The Demon of Pleasure: Starting with Angel, Shiina Mahiru! Chapter 10 10: Researching the Future Plan

Back in the apartnt hallway, Hayashi Maki and Shiina Mahiru quietly returned to their own rooms.

Not much was said along the way.

Since he wasn't in any clubs, Hayashi Maki now had plenty of free ti to himself.

He opened his laptop and got back to writing.

In his previous life, he was just a struggling web novelist—no big dreams, no grand ambition. Like most average guys, he just wanted two things: financial freedom and a beautiful girlfriend.

An easy, carefree life.

That kind of simple mindset wasn't going to change overnight. Maybe once he experienced more of this world—maybe once he climbed into the upper class—he'd start to mature.

But for now? Step one was obvious:

Make money. Improve quality of life.

He was seriously tired of living on sausage, bread, or instant noodles every day.

After an hour of focused writing, Hayashi Maki finally finished outlining the first half of volu one for his novel submission.

Give it a few more days to polish, and he'd be ready to send it out.

He shut his laptop and stretched lazily.

Then he pulled out his phone to do so internet research.

First stop: famous families and financial powerhouses in this world.

The Shinomiya Family was ranked first—referred to as the heart of the nation.

Of course, that only applied to their status within Japan.

Ranked second, though, was the Sanzenin family… and they were even more formidable.

According to what he read, the Sanzenin family only had one heir—a young girl who'd skipped multiple grades and was currently in high school.

Her na? Sanzenin Nagi.

And her school?

Hakuo Academy.

Wait… isn't that my school?

Sanzenin Nagi…? From Hayate the Combat Butler?!

Just thinking of that ani, Hayashi Maki imdiately felt reassured about his choice to lay low.

If that series was part of this world, then the overall power levels here were way higher than he'd initially thought.

The Sanzenin family wasn't just rich—they had influence, special powers, and global reach.

Compared to them, the Shinomiya family seed ta—confined mostly within Japan.

Plus, the Sanzenin butler was trained in actual martial arts techniques that bordered on the supernatural—literally called "finishing moves."

Yeah… those old-money elites are no joke.

By comparison, the Shinomiya family seed ordinary. Sure, Kaguya was brilliant—but the family didn't seem to have any supernatural strength.

Then there was the Yukinoshita family—even weaker.

They were a recently rising household. From what he found, they'd managed to produce a politician and had so influence in local politics, but that was it.

No way they've got special powers.

Why?

Because Yukinoshita Yukino was still in the hospital, unconscious from that car accident.

If her family really had powers, wouldn't they have healed her already?

That thought brought Hayashi Maki back to Yukino.

Maybe there's sothing I can do there.

If mory served, Yukino's older sister—Yukinoshita Haruno—was a hardcore sis-con.

So… if I eventually unlock so kind of healing power, maybe I can offer it as a bargaining chip… and get close to Haruno?

That mischievous thought made him smirk.

Aside from the Yukinoshita family, the Saginomiya household was worth keeping an eye on too.

If Nagi existed in this world, then her childhood friend—Saginomiya Isumi—should be here as well.

She wasn't soone to take lightly. Rumor had it that most supernatural occurrences around her were caused by her uncontrolled spiritual power as a child.

Even as a demon, that kind of thing freaked him out.

What if he got on her bad side and she exorcised him on the spot?

Yeah… definitely need to tread carefully there.

If he wanted to form a contract with soone like Isumi, he'd probably need to start by getting close to Nagi first.

From what he rembered (vaguely), Nagi was a huge otaku. Loved ani, manga, and even drew her own comics.

So if he could build so reputation as a light novel author… maybe that'd be a good inroad.

Of course, there were other thods—like saving her from a kidnapping attempt or sothing.

According to what he found online, she'd been targeted more than once by people trying to ransom the Sanzenin fortune.

But honestly, that all sounds like way too much effort. Better to focus on what's in front of for now.

And on top of that, he really needed to be more proactive about signing new followers.

Super Regeneration from Mahiru alone wasn't going to cut it forever.

Hayashi Maki put his phone down and stopped thinking.

His stomach growled, so he figured he'd whip up sothing to eat.

Just as he stood up, the doorbell rang.

He opened the door—and blinked in surprise.

"Shiina-san? What's up?"

Right there at his door stood the class angel herself—Shiina Mahiru.

Trying to keep her emotions in check, she held out a bento box.

"I… accidentally made too much food. You haven't eaten yet, right? If you don't mind, could you help finish it?"

"Seriously? Of course I can! Are you sure though?"

Hayashi Maki took the still-warm lunch box and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Mahiru frowned slightly, giving him a look of quiet annoyance.