Vol 2 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Beyond the Trust between Master and Servant

Part 1

One week until the battle However, they would never be able to win against Takashi+ and the others in their current conditions

Thus Basara and the girls worked out a plan They would undoubtedly need fierce training to raise their battle potential, but since the time was limited, they needed to act with utmost efficacy

---For that, they first had to know more about their opponent

Yuki was the technique type, had perfect control over her spirit sword ”Sakuya” and her ability to fight at e made her a Multi-Saber

Mio and Maria surely knew that, but unlike Yuki, Takashi+ and Kurumi were unknown factors to theainst them

Mio had cast a spell to keep humans away fro

”---First about Takashi+, he's a speed type just like me”

Basara started to talk about his former comrade to Mio and Maria

”His battle style is a Quick Lancer Basically, he attacks directly while ha you with his speed However, that's only infor, five years ago”

”You ed now?”

Mio started learning about supernatural powers only for half a year yet, so she must have needed an explanation

She asked frowning, whereas Basara shook his head with ”No”

”That's not gonna happen I think Maria knows already, but one's type is greatly influenced by one's inborn nature Of course you can train yourself in other styles, but it's very unlikely you'll ever exceed the level of your original style”

And,

”In the past I e the other day, I think they're better now… At least, Takashi+'s definitely on top in terms of power”

”No way…”

”Rest assured, Mio-sama He is still a speed type Even if he has the brute force, he cannot match me, a pure power type”

Mio beca up her chest proudly

”Right And Mio's far superior in terical power It's just a matter of one's forte You don't need to worry about it too y froh Wizard no less Just focus on attacking from a distance”

”But… he defeated the devil we three had troubles against so easily”

So that was the reason Mio became so timid on a rare occasion

Certainly, Takashi+ defeated the giant devil, who had the three of them cornered However,

”That was yet another battle style A perfect surprise attack--- The exacthis defense, thus giving an opening In a face-to-face battle, not even Takashi+ would have won so easily”

Of course you couldn't call Takashi+ weak just because of that

”Anyway, the problem is---” ”---that spear, is it not?”

Maria continued his sentence, whereas Basara nodded a ”Yeah”

”That long spear he was using… that's 'Byakko', a unique spirit lance”

”By 'Byakko', you er that's also shown on the Takamatsuka Tomb in our history books?”

”Yeah Originally it's one of the 'Four Syuardian beast of the west That long spear has the power of 'Byakko' residing in it”

”I knew of the Hero Tribe using ical beasts However, when it comes down to one of the Four Symbols, I would believe it's power is bound to China, where the legend is from…”

”Of course To begin with, it's not the original 'Byakko' that resides in the spear But in the past, a 'Byakko' existed in japan too, different from the one on the Takamatsuka Tomb”

On Basara's words, Mio suddenly realized

”---The Four God Suitability of Heian-kyou?” [1] Basara nodded

”Right At that ti and a part of the One with the protection of the city, deified the Four Gods, so intermediary sacred treasures were created on that occasion That spear is one of them”

It was a sacred treasure created by pouring in the power of various renowned Onthened by the faith of numerous people It was needless to say how tremendous it's poas

”That said, an overly powerful weapon is hard to handle There are conditions and limits on how 'Byakko's' power can beas we're careful about that, we should be able to fight against it somehow”

”The uess, it would be fatal to let him attack in the western direction?” Basara shook his head to Maria's uttered question

”Nah, it's the opposite Since 'Byakko' is the guardian beast for it, it cannot attack in the western direction But on the other side, with it's back to the west and launching an attack into the eastern direction, it utilizes an enormous power”

That said, the West originating in China was different from the West of the cardinal directions [2]

However, the ”Byakko” in question was the spirit lance that was created as a sacred treasure from the belief in japan's Heian period Therefore it should be safe to assume that the normal cardinal directions applied to it And,

”According to Five Elements of China, the 'Byakko' is associated with metal, but in terned the air element--- For a speed type like Takashi+, it's theattribute”

”Air…? Then what froze that devil?”

”That's because Orion and Taurus, which are part of the seven inal 'Byakko', are winter constellations here in japan It must have a limited ice attribute from that But it's a sub-attribute at best Otherwise he wouldn't have shown it to us so easily”

”Basara-san, have you seen the main power of that spirit lance before?”

”Definitely not ust that '”

”Even so,” said Basara

”The long spear has a wide reach, but Mio's e in a close range fight Just keep your back to the West while fighting Takashi+ But he should be anticipating that and he et his back to the West, avoid standing in a directional line to the East by all cost then”

One breath,

”Distance and directions--- If we keep these two points in mind, we'll definitely beat him”

Part 2

”Mhm, I won't find a suitable place so easily in the city after all How's it on your end, Takashi+?”

”…Sa a common barrier”

Takashi+ indifferently responded to shi+ba's voice, which he could hear from the wireless earphone

---Already two days had passed since the night of the reunion with Basara

It was now early afternoon

Takashi+ and the others had split up to looked around the city

They were searching for a suitable place for the battle with Basara and the girls If they simply took human casualties into consideration, the public park with the wide ground and forest would be optimal

But the nature of forests or mountains often happened to be spiritual points, which protected and cleanse the land There was a proper reason to why the main river of the north intersected with the forest and hill of the park

He had heard froht in that forest the other day, Naruse Mio let her oer go out of control and wrecked the place beyond recognition And as expected, the flow in the earth there was still in disorder,battle

If they carelessly harht cause the destruction of the whole area by natural disasters in the future

Besides, he had ”Byakko” with him now

The places, where he could utilize it's enor In the worst case, he would have to consider holding back with the power, but

…No, it has to be a place, where ”Byakko's” full power can be released

The enemy wasn't just Naruse Mio and her retainer Succubus They would be facing Basara as well

---Hayase Takashi+ hadn't forgotten what an overwhele

A genius

The talent he was born as cruelly out of league with Takashi+'s and even while they were both speed types, Takashi+ never ed to catch up to Basara, no matter how fast he ran

But that was five years ago

Takashi+ was different from his past-self now And not just him Yuki and Kurumi too

Likewise--- Basara was different from his previous self too Quite crucially at that

”Basara and the girls ht now…”

”……Let the anyway”

Froruesoone fierce training

Not forgetting the tragedy of that day and e the despair in their hearts

Precisely because of that they could endure the harsh training and becoer

---However, each of theer

Yuki changed her feelings for Basara, as chased out of the village, into her strength

Kuruth because she wished to help her older sister

And Takashi+--- He didn't want such a tragedy to occur ever again

Just wishi+ng for that, he beca

Conificantly

It wasn't like they were on bad terms

Just like Yuki and Kurumi, Takashi+ was a childhood friend of Basara

He ith Basara just as long as Yuki and Kurumi were

But,

…What was he doing after leaving the village?

Of all things, Basara was together with the previous Devil Lord's daughter, ould only bring disaster to the world

How could he do such a thing when he witnessed such a tragedy

Forgetting his ht temporarily be driven by an eedy of that day had co of the past for Basara

”If so, I'll remind him…”

About his sin

About the irredeemable souls of their comrades, who he erased

Because everyone who survived that incident was a victim, but also an offender

Yuki would stand up for Basara due to her feelings for him, but Kuruive Basara, which Takashi+ could relate to

His own feelings were the same

Hayase Takashi+ spit out

”Don't forget, Toujou Basara--- Your past won't be undone”

Regardless of how much time passed

Because the raved in their hearts would never fade

Part 3

”------”

Naruse Mio gulped on the chilly sensation on her throat

In front of her, Basara pointed the tip of his ical sword Brynhildr at her

He had stopped the sword at a paper-length away because they were practicing But if this had been a real fight--- If her opponent had been Hayase Takashi+, shi+ba Kyouichi or Nonaka Kurumi, then Mio would have been dead for sure

”---Good, let's take a small break”

Basara relaxed his expression and withdrew his sword

”Ah…”

Mio slu released from the pressure that had sealed her movements

At the sae a sudden exhaustion befell her However,

”I… I can still go on…”

Mio tried to stand up despite that, whereupon a soft, white toas put around her shoulders

”I know But we'll continue when you've rested a bit and regained soerous”

”……”

With his hand gently on her head, Mio nodded

---Basara had told the the spirit lance 'Byakko', Nonaka Yuki, Nonaka Kurumi and even about shi+ba Kyouichi's battle style just in case, even though he had said that he wouldn't participate in the fight this time

Afterwards they were training real battles every day

This city wasn't short on places, where they could practice after setting up a barrier or casting a spell to keep huolf courses

After school, they were irounds next to the park Taking Basara up on his words, Mio took a deep breath to control her breathing, whereupon

”Here, Mio-sama A sports drink with minerals Please re-hydrate yourself with it”

”Mm… Thanks”

Taking the pet bottle of the drink with the catchphrase of having the same composition as sweat from Maria, Mio opened the cap and wet her throat The pleasant coldness streah her throat

”---Ah, Basara-san Can I ask you to spar with me next?”

”Mh? Yeah, sure”

It had already been two hours since they started the training today Basara wasn't just taking on Mio, but also Maria all by hihtest shred of exhaustion

”Then I will begin” ”Yeah--- Come”

After a short exchange, the two of them erased their smiles--- and attacked upfront in the next moment

A close range fight with Basara swinging his Brynhildr and Maria fighting barehanded with her superhuth, spread in front of Mio's eyes

Basara's beloved sword Brynhildr was single-edged with a thick and huge build Thus he could launch heavy blows even with the back of the sword, but Maria, being a succubus and power type on top, had high physical strength and easily absorbed the blows

This was training of course Basara wasn't attacking with his full ht, but if Mio were to carelessly take one of these hits, she wouldn't just break soed blows, Basara with slashes and Maria with kicks and punches, one after another while each changing back and forth between offence and defense

”……”

While watching their fight, Mio felt frustration inside her heart

…I understand it in my head, but

In the past few days, Mio had fully realized how lacking her own strength was

It had been half a year since she came to know about the existences and powers that went beyond the laws of this world As she luckily had a talent for ic, she could cast powerful spells now

According to Maria, that was an astonishi+ng learning speed However, coly lacked actual battle experiences, even though she had trained with Maria so far

Therefore she was now conducting training in the forht about good results in the beginning, but since she wasn't used to the tension and pressure of a long battle, her staetting her cornered gradually

She was already like that during training A real fight was evenMoreover, Hayase Takashi+, the hero she would be facing soon, had a strength on par or even greater than Basara

…At this rate

She would only drag down the others That hat she felt

The decisive battle was in four days--- Only unrest and impatience swelled up inside Mio

Part 4

Going to school in theafter school until the sun sets, and then back to bed

Repeating these three activities, the last few days went by in a flash

And in the night two days away froot a call froe for the battle was set

Not wasting a single second on chit-chat, Takashi+ only reported the place and ti up

”…”

Basara had taken the call in the living room and wordlessly stared down on his cell phone

Upon that, the door behind him opened

”…Has it been decided?”

Maria came in with a calm voice

Sheoff the sweat fro in the bath

Basara headed to the sofa with his back still to her ”Yeah It'll be at night to avoid people”

”I see… Well, that certainly is better”

Maria's voice erator opening resounded She was surely taking out so to drink

While Basara sat down on the sofa, he said to her

”Both side will cooperate in setting up the barrier to avoid gaining an advantage in it I think Mio can also use a spatial barrier spell besides the one to keep huht?”

”Yes She never set one up in cooperation with soht”

The battlefield was taken care of then

Now they only needed to ht

”Basara-san, would you like to have some milk too?”

”Mh? Yeah, why not”

Okay~, Maria replied like that, but didn't come over to him He could hear the low electric noise fro the microwave And then,

”I made you a hot milk, Basara-san If you like, please put in some maple syrup It will relieve your tension and let you sleep more soundly”

”Thanks… wait, why're you dressed like that!?”

Holding a plastic tablet with abottle of maple syrup on it, Maria was practically naked, except for a single bath towel

”Why do you ask?… This is a rather nor out of the bath It would be farif I were to wear a fancy dress instead”

”Who told you to wear a dress! There's only one thing you wear after getting out of the bath”

”Erotic underwear, you mean”

”I mean pajamas!”

Maria said ”Oh dear” to his retort and sat down next to him on the sofa

Her s heat of the bath and gave off the faint fragrance of shampoo and body soap

”You see, Basara-san, I just wanted to ask you for your opinion”

”M- My opinion…?”

Basara beca her young appearance

”Yes--- On a very important matter”

Naruse Maria said so and brought her body closer to him

---A few minutes after Maria, Mio, who had been in the bath with her, finally came out of the bath

She stayed in a bit long, but she did so that her fatigue ashed away for to

Besides, it was still relatively short today Usually she would stay in another ten minutes

The bathing powder she used today probably took it's effect on her

Either way, they had Basara take a bath first, so she could take it easy and warm up her body completely

Mio wiped the water drops on her faintly flushed body with a towel

The microfiber towel properly even sucked up the water from Mio's wet hair

Putting her legs, one after another, through the new shorts, she pulled it up to her bottom

”Mm…”

After pulling out the finger, which she used to fix the wedged part, fro sound on her bottom

Next she put on a shi+rt in place of a pajama and buttoned it up

She started from below instead from the top, since she left the chest open to prevent constriction in her sleep

That exposed pretty e, but Mio wasn't afraid of showing it to those inside the house

For one thing, Maria was a girl like herself

…And besides,

Basara had already seen her inappearances or situations

---It wasn't like she was trying to provoke She certainly was embarrassed

However, if she were to put on extra clothes like a barrier, even though she was seen sothe Master and Servant Contract or the shared bath-tiely conscious of Basara

Therefore Mio dared to behave nor attire Occasional she felt Basara's glance on her breasts or bottom, whereupon she was embarrassed, but happy as well

Because at least during these tih the Master and Servant Contract ended up in an unexpected forave her a weird weakness

After drying her wet hair with the dryer, Mio left the bathroo room

”Basara-san--- Could you subjugate Mio-sama some more?”

Suddenly she could overhear Maria's proble room's door

Maria saw Basara estion

”…What do you ain…”

”I a around This is for Mio-sama and your sake” said Maria

”We have only two days left until the fight with your for with the countermeasures in mind, but we cannot level up so easily after all I am afraid you are the only one, who currently has a chance of fighting upfront on par with them, Basara-san Unfortunately, Mio-sama and myself are currently still one… no, two steps behind”

”That's…”

Basara was at a loss for words,Maria's analysis was correct

Most likely Basara knew their difference in strength even better than Maria

”Even you, our last hope, have a blank of five years, Basara-san Moreover, you said that the person with the spirit lance has a strength even greater than yours--- As things stand noe cannot win against them”

Basara stayed quiet on her assertion

”However, I have a breakthrough solution As you are aware, the contractors of the Master and Servant Contract gain a stronger poith deeper trust If both of you obtain that, then I see a chance”

”That's why you want ate Mio…”

”Yes Because even though I told you to deepen your trust, it only needs so adequate with the contract--- with the Master and Servant relationshi+p I am afraid that is our only chance for victory at this point And I do not think we should pass on this chance”

”…I agree It's a fact that it would be effective to make use of the contract But the trust you speak of surely won't be deepened or strengthened so quickly”

”No, the intensity of feelings stands in no proportion with tiained frole second can out rival a whole life If you si helpful will go up quite a bit”

But Basara remained silent with a stiff expression on Maria's words

”…Basara-san?”

Before long, Basara slowly answered her question

”I get your point… but if possible, I don't want to do it”

Maria narrowed her eyes on these words Did he think that they had the flexibility to be fussy at this point in time?

”Why? Are you holding back because we are family? Or does your sense of duty or hypocrisy keep you fro like that to your little sister?”

Maria asked with a precarious voice

”Nah… That's not it”

”It's the opposite,” said Basara ”I'll tell you on this occasion, Mio and you are precious family members to me I consider you my real sisters But don't trust e teenager Do you knoin check while I live together with two girls not related by blood to ht have done soo”

”? What do you mean by that…?”

The Master and Servant Contract between Basara and Mio had Maria's succubus characteristic added to it That made it easier to conduct a mistake, but it didn't warrant his uncompliableness

”You don't know? For the sake of relieving the curse, for the sake of becoence of ”Because it's for Mio's sake” and e if it's done for pure intentions, but I just can't do it like this”

”Eh… Is that so? But I get the feeling that you were rather cal the time when you made Mio-sama submissive for the first time to form the contact?”

”It would just make Mio ht I needed to appear calm so that Mio would submit faster”

”I, I see…”

On Basara's explanation, Maria received a light shock Not towards the fact that Basara had been e about how to subjugate Mio better--- even in light of Mio's flustered appearance due to the aphrodisiac effect in addition to her already incredible looks and proportions

…Wait, could it be

During the cake scene in the bath, she had half-jokingly teased him as a brute, but he maybe actually had this kind of temper?

Maria felt a light shudder

”Anyway, it's wrong to do soh I have ulterior motives Of course I'll put her at ease when the curse activates, but… I'll do it then by saying 'I want to do it', since that's more honest”

”So you are taking the villain's role upon yourself…?”

”Nah It's not so so noble”

”It's just,” said Basara

”Saying that I do these kind of things only for Mio's sake without any guilty feelings would be a lie for sure If I cowardly sugar-coated it like that, it wouldn't just dae the trust in our Master and Servant relationshi+p, but also our trust as a fah it was a turn of events, I'm still her Master--- and her brother before that”

Basara said to her with a serious expression, whereupon Maria inadvertently widened her eyes

Maria, a succubus, knew very well hoeak men were to this kind of desire And how they ender soirl like Mio

…But

The boy na these desires without covering it up Looking at hi down her spine

”…I understand I have another idea, so let us go with that”

”You still have more, huh… wait, hey!?”

Suddenly Basara raised a flustered voice Because Maria had sat into his lap and loosened the knot of the bath towel that wrapped around her body Maria rolled up the front of shi+rt that the surprised Basara earing

”Please do not move…”

Saying so, she started to rub her bare skin against Basara Unlike the previous time where she had slipped into Basara's T-shi+rt, Maria was noing Basara her naked body and lewd movements

That gave Basara even a visual sensation of Maria's body heat and softness

”W- Wait, Maria… What's up so suddenly?”

”If you feel sorry for Mio-sama and cannot do it, I will have you help me instead with the power-up”

As the succubus she was, she could increase her power by absorbing desire and arousal

Fro boy with a pure heart like Basara, the effect was tremendous

Maria laughed a ”Fufu” with glazed eyes

”Forgive me… But you are at fault, Basara-san, because you say such things with such an expression”

She could tell how surprisingly aroused she was herself Her succubus instinct shot up inside her and couldn't be suppressed

Maria let her tongue crawl over Basara's chest, clung to hi her arms around his sturdy back

”Ahh… You are so delicious, Basara-san”

It was like a drug to her Wanting to suck up everything from the boy in front of her, Maria let her hand slide down frolide into his pants like this,

”H- Hey…!”

Basara's body suddenly shi+vered This sensible reaction only turned Maria on even ht were only focusing on her, weren't looking at her, but behind her

”……”

Maria turned around puzzled and froze in place

In the opened door of the living room--- There stood Mio

In that moment Toujou Basara was prepared for a bloodbath

Because it was the saht in the act of Maria ame

No, this time it was even worse After all, Basara was in a close embrace with the naked Maria Mio would flare up at them---

So he thought

”No, this---”

He hastily tried to explain, but couldn't find the right words on the spot

---This situation was brought about by Maria without Basara's consent

However, he couldn't unconditionally blame only Maria for it

They certainly couldn't win as things stood at the moment

So Maria, the succubus and Mio's retainer, had requested of him to deepened their relationshi+p of the Master and Servant Contract by subjugating Mio through pleasure, all for the sake of victory, for the sake of protecting Mio

Considering her upbringing in rank and race, it was an absolutely natural suggestion

He knehat he had to say Even so, Basara couldn't find the right words for it, whereupon

”Ohthere for?”

Of all things, Maria tightly squeezed Basara to show off to Mio

”------”

Basara saw that Mio's face turned red upon seeing that Maria totally added oil to the fire

”M- Maria…?” ”(Ssh, it is alright… Please watch)”

He raised a bewildered voice, but Maria whispered back

…No, even so…

While he did like he was told to, Mio came over briskly

Then she stood in front of him But,

”…”

That was all He had thought for sure that she would hit Maria and launch a lightning attack at him Yet Mio just stood still in front of them with her face still red

…Mio?

In response to his doubtful glance, Mio bit into her lips and averted her eyes Towards her,

”Mio-sama… Excuse me, but Basara-san and ht in two days When you are standing there like that--- it is a bother, to be frank”

Maria showed a provoking sotten the better of her