Reward

"Rosalind!"

[Knock, Knock]

A voice on the other side of the door jerked Rosalind out of her stupor.

It was Claudia, her voice filled with worry

"C-coming..." Rosalind called back, her voice still shaky. She forced herself to stand, stumbling towards the door and opening it

Claudia stood in the hallway, her face a mix of concern and worry.

She rushed into the room when the door opened, immediately checking Rosalind for injuries

"Are you okay? How are you feeling right now?"

Rosalind nodded, trying to put on a brave face. "I'm fine... just tired, I think"

But as the memory of Yuto's last moments flooded back into her mind, she found herself fighting back tears

Claudia must have noticed the change in Rosalind's expression because her worried look deepened.

"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice soft.

"What happened? You can tell me"

Rosalind tried to hold back the tears, but they spilled over, rolling down her cheeks.

"It... it's Yuto..." she managed to say, her voice trembling

"Um, Rosalind, I don't mean to be rude, but who?"

Rosalind blinked, remembering that Claudia wouldn't know who Yuto was.

"He's... a commoner who helped me. .." she tried to explain, her voice shaking

Claudia looked confused for a moment, then her expression changed to one of understanding mixed with sympathy.

"I see. Did something happen to him? Is that why you're upset?"

"Yes..." Rosalind's voice cracked as she spoke, the memories of Yuto's struggles, his suffering, came rushing back.

"He..., he stood up to someone bad. And... And I think he's in trouble now"

Claudia's hand hovered over Rosalind's shoulder, unsure of how to comfort her.

"Hey, it's okay..." she began, her tone gentle.

"I'm sure he'll be fine. He sounds like a brave person, and how you acted towards Mother was badass, you have to tell me what you were thinking!"

Rosalind nodded, trying to take comfort in Claudia's words.

But deep down, she felt a gnawing worry in her gut.

She couldn't shake the image of Yuto, his determination, his fear, his fight, will they ever meet again?

"I... I just hope he's safe..." she whispered, her voice small and hopeful

-???-

<- System ->

[ Welcome back Master ]

Yuto's eyes fluttered open, his consciousness slowly returning to his body.

He was lying in a dimly lit room, the air thick with the scent of antiseptic and sweat

Yuto groaned, the throbbing in his head intensifying as the system's voice echoed in his ears.

He forced his eyes open, "What... what happened?" he asked, his voice hoarse and disoriented

Yuto's realization dawned on him, a mixture of relief and disbelief washing over him.

He was back in his own body, in his uncle's house.

Yuto took in the familiar surroundings - the plain walls, the worn furniture, the faint smell of his uncle's shit cooking still lingering in the air

Mizuki was there, her breathing soft and steady as she slept next to him.

This was his reality, his world.

And yet... it all felt a bit surreal

<- System ->

[ It seems that when you passed out, the Princess's ego came back, as planned ]

"The Princess ego..." he repeated aloud, a hint of confusion in his tone.

"So, that wasn't me who confronted the queen?

<- System ->

[ Correct, your existence was being overwritten by her will ]

Yuto's brow furrowed, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the system's explanation

"Overwritten... so I was turning into Rosalind? Losing myself?"

The thought was both chilling and confusing, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease

"So, what now? Am I back for good? Or is there a risk that I'll switch personas again?"

<- System ->

[ You are back for good, there is no need to worry about being overwritten, so Congratulations, you have now received these awards ]

Yuto raised an eyebrow as the system's voice chimed in again, listing off rewards.

"Awards? For what exactly?" he queried, curiosity piqued despite his initial annoyance

<- System ->

[ Do you not want them? ]

Yuto quickly shook his head, his curiosity now fully ignited, "No, no. I want them, tell me what I've got"

<- System Reward ->

[ The clue behind your Father's death is in the form of a short poem I wrote ]

[ An old lover of sorts 

Working with an old friend 

Struck him down, out of a jealous fit ]

Yuto listened intently as the system's voice enumerated his rewards.

The mention of a clue about his father's death immediately caught his attention, his heart racing

"My father's death..." he repeated aloud, his mind racing with the implications.

The mention of an old lover and a friend further piqued his interest.

"Jealous fit," he said aloud, his mind working to dissect the potential meaning behind the cryptic words

"Alright, so I've got a clue about my father's death, and there's some sort of connection to an old lover and a friend"

Yuto mused aloud, his mind working overtime to piece together the information

He took a deep breath, realizing the fatigue still weighing him down.

The ordeal of returning to his own body and the new information had taken a toll on him

"I'm exhausted," he admitted with a weary nod.

"Maybe I should rest, and try to make sense of all this in the morning," he sat down on the edge of his bed which woke Mizuki

"What's wrong, Yuto?"

Yuto glanced over at Mizuki, surprise etched on his face, "Didn't mean to wake you," he said, his voice soft.

"Just... just thinking about some stuff, that's all"

"Oh, wanting more?"

A small smile tugged at the corners of Yuto's mouth at Mizuki's teasing, "More about what?" he asked, feigning ignorance

"Acting koi are we?"

Yuto chuckled, unable to keep up the charade of ignorance any longer, "Alright, you caught me. Yeah, I was thinking about... you know... more"

Mizuki rolled her eyes, a knowing smile on her face, "Always thinking about that, aren't you?"

She teased, her voice tinged with affectionate annoyance.

Yuto shrugged, his face unabashed, "What can I say, I'm a man of simple desires," he replied with a smirk

Mizuki shook her head, pretending to be exasperated, "Simple, but insatiable," she shot back, a hint of amusement in her voice

Yuto held up his hands in mock surrender. "Guilty as charged," he admitted, his smile widening

"But you know you love it," Mizuki rolled her eyes again, but there was a hint of a blush on her cheeks

"Don't get cocky, tiger," she warned, trying to maintain her facade of cool indifference, "The night is still young"

Yuto's smile grew into a cheeky grin at the implication. He leaned closer to Mizuki, "It certainly is," he agreed, his tone low and suggestive.

"And we've got the whole night to ourselves…"

Mizuki's cheeks flushed a bit more at Yuto's words.

Though she tried to keep up her aloof facade, the flicker of desire in her eyes betrayed her true feelings

"You don't ever stop, do you?" she asked, her voice a touch breathless

Yuto chuckled, the sound laced with a hint of arrogance.

He closed the distance between them, his body now just a few breaths away

"Why would I, when I know what it does to you?" he murmured, his voice a low, husky whisper in her ear

Mizuki shivered slightly under his gaze and his proximity, her composure faltering.

She tried to maintain her cool demeanor, but the effect he had on her was undeniable

"You're insufferable, you know that?" she retorted, her voice shaky despite her best efforts

"You've gotten too bold since a year ago," She flicked his nose 

Yuto let out a soft oof of surprise as Mizuki flicked his nose, "Hey, I've always been bold," he protested good-naturedly

"And if I remember correctly, you were the one who started this," Mizuki feigned annoyance, her expression a mix of scolding and amusement

"Don't blame it all on me," she scolded, though her tone lacked real irritation. "You're the one who's always coming on to me"

He leaned in, "Mmh," Yuto moved closer, his breath warm against her skin

"You're not exactly putting up much resistance," he pointed out, a hint of triumph in his voice

"I think you like it a bit"

Mizuki's heart skipped a beat as Yuto neared, her breath catching in her throat.

She knew she should pull back, and maintain her distance, but the heat between them was too strong to ignore

"S-shut up," she muttered, her voice a shaky whisper.

"You think you know everything, don't you?"

Yuto chuckled, the sound deep and seductive.

He reached out, his fingers gently tracing the line of her jaw

"Oh, I know you better than you think, sweetheart," he murmured, his eyes locked on hers.

"And that's exactly why I know you want this just as much as I do"

They looked at each other and chuckled, Yuto smirked as he lifted her chin, "The night is young after all"

Mizuki felt a flutter in her chest as Yuto lifted her chin, her pulse quickening under his touch.

The heat between them was almost palpable, and she found herself drawn to his gaze like a moth to a flame

She tried to maintain her cool facade, but the shiver that ran down her spine betrayed her true feelings

"You're funny, you know that?" she managed to say, her voice betraying her desire, they laugh as they enjoy the pleasures of being close once again

Yuto's heart was pounding as he pulled Mizuki close, feeling her body press against his.

The sensation was electric, a familiar and thrilling rush of desire coursing through his veins.

But there was something different about this embrace

He felt an ache in his chest that he couldn't quite explain.

His hands trembled slightly as they held her, not from excitement, but from a deep sense of loss

"Mizuki," he whispered, his voice hoarse with a mixture of longing and something else he couldn't quite place, "I have something-"

[Knock Knock]

"Father, are you awake?"

Yuto and Mizuki broke apart at the sound of the voice outside the door, both silently cursing under their breath.

He straightened up, trying to regain his composure 

"Y-yeah," he called out, his voice cracking slightly, "Just.. just give me a minute"

Mizuki chuckled as Yuto rushed to put on a shirt, he finished dressing and opened the door wide, Scarlett was crouching down

"What's up, Scarlett?"

"Father, I'm bored," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance.

"I need something to do"

Yuto sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Scarlet, it's late," he began his tone, a tired mix of weariness and resignation.

"You really should be asleep right now"

Scarlet pouted, "I don't want to sleep," she whined, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm not tired. I want to do something fun"

"Well, um, how about we go midnight hunting, does that sound good?"

Scarlet's eyes lit up at the idea, her sulk instantly forgotten

"Midnight hunting? Really?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.

"Are you serious?"

Yuto chuckled, feeling his daughter's excitement. "Yeah, I'm serious" he confirmed, his tone lighter now

"It's been a while since we've had a good midnight hunt"

"What about you Mizuki, you want to come with us?"

Mizuki, who had been watching the exchange with a mix of fondness and resignation, looked at them with a dubious expression

"Midnight hunting?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"At this hour? Don't you think it's a little bit reckless?"

"Come on, Ma!" Scarlett said with excitement 

Mizuki sighed, unable to resist Scarlett's enthusiasm.

She knew that look, the sparkle in Scarlett's eyes that meant she wasn't going to budge

"Alright, fine," she relented, a hint of resignation in her voice.

"I'll come along. But just this once"

"Yes!" Scarlett cheered, jumping up and down with glee, and ran downstairs to get ready

Yuto walked back into the room, and sat on the edge of the bed, "Mizuki I have something I need to say"

Mizuki, who was picking out a suitable outfit, turned to Yuto, curiosity piqued by the seriousness in his tone

"Oh?" she said, her brows furrowing slightly.

"What is it?"

"You know my childhood friend, the one I told you about 2 years ago when we first kissed?"

Mizuki, her curiosity now fully captured, sat down next to Yuto, her eyes locked on him

"Yes, I remember," she said, a hint of wariness in her voice.

"What about her?"

"..."

"She's alive"

Mizuki's eyes widened at Yuto's revelation, her expression a mixture of surprise and confusion

"Wait, what?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

"What do you mean she's alive?"

"When we thought that she passed away against the invasion of my village, it turns out she escaped as it started and has made her way into the kingdom of Reto"

Mizuki sat stunned for a moment, her mind trying to process Yuto's words. After a few moments, she found her voice again

"So all this time, she's been alive?" she asked, her voice softer, more contemplative now.

"And you're just telling me now?"

"Because I just found out"

"How did you find out?"

"Well, that's the funny story, I lived a week in the princess body, well possession is the correct word for it"

Mizuki's expression switched from surprise to confusion

"Wait, what? You... lived a week in the princess' body?" she repeated, trying to make sense of Yuto's words.

"What are you talking about?"

"The system, for some odd reason, the system thought it was best to put me in her body to find clues to my father's death"

Mizuki chuckled, planted a kiss, and began putting on her stockings, "So then you found out Alice was alive, correct?"

"Yes"

"And how are you feeling about that?" Mizuki asked, her voice now softer, more understanding.

She finished with her stockings and moved on to pulling on her dress

"Shit, I felt like absolute shit. My friend was alive, alone, and I didn't even know"

Mizuki listened intently, her expression empathetic

"It must have been a shock," she said, her voice a soothing balm against Yuto's distress.

"But you know it's not your fault, right? You couldn't have known"

"Ha, that's what she said as well, not blaming me but she felt hurt and I don't blame her"

Mizuki smiled faintly at that, "Of course, she didn't," she said, a touch of knowing in her voice.

"I assume she thought you died, why would she blame a friend who was equally a victim of that horrible day?"

Yuto was silent for a moment before speaking again

"I...I just wish I'd known sooner," he said, his voice holding a mixture of guilt and regret.

"All this time, I've been carrying this burden, this belief that I'd failed her... and she was out there, hiding, surviving alone. It feels like I failed her twice"

Mizuki moved closer to Yuto, wrapping an arm around him

"Hey," she said, her voice soft and comforting.

"You can't blame yourself for things you didn't know. You're human, Yuto. You thought she was gone, and you've been living with that belief. You couldn't have known any differently"

"Am I human?"

Mizuki looked at him, startled by the question

"Of course you are," she replied, her tone filled with a mix of surprise and concern.

"Why would you even ask that?"

Yuto chuckled dryly, a hint of bitterness in his voice

"Sometimes it doesn't feel like it," he admitted, his gaze distant.

"With everything that's happened, with all the battles I've fought and the powers I've gained, sometimes I wonder if I'm losing myself in the process"

["My class and title, a demon or human, what am I?"]

Mizuki's expression softened as she heard his words.

She took his face in her hands, making him look at her

"Yuto," she said firmly, "You are still human"

"You might be strong, you might have abilities that others don't, but you're still you. You're still the man I fell in love with. Don't ever doubt that"

"Mizuki"

Mizuki smiled softly, her hands still on Yuto's cheeks. "You've been through a lot," she said, her voice a soothing whisper.

"But you're not a monster, and you're not losing yourself"

They leaned in, their mouths yearning for each other, almost reaching their destination before hearing a loud booming voice

"Father, Ma hurry up!"

Yuto chuckled at his daughter's impatient voice

"We're coming, Scarlett," he called out in reply, his tone a mix of affection and resignation.

He pulled away from Mizuki, rising from the bed.

"Looks like our little night hunter is getting impatient," Mizuki said, smiling fondly.

"We better not keep her waiting too long"

"Yeah," Yuto agreed. "Or she might start hunting us instead"

He offered a hand out to Mizuki, a small smile on his lips

Mizuki took his hand and stood, fixing her dress slightly. "Let's get going," she said, a hint of eagerness in her voice.

"It's been a while since I've had a good midnight hunt"

"You're enjoying this more than you're letting on, aren't you?" Yuto teased as they headed towards the door

Mizuki smirked, the excitement of the upcoming hunt was now fully apparent on her face

"Maybe a little," she admitted, her voice filled with a touch of recklessness. "It is exciting, you have to admit"

They made their way downstairs, Scarlett in her usual attire, a white button-up shirt with a red bow, and a long black 'skirt'

Scarlett's eyes lit up as she saw her parents descending the stairs. "Finally!" she exclaimed, her impatience evident in her voice.

"I thought you'd never be ready!"

"We were just talking," Yuto explained with a chuckle, ruffling Scarlett's hair affectionately

"Were you that bored?"

"Yes!" Scarlet complained though she didn't move away from Yuto's hand in her hair. "I was ready half an hour ago!"

Mizuki laughed, "Patience, little one," she said, a light-hearted tone in her voice. "Good things come to those who wait"

Scarlett huffed as she transformed into a bat, Mizuki transformed back into an ego sword, and Yuto used the ring of Ernaline to make a black trench coat

With Scarlett perched on his shoulder and Mizuki in his hand, they walked out into the cool night air, a long night of hunting and shredding monsters apart, a fun family night that lasted till two

-Morning-

Yuto woke up with a headache as he was lying on the ground, Mizuki and Scarlett had pushed him off the bed

"What the" he muttered, rubbing his head as he sat up.

He looked around and spotted Mizuki and Scarlett, who were currently sitting on the edge of the bed, laughing at him

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead," Mizuki teased, her voice a mixture of amusement and mockery

Yuto glared at her, feigning irritation, "You think it's funny, don't you?" he retorted, his voice laced with playful sarcasm

"Oh, very much so," Mizuki replied with a smirk, clearly enjoying this moment.

Scarlett was giggling uncontrollably, her entire body shaking with laughter

Yuto rose to his feet, trying to maintain a solemn expression, though the corners of his lips were betraying a smile.

"I suppose I am glad my pain can entertain you," he said, his voice a mix of pretended annoyance and amusement

"Oh, we are eternally grateful," Mizuki chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

"Your suffering is a source of endless hilarity for us"

Scarlett, unable to contain herself any longer, burst into another fit of giggles, "Hah, Father I've decided that I'm gonna make you two breakfast," she ran downstairs before Yuto could speak

Yuto shook his head, mock-irritated but secretly amused by their banter. He turned back to Mizuki.

"You enjoying this a bit too much, aren't you?" he asked, crossing his arms in a display of feigned disapproval

"Maybe a little," Mizuki admitted, her smirk growing wider.

"But can you really blame me?"

"Watching you sprawl on the floor was priceless"

They smiled and spent the whole day together, no fighting, no worries, just a day for Yuto to be himself with his family 

The day passed in a series of lighthearted moments.

Yuto and Mizuki engaged in playful banter, their conversations filled with affection and laughter

Scarlett, always the center of entertainment, provided her brand of amusement, her childlike innocence, and boundless energy adding to the family's joy

As night approached, they shared a simple yet delicious dinner, stories, and laughter echoing through their home

-Yuto and Mizuki's room-

Yuto was in his room, looking outside the window, his body covered in bandages and scars, he was well-built, the skinny kid who relied on the system grew into a fine young man who relied on his body and will (and of course Mizuki)

He looked over to Mizuki, he smiled as he closed his book, spinning his tea and taking a sip "Mmh, tea is the only thing he can make," he stole a few peeks while sipping his tea

Mizuki noticed his gaze, she raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips

"Enjoying the view?"

"Of course," he said with a chuckle, his eyes scanning her up and down 

Mizuki's short silver hair grew out till it reached her mid-back, it truly did suit her kimono, but a soft chuckle escaped as she shifted on the bed, leaning back on her elbows, her form exposed

She smirks slightly, "You can't take your eyes off me, can you?"

"It's the only thing I look forward to after getting my ass handed to me by my uncle," he tried to keep his composure but it was clear he was embarrassed 

Although they spent two years together, even sharing their first night on his 19th birthday, he would still get embarrassed from time to time 

She moves to sit up on the bed, the sheets falling delicately around her, revealing more of her bare body.

"Well, I'm happy to provide some relief for you then," she teased, a playful glint in her eyes

"Still one more week, and he agreed to let us go on our journey to find the fragments," he put down his cup and looked back into the night sky

"Only one more week, huh? Time seems to crawl when you're eager to get started"

"Of course, it's been two years since he accepted us as his disciple and a year since we adopted Scarlett, a lot of things have happened, . . ."

She shifts closer, her gaze filled with curiosity, "What is it? You seem a bit thoughtful suddenly"

He chuckles as he lays down on the bed, "Don't worry, I'm just thinking if I can finally eat something besides a piece of bread and some shit soup"

"Ah, the joy of monotonous and insufficient meals. You'd think your uncle would at least provide a decent meal after working you to the bone"

"Mom wasn't kidding when she said he can't cook"

"Seems like the only thing he excels at is training people, not kitchen skills", she said with a chuckle while patting his head 

Yuto wrapped his arms around her, "It's only at night that I get some rest, well if you ignore Scarlett's midnight hunger"

She let her head rest on his chest, feeling the warmth of his body against her. The blankets envelop them both, creating a cozy cocoon of warmth and security

"Scarlett was the one who suggested we have time to ourselves, to let go of the stresses and pressures of training"

"Well then, don't mind if I do," Yuto let his body go limp, his body letting go of the built-up stress

It's moments like this, intimate moments, that make the strenuous training worth it. It's just the two of them, intertwined in each other's embrace, they made a few more jokes before passing out

-Morning-

The sun peeks through the window, casting a soft glow across the room, Mizuki gradually opened her eyes, finding herself still wrapped in Yuto's arms. She let out a soft yawn, stretching lazily against him, enjoying the warmth and comfort

"Enjoying the view?", Yuto said with a smug look

"I am," a simple reply, yet her tone was sultry and teasing. "Like what you see, do you?"

He looked away embarrassed, "G-get dressed already," he got up to take a shower

Mizuki laughs softly, as she stretches one more time before sitting up on the bed, the blankets pooling around her hips, barely covering any of her bare skin

"Oh, shy now, are we? Don't worry, I won't bite... unless you want me to," She teased playfully as she reached for her clothes

"Don't poke the bear too much, now hurry up", he shouted from the bathtub, his voice played with a hint of embarrassment 

"And here I thought you enjoyed the view," She taunted, a sly grin on her face as she slipped on her zori's

"Can't eat it all, now can I?", he came out drying his hair with a towel, before reaching towards the closet (Yuto takes quick and effective short showers)

She feigns a pout, exaggerating her disappointment but finishes getting dressed, the last bits of bare skin now hidden by fabric, "Oh come on, surely I'm a sight worth savoring at least"

Yuto looked down at the desk and saw a small note, he quickly read through the context and smiled 

"It seems that my uncle changed our departure to today, we can leave if I land a hit on him"

Yuto read the note twice, his heart racing with a mixture of excitement and determination

"Looks like we're heading out sooner than expected," he said, a smile spreading across his face

"All I have to do is land a hit on my uncle, huh?"

Mizuki raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued by the unexpected change in plans. "Well, that's a pretty straightforward condition. But can you do it?"

"Well, we have to talk to Scarlett first. I can't have her attacking my uncle during our fight now, can we?"

"Of course not," Mizuki agreed, a hint of amusement in her voice. "We don't need her turning your uncle into a chew toy"

Yuto chuckled at the thought, imagining the scene of Scarlett jumping at his uncle like an overzealous puppy. "Yeah, that'd be quite the spectacle. Let's go find her and make sure she understands"