The Devil Is a Part-Timer!, Vol. 2 by Satoshi Wagahara Read Free Book Online

suspicion. Urushihara had yet to demonstrate an interest to listening to anyone’s advice, besides. It’d be better, Maou thought, to make the first move instead of inviting further unwanted attention.
    “We actually took on another roommate recently. But he’s, like, a total shut-in, so he shouldn’t bother you too much.”
    “I’m not a shut-in ’cause I
wanna
be, dude! Hey, I’m Urushihara! Nice to see you, finally!”
    Said shut-in shouted his greeting from across the apartment. Maou wondered whether he really cared if the police found him or not.
    “I see… And you as well.”
    This was enough to make Suzuno’s eyes dart around, as if agitated.
    Not even the flying leap she took off the stairs changed her rigid expression. What did an unkempt freeloader do to her that
that
couldn’t? Was it that strange to her, three grown men living in the same room?
    But even that facial tic lasted for a mere instant, as she gave a shallow bow to Urushihara.
    “Well, I had best haunt your doorstep no longer. I bid a good evening to you. Farewell for now!”
    Then she turned her heels, her sandals squishing against the wooden floor as she returned to her room.
    Once he was sure the door was closed, Ashiya crossed his arms, head tilted.
    “A rather strange one, wasn’t she?”
    “I don’t think we’re in any position to toss
that
word around. But, hey, it’s nice to have some generous neighbors, huh? Just like that, we’ve got some extra food.”
    He hoisted the box of udon up to his waist as he cheerfully commented on their unexpected visitor.
    “
Man
, this is heavy.”
    The follow-up came out in a low whisper as he struggled with the weight.

    The cardboard boxes, large enough to occupy an entire corner of the room by themselves, loomed large over her living space.
    She had decided to place the three enormous boxes here in the hallfor the time being. Between the apartment’s layout and her furniture, there was no place else convenient for them, but even this left only one closet door fully openable.
    It was the start of a new week, a hot, humid, and overall oppressive Monday. Emi Yusa, still in her office-casual work outfit, groaned as she pondered over the problem facing her, fingers rested on her forehead. She had wanted to take a shower immediately upon returning home, but Sasuke Express paid her a visit at that exact moment, as if deliberately aiming to bother her.
    Flipping on the AC to defend herself against the sickening heat, Emi brushed away the hair sticking to her sweat-soaked forehead as she read the packing slip.
    In the
From
box, the word
EMERALDA
was written in characters that looked like a pile of small worms in a petri dish.
Food products
was written in the
contents
section.
    At a loss to explain this package delivery, Emi paused for a moment before making her move. Taking out her phone, she called a number stored on it.
    “…Hellooooo! This is Emeralda Etuuuuva.”
    She picked up on the seventh ring, her speech still a little uneasy from nervousness.
    “I know. This is Emi… I mean, Emilia speaking.”
    “Indeed! Even after all this time, it seems I still get nervous with the tellllephone.”
    “You’ve had enough time to get used to it by now, haven’t you?”
    Emi chuckled to herself. She wasn’t being serious, of course. There was no way she could expect the woman on the other end of the line to “get used to” such black magic. After all, the girl who introduced herself as Emeralda Etuva wasn’t even in Japan. Or, to be exact, on Earth.
    “I haven’t spent that much time in Japan, soooo…”
    Emi eyed the tower of boxes in front of her.
    “I just got some packages with your name on them… What
are
they?”
    Each of the three boxes was unnaturally heavy, enough so that theSasuke Express deliveryman brought each one into the apartment to save Emi and her spindly arms from having to struggle with them.
    “It said on the packing slip that it’s food, but…”
    “Oh, did they