"What kind of devil was it?" Himeno asked with a serious tone.
Even her usual joking attitude vanished once work started.
"It was really white, really long, and it could talk… it was disgusting and terrifying." The injured man gestured wildly, utterly incoherent and shaking as he tried to explain.
Himeno looked completely lost.
"So basically a giant maggot thing?" Cael stepped forward to clarify.
"Yes, yes, that's exactly it! Please, save my daughter!" the man wailed, tears streaming down his face.
Cael took the lead in the questioning.
"Don't worry. Tell me, how many people did this devil take? Just your daughter?"
The man nodded fiercely, then grabbed Cael by the collar.
"When I escaped, it only took her. Please, save my daughter!"
"Got it."
From what the man explained, Cael could already form a basic idea of the devil they were dealing with.
Probably something like a Maggot Devil or similar weak devil. Most strong devils wouldn't let someone escape alive in the first place.
Just then, the ramen shop owner wearing a black bandana poked his head out carrying two large bowls of ramen.
"The udon you ordered is ready! The rest will be out soon!"
Cael surveyed the group in front of him.
"You two keep eating. I'll handle this devil. It'll be over soon."
"Thank you, thank you!"
Thud. Thud.
The man dropped to his knees and kowtowed repeatedly.
Cael didn't exactly have an overflowing sense of justice.
He just couldn't stand seeing someone so pathetic and helpless.
Why was Cael stepping up to handle it himself?
Because he had a rough idea of who was with him.
He'd fought alongside Himeno and Aki before.
Himeno's contracted Ghost Devil power wasn't much damage, but it was useful.
Aki was stronger, no question.
Asa's power was unpredictable, but Asa was his girl.
There was no way he could let her get dragged into danger.
And Kobeni? She was already freaking out over pushing snacks to the devil.
"Are you really okay alone? Don't be overconfident," Himeno advised.
Cael chuckled.
"Of course it's fine. Senior Himeno, you forgetting the first time we met?"
"That's true," Himeno admitted and smiled. "I'm not as strong as you."
Asa puffed her cheeks and tugged Cael's hand.
"I want to go with you to save that little girl!"
Yoru grumbled inside Asa's head, No way am I going with all this bullshit.
Cael kissed Asa gently on the forehead and patted her head.
"Chill. If the noodles get soggy they'll turn gross. Asa, eat your food and trust me."
"Oh." Asa reluctantly sat back down.
Himeno then looked at Kobeni with a grin.
"I get Cael's strength now. How about you two go together?"
"Eh? Me?" Kobeni Higashiyama immediately stiffened.
"Uh… is that really okay? I'm not sure I can look after myself in a fight," Cael said with concern.
Himeno slapped Kobeni lightly on the back.
"Relax. She's scared, sure, but she's tougher than she looks. This is a good chance for her to build courage. She won't get in your way."
If Cael's luck wasn't constantly hovering around negative ten, maybe he'd believe that.
Kobeni understood one thing:
Senior Himeno was her boss, and her orders were absolute.
There was no way to refuse.
And if someone was scared of devils, well, that was part of the job description, right?
But she needed this paycheck.
After all, even if she was trembling like a leaf, she wasn't going to quit.
"…Okay then… please take care of me…"
Cael shrugged and nodded, then set off in the direction the man pointed with Kobeni trailing behind him.
After leaving the shop, they soon saw the scene.
A huge gap had been smashed in the roadside guardrail.
In the messy grass were faint tracks belonging to some unknown creature.
Kobeni gulped audibly.
She stuck close behind Cael.
"Those tracks are huge. Cael… do you think it could be a python?"
"We'll only know once we see it," Cael replied.
He had barely spoken when Kobeni let out a forced laugh.
"I heard pythons wrap around prey until they suffocate them. If it's a Python Devil… will it swallow me whole?" she giggled nervously.
Her laugh turned into shaky tears.
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
The grass moved in the wind.
"Eek! It's coming!"
Kobeni shrieked and clutched Cael's shirt.
But nothing attacked.
Cael exhaled and spoke calmly.
"Relax, Kobeni. You're just scaring yourself."
This girl could make herself lose her mind just from imagination.
Kobeni stared at Cael's clothes like her life depended on it.
Thank goodness she hadn't torn them, or she'd have to pay compensation.
"Sorry, Cael, I really overreacted. My luck is always bad. People around me always end up unlucky…"
Damn right.
Cael agreed silently.
With Kobeni present, his Luck meter wouldn't rise above disaster level.
But Cael didn't say that out loud.
"You're overthinking it, Kobeni. There's no way some random devil is just hiding in the bushes like that."
His attempt at comfort did nothing for Kobeni.
Her tears fell hard and fast.
Kobeni sobbed.
"It's true though…"
Cael looked at her blankly as she continued.
"Last time, six Devil Hunters died in that shooting incident. Two were my patrol partners. They died trying to save me. They died for someone like me…"
Cael was speechless.
That was peak bad luck.
How do you even console that?
The only solution Cael could think of was pairing Kobeni with teammates who were basically immortal.
Kobeni clutched her head and teetered on the brink of a meltdown.
"After all that happened, I wanted to quit. Someone like me shouldn't even be a Devil Hunter!"
Her face twisted with hysterical sobs.
"But I can't leave the job!!! I've only been here three months and I was this close to becoming a regular employee!!!"
Cael was completely speechless.
"…Cael, you must be careful too. I'm scared I'll drag you to your death…"
"Thanks for the warning," Cael said deadpan. "I've got a nasty habit of surviving shit most people shouldn't."
They followed the tracks deeper into the forest.
Cael frowned.
"The path… just disappeared."
Suddenly they heard laughter echoing through the trees.
"Ha ha ha!"
"Ah hahahaha!"
The crisp laughter of a young girl drifted out from the grass at the edge of the forest.
___
🌙 Ramadan Special
Unlock advance chapters on my Patreon with 7 DAYS FREE TRIAL on all Tiers.
Use code: RAMADANPASS
Link: Patreon.com/Zphyr
Limited-time Ramadan offer, don't miss it.