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...
"Huh? You encountered him too? Are you alright?" Rias asked, her voice laced with concern.
It seemed this wasn't an isolated incident.
Badr chuckled. "I'm fine. He was weak."
"I'll tell my brother about this and have him investigate their motives. He's been planning to contact the Norse Gods soon anyway."
Badr sighed inwardly. It seemed peaceful days were a rare commodity. Trouble was brewing again...
Regarding the Norse Gods, all Badr knew was that they had suddenly launched an attack on the Khaos Brigade during the signing of the peace treaty between the Three Factions.
After Vali betrayed Azazel and brought the Old Satan Faction into the fray, joining the Khaos Brigade himself, the Brigade had become a clear enemy.
Logically, the enemy of one's enemy could be a friend. The Norse Gods' attack on the Khaos Brigade suggested a potential alliance against them.
Therefore, after the peace treaty, the next step should have been negotiating with the Norse Gods about how to handle the Khaos Brigade.
However, Loki's recent actions had muddied the waters.
It was difficult to discern the God of Trickery's intentions.
Could he be a thrill-seeker like Vali?
Considering his cunning nature, it was certainly a possibility...
Of course, Badr's speculation was purely based on his subjective opinion of Loki, colored by his preconceived notions.
In short, until the situation became clearer, Badr couldn't afford to escalate the conflict. Moreover, small fry like Brynhildr were merely manipulated pawns. Letting her go was the best course of action.
Rias evidently shared his thoughts. There was no need to give the Norse Gods an excuse by killing such a minor character.
For now, these matters weren't Badr's concern. Even if he worried, it wouldn't change anything. Issues of this magnitude were best left to his brother-in-law, Sirzechs Lucifer, and the other three Maous.
Rias, seemingly busy with her peerage's work on the other end of the line, asked, "Are you coming back tonight?"
"Tomorrow. It's the weekend, so I can train with you all then." Badr wanted to spend more time with Mai Sakurajima.
Now that the body-swap incident was resolved, her schedule was about to become hectic again, leaving them with fewer opportunities to meet.
"A girlfriend with a pact. You should certainly cherish her," Rias said, a hint of playful jealousy in her voice.
"I spend time with you all too," Badr chuckled. "And I have good news. I formed another pact."
"Really?" Rias jealousy vanished. In truth, she fully supported Badr's relationships with pact holders and even welcomed their potential conversion to devils.
High-quality clients like these were rare, and she was genuinely happy for him.
This was the way of devils like Rias. They wouldn't let petty jealousy get in the way.
...
After hanging up, Badr followed the connection of the soul pact to find Mai Sakurajima and Nodoka Toyohama.
Though they had moved away, they had witnessed his confrontation.
Both visibly relaxed when he approached.
"What was that about...? Why were you fighting?" Nodoka asked, still shaken by the scene.
Although she knew Badr was a devil and had seen his teleportation and flight abilities, this was the first time she and Mai had witnessed him in a real battle.
Truthfully, the experience had been quite shocking.
"Just a minor God from Norse mythology. I've never even heard of his name. Nothing to worry about," Badr said casually, leaving Mai and Nodoka speechless.
That was... a lot to process.
"Badr, are you in danger?" Mai asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, I'm quite strong now," Badr reassured her with a smile. "And my Partner is the current Maou's younger sister. So, in terms of both strength and background, I'm well-connected."
"Eh? Your Partner? What's..." This was news to Nodoka.
"Her name is Rias. She's my Partner, and also my woman. I'll introduce you sometime."
Badr shrugged, stating the facts plainly.
Nodoka was stunned.
"W-Woman...? Mai, Badr, he..."
"Nodoka, the world of devils is different from ours. You should have realized that by now," Mai said softly, her voice calm.
She had wrestled with her feelings, but after careful consideration, she realized that love wasn't so easily extinguished.
Badr had never lied to her. Ultimately, she was the one who had fallen for him. Who was she to blame?
Mai's acceptance left Nodoka at a loss for words. She turned to Badr, asking, "Did you drug Mai? Or use some kind of magic...?"
"Don't be ridiculous. I'd never use those things on someone close to me," Badr denied calmly.
The ability to alter common sense was incredibly dangerous in the human world, even capable of impacting human civilization as a whole.
However, neither angels nor devils, not even Fallen Angels who had succumbed to their desires, would abuse such power.
Only Stray individuals would recklessly use common sense alteration for malicious purposes, indulging in their desires and corrupting their souls until their very appearance became twisted and grotesque.
Nodoka realized her mistake. She had witnessed the power of common sense alteration herself, and Badr had indeed never misused it. Otherwise, the human world would be in chaos...
Badr understood what Nodoka was thinking. He had once been human himself, and he knew human values well.
He smiled gently, reaching out to embrace Mai from behind.
"Perhaps it's difficult for humans to understand, but devils place immense importance on the purity of emotions. I love Mai and want to reciprocate her feelings. I'll do everything in my power for her."
Mai's expression softened. "I never intended to restrain you with my own expectations. And I believe our love can withstand the test of time."
"...Oh, come on, that's enough. You two are disgusting," Nodoka said, a hint of envy in her voice. Her heart was in turmoil, her feelings unclear.
She felt both gratitude and affection for Badr. Until now, she had maintained a certain distance, believing his tenderness was solely for Mai. Any feelings she had were merely wishful thinking.
But after hearing Badr's words, her heart fluttered unexpectedly.
If that was the case... could she too experience his thoughtful tenderness?
Together... with Mai?
Nodoka's face flushed as these thoughts swirled in her mind.
What am I thinking...?
...
Realizing her inappropriate thoughts, Nodoka was startled. She quickly tried to distract herself.
However, the idea lingered in her mind.
She sighed inwardly. Badr had truly opened Pandora's Box within her heart...
To say she had no feelings for Badr would be a lie. She had suppressed them with reason, constantly reminding herself that he was Mai's lover.
But since Badr himself had said that devils had harems, perhaps she had a chance too?
Who wouldn't be attracted to a kind, powerful, and exceptional man? In fact, anyone who wouldn't be attracted to someone Mai loved must be strange.
Nodoka applied the "Mai Sakurajima Law" once again...
As her forbidden thoughts intensified, Nodoka feared she would give herself away. She quickly excused herself.
"It's getting late. I should go home."
"Let's go. I'll walk you," Badr offered.
"Mm..."
After escorting Nodoka to her doorstep and watching from a distance as her mother welcomed her inside, Mai finally relaxed.
"Let's go home," she said, a trace of fatigue in her voice. It had been a long day.
Seeing this, Badr bent down, scooped Mai into his arms, and held her bridal style.
"You've worked hard today. Get some rest."
With that, he took flight, carrying Mai.
Mai rested her head against Badr's chest, her arm draped over his shoulder, her body completely relaxed.
The wind whipped through the air, but Badr had created a protective barrier of magic. The fierce gusts transformed into a gentle, warm breeze that caressed them.
A faint smile touched Mai's lips, an expression of pure bliss. Leaning against Badr, her body and mind relaxed, she quickly drifted off to sleep.
She was asleep even before they reached home.
It seemed she was truly exhausted.
Mai always approached her work and studies with dedication, shouldering immense pressure without complaint.
Being with Badr allowed her to finally let go of her worries and enjoy a moment of peace.
No matter what happened, she knew Badr would take care of everything.
Soon, Badr arrived home, carrying Mai.
Seeing her sleep so peacefully, he didn't want to disturb her sweet dreams. Reluctant to let her go, he sat down on the sofa, still holding her close.
Even doing nothing, just holding her like this felt perfect.
Maintaining the position that seemed most comfortable for her, he controlled his magic to open the curtains, watching as the night deepened and the stars twinkled in the serene sky.
About two hours later, at ten o'clock, Mai's long eyelashes fluttered, and she woke up.
In just two hours, she felt much more refreshed, though her body was slightly stiff from sleeping so deeply. She felt languid and reluctant to move.
Seeing Badr sitting on the sofa, holding her while staring at the stars as if lost in thought, she felt a pang of guilt.
"Sorry, I fell asleep. Why didn't you wake me?"
"You looked so peaceful. I couldn't bring myself to disturb you," Badr said, smiling as he kissed her lips.
Mai's heart fluttered at his kiss. She couldn't resist leaning in to return it.
"We wasted two precious hours," after the passionate kiss. she said
"Hmm, I don't think any time spent with Mai is wasted."
"Two hours of potential date time is wasted for me. I really wanted to go on a date with you," Mai confessed, shyly admitting her desire to spend time with him. Her blush made her look even more adorable.
Badr chuckled softly. "Mai, I love you."
"I know," Mai replied casually, in her usual tone, as if he had just stated the most ordinary fact.
...
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