Dayana (1)

"Okay, I will stop joking," Dayana said after she saw Ley's expression becoming dark. "So, why did you bring your friends here, little Sylvia? Could it be that you want to introduce me to your boyfriend?"

"… Mom, please stop joking." Sylvia sighed in an exasperated tone. "Ley wanted to buy some clothes, so I thought of this place."

"Oh, really…" Dayana looked at Ley and her eyes sparkled. "I see, I see. Yes, I have a lot of beautiful clothes for a cute girl like her. Come with me."

Dayana stood up excitedly and pulled Sylvia and Ley with her.

I smiled wryly and followed them.

"Let's see, let's see. I remember we had a red dress around here. Yes, this one. Ley, try it. I'm sure it will go well with your hair."

"O-Okay…"

"Mm, but first, you should try this shirt and this skirt too. They should be your size. Yes, yes; they will look great on you too."

"I-I…"

"And this black dress. It looks like it was made for you. You will seem like a gothic princess. It's perfect."

"M-Mm…"

"As for the shoes… Natalia, bring out the shoes that came yesterday."

"Which ones, boss?"

"Every one. And bring the belts too. I remember seeing a few that fit Ley perfectly."

"Understood."

"Let's see… I should also bring out the pants that came from district 18." Dayana spoke to herself while looking at Ley up and down with an excited gaze.

"Mom, you are making Ley uncomfortable."

"What are you talking about? I'm sure Ley also wants to try these clothes, right?"

Ley could only nod awkwardly.

"See. By the way, Sylvia, you should try some clothes too. How about this hoodie?"

"Sigh, mom…"

"Yes, it's a good idea. Girls, bring out all the clothes that fit these two. They are going to try every one of them!"

"""Understood, boss!"""

Ley and Sylvia could only watch with helpless expressions as the workers brought piece after piece of clothes for them to try on.

I did not know whether to laugh or cry. I never thought Sylvia's mom would be this… enthusiastic.

Is this woman really a powerful powerhouse?

In the end, Ley and Sylvia could only brace themselves to try on the clothes and went to a dressing room.

I was a bit nervous, though. I don't think we can afford even the cheapest piece of clothes here.

"Don't worry about the price, child." Sylvia's mom said with a carefree expression. "It's the first time my girl brings friends home. Consider this my gift to you."

"… Is it really alright?" I could not help but ask. "These clothes are really expensive."

"People like us don't care about money." She chuckled. "But if you feel uncomfortable, then you can do something for me."

"Huh?"

"I hope you can treat Sylvia sincerely."

I was stunned.

"What do you mean?"

"Let me ask you something." She said and put on a serious expression. "Jane, what do you think of my daughter? Do you like her?"

I fell silent for an instant and shook my head.

"She is a friend."

"I see." She said and sighed. "However, you feel apprehensive about her, right? In fact, you feel apprehensive about me too."

I stiffened.

How…

"Don't look at me like that. Even though I look like this, I am pretty amazing." She said with a chuckle. "I have seen a lot of people in my life, so I can understand people easily even without reading minds or something like that."

Dayana then sighed and patted my shoulder.

"I can understand why you feel apprehensive. You are afraid of Sylvia discovering the secret you are hiding."

My heart trembled violently. For an instant, I felt as though everything about me had been seen by this woman.

"No need to be afraid. I have no interest in your secret." Dayana chuckled. "I can swear to you that no matter how big your secret is, I won't tell anyone or hurt you."

I fell silent.

Even if that is true, why should I believe it?

How can I trust someone I barely know?

Dayana seemed to understand my thoughts and smiled.

"Well, I guess it's not easy to trust someone you met for the first time."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize. I would have reacted the same way." Dayana let out a sigh. "How about this then? Why don't you reveal your secret to me? I promise I won't tell anyone."

I was stunned.

"… Are you serious?"

"I am. Once you reveal your secret, you will realize that I really don't care."

That is sophistry…

How can I reveal it just like that?

[Do it…] The demon suddenly spoke in my mind.

Huh?

The demon sighed and left my body. In the next second, a doll-sized human appeared on my shoulder.

He was not exactly human, though. Unlike normal humans, he had two small horns on his head, tanned skin, gray hair, and blood-red eyes.

More than a human, he looked like a demon.

When Dayana saw him, her eyes shrunk.

"… End." She muttered.

The demon was startled. [Do you know me?]

"I see… So you are not complete. You are just a fragment of your previous self."

The demon narrowed his eyes.

[As expected, you are not a normal Irregular. Perhaps, are you an Immortal?]

"Something like that." Dayana sighed and looked at me with a complicated expression. "I see, so that is what happened."

[I hope you don't interfere in my affairs.]

Dayana hesitated slightly before nodding.

"I won't interfere. Right now, I don't have a reason to." She then looked at me with a complex gaze. "I'm regretting asking you to treat my daughter sincerely. As the host of an Immortal trying to resurrect, you carry a very difficult fate, and if my daughter is close to you, she will be dragged into it. Sigh, in truth, I should make you disappear from my daughter's life."

I felt a shiver in my spine.

"… So, will you kill me?"

"I won't." She shook her head. "I don't want to make Sylvia sad, and even if it's dangerous, I can protect her… So be it. Perhaps it will be a good experience for her. Plus, who knows how everything will develop in the end?"

I fell silent. Right now, I was very confused.

'Demon, what is this fate she is talking about? Is it dangerous?'

[It is. As my host, that is a hurdle you will have to face one day. You will understand then.]

The demon then returned to my body, leaving me with a pensive expression.

I could not help but feel uncertain about the future.