The Words of the Oath – Side Vito & Marius
A few hours after the chaos in the castle settled.
It completely changed from a glamorous ball, and the hall became such a mess you could barely see what it used to be. Scattered tables and chairs, cutlery and etc. As of a huge monster had appeared and rampaged around.
All the demons that appeared has been defeated, but the red magic circle continued to faintly glow as it floated at the centre of the hall. Surrounding it were knights with sword in hand and in a battle stance. Behind them was Prince Leblance with a serious face, looking at the magic circle. The magician Madeleine was investigating the magic circle, and as if reaching some kind of conclusion, nodded as she walked over to the prince.
“Prince, unlike conventional teleportation magic, that magic circle is extremely complicated. And it’s also made in an old-fashioned way. To think that there were still people who would make such a thing. I respect them.”
Although I’m not sure a human did it, she added sarcastically, as she glared at the floating magic circle.
“To plan and execute a surprise attack on such a day, it is not a plan that demons would be able to come up with. As expected, the Demon King’s resurrection has something to do with it”
“Was it something that Hector said? [To prevent the resurrection of the Demon King, present the Great Devil]… what he says is incomprehensible. The demons appearance, Hero summoning, and to add on, the conversation with Demons and their assistance. It’s all so astounding, I have no idea what to believe in”
He held his forehead as he held in a sigh. Madeleine gently supported that prince’s shoulder.
“Please do not speak so weakly as the prince of a country. This is not the first time that they aren’t showing all the cards in their hand”
“If he was the Demon King, I probably wouldn’t be worrying this much.It’s become such a difficult world to live in, huh.”
“So you are saying we should have just died when the Black Dominator was around, is that what you’re saying?”
I didn’t say that much. The prince smiled bitterly as he looked away. And then he met my eyes.
“Lutoria, where were you? I was worried, you know”
His gaze moved quickly to Captain-san who was next to me. Looking at the prince upfront, he looked emaciated.
“The one that is hiding behind you… are you possibly, Touka’s older sister?”
At the prince’s words, I panicked and hid behind Captain-san. I have no face to meet him.
I thought of dropping things here and quickly returning home, but as I thought, I was worried about the situation.
Even if I looked around, there were only servants and knights cleaning up, but I couldn’t find them and their unique outfits. Approaching the prince as the Captain-san suggested because he would likely know was a good idea, but it really did not look like the right situation for that. And right now, I am hiding behind Captain-san’s back.
“Leblance, where is Touka?”
“Touka? He was here up to a while ago… but I presume he went in search for his sister over there. And it seems like Naoki got caught up in the magic circle. And chasing after them, Touka’s older brother and the purple Eart Dragon jumped into the magic circle. Touka does tend to be more emotional when it comes to his relatives… he remembered about his sister and went running out. It seems as though you just missed each other though”
That’s both Touka’s strong point, but also his weakness. How he’d probably sacrifice himself first. The prince likely knew that as well, as he sighed for the second time.
When I peeked out from behind Captain-san’s back, my eyes met the prince’s. For some reason, Madeleine was also looking in my direction.
“…Itoka, what do you plan to do?”
I figured out that something had happened. But as expected, I want to properly listen to Touka. I’m curious about what happened to Naoki, Honoka-nii and Hana, and also Marius, who I can’t find. I’d be able to hear directly from the witness, Touka, about what happened here, is what I thought, as I pulled on the hem of Captain-san’s clothes and look up at him.
“I want to go look for Touka”
A gentle smile, as if saying ‘I knew you would say that’.
“But, Captain-s-… I can’t ask Lu-san to continue to accompany me”
“You don’t have to force yourself, you can just call me captain. I have become, quite fond of it. And Itoka, you don’t have to mind such things”
But, my words were cut-off.
“I am doing it because I want to. Even if the world was my enemy, I will be fine as long as you are with me. Just remember that”
He just casually dropped a killer line. Such frivolous words just rolled off his tongue, but it was somehow fitting for Captain-san, and somehow made my heart skip a beat, putting me in critical condition.
<line>
“…Sorry to be a bother, Lutoria, um, she is…”
I come back to my senses at the Prince’s words. He was smiling wryly.
“Nice to meet you, Prince Leblance. Thank you for taking care of Touka, I’m his older sister, Itoka. For my disrespectful actions earlier, please pardon me”
I bow in a hurry while I introduce myself. It became a habit that I was stiff and using formal language.
“…That way of bowing”
I heard Madeleine gasping. Wondering if I made a blunder, I raised my head, to meet an amber-coloured gaze. It has been 2years since then. If Chiffon was a lady who lived under the sun, Madeleine is the maiden that sings magic under the moon. The 2 that could not be told apart except through their hairstyles, they have changed so much in just 2 short years, huh. Even her dress for the ball was dazzling.
I stared straight. Just as I thought she was silently approaching, my right hand was clasped by both her hands.
“Are you, Vito?”
At Madeleine’s words, the Prince’s eyes went wide.
“There’s no mistake. When you take a bow and lower your head, you bow a little deeper than others. And that, can’t just be explained as being humble”
She smiled happily.
I never noticed that I had such a habit. This bowing form is from when Madame had taught me as Vito, and it’s how any servant around here would do it. To think that it would backfire in such a way. Ahh, habits are such a scary thing”
“It seems I have no choice but to trust in what Chiffon had said. Looks like it’s my loss”
“Ex, excuse me”
“Don’t try to run away, and say that you are a different person. I realised after touching you. This warm magic is no doubt, Vito’s. In addition, looking at Lutoria-san’s reaction there is no way you aren’t Vito”
Her smile deepened. But the hand that held mine was faintly trembling.
“…I’m sorry, Madeleine”
“It’d be better if you mend that habit of just apologising right from the beginning. Because you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for”
<line>
“Lutoria, please explain, just what is going on”
At the Prince’s muffled words, Captain-san smiled bitterly while letting out a rare sigh.
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Side Marius
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The air in the underground of the Demon realm was far worse than I thought, and the atmosphere was terrible. Rough red rocks were rolling around, and some indescribable mass of insects or creatures were wriggling in crevices and gaps between rocks. The demon realm is a place where the light of the sun doesn’t reach, but there are fires every here and there, to allow me to finally be able to confirm my surroundings. It’s like a huge cave.
I push down my discomfort and focus on the presence in front of me. I have already gotten past the shame of being carried. I just want to get out of here as soon as possible. That’s all I think about as I desperately hold out.
“Marius?”
My companion had timely stopped his stride. I wonder if her noticed that I’m not feeling great.
“I’m fine, so hurry. Let’s go find Naoki”
It hurts just to talk. I bite my lip and push my face into Fer’s shoulder. I don’t have they hobby of smelling other people, but it’s better than breathing in the air in this underground space. No, it might not be right to say that it’s better. He has a nostalgic smell. It’s similar to the sandalwood incense that Mother liked to use. If I remember right, she received it from a precious person—-
“Marius”
“Ah”
Gakun, my body swayed. It seems my consciousness had flown away for awhile. Sitting me on a nearby rock, Fer bent down on his knee and took a look at my face.
“Did you, push yourself too much?”
Feeling extremely terrible mentally, tears start to flow out and hinder my vision. Wiping my tears on my sleeve and spat out an ‘I’m fine’ while pushing away his outstretched hand, I was forcefully grabbed had my face brought closer. A coarse tongue brushed by my cheek. In the same way a cat plays with its owner. But the one licking is not a cute cat, but a red-eyed Demon.
“As expected, Angels are weak. That’s why, they get eaten immediately”
“The one’s who are forcefully eating are you people isn’t it… I hate succubuses”
I have no idea what they are thinking, and even their gender is questionable… although I know I’m in no position to talk. But to be able to change their entire body structure is just cowardly. If I were a Demon, I wouldn’t have been troubled by this for years. [1]
“Open, your mouth”
My chin is grasped and held in place. Even with my dulled thoughts, I could figure out what Fer was trying to do.
“Don’t wanna”
“At this rate, you’ll die”
“Definitely, don’t want to”
With my arm grabbed, it was pointless resistance to try and dodge. There’s no way I can beat him in strength. But even then, I don’t want to.
“Why are you going do far. It’d be fine to just release me! Because you vowed, because you like me, I don’t know anything, and I have nothing to do with it…! If you want to eat, then why don’t you eat?!”
I’m being incoherent. I don’t even know what I’m saying. But I just didn’t want to be whining.
“So it’s fine to eat? Got it”
“Eh, ….nn”
Both my cheeks were held and brought closer. My mouth was cleanly sealed without any gaps, and I felt as if my soul was being sucked out from my body. From deep in my throat, from a place deeper than my heart. Some squirming black thing was slowly being sucked out. Strength left my entire body.
“What, are you doing”
“Because the miasma was building up in your body, I ate it. Angels, unlike Demons, are pure. So it’s easy to accumulate”
The miasma is especially dense underground, he plainly said. It’s true that my body feels lighter. Even though I felt so bad I could vomit earlier, I now feel refreshed.
But something doesn’t make sense. Are all Demons like this? To be able to casually just kiss others? Is that just to be expected? Am I the weird one?
And if it was going to be that way.
“…I would have preferred a girl”
When I muttered that, Fer just stared blankly, before saying ‘got it’ and standing up. Just as I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, Fer’s body became limp and started distorting. Not just his body, but the space also twisted, and gradually became smaller.
<line>
And what appeared, was a small girl.
<line>
Eyes so big, they looked like they’d fall out, slowly opened. Her lightly coloured lips formed a gentle arc, and her fangs peeked out. Tilting your head up, bright red hair was swaying behind her ears. As always, revealing clothes fight snugly on her body lines. Her ample chest was hidden by exquisite, thin lines.
“Is this, fine?”
Her innocent smile did not change, and bat-like wings continued to flutter at her back.
Even then, I can’t help but be surprised.
<line>
That appearance, is — Maribelle.
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“How, do you know that appearance”
Blankly looking up, Fer turned and twisted to check her body carefully.
“I took on the form of the woman you like the most. This way, you can like me?”
Once again, she knelt on the ground as she came closer. Her smile, even with the Demons wings on her back, it was no exaggeration to call it the smile of an angel. Looking at it objectively, even if Maribelle’s figure isn’t me, she’s still cute.
I remember something Ariade told me before. [So the person you like is Maribelle huh]. Back then, I didn’t really understand what she was saying. But now, I understand. I was tailoring Maribelle as my ideal girl.
“Marius?”
“Don’t, don’t come close”
Having become conscious of it, I can’t just stay calm. It’s way too embarrassing. Even if the one in front of my is supposed to be a Demon, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a girl taking Maribelle’s appearance. I don’t care if you call me a narcissist.
I hide my red hot cheeks with my hands.
<line>
But come on, she’s so cute. It can’t be helped…!!
The Words of the Oath – Side Vito & Marius
A few hours after the chaos in the castle settled.
It completely changed from a glamorous ball, and the hall became such a mess you could barely see what it used to be. Scattered tables and chairs, cutlery and etc. As of a huge monster had appeared and rampaged around.
All the demons that appeared has been defeated, but the red magic circle continued to faintly glow as it floated at the centre of the hall. Surrounding it were knights with sword in hand and in a battle stance. Behind them was Prince Leblance with a serious face, looking at the magic circle. The magician Madeleine was investigating the magic circle, and as if reaching some kind of conclusion, nodded as she walked over to the prince.
“Prince, unlike conventional teleportation magic, that magic circle is extremely complicated. And it’s also made in an old-fashioned way. To think that there were still people who would make such a thing. I respect them.”
Although I’m not sure a human did it, she added sarcastically, as she glared at the floating magic circle.
“To plan and execute a surprise attack on such a day, it is not a plan that demons would be able to come up with. As expected, the Demon King’s resurrection has something to do with it”
“Was it something that Hector said? [To prevent the resurrection of the Demon King, present the Great Devil]… what he says is incomprehensible. The demons appearance, Hero summoning, and to add on, the conversation with Demons and their assistance. It’s all so astounding, I have no idea what to believe in”
He held his forehead as he held in a sigh. Madeleine gently supported that prince’s shoulder.
“Please do not speak so weakly as the prince of a country. This is not the first time that they aren’t showing all the cards in their hand”
“If he was the Demon King, I probably wouldn’t be worrying this much.It’s become such a difficult world to live in, huh.”
“So you are saying we should have just died when the Black Dominator was around, is that what you’re saying?”
I didn’t say that much. The prince smiled bitterly as he looked away. And then he met my eyes.
“Lutoria, where were you? I was worried, you know”
His gaze moved quickly to Captain-san who was next to me. Looking at the prince upfront, he looked emaciated.
“The one that is hiding behind you… are you possibly, Touka’s older sister?”
At the prince’s words, I panicked and hid behind Captain-san. I have no face to meet him.
I thought of dropping things here and quickly returning home, but as I thought, I was worried about the situation.
Even if I looked around, there were only servants and knights cleaning up, but I couldn’t find them and their unique outfits. Approaching the prince as the Captain-san suggested because he would likely know was a good idea, but it really did not look like the right situation for that. And right now, I am hiding behind Captain-san’s back.
“Leblance, where is Touka?”
“Touka? He was here up to a while ago… but I presume he went in search for his sister over there. And it seems like Naoki got caught up in the magic circle. And chasing after them, Touka’s older brother and the purple Eart Dragon jumped into the magic circle. Touka does tend to be more emotional when it comes to his relatives… he remembered about his sister and went running out. It seems as though you just missed each other though”
That’s both Touka’s strong point, but also his weakness. How he’d probably sacrifice himself first. The prince likely knew that as well, as he sighed for the second time.
When I peeked out from behind Captain-san’s back, my eyes met the prince’s. For some reason, Madeleine was also looking in my direction.
“…Itoka, what do you plan to do?”
I figured out that something had happened. But as expected, I want to properly listen to Touka. I’m curious about what happened to Naoki, Honoka-nii and Hana, and also Marius, who I can’t find. I’d be able to hear directly from the witness, Touka, about what happened here, is what I thought, as I pulled on the hem of Captain-san’s clothes and look up at him.
“I want to go look for Touka”
A gentle smile, as if saying ‘I knew you would say that’.
“But, Captain-s-… I can’t ask Lu-san to continue to accompany me”
“You don’t have to force yourself, you can just call me captain. I have become, quite fond of it. And Itoka, you don’t have to mind such things”
But, my words were cut-off.
“I am doing it because I want to. Even if the world was my enemy, I will be fine as long as you are with me. Just remember that”
He just casually dropped a killer line. Such frivolous words just rolled off his tongue, but it was somehow fitting for Captain-san, and somehow made my heart skip a beat, putting me in critical condition.
<line>
“…Sorry to be a bother, Lutoria, um, she is…”
I come back to my senses at the Prince’s words. He was smiling wryly.
“Nice to meet you, Prince Leblance. Thank you for taking care of Touka, I’m his older sister, Itoka. For my disrespectful actions earlier, please pardon me”
I bow in a hurry while I introduce myself. It became a habit that I was stiff and using formal language.
“…That way of bowing”
I heard Madeleine gasping. Wondering if I made a blunder, I raised my head, to meet an amber-coloured gaze. It has been 2years since then. If Chiffon was a lady who lived under the sun, Madeleine is the maiden that sings magic under the moon. The 2 that could not be told apart except through their hairstyles, they have changed so much in just 2 short years, huh. Even her dress for the ball was dazzling.
I stared straight. Just as I thought she was silently approaching, my right hand was clasped by both her hands.
“Are you, Vito?”
At Madeleine’s words, the Prince’s eyes went wide.
“There’s no mistake. When you take a bow and lower your head, you bow a little deeper than others. And that, can’t just be explained as being humble”
She smiled happily.
I never noticed that I had such a habit. This bowing form is from when Madame had taught me as Vito, and it’s how any servant around here would do it. To think that it would backfire in such a way. Ahh, habits are such a scary thing”
“It seems I have no choice but to trust in what Chiffon had said. Looks like it’s my loss”
“Ex, excuse me”
“Don’t try to run away, and say that you are a different person. I realised after touching you. This warm magic is no doubt, Vito’s. In addition, looking at Lutoria-san’s reaction there is no way you aren’t Vito”
Her smile deepened. But the hand that held mine was faintly trembling.
“…I’m sorry, Madeleine”
“It’d be better if you mend that habit of just apologising right from the beginning. Because you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for”
<line>
“Lutoria, please explain, just what is going on”
At the Prince’s muffled words, Captain-san smiled bitterly while letting out a rare sigh.
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Side Marius
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The air in the underground of the Demon realm was far worse than I thought, and the atmosphere was terrible. Rough red rocks were rolling around, and some indescribable mass of insects or creatures were wriggling in crevices and gaps between rocks. The demon realm is a place where the light of the sun doesn’t reach, but there are fires every here and there, to allow me to finally be able to confirm my surroundings. It’s like a huge cave.
I push down my discomfort and focus on the presence in front of me. I have already gotten past the shame of being carried. I just want to get out of here as soon as possible. That’s all I think about as I desperately hold out.
“Marius?”
My companion had timely stopped his stride. I wonder if her noticed that I’m not feeling great.
“I’m fine, so hurry. Let’s go find Naoki”
It hurts just to talk. I bite my lip and push my face into Fer’s shoulder. I don’t have they hobby of smelling other people, but it’s better than breathing in the air in this underground space. No, it might not be right to say that it’s better. He has a nostalgic smell. It’s similar to the sandalwood incense that Mother liked to use. If I remember right, she received it from a precious person—-
“Marius”
“Ah”
Gakun, my body swayed. It seems my consciousness had flown away for awhile. Sitting me on a nearby rock, Fer bent down on his knee and took a look at my face.
“Did you, push yourself too much?”
Feeling extremely terrible mentally, tears start to flow out and hinder my vision. Wiping my tears on my sleeve and spat out an ‘I’m fine’ while pushing away his outstretched hand, I was forcefully grabbed had my face brought closer. A coarse tongue brushed by my cheek. In the same way a cat plays with its owner. But the one licking is not a cute cat, but a red-eyed Demon.
“As expected, Angels are weak. That’s why, they get eaten immediately”
“The one’s who are forcefully eating are you people isn’t it… I hate succubuses”
I have no idea what they are thinking, and even their gender is questionable… although I know I’m in no position to talk. But to be able to change their entire body structure is just cowardly. If I were a Demon, I wouldn’t have been troubled by this for years. [1]
“Open, your mouth”
My chin is grasped and held in place. Even with my dulled thoughts, I could figure out what Fer was trying to do.
“Don’t wanna”
“At this rate, you’ll die”
“Definitely, don’t want to”
With my arm grabbed, it was pointless resistance to try and dodge. There’s no way I can beat him in strength. But even then, I don’t want to.
“Why are you going do far. It’d be fine to just release me! Because you vowed, because you like me, I don’t know anything, and I have nothing to do with it…! If you want to eat, then why don’t you eat?!”
I’m being incoherent. I don’t even know what I’m saying. But I just didn’t want to be whining.
“So it’s fine to eat? Got it”
“Eh, ….nn”
Both my cheeks were held and brought closer. My mouth was cleanly sealed without any gaps, and I felt as if my soul was being sucked out from my body. From deep in my throat, from a place deeper than my heart. Some squirming black thing was slowly being sucked out. Strength left my entire body.
“What, are you doing”
“Because the miasma was building up in your body, I ate it. Angels, unlike Demons, are pure. So it’s easy to accumulate”
The miasma is especially dense underground, he plainly said. It’s true that my body feels lighter. Even though I felt so bad I could vomit earlier, I now feel refreshed.
But something doesn’t make sense. Are all Demons like this? To be able to casually just kiss others? Is that just to be expected? Am I the weird one?
And if it was going to be that way.
“…I would have preferred a girl”
When I muttered that, Fer just stared blankly, before saying ‘got it’ and standing up. Just as I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, Fer’s body became limp and started distorting. Not just his body, but the space also twisted, and gradually became smaller.
<line>
And what appeared, was a small girl.
<line>
Eyes so big, they looked like they’d fall out, slowly opened. Her lightly coloured lips formed a gentle arc, and her fangs peeked out. Tilting your head up, bright red hair was swaying behind her ears. As always, revealing clothes fight snugly on her body lines. Her ample chest was hidden by exquisite, thin lines.
“Is this, fine?”
Her innocent smile did not change, and bat-like wings continued to flutter at her back.
Even then, I can’t help but be surprised.
<line>
That appearance, is — Maribelle.
<line>
“How, do you know that appearance”
Blankly looking up, Fer turned and twisted to check her body carefully.
“I took on the form of the woman you like the most. This way, you can like me?”
Once again, she knelt on the ground as she came closer. Her smile, even with the Demons wings on her back, it was no exaggeration to call it the smile of an angel. Looking at it objectively, even if Maribelle’s figure isn’t me, she’s still cute.
I remember something Ariade told me before. [So the person you like is Maribelle huh]. Back then, I didn’t really understand what she was saying. But now, I understand. I was tailoring Maribelle as my ideal girl.
“Marius?”
“Don’t, don’t come close”
Having become conscious of it, I can’t just stay calm. It’s way too embarrassing. Even if the one in front of my is supposed to be a Demon, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a girl taking Maribelle’s appearance. I don’t care if you call me a narcissist.
I hide my red hot cheeks with my hands.
<line>
But come on, she’s so cute. It can’t be helped…!!
