"Will Rei Ao-nii be coming back?" she asked wistfully.
"Pfft."
Lieselotte chuckled.
"Selina, you're not already longing for that kind of 'action' again, are you?"
"Ugh N-no!"
Selina shot her sister a shy, resentful look.
"You're such a bully, Sis, always teasing me."
"Haha."
Lieselotte just grinned more. "You're way too obvious. This thigh of mine isn't Rei Ao's thigh, you know. No matter how hard you squeeze it, there won't be anything to put inside."
"Grr"
At that teasing comment, Selina finally let go, pouting. Lieselotte didn't mind. She gestured toward Selina's slightly round belly.
"Never mind how much of his stuff got put in therejust remember you've been acknowledged and given the Demon King's blessing. Do you really think he'd abandon either of us now?"
Indeed, Rei Ao had shown no hesitation in bestowing his blessing on them:
[Name]: Selina
[Level]: 10
[Abilities]: "Dragon Power", "Demon King's Consort", "Rei Ao's Blessing", "Inherent Device: Demon King's Bride"
[Items]: "Grimoire"
[Name]: Lieselotte
[Level]: 23
[Abilities]: "Dragon Power", "Super Acceleration", "Demon King's Consort", "Rei Ao's Blessing", [Inherent Device: Demon King's Bride]
[Items]: "Grimoire"
Just thinking about that was enough for Selina to relax, setting aside any worries.
Meanwhile, in this world's newly formed group, the people who'd been invited were more or less jolted awake from their slumber.
Arin Kannazuki: "?"
Levi Kazama: "!"
Mira Yamana: ""
Akio Fud: "What's going on?"
Akio tried again:
"Why're you all so quiet suddenly?"
Mira Yamana: "What is there to say? That this is all a hallucination?"
Sitting on her bed, Mira's cowlick bobbed as she glanced to the side. Kanna, who'd been with her before, was gone. Regardless of whether they believed in the existence of this chat group, it was evidently real enough.
"Mm, guess so," Akio replied.
"We've even met a Demon King in person, so a different world doesn't sound that strange now."
"Meaning Rei Ao really is a Demon King from some other dimension?"
Levi Kazama: "Not exactly."
Levi Kazama: "I just read a lot of the shared info. He isn't a Demon King from another world; he's someone who came here, who can become a Demon King."
Arin Kannazuki: "Rei Ao so he's the 'great Demon King' you've been whispering about all this time Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Akio Fud: "Ahem, well, because you're always going on about how you're the Demon King's wife We were afraid you'd do something reckless."
Rei Ao: "Oho, I think I just heard something big. Someone wants to be my wife?"
Akio Fud: "@Arin Kannazuki well, you two can talk that out."
Arin Kannazuki: ""
An abrupt hush fell. Nobody typed another word.
"Sigh, does everyone freeze up whenever I start talking?"
Rei Ao chuckled wryly. Then he looked at Michiru and Kanna, both sound asleep. He carefully picked them up, placed them on the bed, and tucked them in.
"You've been through enough for one dayrest well."
""
After a moment of stillness, Michiru's eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes. Her gaze, unfocused, settled on the blanket.
She could still feel the lingering warmth of where Rei Ao had been. Her breathing sped up, but she managed to keep her odd thoughts under control by hugging Kanna in her arms, stopping herself from "comforting herself" on the spot.
In the Academy's underground area, within a so-called "private office," a white-haired girl lay asleep. Her name was Yui Kurata, one of the Trinity Seven.
Unlike other mages, she existed on the "other side" of the world, a mage of dreams. Her archive was "Greed," but its theme was "Friendship." Her specialty lay in "chorus spells."
By definition, mages researched themes opposite to their own nature.
Since Yui never formed friendships, she focused on "friendship" for her research. She had been sleeping here for a long time, sealed away. She possessed power second only to the headmaster's, and no one could fully suppress her; if left unchecked, her magic might eventually lull the entire world into an eternal sleepeffectively destroying it. Thus, Yui remained sealed.
But that very day, she woke up. Because:
[Ding! You have been invited to the chat group subchannel!]
""
She sat up in bed, face unreadable, and scanned the chat group's messages. A Demon King, the Trinity Seven This is all quite intriguing. Suddenly, she didn't feel like sleeping anymore.
"I wonder what the outside world's like now?"
Through the chat group, Yui Kurata found herself growing curious about the world beyond her sealed domain.
~~~
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Chapter 442: Yukino's worry...
Late at night, in Yukino's apartment.
Mabel sidled up to Yukino.
"Yukino, why do you keep touching your stomach? Did Rei Ao hurt you or something?"
She'd noticed all afternoon how Yukino repeatedly touched her lower abdomen, as though she was worried about something.
""
"It's nothing."
That was Yukino's calm reply as she shot Mabel a glance.
"Aren't you going to bed?"
"Heh heh, I just wanted tocheck on you, that's all."
She was trying to make amends. Mabel was still making up for running away the other day. If Yukino decided not to buy her any more treats, she'd be doomed.
"Not necessary."
Yukino wasn't about to forgive this ungrateful ingrate so quickly. Without another word, she stood up.
"If you're not going to sleep, I'm going to bed."
She headed straight to her room.
Click.
The door closed.
"Huh?"
Mabel, who had prepared an array of apologies and attempts to butter Yukino up, was left completely dumbfounded. She's still mad at me! She doesn't even want to talk!
She began to panic. This felt like big trouble.
But she was overthinking it. Yukino wouldn't go so far as to cut off her standard of livingafter all, Rei Ao was the one footing the bill. She'd even worry if Mabel tried dieting, concerned it might make her too thin.
The real reason Yukino had retreated was more personal. She glanced at her abdomen, pursed her lips, and hesitantly sent Rei Ao a private message:
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Are you there?"
Rei Ao: "Mhm, what made you decide to message me at this hour?"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "I"
She really couldn't bring herself to say it, especially when it was Rei Ao on the other end.
Seeing her hesitate, Rei Ao had a guess.
Rei Ao: "What's wrong? Some kind of embarrassing topic?"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Yes"
Rei Ao: "Yukino, we've done everything there is to do. There's no need to be shy anymore."
Rei Ao: "How about I show you something to lighten the mood? [Image]"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Please do not send a girl pictures of your pecs in the middle of the night that's sexual harassment. I'll call the police."
Yes, the photo in question was of Rei Ao's sculpted chest. Yukino had personally touched and examined it up-close before. Even she had to admitit was perfect.
Rei Ao: "Haha, sorry, but calling the police won't work on me."
Rei Ao: "Anyway, let's talk seriously. What did you want to ask me?"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Actually my lower abdomen has been feeling off all day"
Rei Ao: "Where exactly does it hurt?"
"!!!"
Yukino almost leapt up in alarmbecause Rei Ao had suddenly appeared in front of her. Crouching down, he placed his palm against her belly.
Yukino finally snapped out of it.
"W-what are you doing?!"
"What am I doing? Obviously checking you over."
Rei Ao was worried that maybe Yukino, who had a rather delicate constitution, might have been injured from his earlierexertions. Considering his "Category 8 intensity" wasn't something anyone could brush aside. But apparently, that wasn't the case.
After examining her, Rei Ao glanced up. Meeting Yukino's shy, watery gaze, he said quietly,
"There's nothing wrong with you. It's just that there's still a lot of residue inside. Is that making you uncomfortable?"
"!!!"
He'd said something rather scandalous. Yukino's face grew hot.
"Stop saying crude things!"
"All right, all right."
Rei Ao relented. "But will you tell me where exactly it hurts, then?"
"Hoo"
She took a deep breath, trying to steady the shame roiling inside her. In as calm a voice as she could musterthough it still trembledshe said:
"Todaywasn't one of my 'safe' days"
"Oh?"
He arched an eyebrow. Noting how her eyes kept darting away, he deduced what she was worried about. Smiling knowingly, he hooked a finger under her smooth, delicate chin.
"You already asked me this once, remember? Back when you were worried about Mabel, you asked if she might end up pregnant."
"The same answer I gave you then still holds."
"But this time, I'll add one more thing."
He leaned in closer. Yukino's heartbeat pounded in her ears. She wondered if she should dodge away, but in that moment of hesitation, Rei Ao spoke again:
"What I want to add is: if you do end up carrying my child, I'll take care of you both for the rest of my life. I promise."
"!"
It was just a verbal reassurance, with no way to prove itbut it tugged mightily on Yukino's heart. She recalled how the moment she mentioned feeling unwell, he'd come at once to check on her.
She wasn't sure why, but she suddenly wanted to believe his words. A warm rush of emotion and a gentle happiness swept over her.
Right then, the inclination to dodge melted awayand Rei Ao picked up on that. Without hesitation, he pressed his lips to hers. Before long, they were holding one another in mutual affection. For the first time, Yukino surrendered to that embrace of her own accord.
When the passionate kiss ended, her soft body rested against his sturdy, reassuring chest, and at some point, their fingers had become entwined.
"Rei Aowould you lie to me?"
"I wouldn't. Our time can last forever."
He was the type who wouldn't even hide his most perverse side in a live broadcast to the chat group, so lying to the women in his life was far from necessary. He slipped an arm around Yukino's slender waist. She trembled slightly but didn't pull away. Sensing this, Rei Ao grew bolder. Leaning down, he whispered heatedly into her ear:
"Yukino, will you come be with me, like Mai and the others?"
""
Tilting her head up, Yukino met his gaze with eyes that gleamed like crystal. It was hard to read the emotion in them. She gave no direct answer, only spoke in a cool, measured tone:
"Rei Ao, do you take me for a trivial woman?"
"Let me be perfectly clear: in my life, no one I dislike will ever touch me, and there will never be a second man who touches my body."
"I, Yukinoshita Yukino, am absolutely not an easy woman, not even for a trade."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
""
Rei Ao's eyes flickered with comprehension. After so many past relationships, he knew exactly what she was saying.
"I understand."
"Then, Yukinolet me be that only one for the rest of your life."
Once more, he kissed her lips.
"Mm."
Yukino's cheeks flamed with heat, but she responded gently, pressing closer. In that hazy warmth, the two of them opened their hearts fully to one anotherright until:
Ring, ring, ring!
A piercing phone call shattered the atmosphere.
~~~
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Chapter 443: Monster Attack at Yukinoshita Residence...
Yukinoshita Residence Nighttime
As usual, the Yukinoshita household was quiet. Being an upper-class family, they naturally had strict rules, one of which was "lights out" at a certain time. This applied to both Haruno and Mrs. Yukinoshita. But tonight was anything but peaceful.
Not long after she fell asleep, Mrs. Yukinoshita suddenly sensed a flash of light. She frowned slightly and opened her eyes. The overhead light was on.
"Huh?"
She felt puzzled. She clearly remembered switching off her bedroom light before going to bed.
"Did I forget to turn it off?"
Thinking she might have simply forgotten, Mrs. Yukinoshita lifted the covers and got out of bed, planning to turn the light off again. But the moment her foot touched her slippers
Click.
The light went out!
"!!!"
The sudden darkness made her heart skip a beat.
"Huu"
She took a moment to catch her breath.
"Is there a problem with the electricity?"
She fumbled for the phone on her nightstand and turned on its flashlight. A pale glow lit the room, but it brought her no comfort. Instead, there was a strange chill in the air.
"Huh"
Amid the darkness, she could hear faint gusts of wind. Aiming the flashlight toward the bedroom window, she saw that the curtains were shifting slightly. Through a gap, it was clear the window, which should have been closed, was now wide open.
She gave a wry smile.
"Am I getting old? My memory's really getting unreliable."
She didn't think too much of it, assuming she had just forgotten to lock the window. Phone in hand, she walked over to the curtains, intending to shut the window.
Then, from the corner of her eye, she glimpsed something. Narrowing her focus, she realized there was a pair of blood-red eyes staring right at her outside the window.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's pupils widened in shock. The flashlight revealed two glowing orbs, each as large as a paper lantern, fixated on her. They belonged to some creature with an enormous maw and razor-sharp talons, clinging to the wall outside.
"Aaaah!!!"
It screeched, a piercing cry.
"Aaah!"
Even someone as composed as Mrs. Yukinoshita screamed, stumbling backward and losing her balance. She hit the floor hard.
"Mother?!"
Hearing the scream from the adjacent room, Haruno rushed over. Click. As she entered, she flipped the switch near the door, turning on the light.
What she saw was her mother sitting on the floor, terror in her eyes, staring at the open window.
"Mother, what happened?"
Haruno asked in confusion, stepping forward to help her mother up.
Clack.
A sharp noise caught her attention. She looked up. A claw was gripping the balcony window. Before she could react
Crack.
Another claw appeared. Next, a creature she had never laid eyes ona being larger than a grown man, part bird and part human, sporting feathered wingsslowly came into view.
"Gaaah!!!"
The bird-man monster howled. Boom! It jammed its head through the window, trying to force its way inside, but the wide wings got stuck.
