— — — — — —
Ena Seishuuin drew her blade.
It was a katana black as obsidian, gleaming with an unnatural luster.
Holding it in both hands, she spoke with casual ease. "I knew it. Grampsy's reckless orders would definitely make Your Majesty angry."
By "Grampsy," she meant Susanoo himself.
Ryo glanced at her in surprise. "And knowing that, you still came here to throw your life away?"
"Well, Grampsy's the one who taught me how to invoke descent rituals. If he orders me, I more or less have to listen at least once…" Ena tilted her head with a half-smile. "Though honestly, even if I refused, he'd just force me here anyway."
She shifted into stance and went on cheerfully: "But along with the order to test Your Majesty, he also gave another. If I lose, I'm yours."
"So I figured… if I surrender quickly, I won't have to die."
"That's why I came."
Then, with an almost playful look, she added: "Oh, and I suspect Grampsy might try remote-controlling me. So if Your Majesty really wants me as a lover, please go easy when you make a move. And, just in case there are any hidden commands, I'd appreciate it if you cleaned them out properly. You wouldn't want your lover stabbing you in bed, right?"
Ryo's expression grew oddly complicated.
How was he even supposed to respond to that?
Ena had come here under Susanoo's orders to provoke him—but all the while carrying the intent to surrender.
When someone was that upfront about it, it was hard to dislike them.
After all, Ryo was the sort of man whose sense of morality usually bowed to his instincts. His head might not forgive her, but the rest of him (his little brother)… already had.
After all, Ena was a very beautiful woman with long black hair, red eyes, and a large bosom. She was curvy, but what he loved most were the parts big enough to sleep on.
At that point, Liliana stepped forward, unable to contain herself. Gripping the hilt of her knight's sword, she snapped: "Such nonsense! First you talk about surrendering, then you pour all your power into preparing for battle. Just what are you planning?"
"Oh? A Western witch?" Ena's eyes glimmered with violet light as magical energy surged around her. "You should give up. You can't defeat Ena. And as a future lover, I'd rather not kill you—it'd only make my husband upset."
"What?" Liliana froze, then flushed scarlet.
"Such shameless words! Are you really a shrine maiden of this country?"
"Would you like to see my family register?" Ena asked with a mischievous grin.
Despite the strain of channeling so much divine power through her body, her smile was bright and natural.
"By the way, this sword in my hands is Ame no Murakumo. It's part of Grampsy's authority. That's why I said, even if I didn't want to come, I had no choice."
Ryo gestured for Liliana to stand down, then narrowed his eyes. "So what you're saying is… you were forced?"
"It's such a relief that Your Majesty understands," Ena said, breathing easier. She muttered under her breath, "Honestly, I don't know what Grampsy's trying to test by risking my life. But there's no helping it—my body isn't under my control anymore."
Her voice dropped to a rueful sigh.
"Grandmother was right. Divine Possession is a terrible trap. And Murakumo… it was never something I should've been given."
She lifted her eyes again, offering a warning instead.
"Your Majesty, be careful. Ame No Murakumo is the sword Grampsy took when he slew Yamata no Orochi. It carries the sharpness of steel and the immortality of serpents. Shattering it won't be easy."
"So what you're saying is… all I need to do is break the sword?"
The soft murmur at her ear made Ena blink.
Then came the sharp crack of splintering steel.
She stared in stunned silence as Ame No Murakumo shattered in her hands, scattering into a rain of fragments.
That was Ame no Murakumo—also known as Kusanagi no Tsurugi, the Grasscutter—a Divine Sword, a legendary black blade, and bearer of Authorities. And it just broke, just like that.
"Eh?"
Ena blinked dumbly, then looked up at Ryo's face so close to hers.
"Oh. My body's back under my control."
"And?" Ryo tilted his head.
Ena let out a little "oh!" of realization, then suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him like a koala.
"And now… tonight I'm yours~"
"You—you shameless woman!" Liliana's face flamed red as she glared at Ena.
"To entrust yourself to him the very first time you meet… it's… it's…"
"It's what?" Ena asked innocently, tilting her head.
Her gaze lingered on Liliana's flushed cheeks and averted eyes. Then her lips curved in surprise.
"Don't tell me—you became his lover on the very first day too?"
Liliana turned away instantly, unable to answer.
"Oooh, so we're the same." Ena nodded sagely. "Well, that's fine then. We all have to marry someday."
"Twisted logic!" Liliana shot back. "I'm not like you. As a knight, I found a master truly worthy of loyalty! You are shameless!"
Ena rested her chin on Ryo's shoulder and laughed brightly. "Then I'll pledge myself to His Majesty—not as a knight, of course, but in my own way."
Ryo sighed, patting the girl still hanging from him. "All right. Down you go."
"Okay~" Ena hopped lightly to the floor, then looked down at the shattered blade.
"My sword's in pieces now. I guess Grampsy's going to keep his distance from you after this."
In myth, Susanoo was known for being a coward. But his divine persona also carried deceit, theft, rage, destruction, and the power of steel.
He was a god of schemes and tempers both.
So it wasn't hard to imagine him avoiding Ryo after seeing Ame No Murakumo crushed in an instant.
"In theory, yes," Ryo said, watching the fragments with a thoughtful gleam in his eyes.
He was sure now. The katana had indeed been remotely guiding Ena.
And there were traces of surveillance sorcery on her body as well.
Everything she'd said checked out. But there was something else.
In that single moment before he shattered the blade, Ryo had sensed a subtle power within Ena—something akin to what Athena carried.
The power of a Heretic God.
Which meant… the one giving Ena her orders might not have been Susanoo after all.
"So, does that mean I'm safe now?" Ena asked cheerfully.
She slipped her arm through Ryo's and began curiously running her fingers over his hand.
"This hand just crushed my sword, right? Amazing. Not a scratch on it."
But Ryo wasn't looking at her.
His gaze shifted instead to the end of the corridor.
A moment later, the elevator doors slid open.
A woman stepped out, dressed in pure black vestments, the kind worn only at funerals. Her golden hair fell in soft waves, her face serene.
She bowed gracefully to Ryo. "Good day, Lord Yagami. Guinevere greets you."
.
.
.