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Night had fallen.
At the Edgar villa.
Yukinoshita Yukino sat on the sofa, shifting restlessly. Her eyes looked a little unfocused.
She muttered under her breath, "Is this ever going to end…"
"As expected, this familiar really isn't normal."
She glanced around the room.
Was she the only one bothered by this?
"Hehe, taking a day off once in a while isn't bad at all."
"Looks like I can finally sleep well tonight."
"And tomorrow will be another energetic day!"
Miyano Shiho and the others were chirping away nonstop.
And of course, the entire conversation revolved around Edgar and Senjougahara Hitagi — mostly about various positions, who was more enthusiastic, and other things Yukino absolutely did not want to hear.
At some point, even Yuuko Kanoe had joined in, her face turning red every few minutes.
"Sounds like Yuuko wants to rank up too."
Hearing that, Yukino couldn't help glancing at her.
This ghost really wasn't normal either.
How had she gotten into character so quickly?
Judging by her expression, she looked like she wanted to march upstairs and offer herself right this moment.
Another hour passed.
Yukinoshita Yukino finally couldn't take it anymore and decided to excuse herself.
"Eh? You're leaving…?"Asia blinked, puzzled. "But we already cleaned up a room for you."
"I'm really sorry, Asia," Yukino said, her cheeks still unnaturally flushed. "If I don't go home, my family will worry."
She left the Edgar villa and walked straight back to her own house.
Bang.
The moment she closed the door behind her, Yukino touched her face. It was still burning hot.
Seriously, she still hadn't cooled down after all that time?
Right then, she felt someone's gaze on her.
She turned around and met a pair of beautiful eyes.
"Ah… sis, you're home too…"
Yukino brushed her hair back and pretended to be calm. "I still have homework. I'll go upstairs."
Then she fled.
Watching her little sister's retreating figure, Yukinoshita Haruno narrowed her eyes. "Looks like she's hiding something."
The next morning.
Edgar stretched lazily as he came down the stairs.
After working all night, he had lost track of how many potions he'd created.
He only knew that Senjougahara Hitagi had broken through five levels in a row. Her progress was practically explosive.
When he entered the dining room, he found all his familiars bustling around.
"Master, you're awake."
"Breakfast will be ready soon."
"Oh, right — where's Hitagi? She didn't come down with you?"
Edgar gave a meaningful smile.
The message was obvious.Did they really need him to spell it out?
"…"
Miyano Shiho and the others exchanged awkward smiles and quickly avoided the subject.
Just as Edgar was about to say something, a notification flashed on his panel — demon summoning.
"So, you finally took the bait."
On the way to school.
Yotsuya Miko yawned over and over.Ever since seeing the real nature of the world, she hadn't slept well.
But she still forced herself to stay alert, making sure none of those things realized she could see them.
"Miss, could you tell us how to get to the shopping district?"
"Yeah, we're all tourists from out of town. We really don't know our way around."
Walking through a narrow alley, Miko was stopped by a group of young men and women dressed like tourists.
Hmm. Normal.Not those things.
Miko nodded to herself and smiled politely. "Just follow this street, turn right, and keep going straight."
The moment she finished speaking, all of them broke into twisted grins.
"You can see us?"
"Perfect. You really can see us."
A sinister aura spilled from their bodies as their forms warped and twisted into monstrous shapes.
"Why do these things even know how to disguise themselves…"
Miko froze, her eyes filling with tears.
Without the slightest hesitation, she turned on her heel and bolted with practiced skill.
She suddenly felt her vision blur.
A few cursed spirits flickered into place, completely blocking her path.
In an instant, she was surrounded.
Watching the spirits draw closer and closer, Miko Yotsuya trembled from head to toe.
What do I do?What am I supposed to do?
Right…there was still that demon contract.
If it was that demon gentleman, he could wipe them out without breaking a sweat.
She gritted her teeth, yanked the contract out of her pocket, and stared at it.
"…"
Just looking at that ominous piece of parchment made her eyelids twitch.
If she used it, wasn't she basically jumping straight into a fire pit?
"You can see me."
"I'm going to eat you."
The cursed spirit's foul breath washed over her, leaving her no time to think.
"Mr. Demon, please save me."
Almost reflexively, she shut her eyes and called out.
A low hum filled the air.
A glowing magic circle lit up the quiet town.
Edgar stepped out from within it.
He took one look at the cursed spirits around her and snapped his fingers.
A sharp crack echoed out.
A surge of magic burst outward like a solid wave, swallowing the spirits whole.
"Ahhh—"
They barely had time to scream before their bodies vanished into nothing.
Miko carefully opened her eyes. Seeing that every spirit was gone, she nearly collapsed with relief.
"I… I'm saved."
"We meet again, Miko."
Her whole body tensed. She slowly turned toward that familiar handsome figure, face drooping. "H-hello, Mr. Demon."
Edgar looked at her with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Calling on a demon comes with a price, Miko. This time, you can't run away."
As expected of a demon.So direct.
The price… he didn't mean eating her, right?
Miko let out a tiny scream and fell into a perfect seiza on the pavement.
"Mr. Demon, as long as you don't eat me, I'll do anything."
Edgar sighed. "Demons don't eat people. Don't lump us in with those low-level curses."
Miko released a shaky breath of relief, then whispered, "So… what's the price?"
"It's simple."
Edgar smiled. "My goal has always been you. Become mine."
What— what— what—
Miko's face turned bright red, her pupils trembling wildly.
Oh god.This was the price of making a deal with a demon?
She was still a pure, untouched girl.
Although… this demon gentleman was very handsome.
Unconsciously, she glanced at him.
But still.Handing herself over to a demon she'd only met twice felt way too fast.
"You don't need to overthink it."
Edgar chuckled. "From now on, you'll reincarnate as a demon and gain extraordinary power. When that happens, these cursed spirits won't bother you ever again."
Miko blinked.
So she'd have to become a demon too?
Well… that did make sense. If they were going to be together, being the same kind seemed important.
But… awakening supernatural power?
Thinking about that, she realized part of her actually wanted it. Deep down, she was tired of living in fear every day.
Bit by bit,the hesitation in her eyes faded away.
"..."
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