-The new body he had dreamed of.
That single sentence was enough to explain the nature of the man before her.
As times changed, Akiha Tohno, influenced by her maid, had heard jokes about wanting to be reborn after death as the child of an idol one adored.
But such hopes were, at most, a placebo for escaping reality after growing numb to life. To someone burdened with a heavy fate like Akiha Tohno, they only inspired anger at such a lack of backbone.
Yet when Roa said it, the words carried nothing but filth and the stench of blood.
"If you had simply pretended not to know and obediently left after dealing with those decoys, I could have completed the process in secret. You could have entered a peaceful death without enduring this struggle between instinct and will."
Roa narrowed his eyes and gave a theatrical sigh.
"Unfortunately, your foolish resistance has thrown that opportunity away."
"..."
Akiha Tohno did not answer. She merely stared at Roa coldly.
Her enemy wanted her body, and judging from this lair and the technique that triggered her reversal impulse, he had clearly been planning this for a long time.
Neither insincere negotiations nor blustering shouts would do any good.
Besides, Akiha Tohno's strong character would not allow her to show such weakness.
Though she lacked the arrogance and frivolity particular to the wealthy, her competitive refusal to lose had become part of her as she grew up.
Even in a hopeless situation, the girl would only stake her life and fight for survival in the face of death.
Without any hesitation, she waved her hand.
The next instant, searing light gathered swiftly before her like drifting willow fluff and shot straight into the sky.
An enormous pillar of red light, carrying tangible