Chapter 51
"Stopping the Supreme Demon Sect’s plans… But couldn’t the Sect actually be helpful to you, Noir-san? Or Lumière-san?"
"We desire no such thing. We Supreme Demons, fought amongst ourselves and brought about our own ruin. A foolish race. Even if resurrected, we’d only be relics of a bygone era. The age of supreme ruling over men is over—now is humanity’s time. And more than anything…" Noir’s voice softened. "I’ve been reunited with Lumière. That alone is more than enough for me."
"I feel the same," Lumière added, her tone serene yet firm. "With Noir-sama by my side, I wish for nothing else. I will stay with him for eternity."
Their resolve was absolute. Not a trace of deceit.
"Understood. Then what must we do?"
For me, their stance was a relief. The Supreme Demon Sect had to be crushed—no mercy, no hesitation. In short: They will not be forgiven.
Noir crossed his arms. "Training details can wait. Lumière will guide Lady Yūka. Albert, you’re with me. First, we address your constitution."
"My constitution… You mean my Mana Circulation Dysregulation?"
"Hmph. So that’s what they call it. Listen well—this is no ‘disorder.’ It’s a safeguard I placed to protect your body."
"…What?" My voice sharpened. Why would Noir-san—Albert-sama’s past self—do such a thing? When it’s caused him so much pain—
"Easy, Lady Yūka," Noir raised a hand. "Let me explain."
"…Very well." I forced my fists to unclench.
"You’ve quite the temper when your loved one is slighted," Noir mused, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Reminds me of Lumière. Gentle as a breeze… until provoked."
"Hah… Is that so?"
I had been seething—the Sect’s crimes still fresh in my mind. But Noir-san’s casual comparison threw me off. Lumière-san and I… similar? The woman who’d been a tyrant during my training?
"…Yūka-san, are you thinking something rude?" Lumière’s eyes narrowed.
"N-Not at all!" I waved my hands frantically.
Noir ignored our exchange and continued. "As I said, this ‘disorder’ is a shield. Albert is my reincarnation—our magic is identical. But a human vessel cannot handle a Supreme Demon’s mana capacity. Without restraint, it would consume him." His gaze pinned me. "You’ve felt this firsthand, haven’t you? When Lumière borrowed your body to cast magic."
"…!"
The memory hit me—the overwhelming surge, the blackout.
"I see… So it’s a limiter. To prevent Albert-sama’s body from overloading."
"Precisely. His younger body was fragile. Even now, it’s still maturing. Flooding it with my magic would’ve destroyed him. So I embedded a failsafe—a spell to halt mana circulation if it exceeded safe thresholds."
Like a circuit breaker, then. A necessary evil to prevent catastrophic collapse.
"Yet the result remains: Albert suffered. For that… I apologize." Noir bowed deeply—a sight so startling Albert-sama stiffened.
"To think this ‘curse’ I was born with had such a purpose…" Albert murmured.
"I’d intended to remove it once his body matured. But then—"
"—the other curse interfered," Albert finished.
"The two spells clashed, prolonging his agony. I am truly sorry."
"…Raise your head, Noir." Albert paused, then glanced at me. "Yes, I endured pain. But because of it… I met Yūka." His fingers laced through mine. "Fate or coincidence, that day she saved me changed everything. So I bear no resentment."
Then, with a quiet intensity that stilled the room—
"I never properly told you, did I?" Albert’s grip tightened. "Yūka. I love you. Walk with me—always. Even after this curse is broken."
No grand gestures. Just a vow, tender and unshakable.
A confession, unmistakable and true.
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