Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 12 Chapter 2 (section)

==16==

They’ve been moved by food before.
But—this was the first experience they’ve had that they could say they’ll never forget for the rest of their lives.
Basara and Takigawa were completely enchanted as they ate the Matsuzaka beef.
Letting their tongues rest from the yakiniku, they had the sukiyaki, then going from that to shabu shabu, once satisfied with the shabu shabu they went back to the yakiniku, it was a whole rotation of Matsuzaka beef—and it was all you can eat as well.
Without taking into consideration their pacing, they kept consuming the high quality beef, letting their instincts guide them.
And then with additional orders, all while saying words like “yum” “so good” “is this real” going on for more than an hour, they finally started to feel full.
Therefore, they decide to take a little break for now.
Taking a sip of their drinks, they let out sighs of satisfaction and happiness.
“I’m at my limit… Let’s take a break”
“Agreed. After that lets consult with our stomachs then make one last order”
Basara nodded in response to Takigawa’s words, then, his eyes narrowed.
“Then… Can you tell me about the current situation?”
What he means as he spoke in a quiet voice is what he’s asked for help from Takigawa.
Speaking in a soft tone; what he meant regarded what Takigawa has been helping him with; which was the Toujou family’s alliance with both the current demon lord and the moderate factions of the demon realm.
“We’ve talked about this before, but I want to understand the situation as accurately as possible. There are some things I want to go over, so it may take a bit of time, but could you start from the beginning?”
“Hey, I don’t mind. I’ll explain right from the start”
With the slight shrug of his shoulders, he took the form of a demon—of Lars.
“So Basacchi, right after we had that conversation about the alliance I started to make my move. However, there a lot of things that have happened since then, so it hasn’t been easy. For instance, you know how you wanted me to only talk about it with Leohart and Ramsus… Well that’s actually more difficult than expected.”
“…Even for someone like you?”
Takigawa had the trust of both Ramsus and Leohart.
Moreover, due to the nature of his duties, he tends to appear in unexpected places so Basara had this image of stealth about him.
For Takigawa to find it difficult to make contact likely means,
“So it’s hard to get two great forces in one place…”
“Yeah. This whole thing was decided at a frantic pace with the fall of the cardinals… So it’s taken time for things to settle and all. There’s also those that are still upset about that.”
Takigawa continue,
“Both of them are on high alert, there isn’t much time for the two of them to be alone together. Plus there are those who wouldn’t like it for the top two to be entirely alone. Even if it happened occasionally, they’ll be surrounded by security, and it’d be an important matter. So it’s not easy for me to sneak to them like that.”
“So how’d you manage to talk to them?”
Basara said, dumbfounded.
“That should be obvious… I pretended I’m done with getting to talk to the two of them alone, then I called both of them to me”
Takigawa said something so absurd with such nonchalance.
For both Ramsus and Leohart to come to him.
In other words, Takigawa had summoned both the previous demon lord and the current one to meet him.
“That’s… you’re really reckless again”
“Says the guy who asked me to do it. Well, while it’s hard for Ramsus-dono and Leohart to be alone together, it isn’t hard for them to say that they want to be left alone. Their subordinates are going to respect their superiors’ wish for private time”
And then after that, Takigawa said,
“I secured a place we could meet at. My power isn’t limited to only offense, but I can also set up barriers. Once they enter, then no one can see anything so there wouldn’t be any worry”
And then the meeting between the three of them commenced.
“I see… So what did the two of them say?”
“Those two had granted you guys protection before right? So they were surprised to hear the exact opposite from your proposal but… When I explained your decision, I think they understood it. Well, it doesn’t seem like it’s going badly at all.”
But, Takigawa said with a sigh,
“Despite me having taken the trouble to talk to them… The timing isn’t all that great, what with Naruse and the other girls being pregnant.”
“…So it’s Ramsus?”
“Yeah. He’s always had a sour look on his face, but he seems different when I met with him after he learned that you guys are pregnant. If he’s happy about it, you can definitely see it in his face. But well, how did he take it when you guys told them?”
The pregnancy of Mio and the other girls is an important matter. There’s no way to keep it secret from the other sides.
As such Basara—through Maria and Lucia, the succubus sisters hotline, reported that Mio and the other girls are pregnant to Ramsus. Of course, this was together with the discussion of how he plans to marry all the girls.
With that,
“”I see…” just that one word”
Through magic, they were also able to see Ramsus’ face during this announcement and his face didn’t seem to show any visible changes either.
For Basara to see through his thoughts, the same as he did back in the demon realm—it wasn’t just his face that remained unchanged, the tone of his voice was soft as well.
However,
“It’s no surprise it’s quite a lot to think about…”
“That’s obvious isn’t it. Taking away his cute daughter’s innocence, then getting her pregnant with all these other girls. It would be weird if a father wasn’t having complicated feelings about this”
Takigawa said.
“Well, Shiba Kyoichi was that difficult of an enemy, It’s not only me but Leohart ascertained it as well… Your dad also reached out regarding that. Speaking of that, has he been in contact with you?”
“He has… Even if I’m not the one making contact, he would sometimes email or call me”
If they told Ramsus Wilbert , then they would also tell Jin.
After all, Basara would be married to Mio and the other girls.
They had told Jin that they formed the master-servant vow but, after he impregnated the girls and planned to marry them after.
His response to that,
“If that’s what you’ve decided on, then I’m happy for you”
That’s what he said—but warmth and kindness seeped into that voice.
“—Anyway, what’s happening with that old man of yours? Last I heard he went to the divine realm”
Takigawa said.
“For starters, is it that easy to go to the divine realm?”
“Well, it’s my old man so…”
Certainly he has some sort of abilities and techniques Basara has no clue about.
“So, did he find anything about your missing mother?”
“Yeah, as expected the divine realm has something to do with her being sealed”
“…But that being said, that means the opponents are the Ten Gods”
Seriously… muttered Takigawa, replying to him.
“It seems like there had been no changes to the members of the Ten Gods since Hasegawa-sensei left. Moreover, the source of my mother’s seal—it seems like they’re not entirely united in their opinions of it, and it’s a mixed bag”
“That much, your old man should already know right?”
“Yeah, it seems like sensei had told him when she brought me down to him in this world”
“So first, we have to start with working with the Ten Gods who were against sealing her”
“—Do you really think so?”
“? You don’t?”
At Takigawa’s confusion, Basara gave a forced smile.
“ Recklessly involving and troubling the Togami allied with us isn’t good… So he said it’s best to not even make contact with those allies at all, instead only making one sided contact with the enemy Togami that pushed for the seal to take place”
“One sided contact… Did he really suggest he’s going to do something like that?”
“I was worried too, I sent him a message, asking him if that’s really okay”
And then.
“For a while, there was no reply… Then suddenly, not too long ago, I got a message saying “it’s fine… anyway I’ve taken down two of them””
“…He was serious about it right?”
“So that my mother can attend the wedding, he said he wants to take care of it as quickly as possible”
“…This kind of monster”
Takigawa unable to keep up with this discussion,
“”Anyway, what are you planning to do with the wedding Basacchi? Forget the polygamy part, your ages would be an issue too, taking into consideration the laws in this country needing you to wait till you’re eighteen”
“Yeah… Then Mio and the other girls would give birth before that”
However.
“There’s no point in going through official channels. Our special relationship isn’t something that can be understood by the conventions of this world”
In the end, the feelings Basara and the girls have are what’s most important.
Therefore,
“For now, we’re setting it to next month… If we keep delaying it, the girls’ stomachs would already be showing by then”
“Next month would be good, but what are you going to do about the venue? There’s no place around here that would accept one groom and multiple brides”
Takigawa said.
“But it would be fine in the demon realm, and the maids of the moderate faction would be able to help you out with it”
“I thought about that but… After discussing it with everyone, we decided to have the ceremony in this world”
The reason for that is,
“We won’t have our wedding be yet another bullet point in the demon realms political struggles”
Of course, it can’t be helped that Basara and the girls’ wedding would have some sort of political implications.
It’s the wedding of the son of the strongest hero of the hero clan, Jin Toujou, Basara after all.
In addition to that, it’s the wedding of the daughter of the previous demon lord Wilbert who’s lauded as the strongest, Mio, as well.
And a famed succubus, Sheila’s daughter, Maria to top it off.
It’s the wedding of those three.
And it’s not just on paper that the Toujou family is involved with the resolution between the current demon lord faction and the moderate faction.
Having faced off against the demon god Chaos, they put a ceasefire on the long-standing conflict between the current demon lord faction and the moderate faction, creating historic peace between the two forces in the demon realm.
With even just that much, it’s already impossible for them to avoid this being sensationalized.
…In that case.
Regardless of what the two leaders Ramsus and Leohart might think—this wedding might be one that’s celebrated with great fanfare by the moderate faction, but on the opposite, greatly disliked by those of the current demon lord faction. Furthermore, with the involvement of two from the hero clan, Yuki and Kurumi, there may even be those who brand Mio as a traitor, or they might make use of how Zest used to work for Zolgia, these were all possible dangers Basara had considered.
In this case, they could ruin the frail balance between the current demon lord faction and the moderate faction.
…Topping it off.
Basara holds several high level secrets too.
About how his mother is the previous demon lord Wilbert’s sister Sapphire, and how his other mother is one of the Togami, one among the divine beings, Raphaeline.
How Maria’s father is also Wilbert.
How Hasegawa is a former Togami.
These are all things that, should they become public in the demon realm, wouldn’t be so easy to manage.
…And then.
Of course the same goes regarding the hero clan. Obviously, the secret of Basara’s lineage is already big enough, but even though there’s opposition to him marrying many wives, if it’s discovered that among those, Mio isn’t the only one who’s a demon lord’s daughter but Maria too, there’s a possibility they would break the alliance with Basara, who they would view as a greater threat. Working with Hasegawa’s true nature as a togami coming to light, if that was to happen, it wouldn’t be a simple matter either. If in this increasingly hostile environment they let it spill carelessly that Hasegawa is a former togami, they may even say that Basara forced Hasegawa to become his sex slave, creating further and deeper problems.
“Besides… If we have our wedding in the demon realm, it may be perceived as we’re siding with the demons and that’ll close the door on us making an alliance with the hero clan.”
In the end, even though it’s a ceremony for those who love each other—it doesn’t mean that it would be received with joy and well wishes.
Those who have attained unrivalled powers. Those who hold titles above others.
For those to be tied together, there will be those who are envious and fearful.
The wedding between Basara and the girls—isn’t a simple matter.
That being said, there’s no part of them, not even a tiny part, that would give up on their own happiness.
Therefore they would like to hold it soon.
Even if.
If they’re to think of the best possible future from here on.
To succeed in establishing an alliance with both the demon realm and the heroes, then having the top members of both sides discuss equally at a round table, and that should then lead to a new era of peace between humans and demons.
Of course, ultimately they primarily consider their well being first and foremost. There’s still a possibility that the alliance won’t go well, and in that case they will think about what to do from there on.
However, they can’t completely escape causing some sort of bitter sentiment coming from somewhere.
…But
If on top of being able to make this difficult marriage happen, they can establish the alliance with both the demon side and the hero side, there could be nothing better than this wedding.
It could even lead to long lasting peace between the human and demon realm.
Jin , Sapphire, Raphaeline.
Wilbert and Sheila as well as Shuuya and Kaoru.
Their parents’ generation had given their everything to achieve this.
Moreover, they put their children’s—Basara and the girls’—happiness first.
Therefore—to answer to that with everything they have, that’s what they should do.
—That’s why they decided to have a June wedding.
In this world, a wedding held in June holds a special meaning.
That even if no one wishes happiness upon it, they still wouldn’t give up on happiness.
That’s what Basara and the girls’ wedding means.
Their meeting, their loving each other, their bonds,— In order for them to reach this point had required a number of miracles.
But something like this isn’t limited to just Basara and the girls.
Certainly, it’s the same for anyone who’s getting married.
It’s not a game. It’s not a joke.
Not stopping at just this momentous day, but the purpose of their wedding is for their continued growth.
Swearing their vows without a doubt, and forever, vowing to continue to maintain this current happiness.
“That’s why in this world where it can’t be public—in this country, we’ll hold our ceremony”
“Well that’s a wise choice”
Takigawa said.
“Where are you going to hold the wedding?”
“It isn’t a normal wedding ceremony after all. I don’t think it’s necessary to have a grand banquet over it or anything, but there are people we must invite no matter what, because of our connections or because of the situation, but it doesn’t have to be in a conventional banquet hall.”
Therefore, Basara said.
“We decided we’ll replicate a space created in a barrier. If it’s Hasegawa-sensei, she should be able to make it regardless of how far the place is”
Regarding the place this space will be created in, that’s up to Mio and the other girls.
What’s important to Basara is just one thing—the happiness of Mio and the other girls.
Therefore, wherever they may choose is good with him.
It seems like they’ve already finalized their list of candidates, and they will be able to make their decision regarding the venue soon.
“I think it’s good. Regarding Ramsus-dono’s side, it seems like he’s calmed down about it, and if you invite him, I’m sure he’ll attend. Once he fully agrees to this, I’m sure he will be happy to have grandkids”
“I see.. In that case that’s good”
Basara had gotten a feeling that Ramsus might’ve softened a little in regards to his attitude.
It’s because through Lucia, they’re able to dispatch the maids to take care of things.
Therefore, it had been expressed that he’s thankful to the Toujou family, and to call upon them in case they need any help.
…That’s something Basara was really happy about.
Having made the master-servant contract with Mio, with it developing to the final stage of master-servant vow, Mio and the other girls had became akin to sex slaves for Basara.
As a father, surely that isn’t what Ramsus wants for his daughters.
So despite all that—for him to send them his well wishes, makes them as happy as could be.
“—So, what did Leohart’s side say about the alliance?”
“Well… It’s no surprise he’s more cautious about it than Ramsus-dono”
Takigawa said.
“When he granted the special protection for you and the girls he could, you guys were no longer his problem and therefore it’s easier for him to do so. But with the alliance it’s the opposite, both sides become more involved with the other. Even though admittedly there are benefits to it, it can’t be denied that there are risks to it that he would want to avoid as well”
As such,
“The special protection for you guys didn’t fully take into consideration a guy as bad as Shiba appearing. This time the excuse was the presence of Balflear, but there isn’t always such a convenient excuse.”
“That’s fair…”
The issue with Shiba was truly one of the most unfortunate things to happen, but there’s still good they can get from that. However,
“If, once again you and the girls get into a dangerous situation, Basacchi, then starting with Ramsus, the moderate faction will make a move. In a situation like that, then there might be something that disrupts the current balance, and it wouldn’t be odd for it to face a downfall. Worst case scenario, there might be war once more”
But. Said takigawa,
“Looking at it from Leohart’s point of view, he would most likely want to avoid such an issue occurring. As such, with this in mind, he isn’t against forming an alliance with you. It’s just, he does have a condition,”
“Condition…?”
Looking serious with his eyebrows furrowed, Basara answered.
“It’s about Celis Reinhardt”
Takigawa said the name of the girl currently living with Basara.
“Regarding Hasegawa-sensei, it isn’t much of a problem. Even though her being a former togami could get complicated, and we have to think of a way to explain this to the others well… But in any case, she’s currently no longer affiliated with the divine realm, the same as the Nonaka sisters who had left the hero clan”
In addition to that,
“Sensei had also tied the master-servant vow with you, Basacchi, and as such she’s under your control. As long as that’s the case, she isn’t a problem”
Takigawa said but,
“Regarding Celis Reinhardt alone, Leohart is reluctant”
“…Because of the Vatican, huh?”
In a soft voice, Takigawa agreed with a “yeah”.
“The problem with that bastard Shiba, is based on long history with the Vatican… Moreover, Balflear who was linked to Leohart was also involved. In a sense, it was similar to the demon realm’s issues with the cardinals, but that particular aspect is gone now from the demon realm’s side of the equation”
But.
“Even though the holy king Albareos is gone, the Vatican still exists. That much is enough to be risky in an alliance with you Basacchi, but Celis, who’s associated with you, is remaining by your side. There’s still the idea that her presence may present some sort of threat sometime in the future”
Even though he didn’t say it outright, it’s likely that at this rate, Leohart won’t form an alliance with Basara. Leohart understands how dangerous a presence akin to that of the cardinals to those around him, from his perspective as a demon lord.
“Even though you say that…”
Basara said to Takigawa.
“Actually right after this—I will be tying the master servant contract with Celis and Nanao”
“Hey, hey… Are you expanding your harem again? How like you Basacchi”
Takigawa said with an exasperated look at Basara.
“That’s not exactly my intention but…”
In return, Basara gave a wry smile.
That being said, at the very least Nanao wants to live out her life with Basara in the same way as Mio and the other girls.
They’ve gotten that confirmation from Nanao, and that’s exactly what she wishes for as well.
…But.
The form of Celis’ master-servant contract is something that remains unresolved up to this point.
Mio and the other girls are of the opinion that Celis should make it with the succubus magic like them.
On the other hand, Basara thinks that they should tie the master-servant contract based on whatever form of magic Celis wants.
…As such.
Whether it’s this morning in the basement bedroom, or with Hasegawa in the bathroom there afterwards, or even when he was taking photos of Yuki while having sex with her in that empty classroom, all those times, Basara was aware that Celis had been watching. So that Celis is true to her own feelings, Mio and the other girls were showing those kinds of things to her, and in its own way, that’s their compassion for Celis.
But Basara had a different reason for showing Celis such lewd acts.
That is—to show her clearly what it means to tie the master-servant contract with him using succubus magic. And then understanding it to the fullest extent possible, whatever Celis decides Basara would respect as much as he could.
But that being said, the fact that they will tie the master-servant contract won’t change.
As such,
“If like with Hasegawa-sensei; Celis becomes my subordinate, would Leohart agree then?”
Answering Basara’s question,
“I wonder… If Reinhardt would leave the hero clan just like the Nonaka sisters, it’s likely that it wouldn’t be a problem at all. But currently she remains affiliated with the Vatican right? If that’s the case, it might instead be more difficult”
“…What do you mean?”
“Because Leohart has some sort of idea what kind of person you are now, Basacchi”
Takigawa said.
“If it’s for those you won’t give up on, you’ll go further than anything. And then, it’s not only those important to you, but also those they hold important to them”
Therefore,
“If Basacchi ties the master-servant contract with Reinhardt currently as is, it might be seen as an indirect benefit towards the Vatican”
“…”
Basara could only reply in silence at Takigawa’s words. It’s the kind of silence where he couldn’t deny what Takigawa said.
For Celis to tie the master-servant contract with Basara, it’s ultimately her choice—but regardless, it’s something the Vatican had given permission for. While Albareos is no longer around, those directly under him, also established members, allowed that.
The ever vigilant Albareos didn’t appoint a number two, and there are those who are glad to be rid of him but—on the other hand, there are many who adore him and share his same goals. With Albareos’ disappearance and with many of his crimes coming to light, those people can’t support him directly outright, but who knows what’s going on behind the scenes.
…Besides.
While it’s just speculation, there’s a chance that Basara getting Celis to move in with him was also within the Vatican’s plans.
As such, Basara pushed to have the alliance with the hero clan as well, to have less evil intentions aimed towards them.
But getting Leohart to understand it from that perspective likely isn’t possible.
No matter what the others are doing, he has to think of the possible future risks going forward from here.
It goes the same for Basara.
Basara killed one of the Cardinals, there’s no more Belphegor. In fact—as long as Celis remains affiliated with the Vatican, then Leohart won’t budge.
…And if he ties the master-servant contract with Celis in this situation.
Toujou Basara understood.
In the very worst case—it would dash out any possibility of forming an alliance with the demons.