The teary atmosphere at the dessert café gradually subsided as time passed.
Having finally regained her composure, Answer fidgeted with her bangs, looking embarrassed as she spoke.
“Thank you, Yuria and Sabrina. Even though I’m an adult, I feel like I showed you a pretty pitiful side of myself...”
“Haha, it’s fine! Our mentor always says that even adults have moments when they want to cry!”
“...!”
I nodded in agreement with Sabrina’s words, fully endorsing the sentiment.
After all, she wasn’t exactly old—barely in her early twenties. Sure, societal standards in this world might differ, but to me, she was still far from the age where one needed to maintain an air of maturity.
Of course, bawling her eyes out in front of kids who looked barely ten years old would probably go down as one of her more embarrassing memories. But considering she’d been pushed to the point of breaking down, I hoped our attempt to console her had helped in some way.
Perhaps our sincerity reached her, as Answer, still visibly flushed around the eyes, seemed to make up her mind about something. She looked at us with a more determined expression.
“I don’t have the means to repay you financially right now... but I can offer this as thanks.”
She glanced around, grabbed two napkins from nearby, and began moving her fingers across them in a motion akin to writing.
I tilted my head in confusion, unsure what she was doing. But as her fingertips swept across the napkin, letters began to appear as if being etched by invisible ink. The sight was nothing short of magical.
“What’s... that?”
“It’s not much, but... it might come in handy,” she said hesitantly, handing the napkin to us.
Taking it carefully, I read through the text now engraved on its surface. It was then that I realized this wasn’t just any napkin—it was a contract.
Through a pledge of the soul, the contractor, Answer, temporarily grants the Eye of Contract to the contract recipient, Yuria, at no cost. This contract becomes effective when the contract document is destroyed and may be freely declined at the recipient’s discretion.
How did she manage to fit so much onto a napkin?
While I was quietly marveling at the craftsmanship of demon magic, one particular clause caught my attention, making me freeze.
The Eye of Contract? Was it the one I was thinking of? And she was just... giving it to me, no strings attached?
As I blinked at the incredible terms laid out on the napkin, Sabrina leaned in, curiosity outweighing any hesitation, and asked directly.
“What’s this?”
“Oh, it’s a gift—a contract. It’s the only way I could think to repay you...” Answer scratched the back of her head sheepishly.
“And the Eye of Contract mentioned here?”
“Oh, that’s a special ability demons are born with. It lets you easily spot any hidden clauses in contracts when dealing with other demons!”
Answer’s explanation came with a slightly awkward chuckle, as if she was aware of the dubious reputation of her kind.
And rightly so. Demons were notorious for slipping hidden clauses into contracts, only to later claim breach of agreement and seize the other party’s soul as payment.
Why not just avoid making contracts with demons altogether? Well, the allure of gaining immense power, authority, or love in exchange for a soul was a temptation many found impossible to resist.
Answer, however, seemed displeased by the practices of her kin. Maybe she had been a victim of these schemes herself.
Still, the Eye of Contract wasn’t just any magical gift. For a demon, it was essentially a master key to navigate contracts. It neutralized the inherent advantage most demons had when crafting deals.
“...This feels like too much to accept for just buying you dessert,” I thought, staring at the napkin.
Glancing at Answer’s face, I noticed a nervous expression, as though she’d be devastated if I rejected her offer.
Sighing internally, I decided it would be best to accept it. I slipped the napkin into my pocket and gave her a grateful nod.
Seeing my reaction, Sabrina also pocketed her napkin, albeit with a slightly unsure expression. Even if we never ended up using them, as long as we didn’t destroy the contracts, they wouldn’t activate. Sabrina seemed to be respecting Answer’s gesture.
“If you ever need it, please don’t hesitate to use it!” Answer said, her voice tinged with excitement.
“Y-Yeah...” Sabrina replied awkwardly.
“....”
Answer’s delighted reaction, her cheeks slightly flushed, was almost dog-like in its enthusiasm.
Sabrina and I exchanged a faint smile at the odd but endearing demon sitting with us.
Unexpectedly, it felt like we had made a peculiar new friend—a demon who was far more approachable than I’d ever imagined.
*
The three of them shared lighthearted chatter for about 30 minutes before finally leaving the dessert café together.
Answer, despite her timid nature, showed a surprisingly sociable side, and thanks to hitting it off with Sabrina—the only one who could converse with her easily—they had grown closer in that short time.
“Well, I-I should get going... I have another interview today!”
“Good luck, Answer unni!”
“...!”
“Th-Thank you so much for today! Bye, you two!”
Answer, who had relaxed enough to speak informally and even exchange contact information, left with a bright smile, her face much rosier than when they first met.
For a demon, she was surprisingly fun, Sabrina thought to herself as she turned her head slightly.
She caught sight of Yuria watching Answer disappear into the crowd.
Though Yuria was small, about Sabrina’s height, her proportions were striking, making her look like a living doll. Even with the mask obscuring her face, there was something captivating about her presence.
“And... back then, she used something strange, didn’t she?”
Sabrina found her thoughts drifting back to that moment not too long ago.
It was during the incident at the hotel where Nemesis had trapped Reine, and David had led the charge to rescue her. Sabrina vividly remembered being carried by Yuria and soaring through the air.
For someone like Sabrina, who had a forced grasp of magic thanks to her mentor, what she witnessed was inexplicable.
There had been no flow of magic, no incantations, no spells. Whatever Yuria had done, it didn’t seem like magic at all. It was as impossible as turning sugar into salt.
“Then what could it be? ...Psychic powers?”
The thought made Sabrina laugh softly at how absurd it sounded. Psychic powers were the stuff of urban legends, not reality.
And if such powers did exist, their bearers would likely be subjected to endless experiments in labs, forced to create more like themselves.
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In this world, the idea of a psychic was so significant, it could mean the difference between salvation and the end of civilization.
“No... It must have been my imagination. I hope it was just my imagination,” Sabrina thought with a twinge of unease.
Because if Yuria truly was a psychic... her future would be unimaginably harsh.
“....”
“Eek! What? Yuria?”
Lost in her deep thoughts, Sabrina hadn’t noticed Yuria suddenly standing close to her.
Yuria was so near that one more step would have their shoulders touching. Startled, Sabrina’s eyes widened as Yuria reached out toward her without a word.
“...!”
Yuria took hold of Sabrina’s cold hand and pulled it into her coat.
The unexpected warmth of Yuria’s hand startled Sabrina, and she couldn’t help but feel flustered at the soft, comforting sensation against her fingers.
But Yuria, seemingly unaware or indifferent, gently nudged Sabrina forward with her shoulder, as if urging her to move along.
Noticing Yuria’s cheerful mood, Sabrina chuckled softly and let her lead the way.
Today would be a fun day, she decided.
Whatever complicated thoughts she’d had earlier had completely melted away.
After all, their outing was just beginning.