Chapter 6: Black Lace

"Don't get me wrong, I just feel safer around you."

Utaha crossed her arms, her eyes constantly scanning the cursed spirits lurking nearby. She didn't feel safe at all.

She had carefully considered her decision.

First, after entering high school, she had chosen to live on her own.

Second, she never believed her home was free of evil spirits.

Rather than going back and sharing a space with them, it was far better to stay with Lynn.

At least here, she felt secure.

Well... it was also pleasing to the eye.

Thinking of this, Utaha couldn't help but steal a glance at Lynn.

If she didn't know he was an actual devil, she might have mistaken him for some noble heir.

Uh... wait.

Maybe he really was a noble among devils?

"That's all?"

Lynn looked disappointed.

Utaha's eyelids twitched.

No, this guy, with his head full of ridiculous thoughts, was definitely not a noble!

Then again, most nobles were trash too.

---

Utaha slipped into a pair of Lynn's slippers and glanced around his home in surprise.

"What? Is my place weird?"

"No, just... unexpected."

Utaha set her bag down. Earlier, she'd been too busy running for her life and had abandoned it in an alley. After everything was over, she had gone back to retrieve it.

"It's just... you're a devil, yet you live in such an ordinary place."

Lynn pulled out two cans of Coke from the refrigerator. "Devils need money to live in human society too."

At that, Lynn let out a sigh.

He had come to the human world at the age of seven. Life had been tough.

Fortunately, his status as a devil had some advantages.

By taking on odd jobs as an exorcist, he had managed to earn a decent living.

At the very least, this house was fully his.

He popped open a can and handed it to Utaha.

She took it with a quiet "thanks" and took a sip.

Sitting on the sofa, her gaze drifted into the distance.

Too much had happened today. The sheer impact of it all left her exhausted.

Though her physical fatigue had vanished when she was reincarnated as a devil, her mental exhaustion hadn't lessened in the slightest.

She wasn't sure how long she sat there in silence before a sharp ding snapped her back to reality.

"The bento's ready."

When she saw the half-priced convenience store bento on the table, she couldn't help but grumble, "So this is the great master's idea of a proper dinner?"

"Do you want it or not?"

Seeing Lynn offer the bento to her, Utaha took it without a word and started eating.

Judging by how smoothly she handled it, she had clearly eaten this kind of meal a lot.

Yet she had the audacity to complain?

After finishing her meal, Utaha finally remembered the real issue at hand.

"By the way, what exactly are we supposed to do as part of your Peerage?"

Lynn paused before replying, "Since the Peerage is just starting out, your first goal is, of course, to kill monsters, level up, and most importantly make money to support me."

"…?"

"…Me?"

Utaha widened her eyes, pointing at herself, then at Lynn. "Support you?"

She was just a high school girl!

Since when was she old enough to be supporting a man?!

"Relax. Once you get stronger, you'll be able to take on exorcism jobs, which will help you level up at the same time."

That much was true.

Utaha was successfully convinced.

What else could she do?

Lynn was now her master in every sense.

Even if she protested, it wouldn't change anything.

"Speaking of getting stronger..."

Utaha activated her demonic energy, materializing her Demonic Tome. "Are there any magic spells I can learn?"

She planned to fill this tome with magic!

Hitting evil spirits with a book was way too crude for a refined lady!

"Uh..."

Lynn opened his system panel, glanced at his skill list, and then fell silent.

Seeing his reaction, Utaha suddenly had a very bad feeling.

"You... you can't be serious..."

Lynn shrugged. "I came to the human world when I was seven. I never had the chance to learn any magic techniques."

Smack!

Utaha slapped her forehead.

It was over.

It looked like she would have to keep relying on hitting enemies with her tome for now.

"Don't worry. As a devil, I do have some connections."

Well... even if they had just become acquaintances today.

Lynn hadn't expected the contact information he had gathered to come in handy so soon.

Tomorrow was the weekend.

---

The next day.

Utaha yawned as she walked out of the bedroom and down to the first floor.

She found Lynn sitting on the sofa, lost in thought.

For a second, she was stunned.

Huh?

When had there been a man in the house?

Wait!

She snapped awake, memories of yesterday rushing back.

"Yo! Black lace."

Utaha instinctively yanked down the hem of her shirt to cover the exposed area.

Tsk tsk, Lynn clicked his tongue. "Didn't expect you to be wearing something underneath."

His gaze swiftly shifted to her upper body, which had become more exposed due to her tugging at the hem.

Utaha quickly crossed her arms to cover her chest, only for the black lace underneath to become visible again.

Utaha: "..."

Forget it. Kill him.

As she turned back to change clothes, Lynn muttered regretfully, "If I had known, I would've bought a smaller house."

After getting dressed, Utaha shot him a cold glare. "Did you enjoy the view?"

Lynn gave her a big thumbs up. "A feast for the eyes!"

Utaha bit her lip, feeling her ears burn.

How the hell was this guy so shamelessly honest?!

Forget it…

"Let's go."

Destination: Kuoh Academy.