-----
-----
"I'm here!"
Clara answered seriously, then frowned slightly. "But... why are you asking me that?"
"Oh, because I'm a clean freak."
Minato said it with a straight face. "A beautiful girl who belongs to me can't have any flaws."
"Mister Demon, you're seriously shameless. What do you mean 'belongs to you'?"
Clara threw him a sarcastic jab. "You don't even look older than a high schooler, and you talk like that?"
"I'm not lying, y'know. I already have over ten girls in my harem."
"Sigh... So I summoned the Demon of Lust, huh?"
Clara looked at Minato in disbelief, then made up her mind.
This demon...
Was definitely shameless.
And his face was thicker than a wall.
"Alright then, what's your wish?"
"Hm?"
Clara froze mid-motion.
"You summoned a demon, didn't you have something you wanted?"
Minato looked at Clara, his eyes glinting slightly.
No matter what—
He had to get Clara.
Clara's gaze shifted, becoming complicated. She started fiddling with her hair again.
A wish, huh...
Actually, she did have one.
And if the guy in front of her really was a demon, maybe—just maybe—it could come true.
She looked straight at Minato and slowly said, "Mister Demon, please take my life."
Immortality? She was sick of it.
Minato: "..."
Oh yeah...
That is her setting.
Of course, he had the power to kill her.
But to grant that wish? What kind of idiot would actually do it?
Expressionless, Minato stared deeply into her eyes. "Miss Clara, are you really sure that's what you want?"
"My gut tells me that you're not longing for death—you're longing for something else."
The demon knows my name?
And he can read my heart too?
Clara's eyes widened.
Well, he is a demon after all. Guess it's no surprise he's got powers like that.
And honestly, this demon...
Kinda feels gentle.
He could've just taken her life and been done with it.
But instead...
What is her real wish?
Minato sighed and said, "Your wish comes from the very start of your life."
Hearing that, Clara's eyes turned even more complicated.
Yeah...
That's right...
Her original wish wasn't to die—it was...
With that thought, she looked firmly at Minato.
"I want to be loved."
"But not a twisted kind of love that messes with people's minds. I want something real."
"That's easy."
Minato smirked and said, "If you want love, how about becoming my follower?"
"What?"
Clara blinked.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you'll become a demon too—and spend your whole life with me."
Minato nodded. "I admit I'm a bit of a flirt, but the love I give to my followers is real and equal."
Clara's eyes widened slightly. "Mister Demon, could you be any more shameless?"
"Nope. I'm being dead serious."
As their eyes met, Clara frowned slightly.
Maybe... this demon really was being honest.
That thought crossed her mind.
She'd lived for a thousand years—not long enough to fully understand people's hearts, but long enough to see through most lies.
And Minato...
He seemed genuine.
Even though it sounded strange to use the word "honest" to describe a demon.
Still, maybe it was worth a shot.
She was an immortal witch, after all. Wouldn't she match pretty well with a demon?
Clara looked up. "Becoming a demon won't change me too much, will it?"
"Don't worry. You'll be just like me—just a tail and a pair of wings."
Minato smiled. "Your looks won't change at all. Plus, you'll get some crazy cool powers."
Hearing that, Clara nodded. "Alright then. Mister Demon, let me become your follower."
Minato looked surprised. "You're not even gonna think about it?"
She'd lived a thousand years—you'd think she'd be harder to trick.
"Well, things are already like this. Might as well give it a try."
Clara smiled lightly. "But if you lie to me, then I am gonna ask you to take my life."
Minato went quiet for a moment, then answered seriously, "Don't worry—I never lie to my followers."
"And you'll stay with me—forever and ever."
Clara's cheeks finally turned a little pink. "Mister Demon... was that a confession?"
"Yeah."
"Mister Demon, you really don't hesitate, huh? But... I kinda like that."
As she stared into Minato's eyes...
She felt her heart come back to life.
She'd never felt anything like this before.
Her heart... it was racing.
"Could this really be it? Did I finally find true love?"
Even if this demon was a total flirt...
It didn't seem to matter anymore.
"Mister Demon, let's do it. Make me your follower."
"Alright!"
Minato's lips curled into a grin.
His dream—one step closer.
King of the Harem? That title was his.
Without a sound, a demon chess piece appeared out of thin air.
"This is a demon chess piece. Just put it into your body, and you'll be reborn as a demon—my follower."
"Demon... chess piece?"
Clara's eye twitched.
What kind of nonsense is this?
Is the demon world really up to date with Western board games now?
Still confused, she asked, "How do I put it in?"
Eat it? Or... no way, right?
"Relax, I've done this a lot. It won't hurt."
...Why does that sound so wrong?
Did I say yes too fast?
"First, take off your clothes."
"I... uh..."
Clara blushed as she looked down at her robe.
"Well, usually you'd just need to remove the outer layer... but what you're wearing now... if you wanna change first, I can wait."
Seeing the way Minato was staring at her, Clara went quiet for a moment.
Then, she started to move.
"Okay, this spot should work."
"That's enough?"
"Yeah, perfect."
Clara held her arms over her chest and finally let out a breath of relief.
Any more than this would've been way too embarrassing.
Even after living a thousand years, it was the first time a man had looked at her like that.
But now what? How was the chess piece going in?
As she was wondering, Minato had already moved—gently placing the piece right onto her bare skin.
"....."