Epilogue

“This is ludicrous. A treaty? With us Demons?! I can’t believe they’d even bring up nonsense like that. Those scheming clowns. Let’s go and attack them instead. They and their treaty can go to Hell—can they?”

“Lord Kuro, you’ve really raised the bar with this one.”

“……”

Homura, Yuka, and Talmarius were gathered in Kuro’s apartment. However, he’d summoned each of them personally this time around.

Homura stopped his seething, quickly asking Kuro, “So, what did you tell those fools?”

“Alright,” Kuro answered, fingers interlocked as he sat on his bed.

“WHAT?!”

“Oh my… Lord Kuro…”

“Hmm… If it is what my Liege desires, I’d gladly accompany you.”

All eyes focused on Talmarius, upright and as devoted as ever.

“Okay, Talmarius is on board. Now listen, if you two don’t want to come along, that’s perfectly—”

“I never said I wasn’t coming, did I?” Yuka cut Kuro off, with her palm facing him. “I personally want to see this play out.”

Now all eyes fell upon Homura.

He didn’t like the threatening undertones that Talmarius’s steely gaze was giving him. Yuka, on the other hand, was giving him a look that screamed, “Chicken.”

He certainly was not a chicken.

And as for Kuro, there was nothing particularly striking about his gaze. It looked like either way, he wouldn’t care.

Homura let out a huff. “I guess I can come along. But the moment they try anything funny, I’ll—”

“Great. That’s everyone. Thanks.” Kuro lightly clapped once, and smiled. “You’re the best.”

“Please, my Liege. There is no action of mine that warrants your thanks.” Talmarius swiftly bowed.

“I’m just coming to see how this goes… So, same thing Talmarius said,” quipped Yuka.

“And I want to battle—”

“I know. But still, thanks…”

Three Days Until the Meeting…

“An entire apartment complex in Shinjuku-Sanchome?”

Kuro was receiving the specifics from Irina on the exact location of their meeting. They were in the middle of a class, but were able to talk about this confidential matter because Hisashi had once again stayed up too late. Would he ever learn?

“Yes,” Irina whispered, “Shun bought the whole building with some funds that normally went into his research… Oh, and the time for the meeting is midnight. Something about giving you the higher leverage in that aspect, too.”

“Oh, did he now? Seems like he’s taking this treaty thing pretty seriously.”

“Of course, this could determine the fate of both our Clans, Kuro. A monumental event would require proper execution.”

“I totally agree,” Kuro chuckled, now facing the professor in front. “Proper execution…”

● ● ●

One Day Until the Meeting…

Kuro stared thoughtfully at the ceiling, lying on his bed.

Tomorrow’s the day, huh…? Kuro’s chest rose, drawing in a deep breath. It’s almost too good to be true… What’s that saying again? “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

His feet touched the floor, and he stood up to loosen up his limbs—they weren’t tense, though. He just couldn’t stay still, knowing what awaited him the next day…

“Irina, you’re in good spirits today. What’s the occasion?” Osamu asked Irina, seated in front of his desk. “You had taken some time off to clear your thoughts, didn’t you? I can relate. Duty can be a burden one can’t carry with brute force alone.”

“It is as you have said. I needed to breathe and ground myself properly. As someone meant to protect, I should also ensure I myself am protected.”

“Wow… You’ve changed so much in such a short time. Must have been one heck of a revelation.”

“‘One heck of a revelation’ indeed…” An unreasonably sunny smile graced Irina’s graceful features. “I have a feeling that things a change for the better, Osamu.”

Inside the Kurosu Estate…

Talmarius had finished making some rounds at the staff quarters. He’d been wrapping up with his duties for the day, ensuring the smooth running of his Liege’s family home—his home…

He pushed open the magnificent doors leading to the main living area. His shoes echoed with each step in the spacious room.

The sofas, ornaments, chandeliers; all of them were carefully inspected by his observant eyes. Everything was at it should be.

Talmarius walked up to the large portrait on a wall. The one with both his current and former masters…

And Mira…

“I will avenge you… I swear it…”

● ● ●

The Day of the Meeting…

It wasn’t the natural light from the sky that illuminated the streets. Rather, neon signs spilled harsh lights across them. Loud music with heavy bass boomed from underground clubs. Bicycles and vending machines lined the edges of the roads.

The smell of grilled meat and booze wafted through the air. Office workers had their ties undone, lingering at the doors of bars. Their conversations grew incoherent as they lost themselves in pleasure.

Couples could be seen sifting through the crowds, keeping close to avoid being separated from one another.

Higher up, windows were set aglow by whatever their occupants watched on television.

And through these streets, Kuro, Talmarius, Yuka, and Homura navigated their way to the apartment Irina had Shun would await their arrival.

“Oh, looks like those two over there wanna start a fight! I’ll be right—”

“No, Homura. We have somewhere we need to be.”

“I’m just kidding. Can’t take a joke? And say, couldn’t Talmarius just, you know, take us there without all this walking?”

“He could, but why not relax and enjoy the scenery?”

“You’re too laidback, Demon King…”

“Are we there yet?” Yuka groaned. “Are we there yet?”

“If you’re trying to annoy me, it won’t work.”

“Tsk!”

Talmarius walked a few paces behind them, stoic and dignified.

The group had gotten to a respectably sized apartment complex. A concrete block with ten identical stacked balconies, weathered railings fencing each one.

“Tenth floor, last room on the left,” Kuro stated the instructions Irina had passed down from Shun.

Crossing the hallway, they approached a functioning elevator.

Ding.

The doors parted on the tenth floor. They turned left, and headed down the corridor.

Kuro placed his hand on the handle, twisting it with a push.

“Welcome, esteemed guests,” Shun got off the couch adjacent to Irina to give his greeting. “The treaty will now commence.”

Above them, a yellow lightbulb flickered, keeping the room in an endless interval of light and dark.

The walls looked timeworn as patches of washed-off paint marked its surface.

“Thank you for coming, Kuro,” Shun addressed him with a mild gesture. “The rest of you all as well. I am thankful for you allowing this wonderful meeting of Demons and Heroes.”

Irina nodded after Shun’s appreciation.

“I am Irina Belova, The Hero. On behalf of the Heroic Clan, I give you my heartfelt gratitude for taking a step toward peace.”

“Yeah…” Kuro leaned forward in the sofa he sat on, opposite Shun’s. “Peace…”

“Alright let’s get started, shall we?” Shun clapped twice. “Who wants to go first?”

“I do...”

“Okay, Kuro, go right ahead.”

“First, I want to clarify something. Irina told me that you’d been the one that gave her the push she needed to propose this treaty, correct?”

“That’s right!”

“I see… And she’d also told me that you were already investigating the weird monsters that had stormed the city a few days ago. Is that true?”

“Correct again!”

“During our first conversation, you asked me…why’d I’d been so trusting… Well, I feel I should ask you the same thing…”

Kuro rose from his seat slowly, his gaze locked on Shun.

His three companions behind him suddenly grew alert.

“Kuro?” Irina got up hurriedly, perplexed at the abrupt hostility Kuro emitted. “Is there something…”

She slowly turned toward Shun. “Shun, why does your…”

“I’m impressed, Demon King. As expected of a powerful entity like yourself.” A crazed grin grew on Shun’s face as he stood up. “There’s no use hiding it now—”

BOOOOOMMMM……

Kuro’s group warped a few meters away from the apartment building—now a smoldering heap of rubble.

Irina blasted out of the heap, magical armor now equipped.

She landed right in front of where Kuro was standing.

Everyone gazed at the single figure hovering high above the demolished structure…

Shun…