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Maou Gakuen Vol 5 Chapter 4
🕑 Added 2021-07-20 05:42:30 +0000 UTCChapter 4 – The Ace of Lovers
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Part 1
Aspite Line was walking in a misty forest by himself.
This place was a remote region in the devil world, Chevalleze. The region where the village of that mixed devil called Poran was located. However──,
「There is nothing here huh……」
There was only a dry wasteland as far as his eyes could see. When he thought that he saw a forest, it was only a forest of dried trees.
In the devil world, while there were cities where a lot of devils gathered, there were also remote places that were hard to reach. This place definitely belonged to the latter group.
Aspite entered into that forest with annoyance.
The story that he heard in the karaoke box made him curious and he came here to the devil world using his private jet.
Even Aspite knew that Chevalleze was a territory of Golgotha House.
There wasn’t any particular resource here and the soul was also desiccated. This place could even be called as mostly uninhabited location.
Lost was living there in the past.
In the previous Devil King Great War, the Death devil king candidate was also chosen from this Golgotha House. However, he heard that candidate was eliminated without making any good showing.
In contrast with how the name Death sounded, this arcana had never produced considerable result in the Devil King Great Wars until now. It was unknown whether that was because Death arcana’s ability was low or it was Golgotha House that was inferior. Either way, the like of Golgotha House was beneath his consideration.
It seemed that their management of their territory was also terrible.
In order to compensate for that, they made use of the fact that they were located at a remote place that was outside of even the devil king’s attention and carried out acts that were illegal in even the devil world ──such plausible sounding rumor was spreading.
Performing biological experiment using low class devils. Aspite recalled that story that he heard.
Looks like it’s not just a rumor huh──Aspite focused his sight to the forest ahead.
There were many huts ahead of the dry trees.
「Is that a village?」
He came out to a slightly open place.
It was a land where even grass couldn’t grow properly. Huts were standing there in rows looking like they would fall anytime. A number among them had tilted and just barely stood by leaning on the next hut.
「……There isn’t any sign of living thing here.」
When he peered into one of the almost falling huts, the inside was in a desolate state. Most likely this place had been abandoned for many years.
Was there nobody else who were living here since Poran and others got kidnapped as slaves……?
Aspite left behind the ruined village and walked further ahead.
The path was gradually sloping down. He saw a valley ahead of it.
「Is that it……」
He could see the silhouette of a mansion on the hill at the other side of the valley. The other side of the valley was misty and he couldn’t see very well. But, that should be the mansion of this land’s feudal lord.
The mist rapidly got thicker as he walked down the valley. It seemed that both sides of the path were a swampland. Several dead trees were floating on it.
There wasn’t a shred of beauty here, and the scenery was also far from possessing any graceful quietness, and there was also no romance of decadence here. What existed here was only the image of death and nihility.
I don’t get what can possibly be in the mind of someone who built a mansion in this kind of place ──Aspite thought with a frown.
However, this was the perfect environment to scheme something that nobody else could be allowed to know.
But nobody knew anything other than the rumor.
Thinking normally, the one who should be inheriting Death arcana was the next head of Golgotha House, Morus Golgotha who should enroll into devil king academy this year.
However Morus had never showed up in the academy even once.
He thought that the devil king candidate of Death in this Devil King Great War didn’t appear because they withdrew from it. Considering their result until now, it couldn’t be helped even if they judged that it was pointless to participate. That was what he thought. But, perhaps the matter wasn’t as simple as that.
It’s impossible but perhaps, they are being a shut-in just like me not long ago──Aspite thougth witha self-depreciating smile. Then he looked up to the mansion that was standing tall before him.
When he tried to approach until a distance where the mist couldn’t hinder his eyes, that mansion looked like a normal building without anything strange at all in a glance. However, he vaguely felt something out of place.
It was strange to describe it like this but, he didn’t feel any life from the mansion.
There wasn’t any presence of anyone inside, or mana, nothing. The place was like a ruin.
「……As I thought, this doesn’t seem like a trivial matter huh.」
Aspite deeply tightened his gloves again and focused his mind.
And then he stepped inside the mansion carefully.
「!?」
When he entered inside, he found the interior to be messed up.
The wallpaper was torn, and the floor’s carpet was also hacked to pieces. Even the paintings and porcelains had fallen from the wall and scattered everywhere on the floor.
They looked like traces that someone fought here.
He carefully walked through a corridor and found a large living room.
Inside there, the wall also had holes and broken chairs lied on the floor. Those were traces of someone going wild here.
Just what in the world happened?
Aspite thought for a while before,
「World Revision.」
He activated his characteristic magic.
A magic barrier with diameter of three meters appeared with Aspite at the center.
──The residue of mana of the devils who once lived here is lingering here. Visualize the mana with this world.
Although it was limited to inside the barrier, Aspite could freely alter the rule of the world.
「It’s scattered all over the place……」
When Aspite walked inside the room, he could see mana as red color within the range of three meters around him. The lights were like dust drifting in the air. Those small particles faintly showed the form of the devils who died there.
He could see a figure collapsing on the floor. He couldn’t see the detailed form, but it looked like a mature adult.
「Hm……?」
When he came to the center of the room, his eyes stopped at a strange thing.
He could see two feet. It seemed that a devil was standing there.
──But, the upper body was completely omitted.
What was this?
Was the mana scattered earlier only at this part? No, however…….
Aspite dispelled World Revision and crouched at the spot where the two feet were at.
A small memo was fallen there.
「A student handbook of devil king academy……」
When he looked inside it, the name of the owner was written.
──Morus Golgotha.
「This is──」
The moment Aspite obtained a certain conviction──,
The floor exploded.
The flame spread out instantly and enveloped Aspite’s body.
The explosion’s impact blew away the ceiling and wall.
The powerful magic explosion completely turned Golgotha House’s mansion into ruin. Fire rose up from the broken walls and the whole mansion burst into flames in the blink of eye.
There was a woman staring at that flame.
「……Fufu. The World is finished with this.」
The woman in red bondage costume smiled. She had a short cut black hair shaped like a Japanese person. She was the Ace of Hanged Man, Ayaori Iratsume.
「He is just a man who was defeated by the like of Lovers after all. He is no challenge at all as expected.」
She sported an erotic smile and turned her back toward the blazing mansion to leve.
──But,
「!?」
Ayaori stopped walking and turned back.
There was something inside the blazing ruin.
「──I’m being underestimated. To believe that a trap of that level would be able to kill this me.」
There was a silhouette inside the flame. The flame was pushed away to spherical shape as though avoiding that silhouette.
That man came out from the burned down mansion with casual footsteps while keeping both his hands inside his pockets.
「The World, Aspite Line……you’re more tenacious than expected.」
「Hmph. A card of Hanged Man huh.」
After a glance, Aspite passed beside Ayaori without doing anything.
「……!? Wait, Aspite. You think you can just escape from here like that!?」
「What?」
Aspite stopped walking. He turned around and glared at Ayaori with one eyebrow raised.
「The like of you isn’t worthy to face me. At least bring Hayachine Yotaka with you if you want to try something with me.」
And then he added mockingly.
「Although that girl also won’t have any hope against me!」
「How dare you speak so insolently about Ojou-sama……a disgrace of devil race who lost against mere human like you!」
Ayaori’s eyes were blazing in fury.
「Detonation!!」
Explosive type intermediate class magic burst under Aspite’s feet──or it should be.
「……!?」
The magic definitely activated. However the effect wasn’t displayed.
「What’s wrong? Start already.」
Aspite gestured with his hand provocatively.
「Kuh……then Fidozenon!!」
Flame type high class magic. It was the strongest class of magic that Ayaori could use.
However Aspite only held his right hand forward in annoyance.
「Barricade.」
Ayaori’s full powered attack was easily deflected by Aspite’s defensive magic.
「What!?」
Aspite sighed. This time he held his left hand forward. A huge magic circle spread out ahead of his palm.
「This is what you can call Fidozenon.」
It was like the lid of hell was opened. Horrifying heat and miasma overflowed. Flame jetted out from the middle of the magic circle like volcano explosion.
「──!?」
Ayaori immediately deployed defensive magic Barricade in many layers. She resolutely blocked the hell flame. However──
「Wha……!!」
Aspite’s Fidozenon easily smashed Ayaori’s Barricade.
「KYAAAAAAAAAAAH!!」
The Barricade was broken and Ayaori’s body was blown far away. She flew through the air for more than ten meters and fell on the ground while rolling.
「Gah……au……」
Ayaori couldn’t move. There was no doubt that her bones also broke in various places. She wanted to apply healing magic, but her flow of mana wouldn’t settle down, so that was also impossible.
「Too easy……now then, are you Hayachine Yotaka’s favorite pet?」
Aspite went to Ayaori’s side and grabbed her scorched hair before dragging her.
「Guu!?」
「Did you also come here to investigate Death’s true identity?」
「……What, about it」
「Fufu. Looks like even the so called alliance of your side isn’t a monolith.」
Aspite smiled sarcastically. Then he shook Ayaori’s body.
「And, what did you find here? Spit it out.」
「Kuh……don’t kid me……the like of you, won’t……」
Aspite sighed in annoyance.
「World Revision──your thinking will leak out through your vocal cord word for word.」
「Ha? Go sleep talk in your sleep──」
Ayaori glared at Aspite’s challengingly, but then her mouth started talking on its own.
「──I-I found the house head’s record……in that mansion……it was written that Morus Golgotha had inherited Death arcane……it’s a fact that Morus was the formal devil king candidate.」
「I see. So Morus and his family was killed by Lost huh.」
「It’s not just here. The other mansions too……the whole clan of Golgotha has been massacred.」
「What?」
Ayaori was drenched in cold sweat while staring at Aspite with a look of shock and fear.
「Wha……impossible……what I’m thinking, is leaking out, by themselves……」
「Don’t say anything unnecessary. Think about Lost.」
Although she thought that she must not think about it, she reflexively thought about it the moment she heard those words. Then her mouth once more talked about what came to her mind.
「M-most likely, Lost is harboring personal resentment for Golgotha clan. The reason is──」
A black arm suddenly grew out from Ayaori’s chest.
「!?」
Aspite’s body moved faster than his mind.
He leaped far backward and dodged the black arm.
──What is that!?
The inside of his chest turned cold with a shudder.
Ayaori herself was looking down on the arm growing out from her chest with astonishment.
「Wha……t-this…….what?」
「To dodge the attack just now, as expected from you, the World, Aspite.」
The arm that grew out from Ayaori’s chest talked.
The black arm was rapidly extending forward.
「Wha……」
A black figure appeared by coming out from Ayaori’s body.
It was an object of indeterminate form with human shape. The lump of sticky liquid that was like coal tar was forming a human shape. It appeared by breaking through Ayaori’s body.
「Gaha……-!?」
Ayaori breathed in pain.
「!?」
Half of Ayaori’s body was gone.
Her body was shaved off into the shape of the black monster.
Ayaori fell on that spot like a doll with its strings severed. A black stain spread on the ground. A swamp of death dragged down Ayaori’s body underground.
「……tsu」
That blackness looked the same like the black monster before him.
Voice came out once more from the black monster with twisted flabby shape.
「But, fishing for other people’s personal information is really not an admirable thing to do you know?」
「You bastard……are you, Joudogahama Lost?」
The black object suddenly changed shape. It was like seeing a sculpture naturally forming. The hair turned into red color, and the face and skin color also changed. Joudogahama Lost that he encountered the other day appeared there.
However, there were ears growing on his head. And then his body was wearing a different outfit from the casual clothing before this.
A black armor. It was fitted to his body tightly with light armoring. Strangely, it felt like Lost wasn’t wearing armor, but it was his skin that was turning into armor.
「This is my characteristic magic, Dreaming.」
「Dream……you say?」
「I can take any kind of shape that I want. It makes my dream comes true. Amazing right?」
Aspite scoffed.
「Hmph, I see now. So that liquid that looked like black swamp is your true form.」
Lost’s eyes narrowed.
「Something like that, it doesn’t matter right?」
Killing intent oozed out slowly.
Aspite was making an arrogant expression, but there was cold sweat trickling down on his cheek.
This guy──seems pretty dangerous.
Lost asked with a slightly displeased tone.
「You, are recently getting close with Yuuto huh..」
Yuuto?
Aspite formed magic formula inside his body while making a condescending smile.
「What about it? It’s not the business of an enemy like you.」
Lost glared at Aspite with an upward gaze.
「You’re annoying.」
「And you are insolent. This me is the number one man in the world, the World Aspite you know?」
Lost’s golden eyes shined.
──He’s coming!
Lost leaped toward Aspite.
Aspite’s magic formula was completed at that moment.
Lost’s arm was dyed black and stretched toward Aspite as liquid.
──But,
「!?」
Aspite’s figure vanished.
A slight trace of magic circle was projected on the ground.
「Tranzart……he was quick to skedaddle despite his big talk……this is why noble is just……」
Lost glared at that magic circle hatefully.
When even that trace vanished, he heard the sound of someone’s footstep approaching.
He is still nearby!?
He turned around and swung his arm──
「Tsu!」
The one who was there was a pink haired girl.
The pitiful girl who was devoted to him.
「……Rinne?」
Shimokadzuma Rinne froze with a shocked face.
「U-umm……」
Lost showed an awkward smile.
「Sorry sorry, you startled me. I was in a little altercation with the World just now.」
Rinne’s complexion changed instantly.
「Ah……I’m sorry.」
Rinne dropped her gaze, wondering if she got in his way, if she shouldn’t come here.
「Aa, really, don’t mind it. He just got away when you came. Forget about it, what’s your business here?」
「Y-yes……about that matter. Hermit accepted it……」
Lost grinned brightly when she muttered that hesitantly. He tapped Rinne’s shoulder.
「Thanks. You did great.」
「……a」
Rinne’s face brightened.
She was working because she wanted to hear that word. She was useful to Lost.
She was wrapped in incredible euphoria.
「Then let’s go back. We don’t have any more business here.」
「Y-yes……」
Rinne followed behind Lost with a feeling of fulfillment.
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Part 2
We sheltered Stella in the hotel where we are staying and three days passed.
She got a lot of help, like Reina bathing her, Miyabi preparing change of clothes for her, Neith combing her hair, etc. Thanks to that she was cleaned up.
However, she still wouldn’t say what happened.
We at least learned that Stella’s concert got halted from internet. But, it was unexpected that the topic didn’t get that big.
In Lizel-senpai’s opinion, Stella was most likely trapped using some kind of method.
But, it’s unknown what was that method.
We want to ask Stella about the detail, but Stella herself has been in low spirits this whole time. She won’t answer at all.
I stood in front of Stella’s room and knocked the door.
「Stella, I’m coming in.」
There is no reply. I softly opened the door. Inside I found Stella sitting on the bed.
I sat down on the chair beside the bed.
「Hey, Stella. The second term is going to start soon. We’re planning to leave here the day after tomorrow and go back to school. That’s why……」
There was no change in Stella’s expression.
She was just staring nowhere with blank eyes. It made me wondered if she was just a doll. Her usual energetic idol smile and haughty attitude are gone without a trace, as though she has really become an empty husk. However, when Stella is quiet like this, only the beauty of her face and body are standing out, so she looked like a beautiful doll all the more.
「What are you going to do Stella?」
「…………」
Even if she would keep living in this hotel room, in her current state it’s difficult for Stella to live alone.
「Will you return back together with us?」
「…………」
「If there is anything that you want to do then tell us. We will do anything that we can to meet your wishes.」
「……fu」
My eyes widened.
Stella’s lips are forming a smile.
It’s an emotion that she showed for the first time since she arrived here.
「Stella?」
「What a sorry state……」
Mortification oozed out from her frown.
「This me, is showing an unsightly figure like this……」
「Just, what happened? For someone strong like Stella to……」
Stella doesn’t look at me. She answered as though she is talking to herself.
「I……made my fans presented their life force to me and converted it to mana……that was why vast amount of mana constantly flowed into me. That flow was suddenly cut off.」
Her hands that are grasping the blanket tightened.
「I don’t know what happened. But there is just thing that is certain. I’m not the strongest anymore. No matter how high my ability to construct magic formula is, I don’t have the mana to carry it out……in the end, I’m no different from a normal devil that can be found anywhere……I can’t fight in a battle like the Devil King Great War.」
「…………」
I wanted to say something to her. However she won’t be consoled no matter what I say.
Right now I have the feeling that the best thing to do is to listen to her quietly.
「I swore to take revenge and lived until now……」
──Revenge?
「Since I was little, I was talented. I thought that I was the strongest in the world. I lived without any inconvenience as a young lady of a prestigious noble house. I had Otou-sama, Okaa-sama, a younger brother……but one day, all of those were destroyed suddenly……by the monster in black form.」
「Black……monster?」
「That night should be no different than any other night……but, that guy appeared and killed everyone. I couldn’t do anything other than running away. While crying, and trembling in fear……」
It’s an unexpected confession.
He thought that she is a noble daughter who was raised without any inconvenience, but to think that she has such tragic past…….
「I survived alone. After that I protected my house name by myself……I became strong with hatred and vengeance fueling my heart. If I can encounter my nemesis……I absolutely won’t forgive him at that time. I’ll make him regret ever being born into this world. I’ll give him the equal amount of pain. That was what I thought. And yet──」
Stella looked down. Tear fell on her hand.
「And yet……as I thought, I couldn’t do anything. I could only cry, tremble, and run around like coward……the same like that time. Nothing has changed……for what……I lived until now!」
Her trembling voice changed into sobbing before long.
Tears spilled on top of the blanket without stopping.
「Stella……」
I raised my waist and sat on Stella’s bed. I’m staying close to Stella by choice. I wanted her to notice that.
「So something like that happened to you……that, must be hard……and sad, and unbearable, it’s normal for you to cry.」
「So noisy!! Don’t talk as though a human like you understand!」
I got glared with eyes that looked ready to kill.
But, she finally looked at me, so I’m a little bit happy.
Even though tears are trickling down and the area around her eyes swelled red, as expected Stella is pretty.
「It can’t be helped if someone cannot get back on their feet again after going through that kind of experience. And yet, you propped up your house by yourself, became a super idol, and got stronger in order to take revenge for your family……that’s amazing.」
Stella’s hand slapped my face.
It made a dry sound. I’m surprised.
Not from getting slapped. But from how weak her slap was.
「Stella……」
「……Kuh!」
Stella blushed from anger and shame. She clenched her fist and began to hit my chest.
「That’s right! Right now I’m only this strong! Laugh if you want to laugh!」
The pain is not nonexistent, but her hit is far from giving me any damage. This is the current strength of Hoshigaoka Stella who was once a genuine monster and highly proclaimed as the likeliest candidate to be the next devil king.
「Dammit! Dammittt! DAMMITTTTTu……u, uuuWAAAAAAAAAAANNN」
She head butted my chest and then she started crying loudly.
I can’t say anything. In exchange, I put my hands on Stella’s back and hugged her.
And then I gently caressed her head.
I’m a bit surprised by how small her head is. Also, by how pleasant it is to touch her platinum blond hair.
I gently hugged her and continued to pat her head like soothing a child.
I don’t know how long I’m doing that.
When she stopped crying, Stella parted from me while keeping her gaze down. She sat on the bed while hugging her knees and burying her face there.
Perhaps she has calmed down a little and got embarrassed.
But, she isn’t getting away from my side, so it looked like it’s still alright for me to be here.
And then as I’m sitting down without saying anything,
「……You are, a strange guy.」
I smiled wryly at her mutter.
「Maybe.」
「Is there still, something that you.……want to say?」
「It’s fine even if just for a while, but will you stay together with us?」
「……Eh」
「Perhaps there is another way for you to gather mana, and if there is someone plotting to reduce you to this state, then there must also be a way to return you──」
「……Then tell me. What should I do to get back at my former state?」
She glared at me with a sullen gaze.
「……Sorry. I don’t know how. But, first you need to be high spirited. It will be really over if you lost mentally.」
Stella sighed in exasperation.
「It might be too late for me to say this, but what are you doing trying to cheer me up……even I am your enemy you know?」
「We won’t abandon Stella who relied on us.」
「…………」
Stella sported a cynical smile after a while.
「Of course……right now I don’t even enter your consideration. I’m not even fit to be your enemy……」
She hugged her knees and looked down once more. There was no radiance from her at all like in the past. It made me hard to believe that this person is really that Hoshigaoka Stella.
「……Look down on me as much as you want. After talking big like that in front of you guys……I came looking for help without any care of appearance……it’s really the worst……」
Stella sighed in resignation.
「I don’t want to die, only that thought occupied my mind……but, in the end I ended up no different from being dead. Even if I return to the academy, or even if stay here, or even if return to the devil world……surely I’ll just get killed.」
「I won’t let you get killed.」
「Why……if you don’t kill me now, one day I might be the one to kill you Yuuto you know?」
Certainly if Stella got back on her feet, she might become my strongest enemy in the Devil King Great War.
But──,
「Devils are using human emotion in order to gather mana. That’s why making them hate each other, harbor resentment, or feel fear are most likely the fastest way to do it.」
I stared at Stella who kept hanging her head down.
「But, Stella is different. You grant humans joy and fun in order to gather mana. You are taking away their life force, but you are keeping it within limit that doesn’t endanger their life. That’s why I believe in you Stella.」
Stella slightly lifted up her face.
「That’s just a mere method.」
「But, I think Stella is a good person for taking such method.」
「……」
「Even if Stella is the one who end up becoming the devil king, I got the feeling that you will create a good world in your own way. Perhaps it will be a different world from my interpretation but, surely it will be a fun one.」
「You……are really a strange man.」
「No, I don’t think I’m that strange.」
「Normally, you won’t say something like that against your opponent in a fight to be the next devil king.」
「Certainly that might be true. Perhaps……it’s because I know that Stella is a good girl and a hard worker.」
「……」
Stella got quiet for a while, but then she whispered something with a small voice.
「……Good girl……hard worker……huh. It has been a long time, since I got called that……」
Stella’s body leaned at me.
「Eh?」
Stella placed her head on my shoulder, as though she is fawning.
「──S-Stella?」
Her slender arms, entwined on my arm.
「Hey……Yuuto.」
「……What?」
「Until I regain my strength……will you protect me?」
Stella looked up at me with an uneasy gaze.
I answered with a smile that is for reassuring a child.
「Leave it to me.」
Stella’s uneasy face smiled brightly.
In that instant──
「!?」
A magic circle unfolded on the room’s ceiling.
──Is that Tranzart’s magic circle!?
「Hih!?」
I embraced the scared Stella.
「It’s alright. Don’t get separated from me!」
I embraced Stella to protect her and glared at the magic circle.
Most likely this is Stella’s pursuer.
In that case, is this Lost’s subordinate!?
I held my left hand forward and formed defensive magic.
Feet appeared from the magic circle that is floating on the ceiling──
「──Eh」
A familiar silhouette landed on the floor.
「Hm?」
A man with gray hair and unpleasant eyes caught sight of Stella and me who are hugging on the bed.
He is staring fixedly for a while, but then his expression immediately changed into irritation.
「Morioka Yuuto……you bastard, while I was going out of my way to investigate, you were flirting with an enemy, just what are you thinking?」
It’s the World devil king candidate, Aspite.
「Y-you misunderstand Aspite! There is actually a deep reason for this!!」
Stella who was hugging me separated away. However she seemed to still be uneasy. Her fingertips are pinching my sleeve. And then she glared at Aspite hatefully.
「Yuuto! Just finish off the like of Aspite!」
「Whaat!? Oi, Morioka Yuuto!! What’s the meaning of this!?」
「W-wait Aspite! Stella too calm down! Aspite is alright!」
「What do you mean alright-!? He completely look like someone who will side with Lost!」
Blood vein throbbed angrily on Aspite’s forehead.
「That’s rude! Oi Morioka Yuuto, don’t get tricked by this kind of woman! Woman is a creature that you will never know what they are thinking behind your back! It’s this girl who must be Lost’s spy!」
Uwaaaaaa, things are getting super troublesomeeeeeeeee-!!!
The door opened loudly at that timing.
「Yuuto! Did something happen!?」
Lizel-senpai, Miyabi, Reina, Neith, and Ruki rushed in.
I yelled I’m saved! Inside.
「Thank god! Lizel-senpai, explain to these two──」
「Wah!? What’s this? What’s this situation-!?」
「Desu desu!?」
Miyabi and Reina made a ruckus with loud voices that drowned my voice.
And then Neith quickly stood in front of Aspite.
「Aah? What are you trying Chariot?」
「Aspite, don’t tell me you are trying to assault Yuuto……」
「Aa!? No matter how you look at it, it’s that Star woman who is trying to assault Morioka Yuuto!!」
Aspite snapped and yelled angrily. This time it’s Lizel-senpai who reacted.
「Yuuto?」
Lizel-senpai towered in front of Stella and me. Her eyes were cold like knife.
「……What are you doing?」
This situation where we are hugging each other no matter how you looked at it.
After that, fifty minutes were needed until the situation calmed down.
.
Part 3
「──I see. So something like that happened.」
Lizel-senpai nodded in understanding after hearing Stella’s story.
The commotion settled down……we finally could have a talk calmly.
Stella and I are sitting on the bed, while Lizel-senpai and Aspite are each sitting on a single seat sofa. Reina, Neith, and Ruki are sitting on a long sofa while Miyabi is sitting on the window frame for some reason. She is making her feet dangling back and forth.
「But senpai. Would those passionate fans really suddenly go puih and toss away their idol that abruptlyyy?」
Miyabi’s question was only natural. Lizel-senpai fell into thought with her fingertip touching her lips.
「Most likely they used some kind of magic. From what Stella said and the information from internet, the fans suddenly lost interest to you in the middle of concert……just what kind of method they used……Neith, do you have any idea?」
Neith who was addressed shook her head apologetically.
「I don’t know……but, there are still devil king candidates who haven’t showed themselves……」
Ruki also nodded in agreement.
「That’s it, surely! Isn’t it natural to think that a devil king candidate with that kind of characteristic magic is at Lost’s side?」
「That’s true……it’s hard to think that any of the Triumph will join Death, so perhaps it’s the remaining Hermit or Temperance……」
However the discussion doesn’t progress any further than that.
There isn’t really any clue, and even if it was an ability of Hermit or Temperance, what should be done to make Stella return to before? Will the fans return to normal if those two are defeated? Or perhaps it’s already too late? The information is just too insufficient.
I talked toward Aspite to change the topic.
「Come to think of it, what did you investigate Aspite? Or rather……thanks. You took action by yourself like that for us.」
Aspite folded his arms in displeasure and reclined on the sofa.
「Hmph. You thanked me too lately. That’s truly insolent of you.」
Even though he said that, Aspite proudly talked about what happened at Chevalleze.
「……I see. Then Lost, against the Death devil king candidate he──」
「Yeah. He slaughtered the whole clan.」
However Stella made an unconvinced expression.
「Isn’t that strange? You can’t obtain devil king candidate’s qualification by killing a candidate. Even the arcane should return to the devil king academy if that happen. And yet, how can Lost is in possession of Death arcane?」
「It’s just as Stella said. Headmaster Gandou also seemed curious by Lost’s true identity……the story isn’t something that simple I think.」
Lizel-senpai also agreed.
Almost everyone sent a disagreeing gaze at Aspite.
However Aspite only accepted those gazes with a pleased look and spoke proudly.
「Hah! In the end your brain only have that much imagination. Unlike this great me!」
Even though he doesn’t need to take such provocative attitude……I’m feeling anxious in my heart.
However Aspite doesn’t show any sign of worrying about everyone’s chilly gaze or my worry. Rather it brightened his mood even more from how he looked like.
「I’ll tell all of you stupid people. Listen well. Joudogahama Lost didn’t simply kill Morus Golgotha. That guy──ate him.」
……Ate?
「Oi, Aspite. Don’t tell me……」
「Don’t misunderstand, Morioka Yuuto. I don’t mean that he ate him like how one ate a meal. Most likely that guy has the ability to absorb his opponent.」
「The ability……to absorb?」
「That’s right. I told you how Ayaori died from having her body gouged, but she wasn’t torn apart. When Lost passed through Ayaori’s body, her body was cleanly shaved with Lost’s body shape. Not even a piece of her lost body part could be found anywhere. Most likely he absorbed Ayaori’s power……her mana, her existence as devil, and her lineage.」
「Lineage you say……」
Devil prized their lineage. Their ability and identity as devil existed in that blood. The bloodline magic that is passed down in the clan is also done through blood. I learned that through the battle between Miyabi and Ibiza.
「Is something like that possible……?」
「When that guy was a kid, he got experimented with receiving blood transfusion of monster blood in order to become stronger right? Most likely this ability is the result that he obtained from that. Conversely speaking, he is still alive even now only because he managed to do that.」
However I’m still half in disbelief.
「……But, how did you manage to know that?」
「Golgotha’s mansion was in ruin. Most likely it was because of Lost’s attack, but I couldn’t know what happened. So there I made the residual mana to be visible using World Revision.」
「World Revision can also do something like that!? That’s seriously amazing!」
「Hm hm. So even you has finally become able to understand how things are.」
Aspite looked absurdly happy.
「There was traces of many people getting killed, but there was just one guy that was left in a strange state. There was the residue of his feet’s mana, but no residue of his other body parts.」
「Only the feet……?」
After I asked that, ASpite stood up and leaned forward toward me.
「That’s right. I thought that the mana residue had dispersed, but the other residues had complete body although only thinly. It was strange that only one person vanished with only one body part leaving residue. And then near that residue, there was the student handbook of Morus Golgotha lying on the floor.」
「That means……」
「Most likely Morus Golgotha got eaten by Joudogahama Lost for his devil king candidate’s qualification.」
「──That’s why Lost has the qualification to own Death arcane. Because he has absorbed Morus’s blood into his body……」
「That’s the answer.」
I can’t believe it immediately.
However, the reason for Lost to leave his village that Poran told us is strangely coinciding with this theory.
Aspite grinned and added more.
「From the start, there was a suspicious rumor spreading from that area.」
「Rumor?」
「It’s the story about how Golgotha House took advantage of their remote location to do experiments that would be bad if they got found out.」
──Experiments.
「The end result of those experiments is that guy. Have you ever seen that guy’s true form?」
「……True form?」
「The form that you guys saw are just something temporary. That guy’s actual body──is a black swamp.」
Everyone went 「Eh」.
Miyabi asked with a spooked expression.
「Black swamp……you mean, that thing that dragged devil when they died……?」
「That’s right. As the result of absorbing various monsters, Lost became unable to even maintain his original shape. The black liquid that came out from Ayaori’s body……that is that guy’s true nature.」
What the hell is that.
That muddy black liquid is, his true form?
I suddenly recalled an old action movie that Tou-san recommended to me. A killer machine of liquid metal that can turn into anything made appearance there. When I saw it for the first time at my childhood, I was shaking in my boots.
Aspite seemed to have finished talking for the moment. He leaned back on his sofa cockily.
「To think, his true form is the swamp of death itself……in a sense, that guy might be worthy to be the Death devil king candidate. What an ironic story.」
Lizel-senpai muttered with a sigh.
「No matter how beautiful colors are, they all will turn black when mixed together……and that’s, a terrifying power to blot out other colors……」
「As I thought……the one who killed my family was──」
Stella who is sitting beside me muttered with a trembling voice.
However Neith interrupted with a worried look.
「But, according to Poran, Lost was taken away around ten years ago……if I remember right, Stella’s family was attacked……」
「……Ten years ago.」
The timing is iffy.
However Stella glared at Neith with a grave face.
「But it’s not possible that Lost isn’t related! I’ll defeat that guy and make him confess!!」
The way she spoke is like the usual Stella has returned. Even Neith instinctively drew back from her pressure. However that spirit doesn’t last long. Stella’s shoulders dropped and her expression clouded.
「Even so……I don’t know if my power can come back though……」
Aspite doesn’t miss that muttering.
「What, you lost your power?」
「……Kuh! I-it’s not your business isn’t it!?」
Aspite made a wicked grin as though he has waited for this moment.
「I see, I see! You had always been making big talk before this and acted pointlessly haughty! And look at you now! This is truly a delight, a delight! Wahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!」
Aspite……he really looked like he is having fun. Isn’t his smile right now the best he has ever shown until now?
On the other hand Stella is gritting her teeth as she muttered gunununu.
「Shaddup! You are the only want I don’t want to hear that from!!」
That too, is correct.
While I’m thinking that, Stella pulled on my sleeve.
「Yuuto! You can’t believe this kind of fellow! He will definitely betray you!! Just look at that villainous mug! This guy is really fitting the defeated bad guy stereotype!」
「You bitchhh! How dare you speak so insolently to this great me!! Oi Morioka Yuuto! Don’t give that kind of woman any time of yours! In the first place the like of woman only have their mind full of how to make use of man!! You will never know what they are thinking behind your back!!」
Aa……he is completely traumatized from getting used by Lizel-senpai……in regard that, I’m also feeling responsible.
「Yuuto!!」
「Morioka Yuuto!!」
However, I don’t know what to do in this situation where both of them are yelling at each other with me at the center.
Aa……seeing this made me thought, devil king is really amazing. He is reining this kind of really peculiar fellows who also happen to have monstrous strength. To be honest, I can’t see myself taking rein of this kind of fellows at all.
Surely it’s necessary to find a point of compromise and convince these two to accept it but……when thinking that I’ll need to do it at the level of a country or the world, it made me feel faint.
When I heard the words devil king, the figure of a ruler or a tyrant or an absolute monarch immediately came to mind. I had the image of someone who decided the fate of people and the world as he pleased.
Even in human world there are dictators.
But, if by chance I ended up becoming the devil king as I am……what will happen?
Will I become a dictator when I get into that position regardless of what I’m thinking right now?
I got scared when I considered that.
But──at the very least, I don’t have the slightest intention to be like that right now. I also don’t think I’ll be able to.
I can easily imagine how I’ll be at my wits’ end from being placed in the middle of some troublesome and dangerous guys though.
Rather than being a devil king, it will be more like a coordinator? Unless I have a very strong volunteer mentality, I got the feeling that I won’t be able to do it at all.
……Is that perhaps, the figure of devil king that I’m thinking of?
「Enough talking, just go away to somewhere else!」
「You’re the one who should make yourself vanish!」
……Putting that aside, I needed to do something about this situation right now!
I stared at Lizel-senpai with a gaze that asked for help. In the end I can only rely on senpai……so uncool.
Lizel-senpai smiled as though to say 「It can’t be helped」 and stood up.
「Stella.」
「Eh? What is it Lizel?」
「There is only one way for you to regain your mana.」
「……Ha!?」
「Eh!?」
Stella and I raised our voices at the same time.
「Wait! What do you mean!?」
Stella stood up on the bed.
「But, this is a different way from your way before. Perhaps this might be a hard choice for Stella. However you will be able to obtain mana in no inferior amount than before……depending on you yourself.」
Lizel-senpai looked up at Stella who is standing on the bed with an upward look that is radiating dreadfulness.
Cold sweat trickled down Stella’s cheek.
「Hmph……bring it on.」
She forced herself to bluff with a smile.
「It doesn’t matter what is the method! What’s important isn’t the method but the objective, whether you can achieve that objective or not. Tell me! Of that method!!」
Lizel-senpai’s blue eyes pierced Stella.
「Become a Card of Lovers.」
「……!?」
Stella lost her voice from those words. Her eyes opened so wide that even her pupil widened.
I’m also dumbfounded.
Stella doesn’t show any further reaction. Lizel-senpai added more explanation.
「That’s the only way available to you whose mana supply is severed.」
「……D-don’t be stupid! There is no way I can do something like that!! First thing first, I’m aiming to be the next devil king! You telling me to become other person’s Card is incomprehensible!!」
「It’s possible for a devil king candidate to become a Card of other devil king candidate. And then, Lovers has the characteristic magic called Infinite Lovers to produce infinite mana. If you use that effect, you will be able to obtain vast amount of mana.」
「Look heree! What random nonsense are you prattling here Lizel! Are you making fun of me!?」
Neith raised her hand shyly.
「U=umm, Stella. That’s, true……」
「Haa!?」
「When Lovers’ Infinite Lovers activated, Yuuto-kun’s mana entered my body……the amount was amazing but, not only that, how should I say it, the mana felt pretty, it felt like the magic’s effect jumped up even just from using a bit of mana……Top Runner was really powered up tremendously at that time.」
「Something like that……wait──eh?」
Stella glared at Neith with a doubtful expression.
「Neith……you, don’t tell me……」
Neith’s face blushed red. She fidgeted while intertwining her fingers.
「……Yes. I, have become…..Yuuto-kun’s Card.」
「Haaaaa!?」
Stella was taken aback and yelled at Neith.
「A-a-are you sane!? You’re giving up your own chance of winning by doing that!!」
「I don’t have any chance of winning with Stella and Lizel also in this battle, so……」
Guh, Stella was at a loss for words.
「……Right now I too am a former shadow of myself but…….but, are you really okay with that Neith?」
Neith nodded slightly with a calm smile.
「Yuuto-kun will grant me my wish if he win, so it’s fine. I don’t need anything else as long as I can protect my own territory like right now.」
「I see……but you know, I still can’t accept it.」
Stella folded her arms and looked away. Lizel-senpai quietly talked to Stella who is acting like that.
「I never asked you to be a Card forever. For now it will only be until Lost is defeated……after that you can decide it again. It’s fine even if we do Release at that time, and if you want we can also extend it until Triumph is defeated. You can make your own decision.」
「That’s really flexible of you.」
「That’s only natural right> Right now we are possess overwhelming advantage. If you don’t like it you can just leave from this hotel. This might be unpleasant to hear but, right now Stella is still breathing because you are under our protection. If you go out from here, you will end up as a corpse in several days.」
「……Lizel. I’m reminded of just how bad your personality is again after so long.」
「I’m just speaking out the fact. I wish that you won’t interpret anything inconvenient for yourself with vague impression like me having bad personality or something.」
「That is why I’m saying your personality is bad!」
「But, if you can at least survive for the time being, you might be able to find a way to regain your mana. For me, I’m simply trying to offer you a helping hand here you know?」
Lizel-senpai sported a devilish smile literally.
「……Guh…..y-you……uuu」
Stella clenched her fists. Her shoulders trembled.
「Why do I have to……this is……this isss……u……ue」
She casted her gaze down. Tears of frustration are spilling out from her eyes that are looking down.
Her gritted teeth are making grinding sound.
「U, uu……uuuuuu!!」
She is groaning with a low voice for a while, but before long she muttered with a voice that is filled with grudge.
「……I get it.」
Lizel-senpai returned a satisfied smile that even looked sadistic as she asked back.
「In other words you are going to become Lovers’……Yuuto’s Card, can I take it that your words mean that?」
Stella folded her arms haughtily and looked up to the side.
「But I’m the Ace!!」
She looked down on me with an angry expression and──,
「I’m the Ace after all!! I won’t accept anything else than being Ace!!」
She declared that with tearful eyes.
.
Part 4
Although there was that kind of dispute, I ended up forming a contract with Stella that night.
We are alone with each other, because Stella doesn’t want to do it in front of everyone.
Also Lizel-senpai told me to do an imitation of Healing Lovers. Right now Stella’s mana is zero. It’s pointless even if I do Healing Lovers with her, but it seems that doing it is the prerequisite for doing Infinite Lovers.
Just in case, I also confirmed it with Lovers arcane. In addition I also consulted it what kind of situation Stella will prefer.
Somehow the arcane has completely become a love consultant.
「Hey……isn’t this, abit too childish?」
Stella came out from the changing room wearing the underwear that Miyabi prepared for her.
It’s a white baby doll that has a lot of frills attached. When someone with outstanding style like Stella wear it, it looked sexy in its own way but with chaste and adorable design.
Arcana’s advice is to 『treat the ace candidate tenderly like a child』.
I myself am half in disbelief. Treating that self-confident and actually strong Stella like that? Even so I can only believe in arcane.
「No……it really suit you. You look cute.」
It’s embarrassing to give that kind of praise, but I persuaded myself that the other party is a small child and do my best to not get embarrassed.
「……tsu. That’s a trite words of praise.」
She averted her face while saying that. Her face is slightly red.
I gently patted Stella’s head.
「Ah……」
Stella looked up with a slightly surprised face. And then she weakly glared at me.
「What are you trying to do? You also took advantage of the confusion last time and patted my head without asking……aren’t you getting a bit too full of yourself?」
「It’s because Stella is always working hard.」
It’s my hand that is feeling good from patting her head. Stella’s hair is silky and soft.
I caressed her platinum blond hair as though to comb it.
「Your hair……it feels good. Do you hate getting your hair patted Stella?」
「……Not, really.」
She bit her lip before answering.
「It remind me of my childhood……」
『Recommendation. Hug the target gently.』
I did as I was told and put my hands on Stella’s shoulder before softly pulling her toward me.
Far from disliking it, Stella buried her face on my chest.
「I have been working hard by myself all this time you know? There wasn’t anybody who would cherish me.」
「You have really done great, Stella.」
I put my hands around her back and hugged her while patting her head once more.
「It must be hard for you to always work hard like that the whole time. You can relax at least while you are with us.」
「But, if I manage to regain my power……I’ll become your enemy again you know?」
「I don’t mind. In exchange, you are our comrade while you are with us. No matter what happen, I’ll protect you Stella. I won’t let anyone hurt you.」
Stella looked up at me. Her eyes are glistening from the tears that are pooling there.
「Really?」
「Really.」
「You won’t……leave me alone?」
──Stella?
「You won’t let me be lonely anymore?」
Her voice when asking that is vaguely filled with the tone of a spoiled child.
「I won’t. I promise.」
「……Understood. Then, I’ll also, make the contract.」
And then Stella quietly closed her eyes.
「Stella……」
I approached Stella’s face. When looking from this close, the face of the top idol is so pretty that I almost sighed. Pushing my lips toward something this beautiful made me felt like I’m doing an outrageous blasphemy.
I stopped when there is only three centimeter remaining.
But Stella is waiting. Not only that, she is standing on her toes to make it easier for me to kiss her.
I resolved myself and closed the 3 cm distance.
A supreme pleasant feeling spread from the lips.
I inserted my tongue from that soft entrance. Stella’s shoulders jerked. However she doesn’t show any sign of dislike. I found Stella’s tongue and our tongues entwined.
Once our tongues touched, Stella became proactive in entwining our tongues. She put her arms around my neck and put her strength into her arms as though to say that she won’t let go.
While I’m getting absorbed with devouring the inside of Stella’s mouth, I’m pulled back to my senses by a voice that suddenly reverberated.
『Hoshigaoka Stella has become the Ace.』
I gently separated from Stella’s lips.
Stella stared with a blushing face. Somehow it made me suddenly felt shy. It must be embarrassing for Stella too. She averted her gaze and pouted.
「Geez……doing French kiss so persistently like that……you animal.」
Wasn’t she also getting absorbed into it like me? I thought that, but not saying it will be kinder.
「Sorry. It felt too good……that might be my first time getting that absorbed into a kiss.」
When I said that, she glared at me angrily like I have offended her.
「I see! Just so you know, it was my first kiss!」
「Eh!?」
I took a national idol’s first…….
「My first kiss is really expensive okay! You better remember that.」
She is complaining like that, but for some reason she is lowering the baby doll’s string from her shoulder.
「S-Stella!?」
White and slender limbs that are like fairy came into view.
Her body on the whole has faint pigment. It made me felt purity that is far removed from human from her. The tips of her breasts that are faintly colored pink needlessly drew my gaze.
Stella felt my gaze and shyly used her hands to hide her chest.
「T-this is necessary for your characteristic magic right? It can’ t be helped, so I’ll also give you my first time in this. B-be thankful.」
She acted tough, but her shoulders are trembling slightly.
No matter what she said, she is definitely feeling scared. When I wondered whether Stella is being considerate to me, my feeling that is seeing Stella as lovely got stronger.
I gently touched Stella’s arms with both my hands.
「Stella is really kind, you’re a good girl. I’ll also treat you gently.」
When I told that from my heart, Stella let down her hands and exposed the breasts she were hiding.
「……Treat me gently for real okay?」
Stella leaned closer with a face that looked slightly uneasy and also spoiled.
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