The Sorcerer Kingdom.
An open-air garden atop the Dragon Tower.
The air was thick with the fragrance of flowers, while a gentle breeze brushed across the delicate petals, making the garden seem like a dreamlike paradise.
"Original, you really screwed me over this time!"
Naraku stood in the middle of the garden, bitterly airing his grievances.
He had been threatened.
And blatantly so.
Just thinking about the scythe that had hovered mere millimeters from his neck made him tremble with indignation.
No matter how you looked at it, he was still the Original's Thought Body. Did she really have to treat them that differently?
The favoritism was way too obvious!
"Then work hard on getting stronger. At least try to make sure you can run away next time."
Looking at the visibly agitated Thought Body before him, Naohara, who had just arrived, casually offered his advice.
"Hey, hey, isn't that a little too halfhearted? You could at least pretend to care."
Naraku immediately raised his voice.
"…Then should I give her a stern lecture later?"
Naohara rubbed his chin before replying.
"That's it?"
"What else do you want?"
"Hmph! You'll regret this."
"Remember, I'm the Original!"
Bang!
With a loud crash, the massive door shut behind Naraku's retreating figure.
Naohara shrugged helplessly.
What was with this weird sense of déjà vu, like some kind of 'you'll regret this, I'm your shadow' routine?
"Hehe, how interesting. Darling, this Thought Body of yours not only has a completely different personality, but he's also ridiculously weak. He really isn't like you at all~"
A swing stood in one corner of the garden, its chains gleaming metallically beneath the sunlight.
Zesshi Zetsumei sat on it without a care in the world, her long, slender legs dangling loosely. Her toes lightly tapped the ground, setting the swing into a gentle, rhythmic sway.
She wore a loose white shirt, its hem fluttering softly in the breeze.
Her delicate features carried a wild, carefree air.
Her mismatched black-and-white eyes were narrowed slightly, an amused smile playing across her face.
"Anyone would feel uncomfortable if a scythe were suddenly held against their neck while they were being threatened."
"Besides, he may not be able to beat you now, but that might not always be the case."
Naohara slowly walked up behind Zesshi Zetsumei.
He reached out, applying just a little force as he gently pushed her forward.
"Oh? But I was very polite. I even said 'help me.'"
"And even if that day comes, I'll still have you, won't I, darling? You'll have to take responsibility and protect a weak little thing like me~"
The swing gradually settled into a steady rhythm, her body moving gently along with it.
Her hands rested loosely around the ropes without exerting any strength, as though she had completely emptied her mind.
The amused smile at the corners of her lips never faded. It was as though none of the world's troubles had anything to do with her, and she was simply enjoying this rare moment of peace and leisure.
Her black-and-white hair fell smoothly over her shoulders.
Every now and then, the breeze lifted a few strands and brushed them across her cheeks. She merely narrowed her eyes slightly without bothering to move them aside, completely immersed in the pleasant atmosphere.
"Oh? You're that sure I'll help you?"
"After three years, I think I know you well enough. If you really stood by and did nothing, then worst case, I'd just cry in front of you again."
Zesshi Zetsumei replied without concern.
As long as there was no conflict of interests involved, making a fuss could still be very effective. At least, it worked very well on her darling.
She disliked the weak and had no desire to become weak herself, but a partner was the sole exception.
A relationship where the woman was stronger and the man weaker was bound to encounter plenty of difficulties.
And the true identities of the Six Great Gods had also inevitably shaped the Theocracy's approach to training in this regard.
Even Zesshi Zetsumei could not completely escape that influence.
"Here. That old geezer told me to give you this."
Words that would have been outright blasphemous in the ears of the priests came from her lips as casually as anything else.
As the swing moved forward, Zesshi Zetsumei lightly sprang from the seat and landed steadily beside Naohara before pulling out a scroll.
She had never protected the Theocracy for the sake of the Six Great Gods, so naturally there was no respect in her tone.
Besides, an Undead who had lived for six hundred years.
Calling him an old geezer sounded perfectly natural, didn't it?
Zesshi Zetsumei thought so, anyway. Of course, she would never dare say it inside the Theocracy. Otherwise, those priests would never stop nagging her.
...
What a wonderfully filial attitude.
Naohara shook his head before opening the scroll and reading through it.
A few seconds later, he closed it again, his expression turning slightly grave.
The Six Great Gods had not provided much information this time, but what they had learned was certainly enough to draw attention.
[Kuyō appears to be devouring other worlds and will not descend for at least another ten years.]
This was both good news and bad news.
The good news was that Kuyō would not descend anytime soon, giving them more time to prepare.
The bad news was that once Kuyō finished devouring those other worlds, its strength would undoubtedly become even more terrifying.
And gathering intelligence through faith was certainly a bold move.
The Six Great Gods had probably decided that, since this world had already been targeted, there was no point in acting timidly anymore.
Still, it made sense.
Nazarick had a way out, but the Six Great Gods did not.
They had no choice but to take risks if they wanted a chance at survival.
"Reply for me. Tell them I understand, but they absolutely must not let their guard down."
After considering it for a moment, Naohara gave his warning.
"Got it. I'll tell the old geezer."
Zesshi Zetsumei nodded obediently.
She did not know what information the scroll contained, nor was she particularly interested.
Thinking things through had never been her style. Rather than rack her brain, she preferred training and improving herself.
For example, sparring with her darling was one of the few pleasures she had found since coming to the Sorcerer Kingdom.
After all, if he refused to mate with her, then fighting was the only option left.
This time, however, Zesshi Zetsumei wanted to try something different.
Three years had already passed.
It was about time they made some real progress.
"It's so hot."
With that thought, Zesshi Zetsumei made her move without the slightest hesitation.
She slipped off her outer shirt, revealing a broad expanse of snow-white skin. Her petite breasts were barely concealed, bouncing twice like two mischievous little white rabbits.
Zesshi Zetsumei was beautiful. That was simply a fact.
Elves were already renowned for their exceptional beauty. Although she was only a Half-Elf, Zesshi Zetsumei had undoubtedly inherited that particular advantage.
Even compared with Albedo, her beauty was in no way inferior, while her black-and-white eyes and matching hair only made her more striking.
"What are you trying to do?"
Perhaps he had already grown used to this, or perhaps he harbored similar desires himself, but Naohara showed no sign of panic.
He was definitely tempted.
Faced with a girl who had tirelessly expressed her love for him for three whole years, there probably were not many people who could remain completely unmoved.
Naohara had always maintained an attitude of neither rejecting nor accepting her, simply enjoying the pleasure that came with the process.
Admittedly, part of it was just him putting on an act.
I want to fuck you~
That was what Zesshi Zetsumei was thinking, but outwardly, she merely smiled.
"I feel… a little thirsty."
She licked the corner of her lips, the strange excitement inside her growing stronger.
Her hint was already obvious enough. Zesshi Zetsumei refused to believe that he felt absolutely no desire for her.
She watched Naohara's expression as she slowly bent down. When he made no move to stop her, the corners of her lips curled upward.
"Darling~"
A huge shadow fell across her face as a distinctly masculine scent washed over her.
Her hormones surged, and Zesshi Zetsumei could not help swallowing.
With something that size… it should be fine, right?
Her small hands adjusted its position, and her warm lips slowly parted…
***
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