Multiverse: A Journey Beginning with the Supreme Sovereign

Although, strictly speaking, this roommate was not human, but a demon.

Saigō stood and pulled open the bedroom curtains.

The glaring sunlight streamed into the bedroom, making Nangong Nayue squint instinctively. Her pupils contracted slightly, like a lazy little cat that had just woken up.

"There's something I need to tell you."

After opening the curtains, Saigō sat back down in the chair by the bed. He crossed his legs and looked at Nangong Nayue, who was still slightly drowsy from having just awakened.

"What is it that you need to tell me?"

The moment Nangong Nayue heard that, all sleepiness vanished. In her slightly slurred voice, she forced herself awake and asked.

She absolutely could not let her guard down around this demon. Otherwise, he would toy with her completely.

"Don't be so wary. This is a good thing for you."

Saigō said with a broad smile.

"A good thing?"

Nangong Nayue did not entirely believe him, merely knitting her delicate brows.

"I have a way for you to fulfill the contract. As a demon created by the 'Supreme Sovereign,' I can responsibly tell you that once you fulfill the contract, the 'Supreme Sovereign' will honor the agreement and spare this world."

At the mention of the 'Supreme Sovereign,' Nangong Nayue immediately recalled the great existence she had seen in that dark world.

Merely visualizing that being, which seemed to gather all darkness and sin into itself, made her feel as though her soul were freezing. She hurriedly shook her head, trying her best to forget that figure.

"What method do you have?"

Seeing how serious Saigō looked, Nangong Nayue wavered inside and could not help asking.

"I can't tell you that method yet, because you're still too weak, little Natsuki."

"...Even with the contract granting you power far beyond that of ordinary witches, power does not equal strength. To possess strength worthy of that power, you need real combat!"

"If you want me to tell you that method, work hard to become stronger first and gain enough battle experience!"

Saigō's smile did not change as he spoke gently.

Right now, Nangong Nayue was purely a theoretician. She could naturally crush ordinary magicians and the like.

But against true experts, Nangong Nayue's technique and experience were not enough for her to bring out all her power.

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

Nangong Nayue asked bluntly.

The moment she heard Saigō's words, Nangong Nayue knew this demon had something planned.

"It's simple. Leave String God Island for the time being and go to Europe with me!"

"...This artificial island is far too peaceful. There aren't enough strong opponents here to give you experience."

"If necessary, I wouldn't mind you going to the Night Empire of the True Vampire!"

Saigō's suggestion tempted Nangong Nayue somewhat.

Nangong Nayue: Turns Out I'm the Clown?

The Kingdom of Aldegia was a small country located in Northern Europe and operated under a constitutional monarchy.

Although the kingdom was not large, it possessed highly advanced magitech. Many of its technologies were at the forefront of the world.

In particular, the Kingdom of Aldegia bordered the War King's Domain of the First True Ancestor. It had once been at war with the Night Empire of the First True Ancestor for a long time, and even its capital had been destroyed.

Yet in its wars against the First True Ancestor, the Kingdom of Aldegia had seen both victories and defeats. The country was renowned throughout Europe, and its people were valiant and skilled in battle.

The Artisan Hero System and Artificial Holy Sword recently developed by the Kingdom of Aldegia made this country's military strength impossible to underestimate.

On an Aldegia Airlines flight from String God Island to the kingdom, Saigō and Nangong Nayue sat in first class.

Nangong Nayue wore a gorgeous Gothic Lolita dress. A beautiful collar circled her slender, graceful neck, while her glossy black hair cascaded loose over her shoulders.

Her features were exquisite and soft. When she kept a straight face, she resembled a beautiful doll.

Her long, shapely legs beneath the dress were wrapped in dark silk stockings, lending her an air of princess-like elegance and aloofness.

At that moment, Nangong Nayue was holding an intelligence report on the Kingdom of Aldegia, issued by the Artificial Island Management Corporation of String God Island.

"Ever since the Sanctuary Treaty was signed, the War King's Domain and the Kingdom of Aldegia have not engaged in any large-scale battles."

"...However, due to the deep-seated enmity between Aldegia's military and civilians and the War King's Domain, there are occasional clashes along the border. Overall, though, things remain peaceful."

Nangong Nayue softly read out part of the intelligence report on the Kingdom of Aldegia, then turned her azure eyes toward Saigō with a suspicious look.

No matter how she looked at it, the Kingdom of Aldegia and the War King's Domain were currently at peace. Was this demon suddenly going there because he wanted to provoke a war?

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Saigō put down the magazine in his hand, turned his head, and smiled faintly at Nangong Nayue. "...The North American United States advocates human supremacy, and there are no demon races within its borders."

"...Meanwhile, the Night Empire of the Chaos Princess in Central and South America, which borders the United States, is too closed-off and mysterious, rarely interacting with the outside world."

"That has created an overly peaceful environment in the Americas."

"...But Europe is different. Humans and demon races live together there, all kinds of conflicts are sharp, and terrorists are everywhere."

"A place this complicated is best suited for you to observe the lifestyles of demon races and humans, as well as the irreconcilable conflicts between them."

"...Your wish is for humans and demon races to coexist peacefully. If you do not gain a detailed understanding of the conflict between these two races, your wish will never come true."

"Although the Kingdom of Aldegia and the War King's Domain appear peaceful on the surface, both countries have warmongers."

"...They will surely use every possible method to intensify the conflict between humans and demon races in order to bring about war."

"Little Natsuki, you can use these people as targets to temper your strength."

"...While improving your strength, you can also eliminate these warmongers and bring peace to the world. Why not?"

Saigō's words sounded perfectly reasonable, but Nangong Nayue simply could not believe him.

The main reason was that a demon calling for world peace was just too unbelievable.

Seeing Nangong Nayue's distrustful expression, Saigō said nothing more. Instead, he suddenly changed the subject.

"...Do you know Sendou Aya's true wish—the one you locked inside the Prison Barrier?"

Nangong Nayue became alert. She gave Saigō a puzzled glance and asked, "...Why bring up Aya all of a sudden?"

Of everyone involved, Nangong Nayue, Aya's friend and ally, had been the most heartbroken over imprisoning Sendou Aya in the 'Prison Barrier.'

But it was something she had to do. If she had not imprisoned her, a Sendou Aya who had failed once would surely make a comeback.

Nangong Nayue did not dare guarantee that she could stop Sendou Aya's plan forever, and that plan would inevitably result in the destruction of String God Island.

"I just want to tell you the truth, then watch the shock in your eyes, along with your pain, grief, and sorrow."

Saigō gave Nangong Nayue a smile brimming with Malice. However, Nangong Nayue did not know that this was actually Saigō's attempt to provoke her.

"You must think Sendou Aya's wish was 'to verify the truth of this world and see that world without magic power,' right?"

Saigō guided her step by step.

"Is there something wrong with that?"

Nangong Nayue's heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained unchanged as she feigned calmness.

"Of course there is. Just as you used the wish of 'guarding the Prison Barrier' to deceive others and conceal your wish for 'peaceful coexistence between humans and demon races.'"

"...Sendou Aya was also using that method to conceal her true wish."

"The Scribe Witch's true wish was actually 'to save all witches,' especially to save you, Nangong Nayue!"

"...Her plan to create a world without magic was, in truth, her method of saving witches and eliminating demons."

"To save you, she did not hesitate to bear the sin of six hundred thousand lives."

"...But as her ally and best friend, not only did you fail to see her true wish, you even locked the person who wanted to save you in prison."

"Sendou Aya must be utterly despairing and miserable right now. She probably hates you to the bone."

"...Little Natsuki, you destroyed your own friendship with your own hands!"

Saigō whispered like a demon beside Nangong Nayue's crystal-clear ear. "...Others might not see it, but as a demon, there is no way I could mistake her wish."

Seated beside Saigō, Nangong Nayue's expression shifted unpredictably.

Though she tried her best to suppress her emotions, the veins bulging on the back of the hand clutching the magazine exposed the turmoil in her heart.

She wanted to believe Saigō was lying, but rationally, Nangong Nayue deeply believed his words.

Just as this demon had said, his greatest purpose was to see her in pain and despair.

So this was Aya's true wish? So she had been doing all this for me?

So Aya wasn't the one who betrayed our friendship. I was the betrayer?

Nangong Nayue had never imagined that she herself was the clown.

"Sir, would you like something to drink?"

A smiling Aldegia Airlines flight attendant approached Saigō and asked.

"I'll have a glass of wine, and my daughter can have some juice."

Saigō smiled as well and replied in a gentlemanly manner.

The flight attendant looked at Nangong Nayue in surprise. "...So this young lady is your daughter? You're really young, sir."

As she spoke, regret showed in her eyes.

She had thought she might encounter a wonderful romance, only to discover that this distinguished man was already married and even had such a grown daughter.

"Haha, perhaps it's a talent that runs in our family."

Saigō winked and made a joke.

For once, Nangong Nayue did not bicker with him. The witch was completely immersed in the daze of having betrayed their friendship.

Witch of the Void

"Witch of the Void, Nangong Nayue!!"

At the border within the Kingdom of Aldegia, a vampire from the War King's Domain had bloodshot eyes. He opened his huge mouth, bared his sharp fangs, and let out a shrill scream.

Chains bound the vampire from head to toe. No matter how he mobilized the little magic power he had left, he could not shake those chains in the slightest.

The chains were called the Chains of Discipline. They were not an artifact of this era, but had been forged by the ancient gods, incorporating technology modified by the Celestial Tribe.

This divine artifact had originally been discovered by String God Island in some ruins of the gods. In the end, due to their trust in Nangong Nayue, they had handed it over for her use.

The Chains of Discipline had an extremely powerful corrosive effect on magic power. Once bound by them, the chance of escape was slim.

The vampire glared furiously at the doll-like, indifferent girl before him and roared in anger. "...Could it be that you, Witch, have become a lackey of the Kingdom of Aldegia!"

"...Are you going to make an enemy of our War King's Domain?"

The petite girl wore a Gothic dress and possessed a doll-like, exquisite, cold beauty. She glanced at the vampire before her with slight boredom and sneered.

"...Don't equate yourself with the War King's Domain, vampire. It only makes you look weaker."

"For someone like you, who seeks to destroy peace and start a war, even the First True Ancestor, the Forgotten War King, would personally execute you if he learned of this!"

"...As for why I am helping the Kingdom of Aldegia, when I see terrorists like you at an airport, I should kill you on sight. If I see you in a restroom, I should drown you in the toilet!"

"This has nothing to do with the Kingdom of Aldegia. It is simply because of who you are!"

Hearing the naked killing intent in Nangong Nayue's voice, the vampire cried out in panic, "...Wait, are you going to kill me?"

"...That would violate the laws of the Kingdom of Aldegia, wouldn't it? I demand a fair trial!"

A vampire's greatest strength lay in their Familiar. Without their Familiar, a vampire's physical abilities were among the weakest of all demon races.

And this vampire's Familiar had long since been reduced to scraps by Nangong Nayue.

Even though Familiars were merely aggregates of magic power and could not truly be killed, eventually regenerating even after being destroyed.

Even a True Vampire's Familiar could not regenerate in a short time after being destroyed, let alone that of a descendant vampire.

"If this were String God Island, then to show the Artificial Island Management Corporation some respect, I might have locked you in the 'Prison Barrier.'"

"...But this is Europe, this is the Kingdom of Aldegia, so I do not need to follow those rules."