---

  Chapter 31 — The Devil’s Card

  The call ended.

  Hirauka stared at his phone for a moment, irritation settling into his chest. Sayaka’s sudden decision to accompany him had caught him off guard—and not in a pleasant way.

  “Another problem…” he muttered. “But what can I even do now? There’s no way I can oppose her.”

  With a quiet sigh, he returned to packing. Tomorrow morning—that was the plan. As he folded his clothes, his eyes fell on the card lying on the table. The thin piece of paper felt heavier than it should have, as if it carried a past that refused to stay buried.

  Hours passed.

  Once everything was ready, Hirauka teleported to the passport office. The receptionist handed him his updated passport without much ceremony. He thanked her briefly and vanished again—this time appearing outside Sayaka’s house.

  He rang the bell.

  The gate opened, and a housemaid greeted him with a polite bow.

  “Hirauka-san, Sayaka ma’am is in her room. I’ll inform her that you’re here.”

  “That’s fine,” Hirauka replied. “I’ll go myself.”

  “Oh—alright, Hirauka-san.”

  He walked inside and stopped before Sayaka’s bedroom door. Knocking three times, he spoke calmly.

  “Sayaka, it’s me.”

  “Coming, Hirauka-san!”

  The door opened, and Hirauka stepped inside—only to freeze.

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  Clothes were scattered everywhere. Dresses hung from chairs, jewelry lay tangled across the bed, footwear lined the floor, and accessories covered nearly every visible surface.

  “Thank God you came!” Sayaka said cheerfully. “Now help me pack.”

  Hirauka stared at the chaos.

  “You want me to help you pack… when I never even asked you to come?”

  Sayaka frowned.

  “Why are you talking like that? What did I do wrong?”

  “You called me and decided on your own that you’re coming with me,” he said bluntly. “You didn’t even ask if I wanted that.”

  She paused, then stepped closer, her expression softening deliberately.

  “Well,” she said gently, “I can ask you now.”

  Tilting her head slightly, she smiled.

  “Can I go with you, Hirauka-san?”

  He sighed.

  “Enough with your tricks. Let’s just clean this mess. My reason for going to Sweden is personal.”

  Sayaka’s tone changed.

  “And what reason is that? What made you decide to leave so suddenly?”

  Hirauka pulled the card from his pocket and held it out to her.

  “This.”

  She examined it carefully.

  “Drug Corp… Sweden. And this inscription on the back—it’s Swedish.”

  “It says ‘Dungeon for a Devil.’”

  Her expression stiffened.

  “…Your father was there?”

  “I don’t know,” Hirauka replied. “Why are you asking that?”

  Because this isn’t just a place,” Sayaka said quietly. “It’s hell.”

  She took a breath before continuing.

  “It’s an abandoned containment cell in the middle of a desert. A mad prisoner is locked there—an immortal. He’s been hanged multiple times and never died. He doesn’t need food. And the strangest part… half of his face is a skull.”

  Hirauka’s eyes widened slightly.

  “No one knows his past,” she continued, “but rumors say he’s a living devil.”

  “What kind of creature is that…?” Hirauka whispered. “Now I’m not just curious—I’m disturbed. What was my father involved in?”

  “There’s strict security there now,” Sayaka said. “No one is allowed to enter. I don’t know why your father was there, but he must have had some connection—with the place, or with that prisoner.”

  She looked at him carefully.

  “Did your father ever mention a brother? Any relative?”

  “No,” Hirauka replied. “His parents died early. He never spoke of anyone else.”

  Sayaka studied him for a moment.

  “You still want to go, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” Hirauka said firmly. “Even if that criminal truly is a devil. I’ve faced divine forces before—I won’t back down now.”

  She nodded slowly.

  “Alright. I’ll book the tickets. When do you want to leave?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  She checked her phone.

  “The earliest flight is at 6:00 a.m.”

  “That works.”

  ---

  Later that night, Hirauka returned home. He didn’t realize it yet, but a single card had already begun unraveling a past meant to stay hidden.

  By morning, he was ready.

  He drove to Sayaka’s house, and she stepped outside moments later, carrying her luggage. She climbed into the car.

  “Everything ready?” Hirauka asked.

  “Don’t worry.”

  “Alright. Let’s go.”

  He drove toward the airport. Sayaka spoke quietly on her phone while Hirauka focused on the road. Soon, traffic slowed to a crawl.

  “Seriously?” Hirauka muttered. “A jam now?”

  “This road is never jammed at this time,” Sayaka said.

  “That means we’re getting late.”

  They waited until the traffic cleared and moved on. After a long drive, they finally reached the airport. Hirauka parked the car and entered the parking details before they headed inside.

  Check-in passed smoothly. Luggage was cleared. They waited near the gate and had dinner at the airport café.

  “It’s not my first flight,” Hirauka said quietly, “but I don’t even remember my last one.”

  “I do,” Sayaka replied. “Just five months ago.”

  “That’s nice.”

  Soon, their flight was announced. They boarded.

  As the plane prepared for takeoff, Hirauka glanced out the window at the airport one last time.

  “My motive,” he thought, “will be fulfilled.”

  ---