A Journey Through the Multiverse, Beginning as the Supreme Sovereign

The Creator of the World

"Not speaking means you admit it?"

Saigō looked at the silent Sendou Aya, raised a brow, and smiled.

The Scribe Witch gazed solemnly at the demon before her, who had taken human form, with her pair of magnificent fiery eyes.

The demon's human form was exceptionally handsome. Even Sendou Aya had to admit that his slender figure and appearance had already reached the absolute pinnacle of what humanity could achieve.

Especially that demonic aura about him—it was something humans could never possess.

Just one glance was enough to make one doubt that he even belonged to the human species.

But Sendou Aya was not a woman who would be bewitched by appearances. Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, and in the end, she sighed. "...That's right, just as you said, Zarathustra! My true wish was never to see the real world. That was merely the means by which I intended to fulfill my wish."

"What I want is a world without the tragic fate of witches—or rather, my long-cherished desire is to eliminate demons like you!"

Sendou Aya knew she could no longer conceal anything from Saigō. She gave up lying and chose to tell the truth.

Hearing her words, Saigō clapped his hands and laughed. "...A witch granted power by demons wishes to drive out and kill demons."

"...Well, fortunately, the demons you speak of have no self-awareness. Otherwise, how could they possibly agree to such a contract?"

"Witches receive different levels of power depending on the difficulty of their wishes. Nangong Nayue's wish is for humans and demons to coexist peacefully, a wish that is nearly impossible to achieve."

"...That is why she gained power unimaginable to ordinary witches. And Sendou Aya, your power is among the greatest even among witches. In the end, it is because your wish is equally grand."

A witch's every action could never violate her contract or wish. Otherwise, punishment would descend.

Sendou Aya's use of the Dark Oath to create a world without demons was precisely her means of fulfilling her wish. Thus, her guardian would not stop her.

"I know that you hate Nangong Nayue now. You believe that she, your ally, betrayed you. You are even hurt that she could not see through to your true wish, making you begin to doubt your bond."

"...In truth, Nangong Nayue did not want to do anything to you either. The reason she imprisoned you in the Prison Barrier had nothing to do with what you did. She had no choice."

At this moment, Saigō was practically like someone trying desperately to build a bridge of communication between two best friends who had fallen out. He laid bare the thoughts hidden in the hearts of these two proud witches.

Communication was very important, but the pride of the two witches had made them forget how to communicate. Instead, they complained that the other did not understand them.

Even husbands and wives could not necessarily understand one another, much less witch best friends.

"Could it be that Nangong Nayue sent you to persuade me?"

Sendou Aya asked suspiciously.

Sitting on the Scribe Witch's bed, Saigō chuckled. "...Little Natsuki does not have the ability to order me around. I came here to tell you all this solely of my own will."

"...Nangong Nayue's wish is for humans and demons to coexist peacefully. In her eyes, String God Island, this demon special zone, is the most important foundation for fulfilling that wish. Therefore, nothing can be allowed to happen here."

"That is why she imprisoned you in the Prison Barrier. Because of her contract, she could not watch you destroy String God Island. She had to act to stop you, even if you were allies."

Saigō's words made Sendou Aya freeze. She murmured, "...So that's how it is. So that's how it is... Why didn't Natsuki tell me?"

She complained once, then flared up in anger. "...It is demons like you who deprived us of the right to choose and robbed us of our freedom!"

Setting aside those witches who willingly sold their souls, pureblood witches like Sendou Aya and Nangong Nayue were born into tragedy.

They had to sell their souls, after which the wishes in their hearts became contracts. From then on, all their actions were bound by those contracts, and they might even have to devote their entire lives to striving to fulfill them.

That was why Sendou Aya cared so deeply about Nangong Nayue. Only Nangong Nayue could understand her pain.

"Oh, don't include me in that scolding, Sendou Aya... I'm not the same kind as the demons you speak of."

Saigō spread his hands innocently.

"Now that you know why Nangong Nayue imprisoned you here, do you want to leave? Do you want to regain your freedom?"

Saigō suddenly asked in the coaxing tone of a demon.

"What do you want? I will not obey you so easily."

Sendou Aya became vigilant. Now that she knew Nangong Nayue had acted against her own will, her resentment toward Nangong Nayue had dissipated.

Seeing Saigō tempt her now, she could not shake the feeling that this demon was plotting something.

If this demon intended to harm Nangong Nayue, she would rather remain imprisoned in this Prison Barrier than betray her ally.

"Don't look at me as though I'm dangerous, Sendou Aya... I do have my own purpose, but it will bring nothing but benefits to both you and Nangong Nayue."

Saigō stopped concealing it. He knew that sometimes one had to be more candid. "...I have only one goal: the Great Calamity!"

"Sin God Cain's Calamity? Why are you interested in that? Isn't the Calamity merely a destructive remnant caused by the power left behind in this world by that demon progenitor?"

Sendou Aya was somewhat confused. She did not understand why Saigō would be interested in a phenomenon like the Calamity.

Few people in this era studied the Calamity, since it was merely a phenomenon.

Many outsiders even believed that the Calamity had been caused by the Fourth True Ancestor, but Sendou Aya knew that the so-called Calamity was actually connected to Cain.

Saigō raised a brow, his smile bright. "...Even you, the leader of LCO, do not know the true nature of the Calamity. Now that is interesting."

"The true nature of the Calamity?"

Sendou Aya's curiosity was piqued. Sitting in front of the dressing table, she leaned forward slightly, her expression intent.

Saigō did not hide anything and told Sendou Aya the truth of the Calamity.

"'Heavenly Principles Distortion'... So the Calamity is actually a technique, and it possesses such unimaginable power."

Sendou Aya's wide kimono sleeve covered her cherry lips, her expression slightly astonished.

In a sense, the power of the Dark Oath she had used before was very similar to the Calamity.

However, the Dark Oath was more like a weakened version of the Calamity. It also required a barrier to be deployed before it could alter laws within that barrier.

The Calamity, on the other hand, was different. It could truly distort the Heavenly Principles, altering them from the world's underlying rules.

That was not something a mere barrier could compare to, because the altered laws would become new truths.

Unless the Calamity was invoked once more, everyone would have to obey those truths until the end of time.

Sendou Aya finally understood Saigō's objective. If the Calamity truly possessed such power, then anyone would surely be interested in it.

It could be said that whoever obtained and mastered the Calamity would truly become the ruler of the world, like a creator.

Do You Want to Take My Purity?

"So, are you interested in the Calamity now? The Calamity can also fulfill both your wish and Nangong Nayue's."

"...As long as the Heavenly Principles are directly distorted, humans and demons can coexist peacefully. As long as the Heavenly Principles are distorted, witches will cease to exist!"

The map is unfurled to reveal the dagger. Saigō used words Sendou Aya could not refuse to entice her.

Sendou Aya was indeed tempted, but she remained wary. "...If you distort the Heavenly Principles with the Calamity, aren't you afraid that my wish will make you disappear as well?"

Saigō laughed. "...I told you, I'm different from the demons you imagine."

Sendou Aya clenched her delicate hand and drew a deep breath before asking once more, "...One final question. What does this have to do with rescuing me from this Prison Barrier?"

"Excellent question!"

Saigō laughed and clapped his hands. "...Actually, it is very simple. Because of the contract, I am also bound to Nangong Nayue and cannot act freely."

"...So, I need Nangong Nayue to act in step with me. That way, our goals will be the same."

"Whether she seeks the Calamity or pursues her impossible wish, she will inevitably encounter obstacles from the outside world."

"...She cannot face those difficulties alone, so she needs an ally. And you happen to be the ally most suited to her!"

"Whether for the final goal or for the understanding you owe each other, you two witches, who share such a close relationship, ought to stand on the same front!"

"...I am releasing you only to give Nangong Nayue more manpower."

Naturally, all of that was Saigō's deception.

He was not bound to Nangong Nayue at all. He possessed absolute freedom.

However, compared with the Calamity, Saigō cared more about ensuring Nangong Nayue did not come to harm.

He needed the contract between them to remain intact. Only then could he continuously draw nourishment from this world.

His own growth was far more important than obtaining the Calamity.

Thus, the best approach was for Saigō to stay beside Nangong Nayue and keep her from easily falling into danger.

But if, while satisfying his own need for growth, he could also spur Nangong Nayue onward, that would kill two birds with one stone.

If he protected Nangong Nayue's safety while she actively sought the Calamity and the Fourth True Ancestor, Saigō would gain both benefits at once.

Everything Saigō told Sendou Aya was true, yet he had concealed part of the truth.

Such verbal tactics were as commonplace as daily meals to Saigō, who had once climbed to the Upper Layer of power through political means.

Sendou Aya's eyes flickered. Her wide sleeve concealed her exquisitely beautiful face as she said softly, "...If my wish can be fulfilled, then of course I am willing to agree."

"...But this is only a contract between you and me. It has nothing to do with Natsuki."

Saigō waved his hand and activated the Space Control Technique.

He took Sendou Aya directly to the central hall of the castle.

The Scribe Witch looked at the empty hall in surprise, then gazed with complicated emotions toward the center of the hall, where a petite girl sat quietly asleep on a throne, like a doll.

That girl was Nangong Nayue's true body.

"Do not worry. Because of my presence, she will not sense our arrival, nor will she awaken from her dream."

"...As for your question, I can answer it as well. It is very simple. I will persuade Nangong Nayue and bring her into step with us. After all, bewitching people's hearts is what demons do best."

Make Nangong Nayue obedient? Saigō had countless ways to "force" her.

"If you can accomplish that, then I will naturally agree as well."

"...Leaving the Prison Barrier to gain freedom while also fulfilling my wish—there could be no better promise."

"Then, demon, state your terms. I do not believe you would ask for nothing in return."

Even now, Sendou Aya remained calm. She would never believe there was such a thing as a free lunch in this world.

"My terms?"

Saigō rubbed his chin and considered what terms he should name.

In truth, he did not have any particular demands. He was merely going with the flow.

His goals were all for his own sake. Helping Sendou Aya merely happened to fall within the course of achieving them.

An idea struck Saigō. He looked Sendou Aya up and down: a beautiful young woman with fiery eyes and black hair, her entire body wrapped in the magnificent kimono of a Twelve Layered Robe.

Saigō had an idea. He knew that if he made no demands, Sendou Aya would instead find him untrustworthy.

"Your strength is too weak, Scribe Witch... Abandon the demon you contracted with and make a contract with me. I will grant you power beyond imagination."

Hearing Saigō's demonic whisper, Sendou Aya was somewhat moved, but her expression remained calm. "...My soul was sold to a demon long ago."

"...There is no way for a witch to reclaim her soul from a demon. Otherwise, why would I have such a wish?"

Saigō laughed heartily. "...Others may be unable to do it, but I can. It is merely a matter of changing the contract's beneficiary and having you sell your soul to me instead."

"...However, your soul is indeed not with you—it is in that demon's possession. I need to use your body to determine the location of the alternate space where that demon is, then retrieve your soul."

"My body?"

Sendou Aya froze. Then her fair cheeks flushed as she understood what Saigō meant.

The Scribe Witch quickly calmed herself, revealing a seductive smile as she giggled. "...I suddenly feel that you are far more reassuring than the demons I have known."

"Why do you say that?"

Saigō asked curiously.

"Because those demons are merely programs. They have no emotions at all, and thus there is no room for negotiation. But you are different. You possess humanity and can communicate. That is more comforting instead."

"...Do you want to take my purity? Of course you may. For this human body of mine to interest a demon like you, I wonder if that counts as my honor!"

"The Lost Holy Scripture records that demons are incarnations of desire. As expected, you are the one who resembles a true demon."

"...If I can use my body to make you sink into desire, would that mean I have defeated a demon?"

Saigō was stunned for a moment before bursting into amused laughter. "...Haha, Sendou Aya, then use your body and see whether you can capture me!"

"...Since you have made your decision, let us begin!"

The Scribe Witch glanced at Nangong Nayue, who sat sleeping on the throne beside them, and said with rare embarrassment, "...Surely you do not intend to do it here? Can we return to my quarters?"