Yukino's intense, unblinking stare was impossible to miss.
Seeing the dazzling light in her eyes—and the unmistakable affection behind it—everyone exchanged looks.
"Uh… Yukino," Leo said, blinking, "don't tell me you've taken a liking to that little one?"
He suddenly remembered—Yukino, despite being aloof, quiet, and difficult to approach… was a total cat lover.
Sobu High's Winter Flower loved cats more than anything.
And sure enough, Yukino spoke with unwavering conviction.
"I want to choose it as my familiar."
To her, nothing else existed except that tiny, icy cat.
"Are you sure?" Leo asked, even though he already knew the answer. "I actually picked out something very strong for you, you know?"
When she'd said she wanted a familiar with real combat power, he had already selected a target.
A frost dragon living in the center of the Familiar Forest.
When it came to battle strength, dragons were the natural first choice. That frost dragon was an outsider who arrived over ten years ago and seized territory the moment it appeared—turning it into an ice field with a single breath of frost. Most monsters didn't dare approach.
According to Leo's information, the dragon's strength was at least comparable to a High-Class Devil—possibly even strong among them.
With Yukino's current power, she might actually have a shot at defeating and taming it if she used everything she had.
And with Leo watching from the side, why not try?
If she succeeded, the Eligos peerage would gain another High-Class Devil–level combatant. And since its attribute matched Yukino's, the synergy between them could produce a one-plus-one-equals-more-than-two effect.
Because of all that, Leo had locked the frost dragon in as her first target.
But if Yukino wanted this Ice Spirit instead, then he'd have to drop the dragon.
There was no helping it—Yukino was still a newly reincarnated devil. Even with excellent talent, someone new to the supernatural world couldn't manage multiple familiars yet.
Asuna and Utaha were in the same boat. All three were beginners; taking too big a step would be risky. One familiar was enough for now—they could get more later.
So Yukino had only two options this time: either take the Ice Spirit in front of her or the powerful frost dragon.
And compared to dragons, Ice Spirits—while rare—were nothing like the common fire, water, or earth Spirits. Spirits weren't known for combat power, and this one was nowhere near dragon-level.
Leo probed it briefly. Its aura was around Mid-Class Devil strength—probably weaker than Yukino without her Sacred Gear, let alone when she used Absolute Demise.
Compared to average familiars, it was definitely better. But to help in battle? It'd only handle low-level encounters.
"That one," Yukinoshita Yukino said without a shred of hesitation.
She had wanted to keep a cat for years, but her apartment's no-pet rule kept her from doing so. As a devoted cat lover, she'd always been frustrated over it.
Now she could legally keep one.
Even if Leo said it only looked like a cat and was actually a Spirit—
Who cared? It was cute.
As for strength, this icy kitten wasn't as strong as a dragon, but she could feel an odd sense of closeness to it. That alone was enough for her to decide.
"…All right."
Seeing that she was completely bewitched by the tiny creature, Leo nodded.
"It can't match a frost dragon for now, but Ice Spirits do align with your attribute. If you raise it properly, it's not impossible it could surpass that dragon someday."
Spirits were convenient that way—they had clear elemental affinity and were deeply influenced by their environment. If Yukino consistently gave it high-quality cold energy, its strength would grow rapidly.
They were the easiest familiars to maintain. No food required. No meat. They could live entirely without eating. Just give them something aligned with their element and they'd be fine.
Dragons? Strong, yes—but they were dragons. They'd devour mountains of meat daily. Hardest creatures to maintain.
Thinking about it that way, Leo actually felt Yukino had made a good choice.
"You remember the method for forming a Familiar Contract, right?"
He asked one last time.
"Of course."
Yukino nodded immediately.
She'd nearly read the entire library back in the mansion. And before they left, Leo had personally walked them through the method again.
"Then go ahead," Leo said. "It was drawn here by your power. You should be able to get close without startling it."
Unable to wait any longer, Yukino walked toward the Ice Spirit.
Its icy blue eyes never left her. As she approached, it still didn't move, simply watching her quietly.
Its cool, aloof behavior nearly melted Yukino on the spot. Her movements became delicate and careful, each step measured so she wouldn't startle it.
She crouched down, then slowly reached out.
Under everyone's tense gaze, her fingers touched the Ice Spirit.
The moment she felt it, Yukino understood Leo's earlier words.
Unlike a real cat, the Ice Spirit wasn't soft or fluffy. Touching it felt like touching a block of extremely cold ice—cold enough to burn.
A clear sign it wasn't a cat, but a genuine Spirit of ice.
But as the wielder of Absolute Demise, Yukino wasn't bothered by the cold. If anything, it felt familiar.
The Ice Spirit must have felt the same—that's why it allowed her to approach and touch it.
Yukino stroked it for a long moment before reluctantly pulling her hand back and standing.
"In the name of Yukinoshita Yukino, I command thee—become my familiar and answer the contract."
A magic circle glowing green burst to life at her feet, covering the Ice Spirit.
This was the Familiar Contract ritual. Simple, almost negligible in cost—any newly reincarnated Low-Class Devil could perform it unless their demonic power was unbelievably weak.
Yukino's demonic power was outstanding even among Mid-Class Devils, almost reaching High-Class level. She'd trained seriously since reincarnating. A small ritual like this was child's play.
Even if the Ice Spirit resisted, she likely could have forced the contract through.
But to everyone's surprise, the little creature didn't resist at all. It stayed perfectly still, staring at Yukino.
The green magic circle contracted, turning into a small sigil that sank into the Ice Spirit's body.
Yukino instantly felt a connection form—a subtle, invisible link. The Ice Spirit's eyes softened at last, and it leapt into her arms.
"Success!"
Yukino let out a relieved breath, joy bursting across her face.
It was the first time she'd ever looked so openly happy. Her frosty image cracked completely, reminding everyone that she was still just a seventeen-year-old girl.
"Congrats, Yukinoshita."
"Congratulations."
Utaha and Asuna walked up to her and offered their congratulations.
"Thank you."
Yukino held the icy kitten close, replying shyly.
Utaha and Asuna reached to pet it too. The Ice Spirit didn't reject them—but the moment their fingers touched its body, the biting cold froze their fingertips stiff. Both girls hissed sharply.
Leo, on the other hand, touched the creature without flinching.
As someone on the verge of becoming an Ultimate-Class Devil, and the wielder of Zenith Tempest, he could counter even the cold emitted by Yukino's Absolute Demise. The chill of a tiny Ice Spirit was nothing to him.
"Since we're not going after the frost dragon anymore, we'll head to the next destination."
Leo turned and changed direction decisively.
"Where are we going next?" Utaha asked while following.
"To the habitat of a group of Fairies."
He answered casually.
Fairies—small humanoid Spirits with wings, like miniature girls from Western folklore.
They lived in forests, could be sensed by animals, but could hide from human sight. Their forms were slightly larger than insects, transparent, with butterfly wings and antennae—delicate and beautiful.
"Fairies can adjust their size and take the form of adult humans. They're very useful for assisting with devil work."
Leo wasn't trying to hide it. This was clearly the familiar he'd picked out for Asuna.
Asuna immediately grew excited.
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