At that moment, another voice sounded in Asa Mitaka's mind.
"Hey! You! Are you kidding me? Why the hell are you mourning that teacher? Hurry up and ask this man about the Chainsaw."
It was the War Devil, a second personality sharing her body.
In fact, both victims—Teacher Tanaka and the female class monitor—had been killed by the War Devil.
Asa Mitaka was a solitary student. In her class, only Tanaka and the class monitor remembered her name. Tanaka remembered her for reasons beyond duty; he harbored feelings for her. The class monitor, however, remembered her because of jealousy.
Jealousy had escalated. Teacher Tanaka and the monitor were involved in a secret, improper relationship. During their encounters, Tanaka had accidentally called Asa Mitaka's name. The monitor, fueled by envy and influenced by the Devil of Justice, tripped Asa, causing her to crush the beloved Chirp Chirp Chicken Devil. The students' hatred toward Asa intensified.
Tanaka tried to shield her, apologizing to the class, but the monitor's envy only grew, eventually turning into murderous intent. Yet even after slicing off half of Asa's head, she survived by signing a contract with the War Devil, swiftly turning the tables and killing both assailants.
Since then, Asa Mitaka had survived with only half a brain, sharing her body with the War Devil.
She lowered her head, silent, then mentally snapped at the War Devil: "You! Don't call me 'you'! I have a name—Asa Mitaka!"
The War Devil smirked. "You're calling me that too."
"That's because 'War Devil' is too long. You never told me your name!"
"Tsk, I should probably have one… fine, whatever, just give it!"
Asa's consciousness bristled, ready to seize control of her body if the War Devil did anything to threaten her life. Her pupils turned into crimson rings, and a horizontal A-shaped scar appeared on her left cheek—an unmistakable sign of the devil's power.
Cael observed calmly. "Asa Mitaka, you're too late. If you want to mourn the teacher, the flowerpots in my backyard are available."
Even witnessing this transformation, Cael remained composed. Diplomacy before force. If she didn't act aggressively, he wouldn't. But if she disrupted his peace, he'd kill her without hesitation.
Asa, or rather the War Devil, licked her lips, placed her left hand on her waist, and lifted Cael's chin with her right finger, curling her lips into a wild, arrogant smile.
"Hey, want to be my boyfriend?"
Cael blinked.
Even Asa's consciousness froze. What the hell!
She blushed furiously in her mind. "You bastard! Don't say stuff like that with my body!"
Even dying, Asa fantasized about love—but she wanted to choose freely, not be controlled. The War Devil had ulterior motives.
"Shut up! You like him, right? As long as he falls for me, he'll be mine. Then I can use him as a weapon to kill the Chainsaw. I'll mobilize every resource I have!"
Cael took half a step back, sizing up Asa Mitaka, and remained silent.
"Why aren't you speaking? Are you too stunned by my charm?" the War Devil thought triumphantly, undoing her twin tails and letting her black hair cascade.
"No," Cael said calmly, shaking his head.
The War Devil froze.
Cael pointed at her feet. "Walking around in just socks like that… doesn't it hurt with all the grit?"
The War Devil's face fell. Slap. She smacked her forehead. Even the mighty War Devil could feel embarrassed. Her classmates had stuffed her shoes with chicken slices and poured chicken soup in them, leaving her no choice but to go socked.
Cael removed his own shoes and placed them beside her. "Your size matches mine. Borrow these. No athlete's foot here."
The War Devil's ears turned red. Asa's consciousness quieted, mortified. Damn it! How could she, the War Devil, show this reaction?
Swoosh!
She didn't put on the shoes but grabbed Cael by the collar.
"You're not ordinary. I tracked the Chainsaw's blood all the way here. Tell me—Is the Chainsaw Devil hiding with you?!"
Chainsaw Devil? Cael frowned. Pochita fit that description perfectly—a small dog with a chainsaw for a head.
He smirked. "I don't know any Chainsaw Devil. I hate being threatened. Ten seconds to decide, or I break your hand."
"Ten… nine… eight…"
"Hmph."
By four, the War Devil reluctantly let go, grinding her teeth but unable to act. Devils grow stronger from fear, yet the Chainsaw Devil had devoured much of her power, leaving her weakened.
"Tsk, boring. It's yours again," she muttered, relinquishing control. Asa Mitaka's eyes returned to normal, the scar vanished. Mortified, she buried her head, twisting her fingers in her hair.
"Just now… I'm really sorry. I have multiple personality disorder. Could you tell me which flowerpots? I… I want to water Teacher Tanaka's ashes."
Cael pointed. "The blue-purple irises."
"Oh." Asa acknowledged softly and headed to the backyard.
"Wait." Cael's tone softened. "Put the shoes on first."
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