Journey Through the Worlds: Starting as the Supreme Sovereign

"You have already lost. Obediently follow my orders!"

The moment Sendou Aya finished speaking, the black knight appeared behind Nangong Nayue once more. Nangong Nayue narrowly dodged the sharp edge of its sword.

Nangong Nayue's expression darkened. She had thought the technique Sendou Aya was using seemed familiar, and now she discovered that it was indeed a technique she excelled at.

"Here, even your guardian cannot appear. Without magic power, demons cannot manifest themselves either!"

"...I will take you back from that demon. The price is merely this artificial island. Let me bear the sin of killing six hundred thousand people for you!"

Sendou Aya's expression was cold as she prepared to have her guardian capture Nangong Nayue.

"Personally, I do not feel much about the deaths of those six hundred thousand lives, but I am Little Natsuki's guardian."

"...Before her contract with me is fulfilled, I cannot let her die so easily."

The sudden voice drastically changed Sendou Aya's expression. She looked at the black flames gathering behind Nangong Nayue and cried out:

"...How is this possible? As a Demon Familiar, why can you manifest in a world without magic power?!"

Sendou Aya: The Advantage Is Mine! ### "How is this possible?!"

Sendou Aya's gorgeous fiery eyes widened as she stared at the demonic figure formed from black flames before her, letting out an incredulous cry.

"As a Demon Familiar, why have you appeared in this world without magic power?!"

The Scribe Witch could not believe it at all.

As a Witch herself, she knew exactly what so-called demons were. They were merely a concept born of contracts.

A Witch's guardian, a Demon Familiar, was like a True Vampire's Familiar: a conglomeration of magic power.

That was why Sendou Aya had been so bold as to make an enemy of all String God Island by herself.

In her view, within the domain of the Dark Oath, even if the True Vampires gathered together, they might not necessarily be her match.

Within this magicless domain, compared to vampires, demonic races like beastmen, who relied more heavily on physical strength, were instead potentially more threatening.

As for Witches, there was no need to mention them. Without magic power, a Witch was no different from an ordinary person.

Unable to use sorcery or wield the power of her guardian, Nangong Nayue should not have been Sendou Aya's opponent according to her plan.

The advantage is mine!

That was the conclusion Sendou Aya had reached after meticulous calculations.

Yet the demon that had suddenly appeared before her disrupted her rhythm.

"How could this be... Within the range of the Dark Oath, even True Vampire vampires cannot use any magic power."

"...Even True Vampire vampires have limits to their magic power. Unless..."

Sendou Aya's face darkened.

This technique, which drew upon the power of the stars and could only be used one day each year, was clearly powerful simply from its many requirements.

Though True Vampire vampires possessed formidable magic power, they were ultimately still individuals. They could not possibly rival the magic power bestowed by the stars.

Yet this demon before her could ignore this environment and still retain magic power. Did that mean this demon's total amount of magic power not only surpassed that of True Vampire vampires, but even exceeded the stars?!

The former was still understandable, but the latter was utterly unreasonable.

Sendou Aya's delicate hands trembled slightly. She simply could not believe this outcome.

"Aya, surrender! If you surrender now, perhaps I can pretend I saw nothing and let you leave String God Island."

This was Nangong Nayue's final ultimatum, as well as her last hope for her friend.

At the same time, Nangong Nayue quietly let out a breath.

To be honest, although Nangong Nayue knew that Saigō was something special, fundamentally different from the demons of this world—

She had not been certain that Saigō could ignore the Dark Oath's power.

It seems I have become a little too proud lately.

Nangong Nayue cautioned herself inwardly. Though proud by nature, she was absolutely not someone incapable of accepting criticism or self-criticism.

Ever since Saigō had become her guardian and watcher, Nangong Nayue had gained nearly limitless magic power, and arrogance had naturally arisen within her.

That was also why she had dared to enter this school and confront Sendou Aya directly without making any preparations.

The Nangong Nayue of the past would certainly have investigated first and entered the school only after confirming sufficient intelligence. She would not have been this reckless.

In truth, when Nangong Nayue learned that the barrier Sendou Aya had set up in the school was the Dark Oath, she had been badly startled as well.

Faced with an environment without magic power, she, as a Witch, truly had no means of resistance.

Fortunately, Saigō's existence ensured her final safety. It also reminded Nangong Nayue that she absolutely could not be so careless next time.

"Surrender? Natsuki, I have not lost yet!"

"...I admit that your guardian is powerful. I have no confidence in defeating him, but as long as I capture you and use the Dark Oath's power to dissolve your contract with the demon, I will still be the victor!"

Sendou Aya gritted her silver teeth. With a thought from her, the black knight once again activated the Space Control Technique and instantly appeared behind Natsuki.

The knight raised its sword and swung it at Nangong Nayue's neck.

The terror of death descended, yet Nangong Nayue's expression did not change, because she knew this knight could not harm her.

Sure enough, the instant the black knight used the Space Control Technique, Saigō used the same technique. By a hair's breadth, a demonic hand formed from Black Flame caught the knight's blade.

"Zarathustra, if you had been any slower, my head would have fallen off."

Nangong Nayue glanced sideways, watching the black knight's blade sever several strands of her hair.

Who knew whether Saigō had done it deliberately? He had only blocked the sharp blade when the knight was about to cut off her head.

Yet even in the face of such danger, Nangong Nayue had remained completely still, as though she held absolute trust in Saigō.

"It would not matter if your head fell off. When you die, the contract between us will become invalid. If you are willing to see the consequences of that contract becoming invalid, I would be happy to oblige."

"...So I suggest you pay attention to your own safety and avoid the enemy's attacks. After all, I am not your body double!"

Saigō answered Nangong Nayue with a malicious laugh.

"You bastard!"

Nangong Nayue's expression changed sharply. She quickly rolled aside and dodged another slash from the black knight.

As Sendou Aya's guardian, the black knight was not merely intimidating in appearance.

Its black blade contained immense magic power. With a single slash, the classroom was instantly torn in half.

The lingering force of the slash did not stop there. It even split the entire school building apart!

The reinforced concrete structure collapsed with a thunderous crash, and the ground beneath their feet became a field of ruins.

They had been on the fifth floor to begin with. Without magic power, Nangong Nayue stumbled and fell, helplessly watching herself plummet from the height of the fifth floor.

Above her was shattered concrete, while below her stood rows of exposed steel bars.

If Nangong Nayue truly fell from there, she would not only be pierced through by the steel bars, but also completely buried beneath dozens of tons of rubble. There would be no saving her.

Suspended in midair, Nangong Nayue finally panicked, flailing her limbs.

Unfortunately, without magic power, she could not activate any technique. She could only barely control her body and seek a relatively safe landing spot.

The next instant, she suddenly felt warmth envelop her. Then Nangong Nayue's vision flashed—the familiar sight that appeared whenever she activated Space Control sorcery.

When Nangong Nayue's mind finally settled, she found that she had already left the collapsing building and appeared on the school's athletic field.

However, Nangong Nayue was currently being held in Saigō's arms in a princess carry.

The demon's arm passed beneath Nangong Nayue's slender knees. Even through her black cotton stockings, she could feel the heat of the girl's skin.

Nangong Nayue froze for a moment, then began to struggle. "...Put me down!"

She felt that her current position was simply too embarrassing.

Saigō obediently released his hold. With a cry of surprise, Nangong Nayue's petite body dropped to the ground.

She let out an "Ouch," climbed to her feet, covered her butt with one hand, and glared furiously at Saigō.

Meanwhile, Saigō wore an innocent expression as if to say that he had merely followed her instructions.

Nangong Nayue felt it was no easy feat to read such emotions from black flames.

That trash demon was still toying with her at a time like this!

Seeing that Nangong Nayue and Saigō had no sense of crisis whatsoever and were even flirting with each other, Sendou Aya was instantly infuriated.

The Aura of Death Capable of Destroying the World! ### "Natsuki, must you insist on stopping me?"

At this moment, Sendou Aya's gentle yet alluring Yamato Nadeshiko-like face darkened. She stared straight at Nangong Nayue and spoke word by word.

"Sorry, Aya... I have to stop you. This is also my position as a Demon Slayer of String God Island."

Nangong Nayue stood up, brushed the dust from her body, and dusted the dirt from her gothic dress.

Nangong Nayue's expression was somewhat conflicted, but her beautiful sky-blue eyes soon became resolute.

"I have my reasons for having to do this too, Aya..."

Nangong Nayue spoke softly, not letting Sendou Aya hear her.

She did not state the reason why she had to protect String God Island. Valuing the lives of six hundred thousand people and fulfilling her responsibility as a Demon Slayer were merely part of the reason.

More importantly than that, Nangong Nayue bore another duty.

It was a great terror that could destroy this entire world with the slightest misstep. Nangong Nayue did not want to tell anyone about it, because it would only cause unnecessary worry.

Saigō watched Nangong Nayue and Sendou Aya with interest.

These two Pure-blooded Witches, once the closest of friends, had not told the truth.

Sendou Aya's reason was false. She was not seeking the real world at all; that was merely her excuse, not her wish.

The same was true of Nangong Nayue. She was not acting to fulfill her responsibilities as a Demon Slayer either. Her reason for stopping Sendou Aya had nothing to do with that.

Both Pure-blooded Witches were proud people. It was precisely because they were so proud that they could not speak their true feelings when facing each other.

What a twisted friendship.

Saigō mocked inwardly.

"Please, Zarathustra, help me stop Aya! You are the only one here who can stop her."

Nangong Nayue stood quietly beside Saigō and spoke in a low voice.

"What did you say, Little Natsuki? Your voice is too quiet. You have no spirit at all. Since you are asking someone for help, stand up straight and say your request loudly!"

Saigō raised a brow and spoke teasingly.

"Aren't you my guardian? Sendou Aya's guardian is trying to kill me. Is it not your responsibility to protect me?"

Nangong Nayue remained calm, trying to reason with Saigō.

"Although I am your guardian, guardians can fail at their duties too. If the enemy is too strong, I cannot protect you, Little Natsuki!"

"...But it does not matter. Even if I fail in my duty as your guardian, your death will merely render the contract invalid."

"In that case, I would be even happier, since I would no longer be bound."

Saigō's tone was full of amused mockery toward Nangong Nayue, as though he could not wait to see her head roll to the ground.

That trash demon!

Nangong Nayue cursed inwardly. She had every reason to suspect that this demon was simply toying with her.

But Nangong Nayue did not dare gamble. She did not dare gamble with her life.

If this demon truly ignored her and allowed her to be killed, her own death would be a minor matter. The real problem would be the entire world being buried with her.

Nangong Nayue was not so evil that she could allow the entire world to be devoured by a demon. She had her own bonds in this world as well.

Having found her weakness, he had used it to toy with her ever since. Nangong Nayue had never encountered anyone so vile in her life—no, such a vile demon!

"Please, Lord Zarathustra, this is my request. Please stop Sendou Aya!"

Nangong Nayue had finally given up all pretense. In her unclear, childish voice, she shouted loudly, no longer caring whether she looked embarrassing.