Starting from Zero to Build a Demon Family
Chapter 15 - The Spirit Demon Yotsuya Miko, Arrives!

Chapter 15: The Spirit Demon Yotsuya Miko, Arrives!

“Have you made your decision?”

Yotsuya Miko clenched her fists and gave a firm nod.

Lynn reminded her, his tone light but clear, “Once you become a demon, your life will belong to me. You’ll have to serve me for the rest of your days.”

Serve… serve… serve?!

Miko’s cheeks flushed with sudden heat. Her pupils trembled.

Here it is! The price of a deal with a demon!

She snuck a glance at Lynn. Well… it didn’t seem that hard to accept?

He was a demon, sure—but an incredibly handsome one. Besides, she’d already made up her mind. This wasn’t the time to hesitate.

“N-No problem.” Her voice stumbled with shyness despite her firm resolve. She couldn’t help it. He’d said something about serving, after all…

Lynn turned the demon chess piece in his hand, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Then let’s begin the reincarnation ceremony.”

“Ah—yes!” Miko straightened instinctively. Her nerves kicked in all at once.

What would a reincarnation ceremony even look like?

Oh—right!

She still needed to choose a location for it, didn’t she?

Glancing hurriedly down at herself, she began inspecting her body, trying to figure out which spot would be best.

Utaha, watching her, gave a knowing suggestion. “I’d recommend the back. From experience, it’s the best choice.”

Had Lynn not acted on his own, that’s probably the spot she would’ve chosen.

Lynn gave a small nod of agreement. After leaving his mark on Utaha, he could understand why the gods in DanMachi etched their blessings onto the back.

“Alright, we’ll go with the back.”

Miko nodded quickly at the suggestion and blinked. “Then…?”

Lynn gave her a warm, almost too-innocent smile. “Take off your top.”

“Eh? Eh—ehhhh?!”

Her eyes went wide. Her face lit up red as she flailed in a mix of shock and panic. What was this situation? Were they already at the “offering” part of the ritual?!

She wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment!

Miko’s thoughts spiraled in chaos.

Utaha smacked a hand to her forehead. She knew it. Miko had completely misunderstood.

“Relax,” Utaha interjected, exasperated. “It’s just your back. That’s all.”

The words brought Miko back to her senses. She shut her eyes, inhaled deeply, then opened them again. Her face remained flushed, but she’d found her composure.

“I understand.”

She turned around slowly, facing away from Lynn, then removed her top. Clutching it in front of her, she shielded what she could, revealing only the smooth line of her pale back.

“D-Do I need to undo the strap too?”

Her voice trembled.

Exposing her back to a guy she’d just met—it was still incredibly embarrassing.

Lynn considered it for a moment. The strap might block his view. “Undo it.”

Miko stiffened but took another breath before reaching behind her.

Click—the clasp gave way, and the straps slipped from her shoulders.

If someone looked closely, they’d catch the faintest curve of cleavage, barely pressed between her arms.

But Lynn didn’t let her linger long. He pressed the demon chess piece against her back.

The cold contact made her flinch.

Like ripples spreading across a still lake, the chess piece slowly sank into her skin.

Thump!

Her pupils widened. The beat of her heart echoed loudly through the room.

Something was surging forth!

Lines of glowing data shimmered into view along her back.

[Yotsuya Miko]

[Lesser Demon]

[Race: Demon]

[Master: Lynn Waliver]

[Strength: i0]

[Agility: i0]

[Endurance: i0]

[Magic: i0]

[Innate Skills:

-Yin-Yang Eyes

Spirit Vision

Increased Magic Growth Rate

-Spirit Summoning Demon

Special Attack vs. Spirit-type Creatures

Forced Spirit Command

Spirit Devour

Demonization — Amplifies power by fully unleashing devoured spirits]

“A spirit-communicating demon, huh? Fits her perfectly,” Lynn mused, satisfied as he skimmed over the data and made a quick imprint for his records.

Second follower, secured. And once again, a special kind of demon.

Utaha leaned in to read over his shoulder.

“Spirit-Communicating Demon…” she murmured.

The skills were clearly more extensive than hers—but she wouldn’t admit that made her feel inferior. The Secretary Demon was strong too. Definitely not weaker than… well, not weaker than any other demon!

What really caught her attention was the skill listed above Spirit Summoning Demon.

That one hadn’t come from reincarnation—it had to be Miko’s own.

Yin-Yang Eyes.

Meanwhile, her own only came from becoming a Secretary Demon.

A soft sigh stirred in her chest. She really was someone with more innate talent. But when Utaha saw the smile tugging at Lynn’s lips, she let go of the thought. After all, she was the one who brought this girl to him.

In a way… she had helped him. Right?

Thinking of this, Utaha’s mood lightened as well.

The reincarnation ceremony had ended.

Yotsuya Miko stood still, dazed, her fingers curling into a tight fist. A warm, tingling power coursed through her body, far more potent than anything she had ever felt as a human. It hummed beneath her skin like quiet thunder. Her lower back and abdomen itched faintly, an odd sensation that tugged at her attention.

She suspected it might be wings—demon wings, like Lynn’s. Then there was the itch at her tailbone, persistent and strange.

Could it be… a demon’s tail?

“Be careful, your top’s about to slip off~”

Utaha’s voice drifted in like a breeze, cool and composed. She had noticed Yotsuya Miko so absorbed in the unfamiliar sensations that her top had begun to slide down her chest.

Ah!

Miko’s mind jolted. She grabbed her shirt in a panic, fumbling clumsily as she tried to dress herself properly.

Utaha sighed softly, stepped forward, and without a word, reached out. Click. The strap snapped into place with a gentle, practiced motion.

Once dressed, Miko’s cheeks flushed deep red. She lowered her head and gave a small bow.

“Thank you.”

Utaha merely waved it off. “From now on, we’re part of the same retinue. Helping each other is only natural.”

On the other side of the chamber, Lynn received a new set of prompts.

[Ding! You have acquired the retainer ‘Yotsuya Miko’!]

[Ding! Your retainer ‘Yotsuya Miko’ has been reborn as the special demon ‘Spirit Summoning Demon’!]

[Ding! You have obtained the skills ‘Yin-Yang Eyes’ and ‘Spirit Summoning Demon’!]

[Ding! Your power has increased!]