Chapter 8 - Shiho: I'm going to bite you to death!
The string of notifications surprised Cain a little.
"That can't be right. Experience from… that?"
He narrowed his eyes and pulled up Shiho's panel.
[Shiho Miyano]
[Race: Devil]
[Master: Cain Lucifuge]
[Level: Level 10]
[Skill: Heart of Magic]
[Heart of Magic: No magic in the world holds any mystery for you; mastery comes extremely quickly.]
Sure enough, she'd gained a level.
"That means a servant's growth feeds back to the Master too and vice versa"
Cain felt the fresh surge of demonic power coursing through him and couldn't help smiling.
If he built a big enough peerage…
…
Sunlight slipped through the gaps in the curtains, painting warm stripes across the bed.
"You perverted Master, did you plan this from the start?!"
Shiho, hair still messy from sleep, pounded his chest with small, furious fists.
Cain caught her wrists and gave her his best innocent look. "I went out of my way to help you, you know."
He wasn't even lying.
He'd checked last night: if Shiho hadn't already felt something for him, plain mana replenishment wouldn't have caused that kind of reaction.
"..."
Shiho froze, staring at him in disbelief.
In other words, he was saying she'd taken advantage of him...
"I'm going to bite you to death!"
She lunged.
It didn't hurt him in the slightest, of course.
Cain just pulled her into his arms and held her there.
"Fine, fine. No more teasing."
His voice softened. He ran gentle fingers through her hair until the struggling stopped.
Shiho finally went still, muttering against his chest, "You got off way too easy, you jerk."
"This was second kills," he whispered into her ear. "So we're even."
Second kiss!?
Though disappointed, A tiny flicker of happiness flashed in her eyes.
She was surprised to realize she didn't feel any real regret.
He had saved her, after all.
Without him, those cursed spirits or the Organization would have ended her eventually.
And now not just her, but her sister, could finally live in the light.
She sighed. "It's getting late. I should shower and get ready."
Shiho's face went scarlet again. She did feel… sticky.
Yeah. Shower. Definitely needed.
…
The villa wasn't far from Kuoh Academy, so they walked.
Shiho stared at the impressive gates with a dazed expression.
"What's wrong?"
"You said you had business here… at school?"
"Yep. Transferring in."
Shiho blinked rapidly. "Devils go to high school?"
"Why not?" Cain shrugged. "This place is run by devils."
Shiho's mouth opened and closed a few times before she managed, "Has the world already been taken over by devils?"
"It's not that simple. Plenty of factions out there are just as strong." He gave her a quick rundown of the major players.
"So your childhood friend is basically the boss here?"
Shiho suddenly felt a stab of guilt. Last night had definitely happened.
Cain noticed her unease and smiled. "Don't worry. Rias and I are completely innocent."
"For now," he added with a wink.
Shiho glared. "As expected of you, Master. Total scumbag."
"Big appetite. Might choke one day," she muttered under her breath.
Her chest ached anyway.
She was a girl. Of course she'd get jealous.
"Cain! You're here."
Rias's voice rang out as she approached in her uniform.
Her gaze landed on Shiho. "And this is…?"
"My new servant," Cain answered casually.
Rias's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of jealousy crossing her face.
Demonic aura...
Pretty, though.
Had Cain really picked her up the moment he arrived in the human world just because she was cute?
Shiho straightened under the scrutiny. "Hello. I'm Shiho Miyano."
She refused to lose on presence alone.
Who wasn't a beautiful girl here?
"Rias Gremory. Pleasure to meet you."
After the introductions, Rias led them to the administration office to finish Cain's transfer paperwork.
Old schoolhouse, Kuoh Academy
The abandoned structure had a gloomy, almost haunted atmosphere, perfect for one of the school's rumored Seven Mysteries.
Once the paperwork was done, Rias brought them here.
Shiho glanced around the dim corridors. "This definitely feels like one of the academy's legends."
"There are rumors like that," Rias said with a small smile, pushing open a door. "But in reality, this is the Occult Research Club's base."
They stepped into a spacious, elegantly furnished room.
"Akeno, Koneko, look who came to visit."
Akeno smiled warmly. "Welcome, Cain-kun. Black tea or coffee?"
"Black tea for me. Shiho?"
"Coffee, please."
Koneko gave a small wave. "Hello, Cain senpai."
"Still as stoic as ever," Cain said, settling onto the sofa. He glanced around. "Rias, still just the two servants? Akeno and Koneko?"
Rias sighed helplessly. "It's not easy finding good pieces. Talent is rare."
"True enough."
Cain nodded.
Things were definitely different here.
Whether it was because of his own existence or the fused nature of this world, something had changed.
Gasper and Kiba didn't exists.