Chapter 502: An Excited Modeus, Please Let Me Sign a Contract
The moment the words left Modeus's lips, a sly, knowing smile spread across Pandemonica's face. This was precisely the outcome she'd been hoping for. The more demons who decided to stay, the less likely it was that she'd ever have to return.
Lucifer's eyes widened in disbelief. "Modeus! Why aren't you going back?"
"Because you're not going back," Modeus replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
A muscle in Lucifer's jaw twitched. "And if you don't go back, where exactly do you plan on going?!"
Without a second's hesitation, Modeus beamed. "I'm staying here with you, Boss!"
"Huh?! Why would you stay here?!"
Modeus adopted a look of utmost seriousness. "Firstly, because I'm completely unfamiliar with the human world, so I must follow you, Boss. Secondly... there is no secondly!"
"If there's no secondly, then go back! If you're unfamiliar with the human world, then all the more reason to return to Hell!"
"Boss, even though there's no secondly," Modeus said, her tone grave, "there is a crucial situation."
Lucifer stared at the demon before her. Much like Cerberus, Modeus was something of a favorite among the denizens of Hell. Her extreme innocence made her seem unlike a demon at all—save for the minor detail that if her curiosity wasn't satisfied, she wouldn't hesitate to smash your kneecaps with a sledgehammer.
Because of this, Lucifer usually gave Modeus free rein to wander. Wherever something interesting was happening, she would be there, observing. If one had to categorize her, she was probably the only other bookworm in Hell besides Pandemonica, and as such, she possessed a surprisingly firm grasp of etiquette.
Under Lucifer's bewildered gaze, Modeus placed her book directly on the floor. Then, to Lucifer's utter shock, she dropped to her knees, placing her forehead directly onto the book's cover in a gesture of absolute, groveling supplication she seemed to have learned from some obscure human media.
Lucifer froze for two solid seconds before finally shouting, "What in the world are you doing?!"
Modeus looked up, her expression pleading. "Boss! I want that man, too!"
The air in the room went still.
Pandemonica calmly pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, a faint smile playing on her lips. This wasn't just similar to what she had predicted; it was exactly the same. Even the method was identical to what she had imagined.
A vein throbbed in Lucifer's temple. "Get up first."
Modeus shook her head resolutely. "I won't get up."
"Why are you resorting to this of all things?!"
"I feel like the success rate will be very high this way!" Modeus declared with confidence.
Lucifer looked at Modeus's uncharacteristically serious face and felt a complaint rising in her throat that she couldn't voice, because the entire situation was simply too absurd. Modeus's eyes weren't the typical red of a demon's; well, they were red, but her pupils were tiny, glowing white hearts, making it impossible to take anything she said seriously.
Lucifer sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Do you even know what love is?"
"No idea!"
"Do you know what it means to like someone?"
"No idea!"
"Then do you at least know the feeling of a fluttering heart?"
"Don't know that either!"
Lucifer covered her face with one hand. Good heavens, this was Modeus through and through. 'But if you don't know anything, why do you look so damn certain about this?! If you're completely clueless, what's with that thrilled expression on your face?!'
Seeing Lucifer fall into a stunned silence, Pandemonica knew it was her turn to step in. She spoke softly, her voice smooth and persuasive, "Modeus, if you don't know any of those things, why are you having these thoughts?"
Modeus and Pandemonica were of equal rank in Hell's hierarchy. They rarely showed each other much formal respect, but their relationship was quite amicable.
However, in Modeus's eyes, Pandemonica was now a truly formidable senior—a veteran in the ways of the heart. So, she answered every question without hesitation, causing the corners of Pandemonica's lips to curl ever so slightly.
"It's because I don't know anything!" Modeus said, her voice bubbling with energy. "I want to know what love feels like! In Hell, besides skeletons, there are only more skeletons, so I have no way to practice. And a man who could earn the favor of you three must be incredibly impressive! So... Boss!"
Lucifer let out another weary sigh. Her initial line of questioning had been similar to Pandemonica's, but the outcome was vastly different. She had no idea what was going through Pandemonica's mind anymore; the tired demon had completely transformed into a manipulative queen.
It was clear from the moment Pandemonica joined the shop that she wasn't just interested in this new world; she was even more interested in Ren. She always seemed to naturally and consciously gravitate towards him, occasionally exchanging a few words, and sometimes just watching him in silence.
Lucifer thought for a moment before relenting. "You can stay, but..."
"Yay! Boss! You're the best!"
"Don't get excited just yet," Lucifer cut in sharply. "First, you must remember not to run around and not to expose the existence of Hell. To outsiders, you are just my employee... the head of the archives and etiquette department. That's it."
"Eh? Does Hell even have an archives and etiquette department?" Modeus asked, tilting her head.
"That's what you'll tell outsiders! Otherwise, they'll get suspicious!"
"Oh, oh, oh! Got it."
After a moment's thought, Lucifer laid out a few more ground rules for Modeus: no wandering off alone, no killing people indiscriminately, and absolutely no approaching couples on the street.
At this last point, Modeus's expression turned utterly determined. "Boss, don't worry! The man you three favor is definitely the best, so I won't be interested in anyone else! Besides, I'll have a man soon, won't I? So why would I go look at other couples?!"
Lucifer stared at her, momentarily speechless. "That... makes an unnerving amount of sense. We've strayed from the point. Modeus, you can stay, and you can pursue Ren, but you have to sign the contract."
Modeus froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Boss! What kind of contract are you making me sign?! It's not a master-servant contract or a life contract, is it?!"
Lucifer nodded grimly. "Choose one of the two. And just so you know, all three of us have signed one."
Modeus's gaze darted blankly between Cerberus and Pandemonica.
Pandemonica spoke in a low, silky voice, "There's nothing wrong with the Boss's man also being one's own master, is there...?"
Cerberus enthusiastically raised a hand and shouted, "I have a life contract!"
Modeus swallowed hard, lowering her head.
A faint, triumphant smile touched Lucifer's lips. "If you regret it, you can go back to Hell now."
Suddenly, a brilliant smile bloomed on Modeus's face. Lucifer froze, watching as Modeus looked up, her heart-shaped pupils practically glowing with excitement.
"Boss! I am more certain than ever that staying was the right choice! I want to sign a contract... no... please, I insist on signing a contract!"
Lucifer let out a long, defeated sigh. "Alright. Before that, go sit on that sofa over there. I'll give you a rundown of the situation here so you don't get too surprised later. After that, I'll find you a room. We'll go out and see the city during the day."
Modeus immediately and obediently picked up her book, scurried over to the sofa, and sat down with perfect posture.
Lucifer watched her, shaking her head. "What has my life become..."
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