Hearing Hayashi Maki's answer, Louise frowned.
"Then what's your name—are you a commoner?"
As she spoke, she sneaked a glance at the glitter-eyed Montmorency and her archrival Kirche, growing even more tense. To date, not a single spell she'd cast had succeeded. Every attempt ended in an explosion, earning her the humiliating title "Louise the Zero."
She desperately wanted to shake off that useless label and prove she could use magic, so she'd altered the traditional summoning chant, hoping to redeem herself with a spectacular success.
Hayashi Maki arched a brow at her question and replied coolly,
"Before you ask someone else's name, basic manners say you should give your own."
"You… hmph. I am Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière—your summoner!" the girl declared with tsundere pride. Panic roiled inside, but a Vallière must show poise!
"Louise, is it? I'm Hayashi Maki. Since you summoned me, you're responsible for keeping me from today on—food, clothes, lodging, the works. And no skipping the nightly cuddles."
He projected his voice with a touch of magic so everyone around could hear. The classmates burst out laughing.
"Pff—hahaha! Louise summoned a commoner—and the commoner wants Louise to wait on him? That's rich!"
"Exactly! As expected of Louise the Zero—her familiar is one-of-a-kind. Hahaha… turning the world upside down—insubordination!"
The mockery piled onto Louise's already heavy pressure, and her face burned crimson. She shot Hayashi Maki a furious glare.
"A mere commoner, you've got nerve! I don't know how you slipped in here, but…"
"Mr. Colbert, may I perform the summoning again? Even if he's easy on the eyes, how can a human be a familiar?"
She puffed her cheeks and pleaded to the ceremony's presiding teacher.
But the bald professor refused immediately.
"No, Miss Vallière. The Familiar Summoning is a sacred rite passed down from the Founder. You can only perform it once in a lifetime. Whoever you summoned, you must conclude the contract."
"What? How can that be?"
With arms folded and that cool, faintly arrogant air, the "commoner" Hayashi Maki only made Louise's cheeks burn hotter as the class egged her on.
"Hahaha—Louise, hurry and seal the contract!"
"The teacher said so!"
The boys watched with schadenfreude—there was nothing like seeing the Vallière duke's third daughter trip up. The curvy, bronze-skinned redhead Kirche licked her lips and stared at Hayashi Maki, clearly intrigued.
Louise slumped, shot Hayashi Maki a murderous look, and shuffled toward him.
"Fine—be grateful. What I'm about to do for you as a noble is something you could never obtain in your lifetime."
"O great Founder, sacred pentagram, bless this person and make him my familiar."
She cupped Hayashi Maki's face, rose on tiptoe, closed her eyes—and kissed him.
Hayashi Maki wasn't about to miss this kiss, nor refuse it. He had already recognized the mage girl Louise; it wasn't for nothing he'd dropkicked that Hiraga Saito to seize this isekai hop.
Her delicate face, the soft press of her lips—his heart thrummed. He didn't remain passive; he slipped an arm around her slim waist and deepened the kiss.
As his demonic mana interwove with Louise's Void magic, the contract changed: from the standard familiar pact to a demon-retainer pact with Hayashi Maki as master.
"Eep—mmph!"
In the middle of the sacred rite, Louise's eyes flew open as the man embracing her intensified the kiss. H-he… what was he… This was…!
Her strength seemed to melt; shame detonated. Her inner Void magic surged—only to pour into the Demon Seed already rooted within her, becoming energy to nourish its core. At the same time, heat flared on the back of her hand; a strange sigil appeared there.
Around them, people gaped.
"Oho—how bold! Kirche, looks like your fiery passion will have to make way for Louise's."
The teasing drew a jaw-grind from Kirche. Damn you, Louise—enjoy it for now. Hmph. In Zerbst lore, more than once a Zerbst heir has stolen a Vallière heir's lover. As the current Zerbst successor, a noble must defend the family's honor. Targeting Louise—say, stealing her familiar—was only natural.
Professor Colbert stared as Louise swayed and collapsed into Hayashi Maki's arms, surprised. He glanced at the sigil on her hand and was shaken, but held his tongue. He'd never seen a mark like that.
"All right, the summoning rite is complete. Class, get to know your familiars."
The other students cheered and began bonding with their summons. Hayashi Maki, holding the fainted Louise, asked,
"Mr. Colbert, she passed out. May I take her to rest?"
"Of course, Mr. Hayashi Maki. Please see Miss Vallière to her room."
"I'll show you the way," purred the busty, bronze-skinned redhead, flicking her fiery hair as she approached with a smile. "I'll take you to Louise's quarters."
"Thank you, red-haired beauty," Hayashi Maki said politely—and swept Louise up in a princess carry.
"I'm Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst. Call me Kirche. I, 'Kirche of the Flame,' am very curious about you, Hayashi Maki."
Her eyes burned as she eyed him, all flirt and invitation. Hayashi Maki only smiled smoothly and nodded.
"Lead on, Miss Kirche."
He knew her type well—an assertive woman who pursued any man she set her sights on. In the original story her depiction wasn't flattering, but now, watching her, he sensed differences. His arrival had already shifted things. This Kirche was still pure; she'd had no contact with men, only a queue of noble suitors at school.
Guided by Kirche, Hayashi Maki reached the dorm and entered Louise's room. After laying her on the bed, he saw Kirche to the door with a courteous smile. Her eyes flashed, but she didn't push; there was time. Winning something too easily robbed it of satisfaction. And as for who was hunter and who prey… that remained to be seen.
Once she'd gone, Hayashi Maki chuckled wickedly, bent down, and pressed a kiss to the sleeping beauty Louise's rosy lips.
He was no saint—he was a demon. With an opportunity like this, of course he would act.
~~~
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