All of this... is thanks to Lord Lynn."
"Yeah!"
Shinobu nodded seriously.
Supernatural Research Club
The moment Muzan got captured, the world invasion progress for Demon Slayer World shot up!
But...73.23%.
Once it hit that number, the progress slowed to a crawl.
The rest would just take time to chip away at.
---
A few days later
Kuoh Town
Kuroka hid herself in the treetops, stretching out her hand toward the girl she just called out.
"Shirone, I'm here to pick you up, nya~"
Koneko: "???"
.
.
.
Demon Slayer World
At the main headquarters of Lynn's Devil Cult.
For the first time, Lynn stepped through the dimensional gate, arriving at his own religious sanctuary.
Kikyo stepped forward respectfully. "Lord Lynn."
Meanwhile...
Kocho Shinobu and the others were curiously checking Lynn out, whispering in their hearts, "So this is the Devil God?"
Kanroji Mitsuri tilted her head and whispered shyly, "So I can marry a God too..."
All she ever wanted was to find a strong man who could accept her and spend her life with him.
And now...
She was actually going to become the bride of a God!!
Not only did her wish come true, it was way beyond her expectations!
Blushing like a ripe apple, Mitsuri shyly covered her face, stealing glances at the handsome God every now and then, letting out little squeals of excitement.
Shinobu: "..."
This love-struck girl... it's honestly painful to watch.
Feeling she had to step in, Shinobu reminded her, "It's shrine maiden, not bride."
"Eh?"
Mitsuri looked confused. "What's the difference?"
Shinobu opened her mouth... then shut it again.
Accurately speaking... yeah, there wasn't much difference.
"This is so great, so great!" Mitsuri suddenly hugged Shinobu, looking super happy. "Being able to serve God together with you, Shinobu, feels like a dream!"
Ugh, this cow!
Feeling the wave-like attack from Mitsuri's chest, Shinobu rolled her eyes.
Still... serving God together with her sister-like friend...
That thought made Shinobu's heart race too, her mind starting to wander into some very unholy territory.
After taking a tour around the main base, Lynn's attention shifted to the new Familia members Kikyo and the others had recruited from all over the Demon Slayer world.
Kocho Shinobu, Kanroji Mitsuri, Tsuyuri Kanao ...
Even Nezuko and Makomo were here.
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "That fast?"
Utaha shrugged. "It's all thanks to your little devil loli army."
"They were crazy dedicated when it came to recruiting future harem members for their Lord."
Whenever their Devil's Pieces glowed to guide them, these little lolis would sweep in like locusts. No potential target could escape!
"Good job!" Lynn gave them a big thumbs up.
"Yayyy!! Lord Lynn praised us!!"
The devil lolis bounced around happily.
Helping out Lord Lynn, getting praised by Lord Lynn... that was already enough to make them feel totally fulfilled!
Well, what could they do?
They weren't old enough yet.
Unlike Kikyo, they couldn't become Lynn's shrine maiden brides.
And there were just too many of them!
So...They were already fiercely competing against each other.
The more they did for Lynn, the higher their ranking would be!
The lolis had set their own internal rules!
Currently, Kayo Senju and Tina Sprout were in a dead heat for the top spot.
Following closely were Enju Aihara, Asaka Mibu, Hotaru Kouro, and others.
As for Fuse Midori...
She was Lynn's pet. She wasn't even part of their competition.
---
Before long, Lynn began performing the reincarnation ceremony for them.
"W-we have to undress?" Shinobu yelped, glancing at her sister Kanao.
Was this really the first step of becoming a shrine maiden? This was kinda intense!
Kanao just gave her a gentle smile and whispered, "Do your best, Shinobu."
D-Do my best?
Was this about undressing faster?
Or undressing more thoroughly!?
Mitsuri, already red as a tomato, hesitated, steam practically rising from her head.
"Is... is this the bridal chamber already?!"
Trembling, she reached for her clothes.
"W-well, I guess it makes sense... I can't exactly not take off my clothes if we're going to the bridal chamber, right...?"
Determined to become the true bride of God, Mitsuri yanked hard
RIP!
The sound of fabric tearing echoed in everyone's ears.
"Eh?"
Mitsuri blinked... then looked down.
"KYAA!!"
Panicking, she quickly crouched down, trying to cover herself.
She... she went too hard with that pull!!
Everything's out in the open now!!
Shinobu: "!!!"
She stared at Mitsuri with complicated feelings.
Girl... you stripped fast and clean, huh?
With Mitsuri taking the lead, everyone else relaxed a bit.
Once someone takes the first step, things always get easier.
Shinobu, blushing like crazy, shyly took off her top as well.
Lynn didn't avoid looking either, calmly taking in the shy beauty of his shrine maidens.
After all, they were all his now.
Soon, the new shrine maidens lined up neatly, waiting for Lynn to grant them his blessing.
Shinobu crossed her arms to cover her important parts, her ears burning red.
This was still super embarrassing!
Lynn stepped forward.
Starting with Mitsuri Kanroji.
Giving her a quick once-over, her stunning curves were fully displayed before him.
She really was the most honest one here.
Mitsuri nervously said, "L-Lord God... I'm really easy to feed..."
Lynn smiled, understanding her worries.
He owned several worlds. Did she really think he couldn't feed a big eater like her?
"Relax. No matter how much you eat, I can handle it."
Hearing that, Mitsuri's eyes sparkled!
She'd been accepted by Lord God!
The next second...
Lynn pressed a Devil's Piece onto her smooth back.
Mitsuri's eyes widened. "Something's... entering me!"
[Ding! You have obtained Familia Member: Mitsuri Kanroji!]
[Ding! Your Familia Member: Mitsuri Kanroji has reincarnated as a Special Devil!]
Lynn raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Then checked her blessing info.
---
[Kanroji Mitsuri]
Rank: Low-class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Love Breathing] (details omitted), [Superhuman Strength], & [Muscle Devil]
[Superhuman Strength]
Muscle density is 8 times that of a normal human
When muscles surge, attack power doubles
Huge appetite boost
Strength growth accelerates
Endurance growth accelerates
[Muscle Devil]
Power Veins: Overloaded muscle fibers
Flesh Furnace: Turns spilled blood from injuries into "high-temp creatine steam," continuously burning enemies within range
Devil Form: Flesh Core Ascension
"Muscle Devil?"
Lynn rubbed his chin, feeling like he was getting some weird sense of dj vu.
For some reason, Mikasa's face from AOT popped into his head.
No way... right?
Shaking his head to clear the thought, he copied down Kanroji Mitsuri's blessing info and handed it to her.
Then, Lynn moved on with the reincarnation ritual for the others.
This time it was Shinobu Kocho's turn.
The moment Lynn's hand touched her skin, Shinobu shivered slightly out of reflex.
And thenshe experienced exactly the same thing Mitsuri did.
Her previously delicate body was now overflowing with power!
---
[Kocho Shinobu]
Rank: Low-class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Insect Breathing] (Omitted), [Venom Devil]
.
.
.
[Kocho Shinobu]
Rank: Low-class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Insect Breathing] (Omitted), [Venom Devil]
[Venom Devil]
Immune to all poison-type damage
Toxic Analysis: During combat, instantly analyzes enemy toxins and weaknesses, increasing weak point detection rate by 50%, while auto-optimizing her own poisons
Phantom Needle Prison: Condenses venom into hundreds of invisible needles that lock onto vital points and automatically pursue the target, causing intense pain and nerve paralysis upon impact
Devil Transformation: Undying Venom devil form
Staring blankly at her own blessing info, Shinobu was dumbfounded.
"So this is the secret behind how Lady Kikyo and the others can easily slay demons... The blessing of a god, huh..."
A while later...
Lynn finished reincarnating all the talented people from the Demon Slayer world into his Familia.
As expected, they all turned out to be low-class devils.
Except for Mitsuri and Shinobu, everyone else was just an ordinary devil.
Nezuko got a skill called [Hinokami Kagura] the Dance of the Fire God.
As the shrine maiden of a Devil God, she awakened a skill tied to the Fire God concept.
Honestly? Hard to judge.
Jokes aside, Lynn knew it was just related to Sun Breathing.
With that, the Demon Slayer world's invasion progress had officially broken past the 80% mark.
At the same time, the inner space of the "Devil's Pieces" underwent another change.
Lynn raised an eyebrow and opened his panel.
His level still showed as Maou-Class (Devil King Level).
The feedback from a bunch of low-class devils was like tossing a stone into the oceanno waves, no ripples.
Even though the displayed level hadn't changed, Lynn was pretty sure his actual strength had already gone beyond the Maou-Class.
With the feedback from higher-level devils and his Familia leveling up, his power was constantly growing.
Even if low-class devils didn't offer him much growth now, once they reached mid-class, they'd still provide feedback.
Over time, Lynn felt like he was already brushing against the limit of the Maou-Class.
Basically what you'd call a "Super Devil."
After checking his own status, Lynn entered the space world of his "Devil's Pieces."
As usual, the constellation lolis swarmed around him while he checked the positions of the new Demon Slayer world Familia pieces.
A new skill resembling the "Gastrea Genome Codex (Factor Genome)" slowly emerged.
"So every time I invade a world, I get a new skill?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.
But then he wondered
"Why didn't I get anything from the Apocalypse World? Was it not worthy?"
Shaking his head, Lynn turned his attention to the new skill.
[Hinokami Kagura]
Obtains the "Sun" power
Judgment of the Sun (Condenses a thousand years of faith into a single sun-infused slash that ignores all defenses)
---
"The Sun, huh..."
Lynn's eyes lit up. He extended a finger and focused his magic power.
Humm
A wisp of searing-hot magic floated at his fingertip.
Rubbing his chin, Lynn muttered, "Does this mean I have anti-vampire properties now?"
Looking up, he saw a faint, fragile red glow drifting in the starry space like a candle in the wind.
"So this counts as the Sun?"
The corner of Lynn's mouth twitched.
Still, everything was moving in a good direction.
The Black Bullet world had given him the power of the Zodiac.
Now the Demon Slayer world had given him the power of the Sun.
A strange glint flickered in Lynn's eyes as he looked at the starry sky of the Devil's Piece.
Sooner or later, he would turn the space within the "Devil's Pieces" into something truly complete.
Lynn lingered a little longer, staring at that so-called "Sun".
Then glanced over at the Zodiac.
"Tsk."
"Each Zodiac sign has its own little loli guardian, but the Sun has nothing? Totally unacceptable. I gotta stuff someone in there."
Returning his consciousness from the "Devil's Pieces" space, Lynn found that the new members of his Familia had all changed into shrine maiden outfits.
"What's this?"
Raising an eyebrow, he glanced at Kikyo with a questioning look.
Kikyo smiled gently and explained, "The new shrine maidens are preparing to perform a Kagura Dance for Lord Lynn, hoping to earn your favor."
"Oh?"
Lynn's interest was piqued.
Sitting upright on his throne, his voice gained a trace of majesty.
"Then... let me see what you've got."
As his words fell, Shinobu and the others exchanged glances before moving into action.
Nezuko, dressed in a white top and crimson hakama, held bells in her hands. When she lightly shook her wrists, the bells chimed in layers, and colorful ribbons floated gracefully with her movements.
Mitsuri wore a sleeveless shrine maiden outfit that highlighted her strength. Holding a sword, her movements were powerful and bold. The arc her blade carved through the air felt like it could cut down all misfortune.
The others weren't to be outdone eithereach showing off their own dances, all flowing beautifully before Lynn's eyes.
As Lynn's closest shrine maiden, Kikyo's Kagura Dance skills were on another level entirely.
In order to please Lynn even more, she had even created her own unique dance.
The sacred Rod Dance!
Holding a sacred rod, Kikyo's expression was solemn and dignified as she carefully measured its length, offering the highest purification ritual.
Seeing Kikyo's performance, the newly recruited shrine maidens were all stunned.
Blushing furiously, they secretly watched her every move, studying in detail the proper steps of how to please their god.
Kanae's face reddened slightly as she pressed her lips together, her hands nervously twining together...
But...
There was a trace of determination that flashed across her eyes.
Serving a god that was a shrine maiden's duty!
She took a deep breath, stepped forward a few paces, and spoke with clear resolve.
"Miss Kikyo... please, teach me this Dance!"
Kikyo, who was still focused on her purification ceremony, lifted her gaze in slight surprise.
But when it came to earnest, willing-to-learn shrine maidens, she never kept her knowledge to herself.
With a faint smile, Kikyo stepped aside, handing over the sacred rod and began to instruct her patiently.
"The Sacred rod stands tall even in chaos."
"As long as your prayers come from a place of true devotion, the god will naturally bestow divine power upon you and watch over you."
Shinobu and Kanae listened intently, soaking up Kikyo's words like a sponge completely immersed in learning every detail.
Meanwhile, in the main world.
Kuoh Academy
Koneko stared nervously at Kuroka, who had suddenly appeared before her.
"Nee-san... why are you here again?"
After all, Kuroka was an SS-ranked criminal wanted by the Underworld.
If the club president saw her hanging around, things could get seriously messy.
But more importantly...
It would definitely cause trouble for senpai.
Kuroka was lying lazily on a tree branch, completely relaxed.
"Obviously I'm here to pick up my little sister and bring her home to warm the bed with me~"
Koneko twitched slightly, feeling weirdly conflicted.
Why... does this sound oddly familiar?
Wait a sec...
Hasn't Nee-san already become senpai's servant?
Where exactly is she trying to take me?
It hasn't even been a full day since she joined, and she's already planning to betray senpai??
Thinking of this, Koneko's expression turned serious.
But just as she was about to speak, Kuroka's golden, cat-like eyes glanced over her shoulder staring straight past her.
"Oh? The Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess is here too? No point in hiding anymore, nya~"
.
.
.
Kuoh Academy
Rias fell silent for a moment. She exchanged a look with Akeno beside her before stepping forward.
"President?"
"Akeno-senpai?"
Koneko looked surprised to see Rias and Akeno approaching.
She was sure that when she left earlier, she hadn't drawn that much attention... so why were they here...?
But now wasn't the time to worry about that!
Her sister had been found out!
More importantly, she absolutely couldn't let the President know about her sister's connection to Lynn-senpai!
Koneko started getting nervous.
Rias noticed her anxiousness and thought it was because of the pressure from Kuroka, so she gave Koneko a comforting smile.
Then she turned her gaze to Kuroka.
Hmph! Just look at this!
Kuroka had scared her cute little Koneko so much!
Her eyes sharpened, and her tone became firm. "Koneko is now my servant, Rias Gremory's servant. I'm not letting you take her away!"
"Ho~?" Kuroka's eyes gleamed playfully. She then looked at Koneko, narrowing her eyes. "Shirone, you should know exactly where I am right now, don't you?"
Koneko froze.
What did that mean?
Was she planning to take her to Lynn-senpai?
She looked confused.
But then Kuroka's voice softly drifted to her ear...
"Shirone, you're not really gonna let your big sis have Lynn all to herself, are you?" She leaned in and whispered, just loud enough for Koneko to hear.
Then, with a playful smile, she added aloud, "Come on I doubt we'll even make it out of his bed anytime soon."
Koneko: "!!!"
Her face turned bright red.
Sister!! What the heck are you even saying!!
Rias and Akeno both froze for a second, their expressions turning weird.
What kind of crazy thing was that to say!?
Koneko's sister was this... bold?
This womanshe was seriously trying to corrupt her adorable little Koneko!
Absolutely not!
There was no way she could let her take Koneko away!
Rias glared at Kuroka, her expression dangerous. "You! Koneko is not going with you!"
"Kuroka! Don't forget who you are!"
Rias's aura flared. "You plan to take Koneko and drag her into a life on the run, hunted by devils everywhere?!"
"Besides..."
She stared hard at Kuroka, her tone complicated. "You probably don't even realize how much pain you've already caused Koneko..."
Kuroka went quiet for a moment, then let out a soft laugh. "I can't undo the past..."
"But!"
Her golden eyes gleamed with a touch of madness. "This time, I want to lead Shirone down a path of unparalleled happiness!"
Of course, it wasn't just about getting Shirone to join her.
Once Shirone was marked by Master's blessing...
The power within her, which shared the same origin as Kuroka's, would be properly guided and awakened.
In factWith the blessing, she could reach heights beyond imagination!
Rias listened to Kuroka's fanatic rambling, frowning deeply.
Realizing words wouldn't work, her tone turned cold. "I won't let someone as dangerous as you take Koneko away."
"Nyaaa?"
Kuroka blinked, her golden pupils flashing with a dangerous light.
"Dangerous?"
She chuckled softly. "Are you sure... this place is safe either?"
Rias froze.
But Kuroka kept talking. "I heard... that a certain high-ranking Fallen Angel has their eyes on this place."
Rias bit her lip. "I'll protect Koneko."
"With just you?" Kuroka sneered, lifting a delicate hand and tapping the air.
In an instantDark purple mist spread around them.
The moment Rias inhaled the mist, her eyes widened in shock as all the strength drained from her body.
With a thud, she collapsed to the ground!
Akeno's body also weakened, though due to her Fallen Angel bloodline, she managed to resist better than Rias.
She could barely stay standing.
Akeno gritted her teeth, her face dark.
Why... of all times... did this disgusting bloodline have to be useful now!
Honestly, she would rather have collapsed like Rias.
"Sister!"
Koneko stood protectively in front of Rias, completely unaffected by the mist.
Or rather...
Kuroka had deliberately avoided her.
Seeing Koneko's worried look, Kuroka waved her hand casually. "Relax, relax~ Sis knows what she's doing, nyaa~."
"After all..."
Kuroka's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "She is the sister of that Lucifer guy, after all, nyaa."
Rias bit her lip hard upon hearing that.
Kuroka leapt down from the tree, grabbed Koneko, and looked at Rias with a teasing smile.
"See?"
"If I can deal with you guys this easily..."
"What makes you think you can protect Shirone from me?"
"..."
"Damn it!"
Rias glared fiercely at Kuroka.
"Well then~"
"Shirone, I'm taking you with me, nyaa~"
A purple magic circle flared up behind Kuroka, ready to teleport her and Koneko away.
But... Koneko hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "Sorry, sis."
"I can't go with you yet."
Kuroka froze. "Nya~?"
Koneko spoke firmly, "Rias-senpai saved me. I can't just walk away like this!"
Of course, deep down, she still wanted to be Lynn-senpai's special pet.
But...
She thought back to her past.
If it wasn't for Rias-senpai... maybe she wouldn't even be alive right now, let alone have the chance to meet Lynn-senpai.
"Koneko..." Rias was clearly moved.
But...
A flaw in Koneko's words.
Akeno immediately caught it.
Yet??
Meaning... someday...She would leave.
Akeno frowned, her thoughts drifting to Lynn.
Is he a part of this situation?
Thinking of Lynn, she remembered something else.
Rias had once received a devil flyer from Lynn.
Maybe it was the first thing Rias had ever gotten from him.
Even though it was just an ordinary devil flyer, Rias always kept it close.
Akeno had even seen her quietly pull it out from time to time, staring at it with a complicated expression.
Akeno squinted at Rias's chest.
When she spotted a tiny corner of black paper peeking out, she breathed a silent sigh of relief.
Yup, she was carrying it right now.
Good.
If things got really bad... they'd just have to ask Lynn for help.
But... could Lynn really handle Kuroka?
Akeno hesitated.
Even though she was starting to lose track of what Lynn could actually do...
Still, he was their age.
Even if he was way stronger than her or Rias... it couldn't be that much stronger, right?
This was seriously troubling...
And Kuroka hadn't really tried to hurt them.
But if Koneko got taken away...
"Hmm..."
Akeno remembered what Kuroka had said before.
Her master's bed?
Even she was stunned hearing that!
No doubt about it!
If Koneko went with her, she'd be walking straight into hell!
Absolutely not!
Akeno ran through countless thoughts in just a few seconds.
Then her eyes landed on Rias's chest again.
She recalled the first time she met Lynn...
That black lightning... still vivid in her mind.
Looks like it's time to throw all caution to the wind.
"Shirone, you're really loyal and affectionate, nya~"
Kuroka rubbed her little sister's head, but then her expression turned serious. "But!"
"This time, big sis isn't taking no for an answer."
"The sooner you accept our master's blessings, the sooner you can stay by his side."
"Shirone, if you don't hurry... you'll get left far, far behind, nya~"
Kuroka hugged Koneko tightly, ready to drag her into the teleportation circle.
Suddenly, Rias gasped, hugging her big chest and looking toward Akeno, who put her hand deep inside.
And there it wasthe devil flyer glowing faintly in Akeno's hand.
Realizing her friend's intention, Rias hurriedly tried to stop her.
"Wait! Don't drag Lynn into this!"
"Even if he comes, he can't handle Kuroka!"
But Akeno calmly replied, "There's no other way, Rias. Or would you rather let Koneko end up... you know... stuck in some random guy's bed, unable to even get up?"
Rias: "..."
...Akeno, have you been influenced by Kuroka?
Kuroka's expression immediately froze.
Crap!
If Shirone and the master were that close...
There was no way the heiress of the Gremory family wouldn't know him!
She hurried to stop them, but the devil flyer in Akeno's hand shone with dazzling light.
And in the next moment, a black-haired, red-eyed man appeared out of nowhere.
Lynn took one look at the scene in front of him...
"..."
"Sooo... what's going on here exactly?"
Kuroka let out an awkward laugh, raised her hand like a cat paw, and played dumb. "Ehehe, nya~?"
.
.
.
"..."
Lynn smacked her on the head without mercy.
"Ouch! That hurts!" Kuroka squatted down holding her head, tearing up and looking up at Lynn with an innocent face, like she totally didn't deserve that.
"Master~ I just came to pick up my little sister~ That's all~"
Lynn's eyelid twitched.
Pick up her sister?
Yeah right. After what happened last time, he could pretty much guess what kind of "pick-up" method she had in mind.
I mean, just look at how Koneko was practically about to freeze in one of those classic defeated pose CGs from a dating sim.
Just as Lynn was about to say something
Rias and Akeno suddenly exclaimed, "M-Master?!"
Their eyes widened in shock.
"So... so you're the man who wants to sleep with Koneko-chan?!"
Lynn's eyelid twitched again. He slowly turned his gaze toward Kuroka.
Akeno had totally blurted that out.
And immediately realized she probably said something crazy.
No doubt it was this crazy cat who said something weird to them beforehand!
Kuroka: "...."
Occult Research Club.
Rias and Akeno still looked dazed, clearly not over the shock of Kuroka calling Lynn "Master."
Meanwhile, Lynn sat there like he really was the master here, casually giving orders.
"Kuroka, tea."
"Okay, nya~" Kuroka obediently responded with a sweet smile.
Rias and Akeno: mental breakdown intensifies
So obedient?!
Is this really Kuroka?
The same Kuroka who's an SS-class threat in the Underworld? The same Kuroka who turned the tables and hunted down her pursuers?
This is... the same Kuroka who, not long ago, one-shotted both of them like it was nothing?
Rias and Akeno exchanged looks, then stared at Lynn.
Just how the hell did he pull this off?
Isn't this a bit too dramatic?
Not long ago, they were feeling hopeless, regretting how powerless they were as they watched Kuroka about to snatch Koneko away.
Then Lynn shows up... and just flips the whole situation.
Like, what kind of plot twist is this?
Akeno was dazed too.
Especially about Lynn and Kuroka's relationship.
Master and servant?
The Kuroka who just overwhelmed them with zero resistance...
Has been tamed by Lynn?
Akeno's mind was blank.
She thought back to that black lightning from before.
Sure enough!
She knew this man wasn't normal from that moment!
---
Meanwhile, Koneko was curled up on the sofa, looking pretty gloomy.
Crap...
Senpai's relationship with my sister got exposed to the president!
She was worried now.
Sis, please don't cause trouble for Senpai...
---
On the other side
After figuring out the situation, Lynn felt a little speechless.
He thought the summon from Rias was because Kokabiel was attacking Kuoh Academy or something.
But this? This's it?
Man, he even left his bed party halfway just to come here!
Lynn wasn't happy about that.
"Master~ Here's your tea, nya~"
Kuroka carefully placed the tea in front of him, smiling like she was begging for praise.
Then, she felt Lynn's cold stare.
"Uwah, nya!"
Kuroka trembled, then immediately threw herself onto Lynn's lap, raising her butt obediently.
"Master~ Kuroka knows she was wrong, nya~ Please punish me, nya~"
Lynn was seriously pissed. His hand came down hard with a loud smack smack smack!
Crisp, loud, like firecrackers going off in a small room!
"Nyaaa~!"
Kuroka let out a pitiful yet strangely seductive cry.
Pain mixed with... enjoyment?
Rias and Akeno stared dumbfounded at the scene before them.
The so-called SS-class dangerous criminal of the Underworld...
Just obediently accepting punishment like that?
That's not how she was just now!
At the same time, both Rias and Akeno subconsciously tightened their butts sitting on the sofa.
Lynn's hand looked... really strong...
After a while, Lynn's anger cooled down. He casually played with Kuroka's tail, then turned to Rias and Akeno with a friendly smile.
"Sorry for the trouble."
Rias and Akeno immediately shook their heads, blurting out, "No problem!"
Then realized they probably reacted a bit too fast.
Rias took a deep breath, adjusted her red hair, and forced a smile.
"Well, she's been punished already. But..."
Her eyes flashed with curiosity. "Kuroka really became your servant?"
Lynn shrugged. "Didn't you just see it yourself?"
Rias muttered, "Feels kinda unbelievable..."
That terrifying Kuroka is really Lynn's servant?
Even seeing it with her own eyes and hearing it with her own ears, Rias still found it hard to believe.
That's Kuroka, an Ultimate-Class Devil!
But facts were facts. She had no choice but to believe it.
Why?
Just how did Lynn pull this off?
Rias was really curious.
Suddenly remembering something, Rias' face turned serious.
"Lynn, do you know what Kuroka has done before?"
That was a very serious case of murdering her master!
Even if it was later found out that her previous master was doing terrible experiments...
Killing your master is still a huge deal in the Underworld! She didn't want Lynn to fall into the same pit!
"Of course."
Lynn answered super casually.
Rias was stunned.
Akeno poked her waist, motioning for her to look at Lynn's lap.
Rias looked down, only to see Kuroka rubbing her cheek against Lynn's leg like a cat, eyes narrowed, looking completely blissful.
Master's scent~ nya~
Her tail was swaying unconsciously in Lynn's hand, showing how happy she was right now.
This was...Completely tamed!
Rias was stunned.
Kuroka, you're an Ultimate-Class Devil!
Where's your dignity as an Ultimate-Class Devil?!
This scene made Rias feel like her own previous defeat was even more embarrassing...
"Still, if the Underworld finds out about this..." Her tone clearly carried worry.
If word got out that Lynn was harboring Kuroka, there's no doubt the Underworld would come after him, right?
After all, during her time on the run, Kuroka killed who-knows-how-many devils from the Underworld.
Otherwise, there's no way she would've ended up ranked as an SS-class threat.
Rias had already come to see Lynn as one of her closest friends. Of course she didn't want him to get dragged into any trouble because of this.
After a brief pause, her eyes turned firm.
"I'll talk to my brother about this. I'll convince him to cancel the bounty on Kuroka."
Hearing that, Akeno's eyes widened in surprise. She gave Rias a complicated look.
A powerful Fallen Angel officer showing up in her territory? Rias didn't even think about asking Lord Sirzechs for help.
But now that it's about Lynn... she's immediately saying she'll go beg her brother?
Akeno gave Rias a faint, knowing smile.
Rias...
And here you keep insisting you have no special feelings for Sona's fianc?
Girl, look at yourself. You really think that's convincing anyone?
...
Lynn, for his part, was a little surprised hearing Rias say that. But he quickly shook his head.
"No need. I'll handle the whole Kuroka situation myself."
He wasn't just saying that to sound cool either.
He was someone whose power had already surpassed the level of a Maou.
And that's just in his base form.
If he went all-out with all his buffs? Even he didn't know how ridiculous his strength might get.
Just one of his abilities the Starfire Acceleration buff from the [Aries Crown] could already push his speed to near light-speed levels.
Right now, he was downright terrifying.
Lynn stood tall with confidence.
He was way past the stage of relying on women to protect him now!
He didn't need a sugar mommy anymore!
Rias blinked in surprise at his rejection, looking a little sulky.
"...Alright, I get it."
Of course, even if Lynn told her no, that wasn't going to stop her.
But... There's no need for him to know about that.
Thinking it over, Rias's lips curled into a subtle smile.
Was this... what it felt like to be the woman standing behind Lynn?
Akeno, who had known Rias for years as her Queen, instantly understood what was going through her mind.
Seeing that helpless expression of Rias's made her want to scold her like an exasperated big sister.
After a brief pause, Akeno narrowed her eyes mischievously and said,
"Ara, Ara~ Since Miss Kuroka is now part of Lynn-san's peerage... could it be that kidnapping Koneko-chan was actually... under Lynn-san's orders?"
Rias's expression instantly darkened.
"Akeno!"
She scolded her seriously, "There's no way Lynn would do something like that!"
Akeno covered her mouth with a chuckle, "Ara ara~ I was just teasing~"
But even while joking, Akeno let out a quiet sigh.
Rias...
Your love rival is none other than Sona Sitri, you know?
---
Lynn, on the other hand, didn't react much at all.
Why? Because it was true he really did have his eye on Koneko.
...Actually, it wasn't just Koneko.
Without any shame whatsoever, Lynn replied openly,
"Yeah, I won't deny it. I am interested in Koneko."
Koneko froze for a second, before blushing furiously and lowering her head.
"...Senpai..."
So she really did have a place in Senpai's heart...
Rias: "?????"
Rias's whole face twitched.
She'd just finished defending him only for Lynn to immediately stab her in the back the very next second.
Seriously!?
Akeno's eyes widened too, her smile growing even more sly.
"Ara ara~ To think you'd just admit it so directly~"
But then again...
She narrowed her eyes, her voice dropping to a murmur, "Not that I'm surprised..."
After all, Koneko and Lynn's relationship was obviously special.
Whenever they had free time, Koneko would always be sticking close to him.
Even she and Rias had joked more than once about how Koneko was practically acting like Lynn's little pet already.
So this outcome was... pretty much expected.
Rias, meanwhile, could only let out a helpless laugh.
"...Honestly, I've suspected for a while that you liked Koneko."
Anyone with eyes could tell, right?
I mean... what kind of peerage member spends more time at someone else's place than their own?
It kinda...
It kinda did feel like being NTR'd a little...
Rias gave Lynn a begrudging, almost sulky stare.
But...
At the same time, hearing Lynn just straight-up admit it kind of made her feel better.
At least...
Lynn wasn't the type to scheme in secret or try to steal Koneko behind her back through underhanded means.
This was just who Lynn was.
If he liked someone, he'd say it plainly.
And that was exactly why Rias could trust that the whole Kuroka kidnapping thing hadn't been Lynn's doing.
Still...
Rias collected her thoughts and steeled herself.
There's no way she could just hand Koneko over that easily.
Her peerage was already small enough she couldn't afford to lose someone else!
Not without a fight!
Lynn, seeing the look on Rias's face, let out a faint chuckle.
Not that he thought things would go that smoothly anyway.
But well...
Sometimes, life just worked out.
With a slight grin tugging at his lips, Lynn suddenly spoke up,
"Rias, how about this I'll help you handle everything that's coming next."
"And in exchange... why don't you let me have Koneko?"
"...?"
Rias blinked, a little confused.
And then BOOM!
The doors to the Occult Research Club suddenly exploded inward, and two figures went crashing straight through them, tumbling across the floor!
Rias's eyes shot wide open.
"Exorcists?!"
.
.
.
BOOM!!
The door to the Occult Research Club was violently kicked open!
Two women dressed in church-style combat uniforms were sent flying inside, crashing to the ground!
But the moment they hit the floor, they bounced right back up, combat-ready.
Xenovia gripped her holy sword tightly, her expression tense as she stared out the door.
Hearing Rias' surprised gasp, she glanced over with the corner of her eye and calmly said, "Sorry, Gremory devil lady, but we kind of ended up barging in."
As soon as she said that, her focus snapped back outside.
The enemies chasing themwhether by coincidence or on purposehad clearly been herding them in this direction.
Irina Shido, panting heavily, clenched her teeth in frustration as she glared forward.
Her brow furrowed slightly.
These guys... what exactly are they after?
They even managed to snatch away her holy sword!
"Damn it!" Irina gritted her teeth. "If I wasn't starving right now"
"Ahahaha!"
"The power of four Excalibur fragments combined... what a beautiful thing!"
A silver-haired young priest strolled through the broken doorway, an insane grin plastered across his face. The holy sword in his hand was wrapped in blue flames.
Even just the aura coming off him made the devils in the room feel suffocated.
Well... except for one person.
Lynn.
Rias, sitting on the sofa, only froze for a second before regaining her calm.
"Akeno, Koneko!"
"Yes, President!"
Akeno and Koneko immediately stood up, eyes sharp, slipping into battle stances.
"Ho~?"
Freed Sellzen's crazy smile widened as he tightened his grip on the Excalibur fusion sword.
"How lucky~ Hmmm... five devils?"
Freed paused, needing a moment to count with his tiny brain before confirming it really was five devils.
Xenovia didn't bother listening to his nonsense. She swung her holy sword straight at him!
Buzz
Freed grinned like a lunatic, disappearing in a flash and reappearing behind her.
"Watch out!"
Irina's eyes went wide as she cried out.
Xenovia's pupils shrank sharply. It was the holy sword with teleportation abilityExcalibur Rapidly.
"Lightning Strike!"
A cool, clear voice rang out.
CRACK!
Golden lightning suddenly crashed down, forcing Freed to halt his sword mid-swing.
"Whoa there, dangerous, dangerous~!"
Freed quickly retreated, glancing at Akeno. "Ahh, as expected of a High-class devil, huh? This lightning's got some real bite."
Xenovia retreated to Irina's side, warning her seriously, "Be careful. That sword in his hands is a fusion of four Excalibur fragments."
After thinking for a second, Xenovia suddenly turned to Rias.
"Miss Gremory... I know we're technically enemies, but... could I ask for your help destroying that sword?"
"Huh?"
Irina was completely stunned. "You want to cooperate with them?"
"No."
Xenovia shook her head. "I'm asking for help."
"EHHHH?!"
Irina's eyes were as wide as dinner plates. "Us... asking devils for help?! We're church agents!!"
But Xenovia's expression darkened.
The power of the fused Excalibur was way beyond what they could handleeven with Durandal on her side.
Besides, with Irina having lost her holy sword, she was pretty much out of commission.
And worst of all...
That infamous Fallen Angel hadn't even shown up yet.
Xenovia gripped her sword tighter.
Her eyes gleamed. "There's no avoiding this anymore. They forced us here on purpose."
Freed clapped mockingly. "Wow~ Smart girl! I'm jealous, really!"
If it were him, he never would've figured that out.
Damn it!
Even after getting the power of four Excalibur fragments, why didn't he feel any smarter?
Hearing Xenovia's words, Rias slowly stood from the sofa, her gaze ice-cold as she stared at the crazed priest.
"I'll be taking this matter up with both the Church and the Fallen Angels later."
She crossed her arms, magical power surging from her body.
"Tch."
She glanced at Kuroka. That weird dark purple mist's influence hadn't completely worn off yet.
Rias raised her hand, firing a destructive magic blast straight at Freed!
Freed just grinned wildly, swinging down his holy sword without even dodging.
SLAASH
The magic was effortlessly cut apart like tofu!
Rias blinked, utterly shocked. "No way?!"
"That sword really isn't devil-friendly," Xenovia reminded her. "Just to be safe, everyone should support me. I'll take the lead in this fight!"
As her words fell, she raised her hand.
With a clang, a massive blue greatsword wrapped in chains appeared out of thin air.
The moment she gripped the handle, the chains shattered with a loud crack!
"Oh?"
"Durandal, huh?"
Suddenly, a cold, indifferent voice echoed from above.
BOOM!
An explosive shockwave blasted across Kuoh Academy!
The Occult Research Club's roof was completely blown off!
Rias froze in place.
Not far away, a gigantic spear of light stood upright, embedded deep into the ruined ground.
Looking up, Rias saw him.
Five pairs of black wings.
A man in an elegant robe floated in the sky, arms crossed, blood-red eyes looking down with chilling indifference.
An overwhelming pressure swept across the entire Kuoh Academy.
"Ugh..."
The sheer force weighed heavily on Rias and the others, their bodies sinking from the pressure.
"This is our first meeting, isn't it, Princess of the Gremory family?"
"Such beautiful red hair," the man sneered, his face twisting in disgust. "It reminds me of your damned brother. Makes me sick just thinking about him."
This presence... this was the first time Rias had faced someone of such legendary status.
"Kokabiel..."
Rias's voice trembled as her hand shook uncontrollably.
As expected from a Cadre of the Fallen Angels... terrifying.
But even so
"What do you want? What's your goal?!"
Kokabiel's crimson eyes locked onto her, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "If you were to die here... Sirzechs would definitely seek revenge, wouldn't he?"
Rias's eyes widened in shock. "Are you trying to start a war between Devils and Fallen Angels?!"
"No, no, no..." Kokabiel shook his head, his grin widening to reveal sharp fangs. "Not just Devils and Fallen Angels. I'm talking about a war between Devils, Fallen Angels, and Heaven itself!"
"You're insane!" Rias shouted angrily.
"Hah, says you! The last war between Heaven and the Fallen Angels... we were so close to winning!" Kokabiel sneered. "But that fool Azazel got obsessed with Sacred Gear research instead! So now, I'm going to start another war myself!"
Rias didn't hesitate for a second. Her power of destruction exploded out without any reservation.
A gigantic purple magic circle appeared in front of her.
BOOM!!
The next momentAn all-out strike from a High-class devil was unleashed!
Akeno didn't hesitate either. She knew Rias alone wasn't enough.
ZAP!
Golden lightning shot down from the sky, aiming straight at Kokabiel.
"I'm with you!" Xenovia stepped forward, wielding Durandal.
In the blink of an eye
A blast of holy light energy shot toward Kokabiel!
Three overwhelming attacks came crashing down, but Kokabiel merely scoffed. A massive magic circle rose up before him.
BOOM!!
The three powerful attacks slammed into the magic circle
Yet Kokabiel simply waved his hand, easily dispersing them.
Rias's face darkened.
As expected...
This kind of opponent was completely out of their league!
Akeno and Xenovia panted heavily.
Clearly, they'd used up all their power just now.
Xenovia couldn't help but question in her heart
Could she and Irina really take back the Excalibur swords from someone like this?
Wasn't that... too naive?
Despair crept in.
Kokabiel looked down at them. "Gremory... your Power of Destruction is nothing compared to your brother's."
Rias bit her lip hard, glaring at him.
But Kokabiel paid her no mind. His gaze shifted to Xenovia. "Durandal... it's a fine sword. But in the end, it all depends on the wielder."
Then he turned to Akeno. "Ho? The daughter of Baraqiel, fallen to becoming a reincarnated devil, huh..."
Hearing that name, Akeno clenched her fists tightly.
Having said his piece, Kokabiel lost interest. "Freed, I'll leave the rest to you. These guys aren't worth my time."
"Heheh, sure thing, Boss!" Freed licked his lips, his face twisted in madness. "Ahh, Devils and church people fighting side by side against me and my Excalibur... this is freakin' beautiful!"
Freed's eyes gleamed as he charged at Rias, swinging the Excalibur with a crazed laugh.
Rias's pupils shrank. She wanted to cast another spell, but her body wouldn't move.
Damn it!
All her magic power had been drained from her earlier attack.
In that moment, an image of Lynn flashed through her mind.
A sense of helplessness rose within her.
Damn it!
She's the heir to the Gremory family!
Was she really going to fall here?
She hadn't even broken off her engagement yet...
She hadn't even told the one she loved that
Right then, a voice sounded out.
"Kuroka."
"Nyaa~"
In the next instant
Kuroka appeared in front of Rias, her golden eyes radiating danger.
Facing the incoming Excalibur swing, she didn't even flinch.
WHOOM
A purple barrier formed instantly. The Excalibur struck it, producing a sharp sound.
Freed's eyes widened in disbelief.
What the hell?
Something his Excalibur couldn't cut through?
This was the fusion of four Holy Swords!
But before he could react further
A wave of gray flames, formed from a mix of Senjutsu energy and Yokai power, surged toward him!
Freed's pupils shrank in terror. He tried to activate the Excalibur's ability
ButHe couldn't move!
Rias stared at Kuroka's back, stunned. "Kuroka..."
"AAAAAAHHHHH!!"
"M-My soul!!"
"My soul is burning!! AAAAAHHHH!!"
Freed let out a blood-curdling scream!
CLANG!
The Excalibur dropped to the ground.
In the next second
Freed was completely incinerated!
Body and soul, burned to nothingness!
Everyone was left speechless at the sudden turn of events.
And then
Lynn's voice rang out.
"So, Rias... what do you think of my offer now?"
.
.
.
Xenovia and Irina looked at Lynn sitting there all calm and relaxed, completely dumbfounded.
Seriously? Did this guy even understand what kind of situation they were in right now?
Rias also froze for a moment.
Was he talking about his earlier suggestion?
Instinctively, she glanced at Koneko.
Was he talking about handling what's coming next... as in dealing with Kokabiel?
She had thought Lynn was talking about that crazy priest from before.
But hearing his words reminded her of something important.
Sure, Kokabiel was strong... but they had Kuroka on their side!
Even if Kuroka wasn't a match for Kokabiel, she could at least buy them some time, right?
As long as Sona realized something was wrong, she'd definitely contact the Devil Kings!
And besides... Lynn was strong enough to tame someone as dangerous as Kuroka. He had to be stronger than anyone present here.
With both Lynn and Kuroka buying time, holding off Kokabiel until reinforcements arrived shouldn't be impossible!
"Hmph."
Suddenly, Kokabiel's voice interrupted Rias' thoughts.
"Pathetic." His gaze then shifted to Freed and his tone turned ice-cold.
Clearly, he was calling Freed useless.
Then Kokabiel raised his eyes, finally taking a good look at Kuroka, a trace of surprise flashing through his heart.
"Well, well... never thought a junk town like Kuoh would actually have an Ultimate-class Devil lurking around."
He clicked his tongue in amusement... but still...
An Ultimate-class Devil? That wasn't enough to impress him.
Kokabiel narrowed his eyes, locking onto Lynn, who was still sitting lazily on the couch, acting like he didn't care about anything happening around him.
Hah...
Relaxing like that in front of him?
"Should I say... ignorance is bliss?"
His voice turned cold.
"To sit there drinking tea in front of me... you've got guts, kid."
Every other Devil would be trembling in fear before him. And yet this guy was just... sitting there sipping tea?
The more Kokabiel thought about it, the more pissed off he got.
BOOM!
A terrifying aura erupted from him like a Demon King descending upon the world!
Winds howled violently!
The already-damaged Occult Research Club building finally collapsed completely!
Rias's heart skipped a beat. Just that aura alone...!
She gritted her teeth, trying desperately to resist the pressure.
But with her magic already nearly depleted, she barely lasted a few seconds before being blasted away!
Xenovia stabbed Durandal into the ground, bracing herself against the surge.
Irina clung tightly to Xenovia to avoid getting blown away like Rias.
Akeno and Koneko staggered backward, almost unable to hold their ground.
Just then, Kuroka appeared in front of them, shielding them from the brunt of the pressure.
"Sis!"
Koneko let out a breath of relief seeing Kuroka but quickly panicked again. "President Rias?!"
Kuroka clicked her tongue. "Relax, you don't need to worry about that person."
"Huh?"
Koneko blinked in confusion.
Akeno subtly nudged her.
Following Akeno's gaze, Koneko turned her head...
And froze.
There was Rias, sitting on Lynn's lap, blushing furiously with her arms wrapped around his neck.
Koneko: "? ? ? ?"
Leaning back on the couch, Lynn raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Rias, you couldn't bear to see Koneko leave, so you decided to offer yourself instead?"
He stroked his chin. "Not bad, actually."
"Of course not!!" Rias shouted, her face burning.
She just accidentally got swept over here by the blast!
But...Her body felt really hot...
No, no, no! Now wasn't the time to think about stuff like that!
She quickly scrambled off Lynn's lap...
Then froze.
"That pressure... it's gone?"
Did Kokabiel stop?
Rias looked up in confusion, only to see Xenovia and Irina still struggling desperately against the pressure.
"Huh?"
What was going on?
Then she noticed it.
The entire Occult Research Club had been obliterated by Kokabiel's aura.
Except...Everything around Lynn remained perfectly untouched.
Even the cup of tea sitting on the table in front of him hadn't so much as rippled.
Thump.. thump
Rias's heart began pounding wildly.
W-What the hell was this?
An insane thought suddenly popped into her mind.
Could it be... Lynn was way stronger than she had imagined?
But... was that possible?
Could it really be true?
After all...
When she first met him, Lynn was just a Mid-class Devil!
"Ha?"
Kokabiel narrowed his eyes, carefully studying Lynn now that he had noticed the anomaly.
"Still got time to flirt and ignore me, huh? You've got guts, kid."
Kokabiel's blood-red eyes burned with killing intent.
He raised his hand, instantly forming a spear of light.
As his magic poured into it, the terrifying power within grew stronger and stronger, making every Devil present feel a chill run down their spine!
Rias snapped back to her senses, staring in horror at the spear forming in Kokabiel's hand.
Her body moved on instinct, stepping forward to shield Lynn.
But...
Smack!
A large hand gently patted her head.
Rias froze, hearing Lynn's calm voice.
"Alright, leave the rest to me."
"Eh?"
Rias's eyes widened. "But I haven't"
Lynn placed a finger on her soft lips, his mouth curling into a smile.
"Even if you say no, I won't just sit back and do nothing."
Rias's heart skipped a beat.
"After all..."
"We're friends, aren't we?"
Lynn hadn't forgotten Rias was the one who helped him when he was weak.
That feeling... caught Rias completely off guard.
Lynn ruffled her crimson hair lightly before turning to face Kokabiel, his calm gaze unwavering as he stepped forward.
Seeing this, Rias snapped back to reality and quickly grabbed his arm. "Wait!"
She anxiously said, "Lynn, don't push yourself. As long as you and Kuroka can stall him for a while, reinforcements from the Devil Kings should arrive soon!"
Rias believed that Sona, being as smart as she was, must have already called for help from a Maou.
Though she had her suspicions about Lynn's strength just now... without seeing it firsthand, she couldn't help but worry.
After all, Kokabiel survived the great war between the Three Factions. He was literally a monster from ancient times!
"Reinforcements? A Maou?"
Kokabiel burst into loud laughter. "By the time they get here, this entire town will already be blown to pieces! Hahaha!"
"W-What?!"
Rias, Akeno, and the others were completely stunned by his words.
"Heh... You guys don't even know yet, do you? I've already set up a barrier over this town."
"In twenty minutes, this place is going sky-high! Completely obliterated, hahaha!"
Rias glared furiously. "You bastard!"
But Kokabiel ignored her and locked his cold eyes on Lynn, who had been ignoring him from the start. The light spear in his hand surged larger and larger, almost like a pillar piercing the sky.
"Kid! With your ignorance... GO TO HELL!"
With a swing of his arm, Kokabiel hurled his massive light spear straight at Lynn!
Rias, Xenovia, and Akeno watched as the terrifying spear drew closer, their pupils shrinking in shock, their hearts sinking in despair.
Is this the end...?
Buzz!
An even larger, brighter, and more terrifying light spear formed above Lynn in an instant!
"W-What?!"
Kokabiel's eyes went wide in shock.
"Kokabiel..."
Lynn looked up, his face expressionless. "Your so-called glory..."
"Is neither great enough...Nor bright enough."
As his words fell, the light spear above Lynn shot forth like lightning!
With the effect of his skill [Piercing Spear], he got from Miyamoto Rei, Lynn's light spear lost no advantage in speed!
BOOM!
The two spears clashed violently in midair, releasing blinding light across the sky above Kuoh Town!
But
Whether in size or in power, Lynn's spear utterly crushed Kokabiel's the moment they touched.
BOOM!
Kokabiel's spear shattered instantly, while Lynn's kept going without losing momentum!
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!!"
Kokabiel's eyes were filled with blinding light. "A devil... using light more brilliant than a fallen angel? Impossible!!"
He roared in disbelief.
But the next second, he was completely swallowed by the overwhelming light spear!
"Aaaaarghhhhhhh!!"
Kokabiel screamed in agony within the sea of light.
Yet amid the pain, he began to laugh wildly!
"Hahaha!! As expected!! After God's death, this world really has gone crazy! Hahaha!!"
"What did I just witness?! A devil... wielding a light rivaling even angels!!"
Letting out his final roar, the light spear exploded violently!
Kokabiel's blood-red eyes were filled with unwillingness as he let out one last scream, before being completely obliterated in the light.
BOOM!
The blinding light spread like a mushroom cloud over all of Kuoh Town, the shockwaves spreading rapidly outward!
Suddenly, a purple barrier rose up, covering the entire town!
But
CRACK!
The moment it touched the shockwave, the barrier shattered instantly!
Far away, Sona stumbled back a few steps, coughing up blood.
"T-This is bad!!"
She looked up, eyes full of shock. "Our power can't stop this blast from spreading!"
Was Kokabiel really on par with her sister, Serafall?!
Tsubaki Shinra's expression turned grave. "What do we do? If this keeps going, who knows what will happen to Kuoh Town!"
Sona bit her lip, shaking her head helplessly.
There was nothing she could do...
Suddenly
It was as if a crisp snap of fingers echoed in her ears.
The next second
Buzz!
A transparent barrier instantly enveloped the entire Kuoh Town!
Sona looked up in disbelief. "The light's impact... is being contained inside Kuoh Academy..."
Back at the Occult Research Club, Lynn lowered his hand calmly.
Rias and the others still hadn't fully processed what just happened. They simply stared blankly at Lynn's back.
After a long moment, a trembling voice finally broke the silence.
"...M-Maou?!"
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Coreal's note: "No need to say it. I'm preparing 10-chapter mass release for this week!"
(Support me and 20 advanced chapters at: patreon.com/_Coreal)
Rias stared at Lynn's back, her eyes wide in shock.
"M-Maou...?!"
Lynn... he really is ridiculously strong!
She had suspected it for a while now...
But even so!!
That was a Cadre-level Fallen Angel!
One of the top brass right under Azazel himself!
And yet... Lynn just one-shotted him like it was nothing?
That was completely beyond anything she could have imagined!
Rias' heart pounded wildly in her chest. Something indescribable was stirring inside her.
(Sona... your fianc... is way too good...)
Akeno stood frozen as well, her gaze locked onto where Kokabiel had just been obliterated.
A Fallen Angel Cadre...Defeated by Lynn...
Instantly?
Her mind went blank.
She could still remember when Lynn was just a mid-class devil... but now... the figure standing there overlapped with the image of a Maou.
"A Maou, huh..."
She muttered under her breath.
Without a doubt...
Lynn was a Maou.
That Cadre-level Fallen Angel they couldn't even dream of fighting back against... someone whose power could rival a Maou's, maybe even was a Maou-level existence...
Yet even he couldn't withstand a single blow from Lynn.
Akeno took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, and looked around at what remained of Kuoh Academyor rather, what used to be Kuoh Academy, now nothing but rubble.
Then, she looked up at the sky, where that blinding light was still shining.
If Lynn hadn't set up a barrier to contain it all...
Would Kuoh Town... maybe even farther beyond... have been caught in the blast?
Would countless ordinary people have lost their lives in the aftermath?
"..."
Xenovia watched that dazzling light, her expression complicated.
Lynn's devilish aura was sharp and overwhelming.
No doubt about it, he was a genuine devil.
But!
What was with that light that rivaled even an Angel's?
He was a devil... but felt more like a member of the church than she was!
Was there no justice left in the world?!
...Wait.
Didn't Kokabiel say something right before the end...
"God is dead," wasn't it?
Xenovia bit her lip.
Words from a man moments away from death couldn't be fully trusted...
But still...
Maybe she should confirm things with the church when she got back.
Among everyone present, the only two who weren't completely shocked by Lynn's strength were Kuroka and Koneko.
Even so, they couldn't help but be impressed by how overwhelming his power was.
Kuroka's golden slit pupils sparkled with excitement.
"BABIES!!"
"I gotta have babies with Master!! A whole football team's worth!!"
Meanwhile, Koneko's breathing grew heavy, her gaze on Lynn's back turning misty with obvious heat.
Seeing this, Kuroka casually tossed a spell at her to forcibly calm her down.
"Tch, not so fast little sis... I haven't even had my turn yet. You wait your turn."
But Lynn completely ignored all of them.
Instead, he lifted his head, gazing past the brilliant light toward the night sky.
Under the full moon, a faint white shadow flickered.
Lynn's eyes sharpened.
"White Dragon, huh..."
Kuoh Town
By a wide riverbank, a man with black hair, golden bangs, sat calmly on a fishing platform, rod in hand.
Whether he was waiting for a fish to bite, or for something else entirely, was unclear.
Suddenly
A white shadow flashed past and appeared before him.
"Yo!"
Azazel raised an eyebrow. "Back so soon?"
Vali dispelled his Balance Breaker form and showed himself, replying casually: "Yeah... because Kokabiel was weak as hell... he didn't even last a second."
Azazel's eyes twitched in surprise.
Vali was that strong already?
No, wait...
Realizing something was off, Azazel frowned when he noticed Kokabiel was nowhere to be seen.
"...Where's Kokabiel?"
Vali stood at the riverbank, staring at the calm water, and spoke flatly:
"Like I said... he didn't even last a second."
"So... he got killed."
"Killed?!"
Azazel's pupils shrank. "By who?!"
Vali shrugged, sounding both casual and incredibly excited at the same time.
"Dunno the name..."
"But that guy... is definitely a worthy opponent!"
Azazel fell silent.
A Cadre-level Fallen Angel went out for a stroll... and didn't even leave ashes behind?
Tch!
Always causing trouble...
The Fallen Angels didn't have many members to begin with!
And with that kind of power, they still dared to dream about starting another war?
Idiot!
Azazel sighed helplessly, then turned to Vali, raising an eyebrow.
"You... look kinda off."
He noticed Vali's body was trembling slightly and frowned.
Vali grinned widely.
"Yeah... you're right!"
"I can't believe it myself... I'm actually feeling fear!"
"Fear?"
Azazel's eyes shot open.
Vali, the battle maniac, feeling fear?
"No..."
After thinking for a second, Vali corrected himself, though his grin never faded.
"More like... that guy's light power... is making the blood of Lucifer inside me... tremble!"
Just thinking about it made Vali even more thrilled.
Lucifer...
My "dear" grandfather!
So even you... have something you fear?
---
"The blood of Lucifer... is trembling..."
Vali's words sent a chill down Azazel's spine.
Of all people, Azazel knew Vali's background better than anyone.
And when Vali mentioned Lucifer... Azazel instantly knew who he meant.
Rizevim Livan Lucifer.
A "Super Devil". A natural-born Super Devil.
Azazel clicked his tongue.
Since when did a monster of that level appear in Kuoh Town?
Enough to make Vali this thrilled?
Still...
Light?
An Angel?
Did Michael send someone to retrieve the Holy Swords?
For Vali to react like this... now he was really curious.
Azazel pushed those thoughts aside for now and asked in surprise, "Knowing your personality, you didn't try to fight him?"
Vali fell silent.
That blinding light covering the entire barrier...
It was a bit of a pain to deal with.
"Someone troublesome is about to appear..."
"But..."
Vali's eyes gleamed with fighting spirit. "Sooner or later, I'll go looking for him myself!"
"To think a Devil this interesting actually exists!"
Azazel nodded. Now this was the Vali he knew.
But then he froze.
"Wait! Did you say..."
"A DEVIL?!!!!!"
At Kuoh Academy.
Under Lynn's precise control, the light within the barrier gradually faded away.
When he released his power, he had deliberately avoided harming any of the Devils within the barrier.
Otherwise... there might've been some accidental casualties.
"Vali, huh..."
Lynn narrowed his eyes, recalling that flash of white.
I wonder... how strong is Vali now?
But...Vali's appearance reminded him of something else.
"Speaking of which..."
"Where's the Red Dragon?"
Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached.
Lynn glanced over.
Leading a group of beautiful girls was none other than Sona Sitri.
"Rias, what exactly happened here?"
"Where's Kokabiel? And what was that light just now?"
Just recalling it made her shiver slightly.
It felt like touching that light would've erased her existence entirely.
Did the Governor of the Fallen Angels attack Kuoh Academy?
Sona fired off question after question, clearly struggling to stay calm after tonight's events.
As Rias was about to answer
Sona caught sight of Lynn from the corner of her eye and froze. "Lynn?"
Her gaze naturally shifted to him.
Recognizing the name, Tsubaki and the other girls quickly exchanged glances.
So that's the president's man?
He's really handsome!
And strong... looks really dependable too...
Can the president even handle him?
Sona's peerage members quietly exchanged loaded glances.
He's exactly our type...
Will we marry him with Sona as her peerage members?
...
"Yo!"
Lynn greeted Sona casually with a grin. "Been a while."
Seeing that easy smile, Sona's face turned a little red. She quickly adjusted her glasses to cover it up.
Rias squinted dangerously.
What's taking Sona so long to break off that engagement?
Tch... looks like I need to give her a little push.
Just as Sona was about to say something
Buzz!
A magic circle suddenly lit up behind her.
"Tadaa~! Magical Girl Levi-chan makes her dazzling entrance!!"
An energetic, crisp voice rang out.
Then appeared a twin-tailed girl in a pink magical girl outfit.
Recognizing the newcomer, Rias quickly bowed respectfully. "Lady Leviathan!"
The other Devils present followed suit. "Lady Leviathan!"
Serafall coughed lightly, trying to act dignified. "Mhm! Sirzechs' little sister, huh."
But that act barely lasted three seconds before she dove onto Sona, hugging and rubbing against her like crazy.
"My dear Sona-chan! Are you hurt? Were you scared?"
"Come here, let big sis comfort you properly!"
Sona's face stiffened. "Sis... I'm fine."
But Serafall didn't care.
How often did she get a chance to stick this close to Sona? Obviously, she was going to absorb every bit of "Sona energy" she could!
Sona pursed her lips helplessly.
This... this was exactly why she didn't want to call her sister over!
If the situation hadn't been so sudden, there's no way she'd have summoned this sis-con monster!
"Oh, right!"
After a while, Serafall suddenly remembered the important stuff and started looking around wildly. "Where's Kokabiel?"
"Daring to attack my precious Sona... I'll stuff his head in a toilet!"
Sona turned to Rias in confusion.
Come to think of it... ever since they got here, nothing much had really happened.
If not for the utter devastation outside Kuoh Academy looking like the moon's surface...
She might've thought nothing had happened at all.
Rias smiled faintly. "Lady Leviathan, Kokabiel..."
She paused for a second before glancing at Lynn, her gaze complicated, her voice a little odd. "...has already been handled by Lynn."
Serafall: "?"
Sona: "???"
"Lynn?"
Sona looked at Lynn in disbelief.
He took down Kokabiel?
But...
Wasn't Lynn just a mid-class Devil before?
Sona's mind was a mess.
"Lynn?"
Serafall narrowed her eyes. That name had been popping up a lot recently.
"You're Sona's fianc, right?!"
Hmph!
Making Sona so troubled!
Looks like it's time to settle this once and for all!
Noticing Serafall's unfriendly gaze, both Rias and Sona's hearts skipped a beat.
But before they could stop her, Serafall's sharp gaze locked onto the only man present...
"Kyaaa!!! It's you again, Valifer!"
.
.
.
Kuoh Academy
"Huh?"
Just as Rias and Sona were about to step in and calm things down, both of them froze when Serafall's attitude suddenly did a complete 180.
She became so polite to Lynn.
Sona was really stunned. "Wait a sec... does sis know Lynn?"
Rias raised an eyebrow, sensing that this situation was a lot messier than it looked on the surface.
Even Lynn frowned at Serafall's strange reaction. "You know me?"
"Eh?"
Now it was Serafall's turn to be stunned, hiding behind Sona like a kid caught stealing cookies.
Did I... get the wrong guy?
But...
Serafall narrowed her eyes, carefully sizing up Lynn.
Looks the same...
Same name too, Lynn Valifer!!
She always thought the Valifer name was just a nostalgic tribute or something...
But this... this is way too much of a coincidence, right?
Could someone really look this similar?
And yet... Lynn's genuinely confused expression didn't look fake at all.
Now even Serafall was starting to feel a little lost.
Well, at least it looks like her butt was safe for now.
Awkwardly scratching her cheek, she quickly put her usual carefree expression back on.
"Haha... maybe I mistook you for someone else... hehehe..."
---
...Really?
Rias didn't look fully convinced.
Sona, on the other hand, didn't think too deeply about it. Seeing the tension between her sister and Lynn ease up, she finally let out a breath of relief.
Lynn narrowed his eyes slightly.
Nah, Serafall definitely knows him.
But this was 100% his first time meeting her.
Then it hit him.
Could it be... the Underworld from 500 years ago?
Did his future self do something over there?
Speaking of the past... it's been a while since he visited that timeline.
Wasn't there still a maid he hadn't "collected" yet?
Might be worth making a trip soon.
He glanced at Serafall, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
Who knows? Maybe something fun would happen.
Serafall shivered out of nowhere.
C-Creepy... why do I have such a bad feeling about this...
Meanwhile, Rias filled Sona and Serafall in on what had just happened.
When Serafall heard that Lynn had obliterated Kokabiel using the power of light...
"L-Light Magic!!"
She instinctively clutched her butt and stared at Lynn in horror.
And you're still telling me you're not that Lynn Valifer?!
"Ahaha... haha..." Serafall forced a very awkward laugh. "W-Well, since everything's wrapped up here, I-I think I'll be going now!"
Without waiting another second, she quickly cast a teleportation spell and fled back to the Underworld like her life depended on it.
Sona stared blankly. "Sis...?"
W-What the heck was that? Why do I feel like something's really off with her today?
She actually left without clinging to me?!
That's... suspicious!
Strangely enough, Serafall's sudden exit made the other Devils visibly relax.
Tsubaki adjusted her glasses, her sharp gaze landing on Lynn. A strange glint flashed in her eyes as she looked over at Sona, her tone carrying a weird undertone.
"President... I didn't expect your husband to be someone on par with a Maou like Lady Leviathan."
"H-H-Husband?!"
Sona's face went up in flames, her brain completely short-circuiting at the word.
"Eh? She's right!" Another of Sona's peerage chimed in with wide eyes. "Doesn't that mean we technically have a new Maou's husband in our club now?"
Reya Kusaka's face turned bright red, her mind spiraling into strange territory.
If President Sona gets pregnant... would she, as part of the peerage, have to help out with her master's... ehem... "needs?"
Just imagining that scenario was already making her nose bleed.
Rias squinted at Sona and her peerage, feeling a bit sour inside.
But...
Right now, Sona was technically Lynn's fiance.
Thinking of that, Rias bit her lip.
Why does Sona's engagement feel so damn perfect?
Akeno, noticing Rias' subtle mood shift, shook her head and smiled slyly.
"Ara Ara~ if I recall, isn't President Sona currently in the process of annulling her engagement with Lynn-san? I wonder how that's going?"
Thud!
Akeno's words hit Sona like a hammer, snapping her out of her daze. Her peerage all froze in place.
Cancel the engagement?
They exchanged looks of utter confusion.
No one... had ever mentioned this before?!
Sona's face turned deathly pale.
R-Right... she did say she was going to annul the engagement...
Rias quickly scolded Akeno, "Jeez, Akeno, that's a private matter between Sona and Lynn, don't go poking your nose in it."
(Akeno, you're the best!!)
(Absolutely the best!)
(You really are my most reliable wingwoman!!)
(Us girls gotta stick together if we're gonna steal Lynn from Sona!!)
Lynn, seeing that Serafall had already fled, he didn't bother doing anything extra.
Instead, he tilted his head up, glanced at the sky, waited a few seconds...
Nothing happened.
"Tch."
So stingy.
He thought for sure that old crow Azazel would show up after he took down one of his cadres.
Shaking his head, Lynn turned to leave.
Not like there was anything left for him to do here anyway. He'd leave the cleanup to Sona and Rias.
"Kuroka, let's go."
"Coming, nya~~!"
Kuroka instantly leapt from Koneko's side and clung onto Lynn.
"Nyaaa~ sniff sniff~"
"Ahehe~ Nya~ Nghh~"
She buried her face in his chest, sniffing like a crazy cat in heat, making all sorts of sounds.
This scene immediately drew the attention of both Rias and Sona.
S-So shameless!!
This horny cat!!!
But...
Aside from cursing Kuroka in their hearts, Sona couldn't help but feel a flicker of doubt in her eyes.
She had already been suspicious when she first saw Kuroka.
But she thought Kuroka was here for Koneko.
Turns out... she was actually here for Lynn?
She wanted to ask, but for a moment, didn't know how to bring it up.
After all, Kuroka was an SS-rank dangerous individual!
Meanwhile, Rias, watching Kuroka being so clingy with Lynn, subconsciously clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Then suddenly, she thought of Koneko, and her eyes lit up.
As she saw Lynn activating his teleportation magic, Rias quickly grabbed Koneko and shoved her forward.
"Lynn, Koneko's yours now!"
"Huh?" Koneko blinked in confusion.
"Wait, what is this, President?!"
Sure, she did want to go to Lynn-senpai's side...
But she hadn't finished helping the President with her wish yet!
"Ha?"
Even Lynn was caught off guard, causing the magic circle beneath his feet to halt.
"You sure about this?"
Rias nodded firmly. "Absolutely!"
As much as it pained her to let Koneko go...
Lynn had just solved a huge problem for her!
Compared to her past little favors for Lynn, this was nothing!
Without Lynn's help... She might've died!
Well, if Serafall had arrived in time, maybe things wouldn't have been that bad...
But still!
She couldn't ignore the fact that Lynn saved her life.
Koneko... please repay Lynn for me.
Of course, the main reason was...
Rias knew very well. She wouldn't be able to keep Koneko by her side forever.
Might as well use this chance to score some goodwill with Lynn.
Plus...
Rias's eyes narrowed slightly. She had already figured out how to handle her own situation.
She snuck a glance at Lynn, then quickly looked away, secretly making a decision in her heart.
Lynn rubbed his chin, a little surprised at how things turned out.
But since Rias was handing Koneko over on a silver platter, he wasn't about to refuse.
Lynn chuckled. "Then I'll gladly accept."
"Ugh..."
Being so easily "sold off" to her senpai, Koneko felt a little lost.
And... She was still worried about Rias's situation.
Seeing this, Rias smiled gently at her, then turned to Lynn.
"Mind if I have a quick word with Koneko first?"
Lynn shrugged. "She's still your peerage member, after all. Besides..."
"I'm not going to force Koneko to transfer schools or anything. With teleportation magic, she can come and go anytime."
Lynn grinned, rubbing his chin again. "If you really can't bear to part with her... Koneko can stay with you for a while longer too."
After all, she wasn't exactly at a "harvestable" age yet anyway.
But...
The corners of Lynn's mouth curled up slightly.
"Actually, here's a thought..."
"Why don't both you and Koneko become my peerage members?"
Rias froze.
Her heart shamelessly skipped a beat!
But...
After thinking it over, she shook her head. "Sorry, I'm the next head of the Gremory family. My family, especially my brother, would never allow me to become someone else's peerage member."
"Ho~ Is that so..."
Lynn's smile deepened.
So it's just because of your family and your brother, huh...
Lynn reached out, ruffling her head casually.
"Don't worry, I'll make them agree eventually."
Once he became a Super Devil existence, combined with Rias's own will, even Sirzechs wouldn't be able to say no.
As for her engagement?
Neither that turkey nor his chicken family had ever been worth his attention.
Rias blushed bright red.
He really was that eager to claim her?
Her heart started pounding faster, and in a bit of panic, she quickly dragged Koneko off to whisper privately.
Completely oblivious to the complicated look in Sona's eyes.
Right then, Tsubaki quietly leaned over and whispered in Sona's ear.
"President, if I'm not mistaken... Lynn-sama is your fianc, right?"
Sona felt like her heart just got stabbed.
Momo Hanakai added softly, "Honestly... they do look good together."
"Pfft"
Another stab.
Sona was starting to feel faint.
---
Meanwhile...
Rias was secretly whispering to Koneko.
"Koneko, I've treated you well all this time, haven't I?"
Koneko blinked in confusion but still nodded obediently. "President, you've been very good to me."
Rias smiled and patted her head. Raising her wasn't in vain after all.
Then, her eyes flashed with a sly glint. She snuck a glance at Sona before whispering again.
"Koneko, after you go over to Lynn's side, help me keep an eye on....."
"Huh? President Sona?"
Hearing Rias's request, Koneko was puzzled, but still agreed.
"Ho~ ho~"
Rias grinned to herself in satisfaction.
Sona, if you don't hurry up... don't blame me for cutting in ahead of you.
Then, Rias took out the Devil's Piece from within Koneko's body, officially releasing their master-servant contract.
When Lynn saw the piece, his eyebrows lifted slightly.
For some reason... this piece felt oddly familiar?
Why?
Lynn's eyes flashed with suspicion but pushed the thought aside for now.
His magic circle lit up beneath his feet. "See you next time."
With those parting words, Lynn, Kuroka, and Koneko vanished.
Leaving Rias, Sona, and the others staring blankly at the empty spot where they'd disappeared.
...
After a long silence... Sona finally spoke.
"Rias... you crossed the line."
Turning to look at her with utmost seriousness, she declared:
"Lynn is my fianc!"
Rias feigned surprise. "Oh? Really?"
"Didn't you say you were going to break off that engagement?"
Resting her chin on her hand thoughtfully, she added: "If I remember correctly... wasn't I the one who went with you to negotiate that?"
Sona bit her lip hard.
If only she hadn't taken Rias with her back then...!
.
.
.
Underworld
Capital City, Lilith
A bluish ice-cold magic circle suddenly lit up, and a slightly disheveled Serafall appeared within the Devil King's Conference Room.
Sirzechs paused mid-sip from his glass of water, then set it down, raising an eyebrow. "That was quick. You already dealt with it?"
Waving her hand casually, Serafall looked a little distracted as she muttered, "By the time I got there, Kokabiel was already dead."
"Dead?"
Sirzechs' expression turned serious.
No matter what, Kokabiel was still a key figure among the Fallen Angels.
Sure, he was the one who started the whole mess... but dying within devil territory? That's no small matter.
"It wasn't Rias and her group who took him down, right?" Sirzechs asked with certainty.
He knew full well what level his little sister and her group were at.
After Serafall explained the whole situation, Sirzechs rested his chin on his hand. "Lynn Valifer... huh."
A survivor from the House of Valifer...
Sirzechs couldn't help but marvel. "As expected from a descendant of that man... So young, yet already at Maou-level strength."
Maybe it's...That man himself?
Serafall hesitated for a moment, wanting to say it... but in the end, she sighed and kept it to herself.
After all... it was just a guess on her part.
"Still..."
Sirzechs frowned, starting to worry. "After this incident, there's no way we can keep Lynn's identity under wraps anymore, huh?"
A Fallen Angel cadre had been killed, after all. It was bound to stir things up.
If anyone with enough resources wanted to dig around, they'd easily find out about what happened in Kuoh Town.
"Yeah..." Serafall blinked and nodded. "It's probably not a big deal for us devils, but the Fallen Angels? They're definitely going to investigate."
"A devil who can wield the power of light... that's not exactly subtle," Sirzechs said, feeling a headache coming on.
The House of Valifer had been famous in the past specifically because they produced devils capable of using light-based powers.
Lynn's use of light magic would naturally lead people to connect the dots.
And Lynn's name itself would probably trigger some people.
"But whatever," Serafall waved it off nonchalantly. "He's already Maou-level. Even if people know he's from Valifer, so what?"
"With that light-based power in his arsenal, anyone trying to pick a fight might just end up biting off more than they can chew."
Lynn's Apartment.
"Koneko, you know how the process works, right?"
Koneko blushed faintly and gave a soft "Mm" in response.
Seeing that, Lynn summoned his Devil's Piece and said, "Alright, let's get started."
Taking a few deep breaths, Koneko placed her trembling hands on her clothes, her movements slow and shy.
Seeing this, Kuroka's golden eyes flashed mischievously, a sly grin appearing on her lips like she was scheming something.
Then
Whoosh!
Kuroka suddenly grabbed Koneko's clothes and yanked them all off in one go!
"Eh?!"
Koneko let out a startled cry, feeling the sudden chill on her body.
"Onee-chan!"
Flushed red, Koneko quickly crouched down, hugging herself as she glared at Kuroka.
Kuroka, utterly unfazed, even picked up Koneko's bra.
"Oh ho~ still just a little kid down here, huh? So small~"
She waved it teasingly in front of Koneko, clearly enjoying herself.
Embarrassed and fuming, Koneko shot a glance at Kuroka's big white melons and gritted her teeth. "I-I'm just a late bloomer!"
And just like that, the two started bickering.
Lynn watched their antics for a bit, then simply pressed the Devil Piece against Koneko's soft back.
Koneko's eyes widened slightly.
This feeling...
Different from when Rias did it.
At the same time, a familiar voice rang out in Lynn's mind.
[Ding! You have gained a new Familia member: "Tojo Koneko"!]
[Ding! Your Familia member "Tojo Koneko" has reincarnated as a Special-Type Devil!]
Lynn narrowed his eyes as Koneko's status information appeared before him.
---
[Tojo Koneko]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Yokai-Sage Resonance] & [Nekoshou Devil]
[Yokai-Sage Resonance]
Stabilizes the fusion of yokai energy and senjutsu.
All yokai-based attacks inflict "Ki Corrosion" effect, gradually weakening enemy's magic resistance
[Nekoshou Devil]
Soulburning Azure Flames: Summons blue flames that burn the soul, not the body. Those whose souls are completely consumed cannot reincarnate. Especially effective against undead and devils. Flames can coat weapons or body for "Soul-Cleaving Strikes."
Yokai Curse: Briefly opens a "Yomi Rift" (Gate to the Underworld), releasing miasma that corrodes the target's spirit.
Devilization: Transforms into a massive skeletal white cat over 10 meters long. Its tail burns with hellfire, and decayed wings sprout from its back. The beast's roar triggers an area-wide Soul Tremor, shaking the very souls of all nearby.
"Nekoshou Devil... huh."
Then seeing Koneko's first Skill [Yokai-Sage Resonance], Lynn's eyes showed a flicker of surprise.
Same skill as Kuroka, huh...
He copied Koneko's blessing info and handed it to her, giving the usual explanation about its meaning.
"So that's how it is..."
Holding the info sheet, Koneko's eyes lit up with realization.
So this was the secret of Lynn-senpai's Familia!
No wonder...
"Is that why Saeko-senpai is so strong too?"
"That's right, nya~!"
Kuroka suddenly hugged Koneko from behind, giving her a headpat as she purred, "Now you know why I had to drag you over here, huh?"
"If you slack off even a little, you'll be left way behind, nya~!"
"And let me tell youbeing one of Master's Familia members isn't just about being strong~"
With a mysterious look, Kuroka began hyping up Lynn's greatness to Koneko.
Meanwhile, Lynn casually pulled out a set of Devil's Pieces that Rias had given him before. Picking one up, he examined it closely.
Previously, he hadn't noticed anything unusual.
But now
A faint, familiar sensation seemed to linger around the Devil's Piece.
Lynn's crimson eyes flickered.
What is this feeling?
As he fell into thought, Kuroka suddenly crawled into his arms.
Arching her back seductively, swaying her tail, occasionally brushing it against Lynn's ear
Half-lying beside him, her golden eyes shimmered with playful seduction as she brought her slightly clawed finger to her lips, whispering softly:
"Master~ since that dog isn't around wanna make a little devil with Kuroka tonight~?"
Her body twisted and rubbed against him even harder. She could feel the reaction immediately Lynn's eyes darkened, his gaze sharpening.
"We will make at least ten tonight" Lynn's voice dropped dangerously, "or you're not leaving my bed."
Kuroka's smile froze.
Uh-oh.
She might've gone too far playing around
Before she could react, Lynn effortlessly lifted her over his shoulder.
"W-Wait! Nya!"
BANG!
The bedroom door was kicked open violently, and Lynn directly tossed Kuroka onto the big bed!
Kuroka quickly tried to rush back, but...
Lynn's gaze was dark and burning. "Right now... I'm really pissed."
"Nyaaahh~~~~!!"
Outside the living room
Hearing her sister's miserable cat-like cries from the bedroom, Koneko sat there completely frozen, not even daring to breathe.
S-So scary...
Is Nee-sama gonna break or something?
The Next Day
SuddenlyInside the bedroom
Kuroka poked her head out, clawing pitifully at the floor.
She was completely naked, tears pooling in her eyes, with something white shamefully leaking from her bottom as she desperately tried to crawl outside.
SLAP!
A hand suddenly grabbed her ankle, and her almost-escaped body was once again dragged mercilessly back inside.
Screeeeech!
Kuroka's cat paws screeched against the floor, leaving claw marks as she was dragged backwards.
"Shirone... help... nyahhh~~~!!"
Koneko shivered violently and immediately shrank into the sofa, pretending she saw and heard nothing.
Time passed~~~
Even after who knows how long, the noises from the bedroom hadn't stopped.
Koneko's thighs subconsciously began rubbing together, her breathing growing heavier, eyes becoming hazy.
BUZZZ!
Suddenly.
A flash of golden light shot out from the bedroom, hitting Koneko directly, instantly snapping her out of it.
Koneko: "....."
Listening to the nonstop cat-like cries, she puffed up her cheeks, grumbling, "Did Nee-sama... install surveillance magic on me or something?"
The next day
Kuroka lay there, completely satisfied, her belly visibly swollen.
She shifted slightly, accidentally pressing down on her side, immediately feeling like something was about to come out.
Kuroka bit her lip and instinctively clenched her thighs together.
"No way... this is my reward from all that effort last night, nyah~!!"
For the next few days
Lynn practically hadn't slept at all. His original plan to visit the past Underworld had to be temporarily shelved.
Tsk...
All Kuroka's fault for draining him dry!
At the borders of the Underworld, in the Old Satan Faction's base.
Shalba Beelzebub clenched the intel in his hand, sent from the capital, Lilith, and from the spies within the Fallen Angels' ranks, his expression constantly shifting.
"Light Power?"
"A devil??"
CRACK!
The parchment in his hand was instantly crushed into powder!
Every word on that intel felt like it was testing his nerves!
Inevitably, he thought of that traitor clan, Valifer.
"Traitors... deserve nothing but death!!"
At Shuchiin Academy's Supernatural Research Club
Lynn was casually petting Ryougetsu Senhime's puppy head, only to get a glare in return.
Damn it!
That sneaky cat actually succeeded in stealing him!
She was seething inside, but there was nothing she could do. The lingering scent of that damn cat still lingered in her nose, making her even more annoyed.
KNOCK KNOCK!
Suddenly.
The door to the clubroom was knocked on.
A trace of surprise flashed through Lynn's eyes. "Come in."
CREAK.
The door was pulled open from the outside.
A completely unexpected person appeared before him.
She was petite, holding a cane, her wavy blond hair covered by a beret, radiating a youthful, girlish vibe.
"Iwanaga Kotoko?"
"Good day~"
Kotoko gave a graceful curtsy, smiling brightly. "Never thought a big shot devil like you would still remember me. Truly an honor."
Lynn rested his chin on his hand, smirking. "What, here to hire a devil for a job?"
"No. No!"
Kotoko waved her hands frantically. She still vividly remembered Isayama Yomi's experience with him.
She even messaged Yomi later, trying to dig for info.
But Yomi kept her mouth shut tight, simply saying she was already Lynn-sama's woman and wouldn't leak anything.
Helpless, Kotoko could only give up.
Still...
Since everyone was hanging around Shuchiin Academy, Kotoko had also been quietly gathering intel on Lynn and the Supernatural Research Club.
"I'm here to commission the Supernatural Research Club with a request!"
Lynn raised an eyebrow, eyes full of amusement.
She really found a loophole to approach him.
But Lynn didn't mind.
"Alright, let's hear it."
Seeing Lynn agree, Kotoko let out a breath of relief.
For a devil, he was actually pretty easy to talk to.
She steadied herself, her eyes sweeping across the clubroom, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Wasn't this supposed to be a harem club?
Where were all the beautiful girls?
Kotoko was a little puzzled, but she had no intention of prying into other people's secrets.
Though...
Kotoko didn't immediately bring up the details of her commission. Instead, she smiled mischievously. "Lynn-sama sure is popular~"
Lynn raised a brow. "Me being popular... isn't that just natural?"
Kotoko: "...."
Wow... talk about confidence.
But then again...
Staring at Lynn's ridiculously handsome face, Kotoko sighed inwardly.
Can't even argue with that...
If it weren't for him being a devil, she probably would've fallen for him at first sight back then.
Kotoko felt a little regret, then casually warned, "By the way, on my way here, I saw two blonde gals loitering around near the Supernatural Research Club."
She paused, then said with a weird look, "Don't tell me... Lynn-sama's gotten himself targeted by some clingy girls?"
Clingy girls?
Lynn chuckled and shook his head. "Just a couple of ordinary girls."
Of course, Lynn had noticed them long ago.
It's just that since they didn't seem to be up to anything, he didn't bother paying them any attention.
"I see..."
Judging from Lynn's reaction, Kotoko figured this devil probably already knew everything there was to know about those girls.
Seeing that, she wisely decided not to butt in any further.
Time to get down to business.
Her expression grew serious as she spoke.
"Tell me, Lord Lynn..."
"Have you ever heard of..."
"The Hell Link?"
(A/N: Known as Hell Correspondence in the dub. From Hell Girl (Jigoku Shoujo))
.
.
.
"Hell Link?"
Lynn's eyes flashed with surprise.
"That's right!" Iwanaga Kotoko nodded seriously. "A mysterious website that only appears at midnight!"
"As long as someone enters the name of the person they resent, the Hell Girl will appear and drag that person straight to hell!"
Listening to Iwanaga Kotoko's explanation, Lynn couldn't help but feel that this setup sounded oddly familiar.
Hell Girl, huh...
Well, considering this world actually has a real Hell, it wouldn't be that surprising...
"So..." Lynn tapped his fingers on the table. "What exactly do you want me to do?"
Kotoko smiled faintly. "Can I ask the great Devil here to deal with that website?"
"Oh?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow with interest. "Sure... but you do realize this is outside the school's jurisdiction, right?"
Kotoko froze for a second.
Lynn continued casually, "The Supernatural Research Club doesn't take outside jobs for free, you know~"
Kotoko was immediately drawn in and read along as Lynn laid out a neatly prepared price list.
"Low-Class Devil: 5 million yen."
"Mid-Class Devil: 50 million yen."
"High-Class Devil: 500 million..."
The further down the list she read, the more Kotoko's eyelids twitched.
"Ultimate-Class: 5 billion..."
"Maou (Devil King)... price negotiable depending on the situation and the attitude of the Maou."
Kotoko froze when she saw that line. Then, in disbelief, she blurted out, "Wait... you can actually get a Maou to take a job?!"
Lynn shrugged. "So? Have you decided what level of Devil you want to hire?"
Kotoko fell silent.
Truthfully, she had no idea what the power difference between each level even was. She also had no clue how strong this so-called Hell Girl really was.
"I'll leave it to your professional recommendation, then."
"Oh? Smart move."
Lynn rubbed his chin.
Hell Girl sounded intimidating, but who knew how strong she actually was? A High-Class Devil might be enough... but...
Honestly, Lynn was kind of curious about Hell Girl.
If he could recruit her into his Familia, what kind of Devil would she become?
That thought got him excited, and he smiled at Kotoko. "I recommend hiring a Maou."
"...Huh?"
Kotoko twitched hard. "Haha... Lynn-sama, are you sure... I can even afford a Maou?"
She looked back at the price list.
Yeah, that sounded like a total rip-off waiting to happen!
"Relax, this is a special case," Lynn reassured her. "A Maou-sama happens to be really interested in Hell Girl, so he won't charge you much."
"...?"
Kotoko glanced around nervously. "Wait... I just came here to ask for help, and the Maou already knows about it?"
"Don't tell me..."
"Is that Maou-sama... in the Supernatural Research Club?"
She glanced left and right, but aside from Lynn and the white-haired dog near his desk, she didn't see anyone else.
Kotoko stared at the dog... only to get a dumbfounded look from Ryougetsu Senhime (the dog).
...Okay, definitely not it.
Kotoko slowly turned her gaze back to Lynn's smiling face.
Her eye twitched. "Wait... don't tell me..."
Lynn nodded with a bright smile. "That's right. It's me."
Crash!
Kotoko instantly shot up from her chair in shock. But moving too fast, she got dizzy and blacked out for a second.
Her cane slipped from her hand and fell to the floor with a clatter as her knees buckled.
Suddenly
A large hand caught her delicate little hand, steadying her and helping her stand back up.
Kotoko recovered from her daze and curtsied gracefully. "My apologies... learning you're a Maou was just a little too shocking."
She calmed herself on the surface, but inside she was screaming.
A freaking Maou... is a student at Shuchiin Academy?
Seriously?!
She silently cursed. "Is this what they call a Maou's twisted sense of humor?"
"Soooo~, have you decided whether to hire me or not?"
Kotoko forced a stiff smile. "O-Of course... since you've expressed interest, how could I possibly refuse?"
She wanted to cry. Images of Hagoromo Gitsune's tragic end flashed through her mind.
She had a bad feeling she was about to be absolutely wrecked too...
"Alright, then let's head out."
Lynn stood up.
"Eh?" Kotoko snapped out of her tragic thoughts and said, "Maou-sama, the Hell Link only shows up at midnight, you know?"
Lynn nodded. "I know."
He gave her a strange look. "But do you really think neither of us has any enemies out there?"
Kotoko's expression stiffened.
...Right.
Without resentment, Hell Link wouldn't appear.
"So what are we going to do then...?"
Kotoko asked hesitantly.
Lynn smiled casually. "Easy. We'll just grab a couple of bad guys."
Kotoko wasn't even surprised anymore.
Honestly, that was the most efficient way.
---
Late at night.
Two yakuza members were trembling with fear.
These were the two most hated guys Lynn had managed to find nearby.
Lynn and Kotoko sat quietly, waiting for midnight.
Suddenly
Bzzz
A vibration came from their phones.
Kotoko said solemnly, "It's midnight."
Lynn narrowed his eyes.
The two yakuza's phones suddenly went pitch black, a faint flame flickering on their screens.
As the flames burned away, a website slowly appeared in front of their eyes.
[Hell Link]
Lynn kicked both of them and said calmly, "Write down the name of the person you hate the most."
The two yakuza members froze for a second, then gave Lynn a quick, subtle glance.
Honestly? If we're talking about the person we hate most right now... it's definitely you!
But neither of them dared to say it out loud. Instead, they silently wrote down their boss's name.
Send!
Buzz
The moment they hit send, the air around them began to ripple. A petite girl in a black kimono appeared out of nowhere.
She had long black hair and deep crimson eyes that glowed with an indifferent light.
The moment Lynn saw her, he couldn't help but grin.
Another potential recruit for his Familia.
"Hell Girl, huh?"
Iwanaga Kotoko's eyes widened. "She really showed up!"
The two yakuza guys were about to scream in shock at the supernatural event, but before they could, Lynn casually knocked both of them unconscious with a quick chop.
"...?"
Enma Ai tilted her head slightly when she saw her clients had passed out.
...How was she supposed to complete the contract now?
She paused for a moment, then crouched down and placed two straw dolls with red strings beside the unconscious men.
Whether they could hear her or not, she still recited her usual lines in that calm, ethereal voice:
"If you really want revenge, untie that red string. By untying it, you and I will officially have a contract."
"The person you have a grudge against will be dispatched to hell promptly."
"But once that vengeance is carried out, you will also pay a price.
Cursing someone is a double-edged sword."
"If you form this contract, your soul will also go to Hell."
"Instead of going to Heaven, your soul will be subjected to pain and suffering, as it wanders through Hell for eternity."
"..."
But...
These two clearly weren't going to respond anytime soon.
After finishing her routine, Enma Ai finally turned her attention to Lynn and Kotoko.
Kotoko rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "So that's how it works... interesting..."
But then her expression darkened.
"Hell Girl... do you realize how many innocent people have died because of what you do?"
Her voice grew cold.
After all, people who harbor resentment aren't always victims of injustice. Sometimes they're just jealous of others' grades, looks, or success.
For Ai to send everyone to hell without discrimination... that completely violated Kotoko's bottom line.
Enma Ai remained expressionless in the face of her accusations. Her lips barely moved as she replied softly: "Work is work."
That was all it was to her.
Even if she didn't want to, she still had to do it.
Otherwise...
A flicker of emotion passed through Enma Ai's eyes, as if remembering something.
Kotoko felt a headache coming on.
She looked like a young girl, but there was clearly no reasoning with her.
In times like this... wasn't it best to leave it to the Devil King?
Kotoko turned to Lynn with a hopeful look.
Enma Ai, seeing that the two unconscious clients weren't waking up anytime soon, opened a portal to hell, preparing to leave.
"Oh? Isn't leaving before completing your job considered a breach of contract?"
Lynn finally spoke.
"No contract was signed. There's no breach."
Leaving those words behind, Enma Ai stepped into the portal.
Clap!
Suddenly, she paused, looking down at her wrist.
A large hand had grabbed her.
"Well then..."
Lynn smiled. "Ever considered changing jobs?"
"Huh?"
Kotoko was stunned.
Even Enma Ai was caught off guard. But she still shook her head firmly and continued walking toward hell.
"Shhh."
"Guess I'll just have to talk to your boss directly."
With that, Lynn stepped forward and entered the portal to hell first.
For the first time, Enma Ai's cold face showed a flicker of emotion.
"Ehhhhh?"
Kotoko was stunned for a moment, then quickly chased after him.
"Lynn-sama, wait for me!"
Enma Ai opened her mouth slightly but said nothing.
...This had nothing to do with work.
But somehow... She had a feeling they were about to bring a lot of trouble into hell.
Scene shift.
A world bathed in eternal sunset appeared before their eyes.
Lynn looked around. Massive mountains surrounded them on all sides, and the ground was covered in red spider lilies.
Ahead of them was a small pond, next to which stood a simple thatched hut.
The door was wide open. Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, half of it was shrouded in shadow, the other half dyed blood-red.
"This place..."
"Is this hell?" Kotoko muttered in amazement.
Lynn silently looked around, then discreetly placed a marker here using the skill of [Connecting Devil].
You never know when a location like this might come in handy.
"Oh?"
"Visitors, huh?"
A petite girl in a wine-red kimono suddenly appeared.
She had purplish-blue eyes and a faint, unsettling smile that gave off a chilling vibe.
Seeing her, Kotoko instinctively moved closer to Lynn.
"Ai!"
"Bringing outsiders here without permission... that's against the rules, you know?"
Enma Ai replied flatly, "It's part of the job description."
"They barged in themselves."
"Oh~?"
The girl named Kikuri narrowed her eyes, her smile widening ominously.
"In that case..."
"They're intruders, aren't they?"
.
.
.
They~
I found this site in Wiki,{ https://www.jigokutsushin.it/ }
This site layout is exactly the same as the one shown across the series. Once you insert any name there, Enma Ai will appear then click on th red thread to read her words.
Try it and DO NOT put my name. Pls???
...
(Advanced chapters at: patreon.com/_Coreal)
(Author Release: 10-Chapter Mass Release Jutsu)
~~~
Kukuri's voice was cold, her purple eyes glaring menacingly at Lynn and Iwanaga Kotoko.
Lynn casually glanced at her, then said calmly, "Bitch."
"...?"
Why... was he insulting her?
Kukuri didn't even have time to react
WHOOSH!
A white blur flashed past her.
All she felt was a sharp pain in her head beforeBANG!her whole body was slammed into the dirt like a human nail.
Straight-up headfirst into the ground.
Enma Ai's eyes widened in shock. "Nani?!"
Kotoko's jaw dropped as she stared at the white dog now elegantly grooming its fur while standing atop Kukuri's body. "Even his pet is this strong?"
The dog Yokai, Ryougetsu Senhime, flicked her puppy ears, looking happy.
---
Some time later.
Inside a thatched hut, Kukuri slowly regained consciousness, covered in dirt and looking absolutely miserable.
Lynn sat cross-legged on the tatami, left arm resting on the wooden table while his right hand gently stroked Senhime's soft fur. His gaze, cold and indifferent, landed on Kukuri.
"Guh!"
Kukuri shuddered violently. She quickly and obediently sat kneeling across from Lynn, not daring to even breathe too loudly.
She'd been knocked out and buried in the dirt by just his pet after a single exchange.
Terrifying!
Kukuri stole a glance at Senhime, who was calmly enjoying Lynn's petting, and her heart trembled uncontrollably.
Ai-chan... just what kind of monster did you bring into Hell?
She was almost in tears.
"Now... can we talk properly?"
Lynn's voice sent another shiver down Kukuri's spine.
Forcing out an awkward smile uglier than crying, she stammered, "O-of course, my lord. Whatever you wish to know."
"Let's start with this place. Tell me about it."
When Lynn first arrived in Hell, he thought this territory belonged to Hades.
But after carefully sensing his surroundings, he realizedthere were no powerful presences here at all.
Could it be... this part of Hell had nothing to do with Hades?
"Yes, sir!"
Kukuri quickly lowered her head and began explaining.
"This is the Hell of the Japan area. It used to be ruled by the great goddess Izanami."
"Used to be..."
Lynn immediately caught that keyword.
He understood what it implied.
Most of the gods of Japan had long since perished, leaving behind only stray spirits and monsters.
"Izanami no Okami!?"
Kotoko's pupils shrank, unable to hold back her exclamation.
Since becoming a god of wisdom, this was her first real encounter with matters involving legendary gods.
And to think... right out the gate, it was this kind of goddess.
She couldn't help but feel nervous.
Did they barge in recklessly... and end up offending such a powerful deity?
Japan's Hell...
Lynn fell into thought.
"So... what you're saying is... this part of Hell currently has no master?"
"Eh?"
Kotoko blinked, stunned by that statement.
But Kukuri nodded. "Correct."
Kotoko's eyes widened. "Wait, what about Izanami?"
Kukuri paused for a moment, then answered calmly, "Izanami no Okami... is dead."
"Huh? Gods can... die?"
"She fell in battle."
THUMP!
It felt like a heavy blow landed directly on Kotoko's heart.
"Huh!?"
Lynn spoke flatly, "Gods die if they're killed."
"Uh... but... but how!? Who could kill a god? Aren't they supposed to be the strongest beings?"
Lynn cast a sideways glance at Kotoko.
Naive thinking.
"This world has Eastern gods, Greek gods, Western gods,... even angels, devils, and fallen angels running around everywhere."
He said indifferently, "What makes you think the Japanese gods are anything special?"
Japan was already nothing more than the playground of angels, devils, and fallen angels.
Kotoko was left speechless, feeling increasingly powerless.
This world... was way scarier than she thought.
"As this lord said, the gods of Japan have long since vanished."
Kukuri announced this shocking news in a flat tone.
Kotoko was still in a daze, unable to recover from the bombshell.
No gods left in Japan...
Then what was shea so-called god of wisdomeven supposed to be?
Lynn looked at Kukuri and continued asking, "So... no one has taken over Japan's Hell?"
Kukuri shook her head, forcing a smile. "Perhaps... the big shots just don't care about it."
"But..."
She added, "While Japan's Hell is technically still under Japan jurisdiction, all the talent and reincarnation operations have been taken over by others."
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "So that's why Hell Girl exists?"
Kukuri nodded. "Without souls flowing into Hell, its laws and balance can't be maintained. Sooner or later, it would collapse."
"That was why we had to forcibly maintain it through the Hell Girl system."
Kukuri quickly clarified, "B-but that was all that damn three-eyed spider's idea! Not me!"
"Oh?"
Lynn smiled faintly. "I can see that you and that spider have quite the connection!"
Kukuri: "!!!!"
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
This man... How did he know that?
She was instantly on edge.
Having gathered enough information about this Hell, Lynn tapped his finger on the table... "Alright, let's get down to business."
"Yes!"
Kukuri straightened up, clearly nervous.
Lynn's gaze shifted to Enma Ai, who was zoning out on the side. The corner of his mouth curled up.
"I'm thinking of having her work for me. What do you think?"
"Huh?"
Kukuri looked up, completely caught off guard.
That's it? That's your plan?
Of course, Ai had a contract with her true self breaking free from Hell wasn't something that could be done so easily.
ButGiven the man sitting in front of her that man convincing the three-eyed spider?
That shouldn't be a problem at all.
Hearing the conversation shift to her, Enma Ai spoke calmly, "I haven't finished my atonement yet. I can't leave Hell."
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
Seeing that, Kukuri quickly explained.
"Ai's parents are sealed deep within Hell. If Ai doesn't complete her atonement according to the contract, her parents will never be able to reincarnate."
Iwanaga Kotoko frowned. "Is it because of that spider?"
Kukuri silently nodded.
Kotoko snorted, "Looks like that thing's the real culprit."
Not only were its methods ruthless and reckless, but it even forced others to work for it.
What a piece of shit.
"In that case..."
Lynn stood up, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'll go free your parents' souls, and then..."
He looked straight at Enma Ai and added, "From now on, your life belongs to me."
Enma Ai: "???"
Her eyes filled with confusion.
Free her parents?
Those words stirred something deep within Enma Ai's heart.
"Say yes, Ai."
Kukuri suddenly spoke up. "If it's this man... he'll make it happen."
Enma Ai looked at her, still unsure.
But Kukuri's expression remained serious. Truthfully, she'd long wanted Ai to be free of this job. She had made some preparations herself...
But... It was nothing compared to leaving it to this man in front of them.
Still feeling a little uneasy, Kukuri asked, "Sir, what do you plan to do with that spider afterward?"
Lynn glanced at her, easily seeing through her worries.
"If that spider dies, you'll disappear too?"
Kukuri nodded silently, then gave a bitter smile. "I'm just a fragment it separated from itself, created specifically to watch over Ai's work."
If its main body died, there was no way she'd survive either.
Lynn stroked his chin thoughtfully, then conjured a Devil's Piece, grinning, "Well then..."
"Wanna try becoming a devil?"
Kukuri: "????"
"A devil?"
She looked at him, wide-eyed.
Lynn explained, "Take this into your body, reincarnate as a devil, and become my servant. That way, you can cut ties with being just a fragment."
His Devil Pieces were of the highest grade. Once someone became his servant, any connection to the Three-Eyed Spider would naturally be severed.
Kukuri blinked, her voice trembling slightly. "Really... is that okay?"
Lynn didn't say anything more. He simply placed the Devil's Piece on the table.
Whether or not she wanted to become a devil was entirely up to her.
Kukuri hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out for the Devil Piece.
She didn't want to be controlled by that spider anymore.
And so... Kukuri made her decision.
As soon as her hand touched the Devil Piece, she couldn't help but tremble.
But very quickly, determination filled her eyes. She pulled open her shirt and, without the slightest hesitation, pressed the piece against her chest!
Buzz
The moment the Devil Piece entered her body, she could almost hear the sound of chains snapping one after another.
An overwhelming sense of relief washed over her.
But...
At the same time, she could feel herself connecting with another existence.
Kukuri focused her mind, and in a flash, a scene appeared before her.
A dark, pitch-black space, devoid of light.
Deep within that space, a shadowy figure sat silently.
Lynn Valifer...
That name suddenly rose in her heart, followed immediately by an intense fear that gripped her entire being, leaving her breathless!
In the next instant, her vision went black, and her consciousness was pushed out like a receding tide.
Kukuri's eyes shot open. She gasped for air, only to meet Lynn's calm, crimson gaze staring right at her.
She froze.
"How do you feel?"
Hearing Lynn's question, Kukuri finally relaxed a little.
"Feels..."
She thought for a moment, then answered, "Pretty good."
"My connection with that spider... it's completely gone!"
The realization made her genuinely happy.
She'd never have to hurt Ai again under that spider's control.
Lynn nodded, then casually added, "Alright then... take off your clothes."
"Ehhhh?"
Kukuri froze.
Iwanaga Kotoko also looked at Lynn beside her in disbelief.
"L-Lolicon Demon King?!"
Lynn was speechless. He pointed at Kukuri's chest. "After becoming my servant, you'll gain new powers."
"Your blessing's information is engraved right there."
Hearing that...
Kotoko and Kukuri both turned their gazes to Kukuri's chest.
Only Enma Ai seemed lost in her own thoughts.
Sure enough, just as Lynn had said, a strange, unreadable script was etched there.
But...To check it...
Wouldn't that mean...
Whoosh
Kukuri's face instantly turned bright red.
Why... why didn't he tell her this beforehand?!
If she had known, no way she'd have shoved that thing into her chest so casually!!
.
.
.
[Kukuri]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Two-Faced Shrine Maiden] & [Spider Devil]
[Two-Faced Shrine Maiden]
Normally disguised as a harmless loli, but when in danger, her spirit body splits into a "Good Face" and an "Evil Face."
The Good Face heals allies, while the Evil Face unleashes curse shockwaves.
[Spider Devil]
Silk Manipulation: Fires semi-transparent soul-threads from her fingertips, freely controllable in shape and movement.
Eight-Legged Pact: Special leg transformations Skinning Leg, Venom Leg, Curse Leg,
Devilization: Mother Divine Spider Form.
Another special devil joins the collection.
Lynn chuckled softly. He really didn't expect that besides Enma Ai, he'd get another nice bonus from this whole mess.
After copying down Kukuri's Blessing Info, she hurriedly dressed herself again.
Lynn gave her a glance and casually said, "Relax. I'm not into flat-chested kids."
Kukuri froze. Her purple eyes practically overflowed with resentment, but in the end, she didn't dare say anything forced to keep up her polite smile.
Even Enma Ai couldn't help but glance down at herself, pursing her lips in silence.
Meanwhile, Iwanaga Kotoko absentmindedly cupped the empty air in front of her chest lost in thought.
And just like that, a single sentence from Lynn utterly broke the mental defenses of three girls in one go.
Watching this happen, Ryougetsu Senhime snorted in amusement and proudly lifted her chin.
Hmph. At least in human form, her figure was far better than these three combined!
Lynn, naturally, didn't care at all about their reactions. Instead, he handed Kukuri back her Blessing Info.
"This is my new power...?" Kukuri's eyes sparkled as she stared at her own skill list.
Before this, other than monitoring Enma Ai, she didn't really have any noteworthy abilities.
But now, after receiving Lynn's blessing... she felt like she was even more spider-like than an actual spider!
Iwanaga Kotoko sneaked a curious peek but didn't pry too much it was someone else's private information, after all.
Once Kukuri finished reading, Lynn spoke up."Alright, let's move. We're heading deeper into Hell."
"Yes, Lynn-sama. Allow me to guide you," Kukuri immediately responded.
Meanwhile, in the depths of Hell...
A small spider with three glaring eyes was staring coldly at a group of freshly arrived souls.
It spat out spider silk, effortlessly binding up a struggling soul.
Fwoooosh!
Black flames ignited, burning away the sins of the trapped soul.
But then the spider's movements suddenly froze.
"The connection... with my avatar was cut off?"
Its three eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Dead? Or..."
It wasn't sure. But...
"Enma Ai's task has gone wrong!"
Without hesitation, the Three-Eyed Spider dropped what it was doing and immediately prepared to head toward the borderlands of Hell to check on Enma Ai's situation.
But just as it was about to move
WHOOSH!!
A violent wind suddenly swept through Hell, making the flames of the underworld roar wildly.
The surrounding red spider lilies trembled, rustling noisily.
And then everything before the spider suddenly darkened.
A towering figure had appeared right in front of it, completely blocking the faint light of the underworld.
That figure was none other than Lynn having crossed countless layers of Hell to arrive at its deepest parts. Of course, taking the girls with him.
"Too fast... way too fast..." Iwanaga Kotoko was dizzy, her stomach churning like she might hurl any second.
"Who are you!?" The Three-Eyed Spider's eyes narrowed sharply, all eight legs instantly retreating backward. With a sharp shout, its massive body began to shift and transform.
"Uwahh!" Iwanaga Kotoko snapped out of her daze and shrieked."Holy crap, that's a huge spiderurk!!"
Lynn casually tossed her to the side like dead weight and then raised his hand.
Snap.
Thick strands of spider silk shot out from his fingertips.
Lynn was now like Spider-Man.
BOOM!!
A terrifying surge of power blasted through the silk, slamming into the spider's giant body and sending it flying!
"Bastard!" The Three-Eyed Spider roared in fury, black flames instantly racing along its web to retaliate.
"Intruder! Feel the purging flames of Hell that burn away all sin!!"
Lynn simply lifted his gaze, his thoughts stirring.
And then whoosh!
An even more terrifying Karma Flames erupted from him, racing along the spider silk like a tidal wave!
The Three-Eyed Spider was visibly shaken.
This guy... he's using the same move?!
"Whoa You can control Karma Flames as well?!"
But it didn't have time to process anything else.
Lynn's Karma Flames utterly crushed its own flames, merging together and surging toward it like a monstrous inferno.
Panicking, the Three-Eyed Spider desperately snapped its own silk and flung its massive body away.
BOOM!!
Its enormous body smashed hard into the ground.
And in the next instant the surrounding hellish magma surged like an unstoppable tide, responding to its will.
The Three-Eyed Spider scrambled back up, its blood-red eyes blazing with fury.
FWOOSH!
A massive wave of magma roared toward Lynn like a tsunami.
Seeing this, Kukuri quickly warned, "Lynn-sama, that's the Three-Eyed Spider the current manager of Hell! It has the authority to manipulate the very environment of the underworld!"
Hearing this, the Three-Eyed Spider's gaze snapped toward Kukuri, bellowing in rage, "You traitorous fool! How dare you betray me!"
With a single thought, it attempted to detonate Kukuri's avatar.
But nothing happened.
"Huh?"
The Three-Eyed Spider's expression twisted.
What's going on?!
Then it suddenly remembered that connection it lost earlier
It must've been that man! He did something!!
Kukuri smiled sweetly at the spider but her voice was cold and full of malice, "Sorry, big spider, but I just can't bear to see Ai suffer any longer."
Hearing that, Enma Ai's dark eyes quietly turned to Kukuri, staring at her. Kukuri's cheeks flushed slightly under the gaze, awkwardly turning her head away.
Across from them
The Three-Eyed Spider let out an earth-shaking roar of fury!
All these years all its hard work poured into building this Hell
And it got outplayed by its own avatar?!
It was this close this close to becoming the true ruler of Hell!
"Four hundred years of effort ruined in a single day!!"
"I absolutely!!"
But before it could finish
RUMBLE!!
The entire layer of Hell began to shake violently. The spider, completely losing it, was mobilizing all of this domain's power summoning waves upon waves of molten magma to drown Lynn!
It was literally trying to crush him with the full might of Hell itself!
"UNFORGIVABLE!!"
---
"Ahhhhhh!"
As an ordinary human, Iwanaga Kotoko screamed, nearly losing her balance from the violent tremors.
Thankfully, Enma Ai silently reached out and steadied her.
Then the three of them just stood there, staring at the apocalyptic scene unfolding before them.
None of them said a word too overwhelmed by the sheer scale of it all.
"This spider is terrifying."
Enma Ai couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.
It was exactly because of that overwhelming power gap that she had been forced to obediently fulfill her contract all this time.
Even Iwanaga Kotoko was visibly nervous now.
She had known that any incident involving Hell wasn't going to be simple but this?
This was on another level!
What now?
She was starting to panic but when her eyes fell on Lynn's calm, unshaken figure standing in front of her
For some reason, she felt strangely reassured.
Lynn's expression remained flat, indifferent.
As the administrator of this layer of Hell, combining its control over the environment with its own power, the Three-Eyed Spider was indeed pretty strong.
But
Still far from enough.
Lynn's lips moved slightly.
"Ice Devil 'Frozen Mirror' Domain."
The moment his voice fell
It felt like a sigh echoed throughout all of Hell.
And in the next second
Crack Crack
The entire layer of Hell around them froze over in an instant!
The shaking stopped. The air turned bitterly cold. Frost and freezing mist spread out in every direction.
The sudden change left Iwanaga Kotoko and the others completely dumbfounded... and then
Shiver
All three of them shuddered together.
Kotoko blinked a few times in disbelief, then instinctively hugged herself and rubbed her arms as her voice trembled.
"S-So freaking cold"
Shivering non-stop, she cautiously glanced around her surroundings.
Everything absolutely everything within sight had turned into a frozen world of ice-blue.
Except for the small area around them that had somehow avoided being frozen.
It felt like, just in the blink of an eye they had been transported to a completely different world.
Right in front of Lynn, the hideous Three-Eyed Spider had been completely frozen solid trapped along with the surging sea of lava that had once filled this part of Hell.
.
.
.
The Three-Eyed Spider had been completely frozen solid trapped along with the surging sea of lava that had once filled this part of Hell.
"Frozen Mirror" Domain of the Ice Devil showed its amazing power.
Lynn then casually raised a hand and tapped lightly against the frozen surface in front of him.
Boom!
The ice within this layer of Hell exploded into countless fragments of powder-like dust.
Along with it, the Three-Eyed Spider and the overwhelming tide of Hell's magma shattered and scattered like fragile glass.
Shhh
Snow... began to fall within Hell.
In the midst of the fluttering snow-like ice fragments, a flash of silver flickered briefly, falling gently to the ground.
Lynn's eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed it.
Kotoko and the others stared blankly at the surreal scene before them, subconsciously swallowing hard.
To think... someone could change the entire environment of this layer of Hell in an instant.
The Three-Eyed Spider could do that because of its status as a Hell Administrator.
But Lynn?
That was pure, overwhelming strength.
Hiss
Kotoko sucked in a sharp breath of cold air, finally understanding just how terrifying the word "Maou" Devil King really was.
After a long while, the three of them finally snapped out of their stunned daze.
Kukuri stood quietly, staring at the scene before her, feeling just a tiny trace of complicated emotions in her heart.
After all... she had been working under the Three-Eyed Spider until just moments ago.
But she quickly composed herself. Once the area had settled down again, Kukuri bowed respectfully toward Lynn.
"Lord Lynn, shall we go release Ai's parents now?"
Lynn responded with a simple nod.
With his permission, Kukuri floated off with Enma Ai toward the deeper parts of Hell.
Seeing this, Kotoko's eyes sparkled with curiosity. She was itching to explore more of this Hellish world.
"Wait for me! Take me along too!" she called out quickly.
Kukuri turned to glance at Lynn for confirmation.
Since Lynn didn't say anything, Kukuri thought for a moment... then brought Kotoko along as well.
Lynn then lowered his gaze.
That faint glint of silver had caught his eye.
It looked like... some sort of waist token or badge, engraved with the crest of Hell and the words [Hell Administrator] carved boldly into its surface.
Lynn bent down and picked it up.
Was this the source of the Three-Eyed Spider's authority?
As he was thinking, the badge suddenly began to glow faintly.
[Hell Administrator detected deceased. Initiating release of authority]
A cold, mechanical female voice rang out from within the badge.
Lynn raised a brow but didn't interrupt, curious to see what would happen next.
[Authority release complete. Searching for suitable candidate...]
The badge's glow pulsed for a moment before the voice sounded again.
[Suitable candidate found. Do you wish to bind yourself as the new [Hell Administrator]?]
"Oh?"
A faintly intrigued look flashed in Lynn's eyes.
It actually chose him?
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
Being a Hell Administrator here... definitely came with a lot of perks.
"What happens if I accept?" he asked casually.
[You will be responsible for completing all assigned tasks within Hell...]
Lynn listened for a while, but quickly lost interest.
So basically... it was just a glorified office job.
A high-level, overworked employee, nothing more.
And Lynn had zero intention of staying in Hell or doing its busywork.
Thinking for a moment, he asked lazily, "Is there a higher position than Administrator?"
The badge's glow dimmed slightly, as if processing the question.
[Upon completing specific requirements, the position may be upgraded to [Enma (God of Hell)].]
Lynn's thoughts were clear.
He wasn't here to become a corporate slave. He just wanted the perks, the rights, and the ownership of this slice of Hell.
He continued, "And what can an Enma do?"
[Oversee Hell. Judge souls...]
The badge went on explaining a whole list of duties.
But the more Lynn listened, the less interested he became.
Administrator to Enma... basically going from manager to CEO of Hell Corp.
He told the badge his thoughts outright.
The glow on the badge flickered like crazy... then went completely dark.
Lynn: ""
"Well, whatever."
He casually pocketed the badge.
Might come in handy for one of his subordinates later.
An unclaimed part of Hell like this? No reason to leave it unused.
---
A while later.
Lynn arrived at the place where the souls were being suppressed.
After personally witnessing the release of her parents' souls, Enma Ai stood there, lost in a daze for a long moment.
Then, turning to Lynn, she bowed her head deeply and spoke softly.
"Lord Lynn... from this moment on, my life belongs to you."
There was a faint trace of expectation shining in her eyes for this new chapter of her life.
Lynn reached out and gently patted her head.
Feeling the warmth on her head, Ai froze slightly.
It was the first time... anyone had ever done something like this to her.
A strange, unfamiliar feeling quietly rose in her heart.
"Come on. Let's head back to the hut. I'll reincarnate you as one of my familia," Lynn said.
Ai snapped back to reality and nodded obediently.
"Yes, Lord Lynn."
---
Inside the straw hut.
Having already gone through Kukuri's experience, Ai quietly removed her kimono, baring only her back.
Even so, exposing herselfjust a littlein front of a man for the first time still made her feel incredibly shy.
Once she was ready, Lynn pressed the devil piece he'd formed onto her back.
The moment the piece entered her body, a wave of transformation began, and she couldn't help but let out a soft gasp.
Not long after, a stream of system info appeared:
---
[Enma Ai]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Hell Link], [Sanzu River] & [Hell Devil]
[Hell Link]
Can use spirit power to build a website and establish a link between Hell and the mortal world.
[Sanzu River]
Summons a ghostly boat and ferryman to guide souls.
[Hell Devil]
Hell Projection:
Ai Enma can turn a 100-meter radius into a "Hell Projection," overriding reality.
Within this domain, the terrain becomes blood rivers from the Sanzu River, fields of red spider lilies, and mountains of bones.
All beings inside are suppressed by the laws of Hell.
Yomi Army: Tears open space to summon creatures from Hell.
Devilization: Enma Palace, Throne of Endless Suffering.
(A/N: Enma means God of Hell. Yomi means the underworld.)
"Hell Devil, huh..."
Lynn carefully examined Ai Enma's new skills, focusing especially on "Hell Projection."
It wasn't bad at alla powerful domain-type skill that could both attack and restrict enemies using Hell's laws.
Thinking for a moment, Lynn suddenly took out the waist token he'd obtained earlier and handed it to Ai.
"Try thissee if you can become a Hell Administrator."
It only made sense: a Hell Devil managing Hell.
He was also curiousif she gained the "Hell Administrator" title, would her skills evolve?
"This is..."
Kukuri clearly recognized the token, whispering, "A Hell Administrator, huh..."
Enma Ai took the token in her hand, and it immediately began to glow with an eerie light.
[Suitable candidate detected. Bind identity: 'Hell Administrator'?]
Ai Enma looked up at Lynn. Seeing him nod, she softly replied, "I'm willing."
In that moment
A soft hum echoed.
The token turned into a silver light and merged into her body.
At the same time, a system notification rang in Lynn's ears:
[Ding!]
[Your servant has gained the identity: "Hell Administrator." As a result, you've received attributes related to "Enma."]
.
.
.
Enma-related Authority?
Lynn's eyes flickered with surprise.
But then, as if something clicked, his expression turned serious in that instant, it felt like the entirety of Hell unfolded in his mind.
Every corner of Hell within Japan's domain was laid bare before him.
Moments later, he slowly opened his eyes.
"So getting Enma's Authority means I can control Hell now?"
Though it seemed like it was limited to just the Japan area for now...
Lynn could sense there were other subtle changes too, but there were more pressing things to handle at the moment.
Suppressing his curiosity for the time being, he proceeded to update Enma Ai's blessing.
"As expected changes have started happening already..."
A new skill appeared before Lynn's eyes, making him narrow them slightly.
[Hell Administrator]
Manages all Hell-related operations
Controls the Hell environment (Limited to Japan Region)
Boosts all Hell-related skills
---
"Hell Administrator, huh"
Lynn rubbed his chin. He didn't expect that holding this title would actually become a skill of its own.
Looking further down, he noticed that the range of his [Enma Palace] domain, a skill from [Hell Devil], had expanded to a radius of over a thousand kilometers.
Other Hell-related skills had also received varying degrees of buffs.
And he even gained a new development ability: Magic Conductor.
Ai raised her hand slightly, feeling the surge of power flowing through her.
Lynn's gaze shifted upward.
Her rank, listed in the status screen, had jumped from a Mid-Class Devil straight to a High-Class Devil.
"Hell's power-up bonus, huh"
Lynn pondered for a moment.
After imprinting the new blessing info, he handed it over to Ai.
She barely glanced at it before setting it aside not really caring too much about her own abilities.
What caught her attention more was the "Master" section on the blessing info. That seemed to make her feel a little complicated.
...
Meanwhile
Lynn opened up his own status panel to check his situation.
Not much had changed, except for one thing in the Authority section, there was now a new trait: Enma.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Authority, huh?
So acquiring Enma's attributes actually meant obtaining a kind of divine Authority?
Lynn tapped on the Enma Authority.
Authority: [Enma] Body of Hellfire
Transforms into the flames of Hell itself, becoming immune to all physical attacks.
However, divine-level attacks of the same tier and causality-based attacks are not included in this immunity.
---
Seeing the ability description, Lynn rubbed his chin thoughtfully before closing his status panel.
With just a thought
Fwoosh!
In the next second, Lynn's entire arm transformed into blazing Hellfire.
"Eh?! Eh?! What the heck?!"
Iwanaga Kotoko, startled by the sudden change, panicked, "Y-You're on fire?!"
"It's fine. This is my ability."
Lynn casually explained and stretched out his other hand
But it just passed right through the flaming arm like it was air.
"Elementalization?"
The scene was a little surreal, and Lynn's expression turned strange.
Still
Not bad at all.
At the very least, physical attacks were pretty much useless against him now.
Though... the drawbacks were pretty clear too.
While divine and causality-type attacks were obvious weaknesses, even ordinary magic-based attacks could still affect his Hellfire Body.
Lynn figured the Enma Authority probably had more hidden potential waiting to be unlocked.
After thinking for a bit, he turned to Enma Ai.
"Alright, Ai I'm leaving Hell's management to you from now on. Make sure you rise up and become a true Enma (God of Hell), yeah?"
He patted her head encouragingly.
Enma Ai stared at him for a moment, then nodded seriously, "I will!"
Satisfied, Lynn suddenly thought of something else her Hell Link ability.
"Hey, about that Hell website of yours think you could turn it into a full-on Devil website?"
Ai blinked, then nodded, "I can."
"Good."
A smile tugged at the corner of Lynn's lips.
"I'll give you permission to use Devil Pieces too. Change the setting from 'only people filled with hatred can access the site' to"
"'anyone guided by a Devil Piece can access it.'"
"What do you think? Can you do it?"
Ai stayed silent for a second, then responded seriously, "I'll do my best!"
"Nice. Love the energy!"
After that, Lynn discussed the Familia situation with Ai and Kikuri, handing both of them their own exclusive Familia smartphones.
He didn't bother hiding anything from Iwanaga Kotoko either during the chat.
Of course he didn't spill the beans about the whole otherworldly blessing system either.
After some casual chatting, Lynn wandered around Hell for a bit.
The current state of the Japan-region Hell was honestly hard to describe.
Aside from the souls forcibly brought in through the Hell Girl program created by the Three-Eyed Spider, there were barely any souls coming in through normal means.
"No Hell staff at all?"
Lynn's mouth twitched.
"...Damn, this place is seriously miserable"
Seeing the current state of things, Lynn fell into thought.
Sure, he didn't have to perform the duties of Enma just because he got the Authority
But technically speaking, he was now the de facto ruler of the Japan region of Hell.
And besideshe had a feeling that once Ai fully awakened as Enma, there might be additional feedback benefits for him too.
Meaning developing Hell was actually kind of important.
As he pondered, he suddenly reached out and patted Ryougetsu Senhime's doggo head.
"Say you folks from the Western Lands"
"Ever thought about moving somewhere else to expand your business?"
Lying comfortably in Lynn's arms, Senhime tilted her head with a question mark floating above it.
"You mean"
"Hell?"
"Yup!" Lynn grinned.
"What do you think?"
She nodded without hesitation."I think it's a great idea!"
"Not bad. You've got the right mindset."
Lynn gave her an approving nod and rewarded her with a gentle head pat.
Then he said, "Once we're done here in Hell, head over to the past. Bring a group with you to start getting used to the place."
Right now, Hell's basically in ruins and needs a full rebuild.
But...
Once things are up and running, the Inuykai (Dog Demon) clan will be among the old guard. With that kind of legacy, they'd easily land themselves official positions.
It's always better to be part of the system than wandering aimlessly outside it.
Senhime had no objections in her heart.
She understood Lynn was someone destined to walk a road with no clear end.
All the Inuykai clan needed to do was follow behind him.
But...
Something suddenly came to mind, and she spoke in a low, thoughtful voice: "So is this why the Inuykai clan seems to have no presence in the modern world?"
Lynn paused, then looked up at the sky. "Let's just say that's the reason"
If the whole Inuykai tribe moved into Hell during modern times, they'd basically be out of sight for a good five hundred years.
Of course the world wouldn't be able to find any trace of them.
Wait was this a time-locked isolation?
Was he actually the reason the Inuykai clan faded into obscurity!?
As the two chatted casually, they arrived at the edge of Hell.
Staring at the shimmering veil in front of them, Lynn squinted his eyes.
Ever since becoming "Enma," he realized that just beyond this membrane was the Hell of another mythological system.
He poked at it and found it surprisingly resilient.
After touring Hell, Lynn returned to the small thatched hut to discuss official business with Enma Ai.
At the moment, the biggest problem Hell faced was a manpower shortage.
No matter what task needed doing, there simply weren't enough hands to handle it, so naturally, no operations could really get off the ground.
But thenLynn brought up the Inuykai clan.
Hearing that, Kukuri's eyes lit up. "As long as we've got people, we can get Hell's operations running again in no time!"
As an avatar of the Three-Eyed Spider, she had a deeper understanding of Hell's workings.
So Lynn let her continue serving as Enma Ai's assistant.
"Oh, right," Enma Ai suddenly remembered something. "I've still got a few helpers."
Not long after Two men and one woman showed up at the hut.
"Hone Onna, Ichimokuren, Wanyuudou."
Enma Ai introduced them one by one, then said to them, "This is our new boss."
Hone Onna: "..."
Ichimokuren and Wanyuudou exchanged glances before falling into silence.
New leadership already?
But
Since Miss Ai said so, there wasn't much to say they all bowed to Lynn. "Greetings, Boss."
Lynn twitched a little at the title.
Why did this feel like he was some Yakuza?
After explaining the future plans for Hell, Lynn prepared to leave.
Before he left, he decided to make Hone Onna a follower as well.
"Take off your clothes."
The room was quiet. Hone Onna froze for a moment, then casually replied, "Does Master want to try a taste of Hone Onna's charms?"
Lynn rubbed his chin, a bit amused."I am a little curious."
"But just showing your back will do."
She blinked, then chuckled. "So that's all it is. Looks like I was overthinking it."
She loosened her kimono, revealing a beautiful, pale back.
Lynn pressed a Devil's Piece onto her.
A moment later, blessing information popped up.
---
[Hone Onna]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Bone Storm], [Vengeful Bone Armament] & [Bone Devil]
[Bone Storm]
Summons a storm of bone spikes from the ground to impale enemies.
Spikes inflict a "Frostbite" effect, slowing their movement.
[Vengeful Bone Armament]
Every time she kills an enemy, she can convert their skeleton into temporary weapons like bone blades or bows.
Weapon strength scales with enemy level.
[Bone Devil]
Bone Arsenal: Can break apart her own bones into weapons (bone blades, spears, whips). Injuries caused will grow "bone coral," which continues to corrode the victim until death.
Death Rouge: Burns her own bones to greatly increase attack speed and critical rate for a short time. Afterward, she needs significant mental energy to recover.
Devil Form (Formless)
---
"Bone Devil, huh"
Lynn raised an eyebrow. Another Special Devil.
He copied down her Blessing info and explained the abilities to her.
Hone Onna's eyes sparkled with interest as she listened.
Then Lynn asked about her past.
---
"So that's how it was"
Before the man she loved could sell her to a brothel, she chose to end her own life by drowning her spirit left behind, too full of resentment to find peace.
That's how she became the legendary Hone Onna.
They chatted a bit more.
Lynn explained his follower system to her, then handed her a phone before leaving.
Watching the spot where Lynn had vanished, Hone Onna's eyes gleamed. She murmured, "This time I've really pledged myself to someone amazing"
Iwanaga Kotoko followed behind Lynn, still a bit dazed.
After Leaving Hell
"Can't believe I made it out of Hell in one piece"
Back when she first entered, she was pretty anxious especially after seeing Kukuri's creepy vibe.
But
She'd come out completely unscathed.
Kotoko looked at Lynn with admiration. "No wonder you're called a Maou. Truly a Devil King."
The way he'd handled everything in Hell was just overwhelming.
And somehow he'd even become the ruler of Hell itself.
Today had been more exciting than anything else she'd ever experienced even more than the day she first became a god of wisdom.
Suddenly, Lynn stopped walking.
Kotoko, still deep in thought about him, didn't notice in time and smacked right into his back.
She clutched her forehead and crouched down with a little whimper. "Owww, ow ow ow!"
It was like running into a steel wall!
Lynn turned to look down at her, smiling. "Well now, Miss Goddess of Wisdom I think it's time we talked about payment for your little request."
"Ehh!?"
.
.
.
Thanks to Lynn's reminder, Kotoko Iwanaga finally recalled that little detail she'd completely forgotten and her expression instantly froze. Even the pain on her forehead seemed to vanish for a moment.
But Lynn took her small request, got himself a Hell, even picked up a few capable (and surprisingly adorable) subordinatesAnd now she still had to pay him?
She was the one spending money, but Lynn was the one reaping all the benefits.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Kotoko forced a composed expression.
"...Lord Lynn, what exactly do you want?"
She hadn't forgotten the price list hanging in the Supernatural Research Club.
This Devil before her was absolutely the type to charge depending on the mood!
Lynn rubbed his chin, his eyes falling on the glowing Devil Piece in his hand.
"Naturally, I want you to become part of my Familia."
Knew it!
Kotoko felt her heart sink into darkness.
This guy's serious!?
But Lynn went on casually. "You saw how Hell looks for yourself. That three-eyed spider might not be all that strong, but in Hell's environment? It's a real pain to deal with."
Kotoko pursed her lips.
He wasn't wrong.
That entire Hell Girl system was pretty much the work of that spider. If she wanted to take down the Hell Website, dealing with that spider was unavoidable.
"Sigh."
Kotoko let out a quiet sigh and fell into silence, clearly struggling inside.
"Of course"
Lynn suddenly changed the subject, grinning.
"I'm still a Devil, sure, but us modern Devils do pride ourselves on keeping promises."
"So this time I'll let it slide. But next time..."
A magic circle lit up beneath Lynn's feet, his voice echoing in Kotoko's ears.
"...Don't go throwing something like this onto my plate again."
As his words faded, so did his figure vanishing right before Kotoko's eyes.
Staring dumbfounded at the empty space where Lynn disappeared, Kotoko muttered blankly,"...He just left?"
She honestly thought she was about to lose her virginity right there...
But...
With Lynn gone, she could finally let out a small sigh of relief.
Still... the way he left so cleanly and decisively... it left her feeling strangely empty.
"No, no, no!"
Kotoko quickly shook her head and forced a self-deprecating smile.
"What, am I really thinking about becoming someone's mistress now?"
That Supernatural Club of his... in Shuchiin Academy, they were practically famous for their harem-like reputation!
But then again...
For a Devil King, building a harem did seem perfectly reasonable.
"Ah well... I'll deal with that when the time comes."
Kotoko quickly convinced herself.
If fate really did have her becoming Lynn's little mistress... then there was no avoiding it anyway.
Future problems could stay in the future.
But still...
Looking around at the pitch-black streets, Kotoko's eyelid twitched.
"...He really just left a beautiful young maiden like me here alone!?"
Walking down dark alleys all by herself yeah, that was kinda scary!
"Princess! Princess!!"
Suddenly, a chorus of quacky, duck-like voices rang out.
Hearing those familiar sounds, Kotoko finally let out a small breath of relief, though her expression darkened when she saw the small group of little yokai floating over.
"Oh, now you guys dare to come out just because the Devil's gone?"
Looking at these utterly useless little yokai, Kotoko's eyes were filled with disdain.
"Princess..."
A little red-skinned yokai shivered. "That Devil guy was way too scary!"
"Mhm! Mhm!"
The other yokai all nodded like crazy, faces still pale with lingering fear.
"We don't wanna end up as Devil food!"
The dark street echoed with their wailing cries.
"Alright, alright, enough."
Kotoko waved her hand dismissively.
"Let's go. We're heading back to base."
Leaning on her cane, she hobbled forward.
Even if Lynn didn't demand her body as payment, she still owed him a reward.
Kotoko knew that very well.
Just because he didn't mention it didn't mean she could just pretend it wasn't necessary.
Especially since she'd just made a deal with a Devil King she needed to tread very, very carefully.
Pissing off Lynn was definitely a death wish.
Especially after seeing his power firsthand in Hell, Kotoko knew that now more than ever.
"Guess I'll go dig around and see if those old geezers back home have any valuable treasures left..."
Rubbing her chin thoughtfully, Kotoko started plotting who she could squeeze some treasure out of.
Suddenly, she spoke up. "Hey... what do you guys think..."
"If I became a Devil myself?"
The yokai around her instantly froze in shock.
"Princess!? Are you abandoning us!?"
The little yokai immediately burst into frightened sobbing, their wails making Kotoko's head ache.
Still, even though it started as just a random thought, Kotoko realized she might've figured out the perfect reward for Lynn.
Since he liked collecting subordinates so much...Why not just give him one?
Yup!
That's it!
Now she just needed to figure out...
What exactly was that "Blessing" thing Lynn mentioned?
Kotoko was definitely curious.
Back then, Lynn only said it was a power his reincarnated Familia members got but he didn't go into detail. He also used the word ''familia' instead for 'peerage' for it.
The strange symbols carved onto Kikuri and the others she couldn't understand any of them.
Even when Lynn copied them down, Kotoko didn't dare look too deeply into it.
Somehow, she just knew that digging too much into that would bring serious trouble...
That was probably Lynn's biggest secret.
Kotoko fell silent, lost deep in thought.
The next day
Ryougetsu Senhime finally left her cozy little spot and returned to her beloved Era.
This time, she wasn't coming back alone she was taking a group of Inu-Yokai with her, heading straight for Hell.
Later on, she planned to bring the entire Inu-Yokai tribe into Hell as well.
Sure, that might mean the Inu-Yokai would completely vanish from the world for the next 500 years...
But so what?
Once they entered Hell, they'd officially be part of the system government jobs and all!
Most Yokai wouldn't even get this kind of chance!
Even if Lynn-sama's Hell was still in its early stages, Senhime had absolute faith in his grand ambitions.
The Inu-Yokai... would rise again, starting from Hell!
---
At the same time.
Muroto Sumire sent a message to Lynn.
"Lynn-sama, during our research on Yokai, we discovered a new use for their flesh and blood."
"Oh?"
That immediately caught Lynn's interest.
Sumire explained further: "We found that after processing Yokai blood a certain way, if it infects ordinary animals, their flesh becomes incredibly delicious... and eating it can actually boost a Familia member's stats."
"We've decided to call it Demonic Beast Meat."
Lynn rubbed his chin. "Well damn... they actually managed to come up with something interesting."
Extraordinary ingredients, huh?
Normally, because of the negative properties of Yokai blood, their flesh was basically unusable.
In fact, any animal contaminated by Yokai blood would usually die from miasma poisoning or similar side effects.
But these girls... actually figured out a way to make it edible?
"Not bad at all."
For Lynn's Familia, Demonic Beast Meat would be a huge upgrade.
Lynn was already starting to notice it aside from grinding monsters for EXP, there were other methods his Familia could use to get stronger.
World invasions were one thing.
Just yesterday, little Ai was proof of that.
Simply because she gained the title of Hell Administrator and received Hell's blessing, she instantly leveled up once.
And now? Eating extraordinary ingredients could boost stats too?
But Sumire's next message clarified things: "Right now, the Demonic Beast Meat produced through Familia methods can only boost low-rank devils. We believe it's related to the quality of the meat."
Lynn nodded in understanding.
After all, it was just ordinary animals contaminated by low-level Yokai blood.
The fact that it could even boost low-rank devils was already impressive.
After asking a few more details about their research, Lynn's eyes gleamed with interest.
"Maybe... I should consider invading worlds that have high-end ingredients?"
Sure, Demonic Beast Meat could only boost low-rank devils for now... but there were plenty of worlds out there with top-quality ingredients.
Lynn fell deep into thought.
In the Familia group chat
[Hell Girl: "Lynn-sama, the Devil Link network is officially online."]
"Oh?"
Lynn snapped out of his thoughts, his eyes lighting up in surprise.
That fast?
Clicking on the link Enma Ai sent him, a website similar to Hell Link popped up.
Ai had already set Lynn as the site's highest-level administrator.
Just like Lynn requested, the website could automatically search for people guided by Devil Pieces.
Unlike Hell Link, it wasn't limited to midnight appearances either.
But...
Whether people would actually use Devil Link to request deals from devils that was still unknown.
Only through making deals with devils could Lynn slowly bring them all into his Familia.
But hey...
One step at a time.
Lynn rubbed his chin, staring at the Devil Link motto on the site: [Do you need the help of a devil?]
Meanwhile.
At Shuchiin Academy Ttsuki Culinary Branch.
Inside a private clubroom
Nakiri Erina frowned at the sudden pop-up website on her phone.
"A prank?"
She casually set her phone down and tasted the freshly delivered dish in front of her.
Scooping up a spoonful of soup, Erina took a sip only to immediately spit it out with a disgusted look on her face.
She knew right away it wasn't the food's fault.
"The curse of the God's Tongue"
Erina's expression darkened with frustration.
Lately, no matter what she ate, nothing could satisfy her cursed palate.
If this continued...
Who knew what would happen to her.
Resting her cheek on one hand, Erina sighed helplessly.
But then... her gaze naturally drifted back to that strange website on her phone.
"Help from a devil... huh."
Suddenly... she felt a tiny bit curious.
Without thinking much about it, she picked up her phone and started typing.
["Can you make a dish that can satisfy me?"]
Click sent!
For a brief moment, Erina felt a flicker of hope... before shaking her head with a self-deprecating laugh.
"As if devils actually exist..."
"I must really be losing my mind from this cursed tongue... resorting to stupid stuff like this."
But the very next second...
Ding!
A reply popped up on Devil Link.
Erina froze.
["Cooking, huh... that's not really my strong suit..."]
Seeing that, Erina clicked her tongue.
"Tch as expected, just some prank"
But thenAnother message arrived.
["But... maybe you'll be interested in this?"]
Erina: "...?"
What's that supposed to mean?
While she was still confusedA black magic circle suddenly appeared on her phone screen!
"W-What the hell?!"
Plop.
A piece of meat dropped out of thin air and landed right on her table.
"AHHHH!!" Erina screamed, flinging her phone away like it was cursed.
Panic written all over her face, Erina bolted away from the table and crouched in the corner of the room, hugging her knees and shaking.
"M-Mr. Devil, sir! I thought it was just a prank! I wasn't trying to bother you or anything!!"
She sounded like she was about to cry at any moment.
Creak
The door to the club room slowly opened from the outside.
"EEEEEEEK?!"
Hearing the sound, Erina shrank even further into the corner like a terrified kitten.
Is is the devil really here to take me away?!
ButStanding at the door was none other than Hisako Arato, her loyal aide, staring blankly at Erina's pitiful state.
After a moment of awkward silence, Hisako hesitantly spoke.
"Um... Ojou-sama... are you, uh... rehearsing for some kind of performance?"
Erina: "..."
Hearing that familiar voice, Erina peeked out cautiously, finally noticing that there was nobody else in the room.
Realizing this, she let out a huge sigh of relief and patted her chest to calm herself.
"Haaah... geez..."
"For a second there, I really thought a devil had come for me"
She muttered under her breath but of course, Hisako heard every single word loud and clear.
Hisako forced an awkward yet polite smile, wisely pretending like she hadn't heard anything.
'Is... is Ojou-sama going through a Chniby phase?'
Now feeling much calmer, Erina finally noticed Hisako standing there and immediately froze.
Crap.
Crapcrapcrap.
She saw everything?!
So embarrassing!!
Erina wanted to dig a hole and hide forever.
Hisako, seeing her Ojou-sama struggling, quickly straightened her expression and said seriously, "Ojou-sama, I didn't see anything just now."
Erina glared at her, full of grievance.
What am I, a three-year-old?
Who'd believe a lie like that?
Still... it was Hisako. It's fine, right? Probably...
Trying to comfort herself, Erina's gaze wandered back to the table where that mysterious piece of meat still sat.
Her whole body stiffened again.
No doubt about it.
That was absolutely a supernatural event.
A devil...
Just thinking that word sent a shiver down her spine.
Crap again.
Did... did I just get marked by a devil?!
What do I do? What now??
Ding!
Her phone vibrated again with a new message.
Erina froze in place.
Hisako, noticing the phone lying on the floor, tilted her head in confusion.
Isn't that Ojou-sama's phone?
But since Erina wasn't moving at all, Hisako naturally picked it up.
Her eyes couldn't help but glance over the screen.
[Devil Link]
["Making a deal with a devil comes with a price, you know~"]
Devil?
So that's why Ojou-sama was acting like this?
Hisako looked puzzled but didn't think too much of it. She handed the phone back to Erina with a gentle smile.
"Ojou-sama, your phone."
Erina: "..."
"...Thanks, Hisako."
Erina awkwardly took the phone, eyes quickly scanning the message.
Price?!
Her heart skipped a beat.
Wait, wait, wait what could she possibly offer as payment?
Then suddenly her eyes lit up.
"Hisako! Quick! Get the kitchen ready! I'm cooking!!"
---
Meanwhile, over in the Supernatural Research Clubroom...
Lynn glanced at the screen displaying the client info.
Client: Nakiri Erina.
His eyes glinted with amusement.
The moment he saw her request, he immediately guessed it had something to do with her "God Tongue"
Perfect timing.
He'd just gotten his hands on some freshly obtained monster meat from his Familia's latest research.
When it came to quality, monster meat was on a whole different level compared to ordinary ingredients.
Not to mention it was a genuine supernatural ingredient.
So, naturally, he had someone from his Familia deliver a piece to her.
Now Lynn was curious.
After tasting a dish made with monster meat an ingredient overflowing with supernatural properties would the God Tongue still find ordinary food even remotely satisfying?
And more importantly...
Once Nakiri Erina got a taste of this could she ever walk away from the Devil Link again?
.
.
.
Shuchiin Academy Ttsuki Division.
Inside the clubroom, Nakiri Erina finally let out a long sigh of relief as she looked at the finished dish in front of her.
Due to the limited time and lack of proper ingredients and equipment, all she could manage to whip up was a simple pan-seared steak.
But even so...
The aroma wafting from the meat was so mouthwatering that she found herself gulping down her saliva multiple times without realizing it.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Is... my God's Tongue actually craving this?"
Erina's voice trembled slightly.
Ever since awakening the God's Tongue, this was the very first time she'd experienced something like this.
"Could it be... this piece of meat?"
Swallowing hard, Erina stared intently at the steak on the plate. And as she did, the craving from her God's Tongue only grew stronger.
I want it... I want it so bad...
I NEED it!!
Shaking her head vigorously to snap herself out of it, she suddenly remembered the message she was sending through the Devil Link app.
Food that could satisfy even her God's Tongue...
And just like that, the Devil casually sent her a piece of unbelievably high-grade meat?
Was this the kind of food Devils usually ate?
Her mouth was practically overflowing with drool now. Her gaze locked onto that piece of meat, her eyes subtly taking on a reddish hue, her breathing becoming ragged.
The rich aroma filled her nose, causing her entire body to tremble even to the point of slight spasms.
She looked like a crazy horny person.
But...
She managed to keep a sliver of rationality and quickly pulled out her phone.
"Um... Mr. Devil, how should I deliver your payment?" she typed, glancing at the neatly plated steak prepared earlier.
Buzz
A reply instantly came through.
["Just place your payment near the phone. That's fine."]
Erina bit her lip but followed the instructions.
Buzz
Suddenly, a pitch-black magic circle appeared out of thin air.
The otherworldly sight made Erina's heart race like crazy.
What the hell... there really are supernatural beings in this world!?
And in the very next secondThe steak next to her phone vanished without a trace.
Another message popped up on the Devil Link screen.
["This request has been completed. Looking forward to working with you again."]
Erina let out another deep sigh.
Looking forward to next time?
Like hell that's happening!
She absolutely didn't want to deal with Devils ever again!
But still...
Up until now, she'd always thought creatures like Devils only existed in manga and novels.
Yet after today... her entire view of the world had been flipped upside down.
This world... isn't as simple as she thought.
Erina felt a little uneasy.
It really did feel like she'd gotten herself on a Devil's radar...
That ominous premonition wrapped around her like a fog, making her extremely restless.
"Well... whatever. Let's eat first"
Gulp.
Erina stared at the remaining steak on her plate.
No hesitation.
Like a starving beast, she grabbed her fork and attacked the meat without a second thought.
And the very instant that meat entered her mouth Erina's eyes widened to the max.
"Ahhhh~"
Her breathing quickened, a moan escaping her lips as her body instinctively squirmed.
Her fair, delicate cheeks instantly flushed a deep red.
Her vision blurred.
It felt like she'd been transported to a completely different world.
A world steeped in ancient elegance traditional-style buildings everywhere people working diligently but what truly shocked her was
"Y-Yokai!?"
One after another, strange creatures each more bizarre than the last were walking, floating, and laughing happily as they strolled down the bustling streets.
The scene before her was like a living painting, making her feel oddly at peace.
Lost in the sensation, Erina didn't even know how much time passed before she finally snapped back to reality.
And without realizing it...
The steak on her plate was completely gone.
Gulp.
She swallowed again.
"That... that was absolutely divine!!"
Face flushed, heart pounding, Erina was overwhelmed with excitement.
This was hands down the best thing she'd ever tasted in her entire life!
And the crazy part? She hadn't even done any complicated prep work!
Maybe no amount of fancy technique could possibly enhance this level of premium ingredients!
"Haa... haa..."
Her nostrils flared, breathing heavy.
"The satisfaction... my God's Tongue is overflowing with joy..."
After a while, she gradually calmed down.
Clutching her phone tightly, Erina's gaze fell on the Devil Link screen as she bit her lip hard.
Now that her God's Tongue had tasted something this amazing...
How the hell was she supposed to go back to eating normal food!?
Damn it!!
Looks like she really had no choice but to keep dealing with the Devil...
Fortunately, she was currently in her post-satisfaction phase, so her mind was clearer.
Letting out a long breath, Erina hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly bookmarked the Devil Link site.
Just... just this once!
(Guess meat could be classified as drugs now?)
Meanwhile Shuchiin Academy, Supernatural Research Club.
After tasting the pan-seared steak Erina had personally made, Lynn rubbed his chin. "Hmm... Even though it was just a simple seared steak, it's definitely a few levels above Mahiru's cooking."
Of courseMahiru's skills were already excellent.
But compared to a professional like Erina?
Yeah, still a bit of a gap.
And on top of that...This was different meat.
"Mhm..."
"Looks like I just found myself a top-tier personal chef for my Familia, huh?"
Buzz
Suddenly, Lynn's phone vibrated again...
"Rias?"
Seeing the sender of the message, Lynn raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
[Rias: "Lynn, after what happened last time, my brother has decided to officially grant you the title of Ultimate-Class Devil, and he's planning to assign Valifer's territory under your name as well."]
[Rias: "But... since he's not sure how you feel about it and also worried that some people might come looking for trouble because of this he asked me to check with you first."]
"Ultimate-Class, huh?"
Lynn shook his head.
[Lynn: "I'm not really interested in the Ultimate-Class Devil title."]
---
Kuoh Academy Occult Research Club.
When Rias saw Lynn's reply, her expression twitched slightly.
Ultimate-Class Devil in the Underworld, that's a rank only second to the Four Satans themselves.
And Lynn just... straight-up said he wasn't interested?
But honestly...
"This might actually be for the best..."
Rias also didn't want Lynn to draw too much attention and end up becoming a target for the Old Satan Faction.
Bzzz
Another message from Lynn.
Rias quickly checked it.
[Lynn: "I don't care about the title, but I'll take Valifer's territory."]
[Rias: "Got it. But... taking over Valifer's territory might stir up some unnecessary trouble. Do you want my brother to handle it quietly behind the scenes?"]
[Lynn: "No need."]
[Rias: "But still..."]
Rias couldn't help but feel a little worried.
Meanwhile, back at the Supernatural Research Club, Lynn's lips curled into a faint smirk.
[Lynn: "Old Satan Faction, huh?"]
[Lynn: "If they've got the guts, let them come."]
[Lynn: "Oh, and make sure Sirzechs makes this as high-profile as possible."]
Seeing Lynn's messages, Rias froze for a second... then let out a helpless laugh.
"As expected of Lynn..."
Not only was he completely unfazed by the idea of the Old Satan Faction coming after him he was actually worried they wouldn't show up unless he made enough noise?
Seriously...
It's exactly this kind of Lynn that makes her heart race.
After daydreaming for a moment (and blushing a little), Rias quickly snapped back to reality and used magic to relay Lynn's message to Sirzechs.
Once that was done, Rias turned her gaze toward Koneko, who was quietly munching on snacks.
Just like Lynn had said that day, Koneko was still living her normal life at Kuoh Academy and hadn't left the Occult Research Club.
But...
She didn't hang around the club nearly as much anymore.
"Kinda mysterious lately..." Rias muttered, then asked directly, "Koneko, have you gotten stronger recently?"
Hearing that, Akeno also glanced over. She'd noticed something different about Koneko too.
Koneko casually popped another snack into her mouth. "Maybe it's because I've learned to control Youjutsu and Senjutsu."
Rias blinked in disbelief. "Already?"
Koneko nodded.
"But..." Rias frowned in concern. "Isn't messing with Youjutsu and Senjutsu kinda dangerous? Doesn't it risk going out of control?"
Koneko shook her head. "It's fine. Senpai already helped me take care of that."
Thanks to her new skill, [Yokai-Sage Resonance], which she acquired after joining the Familia, the problem of energy rampage was practically resolved.
---
[Yokai-Sage Resonance]
Stabilizes the fusion of yokai energy (Youjutsu) and senjutsu.
All yokai-based attacks inflict "Ki Corrosion" effect, gradually weakening enemy's magic resistance
---
"That's good to hear."
Rias let out a breath of relief.
Her feelings were complicated.
She'd always known Koneko had great potential... but honestly, while Koneko was under her care, she never really managed to help her develop that potential properly.
Looks like...
Leaving her to Lynn was the right call after all.
Meanwhile, in the Underworld Capital City, Lilith.
After hearing Rias's report, Sirzechs rubbed his temples with a helpless look. "He really said that?"
Rias's projection nodded. "Yeah. Every word."
Sirzechs fell into deep thought for a moment before finally saying, "Alright... let's do it his way."
Once the discussion was over, Rias's projection slowly faded away.
On the side, Serafall propped her chin on her hand. "So, he's planning to make a move against the Old Satan Faction?"
Sirzechs nodded. "Pretty obvious, isn't it?"
Otherwise, why would he deliberately make such a huge scene?
"Using himself as bait, huh... that guy's got guts."
Serafall clicked her tongue, but her heart leaned even more towards the guess she'd been holding onto for a while now.
This level of confidence... it really is exactly like that person.
"Well, it makes sense," Sirzechs said calmly. "Rather than constantly being stalked by snakes in the dark, it's better to lure them out into the open."
The Old Satan Faction had always been good at hiding.
Searching for them was not only annoying but also a waste of time.
Lynn's approach? Extremely efficient.
After all...
Just hearing the name Valifer was enough to set the Old Satan Faction's hatred meter straight to max.
But still... Pulling this off required enough strength to back it up.
Even though Lynn was already at the level of a Maou (Satan-class), and he even had light-based powers that specifically countered Devils, Sirzechs still couldn't help but feel a little worried.
"Relax."
Serafall waved her hand casually, "It'll be fine."
"Hope so."
Sirzechs fell silent for a moment, then added seriously: "Just in case if the Old Satan Faction makes a move, I want you to go support Lynn in the human world."
Serafall: "?"
Her face stiffened slightly, and for some reason her butt started feeling a little tingly, like something bad was about to happen.
...
MeanwhileDeep in some remote mountain forest
A white cat lay lazily on a tree branch, being gently stroked by Iwanaga Kotoko, who wore a mysterious smile.
The white cat, staring at Kotoko with wide eyes, spoke in disbelief.
"Princess are you seriously gonna sell me to a Devil?"
"Hey, hey, don't make it sound so awful..."
Kotoko said with a completely straight face, "I'm not selling you off I'm finding you an owner."
"Himari, don't you wanna have a proper master too?"
Kotoko's tone turned soft and persuasive, trying to talk the cat into it.
Himari Noihara flicked her tail, obviously unhappy. "But it's not like I'm the only yokai around, right?"
(A/N: Himari Noihara from Omamori Himari.)
Kotoko fell silent.
(Yeah, but you're a cute female cat, and most importantly you don't have any weird drama attached to you.)
(A good yokai like you should test the Devil's gun first, right?)
Himari felt Kotoko's strange lookthe kind that meant something bad was about to happen.
.
.
.
A few days later Underworld, Lilith.
Sirzechs made a high-profile announcement regarding the ownership of the territory previously sealed off from the House of Valifer.
And then a totally unexpected name caught everyone off guard: Lynn Valifer.
---
Grigori Headquarters
Azazel leaned back in his chair, muttering, "Valifer tch."
He remembered Vali mentioning a devil who could use light powersthat alone had raised some red flags.
Turns out, he was right.
Wasn't the Valifer clan supposed to be completely wiped out?
How's there still someone carrying their bloodline out in the world?
---
Meanwhile
The Old Satan Faction practically exploded when they heard the news. They were seething with rage, like they couldn't wait to charge out and slaughter the last of the Valifer bloodline once and for all.
Clearly, their hatred for that clan ran deep.
Shalba Beelzebub's gaze was dark and cold. "Don't worry. He won't live long."
Then, in an icy tone, he added, "Get in touch with the Khaos Brigade. I want that Valifer's exact locationnow."
The moment Lynn Valifer's name was revealed, the entire world seemed to shake.
And yet, right in the eye of the storm, Lynn himself was still chilling, living like a completely average student.
Shuchiin Academy
Miura Yumiko approached Yui with a weird look on her face, clearly struggling with what she was about to say.
She whispered, "Yui... are you really part of that guy's harem now?"
Her voice trembled, disbelief written all over her face.
She'd been watching for a while, and there was no doubt now:
The Supernatural Research Club? It was totally a harem club!
They were all beautiful girls! And the only guy in the club? The presidentLynn.
If this wasn't a harem, what else could it be!?
What hit her the hardest though was seeing Yui going in and out of that clubroom regularly.
Even that usually icy Yukino was there!
Wait, wait, waitthey weren't joking that day?!
"Ahaha"
Yuigahama Yui scratched her face awkwardly, then mumbled, "Well, for now I wouldn't really call it a harem yet"
As she said it, she looked kind of down.
A harem? Honestly, she didn't even feel like she was really in the running.
Even Yukinoshita Yukino didn't have a chance after her sister got all the attention!
"Not a harem yet?"
Yumiko's voice got louder, earning her some looks from nearby students.
But she couldn't be bothered anymore.
What the hell did "not a harem yet" even mean when Yui looked so disappointed!?
Unacceptable!
She decided right then: This disgraceful harem club needed to be purged from Shuchiin!
---
At the same time
Another corner of the Academy saw a similar scene unfolding.
"Milady, I've pretty much gathered all the info."
A blonde gal with short hair was reporting seriously to a girl who looked as cold as ice.
"Why'd it take so long, Hayasaka?"
Shinomiya Kaguya's voice was chilly, her crimson eyes fixed on Ai Hayasaka.
Hayasaka didn't react much, staying calm as ever. "Apologies. Things turned out way more complicated than expected, so it took longer."
"Hm?"
Kaguya raised an eyebrow. "Alright. Tell me what you found out about this guy."
Hayasaka paused for a moment to organize her thoughts, then began explaining the situation with the Supernatural Research Club.
The more Kaguya listened, the more animated her face became. Her usual icy expression crumbled as her jaw dropped in disbelief.
After a long moment of stunned silence, she finally managed to say one word: "Harem?!"
Hayasaka nodded. "From what I've seen, he has very close relationships with every girl in the club."
Kaguya fell into silence again, then looked up with disbelief. "My brother wants me to get involved with someone like this?!"
Hayasaka said nothing.
Kaguya took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her fury, then said coldly:
"I will not allow someone like himor a club like thatto exist at Shuchiin!"
Lynn's side
Lynn had just received some rather odd news from Minamiya Natsuki.
He stared at the message with a weird expression.
[Natsuki: "You're in trouble."]
[Lynn: "Huh??"]
After a moment, he messaged Yukino and Yui, telling them to handle the situation.
---
Service Club
Both girls were utterly confused after reading his message.
Yui facepalmed, then slumped over the desk with a groan. "Ugh"
Yukinoshita Yukino let out a sigh, stood up, and said, "Let's go. We need to have a serious talk with her."
She put a little extra weight on the word talk.
Yui flinched.
"Yukino you've changed"
With Yukino and Yui now handling Yumiko, Lynn was back to being free.
...
Right then, a message popped up from Devil Link.
It was from Nakiri Erina.
After tons of inner struggle (and a serious battle with her God's Tongue), she finally gave in and reached out to the devil againbegging for another delivery of high-grade ingredients.
Of course, she promised to offer something in return again.
But
"Why are these payments getting harder and harder!?"
Erina blushed furiously as she stared at the devil's new demand.
AHEGAO PHOTOS?! OF HER?! The devil might as well ask for a snowball in hell!
How the hell was she supposed to make that kind of face?! And what kind of devil asks for that kind of thing!?
This devil was definitely a perv!
"H-H-Hisako y-you have to get a good shot, okay"
Nakiri Erina, cheeks flaming red, stared nervously at the camera in Hisako Arato's hands.
This this is seriously the last time!!
Hisako: "..."
Is she in some kind of cult?
She had no idea what to feel about this anymore.
---
Ding!
Not long after, Lynn received the new message from Erinaphoto attached.
"Tsk tsk"
He admired it for a moment, saved it to his collection, and chuckled to himself.
At this rate, Erina was almost ripe for the picking.
Knock knock!
Suddenly
Someone knocked on the door of the Club.
"Come in."
Click
The door opened, and in stepped a familiar face.
"Hey there, Devil-sama~ I'm back!"
Iwanaga Kotoko strolled in, still in her Shuchiin uniform, beret on her head and a cane in her hand. The only thing different from last time was the white cat in her arms.
Lynn raised an eyebrow and smirked. "So what, you selling yourself to me now?"
Kotoko stiffened. "A-haha not quite."
She laughed awkwardly and replied, "More like I'm selling her to you."
She gestured to the cat in her arms and adjusted her grip slightly, earning a grumpy look from the kitty.
But Kotoko acted like she didn't see it and plopped the white cat right down on Lynn's desk.
"Her name's Himari. She's a purebred female catdon't worry, totally clean."
After much persuasion, nagging, and borderline harassment, Kotoko had finally worn Himari down.
"Himari?" Lynn raised an eyebrow. A catgirl?
He didn't stand on ceremonyhis hand reached out and began stroking her fur.
Himari flinched slightly under his touch, lips pursed, saying nothing but inside, her nerves were running wild.
'What kind of person is this guy? Is he going to be a good master or a nightmare?'
Kotoko plopped down into a chair and smiled. "She's my top girl, you know. Be gentle with her, Lord Lynn."
"Are you running a brothel now?" Lynn muttered.
But he nodded. "Don't worry. Anyone who joins my familia, I treat them all equally."
"Then I'm relieved."
Kotoko smiled back, though a hint of guilt lingered in her heart. Selling Himari to a devil? Yeah, not exactly the kindest move.
But heydead friends over dead me, right?
R-Right??
If she didn't sell Himari, she'd have to sell herself.
Himari, this is your moment to shine for the great and wise Goddess Kotoko!
...
Under Lynn's experienced hands, Himari's anxiety gradually melted away. Her eyes slowly closed, and she leaned into his touch, gently nuzzling his palm.
Kotoko: "..."
Wait, what?
Weren't you all moody and reluctant five minutes ago?!
Now you're all purring and cuddly?
Kotoko's expression twisted. That kind of pampering she never got any of it!!
This isn't fair! Does the mighty Goddess Kotoko not deserve love too?!
Taking a few deep breaths to compose herself, she forced a smile and muttered, "You're pretty skilled at that, Lord Lynn."
Lynn just nodded. "Yeah, I've had a lot of practice."
He did have a few cats at home, after all.
After chatting for a bit longer, Kotoko sensibly excused herself and left.
Lynn turned to Himari and started explaining the current status of his familia.
The more she listened, the more shocked Himari looked.
Different worlds divine blessings job openings in Hell?!
Gulp!
She swallowed hard.
If you want to soar, pick the right boss.
Kotoko-sama once you die, I swear I'll offer incense to your shrine every day!
Endless blessings to you, meow~!!
"All right, transform into human form," Lynn said, giving her a light tap.
A flash of light shimmered around Himari.
And just like that, sitting cross-legged on his desk was a beautiful girl in a purple kimono, long black hair flowing freely, curves in all the right places.
"Master," Himari said softly, blinking up at him.
Lynn rubbed his chin, giving her a once-over.
Not quite as sexy as Kuroka but definitely close.
He raised his hand, beginning to summon a devil's piece, but Himari instinctively leaned forward, resting her head against his hand and rubbing against it again.
He paused, then chuckled and started petting her again. "You're already used to being my familia, huh?"
Himari opened her eyes and said earnestly, "Us cat Yokai once we choose a master, we dedicate our entire body and soul to them."
"E-even if Master wanted me to have his children"
Suddenly she stammered, face burning red, voice getting softer and softer
"...Himari wouldn't say no."
Lynn's eyes lit up.
Catgirls
Man, catgirls are always the best.
"Wait..."
Lynn immediately fired off a message to Ryougetsu Senhime.
"Is the Leopard Cat Tribe still around? I'm suddenly in the mood to raise more cats."
Senhime: "???"
You're telling a doggy girl that you want more cats?!
Senhime read the message and just about had a mental breakdown.
.
.
.
Supernatural Research Clubroom
Lynn locked the door with a bit of magic, then patted Himari's head and said, "Alright, let's do it."
The moment those words left his mouth, a bright blush crept up Himari's neck. Her cat ears popped up instinctively.
"Y-Yes, Master!"
Her voice trembled slightly.
She hadn't expected that after just pledging herself to a master, something this intense would happen right away.
But Lynn had already explained it the reincarnation ceremony required a blessing to be engraved. So...
She took a few deep breaths, then turned her back to him and slipped her kimono halfway down, revealing her smooth back.
W-Well, she was his now anyway...
Blushing furiously, Himari tried to comfort herself with that thought.
Then she stammered out, "P-Please, Master... mark me!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt something cool touch her back like a gentle pressure slowly sinking in.
Himari tilted her head back, eyes fluttering shut, and couldn't help letting out a soft moan.
At that exact moment
[Ding!]
[Congratulations! You've gained a new familia: Himari!]
[Notification: Familia "Himari" successfully reincarnated as a Special Devil.]
A flash of light lit up her back, and the system sent Lynn all the info about her newly engraved blessing.
---
[Noihara Himari]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Cat Gaze], [Yokai Resonance] & [Cat Guardian Devil]
[Cat Gaze]
She automatically locks onto an enemy's weak spot.
The next attack is a guaranteed crit after using this skill.
[Yokai Resonance]
Absorbs energy from the land to slowly heal light wounds, but temporarily causes beast-like transformations.
[Cat Guardian Devil]
Cat Swarm: Summons 3 spectral cats to circle a designated ally. Each cat absorbs one hit and explodes upon destruction, stunning nearby enemies for 1 second.
Fate Intercept: When an ally is on the brink of death, Himari sacrifices one of her own "nine lives" to shift their fatal damage to the nearest enemy and heals them by 40%.
Devil Form: Nine Lives Cat
---
After reading through her abilities, Lynn couldn't help but be impressed.
"Now that's what I call a guardian catgirl."
"Huh?"
Himari tilted her head, confused.
Lynn smiled, then copied her blessing info onto a page and handed it to her.
When Himari saw the skill set under "Cat Guardian Dvil," her eyes lit up and she finally understood what he meant.
"Guardian... I like it!"She grinned proudly.
Himari had always wanted to protect others.
Looking up at Lynn, she said seriously, "Master, I promise I'll protect you and all our familia with everything I've got!"
Lynn nodded, hand on his chin. Then his gaze slowly dropped lower, and he chuckled.
"I can definitely feel your determination So... maybe start by putting your clothes back on?"
Himari frozethen her face lit up like a firecracker.
In the blink of an eye, she shifted back into her white-furred cat form and curled into a ball on the table, letting out soft, embarrassed whimpers.
Lynn chuckled quietly to himself.
Familia Chat Group
[Ding!]
[Guardian Catgirl Himari has joined the chat!]
[Noble Doggy Girl: "?!?"]
Meanwhile, 500 years in the past, the Sengoku Era, Ryougetsu Senhime stared blankly at the notification.
She goes on one mission and comes back to find her turf stolen again?
"Another damn cat?!"
A sense of crisis welled up in her chest.
"This can't keep happening. The balance of power in Master's harem is tilting too far toward the kittens!"
"This means war!!"
Her eyes sharpened. She had made up her mind.
She needed reinforcements.
Where's the doggy girl corps when you need them?!
Back in the group chat, the chatter kept going.
[Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Congrats on the new addition, Master."]
[Koneko: "Welcome."]
[Kuroka: "Welcome, welcome! Another strong believer joins the Cat cult! Nya~"]
Tokyo A Certain Caf
Kasumigaoka Utaha put her phone down with a small sigh.
After the Demon Slayer arc wrapped up, she decided to take a break.
And just like that, she got roped into a meeting with Machida Sonoko, her editor.
"An illustrator, huh?" Utaha waved it off. "Just grab whoever. Doesn't matter."
Money wasn't exactly a concern anymore.
Ever since Yukinoshita Haruno took over managing the harem's finances, each of them got a healthy monthly allowance.
Novel royalties? Chump change.
These days, she wrote purely out of passion.
Though... speaking of illustrators, someone did come to mind.
"What about Shiina Mashiro?" Utaha asked.
Sonoko nearly dropped her drink.
"Are you serious?! She's world-famous! We're just publishing light novel no way we could get someone like her!"
Utaha didn't say it out loud, but thought: "We're in the same harem. Why not?"
But whatever, she let it slide.
Sonoko patted her chest confidently."Don't worry, I've already arranged someone for you. I promise you'll be satisfied."
"Alright then."
Utaha lazily stirred her coffee, totally unbothered.
A moment later, a blonde girl with twin tails came rushing in, slightly out of breath and bowing in apology.
"Sorry! Traffic was a nightmareI'm a little late!"
Utaha raised an eyebrow when she saw her.
"First year? Eriri Spencer Sawamura, right?"
"Eh?"
Eiriri Froese froze for a second, then looked up. "You're Utaha-senpai from second year?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha gave her a faint, knowing smile.
Inside her, the devil's piece that Lynn had unsealed quietly reacted. It was telling her that this Eriri girl also had the potential to join Lynn's growing harem.
While Eriri and Machida Sonoko were chatting away, Utaha casually dropped a message into the group chat.
[Utaha: "Oops~ I just stumbled upon another potential waifu candidate for our master "]
[Yotsuya Miko: "..."]
[Noble Doggy Girl: "Another Catgirl?????? Please reply @KasumigaokaUtaha."]
That one line from Utaha was enough to instantly silence the entire group chat.
At Shuchiin Academy, in the Student Council room.
A refined girl with long chestnut hair sat regally in the student council president's chair.
On the sofa opposite her sat Shinomiya Kaguya, holding a cup of tea, her face unreadable.
Next to her was a certain pink-haired busty girl, sipping her tea with exaggerated grace.
But then she winced, stuck out her tongue and shut one eye. "Hot! So hot!"
Yuuki Asuna, sitting nearby, couldn't help but laugh at her reaction.
(A/N: Yeah, from Sword Art Online.)
Clack.
Suddenly, Kaguya placed her teacup on the table with a sharp clink, drawing Asuna's attention.
Kaguya spoke coldly. "What's your opinion on the Supernatural Research Club?"
Her icy tone instantly chilled the entire room.
Asuna blinked, a little caught off guard.
The Supernatural Research Club?
She'd heard of them before. Hard not to, considering that club was made up entirely of attractive girls. It got attention by default.
They even had a nickname. The Harem Club.
Just thinking about it made Asuna's expression shift slightly. But she couldn't quite figure out why Kaguya suddenly brought it up.
After a moment, she gave a warm, diplomatic smile. "I've heard about them too, but I don't really know much about their actual activities."
Her voice was like a gentle spring breeze, melting away the cold tension in the room.
Fujiwara Chika had just been mentally whiplashed between hot and cold, glanced between the two girls and suddenly had a bright idea:
In summer, cuddle with Kaguya for a cool breeze. In winter, snuggle up with the Asuna for warmth. Perfect!
Her eyes sparkled with inspiration.
She was Chika-chan, the girl who is capable of hijacking other people's animes and walking away with the heroine tag.
---
Meanwhile, Kaguya's tone remained frigid as she said, "You've probably heard the rumors about the Harem Club, haven't you?"
Asuna leaned her chin on her hand and nodded lightly.
Kaguya continued, her voice like steel, "They're not just rumors. Someone saw the members of that club getting a little too close with their club president!"
Her voice grew sharper with each word.
"That kind of club is clearly a bad influence on Shuchiin!"
"That club presidenthe should be exiled to Siberia to dig the snow!"
The force of her words hit like a hammer, making both Asuna and Chika sit up straight.
But
Asuna and Chika, who were used to Kaguya's dramatic side, exchanged subtle glances. This had all the markings of a 'personal grudge'.
Someone from that club definitely ticked off the Shinomiya princess.
Asuna coughed lightly, then said gently, "So what you're saying is you want the Student Council to shut down the Supernatural Research Club?"
She phrased it like a question, but Kaguya's expression said it all.
Asuna smiled softly."If what you said is true, then yesthis kind of club would be a bad look for Shuchiin."
Kaguya nodded in approval.
But then
Asuna's expression shifted as she added, "Buuuut no judgment without proper investigation."
As the president of the student council, she couldn't just shut down a club based on gossip.
"Here's what I'll do" she said thoughtfully. "I'll go to the Supernatural Research Club myself tomorrow and take a good look at what they're up to."
"If I find out they really are acting inappropriately, Shuchiin won't let that kind of club continue. No question."
Kaguya pressed her lips together, but didn't argue.
Even if it wasn't a shutdown yet, this was good enough for now.
Meanwhile, Chika was furrowing her brows.
Supernatural Research Club where have I heard that before?
Suddenly
Bang!
The door to the student council room burst open.
A petite, long black-haired beauty walked in. Her presence was graceful but carried a quiet weight.
She paused as she felt the tense air in the room, then smiled slyly. "Looks like I missed something interesting while I was gone."
Suou Yuki cleared her throat dramatically to grab everyone's attention.
"Anyone wanna fill me in on what happened just now?"
Asuna gave her a helpless smile and recapped the whole conversation about the Supernatural Research Club.
Yuki's brows furrowed slightly when she heard the club president's name.
"The president of that club is it someone named Lynn ?"
Asuna blinked in surprise. "You know him?"
Yuki chuckled like a noble lady and gave Kaguya a strange look. "Oh ho ho~ so it is him."
Then she patted Kaguya on the shoulder with admiration."Kaguya, you're bold."
Kaguya: "???"
She looked at Yuki with an annoyed expression."What the hell are you talking about?"
Suddenly
"Ah!" Chika shouted."I remember now!"
"That incident at the old school buildingwasn't it the Supernatural Research Club that solved it?"
.
.
.
"Old School Building?"
Hearing those words, Yuuki Asuna froze for a moment, then fell into deep thought.
An ordinary student probably wouldn't know much about the rumors surrounding the old school building. But as the Student Council President, Asuna actually knew a bit of the inside story.
Things like chairs that move on their own, for example.
Almost every Student Council member had claimed to have seen something strange with their own eyes.
But
After those incidents, it was said that the old school building issue had already been resolved.
Yet when the Student Council went to check things out, what they found was shocking the place looked like it had gone through some kind of brutal battle.
This bizarre situation left the members of the Student Council feeling anxious, and only added to the mystery surrounding the whole old school building incident.
Asuna rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"Never thought this whole thing would actually be connected to the Supernatural Research Club"
If that's the case, then she couldn't just carelessly jump to conclusions about the Supernatural Research Club's activities.
On the sofa across from Shinomiya Kaguya, Suou Yuki sat with her arms crossed and legs casually crossed, letting out a soft chuckle.
"Kaguya~"
Even though they were rivals competing to be the next Student Council President...
Yuki's eyes sparkled mysteriously as she said in an almost teasing tone, "You'd better not go messing with people you really shouldn't mess with."
Kaguya frowned slightly, her voice cold.
"No need to worry about that. The Shinomiya family might not have the deepest roots"
"But," Kaguya's crimson eyes were filled with pride, "until now, there hasn't been anyone the Shinomiya family couldn't handle."
"Hoh hoh hoh~"
Yuki let out a classic anime-style three-stage laugh.
"Well then"
"I'll look forward to seeing how that turns out."
Even as she said that, in her heart, Suou Yuki had already crossed Shinomiya Kaguya off the list of competitors for the next Student Council President.
Seriously, this girl so clueless.
She'd already warned her that much, and Kaguya still didn't get it?
After all, Suou Yuki knew Lynn.
The Suou family, with their long-standing legacy, wasn't something the recently risen Shinomiya family could easily compare to.
And because of that, the Suou family was aware of the world's hidden side.
Things like curses, spirits, yokai, exorcists they knew all about them.
In fact, the Suou family was even deliberately trying to build connections with that kind of power.
They understood very clearly in a world where supernatural forces exist, no matter how rich or powerful your family is, without actual power, you're just waiting to be crushed by those who do have it.
If the Suou family wanted to survive long-term, they couldn't reject the supernatural in fact, they had to embrace it.
But that was a risky path.
And sure enough, when they dipped their toes into the supernatural world, trouble inevitably followed.
Fortunately
They managed to hire an exorcist just in time to clean up the mess.
And that exorcist was none other than Lynn.
It was only after the Supernatural Research Club gained some fame within Shuchiin Academy that Suou Yuki realized
That amazing exorcist from back then actually went to the same school as her!?
Naturally, she started wondering maybe she could use this connection to do something for her family?
But harem club?
Suou Yuki fell into deep thought.
She vaguely felt like she'd grasped some clue about Lynn's personal tastes.
"Yuki, do you know something?"
Just then, Yuuki Asuna's voice pulled her back to reality.
Yuki looked up at Asuna, shrugged, and casually replied, "Well, I do know a bit, but"
"If you really want to know, president, instead of asking me, wouldn't it be better to go and see for yourself?"
There was no way she'd dare casually spill Lynn's secrets. If she pissed him off and ended up bringing disaster to the Suou family, that'd be a nightmare.
"Is that so"
Hearing her response, Asuna fell into contemplation.
Suou Yuki definitely knew what kind of power the Shinomiya family held. Yet even so, she still warned Kaguya not to provoke Lynn.
That could only mean one thing
In Suou Yuki's eyes, the Supernatural Research Club or rather, that Club President was someone not even the Shinomiya family could afford to mess with.
Asuna didn't show any reaction on the surface, but deep down, she was growing more and more curious.
The Supernatural Research Club
She definitely needed to go check it out for herself.
Whether it was the club's background, or how exactly they'd resolved the old school building incident
Yuuki Asuna was very, very curious.
---
After leaving the Student Council roomShinomiya Kaguya went to find Ai Hayasaka, frowning slightly as she asked, "Are you sure the Supernatural Research Club's President doesn't have any kind of background?"
Even though she didn't believe there was anyone in all of Japan that the Shinomiya family couldn't deal with
Suou Yuki's words still made her a little cautious.
Ai Hayasaka responded calmly, "After investigating, it's true he doesn't seem to have any special background."
Using the Shinomiya family's resources, they'd already dug through Lynn's records and assets completely.
And the results?
Aside from being an orphan and working his way up to buy a house through part-time jobs there was nothing particularly noteworthy.
Still, Hayasaka was smart enough to add, "Although he seems pretty ordinary"
"Don't forget he's someone recommended by Lord Un'yo himself."
Her meaning was obvious.
If someone like Shinomiya Un'yo personally told Kaguya to interact with Lynn, warning her to treat him with respect.
But
Kaguya clearly didn't take that warning to heart.
Her brows relaxed, and she returned to her usual cool, ice-queen self.
"If there's nothing special, then there's no problem."
Leaving behind those words, Kaguya turned and walked away coolly.
Watching her leave, Hayasaka could only sigh quietly in her heart.
The Next Day
Supernatural Research Club
Lynn's lap had a new occupant today.
Boom.
"You damn homewrecker cat!"
After rushing like crazy from the Sengoku period, Ryougetsu Senhime finally made it back. And then...
Senhime bared her fangs at Himari, who had shamelessly claimed her spot in Lynn's lap. The aura of a powerful monster radiated from her without holding back!
Himari, feeling that intense pressure, stiffened up in Lynn's arms. Instinctively, she snuggled closer into his chest, meowing pitifully like a spoiled kitten trying to act cute.
Seeing this, Lynn calmly patted Himari on the head, then glanced sideways at Senhime.
Instant freeze.
Senhime immediately retracted her aura and mumbled in a small voice, "Bitch...all cats are bitches"
Feeling a little sulky and wronged, Senhime suddenly felt herself being lifted up.
Lynn simply picked her up too and pulled her into his arms, gently rubbing her ears.
Feeling that familiar, soothing gesture, Senhime instantly melted, narrowing her eyes in bliss like a spoiled princess.
After comforting Senhime for a while, Lynn finally got back to business.
Too many clingy pets... honestly, not exactly a good thing either...
"So, how's the situation with the Inu-Yokai (dog demons)?"
Senhime opened her eyes a bit and replied lazily, "Already sent them to Hell to process their employment paperwork."
Lynn nodded.
With the first batch of Inu-Yokai joining Hell's workforce, it wouldn't be long before Hell could start running smoothly again.
Leaning back slightly, Lynn started thinking about Hell's future development.
No way he'd be satisfied with just this.
Now that he had gained control over Japan's Hell, of course Lynn wanted more.
Especially since...
Not only did Enma Ai get the official title of Hell's Administrator, but Lynn himself also gained the Authority of "Enma" (God of Hell).
So... what if he took it even further?
What if he could seize control of Hell across the entire world?
"Hades..."
When it came to fighting over Hell's sovereignty, Hades was a name that couldn't be avoided.
And Hades' strength...
Lynn rubbed his chin in thought.
He was probably stronger than Sirzechs, right?
Just to be safe...
Looks like he should aim to become a super devil first...
Lynn opened his system panel. In the [Devil's Contract] section, a world appeared Bleach.
"If I remember right..."
"Bleach has its own Hell too, doesn't it?"
Lynn fell into deep thought.
Maybe he could use his Enma status to stir up something in Bleach's version of Hell?
As he was lost in his thoughts...
Knock Knock!
Someone knocked on the Supernatural Research Club's door.
Lynn looked a little speechless.
"Man, aren't we getting way too many visitors lately?"
Complaining quietly, he still called out, "Come in."
Click
The door opened, and in walked a beautiful girl with long chestnut hair, wearing the Shuchiin Academy uniform.
Her face carried a gentle smile.
"Sorry to bother you."
"Asuna?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Wait a sec... does this world have Sword Art Online too?
But...
He didn't remember hearing any news about SAO existing in this world...
He hasn't even met the Jujutsu Kaisen cast yet, and now SAO characters are popping up too? This mashup world's turning into a chaotic mess it's starting to feel kinda annoying.
Yuuki Asuna blinked in surprise, looking a little confused.
Did he just... call my name?
Well, she was pretty well-known around the school, so it wasn't exactly strange... but still.
Lynn quickly recovered, smiling politely. "Ah, are you here for a request or something?"
Asuna thought for a second, then she smiled warmly. "I'm Yuuki Asuna, student council president."
Lynn stayed calm. "So... what brings the president of the student council to the Supernatural Research Club?"
Asuna paused for a moment, thinking about how to phrase it.
She couldn't just straight up say: Someone reported that your club is basically a harem in disguise, so I came to check it out.
So she smiled softly. "I've heard a lot of rumors about the Supernatural Research Club... so I got curious and thought I'd come take a look."
Lynn chuckled, half-sarcastically. "I'm guessing they weren't exactly good rumors, huh?"
Harem Club.
Yeah... as long as he was in Shuchiin, there was no way he wouldn't have heard that nickname.
In fact, Lynn was pretty sure that name probably came straight from Yukinoshita Yukino's mouth.
Wasn't she the one who first started calling them that?
Standing at the door, Asuna tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, pretending she didn't catch Lynn's subtle jab.
Then, maintaining her gentle smile, she asked sweetly, "Club President Lynn, would you mind letting me have a look around your Supernatural Research Club?"
She couldn't help but wonder: What exactly does the Supernatural Research Club investigate? Supernatural phenomena?
Lynn looked up at Yuuki Asuna, his expression calm and smiling.
Just as she thought he'd agreed, he uttered a single, flat reply:
"I do mind."
Yuuki Asuna: "Huh?"
.
.
.
"I do mind."
Asuna's smile freeze on her face.
WaitThis isn't going the way she expected at all.
Lynn leaned back in his chair, completely at ease, wearing a calm and unreadable expression.
Asuna stood there awkwardly, unsure what to say for a moment.
An awkward silence quickly spread through the Supernatural Research Club room.
ButAs the student council president of Shuchiin Academy, Yuuki Asuna wasn't someone who'd stay stunned for long.
She quickly composed herself, glanced down at the commission form on the table, and flashed a confident smile.
"In that case, I won't push it. But"
"I'd like to submit a request to the Supernatural Research Club."
Lynn looked up at her and replied plainly, "We only take cases related to the supernatural."
"If it's something normal, try the Service Clubtake a left outside the door."
Asuna's eye twitched. Supernatural?
Where the hell was she supposed to find something like that?
She fell into deep thoughtand then, suddenly, a particular strange girl in Shuchiin popped into her mind.
Resting her chin in her hand, she narrowed her eyes, recalling what she saw that day.
One time, she'd personally seen that girl fall down the stairs.
ButJust as she was about to rush over and help, the girl literally floated in midair like she weighed nothing at all!
The scene had completely creeped her out.
Back then, she'd mustered up her courage and tried talking to the girl...Only to be completely ignored.
Now that she thought about it, that floating moment really was supernatural, wasn't it?
Alright then! She had her commission ready!
After thinking it through, Asuna decided to play it safe. "So, I have this friend, right? She fell down the stairs last time, but instead of getting hurt, she just floated in the air."
With a look of expectation on her face, she asked, "That counts as supernatural, doesn't it?"
Lynn gave a slight nod. "Alright."
With that confirmation, Asuna immediately pushed forward. "Then, Lynn, could you take a look at my friend's situation?"
"Sure," Lynn replied. "Just bring your friend here."
But the moment he said that, Asuna froze up again.
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "What, is there a problem?"
Asuna gave a wry smile. "Well... yeah, kind of."
Last time she tried, that girl had totally ignored her. And honestlyShe didn't even know the girl's name.
"Um"
Looking a bit embarrassed, Asuna asked, "Would you mind coming with me to see her, Lynn?"
Lynn didn't answer right away. He just gave her a long, thoughtful look.
Feeling the pressure, Asuna squirmed a littlethen suddenly blurted out, "Actually, isn't your clubroom getting a bit cramped these days?"
"There are two unused rooms next door how about we allocate them to the Supernatural Research Club?"
Rustle
Lynn stood up. "Alright, let's go, President."
To be fair, their clubroom was really getting a little tight.
Seeing him agree, Asuna smiled brightly.
A few minutes later, outside the student council room
"Wait, your friend's in the student council?" Lynn asked casually as they walked.
Asuna chuckled softly, "No, I meant her name is in there."
Lynn: "?"
Click
Asuna opened the student council room door.
Three figures came into view.
Fujiwara Chika, Shinomiya Kaguya, and Suou Yuki.
All of them were solid talentsgreat picks for a Familia.
Lynn narrowed his eyes slightly.
He already had the Service Club under his belt. Adding the student council? Didn't sound like a bad idea at all.
"Whoa! Asuna brought a guy in!"
Fujiwara Chika shot up from her seat, practically yelling as she ran over!
With her hands behind her back and those big blue eyes sparkling with curiosity, she looked Lynn up and down.
You could almost see her inner gossip gremlin activate.
Asuna sighed and lightly pushed her back by the forehead.
"This is Lynn, head of the Supernatural Research Club."
"Eh?"
Chika blinked, then turned her gaze toward the couchstraight at Shinomiya Kaguya.
Kaguya paused too, her deep crimson eyes sweeping across Lynn with a cool, calculating look.
Meanwhile, Suou Yuki came over with grace and a perfect lady's bow. "A pleasure to meet you, Lord Lynn."
Lynn's eyes landed on her, a flicker of recognition lighting up.
"Ah, so it's Miss Yuki"
Yuki gave a gentle smile. "Just call me Yuki, Lord Lynn."
(A/N: To avoid confusion, we have the Ghost Kanoe Yuuko, Yukinoshita Yukino (Ice Devil), Yuigahama Yui, and finally the new Y character: Suou Yuki.)
"Alright, alright. We'll catch up laterLynn and I have business to discuss."
Asuna quickly moved both Chika and Yuki aside and brought Lynn into the room.
"President."
Kaguya's cold voice rang out behind them.
Expressionless, she looked Lynn dead in the eye. "Bringing a filthy man like this into Shuchiin is going to pollute the air, isn't it?"
Asuna stopped mid-step, her eye twitching. "Kaguya, cut the crap. That's unnecessary right now."
Yuki covered her mouth, barely holding in a snort, looking like she was enjoying the show.
Oho~Someone's about to get roasted.
Chika scratched her head, completely lost.
Lynn squinted slightly, sensing the hostility coming from Kaguya.
She'd been giving him that look since the moment he walked in.
No idea why. But...
The last girl who tried provoking him was Yukinoshita Yukino. She's singing his praises on her knees now.
So...you know...
---
"Unnecessary?"
Kaguya spoke again, her brows furrowed.
"I don't think anything I said was unnecessary."
The room went dead silent.
Yuki held her breath.
Damn, Kaguya, you're really going all in today
With her crimson eyes locked on Lynn, Kaguya continued seriously: "If we keep breathing the same air as this pervert, someone might actually end up pregnant."
Suou Yuki: "WTF?"
Fujiwara Chika stared wide-eyed at Kaguya, completely dumbfounded. "W-What did you just say, Kaguya?"
Yuki almost lost it and muttered, "Are you seriously joking or are you being for real right now?"
Kaguya glanced sideways at her. "I'm not interested in wasting time with jokes."
Wait a sec.
"You were serious about the pregnancy part?"
Yuki looked like her whole worldview had just cracked.
Kaguya frowned. "Is there a problem with that?"
That man was practically leaking degenerate energy. And with no windows open in the student council room, the air was completely still. After a full analysis using her genius-level brainyeah, pregnancy was statistically possible.
"No, no none at all."
Yuki quickly shook her head and gave in with a sigh.
"You know what, Kaguya? You really are a genius."
Kaguya narrowed her eyes.
That sounded like a compliment but why did it feel so wrong?
Forget it.
She gave up trying to make sense of it and calmly lifted her teacup.
"Anyway, I refuse to stay in the same room as him."
"Then feel free to leave."
Suddenly, Lynn was standing right in front of her, looking down with a calm but dangerous gaze.
Kaguya's hand trembled, spilling a bit of tea, but she didn't even notice.
When did he move?!
Before she could even reactshe felt herself getting picked up like luggage.
Next thing she knew
WHAM.
The student council room doors flew open.
Thud.
Kaguya landed flat on her butt in the hallway, dazed like a stunned duck.
"There you go. Now you don't have to worry about getting pregnant."
With that, she heard the door click shut.
Kaguya: "?"
What just happened?
...
Inside the room, Asuna gave a sheepish smile.
"Sorry I didn't think it would escalate like that."
Lynn shook his head. "So, weren't you trying to figure out your 'friend's' name?"
That made Asuna freeze for a moment. She laughed awkwardly and opened the student records.
Lynn raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Friend, huh? She didn't even know her friend's name?
But he didn't blame her. When he had male friends back on Earth, he'd been the same way Hell, he never needed names. A simple "Bro," "Man," or "Big Dog" worked just fine.
...
Asuna, meanwhile, was distractedher thoughts still stuck on what just happened.
That speed
Was that supernatural?
He had appeared right in front of Kaguya in the blink of an eye. JustBAM, and he was there.
"Let me help too," Suou Yuki offered suddenly.
Asuna snapped back to the moment and quickly described the student's appearance.
Off to the side, Chika poked Lynn curiously.
"Hey, hey~!"
He looked down at her.
"Was that just now actual superpowers?!"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she waved her hands around to mimic the moment.
"You went whoosh and just appeared in front of Kaguya! So cool!!"
Her enthusiasm even made Asuna pause mid-record search. She kept sneaking glances over, clearly interested too.
Lynn noticed and then, right in front of them, vanished into thin air.
Chika: "??!"
She gasped, and then
A large hand landed on her head from behind.
Lynn's voice came from over her shoulder: "You mean like this?"
Chika's heart was racing like crazy!
"That's amazing!!"
With stars in her eyes, she clung to Lynn's arm like a plush toy.
"Can I do it too?! Can I?! Teach me!!"
Lynn narrowed his eyes, feeling like his arm had just sunk into a soft ocean.
Then suddenly "Found her!!"
Yuki Suou waved a student file in the air with a triumphant shout.
Asuna quickly took it and flipped it open.
Her eyes scanned the photo, and she confirmed: "Yep, that's her!"
"Senjougahara Hitagi!"
Lynn's gaze narrowed.
Another familiar name
"Class 2-3," Asuna added.
With the name and class confirmed, she gently pulled Lynn's arm out of Chika's grasp.
"Alright, let's go, Lynn."
"Ehhh~?" Chika looked super bummed.
She didn't even get to know how to unlock her own superpowers!
---
Outside the student council room
Kaguya was still sitting there on the hallway floor, trying to process everything that just happened.
Also, her butt really hurt.
Click
The door opened again.
She instinctively looked up and met Lynn's calm but cold eyes looking down at her.
Kaguya froze in place.
Why does he look so scary?!
.
.
.
---
Yo~
10 chapters, as promised!
Hope the translation quality is up to your expectations I'm doing my best to strike a balance between quantity and quality while keeping the story smooth and enjoyable.
If you spot any mistakes or anything that feels off in the translation, feel free to point them out! I'm always looking to improve and give you better TLs in future chapters.
Also there might be another mass release later this week~
...
(Support me and read advanced chapters at: patreon.com/_Coreal)
Shuchiin Academy - Hallway
The moment her eyes met Lynn's, Shinomiya Kaguya's breath caught in her throat. It felt like she'd just been struck by lightningher whole body froze on the spot.
What was that look?
So deep. So cold.
For a second, Kaguya felt like she'd fallen straight into the depths of hell through those eyes. Everything around her seemed to vanish, and all that was left was a suffocating, overwhelming fear that wrapped tightly around her.
Luckily, Lynn only gave her a quick glance before turning and walking away at a casual, unhurried pace.
Even so, it felt like an eternity before Kaguya's nerves finally started to loosen. Her body slowly regained some warmth.
But still
She bit her lip, her thighs tensing involuntarily as an indescribable sensation spread through her.
Who what is that guy?
"Hey, Kaguya, are you okay?"
Fujiwara Chika crouched beside her, eyes filled with concern and worry.
"Gah!"
Kaguya let out a strange yelp, startled by the sudden voice. Her heart jumped, her legs clamped together tighter on reflex.
"Kaguya?" Chika tilted her head, clearly confused.
"I-I'm fine."
Taking a deep breath to calm herself down, Kaguya shook her head and slowly got to her feet, using the wall for support.
She tried her best to maintain her usual icy composure, her voice as steady as she could make it. "I have something to do. Excuse me."
Without waiting for a response, she walked away though her steps were oddly stiff and awkward.
Chika watched her leave, visibly concerned. That walking posture looked off.
She instinctively started to follow, but
Smack!
Her arm was suddenly grabbed.
"Huh?"
Chika blinked and turned around to see Suou Yuki, her expression unreadable.
"Yuki?"
Yuki narrowed her eyes, staring down at a few drops of water on the floor. She clicked her tongue softly and said, "Chika, maybe don't follow her right now."
"Huh?"
Chika didn't quite get it, but Yuki didn't explain. She simply tugged her back into the student council room.
---
Meanwhile
Kaguya sat trembling on a toilet seat, pulling out her phone with shaking hands and dialing a number.
"Miss?"
The voice of Ai Hayasaka came through once the call connected.
But
After a full minute of silence, Kaguya finally whispered in a tiny voice, "Hayasaka"
"Bring me"
She hesitated for a beat, then clenched her teeth and forced herself to finish.
"Bring me some new panties."
The moment the words left her mouth, she hung up in a panic, burying her burning-red face into her arms.
As the heir to the Shinomiya family, this was easily the most embarrassing thing that had ever happened to her.
But then
Lynn's cold, piercing gaze replayed in her mind.
Her body shuddered, and the sound of faint dripping echoed in the bathroom stall.
---
Hayasaka stared at her phone, blinking in confusion at the sudden dial tone.
"Huh."
She didn't know what had just happened.
But orders were orders.
On the way to Class 2-3, Yuuki Asuna looked a little guilty.
"Sorry about earlier. Kaguya went too far."
"It's not your fault," Lynn replied calmly, expression unchanged.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
He'd heard this name beforeShinomiya Kaguya. Haruno had mentioned it a couple of times.
With Haruno's ability, her family's businesses had been expanding rapidly in recent years, especially in the modern world.
And of course, success like that always attracted the wrong kind of attention.
The Shinomiya family was one of those problems.
Running into Kaguya today reminded him of that.
Since that's the case Might as well start with them.
Time to make an example.
Let the world knowmessing with a devil's business isn't something you walk away from.
Class 2-3
"This is it," Asuna said as they stopped in front of the classroom door. "Hope she hasn't left yet."
She slid the door open.
Whoosh
A spotless classroom came into view.
The breeze from the open windows stirred the white curtains gently.
Golden sunlight streamed through, casting warm, glowing patches of light across desks and the floor. The entire room felt peaceful and inviting.
At the very back of the classroom, a girl with long purple hair rested her chin on her hand, staring blankly out the window.
She wore the standard Shuchiin uniform, black thigh-high socks hugging her legs. A strange but captivating air surrounded her, like a mysterious aura that kept people at a distance.
Even as the door was flung open with a loud slam, shattering the quiet, she didn't move an inch. Her gaze remained locked on the view outside, like she was lost in her own worlduntouchable, unreachable.
"Ah, thank goodness!" Asuna said with a relieved smile. "Senjougahara Hitagi-san is still here."
At her voice, Hitagi's brow twitched slightly.
She turned her head slowly, eyes like ice as she looked toward Asunaexpression cool, distant, unreadable.
But when she got a better look at Asuna's face, she let out a faint "Mm," recognizing her as the girl who had once discovered her secret.
Ugh just my luck to run into this pain-in-the-ass again
Hitagi inwardly grumbled, her eyes subconsciously filled with a bit more caution.
Asuna quickly closed the distance with light, fast steps. "Hitagi-san, I'm guessing you've run into some kind of supernatural event, haven't you?"
She said, full of confidence. "I brought someone with me from the Supernatural Research Clubhe might be able to help you."
Supernatural Research Club?
Hitagi paused, her expression indifferent. "Not interested."
She had heard of that club before.
But come on wasn't it basically a harem club?
And she was supposed to trust that guy to solve her problem?
"Don't worry!" Asuna clapped a hand on Hitagi's shoulder, her eyes earnest. "President Lynn is really strong!"
What happened back in the student council room had completely convinced her of Lynn's power.
Lynn was definitely someone who understood and could handle supernatural stuff.
Hitagi suddenly stood up, brushing off Asuna's hand. "Mind your own business," she said flatly.
Then, without another word, she stepped up onto the chair, climbed onto the window ledge, and jumped.
"Ehhhh?!"
Asuna was stunned.
She rushed to the window and looked down instinctivelyonly to see Hitagi floating down like a feather, gently swaying in the air.
Asuna: "..."
She patted her chest and let out a sigh of relief. "Right I forgot. Hitagi-san has that setting."
She frowned slightly. "But if that's the case, how the heck are we supposed to help her with her problem?"
As student council president, Asuna felt responsible for the well-being of all studentsmind and body.
While she was racking her brain, Lynn watched Hitagi's floating descent with curiosity, then softly muttered: "Wind."
Whoosh
The moment he spoke, the breeze in the classroom seemed to respond.
The air currents gathered, forming an invisible hand that gently caught Hitagi mid-airand brought her back up, floating right through the window into Class 2-3.
"???"
Hitagi's expression was pure confusion, shock written all over her face.
And in the next momentBAMshe landed squarely in Lynn's arms.
Asuna: "???"
What just happened?
Lynn caught her in a bridal carry, casually bounced her in his arms, and commented, "Lighter than I expected."
Snapping back to reality, Hitagi instinctively reached for her skirt.
But Lynn saw through her intentions. With a smirk, he shifted his hands to her slender waist and gave her a playful shake
"Ugh"
Hitagi winced just as a clatter-clatter-clatter rang out.
Pencils, erasers, triangle rulers, regular rulerseven scissors, craft knives, and a staplercame spilling out from under her skirt like a mini armory.
Asuna's eyelid twitched. Her voice was complicated. "Hitagi-san"
"How exactly did you fit all that in there?"
It was just a normal school skirt. Was this some kind of supernatural ability too?
...
A few moments later
Once everything had finished falling and nothing else could possibly be hidden, Lynn finally stopped and gently set her down.
Hitagi stood in silence, her lips pressed tight, staring at the "weapons" scattered at her feet.
She took a deep breath, raised her blue eyes, and stared at Lynn. "What did you just do?"
Lynn waved a hand.
Whoosh
A breeze swept through the classroom.
"Kyaa!" Asuna yelped, quickly pressing her hands over her skirt.
Hitagi, standing right in front of Lynn, wasn't nearly fast enough.
The sudden updraft flipped her skirt completely, giving Lynn an unobstructed view.
Stylish, he noted inwardly, a little impressed.
Then he smiled. "You mean this?"
Hitagi: ""
Her eye twitched.
How the hell could someone be so casual about this kind of thing?
Still, Lynn's little stunt helped her understand what Asuna had meant earlier when she said he was "really capable."
So he was like her? Someone who'd also had a run-in with the supernatural?
But
Hitagi took a deep breath, her expression steady. "So, from the sound of it you two are here to help me?"
"Mhm!" Asuna nodded, her eyes serious for once.
But
"Sorry," Hitagi said, crossing her arms with a cold look. "I don't really trust humans."
"So you can leave now."
"???"
Asuna froze. She doesn't trust humans?
"Oh?" Lynn suddenly spoke, a smile playing at his lips.
"Well, what a coincidence."
Now it was Hitagi's turn to look confused.
Lynn leaned casually against a desk, his smile deepening as he said, almost in a whisper
"Good thing I'm not human."
.
.
.
"Good thing I'm not human."
The moment those words left his mouth
Whoosh!
A pair of black, bat-like wings suddenly spread wide from Lynn's back.
Senjougahara Hitagi's eyes widened slightly, filled with disbelief.
Leaning casually against a desk, Lynn gave his wings a light flap and smirked. "Wanna make a deal with a Devil?"
The bizarre sight made Hitagi's heart pound faster.
She bit her lip and stared at Lynn's wings in silence.
Asuna clutched her head, looking a little dazed. "Wait what's even happening right now?"
"President Lynn he has wings now?!"
A devil. Why does that feel strangely familiar?
Her brain did a quick rewindand then a realization hit her like a truck.
The Supernatural Research Club!
That price list they had outside campus! With requests ranging from low-class devils to mid-class ones even a Satan, Devil King.
HissssAsuna's heart started racing, her eyes filled with shock.
Wait a secThat wasn't just some chuunibyou nonsense?! Are Devils actually real?!
Her expression turned complicated. "President Lynn you're not joking, are you?"
"Of course not," Lynn replied confidently. "Didn't I already tell you back in the club?"
"Huh?" Asuna blinked. "When?!"
"That price list, remember?"
Her eyelid twitched. "Who the hell would take something like that seriously?!"
Just dealing with the existence of supernatural powers had already shattered her worldview.
And now whatDevils too?! Is this even the same world she thought she lived in?
A sudden thought crossed her mind.
Wait could it be
She was actually inside some kind of ultra-realistic VR game world all along? And only by uncovering the truth could she return to reality?!
...
Meanwhile, Hitagi just stared at Lynn with a complex look.
She always thought she was weird enough.
But today? She just met someone even weirder.
"A Devil, huh" she muttered softly.
Then she looked up, locking eyes with Lynn's crimson gaze. After a pause, she spoke.
"Compared to humans, maybe Devils are actually more trustworthy."
Coming from someone with her past, it wasn't hard for her to accept Lynn's true nature.
"...What?" Asuna stared at her, baffled. "Hitagi-san, are you?"
'Broken?'
She didn't say it out loud, but her eyes said it all.
Trusting a Devil more than a human? You've got to be kidding.
Devilswhether in myths or booksare never portrayed as trustworthy.
"If you went through what I did, you'd understand," Hitagi said calmly.
But that simple line revealed a lot.
Asuna opened her mouth but couldn't find the words to respond.
Had Hitagi been hurt that badly by people? Was that why she'd rather trust a Devil?
If so then maybe she didn't have the right to push the whole "believe in humanity" speech.
Still, trusting a Devil was problematic on so many levels.
But
Lynn does seem trustworthy, right?
She hadn't known him that long, but he always gave off a decent vibe.
At that moment, Hitagi's eyes were quietly studying Lynn.
"Didn't expect the legendary President of the Supernatural Research Club to be a real Devil."
She let out a soft sigh, then pulled up a chair and sat across from him. Her legs crossed instinctivelyclearly still wary after that gust of wind earlier.
Only after making sure she was fully "secure," did she finally speak again.
"If it's you, Devil-san, maybe you really can solve the problem I've got."
Asuna's expression turned even more conflicted. "That's all it takes for you to trust him?"
Just earlier, she was completely in the "mind your own business" mode
Now Lynn shows a pair of wings, and boomtotal change of heart?
Hitagi just shrugged. "Weren't you the one who said you'd help me?"
"Okay, fair," Asuna sighed.
As student council president, she couldn't just ignore a student clearly dealing with something.
But seriously, why did it have to be a Devil?
Asuna started feeling uneasy again.
"Besides," Hitagi continued, "with a Devil like him around even if I wanted to leave, I doubt I'd be able to."
Then her blue eyes glimmered a bit. "I've noticed something since earlier"
"Devil-san are you interested in me?"
Lynn smiled. "You're pretty sharp."
"Sharp?" Hitagi replied coolly. "Or maybe you're just not hiding it well."
"Is it because of my abnormality?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Or is it because of how I look?"
The term "Harem Club" popped into her head. Was she finally seeing the truth?
A Devil obsessed with building his harem?
Lynn didn't deny itinstead, he answered confidently: "Both, actually."
"But"
His gaze deepened.
"The most important reason"
"is because you've got what it takes to stand by my side."
Hitagi froze.
The qualifications to stand beside a Devil?
What did that even mean?
She couldn't quite figure it out.
Aside from the curse of the Crab of Weight, she didn't think there was anything particularly special about herself.
(Crab of Weight (Heavy Stone Crab) can deprive a person of their weight and may even erase the victim's presence entirely. It took Hitagi's weight.)
Hitagi pondered it over for a moment.
But then again
If she couldn't figure it out, why bother?
Without hesitation, Hitagi gave up on thinking and locked her gaze on Lynn, her eyes glinting.
This was a chance.
Because of the fear that someone might discover what was wrong with her body, she had locked herself away for two whole years.
Two yearsShe'd cut herself off from everythingno friends, no activities, living like some cloistered heiress from a shut-in mansion.
She'd basically turned into a hedgehog, full of thorns.
Somehow, somewhere along the way That became her "normal."
She had tried. Tried to chase down the Crab of Weight again. Tried to take her weight back. Tried to reclaim her old self.
But every time, she failed.
And after that, she never saw the crab again.
She had honestly thought this weird, empty life was just going to go on like this forever.
But then
Hitagi's thoughts swirled.
She hadn't expected to run into someone even stranger than herself.
A Devil.
"The price for this deal is probably me, isn't it?"
Her voice was calm as she said it.
After all, Lynn hadn't even been subtle about it. He wasn't hinting anymorehe was blatantly laying it out.
Lynn looked at her and smiled. "Exactly. I'll fix your problem, and you'll join my Familia."
"Familia?" Hitagi tasted the word, turning it over in her mind. Then she gave a translation that made more sense to her.
"A harem?"
Lynn shrugged. "That's one way to put it."
"Eh?!" Asuna blinked in shock and stammered, "H-H-Harem?!"
Suddenly, it all clicked.
So the rumors about the "Harem Club" weren't just rumors after all?
Hitagi narrowed her eyes at Lynn and muttered under her breath, "At least you're honest about it"
She shut her eyes, clearly torn inside.
On one sideyears of loneliness and pain, trapped by the crab's curse, cut off from a normal life.
On the other
She thought of the members of the Supernatural Research Club.
Would she become one of them?
If she couldn't get rid of this curse, she'd probably end up dying alone, wouldn't she?
Hitagi quietly weighed the pros and cons.
Then she opened her eyes and studied Lynn carefully.
Finally, she let out a quiet chuckle. "Lynn"
"No wonder every guy at Shuchiin's jealous of you. Not only do you have amazing luck with women, but you also look like you walked out of a manga as the MC"
As she said it, Hitagi had already convinced herself.
At the very leastLynn's looks were totally her type.
And besidesCrab of Weight or Devil?
It wasn't like she had a third option.
Once the decision was made, she felt much calmer.
She looked at Lynn and asked directly, "Can you actually see where my weirdness comes from, Devil-san?"
Lynn glanced over her and nodded. "It's the Crab of Weight's curse, right?"
Bingo.
Hitagi felt it in her guthe really could see through it.
He spotted the problem immediatelyAnd judging by his tone, he didn't seem the least bit intimidated by it?
That was all she needed.
She stood up and gave Lynn a deep bow. "Please help me get back what's mine."
Lynn leaned against the desk and didn't movejust gave a faint smile.
"Getting your weight back isn't hard."
A simple purification would be enough to handle the crab's curse.
"But"
"What you lost wasn't just weight, was it?"
He looked into her eyes. "Are you ready to take back everything that came with it?"
Hitagi's eyes widened.
Then her heart grew heavy.
She hadn't just lost her physical weight.
She'd lost her feelings, her burdens her emotional "gravity."
A long silence followed.
Was she ready to carry all that again?
The classroom felt stillalmost frozen.
Outside, the breeze rustled through the leaves, as if nature itself was waiting for her answer.
At last
Hitagi lifted her head, her gaze steady and full of resolve. "I'm ready!"
She'd made up her mind.
No more running away.
No more hiding.
"I see." Lynn stood up, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Then your request is accepted."
Asuna opened her mouth, wanting to say something.
She'd heard everything about that deal just now.
After this, Hitagi was handing herself over to Lynn!
This was seriously sketchy! A deal like that was illegal in Shuchiin Academy.
Especially right under the student council president's nose!
Asuna clenched her fists.
And yet
Lynn hadn't pressured anyone. Hitagi had made the choice on her own, trying to solve her own problem.
And as a mere human, what right did she have to interfere with a Devil's actions?
Asuna let out a frustrated breath.
On the other side
Lynn placed his hand on Hitagi's shoulder. A flash of pure, radiant light burst forth.
BZZZZT!
Hitagi's eyes widened, her long purple hair lifting into the air like it was caught in a windstorm.
Something was leaving her body.
Her weightwas coming back.
"ROAAARRR!"
Suddenly, a guttural roar tore from deep inside her!
The next moment
A massive phantom of a crab began to emerge.
Its sheer size looked like it could fill the whole classroom. Every time its massive claws twitched, they kicked up howling gusts of wind.
Asuna clamped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with fear. "T-That's the Crab of Weight?!"
Hitagi narrowed her eyes. "Yeah. That's it."
She'd only seen it once, but she'd never forget the creature that had turned her life upside down.
"ROAAARRR!"
The crab let out another bellow, its eyes locked on Lynn with murderous intent.
Lynn let out a short laugh. "Wow this crab's more possessive than I expected."
"?"
Hitagi blinked.
Possessive?
Before she could think more about it, the phantom crab lashed out with both claws, launching an attack straight at Lynn!
CRACK!Its pincers collided with Lynn's raised hand.
"Watch out!"Asuna shouted.
But Lynn didn't budge.
He simply raised one hand
BOOM!
Suddenly, a web of cracks spread across the crab's massive shell.
KA-CRASH!
In the blink of an eye, the giant phantom shattered into light and vanished without a trace.
Hitagi and Asuna stood there, mouths open, completely stunned.
"Is it over?"
.
.
.
"Nope. This is just the beginning."
Lynn's calm voice echoed.
"Huh?"
Asuna blinked in confusion, not quite getting what he meant.
Hearing that, Hitagi narrowed her eyes slightly and explained, "That was just a projection of the Crab of Weight."
Asuna's eyes widened in realization. "So... that thing might actually show up for real later?"
Just the thought made her shiver.
Even that shadow was enough to make her feelhow small and powerless she was as a human.
If the real thing shows up...
She couldn't help but tremble at the thought.
"Looking for trouble, huh?"
Hitagi glanced at Lynn, then said in a soft voice, "I get the feeling... it's not the crab that's gonna be picking the fight."
Lynn grinned. "Wow, I didn't think we've known each other long enough for you to read me that well."
"No," she shook her head, "It's just that your intentions are way too obvious. So, shall we go?"
Lynn's smirk widened."Of course."
That crab looked at him like it had a serious grudge.
Naturally, there's no way Lynn was gonna let it slide.
Suddenly
"Master! Master!"
Stella's voice rang out in Lynn's mind.
He raised an eyebrow. "Stella?"
A sweet voice answered, "And Luna is here too~"
"Master," Luna chimed in, "That crab... I think it might actually be useful."
Lynn looked a bit surprised.
Luna continued, "The moment it appeared, my star chart reacted. Just a little, but it did."
Lynn rubbed his chin, eyes narrowing.
"I see..."
That sealed it.
That crab was definitely not walking away from this.
Meanwhile
Thanks to Lynn's purification magic, Hitagi could feel her body growing heavier.
Her weight...
Her real weight was finally coming back!
That long-lost sense of being truly alive... it was back!
Her heart was all over the place, but her lips curled up unconsciously.
But with that weight also camethe pain, and the memories.
Her mother...
A stifled groan escaped her lips. Her brows furrowed. The smile vanished, replaced by visible grief.
She knew this would happen the moment she chose to take her weight back.
But still
The sheer flood of negative emotions felt like it might crush her all over again.
Her body swayed, almost collapsing.
ThenA large, warm hand gently rested on her head.
"Harmony."
Lynn's voice was calm and soft. He used the Nigimitama skill of [Four-Soul Devil] that symbolizes harmony, mediation, and compassion.
A wave of peace, compassion, and warmth flowed from his hand and into her body, soothing the storm in her heart.
Hitagi blinked in surprise and looked up at him, her eyes slightly unfocused.
Then, as if drawn to him She leaned forward and buried her face in his chest.
Softly, she whispered,"Dad"
Asuna: "...Huh?"
Lynn: "...Wait, what?"
Lynn's expression twitched. A rare look of shock passed through his eyes.
He'd met a lot of people, taken in many companions...
But this? This was new.
He and Asuna exchanged glancesboth unsure how to react.
Meanwhile, Hitagi clung to him like it was the most natural thing in the world, muttering "Dad" again and again.
A while passed.
The painful memories settled down for now, and her mind cleared up.
And then...She froze.
What... what did she just do?
She hugged Lynn?
Called him dad?
Ugh...
Stay calm! Deep breaths!!
But... She couldn't stay calm.
Lynn smelled so comforting... just like a father should.
Her eyes turned hazy.
It felt... really nice.
Almost like those painful memories were fading away into the background.
Then, looking up at Lynn with a small, subtle smile"Dad."
Lynn: "?"
His tone was complicated, "You're awake now, right?"
Hitagi pulled back from the hug, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and smiling playfully.
"Why? You didn't like it?"
Lynn squinted. "I mean, not liking it is definitely not the problem here."
As someone used to being called "Master," hearing "Dad" like that was... something else entirely.
Once a kept man, now a keeperso he had become the sugar daddy.
Hitagi smiled again, stepping back with her hands behind her back, cheeks a little flushed.
She hadn't expected herself to act so boldly.
But still...That feeling just now
It was really nice.
The painful memories in her heart felt like they'd faded just a little more.
She gently touched her chest.
Her heart was beating faster than usual...
Was it becauseShe'd found something new to hold onto?
Now that the Crab of Weight's curse was gone, she felt so much lighter inside.
Off to the side, Asuna's face twitched.
Yeah she definitely shouldn't have stuck around for this.
Lynn, on the other hand, rubbed his chin, quietly savoring the unique feeling Hitagi had just left him with.
Then his eyes narrowed.
He'd already locked onto the real Crab of Weight's locationtraced it from the aura left behind by its projection.
Buzz
A black magic circle rose beneath his feet.
The sudden change made both Yuuki Asuna and Senjougahara Hitagi snap back to their senses.
Hitagi steadied herself and asked, "What is that?"
"Teleportation magic," Lynn replied casually.
"Magic? Teleportation?"The two girls blinked, eyes widening in surprise.
Even Hitagi, who had experienced her fair share of supernatural weirdness, had never seen something as fantastical as actual magic before.
"So, we're going after that crab?" Hitagi asked, a flicker of understanding flashing through her eyes. Then she followed up, "Can I come too?"
After all, that monster was the one who'd taken her weight. She definitely had a bone to pick.
Lynn nodded. "Sure."
Hearing that, Hitagi calmly walked to Lynn's side and naturally latched onto his arm like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Asuna's eye twitched at the sight and she muttered, "You're adapting way too fast"
Hitagi blinked innocently. "Can't help it. I'm already part of the devil's gang now. And besides"
She tilted her head and smirked. "You're an accomplice too."
"Accomplice?!"
Asuna's expression froze.
Hitagi continued smoothly, "If you hadn't brought this devil guy over in the first place, I'd still be suffering all alone, wouldn't I?"
"So..."
She gave a soft, genuine smile. "Thanks for that."
Asuna opened her mouth, but all that came out was a helpless sigh. "That doesn't feel like a thank-you I want to hear."
As the student council president, not only had she personally witnessed Lynn gathering his harem, now she was apparently one of the reasons it happened too?
Her conscience was not okay with this.
"Well then, see you next time" Hitagi gave her a casual wave.
But just then, Asuna suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Lynn's other arm.
With a grin, she said, "Mind taking me along too?"
Hitagi: "???"
Lynn just shrugged. "Taking one or two doesn't make a difference."
In the next instantThe black magic circle lit up brightly!
And with a flash, the three of them vanished without a trace.
...
Somewhere far away from Shuchiin
In a damp and shadowy underground cave, a black magic circle lit up out of nowhere.
A moment later, Lynn and the girls appeared in a flash of light.
Asuna and Hitagi blinked in slight disorientation.
"We're in a different place?" They looked around the dark cavern with a mix of awe and disbelief.
Just a blink ago, they'd been in the city. Now they were here. So it really was teleportation magic!
Their hearts were still racing from the surreal experience.
"ROAR."
Suddenly!
A guttural roar echoed from deep within the cave.
The sound reverberated like a shockwave, and the entire cave began to tremble violently. Bits of rock tumbled from the walls.
"What the hell was that?!" Asuna yelped in surprise.
Hitagi was slightly calmer, frowning as she analyzed, "It must've noticed us."
"This is its lair, after all."
As she spoke, a deep rumbling sound grew loudersomething huge was moving closer, scraping across the rocky floor.
And then ()
Twin orbs emerged from the voidperfect circles, vast and silent, floating like dead moons.
Gulp.
Asuna swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "Those those aren't its eyes, are they?"
Lynn answered flatly, "You can go ahead and drop the 'aren't' part."
As soon as he finished, Lynn snapped his fingers.
In that moment, a wave of light burst instantly illuminating the entire cave like it was midday.
The moss on the surrounding walls glowed faintly green under the sudden brightness.
"Whoa it's huge!"
Asuna's eyes went wide. The cave was so massive it was almost hard to believebut the real focus was the thing in front of them.
An enormous crab nearly big enough to fill the whole cave loomed before them.
Its shell gave off a faint glow, rough and uneven like ancient stone battered by time.
The edges of its carapace were jagged like saw blades, each serration sharp enough to slice through steel.
The thick crab legs were like stone pillars, covered in a thick outer layer and growing backwards-facing spikes, each the width of a human arm.
Just looking at it made Asuna and Hitagi feel a deep, primal fear.
"That's the real body of the Weight Crab?" Asuna's breath caught in her throat. Her mouth went dry, and her heart was pounding like crazy.
Suddenly, the Weight Crab let out another roar and charged at them, all eight of its legs thundering across the floor.
Lynn stepped forward, unfazed. "You two stay here. Don't move."
"Eh?!"
Asuna panicked. "Wait, you're seriously gonna fight that thing?!"
"Shouldn't we I mean, maybe we should just teleport back or something?!"
It looked way too powerful! Like, no way in hell they could win this kind of boss fight!
But before she could finish that thoughtLynn's aura exploded.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
And the next momenthe reappeared right above the Weight Crab's head!
"!!!"
The monster's eyes widened in something eerily humanshock?
Then
Buzz
An immense gravity field burst forth, trying to crush Lynn on the spot.
But he just grinned. "So generous. Giving me a buff before the fight?"
And with thatLynn shot down like a meteor!
Whoosh
A spark of starlight flared around his foot as he came crashing downhardright on top of the Crab's head.
BOOM!!
.
.
.
BOOM!
With a thunderous crack, the crab's rock-hard shell split apartfractures spreading like a web of shattered glass.
Juicy, tender crab meat peeked through the cracks, the impact breaking through its massive mountain-like body without even slowing down.
The force behind the blow didn't stopit shot straight through the giant crab and slammed into the rocky floor beneath it.
CRASH!
The ground exploded into fragments, sending chunks of stone flying in every direction as a massive crater formed beneath its crushed body.
"YAAAAAAAH!"
The Crab of Weight let out a piercing shriek, shrill and agonizing, like a blade stabbing straight into the eardrums.
The sound tore through the cave, forcing both Yuuki Asuna and Senjougahara Hitagi to flinch from the sheer pain.
Right after
The starlight flames wrapping around Lynn's foot spread like wildfire, rapidly crawling across the crab's entire massive body.
"ROOOOOAR!!"
The giant beast screamed and writhed violently in agony, shaking the entire underground cave like it was going to collapse at any second!
Seeing this, Lynn calmly upped the power.
WHOOSH!!
Flames surged higher with a roar, and a pillar of starlit fire shot upward like a rocket.
The stalactites on the cave ceiling began to melt under the intense heatuntil finally, a huge opening burst open above.
Sunlightfaint and goldenstreamed down through the new skylight.
A few seconds later...The roaring stopped.
The massive creature's body finally went still.
Seeing that, Lynn spoke up. "Luna."
"Coming, coming~!" Luna, the Cancer Zodiac (Crab), replied.
With that, a small translucent figure with long jellyfish-like blue hair drifted down and landed gently on Lynn's shoulder.
She gave a little push with her hands and floated over to the crab's massive head, lifting her arms up gracefully.
Like some kind of ancient celestial symphony, a massive star chart slowly unfolded in her handsbright, radiant, and brimming with cosmic energy.
The star map shimmered with tiny glowing constellations, each one pulsing with mysterious power.
And then!
The center of the map twisted unnaturally, like space itself had been torn open and a pitch-black void began forming.
A black hole.
Its pull was strongso strong, in fact, that the giant crab's enormous corpse began to get sucked into it, bit by bit.
"Urgh"
As the body was fully absorbed, Luna let out a soft groan. She could feel itsomething within her had shifted. Something subtle, but deeply profound.
At the same time
A familiar ding echoed in Lynn's mind.
[Ding! Your Zodiac Pilgrimage has undergone a subtle change!]
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
He opened up the [Zodiac Pilgrimage] skill and scanned it quicklyhis gaze locking onto the Cancer sign.
[Cancer Cocoon]
Summons a stardust cocoon that heals anyone inside.
Power of the Crab of Weight (grants the concept of "Weight").
---
Lynn narrowed his eyes.
"So it did inherit the Crab of Weight's abilities"
"Don't tell me"
"Can the Zodiac Pilgrimage evolve by absorbing creatures that match its sign?"
As his thoughts drifted, his gaze rose to the faint red star lingering abovehis mind running wild with speculation.
"Wait are we gonna end up collecting the four fundamental forces of the universe too?"
This change in Cancer really caught his attention.
Lynn's consciousness then sank into the space of the [Devil's Pieces].
And the moment he did, he felt ithis whole body became heavy.
"Huh?" Lynn frowned. "The Devil Piece's space has weight now?"
So this was what gaining the "Weight" concept did?
"Just like the 'Sun' concept."
He started to piece things together.
"A new universe?"
Just the thought gave him chills.
What exactly are you planning, [Devil's Piece]?
Ever since this space was born, Lynn had sensed something unusual about this ability.
Creating pieces to summon followersthat part was fine.
But now it's throwing in Zodiac signs, cosmic elements, the freaking sun, and now gravity?
Is this really something a "Devil's Piece" skill should be doing?
While Lynn was caught up in his thoughts, Luna floated back into the Devil Piece's space.
"Master!"
Snapping out of it, Lynn turned to her. "How are you feeling?"
With a bright grin, Luna raised her arms and beamed. "Amazing! Never felt this good before!"
"Ohand I think I can control gravity now too!"
She waved her hand toward her constellation's direction with a smug little smile
But nothing happened.
"..."
Luna puffed up her cheeks. "Hmph"
Lynn chuckled and gave her a head pat. "It's probably because this space is kind of special."
After comforting her a bit, Lynn lingered a little longer in the Devil Piece space before returning to the real world.
And what greeted himwas the completely wrecked cave they'd just fought in.
"Is it dead?"
Asuna stared at Lynn in a daze, still unable to process everything that had just happened.
It had all ended so fast, it almost felt like the whole thing had been a dream.
But noThat crushing aura that terrifying crab that could shake the earth with a single step
It had been real.
Just standing near it had made her body go limp from fear.
And yetLynn had taken it down with one kick.
GULP.
Asuna swallowed hard, her gaze shifting toward Lynn, eyes filled with awe.
Like she was looking at a god.
That was the only way she could describe it.
And at the same time she felt a little embarrassed.
Thinking back on how she wanted to escape using teleportation magic just moments ago felt kinda stupid now.
"So this is what a devil really is"
Hitagi whispered, eyes still locked on Lynn's figure.
His overwhelming presence had left an unforgettable impression on her.
It also made her realize
She'd completely underestimated what "devils" were capable of.
Unlike Asuna, Hitagi had actually encountered the Crab of Weight before. She had some history with it.
And over the past couple of years, she'd been chasing down legends and rumors related to itAnd from what she learnedIn some myths, the Crab of Weight was considered divine.
But nowonly Lynn had become that very god-like figure.
Even as just a bystander, Hitagi couldn't stop her hands from trembling in excitement.
Supernatural Research Club?
Nothis was Lynn's Familia. His Harem.
She took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling with pure adrenaline.
Very soon, she'd become part of that harem too.
She'd get to experience what it felt like to personally take down something like the Crab of Weight.
What kind of rush would that be?
Hitagi couldn't wait to find out.
Her dull, predictable lifewas about to take a wild turn.
Meanwhile, Lynn's figure flashed as he moved deeper into the underground cave.
He rubbed his chin, staring at the massive rock wall that had once housed the Crab of Weight.
"So this must've been where it lived"
Lynn glanced around but didn't find anything special.
Then something caught his eye in a dark corner.
"Eggs?"
He walked closer and found a cluster of perfectly round, bubble-like transparent orbs stacked together.
A second laterLuna's tiny spirit form popped into view again.
"Master, master! Those are Memory Eggs!"
Her eyes sparkled as she stared at the glowing orbs.
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "Useful to you?"
"Mhm, super useful!" Luna nodded furiously. "If I absorb these 'Memory Eggs,' I can enhance the 'Weight' concept inside me!"
Ever since she'd inherited the Crab of Weight's power, she could tell exactly what these things were for.
"I see"
Lynn gave her a light nod. "Then I'll leave them to you."
"Yay!! Master, you're the best!!"
Luna practically jumped for joy, did a little twirl midair, then kissed Lynn on the cheek before gleefully flying toward the Memory Eggs.
And then she started suuuuuucking.
Like, hardcore inhaling them.
Eyes closed, looking like she was in pure bliss.
Lynn chuckled and let her enjoy herself while he walked around to check the rest of the cave.
But nothing else.
Seriously?
Besides the Memory Eggs, there was absolutely nothing in this entire cave.
Lynn clicked his tongue in disappointment. Welp, not much to explore here.
Once Luna finished absorbing all the eggs, Lynn teleported back to Asuna and Hitagi's side.
Poof!
The sudden reappearance startled Asuna.
But when she realized it was Lynn, she patted her chest and let out a relieved sigh.
"Let's go," Lynn said as a black magic circle appeared beneath his feet.
"Eh? That's it?" Asuna blinked. "It's over already?"
Lynn gave her a look. "If you're that curious, I don't mind leaving you behind to explore."
Asuna immediately froze and gave an awkward laugh. "Haha no thanks"
Flash!
With a burst of light, the teleportation magic kicked in.
Shuchiin Academy.
Lynn and the girls reappeared back in familiar territory.
Asuna finally relaxed, her tense nerves unwinding all at once.
That was intense.
Her heart still hadn't calmed down from the thrill.
Though if she had to go through something like that again?
She probably wouldn't survive the stress.
But if Lynn was by her sideThat'd be different.
On the other side, Hitagi clung to Lynn's arm. Tilting her head up, her blue eyes locked onto his face.
"So" she said sweetly, "isn't it about time you made me part of your harem?"
Lynn glanced down at her, a bit surprised, then chuckled.
"Can't wait, huh?"
"I was already prepared for this back when we made that deal~" she teased, winking at him.
Yeah, she'd definitely changed.
Losing the Crab of Weight's curse had clearly lightened her whole vibe.
Asuna watched her, feeling kinda glad for her but also a bit concerned.
Maybe she got too cheerful all of a sudden?
Asuna's eyebrow twitched.
On the Third floor - Girls' restroom.
The atmosphere was weird.
Ai Hayasaka stood there holding a soaking wet pair of panties with a strange look on her face.
Shinomiya Kaguya stepped out of a stall, having just finished fixing her uniformonly to see what was happening.
Her face instantly turned red.
"H-Hayasaka?! W-What are you doing?!"
Hayasaka was silent for a moment, then calmly asked, "Miss, would you like to keep these?"
Dead serious.
"In the future, these kinds of moments don't really happen outside the bedroom," she said matter-of-factly.
Keep them?!
Kaguya's eyelid twitched violently, then snatched the panties away.
No way in hell!!
This pair must be erased from existence!
Burn it!
No ashes allowed to remain!
.
.
.
---
Yo~
You can check out the new auxiliary chapter that covers all the Zodiac stuff. Also, whenever an ability pops up (whether it's a Special Devil skill or anything else) in a fight, I'll include its details so there's no need to memorize anything!
...
(Support me and read advanced chapters at: patreon.com/_Coreal)
Shuchiin Academy.
Shinomiya Kaguya, still clutching her panties, finally calmed herself and returned to her usual composed self. But the moment she thought about Lynn, she couldn't help but feel conflicted inside.
Lifting her gaze to Hayasaka, Kaguya asked suspiciously, "That president of the Supernatural Research Club are you sure he's just an ordinary guy?"
Ai Hayasaka blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. She gave Kaguya a subtle once-overparticularly that area she'd just been... handling.
So it is related to him, huh?
Though nothing showed on her face, Hayasaka's mind raced. "We didn't find anything out of the ordinary during the investigation. But" She hesitated, "I can't say for sure that he's normal."
After all, anyone capable of compelling the Shinomiya family to personally arrange contact with Kaguyaa figure of her standingcould hardly be dismissed as just 'some guy.
Kaguya's eyes flickered thoughtfully and fell silent.
Yeah. There's no doubt.
Lynn is not normal.
That speed, that look in his eyesIt was something no ordinary person could possess.
Just thinking about it made her uneasy.
After a moment of hesitation, Kaguya couldn't help but ask, "Hayasaka, do you believe in the supernatural?"
The supernatural?
Hayasaka froze for a moment, then subtly studied Kaguya's expression. Even with her usual cold demeanor, she clearly looked shaken and nervous.
The supernatural, huh?
If it were anyone but Kaguya saying this, Hayasaka would've laughed it off.
But Kaguya wouldn't make something like this up.
Come to think of it, it might actually explain why her family would push Kaguya toward someone with no real background. Yes. It all made sense now.
Everything clicked.
Hayasaka's heart began to race, though she kept her cool on the outside.
But this still needed confirmation.
Taking a deep breath, Hayasaka nodded. "I believe it."
"Eh?" Kaguya was visibly surprised. She had been wondering how she was even going to explain it to her.
Wait
"You've seen it too, Hayasaka?" she asked in disbelief.
Hayasaka hesitantly replied, "Lynn has supernatural powers?"
"I knew it," Kaguya mumbled, then narrowed her eyes. "If you already knew, why didn't you tell me?"
"Ah"
Hayasaka's expression remained flawless, but her mind raced. "I just took a wild guesshow the hell did I land on the truth?!"
"The realization only came to me just now," Hayasaka said, knowing how weak that sounded.
"Just now?"
Kaguya blinked in confusion, but let it go for now. Instead, she suddenly gripped Hayasaka's arm and quickly recounted everything that had happened today.
Hayasaka winced at the tight grip. 'Can't you use your other hand? Why does it have to be the one holding your wet' she wanted to say that.
But this was the lady of the house. She had to endure.
After listening to the full story, Hayasaka cautiously asked, "Kaguya-sama, do you think you may have pissed him off?"
Kaguya had always believed that, backed by the Shinomiya family's power, there was no one in this world she couldn't afford to offendeven if her brother had warned her to be careful.
From the moment she was born, she had lived like a proud queen, looking down on everyone equally.
But
Damn it!
No one ever told her the supernatural was real!
Hayasaka fell silent for a moment, then looked Kaguya straight in the eye. "Without a doubt yeah. You probably did."
Kaguya froze, then asked nervously, "So is something bad going to happen?"
Hayasaka shook her head. "Sorry, I don't know. This is the first time I've come across something like this too."
Still, when it came to the unknownespecially the supernaturalcaution was always the right choice.
Kaguya bit her lip, her usual ice queen persona nowhere to be found. "Is there any way to fix this?"
"Like money? Or property?"
There was hope in her eyes.
Hayasaka hesitated. "With someone like him maybe we should cater to his interests?"
"And what does he like?"
Kaguya grabbed Hayasaka's arm again, clearly desperate.
Hayasaka went quiet.
Then suddenly, she remembered the rumors surrounding the "Harem Club."
She glanced at Kaguya.
No doubt about itKaguya-sama was absolutely a top-tier beauty.
After some thought, Hayasaka carefully suggested, "Maybe you could try using your charms?"
Kaguya: "?"
She froze.
Wait a minute.
Wasn't she the one who swore she'd shut down the Harem Club?
Now she was the one planning to help expand it?
But ever since she saw Lynn's supernatural powers, the pride she once held had completely crumbled.
A beauty trap, huh
But who should they send?
Naturally, she looked past herself and turned to stare at Hayasaka. Her eyes suddenly sparkled.
She grabbed Hayasaka's shoulders and looked at her with pure emotion.
"Hayasaka, I didn't think you'd be willing to make such a huge sacrifice for me!"
Hayasaka: "?"
Meanwhile
Yuuki Asuna returned to the student council room in a bit of a daze.
"President?"
Suou Yuki, holding a teacup, gave her a puzzled look. "What's wrong?"
Asuna stood there quietly for a moment before finally saying, "I just realized maybe I need to reevaluate how I see this world."
Yuki blinked, then her eyes lit up in understanding.
Looks like she witnessed something supernatural while with Lord Lynn today, huh?
She stood up, walked behind Asuna, and gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder. In a knowing tone, she said, "You'll get used to it."
Then she gave a playful wink.
"My dear President You wouldn't mind sharing a bit of the story with your loyal subordinates, would you?"
Asuna let out a sigh, rubbed her temples, and gave in. She recounted everything that had happened that day.
When she got to the part about Lynn's fight with the crab demon, Yuki's eyes practically sparkled green with excitement.
Lord Lynn really was the one destined to restore the Suou family's glory!
Meanwhile, Fujiwara Chika puffed out her cheeks in protest.
"President! You went through all that fun without me?!"
Asuna shot her a look. "If you're that curious, why don't you just go to the Supernatural Research Club yourself?"
Chika's eyes widened, like she just had an epiphany. "Oh! Duh!"
"You're the best, President!" she chirped before dashing out of the room in a hurry.
"Supernatural stuff, here I come!"
"..."
Asuna opened her mouth, then sighed.
Lynn's Apartment
Senjougahara Hitagi slipped off her shoes and looked curiously around the place.
"Is it just me," she asked with a strange look on her face, "or does this place have way too much girl stuff?"
"Well, I have a Harem, after all," Lynn replied casually.
Hitagi's eye twitched slightly. Then, after a moment, she nodded. "Fair point."
"So" she added, cheeks slightly flushed, "what exactly are we doing here?"
Even though she'd boldly declared she was joining the harem earlier, Hitagi hadn't expected things to progress this fast.
He brought her home already?!
Lynn didn't answer and just headed to the living room.
Hitagi hesitated for a moment, then took a few deep breaths before firmly following after him.
...
Living Room.
Ryougetsu Senhime was lounging lazily on the sofa. When she saw Lynn, her eyes lit up and her tail began to wag instinctively.
But the moment she noticed the new girl beside him, her tail drooped.
"Ugh, another annoying woman" she muttered with a pout.
Meanwhile, the catgirl Himari didn't seem to care about the new woman at all. The moment she spotted Lynn, she launched herself right at him.
Senhime: ""
Yup. Total pick-me cat.
Hitagi's eyes lit up when she saw the cat and dog. "So cute"
She instinctively reached out to pet Himari.
But Noihara Himari twisted her body to dodge her hand.
Hitagi froze.
Okay. Plan B.
She turned to Senhime.
The dog Yokai cast her a cold glance and said flatly, "Newbie, I'm not some pet you get to touch."
She was Lynn's exclusive pet!
The proud royal bloodline of Inu-Yokai would never allow anyone else to touch her!
Hitagi: "Huh?"
"Did that puppy just talk?"
She was totally thrown off.
Lynn chuckled. "Senhime and Himari are also part of my Familia. Technically, your seniors."
He gave her a quick rundown about Yokai and how his Familia worked.
Hitagi nodded slowly in realization.
So that means
These twocat and dogare both female, huh?
Her expression twisted with mixed emotions.
Her understanding of the Harem Club just got a whole lot clearer.
---
A while later, Lynn sat on the couch, looking at Hitagi.
"Take it off."
Hitagi blinked. "Huh?"
"Here?"
Her cheeks flushed. Her eyelashes trembled. She quickly glanced over at Senhime and Himari.
Wait a second
Does Lynn have a fetish for being watched?!
Lynn's next words snapped her out of it.
"You just need to show your back."
Hitagi: "Huh?"
She looked even more confused now.
After Lynn explained the situationabout the devil reincarnation ritual and the blessing sealHitagi finally understood.
"Ohhh I get it now"
She pouted a little and muttered, "I thought"
"Thought what?" Lynn smirked, eyes playful.
Hitagi looked away. "Well, it's your fault for saying things in such a suggestive way, Daddy."
Lynn: ""
That "Daddy" caught him completely off guard.
Senhime and Himari both froze.
Daddy?!?!
What kind of game is this?!
She's a threat!
In that moment, Senhime and Himari silently upgraded Senjougahara Hitagi to Top Alert Level.
Maximum threat ~ ~ Major rival detected.
.
.
.
Lynn's Apartment, Living Room.
Senjougahara Hitagi calmly took off her top, then reached behind her back.
Click.
Her smooth back was now completely exposed in front of Lynn.
"Go ahead," she muttered.
Seeing that, Lynn summoned a Devil piece in his hand.
"Nnngh"
[Ding!]
[You have obtained a new Familia member: 'Senjougahara Hitagi'!]
[Ding! Your Familia member 'Senjougahara Hitagi' has been reincarnated as a Special-Type Devil!]
As the system notification rang out, a brilliant light flashed across Hitagi's back.
The next second, her Blessing Info appeared.
---
[Senjougahara Hitagi]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Stationery Mastery], [4D Skirt] & [Gravity Devil]
[Stationery Mastery]
Total control over all kinds of stationery (writing and other office materials).
[Fourth-Dimensional (4D) Skirt]
Spatial storage is hidden beneath her skirt.
[Gravity Devil]
Mass Deception: Immune to gravity fields and can freely adjust the density of herself and objects.
Gravity Paradox: Creates a 50-meter radius gravity field around herself that slows enemies and pulls them in.
Devil Transformation: Starfall Crab
---
"Gravity Devil, huh"Lynn rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
"Master! Master!" Suddenly, Luna's voice rang in his mind. "My weight power just increased again!"
Hearing that, Lynn narrowed his eyes.
So the Gravity Devil skill synced with Cancer?
That would mean every time Hitagi levels up, Luna as Cancer gains more weight?
His eyes lit up.
He'd been racking his brain trying to find a way to increase "weight" as a concept Now? No need. He just had to focus on helping Hitagi grow stronger.
And more than that
Gravity DevilJust hearing the name, you could tell it had crazy potential.
Sure, the skills didn't seem too impressive right now,but that was only because she was still a Low-class Devil.
If she leveled up enoughWouldn't it be possible to control planetary gravity?
Lynn's face showed pure anticipation.
A little while later
Hitagi had her clothes back on. She stared at the Blessing info floating in front of her with a complicated expression.
"They turned my habits into skills?"
She pulled out a pen and narrowed her eyes. She could clearly feel how much more control she had over it now. A strange urge to throw it flickered through her mind.
She forcibly suppressed that weird impulse and adjusted her skirt.
"4D Skirt," she muttered. Should she put her hands inside?
She glanced at Lynn, then at Senhime and Himari. After a moment of hesitation, she just shrugged.
Well, there were no outsiders here anyway.
ThenHer hand froze after entering her skirt. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"What is it?" Lynn asked, curious.
"I think I touched another space?"
Hitagi didn't sound entirely sure. Then she looked at Lynn, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes.
"Wanna help me check, Daddy~?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow but didn't say no. His hand slipped right insmooth as butter.
"Eh?" Hitagi blinked.
Didn't even hesitate?!
Lynn, on the other hand, looked completely seriouslike he was conducting some major scientific experiment.
After a while, he pulled his hand back.
"There's definitely another space in there," he nodded. "And it's pretty big."
Hitagi quickly pulled her skirt down, relieved.
That whole position earlier was just way too awkward!
Lynn was still rubbing his chin, musing out loud.
"Not just that Your skirt seems to be in an unobservable state now?"
"Excuse me?" Hitagi looked confused. She lifted her skirt to take a peek
And was met with pitch-black darkness, like a literal black hole.
Her mouth twitched. "Don't tell me I have to stay like this forever?"
"Not necessarily," Lynn said, thinking. "Maybe if you take the skirt off, it resets?"
Since it's called 4D Skirt, it must be tied to the skirt itself, right?
Without hesitation, Hitagi stripped it off. Underneath, she revealed her patterned white panties.
"Yup, it's back to normal!" She let out a sigh of relief.
Lynn gave her an appreciative glance and nodded.
"Even though I've already seen them once before, I gotta say that design really suits you."
Hitagi rolled her eyes, then muttered under her breath as she put her skirt back on: "Perverted Daddy."
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "Getting quite used to calling me that, huh?"
Her ears turned a faint red, and she quickly turned her attention back to her Blessing Info.
"Gravity Devil"
She stared at the words with a complicated gaze.
Unavoidably, her thoughts drifted back to the crab.
She hadn't expected that experience would lead her to awaken such a power
But she wasn't about to reject it. She wasn't stupid.
Gravity DevilJust the name alone hinted at ridiculous power.
With that in mind, she slowly raised her hand.
Fwoosh
A wave of pressure exploded outward from her!
[Gravity Paradox] activated!
The entire apartment was suddenly blanketed in a field of gravity!
Hitagi's eyes focused. She lifted her hand toward a Coke bottle on the table, and gave a little tug with her fingers.
As if pulled by some invisible force, the Coke bottle turned into a red blur and flew straight into her hand!
But that wasn't allPapers, towels, the remote, even some bookseverything around her started flying toward her like crazy!
The living room instantly turned into a warzone!
Thenclap!
A crisp sound echoed as the Coke landed perfectly in her hand.
Hitagi blinked, then glanced down at the pile of random objects now covering the floor.
She stared at the Coke in her hand, dazed.
"So that's Gravity Paradox?"
Lynn's mouth twitched. "Nah, it's Universal Pull!"
Wait a sec where's the Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push) to go with it? Will she awaken the Rinnegan next?
Then
Senjougahara Hitagi tried another move: Mass Deception.
She first adjusted her own body's density.
Lightweight modeactivated.
With just a thought, Hitagi's entire body started floating into the airlike she'd completely lost her weight!
Even more extreme than before!
She floated for a few seconds, then softly whispered, "Heavyweight."
The moment the words left her mouthboom!
Her body crashed down like a meteor, smashing straight through the floor!
And she kept fallingno sign of slowing down!
Lynn's eyelid twitched when he saw this, and he quickly used [Gravity Devil] along with the Cancer constellation's weight concept to cancel her heavyweight mode.
Then, with a wave of his hand, he activated Gravity Paradox and pulled her back up.
"Huh?"
A second later
Hitagi landed steadily in Lynn's arms, blinking in surprise.
Lynn casually used magic to repair the busted floor, then looked at her with a deadpan expression.
"Were you planning on demolishing the apartment or something?"
Hitagi's face flushed bright red, and she buried her head into his chest, mumbling softly, "Sorry I'm still not that good at it."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but take a small sniff of Lynn's scent.
Her ears turned red almost instantly.
Off to the side, Senhime narrowed her golden eyes.
That spot... was supposed to be hers!
That move... she totally copied her!
After a while, the sky darkened.
Hitagi had finally calmed down.
She lifted her head a little and glanced out the window, frowning slightly.
It's already night? That fast?
It felt like she'd only been hugging him for a few moments
She wasn't too happy with how quickly time passed.
Was it time to go home?
Just thinking about it left a subtle emptiness in her heart.
That house was just hers, all alone
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a bunch of feminine products lying around. Her eyes lit up.
A thought popped into her mind.
Still sitting in Lynn's lap, she looked up at him with hopeful blue eyes. "Can I live here too?"
Lynn paused for a moment, then replied, "You can"
"But"
He shrugged, "I don't think there are any extra rooms left."
"Huh?"
Hitagi blinked in confusion.
She bit her lip, turned her head to the side, and said as casually as she could, "If there's really no room, I wouldn't mind staying in your room."
Daughters sleeping with their dadsit's not that weird, right?
Just imagining lying in Lynn's bed, wrapped in his scent Hitagi couldn't help but feel a guilty kind of excitement.
"My room's full too, y'know."
Her little fantasy was shattered on the spot.
She turned her head back stiffly, disbelief written all over her face. "Full?"
"Hmph."
Senhime looked up and gave her a smug glance. "You think you're the only one trying to share Lord Lynn's room? Get in line."
Hitagi's eye twitched.
Waitthis competition is actually that fierce?!
Lynn rubbed his chin. "Well Mahiru's place next door still has some space."
"Then I'll move in next door!" Hitagi agreed without hesitation.
As long as she could stay close to Lynnthat was enough.
---
Once Hitagi's stay was sorted out, Lynn thought to himself: Yeah, the apartment really doesn't have enough space anymore.
With that in mind, he sent a message to Yukinoshita Haruno.
"Need a new house?"
Haruno replied almost instantly, "Got it! I'll handle it right away!"
"But"
She licked her lips, voice dripping with playful seduction. "Can I be the first to break in Lord Lynn's new bedroom?"
"My Shapeshifter Devil abilities are finally strong enough to handle all your 'attacks' now, after all."
Lynn's eyebrow lifted at that. "Oh really? Then I guess I'll have to give it a thorough inspection."
...
Tokyo, in a certain caf.
"Yes!" Yukinoshita Haruno pumped her fist, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Then her expression turned sharp.
The competition between Familia members was clearly heating up.
Just relying on her Devil abilities might not be enough anymore.
She fell into deep thought.
Then suddenly snapped her head up, a glint in her eye.
"How could I forget that?!"
Slapping her forehead, she quickly pulled out her phone and sent a message to her little sister.
"Yukinowanna power up a bit?"
Yukino: "???"
---
Two Days Later
Haruno worked fast.
Pretty much the moment Lynn gave the order, she had everything ready to go.
Contracts signed, ownership transferred, renovations done, furniture boughtthe whole setup finished in just two days.
---
At the foot of a mountain
Lynn looked up, raising an eyebrow. "You bought an entire mountain?"
Haruno smiled faintly. "One-and-done solution, right?"
The Familia's only going to grow bigger from here.
Buying a mountain now means they can just keep building upwards once space runs out.
Simple and efficient.
Of course, to get her hands on a mountain this fast, Haruno may have used a little bit of Devil power
Just a tiny bit.
"Not bad."
Lynn was impressed by the foresight.
No need to worry about moving again.
Soon, Lynn and Haruno arrived halfway up the mountain.
A sprawling European-style estate came into view.
The main building looked like a castle from the West.
Marble-paved paths led everywhere. Right in front, a massive fountain sparkled.
Not far away, a lake created from springwater ran alongside lush, scenic greenerypeaceful.
Inside the castle, the towering ceilings and decor were equally breathtaking.
After thoroughly checking every corner of the estate, Lynn began setting up Dimensional Gates and teleportation arrays.
At the same time, a transparent barrier enveloped the entire estate.
Personally crafted by Lynn, the barrier was so tight not even a fly could sneak in!
A few minutes later
With several shimmering flashes of light, the other Familia memberslike Utahateleported in after hearing about the new place in the group chat.
"Wow!"
The whole estate left them awestruck.
There was even a hot spring!
Way bigger and better than the old apartment!
And with full facilitiesincluding an indoor hot spring?
That meant they could soak with Lynn himself!!
That idea popped into everyone's minds at once.
Then
"I CALL THAT BIG ROOM! NO TAKE-BACKS!"
The ghost girl, Kanoe Yuuko, had her eyes lit up like a kid on sugar. She darted upstairs like a deer, shouting, "This room on the far right is mine now!"
Behind her, Tendo Kisara's face turned bright red. "Yuuko! Stop stealing my spot!"
Suddenly, the whole castle was in chaos.
While the others were scrambling for rooms, Utaha quietly sidled up to Lynn.
" Would you mind if I took a peek at your room?"
She fluttered her wine-red eyes at him, gently pressing his arm into her soft chestsubtly rubbing against him like it was nothing.
Yukinoshita Haruno raised an eyebrow.
Trying to cut in line?
She smiled with a hint of danger. "The master's room is already arranged. I'll be giving him the tour."
At her words
Utaha lifted her gaze, locking eyes with Haruno.
Sparks practically flew between them.
.
.
.
---
(New week + Power Stones = Massive Mass Release)
Inside the mansion
Yukinoshita Haruno slowly pushed open the door to the master bedroom.
And instantly
An extravagantly luxurious setup unfolded before their eyes.
But...What really caught everyone's attention was that huge, ridiculously wide bed in the center of the room!
Striding confidently to the bed, Haruno flashed a proud smile. "Well? Pretty impressive, right?"
"This thing could easily fit ten people without a problem~"
At that, everyone perked up. Busujima Saeko and the others lit up with interest.
Kuroka's golden eyes sparkled. She gave a thumbs-up. "Haruno, you nailed it! Nya~"
Lynn, on the other hand, looked a little speechless.
A bed this big what exactly was she planning?
Meanwhile, Yotsuya Miko glanced at the excited Kasumigaoka Utaha and the others and couldn't help feeling a little down.
Because of her mother, she was still going home every night to sleep.
Even when she wanted to spend time with Lynn and deepen their bond a little, she barely had the chance.
She couldn't keep going on like this!
If this kept up, even Hana would leave her in the dust!
She had to do something!
At the very least She needed to find a way to move into the new Familia base.
But her mom
Yotsuya Miko fell into deep thought, torn between choices.
Then suddenly
Her head snapped up, a spark lighting up in her eyes.
If this place was that big...
Maybe she could just bring her mom over to live here too?
That might actually work!
Turning to Lynn, she looked at him hopefully. "Master, would it be okay if I brought my mom to live here with me?"
Lynn blinked, a little surprised by the request. But then he gave a casual nod. "Of course you can."
OH YEAH!
Miko clenched her fists in silent celebration, her face lighting up with joy.
This way...
She'd be able to stay close to Lynn!
"Oho~"
Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly let out a teasing noise, her red eyes glinting as she looked at Miko. "Well, well~ I didn't think you were that kind of girl, Miko~"
"Huh?"
Miko froze, completely confused.
Utaha just clicked her tongue and gave her a knowing smirk. "You're trying to pull a Takagi move, aren't you? Mother and Daughter tag!!"
"!!!"
Miko's eyes went wide in shock!
"Ohhh, now it makes sense!" Saeko and the others all suddenly got it too.
Yuigahama Yui, who'd been thinking about doing the same with her own mom, immediately gave up on the idea.
Living with your mom and trying to get close to Master? That's just... too awkward!!
Hana stared at Miko, mouth agape. "Miko-chan, you're seriously bold!!"
"It's not like that!!"
Miko's face turned bright red as she flailed her hands in panic. "My mom's all alone, I just I wouldn't feel right staying here by myself while she's out there!"
"I swear it's not what you're thinking!"
"Really now?"
After seeing what happened with Takagi Saya, Utaha and the rest were still a bit suspicious.
But in the end...
They decided to just let it slide.
...
After a while, once everyone had finished looking around, Haruno clapped her hands twice. "Alright, all unrelated personnel can leave now."
"Huh?" Utaha blinked.
The moment she said that, Kuroka and the others all turned to Haruno with narrowed eyes.
But Haruno wasn't fazed in the slightest. She added calmly, "Yukino, you stay."
Yukinoshita Yukino froze, her body going stiff as her ears turned red.
After that long talk she'd had with Haruno about how to "take the next step," she immediately knew what her sister meant.
She bit her lip, heart pounding, too embarrassed to even look at Lynn.
A mix of nervousness and uncertainty swirled in her chest.
Was she really going to
She clutched the hem of her shirt, her breathing a little uneven. She just couldn't calm down.
Even though she'd mentally prepared herself for this day long ago, now that it was really happening, she couldn't help feeling nervous, shy, and conflicted.
But
If she kept hesitating like this, she'd only fall further and further behind, wouldn't she?
Yukino knew it deep down.
Even though everyone in the Familia was kind and supportive, there was still this invisible gap between her and them.
Especially when they casually chatted about how to better please Lynn...
She had no idea how to even join those conversations.
She felt like a clueless little kid.
Just remembering some of the bold things they'd said made her cheeks burn.
Which meant No more hesitation!
Yukino took a few deep breaths, a trace of determination flashing in her eyes.
She couldn't keep avoiding it.
She was already part of Lynn's Familia. This day was bound to come sooner or later.
Just like her sister said Since it's inevitable, better sooner than later.
Yukino made up her mind to take that step forward.
What really pushed her over the edge, though, was what Haruno said that day
"Yukino, in every way you're always a step behind me."
"Whether it's talent, your figure, oryour relationship with Lynn-sama."
That line echoed in her mind.
As if!
Yukino clenched her fists.
She'd prove her sister wrong todaylet her watch with her own eyes!
With a surge of courage, the ice queen stepped forward!
Thump!
Each step felt like it stomped on her own heartbeat.
Her eyes were slightly unfocused, as if her vision blurred. She couldn't even see where she was going, just heading in Lynn's direction by instinct.
Her limbs grew stiff, her movement awkwardshe was even walking in sync with her arms and legs like a robot.
Not that she noticed.
Saeko and the others, still watching from the side, couldn't help but chuckle softly at the sight.
Then, with perfect unspoken coordination, they quietly slipped out of the room.
Utaha clicked her tongue in annoyance. She hadn't expected Haruno to play the sister card. How sneaky!
She was really tempted to crash the party herself.
But... It was Yukino's first time, after all.
So she decided to let it go. Just this once.
---
Bam!
Yukino suddenly winced in pain as her forehead smacked into something.
Snapping back to her senses, she looked up instinctively
And came face-to-face with Lynn's stunningly handsome face.
Yukino's brain instantly shut down.
Her mental systems overloaded on the spot.
"I-I-I-I"
She started stuttering like crazyher brain was glitching out.
All of a sudden, that familiar urge to retreat crept back in. She couldn't do it.
There's just no way!!
Thenclicka sudden sound.
Yukino turned her head stiffly, only to see her sister, Yukinoshita Haruno, smiling sweetly as she locked the bedroom door from the inside.
"Yukino, no running away now~"
"Ugh!"
Yukino's eyes went wide.
W-what do I do?!
Suddenly
Lynn placed his hand gently on Yukino's head, stroking her hair softly.
For a moment, her heart skipped. Then, like a kitten soothed by a gentle touch, all the tension in her body melted away.
Lynn whispered, "You sure about this?"
Snapping back to reality, Yukino felt her body heat up. She could clearly feel the sweat sticking her clothes to her skin.
She took a deep breathLynn's scent filled her senses.
"Mmm"
She let out a tiny whimper, face flushing as she buried herself in his chest, grabbing tightly onto his shirt like a kitten nibbling gently.
Even though she was still nervous still embarrassed
Her heart felt calm.
She wasn't going to run anymore.
Looking up at Lynn with soft, glistening eyes, Yukino stared for a momentthen buried her face back in his chest, her muffled voice barely audible: "Lynn"
"My future"
Her voice trembled slightly, but her tone was full of determination.
"I'm entrusting it to you!"
The moment she said it, her body gave out, collapsing gently into Lynn's arms.
Without hesitation, Lynn scooped her up.
Off to the sideHaruno watched with a proud smile.
Yukino had finally taken the first step
But she didn't even celebrate for her little sister
"Yukino, you're a total beginner. Let your big sister give you a demonstration firstwatch and learn!"
Yukino: "???"
Already overwhelmed and overheated, Yukino snapped back to her senses.
Seriously?! Even now, her sister's still trying to steal him?!
"No way!"
Fueled by instinct, Yukino shoved Haruno aside.
Haruno blinked in surprise.
Since when was Yukino this bold?
But then
She grinned mischievously.
[Shapeshifter Devil].
In an instant
Yukino was staring at a perfect copy of her mother.
'Mrs. Yukinoshita' looked serious, her voice calm and full of authority: "Yukino, step aside. Let mom handle this first."
Direct hit! Target: Yukino!
"!!!"
Yukino's eyes went wide again. Her whole body froze.
M-m-mom?!
Haruno giggled devilishly, slithering up to Lynn like a snake.
"How about this look, Lord Lynn~?"
"I'm me and Yukino's mother now~"
"How about showing my daughter our love?"
Later that evening
Yotsuya Miko returned home and finally came clean with her mom, Yotsuya Touko.
"God?"
Touko blinked, puzzled. She reached out and felt Miko's forehead.
"No fever"
"Hm"
She raised a brow. "Chniby?"
Miko sighed. "No, I'm serious!"
Of course she'd react like this.
That's why Miko had gone out of her way to rebrand Devil as God. Otherwise, the misunderstanding would've been even worse!
"Anyway, I'm part of God's familia now. I'll be living with Him from now on."
Touko's face turned serious.
"Like a cult?"
Don't tell me my daughter's been brainwashed?!
Miko sighed again, then lifted her hand, focusing her magic.
Buzz
A warm light gently glowed from her fingertips.
Touko froze, stunned.
Miko continued calmly, explaining everything while showing more magic to help her mom believe it was all real.
After a while
Touko sat there, completely shocked, rubbing her forehead in disbelief.
"So now you're going to serve God? Sexual activities?"
Miko blushed a bit but nodded.
Touko fell silent for a moment, then muttered:
"So that guy he's not your boyfriendhe's God?"
She thought back to the one time she met Lynn.
"So"
Miko looked hopeful. "Mom, will you come with me?"
"?"
Touko stared at her like she'd just grown a second head.
"You're seriously asking your mom to go serve him with you?!"
Her mind flashed to Lynn's face then to the idea of being there with Miko
Her cheeks turned red in an instant.
Even at her age, hearing that from her own daughter?!
"N-no way!!"
Miko turned red too, flailing her arms.
"That's NOT what I meant!!"
UghMom's just like Utaha and the others!
Took a while, but eventually, Miko explained everything properly.
Touko scratched her cheek, laughing awkwardly. "Ohh so that's what you meant"
Still thoughShould I go?
She fell deep into thought, then looked up at Miko's eager face.
As a mom, how could she possibly hold her daughter back?
"Alright, it's settled!"
Meanwhile
The Old Satan Faction received a message from the Khaos Brigade.
Shalba Beelzebub let out a cold sneer.
"That was fast."
"Tch, the Fallen Angels are getting more pathetic by the day. Can't believe they let the Khaos Brigade infiltrate them so easily!"
He glanced down at the intel in his hands.
" Shuchiin Academy?"
"Hmph. Humans."
Shalba scoffed.
"Today devils really love hiding out in the human world, huh"
Pathetic. Like they're playing house. But one day, the Old Satan Faction will crush this entire farce.
Valifer!
His gaze locked onto that name, filled with rage.
"Valifer must die!!"
.
.
.
The next day
Early in the morning, soft sunlight filtered through the half-drawn curtains, gently spilling into the quiet bedroom like a light veil.
Yukinoshita Yukino's flawless skin glowed like freshly fallen snow in the morning light.
Her long, jet-black hair was spread across the naked Lynn, her fair face pressed against his chest, and her slightly puckered pink lips made her look just like a sleeping kitten.
Lower down
Another "Yukinoshita Yukino" was sprawled out across Lynn's leg, a tiny trail of drool glistening at the corner of her mouth.
Compared to the first, this fake Yukino definitely didn't have the most graceful sleeping posture.
"Mm"
The fake Yukino lying on Lynn's leg frowned slightly, feeling something hard poking at her lips.
Annoyed, she shook her headthen bit down on the mischievous intruder, swallowing it whole. A satisfied hum buzzed in her throat, like she'd won some battle.
Lynn's eyes shot open. He looked at the puffed-up cheeks of the fake Yukino currently enjoying his dick and couldn't help but sigh.
He patted her head and muttered, "You're a handful even when you're asleep."
"Mm"
The real Yukino on his chest let out a sleepy noise and slowly opened her eyes, still dazed.
She instinctively lifted her head, and the moment she saw Lynn's face, her clear eyes widened.
"!"
In an instant, she was fully awake.
Yukino pushed herself up in a panic, bracing her hands on Lynn's chest.
The silky sheets slipped from her shoulders, revealing her snow-white, almost translucent body.
Feeling the sudden cool air, she froze for a second, then hurriedly pulled the sheets over herself.
But that only added to her charm the way the fabric half-covered her created a soft, hazy beauty, making certain parts of her body seem like they were teasingly visible like she was tempting Lynn on purpose.
Her breathing quickened, and her flushed cheeks were redder than a boiled crab. She looked completely overwhelmed.
Her dainty toes twitched ever so slightly, betraying her inner turmoil.
Wh-What do I do now?
Yukino was starting to panic.
Sure, all sorts of crazy things happened last night
But after a night's rest, her brain felt like it'd reset. Her shy instincts were back in full force.
Especially when she remembered those scenes her whole body trembled a little.
Yukino couldn't believe it.
No way
It had to beHer sister! Yes, that's it!
It must have been her sister!
She caught Lynn watching her with that amused look in his eyes.
"Mm"
Yukino quickly looked away, lowering her head and trying to hide her face behind her long black hair.
Her already pale body blushed even deeper, a wave of heat spreading from her shoulders all the way up to her neck.
Even her ears were burning.
Lynn raised an eyebrow as he watched her react and couldn't help clicking his tongue in amazement.
"Wetno, how are you feeling?"
Yukino froze.
W-Wet-no?
Since when did she get that nickname?!
But then
Flashes of last night popped into her mind again, and she couldn't keep pretending. Her voice was barely a whisper as she muttered, "I'm not wet-no"
"Oh? Then"
"Wet Devil?"
Yep
Last night's Ice Devil had officially been melted down by Lynn into the Wet Devil.
Yukino puffed out her cheeks, staring at him with those big, watery eyes.
Seeing her like that, Lynn pulled her into his arms and gave her nose a gentle squeeze, chuckling. "Aren't you just the cutest when you make that face?"
Yukino let out a muffled hum and replied confidently, "I'm cute no matter what face I make."
Lynn's expression turned a little strange, and then he suddenly said:
"Flat-chan, you're kind of poking me."
Yukino froze.
Then she shot Lynn a cold, resentful glare.
Wet-no, Flat-chan
So basicallynot Yuki-no, huh?!
Lynn couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing, messing up her hair while she pouted.
"Mm"
"Mmmphwha' are you two doin'...?"
The other fake Yukino blinked sleepily, still half-asleep as she still didn't let Lynn's dick from her mouth.
There was a long silence before Yukino finally said, in a strained voice, "Sis can you not use my appearance for that kind of thing?"
"Yukino's body is way too uncomfortable," the fake-Yukino replied casually.
Yukino: "!!!"
Her glare was sharp enough to cut ice, stabbing straight into her sister's eyes.
"Okay, okay! I give up!" Fake-Yukino laughed and raised her hands in surrender, then deactivated her [Shapeshifter Devil] ability.
Buzz
A flash of lightand the first thing that popped out was a massive pair of big boobs
Yukino bit her lip hard.
"Aaahh~ finally back in my own body So much comfier!"
Yukinoshita Haruno stretched out like a lazy cat, practically flaunting what she had.
Yukino clicked her tongue in frustration.
She was still growing. She'd catch up eventually!
After teasing Yukino for a bit, Haruno got back to "work."
As a proper elite member of society, she prided herself on never leaving things half-done!
Lynn was quite pleased with her dedication, too.
Yukino, on the other hand, was left in a daze.
Seeing her little sister still stunned, Haruno scooted over and patted the bed, smiling. "Wanna join?"
"Mm"
Yukino's whole body vibrated, but she agreed.
That afternoon
Shuchiin Academy Supernatural Research Club.
Knock knock!
Lynn: "Yeah, I knew the club's been a bit too lively lately."
"Come in."
As soon as the words left his mouth
Clack! The clubroom door swung open.
Lynn looked up.
A girl with a side ponytail of golden hair and ocean-blue eyes stepped into view.
She had her jacket tied around her waist, her fingers painted with vibrant blue nail polish total gyaru vibe.
But her aura was cool and composed, with a sharp, businesslike edge.
"Ai Hayasaka?"
Lynn called her out immediately.
Hayasaka froze.
Her hand on the doorknob clenched a little tighter, and her cold expression nearly cracked.
H-How did he?
Her mind started spinning.
Lynn leaned back in his chair, smiling lazily. "You're the one who's been tailing me all this time, right?"
"!!!?"
Hayasaka panicked, nearly bolting on the spot.
D-Don't tell me he noticed?! Since when?!
"Since the very beginning~"
As if reading her thoughts, Lynn answered slowly and deliberately.
W-Waitwas that mind reading?!
"No, you're just really easy to read right now"
Lynn chuckled, watching the tension on her face tighten even more.
He smiled again, this time softer.
"Not coming in?"
Thump!
Hayasaka's heart skipped a beat.
She didn't know why, but that smile of his gave her a seriously bad feeling.
Seriously now...
This is all Kaguya's fault, so why do I have to clean up her mess?!
But...She had no choice.
Servants don't get to have rights.
With a sigh, Ai Hayasaka straightened her back and stepped into the room.
A second later
BAM!
The door to the Supernatural Research Club slammed shut behind her.
Hayasaka flinched hard, her steps faltering.
What the hell?!
She didn't close the door herself, right?
That's not just me imagining it right?!
Don't tell meWas that supernatural power?!
She kept her usual cool and elegant look on the outside, but inside she was freaking out.
Seriously, being stuck with a master like Shinomiya Kaguya what kind of karmic punishment is this?!
After venting about her mistress in her head, Hayasaka finally managed to calm down a little.
Lynn looked at her and spoke calmly, "So? What kind of request are you here to make?"
Hearing that, Hayasaka bowed politely. "I apologize. My lady was extremely rude earlier."
"Oh?"
Lynn's red eyes narrowed a little. So this was about Shinomiya Kaguya, huh?
Still...
"You think a simple apology is enough to make up for offending me?"
Hayasaka looked up, her face serious. "If there's anything the Shinomiya family can do to make it right, just say the word."
She clearly had no intention of offering herself as some kind of bait.
Lynn rubbed his chin, an amused smile forming. "And you're sure you can speak for them?"
Hayasaka opened her mouth but then lowered her head.
She was just a servant. She didn't have the authority to promise anything.
Honestly...Even her mistress, Kaguya, probably didn't have that kind of say.
Seeing that, Lynn gave a bored wave. "If that's all, you can leave."
Hayasaka hesitated, then asked carefully, "Are you planning to take revenge on Miss Kaguya?"
"Kaguya?" Lynn said indifferently. "She's not even worth that."
"Though"He glanced at her again, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Maybe keep an eye on the Shinomiya family's businesses."
"By now, I'd bet they're starting to panic a little."
Hayasaka stiffened.
But soon, she managed to calm down again.
The Shinomiya family?
They were one of the richest in the entire countrypractically their own empire. It was hard to imagine them "panicking."
Still...
Against someone with supernatural powers...Hayasaka couldn't help but feel a trace of fear and maybe even curiosity.
So she bowed again, "Sorry to bother you."
She turned around, intending to head back and quietly gather some intel.
But just as her hand touched the doorknob
Lynn suddenly said, "Hey, I heard..."
"You're a servant of the Shinomiya family, right?"
Hayasaka froze.
Lynn continued, "Ever thought about switching employers?"
"...Huh?"
A look of confusion flashed across her face.
Was he trying to poach her?!
Lynn gave her a once-over, eyes briefly flicking toward the glowing Devil's Piece, and said with a grin, "My place is pretty spacious. Just missing a maid."
"And besides"
His tone suddenly dropped, low and serious. "You don't really want to keep working for the people who ruined your family... do you?"
Her eyes widened. A shock ran through her entire body. Her grip on the doorknob tightened instinctively.
How how does he know?!
Hayasaka Ai didn't have an answer.
But She bit her lip softly.
He wasn't wrong.
She really didn't want to work for the Shinomiya family anymore.
The name "Hayasaka" used to be one of prestige. Her family once held real power.
ButThey lost everything in a "war" with the Shinomiyas.
---
(A/N: About Hayasaka Ai her family name is Hayasaka, but I didn't want to use Ai as her main name since it's easy to overlook or confuse, especially with Enma Ai already being a known character. So yeah, think of it like using Aizen as the main name even though it's technically his last name.)
---
Now, Hayasaka Ai was part of the Shinomiya family a servant forced to bow to the very people who brought her family down. Once a proper lady of a noble house, now just a maid waiting on her enemies.
How could she not feel resentment?
Even if she was close with KaguyaHer feelings toward the family hadn't changed.
And on top of that...
Because of the inheritance battles within the Shinomiya family, she was dragged into the role of a double agentand that made her feel even more disgusted.
But to just leave?
Hayasaka gave a faint, bitter smile.
There was no way she could just walk away from the Shinomiya family.
After a long pause, once she had settled her emotions, she spoke quietly.
"I'll think about it."
With those words, she opened the door and walked out of the room.
Unless the Shinomiya family collapsed, there was no escape.
The Hayasaka name would always be shackled to them.
Still... She didn't completely shut the door on the offer.
Because honestly... Lynnsomeone who held supernatural powersmight just be capable of pulling off the impossible.
And somewhere deep inside...
Hayasaka finally found hope.
.
.
.
Somewhere in a quiet corner of Shuchiin Academy
The moment Shinomiya Kaguya spotted Hayasaka Ai, her crimson eyes lit up.
She rushed over, grabbing Hayasaka's arm, her face full of nervous energy and anticipation.
"Well? How did it go? Tell me everything!"
Hayasaka looked at her young lady, who had clearly abandoned any trace of her old "ice queen" persona, and felt weirdly conflicted.
Then she shook her head.
And nodded.
""
Kaguya blinked. "Waitwhat does that even mean?"
Keeping her expression flat, Hayasaka replied calmly, "President Lynn has no intention of getting back at you~."
"Huh?"
Kaguya looked puzzled. "He let it go that easily?"
She squinted and gave Hayasaka a full once-over, eyes narrowing. "Hayasaka, don't tell me you used your charms on him?"
Hayasaka rolled her eyes so subtly that it was almost invisible. "I didn't."
"Phew"
Hearing that, Kaguya sighed in relief and visibly relaxed.
Sure, she'd brought it up herself earlier, but deep down, Hayasaka was the only person she truly trustedthere was no way she'd actually let her make that kind of sacrifice. It's just that she valued herself more.
Seeing Kaguya like this stirred up something in Hayasaka.
She felt a little touched. All those years of loyalty clearly hadn't been one-sided.
But also conflicted.
Because the name "Shinomiya" was the very reason her life had become what it was.
And on top of thatShe was technically spying on Kaguya for the main family.
Kaguya tilted her head. "If it wasn't your charm, then what did you offer him?"
Hayasaka blinked and snapped back to the present. "Nothing."
"Eh?"
Kaguya looked even more confused. "Nothing at all?"
"Yep." Hayasaka nodded.
"And he just let it go?"
Kaguya's expression was a mix of confusion and disbelief.
That Lynn guy didn't seem like someone who'd just forgive and forget, right?
Plus that look in his eyes
Ugh
Just thinking about it made her heart skip a beat. And made her feel kind of off.
Ever since meeting Lynn, she'd been feeling strangely out of sorts. The cold, composed Kaguya she used to be? Practically gone.
Trying to push those thoughts aside, Kaguya pressed on. "So, he didn't say anything else?"
Hayasaka's face remained blank. "Oh, he said something."
"Yeah?!" Kaguya leaned in, hopeful.
"He said" Hayasaka paused, then repeated his words exactly. "You're not even worth targeting."
"Huh?"
Kaguya froze, expression locked in place.
"Not worth it?"
"Yep. According to Lynn, you don't even qualify as someone worth his attention."
Just in case Kaguya hadn't heard it rightor maybe misunderstoodHayasaka helpfully repeated it, even breaking it down a little.
Kaguya bit her lip, her expression growing oddly hurt.
"?"
Now it was Hayasaka's turn to be confused.
She'd expected Kaguya to react with anger. Maybe some pride, some hatred, or at the very least a cold huff.
But this?
She looked genuinely upset that Lynn didn't target her?
Hayasaka was shocked.
Had Kaguya been hit with some kind of emotional damage?
Or worsewas this even really Kaguya anymore?
Had she been swapped out?
Possessed?
With all the supernatural stuff she'd seen recently, Hayasaka couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.
Because seriously
This was not the Kaguya she knew.
Kaguya herself didn't know what she was feeling either.
But that one comment it stung more than she expected.
Not even qualified to be noticed by him?
Somehow, she'd completely twisted Hayasaka's words in her head, and the more she thought about it, the more flustered she became.
Suddenly, Kaguya grabbed Hayasaka's arm tightly. "Hayasaka, is there any way to make him retaliate against me?"
"Excuse me?"
Hayasaka's poker face almost cracked. "Miss Kaguya are you broken?"
Were you cursed or something?
Kaguya blinked, realizing what she just saidand then blushed hard.
Clearly, she knew she'd just let something super embarrassing slip out.
"Ahem. Never mind. Forget I said anything."
She quickly tried to revert to her old cold, stoic self.
But
There was no going back now.
Hayasaka gave her a long, complicated look.
She could see right through the fake front Kaguya was trying to put up.
Yeah Kaguya was definitely broken.
Wanting to be targeted on purpose?
Was this some new masochistic awakening?
Still
Even if Lynn had said she "wasn't worth it," he clearly had plans for the Shinomiya family.
So in the end, Kaguya was still getting caught up in it.
Maybe not in the way she expected, but close enough?
Of course, Hayasaka wasn't going to mention that to her.
And she definitely wasn't going to report it to Shinomiya Oko.
Just like how she never told him that his original planhaving Kaguya approach Lynnbackfired and ended in them offending a supernatural powerhouse.
Someone with powers like that maybe they really could change her boring, predictable life.
Maybe
Even break the chains tying her down.
That thought made Hayasaka squint thoughtfully. Then she said, "If there's nothing else, Miss Kaguya, I'll take my leave."
Kaguya absentmindedly nodded. "Mhm."
She was too busy thinkingdesperately wondering what she could do to change the way Lynn saw her. How to earn the right to even be in his eyes.
...
A little while later
Hayasaka found a quiet spot and sent a message to her mother.
["Mom, has anything strange been going on with the main family lately?"]
A moment later, she got a reply from her mother.
["Huh? "How do you know about that??"]
Hayasaka's heart skipped a beat. Instead of texting, she decided to call her mom directly.
"Mom, Something happened? What's going on?"
"Hmm uh"
"Mom?!"
"Okay, okay, jeez~"
With a bit of exasperation, Hayasaka's mom lowered her voice and whispered: "Ai-chan have you ever seen a three-headed dog covered in black fire?"
Hayasaka's eyes went wide. Her fingers clenched the phone tightly.
A three-headed dog covered in black flames?
Moments later
Hayasaka stood there dazed.
She had expected a crisissomething along the lines of financial attacks, secret leaks, media storms, legal takedowns
But instead?
Lynn went straight for a supernatural beatdown?!
---
At that exact momentAt the Shinomiya estate.
BOOM! BOOM!
The entire place began to shake violently!
"What's going on?!"
One of the Shinomiya members shouted in shock.
"Is this an earthquake again?!"
Others looked around nervously, trying to make sense of it.
But then
A wave of scorching heat blasted through the air!
"ROOOAAAR!!"
A deafening roar ripped through the silence, shaking the very walls of the estate!
"!!"
Everyone froze for a second, then turned toward the direction of that monstrous sound.
And in the next instant
A towering creatureeasily the size of a small buildingstepped into view. Its body was wreathed in black hellfire, and it had three heads.
A literal hellhound.
Someone nervously swallowed, and it was like that sound lit a fuse.
"D-Demon!!"
"A monster!! We're under attack!!"
Panic exploded throughout the compound.
People screamed in terror, scrambling to flee in every direction.
But as they tried to bolt through the side exits
BZZZZT!
A transparent barrier shimmered into existence, sealing the entire estate.
BANG!
One guy ran full speed into the barrier, hitting it, and was slammed to the ground like a ragdoll.
"Ow, what the hell?!"
"Damn it!"
"Why can't we get out?!"
He pounded against the invisible wall, like trying to punch through solid steel.
He wasn't aloneeveryone else who tried was met with the same invisible prison.
There was no escape.
As realization set in, all eyes turned toward the monstrous, flaming hellhound.
And despair began to spread like wildfire.
Elsewhere
"Master! We've got a situation!"
The shout snapped Shinomiya Gan'an out of his hazehe was connected to a breathing machine just to stay alive.
Moments later
A frail, elderly man with pale skin and medium-length hair sat at the head of the room, leaning heavily on a cane.
Breathing tube still attached to his nose, he looked like just sitting upright took every ounce of strength he had.
This man was the head of the Shinomiya family. Shinomiya Gan'an.
And yet
Despite holding massive wealth and being the head of one of Japan's most powerful families, he now looked utterly powerless.
It seemed money really couldn't buy everything.
Sweat rolled down his foreheadShinomiya Gan'an couldn't hide how rattled he was.
Behind him, every member of the Shinomiya family had their heads bowed, trembling in silence.
The whole place was dead quietfrozen in fear.
And the reason for this?
Was the woman who had just casually walked through the front gates like she owned the place.
And also
"ROOOAAR!!"
Outside, that hellhound continued to breathe waves of infernal heat, distorting the air itself.
"You've heard of the Lynn Group, haven't you?"
Yukinoshita Haruno sat at the head seat, calm and collected.
Shinomiya Gan'an stiffened.
Wasn't that?
The up-and-coming company everyone was talking about?
And because its assets were incredibly rare and valuable, lots of people had been eyeing it.
The Shinomiya family included.
ButHe never expected the real owner to come knocking like this!
Especially with such insane power!
"My deepest apologies. The Shinomiya family acted out of line," Gan'an said immediately, bowing his head.
Even on the brink of death, the old man knew when to yield. He went full dogeza without hesitation.
If he'd known Lynn's group was backed by the supernatural, he never would've even thought of touching them.
No matter how strong the Shinomiyas were they were just human.
And that hellhound? Yeah, not a joke.
Behind him, all the family members followed his lead and dropped into dogeza.
The flawless dogeza once offered to them by othersthey now performed it themselves.
Haruno paused for a moment, surprised.
She hadn't expected the head of a giant financial empire like the Shinomiyas to fold that quickly.
She had come in ready to cause a scene, but now it all felt a bit boring.
With a wave of her hand, she muttered, "I'm not some villain, y'know."
"I'll give you a day. Prepare the full transfer paperwork for all Shinomiya assets."
With that, she stood up.
"From today onward the Shinomiya family will be just a servant of the Lynn Group."
"!!!"
Gan'an and the rest of the family snapped their heads up.
"Servant"
"Our entire assets?!"
Gan'an's voice shook. Was their glorious house really going to be handed over just like that?
"How about"
Haruno's voice turned icy. "You got a problem with that?"
The moment the words left her mouth
BOOOOM!!
The hellhound outside flared up, the infernal flames erupting even higher!
The entire compound was drowned in blistering heat!
The air itself began to ripple and twist under the pressure.
Gan'an's eyes widened in horror at the hellish scene.
And then
"AAAAAHHHHH!!"
Several family members screamed in agony, bodies writhing, faces contorted in pain!
Even Gan'an's body twitchedhis skin prickled like it was being burned.
Everyone else winced, some clutching their heads as if their very souls were being scorched.
Gan'an gritted his teeth and shouted, "We submit! The Shinomiya family is willing to become your servant!"
One show of power was all it took for him to fully grasp reality.
That thing outside? There was no way the Shinomiyas could deal with something like that.
Haruno looked down at him, expression blank.
"This is fire from hell," she said coldly. "Only those stained with heavy sins will feel its pain."
"I'll let this fire test every member of the Shinomiya family."
"Only those who survive its judgment deserve to live."
Gan'an's mouth fell open, but before he could speak again
"Oh, right."
Haruno suddenly tapped her forehead, then chuckled, "To be honest, I was planning on dealing with the Shinomiya family through normal business means."
"But"
"You have such a lovely daughter."
Gan'an's eyes bulged in shockhe instantly understood what she meant.
.
.
.
Shinomiya Residence
Silence.
It filled every corner of the Shinomiya estate.
Yukinoshita Haruno had left. And she'd taken that terrifying Hellhound with her.
All she left behind was a black flame.
But every single member of the Shinomiya family still seemed stuck in that moment of overwhelming fear.
Their eyes were blank, their faces pale with dread.
Shinomiya Gan'an leaned on his cane, face as white as a sheet, lips trembling slightly.
Even though the person sitting at the head of the room had already left, he remained seated off to the side, deep in thought.
Haruno's last words echoed in his ears.
"Kaguya, huh"
It was a while before he finally muttered his daughter's name under his breath.
Closing his eyes briefly, a wave of bitterness welled up in his chest.
He knew his youngest daughter's personality all too well.
Offending people here and there was just something that came naturally to her.
But this timethis time she messed with someone the Shinomiya family absolutely couldn't afford to cross.
And yet...
Gan'an didn't completely blame Kaguya for what happened.
Because in the end, the kind of person she turned out to be was a direct result of the way their family raised her.
Besides... Even if Kaguya hadn't been involved, with how the Shinomiya family kept expanding, a clash with the Lynn Group was bound to happen sooner or later.
Maybe it was actually a good thing this confrontation happened now, before things got truly irreversible.
If the Shinomiya family ever did something they couldn't take back while trying to go against the Lynn Group
That would be a disaster they'd never recover from.
And by then, Haruno showing up with that Hellhound, forcing them to submit and become a vassal family, wouldn't even be an option anymore.
Still
Just thinking about handing over the family's entire empire like thatit made his heart ache.
The frustration and suffocating helplessness were piling up inside him.
"Cough, cough!"
Gan'an couldn't help but cough violently.
"Father, are you alright?" Shinomiya Un'yo quickly stepped forward, patting him on the back.
Gan'an raised a hand. "Still got a few more years left in me."
Un'yo's face was complicated. Gritting his teeth, he asked, "Father, do we really have to"
"Un'yo!"
Gan'an cut him off coldly. "Don't even think about it."
Un'yo opened his mouth but ended up swallowing his words in silence.
But the frustration didn't go away. Not even a little.
Sure, he didn't hold much power in the family, but he was still the patriarch's son.
He was born with a silver spoon in his mouthwhen had he ever had to swallow his pride like this?
But then he thought about that monsterthe Hellhoundand couldn't stop the shiver that ran down his spine.
Gan'an understood what was going through his son's head.
But...
The moment Haruno stepped into the Shinomiya estate, the outcome was already set in stone.
Especially Gan'anhe understood all too well.
He had long been aware of the hidden side of the world. Which was exactly why he'd made preparations.
The Shinomiya estate was protected by a special formation he'd bought at a ridiculous price from the Onmyoji Bureau.
Because of it, the estate had remained a "safe zone" amidst a society crawling with cursed spirits.
That formation was supposedly strong enough to defend against Grade A threats.
And yet...Gan'an let out a long sigh.
When Haruno showed up with that Hellhound, the formation might as well have not even existed.
It didn't do a damn thing.
No, actually...
Gan'an looked down at the cracked purple stone embedded in his cane.
It had all happened in an instant.
The whole formation shattered just like that.
A formation that could withstand a Grade A cursed spirit didn't even last a second.
Did that mean Haruno or that Hellhound had already reached Grade S?
NoMaybe even stronger.
Stronger than even the top experts at the Onmyoji Bureau.
That's what made Gan'an realize just how hopeless it was.
When you're facing something even the Bureau's elites can't handle, what chance does a corporate family like the Shinomiyas have?
On top of that...
He wasn't even sure if Haruno represented the full strength of the Lynn Group.
Who's to say there wasn't something even scarier behind her?
So yeah
Backing down was their only option.
At the very least, that way, some members of the Shinomiya bloodline might survive.
Yesonly some.
Gan'an looked at the black Hellfire Haruno left behind.
Only those who could endure the burning of that Hellfire were allowed to live.
The message couldn't have been clearer.
And the way she'd left only the flame behind spoke volumes about her confidence.
She wasn't scared at all of the Shinomiya family retaliating.
That kind of attitude practically dared them to resistgo find outside help, run if you want.
Or
Walk straight into the Hellfire, pass the trial, and become one of Lynn's subordinate families.
The choice she gave them only made Gan'an feel worse.
That wasn't just domination.
That was psychological warfare.
Gan'an's cloudy eyes flickered with helplessness.
Ask for help? Run away?
He had no such delusions.
Unless the entire Onmyoji Bureau stepped in, there was no hope.
And honestly, even the mighty Shinomiya family didn't have the kind of value that'd make the Bureau go all in.
SoThat's it.
Gan'an made up his mind.
Knock knock!
He tapped the floor with his cane, snapping the rest of the family out of their daze.
"Un'yo," he said flatly, "Start preparing the family for the Hellfire trial."
Un'yo flinched, fists clenching tightly, eyes full of resentment.
With those words, the fate of the Shinomiya family was sealed.
"Understood"
His shoulders slumped as he replied.
He didn't have the courage to go against it.
Besides
He wasn't even the heir of the family. Let Shinomiya Oko and the others deal with the fallout.
Thinking that, Un'yo let it go. His mind cleared up.
Then his gaze swept across the rest of the family.
Everyone he looked at froze.
"N-No"
"I refuse!"
"I'm not going through that damn Hellfire!"
One man's face twisted in fear, his body backing away before he turned and made a break for the door.
"You're insane! All of you! Completely insane!!" he shouted while running.
"You're gonna destroy everything the Shinomiya family has built!"
Gan'an watched without a hint of surprise.
BecauseThey knew what they had done.
They knew what kind of sins they were carrying.
"Un'yo," Gan'an said quietly, "Don't let a single one escape."
Un'yo stiffened, then nodded. "Understood."
As soon as he spoke, he ordered the guards to lock everything down.
One by one, the Shinomiya family members were rounded up and lined up to face the Hellfire trial.
Those who tried to run had their legs broken and were dragged back.
No one was getting out of this.
Not anymore.
Gan'an spoke again. "Get Kaguya and Oko back here, now."
He didn't want to outright blame Kaguya, but still
At the very least, he needed to find out what the hell Kaguya had been doing lately.
And more importantly...
Kaguya was right under Oko's watch and she still managed to screw up this badly?
When that idiot gets back, he's going through the hellfire first!
Gan'an, as the head of the family, needed to see exactly what kind of idiocy Oko had pulled while he was sick and bedridden.
---
Yukinoshita Haruno, having left the Shinomiya estate, clicked her tongue in amusement as she stared at the monstrous three-headed Hellhound.
"When did the Familia start keeping beasts like that?"
Hone Onna sat lazily on a tree branch nearby and replied, "After the dog demons joined Hell's organization, they started going through changes like that. Don't ask me howI don't get paid enough to answer long questions."
(A/N: Hone Onna is a follower of Enma Ai and the one Lynn accepted into his Familia, turning her into a special devil Bone Devil.)
Haruno narrowed her eyes.
So just having a job in Hell comes with perks like this?
Hone Onna looked toward the Shinomiya estate and asked, "Want me to keep monitoring the place?"
Haruno nodded. "Yeah. If anything weird happens, kill everyone involved."
"Oh, and one more thing."
As if remembering something important, she added, "Leave the beautiful women alive."
Hone Onna: "..."
---
A short while later
Kaguya, Oko, and Seiry returned to the main house, confused and anxious after hearing the news.
What greeted them was a scene straight out of a disaster zone.
It looked like the entire estate had been ravaged by fire.
And...
There were massive scorched craters in the groundlike something inhuman had stomped through the place.
Thud, thud!
Their hearts pounded harder with each step.
A horrible feeling of dread settled over them.
They rushed into the main hallonly to be greeted by something even more surreal.
A pillar of pitch-black fire burned silently in the center.
And one by one, their family members were stepping into itsome willingly, others forced in.
"AAAHHHHH!!"
Agonized screams rang out from within the flames, piercing and horrifying.
Every. Single. One. Screamed in pain.
But the outcomes differed.
Some were thrown out of the fire, writhing in pain.
Others vanished completely.
Oko and Kaguya stared in shock, eyes wide, minds blank.
Gulp.
Oko audibly swallowed.
He shifted his gazetoward the one sitting at the head seat of the hall no, wait, the side seat?
He blinked in confusion, then stammered, "F-Father?"
Had his dad joined some kind of cult?
Kaguya was speechless, too. Her empty gaze locked on the long line of relatives jumping into what looked like a literal pit of hellfire.
What in the world had happened?
Gan'an didn't explain. He simply made a declaration:
"From this moment on, the Shinomiya family is officially a subsidiary of the Lynn Group."
"!!"
Oko and Kaguya's eyes went wide with disbelief.
"W-What?!"
"Lynn?!"
Kaguya instinctively cried out as the name registered.
Gan'an's eyes narrowed.
So she was involved.
"Wait Lynn Group?! Lynn?!"
Suddenly, Oko also blurted out in shock.
Gan'an: "..."
Great. Looks like this dumbass was involved, too.
A few moments later
After Gan'an filled them in on what had happened
Kaguya dropped to her knees, dazed and hollow.
"It really was him"
But that one line Haruno left behind had already made it crystal clear.
It was Lynn. The one from the Supernatural Research Club.
So that's how it was
He didn't come after her directlyhe targeted the entire Shinomiya family.
She hadn't seen that coming at all.
And worst of all
The Shinomiya family had absolutely no way to fight back.
A dog straight from Hell...
Hellfire that burns away sin
Even without seeing it herself, just hearing about itand seeing the aftermathwas enough to send chills down her spine.
And judging by how obedient all the clansmen were acting, Kaguya could already guess the sheer terror they'd been through.
"This is all my fault"
Kaguya dropped to her hands and knees. Her once-bright crimson eyes now dull and lifeless.
"All of this happened because of me"
If she hadn't provoked Lynn...
None of this would've happened.
Her voice shaking, Kaguya finally confessed everything that had happened between her and Lynn.
"You idiot!"
Oko's eyes turned bloodshot as he screamed, "I sent you to make friends with Lynn, not piss him off!!"
He raised his hand instinctively, ready to slap her across the face
"Enough, Oko."
Gan'an's voice cut through the room, halting Oko's hand mid-air.
"There's no point in blaming anyone now," Gan'an said solemnly.
"And besides"
His tone turned cold, almost mocking. "Weren't you the one always chasing supernatural power?"
From just a bit of analysis, Gan'an had already pieced the situation together.
Sure, Kaguya had been foolish
But the real root of the problem was Oko's obsession with the supernatural. And he chose Kaguya for that.
Gan'an's eyes turned icy. "Go. If you can withstand the trial of hellfirethen you can become part of the supernatural world as a servant family member."
Oko froze.
His heart shuddered violently.
.
.
.
Hellfire Trial?
Shinomiya Oko stood frozen, head bowed, eyes wide in horror. Beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
All around him, he could still hear the anguished cries of his Family members echoing in his ears.
Gulp!
He swallowed hard, sweat dripping onto the wooden floor below.
He knew himself well enough to understand the truthleaping into that hellfire would annihilate him so completely, not even ashes would remain.
It was that simple: him plus hellfire equaled zero. Not deathtotal obliteration.
With a trembling voice, Oko lifted his head and looked at the man before him. "Father, I I'm your son!"
Shinomiya Gan'an stared down at him, his expression calm but resolute. "Oko, this is a necessary sacrifice for the Shinomiyas."
Oko clenched his fists, his face twisting in rage. He turned toward Kaguya with hatred in his eyes. "Why should I die because of that idiot's mistake?!"
Kaguya flinched.
Gan'an's voice turned cold. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be, Oko."
"Harder?"
Oko suddenly burst out laughingbitter and crazed. "Then how about thiswe all go down together!"
"If I die, I'm dragging the entire Shinomiya Family to hell with me!"
His expression twisted with madness, Oko let out a cold snort and turned to leave.
But then
Several hands grabbed him from behind, locking his limbs in place.
Before he could even react, a familiar voice rang out behind him.
"Big Brother, I'd rather not lose my life because of your tantrum"
It was Shinomiya Un'yo.
Before Oko could respond, he felt his feet leave the ground.
Eyes wide, he shouted, "Wait, what are you doing?! Stop them! Father!"
"Don't!"
In the next moment, Oko was thrown into the raging Hellfire.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"
"DAMN YOU!!"
"Kaguya, you're the disgrace of the Shinomiya Family!!"
"I hate youI curse you!!"
His screams of hatred echoed through the flames
until eventually, they faded into silence.
Gan'an slowly closed his eyes.
Even for him, watching his own son be executed wasn't easy.
But
This was necessaryfor the Shinomiya Family.
Kaguya trembled uncontrollably.
'Kaguya, you're the disgrace of the Shinomiya Family!!'
She was the disgrace
This was all because of her.
"Your turn, Kaguya," Gan'an said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Hearing that, Kaguya numbly lifted her head. Her crimson eyes were completely empty.
She rose to her feet like a puppetbut hadn't taken more than two steps before collapsing with a thud.
Her body had no strength left.
But she didn't stop. Without complaint or expression, she pushed herself up again.
And again, and again.
Crawlinghands, knees, and alluntil she finally reached the blazing Hellfire.
Gan'an and Un'yo both watched her, expressions conflicted.
When had they ever seen Kaguya in such a pitiful state?
Blankly, Kaguya stared into the flames before stepping into them without hesitation.
She was a sinner.
Let the flames burn her away completely. Let them be her redemption.
But
Whoosh
The fire roared around her.
And yetIt didn't hurt.
Kaguya looked utterly lost.
Did this mean
even the Hellfire didn't think her sins were enough?
Gan'an, however, didn't seem surprised.
She had brought misfortune to the Family, yes. But Kaguya's heart was pure he had no doubt of that.
The others in the Family looked on, their expressions mixed.
They now knew Kaguya was partly responsible for the disaster that befell the Family.
And yet, she was spared.
That left a bitter taste in their mouths.
Kaguya bit her lip, her pale fingers curling into tight fists.
She stood there, silently waiting to accept her punishment.
But
Whoosh!
The Hellfire lashed out and threw her out.
"Ha?"
Kaguya landed hard on the ground, dazed and shaken.
She looked up, eyes wide, catching glimpses of her family members' expressions.
Anger. Coldness. Disdain. Disgust. Hatred.
Those gazes felt like an invisible hand, squeezing her heart tightly.
She needed to atone.
---
Meanwhile
Hayasaka Ai had returned to the Shinomiya estate, meeting with her mother, Hayasaka Nao.
"Mom, what's going on now?"
Nao answered with a grim expression, "Looks like the Shinomiya Family is about to fall"
Despite the serious tone, Hayasaka Ai could sense the slight schadenfreude in her mother's voice.
After all
This situation mirrored what the Hayasaka family had gone through not long ago.
But Hayasaka Ai was focused on something else entirely.
"Mom does that mean we're getting a new master?"
Nao's face froze for a second. Then she sighed and slumped her shoulders. "Yeah"
As retainers to the Shinomiya Family, their fate was now tied to whoever took over.
"Let's hope the new master isn't too harsh"
Nao's voice was laced with worry.
"Hmm."
Hayasaka Ai recalled Lynn's face in her mind, then muttered, "He seems decent enough?"
The next day
Yukinoshita Haruno returned once again to the Shinomiya estate.
Gan'an had already prepared everything.
Ownership contracts, business transferseverything matched the intel Haruno had collected.
Looking around at the now half-empty estate, Haruno nodded in satisfaction.
Then turned to Gan'an and said, "Not bad. You acted quickly."
Gan'an forced a stiff smile.
But Haruno immediately shut it down. "Ugh. Don't smile like thatit's disgusting."
Gan'an's face twitched.
From a distance, Hayasaka Ai couldn't help but smirk.
Serves you right, old man.
Haruno went on, "This house belongs to the Lynn Group now too. Pack up and move out."
Gan'an showed no reaction.
After all
The Shinomiya Family had once done the exact same thing to the Hayasaka family.
Suddenly
Kaguya shoved her way through the crowd and dropped to her knees before Haruno.
"I'm sorry! This is all my fault!"
Her voice cracked with emotion. "I I'll do anything to atone to Lord Lynn, so please"
She trembled as she pleaded, eyes full of desperation.
"Please let my father and the others stay. Just somewhere they can live."
This disaster was because of her. All of it.
So at the very leastlet her father and the others have a roof over their heads.
Haruno raised a brow, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. Then she stroked her chin and said casually
"Lord Lynn has been saying he needs a personal maid"
Kaguya's body tensed.
But the next second, she straightened up, eyes blazing with determination. "I'll do my best!"
Gan'an opened his mouth as if to say somethingbut when he saw the resolve in her eyes, he fell silent.
He just sighed quietly to himself.
Kaguya had changed a lot.
Haruno's lips curled into a sly smile.
"Alright then. We'll go with that for now."
She hadn't planned on wiping out the Shinomiya Family completely anyway.
They were raised under elite education, after allperfect little workhorses.
Might as well put them to good use under Lynn's group, right?
Though
Haruno's eyes narrowed as she looked down at Kaguya. Her voice turned light but chilling:
"But if you fail to please Lord Lynn"
"I won't be responsible for what happens next~"
Kaguya shuddered, but kept her head low and said nothing.
Seeing that, Haruno nodded in satisfaction.
"Of course, if you do a good job, Lord Lynn might just reward you."
Her gaze swept over the remaining Shinomiya members and stopped on Gan'an.
"Your father doesn't have much time left, does he?"
Kaguya's lips tightened.
Haruno's voice turned playful: "If Lynn-sama's in a good mood, who knows he might even assign your father to work in Hell~"
Gan'an really was a talented man, after all.
Even in death, he should still be usefulto Lynn.
"H-Hell?!"
Kaguya's head shot up, surprise flashing in her eyes.
Gan'an's eyes narrowed, his heart skipping a beat.
Hell...
His thoughts immediately jumped to that terrifying three-headed Hellhound from yesterday.
And also...
The blazing inferno that could judge sin itself.
Hiss
Could it be... The Lynn Group actually has ties to the legendary Hell itself?!
Just thinking about it made his heart pound faster.
If he could work for Hell after death... honestly, that didn't sound too bad?
Maybe...
Maybe the Shinomiya family could even rise again in Hell?
Turns out, 'go to hell' isn't a curse.
With that thought, Gan'an suddenly felt that becoming a subordinate family under the Lynn Group might not be so terrible after all.
While the Shinomiya family had lost their wealth, they'd gained access to the supernatural world.
If that man named Lynn felt generous and gave them a chance...
Ganan looked at Kaguya, a glint of cunning flickering through his cloudy eyes.
The closer you are to the source, the more benefits you get.
Kaguya, as Lord Lynn's personal maid... might be just the opportunity they needed.
Yeah...
Kaguya definitely needed to "atone" properly to Lord Lynn!
After wrapping up the mess with the Shinomiya family...
Kaguya had already changed into a maid outfit and was quietly following behind Yukinoshita Haruno.
Her face showed a bit of anxiety, and her heart was full of uncertainty.
She didn't know what the future held, nor how she was supposed to face Lynn now.
And more importantly
As someone used to being treated like a proper lady, she had no idea how to be a proper maid!
If she messed something up and made Lynn angry...
Kaguya's heart was in turmoil.
"Kaguya."
"Eek!!"
She jumped at the sudden voice.
Hayasaka Ai: "..."
"It's just me."
Kaguya quickly patted her chest, letting out a relieved breath, "Oh, it's you, Hayasaka"
Then, noticing Hayasaka was also in a maid outfit, she blinked in confusion ."Wait, Hayasaka, what's with your outfit...?"
"Isn't it obvious? Same as you."
"Same as me?"
Kaguya paused, then her eyes lit up. "You're going to be Lord Lynn's personal maid too?!"
Hayasaka nodded.
"That's great!"
Kaguya grabbed her hands excitedly. "Hayasaka, I don't really know much about being a maid, so please help guide me, okay?"
Looking at Kaguyaso humbleHayasaka's expression turned a little complicated. Then, with a meaningful smile, she said,
"Don't worry... I'll make sure to 'guide' you real well."
.
.
.
The Familia Base
"Yo, we meet again, Hayasaka."
Lynn sat casually on the sofa, eyeing Hayasaka Ai and Kaguya standing before him, both dressed in maid outfits.
"Good day to you, Lord Lynn."
Hayasaka gave a small bow before speaking. "I'm your personal maid. From now on, please feel free to order me around as you wish."
Her expression looked a little dazed.
Just yesterday, he'd asked if she wanted to change jobs. And today it actually happened.
It all moved so fast, she felt like she was dreaming.
Still, she adjusted quickly. She was a maid by profession, after allthis was well within her comfort zone.
Next to her, Shinomiya Kaguya stood awkwardly, staring at her feet, clearly avoiding Lynn's gaze.
She looked nervous. Embarrassed, even.
Well, who wouldn't be?
Never in her wildest dreams did she expect that the next time they met, she'd end up as Lynn's personal maid too.
Logically speaking, Lynn was the one who brought down the entire Shinomiya family.
But even so... Kaguya didn't feel any hatred toward him.
It's not like she was brainlessshe'd started this mess with him first.
And surprisingly... Despite now being assigned to him as a maid, she didn't really hate it. In fact, she almost felt relieved.
Why? She wasn't sure herself.
It was like that time when she heard Lynn didn't even spare her a thoughtshe felt a strange disappointment and a desire to be noticed by him.
Maybe... she really was messed up in the head?
At that moment, she felt a small poke in her side.
"Eh!?"
She jumped a little and let out a yelp.
Lynn glanced at her, amusement playing on his lips.
Kaguya froze.
Then, another pokesame spot.
This time, she didn't overreact. She calmed down and realized it was Hayasaka.
Thinking back to her earlier words, something clicked. Kaguya quickly bowed her head.
"I'm your personal maid, Shinomiya Kaguya."
"Please order me however you see fit from now on."
Her face turned crimson as she forced herself to say the words, mirroring Hayasaka almost word-for-word.
Lynn leaned forward slightly, reached out, and gently lifted Kaguya's chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Her whole body stiffened. She quickly looked away.
Seeing that, Lynn's lips curled into a smirk.
"I gotta say, I liked you better when you were all proud and defiant."
Her lips trembled. She couldn't stop shaking.
And thenwith a soft thudKaguya fell to her knees in front of him.
"I-I'm sorry, Lord Lynn!"
"I was ignorant and arrogant before!"
She bowed deeply, her body trembling like a leaf. Tears welled up in her eyes.
She had to earn his forgivenessonly then could she keep serving him.
Only then could she have a shot at redemption.
Hayasaka watched the whole scene silently, her expression complicated.
The old proud Kaguya would've never bowed like this.
But after everything that happened to the Shinomiya family, all that pride had been shattered.
Lynn leaned back on the sofa, staring down at Kaguya with a look of interest before letting out a low chuckle.
"If you're apologizing isn't it common sense to remove your clothes and show me your chest first?"
"...Huh?"
Kaguya froze.
Her tear-filled eyes looked toward Hayasaka, confused.
Is that normal?
But Hayasaka looked away slightly.
Without a clear answer, Kaguya bit her lip, voice trembling.
"I-I understand"
If you can't satisfy Lord Lynn... who knows what might happen~
Yukinoshita Haruno's words echoed in her ears.
For the sake of what was left of the Shinomiya name
It's just exposing her chest.
Just her chest.
That's all.
And somehow If it was Lynn
It'd probably be okay?
Kaguya closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and started undoing the buttons on her blouse with trembling fingers.
One two three
Lynn's eyes fell on the pale fabric gradually being exposed.
Kaguya's face was burning red, her lips tightly pressed together.
She'd never done anything like this before.
But today wasn't like any other day.
And strangely as Lynn said nothing, she felt no fear. Just embarrassment.
Maybe if it were anyone else, she wouldn't have been able to do something so outrageous even if it killed her.
After about a minute...
This should be enough right?
With her white undergarments fully exposed, Kaguya hesitated.
She sneaked a glance at Lynnthen quickly looked away again.
He still didn't look satisfied.
Kaguya bit her lip. Thenwithout thinkingshe reached behind her and unhooked her bra.
Click.
The last soft fabric slid down.
What Lynn saw was flat chest.
With just a touch of pink.
"Looks like Miko has got competition," Lynn muttered under his breath.
There wasn't much to admire, really.
He only gave it a quick glance before summoning a devil piece in his hand and pressing it right onto her chest.
Didn't really matter which side he pickedthere wasn't much of a difference anyway.
"Mmh!"
The sudden coldness made Kaguya flinch, her eyelashes trembling wildly.
But she didn't open her eyes. She just let him do whatever he wanted.
A second later, a surge of energy flooded into her body.
Her eyes snapped open.
Something Was entering her!!
[Ding! You've acquired Familia member: Shinomiya Kaguya!]
[Ding! Your Familia member Shinomiya Kaguya has reincarnated as a special-type Devil!]
Just like always, the system chimed in his ears.
Lynn looked over at Kaguya's newly revealed Blessing data.
---
[Shinomiya Kaguya]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Frost Devil]
[Frost Devil]
Frost and Ice Affinity
Frostbite: (Extra magic drain when attacking frozen enemies, converting the gained magic into a temporary shield.)
Devil Form: Absolute Zero
---
As the data surfaced, a chill burst out from Kaguya's body.
Hayasaka instinctively shivered, then stared at her in shock.
"This is?"
"A reincarnation ritual," Lynn replied casually.
He turned to Kaguya.
"From now on, now, you're officially my personal maid."
Kaguya looked down at her hands.
Vmmm
A pulse of cold energy flared.
Crackcrack
A diamond-shaped ice crystal formed in her palms.
The cold should've been intense, but she barely felt a thing. She just stared at it, lost in thought.
So this is supernatural power...
Was that why Lord Lynn told her to show her chest? To give her this gift?
A strange emotion swelled in her heart.
But why?
Why would Lord Lynn give this kind of power to someone like me?
Slowly, she lifted her gaze and stared blankly at Lynn.
She'd even forgotten to put her clothes back on.
As if sensing the confusion in her eyes, Lynn answered plainly, "Because you're mine now."
Thump.
Thump thump!!
Kaguya instinctively clutched her chest.
At that moment, it felt like her heart had been struck by somethingpounding wildly in her chest!
Her vision blurred slightly. Crystal-clear tears spilled down her cheeks uncontrollably.
She came here to atone
Yet instead, she was the one receiving a reward first
Kaguya bit her lip hard as tears streamed down her face, her delicate nose turning red.
"Woo~"
She couldn't hold back her sobs, though she tried to muffle them, letting out pitiful little whimpers.
Like a wounded puppy whimpering in the rain.
Senhime suddenly looked up.
Wait, did a dog yokai sneak in?! What was that sound?
But when she followed the sound and saw the source, she just clicked her tongue in disappointment and buried her face again.
Kaguya quietly sobbed, her shoulders trembling slightly.
She felt like the hollow void in her chest had been filledby Lynn.
Her crimson eyes locked on him, wide and dazed.
And all Lynn did was look back at her
Huff
Her breathing quickened ever so slightly before she hurriedly looked away. Then her thighs clamped together, and her face flushed bright pink in an instant.
Suddenly, the idea of becoming Lord Lynn's personal maid
Didn't really feel like punishment anymore.
Realizing that, Kaguya froze.
Oh no!
How the hell was she supposed to atone now?!
Off to the side
Hayasaka Ai watched Kaguya, her expression complicated.
In just a few short days, it felt like she'd seen a dozen different sides of Kaguya.
Is she even better at pretending than me?
So that whole cold ice-queen actwas it all fake?
But
Seeing that Kaguya still seemed okay, mentally at least, Hayasaka finally let out a small breath of relief.
She hadn't actually needed to report in today.
But after Kaguya made that sudden decision, she decided to tag along anyway.
She didn't care for the Shinomiya family, but when it came to Kaguya
She really did think of her as a friend. Or maybe more like a little sister?
Anyway
Seeing Kaguya like this, Hayasaka felt a little more at ease.
But still
Kaguya's situation might be settled, but
Now it's my turn, isn't it?
Hayasaka Ai's eye twitched as she glanced at Kaguya's half-open maid outfit.
Don't tell me I have to
Just thinking about it made her tense up.
Sure, she'd been trained to be a maid since childhoodand she was damn good at it too.
But this private maid business?
Totally new territory. It honestly felt like she'd stepped straight into a hentai movie.
Master and Maid? This was her first time.
And of all things, her first time had to be this intense?!
Still The reincarnation ritual, the blessing system
Supernatural power!
Hayasaka Ai clenched her fists.
She was this close to it. No way she was backing down now!
Besides
Becoming one of Lynn's chosen came with way too many perks!
Aside from the supernatural powers, the only thing she really remembered from Haruno was eternal youth. Eternal youth and yeah, more eternal youth!
For any girl, that's the ultimate cheat!
Not to mention
The moment she agreed to be Lynn's personal maid, she knew it was only a matter of time before she had to bare her whole self to him.
And more importantlyLynn had destroyed her family's old enemies.
Even if he didn't do it for her, it still felt incredibly satisfying.
That was a favor she'd never forget.
So
There was nothing to hesitate over.
Well maybe one thing.
A teeny bit of shame.
But whateverIt's too late to back out now.
Hayasaka took a few deep breaths, then quickly started unbuttoning her maid uniform.
"L-Lord Lynn please mark me as yours."
Her cool expression barely changed, but there was a faint hint of nervousness in her steady voice.
She took off her top smoothly, subtly hiding her undergarments behind her back.
Lynn gave her a once-over, then squinted. "You sure about this?"
"You...uh so it was fake?"
He couldn't help the twitch at the corner of his mouth when he noticed the dramatic drop in the size of her chest.
Hayasaka froze instantly.
Crap he noticed!
Thud!
Suddenly
Two thick sponge pads dropped.
"Huh?"
Kaguya picked one up, blinking. "Hayasaka, what's this?"
Hayasaka Ai: ""
.
.
.
As Kaguya held the fallen sponge pads, curiously squeezing them a few times, Hayasaka Ai's eye twitched hard.
Trying her best to keep up her usual cool and composed expression, she replied with a completely straight face, "Those are portable disguise tools. For emergency costume changes."
"Disguise tools?" Kaguya blinked in confusion, then her eyes lit up in realization.
"Ohhh, I get it now!"
Hayasaka Ai: ""
As expected of Kaguyaso easy to fool.
Hayasaka quietly breathed a sigh of relief while trying to hold back the complex emotions swirling inside her. Thank god it was just Kaguya who saw it
Unfortunately for her, Lynn wasn't nearly as gullible. He clicked his tongue twice, looked at Hayasaka, then at Kaguya, and his gaze started unconsciously comparing the two.
About a minute later, after carefully observing even the subtlest differences, Lynn finally made his "fair and balanced" judgment.
"Hayasaka, you win!"
Hayasaka's mouth twitched, and she let out a bitter laugh in her mind.
Win against Kaguya? There's no satisfaction in that at all!
And it took him a whole minute just to tell the difference wasn't that basically a loss?
Sighing in her heart, Hayasaka felt both embarrassed and frustrated about her figurenot much better than Kaguya's to begin with.
She couldn't help but wonder
Would becoming a devil and receiving blessings somehow increase her cup size?
Though, judging by how Kaguya hadn't changed at all after her transformation, Hayasaka wasn't holding her breath.
Lynn casually fiddled with a devil piece and rubbed his chin. "So, front or back?"
"Huh?" Hayasaka blinked. "You can choose where it goes?"
Lynn shrugged. "Kaguya's worked just fine either way, so I didn't really care."
Kaguya's expression froze.
For some reason, she started feeling kinda weird.
"You, though" Lynn looked Hayasaka up and down and added, "Even if you're a bit better than Kaguya the difference isn't that big, y'know?"
This time, it was Hayasaka's turn for heartache. She immediately turned around, her voice firm: "Please place it on my back!"
No way was she letting herself be lumped in the same category as Kaguya!
Even though, well, she kinda was
Soon, the cold touch of the devil piece on her back brought her back to reality. She let out a quiet hum as she felt something strange shifting inside her body.
Instinctively, she looked downbut the view from her chest to her toes made it clear that that particular wish hadn't come true.
At the same time, the system chime rang in Lynn's ears:
[Ding! You have obtained Familia member: Hayasaka Ai!]
[Ding! Your Familia member "Hayasaka Ai" has reincarnated as a special-type Devil!]
Lynn raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Another Special devil?
These two former master-and-servant girls really had some quality genes
He glanced at her blessing info:
---
[Hayasaka Ai]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Hundred Faces Devil]
[Hundred Faces Devil]
Persona Feast (Unlocks identity-based modes:
Maid Mode: 300% boost to housekeeping, able to wield cleaning tools as weapons.
Gal Mode: +50% charm, passive alcohol resistance.
Sniper Mode: Vision range extended by 500 meters, enhanced accuracy with long-range weapons.
Devil Form: Final Act (Persona Overload)
---
As expected, just like Kaguya, she was a Low-Class Devil.
Lynn wasn't surprised. After all, they were originally just regular humans.
But still Hundred Faces Devil?
His brows furrowed slightly as he stared at the details, especially the so-called Maid Mode.
These modes seemed tied to her past disguises?
On the surface, it didn't seem all that special.
But Lynn had a gut feeling it was deeper than it looked.
He made a copy of the blessing info and handed it over to Hayasaka.
Taking the page, she stared at her stats in confusion.
"Try using your ability," Lynn said, curious to test his hunch.
Hayasaka nodded and closed her eyes, going with her instincts.
"Maid Mode."
Buzz
As soon as the words left her lips, a wave of dark mist swirled around her!
A second later, it cleared, revealing Hayasaka in a completely different maid outfit from before.
She was even carrying various cleaning tools like brooms and dusters on her belt.
Lynn tilted his head and asked, "How do you feel?"
Hayasaka paused, then hesitated. "Honestly I feel like I could do housework way better than before."
Her expression was complicated.
She had become a devil, and her newfound powers were still rooted in being a maid?
On top of that
She twirled the broom in her hand, her face twitching slightly. "Also I think I've unlocked some new broom techniques."
It was like she had been born wielding a broomnot only could she clean with it, she'd even figured out how to use it like a weapon.
But still
Compared to Kaguya's "Frost Devil" power, didn't this feel a little too low-tier?
Hayasaka looked a bit dejected.
Lynn squinted, then prompted, "Try another one."
"Yes, sir."
She took a breath, then called out
"Gal Mode."
Bzzz!
Dark mist swirled around her again!
The next second
There she was: Hayasaka Ai with a side ponytail, her school uniform top tied around her waist, and bright blue nail polish on her fingers.
Honestly, she didn't look much different from the Hayasaka everyone saw at school.
As she tried to get a feel for this mode...
"I don't really feel anything special," she muttered.
Lynn shook his head. "Nah."
Then he glanced at Shinomiya Kaguya.
Kaguya's eyes were sparkling. "Hayasaka, you look so cool like this!"
Hayasaka Ai: ""
Where the hell did this silly version of Shinomiya Kaguya come from? Bring back that ice-cold ojou-sama!
Unable to handle Kaguya's stares any longer, Hayasaka quickly switched modes.
"Sniper mode!"
Bzzz!
The black mist returned.
This time, Hayasaka emerged in a high-end combat suit, wearing a camo tactical cap and carrying a rectangular case.
She opened it upinside was an unassembled sniper rifle.
Her fingers twitched slightly. Something just clicked.
And then, with skilled and practiced hands, she pieced the sniper rifle together.
Seconds later
She was holding the rifle confidently, instantly able to judge wind direction, distance, and even had an instinctual grasp of aiming techniques.
It was like she and the rifle were one.
However
After a brief moment of excitement, a thought hit her.
She looked up, hesitated, and said, "Even if I have some combat ability now this probably wouldn't work on supernatural beings, right?"
All these modes felt kinda gimmicky?
She couldn't help but think that.
Though...
This ability might be really strong in bed.
Hayasaka glanced down at her tight leather combat suit hugging her round, perky butt, and fell into deep thought.
Maid, gal (gyaru), leather combat suit
What's next? Teacher? Lawyer? Spider-woman? Cat-woman?
Hiss
Her eyes widened a bitshe felt like she just discovered a whole other use for her Devil ability.
She snuck a peek at Lynn then quickly looked away.
Could this ability actually be a fetish ability?
Lynn, on the other hand, had a completely different interpretation.
Identity registration
So based on the information she receives, the ability can generate a corresponding mode?
And each mode comes with related skills and traits?
Lynn took out his phone and started searching up various job roles.
Nurse, teacher
But...
Ordinary professions didn't seem all that useful or interesting.
He kept scrolling.
Boxer, martial artist assassin.
In the end, he settled on "Assassin," then handed the phone to Hayasaka.
"Try seeing if you can input this one into the Hundred Faces Devil."
Hayasaka took the phone, skimmed through the info, then activated the ability with a thought.
[Inputting identity]
[Identity data incomplete. Registration failed.]
Hayasaka paused. "It didn't work."
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
She continued, "It says the identity data's incomplete."
Lynn squinted.
Incomplete info?
Was it because the stuff found through a quick phone search wasn't detailed enough?
Thinking for a moment, he messaged his go-to support girl, Natsuki-chan.
[Minamiya Natsuki: "Books about assassination techniques? Why are you interested in something like that?"]
Natsuki looked at the message, clearly puzzled.
[Lynn: "It's for one of my Familia members."]
Oh, I see
Natsuki's eyes lit up with understanding.
She casually asked a few coworkers for some basic assassin-related material and sent it to Lynn.
[Lynn: "Natsuki-chan, you're my angel!"]
Natsuki twitched at the corner of her eye.
A Devil calling her an angel? Really?
But Knowing Lynn's personality, she'd long learned to ignore these weird things he said.
[Natsuki: "Stop calling me -chan!!"]
[Natsuki: "Also, is that new Lynn Group really yours?"]
[Lynn: "Knew you'd figure it out! You're sharp as always, Natsuki-chan~"]
Natsuki's face darkened.
He not only ignored her warning, but also treated her like a fool!
Those giant "Lynn" characters on the company name does he think she's blind?
Irritated, she even hit her keyboard harder than usual while typing.
[Natsuki: "You're making way too much noise this time!"]
She didn't say what exactly, but Lynn already knewit was about swallowing up the Shinomiya family.
That group was one of the pillars of human society's economic pyramid. Of course it'd attract attention.
Even so
Lynn understood what she was really worried about.
[Lynn: "Don't worry. Everything with the Shinomiyas will stay the same. There won't be any disruptions in human society."]
[Natsuki: "It better stay that way."]
After sending that message, she sighed deeply.
The Shinomiya family had its hands in banking, finance, and all sorts of major industries in Japan.
If something shook that foundation, it could cause real chaos.
She could only hope Lynn meant what he said.
---
Meanwhile...
With the new assassin data in hand, Lynn had Hayasaka try again.
[Inputting identity]
[Identity registration successful! "Assassin Mode" acquired!]
Hayasaka's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, it actually worked?"
Lynn gave her a small smirk and said, "Alright then. Time to update your Blessing."
.
.
.
Hayasaka Ai exposed her back once again.
Lynn updated her blessing.
Soon, her updated blessing info appeared.
Everything else stayed the same, so Lynn's eyes dropped down to check the section for skillsparticularly one that stood out: [Hundred Faces Devil].
[Hundred Faces Devil]
Persona Feast (Unlocks identity-based modes:
Maid Mode: 300% boost to housekeeping, able to wield cleaning tools as weapons.
Gal Mode: +50% charm, passive alcohol resistance.
Sniper Mode: Vision range extended by 500 meters, enhanced accuracy with long-range weapons.
Assassin Mode: Gains presence, concealment, and assassination skills.
Devil Form: Final Act (Persona Overload)
---
Just as expected.
Lynn muttered inwardly.
This [Hundred Faces Devil] skill was pretty similar to Kasumigaoka Utaha's [Archivist Devil].
One allowed you to record identities and use their traits, while the other directly recorded magic abilities.
Still
Lynn rubbed his chin, thinking.
So far, all the formsmaid, gal, assassinwere fairly basic identities.
Could she unlock something more advanced?
That thought stirred something in Lynn.
LikeInu-Yokai, nekomata (cat yokai), kitsune (fox yokai)
Maybe even angels or fallen angels?
OrWhat about dragons?
But
To record those kinds of identities, you'd need detailed knowledge about them. Only then could they be properly imprinted.
Plus, Hayasaka Ai was still just a low-class devil.
Of course
Even though the skill looked incredibly promising, Lynn knew the truth.
Even if she could take on the form of an angel or dragon, it'd be temporary.
At the core, she was still a half-blood devil.
Once her magic ran out and couldn't sustain the skill anymore, she'd revert to her real self.
Kind of like A living character loadout?
He couldn't help but wonder what he could pull off if he used this ability
Of course, he didn't even think of using the maid mode or the gal one.
Shaking off those thoughts, Lynn copied down the new blessing info and handed it to Hayasaka Ai.
"Assassin Mode, huh"
Hayasaka muttered as she looked over the details.
Then, with just a thoughtShe transformed.
Wearing sleek black heels and a slit red dress with black straps around her thighs, she looked sharp and deadly.
At the same time
All sorts of assassin knowledge and techniques flooded her mind.
And alsoPresence concealment!
With just a mental command, Hayasaka's presence and aura all but vanished.
She shifted her gaze slightly and noticed Kaguya Shinomiyawho had been watching her just a moment agonow looking totally lost.
Then she looked at Lynn.
""
Yeah, her concealment did absolutely nothing to him.
After experimenting with the new mode for a bit and noticing how fast it was draining her magic, Hayasaka deactivated [Hundred Faces Devil].
A wave of black mist swept over her.
Her now-exposed body once again appeared before Lynn.
She paused for a second, then casually put her top back on, slipping effortlessly into her usual professional maid behavior.
Kaguya Shinomiya saw that and was suddenly reminded of her own current appearance. She instinctively reached for her clothes like Hayasaka hadbut her hand froze mid-air.
Lynn hadn't given her permission yet
Thinking that, Kaguya looked at Lynn nervously.
Her expression was like a little puppy begging for attention, and Lynn couldn't help teasing her a bithe curled his finger at her, like calling a pet over.
Kaguya blushed, but still obediently got on her knees and crawled over.
Once she was close enough, Lynn ran his fingers along her smooth chin.
Kaguya shivered slightly, eyes darting away as a blush bloomed on her cheeks.
After playing around with her for a bit, Lynn finally said, "Alright. You can put your clothes back on."
"Y-Yes, Lord Lynn"
Kaguya's voice trembled as she knelt properly and quickly tried to fix her clothes, fumbling a little in the process.
Seeing that, Lynn turned to Hayasaka and said, "You're already familiar with maid work. Feel free to organize your duties as you see fit. For now"
"You and Kaguya should start getting used to the place."
"Yes."
Hayasaka bowed her head.
Kaguya, now dressed, also got to her feet and quickly imitated Hayasaka's elegant bow.
...
A little while later
Hayasaka began showing Kaguya the ropes of being a maid.
On the way, they ran into a bunch of other Familia members.
Every single one of themTop-tier beauties!
Hayasaka couldn't help but glance at the girls going in and out of the dimensional gate, her eyes flashing with intrigue.
Reincarnated devils, blessing systems
And on top of that
The Familia's daily life included exploring other worlds and leveling up through combat!
Of course
As Lynn's personal maid, she probably wouldn't get much monster-slaying time.
But even just being a reincarnated devil with a blessing system?
That was already enough to get her hyped.
She kept a calm expression, but her heart was pounding like crazy.
She thought she was just changing jobs
Turns out she was changing her life.
She'd found the perfect master!
Hayasaka felt incredibly luckyand grateful!
Kaguya Shinomiya also felt like she struck gold.
Was this really about "atoning for her sins"?
"Hmm..."
Hayasaka's eyes sparkled faintly.
It hadn't been long, but she'd already started to notice some subtle currents within the Familia.
A hidden war for favor!
Sometimes even dirty tactics!
Special outfits props
Even sisters and mothers teaming up!?
Yikes
Just thinking about it shook her a little.
The competition was brutal.
And as Lynn's personal maid, Hayasaka knew
She'd have to enter the fray sooner or later.
Which meantForming alliances was absolutely necessary.
So
Who better than Kaguya Shinomiya?
They'd grown up together. She knew her inside and out. She was easy to manipulate and trust.
The perfect partner-in-crime.
That said...
Even if Lynn hadn't done anything explicit, Hayasaka could still sense itThere was still some distance between him and Kaguya.
Time to break the ice.
Yeah, that's gotta happen.
Hayasaka made up her mind to find the right opportunity to "help" Kaguya out.
But that wasn't all.
She needed to think ahead!
Just her and Kaguya teaming up wasn't a guaranteed win.
As that thought crossed her mind, Hayasaka paused, lost in thought.
Then a sudden glint flashed in her eyes.
Wait a second... this maid roleCouldn't it be used in all sorts of ways?
Like...
Starting a maid squad?
If she pulled that off, wouldn't they all be her natural allies?
The idea started taking shape in her mind.
Oh, right.
Mom!
Hayasaka suddenly thought of her mother, Nao.
Her mom had been a professional maid too.
If there was ever a chance for her to reincarnate as a Devil and receive Lynn's blessing Hayasaka would absolutely want her mom to have that opportunity.
Yeah. Gotta find a way to bring Mom into this too.
Besides...The whole mother-daughter combo card...
She wasn't completely opposed to it...
Just imagining certain... scenarios made Hayasaka bite her lip, her ears turning slightly red.
"Whew"
She let out a hot breath and muttered to herself, "This is a bit too much for me to handle right now"
"What's too much?" Kaguya looked at her, confused.
Hayasaka quickly shook her head. "Nothing."
Then she turned to Kaguya with a strange look in her eyes.
"Kaguya, do you want to atone for your sins to Lord Lynn?"
"Of course!" Kaguya didn't even hesitate.
That was the whole reason she came here in the first place.
But instead of punishment, she got treated way too well.
Which only made her guilt worse.
Whatever it takes to atone for her sinsshe'd do it!
Kaguya swore it to herself.
Seeing Kaguya's sincerity, Hayasaka nodded in approval.
"Don't worry. As long as you do your maid duties properly, I'm sure Lord Lynn will forgive you."
"Mhm!" Kaguya nodded firmly.
She was determined to be the best maid ever!
As for what those "duties" were?
Well, that was up to Hayasaka to decide.
---
Meanwhile
Outside Lynn's estate...
Yotsuya Miko and her mother, Yotsuya Touko, arrived at the gates.
Gulp!
Touko stared at the vast, extravagant mansion before her and swallowed hard.
"This"
Her eyes were wide with disbelief. "This is where we're going to live now?"
Miko nodded, looking unfazed. She'd gotten used to the craziness.
"We're really allowed to live in a place like this?" Touko's voice was dazed.
As a normal woman, she'd never even dreamed of seeing a place this luxurious, let alone living in it.
And now...
She was actually going to live here?
She couldn't believe it.
She'd gone from an ordinary person to suddenly jumping social classes just because of her daughter.
And what's more...
She didn't even have to work?
The thought made Touko uneasy.
How could someone like her just accept all this so easily?
"Miko, maybe" She muttered, her voice soft. "Maybe I should help serve the God too"
"!"
Miko's eyes shot open. "M-Mom!"
Her face flushed red, and she panicked. "I haven't even gotten my chance yet, don't make things worse!"
"???"
Touko blinked, confused. "Wait, you haven't given yourself to him yet?!"
"Ugh"
Miko turned her face away, pouting. "It's only because I've been living with you!"
Y-yeah
Totally not her fault.
Touko rolled her eyes.
Really? She was gonna push the blame on her mom like that?
But...
Touko didn't argue. In fact, she nodded in agreement.
"You're right. That was my fault."
Miko: "?"
"So!"Touko's eyes gleamed with determination. "I'll help make up for the time you've lost!"
"!!!"
Miko froze, her voice rising in panic. "Nono way!"
Touko's expression turned oddly calm, her tone chillingly sweet. "Well, it's not really your call now, is it~?"
Miko's heart jumped into her throat.
Panic flooded her face.
That overwhelming sense of urgency hit her like a truck!
Seeing her daughter's flustered state, Touko's lips curved ever so slightly.
She knew her daughter like the back of her hand.
If she didn't push her a little, who knows how long this would drag out?
After all, she had done her homework.
There were plenty of shrine maidens already serving Lynn...
Now that they were in this deep, there was no turning back.
If you're gonna do this, then go all in.
Even if you're a dumbass daughter!
If you keep dragging your feet, then I'll be the one to take the lead.
.
.
.
Evening - In the kitchen
"..."
Hayasaka Ai looked at Shinomiya Kaguyawho somehow managed to soak herself just from washing vegetablesand couldn't help but sigh.
---
After dinner
Hayasaka Ai brought Kaguya back to Lynn's bedroom.
Kaguya fidgeted nervously, her cheeks flushed. "A-Are we really doing this...?"
Hayasaka nodded seriously. "One of the core rules of a personal maid: once the master is in bed, you must let him feel a maiden's warmth."
"B-But..." Kaguya looked down, face burning. "W-Why do I have to be... naked?"
"Clothes might dirty the master's bed," Hayasaka replied matter-of-factly.
It sounded like a reasonable explanation.
Still...Kaguya hesitated.
Seeing that, Hayasaka leaned close and whispered in her ear. "Kaguya... this is part of your job as a personal maid."
"If you can't even do this much, how can you call it redemption?"
"...!"
Kaguya froze like she'd been struck by lightning.
Then she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.
When she opened them again, her crimson eyes were filled with newfound resolve. "I understand."
There was a fierce determination in her voice.
Go for it, Kaguya! This was her chance to atone!
Resolved, Kaguya quickly stripped off her clothes and slipped under the covers.
"Haaah..."
Curled up in bed, she took a few deep breathsand was immediately hit with a familiar scent.
It was...Lynn-sama's scent!
That realization made her face go beet red.
Her head started to spin a little.
Then suddenly
FWIP! The blanket was lifted!
"Eeeeh!?"
Kaguya panicked, her eyes darting around in confusion.
The next second, she felt someone else sliding into the bed next to her.
Her whole body tensed up.
"What's wrong, Kaguya?"
Hayasaka Ai's voice rang out.
"Eh?"
Kaguya blinked.
She glanced downward... and saw a tuft of familiar blonde hair.
"Ohit's just you, Hayasaka..."
She patted her chest and let out a relieved sigh.
She really thought
Hayasaka looked at her with a blank expression. "You sound kinda disappointed."
Kaguya's face froze. "W-What? No way! Of course not!!"
Hayasaka gave her a sly, knowing smile.
After that little scare, the two of them lay there in silence.
Time passed...
And eventually, both of them started to get tired.
Half-asleep, they vaguely heard the sound of a door opening and soft voices.
"Master~ when are you finally gonna put a baby in me, nya~?"
Kuroka clung to Lynn like a koala, trailing her pink tongue along his neck.
Lynn calmly supported her by the thighs and replied deadpan, "That just means you haven't worked hard enough."
Kuroka rolled her eyes dramatically.
Then she turned toward the reluctant little tag-along, Koneko, her golden eyes glinting mischievously. "Shirone~ Don't you like sleeping with Master too?"
Koneko gave her a cold stare.
Why wouldn't I be unhappy? You really need to ask?
Every time things got "heated," Kuroka would hit her with a suppression spell...
Leaving her stuck halfwayneither here nor there.
Seeing the look in her eyes, Kuroka narrowed her own and whispered, "Shirone, if you push a little harder tonight... I'll let you handle it a different way~"
"Push harder?"
Koneko narrowed her eyes and turned her head away.
When have I ever slacked off...?
Still... A different way?
She bit her lip and kept glancing sideways at Kuroka.
Maybe... a little curious.
Kuroka smirked and leaned in close, pressing herself against Lynn's shoulder. Then she whispered right into Koneko's ear:
"I won't use the spell tonight."
"And you... can ask Master for help~"
Ask senpai... for help?
Koneko's face instantly flushed red.
"I-I'm not an adult yet..."
"I-Isn't this, like... illegal?"
Kuroka sighed and rolled her eyes.
Says she's against it, but her body's clearly looking forward to it~
"Don't worry, Master won't go in, nya~"
She confidently patted Koneko's shoulder.
Koneko's breathing started to quicken.
"N-Not in...?"
"Haaah~"
Koneko's mind went blank from the rush of thoughts.
Kuroka: "..."
Seriously?
Already going into heat?
Kuroka casually tossed a suppression spell at her.
Koneko: "???"
Snapped back to her senses, Koneko stared at Kuroka in disbelief.
Didn't you promise not to use it!?
"Nope, can't allow it, nya~"
Kuroka waved her finger with a seductive smile, licking her lips. "It's big sister's turn first, nya~"
As the two whispered their shameless plans, Lynn finally walked over to the bed.
He glanced at the suspiciously lumpy blanket and raised a brow.
Thenwhooshhe yanked it off.
Two tangled-up, naked bodies were suddenly exposed to the room.
"Eh?"
The sudden light left Kaguya blinking in confusion.
W-What's going on...?
Her eyes were still unfocused when
Lynn's face appeared right in front of her.
Her brain shut down. She froze, stiff as a board, lying there in a daze.
Lynn teased her, "Not bad... Looks squeaky clean."
"Ehh!?"
Kaguya jolted awake, panicking. "L-L-Lynn!"
Beside her, Hayasaka stirred too.
Unlike Kaguya, though, she didn't freak out.
Even though she was still embarrassed, she calmly let Lynn take in the full view.
After all...This was part of the plan.
"Hm..."
Lynn rubbed his chin. "Blonde down there, huh."
Hayasaka instinctively squeezed her thighs together and bit her lip.
That one comment shattered her usual icy cool.
Even though this was her idea, getting seen up close like this by Lynn was just too much!
She forced herself to stay calm, then said, "Lynn-sama, the bed is warm and ready. Please enjoy."
As she spoke, she shot a glance at Kuroka and Koneko.
"Oh my~ You two worked hard too, huh, nya~"
Kuroka, of course, had zero shame. She plopped onto the bed like she owned the place.
Hayasaka paused for a moment, then began putting her maid outfit back on.
But this time, her movements were much slower...Almost like she was trying to put on a little show.
Suddenly
RIIIP
"...Nya?"
Kuroka blinked, feigning surprise. "Ara~ Ara~ this kimono really is low-quality, huh~?"
Hayasaka turned her head toward the soundand was instantly hit with a mental KO!
No... no way!!
Howhow could they be that big?!
She stiffly looked down at her own chest, at the air beneath her chin... and her whole body began to tremble.
A total defeat! Not even close!!
Hayasaka Ai's hands flew into motion. She sped up, helping Kaguya finish dressing as well.
Then, with a deep bow to Lynn, Hayasaka grabbed Kaguya's hand and practically fled the bedroom like her life depended on it.
Only after the door clicked shut behind them did Hayasaka finally let out a breath. Her mood soured instantly.
---
"Hmph~"
Kuroka had a smug look on her face.
Trying to flaunt those tiny buns in front of her? What a joke! Just another flat chest girl!
She then dropped into Lynn's favorite doggy-style pose, giving her hips a teasing shakefully ready to take whatever he threw at her tonight.
"Ahhhhh~~"
...
Standing just outside, both Hayasaka and Kaguya twitched as the sounds reached their ears, their bodies heating up against their will.
Kaguya, panting softly, shifted uncomfortably and whispered, "Hayasaka ... do we really have to stay here?"
Hayasaka Ai was silent for a moment, then her gaze turned firm. "One of the core rules of being a personal maid: always be ready to serve your master!"
Which meant...
Until more maids showed up, they were on door duty!
"Kaguya, this is part of the job too!"
"Mmm..."
Kaguya let out a soft whimper, said nothing, but pressed her legs tightly together.
---
The Next Morning
As the sun rose in the east, Hayasaka and Kaguya pushed open the bedroom door.
They peeked in cautiously to see... and the moment they spotted Kuroka's now noticeably swollen belly, their eyes widened in shock!
Kaguya instinctively opened her mouth to scream, but Hayasaka quickly covered it with her hand.
"Mmmph!"
"Shh~ don't wake Lord Lynn."
Hayasaka Ai whispered the words, but her pupils trembled as she looked at Kuroka.
Last night...
Just how many times did they do it in here to leave that result?!
Taking a few deep breaths to steady herself, Hayasaka said softly, "Kaguya... it's time for us to step in."
Core maid rule #2: clean up the battlefield.
The two girls tiptoed into the room. The lingering scent in the air made their hearts beat faster, though they tried to ignore it.
Hayasaka Ai folded Lynn's clothes neatly and placed a fresh set on the bedside table.
Kaguya picked up what remained of the kimononow reduced to mere scrapsand her crimson eyes flickered with embarrassment.
Once the room was tidied up, both girls let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Then... they both looked toward the bed.
"So, uh... what do we do next?" Kaguya asked softly, her face still burning red.
Hayasaka shook her head and started turning to leaveBut then froze mid-step.
Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw... something.
She turned back to confirm, and when she did, her eyes went wide.
It was every man's familiar companionmorning wood.
Even after an entire nightit's still that... energetic?!
She bit her lip, her gaze clouded with a swirl of emotions.
Then she looked at Kaguya.
"Kaguya."
Kaguya blinked and looked up at her.
Hayasaka subtly tilted her chin toward Lynn.
Kaguya followed her gaze... and froze.
Hayasaka leaned in, whispering something softly into her ear.
Kaguya's pupils trembled violently. Her whole body turned bright redlike a freshly boiled shrimpand she started flailing in panic.
"N-no-no-no!!"
She completely short-circuited, her words tumbling into gibberish.
Hayasaka Ai, in a low and haunting voice, said, "Taking care of your master's urges... is also part of a maid's duty~"
Kaguya went rigid.
Hayasaka added gently, "Didn't you say you wanted to atone, Kaguya?"
Atonement.
Kaguya's heart quivered. She lowered her head and fell silent.
No one knew how much time passed.
Eventually, stiff as a robot, Kaguya began inching her way toward Lynn, arms and legs moving in the same direction like a cartoon character.
Watching this, Hayasaka's lips curved into a faint smile.
Kaguya, good girl.
The moment Kaguya's hands made contact with Lynn's hard rod, her brain blanked out.
She moved on pure muscle memory, following Hayasaka Ai's whispered "instructions" to clean him up properly.
Suddenly
Lynn slowly opened his eyes.
"You're a bit clumsy"
He turned to Hayasaka and said in a calm, almost amused voice, "Hayasaka, this is how you teach her?"
"!!"
Hayasaka Ai froze in place, stiff as a statue.
.
.
.
Shuchiin Academy
Despite the recent upheaval in the Shinomiya family, it seemed to have had no effect on life at Shuchiin Academy.
Students still laughed, chatted, and walked around in groups, completely unaware that the school's board of directors had quietly changed hands.
...
Inside the Student Council Room
Shinomiya Kaguya sat on the couch, her crimson eyes filled with seriousness.
"President."
She suddenly spoke up. "I remember we were supposed to approve two more rooms for the Supernatural Research Club, right?"
Asuna, the student council president, froze mid-action.
That was a promise she had made to Lynn on her own.
As the student council president of Shuchiin, something like this was well within her authority.
Asuna sighed helplessly.
Kaguya are you picking a fight with Club President Lynn again?
"President."
"I actually think two rooms aren't enough!"
"...Huh?"
Asuna looked at her in shock, almost thinking she'd misheard.
"Kaguya, what did you just say?"
Kaguya responded with all seriousness, "Two rooms are nowhere near enough for the Supernatural Research Club."
She paused, then added, "Isn't the old school building almost done being renovated?"
She suggested, "Why don't we just give the entire building to the Supernatural Research Club."
Though she phrased it as a suggestion, it was clear Kaguya wasn't asking for permissionjust giving notice.
After all for Kaguya, Shuchiin Academy now belonged to Lord Lynn.
Asuna: "???"
Wait, is this really Kaguya?
She's suddenly supporting for the so-called "Harem Club" she's always been against?
Suou Yuki was also stunned, staring at Kaguya in disbelief.
Just a short while ago, she and Lynn were practically enemies. Why the sudden change?
Her eyes flickered thoughtfully as she remembered a rumor her family had mentioned
Could it be the Shinomiya family was really taken down by the Lynn Group?
Yuki narrowed her eyes.
That name"Lynn Group"obviously had something to do with Lynn.
And with how Kaguya's acting today
Fujiwara Chika bounced over and reached out to touch Kaguya's forehead. "Did Kaguya hit her head or something?"
The Kaguya she knew wasn't like this at all.
Kaguya calmly brushed her hand away. "Relax, I'm fine."
She picked up a teacup from the tablethen her fingers suddenly paused.
"Wait why...is it white?"
Her eyes shrank, clearly recalling some scene.
Yuki Suou explained, "Chika said she wanted to try tea with milk foam."
Then added, a bit confused, "It's a strange taste, but is something wrong with it?"
Kaguya paused, then forced a smile. "No no problem."
Though she said that, she still put the milk tea down.
She'd already had enough of that kind of milk foam this morning.
Yuki didn't notice anything off about Kaguya's expression.
She was too busy thinking about the deeper issuewhat was really going on between the Shinomiya family and Lynn?
The Lynn Group was something even her own powerful Suou family had come into contact with.
Compared to the Shinomiya family, the Suou family had even more resources and insightand from what they'd seen, the Lynn Group was anything but ordinary.
For example, that mysterious "Scarlet Crimson Ore"...
There's no way that stuff's normal.
And then the company claimed the ore contained a "solar" property.
To most people, it probably just sounded like typical exaggerated Japanese branding.
But to the Suou family, the name "Lynn" triggered a deeper connection.
So they stayed cautious. They didn't rush to engage or challenge the Lynn Group. Instead, they secretly bought some of the Scarlet Crimson Ore for testing.
With the help of a few very specialized contacts, they confirmed that the "solar" trait was real.
Weapons forged from this ore? Effective against vampires and similar creatures.
That alone confirmed itThe Lynn Group is a supernatural force.
Just as the Suou family was wondering how to approach the group, maybe even form an alliance to gain a foothold in the supernatural world...Boom! News broke about the fall of the Shinomiya family.
And now, seeing Kaguya's sudden attitude shift today everything made sense.
Suou Yuki was almost certainthe Lynn Group was directly tied to Lynn from the Supernatural Club.
Maybe it was even his company.
Still, she couldn't help but wonderwhat the hell did Lynn do to bring the whole Shinomiya family to heel in just a few days?
More importantly, what was Kaguya's relationship with him now?
Unable to hold back her curiosity, Yuki asked straight out, "Kaguya, what exactly is your relationship with Lynn right now?"
Asuna: "???"
She looked completely thrown by the question.
Chika suddenly froze, her eyes deep in thought. Clearly, she'd heard rumors too.
Kaguya answered with no hesitation, "I'm Lord Lynn's personal maid now."
"Personal maid?"
Suou Yuki was dumbfounded.
A maid was one thing but personal?
Wait a damn secondThe Ice Queen Kaguya as someone's personal maid?!
Yuki's expression twisted. Lynn you're into some stuff, huh?
Chika opened her mouth like she wanted to say something but decided against it.
Seeing her friend like this clearly hit her hard.
But her family had already warned herdon't mess with Lynn. Don't stand up for Kaguya. Stay out of it.
ClearlyThe Fujiwara family knew more than most.
Only Asuna still looked completely lost.
Her family was newer in the power game, so they weren't always in the loop.
She had no idea what had happened to the Shinomiya family. So Kaguya's sudden transformation from icy heiress to personal maid left her reeling.
Still
Kaguya had no reason to lie to her.
And from what she knew of Kaguya, she wasn't the type to lie anyway.
So that meant it was true? She really was a personal maid now?
In that case
The Shinomiya family really did fall?
Asuna took a long, silent moment before finally accepting the truth.
Was it Lynn?
Did he take them down?
Just because Kaguya said something out of line?
"...Kaguya" Chika looked at her, clearly worried.
Kaguya remained calm and collected. "It's fine. I'm doing great, actually."
Other than the occasional humiliating "maid duties," she was honestly having the time of her life.
Her crimson eyes scanned the roomAsuna, Yuki, and Chika.
With the authority Lynn had granted her, she could feel the devil's piece embedded in her chest gently heating up.
All three of them were top-tier candidates for servants!
Kaguya remembered Ai Hayasaka's advice"We're building a devil maid squad, remember?"
And right here? The perfect lineup!
Though honestly Suou Yuki and Chika's personalities might not be the best fit.
Their skill levels weren't all that different from hers eithermeaning they'd be just as clumsy.
Poor Hayasaka would be overworked if she had to train a whole team of klutzes.
Asuna though? She had potential.
That elegant aura? Perfect wife material.
Kaguya's crimson eyes gleamed mischievously.
She raised her index finger.
Buzz
A chill began to radiate from her fingertip.
Suou Yuki's eyes widened.
"Eh?!"
Chika blinked. "Kaguya, what are you doing?"
Kaguya didn't answer.
She just reached out toward the cup of tea on the table.
The moment her fingertip got close
Crackcrack
The sound of freezing echoed through the room.
The steaming milk tea turned to ice in an instant.
"That's supernatural power!" Yuki gasped.
Chika finally noticed, stars practically shining in her eyes. "Whoa!"
"Kaguya, that's amazing!!"
Asuna opened her mouth slightly, staring blankly at the chill rising from Kaguya's fingertip.
This is real supernatural power?
But how?
Wasn't Kaguya just a regular person like the rest of them not long ago?
Asuna fell silent.
If she had to guess what had changed It was after Kaguya became Lynn's personal maid.
Could it really be because of him?
Suou Yuki was clearly thinking the same thing and asked directly, "Is it because of Lynn?"
Kaguya nodded calmly.
"I almost caused a disaster, but Lord Lynn still forgave me and granted me this extraordinary power."
As she spoke, Kaguya carefully watched their reactions.
Hehe. Not a single one of you is escaping the maid path! Time to recruit more personal maids to serve Lord Lynn~
Suou Yuki looked stunned.
She had been mocking Kaguya for being nave and clueless...
And now? Kaguya had beaten her to it and gained the supernatural power the Suou family had dreamed of for years?!
Dammit!!
Jealousy flashed in Suou Yuki's eyes.
Sure, the Shinomiya family had lost everything... but it seemed like Kaguya had gained everything instead.
Asuna sank into thought.
So becoming a maid = gaining supernatural powers?
...Seriously?
Then does that mean Senjougahara Hitagi is the same?
Asuna narrowed her eyes. She needed to confirm that.
Meanwhile, Chika clung to Kaguya's arm, stars still sparkling in her gaze as she stared at Kaguya's finger.
She even looked like she wanted to poke it.
But Kaguya quickly pulled her hand back.
"You're so stingy, Kaguya!"
Chika immediately pouted in protest.
Kaguya squinted at her.
This simple-minded, big-chested airheadDoesn't she even worry about getting frostbite?
Chika continued clinging and whining for a while, but Kaguya didn't budge.
Eventually, Chika quieted down and asked with a hopeful look, "Hey hey, Kaguya, do you think I can get supernatural powers too?"
As soon as she said it
The entire student council room went dead silent.
Suou Yuki and Asuna tried to act casual, but their ears perked right up.
Supernatural powers
Who wouldn't be interested?
Especially when the proof was standing right in front of them.
Kaguya noticed and gave a sly little smile.
Exactly the reaction she wanted.
"Of course," she said, nodding confidently as she felt the devil's piece heat up in her chest.
"As long as Lord Lynn blesses you, you can gain powers just like I did."
"However"
There it is Suou Yuki and Asuna both thought, preparing themselves as they leaned in slightly.
"How you get Lord Lynn's blessing well, that's entirely up to you."
Suou Yuki tilted her head thoughtfully. "So like you I have to become his personal maid too?"
Kaguya didn't replyshe just gave her a knowing look full of hidden meaning.
That was enough.
The three of them fell into quiet contemplation.
Then suddenly, Chika clapped a hand to her forehead.
Her eyes lit up. "Ah! I got it!"
"Why not just send my sister to marry him?"
Kaguya: "???"
That is an incredibly politician-style solution.
Kaguya's gaze turned complicated.
You really are a good sister, huh.
.
.
.
---
"Yo~!
The 10-chapter mass release will be ready tomorrow!
While you're waiting, check out my new fic: "Chat Group: Traits, Gacha & Crossovers"
...
(Support me and read advanced chapters at: patreon.com/_Coreal)
Evening The Suou Household
After Suou Yuki finished explaining the fall of the Shinomiya family and the strange changes in Shinomiya Kaguya...
The Suou family head fell deep into thought, his eyes filled with shifting emotions.
After a long silence, he finally sighed. "Who would've thought... the Shinomiya family would actually turn a disaster into a blessing."
The Suou family had always pursued the supernaturalyet they were now one step behind.
Yuki's eyes darted around as she suddenly remembered something Fujiwara Chika had said earlier something surprisingly political.
"Grandfather, what if I married Lynn?"
"...Huh?"
The Suou patriarch gave her a confused look. "Where'd that idea come from?"
Yuki quickly recounted Chika's offhand remark.
The old man smacked his lips, impressed. "She really is a child of the Fujiwara clan, huh."
So young, yet already thinking like a strategist.
Yuki's face twitched a little.
When she first heard Chika say it, she couldn't believe it actually came from that scatterbrained girl!
But...Facts were facts.
Even she hadn't considered the idea of forming an alliance through marriage.
And she had to admit
That might actually be the best move for the Suou family.
After all, if you want something, you've got to be prepared to give something up.
The Suou family had chased the supernatural for generations.
Now that it was so close, there was no way they'd just give up.
And there was no way Yuki was going to do something like becoming a personal maid like Kaguya.
Honestly?
Kaguya was only in that role because she'd offended Lynn in the past.
Suou Yuki and the Suou family had no such historyshe shouldn't be lumped in with Kaguya.
Hmm
Now, becoming the lady of the house, that might be acceptable.
The Fujiwara Household
"Chika you're really something else"
Fujiwara Toyomi, gripping Chika's cheek with a dark expression, growled, "All it takes is some supernatural power and you're ready to sell your big sister off?!"
"Waaah" Chika whined, pulling away as she rubbed her sore cheek.
She mumbled under her breath, "Sis, it's just you're already kinda old, and still not married I figured"
"Chika."
"Eek!"
Chika flinched and immediately ducked behind her younger sister, Fujiwara Moeha for cover.
Toyomi rolled her eyes at the sight.
Chika peeked out from behind Moeha with her usual grin. "But sis, I did check out Lynn. He's super handsome~!"
Toyomi raised a brow with a sarcastic smile. "Oh? Then why don't you go for him?"
Chika puffed up her chest, sounding way too proud: "An opportunity this good? Of course I'd offer it to you first, dearest big sister!"
Then, lowering her voice and looking awkward, she added, "Besides isn't there a saying that the little sister-in-law is, like half-owned by the brother-in-law?"
"If you actually got him, I would only need to make a half-ass contribution too!"
Toyomi's eye twitched. She groaned and facepalmed. "Chika you really are a total idiot."
"Then I wanna contribute my whole ass!" Moeha chimed in, raising her hand like it was roll call.
Toyomi: ""
This family is doomed.
Is this really the generation the Fujiwara name rests on?
At Lion King Organization (STB)
"Are we certain the Lynn Group is behind it?"
A cold voice echoed from behind the screen.
A black cat lay lazily on the floor, licking its paw. "You've asked me that three times now~"
Silence followed.
Endou Yukari lowered her head slightly, deep in thought.
The Lynn Group. A new organization that had recently shown up on their radar.
The reason? A type of ore they'd started sellingScarlet Crimson Ore.
And it turned out... this ore was highly effective against vampires!
Sure, it didn't do much to higher-ranked vamps with strong bloodlines
But who's to say the next weapon version wouldn't be enhanced with additives? Or refined and purified into something even stronger?
Bottom line: The Lion King Organization saw huge potential in this ore.
And naturally, the fact that the Lynn Group had exclusive control over it meant they might also have access to other supernatural resources too.
Because of that, the Organization had been watching them very closely.
They already had a full dossier on the group's apparent leaderYukinoshita Haruno.
They'd planned to keep watching for a while before taking action
But then the Lynn Group pulled this massive stunt with the Shinomiya collapse.
Of course, from the Organization's perspective, the Shinomiya family falling apart wasn't a big deal.
But the intentions behind the Lynn Group's actions? That required a lot more caution.
After weighing things carefully, Endou Yukari made up her mind.
"No more waiting. Call in Sayaka."
A short while later
Kirisaka Sayaka walked in confused... and walked out still confused.
Looking down at the mission file, she mumbled, "Lynn Group"
"Secret infiltration?"
Meanwhile the familia base
Yotsuya Miko lay naked on Lynn's massive bed.
She buried her face in the sheetsand immediately, the mixed scent of Lynn and several other women hit her like a wave.
The blend of smells carried something more than just fragranceit was like information rushing straight to her brain.
Images flashed in her mind one after another.
"Mmm"
She let out an involuntary moan, her thighs pressing together as her pale skin flushed a soft pink.
In an instant, the updated blessing information flowing into her turned completely rose-colored.
Lynn didn't react to her changes. He glanced at her now-maxed-out stats, gave her pat on her butt, and said: "Miko, it's time to level up."
Miko twitched like she'd been electrocuted. Her fingers clenched the white sheets like a kitten digging in.
She whimpered, thighs rubbing together, body shaking as she lost control.
"...Mmh~"
A few seconds later, a deep, restrained moan slipped out.
And her body finally relaxed.
Her mind, though? Completely blank.
Lynn: ""
He sniffed. A sweet feminine scent filled his nose.
Lynn's eyelid twitched slightly as he glanced toward Miko with a strange expression.
Sensing his gaze, Miko buried her face deeper into the bed like an ostrich trying to hide.
But from Lynn's angle, the sight of her glowing red ears completely gave her away.
Thump, thump!
She could clearly hear the pounding of her own heart.
Miko bit her lip, her eyes misty. She was completely mortified.
Sure, she was alive, but... she didn't really feel alive anymore.
Just from one touch from Lynn, she'dshe'd
Ughhhh
So embarrassing.
It was all her fault for daydreaming about doing things with Lord Lynn... things she really shouldn't have.
And now that it actually happened, she totally lost control...
What do I do
Would Lynn think she's some kind of... slut?
That thought made Miko anxious.
Unaware of the storm going on in her head, Lynn simply placed a hand on her smooth back.
[Level Up]
Vwoom
A bright light flashed.
Miko's blessing info instantly updated:
[Yotsuya Miko]
Rank: High-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats: Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Spirit Sight] & [Spirit Devil]
[Spirit Sight]
Spirit Vision
Increased Magic Growth Rate
[Spirit Devil]
Bonus damage against Spiritual Entities
Forced Control over Spirits
Spirit Devour
Mimicry (temporarily mimic devoured spirits' forms)
-Humanoid spirits: Gain their combat skills
-Monster spirits: Body partially demonifies, boosting attack and defense
-Divine spirits: Release a trace of divine power
Demonization: Linked to spirit devouring. Unleashes the full power of devoured spirits.
Developmental Skill: Soul Calming (E-rank)
She had successfully leveled up into a high-class devil.
And her [Spirit Devil] skill had evolved.
"Mimicry, huh"
"Temporarily copying spirit abilities through devouring Not bad."
Lynn rubbed his chin. It wasn't a bad skill at all.
If only that "temporary" part could be removed
Still, the time limit likely depended on how much magic she had.
If her magic pool was big enough, sustaining the mimicry might not be a problem.
After duplicating Miko's blessing info, Lynn noticed she was still doing her best ostrich impression and, unable to resist, smacked her soft, plump butt.
Smack!
The sharp sound echoed through the bedroom.
Miko gripped the sheets tightly, letting out a small whimper.
Luckily, she didn't embarrass herself again like earlier.
"All done updating," Lynn said, watching her still glued to the bed.
A few more awkward moments passed before Miko finally bolted up, face beet red, snatched her blessing info, and fled the room like her life depended on it.
"...Not taking your clothes?"
She froze mid-sprint, quickly shuffled back in, grabbed her clothes, and scurried off while pulling them on.
Click
The bedroom door opened.
Outside, Hayasaka Ai and Shinomiya Kaguya stared at the disheveled, flustered Miko.
Once Miko was gone, Hayasaka turned to Kaguya, deadly serious. "Kaguya. Never be like her."
Yotsuya Miko truly lacked the strength.
Kaguya blinked, slightly confused.
Elsewhere
When Miko came home, her mother, Yotsuya Touko, went dead silent.
"You had that kind of opportunity and you didn't go for it?"
Miko's face flushed red, and she stammered something incoherent before vanishing into the bathroom.
Her body still felt sticky.
Touko sighed deeply.
This daughter of hers always making her worry.
Looks like it was time for a proper "mother-daughter" talk. One she clearly needed.
Back in Lynn's bedroom
After Miko left, Lynn leaned against the bed, eyes locked on his system panel. The "Bleach" world was glowing with a new prompt, and his expression turned thoughtful.
Miko was finally a high-class devil.
It was time to move forward with the invasion of the Bleach world.
But
Just like with the Date A Live world, no one had responded to the devil contract he'd sent out. Not a single soul.
Seemed like no one wanted to play along.
Guess he'd have to force his way in like he did with the Demon Slayer world.
Still
Before that, he had one more issue to take care of in the main world.
The Old Satan Faction.
"Geez I spread that bait ages agowhy's no one taken it yet?"
.
.
.
Lynn was staring at his Devil's Contract, planning to check who held the contract in the Bleach world.
With a single thought
The connection between the two worlds was instantly opened through the Devil's Contract.
---
Bleach World
A pitch-black contract lit up with a faint glow.
Lynn's shadowy figure appeared above it, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the surroundings.
Mist curled through the air, clouding his vision.
Somewhere nearby, the sound of flowing water could be heard.
Following the sound, Lynn's gaze landed on a curvy, dark-skinned beauty.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Yoruichi?"
Shihoin Yoruichi's body froze for a moment, her golden eyes snapping sharply in his direction.
When she saw Lynn's projection on the dark contract, she was visibly stunnedbut wasted no time. In the blink of an eye, she flash-stepped directly in front of him, still completely naked.
Her hand shot forward, lightning-fast, reaching for Lynn.
But
Her hand passed straight through his image. Eyes narrowing, she changed targets and grabbed at the Devil's Contract itself.
Lynn just stroked his chin, watching her little show without saying a word.
Now that she was closer and no longer hidden by the steam, Lynn could clearly see every detail.
Yoruichi frowned slightly as she kept tugging and pressing on the contractbut no matter what she did, nothing happened.
But, judging by her expression, she wasn't really surprised.
After all, when this annoying thing first stuck to her like a piece of cursed gum, she and Urahara had tried every possible method to destroy it.
And yet They still hadn't found its limits.
That's exactly why both she and Urahara had been so cautious with it.
Though truth be told, nothing weird had actually happened since she got it.
So over time, her guard naturally dropped.
But now
"Tch."
Yoruichi glared at Lynn. "So you're the one behind this creepy thing?"
Lynn's lips curled into a slight smile. "Appreciate the hospitality."
"Tch!"
Yoruichi clenched her fists, really tempted to punch that smug face of his.
But after what just happened, she already knewshe couldn't touch him.
Annoyed, she tossed the contract onto the floor and raised her foot, ready to stomp it.
"Hm From this angle"
Lynn looked up, gaze landing squarely on the forbidden part of any woman
Yoruichi's body froze mid-step.
In the next second, she vanished and reappeared near her clothes, quickly throwing them on.
Lynn idly floated the Devil's Contract back into the air.
The moment he saw Yoruichi, he understood why the contract hadn't been activated until now.
It made sense to be cautious around something unknown.
If it had landed in Aizen's hands instead, that guy probably would've summoned him the same day he got it.
Now dressed, Yoruichi stepped in front of Lynn again, her golden eyes clearly hostile.
"So, what, you sent this creepy contract just to spy on me?"
Arms crossed and eyes narrowed, Yoruichi growled, "If that was your goal, congratsI'll admit you pulled it off."
(Damn it!)
(He watched me take a damn bath!)
So frustrating!
And she couldn't even hit him!
She had to find a way to beat this guy up!
Eyes narrowing further, Yoruichi taunted, "Only got the guts to peek from the shadows? If you're really something, come out here and fight me face to face!"
Lynn raised a brow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You said it, not me."
Right as he finished speaking The Devil's Contract flared with pitch-black light!
A complex, ominous magic circle suddenly rose up from it!
Yoruichi's instincts kicked inshe flash-stepped backward instantly!
The very next moment
Lynn appeared inside the magic circle.
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed sharply.
(He actually showed up?)
(Does this guy even know who he's dealing with?)
As soon as he appeared, Yoruichi vanished.
Then, just as suddenly, she reappeared right in front of Lynn!
Whoosh
A sharp gust tore through the air as her leg came whipping around with incredible force!
"That's what you get for peeping!"
"I'm gonna kick your ass!"
BAM!
A heavy, powerful thud echoed out!
Yoruichi's pupils shrank.
Her gaze snapped to the arm Lynn had raised to block the kick.
(Damn. That's hard.)
(Felt like kicking a freakin' mountain!)
In the blink of an eye, before she could react, Lynn's hand hooked around her leg!
Yoruichi's heart skipped a beatshe instinctively tried to pull back.
After falling, she twisted her body, throwing a second kick with her other leg!
Bang!
Same result.
Lynn caught that one tooeffortlessly.
Yoruichi's heart pounded in her chest.
(Who the hell is this guy?!)
(Not a Shinigami {Soul Reaper} Not a Hollow either)
(A Quincy? Maybe a Fullbringer?)
Her mind raced with guesses.
But she didn't have time to think.
Boom!
The next thing she knew, she was airbornethen smash! Her head slammed into the floor!
Lynn was still holding both her legs.
Faced with a completely unknown power level, Yoruichi didn't hesitate.
"Shunk!"
BOOM!!
A terrifying spiritual pressure exploded outward!
Then, just as quickly, it compressed around her body!
Crackle!
Golden lightning wrapped around her like electric snakes, dancing across her figure.
BZZZT
She slammed both hands against the ground.
All that explosive power was concentrated on the legs Lynn was holding.
Yoruichi grinned. "Heh. You better watch your hands~"
Lynn glanced at herexpression completely calm.
One second. Two seconds...
Yoruichi's smile started to freeze on her face.
W-What? Nothing happened?!
Lynn lowered his eyelids, his voice calm and eerie. "Okay, warm-up's over."
As he spoke
Golden chains burst out from the air around them!
CLINK CLINK CLINK
The sharp sound struck Yoruichi's nerves like a warning bell.
Still in Shunko mode, she immediately tried to break free and widen the distance.
But under Lynn's grip, it was like her enhanced state meant nothing.
She she couldn't move!
That's when it hit hershe'd messed with someone way out of her league.
Not even Aizen could shut her down this completely, right?
While she was still reeling from Lynn's overwhelming power, the golden chains had already coiled tightly around her, locking her down with expert precision.
Lynn finally let go of her legs.
THUD.
Yoruichi landed headfirst.
"Ugh"
She barely noticed the pain in her foreheadher focus was on twisting her body to escape.
But those golden chains? Yeah, they weren't normal.
The more she struggled, the tighter they got.
And before long
Her curves were being very clearly outlined.
"Hmph!"
Yoruichi let out a soft grunt, her dark skin showing no signs of blushing.
But her thighs instinctively pressed together.
She clenched her teeth and cursed, "Pervert!"
The guy was a pervert, and even the damn chains were perverted!
Still calm as ever, Lynn sat down on her back and ran a finger along her body.
As his hand slid across her, a soft ripping sound started to echo in the room.
Feeling a cool breeze against her skin, Yoruichi froze.
With a smirk, Lynn said, "Face me head-on?"
"Sorry! I was too full of myself!"
Yoruichi gave in immediately, no hesitation.
But in her head, she was panicking like hell.
Damn it!
Even her transformation into a cat got sealed?!
Urahara!
Kisuke Urahara!
Where the hell are you?!
Can't you hear what's going on?! Are you deaf?!
If you don't show up soon, this guy's seriously gonna take my... Dammit!
Yoruichi was mentally screaming at the ever-unreliable Urahara.
---
Outside the hot springs
Urahara Kisuke stared silently at the barrier in front of him.
Since when was there anything in this world he couldn't break through?
...
Back inside
Yoruichi forced a flattering smile at Lynn.
No choice. He had the upper hand.
Better to play nice for now.
Lynn stayed expressionless. "I'll ask. You'll answer."
Yoruichi nodded quickly.
Internally, she sighed in relief. 'Good. He wants something.'
That means she might have a way out.
She was about to cry thinking about itI, Yoruichi, reduced to this?
"When did Kuchiki Rukia go to the Human World?"
Yoruichi: "???"
One look at her face, and Lynn got the answer.
Looks like the story hasn't started yet.
But
Lynn wasn't really concerned about "storylines" anyway.
He was here for more important thingsrecruiting members, farming monsters, and collecting rare stuff like Zanpakuts or the Hgyoku.
Plot collapse?
Not his problem.
Besides Ever since he entered this world, he'd felt a strange calling.
But
No rush. He'd clean up the Old Satan Faction first before fully diving into this world's mysteries.
Still
Securing a base of operations ahead of time was definitely necessary.
Hmm
Lynn looked at Yoruichi and raised a brow.
Yeah. This place will do for now.
With that thought, he grabbed her chin, his tone low and teasing.
"You don't really want me to do something bad or lewd to you, right?"
Yoruichi: "!"
She shook her head furiously.
"So, as part of the tradeI'm claiming this place."
Yoruichi: "???"
And just like that, Lynn didn't explain anything further.
He opened a magic circle and vanished back to the main world.
Leaving behind a completely stunned Yoruichi.
CLINK
Suddenly, the golden chains around her loosened.
She could finally move again, and her spiritual pressure flowed naturally once more.
After casually fixing her torn clothes, Yoruichi stared at the spot where Lynn had disappeared.
Deep in thought.
CREEAK
The door to the bathhouse opened.
Kisuke Urahara walked in.
"So," he said, looking around."What exactly happened here?"
.
.
.
Soul Society
Kisuke Urahara and Shihoin Yoruichi stared at the Devil Contract Lynn left behind, both silent for a long time.
"To think someone could shut you down completely like that."
Urahara was seriously shaken inside.
He knew just how strong Yoruichi really was.
And more than that Urahara recalled the barrier that had kept him locked out.
That level of power
Yoruichi let out a deep sigh, clearly uneasy. "Urahara I think we've really gotten ourselves into something big this time~."
But Urahara's expression stayed calm. He even had the nerve to joke, "And since when have we not been in deep trouble?"
Yoruichi blinked, then chuckled. "Fair enough."
Her nerves eased a bit.
If trouble comes, deal with it head-on.
Besides Even though Lynn was crazy strong, he didn't seem that unreasonable?
At the very least He didn't just kill her on the spot.
With that thought, Yoruichi's golden eyes narrowed, her tone turning annoyed. "You bastard with all that racket going on, you didn't think to come save me?!"
Urahara shrugged. "What could I do? I was locked out too"
He lifted his gaze toward the door.
Yoruichi followed his line of sight.
Outside, the scenery had completely changed like someone had torn everything down and rebuilt parts of it from scratch.
"Did you use your Bankai?"
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow, surprised.
Urahara nodded, his face now a bit more serious.
"There was a barrier blocking me from getting in. Not even my Bankai could scratch it."
"Tch."
Yoruichi took in a sharp breath.
Seriously?!
Why the hell did someone that dangerous have to come after her, of all people?
"So, what do you think his goal is?" she asked, still wary.
Urahara paused to think. Then smiled. "Absolutely no clue!"
"Seriously?"
Urahara just shrugged again. "Does it matter? He's someone we can't go up against. Best to just go along with whatever he wants."
"Wow. Way to have some backbone."
Yoruichi folded her arms, clearly unimpressed. "I must beat that"
Urahara pointed toward the Devil Contract and silently mouthed a few words: "Careful, he might be listening~"
Yoruichi froze for a second, then laughed nervously. "Ahaha Actually, he seems like a pretty nice guy!"
Urahara just shook his head.
And who's the one without a backbone now?
StillHe stroked his chin, thinking of Lynn.
A mysterious powerhouse like that what kind of ripples will he send through the future?
At the very least, Urahara had to make sure this guy didn't end up teaming up with Aizen.
In a weird way, he felt lucky the Devil Contract had found Yoruichi first.
Hopefully, this guy isn't some world-ending lunatic.
Otherwise
Urahara honestly couldn't imagine what direction the future would take.
The Next Day - Lynn Group Headquarters
From a hidden corner outside the building, Kirasaka Sayaka was watching intently.
(Sayaka from STB and the spy of Lion King Org.)
After a while, she clenched her fists, clearly irritated. "Is this company seriously using child labor?!"
She watched the lolis walking inside the building and felt a sudden wave of righteous fury.
Also
Something seemed off about this place.
Why were there no men at all?
That said Maybe this place is actually perfect for me?
If she had to infiltrate somewhere, at least she didn't have to worry about running into any gross men.
A few minutes later, she put on a disguise something like an exhausted office worker and strolled right through the front door like she belonged there.
At the Reception Desk.
Saya gave her a surprised look.
Sayaka kept a straight face and calmly said, "I'm here for a job interview."
"An interview?"
Takagi Saya looked a little puzzled.
After all, the Lynn Group never posted job openings publicly.
They already had more than enough staff just from the Familia members alone.
Also
Saya's eyes flickered slightly with a hint of suspicion.
This woman she definitely wasn't normal.
As a devil, Saya could faintly sense the spiritual power hidden within Sayaka.
Her eyes darted around for a moment, then she smiled sweetly. "Alright, please hold on. I'll check in with management."
Sayaka nodded.
Completely unaware that the moment she stepped into the building, she'd already been flagged as "not normal."
Or that she'd just entered a whole different world.
To the side, Saya made a quick call to Yukinoshita Haruno.
After hearing the details, Haruno's eyes narrowed, clearly intrigued.
"Interesting. Alright, I'll arrange an interview for her."
After hanging up, Haruno murmured to herself: "How amusing"
So Some group's starting to make a move, huh?
She was curious what this woman's real reason for coming to Lynn Group was.
But more importantly"A woman with spiritual power"
Haruno seemed deep in thought.
She could be a perfect miko candidate, couldn't she?
Wait Was Lynn-sama's harem about to grow again?
Haruno twitched at the thought.
Back downstairs.
Sayaka, now waiting for her interview, was starting to feel a bit weirded out.
That easy?
And after the interview was over, she was even more confused.
That was way too smooth.
She didn't even get the chance to show off the fake resume and ID the Lion King Organization had prepared for her!
Was this company really that desperate for new hires?
Then again It kind of made sense?
They're even hiring lolis to work here, after all.
"Nice!"
No matter how you looked at it, phase one of her infiltration plan was a success!
Sayaka pumped herself up silently.
"Just hang on, Yukina. I'll be back soon!"
Meanwhile The Underworld.
Shalba Beelzebub waved his hand and gave a cold order.
"Wipe out those rats from Valifer."
"Fufufu"
Katerea Leviathan licked her fingers with a wicked grin. "So we're finally stepping out into the light again, huh?"
She honestly couldn't care less about Valifer's remnants.
But this whole 'living in the shadows' thing the Old Satan Faction had been doing the past few years? She'd been sick of it.
Now that they finally had the chance to move again, there was no way she'd let it pass.
Clapping her hands, she grinned. "Alright then! I'll lead the strike team myself!"
Creuserey Asmodeus frowned slightly, his tone chilly. "It's just a young Valifer. Isn't that overkill?"
"Oi, oi!"
Katerea slammed the table in annoyance. "We're talking about the guy who one-shotted Kokabiel! You could at least take this a little seriously!"
Creuserey didn't respond directly. Instead, he shrugged. "Why not just send a Satan-class? Should be enough, no?"
Katerea's expression darkened. "You bastard"
She jumped to her feet, eyes burning with aggression. "You wanna go or something?!"
Creuserey stayed seated on the couch, not even flinching. He just looked up at her with a faint, unimpressed glance.
"Don't think you're the only one who got the power of the 'Snake,' Leviathan."
"Damn you"
Katerea's aura exploded with power, like she'd lunge at him the next second.
"Enough."
Shalba Beelzebub's cold voice cut through the tension like a blade.
Katerea immediately stopped in her tracks.
"I didn't call you all here to watch some soap opera," Shalba said flatly.
"Tch"
Katerea clicked her tongue and sat back down in frustration.
Despite her attitude, she and Creuserey both had some respect for Shalba.
Not just because he was the leader of the Old Satan Faction
But also because, out of the three of them, he was the strongest.
Arms crossed, Katerea huffed. "Whatever. I'm still taking this job."
Shalba didn't object.
'Let her go play if she wants,' he thought.
Based on the intel they'd gathered
The Three Factions (Fallen Angels, Devils, and Angels) were planning some kind of "peace summit" soon.
Heh what a joke.
There's no way the Old Satan Faction would ever acknowledge that.
Which meant
The day of that summit would also be the day they stepped back onto the world stage.
As for Valifer?
That was just the appetizer.
A little warm-up for Katerea to enjoy before the real show began.
"Fine. It's yours," Shalba said, making the decision final.
Seeing this, Creuserey kept his silence. He wasn't interested in arguing anymore.
"Heh~" Katerea let out a smug little laugh, totally satisfied with how things turned out.
Later that afternoon Tokyo Shuchiin Academy
A group of uninvited guests hovered in the sky above the campus.
Katerea Leviathan stared down at the students walking around below. Her eyes shimmered with anticipation.
"What a peaceful little scene"
She grinned. "Exactly the kind of place that deserves to be destroyed!"
Her laughter rang out across the skies, crazed and gleeful.
The underlings behind her quickly joined in, laughing like maniacs.
Minutes passed.
The laughter died down.
Katerea stretched out her slender fingers and exhaled.
"But"
"One little school isn't nearly enough to satisfy me."
Her gaze swept across the entire city.
"Hmm yeah. This much should do it."
The moment the words left her lips
BZZZZT
A blinding light suddenly engulfed Tokyo!
A massive magic circle, glowing a deep water-blue, spread out endlessly across the entire city.
"What the hell?!"
"What's going on?!"
Inside Shuchiin Academy, the students were thrown into a frenzy by the sudden phenomenon.
Some were confused.
Some were scared.
Some were weirdly excited?
"Dude! It's a supernatural event!"
"I knew this world wasn't normal!"
"Heh looks like it's finally time for my main character debut! I knew it, I'm fated."
"Idiot. Just look up!"
And with that, all eyes turned to the sky.
They saw her.
A tall woman with a long ponytail and stylish red-rimmed glasses hovering above them.
Katerea Leviathan smiled sweetly and gave them a playful little wave.
"Hey there~"
.
.
.
"What a sexy big sister!"
Bonk!
Just as he said that, something smacked the back of his head hard.
"Idiot! Get your head on straight!!"
He stood frozen on the asphalt road of Shuchiin Academy, his whole body trembling.
Wait....
What the hell is that in the sky?!
Those glowing blue thingsare those magic circles?
Katerea Leviathan's lips curled into a sly smile. "That look on your face priceless~"
She raised a hand, then pressed it downward.
Whoosh!
A vast ocean-like torrent suddenly appeared out of thin air!
With a thunderous roar, the water surged downward, crashing toward Shuchiin Academy like a raging tsunami!
The students inside Shuchiin stared in stunned disbelief.
"That's a superpower, right?!"
"Waitwait, is she trying to flood the place?!"
"Run! Run for it!!"
Chaos broke out across the school in an instant.
---
Inside the faculty office
Minamiya Natsuki abruptly stood up, her gaze darting to the window.
"That magic it's insanely strong!"
She gasped, then immediately activated her space magic.
In a blink, her figure vanished without a trace.
---
Meanwhile
All across Tokyo, panic was spreading.
Water was bursting out of the blue magic circles that had appeared underfoot!
"What the hell is going on?!"
"Is this divine punishment?! A flood from God?!"
People on the streets were running and screaming, totally overwhelmed by fear.
---
At the Suou household.
The head of the Suou family stared dumbfounded at the magic circles and the gushing waves.
Boom!!
A cherry blossom tree was ripped from the ground by the force of the water.
Gulp!!
The patriarch swallowed hard, his pupils trembling with terror.
This was definitely a catastrophic supernatural event!
---
At the Lion King Organization.
Himeragi Yukina clenched her fingers tightly, eyes locked on the figures hovering in the sky.
"Maou"
The word escaped her lips like a curse, gritted through her teeth.
Why would Satan-level beings suddenly attack human society?
She was furious but also confused.
Nowadays, devils were heavily reliant on humans.
Under normal circumstances, they'd never do something so extreme.
Then, suddenly, her eyes widened.
"The Old Satan Faction!"
A theory formed in Yukina's mind.
"Endou-san!"
She called out, and in no time, a black cat landed in front of her.
"Hey! Spread the orderdeploy the defensive barriers immediately. We need to contain this situation before it spirals out of control!"
Yukari Endou hesitated a bit, then spoke through the black cat. "That might not be possible."
"You're aware of what kind of destruction a Maou can unleash, aren't you?"
"And besides"
"That's not just one Maou, is it?"
Yukina's fists clenched even tighter.
Her gaze swept past the leading woman to the person standing slightly behind.
A man with short golden hair, dressed in high-class noble attire.
No doubt about it.
He was Satan-level too.
Maybe not as powerful as the woman in frontbut still, a massive threat!
Two Devil Kings
Yukina bit her lip. The calm she usually carried was gone.
Tokyo couldn't handle this kind of disaster!
But more importantly
Why the hell were these devils attacking Tokyo in the first place?!
Her mind was full of questions.
But now wasn't the time for that.
"Even if it's impossible, do it anyway!"
Her voice rang with determination.
"Buy as much time as we can!"
"And!"
Yukina's expression darkened. "Send out a distress signal to every organization in nearby regions!"
"Oh, and"
She suddenly thought of something else. "Also send a request for help to the devils."
Endou blinked, clearly surprised.
"We're asking the devils for help?"
"That's right!"
Yukina nodded without hesitation. "They're the ones who caused this messlet them clean it up!"
"Okay."
Endou turned to leave.
But Yukina called out again.
"Wait!"
"When you send the request, don't word it like that!"
Endou: "?"
And here I thought you were being all tough?
Yukina looked a little embarrassed but clarified, "Just spread the news that members of the Old Satan Faction are in Tokyo. That's enough."
She wasn't entirely sure if the ones in the sky were really with the Old Satan Faction
But once that news got out, the Maou of the Underworld would definitely take action.
Yukina stared at Katerea Leviathan and the others in the sky, grinding her teeth.
Humans are still way too powerless in this world.
At Shuchiin Academy.
Just as the flood was about to crash down
A small figure suddenly appeared right in the path of the water.
"Natsuki-sensei?!"
"Natsuki-chan?!"
The students gasped in surprise.
A few even called her "Natsuki-chan," which made her cringe.
Now wasn't the time to scold them about respecting their teacher, though.
She raised her hand.
Buzz
The air rippled like a stone thrown into a still pond.
And just like that, the flood that was moments away from smashing into them vanished into thin air as if it had been sucked into a black hole.
"Oh?"
Katerea Leviathan raised an eyebrow, looking down at her with genuine curiosity.
"My, my I wasn't expecting a human with such precise control over space magic."
Natsuki kept a calm face, not saying a wordjust silently funneling the rest of the flood into a dimensional rift.
"Wait is sensei a supernatural being too?!"
It finally clicked with the students.
"Sensei, you're amazing!!"
"I promise I'll never call you Natsuki-chan again!"
Cheers and shouts of relief echoed across the school.
But none of them noticed the heavy look on Natsuki's face.
Using space control magic consumed a lot of mana.
She didn't know how much it cost to cast the spell Katerea had used
But what she did know
Was that this woman's presence alone screamed Maou.
There was no way her own magic reserves could compare to a Devil King's.
If this dragged on, she'd burn out way too soon.
And worse
That woman wasn't alone.
Natsuki's heart tensed.
Since becoming a witch, she'd never faced anything this dangerous before.
Sure, she could use her magic to escape.
ButHer beloved students? They'd never make it out in time.
Her gaze hardened.
She wasn't going to let anyone hurt Shuchiin Academy.
Not on her watch.
Katerea Leviathan chuckled softly.
"You don't actually think I'm gonna keep playing around with you like this, do you?"
She didn't see Natsuki as a real threat at all.
Yeah, her space magic was impressive
But at best, she had the strength of a High-Class devil.
Against a Maou like her?
Not even close.
Katerea casually raised her hand and
Snap.
A crisp sound rang out.
And in the very next instant
A monstrous wave erupted from the ground beneath Shuchiin Academy, rising like a wall of ocean fury!
Natsuki's eyes widened in alarm.
"Ahhhhhh!!"
Screams of panic echoed through the school again!
Kitagawa Marin stood frozen, eyes locked on the towering wall of waterlike a damn skyscraper made of the sea itself!
(A/N: Marin is from My Dress-Up Darling.)
"..."
"RUN!!"
Someone shoutedsnapping her out of her daze.
Her eyes shrank in fear. She spun on her heel and bolted like mad
Splat!
But the overwhelming pressure of that apocalyptic wave made her legs buckle. She tripped and hit the ground hard!
"Agh!" Marin cried out in pain, tears welling in her eyes. She looked upstraight at the tsunami about to crash down on her.
I'm screwed. I'm so, so screwed!
Despair took root in her chest.
Was this really it?
Was this how her life was gonna end?
Seriously?! This kind of ridiculous death?
She'd been living in such a normal, boring world all this time.
Then all of a sudden, superpowered people showed up and started attacking her school
No, all of Tokyo?!
What the hell was going on?!
Tears welled up again as she stared at the massive wave looming above her.
An overwhelming fear washed over her.
Was this... the feeling of death?
Marin's heart sank with helplessness.
She didn't want to die yet...
There were still so many characters she wanted to cosplay!
She hadn't even experienced a cute, romantic love yet!
She hadn't even become a real adult!!
Dying here like this...?
No way!!
But of course, the tsunami didn't care about her silent pleas.
Whoooosh!!
The deafening roar of the wave crashed in her ears as it bore down on her without mercy!
"No!!" Natsuki cried out, panic flaring in her chest.
She was just about to use Space manipulation
"Nooope~"
Katerea narrowed her eyes and ramped up the torrent even more.
"Urgh!"
Natsuki let out a grunt as her hands trembled violently.
She...
She couldn't hold out much longer!
Her breathing grew ragged.
She'd been trying to hold her ground against a Maou... what was she thinking?
This was bad!
That student!!
Her eyes widened as she looked downthen froze.
Tap.
Footsteps echoed beside Marin's ears.
A tall figure suddenly stepped into view.
"Eh?"
Marin blinked, still not processing what was happeningthen saw him raise his hand.
And gently close it into a fist.
BOOM!!
The raging wave stopped, tightening in place like it was gripped by an invisible giant hand!
Then
In the blink of an eye, the skyscraper-sized tsunami was crushed into a tiny, deep-blue dropletspinning in Lynn's hand.
The water droplet sat neatly in his palm.
Katerea Leviathan narrowed her eyes instantly when she saw that.
That technique...
It reminded her of the White Dragon Emperor's powerDividing.
Just who was this guy?
But before she could ask anything
The figure raised his hand again and flicked his finger toward her.
Fwoosh!
The sharp sound of something slicing through the air shot out.
In the blink of an eye, the deep-blue droplet was right in front of her face.
Katerea: "???"
She didn't even have time to react
BOOM!!
The droplet slammed into her abdomen, forcing a gasp from her lips as she doubled over in painthen got launched like a cannonball across the battlefield!
CRASH!!
Far away
A skyscraper collapsed with a thunderous roar.
Bedeze Abaddon: "?"
He whipped his head around, shouting in shock, "Boss Lady?!"
.
.
.
Shuchiin Academy
A heavy, eerie silence covered the air.
Just now... What the hell happened?
The Old Satan Faction still hadn't wrapped their heads around the situation.
But for Natsuki, the pressure that had been suffocating her suddenly vanished.
The raging magical flood that had surged from the sky had disappeared without a trace.
Natsuki quickly looked down toward the figure on the ground.
Messy black hair. Deep red eyes.
There was no doubt. That was Lynn.
And he really just pushed back a Maou that easily!?
Hiss
Natsuki sucked in a sharp breath.
Was that... for real?
Since whenSince when did Lynn get that strong?
She was having a full-on crisis.
Sure, she'd guessed his power might've jumped recently, but even in her wildest guesses, she'd only imagined he might've reached High-Class Devil level at most.
And now he just smacked a Maou-level woman into the dirt?
She was stunned midair, struggling to wrap her head around it.
Down on the ground, Kitagawa Marin stared blankly at Lynn's back.
In that moment, it felt like just seeing him filled her chest to the brim.
HeHe saved me...
The rest of the students at Shuchiin were in a similar daze, their eyes fixed on Lynn.
Once they spotted the Shuchiin uniform he was wearing, their jaws dropped even further.
Hold on.
Shuchiin has that kind of monster enrolled?
First there was Natsuki-sensei, and now this guy too?
"Ah!"
"I know who that is!!"
Someone shouted, "He's the president of the Supernatural Research Club!"
"???"
"..."
"Y-Yeah, that's right!"
Everyone at Shuchiin froze for a moment.
Wait, are you serious?
That's not just the rumored harem club!?
"...The Supernatural Research Club?"
Something clicked inside Marin. She etched that name into her heart.
...
As whispers and chatter buzzed through the crowd
BOOM!!
A burst of overwhelming magical energy exploded from the ruins of the collapsed skyscraper!
Chunks of broken buildings went flying in every direction!
Katerea Leviathan staggered out of the rubble, clutching her abdomen.
Her long brown hair was a tangled mess, and her red-rimmed glasses were nowhere in sight.
She looked wrecked.
"Damn it!!"
Pain still throbbed from her stomach.
That red-eyed bastard...
He compressed her spellall of itinto a tiny bead of water!
All the energy she'd poured into that spell was still there, fully intactNo, it was even stronger when it exploded thanks to the compression!
No wonder it hit her hard!
'Damn it! That kind of precise controlhow the hell did he do that!?'
"Pah!"
She spat out blood, shaking the thoughts away.
With a roar, she shot back into the sky, returning to her original position.
"Boss lady"
"Get out of my way!"
Katerea's expression turned ice-cold, her aura roaring back into dominance.
Yeah, that compressed water bead caught her off guard, she'd admit it.
But a big part of that was her own carelessness.
Now the real fight begins.
Natsuki snapped out of it tooNo time to keep gawking at Lynn's power.
She narrowed her eyes and focused on Katerea Leviathan.
This wasn't over. Not just for Shuchiin, but for all of Tokyo.
But Katerea didn't even spare Natsuki a glance. She squinted at Lynn and said in a low voice, "Kid, I'll let you leave your name behind."
"...Huh?"
Lynn's expression turned weird.
Is this woman serious? She came here to kill me without even knowing what I look like?
He chuckled softly. "You came all this way for me, and you don't even know who I am?"
As he said that, he pressed lightly with his foot.
Crack
Crack crack
The massive magic array covering Tokyo started fracturing!
And in the next second
BOOM!!
The entire spell shattered into glowing fragments and vanished into thin air!
All across TokyoThe magical floodwaters faded instantly.
People looked around in a daze. "W-We're safe?"
At the Lion King Organization
Yukari Endou's eyes widened slightly in shock.
"It's over?"
No.
She looked up sharply.
The magical energy around Shuchiin was still raging.
"Was that Natsuki's doing?"
She frowned and shook her head. Natsuki didn't have that kind of power.
StillWhoever it was, they just saved Tokyo. At least for now.
What happens next depends on what goes down at the main battlefield.
Back at Shuchiin
Katerea Leviathan looked genuinely shaken.
That guy just erased her city-wide spell... that easily?
Her eyes narrowed in seriousness.
This kid wasn't just anyone.
But still
She had the power of the "Snake." She wasn't backing down.
Even if they were both on Maou-level, with the Snake's power, she still had the upper hand.
Wait...
She tilted her head, snatched a file out of Bedeze Abaddon's hands, and compared the contents to Lynn.
"So that's it."
A flash of realization passed through her eyes. She looked at Lynn with interest. "Didn't expect you to be that Valifer."
With that kind of power, it made sense why Kokabiel got one-shot.
But still... She wasn't like Kokabiel.
"Hmph. You knew we were coming for you, and you still dared to walk right up to me?"
Katerea sneered. "You've got a death wish, don't you?"
Natsuki: ""
Why does it sound like you aren't the one who got slapped into a building just now?
Lynn didn't say anything at first. He calmly raised his hand, stuck his pinky in his ear, and muttered, "You talk too much."
And just like that
A ripple spread from under his feet.
[Gravity Devil]
Katerea Leviathan: "?!"
She blinked in confusionThen her body suddenly slammed downward!
"Urgh!"
Invisible, crushing force surged in from all directions!
Boom boom boom!!
Behind her, the Devils under her command groaned as they were yanked to the ground.
Bedeze Abaddon gritted his teeth, trying to withstand the pressure.
But
BAM!
A few seconds later, he also slammed into the ground.
At least he fared better than the others.
His legs were buried in the dirt, but he wasn't totally wrecked.
Natsuki's eyes widened.
What the hell!?
She had no idea what just happened.
But one thing was certainLynn did something.
And it even worked on another Maou-level opponent?
She looked at the struggling Bedeze Abaddon and started seeing Lynn's power in a whole new light.
On the other side
Katerea Leviathan was breathing hard, looking just as beat up.
Gravity, huh?
She'd seen enough battles to recognize it right away.
But knowing what it is doesn't help you fight it.
"Damn it!!"
She roared
Magic flared from her body, forming a wide-area spell circle!
If it's gravity
Then she'd use that force to slam her magic back at him!
Crack crack
Frosty air flowed out from the array.
Everything was quickly coated in a layer of ice and snow.
As a Leviathan, she didn't just specialize in water magic.
Ice was also one of her specialties!
With her magic pouring into the circle, a glacier slowly began to take shape, emerging from the summoning array.
Seeing this, Natsuki's eye twitched slightly.
She wasn't planning to sit back and do nothing, nor was she going to rely solely on Lynn.
Chains of golden light burst forth, shooting straight at Katerea Leviathan like arrows.
Shackles of Holy Steel!
"A Sacred Gear?"
Katerea Leviathan scoffed with a smirk of disdain.
As long as it's not a Longinus, everything else is just trash to her.
Or at least, that was usually the case.
Right now Katerea's gaze shifted to Lynn, her eyes narrowing.
With him around, even that little bug of a girl suddenly became a lot more annoying.
She glanced at her subordinates, seeing them completely immobilized, and cursed under her breathuseless trash!
Clank!
The golden chains came flying in fast!
Frowning, Katerea had no choice but to divert some of her focus. She raised one hand and summoned a magic circle for defense.
Clang!
A sharp, metallic sound rang out!
The Chains failed to break through her magical shieldat least for now.
But the other magic circle in her opposite hand was visibly weaker!
Natsuki noticed this and immediately doubled down on the chain assault.
She knew it might not hurt a Maou-level opponent, but at the very least, it was disrupting her ability to cast the glacier spell.
However
Lynn had no intention of playing a drawn-out game. With a flick of his hand, he unleashed a slashing wave of magic!
I'm going to die!" Katerea's instincts screamed.
Without the slightest hesitation, she acted purely on instinctabandoning her spell, she vanished in a blink, narrowly avoiding Lynn's slash.
But before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, Natsuki's chains clung to her again like some kind of cursed glue.
"Tch."
Katerea clicked her tongue in annoyance. This time, she didn't bother dodging.
With a snap, she grabbed the chain barehanded.
"I don't have time for this. You seriously think you're important enough to slow me down?"
With a sneer, she yanked hard.
Natsuki suddenly felt an overwhelming force pull through the chainthen
Whoosh!
She was flung straight through the airher trajectory aimed right at Lynn!
Raising a brow, Lynn casually caught her mid-air and pulled her into his arms.
"Huh. Not bad," he muttered, shooting a strange look at Katerea.
At this point, he was starting to wonder if she was really the enemy.
"Next time you wanna fly into my arms, at least come in your original body, Natsuki-chan."
Natsuki rolled her eyes at him, then said with a serious expression, "Enough jokes. This enemy's the real deal."
"Oh yeah?"
Lynn shrugged, clearly unfazed. Then, turning his eyes to Katerea, he cracked a crooked grin.
And in the next instant
Boom!
A fiery burst of magic explodedLynn vanished in a flash of sparks!
Katerea's eyes widened in shock as she frantically scanned the battlefield.
Where?!
Where is he?!
Suddenly, she felt a hot breath rush up from behind!
She tried to turnbut too late.
BAM!
A brutal strike smashed into her lower back!
CRASH!!
Katerea was sent flyingsmashed into the ground with a thunderous impact!
BOOM
The ground quaked violently from the crash.
A spiderweb of cracks spread from where she landed, the shockwave rippling through the ground.
"Urgh!"
Katerea groaned, trying to push herself up from the crater
BAM!
Her head was stomped back down into the dirt.
With Natsuki still in his arms, Lynn looked down at her with a cold expression and muttered: "You know I really hate talking while looking up at people."
Natsuki stared in shock, still trying to process what had just happened.
That speed!
Way too fast!
Not just Katereaeven she, who had been right there, didn't catch what Lynn just did!
Such power!
...
Katerea's face was crushed into the dirt, the humiliation boiling in her chest.
A descendant of Leviathanreduced to being stomped into the ground like this?
"You bastard!!"
She clenched her fists, digging into the dirtthen suddenly, a wide-area magic circle spread out beneath her.
WHOOSH!
Water surged upward like a boiling hot spring, ready to launch Shuchiin Academy into the sky!
"Watch out!" Natsuki warned in a sharp voice.
But Lynn remained calm. A jet-black magic circle unfurled beneath his feet.
BOOOOM!!
The water pillar slammed into the black shield with explosive force!
But no matter how violently it raged, the barrier stood firm like an unbreakable wall.
Katerea stared in disbelief as her attack was completely blocked. Her pupils shrank.
Who the hell is this guy?!
There's no way he's just a normal Maou!
That damn Shalbahe totally lied about this guy's strength!
Damn it!
A glint of madness flashed in Katerea's eyes.
Like this, she couldn't win.
If she wanted a chanceShe had to use that power.
"Snake!!"
.
.
.
"Snake!!"
Inside Shuchiin Academy, Katerea Leviathan let out a hysterical scream.
In that instant, a terrifying, bone-chilling aura erupted from her body and shot up into the sky.
Crackle!!
Black lightninglike angry serpentsdanced wildly around her, sparking and snapping through the air.
The entire atmosphere trembled violently.
Katerea's hands were planted firmly on the ground as an overwhelming power surged from her like a broken dam.
"Raaaghhh!!"
Her face twisted in agony, expression twisted and fierce.
Even though Lynn had her pinned beneath his foot just moments ago, her body was now slowly rising from the ground.
BOOM!!
The earth beneath them rumbled as if a giant invisible hand had grabbed the land and shook it hard.
Minamiya Natsuki stared at Katerea in shock.
What the hell just happened?
Why did this woman suddenly explode with that kind of power?!
Instinctively, she clutched Lynn's shirt tighter, her voice low and serious. "Be careful she just activated some kind of forbidden spell."
Natsuki didn't know what this "Snake" power was.
But Lynn, on the other hand, watched Katerea's transformation with interest.
So she used the power of Ophis, the Infinite Dragon God, huh?
Still...
His expression didn't change.
Just the Snake's power alone isn't enough to shift the tide here.
"Hmph."
Katerea grinned wickedly, her eyes flashing with madness.
"Do you see this? This is infinite power! With this, nothing I do can possibly fail!"
As she spoke, she braced her hands against the ground, trying to rise against Lynn's pressure.
But then... her arms started trembling violently.
No matter how hard she pushed, her body wouldn't budge even an inch.
Panic hit her like a wave.
Still unwilling to accept it, she roared and tried again with everything she had.
And the next secondBOOM!an even heavier force slammed down on her.
BAM!!
The slight gap she had managed to create between herself and the ground vanished instantly.
She was crushed right back down, her cheek mashed against the cold floor, her face twisted in pain and humiliation.
That's when Lynn's calm voice floated down from above her.
"Maybe try getting up after you finish boasting."
"...Damn you!!"
Katerea's heart sank. She couldn't believe it.
Why?!
She'd already used the Snake's power, so why couldn't she break free?!
Natsuki looked confused.
Didn't Katerea just go full "boss fight" mode a second ago?
And now she was still pinned under Lynn's foot?
"Boss lady!!"
Bedeze Abaddon saw Katerea's miserable state and erupted with a powerful aura. Without thinking, he charged straight at Lynn!
Lynn didn't even bother looking at him.
He simply raised his hand.
Buzz
A brilliant spear of light instantly formed in his grip.
BOOM!
Without delay, Lynn hurled the spear of light forward like lightning!
As it approached, Bedeze froze in place, a chill shooting up his spine.
He was going to die!
That sense of danger screamed in his mind.
He wasn't dumb. He knew he couldn't take that hit head-on. So, in a split second, he flickered out of the spear's path with a teleportation move.
But Lynn just crooked his finger.
With shocking precision, the spear curved in midair like it had a mind of its ownthen shot straight toward Bedeze again, even faster than before!
"Shit!!"
Feeling the searing heat closing in, Bedeze's pupils shrank in terror.
"Damn it!!"
He shouted, throwing up several green defensive magic circles in desperation.
Crack, crack
Like glass under a hammer, the green shields shattered the moment the light spear hit them.
Bedeze's eyes went wide in horror.
And in the next breath, that spear of light pierced through him.
"GAAAAAAHHH!!"
A pained, pitiful scream echoed through the air!
As the light spear exploded, Bedeze Abaddon was instantly swallowed by a blinding brilliance!
Katerea Leviathan blinked as she muttered his name under her breath.
"Bedeze "
A chill crept into Katerea's heart.
Sure, Bedeze might've been weaker than her, but he was still a freaking Maou.
And he got one-shotted just like that?!
This this is bad.
Really bad.
Maybe this is where she dies.
After wiping out Bedeze Abaddon, Lynn raised his hand again. Four new spears of light shot forward, pinning Katerea's limbs to the ground like a crucifixion.
"AAAHHHH!!"
Katerea's head snapped back, eyes rolling as her body convulsed in agony.
It felt like venomfiery and ruthlesswas flooding her entire body from the wounds in her limbs, sending burning pain through every nerve.
Gasping for air, she clenched her teeth so hard that blood started seeping through the gaps.
"Bas..tard!"
She threw every ounce of her strength into struggling against the spears holding her down.
But
Just like before, it was useless.
A deep sense of helplessness settled in.
She was a Leviathan. A true descendant of the line. A Maou who had even used the power of the "Snake".
When had she ever suffered something this humiliating?!
She thought this mission was supposed to be easy. Just a little outing.
And now she was stuck dealing with this absolute monster?!
Damn it!!
This was all Shalba's fault!
Why the hell didn't he tell her how strong this Valifer guy really was?!
If she'd known, no way in hell would she have taken this mission!
Katerea's heart swirled with resentment.
Regret. Fear. They coiled around her like chains.
Even with the "Snake's" power she wasn't invincible.
That brutal truth hit her like a slap to the face.
And now it was probably too late.
There's no way no way to fight back!
She slumped, the strength to resist completely gone.
Lynn crouched beside her, grabbed her by the hair, and yanked her head up to meet his gaze.
"You know where the Old Satan Faction's base is, right?"
Her eyes twitched slightly.
He's planning to take on the entire Old Satan Faction?!
This guy he's insane.
Insanely bold.
But A strange light flickered in her eyes.
Her expression leveled out as she responded calmly, "I know."
"If you want to go, I can take you there."
Katerea had already made up her mind.
Time to throw the Old Satan Faction under the bus.
Better them than her.
Besides Shalba fed her fake intel!
And hey, if Shalba can beat this Valifer freak, then maybe she'll be rescued in the process?
Katerea's mind was spinning with ideas.
On the other side, Natsuki raised a brow. "You're really planning to head straight into the Old Satan Faction's base?"
As one of humanity's top battle mages, she had at least some understanding of how powerful the enemy factions were.
And just this attack alone had two Maou-level enemies involved.
So wouldn't the main base have even more?
Lynn's crimson eyes turned toward her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Is Natsuki-chan worried about me?"
Natsuki scoffed and looked away. "I just don't wanna be the one picking up your corpse when you get yourself killed."
Lynn stood up and, out of habit, ruffled her head like she was a pet. "Relax. I'm a lot tougher than I look."
Natsuki: "??"
What was with that head-patting like she was some kind of cat?
Smack!
Natsuki smacked his hand away with her folding fan, glaring. "Just be careful"
From the look in Lynn's eyes, she knew nothing she said would stop him anyway.
Besides
She glanced at the beaten and broken Katerea pinned to the ground, along with the other devils who were already dead, and rubbed her forehead with a sigh.
Things had already gone way past the point of no return.
Even if Lynn didn't go after them, the Old Satan Faction was definitely gonna retaliate.
Still
Sending Lynn in alone? That didn't sit right with her.
But she knew if she tagged along, she'd only hold him back.
Battles at the Maou level were out of her league. She wouldn't be able to make a difference.
Tch.
A pang of frustration hit her.
It had been a while since she'd felt this useless.
---
Meanwhile
Lynn hoisted Katerea up and activated a teleportation spell beneath his feet.
"Natsuki-chan, make me some black tea. I'll drink it when I'm back."
Natsuki: "?"
Before she could say anything else, Lynn vanished with Katerea.
She stared at the spot where he'd disappeared for a long time in silence.
Then turned her gaze to the chaos left behindconfused, dazed, terrified, and overexcited students all around the school grounds.
Her headache intensified.
"Well whatever. Might as well go make the tea first."
On the rooftop of the school building
A girl with braided twin-tails and round glasses silently watched the spot where Lynn had vanished.
"Lynn"
She whispered his name, committing it to memory.
"I didn't expect"
"That Shuchiin had someone this powerful hiding in it."
Koyomi Shizuka's heart was a mess of emotions.
A Maou-level beingor maybe even beyond that.
What was someone like that doing, hiding among humans?
StillThanks to him, Tokyo avoided a disaster today.
As for how to deal with him
She'd talk it over with the others first.
One thing was for sure
He was not someone they could afford to make an enemy of.
In the Underworld.
With Katerea pointing the way, Lynn carried her effortlessly, flying straight toward their destination without a care in the world.
In the blink of an eye
Standing before a tightly shut main gate, Lynn lifted Katerea and assumed a javelin-throwing stance.
Katerea Leviathan: "???"
Damn it! Where are my devil rights?
.
.
.
"Wait!!"
Katerea Leviathan's eyes went wide as she quickly opened her mouth to say something
but the next second, a gust of wind shoved itself right down her throat.
BOOM!!
The "Katerea Special Edition" javelin-style entrance blasted straight through the Old Satan Faction's front gate!
"Enemy attack!!"
The Old Satan Faction's response was lightning-fast. The moment the gate was breached, the devils inside immediately sounded the alarm.
But then
When they saw who had broken down the door, all of them froze.
"Ha?"
"Lady Leviathan?!"
Katerea Leviathan scrambled to her feet, coughing and spitting out dust, then shot a nasty glare at the devils nearby.
"What the hell are you all staring at?!"
Instant silence. No one dared say a word.
"Katerea?"
Creuserey Asmodeus hurried over when he heard the commotion. He stared at the disheveled Leviathan, frowning.
"What kind of mess did you get yourself into this time?"
Katerea rolled her eyes, crossed her arms, and didn't bother responding.
Tap, Tap.
Footsteps echoed from the distance, gradually getting closer.
Creuserey turned toward the sound, still frowning.
A tall figure with black hair and crimson eyes stepped into view.
But what really caught Creuserey's attention wasn't the guy's looksit was the overwhelming pressure rolling off him.
At least Maou-level?
Creuserey narrowed his eyes.
Did Katerea bring him here to join us?
He turned to look at Katerea again.
Katerea just shrugged. "Valifer. I brought him back."
Creuserey: "...Valifer???"
Wouldn't it have been easier to just kill him?
But then he took another look at Katerea's condition.
Hair a mess, face covered in dirt, her usual red-rimmed glasses missing entirely.
What really stood out, though, were her arms and legsblood dripped down from wounds that still burned with traces of holy light, searing into her flesh.
Yeah, no doubt about it. She got the crap beaten out of her, and now she came back dragging him along.
"Useless."
Now that he understood what happened, Creusereywho already didn't like Katerea muchdidn't hold back on the insult.
"Hmph."
Katerea snorted and snapped back, "Weren't you the one who said I didn't need to get involved?"
Creuserey conveniently ignored that and turned his sharp gaze toward Lynn.
He didn't think much of Katerea, but her strength? That, he acknowledged.
Especially since she had the power of the 'Snake.'
To leave her in this state Creuserey knew he couldn't afford to underestimate Lynn Valifer.
"Shalba!"
Just to be safe, Creuserey immediately called for backup.
Fwoosh
A sudden gust of wind blew through, and a man with medium-length brown hair appeared at his side in the blink of an eye.
Shalba Beelzebub frowned. "Creuserey? You couldn't handle this on your own?"
He'd already sensed the base being invaded and thought Creuserey would be enough to deal with it.
Guess not.
"...He did this to Katerea, and she has the Snake," Creuserey said flatly. "I'm not confident I can handle it alone."
Hearing that, Shalba turned to look at Katereathen saw the wreck she'd become.
Katerea gave a strained smile and waved, "Hey Shalba, I'm back."
"Oh, and I brought a guest~"
Shalba's face twitched slightly. He shifted his gaze to Lynn.
The moment he saw him, Shalba's eyes narrowed.
"Valifer?"
Unlike Katerea and Creuserey, Shalba had actually seen the reports.
So he immediately recognized Lynn.
What he didn't expect was the pressure this guy gave off.
That wasn't in the intel.
But based on how easily he killed Kokabiel, Shalba had already guessed Lynn's strength.
StillTo think even Katerea got wrecked?
This guyValiferhe was either absurdly confident in his strength
Or completely insane.
Marching into the heart of the Old Satan Faction's base alone?
Does he think he can take them all on by himself?
Lynn scanned the crowd of devils with a blank expression.
After a few seconds, he clicked his tongue in boredom. "Let's wrap this up quickly."
Shalba's brow twitched.
Did this punk just look down on them?
Been a while since someone dared to do that.
"You little"
He was just about to snap back when Lynn vanished on the spot.
A blazing trail of starlight streaked through the air!
In a split second, Lynn appeared right in front of him.
BAM!
A foot wreathed in stardust flames slammed straight into Shalba's face.
BOOM!!
Shalba Beelzebub went crashing down without warning, carving a tunnel like he was trying to reach the core of the underworld!
Crackcrack!
The sound of his skull breaking was crystal clear!
Creuserey Asmodeus froze, eyes wide, staring ahead in disbelief, like his brain hadn't caught up with what just happened.
BOOM!!
The next moment, he was also sent flying through the air!
"So strong!!"
Creuserey's mind reeled.
He was on Maou-level, and yethe couldn't even react in time!?
Meanwhile
Katerea Leviathan's expression shifted strangely. But deep inside, she felt relieved.
When she had just returned to her base and saw Shalba and Creuserey again, she had felt a bit conflicted.
Thankfully, that's all it wasa passing thought. She hadn't done anything reckless like attacking Lynn again.
Thinking back on it, she let out a quiet breath of relief. And then, watching the two of them get beaten, she felt a strange, complicated emotion rise up.
So... even when Lynn fought her before, he wasn't going all out?
---
Somewhere far below...
After who knows how far he fell, Shalba Beelzebub finally came to a stop, half-conscious and coughing up blood.
Bones shattered all over.
Internal organs crushed from the sheer impact.
But the worst of itthe direct blow to the head.
His brain was barely functioning. It felt like it was about to leak out of his skull.
And to make it worse
That searing, burning pain just kept getting worse!
It was like his whole body was being eaten away by some kind of starfirea flame that shimmered like the night sky.
"H...w?!!
Shalba was horrified.
Even he couldn't tank a single hit?!
No way!!
Absolutely impossible!!
Only someone who'd surpassed the Maou levela Super Devilcould do that to him!
But
He was sure of it. Lynn Valifer wasn't on that level.
So then... what the hell is going on?!
Even if he was facing a Super Devil, he shouldn't have gone down like some chump!
Damn it all!!
Shalba could barely hold himself together.
The Valifers... they're all damn monsters!!
He suddenly remembered what happened to his grandfather five hundred years agokilled instantly in battle.
A shiver ran through him.
Was he about to follow in his grandfather's footsteps?
No, no, nooo!!
Shalba forcefully shook that thought from his mind!
He wasn't like his grandfather!
He had the power granted by the Infinite Dragon God!
With that thought, his aura exploded out
BOOM!!
His magic power surged, enough to warp the skies themselves, bolts of lightning slamming down from above.
CRASH!!
Shalba tore apart the rock around him and clawed his way out of the crater.
His wounds were already starting to heal.
But...
The burning pain on his face was still thereand it was driving him insane.
Why...
Why the hell hasn't that fire gone out yet?!
It was eating away at his sanity, but he had no time to worry about that now.
BOOM!!
His magic flared again as he launched himself into the sky!
In a blink, he was standing in front of Lynn again.
Shalba turned to glance at the battered Creuserey.
With a deep voice, he called out:
"Creuserey!"
"Yeah... I got it..."
Creuserey responded weakly, then released his own poweralso calling on the strength of the snake.
BOOM!!
Another wave of massive magic burst out!
Power surged through Creuserey's body as he caught his breath and steadied himself.
Then, with a strange look in his eyes, he stared at Lynn.
Terrifying...
No wonder Katerea had that look earlier.
Now he understood. And he was gladdamn gladhe got Shalba to join the fight.
But... Would even that be enough?
Creuserey still wasn't so sure.
SuddenlyLynn raised his hand toward him. "Universal Pull!"
A wild suction force instantly pulled Creuserey off his feet!
"What the!?"
Before he could react, he was yanked straight toward Lynn!
"!!!"
Creuserey panicked, unleashing magic to try and break free from the pull
SMACK!
Lynn grabbed his head with one hand, grinning. "Later."
Creuserey's eyes went wide.
And the next second
BOOM!!!
An explosion of flames and beams of every magical element burst out, completely engulfing him!
"AAARRRGGHHH!!"
His blood-curdling scream echoed through the entire Old Satan faction stronghold!
Shalba's heart sank.
"Creuserey?!!"
.
.
.
Shalba Beelzebub didn't just stand there stunned.
With a flick of his hand, he launched a deadly curse straight at Lynn.
Lynn raised an eyebrow. He could clearly feel the dense, malicious aura of the cursebut didn't bother dodging. He let it hit him head-on.
Seeing this, Shalba's eyes lit up. It worked! Or so he thought...
One second... two seconds... three seconds...
Shalba's expression froze.
W-Why isn't it doing anything?!
Lynn casually dusted off his clothes, completely unfazed.
He had so many skills from his Familia Devils that he couldn't even remember them allespecially his multiple curse immunity abilities, which definitely weren't just for show.
Shalba had really picked the worst possible opponent.
Meanwhile, Creuserey Asmodeus was quickly getting weaker.
Even with the power of the "Snake" unleashed, he was still nothing in front of Lynnlike a child swinging at a giant.
He didn't even get a chance to fight back.
"Damn it!"
Shalba Beelzebub, now frustrated and unwilling to give up, raised his hand again.
Bzzzz
Suddenly, a swarm of insects filled the air, buzzing toward Lynn like a dark cloud.
"Devour him!"
Shalba's face twisted in rage as he shouted, commanding the swarm.
Lynn only gave it a glance.
Whoosh
A storm of flames surged forward to meet the swarmStarfire, devilish flames, karmic fire, Hellfire... a dazzling rainbow of destruction!
"Zaaaa!"
The swarm screeched in pain as it was engulfed in flames.
Shalba clenched his fists.
No way! That didn't work either?!
Lynn, still calm as ever, suddenly unleashed the fire in his other hand. And with that, Creuserey Asmodeuswho had been pinned beneath that handvanished without a trace.
Shalba's heart sank.
Losing Creuserey, even in his enhanced state, just made things worse for him. Even the "Snake" had been useless...
"Katerea!"
Shalba turned to shout, "Are you just gonna stand there and watch?!"
Katerea Leviathan: "...?"
Why the hell are you dragging me into this? You want me dead too?
Did you not see what happened to Creuserey?
Katerea casually raised her hand, showing off her bleeding wounds. "Sorry~ I'm in no shape to help right now."
Shalba's eye twitched. He could tell right awayshe was totally faking it.
This woman...
Don't tell me she's scared out of her mind?
Shalba was starting to panic a bit.
After seeing what happened to Creuserey, his confidence was beginning to crack. Even with the power of the Snake
He glanced around at the other members of the Old Satan Faction and sighed.
Yeah, they were completely useless.
Retreat started looking real good.
He slightly moved his fingers, beginning to cast a space-magic escape.
But Lynn noticed.
In a blink, Lynn vanished from sight.
Shalba's pupils shrank in horror.
What kind of ridiculous speed is this?! This guy's faster than a damn Maou! Is he really a Super Devil?
Shalba didn't hesitate anymorehe activated his space magic in full.
But...He was still too slow.
BOOM!!
Lynn's punchinfused with multiple flames and Light Powerslammed into him.
Shalba's eyes widened in terror.
That image overlapped perfectly with a memory of his grandfather facing destruction.
BOOM!!
In an instantAn entire section of the Old Satan Faction's base vanished along with Shalba's body.
Gulp.
Katerea Leviathan watched the scene unfold and swallowed hard.
Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.
And the craziest part?
Neither Creuserey nor Shalba even lasted a few moves against Lynn.
Who the hell came up with the plan to go after Lynn Valifer?!
Katerea was now trembling. Her future wasn't looking too bright.
But hey...She did act as a guide, right? Maybe she could be spared?
Her brain was working overtime.
Come on, genius brain, think of something!
Suddenly, she perked up like she remembered something. "Lord Lynn."
"Lord?" Lynn looked at her with a faint smile.
That change in tone sure came fast...
Katerea gave a nervous laugh and said, "Lord Lynn, there's someone in the Old Satan Faction you might be interested in."
"Oh?" Lynn raised a brow.
Katerea got straight to the point. "Ingvild Leviathan."
Lynn's eyes narrowed slightly.
That name...Yeah, it sounded familiar.
Wasn't she the wielder of the Sacred Gear Nereid Kyrie, the Poem of Endless Green Sea?
"...Take me to her."
"Yes, right away!"
Katerea let out a sigh of relief.
As long as he's interested, she might live a little longer.
She quickly led Lynn toward a more secluded corner of the base.
---
A few minutes later...
"Lady Leviathan!"
The guards standing watch called out respectfully to Katerea, but their eyes locked onto Lynn with clear caution.
Katerea snapped, "This is Lord Lynn. Show some respect!"
The guards exchanged looksthen silently looked away and lowered their heads.
Lynn glanced around.
As expected, every single one of them was female.
A little deeper in... Lynn and Katerea entered the inner chamber.
Before long, they were standing in front of a girl with long purple hair, sleeping peacefully in a crystal coffin.
But even while lying downHer curves still... stood tall.
Lynn couldn't help but admire the sight. Now that's what you call a Leviathan.
"Lord Lynn, take a look," Katerea said with a flattering smile, like a madam flaunting her top girlthe crown jewel of the whole damn brothel.
"This is Ingvild Leviathan. She's been asleep for over a hundred years due to the devil Sleep Disease."
Katerea was feeling nervous. Would this sleeping beauty be to Lynn's taste?
If Lynn decided to keep her... Maybe, just maybe, he'd spare a fellow Leviathan like herself?
Lynn rubbed his chin, staring at the sleeping girl.
"How long until she wakes up?"
Katerea hesitated, then replied awkwardly, "Well it should be soon, probably?"
Truth was, she had no clue.
Lynn shot her a side glancehe could tell she was bluffing.
But oh well...
He wasn't planning to wait anyway.
"Open the coffin."
"Yes, sir!"
Katerea wiped sweat off her brow and opened the crystal lid.
Lynn stepped forward and ran his fingers gently along Ingvild Leviathan's flawless body.
Then
Riiip
Her clothes tore apart in an instant.
Katerea bit her lip.
Wait, is he really gonna do it like that? So he's total scum trash but with super devil power?
This world is so messed up, dammit.
Lynn noticed the strange look on Katerea's face but didn't say a word. He simply gathered magic in his hand.
And then
A glowing Devil's Piece formed in his palm.
.
.
.
Katerea Leviathan's eyes flicked to the Devil piece in Lynn's hand, a flash of realization crossing her face.
So, he planned to accept Ingvild into his peerage?
But
She glanced over at the still-sleeping Ingvild Leviathan, her expression a little strange.
Such a sleeping beauty... would she actually be useful?
Well maybe that's not quite right. Sleeping beauties have their own special uses.
And besidesWith that delicate face and a figure that looked practically divine... It's normal for a man to feel it a bit.
...
Lynn didn't hesitate at all. He simply pressed the Devil's piece into Ingvild Leviathan's body.
Yep, from the frontjust under her big.....
Buzz
A glow of light flashed through the room.
[Ding! You've gained a new familia: Ingvild Leviathan!]
[Ding! Your familia 'Ingvild Leviathan' has been reborn as a Special-Class Devil!]
At the same time, a powerful energy surged into Lynn from Ingvild's body as a kind of feedback.
But system notifications could waithis eyes were glued just under Ingvild's big melons.
A second later, the light faded, and her newly engraved "Blessing Information" appeared before his eyes:
---
[Ingvild Leviathan]
Rank: High-Class Devil
Position: Bishop
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Position Skill: Magic Resistance
Noble Phantasm: [Nereid Kyrie / Poem of Endless Green Sea]
[Nereid Kyrie]
Through singing, commands dragonkin (e.g., suppression, enhancement)
Sea Manipulation
Unique Skills: [Sea Serpent Devil]
[Sea Serpent Devil]
Deep Sea Resonance: In water, all stats increase by 50%; magic recovery doubles.Can sense all aquatic flows and predict enemy water-element attacks.
Spawn of Chaos: When HP drops below 30%, forcibly summons the "Leviathan Phantom."Triggers AoE psychic corruption (inflicts fear/confusion); Converts enemy magic into her own HP.
Devilization Sea Hymn Form: Uses a song to control liquid matter (water/blood/venom); Can mold into weapons or barriers. Absolute dominion over sea creatures, including mythical beings like Krakens.
Development Abilities:
Sorcery: S
Summoning: S
"High-Class Devil"
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
If he remembered right, Ingvild was a half-Devil, right?
And she'd been asleep for over a hundred years...
He didn't expect her to still have this kind of power.
Lynn fell into thought, his gaze drifting downward.
"Noble Phantasm, huh"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
So now her Sacred Gear is being listed under her Blessing Info as a Noble Phantasm?
Interesting.
And most likely, her strength as a High-Class Devil was also tied to this Phantasm.
It made sense.
After all, it was a Sacred Gear with god-slaying potential.
He focused on the abilities of the [Nereid Kyrie / Poem of Endless Green Sea].
Control over dragons and the seaboth extremely powerful.
And paired with her Sea Devil skill set, she was definitely a sleeper powerhouse.
Then
[Ding! You've acquired the 'Sea' power!]
Another eyebrow lifted.
Within the space of the [Devil Pieces], alongside the existing concepts of 'Sun' and 'Gravity', 'Sea' had now joined the mix.
Lynn stroked his chin and opened up the [Devil Space]. He noticed faint connections forming between constellations and Devil pieces, some even triggering minor tidal phenomena.
"It's really starting to feel like a fully-formed universe in here."
"Mm"
Suddenly
The purple-haired girl in the ice coffin let out a soft groan, snapping Lynn out of his thoughts.
Ingvild Leviathan slowly opened her eyes, dazed and confused.
Her gaze landed on Lynn's face.
"You're awake?" he said calmly. "The surgery was a success."
Ingvild Leviathan: "...?"
She blinked, still dizzy.
Surgery?
What surgery?
But Why did she feel kind of chilly?
She glanced downand froze.
Wait, wait, wait
SHE WASN'T WEARING ANYTHING?!
"Kyaaaa!"
She screamed, instantly curling into a tight ball.
Her eyes flicked nervously toward Lynn, then darted away. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she hugged her knees tighter.
"Ingvild, you're finally awake."
Katerea Leviathan stepped forward, though her gaze couldn't help but drift to the spot where Ingvild's Blessing Info had been engraved.
What was that?
She didn't recognize the script.
She was really curious.
Hearing the familiar voice, Ingvild looked up and exclaimed in surprise, "Katerea!"
"How long was I asleep?!"
Katerea shrugged. "Over a hundred years, probably?"
"...What?"
Ingvild was stunned.
"You're telling me I went to sleep as a 17-year-old girl and woke up as a hundred-year-old grandma?"
And not just that
Her family was probably long gone by now.
A hint of sadness filled her eyes.
She had been living among humans as a half-Devil until her sleep disease forced her to follow Katerea here.
And the moment she arrivedboom. Hundred-year nap.
Smack!
Katerea flicked her forehead. "I'm older than you, you know!"
"Ow!"
Ingvild winced, rubbing her forehead instinctivelyand in doing so, exposed her figure to Lynn again.
As if sensing his gaze, she froze.
Then, panicked, she dropped her hand and covered herself again, whispering awkwardly, "Katerea W-who is this person?"
Katerea replied with a wry look, "Your Master."
"M-Master?!"
Ingvild's eyes shot up to Lynn's. Her heart skipped a beat.
Katerea continued, "He's the one who cured your Devil Sleep Disease, by the way. If not for him, who knows how long you'd have been out."
"Eh?"
Ingvild blinked, then looked at Lynn againthis time with a bit of awe.
So he had saved her?
Unavoidably, a fairytale popped into her head.
A sleeping beauty And her prince.
Her cheeks turned even redder. She lowered her head, avoiding eye contact.
"I I'll find a way to repay you."
Lynn gave a small smile, gently placing a hand on her long hair.
"You already have."
"Ha?"
Ingvild looked confused.
Lynn tapped her chest where the Blessing Info was engraved.
"Your body already carries my mark."
Her eyes widened. She glanced down at the strange symbols on her skin.
And remembered what Katerea had called him earlierMaster.
Her heart pounded faster.
So that meant
She now belonged to this man?
The thought made her feel lostand something else she couldn't quite name.
She had woken up to find herself a century older, her family gone and now she had a Master?
Lynn ruffled her hair.
"Now, move your hands."
"...!"
She froze again, eyes wide.
Move her hands?
D-does he mean?! And now?!
Her face turned crimson, her ears practically steaming.
"...Huff"
Her breath quickened as she slowly, awkwardly lowered her hands.
Lynn calmly imprinted her Blessing Info into his system.
Ingvild sat there dazed, blinking as the info transferred.
He explained what the Blessing Info meant.
"I see" Katerea muttered, her eyes gleaming.
Wasn't this basically a cheat code for infinite growth?
Her heart thumped.
She turned to look at Ingvild, her emotions mixed.
Wait...
Could she get that blessing too?
The thought struck her, and without hesitation, she dropped to one knee before Lynn.
"Lord Lynn, Katerea is willing to serve you loyally and without question!"
Lynn raised an eyebrow, a half-smile tugging at his lips as he looked down at her.
Katerea froze, tension radiating from her body. She didn't even dare to breathe.
The room went dead silent.
A thin sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Even without a word, Lynn's pressure alone was suffocating.
Was he going to reject her?
Was he going to kill her?
Just as her thoughts turned grim, Lynn finally spoke.
"Alright."
Her eyes widened. Her entire body relaxed in an instant.
Thud!
She collapsed to the floor, panting for air.
Only then did she realizeshe was soaked in sweat.
Her face showed the relief of someone who had just avoided death.
She really thoughtShe was done for.
But thank goodness
She looked up at Lynn with a smile, trying to curry favor.
Lynn, on the other hand, remained expressionless.
The [Devil's Piece] skill reacted to her, confirming she had the potential to join the familia.
And her strengthon par with a Maouwasn't something he could overlook.
Until now, the strongest feedback he'd ever gotten was from an Ultimate-Class Devil at best.
So
Looking down at her, his voice flat and cold, he simply said:
"Strip."
.
.
.
As soon as she heard Lynn's command
Even though her body was still a bit weak and sore, Katerea Leviathan didn't hesitate in the slightestshe immediately began undressing.
After witnessing the full process of Ingvild Leviathan's ritual, Katerea had zero objections to Lynn's demands.
In fact, she even added a little flair of her own.
She only needed to expose her upper body for the ritual but she stripped completely.
Watching yet another dark-skinned beauty undress in front of him, Lynn couldn't help but feel like he was on some kind of lucky streak latelydark-skinned girls just kept showing up.
Without delay, he summoned a devil piece and firmly pressed it against Katerea's chest.
"Mmh~"
The cold sensation made her body shiver.
A strange, unfamiliar energy surged through her, making her let out a soft moan.
The wounds on her body that had been corroded by the power of light also began to slowly heal under the effect of the reincarnation process.
Crack crack
She could faintly hear something breaking inside her.
A sudden lightness washed over her entire body.
Her heart pounded wildly! Her blood was boiling!
Her breath became erratic as both her body and mind buzzed with excitement.
The power that had been stagnant for centuries felt like it was finally breaking free from its chains.
A flash of realization lit up in Katerea's eyes.
This blessing had shattered her limits!
Clenching her fists, she was visibly shaken with emotion.
She knew her body better than anyone.
For three hundred yearsthree full centuriesher strength had been stuck at the same level.
That long plateau had made one thing crystal clear to her:
She had a limit.
No not just her.
Shalba and the others had limits too.
That's why they sought out the power of the Infinite Dragon God why they ended up joining that so-called Khaos Brigade.
But now? The power of the Snake?
Pfft!
She didn't need it anymore!
Just as Katerea was reeling from the emotional impact, a notification chimed in Lynn's ears.
[Ding! You've acquired a new familia: "Katerea Leviathan"!]
"...That's it?"
Lynn blinked in surprise.
WaitKaterea didn't reincarnate into a special devil?
Huh. That's unexpected.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully. It was just a bit of a shame.
After all, Katerea was the first Maou-level follower he'd acquired.
Pushing that minor disappointment aside for now, Lynn looked down at the glowing symbol on Katerea's chest.
The glow faded, revealing her blessing info:
[Katerea Leviathan]
Rank: Maou (Devil King)
Position: Bishop
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Position Skill: Magic Resistance
Unique Skills: [Devil King's Remains], [Contract of the Snake] & [Mutual Destruction at the End]
[Devil King's Remains]
All magic attacks apply "Chaotic Corrosion," continuously weakening enemy defenses.
When HP is below 50%, magic output increases by 50%.
[Contract of the Snake]
Summons the illusion of the "Infinite Snake," granting the following effects:
+30% stat boost
Instant spellcasting
Space Lock (prevents teleportation or escape abilities within a set area)
[Mutual Destruction at the End]
When HP falls below 10%, automatically triggers Self-Destruction Ritual: transforms the body into abyssal tendrils to bind enemies and releases a 1km-radius magic annihilation explosion.
Explosion damage bypasses enemy magic resistance
100% the user dies
Lynn rubbed his chin, carefully reading through the info.
Considering Katerea's Maou-level strength, her skillset was honestly, kind of average.
The [Contract of the Snake] obviously tied into the 'snake' power sealed inside her.
[Mutual Destruction at the End]yeah, that must be the self-destruct technique from the original story.
Lynn raised an eyebrow at that one. He couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't tried using it on him earlier.
Not that it would've made much difference.
He made a copy of her blessing info, handed it to her, then activated a special ability with a simple thought
[Receive feedback from: Katerea Leviathan.]
BOOM!!
In an instant
It felt like a bomb went off inside Lynn's body!
His magic power and physical stats skyrocketed at a totally unreasonable speed.
Crack crack
It was like he could hear the sound of something breaking open from within.
The wall between him and the "Super Devil" rankshattered!
At the same time
His status screen updated quietly:
[Maou] disappeared. [Super Devil] appeared in bold letters.
...
Katerea held the blessing sheet in her hand, but her eyes were fixed straight on Lynn.
Staring intently at her new master.
Just a moment ago, Lynn's aura had exploded like a rocket!
Even though he suppressed it quickly, she knew she wasn't imagining it.
That energy
It was way beyond the Devil King level.
Super Devil?
The word floated through her mind, but she didn't dare believe it just yet.
She had just pledged herself to him, and he became a Super Devil right after?
What kind of ridiculous luck was that?
Katerea's thoughts were all over the placeshe couldn't calm down at all.
Her breathing started getting a bit heavy.
A blessing in disguise?
After suffering centuries of setbacks, Katerea Leviathan was finally getting a taste of what it meant to bet on the right person.
Screw the Old Satan Faction.
From this moment on, she was with the New Faction.
And not the "Sirzechs" kind of new. She meant the Lynn Valifer kind of new.
Katerea had a feeling
With Lynn's power and his natural advantage against devils, it was only a matter of time before he ruled the Underworld.
She couldn't imagine any devil capable of defeating himespecially with all the anti-devil methods he used.
And if he had that many anti-devil abilities then his anti-angel ones might be even stronger.
After all, wasn't Lynn a devil himself?
That thought shocked Katerea even more.
Maybe just maybe the Leviathan bloodline would rise to glory again?
She was honestly looking forward to it.
Still
As someone who had just joined Lynn's followers, her position was let's say "not great."
She needed to figure something out.
A few seconds laterher eyes lit up with a flash of inspiration!
Katerea had found a faster solution.
A little while later.
Lynn finally opened his eyes after fully absorbing the surge in power.
And what did he see?
Katerea Leviathan, kneeling on the floor, naked, with a burning look in her eyes.
"Lord Lynn I've been so disrespectful before, and now you've granted me such a blessing"
"Katerea feels unworthy... Please, cleanse the darkness within me. I want it to be deep."
Yeah, her intentions were pretty damn clear.
As long as Lynn's child carried the Leviathan bloodline wouldn't that solve everything?
Lynn raised an eyebrow, rubbing his chin with a smile as he looked her up and down.
Well, this was unexpected.
Didn't think Katerea would go this far.
Still
If a naked, beautiful woman delivers herself to your door, why say no? Can you say no?"
He took her arm to help her up, then spun her around and pressed her against Ingvild Leviathan's icy coffin. He felt that this was the correct pose, and Katerea was even lifting her butt more for him.
So perfect.
Ingvild Leviathan: "???"
WTF!
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---
Yo~ just a heads up:
Next Tuesday I won't be posting I've gotta travel to the capital with my team to buy stuff for my graduation project. The components are pretty sensitive, especially the electrical parts, so I have to be there.
Also, I might get a lot busier after that, so mass releases will be a bit harder to keep up with and we are near the author anyway. That said, when we hit the stone target, I'll still drop a bonus chapter along with the two daily ones!
Coreal's about to become a free man unlike you poor souls still stuck as students. Mwahahaha!
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Tokyo
Upon hearing about the Old Satan Faction, Serafall arrived to assist.
"..."
"Late again?"
Serafall sighed in frustration.
Just like what happened in Kuoh Townthis time in Tokyo too!
Koyomi Shizuka could only offer an awkward smile. "Sorry, we didn't expect this either"
The Lion King Organization had called for her help to handle a disaster-level incidentonly for some mysterious powerhouse to appear out of nowhere and resolve everything effortlessly.
Even now, Shizuka still couldn't quite believe it.
"It's not your fault," Serafall waved it off casually. "It is Lynn Valifer we're talking about"
Thinking about it made her click her tongue.
She and Sirzechs had already guessed the Old Satan Faction would target Lynn sooner or later.
But still
This ended up just like the Kokabiel incident!
And this time, the enemies weren't some second-rate villains like Kokabielthey had two actual Maou-level foes, and one of them was even a Leviathan-bloodline Maou!
Even she, Serafall, wouldn't have gotten out of that unscathed!
Tch.
And Sirzechs had asked her to support Lynn?
Clearly, they were all underestimating him!
Serafall was getting more and more suspicious about Lynn being the same Lynn from 500 years ago.
Otherwise, how could all this line up so perfectly?
But the last time she met him, she didn't sense that overwhelming aura she remembered from back then. He wasn't even a Super Devil.
So she'd been hesitant.
But now? Now her suspicions felt way more solid.
She just got the news that Lynn had simply strolled into the Old Satan Faction's lair like he owned the place!
When she heard that, Serafall was a bit stunned.
This guy really has guts to match his power
Then again
If he is that Lynn Valifer maybe there's really nothing to worry about.
Serafall stroked her chin thoughtfully and sighed. "Guess I'd better go check things out myself"
They had a few guesses about the Old Satan Faction's base locationsmaybe if she checked each one, she'd find something.
With that thought in mind, Serafall didn't waste any more time with the others at the Lion King Organization.
After Serafall left, Shizuka stood in silence, deep in thought.
That name Serafall mentioned
Lynn Valifer
So he's the one who saved Tokyo?
Lynn
As Shizuka repeated the name in her mind, something suddenly clicked.
Lynn Group?!!
Her eyes flew wide open!
Lynn and the Lynn Group?
No way that's a coincidence. Not a chance!
Oh no
This is bad!
Panic started to set in.
Kirasaka Sayaka was still undercover in the Lynn Group!
If that Lynn mistook her for a spy, the whole Lion King Org would be screwed!
Shizuka quickly contacted Yukari Endou.
A moment later.
In her black cat form, Yukari Endou glared at Shizuka and grumbled, "What, you think I'm your personal errand girl or something?"
Shizuka ignored the sarcasm and quickly explained the LynnLynn Group connection.
After a moment, Yukari Endou's face turned serious too.
Her dear apprentice was still deep in that infiltration mission!
There was no time to waste.
Forget subtle messages or coded transmissionsshe immediately called Sayaka!
"Sayaka, abort the mission! Come back now!"
"Come back?"
Suddenly, a mature female voiceclearly not Kirasaka Sayakaanswered.
The second they heard it, both Shizuka and Yukari Endou felt their hearts drop.
"She's not coming back."
Then came soft whimpering sounds over the line.
"Uhhn~"
"Ahhh~"
Beep beep beep
The call ended in a flatline.
Shizuka: "?"
Endou: "???"
What the hell was happening over there?!
Yukari Endou's heart skipped a beat as her mind drifted to those "covert agent captured" scenarios
Oh no
"Sayaka I've failed you" she muttered tearfully.
Why why had they sent someone with severe androphobia (fear of men) into that kind of hellish situation?!
(Her androphobia was caused by her late father physically abusing her.)
Shizuka stayed silent for a moment, then gently patted Yukari Endou's shoulder. "My condolences"
She just hoped Sayaka wouldn't rat out the Lion King Org
But Was that even possible?
Shizuka's expression darkened.
They needed a plan. Fast.
She couldn't let this kind of threat hang over their heads.
Determination flashed in her eyes.
Underworld - Old Satan Faction Hideout
Serafall teleported to the place where all the commotion had happened earlier.
But
The place felt completely deserted, like everyone had vanished into thin air.
Serafall: "?"
"So quiet?"
Could it be Had the Old Satan Faction already fallen?
Suddenly
A faint sound reached her ears.
Serafall snapped to attention, ears perked up.
Smacksmacksmack~~"Ohh~ n-no more... that's so good..."
Serafall: "?"
"There's still fighting?!"
She flew toward the source of the noise!
---
Lynn raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.
"Hmm someone's creeping around, huh?"
He paused for a second, then just shrugged it off.
Consider it a free viewing ticket.
Katerea Leviathan, feeling Lynn stop, lifted her hips a little higher and gave a playful shake.
Lynn's attention snapped right back to her.
Damn teasing him like this? He was gonna make sure she wouldn't be able to walk for days.
Outside
Serafall cautiously approached, her expression tense.
But the closer she got, the weirder her expression became.
She peeked her head around the corner
and instantly froze.
Ah? Ahhhhhhhhh!
They were DOING IT?!
Gulp.
Serafall swallowed hard, her brain spiraling into chaos.
If she wasn't mistaken
Wasn't that Leviathan from the Old Satan Faction pinned under Lynn on top of an ice coffin?!
Wh-wh-why?!
Her thighs squeezed together involuntarily, her thoughts a jumbled mess.
She was breathing a little too heavily, and after a few more seconds of accidental eavesdropping, she ran off in a panic.
The Next Morning
Ingvild Leviathan took a seat beside Katerea, whose dark skin was now filled with thick, white fluid.
Ingvild's blush hadn't faded since waking up.
Her thighs pressed together and rubbed slightly. It all still felt sticky and warm.
"Nn"
She let out a quiet moan, her heart fluttering.
She hadn't been awake long, but already she'd been through a lot.
First, a new master.
Then some weird "Blessing System" or whatever.
And finally this.
Ingvild bit her lip, too overwhelmed to even describe it.
Her once-pure heart now felt completely defiled.
Smack!
Suddenly, a sharp sound rang out.
Ingvild flinched like a startled kitten.
Her mind couldn't help but flash back to the scenes from the night before.
Lynn had just smacked Katerea's ass when a stream of white fluid slowly trickled out.
"Mmm~"
Katerea let out a soft moan and blinked drowsily at Lynn.
"Don't just lie there. We're leaving," he said casually.
Back in Tokyo
Lynn returned to the gates of Shuchiin Academy.
After a night's rest, the school looked like nothing had happenedas peaceful and clean as ever.
But the way people stared at him said otherwise.
Fear, awe, worship, adoration, curiosityevery kind of emotion swirled in those looks.
Lynn kept a calm face and ignored them, heading straight for Natsuki's office.
When she saw him, Minamiya Natsuki gave him an exasperated look. "You do remember how to come back, huh?"
She'd been worried sick all night when she couldn't reach him.
After all, he'd gone straight into the Old Satan Faction's lair!
She had nearly destroyed her phone from repeatedly checking it and blowing up his messages and calls.
She'd even considered going after him herselfonly to realize she didn't even know where their base was.
Lynn just shrugged.
Not like he could tell her he'd spent the entire night with her enemy Katerea.
Natsuki rolled her eyes hard but sighed. "Can't believe how strong you've gotten."
What Lynn had done yesterday had completely blown her away
Especially the part where he casually took down two Maou-level opponents!
He'd been right under her nose this whole time. How the hell did he hide that?
"You wiped out the Old Satan Faction?"
Seeing Lynn standing there without a scratch made her want to believe it.
.
.
.
"...Are you really still Lynn?"
There was a dazed look on Natsuki's face.
She'd known Lynn for years, and never once noticed anything strange.
Lynn simply smiled. "One hundred percent genuine."
Natsuki fell into deep thought.
She started replaying all the times she'd interacted with Lynn.
When did things start to change?
After a while, she froze in place.
The Supernatural Research Club! All those girls coming in to ask for leave
Rumors about the "Harem Club".
Everything seemed to have started when Lynn began collecting his harem?
Natsuki snapped back to reality, her gaze unreadable as she looked at Lynn.
Don't tell me he gets stronger the more women he adds to his harem?
The thought made even someone as composed as Natsuki blush slightly.
But at the same time, she felt more convinced.
Snap she flicked open her folding fan to cover her now-rosy cheeks, and muttered with a sigh, "Lust devil."
Lynn: "Huh?"
He raised an eyebrow, looking at her in confusion, but Natsuki quickly looked away.
Almost like if their eyes met for too long, something shameful would happen.
Seeing this, Lynn didn't press it. Instead, he casually picked up the cup of tea she'd made, took a sip, and smiled.
"Your tea-making skills are getting better and better, Natsuki-chan."
"Don't call me 'chan'"
She muttered softly, but her tone was noticeably less sharp than before.
Lynn chuckled, then leaned forward. "So, Natsuki-chan, seriouslydon't wanna join my familia?"
"I still need someone to serve tea and keep things running smoothly, you know~"
Even Rias has Akeno to make tea. Is it really too much for him to want a Natsuki?
Natsuki's eye twitched.
Her? Serve tea for Lynn?
She gave him a full-on glare.
Hell, she also wanted a cute, obedient maid to bring her tea.
"No thanks."
But Lynn didn't stop. "That little issue you've got... it's nothing to me now."
Natsuki's body stiffened immediately.
"You know?"
Lynn rested both hands on the desk, speaking calmly, "With the power I have now, it's hard for anything to slip past me."
Natsuki went silent.
From the moment he told her to show her real body yesterday, she knew he had figured something out.
She clenched her fists just thinking about it.
Lynn's voice was calm and steady. "Natsuki-chan, you really want to spend the rest of your life locked in that dark, miserable prison?"
"...Tch."
She gave him another side-eye, then muttered, "Could you stop with the seductive tone?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow, smirking. "So Natsuki-chan knows about that stuff, huh?"
"I am a 26-year-old mature woman, after all," she replied, deadpan.
"Mature?"
Lynn's gaze swept her up and down, and his expression grew complicated.
Natsuki's face darkened instantly.
She lowered her fan and subtly covered her chest.
"My real body size is fascinating," she said flatly.
Lynn nodded half-heartedly. "Yeah, right."
Her expression blackened even more.
She seriously wanted to drag him into a cell and blind him with her true form!
Though if she really did that, she'd probably be the one in danger.
This guy's a lust devil after all!
Lynn didn't seem to notice or care that she was silently fuming, and kept going: "So? Have you given any thought to my offer?"
Natsuki let out a helpless sigh.
What's with this devil? How obsessed is he with her?
She knew exactly what joining his familia meant.
A harem.
"You really have a thing for lolis, don't you?"
Natsuki shot him a not-so-friendly look.
Lynn smirked. "So you're admitting you're a loli?"
Natsuki froze, her breath catching.
This guy what a twisted sense of humor.
"You should be worrying about yourself."
"Worry?" Lynn pointed at himself. "Me?"
"Er" Natsuki paused, then sighed. "Okay, maybe not worry worry."
"But you made a big splash this time. It's definitely going to bring trouble your way."
"And"
"A guy who can casually wipe out two Maou and still lives among humans? That kind of power's gonna attract attention."
Her tone was pointed.
She didn't even need to mention the hidden factions.
Even the ones, like the Lion King Organization, were already stirring.
It had only been one day, but she could already tell that many people there were getting restless.
"Don't forget the humans who possess Sacred Gears," she reminded.
Lynn didn't even blink.
What, people like Cao Cao?
Hehe~ They weren't a threat to him anymore. He was now a Super Devil.
The conversation drifted off after that. The two chatted here and there, but Lynn didn't bring up the familia offer again.
Underworld
Even now, Serafall was still spacing out.
Sirzechs sighed. "So what exactly happened?"
Serafall pursed her lips and shook her head.
What could she say? That she personally witnessed Lynn and Katerea Leviathan doing that?
And it definitely didn't sound like Katerea was being forced.
Thinking about it made Serafall's chest feel heavy. Hmph~ He was definitely that Lynn Valifer.
She had long feared the return of the Lynn she once knew. But now that he was finally back he was already off fooling around with another woman?
It made her feel... complicated.
Her thoughts drifted to the marriage contract with House Sitri.
Originallyshe was supposed to be the one to fulfill that engagementwith the Lynn she knew.
But after a while, that Lynn vanished without a trace. So she lost interest, using her promotion to Maouand her break from the Sitri familyas an excuse to pass the contract down.
EventuallyThe heir of House Sitri was born.
And now
Fate had played a trick on her.
The engagement still circled back to Lynn.
But the fiance wasn't her anymore!!
Though, to be fair
She already knew she wasn't the only competitor. Grayfia was in the running too.
"Ugh"
Serafall flopped onto the table, groaning.
Even if she prepared for this it still didn't feel great.
But It's not like she was Lynn's fiance anymore. What right did she have to say anything?
Fiance Wait, what?
Serafall suddenly sat up straight, her eyes lighting up.
"Why didn't I think of this sooner?!"
Her eyes sparkled with resolve.
Sona wanted to cancel the engagement, right?
Then as her big sisterit was only right that she take responsibility!
For Sona's happiness
Big sis would have to sacrifice herself!
With that thought, Serafall jumped up, opened a magic circle, and vanished from the meeting room.
Sirzechs: "???"
He turned to Ajuka Beelzebub. "What's with her?"
Ajuka paused for a moment, then answered calmly, "Eh, just one of those days women have."
Sirzechs: "Huh?"
He gave Ajuka a weird look. "Devils have those too?"
Ajuka nodded seriously.
Kuoh Town - Student council office
A magic circle suddenly lit up.
Serafall appeared in a flash.
Sona Sitri blinked, startled. "Sis?"
Serafall grinned. "Sona! I'm here to help you cancel the engagement!"
Sona: "???"
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PS: Drop ur stones for bonus chapters. (this week: 250 for one, Max: 7)
Private Kuoh Academy - Student Council Room.
"Sister?"
Sona Sitri blinked in surprise when she saw Serafall Leviathan.
"Cancel the engagement?"
Sona froze.
What what did she just say?
Serafall didn't seem to care about Sona's confusion. She launched herself straight at her little sister, wrapping her arms around Sona's head and aggressively rubbing her cheeks against it.
"It's been so long, my adorable Sona~!"
"Come on, let big sis absorb some of your cuteness!"
Snapping out of it, Sona immediately began to struggle.
"Sis!"
Her voice was muffled but firmclearly more serious than usual.
Hearing that, Serafall quickly let go and gave her a sheepish smile.
"Don't be mad, Sona-chan. I actually came here to give you good news~! Your engagement will be canceled."
Sona took a deep breath to calm herself, then frowned. "Canceled?"
"Mhm!" Serafall nodded cheerfully. "Aren't you happy?"
Happy?
Sona's expression darkened.
She seriously wanted to slap the smile off her sister's face.
"Why all of a sudden?" Sona asked, her voice tight. "I thought there were too many obstacles to even consider canceling it."
Sona bit her lip, her eyes filled with frustration and reluctance.
Serafall, oblivious to her sister's expression, straightened up proudly and declared, "Because your big sis couldn't bear to see you suffer anymore!"
"If my little Sona hates this engagement that much, then I'll gladly sacrifice myself to fix it!"
She clenched her fists, her eyes sparkling with determination, like she was giving some heroic speech.
Pretty cool, right? Definitely enough to earn points in her sister's heart!
"I don't need that."
Sona's voice was cold. She adjusted her glasses and continued, "This is my issue. I don't need you getting involved."
"Ehhhh?" Serafall blinked, caught off guard.
But then a look of realization passed through her eyes.
Right. That's just how Sona isprideful and independent. She was never one to easily accept help.
Still
There's no way someone like Sona could handle a guy like Lynn.
"Sona," Serafall said suddenly, "you've heard the rumors, haven't you?"
Sona tilted her head slightly, confused.
Serafall continued, "Originally, the engagement with the Sitri family was actually arranged with me."
Sona paused and pressed her lips together, silent.
Of course she knew. That's why she hated the engagement in the first place.
Serafall had used the excuse of inheriting the Leviathan name and no longer being a Sitri to dodge the marriage contract.
Everyone in the Sitri family knew the truth. The man Serafall wanted to marry had mysteriously disappeared. So naturally, she didn't want to go through with the engagement.
And then the responsibility just fell on Sona.
That's what made her so angry.
If her sister could reject a marriage she didn't want, why did she have to go through with it?
Of course, she understood that Serafall had the power to make that decision. Power Sona didn't have.
But still, that didn't mean she wouldn't try to fight for herself.
But now, maybe she didn't need to fight anymore.
A glimmer of resolve appeared in Sona's eyes.
When Serafall had said the engagement could be canceled that's when she realized how she really felt.
She didn't want to break it off.
Serafall didn't notice her sister's inner turmoil. She kept rambling on, "Since I was the one the engagement was originally for, I should be the one to carry the burden!"
"What are you saying?"
"You mean" Sona narrowed her eyes. "You want to marry him instead?"
Serafall suddenly looked away, avoiding eye contact.
Sona's expression turned blank. "Why didn't you say this earlier?"
Well, I didn't know Lynn was that Lynn from 500 years ago
Serafall was clearly dodging the question.
Sona frowned deeply. Was there more to this than she knew?
Forget it.
She didn't care anymore.
"I already saidI'm not canceling the engagement." Her voice was resolute.
Serafall blinked. "Wait, weren't you always the one trying to get out of it?"
That's when it finally hit herSona wasn't acting like her usual self.
Ever since she mentioned breaking the engagement, Sona had been cold. She wasn't happy at all.
Why?
Serafall narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing her sister.
Then, cautiously, she asked, "Sona don't tell me"
"You really want to marry Lynn?"
Sona's face flushed red, but she tried to keep her cool. "My personal life doesn't concern you."
Bingo.
Serafall's eyes lit up with realization.
So that's it.
Oh dear. What a mess!
She rested her hands on Sona's shoulders and said with a long sigh, "Sona, you can't handle a guy like Lynn. Just let me take care of it."
Sona brushed her hands off, voice as cold as ever. "No thanks."
"I'm tired. Please leave."
"Huh?" Serafall blinked.
Was Sona kicking her out?
Ouch.
Serafall looked hurt. "But this was my engagement to begin with."
"And the moment you gave it up," Sona replied flatly, "it became mine."
Serafall rubbed her temples in frustration.
How did things get to this point?
Didn't Sona hate the engagement before?
Was she seriously falling for Lynn now?
Damn it!
She wasn't giving up!
With a sly grin, Serafall leaned in. "Sona, you don't get to decide this anymore"
Sona's expression turned cold. "If you really plan to steal him from me then get ready for a Rating Game."
"Huh?"
Serafall looked at her like she'd just heard a joke.
"You serious?"
Sona wanted to challenge her? A Maou?
She'd get crushed!
But to go that far for an engagement she used to hate?
Was this really her Sona?
Sona didn't respond. She just brushed past Serafall and walked out of the room.
Bang.
The door slammed shut behind her.
Serafall stood there, stunned.
She didn't expect Sona to be this stubborn.
Just how far had things gone between her and Lynn?
Serafall frowned.
Guess she'd have to go find out.
Outside the Student Council Room
Sona stood in a quiet corner of Kuoh Academy, gazing up at the sky with a long, silent sigh.
She never expected thatnot only Rias, but now even her own sisterwanted to compete with her over her engagement with Lynn.
Why?
Ever since the last time they met, Sona had sensed something between Serafall and Lynn.
The way she looked at him there was history there.
This whole "cancel the engagement" thingit wasn't for her sake.
It was for Serafall's own reasons.
Sona clenched her fists.
She wasn't going to give him up.
Not even to her own sister.
She knew full well that with Serafall's status as a Maou, transferring the engagement to herself wouldn't be difficult.
Even if Sona was the heir to the Sitri family, she couldn't stop it alone.
So there was only one way.
Challenge her to a Rating Game.
Of course, she knew the gap in their strength.
Challenging a Maou?
It was practically suicide.
But stillShe had to let Serafall, Rias, and Lynn know how serious she was.
She clutched her chest, feeling her heartbeat speed up.
...
Meanwhile
Serafall had arrived at the Occult Research Club.
"Yoo-hoo~! Hello there, little sister of Sirzechs!"
Rias: "???"
.
.
.
Inside the Occult Research Club
"Lady Leviathan?"
Rias looked surprised when Serafall suddenly showed up. She quickly set down her tea and stood up, ready to greet her respectfully.
But Serafall waved her off before she could even speak.
Without any hesitation, Serafall plopped down on the sofa and got straight to the point.
"So, how far have Lynn and Sona gone in their relationship?"
Rias blinked, her expression turning a little strange.
Why is Lady Serafall suddenly asking about that?
She couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Don't tell me because Lynn's been showing off all that power lately, the Sitri family and Serafall are even more eager to push the engagement forward?
Please no!!
On the outside, Rias stayed calm, but internally she was screaming.
Still, she decided to answer honestly. "Uhm as far as I know, not much progress."
From what she had seen, and what she'd heard from Koneko...
Sona and Lynn hadn't even met that many times. They barely had any one-on-one interaction at all.
Thinking about that, Rias actually started to feel a little relieved.
She shared everything she knew with Serafall.
...
After a while, Serafall looked serious. "So what you're saying is..."
"Sona's totally crushing on him by herself?"
Rias hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah... seems like it."
"Whew."
Serafall leaned back on the couch, visibly relaxing.
She had been worried that Sona and Lynn were already at the level of 'passionate couple' like herself and Grayfia (in her dreams).
She couldn't help but chuckle.
Sona really did put on a good act earlierSerafall had almost been fooled.
---
Meanwhile, watching Serafall suddenly loosen up, Rias couldn't help but give her a curious look.
Something's off here.
Is it just me, or does Lady Serafall look relieved that Sona and Lynn aren't making progress?
That doesn't make any sense.
Rias thought for a moment, then carefully asked, "Lady Serafall, is the Sitri family getting impatient?"
Serafall waved her hand casually. "Nah, it's just there might be a change in Sona's engagement situation."
Change?
Rias squinted in confusion.
"Sigh"
Serafall acted like she had a headache, shaking her head. "You know how Sona's never been happy with her engagement, right?"
"And as her doting big sister..."
She paused, then declared righteously: "For Sona's happiness, I've decided to do whatever it takes to cancel her engagement!"
C-Cancel the engagement?!
Akeno and Koneko both froze mid-motion, eyes wide as they stared at Serafall.
Wait, seriously?!
If this were before, back when Lynn's power wasn't known, canceling the engagement wouldn't have been that surprising.
But now?
He's literally a Maou-level being (for them)!
Would the Sitri family really just let go of a fianc like that?
Just for the Sona's happiness?
Akeno looked a little awkward.
And come to think of it Does Sona actually want to cancel the engagement? Did Serafall even talk to Sona about this?
Still, if the engagement really was canceled, wouldn't that be great news for Rias?
Akeno glanced at her.
Rias's face was going through an absolute rollercoaster of expressions.
First shock, then confusion then joy. Trying to stay composed but her lips were twitching, and she was clearly holding back a grin.
Akeno quietly clicked her tongue in amazement. That was one hell of a facial performance.
On the sofa, Rias was doing her best to keep her smile down, but anyone could tell how happy she was just from her eyes.
(Sona, you're the one who gave up first!)
Rias knew full well that someone like Sona wouldn't bring up canceling the engagement herself.
But whether it's by choice or notRias didn't care.
This was her chance!
If Lynn and Sona were no longer engaged, and she put Lynn's name forward as her new fianc, her familyand her big brotherwould definitely back her up!
As for the Phenex family?
Sure, they were pure-blooded nobles, but they didn't even come close to the value of a young, ridiculously powerful Maou.
But just as Rias was getting excited.
Serafall's eyes lit up with determination as she added: "Even if I have to sacrifice myself!"
""
"Wait, WHAT?!"
Rias's grin froze in place.
Sacrifice yourself?? What the hell does that mean?!
Even Akeno and Koneko looked lost.
Then Serafall slapped her hand on the table and announced righteously: "So, I've decided! I'll take over Sona's engagement and become Lynn's fiance instead!"
Rias: "???????"
Rias's face was full of question marks.
What do you mean, take over the engagement? Why would you even need to?!
Akeno and Koneko were straight-up dumbfounded.
Wait is this even allowed?
The entire Occult Research Club fell silent.
Everyone was completely stunned by Serafall's announcement.
It took Rias a while to find her voice.
"So what you're saying is"
"From now on, Lynn's fiance will be you, Lady Leviathan?"
"Yup!"
Serafall nodded without hesitation.
Zero shame. No sense of guilt for "stealing" her little sister's fianc.
Rias's eye twitched hard.
This wasn't canceling an engagement.
This was adding an even stronger and more dangerous rival!
Damn it!
With this, did she even stand a chance anymore?
Rias opened her mouth, but she didn't know what to say.
Akeno also looked at Rias, clearly worried.
What started as hopeful news just turned into an even bigger nightmare.
Koneko was stunned for a second, but then calmly munched on her snacks while watching the drama unfold.
She even sighed in her heart.
"These devils are so lame..."
Still fussing over who gets to be the fiance.
Meanwhile, back in the familia, who knows how many girls had already climbed into Lynn-senpai's bed?
She herself had even tasted his sweet white uhh...
Thinking of that made Koneko blush slightly.
Too bad. Because of her sister, she hadn't yet fully experienced Lynn-senpai's warmth.
"Sigh. When will I finally be old enough?"
She wanted to bear Lynn-senpai's child, just like her sister.
Resting her cheek in her hand, Koneko fell into a daydream.
Meanwhile, at the Fallen Angel HQ
News had just come in that the Old Satan Faction was completely wiped out by Lynn single-handedly.
"Him again?"
Azazel was in the middle of working on an artificial Sacred Gear when he got dragged out of his lab.
Looking over the report, he couldn't help but whistle.
The Old Satan Faction was one hell of a tough nut to crack. And Lynn crushed them all alone?
Even he wouldn't dare try something like that!
Azazel narrowed his eyes.
Lynn's strength wasn't just about taking down Kokabiel anymore. At this point he might be beyond Maou-level.
Azazel stared at Lynn's report, deep in thought.
That upcoming three-Factions summit?
Yeah, Lynn was definitely getting a seat at the table.
Nearby, Vali's eyes lit up when he heard the news. Battle thirst kicking inhard.
But he also looked a little weirded out.
The organization he just joined?
Totally wiped out.
What the hell?
In the Underworld former base of the Old Satan Faction
A young man with silver-white hair and red eyes appeared silently.
He stroked his chin as he stared at the now-empty compound.
"So a major branch of the Khaos Brigade got completely solo'd?"
Lynn Valifer
Thinking of that name, Siegfried narrowed his eyes.
Someone like thatyeah, Cao Cao would definitely be interested.
Khaos Brigade Core Palace
A long black-haired loli sitting on a throne suddenly opened her eyes and murmured:
"The power of the Snake has been fully accepted"
She could no longer sense a part of it.
What happened?
Ophis tilted her head in confusion.
And more importantly she felt some kind of faint, inexplicable connection to something.
.
.
.
(Bonus)
At the familia Home
Lynn sat down to check on his current status.
Since becoming a Super Devil, he had undergone a complete transformation in terms of strength.
But interestingly, his abilities like [Devil's Piece] and [Devil's Contract] hadn't really changed much.
What really surprised him, though, was the "snake" power relayed through Katerea Leviathan.
He raised his hand, and a faint illusion began to take shape, changing the place around him.
...
In a deep, eerie palace, Ophis sat on a throne.
She stared blankly ahead with a completely emotionless expression.
Ophis slowly turned her head, those deep, unblinking black eyes locking onto Lynn. She tilted her head slightly, as if puzzled by his presence.
Seeing her like that, Lynn raised a brow and muttered in surprise, "...Infinite Dragon God?"
He hadn't expected this at all.
That "snake" from Katerea Leviathan had allowed him to manifest a vision of Ophis herself? Wait...that's right, is it?
He frowned, digging into his memory.
---
[Contract of the Snake]
Summons the illusion of the "Infinite Snake," granting the following effects:
+30% stat boost
Instant spellcasting
Space Lock (prevents teleportation or escape abilities within a set area)
---
He opened his personal interface and murmured, "Yeah I was right."
That was indeed the skill.
But if he remembered right, that illusion was just a hollow image. No movement, no expressionjust a passive visual effect.
But what was in front of him now was totally different.
The setting, the figure it was too vivid. Too real.
"..."
"You're the one, huh"
Ophis' monotone voice echoed softly.
Lynn's expression grew complicated.
Was she... talking to him through the illusion?
Alsowhat did she mean by "the one"?
Following the "ask if you don't get it" principle, Lynn asked directly, "What do you mean I'm the one?"
Ophis stared at him, her voice calm and cold, "The snake's power it was you who severed it."
Lynn narrowed his eyes.
He still wasn't sure exactly what she meant, but that line revealed a few things.
The connection between Ophis and the snake's powerwas gone.
Was it because of Katerea Leviathan? Because she had been reincarnated as his familia member?
Or was it something to do with the now-extinct Old Satan Faction?
Either way it was kind of his fault.
And maybe not, 'kind of.'
Lynn shrugged. "Well, guess that was me."
Deep down, he stayed on alert.
Even if Ophis came off harmless in the original story, he couldn't afford to drop his guard. This was still a Dragon God we're talking aboutone of the top two powerhouses in the whole world.
Even as a Super Devil, Lynn didn't feel confident facing someone of that caliber head-on.
He wondered if the power he got from Ingvild Leviathan could actually affect someone like the Infinite Dragon God.
I mean, she's still a dragon right? So Nereid Kyrie is ok?
That said, Lynn wasn't planning on testing it unless absolutely necessary.
Plus Ophis didn't seem hostile at all.
At least for now, she didn't look like an enemy.
Maybe there's a chance to win her over?
...
Of course, Ophis had no idea that Lynn was busy plotting how to "pack her up and take her home."
She just silently stared at the snake power that lingered around himpower that didn't come from her.
It came from him?
A flicker of confusion crossed her usually emotionless eyes.
Still, there was no doubt. Her senses weren't wrong.
But how? The snake should have been her power and hers alone.
And yet now there was another being with an "infinite" power.
Even if it was still too weak.
So then, was he family?
The thought surfaced in her mind.
And for the first time in ages, her emotions stirred.
"How strange."
Ophis didn't understand the feeling, but she didn't hate Lynn. In fact, there was something oddly familiar about him.
It made her want to get closer.
But then she remembered the "Dream"That dragon who drove her from her home.
Her emotions settled.
She still needed the Khaos Brigade.
Still needed to reclaim her home from that dragon.
With that thought, she waved her hand and dispersed the illusion.
But just before it vanished, a ball of energy shot out and floated in front of Lynn.
And her calm voice followed. "Your 'infinity' is too weak. Grow stronger quickly."
Even though her voice stayed flat, it carried a trace of expectation.
If Lynn got strong enough, maybe he could help her chase out that dragon.
A few seconds later, the illusion fully vanished.
Lynn stared at the hazy, swirling gray mist left behind in his room.
It actually turned the illusion into reality.
Yeah. No doubt about itthis woman really is the second most powerful being in the world.
After quietly admiring the moment, he sank into thought.
But was this the "snake" power? What exactly did Ophis mean?
"Infinity."
He hadn't acquired any such power, right?
Just then, the snake power from Katerea Leviathan pulsed inside him.
A feeling of deep hunger, of longing, stirred within him.
Lynn raised a brow and stared at the gray mist. After thinking for a second, he reached out toward it.
Buzz
The moment he touched it, the mist responded like it was being summoned, surging into his body through his fingertips.
Buzz
Lynn instantly stopped its advance and carefully scanned it with his magic.
Once he was sure there were no hidden dangers, he released control.
Next thing he knew, the snake power within himoriginally from Katerea devoured the gray mist entirely!
[Ding! You have obtained the skill: Ouroboros Ring!]
Lynn's brow lifted as he checked the new ability.
[Ouroboros Ring]
Skills
Flesh Loop:
- Self-Regeneration: Injured areas grow snake-scale patterns. Regeneration is massively accelerated by "consuming one's own flesh."
- Energy Cycle: 60% of expended magic/stamina loops back into the body, laying the foundation for a "perpetual motion combat style."
Status: [Incomplete]
Lynn rubbed his chin, reading the skill description carefully.
Looked like a powerful self-sustain ability.
Actually stronger than his [Healing Devil] skill in terms of personal utility.
Of course, that one from Marikawa Shizuka is a group buff, while this one is purely for himselftotally different categories.
Then he noticed the "[Incomplete]" tag.
It reminded him of another ability[Gastrea Factor] before giving him, [Zodiac Pilgrimage].
Felt like this Ouroboros Ring was hiding something big.
Ophis really dropped a heavy gift on him, huh.
With a bit of anticipation, Lynn closed his status screen and pondered Ophis' intentions.
Why would she do this? He didn't get it.
But if nothing else, this made it way more likely that he could eventually win her over.
"Your infinity is too weak"
That line echoed in his mind, and Lynn smirked.
He really wanted to say "Well, if you become my Familia, then my 'infinity' will naturally grow stronger."
Maybe he should try that next time?
These loli-types are usually easy to coax anyway.
Just as he was plotting how to kidnap the infinite dragon loli
His phone rang.
It was Yukinoshita Haruno.
"Lynn-sama~" Haruno's teasing voice came through.
"We caught a 'secret agent' sneaking into the company. Wanna come over and punish her~?"
She really emphasized the word punish.
Lynn raised a brow.
This Haruno was definitely implying something.
"Is she good enough to be recruited into the Familia?"
"Bingo~"
If she wasn't Familia material, Haruno wouldn't have bothered reporting itshe'd have handled it herself.
Meanwhile, at Lynn Group.
In an underground prison that had been secretly expanded at some point.
Haruno was talking on the phone while smiling sweetly at the girl tied up in front of herKirasaka Sayaka.
But to Sayaka, that smile looked straight up demonic.
And when she heard the calm male voice coming from Haruno's phone, her whole body shuddered.
W-Wait
Was she about to bePunished?!
Was it that kind of punishment?
Embarrassing images started flashing through her mind.
But thanks to her personal tastes, even the darker scenes still stayed well, yuri flavored.
WaitThis time, it's gonna be a guy?
Ugh!
Sayaka suddenly found it hard to breathe, her mind spinning from lack of oxygen.
Her eyes rolled backand she passed out cold.
Haruno paused mid-sentence.
"Ah"
"She fainted."
.
.
.
---
Coreal/N:
As you know, no chs tomorrow.
Also some of my fanfics will be wrapping up soon, but honestly, all the Chinese fanfics coming out lately are so trash that I just can't bring myself to translate them anymore. Even the better ones just follow the plot with no creativity. So I figured, might as well start writing my own.
I already wrote some chapters of Multiverse ff beforeyou can check them out for free on my Patreon under the "Drafts" in collection.
It starts in Naruto. But I had a different plan for the multiverse thing so things will change.
Hope you can check it out on my Patreon and let me know what worlds you think the MC should go to!
(Pat link: patreon.com/_Coreal)
Note: The system mechanics may change later. I'm even considering making the MC a civilian with no Chakra. Not 100% sure yet.
If you've got any ideas, or if you wanna read the drafts without using Patreon, feel free to join my Discord to tell me!
Link: https://discord.gg/uwUKU4NeRW
Tokyo - Lion King Organization
Shirona Kuraki looked at Koyomi Shizuka expectantly. "Well? Did you find anything?"
Koyomi sat kneeling on the tatami mat, her face calm as ever. "Lynn Valifer. First-year student at Shuchiin Academy. President of the Supernatural Research Club."
She had already dug up all this info after witnessing Lynn's overwhelming power firsthand.
Besides
The Supernatural Research Club was kinda famous around Shuchiin.
Not exactly for good reasons, though.
Still, at least it saved Koyomi a ton of investigation time.
Shirona's expression twisted.A guy that strong actually pretends to be a high school student?
What kind of weird hobby is that?
But still
This wasn't enough.
Nothing here gave her the kind of leverage that could pin Lynn down in one go.
"Is that all?" she asked, unable to hold back. "No special interests or anything?"
"Hobbies" Koyomi murmured, lips twitching. "Harem-building?"
"...Eh?"
Shirona blinked, stunned.
"H-Harem-building?"
She stared at Koyomi like she'd just grown a second head.
But Koyomi nodded seriously and shared the rumorshow the Supernatural Research Club was basically a front for a harem operation.
And upholding the sacred principle of "no investigation, no right to speak," Koyomi had done a little fieldwork herself.
Even just inside Shuchiin, there were lots of girls in that club. And apparently, other beautiful girlswho weren't even from Shuchiinwould occasionally drop by too.
Heck, Koyomi even overheard something from a girl named Miura Yumiko
Apparently, the club even had a subdivision calledThe Service Club.
When Koyomi first heard that, even she was at a loss for words.
"Service Club... huh." Shirona's face twitched, and she let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, it's real clear who they're 'serving', haha."
Koyomi hesitated, but then added, "Also it's said that the Witch of the Void is really close with Lynn Valifer."
She'd seen it herselfNatsuki and Lynn clearly knew each other, and not just casually.
But it was from Yumiko that she heard just how close they were.
Apparently, Yumiko once went to report the Club to Natsuki-senseiAnd not only did nothing happenThe club even got a bigger activity room afterward!
Yumiko was convinced Natsuki was covering for Lynn. In fact, she suspected Natsuki might be part of his harem too!
And after seeing the kind of supernatural powers Lynn and Natsuki showed offYumiko finally got it.
They were all part of the Supernatural.
She even understood now why Yukino and Yui acted the way they did.
Koyomi shared all this with Shirona.
"The Witch of the Void Natsuki," Shirona muttered, practically grinding her teeth.
"A true witch, through and through!"
After silently cursing Natsuki for a while, Shirona tried to think of how to build a bridge with this terrifying existence.
At the very leastKoyomi had dug up something useful.
"He likes building harems, huh"
"Then we should just send him some new harem members, no?"
Her eyes lit up.
"..." Koyomi blinked.
"..." Yukari Endou was speechless.
They were both stunned by how shamelessly fast Shirona reached that conclusion.
But she wasn't wrong, either.
"Still" Yukari Endou muttered, "Normal girls probably wouldn't catch the Devil King's eye."
Shirona waved it off. "Doesn't the Lion King Organization have some special options?"
Yukari Endou flinched. "You're talking about my student, Himeragi Yukina?!"
She couldn't stay calm anymore. First it was her student Sayaka and now her other student too?
What, were they just gonna drain her dry?! Was she next?
"No way! I refuse!"
Her voice rang loud and clear.
"And besides"
"You want me to hand over a Sword Shaman we've worked so hard to train, just so she can become someone else's possession?"
Her words were laced with frustration.
Shirona replied coolly, "If sacrificing a few shrine maidens means avoiding conflict with the Devil Kingor even earning his favor"
"Then honestly, it's a small price to pay."
Yukari Endou went silent.
As much as she hated to admit it Shirona had a point.
But still
"Does it have to be Yukina?" she muttered under her breath.
Shirona glanced at her and said flatly, "Fine. It doesn't have to be Yukina."
Yukari Endou nodded in relief.
Then Shirona added, "You can go instead. Offer yourself up as the Devil King's shrine maiden."
"...Huh?"
"You're the real special talent here, aren't you?" Shirona said, clearly implying something.
Yukari Endou's face twitched. "I'm way too old for his taste"
Then she quickly backtracked. "...But my dear student, Yukina, she's the perfect candidate."
"Young, pure, and an elite-level shrine maiden. The Devil King would love her!"
"So yeah," she clapped her hands, "Let's go with Yukina after all!"
Shirona gave her a long, judgmental stare.
Koyomi pressed her lips together, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.
"Oi, oi, oi!" Yukari Endou protested, raising her cat paws. "Don't look at me like that!"
"Becoming the Devil King's shrine maiden is a once-in-nine-lifetimes blessing!"
"As her teacher, of course I want to give my student the best opportunity!"
"This is called loving your disciple!"
She declared righteously.
Shirona replied lazily, "Sure, sure"
"So" she added, "You'll be the one to inform Yukina, then."
Endou: "...Huh?"
That was brutal.
Shirona, you're evil!
Are you trying to ruin her relationship with her student?!
Koyomi suddenly spoke up, "By the way are we just gonna forget about Sayaka?"
Shirona and Yukari Endou both froze.
Then fell silent.
And finallyThey both said, "Let's send her to Lord Lynn too."
She was already beyond saving anyway.
"Wait a sec," Koyomi said, narrowing her eyes. "Aren't we, like openly delivering harem members to a devil?"
"Doesn't that hurt the Lion King Organization's reputation?"
Shirona fell silent for a second. Then said righteously:
"What harem?!"
"They're shrine maidens, okay?!"
"And besides"
She added firmly, "According to Lynn himself, they're called familia!"
"Harem" sounds sketchy. "Shrine maiden" or "familia" sounds way better.
After the Lion King Organization's top-secret meeting.
Yukari Endou looked toward Yukina, who was training in the courtyard, with a complicated expression.
How the hell was she supposed to bring this up?
She couldn't just say "Hey, the higher-ups decided to ship you off to become a devil's harem girl."
Yeah, no.
That would destroy her "dignified mentor" image in Yukina's heart.
Yukari Endou's face turned serious.
She had to find a better way.
After a moment of deep thought her eyes lit up.
Got it.
Her expression changed in an instant, adopting a tragic look. "Y-Yukina"
"???" Yukina stopped mid-swing and looked over.
The moment she saw her master's face, her heart sank.
W-What's going on?
She suddenly felt really uneasy.
"Master, did something happen?" she asked softly.
"...Sigh." Yukari Endou let out a long sigh, then said with heavy sorrow: "Yukina, it's Sayaka"
Yukina's eyes widened in horror. "What happened to Sayaka?!"
"...Sigh." Another long sigh. Yukina was already starting to panic.
Yukari Endou finally dropped the bomb: "She she was captured by a strong devil."
Yukina froze. Her knees gave out and she collapsed.
"H-How how could this happen?!"
Grief and panic washed over her.
She knew the difference in power between her and a devil.
StillShe wasn't going to give up.
She clenched her fists, grabbed her Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer spear, and declared, "I'll rescue her!"
"Wait!" Yukari Endou suddenly grabbed her arm.
"Master?" Yukina looked confused.
Yukari Endou shook her head. "Yukina, it's useless."
"That man he's the legendary Devil King. A Maou!"
Bang!
The spear fell from her hands. Yukina stood frozen, despair and heartbreak overwhelming her.
She knew there was no way she could fight someone like that.
But stillShe had to try!
Just as she picked her spear back up, Yukari Endou said softly: "There is a way to save Sayaka"
Yukina paused. "Master, tell me! What is it?!"
Yukari Endou gave her a gentle smile and leaned in, whispering three words
"The Honey Trap."
"...Huh?"
.
.
.
Anime Gate: Devil Familia in a DxD Mashup World [Completed]
Coreal
"A-A honey trap?"
Himeragi Yukina stared at Yukari Endou with disbelief. Her finger trembled as she pointed at herself. "Me?"
Yukari Endou nodded seriously. "This decision came from the top, Yukina."
"You are, without a doubt, the best person for this mission!"
Yukina's eyelid twitched.
Seeing her uncertainty, Yukari Endou leaned in close and whispered ominously in her ear, "Yukina you don't want Sayaka to be defiled by some man, do you?"
"!!!"
Yukina's eyes instantly widened.
Endou kept going, her tone turning sorrowful. "Poor Sayaka With her androphobia and getting caught by a man"
"Who knows what might happen to her"
Endou even faked wiping a tear, putting on a show like she was crying.
The image of Sayakaone of Yukina's few close friendsgetting taken by some man and doing god-knows-what started flooding her mind. Her fists clenched.
"I'll do it!"
Yukina's voice was firm and resolute.
She would rescue Sayaka from that devil's clutchesno matter what!
Her eyes burned with determination.
Seeing this, Endou immediately dropped the act and put her hands on Yukina's shoulders, looking pleased. "I knew I could count on you!"
"Tch."
Yukina narrowed her eyes.
Something felt very off right now.
Did she just get tricked again?
Suspicion flashed through her eyes.
But Endou's face looked so calm and composed.
After staring at her for a while, Yukina couldn't spot any signs of deception.
She reluctantly pushed aside her doubts for the moment.
At the very least Sayaka really being captured by a devil probably wasn't a lie.
Even Endou wouldn't go that low just to prank her right?
"Ahem."
Endou cleared her throat and started explaining the mission details and objectives.
...
A little while later.
Yukina stood there with her eyes closed, quietly digesting everything she'd just learned.
Lynn. A first-year student at Shuchiin Academy.
Leader of the Supernatural Research Clubor, more informally, the Harem Club.
Just hearing that name made Yukina's expression turn complicated.
No wonder her mentor was using a honey trap it all made sense now.
A man with that much power and influence and his hobby was collecting girls?
How grossly clich.
But the more she thought about it, the more nervous she felt.
Sayaka was a total beauty with an amazing figure. If she'd been captured by someone like him, well it was obvious what might've happened.
"Sayaka"
Yukina clenched her fists again.
She had to rescue her.
But to get close to Lynn, she'd need to become part of his harem?
This mission was complicated, in every sense of the word.
Endou continued, "We've already arranged the paperwork. You'll transfer to Shuchiin Academy tomorrow."
Yukina pursed her lips and nodded.
Endou smiled in satisfaction. "Once you're in, your top priority is to become one of Lynn's servants!"
She added seriously, "We don't know Sayaka's exact whereabouts, but if you become his servant, you'll definitely be able to find her!"
Yukina fell silent, murmuring, "A servant, huh"
As someone trained by the Lion King Organization, she knew a decent amount about devils.
Becoming a servant basically meant becoming a devil herself.
She felt a pang of hesitation in her chest and suddenly felt a little lost.
But when she thought about Sayaka again, she sighed helplessly.
"I get it."
If it meant saving Sayaka, then becoming a devil it is
"But!!"
"What happens when the mission's over?"
She asked with uncertainty.
Endou froze for a second, her confidence faltering. "Ahaha the higher-ups will uh try to figure something out"
Yukina's face twitched.
She stared silently at her mentor.
There wasn't a plan to get her out, was there?
Endou looked away guiltily and muttered, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there"
"Yukina, you wouldn't want"
"Stop right there."
Yukina raised her hand to cut her off, keeping her tone as calm as possible. "I'll do it."
"..."
Endou let out a silent breath.
Calling it a "honey trap" sounded noble, but honestly She was just sending Yukina off as a gift to the Devil.
And Sayaka well, she probably wasn't coming back either.
Ugh.
If Yukina ever found out the truth, would she come after her mentor for revenge?
Endou felt uneasy just thinking about it.
But there was no helping it.
If Yukina didn't go, she'd be the one getting sent off!
Besides from what she'd heard, being part of Lynn's faction wasn't actually a bad deal.
All the girls in that Supernatural Club seemed to be living their best lives.
Maybe this was actually a golden opportunity for Yukina?
Yukari Endou comforted herself with that thought, trying to ease her guilt.
Later that day
Yukina carried her bag and headed to the apartment rented near Shuchiin.
And conveniently, her new place was right next to Lynn's old house.
Shirona Kuraki glanced at the sulking black cat and asked with no emotion, "Yukina's gone?"
The black cat responded weakly, "Yeah."
Hearing this, Shirona let out a breath.
Hopefully, everything would go smoothly.
In the underground facility of the Lynn Group
A black magic circle flared to life.
"Lynn sama~"
Yukinoshita Haruno spotted Lynn and immediately jumped into his arms.
She clung to his arm and snuggled up to him. "We heard you were attacked, my lord. We were so worried!"
Lynn hadn't returned to the manor all night.
Even though everyone knew he was strong, his familia couldn't help but be concerned.
Haruno suddenly paused, leaned in close, and took a long sniff.
A strange look flashed in her eyes.
She raised an eyebrow. "New girl joined the harem?"
Lynn nodded.
Haruno's eyes narrowed. "Old Satan Faction?"
Lynn patted her head. "Good girl."
She rolled her eyes. "Please, I'm not a toddler."
Tsk
No matter where Lynn went, he always had to build a harem.
Speaking of which
Haruno remembered why she was here and turned toward the tied-up Sayaka.
"There she is, Lord Lynn," she said like a madam presenting a prized girl.
Raising an eyebrow, she grinned. "Not bad, right?"
Lynn stroked his chin, eyeing the curves highlighted by the ropes. He nodded. "She's got potential."
His [Devil's Piece] was glowing faintly.
Another great candidate for the Familia.
He opened the cell and squatted in front of Sayaka. Lifting her chin, he brought her face up.
"Mmgh"
Sayaka made a soft sound.
Feeling his touch, she frowned slightly and slowly opened her blurry eyes.
She saw Lynn's face.
She froze for a second, then her eyes went wide. "A-a-a-a MAN?!"
She turned pale! Goosebumps exploded across her skin, and she started shaking all over!
Her vision blurred, brain overloaded, and with a dramatic backward flop
She fainted.
Her body still twitched like a fish out of water.
Lynn: ""
Haruno: ""
Haruno was stunned. This was a first for her.
And earlier too she'd fainted for no clear reason.
Lynn explained, "Androphobia."
Though it'd been a while, he still vaguely remembered.
"Androphobia?" Haruno blinked.
No wonder.
So back then, she must've fainted from hearing Haruno say she'd be punished by Lynn?
A twitch formed at the corner of Haruno's eye.
This was a bit extreme, wasn't it?
She looked at the unconscious Sayaka and asked, "So, what now?"
Lynn's eyes gleamed with devilish intent, and he gave a faint smirk.
"To make her part of the Familia looks like we'll need to start desensitization training."
Haruno saw the evil grin forming on Lynn's face, and a chill ran down her spine.
She glanced at Sayaka with sympathy.
.
.
.
Lynn Group Headquarters
Lynn lounged on the sofa, nestling the unconscious Kirasaka Sayaka in his arms.
He then cast a wake-up spell into her body.
"Mmm"
Sayaka groaned as she was yanked back to consciousnessonly to find Lynn's face filling her vision again.
"!!!"
Her breath caught. Her head was spinning all over again.
Lynn watched her with a faint, amused smirk. "Every time you pass out, I'm taking off one piece of your clothing."
"!!!"
Instant clarity. Sayaka glared at him, teeth clenched. "Y-You shameless bastard!"
Lynn remained unfazed, his fingers already working on the buttons of her blouse.
"W-Wait!"
Panicked, Sayaka grabbed his hand
"Eek!"
The moment their skin touched, she recoiled like she'd been electrocuted, snatching her hand back.
Lynn's lips curled, but he didn't stop.
Sayaka trembled, her voice shaky. "I-I didn't faint!"
"The first time counted," Lynn replied flatly.
Sayaka: "!!!"
"Y-You evil!"
Her breathing grew ragged. Desperate, she ignored her own phobia of touching him and grabbed his hand againbut her strength was no match for his.
"N-No please" Her plea was barely a whisper.
The next second, her jacket hit the floor.
"Ghk!"
Eyes wide, Sayaka's brain short-circuited. And then fainted.
Lynn sighed. "That's all it takes?"
This desensitization training still has a long way to go.
Another wake-up spell.
"D-Devil!" Sayaka gasped the moment she came to.
Lynn grinned. "Congratulations. Correct answer."
Then, he made her watch as another piece of clothing was stripped away.
"This this is hell!!"
Tears welled in Sayaka's eyes, her heart pounding wildly. But Lynn showed no mercy, methodically peeling away layer after layer.
Faint. Wake up. Repeat.
Until
Sayaka lay naked in his arms, her body twitching occasionally, her generous curves jiggling with each tremble.
Her eyes were vacant, cheeks wet, a trail of drool at the corner of her lipsutterly broken.
"Hmm..."
"Clothes run out fast. If she keeps fainting, we'll have to move on to physical desensitization."
Lynn said as his fingers sank into her most private part.
"Mhm!!"
Sayaka's back arched violently, a stifled moan escaping her lips. Her body quaked like a leaf in a storm.
With a final shudderSplash~~~
Yukinoshita Haruno's jaw dropped like some cartoon character.
T-That's a skill?!
Even Lynn paused, fascinatedhe barely even put in effort.
When Sayaka finally stopped, limp and unresponsive, Lynn resumed his mission.
But this time, she just lay there, a lifeless doll.
He stopped and nodded.
"Desensitization complete."
Haruno's eye twitched.
This is how you 'desensitize' someone?!
Lynn tossed Sayaka onto the sofa and began cleaning his hands.
Haruno tilted her head. "Not turning her into a devil?"
"Let her recover first."
"I see~" Haruno purred, pressing against him. Her breath tickled his ear. "Then"
"Since we're here, do you want to see my new forms, Lynn-sama?"
Lynn smirked, pulling her closer. "Yeah, but you alone won't be enough."
Haruno licked her lips. "I'll call Saya and her mother up."
His eyes darkened. A hand fisted in her hair, guiding her downward. "Your mouth is the best, Haruno."
...
Soon, Saya peeked into the officeonly to find Haruno dutifully cleansing Lynn's d*ck. Her head was moving really fast up and down.
"Mmph!" Haruno waved urgently.
Saya's eyes sparkled. She hadn't received Lynn's rewards in ages.
The office quickly echoed with unrestrained debauchery.
"Mmm"
The sound stirred Sayaka. Blinking groggily, she turned toward the source
S-S-Sinful!!
Her bare skin flushed pink as heat rushed to her face. She slapped her hands over her eyesbut still peeked through her fingers.
Thump-thump!
Her heart raced, her entire body burning. Even her exhales felt hot.
YetA strange realization struck her.
I'm NOT fainting?
Her throat dried as she watched the show.
Is my androphobia cured?
Testing the theory, she recalled a random man's face
Eugh!
Instant disgust. Her skin crawled.
But the moment she looked back at Lynn, the nausea vanishedreplaced by something warmer.
"..."
Good news: Her phobia had improved.
Bad news: Only for this devil.
W-WHY?!
And why did she become like this?
Meanwhile, Harunobent over the desk as she was changing her posespotted Sayaka's state and smirked.
---
The Next Day Shuchiin Academy
Himeragi Yukina stepped through the gates, her expression lost. Taking a deep breath, she tightened her grip on her bag and headed inside.
Class 1-3
Unlike the usual chat, the room was dead silent.
Even the lawbreakers held their breath, terrified of disturbing the man by the window Lynn.
The students sat stiffly. How could they not fear him?
The guy who shared their classes was a monster. Sure, he'd saved thembut sharing a room with that?
Gulp.
Someone's swallow echoed. He clamped a hand over his throat, horrified.
Lynn rested his chin on his hand, sighing inwardly.
Too tense.
Pulling out his phone, he texted Minamiya Natsuki:
[Lynn: "Natsuki-chan, didn't you erase the civilians' memories?"]
[Natsuki: "Isn't this better for your harem?"]
[Natsuki: "Now, half the schoolgirls want to join your harem~"]
Lynn: ""
The Supernatural Research Club would probably see a surge in applicants today.
Poke!
A delicate finger tapped his arm.
Turning, he met the calm gaze of a girl with flawless featuresMegumi Kato.
Lynn smiled. "What's up, Megumi?"
Megumi Kato blinked. "You always notice me so easily."
And never forgot her name.
In a school where even teachers overlooked her, Lynn stood out.
"Is it because of your powers?" she mused, then shook her head. "But Natsuki-sensei still can't see me."
Lynn chuckled. "Your stealth is your supernatural ability. It's probably high-tier."
Megumi Kato puffed her cheeks. "You're teasing me."
The class exchanged glances.
Who is Lynn talking to?
A chill ran down their spines. A ghost?!
The silence grew heavieruntil Lynn's gaze swept over them. Instant obedience.
Megumi Kato smiled faintly. "You're like a king here."
Lynn shrugged. "Some call me that. The Devil King, to be exact."
"Devil?"
"Yep."
Megumi Kato hesitatedthen whispered: "Does that invitation still stand?"
Lynn raised a brow. "Which one?"
They'd talked a lot as desk neighbors.
"The one about becoming yours."
.
.
.
Lynn looked at Megumi Kato's calm face and couldn't help but smile.
Didn't Natsuki-chan say this would happen?
"Natsuki-chan is doing her best for me. No wonder she didn't erase their memories."
Back when he'd just awakened the system, he'd invited Megumi too.
But she thought he was just being a cringe-worthy chunibyo.
She even sweetly checked his forehead for a fever, worry flashing in her eyes.
Thinking back to that scene, Lynn's mouth twitched a little.
Looks like things are finally falling into place.
Still, some things needed to be said clearly.
After thinking for a moment, Lynn asked, "Megumi, do you know what it means to become mine? Joining my 'familia'?"
Megumi blinked, glanced over at the group of stunning girls in the Supernatural Research Club, and tilted her head." Hmm become part of your harem?"
Lynn: ""
He rubbed his temples and sighed. "When did my reputation get this bad?"
Megumi looked puzzled. "Isn't it true though?"
""
Lynn paused, then shrugged. "Well I guess you're not wrong."
Megumi's expression turned complicated. "You just admitted it so easily, huh"
"Everyone already knows anyway."
"Still," Lynn added, not wanting to scare her off, "even if you do become part of my harem, as the leader, I still respect everyone's choices."
At the end of the day, yes, they were a harem, but he never forced anything on them.
...Okay, he forced some, but that was for the disobedient ones. Right?
Megumi seemed deep in thought.
As if something had clicked in her mind, a blush suddenly spread across Megumi's usually calm face.
She raised her hands and gently covered her cheeks, whispering, "I see"
Yep, she was imagining some R-18 rated scenes.
Lynn noticed her flustered state, surprise flashing in his eyes.
This was the first time he'd ever seen Megumi like this.
He quickly took out his phone and snap!captured the moment.
Rare photo: acquired!
Megumi froze, then looked up at Lynn, confused.
He smiled gently. "You were just way too cute right now. I couldn't help it."
"Mmm~"
Megumi blushed even harder, puffed out her cheeks a bit, but didn't ask him to delete the photo. She just turned her face away and avoided his gaze.
Lynn chuckled softly.
Then he asked, "So? Still want to join my harem?"
"Can you not say it like this?"
In her heart, Lynn was special. He was the only person who'd never ignored her since they were kids.
The only one who remembered her name.
If she was going to spend her life with someone, Megumi hoped it would be Lynn.
Even if he was kind of a playboy.
"Oh, and by the way, once you join my familia, you'll be reincarnated as a devil~" Lynn added.
"Eh?" Megumi blinked. "A devil?"
She looked at him uncertainly. "Like the same kind of devil as you?"
Lynn nodded.
Megumi blinked again. "But you..."
"Not that different from being human?"
"Or wait" she tilted her head, curious. "Is this appearance of yours a disguise?"
Lynn deadpanned, "This is what I actually look like."
Megumi nodded. "Guess devils aren't really like the legends at all, huh"
A devil, huhWhat would she even look like?
There was a hint of anticipation in Megumi's eyes.
Lynn caught that look and said, "If you're sure, come to the Supernatural Research Club after school."
"Okay," Megumi nodded. "Got it."
Though she couldn't help but wonder
Would becoming a devil fix her "presence" problem?
Even her own family sometimes forgot about her.
That invisibility had always bothered her deeply.
That's why when Lynn noticed her, even remembered her name, he'd naturally become someone really important to her.
---
Suddenly. The classroom door swung open.
Minamiya Natsuki walked in with confident steps, and behind her came a beautiful girl with long black hair and amber eyes.
The students in Class 1-B had complicated expressions.
Who would've thought?
That petite, seemingly cute but always acting all strict Natsuki-sensei. Was actually a supernatural being too?
Shuchiin Academy really was full of hidden monsters!
Could Natsuki-sensei maybe start a Supernatural Studies class? We'd totally sign up!
With that thought in mind, everyone turned toward Minamiya Natsuki with hopeful eyes.
Even the stunning girl behind her didn't get any attention.
Natsuki raised her eyebrow. 'What's with these kids?'
She cleared her throat. "This is a new transfer student."
Then looked at the girl and said, deadpan, "Introduce yourself."
The girl stepped forward, scanning the classroom. Her gaze paused briefly on Lynn before she said simply, "Himeragi Yukina."
Lynn narrowed his eyes a bit.
Yesterday it was Kirasaka Sayaka. Now Himeragi Yukina?
No doubt about it.
That look she gave him earlier said it all.
She was here for him.
"The Lion King Organization, huh..."
Lynn smirked.
Monitor him? They really think they can pull that off?
Natsuki then frowned.
"That's it? Just your name?"
Himeragi Yukina looked confused.
Natsuki sighed. "At least share your hobbies, dreams, something. Helps the class get to know you better."
"Ooh!"
Himeragi Yukina paused, thinking hard.
Hobbies?
Hmm...does "killing monsters" count?
She glanced around at the normal students in the room. Yeah, probably not the best thing to say here.
As for dreams Yukina looked a bit lost.
But a "goal" should count, right? Right now, her mission was to rescue Sayaka from the clutches of a devil.
She glanced at Lynn again.
But she couldn't exactly say that, could she?
She wasn't stupid.
Frowning slightly, she looked a little troubled.
Ahwait!
Her eyes lit up. She remembered what her mentor had told her before she left.
As long as she could get into the Supernatural Research Club, she'd be halfway to completing her mission!
Alright! That's it!
Yukina clenched her fist and said with determined eyes, "My dream is to join the Supernatural Research Club!"
Minamiya Natsuki: "???"
Everyone in the Class: ""
Wasn't that just Lynn's harem club?
The students all exchanged looks.
Megumi blinked, kind of impressed by Yukina's guts.
Huh?
Yukina noticed the weird looks around the room and felt confused.
Did did she say something wrong?
"Himeragi Yukina, do you really know what the Supernatural Research Club is about?" Natsuki asked with a strange tone.
Yukina hesitated. "Isn't it a club that investigates supernatural events?"
Natsuki stared at her for a second, then sighed. "You should probably do some research."
"Ah Yes, ma'am."
Yukina felt a vague sense of dread.
Did did she mess up?
Later that afternoon
Yukina, remembering Natsuki's warning, seriously looked up the Supernatural Research Club.
"W-w-waitIt's a harem club?!?"
.
.
.
Himeragi Yukina was practically stammering.
Did she really stand in front of everyone earlier today and announce that her dream was to join Lynn's Harem Club?!
"Ugh..."
Her head started spinning.
No wonder No wonder her classmates were giving her those weird looks!
She was socially doomed!!
A girl openly claiming she wanted to join a harem club? People were definitely going to slap her with the "shameless floozy" label!
Blushing furiously, Yukina bit her lip. "Why didn't you tell me, Sensei"
All Endou had said was that joining the Supernatural Research Club would count as completing half her mission.
Not once did he mention she'd be joining something called the Harem Club!
"Huuuh"
Yukina clutched her chest, overwhelmed.
"Hey hey, it's that girl, right?"
"The transfer student?"
"I heard her dream is to join Lord Lynn's harem club!"
Whispers reached her ears, and Yukina froze on the spot.
As expected!
She was already famous... and she'd just transferred!
Yukina tensed, gripping her backpack straps tightly. She lowered her head, not daring to look toward the voices.
They were definitely laughing at her. Right?
That kind of outrageous statement...
"Heh, her?"
"What a joke!"
"Even I don't have the qualifications to join Lord Lynn's haremwhat makes a newbie think she does?!"
---
"..."
"Huh?"
Yukina blinked in confusion.
Wait, what?
This wasn't what she expected at all.
Instead of mocking her shamelessness, they were arguing over who was worthy of joining?
She just stood there, stunned.
"Forget the newbie! C'mon, let's try again today!"
"I'm definitely gonna be in Lord Lynn's harem!"
Yukina glanced up instinctively and spotted three girls dressed like flashy gyarus walking off excitedly in the same direction.
Her feet moved on their own, following after them.
Shuchiin Academy, Old School Building
The Student Council had acted fast.
Especially after Lynn saved the school and showed off some seriously overwhelming power, they'd put a lot of effort into giving the old building to the Supernatural Research Club as their new base.
So now, the Supernatural Club had officially moved into the old campus.
Lynn now had a full-on club base for his followers.
Not that it really mattered to him.
After all, ever since he'd taken over the Shinomiya family's assets, the entire Shuchiin Academy was basically his.
Inside the club room, Lynn sat on the couch with a mild headache.
Natsuki had been right.
Tons of girls had come running the moment they heard about him.
Wasn't this a bit too much?
The whole building was packed wall to wall with peopleit made his head spin.
Utaha was flipping through a registration book, her tone laced with disbelief. "Are all women this desperate?"
Shiina Mahiru was intently watching Hayasaka Ai make tea, silently taking notes while chiming in, "They're probably just here for the hype."
Kanoe Yuuko had sprawled across Lynn's back, snuggling into him and giggling. "Well, Master is so handsome, and he's got supernatural powers. It's only natural he attracts attention~"
Lynn leaned his head back, resting it on something incredibly soft.
Yuuko got the message and started gently massaging his temples.
While enjoying the massage, Lynn sighed, "Utaha, I'm leaving the screening process to you."
Utaha groaned, "Yeah, yeah~"
---
Meanwhile, at the back of the massive line
Yukina stared at the ridiculous scene unfolding in front of herlike some royal selection ceremonyand was completely frozen in place.
"These girls"
"They're all trying to join the Harem Club?!"
She was speechless.
This school was totally insane.
But how long was it gonna take for her turn?!
The crowd stretched endlessly. Her eye twitched as she muttered under her breath, "They really wanna join Lynn's harem that badly?"
"Eh?"
A surprised female voice responded nearby. "Wait... you don't?"
Yukina blinked.
She didn't expect anyone to talk to her.
She turned and saw a girl with long blonde hair, beautifully styled and dressed like a gyaru. The girl looked her over curiously.
"You're not here to join Lord Lynn's harem?" she asked with a puzzled face.
Of course not!
Yukina almost said it out loudalmost.
But then she remembered her mission.
Her whole job was to get into Lynn's harem!
Her expression darkened. "I... am."
The blonde girl suddenly grabbed her hand, eyes sparkling like stars. "Then we're sisters now!!"
Yukina: "???"
Her face froze in pure confusion.
Sisters?! What is this girl even on about!?
"Oh right, I'm Kitagawa Marin. I love cosplay~"
Marin introduced herself, blinking at Yukina like she was expecting something.
"Himeragi Yukina," she mumbled weakly.
Marin's eyes lit up with recognition. "So you're the bold transfer student who made that daring declaration!"
"Oh yeah!"
Yukina had already gone numb.
That speech from this morning had basically nailed her to the wall of eternal shame.
Seeing the pure excitement on Marin's face, she couldn't help but ask, "Marin, why do you want to join theSupernatural Club?"
Marin blinked, then smiled brightly. "Because I want to be part of Lord Lynn's harem, duh!"
Yukina: "???"
"You're serious? That's your only reason?"
Marin nodded firmly, pumping her fists. "Absolutely!"
She was dead set on being part of Lynn's harem.
That figure she'd seen that daytall, powerful, mysteriouswas burned into her memory.
Every night since, she'd dreamed of him.
"..."
Yukina was even more confused.
What kind of woman willingly shares a man?
And considering her research, Lynn's harem probably already had double-digit known members!
She couldn't help but wonderwas Lynn even capable of keeping up with all of them?
Tsk! He was really a devil.
...
The audition process was surprisingly fast. Most of the girls didn't even make the cut.
No one even knew what the qualifications were.
They'd just step up, get one sharp look from the girl in the white headband, and immediately get dismissed!
Naturally, people were feeling pretty salty about it.
As the line shrank, Yukina and Marin were getting closer and closer to the front.
"Not qualified!"
"Next!"
"Not qualified!"
Utaha's cold voice echoed through the hall.
Marin watched girl after girl get rejected and started getting nervous, clenching her fists.
She couldn't help but wonder: would she be good enough to join Lynn's harem?
Yukina, on the other hand, looked a bit gloomy.
If it weren't for Sayaka, she never would've agreed to something this crazy.
ButFor her friend!
Yukina clenched her fists.
After watching the others, she finally understood why her master wanted her to join the Supernatural Research Club.
She glanced toward the frontat Utaha and the others.
No doubt about it.
They were all devils.
This club was Lynn's base of operations in the school. The whole selection process was to find new potential members.
Yukina took a few deep breaths, heart pounding.
And then
It was finally their turn.
Utaha stared at the two of them, her expression unreadable. But behind that calm gaze, she was checking the state of the [Devil's Piece].
Once the pieces lit up, she finally spoke.
"You two may enter."
Yukina and Marin blinked.
They passed just like this?
.
.
.
Shuchiin Academy - Old School Building
Himeragi Yukina and Kitagawa Marin stepped into the Supernatural Research Club.
Click.
The door shut behind them with a quiet snap.
Yukina looked around cautiously, a little nervous.
There weren't any normal desks or chairsit didn't even feel like it belonged in a school.
It looked more like the fancy living room of some super rich family.
Luxurious leather sofas caught her eye right away.
A fridge, a coffee machine, all kinds of appliancesit had everything.
And in the back of the room a staircase?
Clearly, this wasn't all there was to the club.
Yukina observed everything quietly, unable to hide her surprise.
Rumor had it the entire old school building had been turned over to the Supernatural Research Club. Guess Shuchiin Academy really was on another level.
Still, that wasn't what truly shocked her.
What had her full attention was the row of swirling vortexes on the left wall Portals?
Each one labeled: Apocalypse World, Black Bullet World, Demon Slayer World, Bleach World.
What were these?
Yukina was curious.
Something about them just screamed important.
"Worlds?"
She couldn't really wrap her head around it.
Even with the word "world" clearly written, she couldn't imagine what lay beyond those vortexes.
She had no idea those portals actually led to real, other worlds.
She shelved her curiosity for now and shifted her focus to the people in the room.
There weren't many of them, and most wore the Shuchiin Academy uniform. Probably all students here.
That didn't quite match the intel she'd been given but she figured this wasn't the full roster either.
One thing was clear, though She didn't recognize a single person.
Every one of them had shown up in the files her master gave her.
Kasumigaoka Utaha outside, Shiina Mahiru in front of her No doubt about it. They were all stunning.
And more importantlyThey were strong.
Yukina instinctively tightened her grip on her shoulder bag, her body tense.
The feedback from her spiritual senses was clear: That beautiful girl outside with the long black hair and white headband, and all the girls in here All of them were stronger than her.
How was that even possible?!
The intel said that before becoming Lynn's harem, they were just regular girls!
Something's not right here. This whole thing feels way off.
Anyone paying attention would start asking questions.
Even Endou, who handed the files, had a strange expression on her face.
She'd also noticed that Lynn's followers had ridiculously overpowered abilities
Meanwhile, Marin Kitagawa wasn't overthinking it at all.
She was still a little dazed when she first walked in.
After all, so many girls had been rejected, and yet she made it through?
She actually got this far.
She was going to be by Lynn-sama's side!
Marin's heart was pounding.
Ever since she stepped into the clubroom, her eyes hadn't left the man lounging casually on the sofa.
Kyaa~ Lynn-sama's so hot!!
She couldn't help but replay the moment in her mind
That day, when she was about to be swallowed by a massive tidal wave and Lynn appeared out of nowhere, lifted his hand
And the entire wave was crushed with ease, like he was just toying with it.
It felt like something straight out of a manga.
She was the maiden rescued by the hero!
Since that moment, Marin couldn't stop thinking about him.
Maybe she was just a side character in his storymaybe even a background extra.
But she wanted to be the heroine.
Even if this was a harem manga, she still wanted to be one of the heroines.
She wanted to get closer to Lynn!
She refused to be just another background character!
Eyes sparkling like stars, Marin stared straight at Lynn and chirped, "Lynn-sama, please let me join your harem~!"
She made her move!
Mahiru Shiina and the others paused slightly, glancing at Marin with surprised expressions.
This girl was bolder than they expected.
Still, they were used to this kind of thing. After a moment, they just went back to what they were doing.
Marin's declaration didn't cause much of a stir.
Only Yukina twitched at the corner of her eye. She couldn't even imagine saying something like that out loud.
She said it that bluntly?!
Lynn.
President of the Supernatural Research Club.
A devil king active in the human world and the one who had imprisoned Sayaka.
At that thought, Yukina quickly lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.
She didn't want him to see through her.
Little did she know, Lynn had figured out who she was the moment he saw her.
He just didn't know what kind of game the Lion King Organization was playing.
But whatever.
When your strength is absolute, no scheme matters.
Lynn spoke casually: "Mahiru, hand them each a club handbook."
"Yes, sir."
Shiina Mahiru stepped over, opened a drawer in the adjacent desk, and pulled out two handbooks, handing them to Yukina and Marin.
She added a simple explanation: "These outline the rules and benefits of joining the Supernatural Research Club. Read them carefully before making your decision."
Lynn had ordered them compiled just last night.
The handbooks explained both the costs and the perks of joining.
To put it bluntlyJoining the Supernatural Research Club meant becoming one of Lynn's familia.
In other words, part of his harem.
Lynn wouldn't force anyone to do anything, butLet's be honestEventually, things were gonna go that way.
Joining meant you had to be prepared to give everything to Lynn.
And then become a devil.
Stuff like the Blessing System, or interdimensional travelThe handbook covered all of it in broad strokes.
Now that Lynn had become Super Devil, he could be bolder with his moves.
---
Marin and Yukina took the handbooks, still a bit dazed.
They exchanged a look, then started flipping through the pages carefully.
The harem thing? They already knew. No complaints there.
HonestlyThat was part of why they were here.
Just one of them came willingly. The other, not so much.
"...A devil?" Marin murmured, catching the word in the text.
Her pink eyes glanced up at Lynn, eyes wide with surprise.
So Lynn-sama was a devil? And the whole club too?
She stole a few quick glances around the room.
This really didn't match any image of devils she'd ever imagined.
She never thought she'd get this close to something that felt like pure fantasy.
And now she might actually become one herself.
Yukina, on the other hand, didn't react much.
devil? Eh, not that weird.
What did catch her eye though
"Blessing System"
Her eyes sharpened at the phrase.
A system that could unleash hidden potential, and help you grow stronger by fighting and training?
Yukina's grip on the handbook tightened.
She looked up at Lynn.
Was this real?
.
.
.
Yukina's gaze flicked over to Shiina Mahiru and the others, her heart subtly shaken.
Could it be...
Was this the reason why their strength grew so quickly, almost unnaturally so?
Gulp.
Yukina swallowed hard, the unease in her chest intensifying.
It felt like she had just stumbled onto some earth-shattering secret.
To think something this important would just be written so plainly in the Supernatural Research Club's welcome handbook?!
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest.
At some point, a fine sheen of sweat had formed across her smooth forehead. Her throat felt dry.
Unlike the carefree Kitagawa Marin, Yukina hadn't joined Lynn's familia for fun.
She had a missionrescue Sayaka.
And once that was done, she planned to leave.
Staring down at the handbook, her pupils trembling, her amber eyes shimmered with the verge of tears.
Now that she knew this kind of secret, was there really any getting out of this?
Yukina slowly raised her head, locking eyes with Lynn's deep, wine-red gaze and his half-smiling, unreadable expression.
Her entire body went tense.
II'm screwed!
Ugh!!!
Yukina whimpered in her head.
She didn't believe, not for a second, that Lynn would let her leave now that she knew this.
Honestly, if she tried to back out now, she might not even make it out of the clubroom alive tonight.
What do I do, what do I do, what do I DO?! Dammit!
She was like an ant on a hot pan, anxiety crawling all over her.
And it wasn't just the blessing system.
There were also those "Gates"
Other worlds, according to the handbook.
This revelation hit her like a freight train.
And the kicker? Lynn apparently controlled four of them!
Gulp!!
Sayaka, what kind of terrifying monster did you get involved with?!
Without having seen any of it firsthand, Yukina still had some doubts about the blessings or these alternate worlds.
But She didn't think Lynn had any reason to lie about this stuff. Especially not to her or Marin.
To him, they were nobodies. Not even worth tricking.
And besides the strength of the others around her? That wasn't fake.
If this blessing system was some kind of cheat code, then their power levels made perfect sense.
So yeah, there was a very high chance it was all real.
Just who is Lynn, anyway?
With power like this, he could easily rival the God of the Bible from the legends.
And her mentor wanted her to seduce a guy like this?
Ugh...
If she wasn't careful, she might end up stuck here for goodwithout even saving Sayaka.
The more she thought about it, the more hopeless she felt.
Whose dumb idea was this plan?!
...
Meanwhile, Kitagawa Marin was totally thrilled.
Blessings? Other worlds? Sure, that was cool and allbut she wasn't exactly taking it to heart.
ButEternal Youth.
The second her eyes landed on those words, she couldn't look away!
Marin lit up like a firework.
She was already super hyped to be part of Lynn's harem.
And now she could stay young forever too?
That's like... DOUBLE happiness!!
Marin didn't even bother reading further. She was sold.
With sparkling eyes, she bowed deeply and said with all the seriousness she could muster:
"Lord Lynn, please let me join the Supernatural Research Club!"
"You sure about this?"
Lynn narrowed his eyes slightly. He had a vague memory of her character, but not much else.
"Mhm!" Marin nodded without hesitation.
Yukina turned to stare at her.
So decisive.
But now didn't she look like the hesitant one?
Yukina started to panic.
But Lynn didn't even look her way. He focused on Marin and said casually: "In that casestrip."
Marin blinked.
"St-Strip what now?"
Even Yukina froze up at that one.
Mahiru giggled, chiming in playfully: "It's in the handbook~"
"The reincarnation ritual. That's how you get the blessing."
That was one of the reasons Lynn even bothered making this handbook in the first place.
Explaining everything every time was just annoying.
Marin and Yukina quickly flipped through the handbook.
'To complete the ritual, remove clothing and insert the devil's piece into an appropriate body part blessing data will be engraved'
Marin read it aloud softly, her voice getting quieter the further she went.
By the end, her cheeks were flushed pink.
Yukina bit her lip. Her breathing had gotten faster.
They had to... strip? In front of a guy?!
Marin took a few deep breaths, still avoiding Lynn's eyes. Her voice barely above a whisper: "I-I understand."
She turned away and started taking off her clothes.
Yukina's eyes widened in shock.
That fast?!
Not even a moment's hesitation?!
Seeing Yukina's stunned expression only made Marin blush deeper.
Her heart was pounding, but her hands didn't stop.
Marin quickly stripped off her top, but when she reached for her bra, she hesitated, shyly turning away.
Her flawless skin blushed a soft pink.
Click.
Covering herself tightly with her arms, she hunched slightly and stammered:
"I-I'm ready, Lynn-sama"
Lynn stood, approached her, and gently brushed aside her flowing blonde hair.
A devil's piece appeared in his hand.
Yukina didn't blink, her eyes locked on his every move.
Without hesitation, Lynn pressed the piece to Marin's back.
"Ah!" she gasped, shivering at the cold touch.
Ripples spread across her skin as the piece slowly sank in.
Marin's breathing quickened. Her body was heating up, fast.
Her pulse thundered in her ears.
Ba-dump! Ba-dump!
And with each beatnew power surged into her.
"Ah~"
She gasped again, squirming as her back and lower spine started to tingle.
Something was trying to come out!
"Mm~"
Her head tilted back, eyes hazy.
Whoosh!
A pair of black wings unfurled from her back, and a tail lazily swayed through the air.
"Haa...haa"
Marin's face was flushed red, gasping hard.
At the same time
A system notification echoed in Lynn's ears.
[Ding! You have gained the retainer 'Kitagawa Marin'!]
[Ding! 'Kitagawa Marin' has reincarnated as a special devil!]
The moment the system finished, a glow spread across Marin's back.
Then, Lynn's eyes were filled with the details of her blessing.
---
[Kitagawa Marin]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Cosplay Devil]
[Cosplay Devil]
Thread of Illusion: Instantly analyzes the appearance and aura of 2D characters. Can weave "Illusion Threads" to perfectly recreate their look and abilities. Duration increases with level.
Infinite Wardrobe: Body is linked to a dimensional space "Mirror Kaleidoscope," storing illusion data of all analyzed characters. Can be accessed at any time to mass-generate armed retainers.
Devil Form (Mirror Kaleidoscope)
---
Lynn rubbed his chin, inspecting her blessing info.
If he remembered right, Marin did love cosplay, huh?
Yeah this ability really suited her.
Yukina leaned in, trying to make sense of the glowing text on Marin's back But it was all gibberish to her.
Lynn noticed her peeking, but didn't stop her. He just copied the blessing info and handed it to Marin.
"'Cosplay Devil'?" Marin read it with wide eyes.
She didn't even care about being half-dressed anymoreshe was too focused on the info.
The more she read, the brighter her eyes glowed.
This... this was perfect for her!
Cosplay-based powers?!
Heck yeah!!
With a twinkle in her eye, she focused. "Thread of Illusion!"
Buzz
Suddenly, Marin found herself in a different space.
"Whoa"
It looked like an empty walk-in closet?
Then she remembered her other skillInfinite Wardrobe.
Everything clicked.
So she just had to store character data here?
Marin's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Alright! I choose you!"
Back in the real worldShe closed her eyes.
Flash!
Her body shimmered with light.
Buzz
Her form shifted.
Her blonde hair turned a deep violet, and her eyes became purple. Her once-bare body was now dressed in a dark purple maid uniform, complete with a black headdress and tights.
She looked herself over, delighted.
"It's really Shizuku-chan!"
Marin had finally fulfilled her dream of cosplaying as Shizuku Kuroe.
.
.
.
Supernatural Research Club
Marin Kitagawa twirled happily, a wide grin lighting up her face.
"This is perfect! Now I can finally cosplay all my favorite characters without holding back!"
She originally came here just to become Lynn's bride, but she got a bonus surprise on top of that!
Seriously this was amazing!!
On the side, Himeragi Yukina twitched slightly as she watched Marin spiral into pure fan-girl mode.
Was... that level of enthusiasm really necessary?
She just couldn't wrap her head around it. She wasn't even looking at Marin anymoreher focus was fixed entirely on the "blessing info" in her hands.
Since Lynn copied it over for her, she could now understand everything.
The display looked just like a video game character sheet: level, base stats, and skill tree.
As she stared at the info, Yukina felt a bit dazed.
So this was the cheat that let people break past their limits.
From the moment the blessing interface appearedand especially when Marin awakened her skill, "Cosplay Devil"Yukina knew this system was legit.
SuddenlyA breath of warm air grazed her ear.
Yukina flinched hard and spun to the left.
Her lips landed right on Lynn's cheek.
"!!!"
Her pupils quaked, her entire brain system short-circuited.
Lynn felt the soft touch on his face, raised an eyebrow, and said with a teasing smirk, "Wow, couldn't even wait?"
"Ugh!" Yukina jumped back, flustered, clamping both hands over her mouth as her cheeks burned.
"Eh?" Marin blinked, surprised, and tilted her head. "She seemed so shy, but she's pretty bold~"
No way! She wasn't gonna let Yukina beat her!
With a small, determined fist pump, Marin leaned forward, tiptoed up, and gave Lynn a soft kiss on the cheek.
She pulled back quickly, breathing fast and face flushed. "I-I can do it too!"
Lynn looked down at Marin in her "Cosplay" form, his expression twitching slightly.
At this rate...
She could team up with Yukinoshita Haruno and Hayasaka Ai. What a trio that'd be.
The "Cosplay Devil" skill wasn't bad at all.
...
Meanwhile, Himeragi Yukina stood there, a little speechless at Marin's sudden move.
She opened her mouth to explain, as she wanted to sayher kiss was totally an accident! He leaned in too close! That wasn't her fault!
Sigh...let it be!
But was it really okay to just join Lynn's familia and try to use her charm on a Devil King, a Maou?
Now that she was actually face-to-face with Lynn, Yukina started doubting everythingher mission, the Lion King Organization... even Endou's decision to send her.
Back then, she was just desperate to save someone and rushed in without thinking.
But now there was no going back. After all, she knew his secret now.
Tightly gripping the club application in her hands, Yukina knew there was no room for naivety.
There were only two options left for her.
Deathor become one of Lynn's harem.
Goddammit, Sensei really threw me under the bus.
Tears nearly formed in Himeragi Yukina's eyes. With a heavy heart, she looked at Lynn and mumbled, "P-Please let me join the Supernatural Research Club."
Lynn crossed his arms. "Then strip."
He already knew her motives weren't exactly pure.
But Lynn never turned away useful people.
Especially not someone willingly handing themselves over to him.
And once she joined his familiawell, she wouldn't have any say from that point on.
Himeragi Yukina stiffened.
Then, with her head down, she let out the tiniest "mm" in response.
Her face burning, she took a few deep breaths and reached for the hem of her shirt, hands trembling.
This was way too humiliating!!
She never thought she'd end up in a situation like thisnot in a million years!
Especially not in front of someone she'd just met today!
Still Himeragi Yukina peeked up at Lynn who was watching her silently.
She clenched her teeth.
Just do it!
Whoosh
She stripped off her Shuchiin uniform in one clean move!
Her pale skin was now exposed to the air, making her whole body tremble slightly.
At least the light-blue bra still gave her a bit of modesty.
ButThat had to come off too.
Himeragi Yukina screamed internally, her eyes flickering in panic from the overwhelming shame.
Thankfully, she still had some sanity left.
Can't make him wait too long.... He was a devil, after all.
She didn't know what kind of person Lynn really was, so best not to test his patience.
With that in mind, she quickly turned around, crouched slightly, and reached behind her back.
Click!
The strap came undone.
Her skin was already blushing pink all over.
God, this is way too embarrassing!
She wanted to scream, but all she could do was bite her lip and bury her red face between her knees.
Lynn rubbed his chin, scanning her from head to toe.
Every time his eyes passed over her skin, Himeragi Yukina flinched involuntarily.
"So sensitive to stares, huh~"
He smirked slightly.
No point dragging it out. Lynn raised his hand and materialized a devil piece, pressing it directly against her back.
"Mmph"
Yukina let out a muffled groan from the cold touch.
ThenA surge of power unlike spiritual energy flooded into her!
Her eyes flew wide open as her blood started to boil!
Thump-thump!
Her heartbeat roared in her ears.
Crack!
Something inside her shatteredlike invisible chains breaking free.
In an instant, she felt lighter, unshackled. As if something had been unlocked.
The Blessing System!!
That was the only explanation! Her body's potential was fully released!
Her spiritual growth, once painfully slow, now shot upward as if every barrier had been torn away.
It felt... endless!
This was the true power of the blessing system?!
Even now, she didn't dare fully think about what kind of being Lynn really was to command such a force.
Still, Yukina focused on what mattered: her body.
Her power didn't suddenly skyrocket, but she could feel it.
She had devil blood now. AndThere was an itch on her back.
Probably wings and a tail like Marin's?
Yukina bit her lip and fought the urge to let them out.
As she tried to figure them out
A system alert chimed in Lynn's mind:
[Ding! You have gained the follower "Himeragi Yukina"!]
[Ding! Your follower "Himeragi Yukina" has reincarnated as a Special Devil!]
Lynn narrowed his eyes and looked at her back.
A flash of light appeared, and her full blessing info popped up.
---
[Himeragi Yukina]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Spirit Sight's Blessing], [Spirit Blood Regeneration], [Eight Thunder God Style], [Divine Core Vibration], [Divine Energy] & [Anti-Demons Devil]
[Spirit Sight's Blessing]
Passive detection of magic flow, hostility, and traps.
High resistance to stealth/illusion abilities.
[Spirit Blood Regeneration]
Heals faster using magic.
Cleanses curses and poisons.
[Eight Thunder God Style]
Close-combat martial art named after the 'Eight Thunder Gods.'
[Divine Core Vibration]
Activates with weapon Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer ("It's full title is Mechanical Demon-Purging Assault Spear Mark Seven").
Grants "Anti-Magic" and "Defense Break" effects.
Can cut through barriers, disable magic, and counter vampires.
[Divine Energy]
Faux Angel Mode.
Can potentially evolve into an actual angel with enough divine energy.
[Anti-Demons Devil]
...
.
.
.
[Anti-Demons Devil]
Gained control over the spear "Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer."
Divine Punishment Eye (Passive: Senses magical energy/malice within 300 meters; can mark up to 3 targets with their anti-magic weak points.)
Anti-Magic Barrier: Eightfold Holly (Deploys eight magic-inscribed gunblades to form a barrier that reduces all magic effects by 70%.)
Divine Core Resonance: Critical Breakthrough (Activates the Snowdrift Wolf's divine core, adding space-shattering power to attacks.)
Bonus damage against all evil creatures.
Devilization (Divine Punishment Spear: Summons a massive Snow wolf avatar for a piercing strike that causes "Divine Core Collapse" along its path.)
Developmental Ability: Magic Control, C Rank
Lynn raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised.
He hadn't expected Himeragi Yukina, just a mid-class Devil, to have that many abilities.
Guess that's the perk of coming out of a proper institution.
But what really threw him off was the Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer on her backit wasn't even classified as a Noble Phantasm?
"Hmm..."
Lynn stroked his chin, a theory starting to form in his mind.
Maybe it was because Yukina hadn't truly mastered that weapon yet?
Looks like the Lion King Org still couldn't bring themselves to hand over such an important tool to her.
That said The [Anti-Demons Devil] skill's very first effect is "Gains Authority Over the spear."
Lynn chuckled.
Well, too bad, Lion King. Whether you like it or not, she owns it now.
He kept reading the rest of her skill info, his expression growing a little odd.
Despite having "Anti-Demons" in the name, it can also be said it's anti-devils. Did his system hate the devils or what?
Another thing that really caught his eyewas that "Divine Core Collapse" effect under Devilization.
Anything with "divine" in the name was rarely simple.
Lynn copied Yukina's blessing info and handed it over to her.
She took it and carefully read through it.
Her gaze first landed on the "Master" section.
Yukina's expression turned complicated.
"Master, huh?"
"Sigh..."
She let out a tiny sigh and kept reading.
Seeing that long list of Skills, Yukina blinked in surprise.
Am I really that powerful?
But after a closer look, she kind of understood.
Seems like everything she'd ever learned had been encoded as skills now?
Plus, she'd gained that extra ability: [Anti-Demons Devil].
Control over the Snowdrift Wolf?
She tilted her head.
Wasn't Snowdrift Wolf already her weapon?
She instinctively leaned to the side and reached for her shoulder bag.
Totally forgetting her current naked state.
With nothing to hold it in place, her light-blue bra slipped off and hit the floor with a soft plop.
Her body froze up instantly, her outstretched hand stiff in midair.
Lynn's eyes twitched. His gaze naturally drifted over.
"Oh?"
"Well now, that's quite the surprise."
He let out a soft tsk tsk.
Yukina: "!!!"
She yanked her hand back like she'd been burned and crossed her arms over her chest, her whole body burning with embarrassment!
H-He saw everything!!
Uuuuuu!!
Yukina whimpered internally, her amber eyes welling up with tears.
Shiina Mahiru and the others exchanged some awkward glances.
"Why does Lynn always manage to stumble into weird lucky moments like this?" Mahiru muttered under her breath.
"Mhm!" Utaha and the others all nodded in agreement.
Lynn's lips curved up in amusement.
All he could say wasthank goodness for the Luck of the [Four-Soul Devil]. Truly a man's best friend.
Yukina's brain had basically crashed. Her eyes went blank.
Lynn crouched down and picked up the light-blue bra, casually waving it in front of her face.
Yukina's eyes focused again. Her vision returned bit by bit, pupils tracking the little thing as it swayed left and right.
Lynn stared at her like she was a curious little kitten.
The Lion King Organization really did hand him a pretty good little "gift."
After a long silence
Lynn finally asked, "You don't want it back?"
That snapped Yukina out of it. She blushed hard, turning red in a flash.
Her eyes trembled as she stared at what Lynn was holdingand lunged to snatch it.
But halfway through the motion, she froze again, realizing there might be a trap if she reached out to grab her own bra from his hands.
Lynn saw her struggle and chuckled. "Go ahead, take it."
She finally relaxed a little. Carefully, she took it from him.
Lowering her head, she started putting it back on but
She peeked upLynn didn't even bother turning away.
Whatever!
He'd already seen everything anywayMight as well commit!
With a bold push from her heart, she gave Lynn an unfiltered, front-row viewand threw on her bra at record-breaking speed!
A few seconds later
Finally dressed again, Yukina let out a huge sigh of relief. The familiar sense of safety returned.
Marin Kitagawa squatted next to her. "You were so cute just now!"
She hadn't expected the usually calm and collected Himeragi Yukina to show so many emotions and movements in just a few minutes.
She'd make a perfect cosplayer!
"..."
"Cute?!"
Yukina's eyebrow twitched as she clenched her teeth.
You call that cute?!
She was dying of embarrassment!
Yukina bit her lip, sneaking a glance at Lynn.
Yeah, she could only complain silently in her head.
It's all her master's fault! And Sayaka's!!
Whywhy did they have to go mess with this Devil in the first place?!
More importantlywhy her?! Why was she the one stuck cleaning up this mess?!
Only now did Yukina really realize that she'd been so desperate to save her friend, she hadn't thought too hard when her master talked her into this.
But thinking about it now
Shouldn't someone higher-up from the Lion King Organization have come instead?!
She was just a poor, helpless, and pitiful trainee, damn it!!
She screamed internally.
What she didn't know was that the higher-ups didn't dare show their faces in front of Lynn either!
All they could do was send her in with some backhanded tactics.
Yukina grumbled in her heart, vowing to go back to the Organization tonight and demand some answers. But for now, she turned her focus back to the Snowdrift Wolf.
Anything to distract herself from what just happened.
She crouched down and opened her bag.
With a metallic shing, a silver-glowing spear came into view.
"?"
Seeing her pull out that spear, Mahiru and the others paused for a second, exchanging another glance.
Yepthese newcomers definitely weren't normal.
"Whoa?"
Marin blinked in curiosity. "Yukina-san, are you into cosplay too?"
Yukina: "..."
She didn't even know how to respond to that.
Forget it.
Sure, why not.
She reached out and placed her hand on the Snowdrift Wolf.
This time, it felt different.
Before, it was just a weapon to herbut now She could faintly feel that weird disconnect was gone.
She remembered asking her master about it once, but she'd only smiled mysteriously and said nothing.
But now That wall was gone.
She thought back to [Anti-Demons Devil]'s first effect: "Gain Control over the Snowdrift Wolf."
So
Did that meanonly now was she truly its rightful owner?
Still unsure, she rested her hand on the spear's shaft.
Buzz!
The moment she touched it, the Snowdrift Wolf started to vibrate violently!
Thensuddenly!
It shot up into the airzooming straight toward Lynn.
Clack!
Lynn calmly raised a hand and caught it midair.
Yukina: "???"
I'm the one who gained control over it. Right? R-Right??
.
.
.
Shuchiin Academy old school building The Supernatural Research Club.
Himeragi Yukina stiffly turned her head toward the spear in Lynn's handSnowdrift Wolf.
WaitWasn't she supposed to be the one who gained ownership of this Demon-Purging Assault Spear?
Why the hell did it just zip off into someone else's hand like that?
Lynn weighed the Snowdrift Wolf in his hand, a spark of curiosity lighting up in his eyes.
This spear definitely isn't as simple as it looks.
And what's more
He hadn't done anythingyet the Snowdrift Wolf flew straight into his hand on its own.
Does it have a will of its own?
Narrowing his eyes, Lynn poured some of his magic into the weapon.
Bzzzt!
In an instant, the [Divine Core Vibration] engraved on the spear activated!
Wisps of white mist spiraled around it, and the spear trembled uncontrollably with a soft, excited humlike it was cheering!
Yukina's eyes widened.
Snowdrift Wolf was being usedby someone else!
And it actually looked happier than when she was wielding it!?
The spear had never reacted like this when she used it!
Yukina puffed up her cheeks a little, clearly feeling a bit sour about it.
...
Lynn, still squinting, watched the humming Snowdrift Wolf and murmured, "Not enough yet"
There was morea lot morehidden deep within this weapon.
With a thought, he pushed even more magic into it.
Next secondBZZZT!!
The trembling stopped, and suddenly, radiant streams of seven-colored light exploded from the weapon's body.
Lynn's eyes flashed as a wave of information surged into his mind.
"Return the world to zero"
He muttered the phrase under his breath, eyes gleaming.
So thisThis is the true ability of the Mechanical Demon-Purging Assault Spear Mark 7?
That line"Return the world to zero"basically meant erasing everything born from magic.
In other words, a fantasy version of Imagine Breaker from Strike the Blood?
Lynn clicked his tongue.
The Lion King Organization managed to research something this ridiculous? No way.
If they were really capable of making stuff like this, humanity would've been ruling the supernatural world by now!
Judging from the information passed to him through the Snowdrift Wolf, Lynn realized the spear's real origin wasn't something the Lion King Organization cooked up.
It was actually a relic from an ancient raceOne of the three great Holy Spearsthe Anti-Magic Holy Spear.
That's where the "Return the world to zero" power actually came from.
Lynn rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "In this world where so many universes had been mashed together, it's normal for the story to change I guess?"
He then glanced at his personal system panel. The [Devil's Contract] showed that the "Invasion Progress of the Main World" had gone up again.
Especially right after he made Himeragi Yukina his follower.
Was it because she's tied to the Strike the Blood universe?
He had a rough idea forming.
To complete the invasion of the Main World, maybe he'd need to fully clear out every connected world.
But for now he wasn't in a rush to invade the main one just yet.
Lynn turned his focus back to Snowdrift Wolf. He was itching to try out that "Return the world to zero" ability.
"Mahiru, shoot at me."
"Eh?"
Shiina Mahiru blinked, confused, but didn't hesitate. She whipped out her Flame Gun and infused it with light-element magic.
Bang!
A bright shot of light magic flew toward Lynn.
Raising his hand, Lynn didn't use any of his own powersjust tapped the bullet with the tip of the Snowdrift Wolf.
BZZT
The spear flashed, and the bullet vanished like it had been erased from existence.
"???"
Himeragi Yukina stared in confusion.
What the heck just happened?
Mahiru paused mid-movement, her gaze curiously fixed on the spear.
"The magic I just releasedit's like it disappeared into thin air."
Like someone had taken an eraser to a canvas and wiped it off the picture.
Seeing this, Lynn put the Snowdrift Wolf away and briefly explained its true power.
"Return the world to zero?"
Mahiru's eyes widened a bit, surprised that the spear had such a powerful ability hidden inside.
Mew mew meow???
Yukina stood there, absolutely dumbfounded.
Return the world to zero?
She'd been carrying that spear around for so long, and never knew it could do that?
While she was still dazed, Lynn casually tossed the Snowdrift Wolf back to her.
Caught off guard, Himeragi Yukina fumbled to catch it.
The moment her fingers touched the spear, the glowing rainbow light faded awayand it went completely quiet again.
""
Yukina stood silently.
She couldn't help but feel it... Did the spear just reject her?
Pushing that thought aside for now, she looked at Lynn, puzzled.
What was that about?
From what she'd just seen, the Snowdrift Wolf clearly preferred Lynn over her. So why give it back?
But Lynn didn't bother explaining.
Sure, the spear suited him well right now.
But he wasn't about to snatch weapons from his own followers.
Besides even if it wasn't in his hands, the connection between him and the Snowdrift Wolf meant he could summon it across space anytime he wanted.
Compared to Yukina, his control over it was on a whole different level.
He leaned down, lifted Himeragi Yukina's chin with a smirk, and said playfully, "Now then time to talk business."
Feeling the warmth of his hand, Yukina's cheeks flushed pink, eyes still filled with uncertainty.
Business?
Just as she was trying to figure out what he meant, Lynn said softly, "You were sent here by the Lion King Organization, weren't you?"
". . ."
"!!"
She flinched like she'd been electrocuted. Her whole body went stiff.
He he knew!? Since when?!
"Since the very beginning~" Lynn grinned.
"!!!"
Shock flickered in Yukina's eyes.
So he knew from the start, and still made her his follower?
Seeing the questions in her eyes, Lynn just smirked and said, "When someone offers themselves, why would I say no?"
""
Himeragi Yukina bit her lip, her gaze dimming.
It's over.
First Sayaka, now she was getting dragged in too.
She fell into silence, feeling like her whole world had turned pitch black.
Was she going to get tortured now?
Will it be whips or chains?
Lynn, noticing her state, chuckled softly and patted her head.
She flinched but didn't dare move a muscle.
A few seconds passed.
Then Lynn said calmly, "I don't care who you worked for before."
"Now that you're one of mineyour life belongs to me."
With that, he didn't say anything else. Instead, he turned to Mahiru.
"Mahiru, help them get used to the familia."
"Yes, Lord Lynn."
"Huh?" Yukina blinked.
That's it?
No interrogation? No handcuffs? No dark cell? No creepy tools or anything?
None of that!?
She was genuinely dazed.
This wasn't how she pictured things going at all.
Mahiru crouched next to her with a gentle smile. "Come on, newbies. Time for your first thrilling adventure in another world~"
It was kind of a tradition.
New members would start off by grinding some monsters, getting a feel for combat, and testing their newly gained powers.
Then Yukina and Marin stepped through the interdimensional gate and left the Supernatural Research Club.
...
Lynn watched her disappearing figure, eyes narrowing.
Lion King organization.
He rubbed his chin again, lost in thought.
He didn't know what their goal was yet, but Man, they've been very generous.
Two top-tier recruits in such a short time.
Besides the freshly inducted Himeragi Yukina, there was still that Kirasaka Sayaka tied up back at the manor.
Wonder if the Lion King Organization's planning to send anyone else over?
Wouldn't mind a few more, honestly.
---
"Achoo!"
Over at the Lion King Organization, Yukari Endou sneezed and muttered under her breath, "Who's thinking about me?"
Her expression turned complicated as she leaned on her elbow and whispered, "I wonder if Yukina's doing okay"
SuddenlyA voice echoed in her ear.
"The Warlord's Empire has sent someone. Meeting, now!"
""
Endou sighed.
The Warlord's Empire?
Her gaze turned a bit dark.
Could it bebecause of that thing?
(A/N: Damn it woman, tell me about the thing.)
.
.
.
At Shuchiin Academy - The old school building.
Kasumigaoka Utaha let out a small sigh of relief as she looked around the now-empty building.
She muttered, "Man, those women are absolutely nuts."
At least it was finally over.
"Um"
Standing in front of Utaha, Megumi Kato looked a little troubled.
What should I do?
It felt like Utaha wasn't even seeing her at all.
Rolling her shoulders, Utaha turned around and pushed open the door to the clubroom.
And with a loud bang, she shut it right in Megumi's face.
Megumi: "..."
She reached her hand out but ended up just sighing helplessly.
...
Inside the Supernatural Research Club
Watching Utaha walk in, Lynn raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"
Utaha headed straight to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of soda, and started chugging it down.
"Haah!"
After a big gulp, she let out a satisfied sigh. "Yep."
A flicker of doubt flashed across Lynn's eyes.
Megumi didn't come?
Whatever. It's her choice!
He didn't dwell on it and instead turned his gaze toward the portal leading to the "Bleach" world.
The stuff in the main world was pretty much wrapped up.
Next up was the invasion of the Bleach world!
Thinking of that, Lynn opened the group chat to start picking out his soul team.
Yotsuya Miko (Spirit Devil), Kikyo(Purifying Devil), Midoriko (Four-Soul Devil), and some more.
For the advance party, it was best to pick people with spiritual-related abilities.
---
Before longEveryone Lynn summoned gathered inside the clubroom.
Kikyo blinked up at him, her eyes full of excitement. "Lord Lynn, are we heading off to spread the faith in a new world?"
Seeing the now full-blown extremist Kikyo had become, Lynn's mouth twitched a little.
Still, Kikyo had done great work back in the Demon Slayer world.
So, he decided not to pour cold water on her enthusiasm. Instead, he smiled and said, "That's right."
"I understand!"
Getting Lynn's confirmation, Kikyo clenched her fists, her face filled with determination.
The red-and-white shrine maiden outfit she wore seemed to shimmer faintly with the light of pure faith.
As Lynn's shrine maiden, spreading his name across the multiverse was now her life's mission!
Watching Kikyo practically glowing with fervor, Midoriko's eye twitched uncontrollably.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something like, "Hey, we're all shrine maidens here, can you chill out a little?"
But seeing Kikyo's completely serious face, Midoriko swallowed the words.
Standing quietly to the side was Miko.
Ever since becoming an High-Class Demon, she'd been silently looking forward to this day.
Because her master had once saidthis world would be perfect for her to grow.
Miko was determined to prove herself in this new world.
Lynn calmly scanned his gathered familia, nodding slightly to himself.
Everyone seemed to be adapting pretty well.
Clearing his throat, Lynn drew everyone's attention and started explaining the key points about the Bleach world.
The Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, the Human World.
Shinigami, Hollows, Quincy, and more.
He also covered their level of technology, their gear, and their various power systems.
Lynn didn't skip any details. He laid everything out for Miko and the others, making sure they had a full picture.
To be extra safesince he knew relying only on the anime info might leave gapshe even used a [Devil's Contract] to contact Shihoin Yoruichi from the Bleach world and had her put together a full intelligence file.
After a while, the amount of info jammed into their brains left Miko and the others slightly dazed.
"Kid... Wow~"
Off to the side, Utaha, who had been eavesdropping, looked intrigued.
Her "Devil's Grimoire" didn't have enough spells and abilities recorded in it yet.
Noticing her interest, Lynn said, "Don't worry. Once we get there, I'll have Yoruichi and Urahara copy down everything you need."
Two former Captain-level figures?
Basically walking librariesno reason not to make good use of them.
Hearing that, Utaha's red eyes immediately lit up.
She smacked a kiss onto Lynn's cheek and grinned, "Master, you're the best!"
Lynn just chuckled, not minding at all.
The little interruption also helped Miko and the others snap out of their daze.
Midoriko let out a low whistle. "No wonder you said this world suits Miko."
"With all those endless Hollows around, Miko's gonna be stuffed full in no time, huh?"
Miko's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Kikyo tapped her chin thoughtfully. "The power systems here are really well developed."
The Shinigami's Kid spells, Zanpakuts, the Quincy's Blut Vene.
"Conquering a world like this won't be easy."
Lynn knocked on the table lightly and smiled without a care. "Relax. We've got plenty of time."
Plus, now that he had reached the level of a "Super Devil," he didn't think the Bleach world would pose much of a threat anymore. Especially with all the skills he has now from his familia.
Clapping his hands, he continued, "The goals for the familia in this world are the same as before."
"Firstmonster resources."
That was a given. The familia needed monster kills to level up.
And thanks to Bleach's unique world structure, it could even become a sustainable dungeon.
Not like the "Apocalypse," "Black Bullet," or "Demon Slayer" worlds, where once the monsters were wiped out, they were gone for good.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
They all knew how crucial monster resources were.
Leveling up totally depended on them!
"Second."
Lynn continued, "The world's gear and abilitieslike Zanpakuts."
He glanced over the groupand winced a little seeing how empty-handed they all looked.
"Our familia is seriously lacking weapons. Zanpakuts are perfect for solving that issue. We're definitely taking them."
It was honestly a little sad. Such a huge familia, and hardly anyone had a decent weapon.
At least with the Bleach world in play, that problem would be taken care of soon enough.
FinallyIt was about expanding their influence.
That was the real key to conquering a world.
Rubbing his chin, Lynn already had a plan forming.
The Bleach world, counting Hell, had four realms in total.
(The Human World + The Soul Society + Hueco Mundo + Hell)
If he could seize control of all four their influence would skyrocket.
Or ratherIt circled back to the idea he had from the start:
Swallowing the Soul King!
...
"And"
Arms crossed, Utaha smirked and said, "Recruiting new familia members, right?"
Lynn gave her an approving look. "See? You get me, Utaha."
Utaha rolled her eyes.
Recruiting had always been a key part of their strategy.
Sure, she still got a little jealous sometimes, but after all this time, Utaha had gotten used to just turning a blind eye.
As long as she always had a place beside Lynn, she was happy enough.
After some final discussions, Lynn clapped his hands and said, "Alright, decision made!"
"Next stop: Bleach world!"
The moment his words fell The portal engraved with the words "Bleach" lit up with brilliant light inside the clubroom.
The Bleach world
Yoruichi suddenly felt a burning sensation in her chest.
Quickly pulling out the [Devil's Contract] she put there, she found herself staring at Lynn's complicated-looking expression.
Speechless, Lynn said, "Seriously? You just stuff me in there like that?"
Yoruichi let out a sheepish laugh. "I just feel like, this way, you're always close to my heart~"
Lynn snorted. This woman didn't have a truthful bone in her body.
"How's the base renovation coming along?"
At those words, Yoruichi's smile froze.
After a moment of awkward silence, she forced a smile and said, "It's just about done"
Borrowing some of Urahara's Zanpakut abilities to reshape the place made it a lot easier.
"Good."
Lynn nodded, and the Contract floated out of Yoruichi's hands, rising into the air.
The next second
A portal like a swirling black hole appeared.
Step!
Under Yoruichi's wide-eyed gaze, a foot stepped through first.
Then, Lynn's full figure stepped out.
Grinning at the stunned Yoruichi, he said, "Yo. Long time no see."
"Now we can finally meet face-to-face. Aren't you happy?"
Yoruichi: ""
.
.
.
Soul Society
Yoruichi forced a smile as she looked at Lynn.
Honestly, she hadn't wanted to see him again at all.
But what was meant to happen, would happen eventually.
Lynn didn't care about the look on Yoruichi's face. He just glanced around the area and nodded in satisfaction.
It wasn't the same place he had visited before, but the place was fully equipped everything he needed was here.
Good enough to serve as a temporary base for his Familia.
"Not bad," Lynn said, patting Yoruichi lightly on the shoulder, giving her an approving look.
"I can tell you put some effort into this."
Yoruichi barely managed to keep her smile up. "As long as you're satisfied..." she muttered.
She stared at Lynn, sighing inwardly.
This whole time, Yoruichi had been living on edge. She couldn't even sleep properly, waking up at random hours just to check that damn Devil's Contract.
She had even considered running away, hiding somewhere no one could find her.
But that cursed document stuck to her like glue!
No matter what she tried, she couldn't get rid of it!
In the end, all she could do was sit tight and wait for Lynn's judgment.
"..."
Trying to look obedient, she blinked up at him with a sweet, harmless expression.
Seeing this, Lynn reached out and patted her head like you'd pet a cat.
Yoruichi stiffened immediately.
After giving her a little head-pat, a few heads suddenly poked through the portal connecting to their world among them, Yotsuya Miko.
"This 'new world' doesn't seem all that special," Miko mumbled to herself, stepping fully through the portal.
Then She caught sight of Yoruichi, who was still frozen stiff.
For a second, Miko paused, her expression turning a little strange.
Her Spirit Devil ability had reacted.
Was this woman one of those 'Shinigami' Lynn had mentioned?
Feeling Miko's gaze, Yoruichi couldn't help but look back.
And what she saw stunned her. A girl with long, straight black hair and those same golden eyes.
The moment their eyes met, a shiver ran down Yoruichi's spine.
What the hell...?
Yoruichi's golden eyes narrowed.
Why was her body trembling after meeting this girl?
It wasn't fear from reason it was pure instinct.
Like some kind of primal terror. But why?
Suspicious, Yoruichi scrutinized Miko carefully.
At a glance, she looked completely normal.
No Reiatsu (spiritual pressure). Nothing unusual.
But Yoruichi wasn't stupid enough to let her guard down.
After all, Lynn also had no Reiatsu. Yet he had completely overwhelmed her in a single move.
Anyone standing beside Lynn definitely wasn't someone to underestimate.
Miko and Yoruichi stared each other down, an odd tension filling the air.
Lynn, watching Yoruichi's state, nodded thoughtfully.
Looks like Miko's Spirit Devil skill was having a real effect here.
Miko really did have a natural advantage against Shinigami and Hollows.
As for why Yoruichi didn't react this way to Lynn himself? That was simple Lynn had absolute control over all his abilities.
If he didn't want to activate a devil trait, nothing would leak out.
A little while later
Kikyo and Midoriko also crossed over through the portal.
When Yoruichi saw Midoriko, she shivered again.
That woman gave her the exact same feeling as Miko!
Without even thinking, Yoruichi took a small step back, her smile freezing on her face.
This group...They didn't seem all that friendly toward her, huh?
Soon enough, the portal closed.
Yoruichi quietly observed the women surrounding Lynn.
Judging by how close they were. Could it be that all of them were Lynn's women?
Talk about a classic lust devil!
Thinking back to her previous encounters with lustful Lynn, Yoruichi suddenly felt a bit lucky things hadn't gotten worse.
Not long after, Kisuke Urahara arrived after getting the news.
The first thing he noticedAmong all these women, there was exactly one man.
Urahara pulled his hat down lower, trying to hide his analyzing gaze.
This was his first time seeing Lynn in person.
But he'd already seen Lynn's power.
Just a simple barrier Lynn had casually put up and it far surpassed even the level of Bakud #81, Dank!
Even if he used his Bankai, Urahara doubted he could destroy it.
That alone told him everything he needed to know.
Urahara felt like Lynn was even more dangerous than Ssuke Aizen!
At least with Aizen, he hadn't felt this powerless.
But this guy? He couldn't even sense a shred of Reiatsu from him!
Which was insane because, in this world whether it was Shinigami, Hollows, Quincies, or Fullbringers Reiatsu was the basic foundation of everything!
To meet someone monstrously strong without any detectable spirit energy, it shattered Urahara's worldview a little.
He sighed inwardly.
Surely hundreds of years of research couldn't have been wrong... right?
StillUrahara wasn't one to get bogged down in self-doubt.
He quickly suppressed those feelings and scanned the others present.
And the moment his gaze landed on Miko and MidorikoHis body reacted the same way Yoruichi's had.
An intense chill shot through him.
It felt like he was facing a natural predator.
Who were these two?!
Urahara's heart tightened.
And right then, Lynn's gaze fell on him.
Urahara immediately said respectfully."Nice to meet you, Lord Lynn."
When facing absolute strength, it was only natural to drop the casual attitude.
Lynn gave a simple nod and said, "You know how to get to Hueco Mundo, right?"
Hueco Mundo?
Urahara blinked in surprise.
Why was he asking about that?
Still, without hesitation, he replied, "I have a device that can open a Garganta to Hueco Mundo."
"Good. Go prepare it."
Lynn's tone was casual, giving orders without a second thought.
Just like how he had casually taken over this base without even asking.
Frankly, Lynn didn't care about Urahara all that much.
It was simple. He felt invincible now, being a Super Devil with all the crazy skills he had, plus his special anti-spirit abilities. He felt like no one could pose a threat to him.
Lynn stroked his chin, his eyes flashing with a calculating light.
He needed to find a way to squeeze every last drop of value out of Urahara, Bleach's genius inventor.
Suddenly, Urahara shivered.
He glanced up, confused. For some reason, he had a very bad feeling about all this.
Whatever!
They wanted to go to Hueco Mundo? Fine.
As for the idea of fighting Lynn? He had never even considered it.
Let someone else fight. He would just chill.
Still, Urahara was extremely curious about why Lynn wanted to head to Hueco Mundo.
Especially sinceThere was another very dangerous individual tangled up with that world.
He seriously worried about what kind of chaos might erupt there.
---
On the other side
Yoruichi caught a quick glance Urahara sent her, and she felt her lip twitch.
Yeah, she understood what that look meant.
Just because he didn't want to ask, he wanted her to do it?
Damn you, Urahara!
Cursing him internally, Yoruichi forced a stiff smile and cautiously asked, "Um... Lord Lynn, may I ask... why are you going to Hueco Mundo?"
There was no helping it.
Since Urahara knew, she knew too.
Ssuke Aizen!
If this had anything to do with that man, Yoruichi couldn't just sit back.
Lynn glanced down at her, amused by her nervousness.
Without saying anything, he raised his hand.
A black magic circle appeared in the air. And from it, he pulled out a small black book.
Lynn tossed it to Yoruichi casually.
"Take a look. You'll understand."
"...???"
Yoruichi caught the book, a little confused.
.
.
.
Yoruichi stared at the "Familia Manual" in her hands, looking completely lost.
But seeing that Lynn wasn't planning to say anything else, she simply lowered her head and started flipping through it.
It didn't take long before a bunch of shocking terms jumped out at her Familia strategy, Reincarnation Ceremony, Blessing System, Otherworld Invasion, and so on.
As for the part about being a devil, Yoruichi already had some understanding after communicating with Lynn through the "Devil's Contract" these past few days. So she wasn't too surprised by that.
But the Blessing system and all the rest? This was her first time hearing about it.
The Familia has over three million members?!
Seeing that number, Yoruichi couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
Next was the Reincarnation Ceremony section.
When she got to that part, her eyes flickered slightly.
Lynn could actually reincarnate others into devils?! And thenGain access to a Blessing System?!
The moment she saw the details about the Blessing System, Yoruichi's hand gripped the manual tightly.
Unlock your potential, awaken skills, and level up infinitely just by training or fighting monsters?!
Hiss
Wait a minute...Isn't this just like the Hgyoku?!
Yoruichi's pupils shrank violently, a wave of pure shock crashing over her.
In other words as long as someone joined Lynn's Familia and reincarnated as a devil, they could basically get a built-in Hgyoku blessing system?!
Thump thump!!
Her heart started pounding like crazy.
She glanced again at the total number of Lynn's Familia members.
[Over three million]
Gulp!
Yoruichi swallowed hard, her fingers trembling slightly.
Those three million members. Could it be that each of them had a Hgyoku lodged inside them too?!
At that thought, Yoruichi's mind went completely blank.
Her heart started to waver.
It had already been a nightmare dealing with just one Hgyoku and Ssuke Aizen back in the day.
And now? Now there was a man who could just casually hand out Hgyokus like candy?!
Yoruichi felt like crying.
She had this overwhelming feeling thatThe world was doomed.
She sneaked a glance at Lynn, then silently lowered her head again.
Even if she had a lot to say, Yoruichi didn't dare voice it out loud.
Forget it let the higher-ups worry about it.
Somehow, compared to Lynn, even Aizen didn't seem like that big of a deal anymore.
So, she decided to just play dead and continued reading the manual.
And thenOtherworld Invasion.
When her eyes landed on these words, she blinked, confusedBut then, she caught on immediately.
Her head snapped up, and she stared at Lynn, her voice trembling:
"That world being invaded... It wouldn't happen to be"
Lynn smiled lightly. "Exactly what you're thinking."
Clatter!
The manual slipped from Yoruichi's hands, hitting the floor with a crisp sound.
"Hehe~"
Yoruichi's eyes went blank. Her whole body seemed to shut down.
It's over.
Three million beings, each packing something like a Hgyoku, charging out all at once?
Yoruichi didn't even dare imagine what would happen.
Devils!
They really were devils after all!
And to think she had actually thought Lynn might be a decent guy.
ButNo.
A devil is still a devil!
Yoruichi pursed her lips, a shadow crossing her heart.
Of courseReality wasn't as bad as she was imagining.
At least the Blessing System's growth was gradual, not some instant nonsense like the Hgyoku.
Still thoughother worlds, huh?
Now it finally made sense why she hadn't felt any Reiatsu from Lynn, yet he was still ridiculously powerful.
Different worlds probably had different power systems.
Ahhhhh!! But now wasn't the time to be thinking about that!
Yoruichi started to panic a little.
Could the Soul Society alone really stop Lynn from invading?
She wasn't so sure. Could old man Yamamoto win?
Yoruichi had no clue.
She looked at Lynn, opened her mouth, and hesitated.
Lynn gave her a calm glance and said, "Relax. I'm not some villain. I'm not gonna mess with this world or anything."
Well...Just gonna take control it and devour the Soul King, that's all.
Yoruichi's face twitched.
Of course you're not a villain! You're a devil!!
Completely defeated, Yoruichi slumped down.
They hadn't even finished dealing with Aizen, and now here came an even bigger world-threatening problem.
She was done. Just let it all burn.
Yoruichi officially chose to give up.
"How about it? Interested in joining my Familia?" Lynn casually asked.
"??"
Yoruichi blinked, pointing at herself in surprise. "I can join too?"
Lynn shrugged. "Of course."
Yoruichi's mind started racing.
Joining Lynn's Familia?
She thought about that Hgyoku-like Blessing System.
And maybeShe could even save the world from the inside?
Not to mention ever since the "Devil's Contract" had wrapped her up and Lynn had marked her that day, she already knewThere was no escaping.
Plus she was seriously curious about the Blessing System.
Reading about it was one thing, but experiencing it firsthand was another.
She could get stronger!
She might even get to visit other worlds!
The more she thought about it, the more everything sounded like pure benefits!
Yoruichi froze on the spot.
She touched her chin, falling deep into thought.
Hmm... Seemed like it really was all advantages?
Well, aside from becoming part of Lynn's Familia and handing herself over to him completely.
But you couldn't expect to get all the benefits without paying some kind of price, right?
As a mature woman, she understood the rules of the worldYou gotta give something to get something.
Thinking about it, Yoruichi gave Lynn a strange look and couldn't help but ask:
"Are you really a devil?"
Because in her mind, devils were the kind of scum who'd screw you over for the tiniest favor.
But this guyWas he seriously running a charity or something? Giving cheats just to join his familia?
Lynn: "..."
His expression turned weird.
For some reason, he felt a little offended.
Yoruichi went over all the pros again, successfully talking herself into it.
Of courseThat was assuming the stuff in the manual was real.
But honestly she didn't think Lynn needed to scam her.
If he wanted her, he could've just grabbed her and forced his way with her body.
So Yoruichi decisively said: "Please let me join your Familia!"
Lynn: "..."
That easy?
He was a little stunned by how fast Yoruichi switched sides.
Especially considering he had literally just told her he was invading her world.
Lynn shook his head, not really able to figure out how her mind worked.
ButHey, he wasn't about to say no to free loyalty.
"You saw the Reincarnation Ceremony steps in the manual, right?"Lynn pointed at the handbook still lying on the floor.
Yoruichi froze for a second, then crouched down, picked it up, flicked her purple ponytail, and flashed a bright grin.
"Get naked, right?"
She said it so casually, like it was no big deal.
Taking off clothes? Please. She was very experienced with that!
Every time she transformed into her black cat form, her clothes would come off anyway.
And besides Lynn had already seen everything before.
One more time wouldn't hurt.
Since she agreed to join his Familia, that meant her body belonged to him too.
She was crystal clear on that.
Tilting her chin up, Yoruichi added: "There's an empty room over there."
With that, she walked off, the famous catwalk, her hips swaying with every step.
Lynn: "..."
Why did it feel like she was more eager than he was?
Chuckling helplessly, he followed after her.
Meanwhile, Kikyo and the others exchanged looks.
Just got here and already recruiting a new member?
As expected of Lord Lynn!
Off to the side, Yotsuya Miko suddenly felt a bit uneasy.
Was she falling behind in rankings again?!
.
.
.
The room was quiet.
The sound of clothes falling to the floor echoed clearly.
Standing there completely naked, Yoruichi rested one hand on her hip, openly showing off her stunning figure to Lynn without a shred of shyness.
Lynn's red eyes casually roamed up and down her bodytight, toned bronze skin, gleaming under the light, highlighting her seductive curves.
Seeing his eyes glued to her, Yoruichi tilted her chin up slightly, a sly smile tugging at her lips as she spoke in a teasing, almost ethereal tone, "Well? Isn't it good?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I have to check it first."
Yoruichi's face twitched slightly.
This guy was definitely not some shy little boy.
Realizing her little trick wasn't going to work on him at all, Yoruichi simply turned around, exposing her smooth back to him.
Deep inside, she was vaguely anticipating that he would shove something inside.
Lynn looked down at her butt and his pants were suddenly protesting the lack of personal space.
Despite that, he calmed himself, formed a Devil Piece, and casually pressed it into the center of Yoruichi's back.
"Ahhh~"
The moment the Devil Piece entered her body, Yoruichi's breathing instantly turned rough, like something inside her was being stretched or torn open.
But before long, the pain faded, replaced by a rushing heat swelling up inside her.
Thump-thump!
Her heartbeat sped up, and she could feel her blood boiling in her veins.
At the same timeA sound echoed in Lynn's ears.
[Ding! You have obtained the Familia member: Shihoin Yoruichi!]
[Ding! Your Familia member Shihoin Yoruichi has reincarnated as a Special-Type Devil!]
Lynn's gaze sharpened slightly as he looked at her back.
A flash of dazzling light flickered past, and then her Blessing Information appeared in front of him.
---
[Shihoin Yoruichi]
Rank: Ultimate-Class Devil
Position: Rook
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I2 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Position Skill: Natural Body
Unique Skills:
[Feline Transformation]
[Master Assassin]
[Shunpo Master (Flash Steps)]
[Shunk (Instant War Cry)]
[Flash Devil]
Development Abilities:
Night Blessing: B (All stats +20% under moonlight)
---
[Flash Devil]
Flash God Blessing (Doubles movement speed)
Shadow Protection
Devilization (Flash God)
---
Lynn casually skimmed through Yoruichi's Blessing Info, then copied it down.
Right after, with a smack, he gave her a firm slap on her perky butt and said, "All done."
Yoruichi's shapely body instinctively flinched.
She pursed her lips discreetly, then shot Lynn a side-eye as she took the Blessing Info sheet and looked it over.
If you looked closely, though, you'd notice her gaze was a little unfocusedlike her mind was already drifting somewhere far away.
Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she could still feel the lingering burn where he had slapped her.
She just couldn't focus properly.
At the same time, she became keenly aware that her current state was probably very attractive to Lynn.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have smacked her like that. And he was still looking at her with a heated gaze.
A ripple stirred in Yoruichi's heart. It took her several minutes to calm down and finally refocus on her Blessing Info.
Reading carefully from top to bottom, her eyes eventually stopped on the "Skills" section.
The skills listed there didn't surprise her much.
After all, they were just different presentations of abilities she had already mastered.
In fact, she had a lot more techniques up her sleeve than what was listed.
But thenHer gaze landed on one skill: Flash Devil.
This was new.
A power she had gained from becoming a devil.
Yoruichi's golden eyes narrowed slightly, and she willed it into activation.
Shunpo.
Buzz
In the blink of an eye, her figure vanished, as if tearing through space itself, and reappeared behind Lynn.
Her body froze in place, her eyes filled with a hint of shock.
This speed was way faster than before!
Before this, she was already unmatched in all of Soul Society when it came to speed.
But nowShe had gotten even faster?
Flash God Blessing!
Doubling her movement speed! And there was no visible limit?
Holy crap
On paper, it didn't look that flashy, but the potential was insane.
And that was just her normal state. If she activated Shunk on top of that.
Hisss
She couldn't even imagine how fast she would be!
Excitement flickered in Yoruichi's eyes.
NowIn the entire Soul Society, she could beat up whoever she wanted, couldn't she?
Well, except maybe Old Man Yamamoto.
Yeah better leave him alone for now.
Even with her newfound strength, Yoruichi wasn't confident about taking on Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
The guy's power was something that had been forged over a thousand years.
Pushing aside any thoughts of picking a fight with Yamamoto, Yoruichi focused back on the changes in her body.
The Flash Devil skill was amazing, sure.
But what really caught her attention was the feeling deep inside her.
It felt like the stagnation in her power had been brokenlike she was growing stronger again.
The most obvious change? Her Reiatsu was rising!
Slowly, but definitely rising.
And besides that there was a new type of energy inside her.
It had to be the devil's power.
Probably what the Blessing Info called Magic.
Yoruichi raised a finger.
Whoosh
A wisp of golden magic flame materialized out of thin air.
She curiously studied the new power, completely different from Reiatsu, trying to understand the differences between the two.
...
While Yoruichi was absorbed in feeling out her changes, Lynn was also reviewing his gains from making her his Familia member.
The invasion rate of the "Bleach" world had increased slightly.
Inside the space of his Devil Pieces, a new slot had appearedone belonging to Yoruichi's piece.
Currently, it was standing there all by itself, lonely but dignified.
That must be the designated area for Bleach world members.
Thinking about it, a series of familiar faces popped into Lynn's mind.
Matsumoto Rangiku, Kuchiki Rukia, Inoue Orihime
YeahThis world sure had a lot of talents.
Felt like another wave of Familia members was about to flood in.
Of courseIt probably wouldn't be like the Black Bullet world where he instantly recruited over three million people.
Still, the overall quality of recruits was pretty top-notch.
After mentally noting it down, Lynn shifted his focus back to his own gains.
The biggest prize?
Probably the fact that he now had full access to the Shinigami system of powers.
Things like Zanpakuto, Hakuda, Hoho, and Kid.
Even if it didn't boost his own strength directly right now, it gave his Familia a whole new arsenal of techniques.
---
A while later.
Urahara saw Yoruichi and Lynn walking out of the same room together.
A flicker of surprise flashed across his face.
ThenHis eyes narrowed slightly.
Yoruichi's aura had changed? What the hell had they done in there?
Yoruichi caught the questioning look in Urahara's eyes and smirked playfully.
ThenWith the boost from Flash Devil, Yoruichi moved so fast there wasn't even a ripple of movement.
Urahara's pupils shrank sharply as he suddenly felt a hand press firmly onto his shoulder.
Urahara: "..."
Yoruichi's speed had jumped to another level!
Just two days ago, she hadn't been capable of this, right?
Was it because of Lynn?
Urahara instinctively guessed.
What exactly happened between Yoruichi and Lynn during that private time?
Seeing Urahara frozen in shock, Yoruichi felt very pleased, satisfied her urge to show off, and then casually asked, "Did you finish opening the Garganta?"
Urahara paused, his expression turning a little strange.
Since when are you so eager?
(Well, duh.)
(She was part of Lynn's Familia now!)
Urahara didn't understand what was going on, but he couldn't shake a bad feeling creeping up inside him.
Had this trustworthy woman betrayed the organization?
Urahara shook his head and replied, "The Garganta to Hueco Mundo is ready."
He turned to look at Lynn, hesitating slightly. "So should we head out?"
Lynn nodded calmly. "Yeah. Let's go."
.
.
.
In a silent and empty world, a crack suddenly split open in midair.
Crack crack~
The sound was sharp and clear, like shattering glass.
Step!
A foot stepped out from within. Right after, Lynn's figure appeared.
Stretching out before him was a barren landscape like a white desert, scattered with what looked like withered trees made of quartz.
Here and there, bizarre-looking creatures wandered aimlessly.
Lynn glanced up at the sky.
A crescent moon hung overhead, marking the flow of time in this place.
But according to what Lynn knew, there was no such thing as "daytime" here.
He took a few deep breaths, feeling a pleasant warmth spread through his body.
It was thanks to the Reiatsu he'd got from Yoruichinow he could start absorbing the Reishi (spirit particles) floating around him.
And in Hueco Mundo, the density of Reishi was on another level that even the Soul Society couldn't compare.
If his Familia members could absorb Reishi, just standing here would probably boost their stats.
Unfortunately right now, aside from Yoruichi, who was a native here, only Miko and Midoriko could use Reishi.
After all, one was a specialist in spirits as [Spirit Devil], and the other was an expert on souls as [Four-Soul Devil].
While Lynn was surveying the surroundings, more figures began stepping out of the black rift behind him.
Yotsuya Miko took a deep breathand immediately felt a surge of dense Reishi flooding into her body!
Miko: "?"
She scratched her cheek, a little confused.
It kinda felt like she was absorbing spirits?
This was amazing!!
Miko's eyes lit up instantly.
For her, this place was basically heaven!
Meanwhile, Midoriko stretched out her hand and used her [Soul Battle Priestess] skill.
---
[Soul Battle Priestess]
Weapon Manifestation: Can manipulate souls to rapidly form weapons.
---
A soft glow flickered at her fingertip, and with a small swipe through the air.
Buzz
A bow made purely from Reishi formed in an instant!
Seeing that, Midoriko fell deep into thought.
It felt like she had stepped into her home turf.
The air was so thick with Reishi that she could easily do things she never could back in the main world!
Like this bow she just madeShe simply gathered the Reishi around her, and it came together effortlessly.
It was like a fish in water.
Midoriko thought of that phrase with a smile.
No wonder Lynn-sama said this world was perfect for her and Miko.
If they trained here, their strength could seriously level up!
"Woohoo~!"
Kanoe Yuuko, the [Ghost Devil] floated in the air, arms spread wide, eyes closed, looking totally blissed out.
As a ghost, she absolutely loved this kind of environment!
It felt like she was soaking in a hot spring 24/7.
This kind of sensation was something only Miko, Midoriko, and Yuuko could appreciate.
The others, like Kikyo, didn't feel much of anything.
Kikyo looked around, then narrowed her eyes at the odd creatures wandering nearby.
"Those..."
"Are those Hollows?"
Lynn nodded. "Yeah."
"But most of them are just regular Hollowsnot very strong."
He scanned the area casually, not taking them seriously.
Honestly, these regular Hollows were probably weaker than even low-class Devils.
The [Life Devil], Yurikawa Hana, had a spark of excitement in her eyes. She cracked her knuckles and eagerly said, "I'll go first!"
A burst of golden energy exploded around her, wrapping her up like a Super Saiyan.
In the next instant
A golden streak cut through the air as Hana shot forward like an arrow!
In no time, one unlucky Hollow sensed a burning heat approaching, and a human figure popped up right in front of it.
Hollow: "??"
It froze, totally dumbfounded.
Hana cheerfully waved at it, flashing a bright, energetic smile. "Hi there, Mr. Hollow!"
Miko: "..."
She facepalmed and sighed. "Hana, regular Hollows don't have brains, y'know!"
"Eh?"
Hana blinked, tilting her head. "Really?"
Miko twitched a little.
Yeah, this girl definitely wasn't paying attention during the briefing.
But well that's just Hana for you.
Miko let out a helpless chuckle.
"Yaaaaaaah!!"
At that moment, the Hollow finally reacted, roaring as it lunged at Hana!
But the second its claws touched her golden aura, its whole body ignited!
The Hollow disintegrated into Reishi and vanished into the air.
"Eh?"
Hana looked super confused, scratching her head. "What just happened?"
"Where did Mr. Hollow go?"
Miko: "..."
Lynn twitched the corner of his mouth.
What had she even learned during training?
At least one thing was clearOrdinary Hollows were no threat at all.
"Alright," Lynn said. "Let's move forward and explore deeper."
On the other side
Watching Lynn and the others disappear into the black rift, Kisuke Urahara finally turned to Yoruichi and asked, "You and that guy..."
"What exactly happened?"
Yoruichi grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. "As expected of you, Kisuke! Sharp as ever!"
Urahara twitched a little. "You weren't even trying to hide it."
She literally put on a whole show right in front of him. It would have been harder not to notice.
Yoruichi shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not sure how much I'm even allowed to tell you."
She had only just joined Lynn's Familia and didn't know all the rules yet.
"But..."
"You saw my speed earlier, right?"
Urahara's eyes glinted. "It's because of him?"
"Yep."
Yoruichi nodded. "My strength got a major boost."
Urahara narrowed his eyes.
He knew Yoruichi's abilities like the back of his handand he knew she'd been stuck at the same level for ages.
"So..."
Urahara couldn't help but ask in disbelief, "You... sold yourself to him?"
Yoruichi nodded without a hint of shame. "That's right."
Urahara: "..."
Wait, he was just jokingshe actually did?!
His face turned a little weird.
"Oh yeah," Yoruichi suddenly said, smiling slyly. "Maybe I should tell you something."
"I'm kinda like... walking around with a complete Hgyoku now."
"!??"
Urahara's head snapped up. "What did you just say?!"
"Ara, Ara~"
Yoruichi chuckled at his reaction. "Wow, it's so rare to see that look on your face!"
But Urahara wasn't playing around. His face turned deadly serious. "Yoruichi, if it's about the Hgyoku, you can't joke around."
Hearing that, Yoruichi dropped the teasing and nodded seriously. "Urahara, I'm not joking."
When she first learned about the Blessing System, she was just as shaken as he was now.
Honestly, the Blessing System might even be scarier than the Hgyoku itself.
After confirming Yoruichi's words, Urahara fell silent.
She hadn't spelled it out completely, but just from the bits she revealed, he could already piece together a lot.
At the very least
The "Hgyoku" Yoruichi was talking about must have come from Lynn.
Seriously?
Just because she sold herself, Lynn handed over something that important?
Was Yoruichi really that worth it?
Urahara looked up at her, suspicion written all over his face.
Yoruichi twitched. "I feel like you're thinking something really rude right now."
Urahara quickly straightened his face. "You're overthinking it."
Yoruichi rolled her eyes, then added, "I kinda figured out what you're thinking."
"But..."
"Unlike your Hgyoku, Lynn's Hgyoku is something he can just... casually make."
Urahara froze again.
Casually make them?
Wait a minute!
Urahara's voice was a little strained. "Don't tell me all his women"
Yoruichi nodded. "Yup. It's exactly what you're thinking."
Gulp
Urahara couldn't keep a straight face anymore.
Everyone got one?
Their own personal Hgyoku?!
The thing he and Aizen had spent so long chasing after.
This guy could mass-produce them like candy?!
Urahara spiraled into deep, existential doubt.
---
MeanwhileBack in the main world
Himeragi Yukina and Kitagawa Marin had just finished their first official initiation into Lynn's Familia.
.
.
.
Apocalypse World
Kitagawa Marin carefully blew the head off a zombie.
Only after the body dropped to the ground with a heavy thud did she pat her chest and let out a breath of relief.
Her heart was pounding like crazy.
Up until today, she'd just been a regular girl. This was her first time facing such bizarre, beyond-common-sense monsters, so it was only natural she felt a bit nervous.
Even though the zombies weren't exactly hard to deal with and Shiina Mahiru was there watching her back Marin still couldn't help but be on edge.
Compared to Marin, Himeragi Yukina was way calmer.
After testing her new abilities on a few zombies, she casually started sizing up the world around them.
Yep! No doubt about it.
This was another world.
Yukina could tell for sure there were no such things as zombies back in her original world.
Also the air here didn't seem to have any special energy or anything.
Aside from the zombies, this place felt just like a normal world.
Gripping her Snowdrift Wolf spear tightly, Yukina felt a rush of emotion.
A real, honest-to-god other world.
Seeing that the two of them were getting the hang of things, Shiina Mahiru finally spoke up: "Alright, that's enough for today."
Snapped out of their thoughts, Marin and Yukina both nodded.
It didn't take long before the three of them returned to the Familia base in the zombie world.
The sight that greeted them immediately caught Marin and Yukina's attention: many little girls with wings fluttering about here and there.
Marin couldn't help but ask curiously, "Are they... also members of the Familia?"
Mahiru smiled and nodded."Yep, they are."
Marin clicked her tongue in amazement.
There were so many of them.
She glanced down at her own very developed figure and started feeling a little uneasy.
Could it be... Lynn prefers lolis?
Before she could dwell on it too long The three of them passed through a Gate and returned to the Supernatural Research Club.
Yukina's mind was still a little foggy.
Just that short trip to another world had completely overturned everything she thought she knew.
And there were still three more worlds left to explore.
She glanced toward the other Gates, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
What are the other worlds like?
On the other side, Mahiru said casually: "Each Familia member has a place they can stay. If you two want, you can move in too."
As she spoke, she shared the location of Lynn's Manor with them.
Marin's curiosity got the better of her: "Do most of the Familia live at the manor?"
Mahiru's eye twitched slightly. If you counted the lolis, then "most" wasn't exactly the right word.
After thinking for a second, she just smiled and said: "Well... there's a pretty good number, yeah."
"Great! I'm in!"
Marin pumped her fist, eyes full of determination.
Got to be close to the source if you wanna make a move!
If she couldn't get close to Lord Lynn, how was she ever going to climb into his bed?
Uhh?
Was she being shameless thinking that?
Marin's cheeks turned a little pink.
But no matter what, she wasn't backing down!
She wanted to show Lord Lynn just how warm she could be!
Mahiru watched Marin with an amused smile.
Looks like this newbie has a clear goal in mind.
Maybe they'd be comrades-in-arms soon enough.
"I'll go too!" Yukina suddenly said.
"...?"
Mahiru blinked at her in surprise.
From what she'd observed, Yukina didn't seem like the type who'd willingly throw herself into Lynn's arms.
More like she was here because she had no choice? So this sudden eagerness caught Mahiru a little off guard.
But Yukina's calm expression hid her real thoughts.
She was thinking about Sayaka.
Even if she'd ended up joining the Familia herself, Yukina hadn't forgotten about her best friend.
Even if she couldn't rescue Sayaka, she at least needed to know how she was doing.
Wait. Couldn't she just ask about it directly?
Snapping back to herself, Yukina turned to Mahiru and asked:
"Mahiru-senpai, um... has there been a girl around here recently? She's really busty, but super scared of guys?"
Senpai?
Mahiru's heart skipped a beat.
First time one of the new recruits had called her that.
Mahiru's mood instantly improved.
"Let me think."
"Hmm..."
"You mean Kirasaka Sayaka, right?"
Yukina's eyes lit up. She nodded frantically.
Mahiru tilted her head, curious. "You're friends with her?"
A little embarrassed, Yukina nodded again and admitted honestly: "Actually, the whole reason I joined the Familia... was because of Sayaka."
After seeing Lynn's methods and the power behind the Familia, Yukina realized she couldn't afford to play games.
Might as well lay her cards on the table.
Mahiru nodded in understanding. "You wanted to save her?"
Yukina nodded.
Mahiru smiled wryly. "Yeah, that's probably not gonna happen..."
After all, Sayaka was a talented recruit. Now that she was in Lynn's hands, there was no way he'd let her go.
Yukina wasn't surprised to hear that.
Sayaka had snuck in here on a secret mission, after all. She was kind of in the wrong.
Still, Yukina couldn't help but worry: "Then... how is Sayaka doing now?"
Noticing the concern in Yukina's eyes, Mahiru reassured her: "Don't worry. She's not in any danger."
"And actually..." Mahiru's expression turned weird."Your friend is currently undergoing treatment for her androphobia (Fear of men)."
"...Huh?"
Yukina froze. "You can treat that?"
Mahiru gave an awkward chuckle. "Uh... maybe?"
At the very least, Sayaka had already gotten pretty used to Lynn's touch.
Yukina didn't know what to say.
This outcome was way different from what she expected!
Not only had Sayaka not been mistreated, she was actually being treated?
This Familia of "devils" was way more humane than she'd imagined!
From the moment she met Lynn, Yukina's preconceived ideas about devils had started to crumble.
And now, after hearing about Sayaka's situation, they were completely gone.
Besides she was technically a devil now too!
Hearing that Sayaka was okay made Yukina feel a whole lot lighter. Then she hesitated for a second before asking: "U-Um..."
Scratching her face awkwardly, she admitted: "I'm actually from the Lion King Organization... So what"
Mahiru immediately understood and gave her a reassuring smile: "Don't worry. If you still want to stay in the Lion King Organization, you can."
"Eh?"
Another surprise!
Yukina was starting to get seriously shocked.
Wasn't this devil Familia too good?
Mahiru just smiled mysteriously.
The Familia never forced anyone to cut ties with their original organizations.
Mahiru's words and attitude melted away all of Yukina's lingering worries.
Otherwise, with her still officially tied to the Lion King Organization and now carrying all these secrets about the Familia, she would've been a nervous wreck.
...
Yukina and Marin finally left the Supernatural Research Club.
They were heading back to pack up their things and move to Lynn's Manor.
Of course, Marin still needed to convince her family first.
Yukina's situation was way easier.
She was living alone in a rented apartment anyway.
Back home, Yukina quickly packed her things. After hesitating for a moment, she decided to call Endou.
"Moshi moshi~"
The call connected, and Endou's lazy voice came through.
HISSSSS~
Yukina frowned. "Master, what are you doing? It's so noisy over there."
---
At the Lion King Organization
Endou sighed, glancing toward the courtyard.
There, a man in a white suit with flowing blond hair stood tall.
Behind him, a giant green serpent loomed over the assembled agents.
'The Snake Charmer,' Dimitrie Vatler.
Endou could only sigh helplessly.
Seriously, of all people, the Frivolous Master of Serpents had to show up?
Living up to his nickname, this guy wasn't just obsessed with snakes he was also a battle maniac!
Fight first, talk later, huh?
So arrogant... it was basically a slap in the Lion King Organization's face!
"Master?"
Yukina's slightly anxious voice came through the phone again.
Endou snapped back and laughed it off: "It's nothing. Just got challenged by a vampire."
Yukina: "?"
You call that "nothing"?!
.
.
.
"Wait for me, I'm on my way, Master!"
Beep beep beep~
The moment Himeragi Yukina finished speaking, Endou's phone was already playing the busy tone.
Endou opened his mouth, but in the end, just shook his head and sighed helplessly. "Still as impatient as ever, Yukina."
Endou believed that even if Yukina rushed over, there wasn't much she could do right now anyway.
Not to mentionThe guy in front of them, the snake charmer, clearly wasn't planning to seriously pick a fight with the Lion King Organization.
Still, against a vampire who hasn't reached the level of a Primogenitor (True Ancestor) yet, they weren't helpless.
It's just Dimitrie Vatler wasn't exactly easy to deal with.
Word was, he'd swallowed two second-generation-class vampires. Who knew what level his strength had reached now?
Endou's expression turned serious as she locked eyes with Dimitrie Vatler, keeping a close watch on his every move.
Wait...
Hadn't she forgotten to ask Yukina about Lynn's situation?
Endou's mind drifted back to Yukina.
Compared to Dimitrie Vatler, she was way more concerned about how things were going with Lynn.
After all, when an even more terrifying being was looming over them, Dimitrie Vatler just didn't feel like much of a threat anymore.
Naturally, Dimitrie Vatler could also tell the Lion King Organization wasn't exactly taking him seriously.
He chuckled, a little amused. "Man, it's been a while since anyone treated me like I don't matter."
For some reason, that realization made him genuinely happy.
Yeah, this was how it should be! They ignore him...And then BATTLE!!
Only through fighting could he feel truly alive!
"Utpalaka!"
With a low call, the massive serpent behind Dimitrie Vatler launched itself into the air, diving straight toward the Lion King Organization's reception hall!
Wherever it passed, freezing air swept out, instantly frosting everything around it!
ROAR!
The giant snake opened its crimson maw and let out a chilling screech!
But Endou and the others just glanced at it casually, not even bothering to react.
The next second
A faint blue barrier quietly rose up in front of them.
BOOM!
Utpalaka smashed headfirst into the barrier!
Hisssss~~
The serpent screeched in pain, but no matter how hard it pushed, it couldn't advance even an inch.
Whoosh
It exhaled a freezing breath, instantly covering the barrier with a thick layer of frost.
Crack crack!
The sharp sound of freezing filled the air.
Endou calmly lifted a hand, and with a flick of her fingers, a talisman shot toward Utpalaka!
Mid-air, the talisman suddenly ignited in bright crimson flames! The next moment, it struck Utpalaka's enormous body.
Fwoosh!
The small flame erupted into a massive inferno, engulfing the giant snake completely!
ROAR!!
Utpalaka howled in agony, writhing violently, trying desperately to shake off the flames.
Endou just gave it a flat look before shifting her gaze toward Dimitrie Vatler, her voice cold:
"Hey, snake charmer. Is that how your Warlord boss taught you to say hello?"
Dimitrie Vatler, completely unconcerned about his familiar burning alive, simply smiled lightly and said:
"I'm just here to see if you're qualified to host the Blazing Banquet."
The Blazing Banquet?
Hearing those words, Endou's eyes narrowed slightly.
So that's what this was about.
No surprise there. If the vampires were getting involved, it had to be related to the 'Fourth Progenitor.'
What did catch her off guard was that the Warlord actually sent this battle-crazed lunatic.
Did he not realize what would happen? Or maybe...
Maybe this was exactly what he wanted.
Endou's eyes flickered thoughtfully, unable to guess what the Warlord was really thinking.
...
Meanwhile
Dimitrie Vatler calmly recalled Utpalaka back to its world.
Then, raising his hand, he called out: "Sagara, Upananda."
The moment his voice fell, two new serpents materialized behind himone, a dark blue giant snake as vast as the ocean; the other, a black serpent covered in countless razor-sharp scales along its back.
The second they appeared, the pressure in the room spiked dramatically!
Endou felt her whole body tense up and the air around her freezing.
"You've come this far... and you still want to fight?"
Hands casually tucked in his pockets, Dimitrie Vatler chuckled, "You guys at the Lion King Organization must have my file, right?"
"You already know exactly what kind of guy I am."
Endou let out a long breath and rubbed her temples. She could already feel the headache coming.
She couldn't let this guy do whatever he wanted!
Her eyes sharpened. With a wave of her hand, a massive shikigami the size of a mountain appeared out of thin air!
And without missing a beat, it threw a massive punch straight down!
BOOM!!
The shockwave of the punch exploded through the air!
Dimitrie Vatler lifted his head, a bright spark of excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Now that's more like it!"
At his mental command, Sagara and Upananda charged in!
Sagara slipped past the shikigami's attack and wrapped its massive body tightly around it.
A crushing pressure, like the weight of the ocean itself, bore down on the shikigami!
Boom!
Forced to one knee, the shikigami slammed the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Seeing the opening, Upananda lashed its tail like a whip!
Screech
The sound of blades cutting into flesh rang out as the shikigami's enormous body was slashed, leaving a gruesome wound!
Clap clap clap.
Dimitrie Vatler clapped his hands cheerfully."Looks like my familiars are still better than yours."
Endou didn't react to his gloating. Expressionless, she simply raised her hand and tapped the air.
A streak of golden light shot into the shikigami's body!
ROAR!!
The shikigami suddenly let out a deafening roar, rising back to its feet!
Its massive hands grabbed Sagara's body, squeezing it with terrifying force!
Hisss~
Sagara let out a miserable shriek!
And the next instantCRACK!
Its body split apart, a flood of water pouring down from the sky!
Though Dimitrie Vatler's smile remained on his face, his eyes had turned noticeably colder.
He clapped his hands again.
Hum
Countless giant serpents began to manifest around him.
Endou raised an eyebrow. "Going all out now, huh?"
Dimitrie Vatler kept smiling: "Try not to die."
"Heh."
Endou let out a cold laugh. "Guess you're really underestimating us."
Just as she was about to make her move, a familiar voice suddenly shouted from outside.
"Master!"
Startled, Endou turned toward the soundand saw Yukina Himeragi rushing in, wielding her Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer and charging straight at Dimitrie Vatler!
Endou's eye twitched. "Wait! You're no match for him!"
Vatler turned his head, raising an eyebrow in amusement as he watched Yukina come at him.
"Ah, the fearless spirit of the young."
But as he felt that she didn't have the aura of a true powerhouse, he quickly lost interest.
What he didn't know was that she was the Anti-Demons Devil.
---
[Anti-Demons Devil]
Gained control over the spear "Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer."
Divine Punishment Eye (Passive: Senses magical energy/malice within 300 meters; can mark up to 3 targets with their anti-magic weak points.)
Anti-Magic Barrier: Eightfold Holly (Deploys eight magic-inscribed gunblades to form a barrier that reduces all magic effects by 70%.)
Divine Core Resonance: Critical Breakthrough (Activates the Snowdrift Wolf's divine core, adding space-shattering power to attacks.)
Bonus damage against all evil creatures (Vampires, demons, etc...).
Devilization (Divine Punishment Spear: Summons a massive Snow wolf avatar for a piercing strike that causes "Divine Core Collapse" along its path.)
---
Still thinking of Yukina as weak, Vatler waved a hand dismissively. "Upananda."
At his command, Upananda turned its deadly focus onto Yukina, its eerie green slit-pupils locking onto her.
Yukina's eyes narrowed sharply, and she whispered under her breath, "Snowdrift Wolf!"
Fwoosh
In that instant, a swirling torrent of energy erupted from Snowdrift Wolf!
At the same time, Yukina spotted a faint red glowing spot on Upananda's massive body.
Divine Punishment Eye!
That's the weak spot!
Fixing her gaze on the target, Yukina gripped her weapon tightly and took a deep breath.
Swish!
With terrifying force, she hurled Snowdrift Wolf forward!
A brilliant light exploded from the weapon, violently distorting the very air around it!
Divine Core Resonance: Critical Breakthrough!
Yukina wasn't holding backShe went all out from the start!
Upananda's green pupils were instantly filled with light!
Sensing the danger, it instinctively twisted its body, trying to dodge. But Snowdrift Wolf was way too fast!
In the blink of an eye, it pierced straight into Upananda's lower abdomen!
The radiant light instantly swallowed Upananda whole!
"Gyaaahhh!!"
Upananda thrashed wildly, letting out a pitiful screech!
But against the overwhelming force of Yukina's attack, it didn't take long before Upananda was utterly annihilated.
Seeing the familiar vanish completely, Yukina let out a few quick breaths and held out her hand.
Swish~
Snowdrift Wolf flew right back into her hand, settling quietly.
Across from her, Dimitrie Vatler stared at the spot where Upananda had disappeared, his face stiffening slightly.
He tried to reestablish the connection with his familiar but there was nothing left.
.
.
.
Dimitrie Vatler fell into silence.
No response from Upananda.
Which could only meanhe didn't even make it back to the Otherworld. He was just gone?
Vatler couldn't quite believe it.
Normally, when a familiar is defeated in this world, it just gets sent back to the Otherworld.
But this time, one strike. Just one hit wiped out his familiar completely?
Didn't even give it a chance to return?
""
Vatler's eyes grew darker.
That familiar of his wasn't some low-level creature.
If it had been the Warlord, maybe he wouldn't be surprised.
But this...?
He narrowed his eyes and studied Himeragi Yukina carefully.
This girl clearly looked like a nobody.
Was it because of that spear?
Vatler's gaze dropped to the Snowdrift Wolf in her hands.
A sudden wave of unease surged in his heart.
That spear is definitely not normal.
---
Meanwhile
Endou was even more shocked than Vatler.
That was Yukina just now? She just took out one of Vatler's familiars in a single hit?
Holy crap.
Was that really her sweet little disciple?
Endou clicked her tongue but kept her eyes on the Snowdrift Wolf and Yukina's strange connection with it.
That last strike she could clearly sense the energy from the "Divine Core."
But the one she remembered didn't pack that much power. That strike just now was clearly way stronger than the usual Core stuff!
When did the Snowdrift Wolf gain that kind of ability?
Endou's eyes narrowed with suspicion.
But more than that, what really caught her attention was the bond between Yukina and the spear.
Yukina just lifted her hand, and the Snowdrift Wolf flew right back to her, like it belonged there.
That scene
It reminded Endou of the previous owner of the spear.
Fujisaka Touka.
Had Yukina really reached the same level as her already?
Maybe She has even surpassed Touka's control over the Snowdrift Wolf.
After all, Yukina had just used an ability no one had ever seen before.
Endou tried to calm her racing heart, her eyes gleaming with a strange light.
She'd only been gone for one day, and already Yukina had undergone some kind of incredible transformation.
She couldn't help but think of Lynnthe Devil King.
Had Yukina already come into contact with him?
Or maybe, had she already become one of his followers?
That thought made Endou carefully inspect Yukina from head to toe.
She even used her spiritual power to check.
"The scent of a devil"
Endou muttered softly.
That confirmed it!
Yukina had become one of Lynn's people!
Her heart thumped uncontrollably.
Yukina nice work!
Endou was honestly thrilledand relieved.
Even though Lynn had never directly interacted with the Lion King Organization, the pressure he gave off was far greater than the vampire standing in front of them.
If Yukina had really become his follower, then things would go way more smoothly with the plan to have Sayaka infiltrate Lynn Group.
And besides, Endou was certain nowYukina's sudden strength and her tighter bond with the Snowdrift Wolf were definitely tied to Lynn.
Just what the hell did he do?
They spent years training people at the Lion King Organization, and none of them grew as fast as Yukina did after spending one day with Lynn!
After some time...
Vatler also caught the scent of devil energy coming off Yukina.
His eyes twinkled with amusement, and he said teasingly, "Well, well The Lion King Organizationsupposedly humanity's top weaponcollaborating with devils now? That's a surprise."
He'd heard her call Endou "Master" earlierloud and clear.
Endou didn't bother replying. No point explaining anything to a damn vampire.
And Vatler wasn't really expecting an answer, either.
Whether or not they were actually colluding with devils didn't concern him much.
If someone had to worry about that, it'd be the Warlord, not him.
He had only one thing on his mindTatakae!! (Fight!)
Vatler squinted, locking eyes on the breathless Yukina.
He thought she was just some bug on the road, but apparently, she had some serious firepower.
He spoke in a low, eerie tone. "You killed one of my precious, adorable familiars. I can't just let that slide."
As his voice trailed off
Whoosh!
Behind him, several massive snake-like shadows began to form.
Adorable?
Yukina's lips twitched at the word.
You call that snake adorable?
She wanted to complain, but her gaze stayed sharp, locked on Vatler.
She understood clearlythis vampire was way out of her league.
That last attack had drained almost all of her magic.
And all she managed to do was take out one of his familiars.
She glanced past him
The snake phantoms had solidified completely.
One, two, three, four.
Four massive snake familiars stared her down, their green slit-pupiled eyes glowing with menace.
Yukina: ""
Wow.
He really thinks highly of me, huh?
"Kinryu."
Vatler's voice was cold and flat.
As soon as he spoke, one of the giant serpentsradiating golden lightshot into the air!
Then it came crashing down toward Yukina with terrifying speed!
She kicked off the ground just in time to dodge.
A second laterBOOM!
Kinryu slammed into the ground, cracking it wide open as dust flew everywhere.
Yukina raised her arms to shield her eyes.
Kinryu raised his head from the crater, shook off the dust, and began scanning for Yukina again.
Yukina tensed, trying to summon the Snowdrift Wolf's power one more time.
But
"Nngh"
A groan escaped her lips as she staggered.
She was running out of magic.
Endou quickly caught onto her state.
When the golden snake lunged again, Endou raised her hand, launching a golden spell to intercept it.
The next moment
Yukina leapt to the side with the help of her teacher.
The snake's attack was dodged once again.
Vatler's eyes gleamed. "Monas," he said calmly.
Hissss~~!
Another huge black serpent roared to life at his command.
---
Endou stepped in front of Yukina.
Seeing her student completely drained of magic, she handed her a recovery potion.
But honestly, these things weren't that effective.
She sighed. "Yukina, you should fall back. This fight's way beyond you now."
She hadn't expected Yukina to take out any of Vatler's familiars, so that alone was impressive.
But Vatler just had too many.
Unexpectedly, Yukina didn't leave.
She shook her head and softly said, "He's already locked onto me."
And it was true. Even with Endou standing between them, Vatler's gaze never once left Yukina.
Endou raised an eyebrow and looked at him mockingly.
"What's this? The famous battle maniac himself, getting his kicks from bullying the weak now?"
"Weak?"
Vatler chuckled. "She's anything but weak."
The moment she killed one of his familiars, he'd already started treating her as an equal.
Endou narrowed her eyes, about to say somethingbut Yukina gently tugged at her sleeve.
"??"
Endou turned toward her in confusion
Only to see Yukina quietly pull out a small can.
Was that milk?
.
.
.
"...?"
Endou's gaze fell on the canned milk in Yukina's hand, her expression unreadable.
Milk... at a time like this? Since when did Yukina pick up that habit?
And seriously if you're gonna drink it, finewhy the heck are you blushing!?
Yukina pursed her lips, staring at the can as her lashes trembled slightly. Her cheeks gradually turned red.
This was apparently one of the perks of joining Lynn's faction. According to Shiina Mahiru, it was some sort of magic-recovery item?
But thinking of Mahiru's warning, Yukina hesitated.
This stuff was really made by one of her seniors in the familia?
She instinctively glanced down at her own chest, and her face flushed even more.
Do... do I really have to drink this? And how the hell did this senior make this much milk?
Yukina was still hesitatinguntil a sudden gust of wind whipped through, scattering her hair.
A gigantic golden serpent crashed through the ground as it was about to reach her at terrifying speed!
Okay, no time to hesitate!
Yukina popped open the can and chugged it in one go!
Thump-thump!!
She clearly heard the pounding of her own heart. And right afterA rush of power surged up from deep inside her!
Her magic, which had already been depleted, instantly refilled as if flipping a switch!
BOOM!
A burst of magic exploded from Yukina's body. Her black hair flew wildly as she raised the Snowdrift Wolf without hesitation!
Whoooosh
"This is"
Endou was stunned by the sight in front of her.
Her magic... actually recovered? And at that speed?
Her eyes drifted to the now-empty can in Yukina's hand, suspicions forming in her mind.
A magic recovery item?
As someone experienced in these things, she quickly saw through the milk's true nature.
But wasn't this effect a bit too good?
And as far as she remembered, Yukina didn't have access to this kind of item.
Lynn?
That name flashed through Endou's mind. Then she recalled the Lynn Group, known for dealing in supernatural gear.
Could it be this was another one of their products?
She made a mental noteif every member of the Lion King Organization could get their hands on this stuff, it'd be a literal lifesaver for them!
Pushing those thoughts aside, Endou refocused on the battlefield.
There were still two beast familiars. She had no intention of letting Yukina deal with them alone.
That said her own powers weren't exactly offensive; they were more on the support side.
She tapped her index finger in the air. A golden magic circle formed instantly, cryptic and radiant, before shooting into Yukina's body like an arrow.
Yukina blinked, then suddenly felt her magic surge in qualitylike she'd broken through some kind of limit.
The swirling wind around the Snowdrift Wolf instantly intensified!
"Wolf of divine frost, slayer of demonslend me the power to smite this evil!"
Yukina instinctively chanted the spear's attack prayer.
HUMMMM
In the blink of an eye, the Snowdrift Wolf flared with intense light, far brighter than before.
Dimitrie Vatler blinked at the glow, a trace of fear instinctively creeping up his spine.
Just two of his snakes won't be enough now.
Realizing this, Vatler gave a sharp order, "Anavatapta, Nanda!"
As he spoke, the eyes of the two giant serpents behind him lit up.
A green and a purple beam shot out from them!
Seeing this, Endou rushed forward and raised a barrier just in time.
BOOM!!
The green and purple beams intertwined and slammed fiercely into the barrier!
ZZZZT
The barrier shrieked under the pressure, trembling violently.
Stillthough it looked like it was about to break, Endou remained calm and focused.
Yukina glanced her way briefly, then turned her full attention to the two giant serpents.
Activating her "Divine Punishment Eye," she quickly pinpointed each serpent's weak spot against magical disruption.
SWISH
Without warning, Yukina vanished from where she stood.
A moment later! She reappeared right above the black serpent's head!
No hesitationshe plunged the Snowdrift Wolf straight into its skull!
At the same time, she activated the spear's special technique: Divine Core Resonance: Critical Breakthrough!
Facing two familiars at once, she didn't hold backshe used her high-efficiency energy mode instead of brute force.
Especially now with her master's buff and the spear's unique properties, even if she couldn't finish them off, she could seriously mess them up.
And she made sure to hit the serpent's weak point, too.
ROAAAR!!!
The black serpent screamed in pain as its massive body slammed into the ground with a loud crash.
Without missing a beat, Yukina spun and locked onto the golden serpent.
She went with the simple tactichurling the Snowdrift Wolf like a javelin!
But the golden serpent was quick. It whipped its head to the side, dodging the incoming spear.
It looked smug for a momentbut then, the spear whooshed back into Yukina's hand.
She threw it againharder.
The golden serpent: "???"
Again?
It prepared to dodge againbut this time, Yukina triggered the Divine Core Resonance mid-throw, causing a ripple in the surrounding space.
FWOOOSH
Like a spear with a booster engine, Snowdrift Wolf accelerated like crazy!
SPLURCH
This time, the golden serpent didn't react fast enough. The spear pierced right through its jaw!
Sssssss~
Its eyes turned blood-red as it hissed furiously, then its massive form collapsed backward!
Seeing this, Yukina finally let out a breath of relief.
She hadn't expected to get the hang of her new power so quickly.
But now she could even use it on the flyamplifying the spear's speed several times over without using up too much magic!
Of course, it wasn't as strong as the full-power Divine Core Resonance.
The fact that the serpents were still alive and squirming made that clear.
But Yukina didn't care. Her eyes turned to Dimitrie Vatler.
If they didn't take out the vampire now, who knew how many more beasts he could summon?
Take out the boss, and the rest fall apartshe understood that much.
Inside the Lion King Organization's meeting room
Shirona Kuraki and Koyomi Shizuka watched the battle unfold on a screen.
"Are we really just going to sit here and watch?"
Koyomi spoke calmly. With her strength, she could easily intervene and stop the whole fight.
But
"Keep watching," Shirona said, her tone laced with intrigue.
She hadn't expected Yukina to show up again out of the blue. And she definitely hadn't expected her to be this strong.
Why? How?
Shirona was genuinely curious.
Bleach World Hueco Mundo
Yotsuya Miko and her group were still exploring the desolate realm.
Lynn, however, wasn't too interestedhe was passively watching them through the Devil's Piece skill.
Since becoming a Super Devil, his powers had evolved, and one of them was this:
He could observe any member of his faction through the space-bound Devil's Piece embedded in them.
Like nowhe had a screen open showing Miko and her crew.
But that wasn't all. Through the same system, he could teleport to any of his subordinates instantlyeven across dimensions.
Just as he was watching the others, Yukina's chess piece began to glow faintly, catching his attention.
He tapped it, and a new screen appeared beside him.
On itYukina and her battlefield.
"Huh"
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
The guy facing Yukinahe vaguely remembered him.
A vampire who showed off quite a bit.
On screen, Yukina suddenly transformed.
Her long black hair turned white. Her eyes gleamed like the tip of her spear.
Chains lined with glowing runes wrapped around her neck.
Seeing her like that, Lynn's red eyes narrowed slightly.
"Ooh!!! She used Devilization."
.
.
.
[Anti-Demons Devil]
Devilization (Divine Punishment Spear: Summons or possesses a massive Snow wolf avatar that causes "Divine Core Collapse" along its path.)
---
Lynn rubbed his chin, eyes lighting up with interest.
He had never seen a familia activate his Devilization so quickly. Yukina was the first.
Glancing over at another monitor to check on Kikyo and the others, and seeing nothing out of the ordinary, Lynn turned his full attention to Yukina's screen.
Main World Lion King Org.
Yukina's white hair fluttered in the wind, and in the next instant, the Snowdrift Wolf in her hand vanished!
By activating Devilization, her skill Divine Energy automatically kicked in as well.
[Divine Energy]
Faux Angel Mode.
Can potentially evolve into an actual angel with enough divine energy.
(A/N: With this skill, Lynn is basically an angel nowRight? A fallen angel thanks to Mahira's ability... and technically a devil too. lol I can already see the end of DxD world.)
---
From Yukina's back, faint golden wings made of arcane symbols flickered into view.
Those metallic wings fluttered gently, leaving behind shimmering divine traces as they moved.
Her sudden transformation left everyone at the scene stunned.
"Yukina?"
Maintaining a barrier to block the beams, Endou's movements faltered, her eyes wide as she stared in disbelief.
"An Artificial Angel?!"
Endou and Kuraki Shirona in the command center shouted at almost the same time.
Yukina's current state was way too familiar.
The last wielder of the Snowdrift Wolf, Fujisaka Touka, had absorbed too much divine energy and ended up ascending to heaven as an artificial angel.
Now, was Yukina about to follow the same path?
But wasn't this happening way too fast?
"No"
Shizuka Koyomi pushed up his glasses, his eyes gleaming strangely as he stared intently at Yukina.
"It looks a lot like an artificial angel, but Take a closer lookthere are differences."
Yukina's current state wasn't exactly the same as Touka's had been back then.
"She's already been tainted by devil blood," Koyomi said with a serious tone.
Shirona's expression calmed down.
Right. Yukina was already a devil.
Becoming an angel now? Practically impossible.
But then what was this?
Even if she somehow were an artificial angel, shouldn't that be completely incompatible with being a devil?
From a theological point of view, wouldn't this be some kind of blasphemy?
If Heaven found out, would they smite her on the spot?
Shirona couldn't help but worry.
And there was something else bothering her. How did Yukina change so drastically, so fast?
"Phew"
She let out a breath, trying to push her chaotic thoughts aside.
Whatever was going on, they'd find out soon enough by just watching.
And honestly, she wanted to see what Yukina could do in this state.
On the battlefield, Endou called out softly, worry in her voice. "Yukina"
Her current angelic-looking form made Endou worry she'd suddenly ascend to Heaven in a flash of light.
Although becoming an angel didn't sound like the worst fate but from what Endou knew, Heaven wasn't exactly thriving these days.
Even their faith systems were starting to fall apart.
But Yukina shouldn't be welcomedespecially not with devilblood in her veins.
The thought brought Endou some comfort.
Still, her expression turned a little strange.
A devil and an artificial angel in one body?
What even is that? Also where's the Snowdrift Wolf?
That's when Endou noticed something off.
With Fujisaka Touka, the transformation had come after she absorbed a massive amount of divine energy.
But Yukina? She hadn't shown any sign of doing that.
On top of that the Snowdrift Wolf was nowhere to be seen.
Endou narrowed her eyes, thinking hard.
Is this really artificial angelification?
She had her doubts.
Her gaze locked on the golden wings on Yukina's back. Divine energy shimmered faintly, and arcane text flowed along the wings like living light.
If she squinted, Endou could barely make out traces of the Divine Resonance Formula.
But this... this was something way more advanced. Even she had no idea what she was really looking at anymore.
Meanwhile, near the golden serpent
"Artificial angel?"
Yukina caught the earlier shout and blinked in confusion.
Angel? Where?
Eyes wide and on edge, her amber gaze darted around.
She was a devil nowher instincts were screaming caution around anything angelic.
But she didn't see any angels.
Yukina: ""
She tilted her head slightly in confusion.
Forget it.
She turned her focus back to Dimitrie Vatler, eyes sharp with resolve.
Ever since her transformation, she felt tenno, maybe twenty times stronger!
Clenching her fist, an explosive surge of power pulsed through her arm.
This kind of raw strength was intoxicating.
Also, the Snowdrift Wolf had fused with her.
The silver glow in her eyes and the metallic wings on her back were proof of that.
Now? She could easily do things her old self would never have even dreamed of.
But This power wouldn't last forever.
She had to finish this quickly!
With her gaze locked on Vatler, her eyes sharpened.
"..."
Vatler felt it instantlyan oppressive pressure like the very air around him had dropped a few degrees.
His body tensed for a second, but then he smirked, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Well now"
"This is getting really interesting!!"
Whoosh!
Yukina vanished, leaving behind only a burning trail of divine afterglow.
It was as if she'd warped through space. In the next instant, she was behind Vatler, swinging a vicious whip kick!
Crack!
The air itself tore apart as her foot shimmered with the ghostly outline of the Snowdrift Wolf!
BOOM!
A deep, powerful thud echoed as Vatler was sent flyingbut Yukina frowned.
In front of her, the blurry image of a snake familiar crumbled into particles.
So that's what blocked her attack. It softened the blow, leaving Vatler mostly unharmed.
Just how many of those familiars did this vampire have?
In the distance, Vatler landed lightly like a feather and let out a relieved sigh.
"That was close"
His eyes narrowed as he stared at the divine energy swirling around Yukina.
"Divine, huh"
He tensed up.
Getting hit by that probably wouldn't end well.
He liked a good fight, but he didn't like dying.
He snapped his fingers.
Snap!
"ROAR!!"
Golden and purple serpents suddenly reared up, twisting around each other in a violent dance!
HISSSSS~~
A sharp, hissing sound filled the air.
ThenGold and purple merged!
ROOOOOAR!!
A massive howl echoed from the sky above! A swirling whirlpool of air rushed across the battlefield!
And then it appeared.
A hundred-meter-long, twin-headed beast.
Its left heada dark purple serpent with twin horns, almost dragon-like.
Its right heada pitch-black serpent with liquid metal scales, its tail wrapped in a cloud of annihilation mist.
The sheer pressure it gave off slammed down on everyone present!
"Hahaha! How about that?!" Vatler shouted, arms wide, laughing like a madman.
"My masterpieceAnanda!!"
"Beautiful, isn't it?!"
He cackled, clearly pleased with himself.
"Tch."
Endou clicked her tongue. "This snake guy's not just all talk after all"
And seriously Those other idiots are still just standing there watching?!
She was getting annoyed.
Yukina looked up at the massive twin-headed serpent, fists clenched tight.
Taking a deep breath, her eyes hardened.
Vwooooom!
A brilliant silver light shot into the sky!
Divine energy exploded from her body, wrapping around her like a storm.
And in the next momentA massive Snow Wolf formed behind her!
No hesitation.
Yukina raised her arms high and hurled the wolf's image straight at the beast!
SHRAAAK!
.
.
.
The moment the massive projection of the Snow Wolf was hurled like a spear, Yukina muttered in a low, steady voice: "Perish."
The space around them suddenly trembled violently!
Wherever the Snowdrift Wolf's phantom passed, the very fabric of space shattered with a loud crack, revealing pitch-black voids in its path.
Sensing the danger on instinct, the twin-headed serpent tried to twist its body to dodge the incoming phantom spearbut
An overwhelming crushing force pinned its massive body in place!
Dimitrie Vatler looked up. "Space it's been locked down"
A glint of shock flickered in his eyes.
Someone like her actually used that kind of technique?
He was stunned.
Are young humans this terrifying now? Or was he just getting old?
Or maybe the talent pool over here was just too insane?
Dammit! Why hadn't the Warlord's Empire produced anyone like this?
As Dimitrie Vatler questioned whether his homeland was cursed or just plain unlucky
The giant phantom of the Snowdrift Wolf mercilessly tore through the twin-headed serpent's massive body!!
Crack
Spiderweb-like fractures spread across the monster's body.
BOOM!
The twin-headed serpent shattered on the spot, breaking down into a glow of purple and yellow particles before fading into the air.
"Hah hah"
Yukina panted heavily, collapsing onto the ground as her Devilization faded.
That last attack had completely drained her.
Now, she couldn't muster even an ounce of strength.
Vatler stood there in silence.
The connection was gone again.
It was obviousThose two familiar beasts were also completely destroyed.
Just one visit to Japan, and in such a short time, he'd already lost three of his rarest familiars back-to-back.
Thinking about it made Vatler's face darken.
He came here expecting a relaxing, maybe even enjoyable trip, but now It was just getting frustrating.
Of courseBeing pushed to this extent, in a way, it was fun.
But still, Vatler had no intention of accepting this outcome and slinking back to the Warlord's Empire in defeat.
HSSSSSSSSS~~~~~~~~~
A wave of hissing erupted from behind him.
Countless glowing green eyes opened in the darkness!
Yukina, who had been keeping a close eye on Vatler, froze.
One two three ten !!!
She couldn't even count them all! A cold sweat slid down her forehead.
Vatler curled his fingers toward her, a twisted smile on his face.
"Go on, my dear pets devour her for me~"
Fwoooosh
As soon as the words left his mouth, an endless wave of snakes poured out from a rift in space!
The night sky was swallowed by the sea of serpents. Even the moon vanished behind them.
Yukina pushed herself up with trembling arms, trying to stand. But her body, weak and spent, swayed unsteadilyshe had no strength left to run.
And even if she could...
She looked up at the countless snakes filling the sky.
Where would she even run to?
She was just a mid-class Devil. Fighting someone like him yeah, it was way out of her league.
She bit her lip, full of frustration.
If only.
If only she'd met Lynn earlier.
If only she'd joined his Familia sooner.
If only she'd gotten the Blessing System in time.
Maybe things would've turned out differently today?
Her mind wandered.
If she just had a bit more time, with the Blessing System's help, she could have become a high-class Devil already.
"Yukina!"
Endou instinctively moved to help her and activated a barrier.
---
Meanwhile, back in the conference room
"Hiina!"
Startled by the sudden development, Shirona called out the real name of Koyomi Shizuka without thinking.
"Understood."
Koyomi responded calmly and unleashed her ability, Paper Noise.
(A/N: Paper Noise allows her to strike her target at any moment in time. She doesn't slow down or speed up timeinstead, she creates time that shouldn't exist. On top of that, she can read her opponents' minds to a certain extent. Combined with Paper Noise, this ability places her among the most powerful individuals in the STB world.) {From Wiki}
But just before Koyomi can make her move
At the heart of the battlefield
The Snowdrift Wolf beneath Yukina trembled slightly, then stood upright on its own.
Yukina blinked in confusion.
Wait she didn't do anything to it, did she?
What's going on?
Just as her mind filled with doubt, a voice echoed in her earsfamiliar, yet distant.
"You've just joined the Familia and already mastered Devilization."
"Not bad at all."
Hearing that voice, Yukina's eyes flew wide open.
"L-Lord Lynn?!"
The next momentThe Devil's Piece on her back lit up.
Then, Lynn's phantom form slowly began to materialize.
"Huh?"
Yukina was clearly caught off guard.
The Snowdrift Wolf, on the other hand, practically lit up with joy, circling Lynn's phantom excitedly.
Then dove straight into Lynn's outstretched hand like a puppy begging to be cuddled.
Watching that, Yukina's mouth twitched.
This useless mutt.
Why was it always so aloof and cold with her?
Not once had it shown her this kind of energy or affection.
She was its master now, wasn't she?
Lynn gently closed his hand around the Snowdrift Wof, then pointed the spear tip toward the sea of snakes. His voice was calm:
"Your potential's decent, but"
"This is how you really use the Snowdrift Wolf."
As soon as he finished speakingBzzz!
A flash of cold light flickered at the spear's tip. A silver arc spread outward from Lynn's position like a shockwave!
Zeng
A crisp, ringing tone echoed in everyone's ears.
Wherever the arc passed, the sea of snakes vanishedjust like that.
No pain. No screams.
They just silently disappeared from existence.
And not just the snakes.
Endou's barrier and Koyomi's prepped Paper Noise were both rendered completely ineffective in an instant.
For a moment, it was as if the whole world had gone still.
"What is this?"
Yukina stared blankly at Lynn.
Her thoughts drifted to the ability he'd demonstrated earlier through the Snowdrift Wolf: Return the world to Zero.
Back then, he'd only used it casually with Mahiru's light blast, so Yukina hadn't paid it much attention.
But now she understood just how terrifying it really was.
That seemingly endless sea of snakes Erased with a single touch.
Yukina's expression turned dazed.
Compared to her earlier flashy moves like "Divine Core Vibration" and "Core Resonance: Critical Breakthrough," not to mention her full-blown Devilization.
Lynn's Return to Zero felt simple. Unimpressive, even.
But it was stronger than any over-the-top power she had ever seen.
It's just... she couldn't use it.
She was supposed to be the Snowdrift Wolf's master, yet she couldn't even tap into its core ability.
That thought frustrated her to no end.
Meanwhile
Endou and Koyomi were also frozen in shock.
Especially Koyomi. She'd already activated Paper Noise, and yet.
It failed.
Just like that.
Not just her unique ability either. The entire battlefield had gone eerily... muted?
"What the hell happened?"
Her usually blank expression began to crack.
Since gaining the ability Paper Noise, this was the first time it had ever failed her.
Shirona's eyes shimmered, fixed tightly on the figure behind Yukina. She spoke softly:
"Yukina's new master has arrived."
Koyomi turned to look instinctively and saw him.
Black hair, red eyes.
That face, they'd studied it plenty over the past few days. So they recognized him instantly.
The conference room went completely silent.
Shirona finally stood up and took the lead.
"Let's go. Time to greet that terrifying Devil King."
With those words, she began walking toward Lynn.
Koyomi didn't say a word.
She simply followed.
Dimitrie Vatler and his kind might be annoying, but they were manageable.
This guy, though?
Even if he was just a phantom He was someone they definitely couldn't ignore.
.
.
.
"..."
Dimitrie Vatler stood frozen in stunned silence.
Where where the hell did his sea of serpents go?
All those beastsgone?
Vatler silently tried to re-establish a connection with his familiars.
But... Nothing.
Not a single one left.
He was completely alone.
He stood there, dumbfounded, struggling to accept what just happened.
What the hell?
Everything was going so well. He had the upper hand. Victory was basically guaranteed.
So how the hell?
How did he end up all alone like this?
Vatler's gaze shifted to Yukina.
Just then, a blurry image of Lynn appeared in his sight.
What caught his attention most was the weapon in Lynn's hand.
It was the same weapon that Yukina used, but something was different.
Very different.
His eyes were glued to the rainbow-hued aura radiating from the Snowdrift Wolf.
For some reason, it made his heart tighten with unease.
His gut told him that this manthis random guy who just popped upand the now-transformed spear were definitely tied to the disappearance of his entire serpent army.
Not to mention, that man looked vaguely familiar.
Had he seen him somewhere before?
With suspicion growing, Vatler narrowed his eyes at Lynn and said in a low voice, "You did something, didn't you?"
Lynn didn't respond.
He just gently patted the barrel of the Snowdrift Wolf.
That was all the signal it needed.
With a sharp whistle, the spear instantly shot forward, heading straight for Vatler.
"??!"
No time to thinkVatler's body shifted on instinct.
Crack!
His white suit split apart as his body morphed into a massive serpent, wrapping and weaving to engage the Snowdrift Wolf head-on!
---
At the same time
Shirona Kuraki and Koyomi Shizuka, who had just rushed over from the conference room, arrived just in time to witness the scene unfold.
They both had strange looks in their eyes.
Snowdrift Wolf! Can it even be used like that?
Wait a second.. Wasn't Snowdrift Wolf supposed to be a weapon exclusive to the Lion King Organization? How the hell did a devil manage to use it so flawlessly?
Their feelings were complicated, but they didn't let it show. They quickly hurried toward Yukina.
"Senpais?"
Yukina blinked in surprise when she saw them.
Even though Shirona's face was hidden behind a veil, her distinct hair and eyes gave her away instantly.
What the...?
Why are my old classmates suddenly showing up as high-ranking members of the Lion King Organization?
Endou gave them a deadpan look. "So you two finally decided to show yourselves, huh?"
Crossing her arms with an annoyed tone, she snapped, "You, 'Saints'just sitting back while my disciple and I had to fight off a powerful enemy by ourselves."
Shameless!
She mocked them but kept that part to herself.
It's not like she was scared of that sly scheming woman, Shirona, holding a grudge or anything. Nope. Not at all.
"Eh?"
Hearing her teacher refer to the two as "Saints," Yukina completely froze up.
Then she stammered, "T-T-Three Saints?!"
"Yep~" Endou answered on their behalf. "These two are the legendary 'Three Saints' of the Lion King Organization."
At this point, since Shirona and Koyomi had already shown their faces, there wasn't any point hiding it from Yukina.
Besides, with Lynn around, there was no way to keep it under wraps anyway.
After her teacher confirmed it, Yukina's brain went blank.
The Three Saintsthe elusive, near-mythical figures from the Lion King Organizationwere actually her elementary school seniors?!
She felt like her head was spinning.
She tried to put on a serious, respectful face.
But the moment she remembered they used to be upperclassmen from her childhood, her expression got weird.
She just couldn't keep the respectful facade going. Her face twisted slightly as her thoughts spiraled.
Shirona noticed her look.
Yeah... this was awkward.
Yukina accidentally seeing through their identities wasn't ideal. But what could she do now?
Shirona pretended not to notice Yukina and turned to face Lynn instead. She lowered her head slightly and said in a respectful, polite tone:
"Lord Lynn, I truly apologize for not welcoming you properly. I am deeply ashamed and regretful."
"Regretful?" Lynn raised an eyebrow with a faint smirk. "You sent people to infiltrate my territory, and then planted Himeragi Yukina into my Familiaand you call that regret?"
Shirona froze.
She wasn't surprised. She'd already figured Lynn would bring those two things up.
But she was prepared.
Lifting her eyes, she spoke sincerely, "The issue with Sayaka was indeed our mistake. We didn't know that facility belonged to you, Lord Lynn."
Though even if we did... we wouldn't have guessed you're someone far beyond even a Devil King.
Still, Shirona didn't lie or twist the truthshe simply stated the Lion King Organization's internal logic and motives.
After all, there was no way she could fool someone like Lynn. It was better to be honest and admit fault.
She continued, "When we realized our mistake, I immediately sought to fix it. That's why"
She glanced toward Yukina.
Lynn narrowed his eyes. "So you decided to offer Yukina as compensation?"
Shirona nodded. "We heard that Lord Lynn's Familia is full of exceptionally talented people. Himeragi Yukina is the top talent of our current generation."
"I believed she was worthy of your attention."
Yukina: "???"
She blinked in confusion, then hurriedly said, "Wait, wasn't I supposed to be sent to rescue Sayaka?!"
Shirona gave her an apologetic smilenot that Yukina could see it behind the veil.
Yukina turned to her teacher, hoping for some claritybut all she saw was Endou gazing up at the sky, mumbling with a sigh, "The moon's really big and round tonight..."
Yukina: "..."
"Teacher, the moon is a crescent tonight. ()"
"Ah?" Endou waved it off with a laugh. "R-Right, right"
Seeing that fake reaction, Yukina immediately understood.
So even her teacher was in on this!
Which meantShe hadn't been sent to rescue Sayaka at all.
She'd been planned from the start to be offered to Lynn as one of his Familia?!
"Ugh..."
Yukina puffed up her cheeks, clearly upset.
Sure, joining Lynn's Familia had brought a lot of benefits but being tricked into it still left a bad taste in her mouth.
Endou scratched her head awkwardly. "Sorry, Yukina"
On the other side
Shirona went on. "As for Kirasaka Sayaka..."
"If Lord Lynn wishes, she can also be given to you."
Lynn's voice was calm. "You're really willing to give them up that easily, huh?"
If he remembered correctly, Yukina and Sayaka were the most promising trainees in the whole Lion King Organization.
Not that he cared all that much.
Even if Shirona wanted to take them back, it wasn't like Lynn would let them go.
More importantly, Lynn's interest wasn't on Yukina or Sayaka right now.
It was on the so-called Three Saints.
He rubbed his chin, eyes scanning over the veiled Shirona. Then, without hesitation, he reached out and lifted her chin.
Shirona's whole body tensed with shockbut she didn't move.
She stood frozen, letting Lynn do whatever he pleased.
Nearby, Koyomi saw the whole thing and, while her mind was racing, her face remained calm. She didn't say a word to stop it.
Endou, meanwhile, was busy calming Yukina down, but she snuck a glance at the stunned Shironaand couldn't help but feel a little smug.
Serves her right!
That's karma for everything she put us through!
As Lynn gently tilted her chin up, he stared at her veil for a momentthen simply pulled it off.
The next second, a stunningly beautiful face was revealed beneath it.
Lynn nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad. You'd make a Great Familia Member."
"..."
.
.
.
Shirona totally froze.
BecomeA Familia Memeber?
Wait, what the hell?!
She already gave up Yukina and Sayaka why was she next on the list?!
But she couldn't bring herself to flat-out refuse!
With an awkward smile twisting on her face, Shirona's expression turned all kinds of weird.
"Pfft"
Endou couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
First time seeing this little lady getting flusteredso satisfying!
But her laugh didn't go unnoticed. Lynn's eyes shifted toward her, and his Devil's Piece immediately lit up.
"You're a good fit too."
Endou: "Huh?"
Her grin froze right there on her face.
And just like that, the tables turnednow it was Shirona's turn to enjoy the show.
It's not the lack of suffering that upsets peopleit's the unfair distribution of it.
Lynn stroked his chin, then looked over at Koyomi.
His Devil's Piece lit up again.
Hmm
Was this some kind of recruitment deal? Take one and get three for free?
Lynn couldn't help but sigh internally.
Man...The Lion King Organization really was a goldmine.
Noticing Lynn's gaze, Koyomi's calm facade nearly cracked. She quickly adjusted her glasses to cover up her anxiety.
Even she got targeted?
Was Lynn planning to just pack up the whole Lion King Organization and take it with him?!
That thought alone had Koyomi and the others on edge.
They originally thought things would be settled once they handed over Sayaka and Yukina.
But who would've guessed Lynn's appetite was this big?
As expected even though Lynn saved Tokyo He still acted exactly like a devil.
...
Meanwhile, across the battlefield
Dimitrie Vatler, who was busy dealing with Snowdrift Wolf's attacks, overheard the conversation between Lynn and Shirona.
And a certain memory flashed through his mind.
Before coming to Japan, he had a chat with the Warlord.
In that conversation, Lynn had come up.
The Warlord even showed him a photo and warned himover and overnot to provoke that man.
Lynn?
A glint flashed in Vatler's serpent-like eyes.
"Hey, I didn't provoke him or anything. Right?"
"Yeah, I was the one who lost his pets after all."
It's just that woman earlier was probably one of his Peerage.
"Hehehe~ Really gotta thank her for this opportunity."
Vatler's eyes lit up with excitement.
Now thisthis was a real powerhouse.
Even someone like the Warlord treated him with caution.
Getting to face someone of that caliber? Vatler felt like even dying in battle would be worth it.
And besides This was just a projection.
He wasn't gonna lose to just a projection, right?
But first, he had a more pressing issue.
A flash of silver slashed through the airVatler barely managed to twist his serpentine body in time to dodge Snowdrift Wolf's strike.
After witnessing his snakes being wiped out, Vatler had no desire to end up like one of themwiped out from existence.
He needed a plan.
Oh wait... He did have a bargaining chip.
"Hey, Devil Kingever heard of the 'Blazing Banquet'?"
Vatler's deep voice cut through the chaos, drawing everyone's attentionincluding Lynn's.
"Blazing Banquet?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow at Vatler.
So that's what this was about.
Vatler had come to the Lion King Organization because of the Fourth Primogenitor.
That explained a lot.
If Lynn remembered correctly, the Fourth Primogenitor's familiars were all tied to the twelve zodiac signs.
Which lined up perfectly with his own Zodiac System.
Looks like he definitely needed to get involved in this "Blazing Banquet."
Another reason is that the Strike the Blood plot is part of the main world, so he had to get involved to deepen his influence there. Increasing the invasion of the main world.
Spotting the interest in Lynn's eyes, Vatler gave a sly smile and suddenly said, "Beast Vassal No. 3."
Lynn narrowed his eyes, watching him silently.
"I'll give you my Beast Vassal No. 3," Vatler continued, "How about we strike a deal?"
The room instantly went dead silent.
Shirona opened her mouth, wanting to say somethingthen wisely shut it again.
Trying to influence someone way beyond the Devil King level?
Not a smart move.
She clenched her fists, eyes nervously fixed on Lynn.
She didn't know what that snake bastard was scheming. But it definitely wasn't anything good.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for Lynn's answer.
Vatler, meanwhile, was still busy dodging attacks from Snowdrift Wolf like a circus act.
A few seconds later
Lynn gave a soft chuckle as he watched Vatler's clown-like movements.
"Deal?"
Shirona's breath hitched.
"You think you are worthy~"
As soon as the words dropped Snowdrift Wolf's body suddenly burst into dazzling, multicolored light!
BOOM
A sharp sound ripped through the air as space itself tore open, and a massive shockwave exploded from her tail!
SPLURT
Vatler's snake body was instantly pierced!
A fountain of crimson blood sprayed everywhere!
Vatler blinked.
It took several seconds before the pain even registered.
His heart sank.
That was so fast, even his pain response couldn't keep up?
A cold chill crept into Vatler's eyes.
In Lynn's hands, Snowdrift Wolf had completely transformed into something else.
If this spear didn't have any "forbidden gear" traits, Vatler would've started suspecting she was some kind of undiscovered God-Slaying Weapon.
And remembering how his snake army vanished in an instant, Vatler's nerves tightened even more.
NO!
He couldn't die here. Not like this.
But after a while, nothing else happened.
The blood kept gushing out.
"For a vampireA little wound like this..."
Vatler chuckled, just about to laugh it off
When a cracking sound echoed in his ears.
Crackcrack
His face froze.
His massive body started fracturing like shattered glass.
Vatler shrieked, "No! Don't do this!"
"To be defeated like that!"
"PLEASENO!!"
BANG!
As his final cry rang out, Vatler exploded into sparkling particles and vanished from the world.
"Huh?"
Shirona blinked in confusion.
She was still trying to figure out if Lynn would accept the deal, and then
Vatler was just gone?
But that might actually be a good thing?
Coming to her senses, Shirona quickly bowed her head.
"Thank you for your help, Lord Lynn. The Lion King Organization will never forget this favor."
Even though she didn't think Vatler was that big of a threat.
Since Lynn had already stepped in, she had to show appreciation.
"Oh? Then let's talk about the reward."
Shirona: "??!"
Her head snapped up, staring at Lynn in disbelief.
He is serious?!
Lynn calmly said, "I'm very interested in the Blazing Banquet. And some Beast Vassals."
He didn't say muchbut everyone there instantly understood what he meant.
The 'Beast Vassals.' Also known as vampires' familiars.
Shirona's face turned strange.
So he wanted toMake all twelve of those Beast Vassals his familiars?
She couldn't help but remember the first thing Lynn ever said to her.
This guy was still the infamous harem maniac the files warned about.
Weren't those "Beast Vassals" actually just familiars?
Now her expression got even weirder.
Beasts?
Even them?
.
.
.
Shirona still bowed respectfully without hesitation. "The Lion King Organization will compile all information related to the Blazing Banquet and present it to you soon."
Lynn gave a quiet nod and dismissed his projection.
Even though the Lion King Organization had plenty of capable people, Lynn wasn't in a rush.
They would eventually come to him.
Once his projection vanished, Shirona finally let out a long breath.
Koyomi also pushed up her glasses, her body visibly relaxing.
Dealing with someone on that level was seriously nerve-wracking.
But after all this, it seemed like the Lion King Organization was now 'involuntarily' marked with Lynn's seal.
After the Blazing Banquet, it was basically impossible to hide the fact that the Organization had started helping Lynn gather intel.
Realizing this, Shirona and Koyomi exchanged glancesboth clearly seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.
Then suddenly
A faint clang drew their attention.
The Snowdrift Wolf, which had been full of energy earlier, now sat quietly on the ground like a wilted plant, all its vigor gone after Lynn disappeared.
Yukina: ""
Endou looked over with mild curiosity and muttered, "Snowdrift Wolf it feels like it's more spiritual now?"
Was it because of Lynn?
She instinctively ruled out Yukina as the cause. After all, as her teacher, she knew her disciple all too well.
With the sudden shift in atmosphere caused by the spear, Shirona and Koyomi managed to shake off some of their earlier concerns and turned toward the spot where Dimitrie Vatler had vanished.
Shirona frowned. "Vatler died here. The Warlord, what will he do now?"
Endou shrugged. "So what? If he's got a problem, he can take it up with Lynn."
"Uh."
Shirona blinked. Then after a moment's thoughtshe realized it actually made sense.
They were working for Lynn now. If the sky falls, it's not their job to hold it up.
Huh When you think about it that way, working for Lynn doesn't seem that bad?
At the very least when the Lion King Organization runs into stronger factions, they can at least throw his name around.
Shirona clapped her hands and declared, "Alright! The Lion King Organization's next mission is to gather every single detail about the Blazing Banquet!"
Endou stroked her chin, hesitating. "Wait, aren't there still some bodies that haven't awakened?"
Koyomi nodded. "Yeah, the location of No. 12's body is still unknown."
"Although"
She remembered Vatler's earlier visit.
He'd come to the Lion King Organization to host the banquet. That meant
"The Warlord probably already knows where No. 12's body is sleeping," she said with certainty.
Shirona curled her lip. "So in the end, we'll still have to deal with that old geezer, huh?"
Well, at least they had a lead now.
After hashing things out for a bit, the three finally remembered Yukina.
Shirona turned to her, a little hesitant. "Yukina what's going on with you now?"
She wanted to ask why Yukina had suddenly gotten so much stronger And also, what the heck was going on with the Snowdrift Wolf?
Yukina hesitated briefly, then apologized. "Sorry I'll need to check with Lord Lynn first."
Shirona paused, then gave a complicated smile. "Yeah"
Soul Society.
After getting Yukina's message, Lynn replied casually, "Go ahead."
Might as well let them see some of the perks of joining his familia.
Once he responded, Lynn watched Kikyo, Miko and the others moving around Hueco Mundo just for a bit.
There was something he had to take care of.
...
"Hell, huh?"
Urahara raised an eyebrow at the request of Lynn. But still activated the device that opened Hell's gate.
Whoosh
As the portal to Hell opened, a chilling, sinister air rushed out.
Seeing the entrance to Hell, Lynn quietly nodded to himself.
Ever since arriving in the Bleach world, he'd been faintly feeling a strange pulllike something was calling to him.
And he knew exactly where it was coming from.
Hell.
Was it because of his identity as ["Enma"]?
He had his suspicions.
Without hesitation, Lynn stepped through the gate.
Yoruichi transformed into her black cat form and leapt into his arms. "Since you've just arrived in this world, allow me to be your guide, Lord Lynn."
She was curious what he wanted in Hell.
Urahara: "???"
A guide?
If it were Soul Society, sureYoruichi was a solid guide.
But Hell?
Even he had barely set foot in that place, and Yoruichi definitely hadn't.
Lynn glanced down at her but said nothing. He simply walked straight into Hell.
---
The moment he entered
A white light burst into view, so bright it stung the eyes.
Clink, clink
The crisp sound of metal chains echoed, growing louder and louder.
Yoruichi blinked hard, her vision finally clearing.
Then They saw a white-tiled space filled with chained figures.
These figures stood silently atop the blocks, dull-eyed but all staring right at Lynn.
"Who are they?" Yoruichi's eyes narrowed.
"Damned souls," Lynn replied.
His eyes swept over themno real power among them.
He took a step forward, ready to head deeper into Hell.
But then The damned souls suddenly moved.
Yoruichi tensed up, expecting an ambush.
But!
Instead of attacking, one by one, they knelt?
As if
As if they were worshiping their king?
Yoruichi blinked in surprise.
Lynn paused, intrigued by the unexpected reaction.
And at that moment A wave of information poured into his mind.
A few seconds later, Lynn's eyes glinted with understanding.
"So that's what this is."
His gaze deepened.
Because of his identity as "Enma," Hell had acknowledged him.
That's why all this was happening.
Lynn hadn't expected his Enma status to have any effect across worlds, but looks like it does.
Hell had noticed himbecause he was Enma (God of Hell).
Lynn chuckled softly.
So Hell wanted him to work for free?
The consciousness of Hell really thought it could play him like that, huh?
But Lynn hadn't come here for recognition.
He was here for Hell's sovereignty.
He ignored the kneeling damned souls and continued walking deeper.
First layer.
Second layer.
All the way to the fourth layer.
On the way down, he and Yoruichi passed by increasingly bizarre damned souls.
The deeper they went, the more distinct and grotesque the souls became.
There were also massive skeletal jailers guarding Hell.
But every one of them knelt when they saw Lynn, as if welcoming their king's return.
Lynn knew better though.
This was all just a show put on by Hell's will.
He smirked. "You're that desperate to get me to work for you?"
Suddenly
BOOM!
A deafening explosion drew his attention.
Lynn halted, turning toward the source of the sound.
Soon after a black-clad figure came flying straight toward him!
The trajectory was headed right for Lynn.
With a wave of his hand, using [Gravity Devil]'s powers
The flying figure stopped midairthen dropped like a rock!
BAM!
Slammed straight into the white-tiled floor!
And right after, a petite figure in a Shihakush approached from afar.
"Oh?"
She spotted Lynn and looked surprised.
Then grinned widely and said:
"Ha! This boring-ass Hell actually got two interesting newcomers today!"
.
.
.
Lynn looked upand saw a small figure appear before him.
Dressed in the standard Shinigami uniform, with a sleeveless, red-lined captain's haori.
Her dark pink hair was tied into twin tails that reached her hips, which bounced slightly as she moved, and a black eyepatch covered her left eye.
A zanpakut rested casually on her shoulder, and her expression screamed cocky and dangerous.
But around her ankle hung a thick chainsimilar to those worn by the damnedhinting at her current situation.
The moment she came into view, Yoruichi's golden, vertically-slit pupils widened in shock.
"C-Captain Saito?!"
Yoruichi had recognized herFurfushi Sait, the very first captain of the 6th Division.
"Hm?"
At the mention of that name, Saito the Undying's eyes sharpened and turned toward Lynn.
"Well, well~ A little junior from the Seireitei"
Yoruichi hadn't expected to run into someone who once held a captain's rankespecially not down here in Hell.
But this captain didn't exactly have the best reputation back in the Seireitei.
Saito gave Yoruichi a quick glance, felt her Reiatsu then shifted her focus to Lynn.
She couldn't sense any reiatsu from Lynn. And yet there was something about him. Something dangerous.
Saito looked more carefully at both Lynn and Yoruichi.
No chains?
She narrowed her eyes, her tongue flicking out slightly in amusement.
"You two"
"You must've come to Hell willingly, huh?"
Lynn ignored her question, glancing around instead. "Are you the only Shinigami here in Hell?"
"Tch."
Not liking being ignored, Saito sheathed her blade and grumbled, "There's plenty of Shinigami down here. But"
"Ones as easy to talk to as me? Pretty rare~"
Lynn nodded slightly at that.
"Hey!"
Saito suddenly cut in, "I answered your question. Shouldn't you answer mine?"
Lynn shrugged. "You already figured it out, didn't you?"
Saito pouted a little.
She had guessed it when she noticed they weren't bound in chainsbut still wanted confirmation.
"Agh, dammit!"
Suddenly, a man who had been lying on the ground coughed and struggled to his feet.
He bent over, spitting up blood.
Lynn: ""
Dude's literally in a soul in Hell, and he's still coughing up blood?
Saito smirked and looked down at him. "Not bad. You can take a beating."
Hearing that, the guy coughed out another mouthful of blood. Glaring at her, he growled, "Saito, don't be ungrateful!"
"Lord Shuren personally invited you to join his grand planand you dare!"
Beat the crap out of me like this?!
His face flushed with humiliation at the thought.
{He was Gunjo, a member of Togabito (Sinners) led by Shuren.}
"A 'grand plan,' huh?"
Saito scoffed. "Isn't that just a fancy way of saying 'escape Hell'?"
These idiots They have no idea what they're dealing with.
If it were really that easy, why hasn't a single soul escaped from Hell in over a thousand years?
Blind fools, all of them.
Not that she wouldn't like to leave this boring place
But there was no way in Hellliterallythat she'd team up with someone like Shuren.
"Tell Shuren to give up. You lot think you can break the Gates of Hell with that level of power?"
Saito sneered.
"You bitch!"
Saito casually drew her blade and killed him on the spot.
But she sighed and shook her head. "Ugh. This damn Hell. Even killing people doesn't feel satisfying."
Thanks to the rules of Hell, souls here can revive infinitely.
Even if she chopped this guy to pieces a hundred times, he'd just reappear again eventuallygood as new.
With that nuisance dealt with, Saito turned her attention back to Lynn, clearly intrigued.
A man who willingly entered Hell?
What was he after?
And ever since she saw him she'd felt something strange. Almost like Hell itself was trying to warn her.
But with her overwhelming Reiatsu, she could mostly ignore that.
Still, there was something about this manlike he shared a connection with Hell itself.
That only made her more curious.
After so long in this hellhole, maybe something fun was finally about to happen?
Saito was visibly excited, her tongue flicking out playfully and a twisted smile creeping across her face.
Yoruichi: ""
Yeah. That reputation? Deserved.
"Hey!"
Saito hoisted her zanpakut onto her shoulder and asked, "What's your name?"
"Lynn," he answered calmly.
"...Lynn."
She repeated it. Then smiled. "This your first time in Hell?"
Lynn didn't bother confirming or denying.
"In that case"
"Why don't I be your guide through Hell?"
Yoruichi: "?"
Why did that line sound so damn familiar?
Lynn gave her a strange look, then turned back to Saito and nodded. "Sure. I was planning to head to the fifth level anyway."
Yeah, Saito had obviously been in Hell for a while, and frankly, she seemed way more reliable than Yoruichi in this setting.
Besides, Lynn's eyes flicked toward the glowing [Devil's Piece] in his interface.
This woman could be a real asset. No way he was letting her slip away.
Saito grinned, clearly pleased with the answer. She disappeared in a Shunpo (flash step), quickly widening the distance between them.
"I'm fasttry to keep up, okay~?"
She also took the chance to test his strength.
"Oh?"
Suddenly, Lynn's voice rang in her ear.
Saito froze mid-steponly to realize Lynn was already standing in front of her, casually smiling.
Looking at that calm face of his, Saito clenched her teeth.
Refusing to back down, she used Shunpo againtrying to put some distance between them.
But Same result.
No matter how fast or early she moved, Lynn was always ahead of her.
Saito bit her lip.
Her instincts had been right.
This guy was strong. Really strong.
And that just made things even more interesting.
Sure, she was a bit shaken by his speedand yeah, she could tell she wasn't quite on his level.
But giving up? Not her style.
She stubbornly Shunpoed again, determined to win at least one round.
Meanwhile, on the fifth level of Hell.
A field of molten lava bubbled and churned.
Blub blub
Suddenly, bubbles rose in one section of magmathen Gunjo's head burst out.
He climbed up, battered and miserable.
"Gunjo, you were killed again?"
Gunjo looked up to see a pudgy man with a smug grin.
"Taikon?"
Taikon didn't respond. He just said, "Come on. Lord Shuren has been waiting."
...
Seeing Taikon bring him back, Shuren didn't look surprised.
He just sighed inwardly.
Another failure.
Why had Saito rejected him again?
He really didn't get it.
Wasn't escaping Hell a good thing for all of them?
Sensing his master's frustration, Gunjo suddenly spoke up. "Lord Shuren, we have failed to recruit Saito, and"
He remembered that man.
"There might be a new player in Hell."
Shuren's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Go on," he said.
"Yes, sir."
Gunjo lowered his head and began describing Lynn's features.
At first, Shuren didn't think much of it.
But
When he heard that Lynn bore no chains of Hell A sharp gleam lit up in his eyes.
"No chains!"
.
.
.
With Saito guiding the way, it didn't take long for Lynn to reach the fifth layer of Hell.
The scenery was clearly different from the upper levels. Streams of lava flowed everywhere, casting a hellish glow on the landscape.
The colors were much more vivid now.
Saito crossed one arm and used the other to pinch her nose in annoyance. "I seriously don't get why you even want to come here."
The miasma in the fifth layer was so dense that even she could barely handle it.
Which was exactly why she hated being in this godforsaken place.
She then glanced over at Lynn, clearly frustrated.
She still hadn't won a single speed contest against him, and it was eating her up inside.
But at the same timeshe had to admit: Lynn was terrifyingly strong.
...
Lynn ignored Saito's complaints and quietly examined the fifth layer's environment.
The thick, toxic air didn't seem to bother him in the slightest.
Still, he frowned slightly.
This kind of environment was terrible for any kind of long-term development.
And besides, Hell in the Soul Society universe did have a consciousness and some basic rules.
But it was still too crude. Too primitive.
There was no future in this place as it stood now.
What Hell really needed was a full-on overhaul.
And for Lynn, that wasn't a problem at all.
After all, back in his main world, he already had control over the entire Hell domain in the Japan region.
All he had to do was bring that same template over.
But before that
He needed to figure out how to gain dominion over this world's Hell.
Otherwise, that power would just end up in Hell's own hands.
"Hmm..."
Lynn scanned the area and didn't see anything that seemed particularly tied to the core of Hell.
So how exactly was he supposed to claim sovereignty here?
He rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
Suddenly
His crimson eyes lit up.
While he hadn't found anything physically tied to Hell's core.
The deeper he went, the more he could feel somethingA vague but growing presence.
Was that Hell's own consciousness?
Lynn closed his eyes and tried to establish communication with it.
After a while
He could sense the consciousness clearly enough, but actually connecting with it was proving difficult.
Oh wait...
This was the Bleach world.
So naturally, he should be using Reiatsuspiritual pressureto reach it.
Yep, Reiatsu!
The answer clicked into place.
Ever since taking Yoruichi as a follower, Lynn had gained access to this world's unique energy system: Reiatsu.
But because of his unique nature, Reiatsu wasn't usually his default power system.
Which explained why Saito had never sensed it from him before.
As a Devil, magic was still his primary energy type. Reiatsu was just one of many forms he could convert it into.
So now, Lynn focused, channeling his energy and converting it into pure Reiatsu.
BOOM.
A terrifying wave of Reiatsu exploded from within Hell itself!
A blinding pillar of light shot into the skyTearing through the thick clouds of miasma!
The entire realm of Hell shook violently in response!!
Yoruichi, who had been curled up comfortably in Lynn's arms, instantly fluffed up like a startled cat.
That ReiatsuIt was even scarier than the old man's!
Saito froze in place too.
The powerful surge of spiritual pressure sent gusts of wind swirling around her, whipping her long purple hair into chaos.
Her oversized shihakush flapped wildly in the storm.
At this point, she wasn't even concerned about why she hadn't felt any Reiatsu from him before.
Because this pressure even Yamamoto, that grumpy old geezer, probably couldn't match it.
She'd already ranked Lynn absurdly high in her mind after those speed duels.
But still, she hadn't expected him to be this ridiculous. Stronger than Yamamoto!?
Had she been stuck in Hell so long that the world had completely left her behind?
When did such monsters start popping up in the living world!?
Lynn's Reiatsu burst didn't just shock Yoruichi and Saito.
Elsewhere in Hell
A certain man suddenly looked up, his body trembling.
"T-That"
"That Reiatsu...!"
His eyes widened in disbelief as he clenched both fists tightly.
---
In the Togabito base
Shuren shot up from his seat, staring in the direction of the explosion, stunned.
"What insane Reiatsu!"
It was shaking the foundations of Hell itself.
After who knows how many years trapped in Hell, this was the first time he'd experienced anything like it.
"...Hahh!"
He was practically gasping for breath.
Someone this powerfulThey could probably smash open the gates of Hell without breaking a sweat, right?
Shuren was stunned for just a few seconds before his mind snapped back to his goal: Escape.
That had always been his mission.
And in his view, the only way to do that was to break the gates of Hell.
But with just their current members, it was impossible.
That was why he'd always tried to recruit Furofushi Saito.
Even then, he still wasn't confident it would be enough.
But now?
Now there was finally someone who gave him hope.
Shuren waved his hand dramatically. "Let's go. We need to meet this Lord!"
As he strode forward, the othersGunjo and the restglanced at each other, hesitating.
That Reiatsu really was insane but would someone like that really help them destroy the gates of Hell?
They had their doubts.
Eventually, Taikon broke the silence.
"Lord Shuren"
He hesitated, then forced the words out: "Would someone that powerful really want to help us?"
"Pfft."
Shuren chuckled confidently. "Relax."
"Just leave it to me. When have I ever failed?"
Gunjo twitched at his words.
When have you ever failed? Really?
Then why had Furofushi Saito never agreed to join them?
Of course, they didn't dare say it aloud.
With resigned sighs, they followed their leader.
BOOM!
And the terrifying wave of Reiatsu still didn't stop.
Soul Society At the gate connecting to Hell
Crack!
The usually quiet and sealed Gate of Hell suddenly creaked, a thin crack forming.
Moments later
Thick, choking miasma began pouring out!
The Shinigami guarding the gate had been dozing off, bolted upright in panic.
"H-HOLY!"
He scrambled back, then turned and sprinted.
"CAPTAIN! SOMETHING'S HAPPENING TO HELL'S GATE!"
---
Soon after
Seireitei Central 46 Compound
All the Captains had gathered.
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto sat at the head of the room.
Once everyone had arrived, he said in a deep voice: "Something seems to be happening in Hell."
"...Hell?"
The moment those words were spoken, the Captains exchanged looks, their faces turning serious.
They understood better than anyone just how dangerous Hell could be to all three worlds.
So they knew better than to take this lightly.
Seeing their reactions, Yamamoto's expression remained just the same, but he was quietly pleased. He continued:
"I'm preparing to send someone into Hell to investigate. Any volunteers?"
"Uh"
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.
PS: As always, 2 chapters daily and every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter!
The moment Yamamoto finished speaking, the entire conference room fell into a brief silence.
Changes in Hell? That was definitely a big deal.
But also, such a pain.
Not a single Captain in the room was eager to get involved in this mess.
WellExcept one.
"Hell, huh?"
Kenpachi Zaraki leaned back with his arms spread wide, a wild grin on his face.
"There's gotta be some fun guys to cut down in there, right?"
"Old man Yamamoto, let me handle it!"
Yamamoto just glanced at him then ignored him completely.
"Anyone else interested?" he asked.
Zaraki: ""
He slapped the ground, annoyed. "Oi, didn't you hear me?! I said let ME go!"
Of course, everyone just ignored him.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri let out a creepy laugh. "You're not seriously thinking of sending someone like mea scientistfor this kind of thing, are you?"
Yamamoto clearly wasn't expecting anything from him either. Instead, he turned to look at Kyraku Shunsui.
Caught slacking off, Shunsui immediately tensed up. He scratched his head lazily and muttered, "Wouldn't this be more suited to the Second Division?"
Honestly, no one knew what exactly had gone wrong in Hell. It made way more sense to send in the stealth experts first to investigate.
Of course, all these "reasons" were just excuses to avoid the job.
Soifon: ""
Being the new captain really came with zero privileges.
Actually, scratch thatIt's worse being stuck in this awkward middle ground.
Not a veteran like the old captains. More experienced than the rookies. Basically, a born workhorse.
She sighed quietly, then said seriously, "Then I'll take the mission."
Yamamoto gave Shunsui a look, then after a short pause, finally nodded. "Very well. It's yours."
With that, things moved quickly.
The Second Division went into action with their usual efficiency.
At the Gates of Hell
Soifon and her team arrived near the entrance.
As she saw the miasma seeping out, she frowned instinctively. "Open the gate."
Clank
A few seconds later, the massive gate to Hell creaked open.
Whoosh
Without hesitation, Soifon stepped into Hell.
Meanwhile, on the Fifth Layer of Hell
Lynn finished suppressing his overwhelming Reiatsu.
Now, he focused on using it to connect with Hell itself.
Before longHe sensed a faint, hazy consciousness.
Lynn tried communicating with it.
But No response.
Lynn: ""
So this was Hell's consciousness?
Didn't seem very developed.
Which meant Everything that's been happening, was it all just instinct?
Did it acknowledge him as "Enma" purely on instinct, sensing that he might help Hell grow?
Lynn chuckled quietly to himself.
Isn't this basically letting the enemy in?
Without hesitation, he forcefully invaded Hell's consciousness.
Buzz~
The entire realm started shaking violently as if Hell had just realized it was being taken over.
Saito: "?"
"What's going on?!"
Her expression turned serious.
Lynn had already pulled back his Reiatsu Why was Hell reacting more violently now?
...
Hell's consciousness began to resist instinctively.
But Lynn fed it a single, powerful thought: "You don't want Hell to stay crammed in a corner of the world, feeding on scraps, do you?"
Hell: ". . ."
Everything went quiet. It stopped struggling.
Lynn: "Ha?"
Was it really that easy?
He almost felt bad for how gullible it was.
Almost.
But nahhe wasn't about to pass up this opportunity.
Even if Hell's consciousness was a little too "pure" for its own good, Lynn didn't go easy on it.
He grabbed control of Hell, just like that.
"...It actually locked itself?"
Lynn was a little surprised.
He now had control over Hell, but not full ownership.
Turns out, Hell's consciousness wasn't that stupid; it had made a deal with him.
It was willing to hand everything overbut only if Lynn could prove he could develop it.
Hell genuinely cared about its own growth more than anything else. It was so earnest that even Lynn felt a little ashamed.
Still just a little, though.
After that friendly little "chat," Lynn opened his eyes again, only to find Saito leaning in close, eyes wide with curiosity.
As soon as Lynn looked up, she blurted out, "You just did something, didn't you?"
Lynn nodded. "Yeah. Just made a deal with Hell."
Saito: "???"
Deal with Hell?
"You're kidding, right?"
She was extremely suspicious.
She'd been stuck in Hell for who knows how long. If you could make deals with it, why hadn't she ever heard of that?
Lynn gave her a weird look and said, "Maybe you just didn't qualify?"
Saito: ""
Her eye twitched. "So what you're saying is I'm not worthy?"
Lynn nodded without hesitation.
"Haaah."
She took a deep breath.
Not worthy, huh?
Well maybe he had a point.
Considering that terrifying Reiatsu he gave off earlierstronger than even old man Yamamotoshe had to admit he wasn't bluffing.
"You're stronger than I thought," she muttered, a little stunned.
Now she was super curious about the "deal" Lynn made with Hell.
Hell wasn't some place you could just mess with. Even the Captains or the Royal Guard couldn't interfere with it.
And yet this guy had a deal with it?
Her adrenaline started to spike.
Something big was coming.
She didn't even bother hiding her curiosity anymore. "So? What kind of deal did you make?"
"Nothing special," Lynn replied calmly. "I help develop Hell, and in exchange it becomes mine."
Saito: "???"
Wait, what?!
Develop Hell, and then it belongs to him?
How is that a DEAL?
That sounds like a one-sided win!
Once Hell belongs to him, any development is just benefitting HIS hell anyway, right?
"And Hell actually agreed to this?"
Lynn shrugged.
Saito's expression grew more complicated.
Why did it feel like Hell wasn't very smart?
StillEven if it was dumb, it had still managed to keep her trapped for this long.
That thought made her sigh.
She pulled herself together and asked curiously, "So what's your next move?"
Developing HellThat sounded way too fun to miss out on.
"First step?" Lynn said with a smirk. "Call in some backup."
Saito: "???"
Before she could ask what he meant, Lynn waved his handAnd a dimensional gate opened out of nowhere.
He set the coordinates and locked onto the version of Hell located in the Japan region of the main world.
In moments
A stunning field of red spider lilies appeared inside the portal.
In the middle of that sea of flowers stood a small, humble thatched hutquiet and distinct.
"What is this? A gate to the Soul Society?" Saito narrowed her eyes, her heartbeat quickening.
No matter how she looked at it, her understanding was still too shallow.
This wasn't just a portal connecting two locations.
It wasA connection to Hell from another world.
Of course, Lynn didn't bother explaining that to her.
In the Main World Japan Region's Hell
Enma Ai sensed something strange.
She stared at the portal blooming in the middle of the red spider lily area, a huge question mark popped into her mind.
Before she could even react, she saw a familiar figure stepping through.
"Ha? Lord Lynn?"
.
.
.
Main World Hell, Japan Region
Saito followed behind Lynn, her gaze drifting across the sea of red spider lilies.
She was scanning everything with a childlike curiosity. At the same time, she was quietly using her Reiatsu to feel out the surroundings.
Yeah, she could say for sureThis definitely wasn't the Hell she was used to.
Saito's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
This might not even be her world.
That thought alone made her feel a bit rattled.
Even though the air here was saturated with some kind of rich energy, Saito could tell one thing for certainit didn't contain any reishi.
A place with no spiritual particles in the air?
This was a first for her.
Elsewhere, curled up in Lynn's arms, Yoruichicurrently in cat formwas also peeking around. Her golden pupils sparkled with interest.
So this was one of those "other worlds" mentioned in the handbook?
Unlike Saito, who was still in the dark, Yoruichialready part of Lynn's familiaunderstood exactly where they were.
...
After some time...
"Lord Lynn."
Enma Ai and the others respectfully greeted Lynn.
Lynn nodded in acknowledgment. Instead of giving out tasks right away, he first asked about how things were progressing in this version of Hell.
"How's the situation here?"
Enma Ai, expressionless as always, her pitch-black eyes void of life, responded in a monotone voice:
"Thanks to the Inu-Yokai tribe, Hell is finally running smoothly again."
As she spoke, she waved her hand, projecting an image into the air.
It was the Sanzu River.
Compared to the bleak, barren state it was in when Lynn first arrived, it looked way more alive now. Boats lined the river, each one carrying souls.
Despite being in Hell, the whole scene somehow radiated a strange kind of vitality.
Good Hell?
Enma Ai pointed at the souls in the projection. "We've begun reclaiming soul-guiding duties for the Japan Region. Progress is slow, but it's there. The only issue is"
She paused, her voice trailing off, a bit hesitant.
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Hone Onna chimed in. "Well since we've started retaking control of Japan souls, a lot of other fake Hells are unhappy about it. Lady Ai has been getting complaints left and right from the other pantheons."
Lynn's face twitched.
Complaints?
"Ignore them."
He waved it off casually. "We're just taking back what originally belonged to us. They've got no right to complain."
And really if those other factions were so capable, they wouldn't be sending complaint lettersthey'd be sending armies.
Bunch of loud nobodies, that's all.
"Understood."
Enma Ai nodded, her expression still unreadable.
Hone Onna, on the other hand, finally relaxed a little.
It's great having someone powerful on your side, she couldn't help but think of that spider from beforealways cowering and relying on dirty tricks to barely keep Hell functioning.
Compared to that, working under Lord Lynn was a dream.
Meanwhile, Yoruichi and Saito were both completely lost listening to this exchange.
"Wait you're telling me this place is also Hell?"
Saito's voice was full of disbelief.
Hone Onna glanced at her like she was saying, "What else would it be?"
Saito rubbed her temples.
Yup, confirmedthis was definitely another world.
So there are other Hells out there in other worlds, too?
But still, why does this Hell feel so different from hers?
Saito looked around againthe vibrant red spider lilies, the peaceful spring, the calm landscape...
This was Hell?
Compared to this, her own Hell looked like garbage.
Nothing but white blocks and lavaboring enough to drive someone insane.
And here? The scenery was beautiful, everything was well-organized. It looked like a paradise in comparison.
She found herself getting more and more annoyed at the old Hell she used to know.
Clink
Suddenly, a crisp, metallic sound rang out beneath her.
She looked downchains, glowing cold and silver, wrapped tightly around her ankles.
"!!!"
Her eyes widened.
Crap!
She'd forgottenas a Sinner, she wasn't allowed to just leave Hell!
Her whole body tensed.
Did she really just waltz out like it was nothing?!
Oh no. She was so screwed.
Her mind went completely blank for a second.
If Hell found out then... Hold on!
A sudden realization struck her.
Even if Hell was all-powerful could it really reach into another world?
With that thought, Saito relaxed a little.
---
After getting the status update on Japan Hell, Lynn shifted topics and brought up the situation in the Soul Society's Hell.
Hone Onna's expression twisted a little. "Wait a new Hell?"
She stared at him, eyes full of awe.
As expected of Lord Lynn. Already claiming a whole new Hell?
But, they just got this one stable. Jumping into another could seriously backfire."
Not to mentionstaffing would be a problem.
"Just have Senhime bring her entire tribe into Hell."
Ryougetsu Senhime: "???"
(A/N: Senhime is the Inu-Yokai leader and Sesshomaru's Aunt.)
The moment she got the message, Senhime blinked in confusion and made her way to Hell.
And then she saw something that nearly made her lose it.
In Lynn's arms... Another damn cat?!
Senhime's golden eyes locked onto Yoruichi, her gaze sharp and unfriendly.
Yoruichi tensed up slightly.
What's with this dog... Why so possessive?
But before she could react, Senhime leaned in and sniffed the air, frowning.
"No cat smell...?"
She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Some kind of transformation?"
Then suddenly, Senhime leaned in real close, frowning.
"Dammit! Why didn't you turn into a female dog instead?"
"...Huh?!"
Yoruichi's eyes went wide.
Lynn burst out laughing, then casually grabbed Senhime's neck and lifted her like a misbehaving pup.
Senhime let out a low whine, legs tucked in, and went quiet.
Yoruichi: ""
What the hell is with this dog?
She was so confused.
But honestly, this familia's diversity was kind of wild.
Lynn moved on to outlining the plan for reorganizing the Hell of Bleach world.
In one word? Copy.
He already had a working model here.
As for staffing.
Senhime's face twisted in despair. "Got it..."
Working in the main world's Hell was one thing, but in another world?
Her eyes flickered.
Good thing she didn't wipe out the Leopard Cat Tribe.
Maybe, she could send them to handle the grunt work over there?
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---
PS: Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter!
Support me and read advanced chapters at patreon.com/_Coreal
After a quick discussion about the development of the Old and New Hells, Lynn and his group were ready to head back to the Hell in the Bleach world.
Since the development of their Hell was already moving forward, Enma Ai and her group decided to tag along to the Bleach world as wellbringing with them a squad of officially registered Inu-yokai.
As for Senhime?
She needed to make a quick trip back to the past to round up some extra hands.
(Leopard Cat members: ...)
---
A little while later
Just as Lynn and the others were about to step through the dimensional gate, he noticed Furofushi Saito hesitating at the threshold.
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"
Saito chuckled awkwardly and mumbled, "Uhm so, I was wondering"
"No," Lynn said flatly.
"Hey, I didn't even say anything yet!"
"You didn't have to. Whatever you're thinking, I already have no reason to say yes."
"Well damn," Saito muttered. She hated to admit it, but he kind of had a point.
Still
"Then let's just say it's payment for guiding you guys around!"
Lynn gave her a strange look. "I already paid you, remember?"
"When?!"
Lynn said casually, "What made you think you were even allowed to follow us to this world in the first place?"
Saito's eyes went wide.
"Wait, seriously? That's how this works?"
No one asked for her opinion? Not that it would've made a differenceshe definitely would've followed them anyway.
Saito bit her lip.
Well, now she was out of excuses. So what now?
Lynn just stood there, calmly watching her, though there was a faint glint in his eyes.
After a moment, Saito sighed, looking defeated. "If I just go back now, and Hell finds out I'm screwed."
Dying? She wasn't scared of that.
Even torture or being dunked in lava? Whatever.
But prison?
Ugh, prison was the worst. Not being allowed to go anywhere or see anything? That was worse than death.
If it were in the past, she wouldn't have cared. There was nothing fun there anyway.
But now?
Now that she'd seen all this crazy, fun stuff happening, a new world and a new Hell there was no way she was going to miss out!
"Damn it, Hell"
Lynn understood her concern.
But wasn't he the one currently in charge of Hell in the Bleach world?
If he really wanted to intervene, it wouldn't be hard at all.
Still, he didn't say that. Instead, he nodded solemnly. "Yeah Hell can be real heartless."
"Right?! Exactly!" Saito nodded eagerly. "So, how about I just stay here?"
"Nope."
"Excuse me?"
"You don't get to call Hell heartless when you're just worse," Saito thought bitterly.
Lynn smiled faintly. "I'm under no obligation to help you."
Saito pouted, but Lynn added, "Of course, if you became mine, that'd be a different story."
"What?"
She looked at him like she just discovered his true colors. "So that's what you were after all along, huh? Just say it already!"
Suddenly energized, Saito drew her zanpakut and smirked. "Alright! Let's fight! If you win, I'm yours to command!"
She'd seen enough to know Lynn was powerfulbut that didn't mean she was just gonna submit without a fight.
So yeah, bring it on!
Without hesitation, she used shunpo and appeared right in front of Lynn, blade swinging down in a flash.
Lynn, still calm as ever, just raised a hand.
BOOM!
Saito felt a sharp pain in her face, and thendarkness. A moment later, her body slammed into the sea of red spider lilies.
""
What the hell just happened?
She was completely stunned.
But soon enough, she came to her senses and started struggling to get up.
BOOM!
A wave of Reiatsu exploded from her!
Her long dark pink hair flared out wildly, and the surrounding lilies fluttered like butterflies in a storm of power.
...
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed.
As expected of a legendary senior. That pressure alone it was way beyond her.
And yet even with all that power, Saito didn't budge an inch. She was being completely held down.
On the ground, Saito quickly realized something was wrong.
She had unleashed her power, and yet the pressure increased instead of lessening?
A chill ran through her.
Lynn was crouched beside her, casually pressing her down with one hand. "Done yet?"
"Mmph"
He raised an eyebrow. Whatever she was trying to say, it was completely muffled.
After all, Lynn's hand was on her face.
"Oh well. I'll just take that as a yes." He lifted his hand.
The moment the pressure liftedespecially from her headSaito slowly looked up.
"Phew."
She let out a shaky breath.
But damn it. She didn't even last a single breath of time.
She didn't even get to use her Bankai!
Then again judging by the sheer power difference, even that probably wouldn't have helped.
Still sulking, Saito stood up, dusting herself off and brushing off the flower pollen.
Once she straightened her clothes, she pouted. "Alright, fine. I'm yours."
Ugh. This was so undignified.
Meanwhile
Yoruichi's cat face twisted into a very human-like expression.
Seriously?
That was all it took? Just one hand?
But seeing such a renowned veteran fold after just one move Yoruichi couldn't help but feel a bit better about her own situation.
Enma Ai and the others, on the other hand, just waited silently for Lynn to finish up. They didn't seem surprised at all.
Once Saito fulfilled her end of the deal, Lynn handed her a freshly printed member handbook.
"Huh?"
She stared at the booklet in confusion. "What's this?"
"Take a look. You'll get it."
Yoruichi's eyes flashed with recognition.
Ah, of courseit's that process.
Saito flipped the handbook open, and the moment she read what was inside she froze like a statue.
It was like she'd never seen anything like it before.
Eyes wide, she pressed the booklet up close, as if worried she'd miss a single word.
After a long while, she muttered in a daze, "So"
"This is what you meant by 'becoming yours'?"
Joining his Familia?
Saito clenched the handbook tightly.
Exploring other worlds!?
That was the real drawnot the whole 'become a Devil' or 'get a blessing' stuff.
The thing that really hooked her was the idea of conquering other worlds!
It sounded awesome.
Way too awesome.
Sure, the blessing system was nice too. And yeah, she wanted to get stronger.
But power wasn't the most important thing to heras long as it was enough, that was fine.
Once she'd finished reading everything, she slapped the handbook shut and declared without hesitationvoice brimming with excitement: "I'm joining your Familia!"
"Other worlds! OTHER WORLDS!!"
Saito was screaming internally.
It wasn't just this world. His Familia had access to many other worlds.
And they weren't just visiting them.
They were invading them.
She'd read every single detail on that page.
Off to the side, Hone Onna (Bone Devil) watched Saito's reaction with a shrug and said, "Welp I guess our trip to New Hell is gonna be delayed again."
.
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Main World Japan Hell
Furofushi Saito was lying facedown on a wooden bed, back exposed.
She had read the handbook and was already familiar with how the reincarnation ritual worked.
"..."
"Why the hell do I have to strip for this so-called 'ritual'?"
Lynn didn't bother answering. He simply raised his hand and summoned a Devil Piece, slowly approaching her.
"H-Hey! Don't even think about taking advantage of me!"
Lynn just gave her a deadpan look.
Honestly, once she became part of his Familia, everything about her technically belonged to him anyway. And she was still worried about that?
Also
He glanced at her, then made a face and muttered, "I'm not into underdeveloped bodies."
"!!!"
Saito's eyes widened in disbelief. "Underdeveloped?!"
That did it. She jumped up, turned around to face him, puffed out her chest, and planted her hands on her hips.
"Who're you calling a kid, huh?!"
She gave her chest a loud smacksmack smack!
Lynn: ""
His eyes flicked to her chestjust enough slope to register, barelyand he sighed. "Okay, fine. You're slightly above child level."
"???"
Slightly?!
Saito looked like she was ready to argue more, but before she could, her body suddenly lifted off the bed.
"What the?!"
Lynn hoisted her up like she weighed nothing, turned her around, and made her lie down again.
Buzz!
Inside her, Reiatsu and Magic began to intertwine, boiling up like a storm.
What surprised Saito most was
Even though these were two completely different types of energy, they weren't clashing like she expected. They weren't fighting to the deaththey were fusing, syncing.
She focused.
Inside herthe Devil Piece shimmered.
Devil Piece
She repeated the name silently in her mind.
Was that why the two energies didn't reject each other?
And despite this 'becoming a devil' thing she still felt like a Shinigami. That part hadn't changed.
Which meant: She now had both devil and Shinigami traits?
Not just that There were other things inside her too. More abilities. More power.
Saito carefully explored the changes in her body.
Meanwhile, Lynn heard a system chime in his ear.
[Ding! You've acquired a new Familia member: "Furofushi Saito."]
[Ding! Your Familia member "Furofushi Saito" has been reborn as a Special-Class Devil!]
Lynn looked at her back.
A flash of light glowed across her skin, and her Blessing Information appeared before him.
---
[Furofushi Saito]
Rank: Ultimate-Class Devil
Position: Knight
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Position Skill: Godspeed
Unique Skills: [Zanpakut: Blooddrinker Shigure] & [Undying Devil]
[Zanpakut: Blooddrinker Shigure]
Shikai: Blood Rain Shigure
Release Command: "Drain them dryBlood-Drinking Shigure!"
The blade turns into a flowing, blood-like liquid. It can shift into a whip or thorny vines. Wounds inflicted continue draining the enemy's Reiatsu, the rate scaling with the target's will to live.
Contact with enemy blood allows temporary regeneration. Excess absorption triggers madness state.
Bankai: Rotten Blood Rain Shigure
Marked enemies slowly mummify. Their flesh cracks and peels like rotting wood, with pain delayed in transmission.
While active, Saito decays alongside her enemybut absorbing blood can reverse her own withering.
[Undying Devil]
Rapid Regeneration:
Instant recovery of body and soul. Ignores physical destruction (decapitation, dismemberment) and spiritual attacks (like Kido or Cero).
Requires magic or life force to fuel it.
Multiplication:
Can summon up to 8 physical clones. Each one shares her undying trait and can act independently or combine to form an "Undying Field."
Fate Transference:
Can transfer her own injuries to enemies or the environment just by touching them.
e.g., a severed arm wound can be "grafted" onto an enemy's body, causing a cursed injury.
Wounds carry "Undying Contamination," suppressing the enemy's ability to regenerate.
Devilization: Eternal Law
Development Abilities:
Battle Continuation (A): Can keep fighting even when critically injured. Pain fuels her will to fight.
Reiatsu Sense (B): Tracks enemy spirit flow and predicts their next move.
---
---
Lynn skimmed through her new Blessing info.
The first thing he noticedZanpakut: Blooddrinker Shigure.
Yeah just by looking at it, he could tell this ability fit Saito's style perfectly.
Then he got to the main highlightUndying Devil.
Just the name alone was enough to get him excited.
Sure enough, the first ability listed was Rapid Regeneration!
Devils could heal through magic, surebut it was never very efficient. That's why healing spells and recovery artifacts were a whole thing in the first place.
But now with this? Saito had true regeneration.
That alone kicked their survivability up a notch.
Of course, given Lynn's current power level, even in the main world there were only a few people who could even scratch him.
Still better to have insurance than not. Especially when he wasn't just sticking to this world.
Who knew what kind of mess a [Devil's Contract] might drag him into someday?
The other abilities were pretty wild too.
That Fate Transference one?
It reminded him of Hidan from Narutobut way more developed.
Unlike Hidan, she didn't need to hurt herself. She could transfer her wounds straight onto someoneor even the environment. That was insane.
Transfer damage to the world itself?
Lynn could already picture the battlefield when Saito went all-out.
Of course, it had limits. At the end of the day, it still depended on her magic reserves.
Once he'd finished copying her Blessing details, Lynn gave her back a light pat.
"...?"
Saito snapped out of her trance, still digesting the changes inside her.
She took the info sheet Lynn handed her and read it over.
"'Undying Devil'?"
So this was the deeper transformation happening inside her?
After reading through the description, a spark of realization lit up in her eyes.
That vague sensation she couldn't put into words just nowgone.
Only, uh Wasn't this ability name suspiciously based on her own name?
'Furofushi' literally means 'Undying.'
Saito's expression turned a bit awkward.
Once she finished getting used to her new powers, Lynn spoke up.
"All right, let's go. Time to head to the New Hell."
"Waitwhat?"
She blinked and tugged on Lynn's sleeve. "You know I escaped from Hell, right? If "
Before she could even finish, Lynn casually raised a hand to cut her off.
"From now on, I am Hell."
Saito: "...???"
.
.
.
Soul Society Hell.
Lynn was the first to step through the dimensional gate, entering the new Hell.
Enma Ai and the others followed close behind, surveying the unfamiliar realm.
Once everyoneincluding even the Inu-yokai tribehad crossed over... Saito peeked her head out cautiously, clearly hesitant. After a moment's pause, she gritted her teeth and stepped through.
She took a deep breath, blinking a few times and realized something.
There was no ominous pressure. No sensation of Hell targeting her.
So, Lynn was telling the truth?
This Hell is under his control?
Then what the hell did it mean when she "sold herself" to him earlier?
Saito felt scammed. She shot a resentful look in Lynn's direction.
Not that anyone noticedor cared.
"Ugh, this air is disgusting." Hone Onna pinched her nose, clearly displeased.
"It's the miasma," Yoruichi explained, sounding rather used to it. "That's just how the air in Hell works."
After getting a feel for the place, Enma Ai and her team quickly got to work on drafting a development plan.
With the main world's Hell as a blueprint, the process was a breeze.
Soon enough, Enma Ai handed a finalized version to Lynn for review.
As he read it, she stood by and explained in her signature monotonelike a student giving a dull presentation in class.
Lynn listened and nodded, clearly pleased with how comprehensive the plan was.
But then, Enma Ai paused and added, "For Hell to develop, we need souls."
In other words, they couldn't rely on the old passive system of waiting for evil souls or whatever Soul Society decided to dump down here.
If they really wanted to grow Hell into something proper, they had to be proactive.
A constant, massive influx of soulsthat's what made a functional, thriving Hell.
So basically it was time to start recruiting souls.
The problem was that it meant running into a direct conflict with the local powers.
Shinigami, Soul Society.
Their whole job was to guide souls to the afterlifetheirs, not Hell's.
If Lynn's group started pulling souls to Hell instead, then yeah a confrontation was inevitable.
"..."
"Just follow the plan," Lynn said calmly.
Soul Society?
Lynn didn't care. With his current strength, they weren't even worth worrying about.
Even Yamamoto, hailed as the strongest Shinigami in a thousand yearsLynn didn't see him as a threat anymore.
With his approval, Enma Ai felt free to move forward confidently.
Then Lynn sent a simplified version of the proposal to Hell's consciousness itself.
Not long after, Hell's consciousness got a little too excited.
It was like a sheltered girl being shown the world for the first timecompletely dazzled and swept up by Lynn's ideas.
Before he knew it, it had handed over full authority to him without hesitation.
Total trust, full support.
Lynn couldn't help but chuckle.
He'd never seen a consciousness this naive.
Then again, this was his first time dealing with one, wasn't it?
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Something told him this wouldn't be the last time he'd run into a "world" or "system" with a will of its own.
If Hell had a consciousness, then surely entire worlds could too.
And if they were all this easy to persuade that'd be great.
Of course, it's not like Lynn had lied. He did plan to develop Hell, after all.
While the Inu-yokai began tearing into renovations with enthusiasm, a group of uninvited guests suddenly arrived.
"Well, well~" a tall figure floated in the sky, arms crossed as he looked down, amused. "Since when did Hell get so lively?"
Saito looked up and frowned. "Shuren. What do you want this time?"
His arrival didn't shock anyone.
After all, they had sensed his Reiatsu long before he showed up.
Shuren blinked when he saw her. That was unexpected.
So the monstrous Reiatsu from earlierthe one that made waveswas tied to her?
Now that he thought about it, it made sense.
Hell had been quiet for ages. If someone this powerful was hiding here, there's no way he wouldn't have noticed unless they were really good at staying off the radar.
"Relax, I'm not here for you," Shuren said dismissively. "I've lost interest."
"Tch."
Saito clicked her tongue. Everyone in Hell knew what Shuren was like.
But she quickly pieced it together.
This idiot must've sensed Lynn's Reiatsu earlier and thought some kind of opportunity had come knocking.
Well, if only he knew the guy he was looking for was already running Hell.
Saito's lips curled into a smirk.
Actually, this might be a good chance to test her new powers.
Grinning, she hoisted her zanpakut and growled, "Don't care why you're here."
"But you did send people after me for ages..."
"Time to settle that score!"
Saito vanished.
Her Shunpo, combined with her new class skillGodspeedcatapulted her speed into a whole new realm!
Shuren's eyes widened. He barely had time to react beforeBOOM!
He was slammed out of the sky and sent crashing into the ground.
"Sh-Shuren-sama!!"
His followers, including Taikon, were stunned. Even Gunjo's heart skipped a beat.
Wait had this woman been holding back the whole time?
Actuallyyes.
Saito hadn't even bothered to release her zanpakut when fighting someone like Gunjo.
Still, the fact that Shuren couldn't even react said a lot about her power boost.
Without Godspeed, that level of movement wouldn't be possible.
From the crater, Shuren sprang to his feet, ignoring the dust on him. His eyes locked on Saito, his brow furrowed deeply.
When had she gotten this strong?
That speed?
He exhaled sharply, trying to calm himself.
He didn't come here to fight.
He came to negotiate.
He opened his mouth to say somethingbut Saito vanished again.
"!!!"
His body tensed.
"This crazy woman!"
Shuren didn't hesitate this time. He unleashed his Reiatsu at full force.
Whoosh
Flames erupted around him like living serpents, each one radiating searing heat.
As he felt her movement through the air, the fire snakes lunged toward her instinctively.
He smirked. "Saito, don't forgetI've been in Hell way longer than you."
BOOM!
The fire slammed straight into her!
But To his shock, she didn't dodge.
She charged into it, grinning like a lunatic!
The heat instantly charred her skin black, but she was still smiling?
Shuren felt a chill.
Sure, you couldn't die in Hell, but pain? Pain was very real.
What kind of psycho is she?!
Smack!
Suddenly, a charred hand burst from the flames and slapped itself onto Shuren's shoulder.
"Fate Transference~"
.
.
.
"Fate Transference"
The low, eerie voice of Furofushi Saito echoed in Shuren's ears, making his entire body freeze.
Before he could react, a searing pain suddenly erupted all over his body!
Hshhhh
Thin wisps of smoke rose from his skin, and a roasted meat smell hit his nose.
"What is this, a BBQ in hell?"
Then agonizing pain exploded throughout his body! His skin began to burn and blister like it was being scorched alive!
"H-Haaah!!"
Shuren's body was trembling in pain, eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.
What the hell is going on?!
Fighting through the agony, he glanced overonly to see Saito's hand resting casually on his shoulder.
His expression twisted in pure shock. Saito's skinburned and scorched just moments agowas healing? It looked smooth, brand new, like nothing had ever happened?!
No way.
Shuren's pupils narrowed, a chilling thought creeping into his mind.
Without hesitation, he yanked himself away from Saito. But the pain didn't stop!
The burning sensation still clinging to him like a curse.
Never in his wildest dreams did he think this would happenhe, a master of flame, getting roasted alive by fire.
What kind of twisted reversal is this?
Right now, it was like he was the one standing in the middle of an inferno.
That damned Furofushi Saito, Did she
Just as he was trying to piece it all together, Saito's lively voice came floating out from within the flames.
"Heyyy, Little Shu~"
Little Shu?
Shuren's eye twitched violently.
Saito's voice continued, totally unfazed. "It's kinda warm. You should go train with old man Yamamoto or something?"
She sounded genuinely disappointed.
This level of heat wasn't enough to push the limits of [Fate Transference] at all.
What she really wanted was to see if she could transfer something fatalsomething that would normally kill her.
But this guy? Shuren?
Completely useless.
Train with Yamamoto? Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto?
Shuren's mouth twitched so hard it was a miracle his jaw didn't fall off.
Seriously? Did she even realize what she was saying?
She's comparing him to the head captain of the Soul Society?
What an overestimation.
Butwait.
Looking at her again, something didn't sit right.
Was this woman enjoying his flames like a hot spring soak?
Sure, he wasn't Yamamoto-level, but come on! He couldn't possibly be that far off! Right?
With that thought, Shuren immediately dispersed the flames.
And as the flames faded, the burning pain in his own body finally began to ease.
He blinked.
So he'd been feeling the pain because he had somehow taken the damage for her?
After a bit of mental math, it all clicked.
So that's her power
She can transfer damage to someone else?
As he stood there quietly absorbing it all, Saito rested her zanpakut lazily on her shoulder, grinning like a schoolyard bully.
"Hey! Got anything better than that? If you're holding back, now's the time to show off!"
Shuren didn't answer.
If his theory was correct Attacking her was basically attacking himself.
What kind of broken, overpowered cheat skill is that?!
He glanced at her smug, taunting expression.
Yeah. No doubt about it. She was cheating.
So, Shuren decided to go the diplomatic route.
"Furofushi Saito, listenI'm here for peace. I'm here because"
Too bad for him, he was talking to Saito. And she didn't give a damn about conversation.
She vanished in a blur of movement. In the blink of an eye, she was right in front of himblade swinging down without hesitation!
Shuren raised his arms to block.
Because of what he'd just figured out, he didn't dare fight back!
From the sidelines, Taikon and the others watched as the usually proud and composed Shuren flailed around, ducking and dodging like a headless chicken.
They looked at each other in disbelief.
Was this really the same Shuren they had always respected? The one who used to radiate confidence and power.
Now looked like a scared child getting smacked around.
Their faith in him visibly wavered.
Could Shuren really lead them out of hell?
They were starting to have serious doubts.
On the other side, Saito kept swinging lazily, clearly enjoying herself as she chased him around.
"You? Escape hell? Such a joke~" she scoffed.
Shuren, of course, didn't respond. He just kept dodging.
Saito smirked.
Yeah, he definitely figured it out. But so what?
Now that she'd made a connection with him through [Fate Transference], she could pass off any injury she took straight to him.
And if she really wanted to go nuts, she could injure herself on purpose, and he'd be the one to suffer for it.
"Hmm"
Her eyes suddenly sparkled.
Wait a sec. Why not do just that?
This could be the perfect use of the skill!
First, tag the target, thenKekeke~
Her grin widened.
Her blade paused mid-swing.
"???"
Shuren blinked, confusedbut a break in the assault was a relief either way.
Until he saw what she was doing.
"Wait Wait Wait...!!"
"Please WAIT!!!"
He raised a hand, voice trembling. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Saito paused, gave him a kind little smile
And stabbed herself in the chest with brutal precision.
SHUNK!
"GaaaaaaAAAHHH!!!"
Shuren's knees buckled.
A fresh, gaping hole opened up in the middle of his chest, right where the heart should be.
The pain was blinding.
Blood poured out of him like a fountain as he clutched his chest, eyes wide in horror, staring at Saito.
She wasn't hurt at all.
So it was true!! Every bit of damage went straight to him!
This this was insanity!
What kind of broken, disgusting power even was this?!
Saito, meanwhile, looked him over with a glint of amusement in her eyeslike a child who had just discovered a new toy.
She started sizing up her own body, like she was picking the next spot to "experiment" on.
Shuren's survival instincts screamed.
No hesitation.
He compressed his Reiatsu on the spot.
This woman's a goddamn psycho! I'm out!
BOOM!
He self-destructed.
After all, this was hell. He'd just respawn.
Better to blow himself up than stick around for more of her twisted fun.
Taikon: "???"
Wait what about us?!
.
.
.
Taikon and the others immediately straightened up when Saito turned her eyes on them, forcing out awkward smiles.
They looked terrifiedlike she might give them the same treatment she'd just unleashed on Shuren.
She actually forced Lord Shuren to self-destruct!
Just thinking about it made them break into a cold sweat.
Saito glanced at them, then casually looked awayclearly not even interested.
---
Meanwhile
Enma Ai, the new Ceo of Hell, had just received a soul's resurrection request.
Enma Ai: "..."
Yeah, this kind of resurrection system? Totally annoying.
With a stern look in her eyes, she rejected the request.
But that soul was unusually strong.
One of the few in Hell who could actually be considered a powerhouse.
"Hmm..."
After a moment of thought, Enma Ai decided to bring the soul up for evaluation.
---
Some time later
Shuren opened his eyes, blinking like someone waking up from a deep sleep.
He muttered to himself, "I'm alive again?"
Then
He noticed a bunch of people gathered around him, watching him like he was part of some weird science show.
"...???"
He looked up, confused.
Was this a different resurrection site?
He didn't dwell on ituntil he tried to move. And instantly froze.
Wait. He couldn't move.
What the hell?
Hone Onna gave him a quick once-over and asked, "So, what do we do with him?"
Enma Ai replied calmly, "Hell's short on strong hands right now. Send him to the human world to collect souls."
"???"
Shuren stared at them, his confusion growing by the second.
What were these people talking about?
Send him to the human world?
That wordhuman worldcaught his attention. He shut his mouth and quietly observed.
Hone Onna hesitated. "This guy"
"He's probably not gonna behave, huh?"
"It's fine," Ai said coolly. "New Hell doesn't have much, but we do have the Chains of Sin. As long as he's bound, he won't be able to break free from our control."
"Ohh, that makes sense."
Hone Onna nodded and looked at Shuren with a smirk. "You heard her, didn't you?"
Shuren stayed quiet for a moment, then asked, "So you guys are like, Hell's administrators or something?"
He sounded genuinely confused.
After all the years he'd spent in Hell, he'd never seen any of them before.
"Technically speaking," Hone Onna said, "we were just hiredpaid quite handsomely, in factto manage Hell."
Hired? Paid handsomely?
Shuren's expression turned strange.
But as he tested the constraints on his body, his eyes narrowed.
There was no doubtthis wasn't how resurrection usually worked.
Also, he glanced around.
Were those people building in Hell? Waitwere some of them dogs?
Whatever. Point wasthey were really trying to rebuild Hell?
So they were actually serious about being Hell's management?
Hold upHell has management now?!
Shuren looked genuinely shocked.
Why hadn't they come to him?
He'd been busting his ass in Hell for years for real.
His expression turned complicated.
Hone Onna didn't bother explaining. Instead, she handed him a packet labeled 'Hell Rules & Employment Manual.'
"Read this. If you agree, start working."
""
Shuren opened his mouth, but in the end, just bowed his head and started reading.
And soon, he was stunned.
Wait a secondthis whole plan was clearly modeled after the Soul Society!
They're going to ferry souls from the human world?! There's no way this doesn't lead to a war with the Shinigami!
Gulp.
He swallowed hard.
He used to think he was bold for trying to escape Hell.
But these guys? These maniacs were on another level!
And then he remembered that man from the Soul Society
Genrysai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
Were these people not afraid of him at all?!
Shuren clutched the manual tighter, hands trembling. "What happens if I refuse?"
He could still act tough with Saito, but Yamamoto? He wouldn't last five seconds.
He used to think he was strong, but Saito crushed him like it was nothing. And Yamamoto? He stood at the very top of the Soul Society.
Thinking of that, his pride in his strength completely crumbled.
Yeah, he was scared now.
"If you refuse?" Hone Onna said flatly. "Then you'll be sealed away in Hell, permanently."
She tapped her chin. "Given your crimes... yeah, I'd say eternal suppression with no shot at reincarnation sounds fair."
""
Shuren stared.
Honestly, that didn't sound all that different from his current situation.
Still, Reincarnation?
What did that even mean?
He flipped through the rulebook and found the explanation.
"Reincarnation?!"
He clutched the book, eyes wide. "Wait, that's real?!"
Hone Onna nodded casually. "Of course. Reincarnation is one of Hell's core systems. There's also a higher tier Reincarnation called the Devil's Reincarnationif you do well enough, you can join our familia."
His breathing grew heavier.
If it really came down to it, maybe reincarnation wouldn't be so bad.
He was sick of this place anyway.
But, he'd lose all memories of his past life in normal reincarnation.
And if he lost his memories, was he still him?
Shuren sank into thoughtthen gave up thinking.
Either way, at least now he had a way out of Hell.
With that in mind, he dove into the handbook.
He quickly realized just how small his worldview had been.
These people actually had a full-on management system for Hell.
A complete job-ranking system, it was shockingly well put together.
Even betterOnce you reached a certain rank, you'd get permission to enter and leave Hell freely.
Shuren looked up, eyes sharp. "I'm in."
No hesitation. He was gonna give this a shot.
After all, it's not like he could destroy the Gates of Hell anyway.
Might as well try the official route first.
If that didn't work, then he'd start planning to blow it all up again.
Hone Onna nodded, satisfied with his answer.
After some time
Shuren and Saito locked eyes.
Just minutes ago, they were trying to kill each other. Now? Coworkers.
Shuren wasn't sure how to feel.
He never imagined that Saito was already part of this insane new Hell administration.
Even crazier?
The terrifying Reiatsu he'd felt earlier? That belonged to the new ruler of Hell.
Lynn Valifer.
Who, at that moment, wasn't even paying attention to Shuren.
Lynn sat comfortably at his makeshift office desk, deep in thought.
In the world of Bleach, both the Soul Society and Hell were made of Reishi (spirit particles).
If they wanted to reform Hell properly, they'd need a steady flow of souls.
Which meant they needed to start ferrying souls from the human world ASAP.
But that wasn't his problem anymore.
That was Enma Ai and the others' job.
Lynn had already decidedhe was going full hands-off boss mode. He decided to just chill.
Then he casually pulled up the screen to check in on Miko, Kikyo, and the others.
"Hmm?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Something interesting seemed to be happening.
Meanwhile, on the First Level of Hell
Soifon and her squad were still pushing forward with difficulty.
The Sinners (damned souls) were like rabid dogs, charging them non-stop.
"Ugh!" Soifon clicked her tongue. "At this rate, we'll never reach the bottom!"
.
.
.
Sinners were everywhere.
There was no doubt about itthey were completely surrounded.
"Captain, what should we do?"
Marechiyo Omaeda cowered behind Soifon, his throat bobbing nervously. He was clearly rattled by the sheer number of enemies.
Soifon shot him a look of disdain."Pathetic," she muttered.
How did she end up with this guy as her lieutenant?
"YAAAAAH!!"
Before she could scold him further, a sinner let out a piercing shriek and lunged straight at her!
Standing on a white platform, Soifon's lips parted as if to say somethingbut she held her words back. In a blink, she vanished with a Shunpo, dodging the attack effortlessly.
Reappearing in a new spot, she raised her gaze and scanned the battlefield.
The sinners filled her vision like an unending tide.
"Tch."
Even for the 2nd Division, known for its speed and agility, charging through this kind of crowd was going to be impossiblenot without heavy losses.
Forget investigating anything.
Well maybe she could make it through alone. Her Shunpo was fast enough to outmaneuver them all.
But her team? No chance.
And she wasn't the type to abandon her squad just to complete the mission.
She inhaled deeply. There was only one option leftBreak through by force.
Soifon drew her Zanpakut. In an instant, her captain-level Reiatsu surged out like a wave.
"Sting all Enemies to Death Suzumebachi!"
Without hesitation, she released her Shikai.
Buzz
Her sword twisted and reshaped itself into a small, golden finger-mounted stinger.
The weapon was delicate and deadly, with gold-plated segments on her first two fingers, black stripes near the end like a bee's abdomen, and a thin chain connecting it to her glove.
This was her ZanpakutSuzumebachi.
UnfortunatelyIt wasn't exactly ideal for crowd control.
But even if it wasn't made for AOE attacks, she'd make it work. She'd just move fast enough to turn it into one.
Soifon vanished again, leaving behind only a fading afterimage.
A second later, she reappeared behind the sinners.
Shlick!
The golden stinger pierced into the first sinner.
A butterfly-shaped black mark bloomed instantly. Without missing a beat, Soifon landed a second strikefaster than most could follow.
The marks overlapped, forming a distinct honeycomb pattern.
The sinner let out a scream and collapsed, lifeless.
She wasn't done.
Without stopping for even a breath, she flash-stepped again, closing in on her next target.
Within moments, her afterimages spread like shadows across the battlefield, dancing behind sinner after sinner.
Seeing this, her team quickly followed up with supportive Kid spells to cover her assault.
---
Elsewhere, deeper in Hell
Shihoin Yoruichi suddenly raised her cat head. Her golden eyes flickered with a strange light.
"That Reiatsu is that Soifon?"
She tilted her head, a bit surprised.
What the hell was that girl doing here of all places?
"Lord Lynn, I'm heading out for a bit."
"Hmm"
She hesitated briefly, then added, half-joking, "Maybe I'll bring back a recruit for the Familia?"
Soifon!
She'd probably qualify, right?
Wait, hold onWhy was she already thinking like a full-fledged member of the Familia? Recruiting people already?
Yoruichi blinked, a little stunned at herself.
But still, being new here, in unfamiliar territory, it might be nice to have someone she already knew around.
Yeah, that didn't sound too bad.
She'd already asked Lynn before but he wasn't open to accepting men into his familia yet.
So yeah, pulling Kisuke Urahara in was off the table.
But Soifon is ok.
Lynn fully supported Yoruichi's enthusiasm in growing the Familia.
Once she left, Lynn narrowed his eyes slightly.
Of course, he'd sensed that burst of Reiatsu too. He flicked a finger, using his authority over Hell to locate the source.
Soon enough, a petite woman with short black hair appeared in his view.
"Ooh~ Soifon."
No wonder.
He watched her performance for a moment, confirmed her potential, then turned his attention back to Kikyo, Miko, and the others.
Hueco Mundo
After some trial and error, the team had figured out the power levels of the various Hollows they'd encountered.
Miko even used her Soul Devour skill to condense an Adjuchas-level Hollow into an experience orband casually popped it in her mouth like candy.
"Whew"
She exhaled softly, her golden eyes glowing with satisfaction.
"With these Hollows around, I might reach Ultimate-Class Devil rank real soon."
Here, Hollows were pretty commonplentiful and powerful spirit bodies like these weren't rare.
Coming to the Bleach world? Absolutely the right call.
"Alright then!" Miko clapped her hands. "Let's keep moving!"
With a confident swing of her arm, she led the group deeper into the vast white sands of Hueco Mundo.
They planned to explore the entire realm.
Oh, and while they were at it Might as well find Las Noches too.
Strangely though, they hadn't come across a single humanoid Hollow yet.
Scanning the desert, Miko frowned slightly.
"Oof!"
A soft, high-pitched voice suddenly came from not far ahead.
"Huh?" Miko paused, turning toward the sound.
She spotted a half-buried Hollow mask wiggling through the white sand.
With a puzzled expression, she walked over and picked it up
And found herself staring at a tiny girl with green hair, bright gold-green eyes, and a crimson line that runs across her face.
The little thing squirmed in her grip, eyes shut tight, muttering muffled sounds.
Kikyo and the others quickly gathered around, their eyes lighting up.
"She's adorable!"
Yotsuya Miko poked the girl's cheek with her finger and muttered, "Wait this placeHueco Mundohas cute creatures like this?"
The group blinked, then exchanged confused looks.
"This might be one of those humanoid Hollows," Kikyo said, a bit unsure.
But honestly She didn't seem dangerous at all.
In factShe was kinda precious?
Miko's eyes turned serious for a moment.
"I can sense a really powerful energy coming from inside her," she said quietly. "This little one's not as simple as she looks"
The voices around her finally roused Nel from her daze.
"Huh?"
She blinked, looking up at the group crowding around her with a blank expression.
Then her eyes widened.
Panicking, she started flailing.
"D-Don't take me back!!"
.
.
.
Deep within Hell
"Nel"
After spotting Nel on the virtual screen, Lynn instantly recognized who she was.
After all, there weren't many in Hueco Mundo who had the potential to become part of his Familia.
But Nel Tu was definitely one of them.
He'd been thinking about visiting Hueco Mundo sometime soon anyway, maybe to pick up a cute little loli if he was lucky.
And now? One had just walked right into his path.
Lucky him.
But, Lynn narrowed his eyes.
If he remembered correctly, Nel usually stayed near Las Noches, right?
So her showing up now Did that mean Las Noches was somewhere near Kikyo and the others?
Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo
Midoriko gently tried to calm the squirming Nel, who looked like she was ready to bolt. "Relax, we're not here to catch you or anything."
She glanced at the scar on Nel's face, and a flicker of pity flashed in her eyes.
Who the hell hurt this adorable little thing?
Seriouslyhow could anyone lay a hand on a child?!
Of course, it was mostly because Nel looked like a kid that Midoriko was getting so worked up.
Still, the energy Nel was hiding deep inside her body was no joke.
Midoriko kept her guard up, just in case.
"Huh?"
Hearing Midoriko's words, Nel stopped struggling. She blinked and asked suspiciously, "Really?"
Midoriko nodded seriously. "Really."
In an instant, Nel's eyes sparkled. "Yay! Big sis, you're a good person!"
"...???"
Was she really that quick to trust people?
Midoriko's expression became a little complicated.
Nel, on the other hand, was completely unconcerned. She tugged on the sleeve of Midoriko's shrine maiden outfit and asked curiously, "Big sis, did you come from far away?"
Midoriko snapped out of it and asked gently, like she was talking to a child, "Why do you think that?"
Nel tapped her lip and said as if it were obvious, "Because Nel has never seen big sis before!"
Midoriko: ""
Nel's face suddenly turned serious as she warned, "Big sis, don't go any further. There are bad guys ahead!"
"Really bad guys!"
She scrunched up her little face, brows knitting tightly.
Bad guys?
Midoriko and the others exchanged glances. One of them asked, "What kind of bad guys?"
"Hmm"
Nel's face contorted in thought. Then she spread her arms wide and gestured, "They've got two big horns on their head, and they're really tall"
As she described them, realization dawned on Midoriko and her group.
Humanoid Hollows? That matched the kind of target they were looking for.
"Alright, thanks for the warning." Midoriko crouched down and gently set Nel on the pale sand, patting her small head.
Although it was kind of hard. That skull mask really didn't make for a soft touch.
"So this little one... was probably a humanoid Hollow too?"
"One of the Arrancar, maybe? Just like Lord Lynn mentioned."
Midoriko fell into thought.
Elsewhere, not far from Las Noches, in a well-hidden spot
Dondechakka Birstanne and Pesche Guatiche stared at each other in panic.
"N-Nel sama?!"
Realizing what had happened, they scrambled. "Quick! We've got to find her before that bastard Nnoitra Gilga spots her!"
Meanwhile
The very same Nel sama, who was absolutely not supposed to be spotted by Nnoitra, was now proudly leading Midoriko and the others straight toward Las Noches!
Her tiny feet padded across the white sand, leaving a trail of cute footprints behind.
Tilting her head, she asked sweetly, "Sister Midoriko, you'll protect Nel, right?"
Midoriko patted her head with a warm smile. "Of course. If any bad guys try to grab you, I'll chase them all off!"
"Mhm!"
Nel nodded hard, then raised her tiny fists and declared seriously, "Chase off the bad guys!"
Seeing her like that, Midoriko's smile softened even more.
Naturally, Nel volunteered to guide the way.
Even though she'd just warned them about the "bad guys up ahead," her eyes were clearly sparkling with excitement when she heard they were moving forward.
That palace She'd been dying to sneak in and play there!
Of course, Midoriko's team wasn't just charging in blindly.
They still took detours here and there to hunt a few Adjuchas and level up a bit.
As a result, their pace was a little slow.
But with Nel as their guide, finding Hollows to fight was a breeze.
Yup. Totally betraying her own kind.
In the third layer of Hell.
After taking out the last of the sinners, Soifon finally let out a sigh of relief.
Clap clap clap!
Suddenly
A sharp, crisp sound of applause echoed around her.
Soifon's muscles tensed instantly.
"Who's there?!"
Then a lazy voice drifted out.
"Well, well. You've really grown stronger over the years, haven't you?"
The second she heard that voice, Soifon's eyes flew open wide. Her pupils shrank, and her body started trembling just a bit.
She stiffly turned her head, not daring to believe it.
A woman with dark skin, wearing a bright orange bodysuit and her hair tied in a long ponytail, stood calmly before her.
"Shihoin Yoruichi!!"
The moment she laid eyes on her, Soifon's fists clenched tightly. Her gaze locked onto her like a hawk, voice shaking with barely concealed fury.
In the blink of an eye, her expression twisted into a snarl.
"Why are you here?!"
Yoruichi's face stayed calm. She shrugged casually, "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
Then her eyes turned sharp. "Soifon, what are you doing in Hell?"
If they were in the human worldor even the Soul SocietyYoruichi probably would've ignored her presence.
But here? This was Hell.
More importantly
This was Hell that now belonged to her familia.
Even though she'd been toying with the idea of recruiting Soifon into their Familia, what really worried her was that Soifon's recklessness might piss off someone she shouldn't.
And if that happened, there might not be a chance for redemption.
She had to nip that danger in the budnow.
Because no matter what Soifon was someone she'd watched grow up.
She couldn't pretend she didn't care.
"..."
Upon hearing Yoruichi's words, Soifon looked briefly confused.
She replied on instinct, "There was a sudden surge of Hell's miasma that started affecting Soul Society. The Captain-Commander sent me to"
"Wait!"
Soifon suddenly caught herself, gritting her teeth. "Why am I even telling you this?!"
"Ara~"
Her teasing tone returned. "Still the same cute Soifon, aren't you?"
C-c-c-c-cute?!!
.
.
.
Cute??
Soifon felt a little dizzy.
Just one sentence from Yoruichi Shihoin had completely thrown her off.
Did... did Lady Yoruichi just say she was cute?
Soifon stood frozen, her eyes a little unfocused, cheeks steadily turning red.
It took her a full minute to snap out of it.
"N-No way!"
She shook her head furiously, trying to clear it.
Why the hell would she feel happy just because of a compliment from her?
Soifon mentally screamed at herself, utterly frustratedand honestly, ashamed.
Trying her best to suppress the storm inside her, Soifon fixed her gaze on Yoruichi with a cold, expressionless face. She slowly raised her hand, golden finger armor pointed straight at her, and said icily:
"I don't care why you came to Hell. But now that we've crossed paths"
She paused, her eyes narrowing sharply.
"Today will be the day you die."
For a moment, silence reigned in Hell.
Yoruichi didn't even seem to be listening.
She had one hand on her chin, deep in thought over what Soifon had just let slip.
The miasma of Hell actually affected the Soul Society?
That shouldn't be possible. Right?
Yoruichi suddenly remembered that time when Lynn's Reiatsu erupted.
That surge of power had reached all the way from Hell to the Soul Society?
She clicked her tongue. That was insane af.
Lynn was even stronger than she'd imagined.
On the other side, Soifon clenched her jaw at Yoruichi's obvious distraction and snapped, "Are you seriously ignoring me right now?!"
"Ah"
Yoruichi blinked, then scratched her head with a sheepish grin. "Sorry, sorry. Spaced out a bit. Can you say that again?"
Soifon trembled with rage: "You don't deserve to hear it again!"
The moment the words left her lips, she vanished from sight.
Feeling the sudden burst of wind at her back, Yoruichi smiled faintly.
"Soifon"
"Have you already forgotten what they used to call meafter just a hundred years?"
With a whisper, Yoruichi's body blurred and disappeared, leaving behind nothing but an afterimage.
Thwack!
Soifon's golden armor pierced through the illusion.
Her face darkened as she turned to where Yoruichi reappeared, and muttered through clenched teeth: "The Flash Goddess Yoruichi."
"Glad to see you still remember," Yoruichi said with a shrug.
"Hmph!" Soifon shot back coldly. "A hundred years is more than enough time for me to surpass you!"
Rip
She tore off her outer sleeve, revealing her black uniform underneath.
"The Executive Militia uniform, huh" Yoruichi paused for a second, a rare flicker of nostalgia crossing her face. "Been a while since I've seen that."
Soifon narrowed her eyes. "I'll take that other title of yours, too."
BOOM!!
As the words left her mouth, a massive burst of Reiatsu exploded from her back.
But in the next instant, it was compressedtightly, precisely.
Shhh
The air screamed as space itself twisted behind her.
Soifon grinned, eyes glinting with pride. "This is the result of a hundred years of training. Let me show you what I've become!"
She launched forward. With a thunderous crack, the white ground of Hell shattered beneath her feet as she vanished againthis time moving even faster.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared in front of Yoruichi, palm striking forward with deadly speed. Her face was calm, but her lips curled up just slightly.
She could already see it: Yoruichi pinned beneath her.
Victory.
Yoruichi remained calm. Before the strike even landed, she raised her hand.
Vmm
A wave of energy burst from Yoruichi's palmexactly matching the pressure of Soifon's own.
Crack!
The moment they clashed, Soifon's compressed Reiatsu was completely neutralized.
Yoruichi's voice was calm. "This kind of power is still too early for you."
Soifon's eyes widened, heart skipping a beat.
"And one more thing."
A golden gleam flashed in Yoruichi's eyes. Behind her, Reiatsu erupted like a tidal wave.
"This technique is called Shunko."
Soifon stared, stunned. She bit her lip hard.
"You You've known how to use this all along?!"
Yoruichi casually brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "Hmm? Oh yeah. I've had it for maybe a hundred years now?"
A hundred years?
From the look on her face, Yoruichi wasn't lyingand honestly, she had no reason to.
"Damn it!!"
Why?! Why is she still ahead of me after disappearing for a century?
Why am I always chasing after her, never catching up?!
Soifon's fists trembled, her face twisting with frustration.
"I I'll never accept that!"
With a roar, she lunged forward again, slashing wildly with her golden finger armor.
But Yoruichi only shifted her body slightly, easily dodging every strike.
To her, Soifon's proud speed looked like a child flailing.
Suddenly, Yoruichi caught her wrist in one clean move and said gently, "Feel better now?"
Soifon yanked her arm, trying to break freenothing.
She could attack in other ways, but she didn't.
She just glared coldly at Yoruichi. "You think this is just me venting?"
Yoruichi looked her in the eyes and said seriously, "I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye back then."
"!"
Soifon's eyes went wide.
Her heart skipped. She froze on the spot, completely stunned.
Silence fell again.
She stopped struggling.
After a long pause, she lowered her head and muttered, "There's no point saying that now"
"Still." Yoruichi pulled her into a hug.
"Mmph!"
Soifon hadn't expected that at all. Her eyes popped open, and her entire face turned red in a flash.
"Y-You! Y-You!"
She stammered, trying to find something to say.
Doesn't she realize how dangerous this is?! What if I took this chance to attack her?!
Why why does she trust me so much?
Soifon's anger and bitterness began to melt away. A strange warmth filled her chest.
Maybe this this was healing.
Healing the hundred years of silence and distance between them.
Nowhat hundred years?
Lady Yoruichi didn't disappear.
She just went out to explore the world, that's all!
With that thought, and wrapped in Yoruichi's warm embrace, Soifon convinced herself, even going so far as to make up a reason for her.
Seeing this, Yoruichi's lips curled up in a soft smile.
Soifon oh Soifon~ still so easy to please.
Perfect.
After comforting her for a while, Yoruichi gently asked, "Soifon will you come with me?"
.
.
.
Go with Lady Yoruichi? W-Was she finally inviting me?!
"Haaa~"
Soifon's breath caught slightly, her heart racing.
Why didn't she take me with her back then?
That question had haunted Soifon for over a century.
From the moment Yoruichi left Soul Society, it was all she could think about.
But today, that no longer mattered.
This time, Lady Yoruichi had extended her hand to her.
Soifon looked up, dazed, staring at Yoruichi's face.
Her lips parted slightly, the words "I will" practically on the tip of her tongue.
But then
"Boss~!!"
A goofy, booming voice echoed from afar.
Omaeda?
That snapped her back to reality.
In a flash, Soifon wriggled out of Yoruichi's embrace and straightened up, her expression instantly shifting to something far more serious.
"I'm the current captain of the Second Division," she said firmly. "There's no way I can just leave with you."
Still, as she said those words, a twinge of regret stirred in her chest.
She sheathed her Zanpakut, raised her chin slightly, and crossed her arms.
"I'll let you go this time. I'll act like I didn't see anything and won't report you to the Seireitei," she said coldly. "But next time we meet, I won't hold back."
With a huff, she turned and walked away.
Yoruichi didn't stop her. She just offered a quiet warning:" Don't go poking around in Hell anymore."
Soifon's steps pausedbut she didn't reply. She just kept walking.
Yoruichi watched her go with a hint of emotion. "Soifon," she murmured. "You've grown up."
It was obvious that Soifon still wanted to go with her.
But she turned her down anyway.
"Because of those subordinates, huh" Yoruichi said to herself, watching the Second Division members gather protectively around Soifon.
She chuckled softly. "Way more responsible than I ever was."
Back then, Yoruichi had abandoned everythingher division, her comradesand vanished without a word.
That was probably why Soifon could never truly forgive her before.
But maybe this was for the best.
For now, Yoruichi shelved the idea of pulling Soifon to her side.
"We'll meet again."
She whispered it like a promise.
Thanks to Lynn, she already knew a bit about Hell's next move.
Just like Soul Society, Hell was preparing to start transferring souls from the human world.
And when that happens The balance between the three realms will be shattered.
The Soul Society definitely won't stand for it.
It's only a matter of time before Hell and Soul Society end up on opposite sides.
The thought gave Yoruichi a headache.
After all, this was still her world too. She had grown up in the Soul Society.
She still cared about it deeply.
If not for what she'd learned about Aizen's plans, she never would've left in the first place.
And yet now, she was on the opposite side.
There had to be another waya way to avoid open conflict.
There had to be a solution!
Her eyes sharpened with resolve.
Yoruichi took one last glance in Soifon's directionthen disappeared.
Not far away, Marechiyo Omaeda scratched his head. "Captain, something good happened just now?"
"Huh?"
Soifon blinked. "Why do you say that?"
"Well, uh" he fumbled. "You were smiling."
Smiling?
She froze for a second, instinctively glancing in Yoruichi's directionbut of course, she was already gone.
Soifon pressed her lips into a thin line, face returning to its usual sternness.
"You were imagining things."
"Huh?! But I definitely saw"
Bonk!
"OWW!!"
Omaeda clutched his head, face twisted in pain.
"I said," Soifon said blankly, "you saw nothing."
Looking pitiful, he mumbled, "But you really were smili"
"Hm?"
She didn't even need words this timejust a single hum through her nose made him flinch.
"Y-Yes, ma'am! I didn't see anything at all!"
"Idiot," Soifon muttered, sighing and rubbing her temples.
Then she swept her gaze over the other Second Division members who had been silently watching the show.
The sharp look immediately straightened their backs.
Satisfied, Soifon gave a curt nod and turned away. "Let's go. We're heading back to Soul Society."
"Huh?"
Several team members blinked in confusion. "We're not investigating the lower levels anymore?"
Soifon paused. Yoruichi's warning echoed in her mind.
"No need," she replied. "I already have a rough idea of what's going on."
It was clearly something Yoruichi had stirred up.
If that was the case, no need to dig any deeper.
StillThat damn guy who left with Lady Yoruichi.
Could he be down there in Hell too?
The moment the thought crossed her mind, her eyes grew cold, and her hand clenched tightly around her Zanpakut.
She really wanted to kill Urahara Kisuke.
But after a few deep breaths, she managed to rein it inat least for now.
...
Meanwhile, the Division exchanged glances, then responded together:
"Yes, Captain!"
Well if the captain said so, there wasn't much else to say.
A short while later Soifon and her team were gone, and Hell was quiet once more.
Except, for the Fifth Layer, still in chaos, still under renovation.
Then time passed slowly
A few days later Hueco Mundo
Kikyo and her group had found a vantage point overlooking a distant structure.
After several days of exploring, they'd come to a clear conclusion: Hueco Mundo was a barren wasteland.
And yet, there it wasa massive fortress standing out in the desolation.
It looked off. Unnatural.
"Sister Midoriko! That's where the bad guys are!"
Nel puffed out her cheeks and glared in the direction of Las Noches.
"Ooh~" Midoriko chuckled and gave Nel's cheek a gentle pinch.
Then her eyes turned to the towering complex, gaze narrowing slightly.
So that was Las Noches, as the intel suggested?
They'd been heading in this direction for long days.
Partly because they were leveling up as they traveledcouldn't be helped. And partly because Hueco Mundo was just that vast.
Of course, if they'd rushed, they could've arrived sooner.
"How's it look?" Kikyo asked.
Midoriko paused in thought. "I can sense a lot of strong Reiatsu over there. Hmm probably Ultimate-Class."
Kikyo sighed. "Then we're definitely not ready to pick a fight yet."
"Agreed."
Their team only had one Ultimate-Class combatantMidoriko herself.
"Let's focus on leveling up first," she said.
On his end, Lynn watched their decision play out on the screen, stroking his chin.
"Hmm..."
Yeah, the sub-squad guarding Las Noches would be tough for them right now.
After some thought, he reached out in the group chat to call on Katerea Leviathan.
She was Satan-level, after all. Having her sit idle was just a waste!
While he was at it, he asked her to bring Ingvild along too.
That woman had been asleep for a hundred yearszero battle experience.
Sure, she was technically top-tier in power, but she had no clue how to actually use it.
High-class devils like her were supposed to be part of the invasion vanguard!
Time to get her into shape.
At the same time, Enma Ai sent over a message: [The gateway between Hell and the human world had stabilized.]
[And the first cityKarakura Town.]
.
.
.
Soul Society - Hell
Shuren had been on the job for a while now, and honestly? The last few days had been eventful.
He glanced around at his coworkers, his expression a bit complicated.
These dog-headed weirdos Where the hell did they all come from?
He'd lived a long life, but this was the first time he'd seen creatures like thisand there were a lot of them in Hell.
What's more, Shuren could tellthey were strong. Not unbeatable or anything, but definitely not pushovers, especially compared to people like Gunjo.
He sighed and pulled up his task sheet.
Let's see, his assigned area was a small block in Karakura Town.
"Karakura Town, huh" His voice was low and a bit shaky. Even his hand holding the manual trembled slightly.
Finally
Finally, he could leave this godforsaken, lightless pit of despair!
Even if it was only temporary. But as long as he was out in the human world doing his job, he was free to live.
GrantedThere were monthly quotas.
The higher-ups would do spot checks to make sure each region was meeting its soul-reaping targets.
That said, given the possibility of clashing with the Soul Reapers, Hell wasn't making the initial quotas too tough.
Also, he was getting paid.
That part really surprised him.
He thought working for Hell would be all chains and slavery. But nothere was an actual salary?
Who would've guessed Hell was this progressive?
Turns out, that was Yukinoshita Haruno's idea.
For the familia, there's no need to pay themthey serve out of loyalty or devotion.
But clearly, Lynn couldn't rely solely on his own people to run everything across all worlds.
Even with a three-million-strong army of lolis, most of them weren't exactly powerhouses.
So, they had to recruit local talentsfolks like Shuren.
And as the saying goes: "You can't expect the horse to run without feeding it."
Thus, the salary system was born.
Actually, this whole system was an experimentHaruno's way of testing out an idea.
As Lynn's power grew and his influence spread across more worlds, Haruno could see what was coming: The familia network was going to get massive. and even more the people under their rule.
She needed a solution. A way to manage this future before it became a problem.
Clearly, something had to change.
A proper organization needs structure and rules.
Still, actually implementing them wouldn't be smooth sailing. So she decided to use this new branch of Hell as her test lab.
---
"In short, that's my proposal."
Inside Lynn's office in Hell, Haruno stood there dressed like a probusiness suit, glasses, looking every bit the perfect secretary.
She reported seriously, her tone calm and composed.
Lynn thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Do it your way."
Honestly, she made a good point.
There were too many familia members now. He couldn't possibly keep up with them all.
Like those three million lolis.
If he had to personally oversee every single one of their growth and development, even with his Super Devil power, just imagining it gave him a headache.
SoHe approved her idea on the spot.
Ahem.
Haruno suddenly cleared her throat and plopped herself onto Lynn's lap, shifting seductively.
She leaned into his chest, her breath hot against his collarbone. "Lord Lynn now that we're done with all that boring stuff, let's get to the real business~"
Her breathing quickened. A teasing look flickered in her eyes behind those glasses. The contrast was... intense.
Lynn chuckled, tilting her chin up with one hand.
"Weren't you just the one preaching about the structure and discipline of the familia?"
Haruno froze.
Her whole plan had been about giving the less-powerful girls a fair shota chance to catch Lynn's attention through merit and contribution.
And yet, here she was, the first one breaking the very system she proposed.
She pouted in frustration.
Seeing this, Lynn's hand slid lower, gently squeezing her.
He whispered in her ear, "But of course rules are for you, not me."
Haruno blinked.
Right! Rules only apply to the servants.
At the end of the day, it's Lynn's favor that really matters.
The system? Just a stepping stone to get closer to him.
But for those already favored, they weren't bound by any of that.
Suddenly full of hope, Haruno looked up like a kitten, eyes sparkling, waiting eagerly.
Lynn grinned. "For someone working this hard to build up the familiars, of course you deserve a reward."
He stood up, lifting her by the waist.
"This outfit very nice."
Riiip.
The sound of fabric tearing rang out.
Her arms wrapped around him, breath hitching. "Lord Lynn it's kinda chilly down there"
"Don't worry. It won't be cold for long."
"Mmm"
...
Before longThe office door shut tight.
The temperature inside the room soared.
Outside
Enma Ai, who'd come by to give an update on Hell's development plans, tried the doorknob.
It didn't budge. She tilted her head in confusion.
"Huh? Is Lord Lynn not in?"
Hone Onna, standing behind her, sighed.
If he really wasn't there, then why put up a barrier?
Her eyes narrowed slightly. She remembered Haruno heading in earlier.
All dressed up like that?
Definitely up to something.
She glanced at the clueless Enma Ai beside her and muttered, "Miss, if this keeps up, our Hell faction is going to get completely sidelined"
"Eh?" Enma Ai blinked. "Why?"
From what she could tell, everything was going great. Was she missing something?
She fell into deep thought.
Hone Onna, meanwhile, was just speechless.
So the lady's a full-on workaholic, huh?
Welp.
Guess we can't count on her for the power plays.
Still, this Hell branch project? It's a rare opportunity.
Meanwhile
Shuren, blissfully unaware of the office fun stuff, was still reading through his job description.
The "salary system" was actually a contribution-based model.
And those contributions?
They could be exchanged for resources from Hell.
His eyes lit up.
He flipped through the exchange list and saw all kinds of stuffway more than he expected.
Promotions, unique skills he'd never even heard of. And the list had tiers.
With his current rank, he could only see his level's options.
Even so, it was impressive.
That lingering resistance he'd buried deep in his heart started to fade.
After all He'd been a boss for a long time. Suddenly becoming someone else's lackey?
Anyone would feel a little off about that.
But if there's pay involved?
Well, it's easier to justify.
He nodded and kept reading
Wait a sec.
He could recruit his own team?
His eyes widened.
No way he'd pass up on that!
He hadn't seen Taikon and the rest of Togabito for a while They were probably worried sick.
---
A little later, on the fifth level of Hell
Shuren returned to his old base.
Only to be hit by a wave of emptiness.
"Huh?"
Everyone was gone?
He stood there, stunned.
A few moments later, he tracked them all down and dragged them back.
Taikon, face full of guilt, gave a nervous smile. "Heh Boss Shuren! You're alive!"
After days of no contact, they'd assumed the worst.
Shuren didn't reply. He just gave them a cold glance.
They all shrank back like scolded schoolkids.
He gave a satisfied nod.
Sure, he'd been bullied by that damn undying Saito and pushed around by Hell's staff
But to Taikon and the rest? He was still a goddamn legend.
Arms crossed, Shuren said, "I'm here to take you all to the human worldKarakura Town."
"What?!"
They snapped their heads up.
The human world? Karakura Town?
Gunjo asked hesitantly, "Boss you found a way out?"
Shuren nodded and pulled out a black contract.
"Sign this first."
The guys exchanged glances.
Gunjo took the paper and read the bold title: ["Hell Employment Contract."]
"Boss did you just sell out to Hell?!"
WHAM.
Taikon went flying.
Shuren's face didn't change. "You signing or not?"
They all shut up real quick.
And just like that, Hell had a few new employees.
Shuren looked at his newly expanded team and nodded in satisfaction.
Their performance would count toward his contribution score, after all.
Recruitment bonuses? Oh yeah, those were a thing.
He glanced at his wooden nameplate. The contribution number was no longer zero.
Beautiful.
He gave the crew a quick rundown of how things had changed in Helland who they were actually working for now.
Then without wasting time, he made his way to the gate connecting Hell to the living world.
Next stop: Karakura Town.
Taikon and the others followed, still kind of stunned.
But honestly? They were excited.
They could finally leave Helland not as fugitives, but officially!
Way better than that dumb old plan to break the gates and risk annihilation.
As the dog-head Inu-yokais stepped through the portal ahead of them
Shuren and his crew took a deep breath and followed, stepping into a brand new future.
.
.
.
Bleach - The Human World.
Deep beneath the Urahara Shopon the fourth underground levela massive black gate wrapped in purple miasma stood silently.
Every so often, strange figures would walk through itsome with dog heads, others with exposed tails, and some covered in thick fur.
Urahara's eye twitched uncontrollably.
He let out a sigh.
What the hell!
Are they using his shop as what, a Hell outpost now?
Seriously?
Of course, Urahara still let it happen.
After all, Yoruichi had already dropped by and explained everything that had happened in Hellin detail.
He tugged his hat down a little, eyes flickering with thought.
This Lynn's power it was beyond anything he'd imagined.
Before, Urahara had been wondering why Lynn had gone to that placeHell. It's not exactly a vacation destination. Every Soul Reaper avoids it like the plague.
Hell was where the worst of the worst were imprisoned.
But Urahara knew the truth.
He'd studied the history of Soul Society. He understood exactly what kind of place Hell was.
A realm even Soul Society had no authority over. Not even the legendary Captain Yamamoto, the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years, could influence it.
And now? Lynn had taken control of that place.
And not just thathe was transforming it. Turning Hell into what? A parallel Soul Society?
Honestly, ever since Yoruichi told him, Urahara hadn't recovered from the shock. A part of him was still uneasy.
"Sigh"
He let out another breath and glanced at the man next to himTessai Tsukabishi.
"Hey Tessai" Urahara murmured, "Why is it that powerful people always wanna mess around with dangerous stuff?"
Whether it was Lynn or Aizen, they were all the same. Always keeping people on edge.
Though with Aizen, Urahara had at least felt like he could stop him.
But Lynn? He honestly didn't even know what his powers were.
And now? Even Yoruichi had joined Lynn's side.
Urahara rubbed his temples, visibly troubled.
"Don't worry. I'll find a way to balance Lynn's presence with this world,"
That's what Yoruichi had told him.
But still Urahara couldn't help but worry.
Beside him, Tessai paused, his usually stern face pensive. After a moment, he muttered, "Maybe it's because they want to see a higher place. A broader view."
Urahara went quiet.
He thought back to what Yoruichi had revealedA man who controls multiple worlds.
Someone who could pull that off Might even surpass the legendary Soul King, the one said to have created the Three Realms.
Because truth be told the Soul King only changed this world.
He never controlled other worlds. He probably couldn't even cross between them.
Urahara shook his head and finally gave up trying to wrap his head around it.
Whatever the world turns intohe's done caring.
After all, he's just a small-time shopkeeper.
Saving the world? That's way above his pay grade.
Once he accepted that, he felt oddly relaxed.
"Huh I wonder if I'll ever get the chance to travel to another world for a vacation," he mused, eyes twinkling.
A part of him figuredwell, technically, wasn't he already doing work for Lynn? Then he could ask for a crossover chance.
Elsewhere
Shuren stepped into the human world and took a deep breath.
"Ahh~ Freedom."
His face lit up with excitementhe couldn't wait to wander around this new world!
The otherslike Taikonwere just as hyped.
But Shuren quickly snapped back to reality.
He gave the chain on his body a little shake. It rattled crisply.
From the way this chain felt, he could tellit had an incredibly tight connection to Hell. Even tighter than when he was in Hell.
He was sure of one thing: If he dared step out of line, something very bad would happen to him.
His gaze shifted toward the Inu-yokai who didn't have chains.
His eyes gleamed as he clenched his fists.
Someday, he'd break free of his chains too.
"Let's move! Back to work!"
Shuren pointed decisively toward the souls lingering in the living world.
Urahara adjusted his hat again, giving Shuren a once-over.
This guy definitely had some power.
And there was no mistaking the Reiatsu on him.
Hell had been around longer than anyone could remember. Since the advent of Soul Reapers, those with immense spiritual powerand the worst criminalshad often been sent there after death.
So naturally, there were plenty of strong individuals in Hell.
Still, seeing the way Shuren practically radiated loyalty and passion made Urahara's face twitch.
Completely tamed.
Not that it was his problem.
But he was still curiousHow exactly did Hell plan to transport souls?
...
Not long after, Shuren led his team and began the soul transfer process.
Once Taikon and the others rounded up a few souls, Shuren held up his wooden insignia.
Hum
A projection of a barren, ancient river shimmered into view.
[The Sanzu River]
Yep.
Enma Ai had fully replicated the core mechanisms of Hell from the main world.
To remember her skills: (from ch 157)
[Enma Ai]
Unique Skills: [Hell Link], [Sanzu River] & [Hell Devil]
[Hell Link]
Can use spirit power to build a website and establish a link between Hell and the mortal world.
[Sanzu River]
Summons a ghostly boat and ferryman to guide souls.
[Hell Devil]
Hell Projection:
Ai can turn a 100-meter radius into a "Hell Projection," overriding reality.
Within this domain, the terrain becomes blood rivers from the Sanzu River, fields of red spider lilies, and mountains of bones.
All beings inside are suppressed by the laws of Hell.
Yomi Army: Tears open space to summon creatures from Hell.
Devilization: Enma Palace, Throne of Endless Suffering.
This was Shuren's first time using the insignia to open the Sanzu River, and he found it kind of thrilling.
Once the souls were loaded onto the wooden boats, they began drifting forward on their owntoward the depths of Hell.
Moments later, Shuren's insignia glowed.
A fresh contribution score appeared before his eyes.
He tightened his grip slightlyhis motivation just went through the roof.
"Keep it up!"
"Yes, sir!"
The others were also buzzing. Their contribution points had just updated.
Life was finally starting to look hopeful.
A while later
Gunjo asked, "Shuren-sama, what about Hollows?"
"Hollows?"
"They're souls too, right?"
"Send them to Hell too!"
Shuren didn't hesitate.
Hollows were basically walking contribution points!
"Yes, sir!"
Gunjo promptly shoved a Hollow into the Sanzu River as well.
To be fair, he was smart enough not to put it on the same boat as regular souls.
Otherwise, he'd basically be serving them up as dinner.
As Shuren's crew worked tirelessly to ferry soulsA few days passed.
Then a group of Soul Reapers arrived in the Human World to perform Soul Burials only to find barely any souls left.
"Huh?"
Where'd all the souls in Karakura Town go?
Were they eaten by Hollows?
Wait, noEven the Hollows were gone!
Back in Soul Society.
DONGDONGDONG
For the first time in several days, the summons bell for the Captains rang once again.
...
Division 8 Barracks.
Kyoraku Shunsui scratched his head lazily.
"Aren't these Captain meetings getting a little too frequent lately?"
.
.
.
Soul Society Seireitei
The captains of the Thirteen Divisions had once again gathered in the main hall.
At the head sat the Captain-Commander, Yamamoto. Eyes closed, expression unreadable, he remained still and silent.
Only after all the captains had taken their seats did he slowly open his eyes, the aged and clouded gaze sweeping the room.
Then, in a calm tone, he spoke: "Ukitake."
"Cough, cough"Jushiro Ukitake let out a couple of weak coughs before speaking, his voice slightly strained: "I've asked everyone here today because something strange has been happening in the World of the Living."
"The World of the Living?"
That got the room's attention. Several captains raised their eyebrows.
Kyraku Shunsui leaned lazily on one arm, speaking with his usual drawl, "Let me guess the Quincy acting up again?"
No one else said it, but clearly, many were thinking the same.
Yeah whenever something weird happens in the World of the Living, it's probably the Quincies. That's just how Seireitei had come to view them.
Ukitake shook his head. "We're not certain yet."
His expression turned serious.
"Normally, the Quincies just eliminate Hollows. It does mess with the balance between worlds, sure, but"
"It's usually within controllable limits."
"This time"
He paused for a beat before continuing, "The Division members stationed in the World of the Living reported something odd. Hollows have nearly vanishedand not just Hollows. Even Plus souls are barely showing up."
"Of course"
"So far, this issue has only been observed in Karakura Town. But we can't rule out the possibility of it spreading to other areas."
He'd said quite a bit, and now slightly out of breath, Ukitake fell silent and waited for reactions.
Everyone in Seireitei understood how important it was to maintain balance between the three realms. That was why Ukitake had immediately reported this to the Captain-Commander.
As he expected, Yamamoto had taken it seriouslyand immediately summoned all the captains for this emergency meeting.
Once Ukitake finished, the captains, who had seemed a bit relaxed at first, all straightened up with serious expressions.
Seeing this, Yamamoto rapped the table lightly and said in a deep voice, "We don't yet know the exact cause but any threat that could upset the balance between worlds must be crushed before it spreads!"
Ssuke Aizen didn't say a word, but behind those dark-framed glasses, his eyes glimmered with interest.
Karakura Town, huh
Something unexpected happening there?
He glanced subtly across the table at Gin Ichimaru.
'This kind of shift happened in Karakuraand they didn't notice?'
Gin caught that look immediately, his fox-like eyes narrowing slightly with amusement.
'Well maybe they had gotten a little careless lately.'
Aizen didn't push the issue, though. He wasn't particularly concerned with whether Gin had been paying close attention or not.
But Karakura Town was special. A high-density spirit zoneperfect for his plans. Practically a natural test site.
If possible it'd be better if nothing disrupted that.
Then again, if something had gone wrongwell, that could be interesting too.
A faint smile crept onto his face as he finally spoke: "In that case why not let the Fifth Division handle the investigation?"
Yamamoto shot him a look and replied flatly, "We don't yet have enough information to justify sending a combat division."
Just like that, he dismissed Aizen's request and turned to Shunsui Kyraku instead.
Shunsui sighed internally.
Seriously, the old man was gunning for him again? First it was Hell, now this?
Was he ever going to get a break?
Still he'd already turned the Captain-Commander down last time.
If he refused again today he might not walk out of HQ in one piece.
Yamamoto would definitely find some excuse to "test" his training or something.
That thought sent a shiver down Shunsui's spine. So, with a sudden burst of energy, he sat up straight and declared: "Alright then! Leave this one to Division 8!"
"We'll get to the bottom of what's going on in Karakura Town!"
Yamamoto nodded in approval. "Very well. Division 13 is more familiar with the World of the LivingUkitake will assist you."
With that, the meeting's assignments were finalized.
Aizen remained smiling, seemingly unfazed by Yamamoto's refusal.
After all, they might not be allowed to investigate Karakura openly.
But in secret? Who would know?
Later, once the meeting was adjourned, Division 8 began preparations immediately.
Nanao Ise adjusted her glasses, eyes sharp and focusedcompletely opposite the usual laid-back Shunsui beside her.
"Well then"
"I'll be leaving this mission in your capable hands, Nanao-chan."
She gave him a sharp side-eye.
Only he could be so shameless about dumping the entire job on his lieutenant.
Knock, knock!
Suddenly, the Division room doors burst open.
"This is Rukia Kuchiki, reporting in with members of Division 13!"
Shunsui paused, then said with a smile, "Looks like your support team is here."
---
Meanwhile
Aizen had returned to the Fifth Division barracks.
He waited calmly for a while before Gin Ichimaru appeared in the shadows.
Aizen didn't even glance his way, but his lips moved quietly: "Go find out what's really happening in Karakura Town."
Gin gave a casual shrug and slipped away without a word.
Silence returned to Aizen's quarters.
His face remained composed as he murmured, "Let's hope there's something fun to be found"
If things go too smoothly, it just gets boring, doesn't it?
Karakura Town
Rukia Kuchiki, Nanao Ise, and their team stepped through the Senkaimon gate.
Nanao, visiting Karakura Town for the first time, frowned immediately. "There's so much reishi here the density is insane."
She looked genuinely surprised. "Didn't think a place like this existed in the Human World."
Rukia, who had been here before, didn't react. Instead, she scanned their surroundings carefully.
Then her brow furrowed. "Exactly. That's what makes this so weird."
With spirit particles this dense, there should be Hollows everywhere
But there wasn't even a single trace of Hollow reiatsu.
In fact
Rukia's expression turned serious. "Can you sense any souls?"
Nanao took a breath, focused, and released her spiritual pressure.
A minute later, she shook her head, face tight. "Nothing."
The two exchanged glances.
There was no doubt about itSomething was definitely wrong in Karakura Town.
Suddenly
A soul flickered into their spiritual awareness.
Both their eyes lit up. "A newly formed soul!"
Which meant, someone in Karakura had just died.
But before they could act, the soul's spiritual signature vanished.
"?"
They blinked, stunnedthen snapped to attention and bolted in the direction where it had disappeared.
.
.
.
Shuren opened the River and personally sent a fresh new soul straight to Hell.
Watching the contribution points rise, he smiled in satisfaction.
If this keeps up, maybe a promotion and a raise aren't that far off.
Suddenly
Shuren's brow twitched. He turned his head, eyes narrowing.
A Reiatsu was heading his way. Fast.
He muttered under his breath, "Finally after all this time."
Was it a Shinigami? Or a Quincy?
Either way, he stood his ground calmly, waiting.
Didn't take long.
A group in standard black robes appeared.
The moment he saw their uniforms, Shuren understood.
"Shinigami, huh"
But, just a bunch of nobodies. He didn't see any captain-class attire.
With a bored sigh, he waved dismissively. "Gunjo, you guys handle this."
---
Rukia Kuchiki and Nanao Ise approached cautiously, eyes narrowed as they spotted Shuren's group in the distance.
Nanao said grimly, "This is the area where we lost all contact with that soul."
Rukia nodded. "Then it's safe to assume they're involved somehow."
She hesitated briefly, then suggested, "Maybe we should try talking first."
Nanao nodded. "We'll start there."
Still, her gaze passed over the others and settled on Shuren.
That man He gave off a dangerous vibe.
A captain-level threat?
Nanao frowned slightly. This wasn't going to be easy.
To be safe, she discreetly released a Jigokucho (Hell Butterfly) back to Soul Society.
Then, they closed the distance and stood before Gunjo and others.
Nanao scanned the area, then cut to the chase. "The recent disappearance of souls and Hollows in Karakura Townyou're responsible, aren't you?"
She adjusted her glasses. Though phrased as a question, her tone made it clear she already knew the answer.
This group was suspicious as hell.
"Mind telling us what exactly you've been doing?"
Gunjo and the others exchanged glances, but didn't seem fazed.
"Just doing our jobs. Didn't know the Soul Reapers were sticking their noses into everything these days."
"'Your job'?" Nanao frowned. "You mean wiping out souls and Hollows?"
"What do you mean, 'wiping out'?" Taikon snapped. "We're just doing what Shinigami already do."
"?"
Nanao blinked. That didn't make sense.
Rukia frowned too. "Doing what Shinigami do?"
Could they mean
"Konso (Soul Funeral)?" she asked, stunned.
"Ding ding. We have a winner," Shuren said, arms crossed, face calm. "No prizes though."
As far as Hell's higher-ups were concerned, there weren't any orders to keep their work under wraps.
Which meant Shuren had no need to be sneaky about it.
Now that he was officially part of Hell's workforce, he stood taller, spoke bolder.
He had backup nowwho cared about the Soul Society?
Rukia and Nanao exchanged a baffled look.
Wait he's serious?
You're doing Kons? That's our job!
So what the hell are the Shinigami supposed to do now?
And the missing souls and Hollowswhere the hell did you send them?!
Rukia stepped forward, ready to arguebut Nanao held her back.
"...?"
Rukia shot her a confused glance.
Nanao just shook her head. "We're here to investigate, not fight."
Besides, she had no guarantee she could handle someone like Shuren, who gave off clear captain-level energy.
She memorized their faces, then pulled Rukia away.
"?"
Shuren watched them leave, stunned.
They're just leaving?
Weren't Shinigami supposed to be their rivals?
He'd mentally prepared for an all-out brawl but this?
He narrowed his eyes, recalling how the glasses woman kept glancing his way.
"Ohhh~ someone smart in the group."
They sensed the power gap, got a read on the situation, and made a clean exit.
Smart move.
Beside him, Gunjo asked hesitantly, "Lord Shuren, should we chase them?"
Shuren paused, then frowned. "No. Let's report this to Hell first."
He still didn't know how the higher-ups wanted to handle Shinigami.
Better to send in a report and wait for orders.
---
On the other side
As they retreated, Rukia frowned. "Why?"
Nanao answered seriously, "That tall guy's strong. I don't think I could beat him."
"!!!"
Rukia's eyes went wide. "Stronger than you?!"
Nanao nodded grimly. "He's probably on par with a captain."
Rukia's pupils shrank in shock.
A captain-level threat?
Only now did she realize how serious this was.
In the shadowsByakuya Kuchiki stood silently.
"The living world has gotten dangerous."
He considered pulling Rukia off this mission.
So far only Shuren had shown his strength, but that alone hinted at a deeper, more powerful force lurking behind the scenes.
Byakuya had already scanned all of Karakura Town faster than Rukia and Nanao.
What he found was unexpected.
Lots of unusual people had shown up.
The strangest thing? None of them had detectable Reiatsu.
But his gut told himthey were dangerous.
And just like Shuren's group had said, they were working.
Doing something similar to Soul Funeral, their Konso.
But they weren't sending souls to the Soul Society.
Which meant one thingthis would disrupt the balance between the three realms.
Byakuya's eyes narrowed, focusing on a half-human, half-dog creature nearby.
The easiest way to get information was to just grab someone and ask.
But, that would spook the whole group. Besides, this wasn't even his mission.
As a noble, Byakuya couldn't interfere with another Division's assignment lightly.
Why was he even in the living world?
Meanwhile, in Soul Society
Kyoraku Shunsui lazily lifted a finger as a black butterfly fluttered down.
A second laterNanao's serious voice came through.
"Captain, initial investigation suggests captain-level individuals are involved in the living world!"
Kyoraku's laid-back expression twitched. He sighed.
"Captain-level, huh"
Yeah, this was going to be more trouble than he thought.
He scratched his messy hair, already regretting things.
Now he'd have to go in person.
And if cute little Nanao-chan was worried enough to say that. If he didn't go, he might be attending her funeral.
"Kinda wish I'd taken that Hell assignment when it came up."
Soifon came back from Hell overnight and even looked happy. The mission must've been a breeze.
Too bad he missed that chance.
Oh well!
Kyoraku grabbed his zanpakuto, stood up from the wooden floor, adjusted his hat, and said with a light grin: "Time to do some actual captain work for once."
Meanwhile, in Hell
Lynn leaned on his hand, flipping through the intel Enma Ai had just delivered.
"So they ran into the Shinigami, huh?"
He wasn't surprised.
If anything, it took the Shinigami way too long to react.
It's been days, and only now they realize something's wrong in the human world?
After skimming the report Lynn waved it off.
"Ai, have Yoruichi keep an eye on them. She knows how Shinigami tick."
---
"??"
Yoruichi blinked when she got the mission.
But heythat actually sounded like fun.
---
Back in Hueco Mundo
"Uwaaah! Lady Nel!!"
Pesche cried uncontrollably.
"I finally found you!!"
Nel blinked awkwardly.
She'd gotten way too into her little adventure and completely forgot about them.
After a good cry, Pesche glared at the others with righteous fury.
"You humans! How dare you kidnap Lady Nel?!"
"ROAARRR!"
A black glow gathered in his mouth, ready to fire a Cero blast!
"Wait!"
Nel's eyes went wide. She waved her arms frantically to stop him.
BAM!!
Before Pesche could fire, Midoriko smacked him into the ground like a ragdoll.
The dark energy fizzled out instantly.
Pesche: "???"
What just happened?
Midoriko stared at the weird-looking creature that had jumped in their way, then turned to Nel.
"This thing your friend?"
Nel nodded on reflex.
Midoriko nodded back and dropped the idea of killing it.
Still, they were both Hollows, right?
So why was Nel so cute and this thing so not?
Tch.
Might as well ship this guy off to Hell to work as free labor.
Then
Midoriko looked up at the sky and asked, "That guy up therehe your friend too?"
Nel: "Huh?"
Her gaze drifted away from Pesche, who was half-buried in the white sand.
She followed Midoriko's line of sight and looked up as well.
And thenShe saw him.
A man with short, messy, dirty blonde hair and a black eyepatch.
He was staring straight at Nel, unmoving. His lips slowly curled into a wide, exaggerated grin as he spoke in a low, eerie voice: "Found you"
"!!!"
.
.
.
Hueco Mundo
Nelliel looked up at the sky, her big round eyes wide with alarm.
She instinctively grabbed onto Midoriko's leg and whispered with a trembling voice, "Midoriko-nee It's the bad guys!"
Midoriko raised an eyebrow at that, and her eyes narrowed slightly in realization.
No wonder that guy had been giving off a seriously unpleasant vibe from the start.
...
Pesche Guatiche pulled his face out of the sand, still a little dizzy and disoriented.
Clearly, Midoriko's slap earlier hadn't been just for showit rattled him good.
He shook his head hard, trying to snap out of it, and looked up.
What greeted him was a familiar figure with dirty blonde hair.
Damn it! It was him.
Nnoitra's loyal underling who'd been hunting down Lady Nel ever since she went missing.
As soon as Pesche recognized him, his pupils shrank, and he blurted out in shock, "Tesra Lindocruz!"
His whole body tensed up. He stared the guy down, voice filled with alarm.
"How the hell did you find us?!"
Tesra gave him a lazy side-glance with his single eye, then chuckled softly ."Find you? C'mon now You brought me here."
Pesche's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "That's impossible!"
If Tesra had been tailing him, he definitely would've sensed his Reiatsu.
Butthis wasn't the time to panic over that.
If Tesra made it back and reported to Nnoitra?
Pesche shivered at the thought of that bloodthirsty freak getting his hands on Lady Nel again.
Absolutely not. He'd die before letting that happen.
Determined, Pesche turned to Nel. "Lady Nel! I'll hold him offgo find Dondochakka!"
Without waiting for an answer, he launched himself straight at Tesra!
Boom!
Tesra casually caught Pesche's punch. His expression didn't change, as if Pesche wasn't even worth taking seriously. His gaze remained fixed on Nel.
"A child? No wonder Lord Nnoitra couldn't find you"
His single eye glinted.
"Well, guess it's my turn to shine."
"Over my dead body!" Pesche roared. "You're not taking Lady Nel anywhere!"
Right after yelling, he did what he always didstarted with a Cero!
Tesra scoffed.
"You couldn't beat me before, and now that you've been away from Las Noches for so long, the gap between us has only grown wider."
Buzz
A brilliant purple light flared in Tesra's chest.
It was bigger, brighter, and way more powerful than Pesche's!
In an instant, their Ceros collided mid-air.
BOOM!!
The shockwave roared across the sands.
Tesra's purple Cero steadily overpowered Pesche's, forcing it back inch by inch.
Pesche clenched his teeth. He refused to back down.
He poured every ounce of Reiatsu he had into the beam, desperately trying to hold the line.
Because behind himwas Lady Nel.
Nel stared at Pesche's back, eyes trembling.
Suddenly, she groaned and swayed slightly, as if her mind had been struck.
Flashes of memories flickered in her mindtoo fast and too vague to catch clearly.
Midoriko noticed and gently rubbed Nel's head. Then her gaze shifted to Pesche, a little surprised.
"Huh didn't expect that. He's pretty loyal, isn't he?"
But then she muttered under her breath,
"Still, no need to go down in a blaze of glory."
She could tell from one glancePesche was ready to throw his life away for Nel.
"Leave this to me."
Kikyo stepped forward, drawing her bow and aiming straight at Tesra.
A holy glow surged along the arrow.
"Sacred Arrow!"
She called out softly, and in the blink of an eye, the arrow streaked through the air toward Tesra.
Shrrrkk
It sliced through the sky, its force even more intense than the Ceros.
The divine energy surged forward, weaving through Pesche's beam and closing in fast.
WHOOM
In a flash of radiant white light, Tesra's purple Cero was completely overpowered and erased.
His once-calm expression froze. His eye widened in alarm.
Ssssshh
A searing heat struck his face.
And thenSHUNK!
The arrow pierced straight through his chest.
"GRAAAHHH!!"
His body convulsed violently as purifying power exploded through him.
He twitched and trembled uncontrollably And then he collapsed backward onto the sand, his eyes glazed over, drool trailing from the corner of his mouth.
Silence.
Kikyo lowered her bow, expression calm. "Didn't seem all that strong."
He was, after all, the first humanoid Hollow they'd run into besides Nel.
She had expected more.
But really, he wasn't much different from the others.
Midoriko rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Probably around a high-class devil's strength."
Down by her leg, Nel blinked in confusion, staring at the fallen enemy.
The bad guy was defeated?
By Kikyo-nee?
Whoa! So strong!
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Kikyo, full of admiration.
"..."
Up above Pesche scratched his head.
Waitwhat just happened?
He'd been ready to sacrifice himself to buy time for Lady Nel.
But now? Did he not have to die?
That human womanwhat the hell did she just do?
One arrow. Just one.
Pesche stared at Kikyo in fear, thinking back to how he had fought with her and her friends earlier.
Damn
That was a meeting with death if there ever was one.
He shivered uncontrollably.
Thankfully, Lady Nel seemed to be on pretty good terms with them?
He looked nervous and unsure.
Meanwhile, Yotsuya Miko poked Tesra's body with a dry tree branch.
"He's still breathing. Should we turn him into a soul orb?"
A high-class devil like that would probably boost her stats pretty well.
She turned to Kikyo with an eager expression.
Kikyo smiled faintly. "Go ahead."
Miko happily extended her hand.
"Soul Devour."
Buzz
A vortex of energy formed in her palm.
A second later, Tesra's body began to twist unnaturally.
The pain jolted him back to consciousness.
"GYAAAHHH!"
He screamed, body writhing in agony.
"W-what are you doing?!"
His voice shook. He tried to resist, but that sacred arrow from Kikyo had drained him completely.
There was nothing he could do.
Miko's expression stayed blank, focused entirely on the devouring process.
She'd done this a few times by now.
At first it was weird but she'd gotten used to it.
Now? It was just routine.
Tesra's cries eventually faded.
Soon, a small purple soul orb sat quietly in Miko's palm.
She took a deep breath and swallowed it.
"Haaah"
After a moment, a flash of golden light flickered in her eyes.
Ever since they came to Hueco Mundo, there'd been fresh, tasty souls everywhere.
It'd only been a few days, but her growth must've been insane.
Maybe it was time to ask Lynn for a stat update?
Not far away, Pesche watched the whole thingwatched Tesra get turned into a literal orband then eaten.
What the hell?
...
Midoriko did a quick scan of the area, found no other threats, then turned to face Pesche.
He froze under her gaze, body tightening with anxiety.
"Alright," Midoriko said casually. "Start talking. About Nel."
.
.
.
"Start talking. About Nel."
Midoriko narrowed her eyes slightly toward Pesche.
"...!!"
Pesche froze on the spot. After a short pause, he glanced at the still-confused Nel, his expression growing complicated.
A few seconds passed.
Pesche finally began to explainslowly, hesitantly.
By the time he finished, Midoriko was staring at Nel in surprise.
This little girl, she actually had that kind of background?
Hueco Mundo The Espada
Just hearing that, Midoriko's eyes gleamed with interest.
It lined up with the intel Lynn had already given her.
But still, Nel was a former Espada? And not just thatshe used to be No. 3?!
Midoriko looked at the adorable, innocent-looking little girl standing in front of her.
She didn't look like anything special beyond her cuteness It was hard to believe she used to be one of the most powerful Hollows out there.
But if that's true, then her value was insanely high, wasn't it?
If she used to be No. 3, that should put her at the level of an Ultimate-class Devil, right?
Midoriko's mind started racing.
A bold thought crossed her heart.
She suddenly had the urge to bring Nel straight to Lynn.
Kikyo, on the other hand, was far more direct. She crouched down and asked seriously, "Hey, do you wanna join the Devil Cult?"
"Huh?"
Nel tilted her head. "Devil Cult?"
What was that? Was it something tasty?
She blinked a few times and rubbed her tummy, a little drool forming at the corner of her mouth.
Kikyo: "..."
Right. Definitely not mentally mature.
Her body and memories had both regressed quite a bit.
"Hmm"
"How could we trickI mean convinceher to join the Familia?"
...
Midoriko gently patted Nel's head and said in a soft voice, "Nel, do you want to get your memories back?"
Nel's big eyes lit up. She blinked hard and nodded seriously. "I do!"
Even though Pesche had been nice to her, she really didn't know why.
Nel wanted to remember.
And more importantly She clenched her tiny fists, a determined look on her face. "Nel also wants to punch all the bad guys who bullied her!"
Yup, she might have the mind of a toddler, but she wasn't dumb.
Pesche told her that she used to be super strong!
If she got her memories back, then she'd totally be able to beat up those bad guys!
"Good girl."
Midoriko nodded in satisfaction.
That was that, then.
She didn't know how to actually restore Nel's memory, but Lynn would definitely have a way.
Besides, the Reincarnation Ritual would fix any negative status effects on Familia members.
Amnesia counted as one of those, right?
At that moment, Yotsuya Miko spoke up, volunteering, "If that's the case, let me take Nel to see Lynn-sama."
"I was going to update my Blessing anyway."
Midoriko nodded. "Alright. I'll leave Nel in your care."
Across from them, Pesche opened his mouth as if to speak but stopped.
What could he say?
He didn't really have a say in any of this, anyway.
It looked like They were planning to take Nel to meet someone?
Pesche felt uneasy.
Could Nel really get her memories back?
Moments later, a faint magic circle shimmered on the white sand.
Midoriko looked at Pesche, hesitated briefly, then said, "Bring him too. Who knowsmaybe he can get a job in Hell."
Pesche: "???"
Hell? A job?
What was she even talking about?
Still, did that mean he could tag along?
The thought made his eyes light up.
He wouldn't feel right letting Nel go alone.
Gratefully, Pesche gave Midoriko a look of heartfelt thanks.
And thenWith a flash of light, the magic circle activated, and Miko, Nel, and Pesche all vanished.
In Hell - Lynn's Room
Miko arrived before Lynn, holding Nel by the hand, who looked around curiously.
As for Pesche? Yeah, she sent him to wait outside.
Obviously.
No one got into Lynn's room without permission.
Lynn glanced at the two of them, showing no surprise.
Midoriko had already messaged him in the chat about their arrival.
His gaze settled on Nel.
Yup. A loli, alright.
In fact, she might just beat out all three million of the lolis he'd already "collected."
He thought of her adult, big-sister version and made a weird face.
The contrast really was something else.
And honestly? He liked it.
Nel, meanwhile, clung to Miko's sleeve and peeked out cautiously from behind her.
Lynn pulled his gaze away from Nel and turned to Miko with a small smile. "Alright, Miko. Let's update your Blessing first."
"Yes, sir!"
Miko's cheeks turned a little red.
It hadn't been that long since she'd seen Lynn, but now she felt unexpectedly shy.
She bit her lip, took off her clothes, and turned around to show him her back.
Nel: "???"
Confusion filled her eyes.
Why was Big Sis Miko taking off her clothes?
She blinked rapidly, full of innocent curiosity.
Before long, Miko's Blessing was updated.
Lynn glanced at it and nodded. "Not bad. Your magic's already at A-rank. The rest of your stats are sitting solidly in B. At this rate, you'll level up again pretty soon."
Even though he'd seen it coming, Lynn was still a little impressed by how fast she was progressing.
He stroked his chin. "Looks like Hueco Mundo really suits you."
Compared to the weak curses in the main world, the Hollows in Hueco Mundo were on a completely different level.
And there were so many of them, too. Easy to find, high-quality, way more efficient.
After handing Miko her updated stats, she looked them over with a smile. Seeing her numbers shoot up made her pretty happy.
At this pace, she might just catch up to Midoriko soon. Maybe even surpass everyone one day!
The thought made her secretly excited.
Meanwhile, Lynn turned to Nel and smiled. "Alright, little one. Your turn."
"Eh?"
Nel blinked, a little confused.
Lynn pointed to Miko. "Just do what she did."
Do what Big Sis Miko did?
Nel looked over at the now-undressed Miko and suddenly understood.
She let out a cheerful "Heave-ho!" and stripped down in an instant.
Then she ran over to Lynn on her tiny legs, tilted her head, and asked, "Like this?"
Lynn paused, a little surprised by how quick and fearless she was.
Then again, with the mind of a toddler, she probably didn't understand what any of this implied.
He gently picked Nel up and sat her backwards on his lap.
And to know that with kids like this, he had zero inappropriate thoughts. He had an age standard.
Lynn conjured up a Devil Piece and smoothly pressed it to her back.
"?"
Nel blinkedand then her mind went blank.
In that moment, the Reincarnation Ritual forcefully stirred her dormant memories.
Images flashed through her brain, familiar yet foreign, speeding by like a storm.
"Ugh"
Nel winced, letting out a quiet groan.
At the same time, a system prompt sounded in Lynn's ears:
[Ding! You have acquired Familia member: Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck!]
[Ding! Your Familia member 'Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck' has been reborn as a Special-Type Devil!]
.
.
.
Nel sat on Lynn's lap, eyes blank and dazed.
Her mind buzzed like static.
The horrifying scar across her face had been healed during the reincarnation ritual, the energy from the ceremony slowly mending the damage.
The gaping black hole in her chest began to regrow with new tissue, eventually vanishing to reveal smooth, fresh skin.
And deep within her, she could faintly feel the sound of something breakinglike shackles snapping apart.
Lynn glanced at her back.
A flash of radiant light flickered past, and a wall of system text appeared before his eyes.
---
[Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck]
Rank: Ultimate-Class Devil
Position: Knight
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Position Skill: Godspeed
Unique Skills: [Reiatsu Resonance], [High-Speed Regeneration], [Capricorn King's Dance], [Cero], [Cero Doble], [Royal Hollow's Funeral], [Resurreccin " Capricorn Knight], [Lanzador Verde], [Pride of the Arrancar], [Echoes of Memory], [Nel Shower~Saliva], [Hunter of the Hollow Night], & [Capricorn Queen Devil]
[Reiatsu Resonance]
The more concentrated the Reiatsu, the more exponentially magic power and perception expand.
Can tear through barriers.
[High-Speed Regeneration]
Heals non-fatal wounds at a speed visible to the naked eye. Ineffective against mental damage.
[Capricorn King's Dance]
Each successful melee strike increases attack speed and temporarily boosts agility.
[Cero]
Fires a high-density Cero from the fingertip; can be charged into an area blast. Bonus damage to spiritual entities.
[Cero Doble]
Absorbs an enemy's Cero into her mouth and fuses it with her own, reflecting it back with greater force.
[Royal Hollow's Funeral]
Chant: "Shatter, Crown of the King!"
Sacrifices High-Speed Regeneration to unleash a crimson, powerful beam with a hundred-meter diameter.
[Resurreccin " Capricorn Knight]
Release Command: "Declare, Capricorn Knight!"
Restores true form and boosts all stats to EX rank.
[Lanzador Verde]
A Resurreccin-exclusive move. Throws a high-speed, spinning double-headed spear.
[Pride of the Arrancar]
When facing a higher-ranked enemy, Endurance and Magic stats automatically scale up to match.
[Echoes of Memory]
Triggers "Child Form Nel" upon near-death, clearing all negative status effects and restoring 50% of Reiatsu (7-day cooldown).
[Nel Shower~Saliva]
Nel's saliva has healing properties.
[Hunter of the Hollow Night]
While in darkness or within barriers: +50% stealth, first attack always crits.
[Capricorn Queen Devil]
Triumphant Return of the Capricorn Queen
Every 10 meters of charge adds +30% attack power.
Triggers "Counter-Horn" defense when hit.
Under moonlight, all stats receive +500 flat bonus.
Deals 300% true damage to Hollow/Demonic enemies.
Near death, automatically triggers "Royal Hollow Flash."
Can consume enemy soul cores to heal.
Lance Trajectory: Summons three emerald spirit lances that auto-target vital points. Each causes spatial disruption.
Devilization: Core Detonation
Development Ability: Air Combat~ S-Rank
---
"Wow!"
As Lynn scrolled through the list of skills on Nel's back, he couldn't help but whistle.
"Yeah... definitely worthy of being the former No.3 Espada."
If she hadn't been ambushed, guys like Nnoitra would never have stood a chance against her, let alone forced her into such a state.
This was good.
Another powerhouse in the ranks.
And more than that, thanks to the feedback loop of power from Nel's bond, Lynn's own strength received another bump.
Though ever since he'd stepped beyond the limits of a standard devil, even the power from an Ultimate-Class Devil wasn't enough to move the needle much anymore.
After the Super Devil rank, huh...
Lynn frowned slightly.
There probably weren't many beings in this world strong enough to reach that level, were there?
Seemed like the focus now needed to shift toward helping his Familia grow stronger.
While Lynn was lost in thought, a change occurred with Nel sitting in his lap.
Streams of spirit particles began to swirl around her. Her petite, childlike form slowly matured.
The baby face faded away, replaced by striking beauty and refined features.
Her green hair flowed past her waist. Those golden-green eyes now radiated mystery and calm intelligence. The rose-colored horizontal tattoo across her face was still there.
But her body? It was curvy, voluptuous, and a complete beauty.
Nel became Nelliel.
"?"
Yotsuya Miko, who was watching this happen from the front, had a massive question mark pop into her eyes.
Waitthat's Nel?!
She instinctively tried to compare the child version of Nel to the woman standing before her now and her eye twitched violently.
Was this even fair?
She felt like she'd just taken a critical hit.
---
Meanwhile
Lynn felt the soft weight in his lap change. He snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Nel's now very adult figure.
Looks like she's back to normal
He'd expected this, so he wasn't all that surprised.
Still, not only had Nel regained her full memory thanks to the reincarnation ritualshe'd also returned to her original form.
Her golden eyes remained calm, but flashes of thought passed through them.
"Nnoitra Gilga."
She murmured his name, and a cold glint sparked in her eyes as her hand clenched on reflex.
That bastard.
She was definitely going to pay him back for that sneak attack!
Suddenly
She felt a sharp pinch at her waist. She jolted, instantly springing to her feet. Her now massive chest bounced dramatically with the motion.
She tensed, body alert, but when she turned her head and saw Lynn's face, her expression froze.
ThenHer memories in child form came flooding back.
Midoriko. Kikyo. Miko.
And this manthis man who had restored her strength and her memories.
What exactly had he done?
She wasn't sure, but whatever it was, her initial caution started to fade.
Lynn didn't comment on her inner thoughts. He simply tossed a piece of paper toward her.
"Here's your blessing info. Take a look."
"??"
Nelliel caught it reflexively, eyes scanning the pagethen pausing at one line.
Master: Lynn Valifer
So that meant she had a new King now?
Understanding dawned on her.
Rather than obsess over all the new powers listed, Nelliel sank down to one knee, not hesitating in the slightest.
"King. Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck pledges herself to you."
Lynn rested his chin in his hand, lips curling slightly. "That was fast."
Nelliel kept her head lowered, silent.
She might've been forced into this contract while in child form, but he had helped her. In a way that no one else could've.
So pledging her loyalty? She had no complaints about that.
Lynn was pleased with her decision. His gaze wandered across her body for a moment, then he spoke.
"Alright, put some clothes on first."
""
Nelliel blinked in confusion, then glanced down
Two white, bouncing melons were right there in full view.
She froze completely.
Even her mature, composed face couldn't hide the blush that quickly spread.
A faint glow shimmered across her skin as Reishi condensed into clothing.
Soon, her voluptuous form was wrapped in a sleek, teal outfit.
She let out a subtle sigh of relief though her cheeks still felt hot.
Lynn, unfazed, tossed her a booklet.
Nelliel caught it on reflex, frowning slightly in curiosity.
"This has everything you need to know about our Familia. You should read it."
Familia?
Something about that word stirred something in her chest.
It felt strangely comforting.
Almost likeHome?
She looked up at Lynn, then remembered Midoriko and the others.
Yeah, this was definitely different from Hueco Mundo.
After all, Hueco Mundo was full of Hollows. Cold, inhuman things.
Even Aizen, when she faced him, there was always this bone-deep unease.
But here? This place felt warm.
And Nelliel liked that feeling.
She flipped open the booklet, eager to learn more about this new "home."
Before longShe hit section 2.9 and froze in shock.
Wait, what?
Outside the world?
Midoriko and the others came from another world?!
This wasn't just any group she'd joined, was it?
And that Blessing Systemthat must've been what was on the paper earlier.
Leveling up?
Nelliel's golden eyes sparkled.
With this system, even the top Espada seat would eventually be within reach.
A flicker of resolve sparked in her heart.
After being ambushed by Nnoitra and Szayelaporro, she'd learned something the hard way:
She wasn't strong enough yet.
If she'd had the power, she never would've ended up like that.
So nowShe'd get stronger. Much stronger.
Nelliel clenched her fists, determination burning in her eyes.
With the Blessing System on her side, her stalled growth would finally break through its limits.
And right now?
She really wanted to turn Nnoitra and Szayelaporro into fuel for her power.
A glint of cold fire flickered in Nelliel's gaze.
.
.
.
Nelliel stumbled out of Lynn's office, still a bit dazed.
Pesche, who had been waiting outside for quite a while, saw her and his eyes widened with joy. He rushed forward excitedly. "Lady Nel! You're finally back to normal!"
"Pesche."
Nelliel looked at him for a long moment, her expression complicated.
Because of her Pesche's mask had been shattered, and he'd reverted from Arrancar back to a basic Hollow.
Her expression grew colder.
Nnoitra Gilga.
You really deserve to die.
"Pesche, you've been holding down the fort all this time. Thank you."
Tears welled up in Pesche's eyes. He just shook his head rapidly, overwhelmed, unable to even speak properly.
Seeing that, Nelliel's lips tugged into a small smile. Then her eyes turned serious. "Let's go. Back to Hueco Mundo."
Her voice chilled. "There are some people who need to pay for what they've done."
"But" Pesche looked concerned.
"Don't worry," Nelliel said firmly.
Her eyes gleamed as she clenched her fist, feeling the newfound power flowing through her body. "I've received new power."
Even when she'd been ranked the Third Espada, Nnoitra hadn't been able to beat her in a fair fight. He'd had to ambush her with others just to win.
But now? With this new power?
Even if she had to face them all againshe was ready.
Hueco Mundo
Nelliel and Miko met up with Midoriko and the others.
"You're Nel?" Midoriko blinked in shock, eyes widening at Nelliel's curvy figure.
Wait, what the heck
Wasn't she a little kid before?!
Nelliel smiled warmly. "Midoriko-nee."
She still called her the same way she did in her child form.
Midoriko's expression twitched slightly.
Nelliel's returnand her new formdefinitely stirred up a few waves among the leveling squads.
Eventually, Midoriko smiled and said: "Welcome to the Familia."
Nelliel blinked in surprise then smiled back and gave a firm nod.
She didn't fully understand what kind of people made up this "Familia" yet.
But it couldn't possibly be worse than Las Noches.
Besides, after spending time around them these past few days, she'd gotten a feel for their personalities.
And honestly she liked the vibe here.
"Oh right," Midoriko added. "These two joined after you leftIngvild Leviathan and Katerea Leviathan."
"H-hi there" Ingvild gave a timid little wave, only to get smacked lightly on the head.
Katerea clicked her tongue. "You're a Leviathancan you please act like it?"
"Uuugh" Ingvild shrunk back.
Katerea rolled her eyes.
Nearby, Nelliel took a moment to size the two of them up.
"Another pair of powerhouses," she thought to herself.
Though her gaze lingered on Katerea.
Strong. She gave off the same kind of pressure as a First Seat?
Katerea noticed Nelliel's stare and smirked, folding her arms. "I heard about everything that happened to you."
She tilted her head with a playful glint in her eye. "So? As a welcome gift for joining the Familia, how about we raise a little hell?"
"Raise hell?" Nelliel blinked, confused.
Katerea pointed dramatically in the direction of Las Noches, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
"Yeahlet's go turn that place upside down!"
Excitement flashed in her eyes as she recalled how Lynn had completely wiped out the Old Satan Faction all by himself.
Back then, she'd been little more than background scenery and then became his "reward."
Now?
She wanted to make her mark too. Show off the pride of House Leviathan.
Nelliel, meanwhile, just stood there, stunned.
Turn Las Noches upside down?
She went quiet.
Even she had only planned to lure out Nnoitra and his lackeys for a one-on-one reckoning.
But Las Noches? That was his territory.
Aizen Sosuke.
She opened her mouth to objectbut Katerea raised a hand and cut her off.
"Relax. We already got Lord Lynn's approval."
Hearing that, Nelliel closed her mouth.
If that was the king's will then as one of his knights, all she had to do was charge forward without hesitation.
Her eyes hardened with resolve.
"Heh" Katerea narrowed her eyes with amusement. "Now that's the look I wanted to see."
"Alright thenlet's divvy up the targets!"
Well "divvy up" might've been a stretch. More like picking which enemies to crush.
---
Las Noches
Nnoitra Gilga frowned.
"Where the hell did Tesra run off to?"
Main World Warlord's Empire
After days of negotiation, the Lion King Organization had finally confirmed the location of representative Twelve.
And yeah, the death of Dimitrie Vatlerdirectly linked to the Lion King Organizationhad caused quite a stir.
And let's just say, during the talks, the Warlord didn't exactly treat them with kindness.
But Himeragi Yukina only had one line throughout the whole negotiation:
"Take it up with Lord Lynn."
The Warlord: ""
He knew very well how dangerous Lynn was.
He wasn't just some vampire noblehe was one of the ancients, someone deeply connected to every major power out there.
So when Lynn single-handedly wiped out the entire Old Satan Faction?
Yeah, word got around. Fast.
Even though the Warlord himself was a Primogenitor, one of the strongest vampires alive.
Among devils, his strength barely counted as "average Satan" level.
If he'd gone alone into the Old Satan Faction's headquarters, forget winninghe'd be lucky to crawl out alive.
So yeahhe knew better than to cross someone like Lynn.
The Warlord had been enjoying his peaceful life for far too long. He wasn't about to stir up trouble over something that wasn't worth it.
Still, one of his own had been killed. As a leader, he couldn't just do nothing.
And to make things worse, those bastardsAswad and Giadahad been mocking him ever since.
He clicked his tongue.
Tch. Like they'd do any better.
Well maybe Giada would just end up becoming Lynn's bedwarmer after a good beating?
Thinking about Giada's personality, the Warlord shook his head.
Still, he had to make some kind of move.
Otherwise, people might start thinking the Warlord was just a pushover.
So Time to make use of the Blazing Banquet.
His eyes narrowed.
...
Meanwhile, after leaving the Warlord's Empire, Yukina sent word back to the Lion King Organization.
"Representative Twelve (Avrora Florestina) is being held on the Island of Gozo."
.
.
.
"Gozo Island, huh"
After reading Yukina Himeragi's message on his phone, Lynn's eyes gleamed with a trace of thought.
He vaguely remembered the place, but he wasn't exactly sure where the Twelfth Representative was located.
Stuff like that? Way better left to the Lion King Organization.
He turned to the virtual screen in front of him, which was still displaying the Hueco Mundo, and typed out a reply to Yukina.
"Have the Lion King Organization pinpoint the exact location of the Twelfth and get back to me when they do."
Main World Lion King Organization
After getting Lynn's reply, Yukina quickly passed his instructions along to Shirona Kuraki and the others.
Endou Yukari gave a casual shrug. "Welp, looks like we've got another errand to run."
She glanced sideways at Shirona's amused expression and sighed. "Don't tell me it's me again?
Shirona smiled faintly. "Well, you are the most capable one here."
Endou groaned, rubbing her forehead. "What, is the Lion King Agency out of people or something?"
Shirona gave a long, helpless sigh. "This involves the Fourth Primogenitor"
"What about her?"
Endou pointed to Koyomi Shizuka, who was quietly sitting nearby. "She's way stronger than me in a fight."
Shirona replied, "Sure, but"
"You're better all-around."
Then she turned to Koyomi, signaling her to speak for herself.
Koyomi calmly pushed up her glasses. "I still have school to finish."
"Seriously?"
That's your excuse?
Endou looked at her in disbelief, then turned back to Shirona.
Shirona held up her hands. "You know exactly what I'm good at. You really wanna risk sending me?"
"Fine" Endou sighed again, her eyes narrowing with thought. "I'll take care of this one, but"
Her tone shifted slightly as a sly smile tugged at her lips.
"if any 'serve the Devil King' kind of task comes up later, you two are on it."
That got a reaction.
Shirona instantly froze, her smile vanishing in an instant.
Endou smirked, clearly enjoying herself as she puffed her chest a little with pride.
Shirona's expression turned a bit grim.
Lynn's words echoed in her mind.
"You'd make an excellent familia member"
Yeah, Lynn wasn't even trying to hide his intentions.
Sure, they were all working for him now, but they'd all been deliberately ignoring the obvious.
They were on his radar.
Honestly, it was probably only a matter of time.
Still, being part of Lynn's Familia wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Thanks to Yukina's introduction, they'd seen what his blessing system could doand the kind of resources his world offered.
It was overwhelming, to say the least.
So in the end, maybe it was best to just go with the flow.
Shirona steadied her thoughts and nodded. "Don't worry. I'm not really needed for this mission, so"
"if someone's gonna join Lynn's familia, I'll go first."
"Oh?"
Endou raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Volunteering now, are we?"
Even Koyomi turned toward her, her usually calm eyes showing a flicker of surprise.
Shirona just smiled, composed as ever. "I mean"
"it's not like we'll be able to avoid it forever, right?"
Endou blinked, then chuckled in defeat. "Yeah fair point."
Shirona continued, "Who knows? Maybe if I join first, I'll get a head start on you all~"
Koyomi: ""
Endou rolled her eyes at her.
But stillThe blessing system. Unlocking the limits of one's body, infinite potential for growth.
Endou found herself momentarily dazed by the thought.
Even as a long-lived elf who had already lived for centuries, hearing about something like that still managed to shake her.
And the craziest part?
It wasn't just for the chosen few.
Anyone who joined Lynn's Familia would be granted that same blessing.
It was practically a straight shot to godhood.
And the price? Just becoming one of Lynn's followers.
Endou glanced at her disciple and couldn't help but feel a little amazed.
She never expected Yukina to end up so luckywhat started out as trouble had turned into an incredible opportunity.
Give her some more time, and with the blessing system, Yukina might catch up to them in no time.
Especially with that weapon of hers, the Snowdrift Wolf, which still had massive untapped potential.
No doubt about it, Yukina would become a powerhouse.
Maybe even stronger than Endou or the Three Saints.
Though of course, if they also got their hands on the blessing system, then all bets were off.
Back inside the Lion King Organization, the group wrapped up their chat and quickly began planning their Gozo Island operation.
Soon after, Endou set off for the island.
Tagging along with herYukina Himeragi.
Yep for now, she'd be serving as Lynn's portable teleport marker.
---
At the same time - At Shuchiin Academy
Minamiya Natsuki received a commission.
She raised an eyebrow at the figures on the screen. "That much money?"
Just one glance at all those zeroes had her whistling.
Talk about a big spender.
"Archaeological survey on Gozo Island, huh"
Looked like a pretty standard job on paper.
But with that kind of reward? No way it was simple.
Still, the timing was perfect.
She'd just been eyeing some high-end black teas she wanted to stock up on.
This commission couldn't have come at a better time.
---
Elsewhere, word had reached the Black Death Emperor Faction.
"The Twelfth?"
Golan Hazaroff frowned.
Something about this just felt too easy.
Like someone had just handed it over on a silver platter.
Still, the intel came from the Warlord himself. It was probably legit.
With a wicked grin slowly spreading across his face, Golan growled, "Pass the wordwe're heading to Gozo Island. I'm taking back what's mine!"
Gozo Island A Research Encampment
Standing in the frosty wind, Gajou Akatsuki stared intently in one direction, his gaze seeming to pierce through the thick layers of ice as if he could see the depths below.
Beside him stood a blonde Caucasian woman in elegant Western attire. Her brow furrowed.
"The Fourth Primogenitor is really in there?"
Gajou turned and grinned at her. "At this point, don't you think it's smarter to just trust my instincts?"
Liana Caruana folded her arms and fell silent, before finally speaking.
"I hope I didn't waste my investment."
Gajou narrowed his eyes slightly.
Did she think he wanted to be here playing archaeologist?
Anything involving the Fourth Primogenitor just screamed trouble.
But hey this was adult life.
His so-called 'archaeological team' needed plenty of suckers to fund it.
No choice, really.
Liana stared at the icy wall ahead of them. "We've tried everything. How exactly do you plan to break through this thing?"
Despite her doubts about Gajou's claim, the bizarre wall of ice in front of them did give her hope.
Not even her familiar could scratch itthat alone was reason enough to be suspicious.
Taking a deep breath, Liana clenched her fists.
The Fourth Primogenitor, she had to find him.
For the future of her family.
"Relax," Gajou shrugged. "The one who can break it? Already up there."
"Up there?"
Liana blinked in confusion.
On a plane headed toward Gozo Island
Kojou Akatsuki sat beside his sister Nagisa, both looking a little tired.
"That idiot dragged us all the way out here what the hell is he up to?"
Kojou scowled, clearly annoyed by the sudden mission.
Nagisa, cheerful as always, waved him off. "It's fine, it's fine! Who knowsmaybe"
"he just wants to take us on a trip to the Arctic?"
She beamed with that usual sunshine-y smile, not a worry in the world.
Seeing that, Kojou chuckled a bit despite himself.
"Let's hope that's all it is"
But deep down?
He never really trusted his flaky old man.
And a vacation to the Arctic?
Seriously?
What kind of galaxy brain came up with that excuse?
Yeah.
The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.
A creeping sense of dread was starting to settle in his chest.
.
.
.
Kojou Akatsuki's gut feeling had been spot-on.
The moment he arrived on Gozo Island and laid eyes on his fatheralong with the well-equipped team behind himhis eyelid twitched involuntarily.
Kojou glared at his dad, Gajou Akatsuki, and snapped, "This is your idea of a fun trip?!"
Gajou scratched the back of his head, laughing sheepishly. "C'mon! We can still have fun after we finish the real business!"
"...You've gotta be kidding me," Kojou muttered.
"You've got some nerve, old man."
Then he turned to his little sister. "Nagisa, we're going back to Japan."
Pat!
Before he could take a step, Gajou's large hand clamped down on his shoulder. "Now's not the time for you to be acting like a brat, Kojou."
Kojou tried to shake him off, but the grip didn't budge. His eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Was this guy really his dad? Since when was he this strong?
For the first time, Kojou realized he might not know much about his own father.
Still that didn't change the fact that he was pissed off. Dragging him and Nagisaliteral kidsinto this mess just for some job?
What the hell kind of parent does that?
Gajou saw Kojou's righteous anger and sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Hey, hey, Kojou-kun, it's okay!" Nagisa quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
"See? Nagisa's the only one who still loves her poor old dad," Gajou said with a tearful, touched expression.
Meanwhile, Liana Caruana stood nearby, frowning.
"These are the people you said could help us?" she asked, unconvinced.
Two kids?
Liana's mistrust was written all over her face.
Gajou just smiled. "Relax. As long as Nagisa's here, we've got nothing to worry about."
"??"
Liana raised an eyebrow, eyeing Nagisa more closely.
Wait she's the key?
"Eh? Me?" Nagisa pointed at herself nervously.
Kojou stepped in, frowning. "What exactly do you want with Nagisa?"
Gajou patted his son on the shoulder. "Don't worry, it'll be fine."
Yeah, right.
Kojou didn't believe a word of it. His eyes were full of suspicion.
A few minutes later, the group arrived at a large sheet of ice.
The moment Kojou got close, his chest tightened like someone had clamped a hand around his throat.
He staggered, heart pounding, and swallowed hard. "Are are you sure this place is safe?"
Whatever was buried beneath this iceit was definitely something horrifying.
And this guy actually brought Nagisa to a place like this?!
Damn him!
Gajou saw the look on Kojou's face and shrugged. "If you're scared, you're free to leave."
"Tch." Kojou scowled. "If I go, Nagisa's coming with me."
He turned to her, about to speakbut stopped short.
Nagisa's eyes had gone blank, her expression hollow. And then a strange energy began to ripple from her body.
Fsshhh
Suddenly, a gust of wind surged from beneath her feet, and her petite form floated into the air as if weightless.
"Nagisa!" Kojou shouted, heart racing. He rushed forward to pull her down
Smack
His hand was intercepted. Gajou's grip held him back.
"If you don't want her getting hurt, don't touch her," he warned, eyes serious.
Kojou froze. "This is all your fault! You're the one who dragged her here in the first place!"
Gajou didn't answer. He just kept watching Nagisa closely, his normally playful eyes turning sharp.
"So it's true" he muttered to himself.
Just as he'd suspected.
With Nagisa's spiritual sensitivity, she could resonate with whatever lingering consciousness was sealed here.
Off to the side, Liana watched Nagisa float with a stunned expression.
Eventually, she found her voice. "Psychometry?"
Only a priestess with high spiritual aptitude really could pull off something like this.
But if this really was the tomb of the Fourth Primogenitor, then the era it came from was so ancient, its origins were practically lost to history.
Any lingering will would be faint at best.
Most shrine maidens couldn't do anything with something that faint.
But somehow, this girl could.
"She's really your daughter?" Liana asked, eyeing Gajou, then Nagisa again.
Gajou puffed up proudly. "Not bad, huh? Gotta say, my genes are top-tier."
Liana's smile was cold and sarcastic. "Maybe go get a paternity test, just to be sure."
"Just jealous," Gajou thought, smirking. He didn't push the joke and returned his focus to Nagisa.
Liana followed suit, silently watching what would happen next.
Kojou, meanwhile, was losing it. He didn't know what to do, couldn't help, and was terrified of hurting her if he tried.
A few seconds passed.
The wind around Nagisa stilled, but her eyes remained vacant.
She floated slowly toward the frozen wall, lifted her hand
Woom!
A flash of dazzling light burst forth!
In the next instant, the thick ice disappeared.
In its place stood a gaping void, pitch black like a black hole.
"What is this?" Liana stared into the abyss, clearly rattled.
Gajou rubbed his chin, impressed. "So they hid the Fourth Primogenitor's tomb in a pocket dimension? Now that's bold."
"A pocket dimension?" Liana blinked, surprised. That wasn't what concerned her, though.
"Is it dangerous?"
"Don't worry," Gajou said confidently. "The people who built this tomb weren't planning on dying here either."
That reassurance helped, and Liana nodded. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself. "Alright. Then let's go in."
"Hold on a sec!"
Kojou suddenly shouted, his face pale. "The Fourth Primogenitor? That legendary vampire? Are you serious?!"
Why the hell had things escalated this far out of nowhere?!
Gajou just shrugged. "Only one way to find outgo in and see for yourself."
"You're actually planning to take us in there?!" Kojou looked like he was about to explode.
He knew his dad was reckless, but this was on another level.
This wasn't some random job. This involved the Fourth Primogenitor. And they were taking kids into a place like this?
He glanced back at Nagisastill floating, eyes lifelessand felt his heart drop.
There was no way she'd be safe in that condition!
But Gajou didn't seem fazed. After a moment's thought, he said, "Strictly speaking, only Nagisa has to go in. You're not really essential."
He didn't know what kind of situation they'd find inside or how much more of Nagisa's power might be needed.
Better to bring her just in case.
"You've got to be kidding me," Kojou muttered through clenched teeth.
Then he took a deep breath and said firmly, "Then I'm coming too."
Gajou gave a faint, amused smile. "You really are a good big brother, Kojou-kun."
"Tch. At least better than you are as a father."
Kojou's tone dripped with resentment, but Gajou didn't seem to mind.
Nearby, Liana tapped her foot impatiently."Are we done here? Let's get going already."
Gajou shrugged. "Looks like we're good."
He shot a glance at Kojou.
Kojou turned his head away and didn't respondbut he also didn't object.
Seeing that, Gajou nodded to Liana, then took the lead and walked up to the swirling black void.
He drew a deep breath, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Even after exploring so many ruins, this was a firstthe Fourth Primogenitor.
Excited? Of course he was.
And the way this tomb was hidden just the entrance alone was unlike anything else.
He couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement.
Then, without hesitation, he stepped forwardplacing one foot into the darkness.
But before he could take the next
A lazy voice rang out from behind them.
"Mind if I hitch a ride?"
.
.
.
Gozo Island - In front of the underground tomb entrance
A lazy-sounding female voice suddenly rang out.
Gajou Akatsuki's eyes widened as his foot froze mid-step.
Liana Caruana instantly spun around, her body tense. Her sharp turquoise eyes locked onto the source of the voice with suspicion.
And then they saw her.
A stunning blonde woman dressed in teal stood casually with one hand on her hip. Her eyes carried a hint of passive confidence, and she exuded the calm, mature aura of someone who'd seen her share of battles.
Behind her stood a younger girlblack hair, long and straightcuriously peeking over like she was sightseeing.
"Who are you?!"Liana snapped, instinctively tensing.
"No need to be so on edge," the woman replied coolly, barely glancing at her. "Lion King organization. Mind if we tag along?"
Lion King organization.
Both Liana and Gajou paused in surprise. The name was well-known.
But what the hell was someone from the Lion King organization doing hereon Gozo Island, of all places? And right now, of all times?
Liana's expression grew darker.
After a long pause, she finally asked, "Your organization is interested in the Fourth Primogenitor too?"
She didn't bother to hide her irritation. She'd poured money and effort into this for over a monthand now these people from some high-and-mighty organization just showed up to swoop in and steal the prize?
Sure, her family's influence had weakened over the yearsBut she wasn't some pushover.
Push her too far and she'd take a chunk out of you, no matter who you were.
Besides this was vampire business. What did a human organization think it was doing sticking its nose in?
The more she thought about it, the more pissed off she looked.
Meanwhile, Endou's eyes lit up at Liana's words.
"So this is where the ruins of the Fourth Primogenitor?" she murmured, a glint of excitement flashing in her eyes.
She'd only wandered over with Himeragi Yukina after noticing the unusual activity herelooked like they'd hit the jackpot.
"You didn't know?" Liana blinked in disbelief.
You've got to be kidding me.
But even if they'd stumbled on it by accident, the moment they saw this rift in space, they would've insisted on checking it out.
Which meant
Liana narrowed her eyes, then raised her hand. A faint ripple shimmered through the air.
"Skll" (Wolf of the Solar Eclipse)
"Hati!" (Wolf of the Lunar Eclipse)
With her shout, two massive wolves appeared behind her in a flash.
"Awooooooo!"
Their howls echoed across the island. One radiated molten lava heat, the other a pale moonlit glow. The pressure they exuded made the very air tremble.
Endou raised an eyebrow, visibly impressed.
Sure, she knew "stealing the fruit" like this wasn't exactly nobleBut hey, she was just doing her job for the Devil King, right?
If Liana wouldn't play nice, well she'd just have to force her way in.
"Yukina."
Without hesitation, Himeragi Yukina pulled a long spear from her bag.
Shing
The sleek, gleaming blade caught the sunlight and gave off a brilliant gleam.
Liana's heart skipped a beat the moment she saw it.
Her blood stirred unnaturally, her body heating up despite the cold air around them.
What is this?
She stared hard at the weapon. Something was off.
Very off.
That spear wasn't normal.
Still, Liana didn't back down an inch. The Fourth Primogenitor was her shot at restoring her family's nameshe wouldn't let anyone screw that up.
Tension crackled in the air.
Kojou glanced left and right, then quietly pulled Nagisa behind him, shielding her. He shot a series of wild, exaggerated winks toward his father, Gajou Akatsuki.
"Let's slip out while they're distracted!" That's what his eyes were screaming.
Gajou caught the message and gave him an "OK" gesture, raising a brow with a smug grin.
"Leave it to me."
Kojou: "???"
Kojou stared, dumbfounded, as Gajou casually stepped forward.
"Now now, Liana dear, no need to get so worked up," Gajou said smoothly.
"!???"
What the hell are you doing, old man?!
Kojou could feel a headache coming on.
He meant for them to sneak away! Not waltz right into the lion's den!
Was this guy serious right now?
Gajou stood there, looking completely unbothered. Kojou wanted to scream.
On the other side, Liana narrowed her eyes. "You want me to just hand this tomb over to them?"
"Don't be so dramatic." Gajou shrugged. "Why not work together with the Lion King organization?"
"Think about it. We don't even know what kind of dangers might be waiting inside. Having more fighters on our side isn't a bad thing."
Liana stared at him blankly. "So basically, you just want me to split whatever's in there with them."
Gajou didn't respond right away. Instead, he turned his eyes to the spear in Yukina's hand.
"If I'm not mistaken, that's the legendary Mark Seven Demon-Purging Assault Spear, isn't it?"
"Oh?" Endou tilted her head, surprised. "You're surprisingly well-informed for a human."
Gajou replied proudly, "I am an archaeologist, after all."
She snorted. "Archaeologist, huh? You sure you're not just looting ancient tombs for fun?"
She glanced toward the spatial rift behind him.
Who accidentally digs up a dimensional anomaly?
And he recognized Snowdrift Wolf too. This guy clearly wasn't a regular civilian.
Liana, meanwhile, hadn't relaxed one bit since hearing the weapon's name.
"The weapon that's effective against vampires?"
As a noble vampire, she had enough education to know just how dangerous that spear was.
Things were getting tricky.
WaitThey actually gave that kind of weapon to a high school girl?
Gajou leaned over and said in a low voice, "Liana, you know exactly how effective that spear would be against someone like you."
"Don't need you to tell me that," she muttered, brows furrowed.
Restoring her family's honor really was turning out to be a massive pain in the ass.
Gajou, watching her frustration grow, couldn't help but smile a little.
After all the lectures and nagging she'd given him as her "investment," seeing her take a hit for once? Delightful.
He quickly wiped the smirk off his face and asked, "So? What do you want to do?"
Liana shot him a glare, then fell silent.
Finally, with a heavy sigh, she recalled her familiars.
Whatever. She was here to serve the Fourth Primogenitor.
Letting these two tag along wouldn't cost her anything probably.
She took a deep breath and said coldly, "Fine. We can work together."
Endou smiled slightly, then gave a signal to Yukina.
Yukina understood and slid Snowdrift Wolf back into her bag.
Liana let out a sigh of relief.
No point talking about reviving her family if she got herself killed right here.
Still, if they were going to team up, she couldn't make it look like she caved out of fear. She had to set some termssave face.
Her gaze flickered, and she said, "I agree to the cooperation, but"
She glanced at Kojou and Nagisa. "Once we're inside, you're responsible for keeping those two safe."
"Huh?" Endou looked mildly surprised.
A vampire worried about human safety?
Seriously?
She eyed Liana curiously.
Maybe this vampire wasn't all bad?
Kojou was surprised too. He hadn't expected her condition to be his and Nagisa's safety.
Even if they'd been dragged here without warning This blonde older sister might actually be kind of decent?
Still
It looked like there was no avoiding this underground expedition now.
He glanced over at Nagisa, who still stood there like a zombie, and sighed internally.
"Alright. I accept," Endou replied without hesitation.
Even if Liana hadn't said it, the Lion King organization would never have left two kids in danger. Protecting civiliansespecially kidswas standard procedure.
So really, that demand meant nothing to her.
"Good. In that case, let's get moving," Gajou clapped his hands, eager to get things underway.
The group exchanged glances, then nodded and approached the dark rift in front of them.
---
MeanwhileUp above, hidden in a fold of space
A small figure crouched silently in the shadows, watching everything unfold.
.
.
.
After Endou and the others stepped into the dimensional rift, a figure quietly appeared in the skyMinamiya Natsuki.
Hovering in mid-air, she looked down at the dark, swirling portal, her brows slightly furrowed.
"So this is what they call archaeology these days?"
She pulled out her phone and glanced at the message from the client. Her expression turned a little grim.
She just wanted to make some extra cash. Buy some fancy tea. How the hell did she end up wrapped up in something this dangerous?
"Fourth Primogenitor."
The words barely left her lips, but the weight they carried made her expression grow serious.
This wasn't a joke.
Natsuki sighed when she looked at the unpaid balance on the job.
"Whatever. I'm already here."
If she didn't get that money, then what was the point of coming all this way?
Besides, the client didn't give any specific requirementsjust said to tag along with that group and "do some archaeology."
Honestly, she had no idea what the client was thinking.
Drag her all the way out here just for some casual tomb-raiding? Or was this really just a way to pull her into the mess that was the Fourth Primogenitor?
Natsuki mulled it over for a bit, then gave up.
Whatever. With her spatial control magic, there wasn't much she had to worry about anyway.
But if that guy tried to ghost her on the payment? Oh, she'd find him. No question.
Having made up her mind, Natsuki disappeared in a flash and reappeared right in front of the dark rift.
Without hesitation, she stepped inside.
Inside the Underground Tomb
Endou and the others had just stepped in whenA wave of ice-blue light filled their vision.
Chilly cold instantly surrounded them.
"Sh-shit!"
Kojou Akatsuki immediately began shivering violently.
He exhaled, and a cloud of white mist floated from his mouth.
"Wh-what the hell!? It's freezing!"
He rubbed his arms furiously, trying to warm up, but his lips were already trembling.
But nobody answered him.
Because... well, everyone else here wasn't exactly "normal." So it was only him.
Kojou: ""
He stared at them with his signature dead-fish eyes. Especially at his father.
The others were a vampire, a supernatural, all that jazz.
Finethey had an excuse.
But his father? That big, burly, supposedly "normal" man?
He wasn't shivering at all.
Wait. Did even he betray the normal humans?
That's when it really hit Kojou.
His so-called archaeologist dad was mixed up with vampires and God knows what else.
And this tomb? This place? Yeah, it was definitely not a normal dig site.
Don't tell him all of his dad's "archaeology missions" were like this?
His expression twisted.
His old man definitely not a regular guy.
Oh crapwhat about Nagisa!?
He quickly turned to look for his little sister
Only to see her floating calmly in mid-air like it was just another day.
Kojou: ""
So he was really the only one freezing to death here?
He curled up and sighed.
This felt like he'd somehow stumbled into a pack of wolves as a lone husky.
Meanwhile, Liana quietly took in the biting cold in the air. Her expression eased a little.
"This chill It's the real place."
Which meant, this really was the Fourth Primogenitor's tomb!
Just thinking about it sent a thrill through her.
Her clan's revivaleverythingwas within reach!
Breathing faster, she instinctively moved forward, deeper into the tomb.
The others followed quickly after her.
Before long, a crystal-clear ice coffin appeared before them.
Inside it lay a slender figure, as if peacefully asleep in a dream.
Golden hair, delicate features, and a petite, doll-like frameshe looked like a real-life Sleeping Beauty.
"Is that?"
"Th-The Fourth Primogenitor, Your Majesty!"
The instant Liana saw the girl in the ice coffinand felt the overwhelming aura from her bloodlineShe knew exactly who this girl was.
Without hesitation, she dropped to one knee before the coffin.
"I, Liana Caruana, Sixth Head of the Caruana Family, humbly greet Her Majesty the Fourth Primogenitor!"
Her voice echoed solemnly through the tomb.
But
Silence.
An eerie, suffocating stillness filled the chamber.
"?"
No response.
Liana's heart tightened.
She stepped closer and gently touched the coffin, eyes fixed on the sleeping girl inside.
"She hasn't awakened yet."
Liana blinked in surprise, then looked more carefully.
Sure enough, the girl's eyes remained shut. There was no reaction.
"Doc, is there any way to wake Her Majesty?" Liana asked, frowning.
Gajou shrugged. "Yeah, that's not really in my skillset."
They'd found her, sure.
But there was no sign she was waking upeven after they barged into her tomb.
Liana fell silent.
Compared to her anxiousness, Endou seemed a lot more relaxed.
Actually the fact that the Fourth Primogenitor hadn't woken up was a huge relief.
The last thing she wanted was to tangle with a living legend.
Turning to Yukina, she said, "Yukina, send a message to Lord Lynn."
"?"
Liana whipped her head toward Endou, eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by that?"
Endou hadn't even tried to lower her voice, which immediately drew the attention of everyone around them.
With a lazy grin, Endou said, "You guys want her to wake up, right?"
"As your lovely partner in this little endeavor, I'm just doing my part~"
Liana hesitated, then quickly asked, "Waitthis person you're contacting can they really wake Her Majesty?"
"Of course," Endou replied, nodding confidently.
Well, she was just here because of Lynn.
So that was just an excuse to appease Liana.
As far as Endou was concerned, once Lynn showed up, whatever happened after was not her problem.
She'd completed her part of the job the moment the Fourth Primogenitor was located.
Liana, of course, had no idea. If anything, she looked grateful.
On the side, Gajou gave Endou a weird look.
Was she seriously bullshitting someone that naive?
And the girl was really that dumb?
Gajou just shook his head.
Well, sometimes people needed to get burned to learn.
As Liana's "friend," maybe it was good for her to gain some experience.
Elsewhere, Yukina pulled out her phone and sent off a message to Lynn.
Then
Dozens of footsteps echoed through the tomb.
Liana and the others instantly went on high alert.
"Hmph!"
"So this is where you've been hiding the Fourth Primogenitor!"
A loud, rough voice rang out before its owner even stepped into view.
Seconds later, a group of soldiers in teal-green military uniforms poured into the tomb, blocking off their exit.
A tall, burly man walked past the soldiers, grinning wickedly at the group in front of him.
"Haha! Thanks for leading me straight to the Fourth Primogenitor."
"But now You're useless."
"So"
"Would you kindly go die now?"
.
.
.
Gozo Island The Fourth Primogenitor's Underground Tomb
A rough, chilling voice echoed throughout the crypt. Combined with the stifling heat, a sudden wave of cold dread washed over Kojou Akatsuki.
Beastmen?
Gulp. .
He swallowed hard, Adam's apple bobbing as his eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the figures approaching from the tunnel.
Tall. Muscular. Clad in greenish-blue military uniforms.
But Kojou's eyes were fixed on one thingtheir heads.
They weren't human.
Thick brown fur, beast-like features!!
Wolves? Bears?
Kojou instinctively stepped in front of Nagisa, shielding her with his body. His gaze was grim.
Endou, watching the beastmen approach, smirked slightly.
"Well, this place sure got busy"
"Didn't think even the Black Death Emperor Faction's executive would show up. What's wrong? Beastmen interested in the Fourth Primogenitor now too?"
"Black Death Emperor Faction's executive?"
That got a reaction. Both Gajou and Liana flinched in shock.
So he wasn't just some random guy either!
"Tch."
Liana scowled.
What the hell was going on? She'd spent a ton of effort and money to get results hereand now everyone was just showing up to steal the prize?
First, it was the Lion King Organization, now the beastmen.
If another faction suddenly dropped in, Liana wouldn't even be surprised at this point.
But, did everyone seriously think she was just some glorified excavation tool for digging up the Fourth Primogenitor?
Yeah. She was pissed.
...
Meanwhile
Now that his identity had been exposed, the Death Emperor's executive, Golan Hazaroff, crossed his arms and coldly glanced at Endou.
"Looks like you're not so simple yourself."
Golan kept a poker face, but inside, he was surprised.
Wasn't this supposed to just be some down-on-her-luck vampire noble?
"Lion King Organization," Endou said lazily, casually dropping her affiliation.
"The Lion King Organization."
Golan narrowed his eyes.
Even among demons, that name carried weight.
But, right now, it didn't matter if it was the Lion King Organization or even the Warlord himselfthere was no way he was backing down.
Especially not when they were a terrorist organization, after all.
And a terrorist organization had to act like one.
Golan grinned savagely, his fur-covered face twisted with wild glee.
"Lion, tiger, whateveryou can forget it. The Fourth Primogenitor is mine!"
Endou paused, giving him an odd look.
This guy was a textbook definition of "all muscle, no brains."
You want to claim the Fourth Primogenitor?
Never mind the fact that Lynn had his eye on it too
Even just talking about the power of the Fourth Primogenitor You think some random beastman could actually control that?
"Enough talk."
Suddenly, Liana stepped forward and snapped:
"If you want the Fourth Primogenitor, you'll have to go through me first!"
She might have had her doubts facing Yukina's demon-slaying Schneewalzer.
But a beastman? He didn't have the power to truly kill a vampire.
Liana's emerald eyes gleamed as she raised her arm. With a wave, two massive wolvesone crimson, one blueappeared beside her.
"RRAAHHH!!"
The twin wolves roared and, without hesitation, charged straight at the beastman, Golan!
"ROOOAAAAR!!"
An answering bellow shook the entire tomb.
Golan's troops let out a terrifying war cry that made the walls tremble!
The sheer force of it whipped through the chamber, tossing hair and cloaks in every direction.
Kojou clutched his ears as the roar echoed in his skull.
Holy crap!!
He was completely stunned.
Seriously
Why was this happening during what was supposed to be a relaxing summer break with Nagisa?!
This sucks!!
Kojou looked like he was about to cry.
...
On the other side
Liana's wolves weren't the least bit fazed.
Golan's expression didn't changebut his magical power exploded outward.
BOOM!!
A terrifying wave of power ripped through the air.
RIP
His body surged in size. His uniform shredded instantly.
"ROAAAARRR!!"
His monstrous form now filled the entire tomb, fur bristling with raw power!
CRASH!!
With a swipe of his enormous claw, the twin wolves were sent flying, slamming into the icy floor with a bone-rattling THUD!
Liana's eyes went wide. "Skll! Hati!"
She stared in disbelief as her wolves whimpered on the ground, twitching.
What the hell?
This guy was that strong?!
Kujou's father, Gajou Akatsuki, took one look at the battlefield, then cast a serious glance toward Kojou and Nagisa.
Way too many unpredictable things were happening.
The Lion King Organization was one thing But the Black Death Emperor Faction?
They weren't exactly the type you could negotiate with.
Gajou was starting to regret ever dragging Kojou and Nagisa into this mess.
And yet, he'd been so careful about keeping this whole Fourth Primogenitor dig under wraps.
So how?
Not just the Lion King Organizationeven terrorist groups had caught wind of it?
'Someone must've leaked it.'
That was Gajou's first thought.
But now wasn't the time to play detective.
He stepped over to Liana, his expression grim.
"This just got serious," he said under his breath.
If it were just him, he wouldn't be worriedhe had certain tricks up his sleeve.
But the problem was Kojou and Nagisa.
Liana snapped back to herself at Gajou's voice. She glanced at him, surprised.
In all the time she'd known him, this was the first time she'd seen that kind of expression on his usually flippant face.
Was it because?
She glanced at Kojou and Nagisa.
Taking a breath, Liana's gaze hardened.
"Don't worry. I'll keep them safe."
This had started because of her. If those two got caught up in it, she'd take full responsibility.
Even if it meant putting her life on the lineshe'd protect them.
Whew!
She exhaled slowly, eyes full of resolve.
---
Elsewhere
Himeragi Yukina pulled the Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer from her back again, gripping it tightly.
From what she'd just witnessed, this beastman Golan was probably far beyond her level.
In fact, he might even be on par with Dimitrie Vatler.
And if that was the case, then this would probably go just like last time.
Back then, all she could do was stall him.
Vatler had only died because Lynn stepped in personally.
StillWhether she was a Sword Shaman of the Lion King Organization or a retainer of Lynn, Yukina had no intention of backing down.
Her amber eyes filled with determination as she raised Schneewalzer and pointed it at the beastman's massive form.
Golan Hazaroff: "Huh?"
.
.
.
Golan Hazaroff's massive beastly eyes locked onto Yukina's tiny figure. His gaping, bloodstained jaws twisted into a terrifying grin.
"You dare point a weapon at me, looking like that?"
"HeheHAHAHA!"
"I admire your courage!!"
Suddenly, Golan got all riled up. His eyes gleamed wildly, as if he'd just found something amusing. But
That amusement didn't last.
His pupils narrowed, and a dark chill settled over his gaze. "If you're that brave then how about you die first!"
VMMMMMM
Two dark crimson beams of light shot out from his eyes like twin lasers!
Yukina's pupils shrank. She was just about to react when
CLANG
The sound of clashing metal echoed from thin air.
A shimmering barrier sprang up instantly!
BOOM!!!
The red beams smashed into the barrierbut instead of tearing through it like expected, they bounced off like they'd hit a mirror, scattering against the thick ice that coated the ground!
BOOM!!
The underground tomb shook violently from the impact!
One of Golan's huge eyes bulged as he stared at the golden-haired woman inside the barrier.
She actually blocked his attack?
So this Lion King Organization really isn't to be underestimated.
His eyes narrowed slightly at the thought.
But honestly, more than just the power Endou showed, what really caught his attention was something else.
He glanced at the spot where his beams had landed.
The thick ice covering the flooruntouched. Not even a scratch.
Like his attack was nothing.
But he knew how powerful his own energy was.
Which could only mean the ice was even tougher than his attack?
The Fourth Primogenitor
His gaze drifted past the others, settling on the girl sealed inside the ice coffin.
It was hard to believe that someone who looked so delicate could contain such monstrous power.
"O slayer of demons, divine wolf of snow and dawn, help me smite this evil!"
As Golan focused on the Fourth Primogenitor, Yukina seized her chanceactivating Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer in a flash!
SHING
A silver streak tore through the cold air, swirling with a storm of pure power, hurtling straight for the Golan!
Golan snapped his gaze around, locking onto the spear. A sharp pain suddenly prickled at his temple.
What the hell?
Instinct screamed at himthis attack wouldn't be fatal, but it definitely wouldn't feel good either.
With a roar, he opened his jaws wide, and
FWOOOOOM
A wave of pitch-black flame spewed forth, forming a towering wall of fire that intercepted Schneewalzer midair!
The flames surged, clashing against the spear's magical energy in a crackling standoff.
---
"Damn" Akatsuki Gajou blinked at the incredible spectacle in front of him. He glanced at Yukina, then at his own dumbass son.
Seriously. Same age, and yet?
He shook his head and turned his attention back to the fight.
Nearby, Liana Caruana finally let out a breath of relief after watching Yukina and Endou step up.
Looks like they were actually sticking to the deal.
Even if it was just a verbal agreement.
Honestly, Liana was kind of grateful the Lion King Organization showed up at all.
If it were just her facing someone like Golan, she'd have no clue what to do.
Still, she didn't let her guard down.
Even though Yukina had way surpassed her expectations in powerIt didn't look like Golan was affected much.
---
Inside the barrier, Yukina remained calm.
Snowdrift Wolf's attack hadn't done any damage. She wasn't surprised.
With a simple gesture, the spear stopped midair and zipped back into her hand.
She sighed quietly. "I really can't bring out Snowdrift Wolf's full power yet"
If only she had a skill like Lynn's "Return the World to Zero" this whole situation would probably be easy to handle.
But she just wasn't strong enough.
Endou, still watching Golan carefully, said offhandedly, "Don't worry. Once you level up a bit more, you'll be able to use it too."
At that moment, Liana and Gajou came over.
"Got any ideas?" Liana asked, a bit tense.
Endou shrugged, casual as ever. "We can hold him off, sure. But beating him? Unless he decides to back off on his own, forget it."
"" Liana clenched her teeth.
Like hell he's giving up on the Fourth Primogenitor willingly.
"Damn it!"
Beside her, Gajou glanced at Endou, who didn't seem the least bit worried. He narrowed his eyes.
"You?"
"You do have a plan, don't you?"
Endou side-eyed him lazily. "You've got sharp eyes."
"?"
Liana looked confused for a second, then suddenly grabbed Endou's arm. "Waitwhat is it? What's the plan?"
Endou just smiled mysteriously and said one word:
"Wait."
"..Huh?"
Liana tilted her head, baffled. "Wait?"
"Mhm."
Endou nodded and didn't say another word.
Gajou stroked his chin, deep in thought.
Wait?
He hadn't seen any traps or killer moves being prepared
So what were they waiting for?
He couldn't figure it outbut he did trust Endou wasn't bluffing.
That said He knew better than to count on someone else to solve everything. His eyes returned to Golan as he mentally flipped through data, searching for a breakthrough.
...
Meanwhile
Golan shut his mouth again, thick black flames leaking from between his lips like fog.
His beastly eyes locked onto Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer in Yukina's hands, glinting with greed.
"Not bad. That's a fine weapon you've got there"
"But"
"It'll be mine soon! HAHAHA!!"
He burst out laughing, clearly eyeing Schneewalzer like it was treasure.
Snowdrift Wolf: "???"
Yukina suddenly felt the spear in her hand trembleviolently.
Then, all on its own, it shot out of her hand with a brilliant flash!
FWIP
It launched itself straight at Golan!
Endou: "???"
She blinked. "You're attacking again?"
But Yukina shook her head with a complicated expression. "Nope."
"Uh"
Endou pointed at the flying spear. "Then what's that?"
"It's moving on its own."
"???"
Endou looked even more confused.
Yukina stared at the charging spear, her voice uncertain.
"I think Snowdrift Wolf is Angry?"
"???"
.
.
.
The Snowdrift Wolf charged forward with a blinding white glow radiating from its body.
If you looked closely, you could even catch a faint glimmer of rainbow-colored light shimmering around it.
Seeing this, both Yukina and Endou's eyes widened in surprise.
But Yukina frowned slightlyher magic power It was draining way too fast.
It felt like the magic inside her wasn't nearly enough to keep the Snowdrift Wolf going.
Seriously?
Yukina looked a bit embarrassed. She was supposed to be the weapon's master, but she was holding it back?
The Snowdrift Wolf seemed to notice this as well. Once that hint of rainbow color reached a peak, it stopped reacting altogether.
ThatThat was all the magic Yukina could muster.
The Snowdrift Wolf: ""
"?"
Endou raised an eyebrow. Wait a minutedid she just see a spear looking speechless?
What the hell?
Sure, she knew the Snowdrift Wolf had shown signs of sentience lately.
But stillwas it just her, or were its emotions getting more and more expressive?
If one day it turned into a human, she wouldn't even be surprised anymore.
---
Meanwhile
Golan sneered as the Snowdrift Wolf charged toward him again.
"Nice weapon shame about the person using it."
After that last clash, he'd basically figured out Yukina's limits when it came to wielding the Snowdrift Wolf.
He wasn't worried in the slightest.
His massive arms surged with black flames. Raising both hands, he lunged forward to grab the charging beast!
Two gigantic, flame-wreathed hands came crashing down like a black net, aiming to completely smother the Snowdrift Wolf!
The intense flames twisted the air around themso hot the distortion was visible.
But just as Golan's hands were about to close in, the Snowdrift Wolf suddenly burst with radiant light!
HUMMMM
From within the white glow, a sliver of rainbow lightsmall, yet piercingstood out brilliantly.
SSSZZZHH
The light touched Golan's arms, and a sizzling sound immediately followed!
The black flames wrapped around his arms started to vanish, as if someone were erasing them with a rubber.
Golan's eyes shrank, pupils contracting in shock. A creeping sense of dread surged from deep within.
And then
A searing pain tore through his right arm!
"AGHHHH!"
He grunted, biting back a scream, eyes darting to his arm.
What had once been a massive limb was now just a bloody stump.
Blood gushed out in torrents, dripping onto the stone floor with a splat, splat.
His face contorted in agony as he staggered back, clutching his severed limb with his remaining hand. A strand of magic sealed off the bleeding, finally allowing him to breathe again.
He gritted his teeth and stared ahead.
What just happened?!
His gaze landed on the Snowdrift Wolfnow dim and lifeless on the ground.
That weapon?!
ButWhere was his arm?
Golan immediately looked around frantically. If he could find the severed limb in time, maybejust maybehe could reattach it.
But no matter how hard he searched, there was no trace of it.
That only made his rage worse.
The sudden turn of events left both Liana and Gajou stunned.
Waitdid that actually work?
Seeing the state he was in, they finally reacted, a glimmer of hope flashing in their eyes.
Maybe they still had a chance!
But then they looked over at Yukina, who was gasping for breathand that flicker of hope dimmed once more.
She looked completely drained.
Damn it!
Sure, the attack landedbut if she used up all her magic just to take off one of his arm.
Liana's heart sank again. She glanced at the Snowdrift Wolf, now embedded in the floor.
If Yukina was out of juice then maybe I
"Don't even think about it."
Endou's calm voice cut in, as if reading her thoughts.
"If the Snowdrift Wolf doesn't acknowledge you, you're not even qualified to use it."
Liana froze, frowning.
Endou kept staring at the weapon, quietly muttering to herself.
"Return the world to Zero"
"That ability's seriously busted."
To think Yukina, who only had the magic power of a mid-class devil, could pull that off?
What if her power increased even more?
Endou clicked her tongue, clearly unsettled by the thought.
She turned back to Yukina with a curious look. "You've already mastered the Snowdrift Wolf's true power?"
Yukina, still bent over and catching her breath, shook her head.
"No."
"Hm?"
Endou raised an eyebrow.
Yukina sucked in some air and continued, "That wasn't me the Snowdrift Wolf acted on its own."
Her current ability wasn't enough to unleash the weapon's full potential. And even if she could after what just happened, she probably wouldn't dare use it so easily again.
Her face was palecompletely spent.
Endou's eyes flickered thoughtfully. "So"
"The Snowdrift Wolf can activate itself?"
Interesting.
Also, was it just her imagination, or was that thing getting weirdly emotional?
Endou looked a bit thrown off.
---
On the other side
Still unable to find his missing arm, Golan was seething.
His beast-like eyes narrowed past the fallen weapon, locking onto Yukina and the others.
He'd dismissed them as minor playersbut they'd actually managed to put him in this pathetic state?!
"You all DIE."
He opened his jaws wide, his voice icy and guttural.
And in the very next instant
A jet-black flame erupted from within!
He inhaled deeply, and a blazing sphere of dark fire condensed in his mouth.
With a deafening roar, a massive beam of black energy exploded outward!
The moment it fired, Liana and the others' pupils shrank in terror.
Even in this underground tomb encased in layers of ice, they could feel the burning heat surging from that beam!
'We're going to die.'
That was the only thought that flashed through Liana's mind.
Endou's eyes narrowed, and in a blur, she raised several barriers to try and block the incoming attack!
But
Crack! Crack!
Sharp shattering sounds echoed as the black flames collided with the barriers.
Every single one of them snapped like twigscompletely overwhelmed.
Endou froze. She hadn't expected Golan to suddenly unleash this kind of terrifying power.
But even so, she wasn't panicking.
HUMMMM
Just before the black flame engulfed them, a large black magic circle flared to life on the icy floor.
And thenA tall figure emerged from it.
It was Lynnsummoned through the group chat by Yukina's message.
He gave the incoming beam a quick glance, raised an eyebrow, then looked over at Endou.
"This supposed to be my welcome party?"
Endou laughed awkwardly, scratching her head, unsure of what to say. She just gave him a sheepish smile.
Lynn's eyes swept over the roaring black beam, then he calmly raised a hand.
His lips parted.
"Cero."
.
.
.
A flash of bright green light spiraled around Lynn's fingertipsthen with a loud boom, it shot forward like a cannon!
In an instant, it tore through the black flames and surged ahead!
"...!"
Golan's eyes widened, his beast-like pupils immediately swallowed up by a sea of emerald green.
The very next second
The green beam swallowed him whole.
BOOM!!
The underground tomb shook violently.
Crack, crack
Cracks spread rapidly across the icy floor, the sharp sound echoing clearly through the chamber.
A few seconds later, the green light faded.
Golan along with the entire beastman army behind himwas gone. Just gone.
All that remained in the underground tomb was the sound of cracking ice. Everything else had gone still again.
Liana Caruana stared in stunned silence at the scene before her, her eyes filled with confusion.
It had happened so fast, she hadn't even processed what had just occurred.
The Black Death Emperor's executive?
He was justwiped out? Just like that?
She blinked and finally turned to look in the direction of the green user.
That's when she saw him.
A man with messy black hair and deep red eyes.
Liana's eyes narrowed slightly in confusion.
But one thing was clear
That green beam just now? It came from him.
She focused on Lynn's fingers. Traces of glowing green still danced along them.
Another powerhouse?
Nosomeone even stronger. Someone who had just wiped out the very person she had absolutely no way of defeating.
That thought made her heart clench uneasily.
Why was this man here? What did he want from the tomb?
There was really only one answer: the Fourth Primogenitor.
And if that was true.
Liana's heart sank. She just wanted to restore her family's honorwhy did it have to be this hard?
---
Elsewhere
"Did... we make it?" Kojou Akatsuki blinked, still unsure.
But no one answered him.
Gajou Akatsuki was completely silent, standing frozen, not daring to move a muscle.
Inside, though, his thoughts were a storm.
He just felt the threat of actual death.
By himthat man.
Gulp.
Since escaping from the Netherworld, he'd seen a lot. Faced his share of monsters. He had even seen the legendary Warlord once.
But even then, he had never felt something like this.
Not even the Warlord gave him this kind of instinctual fear.
That unshakable confidence he'd always carriedit was gone.
Gone the moment this man appeared.
Because his body was screaming at her: this man could kill you.
He swallowed hard. All traces of his usual smugness vanished.
This guy might be even scarier than the Warlord.
That single thought ran through his mindand it chilled him to the bone.
Scarier than the Warlord? Was that even possible?
And then, his thoughts shifted back to something Endou had said earlier"Wait."
Wait... for him?
The realization hit him like a truck.
No wonder...
No wonder Endou and Yukina hadn't seemed the least bit worried.
So that's why.
---
On the other side
"Lord Lynn!" Yukina quickly bowed as soon as she saw him.
'Lynn...?' Liana frowned. 'They know each other?'
As she was trying to piece it together, the Snowdrift Wolfpreviously embedded in the icy groundsuddenly quivered.
Whoosh
In a flash, it shot toward Lynn and began circling him excitedly, like a loyal pet greeting its master.
Lynn chuckled and gave it a gentle pat like it was a puppy, then turned his eyes toward the icy coffin.
A soft laugh escaped him. "Sleeping beauty, huh...?"
It reminded him of Ingvildhow he'd first met her, sleeping peacefully in a similar coffin of ice.
Maybe I should've brought her to see this...
Liana noticed his gaze shifting toward the Fourth Primogenitor and immediately tensed. Her mouth opened like she wanted to speakbut Gajou shook his head slightly at her.
She understood.
Pressed her lips togetherand stayed quiet.
Endou noticed all this and smirked.
"Well," she said, "here's the prince to wake your sleeping beauty."
Liana's eye twitched.
Gee, thanks...
But anyway, if it weren't for this man, she'd be dead by now.
And those two kids... they'd probably be safe now, too.
She still felt a deep sense of guilt for getting Kojou and his sister caught up in all this.
Lynn stepped up to the ice coffin, lifted his hand, and tapped it lightly.
Crack
InstantlyBang!
The icy blue shell exploded into powder.
The Fourth Primogenitor's figure became clear.
A golden-haired girl, limp like she had no bones, slowly tilted forwardthen thudcollapsed right into Lynn's arms.
As he held her soft form, Lynn gently called her name: "Avrora."
"Mmm..."
It was like she'd heard his voice.
Avrora let out a soft hum, her lashes trembling faintlyas though she were just about to wake up.
Seeing this, Liana's breath caught in her throat. Her hands clenched nervously at her sides.
Seconds passed.
Then finally, Avrora's eyes opened. Deep blue like ancient frost. Empty, unreadable.
Liana rushed forward, kneeling down with respect. "Liana Caruana, sixth head of House Caruana! I pay my respects to Her Majesty, the Fourth Primogenitor!"
"...??"
Avrora tilted her head slightly, peering down at Liana in confusion.
Who?
She blinked.
But rather than answering, she turned her attention to Lynn. Both hands pressed against his chest as she slowly sat upright. Her gaze swept the room as she tilted her head, curious.
"Y-You... Who art thou? Why hast thou woken me?"
(Translation: Y-You Who are you? Why have you woken me?)
She was clearly trying to sound seriousbut her really trembling voice gave her away.
Endou: "..."
The legendary Fourth Primogenitor.
Why did she sound like such a flustered kitten?
Liana paused toobut quickly brushed it off. She just woke up, she reassured herself. It's normal to be disoriented.
Looking at Avrora's cautious, catlike expression, Lynn couldn't help himself. He reached out and ruffled her golden hair.
Her eyes widened in shock, pupils trembling. She squirmed and started to pull away.
"Y-You dare touch me?! II'm very powerful! You'll regret this!"
She made an angry little growl.
But then Grroogl~
"Ugh..."
She froze, hands clutching her stomach.
And in a pitiful voice, she muttered
"I'm... hungry."
.
.
.
"???"
Was that her stomach growling?
Hearing that, Liana Caruana's eye twitched. She almost couldn't stop herself from glancing at Avrora.
This... wasn't what she expected at all.
This was supposed to be the Fourth Primogenitor? Really?
From just a few simple words, Liana couldn't sense even the slightest bit of the authority or presence that should come with being one of the world's most powerful vampires.
Something felt off.
"Did I dig up the wrong coffin...?"
Liana couldn't help but question herself. But at the same time that vampire auraundeniably strong.
And her appearance... identical to the other test subjects.
There was no mistaking it.
This was the Fourth Primogenitor.
Still, why did she seem so different?
Even Endou couldn't help but mutter, "This is the Fourth Primogenitor? She's just a kid."
Standing to the side, Yukina wasn't sure what to say either.
But honestly, the Fourth Primogenitor was kind of adorable.
"Lord Lynn will probably make her part of his Familia," she thought silently.
If someone had told her before that they were planning to turn one of the Four Primogenitors into their follower, she'd have thought they were either insane or incredibly stupid.
Even now, anyone saying that out loud would probably be laughed out of the room.
After all, Primogenitors are basically the Vampire equivalent of Devil Kings. Joining a devil's Peerage? No thanks.
But.. Lynn was different.
She hadn't been in his Familia for long, but even just these past few days had completely changed her perspective.
So now?
If Lynn said he was going to make the Fourth Primogenitor one of his own. Yukina wouldn't even be surprised.
---
Meanwhile
Liana Caruana finally shook off her doubts and convinced herself.
Sure, it was strange for a Primogenitor to be hungry. But hey, having an appetite was normal, right?
Especially when someone had been asleep for who knows how long. It made sense they'd wake up starving.
Her expression shifted several times before finally settling into calm.
"Your Excellency, I'll prepare food for you immediately!"
As a proper subordinate, there was no need to ask questions. All she needed to do was fulfill the request.
She had just started to get up when
"No need."
"?"
Liana blinked, stunned.
Avrora's voice... something about it changed.
It was still the same tone, but colderlike a sudden frost sweeping through the entire underground tomb.
An invisible pressure pressed down on her chest like an icy vice.
What... what was this? A bloodline-level pressure!?
Her heart clenched.
"Y-Your Excellency...?"
Liana dropped to her knees, voice trembling.
The timid look on Avrora's face vanished. In its place was a cold, haughty indifference.
Her eyes slowly shifted to the vacant-eyed Nagisa Akatsuki. Her deep blue irises suddenly flared scarlet.
A slow, amused smile curled on her lips.
"That shrine maiden over there... looks delicious."
"!!!"
Gajou's eyes widened in alarm.
The Fourth Primogenitor had locked onto Nagisa!
This was bad.
His brow twitched. His heart raced.
A cold sweat broke across his forehead.
What now?
Gajou felt a wave of panic.
He instinctively turned to Lynn.
If he was willing to help...
But Gajou didn't know anything about Lynn's personalityor what would convince him to step in.
Tch!
He bit the inside of his cheek, forcing himself to focus and search for a way out.
...
Across the room
Liana snapped her gaze back to Avrora's now ice-cold expression, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
Nagisa?
She turned and saw the empty look in the girl's eyes. Her heart ached.
Liana opened her mouth, wanting to say somethinganything to stop this.
But Avrora lowered her gaze. Her chilling eyes stabbed into Liana like daggers of frost.
Liana gasped. Her mind blanked. The words she wanted to speak caught in her throat, stuck and unable to come out.
Avrora frowned.
"Well? Why haven't you offered the shrine maiden to me yet?"
Her voice dropped into an arctic hiss.
"Don't tell me you expect me to get her myself?"
Whoosh
A cold wind swept through the tomb like a deathly whisper, freezing the very air.
Gulp.
Kojou swallowed hard. His legs trembled without thinking.
This is it... I might die.
ButHe didn't move.
Feet rooted to the ground, fists clenched, he stood protectively in front of Nagisa.
At this point, blaming his father, Gajou was the last thing on his mind.
He only had one thought: I won't let anything happen to Nagisa.
His eyes blazed with determination, even though fear gripped him.
He stared Avrora down, trying to intimidate herthough he was the one trembling.
Avrora barely even glanced at him.
"Looks like the world's forgotten to fear me after all these years of slumber."
She was clearly annoyed.
She was the Fourth Primogenitorand yet not one person had obeyed her command.
Liana's heart dropped.
She had originally hoped to follow the Fourth Primogenitor and revive her family's fading legacy.
But now?
What good is a follower who disobeys?
No, Her Excellency wouldn't want someone like that.
And yetCould she really attack an innocent person?
No.
Especially not when Nagisa had only gotten dragged into this mess trying to help her.
That made it even harder to accept.
What should she do?
Liana's body wavered slightly, on the verge of collapsing.
It felt like everything she'd worked foreverything she'd plannedwas falling apart before it even began.
Her eyes dimmed.
"...Hmph."
Avrora let out a cold snort, but the scent coming from Nagisa was so mouthwatering that she held back her punishment.
Her crimson eyes locked onto the girl like a predator. She instinctively licked her lips, breathing just a little faster.
That blood... It had to be delicious.
She'd been in forced slumber for so longof course she was cranky.
But waking up to such a tempting offering?
Yeah, that definitely took the edge off her mood.
Step by step, she began moving toward Nagisa.
ThenA large hand gently pressed down on her head.
". . . ?"
A question mark practically popped up over her head.
She blinked, confused.
Who?
Who would dare touch the head of the great Fourth Primogenitor?
She whipped around, eyes glittering with frost.
And saw Lynn's calm face.
"Avrora Try to be a good girl."
He smiled slightly.
.
.
.
Avrora's crimson eyes flashed coldly as Lynn's face appeared in her mind.
Liana Caruana stared wide-eyed at the hand Lynn had casually placed on Avrora's head, her pupils trembling in disbelief.
Hehehow dare he?!
She clenched her fists so tightly that her palms were instantly drenched in sweat.
In stark contrast...
Akatsuki Gojou's eyes lit up with curiosity, even a hint of anticipation surfacing in his gaze.
Meanwhile, Endou and the others remained totally calm, showing not a trace of concern.
Sure, the Fourth Primogenitor was an existence far beyond what they could normally deal with.
But in front of Lynn?
Even a true ancestor was just another girl.
Still, Endou couldn't help but find it oddthis proud and haughty Primogenitor had suddenly gone stiff the moment she saw Lynn?
Avrora stared blankly at Lynn, then her small nose twitched as she took a deep sniff.
And instantlyLynn's scent rushed into her nose.
Avrora shuddered violently. Her chest heaved rapidly, her breath turning ragged like a set of bellows.
Her crimson eyes glazed over, and a clear line of drool slid from the corner of her soft lips.
"S-So much life force!!"
Her voice trembled with excitement as her thighs began rubbing together in desperation.
How had she not noticed this overwhelming vitality before?!
Was it because she'd been asleep too long? Had her senses dulled that much?
Avrora mentally kicked herself. She'd almost missed out!
Her gaze zeroed in on Lynn againthis time drifting down to his neck.
Gulp.
Her throat bobbed, and the drool only flowed faster.
His blood it had to be legendary. A once-in-a-lifetime vintage.
She wanted it.
She needed it.
Her face started twisting with barely restrained hunger. Her cute lips parted slightly as drool dripped to the icy floor. Her fangs gleamed with an eerie light.
At this point, she didn't even care that Lynn still had his hand on her head.
Driven entirely by instinct, Avrora leaned forward, her lips slowly inching toward Lynn's neck.
"?"
Lynn raised a brow, watching her behave like some sort of bloodthirsty zombie. His expression turned strange.
What the hell is this girl doing?
With a flat expression, he lifted his hand and pressed it against her forehead, gently pushing her away.
"Mmgh"
As the distance between her and his neck grew, Avrora let out a small whimper, puffing out her cheeks in protest.
"Just one bite just a little taste"
She murmured unconsciously, lips twitching with need.
Lynn's eye twitched at her words.
She was so desperate she'd even forgotten her usual "royal speech" pattern.
This girl's seriously down bad.
Hearing her muttering, everyone else went quiet for a moment. Then they all turned to Avrora with weird expressions.
Wait this is the Fourth Primogenitor?!
Liana Caruana's eyelid twitched violently, and she quickly looked down, not wanting the Primogenitor to see her faceand the clear signs of disbelief on it.
But deep down, her image of the Fourth Primogenitor had just cracked a little.
Time passed.
Avrora was using every ounce of strength in her body to get closer, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't budge past Lynn's palm.
The frustration of being so close and yet unable to bite made her face twist into something feral.
Eventually
Her red eyes cleared up, and the strength in her neck vanished.
Then she noticed the awkward stares from everyone around her.
Avrora: ""
Oops.
Maybe she'd gone a little overboard?
Still, with the thick skin only an ancient monster could grow, Avrora didn't show a hint of embarrassment.
She was the Primogenitor. Everything she did was justified.
But
She glared at Lynn, clearly annoyed that he wouldn't let her taste his blood. She shrugged off his hand and narrowed her eyes, clearly scheming.
After a moment of thought She crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and declared haughtily:
"If thou allowest me to taste thy blood, I shall bestow upon thee the honor of becoming my first embrace, to follow behind me!"
"?"
Lynn looked at her, face unreadable.
Usually, he was the one turning people into followers. And now she was flipping the script?
Not gonna lie
This was definitely a first.
---
Meanwhile
Endou and Yukina exchanged stunned glances.
Wait.
Was she asking Lord Lynn to join her familia?!
That's full-on backwards!!
She was actually trying to turn Lynn into her vassal?!
Liana Caruana stared at Lynn with a mixture of awe and envy. Deep down, she was practically begging to switch places with him.
To be the Fourth Primogenitor's first embrace?!
That was an honor no one had ever received in all of history!
There wasn't a single documented case of the Fourth Primogenitor ever taking a retainer!
Which meant, if Lynn said yes, he'd become the first and only.
The kind of thing that gets you written into vampire history textbooks.
Gulp.
The thought made Liana unconsciously swallow her envy.
Though it also left her a little deflated.
Why not her?
She'd been the one funding and organizing the search for the Fourth Primogenitor.
But apparently, her efforts weren't enough.
She couldn't begin to fathom what kind of quality Lynn had that drew the Primogenitor's interest.
Still, Liana's gaze turned serious as she studied Lynn.
She wanted to learn from him.
But then her thoughts circled back to what had just happened.
The biting the blood.
She touched her own slender neck.
If the Primogenitor wanted blood that badly, she'd gladly offer hers.
But it didn't seem like she was interested in Liana's blood.
Honestly, she probably wasn't even as tempting as Akatsuki Nagisa.
"Sigh"
Liana sighed quietly.
...
Meanwhile, Lynn looked at Avrora's smug expression, chin lifted like she was bestowing a divine gift.
And he couldn't help but laugh.
Avrora: "?"
Her brow furrowed.
What the hell was so funny?
She huffed, clearly offended.
"To become my servant is a dream many would die for!"
Lynn didn't reply with words. He just smirked and lifted his finger.
With a flick, a thread of golden flame flickered to life at his fingertip.
The Life Flame. One of the skills Yurikawa Hana got as the Life Devil.
It radiated pure vitalityan overwhelming life force.
The moment Avrora saw it, her pupils dilated.
Drool started pouring again.
Lynn caught the glint in her eye, and his smirk deepened.
Yup.
When she first muttered about "massive life energy," he'd already suspected itespecially after getting feedback from Hana.
Lynn's life energy had become so vast, so boundless, that it was practically an ocean.
No wonder Avrora was practically drooling rivers.
He moved his finger slightly to the rightand Avrora's head followed, eyes locked on that golden flame.
He raised it higherand her head tilted up, like a kitten chasing a laser pointer, crimson eyes full of longing.
Lynn chuckled and teased her with it for a while, like he was toying with a pet.
Everyone watching was stunned speechless.
The Fourth Primogenitor Completely tamed.
.
.
.
"You want this?"
Lynn twirled the golden flame of life on his fingertip. The sheer vitality radiating from it was so rich and potent that Avrora couldn't take her eyes off it. She was practically drooling.
At his words, she nodded instinctively, her gaze locked on the flame, her expression brimming with desire.
Lynn smirked. "Become my follower, and you can have as much of this as you want."
"Mhm!" Avrora nodded again without thinking but then paused. Her eyes cleared up almost instantly.
Become your follower?
Her? The Fourth Primogenitor?
Serving someone else?
What the hell?!
Her brain went into overdrive, a storm of question marks flashing through her mind.
Wasn't something off?
Wasn't their role reversed?
She finally managed to pull her attention away from the life flame and narrowed her crimson eyes at Lynn. A strange glint flickered behind themsomething unmistakably hostile.
She didn't even try to hide it.
Let herthe Fourth Primogenitorbe someone's follower?
Avrora's lips curled into a cold sneer. Was this guy serious? Did he have any idea who he was talking to?
But then as she looked at Lynn a little more seriously, something unexpected surfaced in her heart.
There was something off about this man.
Those wine-red eyes of histhere wasn't even a hint of fear or awe in them. Not even toward her, the Fourth Primogenitor.
Avrora frowned and casually glanced at Liana Caruana, who was still kneeling on the ground.
The moment Liana felt Avrora's gaze, she instantly bowed her head lower, not daring to meet her eyes. Cold sweat soaked her back as her pupils dilated.
'He he actually dared to say something like that to the Fourth Primogenitor?!'
'He's dead. He's so, so dead'
'Lady Fourth Primogenitor's gonna explode for sure.'
'That guy was gonna be ripped to shreds!'
Just picturing it made Liana shudder. How the hell did he have the guts?!
---
On the other side
Avrora gave Liana an approving nod. Now that was the normal reaction someone should have when facing her.
Then she turned her gaze toward Gajou and Kojou.
Hmm
Anxiety, worry, fear?
Also normal.
Next up was Endou and Yukina.
But when her eyes fell on the two of them, Avrora's expression twitched again.
Calm?
They had the same calm, composed attitude as that man!
Avrora was getting more and more irritated.
Had people already forgotten the name of the Fourth Primogenitor just because she'd been asleep for a while?
But what bugged her even more was the way these two looked at Lynn.
Respect?
They were looking at him with respect?
She's the Fourth Primogenitor, not him!
Avrora's eyebrows twitched.
At the same time, she caught a scent on Yukinafaint, but unmistakable. It belonged to that man.
And not just that There was another strange smell on her too.
And it definitely wasn't human.
Avrora's mind went into overdrive as she dug through her ancient memories, trying to place it.
She suddenly looked up, eyes sharp and locked onto Lynn.
"Devil?!"
Lynn didn't look surprised in the slightest.
In fact, he was kind of disappointed it took her this long to figure it out.
'Seriously? You're the Fourth Primogenitor and only just noticed? You sleep that deep?'
Avrora blinked in mild surprise, but then quickly regained her composure.
A devil, huh? Just a devil.
No big deal.
Nothing compared to the dignity and might of a Fourth Primogenitor.
And yet, a mere devil had the nerve to try and recruit her?
The arrogance!
Avrora narrowed her eyes. "Devils recruit followers now? Copying vampires?"
That definitely wasn't a thing back in her day.
StillRegardless of what he is, anyone who dares to offend me deserves punishment.
Yep. She'd made up her mind.
She'd drain him dry and turn him into devil jerky.
That massive life force of his made her crave it even more.
He needed to be punished. Severely.
Avrora licked her lips, eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Saying something like that to me... You must be ready to die."
As soon as the words left her mouth
She lunged forward with lightning speed, hand shooting straight for Lynn's neck.
"Your blood is mine tonight."
"No one can save you now!"
Smack!
Just as Avrora was about to land her strike, Lynn's hand suddenly shot up and caught her wrist mid-air.
"?"
Avrora blinked, then tried to yank her hand back.
"!!!!!"
What the hell?! So much strength?!
Her eyes widened as she realizedshe couldn't move at all.
Lynn's expression remained calm. "Haven't you considered something?"
"??"
Avrora frowned, waiting for whatever he had to say.
"With life energy this massive do you really think I'm someone you can just mess with?"
"...?!"
Avrora's pupils shrank.
And before she could process anything else, the world flipped upside downbam!she crashed face-first onto the icy floor.
THUD!
A loud, satisfying thud echoed through the underground tomb. It sounded like she'd hit her head pretty hard.
Avrora lay there, cheek pressed against the cold ice, blinking blankly.
What just happened?
Who am I again?
. . .
"Y-Your Majesty, the Fourth Primogenitor!"
Liana Caruana gasped in horror, instinctively shouting.
Endou raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the show.
Gajou had somehow made his way closer to Kojou and Nagisa, a relieved expression on his face.
"Good, with the Fourth Primogenitor focused on the new guy, that means Nagisa's safe for now."
Still, he stayed alert. It wasn't over yet.
Avrora remained sprawled out for a few moments, dazed, before finally realizing what had just happened. She began to struggle.
Lynn, still expressionless, calmly stepped on her belly, pinning her down.
"Bastard!"
Avrora growled in frustration.
Her strength hadn't fully recovered yet. Her powers were still scattered somewhere. And now she was being stepped on by a devil?
How humiliating!
So this is what it's like when a lion falls and even the rats come out to bite, huh?
Damn it all!
But Lynn's words stuck in her head. Someone with that much life force definitely not a pushover.
Avrora's eyes narrowed.
A new idea sparked.
"If I can't suck him dry then I'll just become him!"
The moment the thought hit
A ghostly blue soul emerged from Avrora's body, drifting upward before shooting toward Lynn at high speed.
"Then I'll just take this tasty body for myself!!"
Her eyes gleamed with triumph. She wore the smile of someone certain of victory.
"Bet you didn't expect me to try possession, huh?"
But Lynn just raised an eyebrow, smiling back with a strange expression.
'A spirit form, huh'
'You really picked the wrong guy.'
Thanks to the feedback he'd gotten from Miko, Midoriko, Kikyo, and the others, Lynn's spiritual resistance and soul manipulation skills had skyrocketed.
So, this?
Avrora was walking straight into a trap.
As her spirit form closed in, Lynn lifted his hand slightlycalm as ever.
.
.
.
(These chapters can be used as the Ultimate Filler Manual for any writer fr.)
Snap!
The moment Avrora's soul brushed against Lynn's hand, a crisp sound echoed in the air.
The next instant, she felt a crushing grip around her throat.
"?!!"
Avrora's eyes shot wide open.
What the hell?!This guy he can grab a soul?!
Panic flashed across her face. Her hands instinctively shot to Lynn's, trying to force herself free by sheer strength.
But... Nothing.
She didn't even budge his gripnot even slightly.
Worse Lynn didn't even seem to notice she was struggling.
"So weak."
Lynn sounded genuinely surprised.
She's supposed to be the Fourth Primogenitor. That's Devil King-tier, a Satan, right?
Even if she'd lost all her familiars shouldn't she still be way stronger than this?
Honestly, she might even be weaker than Ultimate-Class Devil.
Well... to be fair, her original method of possession was hard to guard against. If someone didn't have a way to directly target souls, Avrora could be a real paineven without her powers.
Unfortunately for her, the first person she encountered happened to be Lynn.
---
Lynn glanced at Avrora's spirit, then at the unconscious girl sprawled across the icy floor.
His brow twitched.
Wait a second... Now I remember.
That spiritshe must be the original Fourth Primogenitor.
And the girlthat has to be the real Avrora, the one I remember from the show.
So from one future familia member to two?
I'm so lucky.
He hadn't expected the Fourth Primogenitor's soul alone to be a worthy candidate for his familia.
But now that he thought about it, Avrora and the Fourth Primogenitor were originally two separate beings.
So, it made sense.
"Change of plans," Lynn said to the soul he was holding. "You're Cyrora Florestina."
"This girl who has the body there will be Avrora Florestina. Yeah, that's perfect."
The Fourth Primogenitor (Cyrora) was starting to panic. She still couldn't shake off Lynn's grip.
She shouted urgently, "Number Twelve!"
"You should be awake by now, right?!"
"Hurry up and freeze this guy into an ice sculpture!"
She knew all too well
Once her soul left Number Twelve's body, that girl's original consciousness would resurface and retake control of the vessel.
"Stop sleeping, damn it!!"
Cyrora almost swore in frustration.
"Ugh..."
Avrora, the real one, stirred with a groggy noise, her sleepy eyes slowly blinking open.
She looked around in confusion, still not quite sure what was going on.
"You idiot, hurry and help me!"
Cyrora was practically shrieking now.
Hearing the yelling, Avrora instinctively turned her headand her eyes went wide in shock.
"Th-The Original?!"
"Quit staring! Freeze him before I reclaim your body!"
Yeah that was a bluff.
"A-ah, okay!"
Avrora flinched and nodded instinctively. She tried to get up
But couldn't.
She blinked, lowering her gaze to her belly.
A foot was firmly planted on it, pinning her down like a mountain.
She looked up at the owner of the foot, then muttered seriously, "Dirty."
Lynn: "..."
Yep, still liked Avrora's airheaded innocence the most.
"You idiot, what are you just standing there for?!"
Cyrora was fuming, her little ghostly feet stomping the air in rage.
Honestly?
She looked like a brat throwing a tantrum.
Lynn made a fair judgment.
Avrora shrank back at the scolding, nervously pointing to Lynn's foot with a pitiful look. "I-I can't get up"
Cyrora: "..."
She looked at Avrora's helpless state and was speechless.
"You're getting held down by a single foot?!"
"Use your power!"
Avrora's eyes flicked to the hand that was holding Cyrora's soul in place.
And quietly muttered, "You're also stuck with just one hand."
Cyrora: "..."
Damn it! Just because she mumbled doesn't mean I didn't hear that!
Cyrora was furious.
How dare a lowly vessel talk back to her!?
Still, given the situation, she needed Number Twelve right now.
Once she got that body in her hands, she'd be the first to reclaim it!
"Use The Bewitching Princess of Azure Ice!"
After grumbling internally, Cyrora forced her tone to sound calm, though her rushed pace betrayed her anxiety.
"R-Right..."
Following her instruction, a phantom-like projection formed behind Avrorapart mermaid, part mythical siren.
In an instant
The already chilly crypt was flooded with icy cold air.
Whoosh
A biting wind whipped through the space, coating the frozen ground in even thicker layers of frost.
Liana and the others instantly shivered, eyes widening as they stared at the projection.
"Twelfth Familiar - Alrescha-Glacies! (Pisces Dodekatos)"
Liana gasped.
As someone who had once followed the Fourth Primogenitor, she'd pored over every scrap of information availableand she knew the familiar beasts well.
ButNo written description could ever compare to the real thing!
Even the ambient cold leaking from its presence was enough to make her, a seasoned vampire, feel like she was going to freeze solid.
Terrifying.
This was the power of a true Progenitor.
---
On the other side of the room
Gajou Akatsuki was hugging his son and daughter, teeth chattering, as if dunked into a frozen lake.
Frost gathered on his eyebrows and hair.
He had the sinking feeling he was going to end up an icicle at this rate.
Shiiiiver
Just the aftershocks of this ability felt like death was right around the corner!
This was insane!!
---
Back on Lynn's end
Cyrora finally relaxed a little once Avrora managed to summon the Bewitching Princess of Azure Ice.
She lifted her chin arrogantly.
"Now freeze him into a popsicle for me. But keep him alive."
That body was way too perfect to waste.
Even if she didn't get to enjoy it, it could still make an excellent vessel.
Avrora replied meekly, "U-Understood"
But just as she was about to move
She froze.
Wait a second
Why was she listening to the Original again?
Avrora suddenly had a moment of clarity.
If the Original fully regained control, wouldn't she just absorb her?
Avrora, having connected the dots, stood motionless.
On Lynn's end, he gazed at the Princess of Azure Ice behind Avrora, a glint flashing in his eyes.
...
Inside his system interface
Within the space labeled [Devil Piece], the Pisces constellation symbol began to pulse and flash wildly.
At the same time
Stella's voice whispered sweetly in his ear.
"Master~ Master~ That familiar would be great for Pisces~"
Not that Lynn needed the reminderhe'd already noticed something unusual.
In fact, he'd long suspected this.
Anything tied to the Zodiac seemed to trigger a response from the Devil Piece system.
If he took Avrora in as a familia.
What would happen to Pisces?
Lynn felt a surge of anticipation.
His eyes lit up as he looked at Avrora again.
At the same time, he lifted his foot from her belly.
This was his future familia member, after all.
Gotta treat her with care.
Besides, all of this was Cyrora's fault anyway!
"????"
.
.
.
Avrora blinked, tilting her head as she looked up at Lynn, her eyes full of confusion.
Her expression seemed to say: "Why did you pull your foot back?"
She rubbed her belly instinctively, and just like that, the pangs of hunger hit her full force.
"Um!"
She pouted, clearly a little upset.
"So hungry"
She'd already been starving, but after unleashing the power of her Princess of Azure Ice form, her hunger had only gotten worse.
Stupid Original! How could he make someone work on an empty stomach?!
---
Meanwhile
Cyrora watched as Lynn released Avrora from her restraints. Her eyes blinkedsurprised and a little suspicious.
He actually let her go? Just like that?
She couldn't wrap her head around it.
But thenOpportunity!
Cyrora quickly tried to signal Avrora with her eyes.
Unfortunately, she might as well have been glaring at a wall.
Avrora, still consumed by hunger, didn't notice a thing.
Cyrora was so furious she could barely breathe straight.
This IDIOT!!
"Yammpf!"
Lynn casually clamped a hand over Cyrora's mouth, silencing her completely.
"You're being a bit annoying."
"Mm! Mmm!"
Cyrora's eyes widened as she let out muffled whimpers, her soul form struggling violently.
But no matter how hard she fought, Lynn's grip didn't loosen in the slightest.
With an annoyed glance at her stubborn resistance, Lynn gave Cyrora a rough little shakethen straight-up tossed her into his Devil Piece Space.
. . .
"???"
Cyrora froze, suddenly drifting through a vast, endless galaxy.
What the hell?
Where did he throw her?!
Gulp.
No no way.
Cyrora swallowed hard, completely stunned.
He just flung her into another space like it was nothing?
What kind of godlike power is that?!
Nowait. Maybe it's some sort of spatial manipulation?
Even so this is outer space!? Right?
She glanced around.
That familiar blue planetEarthwas nowhere to be seen.
Can she even go back?
The thought sent a chill down her spine.
Exile.
That was the word that popped into her headand it scared her.
No way!
She had to find a way back!
Cyrora clenched her fists, her eyes burning with determination.
But then, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Hey~ we got a newbie?"
Descending from what looked like a cosmic palace of stars, a girl named Luna floated over, curiously circling Cyrora.
""
A child?
Cyrora blinked, surprised by Luna's appearance.
She was about to ask somethingbut then it hit her: A kid? In space?
And on top of that she didn't smell human. Not even close.
There was no scent of any known race coming off her.
Instantly, Cyrora's guard went up.
Just then, another girl drifted into viewStella.
Glancing at Cyrora, she explained lazily, "Just a newbie on probation. Guess Master tossed her in here to cool off?"
That last bit sounded more like a guess.
Luna rolled her eyes.
Obviously. Stella was just making it up.
Luna shook her head and ignored Stella's nonsense. Instead, she leaned toward Cyrora with a bright look in her eyes.
"So~ you were being naughty?"
""
Stella gave Luna a strange look. "Hey have you developed some weird kink or something?"
Luna shrugged. "This place is boring. Master totally knows thatso he probably sent her in to entertain us."
"Uh"
Stella hesitated. "You really think so?"
"Mhm!" Luna nodded confidently. "Definitely!"
Cyrora: "???"
Wait a damn minute.
Do they seriously think I'm just some easy target?!
She may be stuck in space, but that didn't mean anyone could just walk all over her. She was the Fourth Primogenitor, dammit!
Cyrora was just about to act whenSnap.
A hand suddenly locked around her arm.
Her body went stiff.
This feeling it was way too familiar.
It was likeThat guy had done the same thing to her before.
Cyrora looked up at the girl gripping her arm
And for a split second, she saw a breathtaking, dazzlingzodiac Star chart!
More specificallyCapricorn?!
Cyrora's eyes went wide.
Capricorn's Astral Core?!
It immediately reminded her of her own Familiar Beast.
But no. Something was off.
Cyrora shook her head.
This wasn't her Capricorn. But it was incredibly similar.
A zodiac Star Familiar What was it doing here?
Weren't those supposed to be exclusive to her?!
Cyrora's expression turned grim and uncertain.
Master!
She recalled the earlier conversation between Luna and Stella.
Their so-called "Master"
Could it beLynn?
It didn't take her long to connect the dots.
After all, she wouldn't be here if not for him.
SoWas this place actually a different dimension?
The more she thought about it, the more details jumped out at her.
For exampleWhy was the sun so small?
And why were there pieces floating aroundlike some kind of chessboard?
Still, even if she'd figured out the truth
It wasn't like she could escape.
Worse still
The fact that Lynn had a zodiac Star Familiar like she did... that alone set off alarm bells in her head.
That bastard.
Could he be planning to eat her?
The more she thought about their matching abilities, the more it made sense.
If it were her in his placeShe'd absolutely do it.
Absorbing a familiar of the same origin could cause an explosive leap in power.
SoWhat now?
Convinced she had uncovered Lynn's intentions, Cyrora fell into deep thought.
She didn't even notice the other "constellation girls" starting to gather around her.
And after getting blasted by Luna's star chart just now, she finally realized: Lynn's power totally eclipsed hers.
Well, that was mostly because she hadn't fully recovered her strength yet.
If she had access to all her power, she'd be confident in going toe-to-toe with him.
He had a zodiac Familiar? So did she!
No big deal!
But right now, she was definitely at a disadvantage.
Which made it all the more suspicious: If Lynn wanted her gone, he could've easily finished her off while she was still weak.
Instead, he threw her into this space.
There's gotta be something he's not telling me.
Cyrora's eyes lit up with certainty.
And truth be told, she wasn't that far off the mark.
The only thing she got wrong?
Lynn wasn't planning to eat her. Well, maybe, but not like devour.
He just wanted her to join the familia.
Or more preciselyHe wanted to claim her Familiars.
In the underground tomb
After sending Cyrora into the Devil Space, everything quieted down.
Lynn crouched down in front of Avrora, who was sitting on the icy floor like a pouting duck.
He gently ruffled her golden hair, then pulled out a bottle of milk.
YUP, that milk.
"You want some?"
.
.
.
"...Huh?"
Liana stared at the scene before her, completely baffled.
Waitwhat?
Did something just totally change?
Even the vibe was off now!
What happened to that soul from earlier?
Was that the Fourth Primogenitor?
Then who's this girl sitting on the ground now?
Her brain struggled to process everything.
But thankfully, she'd read enough of the old records to spot some clues.
Taking a deep breath, Liana murmured, "Just now could that have been the legendary Original?"
And this clueless-looking girl in front of her nowwas she the 12th doll, the 12th Kaleid Blood, the one that holds the Original's soul?
So, where did the Original Fourth Primogenitor go?
Her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Meanwhile, Gajou was also scratching his head, clearly just as lost.
But if there was one thing he could figure out Kojou and Nagisa seemed to be safe now?
He could tell: that blonde girl's body had housed two separate consciousnesses.
The arrogant one from earlierthe one who wanted a taste of Nagisawas probably wiped out by Lynn, right?
Thinking that, Gajou finally let out a breath of relief.
On the other side, Avrora hadn't even noticed the disappearance of the Original.
The moment Lynn pulled out a can of milk, her entire focus zeroed in on it.
Staaaaare
She was completely locked on, throat twitching as she swallowed hard.
She was practically drooling.
Honestly, she looked way too much like the Original Fourth Primogenitor (Cyrora) just now.
Except, the Original was all about blood.
Avrora, thoughwas all about food.
Still, there was no denying it: the two were basically just a glutton in disguise!
Lynn caught her sneaky little glances and chuckled softly.
He moved the can slightly toward her.
Avrora bit her lip, eyes filled with inner turmoil, and turned her head away with effort. "I-I can't just eat food from a stranger"
"I have to resist!"
She clenched her fists, but her twitching throat completely gave her away.
Lynn thought for a second then popped open the can.
And instantly, a rich, sweet aroma blasted straight into Avrora's face.
Sniff sniff!
Her nose twitched, eyes flying wide open.
She clenched the tattered fabric of her outfit, nails digging in as she struggled to hold back.
Nope.
She couldn't.
Self-control? What self-control?
In the end, hunger triumphed over reason.
She snatched the can right out of Lynn's hand and chugged it like her life depended on itsoft lips pressed to the rim, gulping it down with happy little noises.
A trail of creamy milk dribbled down her chin, sliding into her clothes and completely shattering whatever innocent image she had left.
...
Moments later
"Ahhh~!"
She finally came up for air, completely satisfied, the empty can in hand.
"Can I get another?!"
Her eyes sparkled, a bright smile lighting up her face. A bit of milk still clung to the corner of her lips.
Noticing the mess, Avrora instinctively licked the corner of her mouth with her little pink tongue.
Lynn smirked.
Yep.
Shizuka's milkperfect bait.
And just like that, he'd caught a big one.
Avrora stood there holding the empty can for a while, but when no refill came, she blinked and looked up in confusion.
That's when she noticed Lynn's teasing half-smile.
Her whole face froze.
Wait a sec
This wasn't a buffet?!
Her aura instantly deflated. The icy presence behind herthe familiar aura of the "Princess of Azure Ice"flickered and faded away.
She hung her head low, nervously poking her fingers together in pure awkwardness.
Then Lynn said quietly, "Well, you did eat my food. That makes you mine now, doesn't it"
"EHHH?!"
Avrora's head shot up, eyes wide as saucers.
Wait wait wait
She sold herself out over a can of milk?!
"No way!" she waved her hands frantically. "The Original would never allow this!"
"She would!"
Lynn glanced at his [Devil Piece Domain], where Stella and the others were let's say "entertaining" Cyrora, and smiled. "Oh, she'll agree."
"...Huh?"
Avrora looked like she was about to cry. Her head jerked around, frantically searching.
Original? Where are you?! Say something!
ButNothing.
The Original was gone.
Avrora blinked, completely thrown.
Did did she just get abandoned?
Her jaw dropped in disbelief.
Seeing her like that, Lynn stood up and gently placed his hand on her head.
"Well, since you don't really have anywhere else to go, why not stick with me for now?"
"Mm"
Avrora flinched slightly at the head-pat, one eye closed, but didn't pull away.
"And besides"
Lynn's voice lowered a bit. "You don't want the Original to swallow you up and erase your existence, right?"
Her pupils shrank.
She swayed slightly, shaken.
She clenched her fists tightly, lips trembling.
He was right. She didn't want that.
Unlike the other vessels, Avrora had developed her own personality after awakening.
She didn't want to lose it.
What she wanted, was a peaceful, normal life.
To live quietly. To enjoy good food.
That last part made her eyes light up again.
So really even though she panicked at first when the Original disappeared, she also felt a bit relieved.
At least for nowShe wasn't in danger of being devoured.
But that pressure on her heart hadn't fully gone away.
So, while she still could she was going to eat to her heart's content!
That was Avrora's honest, true desire.
If she was going to die someday anyway, she might as well die stuffed!
Still, she hesitated.
She didn't know Lynn at all.
But from the looks of it, even the Original couldn't do much to him.
And honestly? What other options did she have?
After a brief struggle, she reached out, tugged gently on Lynn's pant leg, and looked up with a serious face.
"Can I have a refill on that milk from earlier?"
Lynn blinked.
His expression turned slightly strange as he stared at her in silence for a few seconds.
Avrora shrank back nervously. "W-Was that a no?"
"Nah, it's a big yes." Lynn smiled.
And with thatHer eyes sparkled with joy.
"Great! Then I'll go with you!"
Her voice was filled with the most genuine determination she'd ever shown.
Lynn: ""
Welp.
Looks like today's MVP.
Was Marikawa Shizuka and her amazing milk.
Maybe her name should be the Milk Devil from now on.
.
.
.
Gozo Island - Underground Tomb
Lynn grabbed Avrora's hand and pulled her up from the cold stone floor.
New familia member: unlocked!
Well technically.
This place clearly wasn't ideal for a proper reincarnation ritual.
Lynn decided to hold off on bestowing his Blessingfor now.
BesidesHe'd sensed a familiar presence nearby.
That aura Natsuki-chan?
His eyes lit up with a hint of surprise.
What's she doing here? Crashing the party?
Curious, Lynn called out casually, "Hey, Natsuki-chan, not gonna come out and say hi?"
The moment his voice echoed through the tomb, the tension that had just started to ease immediately snapped back.
Gajou Akatsuki froze.
Someone else is here?!
His expression twitched.
Seriously? Is this ever gonna end?
First the Lion King Org, then the Black Death Emperor Faction and now another player joins the chaos?
Gajou's teeth started to ache just thinking about it.
Sure, he'd mentally prepared himself for the mess that would come with getting involved in the Fourth Primogenitor's affairs.
But still, this was on a whole new level.
That said, this new person seemed to know that guy.
The realization calmed Gajou's nerves a little.
After witnessing Lynn's overwhelming strength, Gajou couldn't help but treat him with newfound respect.
And honestly? Lynn did save Nagisahe owed him big time.
...
On the other side, Endou paused when she heard the name "Natsuki."
Natsuki? Minamiya Natsuki?
The Witch of the Void?
Endou's thoughts spun.
What's she doing here?
...
Even Himeragi Yukina was surprised.
"Wait, Natsuki-sensei?" she muttered, blinking.
Same name as our teacher?
After Lynn's words echoed, the tomb fell into an eerie silenceuntil the space itself shimmered slightly with a soft buzz.
Then
A gothic-lolita-styled girl appeared out of thin air, expressionless, clad in black.
It was Minamiya Natsuki.
She laid eyes on Lynn and immediately sighed. "You again? You're everywhere, huh?"
Lynn just shrugged. "Where there's talent for a good familia, you'll always find me."
Natsuki: ""
She stared at him, speechless, then muttered under her breath: "You're a walking addiction to collecting followers"
Just thinking about how many people were already packed into Lynn's lounge made her eye twitch.
Sometimes she honestly couldn't tell if Lynn was building a powerful familia or just fulfilling his personal fantasies.
Because honestly, aside from a few that did have real abilities, didn't he also have a bunch of totally ordinary girls turned devils?
StillThanks to the Blessing system Lynn had developed, Natsuki knew they weren't just pretty faces.
That system made it clear: he was serious about strengthening them.
Even so, now he's targeting the Fourth Primogenitor?
Her gaze shifted to the girl behind Lynn.
"This one's your target now?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Lynn replied, completely shameless.
The look on Natsuki's face twitched again.
"You're the first devil I've seen trying to make a vampire Primogenitor part of his Peerage"
The Primogenitors.
Among vampires, those titles weren't just symbolicthey were the rulers, the absolute top of the food chain.
Trying to turn one into a subordinate?
That was basically begging for an international disaster.
At the very least, the other three Primogenitors weren't going to take this quietly.
Even if they tried to stay calm, the rest of vampire society would force their hands.
As the leaders of their kind, they had to react.
Not just to show strengthbut to keep order.
Natsuki understood the stakes immediately. She opened her mouth to say something
But then glanced at Lynn's calm smileand shut it again.
As if he doesn't already know.
No, Lynn knew exactly what kind of mess this could stir up.
He just didn't care.
Natsuki sighed inwardly, shaking her head.
"I'm the one overthinking this again."
The Old Satan Faction had multiple Devil Kings backing themand Lynn crushed them like bugs.
Those Primogenitors, no matter how legendary, were basically just Satan-level enemies at most.
To Lynn?
They were nothing.
In fact, he might even use this as a chance to rope in another high-quality recruit.
Thinking of the Third Primogenitor, the Chaos Bride, Natsuki's expression shifted subtly.
Yeah that's definitely happening.
With Lynn's personality, it was practically guaranteed.
In that case, there really wasn't much to worry about.
If anything, she should be more concerned for those other Primogenitors.
But then, Natsuki suddenly remembered her original mission and her face stiffened.
With Lynn involved, Was she even going to get her final payment?
Her precious, high-grade tea!!
Natsuki screamed internally.
"Wait, you're really Natsuki-sensei?" Yukina stared in disbelief.
Their elegant, unassuming teacher from Shuchiin Academy wasn't normal at all?!
Natsuki winced a little at hearing the word "sensei" and almost blurted out a line from her day job, before catching herself.
She turned around and blinked when she saw Yukina.
"Ah, Himeragi-san."
Then she froze.
Sensing the faint trace of devil energy on Yukina, Natsuki fell silent.
She slowly turned to Lynn, her expression somewhere between disbelief and irritation.
"She just transferred in, and you already made your move?"
"Made a move?"
Yukina scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Technically I jumped into the net myself.
Lynn just gave a helpless shrug and pointed toward Endou.
"Why don't you ask her?"
Following his gesture, Natsuki's eyes landed on a blonde elf with short hair and sharp features.
Immediately recognizing that striking face, her eyes narrowed.
"Lion King Org?"
"Yo." Endou grinned, one hand on her hip. "Didn't expect our first meeting to be in a place like this, Witch of the Void."
Natsuki gave her a blank stare, glancing from Endou to Yukina and finally to the snowdrift wolf by her side.
Putting the clues together, she narrowed her eyes again.
"Himeragi-san she was trained by the Lion King?"
Endou didn't answer directlyjust shrugged noncommittally.
"Then let me get this straight," Natsuki continued, her voice tinged with sarcasm, "You're seriously just handing over your carefully trained student to a devil?"
There was an odd look on her face as she said it.
"What's with that phrasing?" Endou frowned, arms crossed. "That makes it sound really sketchy."
"Isn't it, though?" Natsuki shot back with a cold laugh.
Endou fired back, voice firm and righteous: "Lord Lynn saved Tokyo. Yukina was deeply moved by his actions and choseof her own willto join him. What's wrong with that?!"
"Or wait are you actually questioning the sincerity of her gratitude?!"
Yukina: "...?"
.
.
.
"...?"
Yukina blinked in confusion, staring at Endou with a look that practically had a big question mark floating over her head.
Question: "Since when did I willingly offer myself to Lord Lynn out of gratitude?"
Answer: Nahshe'd been tricked into it! FOR REAL.
Yukina puffed up her cheeks in frustration.
Now that some time had passed, she had finally had the chance to think it over more clearly. Back then, she was too desperate to save Sayaka to notice anything offbut looking back now?
It was full of flags!
Lynn was on a completely different level. What could a mere apprentice like her possibly offer that would matter to someone like him?
The whole "honey trap" thing? Total BS!
If Sayaka really had been captured, shouldn't that have been something the Lion King Organization's top brass handled? Why was it dumped on her, a literal rookie?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
And ever since she'd joined Lynn's Familia, Yukina had started piecing together the real reason Sayaka had been taken in the first place.
So basically, Lion King Organization had used her as a bargaining chiptrying to smooth things over with Lynn by handing her over under false pretenses.
And even her beloved mentor? She'd been in on it too.
Once Yukina put the pieces together, she felt like her whole world had collapsed.
Granted.
The outcome hadn't been bad. Actually, joining Lynn's Familia had probably been the greatest thing to ever happen to her.
But still, what the Organization and her mentor had done? That wasn't something she could just brush aside.
Yukina stayed quiet, lips pressed into a tight line as she stared at Endou. She didn't say anythingbut in her heart, a new idea had started to take root.
She was going to bring the entire Lion King Organization into the Familia.
Yeah. That's it.
Just like her mentor had done to her.
On the other side of the room
Even though Yukina hadn't said a word, her expression said plenty.
Seeing that, Minamiya Natsuki narrowed her eyes.
"Heh."
A low chuckle escaped her lips.
"So the Lion King is just another shady organization after all."
"Hey now! Careful with the slander," Endou huffed, clearly annoyed. "We could sue you for that!"
Natsuki didn't even blink at the mock threat.
Meanwhile, Lynn had been quietly watching the exchange with mild amusement. Eventually, he turned and asked:
"So, Natsuki-chan, what brings you here?"
"Ah" Natsuki paused, then waved her phone at him. "Picked up a job."
Lynn instantly got the gist.
A side gig, huh?
Back before he'd risen to power, Lynn had often done business with Natsuki like this.
But this time her "job" seemed to be connected to Gozo Island?
His instincts told him someone was deliberately pulling her into all this. Was it also related to the Fourth Primogenitor?
If he remembered right, Natsuki had come to Gozo Island in the original story too. But that had been under a request from Dimitrie Vatler.
And since Lynn had already turned Vatler into air molecules, why was Natsuki still here?
Shaking his head, Lynn decided to stop overthinking it.
Right now, the priority was giving Avrora her Blessing.
With that in mind
A soft hum filled the air as a black magic circle expanded from beneath Lynn's feet, spreading across the icy ground.
"Wait, please!"
A sudden voice rang outLiana Caruana.
Lynn glanced over at her, expression calm and unreadable.
The moment her eyes met his deep wine-red gaze, Liana's breath caught in her throat. It felt like an invisible hand had clamped down on her heart.
But still, she looked over at Avrora, then clenched her jaw and forced herself to speak up.
"Please please let me follow you!"
She hadn't come all this way for nothing.
She was here for the Fourth Primogenitor. But now? That soul was goneLynn had done something with it. And the vesselAvrora, the twelfth Kaleid Bloodwas going with him.
So if she didn't act now, she'd be left with nothing.
At the very least, if she stayed close to the twelfth vessel, she might still get a lead on the Primogenitor's soul.
Taking a deep breath, Liana bowed deeply, voice earnest and full of determination.
"I beg you!"
Lynn didn't respond.
He simply turned to Endou and said calmly, "I'll leave the rest of the vessels to you."
"You can count on me!" Endou stood tall and gave a serious nod.
The next moment Lynn vanished with Avrora in tow, the magic circle disappearing with them.
Once they were gone, Endou finally let out a long breath.
"...Hey," she said suddenly, turning to Yukina. "Why didn't we just hitch a ride with them?"
Teleportation magic was super common among Devils, surebut it was still rare among other factions.
That's why someone like the "Witch of the Void," Minamiya Natsuki, was such a big name in the human world.
Natsuki gave a mocking snort, folding her arms.
"Hmph. So the Lion King Organization's already been completely domesticated by Devils, huh?"
Endou didn't respond.
When you were dealing with someone like Lynn, playing it cautious was just smart survival instinct.
...
Meanwhile
Liana stood there, disappointed.
No reply...
Did that mean she was rejected?
Her legs wobbled a bit, heart sinkingbut she quickly steadied herself.
She couldn't give up here.
Taking a moment to recompose herself, Liana looked toward the people who clearly had a close relationship with LynnEndou, Natsuki, and the others.
"Could could one of you tell me where that man lives?"
At her question, the entire underground tomb fell silent.
Natsuki and Endou exchanged glances.
Yeah they were all thinking the same thing.
(Another one walking right into the net.)
Before either of them could answer, Yukina's voice cut in.
"Tokyo. Shuchiin Academy."
She gave the address quietly, almost like she was reciting something from memory.
Natsuki and Endou both looked at her in surprise.
Yukina turned her head away, not meeting their eyes.
"Recruiting new talent for the Familia is part of the job too," she thought to herself.
---
Back at Lynn's residence
A magic circle shimmered into existence, and Lynn and Avrora materialized in the center of the room.
"Urgh"
Avrora groaned softly.
After being dormant for so long, the feeling of moving through space made her feel queasy.
She wobbled a little, trying to clear her head, and blinked as she curiously took in her surroundings.
"It's huge" she murmured, clutching at Lynn's sleeve for comfort.
The unfamiliar place made her feel uneasy.
Just then
Hayasaka Ai stepped forward, hands neatly folded in front of her stomach. She gave a small, graceful bow.
"Welcome home, Lord Lynn," she said gently.
"Would you like to take a bath first? Or eat something? Or perhaps"
She paused, eyes drifting downward for a second. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she bit her lip and murmured: "...Would you rather eat me firs?"
But before she could finish that sentenceAvrora suddenly chimed in.
"Let's eat first!"
Hayasaka blinked.
"???"
She slowly turned her head to stare silently at Avrora.
Who the hell are you?
.
.
.
---
C/N: Yo~ I've posted all the filler chapters, so the story can finally get back on track. Hopefully things will be better from here!
PS: Drop your stones to support the book
.
{Support me and read advanced chapters at patreon.com/_Coreal }
Lynn's Estate - Dining Room
Thud.
Hayasaka Ai slammed the final dish onto the table in front of Avrora. Her expression was cold and unreadable.
A pair of icy blue eyes locked onto Avrora, silently conveying a strong sense of disapproval.
But Avrora didn't even notice the glare. Her attention was completely consumed by the dazzling spread of food in front of her. Eyes wide, lips licking unconsciously, she stared at the table like a predator eyeing its prey.
Then she looked up at Lynn, eyes brimming with anticipation.
Lynn chuckled. "Go ahead and eat. I made it for you anyway."
The moment the words left his mouth, Avrora's eyes lit up like stars. She dove in immediately.
Lynn shook his head in amusement. "Great. Another foodie brought home."
Watching Avrora devour her meal with enthusiasm, even Lynn started to feel a bit hungry himself. He picked up a fork and tried a bite of the dish Hayasaka had made for him.
The moment it hit his tongue, he could tellthis was a level-up.
"Did you make this, Hayasaka?" he asked, genuinely surprised.
Hayasaka blinked and finally tore her gaze away from Avrora. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to look casual. "Yes. How's it taste?"
Lynn gave her a thumbs-up. "Big improvement. Seriously."
Even though she'd been a maid for quite some time now, Hayasaka had always been just okay in the kitchen.
Honestly she might've even been a step below Shiina Mahiru.
But in just a few days, she made major progress in her cooking skills.
Hearing the praise, Hayasaka's mood visibly lifted, though she fought to keep her lips from curling into a smile.
Trying to play it cool, she replied, "I just did a short training session with the Totsuki Division at Shuchiin Academy. My cooking still isn't anywhere near graduation level."
"You're doing great already," Lynn said, not holding back his praise.
After all, if his maid was working hard to please his taste buds, that definitely deserved recognition.
Totsuki, huh
The name jogged his memoryspecifically, a certain someone he hadn't messaged in a while: Nakiri Erina. The same Erina who'd been regularly talking to him through the [Devil Link] app.
He'd been so caught up with things over in the Bleach world and Strike the Blood plot lately, he hadn't had time to "feed" his digital pet in a while.
Pulling out his phone, Lynn opened up [Devil Link]and sure enough, the screen was filled with messages from Erina. Walls of text.
Lynn: "..."
Did I starve her into madness?
Tokyo - A certain restaurant
Nakiri Erina sat listlessly at her table, eyes vacant and spiritless. She absentmindedly stirred the dish placed in front of her by the chef.
But not a single bite passed her lips.
Standing beside her, the chef was drenched in a cold sweat, nervously wringing his hands.
"Did I mess up the seasoning?" He was panicking inside.
If ErinaGod's Tongue herselfsaid one bad word about his cooking, his entire career could go up in flames.
"Miss?" A soft voice came from behind.
Hisako Arato stood behind Erina, her eyes filled with concern.
Lately, her mistress had been acting off.
Was it because of that Devil-san?
She sighed inwardly.
What did that so-called devil say or do to completely derail the proud and composed Erina?
Still, if this emotional slump went on much longer...
Hisako clenched her fists.
Should she tell the Director?
She hesitated.
And thenBuzz!
Erina's phone vibrated on the table.
Her body jolted like she'd been electrocuted. Her eyes snapped into focus.
With trembling hands, she snatched up the phone, eyes gleaming with hopemixed with a little fear.
After all, a vibration didn't necessarily mean it was from him.
It could've been anything.
Another app notification. A random promo. Spam.
She'd been through this disappointment dozens of times already.
Still, every time the phone buzzed, she couldn't help but look.
This time, though, she wasn't disappointed.
"It's him! It's Devil-san!!"
Suddenly energized, Erina shot up from her seat. "Hisako, we're leaving!"
Hisako blinked in surprise, then nodded. "Yes, ma'am!"
"?!!!" The chef nearby was completely bewildered.
As he watched the two walk toward the door, panic flared in his chest. "W-Wait! Miss Nakiri! What about my evaluation?!"
"Huh?"
Erina turned back, obviously annoyed at being stopped. Still, she remembered why she'd come here in the first place.
Waving her hand dismissively, she replied, "You passed."
With that, she and Hisako disappeared out the door.
The chef stood there, mouth open, staring at the dish that was now just a stirred-up mess.
""
That was passing?
But, she didn't even taste it.
---
In the car
Erina sat in the back seat, legs bouncing slightly, staring intently at the message on [Devil Link].
Even her God Tongue seemed to sense the incoming feastit was already drooling in anticipation.
The good news? She was going to eat something that satisfied her.
The bad news? This time, the "price" was higher.
She read the message again, eyes narrowing. "Cook for his maids?"
So this meant she'd have to meet him.
In real life.
Erina froze.
Her mind immediately flashed back to the rizz photos and videos she'd sent him. Her cheeks turned red-hot, her head spinning.
Through a screen, she could barely hold onto her dignity.
But face-to-face?
Her breathing grew heavier, fingers clenching the phone tight.
What now?
She had a bad feeling.
Like she was slowly being lured into the devil's trapone careful step at a time.
But, she licked her lips and clutched her stomach, which was now painfully empty.
Ever since tasting those divine ingredients from their first deal, her God Tongue refused to accept anything less.
And now? Just a short time without a "transaction" from him had her feeling mentally and physically drained.
"Haaah."
Erina let out a deep sigh. Then quietly muttered to herself, "No choice, huh"
She'd have to go.
If she didn't want to starve to death, that is.
Just a bit of real-life training.
That's fine right?
R-Right?
But meeting the devil in person Was that really fine?
Erina's thoughts spiraled. But after a few minutes of inner turmoil, she finally looked up, eyes filled with determination.
"I'm going."
She made up her mind.
Now that her resolve was set, she turned to Hisako, who was still driving. Doing her best to sound calm, she said:
"Change the route. We're heading to"
.
.
.
"...Huh?"
Hearing Erina Nakiri's instructions, Hisako Arato tilted her head in confusion.
The address she was looking at... She had never even heard of it before.
Why would Miss Erina want to go somewhere like that?
She had plenty of questions, but she didn't ask. Instead, she quietly opened up her navigation app and started driving.
In the back seat, Erina's heart pounded faster and faster as she saw Hisako actually following the location Lynn had sent them.
Sure, the guy was a devil and yeah, there were a lot of things to be worried about.
But stillWasn't this basically a meet-up with an online friend?
That thought alone was oddly exciting. For a brief moment, it even made her forget all her doubts and anxieties.
Devil-san! What would he look like?
Would he have three heads and six arms? Horns? A terrifying face?
Uh.
The more she imagined, the more her anticipation dropped. She even started second-guessing the whole thing.
But, if she didn't go, she'd eventually die because of the God's Tongue anyway.
So Screw it. No point running from fate.
At Lynn's Mansion
Playing with his "digital pet" on his phone, Lynn hadn't actually expected Nakiri Erina to work up the courage and come over.
Guess things must've been pretty rough for her lately.
Still, this works out perfectly.
It was about time his familia had a real professional chef.
HmmWith her on board, Hayasaka's maid team was definitely going to grow again soon.
"Mmm..."
Across the table, Avrora let out a deeply satisfied sound as she leaned back in her chair, her round belly on full display after devouring the food.
With her eyes half-closed and her hands resting contently on her belly, she looked like someone who had just reached enlightenment.
She spoke in her usual grand tone: "You mortals have served Me well. This meal pleases Me. Good job."
"???"
Hayasaka raised an eyebrow.
Lynn gave Avrora a not-so-subtle look, half-smiling, half-exasperated.
The room went quiet for a beat.
Avrora blinked, then straightened up immediately like a guilty schoolkid. "Uh thank you for the meal!"
Okay, yeah.
She may have gotten a little carried away.
But can you blame her? This guy once choked the original. He's not someone you mess with.
Just thinking about that made her aura shrink a little more.
Now that's more like it.
Lynn nodded and said, "Alright, let's get to the real reason you're here."
"Real reason?" Avrora tilted her head.
. . .
Cut to: Lynn's Bedroom
"Whoa, this place is huge!"
Avrora's eyes lit up as she looked around. "Is this... my bedroom?"
"This is my room," Lynn said flatly. "Of course, if you want to sleep here with me, I won't stop you."
"?!"
Avrora's eyes went wide, and she instantly hugged herself protectively, staring at Lynn like he'd just turned into a wolf.
"Wh-What are you planning to do to me?!"
"Huh." Lynn raised a brow. "You're naive, but you know that much?"
"W-Well" Avrora's cheeks flushed slightly as she turned her head away. "As the Fourth Primogenitor, I have a very extensive knowledge base!"
YeahWhen you're immortal and bored all the time, you read a lot. And not always the wholesome stuff.
So yeah. She knew plentyprobably more than she should.
"Figures" Lynn chuckled. "Anyway, there are plenty of spare rooms in the mansion. Pick whichever one you like."
Avrora visibly relaxed and gave a satisfied nod. "Your palace is indeed vast. I approve."
Mostly because the food had been amazing.
SuddenlyLynn tossed a black booklet toward her.
"???"
Avrora caught it on reflex and gave Lynn a puzzled look.
"Guidelines for becoming part of my Familia," he said casually. "Read it over."
"Familia?"
The word made Avrora blink.
"It's kind of like a vampire's familiar," Lynn explained.
"Ah" Now it made sense. That analogy was easy enough to understand.
"Wait"
"When you said you wanted me to follow you, you meant to become your familiar?"
Lynn nodded. "Exactly."
"Hmm."
Avrora suddenly had mixed feelings.
Even if she was only a vessel, she still held one of the Fourth Primogenitor's familiarsmeaning, like it or not, she was also a Fourth Primogenitor.
And now you want a Fourth Primogenitor to become your servant?
Her pride was struggling.
Lynn, seeing her hesitation, said casually, "If you don't want to, you can just cough up the food you just ate."
Avrora's eyes shot wide open as she clutched her mouth, shaking her head like crazy.
No no no no NO!
She'd already claimed that meal as hers! There was no way she was giving it back!
But then...A more terrifying thought occurred to her.
"If I don't agree" she asked cautiously, "can I still mooch food from you?"
'So you know you're mooching, huh.'
Lynn gave her a look. That classic fake smile you give to people you don't really knowor don't really want to.
""
Got it.
He didn't need to say a word. That face said it all.
If she couldn't keep eating his food and drink that milk Her life would be a dark, empty shell of suffering.
Yeah. No way.
Screw pride.
Avrora suddenly yanked her collar down, revealing her slender white neck. She leaned toward Lynn, turned her head away, and said, "Alright! J-Just do it!"
"Huh?"
Lynn looked at her strangely. "What are you doing?"
"Youyou wanted me to be your familiar, right? So s-so"
"You you can bite me!"
She squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself like she was about to be executed.
"J-Just please be gentle, okay? I'm scared of pain. Make it quick!"
""
"You realize how that sounds, right?"
Yeah Definitely sounds more intimate than it should.
But whatever. Lynn didn't care. Everyone here was his peopleno one was going to make fun of him.
He glanced at the crumpled booklet in her tightly clenched hands, then at her exposed neck, and sighed.
Then he reached outAnd gave her neck a light pinch.
"Eep...!"
Avrora flinched. Her lashes trembled. "I-Is it over?"
"It's over," Lynn replied flatly.
Slowly, Avrora opened her eyes, looking confused. She touched her neck, frowning.
"Huh I don't feel anything?"
Lynn deadpanned, "You ever think about the fact that I'm not actually a vampire?"
""
Avrora's eyes went wide.
.
.
.
He isn't a vampire?
"So"
"I don't need to be bitten?"
Avrora looked a bit awkward as she quickly tugged her collar up.
Vampire habits ran deepshowing her neck had just been a reflex.
Guess that led to a bit of a misunderstanding.
But if biting wasn't part of it. Then how did someone become a familiar, joining that "Familia" thing?
Taking a calming breath, Avrora glanced at Lynn with uncertainty.
He silently pointed to the black manual in her hands.
"How about," he suggested casually, "you read it first?"
. . .
A few moments later, after reading through the contents of the black handbook, Avrora finally understood.
"Oh so you use Devil Pieces."
But getting undressed?
Is that really part of a legitimate contract ritual?
Clutching her clothes tighter, Avrora looked up at Lynn and sneaked a glance his way.
To show everything in front of him
Just imagining it made her cheeks burn red-hot.
Pointing at the manual, she hesitated. "This ritual is this actually serious?"
Lynn's expression stayed calm. "What's so strange about it?"
"You vampires drink blood because of desire, don't you?"
"Hmm"
He rubbed his chin, thinking aloud. "By vampire standards, you could see it as foreplay?"
Forewhat?
Avrora stared at him in disbelief, lips pursed into a soft pout.
Still, from a vampire's perspective that logic actually kind of made sense?
She opened her mouth, ready to objectbut no words came out.
Lynn glanced at her again, then said flatly, "Alright, stop wasting time. We've got more guests coming."
"Guests?"
"Yeah. People with even better cooking than Hayasaka."
"!!!"
Avrora's eyes lit up instantly. Without a second thought, she stripped off all her clothes, not even hesitating.
She even urged him on. "Then let's hurry up and get started!"
""
Lynn's expression turned a bit odd.
This girl the moment food's involved, all her shame just flies right out the window?
Still, maybe that wasn't a bad thing.
He gave her figureslightly developeda quick, neutral once-over before conjuring a Devil Piece.
A single, jet-black chess piece appeared in Lynn's hand.
Avrora instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, covering the important bits, cheeks tinted pink.
She'd stripped so fast just a moment ago, but the second she felt Lynn's eyes on her, her embarrassment came rushing back.
Hugging herself a little tighter, she curiously eyed the Devil Piece in his hand.
This little thing, could it really turn someone into Lynn's familiar?
Didn't seem like anything special.
"Where do you want the blessing mark?" Lynn asked flatly, casually scanning her body as if choosing a suitable spot.
Feeling awkward under his gaze, Avrora looked away and mumbled, "B-Back put it on the back."
She turned around, revealing her smooth, bare back to him.
Without hesitation, Lynn pressed the Devil Piece onto her back.
A second laterWUMMMM!
A brilliant light flared from Avrora's back.
"Ahh!"
Her body instinctively arched as a soft gasp escaped her lips.
Her blood surged, heat exploding through her veins. Her deep blue eyes flickered with a faint red glow.
The Devil Piece's invasion had triggered a violent reactionher cells instantly sensed the danger, and a terrifying aura burst from within.
BOOM!
It was like thunder had exploded inside her, as if some primal trumpet had sounded.
The vampiric elements in her blood roared to life and rushed straight toward the Devil Piece like soldiers charging the enemy.
Ferocious and unyielding, they moved to destroy the intruder
But before they got close, an overwhelming force erupted from the Devil Piece.
A black mist poured out, smothering them instantly. And in that moment of contact, the vampire bloodline shuddered.
It was like they'd sensed something far more terrifyingthose aggressive cells went silent in an instant, surrendering to the Devil Piece's invasion.
"Huff Huff"
Avrora's body went from burning hot to ice cold in less than a second.
It had taken only a heartbeat.
But to her, it felt like an eternity.
She wiped at the cold sweat that wasn't even there, heart still pounding.
Just then A clear, melodic cry echoed in her ears.
Avrora blinked, startled. "The Cry of the Azure Ice Princess?"
How could that be?
Her eyes widened slightly.
What was going on?
Ever since she'd become the vessel for the Princess of Azure Ice, no matter how close she'd gotten to it it had never made that sound.
She tried to reach out with her mind, to communicate with it.
Worry flickered in her eyes.
But after that one single cry, the Azure Ice Princess went completely silent again, offering no response.
She tried again. And again.
Nothing.
Eventually, Avrora sighed and gave upthen shifted her focus inward, checking for changes in herself.
"My scent's different"
She wrinkled her nose and sniffed at herself.
Aside from her usual scent, there was now a faint trace of Lynn's.
More importantly, she could feel itbeyond her vampiric bloodline, there was something else now coursing through her veins.
"Devil blood."
She felt dazed for a moment.
She'd read about Lynn's race in that black manual. She knew exactly what it meant to undergo this "ritual."
She was now a devil.
And even though she had mentally prepared herself for that The shift in identity still felt strange.
Though thankfully, her vampire traits and abilities hadn't disappeared.
That helped ease her nerves a little.
But more than anything else, she felt it.
Like some kind of chain inside her had broken.
Was it the blessing system?
She remembered reading about it in the manual.
Still, she wasn't all that interested in that part.
What did grab her attention, though, was something else entirely.
She looked down at her hands, staring in disbelief.
"The link to the Original"
"It's gone!!!"
No. This wasn't just in her head.
She stared at her palms, eyes wide with disbelief.
Ever since she first gained self-awareness, she had been the "Fourth Primogenitor."
But she knew.
That title didn't truly belong to her.
It belonged to the Originalthe true monster that could awaken at any moment and devour her from within.
Like someone had planted a ticking time bomb in her soul.
If she'd never gained sentience, maybe she wouldn't have cared.
But now, she wasn't just some disposable vessel.
She had her own will. Her own fears. Her own desire to live.
No one was more terrified than her of the Original Fourth Primogenitor.
Because when that day came it would mean the end of her.
But now was she
Was she free?
.
.
.
Avrora stood frozen in place, stunned, like she still hadn't wrapped her head around what had just happened.
Meanwhile, a familiar voice echoed in Lynn's ears.
[Ding! You have gained a new Familia member: Avrora Florestina!]
[Ding! Your Familia member "Avrora Florestina" has been reincarnated as a Special-Type Devil!]
As the system notification faded, so did the soft, glowing light behind Avrora. In its place, rows of characters began to emerge, forming a detailed display.
Lynn narrowed his eyes, carefully reading the information displayed about Avrora's blessing.
---
[Avrora Florestina]
Rank: Ultimate-Class Devil
Position: Bishop
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: i0 Agility: i0 Endurance: i0 Magic: i12
Position Skill: Magic Resistance
Development Abilities:
Magic Mastery SS (Familiars Enhanced)
Bloodlust SS (Increased Blood Efficiency)
Godslayer B (Effective against Divine Enemies)
Unique Skills: [Kaleid Blood], [Azure Ice Princess], [Blessing of the Primogenitor] & [Devour Devil]
[Kaleid Blood]
Summons 12 familiars through a ritual.
Massive magic cost.
[Azure Ice Princess] (Details locked)
[Blessing of the Primogenitor]
Immune to mental interference-type magic (21 classes)
Resistant to sunlight
Temporarily boosts all stats after consuming blood
[Devour Devil]
Abyssal Maw:
-Opens the Primogenitor's "World-Eating's Maw," forcibly devouring all energy/lifeforms within a 500-meter radius.
-Reduced effect on divine entities.
Divine Assimilation:
-Permanently copies one ability after devouring a divine being.
Bloodline Sovereignty:
-Activates "Primogenitor Domain."
-Temporarily summons previously devoured entities as combat familiars.
Demonization: {Ultimate Devour}
---
---
As Lynn scanned the data, his eyes paused for a moment when he saw Avrora's classification as an Ultimate-Class Devil.
A complete Fourth Primogenitor would likely fall under the realm of Satans. So if Avrora only had a part of the Fourth Primogenitor's power, then yeah her level made sense.
Which meant, the other eleven bodieswere they all Ultimate-Class Devils too?
Hmm, it probably had to do with the Familiars they each carried inside them.
Without summoning the Azure Ice Princess, Avrora herself wasn't that powerful.
But still, Twelve Ultimate-Class DevilsEven for someone like him, a being who had surpassed the norm, that much feedback from them could definitely boost his strength even further.
Lynn's gaze sharpened slightly before turning his attention back to Avrora's profile.
More than her current stats or abilities, what intrigued him most was what kind of devil she had become after reincarnation.
Then he saw it: Devour Devil
"Devour."
Just that one word sent a shiver through him.
Any devil associated with that concept wasn't going to be ordinary.
And sure enough, when Lynn read the abilities under Devour Devil, he couldn't help but whistle in amazement.
Meanwhile, changes were occurring within Lynn's Devil piece space.
The twelfth sign of the zodiac, Pisces.
A thin layer of frost began to spread across the constellation, and the shadowy figure of the Azure Ice Princess began weaving through the starlit nebula. Her graceful hum echoed faintly, revealing her serene, even joyful mood.
That's right. She was happy.
Even though she'd been yanked into an unfamiliar place out of nowhereShe felt like she belonged here. Like she had always meant to be here.
Not only that, her form was subtly evolvingStreaks of starlight danced across her icy form, adding a new layer of mystique.
And the element of ice itselfIt wasn't just power anymore. It was starting to take on the shape of a universal rule, a concept. Something abstract. Something divine.
Elsewhere, Stella and the others noticed the shift too.
Clapping her hands, Stella exclaimed, "Ah! Something's changing in Pisces!"
She was practically bouncing with excitement, and the other starry girls chimed in:
"Yay! The night sky's changing again!"
"Pisces looks soooo pretty now!"
"When's it gonna be my turn"
Hands on her hips, Stella grinned and reassured them, "Don't worry, Master promisedeveryone's gonna get one!"
"YAAAY!!"
---
"..."
Hidden in a corner, Cyrora raised her head, a chill creeping into her heart. Something felt off.
She glanced toward the others' excited chatterAnd then she saw it.
"!!?"
Her eyes went wide.
Her 12th Familiar, Alrescha-Glacies. The Azure Ice Princess!
She slapped a hand over her mouth in shock, afraid the others would notice her outburst.
But, seeing they were all still captivated by the icy figure above, she relaxed a little and turned her gaze back to the Azure Ice Princess, eyes flickering with emotion.
Why Why was her Familiar here?
Shethe True Primogenitorwasn't even with her now!
Did that manDid that man throw her in here too?
Did something happen to Avrora?
Lynn's face flashed across her mind, and her fists clenched.
But at the same time The appearance of her familiar sparked a new idea in her mind.
She didn't know why the Azure Ice Princess had been tossed in here too, butThis was a chance!
She was the Fourth Primogenitor. And that icy Familiarthat was her familiar.
If she could just use her Familiar's powerShe might be able to bust out of this damn place!
Her chest rose and fell with excitement. For the first time in a while, she saw a glimmer of hope.
Stay calm. Stay. Calm.
She did her best to steady her emotions, though her fury still bubbled underneath.
When had she ever fallen to such lows?
Damn it!
All because of him!
Once she got out, once she reclaimed all her powerShe was gonna make him pay!
She'd turn him into a walking wine barrel, producing 'vintage' for her for the rest of his life!
Cyrora seethed inwardly.
Then, sneaking a glance at the still-distracted girls, she focused all her will on connecting with her familiar.
But...Nothing.
Silence.
Still nothing.
The Azure Ice Princess floated blissfully through the nebula, humming softly to herself, fully immersed in her own world.
Cyrora: "..."
She stared upward, bewildered.
Why?!
Why wasn't her 12th Familiar responding?!
Didn't she know her master was right here?
As if sensing the intense stare, the Azure Ice Princess slowly lowered her frost-colored eyes.
Their gazes met.
Cyrora's face lit up with joybut it only lasted a second.
The Azure Ice Princess simply looked away, like Cyrora, the Original Fourth Primogenitor, was a total stranger.
Cyrora: "???"
Azure Ice Princess: Who was that just now? No clue.
.
.
.
Inside the Devil Piece's starry domain
Cyrora stood frozen, wide-eyed and slack-jawed as she stared at the joyful form of the Azure Ice Princess drifting freely through the stars. Her expression was beyond words.
That was her Azure Ice Princess.
And nowit had betrayed her?
Cyrora couldn't believe what she was seeing.
What the hell was going on?
Deep down, she had a sinking feelingsomething had definitely changed in the outside world. Otherwise why would the Azure Ice Princess be acting like this?
Lynn's face flashed through her mind again, and she ground her teeth in frustration.
No doubt about itit had to be him!
Cyrora clenched her jaw, her fingers turning white from the pressure.
Damn it!!
What the hell was she supposed to do now?!
The strange emotion that had flickered in her heart when she first saw the Azure Ice Princesshope, maybe?was instantly shattered under the creature's indifferent gaze.
...
Elsewhere in the same space
Actually, the Azure Ice Princess hadn't forgotten her former master. But that bond with Cyrora? Long gone. Completely severed. She had a new master now.
Lynn.
That was the name of the one she now served.
Not only did he have a lifespan far greater than anything she'd known, but the quality and sheer quantity of his magic power completely dwarfed anything she'd ever encountered.
And more than that, he had brought her to this breathtaking place.
The Azure Ice Princess fixed her gaze on the Pisces constellation, her eyes full of awe and curiosity.
Somehow, she knewdeep in her corethat this place could elevate her very existence.
So as far as she was concerned Cyrora, now reduced to a pathetic shell of her former self, wasn't worth her attention anymore.
The Azure Ice Princess focused entirely on unraveling the mysteries of Pisces.
Just then, Lynn materialized in the Devil Space.
"Master!"
The moment he appeared, Stella and the others lit up with joy and rushed over to greet him.
Lynn smiled and patted each of their heads affectionately before turning his attention to the changing constellations.
He quickly spotted the Azure Ice Princess drifting among the nebulae.
A small grin tugged at his lips.
He hadn't just recruited a new familia memberhe'd also picked up a powerful beast companion.
And there were still eleven more like her waiting to be claimed.
The possibilities thrilled him.
Meanwhile, the Azure Ice Princess twitched her nose as if sensing Lynn's presence. Her massive body stilled in the air, and her gaze dropped.
There he was.
Her eyes gleamed with delight. Letting out a soft hum, she dove straight toward him.
As she approached, Lynn raised an eyebrow.
Was it just him, or had she gotten bigger?
He thought back to when he'd first encountered her in the underground tomb and compared that memory to the form now before him.
Yepdefinitely bigger.
And not just that. There were other subtle changes, too.
But the most striking was what lay beyond her, hidden within the constellation of Pisces.
A star system shrouded in icy torrents.
[Concept Acquired: Ice]
Ice?
Just as he suspected, something had shifted.
It was like when he gained the concept of "Gravity" from the Cancer constellation.
Still, something puzzled him.
He already had other familia members with ice-related abilities. So why hadn't they triggered the Ice concept within the Devil Space?
Lynn stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Maybe it had something to do with strength?
To test the theory, he summoned Kaguya and Yukina's pieces and examined their blessing info.
And right there, the level caught his eye.
Ah. That explained it.
So it was a power issue after all.
Suddenly, a chill swept across the space, coating everything around Lynn in layers of frost.
In the next moment, the Azure Ice Princess loomed large in his vision.
"La~ La~ La~"
A musical chirp echoed in his ears as the Azure Ice Princess began to shrink in size, circling around him playfully.
Lynn lifted his hand.
The Azure Ice Princess swam over, nuzzling her head into his palm with closed eyes, clearly enjoying the contact.
---
From a distance
Cyrora watched in stunned silence, her hand clutching her chest as though to stop her heart from breaking.
The Azure Ice Princess was acting that affectionate with him?
And right in front of her, its former master?!
It hurt.
God, it hurt so much.
She couldn't breathe.
"D-Damn it" she choked, eyes wide with disbelief and fury.
Why had things turned out this way?
Cyrora stared daggers at Lynn, who was gently stroking the Azure Ice Princess like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Lynn must've sensed her burning gaze. He turned his head, calm eyes locking onto hers.
Cyrora's heart skipped a beat. She instantly looked away and shrank back.
Lynn raised an eyebrow, amused. He turned to Stella and the others.
"Looks like you've trained her well."
He remembered how defiant Cyrora had been at first, acting like she ruled the worldeven when he had her fate in the palm of his hand. She had even tried to get Avrora to summon the Azure Ice Princess to freeze him.
And now?
The once arrogant Cyrora looked like a frightened little quail. Lynn couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
Cyrora: ""
Trained, huh?
Noit was just she'd finally realized the truth.
She snuck glances at the seemingly harmless little girls around her.
But they weren't girls.
They were monsters. Abyssal beasts wearing the skin of children.
Sure, they looked like familiars or summoned beastsbut the sheer power they held was way beyond the norm.
Even in her prime, Cyrora's strongest familiars couldn't compare to these lolis.
That's why, when the Azure Ice Princess appeared here, she hadn't even considered using it to fight them. All she wanted was to escape this damned place.
Too bad
Cyrora slumped her head, but her emotions were still a whirlwind inside.
She'd known from the start that this place was connected to Lynn. But when she saw him walk in, and heard the girls call him "Master" with such joy, her whole world shook.
These petite girls, small in form but carrying earth-shattering powerthey were Lynn's familiars?!
Gulp.
She swallowed hard. Her throat was dry.
Only now did Cyrora truly grasp the extent of Lynn's terrifying power.
And realized how laughable her earlier assumptions had been.
Someone with a life force that vast how could she have ever thought he was just some ordinary guy?
Had she been asleep so long her brain had melted?
What was she thinking, acting like she had any leverage?
Cyrora was furious with herself, mentally berating her past decisions over and over.
Honestly she couldn't even relate to her former self anymore.
Back in the Devil Space, Lynn spent a while playing with the Azure Ice Princess, watching the stars shift above him.
Then, satisfied, he withdrew from the space.
When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by the smooth curve of Avrora's back.
She was still lost in thought.
Lynn pulled up her blessing information, duplicated it, and held it out in front of her.
"Take a look."
.
.
.
Lynn's voice snapped Avrora out of her daze.
She lowered her head and took the blessing status sheet handed to her.
Then, suddenly, she felt a chill on her chest.
Avrora: ""
Smack!
She immediately slapped the sheet onto her chest to cover herself.
And the worst part? It fit perfectly.
Lynn's expression turned a little awkward. He reached out to pat her head and offered a small consolation. "Don't worry, small is cute too. And I had seen worse."
"???"
Avrora's eyes went wide.
S-small?
SMALL?!
She looked down, then slumped forward like the air had been sucked out of her.
W-well, she didn't exactly have a comeback for that.
But still!
Did he really have to say something so mean?!
Avrora puffed up her cheeks in protest and shot him an angry glare.
Lynn, completely unfazed, gave her another head pat and nudged her, "C'mon, check it quick. Our guest'll be here soon."
"The one who's amazing at cooking!"
Avrora's eyes lit up instantly. She stopped sulking in an instant and, still using one hand to guard her modesty, eagerly began looking through her blessing sheet.
Her gaze paused for a second on the "Master" section, then drifted downward.
"Kaleid Blood?"
Her eyes widened in shock.
Wait a sec, isn't that the title of the Fourth Primogenitor?!
She read the skill description more carefullyand her expression turned weird.
What the hell?
Did she become the Original Fourth Primogenitor now?!
Meanwhile, inside the Devil space...
Cyrora let out two sneezes in a row.
"???"
Can souls even sneeze?
She blinked, puzzled.
Then suddenlyshiver. A chill ran down her spine. Something felt off.
Like someone had stolen her life.
Why did she feel that way?
She frowned, discomfort bubbling up inside her.
Shaking her head, she pushed the strange feeling aside and looked toward where Lynn had just disappeared.
So he really just left?
Wasn't he going to take her with him?
Cyrora bit her lip.
Sure, this place was lively and all, but she was stuck at the bottom of the food chain. No matter how "lively" it was, she couldn't enjoy it.
She looked up again, her eyes filled with frustration as she glanced at the Azure Ice Princess.
In the end, she sighed, hugged her knees, and curled up into the corner.
Fresh out of one ice coffin prison, only to end up in another.
Back in the real world.
After reviewing the ability [Kaleid Blood], Avrora focused on her connection with Azure Ice Princess.
"Hmm..."
It felt stronger than beforemore tightly linked. She could control it more directly now?
Back then, she'd only served as a vessel to this 12th familiar. If she wanted to use Azure Ice Princess, she had to rely on the Original's power. There was always a layer in between.
But now? That layer felt like it was gone.
It was like she'd also broken free from the Original's chainsand the Azure Ice Princess inside her had done the same.
Avrora's face twisted with a complicated expression.
She really was turning into the Fourth Primogenitor.
Then she looked at another skill: [Devour Devil].
Yeah, let's be honest.
She basically was the Fourth Primogenitor at this point, right?
Nomaybe even a buffed version of it.
And if she really collected all the familiars?
Gulp.
She didn't even want to imagine how powerful she'd be.
And unlike the Original, whose devouring ability was limited in scope.
Her [Devour Devil] was way more versatile. It could even devour divine beingsand permanently steal one of their abilities!
Way stronger than just munching on vampires, that's for sure.
Still, Avrora wasn't exactly obsessed with getting stronger.
If she could choose, she'd rather just be a normal girl. Go to school, enjoy delicious food, live a peaceful life.
But her origins had already sealed her fate.
It was either seal the OriginalOr be devoured by it.
Now, though, she'd finally escaped that doomed path.
Avrora lifted her head slightly, her ocean-blue eyes settling on Lynn.
At first, she only followed him because of that bottle of milk.
But she never imagined he'd give her more than just good food.
He gave her a new future.
When she first agreed to go with him, she'd been full of doubts.
But now, all she felt was gratitude.
Knock knock!
Suddenlythere was a knock on Lynn's bedroom door.
Hayasaka Ai's voice came through from the other side.
"Lord Lynn, two visitors just arrived outside the villa."
Lynn's eyes narrowed slightly. "That was quick."
Outside the villa
Hisako Arato parked the car nearby.
Nakiri Erina looked at the sprawling estate in front of her, awe flashing in her eyes.
"Whoa!"
"This place is so massive!"
She clicked her tongue.
Yeah, definitely looked like a devil's lair.
But waitDevils live in the human world?!
Erina felt both curious and a bit uneasy.
She hadn't seen what a "devil" actually looked like yet, but standing in front of this mountain estate, it felt more like a den of monsters baring their fangs at her.
And yetwhen she peeked past the gates into the villa grounds, confusion clouded her eyes.
There were so many people moving around inside.
Wait, were all of them devils?
But they all looked human.
AndWhy were they all girls?!
Erina stared blankly for a moment.
She scanned the area again. Small groups of beautiful girls were chatting and walking together. Her eyelids twitched.
Some of those faces even looked familiar.
Like she'd seen them before.
Erina furrowed her brow, trying to recall.
"Hmm"
My Academy? Shuchiin?
A few seconds later, her eyes lit upshe'd figured it out!
Even though she was in Totsuki's section of the campus, it was all part of the same school grounds. It wasn't unusual to run into students from other departments.
Over time, their faces had stuck in her memory. Like that one with huge boobs who kept stuffing snacks in her mouth. Wasn't her name Hana?
Wait a sec!
Erina's eyes went wide.
"Shinomiya Kaguya?!"
"Wearing a maid outfit?!"
Erina stood there, eyes wide in disbelief.
"That's that's the Shinomiya heiress!"
She was completely fixated on Shinomiya Kaguya more specifically, on what she was wearing.
Gulp.
She swallowed hard, unable to control the reflex.
Kaguya in a maid outfit?
Erina blinked blankly. "Hisako I think I'm dreaming. Pinch me."
There was no way this was real. This had to be a dream. It had to be.
Devils and whatever other nonsenseobviously just part of this crazy dream. Stuff like that doesn't happen in real life.
Otherwise, how else could she possibly be seeing the proud Kaguya, that Kaguya, in a sexy maid outfit?!
We're talking about the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya conglomerate. The ice queen of Shuchiin Academy!
Someone that untouchable working as A maid?!
Erina rubbed her eyes hard, just to make sure she wasn't seeing things. When Kaguya didn't magically disappear or change back into a business suit, Erina became even more convinced she was in some bizarre dream.
Was it because her "God Tongue" had been so picky lately that it triggered this weird stress nightmare?
Erina fell deep into thought.
Hisako Arato: "..."
She glanced down at her own hand, then looked at Erina. Her eyes scanned up and down, clearly debating the best place to pinch.
But in the end, she remembered she was dealing with the proud Miss Nakiri and wisely decided not to commit career suicide.
Instead, she pinched herself.
Feeling the sting of real pain, Hisako said seriously, "Miss Erina this isn't a dream."
She too was staring at Kaguya in the maid uniform, trying to process how surreal it all felt.
The Shinomiya family and Kaguya herselfthey were names that carried real weight.
Sure, the Nakiri family was a culinary powerhouse with deep roots, but compared to the vast Shinomiya enterprise that had its hands in multiple top-tier industries across Japan? It wasn't even close.
Yet here was their high-and-mighty heiress, in a maid outfit.
Did her family go to hell or what?
What the hell happened to make Kaguya Shinomiya end up like this?
Hisako remembered hearing somethingjust a snippet of gossip from the headmaster.
Something about trouble in the Shinomiya family?
At the time, she figured she'd misheard, but now yeah.
There's definitely been trouble.
But even then, what kind of family drama would land their heiress in maid service?
Besides, there hadn't been any news about the Shinomiya conglomerate collapsing or anything like that.
The more she thought about it, the less sense it made. Her usually sharp mind just couldn't find a logical explanation.
"Wait this isn't a dream?" Erina snapped out of her trance at Hisako's words.
"No way."
"No freaking way!"
"Erina Nakiri?"
The sudden cold voice froze her in place.
Erina instinctively lowered her gaze.
A beautiful girl stood in front of her, dressed as a maid, her long black ponytail swaying slightly, and her blood-red eyes sharp enough to send chills down her spine.
Gulp.
The moment Kaguya locked eyes with her, Erina felt a chill run through her whole body. Her posture stiffened like a statue.
They were both daughters of elite families, but Erina could feel itthe overwhelming pressure. She was being completely overshadowed.
So this was a true top-tier heiress.
A trace of fear crept into Erina's heart.
She'd always been proud, borderline arrogantbut standing here in front of Kaguya Shinomiya, she felt none of that confidence.
Even though Kaguya was wearing something as uncharacteristic as a maid outfit she still had that powerful, untouchable aura.
Damn it!
It was the first time Erina had ever felt so humiliated. She clenched her fists in frustration.
Kaguya didn't seem to care about what was going on in Erina's head.
She simply stared at her blankly after saying her name, as if waiting for a response to confirm her identity.
Which only made the pressure on Erina worse.
Trying to calm herself down, Erina took a deep breath and forced herself to speak evenly. "Yes. That's me."
Kaguya nodded once. "The Master is waiting for you in the living room."
Master?
Both Erina and Hisako twitched at the word.
Kaguya had said it so casually, like it was the most normal thing in the world. But to them, it was like someone just smacked them in the face with a sack of bricks.
Kaguya had called someone Master.
And she looked completely serious.
No explanation, no hesitation. And most shockingly of allno shame.
She wasn't embarrassed. She wasn't reluctant.
If anything, she seemed proud.
Proud to serve this so-called Master of hers.
Most people wouldn't even qualify to be served by someone like her.
She turned away coldly, not even sparing them another glance.
That cool, indifferent vibe? Exactly the same as how she acted at school.
The only time Kaguya ever showed real emotion was when she was with Lynn. That's when the switch flipped and her chaotic rich-girl mode activated.
But to everyone else?
She was still the same frosty ice queen who didn't give a damn.
Erina and Hisako watched her walk away, then exchanged a silent look.
They both saw the same stunned expression reflected in each other's eyes.
---
In the end, it was Erina who nodded first and started walking after Kaguya.
Hisako quickly followed behind.
But now, their steps were a lot more cautious, and both of them were starting to feel nervous.
Who was this "Master" Kaguya spoke of with such loyalty?
Could it really be the devil people were whispering about?
Erina started furiously pinching her own thigh, trying to snap herself out of this madness.
But clearly, Hisako hadn't lied.
This wasn't a dream.
This was real.
Deep breath.
Erina inhaled a few times, clenched her lips, and tried to psych herself up.
"Come on, Erina. Don't chicken out now!"
Fwooosh!
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew past.
Something black darted across the sky overhead.
Erina blinked and looked up on instinct.
And then she saw it.
A little girl. Flying. With wings.
"...?"
A giant question mark might as well have popped up over Erina's head.
What the hell was that?!
Wings? Flying?!
Is this even still Earth?!
In that instant, she felt like she'd been yanked through a portal into some kind of fantasy world she'd only seen in anime or video games.
Right beside her, Hisako's jaw dropped too.
For a second, she seriously reconsidered whether that pinch from earlier had been thorough enough.
Maybe she should do it again. Just to be sure.
.
.
.
Nakiri Erina glanced up at the flying little loli overhead, then looked back at the expressionless Kaguya Shinomiya in front of her. She opened her mouth like she was about to ask something
But thenHiss!
Erina suddenly shivered and sucked in a sharp breath.
Wait... that was cold air!
She stared in shock as a visible chill radiated off Kaguya's body. Her pupils dilated.
Uh-oh. She'd just run into a real ice queen.
Erina trembled slightly, instinctively swallowing her question and falling silent. She obediently followed behind Kaguya with her head down.
Though now... she moved even more stiffly.
Something's wrong here.
Very wrong.
A rich lady from the Shinomiya family walking around in a maid outfit, calling someone "Master." A loli with wings flying around like that's normal. And now... this frosty, literal ice queen vibe?!
What the hell kind of place is this?
Both Erina and Hisako swallowed nervously. Their fingers fidgeted, and sweat beaded on their foreheads.
Hisako looked like she was on the verge of tears.
Lady Erina, where the hell did you bring us?!
Is this some underground gathering for the secret elite?
Where on earth did she even find this place?!
Hisako had a sinking feeling.
Whatever they'd gotten into... it wasn't normal.
It reminded her of the day Shuchiin Academy was attacked. That day had been the first time she truly realized the supernatural was real.
But even then, she never expected something supernatural to happen to her.
Wait, nothis isn't her fault.
This is all because of Lady Erina.
She was just the poor, innocent victim dragged along for the ride.
Hisako opened her mouth, wanting to back outbut in the end, she said nothing.
If she left Erina here alone, she'd probably end up crying.
So, she gritted her teeth, and her eyes hardened with resolve. If Lady Erina's in this, I'm in this.
Noticing the two of them had finally gone quiet, a flicker of satisfaction passed through Kaguya's crimson eyes.
Explaining everything going on in this manor to normal people would be way too much of a hassleso Kaguya had no intention of indulging their curiosity.
A little while later, Kaguya led Erina and Hisako into the main hall.
Despite their unease, the two couldn't help peeking out from behind Kaguya's back, glancing around curiously.
And then, a man with messy black hair and striking crimson eyes stepped into view. There was an air of mystery about him that made it impossible to look away.
As soon as they saw him, Erina and Hisako's eyes widened.
"Lynn?!"
Hearing that, Lynn raised an eyebrow and looked over at them.
"Oh? So you two do know who I am?"
Erina and Hisako exchanged glances. Finally, Hisako stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"As students of Shuchiin, it's hard not to know your name."
The head of the Supernatural Research Club. The man who possessed supernatural power. The one who saved not just Shuchiin, but all of Tokyo.
The feats he'd accomplished, the overwhelming strength he'd displayed in front of the whole schoolthere weren't many who didn't know who Lynn was.
Not to mention, lately, his Club had become the hot topic at school.
It was practically a dream destination for all the girls.
Mostly because... well, let's be honestthey all wanted to get into Lynn's harem and shoot straight to the top.
Of course, Lynn's ridiculously good looks didn't hurt either.
Strong, handsome, and mysterious? Yeah, girls were into that.
Lynn nodded thoughtfully at Hisako's explanation.
Meanwhile, Kaguya stepped forward, curtsied slightly, and gave a sweet, obedient smile.
The cold aura she'd been exuding earlier had completely vanished the moment they stepped inside.
Now, she gave off nothing but warm, gentle vibes. "Master, I've brought our guests."
"..."
Erina twitched.
This was the same Kaguya who'd been cold as an iceberg just a second ago!?
Her whole character just collapsed!
Erina had the weirdest look on her face. She wanted to say somethinganythingbut couldn't force the words out, leaving her looking painfully constipated instead.
So much to roast and yet she dared not say a thing. Pure agony.
But still, just being able to think like this meant she was already way more relaxed than before.
Even if she didn't know Lynn personally, at least he was someone from Shuchiin.
And more importantly, if Kaguya was calling him "Master," then that meant
Wait a sec.
Master?!
Erina's eyes snapped wide open as she stared at Lynn in disbelief.
So that means Lynn was the owner of this place?!
Then that must mean the devil who sent her that location...
"You're... Devil-san?" she asked, almost in a whisper.
Lynn smiled faintly. "Was the ingredient I gave you to your liking?"
Erina instinctively licked her lips. Her God Tongue tingled, almost like it was recalling that incredible taste.
But then Her cheeks flushed bright red.
That heavenly experience came at the cost of her 'sacrificing her body,' didn't it?!
As that thought hit her, Erina looked down, unable to meet Lynn's eyes.
Sure, it had been embarrassing over the internetbut at least there was a screen between them.
Now that she was standing face-to-face with "Devil-san," her buried shame came flooding back full force!
Especially now that she knew the Devil was none other than Lynn, the famous golden boy of Shuchiin!
Ugh.
Erina could feel her whole body heating up. She wobbled slightly, barely staying upright. If she could dig a hole and bury herself, she would.
Hisako noticed something was off with Erina and quickly reached out to steady her.
Only to mutter, "She's burning up..."
Lynn took one look at the scene and casually instructed, "Kaguya, cool down our guest, would you?"
"Yes, Master!"
Kaguya spun around, raised her hand, andwhoosha burst of icy wind surged straight into Erina's clothes.
"Hiii!"
Erina's eyes flew open, and she jolted hard, snapping out of her shame spiral in an instant.
So cold!!
She hugged herself tightly and shot Kaguya a look of pure betrayal.
But well, at least she was composed again.
Mostly.
Though she still didn't dare meet Lynn's eyes.
What now?
SuddenlyThud, thud.
Lynn tapped his fingers against the table, drawing her attention.
"You didn't forget why you came here, did you?"
He'd clearly noticed her flustered state, but didn't bother with small talk. He cut right to the point.
Sure, he was hoping to eventually rope Erina into his familia.
But right now, he genuinely wanted her help training Hayasaka Ai and the others in cooking.
On the other side, Lynn's reminder jogged Erina's memory.
"Ah... right. The cooking training!"
"Exactly," Lynn nodded, then smirked slightly. "For this training, we'll be using only the highest-quality ingredients."
"I'm sure your tongue's already dying to get started, isn't it?"
The moment he said that
Erina's tongue twitched, and her mouth instantly filled with saliva.
Her throat reflexively moved as she thought about those otherworldly ingredientsflavors she'd never tasted before.
Realizing what she was doing, her cheeks flushed red.
Seriously, get a grip, Erina!
But she couldn't help it.
Even though she had the God Tongue She couldn't control it at all!
In fact, sometimes it felt like the God Tongue was the one leading her by the nose. Which was seriously frustrating.
Just like now.
It made her show such an embarrassing expression right in front of Lynn.
Sure, he has already seen her in even more embarrassing situations.
But stillShe couldn't help but feel humiliated.
Erina curled her toes in her shoes, wishing she could just dig a hole and crawl in.
On the couch, Lynn didn't seem all that bothered by Erina's awkwardness.
Instead, he turned and said, "Hayasaka, take them to the kitchen."
"Yes."
Hayasaka Ai stopped the shoulder massage she'd been giving him, lifted her gaze toward Erina and the others, and said calmly, "Follow me."
And with that, she turned and headed toward the kitchen.
Erina looked at Lynn, her mouth slightly open as if she wanted to say somethingbut Lynn looked half-asleep, completely disinterested.
Seeing that, she swallowed her words and quickly hurried after Hayasaka.
Soon, the group disappeared from view.
Lynn leaned back on the sofa, his expression unreadable.
He didn't need to personally entertain Erina. Hayasaka and the others could handle that.
He had other things to deal with.
Taking out his phone, he looked at a new message from Senhime, the dog princess.
[Senhime: "Lynn! That woman from the Underworld is here!!"]
Two exclamation points.
Clearly, Senhime was in full panic mode.
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
"That woman from the Underworld?"
"Hmm..."
"Grayfia?"
.
.
.
"Grayfia, huh?"
Lynn's expression turned a bit strange.
What was going on?
He used a devil piece to activate a link to Senhime's location.
A virtual screen popped up in front of him.
And sure enough a woman with long silver hair, a curvy figure, and a cold, expressionless face appeared.
Yep Definitely Grayfia.
But the background behind her wasn't the Underworld.
WaitGrayfia left the Underworld and came here?!
Lynn: "..."
Meanwhile.
Erina followed Hayasaka, wanting to ask a dozen questions but not sure where to start. Besides, she was kind of nervous.
"You're the heiress of the Nakiri family, right?"
"Eh?"
Erina blinked, caught off guard.
"You know who I am, Miss Hayasaka?"
Not an unreasonable question.
Most people here had only seen Erina, but didn't really seem to know who she was.
But Hayasaka had called her "the Nakiri heiress," which clearly meant she knew more.
"The top culinary family in the country? Yeah, hard not to know the name."
Hayasaka's voice was completely flat.
She said the words, but her tone showed zero interest or emotion.
Clearly, she didn't think much of the Nakiris.
But Erina, being Erina, didn't pick up on that. She scratched her head, a little embarrassed. "Haha well, we're not that amazing."
Her tone was modest, but her face clearly said, "Yeah, we're kinda a big deal."
Hisako, walking behind her, facepalmed.
Lady Erina, she was just being polite.
A few moments later
Erina worked up the nerve to ask, "Um about Lynn is he really"
"A devil?"
"Or is that just an online alias or something?"
She'd wanted to ask this back in the living room, but didn't get the chance.
And honestly Talking to someone with supernatural powers made her feel a little intimidated.
Before Hayasaka could answer, Hisako chimed in, surprised, "A devil?"
What devil?
Wasn't this place supposed to be some kind of external branch of a supernatural organization?
That had been her first thought when she saw Lynn.
And Kaguya's icy aura had kind of confirmed it.It would make sense if the members here had powers.
But now there's a devil involved?
Erina looked away awkwardly and muttered, "Did you forget who I sent those pictures to?"
Hisako froze. "The Devil guy?"
"But" She frowned. "I thought that was just some guy you met online."
"What do you mean 'some guy I met online'?!"
Erina raised her voice a little, clearly flustered. "That was Lynn!"
"???"
Hisako stared at her, then said in disbelief, "You were in an online relationship with Lynn?!"
After Lynn saved Tokyo and displayed godlike powers, the entire cityno, the entire country's elitehad gone wild trying to get close to him.
Even the top brass were scratching their heads over how to approach him.
And here was Erina already in contact with him? And apparently on very friendly terms?
Otherwise, why would she have sent him those photos?
Hisako felt like she just solved a mystery.
Lady Erina such foresight!!
She looked at Erina with admiration.
Erina: "???"
"Hisako are you misunderstanding something here?"
Several minutes (and a lot of explaining) later . . . . .
Hisako finally understood the full picture.
And immediately gave Erina a weird look.
Wait So Erina had sent those kinds of pictures to a stranger without even confirming who he was first?!
Yikes.
Hisako realized maybe she didn't know her lady as well as she thought.
Still, this whole "Lynn is a devil" thing that couldn't be true, right?
No way someone that handsome could be an actual devil.
Plus, would a devil really go to school with humans?
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she was
It had to just be a username, or some weird sense of humor on Lynn's part.
On the other side, Erina noticed Hisako's expression and started to feel seriously uncomfortable.
Why was she looking at her like that?
Erina bit her lip, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
But there was nothing she could say to explain it that wouldn't make it worse.
She turned away and stayed quiet.
Thankfully, Hayasaka's voice cut through the awkward silence, rescuing her from the tension.
"I, Kaguya, and everyone in this villa"
Hayasaka stopped walking, glancing at the people passing bythe other residents of the estate.
Because of the staff shortage, Lynn had brought in reinforcements from other worlds.
"Devils."
.
.
.
"..."
Erina Nakiri and Hisako Arato froze when they heard what Hayasaka had just said. Their pupils dilated in shock.
Their earlier emotions were forgotten as they stammered out a single question:
"All of you?"
Erina's voice was strained as the words left her mouth. She looked at Hayasaka, then glanced nervously at everyone else in the room.
On the other side, Hisako was struggling to believe it.
"Wait, they're actually devils?!"
Then wasn't this whole place basically a den of devils?!
Hisako looked at Hayasaka and the others, her throat tightening as she swallowed hard.
Something about this gave her the creeping sense. That at any moment, the people in front of her would peel off their faces and reveal terrifying formsthen devour her whole!
"Uuuu..."
Just imagining that made Hisako shiver uncontrollably and let out a pitiful whimper.
Hayasaka Ai just sighed.
"Relax. We were human before we became devils."
"Ehhhh?"
Both Erina and Hisako blinked in confusion, clearly not following what Hayasaka meant.
After thinking for a moment, Hayasaka clarified, "To be more precise we're now half-human, half-devil."
"Before the transformation, we were just regular humans like you."
Even though they'd turned into devils, their human blood hadn't been erasedit still coexisted within them in a surprisingly compatible way.
Since there was a good chance these two might end up becoming part of the familia someday, Hayasaka figured it wouldn't hurt to explain a bit.
A few moments later, Erina and Hisako finally understood.
"So basically" Hisako hesitated, "Miss Hayasaka, you're both a devil AND a human right now?"
Hayasaka nodded. "Yeah, you could say that."
Erina nervously asked, "Then this is your true form?"
Hayasaka answered calmly, "Of course."
Well... when she shifted into devil form, there were definitely physical changes.
But this was her default, normal appearance.
Hearing her confirm it eased both Erina and Hisako's nerves a bit.
"You feel better now?" Hayasaka asked dryly, her expression unreadable as she looked at them.
The two girls exchanged awkward glances and gave sheepish smiles. "Sorry, we just"
Hayasaka raised a hand to cut them off. "It's fine. It's normal for humans to be afraid when they hear the word 'devil.'"
Honestly, most people would probably think it was just a bad joke.
But once you saw supernatural power with your own eyes, the idea of devils didn't seem quite so impossible anymore.
Oh well. At least she didn't have to waste time explaining any more.
While they walked toward the kitchen, Erina suddenly asked, "So becoming a devil... means you get powers? Like how Kaguya-san has that cold aura thing?"
She was thinking of the strange chill that always clung to Kaguya Shinomiya.
Combined with what Hayasaka had just saidabout all of them being normal humans before.
So basically Becoming a devil = gaining supernatural powers?
Hayasaka nodded. She didn't try to hide it.
"Yeah. When you become a devil, you naturally gain devilic powers."
Even ordinary people could get power like that?
Erina's mind began to race. A curious spark lit up in her chest.
Could I... become someone like those manga protagonists who command the elements or battle monsters?
Then another thought struck her.
"But wait," she asked, "Aren't there humans who are born with supernatural powers too?"
She was thinking of her God Tongue.
That definitely seemed like something beyond normal human ability.
Up until recently, when she still believed this world was purely mundane, she had assumed her God Tongue was just a rare natural talent.
But now... there was a better term for it: Supernatural power.
Still, if her special power was just tasting food and judging chefs, wasn't that kind of lame?
Like seriously? All she could do was taste dishes and give critiques?
That's it?
Erina's face twitched slightly at the thought.
God, that's so underwhelming.
Up ahead, Hayasaka responded to her question with a hum, then offered an example. "There's a first-year girl at Shuchiin who was born with the ability to see spirits and curses."
"Yotsuya Miko. She has spirit sightcan see curses, ghosts, that sort of thing."
"Curses?!"
Both Erina and Hisako yelped at the same time, suddenly feeling a chill creep down their spines.
Then, out of nowhere, a cold voice whispered in their ears: "Mind if I join you two in learning?"
"AAHHH!!"
They jumped nearly a foot in the air, practically crying from fear.
"What's wrong with them?" Kaguya asked, confused, glancing at Hayasaka.
Hayasaka sighed. "Can you please turn off the cold air?"
Kaguya frowned slightly. "But Lord Lynn said it feels nice when he hugs me like this."
As she spoke, Kaguya blushed and giggled like a schoolgirl in love.
Hayasaka was speechless.
Well, duh. Of course it felt nice.
He's basically using you like an air conditioner.
"So... you're just staying like that all day?"
Kaguya puffed out her chest proudly. "I'm training as Frost Devil!"
"That way, I can always maintain the perfect temperature Lord Lynn likes!"
"...???"
Hayasaka paused, then gave Kaguya a weird look, glancing down at her chest.
"Wow. I can't believe you actually thought of that."
A fully adjustable chest. Damn... Kaguya's got a serious edge now.
Kaguya grinned smugly at the praise, hands on her hips.
Now, when she warmed Lynn's bed, she wouldn't have to worry about him being uncomfortable!
Yup, clearly, the two were having very different conversations.
Meanwhile, Erina and Hisako watched this exchange in stunned silence, then glanced at each other.
They could both see the disbelief in each other's eyes.
Curses?
Just thinking about the horror movies they'd seen made their hearts skip a beat.
Devils were real. So curses?
Yeah... not that far-fetched anymore.
They both started glancing nervously around the room, clutching their hands as if bracing for something to appear.
Of course, the more they couldn't see anything... the more freaked out they got.
Hayasaka noticed right away what they were worried about.
"Relax. This is a devil stronghold. No cursed spirit with half a brain would dare wander in here."
Plus, there was a barrier set up around the territory. Not even a fly could sneak in unnoticed.
"And besides..." she added casually, "normal humans can't see cursed spirits anyway."
"Eh?"
Erina and Hisako blinked. "R-Really?"
But before they could breathe a sigh of relief, Hayasaka added with a chilling smirk:
"Of course... the moment you do see one... it probably means it's already decided to eat you."
Their faces froze.
Eat us?
AAAAHHHH!!
Why did you have to say that?!
Now they were even more terrified!
Erina and Hisako were both trembling, frozen in place with wide eyes, not daring to move a muscle. It was like they were afraid some cursed spirit would suddenly pop out from the shadows.
Hayasaka Ai: ""
She sighed, clearly exasperated. "You've lived this long, haven't you? And you've never actually run into any cursed spirits."
"Oh that's true!"
Erina blinked, then slapped her chest and let out a long sigh of relief.
But still, even knowing that, she couldn't shake the fear completely. Her eyes kept darting toward the dark corners of the room, half-expecting some creepy, misshapen monster to leap out at any second.
Seeing her like that, Hayasaka continued, "Besides"
"If you ever do see a cursed spirit, just pretend you didn't. Act like it's not there."
"Huh? Pretend it's not there?"
Erina looked confused.
Hayasaka explained, "As long as you can't see them, low-level cursed spirits can't actually attack humans."
After joining the familia, she and Kaguya had taken down a few cursed spirits together, so she had a decent grasp of how they worked.
That said, she didn't completely get it either.
Why was it that cursed spirits couldn't attack humans if the humans couldn't see them?
And more importantly, this rule only applied to the low-level ones.
It kind of felt like someone had intentionally set things up that way.
...
Hearing Hayasaka's explanation, both Erina and Hisako felt their fear slowly start to ease.
However, Hisako, ever the sharp one, caught an important detail.
"Waitlow-level?"
Hayasaka nodded calmly. "Yeah. Cursed spirits are ranked by levels."
She paused for a beat before continuing. "Low-level ones don't have enough cursed energy to affect the real world. That's why regular people can't see them."
"But"
"High-level ones can mess with reality."
She said it so matter-of-factly.
"And if you ever run into one of those, just lie down on the ground and don't move."
Erina's eyes lit up with hope. "So if I don't move, they can't see me?"
"No."
Hayasaka shook her head. "That means you're 100% screwed. If you even try to struggle, you'll die horribly."
Erina: ""
What kind of answer was that?
She gave Hayasaka a wounded look, like a puppy that had just been kicked.
Hisako's lips twitched as well.
How could someone sound so cold and deadpan while saying something so terrifying?
Then again, it made a weird kind of sense.
Hisako sighed in resignation.
The more you know, the scarier this world becomes.
She should've just plugged her ears and ignored the whole conversation.
Why the hell did she even get dragged here in the first place?
Hisako shot Erina a betrayed look.
She was just a regular secretary! No one ever told her that being Erina Nakiri's secretary would be this dangerous!
Erina and Hisako, having just had their worldview completely obliterated, sat in stunned silence.
It took a long while before they could even begin to accept this terrifying reality hiding behind the world they thought they knew.
Eventually, Erina asked curiously, "What about that girl who can see them? How's she doing now?"
To be born with the ability to see cursed spirits that had to be a miserable existence.
She couldn't even imagine how hopeless that must feel.
She must be living such a pitiful life, right?
Erina found herself genuinely worried about her.
"You mean Miko?" Hayasaka paused, then said with a touch of sympathy, "She's probably off in another world somewhere, fighting monsters and leveling up."
"Huh?"
Erina blinked, completely lost.
Another world?
Fighting monsters??
Leveling up???
Waitdid that girl get isekai'd?!
What the hell?! How did the tone shift again?!
Meanwhile, in the Bleach World Hueco Mundo
Katerea Leviathan stood tall atop a sand dune, grinning wildly as she waved her arm. "Let's gooooo~"
"Time to raise some hell!"
.
.
.
Hueco Mundo
Katerea Leviathan stood tall, grinning wildly as she waved her arm. "Let's raise some hell!"
Midoriko: ""
Lynn-sama, why would you send someone like her over here?!
Katerea, sensing their hesitation, gave the girls a hearty slap on the back and flashed a toothy grin. "Relax! I'm here, so there's nothing to worry about!"
"And besides"
She paused, grin growing even cockier. "If you keep leveling up at this slowpoke pace, we'll be stuck here forever."
Her gaze turned toward the looming white palace in the distance, eyes gleaming with intent. "You want real EXP? You go for the big boss fights."
Midoriko: ""
She wasn't wrong.
But still, that kind of thinking could get them all killed.
Midoriko, Kikyo, Miko, and others exchanged looks, clearly resigned to their fate.
But what could they do?
Right now, Katerea Leviathan was easily the strongest among them.
The Devil King, a true Satan.
Probably the most powerful of all the Familia, second only to Lynn himself.
And honestly, she did have a point.
Midoriko also turned her eyes toward the white palace.
Whoever was in there, they should be a worthy challenge, right?
A spark of excitement lit up inside her.
She clenched her fists. "Alright! Let's go all out!"
Katerea nodded with satisfaction.
One vote secured!
And not just any votethe most important one.
With Midoriko on board, the rest would naturally follow.
After all, she was the leader of this advance team.
Just a few seconds later, with everyone in agreement, Katerea couldn't help but grin from ear to ear.
Sure, she talked big about storming the place.
But she still made sure to get everyone's input first.
Because if Lynn ever found out she just barged in, overruled Midoriko, and pulled rank to take over command.
She'd definitely get punished.
Not that she minded punishment too much, in fact, there was a little part of her that kind of looked forward to it?
Still, if Lynn started to hate her because of it, that would be a real problem.
She still wanted to bear his children one day, after all. She couldn't afford to screw this up.
So for now, the once-chaotic Devil King of the Old Satan Faction was learning to play nice with the rest of the Familia.
A few seconds later, Katerea raised her hand.
A massive sea-blue magic circle burst to life in the sky, instantly enveloping the entire white palace.
"This place is way too dry and dusty," she scoffed with a laugh. "Let Mama Leviathan give you a nice little shower!"
And the moment the words left her mouth
BOOM!!
A colossal pillar of water crashed down from the heavens, slamming into the palace like a divine punishment!
...
Las Noches.
Coyote Starrk, who had been lounging around in his usual lazy daze, suddenly snapped to attention, eyes sharp.
"Whoa That's one hell of a move. And it's right above Las Noches?!"
BZZZ
A moment later, high above the palace, a Coyote Starrk appeared.
The moment his eyes caught sight of the endless sea of water pouring down from the sky like an overturned ocean, his pupils twitched in shock.
Lilynette clung to his shoulder, eyes wide in disbelief. "Starrk! The sky's falling!!"
Starrkstill half-asleep as usualrubbed her head and sighed. "It's not the sky, dummy. This is clearly an enemy attack"
"Enemy attack?!" Lilynette quickly darted her eyes around. "Where? Where are they?!"
Starrk didn't answer. He just looked off into the distance, his expression turning serious.
In his spiritual sense he could feel a group of people standing far away.
The weird thing wasNone of them had any detectable Reiatsu.
However, the energy coming off them felt oddly similar to the strange ocean above.
"So it's them?"
Suddenly, a cool voice echoed in his ear.
"You showed up too, Tier Harribel"
Starrk didn't turn around. He already knew who it was.
Tier Harribel stepped forward, stopping beside him. Her face was calm and unreadable.
Her sun-kissed skin gave her a wild, exotic beauty, but the stoic expression added a distant, almost abstinent edge.
She glanced up at the sea crashing overhead. "This power" she murmured, "These invaders they're not ordinary."
Starrk nodded. The usual lazy look in his eyes was gone, replaced by rare solemnity.
Harribel paused for a moment before speaking again. "It's not often I see you looking like this."
"Yeah" Starrk sighed. "This time I can't slack off."
"Is that so?" Harribel narrowed her eyes slightly.
For someone like Starrk to take something seriously That alone said a lot.
BZZZZZ
Suddenly, the space around them started to ripple.
More figures began appearing one after another, all dressed in white.
"Ohoho~"
A tall, thin man wearing a single eyepatch grinned as he looked around. "Someone actually dared to attack Las Noches? Don't tell me"
"They don't know where they are?"
As he finished that sentence, his smile vanished. A wave of killing intent rolled off him.
"Well then let me go rip those insects apart one by one!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, a terrifying Reiatsu exploded from his body.
Harribel frowned slightly. "Nnoitra Gilga, don't be reckless."
"Yeah, yeah~ Save the lecture for when I get back."
And just like that, Nnoitra's figure vanished in a blur.
Harribel's brows furrowed even deeper.
Starrk shrugged. "Let him go. Might as well use him to figure out what we're dealing with."
He looked up toward the sky. "We've still got another problem to deal with."
The others looked up at the same time.
SPLASH
The roar of rushing seawater filled the air.
Starrk scratched his head. "If the palace gets destroyed, you know Aizen's gonna be pissed."
That got everyone's attention.
Even though Aizen Sosuke rarely showed any expression
Just hearing his name was enough to make them all nervous.
And when Aizen did want to punish someonehe never gave warnings.
HSSSSSSK
Realizing that, the others all drew in a sharp breath.
No hesitation.
"Cero!" (xN)
BZZZ
Multiple beams of energyeach one glowing in different colorsblasted upward, crashing head-on into the falling sea.
Starrk watched with a tiny smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Ah. Guess he could slack off a bit longer.
Well, maybe not completely.
BOOM!!
The massive blasts collided with the ocean above, sending shockwaves echoing through Hueco Mundo.
But, the ocean didn't shatter like they expected. Instead, it slowed and held its position.
No, waitIt was still falling. Just slower.
Ulquiorra Cifer blinked in surprise. "Our combined Cero only managed to slow it?"
Sure, none of them had gone into their Resurreccin forms yet, but still
They weren't sure if this strange ocean was even the full extent of the enemy's power.
But after just this first clash, they already knewwhoever was behind it was seriously strong.
"Tch" Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez scowled. "Where the hell did this come from?"
Whoever could unleash a power like this definitely wasn't from Hueco Mundo.
Otherwise, Aizen would've wiped them out long ago.
Which meant this enemy came from outside the realm.
"Hey!" Grimmjow snapped, glaring at Szayelaporro Grantz and his crew. "This has to be your fault, right?! If this mess screws with Aizen's plans, don't come crying when he skins you alive!"
"Oh ho ho" Szayelaporro narrowed his eyes. "Now now, don't go throwing baseless accusations."
Grimmjow muttered, "Like anyone trusts you, bastard."
Of course, they all had another suspect in the back of their minds.
Aizen Sosuke.
After all, this kind of crazy unexpected thing was exactly his style.
But none of them were dumb enough to say that out loud.
Harribel glanced at the group and decided to drop the topic. She turned back to Starrk. "You still not going to make a move?"
Starrk: "..."
"Sigh" He let out a long breath. "I was hoping I could nap through this one."
Harribel responded calmly, "That lazy attitude of yours needs to change eventually."
"Yeah, yeah~" Starrk replied halfheartedly. He raised his index finger, and a small blue orb of energy formed at the tip.
He flicked it.
WHOOSH
The orb left a bright blue trail as it shot toward the clashing point between the Cero and the sea.
The moment it hitBOOM!!
A blinding flash exploded from the collision point.
The blue orb triggered the energy from the Ceros to detonate all at once!
BOOOOM!!
The sound thundered across Hueco Mundo!
SPLASH
A soft, pattering noise echoed from above.
The sea was gone.
In its place fat raindrops began falling like marbles from the sky.
Starrk looked up and let out a soft breath. "Didn't think I'd see weather like this in Hueco Mundo"
Well, even if it was artificial.
Seeing the water disappear, Grimmjow and the others finally relaxed.
As long as Las Noches was safe and no damage was done, it was fine.
CRASH!
Another blast rang out in the air!
Moments later, Nnoitra came flying at high speed, smashing straight into one of the white palace buildings with a loud boom, destroying the building.
Starrk: "..."
Grimmjow: "..."
Everyone: "..."
.
.
.
BOOM!!!
Nnoitra came flying at high speed, smashing straight into one of the white palace buildings, destroying it.
Grimmjow turned his head to look at the crumbling ruins behind them, falling silent for a moment.
Then his gaze locked onto the one responsible.
"Nnoitra Gilga!!"
Grimmjow's voice trembled slightly with anger. "What the hell did you just do?!"
"Pah! Pah!"
Nnoitra spat out a mouthful of sand and shoved the debris off his body. His glare landed squarely on Grimmjow, sharp and unrepentant.
"Since when do you get to tell me what to do, Sexta Espada?"
Grimmjow's jaw tightened as his teeth ground together. His eyes narrowed dangerously at Nnoitra.
What does being Sexta have to do with this?!
"One day, I'm gonna knock you down to Sexta!"
"Hah?"
Nnoitra scoffed, like he'd just heard the funniest joke all day. "If you think you can, then bring it on!"
"Bastard!!"
Grimmjow's Reiatsu exploded around him, his body already twitching, ready to launch into Sonido
ButSmack!
A hand clamped down hard on Grimmjow's shoulder, stopping him cold.
His foot froze in place, and he shot an irritated glance back.
"Starrk, don't get in my way!"
Coyote Starrk let out a sigh. "Man this is such a pain"
"Normally, I wouldn't bother stopping you. But don't forgetour real enemy hasn't even shown up yet."
"And if we start tearing into each other now"
He paused, then gave Grimmjow a serious look. "We might not make it out alive."
"Also"
"If Aizen finds out about this little tantrum, you think he's gonna let it slide?"
"..."
"Tch."
At the mention of Aizen, Grimmjow looked away, annoyed. He clicked his tongue in frustration, but he backed off anyway.
Nnoitra, still sitting on the rubble, also went quiet. He looked down at the wreckage around him, unease creeping into his gut.
Their base in Las Noches had just been leveled by an enemy. Buildings destroyed. The whole place in shambles.
Oh man...
Nnoitra didn't even want to imagine what Aizen would do when he found out.
"Hmmph."
A cold snort suddenly cut through the tension.
Starrk raised an eyebrow and turned toward the voice.
A large, hulking figure stood theredressed in a white coat trimmed with black fur, looking for all the world like a grumpy old man.
Baraggan Louisenbairn.
"This guy again? What now?"
Starrk felt another headache coming on.
Sure enough, Baraggan let out a low chuckle and sneered, "Aizen's really trained you mutts well. Didn't think he could break you this bad."
That wide-shot insult instantly drew the attention of all the other Espada.
Baraggan, completely unfazed by their glares, crossed his arms. The flame-like glow in his hollowed eyes swept across them all.
"What? Tell me I'm wrong."
Starrk: ""
He felt drained just standing here.
He had just managed to stop Grimmjow and Nnoitra from killing each other, and now here comes Baraggan stirring the pot.
But then again this wasn't new. Baraggan had always looked down on themeven though he was technically one of them.
Same Espada rank, same status, but always acting like he was above it all.
Always running his mouth with crap like "I'm ashamed to even be grouped with you."
Tier Harribel frowned, her voice icy. "Baraggan. Don't forgetyou're working for Lord Aizen, too."
"Don't lump me in with you." Baraggan growled. His hand curled into a tight fist, bony knuckles creaking.
"One day, I'll take back everything I lost. I'll rip it right out of Aizen's hands!"
"Cool. Best of luck with that." Starrk replied dryly. Then added, "But for now, how about we all deal with the enemy first, dear former king of Hueco Mundo?"
Baraggan shot him a glance, his eyes flashing.
This bastard didn't even respect him!
He wanted so badly to make Starrk rot in placeto show him what true death tasted like.
But Baraggan's gaze flickered again.
Even if Aizen hadn't said it out loud, they all knew the truth.
The Espada rankings were based on strength.
So the fact that he, the former king of Hueco Mundo, was ranked only Second said everything.
Starrk was strong. Really strong.
Baraggan didn't like Aizen. Not one bit. But there was one thing that smug bastard had said that he completely agreed with:
In a fight between Soul Reapers, it all comes down to Reiatsu.
Baraggan's aging ability was terrifying. Nearly impossible to counter.
But when faced with someone like Starrk, whose Reiatsu far outclassed his it just didn't work the same.
Tch.
Where the hell did Aizen find monsters like that?
With that thought, Baraggan fell silent.
Power speaks louder than words.
Baraggan believed in the law of the junglethe strong rule, the weak follow.
He wasn't like Nnoitra, who barked at those stronger than him just to feel tough.
No, Baraggan held real contempt for Espada like Nnoitra. Weaklings who didn't know their place.
Seeing that Baraggan had finally shut up, Starrk let out a sigh of relief.
Yeah, he was technically in charge as the First Espada.
But he had zero interest in actually managing them.
Too much hassle.
All of themevery single Espadawere a pain in the ass.
And Starrk was lazy as hell.
Thankfully, as long as Aizen gave the orders, they'd all obey.
Even Baragganwho was just itching for the day he could overthrow Aizenwould behave, at least for now.
The other Espada, seeing that Baraggan had gone quiet, also relaxed slightly, although their expressions were still tense.
For now, Starrk had managed to suppress the growing powder keg between them.
Their attention turned toward the direction Nnoitra had flown from earlier.
From there, a massive Reiatsu was charging toward themfast.
Before anyone could speak, Nnoitrastill perched on the rubblesuddenly jerked his head up.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his face twisted with rage.
"Damn you, Nelliel!!"
Tier Harribel's eyes widened in surprise. She quickly turned to Nnoitra Gilga and asked with a frown, "You're sure?"
Nnoitra's face twisted with rage. "She's the one who kicked my ass and sent me flying back here!"
"...Huh?"
"Hehehe"
Baraggan Louisenbairn suddenly chuckled. "Now this is getting interesting."
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez and the others turned to look at Nnoitra and Szayelaporro Granz with amused expressions.
Clearly, the whole mess between them and Nelliel was old news at this point.
Grimmjow grinned, clearly enjoying himself. "Looks like that woman's finally back for payback!"
"Tsk tsk."
"Some people better watch their backs~"
Grimmjow's voice boomed like he wanted the whole Hueco Mundo to hear it. "I wonder if those cowards who only know how to gang up on others have the guts to face the wrath of the former Tres Espada head-on?"
"You bastard!" Nnoitra snapped, glaring at him.
But, the more agitated he got, the more obvious it becamehe was scared.
Deep down, Nnoitra knew full well the gap between him and Nelliel.
Just like how he never considered Grimmjow, the Sexta Espada, a threat
The difference between Nellielthe original Tres Espadaand him was just as massive if not more.
Damn it!!
She really got her powers back?!
Nowait her Reiatsu? It's even stronger than it used to be!!
He shuddered as Nelliel's cold eyes flashed through his mind.
Even worse off was Szayelaporro Granz, who had also been part of that sneak attack on Nelliel.
Szayelaporro's hands clenched into fists, his face pale and stiff. A flicker of regret crossed his heart.
What now?
Even someone like Nnoitrawho's way stronger than himhad to team up just to ambush Nelliel successfully.
If it came to a straight-up fight what could someone ranked Octava even do?
Ulquiorra Cifer, on the other hand, showed no amusement.
Or rather, he just didn't care.
He calmly asked, "So the intruder was a former Espada?"
Starrk and Harribel exchanged a glance, then after a brief pause, Harribel said seriously, "Probably"
"Only one of them."
There were others behind herbeings they couldn't even sense.
And that attack earlier? That wasn't even one of the abilities Nelliel used to have.
As they spokeWHOOOSH
A powerful gust of wind blasted through the area.
Sensing something, both Starrk and Harribel suddenly looked up into the distance.
In the next instant, a blur of green appeared on the horizon, growing larger by the second. A terrifying surge of Reiatsu crashed down over them like a tidal wave.
ThenNelliel appeared before them.
She was icy cold, and her amber eyes swept over Starrk and the rest before finally locking onto Nnoitra.
"!!!!"
The moment the gaze fell on him, Nnoitra's entire body tensed. His muscles coiled tight, his instincts screaming danger.
I'm going to die!
Hell, here I'm coming.
That was the horrifying conclusion his mind reached in just one second.
She really was stronger now!
Damn it!
Nnoitra gritted his teeth.
How?!
Nelliel should've lost all her power after their ambush. So how in the hell did she not only recoverbut grow even stronger?!
He couldn't beat her before.
Now?
He probably couldn't even run.
.
.
.
Starrk narrowed his eyes and greeted her in his usual laid-back tone. "Yo long time no see."
Nelliel gave him a glance but didn't respond. Instead, she turned to Harribel. "Congrats."
Harribel shook her head. "You say it like I just picked up your leftovers and became the new Tres."
Well she kinda did.
Harribel's expression was complicated.
If Nelliel hadn't disappeared, that spot never would've gone to her.
She hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "You've become stronger than before."
Anyone could feel the pressure pouring off Nelliel now.
Honestly, at this point, she could probably be called the new Segunda Espada.
What the hell had she gone through during all that time away?
Nelliel responded calmly, "Yeah went through a lot."
On the side
Starrk: ""
Lilynette: "Wow, she totally ignored you~"
Starrk shook his head. "You talk too much."
He didn't seem too bothered about being ignored, but it was clear this Nelliel wasn't here to play nice.
If it were just a personal grudge against Nnoitra and Szayelaporro, that'd be one thing.
But she wasn't alone.
And worse? She'd already attacked Las Noches.
That tidal wave from earlier? That was her declaration of war.
Still, just to be safe, Starrk casually asked, "So, Nelliel you thinking of rejoining our happy little Espada 'family'?"
If she wasn't planning anything crazy, he might be able to go back to slacking off again.
But the second he said "family," even he felt awkward.
I mean, come on.
The Espada? A family?
With all the backstabbing, ambushes, petty rivalries, and complete lack of trust?
Even Harribel gave him a weird look.
A family? This toxic mess of betrayal and bitterness?
How the hell did you say that with a straight face?
Nelliel actually let out a laughcold and sharp. "Oh, absolutely"
"I came back to give this so-called family a little warmth."
Starrk: ""
Uh-oh.
That might've made things worse?
"Hey, um"
He tried to negotiate. "Can we not do that?"
Nelliel didn't even blink. "No."
As soon as the word left her lipsBOOM!!!
A storm of green Reiatsu exploded from her body!
It was so intense, it felt like it could tear the sky apart!
WOOOOOOM
Under that pressure, the entire dimension seemed to tremble!
GULP!
Nnoitra and Szayelaporro stared in horror, feeling their mouths go dry.
This... was way beyond what they could handle.
"Ah"
Starrk scratched his head with a sigh. "So in the end, we're really doing this, huh."
There was no helping it. He was honestly kind of annoyedit all felt like such a hassle.
But as the strongest Espada in Las Noches right now, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
Otherwise, knowing Aizen, that scheming bastard would definitely mark him down in his little black book.
The thought alone sent a chill down his spine. Even someone like him didn't want to be on Aizen's bad side.
Sigh
So gotta protect the place, huh
The laziness in Starrk's eyes slowly faded, replaced with a rare seriousness as he looked at Nelliel.
"Just you showing up isn't going to sway the Espada. Why don't you bring out whoever you've got hiding behind you?"
It wasn't that Starrk was being arrogant or anything. He just didn't like the idea of someone lurking in the shadowsit made him feel like he had to stay on edge, watching for a sneak attack the entire time.
Hunting them down one by one would just be a pain in the ass.
That said, the people backing Nelliel didn't seem like they were trying all that hard to stay hidden, anyway.
Hearing Starrk's words, Nelliel finally shifted her gaze away from Nnoitra Gilga.
Nnoitra immediately felt the pressure lift. His whole body relaxed as he let out a breath he didn't even realize he'd been holding.
Then, just as quickly, he got pissed at himself for being so pathetic.
Damn it!!
He clenched his fists, cursing himself nonstop in his head.
She's just a woman I took out with a cheap sneak attack!
He kept trying to mentally tear Nelliel down just to vent his frustration over the fear she'd stirred in him.
He didn't dare make a sound. He was terrified of drawing her attention back.
Damn it all!!
Why?! Why the hell did she get even stronger?!
Meanwhile, Szayelaporro Granz was just as uneasy. He made sure to position himself at the very back of the Espada, standing stiff as a board and doing his best to disappear from everyone's notice.
He was silently praying Nelliel would just forget about him entirely.
But in truth
Now that she was back in Las Noches, Nelliel wasn't even thinking about Nnoitra or Szayelaporro.
To her, they were as good as dead alreadynothing worth worrying about.
What mattered right now was completing the first big mission assigned to her and the Familia.
She had to give it her all and make sure she left a lasting impression on Lynn!
Only then Would she have a shot at earning a place in his heart.
And besides, Nelliel had another ace up her sleeve.
Her released formCapricorn Knight!
If she played her cards right, maybe she could even become Lynn's personal mount?
Although, she wasn't sure how many people in the Familia already had that position.
If there was some sort of competition for it, then this battle might be the perfect opportunity to prove herself!
Her eyes sparkled with determination as she clenched her fists.
This time, she would show Lynn that riding her wasn't just fast and smooththe "seat" was soft and comfortable too!
Clearly, she was the ideal mount!
As that thought crossed her mind, a serious glint appeared in her amber eyes.
"Huh?"
Starrk gave Nelliel a strange look. She was acting weird again.
He scratched his head, and just like that, the seriousness he'd built up dissipated.
Back to being lazy.
Sensing his gaze, Nelliel snapped out of her thoughts and turned her attention back to him.
"Hmm"
She looked serious again.
"It's happening," Starrk thought, eyes sharpening.
Then Nelliel asked, "Wait, what were you saying again?"
She'd been so wrapped up thinking about Lynn that she hadn't caught a word.
"Seriously?" Starrk deadpanned.
He scratched the back of his head with a sigh. "If I say it again now, it'll totally kill the vibe"
Tier Harribel: ""
"Humph."
Baraggan Louisenbairn let out a cold snort.
This guy's the Primera Espada?
He didn't even sound intimidating!
Annoyed by how long this was dragging out, Baraggan stepped forward and barked, "Quit stalling and call out whoever you've got hiding. Let's get this over with!"
He was itching for a fight too.
Just Nelliel wouldn't be enough for all the Espada to have fun.
Nelliel blinked, then tilted her head with a strange look.
"Huh? But They're already here."
"???"
Starrk and the others exchanged confused glances, scanning their surroundings.
But there wasn't a single unfamiliar face in sight.
Were they being played?
The thought barely crossed their minds whenVmmm
A deep hum echoed overhead as a sea-blue magic circle flared into existence above them!
And in the next instant A group of powerful figures descended, led by none other than Katerea Leviathan!
Starrk's eyes went wide, his pupils contracting sharply as he felt the same familiar pressure from above. He instinctively looked up.
Right as Katerea Leviathan locked eyes with him.
Katerea's lips curled into a smirk.
"So" she said, voice dripping with condescension. "You must be the strongest one here?"
Arms crossed, chin slightly lifted, eyes staring down at him with contemptlike he was nothing more than a bug.
"Hope you're enjoying the little welcome gift I brought."
Starrk looked up, unfazed by the insult, and actually smiled a little. "Yeah definitely a bold introduction. I won't be forgetting it anytime soon."
"Tch. Enough talking," Baraggan cut in, stepping forward and locking eyes with Katerea. "You must be the strongest one, right? Then I'll deal with you myself!"
"You?" Katerea scoffed and tilted her head dismissively. "Nah. Don't waste my time. Let the guy next to you step up instead."
"You!!"
Baraggan was livid. He felt completely brushed off and immediately moved to use Sondo.
Snap!
But before he could move, a hand landed firmly on his shoulder.
"Baraggan."
It was Starrk's voicecalm, but serious.
"Let me handle this one. Like she said she's mine."
Baraggan's face twitched. Furious, he forced a laugh.
"...You think I earned my title as King of Hueco Mundo just 'cause I'm old?!"
He brushed Starrk's hand off and vanished with a burst of Sondo.
FWOOM!
He reappeared right in front of Katerea in an instant.
Without a word, eyes sharp as ice, he reached out.
Two massive obsidian axes materialized in his hands.
FWOOOSH
With no warning whatsoever, he swung both axes down on Katerea Leviathan with a savage roar!
.
.
.
DUANG!!
The battle axe came crashing down with a howl, but instead of the sickening crunch of steel meeting flesh, the strike was stopped cold with a sharp, ringing clang.
Baraggan Louisenbairn narrowed his eyes.
His twin axes had struck a glowing blue magic circleyet they couldn't pierce it an inch further.
Baraggan's brows furrowed slightly. He pressed down harder with his arms.
A shrill, grating sound filled the air. But that was it.
Katerea Leviathan cast him a sidelong glance and channeled more power into the magic circle.
BOOM!!
A surge of force exploded from the circle and sent a shockwave straight back!
Baraggan's pupils shrank.
A split second later, he was knocked off balanceand plummeted straight down.
CRASH!!
He slammed into the ground, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.
His knees buckled slightly as he looked up toward Katerea Leviathan floating above, his face full of disbelief.
It had only been a brief clash.
But at their level even a simple exchange was enough to gauge a rough measure of each other's strength.
This woman!
He glanced at Katerea again, then at Starrkand fell silent.
Sensing Baraggan's gaze, Starrk shrugged casually. "I did warn you."
Baraggan was quiet for a moment. Then, with a grin, he burst into hearty laughter. "To think she's on the same level as you"
He exhaled slowly and smirked. "But that just makes it even more fun."
As the former King of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan had never once feared raising his axe against a powerful foe.
"Rot Arrogante."
Baraggan spoke in a low chant.
As the words left his mouth, his pristine white uniform ignited in dark purple flames, quickly turning pitch-black.
His decaying flesh crumbled away, revealing a towering skeletal figure standing imposingly in his place.
Atop his skull sat a golden crown, with heavy chains trailing from it and coiling around his massive frame.
A deep, ancient sigh echoed from his mouth.
The purple flames spread rapidlyeverything they touched began to wither under the overwhelming concept of aging.
Even ruined buildings nearby decayed rapidly, as if centuries had passed in seconds.
Starrk clicked his tongue. "Going Resurreccin already, huh"
"Guess you're feeling the pressure."
Baraggan gave him a cold glare and let out a grunt.
But he didn't deny it.
Katerea Leviathan really was a difficult opponent.
And besides, this was Las Nocheshis palace.
Even if it now belonged to Aizen, someday, he would take it back.
And yet now, Baraggan glanced at the half-destroyed palace around him, feeling a pang in his chest.
She was destroying his stuff! His precious collection!
Otherwise Given how much he used to hate Aizen, would he really have stepped up first and started attacking this woman?
If it weren't for Las Noches, he'd be sitting comfortably inside, enjoying the chaos like a spectator at a play.
---
High in the air
Katerea Leviathan glanced down at the eerie, decay-infused flames.
"What an interesting ability," she murmured, eyes narrowing.
As expected, in other worlds, you really could find the strangest powers imaginable.
StillEven with that, she had zero interest in personally fighting him.
To her, Baraggan's powerwhile uniquewas still only at the level of an Ultimate-class devil.
Roughly on par with Kokabiel, maybe?
Someone of that caliber wasn't even worth her attention.
But he'd make the perfect sparring partner for Ingvild Leviathan.
At that thought, her eyes lit up. She turned and scanned the area, looking for Ingvild.
And finally
Katerea stared wordlessly at the sight of Ingvild Leviathan cowering behind Miko Yotsuya.
Expression blank, she yanked Ingvild out from behind Miko and snapped, "You're an Ultimate-class devil!"
"So why are you hiding behind someone who's just a high-class devil?!"
Miko: ""
Why does that feel like a dig?
Ingvild shrank back, casting a nervous glance at Baragganthen immediately looked away, voice trembling.
"Aa walking skeleton"
Katerea: ""
Seriously? That's what scares you?
"The Leviathan bloodline is seriously wasted on you"
Ignoring Ingvild's obvious panic, Katerea dragged her forward and pointed straight at Baraggan.
"He's yours. Take care of him."
"Ehhh?!"
Ingvild froze in place, eyes wide with shock.
Then she started frantically shaking her head.
"No no no no NO!"
Katerea's face remained impassive, her tone brooking no argument.
"Your opinion doesn't matter."
"He's got decent strengthperfect for your training."
"??!"
Ingvild opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say anything, Katerea activated a teleportation spell and sent her straight to the battlefield.
"!!!"
Ingvild stumbled as she landed, then looked up in horror at the looming figure of Baraggan.
She waved a tiny, awkward greeting.
"Um h-hi, Mr. Skeleton, s-sir"
She looked like she was on the verge of tears.
Sure, she'd inherited the blood of Leviathan. But could everyone stop forgetting she was also half-human?!
Before her devil blood awakened, she'd been a normal girl! And after that, she went into a comanot exactly a lot of battle experience!
Even after joining the Familia, most of her fighting had been against low-level monsters or weak cursed spirits.
She'd never been in a real, high-stakes battle like this!
What do I do, what do I do, what do I DO?!
Ingvild was trembling, her hands clenched together as sweat poured down her forehead. She was panicking, plain and simple.
Meanwhile, Baraggan stared at the young woman Katerea had teleported in front of him.
Even with nothing but a skull, it was like a dark cloud passed over his face.
Was this supposed to be a joke?
They seriously sent someone like this to fight him?
And on top of thatTraining practice?
"Heh heh heh!"
A low, bone-chilling laugh rattled out of his hollow skull.
The dark purple flames flared to life again.
"You"
"You really think the former King of Hueco Mundo is some kind of warm-up target?"
.
.
.
Even though it was just a skeleton, everyone present could clearly sense the fury emanating from that bony face.
Dark purple flames roared and crackled, swirling like a heavy mist. They half-obscured Baraggan Louisenbairn's skeletal visage, giving him an even more menacing and oppressive presence.
Baraggan slowly lifted his gaze and stared coldly at Katerea Leviathan.
BOOM!
A massive pillar of flames suddenly erupted from his body, surging straight toward Katerea like a tidal wave ready to consume everything in its path!
Katerea remained still, arms folded, her expression blank and unbothered.
She glanced at the oncoming firestorm with a slight tilt of her eyescompletely indifferent. She didn't even raise a hand to defend herself.
Just as the inferno was about to swallow her whole, she spoke softly:
"Ingvild."
Ingvild Leviathan flinched. Her eyelashes trembled as she closed her eyes and whispered, "I... I understand."
---
To recall:
[Ingvild Leviathan]
Rank: High-Class Devil
Position: Bishop
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Position Skill: Magic Resistance
Noble Phantasm: [Nereid Kyrie / Poem of Endless Green Sea]
[Nereid Kyrie]
Through singing, commands dragonkin (e.g., suppression, enhancement)
Sea Manipulation
Unique Skills: [Sea Serpent Devil]
[Sea Serpent Devil]
Deep Sea Resonance: In water, all stats increase by 50%; magic recovery doubles.Can sense all aquatic flows and predict enemy water-element attacks.
Spawn of Chaos: When HP drops below 30%, forcibly summons the "Leviathan Phantom."Triggers AoE psychic corruption (inflicts fear/confusion); Converts enemy magic into her own HP.
Devilization Sea Hymn Form: Uses a song to control liquid matter (water/blood/venom); Can mold into weapons or barriers. Absolute dominion over sea creatures, including mythical beings like Krakens.
Development Abilities:
Sorcery: S
Summoning: S
---
FWOOOO
After Ingvild made her move, it was like the air itself shifted.
Everyone suddenly heard the sound of waves crashing, as if a distant ocean had come alive in their ears.
Starrk frowned slightly."...Something's coming."
WHOOSH
The sound intensified. The air grew moist. Thick, humid pressure spread through the entire Las Noches palace.
And thena vast, brilliant ocean materialized out of nowhere!
Before Baraggan's flames could reach Katerea, the tidal force of the summoned sea surged forward and snuffed them out in an instant.
Baraggan Louisenbairn: "?!"
That alone was shocking enoughbut this wasn't just any water.
His flames carried the concept of aging and decay... and they were just casually drowned?!
And it wasn't over.
The endless ocean didn't stop at extinguishing his attackit expanded, swallowing the entire interior of Las Noches!
Seeing the rising tide, Starrk and the others immediately unleashed their Reiatsu and took to the air to avoid getting caught in the flood.
Starrk glanced down at the submerged fortress, his face twitching.
"Well... there goes the rest of Las Noches."
Before, only part of the place was destroyed. Now? It was completely underwater.
Still, that wasn't what bothered him most.
What really got his attention... was what just happened.
He stared at the shimmering ocean beneath him, then muttered, stunned: "She just... changed the entire environment...?"
Changing the battlefield wasn't unheard of.
But this was Hueco Mundo.
Filling a place as massive as Las Noches with this much seawaterimmediately and effortlesslywas not something just anyone could pull off.
Even he would struggle to manage something like that.
Starrk's eyes shifted to Ingvild Leviathan, who looked like a nervous wreck standing awkwardly above the waves.
He could hardly believe it.
That timid-looking girl... was the one responsible for this overwhelming phenomenon?
Harribel's expression hardened as well. Her voice low and serious, she muttered:
"She's at least on my level."
In fact, their powers seemed very similar. And if she were being honest... Ingvild might even surpass her in terms of command over the ocean.
Instinctively, Harribel's hand moved toward her Zanpakut.
HUMMMM
She pursed her lips.
Her swordTiburonwas trembling.
Ingvild Leviathan... Yeah, that had to be her name...
Her power wasn't just highit was terrifyingly high.
After silently evaluating the situation, Harribel shook her head.
"I don't think I could beat her."
Starrk: "Huh?"
He glanced at her in surprise. "You're rating her that highly?"
Harribel gave a quiet nod, her expression grim.
What she didn't know... was that Ingvild Leviathan had next to zero actual combat experience.
Otherwise, there's no way she'd have said that so confidently.
Starrk stroked his chin, narrowing his eyes. He looked down at Baraggan and said, "Better watch your step, old man. Wouldn't want to trip and drown now."
Baraggan Louisenbairn: ""
He wanted to say something, anything... but the sheer absurdity of what had just happened left him speechless.
Why did someone who looked so weak... unleash such terrifying power?
It didn't make sense.
Unconvinced, he locked his gaze onto Ingvild Leviathan and examined her closely.
"???"
Ingvild blinked in confusion, eyes wide and innocent. She quickly looked away, clearly flustered.
She was... scared.
Baraggan: "..."
Can you please act like a proper powerhouse?!
If you keep doing this...
Won't it make my flames look completely worthless?!
"Hey, Skullhead!" Grimmjow suddenly shouted.
"She clearly didn't underestimate youlook at the monster she sent to deal with you!"
He pointed toward Katerea, grinning smugly.
Baraggan snorted.
Ingvild blinked again, her face full of doubt.
Strong? Her?
Was... was he talking about her?
"Hmph."
Baraggan grunted, but didn't say anything else. He didn't even mention Katerea anymore.
Instead, his attention was fixed squarely on Ingvild.
"If that's how it is" he muttered in a low voice, "...then I'll take care of you first."
"Eek!"
Ingvild flinched before she could say a word.
Baraggan vanished in an instant.
And the next secondA massive skeletal head appeared right in front of her face.
"!!"
"D-Don't come any closer!! Aaaahhh!!"
Ingvild screamed in sheer panicher voice like a banshee's wail, echoing through the deep sea.
BOOOOOOOM
Baraggan's vision spun. His skull trembled violently as an unearthly shriek tore through the air.
Creak... creak...
A horrible screech like grinding bones or an ancient violin came from deep inside his ribcage.
What the hell...?!
Before he could process it, an enormous shadow rose behind Ingvild Leviathan.
It blocked out the entire sky.
The sheer presence of that towering figure made Baraggan momentarily forget the pain in his bones.
"What... is that...?"
The flames in his eye sockets flickered. A primal fear surged through his very soul.
It was like standing before a divine entity straight out of mytha being that shouldn't exist in this world.
The phantom form of Leviathan glanced at him with cold, indifferent eyes.
Baraggan felt an icy chill shoot through his bones.
His body locked up completely.
He couldn't moveat all.
BOOM!!
In the instant, the sea below him erupted into a massive whirlpool, surging up and dragging him into its depths without warning...
Baraggan Louisenbairn suddenly ducked his head.
A powerful vortex had locked onto him, sucking him in with no room to resist!
"Damn it!!"
Reacting fast, Baraggan snapped his chains with a flick.
Fwsh
A blast of force rushed straight toward Ingvild Leviathan. The next seconda massive axe blade came crashing down toward her!
Ingvild's pupils shrank. On instinct, she raised her arm and squeezed her eyes shut.
But, the pain she expected never came. Instead, a crisp metallic clong rang in her ears.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she cautiously opened her eyes.
"Eh?"
She blinked in surprise. Standing before her was a shimmering blue silhouette that had intercepted the axe. Her eyes lit up. "Leviathan!"
Leviathan glanced at her, then quickly averted its gaze.
Ugh! What a disgrace
How did someone this timid end up as its master?
It felt like its entire life was doomed because of her.
But stillAs the mighty Leviathan's chosen master, she wasn't someone anyone could just push around.
That thought sent a chill through Leviathan's eyes. It turned its gaze to Baraggan and raised its massive hand, clenching it tightly.
"..."
Baraggan's pupils constricted, and he unleashed his full Reiatsu.
Boom!!
Dark purple flames erupted around him!
Hissssss
Flames imbued with the concept of "aging" lashed out at Leviathan's projection like an acid storm.
A constant screeching echoed as the flames scorched the illusion.
Leviathan looked down at its own fading form, a hint of helplessness flashing in its eyes.
With Ingvild's current level of magic, it still couldn't go all-out.
But to think even this meager level of power could hurt it?
Leviathan was silent for a moment before growling in frustration, "Ingvild, you've been slacking lately!"
"You better level up fast!"
"Hehe" Ingvild blinked, feigning innocence with wide, watery eyes.
Leviathan: ""
It sighed, shaking its head, then warned, "I'm about to ramp things up."
It was a message to Ingvild: it was going to draw more magic from her.
The very next moment Ingvild felt a rush as her magic power was siphoned like a flood.
Leviathan's form began to solidify, becoming more and more real.
At the same time, the flames carrying the aging effect weakened.
"What is that thing?"
Grimmjow stared at the massive projection of Leviathan, utterly dumbfounded.
Starrk was silent for a beat, then murmured with a slight gleam in his eyes, "That thing's bigger than any Hollow I've ever seen."
Harribel hesitated. "Baraggan will he be okay?"
Starrk opened his mouth, then closed it again.
He'd been pretty confident in Baraggan just a moment ago.
But now not so much.
Meanwhile
Noticing everyone's attention was locked on Baraggan's battle, Nnoitra Gilga quietly began backing away, hoping to sneak out of this mess.
.
.
.
Noticing everyone's attention was locked on Baraggan's battle, Nnoitra Gilga quietly began backing away, hoping to sneak out of this mess.
He'd thought this through.
Sure, they had the numbers as the Espada. ButNelliel's side wasn't exactly small either.
And just Ingvild Leviathan alone was already pushing Baragganthe second seatback.
Hell, Baraggan might even be losing.
Who knows how many more monsters were hiding in her ranks?
Besides, Nelliel had gotten stronger.
The sneak attack had felt good at the time, but he never thought she'd bounce back so fastlet alone come back for revenge this soon!
But just as he was about to use Sondo to escapeNelliel suddenly appeared right in front of him.
Expression cold, she asked, "Where do you think you're going?"
Nnoitra: "!!!"
She's fast!!
His heart skipped a beat. On reflex, he drew his Zanpakut and slashed toward her!
Clang!
A crisp sound echoed.
A jade-green barrier rose in front of Nelliel, stopping Nnoitra's blade dead in its tracks.
But Nnoitra reacted instantlyhe darted back with Sondo, putting distance between them!
In fact, that slash had been a feint. His real goal was escape.
There was no way he could beat the new and improved Tres Espada!
The thought flashed through his head, butAlmost immediatelyNelliel's cold face appeared right in front of him again.
"..."
Nnoitra's gut dropped.
"It's time we settled this."
Her voice was icy.
"Wait!"
Nnoitra raised his hand, trying to talk his way out of it.
ButNelliel wasn't in the mood for negotiations.
"Declare, Gamuza ~ Capricorn Knight!"
The moment the words left her mouthHer body began to change!
Her slender Zanpakut transformed into a massive, heavy lance.
The two horns attached to her skull mask reshaped into long, segmented ones.
White armor covered her collarbone, shoulders, elbows, and hands, and long black gloves wrapped around both arms.
Most striking of all was her new satyr-like formpart human, part centaur beast.
Bzzzt
Without hesitation, green light flared across the massive lance.
Nnoitra gritted his teeth. "Nelliel, are you seriously trying to kill me?!"
"Heh"
She let out a cold laugh, as if mocking him.
"The moment you ambushed me, you should've been ready to die for it."
And with thatHer enormous lance came crashing down like a tidal wave of power!
"!"
Nnoitra's eyes went wide. He yanked out his Zanpakut and shouted, "PraySanta Teresa!"
Two crescent-shaped horns burst from his head. Yellow X-shaped markings formed across his face, and a bone-like eyepatch covered his Hollow hole, shaped like jagged teeth.
Six severed-looking arms erupted from his back, each gripping a double-bladed scythe.
He wasn't holding back. This was his strongest form.
Facing Nelliel now, he couldn't afford to take any chances.
With all six arms, he brought the scythes together, forming a makeshift shield.
Next second
The glowing green lance smashed into his blades with a thunderous impact!
BOOM!
A deafening explosion echoed through all of Las Noches.
Nnoitra Gilga felt his arms suddenly grow heavy as all six of his scythes groaned under the pressure, screeching like they were about to snap.
His eyes widened, pupils trembling violently as he stared at the glowing emerald tip of the lance pressing against him.
"Santa Teresa! Hold it together!!"
Feeling his Resurreccin buckle under the force, Nnoitra clenched his teeth and roared, pouring more spiritual pressure into his weapon.
But
Despite his efforts, the emerald light at the tip of the lance only grew brighter, more intenselike it was ready to consume him entirely.
CRACK
Suddenly, a sharp, jarring sound rang out.
Nnoitra's heart skipped a beat. He looked downand his worst fear came true.
A thin fracture had appeared on Santa Teresa.
"!"
"No way!!"
He stared in disbelief. "My Santa Teresa"
"It's actually crackingunder Nelliel's assault?!"
In that instant, his mouth went dry. He gulped hard, his throat tight.
A creeping sense of despair began to bloom in his chest.
His strongest movehis ultimate releasecouldn't even withstand a single attack from her?
Then what was the point of fighting?
He couldn't beat her and he couldn't run either.
"Damn it!!"
"Nelliel! Don't push me!!"
Nnoitra shouted in a mix of rage and helplessness.
Nelliel didn't respond. She just kept pushingrelentlessly.
BOOM!!
In an instantSanta Teresa shattered.
Nnoitra stared blankly, his mind stunned. It wasn't until the glowing emerald lance pierced straight toward him that he realized what was happening.
"Szayelaporro!! Are you seriously just gonna stand there and watch?!!"
He roared in panic.
In the distance, Szayelaporro Granz, who had been trying his best to stay invisible, froze.
That bastard!
Why couldn't he just die quietly?! Why drag me into this too?!
Sure enough
Nelliel's movement paused. Her gaze shifted toward Szayelaporro.
"Oh right I almost forgot about you."
Szayelaporro shot a venomous glare at Nnoitra.
Nnoitra, however, brightened upthis was exactly what he wanted. If he could shift Nelliel's attention to Szayelaporro, then maybe he'd have a shot
SPLURT
Just as hope flickered in his eyes, a sharp pain tore through his body.
His expression froze. He slowly looked down.
The emerald lance had already impaled him. Blood dripped steadily from the wound.
Wh-What?
No NO!
Nnoitra looked up, eyes bloodshot, struggling against the pain. He opened his mouth to speak
BOOM!!
A burst of green light erupted
SPLAT!!
And his body was torn to shreds on the spot.
Nnoitra Gilgadead.
A heavy silence fell over Las Noches.
Nelliel calmly withdrew her lance, flicking the blood off before turning her gaze toward Szayelaporro.
"..."
Szayelaporro tensed up. It felt like a giant invisible hand was squeezing his heart.
But before he could react
Nelliel was already right in front of him.
Szayelaporro yelped and quickly leapt backward.
"W-Wait a second!"
He knew damn well he couldn't beat her. Without hesitation, he called for backup.
Looking toward Starrk and the others, he forced a strained smile.
"Hey, come on, I'm part of the Espada too, right?"
"You guys are really just gonna let Nelliel target me like this?"
"Uh"
Grimmjow scratched his head and looked over at Tier Harribel. "This kinda feels like none of our business, yeah? Or should we help?"
Harribel gave him a sidelong glance. Her voice was calm. "If you want to help him, go ahead."
Honestly, she had a decent impression of Nellielbut Nnoitra and Szayelaporro? She found their behavior disgusting.
So
She had no intention of stepping in.
At least not until Nelliel finished her business with them.
They'd brought this on themselves. She had no desire to clean up their mess.
Grimmjow: ""
He scratched his head again, laughed awkwardly, and wisely dropped the subject.
He was just the Sexta Espadawhat was he gonna do against someone who used to be Tres (3rd)?
Especially now that she was clearly stronger than before.
Besides, even though Harribel didn't outright say it, he wasn't dumb. He could read the room.
Hell, even Starrk wasn't paying attention to that fight.
Instead, Starrk was staring at Baraggan Louisenbairn, who was still restrained. He frowned subtly, then muttered to himself:
"Looks like"
"Our former king of Hueco Mundo might need a little help."
Unlike Nnoitra and Szayelaporro, Starrk actually cared about Baraggan.
As for the other two?
Yeah, they were just cannon fodder.
Even if they died, Aizen could fill their spots in no time.
Szayelaporro: "??"
"Waitseriously?! You're just gonna leave me here?!"
He stared in disbelief at Starrk and Harribel.
But neither of them even bothered to reply.
Grimmjow shrugged. "Good luck, man."
"You!!"
Szayelaporro clenched his fists, still wanting to say something.
But then
A powerful gust of wind surged behind him.
He didn't hesitate.
"Sip, Fornicars!"
The words had barely left his lips when he swallowed his Zanpakut whole. His body instantly expanded and transformed.
His lower half turned into tentacles, which quickly morphed into legs and robes. Four wings sprouted from his back, and colorful markings appeared around his eyes.
Nelliel looked at his released form with disgust in her eyes. She spat out one word:
"Disgusting."
.
.
.
Szayelaporro Granz's Resurreccin form unfurled high above Las Noches. His four grotesque wings spread wide, filling the air with a sickening stench. Slithering tendrils and warped eyes pulsed across his body, making Nelliel glare at him with pure disgust.
"What a gross form," she said coldly, as the green glow of her lance suddenly flared like a wildfire.
Szayelaporro flinched the moment he saw that dangerous emerald aura swirling around her weapon. Even though he'd already released his Resurreccin, there was still fear in his heart. The pressure radiating from Nelliel's body shook him to his core.
But there was still a chance!
Clenching his fists tightly, Szayelaporro's eyes glinted with calculation.
As long as he made full use of his Resurreccin's abilityhe could turn this around!
He took a deep breath and began laying out his plan in his mind.
But Nelliel didn't give him that luxury.
She shot forward like a green lightning bolt. Her lance sliced through the air with a piercing whistle.
A thunderous boom exploded in Szayelaporro's ears as she closed in. Panicked, he scrambled to respond
"Cero!"
All four of his wings flared at once, firing off multiple dark-purple beams of energy.
But Nelliel didn't dodge.
Her lance swept in a horizontal arc, unleashing a glowing green wave that slashed through every beam with ease.
Without slowing in the slightest, she was suddenly right in front of him.
"Impossible!" Szayelaporro cried out, shocked and terrified. He swung his tendrils in a frenzy, trying to block her
Her lance thrust forward. The green energy surged like a tidal wave.
The moment his tendrils touched that light, they dissolved like ice meeting fire.
Shlunk
Her lance didn't stop. It punched straight through Szayelaporro Granz's torso.
His eyes went wide and unfocused, his body limp, just like Nnoitra Gilga before him.
But Nelliel didn't stop there.
She yanked her lance out and slashed to the side!
Slash
A cluster of writhing tendrils was sliced clean through.
And the Szayelaporro before her crumpled like a puppet with its strings cut.
But from the sideanother Szayelaporro appeared, his expression grim.
"How did you know?" he asked, jaw clenched.
Nelliel didn't answer.
She didn't need to. The "feel" of a hitshe could tell when it wasn't right.
But the corrosive liquid dripping from Szayelaporro's body made her frown in revulsion.
Disgusting...
After a brief moment, Nelliel clearly decided she didn't want to get her hands dirty.
She raised one hand. A vibrant emerald light began to shimmer in her palm.
"Capricorn Queen Devil: Lance Trajectory!!"
(Lance Trajectory: Summons three emerald spirit lances that auto-target vital points. Each causes spatial disruption. )
Vmmmm
As her voice rang out, three lances of pure magical energy materialized around her, spinning in place.
Nelliel had finally remembered her ranged option.
With a wave of her hand
Shhhhk
All three green lances launched at once, ripping through the air like bolts of lightning, leaving behind radiant streaks in the sky.
Szayelaporro's eyes narrowed. He instantly used Sondo, vanishing from his spot and reappearing in the distance.
"You think that little trick's gonna work on me?" he sneered. "Sure, I'm not the strongest, but you really think something like that's enough to take me down?"
But before he could finish gloating, the sound of space being torn apart erupted behind him.
An intense sense of danger slammed into him.
He spun aroundjust in time to see the three green lances racing toward him.
Shlunk
No hesitation. No escape.
Each lance pierced a different part of his body, dead center.
"Ghhhk"
Blood poured from Szayelaporro's mouth as his eyes bulged wide in disbelief.
"Wh-Why how?!"
Nelliel walked toward him calmly, her lance slung over one shoulder, her voice devoid of emotion.
"Forgot to mention they home in on their target."
Szayelaporro's body wavered in mid-air, trembling, barely holding together.
One more push, and he'd drop like a rock into the sea belowsummoned earlier by Ingvild Leviathan.
But then suddenly, Szayelaporro's head snapped up. His bloodshot eyes flared with madness, and a twisted smile crept across his face.
With a furious shout, he screamed"Gabriel!!"
A shrill screech echoed through the air as a strange, whip-like tentacle launched straight at Nelliel's abdomenhis last desperate gamble.
But Nelliel's eyes darkened. Her Reiatsu surged, fusing with her magical energy in a violent burst.
The moment the tentacle crossed into her aurait was shredded instantly.
Szayelaporro's triumphant expression froze. His eyes glazed over.
"You know," Nelliel said softly, towering above him, "Lord Aizen once said something I really liked"
She looked down at him, cold and detached.
"Fights between Shinigami are decided by whose Reiatsu is stronger."
She paused.
"And the same goes for Arrancars."
Flick
She snapped her fingers. A small green bullet formed and shot into Szayelaporro's already mangled body.
In the next secondSzayelaporro's body began to swell uncontrollably.
"Gaaaaaaah!"
His scream was the last thing anyone heard before
BOOM!
He was completely obliterated.
Szayelaporro Granz: eliminated.
Thud!
Grimmjow instinctively stepped back, eyes wide in horror as he looked at Nelliel.
Two Espada gone in a matter of minutes.
He swallowed hard, his mind flashing through every past interaction he'd had with Nelliel.
"Please tell me I never pissed her off"
Around him, the others were racking their brains toofrantically trying to remember if they'd ever gotten on her bad side.
---
On the other side of the battlefield
Coyote Starrk and Tier Harribel narrowed their eyes, staring at the pressure radiating from Nelliel's body.
Mixed within that Reiatsu was another kind of energy.
One they'd felt before.
The same energy that came from Katerea Leviathan.
And more than that
It was incredibly powerful.
.
.
.
High above Las Noches, green Reiatsu tangled with ocean-blue torrents in a chaotic storm.
Nelliel retracted her lance, her amber eyes scanning the remaining Espada. Eventually, her gaze locked onto Coyote Starrk.
"Honestly, I appreciate you guys not interfering, but"
Her voice was softyet it hit like a sledgehammer to the chest.
"We're here for the whole of Las Noches. All of it."
The statement sucked the air out of the sky.
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez instinctively took half a step back. Whatever pride he had left as the Sixth Espada vanished instantly.
He glanced at Baraggan Louisenbairn, who was just moments away from being swallowed by the rising sea, then looked at the blood dripping from the tip of Nelliel's lance. His throat tightened as he swallowed hard.
"Whoa, whoa! This has nothing to do with me!" he shouted, throwing up his hands. "It was those two idiotsNnoitra and Szayelaporro! I didn't have a damn thing to do with it!"
Tier Harribel shot him a cold glare. Her bronze-toned skin shimmered like metal under the weight of Reiatsu.
She didn't say a word, but the look in her eyes said it allbegging for mercy at a time like this? Pathetic. An embarrassment to the Espada.
Starrk scratched his head lazily. The usual indifference on his face faded for the first time.
He looked up at the sky where Katerea Leviathan hovered, then at Nellieland finally at Baraggan, still fighting desperately to stay afloat in the rising sea.
A long sigh escaped his lips.
"What a pain"
Lilynette, draped over his shoulder, muttered, "Are we really doing this?"
"Yeah," Starrk said, rubbing her head. "Looks like we've got no choice."
His eyes suddenly sharpened.
He didn't care much about the rest of them.
But Baraggan? Baraggan absolutely couldn't die.
At least not in front of him.
And with that thoughtHe moved.
Fzzzt!
A pale blue orb of light crackled into existence at his fingertip.
Cero.
A standard attack for Hollows and Arrancar alike.
ButHis cero wasn't like the others'.
Unlike the usual wide beams of destruction, Starrk's cero was tightly compressed into a tiny sphere, no larger than a marble.
Yet, anyone paying attention could feel itsomething terrifying was packed into that little orb. Something catastrophic.
It was as if all the destructive force of a conventional cero had been condensed into a miniature doomsday device.
Starrk flicked the orb toward Ingvild Leviathan.
Fwoooosh!
The air split with an ear-piercing shriek.
But
"You think I'm just gonna let that slide?"
Katerea's voice rang out sharply.
In a blink, she appeared in the cero's path.
Hummmm
A thick wall of ocean surged around her like a shield.
SssszzztBOOM!
The cero slammed into the barrier, hissing and shrieking as it met resistancethen detonated with a thunderous blast, lighting up the sky in blinding blue.
ButThe sea didn't falter.
Katerea's water churned violently but held, absorbing the full brunt of the explosion. When the light faded, she stood unharmed.
All that noise and it hadn't made a dent.
Starrk narrowed his eyes.
That was all he needed to seeKaterea Leviathan wasn't going to be easy.
Moments passed.
As the shockwaves faded, Katerea dismissed the seawater shield and stared coldly at him.
"Who gave you permission to attack Ingvild?"
""
Starrk let out a sigh. "Wow. You really sound like you're in charge."
There was no frustration on his face, even after his cero was completely nullified.
He glanced back at Baraggan, his voice tinged with reluctant resignation.
"Looks like you'll have to hang in there a bit longer."
"Tch!"
Baraggan clicked his tongue. "I don't need your help."
Of course, his bravado didn't quite match his situation.
His skeletal eyes flared like flames, locked on the dark phantom surrounding Ingvild Leviathan.
His proud abilityAging Flamewasn't doing a damn thing.
Should he drag this out?
Wear her down?
He'd already figured it outthe phantom wasn't independent. It existed because of Ingvild. As long as she had energythat strange, non-reiatsu powerthis cursed shield wouldn't go away.
He just had to burn it out.
And he had been trying.
So why was it still going?
A sliver of anxiety crept into his heart.
ThenBOOOOOM!
Ingvild clapped her hands, and a massive tidal wave came crashing toward him like a living mountain of water.
Baraggan's eyes flared in alarmthen his figure was swallowed whole by the sea.
Harribel moved instinctivelybut a young woman in a shrine maiden outfit stepped into her path.
She halted, eyeing the girl.
And in that moment a strange, primal fear gripped her heart.
Like she was facing a natural predator.
What was this feeling?
She forced it down and glanced toward where Baraggan had vanished.
""
No sign of him.
Still, he couldn't be dead already. Could he?
He was the former king of Hueco Mundo, after all.
Harribel relaxed her brow and refocused on the shrine maiden.
She drew her blade and pointed it toward her.
"So you're my opponent?"
The girl smiled gently, like a friendly housewife.
"I'm Midoriko. Let's have a good match, okay?"
But Harribel instinctively leapt back.
A split second later
A talisman covered in strange, arcane symbols flared into existence where she'd just stood.
"Oops~" Midoriko said playfully. "Guess you noticed."
"No it was just instinct. I felt danger," Harribel answered honestly, watching her with more caution now.
She looked harmlesskind, even.
But her moves were quick, decisive, and deadly.
""
Midoriko blinked.
First time someone actually answered her in the middle of a fight.
And she seemed like a decent person?
Her eyes flicked to the Devil Piece inside her, glowing faintly.
A new thought crossed her mind.
Maybe, she could try to bring this one into her familia?
After all, if even Katerea Leviathan could become one of them
Then surely Tier Harribel could too.
Of course, that might require a proper fight first.
Midoriko suddenly noticed something shockingthe Devil Piece reacted to the other Espadas as well.
"Did Lord Lynn lift the 'women only' rule? Didn't he say no men were allowed in the familia?"
She couldn't quite understand it, but one thing was clearLynn was starting to change his ways for some reason.
It felt like, at least for now, everyone was allowed in the familia.
.
.
.
In the distance
Yotsuya Miko noticed that Midoriko and the others had already found opponents. She blinked, then pointed at herself.
"So what about us?"
Hearing that, Kikyo shifted her gaze toward Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.
Grimmjow: "?"
Why did he suddenly get a bad feeling?
...But it vanished just as quickly as it came.
Kikyo shook her head. "Espada-level opponents are still a bit too much for you, strength-wise."
Even though Miko's ability was pretty effective against their type
The raw power difference made it risky.
That said, there were still plenty of other enemies scattered around Las Noches that could serve as perfect leveling opportunities.
Kikyo narrowed her eyes, sensing the presences hidden throughout the fortress.
Ingvild Leviathan's massive area-of-effect magic had already cleared out a portion of them.
The rest were clearly the trickier ones.
These must be the Nmeros.
That level of opponent should be just right for Miko and the others to get stronger.
Just as Kikyo was about to speakBOOM!
The calm ocean exploded into chaos as a swirling vortex of dark purple energy shot into the sky!
From within it, the battered figure of Baraggan Louisenbairn emerged, stepping atop the whirlpool like a death god rising from the abyss.
"He's still alive?!"
Grimmjow's eyes widened in disbelief.
Baraggan looked like he'd been through hell.
His once-imposing skeletal form was cracked all over, most of his right arm was missing, and the flames in his eye sockets had dimmed significantly.
But the pressure he radiated was even more brutal than before, his Aging Flames now a menacing shade of pitch-black.
"Just some seawater" Baraggan's voice rumbled like it came from the depths of the underworld, "...you think that's enough to bury the King of Hueco Mundo?!"
On the surface, Ingvild visibly trembled from his overwhelming presence, nearly falling out of her Leviathan phantom's protection.
She clung to a corner of the Leviathan phantom, her face pale. "Th-that scary skeleton uncle is seriously terrifying"
The Leviathan phantom let out a helpless sigh. Its massive hand gently supported its master, Ingvild.
"Focus on maintaining your mana output. Don't get distracted."
"O-Okay!" Ingvild frantically nodded and adjusted her magic.
The water beneath them instantly deepened in color, revealing glimpses of countless deep-sea creatures swimming within.
Baraggan panted heavily, the flames in his skull flickering wildly.
He gave Ingvild a quick glance before locking his gaze on Katerea Leviathan.
"You"
"You've officially pissed me off."
Katerea raised an eyebrow, her crimson lips curling into a mocking smile. "Oh? And what are you gonna do about it?"
She didn't even bother to descend from the skyjust lazily flicked her wrist.
A deep blue magic circle lit up beneath Baraggan's feet as countless blades of water erupted from every direction, ready to shred him.
Baraggan roared and conjured a shield of aging flames.
Water blades slammed into it, hissing violently, clouds of steam billowing out.
But this time, his defense couldn't hold. A few blades cut straight through, leaving deep gashes across his skeletal frame.
"Damn it!" The flames in his eyes flared wildly.
He had used up way too much Reiatsu just to survive earlier!
He looked up sharply, chains rattling.
"Respira!"
A wave of dark purple mist surged from his mouth, instantly turning even the ocean black as it spread.
It moved fasttoo fastheading straight for Ingvild!
"Watch out!" Nelliel flashed between them, her spear sweeping across the air and splitting the mist apart with a burst of green light.
Katerea let out a snort, spreading her fingers wide. "Deep Sea Prison!"
BOOM!
Five massive pillars of water shot upward from the sea, forming a giant cage that trapped Baraggan inside.
Within the watery prison, countless high-pressure water blades spun wildly, emitting an ear-splitting screech.
His aging flames were being pushed back, his bones cracking more and more.
Realizing he was outmatched, Baraggan finally swallowed his pride and roared: "STARRK!!"
"Cero!"
Even before Baraggan called out, Coyote Starrk had already moved.
With a snap of his fingers, a swarm of glowing blue bullets materialized around him
Zzzzt-zzt-zzt
They rained down on Katerea like a thunderstorm.
Each shot carried enough pressure to tear apart even a Gillian-class Hollow.
Katerea crossed her arms in front of her, layer upon layer of deep blue magic circles forming before her.
ROAR!!
A massive sea dragon made entirely of magic burst from the circle, mouth wide open as it devoured every incoming bulletthen surged forward without losing any momentum, crashing toward Starrk!
His pupils shrank. He twisted his body, dodging just in time.
The dragon clipped his shoulder, the sheer force tearing off half his sleeve.
"Starrk!!" Lilynette shouted.
"I'm fine," Starrk said, checking his arm. The usual lazy look on his face was gonereplaced by sharp, focused determination.
Still, he glanced at Baraggan, who was now free from the sea prison and keeping his distance from the water.
Mission accomplished.
All he needed to do was shift Katerea's focus away from Baragganthat was enough.
Baraggan caught his breath, his voice low. "I owe you one."
Now Starrk turned fully toward Katerea Leviathan, his gaze intense.
He took a deep breathhis Reiatsu exploded upward like a storm.
"Give Chase Los Lobos!"
BWOM
An overwhelming force surged out as Starrk's form changed in an instant.
His white uniform morphed into a fur-lined gray coat, twin pistols appearing in his hands. His whole demeanor sharpened like a blade.
On the other side, Tier Harribel unsheathed her Zanpakut.
"DestroyTiburn!"
Golden spiritual energy shot into the sky. Her outfit transformed into an armored swimsuit, and her sword turned into a massive shark-fin weapon.
Katerea licked her lips, eyes flashing with excitement. "Perfect."
Meanwhile, Midoriko still wore her gentle smile, as if nothing intense was happening at all.
She even offered a casual reminder: "Careful now~"
"My power kinda counters yours a bit."
She said it with a cheerful tone, making a little "universe-at-my-fingertips" gesture with her hand.
Yep, just a tiny bit of a counter.
Really just a smidge.
"..."
Harribel eyed Midoriko's hand gesture with a complicated expression.
Why did she have this ominous feeling?
She couldn't shake the unease Midoriko gave her, the strange flutter of instinct warning her something was off.
Tch
Did she pick the wrong opponent?
Harribel hesitated slightly, glancing over at Coyote Starrk. Maybe she could switch?
But, looking at Katerea Leviathan, who had gone full battle mode and was acting borderline unhinged, she quickly shut her mouth.
Yeahshe definitely didn't want to deal with someone like that.
Her gaze shifted toward Baraggan Louisenbairn instead.
Hmm maybe she could trade with him?
Midoriko noticed the shift in Harribel's aura and smiled slightly. "Ready to start?"
"Yeah." Harribel gave a warning, "You better be careful."
For now, she didn't have a bad impression of Midoriko.
But they were on opposite sides, and she had her reasons to fight too.
SoJust like Midoriko had warned her, she was returning the favor.
Even though Midoriko gave off serious "danger alert" vibes
Harribel wasn't some nobody.
She was ranked third among the Espadaher strength spoke for itself.
Her eyes narrowed, and a powerful gust exploded from under her feet.
In the next instant
Her tall figure flickered behind Midoriko like a shadow, and the massive blade carved with shark-gill patterns swung in a wide arc without hesitation!
She was so fast that the smile hadn't even faded from Midoriko's face yet.
ButDuang!
A crisp sound rang out in the air.
Harribel's sword stopped, locked just ten centimeters from Midoriko. It couldn't go any farther.
Harribel's expression tightened. She stared at the invisible barrier in front of her and muttered, "What is this?"
"A barrier," Midoriko said calmly behind her.
A barrier?
Harribel's eyes narrowed. She gripped her sword tighter and poured in more Reiatsu!
Screeeee
The awful screech of power grinding against resistance echoed.
But no matter how hard she pushed the barrier didn't budge.
Realizing brute force wouldn't cut it, she backed off and narrowed her eyes at the shield standing between them.
Breaking it with raw power wasn't going to work.
But she didn't have many finesse techniques in her arsenal.
So Harribel held Tiburn with both hands and inhaled deeply.
If subtlety wasn't an option Time to rely on raw power and hope for a miracle!!
Bzzzz
She pointed the sword's tip at Midoriko. A yellow glow began to gather along the blade.
Then she slowly raised it.
Midoriko, unfazed, tilted her head slightly. "Wanna make a bet?"
"Huh?"
Harribel paused mid-motion, frowning in confusion. "What?"
Midoriko smiled. "After this fightif I win, why don't you come over to our side? You can convince others as well."
"??"
Harribel blinked. Her grip faltered for a moment, and her Reiatsu almost slipped.
Was she trying to recruit her and the other Espadas?
Seriously?
Harribel's face twisted into something unreadable. After a moment of silence, she asked hesitantly, "Aren't we supposed to be enemies?"
Midoriko nodded. "Yeah. So what?"
"Our master seems to accept you all, so either join our familia or end up as food for Miko. It's your choicereally."
""
Harribel had no idea what kind of logic Midoriko was operating on.
What the hell did that even mean?
"If you defeat me, I'll accept whatever you decide."
Her voice was steady. If she lost, then she'd be the spoils of warplain and simple.
"Perfect," Midoriko nodded in satisfaction. "Go ahead."
"Uh"
Harribel awkwardly glanced down at her glowing sword, where the fluctuating Reiatsu was now kind of unstable.
She stayed silent for a few seconds. In the end, she didn't switch tacticsshe just poured even more power into it.
A second later
Three misty, energy-laced slashes shot forward, tearing through the air toward Midoriko like they were slicing the fabric of space itself!
BOOM!
The first slash hit the barrier with a sharp crack, vibrating the air.
Bzzzz
The barrier hummed loudly, trembling under the pressure.
Then came the second. Then the third.
CRACK!
Finally, the barrier couldn't take it anymore. It splintered like glass and shattered with a resounding crash!
Harribel let out a quiet breath of relief.
Finally broke through that damn turtle shell.
And even better, the misty energy slashes didn't stop. They kept charging toward Midoriko with deadly force!
Will she dodge?
Harribel watched Midoriko carefully, trying to predict her next move.
But Midoriko didn't move at all.
She simply raised her hand, palm open, and softly murmured: "Aramitama."
BOOM!!!
An overwhelming force erupted from her body!
Brilliant spirit flames exploded around her like a storm, whipping her shrine maiden outfit in the wind!
An immense, terrifying power surged through her, as if she'd just torn off all her restraints.
As the Four-Soul Devil, she had four mode skills: Aramitama (courage, conflict, power), Nigimitama (harmony, mediation, compassion), Sakimitama (wisdom, logic, creativity), and Kushimitama (happiness, love, vitality).
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The misty slashes hit Midoriko dead-on.
But the outcome wasn't what Harribel expected.
It was like those attacks had slammed into an unshakable mountainMidoriko's hand didn't budge an inch.
They didn't even leave a scratch.
Midoriko glanced down at the misty slashes in her hand and calmly said, "Not bad."
"Hm"
"I think Saeko would really like this kind of attack."
Then her hand clenched slightly.
Crack
The eerie creaking of something breaking under pressure filled the air.
Under Midoriko's grip, the energy slashes twisted and deformedthen with a loud pop, they burst into golden-yellow sparkles and vanished.
Harribel: "..."
.
.
.
Fragments of spirit energy scattered like dust from Midoriko's palm, vanishing into the wind. She looked up at Tier Harribel with her usual gentle smile.
But right now, to Harribel, that smile felt like a bottomless abysschilling and suffocating.
"Impossible" Harribel's knuckles whitened as she gripped her sword, Tiburn.
Her Ola Azul had just been crushed? By bare hands?
No weapons, no tricksjust her body.
Harribel's expression turned grim.
Still, if she was that strong physically, why bother setting up a barrier beforehand?
Was itA bluff? To throw her off?
Harribel frowned, trying to puzzle it out.
On the other side, Midoriko's golden aura suddenly flared up. Her shrine maiden robe fluttered as though caught in a wind that wasn't there.
She slowly raised her right hand. At her fingertip, a talisman pulsed with blue light.
"My turn," she said softly.
The moment she released it, Harribel's pupils shrank.
That seemingly light, fluttering paper charm sliced through the air like a shrieking arrow, evaporating every trace of spirit energy in its path!
Instinctively, Harribel raised Tiburn to block it
BOOM!!!
The collision between the talisman and her giant blade felt like getting hit by a meteor.
Tiburn let out a tortured groan, and spiderweb cracks spread across its surface.
The sheer force of the impact sent Harribel flying hundreds of meters back. She barely managed to stop herself using her reiatsu.
"Ugh" Harribel dropped to one knee mid-air, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. She looked down at her beloved Zanpakuther partner in countless battlesnow gashed with a deep, terrifying fracture.
From afar, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez swallowed hard. "The Tres Espada's Zanpakut almost shattered in one hit?"
Ulquiorra Cifer's emerald eyes flickered with unease. "Strange."
He stared at Midoriko. There was a strange feelinglike something terrible would happen the moment you got too close.
What was she?
Midoriko met Harribel's gaze and said quietly, "I told youmy power has a bit of an advantage against you."
A bit? Harribel looked down at Tiburn, its blade corroded like it had been splashed with acid, and her eye twitched.
"Purification," Midoriko continued. "That's my ability."
Then she added, with a cheerful smile:
"Specificallypurification that targets soul-based beings~"
Every Espada present felt a chill shoot down their spine.
"Targets soul-based beings?" Grimmjow's jaw dropped.
Soul-based?
That's them. That's what they were!
A perfect counter.
ButHow the hell is that just "a bit" of an advantage?!
Grimmjow blinked and mimicked a gesture like a tiny pinch with his fingers, speechless.
"Soul-targeting purification." Harribel stood frozen, stunned by the revelation.
So that's what it was.
She glanced at her broken blade and whispered, "No wonder it turned out like this"
Zanpakuts have souls, too.
"I'm sorry, Tiburn," she murmured apologetically. Then she looked up, eyes sharp again. "But"
"The fight's not over yet. It's not time for you to rest."
Her voice was resolute, her gaze locked firmly onto Midoriko.
Midoriko could tellthis alone wasn't going to make Harribel surrender.
"In that case"
"Aramitama: Night Parade of 100 Demons."
As Midoriko murmured the incantation, countless pale ghostly hands shot out from a magic circle around her. Each hand pulsed with purifying energy, like sharks drawn to blood, all of them reaching toward Harribel!
"Damn it!" Harribel's eyes widened. She ignored her injuries and pushed off with all her strength to retreat.
But the hands were faster.
Within a blink, they were just three meters behind her.
The lead hand brushed her cloakand it disintegrated, burned away to ash by the purifying force.
At the last possible second, Harribel's eyes gleamed with resolve.
She suddenly spun and stabbed Tiburn into the water conjured earlier by Ingvild Leviathan.
"Cascada!"
BOOM
The water exploded upward as spirit energy was forcefully extracted from it, forming dozens of high-pressure water pillars.
They blasted into the swarm of ghostly hands, finally slowing their advance.
Seeing this, Harribel let out a small breath of relief.
If she had been caught by those purifying hands she didn't even want to imagine the result.
ButThis wasn't over yet.
That purification ability
Harribel gritted her teeth. It was worse than Baraggan's decayit was absolute torment for someone like her.
NoNot just for Hollows. Even Shinigami would be terrified of that kind of power.
After allSpirits aren't just Hollows.
Shinigami are spirits too.
How would Aizen handle something like this?
NoNow's not the time to think about Aizen!
Harribel snapped back to focus, using the water pillars as cover. She raised Tiburn high, eyes shining with determination.
Her massive blade shimmered with moisture, the ridges along its surface glowing like shark gills.
Then, like a cannon, a torrent of water blasted out with tremendous speed, piercing through the pillars and shooting straight toward Midoriko!
Midoriko's expression didn't change. She casually tossed out a few talismans in its path.
SPLASH
As soon as the water hit the talismans, it collapsed midair, drizzling down harmlessly.
"Dammit," Harribel muttered, annoyed. "So these little tricks don't work on you, huh"
"If that's all you've got," Midoriko said with a carefree tone, "then this little bet of ours might end sooner than you think~"
She was relaxed.
Even though Harribel was easily at the level of an Ultimate-Class devil in terms of raw magical power
Midoriko had the one thing that trumped everythingInnate soul-based purification.
It was like a cat playing with mice.
Against Hollows or Shinigami, this wasn't just an edgeit was domination.
And besidesMidoriko wasn't the only one here with powers like this.
Thinking of that, she glanced in Yotsuya Miko's direction.
Seeing her busy grinding through some minions, Midoriko didn't bother watching any longer.
...
Back on the battlefield
Harribel clenched Tiburn, staring in silence for a few moments before speaking in a complicated tone:
"Well damn"
"Guess I was underestimated after all."
A faint blue glow shimmered at the tip of Midoriko's finger, the spell tag in her hand radiating purifying energy. She looked calmly at Harribel, whose expression was tense. Her voice was gentle, almost regretful.
"Give it up. Your Zanpakut won't survive another hit."
Harribel wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her bladeTiburnriddled with cracks that screamed defeat. She took a deep breath, then suddenly stabbed the massive sword into the ground.
"You think this is over?"
A tremendous surge of Reiatsu exploded from her body, making the surrounding seawater boil violently. Midoriko furrowed her brow, instantly deploying a triple-layered barrier in front of herself.
"Cero Ola Azul!"
Harribel gripped the hilt with both hands, and a golden beam shot from the tip of her sword, distorting the very air it passed through.
Midoriko didn't flinch. She tossed seven glowing spell tags into the air.
The golden and blue energies clashed midair in a blinding explosion of light. Taking advantage of the flash, Harribel used Sondo to instantly appear behind Midoriko, Tiburn aimed straight at her heart.
But just three inches away from hitting its mark, the blade froze mid-aircaught in the grasp of a massive hand made entirely of pure purifying energy.
"Sorry"
Midoriko turned her head to look at Harribel, her tone soft.
"My powers aren't exactly fair to you."
Even as she said that, her actions showed no mercy.
With a snap of her fingers, hundreds of talismans burst from her sleeves, weaving into a glowing net that enveloped Harribel. A rain of purification energy fell from the sky like a downpour. Harribel let out a pained grunt and dropped to one knee.
Hssssss!
The sound of burning echoed from her body. Even her Zanpakut wasn't spared.
Already on the brink of shattering, Tiburn trembled violently under the strain of the attack.
Harribel gripped the hilt tightly, bit her lip, and muttered under her breath, "Tiburn"
Following such an incompetent master must be suffering, huh?
Frustration twisted in her chest.
Still, she looked up at Midoriko and said sincerely, "There's no such thing as unfairness. I simply wasn't strong enough."
No matter how countered or restricted she was, if her power had been greater, none of this would've mattered.
In the end, she just wasn't strong enough.
Midoriko blinked, a little surprised by Harribel's attitude. "Damn, she's got real warrior spirit."
But then a sly look appeared in her eyes.
"Don't forget you made a promise~"
Harribel's expression stiffened.
The loser becomes the spoils of the victor.
Was she really going to just accept that?
Harribel's grip tightened on her damaged blade. She wanted to resist. Just a little more.
But looking at the state Tiburn was incovered in deep gashes and burnsshe couldn't bear it. In the end, she lowered her head and said nothing.
Midoriko crouched down in front of her, grinning sweetly. "Silent treatment? I'll take that as a yes~"
It wasn't that she didn't want to respond.
Harribel stared silently at Midoriko, her heart aching for her Zanpakut.
Noticing the look, Midoriko's eyes drifted to the ruined bladeand she realized something.
With her ability to sense spiritual resonance, she could hear the pained, sorrowful cries echoing from Tiburn's soul.
Midoriko blinked and scratched her cheek with a nervous smile.
Yeah, it's all fun and games when they're the enemy. But if Harribel really joined her familia became one of her own...
Then what?
How the hell do I explain destroying my new comrade's beloved weapon on our first day together?
Wait a minute, this is a Zanpakut, right?
Midoriko stared hard at the weapon in Harribel's hand, intrigued.
A weapon with a soul?
It reminded her a bit of her own techniques.
But each Zanpakut had unique abilitieshow exactly did that work?
It felt like she was missing some crucial piece of the puzzle.
Her heart began to race with curiosity.
If she could figure it out, maybe she could finally solve the weapon shortage problem among her retainers!
Huff
Midoriko exhaled, her eyes shining with anticipation.
Word is: The Soul Society is where Zanpakut were originally created.
Looks like a little field trip is in order.
Meanwhile
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez stared at the defeated Harribel, eyes wide in disbelief.
"She just got taken down like that?!"
They'd always ruled Hueco Mundo with overwhelming poweryet today, they were getting stomped, one after another.
Sure, Nelliel was one thing. She used to be Third Espada, after all.
Taking out Fifth and Eighth Espada in quick succession? That was already pushing it.
But this?
These strangers what the hell were they after?
He could stomach someone going toe-to-toe with the First Espada, the Primera.
But now even the Second had been taken downby a random shrine maiden no one had ever heard of?!
Gulp.
Grimmjow felt a cold shiver of unease crawl up his spine.
...
Ulquiorra Cifer stood in silence for a moment, then calmly placed a hand on his sword and stepped forward.
"Enough watching."
Intervening in someone else's fight was dishonorable, sure.
But if they kept letting things play out, they'd get picked off one by one.
He didn't really care about his own pride
But this was Lord Aizen's territoryand he would allow no threat to remain.
Besides, the Espada were a critical piece in Aizen-sama's next move.
They could not allow anything to derail his plans.
As he thought this, Ulquiorra's emerald eyes grew darker, his Reiatsu beginning to rise.
"Ah!"
Grimmjow flinched, then quickly caught on. "Right, yeah!"
Yammy Llargo let out a low chuckle. "Well, if that's the case, guess I can't just sit back either."
Ulquiorra glanced sideways at the hulking brute beside him. He didn't say anything.
He also didn't expect much.
Before stepping onto the battlefield, Ulquiorra paused, then said: "Just in case someone go inform Lord Aizen."
He didn't really think that even all of the Espada together wouldn't be able to handle this.
But there was a gnawing sense of unease in his chest that he couldn't shake.
So best to let Lord Aizen know what was happening in Las Noches, just in case.
If he got involved, then no matter what the problem was.
It would all be handled.
.
.
.
Soul Society - Seireitei
Division 5 Barracks
Aizen Ssuke sat calmly at his desk, dark-framed glasses resting on his nose, face as warm and composed as ever.
His hand moved smoothly across the paper, writing something down, but behind those lenses, his eyes were filled with contemplation.
His mind wasn't on the paper.
No, it was focused on the world of the livingKarakura Town.
What exactly happened?
How could something have slipped beyond his control?
"Interesting"
"Things were finally starting to get interesting."
Aizen's eyes narrowed slightly.
Was it those old geezers?
Or perhaps could it be... him?
His thoughts stirred with subtle unease and yet, a trace of excitement.
Yes.
This was good.
This made things so much more funso much more worth it to drag that being off his heavenly throne.
And despite the unknowns, Aizen wasn't worried.
If anything, he was even more intrigued.
Now, all he needed was Gin's report.
Though, before Gin could bring him any news, Kaname Tsen showed up first.
"Captain Tsen," Hinamori Momo bowed slightly, then quietly excused herself from the captain's office, sensing the tension.
Once the room was clear, Tsen's expression turned grim.
"Aizen-sama there's a problem in Hueco Mundo."
Aizen paused for a fraction of a second, then smiled softly. "What is it? Another friendly sparring match?"
Obviously referring to the previous clash between Nelliel and Nnoitra Gilga.
Nothing in Las Noches escaped Aizen's notice.
In fact, he knew full well that Nelliel was still alive.
Besides, Hollows evolving into Arrancars, retaining some beastly behavior, was to be expected.
Survival of the fittest, after all. That principle applied to humans, Shinigami, and Hollows alike.
But this time, Aizen's assumption was off the mark.
Tsen shook his head seriously. "Las Noches is on the verge of falling."
"???"
The smile on Aizen's face froze ever so slightly.
He stopped writing and looked up, face blank. "Are you serious?"
Though Tsen was blind, he could feel the oppressive aura Aizen emitted as soon as the words left his mouth.
He nodded silently, saying nothing more.
Aizen squinted slightly. "You mean to tell me even with the Espada Las Noches was still taken?"
Tsen nodded again.
A heavy silence filled the captain's office.
Aizen's expression grew unreadable.
He wasn't sure if he should be more surprised that Las Noches was under attack or that the supposedly elite Espada turned out to be this useless.
Still, putting aside the presence of the Espada
"Someone actually dared to attack Las Noches?"
Aizen genuinely sounded a little surprised.
The Reiatsu radiating from the Espada made the entire fortress a no-go zone within Hueco Mundo.
No Hollow in their right mind would even think about stepping close.
So what the hell happened today?
And more importantly, who had the strength to actually pull it off?
Because if the Espada were struggling, then whoever this intruder was had to be at least on their level.
Aizen frowned slightly.
But when had someone like that appeared in Hueco Mundo?
He had personally explored nearly every corner of the dimension during his experiments.
So that only left one possibility.
A subtle gleam flashed behind Aizen's lenses.
A new enemyappearing from nowhere.
And heading straight for Las Noches?
Hard not to be suspicious.
Was this an attack aimed directly at him?
His eyes narrowed.
Had his plans been exposed?
But who? Urahara Kisuke?
The name popped into his mind instinctively, but he quickly dismissed it with a shake of his head.
NoUrahara didn't have the power to pull off something like this.
And besides, Karakura Town and Las Noches were hit around the same time.
Was someone really targeting him?
Even Aizen, for all his cunning and foresight, couldn't make sense of it just yet.
In the end, he blamed it on those fossilized old farts or maybe even the elusive, almost mythic Soul King.
With a small sigh, he pushed the thoughts away.
Then, in one smooth motion, he picked up his captain's haori from the coat rack and tossed it over his shoulders.
A composed smile returned to his face.
"Well then let's go see which bold guest thought they could drop in unannounced."
Noscratch that.
They didn't just drop in.
They trashed the place.
Now that was something Aizen just had to see for himself.
Besides, lately, things seemed to be spinning more and more out of his control.
With that unsettling thought, Aizen opened a Garganta and, with Tsen in tow, stepped into the void toward Hueco Mundo.
Meanwhile
Lynn was monitoring the situation in Hueco Mundo through his [Devil Piece] skill.
He glanced at the pink-haired boy in front of him. "Yo, Sukunayou still breathing over there? I swear I was going easy on you."
So, what was Lynn up to?
Oh, nothing muchjust casually solving the Jujutsu Kaisen world.
As for Strike the Blood? He'd left that in the hands of Avrora, Saeko, and a few others.
Right now, Lynn's full attention was on the "Main World" tag in his [Devil Contract] skill. He had a feeling that was the one that mattered most.
And Grayfia?
Well, she was currently being "taken care of" by Senhime.
He hadn't forgotten the most important world in this whole mashupHigh School DxD.
But for now, that was Senhime's problem at least until he showed up.
Senhime: "???"
Excuse me?!
This woman doesn't play fair for real!!
...
Underworld
Grayfia stood cold and imposing, her expression icy as she loomed over Senhime.
"Lynn" she said with deadly calm, "You know where he is, don't you?"
Senhime: "..."
She wiped the cold sweat from her brow and forced a smile.
Against a strong Satan-level opponent, she was really pushing her limits.
Even just being near Grayfia put enormous pressure on her.
As for Lynn's whereabouts?
Yes, she knew.
But
"He isn't really in this timeline," Senhime said hesitantly.
Grayfia's brow twitched. "You've said that several times. If you're going to lie, could you at least try changing the excuse?"
Senhime nearly burst into tears.
"B-But I'm telling the truth!!!"
"Lynn is literally five hundred years in the future!!"
.
.
.
Hueco Mundo.
Black cubed panels unfolded from space, forming a dark path.
In the next moment, a figure appeared above Las Noches.
Wearing a captain's haori, glasses on his face, brown hair fluttering lightly in the wind, and a soft smile tugging at his lips
Aizen Ssuke had arrived.
Right behind him, Tsen Kaname, ponytailed and stoic, wearing his usual sunglasses.
But the moment they saw the state of Las Nocheseven Tsen, who rarely showed emotioncouldn't hide his shock.
What the hell happened here?
Aizen's smile almost faltered when he took in the devastation.
So that's what they meant by "under attack".
He had precious research data inside that fortress!
He winced inwardly for a secondjust one secondbut quickly resumed his calm demeanor.
Thankfully, he'd memorized most of the important material.
His eyes scanned the battlefield in the distance.
He saw the Espadaall of them.
"Well, this is rare," he remarked, voice filled with mild amusement. "The entire Espada actually mobilized?"
Even Baraggan Louisenbairn, who normally clashed with him, was fighting with unusual enthusiasm.
But after seeing the destruction of Las Noches, Aizen understood why.
Compared to Aizen, this scene would be even more infuriating for Baraggan.
After all, when Aizen took over, Baraggan still had some hope of reclaiming control one day.
But now? All that was left was a flooded, ruined wreck.
Of course he was furious.
Still, whether back then or now, Baraggan's chances hadn't changed.
Taking Hueco Mundo back from Aizen?
That was always just wishful thinking.
Now though, even that illusion had been washed away.
But Aizen didn't care about Baraggan's feelings.
Instead, his eyes shifted to the enemy standing opposite Starrk and the others.
The moment he saw Katerea Leviathan, Aizen's brows rose slightly.
Her power was on par with Starrk.
But what intrigued him more was the source of that power.
"Incredible."
"No Reiatsu at all."
Aizen's eyes sparkled behind his glasses, a rare trace of excitement in his voice.
This?
This was the first time in his entire life he'd encountered something like this.
And it didn't stop there
He swept his gaze over Midoriko, Ingvild, Miko, and Kikyo.
Nothing.
Still nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Oh my~
What amazing experimental subjects!
They had no Reishi spirit particles in their bodies at allnone!
So how the hell were they generating this kind of power?!
What was that completely different energy flowing through them?
How was it formed?
Aizen's eyes gleamed like he'd discovered an entirely new world.
He was so absorbed in his observations.
He completely forgot about helping Starrk and the others.
Tsen hadn't forgotten them, though.
He couldn't see what Aizen saw, but he could sense both Aizen's mental state and the intensity of the battle.
Still, until Aizen gave the word, he remained where he was, silent and waiting.
Meanwhile, in the main world
Lynn watched Aizen's arrival through a virtual screen.
He rested his chin on one hand, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"He finally shows up."
"Huh?" Satoru Gojo glanced around. "Nah it's just us here."
Hueco Mundo.
The waters above Las Noches churned violently as Reiatsu and magic collided, waves crashing in midair. Aizen Sosuke's brown hair fluttered slightly in the chaotic flow of reishi.
He adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, the lenses catching the deep blue glow of magical energy wrapped around Katerea Leviathan.
"So that's how it is"
His fingers brushed across the hilt of Kyka Suigetsu, murmuring, "Not a trace of reishi manipulation, yet a perfectly stable energy system"
Tsen, blind as ever, turned toward the battlefield. "Should we back up the Espada?"
"Not yet," Aizen replied.
His gaze swept over Harribel being pinned down by Midoriko, then over the damaged Baraggan Louisenbairn, finally landing on the fading green light lingering on Nelliel's lance.
Nelliel?
He kept watching her, his eyes narrowing with interest. After a moment, he muttered, "Completely transformed"
"And"
"She's even stronger than before."
Aizen could sense it clearlybesides her Reiatsu, there was another kind of energy within her.
"This is truly unexpected."
A quiet laugh escaped Aizen's lips, and his interest deepened.
The fusion of reishi with another energy system.
It was
"Perfect."
Two completely different energies coexisting inside her without any sign of conflict!
More than that
He could faintly feel that the reishi inside Nelliel wasn't just tolerating that second energyit was actually working with it.
Just that alone made Aizen suspect that this unknown energy might be even more advanced than reishi!
He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing.
Who would've thought?
Other than the Hgyoku, something in this world could still catch his interest.
"I've seriously underestimated this world"
He thought he'd already peeled back its layers and grasped its truthsbut clearly, he was far from the whole picture.
There were still powerful, unknown forces out there waiting to be discovered.
The thought sparked a renewed sense of curiosity in him about this world's future.
But first, there was the current Las Noches situation to deal with.
Things had gone a bit off script, sure, but his great plan still had to move forward.
Which meant the Espada couldn't die. At leastnot yet.
After quietly observing and gathering enough intel, Aizen finally spoke.
"Do it."
At his side, Tsen didn't hesitate. His hand moved straight to his Zanpakut's hilt.
In the next second
"Cry, Suzumushi."
A steady voice rang out as he drew the blade, and a brilliant flash of light burst from the sword.
Bzzz
A high-pitched hum, like an insect's cry, echoed across the ruined skies of Las Noches.
The sudden noise drew everyone's attention.
Coyote Starrk, having just dodged another attack from Katerea Leviathan, glanced over mid-motion.
When he saw Tsen's figure, he let out a noticeable sigh of relief.
"Finally"
And now that Tsen had shown up, it was clear that Ulquiorra's arrangements had been set in motion.
Sure enough
Starrk's gaze shifted upward, where he spotted Aizen calmly floating in midair with that ever-present smile.
Sensing Starrk's stare, Aizen met his eyes briefly.
Starrk's expression stiffenedand then he quietly looked away.
Seeing this, Aizen chuckled lightly.
"Never thought I'd see you in such a sorry state."
Starrk sighed. "Hey, I'm not slacking off this time."
"Heh"
Aizen didn't respond. His gaze drifted to the wolves constantly circling around Starrk.
Aizen's expression didn't change, but in his heart, Starrk's value dropped like a stone.
Just another pawn for the cause.
He couldn't even hold Las Noches.
That said, even if Las Noches fell, what Aizen had gained today far outweighed its loss.
He could barely contain his eagerness to study Nelliel and the others.
As if she sensed the pure malice emanating from Aizen, Nelliel's heart skipped a beat. She immediately turned to him, eyes alert.
"Be careful," she warned. "He's not just the ruler of Las Nochesno"
"He's the king of all Hueco Mundo!"
Her tone was deadly serious.
Midoriko picked up on it too, shifting her focus to Aizen with growing caution.
If Starrksupposedly the top Espadawas already on par with Katerea (a top Satan after she joined the familia), then the man who ruled over all of them, wouldn't he be Satan?
Maybe even stronger?
A Super Devil?
Midoriko was on high alert now.
Nearby, Katerea Leviathan also stopped her assault on Starrk, turning her eyes toward Aizen.
"A king, huh?"
She smirked. "He doesn't look like much."
"Don't let your guard down," Midoriko warned.
Across from them
Feeling the weight of everyone's gaze, Aizen maintained his gentle smile and said calmly:
"Don't mind me. You can keep going."
Starrk: ""
Aren't you here to help?!
Baraggan: "?"
"Tch, this bastard Still as infuriating as ever!"
With a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Aizen said softly:
"You couldn't even defend Las Noches How utterly useless."
As his words fell... Silence swept over the Espada.
Baraggan gritted his teeth but had nothing to say.
Starrk, on the other hand, didn't seem to care.
But still, seeing Aizen's reaction, Starrk couldn't help but form a few thoughts of his own.
So he's interested in the strange energy inside these people too, huh?
.
.
.
Tsen looked calmly at Katerea.
He knew his mission.
Help Aizen test the limits of the strange energy inside these people.
So
"Bankai."
"Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Krogi!"
"Mumy!"
WHUMMMMM!
The moment the words left his mouth, a massive ellipsoid barrier erupted outward.
In the blink of an eye, Katerea was completely engulfed.
And then she blinked. Her vision was blurring.
She blinked again. And again.
And thendarkness.
"?"
Katerea Leviathan froze.
Wait.
Not just her sight.
Her hearinggone.
Her sense of smellgone.
Was this because of the barrier?
She quickly pieced things together.
Tsen rose above her, looking down coldly.
"In this domain," he said flatly, "your sight, hearing, smell, and even your spiritual perception will be completely stripped away."
"You'll have only your sense of touchto feel pain."
His voice was like a death sentence.
His words confirmed her suspicions.
But then
"Spiritual perception?"
But she didn't have spiritual pressure.
She used Magic.
Did this still apply to her?
Thinking quickly, she reached out with her magic
And her expression turned strange.
Aizen Ssuke raised an eyebrow. "Already using Bankai? Good job."
Then he turned to Nelliel with a gentle smile. "Nelliel, would you mind telling me where that energy inside you comes from?"
Nel's expression froze for a second. Then she turned to Aizen, face blank.
"I see," she said coolly. "So now you're interested in the magic in our bodies, huh?"
No wonder he hadn't attacked them immediatelyeven though they were the ones who destroyed Las Noches. He was gathering intel.
On the sidelines, Starrk and Harribel both had a flash of realization.
Yeah, that was definitely in line with Aizen's way of doing things.
Still, it made it pretty clear that he never really considered them allies.
Not that they minded.
Starrk and Harribel had spent enough time around Aizen to get a read on the kind of man he was.
Well, maybe the more time you spent with him, the less you actually understood.
But one thing was certain:
Aizen Ssuke didn't care about the Espada or Las Noches.
The only thing he might have been interested in was the treasure trove of knowledge buried beneath its ruins.
"Magic, huh"
Aizen narrowed his eyes slightly, locking onto that particular word Nel had used.
"Magic"so that's what they called the energy flowing through their bodies.
He committed it to memory, then smiled warmly. "You're right. I'm very interested in that magic of yours."
Even after Nel had exposed his intentions, Aizen didn't flinch or deny ithe simply admitted it with complete honesty.
Or rather, he never intended to hide it in the first place.
"So?" he asked, still smiling as if they were just neighbors chatting over tea. "Mind sharing some interesting information with me?"
There wasn't even the slightest hint of hostility in his toneas if this was all just a friendly conversation.
Nel: ""
Wait, seriously?
He's asking an enemy for intel just like that?
Honestly she was kind of speechless at how shameless Aizen was being right now.
"Are you serious?"
Aizen's lips curved into a small smile, eyes calm and unreadable. "Never underestimate a Shinigami's curiosity."
Faced with a power system unlike anything he'd seen before, Aizen was sure he wasn't the only one interested.
Even Kisuke Urahara wouldn't be able to resist digging deeper.
And if the Soul Society found out? The higher-ups would probably scramble to lock these "peace-threatening anomalies" up as soon as possible.
Hell even Yamamoto might approve the decision.
Nel stared at Aizen for a moment. After confirming he was serious, she furrowed her brows and shook her head.
"I'm not an Espada anymore," she said firmly.
"So I'll have to decline."
"Ah," Aizen chuckled helplessly. "I figured as much."
Resting his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakut, he shook his head. "In the end, the result will be the same. So why not"
"make this easier on both of us?"
Shing
As he spoke, Aizen slowly drew his blade from its sheath.
The moment light reflected off its surface, a chill ran through the airsharp and unnerving.
"So he's finally making a move" Starrk muttered to himself, narrowing his eyes at the sight.
At some point, Lilynette was now clinging to his shoulder, peeking out from behind him with a shiver.
She was genuinely terrified of the man who once ruled the Espada.
"Don't worry," Starrk said calmly, trying to reassure her. "For now, we're still useful to him."
Useful, huh?
That actually made her feel less reassured.
She gave Starrk a bitter, almost resentful look that nearly made him laugh out loud.
On the other side of the battlefield
Seeing Aizen's movements, Nel instantly went on high alert, bracing herself for a fight.
Aizen was strong. Incredibly strong.
But just how strong?
Even Nel didn't know the full extent.
Because Very few people had ever actually seen him fight.
The only known instance was his clash with Baraggan Louisenbairn.
But even that had ended so quickly that no one could make sense of what had happened.
So really no one had any idea just how powerful Aizen truly was.
That said She could still make some guesses based on Baraggan and Starrk.
At the very least, he was stronger than both of them.
And for Nel, that already made him a terrifying opponent.
Nel glanced toward Midoriko.
Midoriko stood there with a calm expression, gently holding a wisp of energy in her handflickering like ghostly flame.
"You"
"You're a soul too, aren't you?"
Aizen's eyes narrowed slightly as he focused on the flame in Midoriko's palm.
After a moment of silence, he finally said:
"What an interesting power."
.
.
.
The moment Aizen Sosuke laid eyes on the eerie, ghostly flame in Midoriko's palm, his handgripping his Zanpakutopaused ever so slightly.
Just like with Tier Harribel earlier That same unsettling sensation crept over him.
It wasn't fear in the ordinary senseNo.
It was a shiver that started deep in his soul and surged all the way to the top of his head.
Someone could make him feel like this?
"Ah, it had been so long."
Realizing what was happening to his own body, Aizen fell quiet for a beatthen, unexpectedly, he chuckled.
But this time, his smile wasn't fake.
It was realgenuine, honest.
Only power that could truly threaten him could make him feel this excited.
"A force that targets the soul, huh"
That kind of power was the natural enemy of both Shinigami and Hollows.
Truly, Delightful.
Aizen tightened his grip on his Zanpakuto, already itching to test things out.
"Careful now. I'm coming."
In the blink of an eye Aizen's figure vanished from the sky!
Midoriko's eyes widened. She could feel the gust of wind surging in from behind her!
Vmm!
Without warning, a golden barrier shimmered into existence behind her.
Clang!
A sharp metallic clang rang outAizen's Zanpakuto struck the barrier mid-swing.
He paused slightly, eyes narrowing.
From the barrier, several golden talismans marked with ancient runes shot out toward him.
Aizen narrowed his gaze, instantly using Shunpo to retreat a safe distance before lifting his hand.
"Had #63: Raikh (Fiery Lightning Howl)."
The instant the words left his lips
A beam of golden lightning exploded from his palm.
BOOM!!
The roar of the blast echoed through the heavens!
The talismans were obliterated on impact. The beam didn't stop thereit slammed directly into Midoriko's barrier with brutal force!
Vmm!
The golden shield quaked violently, struggling to hold.
Midoriko's brow furrowed. She quickly raised her hand, reinforcing the barrier with more power.
Then the lightning gradually faded. The trembling of the barrier eased and finally came to a stop.
Seeing this, Midoriko let out a breath of relief.
But her gaze toward Aizen had changed.
She already knew from how the other Espada treated him, that he wasn't someone ordinary.
But only by facing him directly did she truly understand how strong he was.
Her eyes dropped to the Zanpakuto in his hand.
At a glance, it looked plain. Unremarkable. Like any other sword.
But she had learned how Zanpakuto worked.
Shikai and Bankai
And Aizen? He hadn't even used his sword yet.
"Whew"
Midoriko exhaled slowly, eyes steady with resolve.
She and Aizen were not on the same level.
But it wasn't hopeless.
With her soul-targeting abilities, she should still be able to hold her own.
With that in mind, she tightened her grip on the golden chain in her hand and stared Aizen down.
"Oh?"
Aizen noticed her stance, pausing with amusement before flashing a smile.
"Now that's... a good look."
That smug tone, that air of superiority.
Midoriko's eyes narrowed. Her voice dropped cold and sharp:
"Bind."
Clatter-clatter-clang!
The golden chain in her hand suddenly sprang to life as if it had a will of its own, shooting forward toward Aizen.
Clang! Clang!
Aizen shifted ever so slightly, casually batting away each chain strike with graceful flicks of his Zanpakuto.
It looked effortless.
Then with another casual flick of his Zanpakut, he spoke softly: "Shatter Kyka Suigetsu."
Midoriko narrowed her eyes, locking her gaze on Aizen's every move, trying to understand his Zanpakut's ability.
But
"Nothing happened?"
She blinked, confused.
"Oh? You really think so?"
A voice rang out suddenly.
Midoriko's eyes snapped wide as she instinctively spun aroundand there he was.
Aizen.
Right behind her.
She didn't hesitate. With a flick of her wrist, eerie, glowing talismans shot forward without warning.
Shhkkk
The paper charms pierced Aizen's body, burning energy hissing as the air filled with the scent of scorched flesh.
His eyes widened in disbeliefthen, thud. He collapsed into the sea, lifeless.
"...???"
Midoriko stared, stunned. "That's it?"
"It's over just like that?"
That was way too easy.
This guy was supposed to be the ruler of Hueco Mundo?
"Huh?!"
Off in the distance, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez's eyes practically popped out of his head.
"No way! Aizen-Sama he just died?!"
Across the battlefield, however, Ulquiorra Cifer stood motionless, unshaken.
And not just him.
Baraggan Louisenbairn, Coyote Starrk, even Tier Harribelnone of them looked the least bit surprised or emotional.
---
No.
Something was wrong.
Midoriko's brows furrowed. Her instincts screamed at her.
That's when she heard Nel's voice shout:
"Watch out!"
Nel's cry tore through the tension like a knife. Midoriko's hair stood on end as an icy chill ran down her spine.
She twisted her body on reflexonly to find Aizen's blade already swinging down toward her face.
Shhk!
A sickening sound rang out as the blade cut through flesh.
But strangely, there was no blood. Just two bloodstained paper dolls drifting gently to the ground.
"A decoy?"
Aizen raised an eyebrow, withdrawing Kyka Suigetsu as he eyed the falling papers with interest.
"Now that's a fascinating ability system"
So different from the Shinigami.
A hundred meters away, Midoriko reappeared, drenched in cold sweat. She took a deep breath, eyes locked on the red tint spreading across the sea.
"Confused?"
Aizen's voice echoed againeverywhere and nowhere all at once.
Her eyes sharpened. Something in the air had changed.
She leapt backwardjust in time.
Aizen's form flickered back into sight.
Midoriko didn't hesitatethree talismans flew from her hand, glowing gold and wrapping around Aizen's limbs like chains.
They didn't pass through him like an illusion.
They bound him.
Physically.
Just like a real body.
But Midoriko wasn't fooled. After everything she'd seen, she knew better than to believe Aizen was that easy to trap.
StillShe had to try!
While he was bound, she conjured a deep violet flame in her palm and hurled it at him.
Fwoosh
The fire hit him dead-on.
"Aaaaarghhh!!"
A scream ripped through the air as Aizen's flesh blackened and peeled away like burning bark.
Midoriko suddenly pulled backsomething was off.
That scream was too perfect.
It felt scripted. Like he was acting.
And sure enough, the charred "Aizen" suddenly snapped his head uphis mouth twisted into a horrifying grin.
"Your ability it's quite the spectacle."
A low whisper rolled out as the scorched figure casually patted out the lingering flames.
Midoriko's eyes went wide.
Wait.... Wasn't he a spiritual being?
Shouldn't her powers have torn through him?
Why didn't they work?!
As the thoughts raced through her head
CRACK!
The sea erupted violently. The sky beneath her feet shattered like glass as seawater surged upwardthreatening to drag her down into a watery abyss.
Midoriko's heart pounded.
No way
Aizen was controlling Ingvild's ocean?!
That couldn't be right!
But the rush of water, the salty pressureeverything felt terrifyingly real.
She struggled against the current, searching desperately for Ingvild Leviathan.
If anyone could reclaim control over the sea, it was her.
But Ingvild looked just as shaken.
"Wh-what? Why can't I control it?!"
Ingvild stared at the churning ocean, completely baffled.
From the other side, Midoriko caught this and her expression twisted in shock.
She knew Ingvild's powers well. She owned the sea.
And now? Before she could think further
"Had #33Skatsui (Pale Fire Crash)!"
A blazing fireball tore through the air toward her.
Midoriko dodged instinctively.
But then the fireball curved in mid-air.
"What?!"
Midoriko blinked. She quickly raised a barrier
BOOM!
The impact slammed her back, forcing her across the battlefield. The shield barely held, but the searing heat still licked at her skin.
Sweat trickled down her forehead.
But what worried her most was how strange Aizen's powers were.
"Tch"
She clenched her jaw.
Just what the hell was happening?!
.
.
.
After some time...
Midoriko lay on the ground, clearly defeated after being toyed with by Aizen until her magic ran out.
Even when she used Devillizationher power akin to that of a SatanAizen, empowered by the Hgyoku, still toyed with her effortlessly.
"You've done well, all things considered."
Aizen's tone was calm as ever, even as he offered what sounded like praise.
But to Midoriko's ears, those words only stung with mockery.
"Oh, is that your victory speech?" she shot back with a sneer.
Aizen shook his head. "It's admiration for the courage of the weak."
The weak, huh
"Tch."
He really knew how to piss people off with just a few words.
But he wasn't wrong.
Right now, standing before Ssuke Aizenshe was weak.
And there was nothing she could say to deny it.
Aizen looked at her with mild interest, then slowly raised his Zanpakut.
Kyka Suigetsu shimmered with ominous violet patternsnow fully synchronized with the Hgyoku.
"We've played long enough. This game should come to a close."
After experiencing Midoriko's energy and the nature of her powers firsthand, he couldn't wait to see what came next.
Whether she'd become a Shinigami a Hollow or something else entirely
An Arrancar?
Who knew?
What would happen when her unique energyso different from Reishiand her soul-based abilities reached their next stage?
Abilities that could interfere directly with the soul even manipulate it on a fundamental level.
Oh man...
It thrilled him.
It brought back the same feeling of excitement he'd had when he first discovered the Hgyoku.
And so he wasn't going to wait any longer.
With a sudden Shunpo, Aizen appeared right in front of Midoriko, blade raised high above his head.
Without hesitationhe swung it down.
"Midoriko!!"
Nelliel's eyes widened in horror as she launched herself toward Aizen.
But
Ulquiorra Cifer stepped in her path.
"I won't allow you to interrupt Lord Aizen's moment."
...
With no interference, a cold wind blew across the edge of Kyka Suigetsu's blade.
Midoriko's black hair fluttered in the breeze. She raised her chin slightly, staring at the edge of Aizen's swordnot with fear.
Not with panic.
Not even the slightest emotion crossed her eyes.
"Had she given up?"
That was Aizen's first thought.
But something felt off.
A strange feeling tugged at the edge of his mind.
Why? Why did he feel this way?
And thenHis eyes narrowed.
The corner of Midoriko's lips was liftedjust a bit.
Was she smiling?
Seeing that faint smirk, Aizen suddenly felt uneasy.
His grip on Kyka Suigetsu tightened instinctively.
Why was she still smiling?
What had he overlooked?
But he was surehe hadn't missed anything.
So then was she bluffing?
As he debated with himself
CLANG!
A sharp metallic clang echoed through Hueco Mundo.
The blade that should've sliced through her soulwas stopped.
Caught effortlessly between two slender fingers.
"We really should end it here."
A calm voicesmooth, unhurried, but laced with a quiet authoritycut through the air.
Aizen's eyes snapped down.
The tip of Kyka Suigetsu was caught between two fingersbelonging to someone he didn't sense approaching.
Someone who, just seconds ago, didn't exist in his perception.
"How?"
Aizen's brow furrowed, genuinely startled.
"Lynn-Sama!" Midoriko said softly as she knew Lynn was watching the fight from the Devil Piece.
Then she snapped, "Lynn-sama, don't look at his sword..."
"Late."
"You've already fallen under my illusion." Aizen said with a gentle smile.
"I see it," Lynn said quietly. "The illusion. The angles. The false layering."
He stopped an arm's length from Aizen, looking him dead in the eye.
"I don't need to use any of my immunity skills," he continued.
"Because I don't process reality the same way you do."
Aizen felt pinned in place, unable to move, as he watched Lynn reach forwardslowly, deliberately, as if mocking himand press a hand to his chest.
The Hgyoku pulsed once.
Then it slid free, like it had been waiting for him.
Lynn held it in his palmcalm, quiet.
Aizen's hand reflexively moved to the now-empty space in his chest.
"I'm this weak?" he muttered.
Lynn finally looked up, a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips.
"Of course not," he said. "You're incredibly strongSuper Devil level, the kind of power that stands at the top in any world. It's just... you happened to meet me."
Aizen fell silent for a moment, then narrowed his eyes at Lynn.
"Well then what do you want from me? I assume you're not here to kill me."
"Yup," Lynn said with a casual nod, returning the Hgyoku to him without hesitation.
"Ssuke Aizen, I'm here to give you a job."
.
.
.
"A job?" Aizen's eyes narrowed.
Lynn raised a hand, and in his palm appeared a small piece
"This is a Devil Piece," Lynn said. "It's a creation of my worldmy way. With it, I can reincarnate you as a Devil and let you join my Familia. You keep everything you are and gain access to magic and other powers."
Aizen's gaze flicked between the piece and Lynn. "Magic, huh? Like Nelliel."
Lynn nodded. "Magic. Evolutionary. World-traversing."
A pause.
"You've hit your ceiling here, Aizen. You've seen it. Felt it. But if you join my Familia, you get something you've never truly hadfreedom to grow."
Aizen looked down at the piece, then back at Lynn.
"And the price?"
"You become one of mine," Lynn said simply.
"Under you?"
Lynn smiled faintly. "Technically. I don't leash talentI let it rise. And I'll leave this world to you. You'll just need to bring it under the Familia."
He paused, his tone calm but firm. "You can rule it however you wantwhether that means becoming the next Soul King, or even the god of this world. Other worlds are the same. I'll open the path before you."
Aizen went quiet again. The idea of bowing to someone disgusted him. But this wasn't submission. This wasn't chains.
This was a path.
To power. To knowledge. To other worlds.
The Hgyoku in his chest pulsed againthis time not in resistance, but in resonance with the piece Lynn held out.
The Devil Piece hovered just inches from Aizen's chest, waiting.
---
[Aizen Ssuke]
Rank: Super Devil
Position: Rook
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0 Agility: I0 Endurance: I0 Magic: I0
Position Skill: Supernatural Body
Unique Skills: [Absolute Hypnosis], [Perfect Hgyoku], [Reiatsu Overload], [Reishi Total Control], [Reality Devil]
[Absolute Hypnosis]
Through Kyka Suigetsu's perfected resonance, Aizen can trap targets in a multistage illusion so deep, even Super Devil perception cannot distinguish reality.
Can hijack sensory input across multiple dimensionssenses, memories, and spiritual pressure alike.
[Perfect Hgyoku]
Boosting all stats exponentially beyond conventional tiers.
Draws out one's inner power according to the user's will.
Possesses near-immortality on par with gods.
[Reiatsu Overload]
By concentrating his Reiatsu, Aizen can erupt a shockwave that tears through barriers and scorches souls within a 200meter radius.
Any opponent caught at pointblank range risks immediate core destabilization.
[Reishi Total Control]
[Reality Devil]
Reality Shaper:
Aizen can touch or wave his hand over any non-sentient object and transmute its material into something else (e.g., steel glass pure water ash) within a 10-meter radius.
Duration: changes persist for up to 10 minutes before "snapping back" to the original substance unless Aizen reinforces them with sustained Reiatsu.
Spatial Folding
He can fold space in a localized pocket (a 50-meter sphere), allowing himor any willing allyto instantly teleport from one point to another within that sphere.
Hostile targets crossing the boundary suffer temporary spatial disorientation: attacks from them have a 50% miss rate for 5 seconds.
Physical Law Rewrite:
Aizen can rewrite a single natural constant or physical law within a 100-meter radius (e.g., gravity inversion, air density shift, inertia nullification) for up to 30 seconds.
Existence Nullification
-Aizen selects a single non-divine target within 200 meters; for 10 seconds, that target essentially "ceases to exist" to all physical, magical, or spiritual properties.
Devilization: Reality Total Control
---
Aizen looked at the panel floating before himthe new feature of the Devil Piece after its recent upgrade.
In fact, that very upgrade was what had made Lynn shift his purpose from simply building a harem to dominating entire worlds.
"...Devil Piece, huh? What an interesting relic."
Aizen's voice held genuine excitement as he examined his new skill panel. It was more than powerit was possibility.
"Well, that's it." Lynn waved his hand, and a glowing portal opened before him.
"I'll leave this world to you, Aizen. It's best if you recruit other powerful people. Ohand here's the information on this world and the future it was headed toward, had I not interfered."
He tossed a memory orb to Aizen, who caught it effortlessly.
Then Lynn turned to face Miko, Midoriko, and the others.
"If you want to return or stay here, it's your call... either way, I trust this world will soon be under our Familia."
Midoriko, Miko, and the others exchanged glances.
"We'll stay, Lynn-sama. There's still room to grow stronger here," Midoriko said firmly.
"Uh... can I return...?" Ingvild murmured hesitantly, barely audible.
But Katerea tugged her by the arm and snapped, "No way, Ingvild! You're still too weak. Even your Leviathan Phantom is disgusted by how fragile you are!"
Ingvild wilted with a small whimper.
Lynn gave a small nod. "Alright, then. I'm off."
He paused, then glanced back at Aizen one last time.
"Ohand Aizen. It's forbidden to attack other Familia members. Just, y'know..."
With that, he stepped into the portal and vanished into the Gate to the main world.
.
.
.
Moments after Lynn vanished through the portal, Aizen stood in silence.
He glanced at the floating panel before him, eyes narrowing as he focused on two skills: [Perfect Hgyoku] and [Reality Devil].
Just a small chess piece and yet, it had given him more than he ever imagined.
Especially the ability Devilization: Reality Total Controla skill that essentially made him a god.
There was even a note from Lynn, tucked into the system interface:{A world called Marvel holds a relicthe Reality Stone. Acquiring it may enhance your Reality Devil skill further. Possibly even fuse with the Hgyoku.}
Aizen's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Life feels wonderful again. I can't wait to see what other worlds have to offer."
He turned. The Espada had arrivedsummoned by a single pulse of his reiatsu.
Baraggan, Starrk, Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, Harribel all stood in silence, waiting.
Aizen raised his hand.
A dozen glowing Devil Pieces materialized around him, slowly orbiting.
"This world was left to me," he said flatly.
One by one, the pieces floated toward each Espada, matching their spiritual signatures.
"Your evolution begins now," Aizen said, eyes cold.
"Don't disappoint me... again."
Main World
Gojo Satoru stood beside Yuji, his blindfold fluttering in the wind. Yuji's fists were clenched, his expression grim.
Then space rippled beside them.
Yuji jolted. "Wha?! Who the hell?!"
Gojo raised a brow beneath the blindfold. "Huh. Now that's a dramatic entrance."
"Yo~ I'm back. Looks like we're in the final act," Lynn said, waving a hand.
Three Devil Pieces floated into view, glowing faintly.
"I won't interfere much in this world. I'll leave the curses to Sukuna and the sorcerers to you, Gojo Satoru."
Gojo's grin faded a bit. "You think this'll really solve the problem?"
"Curses won't disappear," Lynn replied calmly. "But I can offer peaceeven to them. If they behave. Like Sukuna, over there."
He turned his gaze to Yuji. "I tried to take it easy but look at him. He's pathetic right now."
Yuji stared at the floating piece. "...Is this really safe?"
"It is," Lynn said. "One for you, one for Sukuna. With it, Sukuna gets his own body. You'll be freeand inherit some of his power."
He paused, his voice quieter but firm.
"And one more thing. Once you're strong enough You can come to me. That goes for all of youeven you, Sukuna. No need to play dead."
A faint smile touched Lynn's lips.
"You'll have your chance to fight me. No restrictions."
Gojo reached out and caught his Devil Piece midair. He could already tellthere was no defeating Lynn now. And Lynn had made it clear:Accept the future, or be erased from it.
"Well can't say no to free power and a chance to punch a smug bastard like you someday."
Lynn nodded, stepping toward the portal as it began to fade.
"Good. Then I'll be watching."
And with that, he vanishedleaving behind the Devil Pieces and a new future for the Jujutsu world.
Lynn's Manor
"In short, that's my idea."
Inside Lynn's room, Haruno stood like a prodressed in a sharp business suit, glasses in place, exuding the perfect secretary vibe.
She reported seriously, her tone calm and composed.
Lynn thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Do it your way."
"But Haruno," he added, "no need to make a plan for managing the entire world. Just focus on managing the members of the Familia."
"Like Aizenleave the Bleach world to him. Well, except Hell. But the rest, let him run it however he likes for now."
Haruno nodded. "Then, the ranks within the Familia?"
Lynn waved a hand. "The Devil Pieces I've distributed are all lower-ranked than you and the others. You have the authority to seal the skills of anyone ranked beneath you."
He leaned back, closing his eyes as he pulled up the System Panel.
[Devil Piece (evolving)] [Devil World]
That was the key.
It was this evolution that allowed Lynn to change his entire structuregranting him the ability to establish a clear hierarchy within the Familia. Higher-ranked members could now suppress or control the powers of those beneath them.
Naturally, his harem would remain at the top.
Another revelation: the universe created within the Devil Piece no longer existed in some detached spaceit had merged with him. It was him.
He and his world were becoming one.
[Ding! Acquiring Concept of Reality]
[Acquiring Concept of Aging]
[Acquiring Concept of Decay]
[Acquiring Concept of Soul]
[....]
[...]
"Ooh worthy of the Espada," Lynn muttered, watching his universe expand, taking on more lifeits own ecology, its own beings.
It was the [Devil Piece] skill that gave him the power to shift his strategy.
But the real turning point had been the evolution of [Devil Contract] into [Anime Gate].
Now, he could connect directly to other worldsand fuse any conquered world into his growing internal universe.
He'd already tested it with the Black Bullet world and the Apocalypse world.
Both now lived inside him. Or rather were parts of him.
Lynn glanced at one of the tags floating in his system panel:
[Main World Integration: 38.556%]
"That's thanks to Avrora and the other Zodiacs. They've already cleared the Strike the Blood world. Good work."
"JJK will be wrapped up soon, and Inuyasha and other small crossovers aren't far behind either."
"Now, it's time to focus on DxD."
With that, Lynn stood up to travel 500 years into the past.
"Time to get a Queen."
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Five hundred years in the past Inu-Yokai territory.
Lynn appeared at Senhime's palace.
"You did it," Grayfia said softly, watching him.
"Yup," Lynn replied, his tone warm but steady. "The Underworld war is over. And I gave the best assist. I can be called the MVP of that war, right?"
Grayfia looked up at himcalm, resolute.
"I'm ready to join your so-called Familia," she said.
Lynn raised a brow. "You sure?"
Grayfia just smiled, "I promised you!"
Next, Lynn explained what the Familia wasand what his Devil Pieces could do. He spoke of ranking and the powers they granted. How the pieces formed bonds deeper than contracts, and how those bonds would shape the future. And of course, he is from 500 years in the future.
"WaitI have an idea."
Grayfia looked at him with that calculating, determined gaze of hers.
"These Devil Pieces you've created... if we distribute a weaker, ordinary version of them to the other devils, we could keep the underworld under the familia's control and even secure their loyalty early. After 500 years from now, they'll already be under your rulewhether they realize it or not."
Lynn's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, then a small smile tugged at his lips. "That's... a good idea."
He opened his system panel, fingers flicking through options as glowing sigils shifted and rearranged.
"I'll recreate the Devil Piece Ranking many versions for this era."
Now came the questionwho should he entrust this power to?
He considered several candidates but none felt right.
Then, as if reading his thoughts, Grayfia stepped forward.
"I'll do it."
Lynn blinked, looking up at her.
"I want to be the one who spreads them," she said. "If this plan is going to work I need to be the one to make sure it does."
"..."
"You don't have to stay here, Grayfia. Come back with me. I can give this task to someone else. You've already done enough."
She shook her head slowly, her voice unwavering.
"No. I need to make sure this plan succeeds. If we set the foundation now, we can prevent countless future wars and battles. We can build a true peace. And when the time comeswhen five centuries have passedI'll be there at your side, with every devil already bearing your mark. All of them, yours."
Lynn stared at her for a long moment, then let out a breatha soft, peaceful sigh. "All right."
"Then take this," he said quietly.
He raised his hand. A single, gleaming piece formed in the airthe Queen Devil Piece.
Unlike the others, it radiated a deeper power, its glow steady, like a heartbeat.
[Queen Piece Unique: 1/1]
[Effect: Grants wielder full authority over all Devil Pieces within Familia. Enables use of all other familia abilities. Admin-level command of Familia ranking.]
"This is the only one. It's yours," Lynn said. "No one else will ever receive a Queen Piece."
"I'll be waiting, Grayfiamy Queen."
"Also," Lynn added, his voice quiet but reassuring, "we can communicate through the Devil Piece. And I'll come to you whenever you summon me. So even though I won't appear in this era again publicly we'll still meet. Privately."
"Umm..." Grayfia bowed slightlyelegant, unwavering. "Until next time, then."
Main World After a Few Months
[Bleach World 97.22%]
[Date A Live 93.56%]
[Massive New Worlds Discovered]
[Naruto One Piece Marvel DC Attack on Titan - Solo Leveling My Hero Academia Dragon Ball Gundam SEED - Akame ga Kill One Punch Man Kaiju No. 8 Re:ZERO - Pokmon KonoSuba Harry Potter Fairy Tail ....]
Lynn glanced at the panel and gave a satisfied nod.
Over the past few months, he'd acquired a lot of new rules and concepts.
Aizen had done an excellent job in the Bleach world, and with Saeko and the others clearing the Date A Live worldwith his helpthey'd obtained things like the [Concept of Fire], [Concept of Space], [Concept of Time], [Concept of Distance], and many smaller rules tied to larger principles.
He'd sent Saeko, Gojo, Sukuna, and others to assist in the Date A Live world. Of course, almost all the Familia members wanted to contribute. Everyone was eager to earn EXP and level up, so they were giving it their all.
As a result, both Bleach and Date A Live didn't stand a chance.
Afterward, Lynn decided to activate [Devil World] in the Black Bullet world. Since it met the 100% requirement, the world qualified for fusion. And just like thatpoofit merged with his Devil World.
The process was absurdly smooth: the planet expanded, space stretched, and yet everything stayed perfectly organized. It was like it had always belonged.
He did the same with Highschool of the Dead. Same outcome.
"Oh, it's gonna be fun seeing Aizen's face when I fuse Bleach too haha, I really wanna see that calm expression crack."
Lynn opened the [Main World] panel.
[Main World: 69.94%]
"Damn, the DxD world is really hard to clear. And apparently, there are more worlds out there than I thought... oh man."
"Well, time to make the familia organized."
...
Lynn had already rebuilt his mountain villa, turning it into the main base of operations for his Familia in the Main World.
His private homefor him and his womenwas now located in the Devil World.
There, he created an entire floating island just for his harem. With the new rules under his control, he could literally build anything from nothinghouses, rooms, bedswhatever he imagined became real.
Below, on the ever-expanding surface of the Main World, he constructed gates to every other world he had fused or planned to invade.
Now, anyone in his Familiawhether human, beast, curse, sorcerer, devil, shinigami, hollow, or anything else that joined himcould choose a world, enter it, and clear it for the Familia.
The Devil World automatically calculated each member's contributions and distributed EXP as before.
"Hm there's nothing left for me to do anymore," Lynn muttered."Any world that appears will be cleared by other Familia members. Even the Main World is slowly being conquered on its own"
He turned his gaze toward the glowing portals. "The others will arrive soon to sweep the gates"
---
Naruto
One Piece
Dragon Ball
My Hero Academia + Solo Leveling + One Punch Man
Attack on Titan
Fairy Tail
Kaiju No. 8
Marvel Universe + Harry Potter
DC Universe
Gundam SEED + Code Geass + Evangelion
Re: ZERO
Konosuba + That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Mushoku Tensei
The Rising of the Shield Hero + Overlord
Fate Series
No Game No Life
Digimon + Pokmon
Akame ga Kill
Hellsing + Tokyo Ghoul + Parasyte
Mashup of
.....
.....
...
Looking at the long, unending list of worlds, Lynn smiled. Then, without hesitation, he chose one of the gates and stepped through it.
The moment he entered, the gate sealed behind himpreventing any other Familia members from following.
A new journey had begun.
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---
Little Notes From Coreal
So, just a little background on this fanfic
It was actually dropped at Chapter 291, with the last update on April 23rd.
The author stopped posting after getting a flood of insults and cursesliterally getting flamed every minute. From what I can tell, he either quit writing altogether or abandoned his account to start fresh somewhere else.
The weird part? Honestly, the hate was kind of earned.
To give you an idea: I was fusing 3 to 4 chapters into one and cutting all the filler. The Espada fight alone lasted from Chapter 241 to 291that's 50 chapters of basically one battle. And back then, the author was updating daily, so readers would've had to endure that arc for nearly two months straight.
Can you even imagine?
Anyway, I merged chapters and cleaned things up so you wouldn't have to suffer through that mess.
Chapter 291 ended with Lynn finally appearing and was about to fight Super Devil Aizenand from the direction it was going, it seemed like he planned to kill Aizen and the other males, then recruit the females into his Familia.
So, I picked things up from there and added my own ideas to continue the story.
Yeah, the writing may not be top-tier, but I was mainly focused on wrapping things up and getting an end. So apologies if it was rushed.
Got any suggestions or think I messed something up? Let me knowI'm open to feedback!
Well that's the end of this journey.
Or maybethe beginning of a new one.
How? By checking my other fanfics, of course.
Goodbye~
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