The Witch Vermouth

"Master, please say yes to my sister."

Shiho Miyano came over to Lind and hugged his arm tightly.

At once, Lind felt his arm sink into an ocean of softness.

Her pretty face flushed slightly as she leaned closer to him and whispered, "If I have to, I can..."

Lind gave Shiho Miyano an odd look.

Well, well.

It had hardly been any time at all.

And she already knew how to try something new.

That really was tempting.

Besides, he had never intended to turn Akemi Miyano down in the first place.

Devil Contract was shining brightly on the system panel.

That meant Akemi Miyano also had the potential to become his familiar.

"Since you've put it that way, I suppose I'll agree."

Lind spoke as though reluctantly giving in.

"Thank you, Mr. Devil."

Akemi Miyano smiled when she heard his answer.

Shiho Miyano also breathed a sigh of relief, happy for her sister.

"Then let me begin the reincarnation contract."

Lind raised his index finger, and wisps of golden blood emerged.

Akemi Miyano blinked. "Mr. Devil, are you hurt?"

"No, the contract simply requires my blood."

Lind explained, "Once I use my blood to leave a mark on your body, you'll be reincarnated as a devil and become my familiar."

"I see."

Akemi Miyano nodded and asked curiously, "Then what should I do next?"

A ritual that could reincarnate someone as a devil.

What would it actually be like?

"Take off your outer clothes first."

"..."

Akemi Miyano blinked, a flicker of astonishment crossing her eyes.

Take... take off my clothes?

I didn't mishear him, did I?

Was this reincarnation ritual really legitimate?

Shiho Miyano explained, "Don't get the wrong idea, Sis. Clothing can't cover the spot where Master leaves his mark."

"These are all perfectly normal steps."

Akemi Miyano's eyelid twitched at her sister's explanation.

She fell silent for a few seconds.

Then she removed her outer clothes, revealing her white undergarments.

She held the clothes against her chest, covering some of her soft, pink skin.

"I-is this all right?"

Akemi Miyano's pretty face flushed slightly.

This was the first time in her life she had appeared like this in front of a man.

Even though she had mentally prepared herself, it was still so embarrassing.

Lind looked her over, but still found something in the way. "Lower your arms a little."

Akemi Miyano took a breath and carefully lowered the clothes.

The movement set her two exaggerated curves bouncing a few times.

Seeing that, Lind hesitated no further. He extended his index finger and let his blood drip onto Akemi Miyano's fair skin.

Hum!

The glow of a magic circle appeared on the floor.

Pale golden light traced a heart-shaped pattern across her skin, and countless mysterious characters began to flicker.

Thump! Thump-thump!

At once, Akemi Miyano felt her body begin to change.

Her heartbeat quickened, her blood grew warmer, and every cell began to transform.

Then...

Lines of data became clearly visible on Akemi Miyano's skin.

[Akemi Miyano]

[Race: Devil]

[Master: Lind Lucifugus]

[Level: L9]

[Skills: Devil Gunner, Devil's Gun]

[Magic Gunner: A born magic gunner, capable of easily mastering any firearm ability.]

[Devil's Gun: Can convert magic into magic bullets and fire them through the Devil's Gun. The greater the user's proficiency with the magic, the faster the firing speed. Different forms provide varying degrees of enhancement to magic bullets.]

"It looks like the number of skills isn't fixed. It varies from familiar to familiar."

Lind glanced at the data and nodded in satisfaction, then took out a pen and paper to record it.

Beside him, Shiho Miyano blinked.

"Magic Gunner and Devil's Gun, huh?"

Sis actually had one more skill than I did, and they were well suited to combat.

Come to think of it, she really was a good shot.

In that case...

She should be able to get stronger very soon.

At that thought, a smile appeared on Shiho Miyano's lips.

After the reincarnation ritual ended...

Akemi Miyano stood dazed for a moment, then instinctively clenched her fists.

She could clearly feel that her strength had increased countless times over.

And...

She looked at the handgun floating in front of her.

It was pitch-black, with a lethal beauty to it and a pair of devil wings engraved on its grip.

"This is the Devil's Gun."

As Lind spoke, he handed her the data he had written down.

"What is this?"

Akemi Miyano accepted it instinctively.

"Your familiar status panel."

Lind gave her a brief explanation.

Understanding dawned on Akemi Miyano's face.

Was it something like the mechanics of an online game?

With that thought, she began to read.

L9?

According to Mr. Devil's explanation, that should still put me among the lowest-ranked devils.

Yet even at this level...

I felt so strong.

Akemi Miyano marveled for a moment before noticing her skills.

"Mastering firearms..."

As she read the Magic Gunner skill, a complicated look crossed her eyes.

Her days spent learning to use firearms in the Black Organization had been anything but pleasant.

Fortunately, now that I'd become a devil, I should be able to leave it behind for good.

Smiling, Akemi Miyano continued reading.

A moment later, her eyes lit up.

"I see. So this is the Devil's Gun?"

"Is this what supernatural power feels like?"

Akemi Miyano gripped the Devil's Gun, already unwilling to let it go.

"Master, when can you teach me magic?"

She raised her head, her eyes filled with anticipation and excitement.

She had also taken the opportunity to stop calling him Mr. Devil.

She knew how to adapt, didn't she?

Lind nodded in satisfaction and said, "Shiho has a basic magic book. Ask her for it."

"If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask her, too."

At his words, Akemi Miyano immediately ran excitedly toward Shiho Miyano.

Chapter 12: The Witch Vermouth

Lind looked away from the Miyano sisters, Shiho and Akemi.

Then he opened his own status panel.

[Lind Lucifugus]

[Race: Progenitor Devil]

[Level: L51]

[Authority: Progenitor Devil Transformation]

[Familiars: Grayfia, Shiho Miyano, Akemi Miyano.]

[Skills: Devil Contract, Demon Summoning, Infinite Magic Power, Magic Heart, Magic Gunner, Devil's Gun.]

There were no major changes to his status panel, only the addition of Akemi Miyano as a familiar.

He had also acquired two more skills: Magic Gunner and Devil's Gun.

As for this Magic Gunner skill...

Hum!

Light flashed in Lind's hand, and a pitch-black handgun appeared.