Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 8 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 7===
“…Geez, and here I was wondering what you were all talking about with such a heavy atmosphere.”

In front of Mio and the others, Jin spoke as if he was letting out a sigh.

“I’m grateful that you’re worrying about Basara, but it’s unnecessary to push all of this onto the girls.”

A slight distance away from him stood the boy Fio, whom Jin had rescued from the Current Demon Lord faction and brought to Wildart. Sheera glanced at Jin as she said

“Ara, it’s not entirely pointless though.”

Sheera then revealed a thin smile as she continued

“It’s because my Maria-chan is in Basara-kun’s harem. I should have the right to worry as a parent.”

“Umm, Sheera-san…it’s not like that.”

In response to the words that came out of Sheera’s mouth, Mio muffled her voice as her face turned a bright shade of red. Kurumi’s face was also bright red, though that wasn’t quite the case with Maria, Zest or Yuki. Although there was a slight difference between how they expressed themselves such as smiling or fidgeting, it was clear that they seemed happy about it.

“W-Wait…!”

Mio raised her voice impatiently. Indeed, Mio also seemed to agree that the relationship that they had was a harem, just like Sheera said. But even so, it was a completely different matter to acknowledge such a fact in front of Basara’s father Jin. The present situation had turned into one in which Mio and Kurumi seemed to hold some kind of majority amidst the group, which was somewhat strange. And then, after looking at Mio and the others, Jin seemed to become convinced as he said

“…Hey Sheera, I’m glad that my son is popular.”

Upon hearing this, Sheera sighed as she said

“You’re always so cheerful…aren’t you worried?”

When asked that in return, Jin simply shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s not as though I’m not worried about him…after all, it’s one of my responsibilities as a father to worry about my son.”

He said with a grin.

“But, with Basara — don’t underestimate my son, Sheera.”

“It’s nothing, I don’t plan on doing so.”

Sheera continued

“Unlike you, Basara is strangely too serious…for the sake of these girls, he might cross over a line that he absolutely shouldn’t.”

After a brief pause, she continued

“Someday, what if he becomes someone unsuitable for these girls? Isn’t there a possibility that he will try to distance himself from them?”

“——!?”

Mio momentarily held her breath. She couldn’t imagine herself trying to distance herself from Basara, and she knew it was an absolute fact that Basara would never abandon Mio or the others either. …But. It was a different story if it was for the sake of Mio and the others. Just as everyone else seemed taken aback as well…

“Hey come on…why are you all turning pale?”

Jin said with a bitter smile.

“I’d be relieved as a father if you could say ‘we won’t let that happen’ straight away.”

Despite his frisky tone, his words carried his true intentions with them.

''…Jin-san is right.''

Mio bit her lips. She couldn’t deny the risks that Sheera had spoken of. However, it was possible to avoid something like that. Everything depended on the strength of Mio and others’ hearts. —Perhaps this was what Sheera was trying to prepare Mio and the others for just then. Just as Basara had helped Mio and the others so far, it was now their turn to look for a ways to help him without giving up. Previously — Mio and Yuki had heard from Takigawa that their role was to ‘become strong enough to be able to kill Basara in case of an emergency’. That was another way in which they could be prepared.

''…But.''

Mio and the others would definitely never choose an option like that. Basara had helped Mio and the others a countless number of times up until now. When they felt pain, and felt suffering, he stayed by their side during those difficult times. Just as Sheera said, they definitely wouldn’t leave someone like him alone to die.

''…That’s right.''

Mio and the others would never let go of their precious Basara. ''I will become stronger'' — that was what Naruse Mio made up her mind to do. The battle against the Current Demon Lord faction and the problems of the demons had been settled for now. However, in order to stay by Basara’s side from now on, and so that they didn’t lose him, it was more necessary now than ever before to have an unwavering and strong will. That was what they had to obtain. They had to become strong for his sake.

''…Because.''

It was because they were Toujou Basara’s ‘family’. Everyone else shared the same feelings as Mio, and all of them raised their faces as they shook off the weakness that they had shown.

“Well — can I leave everything to you?”

Jin faced towards them with a reassuring smile. Therefore

“————”

Mio and the others responded to him with eyes that were filled with a firm will. That was their answer. When Jin saw that

“…What do you think, Sheera?”

He asked the succubus with a younthful appearance beside him. Then

“Well…I think those expressions are worthy of a passing mark.”

Sheera said with a calm demeanour.

“Sorry to say such threatening things to you. It’s just that the feelings that you have right now will be necessary when things truly become difficult — please do not forget that.”

In response to that, Mio and the others nodded in unison whilst keeping their voices in sync.

With a tone of certainty — they said ‘yes’. 

And so.

“Now then…I guess it’s time for me to go soon.”

Jin said as he exhaled deep breath. As for the meaning of that

“Jin-san, are you not coming together with us…?”

When Yuki asked, Jin replied

“Yeah. In fact, I came here to see my wife, but I couldn’t find her at all. If you ask me, it seems as though she’s not in the Demon Realm…”

“Yes, as I said before, I can’t feel Sapphire-chan’s presence at all.”

Sheera said.

“That said, it’s frustrating that I’ll be going back without even a single clue…sorry, but let me investigate here a bit more.”

Moreover

“Thankfully, Fio has said that he’ll also help me…isn’t that right, Fio?”

When Jin called out with a slightly louder voice, Fio approached and said

“I’m just saying that it can’t be helped.”

He looked at Jin and continued

“I’ve already come this far with you, so my position and affiliation have become more and more complicated…until the discussions between Leohart-sama and the Moderates faction are complete, I can understand that it’s best if I go somewhere else.”

Fio sighed as Jin gently rubbed his head. Seeing this, Mio and the others

“The thing is, I’ve already said this to Basara…but I’ll be counting on you to take care of him.”

Turning around as he said so to them, he began walking towards the other side of the forest along with Fio.