A Journey Through the Multiverse Beginning with the Supreme Sovereign

As a Witch who had entered into a contract with Saigō, Nangong Nayue would not be eroded by the power of Aging.

The body of the Golden 'Knight,' composed of gears, began to rust at this moment, creaking loudly.

Only then did Sendou Aya and Nangong Nayue notice that even demons could be affected by Aging.

The 'Knight' held an enormous greatsword. Its blade suddenly turned dark red, and a dark red Thorn Cage sprouted from every direction across the ground.

The Thorn Cage targeted Saigō. It seemed the Witch's guardian intended to imprison Saigō within it before cutting him down.

At that moment, Saigō suddenly withdrew all of his Aging power and produced a book from nowhere.

"Though it is rather excessive for someone like you, it is perfectly suited for use here!"

Saigō murmured in a voice no one else could hear, then let out a majestic and terrifying laugh. "...To die by its hand is already an immense honor for you!"

"...Unfold, Simulated Star Creation Chart, 'Avesta'!"

As Saigō opened the book in his hand, the worldview of Zoroastrianism began to erode the Heavenly Principles of this world!

"This is the power of the first three thousand years, the primordial cosmology!"

Saigō spoke a Word Spirit filled with darkness and evil, yet brimming with goodness and holiness.

In Sendou Aya and Nangong Nayue's eyes, it was as though this world was undergoing another Big Bang!

The old universe perished, and a new universe was born. The former Heavenly Principles shattered amidst destruction, while new Heavenly Principles and a new cosmology emerged from nothingness!

This was the power of the first three thousand years of "Avesta" that Saigō could currently wield—the beginning of creation through 'good' and 'evil,' as well as the 'least common multiple of the universe'!

And within that newborn universe, 'void' and 'Fravashi' came into being.

Void was a substance humans could not perceive. It separated light from darkness, preventing light from entering darkness and darkness from entering light.

Then, the immaterial 'Fravashi' transformed into ideology, forming the rules of all things.

Like the rising and setting of the sun, like blossoming and bearing fruit, like humans being human—this was both the Cosmic Law and the Natural Law!

Had there been a physicist here, they would have been horrified to discover that the birth of this world resembled the fire and light revered by Zoroastrianism transforming into waves and particles.

Then quantum spacetime transformed into the ultimate law sought by physics: the Grand Unified Field!

With the emergence of the Grand Unified Field, the worldview of Zoroastrianism completely took shape and occupied everything.

Nothing that did not belong to this religion could exist within this worldview.

The Golden 'Knight' was silently rejected by the world and reduced into fragments of nothingness.

The first three thousand years ended, and the world should have entered the second three thousand years.

But Saigō could currently only display the power of "Avesta's" first three thousand years.

Just as the second three thousand years were about to begin, the newly formed universe vanished in an instant, becoming "Avesta" once again in Saigō's hand.

"Ha, what a waste of a sledgehammer on a chicken. The creatures of this world really are fragile."

Saigō sighed, as though mocking the insignificance of this world.

There were two reasons he had directly used the Simulated Star Creation Chart, his greatest trump card, to kill the Witch's guardian before him.

First, since obtaining the Simulated Star Creation Chart, Saigō had never used it and did not understand its power or effects.

Rather than use an ability he did not understand against a powerful enemy in the future, it was better to use it now and first gain a clear understanding of the power he possessed.

Judging from the result, "Avesta" was outrageously powerful. Even though Saigō had only unfolded it for an instant and used the power of the first three thousand years, that power seemed capable of creating heaven and earth.

Although "Avesta" was treated as a World Item in the game, it did not become unusable after a single activation. Its cooldown was simply rather long.

As long as Saigō waited patiently, he would be able to use the Simulated Star Creation Chart again once the cooldown ended.

The second reason was to intimidate Nangong Nayue.

As his beacon in this world and the only source of nourishment he currently knew of, he did not want Nangong Nayue to harbor any ulterior intentions.

This display of power would certainly make Nangong Nayue choose correctly.

Just as Saigō had expected, Nangong Nayue's face was pale and dreadful, her small body trembling.

She had seen the spiritual status of the Mother of Evil Gods and had been terrified by that dreadful darkness.

Yet Nangong Nayue had not been without doubts. Could that terrifying god truly descend upon her world? If so, why did it need her as a beacon?

But now Nangong Nayue believed. Regardless of whether that dark sovereign could descend, the power wielded by the Great Demon of Aging before her was enough to destroy this entire world!

A feeling of helplessness completely overtook Nangong Nayue's heart. She no longer dared slack off in the slightest and could only strive to fulfill the contract.

The world-creating power of "Avesta" had truly frightened Nangong Nayue.

What she did not know was that even for Saigō, this ability had an extremely long cooldown.

Moreover, Saigō currently did not have the ability to extend "Avesta" across the entire planet.

But Saigō had only intended to frighten her, and just as he expected, the Witch was terrified out of her wits.

Besides Nangong Nayue, Sendou Aya had also been frightened.

The stunning beauty in a kimono swallowed and said hoarsely, "...Natsuki, what kind of monster did you make a contract with?"

Did the legendary 'Sin God Cain' possess power that could rival that world-creating might?

Nangong Nayue shook her head bleakly. She did not want to tell Sendou Aya how little control she now had over her own fate.

The barrier set up by Sendou Aya had already been destroyed, and the two Witches swiftly left the scene.

The range affected when Saigō unfolded the Simulated Star Creation Chart had been extremely small. Other than the two Witches, the only remaining witnesses were already dead.

This spared the two Witches the trouble of explaining anything.

After parting ways, Nangong Nayue returned to her residence on String God Island.

You're Following Me to the Bath?! ### Although Nangong Nayue was a high school student with no parents,

because of her special circumstances, she had always been valued by the Artificial Island Management Corporation of String God Island.

Thus, compared to ordinary high school students, Nangong Nayue received special treatment.

For instance, she lived alone in a luxury apartment, while the Artificial Island Management Corporation covered her daily expenses.

Even though Nangong Nayue knew she would have to repay everything she received with a terrible price in the future,

that future was an inevitability of fate. She might as well enjoy herself while she could.

Pushing open the apartment door, the automatic sensor light by the entrance flickered on. Nangong Nayue rose onto her toes in the foyer and deftly tugged at the heel of her shoe with her fingers.

The Western-style shoe strapped around her slender ankle fell to the floor with a crisp clatter.

She did not bother putting away the shoes in the foyer. Her straight, beautiful legs clad in black silk velvet stockings crossed the floor as she headed toward her bedroom with a slightly weary expression.

Far too much had happened today, so much that Nangong Nayue's mind could barely process it all.

Now that the dust had settled, the exhaustion rising from the depths of her body made Nangong Nayue want nothing more than a good night's sleep.

As for everything else, she would deal with it after waking up.

"Mm..."

Rubbing her eyes as she entered the room, Nangong Nayue was about to throw herself onto the soft bed.

Then her clear, sky-blue eyes suddenly widened. She spun around and glared at the presence behind her. "...Why did you follow me inside?"

Much like Nangong Nayue's youthful appearance, her voice carried dignity yet retained a childish lisp, making one want to pinch her adorable cheeks.

Behind Nangong Nayue stood Saigō. He wore a long black cloak, and beneath it, his body was made of burning Black Flame.

Hearing Nangong Nayue's question, Saigō smiled lightly. "...I am your watcher. Naturally, wherever you go, I must go as well."

"...At the same time, I am your guardian—the shadow of a Witch who sold her soul. Could little Natsuki possibly believe humans can separate themselves from their shadows?"

Nangong Nayue irritably raked her fingers through her hair, leaving her long black hair a messy tangle. "...Don't call me little Natsuki!"

It was the form of address Nangong Nayue had hated most since childhood. Because of the special ritual, her body could not grow.

Whenever someone called her that, she felt like they were treating her as a child, which irritated her.

It was not as though she wanted to remain in this form.

Still, despite her poor tone, Nangong Nayue knew how frightening the demon before her was and did not push her words too far.

They had a contract, but she was the Witch who had to obey it. Who knew whether the demon could violate the contract or not?

There had never been a case in history of a demon violating a Witch's contract, but that precedent could not be applied to Nangong Nayue.

Because Nangong Nayue knew that this so-called guardian and watcher of hers was no ordinary demon.

"Alright, little Natsuki."

Saigō said cheerfully, completely ignoring Nangong Nayue's warning.

If there was anyone in this world who posed no threat to him, it was undoubtedly Nangong Nayue.

Her soul was in his hands, and even Nangong Nayue's current power had been granted by him.

"You... forget it..."

Nangong Nayue knew words were useless against this kind of demon. Even if she was unwilling, she could only swallow the grievance and endure it herself.

Then she thought of something else, and her body stiffened. "...You said that as my watcher, you would become my shadow."

"...Doesn't that mean you'll follow me even when I bathe or use the toilet?"

It would not have mattered if she were any other Witch, because a Witch's guardian was an unconscious Demon Familiar.

But Saigō could speak and possessed his own will. Nangong Nayue simply could not regard him as a mere guardian.

"Correct, little Natsuki."

Saigō's answer sent a chill through Nangong Nayue's body.

"Can we discuss this? When I use the toilet or take a bath, don't follow me."

Nangong Nayue lowered her stance and pleaded, something rare for a person who had been forceful and strong-willed since childhood.

"No discussion. I said I am your watcher. As a watcher, I must follow you step by step and permit no possibility of you Betraying the contract."

"...Humans truly have strange senses of Daode and shame about certain things. If you cannot bear it, then simply do not bathe or use the toilet."

Saigō was also a true human in his way of thinking, but that did not mean he could not pretend to be unrelated to humans in order to fool Nangong Nayue.

"Since you know I'm human, then you should understand humans can't possibly do that!"

Nangong Nayue said, her face flushing red.

As a human, she had to eat and drink, and she had to excrete waste. Even if she was a beautiful girl, she could not defy this Natural Law!

"It does not matter. Before long, you will no longer have anything to do with humanity. Even now, you are a Witch who has sold her soul."

Saigō said indifferently.

His words were met by Nangong Nayue's silence.

That was right. Before long, she would no longer have anything to do with humanity.

Having become a Witch, she naturally had to take up the duty she had agreed to long ago and become the key to the Prison Barrier.

At that time, her true body would sleep inside the barrier, and she could only act in reality through a false body.

Then she truly would no longer need to eat or bathe.

Thinking of that, Nangong Nayue lost all interest in continuing to bicker with Saigō.

"Could it be that little Natsuki finds my current appearance difficult to accept?"

"...If so, then I shall temporarily appear in a form you can accept."

As Saigō spoke, his flame-formed body suddenly twisted and changed.

Then, appearing before Nangong Nayue was a lean, tall young man with handsome features, black hair, and black eyes.

After seizing the world's nourishment and beginning to grow, Saigō was already able to use a demon's basic mimicry ability.

But it was only mimicry for now. The essence of his body remained demon fire, and his human form was merely a transformation of that demon fire.

Seeing Saigō suddenly change from a demonic form into a human one—and a male at that—Nangong Nayue could not help opening her mouth wide.