"Repeat after me—'I'm willing to form a Contract.'"
Her voice was soft, but carried the quiet pressure of authority—something impossible to resist.
Hoshino slowly parted his lips. "I'm willing to form a cont—"
Silence.
Makima waited a moment, then repeated calmly, "I'm willing to form a Contract."
"I'm willing to form a cont—"
The words died again.
Makima blinked, patient but amused, and repeated once more.
"Then lend me fifty percent of your Power," Hoshino suddenly said.
Makima froze mid-breath. She straightened, pressing a finger lightly to her lips as her eyes flickered over him with renewed curiosity.
Her expression turned thoughtful, almost confused. Then, tilting her head, she murmured softly to herself, "Maybe I should just kill him?"
"Makima-san, that's not really something I can pretend I didn't hear," Hoshino said as steadily as possible.
This was going way off script.
The Public Safety girl standing in front of him—was a Devil.
If he hadn't snapped out of that strange mental haze a second earlier, the Contract would've already been sealed.
He'd thought working for someone alive—someone human—would at least be better than becoming the government's mutt. But a Devil? Did Devils even feel emotions?
The future blurred in uncertainty, while Makima's smile only grew sharper.
"Maybe this'll be more fun." She extended a hand. "Deal. I'll lend you a quarter of my Power. From this moment on, Hoshino-kun, you're my dog."
"…"
When he didn't move, she tilted her head slightly. "Hmm? Come on, be a good boy. Your owner's patience has limits."
Hoshino sighed inwardly, giving up on bargaining. He placed his hand in hers.
Makima's lips curved faintly. "Both hands, Hoshino-kun. Be polite to your master."
He wanted to bite his own tongue off, but he obeyed—placing both hands in hers.
The moment they touched, something intangible connected between them.
A mechanical voice echoed through his mind:
[Control (C+): 25%]
[(2) Devil's Hound: Upon reaching the required number of Powers, a Devil Hunter Weapon is granted (old weapons will not vanish when new ones appear).]
[Current Weapon (Lv.1): Sands of Time (4/8)]
Makima nodded in satisfaction, reaching up to ruffle his hair gently.
Humiliation. Absolute humiliation.
I'm a disgrace to every transmigrator in existence!
"Come to this address tomorrow at noon." She handed him a business card.
"I'll go with you now," Hoshino said immediately.
He only had four days left to live. Every second mattered.
If he still died after all this, they'd hang his name on the "Hall of Transmigrator Shame" forever.
Strangely, Makima didn't respond.
"I'm fine to go today," he added, trying to sound casual.
Still no answer. The smile on her face was starting to look terrifying.
A cold shiver ran down his spine. His eyes dropped to the card in her hand.
"Sorry, sorry," he said quickly, reaching to take it—only to find his right hand frozen midair.
"Hoshino-kun, you're not a very clever dog, are you?" Makima's tone was flat, emotionless.
Before he could react, his other hand moved on its own—landing right beside the card.
Makima finally released it, smiling again as she turned away. "Hmm… seems like an attitude problem. Guess I'll have to spend a little more time training you."
The kind of line that would make a masochist's dreams come true made Hoshino's blood run cold.
Instinctively, he opened [Debtor's Status] and checked the new entry.
Two lines appeared at the bottom:
[Interesting. I'll kill him when I'm bored.]
[Use all your strength to become the dog she loves most!]
His stomach dropped into a pit.
At the door, Makima gestured for him to follow.
Still in his hospital clothes, he grabbed his folded uniform and hurried after her.
After checking out, they got into a black sedan and left the hospital.
"There are two kinds of Devil Hunters—civilian and Public Safety," Makima explained as they drove. "Civilians get higher commissions and can keep their spoils, but they don't get close to our pay, stability, or benefits."
Soon, the twin spires of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building came into view—the unmistakable skyline of Shinjuku.
Shinjuku was Tokyo's commercial second tier—teeming with business, entertainment, and neon chaos like Kabukicho.
It was also one of Public Safety's key strongholds.
The car stopped in front of a seven-story building less than a kilometer from the towers.
"This is where you'll devote the rest of your life," Makima said.
"Well, if Makima-san spends her life here too, I guess that's fine," Hoshino replied.
"Oh? And if I leave?"
"Then I'll leave too."
"And if I die?"
"…Then I'll think about it."
Think about killing you again and taking your place.
If she died, he'd finally be free.
The world was vast—he could go anywhere.
And yet… something would be missing.
His gaze drifted toward her flawless profile. The tone of her voice, the look in her eyes—it all stirred something strange in him.
He couldn't read her. Couldn't figure her out.
A reckless thought crossed his mind, making his throat go dry.
Could the Control Devil ever be controlled?
And if she could… what would she be like?
A flirty little devil? A submissive masochist? A yandere sweetheart? A perfect wife? Or a loyal puppy waiting by the door every day for her master to come home?
If I were the master, and she the dog… how far would she go?
Doctor and nurse. Priest and nun. Boss and intern. Housewife and the guy next door—
He shook the thoughts away. Ridiculous.
He had no leverage, no Contracts, no power.
Killing her was impossible. Conquering her? Even more so.
Then he remembered the System's words.
[Use all your strength to become the dog she loves most!]
Maybe… that was his only way to win.
"Hoshino-kun, did you hear everything I just said?" Makima's honeyed voice pulled him back to reality.
They'd entered the Public Safety building now. Hunters in matching uniforms passed them in the halls.
"I heard," he said.
He juggled the uniform in his hands, guessing at what she'd said.
"Liar."
Makima didn't even look at him. "How should I punish you?"
"I was just… changing into the uniform you gave me?"
She stayed silent, as if genuinely considering his punishment.
Hoshino stiffened. Wait, she noticed I spaced out?
They weren't even face-to-face—how the hell could she tell?
Unless…
Don't tell me the Contract lets her sense my lies.
"Sorry," he said quickly. "My head was just full of you, Makima-san. It won't happen again."
Her smile returned. She ruffled his hair lightly. "That's true. I'll allow you to think about me, but don't lie to me again."
He groaned inwardly. How the hell am I supposed to survive this?
Her hand slid down, fixing the collar of his messy shirt. "Yurie and Chiyo are safe. They're under protection."
Her tone was soothing, but her touch was too gentle to be innocent.
If not for the System, he'd have been wagging his tail already.
She leaned closer, her breath brushing his throat. "You're a kind man, Hoshino-kun. You didn't keep a single yen of the stolen money. You gave it all to your family."
Not like I had much choice… wait. She knows about the Postal Savings Card?
Her smile widened. "Don't worry. A good owner keeps her dog's secrets."
"Th-thank you," he muttered, looking away.
"Get your hair cut tonight," she added before leaving.
After changing, Hoshino followed directions to Makima's office.
It was sleek and modern, sunlight flooding through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
Makima sat at her desk. In front of her stood two women—one tall, one short. The taller one had her arm around the other's shoulders, whispering something with a grin.
"This is Hoshino," Makima said, glancing at him. "Hoshino-kun, these two will be your partners."
The tall one turned—a woman with short hair, an eyepatch, and a bright, easy smile. "I'm Himeno, your senpai!"
She stepped up quickly, circling him once before laughing. "Well, aren't you cute?"
A faint whiff of feminine cigarette smoke hung around her.
Hoshino let out a quiet breath of relief.
In Japan, seniority meant everything, and he'd half-expected a hardass who'd make his life hell.
But Himeno's energy was warm, disarming.
Encouraged, Hoshino reached out and gently pushed her face back. "Senpai, you're a little too close. It's… uncomfortable."
"Haha! Sorry, sorry!" Himeno scratched her head with a grin.
Then she spun the smaller girl around. "And this here's Kobeni Higashiyama! My bad!"
"…"
The shorter girl looked even younger than him—small frame, delicate shoulders, and a soft, nervous expression.
Her short ponytail was tied low, bangs neatly parted with a hair clip on one side.
"I-I'm Kobeni Higashiyama," she murmured, barely above a whisper.
"Let's go, Hoshino-kun! Don't bother Makima-san any longer." Himeno wrapped an arm around Kobeni's shoulders and reached toward him too.
He raised a hand, stopping her.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you're shy?" Himeno chuckled, slapping his shoulder. "You're too young to be afraid of girls. Enjoy your youth while you can!"
Hoshino shook his head and looked at Makima. "I have something to say."
"Oh?" Himeno followed his gaze curiously.
Makima rested her chin on her interlaced fingers, already expecting it. "Go ahead."
"The Contract with the Aging Devil cost me too much lifespan. I want to make a new Contract—with a Devil that can extend it."
Himeno blinked. "Too much? How much is too much?"
"Seventy years."
"Seventy—what?!" she shouted.
"Eh? Ehhh—ehhh?!" Kobeni squeaked beside her, her jaw practically on the floor.
Makima spoke evenly. "Public Safety currently doesn't have any captured Devils capable of extending lifespan."
Captured? Hoshino frowned. They keep Devils alive? Why not kill them outright?
Maybe Devils and humans weren't entirely enemies.
No wonder a Devil like Makima could lead Public Safety.
He decided that once he solved his lifespan problem, he'd make understanding Devils his top priority.
"Do you at least have any info on one?" he asked.
"Yes." Makima handed him a folder without hesitation.
Flipping it open, he skimmed the contents—and froze.
"Yamagata Prefecture, Okura Village… eighteen villagers missing?"
His eyes landed on the last line.
"Silkworm Devil?"