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The battle was over.
The ground lay torn and battered, the nearby forest flattened into nothing. A cold wind swept through the aftermath, kicking up yellow leaves that danced in the air, lending the scene a bleak, empty feel.
"Ma'am, are you alright?"
Yuto cradled the delicate woman in his arms, drifting down from the sky with a soft smile on his face.
With Kuubou's defeat, all her burdens melted away like smoke. At last, Yayoi's mother was safe.
"I… what's happening?"
Mrs. Chitose blinked, her eyes clouded with confusion, as if she hadn't yet shaken off a long nightmare. It wasn't until she slipped from Yuto's arms and saw her daughter staring up at her that reality hit. She pulled the sobbing Yayoi into a tight embrace.
"Yoyoi, my child!"
"Mom, I missed you so much…" Yayoi cried, her voice breaking. "Every day you were gone, I thought about you and Dad."
Watching the mother and daughter cling to each other, tears streaming down their faces, Iwanaga Kotoko couldn't hold back her own. She wiped at her eyes, moved by the sight.
"This is so touching," she said softly. "This is what family means."
Nearby, Himeno and Yomi stood quietly, their hearts stirred by the reunion. Yomi, who'd lost her own parents young, felt a lump in her throat as she watched.
'Killing Kuubou only got me 20 Saint Quartz,' Yuto thought, checking his stash in his personal space. 'That's a lousy reward… but at least I unlocked a Noble Phantasm upgrade.'
He was about to call the girls to leave when the air around them started to tremble, flickering like a broken screen. In the next moment, an unseen force wrapped around him, yanking him away. When he blinked, he was standing on a rugged mountain ridge not far off.
"The future is awesome, yeah!"
A strange, lanky creature hopped around in a goofy dance, catching Yuto's eye.
"Hey, kid, why not shout it with me? The future's the best!" it chirped.
"A future fanatic?!" Yuto shot back, eyeing the thing in front of him. It was tall, with twisted horns sprouting from its head, a patch of thick white fur across its chest, and a single dull yellow eye staring out. Its legs looked like gnarled tree trunks—a freaky, monstrous sight.
Yuto slid the Sword of Promised Victory from its sheath. The blade, cloaked by the Wind King's Barrier, shimmered faintly with a sharp edge despite its invisible form.
"Heh, easy there, kid," the creature—the Future Devil said, throwing up a shaky peace sign. "I'm just here to offer you a contract."
"Why would I deal with you?" Yuto replied, stepping closer, his tone icy.
"I don't trust devils. You're all disgusting—using humans, draining them dry, then playing with them till they break, just for your own kicks. With that kind of trash behavior, what makes you think I'd sign anything with you?"
"Whoa, whoa, hold up!" The Future Devil flailed, sweat beading on its weird face as Yuto's sword loomed closer. "Stop, man, you don't have to sign! Just, can you keep that thing away from me? I'm freaking out here!"
"No chance," Yuto said, smirking. "I'm itching to cut you down. Give me one good reason not to."
He flicked the Wind King's Barrier off, revealing the sword's gleaming edge.
"You've got ten seconds, or you're done."
"What? That's crazy!" the Future Devil yelped, its voice cracking.
It had come here to mess with Yuto, hoping to peek at his tangled, juicy future. Now it was the one cornered.
'Fuck me! I miscalculated.'
"Ten… nine… six…" Yuto's cold countdown echoed through the empty mountains.
The numbers ticked down, and the Future Devil's forehead glistened with panic.
"Three… two…"
"Wait, wait! I get it, you've got some future-seeing trick, right? I'll boost it for free!" it blurted out.
"Having a devil spy on my future? That's nasty," Yuto said, but he paused, intrigued.
The Future Devil slumped. "Fine, take a piece of my power, no strings attached."
A few seconds later, Yuto's right eye tingled with a cool rush. Colors swirled like a kaleidoscope, then settled. Suddenly, he saw Iwanaga Kotoko and the others scrambling to find him.
"So this is future sight," he muttered, rubbing his nose. "Pretty neat."
He glanced around. The Future Devil had already bolted, clearly too spooked to stick around.
Minutes later, Yuto summoned a black bird projection and flew back to the forest's edge, meeting up with Iwanaga Kotoko and the rest. Together, they left the chaos behind.
Hours later, at the Environmental Province's Supernatural Disaster Countermeasures Office, Himeno reunited with her teammates, Michiko and Kobeni.
Seeing their senior unharmed, the two girls froze, jaws dropping.
"But… weren't you…"
Kobeni, her short braid swinging and hair clipped back, looked tiny in her blue-and-white casual shirt. It hugged her slim frame, giving her a softer, girlish vibe compared to her usual police gear.
"What, chopped up by a devil?" Himeno, ruffling Kobeni's hair. "I got lucky. Not only did I make it out, but I think I found the guy of my dreams too."
"Wait, you mean…?" Tendou Michiko, tall and cool-headed, arched a brow.
"Yuto, obviously," Himeno, her cheeks flushing.
"What?" Kobeni gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth.
"So, Kobeni, are you quitting the devil-hunting gig?" Tendou asked.
"Yeah. I'm handing in my resignation tomorrow. I will join Yuto's company." Himeno replied, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement.
The two girls stared, stunned, then felt a pang of envy. Their old teammate had escaped this brutal life. Yuto's skills were no joke, he'd taken down two devils and that nasty spirit Kuubou single-handedly. Strong, good-looking… It was hard not to be jealous.
Who'd choose a life of constant danger if they had options?
The room went quiet.
Himeno caught their glum looks and clapped her hands. "Hey, if you want, you could join Yuto's company. The pay is better than our current, and you won't be risking your neck."
"Seriously?" Kobeni and Tendou exchanged glances, hope flickering in their eyes.
If Himeno was for real, they'd jump at the chance to ditch this grind for something safer.
Meanwhile, Yuto strolled back into the Countermeasures Office with Izanami Yomi. As they stepped inside, Jinguuji Ayame rolled up in her wheelchair.
"Nice work, Special Envoy. Three headaches gone in one swing."
"You're too kind, Director Jinguuji," Yuto said, giving the woman an appreciative nod. Her sharp features, smooth skin, and long brown hair framed a graceful figure, her black suit hugging her curves just right.
Yomi chimed in, "This mission was all Yuto. I just tagged along."
...…..
Outside the office, Izanami Yomi turned to Yuto. "Thanks, Yuto for today."
Yuto grinned, noticing her usual cool edge softened. Her long black hair caught the light, her sharp features striking when she smiled.
He pulled a "Lion Plush" from his inventory—an item that boosts favor with sword-wielding women and handed it to her.
"Huh? Yuto, what's this?" Yomi asked, taking the fluffy toy with a surprised look.
Her eyes brightened as she hugged it, the plush's charm kicking in.
"Thanks, Yuto. I love it—I'll keep it close," she said, her tone warmer.
Yuto nodded, pleased. That plush worked like a charm.
After a quick chat, he headed back to his villa with Himeno and the others to unwind.
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