Twilight.
The setting sun was like blood.
Fire clouds dyed red the entire sky. The whole royal capital was exceptionally quiet and peaceful.
But at this moment, there was a hungry person on the street.
"Damn it. There are too many people in the royal capital. I got separated from Ram."
Emilia rubbed her stomach and murmured softly, "And I even lost my wallet."
Pat, pat.
Puck patted her shoulder and comforted her, "It's okay. Let's look around. We should find Ram soon."
"Puck, you're mean."
Emilia puffed out her cheeks, unhappy. "You're about to go to sleep, so of course you can say that."
"Heh, hehe."
Puck twitched his mouth, but flashed and entered the crystal to rest.
As one of the six elements.
His true form was a giant beast with a golden glow.
Called the Beast of the End, he was a great spirit of fire.
His existence itself consumed a lot of magic power.
So he could only work from nine to five, unless there were special unavoidable circumstances.
Otherwise, once night fell, he would rest in the crystal.
The sky gradually darkened.
Emilia came to a corner of the street, already dizzy with hunger.
She sat on a chair and searched her chest.
"Hmm?"
Emilia was stunned. A flyer was pulled out by her.
Seeing this!
She was slightly dazed.
"If you need help, you can find me."
Unconsciously, Emilia remembered Ayato's words.
Then!
She shook her head and smiled.
What was she thinking? They had only met by chance.
Besides!
She didn't even know where the other party was.
She looked at the flyer.
But she was stunned.
This magic circle... looked pretty convincing.
Could Devils actually be real?
Hehe, why am I thinking so much? Just try it.
Holding the Devil flyer, she said quietly, "Mr. Devil, I need your help."
"Never mind, I must be delirious from hunger..."
Before Emilia could finish her sentence, her voice stopped abruptly.
Hum!
A dazzling light flickered.
A dark red magic circle rose into the air.
The next instant.
Ayato's figure stepped out from within.
He smiled. "I didn't expect us to meet again so soon."
"The magic circle... is real?"
Emilia couldn't believe it, and said instinctively, "Does that mean you really are a Devil?"
Whoosh!
Air currents howled, and a pair of pitch-black wings unfurled from behind Ayato.
"It's... real?"
Emilia was completely stunned.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but simply didn't know how to start.
"One hundred percent genuine."
Ayato smiled. "Tell me, what wish do you need me to grant by summoning me?"
"Well..."
Emilia smiled sheepishly.
In her assumption...
The most likely possibility was that Ayato really could come through the magic circle.
Who would have thought?
Devils actually existed.
But...
She instinctively looked at Ayato and blinked in confusion.
According to legend, Devils should be ugly and evil.
But Mr. Ayato...
Was exceptionally handsome.
And besides the wings, he was no different from a human.
"So, have you thought it over?"
"What?"
Emilia looked blankly.
"Your wish."
Ayato looked at Emilia, his expression helpless.
This woman... seemed to have an airheaded quality.
Hearing this, Emilia also snapped out of it.
She thought for a moment and said cautiously, "Mr. Ayato, could you buy me a meal?"
Ayato: "..."
Good grief!
This was probably the easiest wish he had ever received.
"N-no, can't you?"
"No problem. It's far too simple."
Inside a restaurant.
Emilia ate the full table of food with relish.
After a long while.
She realized Ayato was still sitting opposite her, and said sheepishly, "I'm sorry, that was rude."
"It's nothing."
Ayato said, "Are you full?"
"Yes, I'm full."
"If that's the case, it's time to talk about business."
Hearing this, for some reason, Emilia felt a sense of foreboding.
"Now that I've granted your wish, shouldn't you also pay the price?"
Emilia's body stiffened, her eyelids twitching.
Yes.
In various legends...
After making a wish to a Devil, you must pay a price.
How could she have forgotten that?
She said cautiously, "Um, what price do I need to pay?"
"Very simple."
Ayato lightly snapped his fingers, and a spell to ward off idlers was activated.
In an instant.
The entire restaurant was empty.