"Raynare, go summon your two companions. I'll brand each of them with the Master-Servant Contract."
Seated immovably at the dining table, Hayashi issued the command with perfect calm.
Though it was his first day as a Master, he found himself surprisingly suited to the role.
Raynare, whose heart had already transitioned from resistance to submission, bowed respectfully.
"Yes, Master. As you wish~"
Fully aware she had no room to resist, Raynare walked out the door at once.
As she reacquainted herself with her own body, she was startled to discover her power had grown.
Her inner Light energy had increased by at least ten percent compared to yesterday.
Such a leap would've taken her centuries of cultivation on her own.
"Could it be… the Master-Servant Contract?"
A fiery gleam lit up in Raynare's eyes.
After all, if there was any difference now, it was that she had been bound by the contract.
If this really could make her stronger, then being his servant wasn't such a bad deal!
While she was realizing her change, Hayashi also noticed shifts within himself.
His strength had increased considerably, and even the nature of his mana had grown more aggressive.
The rapidity of this growth was unnatural—obviously the result of last night's contract.
Just then, a bruised and battered Maria trudged out of the room with a gloomy face, trailed by Naruse Mio.
"Maria, good timing. Let me ask you something about the Master-Servant Contract."
The moment he mentioned it, Naruse Mio also turned her head.
With that motion, her tightly buttoned shirt rippled like a tide.
Definitely beyond a G-cup—grander than Raynare!
No wonder, back when he was buried in there, he'd felt like he was being swallowed whole!
Outwardly expressionless, Hayashi internally sighed in awe.
Such a world-class treasure… he had to protect it properly.
And considering Mio's age, there was definitely still room for growth!
"Ugh~ stop staring~~"
As if Hayashi's gaze had a temperature—or maybe due to the soul-link between Master and Servant—
Naruse Mio immediately sensed his attention, and shot him a shy glare.
Maria, meanwhile, suffering from a double blow of shame and injury, began to explain the details of the Master-Servant Contract.
First off, if a subordinate betrays their Master, the curse is instantly triggered.
But they aren't forced into absolute obedience—if the command is unreasonable, the curse won't activate even if they disobey.
For unreasonable orders, subordinates have the right to Defy.
The prerequisite for Defy is that the action must be done for the Master's benefit.
As long as it's well-intentioned and based on trust, the curse won't activate.
Also, when the contract-bound Master and Servant engage in "soul-level" "communication," it produces effects akin to dual cultivation, boosting their power.
"Mio-sama, you should've noticed some changes by now, right?"
Maria glanced at Naruse Mio with a cautious smile, trying to steer the topic.
Hearing that, Naruse Mio blinked innocently, then tentatively tried sensing her mana.
She realized she really had gotten stronger—her ability to control and release mana had increased.
If she had this level of control yesterday, she might've at least put up a decent fight instead of being crushed immediately.
Hayashi internally screamed broken.
This contract was busted—how did Devils just toss something this ridiculous aside?
Then again, it made sense.
No one else would've used the dream succubus-modified version of the Master-Servant Contract.
Normally, such contracts were harsh, punishing rebellion with instant death.
So they rarely produced dual cultivation effects, and often made things worse through distrust.
Compared to the milder, stat-boosting Evil Pieces system, the Master-Servant Contract did seem inferior.
Now fully understanding the taboo clauses of the contract, Naruse Mio started mentally adjusting.
"Haya… Big Brother."
She tried calling Hayashi by name—
The moment the contract ring flared on her neck, she quickly changed the term.
Feeling the curse recede, Mio's face flushed crimson as she glanced at Hayashi.
"So calling you 'Big Brother' doesn't trigger it… is that because it aligns with your desire?"
"It's subconscious. I want a capable little sister."
Unaware of what Hayashi meant by "capable," Mio blushed in outrage.
"What kind of little sister gets bullied by her Big Brother like that…"
Grumbling, she sat at the table and began eating in small, angry bites.
Maria, smiling mischievously, followed and nodded in agreement with Hayashi.
"Hayashi-nii is totally right. A little sister has no value unless she makes that ahegao face and screams loud~"
"MA! RI! A!!"
Naruse Mio growled and yanked Maria over.
Watching the two bicker, Hayashi felt truly at peace.
Compared to before, life now was far more enjoyable.
At the table, Hayashi started discussing his upcoming plans.
"For Mio, I plan to have you transfer to Kuoh Academy.
Before the semester starts, I'll open an exorcist agency—maybe drum up some business and make a profit.
You two want to help out as assistants? Might be a good training opportunity."
Mio agreed with the school idea but gave her opinion on the latter.
Placing her hand on her overflowing chest, she whispered,
"I have some savings left from my foster parents—I don't need to make money."
"It's about experience!"
Hayashi knocked her on the head, looking thoroughly disappointed.
Letting clients bring the monsters to them for pay—that was far better than him running around hunting them.
Mio pouted, rubbing her forehead and glaring at him pitifully.
Maria chimed in to smooth things over,
"Mio-sama, your combat ability really is too lacking. With your potential, you should've been able to handle that Fallen Angel."
She wasn't wrong. Mio's talent was exceptional.
If she could fully master her innate Gravity Magic, and pair it with the immense mana from her Devil Bloodline…
She'd easily reach the level of High-Class Devils—possibly even Satan tier.
With both of them urging her, Naruse Mio had no more objections.
Hayashi's newly adopted little sister was even a rich girl on top of it.
A capable, doting, well-funded sister—what more could a man want?
The agency location that had given Hayashi such a headache, Mio bought without even blinking.
Truthfully, if not for her being minor, orphaned, and Maria's childlike appearance, they wouldn't be so unstable.
Purchasing, renovating—Hayashi threw money at it, and things progressed smoothly.
Just as these errands wrapped up, Raynare reported back.
Her two remaining companions, along with a group of stray priests, were now gathered near Kuoh Town's church.