Chapter 6 – Jealousy, Takoyaki, and the Shadow of Underworld

A week passed since the chaos of the festival. For Sentou Kaji, life had returned to a strange kind of normal.

Normal… except for the punishment.

“Twenty-four hours shift. With Claire.” The manager had declared sternly.

Sentou shrugged. “As long as my pay isn’t cut, whatever.”

Claire, standing beside him, clenched her fists. “Why do I have to suffer with this idiot?!”

Thus began their grueling routine. Day after day, Sentou cooked with ease while Claire stumbled, dropped trays, and snapped at customers who dared to smile too long at her. Yet despite the chaos, the restaurant thrived.

Far away, Clara seethed with frustration. The memory of her defeat burned like fire.

“I won’t let him slip away again.”

But before she could act, a sealed letter arrived—bearing the crest of the Witch Kingdom.

“Clara Laradam, you are hereby warned. Do not engage the banished sorcerer Sentou Kaji. Any reckless move may spark conflict beyond control.”

Clara’s hands trembled. She crumpled the letter.
“Those cowards… they must have been bribed by him. But no matter. I’ll find my own way.”

Back at the city, Sentou’s suspicious routine caught someone’s attention. Every evening, he packed food and disappeared.

Claire narrowed her eyes. “What’s he up to…?”

Curiosity won. One night, she followed him quietly through the streets, her footsteps light as a whisper.

She gasped when she saw where he went—a quiet shrine on the hill. There, the shrine maiden Hoshimiya Rei awaited. Sentou handed her a box with his usual bluntness.

“Here. Takoyaki. Freshly made.”

Rei smiled softly. “Thank you, Kaji-kun. You never forget.”

And then… Claire saw it. Sentou’s cheeks, faintly red.

Her heart skipped.
“W-what is this feeling? Am I… jealous?!” She slapped her cheeks. “No, no, impossible! I can’t like someone like him.”

Yet the thumping in her chest said otherwise.

From that day, she found herself pouting around Sentou, refusing to meet his eyes.

Sentou frowned. “What’s wrong with you? Is something happening in your kingdom again?”

“…Hmph.” Claire puffed her cheeks and turned away.

Sentou scratched his head. “Seriously, what’s with her…”

But peace was fragile.

Deep below, in the dark halls of the Underworld, a throne trembled with rage. The Demon King sneered.

“So… the second-ranked witch hides in the human world. The very same brat who humiliated me… along with her sister.”

He slammed his clawed hand on the armrest. “This time, I’ll erase her completely.”

Beside him, a towering figure stepped forward. Long horns, armored plates, and eyes burning crimson.

“Delmara, my loyal commander. Lead the vanguard. Crush them.”

Delmara smirked. “At once, my king. Let me see what makes these witches so proud.”

Tokyo. The night sky suddenly warped, clouds twisting as black magic poured into the city. Delmara descended with an army of demons, their laughter echoing through the streets.

“So this is the human world… filthy. Disgusting.”

A wave of darkness swallowed the skyline.

Claire dropped her tray at the restaurant, eyes widening.
“That energy… it’s enormous. This isn’t normal magic!”

Across the city, Clara also felt it. Her lips tightened. “They’ve returned…”

And Sentou?

He sat in the kitchen, flipping through a cookbook.
“Hmm… bread pudding or hamburger tonight…? Mari likes both…”

The ground shook violently. Shouts filled the streets. But Sentou’s brow furrowed only at the recipe.

“…Wait, how much milk do I need for this again?”