"So that's how it is. The flyer is enchanted—if someone's satisfied with their life, seeing it will only make them feel bored. But if they have an intense desire for something, they'll feel compelled to use it."
Today was the delivery day for the furniture Jeanne Alter had ordered. As agreed, she summoned Toujou Koneko once again to help move the furniture.
Curious if anyone would actually use something so suspicious, Jeanne Alter voiced her question directly to Koneko, leading to this explanation.
Right, of course. Normal people would just glance at something so dubious and immediately toss it in the trash. If she hadn't already known about these flyers, Jeanne Alter would've done exactly that—tossed it into the nearest garbage bin.
"Actually, Jeanne-senpai, you didn't really need my help for this, right? You could easily handle it yourself."
Having just set down another piece of furniture, Koneko paused and stared intently at Jeanne Alter with her deep, golden eyes.
"A few days ago, you moved at lightning speed to protect another senpai from a high-speed soccer ball, then casually kicked it all the way across the field and into the opposite goal... With strength like yours, you could definitely move these things by yourself."
Jeanne Alter nodded straightforwardly.
"Then why call me over?"
"What do you mean, call you over? Aren't you the one who said you'd be troubled if I had no wishes because it would lower your devil performance rating?"
A slight trace of surprise appeared on Koneko's usually emotionless, cute face. She briefly recalled the situation, raising her brows slightly.
"Yes... that's true."
"So, there's your answer."
Koneko's golden eyes fixed on Jeanne Alter, who lounged lazily on the sofa.
"Devils fulfill human wishes and collect compensation of equivalent value. If the wish is something easily done by the requester, then the compensation we receive becomes meaningless."
"I honestly can't imagine what you'd consider 'valuable.' Something like money probably ranks only slightly higher than dirt for you, doesn't it?"
"Devils still use money in the human world. We strictly follow the principles of equivalent exchange and contractual obligations."
"But you're hardly lacking in money, right?"
Jeanne Alter didn't know much about other devils, but she did know Rias well. Kuoh Town itself was Rias's territory, with Kuoh Academy as her stronghold. As the local lord, nearly all the influential figures in town were Rias's people, so money was definitely no concern for her.
With someone else moving the furniture, Jeanne Alter naturally justified her laziness. She had plenty of money herself, after all.
Before coming to Kuoh, she had already made a wish upon the [Holy Grail] for vast wealth—more than enough to live lavishly. She could now do things she previously wouldn't dare dream of, like eating KFC without coupons, even on days other than Crazy Thursday.
Koneko had impressive strength and even more impressive visual impact. Jeanne Alter watched firsthand as the petite girl effortlessly lifted furniture weighing hundreds of pounds above her head after uttering an emotionless, soft grunt. She made it look so easy that anyone watching would suspect the furniture was made from foam.
In no time, the old furniture was replaced, leaving the home clean and tidy.
Despite moving so many heavy items, Koneko hadn't shed a single drop of sweat or even appeared winded. Had Jeanne Alter not seen everything herself, she'd have doubted if Koneko had been slacking off.
After placing the final piece, Koneko glanced around but didn't see Jeanne Alter anywhere.
Then, an irresistible fragrance drifted toward her, briefly entrancing Koneko before she realized its source—the kitchen.
Drawn by the enticing aroma, Koneko peeked curiously into the kitchen, eyes wide and round like a cat searching for food.
Jeanne Alter stood inside, busily working.
"What's that?" Koneko's usually icy expression began to melt.
"Cake."
"Cake? It smells really good."
"Of course it does—I made it."
Koneko's bright golden eyes shifted to Jeanne Alter.
"Did you make it for me?"
Having just moved so many heavy items for her, it was only natural to assume the cake was a reward for her efforts.
Maybe... this strange senpai isn't so annoying after all.
The mouth-watering aroma made the typically food-loving Koneko salivate uncontrollably, eyes full of anticipation.
If it smelled this good, how amazing would it taste...?
"Huh? When did I ever say it was for you?"
Jeanne Alter shot Koneko a strange look. "I was obviously hungry myself, so I decided to make something. Lounging around on the sofa is pretty exhausting, you know."
"???"
Koneko froze, her face filled with disbelief. Had this been an anime, question marks would surely appear above her head.
Wait... Why would lounging around be exhausting?!
Realizing she'd been tricked, Koneko glared at Jeanne Alter, anger and frustration threatening to erupt.
"But then again..."
Jeanne Alter suddenly smiled, her teasing gaze drifting away from Koneko's trembling figure. "You're a devil, after all. I can't beat you. So if you insisted on eating these cakes, I wouldn't be able to stop you, right?"
Koneko was once again left speechless by the sudden shift. As she stood dazed, she felt a gentle weight on her head—Jeanne Alter's hand softly patting her.
By the time Koneko recovered enough to brush it off, Jeanne Alter had already withdrawn her hand.
"Alright, if you want cake, hurry up and sit at the table. It'll take a little longer before it's ready. I don't have any snacks here yet since it's a new place, so you'll have to wait."
Jeanne Alter returned to her work, leaving Koneko standing frozen, mouth opening and closing wordlessly, conflicted.
After a moment, Koneko puffed up her cheeks, looking exactly like an annoyed pufferfish.
I take it back... this person is super annoying!
When the cakes were finally done, Jeanne Alter couldn't resist sampling one, finding it delicious.
Everyone who had tasted her desserts had seemed satisfied. Her previous students, Afune and Shinobu, had become so fond of her treats they'd put on a few pounds. Afterward, Nurse Nightingale—her form back then—had implemented a ruthlessly scientific weight-loss program for them.
Jeanne Alter carried the fragrant cakes out, immediately spotting Koneko at the small table.
"Come on, try them. See if my skills have declined."
She sat down and immediately grabbed another piece.
Being a Servant was wonderful—no worrying about weight or body shape.
After all, she was currently borrowing the appearances of Chaldea's Servants. If she made them look fat, she'd feel terribly guilty.
Clearly still annoyed by Jeanne Alter's earlier teasing, Koneko kept her face stubbornly turned away, refusing to touch the cakes.
Yet her obvious hunger betrayed her. She repeatedly swallowed, stealing glances at the treats, unable to completely hide her desire.
This didn't last long. By the time Jeanne Alter had polished off a third of the cakes, Koneko finally surrendered to temptation, taking a cautious bite.
That single bite overwhelmed her with bliss.
This is... ridiculously delicious!
Pure joy filled her, almost transporting her straight to heaven... though heaven might not be a safe place for a devil.
When Jeanne Alter returned from the restroom wearing a smug expression, Koneko hesitated briefly before continuing to savor the cakes.
Sorry, nothing could stop her from enjoying this heavenly delicacy.
If she waited, the cakes would grow cold. This senpai might be unbearably annoying, but the cakes themselves were innocent!
As Koneko enjoyed herself, Jeanne Alter began discussing payment—or rather, compensation.
Their original agreement was that Koneko, as a devil, would fulfill Jeanne Alter's wish by helping her buy and move furniture. Jeanne Alter would pay in cash as compensation.
Now that Koneko had completed her task, it was time to discuss payment.
However...
"You want to change your payment?"
Seeing Koneko blush slightly and nervously rub her thighs under the table, Jeanne Alter looked puzzled.
"It doesn't break the contract. Initially, you didn't have anything I needed, so we settled on money, the most versatile payment."
Koneko's sudden change left her uneasy, like a guilty child. "Don't worry too much. Contractually, the changed compensation can't exceed the original value. Of course, the final decision is yours. If you disagree, we'll stick with cash."
"I don't really mind... What do you want instead?"
Jeanne Alter was curious. What had Koneko found that prompted this sudden change?
Koneko hesitated, silently staring at the empty cake plate for a long moment before lifting her head and speaking softly:
"I... want more cakes."
Jeanne Alter nearly fell over in shock.
"So... you want to change your compensation to cakes?"
"Mm." Koneko nodded firmly.
Even Jeanne Alter hadn't anticipated this. Koneko liked her cakes enough to change the compensation at the last minute.
"Haa..." Jeanne Alter sighed, covering her face and grinning wryly. "I'm seriously speechless."
"These cakes aren't even valuable. If you paid me in cakes, do you have any idea how many I'd have to bake?"
"Ah..." Koneko's brow furrowed. She hadn't thought of that.
Dejected, her mood plummeted. Would she not get more delicious cakes?
Jeanne Alter easily saw through Koneko's obvious emotions.
"How about this: we'll stick with cash as agreed," Jeanne Alter said softly, smiling gently at the despondent girl. "And if you ever want more cakes, just come see me. I'll bake you some."
"Really?"
Koneko's eyes brightened instantly, excitement barely hidden.
Under such an intense gaze, Jeanne Alter turned red and leaned back defensively.
"Tch! Don't look at me like that—it's not like I'm doing it for you..." Jeanne Alter muttered unconvincingly. "This is just easier for me... If I had to bake enough to match your pay, I'd collapse! Don't... get the wrong idea!"
---
T/N: TSUNDERE IS SHOWINGGGG
It seems you've reached the end of the updates. If you found yourself intrigued and wish to read ahead, you can support the translator on Patreon—it's entirely optional, but early access to future chapters awaits you as a thank-you.
Patreon Link: patreon.com/wisetl
Remember, every 100 Powerstones equals 1 Bonus Chapter (100ps = 1 chp, 200ps = 2 chp, 300ps = 3 chp, and so on). If you're enjoying this translation, voting is an effective way to show your support.
Also, consider joining the Discord community. It's a good place to discuss theories, share your insights, and perhaps uncover truths alongside fellow readers:
Discord: discord.gg/wisetl
Finally, there's currently a limited-time celebration: 40% OFF on all Patreon memberships for one month. Don't miss the opportunity—truth rarely waits.
That's all. I'll be watching.
-Kyoko Kirigiri