Kobeni Higashiyama and Reze had both successfully enrolled as student athletes specializing in the "Devil Hunter" program.
Otonashi Chiya and Shingetsu had also officially started their roles, serving as Head Coach and Coach, respectively. Aside from the Head Coach, Shingetsu wasn't the only one on the coaching staff; the five Weapon Humans, including Whip and Barem, served as Chiya's right-hand assistants in coaching roles. Several other coaches assigned by the Devil Hunter Association also fell under Otonashi Chiya's command.
"So, why are you here too?"
Otonashi Chiya sat in his study—or rather, his office—staring at an unexpected figure. The Famine Devil, dressed in a school uniform, had clearly become a student at this institution.
"Can't any student apply for the specialized program lately? I am a student, after all," the Famine Devil said expressionlessly, her tone thick with a sense of entitlement.
"You know that's not what I'm asking,"Otonashi Chiya replied, feeling a bit helpless.
"I had a discussion with the principal, and he allowed me to enter this school under the guise of a student," she finally said more seriously.
"What did you 'discuss' with him?" Otonashi Chiya pressed.
"Nothing much. He's just an ordinary human; a slight threat was enough. But don't worry, I didn't hurt him," she said flatly.
"Then what is your purpose for being here? It can't possibly be just to play student," Chiya continued.
"Of course not. I came here for you," the Famine Devil stated bluntly.
Although Otonashi Chiya had been wearing a white mask when they met in Hell, the Famine Devil had identified him immediately by his scent. Finding him had been simple enough; she already knew his name from their encounter, and with his distinct ocular features, it was only a matter of asking around.
"Oh ho~ This is that Famine Devil from Hell, isn't it? Looks like she fell for you at first sight," the Wrath Devil suddenly chimed in from within Chiya's body.
"Don't talk nonsense. This girl clearly has an agenda," Chiya retorted internally.
He looked back at the Famine Devil. "Coming for me... for what exactly?"
"Cooperation," she said without hesitation. "I want you to help me stop the Great Prophecy of Nostradamus. Or rather... I want you to kill the Death Devil."
"The Death Devil? That's your older sister, isn't it? And since you're both Devils, why would you want to kill each other?"
Even with his "God's perspective," Chiya knew the original story didn't go into extensive detail regarding the Famine Devil's motives. He knew she wanted to kill the Death Devil, but the specific nuances remained unclear.
"Because I like humans. More specifically, I like certain things they create: cake, bread, potato chips, cola, milk tea... Once human civilization is destroyed, all these various delicacies will vanish," the Famine Devil explained.
She spoke candidly in front of Otonashi Chiya, precisely because she sincerely wanted to cooperate with him.
"Is that really the only reason...?" Chiya asked.
Although the Famine Devil had stated this reason in the original series, he still felt it was a bit too ordinary.
"We Devils have always followed our whims. Just as most Devils instinctively view humans as food, my instinct as the Famine Devil is even more focused on consumption. Whether it's humans, human food, or other Devils, they can all become my food when necessary," the Famine Devil said solemnly. "However, I happen to like humans and don't wish to treat them as prey. Devils taste terrible. By comparison, I love the food humans make the most. Therefore, the Death Devil is essentially interfering with my most primal desires."
Listening to this, Chiya couldn't find any fault in her logic.
Humanoid Devils were generally friendlier or even fond of humans; in the original story, even the half-human Angel Devil had fallen in love with a human girl. It was also true that Devils found the flesh and blood of their own kind revolting—the Bat Devil, for instance, thought the Chainsaw Man's blood tasted awful. As for the Famine Devil herself, she was a notorious glutton whose appetite required the equivalent of dozens of people's worth of food just to be satisfied.
The Famine Devil continued, "I witnessed your battle with the Darkness Devil. Based on the strength you displayed then, I believe you are the most promising candidate to kill the Death Devil."
The idea of collaborating with Otonashi Chiya had taken root in her mind back then. Her original plan involved using the War Devil to handle Death, but the War Devil was currently in a crippled state with very little power left. Restoring her—let alone surpassing her prime—would take an immense amount of effort.
Ever since that bloody battle with the Chainsaw Devil years ago, the War Devil had been severely wounded. Not only had she failed to recover, but she had actually grown weaker. Because the "World War II Devil" had been consumed by the Chainsaw Devil, wars between humans became rarer and almost negligible. People had nearly forgotten their fear of "War," and so the War Devil inevitably grew weaker.
Only war-themed films and television, along with the rare conflicts that occurred in reality, barely kept the War Devil from disappearing entirely.
Because of this, the War Devil held the deepest grudge against Pochita among the Four Horsemen. She had been beaten by him until she became a fool obsessed only with revenge against the Chainsaw Man, desperate for him to spit out her kin—Devils like Nuclear Weapons and World War II.
"Making the Death Devil die... that's a bit ironic," Chiya quipped.
"Even though she will be resurrected after being killed, if she is slain during the Great Prophecy of Nostradamus, the prophecy will be terminated," Fami explained. "So, are you willing to cooperate with me?"
"I can help you deal with the Death Devil, but you must enter a contract with me. Otherwise, I can't trust you," Chiya said. "As for the terms, you must help me find the Control Devil. Of course, if you already know her whereabouts, just tell me directly."
"Furthermore, you must allow me to use your power when necessary."
He was quite curious about Fami's abilities. Although her appearances in the original story were brief, she maintained a mysterious and powerful image, with powers seemingly related to an "unequal exchange of scales."
As soon as the words left Chiya's mouth, Fami immediately finalized the contract with him.
"The contract is established. I will help you find my sister, Control, and allow you to use a certain degree of my power."