Chapter 232: Medusa and Persephone!
"Tsk tsk! What a spectacular performance!"
Ryohei Tanaka's lips curved slightly. He clapped his slender hands twice, the sound crisp and clear as his gaze fell upon Lucoa.
Her fashion sense had been in constant flux recently, and today's outfit was another eye-catcher. A short black jacket was draped casually over her shoulders, which, combined with the camisole underneath, formed a clever horizontal cutout.
Her pale skin seemed to glow against the dark fabric, and her deep cleavage exuded a fatal charm. Further down, a form-fitting skirt clung tightly, showcasing her perfect waist-to-hip curve. Black, over-the-knee socks encased her long legs, forming a dazzling "Absolute Territory" between the hem of her skirt and the top of the stockings.
"..."
Ryohei Tanaka made his move. Today, he would officially change his class to "Dragon Knight"!
...
Meanwhile, in the Demon World.
Medusa sat bolt upright at her computer, her slender waist and full hips forming an alluring curve. Beneath the desk, her pale legs were crossed lightly, shining delicately in the light—a stark contrast to the cold, hard lines of the furniture. She projected a contradictory beauty, a mix of abstinence and sensuality.
"..."
Medusa patiently organized all the dessert information she could find, filtered out the useless bits, researched the nearby markets, and planned her route.
She grabbed her car keys and went to the garage.
Hopping into her collectible Beetle, she turned on the headlights and pulled slowly out of the garage, heading toward the nearest market under the warm glow of the streetlights.
Mornings in the Demon World were different; the sky only began to brighten around 10:00 AM. By 3:00 PM, it would already be growing dark again. Medusa was long used to it, having lived this way for thousands of years.
She soon arrived at the "Evil Eye Market," ten kilometers away.
...
"Medusa?"
After a major shopping run, just as she was preparing to head to the next market, a gentle, familiar voice called out from behind her.
Medusa, her arms full of bags, turned in surprise and bowed politely. "Teacher!"
The intellectual woman in the black robe was none other than Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, who had also been Medusa's elementary school teacher.
"What a coincidence! Are you not at work today?" Persephone asked with a smile, taking a few steps closer.
"I took the day off. A friend from the human world asked me to buy some things," Medusa said, gesturing with the heavy bags.
Persephone glanced down and saw they were filled with fruits and other ingredients. Her interest was piqued. "Is it that human?" she asked. "The one whose cooking glows, tastes amazing, and comes with an incredible experience?"
"Yes," Medusa nodded. She wasn't surprised her teacher had guessed; she had mentioned Ryohei before, and JII undoubtedly mentioned him constantly.
"Oh, it's him!" Persephone clapped her hands, an 'I-know-that-guy' expression on her face. She crossed one arm, tapping her cheek with her other hand as she chattered. "JII talks about him all the time. Every time we speak, she has to describe in detail all the delicious food she's eaten... Her descriptive skills are getting scarily good. She sounds like a professional food critic! It makes me crave it so badly."
"Ah!" As if struck by an idea, Persephone smiled gently. "Speaking of which, my daughter has been in his care quite a bit. I should go thank him in a couple of days."
Persephone made the decision with surprising casualness.
"Eh? Teacher, you're going to the human world?" Medusa couldn't hide her surprise. But her expression quickly shifted to one of subtle understanding. She keenly sensed that behind her teacher's excuse was a very real desire to taste the glowing food for herself.
Of course, Medusa understood completely. Why else did she run over there so often?
"Mhm, I plan to," Persephone confirmed, her smile bright. As a breeze blew, she tucked a strand of golden hair back under her hood. "Ryohei-kun... and Miss Yurine, do they have any particular preferences? I should prepare some gifts."
"Mmm..." Medusa thought for a moment. "For Ryohei-kun, he'd probably be happiest with some high-grade ingredients. As for Miss Yurine, she loves to collect all kinds of weapons."
"Got it!" Persephone blinked her ruby-red eyes and patted her chest. "I understand!"
...
At the same time, in the human world.
"That idiot Minos! She's just too honest! She's not like a demon at all!"
"What's wrong with inflating the price a little? What's wrong with a little kickback? The Vassal isn't short on money!"
Having failed to convince Minos to help her embezzle funds, a disgruntled Jashin-chan arrived in front of the "Game of Life Theater" pachinko parlor. "Useless teammate," she sighed. "Can't be carried!"
"Eek!"
Suddenly, she felt an intense chill, as if someone was watching her with malicious intent from the shadows. Jashin-chan whirled around, scanning the area, but saw no one suspicious.
"...My imagination?"
She blinked her beady eyes, a question mark appearing over her head. After a moment, she shrugged off the unease and slithered excitedly into the parlor.
Today, I'm definitely going to win big! Jashin-chan had a premonition.
However, half an hour later...
"Waaaaaah! I lost it all!"
The scummy snake gritted her teeth, tears streaming down her face as she stumbled out of the pachinko parlor.
Another day of total losses.
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