(Author Release: 10-Chapter Mass Release Jutsu)
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Kukuri's voice was cold, her purple eyes glaring menacingly at Lynn and Iwanaga Kotoko.
Lynn casually glanced at her, then said calmly, "Bitch."
"...?"
Why... was he insulting her?
Kukuri didn't even have time to react—
WHOOSH!
A white blur flashed past her.
All she felt was a sharp pain in her head before—BANG!—her whole body was slammed into the dirt like a human nail.
Straight-up headfirst into the ground.
Enma Ai's eyes widened in shock. "Nani?!"
Kotoko's jaw dropped as she stared at the white dog now elegantly grooming its fur while standing atop Kukuri's body. "Even his pet is this strong?"
The dog Yokai, Ryougetsu Senhime, flicked her puppy ears, looking happy.
---
Some time later.
Inside a thatched hut, Kukuri slowly regained consciousness, covered in dirt and looking absolutely miserable.
Lynn sat cross-legged on the tatami, left arm resting on the wooden table while his right hand gently stroked Senhime's soft fur. His gaze, cold and indifferent, landed on Kukuri.
"Guh!"
Kukuri shuddered violently. She quickly and obediently sat kneeling across from Lynn, not daring to even breathe too loudly.
She'd been knocked out and buried in the dirt by just his pet after a single exchange.
Terrifying!
Kukuri stole a glance at Senhime, who was calmly enjoying Lynn's petting, and her heart trembled uncontrollably.
Ai-chan... just what kind of monster did you bring into Hell?
She was almost in tears.
"Now... can we talk properly?"
Lynn's voice sent another shiver down Kukuri's spine.
Forcing out an awkward smile uglier than crying, she stammered, "O-of course, my lord. Whatever you wish to know."
"Let's start with this place. Tell me about it."
When Lynn first arrived in Hell, he thought this territory belonged to Hades.
But after carefully sensing his surroundings, he realized—there were no powerful presences here at all.
Could it be... this part of Hell had nothing to do with Hades?
"Yes, sir!"
Kukuri quickly lowered her head and began explaining.
"This is the Hell of the Japan area. It used to be ruled by the great goddess Izanami."
"Used to be..."
Lynn immediately caught that keyword.
He understood what it implied.
Most of the gods of Japan had long since perished, leaving behind only stray spirits and monsters.
"Izanami no Okami!?"
Kotoko's pupils shrank, unable to hold back her exclamation.
Since becoming a god of wisdom, this was her first real encounter with matters involving legendary gods.
And to think... right out the gate, it was this kind of goddess.
She couldn't help but feel nervous.
Did they barge in recklessly... and end up offending such a powerful deity?
Japan's Hell...
Lynn fell into thought.
"So... what you're saying is... this part of Hell currently has no master?"
"Eh?"
Kotoko blinked, stunned by that statement.
But Kukuri nodded. "Correct."
Kotoko's eyes widened. "Wait, what about Izanami?"
Kukuri paused for a moment, then answered calmly, "Izanami no Okami... is dead."
"Huh? Gods can... die?"
"She fell in battle."
THUMP!
It felt like a heavy blow landed directly on Kotoko's heart.
"Huh!?"
Lynn spoke flatly, "Gods die if they're killed."
"Uh... but... but how!? Who could kill a god? Aren't they supposed to be the strongest beings?"
Lynn cast a sideways glance at Kotoko.
Naive thinking.
"This world has Eastern gods, Greek gods, Western gods,... even angels, devils, and fallen angels running around everywhere."
He said indifferently, "What makes you think the Japanese gods are anything special?"
Japan was already nothing more than the playground of angels, devils, and fallen angels.
Kotoko was left speechless, feeling increasingly powerless.
This world... was way scarier than she thought.
"As this lord said, the gods of Japan have long since vanished."
Kukuri announced this shocking news in a flat tone.
Kotoko was still in a daze, unable to recover from the bombshell.
No gods left in Japan...
Then what was she—a so-called god of wisdom—even supposed to be?
Lynn looked at Kukuri and continued asking, "So... no one has taken over Japan's Hell?"
Kukuri shook her head, forcing a smile. "Perhaps... the big shots just don't care about it."
"But..."
She added, "While Japan's Hell is technically still under Japan jurisdiction, all the talent and reincarnation operations have been taken over by others."
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "So that's why Hell Girl exists?"
Kukuri nodded. "Without souls flowing into Hell, its laws and balance can't be maintained. Sooner or later, it would collapse."
"That was why we had to forcibly maintain it through the Hell Girl system."
Kukuri quickly clarified, "B-but that was all that damn three-eyed spider's idea! Not me!"
"Oh?"
Lynn smiled faintly. "I can see that you and that spider have quite the connection!"
Kukuri: "!!!!"
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
This man... How did he know that?
She was instantly on edge.
Having gathered enough information about this Hell, Lynn tapped his finger on the table... "Alright, let's get down to business."
"Yes!"
Kukuri straightened up, clearly nervous.
Lynn's gaze shifted to Enma Ai, who was zoning out on the side. The corner of his mouth curled up.
"I'm thinking of having her work for me. What do you think?"
"Huh?"
Kukuri looked up, completely caught off guard.
That's it? That's your plan?
Of course, Ai had a contract with her true self — breaking free from Hell wasn't something that could be done so easily.
But…Given the man sitting in front of her — that man — convincing the three-eyed spider?
That shouldn't be a problem at all.
Hearing the conversation shift to her, Enma Ai spoke calmly, "I haven't finished my atonement yet. I can't leave Hell."
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
Seeing that, Kukuri quickly explained.
"Ai's parents are sealed deep within Hell. If Ai doesn't complete her atonement according to the contract, her parents will never be able to reincarnate."
Iwanaga Kotoko frowned. "Is it because of that spider?"
Kukuri silently nodded.
Kotoko snorted, "Looks like that thing's the real culprit."
Not only were its methods ruthless and reckless, but it even forced others to work for it.
What a piece of shit.
"In that case..."
Lynn stood up, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'll go free your parents' souls, and then..."
He looked straight at Enma Ai and added, "From now on, your life belongs to me."
Enma Ai: "???"
Her eyes filled with confusion.
Free her parents?
Those words stirred something deep within Enma Ai's heart.
"Say yes, Ai."
Kukuri suddenly spoke up. "If it's this man... he'll make it happen."
Enma Ai looked at her, still unsure.
But Kukuri's expression remained serious. Truthfully, she'd long wanted Ai to be free of this job. She had made some preparations herself...
But... It was nothing compared to leaving it to this man in front of them.
Still feeling a little uneasy, Kukuri asked, "Sir, what do you plan to do with that spider afterward?"
Lynn glanced at her, easily seeing through her worries.
"If that spider dies, you'll disappear too?"
Kukuri nodded silently, then gave a bitter smile. "I'm just a fragment it separated from itself, created specifically to watch over Ai's work."
If its main body died, there was no way she'd survive either.
Lynn stroked his chin thoughtfully, then conjured a Devil's Piece, grinning, "Well then..."
"Wanna try becoming a devil?"
Kukuri: "????"
"A devil?"
She looked at him, wide-eyed.
Lynn explained, "Take this into your body, reincarnate as a devil, and become my servant. That way, you can cut ties with being just a fragment."
His Devil Pieces were of the highest grade. Once someone became his servant, any connection to the Three-Eyed Spider would naturally be severed.
Kukuri blinked, her voice trembling slightly. "Really... is that okay?"
Lynn didn't say anything more. He simply placed the Devil's Piece on the table.
Whether or not she wanted to become a devil was entirely up to her.
Kukuri hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out for the Devil Piece.
She didn't want to be controlled by that spider anymore.
And so... Kukuri made her decision.
As soon as her hand touched the Devil Piece, she couldn't help but tremble.
But very quickly, determination filled her eyes. She pulled open her shirt and, without the slightest hesitation, pressed the piece against her chest!
Buzz—
The moment the Devil Piece entered her body, she could almost hear the sound of chains snapping one after another.
An overwhelming sense of relief washed over her.
But...
At the same time, she could feel herself connecting with another existence.
Kukuri focused her mind, and in a flash, a scene appeared before her.
A dark, pitch-black space, devoid of light.
Deep within that space, a shadowy figure sat silently.
Lynn Valifer...
That name suddenly rose in her heart, followed immediately by an intense fear that gripped her entire being, leaving her breathless!
In the next instant, her vision went black, and her consciousness was pushed out like a receding tide.
Kukuri's eyes shot open. She gasped for air, only to meet Lynn's calm, crimson gaze staring right at her.
She froze.
"How do you feel?"
Hearing Lynn's question, Kukuri finally relaxed a little.
"Feels..."
She thought for a moment, then answered, "Pretty good."
"My connection with that spider... it's completely gone!"
The realization made her genuinely happy.
She'd never have to hurt Ai again under that spider's control.
Lynn nodded, then casually added, "Alright then... take off your clothes."
"Ehhhh?"
Kukuri froze.
Iwanaga Kotoko also looked at Lynn beside her in disbelief.
"L-Lolicon Demon King?!"
Lynn was speechless. He pointed at Kukuri's chest. "After becoming my servant, you'll gain new powers."
"Your blessing's information is engraved right there."
Hearing that...
Kotoko and Kukuri both turned their gazes to Kukuri's chest.
Only Enma Ai seemed lost in her own thoughts.
Sure enough, just as Lynn had said, a strange, unreadable script was etched there.
But...To check it...
Wouldn't that mean...
Whoosh—
Kukuri's face instantly turned bright red.
Why... why didn't he tell her this beforehand?!
If she had known, no way she'd have shoved that thing into her chest so casually!!
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