Chapter 132: Named Scarlet
"Master, this person... she isn't an enemy, is she?"
Reze adopted a rare, serious expression as she sought confirmation from Otonashi Chiya. Even those Hybrids who hadn't stood up from the sofa straightened their backs, clearly entering a state of high alert, ready to trigger their transformations at a moment's notice.
Shingetsu was not only wary but also had a faint, ominous premonition. Could this be yet another woman with an unusual relationship with Chiya?
"No, she is a devil I have a contract with, though her appearance is very close to that of a human," Chiya replied.
"Ah, so it's actually a devil?" Reze was genuinely surprised.
She knew that many devils looked human-like, but the similarity in this case was staggering. Aside from the blood-red eyes and the crimson patterns—resembling tattoos—on certain parts of her body, she was virtually indistinguishable from a normal human.
For a split second, a thought flashed through Reze's mind: Could Chiya himself be a humanoid devil? After all, those eyes of his weren't something a normal human should possess. But she quickly dismissed the idea; devils cannot sign contracts with other devils. Only humans and devils can. According to the intelligence provided by the military brass, Chiya had signed a contract with the Wrath Devil at the Kyoto Public Safety Bureau—this "woman" before them had to be that devil.
"For real? This is the first time I've seen a devil that looks so much like a human!"
"If a devil with such a high degree of resemblance were to hide in human society, the consequences would be unimaginable..."
"It's not that bad. Humanoid devils are very rare, and they say these types are usually more friendly toward humans."
Furia and the others marveled at the sight.
Only Shingetsu's focus remained elsewhere. Her vague, ominous premonition seemed to be coming true...
"I am the Wrath Devil residing within Otonashi Chiya. Greetings to you all," the Wrath Devil introduced herself quite amiably, using Russian so everyone present could understand. "I already know your names, so there is no need to trouble yourselves with introductions."
She had been inside Chiya this entire time; whatever Chiya knew, she knew as well. Except for the times Chiya intentionally blocked her vision, she was privy to everything that happened to him.
Reze and the others finally lowered their guard. A devil contracted to Chiya would certainly not harm him—aside from the price of the contract itself.
"Should we just call you the Wrath Devil, then? Do you have another name that's easier to use?" Reze asked.
"A name? I am simply the Wrath Devil. I have never considered another name," the devil stated plainly. She saw herself as a pure devil and felt no need for a human name.
"Actually, calling you 'Wrath Devil' all the time is a bit of a mouthful. How about I give you a name?" Chiya suggested.
The Wrath Devil paused, looking slightly stunned. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded. "Then I shall leave it to you."
To her, this human youth held a special significance. If Reze or the others had tried to give her a human name, she would have rejected it outright.
"I've thought about it. I'll call you 'Scarlet' (Hiiro)," Chiya decided quickly.
Although he had always been terrible at coming up with names, he felt "Scarlet" was a decent choice, given that the most prominent color on the Wrath Devil was blood-red.
"Scarlet... huh..."
This was the first time since arriving in the human world that the Wrath Devil had a human name, and she found it quite pleasant to the ear.
"If you don't like it, I can try to think of another one, but I'm a total failure at naming things. I've really done my best," Chiya said with total honesty.
Scarlet gave a small smile. "No need. I think the name 'Scarlet' is quite good."
"As long as you're happy with it," Chiya replied.
Giving a name to a devil...
Shingetsu felt more and more that something was off.
"By the way, Miss Scarlet has never shown herself before, has she? Why the sudden appearance today?" Reze asked. According to the intelligence at the time, Chiya had signed the contract with the Wrath Devil long ago, yet she hadn't manifested until now.
"I wished to taste the food that Otonashi Chiya prepares," Scarlet answered truthfully.
"Oh! As expected of Master—even devils are lured in by your cooking skills," Reze marveled.
While Chiya busied himself in the kitchen, Denji and Kobeni went in to help. Shingetsu and Reze were sensible enough not to get in the way this time. Thus, Scarlet, Shingetsu, Reze, and the Hybrids were all left sitting together on the sofas in the living room.
Finally, Shingetsu couldn't hold back anymore. She looked directly at Scarlet, who was leaning back with her long, shapely legs crossed, and asked point-blank: "Wrath, what is your relationship with Otonashi Chiya?"
Scarlet reclined lazily against the sofa cushions. "A contractual one, naturally. Though, if you want to be specific, he is likely the human I care about most—bar none."
There wasn't a single lie in her statement, but to someone unaware of the full context, it was incredibly easy to misinterpret.
"Wha—!?"
Shingetsu fell into the misunderstanding immediately. Honestly, it would have been a miracle if anyone didn't misunderstand a line like that.
"My, my~ This is getting interesting..." Reze let out a meaningful smile. She had just finished calling Chiya a "deeply sinful" man, and now a beautiful humanoid devil with special feelings for him had appeared, essentially confessing her heart in front of everyone.
The Hybrids, meanwhile, were simply in awe of Lord Otonashi. To even charm a devil... and a high-level one like the Wrath Devil at that!
No one present doubted whether a devil could feel "love" for a human. While devils weren't as emotionally complex as humans, they still possessed basic feelings; the higher the rank, the richer the emotions. After all, even mid-tier devils like the Bat Devil and the Leech Devil were known to have romantic flings.
Busy with the stove, Otonashi Chiya had no idea what was happening outside. It wasn't until he brought the dishes out that he noticed the atmosphere in the living room had turned bizarre.
"Did... something happen just now?" Chiya asked as he set a plate on the dining table.
Shingetsu's eyes suddenly brimmed with a look of deep, silent resentment. "I really didn't expect that you wouldn't even spare a devil."