— — — — — —
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 assets—Lynn 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 before—just 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 Bulletworldand 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 goal—enjoy life without unnecessary burdens.
"Speaking of which..."
Haruno suddenly blinked, her curiosity piqued. "Has Yukino already done it with Lynn-sama?"
"Sis—Sister!!"
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 believed—he 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.
Her—her 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 wantedYukino 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 hot—she 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.
.
.
.