Chapter 22: Fulfilling her Mission...

Kishimojin wasn't dead yet, but she was close.

The Spear of Light had detonated inside her body at point-blank range; even a being far more powerful than a "graduate" level foe wouldn't have been able to endure. Light Power is poisonous to devils and similarly lethal to evil spirits. The only reason she was still alive was that Hikaru's Light Power wasn't yet fully pure—and Kishimojin's corrupted form boasted extraordinary resilience.

"Any last words?"

Hikaru asked.

But the corrupted Kishimojin had long since lost her rational mind, making no response. Not that he really expected one.

Just as Hikaru was about to finish her off, two voices cried out at the same time:

"Wait!"

"?"

A newly formed Spear of Light halted barely a centimeter above Kishimojin's forehead. Its radiant energy scorched her skin, filling the air with the stench of burning flesh.

Hikaru turned around, and so did Yayoi Hozuki. She realized she'd been the one to shout a warning, but who was the other speaker?

They saw two silhouettes descending gently from the sky, bathed in moonlight. Though the area was dim, it was still possible to make out the girls' graceful outlines—and, behind them, a pair of wings. Yayoi Hozuki instinctively gripped her crowbar tighter. Hikaru, however, guessed who the arrivals were based on their aura and appearance: they were clearly devils. Besides, this was Sitri family territory, so their identity was obvious.

Sure enough, it was Sona Sitri gradually emerging from the shadows. With her was another black-haired girl wearing glasses, her face impassive: Tsubaki Shinra, Sona's Queen and servant. Four shapely legs gleamed faintly in the moonlight. As they approached, the devilish traits on their backs vanished. Yayoi Hozuki stayed on guard, but Hikaru reached out and pressed down her crowbar.

"They're on our side."

Then, turning to them, Hikaru asked:

"Why are you here? I was about to finish the request."

"Due to certain reasons, once I learned this request was accepted by you, I decided to look into it. I arrived just in time... You haven't killed her yet."

In Japanese, the pronoun she used—"kanojo" vs. "kare" or "are"—caught Hikaru's attention. Thanks to his training in curse techniques, he had long since mastered numerous languages, so he picked up on the nuance immediately.

"It's just another evil spirit. What's so special about it?"

Hikaru asked.

"You may not know, Hikaru, but this particular evil spirit was originally Kishimojin—once a protective goddess of infants, now corrupted for certain reasons."

Sona started to explain. Hikaru internally noted, Of course I know, but remained silent to let her continue.

"After Kishimojin fell into darkness, the Underworld sealed this place off, erecting a barrier to keep ordinary people away. Later, when I inherited this city from my family, I was asked to find a way to deal with her corruption. But as you know..."

"Most devil magic in the Underworld focuses on destruction. Even the healing types are only mastered by a few top-tier devils. Methods for breaking curses or sealing monsters are even rarer."

In earlier times, you might have found some pure-blood devil families to help. But after the Great War among the Three Factions and an internal devil civil war, fewer than half of the original 72 Pillars remain. Many secret arts and bloodlines have been lost, so the matter has languished until now.

"I intended to settle it myself once I found a way, so that Kishimojin could fulfill her original role again. But who would've guessed... some rash little trespasser would break through the barrier."

Sona glanced at Yayoi Hozuki in exasperation.

At last, Yayoi Hozuki realized she had caused trouble. She quietly stowed her crowbar in her bag, feigning innocence. No wonder Kishimojin is so famous, yet no one comes here… People either didn't know about it at all or, if they did, refused to come.

"Anyway, I'm not blaming you for it. Failing to safeguard the site is partly our fault too."

Sona sighed.

"I see. So it's all about using 'waste products' effectively."

Hikaru dispersed the Spear of Light in his hand. From the original works, he knew that devils in the Underworld really struggle with curses and seals.

Seeing him put away the spear, both Sona and Tsubaki finally relaxed, but a moment later realized they were staring, eyes widened at Hikaru.

Originally, they'd assumed the weapon was some form of exorcist's holy sword, akin to something from Star Wars, requiring recharges. Now they sensed it was something else entirely.

"Hikaru, just now... was that Light Power?!"

"Yes. Is there an issue?"

"I mean... you're human. How can you wield holy light? That's only something angels and fallen angels can do."

"I gained it through my own training. Though I'm still not very adept."

"???"

What kind of nonsense is that?

Saying you can use devil magic was already pushing it, but now you claim you can just "train" yourself into Light Power out of thin air?

~~~

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