DxD: Chapter 158/160

Chapter 158: Hell

"Hell Correspondence?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Lynn's eyes.

"That's right!"

Iwanaga Kotoko nodded, her tone serious. "That hell website only appears at midnight. Once someone filled with hatred writes down a name, Hell Girl appears and drags the target to hell."

Listening to her explanation, Lynn felt the setup sounded increasingly familiar.

Hell Girl?

Come to think of it… there really is a Hell in this world…

"So, then…"

Lynn tapped the table. "What do you want to request?"

Iwanaga Kotoko smiled faintly. "Could I trouble the devil to fix this website?"

"Oh?"

"It's solvable…"

Lynn gave her a playful look. "But this is already outside school jurisdiction, isn't it?"

Kotoko blinked, slightly stunned.

Lynn continued casually, "The Supernatural Investigation Club doesn't handle off-campus commissions for free~"

Kotoko pursed her lips, sighed, then asked, "Then... what does the devil require?"

Lynn pulled out a price list he'd prepared long ago.

Kotoko's gaze was immediately drawn to it, and she began reading aloud.

"Low-Class Devil: 5 million yen."

"Mid-Class Devil: 50 million…"

"High-Class Devil: 500 million…"

As she read, Kotoko's eyelid twitched.

"Ultimate-Class: 500 billion…"

"Satan-Class… price determined on a case-by-case basis?"

She froze in disbelief. "You… you can actually request the Maou to take action?!"

Lynn shrugged. "So? Have you decided what level of devil to hire?"

Kotoko fell silent.

Truthfully, she had no clear concept of the power scaling.

She wasn't even sure how strong Hell Girl was.

So…

"I'll leave the recommendation to you, President Lynn."

She handed the matter over to the professional.

Lynn rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

While Hell Girl sounded dangerous, it was hard to gauge her actual power.

A High-Class devil should suffice.

Still…

Lynn was quite interested in her.

If he brought her into his Peerage, what kind of devil would she become?

With that thought, he smiled at Kotoko and said, "I recommend hiring a Maou."

"?"

Kotoko's expression stiffened. "Heh… heh…"

"President Lynn, are you sure I can afford the Maou?"

Her eyes shifted back to the price list.

'Price depends on the situation'...

She had a very real suspicion that this "Maou-level" request might cost her everything.

"Don't worry. This is a special case."

Lynn gave her a reassuring look. "The Maou is very interested in Hell Girl and won't charge much."

"?"

Kotoko looked around in confusion. "I just came to submit a request… and the Maou already knows?"

"Don't tell me…"

"The Maou is in the Supernatural Investigation Club?"

Her gaze swept the room. Aside from Lynn and the white-haired dog lounging nearby, she didn't see anyone.

She squinted at the dog, and Inukimi returned her stare with a look that clearly said, Are you dumb?

…Guess not.

Kotoko silently looked away.

Then her eyes landed on Lynn again.

Her brow twitched. "Wait. Could it be…"

Lynn smiled and nodded. "Yeah. That's me."

Clatter—

Kotoko leapt up from her seat in shock.

She suddenly went pale, wobbling as her cane slipped from her grasp and hit the ground with a clack.

Her legs gave out. She nearly collapsed.

Then—

A large hand reached out and caught her, pulling her upright again.

Kotoko snapped out of her daze, lifted her skirt, and said stiffly, "Forgive me. I was just a bit shocked to learn you're a Maou…"

She looked composed on the outside, but inside, her heart was in chaos.

A Maou, in Shuchiin?

And still a student?!

Is this some twisted devil humor?

"Well, have you decided whether to ask for my help?"

Kotoko forced a smile. "Of course…"

Now that he said he was interested, how could she say no?

She was reminded of Yomi's fate and felt tears prick her eyes.

She could already see herself getting dragged in…

"Alright then, let's go."

Lynn stood up.

"Huh?"

Kotoko blinked. "But Master Maou… Hell Correspondence doesn't appear until midnight."

Lynn nodded. "I know."

"But…"

He gave her a strange look. "Do you think we have hatred?"

"Uh…"

Kotoko's expression froze.

Right… people without resentment can't see Hell Correspondence.

"Then…"

She tilted her head in confusion.

"We just find a couple bad guys," Lynn said casually.

Of course!

Kotoko didn't even question it.

That really was the most efficient method.

—

Late at night.

Two Yakuza men trembled before them.

They were the most resentful people Lynn could find nearby.

Lynn and Kotoko waited quietly for midnight.

Suddenly—

Buzz—

A phone vibrated.

"It's midnight," Kotoko said solemnly.

Lynn narrowed his eyes.

The Yakuza duo's phones suddenly blacked out, and flames began to burn across the screens.

Once the flames died out, a website appeared.

[Hell Correspondence]

Lynn kicked both men. "Write the name of the person you hate most."

The two Yakuza shuddered and exchanged glances.

If they had to say who they hated most right now… it would definitely be him.

But they didn't dare say that.

Instead, they obediently entered their boss's name and clicked send.

Buzz—

As soon as the message was sent, ripples spread through the space.

A petite girl in a black kimono appeared.

She had long black hair, and her scarlet eyes glowed with emotionless calm.

The moment he saw her, Lynn smiled.

+1 Peerage potential.

"Hell Girl?"

Kotoko's eyes widened. "She really appeared!"

The two Yakuza men were about to scream from fear, but before they could, Lynn knocked them both out with a sleep spell.

"?"

Ai Enma tilted her head.

The clients had fallen unconscious…

How was she supposed to complete the job?

Still, she squatted and placed two red-stringed straw dolls beside them.

Whether or not they could hear, she recited the familiar lines:

"Untie the red thread, and the contract will be sealed. The person you hate will be banished to hell."

Her voice was soft, but haunting.

"Once the contract is fulfilled, your soul will also fall to hell after death. If you cannot reach paradise, you'll wander in agony forever."

But—

Obviously, they couldn't respond.

Ai Enma finished the process, then looked over at Lynn and Kotoko.

Kotoko rubbed her chin. "So this is how it works…"

However…

"Hell Girl, do you know how many innocent people have died because of your actions?"

Her gaze turned cold.

After all, not all people filled with resentment were truly victims.

Some were jealous of others' success, beauty, or talent.

Hell Girl exiled them all indiscriminately.

It crossed Kotoko's bottom line.

Faced with her judgment, Ai Enma remained emotionless.

She only said quietly, "Work is work."

Yes. Work.

Even if she didn't want to do it, she had no choice.

Something flickered in her eyes. She seemed… distant.

Kotoko clicked her tongue in frustration.

Even if she looked like a young girl, she clearly had no free will.

At times like this…

You had to rely on the Maou.

Kotoko looked at Lynn expectantly.

Ai Enma glanced at the two unconscious men again, then turned to open a portal to hell.

"Oh? So if the contract isn't completed, it doesn't count as a breach?"

Seeing her about to leave, Lynn finally spoke.

"If the thread isn't pulled, it's not work," Ai replied flatly.

Leaving those words behind, she stepped into the portal.

Bang!

Suddenly.

Ai Enma paused and looked down.

A large hand had grabbed her wrist.

"Say," Lynn said, a smile tugging at his lips, "Have you considered changing jobs?"

"Huh?"

Kotoko blinked in surprise.

Ai Enma looked stunned for a moment, then shook her head.

She turned and continued walking toward hell.

"Tch."

"Then I guess I'll talk to your boss."

With those words, Lynn stepped into the portal to hell before her.

"!"

A rare ripple appeared in Ai's expressionless face.

"Huh?"

Kotoko, stunned, immediately ran after him. "President Lynn, wait for me!"

Ai Enma opened her mouth, but said nothing.

This wasn't her task.

But…

She had a bad feeling she was dragging trouble into hell.

—

Scene shift.

A world bathed in eternal sunset stretched out before them.

Lynn scanned the surroundings.

Mountains loomed in every direction. Red spider lilies blanketed the ground.

A pond shimmered ahead, with a thatched hut beside it.

Its door stood open, one half cloaked in shadow, the other lit by the setting sun's bloody glow.

"This is…"

"Hell?" Kotoko asked, eyes wide.

Lynn glanced around, silently assigning it a spatial coordinate.

Might be useful later.

"Oh?"

"A guest?"

A small girl in a grape-colored kimono appeared.

Her purple-blue eyes carried an eerie charm, and her ever-present smile was unsettling.

Kotoko quietly shifted closer to Lynn.

"Hey."

"It's against the rules to bring others here uninvited~"

Ai Enma remained expressionless. "I never told them what this job involved."

Kikuri: "…"

"They barged in."

"Oh~?"

Kikuri's eyes narrowed, and her grin deepened.

"Then I guess they're enemies."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 159: The Spider

"Then, that makes them enemies."

Kikuri's tone darkened, her violet eyes narrowing ominously at Lynn and Iwanaga Kotoko.

Lynn gave her a calm look and replied indifferently, "Brat."

"?"

Was that… an insult?

Before Kikuri could react—

Whoosh!

A white blur shot past.

Thud!

Kikuri suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head and was slammed face-first into the dirt.

A perfect face-plant.

Ai Enma's eyes stiffened. "Kikuri?"

Kotoko's eyes widened as she stared at the white-haired dog now perched atop Kikuri's back, elegantly grooming itself.

Then she murmured, "…That pet is crazy strong."

Inukimi flicked her ears and raised her gaze to Kotoko with pride.

Before becoming Lynn's pet, she was once a noble princess.

—

Some time later, inside the thatched hut, Kikuri regained consciousness, still covered in dirt.

Lynn sat on the tatami, his left elbow resting on the table, cheek on his palm, while his right hand gently stroked Inukimi's silky fur. His indifferent gaze remained fixed on Kikuri.

"Eek!"

Kikuri trembled violently, then immediately knelt on the floor opposite Lynn, too afraid to speak.

Just one move.

She was floored by his pet and knocked unconscious.

Terrifying!

Kikuri peeked nervously at Inukimi, who now purred comfortably under Lynn's touch.

Ai… what kind of monster did you bring to Hell?!

"Now, can we talk?"

Lynn's voice rang out.

Kikuri flinched again.

With a trembling smile uglier than a grimace, she stammered, "Yes, sir… please give your orders…"

"Tell me about this place first," Lynn said.

When he first entered, Lynn had assumed this Hell was under Hades' jurisdiction. But after sensing the area carefully, he realized, there was no powerful presence here.

Could this Hell be unrelated to Hades?

"Understood!"

Kikuri lowered her head and began her explanation.

"This is the Hell of the Japan region, once ruled by the great goddess Izanami."

Once.

That word stood out to Lynn.

He already had an idea of what it meant.

The gods of Japan had long faded. What remained were only a few scattered monsters and wild gods.

"Goddess Izanami?!"

Kotoko's eyes widened in shock.

This was her first time encountering a legend tied directly to one of Japan's primordial deities since becoming the Goddess of Wisdom.

And it turned out to be such a renowned one?

Her thoughts instantly grew uneasy.

Had they just barged into the domain of a divine being?

Japan's Hell…

Lynn was thoughtful.

"So," he asked suddenly, "this Hell is ownerless now?"

"Huh?"

Kotoko, still worried, was caught off guard by the question.

Kikuri nodded without hesitation. "Yes."

Kotoko's jaw dropped. "Wait, what about Lady Izanami?!"

Kikuri went quiet for a moment, then calmly answered, "The goddess… has perished."

Boom—

The words hit Kotoko like thunder.

"Wha…?"

She stared, dumbfounded. "Even gods can die?"

"If a god gets killed, they die," Lynn replied flatly.

"B-But…"

Kotoko stammered, "Who could possibly kill a god?"

Aren't gods supposed to be invincible?

Lynn cast her a sidelong glance.

This is what it means to have low perspective.

"This world contains Eastern pantheons, Greek gods, Indian deities, and also angels, devils, fallen angels…"

Kotoko fell silent, overwhelmed with a mix of sadness and shock.

This world… was terrifying.

"As this lord says, Japan's divine system is no more," Kikuri confirmed.

Kotoko sat in a daze.

If Japan's gods were truly gone…

Then what was she, the Goddess of Wisdom?

Lynn turned to Kikuri and asked, "Have the other pantheons not taken over this Hell yet?"

Kikuri shook her head and forced a bitter smile. "Perhaps…"

"They just don't care."

"But…"

She added, "Although the sovereignty remains in Japan, the resources and reincarnation systems have already been taken by other pantheons."

"I see," Lynn said. "And that led to the emergence of Hell Girl?"

Kikuri nodded. "With no souls, Hell couldn't maintain its rules. Collapse was inevitable."

So they created the Hell Correspondence system to forcibly recruit souls.

However…

Kikuri quickly distanced herself. "That was all the three-eyed spider's idea."

"Oh?"

Lynn smiled. "You and that spider must be connected somehow, right?"

"!"

Kikuri's eyes widened in disbelief.

He figured it out so quickly?

She began to squirm uncomfortably.

After finishing his inquiry, Lynn tapped the table again. "Let's move on to business."

"Yes, sir!"

Kikuri sat upright, nervous.

Lynn glanced at Ai Enma, who still looked absentminded, and said, "I plan to have her work for me. Any objections?"

"Eh?"

Kikuri looked up, confused. Her eyes said—

That's it?

Of course…

Ai was bound by contract to her true self. Escaping Hell wouldn't be easy.

But with this man's status, persuading the three-eyed spider wouldn't be impossible.

That said…

"I haven't finished my atonement," Ai Enma said calmly. "I cannot leave Hell."

Lynn raised an eyebrow.

Seeing this, Kikuri quickly clarified.

"Her parents are sealed deep within Hell. Unless Ai completes her atonement per the contract, they'll never reincarnate."

Kotoko frowned. "That spider again?"

Kikuri nodded silently.

Kotoko snorted. "Definitely the villain here."

Unethical. Manipulative. Abusive.

Typical shady operator.

"In that case…"

Lynn stood and grinned. "I'll go liberate her parents, and then…"

He looked at Ai. "Your life from then on belongs to me."

"?"

Ai blinked, startled.

But…

Free her parents?

That alone stirred something inside her.

"Accept it, Ai."

Kikuri spoke up.

"If this man says he'll do it, then he can."

Ai looked at her in confusion.

Kikuri's expression remained neutral.

She had always wanted Ai to escape this role.

She'd made some preparations, but…

Things would move faster with this man's intervention.

Still—

"Sir," Kikuri asked cautiously, "what will you do with the spider?"

Lynn glanced at her and immediately understood what she feared.

"If that spider dies, you'll disappear too?"

Kikuri nodded, smiling bitterly. "I'm its separated incarnation, created to monitor Ai's work."

If the spider died, she would vanish too.

Lynn rubbed his chin, then conjured a Demonic Chess Piece and smirked.

"Then…"

"Want to become a devil?"

"…Huh?"

"Devil?"

Surprise filled her gaze.

Lynn explained, "If I reincarnate you into a devil, the link with the spider will break naturally. As my Peerage member, you'll be free."

His Evil Piece carried high priority. Once she became his, the connection would sever.

Kikuri blinked, her voice trembling. "R-Really…?"

"I can?"

Lynn said nothing. He simply placed the Evil Piece on the table.

It was her choice.

Kikuri stared for a moment, then slowly reached out.

She didn't want to be that spider's pawn any longer.

So she chose to try.

Her fingers trembled as they touched the Evil Piece.

Then, without hesitation, she pulled open her kimono and pressed it to her chest.

Buzz—

The moment the Evil Piece entered her body, the sound of chains shattering echoed faintly.

A profound sense of freedom washed over her.

But she could feel herself now tethered to another entity.

Her eyes glazed over. In her mind, a scene appeared.

A vast, desolate realm… and far within it, a shadowy figure sat alone.

Lord Lynn.

The name echoed in her thoughts, followed by an overwhelming fear that made her forget to breathe.

Then—darkness.

Her consciousness faded.

—

Kikuri's eyes snapped open. She gasped for breath, and her vision slowly focused on Lynn's crimson eyes.

She stiffened instinctively.

"How do you feel?"

"…Phew…"

She let out a breath and smiled faintly.

"Feels…"

"…Pretty good."

"The spider's link is completely gone."

As she spoke, she felt genuine relief.

Never again would she be made to harm Ai.

Lynn nodded. "In that case, take your clothes off."

"…Huh?"

Kikuri froze.

Lynn sighed and pointed at Kikuri's chest.

"After becoming my Peerage, you gain new powers."

"Your Blessing info is engraved there."

"…"

Kotoko and Kikuri both looked down at her chest.

Even Ai seemed to glance over instinctively.

Sure enough, strange characters were etched on her skin.

But…

To check them…

Did she really have to…

Haa…

Kikuri's face turned bright red.

Why hadn't he warned her sooner?!

If she'd known, she never would've put it there!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 160: Yama

In the end, Kikuri opened her kimono, a shameful expression on her face.

[Kikuri]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valefor

Stats:
Strength: i0
Agility: i0
Durability: i0
Magic: i0

Innate Abilities:
[Two-Faced Witch]
Disguises herself as a harmless young girl by default. When in danger, her spirit splits into good and evil personas. The good side heals allies, while the evil side unleashes cursed shockwaves.

[Spider Devil]
Web Control – Fires translucent, soul-based spider silk from her fingertips. The form can be freely manipulated.
Eight-Leg Pact – (Unlocked: Flaying Leg, Venom Fang Leg, Cursed Leg)
Devil Transformation – Spider Matron's Cocoon

——

Another special-type devil added to the collection.

Lynn's lips curved slightly. He didn't expect this trip, besides acquiring Ai Enma, would also bring such additional gains.

After copying Kikuri's Blessing info, she quickly dressed again.

Lynn glanced over and said casually, "Relax, I'm not into little brats."

Kikuri's expression froze. Her purple eyes filled with resentment, but she didn't dare talk back. She could only force a smile.

Ai Enma also instinctively looked down, then remained silent.

Kotoko lowered her head and mimed air-holding in front of her chest, falling quiet.

Lynn's one-liner shattered the confidence of all three girls present.

Inukimi scoffed from the side, then lifted her head proudly.

Her human form had a far more acceptable figure. At least she was better off than those three.

Lynn didn't pay their reactions any mind and shared Kikuri's Blessing info with her.

"So this is my new power…"

Kikuri studied the skill set, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Before this, she was only a puppet watching Ai Enma. Now, after receiving Lynn's Blessing, she had become even more spider-like than the Three-Eyed Spider itself.

Kotoko curiously glanced at the screen but refrained from digging deeper—it was personal, after all.

After Kikuri finished reviewing, Lynn said, "Alright, time to head deeper into Hell."

"Yes!"

Kikuri responded immediately and offered, "Master Lynn, I'll guide the way."

—

At the same time, deep within Hell.

A tiny spider with three eyes sat suspended in darkness, observing every soul that entered.

It spun silk, entangling a soul in its threads.

Fwoosh—

Black flames ignited, burning away the soul's sins.

Suddenly, the spider paused.

"…Connection to the avatar has been severed?"

Its voice carried confusion. "Dead? Or something else?"

It wasn't clear. But…

"There's a problem with Ai Enma's operations!"

The Three-Eyed Spider immediately ceased its work and began heading toward Hell's boundary.

But before it could move.

Whooosh!

A violent gust swept through, and Hell's flames roared into life.

Red spider lilies swayed violently in the wind, rustling.

Before the spider could react, everything dimmed.

A towering figure stood before it, casting a shadow that consumed what little light Hell had.

Lynn had arrived, crossing layer after layer of Hell to its core.

Over his shoulder, Ai Enma and the others hung limp, dizzy from the speed.

Kotoko, pale-faced, gagged. "Urgh… I think I'm gonna hurl…"

Lynn casually pushed her aside, then raised his hand.

Snap!

He gripped a strand of spider silk. With a light tug—

Boom!

An explosive force traveled through the thread. The Three-Eyed Spider's massive form was flung backward, crashing violently!

"Bastard!"

The spider roared, dark flames racing along its silk.

"Intruder! Taste this hellfire strong enough to burn your sins!"

Lynn narrowed his eyes. With a thought, he sent his own hellfire along the strand.

Fwoosh!

The Three-Eyed Spider: "?!"

"You… You also know karmic fire?!"

Was he… from Hell too?

No time to ponder.

Lynn's flame devoured the spider's hellfire and surged forward, trailing both their flames.

Panicked, the spider severed the silk, its body crashing to the ground with a thud.

It scrambled upright, its eyes glowing red. Spiritual pressure surged!

Rumble—

Magma from the depths of Hell erupted like a tidal wave.

Kikuri cried out, "Master Lynn! The Three-Eyed Spider controls the terrain here. It has full authority over this Hell!"

Hearing this, the spider turned its murderous glare toward her. "You filthy traitor! How dare you betray me?!"

It tried to crush its incarnation.

But…

Nothing happened.

What?!

Then it remembered—the broken connection earlier.

That man… did something!

Kikuri only smiled, her voice soft but chilling. "Sorry, Spider. I'm done being your pawn."

Ai Enma looked toward her, silently.

Kikuri flushed and averted her gaze awkwardly.

Across from them, the Three-Eyed Spider let out an anguished roar.

It had invested everything into Hell, yet its plans were now ruined… by its own creation!

Just a little more!
It was so close to becoming Hell's master!

"Four hundred years of effort… destroyed in a moment!"

"Unforgivable—!"

Before it could finish, Hell itself quaked. The magma storm surged like a tsunami.

It was trying to mobilize all the energy in this Hell to strike!

"UNFORGIVABLE!!"

Kotoko shrieked. "Ahhh—!"

Ai Enma reached out, supporting her calmly.

The three girls stared at the incoming crimson tide in stunned silence.

"So strong…" Ai Enma's hands trembled.

It was this overwhelming strength gap that had bound her to the contract all this time.

Kotoko's heart thumped anxiously.

She finally understood. Events tied to Hell were anything but simple.

But then she looked up and saw Lynn's back.

And just like that, she felt calm again.

Lynn's expression remained unchanged.

The Three-Eyed Spider, powered by Hell and bolstered by its terrain, was indeed formidable.

But…

Still lacking.

He murmured softly, "Snow Devil… Ode of the Ice Mirror World."

Buzz—

A soft sigh echoed through the realm.

Crack—!

The entire layer of Hell froze over in an instant!

The quaking stopped. Frigid cold filled the air.

The change stunned Kotoko and the others, who shivered violently.

Kotoko wrapped her arms around herself and trembled. "S-So cold…"

She looked around, eyes wide.

Icy blue covered everything. Only the space around them remained untouched.

It was like they had entered a different world entirely.

Before Lynn, the Three-Eyed Spider had been encased in crystal-clear ice, along with the magma tides it had summoned.

Lynn tapped the surface lightly.

Bang!

The ice shattered into fine powder.

The spider and magma disintegrated along with it.

Rustle—

Snow and frost blanketed Hell.

A streak of silver light flickered overhead, falling to the ground.

Lynn's eyes narrowed.

Kotoko and the others watched, dumbfounded. Their throats went dry.

In a single moment, the battlefield had flipped.

Sure, the Three-Eyed Spider was Hell's manager, with complete authority.

But Lynn…

Lynn had power on an entirely different scale.

Kotoko took a deep breath and finally understood the true weight of the title "Maou."

Once they composed themselves, Kikuri quietly observed the aftermath.

Although she had broken away from the spider, a sense of finality settled in her heart.

Then she looked up and said respectfully, "Master Lynn, shall we go free Ai's parents next?"

Lynn nodded.

With his permission, Kikuri led Ai Enma away.

Kotoko's curiosity flared again, and she quickly shouted, "Wait, bring me too!"

Kikuri looked to Lynn. Seeing he didn't object, she hesitated, then nodded.

Once they left, Lynn looked down.

A silver badge had fallen into the snow—emblazoned with a Hell sigil and the words Hell Manager.

He picked it up.

So this was the spider's identity token?

As he pondered, the badge flickered faintly.

"Former Hell Manager has perished. Identity unbinding…"

A mechanical voice echoed from the badge.

Lynn raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Unbinding successful. Searching for qualified successor…"

The light pulsed, then steadied.

"Qualified individual detected. Bind identity of Hell Manager?"

Lynn chuckled.

So it found him, huh?

He narrowed his eyes.

Having this position could be useful in Hell.

But…

"What responsibilities come with this position?"

"Must carry out all tasks and maintain the functions of Hell…"

Lynn listened for a moment, then lost interest.

So it was just an employee role.

He had no plans to stay here, nor did he want to do any work.

"Is there a higher rank?"

"…Upon meeting requirements, the title of Yama may be unlocked."

"What does a Yama do?"

"Oversees Hell and judges souls…"

Lynn listened silently.

Still just management.

He wanted the authority. Not the duties.

He relayed his thoughts.

The badge's light flickered wildly.

Then went out.

Lynn: "…"

"Whatever."

He pocketed the badge.

Might be useful for someone in his Peerage.

An ownerless Hell shouldn't go to waste.

—

Later, Lynn arrived to witness Ai's parents being freed.

Ai Enma stood there in a daze.

Then she looked at Lynn, bowed slightly, and whispered, "Master Lynn, my life from now on is yours."

There was a faint hope in her eyes, a longing for her new life.

Lynn placed a hand on her head and stroked gently.

Ai blinked in surprise.

It was her first time being touched like that…

A strange warmth spread in her heart.

"Let's return to the hut. I'll reincarnate you as my Peerage."

"…Yes, Master Lynn."

—

Inside the hut.

Having seen Kikuri's process, Ai Enma disrobed just enough to reveal her back.

Even so, she felt a rare sense of shyness. This was a first for her.

Seeing she was ready, Lynn pressed the Evil Piece onto her back.

"Mm…"

She let out a soft hum as the magic spread through her body.

Soon after, her Blessing info appeared.

[Ai Enma]
Rank: Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valefor

Stats:
Strength: i0
Agility: i0
Durability: i0
Magic: i0

Innate Abilities:
[Hell Correspondence] – Uses spiritual power to construct a website and establish a channel between Hell and the real world.

[River Ferry] – Summons a ghost boatman to ferry the target's soul.

[Hell Devil]
Hell Wedge – Transforms a 100-meter area into a projection of Hell, forcibly overlaying reality with Hell River, red spider lilies, and bone mountains. All within are suppressed by Hell's rules.
Army of the Underworld – Tears space to summon Hell creatures.
Devil Transformation – Yama Hall, Throne of the Unending Heaven

—

"A Hell Devil…"

Lynn examined Ai Enma's new skills.

Hell Wedge in particular caught his interest.

A domain skill that brings Hell into the real world. Not bad.

After some thought, he pulled out the badge and handed it to her.

"Try it. See if you can inherit the title of Hell's manager."

A Devil from Hell managing Hell itself—seemed appropriate.

He also wanted to see if it enhanced her powers.

"…This is?"

Kikuri recognized it immediately.

"…Hell Manager's badge."

Ai Enma accepted it. The badge flashed softly.

"Qualified candidate detected. Assign Hell Manager role?"

She looked to Lynn. He nodded.

"…Yes."

Buzz—

The badge turned into silver light and vanished into Ai Enma's body.

At that moment, a system prompt echoed in Lynn's ears.

[Ding! Your Peerage member has acquired the role of Hell Manager. Attribute linked—You have gained traits related to Yama!]

(To be continued.)