"That's right. I'm just a demon who chose to follow Lord Yuto. Lord Yuto is my benefactor… and how could someone like me ever be worthy of him?"
Spider Princess, already blushing from Tenjouin Masami's intense questioning, turned to Yuto behind her, her cheeks burning as she declared her identity.
"Why does it matter that she's a demon? That's perfectly fine. Yuto's a half-demon himself, so it doesn't really matter whether someone's human or demon," Tenjouin Masami cut in, but Yuto quickly stepped forward and pulled his mother away before she could finish.
He had never realized his mother had this side to her. Usually timid and somewhat childish, she could be shockingly bold, asking questions that neither a seasoned detective nor a demon could easily answer.
And wait—did she really just say it didn't matter whether he was human or demon? Was she seriously already thinking about… marriage? No. He was still a high school student. Way too early for that.
While Spider Princess revealed herself, not only Tenjouin Masami and Tenjouin Ryuki were observing, but Yuto's top enforcer, Nurikabe, had also been watching. As Yuto's right-hand, Nurikabe believed that Spider Princess, one of the earliest followers, should first greet him, her "senior," after acknowledging the master's family.
Unfortunately, she completely ignored him, which made Nurikabe noticeably irritated.
She's beautiful, fair-skinned, with long legs… he thought. But as the first yokai to follow my master, she's clearly ignoring the hierarchy. If she thinks she can challenge my status as Number One Henchman, she's dreaming.
During Yuto's week-long absence, Nurikabe believed he had fully won over both the mistress and the young lady of the house. He even considered himself the most valued member of the Tenjouin household.
But his confidence crumbled the instant he saw the mistress, Tenjouin Masami, fawn over Spider Princess. She had never been this enthusiastic toward him. She smiled constantly, asked about her well-being, inquired when she had met Yuto, and how they were getting along.
Wait… there's a first-come, first-served order, isn't there? I met the lord first. Why didn't she ever ask me these things? Nurikabe fumed internally. Whatever Spider Princess could do, he could do just as well…
"Newcomer, since we all follow the lord's yokai, I think it's necessary for us to get to know each other," he said, finally stepping forward. "Let's find a place to spar. Sometimes, battle is the fastest way to understand one another."
Yuto, dragging his mother along, couldn't help but blush at Masami's fierceness, but he also wanted to explain why he had joined the Non-Natural Countermeasures Group.
As they left, Nurikabe, usually timid, approached Spider Princess with newfound confidence. His status as Number One Henchman was threatened: his mistress couldn't handle him anymore, and now there was a newcomer—fair-skinned, beautiful, long-legged, and with a notably ample chest. Compared to her, he felt like a brick.
To assert his authority and prevent newcomers from undermining his reputation, Nurikabe decided to fight.
Although timid, his strength was undeniable. With the "Killing Stone" in his possession, his demonic power far exceeded that of most yokai, even granting him the ability to "bewitch" opponents. With C-level demonic power, high defense, and the ability to manipulate enemies, Nurikabe was on par with a core member of the Non-Natural Countermeasures Team.
He assumed that Yuto, away for a week dealing with Calamity Demons, hadn't faced many enemies. Powerful demons rarely submitted willingly; he guessed Yuto had only subdued Spider Princess because she matched human aesthetic standards, not because of raw strength. From what he sensed, Spider Princess hadn't revealed any particularly strong demonic power, so he felt confident.
Meanwhile, Ryuki clapped her hands gleefully, clearly enjoying the spectacle. She was clever and already had some demon blood, so a bit of home chaos thrilled her. Yet her brother and mother had warned her repeatedly not to harm outsiders, leaving her "good girl" facade intact in public.
Seeing Ryuki's excitement, Nurikabe seized the opportunity to win her favor. He narrowed his eyes and struck a deliberately stylish, provocative pose in front of the dignified Spider Princess.
"We are all demons who follow Lord Yuto," he declared. "If a fight breaks out, won't Lord Yuto be angry? Spider Princess will never do anything to displease him!"
Spider Princess, however, barely acknowledged him. She had already sensed the extent of his demonic power and, out of respect for maintaining harmony—and to avoid causing Yuto trouble—she merely smiled.
Nurikabe misread the gesture as a challenge.
"All right, this isn't a life-or-death battle—just a friendly spar," Spider Princess said, still smiling. "Don't worry, I'll hold back. You're a newcomer, after all. Look how excited the young lady is to see us spar. The lord cares for her most of all; even if he finds out, he won't be angry."