Chapter 323 Two Methods
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After dinner, Aki, Naruse Mio, and Maria arrived at the home of Basara Toujou.
The surveillance team, Nonaka Yuki and Nonaka Kurumi, followed closely behind.
Only a short while ago, Basara Toujou had contacted them by phone. Once Aki had heard the characteristics of the assailant, a plan for how to rescue the mother-daughter duo, Shela and Lucia, had begun to form in his mind.
However, he still needed to plan exactly how to carry it out.
In the living room, Basara Toujou served tea and snacks, and the group chatted as they ate.
Aki spoke first, explaining the information he had obtained from Rias, then he stated: “The one who attacked you is likely another of Zolgear’s subordinates. They are probably trying to kidnap you to threaten Mio.”
Upon learning the mission of the Nonaka sisters, Basara Toujou felt his heart settle a great deal.
The Hero Village hadn’t treated him well, but his old friends from back then were still decent people.
If the mission of the Nonaka sisters conflicted with them, he would find it a very difficult situation, which was why he had been avoiding both of them.
Regarding Aki’s deduction, everyone present felt it was very reasonable, especially when Maria revealed that the person who contacted her was the same individual who attacked Basara Toujou, which immediately confirmed the identity of their opponent.
”That guy has decent skills, but he definitely isn’t a match for you, Aki.”
Basara Toujou touched the new scratch on his face and said: “The guy doesn’t have the strength to kidnap Mio, but Maria’s mother and sister are definitely a problem.”
”Actually, that’s not a problem at all.”
Aki said calmly: “As long as Zolgear is dead, all of this will be solved.”
”Zolgear is a veteran Demon King-class powerhouse. If you can’t kill him in one shot, Maria’s mother and sister will be in danger.”
Nonaka Kurumi frowned: “I feel like it’s better to save the people first.”
Maria looked at Nonaka Kurumi with gratitude. Whether Zolgear died or not didn’t matter to her; she only wanted her mother and sister to be safe.
”Hmm, that’s definitely a safer bet.”
Aki also noticed Maria’s feelings, and in truth, everyone present thought the same way.
Although he was already a Super-Devil, even with the Balance Breaker mode of his Sacred Gear, he wouldn’t dare say he could kill Zolgear in an instant.
Not unless he reached the God-tier level.
If given enough time, Aki would certainly be able to reach God-tier, but Zolgear clearly wasn’t going to give him that time.
”That old geezer really loves using the hostage tactic, it’s such a pain…”
Aki thought of how the parents of Mio Naruse had been used as hostages by the same person, and he couldn’t help but spit.
Back then, he had managed to rescue the parents of Naruse without a sound and even pulled off a clever switch, allowing the two of them to live in peace under the protection of the Gremory household.
But this time, trying to rescue Shela and Lucia from under Zolgear’s nose wouldn’t be as easy, and it was perhaps just as difficult as killing Zolgear instantly.
Zolgear was highly skilled in magic, and it was nearly impossible for Aki to rescue them without being discovered.
Furthermore, before that, he still had to locate the opponent’s hideout.
Everyone recognized the problem, and they all fell silent.
Even Rias hadn’t come up with a solid plan, only being able to let Maria stall for time, let alone Basara Toujou.
If you wanted to talk about planning ability, Rias’s ability was definitely top-tier.
It was just a pity that in a situation with an information gap, her abilities often couldn’t be fully utilized.
After a brief silence, Aki saw that the timing was right and said: “I have a method, but it comes with a bit of risk.”
Everyone looked up at him in shock. Basara Toujou said: “Aki, tell us what you’ve got. Sitting here doing nothing is worse.”
”Hmm, the idea is actually quite simple.”
Aki pondered: “Zolgear can take hostages, so why can’t we?”
Seeing the confusion on everyone’s faces, he explained: “The group of subordinates that Zolgear took away must know his current location, and the ones he sent out to carry out tasks are his most trusted inner circle. If we could capture that masked man…”
As he spoke, everyone understood what Aki was thinking.
The plan was feasible, but there were far too many unknown factors.
For one thing, since they were trusted subordinates, brutal torture might not be enough to make them betray Zolgear.
Even if the opponent truly agreed, if they gave them fake intelligence, there would be no way for them to know.
There were also many other uncertainties, like whether they had some kind of secret code.
If even one thing went wrong, it would very likely result in the deaths of Maria’s mother and sister.
Once the plan became hopeless, the dying Zolgear would definitely lose his mind and wouldn’t let Shela and Lucia go.
Killing them outright without any torture would be the best-case scenario.
Aki knew that the masked man, Ras, was a hidden double agent. As long as he invited the parents of Naruse out, the guy would definitely betray Zolgear.
Once he found Zolgear’s hideout, he could then flip Zest.
This dark-skinned, busty artificial girl also had the desire to resist Zolgear in her heart; if it weren’t for the fact that she was created in the image of his lover, she would have been wiped out long ago.
Basara Toujou and the others didn’t know these things, and it wasn’t easy for Aki to explain.
Of course, he couldn’t guarantee that Ras and Zest were still the same as they were in his memories.
Just like with the changes in the Nonaka sisters, it would be a huge problem if something went wrong.
”If that doesn’t work, there is one other method.”
Aki said again: “It’s just that this method requires Mio to take a risk.”
This time, without waiting for the others to ask, Aki explained it in a few short sentences.
In short, it would mean having Maria take Mio to Zolgear, on the condition of exchanging her for Shela and Lucia.
Zolgear certainly wouldn’t kill Mio, which would give Aki and the others plenty of time to strike.
However, this plan also had its risks.
One was the test of Maria’s acting ability, to see who would outlast the other between her and Zolgear.
If Maria’s acting couldn’t fool Zolgear, then the only outcome would be Naruse Mio being handed over, while Shela and Lucia remained unrescued.
The second point was that Aki and the others might not be able to rescue Naruse Mio before Zolgear made a move.
Naruse Mio wouldn’t be in life-threatening danger, but if the power and body inside her were taken away, then even killing Zolgear later would be pointless.
Aki was unwilling to carry out the second plan. If he really had to choose between the succubus mother-daughter duo and Naruse Mio, he would definitely pick the red-haired, twin-tailed, tsundere busty schoolgirl.
Shela and Lucia were certainly lovely, but Aki hadn’t really had any personal contact with them.
As for Naruse Mio… he had long considered her his woman, and he wouldn’t let anyone so much as touch a single hair on her head.
The room remained silent. In the second plan, Maria’s mother and sister wouldn’t have to face any risk, but Naruse Mio would be in significant danger.
”Let’s do it.”
Naruse Mio clenched her small fists and said firmly: “We have to rescue Maria’s family.”
”Lady Mio…”
The succubus loli’s eyes were filled with tears, and she was incredibly moved, but in the end, she refused.
”No, I can’t let Lady Mio take a risk.”
If she wanted to do this, she wouldn’t have revealed that Zolgear had threatened her into being an undercover agent.
Nonaka Kurumi also spoke up at this time: “I don’t recommend this either. Once Naruse Mio disappears, I, as a monitor, am required to report that intelligence.”
”By then, the village will certainly take action; they would rather sacrifice one Naruse Mio if it meant stopping Zolgear.”
They hadn’t even been together for a week; everyone had a good relationship, but without lifelong bonds, it wasn’t enough for the Nonaka sisters to abandon their village and stand completely on Aki’s side.
Basara Toujou stared at his two cousins without speaking, but his expression grew increasingly serious.
After finishing the two plans, Aki also quieted down.
He knew that things couldn’t be rushed. Currently, there was still room for maneuver; to truly begin their move, they needed the right timing.
And that timing would be the next time Zolgear sent someone to contact Maria.
His time was running out, and every day he faced the risk of being hunted down by the Underworld; every second he delayed, the risk of being discovered grew even greater.
Three days later, Saturday.
On a clear, breezy morning, Aki was holding Naruse Mio in one arm and Nonaka Yuki in the other, and as he felt the fragrant, alluring, and tender bodies of the two schoolgirls, the ripples in his calm heart gradually grew.
Because Zolgear might strike at any moment, Aki had been guarding Naruse Mio for the last few days, and Nonaka Yuki, who was tasked with monitoring her closely, had also changed from sleeping by the bed to sleeping in his arms.
The unique fragrance belonging to pure young girls continuously stimulated Aki’s nerves. Even though he had played with every part of the two women’s bodies in the past few days, doing everything except the final step, having such perfect and alluring bodies nestled naked in his arms still made his blood run hot.
The intentions of Nonaka Yuki and Naruse Mio were already abundantly clear; as long as Aki wanted it, he could have them at any time.
Aki wasn’t intentionally refusing them, but rather out of consideration for the feelings of the succubus loli nearby.
—
Summary:
Aki gathers his group at Basara Toujou’s home to devise a rescue plan for Shela and Lucia, who are held hostage by Zolgear. They debate two high-risk strategies: capturing a high-ranking subordinate for information or using Naruse Mio as bait. The group remains divided on the risks, leaving the plan in a tense stalemate while Aki guards Mio personally in the following days.
—
Trivia:
Basara Toujou maintains lingering positive feelings toward his old friends in the Hero Village, causing him to hesitate in dealing with the Nonaka sisters.
The masked man, Ras, is a double agent known to Aki but currently unknown as such to the rest of the group.
Zest is an artificial girl created by Zolgear, modeled after his lover, which fuels her repressed desire for rebellion.
Aki has previously rescued Mio’s parents using a “gold cicada” escape tactic, establishing a precedent for his tactical style.
Notes:
• Naruse Mio – A supporter and cheerleader for the Gremory peerage.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Ras – An SS-Rank Doll Master and former orphan raised by the Naruses, this elegant, white-masked magic user serves as Zolgear’s trusted subordinate and infiltrator. Though he acted as a double agent for years, his complex ties to his childhood idols ultimately led him to return to the Underworld with the Naruse parents, abandoning his role as a pawn to guide Aki through the enemy base.
• Zest – A tall, curvaceous artificial lifeform with dark skin, purple markings, and white rabbit ears, she was created by Zolgear in his beloved’s likeness. Initially bound by a death curse to guard the Rook and serve Zolgear, she now acts as a loyal guide for Aki. Despite her programmed devotion, she harbors secret desires to break free from Zolgear’s oppressive control over her mind and emotions.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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