"The ability to transform?"
Jahy froze for a moment before replying.
"This isn't transformation. What you see now is my true form.
That childish appearance you saw before was the weakened state I fell into after losing my magic power.
There is magic that allows transformation, but you're human. You don't have magic power, so you can't learn it."
"What? That's boring."
Tanaka Masao instantly lost interest.
He knew the so-called magic power resided in the red magic stone. But humans would be cursed if they touched one, so there was no way for him to use it.
At that moment, a sound broke the silence.
"Gu~gu~"
Both of them looked down at their stomachs.
Jahy, lacking magic power, was weak, and her body demanded food to replenish her energy.
Tanaka Masao had just returned from Tokyo, and it was right around dinner time, so he too was hungry.
"There's a shopping street nearby. Let's grab something to eat."
Jahy, clutching her stomach and embarrassed by the sound, lit up instantly.
"Food? I want to go too!"
Tanaka Masao didn't drive her away but warned her calmly:
"Let me make this clear—I'm not paying for you."
"Pay? What does that mean?"
In the demon world, strength was everything. As the second in command of the demon world, Jahy had never needed to pay for anything.
"Alright, don't waste time. Take me to eat—I'm starving."
······
At Jahy's urging, the two of them arrived at a nearby shopping street.
Jahy's beauty and revealing outfit instantly drew attention.
Even Tanaka Masao, walking beside her, received plenty of stares.
Unlike him, Jahy didn't care in the slightest.
Finally, unable to endure it, Tanaka Masao spoke.
"Jahy, can't you wear more clothes? Walking around like this, people are going to think you're a weirdo."
Jahy looked at herself, then at the people around her.
She had worn this outfit for countless years, and it had never felt strange to her. She asked in confusion:
"This outfit shows off my charm perfectly. What's wrong with it?
Forget it, I won't listen to you. I'm going to eat."
With that, Jahy ignored him and ran off to find food.
"You don't even have money…"
Tanaka Masao sighed as she disappeared into the crowd.
"She's a demon after all, and she knows magic. She'll probably be fine."
Deciding not to bother, he headed into a nearby shop to eat.
······
Over ten minutes later, Tanaka Masao walked along the street, still unsatisfied.
"Ugh, I shouldn't have stuffed myself at Eriri's place yesterday."
The smell of food from the stalls made him feel hungry again, despite just finishing a light meal.
"A Dorayaki wouldn't hurt, right? Just one. Yukinoshita wouldn't even know…
No, no. If I let it slide once, it'll happen again. At this rate, I'll never lose weight."
As he wrestled with himself, a commotion broke out ahead.
Curious, he walked toward the crowd, forgetting about food.
Then he heard a familiar voice.
"What are you doing? Let me go! I'm the second in command of the demon world! Watch out, or I'll be rude to you!"
Tanaka Masao stopped. That was Jahy's voice.
So she'd been caught.
Of course—she must not have paid.
But wasn't she the second in command of the demon world? She had already recovered her magic stone and regained power, so why was she so easily restrained?
...
Elsewhere, Jahy had already drawn the police's attention with her unusual clothing.
About ten minutes earlier, dazzled by all the food, she had grabbed a snack from one stall after another.
Without paying a single coin.
The police quickly caught her.
Pinned down by two officers, Jahy struggled angrily.
But the magic she had regained only restored her to the strength of an ordinary adult woman. She couldn't break free at all.
Then she spotted Tanaka Masao in the crowd and shouted:
"Hey, Tanaka! Help me!"
Everyone followed her gaze and turned toward him.
The crowd opened a path, and Tanaka Masao stepped forward.
The police eyed him and asked:
"Are you her friend? She didn't pay for what she took. If she can pay, we won't take her to the station."
It wasn't a serious case. Even if she were taken in, she'd just get a lecture before being released to her guardian.
If it could be settled on the spot, the police preferred not to escalate.
Hearing this, Jahy shouted urgently:
"Tanaka, hurry up and pay for me!"
She knew she couldn't break free. The only human she could rely on was Tanaka Masao.
He looked at the officers, then at Jahy—pinned to the ground, struggling, eyes full of anxiety—but said nothing.
Seeing his silence, Jahy panicked. She couldn't afford to be detained. If that happened, how could she continue searching for the magic stone?
Then she remembered: Tanaka had already told her he wouldn't pay for her.
Gritting her teeth, she made up her mind.
For freedom, this is the only option.
"Tanaka, as long as you help me, I'll agree to any request you make!"
Of course, whether I keep my word or not will depend on my mood once I'm free.
Jahy thought to herself.
The bystanders widened their eyes at her words, then exchanged strange looks.
They muttered among themselves:
"So that's why she's dressed like that. She's actually a call girl."
"What a shame. Such a pretty girl, reduced to this…"
"Shame? More like an opportunity. Wonder how much she charges. Think she has a number?"
...
Tanaka Masao sighed. He decided to step in.
Not because of her so-called promise—he didn't believe that for a second.
But this scene had gone on long enough.
"Officer, how much is the total?"
The policeman nodded and pulled out the bill he had just written up.