The Devil Summoner in Shadow

(???'s POV)

"Ah! Seriously, the boss can be a real demon when he wants to be," I muttered to myself as I trudged home after another grueling day at the office, every muscle in my body aching from the endless hours hunched over my desk. My boss had us working like slaves, pushing deadlines that seemed impossible. Still, despite the exhaustion weighing on me, I couldn't help but smile at the thought of dinner with my family. Chiaki always made the best meals, and I wondered what delicious dish she had prepared tonight. I hoped Yumi had a good day at school. She always shared the brightest stories that could light up any room.

As I got closer to our house, an uneasy feeling began to settle in my gut. The lights were off. That's strange, Chiaki and Yumi should have been home by now.

My steps quickened, heart pounding louder with each one. When I saw the front door ajar, panic seized me. I sprinted inside, my mind racing with fear. Please, let it not be what I think!

I stumbled into the dining room, and the sight before me made my blood run cold. There, lying motionless on the floor, were Chiaki and Yumi. Their eyes were open but lifeless, staring into nothingness. The table was set for dinner, plates filled with food now cold and untouched. Blood spattered across the room, a stark contrast against the once-welcoming walls.

My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the ground. Tears streamed down my face as I crawled toward them, my hands trembling. I reached out, touching Chiaki's cold hand, hoping for any sign of life. But there was none, the reality hit me like a sledgehammer.

"Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why... Why. Why! Why!! Why!!! WHY!!!" I repeated, my voice growing louder and more frantic with each word, escalating into a chant of despair.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!" I cried out, my voice echoing through the empty house until my throat was raw and my voice gave out, leaving only the haunting silence of the room.

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I woke up in a dingy bed, the threadbare sheets sticking to my clammy skin. The room was decrepit, the building falling apart around me. Through the cracked window, I could see the landscape of ruins stretching out into the barren desert.

"This dream again..."

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(Minoru's POV)

"Hmm... What to do now?" I muttered to myself, breaking the silence. Now that I had accepted the mission, I needed to think about my plan of action. No eminence in shadow worth their salt would charge headfirst into a target without a solid strategy. According to the given information, Kurogane should be in the Mitaka zone within the Vortex World. Although that might have changed, I'd bet on my luck, which, after all, is my highest parameter.

I also needed to procure some Zio Stones or Kouha Stones to deal with the Daemon more efficiently. The problem was, I didn't have any money. Wait! If I can't buy them, why not recruit a demon that has one of those skills?

I headed towards a seating area in the club-a semi-circular couch perfect for planning. I settled in and opened the Demonic Compendium, scanning through it to find a demon that met my criteria.

Alright, let's see what we have here. Kodama, no. Onmoraki, no. Sandman, no. Gremlin, hmm... Yes, this one might work. It has the Zio skill and is more oriented toward magic. Though I would've preferred one that fights hand-to-hand and can use magic in tandem, you can't have everything in life. The demon on the screen has a light blue, elongated, and ghostly body that tapers to a point at the bottom. Its face features a mischievous grin with dark eyes and a small mouth. It holds a wrench in one hand and a hammer in the other. I seriously wonder when I'll get some demons that look cool because so far, all the demons I've recruited are female, and the next one is cute.