Chapter 59: A New Home

Malrik's POV

The walk home was quiet.

Asia stuck close to me, her steps soft, uncertain. Aika, as usual, hummed some upbeat tune under her breath, acting like the chaos of tonight had never happened. And Mittelt? She had her arms crossed, glancing back now and then with an irritated look. 

The cool night breeze ruffled our clothes, and the stars above Kuoh were unusually bright tonight—like the world itself had decided to relax a little, now that the mess was over.

We reached the outer gate to my place, and I could already feel Asia slow behind me.

When we stepped through and the full mansion came into view, she froze.

Her eyes widened.

"A-A mansion?" she whispered. "You live… here?"

I shrugged, unlocking the gate casually. "Yeah."

"This place is bigger than the orphanage I lived in back at Home," she muttered, blinking up at the multi-story estate as we walked up the stone path.

Aika stretched her arms behind her head with a smirk. "Welcome to Casa de Malrik. Where the rooms are huge and the rent is emotional damage."

Mittelt snorted. "Don't be dramatic. He's just a guy who gets way too lucky."

"Still counts," I said with a grin, unlocking the front door.

As the lights flicked on, the grand foyer came into view—marble floors, an elegant chandelier, and the faint scent of freshly brewed tea still lingering. Asia stared around like she had walked into another world.

"I-I can't stay here, it's too much…" she murmured, her hands tightening around her bag.

"You can," I replied simply. "You're safe here."

She looked up at me, and for a moment, that familiar worry flickered behind her eyes. But she nodded.

"…Okay."

Aika flopped onto the couch like it was her throne, while Mittelt slipped upstairs without a word—probably off to change.

I turned to Asia with a calm smile.

"Come on. Let's get you a room." 

———

{Omni POV}

The morning sun filtered softly through the classroom windows, casting golden light on the rows of desks. Issei leaned back in his chair, barely half-awake, while Matsuda and Motohama whispered animatedly about whatever trash-tier video they watched last night.

Then the door slid open.

The teacher stepped in, a soft smile on her face.

"Everyone, we have a new transfer student joining us today."

Immediately, the class perked up.

A girl stepped in after her. Dressed in the Kuoh Academy uniform, her long blonde hair flowed gracefully down her back, and her emerald-green eyes looked around shyly.

Issei sat up straight. His jaw nearly dropped.

"Asia?!"

The teacher gestured toward her. "Please introduce yourself."

Asia stepped forward, holding her school bag tight to her chest.

"M-My name is Asia Argento. I recently moved to Japan. I'm very happy to be here and look forward to learning with all of you…"

She hesitated for a second, cheeks lightly flushed, then added, "Also… I'll be living with Malrik-san from now on."

Dead silence.

Then chaos.

"EEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!?!" Matsuda and Motohama screamed in unison, practically launching out of their seats.

Matsuda slammed both hands on his desk. "W-WAIT, MALRIK YOU—?!"

Motohama's glasses fogged up immediately. "Living with a foreign beauty…! That's beyond light novel protagonist luck!"

The entire male half of the class turned to stare at Malrik, who sat calmly at his desk, one leg crossed, leaning on his elbow like none of this concerned him in the slightest.

"Yare yare…" he muttered with a smug grin. "It's not my fault destiny likes me."

"YOU BASTARD!!" the Perverted Trio shouted in perfect sync.

Meanwhile, the girls of the class were whispering among themselves.

"She's so pretty…"

"And she's living with him?"

"Are they… dating?"

"I bet he's a total flirt. Did you see that smirk?!"

Issei, still stunned, looked back and forth between Asia and Malrik.

"Wait—SHE'S LIVING WITH YOU?!"

Malrik shrugged, cool as ever. "She chose to, Issei. You snooze, you lose."

Asia tilted her head, confused. "Is something wrong?"

Issei slumped onto his desk. "God is real. And He hates me."

From the back of the room, Aika waved lazily, a mischievous grin on her lips. "Yo, Asia. Don't worry—if Malrik causes any trouble, just tell me. I'll beat him up for you."

The teacher cleared her throat with a smile. "Okay, okay. Settle down now. Asia, please take the seat next to Malrik."

Asia smiled politely and nodded. As she sat down, the entire class vibrated with silent envy.

Matsuda whispered, "Another harem flag has been raised…"

Motohama muttered, "He's living the dream…"

And Malrik? He leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head as he smiled to himself.

Just another day at Kuoh Academy.

———

The bell rang for lunch break, and the classroom immediately burst into noise—chairs scraping, conversations rising, and bento boxes being opened.

Malrik leaned back in his chair, eyes half-lidded, when the classroom door slid open again.

"Ara~ am I interrupting anything?"

A sweet, sing-song voice laced with amusement echoed through the room, instantly silencing half the class.

Akeno stood at the doorway, her signature smile in place, her long black hair swaying as she stepped inside with the grace of a noblewoman descending onto a battlefield.

The boys froze.

The girls stiffened.

Malrik raised an eyebrow. "If it isn't Kuoh's princess."

Akeno's gaze flicked to him, her smile widening slightly. "Rias would like to see you. Oh, and Asia as well~."

Asia, who was in the middle of unwrapping her lunch, blinked and tilted her head. "Me?"

"Yes," Akeno replied gently. "She wants to welcome you properly to the school."

The words sent a chill through the gossiping crowd of classmates.

Asia stood up nervously, nodding. "O-Okay."

Before they could even step out, another voice chimed in behind them.

"Wait up!" Aika called, hopping over her desk and sliding her half-eaten lunch into her bag. "If you're going, I'm going too."

Akeno raised an amused eyebrow. "You weren't invited."

Aika smirked. "Yeah, and? I'm not missing the drama. Besides, I'm already halfway part of the chaos thanks to Malrik."

Malrik sighed, standing up and slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Sure, why not? The more, the messier."

As they walked out together—Malrik, Asia, Aika, and Akeno—the class watched them go with a mix of awe, envy, and total disbelief.

"Did Malrik just get summoned by Akeno-senpai?"

"He's like… connected to all the top girls!"

"HOW?!"

Matsuda collapsed over his desk. "We're living in his harem anime and we're the background characters…"

Motohama nodded solemnly. "It's official. He's the protagonist."

And with that, the group made their way through the school halls, headed toward the Occult Research Club.