"You think you can come whenever you want and leave whenever you want?"
Lynn's indifferent voice echoed like thunder in Kuroka's mind.
Her golden slit pupils began to tremble uncontrollably.
That touch on her shoulder—burning hot.
When... did the barrier break?
Kuroka's heart sank.
Even with her hyperdynamic vision, she hadn't seen what happened. And…
Not even a Maou could shatter her barrier so effortlessly.
This suffocating pressure...
Is this guy… a Maou?!
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Cold sweat drenched her back. A chill ran straight up her spine.
She stiffly turned her head and looked at Lynn, forcing a smile uglier than crying.
"Th-this sir, I didn't know you were a Maou~"
Kuroka was an ultimate-class devil, but this was out of her league.
Yet even as she spoke timidly, her hands kept moving.
Lynn lowered his gaze and his expression turned cold.
Caught.
But Kuroka didn't stop. A dark purple sigil suddenly formed at her fingertips.
A moment later, a cloud of dark purple mist erupted outward.
It was a curse designed specifically to affect devils and monsters.
Kuroka didn't expect it to work on someone Maou-class like Lynn.
But even a single second of delay.
Was enough to perform a space-jump and escape!
"Purification."
A calm voice sounded in her ears.
Buzz—
A brilliant white light radiated from Lynn's body.
The curse met its natural predator.
Within seconds, it was completely dispelled.
Kuroka blinked, then froze.
It's over, nya!!
"Wild cat, you're really not behaving..."
Lynn's tone felt like a death sentence.
Without hesitation, Kuroka dove forward, leaving an afterimage as she tried to flee through the window.
But—
Clang—
A crisp clinking sound rang out.
Golden chains burst from Lynn's hand and wrapped around Kuroka.
One minute later, in the apartment.
Kuroka, now tightly bound, knelt before Lynn with her head down.
Lynn sat back on the sofa, looking down at her, a golden chain extending from his hand and tightening around her delicate neck.
Binding Spell.
A technique he'd learned from Kikyo and Midoriko.
With his power behind it, even an Ultimate-Class Devil like Kuroka couldn't break free.
In fact, the more she struggled, the tighter it became.
She had already tried it.
Kuroka squirmed uncomfortably.
Aren't these chains a bit too tight?!
Suddenly, the chain tugged.
She instinctively raised her chin, her golden pupils meeting Lynn's wine-red eyes.
She pursed her lips and shifted her gaze. Well...
The situation changed~
Who would've thought Shirone's man was a Maou-level devil?
She was confident in her strength against anyone below Maou level.
She glanced at Koneko gloomily.
Shirone, you really know how to pick 'em...
Koneko: "?"
She didn't quite understand her sister's expression. But…
Senpai, you're amazing!
Koneko looked up at Lynn with eyes full of admiration.
Her all-powerful older sister was subdued so easily.
Senpai… is he a super devil? Like Rias's brother?
She was shocked.
This news was even more shocking than Kuroka's sudden arrival.
Kuroka: "???"
She stared at her sister in disbelief.
Your older sister is being tied up and toyed with by your man, and you don't care at all?
Sensing Kuroka's resentful gaze, Koneko finally looked at her.
Kuroka quickly winked.
Help! Plead for your sister!
Koneko averted her eyes, muttering softly, "It's... it's my sister's fault."
Kuroka: Nya?!
Her chest tightened and her eyes widened in disbelief.
Shirone! You've turned against me?! It hurts!
Although Koneko had suffered because of Kuroka in the past…
She was still her biological sister.
Of course she cared.
After a moment of hesitation, Koneko reached out and tugged on Lynn's sleeve.
"Senpai, about my sister..."
Lynn gently stroked her head and spoke calmly, "Don't worry. For your sake, I won't kill her."
Kill?!
Both Koneko and Kuroka stiffened.
Has it really come to that?!
Kuroka felt even more uneasy.
Thankfully, Lynn was Shirone's man.
Otherwise, the two sisters might've been separated by life and death…
Of course—
Lynn was just scaring them.
Kuroka was still valuable.
With her top-tier strength, she would be a great asset once added to the Peerage.
Lynn narrowed his eyes. "But..."
"While the death penalty can be waived, the punishment cannot be avoided."
Hearing this, Kuroka lowered her head without hesitation. "Please give me your orders."
Having realized the overwhelming difference in strength, her attitude shifted quickly.
After all.
She did try to run earlier.
And Koneko didn't object either.
In fact, she somewhat agreed.
If Senpai weren't so strong, who knows what my sister might have done.
She should be taught a lesson!
Seeing this, Lynn summoned his Evil Pieces.
"So then…"
"Become mine, Kuroka."
Her eyes widened.
The moment she saw the Evil Piece, she had a bad feeling.
Damn it!
Am I going to become a devil's servant again?!
Her golden pupils dimmed.
Clearly, painful memories had resurfaced.
Inukimi frowned, clearly displeased.
Another new pet for Master… and again, it's a cat.
When Koneko heard that word, her face flushed red.
But then, seeing the Evil Piece in Lynn's hand, she understood.
So... he just wants to make my sister his Peerage member.
But...
"If my sister's magic runs out, she becomes unstable."
Koneko reminded softly.
She still remembered what her sister had done in the Underworld.
She didn't want her to hurt Lynn in a future outburst.
"Don't worry," Lynn replied. "Once she becomes part of my Peerage, that won't be an issue."
"Besides..."
Lynn smiled faintly. "With your sister's strength, does she really pose any threat to me?"
...True.
Thinking of Lynn's overwhelming power, Koneko relaxed.
But...
Becoming Senpai's dependent...
She pressed her hand to her chest, feeling slightly dejected.
It feels like my sister beat me to it.
Kuroka's expression flickered, then she suddenly grinned, her golden eyes locking on Lynn.
"Are you sure you want me as your dependent?"
Her pupils shimmered with an odd light.
"Don't you know…"
"I'm a rogue devil. The Underworld classifies me as SS-level dangerous."
"If you take me in, you'll be inviting a lot of trouble~"
She stared straight at him, eager to see his reaction.
Even if you're Maou-class...
You can't just ignore the laws of the Underworld, can you?
There are still the Four Maou.
Would he really go against all of them... just for her?
Lynn didn't answer.
Instead, his lips curled upward.
With a ripping sound, her kimono was torn open roughly.
Under Kuroka's stunned gaze.
The Evil Piece was stuffed into her chest.
The answer was obvious.
Kuroka's heart skipped a beat.
A foreign sensation surged from deep within.
This man actually...!
She still couldn't believe it, even as the Evil Piece entered her body.
"Ahh…"
Her breathing quickened, her eyes blurred as she stared blankly at Lynn.
Was it confidence? Or something else?
But…
Whatever it was...
Kuroka found herself suddenly feeling.
Pretty good.
(To be continued.)