— — — — — — —
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?!
Wait…Could 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 cunning—lurking 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 discovered—from 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 shrine…The 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.
.
.
.