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Yotsuya Miko looked up at Edgar, her voice surprisingly firm."Mister Demon… please turn me into a demon too."
"Sure. Then take off your jacket."
"…Huh?"
Miko's eyes flew wide open. Her brain promptly blue-screened.
Take… take what off?What kind of situation was this?Did becoming a demon require… offering herself first?
She was absolutely not ready for that.
"Don't get the wrong idea," Edgar said. "I just need to place a mark on your body."
He reached out his hand. Golden blood welled from his fingertip.
"Oh. That's all…"
Miko let out a breath of relief. She looked around nervously."Um… can we maybe do this somewhere else?"
"No problem."
Edgar snapped his fingers. A magic circle shimmered on the ground.
The next moment, both of them vanished.
"Ara ara… looks like something interesting is happening."
A petite figure leaning on a cane watched from the rooftop in the distance.
Edgar's Villa
"Alright. You can start."
"…Okay."
Miko drew in a deep breath. Hands trembling, she slipped off her school uniform jacket, leaving only her white undershirt.
Her face burned when she glanced at Edgar.
"Master, you brought home a new subordinate again."
Hearing the commotion, Miyano Shiho and the others drifted into the living room one after another.
Miko: "…"
Why were there so many people here?Was she about to be watched by all of them?This was way worse than that alley earlier.
She felt like crying, but it was too late to back out now.She had to face it.
"Come closer," Edgar said.
"…Okay."
Miko flinched, then took a few tiny steps forward.Her mind, unhelpfully, filled itself with scenes that were absolutely not appropriate for minors.
With this many people watching… surely they wouldn't… right?
Her ears were bright red when she suddenly felt heat sear across her skin.
She looked down and saw golden blood spreading across her body.
Then—A burst of blinding light made her let out a muffled gasp.
Something surged inside her.
Her heartbeat quickened. Power rushed through her veins.Her flesh and cells twisted and changed until she could only grit her teeth.
No.She had to endure it.She couldn't make weird noises in front of everyone. That would be mortifying.
Symbols and glowing script began crawling across her skin, catching Edgar's attention.
[Yotsuya Miko]
[Race: Demon]
[Master: Edgar Lucifergus]
[Level: LV9]
[Skills: Spirit Sight, Spirit Command]
[Spirit Sight: Eyes that perceive both the living world and the hidden one.]
[Spirit Command: Use demonic power to forcibly form a contract with a spirit and command it.]
"Two skills. Not bad."
Edgar smiled with satisfaction.
Spirit Sight didn't surprise him. That was Miko's natural ability. Spirit Command, though—if she found the right spirit, it could be very powerful.
Kyousuke's spirit drifted over.
One glance and she froze."Spirit… domination… huh."A frightening skill indeed.
But she wasn't a ghost anymore.So there was nothing to fear.
Edgar jotted down the details and patted Miko's head.
"All done. The rebirth ritual is complete. You can relax."
Miko blinked, still dazed.She… really was a demon now?
But… her body did feel unbelievably stronger.And there was a strange new energy inside her.
Was that the power of a demon?
She pondered this until a chilly breeze brushed her skin, making her face instantly flush. She scrambled to snatch up her uniform from the floor and throw it on.
"Whew…"
Fully dressed again, she finally let out a long breath.
A sheet of paper slid into view.
"These are your stat details. Take a look."
Miko: "???"
Shiho and the others started explaining all at once.
"I see…"
Miko nodded, thanked them, and scanned the page.
"Level 9? I don't start at zero?"
Her eyes lingered on Spirit Sight.Complicated emotions swirled.
After all, this ability was pretty much the reason her life had been chaos.But it had also brought her into an entirely new world.
Was that good or bad? She had no idea.
She read further.
When she reached Spirit Command, her eyes lit up.
"This is amazing.Let's see if any cursed spirits dare mess with me again."
She clenched her fist, confidence swelling.
"Don't get ahead of yourself."
Edgar flicked her forehead."You're still a low-rank demon. Ordinary spirits won't be a problem, but some are much stronger than you."
"…Right."
Miko shrank a bit, then instantly perked up."Then Master, I just need to level up, right?Please help me level up faster!"
Edgar looked her straight in the eyes."You're sure you want to get stronger quickly?"
"Very sure."
"Alright then."
Miko brightened with anticipation.What kind of rapid-leveling method would it be?
Then—
Edgar's handsome face kept leaning closer.
Wait.Something felt wrong.
And then—her mouth was suddenly sealed by something warm.
A long while later—
"Hah… hah…!"
Miko gulped air, cheeks burning scarlet.Sweat soaked her uniform, outlining every curve.
"Master… I just became your subordinate… you're not tricking me, right?"
"It's real."
Edgar sounded perfectly confident."Didn't you notice your power went up?"
Miko blinked, then concentrated.Her eyes widened.
"Master… I really did get stronger!"
Only a little, but—she felt like she was right at the brink of a breakthrough.
"One step at a time," Edgar said.
He took out a vial of leveling serum.
"Miko, this is the true secret to getting stronger.With this, you'll be able to crush those spirits."
Miko tried to look away but couldn't.Her face turned even redder, her breathing heavier.
"Yes… I want to be stronger.I don't ever want to be afraid of spirits again."
She whispered this and reached out with her small, pale hand.
"Good. Show me your resolve."
Edgar smiled warmly.
"I… I'll do my best."
Feeling his hand on her head, Miko swallowed hard and nodded with all her strength.
"..."
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