The return trip to the refuge was, once again, a vertiginous experience for the dancer. The incubus—accustomed to being direct and doing things in the most efficient and rapid way possible—chose the straightest route: the rooftops.

  Leaping from one rooftop to another with supernatural grace, he carried the girl in his arms, holding her tightly—though it was hardly necessary, as she clung to his neck with a strength that belied her appearance. Her face was buried against his chest, doing everything in her power not to scream or to look at the world rushing violently around her.

  "I really don't think I'll ever get used to this," she managed to say, her voice trembling with fear and speed, tightening her grip around Devyus's neck until she nearly cut off his breath.

  He didn't complain. He simply adjusted his hold, making sure she was safe. After a few minutes, they reached their destination. As expected from his experience, the incubus's landing was gentle. He lowered the girl, who remained clinging to him, little by little.

  As her feet touched the solid, familiar rooftop of her building, Himika slowly loosened her grip, though it took her a moment—her legs were still shaking. Devyus set her down at precisely the right moment, staying alert in case she stumbled or her legs betrayed her.

  As if summoned by an invisible clock, the figures of the twins emerged from the shadows of the alley across from the building, materializing with elegance before the door to Himika's home at such speed that it seemed almost magical—arriving just in time, mere seconds before they might have been seen in his arms.

  "Onii-sama, we've returned," they said in unison, solemnly, with a slight bow of the head. Their posture was impeccable, but their feline eyes scanned the surroundings with suspicion.

  "Welcome back, little sisters—punctual as always. Very good work," the incubus replied, carefully maintaining a neutral, formal tone to avoid revealing anything about their outing. "Tell me, how did your shopping go?"

  "We found many offers, Onii-sama, and obtained some things that will surely be to your liking," Katherine answered, careful not to sound too obvious.

  "Welcome back. I hope you found clothes you liked. So then… what did you buy?" Himika asked, having caught her breath and trying to sound friendly, pointing at their empty hands.

  The trio looked at her, slightly relieved that the lie had worked so well and that Katherine's answer passed unnoticed.

  "The clothing we found proved inefficient for our tastes," Katherine declared, adjusting her glasses. Her tone was analytical, cold.

  "Besides, the attire from our village has far better colors and superior details," added the older twin, crossing her arms and casting a look of clear disapproval at the dancer's simple dress.

  "Yes, I understand. It's been a long time since I've seen beautiful things in shops," Himika murmured, averting her gaze and offering a small smile. A pang of discomfort ran through her. "I… I need to hurry to work." She spoke quickly, opened the door, and slipped inside, sparing them from seeing her embarrassment and leaving the three siblings outside.

  "The way she spoke and her attitude caught my attention," Katherine remarked as she watched the girl enter her home, then turned to her brother with a serious look. "Also, her outfit is very different from what she was wearing this morning."

  The older sister, always trusting the younger twin's analytical mind, observed her brother closely, beginning to connect a few dots.

  "You two just make her nervous. It's nothing," the former lord lied, anticipating his sister's sharp perception and avoiding at all costs letting her know about the shop. "We came back because her previous outfit got dirty. That's all."

  Both of their gazes drilled into their brother, but finding nothing overtly alarming, they decided to drop the matter.

  "Sorry for leaving you alone," Himika said hurriedly. She had changed once more into a similar outfit to the one she had lost, and a new black trench coat now concealed her skin. "Eat whatever you want and rest without worry—you're at home here. I'll be back as soon as I can."

  Before she could say anything else, the incubus swept her into his arms and, ignoring her protest and fear of what was about to happen, leapt toward the alley with her. He set her down gently on the sidewalk.

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  "Have a good day," Devyus said before jumping back up toward the rooftop.

  They waited in silence, motionless like statues, until Mina's hurried footsteps faded down the street. Only then did the brother open the door, and the three of them entered the small apartment.

  "Give me a detailed report of what you obtained," Devyus ordered, taking a seat at the central table as his sisters covered the windows with makeshift curtains Himika had left behind.

  A whisper of energy rippled through the room. The three of them abandoned their human forms, revealing their true demonic appearances: crimson skin, glowing feline eyes, and in Devyus's case, a tail that swayed impatiently. In that private space, it was infinitely more comfortable for them.

  "We had to break several bones!" Catherine declared, cracking her knuckles with a feral smile that bared her sharp fangs as she sat near her brother. "But we avoided fatalities, just as you ordered, Onii-sama!"

  "Onee-sama speaks the truth," corroborated the cobalt-haired twin, her calm voice contrasting with her sister's energy. She placed a tablet on the table. "We kept fatalities at 0%. It wasn't easy, but we assumed you didn't want to draw attention, Onii-sama." Her fingers—now tipped with fine claws—slid across the screen. "Also, our contact in Hinata-soul confirmed that most of the Guardian Captains are stable and have gathered at the Fourth Squad's laboratory, where they're using all their resources to try to locate us. Best of all, they've overlooked the most obvious signal, and for now there's no suspicion that we're in this location. Coming to this nation was the right choice. The residual technological energy emitted by the city—though faint—masks the spiritual energy we might accidentally release."

  She paused, displaying a complex graph. "However, my analysis indicates that it would be ideal to rely solely on physical power, just as you instructed at the safe house. Fortunately for us, our regeneration emits a minimal energy signature. Slavy's tracking signal has not fluctuated significantly in this city's data over the past few days. So it's official—we are completely camouflaged."

  "Good," Devyus replied, his tail tapping softly against the chair leg, relieved to hear that regeneration wouldn't compromise their concealment—especially after the alley incident. "While it's ideal to maintain this state for a while, it's better to keep moving and secure the resources to leave for another plane. Something strange is happening in this city. And based on what our source told us, it's best to stay here and investigate thoroughly to complete our objective."

  "We found some leads, Onii-sama!" interrupted the emerald-haired twin excitedly. "It seems that tonight, at the city docks, powerful figures are going to gather in one of the warehouses. Something big is arriving on a cargo ship—and it'll be guarded by several heavy patrols!"

  "Some of the 'rats' we interrogated mentioned that the cargo was unusual," Katherine continued, cold as steel. "And those aren't the only rumors. They speak of a 'monster' stalking the alleys, and of several disappearances in low-end bars. Despite the apparent randomness, a quick analysis of the collected data shows a pattern—one that appears systematic."

  The demon rose, his amethyst eyes gleaming with interest. "Then we'll use the rumors to our advantage. We'll exploit the monster angle for our investigation." He paced the small room. "Though I would really like to avoid anyone seeing our faces… we've already drawn too much attention." He sighed, frustrated. "I don't know how to do it without exposing ourselves."

  The twins exchanged a look, slow smiles spreading across their faces, thick with complicity. Then they turned their gaze back to their older brother, their expressions mirroring a shared idea.

  "Onii-sama," Katherine said, a hint of mystery in her voice. "We believe we have a solution."

  ? 2025 D.S.V.

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