Half a month passed.
Cael stood alone inside the new funeral home, running final checks on the equipment and preparing for opening day.
Reze had not seen her parents in a long time, so she spent the past few days taking them around different tourist spots. With her strength, there was no concern about Fire Kin Devils causing trouble.
Besides that, ever since Makima pushed new policies through the cabinet, large-scale devil subjugation squads had become a common sight across the streets.
With heavy rewards on the line, people did not hesitate.
Skip work, hunt devils, and still get paid your normal salary? Who would say no to that?
So they rushed in.
Chefs, waiters, teachers, actors, people from every profession grabbed whatever weapons they could find. Axes, kitchen knives, even makeshift spears. Hardware stores were emptied out in days.
These amateurs roamed around in excited groups, searching for devils like they were chasing walking piles of 100,000 yen.
The moment they spotted one, they charged in without hesitation.
Cael barely had to try. He casually wiped out close to a thousand Fire Kin Devils.
At this point, they were nearly extinct in Shinjuku.
The war between humans and devils was in full swing across Japan.
Thanks to that chaos, Asa had grown stronger again.
She originally wanted to help at the shop, but Cael shut that idea down immediately. Several months had passed, and her stomach was already starting to show.
No way in hell was she working.
She needed rest, not stress.
Cael brushed his fingers across the surface of the cremation furnace, checking for residue, then nodded in satisfaction.
"As expected from high-end equipment, this is clean as hell."
Everything in the shop was top tier. He did not cut corners.
The incinerator in front of him could reach up to 1350 degrees Celsius. A body could be fully cremated in about thirty minutes, and even at worst, it would not exceed an hour.
Efficient and environmentally friendly.
The primary chamber burned the body, while the secondary chamber incinerated the gases again at high temperature, reducing pollutants significantly.
Cael slid the cremation tray back in and shut the machine following standard procedure.
The sun was already tilting west.
Afternoon again.
Makima would be getting off work soon, and Reze was coming back tonight. Cael figured it was time to buy groceries and head home to cook.
The funeral home had dorms, sure.
But work and life should stay separate.
Living with his wives was way more comfortable.
Staying here all the time felt like being trapped on the job.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Cael paused.
The sound came from inside the incinerator.
A muffled female voice followed.
"Cael, it is so dark and hot in here, hurry and pull me out…"
"Huh?"
He yanked the furnace open.
Fami jumped out immediately and clung to him, pressing herself against his body while raising her hand in front of his face.
"Look, my hand is burned. It hurts so much…"
Cael inhaled sharply, then forced himself to calm down.
This girl was seriously acting cute now?
"Your hand hurts? That is your own damn fault."
He grabbed her by the collar and lifted her off him like a stray cat.
"It is hot as hell, you annoying toy. Get off me."
Fami refused to stand properly. She dropped to all fours and hugged his leg, looking up at him with a pitiful expression.
"Cael, you have not played with your toy in so long. I am starving…"
"Play with the toy?" Cael let out a low laugh. "Then beg."
Her eyes lit up instantly. She rubbed her cheek against his pant leg like a puppy seeking attention.
"Master, please play with me~"
Cael covered his face.
"Damn it, I cannot even look at you."
He sighed and lowered his hand.
"Fami, you are the Hunger Devil, not some damn Education Devil. There are a million ways to satisfy yourself mentally. Why is your brain stuck on that crap?"
"Why?" she tilted her head, genuinely confused. "Because I have not done it with you. I am curious what it feels like."
"Curious? Go figure it out yourself."
Cael clicked his tongue. Talking to her always dragged his thoughts into chaos.
This girl had no limits.
Fami blinked.
"I tried. It is boring. Unless you help me, Cael."
"…."
He was speechless.
Cael took a deep breath and raised a finger.
"Listen carefully. I have standards. That kind of thing only happens with my wives. You are just a tool, a teleport anchor. Show up when I need you, that is enough. A kiss is already generous, do not push your luck, you damn pervert."
Fami stared at him, then spoke seriously.
"Then I will become your wife too."
"Huh?"
"You said it yourself. Only wives can do it. Then I will be like the others. No, I will be higher than them. Not just your wife, but your toy too."
Cael's face twitched.
This kind of person giving her heart was like tossing meat to a dog.
For a moment, he considered teaching her a harsh lesson, something extreme enough to wipe that curiosity clean.
But…
Keeping her hanging like this felt more entertaining.
He waved dismissively.
"I do not like you. There is no emotional foundation. I would not enjoy it."
Fami could read minds, so there was no point playing games.
Better to speak faster than think.
She responded instantly.
"Then I will pursue you. We will build that foundation. Whatever gift you want, I can give it."
"Anything?" Cael smirked. "Then give me some Devil Chess Pieces. Let me see how serious you are."
"Okay."
She reached into her underwear.
A pile of wooden carvings fell to the ground.
"Take them all. I am your wife. What is mine is yours."
Cael froze.
"Holy shit… you are actually giving them?"
He crouched down and started rummaging through the pieces.
Most of them looked unfamiliar.
Then one caught his eye.
A carving shaped like a Möbius strip.
"What devil is this?"
Fami answered calmly.
"The Eternal Devil."
"Eternal…"
Cael's grin slowly spread.
"Well, damn. Did not expect to see an old friend here."
He rolled the carving between his fingers.
"I just thought of something fun."
Fami's eyes sparkled.
"How do we play?"
Cael smirked.
"Summon the Eternal Devil. I will kill it and take its ability."
"Okay."