Chapter 146 ⟴ Time Emperor, Zafkiel

Tokyo Jujutsu High.

An airtight steel cage stood before them, containing the Future Devil from the Public Safety Devil Hunter Division.

The creature was tall and burly, with evil energy pulsing through its muscular frame. White fur covered half its face and chest, while vine-like appendages dangled from its arms.

Within its hollow chest lay an endless void, where an eerie eyeball occasionally emerged from the churning darkness. It resembled an unsettling tree-person rooted to the ground — a being trapped in perpetual madness, peering into the future through the eye in its chest.

This Devil, born from humanity's fear of an unchangeable future, could grant contractors the power to glimpse what lay ahead. When combined with other supernatural abilities, this Future Sight could become a Devil Hunter's ultimate advantage.

Yet on its own, this foresight held little value. Any person with basic training could learn to see brief glimpses of the future.

The Devil before them possessed overwhelming attributes, but what good was seeing the future if one couldn't evade the coming attacks?

What purpose did it serve to foresee an inevitable fate, other than to instill dread?

When Kishibe drew back the cage's curtain, the imprisoned Future Devil leaped up in a strange dance.

"Future is the best! Future is awesome! Come on, say it with me — the Future rules!"

The unhinged Future Devil bellowed its chant.

Kishibe's eye twitched — Devils came with all manner of personalities, and encountering an unstable one wasn't unusual.

"Despite its quirks, the Future Devil's abilities are undeniable. It's certainly a worthy addition to the collection." He said flatly, his words lacking conviction.

In truth, he wondered how Daiki would manage to contain this Devil.

He personally thought this unstable chatterbox belonged in a specimen jar filled with formaldehyde. But Division Chief Makima had insisted that a living Devil held more display and collection value than a preserved specimen. She was certain Daiki wouldn't pass up such an exquisite collectible.

At Kishibe's words, the large eyeball in the Future Devil's chest widened in disbelief. Had it misheard? "Worthy addition to the collection"?

It was one of the few high-level Devils in the Public Safety Devil Hunter Division!

Though perhaps not a combat specialist, its power was among the rarest — far beyond what ordinary Devil Hunters could dream of contracting.

Daiki studied it carefully before raising his palm toward the Future Devil, the dismissive gesture stirring its anger.

Though it usually appeared gentle and kind, the Future Devil was far from approachable — it was infamous, after all! The price Devil Hunters paid to contract with it depended entirely on its mood, for it considered itself the master of humans.

Its large, burly form began to move as it activated Future Sight, causing various future scenes to appear in its mind.

"I can see through everything... Wait... How is this possible!" The previously confident Future Devil stared in disbelief at the visions before it.

No matter what methods it tried or which futures it glimpsed, when that palm descended, all outcomes remained the same. Some of the foreseen scenes revealed something even more terrifying — the person before it possessed abilities linked to Primal Fear!

Primal fear!

Even in Hell, where Devils roamed freely, Primal Devils were terrifying beings that had never fallen, standing at Hell's very pinnacle!

Though the scenes from Hell had grown hazy, the terror of Primal Devils remained etched in its soul. Even after reincarnating into the human world, this fearful nightmare wouldn't fade — instead, it grew clearer and more profound.

"This guy... is he really human?" The frightened Future Devil stood frozen like a tree stump.

Until Daiki's palm touched the Future Devil and stored it in his Collection Space, it showed no resistance.

『Detected host collecting Future Devil!』

『Reward: S-Rank Angel — Time Emperor, Zafkiel!』

As the cold mechanical voice sounded, a golden clock appeared in his left pupil, with hour and minute hands suspended on its face.

{T/N: This power is from the anime Date a Live.}

'The Time Angel, which can steal others' time and lifespan, and travel between past and present — this Future Devil collection was worth it.' Daiki hadn't expected collecting the Future Devil would reward him with the Time Emperor, Zafkiel, and he couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

Kishibe, renowned as the strongest Devil Hunter, was secretly shocked — he hadn't expected Daiki to collect the Future Devil so easily. Throughout the entire process, the Devil had seemed dumbfounded.

Thoughts churned in Kishibe's mind as he considered the Future Devil's foresight ability, 'Was it Daiki's special power, or did the Future Devil see something terrifyingly inevitable?'

Unfortunately, no one would answer him.

Kishibe continued, "The Future Devil is just an appetizer that Division Chief Makima prepared for Inspector General Daiki..."

The Future Devil was just an appetizer? Had the Public Safety Devil Hunter Division headquarters become so wealthy?

If that were true, they wouldn't need to request his help.

Seeming to notice his disbelief, Kishibe said seriously, "According to Division Chief Makima's request, has Inspector General Daiki heard of Hell?"

"Hell? You mean where Devils live?"

The Hell mentioned by the Public Safety Devil Hunter Division was the true origin realm of all Devils.

"Correct. Division Chief Makima says if Inspector General Daiki helps mobilize the Jujutsu World to collect the Gun Devil's flesh fragments, she'll open Hell's gate. All of Hell's Devils will then be at your disposal. With Hell's Devils deceased, Hell has been sealed off. Division Chief Makima seeks everyone's cooperation — after all, no one else knows how to open Hell."

Kishibe's words caught Daiki by surprise.

For any being outside Hell to enter, they needed to form a contract with the Hell Devil and use its power. With the Hell Devil's death, movement between Hell and the human world had become nearly impossible.

"Division Chief Makima has just one condition: once we enter Hell, she needs assistance controlling a particular Devil — and specifically requires Inspector General Daiki's help."

Having delivered Makima's message, Kishibe fell silent.

Daiki readily accepted these conditions, though he was curious about the logistics of entering Hell.

Given Makima's requirements, he suspected the Chainsaw Devil might still be alive in Hell.

"That won't be a problem at all." Daiki said. Seeing his acceptance, Kishibe visibly relaxed.

He had been concerned about potential friction between Daiki and Makima.

Though Daiki was renowned as the Strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer in History, Makima's true identity and capabilities remained mysterious. Her almost disdainful demeanor particularly troubled Kishibe.

"Since she can open Hell's gate, Miss Makima must be quite extraordinary, wouldn't you say?" Daiki asked offhandedly.

Kishibe snorted — while he knew Makima was a Devil, he couldn't reveal this fact. He took a long drag on his cigarette.

"Whoever she really is..." He said evenly, "As long as she remains on humanity's side for now, I'll look the other way."

Such was the proclamation of the strongest Devil Hunter.

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