Chapter 263: The Glimmer in the Gap, A Task for Sora
Lucifer had been exceptionally defiant today, mounting a firm resistance against Ren for once. But reality proved that a dragonslayer does not become the dragon. If he could slay the beast once, he could do it countless times.
She leaned against the wall with one hand, her body aching as she looked out the window at the sky, which was slowly bleeding from black to a deep, bruised blue. She glared at Ren, her eyes burning with indignation. In her defeat, there was a strange mix of desolation and an infuriating, almost adorable, pout.
Ren considered this for a moment, a thoughtful hum in his throat. "It seems that yoga really does have some effect."
Lucifer shot him a sharp, irritated snort before slowly, stiffly, making her way back upstairs. She made a silent vow. From now on, she would be cautious in her every word and action. She would secretly cultivate her strength, and then, one day, she would succeed. She would be the one to slay the dragon, just once! She would make this lecherous oaf understand the true meaning of being the Queen of Hell!
Ren stretched, his joints popping in the quiet of the early morning. He glanced at the lightening sky and sighed with a touch of helplessness. "Is it really because the system is about to upgrade? Is that why they're throttling the number of customers?"
He didn't dwell on it for long. After a moment's thought, he settled into his usual seat and picked up a book. It had been a while since he'd had the time to properly read, and the stack of unread novels he'd bought earlier was starting to look reproachful.
Just as he was getting lost in the first chapter, his phone buzzed on the table.
"Hmm? Who would be calling at this hour… Eh?"
He answered, his voice still a bit rough with morning drowsiness. "Is there something you need?"
A familiar voice came through the line, and Ren's expression shifted to one of mild confusion. "Ah? You want to order takeout for tonight? Why are you calling me now, then?"
He listened for another moment, his brow furrowing. "Alright, I understand. But your place… Well, I guess it's fine. To be honest, though, I have a bit of trauma associated with it."
He winced slightly. "It's not because of that… Never mind. We'll talk about it later."
After hanging up, Ren rubbed his temples with a sigh. "What is with today? It's already full of surprises… Still, it feels like it's been a long time since I got a takeout order."
Not long after he put his phone down, he froze. He saw the shop door pulse with a soft, ethereal light. That wasn't the crucial part.
The crucial part was that it only lit up for a moment. A single, silent flash, and then nothing. It was so brief that Ren barely had time to register it before the door returned to its normal, inert state. He stared at the now-dim entrance, a slow, wry smile spreading across his face. "Indeed, a day full of surprises. Could this be Tony's doing?"
(Tony: Don't drag me into this.)
As Ren quietly waited for the dawn to fully break, several others who should have been sound asleep were slowly opening their eyes. They hadn't been sleeping, merely resting.
Courage, for instance, was curled up in a tight ball under her blanket. She had been buzzing with excitement for a full day and night. It was perpetually daytime on Rantabi's side of the world, and Nakiri Mana had already restored their connection, so there wasn't much for them to do. They could finally afford to rest.
But rest was the last thing on Courage's mind. She had been holed up in her room, chatting in shifts with Rantabi and the other four, completely oblivious to the fact that night had fallen back home. By the time she realized it, it was already three or four in the morning. Panicked about her skincare routine, she immediately shut her eyes, willing herself to sleep, but it was useless. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and conversations, her body thrumming with leftover energy.
'Ugh, so annoying! Why can't I sleep?'she grumbled internally, tossing onto her back.'Is one of the girls getting doted on by her boyfriend again? Oh, to be so lucky… That's truly something to be envied.'
Giving up, Courage threw open her curtains and peered outside. When she saw the first faint light painting the horizon, she stretched languidly. "Hmm… Looks like it's time to get up. But staying up all night can't be good for my skin, right? Never mind, I'll just put on slightly thicker makeup…"
Meanwhile, in another room, Soryuin Shion was reviewing documents while chatting quietly with Amou Kirukiru. She looked up, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, as Soryuin Akemi walked in, still dressed in her pajamas.
"Akemi? Why are you up so early? Did something happen?" Shion asked. Her younger sister was usually a very sound sleeper.
Akemi sighed, a troubled look on her face. "Sister, after you told me about Sora, I couldn't sleep at all. Since I was just lying there awake, I figured I'd come out for a walk…"
Shion nodded in understanding. Then, as if remembering something, she beckoned her sister closer. "Akemi, I have a task for you today."
"Eh?"
Hearing her sister's words, Akemi paused but still walked over obediently. Shion smiled, a hint of calculation in her eyes. "It's very simple, actually. I just need you to take Sora to register today. Afterward, go and find your Sister Kirukiru. But don't go to the gym after you're done."
"Eh?! Then where should we go?" Akemi asked, her head tilting in confusion.
It was Amou Kirukiru who answered, her voice calm and even. "The fast-food restaurant on Commercial Street."
Akemi was stunned. "A fast-food restaurant? Why there?"
Kirukiru offered a small, knowing smile. "That child enjoys things like hamburgers, pizza, cheese, and soda. If you take her for fast food, it will help you grow closer."
Akemi's face lit up with understanding. "Oh! So that's how it is. But… eating that kind of thing in the morning isn't good for you, is it?"
Shion waved a dismissive hand. "Of course it's not. That's why I'm telling you to find the relatively healthy options on the menu—things like porridge, chicken wings, or chicken wraps. Ren probably anticipates where you'll take her, so he won't prepare breakfast either."
"Oh, oh! I understand! You can trust me with Sora!" Akemi declared, puffing out her chest with newfound purpose.
"Good. Oh, and one more thing," Kirukiru added. "Remember to get that girl an iced cola."
"Okay! Is there anything else?"
Shion thought for a moment, a playful glint in her eyes. "Akemi, how do you plan to find Sora and take her to register?"
"By walking… Ah! We should take the bus, right?" Akemi corrected herself immediately. "Sora's health doesn't seem very good…"
Shion's smile widened. "No. Just walk. You'll be walking all day today. I've seen the report Lucifer sent over about her physical condition. She's perfectly healthy. That girl hasn't had any proper exercise since her body recovered. She absolutely needs a good workout."
"Hmm!" Akemi nodded, completely on board.
At that very moment, Kasugano Sora, having already showered, was sitting in her room, drying her hair while scrolling through her phone. A sudden, inexplicable chill traced a path down her spine. She had the distinct feeling that she was about to be betrayed.
Far away, in a place that resembled a serene, traditional dojo, a golden-haired figure in a regal purple dress and a white mob cap stared at a glowing doorway, her expression puzzled. After a long moment, she scratched her head, about to step forward and investigate why the door had suddenly activated.
Just then, her senses flared.
In the next instant, she reached out and pulled at the air itself. Space seemed to tear open like fabric, revealing a dark, shimmering rift. Without a second thought, she slipped inside, and the gap snapped shut behind her, leaving no trace. As she vanished, the light emanating from the doorway slowly faded back into darkness.
However, someone else had sensed the disturbance. A woman with long, dark green hair glanced toward the spot where the golden-haired figure had been, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. She simply shook her head and turned her attention back to the endless sunflower field before her, letting out a soft sigh.
She took a delicate sip of flower tea, watching as a gentle breeze swept across the field, creating rolling waves of brilliant gold. A small, serene smile touched her lips.
"Another boring day…"
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