However, a few days ago, the devils monitoring Zolgear failed to report back. When Sirzechs sent people to check, Zolgear's territory was abandoned, leaving only ruins and dead devils. The dead weren't just the spies, but also other devils in his territory—specifically those who were dissatisfied with him. His loyal subordinates had vanished along with him.
At this point, evidence of Zolgear's collusion with the Chaos Brigade was no longer needed. Sirzechs and the other three Devil Kings issued a warrant, solidifying his status as a traitor. While others didn't know why he defected so suddenly, Sirzechs understood. Because of the surveillance, Zolgear couldn't find an opportunity to strike at Mio. His time was running out. He knew defecting was the worst choice, but it was his only option.
The Chaos Brigade had ties to Zolgear, but that didn't mean they would actively protect a traitor. Figures like Vali and Bikou looked down on selfish old men like him. The Chaos Brigade was a loose organization with no strict requirements for members. Even if Zolgear joined them, he wouldn't get much help. Instead, he would have to beg them for shelter or simply hide. Ethan felt the latter was more likely; the cowardly old man wouldn't want to be cannon fodder for the Brigade.
The Hero Clan also knew of Zolgear's designs on Mio. Because of Jin Toujou, Mio's identity had been exposed, and the Hero Clan had been watching her and Maria closely. Thus, after consulting with Sirzechs, they arranged for a monitor for Mio. In this time of peace, no one wanted an old fossil like Zolgear to break through and extend his life.
Some in the Hero Clan suggested just killing Mio to end Zolgear's obsession, but that gained no support. Leaving aside Jin's reputation, was Mio someone they could just kill while under Gremory protection? Others suggested bringing her back to the Hero Village, which was even more of a joke. If she could be snatched from Ethan's protection, the local Hero branch certainly couldn't stop Zolgear. Ethan wouldn't have agreed anyway.
Thus, the task of monitoring Mio fell to Kurumi Nonaka.
Ethan felt like everything was returning to a certain point in his memories, with minor changes. This was good for him; if things followed the original timeline, Zolgear's schemes and movements would be laid bare before him.
By now, the sisters had finished reading. Yuki and Kurumi nodded, showing they were aware. Even if Rias hadn't told them, the Hero Clan would have informed them later. Compared to their calm, Mio and Maria seemed weighed down by worry—especially the succubus loli, whose anxiety was plain to see.
"Mio, if you're scared, just cultivate with me. I promise you'll master all your power in no time," Ethan teased, glancing at the redhead's chest.
"Bastard! Pervert! H!"
After the triple-exclamation, Mio's face turned red, and she huffed, turning her head away. Having lived together so long, and with Maria's "assistance," Ethan had claimed plenty of "interest" from Mio. Conversely, Ethan had been "used" by both Mio and Maria as well. Ethan never hid his possessiveness toward Mio. Initially, she would get angry or shy, but now she mostly ignored it.
Environments change people. Seeing Ethan with Rias and the others every day, and with a wanton succubus whispering in her ear, Mio was no longer repelled by the idea of dual cultivation. Otherwise, she wouldn't have agreed to become his pawn or vied for the Queen's position. It was only her tsundere nature keeping their relationship in this strange limbo.
Maria, who usually loved teasing Mio, remained uncharacteristically silent. Everyone noticed her distress.
"Maria, it's okay," Mio comforted. "Zol... Zol... that guy won't get a chance to strike. Ethan and Rias-senpai are very strong."
Rias and the others assumed Maria was worried about that, but only Ethan knew the real source of her anxiety. He didn't expose her; he wanted to see what choice the current Maria would make. A redemption arc was fine and would make her more lovable, but Ethan hoped she would trust him from the start.
Maria didn't disappoint him. After a moment of struggle, she stammered out her secret. "I'm not worried about that. My mother and sister were kidnapped by Zolgear. Yesterday, he contacted me and told me to be a spy. If I don't agree, he'll... kill them. Waaah!"
By the end, the succubus loli was on the verge of tears. In the original timeline, she had approached Mio from the start as Zolgear's mole. Whether it was the death of Mio's parents (with only Mio escaping) or the reversal of the master-servant contract, it was all to ensure Zolgear could enjoy the perfect "dish." Because the protagonist eventually benefited and through various plot developments, her redemption was successful.
But in this world, Maria had approached Mio on the orders of her mother, Sheera, leading to all the subsequent changes. When Ethan didn't see Sheera or her half-sister Lucia on the death list, he had suspected this. Even if Maria hadn't spoken today, he would have found a way to ask her privately. If she still kept quiet, he would have trusted her but kept a very close eye on her for safety. But now that she had confessed, those concerns were gone.
"Maria..." Mio pulled her into a warm embrace. Normally, Maria would take the chance to rub against her sister's breasts, but she truly had no heart for it now. If something happened to her family, she would never forgive herself. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to betray Mio either. Unlike the original timeline, she hadn't approached Mio with an ulterior motive this time. Her bond with Mio was just as strong as her bond with Sheera and Lucia.
"Maria, continue to act as Zolgear instructed," Rias said after some thought. "Keep him calm to ensure their safety. As for Mio's safety, don't worry, I'll handle the arrangements."
Maria respected Rias's capability. She wiped her tears and regained her spirit. "Yes, Rias-ane, I'm counting on you."
With this occurring, Ethan lost the mood to test Yuki. The priority was saving Sheera and Lucia. Not just for Maria—Ethan didn't want the succubus mother-daughter pair to perish either.
While Ethan and Rias were strategizing, Basara Toujou was suddenly attacked on his way home. The attacker wore a silver mask and was strong, but couldn't gain an advantage over him. However, Basara's control over his power was still lacking, and he couldn't detain the foe. Remembering the attacker's moves and traits, Basara planned to contact Mio and Ethan.