Arthur pushed aside the thoughts swirling in his mind.
He looked toward the red-haired girl still wrestling with the Samoyed.
"Hey, need a hand?"
What they were fighting over was a melon bread.
Satania's favorite.
He remembered—in the original story, whenever a Samoyed was around, Satania basically had no chance of eating her beloved melon bread.
As expected of Heaven's watchdog.
Heh.
"Ah?"
In the middle of her "battle," Satania froze when she heard Arthur's voice, subconsciously turning to look at him.
Perfect chance!
Samoyed's eyes gleamed.
It yanked hard—
And the melon bread was gone, clenched firmly between its teeth.
Then, with a flash of white fur, it bolted.
"Ah! My melon bread…"
Satania's eyes went wide.
She stretched out her hand like some tragic heroine from a soap opera.
Watching her melon bread vanish into the distance in that dog's jaws, tears welled in the corners of her eyes.
My poor bread…
"…Well then."
Arthur was speechless.
And amused.
As expected of "Stupid-nia."
Why did her eyes always seem filled with tears?
Probably because her love for melon bread ran that deep.
"You okay?"
Arthur cleared his throat lightly.
Satania turned toward him.
Confusion flickered in her eyes, as if to say, Who even are you?
"Wait a second…"
Then, realization struck her. She stared at him.
"That voice just now—it was you, wasn't it?"
"I suppose it was."
Arthur smiled and nodded.
"What do you mean? It was obviously you!"
Satania pouted, hands on hips.
"Because of you, my bread was stolen."
She had been winning!
Just about to reclaim her melon bread—
And then his voice distracted her.
The dog had seized its chance.
"…Guess you're right."
Arthur blinked innocently, then chuckled.
"How about this then? I'll buy you one to make up for it."
"Eh—really?!"
Satania froze—then her eyes lit up, surprise flashing into delight.
Her bright gaze locked straight onto him.
"Really." Arthur nodded.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Satania instantly perked up, eyes sparkling, looking at him with new appreciation.
She had found him pleasing to the eye before—but now? Even more so.
"Lead the way."
Arthur's smile deepened.
With Satania bounding ahead, the two of them set off to buy melon bread.
Along the way, casual chatter closed the distance between them.
About ten minutes later, near the station.
There was a bakery specializing in various breads and pastries.
Arthur queued for a minute or so and bought a small selection.
Two melon breads, a blueberry cream bun, a cheese-bean paste bread, and a sandwich.
The melon breads were for her. The rest—for his lunch.
"Here. Your melon bread."
Arthur handed over the two melon breads.
"…Two?!"
Satania blinked in surprise.
Still, she quickly reached out to accept them both.
Arthur chuckled. "One is to make up for what you lost. The other—consider it a gift. A meeting present."
"Meeting present…"
Satania froze for a moment.
Looking at her, Arthur went on with a smile:
"After all, we're friends now, aren't we?"
"Eh—friends?!"
Her eyes widened.
She hadn't expected that word.
Then the meaning sank in—
She tried to hide her glee, crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and said with haughty pride:
"Hmph! Not just anyone can be my friend, you know."
"Oh? And why's that?"
Arthur raised a brow.
Satania's lips curled. "Because I will become the great demon lord—the legendary demon!"
…As expected of Satania.
She didn't even try to hide her true identity.
"Legendary demon, huh…"
Arthur's eyes flickered.
If he hadn't already known she was actually a demon, he would've thought she was just another chūnibyō.
His eyes narrowed mischievously as he reached out his hand toward her.
"Well then, forget it. Hand one back."
"Eh?!"
Satania's eyes widened.
She hadn't expected that!
Flustered, she waved her hands and hurriedly explained:
"No, no, that's not what I meant! Ordinary humans have no right, but you're different, Arthur!"
"So don't misunderstand, okay? You get what I mean, right?"
She rambled on in panic.
From the look on her face, she seemed on the verge of tears.
Since coming to the human world, Arthur was the first human she'd found pleasing.
And it was definitely not because of melon bread.
She had even toyed with the thought of one day dragging his soul into the demon realm as her underling.
But again—definitely not because of melon bread.
And now, he was also the first to ask to be her friend.
So of course she wanted to accept.
Also absolutely not because of melon bread.
But she had just botched it—and now it felt like she had driven him away herself.
Her heart sank.
"Relax. I know you're anxious, but no need to panic."
Arthur smiled faintly.
"Eh?"
Satania blinked in confusion.
Arthur chuckled. "From this moment on, we're friends. Please take care of me."
He offered his right hand.
"Yes—friends!"
Joy spread across Satania's face as she quickly reached out her own.
Their hands clasped firmly.
And at that instant—
A notification from the Compendium flashed in Arthur's vision.
His eyes flickered in mild surprise.
Letting go, he smiled again.
"Let's exchange contact info."
Of course, Satania agreed.
They swapped details: email and phone number.
She didn't have LINE, so that part was skipped.
They walked and chatted until they reached an intersection.
There, they parted ways.
"My first friend…"
Staring at Arthur's contact saved in her phone, Satania's lips curved upward.
Her grin was so wide it could hardly be suppressed.
"Friend… friend…"
She giggled foolishly to herself.
Meanwhile, after parting with her, Arthur summoned the Compendium.
Others couldn't see it anyway.
He flipped to the newest page—Satania's entry.
Already lit up.
Name: Kurumizawa Satanichia McDowell
Rank: Blue
Description: Demon of the Netherworld
Reward: Drag-Ride Bahamut
"Drag-Ride Bahamut…"
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
For a moment, he didn't even recall what world it came from.
Then his mind clicked.
Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle.
There were two categories of Drag-Rides.
General-purpose and Divine Drag-Rides.
The Divine ones were unique.
Each had its own characteristics, and fully unleashed, each could contend for the title of strongest.
Bahamut was Lux Arcadia's Divine Drag-Ride.
The protagonist's own.
Powerful—without question.