Chapter 5: Let’s Go To Your Place!
Utaha's eyes widened in disbelief.
Lynn—this devil!
He actually pushed her, a beautiful girl, straight into danger without hesitation, leaving her alone to face the cursed spirit?!
She wanted to curse at him.
But as the cursed spirit lunged closer, her heart tightened, and there was no time to complain.
What do I do?!
Think! Think!
That's right!
The Demonic Tome!
She was an Archivist Devil now!
How could a mere cursed spirit intimidate her?!
With newfound confidence, Utaha quickly opened the Demonic Tome, preparing for battle.
Snap!
She shut it just as fast.
The pristine white pages made her despair.
She had only just reincarnated as an Archivist Devil, there wasn't a single recorded ability yet!
"You can see it!"
The cursed spirit's guttural roar echoed closer.
Its rancid breath blew against her face, sending shivers down her spine as her long black hair fluttered.
Her mind went blank.
"D-Don't come any closer!!"
Acting purely on instinct, Utaha swung the Demonic Tome in desperation!
Boom!
A powerful gust of wind tore through the alley.
It wasn't a casual swing, it was a full-force strike!
Even Utaha herself was momentarily stunned.
The cursed spirit?
Gone.
---
Lynn, watching from the sidelines, smirked.
Utaha exhaled in relief and turned to glare at him with resentment.
Lynn, however, showed no guilt whatsoever.
What a joke.
As a Peerage member, wasn't it her duty to level up and support her master?
Besides, he wouldn't have let her die.
This cursed spirit was weak, even if Utaha just stood still, it likely wouldn't have even scratched her defense.
After all, she was a Low-Rank Devil now.
"How do you feel?"
Utaha shot him a glare, took a deep breath, and composed herself. Then, with practiced calm, she said:
"Not bad."
Lynn chuckled.
If he hadn't seen her flailing moments ago, he might have believed her.
"Since it's 'not bad,' let's keep going?"
"…Huh?"
Utaha blinked in disbelief.
"Just kidding."
She gave him a deadpan look.
"That wasn't funny."
Ignoring her complaints, Lynn continued, "Get used to it for today. We'll start serious monster hunting tomorrow."
Utaha's expression twitched, but she remained silent.
Seeing that she had no more objections, Lynn turned and walked out of the alley.
Utaha instinctively followed.
Once they stepped onto the street, Lynn tilted his chin forward, motioning ahead.
"Don't you want to get stronger?"
Utaha looked up.
And immediately regretted it.
Everywhere—on sidewalks, street corners, alleys, cursed spirits loomed.
Some stood. Others squatted.
But they all asked the same chilling question to passing pedestrians:
"Can you see it?"
Utaha's lips parted, but she found herself speechless.
After a long silence, she finally muttered:
"…Has Nippon fallen?"
So many cursed spirits…
It was worse than she imagined.
"These ones, just like the one you killed are merely low-level cursed spirits," Lynn explained.
Low-level.
Utaha clenched her fists.
She understood what he meant.
Low-level meant there were stronger ones.
And more importantly.
She had no other choice.
She was now a Devil.
And she had a Master.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she took a deep breath.
When she reopened them, her gaze was steady and resolute.
"I understand."
She turned to Lynn and spoke firmly.
"Make me stronger, Lynn."
Lynn raised a brow, amused.
"Hmm? What should you call me now?"
Utaha paused, then narrowed her eyes at him.
"Perverted Master."
Lynn mulled it over.
…Not bad.
It had a certain charm to it.
Smirking, he pulled out his phone.
"Here, add me on LINE. It'll be easier to stay in touch."
Utaha frowned slightly.
"Sigma man?"
A moment later—
> Kasumigaoka Utaha has entered the group chat.
Utaha glanced at the group name and immediately stiffened.
"What… is this?"
"Our Peerage group chat."
"I understand that. But why is it called this?"
Holding up her phone, she pointed at the group title:
"Lynn's Peerage Harem Group."
Lynn tilted his head.
"Isn't it accurate?"
Utaha stared at him, utterly speechless.
Was this guy serious?!
Lynn then added, "Don't worry. You're my first Peerage member, so right now, you still have me all to yourself. Consider it a perk for being first."
"Who the hell wants that kind of perk?!"
Utaha felt like she was running out of energy to complain today.
Still…
Lynn was right about one thing.
She was his first Peerage member.
If more joined in the future, she would automatically hold seniority.
And if a harem war broke out, she would be at an advantage.
The thought made her lips curl slightly.
Wait—
What the hell am I thinking?!
Utaha quickly shook her head, banishing the ridiculous notion.
It's all because of that stupid group chat name!
---
After exchanging contact info, Lynn stretched.
"Alright. It's late. Let's go home."
Utaha hesitated, glancing at the cursed spirits littering the streets.
"What about… them?"
"Don't worry. As long as you pretend not to see them, they won't attack."
Utaha blinked in realization.
"So that's why normal people don't get attacked?"
It made sense now.
That explained why, despite the sheer number of cursed spirits, the pedestrians walked by completely unaware.
Thinking back, before she became a devil, she couldn't see these things either.
But now that she knew they were always there, a chill ran down her spine.
Especially when she noticed some particularly nasty spirits clinging onto people's heads.
Goosebumps.
"If you're still nervous, I can walk you home. Consider it another first Peerage member benefit."
Lynn thought about it, he was indeed a bit worried about Utaha going alone.
Even though she was now a Low-Rank Devil, she was a special type—an Archivist Devil, reincarnated with unique abilities.
But this was still her first day experiencing the supernatural.
Her mindset was still human.
She lacked combat experience.
If something unexpected happened, she might not be able to handle it.
Before Lynn could press further, Utaha spoke up.
"No need."
Lynn raised a brow.
Before he could question it, she added.
"Let's go to your place."
Lynn: "…?"