"I wish I could learn that…" Yotsuba was the first to raise her hand, eyes shining with genuine longing.
Draconis couldn't help but smile at their expressions. "If you want to pull off something like this, you'd have to be reborn as devils first."
"Could we really be reborn as devils? Or… maybe angels instead?" Itsuki chimed in, grinning.
Draconis tilted his head, considering. "No clue. You'd need to find an angel willing to take you in, first."
That set off a flurry of chatter among the quintuplets. Suddenly, everyone was dreaming up wild futures—what they'd do if they became devils, or angels, or something else entirely.
Let's be honest: supernatural powers fascinate everyone. Who hasn't imagined being a superhero or a magical girl at least once? And here was Draconis—a real, bona fide devil—sitting right in front of them.
He let them talk, listening with a soft, amused smile. Even when their ideas got ridiculous, he didn't interrupt. Truthfully, there were plenty of things in this world even Draconis didn't know. Maybe some of their fantasies really existed, somewhere out there. Who was he to say otherwise?
They chatted past midnight, until drowsiness finally won and the girls scattered to their rooms.
Since Draconis was spending the night, Miku bunked with Ichika, leaving Draconis in Miku's room.
He lay down, pulled the covers up, and breathed in the fresh, faintly sweet scent that lingered in the sheets and air. Funny—most nights it was Rias or Asia curled up with him, or sometimes Mai Sakurajima. Sleeping alone felt almost novel.
But Draconis didn't sleep. He'd indulged in enough rest lately—time to get back to training.
He calmed his mind, closed his eyes, and reached out to the power of his Sacred Gear, beginning his resonance practice.
And that's when he noticed something strange.
He'd barely slipped into his training state before he snapped out of it, eyes flashing gold in the darkness. Surprise flickered across his face.
What… is this power?
He lifted his right hand, watching as a swirl of violet-black magic coalesced in his palm. Then, curiosity piqued, he raised his left hand and focused. A moment later, golden light shimmered above his palm, radiating pure, sacred energy.
Divine power.
Draconis stared at his hands—one holding demonic energy, the other brimming with holy light—utterly speechless.
How was this possible?
He was a devil. Devils weren't supposed to wield the sacred force of angels or gods. Was he dreaming?
A memory surfaced—Kokabiel had once said that God and the Four Great Demon Kings were dead, and now Seraph Michael was acting as God's proxy, with faith sustained only by the system God left behind.
In other words… the boundary between holy and demonic power had vanished. Asia was living proof.
Draconis grinned, the realization settling in. This was going to be fun. If he ever showed off divine power in front of angels or fallen angels, he could only imagine their faces.
Definitely worth exploring.
But why could he suddenly manipulate divine force? Even if the lines were blurred, he shouldn't be able to use it so freely.
His mind went straight to his Sacred Gear—the Aegis of the Virtuous Monarch, and the mysterious black fortress it brought with it. If anything could explain this, it was that.
Draconis nodded to himself, feeling more than a little pleased. Another ace up his sleeve.
He organized his thoughts, then slipped back into his training.
…
Sometime before dawn—
Miku woke up, groggy and blinking.
"Mmm… what's up?" Ichika mumbled, half-asleep beside her.
"Bathroom…" Miku muttered, remembering she'd had too much water before bed.
She shuffled off, handled her business, and wandered back—still half-asleep. In her haze, she forgot Draconis was in her room, forgot she was supposed to return to Ichika's bed, and just drifted back to her own.
She could find her soft mattress blindfolded. Still drowsy, Miku climbed onto the bed, felt the warmth of a body, and instinctively wrapped her arms around it.
Must be Ichika, sleeping without pajamas again.
The thought flickered by, and Miku was out like a light.
—
Morning.
Draconis eased out of his training trance. First time he'd ever practiced both holy and demonic energies together—he'd gotten a little lost in it. Normally, he'd be up and exercising by now.
He could hear movement outside—probably Yotsuba or Nino, already up and bustling.
He started to rise, but paused, sensing a familiar presence nearby.
Turning, he saw Miku, fast asleep.
Blue pajamas, collar askew, hair tousled—Draconis was momentarily speechless.
Wait… why was she in his bed?
Well, technically, it was her bed. Why was he in Miku's bed?
His mind fumbled for a second before catching up. He sighed, glancing at the pale skin visible at her collar.
Miku really didn't treat him like an outsider.
He reached out, about to gently wake her, but Miku shifted on her own, rolling onto her back, pajamas rumpled.
Draconis: "…"
Maybe better not to wake her.
But just then, Miku's eyes fluttered open. She stared at Draconis lying next to her, eyes wide with shock.
Is she going to scream?
Before he could find out, Nino's voice boomed from the hallway.
"Draconis, time to get up!"
Without waiting for a reply, Nino strode in, bold as ever. "Breakfast is ready. Come eat."
Draconis reacted instantly, yanking the covers up to shield Miku, pulling her into his arms beneath the blanket.
Nino, unfazed by the lack of knocking, blinked at Draconis's bare shoulders above the covers, then blushed as she realized her own breach of etiquette.
She hadn't expected Draconis to sleep naked in someone else's house…
He really didn't act like a guest.
Draconis just replied calmly, "Sorry, I just can't sleep with clothes on."
…
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