—After seeing off Basara, Mio, and Yuki on their
way to school in front of the house.
Zest, who returns to the Toujou household, is in
the living room to do the chores of the day.
And then, Maria who's sitting on the sofa,
looking at the laptop on the table,
"Mm… Which is good?"
She lets out troubled murmurs as she knits her
eyebrows together.
"…Maria. Is that another pornographic game?"
"No way Zest-san, it's totally different!"
At Zest's exasperated voice, Maria looks at her,
vexed,
"I'm thinking of the best present for Kurumisan"
"For Kurumi-san…?"
She looks at Kurumi who's in the garden
practicing her spiritual powers through the window,
then Zest moves next to Maria.
And then, seeing the laptop, she can see electric
massagers,
"I don't remember Kurumi-san having sore
muscles?"
Her master is not just Basara; as a maid, Zest
must take care of everyone in the Toujou
household, and of course that includes Kurumi.
With that,
"No, no, I was thinking of having this used by
Basara-san as part of Kurumi-san's training"
"Kurumi-san's training…"
As she repeats Maria's words, Zest understands
what this is for.
—Maria is planning to use this against Kurumi's
weak point, her armpit.
But,
"Maria… Kurumi-san doesn't have the masterservant contract with Basara-sama, I don't think it's
necessary to go all the way with things like this"
Zest says, expressing her concern,
"Zest-san… You're wrong there"
Maria shakes her head with a sigh,
"It's true that Kurumi-san doesn't have the
master-servant contract with Basara-san right now.
But can we say it'd be the same going into the
future?"
"That's—"
Zest is unable to deny the possibility that Maria
said,
"In that case, how would it be if Kurumi-san is
the only one with a low submission level to Basarasan? She would realize her issue next to Mio-sama,
Yuki-san, and Zest-san too… She would feel she's
holding everyone back. Are you saying you won't
mind if she's sad because of that?"
"—"
Zest is dumbfounded by Maria's words.
—Since she reunited with Basara and company in
the demon realm.
Kurumi has been stuck between her duties as a
member of the hero clan and her feelings.
Kurumi, who doesn't have a master-servant
contract, still wants to be the same as the others.
Zest had once comforted her regarding it together
with Basara.
As a result, they were able to alleviate Kurumi's
heavy feelings temporarily but… To be able to truly
save Kurumi from that, they need not something
temporary, but for her to tie the master-servant
contract with Basara.
…I'm so foolish.
Zest regrets this –she's really reflecting on this.
It's true that right now, it might not be possible
due to various circumstances.
…But it's possible that this will change in the
future.
At that time, they'd like to ensure that Kurumi
isn't left behind.
"Anyway, Zest-san. So that Kurumi-san isn't sad
in the future, I'll buy the massager, and I'll tune it up
so it can be used for the training"
Says Maria.
"The cost for this… We can put it on the
household card, right?"
"—Of course,"
Zest nods instantly.
…She's glad that they can do something to
comfort Kurumi.
It seems like it's a hidden danger, but they're able
to avoid it by a hair's breadth.
With that,
"Zest-san… If it's shipped out now, it should
arrive tomorrow. But we have to pay for that"
"No matter the cost, it's fine. I believe it would
be best for it to arrive as soon as possible"
Zest says that as if it was the most natural thing.
…Please wait, Kurumi-san…
Zest gazes towards the window, vowing as she
watches Kurumi who's practicing in the garden.
For such a sweet girl to hold such pain.
Quickly –she'd express to Basara to advance her
training even tonight.