-1177- Witch of the Blue

"————"

The atmosphere trembled.

On the rusty floating bridge in front of the island called the prison barrier, the opposing parties stared at each other, slowly increasing their magic power, causing the fluctuations to spread throughout the space.

Rozen and No. 6 faced each other.

Kojou and Tokoyogi Yuuma faced each other.

As if acknowledging their opponents, except for Kojou, everyone else seemed to want to show that they wouldn't back down, causing their magic to surge.

As for the Meyer sisters, they had quietly retreated to the side, seemingly too afraid to intervene.

Even Avrora was intimidated by the current atmosphere and couldn't say a word, only watching with a worried expression.

In this situation, Rozen, who kept raising his magic power, confirmed.

"It seems that Giada didn't come with you after all."

Releasing the fluctuation of magic power, Rozen scanned the surroundings with his Heaven's Eye technique, confirming that there was no trace of anyone nearby.

To this, No. 6 did not deny.

"She seeks the existence that will remain after our battle."

No. 6 calmly admitted that Giada would not intervene in the fight between the two of them.

"That is also my desire." No. 6 said directly to Rozen's face, "Regardless of whether this 'Blazing Banquet' ends with me devouring you or you conquering me, only after the outcome is determined will she appear. So, you can rest assured."

In other words, Giada not only seeks formidable opponents but also sponsors them before they become even stronger, allowing them to bring greater pleasure to her.

Isn't that what they call 'giving salt to the enemy'?

So...

"You can rest assured of a fair fight and show me everything you've got, otherwise, I won't acknowledge you, Minamiya Nichiyo."

No. 6 made this declaration.

But...

"What do you want to do, and why involve Yuuma and Avrora?" Kojou stepped forward, questioning No. 6.

However, Kojou's statement was incorrect.

"Leaving aside the 12th, the 'Witch of the Blue' didn't appear here because of my influence. It's another Divine Child."

No. 6 glanced at Kojou and said so lightly.

"The 'Witch of the Blue'..."

Kojou's face sank, looking at Tokoyogi Yuuma, who had been smiling and watching him all along, but his voice revealed a hint of sorrow.

"Have you really become a witch, Yuuma!"

Kojou had to admit this fact only now.

Although Kojou was just an ordinary person, perhaps because he was possessed by the God of Fault, he had been vaguely aware of the existence of magic and spiritual power for the past six months. Now, he could also feel the demonic aura emanating from Tokoyogi Yuuma's body, forcing him to believe that Tokoyogi Yuuma had indeed become a witch.

But...

"Your statement is a bit wrong, Kojou."

Tokoyogi Yuuma smiled at Kojou and said something like that.

"I didn't become a witch, I was a witch from the beginning."

That's right.

Tokoyogi Yuuma was a witch from the beginning.

"I am a natural-born witch, a being whose soul was taken away by demons the moment I was born," said Tokoyogi Yuuma, as if recounting an unbearable past.

"Don't be fooled by the fact that we're the same age and that we played together since we were kids. In reality, if we count the years I've truly lived, it's only been ten years."

Because...

"I was a test tube baby prepared by my mother to escape the prison barrier. I was born just ten years ago, looking like a six-year-old. That's just before you met me, right?"

With a calm expression, Tokoyogi Yuuma revealed a truth that left Akatsuki Kojou breathless.

In other words...

"I have no memories before the age of six. The minimum knowledge and the contract with demons are all I have. Although there's a castle in the forest where I lived with you and Nagisa, it's not my home. It's property of the Management Cooperative, who were my mother's subordinates. After my mother was imprisoned by the prison barrier, they used her genes for parthenogenesis to bring me into this world, where I formed a contract with demons, becoming a natural-born witch and learning to use witchcraft. Everything was to train me as a spatial manipulation witch capable of breaking the seal of the prison barrier and rescuing her."

With a touch of self-deprecation, Tokoyogi Yuuma continued, "My life was decided before I was even born, and the one who decided was my unseen mother."

This self-deprecating tone injected the only emotion Tokoyogi Yuuma truly felt.

"It's only natural, isn't it?"

"My life was predetermined, and there was no other meaning except that. However, meeting you and Nagisa changed things slightly, making the past few years quite fulfilling. So, I've always been grateful to you, Kojou. Thank you for meeting me like this."

Tokoyogi Yuuma's gaze towards Kojou was as gentle as it had been towards Nagisa before.

But Kojou sensed something else.

He sensed the pain and sadness hidden deep in those eyes.

Seeing this, Kojou understood.

Tokoyogi Yuuma didn't want to betray them or do such things.

But Tokoyogi Yuuma couldn't resist this fate.

The reason was simple.

"By forming a contract with demons and gaining power, witches must pay a price, a single price."

Tokoyogi Yuuma placed a hand on her chest.

"And my price was predetermined, to rescue my mother, Tokoyogi Aya."

For this reason, Tokoyogi Yuuma couldn't resist this action.

Otherwise, the scythe of the demon would hang over her head, binding her life to this price forever.

This was the reason for Tokoyogi Yuuma's actions.

She came to Itogami Island for this reason.

"Now, it's time for us to break the prison barrier. Please, as agreed, lend us your assistance," Tokoyogi Yuuma requested No. 6.

"As you wish," No. 6 replied calmly.

Then, behind No. 6, appeared a valkyrie burning with rainbow flames.