Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 3 Chapter 2 (section)

=== Part 8 ===


Bound by the chains against the wall, was an unconscious Mio.

And like that, Naruse Maria stared at her in silence.

The one who deprived of Mio’s consciousness was Maria herself. She had helped in the kidnapping according to Zolgear’s orders, in contrast to her job of protecting her, the master whom she should have served. Her family being taken hostage——such excuses won’t do. Still,

I’m…very sorry, Mio-sama… I―――…”

With a face that seemed to burst to tears in any moment, Maria squeezed out with her trembling voice.

——Mio is the daughter of Wilbert, the demon king predecessor. The value of her life cannot outweigh the lives of Maria’s family, but Wilbert’s elder brother, Ramses of the Moderate faction kept neglecting Mio and making light of the situation. Still, many of the Demon families in the Moderate faction are harboring hope in Mio’s existence, the ideals which the deceased Wilbert aimed for—— to achieve peace in the demon world without conflict. As for Maria and her family who had lost her father in the Great War, they had held these ideals firmly. If it goes over than this somehow or other, blood within brethren will be shed, and many lives will be taken. '''(!<!-- どうかもうこれ以上、同胞の血が流れ、命が失われてゆく事がないようにと。(P177) -->)'''

Nevertheless, Maria thought.

She have been betraying those who are important to her for a very long time. Ironic for a fellow comrade from the moderate faction, who were supposed to protect Mio——even Basara who accepted them with open arms.

Fighting for what she believed, Maria was betraying them who are risking their lives to be alive.

——What Maria is right now, is the result of they have believed in. 

Being the only guard left alone, she promised to protect her at the cost of her life.

For this reason, Mio which her adoptive parents are murdered, and was about to become a plaything, it is a miracle for her to be able to escape from the hands of the demon called Zolgear.

However——from the moment when the observer for Mio is replaced, Zolgear who returned to the Demon realm took Maria’s family as hostage, and the situation has changed. From her serene older sister, a call came at once. She came into thinking, whether to fulfill the mission, or to take back the family who were held hostage.

''……One-sama.''

The elder sister whom Maria respected, is an adult who can keep calm judgements at these kind of times. If not, the escort role will be appointed to her, and not to Maria. Giving priority to one’s mission rather than the lives of her family being held hostage—No, weighing the importance of the two should not have been done to begin with.

Truth to be told, a person like her elder sister is more suitable to be the escort of Mio. Actually, there are also ideas of leaving the guard role to her sister that came out, too. But those ideas were never adopted eventually.

It’s because elder sister was assigned to follow and protect the top——Ramses of the Moderate faction.

So, Maria was chosen instead.

——However, Maria has took the bait to Zolgear’s blackmail.

First, to make a chance to save her family that is being held hostage, she only pretended to follow Zolgear for a little while. But the moment that she thought of putting away Mio’s safety for her family―― the die has been cast, and it was too late.'''(!<!-- 一度でも揺らいだらもう駄目だった。(P179)  -->)'''

Betraying her comrades and the mission, Maria eventually lost her way. It led to Maria to the point where there is no other choice but to follow Zolgear.
——Every day was like hell. Those words she held to Mio and Basara, full of lies and deceit in order to gain her trust, continued to make her suffer with the ever-stopping pains of guilt. It made her chest tight to the point where it was hard to breath. 

And today, Maria had come to the point of no return.

By Zolgear’s orders, she and Zest have been appointed to kidnap Mio.

——Maria then had realized. She won’t be able to return anymore.

It not only mean that she had no means to go back. It also meant that the place where she can go back has been lost. Not only the moderate faction, but also the position of being Naruse Mio’s servant.

And, the home that she had spent together with Basara and Jin.

She had betrayed them all.

“………………”

Realizing what’s left of her fate, Maria lowered her eyes in silence. Suddenly, the space behind her distorted, and something big has crashed to the floor.

“Basara…san…”

Basara fell down in front of her eyes. He’s lying unconscious and not moving at all. Probably being desperate to help Mio, he got captured by Lars instead.

―there is a little change in plans.”

Zest appeared from thin air.

“Under the direct order from his Excellency, Maria… you are to deprive him and take control of his mind. His Excellency wishes to get this man’s peculiar ability. I it is you, who are a succubus, you should be skilled in those kind of acts."

And then,

“Naruse Mio’s mind will become easier to manipulate if we make this man, who is in master-servant contract with her to follow us. His Excellency hopes that this matter will be accomplished in no time.”

Maria right now, has no other means to reject. Then, as she approached Basara in silence—— his figure disappeared into thin space. Zest then pointed out,

“Another room has been prepared. Please do what you should do.” 

She declared indifferently.

“As soon as Naruse Mio opens her eyes for some time, the room where you will be depraving him will be viewed and she will feel turmoil ——being troubled not able to save her master in danger, it will cause the curse of the master-servant contract to run wild for sure.”

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