Narrator POV.
And because he was lost in his thoughts, Isagi didn't notice that Osaragi had taken one of the Yugai they were using to divide his cursed energy into three and thus increase the difficulty of the training.
Osaragi, who could be described as a childish woman who tended to act on impulse without thinking twice, had a general apathy that showed her limited expression of emotions, even in high-risk situations. She was straightforward and tended to blame others for trivial matters, often Isagi, without showing much concern for the consequences of her own actions.
She looked at the teddy bear in her hands with curiosity when she noticed that it was snoring and that its chest was even rising and falling as if it were really breathing. She tilted her head slightly, observing it with her expressionless eyes as she seemed to wonder whether that behavior was normal for a simple stuffed toy.
—(How cute). —She thought with a spark of excitement as she touched the bear's face with her finger, gently pressing one of its cheeks as if she wanted to check whether it was as soft as it looked.
That was until the bear woke up due to the lack of cursed energy. It opened its eyes wide, immediately stopping its snoring, and threw a hook straight at Osaragi's chin with surprising speed. However, she caught the glove in the blink of an eye, stopping the punch without even changing her expression.
"It moves... Mr. Isagi. Can I keep it?". She asked while holding both of the bear's arms without any difficulty with a single hand, as if she were holding a particularly restless toy instead of a creature that had just tried to punch her.
The Yugai struggled desperately, trying to free itself from Osaragi's strong grip. Its little legs kicked in the air and its body shook from side to side, but all its efforts proved useless. Osaragi had it completely subdued, with an ease that bordered on insulting.
"Ugh, you think it's cute?". Isagi asked, looking at the scene in disbelief.
He couldn't understand how Osaragi found that ugly bear adorable when, just a few seconds ago, it had been snoring peacefully and was now trying to punch anyone who got too close to it in the face.
"Of course, keep it. I have two more anyway". Isagi smiled as he grabbed the other two Yugai, one in each hand, observing them for a moment before deciding what to do with them.
Both disappeared from his hands because he stored them in the System's inventory. It had been a week since he accepted Osaragi, and honestly, it wasn't so bad. Despite how impulsive she was, she listened to him, and although he didn't want to openly admit it, one could say that he was growing fond of her.
Everyday life wasn't so boring anymore. It felt good to have company outside of his devil-hunting job, company apart from the System, of course. Besides, Osaragi was quite strong; he already trusted her enough to leave some devils for her to finish off if Isagi himself didn't feel like dealing with them. That allowed him to relax a little during missions, knowing that he didn't have to do absolutely everything on his own.
—(Am I getting soft? Nah, I was never a lonely wolf without feelings. It's just that getting into trouble to help people I don't know isn't my thing, unless there's a reward). —Isagi nodded to himself, as if he had just reached a perfectly reasonable conclusion.
It had been so long since he had had companions outside of work that he had already gotten used to doing things on his own, without having to worry about anyone else. So much time had passed alone that he had already forgotten what it felt like to have someone accompanying him during peaceful moments like those.
Although at first he had wanted to get rid of Osaragi, Isagi now appreciated her company more than he would have imagined. Her presence no longer bothered him, and somehow, he had gotten used to having her around. She took him out of his routine, and perhaps that wasn't so bad.
"Mr. Isagi, I heard there will be a festival tonight. Do you think we can go? I've never been to one". Osaragi said as she lifted the little bear, which had stopped trying to break free from her grip.
She held it in front of her face, observing it with the same curiosity as before, as if she were also considering the possibility of taking it with her.
"A festival? Let me think about it..."
Isagi rubbed his chin, reflecting on the proposal. Currently, he avoided places with too many people, mainly because he didn't want to attract attention before he was ready. However, he had already planned to return and prove that he was still completely alive. He had tried out the Magatsumi, had begun making progress on his own, and no longer depended solely on the System to improve his abilities.
He was already working on his Domain Expansion and had all ten shikigami of the Ten Shadows Technique under his control. Furthermore, with a special-grade weapon like the Magatsumi and all the abilities he had acquired up to that point, Isagi was certain he had everything necessary to face an entire nation and whatever contracts its members might have.
At least, that was the confidence he had regained after his latest advancements.
Japan didn't have a contract with the Gun Devil or a devil of that caliber that represented an immediate threat to him. So Isagi had regained enough confidence to return and say:
After all, he wasn't going to let Public Safety believe they had managed to get rid of him so easily.
Public Safety's attempt to get rid of him had failed spectacularly, and he still didn't know whether they would try again. Most likely they would, considering the kind of people he was dealing with. For that very reason, he had to be prepared for any move they made against him.
"Yeah, let's go. It's time for me to return to my main job anyway. The most aesthetic devil hunter is back in action". Isagi smiled confidently, as if he had just announced the return of a legend.
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Hours later...
Night had already fallen, and despite that, the city remained just as lively as it had been during the day. A festival was being held in one of the city's areas, where people laughed and chatted animatedly while children played happily, running from one side to the other and looking at the different stalls and games spread throughout the streets.
The atmosphere was filled with lights, music, and the delicious aroma of food being prepared at the stalls.
A special fireworks show would begin very soon, so several people were already looking for a good spot from which to watch it.
Isagi, for his part, yawned as he stored a stuffed toy he had won at one of the games he had participated in in his inventory. Thanks to his superhuman strength, winning had been a piece of cake. In fact, as he watched the stuffed toy disappear from his hands, he couldn't help thinking that it had practically been cheating.
"I lost Osaragi again". Isagi looked from side to side, searching for his assistant among the crowd, and it didn't take him long to recognize a familiar figure. "Ah, no, there she is."
He sighed in relief when he saw her buying sweets and snacks at one of the nearby stalls. Apparently, Osaragi was quite busy choosing what to eat, without worrying too much about the fact that she had wandered away from him.
Sometimes, taking care of Osaragi was like taking care of a little girl. Although, considering her strength and peculiar way of behaving, she was probably one of the most dangerous little girls anyone could come across at a festival.
"Hmm?". Isagi's ear twitched slightly, as he could have sworn he heard something amid the noise of the crowd.
However, before he could focus too much on it, Osaragi returned to his side.
"Mr. Isagi, the food here tastes pretty good". Osaragi returned to his side at a leisurely pace, eating one of the treats they usually sold at festivals.
"Take it easy, will you? If you keep eating like that, you're going to get fat."
"No. I bought them, and I'm going to eat them". Osaragi pressed everything she had bought against her chest, protecting her sweets as if Isagi had just threatened to confiscate them.
Her gaze, although expressionless, made it quite clear that she had no intention of sharing them or giving them up so easily.
"But I was the one who gave you the money to pay for them..." Isagi said, with a drop of sweat running down the side of his head in the purest anime style. He couldn't believe Osaragi was using such logic to defend her precious sweets.
"But I paid for them and bought them, so they're mine". Osaragi said again seriously, showing not the slightest intention of sharing.
"Whatever, that's not protein at all. I prefer my eggs and creatine. Mmmmmm... Ooh, the highest-quality food". Isagi smiled to himself as he turned around and looked up, completely convinced that his dietary preferences were superior.
It was then that the first fireworks illuminated the night sky. The show had begun. Explosions of color spread across the city, momentarily illuminating the buildings and the faces of the people watching the sky.
Isagi didn't think it was anything special. He had seen much more impressive things throughout his life, so the colorful explosions failed to spark much interest in him.
Osaragi, on the other hand, stared intently at the sky, slightly captivated by the spectacle. Her eyes followed the lights that appeared and disappeared in the darkness, and during those moments, she remained stiller than usual.
That reaction made Isagi smile slightly. After all, he had agreed to accompany her precisely because Osaragi wanted to experience a festival. If it was making her happy, even just a little, then he had no reason to complain.
So he simply remained by her side, occasionally watching the sky and, above all, the expression on his companion's face.
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Minutes later...
"I think we should leave now. The fireworks are over, and you've already eaten a lot of things". Isagi said as he looked around.
That hardworking hunk of a body needed proper rest. He couldn't neglect his recovery because of a festival, no matter how good the food was.
"Mmm, alright, Mr. Isagi. I'm already bored anyway". Osaragi nodded calmly, as if the idea of leaving didn't bother her in the slightest.
The festival games hadn't managed to catch her attention, and aside from the food, nothing else had seemed particularly entertaining to her.
Isagi stopped for a moment when he heard something that caught his attention: a conversation between a small group of friends. A young man had just approached them and stopped in front of the group, apparently agitated.
At first, Isagi didn't pay much attention to him. After all, at a festival full of people, it was normal to hear all kinds of conversations. However, when he made out certain words, his expression changed slightly.
Devils.
Battle between devils.
That was enough for him to straighten his back and pay attention, sharpening his hearing so he wouldn't miss a single word of the conversation.
"You guys won't believe this! But when I was coming here, I saw two devils fighting. One was a chainsaw devil, and the other seemed to be able to make things explode! I didn't stick around to find out what was going on; I floored it and got the hell out of there. I felt like death was right on my heels, guys!"
The young man accompanied his words with exaggerated gestures, still visibly nervous about what he had seen.
Upon hearing that description, Isagi suddenly remembered what was supposed to happen after the battle against Katana-Man and Akane Sawatari. Because of the elimination attempt he had suffered at the hands of Public Safety, he had been so busy preparing, recovering, and strengthening his abilities that he had simply forgotten about that event.
"Osaragi! Change of plans! Today we're doing some extra work!". Isagi exclaimed, quickly regaining his determined attitude.
He brought his hands together, and almost immediately, a shadow shaped like a pair of wings began to form beneath his feet. The darkness spread across the ground, standing out even among the festival lights. Some nearby people might have noticed the phenomenon, but Isagi didn't have time to worry about other people's stares.
Thanks to the training he had done with his cursed energy, his control over the Ten Shadows Technique had improved considerably. It was no longer just about summoning his shikigami, but also about making better use of his energy and enhancing their capabilities.
Isagi's shadow grew larger, and in the next instant, an enormous winged figure emerged from it.
Nue appeared before them, much larger than usual. Its wings spread majestically, raising a gentle current of air that stirred Isagi and Osaragi's clothes. Its imposing silhouette contrasted with the festive atmosphere surrounding them.
"Huh? What's going on?". Osaragi asked uncertainly, looking first at Nue and then at Isagi. She hadn't expected such a sudden change of plans, especially after the two of them had agreed to return home.
"Just get on. I'll explain on the way". Isagi said as he climbed onto Nue's back, adjusting himself to keep his balance.
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End of the Chapter