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Bokue wasn't exactly sure what Maria needed to urgently explain, but since she'd made it clear that it was important, he promptly took action.
In just five minutes, he managed to wake up all the girls from their magically-induced slumber, though it took another twenty-five minutes of comforting, explanations, and affectionate fussing before everyone could finally gather in the living room.
Sheila, seated on the sofa, was visibly perplexed by this sudden gathering. Originally, she had anticipated only one or two of them waking up around this time, with the rest blissfully sleeping through until morning.
But now, with Bokue gathering the entire household here, what exactly was he planning?
Feeling subtly uneasy, Sheila lifted her teacup gracefully, trying to hide her slight anxiety behind a poised sip.
Maria stood up beside the sofa, clearing her throat gently to take command of the impromptu meeting.
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"Ahem. Alright, everyone, let me first explain the current situation. First things first—Mama, Bokue-san already told me everything."
Upon hearing this, Sheila's hand shook abruptly, nearly spilling the tea she was delicately sipping.
But luckily, Maria quickly added a crucial clarification.
"Bokue-san told me about Lucia-neesan's recent visit here."
Sheila froze momentarily, blinking in surprise. So Maria was referring to Lucia's earlier visit... ah, so that's what she meant. Alright, no issue then.
But before she could relax completely, someone else raised a sleepy hand from across the coffee table.
It was Kurumi.
Having just barely shaken off the residual grogginess from Sheila's sleep spell, Kurumi looked like she was nursing a mild hangover. Her eyes were hazy, and even her voice was still slightly slurred with drowsiness.
"Um, sorry, but who exactly is this 'Lucia' person again?" she asked slowly.
"Oh, about Lucia—" Sheila swiftly jumped in to answer before Maria could open her mouth, quickly regaining her gentle, composed expression.
"Lucia is Maria's older sister, my eldest daughter. Currently, she's living in the Demon World's northern territory, serving the Old Demon King Faction. Today, when she came by, she brought along some troubling news. It seems that the Current Demon King Faction there is planning a decisive final battle against the Old Demon King Faction. And so, they've decided to call Mio back home to fight—"
"Huh?? Wait, why me again??" Mio, who had just been quietly listening like it was just another bedtime story, jumped up with wide eyes.
"First it was the Current Demon King's minions like Zolgear trying to kidnap me, and now even the Old Demon King Faction wants me back. Why is it always me??"
Maria coughed once lightly, quickly steering the discussion back on track. "Exactly! And this brings us to a key point—Bokue-san, do you still remember why Zolgear previously wanted Mio-sama?"
Bokue looked up thoughtfully, recalling carefully. "If I remember correctly, it was because Zolgear wanted Mio's inherited Gravity Magic, the power she got from her father, the former Demon King Wilbert... something like that?"
"Precisely." Maria nodded seriously.
"Former Demon King Wilbert's Gravity Magic was incredibly powerful, virtually unmatched across the entire northern territory. However, Wilbert wasn't the only one with Gravity Magic—his twin brother Ramusas, who now leads the Old Demon King Faction, also possesses similar magic. While Ramusas's Gravity Magic is indeed strong enough to hold off the Current Demon King Faction to some extent, compared to Wilbert's supreme Gravity Magic, it's honestly nothing special."
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Maria sighed.
"So, whether it's the Current Demon King Faction or the Old Demon King Faction, both sides are now coveting Mio-sama's Gravity Magic, which she inherited from her father. This power is essentially a crucial key determining which faction will eventually dominate the northern territories."
She paused gravely, voice lowering slightly. "Which is why I strongly suspect that the Old Demon King Faction's attempt to recall Mio-sama this time is probably in order to—"
"—extract Mio's magic power from her body," Bokue finished Maria's sentence calmly.
Maria blinked, momentarily surprised at his quick understanding. After a brief hesitation, she nodded again. "Yeah, very likely. But, Bokue-san, you don't seem particularly surprised."
Bokue smiled calmly, casually shrugging. "Well, honestly, I'm not. When Ramusas first mentioned dragging Mio back just because he was about to clash with the Current Demon King Faction, I'd already sentenced him to death in my mind. Does it really matter what his exact plans are?"
"Uhh..." Maria laughed softly, a little sheepishly. Yes, that was the Bokue-san she knew—no hesitation, no nonsense.
"So, Bokue-san, what's your plan then?"
Bokue replied in the simplest possible manner, with only one word.
"Kill."
His straightforwardness was chilling, yet Maria found it oddly reassuring. Yup, definitely her familiar Bokue-san.
"Then I'll go with you," Maria volunteered immediately. "After all, this directly involves Mio-sama. Plus, it's been a while since I last saw Auntie Sapphire."
"Sapphire?" Bokue raised a questioning brow, clearly unfamiliar with the name.
Maria nodded quickly, explaining, "Sapphire is former Demon King Wilbert's younger sister, making her Mio-sama and my aunt. Unlike Ramusas, Auntie Sapphire was always very kind to me and Mama when we were living in the Demon World."
"Then, I'm going too!" Mio immediately spoke up with determination.
"You guys are heading to the Demon World because of me—I can't just stay here doing nothing!"
"Count me in as well."
"Me too."
Without hesitation, the two Hero sisters chimed in, standing decisively.
Yuki's reasoning was blunt yet passionate. "I'm no longer part of the village anymore. For me, wherever Bokue goes is home. If Bokue heads to the Demon World, I'll go too."
Kurumi, however, blushed and crossed her arms defensively, still sounding rather tsundere. "I—I'm mainly going to keep an eye on this guy here! You know how he is—he lights up like a Christmas tree whenever he sees pretty girls. What if Mio-sama's aunt is really attractive, and he starts lusting after her too? I have to be there to prevent it!"
Bokue: "..."
What did she mean he "lit up" whenever he saw attractive women?
Since when had that happened?
Every single time, he'd been the one being pursued, not the pursuer!
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At that moment, Sheila calmly clapped her hands twice, instantly drawing everyone's attention. Smiling sweetly, she addressed the group, "Since everyone's eager to accompany Bokue, how about we all just go together as a group? How does that sound, Zest dear?"
As she spoke, Sheila deliberately glanced meaningfully towards the quiet, dark-skinned maid standing nearby.
Zest promptly averted her gaze shyly, her tan cheeks growing visibly warmer. "I—I have no objections. If Bokue-sama and Sheila-sama desire it, then of course I'll go."
"Wonderful! Then it's settled!" Sheila clapped her hands together cheerfully, happily deciding for everyone.
Bokue rubbed his forehead subtly in exasperation.
Initially, he'd planned to discuss this matter privately with Rias and her group later. But now Mio and everyone else were already determined to head to the Demon World together.
Who knows how many more people might end up tagging along by the time the trip was finalized?
But well, it probably didn't matter anyway.
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Meanwhile, deep in the Demon World's northern territory, at the Old Demon King Faction's domain—
On the castle's moonlit balcony, a silver-haired figure materialized from a teleportation circle. Lucia stood respectfully behind Ramusas, who gazed silently outward.
"I've returned, Ramusas-sama," Lucia reported dutifully. "I've conveyed your message to Mio Naruse's side."
"And? Their response?" Ramusas asked coolly, not turning to face her.
Lucia bowed slightly. "I didn't meet Mio directly. I spoke with a human youth named Bokue Keikain instead. He said he'd personally visit us here within the next two days."
Ramusas furrowed his brow, puzzled. "A human boy...?"
After a brief silence, Ramusas finally asked, "How powerful is this Bokue?"
"Honestly, I... couldn't determine his true strength," Lucia admitted, deeply embarrassed.
"You couldn't determine?" Ramusas's confusion deepened.
"I apologize deeply. Despite talking directly with him, I felt no urge to test his power or question his abilities. It wasn't until afterward that I realized how unusual that was," Lucia explained ashamedly.
"Hmm. It doesn't matter," Ramusas finally said dismissively. "If he insists on coming here personally, then let him. I'll deal with him myself."
"Understood, Ramusas-sama." Lucia bowed respectfully, though unease lingered in her heart.
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