Despite the night having felt endless, Devyus did not close his eyes even once. His body—capable of enduring millennia without fatigue—remained perfectly still, statue-like, shifting his focus between the flickering lights of the city that never slept, the thin moonbeams slipping through the grime, and above all, the serene face of the former heroine who slept deeply while clinging to his arm.
At one point, still lost in sleep, Mika abandoned her awkward position and fully settled against him, resting her head on his shoulder and wrapping both of her soft pink hands around his arm. It was an image of absolute peace—so fragile that Devyus even held his breath to avoid disturbing her.
It was difficult to tell, through the eternal smog suffocating Daten City, when night finally began yielding to day. It wasn't a glorious sunrise, but a slow, grey transition. Gradually, a bleak clarity filtered through the pollution—a pale imitation of sunlight.
Devyus sensed the exact moment his sisters awoke fully inside the shack. Their demonic energies, though controlled, fluctuated faintly as consciousness sharpened. Almost immediately, as if her subconscious felt their presence, Himika stirred. Her large green eyes opened slowly, still foggy from sleep, and met the amethyst gaze of Devyus, who was already watching her.
"Good morning," she said with strange normalcy, as if waking up while embracing a near-stranger was the most natural thing in the world. Then reality hit her, and a blush rose up her neck. "Sorry… how did you sleep?" she asked, trying—poorly—to free his arm without drawing attention to it.
"Fine, I rested very well," Devyus lied, his voice a bit rough from lack of use. His mind, usually sharp with sarcasm or provocation, was uncharacteristically blank.
Any other day, he would've said something like, "As if an angel embraced me in my dreams," or "Fine, though now I'm wondering if you're pink all over."
But something stopped him.
For the first time in ages, he cared what someone thought of him.
He felt ridiculous—and chose silence.
"And you, Mika-chan… how did you sleep?" the incubus continued, trying to extend the conversation, even if it was painfully simple.
"Well, actually… you're comfortable. I haven't slept that peacefully in a long time," she joked, blushing as she fixed a strand of her hair.
The shack door opened, cutting the awkward moment short. Both sisters stepped out, already dressed and using their human illusions—though they kept their yellow feline eyes and vibrant hair colors (emerald green and cobalt blue), not fully hiding their demonic nature.
"Good morning, Onii-sama," they said in unison, their voices carrying a formality that barely concealed tension.
"Good morning," the dancer said, jumping away from Devyus almost instantly, clearly embarrassed to be caught in such an intimate position.
Both sisters stared at her with jealousy they tried—and failed—to hide.
"Morning," the twins added in dry, curt tones, unable to mask the irritation in their voices.
The three women stared at one another—the sisters' gazes filled with quiet resentment, the former heroine trying to offer a polite smile despite the crushing awkwardness.
"I don't usually wake up this early," Himika added quickly, trying to fill the heavy silence. "I also finish later at the club. The owner gives us time off when there are… incidents, like last night." She stretched, avoiding their accusatory eyes at all costs. "I was thinking of going to buy something better to eat. Something besides instant noodles."
"I'll go with you," the incubus declared before he could stop himself, driven by the desire to know more about the girl he had spent the night beside. He stood up with fluid grace.
"ONII-SAMA!" both sisters protested, their voices bursting with worry and disapproval.
Devyus ignored them. Instead, using the bloodline and mental link they shared, he spoke directly into their minds:
«Search everything you can about this city. Power map, infrastructure, weak points, criminal leaders. Everything. Use any means necessary—even lethal force. Just clean up properly and stay discreet. But don't waste time.»
The twins froze for a moment.
Shared a quick glance.
They didn't fully believe him—they knew his real motive was the human girl. But an order was an order. They had no choice but to obey, even if it sounded absurd. They owed their Onii-sama the benefit of the doubt—and the trust that his judgment wasn't clouded.
Besides, it was also a good opportunity to escape their brother's watchful eye for a while, and the prospect of exploring a foreign city was inherently appealing—especially for Katherine, whose fascination with the nation's technology practically pulled her forward.
"I think that's for the best," the younger twin said aloud, adopting her most analytical tone. "Onee-sama and I want to look for new clothes. Ours draws too much attention."
"Katherine-san is correct," Catherine added, catching on immediately. "I'd like something more fitting for this city before we head to the next town." She aimed that last line directly at the dancer with a forced smile. "Without extra company, of course."
Himika flushed even deeper, overwhelmed and avoiding their piercing gazes.
"Y-y-yes, of course. But… you're welcome to stay here as long as you need." The words tumbled out. "This place isn't much, and there's no rent anyway." She finished with a shy but genuine smile.
The offer froze Devyus for a moment.
It was an act of trust so enormous—and so naïve—that it unsettled him.
And he simultaneously felt the surge of jealousy and anger from his sisters behind him, hot as a rising flame.
"We appreciate it, and we'll truly consider your generous offer," Devyus managed, regaining composure. "It will serve as a base while we decide whether to stay in this city or choose our next destination." Then he turned to his sisters, ending the discussion. "We meet back here in eight hours."
They prepared to argue, but the tone said it all.
It was an order, not a suggestion.
Both sisters bowed their heads with precise, slightly resentful obedience.
"As you command, Onii-sama," the elder twin said, as formal as ever.
"Don't take too long," Catherine added. "We want you here so you can review what we find about that business offer—and see the rest." Her gaze promised a long, reprimand-filled conversation later.
Devyus nodded and, with one last look at the rooftop that was starting to feel dangerously comfortable, turned to Mina.
"Let's go," he said—and his voice was softer than he intended.
She nodded, still overwhelmed by the speed of events, and followed him down the rusty fire escape, leaving behind the two demon sisters who watched them go with the intensity of hawks who had momentarily lost sight of their prey.
"If you've reached this far… thank you for walking through Devyus's silence."
"Your thoughts matter — even one word helps me keep building this world."
© 2025 D.S.V.
All rights reserved.
No part of this work may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without the explicit permission of the author.