Episode 9

As I walked down the hallway I’d seen many times in the game, a mixture of nervousness and excitement steadily built in my chest. I was about to meet Michael and Lucifer, two characters who had an overwhelming presence even as side characters in the main story.

They weren’t allies of the protagonist, but they had frequent interactions with him. In this eroge, the protagonist could choose between the angel or demon factions. Michael and Lucifer were like the guide characters for each respective side.

I loved both Michael and Lucifer, but… they were both ruthless toward anyone they considered an enemy. I could only hope that they didn’t see me as one.

Before long, we arrived at a door.

“This is Michael-sama’s room.”

“…I see.”

Though I had seen this scene countless times in the game, I maintained the air of someone experiencing it for the first time. Seraph knocked. And a calm, familiar voice responded from the other side. Seraph slowly opened the door.

Once inside, a luxurious room spread out before me. A chandelier hung from the high ceiling, casting a soft glow, and beautiful paintings adorned the walls. At the center was a large table. And sitting there was Michael, with her translucent blue hair and clear blue eyes.

She wore a pure white dress, and her entire presence radiated a sense of purity and elegance. Her gentle, loving expression was enough to put anyone at ease.

Michael set her teacup down on the table and smiled warmly. That maternal aura, the kindness in her smile—it was impossible not to feel excited standing before her, the character who had helped me so much in the game. And the sight of her overwhelming chest, even through her clothes, was beyond breathtaking. It made me want to bow down and thank her for such a blessing.

I had to keep myself from fainting… Breathe, deep breaths, I need to stay calm. Wait, the room smells like Michael-sama… actually, I might not be able to calm down after all.

…Stay cool. I have to stay cool, or I’ll be labeled a weirdo.

…Though I was practically vibrating with excitement at seeing the real Michael right in front of me, I kept my expression in check.

Across from Michael sat Lucifer, with her fiery red hair and eyes, dressed in a gothic-style black and red dress. Unlike Michael, Lucifer sat deep into the sofa with her legs crossed. I’d heard rumors that countless men felt the urge to kneel at the sight of her beautiful legs… and I was no exception.

Lucifer’s expression carried a sharpness that made her feel overwhelmingly powerful. 

Several human guards stood around them, their postures tense. They were likely contractors from Michael’s and Lucifer’s respective factions. However, neither Michael nor Lucifer seemed to pay much attention to their presence, welcoming us with a natural ease.

“I’m glad to see your injury has healed, Takigawa-kun,” 

Michael said with a soft smile. Her gentle, soothing voice felt as though it was being whispered right into my ear. The moment she called my name, a wave of euphoria washed over me. But I kept my composure and bowed my head.

“…Thank you for healing me.”

“No, don’t mention it. You helped Seraph. Honestly, we should be the ones thanking you. Thank you so much.”

At least for now, I didn’t feel any hostility from Michael.

…As I let out a quiet sigh of relief, Lucifer turned her gaze toward me.

“Looks like Luminous owes you too. Thanks for that… but there’s something I need to ask you,” 

Lucifer said, a confident smile creeping across her face.

I could more or less guess what was coming next.

“Why is it that you were able to make contracts with both angels and demons?” 

For now, I didn’t sense any hostility from Lucifer either. But I knew her cold side all too well. And just being under her gaze made my spine straighten involuntarily.

“Takigawa Yuma, right?” 

“Yes.”

“First, do you know the basics about what a ‘Soul Binder’ is?” 

The term “Soul Binder” refers to a person who has formed a contract with either an angel or a demon. In terms of the terminology of this world, I usually leave all that edgy, chūnibyō stuff to Yaminagi Koku’en… real name, Daiki Tanaka.

A Soul Binder is a human who has formed a contract with either an angel or a demon. Of course, this is common knowledge even for elementary school kids in this world. So it’s not strange for me to know it. I nodded.

“Yes, of course. It’s referring to people who have made contracts with angels or demons, right?”

“Good. The contract itself isn’t the issue. There are two problems. First, the fact that you, a lower-tier human, were able to form a contract in the first place. And second, that you managed to contract with both an angel and a demon. Those two things don’t add up. So, do you have any idea why this might be?” 

Lucifer tilted her head as she asked, not so much interrogating me as genuinely curious. Michael nodded along in agreement with Lucifer.

“Like Lucifer said, this is an extremely rare case. After I heard you were able to make a contract, I had some of my lower-tier angels try, but none of them were successful,” 

Michael said, looking troubled. 

Lucifer slouched deeper into the sofa, waving her hand as she continued. 

“Same here. I haven’t tested it with every lower-tier demon yet. But we tried what we could, and no one could do it. Not to mention, it’s unheard of for someone who’s already contracted with a demon to then make a contract with an angel.” 

Which is probably why they were asking me directly. 

Regarding my contract… As one of the game’s developers, I had a pretty good idea of the answer they were looking for.

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