It was the first time she had seen her mother so flustered.
But what worried her more was the inevitable questioning and reprimands.
Selling herself to a Devil in exchange for powerwhat mother could possibly accept such a thing?
Ruka took a moment to calm her complicated emotions. Then, she recalled something Haruno had mentioned earlier.
A price had to be paid to gain supernatural power.
So, what had Yukino sacrificed?
Noticing her daughter's nervous demeanor, Ruka could already make a guess.
She felt a mix of frustration and admiration.
Yukino actually had the resolve to go through with something like this?
Was this really the same daughter she had known all these years?
As the matriarch of the Yukinoshita family, Ruka quickly regained her composure. Her frustration faded just as fast.
After all, her anger stemmed only from the fact that her daughter had made such a major decision without consulting the family.
Otherwise, she had the same mindset as Haruno.
Since things had already happened, the Yukinoshita family had to seize this opportunity.
After all, in normal circumstances, she couldn't see any other way for their family to climb any higher.
Might as well lean into the supernatural world and carve out a new path!
Who knows? The Yukinoshita family might even rise to the top of human society!
"Yukino, you did well this time."
Ruka smiled approvingly at her daughter.
Yukino: "...?"
She was completely dumbfounded.
W-What just happened?
Her mother wasn't mad?
In fact, she seemed supportive?
Her expression stiffened as a wave of frustration washed over her.
So, her mother really didn't care about her, huh?
"Yukino, can you tell us the details?"
Ruka, of course, noticed her daughter's feelings. But right now, the future of the Yukinoshita family was more important.
Yukino hesitated for a moment before replying, "I need to ask my club president for permission."
After all, what she could and couldn't say was ultimately up to Lynn to decide.
Ruka's expression turned a bit complicated.
Her daughter had already started prioritizing an outsider over her own family
Soon, after receiving Lynn's approval, Yukino briefly explained the existence of Devils and how contracts worked.
Of course, she didn't reveal a single word about the other worlds, the Blessing System, or the existence of special Devils.
Even if it was her own family, they weren't part of the Familia.
"I see..."
Yukinoshita Haruno and their mother, Yukinoshita Ruka, both wore thoughtful expressions.
Surprisingly, neither of them seemed particularly shocked or upset about Yukino becoming a Devil's Familia member.
Honestly, compared to marrying off Yukino to some random nobody in the future, joining a Devil in exchange for power didn't sound like a bad deal at all.
But more importantly...Yukino was now a Devil herself.
And Lynn's Familia seemed... a little too large already.
Most importantly, it was entirely made up of women!
Yukinoshita Ruka frowned as she scrutinized Yukino.
She was certainly cute, but... That figure of hers...
Could she even compete?
Yukino immediately sensed the unspoken judgment from her own mother and, without a word, crossed her arms over her chest.
Seeing this, Ruka withdrew her gaze, thought for a moment, and then delivered her final decree:
"Yukino's existence has made me reconsider the future development of the Yukinoshita family!"
Sitting up straight, she regained her dignified composure and spoke in a serious tone.
"Our Yukinoshita family mustabsolutely mustbind ourselves to Lynn-sama!"
Haruno wasn't the least bit surprised.
From the moment she arrived, she knew exactly what kind of decision her mother would make.
Yukino, on the other hand, fell silent.
Still, she didn't reject the idea.
After joining the Familia, she had personally witnessed Lynn's overwhelming power and the strength of his followers.
Her mother making this decision... honestly, it was a relief.
"However..."
Ruka hesitated, casting another glance at Yukino before sighing softly.
"With just Yukino alone, our family's standing within Lynn-sama's circle might not be high enough."
After a moment of contemplation, she made up her mind.
"Haruno, you should also request to join Lynn-sama's Familia."
"...What?"
Haruno was speechless.
Yukino was equally stunned.
Wait, what did she mean?
"Hmph!"
"If I wasn't enough, then how could Haruno be?"
Yukino narrowed her eyes in frustration, clearly unconvinced.
Haruno, meanwhile, rubbed her temple.
Yukino... there are just some things you can't compete in.
She glanced down at her own curvy figure and fell into deep thought.
Joining Lynn's Familia, huh...
She was definitely tempted.
What did it feel like to wield supernatural power?
But... Yukino had mentioned that not just anyone was qualified to join.
That made her a little nervous.
More importantly, she absolutely couldn't accept the idea of losing to Yukino.
"...I understand."
Without hesitation, Haruno agreed.
Yukino shot her a complicated look.
"Alright then," Ruka nodded in satisfaction. "Tomorrow, Haruno, you'll head to Shuchiin Academy."
"Oh, and one more thing."
Ruka suddenly added, "Make sure to bring the sincerity of the Yukinoshita family with you."
Supernatural Research Club
Haruno, who had been waiting for this moment, immediately sought out Lynn.
Sitting leisurely in his chair, Lynn glanced at the document on his deska share transfer agreement for the Yukinoshita family's businesses.
With a chuckle, he remarked, "You guys sure went all in on this, huh?"
Of course, to him, the Yukinoshita family's assets weren't all that impressive.
But for them, this was a huge move.
Haruno bowed her head slightly.
"Please, Lynn-sama, accept this as a token of our family's sincerity."
She was well aware that their wealth might not mean much to a Devil like Lynn.
But this was everything the Yukinoshita family had to offer.
And also...
Haruno looked up, her gaze unwavering.
"If possible, please accept me into your Familia."
"...Oh?"
Lynn rested his chin on his hand, intrigued.
"Yukino should have already told you what becoming my Familia member means."
"Of course!"
Haruno nodded without hesitation, then smiled confidently.
"It means joining Lynn-sama's harem, right?"
The room fell into complete silence.
She had just blurted it out.
Without a hint of embarrassment.
Haruno continued, her tone unwavering, "For me, that would be the ideal outcome."
The Yukinoshita family had long been inactive.
Eventually, she would be forced into an arranged marriage for political and financial gain.
If she had to live that kind of life, she would much rather dedicate herself to someone truly powerful.
Spending her life with Lynn instead of some revolting, money-grubbing elites?
That was the greatest fortune she could ever hope for.
"Besides, Lynn wasn't just powerfulhe was handsome, capable, and charismatic."
He could grant her supernatural power.
And possibly even elevate the Yukinoshita family further!
When she weighed the pros and cons, this was an absolute win.
Her eyes burned with determination as she declared:
"Pleaseaccept me into your harem!"
Silence.
The entire room fell into an eerie stillness.
Shiina Mahiru and the others stared at Haruno in disbelief.
They hadn't expected her to be this... shamelessly straightforward.
Yukino silently turned her back, refusing to acknowledge her overly enthusiastic sister.
Even Lynn was momentarily stunned.
This woman...
She wasn't normal.
She really wasn't.
She was willing to go all in without hesitation.
Still...
Lynn smirked.
"Thenas you wish."
.
.
.
Shapeshifter Devil
Lynn had always been open to new members.
So if Yukinoshita Haruno didn't meet the qualifications to become part of his Familia, no matter what, he wouldn't have accepted her. That was non-negotiable.
The same went for the Yukinoshita family's business assetsLynn had no reservations about taking them in either. After all, once they were under his Familia, they essentially became part of his domain.
Lynn planned to have the Yukinoshita family handle the distribution of resources his Familia acquired from different worlds. It was about time they expanded their business in a more diversified direction. Every world had its unique assets, and a proper supply chain would be crucial in leveraging them effectively.
After settling some other affairs, Lynn turned his gaze toward Haruno.
"Alright, take it off."
Haruno showed no surprise.
She had already heard about this from Yukino and was mentally prepared for it.
Without hesitation, she removed her clothing and turned her back to Lynn, exposing her bare skin.
Lynn pressed the Devil's Piece against her back. The cold touch sent a slight shiver through Haruno, a mix of nervousness and excitement welling up inside her.
A moment later, a surge of power flowed through her body. The blessing of the Familia manifested across her skin.
—
[Yukinoshita Haruno]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valifer
Stats:
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Endurance: I0
Magic: I0
Unique Skills: [Strategic Mind] & [Shapeshifter Devil]
[Strategic Mind]
When devising long-term plans or strategies, her thinking speed and logical clarity improve based on the complexity of the plan.
If a target has psychological weaknesses or unresolved conflicts, the success rate of verbal persuasion is significantly increased, potentially allowing indirect influence over their decisions.
Less effective against pure instinct-driven individuals but exceptionally powerful against high-intelligence targets.
[Shapeshifter Devil]
Perfect Facade: Can freely alter appearance, voice, and even fragments of memory, creating highly convincing illusions.
Devil Persona: A personality mode optimized for deception and strategy.
"Another special Devil, huh?"
Lynn stroked his chin, musing over the implications.
It seemed that the Yukinoshita sisters had some seriously impressive potential.
That said, while Haruno was classified as a special Devil, her abilities weren't particularly combat-oriented.
She would be perfect to be in charge of managing the Familia's finances.
After copying down her Familia status, Lynn nodded. "Alright, you're all set."
Haruno swiftly redressed herself and took the paper containing her new status.
After Yukino briefly explained how the blessing system worked, a glimmer of excitement appeared in Haruno's eyes.
She hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise!
"Shapeshifter Devil..." Haruno murmured, repeating the words to herself.
Was this ability a reflection of how she had always worn a mask in her daily life?
Yukino, who had been listening intently, perked up at the mention of Haruno's ability.
It looked like her sister had also become a special Devil.
"Perfect Facade, huh..."
Yukino thought about her own ability.
Wasn't one of her skills supposed to make her immune to deception and illusions?
A small smirk tugged at her lips.
A little victory for her.
Once Haruno had some time to get used to her new powers, Lynn shifted the conversation to her upcoming responsibilities.
"Finance?" Haruno blinked, then nodded. "I see. Not much different from what I was doing beforejust on a much larger scale."
It was essentially an expansion of the Yukinoshita family's business, just under the Familia's banner.
Her abilities clearly weren't suited for combat, and while she felt a twinge of envy for Yukino's ice-based powers, she quickly brushed the thought aside.
Her skill set fit her personality.
"The Familia controls resources from two entire worlds. You'll be responsible for using the Yukinoshita family's business connections to distribute them."
"Wait..." Haruno narrowed her eyes. "Two worlds?"
She had a sharp mind, but even she struggled to comprehend the full implications of that statement.
Seeing her reaction, Lynn briefly summarized the state of affairs in the Black Bullet world and the Apocalypse World.
Haruno's eyelids twitched.
She had just joined a Familia that had already conquered two entire worlds?
And one of those worlds had its human civilization completely wiped out?
She sucked in a deep breath.
For the first time, she truly grasped what it meant to be part of a Devil's Familia.
A single misstep could mean extinction for an entire species.
If that wasn't the definition of a Devil, then what was?
That said, the more she learned about the Black Bullet world, the more she found herself thinking
They should have wiped out those humans even more thoroughly.
After getting a full briefing on the situation, Haruno wasted no time formulating plans for their economic expansion.
She was incredibly thorough
So thorough that she even wanted to capitalize on the materials from the ruined cities.
As she spoke, confidently outlining her strategies, Lynn nodded along.
Not that he understood anything of what she was saying.
Business wasn't exactly his strong suit. As the master of his Familia, Lynn had one simple goalenjoy life without unnecessary burdens.
"Speaking of which..."
Haruno suddenly blinked, her curiosity piqued. "Has Yukino already done it with Lynn-sama?"
"SisSister!!"
Yukino nearly jumped out of her seat, her reaction akin to a cat.
Shiina Mahiru and Yotsuya Miko pursed their lips, both slightly taken aback.
This older Yukinoshita sister... she was certainly bold with her words.
"Ohhh."
Haruno smirked at Yukino's reaction, then scoffed.
So their mother was right not to put any hopes on Yukino.
She had already joined the harem, yet she was still waiting for Lynn to make the first move?
Haruno glanced around, her eye twitching slightly.
With the women in the Supernatural Research Club, there were already enough to keep Lynn occupied for an entire month.
If you wanted something, you had to take the initiative!
Clearly, Yukino didn't understand this at all.
Even among Lynn's Familia, there was an undeniable difference between those who had been with him intimately and those who hadn't.
Since Yukino was unreliable, it was up to her, Haruno to act.
