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Inside the restaurant,the air was unbearably heavy.
Every second dragged by.
Mine was already sinking into despair—until, suddenly, Edgar smiled and spoke.
"Well, since you've begged me so sincerely… I suppose I'll grant your request."
"R–really?!"
Mine's head shot up, her eyes shining with disbelief and joy. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes.
"Thank you, Lord Edgar! Thank you for giving me this chance. I swear I'll serve you with everything I have."
The fulfillment of her long-buried wish felt like a miracle, as though she'd been pulled straight from hell into heaven. Her gratitude was so overwhelming it was almost instinctual.
"I'll be looking forward to it, then."
Edgar reached out and ruffled her soft pink hair, the gesture strangely gentle.
…Right?
Meanwhile, Sheele blinked, still struggling to catch up.
Oh—right. Lord Edgar had agreed to their request.That meant she and Mine didn't have to be separated anymore.
Realization slowly spread across her face.
Mine: "..."
Seriously, this friend of hers… being a pure-hearted airhead was one thing, but this was on another level.
If Mine wasn't around to look after her, Sheele would probably get tricked, sold off, and still happily help the swindler count their money.
With a sigh, Mine began shooting her increasingly desperate looks.
Mine: ???
Wait—oh, right. The plan!
Snapping back, Mine lunged forward and wrapped herself around Edgar's leg.
"..."
Feeling the sudden press of soft curves against him, Edgar's expression turned… complicated.
So it really wasn't about feelings at all—just practiced technique.
This girl was surprisingly easy to read.
He gave her a meaningful glance.From her appearance, no one would have guessed she'd prepared herself so thoroughly.
He had been planning to let them stew for a while longer.Who would've thought they'd launch such a bold attack so quickly?
Oh well.Sooner or later, it made no difference.As long as they achieved the goal, that was what mattered.
Edgar reached out and rested his hand on Sheele's head, lightly stroking her hair. With his other hand, he drew a line across his finger, golden blood welling up.
"One last reminder: once you become my dependents, you'll be demons. And your body and soul will belong to me."
"Yes, Master!" ×2
Mine and Sheele nodded in unison, even switching to the new title without hesitation.
So perfectly in sync?
Edgar chuckled softly. "In that case… take off your outer clothes."
At his words, neither girl hesitated—they immediately began undressing.
Mine didn't know what a reincarnation ritual required, or why removing clothes was necessary. But since it was Lord Edgar's order, she didn't dare question it. She had steeled herself for this long before coming here.
Sheele was even simpler.Beforehand, she and Mine had already talked it over:
If there was a plan, follow it.If not, just copy whatever Mine did.That way, nothing could go wrong.
Before long, both girls had stripped down.
The sight made Edgar draw in a sharp breath.
Mine, clutching her outer robe to her chest, shyly tried to shield herself. Underneath, she wore a crimson lingerie set, its fabric thin and revealing. Pale, delicate skin peeked through every gap, the effect far more suggestive than simple nudity.
Sheele wore the same outfit, but on her voluptuous figure the curves seemed ready to spill out of their confines at any moment.
The scene was overwhelming, impossible to take in at once.
Eriri, watching from the side, was left gaping in shock, her face burning scarlet.
H–how could they…
Those two… she never would've guessed.
Regret stabbed at her.Why hadn't she made her move sooner?
On the other side, Shiho Miyano and the others exchanged wary glances.
These two women were definitely not as simple as they looked.
"Master… what should we do next?" Mine asked in a small, trembling voice, cheeks flushed crimson.
Feeling his blood stir, Edgar allowed himself a smile. "Your outfits are… impressive. Whose idea was this?"
"Oh—Mine's," Sheele admitted honestly. "She thought it might come in handy."
Even Sheele, usually so guileless, blushed faintly. No matter how oblivious she could be, she was still a woman.
This was the first time she'd ever revealed herself to a man like this. The embarrassment was undeniable.
"Hmm. You've got taste," Edgar said, stroking his chin.
Without further delay, he let drops of golden blood fall onto their bare skin.
Brilliant light flared. A glowing heart-shaped crest flashed briefly across each of their bodies.
Mine and Sheele both felt their hearts pound like drums in their chests, as if something deep inside was being stirred awake.
And then—faint, glowing script surfaced across their skin:
[Mine]
[Race: Demon]
[Master: Edgar Lucifergus]
[Level: LV26]
[Skill: Rebirth Through Death]The more injuries sustained, the greater the power unleashed.
[Sheele]
[Race: Demon]
[Master: Edgar Lucifergus]
[Level: LV26]
[Skill: Iron Body] Transforms the body into steel, greatly enhancing defense.
Not bad at all.
Edgar studied the attribute screens for Mine and Sheele, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Mine's skill, Rebirth Through Death, was definitely one of those rare, god-tier abilities—something that could completely turn the tide when things looked hopeless.
As for Sheele's Iron Body, his gut told him it was far from just ordinary steel.
By now he had figured something out:even if a skill seemed plain on the surface, once his followers grew stronger, the true depth of their abilities would naturally awaken.
"Here, take a look."
Edgar copied down the attribute information and handed it to the two girls.
"This is…?"
After his quick explanation, Mine and Sheele immediately forgot about getting dressed, huddling over the parchment instead.
Their eyes went straight to the last line—their unique skills.
"Rebirth Through Death."
"Iron Body."
The moment they read the descriptions, both of their faces lit up.
Only two skills each.For Edgar himself, they would've been trivial.But in the hands of Mine and Sheele, they could transform their strength completely.
"Rebirth Through Death is amazing!" Mine's voice shook with excitement.
Her heavy artillery could already unleash devastating power under pressure. With this skill amplifying her strength the more danger she faced, she'd be able to fight back no matter the odds.
Sheele, meanwhile, was quietly pleased with Iron Body. Combined with her technique Everything Cleaves in Two, it meant she could simply charge through most enemies without hesitation.
And more importantly—they were demons now.
They both felt it. Their physical strength had multiplied several times over.Even deeper, inside their bodies, an overwhelming current of energy surged.
If Eri's words were right, this was what people called mana.
And it all came from their master, the great Lord Edgar.
Mine lifted her head, her expression serious."Master, I want to get stronger as quickly as possible. I made a promise—I'll serve you with everything I have."
As she spoke, her pale skin almost seemed to melt into the color of her hair, giving her an ethereal look.
The other women in the room exchanged odd glances.
Good grief.They had almost underestimated her.Even with everyone here watching, Mine showed that kind of determination.
No wonder she had been chosen to join Night Raid, to become an assassin.
Edgar chuckled at her request. "Since you've made up your mind, how could I refuse?"
He produced a vial of breakthrough potion from his supplies. "But just so you know, using this will hurt—"
He didn't even get to finish before Mine snatched it from his hand.
"…Well then." Edgar sighed. "Guess my warning was pointless."
With that settled, he didn't bother hovering. He picked up his knife and fork instead, finally digging into his long-delayed meal.
He'd been starving—who would've thought things would drag on this long?First order of business: restore his stamina.
He ate heartily, clearing away several servings in one go.
Once satisfied, he leaned back in his chair, casually glancing at Mine again.
The potion was already working its way through her system. She was clearly prepared, waiting for the perfect moment to endure the pain.
Good. That meant he didn't have to worry—her technique was still rough, but she clearly had at least theoretical knowledge guiding her. Probably the work of one of his other followers.
With his hunger sated, Edgar felt his energy slipping, his body relaxing into lazy comfort.
Who knew how much time passed.
Mine suddenly felt it: a flood of strength welling up inside her.
"So this is… the feeling of leveling up? I really am stronger now…" She swallowed hard, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Her demon wings twitched uncontrollably, stirring the air and accidentally rousing Edgar from his drowsy nap.
He slapped her wings irritably. "Stay still."
"Yes, Master."
Mine quickly folded them back, too nervous to disturb him again.
But her newfound power made it impossible to sit still for long.
"..."
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