[474] Yuma Tokoyogi!

August, waiting quietly at home, suddenly sensed a familiar surge of magical energy.

A purple magic circle flared to life, and Natsuki Minamiya appeared in the living room, her face etched with seriousness as she looked at August.

"August, the space across all of Itogami Island is starting to warp."

"Yeah, I know."

"Is this the Library's doing?"

"It is."

"You—"

Natsuki began to speak, but August cut her off.

"Natsuki-chan, I told you—I'm going to make you mine. This is just the preparation phase. Soon, the prison barrier will reappear on Itogami Island, and when it does, you'll belong to me."

"You bastard, do you have any idea what this will cause?"

"I don't care. I'm a demon lord, not a savior. I don't have any of that bleeding-heart nonsense. All I feel is the joy of claiming you soon."

"Even if the prison barrier emerges, I won't become your vassal."

"Oh, you will, Natsuki-chan."

"Absolutely not."

With that, Natsuki turned and left.

The space across Itogami Island grew increasingly unstable, mirroring events from ten years ago.

It was a decade ago when she had personally imprisoned her friend in the prison barrier.

Ten years had passed, and she refused to let her efforts go to waste.

As Natsuki departed, August stood up. Her urgency signaled that the time was nearly ripe.

With that in mind, August decided to act. The moment the prison barrier materialized, he would claim Natsuki for himself.

Though he'd spent some "peaceful" time on this island, August was never a saint. He was a demon lord capable of destroying a world for his own desires.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Itogami Island, Yuma Tokoyogi had completed her preparations.

With the magic circle she'd inscribed, the immense power of the Fourth Primogenitor, and her grimoire, she had everything needed to forcibly drag the prison barrier from its dreamlike realm into reality.

After all, the prison barrier was nothing more than an illusory dream conjured by Natsuki Minamiya.

Step.

Beatrice appeared nearby, watching Yuma manipulate Kojou Akatsuki's body. A flicker of disdain and mockery crossed her eyes.

It wasn't aimed at Yuma, but at Kojou.

The mighty Fourth Primogenitor, controlled by a mere witch—what a disgrace to the Primogenitors.

"It's finally starting."

"Did you kill the Meyer sisters?"

"Yes. This is my master's domain. Those two wanted to cause trouble, so they had no right to exist."

"It doesn't matter. It's no big loss."

"Is it beginning?"

"Any moment now."

Yuma smiled as she spoke, opening her grimoire. A surge of magical energy began to boil.

The magic circle beneath her feet started to glow, the power of "magic" awakening.

Tap, tap, tap.

"Yuma!"

The voice made Yuma pause briefly.

Turning her head, she saw "Yuma Tokoyogi" running toward her, dressed in a tank top—the outfit she'd worn last night to seduce Kojou.

"Kojou, you're here."

"Why, Yuma? Why are you doing this?"

"So you know everything, Kojou."

"Natsuki-chan told me all of it."

Beatrice raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected Natsuki to seek out Kojou.

But it made sense. Despite his shortcomings, Kojou was the Fourth Primogenitor, and it was his body being controlled. Yuma was his friend, too.

"Kojou, I'm sorry. This is my fate—my reason for existing."

"What fate? And why are you with August's people? Are you in league with him too?"

Yuma gave a faint smile, unbothered by Kojou's opinion of her. When she'd deceived him, she'd already prepared herself for his hatred and disgust.

But while Yuma didn't care, Beatrice certainly did.

"Kojou Akatsuki, you don't get to insult my master. If I hear you speak out of line again, I won't be so polite."

"You—"

Kojou started to retort angrily, but Motoki Yaze grabbed him, holding him back.

Since he was in Yuma's body, the gesture looked a bit intimate.

"Kojou, my mother, Aya Tokoyogi, is imprisoned in the prison barrier. I was born with the mission to free her. Everything I've done was arranged by her!"

"Arranged?"

"Yes. Waking up at a set time, grooming myself in a specific order, studying, training, growing stronger—all of it was planned to save my mother."

"Even becoming friends with me?"

"No. That was the one thing I chose for myself. Meeting you and Nagisa was the only 'choice' I've ever had in my life—the only light. Once I free my mother, I'll be free. Then, you can do whatever you want with me."

Yuma spoke slowly. As a test-tube child, her entire existence had been orchestrated.

But choosing to befriend Kojou and Nagisa had been her one glimmer of happiness.

"Yuma, do you realize the prison barrier holds some of the most dangerous criminals? If you set them free, how many people on Itogami Island will die?"

"Kojou, did you know? I originally planned to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of lives for this ritual. But when I learned you were the Fourth Primogenitor, I chose to use your power instead. Because of you, all those lives were spared."

"Yuma, you—"

Kojou tried to say more, but he was interrupted.

"Are you two putting on a soap opera? Blue Witch, do what you came to do."

Yuma glanced at Beatrice, who'd cut in, but said nothing and resumed her ritual.

Kojou lunged forward to stop her, but Beatrice flicked her wrist. The wrathful blood whip lashed out, sending him flying.

Right now, he wasn't the Fourth Primogenitor—he was in Yuma's witch body. Her guardian, the source of a witch's greatest power, was still with the real Yuma. In this state, Kojou was powerless.

Motoki Yaze rushed over to help Kojou up. In this situation, the enemy held all the cards.

---

If you're interested in reading more, feel free to visit my pat reon, https , // www .pat reon. com /XElenea