Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 1 Chapter 2

First Master and Servant Contract

Part 1

Naruse Mio, chased out of the Toujo House, came to a park on a hill with Maria.

It was the park, where she had watched the sunset after cycling around the city on Basara’s bicycle.

—30 minutes since they had arrived there. Mio silently watched the glow of the city at night.

It was a beautiful sight. The glow of the buildings and the light of cars or trains appeared just like an illumination. Mio thought, if that how it looked when one looked down from the stars in the sky.

…Just like he said.

Remembering about the guy that taught her about this beautiful view, Mio frowned slightly.

“I knew coming together would be impossible…”

Back then, Mio had replied with a vague answer on Basara’s suggestion. Because she had known. That there wouldn’t be such a chance. Ever since they met, they had deceived Basara.

“Excuse me, Mio-sama… please do cheer up.”

Maria next to her looked up at her with worried eyes. Her appearance was back to one of a human.

“We were just unlucky that they turned out to be Heroes. With someone else, I am sure—”

“No, Maria… let’s put an end to all the deceiving.”

Mio shook her head.

“I wanted a base without involving anyone if possible, but… deceiving someone for that is certainly not to my liking.”

It wasn’t like they were penniless. Mio’s late foster father left them plenty of savings. But for a base, a single house was the best. If they carelessly rented an apartment or mansion in a living complex, the other inhabitants might get dragged in.

However, Mio was a minor to begin with. Furthermore, without relatives. And Maria was a child by appearance.

Like this they obviously couldn’t buy a place, nor rent. Of course it was possible that Maria manipulated memories with her magic, but she would have to manipulated the memories of a lot of people, if they wanted to buy a house as a minor and live without drawing the suspicion from the real estate office. Moreover, the memories would need to match each person’s position and relationships. The memory manipulation magic wasn’t that powerful.

That was why Mio and Maria had done such a roundabout way.

“I understand… I will abide by your words, Mio-sama.”

Maria didn’t object. She must have understood her feelings. With a soft smile,

“That is what makes you kind, Mio-sama… I personally do not see any problem with deceiving a humans that approach us with ulterior motives though.”

“Maybe…”

Maria said something reasonable. After their current parents had passed away, the lawyer entrusted with the will had tried to deceive Mio to steal her inheritance. When Mio had walked around at night with Maria, guys had approached them worried, yet with the ulterior motive in the open. Therefore they became unable to trust anyone than themselves. However if guys like them existed, they thought it wouldn’t be bad to deceive them. After all, both side were lying.

—So, one month ago, when they were surrounded by delinquents in the city, Jin had come to their rescue.

They couldn’t trust him either. He would just deceive them as well.

He would betray them in the end…That was what they thought.

That was the reason Maria manipulated his memories and planned to take over the house. But, by doing so, they turned into the same kind as these guys.

“…But, who could have imagined that these two were Heroes.”

Mio showed a self-mocking smile. She wasn’t blaming them for hiding their lineage. They had done the same. Of course they might be able to overwhelm Basara if they went back to the house now and fought at full power. There was a possibility to make that house their base then.

“But…”

Jin and Basara both had been different from the others they had deceived. She thought that she might have found people she could put her trust in, for the first time after the death of her parents.

…But.

What was the point of that now. It was too late. Time couldn’t be turned back. Upon that,

“Mio-sama…”

Maria next to her called with a calm tone.

“Sorry… We need to figure out what to do from now on, but first we need a place to stay tonight.”

But Maria lightly shook her head to the side. And then, she said with a slightly stiff voice.

“No— It looks like there is something we have to do before that.”

On these words, Mio noticed the surrounding atmosphere.

Unnoticed, the park had become ominous quiet. An unnatural silence. Mio immediately understood what that meant. For the past half year, she had gotten the necessary knowledge.

“Magic to keep humans away….”

Mio or Maria hadn’t used it. Then there was only one explanation.

“Please watch out… It is an enemy.”

Maria glared in front of her. Upon that, there was a movement in the darkness there.

What appeared from the shadow were three ominous shades. These shades gradually changed shape.

One changed into a [shadow] that had a black humanoid silhouette with a long hilted scythe, like a death god.

The remaining two into a magical lion beasts with wings— A manticore.

Without doubt. It were devils. And most likely servants of the current Devil Lord. They emitted an obviously bloodlust. It exposed them their existence. And also their aim. Therefore,

“I see… To think that you would come on your own accord.”

Mio challengingly glared at the three [enemies].

Her squeezed out voice was faintly trembling. It wasn’t out of fear. But out of—anger.

“Unforgivable… I’ll avenge my parents….”

Needless to say, Mio learned the truth and her lineage from Maria after her parents’ death. That she, Naruse Mio, was the only daughter of the previous Devil Lord. And that the two people she considered as her parents were just foster parents.

As unbelievable it was, she accepted it when Maria showed her true appearance and magic.

Yes. Mio’s parents weren’t related by blood to her. They might just have raised and looked after her because of an order from her real father.

….But.

Naruse Mio thought. The two that raised her were surely her parents.

Rather than the real father she never met, they were her precious family.

That was why she would never forgive it. Mio certainly had yet to awaken the power of her father— of the Devil Lord. Still,

“Kindly getting rid of all humans… Fine, bring it on.”

Mio inherited something in the blood of her father. That was— the talent for magic.

“Prepare yourselves… I’ll kill you a hundred times.”

At the same time she said that, Mio’s body emitted a crimson aura. She released her own magical power.

—Usually. The magical aura was a negative black.

The magical surge emitted by the enemies right now was a jet black, darker than the night.

In regards to that, Maria or moderate Devils like Mio’s father Wilbert had a blue aura. It was a colour of these that had sworn to free themselves off the revenge against the God Tribe.

The aura of magical power changed colour depending on the heart of the devil that used it.

But— Mio must have sworn revenged for her killed parents and chosen the path of hostility.

So when she learned how to use her magical power from Maria, her aura was neither black, nor blue, but a scarlet even more brilliant than blood. The kind of crimson colour that burnt unforgivable enemies to ashes.

“—Okay, let’s get started.”

Special abilities like magic essentially didn’t exist in this world. Average humans couldn’t perceive that phenomena. Therefore they couldn’t interfere here. And— Mio’s words were the sign for the beginning of the battle.

The two manticore [shadows] closed in to them simultaneous. On this coordinated movement,

“Eat this!”

Mio released an offence magic. A flash and a explosion sounded at the same time. A lightning magic crashed down from the sky. But, the two shadows burst though the dust created by the attack.

Manticores. These keen-witted magical beasts must have dodged the lightning.

…What about the scythe guy…

She no longer could feel the presence of the enemy in the soaring dust. He must have been defeated by the lightning magic. In that case, Mio shifted her senses back to the two magical beasts.

“Mio-sama, I will go next.”

Maria besides her kicked the ground and flew forward, standing in the way of the manticores. However it was a disadvantaged two vs. one with an overwhelming difference in physiques.

“———”

The manticores, deciding to finishing off Maria, who gave an easy target, first, split up to the right and left and made a pinching movement from the sides. Closing the distance, one came at Maria with it’s fangs, the other with it’s claws. A combined attack from the side and top. The only available option for Maria to dodge it was retreating. However,

“Ahahaha, so foolish.”

Along with a laughter, Maria leaped forward. She headed for the right leg of one of the manticores— the one that tried to kill her with it’s fangs. She closed the distance in an instant and when she was close enough to reach it with her hands,

“Please entertain me a bit.”

Saying so, she swung down her right fist on the giant magical beast’s head.

—Unlike Mio, Maria didn’t specialize in offensive magic.

Then how was she fighting? That was answered— by a roar and an impact. The manticore, who received Maria’s fist, crashed flattened into the ground. That impact hollowed the ground, making a crater. In it’s centre, the manticore didn’t move an inch anymore. It even lost it’s shape. Maria looked down on these remains and snorted scorning with a hmpf.

“Is that all… So boring. Please resist unsightly and make me wet.”

Then she moved her gaze to a new target.

But the magical beasts approaching Maria from the right changed his own course. It was plunging itself towards Mio. Mio didn’t move. And the raised, sharp claw swung down on Mio.

KEEEEEK! With a metallic sound, the claw was repelled. The ferocious attack of the magical beasts had been fended off by a transparent wall that Mio had set up previously. Mio held up her right hand towards the manticore.

“It’s over— Die a hundred times and try again.”

At the same time she declared calmly, the red ball of light that Mio had created hit it directly.

After the explosion— there was not a single dust of it left.

“Are you unhurt, Mio-sama?”

On Maria’s outcall from afar, Mio nodded with a “Yes”.

…These guys had finally made their move.

It had been half a year since the murder or her parents— since the start of the tragedy.

The enemy hadn’t used any flashy attacks so far, but now they had finally come after her.

“Fine… Just bring it on.”

Naruse Mio would never forgive the enemy that killed her parents.

And she would definitely defeat the current Devil Lord that gave the order for it. At all costs.

“—Oh, we better get away from here.”

By defeating the enemy, the magic to keep humans away should have been lifted. The place was a complete mess due to Mio and Maria’s attacks.

They would get reported if a by-passer saw this.

…But, before that.

One last time, Mio looked at the night scenery of the city. At the scenery she was supposed to look at with the boy.

—That was an opening.

“Mio-sama!”

When she turned around on Maria’s scream, a [shadow] stood in front of Mio.

The enemy that was supposed to be defeated by the first lighting magic. It’s hand glowed with black magical power.

Not good— Mio immediately erected a barrier, but it was a bit too late. The [shadow] released a lightning attack magic, which lost steam midway by colliding with the barrier, but directly hit Mio nevertheless.

On that impact, Mio was blown backwards. The park was build on higher grounds— a hill. Mio had watched over the city from it’s edge. Right before the cliff.

The wooden fence to prevent falls was aging and couldn’t absord Mio’s fall.

Therefore. Slung away over the cliff, Mio started to fall down.

“Kuh…!”

Mio tried to activate a wind magic right away, but failed to.

Due to the enemy’s lightning attack, she couldn’t move her body properly and couldn’t focus her mind enough to cast magic.

…At this rate…!

It should been more than ten metre until the road below.

The ground was asphalt. Mio’s body simply would be unable to endure the impact of the crash.

Mio cursed her own carelessness. Was dying here her fate?

Was this her life, dying without avenged the murder of her parents?

She tightly closed her eyes in despair and frustration—At that time. Mio heard a single sound.

It was a voice. A shouted voice that prolonged the vocal “o”.

….Eh?

So Mio faced the voice. To right beside her. Upon that,

“—Oooooooh!”

On the tile of the concrete surface of the wall that guarded against soil slides. With that as his foothold, a single boy ran sideways with an terrific speed into her direction.

At the time Mio realized who it was, she was embraced in midair— by Toujou Basara.

“—Whoops!”

Catching Mio, Basara twisted his body in midair. Mio’s vision alternated between top and bottom. And carrying Mio, Basara landed on the ground without troubles. There should have been still quite the distance to the ground. And Basara managed to cushion the landing by just using his lower body as an elastic spring.

“……….Fuh.”

In his arms, Mio heard Basara making a breath of relief. Then she was slowly lowered onto the ground.

Still affected by the enemy’s lightning magic, she sat on the ground.

“Why…”

Mio looked up to Basara. She still couldn’t fully believe that she was saved.

Why did Basara save her? She didn’t know the answer to that.

“Well, that’s—”

Basara tried to save something awkwardly.

“—Watch out!”

It was negated by Maria’s shout from the top of the cliff.

Naruse Mio looked. Behind Basara, who looked at her, the [shadow] came down jumping. Most likely as soon as it noticed Basara, it had jumped down the cliff in pursuit.

It had already gotten in range of it’s scythe and was about to about launch a slash.

—But, that slash didn‘t happen. Before it could, the torso of the [shadow] was perfectly split in half. It took only an instant. For the sword to appear in Basara’s hand and cutting the enemy in a flash in the turning motion. An unbelievable agility and swift swordsmanship.

“…………..”

In front of the now dumbfounded Mio, Basara erased the sword from his hand.

When he then turned around to her, his face had a somehow troubled expression.

“Ah… ehm, you see…”

He was looking for words. While scratching his cheeks, Basara let his gaze wander around a bit.

And then— He slowly held out his hand to her.

“……..We’re going home.”

Without making eye-contact with her, he said brusque.

Part 2

—For now, let’s return home together.

After the overcome predicament, Basara had proposed so, but Mio was still wary.

Basara was a Hero. Mio and Maria were devils. And Mio and Maria had deceived Basara. Taken all that into consideration, there was no reason whatsoever for Basara to save Mio.

She could tell that Basara had no hostility, but she was hesitant about her decision for a while. She must have considered the possibility of a trap. Amidst that, Maria convinced Mio as her follower. That there was no reason for Basara to trick them into a roundabout trap. If he wanted to kill them, he could have done so previously in the living room or could have not helped Mio just now.

So, before long Mio nodded small on Maria’s persuasion.

And now presently— Toujou Basara was standing in the kitchen of his own house.

He took a well-cooled barely tea out of the fridge, poured it into a glass and took it with him into the living room.

“Ah, thank you.”

When Maria took the glass, she drunk up the barley tea in one go. Basara inadvertently raised an eyebrow.

“….Now you sure drunk that without any hesitation.”

Wasn’t that too careless in any event?

“Well, sure it was me who said to come back here, but…”

“—be a bit more wary, you mean?”

With “I already said it”, Maria set the empty glass on the table.

“You have no reason to do something so troublesome as to bring us back home and poison the drink after following us all the way to save us, despite throwing us out of the house once before.”

Besides,

“You seriously were angered when you found out that we deceived you. That was because you truly considered us to be your family. Then these ten days we spent together, the time you came into contact with us, were by no means a lie. So I believe it is fine to trust you.”

Maria shifted her gaze and asked “Or am I wrong?”.

“I see…”

So she actually did give it some thoughts.

“…Well, Mio-sama’s personality is like that, so she will be a bit obstinate for a bit longer.”

Maria looked to the door of the living room.

“I hope she will settle down a bit in the bath.”

Japanese summers were hot even at night. Fighting outside in this humidity, you would sweat by all means.

Therefore, Maria had recommended Mio to take a bath as soon as they got back to the house.

“—Anyway, may I ask at this point?”

Maria said.

“About why you, a hero, wanted to help us devils.”

“Even if you ask… I just heard about your circumstances from my dad.”

While scratching his cheek, Basara told her his reason for saving them. It was about Mio’s circumstances, the devils general situation and the moderate faction, which Jin had all looked up. Therefore,

“My dad couldn’t leave you guys alone and neither could I… I could never abandon you while I know of your circumstances. I mean, she bears no sin.”

Naruse Mio had been living as just a simple girl. Having her life in peril due to other’s conveniences was just too much. When Basara finished his talk with a serious tone, a natural silence befell the living room. Maria, who had cast down her eyes while listening to him, soon

“… I see, Jin-san did.”

said with a meek expression and then suddenly raised her face.

“That sounds thankworthy, but— staying quiet when he knew everything, he is the worst.”

“Well, I won’t deny that.”

But, he believed that in wasn’t really her place to say anything, seeing as they deceived him as well.

“—But, I see that you two Heroes helped us simply because of that.”

Saying so, Maria gave him a look that asked for his real intentions.

“Actually, the villagers decision to put us under surveillance is the kind of reaction you would expect, is it not?”

Maria’s doubt was reasonable. No matter how much one sympathized with their circumstances, there was no reason for a Hero to help a devil. Yeah—Normally there wasn’t, but

“I already told you that I don’t have any ties with the Heroes or Devils…. Some stuff happened in the past, you know. Because of that, my dad and I are no longer Heroes now. Just simple humans, unrelated to the village.”

Though it gave Basara’s heart a never-fading wound.

But well, he was no longer tied down by the Hero’s destiny.

“If I want to protect something, I do so… That’s all to it.”

“Even if it is a devil— one who has inherited the Devil Lord’s power? By protecting Mio-sama, you are putting yourself in harm’s way, Basara-san.”

Basara nodded a “Yeah” to Maria’s reminding observation.

“As long as you don’t cause any harm to this world or it’s habitants.”

Upon that, Maria showed a wry smile.

“…You are such good-hearted people, both you and Jin-san.”

“Not really. We’re just wilful….As father, as son.”

Therefore, Jin had readily decided to throw away the Hero status on the day the tragedy befell the village, the time when Basara caused that incident. So now— it was Basara’s turn.

“…I understand. If that is the case, I will take you up on your kindness. Right now… Mio-sama needs as many allies as possible.”

Maria’s calm tone was filled with a heavy pressure. Then Maria correct her seating position and bowed down deeply into his direction.

“Basara-san… My apologies for deceiving you so far. You will be dragged into our peril, but please take care of us. Please lend us your power, so Mio-sama will be safe.”

A formal tone. The words of a subordinator that worried about it’s master from the bottom of her heart. Therefore,

“Yeah. That’s the plan.”

Basara once again spoke out his resolve. He couldn’t keep running away from the past forever.

In that case, he would pick up the sword again and fight. To his current self, neither Hero or Devil mattered.

I want to protect Mio— There was no lie in that feeling. He believed in that feeling.

“Well then, ehm… Maria-chan.”

“Just Maria is fine. After all, we will be comrades now.”

“I see— Then, Maria, except for the part with the attack, let’s live together normally like we have until now. We’re still not sure about the enemy’s aim anyway.”

“Eh? But, they directly came after Mio-sama…”

Maria asked back puzzled.

“Well… It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Basara made a serious expression.

“The guys from the Devil Lord faction should be after the inherited power from the previous Devil Lord Wilbert itself, instead of Mio. Moreover, she hasn’t fully awakened the power yet. If she dies now, no one knows who would inherit the power next— In the worst case, Wilbert’s power might vanish just like that.”

But,

“When you were attacked at the park, she could have died if I hadn’t made it in time. Of course you never know what will happen in an actual battle, but…”

Was it just a coincidence, or were they after something different? He could think of a few possibilities, but time would surely solve it. After all, the enemy wouldn’t pull back in silence now.

“I’m sure they also noticed that you guys have been put under surveillance by the Heroes. If they recklessly involved unrelated humans, they themselves will become termination targets next. It’s unlikely they’ll attack in crowded places.”

That precisely was why they used magic to keep away humans from the park this time.

“Well if they attack next time, we’ll get them for sure.”

Upon that, Maria said happily.

“So reassuring. I only saw a bit of it, but you seem rather strong, Basara-san.”

“Well, don’t expect too much… I haven’t really fought for five years now.”

He had managed to materialize the magic sword Brynhildr, but his body had grown quite dull.

It still wasn’t in it’s former condition. He would have to train from scratch in his free time or it would turn out bad.

“But. Earlier you erased my wind magic here. I was really surprised by that.”

“Mh? Ahh…”

On Maria’s words, Basara made a peaceful expression and

“I’m afraid that— was a fluke.”

Basara shrugged his shoulders, whereupon Maria sharpened her eyes with “Oh please”.

“There is no way you can erase magic completely on a fluke. Just what kind of technique was it?”

Maria was full of curiosity, whereas Basara showed a wry smile and dropped his gaze to his right hand.

“Sorry, but it really was a fluke…”

—Yeah, it had to be a fluke.

After all, that technique— became unusable after that incident five years ago.

Part 3

If drenched in sweat in the middle of summer, a shower was the better choice.

At first, Mio had intended to do so. She wanted to get out after quickly rinsing off the sweat.

—However, right now she let her body immerse in the hot water of the bathtub.

“………..”

Mio tightly embraced her body in the bathtub. Even though it was summer, her body felt surprisingly cold.

…For the first time, I…

Since half a year ago— ever since her parents were killed, Mio had trained in magic and combat by Maria’s instruction.

Thanks to that, she became able to chant magic even stronger than Maria’s.

But an actual combat… A fight with her life at stake, that was a first for her earlier. Defeating the enemy. A wrong step might lead to death. Without doubt, a fight to the death had taken place there. Yeah— if Basara hadn’t come to save her, Mio might have crushed onto the asphalt like that and died. When she thought of that, her body trembled beyond control.

For already nearly thirty minutes, Mio sat in the bathtub hugging onto her knees.

—A while ago, Maria had come once to check on her. She must have been worried as Mio just wouldn’t come out. When Mio replied to her, Maria seemed to be relieved in the anteroom.

And then, Maria told her about the conversation with Basara.

Including the reason why Basara saved her.

“I have to get out…”

She couldn’t stay in the bath forever. Mio slowly left the bath.

When she wiped her wet body with a towel in the anteroom, she inadvertently leaked an isolated mumble.

“Is it really okay…?”

Mio was still uncertain if it was alright to rely on Basara.

It wasn’t like she distrusted Basara. In the ten days they spend together, she came to understand what kind of person Basara was, without having Maria tell her. He was the kind of boy that came running over once he knew of their circumstances, regardless of being deceived before. And apparently him being a Hero was also a thing of the past. Probably, it was alright to trust him.

Mio put her feet one by one into the new shorts and pulled it up over her knees and thighs up to her bottom.

…The problem is.

If it was alright to drag Basara into Mio’s circumstances. The parents, who raised her, were killed. Moreover, by the guys, who also killed her real father. Even though she didn’t do anything wrong, her family was unreasonable taken away from her— Naruse Mio remembered about that day vividly.

She would never forgive them. No matter how much enemies she had to make, she would definitely avenge their death.

Vowing so in her heart, she had lived the past half-year. And today, the battle had finally started.

The enemy was the new Devil Lord that reigned over the demon realm. Most likely, battles like earlier— no, even harsher and more painful battles would take place from now on. Was it really alright to drag Basara and Jin into these battles that were unrelated to them? As they both had given up on battles along with their Hero status.

“……………”

Then Mio finished dressing. Night had already fallen, but they still had a lot to discuss about the future, so she didn’t dress in a pyjama, but a rough casual wear.

Her own expression reflected in the bath’s mirror looked unusual gloomy, quite so.

When Mio squeezed her own body, there was a reserved knock on the door of the anteroom from the outside.

“Sorry, Maria… I’ll be right there.”

Thinking that she made her worry again, Mio replied so, whereupon

“Ah… No, it’s me.”

On the somewhat awkward voice beyond the door, Mio inadvertently gulped. She still wasn’t sure what to say to Basara. She knew she couldn’t keep quiet. But she found no words.

—Basara saved her life when she fell down the cliff after receiving that attack.

Mio had no words to say to that Basara. Upon that,

“Sorry. I thought about waiting until you’re out, but… But there’s one thing I absolutely want to tell you beforehand.”

Just what is it— Before Mio could ask back so, she got the answer to it.

“—Forgive me.”

For a moment, she couldn’t comprehend what Basara said.

“Wh- Why are you apologizing?”

When she inadvertently asked back with a trembling voice, Basara said apologetic from beyond the door.

“I heard about you from my dad and Maria. Sorry, I… didn’t know anything about you. And then earlier, I just snapped… I’m really sorry.”

“Th- That’s….”

What to do? Even though she was it that caused troubles by deceiving him. Despite that, the one, who saved her life, apologized. And even before she could. Now she was at a loss for words even more.

“~~~~~”

Her vision swayed. An indescribable feeling rose in her. Suddenly, Mio hear a loud noise. Before she noticed it, she had fallen on her backside on the floor. Before she understood that her legs had given in,

“H- Hey! Are you okay?”

Surprised by the sudden loud noise, the anteroom door opened and Basara came inside.

When Basara entered the anteroom, Mio had sunk down on the floor.

Her face was red. Staying in the bath close to an hour, she must have gotten dizzy.

“Don’t stay so long in the bath that you’re unable to stand anymore… C’mon, you okay?”

His offered hand was shaken off. And Mio made a teary expression even now.

“Why are you apologizing… Even though I deceived you.”

In regards, Basara scratched his head with the hand that had nothing else to do now.

“I also hid the fact about me being a Hero in the past. So we’re even.”

“B- But, we tried to take over this house… To chase you out. Can you still call that even?”

On Mio’s strong tone, Basara bluntly declared.

“No… That certainly was your bad.”

But, he said with a calm expression.

“You guys didn’t know I was a Hero. If you just wanted a house, there should have been a better and faster method for that instead of manipulating memories with magic. By force, that is. But you didn’t do that and tried to make me go back to the country side.”

Why?

“You did that— to keep me away from your battles, right?”

On Basara’s uttered guess, Mio widened her eyes in surprise. Apparently he hit bulls-eye.

“Why…”

Mio mumbled dumbfounded.

“Logically speaking, the time we spent together would be an act and chasing me out of the house would be your real intention. But, I actually have an eye for people. I might have snapped at first, but after hearing the circumstances from my dad, I calmed down and understood it.” One breath.

“You didn’t reveal your true colours— It’s the opposite. You put on an act to chase me out of the house.”

But, Basara continued.

“There’s no longer a reason to keep doing that. Both my dad and I decided to protect you two. I mean, we’re already a family.”

“Wh- What are you saying… The remarriage was a complete lie.”

Mio still wouldn’t back down from her obstinate attitude, so Basara told her.

“So what. A family isn’t just based on blood-relations or a family register. Living together with the desire to protect each other, that’s already a family.”

So he would protect her at all costs.

“I’m no longer a Hero. We have no blood-relation, nor a family register, but I’m your older brother. So, let me protect— you.”

Declaring so, Basara then forcefully took Mio’s hand and made her stand up.

“Yah… H- Hey!”

“Well then, let’s get along again.”

Facing each other, Basara grinned at her, whereupon Mio made a frustrated expression with “Muh~”.

“St- Stop touching me already! Get out! I’ll kill you a hundred times!”

“Oh my— Seems to you two opened up to each other.”

Saying so, Maria came into the anteroom. She trotted over to Mio.

“Well, though it seems that Mio-sama has not become fully honest yet.”

“I, I’m not really, well…”

Mio turned red and hemmed and hawed, whereupon Maria, along with a smile,

“Then all is well. Truth be told, I have a little suggestion for you two now.”

“Suggestion…?”

He knew that they had to discuss the future, but a “suggestion” rather than a “consultation”? Basara gave a doubtful silence, whereupon Maria nodded with a “Yeah”.

“From now on, Basara-san will fight by my side to protect Mio-sama. Basara-san is Mio-sama’s guard, so to speak. But with the current situation, he might not always be able to come to the aid if we end up separated for some reason.”

“Well, yeah…”

Certainly, it was partly due to luck that Basara reached Mio. He had a strong hunch, since he told her at that park that they should come together again at night. So he left the house and headed there immediately. Of course he had confirmed her position with the cell phone GPS, but he caught the falling Mio on a close call. He couldn’t deny the possibility that he would have been too late if he had checked her position on the GPS before starting to run.

“But, there is nothing we can do about that. We should be careful from now on that we don’t get separated and in case we do, the GPS—”

“That is too naïve! You never knew when a cell phone breaks down and runs out of battery! At a crucial time the reception might be bad as well or you could drop it on an enemy’s attack! If you keep relying on such a thing, you might even fall into a trap in the worst case! Blindly trusting in modern science will do you no good!”

“Well, you have a point, but…”

Basara was overwhelmed by Maria’s sudden passionate outburst. Upon that, Mio besides him,

“But, is there any other way? There isn’t any perfect detection magic.”

Exactly, was what Basara thought. Detection magic itself was rudimentary. However, in a fight it was one’s first priority not to get found. Therefore there were various spells like magic barriers or decoy magic that prevent or mislead detection, so detection magic was pretty pointless for actual combats. But, Maria showed a smile,

“It is possible, to track down a special target. With the ‘Master and Servant Contract Magic”— when you link your souls.”

Something completely covered the floor of the living room.

The interweaving runes drawn by magic, were a huge magical circle for a ritual.

“…Are we really going to do it?”

In front of the magic circle, Basara said with an unenthusiastic voice.

The Master and Servant Magic turned one into a master and the other into the servant. But Mio might become the future Devil Lord. Position and personality wise, there was no way she would become Basara’s servant.

Naturally, Maria also had suggested it on the condition that Basara would become the servant. But,

“Please do not give it too much thought, Basara-san. With this you two will be able to feel each other’s presence. It certainly will form a Master-Servant contract, but it will just be a formality.”

On Maria’s persuasion, Basara still was indecisive.

“Linking each others souls with magic… That’s all good for pinpointed each other’s position, but when you even end up knowing about the other’s thoughts, it’ll be quite awkward.”

There would no longer be any privacy. However, Maria shook her head.

“Do not worry about that--- That is not the purpose of the magic.”

Purpose? Basara frowned. Upon that, Maria

“More importantly, this magic is special as it can only be used in this world on a night with a full moon. If we let this chance go by, we have no other method. Besides, if there arise any inconveniences from the contract, we can always annul it on the next full moon. Now then, please stand here already, Basara-san.”

“Well… even if you say all that.”

Besides, wasn’t it harder on a girl than on a boy? Basara turned around.

“Say something. You don’t want to have your soul linked to mine by magic, right?”

He called out to Mio, who had stayed silent the whole time. Upon that,

“…..N- Not really. I’m fine with it.”

He got an unexpected reply. Inadvertently Basara frowned as he thought that he heard wrong.

“I, If you’re alright with it… I don’t mind either.”

Saying so bashful, Mio gave him a quick glance. And then,

“Basara--- you’re against it?”

“Eh? Well, rather than being against it… But are you really fine with it?”

“…Yeah. If it’s just about each other’s locations.”

Ohh, it seemed she was serious.

…Master and Servant Contract, huh.

As her guard, it certainly was an attracting offer to be able to track down Mio’s position.

Normally a Hero becoming a devil’s servant was out of the question, but sadly enough Basara was just a battlewise average human. With the reliable Jin currently absent, he would like to eliminate all possible uneasiness for the future. Still--- if possible, Basara wanted to stay on equal terms with Mio. Because he thought it would be better to stay as a family, as her older brother. And because Mio was raised by humans, even though her father was the Devil Lord, and lived as a normal human girl so far.

…But.

Toujou Basara remembered. The expression he saw on Mio’s face, slumped down on the floor, when he came into the anteroom.

Her expression back then had been quite gloomy. And--- the exact same face was now in front of Basara’s eyes. Most likely, Mio was full of worry, which made her accept the Master and Servant contract. So, if forming the contract eased even a little bit of Mio’s worries--- it wasn’t such a bad deal. The contract wasn’t forever and only a formality with the possibility of annulling it. With that, he could temporarily form a contract with her until Jin came back. Therefore, Basara made a sigh.

“Okay----So? What do I have to do for that Master and Servant contract?”

Upon that, Maria, hearing his acceptance, instantly formed a smile on her face.

“Thank you. Well then, Basara-san, please stand on the side of the entrance… Yes, right there. That is the side for the servant. And, Mio-sama, please stand by the window side.”

When both of them stood in their positions, the preparations for the magic started at once.

“Now then--- Mio-sama, please hold my hand.”

“Your hand? I just have to hold it?”

Seeing Mio obeying Maria by taking her hand,

“Huh… Mio and my souls are going to be linked, yet she’s going to hold your hand, Maria?”

Wouldn’t the three of them get linked then? Upon that, Maria nodded a “Yes”.

“Mio-sama is using this magic for the first time, so I will take part as an assistance this time. Besides, I think it will be more effective if Mio-sama chants the spell with my magical powers, instead of her own.”

Well, if that was the case. Then Mio, after getting told the chant by Maria, took a deep breath.

“Th- Then let’s start…”

Saying so with a bit nervous expression--- she started the chant. Instantly, first the magic circle on the floor started glowing, then Mio’s body and following even Basara’s body was bathed in the same light.

Seemed it was right that she was only lending her magical power, as Maria’s body stayed as it was.

And then--- When Mio finished the chant before long, Maria faced him.

“Soon enough a magic circle will appear on Mio’s right hand for a while. So please take her hand, Basara-san, and place a kiss on the magic circle before it disappears. With that the Master and Servant contract will be established.”

“---Huh? Kiss?”

He didn’t really mind a kiss on the hand, but it must have been a formality needed for the contract. When Basara shrugged it off, the magic circle faintly raised up.

But for some reason not towards Mio’s hand--- but onto Basara’s.

“Eh…?”

As she couldn’t comprehend the situation, Mio blinked her eyes. In regards, Basara said doubtful.

“Hey… This got on my hand, but is that okay?”

“H- Hey! Just what is going on!?”

Mio changed her expression, grabbed Maria next to her by the collar and shook her. Maria tilted her head.

“O- Oh my? That is strange… Did I make a mistake somewhere?”

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