Vol 1 Chapter 2 (1/2)

First Master and Servant Contract

Part 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 illuht, if that was how it looked when one looked down from the stars in the sky

…Just like he said

Reht her about this beautiful view, Mio frowned slightly

”I knew coether 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 orried 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 so”

It wasn't like they were penniless Mio's late foster father left thele house was the best If they carelessly rented an apartht get dragged in

However, Mio was a in 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 ic, but she would have to manipulated the memories of a lot of people, if they wanted to buy a house as athe suspicion from the real estate office Moreover, the memories would need to match each person's position and relationshi+ps The ic wasn't that powerful

That hy Mio and Maria had done such a roundabout way

”I understand… I will abide by your words, Mio-sama”

Maria didn't object She s With a soft smile,

”That is what makes you kind, Mio-sa a huh”

”Maybe…”

Maria said so 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 becauys like theht it wouldn't be bad to deceive the

—So, one o, 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 theht

That was the reason Maria manipulated hisso, they turned into the sauys

”…But, who could have iined that these tere Heroes”

Mio showed a self-e They had done the saht be able to overwhelht at full power There was a possibility to make that house their base then

”But…”

Jin and Basara both had been different froht 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 froht”

But Maria lightly shook her head to the side And then, she said with a slightly stiff voice

”No— It looks like there is so 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 otten 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 froradually changed shape

One changed into a [shadow] that had a black hu hilted scythe, like a death God

The res— 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 treer

”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 ic

Yes Mio's parents weren't related by blood to her They ht 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 hy 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 hu it on”

Mio inherited so in the blood of her father That was— the talent for ic

”Prepare yourselves… I'll kill you a hundred times”

At the same time she said that, Mio's body eical power

—Usually The ative black

The ht noas 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 theainst the God Tribe

The aura ofon the heart of the devil that used it

But— Mio e for her killed parents and chosen the path of hostility

So when she learned how to use her ical power from Maria, her aura was neither black, nor blue, but a scarlet even more brilliant than blood The kind of criivable enemies to ashes

”—Okay, let's get started”

Special abilities like e 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 htning ic crashed down froh the dust created by the attack

Manticores These keen-witted

…What about the scythe guy…

She could no longer feel the presence of the enehtning ic In that case, Mio shi+fted her senses back to the two ical beasts

”Mio-sao next”

Maria besides her kicked the ground and fleard, standing in the way of the ed two vs one with an overwhel difference in physiques

”———”

The ave an easy target, first, split up to the right and left andthe distance, one cas, 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 s 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 ical beast's head

—Unlike Mio, Maria didn't specialize in offensive ic

Then hoas she fighting? That was answered— by a roar and an impact The manticore, who received Maria's fist, crashed flattened into the ground That i 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 re with a hmpf

”Is that all… So boring Please resist unsightly and make me wet”

Then she et

But the ed his own course It was plunging itself towards Mio Mio didn'tdown on Mio

KEEEEEK! With a metallic sound, the claas repelled The ferocious attack of the ical 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 tiain”

At the saht 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 edy

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 eneic 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 tiht 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 eneic It's hand gloith black ical power

Not good— Mio immediately erected a barrier, but it was a bit too late The [shadow] released a lightning attackwith the barrier, but directly hit Mio nevertheless

On that irounds— a hill Mio had watched over the city froht 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 ht away, but failed to

Due to the ene attack, she couldn't h to cast ic

…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 tile 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 sideith 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 bottoround without troubles There should have been still quite the distance to the ground And Basarahis lower body as an elastic spring

”………Fuh”

In his ar a breath of relief Then she was slowly lowered onto the ground

Still affected by the eneround

”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 so aardly

”—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] ca Most likely as soon as it noticed Basara, it had jumped down the cliff in pursuit

It had already gotten in range of it's scythe and was about to about launch a slash

—But, that slash didn't happen Before it could, the torso of the [shadoas perfectly split in half It took only an instant For the sword to appear in Basara's hand and cutting the eneility and swift swordsmanshi+p

”…………”

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”

Withouteye-contact with her, he said brusque

Part 2

—For now, let's return hoether

After the overcome 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 the room or could have not helped Mio just now

So, before long Mio nodded small 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 hi room

”Ah, thank you”

When Maria took the glass, she drank up the barley 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 elass on the table

”You have no reason to do so us back ho 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 faether, the time you came into contact with us, were by no means a lie So I believe it is fine to trust you”

Maria shi+fted her gaze and asked ”Or a?”

”I see…”

So she actually did give it sohts

”…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 su outside in this humidity, you would sweat by all means

Therefore, Maria had recoot 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 theeneral 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 si 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 roo 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 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, er Heroes now Just sie”

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 so, I do so… That's all to it”

”Even if it is a devil— one who has inherited the Devil Lord's power? By protecting Mio-sa yourself in harm's way, Basara-san”

Basara nodded a ”Yeah” to Maria's re 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…As father, as son”

Therefore, Jin had readily decided to throay 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 that's worried about it's 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, ill 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 knoould inherit the power next— In the worst case, Wilbert's power ht 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 knoill happen in an actual battle, but…”

Was it just a coincidence, or were they after so 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'uys have been put under surveillance by the Heroes If they recklessly involved unrelated huets next It's unlikely they'll attack in crowded places”

That's precisely hy they used ic to keep away humans from the park this time

”Well if they attack next tiet them for sure”

Upon that, Maria said happily

”So reassuring I only saw a bit of it, but you see, Basara-san”

”Well, don't expect too ht for five years now”

He had ic 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 ic 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 ic completely on a fluke Just what kind of technique was it?”

Maria was full of curiosity, whereas Basara showed a wry sht hand

”Sorry, but it really was a fluke…”

—Yeah, it had to be a fluke

After all, that technique— becao

Part 3

If drenched in sweat in the middle of summer, a shoas 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 eh it was suly cold

…For the first time, I…

Since half a year ago— ever since her parents were killed, Mio had trained in ic and combat by Maria's instruction

Thanks to that, she becaer than Maria's

But an actual coht with her life at stake, that was a first for her earlier Defeating the eneht to the death had taken place there Yeah— if Basara hadn't coht have sht of that, her body trembled beyond control

For already nearly thirtyonto 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 ithout having Maria tell her He was the kind of boy that would coardless of being deceived before And apparently hi 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

If 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 e their deaths

Vowing so in her heart, she had lived the past half-year And today, the battle had finally started

The enened over the demon realm Most likely, battles like earlier— no, even harsher and more painful battles would take place fro Basara and Jin into these battles that were unrelated to the 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 pyjah casual wear

Her own expression reflected in the bath's loomy, 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 ain, Mio replied so, whereupon

”Ah… No, it's me”

On hearing the soulped 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 treetically from beyond the door

”I heard about you fro 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 hiized 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 otten dizzy

”Don't stay so long in the bath that you're unable to stand anymore… C'mon, you okay?”