Dropping By

[Word Count: 2898]

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Standing confidently in front of the familiar laundromat, Leo placed his hands on his hips, a proud grin stretching across his face. His eyes gleamed with a hint of pride as he surveyed the establishment before him.

"So?" Leo inquired.

Cosmo's gaze remained fixed on the laundromat, her expression unimpressed. Her eyes lingered on the neon pink sign that proudly displayed the name "DOOMSHOP."

"Halloween..." Cosmo muttered under her breath, unable to hide her skepticism.

"Tch," Leo clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Everyone's a damn critic."

With an air of nonchalance, Leo casually slid his hands into his pockets and stepped into the laundromat, inviting Cosmo to follow.

"C'mon then," Leo beckoned.

As they entered, the interior of the laundromat unfolded before them. Rows of washing machines stood proudly in the center, their sleek design exuding a sense of efficiency. The walls were adorned with a line of dryers, perfectly arranged for maximum functionality. Unlike the somewhat neglected exterior, the inside of the laundromat boasted meticulous attention to detail, with no expense spared in its interior decoration.

"Oh great, the devil's child is back," an old voice dripping with sarcasm rang out from behind the counter, the old woman's words muffled by the glass window that separated her from Leo.

Leo directed an unimpressed stare at the woman behind the glass, his gaze unwavering.

"Glad you missed me, Hitoha," Leo replied, his voice tinged with monotony.

Turning to Cosmo, Leo shook his head in mock disappointment.

"Give someone a roof over their head, put food in their mouth, and put money in their pockets and this is how they treat you," Leo lamented, a feigned sadness evident in his tone.

"You brat!" Hitoha erupted, her voice carrying a mix of anger and resentment. "You're the reason my life got uprooted in the first place."

Leo continued to shake his head, his expression betraying his lack of concern. "You're still hung up on that?"

Hitoha glared at Leo through the glass window, her eyes burning with resentment.

"Anyways, Cosmo, this is Hitoha. Hitoha, meet Cosmo," Leo introduced the old woman to the Cosmos fiend, his voice tinged with an air of formality.

"You brought back a corpse?" Hitoha asked, her tone laced with a touch of disgust.

"Halloween!" Cosmo retorted, her voice filled with anger.

"Hall-" Before Hitoha could repeat Cosmo's words, Leo abruptly slapped the glass window, startling the old woman. Hitoha's glare intensified as Leo met her gaze with a bored expression.

"She's going to be working here. So, please, treat her with care and refrain from using any derogatory terms, and vice-versa," Leo said, his voice monotone. "I've got places to be, so I'll leave the two of you to get acquainted."

Having made his point, Leo swiftly exited the laundromat, leaving behind a sense of purpose as he embarked on his busy schedule.

"Halloween?" Cosmo asked, tilting her head with curiosity.

Letting out a resigned sigh, Hitoha got up from her chair and shuffled over to unlock the door separating the laundromat from the office, gesturing for Cosmo to step inside.

"There are rooms upstairs. Go pick one for yourself. The first door to the right is mine," Hitoha informed, taking a moment to lock the office door before she opened a drawer and retrieved a worn catalog. "None of the rooms have furnishings, so just pick out whatever you want from here."

With a nonchalant wave of her hand, Hitoha had given Cosmo all the necessary information, and she returned to her seat, picking up a newspaper she had put down earlier when Leo and Cosmo arrived.

Cosmo glanced at the catalog, her expression somewhat blank, before deciding to head upstairs to check out the available rooms.

"Halloween," Cosmo mumbled to herself, her mind filled with mixed emotions. She was grateful for Leo's support and the chance to have a place to stay, but the memories of her past life continued to weigh on her heart. Nevertheless, she ventured upstairs, determined to make the most of this new opportunity.

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Kishibe was driving home, the warm glow of the evening sun illuminating the streets before the streetlamps would flicker on. These past few days had taken unexpected turns, straying far from Kishibe's meticulously laid plans. The last thing he or anyone anticipated was his star pupil going rogue, ruthlessly eliminating fellow devil hunters, and absconding with a captive devil, vanishing without a trace.

Leo, brilliant and astute, had always displayed remarkable mental and physical capabilities, with untapped potential yet to be fully realized. Kishibe couldn't help but wonder why Leo had chosen this path. However, no matter how Kishibe examined the situation, he couldn't fathom the motives behind Leo's actions. He wasn't Leo, and the reasoning remained elusive.

Parking his car, Kishibe retrieved two bottles of booze from the trunk before making his way to his apartment. Drowning his thoughts in alcohol seemed like a more tempting prospect than dwelling on the perplexing puzzle that was Leo.

Unlocking his door, Kishibe stepped into his apartment but sensed a faint uneasiness, as if he were not alone.

Securing the door behind him, Kishibe discreetly stashed one of the bottles in a safe place, away from any potential danger.

As he walked into the living room, Kishibe's eyes widened in surprise when he spotted Leo, seemingly at ease, sitting casually on his couch, engrossed in sketching on a piece of paper.

Their eyes met, and an uncomfortable silence hung in the air, pregnant with unspoken words.

Before Kishibe could utter a single syllable, Leo raised the paper he had been working on, silently conveying his message.

The drawing depicted a self-portrait of Leo, accompanied by a text box that read, "She is listening."

It didn't take a genius to understand who he was referring to, Kishibe set his bottles of booze on the table and pulled out his knife.

Bringing a chair from the kitchen table, Kishibe positioned it in front of Leo, the glint of his knife pressed against his throat, and extended his hand, gesturing for the pen that Leo had been using.

Unfazed by the silent threat, Leo handed Kishibe his pen, their eyes locked in a tense exchange.

Taking the pen, Kishibe deftly flipped over the paper, revealing its blank backside, and began to write.

"Who do you work for?" Kishibe carefully inscribed the question.

Leo stared at the paper, contemplating its weighty inquiry, before silently requesting the return of his pen. Kishibe obliged, handing it back without hesitation.

Turning the paper back to his self-portrait, Leo added another text box below the image, penning his response.

"I answer to me."

The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken thoughts and unexplored depths. Kishibe leaned back in his chair, contemplating the profound weight of Leo's self-assertion.

After a moment of contemplation, Kishibe gestured for the pen again, and Leo obliged.

"Why?" Kishibe wrote down.

Kishibe offered the pen to Leo but he didn't take it.

"I think we both know why," Leo suddenly said.

Kishibe didn't react when Leo suddenly broke the silence after so long, instead looked at a nearby window.

"It took me a while, but I reinforced your apartment with the Glass Devil, the rooms should be completely silent," Leo answered Kishibe's unasked question.

"I see," Kishibe stated rubbing his stubble.

"In any case, what's up with you? You look haggard. Your hair is starting to go gray," Leo commented.

Pulling his knife away, Kishibe didn't reply to Leo's comments, instead asking a question of his own.

"What do you want?" Kishibe asked, monotone.

"At least let me butter you up first, geez," Leo said, stretching his back on Kishibe's couch. "I need your help going to hell."

Taking out his flask, Kishibe asked the obvious question. "Why?"

"I need to complete my Devil Contract," Leo answered simply. "I only made a contract with a part of it, and in exchange for letting me use its power, I have to reunite it with the rest of its body in hell."

A swig later, Kishibe looked at the ceiling before looking back at Leo. "No."

Leo didn't show a reaction to Kishibe's refusal. Instead, he looked at Kishibe blankly.

"If it's about sacrifices, it can be arranged," Leo negotiated.

Kishibe softly shook his head. "Which side are you on Leo; Devils or Humans?"

"Whichever side makes me the happiness," Leo answered without hesitation.

"And which side is that?" Kishibe inquired.

"Humans," Leo answered.

Kishibe gazed into Leo's eyes looking for any form of deceit.

"Then why kill the devil hunters two days ago?" Kishibe asked.

"I have my reasons," Leo said cryptically, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a folder, and lazily handing it to Kishibe.

Kishibe accepted the folder, his eyes fixed on Leo. He opened it slowly, reading its contents with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. The weight of Leo's words hung in the air.

Shifting through the folder, Kishibe stared at its contents blankly.

"What happened?" Kishibe asked not looking away from the folder.

"Ugh!" Leo's frustration echoed through his voice as he sat up, assuming a more composed posture.

"Listen to my gripes, Kishibe," Leo said, his tone almost childish. He snapped his fingers in front of Kishibe, momentarily breaking his focus on the folder. "So, it all started one year ago..."

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Back in the bustling laundromat, Hitoha's frustration filled the air as she poured out her grievances to Cosmo. The steady stream of complaints and exasperated sighs mingled with the clinking of teacups and the hum of washing machines. Cosmo, the picture of patience, listened intently.

"He just looks at me like he did nothing wrong, that damn demon child," Hitoha grumbled, her voice laced with a mixture of annoyance and resignation. Cosmo nodded empathetically, understanding the weight of Hitoha's words.

Rubbing her temples, Hitoha let out a frustrated sigh, the weariness of her encounters with Leo etched on her face. Her life had taken an unforeseen turn ever since their paths crossed, and she couldn't help but feel trapped in a downward spiral.

"That boy ain't right," Hitoha muttered.

Sipping from her teacup, Hitoha glanced at Cosmo, her gaze questioning and searching. It was clear that she wanted to know how Cosmo had become entangled with the enigmatic demon child.

"Halloween," Cosmo replied simply, her tone carrying a hint of mysterious resonance.

Hitoha blinked, her half-lidded eyes reflecting her lack of comprehension.

Without uttering a word, Cosmo rose from her seat. She rummaged through drawers until her searching fingers found a pen and paper. Settling back beside Hitoha, she began to write, her pen dancing across the page.

"We made a deal," the words formed on the paper, surprising Hitoha with their clarity. "He promised to keep someone I hold dear alive."

Hitoha scoffed, unable to fathom the notion that Leo, a harbinger of destruction, would uphold his end of the bargain. Doubt lingered in her eyes as she posed her question, her voice tinged with skepticism.

"Do you seriously think he'll keep his word?" Hitoha asked, her doubt palpable.

Cosmo simply shrugged, her silence speaks volumes. Undeterred, she resumed her writing, her words etching onto the paper with purpose and determination.

"Whether he does or doesn't, the person I care about is bound to die, regardless," Cosmo's pen penned the poignant truth.

The corners of Hitoha's expression softened imperceptibly, her stern grandmotherly facade cracking ever so slightly. She looked away, her voice barely audible as she muttered under her breath, "Whatever floats your boat." In that fleeting moment, beneath the layers of frustration and disbelief.

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Back in the confines of Kishibe's apartment, Leo animatedly gestured towards his thumb, his frustration palpable.

"...Then she fucking bit me, Kishibe! She fucking bit me!" Leo exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of exasperation and incredulity.

Kishibe maintained his deadpan expression, listening attentively as Leo recounted the tumultuous encounter with Makima. The absurdity of the situation hung in the air, leaving Kishibe at a loss for words.

"It only got worse from there," Leo continued, sinking deeper into the couch, his frustration seeping into his tone. "Personal space became null and void, and no matter how much I tried to distance myself, she seemed to take it as a challenge. I thought that by making it abundantly clear I wanted nothing to do with her, she'd finally get the hint and back off. But no, it only fueled her determination. And now, here we are."

Kishibe's eyebrows knitted together as he processed Leo's story. He had initially thought of Makima as a bit... eccentric, but the revelation of her predatory behavior left him dumbfounded.

"Anyways, We're getting off-topic, I won't be seeing Makima in a long while," Leo said, brushing off the topic, a hint of weariness in his voice. "Will you help me get to hell?"

Kishibe sighed as he got up from his chair and walked to the table where he left his other bottle of booze.

Cracking open the bottle, Kishibe took a long swig, savoring the bitter taste that momentarily numbed his thoughts.

Finally, he let out a sigh, the burden of his decision weighing heavily on his shoulders.

"Alright," Kishibe muttered.

Leo's face lit up with anticipation, his excitement barely contained. "Yes!"

Kishibe held up a hand, his gesture silencing Leo's jubilation.

"But," he interjected. "Before that, you'll make another contract with a devil."

Leo's eyebrow arched in curiosity and skepticism. "Another devil?"

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Standing in a dimly lit, rusty metal room, Leo found himself face to face with a grotesque yet intriguing sight. Before him lay a pulsating piece of flesh that seemed to possess a life of its own.

Unfazed by the eerie display, Leo arched an eyebrow and directed his question toward Kishibe, who stood by the doorframe, blocking the exit.

"What am I looking at?" Leo inquired, his gaze fixated on the pulsating paper.

Kishibe's steady voice filled the room. "The Contract Devil, or rather, a piece of it."

Curiosity piqued, and Leo couldn't resist the urge to interact with the peculiar entity. He reached out and prodded the squirming flesh, causing it to react in response.

"So, this is what you want me to make a contract with?" Leo asked, seeking confirmation from Kishibe, who nodded in response.

With a deep breath to steady himself, Leo placed his hand flat on top of the Contract Devil, bracing for the unsettling sensation that followed.

"Ɔ̵͙̬̪̙̲͔̙̰̣͊̒͗͌͋̾̄̈́̀͜͠ŏ̵̡̱̺̭̹̯̘̭͋̽̌͂̋̈́̎͘͜͜͝n̸̬͈͓̠͇̥̫̲̖͋͋̎̅͛͒̃̌̕͝ͅɈ̷̢͓̱̫͈̞̺̫̼͈͆̈́̽͆́͋̇́̄͠ɿ̷̼̟̣͍͚̥͓̜̰̌̀̎̿̀̄́͛͜͠͠ɒ̷̡̨͓̰̺͉̪̳̪̂̇̑̏̒͛̎̍͗̚͜ɔ̶̮̝̞͓̰̻̩̻̞̌̈͋͆̂̑͘̕͝͝ͅɈ̶̧̺̥̜̪̥͕̼̏̀̊̊̓̓̾̓̈́̆͜͜ ̷̢͇̹̟̜̹̳̻͖̤̈́͛̋͂͑̀̓̈̐͝Ⴇ̸̧̧̙̥̦͍̩͔̺́̅̃̆͋̃̏̍̀͘͜ɘ̴̨̥͓̹̝̤̤͓̹͋́̌̄́̓̈̂͑͝ͅv̸̝̼̗̖̪̝̝͙̫̰̋̏̈́̽̄̈́͊͘͠͠i̶͇̯̞̩̮͕͇̹̥̤̋̊̀̀̽̈́̀͂̀̕l̵̛̥̲̼͔̼̳͕̙̩̔̎͌̒̽̄͜͝͝͠.̶̢̦͓̫̠̤̘͕̗͕̎̍̓̑̀̄̃̈́̿͝," Leo uttered, his voice carrying a certain weight.

Kishibe's eyes widened as an inexplicable chill permeated the room, his understanding of Leo's words lost in the eerie ambiance. Yet, he could sense the gravity of the moment.

"⅃̵̨͍̰͔͔̜̩͕̤̥͗͂̿̈́͆͐͗̊͘̚ɘ̵̧͎̻̺̺̼͓̥̹̳̅̽͐̇̄̆̓̾̚͠Ɉ̵̡̛̯̳̹̺͈͚͚̰͌̑̑͋̅͐̋̃̾ͅ'̵̢͙̞̤͎͙͔͙͚̙̿͋̎̈́͛̈́̈́̿͛͝ƨ̶̛̱͉͎̝͍̟͕̲̩̄̓̓̀́̈́̋̆͒ͅ ̴̢̛̼̻͍̲̼͕͍̾̇͛̿͂͊̌͜͠͠ͅm̵̢̢̧̟̯̻̭͙͈͇͒̀͗̂̎̀̃̑́͘ɒ̶̨̗̲̜̣̤̫͇͍͕̅̓̓̇̈̆̋̽͘͝ʞ̶͍͖͈̯̼̻̭͇̼̮͆͋̍̃͛͒͂͆̔͝ɘ̶̨̨̪̲̱͙̗̩̤́̆͐̏͂͗̽͂́͠ͅ ̸̡̭̖͓̘͖̙͙̼̤̊̓̅͗͆̍̈́̏͝͠ɒ̴̛̟̘̞̙̬̻̠̻̹͉͊́̔͌̏͘͘͠͠ ̷̢̨̛̛̩̩͓̠͉̠͓͈̊̈̓̽̓̐̚͝ɔ̵̛̺̩͚̰̲͍͉̯̟͛͛̏͋̓͂͑̑̃ͅỏ̴͍̜̪̘̞̦̦̙̖͔͂̿͊͐̈́̐̇̇̒ņ̷̥͚͚̜̣̰̗͖̓̈́̇͒̄̒̾͘͘̚ͅɈ̶̛̛̻̫̩̠͎̝̖̭͓̪͆̂̾͒͌̅̄͝ɿ̴̙̳͚̘̮̩͚̠̠̆̑͗̓̈́̄̔̆̑͘ͅɒ̶̧̧̛̪͙͍͇̭̮̭͓͂̈́̍͒͗̈́̔̿̚ɔ̷̢̲͖̹̺͔͙̫͔̱͂̆͊͒̆̿̃͘͝͝Ɉ̴̨͓̘̘̳͓̪̹̝̜̇͛͌͋͌͌̽͂̆͠," Leo declared.

Following the familiar protocol, Leo whispered the terms of the contract.

"I̴̞͍͇͓̗̘̣̭͇̜͗̓͂̈́̀̊̉̈́̅̚ǹ̷͚̻̲̠̮̰̣̦͇̬͑̾̄̄̉͘͝͠͠ ̶̧̢̨̟͉̦̣͓̬̮͑̓̆̾͐͂̍̄̕̚ɘ̵̨̢̡̛̬̩̯͚̼̆͑̑̂̈́̀̏͋̔͜ͅx̵̲͔̩̦̥͙̼͚̫̓̈̄̍͆̓̑̈͘̕ͅɔ̶̧͎͔͎̦̮̳͖̫͋̒͛͛̍́̎̐͘̕͜ʜ̴̡͙̲͔̟̥̖̗̰̂͒̒̉̃͋̏̃͜͝͝ɒ̵̡͔̦̱͚̲̟̺̟̪̈́̓̈́̅̽̆͒̿̑͝n̷̨̨̛̮̠̫̦̖̖̮̹̈́͒͂͆̔̈́̽͠͝ϱ̷̢̞̝̟̘͎̤̯̫̆̈́̈́́̐̃̐́̌̇͜ɘ̶̧̛̗̣̖͓͍̘̮̝̭̍̄͛́̆̆̕͘͠ ̸̟̞͕̭̥̺͚̯̫͚̑͛̇͂̽̃̏̈́̕͠ʇ̸̡̧̺̝̞̺̯͓͖̘̉͗͒̇̅̍̇͐̔͋ǫ̵̧̛̟͖̺̩͖̹̩̝̓̾̊͋̄͐̃̃̓ɿ̷̞̳̱̜͕̞͈̞̳͓̄̿́͊͊̓̾̎̈͐ ̸̡̰̝͖̥̟͔̥̭̟͑͊̍̏̅̀̔̾͘͝ɿ̵̡̡̨͎̞̤͓̺͕̤̏̆͛̃͂̊̌̈́̓̚ɘ̴̗̹̣̪̫̬͕̲͙̰́̔̀͒̐̄́̂͘͝ʇ̶̧̟͍͚̥̥̣̲̹̞̑͒́̍̍̀̇̐̋͠o̷̥̳̝̗̙̰͙̠̩̜͆̀̅̎̈́͊̐̂̌̂ɿ̵̛̞̦̳̪̱̬̻̹͖̣̇͂̀̊͂͒̿̚͝m̶̡̡̠͚̙̠̬͕̥͌̾̄͆͌̌̅͗̆͜͝i̵̡͚͖̪̮̼͖̻̫̥̓͒͗̓̓̒̈́̀̎͝ņ̴̛̛̱̙̰̯̜̘͙̥͉̍̆̇̌̏̆͛̇ϱ̷̨̛̪͔̰͍̦̭̫̤̒̊̃͋͆̊̋̚͝ͅ ̴̢̫͚̣̰̲̼̭͎̩̽͛͌͌̓̾̉̔͝͠γ̶̦̙̺͔̗̗̦̘͐̂̀̀͊̎̒̓̎̏͜ͅo̶̫̫̥̻͓̗͔̱̺̗͒̔̉̓͐̈́̔͛͘̕υ̸̨̛̫͓͚͉̭̪͈̺̥̂̍͋̋͊̈́͐̌̚,̸̳̘̼̣̘̤͇̼̠̭̊̈́̇̽͑̎͂̓͘̚ ̵̢̝̙̮̰͓̞̯͙̘̎̇͆̏̄̾̄̓́̚l̷̠̞̣̥̖̬͇͚̥̩̄̈́̃̓̀̂̓̈́͘͝ɘ̴̧̢͔͇̥̦͎̫̱̞̔́̒̂́̔͒͗̊̃Ɉ̷̢͇̱̘̥̬͚͈͇̞͐̿̈̔͌̓́͛̈́͠ ̶̛̻͚̞̙̻͉̩̤͓̬́͐̒̉͋͌͑̕̕m̵̨̢̱̮̱̙͈̥̤̜̽͑̄̅̊͛̾̆͑̃ɘ̸̭̟̝̮̖̥̹̼̣̽̒̈̏͊̅̂̈͐̇ͅ ̴̢̦̞͖͍̳͍̝̙̲̏́̍̇̊͐́͂̕͘ῡ̴̧̛̗͈̹̯̝͙̬͖̒̓͛̇͗̏̕͠ͅƨ̴̧̖͈͈͓̯̦͈̻͚̾̀̅̊̔̆͐̇̏̿ɘ̶̨̲̠̻̭̖͉̼̻̰͐̈́͛̓͛̿̒̇̃̕ ̴̛̣͎̖̜̹̠̞̯̦͚̂̿̽̍͌̍̈̃͝γ̶̡̢͉̠͈̼̜͈̖̿̾̃̄͆̍͒̆́̕ͅô̶̧̳̜̗͎͖̝̮͎̺̂̒̃́̓̂̇͂̚υ̴̡̡̢̡̛͎̥͇̹̙͎̃̔̍̎̈́̇͒͐̀ɿ̴̡̧̦̝͓̟̘͍̱̠̅͑̾̈́̈́̋͐͛͘͠ ̷̧̲͕̣̲̪͖̤̫̀̇̉̃̀̆̋͗͝͠ͅq̴̨̫̞̩̭͙̤̭͕͈̃̅̂̌̓̀̂̚̚͝o̵̧̦͙̖̣̫͍̟̤͎̍͗͑̉͋̃͗͛̑̚w̶̡̡̛̫̹͍͉̩̻̞̭̋̂͋̾́̚͝͝͠ɘ̸̢̙͓̮̖̮̗͓̤͑͊̅̋̿̽̏̚̚͝ͅɿ̴̧̠̩̙̼̳̪̪͎̄̏́̾̌̿͂͆͌͝ͅ."

The Contract Devil parchment convulsed, its resistance apparent as the temperature in the room dropped drastically. But eventually, its movements ceased,

"Y̸̢̡̳̫̱̬̗̖̼͕̾̈́̈̉͗́́̐̒̕o̵̡̜̬̥̺̭̟̝̩̣̾̊̉̔͒̕͘̕̚͠υ̸̛͕̹̹̹̩̝̭̜̰͙͒̌̓̏̈́̂̐́͘'̵̟̼͔̬̲̣͔̗͔̼̇̊͆͒̈́̊͒͝͝͝l̶̡̥̩̟̙͙̥̥̜̀͆̈́̆̂̃̇͑̈͘͜l̶̢̗̳̠͈̫͕͚͚͉̽̐̇̋̎̊̍̋̌͝ ̴̧̠͈͇̣̰̣̻̘̪̔̆̽̑͗̋̇͊͌͠ḓ̷̢̢̣̠̮͔͇̬̗̈́̋͐̋̿̀̆̕͝͝ɘ̴̢̝̟̰̪͎̻̫̝̜͐̇̐̽́̈́̾̀͋͝ ̶̖͕̰͖̘̗̞̭̫̭̿̉̏͆̒̒̀̊͝͝ɿ̶̨̛̛͓̥̰͙̺͖̼̳̐̄̈́͋́͌̿̋ͅɘ̶̛̲͇̪͕̜̙̹̗̤͚̃̉͋̿̅͆̓͑͘ƨ̸̡̡̛͍̤̻̪̪͉̭͆́͗͑͊̈͘͝͠ͅi̶̡̨͎͖͓̗̤̻͕͊̀̄̍̅̽̏̃͛͛ͅb̸̢̛̠͇͕̪̬̣̗̲̅̋̾̃͆̈̍̈́̃͜i̸͍͖͍̯͔̤͎̙͈̽̅̌͒̏͗̐͛͘͘ͅn̵̛͈̝͉͕̭̣̣͕̰̰̈́͑͗̍̓̔̕̚͝ϱ̸̢͇̤̬̻̖̟̫̂̂̎͆̔̄́͜͝͠͝ͅ ̸̢̡̛̛̛̬̬̫̟̪͙͔̿̈́̅͌͋̈́͠ͅï̴̢̛͕̥̤̭͔̦̣͚͕̔̇̆̋̃͌̕͘ņ̵̲̪̩͇͔̪̫̯̀͑̽̈́͂͗̇̓̚͝ͅ ̵̻̜͍̘̫̯̣̼͐̌͌̇͊̓̒̆̂͘ͅͅm̷̨̤̭̫̯̭̣̠̾̀͛̑̄͑̒͆̄͜͝ͅγ̷̧̡̧̛̰̟͎͎̦̱͊͊̋̏̿̈́̋̚͘͜ ̸̧̪̻͍͙̠̠͇̯̐̾̃̓̀̿́̚͜͠͠d̶̨̛̖̯̰͔̼͓͉͔̲̃͗̐̃̈́͌̎͝͝l̵̜̟̳̩͖̲͎̰͇̈́̇͐͋̽̿̔̚̕͜͠ȯ̴̡̩̹̞͇̜̙̪͎̖́̋̒̉̓̀͘͘͠o̴̧̞̺̳͍͖̩̪͉̖͑̀͂̾̃̒͐̈́͘͠b̷̡̨̞̣̮͖̮͍̠̜͐̓̂̅͛̄̾̏͋̕,"

Leo declared, and the pulsating entity transformed into an amorphous goo that merged seamlessly with Leo's skin.

Kishibe observed in awe as the Contract Devil integrated into Leo's hand, his mind grappling with the implications of Leo's newfound abilities.

"So he can make contracts even with fragmented pieces of a devil," Kishibe contemplated, his initial doubts dissipating. "What did he say to forge a contract with it?"

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Kishibe approached Leo, his gaze fixed on the hand that had undergone such a profound transformation.

"So?" Kishibe inquired.

Leo's attention remained focused on his hand, his tone tinged with fascination. "I can now make miscellaneous contracts through blood pacts and modify existing ones."

Kishibe merely nodded.

"Let's make a contract," Kishibe declared, the dim lighting casting a shadow of menace upon him, a sight that amused Leo.

A mischievous smirk formed on Leo's lips as he extended his hand, gesturing for Kishibe to pass him the knife. "Sure."

Accepting the knife, Leo punctured his thumb, allowing his blood to flow. It quickly coalesced, taking the form of a bloody blank paper.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over Leo, causing him to place his free hand on his knee for support. "Alright, it's using my blood, that would've been helpful to know beforehand."

Taking a deep breath, Leo regained his composure.

"So, what kind of contract do you want to make?" Leo asked, his complexion paler than usual.

"In exchange for granting you access to the Hell Devil's power, you must continue your role as a devil hunter," Kishibe stated simply, his voice resolute.

Leo's confusion was evident as he stared at Kishibe, but he shrugged, seemingly unfazed. "Okay...?"

Handing the knife back to Kishibe, Leo instructed, "Prick yourself."

Kishibe pricked his thumb, allowing a drop of blood to fall onto the bloody paper. Instantly, words began to materialize, forming the terms of the established contract. Leo's name appeared first, followed by Kishibe's before the paper tore in half. One half returned to Leo's hand, while the other remained with Kishibe.

"Ugh," Leo grimaced at the sight, his distaste evident. Meanwhile, Kishibe remained indifferent to the unsettling display.

Shivering slightly, Leo brushed off his discomfort. "Alright, let's move on."

.

.

.

.

.

.

Seated cross-legged in the center of a room, Leo stifled a yawn as he observed the two blindfolded men before him. Their names were inconsequential; their purpose was to serve as Leo's passage to hell.

Footsteps echoed behind him, the distinct click of heels indicating the arrival of a woman. Leo shifted his gaze, catching a glimpse of her wielding a knife as she positioned herself behind the blindfolded men, ready to carry out her part.

"As above, so below. Hell Devil, I offer these lives in exchange for the damnation of this boy," the woman recited, slitting the men's throats with a swift, deliberate motion.

Leo regarded the woman's theatrics with a mix of boredom and detachment. As the room plunged into darkness, obscuring his vision, he closed his eyes, surrendering to the unknown.

When he opened his eyes once more, a vast expanse of grassy fields stretched before him. Above, where the sky should have been, were countless doors that seemed to defy reality.

"Well, I'll be damned," Leo muttered, his voice carrying a hint of both awe and sarcasm.