— — — — — — — —
"Don't get the wrong idea. I just feel safer being around you."
Utaha crossed her arms, her eyes scanning the nearby curses, feeling anything but safe.
This decision wasn't made on a whim.
First, ever since she started high school, she had been living alone in a rented apartment.
Second, she highly doubted her home was free of spirits.
Rather than returning to a place infested with malicious entities, staying with Lynn was the better choice.
At least she'd be safe.
And... well, it was easy on the eyes too. Thinking of this, Utaha sneaked a glance at Lynn.
If she didn't know he was a Devil, she would've thought he was some noble's young master. ...Or maybe a noble among Devils?
"That's all?" Lynn asked, looking disappointed.
Utaha's eyelid twitched.
Alright, with his brain filled with nothing but indecent thoughts, there was no way this guy was some noble gentleman!
...Then again, nobles were all scumbags anyway.
Stepping into Lynn's home, Utaha slipped on his spare indoor slippers, curiously observing her surroundings.
"What? Is my place weird or something?"
"No, I'm just a little surprised." She set her bag down.
Earlier, she had dropped it while running from the curses. Once things settled down, she went back to retrieve it.
"You're a Devil, yet you live in such a normal place."
Grabbing two cans of cola from the fridge, Lynn shrugged. "Even Devils need money to live in human society."
Speaking of which, he sighed dramatically.
When he arrived in the human world at seven years old, life had been tough.
Thankfully, his status as a Devil had some perks.
Taking on minor exorcism jobs helped him earn a bit of cash.
At least he managed to buy this place outright.
...
Lynn popped open a can and handed it to Utaha.
She took it with a nod of thanks, sipping as she sat on the couch.
Her gaze drifted slightly, unfocused.
Too much had happened today.
The shock was immense, and exhaustion settled in.
Even though her body had been revitalized after becoming a Devil, her mental fatigue remained.
After some time, a small 'ding' sound snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Dinner's ready."
Seeing the supermarket's half-price bento, Utaha couldn't help but comment, "For a 'Perverted Master,' your dinner is pretty half-assed."
"You eating or not?"
Lynn handed her a bento, and she wordlessly took it, skillfully digging in.
Judging by how naturally she ate it, she clearly wasn't new to convenience store dinners.
And she had the nerve to call him out.
After finishing her meal, Utaha finally got to the important question.
"So, what exactly are we gonna do?"
Lynn paused for a moment before answering, "Since we're just starting out, your main job is leveling up by taking down enemies... and making money to support me."
"...What?"
Utaha blinked in disbelief.
She pointed at herself, then at him. "Me? Supporting you?"
She was just a high school girl!
Had she already reached the stage of financially supporting a man?!
"Don't worry. Once you get a bit stronger, you can take on exorcism jobs. You'll level up and earn cash at the same time."
Well, that did make sense.
Utaha was successfully convinced.
Not that she had much choice.
Lynn was her master now, in every possible way.
Even if she protested, he had the final say.
"Speaking of getting stronger..."
She channeled her demonic energy, materializing the Devil's Grimoire.
"Can I learn magic? Maybe some Onmyouji techniques?"
She was determined to fill this grimoire with powerful spells!
Smacking evil spirits with a book was way too unladylike!
"Uh..."
Lynn opened his status screen and checked his skills.
Then, he fell silent.
Utaha had a bad feeling. "Don't tell me..."
Lynn spread his hands helplessly. "I've been in the human world since I was seven. I never learned any magic."
Smack!
Utaha facepalmed.
Great.
Looks like she was stuck with 'Book Smack' for now.
"Relax. As a Devil, I've got connections."
Well... connections he had literally just made today.
But hey, a connection was a connection!
And with the weekend coming up, they could get started soon.
— — —
The next morning.
Yawning, Utaha walked downstairs in a daze.
Half-asleep, she noticed someone sitting on the couch.
"...Huh?"
"When did a man move in?"
"Wait!"
Her mind snapped awake as yesterday's events came flooding back.
"Yo! So it's black lace huh? Good choice."
Utaha instinctively tugged her shirt lower, covering the exposed area.
"Tsk tsk. Surprisingly stacked."
Lynn's gaze shifted, now locked onto the slight underboob revealed by her movement.
Utaha immediately raised her arm to cover her chest—
Which only made the black lace more visible.
Utaha: "..."
Screw it.
Just end the world already!
After running back to change, she returned with a deadpan expression, staring at Lynn.
"Enjoyed the view?"
Lynn gave her a thumbs-up. "A feast for the eyes."
Utaha bit her lip, feeling her ears heat up.
How the hell was this guy so shamelessly blunt?
Whatever...
"Let's go."
Their destination: Kuoh Academy.
.
.
.