Chapter 322 – Plunder

Ｒėad​ ̀ô​n̂ ＫaṫＲεadｉηｇ&C;ａfҽ

Instinct reacted before reason.

The moment the ‘danger sense’ alarm blared in his head.

Eugene reflexively unleashed crimson flames.

He was surprised by his own response. Regardless of any lingering guilt, he used his power against Astaroth without hesitation. His training with the God of War was paying off. Experience hammered directly into his body, not just his mind. As soon as he recognized the danger, his body reacted faster than his thoughts.

“Ahaha, no mercy, I see.”

Naturally, Astaroth wouldn’t be affected by a reflexive attack like that. She didn’t even need her parasol; she simply waved her hand to brush away the flames.

“You’re noticeably different from a few months ago when we first met as Astaroth. As expected of my big brother. At this rate, you wouldn’t be outmatched by most captains. It’s a truly dazzling growth. As your little sister, I couldn’t be happier.”

“…I don’t know what your goal is, but I won’t go down easily.”

The activation of ‘danger sense’ meant that Astaroth was planning something. Something that would harm Eugene. He quickly snatched up the sword he had dropped. Whatever her purpose, he had no intention of letting it happen. 

Cast aside personal feelings. Don’t waver. This isn’t Yui. It’s not Yui. It’s just a devil god arbitrarily using Yui’s remains.

“Shall I play with you a bit, then? Just to measure how much you’ve grown.”

Crimson flames surged from Astaroth. Flames eerily similar to Eugene’s. The moment he saw them, Eugene bit his torn lip again. 

Yui’s flames. How long had it been since he last saw them? He thought he would never see them again. And now those flames were directed at him. It was like a nightmare.

“…Or so I’d like to say. But honestly, I’m not exactly at leisure either. What a pity.”

Astaroth sighed as if genuinely regretful. It wasn’t a lie. If she had her way, she would have enjoyed their reunion a little longer. Hidden truths were most shocking when first revealed. They tended to fade with time. She wanted to savor her brother’s tormented expression for a long time.

“I’m already being chased by the captains, you see. Agares might intervene at any moment. Yes, I’m really busy.”

This was good news for Eugene. If the captains were already after Astaroth, he just needed to hold out until they arrived. But he couldn’t be entirely happy. If the captains came, what then? He would have to defeat Astaroth. Could he do it? Could he kill the girl before him?

No, it’s not too late to decide then.

The priority is to keep Astaroth here.

With my current strength… I can’t win, but I can hold out.

“Ah, by the way. I have no intention of fighting you, brother. Maybe the old you, but the current you has become quite strong, hasn’t he? If you really dug in, even I would be troubled.”

She had grasped Eugene’s Supernatural Ability.

Borrowing the power of various Supernaturals.

Using that power to utilize various abilities.

Among them was Lucia’s Super Regeneration.

She knew it well, having experimented by tearing and ripping apart Lucia’s body herself.

If his mentality could hold out, that ability would grant him an unparalleled advantage in a fight.

No need to worry about injuries. The effect was even more pronounced when the weak fought the strong. If Eugene endured the injuries and held onto Astaroth, he could become more troublesome than the captains. Astaroth no longer belonged to humans or monsters. With both sides potentially intervening, time was of the essence.

“Brother.”

“…”

“You won’t even answer me now? Hmph, I’ll let it slide. That expression alone is a good enough of an answer.”

Astaroth put her hands behind her back and began to walk.

She walked in a circle around Eugene.

Her steps were light. Her movements were like those of an excited child.

“You visited this place every year, didn’t you? It’s my memorial day, after all? You spent the whole day here with me.”

The flames flickered like a mirage.

As Astaroth walked, they bloomed like petals.

The crimson flames illuminated the dark graveyard, replacing the sunlight obscured by the dark clouds.

“That’s why it’s today. The day I decided to meet you and reveal the truth.”

“…What?”

“You’re coming here today, aren’t you? You’ll come without fail. You’ll visit my gravestone.”

Her blue eyes narrowed slightly.

Astaroth smiled gleefully.

What could be more lovable than prey whose actions were easy to predict?

With genuine love and affection, the girl spoke as if singing a song.

“I can set a trap in advance, can’t I?”

Before she could finish her sentence, Eugene lunged forward. His danger sense was going wild. If what he felt before was a subtle tremor, this was a massive explosion like the earth shaking. It was dangerous. Separate from his danger sense, his intuition screamed. Something was dangerous.

“How adorable, coming here on your own, unaware of the trap I’ve laid.”

“Ugh?!”

Eugene’s sword lost its direction and slammed into the ground. Chains sprang up from the bottomless ground, binding his arms. He reacted. He used ‘Acceleration’ to its limit and clearly saw the chains moving. Yet he couldn’t respond. It was as if his body refused to react.

“Chains of Kalpas. The law I engraved into this land. The condition is that the opponent must stand in this spot for more than five minutes. Once the condition is met, anyone is bound unconditionally. It would be too overpowered if it sealed them forever… so a deal couldn’t be made. That’s why I added a price. The durability is terrible. Someone like you could easily destroy them, right?”

Three minutes… no, one minute might be the limit.

But that didn’t matter.

She didn’t need much time.

“This kind of cheap trickery…!”

Eugene suppressed his bewilderment and glared at Astaroth. It was fine. As she said, it wasn’t unbreakable. With his firepower, he could shatter it. And with Super Regeneration, he could regenerate even if he was attacked in the process.

“Heehee♪”

Humming a tune, Astaroth continued to walk. She circled around Eugene. Flowers bloomed with each step she took. The fire turned into leaves, fluttering in the wind. It was then that Eugene realized something was wrong. The fire was becoming ink, drawing a picture. Astaroth’s footsteps were the brush, and with each step, a shape was being drawn.

What Astaroth was doing was the finishing touch. She was putting the final touches on a picture she had already drawn. The final stroke to bring the dragon to life. As if drawing a dragon and then drawing the eyes last.

“I like you, brother. I really like you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I really, really, really love you. I want to live with you forever.”

“I desire your power. Chosen One. Your power holds infinite possibilities. All the iterations of us have fallen before you in vain. A power that splits the night and calls forth the dawn. O blade of the four seasons. O supreme masterpiece of the four seasons. You are destined to reach even the ‘Ancient One’.”

“So, even if I have to force it, I’m going to be with you.”

“So, I’ve decided to use any means necessary.”

Yui’s and Astaroth’s intentions merged.

No, since they were originally one being, the term ‘merge’ was incorrect.

The directions pointed to by the two desires circled around and arrived at the same conclusion.

“What are you trying to do…?!”

It was dangerous. Driven by instinct and the warning of his danger sense, Eugene unleashed his powers to the fullest. 

Pyrokinesis. Acceleration. Heat Ray. 

He stacked three Supernatural Abilities to maximize his firepower. The chains binding his arms couldn’t withstand the transcendent heat and began to melt. A strange light flickered in Astaroth’s blue eyes. 

Oh, he can’t even last a minute? More power than expected. But well, it doesn’t really matter.

“!”

Swish!

Chains shot out in succession, binding Eugene.

Not just his arms, but his limbs and torso as well.

Already bound, resistance was nearly impossible.

“Chains of Kalpas. The condition is to stand in that spot for six minutes. Chains of Kalpas. The condition is to stand in that spot for seven minutes. Chains of Kalpas. The condition is to stand in that spot for eight minutes. Chains of Kalpas. The condition is to stand in that spot for nine minutes. Chains of Kalpas. The condition is… well, you get the idea, right?”

The longer the required time, the more lenient the conditions became.

Accordingly, the durability of the chains binding Eugene also became noticeably stronger.

The melting of the chains noticeably slowed down. A look of dismay crossed Eugene’s face. At this rate, he was going to be helpless. 

No, it’s still okay. I have Lucia’s ability. No matter what Astaroth does to me, I just have to endure. I also have Frey’s hardening, so I’m confident in my durability.

“Well, that finishes the preparations.”

Astaroth clapped her hands briefly and faced Eugene.

“If only you had listened to me obediently, I wouldn’t have had to do something like this.”

“…Enough, do whatever you want. But whatever you do, it won’t go your way.”

“Ahaha, that’s true.”

“Huh?”

“Actually, there’s one thing missing in the preparations. To activate ‘this’, the most important thing is needed.”

Astaroth’s authority was a kind of transaction.

Presenting a condition and paying a price.

That was why her power remained theoretically omnipotent.

Because the greater the desire, the greater the price and conditions.

“To achieve my goal, I need the other party’s consent. That’s the condition. In other words, all of this is just a pretty facade if you don’t agree.”

“…Then isn’t it all for nothing? There’s no way I’m going to listen to you.”

“That’s right, you’re such a bad brother, even refusing your long-lost sister’s request.”

Astaroth pouted her lips, then grinned.

It was a cunning smile, a playful laugh.

A plan must prepare everything needed in advance.

If even one thing is missing, everything will collapse like a domino.

“Brother, do you remember?”

The way to get Eugene’s consent.

Had already been prepared.

“When Lucia was kidnapped. You and I met here. What kind of conversation did we have then?”

“Conversation…?”

Eugene recalled the memory of that day.

If it was then, he was still wandering in helplessness…

Wait, could it be?

“Looks like you remember.”

Astaroth, who had approached unnoticed, caressed Eugene’s cheek. Yet he couldn’t react properly. An unknown shock pierced his mind.

“Do you want to save Lucia?”

“I’ll help you. I’ll help you save Lucia.”

“Of course, it’s not free. It’s a deal.”

“Make a contract with me.”

“Someday, when I ask for your help…”

“Help me.”

Deal.

Astaroth strangely insisted on making a deal.

He couldn’t understand it at the time.

What could the girl in the red fox mask want from me?

But looking back now…

“I helped you save Lucia.”

In other words, I paid the price for the contract.

Then whose turn is it this time?

“Brother.”

No. He didn’t know why, but his instincts screamed. He couldn’t let her speak. He had to stop her. But with his limbs bound, there was nothing he could do. 

Even if he activated his Supernatural Ability, it was blocked by the chains and couldn’t reach the outside. Eugene’s pupils trembled like a boat in a stormy sea. Astaroth pressed her forehead against Eugene’s and spoke in a low voice.

【Help me.】

A contract with a devil god was absolute.

Not even the devil god could break the contract.

Once a contract was made, it had to be fulfilled.

That was no different even for the ‘Chosen One’.

All the more so for an incomplete ‘Chosen One’ who hadn’t fully awakened.

Eugene’s head nodded on its own.

Consent.

With this, all conditions were met.

Astaroth grinned, tearing her lips wide.

She smiled brightly.

Light flashed.

◈

What, what happened?

When he finally came to his senses.

Eugene realized that he was lying down.

His head was dizzy. His vision was blurry. His sense of direction was strange. His body wouldn’t move as he wanted. This was a familiar phenomenon to Eugene. He was always in this state after training with the God of War. Super Regeneration restored the body, but mental problems were separate. Eugene took a hot breath and groped the ground with his hand.

“Cough.”

He was out of breath. Eugene coughed dryly and stirred his body. He steadied himself on the ground with trembling hands and stood up. He staggered and almost fell again, but barely managed to hold on. A ringing sound echoed in his ears. External sounds were muffled as if underwater.

“Why am I… what am I doing here… I…”

He retraced his hazy memories.

What was he doing before he lost consciousness?

As if the fog was clearing, his blurred consciousness returned to its place.

Eugene gasped loudly. He hurriedly raised his head and shouted.

“Yui… no, Astaroth!”

How long had he been unconscious? It didn’t feel like a long time. At most, a few minutes or less. Just a very short moment. Eugene frantically searched for the girl in the red fox mask. Where was she? He couldn’t let her get away. He had to catch her… huh?

Eugene tilted his head in bewilderment. Something was wrong? Why did his voice sound like this? Was it because the ringing in his ears was making it hard to hear?

“Huh? Wait a minute?”

As soon as he discovered one anomaly, other anomalies began to catch his eye. Why was his school uniform so baggy? And why was the color like this? It looked like it had been soaked in blood. No, wait. This wasn’t a school uniform? What was this? As Eugene fumbled with his clothes, his eyes fell on his hands. They had become smaller. His hands had become smaller. They weren’t calloused, scarred, and covered in burns. They were white and clean. As if he had never held a sword.

“You’re awake?”

He turned his head in surprise at the sudden voice. It wasn’t Astaroth. It was a man’s voice. He didn’t know who it was, but this place was dangerous. He had to get to safety quickly, in case Astaroth did something…

“What?”

“You woke up sooner than I thought, brother.”

“…Me?”

A boy in an academy uniform.

Hair as black as obsidian.

Eyes as blue as a clear lake.

Even the sword burning brightly.

It was all Eugene himself.

The boy was sitting on the gravestone, wearing a mischievous smile.

“Ahaha, what a dumbfounded face.”

“What is this…? A dream? Is this a dream?”

“Should I pinch your cheek or something?”

The boy actually grabbed Eugene’s cheek and pulled it. It hurt. It hurt normally. It wasn’t a dream. Then was it a hallucination?

“How is it, brother?”

“It hurts… it’s not a dream…? Then who are you…?”

“Can’t you tell by looking? It’s me.”

“B-But Eugene is me…?”

“Silly brother.”

“Don’t call me brother with my face. It’s disgusting… wait.”

There was only one person who called him brother.

Eugene barely squeezed out his trembling voice.

“Yui?”

The boy answered his trembling question.

Wearing a familiar smile.

“Bingo.”

“H-How, why do you have my appearance…?”

“Seriously, you’re so slow-witted. Even if you got a little smarter, you’re still you, brother.”

The boy lightly snapped his fingers.

Then, a mirror appeared in the empty air.

As if possessed, Eugene stared at his reflection in the mirror.

He gasped.

Eugene muttered blankly.

“Y-Yui…?”

The reflection in the mirror.

Had Yui’s face.

“Ahaha.”

The boy laughed.

Astaroth barely suppressed her laughter.

Don’t feel too bad, brother.

I gave you my body instead, didn’t I?

It’s hard to say this with my own mouth.

But I’m pretty, after all.

Besides, it’s a body that I’ve been working hard to maintain.

It won’t be so bad, right?

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Yui was a brocon, right?

Now she is her own brother!

Eugene’s guess turned out to be right.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day, huh?

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
That’s the 3rd TS that happened in this story.

Wow, not even the main character of that world is safe.

Can’t crush hi-her balls anymore, smh.