Deception

As the weight of Dazai's words settled, Medusa stood in silence, her golden, serpentine eyes unreadable. He had just told her the truth—why she was turned into a Gorgon in the first place. Why fate had twisted her into a monster.

Dazai watched her carefully. He knew full well that snakes could not shed tears, but the urge was there, lingering just beneath the surface.

"You really shouldn't dwell on it," he said, exhaling as if brushing off the gravity of the moment. "This wasn't a big deal. Everything went smoothly, and—"

She cut him off—swift, unexpected.

Her lips met his in a sudden kiss, brief but deliberate. His eyes widened at the revelation, but before he could react, a faint, snake-shaped mark burned itself onto his neck.

Stepping back, Medusa's expression was softer now, though the weight of her past still lingered.

"You ensured that Poseidon would never touch me again," she murmured. "And you saw to it that he paid for what he did. Now the gods will hunt you for it. Athena created this world so that women would never suffer as I did… but you and she both changed everything for me. Words can't express my gratitude."

Dazai stood still for a moment before letting out a quiet, amused sigh. A small chuckle followed.

"Don't mention it," he muttered, rubbing the new mark on his neck. Then, tilting his head slightly, his sea-blue eyes glinted with intrigue. "As for what I wanted from you… hmm, your mana should be good enough."

He turned his gaze skyward, watching as the Silver Moon and the Crimson Moon hung together in the vast night.

"I've decided… this forest will be my base of operations," he mused. "Might as well put Authority to the test while I'm at it."

Slowly, he lifted his hand, tugging at his glove slightly. A pitch-black aura seeped from his fingertips, writhing like living shadows.

"Authority—Refined Temple of a New God."

The Temple of Athena trembled, its structure groaning in protest before it collapsed in on itself. But it did not crumble. Instead, the stone reformed, reshaping into something monolithic and imposing—a towering palace, its architecture dark yet grand, etched with a crimson claw across its massive doors.

The forest rumbled, acknowledging its new ruler.

Dazai laughed, the sound laced with both amusement and admiration for his own handiwork.

"Amazing! I outdid myself. This is perfect." He turned to Maleficent, smirking. "You'll be watching over my beloved temple from now on. Medusa will assist you, I suppose. Not that anyone can find this place—normal eyes, no matter their star level, won't be able to perceive it."

Akatsuki, who had been leaning against a nearby pillar, scoffed. "Ohhh, so that's why I can't see a damn thing. Thought I'd gone blind." He folded his arms. "But more importantly… didn't you say we had to get to your house ASAP?"

Dazai sighed, clapping his hands together. "Right, right. Well then, ladies—behave while I'm gone. Try not to destroy anything."

With that, he vanished in a blur, Akatsuki following right behind him.

The Carnage Estate

The two arrived at their destination within moments, standing before the gates of an enormous estate. Akatsuki let out a low whistle, taking in the sheer scale of it.

"Why the hell are we at a massive village?"

Dazai sighed, rubbing his temple. "This isn't a village. This is my home. My family's land. The village is ten kilometers away."

Akatsuki stared at him, completely dumbfounded, before groaning.

"So let me get this straight—first, Medusa kisses your smug ass, even though I'm the one who actually fought, and now you're telling me you own a whole damn territory?" He exhaled sharply. "Man, screw you."

Before he could finish his rant, a blade pressed against his throat.

Akatsuki's entire body stiffened. His instincts screamed at him to react, but the movement had been so fast—so precise—that he hadn't even sensed the attack.

Dazai barely spared a glance, his expression flat and unimpressed.

"Maria. What the hell are you doing?"

Maria's golden eyes narrowed as she held the dagger steady, her posture unwavering.

"Forgive me," she said coolly. "But why did you bring a demon here?"

Dazai arched a brow. "A demon? That makes no sense. Stand down. I won't repeat myself."

Maria hesitated for a brief moment before lowering her dagger. Her gaze flicked toward Akatsuki, unreadable.

"That boy," she said, voice measured, "has a demon within him. Dragons can sense them easily… and this one is powerful."

A slow, dangerous grin spread across Dazai's face.

"Well now," he murmured. "That's interesting."

Without another word, he snapped his fingers.

A dark presence erupted from Akatsuki's body, sending a chill through the air. He gasped, staggering as a shadow detached itself from him, twisting into a humanoid form before solidifying.

A woman stood before them—her horns sharp, her pale skin flawless, her crimson lips curled in a smirk. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back, framing her piercing pink eyes. She wore a crimson dress, elegant yet ominous.

The moment she moved, Dazai snapped his fingers again.

A dark chain wrapped around her neck, pulling taut.

"Ah-ah. Not so fast, little demon," he murmured. His voice remained casual, but the weight of his power was undeniable. "Now then—state your name… or perish."

The demon glared at him, her jaw tight. But she wasn't foolish. She knew when she had lost.

"...I am Eve," she finally admitted, her voice like silk laced with venom. "The Sin of Deception."

Akatsuki, still catching his breath, barely had time to process the revelation before something clicked in his mind. His eyes widened.

"Shit," he muttered. "I forgot to drag Mard Geer with us. That bastard still has my mother's chain!"

Dazai exhaled sharply, shaking his head.

"...Unbelievable," he muttered. "We really can't have a moment's peace, can we?"