Makima was very confused right now. In fact, this might be the most confused she's been since arriving in this world.
It didn't make sense—when the Typhoon Devil sacrificed itself, it clearly said that the Wind Devil would descend to the human world, right?
She couldn't have misheard, right?
So, then, what was this thing standing before her?
Makima's eyes flashed with thought. Soon, she seemed to have an idea and cautiously asked, "You… are you the Wind Yamai Kazamachi?"
This was the only possibility she could think of. The Yamai sisters always claimed that the true Wind Devil was Wind Yamai Kazamachi, and that they were just the split parts when they descended to the human world for some unknown reason.
Perhaps, when the Hell Devil transported the Yamai sisters to Hell, they returned to their original form? Then, when Makima summoned the reformed true Wind Devil, it was the one before her?
But soon, Makima's guess was refuted.
"Wind Yamai Kazamachi? Never heard of it." The Wind Devil crossed its arms. "I am the Wind Devil, one of the elemental Devils. Remember it well!"
"Is there another Wind Devil in Hell?" Makima's brow furrowed even deeper. "For example, are you the North Wind Devil and there are others like the South Wind Devil?"
"Of course not. The noble Wind Devil can't have multiple versions. You really are a foolish one." The Wind Devil frowned. "Wait a second, why do I feel like you're not here to meet me?"
"Because the Devil I intended to summon wasn't you."
Makima sighed lightly, pulled out her phone, and showed the Wind Devil a picture. "Have you seen these two people in Hell?"
The Wind Devil leaned in to take a closer look. But after a moment, it shook its head.
"Never seen them. Who are they?"
"My subordinates. Wind Devils."
At those words, the true Wind Devil was stunned.
Now it understood why this contractor of theirs, who had summoned it, had this attitude.
Because she wasn't summoning it at all!
But if these two were Wind Devils, then who was it? It had always thought of itself as the true Wind Devil!
Looking at the photo of the two "Wind Devils," it suddenly remembered the strange loss of power it had experienced recently.
"Case solved, case solved!" It suddenly realized. "So there are fake Wind Devils in the human world, using my name and doing good deeds!"
"Where are these two now? What are they doing?" The Wind Devil gritted its teeth, fuming. "Tell me! I will skin them alive!!"
"But didn't you say you didn't know them?"
Hearing the deep hatred in its voice, Makima was confused. "If that's the case, why do you hate them so much?"
"Because there are fake Wind Devils in the human world using my name, and they caused my power to plummet not long ago!" The Wind Devil didn't hide its anger. "I almost got killed by my enemies. How could I not hate them?"
Makima's face showed a strange expression. She cleared her throat lightly to hide her surprise.
The Wind Devil had figured out part of the truth, but it still didn't see the full picture.
Indeed, the Yamai sisters had done many good deeds while using the name of the Wind Devil. However, it was Makima who spread these deeds.
Because of the Idol Plan for the Yamai sisters, almost all of Japan now saw them—Kaguya Yamai and Yuzuru Yamai—as great heroes, the protectors of Japan, respecting and loving the Wind Devil.
The power of a Devil came from human fear. If humans started to love a Devil, its power would rapidly diminish.
Makima had long been puzzled about why the Yamai sisters were so adored by all of Japan, yet their power hadn't weakened at all.
Now, she had an answer.
The Yamai sisters weren't the true Wind Devil!
The energy-based humanoid Devil before her was the real Wind Devil!
Since the sacrificial ritual had summoned it instead of the Yamai sisters, it could only mean that this was the Wind Devil recognized by Hell.
At the same time, the Idol Plan for the Yamai sisters didn't weaken them at all, but greatly affected it, further solidifying that this unfamiliar Devil was indeed the true Wind Devil.
Makima rested her chin in thought.
One question had been solved, but more questions arose.
If the Yamai sisters weren't the Wind Devil, then what were they?
They had always claimed to be the Wind Devil, hadn't they?
Had they been lying from the start?
Suddenly, Makima seemed to realize something and raised an eyebrow.
No, perhaps it wasn't that the Yamai sisters were lying, but rather that she had misunderstood from the very beginning.
The Yamai sisters had never called themselves the Wind Devil. They had always referred to themselves as Wind Spirits.
The real identity of the Yamai sisters shouldn't lie in "Wind," but in "Spirit."
So, their real identity was... elemental Devil spirits?
But why would anyone be afraid of spirits? Aren't these legendary beings usually seen as kind and orderly?
Even if someone feared them, that small fear wouldn't explain the immense power the Yamai sisters had, right?
So what exactly were these spirits?
The will of nature?
Were the Yamai sisters born as Devils tied to the concept of "nature?"
A Nature Devil?
If that were the case, it would at least make their power more understandable...
Makima shook her head, dismissing her chaotic thoughts.
"If you want to find them, sorry, they're not in the human world. I don't know what they're doing right now."
Makima said coldly, shrugging.
"Although the Devil I wanted to summon isn't you, I can't change it now. I'll just have to make do for now."