On the way back, Lin Mu looked at his own palm, a complicated feeling in his heart as he felt the energy surging within his body.
All this time, he hadn't had a real sense of his identity as a demon. He thought it was just a golden finger that came with his reincarnation. But today, for the sake of magic power, he had taken three lives without blinking an eye. This indifference to life was indeed something only a demon would possess.
Of course, Lin Mu wasn't going to exhaust himself with internal conflict over three scumbags. If he could turn back time, he would still choose to kill Endo and his friends for the sake of power.
Why were those three red-named? The reason was simple. A red name represented a sinful soul. It proved that besides blackmailing Asada Shino, Endo and his friends had also committed some unforgivable deeds.
One point was worth noting. Endo seemed like just a petty delinquent, but how could he have so accurately investigated the details of the bank robbery Asada Shino encountered as a child, and so precisely found out the model of the handgun she used to kill the robber? Either he was a hacker who specialized in using such methods to steal information for blackmail, having committed many evil deeds, or Endo had someone powerful backing him, with connections at home or resources in the police department.
Well, no matter what resources Endo had, the guy would never be able to act arrogant again.
Eliminating three scumbags and crushing three sinful souls in exchange for abundant magic power, Lin Mu was very satisfied with this. Possessing this power also gave him an extra layer of security in this world. The flames he used just now to destroy the bodies were flames inherent to a demon, also known as hellfire. He had conjured them purely by instinct. That "Magician" constitution was likely also one of his talents as a demon, allowing him to cast magic better in the future.
...
Just as he arrived at the entrance of his apartment building, Lin Mu saw Aoyama Nanami struggling to carry a cardboard box up the stairs. The three of them all lived on the second floor. Seeing her two slender legs trembling as she walked, Lin Mu quickly put his own plastic bag aside and went up to lend a hand.
Aoyama Nanami felt the weight on her shoulder lighten considerably. When she looked back, her face immediately turned red. She seemed to feel embarrassed at being seen struggling with a box like this, but she still thanked him immediately. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it, we're neighbors. Let's get this up," Lin Mu replied with a smile. He continued to exert strength with his arms, and Aoyama instantly felt as if the weight of the box had vanished. She stopped feeling conflicted about his kindness and accepted it with a warm heart.
After helping her move the box to her door, Lin Mu waved at her, then went back to pick up his own plastic bag and enter his room.
Putting all the groceries in the fridge, Lin Mu felt a sense of accomplishment as he looked at the fully stocked refrigerator. The feeling of hoarding supplies was quite enjoyable.
Just as he was about to whip up something simple for dinner, the doorbell suddenly rang.
He opened it and looked with surprise at the petite and cute golden-haired girl before him. It was Shiina Mahiru!
"Shiina-san, is something the matter?" Although Lin Mu had a guess, he still asked. He couldn't just let her take the initiative. He had to provide a topic to allow the girl to continue the conversation.
Shiina Mahiru's cheeks were scorching hot. She was also very embarrassed to be coming to his door so proactively. But despite her shame, she still took out a bento box from behind her back, handed it to him, and said with a straight face, "Here. I accidentally made an extra portion for dinner. If you could help me finish it, you'd really be doing me a big favor."
Lin Mu quickly took it, his gaze once again growing fiery as he looked at her. He had been thinking of helping her save money and wasn't planning to freeload a meal tonight. But unexpectedly, Little Angel Mahiru had still made him a bento.
"Um... I'm going back now. Take your time eating." Shiina Mahiru's delicate body trembled under his fervent gaze. Ashamed, she couldn't help but lower her head to avoid his eyes, then turned and quickly ran towards her own room.
"Thank you! I'll be sure to savor it!" Lin Mu's voice of thanks came from behind her, but Shiina Mahiru only ran faster.
Lin Mu watched her flustered retreating back, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Is there a need to run so fast? It's not like I'm going to eat you."
But still, Mahiru was really cute. What should I do? My heart is racing right now! What should I do if I want to bully... ah, no, reward her again?
Returning to his room, Lin Mu blissfully savored the dinner sent by Shiina Mahiru and washed the bento box clean. Should I, like yesterday, use the excuse of returning the bento box to ring her doorbell again?
As Lin Mu was thinking of wicked things, Shiina Mahiru was also sitting on the sofa in her room, nervously wringing her small hands. She was also conflicted. If that scoundrel used the excuse of returning the bento box to come over and hold her again, what should she do? She would refuse that kind of thing. In any case, she didn't want to let him have his way too easily. What if he didn't cherish her after he got what he wanted?
But, what if he didn't come over?
Right now, even she couldn't figure out whether she wanted him to come over or not. But one thing was certain. If he acted like a scoundrel again and forcefully held her, she would... probably offer a mix of resistance and acquiescence.
In truth, she didn't hate being close to him that much. In fact, her heart, which had been wounded by her parents, had been soothed by him more than once. Although he was very wicked and did that kind of thing to her, when he held her in his arms and stroked her little head, she was truly, incredibly moved.
As she was struggling with her thoughts, her phone suddenly rang. She looked down and saw it was a call from the very scoundrel she was thinking about.
Biting her lip, Shiina Mahiru still pressed the answer key and said nervously, "Um... this is Shiina. Please state your business."
Hearing her somewhat nervous voice, Lin Mu chuckled to himself. He said with a straight face, "Shiina-san, your bento was so delicious that I've already finished all of it."
"I've washed the bento box. May I bring it over to you now?"
Shiina Mahiru's heart tightened, and her cheeks couldn't help but turn red. This guy is just as I thought. He wants to use returning the bento box as an excuse to bully me again!
"No, you may not. I'm going to rest. You can give it back to me tomorrow."
"Alright then. Goodnight." Lin Mu replied in a dejected tone and then hung up the phone.
Listening to the dial tone, Shiina Mahiru's heart suddenly felt a little empty. She was the one who had rejected him, so why was she the one feeling a bit disappointed?
Sighing, Shiina Mahiru lay on her bed, breathing in the scent from the covers. Thinking of the passionate, earth-shattering night she had spent with him... her cheeks became scorching hot once again.