The following morning, the soft light of the Underworld filtered through the half-open curtains of the main bedroom in the Häagenti mansion.
Alear woke up slowly, letting out a yawn as he shifted in bed. He sat on the edge of the wide mattress and stretched his arms above his head. He wore only a simple pair of black soccer shorts, the light fabric resting comfortably against his skin after a night of rest. His body still carried a faint residual soreness from the previous day's training, but his [Demonic Power] had already fully recovered. More than that, he noticed something interesting. There had been an almost imperceptible increase in his "reserves."
That surprised him for a moment, but it quickly made sense. By repeatedly pushing his limits and then allowing his body to recover, he had, in a way, found a more efficient method to gradually expand his "reserves." It was an extremely slow process… but still better than nothing. Honestly, it was far better than in his previous life, where gains of that kind almost always came with severe costs...
He ran a hand through his magenta-pink hair, messy from sleep, and walked over to the window. The view from the mansion revealed the well-maintained gardens of the estate, bathed in the light of the Underworld.
For a brief moment, his mind drifted to the past. He remembered the windows of Chaldea, that white world lashed by eternal snow, cold and merciless, where the horizon was nothing more than an endless sea of white. A melancholic smile formed on his lips.
Mashu would have loved to see that place…
She probably would never have imagined that the Underworld could be so… normal. So close to the human world. He could almost picture the expression of surprise and curiosity on his kouhai's face.
Alear slowly shook his head, pushing those thoughts away.
Now, he had a new life.
He could not remain bound to the past, no matter how important it had been. Chaldea and everyone who had been part of it had already fulfilled their roles in his journey. It was time to move forward, with his gaze set on the present… and the future.
Not that it was particularly difficult for him. His life had always been like that—moving forward, without looking back.
Ever since he was reborn in a world where he had been treated as an "experiment," he learned in the harshest way possible that hesitation meant being dragged back into what he most wanted to avoid. That was where he understood: survival was not just about seeking strength, as he had done and continued to do, but about continuing forward regardless of what had been left behind.
That principle became his foundation. It was precisely what allowed him to adapt to his new life so easily—not ignoring the past, but not being chained to it either.
Even so…
As steady as his steps were, there were moments when memories insisted on following him—silent, like shadows that could not be cast aside. They did not stop him from moving forward… but they never completely disappeared either. Just like now...
Fortunately, he had learned to live with that.
He took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill his lungs as he dispelled the slight tightness in his chest.
"Time to start the day…"
With that, he turned away from the window and walked toward the bathroom, ready to take care of his needs, shower, and get properly dressed before beginning his day.
Twenty minutes later, Alear left the bathroom with his body refreshed and his hair still slightly damp. He wore a simple, comfortable white hoodie, along with black sweatpants and plain slippers. His hands were casually tucked into the hoodie pockets as he walked down the mansion's hallway toward the office. Upon entering, he closed the door behind him with his foot and sat in the main armchair. The desk was already organized, stacks of documents arranged with meticulous precision—just as Vanelana usually left them. He pulled the first folder closer and began reading, his magenta-pink eyes scanning the lines with calm focus.
A few minutes later, a light knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Lotte entered with her usual impeccable posture, hands neatly folded in front of her.
"Good morning, Alear-sama. Would you like something to eat or drink this morning?"
Alear did not take his eyes off the document, but replied casually:
"Black coffee and some toast, please. Nothing else for now."
"Understood. I will not be long."
Lotte gave a small bow and left silently.
Exactly thirty minutes later, she returned pushing a low cart. On it was a steaming cup of coffee, a plate of golden, lightly buttered toast, and a small jar of jam in case he wanted it.
The rich aroma of coffee spread throughout the office.
"Here you are, Alear-sama."
"Thank you, Lotte."
She carefully placed everything on the desk and withdrew without a sound, closing the door behind her.
Alear picked up the cup with one hand while the other continued holding the papers. He took a slow sip of the black coffee, savoring the strong, bitter taste as it went down his throat, and took a bite of one of the toasts. The crisp crust contrasted nicely with the soft interior.
He continued working like that, reading reports about the Gäap family's territory, reviewing production numbers and potential minor trade alliances, alternating between sips of coffee and bites of toast.
The comfortable silence of the office was broken only by the occasional sound of paper turning and the soft clink of the cup against the saucer.
Suddenly, a familiar glowing magic circle materialized in the center of the office. The air shimmered for a moment and, with a soft pop of energy, Serafall Leviathan appeared within it. She was still wearing her characteristic magical girl outfit—a white and pink dress with cute details—but her usual bratty expression was completely absent. Her blue eyes widened as she saw him calmly seated behind the desk, drinking coffee and reading documents as if nothing had happened.
For half a second, she blinked, clearly surprised to find him there working so casually. Then her expression changed. Her face hardened into something rare: a serious, almost adult concern.
"Ale-chan! I'm glad you're here, I thought I'd have to ask Lotte to call you. I heard about the incident in Agreas last night! The entire Underworld has been in an uproar since then. Rumors are flying everywhere. What really happened…?"
She took a breath after asking, her shoulders tense, and continued with genuine strain in her voice:
"I came as fast as I could as soon as I received the full report. Are you okay? Were you really hurt?"
Serafall took another step forward, stopping right in front of the desk.
Alear calmly raised his gaze, setting the coffee cup down on the saucer with a soft clink. He offered a small, reassuring smile.
"I'm fine, Serafall. Really. Just some bruises and a superficial cut, but I'm completely healed now. It was nothing serious."
Serafall stared at him for a few more seconds, as if searching for any sign of a lie or hidden pain. Then her shoulders visibly relaxed and she let out a long sigh of relief, closing her eyes briefly.
"…Thank Lucifer. Or rather, thank you for not getting seriously hurt."
Her serious expression softened, though concern still lingered in her blue eyes.
"You really scared me, you know?" she crossed her arms, but now the gesture carried a hint of her usual personality, mixed with genuine relief.
Alear tilted his head slightly, his tone calm and faintly apologetic.
"Sorry about that. That wasn't my intention. But next time, try not to worry so much. I'm not going to die that easily..."
Serafall blinked, then let out another sigh, this time longer and tinged with frustration and affection.
"Easy for you to say… You are my fiancé, you know? If something had happened to you, I…" She shook her head, as if pushing the thought away. "Anyway. Have they figured out who tried to assassinate you? The reports I received were pretty vague."
Alear shrugged, maintaining a neutral expression as he picked up his coffee cup again.
"I have some suspicions, but nothing concrete yet. Nothing I can say with certainty."
Serafall frowned slightly, tilting her head.
"Suspicions? Like who?" Then, as if remembering something, she looked around the office. "Also… why didn't you take Vanelana with you? She would have handled those assassins effortlessly. Where is she, anyway?"
Alear followed her gaze through the empty office and answered calmly:
"She went to deal with some internal Gremory family matters and hasn't returned yet. And I didn't take her because I wanted to take my own steps in politics. I'm not a child who needs a babysitter all the time."
Serafall stared at him for a few seconds, her lips pressing into a thin line. There was a mix of understanding and mild irritation in her expression.
"…You're too stubborn, Ale-chan..." she murmured. "It's fine to stand on your own, but you don't have to be reckless. If something worse had happened…"
She uncrossed her arms and stepped closer, placing her hands on the polished desk.
"Promise me that next time, you'll at least let me know before going to this kind of meeting? Or take someone you trust with you. I don't want to hear about an attempt on your life through other people's reports..."
Her gaze was firm, though clearly protective.
Alear held her gaze for a few seconds, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"I can let you know, if that eases your mind."
Serafall nodded quickly.
"Yes… please do..." She paused before asking, "Also… about the marriage agreement with Seekvaira Agares? I heard Lord Agares proposed the alliance in exchange for his daughter's hand. Did you accept?"
Alear leaned back in his chair, his tone calm and direct.
"I found it advantageous. Besides, Seekvaira seems like a reasonable person."
Serafall raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms again.
"Advantageous…" she repeated slowly. "You're quite bold, Ale-chan. Accepting a political marriage with another woman without even consulting your future main wife? I'm your official fiancée, you know? And you do remember I'm one of the Four Great Satans, right?"
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing—not in anger, but in mild reproach.
"I understand it's politics. I know how the Underworld works, and that marriages between noble houses are rarely about love… but still. You could have told me before making the final decision. Or at least consulted me as your fiancée." She puffed her cheeks slightly. "Muu… you really are a Devil. Already building a harem before we're even officially married."
Despite her words, her tone wasn't harsh. There was a hint of resigned acceptance beneath it.
Alear simply looked at her calmly. He pushed his chair back slightly, creating space, and extended his hand toward her.
"Come a little closer. I want to tell you a secret..."
She blinked, curious.
"…What is it now...?"
Even so, she obeyed. She walked around the desk and stopped beside his chair, leaning slightly. The moment she got close enough, Alear wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto his lap.
Serafall let out a surprised sound, "Eh?!", but did not truly resist. She was far stronger than him and could easily break free—both of them knew that. Still, she didn't, letting her body settle against him.
As she adjusted, Alear held her firmly, his voice low and calm:
"Remember when I said I'd tell you a secret? That was a lie... You looked a little jealous earlier. I don't want to neglect my future wife..."
Serafall fell silent for a moment. Her blue eyes narrowed slightly, but there was no anger—only thoughtfulness.
"…Jealous…? Maybe a little…" she admitted softly. "You accepted another fiancée without hesitation. I'm the main wife, you know? You can't just ignore that."
Her hand moved lightly against his chest.
"But… if you're going to have other women… and still say you won't neglect me, then you'll have to start proving that now… I could say I'm feeling a little neglected at the moment…"
She leaned closer, her voice dropping.
"Or do you think just because I'm a Satan I don't think about these things?"
___________________
(A/N: Want to get ahead?
This story is already 26 chapters on Patreon — that's right, there's A LOT more waiting for you..
If you can't wait for what's coming next, the twists, and the insane Fate Gacha drops… then maybe it's time to take things a step further..
Get access now for just $5.99 USD and dive into the advanced chapters!
Light spoiler: his luck might be terrible… but the story? It only gets better.
For fans of the previous version, don't forget to leave your reviews and drop your Power Stones — your support makes all the difference!
Don't get left behind.
My Patreon: patreon.com/Adam_Kadmon
Thank you so much for your support — you make all of this worthwhile.)