Maou Gakuen Vol 4 Chapter 4

Chapter 4 – The Sisters’ Bond

.

Part 1

──At a shopping district of the human world.

Neon lamps were shining brightly. A lot of humans came here like insects being attracted by the lights. A woman was walking amidst that crowd.

She had a beautiful blond hair and healthy skin that was slightly tanned. Her style looked exactly like someone at poolside or at a resort. Her attire was really fitting for the summer, but it was too provocative for walking in a shopping district in the middle of city.

「Ooh, you got a really nice style! And you’re cute!」

Some frivolous men would call at her each time she walked for fifty meters. However she had a business. She ignored them all and continued walking.

However the brown haired man who called at her next was persistent.

「Oi oi, don’t just ignore me like that.」

His irritated voice was slightly mixed with a threatening tone. He walked around to stand in front of the woman and blocked her way.

The woman smirked.

「Oh, you will get burn if you get too close you know?」

「Hahah! What’s that? That’s really a clichéd line……!?」

The man’s body caught fire in the next moment.

「GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?」

He desperately took off his burning clothes and rolled around on the ground. His dyed brown hair also caught fire and he tried to extinguish it with his hands scratching at his head. However the fire didn’t vanish and scorched his hands.

「S-someone-! SAVE MEEEEEEEEE!」

He ran around haphazardly. The people around him screamed and ran around in panic. The blond woman jauntily through the street that was turned into such pandemonium and turned the corner.

And then her figure vanished in a corner of a construction site.

It was an empty lot that was opened wide right in the middle of the shopping district. The small shop that was previously here was flattened to be redeveloped. This place was the only dark spot like the sea depth in the middle of the sea of dazzling neon.

The woman entered inside and spoke.

「Sorry that I’m lateee. You won’t believe just how annoying those men were~, geez~♪」

The red haired man who was waiting in the darkness smiled thinly.

「Yaa, Sansa. Everyone is here with this.」

Joudogahama Lost looked around inside the darkness.

Five devil king candidates had gathered around Lost.

Sun, Sansa Summers.

Strength, Sannou Rikimaru.

Justice, Sannou Seigi.

Hanged Man, Hayachine Yotaka.

Wheel of Fortune, Shimokadzuma Rinne.

Lost nodded in satisfaction.

「Now then, we are the strongest group in this devil king war with this much combat strength at our side. I’m thinking to eliminate the nuisances with these members for the time being. The real battle will begin after we deal with all of the other devil king candidates. Any objection?」

「Yeees, no objection heree♪」

It was only Sansa who replied. However it seemed the other devil king candidates also weren’t opposing it. It was a silence with the meaning that there was no objection.

But, there was just one person who differed. Sannou Seigi was making a sharp gaze.

「So you are telling me to wait for my confrontation with you until that is over?」

「Yep. It’s not like I’m going to run away. But, before that it will be better to defeat other candidates isn’t it? Like Triumph for example.」

Everyone couldn’t deny that. But, Seigi didn’t back down even then.

「There is one more thing that I want to ask. How are we going to deal with the Lovers?」

「Lovers……?」

Rikimaru suddenly raised her voice wildly.

「Aaaah! Even though I had almost gotten him beforeee! Rikimar-chan of all people-, failed to finish him off!!」

Sansa made a slightly surprised face.

「Eh? Is the Lovers so strong that he can even trouble Rikimaru?」

Hayachine Yotaka immediately cut in.

「It’s not the problem of the devil king candidate. In reality Lovers is Himekami Lizel’s team. Lizel is their cornerstone, it’s against her that we should be on our guard the most……」

「Weeell, certainly, even Rikimaru-chan got startled by her arrow.」

Seigi made a loathing expression at Rikimaru’s easygoing tone.

「Good grief, you disgrace of Sannou House.」

「What did you sayyyy!? Even if it’s you Seigi-chan I’m not going to forgive you for that!!」

Rikimaru took her fighting pose. Seigi also put her hand on her sword’s handle in response.

「So what? I’m already over my limit since a long time ago. I’ll sever that neck of yours right now.」

Yotaka sighed in exasperation.

「Geez……again? You two just won’t get tired doing that.」

「Yeah. You two are sisters, so get along a bit more with each other.」

「You outsiders should just shut up. It’s exactly because we are sisters that there are things that I find unforgivable and things that are excessively irritating from her.」

However it seemed the arbitration from the other candidates was quite effective. Seigi took off her hand from her sword’s handle.

And then Seigi let out a sigh to calm down herself before she turned only her gaze toward Lost.

「Anyway──because of that, how about we crush the Lovers first?」

Yotaka lightly raised her hand as though she had waited for that.

「That’s fine, but I’ll be the one who finish off Lizel. I don’t care about anything else.」

「Rikimaru-chan’s Card also seems to be all luv luv toward Lovers’ Princess! I’ll take her head!」

「The rookie in my place also seems to have a not shallow relationship with Lovers’ Knight. So how about it? Should we warm up by giving hell to Lovers?」

「……」

Lost looked up to the sky smilingly.

「Hmm……yeah, it’s fine I guess.」

Someone was staring at such Lost with a smiling face. It was the Wheels of Fortune, Shimokadzuma Rinne. However her smile was hiding an anxiety that anyone couldn’t notice.

Seigi smiled in satisfaction and looked around at everyone.

「Yosh, it’s decided then! They are hiding in the devil world at Carnac House’s territory. I shall contact everyone where we will gather there later on.」

Seigi left that place first. She crossed the construction site and went outside from the door.

「This can’t be left alone to Seigi-chan! Yoosh! Rikimaru-chan is also going to prepare a lot!!」

Rikimaru yelled that before she ran out of the door that Seigi left from.

A car was parked there.

Rikimaru entered into the backseat as though it was only natural.

The car started running and it sped up when it got out to the main street.

「And and? What’s going on?」

「Joudogahama Lost, that guy cannot be trusted.」

Seigi who was sitting at her side replied with her arms folded.

「That guy isn’t a noble. However just like there is the precedent with Lovers, even a human can enroll into the devil king academy. There is no doubt that he isn’t enrolling into the devil king academy simply because of dislike, but because there is a reason why he can’t do so.」

「And, you have understood about that reason too right!?」

Rikimaru spoke with a stupid expression as though she had seen through Seigi.

Seigi made a slightly surprised face before she pressed her lips together in a frown.

「I hate that side of yours……Nee-sama.」

「Ehehe, Rikimaru-chan love that side of yours, Seigi-chan!」

Seigi’s cheeks reddened and she huffed.

「A-anyway, this is an information that is still not know by anybody. So I want Nee-sama to also be really careful so that it won’t slip out from your mouth.」

Rikimaru strongly nodded uh huh in agreement.

「The Death devil king candidate, isn’t in this world anymore.」

「……?」

「The house of Count Golgotha was the house that had inherited the Death arcana until now. They are an eccentric family that live in remote region without any interaction with other houses but……it’s like the whole family has vanished altogether.」

「Vanished?」

「I still haven’t found any proof but, they must have been killed in all likelihood.」

「Then……you’re saying that the devil king candidate is already killed?」

Seigi didn’t answer that question and continued.

「Most likely the one who became the Death devil king candidate was the heir of Golgotha house, Moros Golgotha. But Moros never come to the academy anymore since the new school term.」

「……Something is suspicious.」

「Yeah. However if he has really died, his Death arcana should leave him and return to the devil world’s administration bureau. Naturally the bureau and the headmaster would notice that. But, there isn’t any sign of that. In other words the Death devil king candidate is alive.」

The stupid smile vanished from Rikimaru’s face and a wrinkle formed between her forehead.

「Is Lost’s true identity……Moros?」

「I tried searching the academy’s documents, but he is clearly not Moros. The headmaster appeared in the devil world’s beach the other day right? Most likely the headmaster also came to check who is the Death devil king candidate.」

「And, what is his true identity in the end?」

「I don’t know. Lost isn’t Moros. However the administration bureau of the devil king war hasn’t disqualified Death, and the Arcana also hasn’t returned. So the only possibility is that the Death devil king candidate is alive. Besides, the headmaster didn’t make any problem with Lost last time, that means Lost has an official qualification as devil king candidate.」

「……I’m lost.」

「If he is a complete outsider, then why does he have Death arcana? Why he has the qualification as devil king candidate? It’s completely incomprehensible. That’s why that guy cannot be trusted.」

Rikimaru stared absentmindedly to the flowing night scenery outside the window.

「Rikimaru-chan doesn’t trust anyone from the start.」

Seigi was also staring at the night scenery at the opposite side of Rikimaru.

「Except Seigi-chan that is.」

「……Nee-sama.」

Seigi reflexively turned toward Rikimaru. There a grin was waiting for her.

「I can see Seigi-chan’s happy face after so long.」

Seigi’s face blushed bright red in the blink of eye.

「Kuh……this is why I hate Nee-sama!」

She averted her face prickly.

「It’s fine isn’t it, we are alone here.」

「It’s because Nee-sama always act intimately with me even when in front of other people……thanks to that I’m always pressed with the need to act severely even more than necessary. I’m worried whether everyone has actually noticed.」

「Ahahaha, Seigi-chan always make me want to dote on you unconsciously!」

Seigi leaned forward with a serious face.

「Listen Nee-sama. We are making others think that we are on bad terms with each other. Even our Cards are included. We need to deceive everyone outside of our family. That will become our trump card at the critical moment……wait, are you listening? Nee-sama!」

Rikimaru was staring joyfully at her little sister who was seriously giving her a lecture.

「Then, what are we going to do? Are we going with our original plan of dealing with Lost with everyone else after defeating Triumph?」

「……Let’s deal with the Lovers, Morioka Yuuto before that.」

「Eeeeh, why?」

「Because he is the only one who Joudougahama Lost is fixated with. There is no doubt that guy know something. What is the relationship between Morioka Yuuto and Lost……and then who is Lost……we’re going to beat him half to death and make him spit out Lost’s secret.」

「I see! I get it!」

Rikimaru grinned.

「Both of us will absolutely be the last two standing. And then no matter who wins, a member of Sannou House will be the next devil king! We will rule the world! Having someone who can be trusted among other devil king candidates. It’s the strongest weapon that no other candidates have!!」

「Yeah. I swear……I swear to make Nee-sama win.」

Rikimaru frowned and peered at Seigi’s face.

「See here, Seigi-chan. I’m fine with having a serious fight between us at the end you know?」

However Seigi shook her head.

「Our objective is for Sannou House to rule the devil king. Then it will be better for Nee-sama to stand at the top for that. I’m more suited with acting as Nee-sama’s support.」

「A splendid devil should prioritize themselves the foremost you know?」

「We are twins. We are one and the same. Nee-sama’s victory is my victory.」

Rikimaru chuckled ticklishly.

「Ahaha, that’s true.」

「Besides, I’m not suited to shoulder an excessively heavy responsibility like that. I’ll be able to display my capability without being weighed down by such responsibility.」

「But, I’m going to trouble Seigi-chan a lot you know?」

「Nee-sama can use me as you please. I’m always following justice since the past. For me, Nee-sama is justice.」

Rikimaru narrowed her eyes and smiled.

「I see. After all strength……is justice huh!」

.

Part 2

We entered the early August. The summer vacation had also reached halfway.

Right after the declaration of changing the training camp location──,

「However, let’s return to the human world for a bit and rest.」

Lizel-senpai informed us like that.

「But, is it alright? There is no time to waste by relaxing……」

「You have worked hard for two weeks. Rest is also necessary in order to overcome the second half of the training. There is also a resort here, but you will be able to relax more in your own home right? Besides, Okaa-sama and Otou-sama must also feel worried for you Yuuto.」

To be honest, it felt really pleasant for me during the training camp, so my stress wasn’t accumulating that much……however, seeing Reina’s eyes brightening when hearing about Kaa-san and Tou-san, I couldn’t just ignore it as her big brother. Perhaps she was feeling homesick.

Neith timidly raised her hand.

「Um, but everyone want to spend holiday in secret right? Then staying here will be……」

「That’s exactly why. Our location here is already found out. That’s why we will reset the situation for the moment. We also can’t trouble Neith any more than this.」

Lizel-senpai smiled to reassure Neith, but for some reason Neith looked disappointed.

And so, we returned home for the moment.

「Myyy! Myyyy! Welcome home!! Reina-chan!」

「We’re back, we’re back desu! Mama-!」

And then they hugged passionately at the front door. It was a warming scene.

「Yuu-kun too, you’ve worked hard! You must be tired. Anyway, come inside first! There is also cold watermelon right now!」

「Yeah, I missed a watermelon that won’t fly and slam at you.」

「Heh?」

Kaa-san tilted her head in puzzlement. I smiled wryly at her and climbed the stair to my room.

I thought I wasn’t tired, but fatigue suddenly assaulted me now that I was back home like this. As I thought I was really tense, I just didn’t notice it. The fatigue had been accumulating steadily inside me.

I felt strangely astonished that I could let loose like this after returning home.

After that, Tou-san insistently grilled me with questions like「There was really nothing that happened right!? You didn’t do anything coarse to the daughters of Himekami-sama and Yuugaoze-sama right!?」.

Of course, I answered that we only had pure relationship as senior and junior, and as fellow classmates. The circumstances may justify a lie.

This too was because of my consideration for Tou-san’s mental state. Forgive me.

I entered the bath of my own home after so long, and then ate Kaa-san’s homemade dinner.

As I thought, this felt really nice. I keenly realized that.

「Ah, Yuu-kun. Come to think of it, a friend of yours came to play while you were gone.」

「Friend?」

「Yes. Aspite-kun.」

A!? Aspite……kun!?

「A-and?」

「I asked him to come inside and heard a lot from him! I’m relieved that Yuu-kun has a male friend! But, he is a really shy kid isn’t he?」

……Shy.

「And, what did Aspite come here for?」

「He ate ice cream and went home after that.」

Ice cream!?

Was it really the Aspite who I knew? Don’t tell me he also had twin brother like Rikimaru and Seigi?

Kaa-san’s evaluation of him he is curt but he is a shy and good kid! was giving even more credence to my twin brother theory.

What in the world did that guy come here for?

Well, I was going to take a break at home for one week. Let’s try calling him later.

And then I’d continue with the second half of the training camp after this break. Where were we going to next? I felt anxious but also anticipating it.

At night, when I laid down on my own bed after so long, I fell asleep instantly.

.

Part 3

I spent my time slovenly at home for a while after returning home.

However today──Sunday, there was a summer festival at the nearby shrine. And then a firework event would be held at night inside the city. This was a yearly custom, so I wanted to go watch it together with Reina.

However, I also considered the possibility of other devil king candidate’s attack.

When I consulted senpai──,

「Hee……so this is the local festival at Yuuto’s place.」

We decided to visit the festival and then the firework show right after that with all the Lovers’ members.

Lizel-senpai was curiously watching the stands that were lined up along the shrine’s path.

She was wearing a blue yukata with wisteria pattern. It really suited the mature Lizel-senpai and gave off a graceful sexy feeling. The yukata also looked really expensive.

「This is also my first time. This ‘sparkle sparkle’ and ‘wai wai’ atmosphere are really fun! I can also wear yukata, so niceee ♡」

Miyabi said that while wearing a showy yukata with pink and purple hydrangeas drawn on it.

「This is Reina’s first time wearing a yukata……it’s really joyous desu desu.」

The one who said that was of course my little sister Reina.

Actually yesterday when I said to Kaa-san that were would go to the summer festival──,

「Fuh, fuh, fu……I thought that this might also happen!」

Her hands energetically spread out the adorable yukata with white base color and the pattern of morning glory.

Reina was wearing it right now.

My little sis was greatly excited from wearing a yukata for the first time.

「It feels like Reina is becoming a main character of a period drama, my heard is pounding desu! It’s like Reina has become Mifune Toshirou or Chiba Shinichi! It feels like becoming a master swordsman desu desu!」

……I didn’t get what my little sister was fixated with. I could only pray that she wasn’t wearing a loincloth as underwear.

By the way I was also wearing a deep blue yukata with vertical striped pattern.

I thought that it would be bad if the other devil king candidates attacked while I was dressed like this, but──,

「Originally, it’s forbidden to involve unrelated people in devil king war.」

It wasn’t an absolute rule, but rarely anyone tried anything in the middle of a packed crowd like this.

And so even though he was still on his guard, he could fully enjoy the summer festival and firework event.

「Anyway, let’s have fun. Ah, I wonder what is that?」

Senpai was uncharacteristically in high spirit. She was pointing at a target practice stand.

Her expression looked appropriate for her age of seventeen.

Usually she was always showing concern for us and looked after us a lot. She was the real leader of Lovers and the adviser. In addition she was also our main force.

I was really in her debt.

But……how was she able to do something like that?

When I had just met senpai, she said that she hated a world where everything was decided by the will of just a single devil. That was why she wanted me to be a devil king who ruled with love.

But, was that all?

The candidacy that originally should belong to her was taken away by a human of all people. And yet how could she labor so devotedly like this despite that?

「I did it Yuuto! I obtained this kind of prize!」

Senpai said that and showed me the bag that was filled with the present from the shooting stand. The gap of her smile right now with her usual smile made her looked childish.

Suddenly the scene that I saw when I lost consciousness in the devil world came back.

The outrageously beautiful girl, Sein.

Who was she?

And then I also──a child Lizel-senpai who I should have never seen before.

Why did I see that kind of dream?

「Yuuto?」

「Ah! A-as expected from senpai! How should I say it, it’s like senpai is a shooter of magic bullets!」

「……What’s wrong?」

「No……nothing.」

It wasn’t really nothing, but I didn’t know who I should describe this hazy feeling myself.

「No, it’s really nothing big but……senpai, before this──」

It was at that timing something jumped on my back.

「……What!?」

「Yuuto-! It’s Yuuto woooofffff!!」

There was that barking voice along with the sensation of something grazing my neck while the person’s head was rubbing on my back……this is!

「Poran!? Why are you here!?」

I couldn’t see the person clearly because she was clinging on my back, but it seemed she was wearing a proper dress instead of the ragged clothes from before.

「Neith-sama brought me here woof!」

「G-good evening……」

Neith hesitantly stepped forward. She wasn’t wearing a yukata but her usual uniform.

「Um, I went to your house, but I heard that everyone is going to the festival……」

「So we missed each other huh, my bad……」

Neith waved her hands to left and right in panic.

「No! Sorry that I suddenly came without even calling beforehand! Poran said that she want to meet you so……」

「I see. But, why are you in the human world?」

I asked Neith while still carrying Poran on my back.

「Yes……staying alone at the other side, is a little bit……b-besides, I also want to show all the children this world at least once……but, it’ll be difficult to bring everyone all at once, so it’s only Poran this time.」

「The human world is also more amazing than I thought woof! They’re quite something even though they’re just human woof!」

Poran piggybacked on my back like it was only natural while being in really high spirit.

Certainly she would be able to understand what kind of creature human was by seeing it with her own eyes and experiencing it fully with her own skin like this.

「Then, how about Neith also come with us to look around the festival?」

「I-is that alright?」

「Of course. You too Poran, get down already from there.」

「But, Yuuto’s back feels comfortable woof.」

Poran was reluctant, but Neith tore her off from me without allowing any argument. She told her firmly「Keep the spoiled act in moderation」. It seemed that she was properly acting as her guardian.

After that I looked around the stands with everyone. Some people noticed Poran’s tail and ears and it was really hard to gloss it over. She also tried to scoop goldfish using her hands. There were such troubles, but it was really fun. Miyabi and Reina were enjoying festival foods like cotton candy or candy-coated fruit. Though the way the ate chocolate banana was a bit……you know.

「Ah! Yuuto, is that Bon Festival dance?」

A yagura (high wooden stage) was set up at the open space slightly ahead from here. People were forming a circle around it and danced.

「Is this Miyabi’s first time seeing that?」

「Yep, let’s dance, dance!」

「R-Reina too, Reina want to try desu desu!」

「Then, let’s try dancing. It has been a long time for me too.」

Bon Festival dance. The last time I did it was at elementary school. It was a bit embarrassing but……well, it was fine I guess if everyone was with me. It felt like this would also become a good memory of summer vacation.

And so, Miyabi, Reina, Poran, Neith, me, and Lizel-senpai lined up in that order to dance the Bon Festival dance after a super long time. I had forgotten the way to dance, and naturally everyone also didn’t know how. We watched the dance of the other aunties and uncles and imitated them. However, it wasn’t a difficult dance, so everyone became able to dance very well right away.

And then, we naturally gathered attention without even trying because of the beautiful girls at my back and front.

『The ladies who joined the dance at the last moment! Please come on to the stage!』

The festival’s executive committee member who was standing under a tent was stirring up the situation like that using a mike.

The yagura’s surrounding had a platform that was higher than the rest. A circle of the dance could also be formed there.

「Yoosh! Let’s heat up this festival even more with our dancee! Let’s go, everyone!」

Miyabi pulled Reina’s hand and then Poran followed behind them with a skip in her steps. And then Neith also followed totteringly in embarrassment.

When I was about to follow them too,

「Yuuto, can you come with me for a bit?」

Lizel-senpai softly pulled my sleeve and left from the dance circle.

「What’s the matter senpai?」

However senpai kept quiet while pulling my hand.

We turned the corner and entered a small path without any lighting. There were tall thickets at both sides of the path and the place was dark. However the shrine path that was passed by a lot of people was just a stone throw away. It sounded like there were lively voices passing by right nearby.

Senpai brought us to be hidden from view behind the trunk of a thick tree and looked up at me. Her eyes looked like they were lit with an indecent glint.

「Yuuto, let’s do Healing Lovers here.」

「Eh!?」

Lizel-senpai raised her index finger and put it on her lips.

「Shh, it’ll be bad if we are found out.」

「Then, why in this kind of place……」

「I have researched a lot after returning back here. I watched various things that are aimed for male to research what kind of things can stimulate man to excite them.」

No……I was already excited just from hearing that Lizel-senpai was watching that kind of things alone.

「First is the yukata. It seems that this kind of outfit that is different from usual is good. Apparently swimsuit is also popular, but I have worn that all the time at the beach.」

「Certainly, senpai’s figure in yukata is wonderful……」

「Fufu, thank you. Putting that aside──」

Senpai brushed aside the hair that was hanging on her shoulder and I caught a glimpse of her white nape. The slender neck and white skin that peeked out from between the black hair and yukata were indescribably captivating.

「It seems that the fear from the possibility of getting find out by other people will make the heart pound from tension and fear and excite man even more. There is also the feeling of embarrassment.」

The perverted feel was lessening when it was explained logically like that. It was like looking at someone investigating something for a scholarly pursuit. Senpai wasn’t doing an embarrassing thing, but something noble instead……though that was just my imagination.

Even so, I keenly thought that Lizel-senpai was really serious even for perverted thing like this.

「I understand. And……err, what should I do?」

「T-that’s……」

Senpai’s mouth opened, but then as expected she realized it was embarrassing and averted  her gaze. She put her hand over her mouth and whispered resolutely.

「You can, do as you like Yuuto……」

Uu……certainly, this wasn’t something to ask from a woman. No, perhaps this was actually good to instigate the embarrassment like this?

Anyway, I had to answer senpai’s expectation. As a junior.

Also……I want to become a man who could answer a woman’s expectation.

Senpai and I stared at each other. Lizel-senpai’s cheeks was already reddening faintly. Her upward gaze was searching for something. Her lips were slightly opened with desire. I suddenly desired her soft looking lips.

I didn’t know what senpai wanted from me. But I couldn’t just do nothing. Then, I’d do what I wanted to do, first was──.

I glanced briefly at the lively shrine path at the other side of the tree trunk, and then I brought my face closer to senpai.

My lips approached.

Senpai’s face looked pretty than usual when I looked from this close. Her skin that seemed to be transparent. Her nicely shaped eyebrows. Her eyes that were decorated with long eyelashes, her blue pupils that were like gem.

As our distance shrank, senpai’s eyelids were also narrowing and then her eyes closed in the end.

And then I kissed with senpai.

Our lips only touched when sealing the contract, but this time──,

I tried thrusting in my tongue resolutely. Then senpai obediently accepted me. In addition her tongue also proactively entwined around mine.

Our tongues fiercely dueled with each other, as though they had been waiting for this, as though they couldn’t wait any longer.

I didn’t know how long we were doing that.

It felt like it would continue for eternity.

I want to do this forever. But, there were still other things that I wanted to do.

Our lips separated and senpai’s eyelids opened. It was glistening more than before we kissed. Her eyes were shining.

「Yuuto……」

Senpai’s hands touched my chest. I also wanted to touch senpai’s body more. I put my hands around her back.

It was then, I heard footsteps turning the corner from the shrine path and heading here.

「──tsu」

Senpai faced down and buried her head on my chest to hide her face. I tightly hugged her in order to protect her from other people’s gaze.

The footsteps were passing by beside us. I felt a gaze on us, but I couldn’t turn my head at all. I patiently waited until the footsteps were getting farther.

「……My heart, was really pounding.」

Senpai softly whispered after we couldn’t hear the footsteps anymore.

「Yes. Somehow the nervousness was……immense.」

「But, it’s a bit fun, like we are doing something bad.」

Senpai said that and showed a small smile.

「Then, let’s do something even worse.」

「Fufu, I agree.」

Senpai loosened her collar nonchalantly. My hands followed the invitation and touched senpai’s voluptuous breast.

「Aa……♥」

A sweet sigh leaked out from senpai’s lips just from that.

Yutaka’s fabric was thin, so I could even feel the texture of the bra underneath. I could also feel the bra’s shape with my hand. When I put some strength into my hand, my palm felt an elasticity that couldn’t be felt from anything else.

「Nh……a……aah」

Senpai’s moan was gradually getting bigger.

「Senpai, someone else will hear.」

「……tsu」

Senpai hurriedly bit her lip and covered her mouth with her hand.

I grasped senpai’s butt with both hands and strongly pulled her closer.

「As I thought, it’s because of this situation?」

「Yes……besides, I was unable to meet Yuuto all this time, since we returned here……」

Senpai’s slender fingers touched between my legs.

「Senpai……uh」

Senpai’s counterattack finally began. She lovingly caressed around.

「I had you embraced me frequently for Healing Lovers during the training camp correct? Perhaps that’s why……right now, my body will feel painful already just from being apart for a bit……」

That confession had a destructive power that was more tremendous than any characteristic magic.

My throat made a gulping sound.

To think that such words came out from the usually elegant and reserved senpai……there was no way I wouldn’t get excited.

Senpai’s face that was staring at me was changing from the face of an elegant noble daughter to an indecent expression that was melting in pleasure.

「It was you Yuuto who turned my body like this. Take, responsibility……okay♥」

I couldn’t hold back anymore after being told such thing.

Things like where we were right now, or what if other people saw us didn’t matter anymore to me.

I wanted to throw my reason to the wind and entered a world where there were only senpai and me.

I rolled up the bottom of senpai’s yukata and exposed her butts, then I began massaging them directly on her skin.

「Nnau! Aa……h-how can……it feels……so good」

I caressed senpai’s body all over. The desire to violated her whole skin was driving me. I opened the front of her yukata and my hand crawled on her white and soft thigh, and then the small black underwear above it.

Another footsteps approached at that timing.

I tried to get away from senpai immediately. However senpai’s yukata was loose on the collar and the bottom was also opened that her underwear became exposed. Her slovenly appearance was lascivious. I couldn’t this appearance of senpai to other people.

I hugged senpai once more to hide her figure.

A pair of women passed beside us. I could hear whispers 「That, look」「Hey, could it be……」「No way, at this kind of place」 from them.

I couldn’t see senpai’s face, but I could clearly see how her ear was turning bright red.

I turned around when the footsteps vanished.

I confirmed that there was nobody around and slightly let go of senpai’s body in my arms.

「……We were completely exposed.」

「Yes. But, strangely……my feeling surged up.」

It was the same with me.

「It was embarrassing but, I think, somewhere inside, I want to show off that I’m doing something like this with Yuuto……」

She said something delightful like that again.

「Perhaps, those women just now are peeking at us right now.」

Senpai’s spine shivered when I wshipered that into her ear.

「Yes……this is for increasing Yuuto’s mana capacity’s limit. It can’t be helped.」

That already sounded like nothing but excuse.

An obscene light dwelled in senpai’s eyes. It was as though she wasn’t just a devil, she had also transformed into a succubus.

『Mana capacity’s upper limit has increased to 90000.』

Arcana told me of the increase in my mana capacity at that timing.

「Senpai, it’s just a bit more until the 100000 mark.」

「Yes, let’s do our best……if it’s Yuuto, I don’t mind whatever you do to me. Let’s go as far as──」

「You two are in this kind of place woof?」

Poran was beside our feet.

「UOWAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?」

「──Kyah!」

I let go of senpai in panic and stood in front of Poran to hide her. Senpai turned around to fix the front of her yukata.

「P-Poran! Why are you here!?」

「Don’t ask me that woof. Everyone is looking for you two because you two vanished even though the firework event is going to start after this woof.」

「I-I see……my bad.」

When I glanced behind me, senpai nodded with an awkward face.

「Yosh, then let’s return to where everyone is. Poran, show us the way.」

「Leave it to me woof! Poran can smell everyone’s scent even if we get separated woof!」

We followed behind Poran toward the shrine path.

Senpai nonchalantly held my hand while walking.

「Senpai?」

「Just……for a bit.」

It made me wanted to return to behind that tree again if she spoke cutely like that.

I held senpai’s hand back.

.

Part 4

After that we moved to a dry riverbed with few people around to watch the fireworks.

Even so, the venue of the firework event wasn’t at the riverbed but at a race track some distance away from here.

It would be more impactful to watch from nearby, but a great number of people did that last year. It was impossible to approach there without much resolve.

And so we elected to watch from the riverbed that was near my home.

It seemed there were also some people who had the same plan. People were gathering on a nearby bridge to watch the fireworks.

Perhaps it would be easier to watch from on the bridge, but we also had Poran with us so a place with fewer people was better.

She was really standing out in the festival……well, most people only thought that she was cosplaying.

「Woof! WOooooOOOOFF!」

Besides it seemed that Poran was also pleased with the riverbed. She was running around on the lawn. It must be fun for her to be able to run around as she pleased.

The way she ran on the grass with her ears and tail stood up like that.

──?

I wonder why.

This feeling of déjà vu.

It felt like, I had seen it before.

Where?

Here.

The figure of Poran running around.

That was impossible.

But, I could gradually see more clearly.

Was this a false memory? Was it déjà vu?

Surely that was the case, no doubt about it.

Because it was impossible.

How could I run around together with her under the blue sky.

And then, there was the figure of one more person that was connected with the string of memory.

A girl with mature beauty even though she was only as tall as a kindergartener.

「It’ll be the time soon.」

That girl talked to me.

Her figure had turned into an adult before I realized it.

「Lizel-senpai.」

「What?」

「Had I, ever met senpai here in the past?」

Lizel-senpai’s expression froze.

「……Yuuto? You──」

*DOON* A loud sound reverberated at that time.

A large flower bloomed at the night sky.

A bright light was spreading in red and blue color. The glittering light was raining down.

「Yuuto……I……」

The firework illuminated the sky once more.

──?

The nearby bridge became a black silhouette that rose to the surface.

The figures of many people that should be there were gone.

In exchange, there was a figure standing on the railing.

But, that black silhouette was clearly not a spectator.

「I already send the nuisances to go away! Now is the showtime of Rikimaru-chan!」

「The Strength, Sannou Rikimaru!?」

「Now Lovers, Morioka Yuuto!! I’ll have you accompany Rikimaru-chan! Though I’ll break two or three of your limbs first before that!」

Lizel-senpai immediately reacted.

「Enemy attack!! Take care of Poran, Neith!」

「Got it!」

Neith broke into a fierce dash and lifted up Poran who was paralyzed with fear. And then without stopping she moved to escape. However──,

「Wait a second. That kid is the prey that got away from me before this isn’t it?」

A tall and lean man──the Ace of Justice, Hachimaki Tougou stood on the way.

Appearing behind him was the girl who looked really similar with Rikimaru.

「To find her in this kind of place……so you are the one sheltering her Chariot, Neith Carnac.」

「Justice, Sannou Seigi……」

Neith hugged Poran and glared back at her. Seigi sent a piercing glare at Neith.

「Was it also you who killed Koshirae?」

「……What, if I am?」

「That is an act that goes against my will. That means, you are evil. I can’t possibly overlook you. After all! I’m Justice!!」

Seigi drew out her sword.

「Reina shall help desu desu!」

Reina also took out her sword Pon-chan from her pocket dimension and took a stance toward Seigi.

「Oops, your opponent is this me.」

Hachimaki also unsheathed his sword and approached while holding his sword loosely at his side.

「Oi, rookie. Don’t get involved this time.」

Nihondou Swordia was standing by at some distance away.

Cold sweat trickled down the cheek of Reina who was staring at Hachimaki.

「He seems strong desu……desu」

Hachimaki placed his sword on his shoulder and grinned.

「You seems weak though. But devil can’t be judged from their appearance. Don’t let me down yeah.」

As soon as he finished speaking, Hachimaki slashed at Reina.

Sparks scattered between the two.

And then Hachimaki moved to the side while keeping his sword locked with Reina’s. He was naturally leading Reina away from Neith.

There was no more nuisance with this. Seigi readied her naked blade while stepping toward Neith.

「Even so, it’s not just Lovers, we will also be able to finish off the escaped prey and even the Chariot on top of that……fufu. Good grief, my stupid big sister is truly blessed with luck──!?」

An attack came flying from an unexpected direction. It knocked down Seigi’s sword.

It was an arrow.

「You……Himekami Lizel!」

Lizel was aiming her bow Cupid from some distance away. She was staring at Sannou Seigi.

「It’s unexpected that you visit here together with Rikimaru. Whatever brought that on I wonder?」

「I simply came across my stupid big sister nearby. It’s slightly irritating even for me.」

「Oh, is that so.」

Senpai said while firing the second arrow nonchalantly.

Seigi cut down Lizel-senpai’s arrow with a speed that couldn’t be followed by naked eye.

「Fuh. Do you think an arrow of this level can possibly hit me?」

Seigi smiled coldly. That smile sent a cold shiver on my back.

She was able to knock down that attack……as expected from a devil king candidate. As I felt astonished like that──,

Neith was already passing through beside Seigi with Poran in her arms. She also passed in front of Swordia who was further ahead and withdrew from the battlefield.

Seigi had taken off her eyes from Neith and Poran in order to knock down LIzel-senpai’s arrow.

「Kuh……! Swordia, why did you let them get away!?」

Swordia replied like a doll at Seigi’s scolding.

「I was told to not get involved.」

……It seemed, that girl didn’t have any flexibility.

Seigi turned her gaze back to Lizel-senpai without hiding her irritation.

「Well fine. That kind of animal is nothing more than a side entertainment in the end. More importantly──」

Seigi pointed the tip of her sword to senpai.

「You are the more valuable prey.」

「I wonder, which one of us is the prey here?」

「Stop prattling. Something like bow and arrow……is useless in close range!」

An instantaneous step. Seigi struck with a sharp slash.

However, Lizel-senpai calmly dodged the fierce attack with a beautiful agility.

And then she astonishingly fired from such close range.

「-!?」

Seigi put up a defensive magic, but she was still sent flying until dozens of meters away.

「You bastard……」

「Yuuto, leave Seigi to me!」

Lizel-senpai left those words behind before heading to Seigi on her own this time.

I kept my gaze fixed on Sannou Rikimaru who was standing imposingly on the bridge’s railing while talking to Miyabi beside me.

「Miyabi, let’s take her on with both of us.」

「Rooger!」

「Ahahahaha! Trying to defeat Rikimaru-chan with just two people, that’s super impossible! After all!」

Rikimaru’s figure vanished.

「──!?」

Rikimaru’s body dropped from the night sky that was decorated by fireworks.

「Rikimaru-chan is just too powerful after all–!!」

「Run Miyabi!」

Rikimaru’s kick exploded the ground like a meteor. An explosive sound as though a firework had exploded on the ground roared. Grass and soil were blasted high in the air.

My body almost got blown away by the violent shockwave.

「Miyabi! Are you alright!?」

「Yep, I’m fine……but」

Miyabi replied hesitantly. When I looked her way, there was one more silhouette there. The figure that was hazy from the dust cloud that Rikimaru caused was bursting with muscles.

「Yuugaoze! Today is the day I surpass you!」

──Strength’s Queen, Ishiwari Flor.

Miyabi responded with a fed up face.

「I’m tired of hearing that line already! Just why are you seeing me as your rival so much like that–!」

「Because, you’re just right for me as a close by target! I need an opponent that I can beat easily. That way will give me more motivation and it also leave me in good mood!」

「You’re a real nuisance! Don’t try to assert your dominance as you please like that!」

Miyabi clenched her fists and took a fighting stance.

With this it would be difficult for me to count on Miyabi’s support.

「Miyabi, take care of her!」

「Y-yep. But, are you gonna be fine Yuuto?」

「Yeah, no worries!」

Although I said that, this was an opponent that I was helpless against before this. What should I do in the end──,

Rikimaru was having a wide smile that didn’t look like someone who was going to be in a battle to death after this. That was just how confident she was. There wasn’t any factor that would make her lose against me. Her expression was filled with such conviction.

「Oi, Morioka Yuuto.」

I thought she would immediately came punching. Instead she put her hands on her waist and talked haughtily at me.

「What is your relationship with the Death devil king candidate?」

「What?」

「That man, he looks like he is covering for you no matter how I look at it. Is he your friend?」

He is……covering for me?

「I don’t know what you mean at all.」

I didn’t know at all whether he was really covering for me……but, I had doubt.

Why did that guy intentionally came to meet me?

Besides, he said that both of us were rebels of the devil king academy……I understood what he wanted to say, but why did that guy bring that up at our first meeting with each other?

Of course, there was a possibility that he was trying to trick me.

However──,

「Rikimaru……you are, unexpectedly not an idiot huh?」

Rikimaru’s lips loosened into a grin.

「Hahahaha, Rikimaru-chan isn’t an idiot you know. Anyway, I’ll break two or three of your limbs before making you spit out everything, so look forward to it!」

「Sorry, but I’ll beg off from that.」

I activated the magic formula that I had been secretly constructing.

「ThundergiaThunder God Raiju!!」

It was the advanced magic of lightning type. A lighting monster came out from the magic circle that materialized in front of me.

It was a shining beast with the appearance of tiger. However, it didn’t have a physical body. It was a magic beast that was made from lightning attack. It emitted electricity from its whole body and fierce crackling that sounded like a growl resounded from it.

No matter how fast Rikimaru’s movement was, she wouldn’t be able to keep up with it. This magic would chase after the prey and finished it with lightning speed.

「Even though you can punch back flame, you won’t be able to do that with this one!」

「Hahaha, lightning beast huh! Rikimaru-chan was also planning to hunt down one!!」

Thundergia assaulted Rikimaru.

「Haaaaaaa……」

Rikimaru clenched her fist.

Don’t tell me……she was planning to punch even lightning attack with her fist’s pressure?

「HAAAH!!」

She punched the ground with her fist. The ground cracked and the ground rose up to become a shield from the impact. Thundergia got dispersed by the ground wall. The grasses were instantly scorched and the soil smoked from the high heat. However the majority of the electric energy was flowing into the ground.

Rikimaru jumped back and landed in the river. She was submerged until her knees, and then she launched an uppercut that scooped the water.

「Wha……-!?」

The river’s water rose to the air as though it was sucked up by something. The great amount of water rained down on Thundergia and scattered the lightning energy. And then Thundergia’s form vanished immediately.

「Kuh……」

「Now now, what are you going to do next!」

She held up her fist. It was the stance to swing a big punch. There was a distance of several dozen meters between us.

And yet, a violent shockwave assaulted me.

「Guh……oh!?」

My yukata was torn and my skin was cut. I was sent flying and rolled backward.

「Still not yet!」

One more attack came. Rikimaru’s fist launched a flame. The intense air friction was causing combustion phenomenon.

The grasses caught fire. That flame was heading toward me.

「Shit!」

I rolled to dodge desperately. The spot where I was at just now was dug up and the grasses burst into flames.

「Dammit……Strongest again!」

I jumped on my feet and tried to attack from my end too. However──,

「That’s why I’m saying that you’re too slow!」

Rikimaru was right in front of me.

「HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!」

It was a terrific consecutive blows. It looked like she had multiple fists, seriously.

「GUWAAAAAAAAAAH!?」

Of course I put up defensive magic. However, it was painful even then. The Barricade was dented and the fist attacked me mercilessly.

I vomited blood while rolling on the grass.

「Yuuto!?」

I could hear Lizel-senpai’s worried yell.

However even senpai was fighting the Justice devil king candidate. I shouldn’t wait for her to save me, I’m the one who had to defeat Rikimaru quickly and went to help her!

I put all my strength into my legs and stood up.

「I’m fine over here! Please believe in me!! I’ll finish this right away and go over there!」

「Yuuto……」

Lizel-senpai bit her lips.

「Alright. I believe in you Yuuto.」

And then she turned a sharp gaze toward Seigi.

「Here I come, Seigi」

Lizel-senpai instantly moved until the bridge using TranzartSpace Transfer.

「I see, you want to attack me one-sidedly by taking distance……I won’t let you!」

Seigi also used Tranzart to close the distance instantly. However Lizel-senpai had also teleported to far away.

「Lizel-senpai……」

I was concerned, but I had no leeway to worry here. Lizel-senpai would be fine if it was her. I should focus on myself. The enemy before me──Sannou Rikimaru, I had to manage against her somehow!

That Rikimaru was laughing with an expression that contained no stress at all for the outcome of this battle.

「Ahahaha, your reliable Card has also gone to somewhere else. Now I can ask you about Lost without any nuisance getting in the way!」

「Why are you that fixated to Lost?」

Rikimaru frowned and looked diagonally above.

「Because, that guy isn’t a normal devil I guess?」

Isn’t, normal?

Even though he was low class, he was still a devil. There should be no way that he wasn’t normal.

「And you also aren’t normal! Is that why you get along with that guy?」

「……I’m the one who want to ask that question.」

I fired an explosive type advanced magic.

「Destructshear!!」

A fire pillar instantly rose up at the river. The flame blast spread and hot gust blew.

「!?」

「I’m telling you, that’s pointless!」

Rikimaru had leaped toward me in the blink of eye.

Shit……my magic didn’t work at all against her just like last time.

The unknown magic that was sleeping inside Lovers arcana.

I didn’t know what kind of magic it was, but if I could use it…….

「UryaryaryaryaryaryaryaaAAAAAAAAAA!!」

Blows that felt like shotgun shot attacked me.

I used defensive magic while also using martial art to somehow avoided lethal damage. My training with Miyabi paid off.

However thanks to firing off advanced magic one after another, my remaining mana was already low.

──Then, I got no choice.

「Infinite Lovers!!」

Mana was overflowing inside my body.

「Ooh? What, what! Your mana is suddenly skyrocketing!?」

「Yeah, the main event is starting now! Rikimaru!!」

I activated Maximize, Stride, and Armored simultaneously.

If magic didn’t work, then I’d also use physical attack! I’d decide this with hand-to-hand fighting!!

「UOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!」

Making use of my training with Miyabi, I used tricky movement while letting out probing punches.

「Ahahaha! It’s completely useless!」

Rikimaru was easily handling my attacks. And then when she found an opening, she casually thrust her hand forward. Her palm hit my chest.

「Guhah……!!」

My rib was screaming.

My body was blown backward for several meters while I was still standing.

Shit! Even if the mana that Infinite Lovers produced was vast, I got no magic to make use of it!

My power was increasing considerably using Maximize. However it was unable to compete against Strongest.

What──should I do!?

The time limit approached while I was at a lost like that.

It felt like despair was going to envelop me. It was then──,

「Yuuto-kun!!」

Something flew out from above the embankment.

It was two sphinxes. And then an ancient armored chariot was being pulled by those two.

The one holding the rein with the expression of preparedness for death was──,

「Neith!?」

Neith’s hand reached out from the chariot that was running ferociously. I grabbed that hand and got on the chariot. There was also Poran there hanging on the seat so that she wouldn’t get dropped.

「Why are you back!?」

Then Poran looked up at me with a resolved gaze.

「Neith-sama and Yuuto had saved Poran woof! Poran want to return the favor, but Poran can’t do anything woof!」

「Poran……」

「That’s why……at the very least, Poran don’t want to become a hindrance woof!」

She yelled with a lot of tears gathering in her eyes.

Neith who was holding the rein chuckled.

「She threw a tantrum so that I come back no matter what.」

Neith looked at me with a smile.

「She said she don’t want Yuuto-kun to die because of her fault.」

「Poran……you’re really……」

I caressed Poran’s head. Poran’s eyes narrowed happily.

Neith’s chariot crossed the embankment and got on the roadway. There wasn’t even a single car around for some reason. It seemed a barrier to drive away people was laid out along the river. Because of that there was no stopping Neith from driving her chariot with a terrific speed.

I turned back curiously, but I couldn’t see Rikimaru’s figure. As expected, she couldn’t catch up with this speed.

However, we couldn’t just run away like this.

「Neith.」

「Yes, I know. But, I have a request before that.」

.

Part 5

Hachimaki Tougou swung down a sharp slash from his tall body.

Reina blocked that sword right from the front and deflected it.

「Heheh! So you can block this guy! Your sword is heavy even though you got small body like that. As I thought, you’re quite something huh!」

Hachimaki swung around his sword with his large body like wind. Reina intercepted them all with her sword that was longer than her body.

With her small body, it looked like Reina was the one who got swung around by her large sword. However, that was Reina’s style. Her strong bond with Pon-chan was forming a magnificent coordination between them.

Reina displayed a footwork that was like a pro boxer. With a tricky movement she brought her long sword until near Hachimaki.

And then a heavy and sharp slash shot out.

Hachimaki blocked it, however the impact pushed him backward.

「I see……you’re using that fast small body to move a sword with destructive power. But」

Hachimaki lifted his sword until the height of his eyes and pulled back his arms.

His stance looked like he was aiming with a rifle.

「Let’s go, Three333.」

Reina’s spine shivered.

She put up Barricade and took a defensive stance.

Hachimaki charged forward.

「UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!」

Thrust, and then thurst, and more thrust.

Three stages thrusts. And then──,

He stepped forward even more.

Reina had somehow blocked the three stages thrusts, but the three stages thrusts attacked once more just as she had relaxed slightly.

──No way!?

Reina’s Barricade was smashed.

However, she could manage somehow from here if she fixed her posture. Just as she thought that──,

The third three stages thrusts attacked the defenseless Reina.

「KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!」

Her yukata was cut apart and Reina’s small body rolled on the grass.

「So you could endure it until the third one, you’re really something yeah.」

Hachimaki sheathed his sword in satisfaction.

「Uu……」

Hachimaki called at Reina who was groaning in pain.

「Just sleep there. Your devil king candidate is going to be dealt with by boss Rikimaru soon. You don’t need to also go down with him.」

「Reina won’t……give up desu, desu.」

Reina used both her hands to rise.

「Hoo……I like your guts. How about it? Do you want to come to Justice? Even your senior disciple is also there.」

「That’s……」

Reina stood up and looked down on herself.

She saw her shredded yukata.

「……」

「Hm? What’s wrong? It’s not a bad offer──」

「Unforgivable, desu……desu」

「Haa?」

Hachimaki frowned.

「Mama, made this yukata for Reina desu. For Reina, mama……and yet……」

Reina’s eyes glinted.

Killing intent seethed from her whole body.

「Now this is terrifying……her mana, her killing intent, it’s on another level from before.」

Cold sweat formed on Hachimaki’s forehead.

「But, interesting.」

Reina held her sword with one hand. She placed her sword on her shoulder and dropped her waist to take a low stance.

「Here I go! Threes」

The ground under Reina’s feet exploded.

Hachimaki made a start dash. It was to unleash the Threes’ first three stages thrusts.

However──,

It was like he had lost the sense of distance in his sight.

Reina was already within his attack range.

──This girl!?

Reina’s speed was faster than Hachimaki.

The distance was closed in an instant.

Reina rushed forward before the opponent could let out his thrust while swinging down the sword that she shouldered.

──Crap.

He was slashed the moment that thought crossed his mind.

「GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!」

He was slashed in a straight line from his shoulder downward.

Blood spurted out showily.

However, it wasn’t a lethal wound. It was impossible for him to fight anymore, but he wouldn’t die.

「S……shit」

He looked up to the small sword master who defeated him.

「Tsk……to think, I’ll get killed by……an ankle biter like you」

Hachimaki laid down spread eagled in resolve.

「Kill me.」

However Reina lowered her sword.

「You, you tried to save Reina desu.」

「……Hah?」

「That’s why, Reina will also save you.」

「See here……you will get killed right away if you say something like that you know?」

However Reina smiled kindly.

「Mama will scold Reina if Reina killed someone just for damaging a yukata desu desu.」

「……」

Hachimaki looked up to the kid who defeated him with an exasperated face. It was just too stupid that he didn’t have the energy to say anything anymore.

At that time, Reina felt new mana approaching and looked up.

A muscular group came from the river terrace. Most likely they were the Cards of Strength.

「Reina has a business to take care of. Farewell farewell.」

She lifted her sword once more and ran.

The blindfolded girl approached Hachimaki who was left behind alone.

「You……why the hell are you just watching by yourself?」

「Because I was told to not interfere.」

「Well yeah I told you that, but still……」

「Should I pursue?」

Hachimaki looked to the side and stared at the back of Reina who was fighting the Cards of Strength.

「……No need. Lend me a hand instead. I’m going home.」

Swordia quietly helped Hachimaki to stand up.

.

Part 6

Neith was staring fixedly at me on the parked chariot.

「Yuuto-kun……I want you to make me your Card.」

──Eh?

「……」

I was taken aback and stared back at Neith’s face reflexively.

Neith……becoming my Card?

I couldn’t understand the meaning of that. My head was in chaos.

Calm down. Err…….

Neith was the Chariot devil king candidate. She was saying that she wanted to become Lovers’ Card.

……It was a completely unimaginable development.

In the first place, was something like that possible?

「Neith, why are you……?」

「I had said it before hadn’t I? It’s impossible for me to win the devil king war……but, there is nothing I can do, I can only give up, I thought. But, Stella and Lizel contacted me. They said they want to borrow my beach for the summer vacation.」

Neith looked down slightly.

「I can only talk, with Stella and Lizel at most……that’s why, I thought that perhaps this is some kind of sign. I thought that perhaps it would be better if I lend my strength to either of them.」

I never thought that Neith would think like this…….

「Stella and Lizel. I didn’t know what to do but……I had a chance to talk about many things with Lizel while living in the same cottage during the training camp. Besides, I was able to observe everyone’s strength. Everyone said that Lovers is the weakest but, it feels like this time is different. Besides……」

Neith’s cheeks slowly reddened.

「After talking with Yuuto-kun, I thought that perhaps, my wish can be granted if it’s Yuuto-kun.」

「Neith……」

Neith lifted up her face once more and turned her clear gaze toward me.

「Yuuto-kun. I too have to protect Carnac House. I have to protect my territory and people. I don’t know what the other devil king candidates will do after they become the devil king, but I think if it’s Yuuto-kun then I can trust you. That’s why……if you will protect everyone’s life and freedom, then I want to place my bet on Yuuto-kun!」

「Poran also ask that you grant Neith-sama’s request woof!」

Poran who was quietly sitting on the floor stood up.

Her pure eyes were looking up at me in prayer.

「Neith……Poran……」

It felt like the weight of these two got added on my shoulders.

「Neith……」

Neith’s throat gulped.

「I also realized from this battle. I’m still not strong enough. I’m working hard to become stronger, but I’m still hopeless right now. I might not be able to win in the battle against Rikimaru and Seigi.」

「Yuuto-kun……」

Neith’s face clouded in anxiety.

「……That’s why, I need you Neith.」

Neith’s eyes widened.

「If Neith become my Card, I swear I’ll win against Rikimaru! I swear I’ll also grant your wish without fail!」

「……Yuuto-kun.」

Neith’s face brightened like a blooming flower.

「Neith! Lend me your strength!」

「Yes-!」

I placed my hands on Neith’s upper arms.

「Then……the contract’s ceremony.」

「……Yes.」

I brought my face closer to Neith.

Her brown skin was blushing faintly. Her blue eyes glistened from the pooling tears.

Looking at her from this close, I noticed for the first time that her eyelashes were this thick and long.

Her eyes were closed. I also closed my eyes naturally.

My lips touched something soft.

A kiss with Neith.

Neith opened her lips and proactively extended her tongue.

It was a bit surprising, but I also answered her feeling. I welcomed Neith’s tongue and entangled it with my tongue to caress the surface.

Arcana’s voice resounded inside my head.

『Neith Carnac become Suit Card number VII.』

Our lips parted and we stared at each other.

Strangely Neith’s face looked different. Perhaps it was because we had finished the contract, it felt like the distance between us had become close, as though there was more intimacy, affection between us.

Besides, she had been pretty from the start but……she looked even cuter now……hm? VII?

「Oi, Arcana. Why VII? Neith is a devil king candidate you know? The Ace or Prince spots are still open.」

『There is the wish from the contractor that is used in this case.』

「Neith’s wish?」

When I looked, Neith was putting her hands on her chest in embarrassment.

「Because……I’ll be above Lizel as Ace……and something like Prince, I’m not someone gallant at all……the Chariot is the devil king’s arcana number seven……that’s why」

Well, if that was what Neith wanted, then it couldn’t be helped. She was humble and reserved like usual──.

Suddenly Neith rolled up her uniform. Her brown breasts that were wrapped in white bra were exposed.

「Wha-!? N-Neith!?」

「Perhaps because I have become a Card……I can sense that Yuuto-kun is in pain. It’s like in the training camp isn’it? You used Infinite Lovers too much right?」

「Y-yeah……so you know.」

「Because I had watched all the time. All that time……I was jealous.」

「Heh?」

Neith looked over her shoulder.

「Poran, turn around and close your ears okay?」

「If it’s Neith’s sama’s request!」

Poran quickly turned around and pushed down the ears on her head to flatten down.

Neith immediately unfastened the hook at the front of her bra.

「We have to hurry……」

Neith quickly took off her bra and her breasts burst out into my sight for the first time.

Brown skinned breasts, and nipples with pale coloring.

I was unconsciously captivated by the beauty. However I immediately returned to my senses.

「E-err? Neith-san?」

Where in the world the reserved and shy Neith had vanished to!?

「I’ll do Healing Lovers for you okay?」

「B-but……」

「This is only natural for Yuuto-kun’s Card right?」

She said that while grabbing my wrist and leading it to her chest.

「Ah♥」

Neith’s skin pressed perfectly on my palm.

「I-it feels good……♥ Even though it’s just a touch, amazing……to think, it’s this much」

That’s my line.

The springy texture was unique. It gave me an indescribable pleasure.

And then I was surprised by the mana that flowed in.

It was a thick mana that was heavily condensed. When it flowed into my body, it felt like the mana softly spread to my whole body. This was the first time I felt this.

So this……was the mana of devil king candidate.

Even though I was only touching her breast, my mana was filled to the brim in the blink of eye and even the damage from using Infinite Lovers was healing.

「During the training camp……I also, wanted to do it, the whole time……」

Neith confessed with an expression that melted in pleasure.

I took my hand off from her breast and embraced her.

「But, from here on Neith will also join in.」

Neith also put her hands around my back.

「Yes……」

It was a small embrace. And then we separated from each other.

「Charging complete. Let’s go back to the battlefield, Neith.」

「Yes! Leave it to me!!」

Neith lifted Poran’s hands from her ears and told her to lay down on the chariot’s floor.

「Then, let’s fly!」

Neith swung the rein.

The sphinxes stood up on their hind legs, then they broke into a dash instantly.

「Let’s launch a surprise attack! Can you do it, Neith?」

「I’ll do it!」

「I’ll also unleash Infinite Lovers from here!」

Mana overflowed from inside my body. That light vanished as though it got sucked into Neith’s chariot.

「……What? This──uwah!?」

「Kyah!?」

「Wooffff!?」

The chariot unbelievably accelerated like a rocket. Pressure pressed down on my whole body.

The acceleration was even more terrific than when a plane took off.

「W-w-wha──」

It seemed that Neith was also startled. Her eyes were opened wide.

「N-Neith!? What’s wrong suddenly!」

「I don’t know……but, this feels like, Yuuto-kun’s Infinite Lover is, flowing into my Top Runner.」

Don’t tell me…….

My mana was……powering up Neith’s characteristic magic?

Did Infinite Lover has that kind of ability?

But, if that was the case──,

Perhaps we could win even against Rikimaru’s Strongest!

The chariot dashed through the road along the river in an instant.

「Let’s go, Yuuto-kun!」

「Yeah! I’m counting on you Neith!!」

Neith’s chariot crossed the river’s embankment and jumped. It flew high in the air.

We glided through the sky above the river terrace and falling.

Ahead of there was──,

「Tsu!?」

Sannou Rikimaru was watching the fight of her comrades with her arms folded. We caught her by surprise there.

When she turned around, surprise and fear showed on Rikimaru’s face.

However, that only lasted for an instant.

Rikimaru’s body was sent flying to the air.

The chariot accelerated even further to target her when she came down. The spear that was installed at the side of the chariot sprang up to the front in order to pierce Rikimaru.

「Kuh……!」

Rikimaru rotated her body while falling and punched.

「DON’T UNDERESTIMATE MEEEEEE!!」

A large explosion occurred at the right side of the chariot. The chariot floated in the air.

「UOOOOOOOOOOOO!?」

However the sphinxes immediately changed direction and controlled the chariot’s orientation. The chariot rotated once in the air and landed back on the ground splendidly.

Behind the chariot, Rikimaru’s body fell to the ground and bounced. A normal human would be seriously injured, but Rikimaru skillfully somersaulted and stood on the ground like a gymnastic athlete.

However, blood was flowing from her forehead.

「How dare you, do that to this Rikimaru-chan……」

Rikimaru let out a punch with large swing to vent out her overflowing killing intent.

The shockwave split the ground and headed toward their way.

「Hah!」

Neith swung her rein. The rein hit the sphinxes’ backs like whip.

The chariot broke out running in a flash and escaped the punch’s shockwave.

However, Rikimaru was swinging around her arms senselessly. Each of her punch contained a power that would definitely bring instant death if it hit.

「URAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!」

A full powered punch split the river and shook the bridge.

A sound as though a temple’s bell got hit many times in succession reverberated. There was also the sound of something splitting.

And then unbelievably the bridge that was made from concrete and steel frame broke from the middle.

「……tsu!」

The concretes fell into the river with only the bridge pier remaining intact.

The only silver lining here was there was no car running on it thanks to the barrier. However Rikimaru might crush even the surrounding civilian houses now that she wasn’t discriminating anymore.

『Fifteen more seconds until Infinite Lovers’ limit.』

Arcana’s warning made me strengthened my resolve.

I emitted even more of Infinite Lovers’ mana and yelled.

「Neith! Let’s finish this!」

「Yes-!」

Neith swung the rein on the sphinxes’ backs.

The chariot swiftly accelerated like a jet fighter toward Rikimaru.

Would Strongest’s absurd physical power won, or would Top Runner’s rushing force won──this clash would decide!!

Rikimaru held both her hands forward and yelled with a furious expression.

「Come! Chariot!!」

Neith roared.

「TRAMPLEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!」

Strongest and Top Runner collided.

An explosive sound roared. Shockwave caused large waves to form on the rivers. The ground shook and all the rocks on the dry riverbed got bounced to the air simultaneously.

「NUOAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!」

Rikimaru was pushing the two sphinxes with her hands.

Shit-! What absurd strength!!

「Just this much……strength is justice……strength is POWERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!」

Cracks entered the masks the sphinxes were wearing. The sound of metal creaking was also coming from below.

「Yuuto-kun! W-we’re getting pushed back!!」

Shit-!

Wasn’t there anything?

The current me still didn’t have a powerful attack magic.

It was still in the middle of summer vacation. I had still gone through half of the training process.

If only I had weapon like Lizel-senpai──,

No,

I also had one didn’t I?

A magic spear.

It wasn’t a weapon but, it was a powerful magic.

However, it was a dangerous magic.

I had only used it in a limited fashion until now.

How much destructive power it could produce now that my mana capacity had increased? And then, what would happen in the end when it was directly used on the opponent──,

『Five more seconds until Infinite Lovers’ limit.』

There was no time to hesitate!

I dragged out the forbidden unresolved magic formula.

.

「World Fall!!」

.

「What!?」

As expected even Rikimaru’s eyes widened in shock.

The unresolved magic formulat that was deployed on my left hand, World Fall. With that hand I──,

「I WON’T LET YOUUUUUUUUUU!!」

「What!?」

Rikimaru forcefully tossed away the chariot.

She completely stopped the Top Runner’s charge and threw away the chariot.

The battle between two arcanas’ characteristic magic ended in Strongest’s victory.

──However,

「We aren’t alone!」

I leaped out from the chariot quickly and attacked Rikimaru from above.

「Even Rikimaru-chan isn’t alone at ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!」

She punched toward me.

The shockwave hit me. It tore the air and split the sky.

──But,

「UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!」

「!?」

World Fall destroyed the punch’s shockwave. I continued falling──,

And broke Rikimaru’s fist.

「──Ga!?─

My hand pierced Rikimaru’s chest and destroyed half of her body.

I continued falling until the ground. The left arm that activated World Fall got buried into the ground. However, the limit of Infinite Lovers came at that moment and the magic formula crumbled.

──Did I do it!?

I got up on my feet with a staggering head and stared at Rikimaru.

Rikimaru was looking down on her half destroyed body with eyes of disbelief.

「What……the hell, is this?」

And then black liquid oozed out from under her feet.

「Oi, stop it──something like this, must be a joke……?」

The muddy liquid crawled up her body. Rikimaru’s body was dragged into the ground.

「Rikimaru-chan is the Strength devil king candidate you know!? This, something like this……」

Rikimaru’s body was sinking into the ground.

「Seigi-chan……sorry──」

She sank until her head, then the black swamp also got absorbed into the ground and vanished.

──I won.

The moment I felt relieved like that.

The ground under my feet began to undulate.

「This……what is?」

It was different from an earthquake. A strange vibration. At the center of the hole that I opened with World Fall, the grass twisted and a vortex started to form.

This is, don’t tell me──?

World Fall, was trying to collapse the riverside area?

A chill ran through my back.

──No, no way. It should be an impracticable theory that needed immense amount of mana.

That was why, collapsing what was within my arm’s reach should be the best it could do.

That should be the case──!?

*Gakun*, my body dropped down.

The ground sank for several meters. And then the fissures on the ground spread to all directions.

「Y-Yuuto-kun!?」

「Wait!? What’s this woof!?」

I could hear Neith and Poran’s scream.

The crack spread even further. Even the bridge pier of the bridge that Rikimaru destroyed was starting to sink.

The river’s water whirled and flowed into the depressed spot.

And then the embankment made a sound of collapsing.

「Arcana! What in the world is going on!」

『Analysis──World Fall is rampaging. The effect is causing chain reaction. Collapse is spreading.』

「……Wha」

No good.

If I didn’t stop it somehow!!

「How far this collapse is going to spread!?」

「It’s estimated that it will spread until 80% of the planet surface until the mana decay and the chain reaction are offsetting each other.」

「……Haa!?」

Planet!?

This wouldn’t be a commotion that stopped with just a city’s destruction.

「And the way to stop it!?」

『Unclear.』

「Wha……that’s……no way!?」

World Fall could really collapse the world!?

So this was──unresolved magic formula.

I was able to use it well until now. It resolved all the troubles I encountered. It made me thought that I could use it well.

──I was naïve.

I was unable to understand the whole magic.

When using a lot of mana, the execution condition was different and it reached a different result. The magic was unstable and became easy to run wild. The effect was spreading even after the mana was consumed.

The chain reaction was continuing endlessly even while I was thinking like this.

Gust of wind blew violently like a tornado. Cloud was whirling in the sky.

Was the world going to end because of something like this?

Because of my fault──,

What had I done──,

I stared at the spreading destruction while despair was beating my whole body.

「……?」

A residential area was spreading at the other side of the embankment. However, not a single house was collapsing.

When I surveyed the scenery, the collapse was stopping right at the embankment.

Strange.

With the momentum just now, the city should have been swallowed already──,

「Good grief……you are being a bit too naughty you know, Yuuto?」

──Eh?

Before I realized it, a tall man was standing behind me.

His face was unshaven, his eyes looked sleepy. He was a middle aged man who looked slightly like a bad guy.

His military uniform style jacket was fluttering within the raging wind. He was sporting a cynical smile.

「……Headmaster, Gandou.」

「Well, it’s those who are at least that naughty who are promising though!」

After saying that, he held his hand forward and made a gesture as though he was grabbing something unseen.

Then, the range of World Fall was narrowing as though something was pushing it back.

「This is, is headmaster……?」

「Hahaha, though I look like this, I was the Strength devil king candidate!」

「The Strength……」

But, Rikimaru couldn’t do something like this. That girl’s power was also amazing but, what the headmaster was doing right now was in different dimension.

Headmaster stared at the spot where Rikimaru was swallowed by the black swamp with a pitying gaze.

「Rikimaru too, she was stupid but she was an adorable fellow though……」

However──,

「She was completely unable to draw out the power of Strength arcana. It’s only natural that she lose.」

His sentence reversed to words that coldly discarded her. It chilled the inside of my chest.

A sharp gaze caught me.

「Listen well. The value of devil king arcana will change depending on its owner. What’s important is how much you can face the arcana and draw out the value that is sleeping inside the arcana and yourself.」

「Drawing out……value」

I recalled what Reina taught me, about drawing out the sword’s value.

「Rikimaru was under the impression that the energy from punching and kicking is everything. But the Strength’s ability isn’t something like that. It can control all strength that exist in this world. If the strength that is operating between the material particle is manipulated like this──」

And then headmaster clenched his fist and swung his hand toward the sky.

In that instant, World Fall’s effect completely vanished.

The wind stopped. The shaking of the ground also stopped.

He looked like the conductor that commanded the whole world.

「──Strength is invincible.」

The devil king, Gandou Barbatos grinned.

「But, the same thing can be said for all arcanas. The point is the way to use it and then affinity. But, until now there is an arcana that has never meet the right match.」

「……Lovers.」

「That’s right. But, that also mean that inside it there is a treasure that nobody has managed to excavate yet.」

「Treasure……」

「I wonder, can the human Morioka Yuuto discover it?」

The current devil king, the devil king academy’s headmaster.

He was a joker who always fooled around and would only talk about anime.

But, was that really the case?

This person seemed relaxed and didn’t put on any air, but it also felt like such aspect wasn’t his true self at all. When his frivolous expression was flipped, I got the feeling that I might find the mouth of terrifying abyss gaping wide open behind it.

In addition, I just saw a portion of his true strength.

I couldn’t imagine myself ever winning against him. This person was stronger than any devil that I had met until now.

「……Headmaster, why did you start the devil king war?」

「What?」

「Isn’t it too early for you to retire? Even your strength……I don’t know how it was in the past, but there is no doubt that you are among the strongest even now. And yet, why?」

「Aa……」

The headmaster frowned and tilted his head.

「……When the devil king war is held, for some reason strong devils will appear in that generation.」

「Strong, devils?」

「The reason is unknown. Perhaps they simply get motivated, or perhaps they are training for the devil king war, anyway the statistics has proven it as true.」

「And……why is strong devils are needed?」

Suddenly the headmaster grinned like a delinquent youth.

「I want an enemy. And not just any normal enemy, but an extraordinarily strong guy.」

Previous   Table of Content   Next