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Omniscient POV
"How can I trust you?" she questioned, her voice laden with uncertainty.
"You don't really have a choice. If I don't assist them, they're likely to meet their demise. And you're hardly in a position to engage in idle conversation," he remarked, his tone firm, signaling for her to look behind.
Upon turning, she witnessed her peerage members fiercely engaged with the strays, exploiting the distraction. The battleground was chaotic, the clash of magical forces creating a symphony of chaos and desperation. Yet, it was evident that this temporary advantage wouldn't endure.
After a moment of tense contemplation, she chose to place her trust in the mysterious man and joined the battle alongside her peerage. The air crackled with energy as spells were cast, blades clashed, and the line between life and death blurred in the furious melee.
Observing this, the robed man calmly approached the two injured devils. From a small vial, he poured a liquid into their mouths. Moments earlier, they were on the brink of death, their bodies battered and broken. Now, a miraculous transformation took place. They stood restored to full health, fatigue evaporating from both mind and body. Gratefully, they bowed to their benefactor, a glimmer of hope returning to their eyes.
"Thank you very much. My sister and I will ensure to repay this favor," expressed the older gentleman with green hair, sincerity lacing his words.
"U-umm. T-thanks," stammered the younger girl with matching-colored hair, her voice a mix of gratitude and timidity.
With a nod, they swiftly returned to the fray, the brother brandishing an ax against an ox-faced stray, while his sister cast numerous wind spells, creating a dance of magic amidst the chaos.
Kouske, too, found his place on the battlefield, aiding the girl in confronting the cat-faced strays. Drawing his sword, he slashed one of the already injured cats, causing it to writhe in pain due to its cursed nature. A sizable wound opened on his back, and, distracted, he failed to intercept the incoming attacks. The girl seized the opportunity, inflicting deep slashes on his body.
Suddenly, black flames materialized beside him. Wide-eyed, he watched as a pillar of the same black flames engulfed him entirely. Attempts to call out to his elder twin proved futile.
"Brother!" cried the elder twin, a desperate plea in his voice.
After the flames subsided, only ashes remained. Consumed by grief, the surviving twin, with bloodshot eyes, focused on the person who had killed his brother. A mixture of sorrow and rage painted his expression.
"Aaaaa!"
He lunged toward Kouske, claws coated in magic, intent on ending the life of his brother's killer with a single, lethal strike. Yet, before he reached his target, a large nodachi pierced his heart, wielded by the girl he previously chose to ignore.
Witnessing his brother's demise, the surviving twin, in his final moments, recalled the peaceful times they shared in childhood before their capture by their king. Regret and sorrow intertwined as his consciousness faded away.
Meanwhile, Kouske infused his pitch-black sword with copious amounts of mana, its color darkening further. After charging, he aimed at the injured peak high-class stray that Claria faced, releasing a large slash made of darkness that bisected the injured creature. Claria watched in astonishment, a mix of surprise and admiration in her eyes.
The other two strays met swift ends as well. Amid expressions of joy and relief from Claria's peerage, attention turned to the unidentified stranger. There was a palpable sense of gratitude in the air, a debt that they couldn't fully comprehend.
"I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help. Without you, Mark and Maria would have perished," Claria expressed, bowing slightly, a genuine sense of gratitude in her voice.
Mark and Maria also conveyed their gratitude, their eyes reflecting the profound impact of the stranger's intervention on their fate.
"It's alright. I was just passing by," the stranger replied with a mysterious smile, his eyes holding secrets that begged no further inquiry.
"I will definitely repay you if it's within my power. But who are you?" Claria inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"You can just call me Akatsuki," he replied before teleporting away, leaving behind a lingering sense of enigma.
"Wai-" Claria attempted to halt him, but he had already vanished into the air, leaving her with unanswered questions.
Despite the mysterious departure, she couldn't shake the feeling that his magic circle was familiar but couldn't pinpoint where she had seen it. A puzzle she vowed to unravel in due time.
Regardless, she felt grateful to see her entire peerage alive. Even for a moment, she had given up hope. Without Akatsuki, things might not have ended on such a positive note, perhaps even resulting in her own demise.
As she surveyed the battlefield and the fallen, she couldn't ignore the recent surge in stray numbers. Encountering a powerful Cluster, especially one composed of high-class and mid-class strays, was unfortunate. She knew she had to report this to her family and the Maous, a responsibility that weighed heavily on her shoulders.
Sighing at the impending paperwork, she decided to let loose for the moment and celebrate with her peerage. Amid the cheers and camaraderie, the battlefield transformed into a temporary haven of relief and triumph.
Kouske's POV
I teleported to my house right in front of Lavinia. She jumped at me, eager to hug me, her eyes reflecting concern and relief.
"Ko-kun! You are late!" she exclaimed, puffing her cheeks, looking adorable in her worry.
"Sorry, Rey-chan~. I had to take a detour," I explained, recounting the encounter with the Cluster and Belial's peerage, painting a vivid picture of the intense battle.
Given the escalating stray numbers in Kuoh, it was essential for her to be informed. Devilish machinations were affecting more lives, and the gravity of the situation lingered in the air.
"Are you okay?!" Lavinia asked, her worry evident in every word.
She proceeded to check my body for injuries, her touch a mixture of gentle concern and affection. I chuckled at her thoroughness.
"I'm completely fine. I'm immortal, you know. But thanks for worrying, Rey-chan~," I reassured her, embracing her, the warmth of the moment grounding me.
"Nn."
That night, after a brief discussion, we went straight to bed. Mentally exhausted, I welcomed the respite, finding solace in the quiet moments shared with Lavinia. The weight of the battles, mental, lingered in the air, but for now, the sanctuary of sleep provided a temporary escape from the challenges that awaited in the waking world.
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