Ayato's Home!
Utaha and Asia returned together.
During the days Ayato was away, they had basically lived a two-point existence.
Either sleeping or training.
"Honestly, that perverted master is so irresponsible. Making us train while he just disappears."
Utaha took off her black stockings and rubbed her sore, white, delicate toes.
Asia defended him quietly, "Ayato isn't like that. He must have had something important to do."
"That's probably true..." Utaha frowned and muttered, "But I always feel that perverted master is off doing something bad."
Click!
The door opened. Ayato, returning from the other world, smiled. "What's this? Speaking ill of me behind my back?"
"Perverted Master, that's not how you should interpret it."
Utaha rolled her eyes. "For you, 'doing bad things' is a compliment."
She emphasized the words "doing bad things".
"That's not entirely wrong."
Ayato smiled. "I did pick up a few new servants."
"I knew it. Perverted Master never does anything productive when he goes out."
"But I'm a Devil. What's wrong with taking servants?"
Ayato looked perfectly righteous.
"..."
Utaha was stunned.
That made so much sense she couldn't argue.
'Damn this perverted master.'
A magic circle flashed in Ayato's hand, and a sealed porcelain pot appeared. "Here, a gift for you."
Utaha blinked, examining the pot. "Master, giving a girl something like this might not be well received."
"What are you thinking?"
Ayato tapped Utaha's head, opened the pot's lid, and said, "The real treasure is inside."
Looking at the liquid inside, which churned like molten magma, Utaha swallowed. "It looks... very dangerous."
"That's right. You might die."
"Perverted Master, you want to give me something this dangerous?"
"It's an Imperial Arm. The Essence of the Fire God."
Ayato's expression became serious, and he briefly explained the background.
"Ayato-san went to another world?"
Asia, listening nearby, exclaimed instinctively.
Utaha also lost her composure.
She knew her master was extraordinary, but she hadn't expected him to play at this level.
After cramming knowledge during this time, she was no longer a rookie Devil.
She deeply understood that reaching into another world was something even the Satans hadn't accomplished.
But now, her master had succeeded.
"And this Imperial Arm... can be thought of as a Sacred Gear?"
She looked at the pot, hesitating.
"Similar function, but its power depends on your development."
"Master, you're giving this to me?"
For a moment, her eyes shimmered, the hidden love deep within seeming ready to pour out.
Exceeding the means of a Satan, offering a Sacred Gear as a gift...
For any Devil, the impact was too great.
Seeing the look in Utaha's eyes, Ayato felt pleased, but still handed over the pot. "So, what is your choice?"
His gaze was deep, as if waiting for her answer.
"Drinking it... is dangerous?"
Utaha hesitated.
"Possibly."
"But I'll also gain great power, right?"
"That's right."
Hearing Ayato's words, Utaha grew completely calm.
Before meeting Ayato, aside from her looks, she had been an ordinary person.
And now, although she had high talent, with all her hard work, she had only just barely advanced to Mid-Class Devil.
That was still the bottom rung in the Underworld.
And someone as excellent as Ayato...
Was bound to have powerful servants by his side.
Like Asia. Although she wasn't skilled in combat, the power of her Sacred Gear was evident to all.
And she...
"Sigh!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha took a deep breath and knelt before Ayato.
"???"
Ayato looked at her strangely.
'So formal?'
'It felt weird.'
Utaha looked up, her gaze firm. "I'll drink it. Because I want to become stronger."
"Okay."
Ayato began to put his hand on his pants.
'Th-this-this... what was Ayato-san doing?'
Asia covered her face with both hands, but secretly peeked through her fingers.
'Their position... was so intimate.'
Asia's face turned red, remembering the books she had secretly read.
"No, Almighty Lord, please forgive my dirty thoughts... ow ow ow."
Utaha's eyes widened. "Perverted Master, don't make such crude jokes!"
"Oh, I misunderstood."
Ayato smiled and handed the pot to her. "But I was serious."
"Heh..."
The corner of Utaha's mouth twitched.
'Damn it!'
'Give me back my resolve!'
She took deep breaths to steady her emotions.
'Calm down, I need to calm down!'
'I already know Master is always a pervert.'
'And he's doing this for my own good.'
'But... does that actually feel good for a woman?'
'Wait, what am I thinking?'
Watching Utaha's expression change, Ayato blinked.
He wondered what was this woman thinking about now.
He was a bit curious.
A moment later, Utaha's expression became resolute once more.
She held the pot and said seriously, "I just drink it straight, right?"
"That's right."
"Glug glug glug!"
Utaha didn't hesitate and drank it all in one go.
Ayato watched her, a smile touching his lips.
The Essence of the Fire God was indeed dangerous.
But how could he be completely unprepared and let his servant take such a risk?
The reason he didn't say so was to test Utaha.
She has become a Devil...
But as someone who started as an ordinary person, she had always lacked something called resolve.
And now...
She had the will to become stronger.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Just then, Utaha's skin turned fiery red, and the sound of her heartbeat was like thunder.
Her body trembled violently. It felt like magma was flowing through her veins.
The temperature in the room spiked, and the surrounding air began to warp.