Chapter 40
"Go, Pochita."
"Devour" effect activated. Gained ability:
Untainted: Filth and impurities will struggle to leave any trace on your body. Your body will forever remain in its most natural, perfectly "dry and clean" state.
"What the… is this?!"
A faint layer of liquid seeped from his pores, quickly merged with surrounding water, and slid off his skin.
It was the tiniest internal impurities. In a way, this was comparable to the "marrow-cleansing" or "bone-refining" processes found in certain wuxia/xianxia novels.
Except Denji's body was already near-perfect. The expelled amount was just normal metabolic waste… something he didn't even know the name of, but now he'd never have to worry about it again.
And honestly—his body did feel noticeably lighter. Even the air he breathed seemed fresher~
He'd thought it was another useless ability at first, but damn—this is actually pretty strong.
Looking at it this way, the skill has considerable untapped potential worth exploring!
After consuming the "trash-tier" devil, Denji also made a small discovery.
He opened his palm toward empty air. The Hellhound exhaled—several "bullets" dropped from midair.
Sure enough, that Bat Devil from before had also consumed pieces of Gun Devil flesh.
Just in far smaller quantities.
Looking at the gradually fusing Gun Devil fragments in his palm, Denji fell into thought, a few new ideas forming in his mind…
Night deepened.
Denji took Power home and they slept together under one blanket.
Hayakawa Aki kept vigil by Himeno's bedside, waiting for her to wake.
Despite explaining the situation multiple times, the doctor's diagnosis remained the same: extreme fatigue causing the body to force a shutdown—commonly known as "falling asleep."
If one had to name a contributing factor, perhaps a little alcohol played a role.
Aki naturally found this hard to believe, so he kept pressing the doctor:
"Doctor, she just used the contract price to force her devil to go all-out, didn't she?!"
The doctor adjusted his glasses, re-examined the report carefully, and confirmed:
"I'm well aware of how devil contract prices usually work—most devils simply 'eat' whatever they like as payment.
But right now she's healthier than I am. Aside from the prosthetic right eye, there's no missing body part anywhere. Vital signs stable, internal organs completely normal."
"Huh? But… why did she pass out like that? And you're sure her left eye is fine too?"
"Although her blood alcohol level isn't extremely high (just over the drunk-driving limit), that's exactly the problem! Drinking on an empty stomach followed immediately by extremely intense physical exertion.
Alcohol suppresses gluconeogenesis. With no food intake, her blood sugar reserves were already low. Then she performed that level of 'exercise,' causing acute hypoglycemia, combined with hyperventilation and dehydration—her brain simply 'shut off.' Simply put, she fainted from exhaustion. Alcohol was just the trigger."
The doctor rattled off a long string of explanations, leaving Aki stunned.
Closing the report, the doctor summarized:
"Also, her creatine kinase levels are alarmingly high—indicating muscle fiber damage. That's not from drinking; that's from overexertion.
Fortunately her constitution is strong, or this could have sent her straight into shock. Let her sleep. We're already giving her glucose and electrolytes. Once she's rested enough, she'll wake up."
With that, the doctor handed the full report directly to Aki and turned to leave—he had other patients waiting.
Aki flipped through Himeno's medical report and noticed several specially highlighted sections.
Liver Function Indicators: Mild nonspecific elevation. Analysis: Does not meet hepatitis criteria, but shows clear signs of alcohol-related damage. Recommendation: Mandatory abstinence from alcohol. Continued intake will impair liver detoxification capacity and increase metabolic load.
Lung Imaging: Increased and disorganized bilateral lung markings. Analysis: Typical imaging features of a heavy smoker, accompanied by chronic bronchial inflammation. Recommendation: Quit smoking. Regular pulmonary function follow-ups. (Special note: I've seen your scans. Keep smoking a few more years and you'll catch up to her soon.)
Seeing this, Aki wiped the sweat from his brow. From the report, it really did seem like nothing serious.
There were other specially marked items too.
Things like left-eye strain from overuse and frequent late nights causing excessive load, plus minor lingering sequelae from old injuries on various parts of the body.
The kind of "minor issues" almost every Public Safety agent has.
Closing the report and setting it aside, Aki rubbed his brow again, then turned back to gaze at Himeno.
His eyes lingered for a long time—he couldn't bear to blink.
He held her hand tightly with both of his own, warming it with his palms.
He stayed by her side like that. Who knows how much time passed.
When he woke again, a ray of sunrise light spilled through the window.
Eyes narrowed, blinking slowly—once he adjusted, his body creaked as he sat upright.
Mind not fully awake yet, but his movements and gaze automatically returned to their previous state—deeply watching Himeno.
Only now—aside from the change in light—something extra seemed to catch the corner of his vision?
A floating hand? Huh?!!
Aki snapped awake instantly from the abnormality.
This was… the Ghost Devil's hand.
Noticing his gaze, the clenched fist drew a little closer.
Is it trying to give me something?
For some reason, Aki unconsciously reached out to receive it.
The Ghost Devil opened its hand—a single cigarette fell into Aki's palm.
The cigarette was very special.
The moment he saw it, a memory flashed through Aki's mind.
It was back when he had just joined Public Safety. His senior Himeno had offered him a cigarette:
"Here, have one."
She smiled casually and held it out naturally between her fingers.
And back then, Aki had refused:
"Cigarettes corrode your bones. I don't want it."
Hearing that, Himeno-senpai's expression froze for a second—then she pouted and said:
"We're going to be working together for a long time, so just smoke one~"
Aki hesitated, weighing it—until Himeno put on a pitiful, wounded look.
In the end he couldn't bear to refuse her like that. He reached out and took the cigarette:
"I'll only smoke this one. Just this one in my entire life."
Seeing Aki accept it, Himeno-senpai's smile turned a little mischievous—like a big sister delightedly corrupting an innocent boy.
"Great~ I'll light it for you."
While Himeno searched for her lighter, Aki examined the cigarette in his hand.
He thought to himself: what's so good about this thing? Why are so many people addicted to it?
And he couldn't help muttering aloud:
"Letting a minor smoke—never seen a senpai like you."
Himeno's lighter-searching hand froze instantly. Then she exclaimed in shock:
"You're still a minor?!"
[Direct special note: This conversation took place three years ago. The subject is now an adult. Do not misflag!]
"Yeah…"
Himeno sighed helplessly and regretfully:
"Then I can't let you smoke it!!"
She looked slightly disappointed and gave a small sigh.
"Ahh~…"
She extended her hand toward Aki.
"Give it back."
She took the cigarette.
"I'll hold onto this one for now."
Pinching the cigarette between her fingers, her eyes rolled unconsciously as though pondering something profound.
Then, as if struck by inspiration, she smiled and said:
"When you grow up, the day you want to lean on a railing and smoke one—I'll give it back to you."
…
The memory ended there.
Aki looked carefully at the cigarette in his hand. There were strange marks on it—both ends seemed coated with something like lipstick.
Aki's mind raced, trying to decipher Himeno-senpai's meaning.
Coating both ends like this… is she telling me this cigarette isn't meant to be smoked…?
Fingers rubbing, he turned the cigarette slightly.
Written on it in that same lipstick:
True Love's Kiss
The English phrase meaning "True Love's Kiss"—anyone who's seen Sleeping Beauty knows what it refers to.
Aki felt his body tingle faintly. He even began doubting his own eyes and brain.
He looked at Himeno-senpai again, then back at the cigarette.
The writing hadn't changed. Still read True Love's Kiss.
In the corner of his vision, the Ghost Devil's arm still hovered. Sensing his gaze, it gave a small nod—like confirming yes…
It seemed… there was nothing left but to try.
Aki looked at Himeno-senpai's slightly parted lips. His heart trembled faintly…
--------------------------
Support us on Patreon and gain access to 100 chapters in advance!
patreon.com/inkshield
Special Offer: Badass Tier – 20% OFF
Use code: STAR20