"Fine!"
"Your wish is not difficult for me."
Hearing Yayoi's words, Ayato agreed without hesitation.
"Thank you very much."
Yayoi breathed a sigh of relief.
But soon!
Her heart tightened again.
"However, to be precise, your request is actually two wishes."
"Eh."
Yayoi was stunned, then hesitated.
That did seem to be the case.
This was troublesome.
Which one should she choose...?
Or rather...
What exactly was the price that this Mr. Devil would take?
Could she get a delay to fulfill one of them herself?
"Actually, I have a better proposal for your wish."
The corner of Ayato's mouth curled up. "After all, your wish essentially stems from your own lack of ability."
"So, how about becoming a Devil?"
"Huh?"
Yayoi froze in place.
"Humans can become Devils?"
"Of course."
Ayato smiled. "After becoming a Devil, you will have unimaginable power."
"Strong like you?"
"How is that possible."
Ayato gave her a speechless look. "But the power you gain will be more than enough to deal with mere Cursed Spirits."
"Even those so-called gods and demons would be nothing more."
That strong?
A look of excitement appeared on Yayoi's face.
For a moment, she was genuinely tempted.
Honestly, she didn't particularly care about being human.
As long as she could achieve her goal, it didn't matter.
But...
Thinking of this, she hesitated. "If I become a Devil... will I still be me?"
That was the most important thing.
At the very least, she needed to remember why she became a Devil.
"Don't worry. Becoming a Devil won't distort your will in any way."
Ayato spoke. "Aside from gaining Devil Wings and a tail, you'll look no different from a human."
"I see."
Yayoi understood.
She looked at Ayato and said seriously, "Then, please make me a Devil."
"Oh? You're not going to ask what the price is?"
Ayato raised an eyebrow.
This child's response was quite decisive.
Most people...
Would likely want to get to the bottom of it.
"Because, although I don't know how to become a Devil..."
Yayoi explained, "Since it's your method, I believe I'll be under your control anyway."
"So at that point, the price won't really matter anymore."
She was already meat on the chopping block.
She didn't really have a choice.
And from their interactions...
This Mr. Devil seemed completely different from the vicious, cruel Devil of legend.
At the very least...
He didn't mind her earlier disrespect.
And kindly offered advice.
So, it was worth the gamble.
"I have to say, you are indeed very smart."
Ayato looked at her deeply. "As long as you become my servant, the so-called price naturally no longer matters."
"Servant?"
Yayoi blinked.
"Yes."
Ayato briefly explained.
"It's like that?"
Yayoi stepped back a few paces, her eyes wary. "Becoming a Devil means becoming part of Mr. Devil's harem?"
At this moment, she began to regret it.
Getting married or something...
She had never thought about it.
She asked cautiously, "Um, you won't directly..."
"What are you thinking about?"
Ayato said disdainfully. "I'm not interested in little kids."
"Besides, I have over ten thousand like you. Don't think too highly of yourself."
Yayoi was dumbfounded.
Why did she feel like she was being inexplicably insulted?
No!
That wasn't the point.
Over ten thousand?
Was this Devil serious?
But...
She could tell that his words weren't false.
If that was the case... it wasn't so bad.
"Then, Mr. Devil, from now on, I entrust everything to you."
"Don't worry. You won't regret it."
The corner of Ayato's mouth curled up.
…
Yayoi's Apartment.
"Mr. Devil, are you sure your Devil Reincarnation Ritual is proper?"
"Don't worry, it's just outer clothes."
Ayato was serious, his eyes straight ahead.
To be honest...
He was perfectly calm.
Having reincarnated over ten thousand Cursed Children...
He was long past feeling anything.
Yayoi: "..."
What was going on?
Why did she feel like she was being looked down on?
Damn it!
So annoying!
What was this feeling?
"Hiss, so cold."
Her chaotic thoughts vanished as Yayoi instinctively looked down.
She saw the Evil Piece slowly sinking into her body.