"Ai Hayasaka, Yatogami Tohka, go ahead and explore this place by yourselves for a bit."
After saying that, Rei Ao left with Kasuga Hijiri, Lieselotte, Selena, and Kannazuki Arin.
With Rei Ao gone, the one who seemed most at a loss was Yatogami Tohka. She had developed a certain dependence on the first human to help her.
Tohka asked the group.
Yamana Mira's face turned bright red at the question.
"S-surely they went off to do something disgusting!"
"Oh, c'mon, Admiral, that's putting it too harshly."
Fudou Akio joked, "They're probably just doing something…loving, that's all."
"Huh, a 'loving exchange'? Surprised you could come up with such a poetic phrase, you gorilla brute," Kazama Levi remarked with a sidelong glance at Akio.
"Disgusting? 'Lovey-dovey?'"
Yatogami Tohka looked baffled.
Ai Hayasaka's eyes flickered with understanding.
"You mean Rei Ao went off with them to fulfill the 'body usage rights' part of their deal, right?"
Kazama Levi: "Mm, yeah, you could put it that way."
Ai Hayasaka didn't know what to say.
All four of them… together?
She felt dizzy just thinking about it—this seemed even wilder than the rumors she'd heard about certain aristocratic young masters.
In Kasuga Hijiri's Dorm
Kasuga Hijiri, Selena, and Lieselotte had no reservations about undressing. The only uncertain one was Kannazuki Arin. Rei Ao needed to clarify:
"Arin, is it okay if I call you that?"
"Yes. Anything is fine, my dear."
Kannazuki Arin nodded earnestly.
"'My dear,' huh… I have a question for you, Arin."
"Are you really sure you want to be my wife?"
Rei Ao asked seriously—this was their first time properly meeting.
"Of course," Arin replied with the same seriousness.
"The prophecy says I will inevitably become the Demon King's wife."
"No, I'm not talking about the prophecy."
Rei Ao shook his head.
"I'm asking you, personally: What do you want?"
Kasuga Hijiri cut in, "Exactly. The prophecy's a side issue. Rei Ao cares about what you yourself think."
Selena nodded as well.
"Right. If it's only the prophecy, I won't feel comfortable getting close to you."
Lieselotte eyed Arin knowingly.
"Kannazuki Arin, could it be you have some other motive for getting close to Rei Ao?"
"No! I have no ulterior motives!"
A rare look of panic showed on Arin's normally expressionless face. Afraid they'd misunderstand, she tried to explain herself—only for a large hand to rest gently atop hers.
"No need to rush. Take your time, and I'll believe you."
Rei Ao's reassurance helped her regain her composure.
After a deep breath, she spoke formally:
"Rei Ao, I really don't have any hidden agenda. In the beginning, sure, because of the prophecy, I even thought about killing you so I could break it."
"What?! How could you even think that?!"
The moment Selena heard "kill Rei Ao," she shot forward, standing defensively in front of him. She stretched out her arms as if her petite body could protect him.
"If you want to hurt Rei Ao-nii, you'll have to go through me first!"
Selena's stubborn display made Lieselotte burst into laughter.
"Sis, why are you laughing? I'm being serious—mhm!"
She couldn't finish; Rei Ao had suddenly leaned down and blocked her mouth with his own. One arm circled her waist, pulling her against him.
Kannazuki Arin watched their intimate exchange at close range, unconsciously licking her lips.
A few moments passed.
"Mmph… Rei Ao, that was so sudden~"
Selena leaned into his embrace, her eyes moist, cheeks flushed bright red.
"Haha, sorry. You were just so cute, rushing over to protect me that way. I couldn't resist."
Hearing his compliment, Selena buried her face in his chest, giggling happily.
Rei Ao turned back to Arin.
"Seeing that, what do you think? I'm a pretty shameless guy. Being my wife doesn't exactly come with perks, you know."
Arin pressed her lips together.
"But after seeing how all of you interact today… I'm envious. I want what Hijiri and the others have."
"Could you… hug me, too?"
She looked down. "If not, that's okay…"
That sudden, humble request stirred something in Rei Ao. He reached out and pulled Arin close. Selena, sensing the moment, slipped out of his arms to give Arin space.
Rei Ao spread his arms wide.
"Want to give it a try?"
Arin stepped forward carefully, embracing him. He held her in return, the two of them wrapped in each other's arms.
For the first time, Kannazuki Arin felt a deep sense of peace.
She realized she liked this feeling. No wonder Selena looked so blissful whenever she was in his arms.
"Rei Ao, could you… kiss me?"
Arin wanted to feel that extra bit of happiness she'd seen on Selena's face.
Rei Ao didn't hesitate, lowering his head to kiss her.
Hijiri, Selena, and Lieselotte exchanged glances at the sight, their faces full of different reactions. Lieselotte couldn't help but smile.
"Looks like we've gained yet another sister~"
"Father, where are you going?"
Asami Lilith didn't know how to speak to the father she'd never met until now. All she saw in his eyes, after losing his power, was a new kind of loneliness. As a regular human, Trinity Abyss seemed filled with confusion, as though seeing the world for the first time from a weaker perspective.
And the fact that Lilith had just referred to him as "Father" felt almost mocking.
"Heh. You were just a pawn for me to use. There's no need for you to call me Father. You should just…hate me."
Trinity Abyss made a final attempt to get Lilith to despise him. But Lilith only shook her head.
"Sorry, but I can't make myself hate you. Hatred only twists a person and drags them into the abyss."
"I may dislike you, even resent you, but I can't deny that you're my father."
She understood the difference between hate and dislike, and she didn't want to become twisted by hatred.
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't exist. And if I didn't exist, I wouldn't have met everyone… I wouldn't have met Rei Ao."
Trinity Abyss stared at Lilith, speechless. After a long moment, he looked away and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?"
Lilith asked once more.
His footsteps paused. At length, he replied:
"As an ordinary man, I guess I should go live an ordinary life. That's probably my final fate."
"Mhm, I will… Father."
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