When Hōjō Yoru stopped in front of a room door—clearly about to "show off" whatever was inside—Yuuki Asuna took half a step back and asked cautiously,
"This isn't going to be… something weird, is it?"
When she said "weird," she wasn't thinking of anything lewd. She might be a little over-imaginative sometimes, but not that over-imaginative.
What flashed through her mind was something far more gruesome: transparent display cases lining the room, each one filled with the remains of Devils and ghouls—trophies displayed by a Devil Hunter.
But the more she thought about it, the less likely it seemed.
Not because Yoru wasn't ruthless enough—he absolutely was—but because after every fight, whether the enemy was a Devil or a ghoul, he always summoned that black-and-gold serpent he called the "Gluttony Devil" and had it devour every last scrap.
If everything got eaten, what would he even put on display?
Besides, it would be a waste. And Yoru didn't strike her as the kind of person who'd waste food.
Hearing her question, Yoru nodded with a solemn, almost too-serious expression.
"It really is."
Before Asuna could respond, he continued with a perfectly straight face—clearly enjoying himself far too much.
"This is my specially renovated 'confinement room.' In a moment, you'll go in, I'll knock you out, and then—"
"Stop, stop, STOP!!"
Asuna instantly regretted opening her mouth and giving him the chance to go full nonsense-mode. Her cheeks burned bright red as she snapped in furious embarrassment.
"What are you even saying in front of a girl?!"
"See? You're rushing again."
Yoru chuckled, then finally opened the door.
"But honestly, compared to the joke I just told… what's actually in this room might shock you even more."
Curiosity flared in Asuna despite herself. She stepped inside—and the moment she saw the room, she froze, stunned exactly the way Yoru had predicted.
"This is…?"
Three transparent glass display cabinets stood neatly arranged.
In the first one she looked at were several handguns of different models, two shotguns, a number of black custom grenades, and other items she didn't fully recognize at a glance but could guess from their shapes—flashbangs, smoke grenades, and similar tactical gear. On the bottom shelf were magazines and accessories like suppressors.
On the left were bandages, hemostatic gel, and various labeled bottles—clearly a dedicated first-aid supply setup.
On the right were cold weapons: daggers, short blades, and even swords.
"This is… kind of insane," Asuna murmured.
Yoru's response was calm to the point of indifference.
"It's not that crazy. As a non–full-time outsourced member of the Anti-Demon Special Operations Division, the range of equipment I can request is limited. Don't even think about sniper rifles, SMGs, or assault rifles. They won't approve the pistol models that can basically sweep like a micro-SMG either. Against large Devils, firearms don't do much damage—grenades and flashbang-type tools are way more practical."
Asuna nodded, half understanding—then immediately caught a contradiction.
"Then what about the cold weapons? Do they do some kind of special damage? Are they even better than guns?"
Yoru waved a hand and gave an answer that made Asuna go blank—annoying, yes, but also completely logical in a way she couldn't argue with.
"Oh, those? Purely for looking cool. Totally useless."
"Ugh…"
Asuna rubbed her forehead and sighed.
"Your personality… I genuinely don't know how to describe it."
She couldn't tell whether she should roast his absurdity—or admire the sheer, ridiculous strength of his mental composure.
He'd witnessed something bloody in the morning and fought the Bat Devil, then killed two ghouls with his own hands at night…
And yet he showed not the slightest discomfort or nausea the entire time. He was even casually cracking jokes.
In a certain sense…
Hōjō-kun was scarier than Devils and ghouls.
...
Half an hour later, in the master bedroom.
"Um…"
Asuna stood barefoot on the wooden floor in a loose T-shirt and shorts. Whether it was from her shower or from nervous embarrassment, her fair skin carried a faint pink flush. Fingers pinching the hem of her shirt, she stole glances at Yoru and spoke in a small voice.
"Thanks for lending me clothes… I'll wash them and return them to you."
Yoru waved it off.
"No need. Keep them. Consider it a reward."
Asuna froze—then her face went crimson as she stammered.
"W-who wants your used clothes as a reward, you pervert! You're seriously a pervert!"
"What 'used' clothes?" Yoru laughed. "They're new."
Then he tilted his head, smiling like he was poking a bruise on purpose.
"Or… do you want the ones I've worn as the reward?"
"Y-you…!"
Steam practically rose from Asuna's head. Even her toes curled in embarrassment. She dove into the futon on the floor and yanked the blanket over her head.
"Super pervert!"
From under the blanket, she listened to the sound of Yoru turning off the lights and lying down on the bed. Minutes passed. Finally, she cautiously poked her head out again and looked toward him.
"Hōjō-kun."
"Hm?"
"Good night… and, um… thank you. For today."
"No problem. Greatness requires no explanation."
"You're saying weird things again."
Asuna complained softly, then closed her eyes.
She'd been tense all day, and it was already one in the morning. She was exhausted to the bone.
And yet one thought kept circling in her mind, refusing to let her fall asleep.
Hōjō-kun was willing to act with her because she might have a special ability.
But if, in the end…
she couldn't master that ability, or couldn't use it in combat—
Then she would just be an ordinary high school girl.
And she wouldn't be able to keep acting alongside him—the Devil Hunter.
At that point, their paths…
might never cross again.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 90)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 95)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter70)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter70)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter60)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 20
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 20
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