A/N: Hey there. So, regarding romance. Since I'm not really good at romance I've decided to take romance subplots slowly. For instance in chapter 23, the romance between the MC and Velzard has just been plotted.
I must not that the MC having multiple romance plots does not mean he will have a Harem. For example for now he has subplots with Blanc, Shizue and Velzard.
Also I still haven't decided if this will be a Harem or not. If it did become a Harem I'd have to be really careful with it because it's very easy to mess it up.
So just a little update. If you feel like there is no romance at all, it's because I want to do it slow.
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After the two finished discussing the plan to invade the Holy Empire of Lubelius, a brief silence settled over the room. The air felt heavy, as if the walls themselves were listening. Loki, who had been leaning lazily against the desk, suddenly straightened, his eyes flickering with faint curiosity.
"Oh, by the way," Loki said, as if it were an afterthought. "Do you know where I can find Shizue?"
Yuuki's expression tightened almost instantly. His brows furrowed, and his sharp gaze locked onto the demon before him.
"Why do you want to know where my sensei is?" Yuuki asked.
Loki waved a hand dismissively. "Relax. Me and Shizue are friends."
Yuuki scoffed lightly. "Sorry, but I find that hard to believe."
Loki blinked, then chuckled softly. "Is that so? So she's never spoken about me. That's… sad."
Yuuki hesitated. His mind flickered back to a memory. Shizue, during one of her visits, casually mentioning a demon who had once helped her long ago.
'So it was him…'
Yuuki studied Loki again. His relaxed posture, his careless smile, the sheer pressure he gave off, it didn't match the image Shizue had described.
'This demon is nothing like how she explained him.'
Pushing those thoughts aside, Yuuki exhaled quietly.
"Yes," Yuuki said, regaining his composure. "Shizue-sensei did mention you. I had simply forgotten."
Loki's lips curved upward in a pleased smile. "Then I suppose you won't have a problem telling me where she is."
Yuuki folded his arms. "I could tell you where my sensei is. But first, I have to ask, what do you want to do with her?"
Loki paused for a moment, then shrugged. "Well… there's an otherworlder I rescued in some kingdom. Honestly, I don't want to deal with keeping watch over her and all that troublesome responsibility. So I figured I'd leave her with Shizue."
"Oh," Yuuki said, interest flashing in his eyes. "An otherworlder. Where is she now?"
"She's down at the reception, waiting," Loki replied casually.
"Oh? Then may I meet her?" Yuuki asked.
"Sure. Why not," Loki said.
The two stood from their seats. As they prepared to leave, Loki suddenly glanced back at Yuuki, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Oh, Yuuki," Loki said. "You should probably change your outfit first. Walking around with bloodstains like that is bound to cause a panic."
Yuuki looked down at himself and froze.
"Oh… you're right," he said with a light laugh. "Give me a second."
He turned and walked over to the cupboard inside his office. Opening it, he pulled out a clean shirt and swiftly changed, discarding the stained one. When he finished, he turned back to Loki.
"Well then," Yuuki said calmly, "shall we go?"
Loki nodded and turned toward the door, already walking out. Yuuki followed a step behind him, his expression neutral.
'If I fought him here,' Yuuki thought, his mind calculating coldly, 'I could most probably win.'
His gaze hardened slightly.
'But what's the point of killing this demon? When I can use him to achieve my goals.'
A faint smile formed beneath his calm exterior.
'Yes… this is better. For now, I'll let him think I'm beneath him.'
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The two finally made their way down from the upper floors. The air grew livelier as they approached the reception area, the soft murmur of voices echoing faintly through the hall.
Rain stood near the counter, speaking with the receptionist while Kirara waited beside them. The moment Rain's eyes landed on Loki and Yuuki approaching, her posture straightened.
"Loki, you done?" Rain asked.
Loki raised a thumb casually. "Yes. Just one more stop after this, then we head back to the castle."
Rain sighed. "Just know, Guy-sama is going to be extremely mad."
Loki smirked. "Don't worry about Guy. If anything, I'd love for him to be mad. Maybe then he'd finally fight me."
Yuuki stepped forward slightly. "Hello."
Rain glanced at him briefly, then looked away as if he didn't exist.
Yuuki blinked. "She seems to not like me," he muttered, then turned to Loki. Pointing toward Kirara, he added, "So that's the otherworlder."
"Yep," Loki said. "That's her."
Kirara looked up as she noticed attention on her. She saw Yuuki approaching and straightened. Yuuki extended his hand with a polite smile.
"Hello. My name is Yuuki Kagurazaka."
Kirara stood and shook his hand, smiling warmly. "Hello, my name is Kirara."
She hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously, "Are you an otherworlder as well?"
Yuuki's smile widened slightly. "Yes. And from your name and appearance, it seems we might be from the same country. Japan, right?"
Kirara's face lit up. "Yes! I'm from Japan too. To think I'd find someone else from Japan here…"
Yuuki chuckled. "It's quite nice meeting a fellow countryman here. Honestly, I only know of two others."
Kirara's eyes widened. "So there are other Japanese here?"
"Yes," Yuuki replied. "Actually, Shizue is from Japan as well. You'll meet her when you head to her."
Kirara smiled brightly. "Really? I want to meet her and the other Japanese too."
Yuuki nodded. "Meeting Hinata under normal circumstances would be difficult. But with Shizue, I'm sure she could make a plan."
Loki watched the two converse, arms folded.
'Actually,' he thought dryly, 'there's another Japanese standing right behind you, you know.'
Yuuki turned back to Kirara. "I'd love to stay and chat more, but we'll have to do that another time. Being a Grandmaster is no easy job. I have so much work to catch up on."
"That's fine," Kirara said gently. "Just knowing there's another Japanese person like me here makes me happy."
Yuuki smiled, then turned to Loki. "Loki. My sensei is currently at Freedom Academy. She's teaching and taking care of other summoned children there."
"Other summoned kids as well?" Loki asked.
Yuuki's expression dimmed slightly. "Yes… but their fates are quite terrible."
"Oh?" Loki said. "In what sense?"
"You see," Yuuki continued, "since these children were summoned at a young age, their bodies can't handle the magicules. Most of them will likely die by the age of ten. Sensei simply tries to make their lives a little better before they pass."
Kirara gasped softly, placing a hand over her mouth. Her eyes shimmered. "That's… so sad."
Loki glanced at her, disbelief flickering across his face.
'This selfish girl actually cares about other people,' he thought. 'How shocking.'
Rain crossed her arms. "That's sad and all, but can we leave now?"
Loki turned toward her with an exaggerated look of pity. "Rain… how cold-hearted can you be? Not feeling even a little compassion for those kids."
Rain snapped back immediately. "What!? You're a demon too, don't tell me you care!"
Yuuki laughed lightly. "Alright, alright. Let's calm down."
He then looked at Loki. "Shall I have someone accompany you?"
"No need," Loki replied. "Just point us in the right direction. I'll teleport us there."
Yuuki paused. "Wait… you can teleport to places you've never been to?"
"Yes," Loki said simply. "I have Universal Perception."
"I see," Yuuki said, impressed. "That is quite handy. Very well, then I'll show you."
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