Chapter 397: Destruction of the Sages, Taking Down Natsuki
"Damn it damn it damn it, you're ignoring me again! Ignoring me, the most perfect existence—all of you deserve to die, every last one of you!!"
The repeated acts of disregard had thoroughly enraged the Sage.
At that moment, terrifying heat was gathering within the mouth of the crimson giant.
An extreme flash of light bleached their vision, while a violent explosion shook the artificial island.
The objects illuminated by the flash unexpectedly transformed into black metal.
"Not good!"
The expressions of Natsuki Minamiya and Tokoyogi Aya abruptly changed.
Although she didn't understand alchemy, she could still grasp what this crimson giant was doing.
It was reconstructing the surrounding matter—and on an enormous scale at that!
Natsuki Minamiya immediately sealed off the space around the monastery completely. Even without the assistance of her Guardian, she was capable of this much.
Meanwhile, Aya swiftly flipped through her grimoire, constructing a barrier to imprison the crimson giant within.
"Petty tricks! All of you shall become part of me!!"
The Sage roared with fervor. Just as the extreme radiance was about to engulf heaven and earth, a figure suddenly appeared before the crimson giant.
"Become part of you? Save your dreams for when you're asleep!"
As the words fell.
The magic circle of Mahiro's Copy Eyes reflected across every corner of the crimson giant, as if intending to envelop its entire form.
Ever since his battle with the Blazing Angel, Mahiro had sensed a subtle change occurring within his body.
Growing stronger was a certainty.
But it seemed he had successfully fused with divine power in his human form.
Moreover, the analytical speed of his Copy Eyes was now incomparable to the past.
In earlier times, analyzing Spirit Blood would have required considerable effort, yet now he instantly deciphered the matter-reconstruction power released by the Wiseman's Blood.
"「Formula Reversal」!"
A dark light abruptly manifested in his hand, intertwining with the radiance in the crimson giant's mouth like yin and yang, light and shadow.
Mahiro directly shoved that light into the giant's mouth.
In an instant, the flash vanished completely, melting away like spring snow, leaving the Sage utterly astonished. He had never anticipated such an absurd turn of events.
He never imagined that this Mahiro could so effortlessly neutralize his alchemy!
"Let me see if you truly are immortal and indestructible!"
A cube emitting a faint cherry-colored glow suddenly appeared in Mahiro's hand.
Anyone from Lelouch's world would have recognized it at a glance.
That was the energy core powering Knightmares—Sakuradite.
And judging by its purity, the one in his hand was refined Sakuradite energy, capable of sustaining aerial warships like Avalon!
Without hesitation, Mahiro shoved the Sakuradite crystal into the giant's mouth.
Simultaneously, he swung his arm, causing ripples to undulate through space.
The metal giant before him vanished—no, not vanished, but abruptly relocated high into the sky without any warning, impossible to defend against.
Meanwhile, the Demon King Killing Sacred Sword in his hand transformed once more, taking the shape of a CAD pistol.
Mahiro aimed the barrel at the giant hovering ten thousand meters above and gently pulled the trigger.
「Material Burst」—activate!
Hum
High in the sky, a dazzling ball of light abruptly appeared, instantly illuminating the night and every corner of Itogami Island.
It resembled a brilliant, resplendent solar halo, and one could even see intense distortions in space.
Many who were unaware of the situation thought dawn had arrived.
The shockwave from the explosion spread outward violently, like a typhoon.
The sea near the artificial island temporarily receded by over ten meters, creating an exceptionally spectacular sight.
The residual energy waves spread across the ocean surface, stirring up towering waves.
From beyond the planet, one could clearly see a point of light gradually expanding and spreading, as if breaking through the atmosphere.
This was the full energy released from the decomposition of Sakuradite, an ultra-high-energy crystal.
In other words, it was unleashed into the sky by Mahiro.
Had it occurred on the ground, Itogami Island would likely have ceased to exist by now.
A few seconds later, a deafening blast, as if capable of echoing across the globe, shook the air as it descended from the sky.
Faintly mixed within was the Sage's roar of unwillingness.
"How is this possible?! How could anyone be more perfect than me?! I am immortal!!"
These words became the Sage's final utterance, as its red metallic body completely disintegrated into nothingness, utterly and irrevocably destroyed.
"Mmm~ What a beautiful strike." Giada gazed directly at the gradually fading intense light in the sky, finding it immensely pleasing to the eye.
"The Sage's Spirit Blood… is finished?"
Nina, in her figurine form and held in Giada's arms, was stunned.
She couldn't believe that her proud creation had been annihilated in such a manner, nor had she expected it to be so utterly defenseless before this seemingly young man.
If she had known, why would she have sacrificed herself to the Spirit Blood and guarded it for 270 long years?!
"Astarte, observe the scene for any residual traces of Spirit Blood. If found, consume them directly with your Beast Vassal," Natsuki calmly ordered.
"Command accepted."
The blue-haired girl, appearing from nowhere, promptly accepted the order. Her bright, emotionless eyes began scanning every corner of the surroundings.
While Astarte carried out her task, Natsuki Minamiya approached Mahiro and angrily tapped his arm with her fan, venting her frustration.
"You! You! You! If you had the ability to destroy the Spirit Blood directly, why didn't you do it five years ago?! And why did you have to target my prison?! What exactly are you plotting?!"
Mahiro offered no resistance, allowing Natsuki Minamiya to strike him repeatedly. After all, he could always find other ways to retaliate later.
So, he explained in an indifferent tone:
"First, I only recently enhanced my strength again, which is why I could completely destroy the Spirit Blood. If it were me from five years ago, aside from destroying the core, I wouldn't have had any other means to resolve it either."
"Second, Natsuki-chan, you should know that I was interested in the Spirit Blood from the start. So, asking me to destroy it back then simply doesn't make sense."
"Finally, you ask why I had to target the prison?"
"It's simple—because I like you. I wanted to release you and return your freedom. That's all there is to it."
A series of explanations instantly left Natsuki Minamiya speechless.
Especially the final straightforward confession, which made Natsuki-chan's entire face flush bright red, as if she were a steam-powered princess!
"Y-You… you're unreasonable! I'm ignoring you!"
With those words, Natsuki Minamiya vanished on the spot.
It seemed less like a normal departure and more like a hasty escape.
However, the awakening of the Spirit Blood and the alchemist's attack had finally come to an end...
Next was—
"Ms. Nina Adelard, aren't you going to introduce yourself? Or do you plan to keep burying your head like an ostrich?"
Mahiro turned to look at the petite doll figure in Giada's arms, a mischievous smile appearing on his face.
He didn't know much about Nina's information, and he couldn't quite remember how she appeared in the original story. He only knew that she seemed to have some connection with Aiba Asagi and was inevitably linked to the unsealing of the Spirit Blood.
Now that she had appeared in Giada's arms, he was quite curious.
"What a rude brat."
Nina frowned in displeasure.
Giada, who was holding Nina, was instead amused by Mahiro's words. If she were to bury her head like an ostrich, it wouldn't be entirely wrong.
But she still chose to speak up and introduce Nina to Mahiro:
"Well, she is indeed called Nina Adelard, the alchemist who has lived for over 270 years, and the one involved in creating the Sage. Because she created a Sage harmful to the world, she sacrificed herself and merged into the Spirit Blood.
You just severed part of the Spirit Blood's connection, so Nina took advantage of that to seize control of a portion of it, creating her current body and awakening."
"Oh?"
Hearing Giada's explanation, he looked at Nina with great interest.
This was exactly his final goal in this world!
To go back and create bodies for Aurora and Marianne.
Nina, thinking he didn't trust this explanation and wanted confirmation from her, explained:
"Indeed, as the Third Progenitor said, I am the guardian who exists to prevent the Sage's revival. The spiritual power I possess was considered exceptional even among the alchemists of that time, which is why I was chosen as the guardian of the Spirit Blood.
To monitor the immortal Sage, the guardian must also be immortal.
Thus, I transferred my consciousness to the Spiritual Core and have been managing the Sage's Spirit Blood for two hundred years, until five years ago at the monastery…
The lonely guardian, bound forever by the Spirit Blood to prevent the immortal Sage's resurrection—this is the truth behind the great alchemist Nina Adelard, as written in history books.
The alchemists of that time bestowed upon her the title of Great Alchemist, which could be seen as a form of compensation."
"Oh ho, a living sacrifice," Mahiro muttered subconsciously.
"Mhm, Shion remembers it very clearly. The head of the monastery seemed to resemble Nina quite a bit."
The voice was surprisingly spirited. Shion held the adorable Nina in her arms, cradling the small humanoid figure.
She smiled gently and looked at her quietly, as if gazing at a stray kitten.
"First, allow me to express my gratitude. Thanks to you, I have finally been freed from a burden of two hundred and seventy years."
As she spoke, Nina, standing less than thirty centimeters tall, puffed out her chest, her size akin to that of a fairy.
Though she was an unfamiliar woman with Western features, she possessed a unique kind of beauty, particularly in the chest area, which, proportionally speaking, was quite ample.
"By the way, can you only create such a small body?" Mahiro voiced the most crucial question on his mind.
"Of course not. If I had enough Spirit Blood, I could even restore my original form. Unfortunately, the Spirit Blood has been destroyed by you, and I find myself unable to act despite my intentions... However, earlier you mentioned being interested in Spirit Blood—were you serious?"
As she reached the end of her words, Nina's tone shifted, becoming very serious.
"Spirit Blood is the greatest mistake and the most catastrophic disaster committed by me and many other Alchemists. Though I don't understand why you're interested, I hope you won't stray down the wrong path."
"Big Brother Mahiro wouldn't do that..."
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Kanon quickly stepped in to explain.
But Mahiro raised a hand to stop her, addressing the doll-sized Nina:
"I am indeed interested in Spirit Blood. While part of it is due to the power it holds, my greater desire is to use Spirit Blood to create two bodies to save people. Moreover, I hope you, Ms. Nina, can assist me. Consider it a way to free yourself from the heavy responsibility of guarding the Wiseman's Blood."
"Impossible."
Nina immediately shook her head in refusal. "I will not help you with this."
She had no desire to create such an existence a second time; even the thought of it now filled her with fear.
If not for her decisive actions back then, the Sage might have assimilated the entire planet!
Hearing this, Mahiro chuckled softly.
"Don't speak too definitively just yet. You might change your mind in the future... It's already too late today, so I'll head back to sleep."
With that, Mahiro vanished from the spot in an instant.
"Um... Big Brother Mahiro really isn't a bad person, so please don't be angry with him."
Kanon spoke in a timid voice, defending Mahiro. Before Nina could respond, she hugged the doll in her arms tightly.
"And Big Brother is right—it's already too late today. I'll take you home to sleep. Although the orphanage doesn't allow cats, keeping you shouldn't be a problem."
As she spoke, Kanon happily narrowed her eyes.
She had a strong interest in caring for small animals. Meanwhile, the ancient Great Alchemist scowled and said:
"Don't treat me like a pet!"
Unfortunately, Kanon completely ignored her complaint, treating her entirely like a small animal.
At the same time, Mahiro did not return to the villa.
After all, his villa had been destroyed, and he had no interest in staying at a hotel. Instead, he went directly back to Natsuki-chan's small cottage.
However, as soon as he entered the room, he saw Natsuki Minamiya sitting on the edge of the bed with her back to him.
She was gazing at the moon outside the window.
The bright moonlight streamed into the room, gently enveloping her petite figure like a veil of moonlight.
"Why have you come back here?" Natsuki spoke without turning to face him.
Her voice carried a hint of petulance, mixed with a touch of sorrow.
"Your goal is already accomplished, isn't it? Are you happy now? Everything I had has been destroyed by you."
From the moment she discovered Itogami Island was an altar, to now freeing the Prison Barrier...
To be honest, she didn't harbor much resentment in her heart. Instead, she felt a sense of relief, as if a burden had been lifted.
However, it also left her unsure of how to face Mahiro, how to face the life ahead, and filled her with confusion about everything before her.
"So, go. Go find your Aya, take her and leave Itogami Island..."
Yet, Natsuki's monologue didn't receive the response she had hoped for.
Instead, the bed beside her sank slightly, and a large hand wrapped around her shoulder, causing her delicate willow-like brows to furrow instantly.
Natsuki tried to struggle a couple of times, but unable to shake off his hand, she gave up.
"What are you trying to do now?"
"Nothing, really. Besides, I've said it before, haven't I? I like you. This isn't just empty words—it's sincere."
"Oh? You like me? You're just after my body, aren't you?" Natsuki glanced sideways, letting out an unhappy snort.
Mahiro, on the other hand, nodded firmly and said:
"Yeah, that's right. I am after your body. Is that not allowed?"
"Hmph, you lolicon pervert! What's so appealing about a child's body like mine..." Natsuki Minamiya's words were dripping with resentment.
"Don't worry about that. Just tell me, will you agree or not?"
"..."
Natsuki Minamiya looked up at him, just as she was about to answer, he kissed her again.
Unlike the kiss in her sleep last time, this one was real and passionate.
Like lovers.
In her mind, it felt as if something exploded, bringing her an unprecedented shock and impact.
Originally, Natsuki Minamiya wanted to push this man away, but for some reason, her body refused to move. Even the hand meant to push him gradually shifted to clutching his clothes.
She really liked this feeling.
The fluttering in her heart, the heat coursing through her body.
No woman would dislike this feeling.
But she felt she didn't deserve it, didn't deserve such a life.
Yet, she couldn't deny that she was truly sinking into this sensation.
A long while later, the two finally separated.
Natsuki, her face flushed and breathing heavily, buried her head against his chest and complained:
"Mahiro, you already have Aya, and so many other women around you. Why do you still have to bother me?"
"Haven't I already said it? I like you."
Such straightforward words made Natsuki's cheeks turn even redder, as if on fire.
"You... you must have said that to many girls, haven't you?"
"Yeah, quite a few."
Mahiro didn't hide it and nodded openly in admission.
"Even if not a hundred, at least eighty, right?"
"You really are a scumbag! A pervert! A hopeless lolicon! A playboy who should be destroyed on the spot!"
"So, what's your answer? Are you willing to stay by the side of a scumbag, pervert, lolicon, and playboy?"
This time, Mahiro did not receive a response from Natsuki Minamiya. The Natsuki nestled in his arms lifted her head to gaze up at him once more, her eyes shimmering with tears, as if she had made a certain decision.
The next second.
A pair of small hands tightly grasped the collar of Mahiro's shirt, pulling him down forcefully, and their lips met once again in a tight embrace.
Their figures gradually merged under the moonlight.
"You... you damn pervert lolicon, I... this is my first time, don't you dare bully me..."