Category: Villainous Second Miss Becomes a God in Supernatural Tokyo

Chapter 13: The Grand Opening of Summer Harvest Mountain

Natsuba Hanae recognized the form the leader of the Circle of Light had taken.

It was called a Chimera.

Using a unique, forbidden technique, a human and a supernatural being were forcibly fused. Although the supernatural user’s inherent power didn’t increase…

Their physical abilities were amplified significantly.

Moreover, it was said that there was a minuscule chance of inheriting the supernatural being’s unique “Rule.”

Of course, supernatural beings with Rules were at least Calamity-level, the stage above Elite.

What surprised Natsuba Hanae was that a Chimera had appeared so early.

In her previous life’s game, Chimeras didn’t appear until the latter half of the second expansion’s storyline.

This suggested that Chimera research was still in its early stages, and the technology likely wasn’t perfected.

The leader of the Blissful Truth religion was undeniably a madman, but also a genius.

A hybrid of human and supernatural, devoid of the chaotic consciousness of a supernatural being, possessing the ability to think, making the Chimera easy to control while retaining the supernatural being’s physical prowess. It was seemingly perfect.

However, the Chimera’s growth potential was severely limited.

And in prolonged combat, they would descend into madness, depending on the strength of the human’s will.

These pieces of information flashed through Natsuba Hanae’s mind.

Beside her…

A glimmer of hope appeared in the second member’s eyes. According to his sensory abilities, although the leader had transformed into a monster, he was undoubtedly the strongest presence here.

Moreover, he had taken the Second Miss hostage. If the leader attacked, the maid bodyguard would definitely be constrained.

And the leader’s large size would provide excellent cover. As long as the leader came closer, he could hide among its scales, and all his problems would disappear.

This was a sure win!

A triumphant smile appeared on the second member’s lips.

However, just then, the Second Miss’s gentle voice reached his ears.

“Sorry.”

“I don’t have time to play with you any longer.”

“So…”

Natsuba Hanae’s lips were curved in a smile, but her red eyes were filled with cold indifference, like a beautiful yet deadly poppy.

“Would you mind dying?”

She slowly extended her fair hand, slightly raising her head to look at the leaping goat-headed Chimera.

She murmured,

“Ubume.”

As she finished speaking, the tips of Natsuba Hanae’s swaying silver hair were tinged with black.

An invisible, powerful pressure enveloped the area.

Suddenly, a grotesque bird’s head, wreathed in surging Sanctuary Flame, emerged from her hair. Its black and white feathers looked eerily beautiful, and its violent, crimson vertical pupils were filled with hunger.

Its eyes, as large as the rising sun, shone brightly, rivaling the moon in the sky.

The bird’s head alone was ten meters in size.

The goat-headed Chimera looked like a small, laughable child in comparison.

“Eat it.”

The Ubume opened its massive maw, revealing rows of sharp, crisscrossing teeth. The Chimera, unable to change direction mid-air, flew straight into its mouth, its eyes filled with terror.

“No!! No!!”

“Don’t kill me!!”

“I’ll do anything!”

The Circle of Light trio had no moral compass to begin with, and their surrender was even more shameless. But Natsuba Hanae wouldn’t accept their pathetic allegiance.

Besides, it was too late.

The moment had arrived. The Ubume’s beak snapped shut.

“Bang—!”

A muffled, explosive sound echoed as the B-rank Chimera was effortlessly crushed and devoured.

A bloody rain drizzled down.

It stained the ground crimson, flowing like a small stream, nourishing the forest.

The second member, drenched in blood, stared at the Second Miss in horror, his eyes devoid of light, his body trembling uncontrollably.

In his perception, if the leader and the maid were blazing flames…

Then the being before him was a radiant, surging sun.

Just a single glance had scorched his supernatural senses, causing unbearable pain.

The dagger had long since fallen to the ground.

Against such a powerful being, not even this laughable dagger, let alone a supernatural blade crafted from a Nightmare-level entity, could inflict a fatal wound.

Both girls were monsters.

Just what kind of bad luck had befallen them tonight?!

He was filled with regret.

Seeing this, Chikari Makoto quickly ran to Natsuba Hanae’s side.

She raised her hands and cheered.

“Yay!”

“Mom is the best in the world, the best in the universe!”

“No one is stronger than Mom!”

Hearing this, Natsuba Hanae glanced at Chikari Makoto.

“Makoto, don’t think you can sweep your mistakes under the rug with flattery.”

“If you were skilled enough, you could have killed the first one in two moves, and he wouldn’t have had the chance to become a Chimera.”

“Therefore, you failed this test.”

“Double your training when we get back.”

Natsuba Hanae ignored her further and walked into the forest.

“Eh?!?”

Chikari Makoto pouted.

She thought praising Mom would distract her, but it failed.

Although she enjoyed the fight, that kind of training…

Chikari Makoto shuddered at the thought.

Natsuba Hanae’s red, glass-like eyes looked into the distance.

Next, she would head to the battlefield where the elite-level supernatural being and the Nenba branch were fighting.

But not as the second daughter of the Natsuba conglomerate.

But as…

—The leader of Summer Harvest Mountain.

Natsuba Hanae gently touched her face, and Sanctuary Flame ignited.

As it died down, a beautiful, black bird mask with ornate feather patterns covered half her face, her red eyes gleaming within, beautiful and eerie.

Seeing this, Chikari Makoto quickly pulled out a golden bird mask from her skirt and put it on.

The two walked away.

Leaving the second member, still clinging to a sliver of hope, overjoyed.

“I… I’m still alive?!”

He was at a loss, then immediately thought of contacting the Blissful Truth religion.

However, he saw the enormous, grotesque bird’s head slowly dissipating in the air, its crimson vertical pupils fixed on him.

Then, it swooped down!

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh———!”

His screams echoed through the night.

Announcing the grand opening of Summer Harvest Mountain.

…

Chapter 12: Natsuba Hanae is Easy to Bully!

The second member gulped, staring fearfully at Chikari Makoto in the distance.

The pretty, dignified maid now appeared to him as a terrifying, demonic incarnation.

So unreasonable!

Extreme speed and extreme power combined in one person.

Based on her current combat strength, his analysis placed her at the peak of C-rank, with destructive power rivaling even B-rank.

Moreover, she had taken down the third member in one move.

And her full capabilities remained unknown.

Just then, a female voice came from behind him.

“Makoto, hurry up.”

Natsuba Hanae sensed the elite-level supernatural being’s power rapidly increasing in the distance. If this continued, the Nenba branch would suffer heavy losses.

She didn’t care about the others, but the loss of the discarded girl would affect her plans, causing a considerable headache.

Hearing this, Chikari Makoto snapped out of her psychotic state and immediately replied,

“Yes, Second Miss.”

Second Miss?!

A flash of inspiration struck the second member, the brains of the trio.

So that was it. The maid was the Second Miss’s bodyguard.

With his sensory abilities, the maid was like a blazing torch in the night, incredibly conspicuous.

However, the Second Miss’s presence was faint, even weaker than an ordinary person, clearly a pampered young lady from a wealthy family.

If…

He could take the Second Miss hostage…

He might be able to escape with his life!

Although he was a support-type supernatural user, his physical abilities had increased when he awakened his powers. This increase was small compared to combat-type users.

But compared to ordinary people, the difference was like that between a mouse and an elephant; they were powerless to resist.

He was much closer to the Second Miss than the maid was.

He definitely had a chance!

As a desperate man, a ruthless glint appeared in the second member’s eyes. He would take a gamble.

His leg muscles tensed, and he took a deep breath.

He dashed towards the Second Miss, pushing his body to its limits, unleashing all his potential.

He grabbed a dagger from his belt.

Closer, closer.

He pressed the dagger against the Second Miss’s throat, stopping just five centimeters away. The plan was going unbelievably smoothly.

“Uh…”

“It worked just like that?”

The second member was stunned.

The maid, as a bodyguard, was far too incompetent, allowing someone with vastly inferior power to easily capture the person she was protecting.

This was as absurd as the recent incident where a D-rank supernatural user successfully assassinated the Prime Minister.

Were all bodyguards just freeloaders these days?

Thinking this, he suddenly considered becoming a bodyguard for a high-ranking member of the Blissful Truth religion.

Back to the matter at hand.

He held the dagger against Natsuba Hanae’s throat and quickly glanced at Chikari Makoto.

Checking if she was rushing towards them.

If she did, his sensory abilities would alert him, allowing him to take preventive measures.

However, something unexpected happened.

Chikari Makoto didn’t move. Instead, she looked at him with an incredulous expression.

Then, that incredulity turned into pity.

The second member felt belittled.

He held her life in his hands, yet she dared to look at him with such an expression.

It seemed he needed to disfigure the Second Miss a little to prove he was serious.

However, at that moment…

The Second Miss, ignoring the dagger, looked towards the area where the leader had been sent flying, a faint light flickering in her red, glass-like eyes.

A smile slowly appeared on her lips.

“Interesting.”

“I didn’t expect to find such a rare thing here.”

“As expected of the supernatural-worshipping Blissful Truth religion.”

Just as the second member felt confused, an incredibly loud explosion boomed.

“Bang—!”

A towering tree crashed to the ground.

Then, an inhuman roar echoed.

“Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa———!!!”

Chikari Makoto frowned and instantly prepared for battle.

The second member was completely bewildered.

A look of anticipation appeared in Natsuba Hanae’s eyes.

As the three watched…

A monstrous, goat-like creature emerged from the forest.

Its hunched body was five meters tall.

It stood on four hooves, its body covered in fine, white scales. Its demonic horns gleamed menacingly in the moonlight, looking incredibly sharp.

Most disturbing was its face – a human face.

The face of the leader of the Circle of Light!

The dented cheek was rapidly regenerating.

“Laaaaaaaaaaa———!”

“Painful, so painful!”

“You made me activate the thing inside me, turning me into this! I’ll kill you! I’ll make you experience my pain!!”

It spoke.

“Big Bro?! Is that Big Bro?!”

“Big Bro, save me! I’ve got the Second Miss hostage!”

The second member sensed a familiar aura from the monster, confirming that the inhuman creature was indeed their leader.

And from its words, it seemed it had used the thing the Blissful Truth religion had implanted in him.

Although terrified, his survival was paramount.

Chikari Makoto assumed a stance, silently preparing for battle.

A flicker of thought appeared in the monster’s human face, and it looked at Chikari Makoto with a hint of fear. The memory of that powerful punch still lingered.

Then, it saw the hostage Second Miss, and sharp, white teeth emerged from its mouth.

Its massive body leaped, the ground cracking and collapsing beneath it, as it lunged towards Natsuba Hanae like a falling mountain.

“Oh?”

Natsuba Hanae looked at the enormous shadow looming over her with amusement.

“One by one…”

“Do you think I’m that easy to bully?”

As soon as she finished speaking…

Her red, glass-like eyes shone brightly, and an invisible pressure suddenly enveloped the area, erupting outwards!

…

Chapter 11: The Psychotically Beautiful Combatant, Chikari Makoto, Arrives~!

The leader of the Circle of Light felt as if he’d been hit by a truck. His face caved in, blood gushing as he flew backward.

“Bang!”

A thick tree snapped in half.

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

Two more trees were broken. Finally, his momentum slowed as he became embedded in the trunk of the largest tree, blood trickling from his lips, his fate unknown.

Chikari Makoto’s lips curled into a manic grin, her golden eyes like the Grim Reaper in the night, freely reaping lives.

Her fighting spirit intensified, her Qi surging to its limits.

It enveloped her body, burning fiercely.

The Chikari bloodline was inherently combat-oriented. Its members generally possessed greater fighting prowess than those of other supernatural lineages.

The higher their fighting spirit, the more freely their Qi flowed.

And Chikari Makoto was the best among them.

Usually a harmless, docile maid, once she entered combat mode, her suppressed personality erupted.

She was a truly psychotic, beautiful combatant!

Because of this, despite complaining about the heavy training Natsuba Hanae imposed, she would do everything in her power to improve her combat abilities.

“Big Bro!!”

The third member of the Circle of Light panicked and ran towards the leader, but the second member stopped him.

He hissed,

“Don’t go!”

His expression was grim. The leader had that thing inside him; he wouldn’t die so easily.

The real threat was the blonde girl in front of them.

The pale golden aura erupting from her body constantly assaulted his senses, setting off alarm bells in his mind.

Letting the third member run off now would only disrupt their formation.

He was the support in their trio; their ability to track the elite-level supernatural being relied on his power.

The leader and the third member were both combat-type supernatural users.

The leader, although possessing the most common power-type ability, had the most balanced stats.

But the third member was an exception.

Although he possessed immense strength when using his ability, his speed was lacking.

However…

With him added to the mix, things were different.

The two of them combined had a fighting chance, creating a synergy greater than the sum of their parts.

But if the third member went to check on the leader, leaving him alone, they would be picked off one by one, doomed to die.

So, he instantly stopped the third member.

And the other two generally valued his strategic mind.

After all, thanks to the second member’s plans, they had often gained advantages in the past. This was undeniable.

Although anxious, the third member trusted the second.

“Second Bro, what should we do now?”

Various thoughts flashed through the second member’s mind, and he said,

“Focus. Big Bro probably isn’t dead, but he must be heavily injured. We need to hold out until he recovers and activates that thing.”

“Can you handle that girl?”

Unbelievable!

The second member gulped. That girl, who looked no older than fifteen, a mere high school student, possessed the power to defeat their leader in one move!

Did she think this was a Japanese light novel or a game where high schoolers could conquer everything?

He felt like his thirty-plus years of life had been wasted.

If this was the case, he should have become a homeless person.

The anxious third member also calmed down, his expression turning serious as he looked at Chikari Makoto.

“I can try.”

…For three minutes.

He didn’t say those words aloud. They were already in a dangerous situation; voicing his limitations would only lower morale.

The second member nodded.

He possessed enhanced senses, while the third member had powerful limbs. He would act as the third member’s eyes, compensating for his lack of speed compared to Chikari Makoto.

“Protect me, and I’ll sup… Watch out!”

At that moment, Chikari Makoto, who had been acclimating to her full power, suddenly moved.

This wasn’t time for explanations.

And the Circle of Light weren’t some costumed villains shouting “Za Warudo!”

The time they spent discussing was the time Chikari Makoto used to gather herself. Once ready, she acted.

The Storm Dance, the powerful attack that had incapacitated their leader, had been a miscalculation on her part.

She hadn’t controlled her power properly, giving her opponents a chance to breathe.

Now…

There would be no such mistakes.

“Hundred Feathers Style.”

Chikari Makoto thrust her fist forward.

Her golden eyes ignited with brilliant light, her scorching Qi radiating outwards, her fighting spirit soaring.

In the next instant, she vanished.

A moment later, the ground beneath where she had stood exploded with a sharp crack, leaving a crater.

“She’s on your right!”

The second member’s urgent warning came.

“Magnification!”

The third member growled, his right arm rapidly expanding like an inflating balloon, veins bulging as if pythons were writhing beneath his skin.

In such a short time, he only managed to magnify his right arm.

But as long as he could defend, magnifying his entire body afterward wouldn’t be a problem.

He turned his head to the right and saw Chikari Makoto’s fist hurtling towards him, her bloodthirsty expression chilling.

But with his magnification ability, blocking her punch shouldn’t be a problem!

With Second Bro’s sensory abilities and his own power, they might actually be able to defeat this girl.

A smile appeared on the third member’s lips.

However, in the next moment…

That smile froze.

Chikari Makoto’s fist, enveloped in a powerful aura, inexplicably passed through his magnified right arm.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

“An afterimage?!”

“Impossible! Where is she?!”

“Third, she’s—”

The second member’s urgent shout came.

But before he could finish, he felt a light pressure on the top of his head.

Then, an overwhelming force, like a thousand-pound weight, pressed down on him, an unstoppable torrent, an insurmountable force.

His neck let out a sickening crack, and his body lost balance, falling to the left.

He slammed heavily against the ground.

“Boom———!!”

A thunderous sound echoed through the area.

Smoke and dust filled the air, then dispersed with the forest breeze.

The scene slowly cleared.

A large crater, a headless corpse, and a pretty maid.

A bizarre yet strangely harmonious tableau.

Chikari Makoto rubbed her index finger against her lips, her golden eyes burning like a wildfire, a seemingly harmless smile gracing her lips.

The wind carried her voice.

“One.”

Chapter 10: Let’s Get Rowdy!

“…”

The three members of the Circle of Light looked down at their legs, which refused to move, and remained silent.

Chikari Makoto’s acting was a bit over the top.

As an actress, she wasn’t quite up to par, especially compared to Natsuba Hanae, a true Oscar-worthy performer.

After all, Natsuba Hanae’s life at the Natsuba estate was spent either acting or preparing to act.

Her usual disguise was that of an obedient, gentle, and soft-spoken young lady.

And it was precisely because of Chikari Makoto’s exaggerated performance that the third member of the Circle of Light, always the cautious one, became suspicious.

“Big Bro, isn’t it strange for two women to suddenly appear in the forest in the middle of the night? Could there be something…”

“It’s fine.”

The pockmarked man gave a confident smile, further highlighting his role as a minor villain.

Reality was often stranger than fiction.

What was so strange about two women appearing at night?

Nowadays, ordinary people often livestreamed from deep within mountains and forests for attention.

If they happened to capture a supernatural being on camera, their popularity would skyrocket.

After all, under normal circumstances, ordinary people never saw supernatural beings, because those who did usually ended up dead.

This further fueled the curiosity of ordinary people who wanted to witness the supernatural.

Most supernatural users looked down on the meager profits of livestreaming, so naturally, some ordinary people, driven by profit, took on this job.

The leader of the Circle of Light was thinking along these lines.

He said in a low voice,

“Don’t worry, Third. I don’t sense any supernatural fluctuations from them, and the thing inside me isn’t reacting either.”

“They’re clearly ordinary people.”

As a supernatural user, he wouldn’t just toy with ordinary people.

He could even kill them right here. As long as he wasn’t caught red-handed, there wouldn’t be any consequences.

Even if there was sufficient evidence proving he was the killer, the Blissful Truth religion would cover for him.

Ultimately, the Circle of Light was established by the Blissful Truth religion to handle their dirty work. Most of its members were ordinary followers used as a facade.

And the other part, like them…

Were supernatural users with criminal records or those on the run, given new identities by the Blissful Truth religion so they could live in the light.

Of course, this new life wasn’t free.

The Blissful Truth religion had planted something inside the leader’s body.

If any of the three betrayed them, it would activate.

However, this thing also had a benefit. According to the Blissful Truth religion, if activated voluntarily, it would significantly enhance their power, increasing their physical strength by a whole rank!

As a C-rank, increasing a rank meant reaching B-rank, a whole new level of superiority, officially joining the elite among supernatural users.

“Boom———!!!!”

Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed from the distance.

The five people instantly turned their attention towards the sound.

In the dark night, a mushroom cloud of white smoke rose, and a powerful shockwave rippled outwards, creating a fierce gale that rustled the leaves violently.

The elite-level supernatural being and the Nenba branch had encountered each other and begun to fight!

And their clash was a spectacular one.

Such intense power couldn’t be produced by a minor skill.

Seeing this, Natsuba Hanae’s red eyes flickered, and the feigned terror on her face vanished, replaced by coldness.

She looked at Chikari Makoto, who was still hugging herself, and said softly,

“Makoto, it’s not time for acting anymore.”

“Kill them quickly.”

Her focus tonight was on the main material for the Umbrella Sword and her plan for the Nenba branch.

Dealing with the Circle of Light was merely an act of her rare, fleeting kindness.

Chikari Makoto: “…”

She rolled her eyes again.

Honestly, who was the one who started the acting in the first place?

But…

Mom was always right!

Chikari Makoto remembered a time a few years ago when she had suggested something completely opposite to what her mom wanted. Mom had said it was good to have different opinions.

Then, her training load for that month mysteriously tripled.

Of course, she gradually understood the reasoning behind it.

In an organization, subordinates shouldn’t question their superiors. An organization didn’t need two voices, even if both decisions were correct.

Otherwise, it would lead to chaos.

Chikari Makoto took a deep breath and looked directly at the three members of the Circle of Light.

Tonight, she had to perform well in front of Mom and show her what she was capable of.

Chikari Makoto assumed a strange, rhythmic stance, her legs spread apart, her eyes sharp and focused like a golden eagle circling in the sky, surveying its prey, preparing to strike.

Her lips parted slightly as she murmured,

“Thousand Feathers Style.”

The leader of the Circle of Light still hadn’t grasped the gravity of the situation. He laughed heartily.

“Second, Third, did you hear what those two women said?”

“They want to ‘deal’ with us?”

“That’s the funniest joke I’ve ever…”

Thump———!!

The leader’s heart skipped a beat. He froze, then a chill ran down his spine. A primal fear surged through him, and he began to tremble uncontrollably.

Like a mouse on the ground, stared down by a golden eagle in the sky.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

“Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!”

“I’m a C-rank power user!”

His eyes were fixed on Chikari Makoto, and he saw her lips move again, murmuring another word.

Then, she vanished.

He immediately searched for her, but then her belated whisper reached his right ear.

“Die!”

Years of combat experience allowed him to react instantly. He clenched his right hand into a fist, muscles bulging, ripping his tight clothing, veins popping out.

He fiercely punched towards his right!

However, he saw those burning golden eyes in the darkness glance down, effortlessly dodging his full-powered attack.

Then, that clear and pleasant female voice rang out again.

“Thousand Feathers Style.”

“—Storm Dance.”

A powerful cyclone of swirling, intense golden energy gathered around her right fist.

A perfect fusion of Qi and Ijishin.

The corner of Chikari Makoto’s mouth curled upwards, and she tightened her fist.

Her hips like a bow, her arm like the string, her fist like the arrow, all three united as she struck.

Aiming directly for his face!

“Bang———!!”

The resounding echo lingered.

The silent night was about to get rowdy.

…

…

Chapter 9: Supernatural Beings Must Die!

From the towering cliff…

Natsuba Hanae, light as a bird, leaped down.

Her elegant, close-fitting black dress blended with the night, swaying gracefully like the magnificent tail feathers of a phoenix, creating endless ripples in the air.

Chikari Makoto followed closely behind.

Thanks to the Ubume and Ijishin templates…

When Natsuba Hanae and Chikari Makoto landed, the ground didn’t shatter; there wasn’t even a slight sound.

It was as if two leaves had fallen to the ground, silent and weightless.

Perfectly suited to the quiet night.

Then, Natsuba Hanae closed her eyes, the golden cherry blossom pattern between her brows flashing momentarily.

Suddenly, like an arrow released from its bow, she shot forward.

Her speed was so great that she left afterimages, yet the forest remained as tranquil as ever.

Chikari Makoto stared, dumbfounded.

“Just how strong is Mom?”

“Could she already be capable of single-handedly destroying the Natsuba conglomerate? Wouldn’t that make me useless?”

Although the Ijishin template didn’t enhance night vision, as a bird yokai, her eyesight was already exceptional.

But even Chikari Makoto…

Couldn’t capture Natsuba Hanae’s movements, only glimpsing the fading afterimages.

In a real fight, she probably wouldn’t even have time to react before her head rolled off her shoulders.

She had thought that through years of relentless training, she had at least somewhat caught up to Natsuba Hanae.

But now, she couldn’t even see Hanae’s shadow.

“Mom…is even more terrifying than before.”

Chikari Makoto pursed her lips, her amber eyes dimming slightly.

But then, they suddenly brightened.

“But I won’t give up! I’ll continue to follow, and I will see her back!”

She was just a hair’s breadth away from B-rank. Once she reached B-rank, with the combined power of her Qi ability and the Ijishin template, she would become a force to be reckoned with among B-rank users.

Catching a glimpse of Natsuba Hanae’s back might not be so difficult after all.

Chikari Makoto was filled with renewed energy.

For now, she would start by keeping up with Natsuba Hanae.

A look of determination filled Chikari Makoto’s eyes.

The surging energy within her swirled, enveloping her body. Her amber eyes instantly transformed into pure gold.

She activated a portion of her Qi ability and the Ijishin’s speed.

Her toes lightly touched the ground, creating a swirling gust of wind as she shot towards Natsuba Hanae, her speed only slightly slower.

Natsuba Hanae glanced sideways.

“Caught up, have you?”

“Your speed is acceptable. It seems you haven’t been slacking off.”

Tonight’s objective, besides loosening up her muscles, was also to test Chikari Makoto.

Of course, after discovering the Circle of Light and the Nenba branch, those two objectives had become secondary.

The Circle of Light was a cult.

A branch of the Blissful Truth religion.

Both shared the same nature, preaching doomsday prophecies about the arrival of supernatural beings.

Only by joining their sect could one attain bliss.

Otherwise, only the torment of hell awaited.

The Circle of Light was relatively small, but the Blissful Truth religion was vast, becoming the dominant religion in several cities, worshipped by countless ordinary people.

It was understandable. In a world overrun by supernatural beings, conglomerates and associations controlled the sorcerers, and only a select few awakened as supernatural users, absorbed by those same conglomerates and associations.

Most people remained ordinary.

They could only find solace in faith, and the Blissful Truth religion painted a beautiful picture of the future for those who joined.

Their leader and followers were powerful supernatural users.

They occasionally displayed their powers, calling them miracles.

Ordinary people couldn’t resist.

However, only Natsuba Hanae knew that the Blissful Truth religion wasn’t so simple.

Because the beings they worshipped weren’t gods, Buddhas, or immortals, but…

—Supernatural entities!

The Circle of Light, as a branch, was meant to handle matters that were inconvenient for the Blissful Truth religion.

They could even serve as scapegoats or a means of escaping blame later.

The Nenba branch could be considered and incorporated into her plans.

As for the Circle of Light…

Thinking of this, Natsuba Hanae’s deep red eyes narrowed, becoming cold and sharp, shining brightly like a blood-red spider lily blooming in the darkness, radiating an aura of death.

“Eradication is the only answer.”

Her gentle voice, whispering in the darkness, sounded chillingly cold.

Therefore, from the beginning…

Her target wasn’t the elite-level supernatural being or the Nenba branch.

It was…

“Hey, look at this pretty lady.”

“Tracking that supernatural being for a week has bored us to death. Come and entertain us!”

Disgusting taunts came from ahead.

Natsuba Hanae slowed down, emerging from the trees into a moonlit clearing.

There, three men in various attire leered at her with predatory gazes, their eyes glowing green like wolves eyeing a lamb.

They gulped repeatedly, looking ravenous.

“Wait, wait, Big Bro, look, there are two!”

Chikari Makoto stepped out beside Natsuba Hanae. She blinked her golden eyes, glanced at the excited members of the Circle of Light, and then at Natsuba Hanae, who feigned a look of terror.

She pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.

Mom’s mischievous side was showing again. Honestly.

Then…

With a smack, Chikari Makoto hugged herself, stuck out her lower lip, and her voice instantly took on a whimpering tone.

“What are you going to do?!”

“Don’t come any closer!”

Hmph, children learn by watching their parents, after all.

…

…

Chapter 8: Even Natsuba Hanae Would Shed a Tear

“Oh?”

“So it’s here.”

A pair of red eyes, exceptionally striking in the darkness, shone brilliantly, gazing into the distance.

Before these dazzling, sun-like eyes, everything was revealed, nothing could hide.

One of the benefits provided by Night-Wandering Woman was unparalleled sensory acuity at night. Everything was crystal clear.

Natsuba Hanae sat on something, arms crossed.

A look of amusement graced her exquisite face.

Within her sight…

Two groups, each led by a C-rank user, were rapidly pursuing the elite-level supernatural being from different directions, using special tracking methods.

One of the groups’ auras was extremely familiar.

Natsuba Hanae lightly rubbed her finger against her lips and murmured,

“The Nenba branch should be staying at the main house. Why are they here?”

Although…

As the second daughter of the Natsuba conglomerate, venturing out in the middle of the night didn’t exactly give her the right to question other servants.

Just then, Natsuba Hanae suddenly swayed.

She instinctively frowned.

She looked down at her current…seat.

It was Chikari Makoto, prostrated on the ground, supporting Hanae with her back.

Chikari Makoto, apparently reacting to the mention of the Nenba branch, quickly shared her information.

“Is it the Nenba branch?”

“This afternoon, I saw Third Young Master…”

“Natsuba Yosuke talking to someone from the Nenba branch. Later, he left with a C-rank sorcerer.”

“Mom, see if that guy has a mole below the right corner of his lip.”

Hearing this, Natsuba Hanae focused her gaze.

Indeed…

The black-haired young man had a mole below the right corner of his lip. It was the same person.

Black hair was also a characteristic of the Nenba branch.

The Nenba branch was a somewhat special family within the conglomerate. Although they possessed a supernatural bloodline, it had become diluted and was now only used as a supplementary power.

As for Natsuba Yosuke, he was Natsuba Hanae’s older brother, the third son of the Natsuba family.

He had recently become involved with the Nenba branch.

The Nenba branch’s current combatants were all sorcerers within the Natsuba conglomerate’s system, existing by clinging to the conglomerate’s power.

There were rumors within the family that the Nenba branch hadn’t been conquered by the Natsuba conglomerate, but had submitted willingly.

After all, their so-called supernatural bloodline had only produced an A-rank supernatural user in their family history.

This had caused their bloodline to evolve, passed down to their descendants.

However, the later generations of the Nenba branch were incompetent, with none reaching even B-rank, leading to the dilution of their bloodline and forcing them to surrender to the Natsuba conglomerate.

It was worth noting that the Nenba branch was quite ridiculous.

Even though their supernatural bloodline was so weak, they treated it as a precious treasure.

Within their family, if a member didn’t awaken the Nen ability, but another ability, or even no ability at all, their status was lower than a servant, no better than a slave or a tool!

Of course, the Nenba branch wasn’t entirely useless.

Their weak Nen ability, combined with sorcery, made them slightly stronger than ordinary sorcerers of the same rank.

In Natsuba Hanae’s view, there was no need to bother subduing the Nenba branch.

In another ten or twenty years, their Nen ability would likely fade to nothing. Instead of cultivating them as sorcerers, it would be better to nurture ordinary people with greater aptitude and loyalty towards sorcery.

However, her thoughts took an unexpected turn.

The group led by the young man with the mole seemed to have lost their way and stopped.

Then, he punched a thin, dirty girl in the stomach, cursing at her.

The frail girl clutched her abdomen and knelt down.

She cut her wrist with her sharp fingernails, letting the blood flow, and a faint, hazy white light appeared in her eyes.

She pointed in the direction of the elite-level supernatural being.

The young man with the mole and the other two quickly rushed in that direction.

The frail girl, clutching her stomach and enduring the pain, stumbled but quickly followed.

“Interesting.”

“Black hair, clearly a member of the Nenba branch, and her power is even greater than the leading C-rank sorcerer.”

“Yet she obeys him and endures his abuse.”

“Is that a discarded member of the Nenba branch?”

This was the first time Natsuba Hanae had seen a discarded member of the Nenba branch.

This was more than just slavery. Slaves were still valuable property to their owners. This was like disposable chopsticks, used and thrown away.

They weren’t given any supernatural items for recovery, weren’t even allowed to rest properly, and their abilities were ruthlessly exploited.

They were even forced to use their own blood to activate their powers.

Even a capitalist would shed a tear.

And Natsuba Hanae, unfortunately, was one of the products cultivated by the Natsuba conglomerate.

Their philosophy of maximizing utility and prioritizing self-interest was ingrained in her bones.

Her deep red eyes gleamed.

“If some of the discarded members of the Nenba branch possess such qualities, they could be worth recruiting and utilizing.”

Maximizing utility.

The young man with the mole wasn’t maximizing utility.

He was prematurely exhausting her.

Every C-rank supernatural user was a valuable asset. How could he afford to exhaust her to the point of disability or death?

The correct approach was to keep them alive but barely, functional but barely, dangling a carrot of slight improvement and a bit of status if they worked hard enough, while squeezing out every last drop of their usefulness.

That was the proper way to operate.

A warm, ephemeral smile bloomed on Natsuba Hanae’s lips.

“Eek—!”

Below her, Chikari Makoto suddenly shivered, feeling a chill down her spine. She quickly shook her head, her golden hair swaying.

“Mom, are you ready yet?”

“When are we going to kill that supernatural being? I can’t wait!”

Hearing this, Natsuba Hanae stood up from Chikari Makoto’s back and said,

“Soon.”

She looked at the other group. It was a recently notorious folk religion.

A cult.

—The Circle of Light.

Natsuba Hanae pursed her lips, her eyes gleaming. Tonight’s outing wouldn’t be in vain.

It seemed…

The plan in her mind could be accelerated.

Chapter 7: The Night is My Veil

Natsuba Hanae and Natsuba Rinrei resided in a detached house on the Natsuba estate.

The nearest gate was the west gate.

Theoretically, the Chikari branch only needed to replace the guards at the west gate with their own people. However, for greater secrecy and safety, they replaced the personnel at all the gates.

Chikari Tanishi was the head of the Chikari branch and one of the high-ranking stewards of the Natsuba conglomerate.

Apart from the Natsuba head, no one would question his orders.

Moreover…

The Natsuba conglomerate was currently facing internal strife, rife with power struggles.

The head of the family was old and frail, relying on supernatural elixirs to prolong his life, clinging to power and refusing to let go.

His eldest son, with his wings fully grown, was plotting to seize control.

The second son, although slightly less powerful than the first, had awakened supernatural abilities and could rival his older brother.

Only the third son…

—Was a weakling.

Born only five years before Natsuba Hanae, his power had already been usurped by his two older brothers, leaving him with practically nothing.

He pathetically allied himself with a minor branch of the Nenba family, a relationship that wasn’t even master-servant, but more of a partnership.

Since tonight’s operation was orchestrated by Chikari Tanishi, even if those with ulterior motives noticed something, they wouldn’t intentionally investigate.

They would simply assume it was another internal power struggle.

This was also Chikari Tanishi’s own thinking. If only the west gate’s personnel were changed, it would appear suspicious.

This was also why Natsuba Hanae valued Chikari Tanishi.

Although his strength had almost reached its limit, with no further room for growth…

He was experienced and efficient, a loyal subordinate who used his mind to address minor details, making him trustworthy.

Of course, although the Natsuba conglomerate was beginning to fracture internally…

As long as the head remained in power, this seemingly disintegrating conglomerate would be held together by force.

This was one of the hidden dangers of the Natsuba conglomerate’s rapid expansion and absorption of numerous families:

An unstable foundation.

However, this had nothing to do with the current Natsuba Hanae.

At this moment, a black luxury car sped towards Ginza.

Natsuba Hanae sat in the passenger seat.

It wouldn’t be appropriate for the Second Miss to drive herself, especially since she had never driven before.

However…

Natsuba Hanae pursed her lips, looked at the excitedly driving Chikari Makoto, and asked,

“Makoto, do you have a driver’s license?”

Hearing this, Chikari Makoto blinked, furrowed her brows slightly, and glanced sideways at Natsuba Hanae.

“A driver’s license? What’s that? Wait, I’ll search for it on my phone.”

“…Don’t bother. Focus on driving.”

She should have known. Chikari Makoto was only fourteen; how could she have a license? Good children shouldn’t imitate Chikari Makoto.

It wasn’t a big deal. Even if the car crashed, she wouldn’t be harmed.

The repair costs would simply be deducted from Chikari Makoto’s salary.

Thinking this way, Natsuba Hanae calmed down, and even the erratic swerving of the car seemed less bothersome.

About an hour later…

Chikari Makoto began to observe their surroundings.

Earlier, she had run back to the Natsuba estate, arriving over ten minutes faster than driving.

However, she couldn’t possibly run with Second Miss.

So, they drove.

Besides, Second Miss had told her that with the strength of an elite-level supernatural being, it wouldn’t be easily defeated by two C-rank users.

There was no need to rush.

Now, they had arrived near Ginza.

But she couldn’t sense the elite-level supernatural being’s presence in the car.

“Strange, I remember it being around here.”

Chikari Makoto’s pupils constricted slightly, and her amber eyes shimmered as she scanned their surroundings.

Hearing this, Natsuba Hanae already had a guess.

Most likely, the two groups had lured the elite-level supernatural being to a more secluded location for a proper fight.

Now, night had fallen.

Moonlight cast a silvery veil over the earth. Natsuba Hanae took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Suddenly, an invisible force erupted outwards in a violent surge, as if the world had momentarily stopped.

Resting birds, lurking snakes, scurrying rats…

She sensed them all.

The tips of her silver, moonlit hair were now faintly tinged with a deep, dark Sanctuary Flame, her divine power immense.

Between her brows, a golden, cherry blossom-like pattern appeared, flickering in and out of existence.

[Night-Wandering Woman Activated]

[One hooks the stars, one flies unseen, flying by night, hidden by day, like a ghost or a god.]

At that moment, Natsuba Hanae abruptly opened her eyes.

Her eyes, bright and dazzling, like the rising sun, exuded a powerful aura that made Chikari Makoto beside her stiffen.

A faint smile slowly appeared on Hanae’s lips.

“Found it.”

She looked at the anxious Chikari Makoto.

Slightly restraining her aura, she said softly,

“Makoto, let’s go.”

With a clear direction, Natsuba Hanae’s actions were direct and simple.

She opened the car door and walked towards the location she sensed.

Seeing Natsuba Hanae get out of the car, Chikari Makoto’s trembling finally subsided, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Second Miss’s power is becoming truly terrifying.”

“But…”

“Wakuwaku!”

“Super exciting! This time, I’ll also let Second… Mom see the results of my training! I’ll…”

“Kill them all!”

Chikari Makoto’s eyes burned with fighting spirit, and the corners of her mouth curled upwards uncontrollably.

Looking at the back of Natsuba Hanae in her black dress, Chikari Makoto grabbed her sword and hurried out of the car, running after her.

“Mom, wait for me!”

The bright, full moon hanging in the sky took on a faint crimson hue.

The car remained parked by the roadside.

Two girls, one walking, one running, ventured into the unknown mountain path.

And within their shadows, two enormous, terrifying bird-like creatures flickered in and out of existence.

Chapter 6: Wakuwaku!

Night clouds obscured the moonlight.

“Oh?”

Hearing this, in the darkness, a pair of red, glass-like eyes suddenly sparkled.

Natsuba Hanae’s interest was piqued.

“The main material for the Umbrella Sword?”

Masterful swordsmanship naturally required a sword to be wielded.

But her usual kendo practice only involved wooden swords.

Although the Umbrella Sword technique was still formidable with a wooden sword, it wasn’t as smooth or convenient as using a real one.

As for supernatural weapons, the Natsuba family wouldn’t let her near them.

Previously, Chikari Makoto had hunted supernatural beings that escaped from the Otherside, gathering the supplementary materials for the Umbrella Sword.

Only the main material remained elusive.

Having Tamamo-no-Mae and Onmoraki hunt and transport it would risk exposure, potentially revealing the connection between Summer Harvest Mountain and the Natsuba conglomerate.

After all, Tamamo-no-Mae and Onmoraki were now B-rank supernatural users.

Occasionally visiting the city where the Natsuba conglomerate was located wasn’t unusual, but frequent visits would raise suspicion.

She, hidden in the shadows, would then be exposed, which wasn’t something she wanted.

Besides, a main material with high compatibility wasn’t easily obtained.

To put it in fantastical terms…

It required…fate.

A treasure that ordinary people might wait decades for would fall into the protagonist’s hands the moment they arrived.

That was fate.

And now, fate had presented itself to Natsuba Hanae.

However, she still had a question.

Natsuba Hanae furrowed her brows slightly, a puzzled expression on her face.

“If it’s just an elite-level supernatural being, it shouldn’t be a match for you.”

“Why didn’t you hunt it down and bring me the main material?”

Chikari Makoto, at C+ rank, with her dual supernatural abilities and the Ijishin template, which was inherently superior to ordinary abilities, was even stronger than some B-rank users.

She was a true genius capable of fighting above her level.

Hunting an elite-level supernatural being, although time-consuming, shouldn’t be difficult.

Could it be that her usual training regimen for Chikari Makoto was too simple and lenient?

It seemed she needed to increase the intensity. She would have to tell Chikari Tanishi to quintuple the training.

A dangerous glint appeared in Natsuba Hanae’s eyes.

At that moment, Chikari Makoto inexplicably shuddered, a single golden ahoge standing straight up on her head. A sense of foreboding washed over her, as if a star of ill omen was shining.

Looking at Natsuba Hanae’s swirling red eyes, she quickly explained,

“Second Miss, it’s like this.”

“When I found the supernatural being and was about to kill it, I noticed two other groups tailing it.”

“Clearly, they were after it too.”

“Each group had a C-rank user. I wasn’t confident I could kill the supernatural being, expose my strength, and prevent them from escaping all at the same time.”

“So…”

“Could Uncle Tanishi come with me?”

Chikari Makoto was clearly afraid of Natsuba Hanae. After all, it was Hanae who had designed her training regimen!

During the first week, she almost couldn’t endure it.

Back then, despite her petite frame, Second Miss looked down at her, her brilliant red eyes filled with a cold light.

My subordinates don’t need weaklings.

Endure it, and you will become my daughter, my family.

If you can’t endure it…

Second Miss hadn’t continued, but Chikari Makoto understood. If she couldn’t endure it, the best outcome would be abandonment.

She didn’t want to be abandoned. She wanted to be Second Miss’s family.

Although the mother-daughter dynamic was strange, she’d recently felt an inexplicable excitement about it.

Wakuwaku! (spy x family – Anya reference)

Just as Second Miss had said, her family had been killed by the Natsuba conglomerate.

Now, her only family was Second Miss.

Uncle Tanishi was just a distant relative.

Second Miss, too, was probably alone in the vast Natsuba household, as if she had no family at all.

So, she probably longed to express her desire for family in this way.

In reality, Chikari Makoto was overthinking it.

It was simply the system’s mission.

One of the conditions for Ubume to evolve into the Nine-Headed Bird.

Hearing Chikari Makoto’s report, Natsuba Hanae pondered.

Then, she pursed her lips slightly and said softly,

“There’s no need to trouble Steward Chikari.”

“Give me your phone.”

As a caged bird, Natsuba Hanae wasn’t allowed to have any communication devices.

Moreover, even if she did, they would definitely be monitored.

So, she would use Chikari Makoto’s.

Chikari Makoto obediently handed over her phone, silently hoping that Natsuba Hanae wouldn’t open her browser history.

[Is it normal to be interested in your adoptive mother?]

[Is it possible to marry at fifteen?]

And the manga she had been reading recently…

My Cohabitation Life with My Adoptive Mother, The Unspoken Story with My Stepmom, As Long as I Have Mom…

A while ago, she had inexplicably become interested in these themes.

Her heart pounded nervously.

Chikari Makoto, like a hamster, held her hands to her chest, her amber eyes anxiously watching Natsuba Hanae’s expression.

Natsuba Hanae skillfully opened the contacts list.

She dialed Chikari Tanishi’s number without doing anything else, and Chikari Makoto finally breathed a sigh of relief, her face flushed.

“Hello, Steward Chikari.”

“It’s me.”

“No matter what method you use, replace all the personnel on duty with members of the Chikari branch.”

“I’m going out tonight.”

After speaking, Natsuba Hanae returned the phone to Chikari Makoto, noticing the girl’s slightly strange expression as she eagerly took it back. However, she didn’t think much of it.

Indeed, Natsuba Hanae didn’t intend to send both Chikari Tanishi and Chikari Makoto.

Tonight, she planned to go out herself. It had been a long time since she had left the Natsuba main house; her body was practically rusting. It would be good to breathe some fresh air.

As for why not sneak out?

Please. She would leave her own home openly and with dignity.

Natsuba Hanae took a few steps forward, Chikari Makoto closely following. Suddenly, Hanae stopped, pursed her lips, and turned to look at her.

“Makoto…?”

“Have you recently taken a liking to manga?”

She had just glimpsed the phone’s home screen and noticed several manga apps.

One even seemed to be a certain pink manga app starting with a “P.”

Chikari Makoto was fifteen now.

As a mother, shouldn’t she pay a little attention to her daughter’s mental state?

…

…

Chapter 5: Become the Mother of One Hundred Girls!

Chikari Makoto’s long, golden twintails, tipped with a darker gold, framed her face.

Her features were cute and well-defined, her lips a delicate pink, her figure slender, just a bit shorter than Natsuba Hanae.

Her amber eyes, pure and bright, sparkled with intelligence.

Now, however, they were filled with dejection as she cleaned.

Natsuba Hanae watched Chikari Makoto, various impressions flashing through her mind.

Chikari Makoto, the sole direct descendant of the Chikari bloodline.

One of the byproducts of the Natsuba conglomerate’s relentless expansion.

Unlike the traditional Kujō family, the Natsuba conglomerate lacked deep roots.

The reason for its rapid growth was its ruthless pursuit of power, by any means necessary.

Natsuba Hanae and Natsuba Rinrei were part of the reason. The supernatural resources exchanged for their marriages would allow the Natsuba conglomerate to climb another rung on the ladder.

The Chikari bloodline was another reason.

They were a branch family of the Chikari conglomerate, preserved after being absorbed by the Natsuba conglomerate.

As for the main family line, they had been completely eradicated.

However, the Chikari bloodline was unique.

When the main line disappeared, a branch family would become the main line, inheriting the purest supernatural bloodline, and inheriting the purest…

—Hatred.

However, Chikari Makoto was an exception.

She was a glitch in the system.

On the verge of death, as her supernatural bloodline was about to transfer, Natsuba Hanae saved her.

Using her Ubume ability, Hanae incorporated Makoto into her own supernatural system.

Normally, a person could only possess one supernatural system, but Chikari Makoto’s unique nature allowed her to inexplicably accommodate two.

Natsuba Hanae’s red, glass-like eyes flickered slightly.

Information only she could see silently appeared before her eyes.

[Chikari Makoto]

[Supernatural Bloodline: Qi]

[Applied Template: Ijishin]

[Level: C+]

Then, Natsuba Hanae slowly looked at her own palm.

The information shimmered and rearranged itself in an orderly fashion.

[Welcome to the Thousand Faces Simulator]

[Current Role: Ubume (A)]

[Role Progress: 80%]

[Abilities: Summer Harvest, Sanctuary Flame, Umbrella Sword]

[Summer Harvest: When you have children, you can bestow supernatural templates upon them and draw upon their abilities to enhance your own.]

[Sanctuary Flame: The ultimate flame, a fusion of Tamamo-no-Mae’s foxfire and Onmoraki’s essence.]

[Umbrella Sword: Ubume’s masterful swordsmanship.]

[The above is for reference only. Specific abilities are subject to the host’s development.]

[Next Level Role: Nine-Headed Bird (S)]

[Advancement Condition 1: Become the mother of one hundred girls.]

[Current Progress: (3/100)]

[Templates Drawn: Tamamo-no-Mae (Used), Ijishin (Used), Onmoraki (Used)]

[Yasha (Unused), Aosagi no Hi (Unused)]

[Main Mission: Seize all of the Natsuba Conglomerate!]

[20% Complete]

[Side Mission: Pending]

In truth, even without the Thousand Faces Simulator’s main mission, she intended to seize everything the Natsuba conglomerate possessed.

Honestly, when she first arrived in this game world…

She was stunned. Then, seeing the task of becoming the mother of one hundred girls, she was more than just stunned.

Natsuba Hanae’s first thought was to give birth…

Giving birth every year from the age she could, until when?

Moreover, did she really want to give birth?

The future seemed bleak.

Then, by chance, she discovered she could adopt. After a successful adoption, she realized it was a viable option.

However, she didn’t have the habit of casually becoming someone’s mother.

Those Natsuba Hanae adopted had to be those she acknowledged.

And they had to be those who would become her strength, helping her in her quest to seize control of the Natsuba conglomerate.

Chikari Makoto was one such person.

Due to the convenience of the Chikari bloodline, having her by her side wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

As for Tamamo-no-Mae and Onmoraki…

They were causing trouble outside.

Natsuba Hanae had them establish an organization called “Summer Harvest Mountain” to gather intelligence and increase their fighting strength.

To allow them to grow.

By now, they likely both possessed B-rank combat abilities.

As for Chikari Makoto, because she was constantly by her side and had to cultivate two supernatural abilities, she had only reached C+ rank.

However, even this level of talent was terrifying.

Natsuba Hanae’s glass-like red eyes dimmed slightly as she pondered.

Then, a clear and pleasant female voice rang out beside her.

“Mom, I’ve finished cleaning.”

“Call me Second Miss while we’re in the Natsuba main house.”

Natsuba Hanae’s eyes brightened, and she looked up.

Chikari Makoto paused, pursed her lips, and quickly corrected herself.

“Yes, Second Miss.”

Natsuba Hanae nodded. When she was five, the Chikari main family was destroyed. She visited the Chikari branch family and met Chikari Tanishi and Chikari Makoto.

She displayed her immense power and saved Chikari Makoto.

And promised to change the Natsuba conglomerate, earning the loyalty of the Chikari branch family.

She had to admit, seeing Chikari Tanishi’s large, muscular body prostrate before her tiny form was quite amusing.

Since then, Chikari Makoto, only a year younger than her, had been by her side, growing up together.

It had been over ten years now.

Having her around was extremely convenient, aside from the occasional mischief, which was harmless.

“Makoto, did you find a suitable supernatural being today?”

She hadn’t held out much hope.

But then she saw Chikari Makoto’s amber eyes light up like headlights, filled with color.

Her expression was full of excitement.

She nodded vigorously, a smile appearing on her lips as she said,

“Second Miss, I found one!”

“An elite-level supernatural being escaped from the fallen Ginza.”

“Its compatibility with your abilities is extremely high.”

“It’s definitely suitable as the main material for your Umbrella Sword, which is why I rushed back so quickly!”

Chapter 4: A Red Rose in a White Porcelain Vase

Kujō Asano was dead.

Killed by a supernatural being.

At the scene, they found his mangled, blood-soaked body, bearing the marks of being torn apart, and the corpse of a supernatural entity he had desperately managed to kill.

…

…

A single, bewitchingly bright red rose was placed by Natsuba Hanae in a beautiful white porcelain vase.

The colors clashed, a stark contrast.

Dressed in a pure white, exquisite kimono, she gracefully and elegantly tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her movements gentle, her posture pleasing, a faint smile playing on her lips.

The flower arranging instructor, observing this, couldn’t help but comment,

“Second Miss, it’s rare to see you use a red rose in your arrangements.”

Hearing this, Natsuba Hanae pursed her lips slightly.

“Today is a special day.”

“So I wanted to use joyous, bright red as the theme for decoration.”

Her eyes continued to search among the myriad of colorful flowers: simple jasmine, elegant gardenias, and delicate white lilies.

She arranged them one by one in the white porcelain vase.

They served to accentuate the single red rose, making it appear even more vibrant, its rich color resembling blood.

“Knock, knock—”

A knock came at the door.

The flower arranging instructor glanced at the time and bowed in farewell.

“Second Miss, today’s lesson concludes here. I’ll see you next week.”

Without another word, the instructor walked towards the door as usual.

As soon as the door opened, Chikari Tanishi appeared. The two exchanged nods, and the instructor disappeared from sight.

Natsuba Hanae picked up the white porcelain vase and walked to the door, handing it to Chikari Tanishi.

“Please place this in my storage room, in the corner.”

“Yes.”

As before, Natsuba Hanae walked ahead, with Chikari Tanishi following behind, their pace unhurried.

Today’s lessons were all finished.

Natsuba Hanae looked out the window. The sun had already begun to set, casting a golden glow over the earth, like a shimmering veil.

She stared blankly for a moment.

Then, she suddenly said,

“Alright, Steward Chikari, you may leave me now. Please report my itinerary for today to the head of the family.”

“Yes.”

With that, Chikari Tanishi turned and left, his movements efficient and without hesitation.

Officially, Chikari Tanishi was merely the steward responsible for escorting Natsuba Hanae throughout the day. However, secretly, he was the steward assigned by the Natsuba head to monitor her.

Every single action she took each day would be reported.

Of course, secretly, Steward Chikari, or rather, the entire Chikari branch, was completely under Natsuba Hanae’s control, and Chikari Tanishi was their spokesperson.

In reality, Chikari Tanishi wasn’t originally chosen by the family head to monitor Natsuba Hanae.

It was Natsuba Hanae who, through certain methods, had placed him in this position.

For her own convenience.

For instance, he had handled the matter of Kujō Asano very efficiently and cleanly.

Although Natsuba Rinrei wasn’t stupid, and was even quite clever, her various acts of rebellion had indeed provoked the Natsuba conglomerate. However, due to her young age, she was inevitably impulsive and couldn’t consider all the consequences.

If Kujō Asano had been seriously injured, or even died, within the Natsuba household…

Then, under the pressure and complaints from the Kujō head, the Natsuba head would definitely have to punish Natsuba Rinrei, even if only lightly.

But if he hadn’t died within the Natsuba household…

Without grounds for complaint, the Natsuba and Kujō conglomerates, despite being trade partners, were essentially two wolves waiting for the other to die.

If one conglomerate suddenly vanished, the other wouldn’t feel any remorse; they would even celebrate, dance on their grave, and then try to annex all their assets.

Even if the Kujō conglomerate questioned why Kujō Asano died on his way back, the Natsuba conglomerate would at most conduct a superficial investigation, just for show, without any real effort.

They would even eliminate all the servants who had witnessed Natsuba Rinrei injuring Kujō Asano to prevent the incident from spreading.

Of course, the most important reason was…

Rinrei’s room was on her daily route.

If Kujō Asano died there…

It would be messy.

Looking out the window, Natsuba Hanae blinked.

She continued walking, her delicate, jade-like toes lightly touching the ground, without making a sound, as if no one was there.

After about ten minutes…

Natsuba Hanae arrived at her room and pushed open the door.

The large room was devoid of life, filled only with expensive decorations and bookshelves stacked with numerous books for her leisure.

Notably, there were no technological devices in sight. She was like a caged bird, truly imprisoned, even breathing the air outside the cage a distant dream.

After entering, Natsuba Hanae looked around, a gleam in her red, glass-like eyes, and furrowed her brows slightly.

“Not back yet?”

“A bit later than usual.”

She pulled a book from the shelf, opened it to the previously marked page with a red bookmark, sat on the bed, and began to read carefully.

However, just then…

The window was suddenly blown open by a gust of wind, the white curtains billowing upwards. Natsuba Hanae’s silver hair, cascading like a waterfall, swayed like a meteor trailing flames.

The pages of the book rustled, flipping rapidly.

The room became a mess.

But she wasn’t surprised; instead, a genuine smile appeared on her lips.

It wouldn’t be her cleaning up the mess anyway.

After a while, the wind gradually subsided, and the curtains fell back into place.

And at the window…

A blonde girl in a black and white maid outfit, her skirt swaying slightly, stood holding a sword.

Her amber eyes, as lively as a hawk’s, looked at Natsuba Hanae, instantly filled with vibrant color and brilliance.

“I’m back, Little Sis—…

“No, Mom!”

The blonde girl’s lips curved into a smile as she ran towards Natsuba Hanae.

However, she saw Natsuba Hanae point a finger at the floor, causing her mind to momentarily short-circuit.

Then, she heard Natsuba Hanae say,

“Chikari Makoto, before you come over here, clean the floor.”

“Eh?”

The blonde girl froze mid-run.

It was rather comical.

…

…