Strike the Blood - Volume 16 - Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR 

THE LOST DEMON SANCTUARY 

1 

“…An Ogre?” 

Watching as Shizuri slept in a clinic room bed, Kojou deeply furrowed his brow. 

Yaze and Astarte were hastily running all over to clean up the mess of the situation. That left only Kojou and Yukina in the clinic room. Fortunately, as it was Sunday, they at least had no concern that other students would visit the clinic. 

He had seen the horns protruding from Shizuri’s head, and they were the only thing that made her seem like a Demon. From the bizarre resilience she’d demonstrated in her fight with Yukina, she was clearly no ordinary person. Even so, Shizuri’s personality and the image associated with that of a horned Demon did not neatly line up inside Kojou’s mind. 

“Yes. That is what Miss Kasugaya is. It is a rare variety of Demon in danger of extinction,” Yukina explained. 

If that’s what she believed after seriously going up against her, Kojou could only trust her judgment. 

“Pretty different from what I expected for an Ogre…” 

Kojou pursed his lips as he made a quiet murmur. Shizuri’s coat and wimple were neatly folded atop a nearby sofa. Just in case, Yukina was still holding the long sword Hauras against her chest. Seeing Shizuri lying there in her school uniform, she looked every bit like a transfer student with a slightly eccentric hair ornament. 

“They are mistaken for savage and barbarous demons, but Ogres are actually a quite gentle and delicate species,” Yukina continued seriously, realizing Kojou was even more suspicious. “Prior to the enactment of the Holy Ground Treaty, large-scale conflicts had arisen between Ogres and humans more than once. Though in the first place, they avoid contact with humankind and other demons, preferring to live deep in the jungle.” 

“I see… Kind of like gorillas in the wild…” Kojou nodded in understanding. 

He had heard that people feared gorillas because of how imposing they looked, but in reality, they were intelligent and generally docile animals. He had no doubt that the fear human beings harbored for Ogres was the product of similar misunderstandings. 

And just as Kojou had those thoughts, accepting them as fact all on his own… 

“…Who are you calling a gorilla?” Shizuri grumbled as she opened her eyes a little. She was probably grimacing not in annoyance from having heard Kojou and Yukina’s conversation, but from the pain of being pummeled. 

“Cas, are you all right? Do you remember what happened?” Kojou asked while remaining on guard to restrain Shizuri at any moment. 

Shizuri stared at the wary Kojou. She looked confused. The reaction displayed no enmity toward Kojou or Yukina. Shizuri was behaving normally. 

“Ow…!” 

When Shizuri gently tried to sit up, she put a hand to the back of her own head. It was Yukina who had hit her with a back-knuckle strike. The attack had nearly sent her spectacularly flying away; apparently it really did have quite an effect. 

“Don’t push it. You had the stuffing beaten out of you.” 

“I am sorry, but Miss Kasugaya is very strong, so…” 

When Kojou spoke out of consideration for Shizuri, Yukina’s shoulders sank guiltily. She’d no doubt reflected upon it, less about the damage she’d inflicted on Shizuri, and more that she did not have the luxury of holding back at the time. 

For her part, Shizuri took Yukina’s words as a compliment. She pushed down the dregs of waking up sourly as a not-so-displeased expression came over her. 

“I remember, more or less. You are a Sword Shaman of the Lion King Agency, correct?” Shizuri spoke with an unfamiliarity with the terms. She pressed a hand to her forehead, rummaging through hazy memories. Then, she looked to and fro at the clinic interior with a look of concern. She knitted her brows as her eyes came to rest on the unfamiliar scenery outside the window. 

“Where am I?” 

“So you really don’t remember? You came attacking our school dragging a horde of Larvae with you, you know? Ah… By school, I mean, Itogami Island’s Saikai Academy.” 

“Itogami Island…?” 

As Shizuri listened to Kojou’s explanation, it was obvious this was not ringing a bell. The very fact that she was outside of Onrai Island seemed to have perplexed her to no small extent. 

To confirm the scenery outside, Shizuri shifted her gaze to the window once more. Her white hair danced with a pronounced swish . For an instant, Shizuri looked taken aback, no doubt because she realized she was not wearing her wimple. Instantly, she seemed to try and hide her horns, but then she lowered her hands, abandoning the effort. She understood that Kojou and Yukina already knew her true nature. 

“You…saw them, didn’t you?” 

Shizuri looked back at Kojou’s face, suppressing a sigh. She maintained an emotionless face, but Kojou realized that her eyes were swaying with fear. 

“—Laugh all you like.” Shizuri spoke in a self-mocking tone. 

“Laugh?” Kojou had no idea what she was implying. “At what?” 

Shizuri glared at him, pouting with tapered lips. 

“That an Ogre of all people presented herself as a Paladin of Gisella.” 

Kojou blinked at the unexpected confession. “By that do you mean you weren’t a real paladin?” 

To Kojou, the confession was far more surprising than the fact she was a demon. After all, whatever the circumstances, Shizuri had always asserted she was a paladin and had always acted the part. 

However, Shizuri strongly clenched her bedsheet, laughing with an expression that could break into tears at any moment. 

“Even Hauras truly belongs to Shinako……the paladin who saved my life. She merely passed it on to me. In truth, I am not qualified to bear that title whatsoever… A most pathetic tale for one who claims to observe the Fourth Primogenitor.” 

“I don’t think it’s pathetic at all.” Kojou scratched his face as if her words were bothersome. 

“Eh?” Surprised, Shizuri blinked. 

“I don’t know about this ‘real’ paladin business, but I saw from up close that you were trying hard to act the part. I never thought that was a bad look from you, not once, okay? I do think you should speak more casually, but—” 

“Kojou…” 

An expression without any definable form came over Shizuri’s face. She looked like she couldn’t decide whether to thank him or rage at him. For his part, Kojou acted like it was somehow grandiose praise. 

“For that matter, I’m like, the Paladins of Gisella really do exist. I was wondering if you had made it up in your own head.” 

“Of course they existed !” 

This time, Shizuri trembled with obvious ire. Just what do you think I am , her twitching left eyelid said. 

Perhaps judging that leaving things up to Kojou wouldn’t get them anywhere, Yukina reluctantly intervened. “—Miss Kasugaya, you were one of the demons under Gisella’s protective custody, were you not?” 

“Protective custody? Inside a Demon Sanctuary?” Kojou tilted his head. “Why?” 

A Demon Sanctuary was a model city built with the aim of coexistence between Demonkind and humankind. With Demon rights protected under the Holy Ground Treaty, it was virtually unheard of for harm to be inflicted upon them. 

However, Yukina lowered her eyes and shook her head with what seemed like a pained look. “Ogres are hunted down… Many are targeted for kidnapping. The atrocities are not few, even in Dominions and Demon Sanctuaries—” 

“Hunted…? Oh—the horns!” 

Kojou shifted his eyes toward Shizuri’s horns. Yukina nodded with a hard expression. 

“I have heard that Ogre’s horns and skulls are bought and sold at high prices. Of course, this is illicit black-market trading, but…” 

“That’s terrible… I mean, they’re definitely pretty. I get why they fetch high prices, but man…” 

Kojou’s face twisted in disgust. The sale of demonic horns and fangs was strictly forbidden by treaty. Even so, smuggling had never ceased thereafter, and apparently more than a few demons were slain in hunts even to the present day. 

With Kojou looking straight at her in complete seriousness, Shizuri seemed unable to relax; her gaze wandered all about. 

“P-pretty…?” 

“Yeah.” 

Kojou looked back at Shizuri, mystified that her cheeks were bright red for some reason. Shizuri’s gleaming, jade-colored horns were beautiful enough to make high-priced gemstones and handicrafts look like cheap baubles. 

“Could I touch them, just for a sec?” 

It’d be a waste not to , Kojou seemed to be saying. Yukina pursed her lips, and Shizuri’s eyes popped wide. 

“T-touch? You mean m-my…?” 

“It’s been on my mind a bit since earlier. I was thinking, wouldn’t it feel really nice to touch one?” 

Kojou nodded without hesitation. The brilliant luster of Shizuri’s horns held a charm instilling an I wanna touch them craving that seemed irresistible. Just like when looking at polished glass or flakes of snow, you felt a deep stirring to touch. 

Perhaps Kojou’s gaze instilled some kind of instinctive fear, for Shizuri covered her horns and shook her head. 

“N-no! Absolutely not! To allow a boy to touch them is unthinkable!” 

“Aw, really…? It’s not like I’m going to be rough or anything.” 

Kojou’s dejection was plain for all to see. Being told he couldn’t touch them made him want to all the more—such was his thought process. 

Shizuri’s fingers began fidgeting and entwining on both sides as she seemed to hesitate. 

“I mean…it…it’s embarrassing… And no one has ever touched them before…” 

“Please. Pretty please. Just the tips. Just the tips and only for a bit, please!” 

“Umm…” 

Shizuri leaned forward and fell silent. From her reaction, she seemed to be wavering. One more push and she’ll fold , said Kojou’s competitive instincts. 

As if able to see Kojou’s unyielding thoughts, Yukina opened her mouth without thinking. 

“Um, Senpai—” 

“What do you think you’re doing, Kojou?!” 

The next moment, the clinic room’s door opened with what seemed enough force to break it off its hinges. 

Standing on the other side of the door was a schoolgirl with an extravagant hairstyle. Her eyes, framed by long eyelashes, glared with a vivid glow of rage. 

“A-Asagi?” 

“I heard everything from here in the corridor! What are you trying to do to an injured girl in broad daylight?! And Himeragi, if you’re standing right next to him, stop him already! Or don’t tell me you were planning a threesome?!” 

A wild patter of footsteps echoed as Asagi Aiba stormed her way toward Kojou. 

Kojou, his expression frozen in abject shock, proceeded to shake his head. “No way, you moron! What the hell were you picturing?!” 

“D-don’t make me say the ‘what’ out loud, you pervert!” 

“What ‘what’?!” 

“Wait, this is the girl who tried to kill me! What are you getting along all nice with her for?!” 

Asagi was still gripping Kojou by his collar when she pointed accusingly at Shizuri. 

The look on Kojou’s face suddenly grew graver. “Tried to kill you?” 

“That’s right. Zombies attacked, and even my tank got wrecked. I’d have been in real trouble if she hadn’t saved me…!” 

“…Who?” 

That instant, seemingly unable to hold back any longer, he heard someone break out into laughter from beyond the open door. Finally, the laughter changed into a cheerful, sunny voice. 

“Just like usual, there’s flowers blooming all around you, Kojou.” 

These words spoken, a girl with a lively air about her entered the room, a teasing smile coming over her face. Her hairstyle was a short bob with divided forelocks. She wore a culotte-style miniskirt with a uniform from a public high school in Itogami City. The rugged basketball shoes she wore meshed cutely with her long, slender legs. 

“Yuuma…!” 

The unexpected reunion with his old friend took Kojou completely by surprise. 

“Been a while. Seems you’re up and lively.” 

Yuuma Tokoyogi thrust a slightly out-of-place peace sign toward him. 

2 

Kojou’s shock did not last very long. That was because while he stood rooted to the spot, Shizuri was timidly tugging on his uniform. 

“Who are they?” Shizuri asked. Kojou detected a hint of concern in her voice. She probably vaguely remembered having assaulted the pair of girls. Perhaps not remembering the reason why she had attacked them made her feel all the more fearful. 

“Yuuma Tokoyogi. Nice to meet you. I suppose you could call me Kojou’s friend from when we were kids.” 

As if to allay Shizuri’s concern, Yuuma flashed her a friendly smile as she spoke. 

“Sh-Shizuri Kasugaya Castiella.” 

Shizuri seemed captivated by Yuuma as she awkwardly spoke her own name in turn. Rather than break the ice, it seemed she had simply gotten caught up in Yuuma’s pace, but the tension had lessened all the same. 

“Yuuma, what are you doing here? Is the Attack Mages’ investigation over already?” Kojou asked as Yuuma and Shizuri exchanged handshakes. 

In autumn of the previous year, Attack Mages had arrested Yuuma following the Black Bible Incident on the basis of unauthorized use of a forbidden grimoire and aiding in the prison escape of her mother, Aya Tokoyogi, the Witch of the Notaria. 

In her defense, Yuuma was a minor, and also a victim under her mother’s control. Thanks to this, the odds of Yuuma herself being put on trial had been slim. She was arrested not because she was a sorcerous criminal herself but to protect her as a crucial witness. Yuuma, daughter of Aya Tokoyogi, was a very effective lead into the sorcerous criminal organization LCO that Aya had led as its general. 

“It’s not over, Kojou. Sorry to worry you. I’ll give you the details nice and slow later,” Yuuma teased. She looked toward Shizuri once more. “More importantly, can I speak with her? I’m not exactly unrelated to the circumstances.” 

“To Cas?” 

Yuuma’s unexpected proposal left Kojou at a loss. Shizuri blinked, too, the expression coming over her face telling him that she didn’t get it, either. Shizuri’s eyes suddenly opened far wider. 

That was no doubt due to the enormous, bluntly armored machine that had quietly appeared outside the clinic’s window. 

“Wh-what is it now…?!” she asked Kojou in a flustered yet angry tone. 

It was a crimson robot tank about the size of a light truck—Lydianne Didier’s Hizamaru. Its sleek, rounded form made it seem less imposing, but it was a weapon system nonetheless. Kojou couldn’t blame Shizuri for putting up her guard. 

“I heard the gist of it from Motoki, see…,” Asagi said. 

Shizuri was frozen stiff; Asagi was oozing with suspicion and enmity toward Shizuri. Kojou wasn’t sure he should blame that on Shizuri having targeted her life, or the relative closeness between Shizuri and Kojou having roused Asagi’s ire. 

“There is a lot I would like to ask you, but before that, would you mind if I inspect you first, Miss Kasugaya?” 

Shizuri glared. “Boil me or fry me, do with me as you please.” 

“Good answer.” Asagi smiled, but it felt hostile—blatantly villainous, even. 

Kojou, warily looking between the pair’s faces, wedged himself between their aggressive glares. 

“Hey, Asagi. She’s a patient, you know. Don’t be too rough with Cas, oka—” 

“Do it, Tanker,” Asagi called out to Lydianne, blatantly ignoring Kojou’s concerns. 

“As thou wishest,” came Lydianne’s reply over the speaker. 

The robotic tank’s torso opened, and writhing, tentacle-like manipulators shot out. These deftly passed through the open clinic window, firmly immobilizing Shizuri’s left arm. 

“!!” 

Shizuri went pale as the final manipulator stretched out toward her arm. Embedded in its tip was a dully gleaming needle. 

“…An injector? No, for taking blood?” Kojou murmured in a daze, realizing Lydianne’s objective. When he observed further, he realized Shizuri hadn’t resisted since the beginning. With intricate, practiced motions like that of a well-trained nurse, the syringe needle punctured one of Shizuri’s blood vessels, slowly collecting her plasma. 

“Sample collection complete. Sir Mogwai, I request that thou complete the rest.” 

“No prob.” 

A very human-sounding synthetic voice coursed out from Asagi’s smartphone. The blood plasma collected from Shizuri was swiftly inserted into the analytical system built into the robot tank. It included a centrifugal separator, a particle analysis system, a fluorescence spectrometer, and demonic energy and ritual formula analyzers—all heavy-duty analytical devices. 

“Wasn’t this a blood test? What are they up to?” 

“Please do not ask me.” 

Kojou’s question made Shizuri shake her head with a sullen expression. Yukina maintained her silence as she applied an adhesive bandage to Shizuri’s arm. 

“How about it, Asagi?” Yuuma asked, back to business. 

Asagi stared at the analysis system’s monitor as she nodded. “It’s as we thought. Same as what was left in the game-center cabinet.” 

“Can you analyze it?” 

“The magical constructs in the sample I took from her haven’t degraded, and I’m already set up for reverse engineering. Leave it to me.” 

Asagi smiled impishly as she input commands beyond Kojou’s comprehension. 

He realized that a faint red light was trickling out from the analysis system she was operating. These had vermilion particles with minute magical symbols on the inside—the radiance of the forbidden, world-rewriting spell, the Cleansing. 

“Hey, Asagi. Explain so that the rest of us can understand!” he demanded, uneasy. 

“It’ll take a little while for the magical calculation circuits to do their thing, so sure. What do you want to know?” Asagi mixed a sigh in with a slouch of her shoulders. 

Though he felt a fair bit of irritation at her standoffish attitude, complaining about that wouldn’t get him anywhere, so Kojou endured it with a clench of his fist. 

After some momentary hesitation, Kojou finally began with the most fundamental question at hand. 

“Do you know what Onrai Island really is?” 

“…Onrai Island? You mean the Demon Sanctuary you supposedly lived on? Seems you forgot all about us and got along rather nicely with this girl over here…” 

“It wasn’t exactly ‘nicely’—” 

“W-we did no such thing!” 

Kojou and Shizuri’s retorts were weirdly in sync. Asagi stared back at them with half-lidded eyes. 

“What you heard from Motoki and the others is the truth. Onrai Island does not exist,” Asagi declared with a weary shake of her head. 

Unsatisfied with that, Kojou pointed at Shizuri right beside him. “Then where the hell did Kasugaya come from?” 

“From Onrai Island. Or am I wrong?” 

“Huh…?” 

Asagi’s reply threw Kojou completely for a loop. 

Onrai Island did not exist; yet Shizuri had come from Onrai Island. He didn’t understand how those statements could both be true. Was this some kind of trick question? 

“In reality, no island named Onrai exists. However, in a place that is not reality, such a place could very well exist…inside someone’s dream, for example,” Asagi explained to the utterly confused Kojou. 

“Inside…a dream…?” Kojou’s eyes opened wide. He felt like fireworks were going off in the back of his head. “You can’t mean…!” 

“Exactly,” Yuuma chimed in softly as she leaned against the wall facing outside. “Onrai Island is most likely a Prison Barrier…or perhaps more precisely, an alternate dimension created according to similar principles as the Prison Barrier you’re familiar with.” 

The Prison Barrier was the name of the magical virtual space created by Natsuki Minamiya, also known as the Witch of the Void. This world, constructed within her own dream, was the ultimate prison, permitting neither intrusion from the outside, nor escape from within. It was used to incarcerate the most heinous sorcerous criminals. It existed in concert with Itogami Island, yet it was a separate world located outside of it. Certainly, this nature greatly resembled that of Onrai Island. 

“A Prison Barrier is another world constructed within someone’s dream. Because it’s in a dream, time there flows at a different speed. In the span of only three days, you could experience half a year, even multiple times over. It could even inhibit the summoning of the Beast Vassals of the Fourth Primogenitor—am I wrong?” 

“No…that makes sense. That’s right, it was definitely like…” 

Yuuma’s words made the countless questions Kojou harbored fall away like melting ice. Onrai Island truly was another realm like the Prison Barrier—he had no objection to that theory, but… 

“But isn’t that crazy?! The scale is way too huge compared with Natsuki’s Prison Barrier. The resident population of Onrai Island is six thousand people! Just the land surface alone might be bigger than Itogami Island—” 

“You have a point. Maintaining a Prison Barrier requires vast magical energy and an off-the-charts volume of magical calculations. These are things Ms. Minamiya gained through her pact as a witch, but even so, the scale of the barrier she can deploy is about one castle’s worth at most. Even with that, she cannot create a world so real that it could be mistaken for reality when seen up close.” 

Yuuma easily affirmed Kojou’s objection. 

“But that’s why she doesn’t need this ,” Asagi said, thrusting a tablet connected to the analysis system in front of Kojou. Round, silver particles resembling viruses under a microscope were displayed on the tablet’s screen. 

“…What is this?” he asked. 

Kojou tried to wrap his head around it. All Yukina could do was blink her eyes open and shut. 

“These particles…are tiny magical machines collected from Miss Kasugaya’s blood. Perhaps we should call them something like nano- shikigami . The size is on par with a virus, and they have self-propagation systems and magical calculation circuits built in. At the moment they’re largely inert due to being showered with powerful ritual energy from an external source, though.” 

Asagi pointed at Shizuri as she spoke. Powerful ritual energy from an external source no doubt meant the blunt strikes Yukina had delivered to Shizuri. Apparently, the Sword Shaman attacks meant to impede a demon’s biological abilities had an effect on nano- shikigami as well. 

“Nano- shikigami …? These are inside my body?” As she stared at the virus look-alikes displayed on the tablet, Shizuri’s shoulders trembled with fear. 

“They might inhabit Onrai Island’s entire population,” Asagi said. “Robbing Kojou of his memory and hindering the summoning of his Beast Vassals was probably their doing…” 

She input weird-looking commands once more. Apparently, she had some kind of plan for the nano- shikigami she had collected from Shizuri. 

“The barrier world called Onrai Island is maintained through use of these shikigami —meaning, put conversely, people without nano- shikigami cannot perceive Onrai Island, nor can they enter that world. With some real elbow grease, I managed to send Himeragi into the barrier while I made magical calculations from the outside, though.” 

“Oh… So that’s what the Himeragi ghost we saw was…” 

Kojou thought back to Yukina’s spectral appearance back on Onrai Island. Unable to fully materialize because she did not have nano- shikigami , she was nothing but an interloper so far as Onrai Island was concerned. 

“Wait. Then, the reason Himeragi impaled me with her spear back then was to—” 

“Yes. It was to destroy the nano- shikigami inside your body. That time with Ms. Minamiya had already established that Snowdrift Wolf’s abilities function even within a Prison Barrier, and the reason I aimed near the heart was for maximum efficiency in sending the Divine Oscillation Effect into blood vessels throughout the body.” Yukina bowed deeply. “I am very sorry.” 

Her using the spear on Kojou had doubtlessly been a dangerous gamble; Snowdrift Wolf was a purging spear capable of destroying even a vampire primogenitor. Even in an incomplete, not-fully-materialized state, its might was sufficient to annihilate a Debris with ease. Kojou felt a cold chill run up his spine, belatedly comprehending that his very life had been in danger. 

However, Yukina’s attack had nonetheless brought Kojou back to Itogami Island. 

“Be that as it may,” Lydianne said from her cockpit, “magical calculation circuits on the inside of nano- shikigami is quite surprising. ’Tis impressive you noticed such a contrivance, Lady Empress.” 

Shizuri didn’t seem to fully understand. “Meaning, the technology truly is quite something?” 

As the sort of Attack Mage who gave her all to physical improvement, she was at a fundamental disadvantage when it came to machines. 

Asagi conceded the point with a “Well, yeah,” which Kojou found a bit surprising. “All the different magics used in it meant it took even me three days to analyze it. Cutting-edge doesn’t begin to describe it. To be honest, if not for the Cleansing, I might not have managed at all.” 

“Wow…” 

Though Kojou couldn’t really wrap his mind around what was being said, he put on a sober face and followed along as best he could. 

Asagi, a girl who hummed tunes while deciphering even that Cleansing thing, had come out and confessed how difficult of a time she’d had. The creator who’d made these nano- shikigami no doubt possessed a frighteningly high level of technology. 

“Who the hell used that high-end tech to create Onrai Island? And why?” 

“Fastest way is to ask the one who made it, I suppose,” Yuuma replied. 

At some point, the usual amiable smile on her face had vanished. She was glaring at the entrance to the clinic room with bloodlust as sharp as any blade. 

“The one who made it?” Perplexed, Kojou looked at Yuuma. He suddenly sensed space twisting from the corner of his vision. 

A complex magical circle reminiscent of a powerful gate spawned in the corridor of Saikai Academy. It gave off ominous purple crackles of lightning as space was slowly rent. Spatial manipulation had been used to create a “gate” to another realm—the entrance to the barrier world had opened. 

Emerging from within was a woman wearing a provocative outfit: a white gown over a swimsuit. Kojou and Shizuri simultaneously drew in a breath, for her face was one they knew very well. 

“That would be Kako Magatoki, aka the Witch of the Dusk—former Great Librarian of LCO Unit Number 5, Science.” 

Kako Magatoki made a sultry smile as she listened to Yuuma’s voice. 

3 

“Instructor Magatoki is a…former LCO officer…?” Shizuri murmured, her voice trembling. 

Raised in the Demon Sanctuary of Iroise, the name of the criminal organization LCO was surely a familiar one to her. Shizuri’s voice was a mixture of shock and fear. 

It was then that Yukina returned her longsword. She’d judged that Shizuri, too, required a weapon for self-defense. For her part, Yukina pulled her favorite guitar case close and retrieved her silver spear. 

Meanwhile, Asagi retreated as far as the windowsill where the robot tank was. Yuuma stepped in front to cover her. 

Kako met Yuuma’s hostile glare with an amused toss of her curly, blond hair. “I believe this is the first time we’ve met face-to-face. I have heard much about you, Yuuma Tokoyogi, Witch of the Blue…” 

To a former LCO officer such as Kako, Yuuma was the daughter of a traitor. Nonetheless, her eyes displayed no enmity toward Yuuma. Instead, what lay behind them was a glimmer of pure inquisitiveness. 

“It would seem you are hunting LCO remnants as a member of the Attack Mages. I am impressed you managed to make your contracted devil approve such a change in the terms of your pact.” 

“If the LCO is wiped out, Aya Tokoyogi will be set free. That’s the promise the Attack Mages made me,” Yuuma replied with a courteous smile. 

A witch was a person who’d obtained the power and blessing of a devil with a pact. Naturally, the pact included compensation that had to be paid. Those who defied their pacts would have their lives immediately taken by the devil’s familiar. Small wonder that it seemed like Yuuma, an LCO-created witch who had turned against them, must have breached her pact. That’s what Kako was asserting. 

However, Yuuma calmly shook her head. “See, the duty imposed by my devil is to bring my mother out of the Prison Barrier. The means may have changed, but the goal hasn’t. Now that my mother has lost her powers, it’s no skin off the Attack Mages’ noses to free her.” 

“Ah, I suppose so. That would mean you are obligated by your pact with your devil to apprehend me, does it not?” 

“Yes. I’d love for you to come along quietly.” 

“Unfortunately, I cannot live up to your expectations. I still have unfinished business.” Kako calmly smiled. 

Kojou thought the pair’s conversation was like two invisible blades clashing. Everyone held their breath. 

Shizuri interrupted, “Instructor Magatoki…is it true you’re an LCO officer?” 

Oh my , expressed Kako, raising an eyebrow. She seemed slightly surprised that Shizuri had been freed of the nano- shikigami brainwashing. 

“Why is the LCO popping back up at a time like this? Revenge?” Kojou made no attempt to conceal his irritation. 

Aya Tokoyogi, who had created the direct cause of LCO’s decline, had already been incarcerated in the Prison Barrier. In the end, it had been Kojou and company who had apprehended her, but it didn’t make sense that this would attract the ire of the LCO’s remnants. 

Kako glanced back at Kojou in amusement as she shook her head. “But of course not. At its core, the LCO is a group of grimoire researchers working for their own self-interests. Their loyalty to the organization is slim at best. I would never make an enemy of the Fourth Primogenitor for something as trifling as revenge.” 

Kojou glared. “Then why did you take me to Onrai Island?” 

According to Yukina and the others, Kojou hadn’t wound up at Onrai Island by accident. He had clearly been targeted for abduction. If that wasn’t for the sake of revenge, there had to be some other motive. 

Kako’s reply was nothing like what Kojou expected, though. 

“Why, it’s simply a little job on the side. A certain individual hired me to do that.” Kako displayed not a single shred of guilt as she spoke. 

Kojou stared at her, completely astonished. “You were hired…? By who?” 

“I can’t say that. My sponsor would prefer I kept this quiet, you see,” Kako said with a shake of her head. 

Kojou’s voice became shrill with anger. “You can’t just use other people for profit without them having any say!” 

“Mm, truly, a most sensible opinion. Well then, how much do I need to pay you for your cooperation, I wonder?” 

“Even gall has its limits! What makes you think I’d cooperate with you now?!” 

“Well, because lives are at stake, you see.” 

Kako spoke in a tone of voice so composed it made Kojou shudder. 

“What…?” 

For a moment, Kojou was taken aback by Kako’s calm demeanor despite her words. 

“My, my, my,” said Kako, smiling sarcastically. “You haven’t forgotten, have you? On Onrai Island, even at this very moment, there are six thousand residents remaining. Do you intend to stand by and watch them all perish?” 

While Kojou gaped, Shizuri asked in his place: “What…do you mean?” Her voice, too, trembled with anger by that point. 

“Onrai Island is an alternate realm constructed inside a magical barrier. A vast quantity of demonic energy is required to maintain that island. That demonic energy is drying up.” Kako sounded almost like an instructor. “At this rate, Onrai Island will cease to exist. It, and its six thousand residents, will be swallowed up by the other-space. That said, a replacement source of demonic energy is not so easily found. Sustaining that island requires vast demonic energy on par with a vampire primogenitor, you see.” 

“You cannot mean…you intend to use Kojou as that source of demonic energy…?!” Shizuri’s cheeks stiffened. 

Created by way of a curse from the very gods, vampire primogenitors possessed an inexhaustible negative life force. In other words, that meant their demonic energy was truly infinite. It would no doubt be possible to sustain Onrai Island with a primogenitor’s power. 

Yuuma posed several questions, searching for gaps in Kako’s armor. “Oh, I see. That’s why you sent Miss Kasugaya here to drag Kojou back to Onrai Island? And she attacked Asagi first because she was analyzing the nano- shikigami , is that it?” 

Yuuma’s objective was to put Kako in irons. She had no reason to shoot the breeze with Kako like some sort of sucker. The reason Yuuma could not easily come out and attack Kako was because, despite her slovenly appearance, she did not reveal even a single opening. 

“I suppose. But it is not as if I intend to use him as some sort of demonic sacrifice.” Kako thinly smiled and shook her head. “For example, we could do this, Shizuri Kasugaya Castiella. You and Kojou Akatsuki could make love to each other, and you could give birth to new life. How about that?” 

“Excuse me?” Shizuri exclaimed, going rigid. Apparently, even Shizuri, unversed in romance as she was, understood just what Kako was suggesting. 

Kako nodded at her proposal as if singing her own praises. “A second-generation vampire should surely possess demonic energy nearly as vast as a primogenitor. I’m sure if you gave birth to ten or so, they could maintain the barrier with a minimal burden on them. If we alter the speed of the time flowing inside the barrier, we could compress the time leading to childbirth, too.” 

“Stop messing—!” 

“—around with us!” 

Kojou and Shizuri shouted simultaneously. When Kojou belatedly glanced over, both Yukina and Asagi were livid. 

“Oh my? I thought it was a rather splendid idea…” Kako seemed almost flustered by their reactions. “But, Miss Kasugaya, if giving birth to them all would be too great a burden for you, we could have these girls be the Fourth Primogenitor’s lovers as w—” 

“That ain’t the problem here!” said Kojou, finally exploding. “Why keep the residents of Onrai Island locked up?! Just get them out of the barrier, dammit!” 

“That idea is out of the question. After all, the creator of Onrai Island seeks no such thing.” 

“The creator…?” Shizuri replied, recoiling at the word. If what Kako said was true, it was not Kako who had created Onrai Island. That meant someone else was maintaining the barrier. 

“So if I beat the tar out of this creator, I can save the people of Onrai Island?” The corners of Kojou’s lips turned upward. 

After all that time, it finally felt like he knew what he had to do. He’d defeat the administrator of the barrier, freeing the six thousand hostages held prisoner on Onrai Island. Simple solutions are the best , he thought, a smile creeping onto his face. 

However, Kako also smiled as she spoke. “I suppose so. If you can, that is.” 

Little monsters began pouring out from the shadow she cast at her feet: rotting corpses that possessed dead spirits. 

“Larvae…!” 

Shizuri drew her long sword from its scabbard. Yukina held her silver spear at the ready. Yuuma called forth her Guardian, a blue, faceless knight with a rusted sword. It was the familiar of her contracted devil. 

The girls’ attacks made quick work of the dead spirits, but more remained. They pressed against Kojou and the others in overwhelming numbers, intending to drag them into the barrier world. 

“I must say, I do not enjoy resorting to such brutish measures as this. Well, my efforts at persuasion failed, so it cannot be helped…,” Kako said with a buoyant tone of voice as she began tracing a magic circle. It was a magic symbol for spawning a teleportation gate. 

“Snowdrift Wolf!” 

It was Yukina who reacted ahead of everyone else. Holding her spear so that it grazed the floor, she sprinted toward Kako. She no doubt intended to dispatch the Larvae blocking her path and strike Kako down. 

“It is somewhat dangerous to have you and the spear here. I would have you be silent for a time, Yukina Himeragi.” 

Yukina swept her spear toward Kako’s abdomen from the side. The tip of her spear was twisted so as to strike with the flat. 

As Kojou thought the attack would hit its mark, Kako’s form became vague—illusory—like the phantoms said to emerge at the hour of twilight… 

“!” 

The silver spear slipped straight through Kako, causing Yukina to slightly lose her balance. Kako lightly pressed a palm into Yukina’s back. Her entire body trembled. Yukina lost consciousness, without even time to yelp, and collapsed to the floor. 

“Himeragi?!” 

Kojou was aghast that even Yukina had not been able to hold a candle to Kako. 

Even if it was inside the barrier world, Kako Magatoki had served as an instructor at the College. It was hardly strange that she possessed actual might suitable for the position. Regardless, he’d never imagined that the gap would be that overwhelming. As far as Kojou knew, Yukina had never been taken out of commission this easily. 

“Wha…? It can’t be…?!” 

“Ugh…!” 

Yukina’s defeat had shaken Shizuri and even Yuuma. Because they both had experience fighting Yukina, they were forced to acknowledge Magatoki’s overwhelming might. 

While they were occupied with Larvae, the magic circle was completed. 

It exceeded ten meters in diameter. A far more enormous gate than Kako had emerged from was opening. Not only Kojou and Shizuri but Asagi and Lydianne at a distance were completely within its effective range. Because Yukina was unconscious, there was no one who could nullify that gate. That was why Kako had targeted Yukina first. 

“This is bad…! Tanker! Go ahead—!” 

Asagi shouted toward Lydianne. “As thou wishest!” came the reply with a Medieval delivery as Lydianne fired something from the tank. This was a smoke round. White smoke was scattered all about, obscuring the vision of Kojou and company. However, the smoke screen was futile; they were already caught in the gate. 

Picking up the unconscious Yukina, Kako leisurely turned toward Kojou, who was unable to move. He could not even get close to Kako’s side. All he could do was gaze powerlessly as Yukina was taken from him. 

“I’m so glad. It was worth coming all this way.” Gazing at Kojou pathetically crawling across the floor, Kako narrowed her eyes in amusement. 

“What…?!” 

Kojou’s vision contorted. 

He was assailed by the unpleasant dizziness unique to being shifted to another dimension. He felt like he was floating as the ground crumbled beneath his feet. An expression of despair came over Kojou as the sight of Kako and Yukina receded. 

Then, before he lost consciousness, Kojou heard the words of the Witch of the Dusk. 

“That’s the expression I wanted to see on your face, Kojou Akatsuki.” 

Intermission IV 

She could hear an organ. 

The reverberations held symmetry and gravitas. It was a stirring melody reminiscent of a hymn. There was no subtlety to it, but it was a beautiful performance nonetheless. 

The performer was a teenage boy wearing a tailcoat. He was fourteen or fifteen, thereabouts. He was a beautiful young man with a delicate physique. 

His eyes, framed by long eyelashes, were firmly closed as if in prayer. His shoulder-length hair was blond, altering in color depending on the angle like some kind of rainbow. 

The fingers that continued dancing upon the keyboard seemed like beautiful, independent living creatures in their own right. 

In that vast chamber that greatly resembled a church, the trailing, harmonious notes lingered and vanished. 

“I have returned.” 

Kako courteously bent the knee. She was wearing no white gown, but rather, a black dress, as if in mourning. 

“You have done well, Witch of the Dusk…” 

The boy slowly turned around, his eyes still closed. Then, his eyebrows rose with a questioning air. This was because a silver-colored spear and a girl of small stature rested in front of Kako. 

“Yukina Himeragi. Why bring her here?” 

“I secured her as a hostage to ensure Kojou Akatsuki accepted my invitation to Onrai Island. I beg thy forgiveness for acting on my own judgment.” 

Kako bowed her head deeply as she pleaded for lenience. 

The boy let out a light exhale that seemed like a sigh. “Very well. It is unnecessary to bind her. She will be treated with utmost respect.” 

“As thou wilt.” 

Kako bowed her head once more. Her voice carried a faint hint of relief. However, when Kako raised her face, the expression on it was a charming, businesslike smile, without a hint of any other emotion. 

“May I hear thy report?” The boy spoke in a gentle tone. 

Kako nodded. “Over these past three days, Kojou Akatsuki has experienced death a total of nine times. Unfortunately, at present, I cannot confirm any obvious effect on his personality.” 

“Nine times…?” 

Fewer than I was led to expect , said the boy’s silent criticism. Kako spoke quickly to vindicate herself. 

“The intervention of Asagi Aiba resulted in the failure of the aforementioned attempt.” 

“You are saying that she breached the defenses of Onrai Island? In a mere three days?” 

“I am very sorry. It would appear she has analyzed the construction of the nano-automata as well.” 

“Is that so?” 

For the first time, surprise appeared on the young boy’s face. 

Breaching a barrier world’s defenses should have been utterly impossible, via nano-automata or anything else. The technology employed by those shikigami was indecipherable. The reason was that there was no way for that era’s technology to decipher it. Apparently, Asagi Aiba had partially deciphered their secret. 

“No, I mind not. Thou hast done well, Kako Magatoki.” 

The boy slowly shook his head, seemingly brushing away his dismay. Then, he abruptly changed the subject. 

“How does the creator fare?” 

“Exhaustion of demonic energy has grown graver still, perhaps the effect of repeated manipulation of time.” 

Kako spoke steadily without any variance in her tone. The boy gave a gentle smile. 

“The finale draws near, then.” 

“Yes.” 

“I shall leave drawing the final curtain to thy discretion. Do as thou pleasest,” he said softly. 

Kako nodded with a satisfied smile. “I thank you, Primogenitor of the End—The Blood.” 

Space itself swayed like a ripple, and Kako vanished from sight. The only ones left in the church were the boy and Yukina, continuing to sleep. 

The boy turned back to the keyboard. 

The melody that flowed from it was a solemn one, and the well-lit chamber was filled with what seemed like a lullaby—