Do You Believe in the Existence of Demons?

"Do you believe in the existence of devils?"

In the classroom during the lunch break, an incredibly abrupt voice rang out softly, replacing the quiet atmosphere that had permeated the room just moments ago with something rather subtle.

This was a classroom without any special facilities; even the desks and chairs had been cleared to the sides, revealing a spacious area.

In the center of this room, a boy and a girl were sitting opposite each other.

The girl possessed a refined appearance and delicate features, with skin so fair it was almost translucent. She had long, black hair that reached past her shoulders, making her cute to the point of being unfair.

Her beauty was so cold that it made people afraid to approach her. She carried an air of mystery, giving off a feeling of being unattainable. She wore a black uniform with a red bowtie and a white shirt, paired with a plaid pleated skirt and black knee-high socks with white trim. She also had red ribbon bows tied on both sides of her hair. Although it was a school uniform, her overall appearance still drew many eyes.

However, at this moment, the girl, who had a book resting on her lap and was in the middle of opening it, looked at the boy in front of her with the expression one might reserve for an idiot.

The boy was also someone who would inevitably draw attention. He was handsome with deep, piercing eyes. He wore the same style of uniform as the girl, his tall, slender frame stretched out comfortably. One could vaguely catch glimpses of his collarbone and muscles through his collar and sleeves, exuding an invisible aura of hormones that would likely make many girls with weak resolve swallow hard involuntarily.

Yet, this very boy, who could make many girls' hearts flutter, had just said something that made the girl immediately assume he was mocking her.

"Are you joking with me, Leo-senpai?"

The girl spoke these words without any courtesy. Although she addressed him as senpai, there was no respect in her tone.

To this, the boy called Leo did not mind.

"Saying that means you don't believe in the existence of devils at all, right?"

Leo seemed to enjoy this inexplicable conversation, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes, making his expression look a bit more playful.

"May I hear your reasoning, Yukino Yukinoshita-san?"

Leo's words seemed to make Yukino Yukinoshita even more certain that he was mocking her, and her expression became visibly colder.

"I have no interest in engaging in such meaningless discussions with you, senpai. If your purpose in coming to the service club is to chat about such unrealistic topics, then please do not waste my time."

Yukino Yukinoshita's mercilessly sharp tongue was met only with Leo's noncommittal attitude.

"Meaningless? Unrealistic? A waste of time?" Leo chuckled and said, "As expected, just like the rumors say, Yukinoshita-san is quite arrogant."

Yukino Yukinoshita's expression was no longer just cold; it was genuinely icy and annoyed.

"May I take that as a malicious slander?"

Yukino Yukinoshita did not care at all that the person in front of her was her senior; her words were sharp and cutting.

"I am merely stating a fact." Leo crossed his arms, crossed his legs, and looked at the beautiful underclassman before him, saying leisurely, "You think the topic I brought up is meaningless and unrealistic. This in itself is telling others that you feel this topic isn't even worth starting or continuing. Even if you didn't say it directly, it is equivalent to stating your viewpoint: that you denied this matter without even needing to think about it."

"This is no longer a matter of being firm in your own beliefs, but rather your subconscious, instinctive assumption that this topic has no meaning to be discussed."

"Isn't such a one-sided denial, rejection, and exclusion a manifestation of arrogance?"

Yukino Yukinoshita's beautiful brows furrowed deeply at once.

"That is sophistry." Yukino Yukinoshita said with a cold attitude, "No matter who it is, hearing what you just said would result in the same attitude as mine."

"Look, that right there is your arrogance." Leo's attitude became just as blunt as Yukino Yukinoshita's, and he said, "You aren't everyone else, so why do you assume everyone would be the same as you?"

"Have you asked for others' opinions? Have you listened to others' thoughts? Have you actually seen others show this attitude?"

"You haven't, have you? If you haven't, on what grounds do you dare to represent others? Isn't it just because you believe that you are correct regardless of the situation?"

"By placing yourself in the position of being correct from the very beginning, I actually think you are even more arrogant than I imagined, Yukinoshita."

Yukino Yukinoshita's hand holding the book tightened involuntarily. Finally, as if she could no longer endure it, she slammed the book shut, crossed her arms just like Leo, and crossed her legs.

"If you are saying these things to get my attention, then congratulations, you have succeeded." Yukino Yukinoshita said coldly, "This is the Service Club, a club founded to extend a helping hand to those in need. If you, senior, are suffering because there is no one else to discuss this... this kind of topic with, and that is why you came here, then I will listen to what you have to say for now."

"But I must warn you first, Leo Elige, although the Service Club I founded accepts requests to solve people's difficulties, if anyone tries to use this to deliberately get close to me in order to achieve some ulterior motive, I will not let it go."

"Please keep that in mind."

Hearing this, Leo's gaze toward Yukino Yukinoshita became strange.

Then, he laughed.

It was a very intriguing laugh.

"Tell me, Yukinoshita, you don't actually think I'm trying to pursue you or want to date you, and that's why I deliberately brought up this topic to get your attention, do you?"

To other girls, Leo's smile would probably seem very brilliant and sunny.

But to Yukino Yukinoshita, that smile was simply an eyesore.

"Are you trying to say I'm being conceited?" Yukino Yukinoshita said unhappily, "But your actions only lead me to think of such things."

Leo shook his head, sighing while he laughed.

"Fair enough. It's normal for someone who is arrogant, firmly believes their own thoughts are correct, and one-sidedly denies others to have such notions—especially when that person is a woman who truly has the capital to think that way."

As he spoke, Leo stood up.

"It seems there is no need to continue this conversation today. Sorry for wasting your time, Yukinoshita."

Leaving those words behind, Leo turned and walked away without the slightest hesitation, leaving Yukino Yukinoshita stunned.

"Wait!" Yukino Yukinoshita also stood up. Her expression could no longer be described as just unhappy; she was genuinely indignant. "What do you mean by that? Are you treating me like a fool?"

"You're being a bit emotional now, Yukinoshita." Leo stopped in his tracks, turned his head, and met Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes, which were filled with resentment. He smiled and said, "Don't misunderstand. I meant it literally."

"At this moment, when you have yet to see the reality of this world and still firmly believe in the concepts cultivated by the education you've received over these past seventeen years, continuing this conversation would be nothing more than a futile effort."

"Therefore, I have decided to wait. I will wait until you encounter something that truly shatters everything you have always believed in, and then we can revisit today's topic."

After speaking these words in a measured, unhurried tone, Leo took out a piece of paper the size of a palm and placed it on the desk beside him.

"Consider this the payment for today's conversation. Keep it with you; I believe it will be of help to you. Of course, you are also free to throw it away. That way, the connection between us will be severed completely, keeping you far away from someone like me who has ulterior motives."

Leo lifted his eyelids, looking at Yukino Yukinoshita with a meaningful gaze for the first time.

"Finally, let me correct one more thought of yours, underclassman Yukinoshita."

"When a devil sets his sights on you, his goal is never to fall in love with you, but to make you sell your soul."

"Please keep that firmly in mind."

Returning the girl's own admonition back to her, Leo pulled open the classroom door without a hint of hesitation and walked out of the room that belonged to the Service Club.

"What is his problem?"

Watching Leo leave, Yukino Yukinoshita was trembling with rage.

Whether or not she would keep his words in mind was one thing, but she felt this was an absolute provocation.

If the upbringing of the Yukinoshita family didn't forbid her from doing anything too disgraceful, she would have chased after him right then and there and used her usual sharp tongue to leave him speechless on the spot.

With great difficulty, Yukino Yukinoshita finally calmed the fire in her chest. She stepped forward and picked up the piece of paper left on the desk.

It was not common paper, but a kind of vintage parchment. On it was drawn a bright red magic circle, which made it look rather eerie.

Seeing this, Yukino Yukinoshita was once again convinced.

Leo Eligor, this third-year senior at Sobu High School, was either toying with her and deliberately finding excuses to get close to her, or he was truly a pathetic man detached from reality, hopelessly lost in his own fantasies.

And "a devil's goal is never to fall in love with you"?

Even if she were blind and jumped out of the window of this clubroom, she would never fall in love with a guy who claimed to be a devil!

At this moment, Leo, who had angered the second daughter of the Yukinoshita family to the point of making such a "solemn vow," was walking up the stairs toward the rooftop.

Along the way, many people greeted him, and he returned every one of them with a smile, showing none of the "unruly" demeanor he had displayed in front of Yukino Yukinoshita.

Upon reaching the rooftop, Leo scanned his surroundings. Finding that there was not a single soul around, he stretched his back.

"Snap!"

The next second, a pair of pitch-black, bat-like wings suddenly unfurled from Leo's back.

With a gentle flap of his wings, Leo took to the sky.

Although he lacked horns and a tail, his appearance was truly that of a devil...