Strange use of Magic (Black Clover AU) Chapter 124: Strange Love Bites

[Third Person's PoV] 


Mimosa lay sprawled atop Stephen, her lips curved in satisfaction as she traced the marks she had left on his body. His chest, shoulders, and neck were adorned with deep purple bruises, each bearing the imprint of her teeth.


The more their passion intensified, the bolder and more fearless Mimosa became. But even she wasn’t boundless in stamina. By the time their heated battle finally subsided, exhaustion claimed them both.


Still wrapped around him, their bodies intimately connected beneath the sheets, Mimosa snuggled against his chest, her arms draped possessively around him.


Not even an hour had passed when the first light of dawn slipped through the window, creeping across the room until it reached her face. She groaned in protest, turning her head away in annoyance.


The slight movement roused Stephen from his sleep. His eyes, still heavy with drowsiness, cracked open as he muttered, “Look at that… morning already. Did we really spend the entire night just… doing it?” He shot her a wary look.


Mimosa buried her face in his chest and groaned dramatically before resting her chin there, pouting up at him.


Stephen couldn’t help but find her adorable—her long orange hair falling loosely around her face, slightly disheveled from their earlier activities.


“Stephen…” she murmured, her voice soft yet dripping with complaint. Then, with wide, teary eyes, she whimpered, “I can’t feel my legs~”


Stephen smirked, pride swelling in his chest. “You’re welcome.”


“That wasn’t a thank you!!” she huffed. “I think you paralyzed me!”


“Paralyzed? Because of me?” Stephen questioned, resting one hand behind his head while the other gently patted hers. “Need I remind you who was begging for more?”


Mimosa’s cheeks flared red as she melted into his touch. “Not my fault…” she mumbled, pouting again. “I blame you.”


“Thanks,” Stephen replied, looking even more pleased with himself.


“Again, not a compliment.” Mimosa huffed before sighing theatrically. “What am I going to do now? I’ve turned into a naughty girl because of you.”


Stephen scoffed. “Oh please, you were naughty before you even met me. I just brought it out.”


Mimosa narrowed her eyes at him before letting her gaze drift downward—over his defined chest, his strong shoulders, and finally to his exposed pectorals.


Without warning, she leaned in. “Ahm!”


Stephen jolted as her teeth clamped onto his nipple, his entire body tensing. On instinct, he flicked her forehead, causing her to release her bite with a startled yelp.


“Ouchie!” she whined, clutching her forehead while glaring at him.


Their playful banter continued until they could no longer ignore the inevitability of starting their day.


“I don’t want to let go…” Mimosa mumbled, tightening her grip around his waist.


Stephen lifted her chin and kissed her softly, making her eyes flutter shut as she melted into him.


“I don’t want to either,” he admitted, “but we have to, babe.”


Mimosa blinked, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink. “What did you just call me?”


Stephen looked at her, confused. “Babe?”


A slow, smug smile spread across her lips. “Babe… I like that.” She nodded, then grinned mischievously. “I’m your babe~”


Stephen barely held back a laugh before urging her to let go so they could finally separate.


As their connection broke, Mimosa let out a soft moan, biting her lip. “Hmmm~”


She remained sprawled in bed, naked, resting her chin on her folded arms as she watched him with lazy interest. If her legs weren’t so sore, she might have been kicking them playfully in the air.


Her shamelessness had only grown the closer she felt to Stephen. Their bond felt deeper now, as though an unseen barrier had dissolved between them.


Stephen, knowing he’d be heading straight for a bath once he returned to base, saw no point in fully dressing. With a snap of his fingers, pants materialized onto his lower half.


As he looked her over one last time, he exhaled. “I’m so grateful for photographic memory.”


Mimosa chuckled, eyes twinkling. “Promise to visit me every night from now on, alright?”


Stephen smirked. “As soon as the sun sets, I’ll be here. If something comes up, like a mission, I’ll let you know.”


Mimosa pouted playfully. “Don’t jinx it, you dummy.”


With a grin, Stephen summoned the mirror dimension, the air around him fracturing into shimmering shards as he prepared to step through.


Mimosa watched him go, her heart already anticipating the next time he’d return.


However, her expression quickly melted back into a smile as she gave him a small wave of goodbye, which he returned before slipping through the cracks. The fissures sealed shut behind him as Stephen disappeared inside.


Mimosa’s hand slowed before dropping to her side as she lowered her gaze in frustration. A sigh escaped her lips.


“How am I seriously supposed to get up? I can't even feel my legs…”



---


Meanwhile, back at the base, Stephen arrived in his room, running a hand through his disheveled hair as he wrapped an arm around his waist.


"Goodbye, virgin status. Make way for the new and improved—"


He froze.


Across the room, Nero sat perched on her seat, her wide eyes locked onto him.


Neither moved. They simply stared at each other in absolute silence, waiting to see who would break first.


As the seconds ticked by, Nero's sharp gaze traced over every detail—his hickeys and love bites, his messy hair, and the slight redness of his swollen lips.


Still, they stared.


Finally, Nero let out a sigh and looked away.


Stephen blinked.


“You know, they say indifference hurts more than anger, and I see why. Your lackluster reaction is seriously worrying me here.” He frowned.


Nero remained quiet.


"How about this—why don’t we discuss it while I take a nice, warm bath?" He studied her reaction warily. "We’ll talk there. What do you say?"


Nero simply tilted her head slightly, an expression Stephen interpreted as What is there to discuss?


“Just come, will you? Please?” Stephen pleaded, clapping his hands together.


Nero sighed before finally flying down from her perch, though notably, she didn’t land on his shoulders or head like she normally would.



---


Steam filled the air.


Stephen sat submerged in the large bath, a white cloth wrapped around his waist as he leaned back against the edge.


Floating nearby inside a wooden container was Nero’s unconscious physical body, resting atop a white cloth. Meanwhile, in her astral form, Secre hovered above the water, arms crossed, legs elegantly folded, wearing her small black dress.


"Stephen, there's absolutely nothing to discuss. You're blowing this out of proportion," Secre said dismissively. "It’s fine if you made love to Mimosa—I’m not bothered by it. I know I can't fulfill the warmth your body needs and wants."


Stephen let out a heavy sigh, pulling the towel from his forehead.


"Yeah, see… you saying that makes me even more certain that I need to explain this to you." He sat up, turning to her with a serious expression.


Secre tilted her head slightly, watching him curiously.


"There’s a reason I did what I did, you know," he continued.


Silence.


"You see, my situation is… unique. Since I can astral project, I essentially have two types of virginities—my physical one and my spiritual one." He hesitated before pressing on. "What I just did was give Mimosa my physical virginity—"


Stephen stopped abruptly.


Secre was now staring down at him with pure disgust, her cold eyes practically burning into him as if he were the lowest form of existence.


Stephen swallowed hard, suddenly feeling very exposed. His gaze dropped to the water.


"I-I just thought… If we ever, you know, did something in our spirit forms, it would be a truly sacred act—untainted by physical desire, driven only by pure emotion. If that ever happens, it would be because of love, not lust." He hesitated, then added softly, "I care deeply for both you and Mimosa. That’s why I decided to give my body to her… and my soul to you."


Silence hung in the air.


Then Secre leaned back as if she wss sitting on a invisible chair, resting her cheek on the back of her hand. She stared down at him with cold, merciless amusement.


"Tell me honestly—do I look like the devil? What need would I have for your soul?"


Stephen flinched at her deadpan tone.


“I have to say, for someone so smart, you’re incredibly naive.”


"..."


Stephen swallowed again, averting his gaze.


‘She does look like the devil, though… Those horns, that expression… what else would she be?’


He wisely chose not to say that out loud.