Chapter 322 Maria’s Complications
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A few days prior, the devils sent to shadow Zolgear went silent. When Sirzechs dispatched a team to investigate, they found Zolgear’s territory abandoned—nothing remained but ruins and a sprawl of dead devils.
It wasn’t just the spies who had perished; every inhabitant of the domain had been wiped out. Investigation revealed that the victims were primarily those who had been dissatisfied with Zolgear’s rule or those who had been slow to obey his commands. His loyal subordinates and servants, however, had vanished without a trace. The evidence was no longer required: Zolgear’s collusion with the Khaos Brigade was a certainty.
Following a consultation with the other three Great Demon Kings, Sirzechs issued an arrest warrant for Zolgear, officially marking him a traitor. While the public remained ignorant of the motive behind his sudden defection, Sirzechs knew the truth. Zolgear, hindered by constant surveillance, had lost his window of opportunity to strike at Naruse Mio. Running out of time, he had been forced into the worst possible contingency: fleeing.
Though connected to the Khaos Brigade, Zolgear couldn’t expect the organization to extend sanctuary to a deserter. Figures like Vali and Sun Wukong held deep contempt for opportunistic old men driven by base, selfish desires. The Khaos Brigade was a loose-knit terrorist collective at its core; it demanded little of its members, yet it offered even less protection. By defecting, Zolgear had nowhere to turn but to plead for scraps or go deep underground. Aki leaned toward the latter; a man so terrified of death would never willingly serve as cannon fodder for the Brigade.
Aki and his circle weren’t the only ones aware of Zolgear’s fixation on Naruse Mio; the Hero Clan was watching, too. With Naruse Mio’s identity exposed through the connection to Jin Toujou, the Hero Clan had begun monitoring both her and Maria. When Sirzechs and the Heroes synchronized their intelligence, a dedicated surveillance detail was promptly arranged for Mio. In an era of relative peace across the Three Realms — the Human World, the Underworld, and the Netherworld — no one wanted to see an old relic like Zolgear achieve immortality by breaching her.
Voices within the Hero Clan had suggested a simpler solution: kill Naruse Mio to sever Zolgear’s lifeline once and for all. But the suggestion lacked traction. Putting aside Jin Toujou’s influence within the Clan, could Naruse Mio—now under the protection of the Gremory household—really be killed so easily? Others proposed taking her into custody, which was an even bigger joke. If Zolgear could slip past Aki’s defense, a branch of the Hero Clan in Japan stood no chance of keeping her contained. Naturally, even if the Hero Village possessed the ability to repel Zolgear, Aki would never permit it.
Thus, the duty of surveillance fell to Nonaka Kurumi.
Aki felt as though the threads of reality were pulling back to a familiar node in his memory; minor fluctuations were negligible. This was advantageous. As long as events followed the original timeline, Zolgear’s schemes and maneuvers would be laid bare before him.
The sisters—Naruse and Nonaka—finished reviewing the files. Nonaka Yuki and Nonaka Kurumi remained composed, nodding slightly to signal their understanding. In truth, had Rias not informed them, they would have received word from the Hero Clan soon enough. By contrast, Naruse Mio and Maria were heavy with worry. The panic in the succubus’s eyes was visible to anyone.
”Mio, if you’re scared, just engage in Dual Cultivation with me. I promise you’ll master all your power in no time,” Aki teased, his voice casual.
”You jerk. Pervert. H-hentai,” Naruse Mio retorted, her voice trembling slightly with youthful indignation.
The triple-strike of indignation concluded, Naruse Mio turned her head away, flushing a faint red, signaling that she would not dignify him with a response. Having lived together for so long, and with the succubus acting as a persistent instigator, Aki had long since taken his fill of liberties with Mio. Conversely, his own boundaries had been thoroughly breached by her and her succubus shadow. Aki never hid his possessiveness; while Mio had initially been embarrassed and angry, she had gradually learned to ignore his antics.
Again: environment changes a person. Watching Aki with the women of his harem daily, seeing their disregard for his chaotic relationships, and having a lustful succubus whispering in her ear—Naruse Mio had long ceased to resist the idea of Dual Cultivation with him. Otherwise, she never would have agreed to become his Peerage, nor would she have toyed with the thought of the throne. It was simply the nature of her hot-and-cold personality — someone who acts cold and hostile but gradually shows a warmer side — that kept their relationship in such a peculiar state.1
The succubus, typically eager to watch Mio squirm, remained uncharacteristically silent. The room sensed the shift immediately.
”Maria, it’s alright,” Naruse Mio comforted her, her voice gentle. “That… that… whatever-his-name-is, he won’t get a chance to lay a finger on me. Aki and Lady Rias are both very strong.”
Rias and the others assumed this was the cause of her distress. Only Aki knew the reality of Maria’s anxiety. He chose not to expose her yet; he wanted to see what choice she would make. Redemption was sweet, and it would make her all the more endearing—but Aki hoped for a foundation of trust from the beginning.
The succubus did not disappoint. After a moment of hesitation, she stammered out her secret.
”It’s not that.” Maria’s expression hardened, her tone shifting to a desperate, shaky cadence. “My mother and sister were taken by Zolgear. He contacted me yesterday… he’s forcing me to act as a spy.”
”If I refuse, he’s going to… he’s going to kill them, sniff…”
By the end, the succubus was on the verge of tears. In the original timeline, her initial contact with Naruse Mio had been a betrayal forced by Zolgear. The death of the parents, Mio’s escape, the reversal of the master-servant contract—it was all designed to deliver the perfect ‘dish’ to Zolgear. Because the protagonist eventually benefited and the narrative was heavily cushioned, her redemption had been a success, actually boosting her popularity.
But this time, Maria had approached Mio on the instructions of her mother, Shela, which had led to this entirely different trajectory. Upon seeing that Shela and Lucia, Maria’s half-sister, were missing from the death list, Aki had deduced the possibility. Even if Maria hadn’t confessed, he would have approached her privately. If she had remained silent, he would have played along, but he would have kept a close watch. Perhaps Zolgear hadn’t contacted her yet; the kidnapping of Shela and Lucia was a deliberate tactical move with a specific end goal.
Now that Maria had voiced it, those considerations were off the table.
”Maria…” Naruse Mio pulled the succubus into her arms, offering the warmth of her embrace. In the past, Maria would have taken the opportunity to rub against her sister’s chest—taking the hits and enjoying it—but now, she lacked the heart for it. If anything happened to her mother or sister, she would never forgive herself. But betraying Naruse Mio was equally impossible. Unlike the original timeline, their bond hadn’t been forged through deception; it was now just as deep as the one she held for Shela and Lucia.
”Maria, keep following Zolgear’s orders for now,” Rias commanded, her voice steady and procedural. “Keep him steady. We must ensure your mother and sister remain safe.”
”As for Mio’s safety, don’t you worry. I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”
Maria trusted in Rias’s ability. She wiped her eyes, steeling her resolve.
”Understood. Lady Rias, I’m counting on you,” Maria replied, her voice filled with a newfound, fragile determination.
With the situation escalating, Aki had no heart to continue probing Nonaka Yuki. The priority was the rescue of Shela and Lucia—not just for Maria’s sake, but because Aki himself refused to let such a pair of succubus flowers wither away.
As Aki and Rias pondered how to deal with Zolgear, Basara Toujou was ambushed on his way home. The assailant, masked in silver, possessed considerable strength, yet couldn’t gain the upper hand against him. Still, Basara lacked the finesse to capture the attacker. After committing the assailant’s techniques and characteristics to memory, Basara Toujou resolved to contact Naruse Mio and Aki.
—
Summary:
Sirzechs confirms Zolgear’s defection after finding his territory destroyed, leading the Hero Clan and Gremory household to coordinate surveillance for Naruse Mio. Maria confesses to Aki and the others that Zolgear has kidnapped her mother and sister to force her into acting as a spy. Rias advises Maria to comply with Zolgear’s demands to protect her family while the Gremory household prepares for the threat. Meanwhile, Basara Toujou survives an ambush by a masked assailant, marking a new, closer threat.
—
Trivia:
Zolgear’s strategy shift was forced by the constant surveillance preventing him from attacking Mio.
The Khaos Brigade is a loose organization that offers little protection to its members.
Nonaka Kurumi is officially assigned the task of surveillance over Mio.
Maria’s current relationship with Mio is genuine compared to the original world line’s manipulative origins.
Aki is actively suppressing his urge to probe Nonaka Yuki because of the Maria crisis.
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Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Sirzechs – Sirzechs Gremory is a red-haired Great Demon King holding the title Lucifer. As Rias’s brother and a regal political leader, he possesses immense, restrained power. He acts as a crucial peace negotiator, monitoring defectors and threats like Zolgear while coordinating intelligence with the Hero Clan. His true strength and deep intentions remain difficult for others to fully grasp.
• Zolgear – This gaunt, ancient Devil Grand Duke is a cold-blooded magic master and researcher known for mental arts and artificial life creation, notably the creation of Zest. An Ultimate-Class demon leading a hostile Underworld faction from an isolated dimension, he is obsessed with absorbing Mio and Wilbert’s power for immortality. Though physically weak, he is a feared, ruthless threat terminated by Aki.
• Naruse Mio – A supporter and cheerleader for the Gremory peerage.
• Naruse – Mio Naruse, an heir to Demon King power, is a student protected by the Gremory household. She shares deep bonds with her adoptive parents—middle-aged, ordinary-looking figures who later return to the Underworld to assist orphans—as well as Maria, Aki, and Kurumi. Alongside her parents, former members of the Occult Research Club, she navigates schemes while maintaining vital emotional ties.
• Mio – A proud, red-haired, twin-tailed tsundere with peach eyes and a buxom figure, this Kuoh Academy transfer is the adopted Naruse daughter. Inheriting Demon King blood, she serves as a Bishop in Aki’s peerage, wielding fire and gravity magic. Currently unconscious and transported by Maria, she is sought by Zolgear for her power while navigating a complex, intimate bond with Aki and her family.
• Wukong – A short-haired youth who wields a staff and possesses a confident, relaxed, and slightly arrogant demeanor.
• Vali – A stoic, arrogant half-demon youth of Ancient Devil blood, this battle-crazed individual is the White Dragon Emperor, Albion. Wearing resplendent white armor with light-absorbing wings, he triggers Balance Breaker at will. Taken in by Azazel but later joining the Khaos Brigade, this cynical warrior seeks a fated rival, though Governor Shemhaza admits his actions reflect a lack of supervision.
• Aki – A tall, handsome Kuoh Academy strategist and King-status devil with a powerful, dragon-like physique and scumbag-like charisma, he wields Dual Cultivation and soul contracts to heal, empower, and psychologically condition his growing harem of schoolgirl knights and supernatural companions. A master of magical tool control and Evil Piece distribution, he pragmatically expands his peerage while indulging his immense sexual stamina and appetite, balancing flirtatious charm with dominant control as he ascends toward Demon King-class power.
• Toujou – Toujou is the family name carried by Basara and his father, Jin, connecting them to the Hero Clan and an ongoing conflict. Associated with Basara—a powerful individual whose existence is known to Aki—the surname is recognized for representing high combat potential and formidable strength.
• Maria – A Succubus with a petite and cute appearance who resembles her mother, Shela. A subordinate of Aki who acts with deference. She is tasked with transporting Naruse Mio to safety. A succubus with a young appearance and a mature true form. She has long legs and a busty figure. A young Succubus with familial ties to Shela and Lucia. She attempts to manipulate Zolgear by threatening Naruse Mio to buy time, eventually being paralyzed by his magic.
• Jin – A handsome, middle-aged man with half-rimmed glasses and a penchant for smoking, this powerful Hero Clan figure masks formidable strength behind a composed exterior. As Basara Toujou’s father and guardian, his connection to Naruse Mio leads to the exposure of her identity and Hero Clan attention, forcing him to navigate complex Underworld allegiances while preparing to travel abroad.
• Gremory – Rias Gremory, a pure-blood devil of the prestigious Gremory house, has striking crimson hair, blue eyes, a curvy figure, and a prominent bust. Wielding top-level demonic power, she governs Kuoh Academy’s hidden hierarchy and leads her household in a high-stakes competition against the rival Phoenix clan.
• Natural – A young succubus who remains unthreatened in the current timeline.
• Kurumi – A petite, spirited Hero Clan member and one of the transferred Nonaka sisters, she sports a pale purple ponytail. Tasked with surveilling Mio, this tsundere is more approachable than her sister, Yuzuki, and shares a deep bond with Yuki. Ultimately choosing not to report her mission to the village, she serves as an observer who witnesses the massive pillar of mana resulting from the rescue effort.
• Nonaka – The Nonaka sisters—Yuki, Ikumi, Yuzuki, and Kurumi—are professional surveillance operatives acting as monitors. While they maintain a composed, unified identity, they also balance personal roles: some provide close security detail for Mio, while others serve Aki as schoolgirls, performing intimate personal tasks like chest-presses and back-scrubbing.
• Rias – A prominent female authority in the Gremory household, she is a high-level tactical advisor and protector who provides essential emotional support and safety for Mio and Maria. Beyond her tactical brilliance, she acts as a source of destructive magical power fused by Aki and maintains a professional interest in bio-manufacturing technology, serving as a key intelligence asset for the group.
• Yuki – Shinomura Yuki, a busty mixed-blood demon and Hero Clan intelligence monitor, transferred to Kuoh alongside her sister, Kurumi. With white-gold hair and indigo eyes, she masks a stubborn, volatile nature behind a cold facade. While aiming to escape her village, Yuki acts as an observer for the Nonaka family and finds herself navigating a growing, nervous intimacy with her companion, Aki.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• Lucia – A cold-natured Succubus and daughter of Shela, she lacks the typical physical traits of her kind. As Maria’s half-sister and a magic user, she was present during the teleportation sequence with the Nonaka sisters. Currently, she is imprisoned by Zolgear, held captive alongside her mother, Shela.
• Shela – A petite, former Succubus Queen with white hair, curved ram horns, and violet eyes. Despite her youthful appearance and natural allure, she is the protective mother of Mio, Lucia, and Maria. Currently held captive by Zolgear, she guards vital Gremory secrets and key information on the super-electromagnetic device, while orchestrating plans to ensure her daughters’ survival and influence.
• Basara – A pragmatic tactical thinker and Kuoh Academy student, Jin Toujou’s son is a magic novice wielding the holy sword Brynhildr and the Banishing Shift. Despite being alienated by the Hero Clan after surviving the Hero Village incident, this ally of Aki hosts a base to protect the Gremory household. Though a skilled combatant, his swordsmanship is notably inferior to that of his rival, Zolgear.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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