Gasper has made a lot of progress in training. During those first three days, Gasper surprised everyone — and himself. He managed to stop volleyballs in the air several times and, most of the time, he no longer needed to wear the paper bag over his head. For someone who had spent so long in isolation, that was quite an improvement.
With the addition of Gasper to my peerage, I also started earning a bit more money. Of course, what he earned was split three ways: one part was mine, another belonged to Rias and, of course, Gasper received a fraction too.
However, despite all Gasper's progress, he chose not to move into the apartment where I lived with Asia and Makima.
"Thanks, Milicas-sama... But I can't yet... I-I think that would be a big change." That's what he said.
I knew that too many changes in a short period of time could be detrimental to Gasper, so I didn't insist.
Despite this, I wasn't completely sure that leaving Gasper alone at Kuoh Academy was safe, and in the future, I would still try to invite him once again.
Besides Gasper, I was also constantly worried about Asia and her well-being. Technically, I had changed a fate that was very good for her and, for that reason, I had an obligation to give her an even better future than she would have had with Issei. Such a burden wasn't easy to carry, but Asia was doing well.
However, worrying so much about these two made me ignore someone who was always behind me. But don't worry, it wasn't someone who wanted to hurt me. And I only found out on the evening of the same day as that meeting with Xenovia and Irina...
I was on the new balcony of my apartment. It was a wide space, but it didn't give me a panoramic view of Kuoh City. I could only see the other buildings across the street, a nearby park, and a slightly higher mountain in the distance. Nothing special. Even so, I had gotten into the habit over the past few nights of staying here to enjoy the breeze for a few seconds.
Suddenly, I heard the balcony door swing open. I looked back and saw Makima. She was carrying two steaming mugs of tea and was wearing a lovely white sweater, with her salmon-red hair blowing in the wind.
Makima approached and handed me one of the cups.
"Thank you." I smiled slightly.
She also smiled with her mouth closed and joined me in observing the grandiose sight of a normal street.
"What do you like to see here?" Makima asked.
"You don't come out here to see something, but to feel it. In the underworld, almost everything is just a copy of what we have here on Earth. The sun has been artificially created, the moon too, the wind, the trees... Finally living on Earth is a pleasure, so I like feeling the wind on my skin."
"The underworld here is much more peaceful than where I come from."
"..." I was at a loss for words. Part of me wanted to ask what it was like there, but another part didn't."
"Well, the underworld is more peaceful. However, here there are not only devil hunters, the famous exorcists, but also Angels, Fallen Angels, and various other species... Master—I mean, Milicas, are you sure you want to be a Maou?"
"'Sure' is a strong word. Are you sure you want to call me 'Master' forever? You certainly love Tonkatsu and say it's your favorite food, but would you still be so sure if someone told you that you could only eat Tonkatsu for the rest of your life?"
"When you put it that way..."
"I will not become a Maou just because I want to, but because I have to. And, frankly, it's better to reign in hell than to be lost in paradise." I said, smiling and looking up at the sky.
Makima looked at me in surprise and then shifted her eyes to her mug of tea.
So we sat in silence for a few seconds. I took a sip of my tea, and now I was more sure than ever that Makima wanted to tell me something. I waited for a few more seconds, and then she finally plucked up the courage to say:
"I think I'm weak."
I looked at her out of the corner of my eye. "Weak?"
"When I was about to kill my old master, I realized my goals were empty and I freed all those I had under my control, directly and indirectly. Without purpose, my former master adopted me as a servant. I imagined that this way I would finally learn what it was like to be under someone's thumb, only obeying and ordering nothing."
"Is that when he started trying to abuse you?"
"Yes... And the rest you already know. When I woke up in this world with you, I thought I would be the perfect ally for you to fulfill your goal. However, watching Gasper's powers, your fight with Issei, and seeing how vast everything is, I don't feel that I'll be a better Queen than any ordinary devil."
I confess that these words surprised me a little. Makima obviously had a lot of magical power inside her, because her existence from the other universe had adapted to this one. But it made sense that she wasn't confident about it... Ever since she'd arrived, she'd just observed everything and never acted. It was time to change that.
I raised my right hand and made a leather pouch appear through a magic circle. The pouch landed in the palm of my hand, and Makima watched me curiously.
"What's that?"
"A magical item that allows me to store almost anything."
I brought my left hand close to the mouth of the bag, which opened quickly for me. I stuck my hand in and pulled out a change of clothes for Makima. They were the formal clothes she had arrived in this world wearing. So I threw them at her.
"Get dressed... We're going for a walk."
Makima nodded silently and, with no hesitation, she pulled down the strap of her sweater, first exposing her shoulders and then quickly part of her breasts.
The moment I realized she was actually going to change right there on the balcony, I turned around.
"I should have told you to go to your room..."
"But you didn't." Makima said with a slight joking tone.
For a few seconds, I heard the rustle of fabric falling and her slipping into her blouse.
"There. Now you can turn around."
I turned around and saw her buttoning the last buttons on her white shirt. She looked at me expectantly, waiting for the next instruction.
"Activate your wings." I ordered.
Makima raised her eyebrows slightly but obeyed. In an instant, a pair of huge, black bat wings appeared behind her. They were slightly translucent at the ends, like a thin membrane.
"Good." I activated my wings too. Unlike hers, my wings were slightly larger and thicker.
"Follow me."
Without waiting for her answer, I flapped my wings and felt the wind cross my face as I flew upwards.
Makima soon caught up with me, and I saw she was very skilled with these wings, even though she had never used them. It was a natural talent.
From up there, the city of Kuoh was a sea of yellowish lights amidst the darkness of a valley. There was no other city for miles. However, Kuoh was a very large city, with many parks, districts, and places to visit.
Makima hovered beside me, flapping her wings just enough to keep herself in place.
"So, where are we going?" she asked.
Instead of answering, I closed my eyes for a moment. She probably thought I was enjoying the strong breeze, but in reality, I was trying to concentrate on something.
I had asked to analyze one of Xenovia and Irina's Excaliburs because I wanted to know what it would feel like to be in front of such a sword, as well as, of course, to take advantage of the moment to activate the Entity Shop during a scene. In the end, I received a skill that makes me feel sacred swords like this.
'Since earlier, I've been sensing this strange presence coming from somewhere near my house...'
Makima watched me in silence as I opened my eyes.
"Remember, I told you about the Excaliburs and what those Church girls wanted with us?" I asked.
"Yes, you said that devils should fear certain things. Since we're technically immortal, but weapons like holy swords and spears of light can hurt us."
"Exactly. It was the first time I'd seen a sacred sword up close, and it was Excalibur. From it, I learned what they feel like. It's not like radar; it's more like instinct."
Makima was clever. "So, tonight, we're going to fly around the city until we find the bearer of this sword?"
I looked at her and smiled. "So perceptive..."
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