"What are you doing, Yuuto?!"

The signal for the race to begin had just been given, yet Yuuto just stood there. Well, actually, it was him and Neith, but Miyabi was mostly worried about Yuuto.

It was only natural though, since Miyabi knew nothing of the competition Yuuto had set upon himself and Neith.

Before Yuuto and Neith had decided to go, however, Miyabi's phone rang. She had just received a message. She reflexively opened the message to read it.

"!"

Miyabi saw nothing wrong at first, but then it dawned on her. The first strange thing: the sender was none other than Rebecca Carlsson, Miyabi's friend who should still be under Ibiza's control.

The second strange thing was the content of the message itself. According to said message, Rebecca had somehow escaped Ibiza's control and had fled from him. She was currently hiding and wanted Miyabi's help.

Miyabi had never been the brightest tool in the shed. She could only use some Basic Magic, had trouble with Intermediate Magic, and Advanced Magic was something she never dreamed of reaching. Her grades were never good on subjects that required her to use her brains more than her brawn.

But even she could tell this was a trap. Or at least, it really looked like one.

Even so, in the 1 in 1 millionth chance this was real, Miyabi would never forgive herself if she left her friend alone when they needed her help.

"Let's go."

"E-eh? Mom?!"

"Regardless if it's a trap or not, we might as well go together."

That's… true. There was no logical argument for Miyako to let Miyabi go alone. Miyabi preferred her mother stay in safety, but she knew better than to try and argue.

So the 2 of them left the stands just as Yuuto and Neith began their race. Miyabi asked Rebecca where she was and headed to the location she was told.

All of the previous evening's events had been delayed due to the Disaster that struck, so there was nary a soul in a place where events weren't happening.

Even accounting for that, Rebecca was in a specially secluded place in Ginsei Academy. Miyabi was avoiding thinking about it, but Miyako was nearly sure this was a trap.

They arrived at the place Rebecca has said she was at, but there was not a soul in sight. Both mother and daughter had their guard up.

Miyabi was about to take out her phone and send another message to Rebecca when they heard a voice.

"Miss Miyabi?"

Rebecca came out of her hiding spot and stood in front of Miyabi and Miyako.

There didn't seem to be anything wrong with Rebecca, at least, if you discount the dirty clothes and face. That itself was strange, but Miyabi's heart eased up thinking her friend was fine.

"Rebecca, are you really free of Ibiza's control?"

"Yes. I don't know how it happened, but when I noticed I was no longer under his control I knew I had to escape. A good amount of his friends are participating in the competitions, so I took that chance. I know… I can't apologize enough for what I did, and I can't prove I'm actually free, but please believe me."

Rebecca's words were true. She had no way of proving she was actually free. And even if she was, as far as devil society was concerned, she was at fault for having fallen into Ibiza's trap.

But Miyabi could care less for any of that. Her friend was safe, so she opened her arms to receive her.

"Come here."

"M-miss Miyabi… *sniff*"

Rebecca hesitated to take that first step, but she eventually did. She ended up in Miyabi's arms and received a hug.

It was fine, Rebecca truly was free from Ibiza's control. Even Miyako had to let down her guard at this point.

"Girls, let's leave before someone shows up."

"Yes." "Y-yes."

Miyako had the right idea. If they could go back to the crowd, the chances of them being attacked lowered by a lot.

Unfortunately, such a thing wasn't meant to be.

"Leaving so soon?"

"We're just about to start the party."

Ibiza and Miyabi's father showed up. Of course, just because Rebecca was no longer being controlled, doesn't mean this wasn't a trap.

After all, Ibiza could have simply let her free exactly to set up such a trap.

Miyako took a defensive position in front of Miyabi and Rebecca. There was no need for them to fight here, so they should focus on thinking about how to escape.

Miyako was sure she could do it alone. She didn't know Ibiza's exact capabilities, but she believed Miyabi would also be able to escape. The problem was Rebecca.

Even at her best, Rebecca was never the fastest runner. This was another merit to Ibiza giving up control of her. If she was still being controlled, it would be a simple thing to just leave her, but that was not an option now that they knew she wasn't.

"There's no need to glare at me like that. I've already won."

Ibiza snapped his fingers. The next second, a barrier formed around Miyabi and Miyako, with Rebecca at the center.

"Gu-ah!"

Rebecca seemed to be in pain as she kneeled on the ground. Even if Miyabi and Miyako wanted to help her, they couldn't. The barrier didn't allow them to move a single centimeter. Well, they could, but it felt like their skin was being ripped off.

What had happened, where did this barrier come from? Such a barrier can only be created by means of a magic circle or magic crystal. There was no magic circle anywhere, so where could the magic crystal be?

"Rebecca probably doesn't remember it, but I made her swallow a magic crystal for this barrier about a week ago. She almost choked to death a few times, and I'm sure it must have been hell on her stomach, but hey, it's paying off."

Ibiza stepped into the barrier, but his movements weren't hindered. The barrier was made specifically to target the Yuugaoze blood.

"And I'm so glad you remembered what I asked you to do, Rebecca. Remember? All those times I was choking you like this as I fucked you like the bitch you are, I told you 'when you need help, call Miyabi' over and over. I thought it wouldn't work, but it actually did!"

Those memories resurfaced on Rebecca's mind. Maybe her mind had blocked them off, or maybe it was another aspect of Ibiza's Characteristic Magic, but she hadn't remembered that until now.

If she had, she would have rather suffered alone than called Miyabi for this trap. Rebecca started tearing up when she realized what she had done, even if she hadn't meant it.

"What's wrong? Is it painful? I'm sure Miyabi will help you soon enough, won't you, Miyabi?"

Conveniently, Ibiza had 2 of his chains free. He got both Miyabi and Miyako with them. The 2 had fallen under his control.

"Yes, master Ibiza. But what should I do?"

"You really are dumb, huh. You just have to destroy the magic crystal. Just punch her hard enough."

"B-but…"

"If you don't do it, she'll die. Don't you trust me?"

For the now enslaved Miyabi, those words had a lot of weight.

Miyabi did her best to move, but she was still under the barrier. Ibiza could have lifted it, but he didn't feel like it. It would hurt Miyabi, but it would be fun for him. It's not like she would die, even in the worst case.

"Haaaa!"

"Gah!"

Miyabi had to give it her all, but she managed to overcome the barrier. She gave Rebecca her strongest punch, sending her flying to the nearest wall. But the magic crystal inside her stomach was destroyed, as proof of that, the barrier stopped affecting Miyabi and Miyako.

Needless to say, having such a thing in your body and having it break like that wasn't healthy, but it's not like Ibiza cared what happened to Rebecca from now on. He didn't really care if she died or simply had to live with health problems because of this.

Of course, Miyabi didn't come out unscathed, her skin was torn in multiple places. She was bleeding all over, as if she had just tried to swim through blades. There was a lot of damage, but not enough to kill.

"Wow, you really are impressive, Miyabi. Such a shame you had to play so hard to get!"

Ibiza slapped Miyabi's face. She didn't show much reaction to it though.

"Ibiza, about our deal…"

"Oh yeah. You, older Miyabi, go with him and let him do whatever he wants to you."

"… yes, master Ibiza."

Ibiza gave the order to Miyako. She was doing her best to resist, but Ibiza's power was too much for her.

Ibiza gave Miyabi a few more slaps to the face. He was discounting all his frustrations for all the trouble he had until he eventually caught her. But no matter how much he slapped her, his frustrations wouldn't decrease.

He looked to the side to see Miyabi's father doing something similar enough to Miyako, except he was a lot more violent. Punches and kicks were only appetizers for him.

Ibiza knew the general reason for that. Apparently, in the previous Devil King War, the man who was now Miyabi's father was engaged to the then Candidate of Devil, which was Miyako's sister. The man blamed Miyako to this day for leaving her sister to die, but he couldn't carelessly land a hand on her for all those years.

It would be ironic of Ibiza to condemn them man's reasoning, and he honestly could care less. Ibiza's original deal with him was to let him do as he pleased with Miyako, but, ever since he learned how beautiful she is, Ibiza's been thinking of keeping her.

"But that can wait a little, I don't think he'll kill her right now. For now, I wonder what Miyabi would hate the most. Maybe I should rape her? Maybe I should rape her friends in front of her? So many choices."

Ibiza was seriously considering a number of possibilities in his mind. But something took precedence before all else.

"Miyabi!"

Yuuto Morioka, the Candidate of Lovers, had just arrived and jumped straight to attack Ibiza.

/

I followed the Arcana's directions and eventually reached the place Miyabi and Miyako were at.

The scene I saw was Miyabi's friend, Rebecca, smashed into the wall, Miyako being beaten by Miyabi's father and Ibiza approaching Miyabi.

I didn't waste a second getting to action. I fired a Figa towards Miyabi's father and jumped to land a hit on Ibiza.

[Warning. Princess is no longer in control of herself.]

But maybe I was too hasty to act. By the time I heard the Arcana's warning, I had already jumped at Ibiza.

"Oh, that's convenient."

Before I could reach Ibiza, Miyabi protected him. She caught me in the air and threw me to the ground.

"Gah!"

"A-ah, sorry, Yuuto. I ended up reflexively protecting master Ibiza."

Miyabi spoke naturally, but I could see it in her face. She was trying her best to resist Ibiza's control.

Ibiza looked at Miyabi curiously. Come to think of it, usually those under Ibiza's control display unquestioning loyalty, but right now Miyabi had apologized to me.

"It couldn't be… your feelings for this human are strong enough to compete with my Psiconnect? Have you really become Lovers' slut, Miyabi?"

"T-that's… master Ibiza is important to me, but I still, hum, like Yuuto, a lot."

Miyabi averted her eyes and even played with her hair as she said that. The scene would have looked cute, if not for her bloody appearance. How did she get so hurt?

Ibiza then slapped Miyabi. It made such a loud sound that I thought someone might have fallen down at the same time, but it was just the slap's strength.

"Listen well, Miyabi. I don't mind sharing, but the only thing I won't share is 1st place. You better drill that into your stupid head."

After Ibiza told Miyabi that, he moved towards me. Ibiza lifted me up and then looked into my eyes.

"You saved me some trouble by coming here. I was going to have Miyabi kill you while you slept, but I changed my mind. Since you were kind enough to come to me, I'll let you live to see me break everything you held dear."

"I won't… let you do… as you please."

"Interesting. Come on then, I'll give you a free shot."

Ibiza let go of me and then spread his arms, showing himself open to receive my attack.

I don't know what he's planning, but I'll take this chance.

"Destruct!"

Rather than any of the elemental spells, I decided to try explosion magic. I aimed at Ibiza and fired.

And then, Miyabi got in front of him to protect him. She only moved after I fired the spell, so I couldn't abort it. Miyabi took the full brunt of my attack.

Miyabi's arms were hurt and her uniform was torn as a result of the explosion. Her legs started trembling, so I could see how hard it was for her to just stand up.

"Miyabi!"

[Warning. Threat level 4.]

"You had your free shot, now it's my turn. Destructshear."

Before I could go to Miyabi to help her, Ibiza hit me with the Advanced Magic version of the spell I'd used against him.

My guard was low, so I ended up eating the spell's full force. I was sent flying backwards and hit Miyabi's father on the way.

"Guh!" "G-aaa!"

"Oops, sorry about that. But this is a good time, you see, I changed my mind about our deal. I'll be keeping both younger and older Miyabis. So you can… I dunno, go find something else to do I guess."

"B-but, that wasn't the deal, Ibiza!"

"Meh, don't really care. Older Miyabi, get rid of that guy for me, won't you?"

"Yes, master Ibiza."

"W-wait, please wait."

Miyako walked toward us. She took me out of the way and then grabbed Miyabi's father. It didn't take more than a well-placed punch to knock him out. He probably wasn't dead, but it's not a punch he'll soon forget.

Just like with Miyabi, I could tell Miyako was trying to resist, but it simply wasn't working. She was getting ready to continue her attacks, when Ibiza stopped her.

"Ah, don't kill him yet, I'll need him later to get Miyabi's Bloodline Magic. While you're there, give Lovers' arm a little twist."

"… yes, master Ibiza."

Once again, Miyako tried to resist, but it ultimately didn't work. She grabbed my right arm and broke it.

"Gu-aaaaah!"

It was really painful, and I couldn't even move due to Ibiza's earlier attack. I could barely let out some pain through my screams.

Miyako let go of my arm. It hurt when she held onto it, but it also hurt when it hit the ground. So in summary, my arm hurts a lot right now.

"Now then, to finish it off for now… Miyabi, how about you get a little payback? Lovers did hit you with his magic."

"I mean, it hurts, but Yuuto didn't mean to hurt me. I was the one who-"

Ibiza grabbed Miyabi by the neck. He was putting so much power into his hold that even I could tell, even from how far I was.

"Bitch, do as I say while I still see some use for you."

"I'm sorry, master Ibiza."

Miyabi followed Ibiza's orders and came to me. She lifted me and pressed me against the wall so I wouldn't be able to escape.

Her fist retracted, she was preparing a punch. Then I noticed tears flowing down Miyabi's eyes.

"Yuuto… I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Miyabi. Rather, can you control yourself?"

"No, it's taking all I have just to hold back. Soon, I won't be able to hold back anymore and I'll hit Yuuto, but I think Yuuto can survive if you use Armored and strengthen it enough. After that, I need Yuuto to do me a favor."

From Miyabi's tone, I could tell where this is going. I prayed I was wrong, but Miyabi wouldn't let me live in delusion.

"I want Yuuto to kill me. Don't let Ibiza have what he wants. If Yuuto uses the same magic from before, I don't think I'll be able to resist."

"There's no way I can do that! Why should Miyabi have to die?!"

"I also don't want that, but there's no other way! At this rate, Ibiza's going to win. If I die, maybe it'll buy enough time for senpai to figure out a way to save mom. I want to keep living with Yuuto, but if that's not possible I'd rather Yuuto kill me. Please…"

Both Miyabi and I wanted to shout, but we knew we couldn't let Ibiza overhear us.

I understood what Miyabi was saying logically, but I couldn't accept it emotionally. Was there really no other way?

While I was lost in thought, I felt Miyabi's lips coming in contact with my own. It was our first kiss since the contract. It tasted like blood, maybe Miyabi's mouth was cut somewhere.

The kiss soon ended. I barely even had time to process it.

"I love you, Yuuto. Aah, I should have said that much sooner…"

[Warning. Threat level 6. Evasion impossible. Recommend full focus on defense.]

If not for the Arcana's warning, I would have focused on Miyabi's words so much I would have forgotten to defend myself.

By the time she finished saying it, Miyabi's punch had reached me. I defended myself like she had said, but I still suffered a lot of damage. I couldn't even let out any screams of pain.

Miyabi let me go and was returning to Ibiza. I could barely lift my face to observe that, but now that I had sight on her, I could fire up another spell and do as Miyabi had asked of me. I could kill Miyabi and foil Ibiza's plan.

But so what? Do I just accept I couldn't save Miyabi and focus just on defeating Ibiza? Would there even be any point in winning then? If someone has to die now, it shouldn't be Miyabi, it should be Ibiza! But is that even possible…?

While I was thinking that, I felt my body hurting less.

When I looked to the side, I saw Rebecca there. It seemed like she was using some kind of healing magic on me.

"Please… I know you're just human, so I'm asking a lot, but there's no one else I can ask. Please find a way to defeat Ibiza and save miss Miyabi! Guah!"

Rebecca asked me in tears and puked blood by the time she finished. She was using all the magic she had left to heal me, but it was barely doing anything.

Even so, she hadn't given up, she was betting all she had on me. And on that same note, Miyabi and Miyako are waiting for me to save them. Miyabi didn't want to die, she just saw no other way.

No one had given up yet, so why should I? It felt like my body would break, but I stood up once more.

I won't let Miyabi die, but I also won't let Ibiza win. Think Yuuto, there has to be a way. If only I could use the Bloodli-

Wait… I think I got it. Arcana, when you chose me as a Candidate, you made new magic circuits in me, right? That means you can create them, right?

[It is technically correct.]

So if you have Miyabi's blood I just drank, couldn't you make a copy of her Bloodline Magic's circuits in me?

[It is… not impossible. But it would not eliminate the requirement of Devil Arcana's circuits for it to activate.]

If that's all that's needed, then I have a way to get them. Get ready to work, Arcana.

I began walking towards Ibiza, Miyabi and Miyako. They all had their backs turned towards me. Maybe because I was really beaten up, they weren't noticing my presence approaching.

Ibiza's back looked pretty defenseless from where I was. Part of me wanted to try killing him with 1 attack, but I knew better than that.

As I closed in the last few steps, I started opening my mouth. I would only have 1 shot of this, and if it didn't work I was as good as dead.

"If Miyabi survives having her magic circuits taken, we're going to have a good time, the 3 of us-? Guh!"

While Ibiza was talking, I chomped down on his neck. I dug my teeth in pretty deep, so I'm sure it hurt.

Ibiza grabbed my head and used his full strength to push me away. I'm proud of my teeth though, so I took some of his flesh with me. And then I swallowed it.

"Son of a bitch, are you a rabid dog or something? Kill him!"

With Ibiza's order, Miyabi and Miyako started coming towards me. The pain on their faces showed they were doing their best to hold themselves back.

But I'll be freeing them soon enough.

[Devil Arcana's magic circuits acquired. Commencing copy. … Bloodline Magic Cutting Connect acquired.]

The magic formula appeared in my head. In a second, I read it and understood it. When I opened my eyes again, I could now clearly see Ibiza's chains, as well as many other lines, but I chose to focus on the chains first.

Thanks to Miyabi and Miyako doing their best to resist, I was able to dodge their attacks with minimal movement. Then I used my left hand to swipe at the chains, and that broke them.

"Eh?" "Uh?"

"W-what?!"

Miyabi and Miyako were surprised at suddenly regaining control over themselves, but by far Ibiza was the most surprised. He looked like he couldn't believe what he was seeing with his own eyes.

"Ibiza, this ends now!"

"… I knew I should have killed you long ago, Lovers!"

And so began my battle with Ibiza.