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Only the sound of water spilling over the edge of the tub broke the silence in the bathroom.
Draconis glanced down, catching sight of Mai Sakurajima's body beneath the water—distorted by the ripples, but unmistakably real.
...Not a bad view.
He muttered under his breath, "Note to self: add a warning to those flyers. Never use summoning magic while you're in the bath."
His voice, quiet as it was, echoed clearly in the hush.
Mai snapped out of her daze, cheeks flushed deep red as she realized this was the same guy who'd handed her the flyer yesterday. She didn't scream or panic; instead, she curled up tighter in the tub, eyes locked on Draconis.
"Out," she said, voice cold and steady—though the tremor in her tone betrayed her nerves.
Draconis had appeared out of nowhere in her home. Another supernatural incident, clearly. But after everything she'd endured, Mai managed to keep her composure.
"My apologies. No offense meant." Draconis turned away, climbed out of the tub, and—soaked from head to toe—walked out and shut the door behind him. He stood there for a moment, feeling defeated.
First contract summon, and he'd already made a mess of it. And, judging by the look on Mai's face, probably offended her too.
What if she got mad that he'd seen her naked and refused to sign the contract? Or, worse, decided to make things difficult for him?
Great. Just great.
A few minutes later, Mai emerged, fully dressed. Draconis was still standing there, dripping water onto the floor, waiting as if nothing had happened.
"I haven't introduced myself. Mai Sakurajima, I'm Draconis Yi. I came in answer to your summons. I'm a devil."
He spoke calmly, as though the earlier embarrassment had never happened.
Sure enough, his words caught Mai's attention.
"A devil?"
"Exactly the kind you're thinking of."
He walked over to the sofa, letting his magic flare. His black hair whipped around him, clothes fluttering as the dampness evaporated in seconds.
Watching the display, Mai couldn't help but accept the impossible: this guy really was something out of a fantasy.
"The world just keeps getting weirder," she muttered, her whole worldview taking another hit.
Draconis understood. He'd been through his own share of upheaval—stabbed, reincarnated, turned into a devil. Compared to Mai, his journey had been a full rollercoaster.
"The world's always been weird," he said, settling onto the sofa. "You're just seeing how it really works."
He fixed his gaze on her, serious now. "I'm here to grant your wish. You want me to fix the problem of not being seen by anyone, right?"
He knew his acting wouldn't fool Mai, so he dropped the pretense, letting his natural coolness show. Calm, direct, honest.
Mai found herself thrown off by the shift. Yesterday, he'd been all fake smiles and eager politeness. Now, he was composed, almost distant.
"How did you know?" she asked, curiosity piqued.
"When you summoned me, I could sense your soul's wishes. That flyer is a magic circle—connects your soul to mine, lets me know what you want."
He explained patiently. If things worked out, Mai could use the summoning circle to call on him again, so he wanted her to understand.
"So, if you're here to grant my wish, what's the price?"
Mai's tone was calm—almost too calm. Draconis couldn't help but be impressed. Her initial shock was brief; now, she was practically unflappable.
"My goal is to make a contract with you," he answered honestly.
"A contract? What does that do?"
"Once it's signed, your emotions and desires feed me energy. I get stronger, and in return, I can grant some of your wishes—within reason."
Mai's expression barely changed. "So the stories about devils tempting humans for power are true."
"You've got it wrong. It's not temptation—it's a fair deal."
Draconis leaned back, voice low. "You sign only if you want. I won't force you. And it won't affect you—your everyday feelings are just wasted energy otherwise."
That surprised Mai a little.
"Devils are this reasonable?"
"What were you expecting? Bone-crunching monsters? Greedy, lustful, bloodthirsty fiends?" Draconis replied, unfazed.
...Isn't that exactly what I expected? Mai thought.
She studied Draconis. Good-looking, sure. But after talking in detail, he'd shattered her first impression from yesterday. Since he'd arrived, he'd been cold but not cruel—the mysterious aura fit his identity.
He seemed invested in the contract, patiently explaining everything. But if she didn't ask, he stayed quiet—a little withdrawn, maybe.
Still, Mai felt certain he wouldn't hurt her. If he wanted to, he wouldn't bother with all this talking.
"Let me think about it," Mai said quietly.
"Take your time."
Draconis nodded. Patience was part of the job.
Mai found his attitude agreeable. Since her strange condition began, she hadn't had a real conversation with anyone. Now, at least, she felt human again—instead of some wandering ghost.
Even if her conversation partner claimed to be a devil…
She softened a little. "Would you like some water?"
"Thanks, but I've got my own saliva."
Mai: "…??"
They stared at each other in silence.
The awkwardness thickened.
Draconis shrugged. "…Just trying to lighten the mood."
Mai deadpanned, "Thanks for making it even more awkward."
Draconis smiled faintly, unfazed by her sarcasm.
At least the whole "seeing her naked" thing had been swept under the rug. Sometimes, it was best to pretend nothing ever happened.
…
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