Cael hadn't expected work to arrive so soon.
The victim was tied to a devil, making the job far from ordinary. Calmly examining the grotesque spinal-blade corpse on the stretcher, he asked, "Officer, what kind of service does this body require?"
The older policeman sighed. "Normally, we wouldn't touch something like this, but Mr. Tanaka was beloved by his students. When they heard the news, they were heartbroken."
Cael rubbed his forehead. "Officer, can you get to the point?"
He wasn't interested in eulogies or life stories; he was a businessman, not a storyteller.
The younger officer chuckled, summarizing. "Apologies, my senior gets sentimental. Basically, the students pooled together a large sum, asking us to restore Mr. Tanaka's body so they could pay respects one last time. After that, he would be cremated."
Cael nodded. "Understood. The damage is severe. Restoration will be extensive—limb reconstruction, makeup—restoring him to a presentable state won't cost less than 1 million yen. Cremation will be 300,000 yen. Total: 1.3 million yen." He paused. "Storage fee's on me. Restoration will take about two days. Students can pay respects the day after tomorrow at noon. Does that work?"
This was his first major job since transmigrating, so the price was conservative. Normally, asking for 2 million yen wouldn't be unreasonable. Most funeral homes didn't dare handle devil-related corpses.
"Two days? Are you sure you can restore him?" the younger officer asked, frowning.
Cael smirked lightly. "If they're unsatisfied, I'll issue a full refund. I'm a professional."
The older officer nodded. "Sigh. Alright, it's in your hands."
"The students and faculty raised 2.7 million yen in total. We can't hold it. I'll transfer it to you via PayPay now."
"Fine," Cael replied calmly, accepting the payment without complaint.
Once the police left, he pushed Tanaka's spinal sword into the shop. Only then did Denji and Pochita emerge from hiding.
"Mr. Cael, do we have work?" Denji asked, circling the body curiously, excitement in his eyes.
Cael nodded. "Yes. This is Mr. Tanaka. Restoring him will earn us 2.7 million yen."
"Whoa! 2.7 million!" Denji gawked. "Mr. Tanaka, you're really worth a lot!"
"Woof woof!" Pochita barked and ran circles around the stretcher.
"Respect the guest, don't make it sound so scary," Cael said, half laughing, half exasperated. "Delivery is the day after tomorrow at noon. We're going to be busy."
"Mr. Cael, Pochita and I can help!" Denji said eagerly.
"Woof!"
Cael smiled warmly. "Alright, Denji, help me prepare the clay and plasticine. They're over there. Pochita, help me get the plaster."
"Got it!" Denji replied.
"Woof woof!" Pochita barked.
Two days later, after working around the clock, the restoration was complete. Dark circles marked Denji's eyes, but Cael's high Constitution kept him energetic.
Mr. Tanaka now sat restored on the memorial stand. Cael photographed the body from multiple angles and sent the images to the police, who were impressed. Within the hour, word spread to the students and faculty.
Around a hundred students arrived by bus, dressed in uniforms with white paper flowers pinned to their chests, clutching yellow chrysanthemums. Cael had Pochita hide—being a devil at a school funeral could attract unwanted attention.
Cael and Denji observed quietly. Most students were genuinely sad, some weeping openly. Others laughed nervously, treating it like a curious spectacle.
Cael overheard snippets of conversation.
"That girl didn't come to mourn, did she?"
"Nope, I haven't seen her."
"Mr. Tanaka's dead, and she can't even bother to show up after all he did for her!"
"Heh, it's her fault Mr. Tanaka's gone!"
Denji barely registered their words, his thoughts occupied with dinner. Mr. Cael had promised him 100,000 yen for the restoration work, and he planned to spend it on food with Cael and Pochita.
After the students left, Cael and Denji loaded Mr. Tanaka's body into the incinerator. Using Pochita to saw through the tougher bones, and Denji hammering where needed, it was reduced to ashes by dusk.
"Denji, sprinkle these in the flower pots," Cael instructed. The ashes were unclaimed, so disposal was flexible.
Denji carried the porcelain basin carefully. Cael donned a mask, swept, and cleaned—the obsession with cleanliness remained, even as an Undertaker. Pochita followed, mop in mouth, imitating Cael's movements.
Suddenly, Pochita froze. The mop clattered to the ground.
"Pochita?" Cael asked, alert.
The devil sniffed toward the yard. At the same time, the doorbell rang.
Pochita's expression stiffened. He jumped in front of Cael, tugging at his pant leg.
Ding-dong.
Cael frowned. Pochita had never been this tense.
He knelt, rubbing the devil's head. "Don't worry. Hide like last time. I won't betray you."
"Woof," Pochita acknowledged, then pointed at his chainsaw head.
Cael deduced immediately: someone outside meant trouble. Could it be a Devil Hunter, like Denji had mentioned?
"Don't worry, I'll handle it," Cael murmured, thinking of his Dark-Dark Fruit power.
"Dark Hole."
A black vortex opened in front of his chest.
"Jump in," he instructed.
"Woof woof woof!" Pochita leapt into the vortex. Cael closed it, merging with his contracted devil.
"Can you hear me?"
"Woof," came Pochita's voice from within.
Good. Now to open the door.
Ding-dong. The doorbell rang again—this time a fifth time.
Heh.
Cael opened the yard door with a smirk.
A black shadow lunged at him. He stumbled, hitting the ground hard.
A young girl in a school uniform straddled his legs, rubbing her forehead as she sat up.
"I told you! Crashing into the door is not allowed! Why can't you stop making decisions for me?"
"I know, I know! I know I'll fall at a critical moment, but this was your decision. How can you blame me?"
Cael blinked. Strange—she was just an ordinary student. Yet Pochita had been on edge.
"So, how long are you planning to sit on my legs?" Cael asked calmly.
The girl's gaze fell on his face. Handsome…
Her face flushed as she jumped up. "S-Sorry!"
Cael brushed himself off. "Who are you, and why are you here?"
She stammered. "I… I'm Asa Mitaka. I heard Mr. Tanaka's body was restored, and I… came to pay respects."
____
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