"Even if things are painful and tough, people should appreciate what it means to be alive at all."

  — Yato, Nami

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  "Why, Rika? We came here specifically to save you!" Shizuka asked, bewildered.

  Rika gave a bitter ugh and revealed her ankle.

  It was a bloody mess, clearly the result of a zombie bite.

  "No way!" Shizuka gasped.

  "So, you should leave. I was about to end it all before you arrived..." Rika trailed off, then looked at Shizuka. "But being able to see you o time...that's enough."

  Shizuka panicked, seeing Rika like this. Then, as if remembering something, she turo Roy and g to his arm, pleading.

  "Roy-, please, you save Rika?"

  In Shizuka's eyes, Roy, capable of even reviving the dead, could surely handle a zombie virus.

  Roy had been Rika siheir arrival.

  With her long purple hair, tanned skin, and curvaceous figure, she was quite attractive, and still single, he noted. She might not possess Saeko's talent, but for Shizuka's sake, he decided to make her his servant.

  "Will you bey servant?" Roy asked Rika directly.

  Once she became his servant, a mere zombie virus would pose no threat.

  Rika stared, taken aback, then looked at the young man Shizuka was ging to. Silvery-white hair, handsome, almost devilishly attractive features, and that unmistakable aura of nobility.

  She had never met anyone like him.

  "Rika, don't just stand there! Answer him!" Shizuka urged, seeing her friend's hesitation.

  "Heh, to think someone would fess to me just before I die," Rika chuckled, mistaking Roy's offer.

  "Alright, young man, I accept. Please take good care of Shizuka." She spoke as if deliveri words, pletely misuanding Roy's iion.

  Seeing her agreement, Roy wasted no time. He enveloped her in demoniergy, pulling her from the vehicle.

  Rika was bewildered, but the virus was rapidly reag her brain, clouding her sciousness.

  A blue magic circle appeared beh her feet.

  "By my name, Roy Lucifuge, I and you, Rika Minami, to bey servant, a devil, and be reborn as my [Pawn]!"

  A [Pawn] piece materialized, floating towards Rika and merging with her body.

  The [Pawn] piece, though seemingly the weakest, held hidden potential, capable of promoting to any other piece besides King when fag an oppo designated by its master.

  Rika, with her diverse bat experience from her time in the special forces, erfectly suited for the [Pawn] piece.

  Bathed in blue light, Rika transformed into a devil.

  She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze settling on Roy.

  "Rika Minami greets her Master," she said, kneeling respectfully on one knee.

  "Arise."

  "Rika! You're alright!" Shizuka cried, throwing her arms around Rika.

  "Yes," Rika replied, then whispered, "Tell me about our Master, Shizuka."

  "Saeko!" Roy called out to Saeko, who was busy cutting down the approag zombies.

  Hearing his voice, Saeko immediately returned.

  "You've worked hard, Saeko."

  "It was nothing, just my duty," Saeko replied with a slight blush, him a smile.

  "Let's rest for a while in that house over there," Roy suggested, gesturing towards a nearby building.

  The girls readily agreed.

  After clearing a room of zombies, they took turns freshening up.

  Once everyone was , they gathered in the living room.

  ...

  "Alice, would you like to bey servant?" Roy asked Alice Maresato with a smile.

  He had decided to return to the world of Kuoh Academy soon.

  Of those present, only Alice wasn't his servant, and he couldn't leave her alone. Moreover, he had noticed Alice's potential and decided to take her under his wing.

  "Huh? Like the big sisters?" Alice asked curiously.

  Though young, the ever-perceptive Aliderstood that this was a signifit decision.

  "Alice, don't you want to stay with y sisters? I'll protect you!" Shizuka chimed in.

  Shizuka and Alice had formed a close bond, with Alice often finding herself cradled in Shizuka's ample bosom. Roy often wondered if Alice might get suffocated, given Shizuka's tendency to rest her siderable weight on the small girl's head.

  Alice, already ined to agree, nodded without hesitation upon hearing Shizuka's words.

  "Yes, Roy-onii-, I accept!"

  With her sent, Roy immediately began the reination process.

  "By my name, Roy Lucifuge, I and you, Alice Maresato, to bey servant, a devil, and be reborn as my [Bishop]!"

  A [Bishop] piece materialized, floating towards Alid merging with her small body.

  A moment ter, a soft blue light enveloped her, and a pair of small devil wings sprouted from her back.

  With the reination plete, Shizuka scooped Alito a hug.

  "Alice is so adorable!" she excimed, nuzzling her face against Alice's, making the little girl giggle.

  "Alright, I've aplished everything I set out

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