Lately, strange sounds had been echoing from that well, scaring away visitors.
'Ugh if this continued, the shrine was going to go bankrupt.'
"Sigh"
"Umm, really, it's nothing, absolutely nothing, just just well..."
Higurashi Kagome looked a bit embarrassed.
She really wasn't lying.
Even though strange sounds kept coming from the well, every time they opened it to check, nothing was there.
And the shrine itself had never experienced anything truly supernatural.
But visitors naturally, they were scared.
Seeing Kagome's awkward expression, Yukino subtly glanced toward the source of the noise.
It wasn't a curse?
But it was still really strange!
They should hurry up, complete their prayers, and leave.
Not that she was sure if it would work.
...
A while later, Yukino and Yui left Higurashi Shrine.
"It didn't work, huh?"
The two exchanged glances, falling into silence.
The reason there were no curses at that shrine was probably because of that strange noise, right?
Higurashi Shrine
Kagome groaned. "Mom, if we don't do something about this soon, the shrine is doomed!"
Her mother sighed as well. "Mom doesn't have a solution either. Why don't you think of something, Kagome?"
Monday Shuchiin Academy
3 PM ~ Supernatural Research Club
Yukino took a deep breath, bowed deeply, and said, "Please, I beg you, Lynn-senpai!"
Lynn, sitting across from her, remained indifferent.
From the looks of her, she had been through a lot recently.
"Exorcism services outside of school start at 5 million yen. Just prepare the money."
Finally, after being on hold for a long time, his exorcism business was back in action.
"F-Five million?" Yukino stiffened.
Five million yen...
Her sister or mother could probably afford it, but that didn't mean she could easily get that kind of money.
Should she ask her sister for help?
Yukino hesitated.
She didn't want to involve her family in supernatural matters because of her own problems.
But it seemed she had no other choice.
"Please wait a moment."
She stepped out of the Supernatural Research Club, biting her lip as she dialed a number.
The call connected.
"Oh my, what a rare occasion! Yukino actually called her big sister~!"
A lively voice came through the phone.
"N-Nee-san."
On the other end, Yukinoshita Haruno's hand paused mid-action.
She put aside what she was doing and narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Yukino your voice sounds strange."
"Did something happen?"
Yukino went silent for a moment before finally saying, "It's nothing. Um can you transfer five million yen to me?"
Haruno fell silent.
Five million wasn't a big deal for her.
But what did Yukino need that much money for?
Something about this didn't sit right.
Taking a deep breath, Haruno decided to probe a little, using a playful tone.
"Yukino, what do you need the money for? Don't tell me you're keeping a boyfriend?"
The line went completely quiet.
Haruno sighed. "Yeah, figured you wouldn't answer."
"Fine, I'll send you the money. But!"
Her tone sharpened slightly.
"I'm going to find out exactly what you used it for."
Click.
The call ended, leaving only the dial tone.
Yukino sighed, exasperated. "I knew it would turn out like this..."
But this was the only option left.
At the very least, she couldn't let Yui suffer any longer.
She couldn't do anything about the spirits roaming the streets, but at least their homes should be peaceful, right?
With that thought, she put her phone away and walked back into the Supernatural Research Club.
"The money is ready."
Lynn glanced up at her, nodded, and said, "Utaha, Miko, go with her."
Five million yen wasn't even worth his personal time.
Besides, this was just a simple exorcism.
Utaha and Miko were more than enough to handle it.
Lynn had far more important matters to attend to.
"Finally!"
The Devil's Contract had officially taken effect again.
.
.
.
Black Bullet
Yuigahama Residence
Since Mrs. Yuigahama wasn't home, Yui took the opportunity to invite Yukino, Utaha, and Miko inside.
Kasumigaoka Utaha scanned the room, checking for any particularly troublesome spirits. Finding nothing too outrageous, she left the rest to Miko.
These spirits were of no use to her at her current level anyway.
Yotsuya Miko, however, had a special ability that made her exceptionally effective against spiritual entities.
With just a casual stroll through the house, she poked each lingering spirit one by one. The moment she touched them, they popped like balloonscompletely vanishing without a trace.
Watching Miko exorcise them so effortlessly, Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui fell silent.
These spirits, which had terrified them daily, were nothing more than fragile glass ornaments in Miko's hands.
This... This was the difference between an ordinary person and someone with supernatural abilities.
A tinge of regret surfaced in Yukino's heart.
'A Familia... huh.'
A flicker of reminiscence passed through her eyes.
Deep down, she felt a pang of regret.
Back then, in her rush to escape from supernatural affairs, she had left without hesitation.
But just as Lynn had saidThere was no turning back anymore.
She had even considered ways to make herself "unable to see" the supernatural again.
But wouldn't that just be self-deception?
Even if she couldn't see them, she already knew the truth. She would still be aware, still be afraid.
If she had already stepped into this world, then why bother running away?
She let out a slow breath, calming herself down.
Quietly, she waited for Miko to finish her purification.
She knew this exorcism was just a temporary fix. It didn't address the root causeat most, it would bring some temporary peace.
'Supernatural abilities...'
If she could wield them too, would things be different?
Lost in thought, she stared blankly ahead.
—
Supernatural Research Club
Lynn activated [Devil's Contract], vanishing from the Club.
Shiina Mahiru rested her chin in her palm, quietly watching the spot where Lynn had disappeared. She murmured, "May your path be ever prosperous."
Tokyo Area
Seitenshi, the governor of the Tokyo Area, held a freshly rejected copy of the New Gastrea Law in her hands. Her eyes were filled with frustration.
"Why?"
The Cursed Children were human too.
Shaking her head, she sighed and turned to the next document in her stackonly to freeze in place.
"This is..."
She picked up a piece of black parchment covered in strange, indecipherable runes.
Just staring at it made her feel lightheaded.
"Pray to the Devil, sign the contract, and he shall answer you?"
There were no recognizable words or characters on the paper.
And yetsomehowshe had understood it perfectly.
"A supernatural phenomenon?"
Her expression stiffened.
"A Devil, huh..."
She glanced at the New Gastrea Law sitting on her desk.
Then, closing her eyes, she interlocked her fingers in front of her chest.
If making a deal with the Devil was what it took to pass the law and protect the Cursed Children...
Then so be it.
Without hesitation, she signed her name on the parchment.
She blew lightly on the ink, helping it dry faster, and let out a small chuckle.
"Will you really answer me, Devil?"
There was a hint of anticipation in her gaze.
She knew it was unlikely. But she still hoped.
A powerless girl, burdened with this role she never asked for...
If sacrificing herself meant she could do something good for the worldShe would gladly accept that fate.
This was probably just someone's prank, right?
Someone must have seen how stressed she was and left it here to cheer her up.
That was the only explanation.
Or so she thought
Until the parchment in front of her suddenly burst into a radiant glow!
"Eh...?"
Seitenshi's lips parted slightly, her eyes widening in shock.
A deep, unfamiliar voice echoed
"Hmm! Are you... my contractor?"
Thump-thump!
Her heartbeat instantly sped up. Her eyes went round as she felt her throat go dry.
'I-It's real? The Devil... actually answered?'
A wave of helplessness washed over her.
A Devil that had to be terrifying, right?
She didn't dare to breathe too loudly, her body stiff as she slowly turned her head.
And then she saw him
A young man.
For a moment, she blinked in confusion.
'Wait... a handsome Devil?'
'No, no, no. He has to be human, right?'
A wave of relief rushed through her.
Of course.
There was no such thing as Devils in this world.
It had to be a prank.
But the effects were incredibly realistic...
Where exactly did this man come from?
Still dazed, she watched as Lynn casually walked up and picked up the New Gastrea Law from her desk.
"Getting this law passed... that's your request?"
"Black Bullet, huh..." Lynn smirked.
This world really could use a Devil.
After all, sometimes it takes a villain to deal with villains.
And while he wasn't a villainhe was a Devil.
"Um... excuse me, sir..."
Seitenshi hesitated, unsure how to address him.
"Just call me Lynn."
"Ah, alright... Mr. Lynn!" She fumbled for a moment before finally composing herself.
Taking a deep breath, she slipped back into her usual authoritative demeanor, her amethyst eyes sharpening.
"First questionhow did you even get in here?"
Though her tone was firm, her hand had subtly moved closer to the emergency alarm.
Lynn, unfazed by her cautious movements, simply shrugged and replied in a relaxed tone "Didn't you summon me yourself?"
"I... did?"
Seitenshi froze.
"The Devil's Contract. You literally just signed itdid you already forget?" Lynn gave her an exasperated look.
"E-Eh? But wasn't that just a joke?"
"A joke? Who told you that?"
"Well, it's just that... Mr. Lynn, you don't exactly..."
She was about to say "You don't look like a Devil," but before she could finish
Lynn grinned.
And with a single motion, his massive, jet-black wings unfurled behind him.
"I am a Devil."
Seitenshi's mouth opened, but no words came out.
W-Wings?!
T-This was real?!
Her mind went blank.
She had never been in a situation like this before.
No one had ever taught her how to negotiate with a Devil!
Her brain, usually so sharp, scrambled for a response.
Meanwhile, Lynn chuckled.
'Seriously?'
'She summoned a Devil, and now she's acting all surprised?'
Without giving her time to overthink, he folded his wings back and got straight to the point.
"I'll take your request. Once it's done, I'll come back for what I want in return."
"W-Wait!" Seitenshi blurted out, stopping him in his tracks.
Her request... right.
She had wished for the law to be passed.
If Mr. Lynn really could make that happen... then maybe this wasn't so bad?
If he truly was a Devil, then perhaps he had the power to accomplish it.
But she needed to know
"Mr. Lynn, your goal is to ensure the New Gastrea Law is passed, correct?"
"That's right."
"Then... how exactly do you plan to do it?"
She knew all too well that many high-ranking officials were firmly against the law.
That was the main reason it kept getting blocked.
What method would a Devil use?
Lynn's lips curled into a smirk.
"How?"
His voice was calm.
Cold.
"Simple. I'll just kill everyone who disagrees."
.
.
.
In This World, Only Devils Are Enough
"K-Kill.... everyone?!"
Seitenshi's mouth hung open, her eyes blank with shock.
Ah. Confirmed.
That was definitely something only a Devil would say.
She shot up from her seat in an instant, hands trembling slightly in panic.
"No, no, noabsolutely not!"
This was bad!
Had she accidentally opened some kind of Pandora's box?
Her chest tightened, and for a brief moment, she wanted to cry.
She had to take responsibility for this!
Taking a deep breath, she bowed deeply.
"Please, Mr. Lynn, I beg youdon't do that!"
All she wanted was to protect the Cursed Children, not go to the extreme of killing everyone who opposed the law!
Lynn leaned casually against her desk, his deep eyes gazing out the window. His voice, however, remained indifferent.
"The request is yours, but how I complete it... is up to me."
As he stared at the city outside, his mind was already analyzing what he could gain from this world.
Right now, his Familia had two major priorities:
Recruit More Members: The more Familia members he had, the greater the feedback loop of power he would receive, making him even stronger.
EXP Resources: The experience required for his members to level up was just as critical. Strengthening them meant strengthening himself.
Everything else?
Not important.
At least, not until he became a Maou.
For now, he wasn't about to waste time on anything outside those two goals.
And honestly
His Familia was still pathetically small.
There was no room to focus on anything else.
So, his objective in this world was crystal clear.
Recruit. More. Members.
After all, this world had millions of unique, special lolis.
Even if only a tiny fraction of them were reincarnated as Devils, each one would provide him with a steady stream of power.
Then How About Millions of lolis?
Even if they started as Low-Class Devils, their sheer numbers alone would skyrocket his power!
Maou? Super Maou?
Lynn's saliva production increased.
His lips curled into a grin.
A very disturbing grin.
For the first time, Maou-levelor even something beyond thatfelt incredibly close.
"I will treat them well and give hem a future."
Even though Lynn had a suspicious smile right now, he wasn't thinking of anything illegal. After all, he wasn't into lolisactually, he despised those who were.
"Hehehe! Millions of Familia members."
With the massive resource pool of the Apocalypse world, he wasn't worried about supporting them.
Besides
Once they were reincarnated as Devils, the Gastrea Virus inside them would be completely eradicated.
They wouldn't have to live in fear of mutating into monsters.
He was here to save them.
A righteous Devil.
Yep! He was a good devil.
Right now, though, his Familia was severely understaffed.
