Chapter 11: Utaha's First Renewal
Occult Research Club
After Lynn and the others left, only Rias and Akeno remained in the clubroom.
"Akeno, what do you think?"
Rias had been pondering Utaha's ability.
Was she a Sacred Gear user?
But there were no signs of a Sacred Gear's magical fluctuations.
As a High-Class Devil, Rias was confident in her judgment.
But could a human really awaken such a powerful ability?
As for gaining new abilities after reincarnating as a devil, that possibility hadn't even crossed her mind.
Because in all of the Underworld, there was no precedent for it.
The Reincarnation Ceremony merely transformed followers into devils, sometimes granting them abilities based on the Evil Pieces used.
At its core, the Evil Pieces were simply a tool designed to bolster the dwindling devil population.
Akeno shook her head. "If even you can't figure it out, there's no way I can understand it either."
Rias sighed, her voice laced with regret. "It would've been amazing if Kasumigaoka-san was one of mine."
"With that kind of ability, I could've trained her to the point where she'd defeat the Phenex family before that incident even happened."
Given the resources of the Gremory family, she had no doubt.
Knock knock!
Just as Rias was feeling envious of Lynn, someone knocked on the door.
"Sona? What brings you here?"
Rias blinked in surprise.
Sona glanced around. "Has he been here?"
"As sharp as ever, I see."
Rias smiled helplessly.
Sona spoke matter-of-factly, "I am the Student Council President."
"Then you must also know when he left, right?"
"Of course."
Otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to come.
A slight blush rose to her ears as she sat across from Rias, as if this was a perfectly normal visit.
"So, what was he doing here?" Sona asked, her tone casual.
Rias briefly explained Lynn's visit.
Sona remained silent for a moment, deep in thought.
Then, she suddenly said, "I have some water-based magic. Next time, give it to him for me."
Rias was silent for a beat before she probed, "Sona… don't you think you're a little too concerned about him?"
"He is my fiancé."
"But… don't you still want to break off the engagement?"
"….."
Sona fell silent for a moment, then swiftly changed the subject. "Did you give him the key?"
Rias's expression froze.
Stare—
"…Ah! Sorry, sorry!"
Rias pressed her hands together apologetically. "There was just so much going on, I completely forgot!"
Sona sighed. "Then just have him handle the water magic next time."
Rias nodded awkwardly, deciding it was best not to tease Sona about how much she cared about Lynn.
---
Tokyo — Lynn's House
Lynn stared at Utaha's suitcase and suddenly asked, "So, this means… we're officially living together?"
"Hmph."
Utaha crossed her arms. "Having a beautiful girl like me as your housemate, what a blessing for you."
On the way back, they had stopped by her apartment to pick up some necessities.
Toiletries, clothes, her tablet, and other personal electronics.
Oh, and by the way.
There had been a cursed spirit in her room.
Utaha casually waved her hand and obliterated it.
Now that she had recorded Lightning Magic in her Devil Tome, she felt invincible, evil spirits no longer fazed her.
That said, she still had zero intention of staying in that lonely rental apartment.
After unpacking, Utaha suddenly looked at Lynn with anticipation.
"So… it's time for that, right?"
"Yeah. Take it off."
Lynn's expression was dead serious.
Utaha hesitated briefly. Then, as if steeling herself, she clenched her teeth, stomped her foot, and slipped off her jacket.
"…U-Underwear too?"
Her face burned as she bit her lip.
"It just needs to be visible."
Utaha exhaled in relief.
As long as he could see it clearly, that was fine.
This was already her limit—any further and…
Even so, she still felt incredibly self-conscious.
"Still, why does it have to be engraved there of all places?!"
"For convenience."
Lynn recalled, "Besides, you're the one who asked me to put it—"
"Don't say it!"
Flustered, Utaha pressed her hands over his mouth, her glare fierce, her entire face glowing red.
"This is all because of what you said back then!"
"Mmmph—!"
Lynn raised his hands in surrender.
Only then did Utaha snort in satisfaction and let go.
Lynn focused his magic, forcing a single drop of his blood to emerge. As it landed on her back, hidden Blessing data was revealed.
Kasumigaoka Utaha
Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valefor
Stats:
Strength: i0 → i7
Agility: i0 → i5
Endurance: i0 → i6
Magic: i0 → i133
Innate Skills:
[Archivist Devil] (Omitted)
"Hmm. A magic increase of over a hundred, not bad."
After offering her some words of encouragement, Lynn copied her status data onto a parchment and handed it to her.
"Aside from Magic, my other stats barely increased…"
Utaha sighed, feeling a little discouraged.
Lynn's voice was dry. "Let me ask you something—aside from that one time you smashed an evil spirit with your book… have you ever done any physical training?"
"Uhh…"
Utaha faltered.
Come to think of it.
No. She hadn't.
Lynn simply spread his hands.
There was the answer.
"Other than Magic, you should work on raising your other stats too."
Utaha fell into deep thought. "If this keeps up… am I just going to become a fragile mage?"
No way!
She had to start training!
At the very least, she needed to boost her Agility!
If she ever encountered an enemy she couldn't beat.
At least she'd be able to run.
"Alright! Let's go find some cursed spirits and grind for experience tonight!"
Utaha, brimming with determination, grabbed Lynn and dragged him outside.
Lynn didn't dampen her enthusiasm.
Weak as she was, her Blessing renewal had increased his own magic, if only slightly.
For a High-Class Devil like him, it was merely a drop in the bucket.
But small gains add up over time.
And as the number of his followers grew, even the smallest improvements would amount to something massive in the long run.
---
Late at Night — An Unmarked Alley
"Thunder!"
"You should be training other abilities too, you know~"
"But, damn it—!"
"Devil Tome!"
Utaha raised her Devil Tome with both hands.
And smacked an evil spirit over the head with it.
Devil Tome: …Seriously?
Chapter 12: Supernatural Investigation Club
The next day.
Shuchiin Private Academy.
"Club?"
Utaha asked in confusion.
It was Monday.
Lynn and Utaha arrived at school together.
The moment they walked in, they immediately drew the attention of the surrounding students.
"Isn't that sophomore Kasumigaoka-senpai? Why is she with Lynn?"
"No way... are they... together?"
Utaha was a well-known figure at Shuchiin Academy, admired for her stunning beauty, curvaceous figure, and formidable intellect, despite frequently dozing off in class, she still maintained top grades.
Lynn, though a freshman, had an otherworldly handsome appearance and an air of mystery that instantly captivated the female students across all grades.
Seeing the two of them together naturally caused a stir.
Neither of them paid any attention to the whispers.
Utaha asked curiously, "Why are you suddenly interested in starting a club?"
"Rias reminded me," Lynn explained. "She said that if I'm forming a Peerage, it's best to establish a base in a place I frequent. That way, Peerage activities will be more convenient."
Utaha considered this and found it reasonable.
Right now, she was the only member of Lynn's Peerage, so organizing activities wasn't an issue.
Besides, she was already living with him.
But once the Peerage expanded and members were scattered across different locations, gathering together would become a hassle.
They couldn't always meet at Lynn's house, could they?
Imagining a house packed with people, Utaha immediately supported the idea.
"As expected, she's quite thoughtful."
Lynn agreed.
His main goal was to recruit more Peerage members.
Given the supernatural nature of this world, Shuchiin Academy undoubtedly had many individuals with the potential to become part of his Peerage.
Establishing a club would make it easier to bring them together.
"Have you decided on a name for the club?"
"Hmm..." Lynn thought for a moment before his eyes lit up. "How about the Service Club?"
Utaha paused, then gave him a complicated look.
"I can only say... that suits you too well..."
Service Club—who were they supposed to be serving?
It was obvious.
A club formed by a Devil and his servants… what name could be more fitting?
"You agree, then."
"Heh..."
Lynn continued, "Just in case someone already registered the name 'Service Club,' we should have a backup."
Utaha scoffed, "Who else would name their club something that suspicious?"
Still, in a world filled with anime-like occurrences... what if Yukinoshita Yukino was also in this school?
"Alright then, the alternative name will be the Supernatural Investigation Club."
"...That's just copying Rias and the others!"
Lynn frowned.
"Should we think of another one? What if something supernatural actually—"
"No need!"
Utaha stopped him before he could continue.
"Just the Service Club is fine. No one else would choose such a weird name!"
---
Three o'clock in the afternoon.
Faculty office.
Hearing the response, Utaha froze like she had been struck by lightning.
"...You're telling me there's already a Service Club?"
She couldn't believe it.
"That weird and suspicious name actually exists?!"
"You think it's strange too, yet you wanted to name your club the same thing," a voice remarked dryly.
Behind the desk, Natsuki Minamiya, dressed in her usual gothic lolita attire, glanced at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Her meaning was clear.
'Didn't you also want to use that name?'
Utaha seemed to read that message from the teacher's blue eyes.
Awkwardly, she tapped her toes against the floor.
Lynn, however, remained calm.
Instead, he gleaned some useful information, so Yukinoshita Yukino really does exist in this school.
"In that case," he said, "we'll go with Supernatural Investigation Club instead."
"That name suits you much better."
Natsuki Minamiya stamped the approval form, then reminded them, "A club requires at least three members to be officially recognized. Make sure you meet the requirement soon, or the school will revoke your clubroom."
"Thanks, Natsuki-chan."
"I told you—don't add '-chan' at the end!"
Natsuki glared at him in annoyance.
---
"You're pretty familiar with Minamiya-sensei, huh?" Utaha asked curiously.
After all, she was Natsuki Minamiya, the infamous teacher.
"She was one of my past clients."
"Client?"
"You mean the exorcism business you mentioned before?"
Lynn nodded.
"Yeah."
Utaha suddenly understood.
"No wonder she said the Supernatural Investigation Club suits you so well."
However, she overlooked a crucial point, Natsuki had also considered Service Club as a fitting name.
That meant in her mind, Lynn was the kind of person suited for 'service.'
After all, Natsuki knew he was a Devil.
A human Magician like her wouldn't be unaware.
"By the way, there are quite a few cursed spirits roaming the school," Lynn added.
Since they were just small fry, there was no need to bother dealing with them.
Besides, ordinary people couldn't see them anyway.
---
Lynn pushed open the clubroom door.
A wave of dust hit them in the face.
"...How long has this place been abandoned?"
Utaha fanned away the dust, looked around, and nodded.
"Though it's dirty, the desks and chairs are intact."
"Yeah, but naturally, there are some unclean things as well..."
Utaha turned her gaze toward the corner.
A weak, pitiful, and helpless-looking cursed spirit was squatting there, its back turned to her.
Lynn had already noticed the small fry of a demon.
Then, he announced the first official activity of the Supernatural Investigation Club.
Cleaning.
And cleaning up the weaklings, too.
"You're up, Utaha."
"I knew it…"
As if expecting this, Utaha had already begun moving.
At times like these, magic was the best solution.
The classroom door shut.
A bright white light swept across the Supernatural Investigation Club.
Magic—'Cleanse.'
In an instant, the entire room became spotless.
The small fry of a cursed spirit vanished without a trace.
Utaha sighed in admiration.
"Magic really is convenient."
Sitting down in a freshly cleaned chair, Lynn announced the second club activity.
Recruitment.
"Alright, leave it to me."
Without needing further instruction, Utaha naturally took charge.
"First, we need a recruitment flyer."
She flipped open her Demonic Tome.
Magic—'Graffiti.'
---
After placing the Supernatural Investigation Club flyer on the recruitment board, Utaha clapped her hands.
"All done!"
Just then, a beautiful black-haired girl nearby was staring at her.
Yotsuya Miko.
Upon seeing the words Supernatural Investigation Club, she instinctively thought of the evil spirits she frequently encountered.
But since even Buddhist beads and shrine visits hadn't helped her, she doubted a mere student club could solve her problem.
Shaking her head, she turned to leave.
But—
"Hey, would you like to join our club?"
Utaha stepped in front of her.
"You need help, don't you?"
Yotsuya Miko: "!?"
Chapter 13: Evil Sprit? I'm A Devil
Utaha looked at the timid girl in front of her and smiled meaningfully.
Ever since becoming a Devil, she had become more sensitive to certain things.
If one observed this girl carefully, they would notice that whenever her eyes landed on a cursed spirit, her body would stiffen unnaturally.
This girl could see them.
Utaha reached a conclusion.
Being able to see cursed spirits—she was definitely a special talent.
She might just be the Peerage member Lynn needed.
This person had to be brought to Lynn.
After becoming a part of Lynn's Peerage, while Utaha still retained her sharp tongue, she quickly embraced her role.
Since Lynn needed to develop his Peerage, she would naturally do her best to help him.
"How about it? Want to come take a look?"
Utaha invited Yotsuya Miko.
Yotsuya Miko hesitated.
Her instincts told her that this so-called Supernatural Investigation Club was no different from the shrines she had visited before, ultimately incapable of solving her problem.
But Utaha's words earlier lingered in her mind.
"You should need help now, right?"
Why did she say that?
Did she see something?
Utaha saw her hesitation and knew she had her.
When someone hesitated, it just meant they needed a little push.
Without giving her time to refuse, Utaha grabbed Miko's arm and made the decision for her.
"Alright, let's go."
"Eh—?!"
—
Swish—
The door to the Supernatural Investigation Club swung open.
"Master, I've kidnapped— I mean, brought someone back."
Utaha stepped aside, revealing Miko behind her.
Miko timidly scanned the classroom before letting out a sigh of relief.
A pure land.
A space without cursed spirits.
Lynn took one look at Miko and immediately knew—today, he would gain another Peerage member.
"Well done, Utaha!"
"Oh?"
Utaha raised an eyebrow. "What's my reward?"
"How about a magic replenisher?"
The moment she heard those words, Utaha's face flushed, and she was reminded of a certain past event.
However, instead of rejecting the offer, she simply said, "Then hold onto it for now. I'll come collect it when I need it."
Lynn looked at her in surprise.
Why did it feel like Utaha had become bolder since joining him?
But Miko was still waiting, so he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he took out a form and said, "Yotsuya-san, please fill this out first."
Miko was taken aback. "Eh? You know me?"
"Of course."
Lynn could see the girl.
But he didn't explain further.
Miko hesitantly sat down and took the form.
Now that she was here, there wasn't much she could do.
Except…
"Application Form for Joining the Supernatural Investigation Club?"
She froze.
She never said she wanted to join the club.
"Um…"
Miko struggled to find the right words to refuse when she suddenly heard Lynn whisper.
"Yotsuya-san, you… can see them, right?"
Huh?
Huh—?!
Huhhuhhuhhuhhuhhuh—!!!
Miko's body tensed up instantly, and her pupils trembled violently.
Was this… handsome boy in front of her actually a disguised evil spirit?!
Was this so-called Supernatural Investigation Club just a trap set up by the evil spirit to deceive her?!
Her eyes teared up, and her expression became pitiful, as if she were about to cry at any moment.
Even her thighs trembled uncontrollably, and it felt like something might leak out.
She wanted to pretend not to see anything like usual.
But…
She was still holding the application form she had just received!
It was over.
I, Miko… am probably about to be eaten…
Lynn looked at Miko with a strange expression.
Even Utaha couldn't help but glance at Miko's trembling thighs.
Sometimes, the Devil's sense of smell was truly too sensitive.
She… peed herself.
She… actually peed herself.
Lynn and Utaha exchanged glances, momentarily speechless.
"Don't worry, Yotsuya-san. We're not cursed spirits."
But Miko wasn't listening anymore.
Or rather, she didn't dare to listen to Lynn.
If he claimed not to be an evil spirit, did that make it true?
She had seen plenty of evil spirits capable of disguising themselves!
"Maybe you don't recognize me, but you've definitely heard of Kasumigaoka Utaha, right?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha?
Miko was stunned.
Now that she thought about it, she did find her familiar when they met earlier.
"The famous Sleeping Beauty!"
Sleeping Beauty…
Utaha's eyelids twitched slightly, and her toes curled involuntarily.
Hearing that nickname directly in front of her was a little embarrassing.
Oh no.
She had said it out loud by accident.
Miko cautiously glanced at Lynn and Utaha, then let out a breath of relief when she saw that neither of them had transformed into something inhuman.
Maybe… this really was a misunderstanding?
If they were evil spirits, she would have been eaten by now.
Or at the very least, the moment she stepped inside.
Calming down slightly, Miko replayed the events in her mind.
But she still couldn't help but whisper, "You're really… not an evil spirit?"
"Of course not!"
Lynn gave her a firm answer.
Seeing this, Miko finally started to relax.
"We're Devils. Why would we ever be trash like cursed spirits?"
Devils?
Miko's body, which had just relaxed, instantly stiffened again.
Her voice cracked, and she sounded like she was about to cry.
"Isn't that even worse?!!"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 14: Cowardly Miko
Insidious, cunning, terrifying, evil.
Manipulating people's hearts, bewitching them, and tormenting humans for amusement.
The source of disasters.
This was Miko's perception of Devils.
When Lynn said they were Devils, Miko didn't doubt for a second that he was simply trying to scare her.
As someone who had seen the true side of the world, she knew that if evil spirits existed, then the existence of Devils was perfectly reasonable.
"Alright, Lynn, stop scaring her."
Seeing Miko trembling, Utaha worried that Lynn might end up traumatizing her.
Miko swore this was the most beautiful voice she had ever heard in her life.
As expected, they were just trying to frighten her.
Devils and the like—of course, they weren't real.
Letting out a sigh of relief, she sent a grateful glance toward Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Lynn shrugged. "Fine."
"Then, how about joining the Supernatural Investigation Club?"
Miko hesitated, staring at the application form in her hands.
She had no intention of joining the club when she first arrived.
But there was something she couldn't ignore.
'Yotsuya-san, you can see them, right?'
That sentence alone weighed heavily on her mind.
"Um…"
Lynn introduced himself casually. "Just call me Lynn. Like you, I'm a freshman at Shuchiin."
"Okay, Lynn."
Miko nodded, then cautiously asked, "Lynn… can you see them too?"
"Of course."
Lynn nodded without hesitation. "Otherwise, what do you think the Supernatural Investigation Club is for?"
So it was true!
Miko's eyes lit up. She had finally found someone who understood!
She had finally found hope.
She anxiously asked, "Then, does Lynn have a way to deal with them?"
If she ever got discovered, something terrible could happen.
She couldn't stand living like this any longer!
"A way to deal with them?"
"Yes!"
Miko nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with expectation.
Lynn smiled. "Of course I do."
Yes!
Miko's heart surged with joy.
Finally!
Finally!!
Without hesitation, she stood up and bowed deeply.
"Please! Please let me return to an ordinary life!"
"Wouldn't it be easier to just kill them?"
Lynn and Utaha spoke at the same time.
A brief silence filled the Supernatural Investigation Club.
Lynn looked at Miko in disbelief.
As expected of Yotsuya · Timid · Cowardly · Miko.
After a few seconds, Miko slowly raised her head, her expression blank.
"K-Kill…?"
She stammered.
The evil spirits?
She was supposed to kill them?
No, no, no!
That was impossible!
She absolutely could not do that!
"Same thing," Lynn said calmly, then asked, "So, Yotsuya-san, do you want to join the Supernatural Investigation Club?"
"Do you want to become my Peerage member?"
Miko fell silent for a moment before whispering, "If I join the club… can I really kill evil spirits?"
"Of course."
Lynn's answer was firm.
Could it really be done?
Miko was doubtful.
She had never seen an evil spirit get exorcised before.
But…
She had no other options.
Why not believe in Lynn?
Like a drowning person grasping at a straw, she didn't want to let go of this chance.
Besides, it was just joining a club—there was no downside.
She subconsciously ignored the term Peerage member, assuming it was just another way of saying "club member."
"Okay! I'll join!"
Determination filled Miko's gaze.
Lynn smiled. "Welcome to the Supernatural Investigation Club, Yotsuya-san!"
"By the way…"
Just as Miko was about to smile, Lynn continued, "Devils are real."
She froze.
Then she glared at him.
"Lynn, stop scaring me!"
Lynn didn't say anything. He simply grinned.
And suddenly, an unnatural movement rippled behind him.
With a tearing sound, two holes appeared in his school uniform near the waist.
A pair of black wings unfurled.
Whoosh—!
A gust of wind surged through the Supernatural Investigation Club.
Miko's pupils dilated.
A Devil.
A real Devil!
When Lynn revealed his wings, her mind completely blanked out.
Lynn folded his hands under his chin, his crimson eyes glowing faintly.
"Yotsuya-san, after seeing my true identity… you can't run away now~"
If she refused, would she… be silenced?
Would she?
Would she??
Tears welled up in Yotsuya Miko's eyes.
Her heart screamed internally.
Then—
At lightning speed, she dropped to her knees, performing the most flawless dogeza of her life.
With all the knowledge she had accumulated throughout her existence, she shouted:
"Please command me, Master Devil!"
"Your recruitment method is simple and crude."
Utaha shot Lynn a look.
"But effective, isn't it?"
Lynn shrugged and then materialized an Evil Piece in his hand.
"Alright, choose a spot on your body and place this inside."
Utaha's eyebrows twitched when she saw the Evil Piece appear.
Miko looked up, her expression a mix of tears and despair, and asked in a trembling voice, "M-Master Devil, w-what is that…?"
"A reincarnation ceremony," Lynn explained. "You'll become a Reincarnated Devil and awaken supernatural abilities."
"When that happens, destroying cursed spirits will be easy."
Miko froze.
So this was the way to exorcise them?
Abandon her humanity and become a Devil?
She hesitated, then glanced at Lynn's wings and sighed internally.
There was no choice.
After making her decision, she realized.
It wasn't as difficult to accept as she thought.
Come to think of it…
Rather than remaining human and continuing to suffer in a world infested with evil spirits, wasn't it better to become a Devil and gain the power to fight back?
And…
Lynn had only revealed his identity after she agreed to join.
If she had chosen not to, he wouldn't have forced her.
More importantly, he had already warned her before.
She was the one who refused to believe it.
After preparing herself mentally, Miko's eyes grew firm.
She would become a Devil!
(To be continued.)
Chapter 15: Spirit-Seer
"Have you made up your mind?"
Miko clenched her fists and nodded firmly.
Lynn reminded her, "Once you become a devil, your life will belong to me. You'll serve me for eternity."
Serve… serve… serve?
Miko's cheeks flushed, and her pupils trembled violently.
Here it comes!
The price of making a deal with a devil!
She secretly glanced at Lynn.
Hmm… it doesn't seem too hard to accept?
Although he's a devil, he's really handsome!
Besides, since she had already made up her mind, there was no room for hesitation!
"N-No problem."
Even though she was determined, she couldn't help feeling shy when saying it out loud.
After all, they were talking about serving…
Lynn played with the Evil Piece in his hand, the corners of his lips curling slightly. "Then let's begin the reincarnation ceremony."
"Ah, yes!"
Miko immediately straightened up, suddenly feeling nervous.
What exactly was the reincarnation ceremony like?
Oh, wait!
Do they have to choose a location?
She glanced left and right at her body, as if trying to determine the best spot.
Seeing this, Utaha couldn't help but comment, "I suggest you choose your back. Based on my experience, that's the best position."
If Lynn hadn't made the decision himself last time, she would have chosen that spot.
Lynn also nodded in agreement.
Having gone through this with Utaha, he now understood why the Gods in DanMachi engraved blessings on the back.
"Alright, then place it on my back."
Miko followed the advice without hesitation and blinked. "Then what?"
Lynn gave a warm, sunny smile and said, "Take off your shirt."
"Huh? H-Huh?! H-Huh?!"
Miko's eyes widened as her face turned bright red. She panicked, flailing her hands in a flustered manner.
W-What's happening?
Is this… the sacrifice stage?!
S-She wasn't ready for this!!
Miko was spiraling into chaos when Utaha, watching from the side, sighed and smacked her forehead.
Clearly, Miko had misunderstood something.
Unable to take it anymore, Utaha quickly clarified, "Relax, he just needs to see your back."
Hearing that, Miko finally calmed down a little.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath before reopening them.
Though her face was still red, she was noticeably more composed.
"I understand."
Turning around, Miko faced away from Lynn and removed her shirt.
She hugged herself slightly, covering her front, leaving only her smooth, fair back exposed.
"B-Back straps… should I undo them?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
Exposing her back in front of a boy she had just met…
It was embarrassing.
Lynn thought about it for a moment. Since it might obstruct his view, he said, "Undo them."
Miko's body trembled. She took a deep breath before slowly reaching behind her.
Click.
The straps loosened and slid down.
If one looked closely, they could see the slight curves pressed together by her arms.
Lynn didn't let her remain in this state for too long. Without hesitation, he pressed the Evil Piece against her back.
The cold touch sent a shiver through Miko's body.
Like a stone sinking into a lake, the Evil Piece slowly merged into Miko's body upon contact.
Boom!
Miko's pupils dilated, and the sound of her heartbeat echoed through the classroom.
Something was awakening!
At the same time, changes appeared on Miko's back.
Lines of data emerged one after another.
Yotsuya Miko
Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valefor
Strength: i0
Agility: i0
Durability: i0
Magic Power: i0
Inherent Skills:
[Yin-Yang Eyes]
Psychic Vision
Increased Magic Power Growth Rate
[Spirit-Seer Devil]
Special Attack on Spirit Creatures
Forced Command Over Spirits
Spirit Devouring
Devil Transformation: Closely linked to Spirit Devouring, this ability fully unleashes the spirit energy within the body upon transformation.
"Spirit-Seer Devil… it suits Miko perfectly."
Lynn glanced at the status screen, pleased with the outcome. He memorized the data with ease.
Another Peerage member secured!
And once again, it was a special kind of devil.
Utaha also took a look.
"A Summoning-type devil…"
Miko's abilities seemed far more varied than her own. But even so, an Archivist Devil like her was by no means inferior—whether to humans or devils!
What caught her attention was the skill listed under [Spirit-Seer Devil].
This was an ability awakened through reincarnation.
But [Yin-Yang Eyes] was likely something Miko had possessed even before turning into a devil.
Thinking back to her own [Archivist Devil] ability, which had awakened when she became Lynn's first reincarnated devil, Utaha felt a little complicated.
She had assumed she was naturally gifted…
But Miko had more talent than her?
That thought made Utaha a bit depressed.
However, when she saw Lynn's satisfied smile, she relaxed.
At the very least, she was the one who brought him Miko.
That meant she had helped Lynn in some way, right?
With that in mind, Utaha's mood brightened.
After the reincarnation ceremony ended, Miko felt dazed. She clenched her fists and could clearly sense the power surging through her body, far stronger than when she was human.
And… her waist and abdomen felt a bit itchy.
Could it be…?
Miko guessed it was the emergence of her devil wings, just like Lynn's.
Not only that, but there was also a strange sensation at the base of her spine.
Could that be… a devil's tail?
"It's about to slip~"
Utaha, noticing that Miko was too caught up in examining her body, quietly reminded her.
Miko suddenly realized her top was slipping, and she panicked.
Ah!
In her rush, she clumsily clutched her clothes and hurried to put them back on.
Utaha sighed and reached out to help. Click.
She fastened the straps for Miko.
Once fully dressed, Miko blushed and bowed slightly to Utaha. "Thank you."
Utaha waved it off. "You're part of the family now. It's only natural to help each other."
On the other side, Lynn received a notification.
[Ding! You have obtained a new Peerage member: Yotsuya Miko!]
[Ding! Your Peerage member 'Yotsuya Miko' has been reincarnated as a special devil: Spirit-Seer Devil!]
[Ding! You have obtained the skills 'Yin-Yang Eyes' and 'Spirit-Seer Devil'!]
[Ding! Your strength has increased!]
(To be continued.)
Chapter 16: Head Pat
Lynn opened his status panel.
[Lynn Valefor]
[Race: Devil]
[Rank: High-Class Devil]
[Power: None]
[Peerage: Kasumigaoka Utaha, Yotsuya Miko]
[Skills: 'Evil Pieces', 'Demonic Summoning', 'Magic Release', 'Archivist Devil', 'Yin-Yang Eyes', 'Spirit-Seer Devil']
Not much had changed in the panel, aside from Miko's addition to the Peerage column and the inclusion of [Yin-Yang Eyes] and [Spirit-Seer Devil] in the skills section.
Yin-Yang Eyes…
Other than his vision feeling slightly clearer, Lynn didn't notice any major changes from acquiring this ability.
As a devil, he could already perceive spirits and supernatural entities with ease.
However, after examining the skill more closely, he realized that Miko's [Yin-Yang Eyes] were at an exceptionally high level.
Shifting his focus to [Spirit-Seer Devil], Lynn's expression turned thoughtful.
This skill was practically the bane of cursed spirits!
It was clear just how much Miko had been forced to endure because of her encounters with them.
As for his rank, there were no changes—he remained a High-Class Devil.
Even though the system notified him that his strength had improved, Miko was only a Low-Class Devil, so the boost was minimal.
When Utaha was reincarnated, Lynn had been on the verge of breaking through from Mid-Class to High-Class. Her addition had given him the final push.
If he wanted to reach the next level, it would likely take quite some time.
At that moment, a thought crossed Lynn's mind.
What would happen if he brought Natsuki Minamiya into his Peerage?
While the blessings granted by his Evil Pieces were similar to the Blessing System from Orario, they were fundamentally different.
The ranking structures, in particular, were distinct.
In Orario, adventurers progressed through Lv1, Lv2, Lv3, and so on. But in his case, devils were ranked as Low-Class, Mid-Class, High-Class, and beyond.
Two completely different power systems.
Although everyone started with i0 stats, the rank granted by his system wasn't always Low-Class Devil by default.
If he were to reincarnate Natsuki Minamiya, she would likely start at High-Class Devil—or possibly even higher.
And if that were the case, his strength would experience a massive boost.
However…
Bringing Natsuki into his Peerage wouldn't be easy.
It would have to be a step-by-step process.
Besides, while both Utaha and Miko were currently at lower ranks, with his blessings, it was only a matter of time before they grew stronger.
Lynn temporarily set those thoughts aside.
After adjusting her clothes, Miko looked up at him expectantly.
Lynn asked, "So? How do you feel?"
"Better than ever!"
Miko's eyes sparkled with excitement.
After reincarnating as a devil, her body felt stronger, her mind clearer, and more importantly her confidence had skyrocketed!
She was itching to test her newfound strength against an evil spirit.
Seeing this, Lynn handed her a copy of her stats.
Miko took it with a puzzled look. "What's this?"
"Your status sheet."
Lynn gave her a brief explanation of the Blessing System.
Once she understood, she carefully examined the data.
Low-Class Devil.
Well… it was the lowest rank, but…
That just meant she had a lot of room to grow!
Miko had a good attitude about it.
She understood how strength progression worked. Everyone started at i0, so there was no need to dwell on the numbers.
Her eyes then landed on the skill section.
[Yin-Yang Eyes]
"So this is the reason I can see evil spirits!"
Miko stared at the skill description, feeling a mix of emotions.
Thanks to this ability, she had lived an incredibly… eventful life.
If she hadn't been reincarnated as a devil, she wasn't sure how much longer she could have lasted.
Shaking her head, she continued reading.
Then—
Her eyes lit up like two bright stars.
[Spirit-Seer Devil]!
"I love this skill!"
Miko was eager to try it out.
She was more than ready to go out and exorcise some ghosts.
"Master Lynn, when are we leveling up?"
Miko looked up, her eyes sparkling like a kitten's as she gazed at Lynn.
Lynn raised a hand and patted her head, then pointed to the still-bright sky outside.
"If you don't mind exposing your devil identity to humans, you can go anytime."
"Hmm…"
Feeling the warmth of his hand on her head, Miko's excitement cooled a little.
After some hesitation, she said, "Then… let's wait until nighttime when there are fewer people around."
—Meanwhile—
Utaha, who had been writing in her Devil Tome, happened to glance up and witness this master-servant bonding moment.
Her pen stalled for a second.
Then, as if nothing had happened, she resumed writing.
…Except the force she was using had noticeably increased.
The Devil Tome trembled slightly.
"Failed."
After finishing her notes, Utaha casually stepped between Lynn and Miko, handing the Devil Tome Tome to Lynn for review.
Lynn took the book.
Miko's two newly acquired skills had been recorded.
Lynn wanted to test whether Utaha's [Archivist Devil] ability could "store" these skills for later use.
The result was predictable—failure.
"As expected."
Lynn wasn't surprised, and neither was Utaha.
After all, the [Archivist Devil] ability only allowed her to record magic, mystical arts, and spells.
And all of those were learnable abilities.
Skills like [Yin-Yang Eyes] or [Spirit-Seer Devil], which were innate or awakened through reincarnation, fell outside its scope.
Still, Lynn patted Utaha's head.
"It's fine. Your ability is already incredibly powerful."
"I don't need comforting…"
Despite her words, she still enjoyed the head-pat.
On the other side, Miko peeked at the Demonic Tome curiously.
"What's this?"
"My awakened ability—Archivist Devil," Utaha answered.
Since Miko had already seen her abilities, she didn't mind explaining her own.
"That's amazing…"
Miko was genuinely impressed.
Utaha remained silent.
Indeed, Archivist Devil was an incredible ability.
Afterward, Miko filled out the pending application to join the Club.
She also exchanged contact information with both Lynn and Utaha.
Once that was done, Lynn added Miko to his Peerage group chat.
Miko stared at the name of the chat.
Her expression turned… complicated.
She was part of Lynn's Harem now.
But what surprised her was that, aside from Lynn, there were only two members—her and Utaha.
…Which meant that once the Peerage expanded, she would be considered one of the veteran members?
As she entertained these thoughts, she continued discussing plans with Lynn and Utaha for their nighttime training session.
But then—
"Wait… I feel like I forgot something?"
Miko muttered to herself.
—At the front of the school building—
Yurikawa Hana tilted her head and asked curiously, "Where's Miko?"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 17: Oh No! I Forgot To Tell My Mom
[Miko: Sorry, sorry! Something came up, and I totally forgot about you.]
[Hana: Hmph! Miko, you're the worst!]
[Miko: I'll buy you daifuku tomorrow as an apology. Please forgive me!]
[Hana: Two!]
[Miko: No problem!!]
After apologizing to Hana over LINE, Miko finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Let's do it here."
Lynn stood at the entrance of an empty alley.
Hearing that, Miko put her phone away in her bag.
A dark, windy night… the perfect time to exorcise evil spirits!
Lynn scanned the area and selected the weakest cursed spirit for Miko's first battle.
"Try that one."
Lynn pointed ahead to the right.
Miko followed his gaze.
A bloated, greasy-looking cursed spirit stood there.
Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and walked toward it with determined steps.
Even though she was mentally prepared, she couldn't suppress the nervousness creeping up on her. Her breathing grew shallow, and her scalp tingled slightly.
To her, cursed spirits had always been nightmarish entities.
Overcoming that fear wasn't easy.
Countless emotions surged through her mind.
Finally, she stood face to face with the grotesque spirit.
"Can you see me?"
"Can you see me?"
It's time to put an end to this!
Let's settle this, Mr. Cursed Spirit!
Miko stared at it with unwavering determination.
The greasy spirit froze for a moment before realization dawned, its expression twisting into one of excitement.
"You can see me! You can see me!!"
"Yeah, I can see you!"
Ah~ I've wanted to say that for so long~
Miko's spiritual presence suddenly became transparent.
The cursed spirit stiffened in shock.
It had never encountered such a bold human before.
But it didn't dwell on it for long.
Its expression twisted into a malicious grin as it roared, "I'll eat you! I'll eat you!!"
"Eat me? Or eat my shoulder bag?"
Miko had no intention of dirtying her hands.
With a powerful swing, she hurled her shoulder bag at the spirit, coating it with magic power as it flew.
Ssshh!—
The moment the bag struck the cursed spirit, it reacted as if it had been touched by its natural enemy.
It barely had time to let out a shriek before disintegrating instantly.
Miko blinked in surprise.
"…That was easy."
A special attack against spiritual creatures.
In an instant, the cursed spirit was completely obliterated.
And she hadn't even used much magic power.
She examined her bag and muttered, "Cursed spirits… are they really this weak?"
"It's just that this one was particularly weak."
Lynn reminded her, "There are different levels among cursed spirits. This was clearly one of the lowest-tier ones."
"Ah, I see…"
Miko scratched her cheek, reining in her momentary overconfidence.
"Of course, with your current strength, you can handle most cursed spirits without an issue."
Lynn didn't want to discourage her and continued, "Now, try out the other abilities of [Spirit-Seer Devil]."
"Yes, Master Lynn!"
Spirit Manipulation
Miko took a deep breath and released her magic power.
Almost instantly, a nearby cursed spirit's eyes dulled, it had fallen under her control.
"Success!"
Excited, Miko commanded it to attack another cursed spirit.
"ROAR!!"
The two spirits immediately clashed, tearing into each other.
Seeing this, Miko took control of several more cursed spirits and ordered them to gang up on their target.
The cursed spirit at the receiving end was stunned.
Under the righteous beatdown, it was swiftly exorcised.
Panting slightly, Miko said, "Right now, I can control up to ten cursed spirits at once."
Low-tier cursed spirits.
Lynn silently added that distinction in his mind.
"Very impressive."
He clapped his hands in encouragement.
Miko could only control ten low-tier cursed spirits, but Lynn?
As a High-Class Devil, he could manage far more.
After letting Miko rest for a moment, he moved on to the next ability test.
Spirit Devouring
Miko gathered the ten spirits together.
Her eyes glowed slightly as she whispered, "Spirit Devourer."
"AHHH—"
The cursed spirits let out agonized screams as their bodies twisted and compressed.
At their center, a dark vortex formed, pulling them in.
A moment later, all that remained was a small, translucent purple bead.
Miko picked it up.
Almost immediately, the bead crumbled into dust and scattered like sand in the wind.
Miko blinked.
She concentrated… but…
"Hmm… I don't feel any different?"
One by one, she absorbed the remaining nine beads.
Even then—
"I still don't feel anything."
Lynn observed her carefully and pondered the situation.
"Alright, that's enough for today."
As soon as he finished speaking, a teleportation magic circle flared to life beneath their feet, engulfing Miko and Utaha.
"Huh?!"
Miko barely had time to react before.
They vanished from the alley.
Lynn's House
A flash of purple light filled the room.
Lynn, Miko, and Utaha suddenly appeared in the living room.
Miko's eyes widened.
"Whoa… that was amazing!"
Instant teleportation to a completely different place!
Utaha, having experienced it before, remained unfazed.
She even gave Miko a brief explanation of teleportation magic.
But Miko's attention was elsewhere.
"So, this is Master Lynn's house?"
Utaha: "…?"
I just explained teleportation magic, and that's what you focused on?
Lynn, however, had no intention of letting Miko simply admire his home.
"Miko, take off your shirt."
Again?!
Miko was startled but.
Her body instinctively obeyed.
After all, she had experience now.
Utaha guessed, "Is it time for a grace update?"
Lynn nodded.
He pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto Miko's back.
[Status Update]
[Yotsuya Miko]
[Rank: Low-Class Devil]
[Race: Devil]
[Master: Lynn Valefor]
[Strength: i0 → i1]
[Agility: i0 → i2]
[Durability: i0 → i1]
[Magic Power: i0 → i9]
[Inherent Skills:]
[Yin-Yang Eyes] (Omitted)
[Spirit-Seer Devil] (Omitted)
"As expected…"
Her total stats had increased by 13 points.
10 of those clearly came from Soul Devouring.
Even her physical stats had grown slightly.
A random experience pill?
Lynn's expression turned odd.
If he fed Miko a high-tier cursed spirit, wouldn't she instantly level up?
…It probably wasn't that simple.
There had to be a limit somewhere.
That would need testing.
After copying the data, Miko got dressed and checked her stats.
"My stats increased so fast!"
She was surprised.
"And even my physical abilities improved…"
"But I don't remember using any strength?"
She raised her arms, testing them in confusion.
"Probably Spirit Devouring."
Utaha had reached the same conclusion.
Random experience pills!
"What a ridiculous ability…"
She muttered enviously.
But before Miko could celebrate.
RING!
Her phone rang.
"Oh no! I forgot to tell my mom!"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 18: Her Faithful Servant
"Please send me back, Master Lynn!"
Yotsuya Residence
Miko stood at the door of her house, bowing slightly as she thanked Lynn.
Lynn waved it off. "It's fine. I was planning to come here anyway to set the teleportation coordinates."
"Um… that…"
Miko hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Would you like to come in for a bit?"
Lynn glanced at the half-open door behind her and said, "I think you should explain everything to your mother first."
"Ah…"
Miko stiffened.
Turning her head slowly, she saw that the front door was slightly ajar.
A deep sense of unease filled her.
Miko sighed in frustration. "Alright…"
"Then, see you tomorrow."
Lynn gave a casual wave, stepped into a hidden spot, and vanished using Teleportation Magic.
Just as Miko turned back toward the door.
"Mikoo~"
Miko flinched.
Her mother, Yotsuya Touko, stood behind her, smiling… but with an unmistakable aura of interrogation.
"So my dear Miko was out late because she was on a date with her boyfriend?"
Touko sighed dramatically. "Poor me… I waited for my precious daughter to come home, and the food got cold… I'm still hungry…"
"I'm so sorry, Mom!"
Miko immediately apologized, her survival instincts kicking in.
Touko's eyes narrowed playfully.
"Fine! Just bring your boyfriend home next time, and I'll forgive you!"
"…Huh???"
---
The Next Day
Miko arrived a little late.
Yesterday, she had promised Hana a daifuku as an apology. True to her word, she took Hana to a dessert café before heading to school.
By the time she finally arrived, she muttered to herself, "I really need to learn Teleportation Magic…"
Thinking back to how effortlessly Lynn traveled with Teleportation Magic, Miko couldn't help but feel envious.
During class, she secretly sent a message in the 'Lynn's Peerage Harem Group' chat, asking about how to use Teleportation Magic.
Utaha's response?
A massive wall of dense, technical theory.
Miko took one look…
And gave up instantly.
I'm not built for this kind of stuff!
Standing outside the clubroom, she let out a silent wail of despair.
Still, she pulled herself together and pushed open the door.
Inside the Clubroom
Lynn sat by the window, his eyes slightly closed, lost in thought.
Beside him, Utaha was tapping away furiously on a tablet.
However, what really caught Miko's attention was the bloated, grotesque cursed spirit struggling in the middle of the room.
It was bound by an unseen force—its body so massive that it nearly reached the ceiling.
"GYAAAAA!!"
The bloated cursed spirit let out an ear-splitting shriek!
Miko immediately rushed into the room and slammed the door shut behind her.
She acted so fast, it was as if she were afraid the spirit's cry would echo through the entire school.
Lynn opened his eyes.
"Relax. Ordinary people can't see or hear it."
Although…
Natsuki might complain later if the noise reached her over LINE.
Ah, subconsciously…
Miko remembered that normal people couldn't perceive spirits and scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"So, uh… what's going on with this one?"
She was a little confused.
Why did the Supernatural Investigation Club have a cursed spirit tied up like a hostage?
Her expression turned subtle.
If this had been yesterday, she never would have imagined such a sight.
"This is a Second-Grade Cursed Spirit," Lynn explained.
Then, he turned to Miko and said, "Use Spirit Devouring on it."
"Ah…! Right!"
Miko quickly understood.
They wanted to test how effective Spirit Devouring was on a stronger target.
Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand, aimed her palm at the bloated spirit, and softly chanted.
"Spirit Devourer!"
Buzz—
A wave of magic power surged outward.
The cursed spirit shuddered violently.
"AAAAAH!!"
Sensing an impending threat, it struggled wildly, twisting and thrashing against its restraints.
But…
That was all.
Lynn silently observed as Miko began panting from the effort.
A Second-Grade Cursed Spirit.
It was possible for Spirit Devouring to work, but it was too taxing on Miko at her current level.
And more importantly.
This spirit did not turn into an experience pill.
"That's enough."
Lynn stopped her before she overexerted herself.
After all, he had seen Utaha collapse from mana exhaustion before.
And while he didn't mind restoring his Peerage members' mana, it was better to avoid unnecessary strain.
"Haaah—"
Miko exhaled deeply, lowering her hand.
She looked at the cursed spirit, which hadn't changed much and sighed.
"I'm sorry, Master Lynn… I'm still too weak. I couldn't even damage it."
Lynn reassured her, "It's fine."
"In fact, this is normal."
If there were no limits, then all he'd have to do was feed Miko a Special-Class Cursed Spirit, and she'd skyrocket in strength.
Lynn walked up to the struggling spirit and casually patted its body.
"Alright, you're useless now."
The magic restraints suddenly tightened.
"AAAAAAGHH—"
A final, tortured scream echoed before the cursed spirit was crushed into oblivion.
But unlike Miko's method, Lynn's Spirit Devouring didn't turn spirits into beads for absorption.
Instead, he felt a direct boost to his strength.
Though it wasn't as significant as when he reincarnated Peerage members.
Still, it confirmed something important:
Recruiting and upgrading his Peerage was the fastest way to grow stronger.
If he could get his hands on a First-Grade or Special-Grade Cursed Spirit, it might result in a major breakthrough.
But…
"Those aren't exactly easy to come by…"
It would depend on luck.
Well…
Maybe he should ask Natsuki Minamiya to keep an eye out.
Although cursed spirits weren't her main area of expertise, she did have a colleague who specialized in them.
Of course, Lynn wasn't entirely sure how much [Spirit-Seer Devil] would help against a Special-Grade Cursed Spirit.
Best to be cautious.
"Is it over?"
Utaha yawned, stretching her arms as she set down her tablet.
That old hag Machida Sonoko had been on her case again.
Just because she missed a few deadlines, Machida had the nerve to lecture her?
Tch.
She was probably going through menopause or something.
And besides, it wasn't like Love Metronome was selling well anyway.
If this had been the past, she might've been upset about it.
But ever since meeting Lynn, everything had changed.
Even her writing had taken a new direction.
Maybe her next book should be called…
"The Devil Lady and Her Faithful Servant"?
Utaha's eyes flickered toward Lynn, a mischievous glint in them.
If he knew what she was thinking, he'd probably say, "Completely reversed the roles, huh?"
Just the thought made her chuckle.
Lynn shook his head.
He could tell that Utaha was daydreaming again.
He pulled out his phone and said, "I sent a file in the group chat. Check it when you have time."
A file?
(To be continued.)
Chapter 19: I Want It Now!
Basic Knowledge of the Underworld.docx
"The Underworld?"
Miko instinctively exclaimed when she saw the words on the document.
Utaha, on the other hand, remained much calmer.
After all, she had learned a bit about it from Rias before.
But that was the extent of her knowledge.
She only knew that the Underworld was the stronghold of devils.
As for the details, she was still unfamiliar.
Lynn explained, "Rias sent this to me. She said it was created to help reincarnated devils quickly understand basic knowledge about devils."
"If you're interested, take a look. Just treat it as casual reading."
Casual reading?
Miko and Utaha were immediately interested.
For Utaha, learning about devils could also serve as material for her writing.
As for Miko, she was simply curious.
It was ridiculous that she had already become a devil but still knew next to nothing about devils!
Both of them took their seats and began reading the document.
Devil weaknesses, other supernatural races, Evil Pieces, Rating Games, the current Four Great Maou…
"Sirzechs Gremory?"
Utaha paused when she saw the name.
"Gremory…"
The same surname as Rias. Could it be…?
"Yes, one of the current Maou. He's Rias's older brother," Lynn confirmed.
"Hiss!"
Utaha's eyes widened in shock.
"I never expected that such an approachable young lady had this kind of background?"
Rias…
Miko glanced between Lynn and Utaha.
So she was a friend of Master Lynn and Utaha?
"The Maou, huh…"
Utaha sighed slightly but didn't dwell on it too much.
Such a powerful figure felt too distant from her world.
After all, what did the Maou even do?
She was just a Low-Class Devil—
…which she confirmed after reading the devil ranking system in the document.
Seeing her place at the bottom of the hierarchy, she suddenly felt very complicated.
"Reincarnated devils and Evil Pieces… so this is how they came to be…"
Utaha sighed.
"Devils are devils, yet there's still a population shortage?"
But then—
"Evil Pieces have classes?"
Utaha frowned.
Thinking back, she didn't recall feeling any class bonuses when she was reincarnated by Lynn.
"You don't need to worry about that," Lynn said.
"You should have seen the creator of the Evil Pieces in the document."
Utaha nodded.
"Ajuka Beelzebub, one of the Four Great Maou."
"That's right."
Lynn continued, "But the Evil Pieces I use for my Peerage… I created them."
He raised his hand.
A faint glow flickered between his thumb and index finger.
In an instant, a brand new Evil Piece materialized out of thin air.
Utaha's eyes widened in shock.
Her lips parted slightly as she murmured, "No wonder…"
Ever since she read about Evil Pieces in the document, she had been curious.
According to the document, devils reincarnated using Ajuka Beelzebub's Evil Pieces gained class bonuses.
But none of them became special devils with unique awakened abilities like herself or Miko.
Before yesterday, she had assumed she was special.
But when Miko joined the Peerage and received grace, Utaha started having doubts.
Was she really special?
Before reincarnation, she was just a regular human.
Miko, on the other hand, had Yin-Yang Eyes, an ability that made her stand out.
But today—
She finally understood.
It wasn't her that was special.
It was Lynn—their Master.
"The grace system was also created by Master, wasn't it?"
Utaha asked.
"You could say that."
"Master, you're incredible. You did something even the Maou couldn't."
Utaha gazed at Lynn, admiration flickering in her eyes.
Yes—
Something that even the Maou couldn't do.
If she dared to think even bolder.
Lynn wasn't just above the Maou.
There was no one else in this world who could compare to him.
Even though both systems were called Evil Pieces, it was clear that Ajuka Beelzebub's version was far inferior to Lynn's.
The grace system alone set them worlds apart.
Now that she had a clearer understanding of devil rankings, she realized.
The difference between Low-Class Devils, Mid-Class Devils, High-Class Devils, and Ultimate-Class Devils was immense.
And power progression was even more difficult.
For her and Miko, they could increase their strength through training and exorcising spirits.
If others found out about this, they'd be green with envy.
Some would desperately want to join Lynn's Peerage.
But at the same time.
It could also attract the wrong kind of attention.
Gulp.
Utaha swallowed hard.
She never realized just how valuable it was to become one of Lynn's Peerage members.
And that was before she even learned about the other perks of becoming a devil.
Reading through the document, she found out that all devils had:
Extended lifespans
Slowed aging
Even a Low-Class Devil could live for centuries.
Not to mention.
She could level up through the grace system.
"Huuuh—"
Utaha exhaled a long breath.
She began reflecting on her past self.
Back then, when Lynn invited her into his Peerage.
She had been reluctant.
She even thought he was just a perverted guy trying to seduce her in exchange for power.
If only she had known…!
She should have clung to him and begged to join!
Duang! Duang! Duang!
Utaha started banging her forehead against the table.
"…?"
Lynn stared at her in confusion.
What kind of weird realization did she just have?
Suddenly, Utaha stood up and walked over to Lynn.
Her slender fingers cupped his face, her expression completely serious.
"The reward you promised me last time."
Her eyes burned with conviction.
"Replenish my magic!"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 20: The Bait
"This, this, this… is....this?!"
Miko covered her face with her hands, but her wide eyes peeked through her fingers, fixed on Lynn and Utaha.
Utaha-senpai… so bold!!
Her cheeks burned, her whole body felt hot, and her thighs pressed together unconsciously.
After a brief moment.
Utaha pulled away from Lynn's lips.
Her gaze was hazy, filled with lingering emotions, a faint blush painting her face.
So moist.
Lynn gave a simple two-word evaluation in his heart.
Utaha blinked, returning to her senses. Then, as if realizing what she had just done, her hands trembled violently.
What… what did I just do?!
My dignity!
The dignity of a maiden!!
Utaha abruptly pulled back, straightened her posture, ran her fingers through her hair as if nothing had happened, and stammered,
"D-Don't misunderstand! I just thought that offering some benefits to my master was a basic duty of a follower."
Lynn smirked, watching her flustered act in amusement. Then, he calmly reminded her,
"But wasn't that a reward I gave my follower just now?"
"After all, you were the one who said it was for replenishing magic."
Utaha's body stiffened. Then, as if in defiance, she retorted,
"There was no magic transfer just now! It doesn't count!"
"Next time… next time, I'll come to collect it properly!"
With that, she awkwardly turned toward the door, her movements stiff and unnatural.
"I-I just remembered something important! I'll be going now!"
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
Leaning against the wall outside, Utaha clutched her chest, feeling her heart race wildly.
"My body… it's so hot."
She exhaled shakily, hugging herself, her eyes slightly unfocused.
Too impulsive!
She had acted on instinct, without thinking.
Raising a trembling hand, she touched her lips—then, unconsciously, a foolish smile spread across her face.
My second kiss…
The sensation was far stronger than the first time.
And this time.
She was the one who initiated it.
"Hehehe…"
Utaha chuckled softly, falling into an irresistible daydream.
Suddenly, inspiration surged through her like a flood.
A spark!
A breakthrough!
Utaha's eyes widened in realization.
"Oh no! I forgot to bring my tablet!!"
—
She's unexpectedly innocent.
Lynn recalled Akeno's past evaluation of Utaha.
It was surprisingly accurate.
Meanwhile, Miko was in the middle of a crisis.
She had just witnessed what felt like the 'Kiss of the Century.'
Before she could even process what had happened, Utaha's parting words sent her into another downward spiral.
'It's a follower's duty to provide benefits to their master.'
Is that really true?!
Is this a devil-exclusive lifestyle?!
Miko's hands trembled as she frantically flipped through the basic knowledge of the underworld.
Damn it, there's nothing about this in the guide!!
But…
Utaha-senpai just did that.
As a follower, wouldn't it be natural for her to show appreciation as well?
If she didn't, would that be considered neglecting her duty?
Would Lynn end up… disliking her?
Miko thought back to the description of stray devils she had just read.
Devils abandoned by their masters were treated like vermin in the underworld.
No, no, no!!
Miko abruptly stood up, her expression resolute.
She took determined steps toward Lynn.
Lynn: "…?"
Why does this feel familiar?
"You—"
Before he could finish, Miko suddenly leaned in and pecked his cheek.
"It—it's a benefit for Master Lynn!"
She stammered out the words and bolted, her face as red as a tomato.
Bang!
The door slammed shut again.
Outside, Miko let out a deep breath, her cheeks still burning.
Then, she felt a sharp gaze on her.
Slowly turning her head.
She locked eyes with a pair of wine-red irises.
"Ahaha… Utaha-senpai, you're here too?"
Miko awkwardly greeted Utaha, before quickly excusing herself.
"Uh, I-I have something urgent to do! I'll be going first!"
And just like that, Miko ran away!
Utaha narrowed her eyes.
"She's also fallen into the trap, huh?"
—
Inside the room, Lynn touched the damp spot on his cheek, momentarily stunned. Then, he rubbed his chin and murmured,
"Utaha… you're such a good woman…"
Seeing Miko's hastily scribbled notes, Lynn could already guess what misunderstanding had formed in her mind.
But that didn't matter.
Because Lynn had already decided.
This misunderstanding would become reality.
Moments later, a new announcement appeared in the peerage harem group.
[It is a follower's duty to provide benefits to their master.]
And thus, the first rule of Lynn's Family was established.
Lynn nodded in satisfaction.
Suddenly, his eyes sharpened.
On his system panel.
The [Devil's Summoning] skill flickered.
"Finally…"
His crimson pupils gleamed.
A contract had been accepted.
A contract that transcended worlds.
A seemingly innocent flyer that facilitated demonic expansion and resource plundering across dimensions.
"Finally, someone took the bait!"
(To be continued.)