Room 404.
Inside the Eternal Devil's stomach, there was no food anywhere in the hotel. Fortunately, hot water still flowed.
The space was infinite, so the supply never ran dry.
Asa took a long, scalding bath, scrubbing away the sticky blood clinging to her skin.
Afterward, Cael tore strips from the bedsheets and carefully wrapped the cut on her hand. His movements were steady, gentle despite the chaos they had just left behind.
Then he used the Typhoon Devil's power, releasing a controlled stream of wind to dry her hair strand by strand.
Ise Kaiharu and Kobeni Higashiyama sat curled up in opposite corners of the room.
Silence filled the space.
The massacre earlier had shaken them badly.
Especially Ise. Killing devils was one thing. Killing humans was another.
The latter left a weight in the stomach that no amount of logic could erase.
Even Cael, before everything changed in his life, had struggled the first time he saw dissected bodies in a school anatomy lab. He could not eat for two days. It took time to move from nausea to numbness.
Eventually, familiarity replaced disgust.
A corpse was just a body that no longer moved.
After spending so long beside Cael, Asa had likely gone through something similar.
A dry cough broke the silence.
"By the way," Ise said, looking at Cael, "what's your major? What year are you in? Which class?"
Cael finished drying Asa's hair and split it neatly into two sections, beginning to tie twin tails.
"Are you talking to me?"
"Ah, yes."
"I don't attend university," Cael replied casually. "My girlfriend does. Same school as you."
"I see." Ise hesitated, then looked at Asa. "Then… what is your major, ma'am?"
The respectful tone slipped out unconsciously.
Asa did not even glance at him.
"Tch. Why does that matter? Does my major have anything to do with you?"
"Right… sorry." Ise forced a laugh, feeling ridiculous.
Another stretch of silence.
Then Ise straightened up.
Since he had been rescued, maybe he should at least introduce himself properly.
"Everyone," he began, sweeping his gaze over the room, "I'm not just an ordinary university student.
At Tokyo Fourth Higher Academy, I'm the president of the Devil Hunter Club and also the Student Council President."
"Devil Hunter Club?" Kobeni tilted her head. "A student council makes sense. But why would a university have a Devil Hunter Club?"
Encouraged that someone responded, Ise pushed his hair behind his ear.
"It's a newly established club. We recruit brave students across campus to take up weapons and fight devils together."
Kobeni lowered her gaze, clearly confused.
"That sounds dangerous. Shouldn't students focus on studying? Why would anyone risk their lives fighting devils? Who would even join something like that?"
Ise waved dismissively.
"It's not that strange. Out of every twenty people in Japan, seven die to devils. This is a war between humanity and devils.
University students are at the perfect age to step onto the battlefield.
A girl like you wouldn't understand."
Cael finished tying Asa's hair and spoke without looking up.
"Ise Kaiharu, you misunderstand something. Kobeni is a Devil Hunter from Public Safety. The devils she has faced are beyond what your club could handle."
A student club?
It would not even survive a minute against something serious.
"I… I see." Ise's confidence faltered.
Kobeni buried her face between her knees, her expression bitter.
After facing the Falling Devil and now the Eternal Devil, her desire to resign had peaked.
If they escaped this place, she would quit immediately.
Even a one million Yen quarterly bonus was not worth this.
"Ise Kaiharu," Asa said bluntly, cutting through the awkwardness, "you've been here longer than we have. Do you know where the devil is?"
Small talk was pointless.
They needed to get out.
Ise stood up and nodded seriously.
"Listen carefully.
Based on my observations, we are inside a devil's stomach.
This is an infinite looping space. Time is frozen. Space has no end.
Incredible, right?"
Cael, Asa, and Kobeni stared at him in silence.
"So?" Cael said flatly. "How do we find it?"
Ise scratched his cheek.
"Well… I haven't actually seen the devil since I got here."
Asa pressed her fingers to her forehead.
Student Council President. Devil Hunter Club President.
Impressive titles. Empty results.
"Didn't you brag about being smart?" she said sharply. "We already have a plan. If you can locate the devil, we can get out. So think. Use that brilliant brain of yours, President."
"You're serious? We can escape if we find it?"
"Yes," Cael said. "I guarantee it."
Ise fell into thought, fist against his chin.
Suddenly he raised a finger.
"What if we just call it out?"
"…What?" all three said at once.
Ise flung open the door and stepped into the endless hallway.
"Hey, devil! I'm right here! Come out and eat me if you've got the guts!
What's wrong? Scared?
Coward!
I've seen braver rats!
Come out already! I'm starving!"
His voice echoed down the empty corridor.
No response.
Asa slapped her forehead.
"Stop yelling. You're embarrassing yourself."
Ise wiped sweat from his brow.
"Don't worry. I have another idea."
He pulled out his phone.
"I'll call Public Safety. I'm reporting this."
Beep.
Beep.
"Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently out of service."
Cael exhaled slowly.
"Ise Kaiharu, we're inside a devil's domain. You think cell service works in here? What the hell are you expecting, customer support from Hell?"
"Huh? Hell? What are you talking about?" Ise's eyes widened.
Asa shook her head in disappointment.
"President, I thought you had something useful. Turns out you know nothing."
Then she froze.
Her gaze locked onto the phone in his hand.
Wait.
The phone.
Of course.
Since there's a phone… I can do that.
A slow smile spread across her face.
She extended her hand toward him.
"Give me your phone."
===
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