Non-Human Girls Are Fighting Over Me ~ Do I Get to Refuse? “Nope!” “No Way!” “Not a Chance!” “Absolutely Not!” - Chapter 40 & 41

Chapter 40.1: The Truman Show

“But don’t worry. In public, I’ll be the ‘good wife’ who lifts her man up. I won’t embarrass you in front of others… Mama’s the same.”

“That’s the spirit. You’re the one who’ll protect this family.”

Levi smiled, satisfied.

“Got it, Mama.”

Riri returned a smile.

(Whaaat… how did it come to this…!?)

Surrounded by the warm aroma of miso soup, Kazuto’s heart was drenched in cold sweat.

—Thus, the awkward breakfast, steeped in the afterglow of a confession and the weight of a domineering creed, came to a quiet close.

※

That’s when it happened.

“—Mornin’~”

The air rippled, and a monitor flickered into existence midair.

The Demon King Satan’s face loomed large on the screen.

“Morning, long time no see. You doing okay?” Levi replied with a grimace.

Satan waved with a broad grin.

“Heyy~ I was curious last night, so I watched everything. The whole deal. Congrats, Riri-chan!”

“Huh?”

“As your guarantor, I’m relieved. Man, my heart was all fluttery, even at my age~ Really, so sweet!”

“…”

An awkward silence fell over the room.

Riri’s eyes welled up again.

“So…” Satan scratched his head, continuing.

“Sorry to rain on your parade, but Kazuto-kun—you’re slated for subjugation.”

“…What?”

“No way!” Levi gasped.

“N-No…” Kazuto lost his voice.

“Why! Why would you do that!” Riri shot to her feet.

“Well, it’s fate, y’know. There was talk of a sneak attack, but that’s lame, right? So we’re going with a proper declaration of war. Leader’s the ‘Primordial’ Drako, with three others. You guys good with Levi-chan as your leader?”

“N-No way…!” Levi’s face paled.

“Uncle…” Riri cried, teary-eyed.

“You all decided this? Spying on my first date! Even peeking at my initial experience!”

“That’s voyeurism! It’s really embarrassing, as an adult!” Kazuto interjected.

“Absolutely deplorable!” Levi shouted.

“Watching a teenage girl like that, have you no tact!”

“Ugh… ugh… my first date’s ruined! What are you gonna do about it! Ugh…” Riri sobbed, sniffling.

“And my initial experience… I’m not… I’m not some adult film star! Ugh…”

“Whoa, whoa, hold up! I didn’t see that! Honest! We only decided on the subjugation! Swear!”

Levi slammed the table.

“If Papa hears this, he’ll lose it! I’m furious too. And Drako? That guy’s never won against me but still acts like my rival… so annoying!”

“Y-Yeah… sorry, my bad. Forgive me. I’ll make it up to you—”

“Shut up! Idiot! Get lost!!”

Riri wailed, her face a mess of tears.

(…‘Subjugation team’ is a wild term, but no one’s even addressing it…) Kazuto paled internally.

In the end, that morning—

Riri wouldn’t stop crying, and Kazuto was stuck consoling her.

Chapter 40.2: Interludes

Interlude 1: Sunday’s Stay-at-Home Date

After Satan’s departure, the Aikava residence.

In the living room, Riri’s sniffling sobs still echoed.

“Ugh… ugh… why… why would they do something so cruel…”

Her eyes were teary, her cheeks wet with tear tracks, like a girl facing the end of the world.

Unable to watch her suffer, Kazuto spoke up.

“…How about we have another date today? Yesterday was just ‘practice.’”

In that instant.

Riri’s face lit up, her tears vanishing.

“Really!? Then! I want a stay-at-home date! At your place, just chilling!”

“A stay-at-home date? Won’t that be boring? It’s just indoors all day.”

Riri shrugged lightly, narrowing her eyes with a smile.

“Hehe… Riri’s the ‘Demon of Lust,’ you know?”

Her smile was faintly seductive, teetering dangerously between childishness and mature allure.

Kazuto’s heart skipped, and he could only look away.

“…No helping it, I guess.”

Levi sighed deeply but, recalling yesterday’s chaos, chose to let it slide this time.

A daughter sneaking off to her lover, dodging her mother’s gaze—a heartwarming scene anywhere.

But no one foresaw the disaster awaiting just ahead.

※

Before leaving.

Levi glanced at Riri’s schoolbag and muttered.

“Come to think of it… isn’t there a lunch fee collection coming up?”

Rustle.

In the next moment, a landslide of papers spilled from the bag.

Scattered across the floor—dozens of unsubmitted worksheets. Most past due.

“…”

Silence, then a vein pulsed on Levi’s forehead.

The final blow: a blank book report, due tomorrow.

“…Riri!!”

Levi’s roar began, but she swallowed hard, forcing her voice to steady.

“…Well, how lucky. Your husband’s a top high school student. Get him to teach you. Your first teamwork as a couple.”

Her words were calm, but the murderous aura rising from her was anything but.

Yet Riri, unfazed, replied coolly.

“Riri’s gonna be a ‘housewife,’ so I don’t need to study.”

“No way in hell!!”

Levi’s scream echoed.

(This kid’s way too naive about the world…!)

Suppressing her maternal fury, Levi began a measured lecture.

“Listen, you’re underestimating housewives. It’s 24/7 work!

Plus, to be a proper demon, you need to understand ‘human suffering.’ Studying’s part of that. You have to do it!”

“…Ugh~” Riri pouted.

Watching from the side, Kazuto resigned himself to his fate.

“Okay, okay… I’ll be your tutor for the day. Let’s do this, Riri.”

It was the best compromise he could offer.

※

By 9 p.m., Riri, teary-eyed, had finished the mountain of worksheets.

“I can’t anymore…! A book report now? No way I’ll make it~! I don’t even have a title! Kazuto, help~!”

Collapsed on the tatami, Riri wailed like a melting slime, her small hands trembling, covered in eraser dust.

“…Can’t be helped.”

Sighing in resignation, Kazuto put on his jacket and left the Aikava house.

Exactly ten minutes later.

He returned, clutching a bundle of yellowed notebooks.

“These… are essays I wrote as a kid. Absolutely, absolutely don’t copy them! Just use them as reference, okay?”

He stressed firmly before leaving.

Watching his back, Riri grinned slyly.

“Heh heh he~ As expected of my husband. So reliable~ Well, what’s Kazuto’s is all mine, right?”

Spreading the essays on the desk, she ran her mechanical pencil across them without hesitation.

Of course—copying them word for word.

“Huh, she wouldn’t just copy them, right? I mean, she’s got some sense… it’ll be fine.”

Kazuto mumbled to himself after leaving the Aikava house.

Those essays were ones he’d written as a kid, winning a Minister’s Award at a national essay contest…

※

Months later.

Haraikawa Elementary’s auditorium. The entire school watched as Riri stood on stage.

Her knees shook, her face twitched with a forced smile. An out-of-place spotlight bathed her.

“You have achieved the following honors, and we commend you.”

Riri received a certificate from the principal.

Cold sweat trickled down her neck.

The emcee’s voice rang out.

“For the prestigious National Essay Contest—astonishingly! The Prime Minister’s Award goes to… Riri Aikava! Everyone, a big round of applause!”

“Whaaaaaa!?”

Thunderous applause filled the auditorium.

Students buzzed with excitement, teachers beamed with pride, and newspaper cameras flashed.

“No way! The Prime Minister’s Award!?”

“That’s the one with a ceremony at the PM’s residence, right!?”

“Riri-chan’s amazing!!”

—Riri stood on stage, pale as a ghost.

(Oh no, oh no, oh no!! If this gets found out, I’ll die on a national scale~!!)

But there was no escape.

Her mind spun with visions of being exposed at the Prime Minister’s residence.

And a nationwide news headline: “Elementary Schooler Deceives the Nation.”

On stage, Riri forced a smile, inwardly groveling.

(Please, God—no, Demon Lords!? Let this miraculously go unnoticed~!!)

Whether her plea would be answered, however, was another story entirely.

Interlude 2: How I Met Mio

A little over a year ago—

On a cloudy afternoon, the film club room was cloaked in silence.

An old sofa, stacks of DVDs, and a dusty film camera by the window. In that space, teetering between active and ghostly, she—Mio Shirayuki—sat with legs crossed, a cup of tea in hand, waiting for a new student.

“I’m Mio Shirayuki, the film club president. …Now, introduce yourself.”

Leaning back on the sofa, she spoke with a touch of indifference.

Even glancing at the hopeful’s face, she had a habit of shutting her heart off immediately.

—They never last anyway.

Every year, a few showed up, drawn by curiosity. But within weeks, they’d vanish.

In the end, she was always alone. Mio was used to the cycle.

The boy in front of her spoke.

“Class 1-A, Kazuto Ienari. I watch all kinds of movies. Recently, I saw Justice League, the Zack Snyder cut, and Dunkirk. I like Christopher Nolan. I’m more of a DC fan than Marvel.”

A plain introduction.

(…Yeah, figures.)

Mio sighed inwardly. Every year, there was one “tough-guy” freshman like this. All passion at first, then gone. Honestly, disruptions to her routine weren’t welcome.

—That’s what she thought, until.

“And… I like Anpanman too. You might think it’s childish, but… it’s got a lot of tear-jerkers.”

Mio’s heart skipped.

She set her teacup down, leaning forward.

“…Which ones? What did you watch?”

Her voice carried an uncontainable heat.

Kazuto answered, surprised.

“Uh… well, my favorite’s The Star of Life, Dolly. …Is that too childish?”

In that moment, something exploded in Mio’s chest.

(Yes… that’s it. Finally, someone gets it!)

“So, what do you like about that movie?”

Before she knew it, her words came out eagerly.

Kazuto thought for a moment, then answered directly.

“I think it’s about ‘life.’ ‘What are we living for?’ …It makes you think about that.”

—Hearing that answer.

Mio’s eyes widened, a jolt like electricity racing through her.

(…Yes. That’s it. That’s exactly it!)

No one had understood.

Dismissed as “kids’ stuff,” laughed off, with no one to share it with. A passion she’d locked away in solitude.

This boy had put it into words without hesitation.

“Heh… hehehe… hahahaha…!”

Laughter slipped out, unstoppable.

Clenching her trembling fingers, she declared.

“Nice…! A rare rookie. You’re right, Anpanman isn’t just ‘kids’ stuff.’ It’s full of gems… The Star of Life, Dolly is my top pick. I like you.”

In the tea-scented club room—

A long-forgotten heat reignited in Mio’s chest.

Thus, the film club, barely sustained by ghost members, gained its first true “companion.”

DVD cases, the scent of tea after a screening, the afterimage of the screen—each was part of Mio’s usual time.

Interstellar, Dunkirk, The Martian.

All films that hit the edge of Mio’s tolerance for weight, the edge of enjoyment.

Sharing a movie’s afterglow—it was enough to give Mio quiet satisfaction.

His chosen titles aligned perfectly with her tastes, weaving a soft happiness.

Just watching his profile made her heart soften. That kind of moment.

But that happiness was suddenly, sharply torn apart.

Kazuto clutched his forehead, speechless, collapsing to his knees. At first, Mio thought it was dizziness or anemia.

But the moment she extended a healing spell, the situation proved anything but normal.

The air trembled under her palm, her familiar healing chant faltering.

A strange resistance, as if her magic was repelled. Unconsciously, her hand touched his chest—and the world flickered with a different hue.

A vision shimmered in her palm. A soul’s tapestry. Ancient seals. Overlapping traces. With cold excitement, Mio began to decipher it.

A word flashed in her mind—“Samael.” A name she’d only seen in legends fell into her thoughts with the warmth of her fingertips.

Her heart leapt. The mysteries she’d chased for years—immortality, contracts, soul sigils. They all converged on his chest.

The emptiness of eternal life, the void of immortality, and the “key” to unravel it.

Mio sensed it instinctively—no, felt it as fate—that everything was converging here.

(—I’ve finally found it.)

A cold joy swelled within her. For so long, she’d sought a way to undo immortality.

But the answer was always distant, slipping through her fingers like water.

Now, trembling under her hand, was something tangible, a “key” she could grasp. If this was it, her reason for living might change—a premonition that set her blood ablaze.

At the same time, Mio noticed another emotion stirring in her chest.

Possession. A moment when affection turned into a near-violent desire.

The time spent watching movies, his casual remarks, the way he framed a scene—all had become treasures to Mio. Treasures she wanted to claim as hers alone.

Intellectual curiosity and possessive desire quietly intertwined.

After a few minutes of silence, Kazuto slowly opened his eyes. Bearing faint pain, he spoke.

“Sorry… I got a sudden headache…”

Mio replied, cold yet gentle.

“You should go to the hospital. I’ll take you home today.”

Outside, streetlights lined up, their LED glow washing the path.

The walk home felt a little longer than usual.

At his doorstep, he turned and said, “Thank you.”

Mio, watching his back, whispered softly.

“Kazuto, you’re mine now. Mine alone.”

Her voice was faint. But the resolve and desire in her heart melted thickly into the night air.

Interlude 3: From Dusk Till Dawn (Part 1)

A room in Towa’s apartment.

Night had fallen, and the city lights twinkled quietly outside the window.

In the center of the room, the coffee table was littered with DVDs and Blu-rays, the curtains drawn tight like a movie theater.

“Towa~! Let’s have the ultimate vampire movie showdown!!”

Kazuto sat on the sofa, buzzing with excitement.

Towa, her long black hair swaying gently, sipped blood (from a transfusion pack) from a wine glass like red wine.

As a Primordial Vampire and Daywalker, her usual demeanor radiated chilling majesty—but.

“…The ultimate vampire movie, you say?”

Her eyes glinted with a mischievous light, a provocative smile curling her lips.

“I think it’s Interview with the Vampire. The visuals, the story—everything’s amazing. Runner-up’s Dracula 1958, maybe~ Or, no, Coppola’s version’s tough to beat!”

“…”

Towa set down her glass, tapping the sofa’s armrest with a click.

“…What. You think you can beat me in this genre? Talk about overconfidence.”

“Oh, here we go!”

“Then—let’s educate you. On what a true vampire’s battle looks like.”

Kazuto straightened his back, gripping the remote like a swordsman before a duel.

“Well… Dracula 1958 is solid. Christopher Lee’s stare is legendary. But—back then, it was cutting-edge horror. Now, it’s just nostalgia for most viewers. Staying stuck there’s not the way.”

“R-Right…”

“My top pick—honestly, I’d love to say Blade. But.”

Towa pressed her index finger to her lips, pausing for effect.

“It’s tricky. So, I’ll go with—From Dusk Till Dawn. It’s the best.”

“The opening gas station shootout, George Clooney’s rugged vibe, Santanico’s seductiveness… and the nightclub vampire fight.”

Towa leaned forward, her expression rapturous.

“Sure, the special effects aren’t much by today’s standards. But that B-movie vibe! That unchanging charm is what’s irresistible… You get it?”

“Y-Yeah… but isn’t that more crime action than vampire movie?”

“Huuuh?”

Towa’s eyes flashed.

“What are you saying! That sense of depravity running through the whole film—that’s what makes a true vampire movie! When you’ve lived as long as I have, you need that depravity to feel alive!”

(That word choice is kinda dangerous…)

“Hey, have you even seen it?”

“Well, actually…”

“No way… you’re not saying you haven’t seen it, are you?”

“…Sorry, I haven’t.”

“—Ohhh nooo! You’re missing out on life!”

Towa collapsed onto the sofa, then shot back up.

“We’re watching it now! Watch it! And tremble!”

“Y-Yes, ma’am!”

※

Two hours later.

“Wow, it’s like two completely different movies—front half and back half—but so freaking fun.

The Gecko brothers’ rugged vibe is top-notch.”

Sprawled on the sofa, clutching a bag of potato chips, Kazuto shared his thoughts.

“But, like, if a place like that really existed, I’d kinda wanna check it out.”

“It exists. Wanna go?”

“…Huh. Wouldn’t I get eaten?”

“Nah. But I know a spot non-humans frequent. The owner’s non-human too. It’s close—wanna hit it up?”

Towa said it so casually.

Her innocence made Kazuto think, (No way, no way, bringing this up right after a horror movie is a total death flag!) but he ended up tagging along anyway.

Interlude 4: From Dusk Till Dawn (Part 2)

“But, like, if a place like that really existed, I’d kinda wanna check it out.”

“It exists. Wanna go?”

“…Huh. Wouldn’t I get eaten?”

“Nah. But I know a spot non-humans frequent. The owner’s non-human too. It’s close—wanna hit it up?”

Towa said it so casually.

Her innocence made Kazuto think, (No way, no way, bringing this up right after a horror movie is a total death flag!) but he ended up tagging along anyway.

※

Past 11 p.m.

A fifteen-minute walk from Towa’s apartment, in a rundown shopping district.

Almost no foot traffic. The streetlights cast a faint, unreliable glow.

“Uh… this is kinda creepy.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. This place is set up so first-timers can’t find it.

There’s a spell that makes it impossible for a human to get here alone.”

“That makes it twice as creepy!”

Turning down an alley three times and slipping past an old warehouse—they suddenly spotted a small sign.

The store’s name was a string of bizarre symbols.

Not Japanese, not English.

“…I can’t read it. What’s this place called?”

“Hmm. It’s unpronounceable for humans. If I force a translation… Demon Bar, maybe?”

“Don’t just say that so casually…”

Opening the door, the interior was surprisingly calm.

Red lampshades cast a warm glow, with about ten people in booth seats. Mostly couples stood out.

“Hey, Adrasteia! Rare to see you, and not alone today.”

A woman at the bar counter called out cheerfully.

She wore a shirt, vest, and slacks.

Her polished look screamed professional bartender.

“Yeah, that’s right. Heh. Got a booth open?”

Towa asked.

But the owner, spotting Kazuto, froze in shock.

“Whoa… sorry, we don’t allow ‘food or drink’ brought in. Can you try somewhere else?”

Towa burst out laughing, pointing at Kazuto with her thumb.

“No, no, Micchan. This guy’s my husband.”

“Huh!? Husband!?”

The owner did a dramatic double-take.

“No way, for real? He’s not your lunch? He’s totally human!

What, are my eyes broken? You’re Adrasteia Ambrosia, right!?”

“What are you on about? It’s me, obviously.”

Towa brushed it off.

“Whaaaaaa—!!”

The owner’s scream echoed through the bar.

(…I knew I shouldn’t have come!!)

Kazuto clutched his head, regretting it from the bottom of his heart.

※

“Table for two, booth seat~”

Guided by a waiter’s voice, they settled into a plush booth.

Towa sat proudly, ordering at once.

“The usual. And an orange juice for him.”

“Wait, juice for me? Am I being treated like a kid?”

But Towa wasn’t listening.

Sinking into the booth, she trembled with laughter—

“Gufufufufu… finally, me in this booth seat… fufufu.”

“…That laugh’s kinda scary.”

Then, a curious customer peeked over.

They looked perfectly human, but their voice was oddly hushed.

“No way… really? I heard there was a hero marrying Tia, so I came to see… he’s actually here!?

C’mon, he’s not really your lunch, is he?”

Towa grinned.

“Hehehe… well~”

“No way… even high-ranking demons don’t have that kind of guts!”

“What, brainwashing? Mental magic?”

“I wouldn’t do that~ If anything, he’s the more aggressive one.”

(Kazuto: …Huh? Why do I feel like I’m being treated like some trophy husband?)

From a lone counter seat, a voice muttered.

“Man, that gives me courage and hope…”

(No, no, no! I didn’t do anything!)

Amid the chatter, the owner quietly beckoned Kazuto.

“Come here a sec.”

“…Yes?”

“Hey, you. Do you know what kind of place this is?”

“Uh, a bar for non-humans, right?”

The owner paused, then smirked.

“Huh~… that so? Well, have fun.

We’re open till morning… fufu.

Funny, though… she’s usually at the counter.”

Her sleazy grin was unsettling.

(…Wait, what’s that supposed to mean?)

Eventually, the nosy customers dispersed, leaving just the two of them.

From other booths, sultry laughter and whispers echoed.

Towa swirled her glass, murmuring—

“Gufufu… now then. We’ve got time till morning…”

“…Uh, what’s that supposed to…”

(No, hold up. This is heading somewhere weird!?)

※

The next morning.

Walking through the sunrise-lit city, Kazuto finally learned the truth.

“That place yesterday? It’s a non-human bar and a ‘companion café.’”

“…You could’ve told me sooner!!”

Towa, in high spirits, clung to his arm.

“Fufu, let’s go again. Next time, we’ll make it an even funnier night, okay?”

Under the dazzling sunrise, Kazuto could only look to the sky.

Interlude 5: The Right Stuff ~The Chosen Team~

Somewhere.

“Take care~”

From an apartment’s entrance, a green-haired woman waved cheerfully.

Her petite frame could be mistaken for a girl’s, with naturally curled hair tips.

This woman—Ria, once feared as the “Demon of Dimensions”—was now happily married to her “beloved Onii-sama,” living as an ordinary wife.

She saw off her husband, dressed in priestly robes, heading to the temple.

In a past life, he was hailed as the “mightiest incubus,” but now he was just a human husband.

Ria’s face softened with a smile.

“Now then, maybe simmered hamburg steak for tonight~”

After finishing cleaning and laundry, she sat at the dining table, browsing a recipe site on her phone—

Suddenly, a holographic monitor popped up in midair with a poof.

“Ria-chaaan! Long time no see! How ya holdin’ up~?”

On the screen was a middle-aged man in a suit… or so he seemed, but his prominent horns and jet-black skin betrayed his true nature.

The Demon King Satan, in the flesh.

“…”

Ria’s expression didn’t budge as she pressed “mute + delete” on her remote with a click.

The screen vanished.

But three seconds later—

“Why’d ya delete me!? That’s kinda harsh, no!? Did I do somethin’!?”

The monitor reappeared, Satan striking a protesting pose.

Ria propped her cheek on her hand, replying coolly.

“—You did. You spied on a grade-schooler’s first date. Scum.”

“…Huh?”

Satan’s face froze.

“How’d ya know!? No, wait, that was a misunderstanding, I swear! Honest!”

“Levi told me.”

“L-Levi!? No way…”

“Right now, there’s not a single Mrs. in the ‘Demon Wives’ Circle’ who doesn’t know.

‘Watch out for your family too,’ the gossip spread like wildfire.

Don’t underestimate the demon realm’s mom-friend network.”

“Ugh… I’m gettin’ a full-on smear campaign… Women are terrifying…”

Satan clutched his head, but Ria’s gaze remained icy.

“No, no, no! There wasn’t a shred of malice! As her guarantor, I had to check, y’know!”

“…That’s exactly the problem.

Even if that’s true—saying it out loud is what’s wrong.”

“What!? But I gotta be honest about that stuff, right!? I mean, her guy’s Samael! The Samael! So I took the lead. Pretty great, huh? Awesome, right?”

“…”

Ria sipped her tea silently.

Her silence spoke volumes of her exasperation.

“That’s it! That’s the thing!! ‘This and that are separate’! How does the head of an organization not get that!?”

“Ugh… women’s hearts are tough~ Might never figure ’em out.”

Satan mumbled, crossing his arms.

“So, I got a favor to ask ya, Ria-chan.”

“Nope.”

Ria shot back instantly, remote in hand.

“What!? I haven’t even said anything yet!?”

“No way. I’m a housewife and Buddhist now, so lots of stuff’s off-limits. If my husband finds out, it’s divorce territory.”

“What… so cold. But I could talk to your ‘top boss,’ y’know?”

“…That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Read the room.”

Ria’s voice grew colder.

“I don’t want my husband to know! It took me seven hundred years to secure this wife spot. Give me a break.”

She said, thumb hovering over the delete button.

“Whoa, whoa, hold up! Just hear me out! Just listen, that’s all!”

“…Ugh, fine…”

Ria sighed, her face openly annoyed.

“Alright, just talk.”

“Thanks a ton. So, there’s this big push across races to take down Samael. We’re recruitin’ a select team.”

“Nope.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. I’ll give up on you, ‘Demon of Dimensions’ Ria-chan. Hmm…”

“Lemme guess, you’re not gettin’ any decent members, right?”

“Exactly. And here’s Samael’s team.”

A holographic sheet appeared before Ria.

“Angel of Death” Samael

“Primordial Vampire” Adrasteia Ambrosia

“Immortal Witch” Morgadia Nox

“Demon of Paradise Lost” Lilith Celestia Noctis

“Demon of Envy” Leviathan Celestia Noctis

“Beast” Behemoth Celestia Noctis

“…Pfft, hahahahaha! What’s this!? Insane! You’re up against this!? Are you nuts? It’s an all-star lineup!”

“Right?”

“And the subjugation team’s led by ‘Drako’—”

As Satan pulled up the next sheet, Ria’s voice turned ice-cold.

“…Yeah. Everyone but Drako’s getting one-shotted. Maybe that Dragonoid girl could last… thirty seconds? But Drako’s all talk, despite how he looks.”

“Right?”

“The worst part… Leviathan and Behemoth are on their side. Those are your two aces, aren’t they? You’d need the other Seven Great Demons to even try.”

“That’s the thing. I asked around, and it’s all ‘My back’s been acting up’ or ‘I’m swamped.’ They’re bailing.”

Ria let out a deep sigh, leaning back in her chair.

“I see~ That’s the lineup, huh. Lili-chan’s a super-pedigreed kid born from Leviathan and Behemoth, right?

The vampire’s famously strong.

I only know rumors about the witch, but a human pulling off immortality is already nuts.

But Samael… he wasn’t the type to have this kind of loyalty, was he?”

“Blame the reincarnated body, I think. Old Samael was super picky about people, made tons of enemies. Had some allies, sure.

But organizationally, ‘no enemies’ is better, right? He didn’t get that.

He had a few strong allies, but the rest were riffraff.

Got propped up, and here we are. …Maybe he’s grown a bit?”

“Well… you’d better scout the team again.

This is like a sandlot team facing major leaguers—total mismatch.”

“Got anyone to recommend?”

“Hmm… I’ve got a relative in mind. An exorcist, too strong for her own good, kinda a loose cannon. I’ll ask, but don’t get your hopes up.”

Ria shot Satan a final glare.

“And don’t contact me here if you don’t want my husband finding out.”

“Yeah… thanks. This helps. Gotta boost the Dragonoid and overhaul the rest. If you change your mind, join up~”

With that, the monitor fizzled out.

—Silence.

Ria exhaled, turning back to her phone.

“…Now, what’s for dinner tonight?”

The screen showed a recipe for “fluffy simmered hamburg steak.”

To Ria, her husband’s dinner was far more important than the demon realm’s future.

Chapter 41.1: Suicide Squad (The Saintess, Occasionally Amanda Waller)

—Another world, the grand hall of a royal castle.

A majestic throne, a heavy red carpet, and rows of kings, nobles, mages, heroes, and a saintess.

In that solemn setting—one person alone was pale as a ghost.

Izolde, the red-haired woman. Seated, she gaped like she might faint any second.

“What, me!? Why, why me!?”

Her voice cracked, shattering the room’s gravitas.

Stepping forward with dignified strides was the saintess, Sera.

Her smile brimmed with compassion—or should have, but it hid a cold, sharp edge.

“This is already decided by royal decree. We need one human representative for the subjugation team, and the arrow’s pointed at you. Got it? It’s a great honor.”

“What!? Human representative? That’s for the hero Anastasia over there!”

Izolde pointed, glaring at the blonde, blue-eyed beauty of a hero.

“She’s humanity’s top fighter! I’m not even second-string—I’m the second-string’s benchwarmer!”

Anastasia gave a “sorry?”-ish wry smile, but Sera continued coolly.

“No, this time we’re up against Samael, plus Leviathan and Behemoth. Not her… you’ve got better magical aptitude, so we thought you’d do. We all agreed.”

“Wait a sec! So you’re saying—die in place of the hero!? No way, no way, NO WAY!! I’m not okay with this, even if you are! Absolutely impossible!!”

Izolde screamed. Nobles murmured, soldiers smirked.

But Sera spoke lightly, like she was selling insurance.

“The leader’s been assigned the easiest opponent, so it’ll work out. Come on, with your team—‘effort,’ ‘friendship,’ ‘victory.’”

“What shonen manga is this!? There’s no ‘easy’ opponent in that insane lineup! Morgadia? She was the kingdom’s strongest mage before she went immortal! No way I can win!!”

Izolde protested, tears in her eyes.

But Sera pulled out a parchment, waving it casually.

“If you take this on, all your charges will be wiped clean. Plus, a hefty reward. Here’s the proof.”

The air grew tense.

Soldiers inched closer, mages readied their chants.

“But if you refuse—”

Sera smiled coldly.

“With your past crimes, you won’t leave here alive.”

“Eeeeek!!”

Izolde collapsed into her chair.

Half-crying, dazed.

“Fine, do whatever! Sure, just kill me! Kill me already!!”

She clutched her head, screaming, her face a mess of tears and snot.

“Sera, you’re no saintess!

Between that vampire contract and now this… you’re just like that ‘Amanda’ woman from that moving picture I saw in the other world! But she was better!!”

In that moment—the castle’s air froze.

The king, nobles, even the hero gaped in stunned silence.

Only Sera kept her cool smile.

“Well, well. Shall we etch the contract sigil? It’s designed to take your head if you flee, so don’t worry.”

Her smile, far from saintly, sent chills down spines.

(Hehe… this way, we’ve preserved humanity’s top fighter. Now, if they all take each other out…)

Chapter 41.2: Interlude

—It was Sunday night.

Dragging my tired body from club activities, I returned to my room.

A modest six-tatami space. It should’ve been the usual sight.

“…Huh?”

Looming before me was a queen-size bed, utterly out of place in a six-tatami room.

Its overwhelming presence, eating up half the space, left my jaw hanging.

“…Mom, what’s this?”

At dinner, I asked my mother, who answered without tilting her head.

“Huh? It’s always been like that. Didn’t you say you wanted a big bed?”

“Me? It’s a six-tatami room! The bed’s stealing the spotlight!”

Puzzled, I finished my homework and hit the sack by 11 p.m.

(Well… a big bed’s kinda nice. Feels a bit luxurious.)

That thought was short-lived.

—It was hard to sleep.

The bed felt oddly cramped. No, it was spacious just moments ago.

And… I sensed someone’s presence.

“…What?”

Rolling over, my arm brushed against something soft.

I bolted upright.

“Geez, Kazuto… so naughty~”

A sweet voice.

There was—Towa.

“Wha… why!? Why are you here!?”

“Why? It’s past midnight, my time slot. I’m your fiancée, so it’s only natural I’m here, right?”

“No, how’d you even get in!?”

“The front door. You gave me permission to ‘come in anytime,’ remember?”

“Wait… this bed, is it—”

“Yup. We all chipped in to buy it. Mio and Riri too. Tomorrow’s Mio’s turn, right? …Oh, but if you don’t want them coming, I’ll shut them down. I’ll stay over instead.”

“No, no, no! I need my privacy…”

“Do you?”

Towa’s eyes lost their sparkle, going blank.

“A teenage guy’s ‘privacy’ is just ◯◯◯◯ time, right? You don’t need that with me here. That’s cheating.”

“S-Scary…!”

She pressed further.

“Oh, and your phone’s collection? You don’t need it anymore.

I deleted it.

‘Getting worked over by a pure senpai’s ◯◯◯’ or loli stuff like ‘A bratty girl wrecks my ○◯◯’—are you a total masochist? That pissed me off.

But I’m nice, so I left the ‘My dream classmate comes on strong’ stuff—novels, manga, videos.

Guys will be guys, and forgiving that’s a woman’s grace, right?”

(Ughhh! Don’t spill the titles… When did you…!? Please, stop!)

“L-Let’s just sleep. Yeah, sleep.”

Resigned, I slipped under the covers, and Towa smiled, satisfied—

“Good night.”

She planted a light kiss.

(Argh, my heart’s racing, I can’t sleep!!)

—Morning came.

In the kitchen, Towa stood naturally, preparing breakfast with Mom.

“Morning, Towa-san.”

“Good morning, Mother-in-law. I’ll help out.”

At the table, Towa’s breakfast was special.

On the table—a blood transfusion pack.

“They only had AB today. Sorry, Towa-san.”

“It’s fine. I was in an AB mood.”

Towa sipped the blood like a jelly drink.

Mom nodded cheerfully, while I… stared into the distance.

(Yup… she used charm to mess with Mom’s perception.)

Thus, my “normal Monday” began anything but normally.

Monday night.

After a bath, brushing my teeth, and eyeing the pile of homework, I headed to bed.

Or rather—to the absurdly huge queen-size bed in my six-tatami room.

“…Alright, time to sleep.”

It was only 11 p.m. A bit early, but after Towa’s chaos last night, I was sleep-deprived. Determined to rest up, I slipped into bed.

—But.

Past midnight, sleep wouldn’t come. I felt stifled.

“Kinda… cramped.”

It’s a queen-size bed, yet I could barely move. Opening my eyes at the odd sensation—

(…Of course~)

Turning, there was Mio. Her long hair spilled over the pillow, nestled in bed like it was natural.

“Hey, I’m sleeping here tonight.”

She grinned, wrapping her arm around my chest, then entwining her legs.

“W-Wait a sec…!”

“Shut up. You’re my body pillow today.”

Her grip tightened, her soft warmth pressing close, my face flushing.

“No, it’s not that I mind. Really. Just… hard to sleep…”

Her eyes lost their light, going blank.

“…Huh?”

“Uh.”

“What about yesterday? You slept with Towa, didn’t you?”

A low, cold voice.

“W-Well, that was…”

“You could do it with Towa, but not with me? Is that it…?”

Her voice trembled, tears welling in her eyes.

“Why… why would you say that to me… Ugh, ugh… Did you find another girl…?”

“N-No, that’s not what I meant!”

“Ugh… I know… ugh… your ‘privacy’ is just ◯◯◯◯ time, right!? I get it! Do it then… ugh… right here, now… I’ll watch… like always… ugh… If it’s ◯◯◯◯, I’ll even help… ugh…”

“Whoa, calm down—”

“Shut up! Fine! Get your ◯◯◯ out! Your fiancée’ll make you feel good! Come on, get it out, ◯◯◯!”

“…Okay, that vibe’s a total mood-killer. I’m sleeping.”

I raised my hands in surrender, resigned.

“Body pillow, whatever—do what you want.”

“Hmph…”

Mio, tears still on her cheeks, clung to me. Her warmth and weight made sleep even harder.

—It didn’t end there.

“By the way…”

“What?”

“Your phone’s novels, manga, videos. I deleted the classmate stuff.

What’s with that? ‘My dream classmate’s tied up, my ○◯○’s about to explode’—are you a masochist?”

“Wha!?”

“It pissed me off. Why no senpai stuff? You don’t fantasize about adventures with your dream senpai!?”

“…That’s what you’re mad about?”

Despite the bickering, I was her body pillow, staying awake until morning.

Tuesday morning.

Getting out of bed, Mio was gone, like last night was a dream.

“…Not a dream, right?”

Descending the stairs, Mom’s voice came from the kitchen.

“Oh, Kazuto. Mio-san made breakfast today.”

“What?”

Turning, Mio was there in an apron, smiling as if it were natural.

“Mother-in-law, a wife’s gotta make breakfast, right~?”

“…Morning.”

(She messed with Mom’s perception with magic, didn’t she?)

“Morning, Kazuto-san.”

Her words and smile felt oddly heavy.

Thus, we ate breakfast as a trio and headed to school, starting Tuesday morning.

Tuesday night, 11 p.m.

Slipping into bed, I stretched lightly and stared at the ceiling.

“Tomorrow’s… Riri’s day, huh. But she’s an early sleeper, probably out already.”

Muttering, I closed my eyes, drifting off quickly.

—I woke in the dead of night.

The clock had passed midnight.

“…Hm?”

Something was off.

No, everything was off.

Pink wallpaper. Stuffed animals in the corner. A framed photo of a boy and a young girl on the wall.

“…Where am I…?”

Not my room. Definitely not.

Mumbling in a daze, a soft rustle came from beside me.

“Mmm…”

Turning, there was Riri.

“…What!?”

My heart leapt, like I was in a dream.

Riri rubbed her eyes, facing me, and whispered.

“Oh… Onii-chan. Kazuto… You came to see Riri.”

“Uh, um… yeah, maybe…”

My reply was barely coherent.

Unfazed, Riri smiled sleepily.

“Ehehe… let’s sleep together.”

She murmured, pressing her lips to my cheek.

A soft sensation lingered, heat spreading through me.

“H-Hey… Riri?”

“Sorry… sleepy… in a dream…”

Mumbling, she buried her face in my chest, her breathing soft and steady.

Unable to resist, I closed my eyes again.

—In the dream, it felt like we did all sorts of things.

I couldn’t recall details. Just that my body was warm, my heart racing—that much was certain.

“Riri, get up. You too, Kazuto-kun.”

Morning. A gentle voice woke me, and Levi-san stood before me.

“Uh… ah, s-sorry! Really sorry!”

I bowed instinctively.

But Levi-san just smiled.

“It’s fine. You’re family now. Breakfast’s ready.”

“Mama… Kazuto, morning…”

Riri, half-peeking from the bed, said softly.

Her smile brought back fragments of last night’s dream, my face heating up.

Breakfast, made by Levi-san, filled the table.

The aroma of fresh-baked bread and steaming bacon and eggs wafted up.

But Riri and I blushed every time our eyes met, barely speaking as we ate.

“…Tasty.”

“…Yeah…”

With those halting words, our morning began.