Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 6 Chapter 3 (section)

=== Part 2 ===

Doing an exciting act outside, Maria was more intense than usual.

Caressing Kurumi's body dearly until she's completely unable to stand up, she continued giving pleasures of a woman badly until she was satisfied. It was no longer just a simple training. Afterwards, having taken a break till the sun sets, the two people returned to the Wildart Castle.

And now, heading for the bathroom, Kurumi stepped her foot inside. She couldn't return for the reason of having a smell of a woman, so she washed it  off at the river with Maria, but her body had become a little chilly as a result.

If she caught a cold with this, she herself would become even more of a burden to everyone.

She wanted to avoid such pitiable situation,

……Besides.

Because she had taken such an attitude on that breakfast, it was still difficult for her to face everyone.

Especially ── Basara and Zest, as she didn't know how she should receive them.

Though she couldn't keep on running away forever, she wanted to delay it a little more… and as Kurumi parted with Maria at the hallway, she took off her clothes in the dressing room, went full bare, and set foot in a large indoor bath.

Then, though it was still early for dinner, Kurumi found that there were figures of somebody who came ahead of her in the wash place<ref>this is the area in the bathroom for washing oneself before soaking</ref>.

It was Yuki and Mio.

"Ah……"

The moment Kurumi raised her voice in awareness, the two who had been washing their own bodies noticed her. To Kurumi who had an awkward expression in a moment, Yuki and Mio looked at each other, then expressed a gentle expression at once.

"Welcome back Kurumi…"

"Maria seems to have gone to you, did that child cause you trouble?"

They greeted her with a smile. It was an expression that didn't mind what Kurumi had done this morning at all ── for this reason, as Kurumi approached at Yuki and Mio apologetically,

"…Both of you, I'm sorry for this morning."

She spoke words of apology while bowing her head.

"Although big Sis had agreed upon the contract of Basara……Of all things, I did such behavior."

And as Kurumi looked at the girl gentler than herself with pure intentions

"And on how Mio… after all that things Zolgear has done to you, still accepted it."

"There isn't anything for Kurumi-chan to apologize. I also, am a little surprised at myself… After talking about it with Basara beforehand, to tell you the truth  my feelings are too complicated understand even for myself after all. '''(!<!-- TN: Unsure of this sentence! please check it for me「胡桃ちゃんが謝る事ないわ。私もね、自分でも少しビックリしてるの……刃更には予め言われていたけれど、やっぱりギリギリまで本音では複雑だったから」
J2270A: suggestion according to Chinese raw -- "There's nothing for Kurumi-chan to apologise for. Honestly, I myself am shocked too. Even though I had discussed it with Basara before, my emotions in the end are still complicated"-->)'''

As Mio gave a wry but gentle smile,

"Hey, sit here."

She moved the bath chair and placed it down next to them.

The space between Mio and Yuki had become available. However, Kurumi couldn't sit down on that chair. Between these two people… it was the seat similar to the dining room this morning. Kurumi became emotional, as it was the place which she ran away from. Then,

"…………"

To Kurumi who stood there, Yuki gently pulled her hand towards that place.

Then, having got the permission, Kurumi sat down carefully.

"Kurumi…… your body is a little cold"

Noticing her body temperature, Yuki uttered. Kurumi nodded deeply.

"…Because I entered to the river outside a little while ago"

"Then, step in the bathtub early to get warm……we'll continue the talk over there"

At Mio's suggestion, Kurumi nodded again, and washed down her body in hot water.

And then── Kurumi went to the bathtub with Yuki, submerging herself in the hot water, sandwiched between the two people. Wrapped up in tender warmth, it relieved the tension in their bodies, relaxing them for a bit.

''……Ah.''

On each hand that was feeling the stone bottom, Mio and Yuki's hands overlapped hers gently.

"──About Basara and Zest, there is a reason that I permitted it"

Making an introduction, Mio on the left said,

"The reason that I permitted the contract of those two, is all thanks to Yuki and Kurumi-chan."

"… Big Sis and I?"

"That's right. Yuki and Kurumi-chan, didn't you guys fought against me and Maria at first? But now, we are all living together. Though it was all thanks to Basara's assistance, it is really dangerous if you think about it, no matter what Basara says to you two, aren't we taking advantage of him overlooking us?"

However,

"Yuki and Kurumi-chan didn't do such a thing…… because you believe that Maria and I won't ever harm Basara, right?"

"Well that's……"

To her hesitation to voice out her affirmation, Mio smiled, then,

"I am also the same, right? Without opposing Basara, Yuki and Kurumi accepted us as friends, therefore I also thought you as such too."

And,

"While meeting Zest again in the Demon Realm… Right now, revealing her lack of intention of harming us, I thought that it's possible to approach her in the same way as Kurumi-chan, don't you think? Plus, while working as a maid and Sheera-san's bodyguard, when you see her looking at Basara with eyes which seem to be in pain…… I see my former self overlapping her."

"Mio's former self……?"

"Yes… After father and mother were murdered by Zolgear, I have been through various circumstances. There was a time that I even couldn't put my trust on anyone aside from Maria──a man above all in particular.”

Mio stated with a face as if remembering something unpleasant, then abruptly made a gentle expression.

"However… to us who approached and deceived him from the start, Basara was still gentle. After knowing about our circumstances, he chased us all the way in order to help us. At that time, Yuki advised Basara not to be involved with me anymore…"

But, Mio;

"Basara said that that he will still protect me… and Yuki will remain as an important childhood friend, but that doesn't mean he forgot what happened five years ago, so if the Hero Tribe who protects this world can’t protect me, then it will be his duty."

''That's what I thought''…at that time.

"if it's Basara and Jin-san, I believe that they are reliable. Such thing as Zolgear, our trusted lawyer, the men in town, there are no such man as them. Like a true family… like Onii-chan, they are people who think of me importantly."

Therefore, 

"Thinking about it, it was so wonderful that I cried."

To the expression that Mio showed,

"──────"

Once more, Kurumi understood the feelings of the girl named Naruse Mio towards Basara. That profile too, that she had gazed ever since she was young──Yuki was also the same when she yearned for him.

"For Zest who was entrusted to the Moderates, Sheera's existence, probably, was just like Maria's case for me, I think. And, as I encountered Basara, and having needed that fellow, Zest met Basara too, and like that──he was needed. Yuki and Kurumi-chan too, even though we had met through various ways, Basara and I altogether accepted you in the end. And, Basara, with the same feelings at that time when he helped me, was trying to help Zest."

Therefore,

"For this reason, I have to accept Zest… I think."

"Even if she is the subordinate of the enemy who murdered your parents?"

Kurumi asked, and nodding with a "yes", Mio;

"But I supposed that…If Zest was the one who killed my parents, I would never forgive her. But she's not… and as for opposing us, it was only in accordance with Zolgear who is her creator and as his subordinate. Then, it is just the same as with Maria being threatened on the pretext of Sheera-san's safety. In addition, Zolgear who was the main culprit for all of this was no more. Being on good terms with each other all of a sudden may be difficult, but by understanding each other little by little, I think we can."

It was the statement that made them accept the Master and Servant Contract of Basara and Zest from the bottom of their hearts. Then,

"…Big Sis?"

Looking towards the opposite direction, Kurumi asked,

"My thoughts haven't changed ever since five years ago."

Yuki said in a smooth tone.

"Even this time, I'll still follow Basara ── and for that I became stronger.'

And, 

"Basara right now, in the same way as that time when he protected me five years ago, has been desperately protecting everybody… My mission is to protect his side and support him. If their thoughts are the same as I, they may be accepted as a companion separately. But if it’s the opposite──"

Suddenly, Yuki stared with cold eyes,

"──if there is an existence which seriously tries to hurt Basara, who ever that is, I won't forgive them. Even it is Zest…or even Mio and Maria"

Mio who heard it leaked a wry smile. But rather than being disgusted, it was a bitter smile that felt a certain kind of hope.

──However, Kurumi wasn't able to smile. Instead, she asked in a soft voice.

"………Even me?"

"………As I said. I would not permit any existence to seriously hurt Basara."

Therefore, the hand which was held in the hot water was clenched. Then, she gently embraced her.

"Big Sis……"

Kurumi in which her waist was held in, looked up at Yuki before her eyes with a little surprise,

"Until now, and also from now on──I know best that such behavior is impossible for Kurumi. When coming with Takashi and Shiba before, even though you said that you hate him so much, you never seriously tried to kill Basara."

Yuki smiled, and gently pat her head. From there, Mio, 

"…You know, after Kurumi-chan left this morning, Did Maria go to Kurumi's place by the river afterwards to have lunch later on?"

"? Un…"

Saying in a significant tone, Kurumi nodded to her question,

"That, you see, if someone were to take Kurumi back, she should be the most suitable… well, this was because Maria volunteered for the position."

To this extent, the lunchbox was brought intentionally. As for being worried about her she understood it, but,

"Maria… she has a reason why she did it that way."

After coming to the river──Maria also had a similar feeling that was close to Kurumi.

For her worries, she was grateful, though she had been pushed down forcibly at the end, she certainly thought that she would intend to leave it unsettled for pleasure as always, but,

"…then, perhaps, even now…?"

In the Toujou Household, well, Maria had often entwined with Kurumi in various ways ── could it be that, were she doing that on purpose for the sake of Kurumi? As Kurumi yearned for gratitude to Maria,

"But, Maria's just like that, losing her calm more than usual, a fellow who has been trying to chase behind Kurumi-chan immediately. Though Kurumi-chan couldn't understand the Master and Servant Contract with Zest at once and left, that person said "I must explain it to her properly" with a straight face."

Mio's voice said with a smile.

"Eh……?"

To Kurumi who asked again in reflex,

"Well, our saying such things had gotten an adverse effect… and thus Maria went. So…"

Fufu, Mio laughed,

"We then were able to leave Kurumi-chan as it is. Maria asked the maid for a box lunch, then went to Kurumi-chan's place as soon it was ready. It took her some time, but… right now for the current Kurumi-chan, due to the influence of newly arriving to the Demon Realm, is unable to take out her original powers. It is for something to do in the meantime”

Therefore, 

"Even though you didn't call out, so as to make sure you weren't in danger, Maria came out without notice. That said, there was also a guy who chased after Kurumi immediately──did you not notice?"

"...Basara, for me?"

"Yes. By the way, the maid who prepared the lunchbox which Maria took… Who do you think it is?"

"──────"

To the implied words of Mio, Kurumi wasn't able to speak anything. Then,

"Kurumi… when you get out of here, go to those two"

"………Un"

To the question urged by Yuki, Kurumi nodded obediently.

''I'll apologize to the two people properly, and give them my gratitude''──she thought strongly in her heart.