Chapter 64: Wash Face Ritual
Following the direction Kanna pointed, Kouya's face instantly darkened, as though the color had drained from his very soul.
It was as if a thundercloud loomed over him, heavy and suffocating.
Because inside that claw machine... were neatly packaged panties—dozens of them, each wrapped in a decorative pink box, lined up like trophies from hell.
Through the glossy plastic, the faint outline of soft, triangular fabric could be seen, the type that instantly stirred a man's deepest trauma. Kouya froze, and in the next instant, memories came flooding back—the nightmare of once being ruled by panties.
That was a dark and windy night—no, wait, a bright and deceptively peaceful morning. The kind that lured you into thinking life was safe.
The school bell was about to ring. The enemy teacher was thirty seconds from reaching the battlefield.
Kouya had been lying on his desk, pretending to nap while his mind drifted aimlessly. Suddenly, a beam of holy light fell on his back—warm, soft, radiant. He turned, confused, and his hand instinctively reached out. Something warm and soft fell into his palm.
The touch was smooth, pliant, faintly warm—as if it still carried the heat of someone's skin.
Curiosity got the better of him. He opened his hand.
And his world ended.
Because there, lying on his palm, was a pair of panties.
Not just any pair—a pure white one with cute cartoon prints! And freshly removed too, with an unmistakable strand of hair clinging to it!
The realization struck like lightning. There was only one fool in heaven capable of such a disaster.
Some idiot angel had messed up her teleportation magic again!
A mere angel dared use the legendary "Panty Drop" technique to tease the Demon King? Insolence beyond imagination!
If Kouya hadn't exercised restraint, the whole world might've already gone up in divine flames.
You damn lazy holy failure—Gabriel!
Feeling the searing heat of his glare, Gabriel turned her head, blinking innocently. "What are you looking at?"
"Looking at you, what else!"
"Tch~" Gabriel clicked her tongue and looked away like nothing happened.
Vigne, realizing what the claw machine contained, turned crimson. She pulled Kanna close and whispered softly, "Stuff like that… next time, big sis will buy it for you, okay?"
"Not catching that." Kouya refused instantly, his voice firm.
Here, claw machines came in all varieties—you could grab plushies, snacks, even seafood. But grabbing panties? That crossed a personal line. Having just remembered his humiliation, Kouya swore he would not touch that cursed machine.
Kanna puffed her cheeks, tilting her tiny face upward, eyes wide and glassy. Her pale blue irises shimmered, unblinking, staring right into his soul.
"Stare—"
She didn't say a word, just silently glared at him, her expression the very embodiment of weaponized cuteness.
Kouya sighed heavily and changed the topic. "Want a potato tower?"
"Want!" Kanna blinked twice before nodding decisively. Food always won.
While chips and soda could be caught from vending machines, potato towers required craftsmanship. Thankfully, a nearby stall was selling some fresh out of the fryer.
Whole potatoes were peeled and washed, spiral-sliced into perfect ribbons, skewered, stretched into elegant towers, then dipped into hot oil until golden and crisp.
They glistened temptingly, and the fragrance spread in the air. One could choose from flavors like green tea, coconut milk, cheese, tomato, spicy chili, cream, and chocolate.
Kouya had seen videos online—rave reviews, people drooling over them—but had never tasted one himself. This was his moment.
"Boss, three sticks," he ordered.
The stall owner nodded cheerfully, already sprinkling seasonings over sizzling oil. The aroma alone could make angels sin.
Just as Kouya relaxed, a teasing voice floated from beside him. "Master Kouya is biased!"
He turned, and there she was—the maid dragon Tohru, somehow appearing beside them as if conjured from thin air.
Biased, my ass!
Take your dumb husky and buzz off! You never show up when there's work, but appear the moment food's involved!
"I want one too!" she declared brightly.
You're nowhere to be seen when chores pile up, but when there's food, you move faster than lightning.
Kouya groaned inwardly. "I swear, you—"
"I'll buy you one," Vigne interrupted gently. "And for Gabi-chan and the others too. It's already noon—this can be lunch."
Soon, Vigne gathered Gabriel, Satania, and Raphael. The girls had no complaints—food and fun were the best mix. Each grabbed a potato tower, found a bench under a tree, and began munching.
The rhythmic sound of crunching filled the air, like a chorus of tiny rabbits nibbling on carrots.
"Hmph, Gabriel, I just didn't perform my best earlier! I won't lose next time! Rematch after this!" Satania puffed her chest out proudly, crumbs on her cheeks.
"Tch." Gabriel barely lifted her eyes. "Crunch, crunch~"
"Don't fight, you two. We're supposed to be relaxing." Vigne sighed, resting her hand on her forehead. "Crunch, crunch~"
Kouya finished his skewer, wiped his mouth, and turned—only to realize Kanna had vanished.
His eyes darted around until he spotted her beneath a blooming cherry tree.
Petals danced in the soft wind, scattering like pink snow. There she stood—tiny, serene, framed by falling blossoms, her blue eyes distant. It was a perfect, fleeting image.
Until—"Crunch!"—she leapt into the air and gulped down a butterfly.
Kouya froze.
You little glutton!
Your mouth hasn't stopped all day!
From snacks to ice cream, from lunch to now—are butterflies next on the menu?!
Could she really eat forever?
Wait… her dragon species, when grown, were infamous for their intense lust. Maybe for now, all that instinct was channeled into her boundless hunger.
Just then, a family passed by. A small girl wore a white princess hat, giggling as her parents walked beside her.
Kanna's eyes locked on the hat. She ran back and tugged Kouya's sleeve. "Hat. Pretty. I want it."
"Tohru," Kouya said, sighing.
Tohru stood on tiptoe, her chest jiggling like a pair of tidal waves about to sink a fleet. "Ah! That hat must be from a claw machine! I've seen it before!" she said innocently.
Kouya's gaze flickered involuntarily.
Damn it!
What's even the point of such huge breasts! Can't bend without suffocating yourself! Shoulder pain, neck pain—how do you even live like that?!
As Kouya silently ranted, he felt a sharp, cold gaze pierce his side.
He turned—and there was Vigne, quietly sipping her drink, her lips tight, her hair fluttering softly in the wind as she looked away.
"Tsk, as expected of Scumbag-kun," Raphael said with a smug smile, elegantly crossing her legs. Her white stockings glowed in the sunlight, the sheen almost divine. "Can't tear your eyes away from a woman's chest, huh? Let me guess—you're imagining burying your face in there until you suffocate?"
Kouya shot her a deadpan look and stayed silent.
Tohru, however, tilted her head, completely serious. "Eh? Master Kouya likes breasts? No wonder when you first came to Miss Kobayashi's house, you kept staring at mine."
"Pfft—"
I was watching you, not your chest, damn it!
I was just being cautious around a full-grown dragon!
Tohru pondered for a moment, then added cheerfully, "Well, if it's Master Kouya, I guess it's fine if you bury your face for a bit..."
For fuck's sake!
Shut up!
You clueless maid dragon!
You don't even understand human manners—don't go inventing new greetings!
There's handshakes, hugs, cheek kisses—but this? Are you trying to start a new ritual, the 'Wash Face Greeting'?!
I don't want your face wash, damn it!
"Crack!"
Vigne's grip tightened around her drink. The bottle let out a tortured creak.
Without a word, she turned away, refusing to look at him again.