Part 1
Nonaka Kurumi had a good affinity with spirits at a young age.
Five years before the tragedy attacked the " Village ", while her older sister
Yuki learned sword skills one after another increasing her abilities as a
[12]
, Kurumi bloomed her talent as a .
Right now, among the in the " Village ", her skill developed
to the extent that she could fight with one or two.
However──Kurumi couldn't use her ability well right now. The place that
usually serves as a channel for the spirits to lend their power would not open
that easily. It's because… they have come to the Demon Realm.
Wildart is a city which served as stronghold of the Moderates faction. In the
past, this city was declared as the strongest, ruled by the Demon King
Predecessor Wilbert for generations, a luxurious royal castle and bustling
castle downtown. Surrounded by the rich nature of the forest Oldora, Nonaka
Kurumi right now, was at the middle of the Fost River which flowed nearby
Wildart Castle.
"───"
As Kurumi stood still in the riverbank as rocks and gravels roll, she reached
her left palm which materialized the spirit gauntlet
[13]
to reach the water
surface of the river, her consciousness was concentrated and the channel for
sprits was opened.
Skill-Type Swordsman
Multisaber
Spirit Magician
Element Master
Spirit Magician
Element Master
Simultaneously, in the Soul Purity Arts that Kurumi pushed out in her left
hand, ──a magic circle unfolded in the thin air, disturbing the flow of water
in the river. A vortex began to gradually occur and grew to a size of a meter,
and the water rolled up to the sky. As small droplets fell down, Kurumi raised
her concentration once more, and the water that shot up gradually formed a
certain divine beast.
A dragon.
"...OOoo～!"
From the top of a huge rock nearby, the little succubus companion who
followed after her raised a voice of admiration ── she's Naruse Maria. In
front of what Maria is seeing right now,
"───"
Kurumi unexpectedly made a severe expression── At once, the shape of the
water which curled upwards lost control, the dragon's shape turned for worse,
and the large quantity of water fell down the surface of the river like a
waterfall in the sky.
"Isn't that amazing Kurumi-san? Today, compared to yesterday, you're able to
use it up to this extent."
"...this isn't that good at all."
To Maria who claps her hands in admiration, Kurumi replied with a frown.
──What Kurumi called for was a spirit of a water attribute. Usually, Undine
and Nereids, and various spirits such as Apsaras
[14]
lend their powers to
Kurumi.
But due to the Demon Realm's
[15]
influence, Kurumi wasn't able to open a
channel with spirits well right now. She should be able to produce an even
bigger water dragon if that isn't true, and make them soar into the sky just as
it is──but the results ended up to a degree that even a small size wasn't
possible to maintain.
Even as she appealed to a spirit like usual, their voice and reactions felt very
distant. Perhaps Kurumi today can only take out half of her powers in
comparison to when she's in the human world.
Maria gave a bitter smile, then jumped off from the top of the rock and closed
the distance to Kurumi. Then,
"Well, since training is going to end soon, let's have lunch. The maid in the
kitchen had made us sandwiches."
Maria opened a big basket held in her hands and showed it to Kurumi. With
meat and vegetables in the inside, the sandwich also have jam-packed various
ingredients such as eggs tightly. As expected of a dish from an entrusted
maid serving at a castle indeed, it seemed so delicious even by only looking.
"Isn't this amount a little too much to eat for only two people…?"
"Because Kurumi didn't eat a proper meal this morning, this is just right as it
is"
"...…"
To the words of Maria, Kurumi went silent. She's right──Kurumi had hardly
eaten her breakfast. Though she took a seat in the dining room and started
eating, she left the seat in a hurry.
Kurumi's behavior is something that cannot be permitted. Beside the quiet
Kurumi, in a hemp-woven rag, Maria took a seat, laid her back to the grass of
the dry riverbed and asked,
"…Are you still angry about Basara-san and Zest-san's Master and Servant
Contract?"
She's right──this morning, Kurumi was told by Basara that he and Zest made
a Master and Servant contract.
Of course, before coming to the Demon Realm, declaring "It's necessary to
protect Zest, so a Master and Servant contract should be made" is really the
kind of what the gentle Basara does. Kurumi thought so and agreed upon.
However, when she was made to hear that it happened ──Kurumi knew the
fact that she admitted him to have a Master and Servant Contract with Zest
due to her condition. But,
…I can't believe it, to think that even sis or Mio not to say anything…
For Mio who was targeted by Zolgear, to even have a connection to the one
that murdered her adoptive parents cruelly──She was so to speak was the
sole enemy for Mio and Basara. As for Zest who was a subordinate of such a
man to enter a Master and Servant Contract with Basara, even if real thoughts
came from their lips, Kurumi thought that those intentions will never be
accepted no matter what.
However──after a brief silence, Yuki and Mio approved the contract of
Basara. Kurumi cried "What!?" immediately, and stood up from her chair,
…But.
Kurumi wasn't able to say anything more than that. Because in the past, she
had become undoubtedly an enemy of Basara before. Therefore, since Yuki
and Mio who have not betrayed Basara accepted it, Kurumi had no choice but
to accept.
──Still, everybody seemed to have understood Kurumi's feelings. Basara and
Zest whom are to blame remained silent for granted, and for sure, the three
people: Yuki, Mio and Maria also understood Kurumi's and Basara's feelings,
so they didn't say anything. However, unable to bear the eyes which turned to
her right now──as she came to her senses Kurumi ran out of the dining room
and walked along the hallway alone. Then, passing each other by chance on
the hallway, Kurumi asked Noel the housemaid whether there is a river
nearby, and told her this place.
──There was a reason why Nonaka Kurumi wanted to come to the river.
Before the tragedy that happened five years ago, when Basara was still in the
" Village "of the Hero Tribe──Kurumi had often gone out to play in a
nearby river with Basara and Yuki. Fishing together, swimming together,
they get along well just like true siblings. Being the younger one,Kurumi
always loved Basara and Yuki, and piled up many wonderful memories with
the two people.
One time, those memories──due to the tragedy five years ago, she thought
that they were lost completely.
After the sad reunion five years after, they had fought one time──still,
Basara remained unchanged from the old days, and valued Kurumi as she
was. Therefore, even though it's her mission to live under the same roof as
them, she was really happy. Even little by little, she thought that that she
could go back to the old days from the bottom of her heart. She actually
wanted to come to this river together with everyone. While remembering her
childhood with Basara and Yuki and their past relationships, she wanted to
make a new memory here, with Mio and Maria added. And then──if desired,
Kurumi won't even mind even if Zest was there.
…However, she making a Master and Servant Contract with Basara is a
different story.
She heard the story that Zest has a power of an S class. By making a MasterServant Contract with Basara, she'll become stronger than before, raising his
power, thus finding herself useful to Basara.
…still.
Nonaka Kurumi thought──she doesn't want to lose to Zest.
Therefore when Kurumi came here alone, she began her training in order to
manage even a little the darkness element that she got from Lucia. Maria
followed behind a little later. As Maria finished arranging the sandwich and
side dishes on the seat,
"Anyway, let's have lunch first. The brain doesn't act properly when hungry,
and I think that's not good in various ways."
She said so, beckoning her. Therefore,
"...…Un"
As Nonaka Kurumi nodded, she sat down next to Maria and began eating the
food on that day.
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
The sandwiches the maid had made were delicious.
Though they thought that the amount in the basket was too many to fill in two
people, partly due to the fact of almost runniing outside in the morning, she
was able to eat it up with Maria in no time. Even if feeling depressed, if the
stomach is filled with something good, a person can get well in a little while.
Was the state of Kurumi being perceived? Maria said with a smile.
"Hey, have you had your meal properly?" "...Un
[16]
. Thank you."
As soon as Kurumi finished eating, Maria poured a drink into a cup from a
portable jug,
"Here, Kurumi-san." "Thank you..."
As she received it, the tea in the cup raised warm steam. Filling her with a
faint sweet warmth and fragrance from her mouth through her nose as she
sipped it, Kurumi relaxed her body naturally. Then,
"──Did it settle you down a little?"
Maria said with gentle eyes.
"Because Kurumi-san is a … if you use magic in that irritated
state, even if you are a part of the Hero Tribe, don't you think that spirits in
the Demon Realm would turn cautious and wouldn't answer?"
"I wasn't particularly irritated…"
As Kurumi told in a sulky way, Maria who gave a bitter smile replied,
"I know that you're bothered with Basara-san and Zest-san… You could relax
with a delicious meal and a cup of tea. This is more deserving rather than
Spirit Magician
Element Master
wasting yourself feeling depressed."
"...un"
Maria was certainly right… to establish an emotional bond with the spirits of
the Demon Realm, if you don't believe in it in the first place, it won't start.
But even as she focused on how she materialized her spirit gauntlet and fitted
in the slot, for spirits of highly compatible attributes it was duller than usual.
…However.
Even though things appear this way, there is still an improvement. Yesterday,
when they have only just arrived in the Demon Realm, elements completely
become corrupted due to the evil influence, and she wasn't able to feel any
spirits from within.
So Kurumi, reaching to the point of using magic to this degree was because
of that woman who gave the dark element which made contacts with the
spirits of the Demon Realm made easier.
"…What do you think about my older sister?"
While looking at the element of the dark color that fitted into the slot, Kurumi
replied.
"To me, who was given such a thing… and even getting along well with her,
I'm thankful. However, isn't she the adjutant of Ramses who dislike Mio?"
"it is so… that merciless Lucia ane-sama
[17]
, to be on good terms with me
and even give me a special treatment, it's difficult just to think about it."
Hmm, thinking through, Maria said
"Possibly, she may have taken a liking to Kurumi personally, don't you
think?"
"How… I, what part did your sister took a liking in particular?"
"Oh my ── then don't you have any ideas?"
"There is no way, right?"
Kurumi replied with an immediate answer, then
"...Hmm, is that so?"
Maria uttered in a casual tone,
"──then I'll tell you"
She replied, pushing down Kurumi on her seat.
"Wai- Maria…?"
Kurumi uttered and cried in surprise, but her clothes were unbuttoned until
the front was opened up all the way by Maria's experienced hands. And, as
Maria reached out her hands and took off the hook of Kurumi's skirt,
"I heard it. Kurumi-san…in the office of Lucia ane-sama yesterday"
"!────"
Startled and gasping for breath, in that small opportunity even the hook and
the zipper was opened, and the skirt of Kurumi was dragged down.
"Wa-Wait...that…is not it...!"
Though Kurumi tried to stop her desperately while turning red, before the
physical strength of Maria who is a power type, her resisting at this level
became futile. afterwards,
"I, until now, have been cooperating so that Kurumi-san could catch up to
Yuki-san and Mio-san. Nevertheless, Doing it with Basara-san in front of
Lucia Ane-sama without me knowing…in addition, hearing that it's because
of you stealing glances at Basara-san that it happened, is it true?"
Maria asked, stripping off Kurumi's jacket together with her brassiere.
Yaa...I, idiot!"
Kurumi tried to cover her chest with both hands in a hurry, but Maria bound
both of her arms with her tail, making Kurumi raise both of her hands on the
top of her head. And, revealing the good things that the both hands were
blocking, while Maria slowly unclothes the socks and shoes of Kurumi one
by one,
"Fufu, Kurumi-san is such a bad person... in the bath last night, didn't you
say such things right?"
"but, tha-that's because…"
Without regarding the hesitation of what she wants to say, Maria continued
unclothing Kurumi──and then,
"Aah..."
Kurumi raised a voice that seemed to faint at last.
With her upper body naked, she has been left with only her panties. Exposing
her skin under the blue sky which reddened in shyness, Maria looked down
with eyes that seemed to have ignited her succubus instinct, and took off her
own clothes too. Then, as she ended up only in her panties similar to Kurumi,
"For Kurumi to be liked by Lucia ane-sama, I'm very happy as a friend.
There is no need to hide anything. Really now... there is no need to be
reserved in these sort of things for me."
Maria made a small laugh.
"──Now I have to punish you for this"
She said, and began prying open her both legs.
"No...Maria..."
Though Kurumi tried to refuse desperately, she wasn't in a state to resist as
both of her hands were bound up. As she entwined her legs around, Kurumi's
modest chest was rubbed lasciviously by Maria's own chest──and now,
"ah, Aaahh...AaaaaAaahh♥"
Kurumi leaked a sweet cry. The pleasure brought of the touches of love of the
succubus Maria is unbelievable. Additionally, Kurumi, to the whisper of the
devil called Maria to catch up to Mio and Yuki, indecent things have been
done to her almost every day by Maria in the Toujou house.
Of course, Kurumi's body completely remembered the taste of that
pleasure──though she didn't enter a Master and Servant Contract in
particular, her body has made sensitive almost the same as Mio and Yuki
recently.
"Yaaah...I, such thing..., outside..."
Though ashamed, her body trembled helplessly in the sweet sensations
running through her whole body. Then,
"It's all right... I'll make Kurumi-san a woman of Basara's liking who
doesn't lose even to Mio-sama and Yuki-san"
Maria replied, then tried to lick her cheeks this time.
"Ah ──…"
I can be a woman that Basara would come to like ── as she thought so, she
accepted Maria's unreasonableness, and as Kurumi became weak to pleasure,
"Fufufu... other than Basara-san, who in the world is it that Kurumi likes?
I'll make you remember properly"
Maria, while expressing a sadistic smile, put her lips near her left side
quietly.
And then ── the next moment, her weakest place was breathed with all her
might,
"! ──FUaaaaaaaaahhhnn ♥"
Nonaka Kurumi, reaching her peak under the blue sky, raised a flirtatious
voice as her body trembled in delight.
Part 2
Doing an exciting act outside, Maria was more intense than usual.
Caressing Kurumi's body dearly until she's completely unable to stand up, she
continued giving pleasures of a woman badly until Maria is satisfied.
Therefore, it has not become just a simple training anymore ──afterwards,
having taken a break till the sun sets, the two people returned to the Wildart
Castle.
And now, heading for the bathroom, Kurumi stepped her foot inside. She
couldn't return for the reason of having a smell of a woman, though she
washed it at the river with Maria, her body had become a little chilly by that
cause.
If she caught a cold with this, she herself will become an even more burden
to everyone.
She wanted to avoid such pitiable situation,
...Besides.
Because she has taken such an attitude on that breakfast, it is still difficult for
her to face everyone.
Especially ── Basara and Zest, as she didn't know how she should receive
them.
Though she couldn't keep on running away forever, she wanted to delay it a
little more… and as Kurumi parted with Maria at the hallway, she took off
her clothes in the dressing room, went full bare, and set foot in a large indoor
bath.
Then, though it's still early for dinner, Kurumi found that there were figures
of somebody who came ahead of her in the wash place
[18]
.
It was Yuki and Mio.
"Ah..."
The moment Kurumi raised her voice in awareness, the two people who have
been washing their own bodies noticed her. To Kurumi who had an awkward
expression in a moment, Yuki and Mio looked at each other, then expressed a
gentle expression at once.
"Welcome back Kurumi…"
"Maria seems to have gone to you, did that child cause you trouble?"
They greeted with a smile. It was an expression that didn't mind what Kurumi
had done this morning at all ── for this reason, as Kurumi approached at
Yuki and Mio apologetically,
"…Both of you, I'm sorry for this morning."
She spoke words of apology while bowing her head.
"Although elder sisters had agreed upon the contract of Basara...Of all
things, I did such behavior"
And as Kurumi looked at the girl gentler than herself with pure intentions
"And on how Mio… after all that things Zolgear has done to you, still
accepted it."
"There isn't anything for Kurumi-chan to apologize. I also, am a little
surprised at myself… After talking about it with Basara beforehand, to tell
you the truth my feelings are too complicated understand even for myself
after all. (!)
As Mio gave a wry but gentle smile,
"Hey, sit here."
She moved the bath chair and placed it down next to them.
The space between Mio and Yuki had become available. However, Kurumi
couldn't sit down on that chair. Between these two people… it was the seat
similar to the dining room this morning. Kurumi became emotional, as it was
the place which she ran away from. Then,
"......"
To Kurumi who stood there, Yuki gently pulled her hand towards that place.
Then, having got the permission, Kurumi sat down carefully.
"Kurumi... your body is a little cold"
Noticing her body temperature, Yuki uttered. Kurumi nodded deeply.
"…Because I entered to the river outside a little while ago"
"Then, step in the bathtub early to get warm...we'll continue the talk over
there"
In the suggestion of Mio,Kurumi nodded again, and washed down her body
in hot water.
And then── Kurumi went to the bathtub with Yuki, submerging herself in
the hot water, sandwiched between the two people. Wrapped up in tender
warmth, it relieved the tension in their bodies, relaxing them for a bit.
...Ah.
To each hands that were feeling the stone bottom, Mio and Yuki's hands
overlapped hers gently.
"──About Basara and Zest, there is a reason that I permitted it"
Making an introduction, Mio on the left said,
"The reason that I permitted the contract of those two, is all thanks to Yuki
and Kurumi-chan."
"… elder sister and I?"
"That's right. Yuki and Kurumi-chan, didn't you guys fought against me and
Maria at first? But now, we are all living together. Though it was all thanks to
Basara's assistance, it is really dangerous if you think about it, no matter what
Basara says to you two, aren't we taking advantage of him overlooking us?"
However,
"Yuki and Kurumi-chan didn't do such a thing... because you believe that
Maria and I won't ever harm Basara, right?"
"Well that's..."
To her hesitation to voice out her affirmation, Mio smiled, then,
"I am also the same, right? Without opposing Basara, Yuki and Kurumi
accepted us as friends, therefore I also thought you as such too."
And,
"While meeting Zest again in the Demon Realm… Right now, revealing her
lack of intention of harming us, I thought that it's possible to approach her in
the same way as Kurumi-chan, don't you think? Plus, while working as a
maid and Sheera-san's bodyguard, when you see her who is looking at Basara
with eyes which seems to be in pain... I see my former self overlapping
her."
"Mio's former self...?"
"Yes… After father and mother were murdered by Zolgear, I have been
through various circumstances. There was a time that I even couldn't put my
trust on anyone aside from Maria──a man above all in particular."
Mio stated with a face as if remembering something unpleasant, then abruptly
made a gentle expression.
"However… to us who approached and deceived him from the start, Basara
was still gentle. After knowing about our circumstances, he chased us all the
way in order to help us. At that time, Yuki advised Basara not to be involved
with me anymore…"
But, Mio;
"Basara said that that he will still protect me… and Yuki will remain as his an
important childhood friend, but that doesn't mean he did forgot what
happened five years ago, so if the Hero Tribe who protects this world can't
protect me, then it will be his duty."
That's what I thought…at that time.
"if it's Basara and Jin-san, I believe that they are reliable. Such thing as
Zolgear, our trusted lawyer, the men in town, there are no such man as them.
Like a true family… like Onii-chan, they are people who think of me
importantly."
Therefore,
"Thinking about it, it was so wonderful that I cried."
To the expression that Mio showed,
"──────"
Once more, Kurumi understood the feelings of the girl named Naruse Mio
towards Basara. That profile too, that she had gazed ever since she was
young──Yuki was also the same when she yearned for him.
"For Zest who was entrusted to the Moderates, Sheera's existence, probably,
was just like Maria's case for me, I think. And, as I encountered Basara, and
having needed that fellow, Zest met Basara too, and like that──he was
needed. Yuki and Kurumi-chan too, even though we had met through various
ways, Basara and I altogether accepted you in the end. And, Basara, with the
same feelings at that time when he helped me, was trying to help Zest."
Therefore,
"For this reason, I have to accept Zest… I think."
"Even she is the subordinate of the enemy who murdered your parents?"
Kurumi asked, and nodding with a "yes", Mio;
"But supposed that…If Zest was the one who killed my parents, I would
never forgive her. But she's not… and as for opposing us, it was only in
accordance with Zolgear who is her creator and as his subordinate. Then, it is
just the same as with Maria being threatened on the pretext of Sheera-san's
safety. In addition, Zolgear who was the main culprit for all of this was no
more. Being on good terms with each other all of a sudden may be difficult,
but by understanding each other little by little, I think we can."
It was the statement that made them accept the Master and Servant Contract
of Basara and Zest from the bottom of their hearts. Then,
"…elder sister?"
Looking towards the opposite direction, Kurumi asked,
"My thoughts haven't changed ever since five years ago."
Yuki said in a smooth tone.
"Even this time, I'll still follow Basara ── and for that I became stronger.'
And,
"Basara right now, in the same way as that time when he protected me five
years ago, has been desperately protecting everybody… My mission is to
protect his side and support him. If their thoughts are the same as I, they may
be accepted as a companion separately. But if it's the opposite──"
Suddenly, Yuki stared with cold eyes,
"──if there is an existence which seriously tries to hurt Basara, who ever that
is, I won't forgive them. Even it is Zest…or even Mio and Maria"
Mio who heard it leaked a wry smile. But rather than being disgusted, it was
a bitter smile that felt a certain kind of hope.
──However, Kurumi wasn't able to smile. Instead, she asked in a soft voice.
"...…Even me?"
"...…As I said. I would not permit any existence to seriously hurt Basara."
Therefore, the hand which was held in the hot water was clenched. Then, she
gently embraced her.
"Elder sister..."
Kurumi in which her waist was held in, looked up at Yuki before her eyes
with a little surprise,
"Until now, and also from now on──I know best that such behavior is
impossible for Kurumi. When coming with Takashi and Shiba before, even
though you said that you hate him so much, you didn't seriously try to kill
Basara till the end"
Yuki smiled, and gently pat her head. From there, Mio,
"…You know, after Kurumi-chan left this morning, Did Maria go to
Kurumi's place by the river afterwards to have lunch later on?"
"? Un…"
Saying in a significant tone, Kurumi nodded to her question,
"That, you see, if someone were to take Kurumi back, she should be the most
suitable… well, this was because Maria volunteered for the position."
To this extent, the lunchbox was brought intentionally. As for being worried
about her she understood it, but,
"Maria… she has a reason why she did it that way."
After coming to the river──Maria also had a similar feeling that was close to
Kurumi.
For her worries, she was grateful, though she had been pushed down forcibly
at the end, she certainly thought that she would intend to leave it unsettled for
pleasure as always, but,
"…then, perhaps, even now…?"
In the Toujou Household, well, Maria had often entwined with Kurumi in
various ways ── could it be that, were she doing that on purpose for the sake
of Kurumi? As Kurumi yearned for gratitude to Maria,
"But, Maria's just like that, losing her calm more than usual, a fellow who has
been trying to chase behind Kurumi-chan immediately. Though Kurumi-chan
couldn't understand the Master and Servant Contract with Zest at once and
left, that person said "I must explain it to her properly" with a straight face."
Mio's voice said with a smile.
"Eh...?"
To Kurumi who asked again in reflex,
"Well, we saying such things had gotten an adverse effect… and thus Maria
went. So…"
Fufu, Mio laughed,
"We then were able to leave Kurumi-chan as it is. Maria asked the maid for a
box lunch, then went to Kurumi-chan's place as soon it was ready. It took her
some time, but… right now for the current Kurumi-chan, due to the influence
of newly arriving to the Demon Realm, is unable to take out her original
powers. It is for something to do in the meantime"
Therefore,
"Even though you didn't call out, so as to make sure you weren't in danger,
Maria came out without notice. That said, there was also a guy who chased
after Kurumi immediately──did you not notice?"
"...Basara, for me?"
"Yes. By the way, the maid who prepared the lunchbox which Maria took…
Who do you think it is?"
"──────"
To the implied words of Mio, Kurumi wasn't able to speak anything. Then,
"Kurumi… as you come out from here, go to those two"
"...…Un"
To the question urged by Yuki, Kurumi nodded obediently.
I'll apologize to the two people properly, and give them my gratitude──she
thought strongly in her heart.
Part 3
Kurumi however, wasn't able to tell those words of gratitude to Basara and
Zest during dinner.
Before the two, Kurumi wasn't able to confess her feelings. It's because
──Basara and Zest didn't show up at the dinner table.
Basara didn't only just entered a Master and Servant Contract with Zest last
night. Regarding Kurumi's affairs Basara explained midway, though Mio
didn't know the reason either, it is said that Basara made a conflict with
Ramses who was the present top of the moderates.
His chasing of Kurumi who have gone out this morning has become a
problem, and because of that, they are forbidden from going outside the
Wildart Castle. Basara was forbidden from going out of his guest room
tonight, so he was unable to meet Kurumi until tomorrow morning. A maid
was standing in front of his room, preventing anyone from going in and out.
In addition, Zest making the bentou which Maria brought to Kurumi, was
blamed for entering the kitchen in defiance of the original order imposed to
her, which was rearranging the archives.
──Normally, entering the kitchen wasn't supposed to become a huge
problem.
But, even though there was Sheera's mediation, having made contract with
Basara without notice to Ramses, Claus and the other moderates seemed to
have quite an impact to them. Although Sheera talked to Ramses and the
others to ignore the matter of the Master and Servant Contract, Basara had
done another problematic conduct this time, spreading to Zest which became
his subordinate. In other words,
…both of them, it was my fault...
Night at Wildart Castle──as the moonlight creeped in behind the courtyard,
Nonaka Kurumi sat down on one knee. Before that, she was in the guest
room fitted for a girl, taken care of by Mio and Yuki, until she became
impossible to endure and left the room ──arriving at this courtyard.
"…though I don't intend to stand in their way with my behavior…"
Knowing how long herself been troubling everyone around her, Kurumi bore
an intense self-hatred.
Then again── there were also other existences worrying about Kurumi
besides Basara and Zest.
Ever since she came back from leaving the castle, she didn't see Maria's
figure at all. According to the story of Noel the housemaid, there seems to be
a person who saw Maria being invited into the room of Sheera, her mother,
but when she was called for dinner, there weren't even an answer inside the
room. After looking inside, there were not a single sign of the two people.
...don't tell me, Maria too...?
Because she was connected to the issue with Basara, it seemed that she was
also punished as Zest was.
Because of the incident with Zolgear, the situation of Maria who has betrayed
Basara in order to help Sheera who was taken hostage, at present, is in a very
delicate position among the Moderates. Yesterday after arriving at the Demon
Realm, she was called by Lucia and was severely punished to an extent in her
office.
Worrying about Kurumi, Basara went outside, but Maria didn't chase Kurumi
immediately, for the reason of letting Zest prepare their lunch box. According
to that point of view, Maria was connected to Basara and Zest's misconduct.
Finding an opportunity for something like a false charge to find an error of
the other party's behavior, then blaming them and putting one selves in an
advantageous position is commonplace in politics, therefore a calm
judgement is required more than anything.
"…I have to be careful"
Nonaka convinced herself once more, and put up her face which was looking
down.
She has certainly troubled Basara and Zest, and may have also involved
Maria ── that's why she mustn't trouble them any further. Though she is not
a leading figure of the government, Mio who inherited the traits and talents
from the family line of the Demon King Predecessors had set foot to the spot
that greatly affected the fate of the Demon Realm. That matter in question
must be borne in her mind ── As Kurumi renewed her determination, a
person came and quietly stepped over the lawn of the courtyard.
"──────"
On the spur of the moment, Kurumi stiffened and stood up on the spot.
What had come was a single maid. However, that maid is different from the
amiable Noel and other gentle maids, a beauty with coldness of absolute zero.
After that,
"──What are you doing in a place like this?"
Looking down, Lucia approached before Kurumi's eyes. Those eyes, are the
same eyes that witnessed Kurumi fall into pleasure by Basara. Recalling
those as she reached in front of her,
"...nothing...I just want to be alone for now."
Reddening her cheeks in embarrassment combined with tension, Kurumi
averted herself to those eyes.
"I see… ── by the way, did you see mother and my younger sister?"
"No, I didn't see them… I was here for a while, so…"
Answering honestly because it's no use to lie, Kurumi asked again on the
contrary.
"You haven't seen them? I thought you had dinner with the two together…"
"Yes. They seemed to have disappeared somewhere. I don't know where."
"Are they ok? That… they may be dragged into some trouble?"
Kurumi became uneasy of Maria not returning. Then,
"Don't worry about it. Mother and little sister's disappearing is because they
are running away from me."
"Eh…?"
"Though I can't tell you the details, those two are fine… rather, this would be
a whole lot better. It's just because they had done a selfish behavior without
me noticing."
"I-is that so…"
Though she said it displeasingly, No serious tone was seen in those words of
Lucia. Perhaps, those two extravagant people have conducted a behavior that
angered her.
Knowing that Maria is safe, Kurumi heaved a sigh of relief.
"…On a side note, I cannot help but admire them very much."
Saying so in reproving tone, Lucia touched those cheeks softly.
"I have received the report of the story of Basara-dono and Zest. About those
two having been blamed, perhaps you may feel responsible, but…if you're all
alone in this place, you will only make those people around you worried for
nothing again. You shouldn't become a stupid daughter who repeats the same
mistake over and over."
"...…"
As she said in a gentle voice, Kurumi looked down and remained silent.
Lucia, in the present top of the Moderates ── is the adjutant of Ramses.
Typical to politics, although they have the same agreement to avoid Mio
become a Demon King, because Ramses is harsh to Mio, they have a
complicated relationship and are emotionally fighting against each other.
──But now, Lucia was gentle to Kurumi. The first time she saw her, she
could only think of her as a coldhearted woman, and when the succubus'
baptism was poured in front of her in her office, she even felt awe in her
overwhelming force. However ── when she came to see the state of Kurumi
and Maria later on, it became a cool atmosphere that lets you feel the
gentleness inside, and when Kurumi tried to use the spirit magic at the
Demon Realm, she even gave a darkness-colored element to her.
Certainly, she thought that Lucia wasn't interested in the likes of Kurumi, but,
"──that reminds me, how was the condition of the element that I handed
over?"
She said so, continuing the conversation.
"I heard that you went to the river and tried it in various ways."
"Though I can execute it… usually, as compared to the power at that time
that I spent in the Human Realm, it was awful."
Without understanding why Lucia paid attention to her, Kurumi waved her
neck from side to side.
Yesterday, Maria can exercise it to a playful degree without a problem from
the bathtub of the large indoor bath.
However, it was far too ineffective to be used against an opponent in battle.
Thereupon,
"…Can I see your state for a moment?"
As requested by Lucia, Kurumi materialized the Soul Purity Gauntlet on her
left hand, and switched the main slot to the darkness element that she got
from her. As Lucia took her left hand,
"──────"
She stared at the dark colored crystal ball fitted into the slot patiently.
──in this situation, Kurumi shouldn't get along well with Lucia this much.
However, she got this from her. she cannot refuse if she wanted her to show it
to her,
…besides,
The relationship between Maria and Lucia, though they are sisters, is a little
constrained in some way. Therefore, Kurumi who can get along well with
Maria to have an interaction with Lucia, as long as their relationship
improved even a little── Kurumi wants to be useful to them.
…it's also because,
Kurumi too, after the tragedy five years ago── after Basara left the village,
her relationship with her elder sister Yuki became somewhat awkward.
However, when Basara was made to fight when the village assumed Mio as
an extermination target, Kurumi and Yuki's relationship was restored because
of that.
── Of course, she doesn't think that she can do the same thing as Basara. Yet
this morning, Maria worried about Kurumi and chased after her. For Maria's
sake, she wants to repay this kindness even a little──Kurumi is willing to do
what she can. Then,
"I see...certainly, it appears that it is still in its sleeping state."
"…sleeping state?"
To Kurumi who asked like a parrot in return, Lucia nodded with a "yes".
"Just like what I already told you, divine protection of a high ranking spirit
dwells in this element. However, that doesn't mean that it has an effect of
protecting the user. Only a part of a young spirit body resides in this crystal
ball, separating it from the high ranking spirit."
"That means… it's the same as our 'sacred treasures' so to speak?"
The Demonic Sword『Brynhildr』of Basara and the Spirit sword 『Sakuya』of
Yuki, and also the Soul Spear 『Byakko』that Takashi used in the
Extermination mission of Mio. Each weapon alone possesses a strong power,
but that's not all. If it has recognized its user like Yuki, the user can utilize its
original abilities at its maximum power.
"Yes. If you can perfectly establish a bond and unite with the spirit, the
element will be awakened, and will come to lend you its original power."
Simply because there is no "established bond with the spirit" that Lucia says,
Kurumi's condition is still the same as she showed Maria by the river. To her
who fell silent,
"──The "Negative
[19]" part inside yourself, accept it."
Lucia said with eyes staring at her.
"As you know, there exists the『Holy attribute』and the 『Dark attribute』, and
the Hero Tribe can borrow both of these powers. Basically, just like when
you operate on "Positivity
[20]", to use the Dark Attribute, we the Demon Race
utilize it using "Negativity"… however, this "Positive" and "Negative" rather
than good and evil, has a concept that is almost near as the plus and minus
[21] or positive and negative values of temperature." (!)
And now,
"Perhaps until now, to establish a contract with the "Positive" spirits in order
to borrow their power in this world, you have also tried to be "positive" by
yourself. To appeal to the spirits in order to borrow reasonable power…
naturally, that is the right way to perform it in the human world. It's because
most of the spirits in your world belong to the "positive" state."
However,
"That method does not apply in this Demon Realm. In this world where Dark
Magic is strong, most of the spirits here exist in the "negative" state. Even if
you appeal as "Positive", spirits will only be cautious. Rather than that, I'm
surprised that you had borrowed power in that way even a little."
After telling her, Lucia quietly embraced Kurumi, and then,
"Ah...…"
"There's no need to fear thinking that as a mistake. Both the positive and
negative are parts of you... if you understand these things properly and
communicate with a spirit, they should respond to you for sure."
"...I understand. I'll give it a try."
In the arms of Lucia, Kurumi honestly nodded. Then,
"......"
The beautiful maid succubus softly applied a little more force to her embrace.
Then──the hand which rested in her waist fell down for some reason, and
softly touched Kurumi's butt. Putting up some fingers, to that fingerwork that
felt and stoked the place accurately,
"Uhm...Lucia-sa...Hyaaan?"
Sniffling sweetly, her body wiggled and raised a discomfited cry. Afterwards,
"Nonaka Kurumi...you are too good after all"
Lucia said in an amorous voice.
"Yesterday, from the time when Basara did it with you, as I thought──You
are very cute"
Then, her fingers made a snap. In an instant,
All of the sewn clothes of Kurumi were removed, and pieces of cloth fell to
the ground in a blink of an eye. Even the bra disintegrated, and in just a
moment made Kurumi with only a single piece of panty,
"────Nuu!?"
She tried to scream in reflex, but her lips are sealed gently by the hand of
Lucia.
"Do not be surprised. The skill of this level, is a very easy task for me who
has mastered the maid's work."
Kurumi, who was told for granted, as she was pushed down on top of the
lawn with her mouth being blocked up,
"...!"
This is bad, and as Kurumi whose flustered instincts tried to escape from the
hands of Lucia,
...ah...
After witnessing Lucia's pair of eyes looking down at her, she forgot to resist
in an instant. What was over there, in truth was the reverse of the usual
coldhearted eyes of Lucia──romantic eyes which seemed to be totally
charged with heat. Those eyes, similar to Maria's expression as she trained
her to become the girl of Basara's preference,
"During the day in the Demon Realm, it seemed that you had done it with
Maria in broad daylight … in that case, this time in the broad moonlight of
the Demon Realm, I will fill you with lots of love."
With the background of the waning moon on her shoulder, Lucia put her
hand inside Kurumi's underwear──but then,
"──Lucia-sama" Suddenly, two maids appeared nearby from the side of a
certain bush. In contrast with Kurumi becoming shocked all of a sudden,
Lucia who remained calm while her mouth was held down,
"...what is it?"
"Just now, Maria was found at the third floor of the west tower."
"However, capturing aside we barely even managed to reach her… at present,
she is being chased by several people."
To that report, Lucia's pupils regain its calmness,
"I see… what about mother?"
"The whereabouts of Sheera-sama is still…"
"...Very well. If we manage to capture Maria, we will make her spit out
her story and end this. Nina, to those who are chasing that child, don't lose
sight until my transmission."
"──Understood"
To those words of Lucia, the maid called Nina turned back her heels and ran,
"Lucy...for you, send her to her room in place of me. Then"
"Mend her clothes, isn't it? ── Please leave it to me, Lucia-sama"
Lucy replies with a nod, and as Lucia released her hand away from Kurumi's
mouth,
"After doing a little rough thing, then stopping just before reaching the good
part, I'm very sorry… I have to go to punish that younger sister of mine."
Seemingly reluctant to part,
"As for the continuation of this, next time…"
"Ple-Please, don't worry about it...Really."
Kurumi said while her face reddened. It will really trouble her if they
continue this later── In fact, she wanted to forget everything that happened
in this courtyard to begin with.
"──In that case"
Lucia followed after Nina who went ahead and ran to the other side of the
courtyard.
Kurumi who was left sunk down on the lawn above in her underwear.
"Good for you, Kurumi-dono. Lucia-sama seems to be very pleased with
you."
"Yeah, to the point of disintegrating my clothes and pushing me down…"
To the sarcasm that Kurumi returned, Lucy without minding at all,
"You don't have to worry about the clothes, because I'll make it over properly
in return…"
As she picked up and gathered the pieces of her tattered clothes,
"Well then, Kurumi-dono… Please wait for a little bit. Because you probably
won't be able to come back to the room in that figure, I will bring something
for you to wear."
Then at that timing,
"──No, that won't be necessary♪"
Just beside Lucy, a succubus younger than Maria appeared suddenly.
"Eh...?" "──Sheera-sama!?"
To Kurumi who became dumbfounded, Lucy who was startled leaned back
and made a stance, but she was too late. Sheera, as she stuck her forehead to
the forehead of Lucy, while looking into her eyes,
"──Return to your room alone, and begin mending Kurumi's clothes."
"......…Yes, Sheera-sama"
Then, Lucy's eyes became drowsy and returned an obedient nod to Sheera at
once.
"If you are asked by Lucia when she returns, well… tell her that Kurumi
came back to Mio's room first── is that Ok?"
As Lucy nodded with a "yes" at Sheera's order, she returned inside the
building and went just as it is.
"......…"
Kurumi who's thoughts couldn't catch up with the sudden events,
"That was a close call, Kurumi-chan...but now that I've come, it's already
OK♪"
The moment she said so, the Loli-Mom-Succubus smiled.