"It seems I won after all."
Haruto, a satisfied smile playing on his lips, gently ran his fingers through Esdeath's sweat-dampened, soft blue hair as she lay resting against the frosted wreckage of their battlefield.
"..."
Esdeath stared deeply up at the man who had completely and utterly bested her in every single arena.
Despite her thoroughly exhausted physical state, her crimson-hued eyes blazed with an unyielding, fierce vitality.
"A bet is a bet," she murmured, her voice carrying the absolute weight of a general's honor.
"From now on, I belong to you and will obey your commands. But make no mistake—one day, I will find a way to defeat you."
Even in absolute defeat, her indomitable spirit refused to bow.
Her new lifelong goal had just crystallized: she would train, she would adapt, and eventually, she would surpass Haruto to reclaim everything she had lost today.
"When that day arrives, I will take back my freedom, conquer you, and make you mine."
Haruto merely shrugged nonchalantly, pulling his tunic back on with a wry grin.
"If you think you can pull it off, I'll gladly give you all the chances you want. Though... let's see if you don't end up completely and hopelessly conquered by me long before that ever happens."
Esdeath remained expressionless, though a faint heat flushed her cheeks.
Watching him as he stood up, she blinked and asked, "So, what are your orders? What do you want me to do next?"
She tilted her head slightly, her tactical mind already spinning.
"I noticed Akame and the rest of the Night Raid members lurking inside our chat group. Are you planning to have me use my position to secretly infiltrate the upper echelons of the Empire, or perhaps march out and crush the Revolutionary Army for you?"
To be entirely honest, Esdeath didn't care one bit about the corrupt Empire's ultimate fate or Prime Minister Honest's political games.
Her loyalty now belonged solely to the man standing before her.
Haruto turned back, flashing a reassuring smile as he adjusted his cuffs.
"No need to change a thing. Just keep living your life and doing whatever you were doing. I have no interest in micro-managing your world, and I won't interfere with your affairs unless another formal trade is initiated."
As he finished buttoning his collar, Haruto cast one final, lingering look down at the ice general.
"If you ever feel like going another round—whether with blades or in the sheets—feel free to initiate another trade with me anytime. Until then see you, Esdeath."
With a soft, warping shimmer of reality, Haruto's figure completely vanished from the sub-zero dome, returning to his own world.
Esdeath sat alone in the silent, melting expanse of ice for a long, quiet moment, staring intently at the empty space where he had just stood, before a rare, genuine, and utterly captivated smile slowly spread across her face.
"Ah... what an impossibly fascinating man."
Haruto was indeed deeply satisfied, primarily because Esdeath's terrifying endurance, staggering physical prowess, and unyielding combat spirit had allowed him to indulge himself to the absolute limit without holding back.
However, the moment he stepped back through the dimensional threshold into his quiet Tokyo apartment, an immediate sense of unease washed over him.
The living room was pitch black, and save for the faint, steady sound of Mai's breathing drifting from the bedroom, the house was entirely still.
She hadn't stayed awake to greet him; exhausted by her own emotional rollercoaster of jealousy and curiosity, she had long since drifted off to sleep.
Yet, the moment he slipped off his shoes, crept into the bedroom, and slid beneath the covers, a peculiar detail instantly registered.
Clammy... and damp?
Reaching across the sheets, Haruto realized with a start that a localized patch of the bed was thoroughly soaked.
A strange, knowing look crossed his face in the darkness.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what had happened—Mai must have accidentally spilled a glass of water while tossing and turning, perhaps overwhelmed by her own erratic thoughts while watching his live stream.
Deciding against waking her up, Haruto offered an amused, tender smile.
After all, she had spent a considerable amount of time tonight working herself up over the broadcast, completely "busy" managing her own turbulent feelings in secret.
Well, tomorrow I'll just have to make it up to her properly.
He resolved mentally, a smirk tugging at his lips as he considered ways to shower her with extra attention.
Especially now that her physical stats had been significantly enhanced by the chat group, meaning she could handle a lot more than before.
Pulling the damp blanket aside, he wrapped an arm around her sleeping form, closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep.
Haruto quickly learned the harsh truth behind the old saying that plans can never keep up with sudden changes.
Originally, he had mapped out a deliciously lazy, carefree Sunday morning—spending hours leaving gentle reminders of his affection all over the house with Mai.
But just as the early sunlight filtered through the curtains, her phone began to buzz incessantly on the nightstand.
Jarred awake, she scrambled to answer it, her drowsy mind completely failing to notice the damp patch lingering on the sheets beneath them.
When she finally hung up and turned to Haruto, her expression was a mix of quiet determination and underlying anxiety.
She explained that her mother had demanded her presence, forcing an immediate, unexpected trip back to the main family estate.
Noticing the clear reluctance and tension in her shoulders, Haruto immediately offered to accompany her as backup.
But Mai gently shook her head, leaning in to press a deep, lingering kiss against his lips.
"I can't keep running away from her forever," she murmured softly, her eyes steady.
"Facing my mother head-on is a necessary step if I ever want to truly grow up."
Before grabbing her bag and heading out the door, she offered a small, reassuring smile and a promise.
"When I come back tonight, I'll tell you everything."
And just like that, Mai departed for her mother's residence, leaving Haruto alone in the quiet apartment.
The sudden, abrupt silence left the rooms feeling somewhat empty and lonely.
Well, since I've got a free schedule, maybe I'll go visit Ayame or Saeko.
He mused to himself. Not only could he spend some quality time having fun with them, but he could also use the trip to clear out some local monsters and rack up more experience.
*****
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