Chapter 611: In the Na of the Beast’s Contractor!
The door opened, and Nero naturally stepped into the private room.
By now, the relationships between her, Hakuno, and Sakatsuki had beco so entangled that only they could casually visit each other like this—if any other Master tried this, well, let’s just say Sakatsuki wouldn’t hesitate to throw hands.
"You’re early today, Your Majesty."
As he spoke, the young man draped a red ceremonial robe over himself and tightened the cuffs around his wrists. Nero’s beautiful eyes swept across the three girls on the bed before lingering on Sakatsuki for a long mont. Then, with a playful smile, she spoke.
"Of course! Because I was bored. There was soone in my room, but that person was utterly dull and insufferable—so I ca here instead."
"That’s quite the statent..." Sakatsuki gave her a surprised look, pausing briefly. Just as Nero tensed internally, wondering if she had misspoken, the young man suddenly brightened and raised his voice excitedly:
"Well said! As expected of you, seeing right through that person’s true nature!"
"...Huh?"
As if scratching an itch, Sakatsuki began venting his grievances: "That person is petty, short-tempered, always wearing a sour face, loves sulking in the corner alone, throws a fit when dragged out, and sotis even bites... Super stubborn, super troubleso!"
Under the relentless torrent of complaints, Nero fell silent.
Nero gritted her teeth.
Nero’s rage ter began filling...
"But she’s cute, isn’t she?"
Blinking, Nero widened her eyes in shock when she realized what Sakatsuki had just said. "Eh?"
"Hmm? Don’t you think so?" This ti, Sakatsuki shot her a suspicious look, his expression so earnest it was as if he were stating the obvious—like how tofu pudding should be savory.
"Even though she always looks unhappy, she’s actually very earnest. She just doesn’t know how to interact with others and isn’t honest with herself, so she often sses things up and ends up sulking in frustration."
"Ahh, that kind of tsundere personality—I’m super into it!"
Sohow, Hakuno and Alice, who had been listening, instinctively pulled the sheets tighter around themselves, sensing sothing eerie from the animated young man. Oblivious, Sakatsuki continued enthusiastically sharing his "parenting" insights, his expression brimming with smug satisfaction.
"Honestly, the more soone gives off that ’don’t bother ’ arrogant vibe, the more I love dragging them out of their corner. And when they panic or when their true, earnest self peeks through... For a mont, it feels like life is complete—pfft!"
A pillow slamd into Sakatsuki’s face, cutting off his rant. Hakuno yelped as the back of her head hit the bed fra, her face scrunching up in pain. anwhile, Nero, who had thrown the pillow, clutched her chest with one hand, her cheeks flushed red. Her eyes shimred with a mix of embarrassnt and fury, even welling up slightly.
"Pervert!"
She enunciated clearly.
———
And so, Sakatsuki was promptly kicked out of the private room.
"I was just telling the truth, so why is Nero the one getting so angry?"
Being hit by a pillow didn’t actually hurt, but Sakatsuki still covered his head, feeling sowhat wronged. "Hakuno and Alice, those two troublemakers, actually nodded in agreent... Shouldn’t I be the one taking care of them?"
Recalling the image of the three little ones sitting on the bed nodding vigorously, Sakatsuki gritted his teeth in frustration, though he also felt a bit puzzled.
Co to think of it, why had he suddenly felt so talkative today?
He’d spent quite a bit of ti with Nero, and she’d ntioned more than once or twice that she kept a little red dragon in her room. So why had he lost his composure today of all days?
Sakatsuki rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
Moreover, for so reason, when he saw Nero tilting her head slightly today, he inexplicably felt the urge to pull her into his arms and give her a good squeeze.
Though the 150cm-tall emperor was indeed petite and adorable... that didn’t an he should treat her like a plush toy or a pillow.
He’d never felt this way before.
Though puzzled, Sakatsuki didn’t dwell on it. The day’s tasks occupied most of his attention. Shaking his head, he cast aside the sense of familiarity and stepped through the gates of the Three Moon Fantasy Sea.
"Whatever. At least Nero’s arrival is convenient—I don’t have to look after the three little ones anymore... Hah, as if Nero would ever harm them."
As he traversed the fairytale-like dreamscape, the ease on Sakatsuki’s face gradually faded. When the howling winds swept across the horizon and a crimson, fla-like figure tore through the clouds, racing toward the edge of this world until no other Masters or Servants remained in sight, the young man finally ca to a halt and spread his arms.
"Kanshou and Bakuya, equip."
"Magic·Imaginary, begin setup."
Under the enhancent of projection magecraft, black and white blades shot forth like rain, embedding themselves precisely into the earth. Mana threads wove through the ground, interconnecting as the young man landed at the center of the magic circle. The massive, condensed magic array activated instantly, and a purple light barrier rose from below, climbing steadily until it ford a bounded field enveloping the surrounding kiloter.
Once the barrier was fully established, the deep violet glow of imaginary numbers faded, leaving the field transparent, reflecting both its interior and exterior.
With his accumulated mana depleted, Sakatsuki expressionlessly retrieved an item and crushed it in his hand, replenishing his reserves. Shaking out his wrist, he returned to constructing the "arena."
Yet amid his busywork, his thoughts inevitably drifted to that person.
"Draco..."
The little red dragon residing within his shadow of imaginary numbers—the forr Beast of Sodom, the enemy of God in the Bible, Beast VI/S.
As a Beast inherently symbolizing destruction, the Moon Cell’s vigilance was only natural. However, it would never take the initiative to eliminate Draco, who posed no threat through her actions.
So why, after Draco revealed her power, had she been pursued by so many hostile programs?
"Hmph. Programs may be emotionless, but they’re still governed by the subjective will of their controller."
With the final ergency transfer magic in place, Sakatsuki absorbed the remaining mana from the item and tossed it aside to join its "brethren." Clapping his hands together, he smirked coldly at the eternal moon in the sky.
"Except... with —with us here—you can’t do a thing."
Vlad III had once demanded of Sakatsuki, "Who are you?"
As Archer, Sakatsuki didn’t provide an answer. But in any case, since he had initially co in person, his true self should still exist within the Mooncell.
So where had the real Sakatsuki gone?
Withdrawing his gaze, Sakatsuki tightened his grip on Kanshou and Bakuya before thinking better of it and stowing the twin blades away. Instead, he summoned the Dragonslayer’s demonic sword, Balmung.
As the twilight-imbued demonic sword fell into his hand, Sakatsuki took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
It had been a long ti since he’d felt this tense.
Having lost his Dragonkind constitution ant he was at a disadvantage in prolonged battles. Although he’d stockpiled a large number of items in preparation, he still worried it might not be enough for the challenges ahead.
But—he could wait no longer.
Nero’s invitation yesterday had been far too obvious. That definitely hadn’t been the emperor’s own idea, but rather a request from that smaller version of Nero—the little red dragon Draco—who remained hidden in her room.
She could wait no longer.
And truth be told, neither could he.
How could he bear to leave Draco alone in that room, like a prisoner locked in a cage?
"Co forth, Mooncell!"
His fla-like cape billowed as he faced the silver moon brighter than sunlight. Drawing his sword, Sakatsuki’s eyes ignited with azure radiance.
"Archer·Sakatsuki hereby challenges you."
"As the Beast’s guardian—as the Beast’s contractor!"
The moonlight intensified violently. The mont Sakatsuki’s words fell, countless black stars appeared in the sky. With the evil wind blowing from the world’s end, faceless angels erged—so wielding greatswords, others lightly holding long spears, so drawing bows or raising staves, others lurking in darkness or astride warhorses—all majestic and formidable!
Hundreds of angels embodying the seven standard classes descended like rain. On the ground, Sakatsuki’s initially fearless smile stiffened as ten million Dumuzids stampeded through his mind.
How... how could there be so many?!
I definitely set up barriers, interference, elimination, and weakening asures!
Wait... just as Hols would say: when you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains—however improbable—must be the truth. Which ans...
"Draco, what fresh hell have you unleashed now—?!"
The young man’s despairing cry pierced the heavens, but there was no ti left to scold the disobedient little red dragon. With a horizontal slash, twilight hues eclipsed the pure moonlight as magical sword energy swept outward in all directions, illuminating his fervent expression.
Well... no choice but to charge ahead!
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