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SO : 26 The Truth
🕑 Added 2024-09-10 03:36:06 +0000 UTCThe sudden surge of magical energy from Itogami Island jolted Natsuki Minamiya awake.
The petite, doll-like girl's face was serious as she sprang upright like a coiled spring. Her gem-like blue eyes flickered with a trace of unease.
"What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare? You look so frightened."
"…Honestly, Natsuki-chan, how old are you to still be having nightmares and getting scared awake?"
"You usually act so grown-up, but now you're just like a child."
"…Though I am your watcher, devils are involved in many affairs. If you're feeling upset and scared, you can come to me for comfort. I'll soothe you to sleep."
Natsuki, freshly awakened, heard Saigou's teasing words laced with amusement.
Her nervousness instantly dissipated, replaced by frustration, as the veins on her smooth forehead throbbed visibly.
She glared at Saigou, who was sitting comfortably in a nearby chair.
With his legs crossed and a pair of glasses perched on his nose, he was engrossed in a book.
Even in the darkness of the bedroom, the demon's gaze and presence were unimpeded.
The shadow of the devil leaning against the wall under the moonlight possessed a strikingly exotic beauty.
Unfortunately, Natsuki had no interest in appreciating the demon's allure as a man. Her voice was unusually stern and anxious as she demanded, "...Zarathustra, you must have sensed that burst of magical energy!"
"What's the problem? This is a demon district. While the number of demons on this artificial island isn't huge, it's significant enough."
"…Magical fluctuations and bursts are quite common here."
Saigou responded with an indifferent expression.
He then turned his smiling gaze toward Natsuki and added, "...Besides, I'm just a devil, not a native of this world, nor a resident of this city."
"…Whatever happens here doesn't concern me. Even if this world were to be destroyed, I could merely watch the changes with amusement and perhaps even critique the beauty of the apocalypse."
Pausing, Saigou continued, "...Of course, I am also your watcher and protector. Wherever you go, I will follow and lend you my strength."
"…Until the contract is fulfilled or becomes void, our relationship remains as such."
Saigou's words made Natsuki snort in disdain. She had never expected a demon to possess any genuine kindness.
It was already a blessing that this devil had not directly destroyed the world or toyed with the lives of beings.
Yet, Natsuki was unaware that despite herself, Saigou's words had a calming effect on her.
Natsuki's power came from Saigou; all her strength depended on the devil.
Even with her extraordinary human talent, without the devil's contract, Natsuki would not possess the power she had now.
Of course, power was just one aspect. What Natsuki valued even more was Saigou's promise to protect her and stay with her until the contract ended.
Natsuki's inner self would not admit this sense of reassurance.
Believing in a devil's promise and cherishing a devil's companionship was something Natsuki's pride would not allow.
"Then stop talking and come with me!"
Natsuki Minamiya ignored Saigou, accustomed to his presence.
The witch confidently removed her simple pajamas, allowing her delicate body to be exposed to Saigou's gaze under the moonlight.
Though her figure lacked the seductive allure of a typical woman, it still possessed a captivating beauty that enthralled men.
She quickly donned a black Gothic lolita outfit and used her spatial control spell to vanish from the bedroom.
Saigou, smiling, transformed into a swirl of black flames and followed her, his form disappearing alongside hers.
Saigou's fundamental power derived from the Third Stellar Particle in his blood and the Authority of the Mother of Evil Gods.
In the Yggdrasill game, Saigou's abilities were also fixed as skills.
It could be said that Saigou had never trained any powers but had gained his extraordinary abilities from the start.
However, Saigou saw this as a flaw. Gaining power effortlessly might be satisfying, but it often led to unstable foundations.
Thus, after arriving in this world, Saigou took the opportunity to learn some of the local spells by staying close to Natsuki.
The spells in this world might not be very advanced, nor necessarily stronger than his own abilities.
But all paths eventually converge, and learning something new is never a mistake. It provided Saigou with greater insight into his own powers.
For example, while Saigou had other means of achieving spatial traversal, such as the ring he wore, Natsuki's spatial control spell revealed no secrets to him after some study.
Through the contract, Natsuki gained power from Saigou, and in turn, Saigou not only absorbed the world's nutrients to grow but also enriched himself and became stronger.
In a sense, Saigou and Natsuki Minamiya were mutually beneficial.
...
In an instant, Natsuki Minamiya's figure had moved from her apartment to the scene of the incident.
At this moment, Saigou had transformed back into the shadow of a devil, becoming Natsuki's silent companion.
No wonder Natsuki was so anxious—the incident had occurred at her academy.
"Special Officer Natsuki!"
Nearby, a fully armed squad was rushing to the scene, the special guard force of the island.
As a district designated for demons, the population of demons here was significant.
Demons, possessing unique abilities not found in humans, made the likelihood of demon-related crimes quite high on this island.
The special guard force was established for this purpose. Though not large in number, their overall combat capability was comparable to that of a national army.
While they might fall short against powerful demon adversaries, they were more than adequate for dealing with common demon criminals.
Furthermore, the squad included highly skilled demon officers, making it the most formidable protection agency on the artificial island.
Upon seeing Natsuki's arrival, a tall man quickly saluted and called out.
Although Natsuki appeared childlike in stature, she held considerable authority within the special guard force.
Before becoming a witch, she had been an excellent demon officer, having educated many within the squad who were initially skeptical of her.
After her transformation into a witch, her power had grown immensely, making her, in fact, one of the most formidable threats to the island.
"Stay here and keep the civilians out. I'll go in personally!"
Natsuki issued her command without further words.
"Isn't it too dangerous for you to go in alone?"
The tall squad leader hesitated.
"Get back to your post. Do you not hear my orders?"
Natsuki's cold glance and domineering tone left no room for argument. She exuded an air of supreme authority, dismissing everything else.
This was Natsuki Minamiya's true nature—always acting on her own whims.
Only before Saigou did she become the helpless one, reduced to impotent rage.
To others, she was a typical sadist, but before Saigou, she became a victim of her own subservience.
"Yes, yes, I understand!"
The leader, frightened, quickly complied.
Ignoring the guard members, Natsuki's face darkened as she muttered through gritted teeth, "…Aya, what kind of mess are you making now?"
