The next day.
An upscale apartment in Shinjuku Ward.
It was Saturday, a day off.
A family of four sat around the dining table, eating breakfast at an unhurried pace.
Cael's gaze moved across his three wives, studying each of them carefully.
This had become a new habit of his.
None of them were normal, and their emotional states needed constant attention.
Of course, for him, it was also a feast for the eyes.
Every single one of them was stunning. The kind of beauty you would not see even once in ten thousand people.
Devils really did go to extremes.
The ugly ones were unbearable to look at.
The beautiful ones were like his wives, Asa, Reze, and Makima.
Just looking at them felt refreshing, like he could live ten extra years.
But something was off.
Cael's eyes narrowed slightly as he focused on Reze.
"Reze, you don't look too happy. Something on your mind?"
"Hm?" Reze set her spoon down and blinked, her expression innocent.
She poked the dimple on her cheek with a finger. "Really? I feel normal."
Asa leaned closer, curiosity clear on her face, and gently poked Reze's other cheek.
"It's true. When people are tense, their skin tightens without them noticing. Reze's skin feels less elastic than usual."
"Ah? Seriously?"
Cael stared directly into Reze's eyes, his expression firm.
"If something's bothering you, don't keep it to yourself. We can handle it together."
"I…" Reze hesitated.
"Exactly." Asa gently took her hand. "We're family. Family helps each other."
Makima lowered her gaze, silent for a moment, watching.
After more than a month of living together, her relationship with Reze had eased significantly.
A few days ago, for convenience, Reze had moved in fully instead of staying next door.
Cael had insisted on it.
They were one family, so there was no point living separately or cooking different meals.
Once things became even more harmonious, Cael had plans to take it further.
One family, one space.
Pochita, however, had already made his decision. He moved downstairs with the dogs, willingly taking on the role of their caretaker.
Not because he felt awkward, he simply figured their presence might get in the way.
Even a devil knew when to give people space.
Makima took a slow sip of sake before speaking casually.
"Reze, what exactly were you doing outside in the middle of the night?"
Her tone remained calm, but her eyes were sharp.
"Better you say it yourself before I do."
As the most composed and capable among them, Makima had quietly placed surveillance around both Asa and Reze.
Nothing significant escaped her notice.
She already knew fragments of what had happened, including Reze's clash with Balem Bridge.
At least it had not been for anything foolish.
Reze rolled her eyes and raised her middle finger at Makima.
"Witch, why do you always talk like that? Sounds like a damn mutt."
Makima smiled faintly.
"And you're acting like a rat, sneaking around in the dark."
Asa pressed her temples, already feeling a headache coming on.
"So, Reze's in trouble, right?" She rolled up her sleeve, revealing the Gun Devil's power beneath her skin.
"Just tell me who needs to die. I'm ridiculously strong right now."
After so long fused with the Gun Devil, Asa's control had grown tremendously.
As long as she fired seriously, almost nothing on the surface could withstand her attacks, aside from special cases or Primal Devils.
Reze let out a sigh.
"Since you all want to know, fine."
She took her time, explaining everything.
The package she received.
The suspected murder of her foster parents.
Balem Bridge's identity.
And how she had already blown him apart.
When she finished, silence lingered for a moment.
"Balem Bridge? Damn it!" Cael and Asa spoke at the same time, their anger perfectly in sync.
Makima frowned slightly.
"The fire at that middle school in Bunkyo Ward not long ago… that was likely him too."
Cael exhaled slowly, irritation rising.
"Of all people, he goes after my wife's family. That bastard's got guts."
He leaned back slightly, eyes cold.
"Makima, can you track him? I'll erase him and be back before breakfast's done."
Anyone targeting Reze's heart had already signed their death warrant.
Makima shook her head.
"He's cautious. He likely knows how my ability works and is deliberately avoiding detection."
She paused briefly.
"He's probably already altered his appearance. I can only narrow it down by body type."
Reze rested her chin on her hands, calm.
"There's no need to rush."
"His goal has always been my heart. I'm the target. Unless he defects like I did, he will come for me eventually."
Her fingers tapped lightly against the table.
"And we have an advantage."
"The KGB might know about Makima, maybe even Asa. But they won't expect this kind of relationship between us."
She glanced at Cael, her expression softening slightly.
"With you all backing me, I'm safe."
"So we wait. Live normally. The next time he makes a move will be the day he dies."
The others nodded.
Her reasoning made sense.
But something still felt off.
Asa suddenly froze, realization striking her.
"Wait."
She frowned.
"That plan works, but what about your foster parents?"
"If Balem Bridge is following orders, the KGB will torture them to pressure you, right?"
Cael's expression changed.
Right.
That was the missing piece.
Reze calmly took another bite of porridge, her expression unchanged.
"But I won't give in because of that."
She spoke plainly.
"Compared to them, I choose to stay with Cael and all of you."
"If I cared more about them, I would've returned to the Soviet Union long ago."
"It's a simple choice."
Cael clicked his tongue.
With that mindset, Balem Bridge's leverage meant nothing.
Reze let out a quiet sigh.
"After I got the Bomb Devil's heart, my foster parents always told me something."
She paused briefly.
"To stop living for the Soviet Union and the KGB. To stop being a tool for killing."
"To take care of myself. To live the life I actually want."
"I didn't understand back then."
"But now I do."
She looked at them, calm and certain.
"This is the life I want."
"If they die, I'll feel bad."
She shrugged slightly.
"But just that."
"They were already old. Close to the end anyway."
"Killing Balem Bridge will at least settle things."
Asa stared at her, stunned.
"…Reze, that's kind of cold, don't you think?"
Reze thought about it for a second, then nodded.
"Yeah."
"That's normal."
"I'm a devil, after all."