A Journey Through the Multiverse, Beginning with the Supreme Sovereign

In Saigō's current state, if he followed her into the bathroom, it would only make her even more embarrassed, wouldn't it?!

"Can't you turn into a woman?"

Nangong Nayue asked despite herself, her words slurred like a small child's.

"Demons have genders too. I'm a male Great Demon, so naturally I appear in a male form."

Saigō's words left Nangong Nayue speechless.

She had learned something new: demons had genders too, though the knowledge was completely useless.

"Do whatever you want. I'm going to sleep first."

Nangong Nayue felt even more exhausted. Listlessly waving a hand, she did not even take off her clothes before sinking into the soft bed.

Watching the girl sprawled across the bed in a Gothic long dress, her pair of straight, slender legs stretched taut behind her, delicate and beautiful like a doll, Saigō sat in a nearby chair and quietly watched her.

Little Natsuki Is So Pitiful!

At Shiritsu Saihai Academy High School, Nangong Nayue rested her cheek in one hand, turning her exquisite face to gaze listlessly out the window.

She sat in the second-to-last seat by the window—the designated protagonist's seat.

Given Nangong Nayue's height, she should have been seated in the front row, perhaps even beside the podium.

But Nangong Nayue had righteously refused that seat and practically threatened the teacher with death.

She was naturally strong-willed, and the teacher had no choice but to agree to let her sit in the back.

Besides, Nangong Nayue had always excelled academically, so the teacher simply turned a blind eye.

"Ring, ring, ring—"

The lunch break bell rang, and the quiet classroom instantly erupted into chaos.

After greeting the teacher, the students gathered in little groups to chat.

Some headed to the cafeteria, some went to the convenience store to buy bread for lunch, while others found secluded spots to eat the packed lunches they had brought from home.

"Little Natsuki, let's go have lunch together. My treat today!"

Just as Nangong Nayue slowly rose to go eat, a cheerful girl's voice rang out.

The next instant, Nangong Nayue felt a tremendous weight press down on her.

A girl with reddish-brown hair tied into a bun and a bright smile wrapped what looked like a slender but was actually incredibly strong arm around Nangong Nayue's neck.

The force of it nearly suffocated Nangong Nayue, and she almost failed to catch her breath.

Nangong Nayue struggled free from the arm, clutching her throat as she said coolly, "...Sasazaki Misaki, go eat by yourself. I'm not going with you."

The newcomer was a friend Nangong Nayue had known since elementary school. There were only one or two people in total whom Nangong Nayue considered friends.

Her personality was somewhat awkward, and she spoke coldly to people. Sometimes, she was even overly forceful. That kind of personality easily drove others away.

Only someone as carefree as Sasazaki Misaki, or someone like Sendou Aya, who regarded her as an ally, could become her friend.

"Don't be so cold, Little Natsuki! Why have you been going everywhere alone lately? Being too withdrawn is how you get bullied at school!"

Sasazaki Misaki remained all smiles, completely unbothered by Nangong Nayue's coldness.

There was even a hint of secret delight in her smile, as though she were ready to tease Nangong Nayue at any moment.

Sasazaki Misaki was one of the people who gave Nangong Nayue the biggest headaches. Like a sticky plaster, she was always clinging to her and even teasing her.

Nangong Nayue helplessly held her forehead. "...I just like being alone lately."

"...Sasazaki Misaki, I like eating by myself. Go on without me."

Sasazaki Misaki looked deeply into Nangong Nayue's eyes. Seeing the stubbornness filling those sapphire-blue pupils, and realizing that Nangong Nayue was truly being firm this time, Sasazaki Misaki was not so tactless that she failed to understand.

She slowly nodded. "...All right, I'll go eat then. Little Natsuki, I don't know what happened, but if you need my help, make sure you come find me."

"I know. You don't need to worry about me."

Nangong Nayue seemed entirely unappreciative.

It was precisely this attitude that made her unpopular among her classmates.

But Sasazaki Misaki knew that Nangong Nayue had taken every word to heart. She was the classic type with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

"Oh, right. I haven't seen Aya in ages. She hasn't been coming to school either. Did something happen to her?"

Sasazaki Misaki suddenly remembered something and asked Nangong Nayue.

"She seems to have something going on. It's probably related to her family. She should be in Europa for a while."

Nangong Nayue answered vaguely.

Sasazaki Misaki did not press further and merely nodded. "...So it's a family matter. I'm starving now. See you this afternoon, Little Natsuki!"

Sasazaki Misaki waved to Nangong Nayue and darted out of the classroom.

Nangong Nayue continued unhurriedly, taking a cutely decorated lunchbox from her desk before leaving the classroom, which was already nearly empty.

Once she reached a place with no cameras and no one watching, she directly activated her spell. Space Control allowed Nangong Nayue to instantly travel from the corridor to the school rooftop.

The rooftop of Shiritsu Saihai Academy was normally sealed off, and students were not allowed up there. But that was no obstacle for Nangong Nayue, who had mastered the Space Control spell.

Ever since signing the contract with the demon, Nangong Nayue had never needed to worry about magical power again.

Her magical power was virtually inexhaustible. So long as her mind and stamina could keep up, she could use this spell—which humans considered extraordinarily complex—almost without limit.

Nangong Nayue knew that her nearly endless magical power did not belong to her. It was a gift from the demon.

Thinking of the demon, Nangong Nayue turned her exquisite face and, sure enough, saw that the demon who had been lurking in her shadow was now standing beside her.

The demon appeared in human form, standing on the school rooftop with both hands resting on the railing.

He wore a refined, luxurious black long coat resembling formal attire. His tall, slender build and slightly effeminate handsome face made him look like an elegant young nobleman.

From a human perspective, this demon's human form was truly handsome. He had once walked through Shiritsu Saihai Academy and made many younger girls' hearts flutter, prompting them to secretly ask around about which upperclassman he was.

But Nangong Nayue would not be fooled by the demon's "appearance." She had already gained a deep understanding of this demon's personality. He was trash—absolute trash among trash!

Come to think of it, several months had already passed since she signed the contract with the demon. Time really flew.

Just as Nangong Nayue drifted off in thought, Saigō, who was leaning against the railing and watching the cherry trees blooming across campus, sighed. "...Little Natsuki, the cherry blossoms are blooming in my hometown."

"I only just learned that demons have hometowns too. Is your hometown the Island Nation?"

Nangong Nayue gave a derisive snort. She had grown used to the strange things this demon always said.

Carrying her cute lunchbox, Nangong Nayue found a clean step and sat down.

She opened the lunchbox, took out her chopsticks, and picked up the food inside, covering her mouth with one hand as she ate in small bites.

Her manner of eating was exceptionally elegant. Watching the delicious food enter those moist red lips, framed by her doll-like, gorgeous beauty, made one truly understand the meaning of "a feast for the eyes."

Yet Saigō remained unmoved by this picture-perfect scene. Instead, he smiled maliciously and said, "...Everyone else has friends to eat with in the cafeteria."

"...Even if they don't go to the cafeteria, they can buy some bread at the convenience store. Everyone happily eats together. Listen to all that laughter below."

"Human joy and sorrow are not shared, but Nangong Nayue can only remain alone and withdrawn."

"...Oh, right, right. Those students who bring lunches from home are eating delicious boxed meals made by their fathers and mothers."

"Meanwhile, Nangong Nayue can only cook for herself. She doesn't even have a father or mother. Even I, a demon, am so heartbroken I could cry."

"...You're so pitiful, Little Natsuki!"

Saigō wore an expression of crocodile tears, a bright smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

Teasing Nangong Nayue was simply too much fun. It had practically become a habit.

"Shut up, you awful demon! And don't call me Little Natsuki!"

Veins bulged on Nangong Nayue's forehead. She dearly wished she could stab this demon to death with the chopsticks in her hand!

The Contract Between Demon and Witch

Unfortunately, Nangong Nayue's expression might have been intimidating to others.

But to Saigō, it was just a kitten yowling. Even if the kitten had sharp claws, as long as he was a little careful, it could not hurt him.

Seeing Saigō merely lean against the railing, watching her with an amused smile, Nangong Nayue worked hard to suppress her irritation and lowered her head to continue eating in small bites.

After spending several months with Saigō, Nangong Nayue felt that bickering with this demon had become part of her daily life.

As the Witch's watcher, Nangong Nayue had prepared herself for a long-term relationship with this demon.

She had assumed demons would be cold and emotionless, only appearing to warn her if something went wrong with the contract.

But who could have expected this demon to be not only talkative but also infuriating, forcing Nangong Nayue to argue with him every day?

Sometimes, if Saigō remained silent all day, Nangong Nayue even felt as though something was missing from the day, leaving her uncomfortable.

Still, Nangong Nayue was more relieved than anything by Saigō's attitude.

At the very least, the manner Saigō displayed was completely different from that "Lord" she had encountered in the dark space.

That terrifying being possessed no human understanding or emotion in Nangong Nayue's perception. It was a pure monster.

When facing such an inhuman monster, even the most resilient person would feel fear and suffer a mental collapse.

But this "Aging Great Demon" was different. At the very least, Nangong Nayue could sense humanity in him.

Where there was humanity, there could be communication. And where there was communication, fear would not consume one's reason.

Although this demon spoke unpleasantly and was an absolute piece of trash, and although his behavior was thoroughly demonic, Nangong Nayue was still willing to chat with him and pass the time.

Of course, Nangong Nayue was not stupid. She would not truly regard the demon watching over her as someone she could freely insult.

So she always maintained a basic bottom line. Occasionally, when she was angered beyond endurance, she would curse the demon a few times, but that was all. Nangong Nayue did not dare do anything more excessive.

Only after signing the contract did she learn just how terrifying this demon truly was.

His vast, ocean-like magical power made Nangong Nayue believe that even the True Vampires, famed for their immense magical power, could not compare.

The True Vampires' magical power still had limits, but this demon's magical power had no limits at all.

Furthermore, because of the contract, Nangong Nayue could also wield a portion of Saigō's authority as the "Aging Great Demon."

After using the power that aged all things and spirits, Nangong Nayue finally understood just how horrifying that ability—known as the foremost of the ten forms of death—truly was.

Saigō admired Nangong Nayue in the skirt of Shiritsu Saihai Academy's JK uniform. With her petite appearance, she looked more like an elementary school student, and the kind who had only just started school at that.

The standard JK uniform looked especially student-like on her. Above the sailor-style collar, her tender neck was visible, graceful and alluring like a swan's.

Her straight legs beneath the uniform skirt were far too slender. The absolute territory above her black school knee socks was pale and enticing, as though the slightest squeeze would snap her thighs.

Her dainty feet were stretched straight within a pair of little leather shoes, her heels against the ground as her two small feet swayed back and forth, looking playful and adorable.

Unlike the Nangong Nayue who liked to wear Gothic Lolita outfits in her daily life, who resembled a refined and flawless porcelain doll, sometimes even seeming lifeless, the Nangong Nayue before him possessed the lively spirit of a young girl.

The contract flowed between them, and its price was Nangong Nayue's soul.

Saigō was very glad that the Third Star Particle flowed through his blood.

Otherwise, after leaving the dark space, his magical power reserves—his mana pool—would have been far from high. They might not even have compared to Momonga's as a magic caster.

When fighting, he would have needed to rely more on his fists to solve problems, let alone provide Nangong Nayue with magical power.

If that had been the case, even Saigō himself would have felt embarrassed. Nangong Nayue would probably have wondered how such a demon could be so weak, with so little magical power in reserve.

But things were different now. The Third Star Particle was a Third Kind Perpetual Motion Machine.

This energy born from nothing could do more than let Nangong Nayue spend freely. It could even transform human civilization, power billions around the world, and allow them to journey together into the vast cosmos.

It could be said that what limited Nangong Nayue and Saigō now was magical power output, not reserves.

It was precisely the limitless energy produced by the Third Star Particle that caused Nangong Nayue to develop such a huge misunderstanding about Saigō.

The Simulated Star Creation Chart Saigō had displayed several months ago had shown Nangong Nayue the power to create a universe.

Now, the Third Star Particle showed her a Perpetual Mechanism.

In Nangong Nayue's imagination, if Saigō combined those two abilities, he could truly destroy this world completely. There would be no need for that "Lord" to act at all.

Just one demon incarnation created by that "Lord" possessed such power. How terrifying, then, was that deity's true body?

Thinking of this, Nangong Nayue did not dare entertain even the slightest stray thought and obediently fulfilled the contract.