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"Heh… it really feels like I'm not tied down to this place anymore."
Kanoe Yuuko took a moment to sense her own state, muttering to herself, "And something else feels different too."
The moment she said that, her whole figure wavered like she was turning transparent.
"Eh… ehhh… what…?"
She looked down at herself with a miserable expression. "Why does it feel like I turned into a ghost again? Seriously? Is everything just falling apart now? I don't wanna stay in this creepy place."
"No need to panic. You activated one of your skills without realizing it."
Edgar handed her the stat sheet he had copied down. "Take a look. You'll get it."
"Huh?"
Yuuko checked it automatically, skimming through the lines.
"Ghost Form?"
She blinked, then nodded in sudden understanding. "So that's why I can still turn ghostly. It's this skill."
"Exactly," Edgar said. "In a way, you're both a demon and a ghost now."
"Ohhh, that actually sounds pretty cool."
Yuuko beamed with satisfaction.
"Phantom Shift…" she murmured. "This one looks kinda strong."
As she spoke, she activated the skill.
A buzz filled the air.
The next moment, her body turned hazy and unreal.
Poke. Poke.
Edgar reached out and poked her.
Yuuko's face darkened. "Master. What exactly are you doing?"
"Testing whether you're really immune to physical attacks."
Yukinoshita Yukino stepped in with a sharp comment. "But did you really need to choose… that spot?"
"If it's a test, it has to be thorough," Edgar said in absolute seriousness.
If there was a flaw in the skill, it would be disastrous in real combat.
"Heh… heheh…" Both Yuuko and Yukino twitched with embarrassment.
"Alright, that settles the important part."
Edgar clapped his hands. "Time to introduce you to the others."
Light flashed around them.
Edgar, Yuuko, and Yukino vanished from the spot.
AtEdgar's villa, the two newcomers looked around in excitement.
"Master, was that teleportation magic?"
"Yeah. It's one of the first spells you'll need to learn."
Edgar nodded, then called out, "Everyone, come out. We've got newcomers."
At his call, a whole flock of beautiful girls gathered in the living room.
"Um…" Yuuko and Yukino stared at Miyano Shiho and the others, their mouths hanging slightly open as their expressions turned complicated.
These were his familiars? This was basically a harem.
"Alright, introduce yourselves."
Yuuko stepped forward with a graceful bow. "Hello, everyone. I'm Kanoe Yuuko. I used to be a ghost. Please take care of me."
Yukino followed politely. "Yukinoshita Yukino. Just call me Yukino."
"I'm Miyano Shiho," Shiho said. "If you have questions later, feel free to ask."
"Lenalee…" "I'm Hitagi Senjogahara…"
After Hitagi finished her introduction, her expression tightened.
Great. The two newcomers overlapped with her role. A direct threat.
She suddenly felt a bit depressed. She had made a decision earlier… but now these two suddenly appeared and ruined everything.
With the way her master was, she could easily end up being overshadowed by the new girls.
She took a slow, deep breath, her eyes turning determined.
She had known from the start that a familiar would eventually get eaten by the master. If that was the case, she might as well strike first.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Hitagi strode forward, stopping right in front of Edgar.
"…?"
He blinked in surprise. "What's up?"
This scene… felt strangely familiar.
Don't tell me…
Sensing the playful look in his eyes, Hitagi's legs tensed up slightly. Her cheeks flushed as she lifted her head.
"Master… I feel like I've hit a bottleneck with my level lately. I was hoping you could… give me some guidance."
By the time she finished, her pale skin had gone entirely pink.
Her gaze wavered with anxiety. She had acted so prickly before. What if he was still annoyed at her?
"Helping my familiars grow stronger is my responsibility," Edgar said with a gentle smile.
He took her soft hand in his.
But his eyes slid immediately to the rest of the group.
In an instant, Shiho and the others looked away.
Ever since he returned from the other world, he hadn't taken a single break. They were exhausted. Even after resting the entire day, they still hadn't recovered. There was no way they could keep up now.
Edgar clicked his tongue.
Come on. He only used things like Rubber Body, Weight Control, and Iron Skin. Was that really enough to terrify them this much?
---
Meanwhile, Senjougahara Hitagi, her face flushed scarlet, beamed with delight and immediately pulled Edgar up the stairs.
Watching this unfold, Yuuko Kanoe and Yukinoshita Yukino instinctively felt something was off, their expressions growing strange.
Leveling up should be a serious matter.
But...
They couldn't shake the feeling that Senjougahara-senpai's intentions weren't purely about training.
Noticing their confusion, Miyano Shiho and the others exchanged a knowing smile. Shiho gently spoke up, "Looks like you two don't know yet."
"This is common knowledge among the dependents, you know."
Several senior dependents immediately gathered around the two newcomers, eager to share their "experience" and wisdom.
It's... like that?
Yuuko and Yukino's pupils shook violently.
In that moment, their understanding of the world felt like it was being completely shattered. Even just listening, they felt their hearts pounding uncontrollably.
"Huh?" Edgar paused, "You want me to wait a moment?"
"Mm-hmm." Senjougahara nodded, then quickly stepped inside and closed the room door behind her.
"This girl," Edgar murmured, shaking his head. He decided to wait and see what she was up to.
"Master, you can come in now."
Edgar stepped inside.
This was his first time in her room. Everything was pink, and the décor was incredibly cute.
But no matter how nice the decorations were, Edgar's gaze was immediately drawn to the alluring figure before him.
Senjougahara Hitagi had changed into a different outfit.
A tight corset cinched her waist, highlighting her perfect figure. A pink nurse uniform struggled to contain her ample bust. The minimal fabric looked as if it might tear at any moment, emphasizing her breathtaking curves. A pair of shapely legs, covered in white stockings and garters, shifted slightly.
"..." Edgar maintained a serious expression, demonstrating his utmost respect.
"Master, I feel I've reached the limit of a Lower Demon. I hope you can help me break through this bottleneck directly."
Senjougahara knelt gracefully on the floor, executing a perfect dogeza (a full, earnest bow of deep respect).
Given the circumstances, and faced with such a sincere request from his dependent...
Edgar didn't need words; he proved his intentions with action.
"Mmm... Master... please help me break through the level." Senjougahara's eyelashes fluttered and her throat tightened.
Edgar's eyes drifted past her back, focusing on the round curve coming into view.
Edgar gave her a comforting head pat, his fingers lightly stroking her hair.
At the same time, the Level Breakthrough Potion began to take slow effect.
The aura around Senjougahara Hitagi gradually grew stronger, making her expression increasingly hazy.
Snap!
Edgar gave her a light slap without hesitation, leaving a faint red mark on her skin.
"If you want to raise your level, you can't be lazy."
"Show me your skills, let me see them."
"Mmm... Yes, Master..."
"..."
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