Plop.
Under Shin's control, the "Black Bird Requiem" slowly expelled the "First Horn of Apocalypse" from its body.
This was the first time Shin had ever completely regurgitated something he had swallowed, using none other than Yotsuya Miku's Stand ability.
Miku's Stand ability was "Bestowal," which allowed her to grant her abilities to other entities.
So, what would happen if Shin bestowed the "First Horn of Apocalypse's" ability onto space?
The result was the First Horn of Apocalypse being forcibly spat out.
Of course, if he hadn't been able to expel the First Horn of Apocalypse, Shin had another method.
He could simply find an ordinary decorative horn, bestow the "First Horn of Apocalypse's" ability onto it, and create a brand-new "First Horn of Apocalypse."
However, a First Horn of Apocalypse created that way would inevitably look different from the original—unless Shin specially commissioned a horn with the same appearance.
But right now, Shin didn't have time to custom-make a horn. Being able to regurgitate the First Horn of Apocalypse was already fortunate.
Placing the First Horn of Apocalypse on the table, Shin waited for Viginette to arrive.
Although the First Horn of Apocalypse's ability to control weather—or rather, natural disasters—was quite practical, Shin wasn't particularly attached to it.
Knock, knock.
"U-um… excuse me."
Led by a maid, Viginette entered the living room, her expression slightly embarrassed.
There was both the guilt of visiting someone late at night and potentially inconveniencing them, as well as a hint of shyness from visiting a boy's home at night.
Despite being a demon, Viginette's personality was closer to that of an angel—pure and kind.
At school, she rarely even spoke to boys, let alone visited one's home at night—though she did have serious business to attend to.
"It's no trouble at all. Viginette, you're welcome to come anytime."
Shin smiled at Viginette, who was sitting across from him, saying something that made her blush even harder.
Though she had been wary of Shin during their first meeting, Viginette now believed he was a good person and even felt a faint sense of fondness for him.
Shin pushed a cup of tea poured by the maid toward Viginette, then glanced at the briefcase she was holding:
"You brought all the money in that briefcase?"
"Y-yes… I saw in movies that big transactions are always done like this."
As she spoke, Viginette placed the briefcase on the table and nervously opened it, revealing neatly stacked bills inside.
Noticing Shin's barely suppressed smile, she tilted her head in confusion.
"What? Did I do something wrong?"
"It does feel a little odd. It's fine this time since you're dealing with me, but don't do this in the future."
Shin couldn't help but chuckle. Viginette must have watched some gangster movies and assumed this was how transactions were supposed to go.
The whole scene did look like some shady deal was going down.
But more than that, Shin was curious about where Viginette had gotten so much money. For a high school student, this was an enormous sum.
"Viginette, where did you get all this money? This is way too much for a high schooler, isn't it?"
"I borrowed it from some old friends…"
Viginette scratched her head awkwardly but still explained the money's origins.
Despite being a demon, her helpful nature had earned her gratitude from many in Hell, making her quite popular.
By Hell's standards, Viginette's behaviour wasn't very demon-like, so her allowance was smaller than other demons. But when it came to connections, she had the advantage.
Thus, when she needed to borrow money, many demons generously lent her funds, allowing her to gather this much.
"…You've gone above and beyond for Gabriel, huh?"
After hearing where the money came from, Shin couldn't help but twitch his lips, feeling Viginette was too kind.
Gabriel was the one who sold the First Horn of Apocalypse, yet Viginette was the one working hard to buy it back.
"Maybe this isn't the best thing to say, but Viginette, have you considered that if you buy back the First Horn of Apocalypse for Gabriel, she might just stop working altogether?"
Viginette froze at the question, then hesitantly replied:
"…She probably… still would…?"
Though she said that, her expression made it clear she didn't believe it.
Viginette knew Gabriel's personality all too well—she was the epitome of laziness. If Viginette bought back the First Horn of Apocalypse, Gabriel would undoubtedly return to her slacker ways.
She might even stop coming to work as Shin's maid.
"Viginette, I know you're a good kid, but things like this… It's better to let Gabriel work for it herself."
For once, Shin was being genuinely kind, mostly because he felt Viginette was spoiling Gabriel too much.
Though Viginette occasionally scolded Gabriel harshly, it didn't change her lazy nature.
"..."
Viginette's expression darkened slightly.
She knew Shin was right, but she couldn't just abandon Gabriel.
Truthfully, Viginette wasn't even worried about the First Horn of Apocalypse being dangerous in Shin's hands. But the First Horn of Apocalypse was a sacred artefact meant only for top-tier angel students.
If Heaven found out Gabriel had sold it, the consequences would be dire.
That was the real reason Viginettee was so desperate to buy it back.
"…How about trying to awaken a Stand?"
Just then, Shin suddenly made a suggestion.
Stands often reflected a person's inner self, perhaps Viginette's Stand ability could help solve her dilemma?
"…Huh?"
Vignette was stunned.
She had heard of Stands—the "special abilities" Shin used to deal with evil spirits.
According to Gabriel, Stands had all sorts of strange powers, and she had been begging Shin to awaken one for her, but he always refused.
Yet now, it seemed Shin was offering to awaken her Stand?
To be continued…
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