What in the world had happened?
Gan'an didn't explain. He simply made a declaration:
"From this moment on, the Shinomiya family is officially a subsidiary of the Lynn Group."
"!!"
Oko and Kaguya's eyes went wide with disbelief.
"W-What?!"
"Lynn?!"
Kaguya instinctively cried out as the name registered.
Gan'an's eyes narrowed.
So she was involved.
"Wait Lynn Group?! Lynn?!"
Suddenly, Oko also blurted out in shock.
Gan'an: "..."
Great. Looks like this dumbass was involved, too.
A few moments later
After Gan'an filled them in on what had happened
Kaguya dropped to her knees, dazed and hollow.
"It really was him"
But that one line Haruno left behind had already made it crystal clear.
It was Lynn. The one from the Supernatural Research Club.
So that's how it was
He didn't come after her directlyhe targeted the entire Shinomiya family.
She hadn't seen that coming at all.
And worst of all
The Shinomiya family had absolutely no way to fight back.
A dog straight from Hell...
Hellfire that burns away sin
Even without seeing it herself, just hearing about itand seeing the aftermathwas enough to send chills down her spine.
And judging by how obedient all the clansmen were acting, Kaguya could already guess the sheer terror they'd been through.
"This is all my fault"
Kaguya dropped to her hands and knees. Her once-bright crimson eyes now dull and lifeless.
"All of this happened because of me"
If she hadn't provoked Lynn...
None of this would've happened.
Her voice shaking, Kaguya finally confessed everything that had happened between her and Lynn.
"You idiot!"
Oko's eyes turned bloodshot as he screamed, "I sent you to make friends with Lynn, not piss him off!!"
He raised his hand instinctively, ready to slap her across the face
"Enough, Oko."
Gan'an's voice cut through the room, halting Oko's hand mid-air.
"There's no point in blaming anyone now," Gan'an said solemnly.
"And besides"
His tone turned cold, almost mocking. "Weren't you the one always chasing supernatural power?"
From just a bit of analysis, Gan'an had already pieced the situation together.
Sure, Kaguya had been foolish
But the real root of the problem was Oko's obsession with the supernatural. And he chose Kaguya for that.
Gan'an's eyes turned icy. "Go. If you can withstand the trial of hellfirethen you can become part of the supernatural world as a servant family member."
Oko froze.
His heart shuddered violently.
.
.
.
New Maids
Hellfire Trial?
Shinomiya Oko stood frozen, head bowed, eyes wide in horror. Beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
All around him, he could still hear the anguished cries of his Family members echoing in his ears.
Gulp!
He swallowed hard, sweat dripping onto the wooden floor below.
He knew himself well enough to understand the truthleaping into that hellfire would annihilate him so completely, not even ashes would remain.
It was that simple: him plus hellfire equaled zero. Not deathtotal obliteration.
With a trembling voice, Oko lifted his head and looked at the man before him. "Father, I I'm your son!"
Shinomiya Gan'an stared down at him, his expression calm but resolute. "Oko, this is a necessary sacrifice for the Shinomiyas."
Oko clenched his fists, his face twisting in rage. He turned toward Kaguya with hatred in his eyes. "Why should I die because of that idiot's mistake?!"
Kaguya flinched.
Gan'an's voice turned cold. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be, Oko."
"Harder?"
Oko suddenly burst out laughingbitter and crazed. "Then how about thiswe all go down together!"
"If I die, I'm dragging the entire Shinomiya Family to hell with me!"
His expression twisted with madness, Oko let out a cold snort and turned to leave.
But then
Several hands grabbed him from behind, locking his limbs in place.
Before he could even react, a familiar voice rang out behind him.
"Big Brother, I'd rather not lose my life because of your tantrum"
It was Shinomiya Un'yo.
Before Oko could respond, he felt his feet leave the ground.
Eyes wide, he shouted, "Wait, what are you doing?! Stop them! Father!"
"Don't!"
In the next moment, Oko was thrown into the raging Hellfire.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"
"DAMN YOU!!"
"Kaguya, you're the disgrace of the Shinomiya Family!!"
"I hate youI curse you!!"
His screams of hatred echoed through the flames
until eventually, they faded into silence.
Gan'an slowly closed his eyes.
Even for him, watching his own son be executed wasn't easy.
But
This was necessaryfor the Shinomiya Family.
Kaguya trembled uncontrollably.
'Kaguya, you're the disgrace of the Shinomiya Family!!'
She was the disgrace
This was all because of her.
"Your turn, Kaguya," Gan'an said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Hearing that, Kaguya numbly lifted her head. Her crimson eyes were completely empty.
She rose to her feet like a puppetbut hadn't taken more than two steps before collapsing with a thud.
Her body had no strength left.
But she didn't stop. Without complaint or expression, she pushed herself up again.
And again, and again.
Crawlinghands, knees, and alluntil she finally reached the blazing Hellfire.
Gan'an and Un'yo both watched her, expressions conflicted.
When had they ever seen Kaguya in such a pitiful state?
Blankly, Kaguya stared into the flames before stepping into them without hesitation.
She was a sinner.
Let the flames burn her away completely. Let them be her redemption.
But
Whoosh
The fire roared around her.
And yetIt didn't hurt.
Kaguya looked utterly lost.
Did this mean
even the Hellfire didn't think her sins were enough?
Gan'an, however, didn't seem surprised.
She had brought misfortune to the Family, yes. But Kaguya's heart was pure he had no doubt of that.
The others in the Family looked on, their expressions mixed.
They now knew Kaguya was partly responsible for the disaster that befell the Family.
And yet, she was spared.
That left a bitter taste in their mouths.
Kaguya bit her lip, her pale fingers curling into tight fists.
She stood there, silently waiting to accept her punishment.
But
Whoosh!
The Hellfire lashed out and threw her out.
"Ha?"
Kaguya landed hard on the ground, dazed and shaken.
She looked up, eyes wide, catching glimpses of her family members' expressions.
Anger. Coldness. Disdain. Disgust. Hatred.
Those gazes felt like an invisible hand, squeezing her heart tightly.
She needed to atone.
—
Meanwhile
Hayasaka Ai had returned to the Shinomiya estate, meeting with her mother, Hayasaka Nao.
"Mom, what's going on now?"
Nao answered with a grim expression, "Looks like the Shinomiya Family is about to fall"
Despite the serious tone, Hayasaka Ai could sense the slight schadenfreude in her mother's voice.
After all
This situation mirrored what the Hayasaka family had gone through not long ago.
But Hayasaka Ai was focused on something else entirely.
"Mom does that mean we're getting a new master?"
Nao's face froze for a second. Then she sighed and slumped her shoulders. "Yeah"
As retainers to the Shinomiya Family, their fate was now tied to whoever took over.
"Let's hope the new master isn't too harsh"
Nao's voice was laced with worry.
"Hmm."
Hayasaka Ai recalled Lynn's face in her mind, then muttered, "He seems decent enough?"
The next day
Yukinoshita Haruno returned once again to the Shinomiya estate.
Gan'an had already prepared everything.
Ownership contracts, business transferseverything matched the intel Haruno had collected.
Looking around at the now half-empty estate, Haruno nodded in satisfaction.
Then turned to Gan'an and said, "Not bad. You acted quickly."
Gan'an forced a stiff smile.
But Haruno immediately shut it down. "Ugh. Don't smile like thatit's disgusting."
Gan'an's face twitched.
From a distance, Hayasaka Ai couldn't help but smirk.
Serves you right, old man.
Haruno went on, "This house belongs to the Lynn Group now too. Pack up and move out."
Gan'an showed no reaction.
After all
The Shinomiya Family had once done the exact same thing to the Hayasaka family.
Suddenly
Kaguya shoved her way through the crowd and dropped to her knees before Haruno.
"I'm sorry! This is all my fault!"
Her voice cracked with emotion. "I I'll do anything to atone to Lord Lynn, so please"
She trembled as she pleaded, eyes full of desperation.
"Please let my father and the others stay. Just somewhere they can live."
This disaster was because of her. All of it.
So at the very leastlet her father and the others have a roof over their heads.
Haruno raised a brow, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. Then she stroked her chin and said casually
"Lord Lynn has been saying he needs a personal maid"
Kaguya's body tensed.
But the next second, she straightened up, eyes blazing with determination. "I'll do my best!"
Gan'an opened his mouth as if to say somethingbut when he saw the resolve in her eyes, he fell silent.
He just sighed quietly to himself.
Kaguya had changed a lot.
Haruno's lips curled into a sly smile.
"Alright then. We'll go with that for now."
She hadn't planned on wiping out the Shinomiya Family completely anyway.
They were raised under elite education, after allperfect little workhorses.
Might as well put them to good use under Lynn's group, right?
Though
Haruno's eyes narrowed as she looked down at Kaguya. Her voice turned light but chilling:
"But if you fail to please Lord Lynn"
"I won't be responsible for what happens next~"
Kaguya shuddered, but kept her head low and said nothing.
Seeing that, Haruno nodded in satisfaction.
"Of course, if you do a good job, Lord Lynn might just reward you."
Her gaze swept over the remaining Shinomiya members and stopped on Gan'an.
"Your father doesn't have much time left, does he?"
Kaguya's lips tightened.
Haruno's voice turned playful: "If Lynn-sama's in a good mood, who knows he might even assign your father to work in Hell~"
Gan'an really was a talented man, after all.
Even in death, he should still be usefulto Lynn.
"H-Hell?!"
Kaguya's head shot up, surprise flashing in her eyes.
Gan'an's eyes narrowed, his heart skipping a beat.
Hell...
His thoughts immediately jumped to that terrifying three-headed Hellhound from yesterday.
And also...
The blazing inferno that could judge sin itself.
Hiss
Could it be... The Lynn Group actually has ties to the legendary Hell itself?!
Just thinking about it made his heart pound faster.
If he could work for Hell after death... honestly, that didn't sound too bad?
Maybe...
Maybe the Shinomiya family could even rise again in Hell?
Turns out, 'go to hell' isn't a curse.
With that thought, Gan'an suddenly felt that becoming a subordinate family under the Lynn Group might not be so terrible after all.
While the Shinomiya family had lost their wealth, they'd gained access to the supernatural world.
If that man named Lynn felt generous and gave them a chance...
Ganan looked at Kaguya, a glint of cunning flickering through his cloudy eyes.
The closer you are to the source, the more benefits you get.
Kaguya, as Lord Lynn's personal maid... might be just the opportunity they needed.
Yeah...
Kaguya definitely needed to "atone" properly to Lord Lynn!
After wrapping up the mess with the Shinomiya family...
Kaguya had already changed into a maid outfit and was quietly following behind Yukinoshita Haruno.
Her face showed a bit of anxiety, and her heart was full of uncertainty.
She didn't know what the future held, nor how she was supposed to face Lynn now.
And more importantly
As someone used to being treated like a proper lady, she had no idea how to be a proper maid!
If she messed something up and made Lynn angry...
Kaguya's heart was in turmoil.
"Kaguya."
"Eek!!"
She jumped at the sudden voice.
Hayasaka Ai: "..."
"It's just me."
Kaguya quickly patted her chest, letting out a relieved breath, "Oh, it's you, Hayasaka"
Then, noticing Hayasaka was also in a maid outfit, she blinked in confusion ."Wait, Hayasaka, what's with your outfit...?"
"Isn't it obvious? Same as you."
"Same as me?"
Kaguya paused, then her eyes lit up. "You're going to be Lord Lynn's personal maid too?!"
Hayasaka nodded.
"That's great!"
Kaguya grabbed her hands excitedly. "Hayasaka, I don't really know much about being a maid, so please help guide me, okay?"
Looking at Kaguyaso humbleHayasaka's expression turned a little complicated. Then, with a meaningful smile, she said,
"Don't worry... I'll make sure to 'guide' you real well."
.
.
.
Frost Devil
The Familia Base
"Yo, we meet again, Hayasaka."
Lynn sat casually on the sofa, eyeing Hayasaka Ai and Kaguya standing before him, both dressed in maid outfits.
"Good day to you, Lord Lynn."
Hayasaka gave a small bow before speaking. "I'm your personal maid. From now on, please feel free to order me around as you wish."
Her expression looked a little dazed.
Just yesterday, he'd asked if she wanted to change jobs. And today it actually happened.
It all moved so fast, she felt like she was dreaming.
Still, she adjusted quickly. She was a maid by profession, after allthis was well within her comfort zone.
Next to her, Shinomiya Kaguya stood awkwardly, staring at her feet, clearly avoiding Lynn's gaze.
She looked nervous. Embarrassed, even.
Well, who wouldn't be?
Never in her wildest dreams did she expect that the next time they met, she'd end up as Lynn's personal maid too.
Logically speaking, Lynn was the one who brought down the entire Shinomiya family.
But even so... Kaguya didn't feel any hatred toward him.
It's not like she was brainlessshe'd started this mess with him first.
And surprisingly... Despite now being assigned to him as a maid, she didn't really hate it. In fact, she almost felt relieved.
Why? She wasn't sure herself.
It was like that time when she heard Lynn didn't even spare her a thoughtshe felt a strange disappointment and a desire to be noticed by him.
Maybe... she really was messed up in the head?
