The Yuuki Family, like the Yukinoshita Family, is a prestigious and influential clan.
The difference is that the Yukinoshita Family is a prominent family in Chiba Prefecture, while the Yuuki Family is a prominent family in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The former primarily develops in political circles, while the latter is a major player in business circles, a well-known and respected family in the capital world.
Yuuki Asuna is the young lady of the Yuuki Family. Her father is the CEO of a large electronics manufacturer renowned nationwide and even internationally, and her mother is a university professor. Therefore, she received an elite education from a young age, always attending private aristocratic schools. Like Yukinoshita Yukino, she is a young lady who attracts much attention as an honor student.
This time, the reason she appeared in Chiba Prefecture was because her brother needed to attend a banquet here. Driven by curiosity, she followed her brother. She originally planned to visit other places while her brother attended the banquet, but instead, she encountered misfortune.
Yukinoshita Yukino thought she was attacked on her way home from school. In reality, Yuuki Asuna was attacked after accidentally getting lost.
As for the uniform and schoolbag, she did indeed bring them. Since she had no intention of attending the banquet or staying long, she didn't prepare a gown or casual clothes, and simply came in her uniform with her schoolbag.
The distance between Tokyo and Chiba is not too far, and Yuuki Asuna came in her family's private car, so she wasn't so particular.
Unfortunately, she never dreamed that a spur-of-the-moment decision driven by curiosity would lead her to encounter something that shattered her seventeen-year-old worldview.
Recalling yesterday's encounter, a trace of fear appeared on Yuuki Asuna's delicate face.
Leo noticed this fear, exchanged a glance with Yukinoshita Yukino, and then spoke.
"Do you remember what happened yesterday?"
Leo asked this question first.
"Yesterday..." Yuuki Asuna lowered her head, gripping the blanket tightly with both hands. The turmoil in her heart was fully displayed on her face, making her hesitantly say, "Yesterday, I accidentally got lost outside and was about to call my family to pick me up, but then I encountered a monster."
Yuuki Asuna probably would never forget what her mood was like at that time.
That feeling of her worldview shattering, her breathing stopping, and her mind going completely blank due to the intense shock, she still remembers vividly even now.
It wasn't dark yet; it was just early evening, but there were no pedestrians on the road Yuuki Asuna was walking on.
The terrifying creature, neither entirely fish-like nor entirely monstrous, appearing with a cackle from the shadows of the street, made her pupils widen in shock and her whole body tremble. She even forgot to run and just stood there frozen.
So, the monster lunged at her.
Then, Yuuki Asuna didn't remember anything else.
She did indeed faint and lose consciousness on the spot, just as that Rogue Demon had said.
In a way, this was actually very fortunate. Otherwise, she would have had to watch her abdomen being gnawed to pieces by the monster's pounce, and then face death with fear and despair.
"So, you don't remember anything that happened after you lost consciousness?"
Leo confirmed her condition and nodded thoughtfully.
Yukinoshita Yukino, however, was a little envious.
She also faced death, but she wasn't so lucky. She had to watch her body being pierced, watch herself fall into a pool of blood, and finally die with unwillingness.
"What happened after that? Did you save me?" Yuuki Asuna saw that neither of the two people in front of her showed any surprise at her encounter, and immediately understood something. She leaned forward slightly and asked urgently, "What exactly was that monster? Why does such a thing exist?"
Yuuki Asuna had just been worried that others wouldn't believe her outrageous encounter, yet also hoped that it was all just a nightmare and not something that truly happened.
But seeing Leo and Yukinoshita Yukino's reactions, she vaguely realized that it was all real, and these two people were very likely in the know, fully aware of the existence of such monsters.
Now, Yuuki Asuna only wanted to understand what exactly she had encountered and what all of this was about.
Leo could understand this and nodded to Yukinoshita Yukino beside him.
"Actually..."
Yukinoshita Yukino understood and, after carefully choosing her words, began to explain to Yuuki Asuna.
She told Yuuki Asuna that this world is not as simple as it appears on the surface. In places unseen by ordinary human society, there are extraordinary races that have thrived since ancient times.
Devils, Angels, Fallen Angels... Yukinoshita Yukino told Yuuki Asuna the common knowledge of the underworld that she knew, and also explained the concept of Rogue Demons, letting Yuuki Asuna know what kind of existence she had been attacked by.
Yuuki Asuna was very reluctant to believe all of this, biting her lip continuously, her pupils trembling slightly, but she couldn't come up with any reasons to refute it.
After all, last night's encounter had already told her that the world she lived in was indeed not as simple as it seemed on the surface.
"So, I was attacked by a legendary Devil, and I already died? And you defeated that Devil and brought me back to life?"
Yuuki Asuna finally managed to temporarily accept all of this, and the look in her eyes towards Leo and Yukinoshita Yukino no longer held wariness.
"Are you Devil Hunters?"
Upon hearing this, not just Leo, but even Yukinoshita Yukino's expression turned strange.
Then, Yuuki Asuna heard Leo's laughter.
"First, you were attacked by a Rogue Demon. That is a dangerous individual who has left their group and can no longer be considered a member of the Devils," Leo looked directly at Yuuki Asuna's pretty face, as if in amusement, and said, "Secondly, we are not Devil Hunters, but real, legendary Devils."
Yuuki Asuna's expression stiffened.
"You are... Devils?"
She seemed very unwilling to believe it.
Seeing this, Leo stood up and very straightforwardly revealed his proof of being a Devil.
"Whoosh!"
The wind howled, and six Devil wings suddenly spread out behind Leo, making Yuuki Asuna widen her eyes.
Yukinoshita Yukino, beside him, saw her past self in Yuuki Asuna at this moment, and so, as if playing a prank, she also spread her wings, allowing a pair of wings to unfurl.
"You, you two...? !"
A look of fear appeared on Yuuki Asuna's face, but then she felt an itch on her back.
The next moment, a pair of Devil wings suddenly appeared behind her, dark and profound, making the girl's head go "boom," just like when she encountered the Rogue Demon last night, becoming completely blank.
What is going on?
What exactly is going on?
Why... do I also have wings like this?
As Yuuki Asuna's mind went blank and she stood there stunned, Leo's voice slowly sounded.
"Not only are we Devils, but you have also become a Devil."
"I know this is sudden for you, but there's no other way. At that time, your heart and breathing had completely stopped. From a medical perspective, you were undoubtedly dead, and even your body temperature had been lost."
"Fortunately, you are a person with potential, so I chose to save you, turn you into my Retainer servant, and let you reincarnate as a Devil."
Next, naturally, there was another round of popular science, explaining Leo's identity, as well as the existence and effects of the devil chess piece.
"I... am already a Devil?"
Yuuki Asuna only felt a mess in her heart, so chaotic that she couldn't organize her thoughts.
Waking up and being expelled from humanity, Yukinoshita Yukino deeply empathized with this feeling. Her gaze towards Yuuki Asuna became much kinder, mixed with a few hints of sympathy.
Becoming a Devil was one thing, but then becoming someone else's Retainer, a servant—how could a pampered young lady accept that?
Let alone a young lady, even an ordinary person couldn't accept the fact of becoming someone else's servant. After all, it's not ancient times now; there's no such thing as slaves and servants anymore, is there?
To be honest, Yukinoshita Yukino herself didn't know how she convinced herself to accept this news back then. It should be known that she wasn't someone with a good temper; in fact, her self-esteem was much higher than others, and due to her family background, she was even more sensitive internally. Being able to accept this fact without immediately showing displeasure was truly a miracle.
Yuuki Asuna also found it very difficult to accept this matter on the spot, but her personality was not as aloof and reclusive as Yukinoshita Yukino's. Therefore, she eventually took a deep breath and suppressed the chaotic emotions in her heart.
"I'm sorry, I can't accept this yet." Yuuki Asuna spoke with a somewhat pale face, saying in a low voice, "Can you give me some time to be quiet for a while?"
Hearing this, Leo smiled and, along with Yukinoshita Yukino, retracted the wings behind them.
"Of course. You should rest well first, and come find us when you feel ready." Leo said gracefully, "I'll leave a familiar outside the door, a maid. You can call her if you need anything."
After speaking, Leo left the room with Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yuuki Asuna stayed in the now quiet room. After a long while, she looked at the wings behind her, feeling troubled.
"How... how do I retract these?"
...Meanwhile, Leo and Yukinoshita Yukino, who had left the room, were also conversing.
"Do you think she can accept it?" Yukinoshita Yukino asked inexplicably, "Will she leave because she can't accept it and become a Rogue Demon?"
"Who knows?" Leo walked ahead, looking forward, and smiled, "However, I believe she'll come to terms with it."
After all, she is an existence that can be called a heroine...
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