Multiverse: A Journey Beginning with the Supreme Sovereign

Saigō strolled ahead of Nangong Nayue on his long legs, and she had nothing to say about it.

She could not muster any vigilance toward Saigō. After all, if this demon wanted to kill her, it would be as easy as turning his hand. He was her executioner to begin with.

Over the months they had spent together, she had roughly come to understand that although this demon had an awful personality, he was, in some ways, rather gentle.

As long as one did not cross his bottom line or violate the contract, he would not do anything to them.

The moment that thought surfaced in Nangong Nayue's mind, she regretted it.

"Hey, that was the only shrimp in my lunch. You just took it without saying a word?"

"...Do demons need to eat to replenish their nutrients too?"

Watching Saigō reach out and pick the only shrimp from her lunchbox, Nangong Nayue finally could not take it anymore and mocked him.

The corners of her lips curled up in a cold smile, carrying a faint trace of cruelty.

"I don't know whether demons need nutrients, but little Natsuki certainly doesn't. No matter how much you eat, you won't grow any taller, so eating is just a waste of food."

Nangong Nayue's teeth started itching again.

She desperately wanted to tear out this demon's heart and see whether it was black, but she knew she could not do it.

"Besides, you won't need to eat much longer anyway. The ritual is nearly complete, and you'll fall asleep forever. Now that I think about it, that's truly cause for celebration—the world will have one less person wasting food."

Saigō continued to sneer at Nangong Nayue, but this time, his words pierced her heart.

Seeing Nangong Nayue fall somewhat silent, Saigō revealed a malicious smile. "...Becoming the administrator of the Prison Barrier was never your true wish or contract."

"...Why foolishly lock yourself inside and dream a dream from which you'll never wake?"

"If humans forced you into it, then you're a Witch now—my contractor. Why should you care what humans think?"

"...If they push you too far, use my power to execute them cruelly!"

"Before aging and death, all living things are equal!"

Saigō's words were true demonic whispers.

Because I Fell in Love with You!

Saigō's words moved Nangong Nayue considerably.

Yet after hesitating for a moment, she still calmed down. "...This is the contract between the Artificial Island Management Corporation and me."

"...Since I have entered into a contract, I will certainly fulfill it. Besides, becoming part of the Prison Barrier's ritual was also voluntary."

"Seeing how faithfully I uphold contracts, shouldn't you, as a demon, be pleased? At the very least, even a contract with a demon is one I will not violate."

Saigō sat beside Nangong Nayue. He took in the slightly immature milky scent and faintly mature body fragrance of the girl, then shrugged.

"...Whether you violate the contract is none of my concern. If you don't, then I will walk alongside you according to its terms."

"If you do violate it, I'll merely cut off your head and devour this entire world."

"...Watching the entire world howl, watching every living being fear aging and fall into helpless confusion—honestly, I look forward to that scene even more."

"So I rather hope you'll violate your contract with a demon, little Natsuki."

Saigō said with a beaming smile, as though he were genuinely urging Nangong Nayue to break the contract.

Of course, all of that was a lie. For Saigō, maintaining the current state of affairs was best.

As long as Nangong Nayue remained and their contract remained, he could continuously use Nangong Nayue as an anchor to seize the nourishment of this world for his growth.

That was why Saigō had remained so quiet after coming to this world, causing almost no trouble.

If he could fulfill everything needed for his growth by doing nothing, why would he go out of his way to cause trouble?

This was the financial freedom Saigō had always dreamed of. If he could achieve his goal by loafing around every day, who would want to work?

Thus, he needed to deceive Nangong Nayue with words, making her believe everything he said was true so that she would guard their agreement even more carefully.

"Hmph, just what one would expect from a demon. If I could, I really would kill an unstable element like you!"

Nangong Nayue spoke fiercely, but her ferocity was only an act. To Saigō, she looked more like a cat baring its claws.

After pausing, Nangong Nayue continued, "...I have not forgotten the contents of my contract with demons like you."

"...Since the contract's terms are my wish, then that wish is Peaceful Coexistence Between Humans and Demons."

"The signing of the Sanctuary Treaty greatly eased the conflict between humans and demons, but outside, humans and demons still viewed one another with hostility."

"...Only on String God Island, only within this Demon Sanctuary, can humans at least accept demons, even though hostility still exists between the two races."

"Fulfilling our contract will not be easy. I have thought it over carefully, and only the Demon Sanctuary is suitable as a testing ground. I will try to fulfill my wish here first."

"...That is also why I agreed to become part of the Prison Barrier. The actions of some demon terrorists would destroy the peace between both sides in the Demon Sanctuary."

"Only by locking them within the Prison Barrier can I feel somewhat at ease."

Listening to Nangong Nayue as though she were explaining herself to him, Saigō slowly nodded. "...Mm, that reasoning is fairly sound. It seems little Natsuki isn't a stupid fool who can only think in one direction."

"...You have quite a clever little head on your shoulders."

As he spoke, Saigō chuckled and ran his hand through Nangong Nayue's smooth, straight black hair.

"Don't touch my hair whenever you please, don't treat me like a child, and don't call me little Natsuki!"

Nangong Nayue slapped Saigō's hand away and glared at him angrily.

"I'm done eating!"

Nangong Nayue did not eat much. She put the lid back on her lunchbox, rose to her feet, and dusted off her skirt.

Saigō rose with Nangong Nayue. Standing behind the petite girl, he asked with a smile, "...Why don't you interact with your classmates? I know you're not really a lonely person."

With a composure quite unlike someone her age, Nangong Nayue said, "...In the Demon Sanctuary, although humans and demons can coexist peacefully, prejudice still remains between them."

"...For example, if parents see their child playing with a young demon, they will surely warn the child to stay away."

"I am a Pure-blooded Witch. From the moment I was born, it was decided that my soul would be offered to a demon. From the very beginning, I was different from humans, and I knew I was more like a demon."

"...In that case, rather than becoming even more heartbroken later, it is better to stay completely away from the start."

Saigō quietly listened to Nangong Nayue's words and nodded lightly. "...Is that some famous saying among Witches? Because you care about something, you must stay away from it from the beginning."

Nangong Nayue's clear azure eyes flicked sideways. "...I don't know who said that, but I think it is fairly philosophical."

"It was just something another Witch said... But little Natsuki, although you are now complying with the demands of this artificial island's administrators and becoming part of the Prison Barrier's ritual..."

"...I will make you willingly give up the Prison Barrier and rescue you from it."

Saigō suddenly said.

"Why are you, a demon, so confident? I'm very stubborn. I won't compromise so easily."

Nangong Nayue scoffed. She understood her own personality very well.

"After living together for several months, I understand your personality as well. At your core, you are kind. If one person and a hundred people were simultaneously threatened with death, you would strive to save both sides."

"...But you are also sufficiently cold and rational. When you must make a choice—when you must abandon one person or abandon a hundred—you will certainly choose to save the hundred."

"Human lives cannot be measured in numbers. That is how most humans think."

"...But little Natsuki, you also know that to those in the upper echelons who hold power, human lives truly are just numbers."

Saigō, who had once climbed to the top ranks in the Cyberpunk world, was essentially a politician as well.

Thus, he understood human society and humanity too well. Valuing and sympathizing with life was merely the way ordinary people thought.

For those truly making decisions from the upper echelons, they certainly could not think that way.

It was not that those people were cold and heartless enough; rather, their position prevented them from feeling emotions such as sympathy, for such emotions would only cause greater crises.

"I have to admit, what you said makes a great deal of sense, demon."

Nangong Nayue did not completely deny Saigō's words. She was not an overflowing-with-passion do-gooder, but a Witch who understood how to weigh the pros and cons and assess the situation.

"Why are you so determined to make me give up the Prison Barrier?"

Nangong Nayue could not help asking curiously.

"I want to give you freedom, because I fell in love with you, little Natsuki~~ So I want you to be free, never sad, and happy forever!"

Saigō said with narrowed, smiling eyes.

"Tch!"

Nangong Nayue did not believe a single word this demon said.

"By the way, your friend, the Scribe Witch Sendou Aya, seems to have been planning something lately."

Saigō suddenly said in a mysterious tone.

"Don't think you can just use words to drive a wedge between Aya and me!"

Nangong Nayue retorted.

"Drive a wedge? You know in your heart whether I am doing that or not. After all, every bit of intelligence I have obtained has also come through you."

"...I am your watcher and your protector. Nothing more!"

Saigō's words made Nangong Nayue bite her lip, because she knew he was right. Sendou Aya truly was planning something.

I hope you won't put me in a difficult position, Aya.

She thought worriedly.

"Splash, splash—"

Warm water scattered from the showerhead as Nangong Nayue bathed naked beneath it.

She tried hard to suppress the embarrassment in her heart and not pay attention to Saigō's gaze as he stood behind her, also within the bathroom.

Nangong Nayue Throws Caution to the Wind

Nangong Nayue closed her eyes and tilted her head back, letting the warm water from the showerhead pour down over her.

Warm water ran down her silky black hair and dripped over her smooth back as the Witch enjoyed this rare moment of relaxation.

She was petite and looked like a little girl, but her cold demeanor and mature bearing made her seem somewhat less childish.

Nangong Nayue's skin was as flawless as white jade, without a single blemish or strand of body hair.

Though her delicate curves lacked a woman's sensuality, her doll-like exquisite features and dainty figure possessed another kind of charm.

Nangong Nayue tried her best not to care about the gaze behind her.

Yet no matter how wildly her thoughts wandered, she could not truly pretend that gaze did not exist.

She could only keep a straight face and reveal no emotion, lest that demon mock her again.

She still remembered the embarrassment and anger from her first bath. That demon had laughed at her mercilessly the entire night. From then on, Nangong Nayue had tried to keep her expressionless, using it to numb her own nerves.

Compared with bathing, using the restroom was even more humiliating.

The strange sensation that every secret of hers was exposed before another's eyes made Nangong Nayue feel as though her mind might collapse.

She had always been strong-willed, but precisely because she was strong-willed, Nangong Nayue cared more about her dignity than most.

Therefore, Nangong Nayue could only console herself by telling herself that the thing hidden in her shadow was merely a demon. Even if it took human form, it had nothing to do with humans.

Even if that was somewhat self-deceptive, it was better than doing nothing at all.

After the initial discomfort of using the restroom for the first time, Nangong Nayue had begun to simply stop caring.

Girls naturally liked being clean, and Nangong Nayue could only endure going without a bath for a few days before she could take it no longer.

Once she realized that she had no privacy even in the restroom, why should she care about bathing?

It was with that mindset that Nangong Nayue had made it through several months she considered utterly terrifying.

Sometimes, Nangong Nayue wondered whether she should just hurry and complete the final portion of the Prison Barrier, then fall into eternal slumber.

At the very least, she could then use magical power to create a genuine doll to walk around outside in her place.

As an aggregate of magical power, she would no longer need to use the restroom or bathe.

The only regret was that while acting in the form of a doll, senses such as taste would greatly deteriorate.

That would cause Nangong Nayue to lose many of life's pleasures.