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After wiping out three entire forces, Takumi exhaled deeply, feeling that more than half of his mana had been consumed.
"If this were a few days ago, even my full mana reserve wouldn't have been enough for that. Now I've still got a fifth left."
Feeling rather satisfied, Takumi headed to the Interdimensional Realm.
Unaware of what had just happened outside, Eve was eagerly devouring the breakfast Anna had prepared. The delicious food and the warmth of the home felt precious beyond words.
Just yesterday, she had been like a beggar—hungry and wandering the wilderness without shelter.
"Eat slower, Miss Eve~"
Anna's gentle smile and soft tone warmed Eve's heart even more, bringing tears to her eyes.
"Crying while eating—seriously? Pull yourself together. We'll be heading out soon."
Takumi's teasing voice came from behind, making Eve freeze mid-bite. She quickly wiped her tears, turned her head away, trying to hide her embarrassment.
But that shy, awkward act only made Takumi find her even cuter—and frankly, funny.
Noticing his amused grin, Eve grew flustered and turned back sharply. "Hmph! If you're leaving, I'll be going too! I won't bother you anymore!"
"What are you talking about? I meant we're heading out together." Takumi placed a hand on her shoulder.
Eve froze, her cheeks turning pink. "Together? What do you mean together? Our goals aren't even the same—"
She didn't get to finish—Takumi cut her off, meeting her gaze directly. His eyes locked with her crimson pupils, calm yet piercing.
"My [Healing Magic] lets me see the memories of those I heal. As a Demon Lord Candidate—and a descendant of the Black-Wing Tribe—are you really just planning to run away forever?"
His words shattered the calm, filling the room with heavy silence.
Eve lowered her head and murmured, "Of course not. I'm strong… I'm just looking for the right opportunity."
"An opportunity?" Takumi scoffed. "Like yesterday—when you were being chased and didn't even realize it?"
That hit home. Eve fell silent instantly.
But Takumi didn't stop. His words struck like thunder.
"You lack everything—survival instincts, caution toward others, comrades you can trust, and most importantly—resolve for revenge!
At this rate, you're just a mouse hiding in the dark, waiting to die!"
Drip.
Large tears rolled from Eve's eyes as his words broke through her defenses.
"Shut up! Shut up!! Shut up already!!! Resolve…? I already swore—to my fallen kin, to these wings—that I would live on!!! That's why… I've kept going!"
Throwing off her cloak, Eve spread her black wings wide, shouting with trembling emotion.
As she cried out, Takumi stepped closer, his face filling her entire view.
"Just to survive? Don't you want revenge?!"
"..."
Eve stared at him in silence for several seconds before answering with a fierce glare. "I do! Every moment of every day!!!"
"Then the opportunity is right here before you," Takumi said firmly. "I'll help you defeat the Demon Lord—and take your revenge."
His smile was playful, but his eyes were deadly serious.
Eve's crimson eyes trembled. She pushed him away, yelling, "Don't be stupid! Even if you are some so-called Hero, you can't possibly fight the Demon Lord!"
"No ability, huh?"
Takumi raised an eyebrow and suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist.
The sudden intimacy startled Eve; she gathered magic in her hands to push him off—but she couldn't bring herself to strike. Her eyes stayed locked on his, watching, waiting for his next move.
The next second, space warped—and they were outside. The change in scenery made Eve jump—and then she froze in shock.
Two massive meteors, each as tall as mountains, lay embedded around Branicca's outskirts. The dense forests and rolling hills had been flattened into a vast, scarred ravine.
Gulp.
Eve swallowed hard, whispering in disbelief, "This… this wasn't like this before we went inside…"
"This is what I can do—what I can do right now."
Takumi's tone was calm as he stepped closer again. "And I can become even stronger—stronger than you could ever imagine. Now tell me—what's your answer?"
Eve stood frozen for nearly ten seconds before she finally came back to her senses.
No matter how impossible it seemed, she didn't think he was lying. The still-falling dust and smoke made it clear—the impact had just happened.
Her body trembled as she whispered, "If you can already do this… you could kill the Demon Lord yourself. Why ask me to join you? What are you really planning? Trying to trick me into something?"
Her suspicion ran deep, but Takumi simply pressed a finger against her blushing cheek.
"Of course I'm plotting something—I'm plotting you. Why else would I bring you along?"
"..."
That blunt yet earnest answer made Eve's face turn scarlet.
Images of Kureha's flushed, trembling figure flashed through her mind.
"You bastard! I knew you were after me!!"
Her voice came out high and flustered, as she glared at him with watery eyes.
Takumi shrugged. "Well, what did you expect? If I said I don't want anything, that I just want to avenge you and help you defeat the Demon Lord out of pure kindness—would you believe that?"
"I…"
"You wouldn't. I wouldn't either. Who helps someone that much for nothing? What am I, a saint with too much free time?"
Eve opened her mouth, but no words came. Everything he said… made uncomfortable sense.
Seeing her speechless, Takumi cut straight to the point. "So, yes or no? Do you want to avenge your kin or not?"
Eve's lips parted—but she couldn't say no. If he really helped her, she could take her revenge.
Though, of course… the memories of last night and this morning flashed again in her mind. Her face turned bright red. After a long pause, she finally gave a tiny nod.
"Good. Just agree in your heart to form the [Master–Servant Contract]. You've seen what it does."
Takumi immediately cast the spell, summoning the glowing contract circle beneath them.
Eve turned her head aside, mumbling shyly, "Why do we even have to make this contract? It's so embarrassing…"
She had witnessed firsthand what that magic could do—and if she ended up like the others, she might as well die on the spot.
"It's our proof of cooperation—and a safeguard. As long as you don't harbor any malicious thoughts toward me, the curse won't trigger."
Faced with that reasoning, Eve hesitated… but finally chose to sign.
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