She wore a miniature hat fastened with a white ribbon tied into a dainty bow beneath her petite chin.
The girl had a delicate, small frame.
Her slender legs, wrapped in sheer white pantyhose, gave her a soft and refined appearance.
"Hmph! (#`O), you don't believe me, do you?"
Sensing the boy's skeptical gaze, Iwanaga Kotoko puffed out her cheeks in playful frustration.
"I'll have you know, as a modern-day witch, the other youkai listen to me very well."
"If it weren't for the resurrection of that strange creature scrambling their minds, I wouldn't have had to send the Snow Woman to deal with that dumb bull monster."
Her voice turned glum, her tone tinged with guilt.
"They trust me… and I won't let them down."
"Even if it costs you an eye and a leg?"
Kurosawa Ren looked toward her right leg, noting the subtle stiffness in her movement. It was a prosthetic.
The real Iwanaga Kotoko could only stand on one leg—and her right eye had lost its light forever.
This was the price of becoming the "Monster Princess."
"That's right."
Kotoko nodded without hesitation, her clear purple eyes reflecting the stars of the night sky like a still lake.
"Since I was eleven, I've never once regretted that decision."
"Princess…"
The two Snow Women standing behind her looked upon her petite figure with deep admiration and sorrow in their eyes.
Her strength, her resolve—it was worthy of the one chosen to be their leader.
"Enough sentiment. Let's get back to the matter at hand..."
Kotoko's expression shifted as she addressed one of the women before her.
"Yukino Shindong, you fled from the monster clan without permission and have been living in the human world. Even though you helped defeat the bull-headed monster, you still violated the rules. There must be consequences."
"Monsters are forbidden from interfering with human society. That law was established over a thousand years ago. Escaping with a cursed artifact and settling here—it's a grave offense."
"Do you acknowledge your actions?"
"I… Princess, I have no excuses. I accept the punishment."
Yukino's beautiful eyes shimmered with unshed tears. There was sorrow in her voice, but no resistance.
She had known from the beginning that her escape could lead to this. Still, her heart had clung to hope.
"Very well. Then I'll carry out your execution here."
Kotoko's small hands clenched at her sides. Despite the softness in her gaze, she steeled herself and began walking toward the kneeling Yukino.
"Hold on—there's no other way?!" Ren's voice rang out.
The punishment seemed so final—so absolute. Why did these rules always demand blood?
"Hehe… knew you'd say something like that."
Kotoko's playful snicker echoed as she turned to face him. Her mood had done a complete 180.
"Tell me… are you just trying to save her, or are you just lusting after Sister Yukino's body~~?"
Ren stared in stunned silence.
What…?
He gawked at the black-bellied little girl who could switch from solemn judge to mischievous gremlin in a blink.
It was like she'd been waiting for him to interrupt.
"Hehe~"
Kotoko rested her hands on her hips, a sly smile curling her lips.
"Rules are rules. But we are in the modern age—there are always workarounds."
"Kurosawa Ren, if you're willing to accept the cursed ring, claim Yukino as your personal servant, and take responsibility for her, she won't have to die."
"My lord… please, save Yukino."
The moment Kotoko offered the compromise, Yukino's hopeful gaze locked onto him. Even the Snow Woman in the white kimono behind her dropped to her knees, her eyes brimming with tears.
"This is…"
Ren sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Alright. If this is what it takes…"
He reached out and took the red-eyed magic ring from Kotoko's small, outstretched hand.
Who would've thought a random encounter would lead to him acquiring a beautiful monster maid?
And the moment he slipped the ring onto his finger, Yukino transformed into a cloud of mist and was absorbed into the ring in an ethereal flash.
[System Notification]
Congratulations, host! You have successfully collected the Special Grade Cursed Object: "Cursed Magic Ring". Reward: 5 Saint Crystals.
[Special Grade Cursed Object]: Cursed Magic RingEffect: The ring houses a cursed spirit who can be summoned to fight independently.Removing the ring without precautions will drain the user's life force.Cursed Spirit: Snow WomanAbility: Manipulates wind and snow. Can freeze anything.
Note: While worn, the ring's seductive influence is nullified. However, the host must fulfill the ring spirit's… physiological needs regularly. If ignored, the spirit will dissipate.
"Very well. Your sins are forgiven."
"I hereby declare that Yukino Shindong is no longer a member of the demon clan. She now belongs solely to Kurosawa Ren."
Kotoko was clearly pleased with herself. With hands behind her back, she hummed and spun in place, clearly amused by Ren's awkward expression.
"I leave Sister Yukino in your care, Ren."
"Wait, what the hell does 'physiological needs' mean?!"
Ren stared at the ring, utterly dumbfounded.
"It means exactly what it sounds like."
Kotoko tilted her head innocently and blinked her big purple eyes—then slowly let her gaze drift down toward his waistline, studying it for far too long.
She smirked, giggling like a mischievous child.
"Big brother… are you sure you're capable of satisfying her?"
"Oh, you wanna test that out, huh?"
Ren's eyebrow twitched.
He stormed toward her and slammed his hand on the wall, pinning her in with a textbook kabedon.
He suddenly remembered—wasn't Kotoko from Fictional Reasoning? The infamous smooth-talking genius and master manipulator?!
"E-eh?! T-too close!"
Caught off guard, Kotoko panicked. Her usually calm expression shattered as her cheeks burned red. Her wide purple eyes stared up at him, breathless.
"You messed with the wrong guy, idol."
"Hehe… now you've done it."
But just as Ren was enjoying the upper hand, Kotoko unexpectedly giggled.
Then she looked up shyly, her small hands cupping her blushing cheeks.
"Ren, now that you've cornered me like that… you have to take responsibility."
"Huh?!"
Now it was his turn to freeze.
Wait—was she being serious now?
This wasn't just teasing anymore…
Oh no.
He had just been out-teased by a little gremlin.
When Ren finally returned to Kirisu Madoka's apartment, the beautiful teacher had already regained consciousness.
"Mr. Kurosawa… can you explain everything that happened?"
The mysterious red-eyed ring that had been plaguing her with illness for years… was actually the cause of her long-term suffering.
Ren explained everything in detail.
Afterward, Madoka sat in stunned silence. Her entire worldview had been overturned in one night.
"As strange as it sounds, it's all real, Ms. Kirisu," Ren said solemnly. "The world is no longer as simple as it once seemed."
PS: Kotoko is super cute. She's the type who becomes relentlessly clingy once she falls in love.PS2: For those asking about summoning mechanics:
3 Saint Quartz = 1 single summon
30 Saint Quartz = 10x summon
7 Quartz shards = 1 Saint Quartz
1 Talisman = 1 summon
10 Talismans = 10x summon
Chapter 26: Melting Snow, No Deep Winter
Indeed, Ren could've used magic to erase Kirisu Mafuyu's memory.
But the situation was growing more and more chaotic.
Three out of the four major youkai factions had already emerged.
Rather than let Madoka stumble through it all blindly, it was better for her to face reality head-on.
"Master… I'm so sorry. If I had taken better care of the Red-Eyed Ring, none of this would've happened to Miss Kirisu."
Yukino's voice echoed softly in his mind, full of guilt.
"It's not your fault," Ren replied gently. "What's done is done. The best thing we can do now is face it together."
"…Mr. Kurosawa… do you have supernatural powers too?"
Madoka's voice broke through the silence. She furrowed her brows, deep in thought, trying to make sense of it all.