From the shadows of the mortal world... your gaze has awakened something.
Do you dare to keep reading the scriptures of this forbidden novel?
Then listen well, curious soul.
I have opened a digital temple on Ko-fi.
With a simple offering of $1, you will help me summon sacred illustrations:
authentic portraits of the beings that inhabit this story.
But every pact deserves a reward:
The faithful will receive personalized, unique images... and perhaps, a secret reserved only for the chosen ones.
[Make your offering here]
https://ko-fi.com/gremory0zero
-----------
[Wednesday, April 24, 2028]{5:01 PM}[Sakakino Institute]
Painting the sky a bloody red, illuminating with its glow everywhere.
Javier, who remained alone in the astronomy club room, looked at the chairs that had been arranged in front of him with a look of anger and frustration. He turned to the chairs.
—Attention, Comrades!... We find ourselves at a crossroads such as has never been seen before in our glorious history of the Empire... Tyrants! Barbarians! Not only have you committed massacres in the name of honor... But there is no honor in killing commoners, whose greatest sin was worrying about their empire that you are destroying! There is no way we would remain silent, let us continue!... Comrades! From today... The eighth division!.—.
—I-I apologize!—.
Interrupting the voice that timidly opens the door, Javier looks at the student to ask her.
-Who are you?-.
—Excuse me, a ball didn't land here—.
—You mean that baseball—.
Pointing to the chair in the front row, the student bows slightly, enters, takes the baseball, and looks at the club room, where only Javier was.
—Sorry for the inconvenience... Who were you talking to?—
—Huh, just who else am I going to talk to?
—Maybe the ball landed on your head.
Feeling sorry for the student in her baseball uniform covered in dirt on her pants and shirt. She had wavy turquoise hair that reached the nape of her neck and two headbands with a picture of a ladybug holding her bangs back.
Narrowing my gaze like that of a prey, I walk slowly but surely.
—I look crazy.
—No-I wasn't trying to say that, !—.
She said, frightened by Javier's presence, who had taken her out of the astronomy club room, ending up crashing into the wall without realizing it.
—I heard you talking to yourself, that's why—.
—And that's why you think I'm crazy—.
—I n-never said you were crazy, don't take words out of my mouth!—.
He exclaimed with all his might, looking everywhere to escape.
—It doesn't matter anymore, I'm just bored, being alone—.
Javier argued, stepping back, letting the baseball student breathe, and starting to walk towards the stairs.
—I understand... then goodbye and sorry for the inconvenience.
Watching her leave, Javier entered the astronomy club, looking at the eight empty chairs and a telescope in the right corner.
-------
—Excuse me, why are you following me?—.
—I didn't tell you I'm bored—.
With his backpack in hand, Javier began to follow the baseball player who began to walk faster, hurrying down the stairs, wanting to leave Javier behind, but without success.
—And among those, what does it consist of chasing me—.
—Don't mind my presence, you just showed up and now I'm taking the boredom off my chest.
-I see-.
He answered reluctantly. Leaving the club building, the two walked toward the sports fields.
—You took too long, Runa-chan!—.
—Sorry! I was on the third floor and it took me a while to find it.
—And who is the person behind you?—.
—Don't bother me, treat me like the wind, I'm not here—.
Not believing Javier's dubious actions, Runa handed the baseball to her friend with a light-brown boob cut, and he couldn't help but choke on the top of her head. Dressed in the women's baseball uniform, which, like Runa's, was dirty from the dirt from the field, they didn't bother to clean their faces, which were stained with dust.
—Don't pay attention to him, come on, Kaoru—.
Kaoru only looked at Javier for a moment before continuing with her own business, taking positions on the court.
[Their bodies aren't bad, but they're not candidates for my wife. It would be great if I could find my wife with sonar, but it'll have to be the old-fashioned way. Luckily, I've already located the characters from different hentai.]
He thought as he walked behind the fence, his gaze never leaving Kaoru, Runa, and his friends training.
(Vibration, vibration).
Taking the cell phone out of his pocket, Javier looks at the screen, the sender being Ryuto.
------
(New Message)
Here's the number you asked for. Delete it once you've memorized it. Whether he contacts you or not will be his decision. 000xxxxxxxxx
-------
Memorizing at a glance, he erased how Ryuto told him and marked.
Ruuu, ruuu, ruuu.
[Who?]
—Me, how long has it been since we last saw each other?
[... It's you, how did you get this number?]
—I have friends—.
[I won't ask... Do you have any business with me?]
—I like how fast you work, I want you to come to my house—.
[Work or information]
—I wouldn't call either of them, also to pay you what I owe and for something else that would benefit you.
[Okay, I'll be there when I finish my drink here]
Crack!
—Hear that sound—.
[Just a broken neck from the force of my shoe]
—Oh, that was it, okay, see you later.
-------
—He's a good guy.
With that comment I put my cell phone in my pocket and watch the girls' training.
Taking position on the pitcher's mound, with third and second base occupied, the pitcher looked at her catcher who was signaling with his fingers and nodded, positioning herself to throw.
Runa, the batter, gripped the bat tightly, her eyes glued to the ball, swinging! Feeling the perfect contact, she let the bat fly out of her hands and ran.
—Ohhh, look at the strength in those arms... Mmm... That's how it's done, Runa-chan! Run, run like the wind!... ah, she trailed off.
Runa, who had reached second base, saw that her friends had already reached the finish line. Only she was left, and halfway to touching third, she had a feeling, and hearing the calls of her teammates, that the ball was coming, and that would be the end of her. She pushed her legs to run with all her might as she left third base, her ears listening to the encouragement she couldn't stop. There were only a few meters left to touch the last base at the same time, the sound of the ball hitting the leather of her glove, and a shout of encouragement from a stranger.
—Uagh!—.
That being all, his mind that was surprised by the audience, his legs tangled up falling forward.
—Runa, are you okay?—.
—Hey, hey, how can you fall on your own feet?
Hearing equal parts concern and ridicule, Runa sits down on the ground to feel something warm and burning on her chin and palms.
—Hahaha, sorry, I tripped over my own foot, hehehe—.
—No hehe, you have to reach out your hand and chin, come on, can you walk?—.
Showing concern, the new girl, with long black hair down to her shoulder blades.
—I-I'm fine walking alone—.
—Don't push yourself, Runa—.
—Thank you for your concern, Madam President.
The president appears, helping him. Runa, by chance, sees Javier slowly leaving the court.
[That guy, it was his fault]
--------
Javier, who didn't know what Runa was thinking, walked calmly down the hallway.
—She must have gotten angry... uu, it doesn't really matter, even though it's scary, but I don't want to have a girl who says 'Javiii' and chases me with blood splashes on her face and a knife, that's scary... Ohh, Katsura-san, what a coincidence to find you here!—.
Forgetting about the topic when he saw Kotonoha coming out of the student council room, he took long strides until he was a meter away from Kotonoha.
—Hello, Katsura-san, working late—.
—Hey, ah, yes, and you, Javier, what are you doing?—.
—Well, I went for a walk around the courts, I was bored.
—Uuuu, I see then, bye—.
—Oh, okay, Chao, Katsura-san, and if you can, we can meet during break in the library—.
—Tomorrow l—.
Kotonoha is about to refuse because of her reserved personality towards boys, when Javier passes by her laughing.
—Okay, I'll wait for you in front of the library, bye.
Leaving that, he left. Kotonoha, not knowing what to do with such a promise, walked to her classroom.
-It's not that I have a bad time when we talk about books, but, I already have plans with Sayaka-san-.
----------
—La, la, la, la, la—.
Jumping for joy, not caring if others saw him, Javier changed from his school shoes to his outdoor shoes.
—Now I'll wait for Sayaka to finish her practice—.
Javier, not expecting much, rang the bell to finish clubs.
Before long, students from various clubs began to file out. Javier saw at a glance that Sayaka was attracting the attention of the crowd, especially the men who were leaving the sports clubs.
-Come on-.
Dry, he told Sayaka who, without waiting for her, started walking first.
Moving forward without speaking, they reached the parking lot, got in, and left.
—How have you been, Sayaka?—.
He asked, looking at her in the rearview mirror.
—I guess so—.
—They've left homework—.
—The usual—.
—I'm planning a barbecue this weekend, which starts Golden Week. I hope you'll be there.
—I'll be there—.
—How's it going at the club? You've made some good friends.
—Where are you going with this conversation?—
Annoyed by so many questions, Javier took it in stride.
—Nowhere, but you know that, even though I look like this, I'm older than you, and even if you don't take it into account, I care about your school life.
—Are you worried?—.
With irony and sarcasm, Sayaka bends her leg, putting one on top of the other, showing aggression.
—Don't make me laugh, you have no feelings of concern, the only thing you might be interested in is that your pets don't take off their leashes.
—I have feelings too—.
—Feelings! Ha! You want me to laugh in your face so much.
—... Sayaka, could you drop that attitude like I'm your enemy? You know perfectly well that I'm not.
—Hmph, you don't have to say something so obvious, because you are not my enemy, but the enemy of all women, you are just a louse that jumps and jumps, biting until you die—.
Shaking his head at how Sayaka had closed in, Javier looks at the road.
"If that's what you think, I won't waste my time trying to change your mind. Just remember that when you hit rock bottom, even with what happened and what may happen in the future, you still have a home to go to. Don't let pride make you suffer. After all, we're family without sharing blood."
Immersed in another silence, Sayaka, who had much she wanted to say to Javier, fell silent, but she couldn't stop those words from echoing in her mind, but not in her heart.
------
—Javier Onii-chan, I finally see you, where have you been since last night?—.
Getting into the car, Rinka reproachfully began to investigate.
—I didn't tell you on the phone—.
—Did you tell me? I don't remember, now tell me what happened.
—Uh... well, no need to insist—.
—But I haven't insisted, you're the one who wants to tell me—.
[That innocent face won't save you later]
With that thought in mind, Javier told him what he did.
—Hee hee, I didn't know Javier Onii-chan was a programmer. I thought you were employed by a black company.
—Aren't I a programmer?—.
—Huh? But you didn't tell me which assistants to program.
—You misunderstood me, I work on the fly, and a simple human-made program is easy on the eyes of a God.
-What do you mean?-.
—Just like that, Rinka-chan, if you speak a different language to me in microseconds, I'll speak it too. If you speak sign language to me, I'll speak it too. Programming isn't any different; I learned it yesterday, or rather, I knew it.
—Uahh, what a cheater, you need to apologize to the whole world, for all humanity that strives to learn—.
—Hahahaha, I'm the God you were waiting for—.
In a much more fluid and fun atmosphere, they soon arrived at the mansion.
—I'm finally here... Hello, Yami...—.
Getting out of the truck, Javier, who had already seen Yami waiting for them at the entrance of the house, approaches to hug her.
—Hey, this hug has given me a boost. How have you been? Did you have fun at the fair? Did you see any interesting things?...—
Bombarding questions as she rests her head on his shoulder, Yami begins to answer with her mist so Javier can see her, who couldn't stop smelling her neck.
(I'm fine, Polaris and Empress behaved themselves. We had fun at the fair, there were lots of interesting things)
—I see, I'm glad to hear that. How are Yuuna, Asahi, and Shio?—.
(Asahi and Shio finished bathing and are resting watching TV in the living room, Yuuna is in the kitchen)
—Oh, let's see them, Yami—.
Javier said, letting go of Yami to take her hand to enter the mansion.
—Ehehe, Javier Onii-chan and Yami Onee-chan look like a cute married couple, don't you think Saya-chan?—.
—... No comments—.
—Boo, you should stop frowning, Saya-chan, or you'll get wrinkles and look like an old woman.
—Mind your own business!—.
—Ahahaha—.
-----
—Javier-kun, welcome!—.
—Oh, I'm back, Shio, did you have fun at the fair?
—Soooo much! There were giant robots! Also a snake! But it was different from the one that was on TV, listen, listen, then a bad guy came out and challenged Shio and Yami ma... I mean Yami onee-chan, but that man wasn't even scared, I saw a thing called a drone and when Shio put something in her eyes Shio flew away, and she had to carry people...—.
Adorable, is the only thing I could say to Shio when she is so enthusiastically contacting me about her experience at the 'Science and Technology' fair.
—Ehehe, how jealous. If I didn't have classes, I would have liked to go.
—It can't be helped, Shio will tell you everything, so Daddy feels good—.
—What a privilege... Huh? Daddy.
—Mm? Who said that, daddy, Javier-kun?
—I heard you say it, daddy, you heard it too, Yami—.
(I didn't hear you say, daddy, Javier, it's not that you want a daughter like Shio)
—Mmm, well, if I had a girl like Shio as a daughter I would be very happy... How are you doing, Asahi? Did you have fun at the fair?
As if escaping from Shio by simple instinct and emotions, Asahi, who was in the living room watching television, looked at Javier and thought about how to respond.
—There were lots of amazing things, like a flying motorcycle, robots that behave like humans, beds that put you to sleep as soon as you lie down. I remember there was one that was a bit creepy, as there were eyes in a pool of water; I think they were prosthetic.
—It's going to be a tough competition for my school's programming club.
—That was the first place we visited, it was impressive, everything felt real.
Picking up on the excitement in Asahi's voice that wasn't showing on his face, he refocused on what he was seeing.
—Apparently, it was a good idea for them to go.
He commented, turning around to find Shio and when he didn't see Yami, he saw her sit on one of the furniture to watch television with Asahi.
-... Interesting-.
(A lot)
—Javier-kun, let's go see my mommy—.
—You're right, come on, Shio—.
—Ah!—.
—Hold on tight—.
—Ahahahahaha—.
Amid laughter and the sound of running footsteps on the wood, Asahi watched Shio leave, sitting on Javier's neck. All content, she shifted her gaze to Yami.
—Shio said daddy to Javier—.
(Really? I didn't hear anything)
—I know what I heard... it was the same this morning, when Daddy called in front of the drone group, before leaving I saw you talking to Shio in secret, what are you trying to do—.
(I don't understand what you mean)
Gritting her teeth when she saw that she couldn't get anything out, she asked Yami, who pretended not to understand, with her arms crossed on her chest, she continued watching TV.
"Things are moving along nicely with Shio a little more, and she'll be able to tell Javier. Now that we're dealing with the traitor, mmm, a good wash should do the trick."
No one, knowing Yami's intentions that he would do anything to achieve his goal, watched TV again.
—Yuuna, how are you?—.
—Hiaa!—.
Surprised by the appearance of Javier and Shio, who was sitting on Javier's neck, she drops her spoon.
—I surprised you, sorry—.
—Hehehe, Mommy, he let out a strange sound, hehehe—.
—W-welcome home, Mr. Valderrama—.
—I'm back—.
Putting Shio down, Javier walks through the kitchen and suddenly takes the chair that was in the corner.
—Yuuna sit here—.
—I'm still cooking—.
—Leave it on low heat... that can wait.
-Yeah-.
Sitting down in the chair Javier offered her, Shio, who was standing on the sidelines, just watched.
—Now stretch your leg—.
—W-what for?—
Nervous at Javier's request, he smiles at her as if to say 'trust me, everything's okay', grabbing Yuuna's leg without permission.
"Let-let me go!"
She screamed in fright at how sudden it was.
—Calm down, look, your legs are swollen.
-Hey-.
I don't understand anything, Yuuna looked at her legs and saw how the finger where she pressed left a bump, making it clear that they were swollen.
—I didn't notice them—.
—That's what I thought, you must have walked a lot, right?
—I don't think so, I had fun going out with my kids and Yami, I don't think there's much distance—.
Javier, who heard Yuuna's words, smiled at her.
—When you pass thirty, your body is not the same, and I know that from experience.
—I've heard you were human before—.
—Waking up and doing the same things we do in our twenties can't be repeated in our thirties.
—Hehehe, you're right, although I can't imagine him having those problems.
Giggling at the thought of a thirty-year-old Javier, the two of them shared a laugh. Shio, who saw Yuuna laughing from the bottom of her heart, her eyes sparkled with happiness, as she could see how the once brittle and empty jar now only had cracks, but they were mending, and a small piece of candy entered.
—I'm going to rub you—.
—You don't have to do it if I rest a little.
—No, no, that will take a long time.
—Hhhh, n-no, it feels good, mmm... hm—.
Letting out moans without knowing what could make them, she shuddered as she felt Javier's skillful fingers trace the sole of her foot before moving up to her knee and back down.
—Ah, ah, ah, I never... thought... that sobar felt like this—.
—Now the other leg—.
—Wait, let me rest—.
Almost pleading with his cheeks flushed, Javier saw the pots on fire and the cut vegetables on the cutting board.
—Okay, rest, I'll cook in the meantime.
-But-.
—Rest or sleep, whichever you prefer—.
—I'll rest—.
Answering without hesitation, he leaned back in his chair as he watched Javier's back and the sound of the knife hitting the cutting board.
Eh, just like a lullaby, Yuuna began to fall asleep.
—W-Why didn't I meet you... before?—.
He whispered full of regrets and sadness, shedding a black tear that ran down his cheek.
—Javier-kun, mommy I know—.
—Let her rest—.
He said interrupting Shio.
-I understand-.
--------
—Mmmm—.
Letting out a groan from waking up to the rich aroma, Yuuna rubs her eyes and sees Shio sitting at the counter happily while talking to Javier.
—I-I'm sorry, I fell asleep!!—.
—Mommy, you woke up—.
Getting down with Javier's help, Shio hugged Yuuna who had stood up in a hurry.
—Nothing to do with it, the food... is done.—
Javier confirmed as he uncovered the pot.
—Then I'll serve, Shio go wash your hands and tell the others—.
-Yessss-.
—Don't run down the hall!—.
-I'm sorry!-.
The apology was heard in the hallway to make the footsteps more fragile.
—Yuuna, I want to ask you something before you serve the food.
—Consult me? What could it be?
He asked, tilting his head and placing the plates on the counter.
—I want to enroll you in a school so you can finish your studies—.
—Studies! No, no, I'm old now. Studying at my age is shameful.
"I don't know why you'd be embarrassed if it's never too late to study. But if you don't feel comfortable, we can look for schools that offer distance learning."
Not believing Javier's words, tears of joy flowed.
—I'm sorry... I know... I should be happy... after everything you've done for my family... But... but I'm happy I found that ad that day...—.
Javier, who saw the silhouette of a crying girl in a dirty, bruised sailor's uniform in front of him, approached and gently rubbed her head.
—There's nothing to be thankful for, now stop crying, I promise this will be the last time you cry about your past.
—... I... I'll try to do it—.
—I like that. Now wash your face, I don't want Asahi on top of me asking why you're crying.
—Hehehe, you're right.
Laughing at the thought of that scene, Yuuna washes her face in the dishwasher.
—Yami, help me carry the dishes, Yuuna go to the table—.
-But-.
—No buts, your eyes are red from crying, I'll start researching distance learning for you later.
-... Yeah-.
—I told you not to cry—.
—I'm not crying—.
Leaving the kitchen, crying, although she denied it, Javier passed the plate to Yami who had appeared when Javier called her, seeing everything, but who didn't say anything.
----------
After everyone finished eating, Shio, Asahi, and Yuuna took the dishes to be washed. Sayaka, in a bad mood, went to her room after eating. Rinka, after saying her thanks and taking her plate to the kitchen, went to do her homework in the study room.
(Teacher, what happened last time happened the other time, I do the same thing)
Yami reported to Javier, who was in one of the break rooms on the left wing of the mansion. Closing the rather old book, he said to Yami.
—Let them pass and direct them here—.
(Yeah)
Leaving the mansion, he reached the gate and found Matiz alone with a truck behind him that had his men.
(My teacher asked me to guide them)
------
Mantiz, seeing in Yami's small back the instincts he had honed over the years, had told him never to fight that woman called Yami again. He only had to remember this when he touched her limp sleeve where an arm that was no longer there should have been.
"A monster in a woman's skin. I'd rather avoid her if possible, but her master doesn't exude even a hint of arcane mana, I'd better remind my idiot subordinates."
—Hey, remember to behave while we're here!—.
—...—.
In any other situation, Mantiz's men would joke about the fence or the air in the place, but now they remained silent and nervous about what might happen.
Laughing frigidly, Mantiz took his first step, where before he could not get even a step closer.
—Wh!!—.
Surprised by the concentrated purity of arcane energy in the air, his body reacted like a drug.
-Ku, this is... bad... too much energy... entering my... tendons-.
Having no time to think about anything else, he presses on several pressure points on his body, stopping the unbridled energy that was engulfing his tendons on the verge of exploding.
—Ahhh—.
Letting out a stiff sigh, he wiped the cold sweat from his face. Barely standing, he turned around and saw his men on the ground, writhing in pain from the arcane energy and the urge to kill them.
—Are you waiting for an invitation or what?! Hurry up and close your pressure points, it'll make it easier to be in this environment.
The men, with white faces and abundant cold sweat, with uncontrollable spasms, reacted rigidly to Mantiz's voice to close the pressure points blocking the energy.
—Ah, aha, ah, ah, ah—.
—I-I thought I would die—.
—Th-this place... is a treasure—.
—Shut up and remember this place is not easy to approach.
Throwing cold water on his words, Mantiz looked at his men who were recovering from almost dying from the abundant energy.
—Let's move on, I don't think they want to do it, wait—.
Almost as a survival instinct, all the men stood firm with their heads bowed as they felt Yami's icy gaze upon seeing that none of them were walking.
Mantiz just shook his head at what that man named Javier wanted to negotiate with him, but seeing where he lived, they still couldn't imagine anything.
-This is just like walking on soul-breaking ice-.
Following the marked path, Mantiz entered the mansion. The first thing they saw was a huge reception room, but he couldn't fully appreciate it because of his nerves. They followed Yami, who turned left, where a long hallway led.
Stopping in front of the first door, Yami looked at Mantiz's group before entering.
—Have a seat and I'll excuse you for making me come at this hour.
Javier said, standing up when Mantiz and his subordinates entered, signaling for him to sit in front of him, where they were separated by a glass table and a leather armchair on the other side.
—It's my job to go wherever, as long as the pay is fair with the agreed contract.
—I like the way you work, let's talk business.
Mantiz, unsure what to expect from the man sitting relaxed in front of him, also sits down after a simple nod. He looks at Yami behind Javier, staring at him. His men also stood behind him, but their mental strength quickly became evident.
-I wish I had a woman like her-.
With these thoughts in mind, but with the expressive skills of a poker player, Mantiz began the conversation.
—You called me to pay me for the information above, but also for the work you want me to do.
-----------
Javier knew everything that was happening in the mansion if he wanted. A smile formed when he saw Mantiz's men nervous, and Javier suddenly raised both arms.
—Doesn't it seem like a great place to you, Mantiz?
—It's a treasure—.
—If a beautiful treasure, eh, just like having a treasure, there will always be someone who dreams of taking that treasure away from someone else—.
Reaching down, he pulled out a wooden tray and five sapphire crystals rolled out.
—T-this—.
—Payment for the information, plus days of delay—.
Frowning at the ridiculous fortune in his hands, Mantiz took them and complained afterward.
—Much more than I have to work in a year, not that you didn't know anything about this world—.
—Don't treat me like normal people. I have a proposition for you, and you can't refuse it.
Showing how serious Javier was, Yami instantly formed 40 mist swords on the necks of all of Mantiz's subordinates and Mantiz himself.
—You'll kill us so that no one knows about this place—.
—You understand quickly, even if you are wrong about something, the world will never know about this place if I don't allow it, but outside the walls of this courtyard there are dangerous people—.
-AND-.
—Work for me. And before you refuse out of pride or whatever, this briefcase and this bag... will be yours.
The silver briefcase Ryuto had given him with the drone appeared. Now all the mascara was gone, and there were now bundles of American $100 bills. Instead, in the persimmon bag, Javier poured its contents onto the wooden tray.
—Heavenly Cri-crystal!!—.
Mantiz's voice was muffled, and the men behind him couldn't help but be overcome with greed. Their red eyes and frantic breathing revealed their complete lack of wealth.
—A Celestil crystal and a hundred sapphires, a fortune in your hands, in the briefcase there are ten million dollars, if you work for me this is yours, but the only one who will have the right to decide is Mantiz—.
Saying in a few words that they had no right to vote in this decision, Mantiz felt the eyes of his men on his back and as if he didn't feel them, he let out a long sigh.
—Why us? What is your true intention? The terms?
—Why were you the first to attack me in my enclosure? Intention? Simply, I want to have a network of this world. The terms will be simple, I want you to discreetly take care of my girls, in the same way when I am not present or when Yami is not present, you will only act when you see that she is in danger, otherwise do not touch my girls, you can imagine or whatever you want, but never think of making a move on them otherwise death will be a pleasure for you—.
Javier, who let out a strong killing intent, pulled it back again, but it was only for an instant that most of them fainted and only three men, including Mantiz, remained conscious.
—And one more thing, they will have to destroy their crops.
—I refuse—.
Showing iron will, Javier let out a chuckle.
—There's no need to be afraid, if you destroy the current crop, you'll make them stronger than ever before.
—How do you ask me to believe in you, ah!—.
—See, it only takes a second and that's it, destroy their crop and what you thought was impossible before will become reality.
—My-my arm—.
Unable to believe what his eyes were seeing, he raised his arm, closing and opening his fist, turning his wrist, touching her hand, the rock, being able to feel everything as before losing her to Yami.
—How... is... it... possible... even the rarest pills couldn't restore a limb—.
—Now, you accept or not—.
Mantiz observed Javier's chuckle, which was that of a demon in human skin tempting humans and Mantiz.
—I accept—.
He was tempted.
—Okay, I don't want you to destroy it yet, it will be when Golden Week starts, I will also give you this mark on your arm.
Leaving aside the threats, Yami removed all traces of miasma. Before he could continue, Javier cast a seal on each arm across the shoulders.
-This is-.
"I'll punish anyone who betrays me. I still don't trust you or your men, but don't worry, your freedom is intact. As long as you continue working for me and earn my trust, I'll remove the mark."
—We can do nothing but obey, right?
—That's right, but don't worry, you're free to move around as you please. It would save me time if you didn't know how to do your job.
(CLICK)
Without further ado, those who had fainted woke up.
—W-what happened?... eee—.
—J-boss?—.
—How was the Mantiz 3 discussion?—.
Trembling with fear, filled with curiosity at seeing Javier's face, they all had something like that in each of them, but no one who remained awake spoke.
—Well, now that the meeting is over, Yami will see you off.—
-----
Watching everyone leave the room, leaving only Javier, he takes out the old book.
—Hmm, there are many artifacts from the ancient era... but the names don't tell me much... The plants that germinated from the concentration of arcane energy are many with different effects... The nearest hidden ground that will open is in Nagasaki Prefecture during Golden Week—.
Thinking about what to do in such a short time, Javier looked at the door seeing Yami enter before sitting next to her.
(They're gone now. It was okay to hire them while threatening)
—If that's okay... uu, your lap is the best Yami, stroke my head—.
Acting like a spoiled child, he rubbed his cheek on Yami's thighs and massaged Yami's hair with his warm hand.
(You haven't answered)
—Huh, that was better, I don't plan on putting my entire trust in men who work for money.
(What do you plan to do from now on?)
—Enjoy my school life, find my wife, have adventures in dungeons—.
(Your wife is so important)
—Yes, I don't know her, but I want to find her. I wonder what she's like, I'm sure she's a beauty like Yami. She'll have a simple personality or she's ambitious, affectionate or cold, crybaby or simple, shy and determined, can she cook or can't. I'd like to enjoy her seasoning, I wonder: does she like having children? You know there are women who don't want to tie themselves down to the family and simply want to be free without burdens. Hehehe I wonder what she's like, it's exciting to go looking, but I want to find her now and know what she's like... huh, Yami, what's going on? —
Her hand trembling, she stopped rubbing him. Javier, sensing this, ended up asking her, but, as if nothing had happened, he continued stroking his hair.
(Nothing... you like your wife to cook for you.)
—Sure, it's his seasoning after all, but it doesn't matter if he can't, instead, I'll make his food.
Not writing anything again, the mist swirls through hundreds of words, but returns to nothing as Javier closes his eyes to continue enjoying the moment.
(You are a hentai God, you will have many women, right, what are you going to do if your wife doesn't want more women for you.)
—That will be difficult—.
He muttered as he felt the words forming in the mist.
—By the way, Yami, you talk a lot now until you know about this topic, where you learned everything—.
(Fast learning, I learn quickly by constantly watching television.)
Any intention of investigating further faded, he continued to stare into space.
—Yami, what do you think of this house?—.
(Beautiful and full of life, very different from the past, but it's better to make it colorful. On television they showed gardens full of flowers, I would like to fill them with different flowers.)
—huh... that... sounds good... fu, fu—.
Continuously attacking drowsiness, he fell asleep on Yami's lap.
—Javier-kun, let's play!—.
—...—.
—Shhhh—.
Imitating Yami, she placed her finger on her lips as a sign for silence. Taking small steps closer, Shio stood next to Javier and touched his cheeks.
—Ehehe, Javier-kun looks like a baby, Yami onee-chan doesn't believe it—.
—... I didn't tell you it was Yami-mama—.
—But, my mommy might get mad if I told you Yami-mama—.
—But it turned out well, just like I showed you.
—Mmm, Javier-kun didn't say anything when I called him, daddy, but he didn't seem to mind either.
—He would like you to call him, daddy, you should tell him that he welcomes you as his daughter, he will accept you.
—I don't know... ehehe by the way Yami-mama, you seem very happy now—.
—...—.
Quiet, but you could see the smile she radiated.
---------
[Thursday, April 25, 2028]{4:45 AM}[Valderrama Mansion]
Waking up, feeling a weight on my chest, barely remembering the time I had fallen asleep on Yami's grand lap, I opened my eyes and was met with a sight I had never seen before.