Chapter 5

The interior of the company dormitory was a bit dusty since no one had been living there, but the chairs and wardrobes were of high quality.

“Not a bad room.”

“Indeed. I would prefer it if there were a skull placed somewhere, but other than that, it is a perfect score.”

“Y-you have unique taste…”

It seemed the values of a Succubus differed quite significantly from those of a human.

“Well, let’s start by cleaning this room. Can you give me a hand?”

“Rather, is it acceptable for me to let my Master do such work?”

I see… so a familiar does everything, including the cleaning. It’s not just about assisting with magic work.

“I’ll help too. Even if I’m just borrowing it, this is my home now.”

“Master, you are so kind. Then, I look forward to working with you.”

Suddenly, a mist-like substance enveloped Cerulia’s body. When the smoke cleared, there stood Cerulia in an apron, holding a broom.

“You can do that too…?”

“Magic of this level is simple.”

“Matter displacement…? If so, I’d say that’s pretty high-level magic…”

There were probably limitations, like only being able to summon her own belongings. Otherwise, one could make a fortune just running a transport business.

Now, I was all geared up to clean seriously, but—

My eyes kept drifting toward Cerulia, and I wasn’t making much progress.

From behind, it almost looked like she was wearing nothing but the apron. She was actually wearing clothes, so it wasn’t strictly indecent. It was my fault for finding it indecent. Wait, am I the one who’s weird?! Well, I’m an eighteen-year-old guy; I suppose it can’t be helped.

Living under the same roof with a girl like this was a form of torture for a guy my age.
Since she’s a Succubus, would she let me do… naughty things? Wait, wait, rumors say they drain your life force until you wither away…

I’d never been, but there were stories that illegal shops run by Succubus existed in the Capital’s entertainment district. They say if you go too often, it’ll cost you your life. Again, just rumors! I’ve never actually been!

Ah, no, no. I’m having way too many ulterior motives toward my roommate.

I need to stay calm and handle this like a gentleman!

“Oh, Master! I’ve finished the cleaning! ♪”

Before I knew it, the room had become so clean it looked like it had been renovated.

“I learned cleaning techniques at a school in the Underworld. Also, Succubus who can fly are apparently very efficient at cleaning! ♪”

Having shown off her skills, Cerulia looked a little proud of herself.

Cerulia, you are a literal angel! Well, technically a demon, but still!

Ah, I’m pathetic for thinking such lewd things about such a good girl… My heart is tainted. Wait, is that actually a good thing for a Dark Mage? I’m starting to get confused.

“Thanks, that was a huge help. Now the living environment is perfect.”

“Then, next is ‘food,’ isn’t it?”

True, there was no way an empty dorm would have food stocked.

“Alright, let’s go shopping in the Capital!”

●

Note: I went shopping alone.

The reason was obvious. If I brought Cerulia into the Capital, she would stand out like a sore thumb. While I didn’t think there were laws against bringing a familiar, it would probably violate some public indecency codes, and it just wouldn’t be good.

“Yo, isn’t that Franz?”

I turned around to find my classmate, Raymond, standing there with an arrogant look on his face. This was the guy who got a job offer before me, despite having worse grades. Well, since I didn’t get one until a month before graduation, almost every student got one before me. I didn’t like him much because he’s the type to look down on others.

“So, Franz, did you ever get a job offer?”

See? He specifically asked that because he assumed I’d failed my job hunt.

“Actually, I just managed to slide in and get one before graduation.”

Yeah, literally today.

“Oh… is that so…”

His face visibly soured. Hey, at least pretend to be happy for me!

“Where’s the offer from?”

“It’s a company in the Dark Magic industry.”

At that, Raymond’s face turned triumphant again. What a simple guy.

“Whoa, hold on. Dark Magic isn’t exactly ‘in’ these days! Old men talk about the ‘withdrawal of youth from Dark Magic,’ but the truth is it’s just the ’3D’ industry— Dirty, Disgusting and Dangerous!”

Yeah, to be honest, I used to think so too.

“I bet the pay is garbage and the company is ‘black’ (exploitative), right? You should switch to a White Magic job before your mental health breaks.”

“Actually, the salary is about double the market rate for White Magic.”

Once again, Raymond looked annoyed. Your future employer isn’t a famous company, so I’m definitely making more than you. Stop trying to flex on me with such petty things. If you act high and mighty when your own position is shaky, it’ll come back to bite you.

“I see… By the way, do you have a girlfriend?”

As he said that, Raymond glanced to his side. There was a girl there with slightly heavy makeup—likely a junior from the magic school. Now that I mentioned it, she’d been standing there for a while, seemingly waiting for him.

“This is my girlfriend, Layla. We started dating last month.”

“Oh, hello~ ☆ I’m Layla! ☆”

Judging by her looks, she seemed like the type who liked to party. I suspected neither she nor Raymond were truly serious about each other. My evidence? The timing. They started dating right after Raymond landed his job offer.

I figured she calculated that once her boyfriend was a working professional, he could buy her things, and having an older boyfriend would let her flex on other girls with student boyfriends.

Of course, it could be true love, but that bag of hers must have been incredibly expensive. For a student to have that, she’d either need rich parents or—more likely—Raymond bought it for her.

Still, in the girlfriend department, I lost. You can’t beat someone with “none.”

“Good for you. I’m still extending my record of having no girlfriend.”

“Well, maybe you’ll find one at your Dark Magic company? Though it might just be a bunch of shriveled-up old people.”

Actually, that’s not true at all… The President is a beautiful girl, for starters. Man, the Dark Magic industry really is fighting an uphill battle against prejudice.

Anyway, now that I’d tasted defeat, I’d better finish my shopping and—

“Ah, there you are! Master, I’ve been looking for you!”

It was Cerulia. She placed both hands on my back, signaling her arrival.

“Wait, didn’t I tell you to stay at the house…?”

“I’m sorry… but I felt so lonely being left by myself that I followed you…”

Cerulia looked down with a sad expression. I panicked and tried to fix it: “Sorry, I didn’t realize! I wasn’t trying to scold you!”

On the other hand, Raymond had frozen in place.

“Wait… isn’t that a Succubus…?”

“I am Cerulia, and I serve as Master’s familiar.”

Cerulia gave Raymond and his girlfriend a polite little bow.

Ah, I could see “I lost” written all over Raymond’s face. Don’t try to use your girlfriend’s face to win a fight, I thought—but honestly, if beauty were a numerical stat, Cerulia would win by a landslide.

It wasn’t that Layla was unattractive, but Cerulia was just too beautiful—even for a Succubus. Plus, because her features were actually quite refined and elegant, she was exactly the type that guys who aren’t used to women fall for.

I don’t know much about makeup, but maintaining this much beauty with almost none (presumably) would be incredibly difficult for a human woman.

“Hey! Raymond! Why do you look like you just lost?!”

His girlfriend was pissed. And rightfully so.

“S-sorry!”

“You better buy me something or I’m not letting this go!”

Layla dragged Raymond away as they made their exit.

“I felt like something unpleasant was happening to you, Master, so I quite literally flew here,” Cerulia said with a mischievous giggle.

“I see. So saying you were ‘lonely’ was just an excuse to come help me…”

I was genuinely happy.

“Cerulia, you really are too good a girl! A literal angel!”

“I am a demon, not an angel, you know.”

Cerulia and I shared a little laugh together.