"Yaaaaaa!!"
The fox devil's foul-smelling mouth let out a piercing roar!
The strong gust of air blew through Yomi and Kotoko's hair.
"It's the tail of Hagoromo Gitsune!"
Yomi's eyes narrowed sharply. She instinctively drew her treasured sword—Ranguren.
"Nue!"
She unsheathed the blade and called softly.
A massive canine shikigami appeared at her side.
In the next instant, one woman and one shikigami charged forward together!
Boom——!
A swift Iai slash struck the fox's body, glowing with a golden halo.
The recoil caused Yomi's palm to tremble slightly.
But when she looked closer—Ranguren hadn't left even a scratch on its body!
A chill ran down her spine.
The Nue opened its massive jaws to bite down on the fox, but only managed to tear off a few strands of the golden aura.
The giant fox lowered its gaze, glancing indifferently at Isayama Yomi, and suddenly moved its foreleg.
Boom!
Yomi reacted quickly, lifting Ranguren horizontally to block.
But the immense force sent her flying backward!
"Tch."
She clicked her tongue in annoyance.
Just a tail and she couldn't even put up a fight.
Even Kotoko quietly smacked her lips.
Was she crazy to follow Yomi to face this kind of monster?
"Hmph!"
The fox devil snorted coldly, filled with disdain. "Since you're here, prepare to become my sacrifice!"
Its fox-like eyes shifted to focus directly on Iwanaga Kotoko.
Huh?
Sacrifice?
Me?!
Kotoko was stunned. Then she quickly and shamelessly hid behind Lynn.
She looked up at him with a pitiful gaze and said in a soft, pleading voice, "Mr. Devil… You'll protect me, right?"
Lynn rubbed his chin and narrowed his eyes. "Was this part of the commission?"
"Commission? What commission content?"
Kotoko blinked, flustered.
Did he just make that up on the spot?
While she was still panicking, the fox devil's enormous head loomed over Lynn, opening its stinking mouth.
"Yaaa——"
"So noisy…"
Lynn's eyes went cold. He lazily waved his hand.
A flash of white light slashed across instantly!
The fox devil's roar stopped abruptly.
Golden light poured from its neck like blood.
Boom!
Its head hit the ground, still attached by a thread of flesh.
The massive body began to dissolve, disintegrating into golden motes.
Only one fox tail remained.
Lynn narrowed his eyes.
The tail twitched and suddenly tried to flee.
But Lynn casually bound it with a magic chain, yanking it back into his hand.
The tail trembled violently, flailing in resistance.
But Lynn didn't budge—in fact, he even stretched it taut.
"Hmm…"
A shadow emerged in the distance, gazing toward Lynn.
"Hagoromo Gitsune?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow and spoke her name.
"Hmph!"
Hagoromo Gitsune snorted coldly, seemingly realizing there was no way to retrieve her tail. She left behind only one sentence:
"Take good care of my tail."
"Then…"
"Wait for me to come retrieve it."
As soon as she finished speaking, the shadow shattered.
Lynn muttered, "Hagoromo Gitsune… She should be in Kyoto, right?"
Yomi, who had rushed over, nodded. "Yes."
"No objection from Yasaka?"
Lynn looked surprised.
Wasn't Yasaka supposed to be the ruler of Kyoto?
"Uh…"
Yomi hesitated. "We suspect the Countermeasures Bureau might be cooperating with Hagoromo Gitsune and Hell."
"So…"
Lynn was taken aback.
Hell?
As in, Hades?
Lynn: "…This world is getting way too complicated."
Hagoromo Gitsune was actually working with Hades?
No way, does she even qualify?
Shaking his head, Lynn dismissed the thought.
He turned to look at Yomi. "Let's go. I'll perform the reincarnation ceremony for you."
Yomi remained silent—but didn't move.
Her meaning was clear.
Lynn glanced over at Kotoko and teased, "Looks like you managed to dodge a bullet."
"Ahaha…"
Kotoko laughed awkwardly. Then, seeing Lynn and Yomi heading down the mountain, she quickly caught up.
She glanced back at the shrine behind her with lingering fear.
Once they reached the bottom of the mountain.
Kotoko still trailed after Lynn and Yomi.
Lynn stared silently at her.
Kotoko froze up a little, then blinked innocently and asked, "Can I watch how the devil's reincarnation ritual works?"
"No."
Lynn shut her down without hesitation.
"So decisive…"
Kotoko pouted. "Not even a little wiggle room?"
Lynn shot her a glance and smiled faintly. "Sure, if you become one of my Peerage."
"Forget it…"
Kotoko rejected his harem invitation just as quickly.
"Then…"
She sighed dramatically. "I guess I'll go."
But—
She pulled out her phone and winked with one eye. "How about exchanging contact info?"
Lynn didn't refuse.
After all, she was still a potential candidate for his Peerage.
"Huh?"
"Yukinon, there's a shrine here too!"
A lively voice suddenly rang out from the foot of the mountain.
Lynn shifted his gaze.
Two beautiful girls appeared.
Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui?
"Ah… It's President Lynn!"
Yui suddenly called out.
Yukino looked up upon hearing this and froze slightly when she saw Lynn descending the shrine with two girls beside him.
Lynn gave them a slight nod, then continued walking with Yomi.
Kotoko stopped and rolled her eyes.
President Lynn?
So that's what he wrote when we exchanged contact info.
But…
President?
Is it a club at Shuchiin?
She approached Yui and suddenly asked, "Hey, classmate—do you know which club Lynn belongs to?"
Yui jumped, startled. But when she realized it was the girl who'd been with Lynn, she relaxed.
Kotoko repeated her question.
"Eh? Um President Lynn?"
"He's the president of the Supernatural Investigation Club!"
Yui revealed Lynn's info without hesitation.
Though to be fair, it wasn't classified.
Kotoko could've found it out just by asking around school.
This just saved her the effort.
"Thanks."
Kotoko gave a quick thanks and left.
But her eyes were filled with confusion.
These two girls… seemed a little unusual?
Could it be…
They can see too?
Yukino glanced at Kotoko with suspicion.
That girl… isn't one of Lynn's Peerage?
"Hey, Yukino."
Yui poked Yukino with a conflicted look. "Are we really not joining the Supernatural Investigation Club?"
Even if she acted carefree, living every day in fear of cursed spirits was exhausting…
If the club could help deal with them, shouldn't they join?
Yui looked lost.
Yukino opened her mouth.
Join? Become part of Lynn's harem?
Yuigahama-san doesn't know yet.…
Yui whispered, "Yukino, I'm really tired of this kind of life…"
Yukino lowered her eyes. "Sorry."
Yui shook her head. "It's okay. If we join the Supernatural Investigation Club, I'm sure they'll help."
She firmly believed that.
She'd witnessed their battle firsthand.
"No!"
Yukino suddenly shouted.
Yui jumped in fright.
Yukino—why so intense all of a sudden?
Realizing she overreacted, Yukino lowered her head. "Sorry, I got a bit emotional."
Then she looked up, placing her hands on Yui's shoulders, her gaze filled with resolve.
"Don't worry, Yuigahama-san. Now that things are like this… I'll take responsibility!"
She had made her decision.
If it meant entering Lynn's harem to gain power.
She, Yukinoshita Yukino, would bear that burden alone.
And with that power, she'd protect Yui for the rest of her life.
This was her atonement, for dragging her into this mess.
"Let's go."
Yukino turned and walked away with determination.
"Huh?"
Yui was stunned. Then she glanced back at the shrine. "Wait, aren't we going to check it out?"
Yukino shook her head.
Now that she'd made her decision, there was no point hesitating.
Besides…
A shrine touched by a devil probably wouldn't help anymore.
And.
She hadn't forgotten the Supernatural Investigation Club's recent exorcism mission.
There could still be something lingering there.
Given their current condition, it was best not to take risks.
Meanwhile.
Lynn brought Yomi back to her apartment.
On the way, he explained the general situation and benefits of joining his Peerage.
Even someone as reserved as Yomi showed surprise—her eyes briefly lighting up.
An Upgrade System with limitless potential!
And access to other worlds!
It opened the door to a whole new life for her.
Though…
Taking her clothes off and all that…
She exhaled quietly.
Just consider it part of her responsibilities as a future wife.
Just…
Exposing her back…
Apartment.
"Welcome back, Master!"
Midori welcomed Lynn inside, then glanced at Yomi.
A new member of the Master's Peerage, perhaps?
That was her guess.
Bedroom.
"Alright, take off your clothes."
Yomi trembled slightly but slowly and firmly removed her shirt.
Lynn summoned the Evil Piece and pressed it onto her smooth back.
"Mmm~"
Yomi suppressed the strange sensation and waited silently for the transformation to complete.
Behind her, her Blessings interface emerged.
Isayama Yomi
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valefor
Stats:
Strength: i0
Agility: i0
Durability: i0
Magic Power: i0
Inherent Skills:
[Spiritual Sense: Night Parade of One Hundred Demons]
[Sword Heart: Nameless Countercurrent]
[Karma Devil]
(To be continued.)