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"Have you made up your mind?"
"Yes!"
Yukinoshita Yukino nodded firmly.
Edgar extended a finger. A drop of golden blood welled up, and he said softly, "Then let's begin."
Yukino's body trembled. She inhaled deeply before she finally moved.
A few seconds later, she was standing there in nothing but pure-white undergarments.
As expected.
Yukino's sister really hadn't lied.
Edgar glanced at her and let out a sincere sigh from the bottom of his heart.
Yukino: "???"
Why did it feel like he was thinking something rude?
But soon—
A searing heat brushed against her skin, and Yukino shivered.
Is demon blood supposed to be this hot?
Right before her eyes, a heart-shaped sigil flashed across her pale skin and vanished.
Thump— thump thump!
Her pupils tightened, and the sound of her heartbeat echoed through the empty clubroom.
It felt like… something had just been born inside her.
At the same time, the skin along her back and tailbone began to wriggle.
Lines of strange script surfaced one after another:
[Yukinoshita Yukino]
[Race: Demon]
[Master: Edgar]
[Level: LV9]
[Skill: Temperature Manipulation]
[Temperature Manipulation: Allows free control over temperature.]
"Temperature manipulation, huh…"
Edgar's eyes glimmered as he read the information.
Another skill with huge potential.
On the other side—
As the reincarnation magic circle faded, Yukino stared blankly at her own clenched fists. She could feel it clearly: strength many times greater than before.
"And… I can… actually fly…"
She murmured under her breath and lightly fluttered the wings on her back.
A second later, her feet left the floor.
"Ah, black wings."
Edgar commented casually.
Yukino froze mid-air, face flushing scarlet. She dropped back down and hurriedly pushed down her skirt.
"What a shame…"
Edgar sighed with deep regret.
Yukino: "..."
Becoming his familiar… was this a mistake?
"Here."
Edgar smiled and handed her the written stat sheet.
"This is…?"
"Your status."
He explained as usual.
"I see."
Yukino blinked and began reading through it.
"So from now on… Edgar is my master…"
She muttered softly when she saw the line at the top.
Strangely enough, she didn't feel much resistance.
After all, choosing to become a demon meant she had already expected certain things.
Her gaze moved down to the skill: Temperature Manipulation.
So this is what supernatural power feels like?
And the mysterious energy now flowing inside her—
Becoming a demon really was a complete rebirth.
"Right, Master… is there really such a thing as magic?"
Yukino's eyes sparkled with pure curiosity.
"Of course. I'll arrange someone to teach you later."
"Mm!"
Hearing that, Yukino looked even more excited.
Knock knock!
Suddenly, the Service Club room door was struck from the outside.
Yukino blinked in surprise.
What was going on today? Two visitors in a row?
"Put your clothes back on first."
Edgar reminded her as she zoned out.
"Ah?"
She panicked and quickly threw on her uniform.
Only after Yukino hid her wings and tail did Edgar call, "Come in."
Creak—
The door opened.
A girl with short wine-red hair stepped inside. Her figure was curvy, full of youthful energy.
Her long, smooth legs were impossibly eye-catching under the evening sun.
Ayase Momo scanned the room and finally landed her gaze on Edgar.
Her eyes brightened slightly.
What kind of unfairly beautiful man was this?
Wait— no. She didn't come here to admire handsome guys.
Shaking her head, she spoke: "Um, excuse me, this is the Service Club, right?"
"That's right. How can we help you?"
Edgar replied.
"I actually came to request something."
"I can't believe someone would really show up…"
Yukino muttered, "I thought nobody would take such an unreliable name seriously."
"Did I… misunderstand?"
Ayase scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Sorry for bothering you then."
She turned to leave, but Edgar called out:
"No, you didn't misunderstand."
Yukino nodded quickly. "Go ahead and tell us your request."
She wasn't into club activities…but her master had spoken.
"Well, I want to explore the abandoned school next door."
Yukino: "???"
What kind of request is that?
Why did it make no sense?
"Hehe, I'm into paranormal stuff."
Ayase admitted shyly. "And they say desks and chairs move on their own in the old building."
"So I want to check it out."
"Then go yourself."
Yukino said bluntly.
"Because I'm scared to go alone…"
"..."
Yukino fell silent.
…Fair enough.
"We'll take your request."
Edgar nodded.
It was a perfect chance to let his new familiar see the world a bit.
Dusk.Abandoned school building.
"Are… are there really ghosts here?"
Yukino whispered, hiding behind Edgar as she stared at the creepy structure.
"There definitely are."
Edgar nodded. "Dark abandoned places like this are prime habitats for cursed spirits."
Yukino swallowed hard and pointed inside. "Cursed spirits? You mean those things?"
Some time during their talk, twisted, grotesque spirits had appeared one by one.
Her face went pale.
"That's right. Those are the 'ghosts' you were talking about."
Edgar patted her shoulder and gently pushed her forward. "There are plenty of them. Perfect for leveling up."
"Huh!?"
Yukino's eyes went wide.
She just became a demon, and she already had to fight ghosts?
Wasn't this way too fast!?
"You can see them? You two really can see them?"
Ayase asked in disbelief.
"Look, they've noticed you now."
Edgar laughed. "Relax. They're just low-level spirits. Your skill should deal with them easily."
"..."
Ayase stared blankly.
"Um… could someone explain what is happening right now?"
She raised her hand like they were in class.
She understood every individual word they were saying.
But put all together—
She had absolutely no idea.
Ghosts? Cursed spirits? Skills? What?
"To put it simply, Yukino's going to fight a bunch of ghosts."
Edgar gave the short version.
"But… why can't I see anything?"
"Because normal people can't see cursed spirits."
Edgar gave her a quick look.
Hmm. There really was a dormant power inside her.
But—
Without awakening, she was no different from an ordinary human.
"Wait."
Ayase realized something and hurriedly asked, "Then… you two aren't normal people?"
"Obviously."
"Then… can you let me see too?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
As a paranormal fan, she had met plenty of fakes.
"Of course."
Edgar flicked his finger. A spark of magic brushed across Ayase's eyes.
And then—
Ayase saw the real world.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"
Her scream pierced through the abandoned building.
"..."
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