1
Naruse Mio, chased out of the Toujo House, came to a park on a hill
with Maria.
It was the park, where she had watched the sunset after cycling
around the city on Basara's bicycle.
—30 minutes since they had arrived there. Mio silently watched the
glow of the city at night.
It was a beautiful sight. The glow of the buildings and the light of
cars or trains appeared just like an illumination. Mio thought, if that
was how it looked when one looked down from the stars in the sky.
…Just like he said.
Remembering about the guy that taught her about this beautiful
view, Mio frowned slightly.
"I knew coming together would be impossible…"
Back then, Mio had replied with a vague answer on Basara's
suggestion. Because she had known. That there wouldn't be such a
chance. Ever since they met, they had deceived Basara.
"Excuse me, Mio-sama… please do cheer up."
Maria next to her looked up at her with worried eyes. Her
appearance was back to one of a human.
"We were just unlucky that they turned out to be Heroes. With
someone else, I am sure—"
"No, Maria… let's put an end to all the deceiving."
Mio shook her head.
"I wanted a base without involving anyone if possible, but… deceiving
someone for that is certainly not to my liking."
It wasn't like they were penniless. Mio's late foster father left them
plenty of savings. But for a base, a single house was the best. If they
carelessly rented an apartment or mansion in a living complex, the
other inhabitants might get dragged in.
However, Mio was a minor to begin with. Furthermore, without
relatives. And Maria was a child by appearance.
Like this they obviously couldn't buy a place, nor rent. Of course it
was possible that Maria manipulated memories with her magic, but she
would have to manipulated the memories of a lot of people, if they
wanted to buy a house as a minor and live without drawing the
suspicion from the real estate office. Moreover, the memories would
need to match each person's position and relationships. The memory
manipulation magic wasn't that powerful.
That was why Mio and Maria had done such a roundabout way.
"I understand… I will abide by your words, Mio-sama."
Maria didn't object. She must have understood her feelings. With a
soft smile,
"That is what makes you kind, Mio-sama… I personally do not see
any problem with deceiving a human that approaches us with ulterior
motives though."
"Maybe…"
Maria said something reasonable. After their current parents had
passed away, the lawyer entrusted with the will had tried to deceive
Mio to steal her inheritance. When Mio had walked around at night
with Maria, guys had approached them worried, yet with the ulterior
motive in the open. Therefore they became unable to trust anyone than
themselves. However if guys like them existed, they thought it wouldn't
be bad to deceive them. After all, both sides were lying.
—So, one month ago, when they were surrounded by delinquents in
the city, Jin had come to their rescue.
They couldn't trust him either. He would just deceive them as well.
He would betray them in the end…That was what they thought.
That was the reason Maria manipulated his memories and planned to
take over the house. But, by doing so, they turned into the same kind as
these guys.
"…But, who could have imagined that these two were Heroes."
Mio showed a self-mocking smile. She wasn't blaming them for
hiding their lineage. They had done the same. Of course they might be
able to overwhelm Basara if they went back to the house now and
fought at full power. There was a possibility to make that house their
base then.
"But…"
Jin and Basara both had been different from the others they had
deceived. She thought that she might have found people she could put
her trust in, for the first time after the death of her parents.
…But.
What was the point of that now. It was too late. Time couldn't be
turned back. Upon that,
"Mio-sama…"
Maria next to her called with a calm tone.
"Sorry… We need to figure out what to do from now on, but first we
need a place to stay tonight."
But Maria lightly shook her head to the side. And then, she said with
a slightly stiff voice.
"No—It looks like there is something we have to do before that."
On these words, Mio noticed the surrounding atmosphere.
Unnoticed, the park had become ominous quiet. An unnatural
silence. Mio immediately understood what that meant. For the past
half year, she had gotten the necessary knowledge.
"Magic to keep humans away…."
Mio or Maria hadn't used it. Then there was only one explanation.
"Please watch out… It is an enemy."
Maria glared in front of her. Upon that, there was a movement in the
darkness there.
What appeared from the shadow were three ominous shades. These
shades gradually changed shape.
One changed into a [shadow] that had a black humanoid silhouette
with a long hilted scythe, like a death god.
The remaining two into a magical lion beasts with wings—A
manticore.
Without a doubt, it was devils. And most likely servants of the
current Devil Lord. They emitted a blatant bloodlust. It exposed their
existence. And also their aim. Therefore,
"I see… To think that you would come on your own accord."
Mio challengingly glared at the three [enemies].
Her squeezed out voice was faintly trembling. It wasn't out of fear.
But out of—anger.
"Unforgivable… I'll avenge my parents…."
Needless to say, Mio learned the truth and her lineage from Maria
after her parents' death. That she, Naruse Mio, was the only daughter
of the previous Devil Lord. And that the two people she considered as
her parents were just foster parents.
As unbelievable as it was, she accepted it when Maria showed her
true appearance and magic.
Yes. Mio's parents weren't related by blood to her. They might just
have raised and looked after her because of an order from her real
father.
….But.
Naruse Mio thought. The two that raised her were surely her
parents.
Rather than the real father she never met, they were her precious
family.
That was why she would never forgive it. Mio certainly had yet to
awaken the power of her father—of the Devil Lord. Still,
"Kindly getting rid of all humans… Fine, bring it on."
Mio inherited something in the blood of her father. That was—the
talent for magic.
"Prepare yourselves… I'll kill you a hundred times."
At the same time she said that, Mio's body emitted a crimson aura.
She released her own magical power.
—Usually. The magical aura was a negative black.
The magical surge emitted by the enemies right now was a jet black,
darker than the night.
In regards to that, Maria or moderate Devils like Mio's father
Wilbert had a blue aura. It was a color of those that had sworn to free
themselves off the revenge against the God Tribe.
The aura of magical power changed color depending on the heart of
the devil that used it.
But—Mio must have sworn revenge for her killed parents and
chosen the path of hostility.
So when she learned how to use her magical power from Maria, her
aura was neither black, nor blue, but a scarlet even more brilliant than
blood. The kind of crimson color that burnt unforgivable enemies to
ashes.
"—Okay, let's get started."
Special abilities like magic essentially didn't exist in this world.
Average humans couldn't perceive that phenomena. Therefore they
couldn't interfere here. And—Mio's words were the sign for the
beginning of the battle.
The two manticore [shadows] closed in to them simultaneously. On
this coordinated movement,
"Eat this!"
Mio released an offence magic. A flash and a explosion sounded at
the same time. A lightning magic crashed down from the sky. But, the
two shadows burst though the dust created by the attack.
Manticores. These keen-witted magical beasts must have dodged the
lightning.
…What about the scythe guy…
She could no longer feel the presence of the enemy in the soaring
dust. He must have been defeated by the lightning magic. In that case,
Mio shifted her senses back to the two magical beasts.
"Mio-sama, I will go next."
Maria besides her kicked the ground and flew forward, standing in
the way of the manticores. However it was a disadvantaged two vs. one
with an overwhelming difference in physiques.
"———"
The manticores, deciding to finish off Maria, who gave an easy target,
first, split up to the right and left and made a pinching movement from
the sides. Closing the distance, one came at Maria with it's fangs, the
other with it's claws. A combined attack from the side and top. The
only available option for Maria to dodge it was retreating. However,
"Ahahaha, so foolish."
Along with a laughter, Maria leaped forward. She headed for the
right leg of one of the manticores—the one that tried to kill her with
it's fangs. She closed the distance in an instant and when she was close
enough to reach it with her hands,
"Please entertain me a bit."
Saying so, she swung down her right fist on the giant magical beast's
head.
—Unlike Mio, Maria didn't specialize in offensive magic.
Then how was she fighting? That was answered—by a roar and an
impact. The manticore, who received Maria's fist, crashed flattened into
the ground. That impact hollowed the ground, making a crater. In it's
center, the manticore didn't move an inch anymore. It even lost it's
shape. Maria looked down on these remains and snorted scorning with
a hmpf.
"Is that all… So boring. Please resist unsightly and make me wet."
Then she moved her gaze to a new target.
But the magical beasts approaching Maria from the right changed his
own course. It was plunging itself towards Mio. Mio didn't move. And
the raised, sharp claw swung down on Mio.
KEEEEEK! With a metallic sound, the claw was repelled. The
ferocious attack of the magical beasts had been fended off by a
transparent wall that Mio had set up previously. Mio held up her right
hand towards the manticore.
"It's over—Die a hundred times and try again."
At the same time she declared calmly, the red ball of light that Mio
had created hit it directly.
After the explosion—there was not a single dust of it left.
"Are you unhurt, Mio-sama?"
On Maria's outcall from afar, Mio nodded with a "Yes".
…These guys had finally made their move.
It had been half a year since the murder of her parents—since the
start of the tragedy.
The enemy hadn't used any flashy attacks so far, but now they had
finally come after her.
"Fine… Just bring it on."
Naruse Mio would never forgive the enemy that killed her parents.
And she would definitely defeat the current Devil Lord that gave the
order for it. At all costs.
"—Oh, we better get away from here."
By defeating the enemy, the magic to keep humans away should have
been lifted. The place was a complete mess due to Mio and Maria's
attacks.
They would get reported if a by-passer saw this.
…But, before that.
One last time, Mio looked at the night scenery of the city. At the
scenery she was supposed to look at with the boy.
—That was an opening.
"Mio-sama!"
When she turned around on Maria's scream, a [shadow] stood in
front of Mio.
The enemy that was supposed to be defeated by the first lightning
magic. It's hand glowed with black magical power.
Not good—Mio immediately erected a barrier, but it was a bit too
late. The [shadow] released a lightning attack magic, which lost steam
midway by colliding with the barrier, but directly hit Mio nevertheless.
On that impact, Mio was blown backwards. The park was build on
higher grounds—a hill. Mio had watched over the city from it's edge.
Right before the cliff.
The wooden fence to prevent falls was aging and couldn't absorb
Mio's fall.
Therefore. Slung away over the cliff, Mio started to fall down.
"Kuh…!"
Mio tried to activate a wind magic right away, but failed to.
Due to the enemy's lightning attack, she couldn't move her body
properly and couldn't focus her mind enough to cast magic.
…At this rate…!
It should be more than ten meters until the road below.
The ground was asphalt. Mio's body simply would be unable to
endure the impact of the crash.
Mio cursed her own carelessness. Was dying here her fate?
Was this her life, dying without avenging the murder of her parents?
She tightly closed her eyes in despair and frustration—At that time.
Mio heard a single sound.
It was a voice. A shouted voice that prolonged the vocal "o".
….Eh?
So Mio faced the voice. To right beside her. Upon that,
"—Oooooooh!"
On the tile of the concrete surface of the wall that guarded against
soil slides. With that as his foothold, a single boy ran sideways with a
terrific speed into her direction.
At the time Mio realized who it was, she was embraced in midair—
by Toujou Basara.
"—Whoops!"
Catching Mio, Basara twisted his body in midair. Mio's vision
alternated between top and bottom. And carrying Mio, Basara landed
on the ground without troubles. There should have been still quite the
distance to the ground. And Basara managed to cushion the landing by
just using his lower body as an elastic spring.
"...….Fuh."
In his arms, Mio heard Basara making a breath of relief. Then she
was slowly lowered onto the ground.
Still affected by the enemy's lightning magic, she sat on the ground.
"Why…"
Mio looked up to Basara. She still couldn't fully believe that she was
saved.
Why did Basara save her? She didn't know the answer to that.
"Well, that's—"
Basara tried to save something awkwardly.
"—Watch out!"
It was negated by Maria's shout from the top of the cliff.
Naruse Mio looked. Behind Basara, who looked at her, the [shadow]
came down jumping. Most likely as soon as it noticed Basara, it had
jumped down the cliff in pursuit.
It had already gotten in range and was about to about launch a slash
with it's scythe.
—But, that slash didn't happen. Before it could, the torso of the
[shadow] was perfectly split in half. It took only an instant. For the
sword to appear in Basara's hand and cutting the enemy in a flash in the
turning motion. An unbelievable agility and swift swordsmanship.
"........"
In front of the now dumbfounded Mio, Basara erased the sword
from his hand.
When he then turned around to her, his face had a somehow
troubled expression.
"Ah… ehm, you see…"
He was looking for words. While scratching his cheeks, Basara let his
gaze wander around a bit.
And then—He slowly held out his hand to her.
".....We're going home."
Without making eye-contact with her, he said brusque.
2
—For now, let's return home together.
After overcoming the predicament, Basara had proposed so, but Mio
was still wary.
Basara was a Hero. Mio and Maria were devils. And Mio and Maria
had deceived Basara. Taking all that into consideration, there was no
reason whatsoever for Basara to save Mio.
She could tell that Basara had no hostility, but she was hesitant about
her decision for a while. She must have considered the possibility of a
trap. Amidst that, Maria convinced Mio as her follower. That there was
no reason for Basara to trick them into a roundabout trap. If he wanted
to kill them, he could have done so previously in the living room or
could have not helped Mio just now.
So, before long Mio gave a small nod on Maria's persuasion.
And now presently—Toujou Basara was standing in the kitchen of
his own house.
He took a well-cooled barley tea out of the fridge, poured it into a
glass and took it with him into the living room.
"Ah, thank you."
When Maria took the glass, she drank the whole tea in one go. Basara
inadvertently raised an eyebrow.
"…Now, you sure drank that without any hesitation."
Wasn't that too careless in any event?
"Well, sure it was me who said to come back here, but…"
"—be a bit more wary, you mean?"
With "I already said it", Maria set the empty glass on the table.
"You have no reason to do something so troublesome as to bring us
back home and poison the drink after following us all the way to save
us, despite throwing us out of the house once before."
Besides,
"You seriously were angered when you found out that we deceived
you. That was because you truly considered us to be your family. Then
these ten days we spent together, the time you came into contact with
us, were by no means a lie. So I believe it is fine to trust you."
Maria shifted her gaze and asked "Or am I wrong?".
"I see…"
So she actually did give it some thoughts.
"…Well, Mio-sama's personality is like that, so she will be a bit
obstinate for a bit longer."
Maria looked to the door of the living room.
"I hope she will settle down a bit in the bath."
Japanese summers were hot even at night. Fighting outside in this
humidity, you would sweat by all means.
Therefore, Maria had recommended Mio to take a bath as soon as
they got back to the house.
"—Anyway, may I ask at this point?"
Maria said.
"About why you, a Hero, wanted to help us devils."
"Even if you ask… I just heard about your circumstances from my
dad."
While scratching his cheek, Basara told her his reason for saving
them. It was about Mio's circumstances, the Devil's general situation
and the moderate faction, which Jin had all looked up. Therefore,
"My dad couldn't leave you guys alone and neither could I… I could
never abandon you while I know of your circumstances. I mean, she
bears no sin."
Naruse Mio had been living as just a simple girl. Having her life in
peril due to other's conveniences was just too much. When Basara
finished his talk with a serious tone, a natural silence befell the living
room. Maria, who had cast down her eyes while listening to him, soon
"… I see, Jin-san did."
said with a meek expression and then suddenly raised her face.
"That sounds thankworthy, but—staying quiet when he knew
everything, he is the worst."
"Well, I won't deny that."
But, he believed that it wasn't really her place to say anything, seeing
as they had deceived him as well.
"—But, I see that you two Heroes helped us simply because of that."
Saying so, Maria gave him a look that asked for his real intentions.
"Actually, the villagers' decision to put us under surveillance is the
kind of reaction you would expect, is it not?"
Maria's doubt was reasonable. No matter how much one
sympathized with their circumstances, there was no reason for a Hero
to help a devil. Yeah—Normally there wasn't, but
"I already told you that I don't have any ties with the Heroes or
Devils…. Some stuff happened in the past, you know. Because of that,
my dad and I are no longer Heroes now. Just simple humans, unrelated
to the village."
Though it gave Basara's heart a never-fading wound.
But well, he was no longer tied down by the Hero's destiny.
"If I want to protect something, I will do so… That's all to it."
"Even if it's a devil—one who has inherited the Devil Lord's power?
By protecting Mio-sama, you are putting yourself in harm's way,
Basara-san."
Basara nodded a "Yeah" to Maria's reminding observation.
"As long as you don't cause any harm to this world or it's habitants."
Upon that, Maria showed a wry smile.
"…You are such good-hearted people, both you and Jin-san."
"Not really. We're just wilful…. Like father, like son."
Therefore, Jin had readily decided to throw away the Hero status on
the day the tragedy befell the village, the time when Basara caused that
incident. So now—it was Basara's turn.
"…I understand. If that is the case, I will take you up on your
kindness. Right now… Mio-sama needs as many allies as possible."
Maria's calm tone was filled with a heavy pressure. Then Maria
corrected her seating position and bowed down deeply into his
direction.
"Basara-san… My apologies for deceiving you so far. You will be
dragged into our peril, but please take care of us. Please lend us your
power, so Mio-sama will be safe."
A formal tone. The words of a subordinate who's worried about her
master from the bottom of her heart. Therefore,
"Yeah. That's the plan."
Basara once again spoke out his resolve. He couldn't keep running
away from the past forever.
In that case, he would pick up the sword again and fight. To his
current self, neither Hero nor Devil mattered.
I want to protect Mio—There was no lie in that feeling. He believed
in that feeling.
"Well then, ehm… Maria-chan."
"Just Maria is fine. After all, we will be comrades now."
"I see—Then, Maria, except for the part with the attack, let's live
together normally like we have until now. We're still not sure about the
enemy's aim anyway."
"Eh? But, they directly came after Mio-sama…"
Maria asked back puzzled.
"Well… It just doesn't make sense to me."
Basara made a serious expression.
"The guys from the Devil Lord faction should be after the inherited
power from the previous Devil Lord Wilbert itself, instead of Mio.
Moreover, she hasn't fully awakened the power yet. If she dies now, no
one knows who would inherit the power next—In the worst case,
Wilbert's power might vanish just like that."
But,
"When you were attacked at the park, she could have died if I hadn't
made it in time. Of course you never know what will happen in an
actual battle, but…"
Was it just a coincidence, or were they after something different? He
could think of a few possibilities, but time would surely solve it. After
all, the enemy wouldn't pull back in silence now.
"I'm sure they also noticed that you guys have been put under
surveillance by the Heroes. If they recklessly involved unrelated
humans, they themselves will become termination targets next. It's
unlikely they'll attack in crowded places."
That's precisely was why they used magic to keep away humans from
the park this time.
"Well if they attack next time, we'll get them for sure."
Upon that, Maria said happily.
"So reassuring. I only saw a bit of it, but you seem rather strong,
Basara-san."
"Well, don't expect too much… I haven't really fought for five years
now."
He had managed to materialize the magic sword Brynhildr, but his
body had grown quite dull.
It still wasn't in it's former condition. He would have to train from
scratch in his free time or it would turn out bad.
"But. Earlier you erased my wind magic here. I was really surprised
by that."
"Mh? Ahh…"
On Maria's words, Basara made a peaceful expression and
"I'm afraid that—was a fluke."
Basara shrugged his shoulders, whereupon Maria sharpened her eyes
with "Oh please".
"There is no way you can erase magic completely on a fluke. Just
what kind of technique was it?"
Maria was full of curiosity, whereas Basara showed a wry smile and
dropped his gaze to his right hand.
"Sorry, but it really was a fluke…"
—Yeah, it had to be a fluke.
After all, that technique—became unusable after that incident five
years ago.
3
If drenched in sweat in the middle of summer, a shower was the
better choice.
At first, Mio had intended to do so. She wanted to get out after
quickly rinsing off the sweat.
—However, right now she let her body immerse in the hot water of
the bathtub.
"...….."
Mio tightly embraced her body in the bathtub. Even though it was
summer, she felt surprisingly cold.
…For the first time, I…
Since half a year ago—ever since her parents were killed, Mio had
trained in magic and combat by Maria's instruction.
Thanks to that, she became able to chant magic even stronger than
Maria's.
But an actual combat… A fight with her life at stake, that was a first
for her earlier. Defeating the enemy. A wrong step might lead to death.
Without doubt, a fight to the death had taken place there. Yeah—if
Basara hadn't come to save her, Mio might have smashed onto the
asphalt like that and died. When she thought of that, her body
trembled beyond control.
For already nearly thirty minutes, Mio sat in the bathtub hugging
onto her knees.
—A while ago, Maria had come once to check on her. She must have
been worried since Mio just wouldn't come out. When Mio replied to
her, Maria seemed to be relieved in the anteroom.
And then, Maria told her about the conversation with Basara.
Including the reason why Basara saved her.
"I have to get out…"
She couldn't stay in the bath forever. Mio slowly left the bath.
When she wiped her wet body with a towel in the anteroom, she
inadvertently leaked an isolated mumble.
"Is it really okay…?"
Mio was still uncertain if it was alright to rely on Basara.
It wasn't like she distrusted Basara. In the ten days they had spent
together, she came to understand what kind of person Basara was,
without having Maria tell her. He was the kind of boy that would come
running over once he knew of their circumstances, regardless of being
deceived before. And apparently him being a Hero was also a thing of
the past. It was probably alright to trust him.
Mio put her feet one by one into the new shorts and pulled it up
over her knees and thighs up to her bottom.
…The problem is.
Whether it was alright to drag Basara into Mio's circumstances. The
parents who raised her were killed. Moreover, by the guys who also
killed her real father. Even though she didn't do anything wrong, her
family was unreasonably taken away from her—Naruse Mio
remembered that day vividly.
She would never forgive them. No matter how many enemies she had
to make, she would definitely avenge their deaths.
Vowing so in her heart, she had lived the past half-year. And today,
the battle had finally started.
The enemy was the new Devil Lord who reigned over the demon
realm. Most likely, battles like earlier—no, even harsher and more
painful battles would take place from now on. Was it really alright to
drag Basara and Jin into these battles that were unrelated to them? As
they both had given up on battles along with their Hero status.
"......…"
Then Mio finished dressing. Night had already fallen, but they still
had a lot to discuss about the future, so she didn't dress in pyjamas, but
a rough casual wear.
Her own expression reflected in the bath's mirror looked unusually
gloomy, quite so.
As Mio squeezed her own body, there was a reserved knock on the
door of the anteroom from the outside.
"Sorry, Maria… I'll be right there."
Thinking that she made her worry again, Mio replied so, whereupon
"Ah… No, it's me."
On hearing the somewhat awkward voice beyond the door, Mio
inadvertently gulped. She still wasn't sure what to say to Basara. She
knew she couldn't keep quiet. But she found no words.
—Basara saved her life when she fell down the cliff after receiving
that attack.
Mio had no words to say to that Basara. Upon that,
"Sorry. I thought about waiting until you were out, but… But there's
one thing I absolutely want to tell you beforehand."
Just what is it—Before Mio could ask so, she received the answer.
"—Forgive me."
For a moment, she couldn't comprehend what Basara said.
"Wh-Why are you apologizing?"
When she inadvertently responded with a trembling voice, Basara
continued apologetically from beyond the door.
"I heard about you from my dad and Maria. Sorry, I… didn't know
anything about you. And then earlier, I just snapped… I'm really
sorry."
"Th-That's…."
What to do? Even though she was the one that caused troubles by
deceiving him. Despite that, the one who saved her life apologized. And
even before she could. Now she was at a loss for words even more.
"~~~~~"
Her vision swayed. An indescribable feeling rose in her. Suddenly,
Mio heard a loud noise. Before she noticed it, she had fallen on her
backside on the floor. Before she understood that her legs had given in,
"H-Hey! Are you okay?"
Surprised by the sudden loud noise, the anteroom door opened and
Basara came inside.
When Basara entered the anteroom, Mio had sunk down on the
floor.
Her face was red. Staying in the bath close to an hour, she must have
gotten dizzy.
"Don't stay so long in the bath that you're unable to stand
anymore… C'mon, you okay?"
His offered hand was shaken off. And Mio made a teary expression
even now.
"Why are you apologizing… Even though I deceived you."
In response, Basara scratched his head with the hand that had
nothing else to do now.
"I also hid the fact about me being a Hero in the past. So we're
even."
"B-But, we tried to take over this house… To chase you out. Can you
still call that even?"
On Mio's strong tone, Basara bluntly declared.
"No… That certainly was your bad."
But, he said with a calm expression.
"You guys didn't know I was a Hero. If you just wanted a house,
there should have been a better and faster method for that instead of
manipulating memories with magic. By force, that is. But you didn't do
that and tried to make me go back to the countryside."
Why?
"You did that—to keep me away from your battles, right?"
On Basara's uttered guess, Mio widened her eyes in surprise.
Apparently he hit the bulls-eye.
"Why…"
Mio mumbled, dumbfounded.
"Logically speaking, the time we spent together would be an act and
chasing me out of the house would be your real intention. But, I
actually have an eye for people. I might have snapped at first, but after
hearing the circumstances from my dad, I calmed down and
understood it." One breath.
"You didn't reveal your true colors—It's the opposite. You put on an act
to chase me out of the house."
But, Basara continued.
"There's no longer a reason to keep doing that. Both my dad and I
decided to protect you two. I mean, we're already a family."
"Wh-What are you saying… The remarriage was a complete lie."
Mio still wouldn't back down from her obstinate attitude, so Basara
told her.
"So what. A family isn't just based on blood-relations or a family
register. Living together with the desire to protect each other, that's
already a family."
So he would protect her at all costs.
"I'm no longer a Hero. We have no blood-relation, nor a family
register, but I'm your older brother. So, let me protect—you."
Declaring so, Basara then forcefully took Mio's hand and made her
stand up.
"Yah… H-Hey!"
"Well then, let's get along again."
Facing each other, Basara grinned at her, whereupon Mio made a
frustrated expression with "Muh~".
"St-Stop touching me already! Get out! I'll kill you a hundred
times!"
"Oh my—Seems you two opened up to each other."
Saying so, Maria came into the anteroom. She trotted over to Mio.
"Well, though it seems that Mio-sama has not become fully honest
yet."
"I, I'm not really, well…"
Mio turned red and hemmed and hawed, whereupon Maria, along
with a smile,
"Then all is well. Truth be told, I have a little suggestion for you two
now."
"Suggestion…?"
He knew that they had to discuss the future, but a "suggestion"
rather than a "consultation"? Basara gave a doubtful silence, whereupon
Maria nodded with a "Yeah".
"From now on, Basara-san will fight by my side to protect Mio-sama.
Basara-san is Mio-sama's guard, so to speak. But with the current
situation, he might not always be able to come to the aid if we end up
separated for some reason."
"Well, yeah…"
Certainly, it was partly due to luck that Basara reached Mio. He had a
strong hunch, since he told her at that park that they should come
together again at night. So he left the house and headed there
immediately. Of course, he had confirmed her position with the cell
phone GPS, but he caught the falling Mio on a close call. He couldn't
deny the possibility that he would have been too late if he had checked
her position on the GPS before starting to run.
"But, there is nothing we can do about that. We should be careful
from now on that we don't get separated and in case we do, the GPS—"
"That's too naïve! You never know when a cell phone breaks down
or runs out of battery! At a crucial time the reception might be bad as
well or you could drop it on an enemy's attack! If you keep relying on
such a thing, you might even fall into a trap in the worst case! Blindly
trusting in modern science will do you no good!"
"Well, you have a point, but…"
Basara was overwhelmed by Maria's sudden passionate outburst.
Upon that, Mio besides him, said:
"But, is there any other way? There isn't any perfect detection
magic."
Exactly, was what Basara thought. Detection magic itself was
rudimentary. However, in a fight it was one's first priority not to get
found. Therefore there were various spells like magic barriers or decoy
magic that prevented or mislead detection, so detection magic was
pretty pointless for actual combat. But, Maria showed a smile,
"It is possible, to track down a special target. With the 'Master and
Servant Contract Magic'—when you link your souls."
Something completely covered the floor of the living room.
The interweaving runes drawn by magic, were a huge magical circle
for a ritual.
"…Are we really going to do it?"
In front of the magic circle, Basara said with an unenthusiastic voice.
The Master and Servant Magic turned one into a master and the
other into the servant. But Mio might become the future Devil Lord.
Position and personality-wise, there was no way she would become
Basara's servant.
Naturally, Maria also had suggested it on the condition that Basara
would become the servant. But,
"Please do not give it too much thought, Basara-san. With this, you
two will be able to feel each other's presence. It certainly will form a
Master-Servant contract, but it will just be a formality."
On Maria's persuasion, Basara was still indecisive.
"Linking each others souls with magic… That's all good for
pinpointing each other's position, but when you even end up knowing
about the other's thoughts, it'll be quite awkward."
There would no longer be any privacy. However, Maria shook her
head.
"Do not worry about that—That is not the purpose of the magic."
Purpose? Basara frowned. Upon that, Maria
"More importantly, this magic is special as it can only be used in this
world on a night with a full moon. If we let this chance go by, we have
no other method. Besides, if any inconveniences arise from the
contract, we can always annul it on the next full moon. Now then,
please stand here already, Basara-san."
"Well… even if you say all that."
Besides, wasn't it harder on a girl than on a boy? Basara turned
around.
"Say something. You don't want to have your soul linked to mine by
magic, right?"
He called out to Mio, who had stayed silent the whole time. Upon
that,
"…..N-Not really. I'm fine with it."
He got an unexpected reply. Inadvertently Basara frowned as he
thought that he heard wrong.
"I, If you're alright with it… I don't mind either."
Saying so bashful, Mio gave him a quick glance. And then,
"Basara—you're against it?"
"Eh? Well, rather than being against it… But are you really fine with
it?"
"…Yeah. If it's just about each other's locations."
Ohh, it seemed she was serious.
…Master and Servant Contract, huh.
As her guard, it certainly was an attractive offer to be able to track
down Mio's position.
Normally, a Hero becoming a devil's servant was out of the question,
but sadly enough Basara was just a battlewise average human. With the
reliable Jin currently absent, he would like to eliminate all possible
uneasiness for the future. Still—if possible, Basara wanted to stay on
equal terms with Mio. Because he thought it would be better to stay as
a family, as her older brother. And because Mio was raised by humans,
even though her father was the Devil Lord, and lived as a normal
human girl so far.
…But.
Toujou Basara remembered. The expression he saw on Mio's face,
slumped down on the floor, when he came into the anteroom.
Her expression back then had been quite gloomy. And—the exact
same face was now in front of Basara's eyes. Most likely, Mio was full
of worry, which made her accept the Master and Servant contract. So,
if forming the contract eased even a little bit of Mio's worries—it
wasn't such a bad deal. The contract wasn't forever and only a
formality with the possibility of annulling it. With that, he could
temporarily form a contract with her until Jin came back. Therefore,
Basara made a sigh.
"Okay——So? What do I have to do for that Master and Servant
contract?"
Upon that, Maria, hearing his acceptance, instantly formed a smile
on her face.
"Thank you. Well then, Basara-san, please stand on the side of the
entrance… Yes, right there. That is the side for the servant. And, Miosama, please stand by the window side."
When both of them stood in their positions, the preparations for the
magic started at once.
"Now then—Mio-sama, please hold my hand."
"Your hand? I just have to hold it?"
Seeing Mio obeying Maria by taking her hand,
"Huh… Mio and my souls are going to be linked, yet she's going to
hold your hand, Maria?"
Wouldn't the three of them get linked then? Upon that, Maria
nodded a "Yes".
"Mio-sama is using this magic for the first time, so I will take part as
an assistance this time. Besides, I think it will be more effective if Miosama chants the spell with my magical powers, instead of her own."
Well, if that was the case. Then Mio, after getting told the chant by
Maria, took a deep breath.
"Th-Then let's start…"
Saying so with a bit of a nervous expression—she started the chant.
Instantly, first the magic circle on the floor started glowing, then Mio's
body and following even Basara's body was bathed in the same light.
Seemed it was right that she was only lending her magical power, as
Maria's body stayed as it was.
And then—When Mio finished the chant before long, Maria faced
him.
"Soon enough a magic circle will appear on Mio's right hand for a
while. So please take her hand, Basara-san, and place a kiss on the
magic circle before it disappears. With that the Master and Servant
contract will be established."
"—Huh? Kiss?"
He didn't really mind a kiss on the hand, but it must have been a
formality needed for the contract. When Basara shrugged it off, the
magic circle faintly raised up.
But for some reason not towards Mio's hand—but onto Basara's.
"Eh…?"
As she couldn't comprehend the situation, Mio blinked her eyes. In
regards, Basara said doubtful.
"Hey… This got on my hand, but is that okay?"
"H-Hey! Just what is going on!?"
Mio changed her expression, grabbed Maria next to her by the collar
and shook her. Maria tilted her head.
"O-Oh my? That is strange… Did I make a mistake somewhere?"
"What now!? Th-This is…"
Basara wouldn't become Mio's servant, but Mio would become his.
"Ehm, for now, how about you kiss Basara-san's hand, Mio-sama?
You see, the contract will be reversed, but you still will be able to tell
each other's position, like originally planned."
The moment Maria said that, Mio's face turned bright red.
"Y-You must be joking! Why would I have to become Basara's
slave!"
No, slave kind of set a different nuance. Basara was against that as
well.
"However, at this rate… Ah."
Looking on Maria's raised voice, the magic circle on Basara's hand
was about to vanish.
"Mio-sama, hurry up! The magic circle, it is vanishing! We can annul
the contract later on, so please kiss it for now!"
"B-But… we can only annul it on the next full moon, right?
That's…"
Maria was impatient, but Mio was still hesitant, whereupon the
magic circle faded before long.
"Ahh…"
Seeing that, Maria raised a fragile voice. At that time,
"Mm… Eh? Wh-What… the!?"
Mio, as her body suddenly trembled with a shiver, raised a confused
voice. And then,
"No way… N-No…"
Turning red, she mumbled, then she slumped down on the floor.
And then her body started to shiver bit by bit.
"H-Hey… are you okay?"
Saying so, Basara grabbed Mio's shoulder. In that moment,
"—Hyaahn!"
Mio made a sweet outcry and also shivered her body greatly.
"Wh-What…!?"
When Basara removed his hand from the sudden reaction, Maria
next to him raised a flustered voice.
"Ahh… The curse is already in effect." "—The curse?" "Aww…"
Maria made a face like she had screwed up, which Basara quickly
took a hold of.
"Tell me more—without leaving out anything."
"Ah, Ahaha…."
When he brought his face as close as possible, Maria made a dry
laughter.
"Eh-Ehm, you know, the 'Master and Servant Contract' not only lets
you grasp each other's position, but the actual important part also is
that it always sustains the servant's loyalty. When the servant betrays
his master or feels guilty, the curse activates as a kind of punishment.
The curse normally is influenced by the chanter's characteristics, but
this time we used my magical power for the chant."
Still collapsed on the floor, Mio continued to make sweet and heavy
breathing along with turning red. Basara looked at her.
"Maria… if I'm right, you're a succubus."
"Yes. I can fight man-to-man, but usually I am a seductive devil."
"In other words—your succubus' aphrodisiac power turned into the
curse?"
"…I am afraid so."
"YOU IDIOOOT!"
Basara inadvertently shouted in a loud voice. Of course there was
also a problem with her trying to set a weird magic, but
"Why didn't you just let Mio use her own magical power? What
would you have done if I assaulted you guys due to the influence of the
aphrodisiac!"
"Ah, there is no reason to worry about that. The curse gets stronger
when the servant tries to oppose his master and assaulting one's master
is the ultimate form of betrayal. If it was attempted, the mind and body
can no longer control the pleasure and one will faint or have one's
brain roasted."
"The latter is too scary!"
That was the most nasty kind of death.
"Above all, it would most likely have been dangerous to have Miosama's ability characteristic. I mean, Mio-sama became able to use
magic after Wilbert-sama's death, after she inherited his strength. It is
yet to fully awaken, but it is highly likeable that she also inherited
Wilbert-sama's characteristic. Incidentally someone, who opposed
Wilbert-sama's contract in the past, seemed to have died by being
crushed by an invisible power. Therefore I skilfully bypassed the danger
of turning into a lump of meat due to the curse on a screw up with my
quick wittedness. Yeah, truly by a hair's breadth."
"What are you proud of? This situation is just as dangerous."
"Hah… R-Right!"
On Basara's retort, Maria was greatly perplexed and looked down on
Mio.
"At this rate, Mio-sama will go to heaven, in a double meaning! WhWhat should we do, Basara-san!?"
"Nah, a devil doesn't go to heaven upon death."
Basara said so wearily.
"But, the magic circle disappeared before the kiss. Doesn't that mean
the spell failed?"
"Yes… however, the magic had already been activated by finishing the
chant. And not kissing the magic circle means opposing loyalty itself."
"And so the curse activated strongly…"
This was the worst.
"Wh… Whatever, Mmh, just… just help me…"
Mio, with a completely enchanted expression, raised a bewitching
voice and bent her body back and forth.
It was quite erotic. Basara inadvertently gulped.
"…How do we stop the curse?"
"Since it is the Master and Servant Contract magic, the curse will
stop when the servant vows it's loyalty to the Master. After the
establishment of the contract, a light curse will stop after a set time, but
this time the contract itself was opposed—so first you have to
completely subdue her and properly bind the Master and Servant
Contract."
"Subdue her… What should I do?"
"It is simple—Please touch Mio-sama."
"Eh? T-Touch? …Where?"
Would a dispelling magical circle appear then? Upon that, Maria said
composed.
"Anywhere is fine. Right now, Mio-sama's senses are increased a lot
due to the aphrodisiac effect of the curse. Remember how she
sensitively reacted to your touch on her shoulder earlier? Mio-sama has
no experiences with men whatsoever, so she is unfamiliar with pleasure,
nor has any resistance against it. I believe she will become obedient and
vow her loyalty to you, Basara-san, if you touch her for about five
minutes."
"W-Wait, Maria… What, are you saying…"
Maria showed a luxuriously affectionate expression to the startled
Mio.
"Please bear with it a bit longer, Mio-sama. Right now, Basara-san
will make you feel better—yes, better indeed. It is by no means because
I, a succubus, want to see you fall into pleasure or anything. Now then,
Basara-san, please touch Mio-sama's embarrassing places already and
make her feel better."
"Didn't you say I could touch her wherever?"
"Yes. Still, I want to save Mio-sama as fast as possible. The longer it
takes, the greater the burden on her mind and body. If you truly want
to help her, I believe you should touch her most effective places to
make her submit as soon as possible. Well, if you prefer to tease her bit
by bit, I do not mind. I am also into that kind of thing."
"Kuh….. Aw, geez, I get it."
He couldn't let Mio die from something this stupid. Basara sat down
next to Mio.
"Yah… St-Stay away, idiot… If you do something weird, I'll kill you
a hundred times… Mm."
"…Sorry, but give up on that. I'll make it quick."
Basara calmly told Mio, who writhed her body along with hot and
long breathing, and reached out his hand for her.
First, he firmly held down her two arms, so that she wouldn't resist
him.
"——FUAAHN"
From just that, Mio leaped up her body in a shiver. The skin he
touched was clearly hot.
This heat and her erotic reaction nearly made him get discouraged
already, but
"Basara-san—This is for Mio-sama's sake. You are helping her."
"…Yeah, I know."
On Maria's murmured voice, Basara replaced his thinking.
In short, he just needed to make Mio submit and swear her loyalty
to him.
If that was the case.
Of course he never did something like that to a girl, but—as a Hero,
he was born with the talent for supernatural power.
To otherwise awaken a power, one must get acknowledged by the
spirits in this world and form a contract.
In other words, one must make the spirits acknowledge oneself.
Most likely even now the Master and Servant Contract would be
formed once Mio acknowledged Basara as her Master.
Therefore Basara calmed his heart and just thought about making
Mio acknowledge him.
To accomplish that, he had to touch Mio's weak spots, like Maria
had said.
"Yah… Ah, Mm… Mm."
Basara searched for Mio's weakest spot over her clothes, touching
her all over.
The curse must have been pretty strong. Wherever he touched, Mio
reacted sensitive and shivered her body while leaking a sweet voice. But
—After a while,
"Ah—HYAAAHN!?"
The moment Basara touched a certain place, Mio showed an
unbelievable reaction. Along with a remarkable loud voice, she fiercely
shivered her whole body. Basara inadvertently gulped and Maria
showed a smile.
"Apparently you found it… Mio-sama's weak spot."
What he looked at was, the symbols of a woman, two soft swellings
—Her breasts.
Therefore—Basara took a deep breath. Then he reached out for the
most sensitive spot.
With her whole body controlled by a sweet sensation, Naruse Mio
looked.
Basara's hand slowly reached out for her own breasts.
"N-No…"
She somehow managed to utter words of resistance, but Basara
didn't stop. Staring at her with eyes that seem to be from a whole
different person, he didn't allow Mio to resist any further.
…Wh-What now…. At this rate, I…
Mio clearly remembered the sweet stimulus that ran through her
whole body in the moment when Basara touched her breasts earlier.
Soon enough it would come again. Thinking so, she relaxed her body.
"A, Ahh…"
Finally Basara's hand touched Mio's breasts. In that moment, a sweet
sensation rushed through her whole body and Mio fiercely shivered her
body. It was the same sensation as earlier—No, an even stronger one.
"Yah… Not there, not…. Basaraa…"
Under Basara's body, Mio writhed her hips and said pleading words
with an enchanted voice.
But, Basara still didn't remove his hands from Mio's breasts.
And then—Mio finally saw her own breasts changing shape on
Basara's touch. She recognized the sweet sensation, but also how soft
and sensitive her own breasts were. Mio's big breasts were at a size,
where they spilled out of Basara's hands. Like accepting his five fingers
despite that, they crowded out between his finger on every rub, lewdly
changing shape.
Therefore she wouldn't deceive herself any longer. Naruse Mio knew
that the current sensation was pleasure.
This sweet sensation robbed the notion called thoughts from Mio.
And then the moment suddenly came.
"Ah—Y-YAAAAAAH!?"
After a moment of sense blankness—A fierce pleasure spark colored
Mio's vision snow-white.
A pleasant feeling gushed out from every pore of her body and she
felt like she was floating.
Her body stiffened up on it's own and Mio forgot to breath for a
moment.
"…, Ah… Hah… Ahh…"
Before long, she exhaled a long breath filled with a sweet heat. The
white fog cleared and her vision faintly came back.
…No way. Just now, I…
As a high school girl, Mio possessed an average knowledge.
Therefore, she understood in what kind of state Basara had driven her.
In that moment—Mio trembled her body in a shiver. But,
"Yah… Wh-Why…?"
Mio raised a confused voice. She had thought for sure that this
would be the end. Yet, the sweet sensation didn't vanish from Mio's
body. Not just that, it got even stronger.
"That will not do, Mio-sama…. This curse is activated due to
opposing the Master and Servant contract."
While saying so, Maria lowered Mio's head onto her own two thighs.
In this lap pillow position, her small hands held Mio's head from the
sides.
"As long as you do not vow your loyalty to Basara-san from the
bottom of your heart, this sensation will not vanish. Listen… Right
now in front of your eyes is your future Master. The one you will swear
your loyalty to."
"Master… Loyalty…"
Maria's voice was sinking into Mio's conscious that was completely
blurred already from the sensation. Therefore, Mio shifted her dizzy
eyes back to the front.
Upon that, there was a boy looking at her—Basara.
Basara's eyes looking at her were so powerful that they sucked her in.
…Basara… He, is my Master…
The moment she thought so, Mio felt a trembling happiness. Loyalty
to an overwhelming existence—This joy spread in Mio's body at once
and she was about to swear her loyalty to him like that. But,
"N-No… That, I…"
Still, with her last reasoning, Mio spoke out her hesitation about this
sweet temptation, whereupon Maria made a sigh.
And then, she said something unbelievable.
"Basara-san, please fondle her breasts not over the clothes—but
directly."
"Th…"
When Mio inadvertently reacted with a shiver, Basara asked Maria
with calm eyes.
"…Is that okay?"
"Yes. If you hold back, you will never be able to set Mio-sama at
peace."
While softly petting Mio's cheeks, Maria said in a calm tone to
Basara. Upon that,
"—Okay."
When Basara said so shortly, his hand moved from Mio's breasts to
the bottom.
"N-No way…"
While dumbfounded, she no longer had any strength to resist. Mio
saw Basara's two hands going under the hem of her bra top. And then,
these hands slowly started heading upwards towards her breasts. The
hem was stuck at Basara's wrist and her bra top was rolled up bit by bit.
"Mm… Ahh, Yah…Don't, Broth-Brother, stop it…"
The cornered Mio called Basara "Brother" on the spur of the
moment.
On this reaction, Basara suddenly stopped his hands. There Mio was
taken aback.
… O, Oh no. I unconsciously…
Her face turned red. Naruse Mio realized her own true feelings that
she wasn't aware of herself. After he saved her at the park, she wanted
to call the all so reliable Basara that from the bottom of her heart.
Upon that, looking at her, Basara
"Sorry… Bear with this embarrassment for a bit longer."
declared so, whereupon Mio's clothes once again started to roll up.
"Mm… Ah, …. Yah… Mm."
The shame from having her upper body gradually getting exposed
and the sensation from Basara's hands gliding up her stomach made
Mio's body twist. However, that was all the resistance she could offer.
Before long, her clothes had rolled up to her breasts. It meant that there
no longer was anything between Basara's hand and her breasts. Unable
to endure the shame, she inadvertently tried to avert her face,
whereupon
"You cannot avert your eyes or close them, Mio-sama… Please
properly witness with your own eyes what is going to happen now."
Maria, in whose lap she laid, used her hands to make Mio's head face
in front—to Basara.
She couldn't escape. And then,
"…Here I go."
Right after Basara declared just that—Mio saw her own breasts
touched directly by Basara's hand.
Immediately, her breasts were fondled—Once she understood what
that meant,
"————"
Naruse Mio leaked the sweetest voice ever so far and fiercely
shivered her body.
And then—The curse on Mio lifted before long.
"Ah… Mm, Hah… Ah…"
As the sensation wasn't completely gone yet, Mio lay completely
exhausted on the sofa.
"Nine times… Nothing less from you, Mio-sama. You were more
persistent than I thought."
"Hey… aren't you technically her servant? Shouldn't you say
something else?"
On Maria's mumbling in front of Mio, Basara said wearily.
—After that. Even after doing all that, Mio's heart still didn't submit
to Basara.
Therefore, he had continued to fondle Mio's breasts numerous times
until she swore her loyalty to her Master from the bottom of her heart.
After repeatedly giving Mio's body the sensation that shivered her
whole body, Mio soon after released a sweet voice and kept calling
Basara "Brother" in a delirium. After the ninth time, as Maria had said,
she finally swore her loyalty to Basara and Mio was freed of the curse
of pleasure.
Maria showed Basara, who wearily looked at her, a roguish smile.
"Oh please~ You, yourself were quite into it after a while."
"Wha, that's not…"
Turning red, Basara hastily denied.
"Even though Mio-sama was so against it, you never stopped your
hands."
"Th-That's… You said I had to hurry."
"But when Mio-sama started to call you 'Brother' midway—you
shuddered."
"Uh…"
Certainly, at that time his reasoning was inadvertently about to
crumble… wait, no!
"S-So, what now? We can really annul the contract, right?"
"Please rest assured. As I said previously, on the master and servant's
consent, the contract can be nullified by chanting the same magic on
the next full moon."
"The next full moon… That means, it won't be annulled for almost a
month."
Upon pondering deeply, he fell into a light depression. Well, until
then he should maintain a harmonic relationship with Mio.
If things like this now kept happening, it would be too dangerous in
various ways.
And then. Basara asked the essential question, as the situation was
resolved.
"—By the way Maria, why did you keep quiet about the curse?"
Ah that is, with that Maria made a sorry expression.
"Because you finally were interested in helping Mio-sama, I kept
quiet just in case, so you would not change your mind midway… It is
the truth that the contract can be annulled, so I thought that there
would not be a problem. I'm sorry."
"I see…"
Basara made a sigh.
"Huh… You're not angry? I believed for sure you would give me a
genuine lecture until morning."
Basara nodded a "Yeah" to Maria, who starred in puzzlement. And
then,
"—'Cause that's not my part."
At the same time he said that, Maria's head was firmly grabbed from
behind. It didn't even need to be said who it was. Maria instantly broke
out in a cold sweat and a penetrating cold voice called out to her.
"…Maria, we gotta talk. Come with me."
Grabbing Maria's head like a clamp, Mio left the living room,
dragging Maria along.
"Aww, Mio-sama, my head, it hurts! It was not… It was not on
purpose!"
Maria raised a scream, but Mio ignored it completely. They could be
heard going up the stairs.
Upon that, there was a sound of a door on the second floor yanking
open—then a fierce scream and a vibration of something heavy being
knocked over. Moreover, loud crushing sounds of breaking something
echoed in succession, but Basara pretended to not hear anything of
that. Because he thought she should at least continue until she was
satisfied.
And then—the noise in the Toujou household passed over the whole
night, not stopping until dawn.