[476] Appears

"You really are foolish, daughter of Aya."

At that moment, Natsuki Minamiya, who had kept her eyes closed until now, slowly opened them.

Yuma Tokoyogi froze in shock. She hadn't expected Natsuki to awaken. If she was awake, it meant the "dream" of the prison barrier had shattered.

"Natsuki-chan, you're awake?" Kojou said, astonished.

Bang!

"Don't call your teacher 'chan.'"

Natsuki was still the same Natsuki, as strict as ever about such things.

When she turned to August, her gaze was filled with displeasure, though a faint trace of emotion flickered deep in her eyes.

A man willing to go to such lengths to take her away—Natsuki was still a woman, and it was impossible for her to feel nothing.

"You're Aya's daughter, Yuma Tokoyogi, right?" Natsuki asked.

"Yes."

Yuma had recovered slightly by now, though she was still weak. Her eyes flickered as she looked at Natsuki.

"This man wants to claim me for himself, while you want to kill me. Do you really think he'd let you lay a hand on me?"

Natsuki spoke slowly, her tone carrying an odd hint of what almost sounded like bragging.

"We had a deal," Yuma said, her gaze shifting to August, staring at him intently.

"I told you, I won't stop you from freeing Aya Tokoyogi. But Natsuki-chan is mine. No one's allowed to harm her. If it weren't for our deal, you'd already be dead."

"You—"

Yuma clenched her fists in anger, glaring at August, but she was powerless.

The weak never had a say in the presence of the strong.

Kojou felt a surge of anger on Yuma's behalf—his friend had been deceived. But in this situation, he couldn't just stand by and let her kill Natsuki either.

"Now, Natsuki-chan, become my bishop."

August extended a hand, a bishop chess piece floating above his palm.

Natsuki glanced at it and knew instantly it was no ordinary object. Still, she'd already made it clear she wouldn't become his vassal.

"August, you bastard, I told you—I'm not becoming your vassal."

"Come on, don't be so stubborn, Natsuki-chan."

"Stop spouting nonsense."

Natsuki ignored August and turned her attention to her surroundings.

At some point, several figures had emerged from the shadows.

The prison barrier was a prison born from Natsuki's "dream." With her awakening, it had opened.

However, since she was still alive and unharmed, only the most powerful criminals could break free from their cells.

Even then, they remained bound by the prison barrier's "system." Unless they killed Natsuki or obtained the key to unlock their restraints, they'd never be truly free.

"Natsuki, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

A woman stepped forward, dressed in layered, vintage aristocratic clothing that exuded elegance.

It was none other than Aya Tokoyogi—Natsuki's former friend and Yuma's "mother."

"Aya."

Natsuki's expression grew solemn.

If she could avoid it, she'd rather not face Aya again.

Ten years ago, she'd defeated Aya, thwarted her plans, and locked her in the prison barrier for a decade.

In return, Aya's eyes flashed with anger and murderous intent as she looked at Natsuki. Being betrayed by a former friend stung far worse than an enemy's ambush.

"Mother!"

Yuma smiled as she saw the woman who looked like a mature version of herself. Her mother was free, which meant she was free too.

But before she could savor the moment, despair struck.

Aya flicked her finger, and a blue guardian materialized around Yuma. Then, bit by bit, it severed its connection to her.

"Ahhh!!!"

Black substance began to envelop the blue guardian as Yuma let out a scream of agony.

A witch and her guardian were one. Stripping it away was nothing short of a torturous death sentence.

Crack!

With a shattering sound, the blue guardian turned black and moved to Aya's side, returning to its original master.

Yuma was, after all, a clone of Aya. Everything she had—including her guardian—had been given to her by Aya.

"Hey, aren't you her mother? Why are you tormenting Yuma?!" Kojou shouted, perfectly embodying the reckless fool.

"This child is a tool I created. Everything she is belongs to me. How I deal with her is my choice."

"You bastard, Yuma's not some tool!"

"Oh? Don't tell me you've fallen for this replica?"

"She's my friend, and I won't let anyone hurt my friends!"

His words carried weight, but August could only cringe.

Are you missing a brain cell? If you'd just said 'yes' right then, Yuma would've been yours for good—no escape.

"Oh? You won't let anyone hurt your friends? But she's been hurt twice right in front of you."

"I—"

Aya's words cut deep, hitting the mark with brutal precision.

August almost wanted to give her a thumbs-up. That was savage.

He couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for Yuma, though. First, he'd shattered her guardian, leaving her gravely injured. Now, Aya had stripped it away entirely, leaving her with barely a breath.

Even Natsuki, Kojou's teacher, couldn't bear to watch. It was beyond embarrassing.

It wasn't just a matter of lacking strength—Kojou couldn't even talk his way out of this.

As they spoke, six more figures emerged from the prison barrier.

One wore a hat, another was a yellow-haired thug, a bald old man, a woman with heavy makeup, a burly man in armor, and the last was a bespectacled man.

"Only six of you managed to break out?" Natsuki asked.

"No choice. In this situation, the weak can't escape. And—"

As he spoke, Schtola D casually slashed the chest of the gentleman beside him.

Whoosh!

In the next instant, the prison barrier's rules activated. Laeding materialized, dragging the injured man back into the depths of the barrier.

"Even getting injured sends you back."

With those words, every eye turned to Natsuki. To gain true freedom, they had to kill her—the key to the prison barrier.

---

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