A Multiverse Journey Beginning with the Supreme Sovereign

There was only Sendou Aya present anyway, so he could live with her seeing him make a fool of himself.

"What are you two whispering about? Are you looking down on me that much?!"

Seeing Saigō and Nangong Nayue constantly muttering to each other, seemingly paying her no heed at all, Sendou Aya flew into a rage.

The dark knight raised its sharp greatsword once more. The magic power gathered upon its blade was enough to cleave apart the earth beneath their feet!

"Since little Natsuki has already begged me, I can hardly keep standing by and watching. I should get a little serious."

Saigō smiled lightly and leisurely raised a hand. The black flames surrounding him immediately surged.

The terrifying black flames carried an aura of Aging and coiled around the dark knight's greatsword in an instant.

Like maggots clinging to bone, the black flames devoured even the magic power upon the sword in the blink of an eye.

Then, as though they possessed contagious properties, the black flames of Aging traveled up the greatsword and engulfed the dark knight's entire body.

At the same time, Saigō's body turned to mist like a vampire's. Anything that touched that mist immediately aged and weakened.

Rocks that could have endured hundreds of millions of years became dry and brittle, while lawns brimming with life withered away.

The air became lethal poison, and even the bright moonlight dimmed, as though even light such as moonlight could be affected by Aging.

The power of 'Aging' finally revealed its terrifying might. Anything tainted by that aura began to decay.

Sendou Aya's guardian was like a rusted bronze bell. Its black armor corroded away, and even lifting a hand became immensely difficult.

"Crack... crack..."

The gears finally lost all lubrication beneath the aura of Aging. The Witch's guardian seemed to feel the fear and pain of growing old, letting out a silent wail.

Boom—

In the end, the black knight became scattered sections of skeletal framework. The aura of Aging wrapped around it spread again, corroding everything nearby.

"Gah..."

As a guardian bound to a Witch by contract, its destruction inflicted severe damage upon the Witch connected to it.

Although the guardian was an embodiment of magic power and would be reborn once its power gathered again over time,

the connection of the contract also injured the frail body of the Witch.

"This bizarre power..."

Sendou Aya stared in terror as even the barrier created by the Dark Oath dimmed under Saigō's aura of Aging.

It was the first time Sendou Aya had ever heard of or seen an ability that could make even magic power 'die.'

Even Nangong Nayue's azure eyes flashed with fear at that moment. She could not imagine the catastrophe that would result if this aura of Aging spread across the entire world.

Precisely because she was a Witch who had formed a contract with Saigō, Nangong Nayue knew how terrifying this power was.

This aura could spread through matter. It was far more frightening than any virus.

It could be said that if Saigō wished it, he could release the aura of Aging here and simply ignore it. After enough time had passed, its spread through matter would exterminate the vast majority of living beings in the world.

Only the strong, or those who could protect themselves within a certain range using barriers, could barely resist Aging. Yet the world itself would completely descend into death.

"Look at that beautiful face of yours. So gorgeous and captivating... why are you wearing such a despairing expression now?"

A demonic hand formed from Saigō's black flames seized Sendou Aya by her slender, fair neck and lifted her entire body into the air.

The suffocating sensation made Sendou Aya twist and struggle in midair, her beautiful legs kicking beneath her kimono.

She desperately grabbed Saigō's hand, trying to get some air.

But when her hands touched Saigō's body, the aura of Aging infected her as well. Black patterns spread across her skin, and the agony of rapidly weakening made her whimper and cry out in pain.

Saigō suddenly leaned close to Sendou Aya's crystalline earlobe and whispered something. Upon hearing it, Sendou Aya's fiery eyes widened, and she even forgot her pain and struggle.

The Pitiful Witches

"Don't kill her!"

Seeing that Saigō seemed ready to strike a fatal blow against Sendou Aya, Nangong Nayue's expression changed as she hurriedly shouted.

Saigō turned to look at Nangong Nayue, seemingly revealing a strange smile that made her heart skip a beat.

Nangong Nayue's expression shifted. She thought Saigō had no intention of listening to her, and just as she was considering how to stop him,

Saigō suddenly loosened his grip, allowing Sendou Aya's tall, beautiful body to fall to the ground.

"Cough, cough... cough, cough..."

Finally able to breathe again, Sendou Aya gulped down air. She coughed twice, feeling intense pain in her lungs as she spat out two mouthfuls of blood.

Her soft, alluring body trembled as she lay on the ground, nearly devoid of strength. Saigō's Aging ability had taken effect on her, leaving her incomparably weak.

Saigō had still held back. Otherwise, Sendou Aya would have rapidly aged into a frail old woman before ultimately turning into a pile of dry bones.

But even without doing that, the power of Aging had stolen all of Sendou Aya's strength.

She lay in a pool of blood, her tabi-clad feet and a section of her fair, straight calves exposed beneath her Twelve Layered Robe.

The Scribe Witch's exquisite yet seductive features were filled with exhaustion and sorrow, making her a pitiful sight.

"Why won't you let me kill her, little Natsuki?"

Saigō crouched down and toyed with Sendou Aya's beautiful black hair with one finger, looking at Nangong Nayue with a faint smile.

"Sendou Aya's crimes do not warrant death."

Nangong Nayue spoke in her indistinct voice, her indifferent expression making it seem as though she did not see Sendou Aya's miserable state at all.

"Her crimes do not warrant death? This woman was planning to destroy this island with magic and kill the six hundred thousand residents living on it."

"...If a terrorist attack on that scale does not warrant death, then what crime must one commit to be sentenced to death?"

As though deliberately opposing Nangong Nayue, Saigō asked provocatively.

"Since when did a demon like you gain such a kind heart?"

Nangong Nayue sneered, though to Saigō, her voice still sounded far too childish.

"Even demons have a conscience from time to time. A Witch who treats human lives so carelessly should be killed completely to prevent future trouble!"

As he spoke, Saigō placed a finger wreathed in black flames against Sendou Aya's spinal column at the back of her fair neck.

All he needed to do was press downward, and the Witch's broken spine would surely kill her.

"There is no death penalty in String God Island's laws!"

At this point, Nangong Nayue could only resort to sophistry.

Before Saigō could speak again, she quickly said, "...I will imprison her and make her atone for the sins she has committed with her freedom!"

As she spoke, Nangong Nayue moved her slender legs clad in black silk stockings and slowly walked over to crouch down. She picked up the Dark Oath that had fallen onto the ground.

She opened the Grimoire and began reading it with some curiosity. As a Witch and a mage, it was impossible for Nangong Nayue not to be interested in the technique of the Dark Oath.

"Do you want to claim it as your trophy?"

Saigō sat down and asked.

Sendou Aya let out a muffled groan of pain. Saigō had directly sat upon her soft waist, using her as a chair.

Nangong Nayue opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent, afraid that Saigō would see through her thoughts.

However, Nangong Nayue did not know that Saigō had already seen through her. She simply did not want Sendou Aya to die.

After all, Sendou Aya had once been Nangong Nayue's closest friend.

Nangong Nayue was proud and forceful in her actions, but at heart, she was kind and valued her feelings deeply.

Otherwise, if Nangong Nayue had truly followed the wishes in her heart, she would have furiously torn Sendou Aya limb from limb over what she had done.

"This Grimoire is too dangerous. I will destroy it afterward!"

Once the Dark Oath fell into her hands, Nangong Nayue easily used the Grimoire to undo its technique.

As the spreading barrier disappeared, magic power once again filled the world that had been stripped of it, and all the abilities Nangong Nayue had lost returned.

"Phew..."

Nangong Nayue let out a soft breath. The feeling of losing her magic power had been truly unpleasant.

She glanced at Saigō, who was sitting atop Sendou Aya, and spoke in a gentler tone. "...Hand her over to me. I will make her pay for what she has done."

"So you are finally preparing to activate the Prison Barrier technique, little Natsuki?"

Saigō stared at Nangong Nayue's young, delicate, expressionless face and asked with a smile.

Nangong Nayue knew she could not hide these thoughts from the demon before her. She nodded. "...It is my agreement with the Artificial Island Management Corporation."

"...Sendou Aya's actions have given me the perfect opportunity. Let her become the first prisoner of the Prison Barrier."

Hearing Nangong Nayue's words, Saigō noncommittally rose to his feet. "...Then do as you wish."

Nangong Nayue found this slightly strange. Normally, this demon would have urged her to kill the Artificial Island Management Corporation directly, telling her there was no need to honor the agreement or become part of the Prison Barrier.

And Saigō's reasons had always been words that sounded practically like a confession: 'I like you,' and 'I don't want you to lose your freedom.'

Yet today, when this demon saw that she truly intended to activate the technique, he did not try to persuade her even once.

At that thought, Nangong Nayue mockingly laughed at herself inwardly. She had actually believed a demon's words before. How foolish.

"Then I'll see you later, little Natsuki... What a pity. When I see you again, you will be nothing more than a dull puppet."

Saigō's body of flame condensed into human form again, and he wore a bored expression.

By making herself sleep within the Prison Barrier and turning the barrier into a dream, she would distance herself from the present world while making any attempt to break her out from outside infinitely more difficult.

After activating the technique, Nangong Nayue could only act through a puppet body formed from magic power. Both she and Saigō knew this perfectly well.

This time, Nangong Nayue ignored Saigō. She crouched beside Sendou Aya, preparing to take her away using the Space Control Technique.

But seeing Sendou Aya remain silent all this time, Nangong Nayue could not help asking, "...What exactly did you say to her? Why has she become like this?"

Given Sendou Aya's proud nature, even if she had failed, she should not have remained so completely silent.

Saigō gave Nangong Nayue a gentle smile. Then, just as she pricked up her ears to listen, he said, "...Guess!"

Nangong Nayue's expression froze before fury filled her face. If she had not known she could not defeat him, she truly would have wanted to stuff Saigō into a wall!

"Heh, I merely told her that her wish was truly pitiful. She wants to create a world without magic power, a world containing only ordinary humans, yet the method she uses is still a technique built from 'magic' and 'magic power.'"

"...Don't you think that is foolish?"

Saigō suddenly said.

Nangong Nayue still did not believe him. She said nothing more and left with Sendou Aya.

"Heavenly Principles Distortion"

In the luxury apartment where Nangong Nayue lived, Saigō sat in the unlit living room, using the glow of the computer monitor to look through a great deal of information about this world.

All of this information came from String God Island's Artificial Island Management Corporation.

Ever since Nangong Nayue activated the technique and completely became a part of the Prison Barrier, the Artificial Island Management Corporation had placed immense trust in this Witch.

The governing body of String God Island knew Nangong Nayue's true wish.

They knew that Nangong Nayue's wish had nothing to do with the Prison Barrier. The desire buried deep within her heart was for humans and demons to live as equals.

Perhaps this was the sorrowful wish born from the pain Nangong Nayue had experienced in childhood—as a Pure-blooded Witch who had been born human, yet had been forced to bid farewell to her human identity from birth.

It was precisely because of this wish that the Artificial Island Management Corporation placed absolute trust in Nangong Nayue.

Because in the present world, the only place where humans and demons could barely live as equals was the Demon Sanctuary.

Witches could not betray their vows, for the price would be their lives. Thus, in the eyes of the Artificial Island Management Corporation, Nangong Nayue would certainly protect String God Island, this Demon Sanctuary, and would never betray it.

After gaining this trust, Nangong Nayue's authority and status on String God Island increased day by day, allowing her to truly access some hidden secrets.

"This is the tedious politics of human society. Ordinary people with little power command overwhelming force."

"...Of course, that is also because force in this world has its limits. Even a True Vampire cannot fight an entire nation alone."

"If someone truly could stand against a nation by themselves, there would be no need to follow these rules and laws."

Having once climbed to the top through extraordinary political means, Saigō was intimately familiar with the tricks of politicians.