The brief skirmish left Erdao Cafe in ruins. Passersby who had intended to grab a coffee quickened their pace and fled the moment they saw the corpse lying before the entrance. The cafe no longer needed a "Closed" sign to keep people a thousand miles away.
"Arata, what was that about the Tiger Devil saying you contracted the Leopard Devil?" Himeno asked suddenly.
"It recognized the wrong person."
"We're colleagues, no need to hide things. I've figured it out—there has to be a reason your speed is so inhuman."
"Then just assume I contracted the Leopard Devil."
"What's the ability? Speed? What's the price?"
"For a Leopard Devil, I don't even need to pay a price. Collecting the corpse is enough."
The Leopard Devil was the first corpse Arata had collected after contracting the Corpse Devil. He had inherited 100% of its abilities, making it one of his "Five Primary Devils"—the first five devils he had ever contracted.
"What? You're interested in corpses again?" Aki Hayakawa asked, seeing Arata lingering beside the Tiger Devil's remains.
"Since you know, why don't you take Arai and get out of here?"
Realizing there was no point in pressing him, Aki didn't linger. He took the injured Arai back inside the cafe.
"Arai, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Himeno-senpai. Just a hand injury. I didn't even use my full strength earlier; if I'd sacrificed all my hair, my power would have doubled."
"Cherish your hair while you have it—you're already starting to bald," Himeno joked, brushing his short hair and coming away with a dozen loose strands.
"Kobeni, don't be sad. Arai, can you transform and help Kobeni flip her car back over?"
"No problem." Once Arai agreed, the massive roots of the tree devil finally vanished.
After flipping the car, Kobeni rushed over to inspect the damage. Aside from the deformed roof, the car was still functional. While the others were busy discussing the car, Reze had already begun sweeping up the broken glass and debris. She didn't let out a single word of complaint about the destruction caused by the fight.
Seeing Reze working all alone, Denji felt a twinge of guilt. After all, the Tiger Devil had been gunning for him. The state of the cafe was his fault.
"Let me help you."
Denji stepped forward. "Thank you, Denji-kun." Reze didn't refuse, flashing him another smile.
Just then, Arata returned to the cafe after finishing with the corpse. Aki cast a glance toward where the Tiger Devil's body had been; it was gone.
"Everyone, let's help Reze clean up. After all, it's our fault she has to work overtime today."
"Exactly, we can't make Denji's new girlfriend suffer."
"Himeno-senpai, stop saying things like that!!" Denji roared, wielding a broom.
By the time they finished cleaning, night had fallen. Himeno lounged on the sofa, stretching comfortably.
"Thanks for the help, everyone. Stay for dinner?" Reze offered.
"No thanks, we're exhausted. I just want to go home and rest."
"Reze, we'll come visit again soon."
They headed for the door in a group. Reze followed them to the entrance.
"Safe travels, everyone!" After seeing them off, Reze returned to the shop. "Why are you two still here?"
"The cafe got trashed because of my apprentice. As his master, I have an obligation to help."
With a wave of his hand, Arata regenerated the shattered storefront window.
"This... Arata-senpai, your ability..."
"I have many abilities. I can help a person, and I can destroy one, too."
Reze froze. She sensed that Arata's words were loaded with meaning, even suspecting that he'd seen through her true identity. This made her fear making any rash moves. At the same time, the events of the day had filled her with a sense of warmth she'd never known—eating, chatting, and cleaning together. They looked like colleagues, but they felt like a family.
"Master, when are we going back?"
"Let's take the cake and go. Power should be done venting her rage on Aki by now."
They bid Reze farewell and headed home. As soon as they reached the door, they could hear Power screaming inside. She'd been left home alone all day without a proper meal, surviving only on frozen squid from the freezer.
"We're back."
Denji and Arata entered. Power immediately rushed to the door, pointing at them. "You two finally know how to come back!! The Great Me hasn't eaten all day!"
"Couldn't you have gone out to find something?" Denji asked.
"The moment I stepped out, a group of independent devil hunters started chasing me! I would've killed them back in the day, but now I know the consequences of killing humans. I didn't want to trade my life for a bunch of lowly humans, so I stayed hidden."
"Stop being angry, I brought you cake."
Arata handed her the cake. Power's eyes lit up.
"Wow!! Arata is the best, I love you!"
She grabbed the cake, tore open the packaging, and devoured it, covering her face in cream until she looked like she had a white mustache.
"Is there more?"
"No, but there should be steak in the fridge."
"Long live Arata! You're my favorite man!" Power leaped onto Arata's back, clinging to him like a monkey.
Meanwhile, Denji was still wondering if Reze had made it home safely. Suddenly, there was a sound outside.
Knock, knock, knock~
A crisp rapping at the door.
"Coming!" Denji called out. He opened the door, and a cold gust of air swept in.
"Who's there?"
Denji poked his head out, peering left and right, but saw nothing—only the empty, hollow corridor.
"That's weird. Did I hear wrong?"
Seeing no one, Denji closed the door and went back inside.
"Denji, who was knocking?"
Aki walked out of the bathroom, having just finished his shower.
"Don't know. Must have heard wrong. Maybe it was someone knocking on the next-door neighbor's door."
"Make me a few more steaks, I can handle them! Even if I can't, Meowy can!" Power was still in the kitchen arguing with Arata about the lack of steak.
Knock, knock, knock~
The door was knocked on again. Aki checked the clock. It was nearly 11 PM—who could possibly be knocking now? If it were anyone from Division 4, they would have announced their name.
"Who is it!!" Denji shouted.
No response from outside.
"Denji, be careful."
Aki's expression tightened as he moved toward the kitchen. "Arata, someone is knocking at the door."
"If someone's knocking, go open it! You want me to do it? I'm busy frying steaks for the Great Me, I don't have time!!"
"I feel like something isn't right." Aki ignored Power entirely, focusing only on Arata.
Arata sensed it too.
Knock, knock, knock~
The moment the next knock started, Arata lunged toward the door, throwing it wide open in less than a second.
Whoosh—
A chilling gust of wind swept into the room.
But the doorway was empty.
"Open up!"
A drunk man was hammering on the door of the neighbor's apartment.
"Why are you coming back so late?"
The woman next door grumbled as she opened her door.
"Must have been wrong. It was the neighbor's apartment," Denji said, relieved.
But Arata didn't think so. He could feel that the knock was different.