Tokyo, a quiet suburban neighborhood.
This was where the Lior Family Funeral Home was located.
It might have been more convenient to open the shop in a busy district, closer to crime scenes. But urban land was far too expensive, and the original owner's parents could never have afforded it. Besides, a funeral home in a bustling area would be considered unlucky. Suburbs offered both affordability and spacious plots of land.
The sign above the entrance displayed three languages—English, Japanese, and Chinese—minimizing language barriers for potential clients.
With the memories of the original owner, Cael had easily taken over the shop, swinging open the courtyard gates.
"Whoa!" Denji and Pochita dashed inside, their excitement as pure as country kids discovering the city. "Pochita, did you see that? This place is huge!"
"Woof!"
The puppy bounced around Denji, tail wagging furiously. They explored the funeral home like it was an amusement park.
Cael chuckled softly, then noticed how filthy they both were.
"Hey, Denji, Pochita, go take a bath first. There are some vegetables in the fridge—I'll make some authentic dishes for you."
Denji froze. "A bath?"
"You can use the bathtub?"
"Can I?"
Cael hummed. "Why wouldn't you?"
Denji lowered his head, embarrassed. "I'm dirty… I haven't bathed in days, and I smell rank. Maybe I should wash outside… I don't want to get your house dirty."
Cael leaned down, hands on Denji's shoulders. "Exactly because you're filthy, you need to clean up. Stop whining. Take Pochita with you, and don't set the water too hot."
Tears welled in Denji's eyes. For the first time in years, he felt treated like a normal person. Even if Cael were a Devil, he accepted it.
Denji wiped his tears, bowed, then smiled through them. "Alright! Pochita, let's go take a bath together!"
"Woof woof!"
Cael shook his head, smiling. This funeral home was always gloomy and lifeless, but Denji and Pochita brought a spark of life. Not bad.
He hummed softly as he entered the kitchen. Three dishes and a soup were placed on the table, enough for three. By then, Denji and Pochita had finished washing.
Cael tossed Denji some small-sized clothes. His old rags were beyond repair. They would need proper clothes anyway; in this business, appearances mattered.
He set out three chairs, putting a small stool on Pochita's chair. Cael usually treated dogs as animals, but Pochita wasn't a dog. After forming a contract, the little Devil had become unexpectedly endearing.
"Let's eat. Don't wait for me. As long as you don't waste food, there aren't many rules here," Cael said with a laugh.
Denji and Pochita salivated but waited, respectful of Cael's command.
"Thanks for the food!" Denji dug in, devouring rice like a whirlwind.
Pochita's chainsaw head dove into its portion, munching loudly.
Cael's chopsticks trembled slightly—he had seriously underestimated their appetites. Still, it was fine. Both were well-behaved and didn't waste a single bite.
"Eat slowly. Don't choke. There are side dishes too."
"Mr. Cael, you're the best person in the world!" Denji swallowed proudly.
"Woof!" Pochita barked in agreement.
Half an hour later, the plates were spotless. Denji had even licked the leftover oil from Cael's bowl. It wasn't disgusting—it was a stark reminder of how deprived the boy had been. Changing him would take time.
Pochita napped quietly on Cael's head.
After washing the dishes, Denji approached Cael, who was flipping through the ledger.
"Mr. Cael, should I go out and drum up business for the funeral home?" Denji asked earnestly.
Cael's mouth twitched. "No need. If people need us, they'll come."
"Denji, you're still weak. Go rest," Cael suggested.
"But I ate your food! If I don't help, I'll feel uneasy…"
Sighing, Cael grabbed another ledger and flipped to the last page. "Fine. You can call the families on this list and let them know the ashes are ready."
Denji picked up the ledger seriously—but upside down. Sheepishly, he admitted, "Mr. Cael, I've never been to school. I don't know how to read."
Cael frowned. He had assumed Denji had basic education. He had overestimated him.
"Then go clean up. Once I'm done here, I'll teach you to read tonight."
School wasn't an option for Denji anyway. Tuition was a problem, and he might not even have official registration. Cael would have to teach him himself. Learning while doing.
"Leave it to me!" Denji grinned and ran off.
Time passed. Dusk fell.
Cael finished his work and prepared to rest when a police siren echoed nearby, followed by screeching brakes.
Ding-dong, ding-dong. The doorbell rang incessantly.
Cael frowned. Had news of today's Zombie Devil incident reached them? He had checked—this remote place shouldn't have surveillance. Still, he didn't panic.
Firstly, he had done nothing illegal.
Secondly… Dark-Dark Fruit.
He told Denji and Pochita to stay hidden and opened the gate.
"Lior Family Funeral Home. How can I help you?" His voice was neutral.
The two policemen raised eyebrows, surprised at the young shop owner. They flashed their IDs.
"We're police. Get the owner for a talk."
Cael sighed. "I am the owner. You can talk to me."
"Huh?" The older officer blinked. "I remember the owners were a two middle aged couple."
"They were my parents. The Car Devil killed them six months ago," Cael explained.
The older officer's eyes dimmed. He nodded, offering an apology, and waved the younger officer forward.
"They can't take in bodies here. Let's go…"
"Wait! I can handle it," Cael said, eyes lighting up.
The younger officer squinted. "You're so young. Are you sure?"
"Trust me," Cael replied, deadly serious. He had been an experienced undertaker even before transmigrating.
The older officer sensed this sincerity. "The body is of someone killed by a Devil. Take a look first, then decide."
Cael nodded.
They stepped aside to reveal a stretcher. Cael pulled back the white sheet.
The head of a man, around thirty, was grotesque—impaled by a sword hilt from the top of his head.
The older officer explained, "His name was Tanaka. He taught at Tokyo High School, but last night…"
Cael continued revealing the body. The flesh was gone. Only a twisted, white spine remained, ending seamlessly in an incredibly sharp sword.
Cael drew a deep breath. This was devil work—someone's body transformed into a Spinal Cord Sword.