Would a Jobless Maid Dream of Raising a Magical Girl?

Shi An has a baby face and scrapes by at a maid cafe with a practiced smile. Every night, when she closes her eyes, she's pulled into another world called the Gap. There, Shi An meets a magical girl covered in blood. The girl gives Shi An a cold, scrutinizing look. "An ordinary person couldn't possibly be here. What are you, exactly?"

"...A maid cafe employee."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Fifty an hour, with a meal allowance. Interested?"

The magical girl doesn't smile. It's been a long time since the girl last tasted food. After making a pact, taste is the first thing to be devoured. But the strawberry candy Shi An presses into her hand is sweet. So sweet that it almost makes her forget how much of her soul she still has left to burn.

"...Will you come again?"

"Sure. What do you want to eat tomorrow?"