Inside an AEON supermarket, silence ruled the empty building.
After the appearance of the Falling Devil, civilians had already fled the area. Only a few unlucky people remained behind, those who failed to escape in time. Under the influence of the Falling Devil's power, they clung helplessly to the ceiling, frozen in overwhelming fear.
The Falling Devil pushed a shopping cart through the aisles, calmly browsing the shelves as if nothing unusual was happening. She carefully searched for suitable side dishes.
"Pineapple, dragon fruit, citrus, and..."
Standing in the produce section like a diligent housewife, she selected fresh fruits and placed them neatly into a shopping bag.
"I see. If it is to be paired with human flesh, apples are indeed essential."
She lifted her head and looked toward a middle aged woman spread helplessly against the ceiling.
"Judging from your uniform, you are a sales assistant, correct? Excuse me, I would like your opinion. When pairing with human flesh, should one use green apples or red apples?"
"I am sorry... I am sorry..." the woman stammered, her face drained of color.
"Oh my, forgive me for frightening you," the Falling Devil said gently. "Please rest assured, as long as you do not attack me, I have no intention of harming you."
She raised an apple in each hand.
"So, which one would you recommend?"
"I... I do not know... I have no experience... I am sorry..."
"I see. Then I shall take both."
Slight disappointment crossed her face as she placed the apples into the bag.
The supermarket doors slid open automatically as she walked outside.
The streets were completely deserted.
While she had been selecting ingredients, Tokyo Devil Hunters had already evacuated civilians and sealed off the surrounding district.
Her footsteps echoed clearly through the quiet night.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
She suddenly stopped.
"Oh dear. How careless of me. Preparing the sauce requires a man's head."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
Holding her own head delicately with both hands, she turned toward the surrounding skyscrapers.
"Excuse me, would anyone be willing to provide me with a head?"
Hidden among nearby buildings, multiple sniper rifles were already aimed at her.
"Target within range. A1 requesting permission to fire."
"B3 requesting permission to fire."
"E2 requesting permission to fire."
Static crackled through the channel.
"Authorization granted. Fire."
Gunshots thundered across the night.
Bang!
Several elite snipers landed perfect hits.
The Falling Devil's body exploded instantly into shredded flesh. Blood, organs, and fragments scattered across the street while groceries rolled across the pavement.
Through binoculars, the sniper coordinator exhaled.
"Target neutralized. Cease fire. Prepare recovery of the bod... huh?"
The ruined flesh began moving.
Chunks of meat twisted and gathered together at terrifying speed.
"Such an unsightly state... honestly, how embarrassing."
Her body reconstructed itself completely. The Falling Devil casually played with a head in her hands.
"Just as humans cannot kill gravity, your current weapons are ineffective against me."
She spun the head on one finger.
"I dislike meaningless killing. So, which of you would kindly lend me your head?"
Cold sweat formed on the observer's forehead.
"Maintain suppressive fire. Calling reinforcements now!"
"Understood!"
Gunfire erupted again.
Her body was blown apart once more.
She sighed.
I spoke so politely. Why do humans never listen?
"Invert."
A violent shockwave erupted.
Within a thousand meter radius, gravity reversed instantly.
Buildings tore upward, collapsing toward the sky. Concrete, vehicles, and debris rose violently into the air along with screaming snipers.
"Aaaaaah!"
A sharp flash cut through the chaos.
Slash.
Their screams ended instantly as their heads separated cleanly from their bodies.
The Falling Devil lowered the blade like legs extending from her back. A freshly severed male head rested in her hand.
"Thank you for your generous contribution."
She calmly collected the scattered ingredients from the street.
"The side dishes are ready. Next, I shall prepare the main course."
Her smile deepened slightly.
"The chosen ingredient is the fusion of human and the War Devil, Asa Mitaka."
Night deepened over Tokyo.
After briefly speaking with Makima, Fami disappeared again using her strange teleportation ability.
"Tsk. She really knows how to cause problems," Makima muttered.
Only one hour had passed since the Falling Devil appeared, yet Makima had already lost more than two thousand controlled lives, and the number continued rising.
Even knowing that her rival was cornered and facing disaster did not improve her mood.
Even dogs were still lives worth regretting.
Fami always left chaos behind.
Makima confirmed once again that she truly disliked the Hunger Devil.
"Pochita, could you eat Fami and erase hunger completely?" Makima suddenly asked.
Pochita, resting on her head, tilted slightly.
"Woof? Why ask that all of a sudden?"
"Because hunger is unpleasant, isn't it? Wouldn't the world be better if no one felt hunger?" Makima replied seriously.
Pochita rubbed his belly.
"Woof. I have already eaten too many devils. If I keep eating, I might get so full I throw up."
Makima blinked in surprise.
"Ah? The devils you eat are not digested?"
Pochita shook his head.
"No. They remain inside a different stomach, not the one used for food."
Makima frowned thoughtfully.
"I find your existence increasingly difficult to understand."
Pochita jumped down and looked at her seriously.
"Do you truly believe the world would be better without hunger?"
"Yes," Makima answered without hesitation.
"But if people never felt hungry, they might forget to eat. They would stop valuing food. Some could even starve without realizing it."
Makima inhaled sharply.
That reasoning made sense.
"Then you could eat the Death Devil as well, so nobody starves," she said logically.
Pochita shook his head again.
"If death disappeared, creatures long buried underground, even those decomposed into nutrients, would still exist consciously. Endless suffering without end."
"That would be far worse."
He paused.
"And honestly, I really cannot eat any more."
Makima rubbed her chin, deep in thought.
As expected of the Hero of Hell. His reasoning was sound.
Pochita wagged slightly.
"I just want to see Makima and Cael living well together."
Makima considered this quietly before speaking.
"I understand. Then I will inform Cael of Asa Mitaka's exact location."
She took out her phone and began dialing.
Pochita tilted his head again.
"Woof? How did you arrive at that conclusion?"
"It is obvious," Makima replied calmly. "Cael wants information about Asa Mitaka."
"If I solve Cael's problem, he will love me even more."
"Woof... that may be true. But if Cael saves the War Devil, will that not give you another rival?"
Makima's expression remained serious.
"I have already thought about it. It is the same as raising many dogs."
"I only need to ensure that he loves me the most."
She paused confidently.
"Even if he does not now, he certainly will in the future."
A bead of sweat formed on Pochita's head.
"Woof. I am rooting for you."