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Private Kuoh Academy.
That afternoon.
Refreshed and in a great mood, Edgar walked out of the old school building.
Upgrading a servant inside the Occult Research Club, with spectators, no less… that was a first for him. And honestly, kind of fun.
On the other side—
"President, do you want tea or coffee?"
"I… that's not what I want at all."
Rias answered weakly, giving Akeno a resentful look.
Akeno touched her cheek with a teasing smile. "Ara ara… then what else can I do for you?"
Rias: "…"
"If there's nothing else, I'll step out for now."
Akeno dipped her head politely and walked out.
"Nope, I need to rush home and shower."
Once she was out of Rias's sight, her steps quickened.
She'd been way too impulsive.What on earth was she thinking, going back like that?
But…
Her thighs tightened slightly and a faint blush crept across her cheeks as a dreamy smile slipped out.
It… actually felt pretty good.
And also…
Rias's aura felt stronger now.
Could it be…?
Akeno's eyes glimmered with suspicion.
Occult Research Club.
The door wasn't even closed, so Edgar just walked in.
The next second, a slim figure appeared in his field of view.
Under the glow of the setting sun, her black hair seemed almost luminous.
Her face was refined and flawless, her gemstone-like eyes sharp enough to pierce straight through someone.
Her uniform did nothing to hide her tall, graceful figure.The pleats of her black skirt fluttered gently, tracing the elegant lines of her long legs.
The only flaw was that her white blouse seemed to be struggling for dear life.
No doubt about it—Yukinoshita Yukino.
Edgar's gaze flickered as he glanced at the glowing devil contract.Yep, definite servant potential.
Kuoh Academy really was a gold mine.Just one day here and he'd already met three people with the qualifications.
"At this rate, I shouldn't let Vermouth cover shifts all the time. I should stroll around campus more often."
At this pace, his servant count might skyrocket.
While Edgar was sizing up Yukinoshita, she also noticed him.
"Has no one told you that staring like that is extremely rude?"
"If you keep looking, I'm calling security."
Yukino stood from her seat, her eyes sharpening, pressure radiating off her.
Edgar shrugged innocently. "I'm just appreciating something beautiful."
"Or… do you think you're ugly?"
"Even if you say that, it doesn't change the fact that you're a pervert."
Her guard rose even higher.
This idiot had stared at her chest—her airport runway of a chest—for way too long.
Does he want her to lose all dignity?
"What's wrong with being a pervert? What's wrong with H things? Without it, none of us would be alive today."
Edgar's face was completely serious.
Yukino: "…"
What is this guy's face made of?
She took a long breath. "I don't care who you are. Please leave. You're not welcome here."
As if being dumped here by that leftover-women homeroom teacher wasn't annoying enough, now she had to deal with this walking pile of indecent thoughts.
"No can do. Shizuka Hiratsuka recommended me."
"Still no. Please leave."
"Then go get Hiratsuka."
"So you really plan to freeload here?"
"I can't help it. Beautiful things draw me in."
Their back-and-forth continued until Yukino honestly began doubting life.
What was with this man?
For the first time ever, she was losing in the territory of sharp tongues.
Realizing she couldn't chase out the "new member," she sighed softly."Fine. Since you're part of the Service Club, could you introduce yourself?"
Edgar answered calmly, "My name is Edgar. I'm a recent transfer student, species: devil."
"Huh?"
Yukino blinked. Then deadpanned, "Didn't expect Pervert to also be a full-blown chuunibyou."
"I'm telling the truth."
Edgar grinned.
A moment later—
Whoosh.
A pair of long, black wings unfurled behind him.
Wind burst outward along with a dark, eerie aura.
"…"
Yukino's pupils shrank. Her mouth fell open.
A devil.
He really was a devil.
Staring at the wings, her brain completely shut down.
Edgar stepped forward, towering over her slightly."Now that you know my real identity, I can't just let you walk away so easily."
Her voice trembled. "You were the one who told me!"
"You asked, didn't you?"
Yukino froze.
…That was kind of true.
But did this devil have to be this honest?
He was definitely doing this on purpose.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
What should she do?
Money, influence—none of that meant anything in front of a literal mythological creature.
And she'd even… kind of offended him earlier.
She whimpered in her heart.
Thud!
A moment later, Yukino dropped into a perfectly executed dogeza.
She called out loudly, "Edgar, I apologize for my earlier rudeness! Please don't take offense!"
Quite sensible, huh?
Edgar raised a brow, unsurprised.
Any ordinary person, no matter how composed, would react like this after being thrown into the supernatural world.
"Relax. I won't hurt you."
Hearing that, Yukino eased up slightly.
"Take off your outer layer so I can perform the reincarnation ritual."
"… …"
Her newly relaxed body stiffened again.
Take… take off her clothes?
Was she going to lose her first time today?
Tears the size of pearls slid down her face.
"Hey hey, it's just in the way. I need room to draw the markings. I'm not doing anything weird. Don't cry."
Seeing her about to break down, even Edgar couldn't keep a straight face.
"R-really?"
"I have no reason to lie."
Yukino wiped her tears stubbornly, forcing them to stop."I—I wasn't crying."
"…Sure. Only your mouth is holding out."
After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Then what exactly is this reincarnation ritual?"
"Literal meaning."
He explained, "You'll be reincarnated as a devil. You'll become my servant."
"From then on, you leave the normal human world behind."
Yukino froze.
So she would become a devil?
Thinking about it, something warm swelled in her chest.
All her life—
People saw her as the model student.But she knew better.
She wasn't happy.
Her sister's shadow hung over her constantly.
Maybe…
Maybe becoming a devil really could change something.
And…
Edgar may be a devil, but he didn't act like the evil monsters from myths.Even after her harsh words earlier, he still cared when she cried.
Maybe he was actually someone she could get along with.
"Phew…"
Yukino drew in a deep breath, eyes growing firm.
"..."
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