"Sure enough, being the parent of a reinator is the most dangerous job!"

  Looking at the familiar house from his memories, Ryuji couldn't help but sigh.

  The inal body's parents had met with an act during a trip, leaving Ryuji with only this house and nearly a million in savings.

  "At least the savings are enough to get me through college."

  He smiled.

  "Not bad!"

  At least it was better than having nothing.

  Taking advantage of the quiet moment, Ryuji took the opportunity to assess his current dition.

  "I don't feel hungry at all. In fact, I feel pretty full. It seems that this soul-dev ability requires a digestion process!"

  Not only that, but during the digestion process, Ryuji could feel his strength gradually increasing.

  "I guess as my strength improves, the speed of digestion and the number of spirits I devour will also increase."

  It made sense. No matter how powerful the ability, it still required a process of leveling up.

  Nothing happens ht.

  Once digestion is plete, I tio devour spirits. There are plenty of weird creatures in Yotsuya Miko's world, even some disguised as gods. If I swallow them, my strength would improve signifitly.

  Ryuji grio himself.

  "This is gettiing. I might eveting a little greedy…"

  But he reminded himself to be patient.

  His soul-dev ability was a rare, powerful skill. The power it could bring was limitless, as long as he kept dev. Sooner or ter, he would bee truly invincible.

  "Ha! Who needs beef when I devour spirits?"

  …

  The m, after waking up, Ryuji found that the feeling of fullness had pletely disappeared, indig that the digestion process was over. He looked at his refle in the mirror, admiring the sharper lines of his muscles and the lighter feeling in his body.

  He nodded in satisfa.

  After pag his things, he headed out.

  Since he could unlock talents fronists, it was only logical for him to attend school himself. He had no idea what other opportunities might await.

  As soon as he stepped out the door, he saw Yotsuya Miko walking toward him.

  "Good m," he called out, intending to greet her.

  But something was off Yotsuya Miko didn't look like herself. Her head was down, and she walked in silence, clearly troubled. Beside her was a strange figure, a spirit lingering around her.

  " you see me? you see me?"

  The eerie voice of the spirit repeated itself.

  Good grief, Ryuji thought. Being the protagonist must be tough, getting harassed by these weird spirits first thing in the m.

  "Hoshino kun!"

  Notig him, Yotsuya Miko raised her head, her golden eyes brimming with tears as if she might break down at any moment.

  She had thought her house was a safe space, but st night, yet another spirit had appeared at home, preventing her from getting any sleep.

  Now, seeing Ryuji felt like a miracle, like she had finally found a savior.

  "Leave it to me!" Ryuji said, giving her a reassuring smile.

  Just in time he had finished digesting the spirit from yesterday.

  " you see me? you see me?"

  The spirit tis eerie t, still lingering around Yotsuya Miko, oblivious to the da was in.

  "Yeah, I see you."

  "???"

  The sudden response from Ryuji made the spirit freeze in surprise. It turned around to face him, its eyes quickly morphing into something ferociously sinister.

  "Kill."

  Knowing that it had been spotted, the spirit immediately tried to attack.

  "Soul Devourer!"

  In an instant, the space behind Ryuji twisted, and a crack appeared. s shot out from the crack, ing tightly around the spirit and dragging it into the abyss.

  This time, the spirit didn't even have a ce tle. Uhe one from yesterday, this one was swallowed whole without resistance.

  "Burp!"

  Ryuji let out a burp, patting his stomach with a satisfied grin.

  Having dohis once before, he was already being skilled at using his ability.

  "I'm full!" He chuckled, watg the space behind him return to normal.

  Uhe st time, this time he felt just right not too full, but pletely satisfied.

  "Thank you! Thank you, Hoshino-kun!"

  Yotsuya Miko's eyes sparkled with gratitude and admiration, almost as if she were worshipping him.

  She had spent the entire night hoping she might awaken some sort of special ability. But after a full night , Yotsuya Miko had to accept the disappointiy that her only talent was being able to see these spirits. Other than that, she owerless.

  "It's nothing," Ryuji replied casually. "Besides, helping you also helps me get stronger."

  "You don't have to be so formal. Just call me Ryuji."

  Yotsuya Miko blushed slightly. Calling someone by their first name was a sign of closeness.

  "Then… Ryuji-kun," she said shyly. "You call me Miko."

  Hearing her say that, Ryuji noticed her face turning redder. However, the warmth ione didn't feel awkward it was as if using first names made her happy.

  "Alright, let's head to siko. It's getting te."

  "Mm!"

  ...

  Miko wasn't usually this quiet, but she hadn't slept well the night before. Her mood was uandably low, and she seemed a bit sluggish.

  But when she was with Ryuji, she made an effort to start versations.

  "So… do you have monsters like that around your house too?"

  Ryuji already khe answer from watg the anime, but he still asked, pretending to be curious.

  "Yeah!"

  Miko nodded quickly. "I see them all the time! Even when I'm in bed or ihroom."

  "No wonder you didn't get any sleep st night."

  "Bathroom?" Ryuji raised an eyebrow and g her pyfully.

  Miko, feeling flustered under his gaze, quickly expined with her face turning bright red.

  "I-I didn't take a shower st night, but I don't smell, okay?!"

  She lowered her head and sniffed herself, vihat she still smelled pleasant.

  "I didn't say anything," Ryuji said with an amused smile.

  "But," he added with a grin, "if you want to take a bath and finally get some sleep, I'll e over tonight to help you out."

  "Really? Is that okay?" Miko's face lit up with surprise aement.

  In fact, she had been too embarrassed to ask for his help. They had only just met after all.

  Now that Ryuji had offered, she was thrilled.

  "Of course, it's no problem."

  "Besides, Miko is so beautiful. If I keep helping her like this, maybe I'll win her heart!"

  He joked inwardly, but iy, it would also make things easier for him. Knowing the exact location of the spirits would allow him to swallow them more effitly.