After classes were over, I met with Lizel-senpai and Miyabi at the Palace and told them what had happened.

"So there is an alliance of Devil King Candidates… I'll have to look into it, but for now, Yuuto did good with Ruki. If the worst comes and Death's Group turns against us, it'll be useful to have our own allies."

I wasn't really thinking about it like that, but I suppose it is a good point. I don't think Lost would attack me, but in case Marios or someone else tries, it would be good to not have to fight alone.

I felt bad for adding another thing to Lizel-senpai's plate, but it couldn't be helped. I don't know enough about the Devil World, Reina doesn't have any connections, and Miyabi isn't really suited for this. In the end, the only one who can gather intelligence is Lizel-senpai.

"Ah, before I forget, Rikimaru, Strength's Candidate, mentioned something about a Card of hers getting along with a Card of mine. What's that about?"

"Ah, she probably meant me. You see, Yuuto, there's this girl called Flor Ishiwari that I've known since middle school. Turns out she became Strength's Queen. Remember I was 'pow' beaten up in the Athletic Festival last week? That's Flor."

"Oh, so she's like a friend?"

"More like an acquaintance, but sure, let's go with friend…"

Guess it's a complicated relationship. But I guess I'll just take Rikimaru's words for it and say that our Cards are getting along. This is a can of worms better saved for another time.

There's something much more important we have to solve as quickly as possible.

"Lizel-senpai, during that fight, Reina-"

I told Lizel-senpai and Miyabi what happened with Reina. In other words, that she died, but was brought back due to Rinne's Characteristic Magic.

It was obvious Reina couldn't fight anymore, but that wasn't all. It also meant our time for finding a way to save Reina was almost up. We had to do something, and we had to do it quickly.

"Yuuto, has the Arcana given any results on some magic that can help us?"

"… No."

We weren't just searching the old fashioned way, I also asked the Arcana if there were any spells that could transfer a soul.

Unfortunately, the Arcana found nothing. It seems like souls aren't something meant to be messed with. But still, I couldn't give up.

"Then we can't do much more than continue looking. But Yuuto and Reina should go home, since a lot happened today."

"Okay."

"Y-yes desu."

We both agreed to what Lizel-senpai said. Even I had to admit I was feeling tired after actually being killed once.

Lizel-senpai lent us her car, so we got home without much trouble.

"Ooh, Yuu-kun, Reina-chan, you're early today."

"Did something happen?"

"Nothing. But Reina should rest until dinner."

"Onii-chan…"

I wasn't about to worry my parents by telling them I'd been killed. Of course, I wasn't going to say anything about Reina's situation either, that would just make them worry.

In my room, I picked a few books I'd borrowed from Ginsei Academy's library. I'm sure I can't do this as efficiently as Lizel-senpai, but I have to try to find a way to save Reina.

We came home early, so there was a lot of time. I must have spent hours reading. I had no results to show for it, there really seemed like there was absolutely nothing on souls in any magic.

The only reason I noticed the passage of time is because Reina knocked on the door to my room.

"Onii-chan, mama says dinner's ready."

"Aah, I'm going."

My stomach felt really empty, now that I thought about it. I suppose I should take a small break.

*munch munch*

I had to eat quickly. I know this is also a break, but I can't afford to waste any more time. Even a second could make a difference now.

"Yuu-kun, you don't have to hurry."

"Do you have something you need to finish quick, Yuuto?"

Even my parents were noticing how weird I was acting, but it couldn't be helped. I had to do this even if I pushed myself to the limit. It would all be fine as long as I saved Reina.

"Yeah, I have something I have to finish as soon as possible."

"Even so, surely you can eat at a normal phase."

"No, I'm already done. Thanks for the food."

"Ah, wait desu! Onii-chan!"

I know I was being really rude, basically dashing off the dinner table, but I'm sure my parents would understand. It's all for the sake of saving Reina.

Once again, I jumped face-first into books and whatever else I could study. I even reviewed all the magic formulas I knew to see if there was anything related to souls there.

If I found something, anything, I could work from there. But there being absolutely nothing didn't allow me any glimmer of hope…

Before I noticed, I had fallen asleep. No good, I lost precious time.

[I finished reviewing everything. I was unable to find anything regarding souls.]

Oh, thanks Arcana, at least the time I spent sleeping wasn't completely lost. But since you couldn't find anything, maybe I should-

[Yuuto, there is nothing to be found. Please take a rest.]

… Alright, maybe I picked the wrong books. I'll hand those back to the library and look for more tomorrow.

I guess that only leaves resting for the rest of the day. I should drink some water first.

I headed downstairs. Dad was watching TV. Mom was cleaning the dining table, so I passed by her on my way to get a glass of water.

"Yuu-kun, are you feeling better?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry about before."

"It's fine. But Yuu-kun, if you have something weighing down your mind, you should share it with others. That's what family and friends are for."

I know that, but what good would it make to let mom and dad worry for Reina? It's best if they don't know.

"It's something with Reina-chan, right? Did her condition get worse?"

"Eh? How did mom…?"

"Yuu-kun, we noticed since you and Reina-chan came home seeming strange."

"Is there anything we can do to help, Yuuto?"

Dad got up from the couch and came over to me and mom.

Guess I never tricked them to begin with. Since they already guessed it's something to do with Reina, I suppose I'll tell them.

So I told mom and dad about everything so far. How Fleminar had agreed to make a new body for Reina, but we still needed a magic stone to serve as her core. Lizel-senpai, Miyabi and I had succeeded in making that, but we still hadn't found a way to put Reina's soul in the new magic stone.

And I also told them that Reina died today. Of course, I omitted some details, like my own death, but I told them how there was a fight and Reina had died, but she was brought back to life thanks to Rinne's Characteristic Magic.

"So Reina… kuh, and there's nothing we can do to help…"

"Reina-chan…"

My parents felt as helpless as I did. Even the nobility of devils couldn't do anything about this, what could normal humans like us do?

But I have to admit, telling them all that made me feel much lighter. As if the world had just come off my shoulders.

"No, we don't have time to feel sad, or even a reason. Reina-chan is still alive. We can't help Yuu-kun find a way to save her, but we can give them our support as their parents."

"… You're right dear. Rather than feeling helpless about what we can't do, we should focus on doing what we can. It might not be much, but if we can do anything to help, don't hesitate to ask us, Yuuto."

"Thanks, mom, dad."

Dad was right. If I can't find a spell that works on souls, I just have to find a way around that. The most logical answer would be to make a magic formula myself, but I don't know how I'd go about that, or how long that would take.

So maybe there's something else. If magic isn't the answer, what could be…?

"But for now, Yuu-kun, go take a bath and rest. You stink."

"A-ahaha, I guess you're right."

I still hadn't even changed, so I sure could use a bath. After I drank a glass of water, I headed upstairs to grab a change of clothes and went into the bath.

I started with a shower. It was a good way to calm my headache down a bit. With my head a little more clear, I could start thinking of alternatives to magic as a solution for Reina's problem.

The problem is that I don't know anything. I didn't even know about devils and magic until a few months ago, so now I have to overthrow an entire system? Is it even something I can do?

As I was thinking about it, I heard Reina's voice.

"O-onii-chan, Reina will wash your back."

I barely had time to turn around before Reina came in. Needless to say, she was naked. She was embarrassed, but walked towards me anyway.

Surprisingly, I wasn't feeling a lot of embarrassment. That's not to say there wasn't any, but I wasn't about to turn my head with my face turning red. Guess I'm starting to get used to all this stuff.

"Don't you think you should rest, Reina?"

"Reina can at least do this much."

Well, I suppose it can't hurt. For now, I'll just let Reina do as she pleases.

I sat down on the stool, Reina grabbed the soap and washing cloth and started washing my back.

Reina's hands felt so small and fragile, even more so after what happened earlier. To think she wouldn't be here if not for a series of coincidences. Well, I guess you could say the same for me.

"Onii-chan's back is so big desu."

Reina pressed her chest against my back. Well, rather than washing it, it's more like she was just resting against it. I almost thought she had 'turned off' again for a second, but she felt too alive for it to be that. I could feel her breath on my back.

We stayed like that for a few moments, just enjoying each other's presence. It hadn't been long since Reina joined the family, but I already thought of her as my little sister.

"Onii-chan… Reina thinks it's fine already."

"What is?"

"Onii-chan and the senpais have already done so much for Reina. There's a new body and a new magic stone, so there's no need to do anymore. Just copy Reina's memory to the new homunculus and Onii-chan and the others won't even notice the difference desu. Onii-chan doesn't have to keep trying so hard."

Is Reina telling me to give up? Have I really worried her that much?

"Onii-chan is having all that trouble because he thinks homunculus have a soul, but that's not true desu. Reina's first memories are from the real Reina, Reina only likes the sword because it's something that was expected of the real Reina. Reina has nothing like Reina's own soul desu."

"Reina, let me make one thing clear…"

I got up and turned to face Reina, who also got up. I placed my hand at the center of her chest.

"Maybe Reina doesn't believe she has a soul, but I do. That's why I'll keep looking. After all, I want to save Reina, I could care less about anything else."

"B-but onii-chan, Reina's telling you-"

"I know what Reina said, but I don't care. I believe Reina has a soul, and that's how it'll be, even if Reina herself doesn't believe it."

Lizel-senpai said I should start making my own will clear if I'm going to be Devil King. That what I want and believe is what matters. I didn't expect to have to make use of it so soon though.

But I'm pretty sure Reina just wants to make me feel better, to let me give up without regrets. Maybe that would be for the best, but I don't care. This isn't about me becoming Devil King or whatever, I'll save Reina because she's my friend and part of my family.

"Also, while I'm at it, I'll confess to Reina, since I already did it to Lizel-senpai and Miyabi. I like Reina. I know that, as my Card, Reina doesn't have much say in the matter, but I want to make my feelings clear. And I also want to ask Reina's feelings."

"B-but Reina isn't going to last for much longer…"

"I didn't ask about that. I'm asking about Reina's feelings. Forget about everything else for now."

"... Reina… also likes onii, Reina means, Yuuto-san. Reina wants to do lots of p-perverted things with Yuuto-san, but Reina also wants to be Yuuto-san's little sister desu. Reina also likes mama and papa, but in a different way from Yuuto-san. Reina doesn't know what to do desu."

"Reina's feelings are the same as mine, and that's all that matters."

Not to steal Lizel-senpai's line of thinking, but the solution for this problem is simple. I just have to become Devil King, then nobody's going to be able to tell me what I can or can't do.

Well, I don't want to act like me winning is a sure thing, but it's like I said. What matters now is that our feelings are the same. If Reina's fine with it, I want to have her not just as my friend and sister, but also as my girlfriend.

I tried going for a kiss with Reina. She heisted for a second, but still closed the remaining distance in the end.

But I wasn't going to let this end with just a touch of the lips. I pulled Reina so close our bodies were practically glued together. And I had our tongues dance together at the same time.

"Mm, nn."

"Nn, chuu, mmm~"

We were sticking so close I could feel Reina's nipples harden. She's getting really excited, maybe my kissing level went up from that time at a love hotel? That'd be nice.

Doing Healing Lovers is probably a good idea. It should buy Reina some more time. Besides, I wanted to do it.

"Reina, I'm going to wash you now."

"Eh? But Reina didn't finish washing onii-chan."

"But I'm going to wash you now."

I convinced Reina to stay under the shower so I could wash her. It was normal enough while I was working on her back, but my intentions were less than wholesome.

Once I got to Reina's front, I dropped all pretense and just focused on groping Reina's breasts. There wasn't a lot to grab, but it was a nice breath of fresh air after so long with Lizel-senpai and Miyabi.

Because I was groping Reina from behind, I had to stick really close to her. Reina smelled so good it was honestly driving me nuts.

"Mmm, nnn, Onii-chan~"

"We're just getting started, Reina."

I let one of my hands move lower on Reina's body. I honestly considered putting a finger in her, but I thought I might hurt her or something, so I stuck to teasing the outside.

That's not to say any pleasure was lost though. Between teasing her lower lips, clit and entrance, I'm pretty sure Reina was feeling pretty good.

"Onii-chan, Reina is-! Reina is-!"

I hadn't even noticed, but I was humping Reina's ass. Guess I'm still a little backed from that time at a love hotel.

The only reason I noticed is because I felt myself almost cumming. As much as I wanted to keep going, I wanted to make this about Reina. I'll hold off for now.

So I stopped my humping and instead decided to finish Reina off. I did that by pinching her nipple and clit at the same time.

"Waaaa! Onii-channnn!"

Reina came. Her voice echoed in the bathroom and her love juices made a puddle on the floor. I'm pretty sure she also pissed herself a little.

Without strength, Reina would have fallen if I didn't catch her. I figured we could rest a bit, so I took us to the bathtub.

Healing Lovers was complete. With this, Reina should be fine for a little while longer.

But personally, I wasn't satisfied.

"Reina, do you want to continue after we leave the bath?"

"Reina does."

It seems like I wasn't the only one.