Three days later...
It was nearing the end of the day. The sun painted the sky above the vast plain in shades of orange and gold, while the shadows of the rocky formations stretched into the distance beneath the evening light.
Mio was sitting on top of a large smooth rock, her legs stretched out in front of her as she tried to catch her breath. Her body glistened faintly with sweat, her uniform clinging to her skin, and her long blood-red hair partially stuck to her neck. Her breathing was still uneven after another brutal individual training session.
At that moment, she was alone.
Alear had briefly left to check on Maria and Ravel's progress, leaving Mio to rest for a few minutes before resuming their training.
The young woman's pink eyes were distant, lost in thoughts far beyond that enormous artificial plain.
It had already been three days since Alear began training each of them separately...
As harsh as it was—and honestly, it was absurdly harsh—she couldn't deny that she liked that routine. Having Alear all to herself during those individual training sessions made her heart beat in a strange way. She could observe him more closely, hear his calm voice as he explained things, feel the firm touch of his hands correcting her posture or supporting her body after a blow that was a little too strong. All of it created a sense of closeness that left her flustered... yet at the same time comfortable in a way she couldn't properly explain.
It was strange. Ever since Alear entered her life, she had been changing little by little without even realizing it. She had never been good at honestly dealing with her own feelings, especially when they became too intense. Because of that, she almost always ended up hiding everything behind teasing, impulsive actions, or bold remarks. On many occasions, she acted harshly or tried to conceal how affected she was by maintaining a more severe and prideful attitude.
She turned her gaze toward the orange horizon of the artificial dimension and let out a small sigh. Honestly... a selfish part of her liked it when Alear focused his attention solely on her. She liked the feeling of being watched only by him, even if it was just during those moments of training.
But Mio also knew she couldn't simply monopolize him for herself.
Alear was a noble, someone who carried the responsibility of restoring his family on his shoulders, a lineage that was dangerously close to extinction. Because of that, it was natural that he would need more than one woman by his side in the future. Furthermore, Maria had explained countless times that demon fertility was naturally low, which only reinforced that reality. To ensure descendants and prevent certain bloodlines from disappearing completely, many demon nobles ended up forming relationships with multiple women.
She understood all of that rationally.
She understood perfectly what Alear's position was, the responsibility he carried, and even the political and biological logic behind it. Even so... understanding did not necessarily make things easier emotionally. Just imagining other women receiving his attention, getting close to him, or being touched by him in the same way she had experienced during those past few days caused a strange irritation to grow in her chest. It was a selfish and childish feeling, something she herself recognized, yet simply couldn't completely avoid.
Perhaps that was why she always became so competitive whenever Maria—or even Ravel—got too close to him.
Although lately it had become easier to accept and manage rationally, that small possessive feeling still remained hidden in her heart. Mio had already understood the reality of Alear's position and had even accepted that she would probably share her place beside him with other women in the future... but accepting it didn't mean she stopped feeling jealous from time to time.
Especially because she still hadn't taken that step with him.
And honestly... she really wanted to.
Just thinking about it made her face warm slightly. Her fingers discreetly tightened around the fabric of her uniform as she looked toward the golden horizon of the artificial dimension. She wanted to get even closer to him. She wanted to become someone special to Alear in a way that could never be easily replaced. It wasn't just physical attraction, although she definitely felt that too, and with increasing intensity. She wanted to truly stand beside him. She wanted him to see her not merely as someone he needed to protect or train, but as a woman. And because she had never been good at expressing those kinds of feelings directly, everything ended up trapped inside her, transforming into anxiety, embarrassment, and a frustrating awkwardness that only grew the more time she spent around him...
Mio slowly shook her head, trying to push those complicated thoughts away.
A small melancholic smile appeared on her lips as she lowered her gaze.
What would Dad and Mom think if they knew about this...?
The idea sounded almost absurd when phrased that way.
She, the girl who had once lived as an ordinary student in the human world, was now in love with a demon noble... and not only that. She genuinely wished to become one of his women.
The smile on her lips weakened slightly.
It had been several months since the last time she saw her adoptive parents alive.
Everything had happened simply because her latent demonic powers had awakened. Because she was Wilbert's daughter. Because demon blood flowed through her veins. She had always thought it was cruel and unfair to be hunted simply for existing, as though she had committed some sin merely by being born that way. And the worst part was that, back then, she had been completely unable to do anything. She couldn't protect them. She couldn't take revenge. She had only run away desperately while the world around her collapsed.
If it weren't for Alear...
She would probably still be running away even now.
Or worse.
Perhaps she would already be dead.
Mio's pink eyes softened slightly as she stared at the sky of the artificial dimension. A long sigh escaped her lips as she tried to organize the confused thoughts swirling inside her head. Soon afterward, she shook her head once again, as if she could drive away those embarrassing feelings with that simple gesture, before pushing herself off the rock and standing up.
"Enough of thinking stupid things..." she muttered to herself, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
She began walking slowly across the vast plain, stretching her arms and legs to ease the muscle stiffness left behind by the intense training. The warm evening breeze made her red hair sway gently as she tried to relax a little.
However, after only a few dozen steps, her attention was drawn to three figures appearing in the distance beneath the orange horizon.
Alear walked in the center, maintaining the same calm and naturally imposing demeanor as always. Beside him, Maria wore a mischievous smile on her face, while Ravel walked on the other side, apparently trying to regain her composure, though her cheeks were still slightly flushed from her own training.
Mio slowed her steps until she came to a complete stop, waiting for the three of them to approach.
And the moment they got close enough, Maria narrowed her violet eyes suspiciously before breaking into an obviously malicious grin. She tilted her head slightly to the side, maintaining that characteristic teasing smile as she looked Mio up and down.
"Hmm~? What's with that expression, Mio-sama?" she asked in a sing-song tone. "You got all red while you were alone. Were you thinking about something indecent involving Alear-sama?"
"W-What?!"
Mio's eyes widened instantly, her face growing even hotter within seconds.
"D-Don't make things up, you perverted succubus!"
Maria covered her mouth and pretended to be surprised.
"Eh~? So I was right?"
"I just said I wasn't!"
Mio replied quickly, clearly too flustered, which only made Maria laugh quietly in amusement.
Beside them, Ravel discreetly looked away, though the tips of her ears had also turned slightly red. Honestly... she could perfectly imagine what Mio had probably been thinking about, since she herself had thought about it quite a bit as well...
Meanwhile, Alear simply watched the entire scene with mild amusement in his eyes. Seeing Maria tease Mio like that while the latter practically combusted from embarrassment was strangely entertaining.
His gaze then briefly shifted toward the succubus.
Maria seemed even more excited after Mio's exaggerated reaction, as though she had found a new favorite toy to endlessly tease. Her mischievous smile practically radiated satisfaction as she continued observing the young demon's completely red face.
"Hmm but now that I think about it..." Maria murmured provocatively. "Mio-sama was alone with Alear-sama for quite a while today, wasn't she? I wonder if something happened while we weren't looking?"
"Nothing happened!"
Mio answered far too quickly.
Maria immediately smiled even wider.
"Wow... that was a fast answer."
"Because you're talking nonsense!"
"So you're admitting you were thinking about him."
"I didn't admit anything!"
Mio's face became even redder as she pointed angrily at Maria, clearly growing desperate because of the constant teasing. Her nervous expression only made everything worse, since it practically confirmed every one of Maria's suspicions without requiring any proof.
The succubus then placed one hand on her hip and leaned forward slightly.
"But you know, Mio-sama..." she said in a tone far too innocent to be genuine. "I can't really blame you completely. After all, Alear-sama training shirtless like that is genuinely dangerous for a woman's mental health~"
"MARIA!"
Mio felt the blood rush immediately to her face, but this time from pure irritation. Her pink eyes gleamed with murderous fury as a dangerous smile appeared on her lips.
"You little shameless succubus... you're asking for a lesson today, aren't you?"
Before Maria could react, Mio moved like lightning, grabbed her head with both hands, and began grinding her knuckles forcefully against the girl's scalp.
"Ow ow ow ow ow! Mio-sama, stop! I was just joking! Heeelp!"
Maria struggled desperately, flailing her arms through the air as she tried to escape her punishment. Tears gathered in her eyes from both pain and embarrassment.
"Alear-samaaa! Help me! She's killing me!"
Alear watched the scene with his arms crossed, a faint amused smile appearing at the corner of his lips. He didn't even move to interfere.
"You deserved it..." he said mercilessly. "Who told you to keep making fun of Mio?"
"Traitor!!!" Maria shouted while still trapped in Mio's hands, who increased the intensity of the "scrubbing" with a vindictive smile.
Mio finally released Maria's head after several seconds, crossing her arms with a satisfied expression while the succubus rubbed her sore scalp and grumbled quietly.
"Oww... you're way too violent, Mio-sama..."
Alear watched the scene for a few more seconds, still maintaining a slight smile at their argument. Then he finally spoke calmly.
"It's getting late. Let's end today's training and get some rest..."
The three girls immediately turned their attention toward him.
"This time..." Alear continued in a calm tone tinged with gentle warmth, "I'm taking a small break as well. I don't intend to train tonight. Instead... I'll cook for all of you today."
The effect was immediate.
Maria's eyes sparkled like stars, her tail wagging rapidly from side to side.
"Seriously?! Alear-sama is going to cook?!"
Ravel also became visibly excited, her cheeks flushed as she clasped her hands in front of her chest.
"I... I would love that! The meals Alear-sama makes are always amazing..."
Mio tried to maintain her composure, but her stomach betrayed her with a low growl. She immediately turned her face away, clearly embarrassed.
"...If you want to cook, I won't complain."
As the absolute owner of that dimension created by his Innovate Clear, he naturally raised his right hand. A soft pink light enveloped the space before them.
The next instant, out of nowhere, a large and comfortable house materialized—modern Japanese style mixed with elegant demonic elements, featuring light-colored walls, large windows, and a simple garden surrounding it. The subtle scent of fresh wood and clean air filled the environment.
"Let's go inside."
The three girls followed Alear into the house, clearly excited. Their eyes shone with anticipation as they walked through the illuminated hallway.
As soon as they arrived in the spacious, fully equipped kitchen—which Alear had created with every necessary utensil—he removed his outer coat and rolled up his sleeves. The girls sat on the stools by the counter, watching him attentively.
Mio, Maria, and Ravel were already salivating just from watching Alear move so naturally in the kitchen. They already knew how skilled he was. He had cooked for them several times before, using all the techniques he had learned from Shirou Emiya in his previous life. His precision, fire control, and perfect balance of seasoning... everything was on another level.
Alear began working with smooth and efficient movements. He prepared perfect Japanese rice, a rich stew of tender demon meat with fresh vegetables, grilled fish seasoned with aromatic herbs, and a special sauce he had personally developed. The delicious aroma soon spread throughout the entire house.
Maria openly drooled while leaning over the counter.
"This... this smells divine... Alear-sama, are you seriously trying to win us over through our stomachs?"
Ravel nodded vigorously, her blue eyes shining.
"I'm already hungry just from the smell..."
Mio remained silent, but her pink eyes never left his movements. A faint blush still lingered on her cheeks.
A few minutes later, Alear finished. He elegantly served the dishes and placed everything on the table in the adjacent dining room.
"You can eat."
The three girls didn't wait even a second. The moment they tasted the first bite, expressions of pure delight appeared on their faces.
"Delicious...!" Ravel murmured, practically melting into her chair.
"Alear-sama... you're far too dangerous..." Maria moaned dramatically, her eyes half-lidded with satisfaction.
Mio ate in silence for a few moments before quietly muttering, almost against her own will:
"...It's really good."
Alear sat down with them, watching the three eat with a small satisfied smile on his face. Dinner proceeded in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, filled with light conversation and occasional laughter, especially whenever Maria tried to provoke someone and received a murderous glare from Mio.
Later that night...
After dinner ended and the conversations died down, the house gradually became quiet. Today's intense training had completely drained the girls' energy. Ravel was the first to go to sleep, clearly exhausted, while Maria tried to keep talking for a little longer before simply collapsing on the sofa and being carried to her room by Mio while grumbling softly.
Alear, however, couldn't sleep.
He created a comfortable beach chair on the front porch and sat down, stretching his legs. With a casual wave of his hand, he altered the scenery before him: a vast expanse of calm ocean materialized, gentle waves rolling onto the shore.
Next, he created a glass of magical whiskey—a strong drink with a slight sweetness and a subtle relaxing effect. He took small sips while gazing at the sea, lost in thoughts about the future...
Light footsteps sounded behind him.
"...Alear-sama?"
He turned his head and saw Mio standing at the entrance to the porch. She was wearing only a thin white nightgown that barely reached mid-thigh. The delicate fabric subtly outlined the curves of her well-trained body, her slim waist, shapely hips, and long toned legs. Her long red hair fell freely over her shoulders, and her pink eyes shone with curiosity and a hint of nervousness.
Alear let his gaze travel over her body for a few seconds without hurry. Mio felt his gaze like a warm touch and blushed slightly, discreetly crossing her arms over her large chest.
"...Why are you still awake?" she asked as she slowly approached.
Alear took a small sip of whiskey before answering calmly:
"I'm not sleepy. I wanted to spend some time alone with my thoughts."
Mio hesitated for a moment, biting her lower lip. Then, displaying a boldness that wasn't common for her, she walked over and sat sideways on his lap as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Her body was warm, and her soft scent filled the space between them.
Alear raised an eyebrow but didn't complain. Instead, he offered her the glass.
"Want some?"
Mio blushed even more but accepted the glass. To hide her embarrassment at sitting on his lap in a nightgown, she took a large sip. The whiskey burned pleasantly down her throat, but its taste was surprisingly good—sweet, strong, and warmly comforting.
"...It's really good..." she murmured, returning the glass.
Alear smiled faintly, clearly pleased.
"I'm glad you liked it."
The two remained silent for a while, simply listening to the sound of the waves. Mio was stiff at first, but gradually relaxed. Then, suddenly, she asked in a quiet voice:
"Alear-sama... what kind of person was your father?"
Alear looked visibly surprised by the sudden question. For a few seconds, he remained silent, his magenta-pink eyes fixed on the ocean as he slowly searched through the memories left behind by the previous owner of that body.
Then, finally, he spoke.
"He was... the ideal kind of father. Strong, fair, demanding when necessary... but someone who always placed absolute trust in me." A nearly imperceptible smile appeared on his lips. "Even knowing that I would probably be the last descendant of the Häagenti family... and that I might never awaken from the sleeping sickness that condemned nearly our entire bloodline to the same fate... he never gave up."
"He continued doing everything within his power to keep the family's political position stable, preparing the groundwork for the future while he still could. He formed alliances, protected the family's territories, drove away opportunists... all because he believed that one day I would awaken from that condition. He constantly said that I was the family's hope. Even when everyone else had already begun accepting the end of the Häagenti lineage, he still looked at me as someone who would carry the family's future on his shoulders. He believed in me... genuinely."
Mio slowly lifted her gaze toward him, her pink eyes attentive.
"Do you miss him...?"
Alear remained silent for a few moments before slowly shaking his head, still watching the dark sea ahead.
"No," he answered calmly. "I don't miss him."
Mio blinked, clearly surprised by the response.
Then Alear continued, in a rather complicated manner...
"I don't miss him because missing someone... sometimes means keeping them trapped in the past. From my perspective, it would be like living in the past instead of appreciating the present. If I spent my entire life imprisoned by longing... I would be betraying everything they expected of me. I keep moving forward. Because that's what they would want to see. Because continuing to live, continuing to grow, and carrying what they taught us... is the only true way to honor who they were."
His words struck Mio deeply.
Her pink eyes quickly filled with tears.
She immediately thought of her adoptive parents. Of the pain she still carried from that night. Of the crushing guilt of not being able to protect them. Of the desperate helplessness still buried inside her even after all these months.
And for the first time...
That pain felt slightly less suffocating.
The way Alear spoke about loss... about continuing to live without abandoning those who had passed on... made something tighten inside her chest.
As though a part of that guilt had finally found someone capable of understanding it...
He really was incredible...
Mio remained silent for a long time after his words, simply listening to the gentle sound of the artificial waves breaking upon the shore. The tears gathering in her pink eyes finally slipped silently down her cheeks.
"Dad... Mom..."
She squeezed her eyes shut, apologizing from the depths of her heart.
"I'm sorry... that I survived and you didn't. I'm sorry that I'm here, smiling, eating, falling in love... while you were taken away because of me. I'm sorry that I'm moving forward..."
An old pain—though softer now—tightened in her chest. For the first time, the guilt didn't feel quite so suffocating. Alear's words had opened a small crack of light within the darkness she had carried for months.
She opened her eyes and looked at his face.
Something inside her simply snapped.
"I don't want to regret anymore."
Without saying another word, Mio slightly lifted herself on his lap, cupped Alear's face with both hands, and kissed him.
It was an impulsive kiss, warm and clumsy at first, filled with all the feelings she had kept buried for so long. Her lips pressed against his with urgency, almost desperately, as though she feared her courage would disappear if she waited even one more second.
Alear was clearly surprised. His magenta-pink eyes widened briefly, his body stiffening for a fraction of a second at her sudden initiative.
But he didn't push her away.
Mio squeezed her eyes shut, still feeling the warmth of tears clinging to her eyelashes. Her heart pounded so hard it felt as though it might burst from her chest. She wasn't good with words. But at that moment, her body spoke for her. All her desire, gratitude, fear of losing someone else, and the deep feelings she had always hidden behind teasing and pride simply shattered the dam she had carefully built around herself.
When she finally pulled back a few centimeters, their faces were still very close. Her breathing was uneven, her entire face scarlet red, and her pink eyes shone with a mixture of embarrassment, determination, and emotion.
"...I couldn't hold it back this time," she murmured, her voice trembling, almost a whisper. "I don't want to regret anymore... not being honest."
Her fingers still lightly held his face, as if she were afraid to let go.
"Alear-sama... I... like you. Much more than I can say out loud."
The warm sea breeze blew between them, gently stirring Mio's long red hair as she waited, her heart exposed more clearly than ever before...
For several seconds, Alear didn't respond.
He simply looked at her in silence.
His magenta-pink eyes were fixed on hers, deep and difficult to read. Mio immediately felt her heart tighten at the delay. Insecurity began creeping in, and her fingers trembled slightly against his face.
Then Alear slowly raised a hand and held hers.
The firm touch made Mio hold her breath.
"...You really chose the worst possible moment to say that," he said with a small, almost amused sigh.
Mio blinked, confused and embarrassed at the same time.
"Eh...?"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Because now it's going to be difficult for me to pretend I hadn't noticed."
Mio's pink eyes widened.
Her brain seemed to stop for an instant.
"A-Alear-sama... you..."
"You really think I wouldn't notice?" he asked calmly. "The looks. The way you got irritated whenever I approached another woman. The way you trained until you hurt yourself just to keep up with me and earn my praise. All of that and much more..."
Her face became even redder.
Mio tried to look away, but Alear gently held her chin, preventing her from doing so.
"You've always been far too transparent with me, Mio."
Her heart raced uncontrollably.
"Then..." her voice faltered for a moment. "...does that mean..."
Alear remained silent briefly before answering:
"It means that I care about you more than I probably should."
Her pupils trembled violently.
Alear slowly rested his forehead against hers once more.
"You're serious, stubborn, complicated, and carry far too much guilt on your shoulders," he murmured softly. "But even so, you keep moving forward. You keep fighting. You keep trying to protect the people important to you."
His hand gently slid through her red hair.
"And I admire that."
Mio felt her eyes burn again.
But this time it wasn't sadness.
It was happiness.
A happiness so intense that it almost hurt.
She quickly lowered her head, hiding her face against his chest while desperately trying to control her tears.
"...That's unfair," she muttered softly. "You say things like that so easily, while it took me so long to face these feelings..."
Alear let out a quiet laugh.
"That's part of growing up—facing and being honest with your feelings. I'm proud of you..."
"...What are you talking about? I'm very mature, okay!?..."
Even while complaining, Mio ended up gripping his clothes more tightly, clearly having no intention whatsoever of leaving his lap anytime soon.
And during that long, quiet night, surrounded only by the sound of the sea and the stars they had created, something inside her began to change...
________________
(A/N:Honestly, I think this was a very important chapter for Mio's development.
Some readers may have noticed that she hasn't received as much emotional focus as some of the other characters throughout much of the story, but that was relatively intentional. From the very beginning, Mio was placed in an extremely cruel situation: a teenager who was forced to abandon the life she knew, lost her adoptive parents in a tragic way, discovered her demonic heritage, and spent months practically on the run.
Because of that, a large part of her characterization ended up hidden behind teasing, pride, competitiveness, and impulsive behavior. It was easier for her to act that way than to confront the pain and guilt she carried deep inside herself.
Her conversation with Alear about loss and moving forward became an important turning point. Not because the guilt disappeared, but because she finally began to understand that continuing to live does not mean abandoning those who have passed away. On the contrary, moving forward can also be a way of honoring them.
And above all, she realized something simple: she no longer wanted to live with regrets.
She didn't want to regret surviving. She didn't want to regret moving forward. And most of all, she didn't want to regret hiding her feelings until it was too late.
That is why her decision in this chapter was so impulsive and emotional. It wasn't just about romance, but also about growth, acceptance, and the choice to finally be honest with herself.
I sincerely hope you enjoyed this chapter and Mio's development. Thank you all for continuing to follow the story!)