The white ruffled apron, once pristine, was now soaked through with splashes of viscous liquid. It clung damply to her form, gradually growing translucent under the onslaught. Then, with a single rough tug, it was yanked up around her waist—reduced from modest garment to makeshift handle.
The taut fabric enhanced both speed and force to their fullest. Yet even that could not withstand the intensity of the battle. Under a relentless rhythm of motion and impact, it finally surrendered, tearing apart and falling in tatters to the floor.
"Mmm~ That was exquisite! Another one for the private collection," murmured Maria, eyes gleaming as she recorded everything down. Just as she was about to sneak away, however, Adrian reached out and grabbed her by the collar.
She spun around with a startled yelp, only to find herself face to face with Adrian—and suddenly realized the misunderstanding forming.
Maria was wearing clothes… technically.
The delicate spaghetti straps of her camisole had been completely hidden beneath the apron, and her short pleated skirt barely peeked out beneath the hem. From the front, it really did look like she was wearing nothing but the frilly apron.
"Maria… Maria… you…"
Naruse Mio, still crumpled in defeat, managed to lift her head just enough to catch the sight before her eyes rolled back in disbelief. She looked as though she couldn't die in peace after witnessing this.
Before she could finish her sentence, she lost consciousness altogether.
Maria, now deathly pale, whipped her head toward Adrian, hands raised defensively.
"W-Wait! Adrian, don't! At least give me a warning or something! I-I mean, if it's gotta happen, maybe let Mio go fir—mmph!"
Her protest was silenced by Adrian's firm hand.
"I'm not doing anything to you," he said flatly. "You're going to clean this mess. Properly. You're a dream demon, aren't you? Start acting useful."
He gave her backside a firm swat, spurring her into motion.
For all her boldness and sass, Maria crumbled in actual combat. Pure cowardice. Compared to Mio, she was worse than a scared little lizard.
Adrian, for his part, wasn't the sort to force anyone—if things could unfold naturally, that was always preferable.
Maria exhaled in visible relief. She didn't have the courage to give herself fully, but cleaning? Cleaning she could handle.
The once chaotic room steadily became orderly and bright under her efforts. Surfaces glistened under the lamplight, polished so well they reflected light like water.
By the time Adrian carried the unconscious Mio to the dining table, the food Maria had prepared earlier was stone cold.
"Warm it up," he instructed.
Maria snapped her fingers, sending a gentle glow of magic into the dishes, reheating them evenly.
Meanwhile, Adrian held Mio close in his arms. He pinched her cheek lightly, coaxing her back to awareness.
"Mmm… ahh…"
A soft moan slipped past Mio's lips as her slender waist squirmed instinctively. Slowly, she blinked open her watery eyes, her flushed skin glowing as though heat pulsed beneath it.
She tried to sit up—but couldn't. Her limbs were jelly, her strength entirely spent. So instead, she leaned her head against Adrian's shoulder, utterly reliant on him.
He smoothed her vivid crimson hair, fingers threading gently through it as though stroking a cat.
"You two almost made me forget the important stuff," he muttered.
"Important stuff?" Mio echoed in a daze, voice breathy and low.
Maria, hovering nearby with a tray, tilted her head curiously.
Adrian didn't bother hiding anything. He told them about his earlier meeting with Rias Gremory, and the discussion that had followed.
"…So the Gremory clan doesn't want me around either?" Mio whispered, clutching the fabric of his shirt tightly.
There was despair in her eyes. A quiet, shattering helplessness.
She had been running for so long. Deep down, she had always hoped that if she could reach her kin, her people—maybe they'd accept her. Maybe she'd belong somewhere again.
But now… even they had turned their backs on her.
Adrian wrapped her tighter in his embrace, shielding her from that abyss.
"You're not alone. Not anymore. I'm here," he said softly.
"You're my sister now. I won't abandon you."
His voice was firm, steady—anchoring.
Mio's body trembled. Whether from exhaustion or emotion, she couldn't say. The tears spilled before she could stop them, dampening his shoulder as she sobbed quietly into him.
She didn't know what future awaited her. Didn't know where to go or what to believe.
But in this moment, she knew one thing.
She had him.
That was enough.
"Master…" she whispered, voice quivering.
She turned toward him and gently bit his shoulder, clinging to him as if he were the only solid thing in a collapsing world.
"Ow…" Adrian winced as her teeth sank in—not a love bite, but a full-force clamp. He barely managed to maintain a calm expression, glancing toward Maria with a sigh.
"So, Maria. What's your plan now?"
Originally, she had been tasked with escorting Mio to Rias. That was clearly no longer an option.
Maria hesitated. Her eyes flicked between the two of them—Adrian cradling Mio like something fragile, and Mio herself weeping softly into his chest.
"…I'm staying," she said at last.
"My real mission was to protect her. As long as I don't receive different orders, I'm not leaving."
She thumped her chest with one fist, nodding solemnly.
"M-Maria…" Mio sniffled. For once, there was no snark or sarcasm in her voice—only raw, genuine emotion.
Even though Maria usually teased and tormented her, she was touched. Deeply.
The feeling lasted for about five seconds.
Adrian stood up with Mio still in his arms and twirled her around the room gently, letting her feel the warmth of this new home… this new life.
Then he laid her down carefully on the bed.
"I'll take care of Mio," he said.
"Nope!" Maria blurted, nearly slamming the door shut. "I'll look after her. You go… do something else. Anywhere else!"
Adrian blinked at the closed door. He was speechless.
"You're a succubus. Why are you acting like a blushing virgin now?"
He looked down and mentally compared their measurements.
"…Okay, maybe she does have a reason to be nervous."
Still, she was a dream demon. She'd be fine.
Even if things went too far, his restorative magic would patch everything up.
He couldn't help the sly grin that tugged at his lips as he turned and made his way to his own room, drifting off into a peaceful sleep.
His stamina had finally run dry thanks to Mio's… efforts.
Time inside the Domain of Spacetime was halted. He didn't need to worry about Freya or the others for now.
He slept deeply, dreamlessly.
And peace lasted exactly until dawn.
"YAMETE—!!"
"Wuh…?"
Adrian sat bolt upright, blinking blearily at the window.
That voice… wasn't that Suou Yuki?
Wait. Since when had there been a ladder outside his window?
A ladder?
Fully awake now, Adrian threw on some clothes and rushed to the window.
And there she was—Yuki, dangling by one leg as Maria cheerfully hoisted her into the air.
"HA! Intruder captured!" the dream demon crowed.
Adrian slapped his forehead.
"Why the hell is Yuki here? Wait… did she ask for my address yesterday? Don't tell me…"
"Did she really bring a ladder to climb into my window?!"
Exasperated, he raced downstairs.
Meanwhile, Mio—still sore and exhausted from the previous night—hadn't even stirred.
She'd be out of commission for a while