Chapter Text
Koakuma picked up a crate and carried it across the room. She moved at a snail's pace as she navigated through the dimly lit storeroom, trying her best not to trip again.
Koakuma reached the stack of crates up against the opposite wall, and set her cargo down. She took a deep breath, and sat down on a particularly large chest.
As Koakuma sat and stared off into space, she felt something calling to her. She knew this feeling, but she couldn't explain it. It was like someone was whispering to her.
The whispers were coming from directly below Koakuma. She got up and opened the chest. Sure enough, there was a big, dusty book inside. She grabbed the book and blew the dust off. The cover was clearly legible, but Koakuma didn't know how to read it.
It was always books that called out to Koakuma. She didn't know why. It wasn't like she could actually read them.
Koakuma cradled the book against her stomach, and sat back down on the chest. It would be some time before her boss made an appearance. She shut her eyes, and leaned backwards. It only took a minute or two for her to fall into a deep sleep.
Koakuma slept peacefully for a moment, but something was wrong. She was dreaming, and she knew it. She floated in a black void, as if she was inside some all consuming shadow.
“Do you think she'll work?” someone asked.
“Maybe,” someone else answered.
“She's got a book with her right now! She must be perfect.”
“What if she stole it? We can't have thieves in our library.”
Despite her lucid state, Koakuma couldn't fully comprehend what the pair were talking about. She was half asleep in her dream. She tried to speak, but her mouth refused to form any words.
“She's a devil, isn't she? She's perfect for us.”
“I'm not so sure about that.”
Koakuma couldn't tell who was speaking at this point, not that she knew who anyone was, anyway. She gave up on trying to speak, and managed to thrash around slightly. The movements took great effort, as if she was underwater.
“Can she hear us, Patchouli?”
“No, of course not.”
Koakuma might have laughed, if she could.
“I really don't know about this one. Can't we just recruit someone from our world?”
“No, you said you could summon a demon, so I want a demon.”
“Alright, but I'm not going to take responsibility if she burns the mansion down, or if she turns out to be an overgrown fairy.”
“We already agreed to that.”
“Just making sure.”
“Should I give you my orders in writing or something? Just do it.”
“Right.”
The world around Koakuma began to brighten. After a minute or so, it was roughly as bright as the storeroom had been. Now, she was in some sort of house, as far as she could tell. It was a small room, with paintings hanging on dark red walls.
Koakuma stared up at the ceiling. She was lying on something soft, and the air felt cooler and drier than it had before.
The voices sounded closer and clearer now. “She's here, Lady Remilia.”
What Koakuma assumed was Lady Remilia stood over her. “Excellent work, Patchouli.”
Koakuma's eyes shot around the room. She spotted a woman with purple hair. That had to be Patchouli.
“Thank you,” Patchouli said.
Koakuma remained frozen in place.
“You can remove the restraints on her,” Remilia said.
“She's not restrained.”
Koakuma sat up. She still had the book pressed up against her chest. “Where am I?”
“The Scarlet Devil Mansion. We've brought you here to recruit you, Ms. Devil,” Remilia said.
“They call me Koakuma.”
“Well, Koakuma. I want you to work for me,” Patchouli said.
Koakuma frowned. What have I gotten myself into?
“I need a library assistant,” Patchouli said.
Koakuma had never even been to a library before, let alone worked in one. It sounded easier than carrying heavy crates around. “I can do that.”
“It's a private library, so you don’t have to worry about any visitors.”
Koakuma's frown turned into a smile. Maybe this won't be so bad after all, as long as these people aren't freaks.
“I'll leave her to you, Patchouli,” Remilia said.
“Alright,” Patchouli said.
Remilia walked away. “Make sure she changes out of those rags, and Sakuya will be fully at your disposal.”
Koakuma was wearing a set of old, brown robes. She was pretty sure they'd originally been white. She wouldn't miss her old clothes.
“Who's Sakuya?” Koakuma asked.
“You'll see,” Patchouli answered.