[479] Destroying

With Aya Tokoyogi now serving as one of August's Commandment bearers, this incident had finally reached its conclusion.

For Natsuki Minamiya, it was a burden lifted from her heart. Imprisoning her friend all those years ago had been a torment for her as well.

Regardless of the reasons, she had betrayed her friend—an undeniable fact.

Now that August had taken Aya under his command, Aya could leave the prison barrier behind.

As for the outside world, as long as August was around, no one would dare object. Might made right—a harsh but real truth.

Click.

The restraints of the prison barrier system on Aya's wrists unlocked and fell away.

"Congratulations, Aya."

"Hmph, Natsuki, I never said I forgave you."

"I know."

Natsuki nodded. She understood perfectly.

Whether Aya forgave her didn't matter to her. Aya was free now—albeit under someone's control—but it was still better than being trapped in the prison barrier.

"I, Akatsuki Kojou, successor to the blood of "Kaleid Blood", now release your constraints. Come Fourth Familiar - Natra-Cinereus!"

Suddenly, Kojou's voice rang out, followed by a thick mist.

August glanced back to see Kojou, Yuma Tokoyogi, and Motoki Yaze vanishing into the fog.

It caught him off guard. At a time like this, Kojou had drunk Yuma's blood and awakened his fourth familiar.

But instead of confronting August, he'd used it to escape the moment it awakened.

It seemed the sight of August effortlessly slaying those criminals had left a deep impression on him.

"Hm? That girl became the Fourth Primogenitor's blood servant? That's surprising," Aya remarked.

In her eyes, Yuma had been a worthless tool. She hadn't expected her to become the Fourth Primogenitor's blood servant.

It was a leap akin to the top-notch. Even Aya had to tread carefully around the Fourth Primogenitor.

"Kojou sucking Aya's daughter's blood? That's unexpected," Natsuki said.

"I think it makes sense," August replied. "First, I destroyed her guardian, then Aya stripped it away. Yuma was on the brink of death. There weren't many ways to save her—becoming Kojou's blood servant was one of them."

"True. But Kojou's gotten smarter. He didn't recklessly attack you this time."

"I'd actually look forward to it. When he thinks he can beat me and challenges me, I'll kill him and claim the Fourth Primogenitor's power for myself."

"You're awfully upfront about that."

Natsuki shot August a sidelong glance. The power of the Fourth Primogenitor was something coveted by everyone in the world.

But it wasn't a power just anyone could seize.

After a moment of silence from August, Natsuki instinctively glanced at him.

She found him staring straight at her.

Her body tensed for a split second before she turned her head away.

Aya chuckled at the sight. It was the first time she'd seen this side of Natsuki.

It was like a little girl flustered by a boy's confession—fresh and amusing.

"So, the last thing left to settle is you, Natsuki-chan."

"In your dreams. I'll never agree."

"Aya's mine now. Don't you want to stay with her from now on? If you become mine, that wouldn't be an issue."

"Aya…"

Natsuki glanced at Aya and fell silent.

Since that moment ten years ago, loneliness had clung to her.

When August had first suggested she join him, she'd refused without a second thought.

"Well, for now, the priority is cutting off your lingering attachments, Natsuki-chan."

August scooped Natsuki into his arms. She struggled briefly before giving up.

Under Aya's scrutinizing gaze, August stepped out of the prison barrier, with Aya and Beatrice following close behind.

Hovering in midair, August looked down at the prison barrier below, his eyes flickering. Natsuki closed hers, unwilling to watch.

"Darkness!"

A vortex resembling a black hole formed in August's palm.

It rapidly expanded at a visible rate, growing into a massive, millstone-like spiral wheel.

Natsuki couldn't sense the dark power within it, feeling only the terrifying magical fluctuations. But Aya and Beatrice could perceive the immense darkness it contained—an ocean's worth.

Whoosh!

Under their watchful eyes, the great spiral wheel descended slowly onto the prison barrier.

Boom!

In an instant, a deafening roar shook the sky.

A colossal black vortex appeared, swallowing the prison barrier in the blink of an eye. Everything was shredded and annihilated, reduced to ash.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, host, for completing the hidden task: Destroy the Prison Barrier. Destroy the urban legend of Itogami Island, the prison barrier. Reward: Advanced Gacha Draw 3!]

An unexpected bonus—destroying the prison barrier had completed a hidden task.

Natsuki stared at the obliterated prison barrier, her gaze dazed. Her cage had been destroyed by this domineering man.

She was free.

Aya looked at Natsuki with a hint of envy.

To her, Natsuki was incredibly fortunate to be so valued by a man.

He'd even demolished an entire prison barrier just to free her from its shackles.

Without August, Aya herself might never have escaped either.

That was her thought now—Natsuki was enviable.

"Now that you're truly free, become mine, Natsuki-chan."

"I must've done something awful in my last life to end up with a jerk like you in this one."

"Maybe I saved the world in my last life, and you owe me in this one."

"Tch."

Natsuki scoffed, wriggling out of August's arms.

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