Liberation and an Ambush

"Hmph, I may not be able to beat Mahiro, but do you think I can't beat you? This is what happens when you overestimate yourself, Demitoris Vatler."

Chapter 394 Liberation and Attack (5.3K)

"You're back again..."

After several years, Yotsuba Mahiro returned to that familiar sanctuary hall.

But this was different from the bewildered expression he had when they first met.

At this moment, he felt very calm.

He did not come alone this time; he was accompanied by the former prison Librarian Witch Aya Sengakuji, and the Third True Gada Kukokan.

"Is this her true form? It's an honor to meet you, the key to the Prison Barrier —'The Void Witch'."

Gada stepped forward and looked with great interest at the girl sitting in the luxurious velvet-covered armchair.

He reached out and gently stroked Natsuki Minamiya's slightly chubby, delicate face.

It looks exactly like the clone seen in the outside world.

A beautiful young witch with a face like a doll.

She was wearing a black dress with ribbons and ruffles, an outfit that was unsuitable for the sweltering heat of Itogami Island in the midsummer.

The only difference was that her eyes were closed, and she remained immersed in her dream.

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly; it seemed the dream wasn't particularly pleasant.

A girl like this, choosing self-sacrifice, is someone Gada has never seen before.

He immerses himself in the cage of dreams, then creates a world to imprison other criminals.

"Alright, Gada, stop playing around, it's time to start."

Mahiro stopped Gada's hand, which had already slipped down to her neckline and was about to untie the bow.

"Hehe, it's my fault. I accidentally made you worry about your little girlfriend."

Gada covered her mouth and chuckled softly, then stepped back to a safe distance.

Mahiro ignored her and noticed that Aye hadn't made a move yet.

"Yotsuba Mahiro, are you sure you really want to wake her up? You should understand what that means, right?"

A complex emotion flickered in her eyes.

Although Aye also had the urge to immediately use the grimoire to steal her memories.

"Of course I know, but that's no reason to run away. This matter must be resolved no matter what; it's something I decided from the beginning."

Whether based on the original story or on their time together and growing understanding of each other, Yotsuba Mahiro no longer wanted to keep this poor girl imprisoned here like a prisoner.

"The prison is not a burden for one person, and it shouldn't be placed on her shoulders. Just like you Aye, once went so far as to activate the Dark Oath Grimoire for Natsuki, now it's time for me to do something too... If she really can't bear to leave this prison, then I'll step in and reform it."

From now on, you won't have to guard the prison alone anymore. I will break the curse and constraints that bind you."

His second half of the sentence was clearly directed at Natsuki Minamiya.

Whether she resents it or is grateful, this cage should not exist!

Having so many options, why choose the one that's most cruel to yourself?

I really can't understand what Natsuki Minamiya is thinking. Does she want to sacrifice herself to become a saint?

Or is it that you're trying to move yourself?

You should know that she won't receive any thanks for doing something like this.

Instead, they will all treat her as a pawn for their own gain, wanting to hold her in their hands, which will only bring them more hatred!

She seemed to hear his voice, and faintly Natsuki Minamiya's eyelashes trembled slightly, a sign that she was desperately trying to wake up from her dream.

Unfortunately, her awakening came too late.

Aya Sengakuji had already opened the magic book she was carrying.

"No. 014 -- Manipulation of Accumulated Personal History (Personal History)."

The words were finished.

The magic book, held in one hand, opened automatically.

The dense magic she poured in was like lava, making the pages of the magic book glow brilliantly.

At the same time, an invisible wave emanated and enveloped Natsuki Minamiya.

At that moment, Natsuki, who was still asleep, opened her mouth slightly.

"Stop... stop..."

"I'm sorry, this is not just my wish, but our wish. Wake up from the Eternal Dream, my dearest friend, Natsuki Minamiya."

Aye spoke without any expression of joy or sorrow.

Sitting in the chair, Natsuki Minamiya's thin lips were tightly pursed, veins bulged on her temples, and her magical power began to surge violently.

She tried to resist the power of the grimoire.

However, how could her magic alone possibly contend with the immense magical power contained within Yotsuba Mahiro?

In just a moment, her struggles became virtually ineffective.

At the same time, a black magic book was extracted from her memory, gradually materialized, and eventually fell into the hands of Aya Sengakuji.

At that moment, Gada's gaze towards Aye changed.

She could sense that the book was dangerous; it was a book that restructured the rules!

It's equivalent to possessing the power of their Devas, or even the gods!

"The Dark Oath Grimoire..."

Her Dark Oath Grimoire has finally returned.

I reached out and gently touched the familiar cover, but it no longer felt the same as it did back then.

She was indeed once a witch who wanted to save the world, starting with her best friend.

But now, she only wants to use the Dark Oath Grimoire to save Natsuki Minamiya alone.

This still stems from Yotsuba Mahiro's wishes.

The world is so vast, it's no longer relevant to her.

Seemingly sensing Aye's inner turmoil and hesitation, Mahiro forward, took Aye's hand, and whispered:

I'll stay with you.

"Yes, thank you."

They raised their interlocked hands and activated their magic.

The Dark Oath Grimoire was then activated.

A powerful surge of magical energy nearly affected the entire Itogami Island.

"What's going on? This fluctuation..."

Inside Yukina's villa.

Sayaka Kirasaka left with Princess La Fria.

Nagisa Akatsuki was taken to the research institute by Misaki Akatsuki to spend the night.

Kanase Kanon chose to stay with him for the night.

Suddenly, I felt this powerful surge of magical energy!

"Did my senior and Teacher Nangong do something again?"

Yukina had a vague idea in her mind.

But the next second, the villa's door was suddenly forced open, and a strange man barged in.

Tap, tap, tap--

The crisp sound of leather shoes stepping on the wooden floor echoed in the room.

Looking up, you can see a man in a pure white cloak, wearing a red and white checkered tie and hat, walking in, his left hand holding a silver cane, which he gently taps on the floor.

Despite her youthful appearance, seemingly only around twenty years old, she exudes the air of an elderly person in their eighties or nineties.

The suspicious man, who gave the impression of a magician, stopped in his tracks upon entering the living room.

His gaze was fixed on the adorable Kanon Kanase with her silver hair and blue eyes.

Then he smiled, his eyes narrowing into a gleeful squint. Those eyes were blood-red, giving off an unsettling feeling, perhaps because they contained a hint of malice.

"That silver-haired girl is such a beautiful child!"

Who are you?!

Yukina picked up the Schneewaltzer and stood up in front of Kanon Kanase.

The man's act of breaking down the door and his overly intimate attitude made Yukina wary, and she also sensed an ominous aura surrounding him.

The moment Kanon Kanase saw him, her body trembled violently.

"Me? I am the seeker of truth, the great alchemist!"

Immediately afterwards, something that writhed like a snake was released from the man's right wrist.

It was a blackish-silver liquid with a metallic sheen and strong viscosity.

The thing seemed to have a mind of its own, wrapping itself around Yukina's wrist, intending to corrode her body.

With a flick of her Yukina Schneewaltzer sword, Yukina shattered the black molten metal, which dissipated as it could not withstand the Holy Lance's nullifying magic.

"What's going on? Why did you attack us?!"

Yukina frowned and glared at the man.

"Heh, you managed to defend yourself. I sensed something strange from the beginning. So you're a shrine maiden."

The man stared at his right hand, narrowing his eyes unhappily.

"He doesn't seem like a bodyguard from the Ardigia Palace. Sigh, I was planning to kill you as discreetly as possible."

The man looked at Kanon Kanase and spoke with a compassionate tone. The blackish-silver liquid shot out again from the fingertips of his right hand, transforming into slender, sharp blades that slashed horizontally towards Yukina and the others with terrifying speed.

Wherever the blade passes, anything is cleanly sliced in half.

Just as the attack was about to sweep over Yukina, Yukina also picked up the Schneewaltzer to prepare to defend herself.

Snap!

The blade vanished instantly.

At the same time, a tall, slender, and spirited woman appeared in front of Yukina.

The black, tight-fitting combat suit outlined the woman's perfectly voluptuous figure, and a long, pale yellow tail extended from her buttocks, swaying gently.

The two cat ears on its head twitched, giving it a somewhat playful look.

"Miss Zeta?!"

Yukina recognized the woman in front of her, but she didn't expect her to suddenly appear and help her block the attack.

"You're that... Mercury Amatsuka, right?"

Her clear eyes were fixed on the other person without blinking, but she seemed to have been recalling the name for a long time, and her tone was languid.

It seemed as if he didn't take the person in front of him seriously at all.

"Hmph? What an arrogant tone! Are you looking down on the great alchemist?!"

In short, Mercury Amatsuka was enraged.

He saw no fear or longing in this female orc!

This is absolutely unforgivable!

"Hmm... you're wrong. I don't look down on alchemists, I just look down on you, Mr. Thief. After all, my lord is also a great alchemist."

Zeta was incredibly candid.