Morning arrived quietly.
.................
Yet the air carried something subtle—
a tension that had not yet revealed itself.
Kuoh Academy stood silent under the calm of Sunday. No students. No noise. No distractions.
And yet—
I was here.
Walking its empty halls alongside Asia Argento.
Our footsteps echoed softly.
Measured.
Steady.
We weren't here by coincidence.
Sona Sitri had called me.
Someone wanted to meet us.
And that alone was enough to put me on edge.
I adjusted my sleeve slightly.
Casual clothes.
Simple.
But appearances were deceiving.
A golden bracelet rested around my wrist—
silent.
Yet containing far more than it should.
Beside me, Asia walked quietly.
Her nun outfit—
unchanged.
Untouched.
A part of her identity she refused to abandon.
Perhaps—
because it grounded her.
Or perhaps—
because it was the only thing that still felt like "home."
"Gilgamesh-san?"
Her voice pulled me back.
Soft.
Gentle.
I glanced ahead.
The door stood before us.
Student Council Office.
"Yes."
I nodded.
"Let's go."
A knock.
A pause.
Then—
the door opened.
Tsubaki Shinra greeted us with her usual composed demeanor.
"Ah, Gilgamesh-san. You've arrived."
Her gaze shifted.
"You brought Argento-san as well. Please, come in."
We entered.
And the moment I stepped inside—
my instincts reacted.
Immediately.
My eyes locked onto him.
There.
Sitting across from Sona.
A young man.
Dark hair.
Refined clothing.
Polite posture.
Devil.
The word surfaced instantly.
Not just any devil—
a high-class one.
Pureblood.
His aura wasn't hidden.
It bled into the air.
I could taste it.
Feel it.
And more importantly—
it triggered something within me.
A deep—
visceral—
urge.
To kill.
It was faint.
Controlled.
But undeniably present.
Then—
I noticed something else.
The way he looked at Asia.
That gaze—
.................
I didn't like it.
Not even a little.
"Ah, Gilgamesh-kun, you've arrived."
Sona's voice cut in.
Calm.
Neutral.
"This is someone who wished to meet you."
Her hand gestured toward him.
He stood.
Gracefully.
Polished.
"I can introduce myself."
His smile was gentle.
Too gentle.
"Asia Argento… we finally meet."
Asia blinked.
Confused.
"H-uh?"
Her reaction—
genuine.
Pure.
She didn't recognize him.
His smile faltered.
Slightly.
"So you've forgotten…"
A hint of bitterness crept in.
"Back then… we met."
And then—
he revealed it.
His chest.
A scar.
Deep.
Ugly.
Unmistakable.
Asia gasped.
"That wound… could it be—"
"Yes."
His tone softened.
Satisfied.
"I am that devil."
The pieces aligned instantly.
Memory.
Understanding.
Disgust.
Diodora Astaroth.
Diodora Astaroth
The one she healed.
The one responsible—
for her suffering.
"My name is Diodora Astaroth."
He stepped forward.
Elegant.
Arrogant beneath the surface.
"Heir of the Astaroth clan."
Then—
he took her hand.
And kissed it.
Like a prince in some twisted fairytale.
"Asia… I came to meet you."
His voice turned soft.
Almost affectionate.
"I've been searching for you since your exile."
My fingers twitched.
Swords.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
Flashed through my mind.
All aimed at him.
"All to thank you properly."
His grip tightened slightly.
Possessive.
"Asia… I want you to be my wife."
Silence.
Then—
"I love you."
Something snapped.
Not visibly.
Not audibly.
But inside—
.................
something broke.
Asia froze.
Completely.
Her mind—
overwhelmed.
Even Sona's composed expression shifted slightly.
Surprise.
But me?
I was seconds away from drawing Excalibur.
And ending him.
Right there.
Right now.
But I didn't.
Because killing him—
wasn't simple.
He wasn't just anyone.
Brother of Ajuka Beelzebub
A pillar of the Devil faction.
Killing him here—
wouldn't just be murder.
It would be war.
And that—
would drag others into it.
People I refused to endanger.
"And wife?" Asia whispered.
Still processing.
"Yes, wife."
He smiled.
As if it were obvious.
Then tilted his head.
"Ah… perhaps I rushed things."
His tone shifted.
Feigning consideration.
"Let us begin with a relationship first."
"H-uh…?"
"I will arrange for your belongings to be moved."
He spoke casually.
As if her life—
was already his.
"To my estate in the Underworld."
A step closer.
"Come. This must be fate."
Asia stepped back slightly.
Confused.
Uncomfortable.
Lost.
"W-wait… I—"
Her eyes turned.
To me.
A silent plea.
Help me.
That was enough.
"Diodora Astaroth."
My voice cut through the room.
Cold.
Sharp.
I stepped forward—
and pulled Asia behind me.
Protective.
Instinctive.
His eyes opened slightly.
The first crack in his mask.
"I don't know if you're stupid…"
I stared directly at him.
"…or just delusional."
A pause.
Heavy.
"Do you think Asia is some kind of doll?"
His smile returned.
But thinner.
Tighter.
"You must be Gilgamesh."
Polite.
But irritated.
"I'm afraid I don't understand."
"Oh."
I smirked slightly.
"Then you really are stupid."
His eyebrow twitched.
Good.
I continued.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
"Let's say you're a girl."
I began.
"And you save someone."
A step forward.
"That person turns out to be a prince."
Closer.
"And now he wants to take you away and marry you."
Silence.
Then—
"Would you accept?"
His smile vanished.
Completely.
Annoyance surfaced.
Raw.
Visible.
"This isn't a fairy tale."
My voice dropped.
Colder.
Sharper.
"This is reality."
I turned slightly.
Gesturing behind me.
"To her."
Asia stood there—
nervous.
Yet trusting.
Looking at me.
"Do you think she wants to go with you?"
No answer.
Because there wasn't one.
I stepped fully in front of her.
Shielding.
Protecting.
Because someone had to.
Asia was too kind.
Too forgiving.
Too willing to help—
even when she shouldn't.
And that kindness—
had already cost her once.
I wouldn't let it cost her again.
Not this time.
Not ever.
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