The mont Ryuji's eyes focused on the arcane beam, his arms barely moved. A feeling of complete exhaustion and satisfaction flowed through him. However, before the beam could touch him, soone stepped ahead of him, holding out a golden sword with white wings.
"Yo! Ryuji. It looks like you're in trouble."
A whirl of magic created from ethereal light tinged in silver, and the violent purple arcane elents flickered behind Alan's figure. The magic sucked into his golden sword. Yet Alan didn't seem to struggle. He looked at Ryuji with a sincere smile.
"A-Alan!? You weren't a weakling!" Ryuji's low voice echoed, causing Alan's lips to twitch. He then flicked his sword in a circle, turning both energies into a ball of pure violence.
"Hey, brother... Do you have to say it that way? I'll be hurt, you know!"
"Alan-"
"Besides- **Arts of Holy Moonlight Execute, Piercing Beam!"**
Before Ryuji could interject. The light condensed and pulsated with shockwaves flowing around him, which created ripples in the air. Alan's blade then shot the most beautiful beam Ryuji had ever seen! He watched as Alan slashed at the central pillar of the training ground, creating an explosion.
**BOOM!**
Alan then sheathed his sword, looking back at Ryuji while winking. Then, without even glancing at the witches who were coughing and picking themselves from the rubble, he extended his hand.
"Brother. I saw your will to surpass the strong and your imnse talent as a magic caster." Alan stated seriously. Ryuji widened his eyes as Alan's blue gaze glead on the training ground, like the clear skies after rain.
"So once again, let offer my hand. Not as the duke of Grigor, but as Alan, just Alan, I want to beco friends with you, without lies and secrets. I want you, Ryuji!"
"..."
Though Ryuji found Alan strange, this ti, it felt like a confession of love and made him apprehensive.
"A-Alan-"
"Little Alan, you made it sound like you were courting the poor boy when you want him to be your best friend, no?" Velvet's husky voice sounded as she stepped out of the broken walls carrying Ruby and Lapis.
What amazed Ryuji was the central pillar that Alan struck didn't take any damage, not even a scratch! Alan ignored Ryuji and instead pouted, causing him to look cute.
"Muu, Aunt Vel, what did I say about twisting my words? Also Ruby! Lapis, good work, in making him bring 'it' out. Finally, I can approach him as an equal and form a different path from my ancestors."
"You're so stupid. Are you really going to risk everything just because you like him?" Velvet's eyes looked filled with worry, but there seed to be a tinge of excitent that twinkled in her eyes.
Ryuji felt Alan grab his hand and then his shoulder, ignoring Velvet's cold mocking. "Ryuji! No, the future Demon King I want to beco your first friend as Humanities future hero!"
"Friend...? Hero... You!?" Ryuji muttered. Alan's big smile shone. Yet, right as they were about to shake hands, their ears twitched as the broken pillars shook, releasing loud laughter.
"Uhahaha! Look at little Alan trying to act tough. He's so stupid!" Ruby's cackle echoed before Lapis covered her lips. Yet the blue witch also seed to find it amusing.
"Ruby dear, shut up; little Alan is earnest, unlike you." Velvet slapped Ruby's shoulder, sending her body flying into the dirt like a rag doll, smothering her face in the sand.
"Ah!? Aunt Ruby, are you okay!" Alan pretended to worry, watching Velvet poking her face with the edge of her high-heeled boots.
At this ti, Ryuji furrowed his brows. He felt far too much happened, though he felt sothing strange about Alan from the mont they t. Sotis, his strength seed like an unsurmountable wall; others, he felt like a weak little scholar. However, watching him joke with the witches made Ryuji relax his shoulders.
'The cat is out of the bag, so why hide it?' There didn't seem to be a reason anymore to hide or hold back when speaking with Alan, and for Ryuji, that felt amazing.
"Oi, Alan."
"Hm? Ryuji, you finally relaxed and called my na-MmmmM!" Alan turned around, blinking his clear blue eyes. However, right as he did, a monstrous grip caused him to turn his neck.
"Who asked to be your best friend -even more-accept my fist as acceptance of our friendship!"** Ryuji roared, his cheeks slightly red. Alan found that look very charming as his lips remained in a smile.
"Mmhhmm!"
With a loud thud, the witch sisters, the future Demon King, and the future hero clashed.
anwhile, Velvet just shook her head while she watched Alan and Ryuji acting like fools with their sudden mood swings. She seed to beco lost in thought while watching the movents of Ryuji. Velvet wondered why he used his body and neglected his magic despite having a large amount stored in his body.
"This isn't bad, right, Sister? Can this interesting boy and Alan find a different path?"
Her voice echoed, likely for another person to hear. Yet only silence greeted her as she gave a bitter smile.
Inside her hand was an open locket, which showed a family picture with a small Alan, Liana, Alice and a beautiful woman hugging them all with a huge smile. It seed she was Velvet's 'sister' although their faces seed quite different. One fierce Velvet and the other like a silk sheet.
"If not, the world Alan was born might beco hell; well, let's bet on little Ryuji, shall we, sister?" Velvet pocketed the locket as her soft laugh sounded watching Alan and Ryuji chasing each other with wooden sticks.
"Well, seeing them smile like this isn't so bad..."
****
After they spent hours ssing around, Ryuji returned to Alan's mansion side by side with the troubleso duke, only to find Liana's carriage waiting for them outside.
"C'mon, Ryuji, show your demon form; I'll give you so candy." Alan whistled while Ryuji kicked his shin, causing them both to stumble because of Alan's tough defence.
"Idiot. I refuse! However, give that candy!"
"See, let's transform and fight to the end!" Alan exclaid, his eyes shining with curiosity, causing Ryuji's serious expression to crack.
"If we fought to the end, you know I would beat your ass."
"Heh, really? I think I showed my power today!"
"I bet it's all that gold sword, you little cheater." Ryuji snorted. Only Alan remained ignorant, smiling and nodding.
"Big cheater, if you may! Anyway, Ryuji, I wonder how demon transformation feels; not even Aunt Ruby knows, but you're a half-blood, so you must know and can control it. Right?"
Alan inquired, his childish personality gone. Ryuji scratched his cheek. Not that he didn't want to transform. The issue was more that he felt if he transford beside this idiot, then they might end up fighting all night since he could tell. The feelings Alan kept hidden were his love for battle and fighting powerful enemies!
"If I transform, you damn brother will try to hunt !"
"Oi, Ryuji, can you not bring my brother into this? You idiot. Besides, You should just do as I asked. Ryuji transform, transform."
"Alan."
"Trans~Trans~~Transform~~"
"..."
At this mont, Ryuji felt that Alan's bright smile, handso face and blue eyes were annoying. Sotis, it felt like Alan could look into him. Able to understand his thoughts and worries.
However, before Alan could get his wish granted, a noise echoed, and the door slamd open. Then ca a sudden head of crimson hair that shot past Alan and jumped into the demon lord's chest.
"Ryuji! Take responsibility!"
"!?"
Alan and Ryuji both fell silent.
The mont Liana landed in Ryuji's arm, Alan's face cracked like a pane of glass in a winter storm. His entire existence looked like he had lost the will to live.
"Responsibility!? What kind!?"
"This kind!"
With a powerful force, the bodies of Alan and Ryuji were pushed apart; from the back of Liana's back, two beautiful arms made of scarlet flas flickered, but what made Ryuji feel danger were the two claws! Each claw created a bolt of black lightning that flickered ferociously!
Then, as if not finished, Liana snapped her fingers, causing her eyes to transform from blue to bright red, with scarlet runes inscribed on her iris with black sclera. Her hair flickered with flas as she created a small arrow of flas.
"You understand, right Ryuji, Alan?"
Both Ryuji and Alan remained stunned as a powerful sense of pressure descended, and the pair understood the pressure and what exactly it resembled.
'She changed like Alicia, though it might be even more than her...'
"Ryuji... my little niece, when did you poison her?"
'Alan', Ryuji thought, and a sigh escaped his lips, yet before he could defend himself. Liana tilted her crimson arrows, pointing their tip to Alan.
"Dearest Uncle, please don't bla Ryuji; otherwise, I would be troubled."
"!?"
"Alan, Liana, can you calm down?"
Before Ryuji could state the misunderstanding and that Liana did all of this by herself. Her flas burnt hotter; her lightning flickered frighteningly and covered his mouth with both of her scarlet arms.
For a mont Ryuji felt panic, worried his face might lt. However, the flas were gentle and cool. He realised her magic couldn't damage him, making his guilt even more clear.
"Uncle Alan, Ryuji is innocent, and he hasn't touched yet; in fact, thanks to him, my flas beca gentler and mana purer, so please don't trouble him, okay?" Liana didn't seem like she would part from Ryuji, so he could only nod to her words.
"Yet...." Alan fell to the ground, hitting the ground with a wail of sorrow. "Why, why did you taint my cute little niece!"
He then stood up and pointed the golden sword towards Ryuji, "Now, foul demon, show your true form!" His lips twitched as if struggling to keep his serious face while Kathryn stood beside him, waiting for his remarks before she slapped his head with her sword's hilt.
"Alan, please behave yourself. Even if you are jealous, I believe that Ryuji's actions and Liana's growth are for the best. So stop your act and let them go. I know you feel glad in reality." Kathryn tried interjecting, only for Alan to ignore her. So she clicked her tongue in annoyance.
Alan ignored the pain, shaking his fist.
Ryuji felt a little bad for him and shouted over. "Alan, I'll show you next ti we're alone and hidden from other eyes."
Alan widened his eyes, turning to face Ryuji. It looked like he never expected him to accept, and it seed the gesture ant a lot to him.
"Thank you. Ryuji."
Alan's expression was sincere and grateful, making Ryuji feel strange, but he returned it with a brief smile. "No problem. You need to co up with an excuse so I can use it in public, though."
"!?" Alan looked stunned that Ryuji would plan to use his form in public. "No, that's just like you. Damn, Ryuji. Alright, give so ti. I'll find a way."
"Sure. See you later." Ryuji waved Alan goodbye.
He ignored her raised eyebrows because he didn't need to worry about her. Because Liana was on his side now! The next mont, Liana's magical arms released a gentle warmth.
"Bye, Uncle. Aunt Katheryn, make sure you take care of dearest uncle."
Ryuji carried Liana into the mansion like it was the most natural thing in the world, causing Alan and Kathryn's faces to twist, their eyes darting to the door and mouths hanging wide open.
"What, n-no way! Ryuji!?" Alan's shout resounded, causing Kathryn to snap out of her reverie.
"Princess Liana!? W-Wait for !" Kathryn panicked while Alan clutched his head, scratching his silky blonde hair.
"Is Ryuji a Casanova? Heh... no way... He's a damn thief! No, a demon thief fits! Return my little niece!"
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