The morning sunlight bathed the busy streets of Tokyo.
It was a typical spring morning in the human world: a clear blue sky, a light and pleasant breeze, and the constant murmur of people hurrying along the wide sidewalks. Cars passed along the main avenue, while some stopped at traffic lights, waiting for people to cross the street.
Alear and Venelana walked side by side along the sidewalk of a bustling commercial district. To avoid drawing too much attention, both wore simple and discreet clothing. He wore a short-sleeved white shirt and dark jeans, along with a pair of casual sneakers. She opted for a light beige summer dress that fell just above her knees, a thin cardigan over it, and comfortable flats. Her brown hair flowed freely in soft waves....
Even with her simple outfit, Venelana attracted attention. Her mature beauty, voluptuous figure, and elegant way of walking made several people turn their heads as they passed by. Some men looked discreetly, others more openly. Women also cast curious or envious glances, especially when looking at her companion, who was extremely handsome....
Fortunately, no one approached them, as the two looked like a couple. Venelana held Alear's arm, walking close beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The light, satisfied smile on her lips did not hide how much she was enjoying the situation.
Alear, on the other hand, maintained a resigned expression. He could feel the gazes around him and, although he was not shy, he found it unnecessary to be the center of so much attention on his very first day in the human world.
Venelana noticed his expression and tilted her head to the side, teasing.
"What's wrong? Are you embarrassed to walk around with an older woman on your arm?" she asked softly, her tone playful. "How cute. I didn't expect you to be so shy, Alear-sama."
Alear cast her a sideways glance, replying dryly:
"Even if you're 'old,' no one would say that. You only look a little older than me... Besides, I'm far from shy. Want to go into an alley so I can prove otherwise?"
Venelana blinked for a moment, surprised, before letting out a low, satisfied laugh. Then she moved a little closer, lightly pressing his arm against her body.
"I would even accept the offer..." she said with a soft smile, glancing around. "But I don't think there's any alley nearby."
She looked back at him, her eyes filled with a hint of teasing.
"Either way, I would reward you properly... both for not minding my absence over the past few days and for being kind enough to say I don't look like an old woman."
Alear smiled slightly, the corner of his mouth curving into a confident and amused expression.
"I'm looking forward to that."
The two exchanged glances for a moment. The air between them grew heavier, a subtle and familiar tension that had been building ever since Venelana began working as his secretary.....
Venelana held his gaze for another second, her smile warming slightly, before blinking and casually changing the subject.
"So..." She tilted her head slightly, still holding his arm as they walked along the busy sidewalk. "Why did you choose Tokyo specifically? You didn't give me many details before we left."
Alear kept his steady pace, answering calmly:
"I did some reading in the library, and I also had the maids buy me a phone so I could access the Devilnet. After doing some research, I think Mio Naruse might be in this city. I want to recruit her into my peerage..."
That wasn't entirely a lie on his part. Although he had indeed acquired a phone and begun exploring the Devilnet on his own, the device itself had been provided by Serafall after the intense morning they had shared, along with a direct emergency contact. She had made it clear that he should notify her or call immediately if he needed help. In addition, she had granted him access to a magical communication method based on a mental connection, something similar to an individual "IP," allowing two individuals to establish a direct, real-time communication channel. Serafall also emphasized that, from that moment on, she would contact him personally rather than using intermediaries such as her maids. Although it was a relatively common technique among Devils and other supernatural entities, its practical usefulness had gradually been replaced by human technologies such as cell phones, which offered greater convenience in everyday use.
Hearing his words, Venelana paused for half a second, her violet eyes widening in genuine surprise. She turned her face toward him, her voice lowering slightly:
"Mio Naruse...? How did you know that? No one knows where she is right now. Not even the nobles interested in her have been able to locate her after Wilbert's death. Her adoptive parents were reported dead, and she awakened her demonic powers because of that incident, then fled together with Maria Naruse. No one knows where the two of them are. How did you come to that conclusion?"
Alear placed a hand on his chin for a brief moment, as if carefully choosing his words, and replied simply:
"It's just a guess."
Venelana stared at him for a few seconds, clearly unconvinced by the vague answer. The mischievous smile returned to her lips, now mixed with genuine curiosity.
"A guess..." she repeated, lightly squeezing his arm. "You've had very convenient guesses lately, and now about the whereabouts of one of Wilbert's daughters, who is being hunted by half the supernatural world... Aren't you going to tell me how you really know that?"
She tilted her head, her eyes shining with interest as they continued walking along Tokyo's busy sidewalk, the morning sun illuminating the tall buildings around them.
Alear simply shrugged, offering no further explanation for now.
Faced with his silence, Venelana showed subtle resignation. She already knew that side of Alear well. When he decided not to reveal something, he remained firm, completely immune to provocation or the charm she occasionally used in an attempt to make him give in. Although she was curious about the matter, she knew insisting would be useless. He never offered more than what he was willing to say. And, curiously, that did not frustrate her as much as it should have. There was something about that quiet firmness that intrigued her... and, in a way, made her respect him even more. Without saying anything, she simply continued walking beside him, still holding his arm, this time with a subtly accepting expression....
It was then that Alear stopped walking. His gaze shifted slightly to the side of the street, where an elderly woman was trying, with some difficulty, to fit several shopping bags into the trunk of a car. Some were already on the ground, and she seemed unsure how to organize the rest.
Without hesitation, he gently released Venelana's arm.
"I'll be right back."
He approached with calm steps, his posture naturally upright but without any trace of arrogance.
"Excuse me, ma'am. Do you need help...?"
The elderly woman, a short woman with well-kept white hair and a tired expression, looked up in surprise. As she took in his face more closely, she blinked a few times, visibly impressed.
"Ah... I... yes, dear, if it's not too much trouble..."
"Not at all, let me help you...."
Alear crouched down without ceremony, first picking up the bags from the ground, organizing them in the tight trunk space with apparent ease, adjusting the weight so that nothing would fall or get crushed.
The elderly woman smiled as she watched him arrange the bags and said, "Thank you very much, young man. Nowadays it's rare to see someone stop to help an old woman like me. My arms can't handle all these bags anymore..."
Alear responded with a slight nod, his voice calm and polite:
"It's nothing. Helping others when they need it is something everyone should do...."
He finished arranging the last bags, closed the trunk carefully, and brushed his hands together. The elderly woman kept smiling, clearly moved by the simple gesture and his "profound" words.
"You are very polite. You look like a prince from those old movies... Thank you from the bottom of my heart. May God bless you!"
Some women passing by slowed their pace, observing the scene. Two of them exchanged glances and blushed slightly, both because of his courteous attitude and Alear's striking, noble appearance—upright posture, refined features, and a presence that conveyed natural elegance.
After helping, Alear struck up a polite conversation:
"By the way, ma'am, could you tell me if there is an academy called Hijirigasaka around here?"
The elderly woman nodded enthusiastically, happy to return the kindness.
"Hijirigasaka? Of course I know it! It's in the Setagaya district," she said, pointing north. "It's a well-known school in the area, I live nearby, and my granddaughter attends it. Are you looking for someone there?"
Alear smiled lightly, replying courteously:
"Yes, I'm looking for my sister. I'm someone from abroad who came to live here with her. Thank you very much for the information."
"You're welcome, young man! Take care. And thank you again!"
He bid her farewell with a slight nod and a "Have a good day," before returning to Venelana. When he came back, he found her watching the scene with a gentle look and a faint smile on her lips.
"For a Devil, you are surprisingly kind..." Venelana commented in a light, amused tone as she once again held his arm.
Alear simply shrugged and replied plainly:
"I was just being polite...."
Although he is ruthless toward his opponents or those he sacrifices for the sake of his goals and ambitions—as he was for most of his past life, guided by the mindset of a traditional mage—in everyday life he tends to be reserved and polite. Since he does not care about reputation or status, and is largely indifferent to others' opinions, he treats people with the same courtesy he would offer friends. Moreover, he rarely takes things personally and does not hesitate to forgive minor offenses or mistakes, especially when the other party shows no ill intent. Although he changed over the course of his journey in Chaldea, becoming kinder, he still retains his essential nature: a calm, distant, and to some extent indifferent person. He is not someone who seeks to correct all the injustices of the world—he simply follows his own path.
Despite having been called the last hope of humanity in his past life, he was never particularly attached to that responsibility. Because of that, he does not mind not being fully human in this new life, nor is he bothered by the often unfair treatment that humans receive from other supernatural beings.
In short, he helps when he wants to, and when he does not, he simply ignores it. In this case, he chose to help the elderly woman....
On the other hand, upon hearing his words, Venelana let out a soft chuckle, though her tone carried a slight hint of criticism mixed with irony.
"Even so, every devil your age tends to be arrogant and selfish. Even my own daughter, Rias, is far too spoiled. Very few would do what you just did. Helping an elderly human with her groceries... that's not something you see every day from someone of our kind...."
Alear let out a short sigh, maintaining his usual calm posture, with no sign of irritation.
"Not every demon is necessarily evil. The Gremory, for example, are known for treating their servants almost like family...."
Venelana smiled, but in an ironic way, her gaze filled with bitter resignation as she said:
"Despite that reputation, most devils despise us precisely because of it. They even go so far as to feel repulsed at being considered demons alongside the Gremory family. If it weren't for Sirzechs and the luck we had on our side, I admit the Gremory Family would not be even a fraction of the 'family' it is today."
She lightly squeezed his arm, her smile softening a bit as they continued walking along the busy sidewalk.
"Pride is truly the most predominant sin in anyone...." Alear said with an ironic smile.
Venelana listened to his words with a slight smile on her lips, though her gaze remained filled with curiosity and a hint of suspicion. She gently squeezed his arm as they walked, her voice low and teasing:
"Yes... I agree, but why did you ask the lady about the academy?"
Alear kept his tone casual, as if the question were trivial:
"I was thinking that maybe, in the future, I might come study at such an academy. I also wanted to take a look, since we're here. I heard about the academy on the Devilnet, in a post by young devils saying it was a decent human institution."
Venelana raised an eyebrow, clearly not quite believing the explanation. Her violet eyes narrowed for a moment, as if trying to read something behind the simple answer. However, she said nothing. She merely let out a quiet "Hmm..." and continued walking beside him, her smile remaining on her lips, now with a hint of resigned amusement.
The two continued toward the nearest station.
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