Half an hour later, Kaiser and Yukina Himeragi left the antique shop together, stepping out of Sixth Slope under the oddly curious stares of several passersby.
"Wait, those two… did they just come out of Sixth Slope?"
"They must've just left a hotel, right?"
"That girl's gorgeous, but… isn't she just a middle schooler?"
"Man, that's envi—no, that guy's a damn beast!"
Snatches of conversation drifted over, just loud enough for Kaiser's sharp hearing to pick up, leaving him slightly speechless.
"Are we going home now, Senpai?"
Yukina, not having caught any of those comments, asked with her usual seriousness—though the phrasing was enough to invite a second round of misunderstandings.
"Yeah, let's head back." Kaiser nodded, then added, "By the way, Himeragi… that thing you're carrying, is it…?"
Looking more closely, he noticed the black guitar case slung over her shoulder—it looked a lot like the one Sayaka Kirasaka used to carry the Type-6 Anti-Demon Bow.
From inside that black case, Kaiser could sense an unusual fluctuation.
It was somewhat like spiritual power, yet not quite the same—something more refined. The aura felt oddly familiar, reminiscent of the presence Kanon Kanase had given off back when she was turned into an Artificial Angel.
"This?" Yukina lifted the guitar case slightly. "Inside is the Godslayer Armament entrusted to me by the Lion King Organization."
She opened the case and took out the weapon.
It was a long spear, clearly forged from an extraordinarily rare metal, its entire surface gleaming silver. Unlike any spear Kaiser was used to seeing, it was in a folded state, its shaft giving off a mechanical, inorganic impression—streamlined like a cutting-edge fighter jet, every line and angle evoking a refined modern weapon.
Clang!
When Yukina activated it, the spear gave a sharp metallic ring. The shaft instantly extended, the main blade—previously stored away—sliding out to form the spearhead. Auxiliary blades unfolded to either side like the variable wings of a fighter craft, giving it a strikingly modern, almost sci-fi presence.
Kaiser immediately recognized it.
"The Type-7 Assault Anti-Demon Spear…"
Officially named Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer, the Type-7 Assault Anti-Demon Spear was developed by the Lion King Organization specifically to combat demons with special abilities.
Its reputation far exceeded that of the Type-6 Heavy Anti-Demon Bow or the Hundred-Type Heavy Anti-Demon Blade.
At its core was a relic of the Devas—a divine weapon called the Saint Spear of Demon-Breaking, said to have the power to return the world to its original form. Only three existed in the entire world, impossible to mass-produce, and the Organization kept them as top-secret treasures.
This Armament was inscribed with a unique Lion King Organization technology—the Divine Resonance Wave Drive Formula. Once activated, it would draw the wielder's spiritual power, converting it into divine energy capable of nullifying magic and cutting through any barrier.
In other words, it was the natural enemy of demons everywhere—an anti-demon weapon more fearsome than even the imitation holy swords, especially devastating against vampires. It was said to be capable of slaying even a True Ancestor.
Unfortunately, its rarity was extreme—only three existed—and the Saint Spear's power could only be fully awakened by certain individuals. The Organization had been raising compatible wielders for years.
Now, that very weapon—said to be able to kill a True Ancestor—had been entrusted to Yukina Himeragi.
Clearly, she was one of the chosen wielders the Organization had been grooming all along… though she herself didn't seem entirely aware of it.
"To be honest, I don't think this spear really suits me," Yukina said, brows knitting slightly. "My target's just a human. The Aldegian Holy Ring Knights already have imitation holy swords that work against demons. Giving me an anti-demon Armament for this job feels… out of place."
"…Maybe so," Kaiser said after a pause. "If you think it's ill-suited, then… best not to use it much."
If he remembered correctly, the Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer had a terrifying side effect.
The more its wielder used it—converting their spiritual power into divine energy—the closer they came to a phenomenon akin to Artificial Angel transformation. When that divine energy reached a certain threshold, the wielder would undergo angelification… and vanish from this world.
Yes—this was a weapon that could turn someone into an angel.
What the hell is the Lion King Organization thinking? Why give Himeragi a weapon that causes angelification… to monitor a former Artificial Angel?
In the original timeline, Yukina had received the Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer because her target was the world's strongest vampire—a genuine True Ancestor. No Armament suited her role better.
But now her target was no longer a demon, vampire, or True Ancestor. So why still give her this spear? Was it simply because she'd always been trained as its destined wielder? Or… was there another reason?
Kaiser's brow furrowed slightly as he sank into thought.
"I know. I don't plan to use such a rare Armament carelessly," Yukina said, interpreting his words as advice.
"Good." Kaiser dropped the matter. "Speaking of which—does that perverse woman, Kirasaka, know you're on Itogami yet?"
"Sayaka?" Yukina's expression softened with a hint of exasperation. "No, I haven't told her. Even if I wanted to, I can't."
This ever-serious girl was still much the same as before—her years in boarding school had left her lacking in certain basic life skills. She didn't even own a cellphone. Naturally, she hadn't contacted Sayaka at all.
"I heard she's here too, assigned to watch over Duke Ardeal?" Yukina ventured, unable to hide her curiosity. "Senpai, have you met her yet?"
"Met her? We've done more than that," Kaiser said dryly. "We've already clashed several times. That woman's come this close to aiming her Koukarin at my head. She's probably dying to blow it off and erase me from existence."
At that, Yukina couldn't help but recall their school days together. Her delicate features showed both amusement and helplessness.
"You and Sayaka really haven't changed—still arguing the moment you meet."
"Hey, she's the one picking fights with me," Kaiser countered. "I'm just defending myself."
It was the truth—if that man-hating woman didn't go out of her way to provoke him, he wouldn't bother with her.
Yukina knew this well enough and sighed. "So she's still the same…"
Even as Sayaka's junior, roommate, and friend, she had to admit it was always Sayaka starting things. Kaiser had shown remarkable restraint, only ever responding when provoked.
She had even tried to persuade Sayaka privately to stop antagonizing him. What Yukina didn't know was that Sayaka's hostility wasn't just rooted in misandry—it was also jealousy. Her beloved Yukina was always defending Kaiser, spending time with him, sometimes even chatting warmly with him. To Sayaka, Kaiser was a rival in love.
The nickname yuri girl was not given lightly.
"Senpai… you haven't been cursed by her or anything, have you?" Yukina asked, a flicker of concern in her voice.
"Do I look like I have?" Kaiser snorted. "I'm not afraid of that perverse woman's curses anymore."
That reminded Yukina just how much he had changed. He was no longer the apprentice Attack Mage who couldn't use magic or sorcery—he was now the Beast King, the man who had easily defeated Duke Ardeal, commanded multiple mythic beasts, and possessed power to rival—or even surpass—a True Ancestor.
"Senpai…"
Without realizing it, Yukina reached out and lightly grasped the hem of his coat.
She didn't want this special person to change.
Back at the Sanctuary, everyone had kept their distance from her due to her tense, aloof demeanor—even Sayaka hadn't noticed how wound-up she always was. Only Kaiser had seen through her during their first sparring match, offering advice and reassurance.
It was with him that she had first learned to relax.
And now that he was the famed Beast King… would he still be someone she could lean on? Someone she could be herself around?
"What is it?" Kaiser asked, glancing back at her. His manner was no different than before, easing her worry.
"…Nothing." Yukina drew a quiet breath and smiled. "Let's go home, Senpai."
That soft, radiant smile—so unlike her usual seriousness—caught him off guard.
"Yeah, let's go."
After taking a moment to admire his junior's beauty, Kaiser took her hand and started toward home.
By now, the Festival was well underway.
Overhead, an advertising airship floated past, its giant side screens promoting the night's events, heralding the official start of the celebration.
The moment they stepped onto the main street, a tide of people surged around them.
"Stay close. Don't get separated."
Kaiser shifted his grip from holding her arm to intertwining fingers, his hand wrapping around Yukina's smooth, delicate one.
"…Mm."
Her cheeks colored faintly, but she didn't resist, letting him lead her through the crowd.
Kaiser kept a subtle watch on her. Seeing her quietly follow his lead brought a small smile to his lips. Sayaka's precious junior really was adorable—beautiful enough to rival Kanon Kanase, even as a middle schooler.
In looks, Yukina bore some resemblance to Nagisa Akatsuki—both had black hair and similar features—but where Nagisa was like the sweet girl next door, Yukina was a princess: refined, aloof, and radiantly dignified.
If she transferred to Saikai Academy to watch over Kanon, the student body would erupt in chaos. Kanon would no longer be the only flower on the high branch—there would be two school beauties.
As he was thinking this, Kaiser suddenly brushed past someone in the crowd.
—
He froze.
A petite girl, about Nagisa's height, passed by him, golden hair glinting in the light.
For an instant, he caught a glimpse of her—skin pale as porcelain, features so flawless they seemed almost inhuman. She looked about fourteen or fifteen, her waist-length hair shimmering with iridescent hues, like sunlight on a fairy's wings.
Her eyes lifted briefly to meet his, and within them burned a flicker of flame.
"Hehe…"
A silver-bell laugh rang in his ears as the fairy-like beauty slipped past him and into the crowd behind.
Kaiser spun around, but she was gone.
"Senpai?" Yukina's voice reached him, tinged with confusion.
"…It's nothing."
He shook his head and continued forward, though his mind was no longer on the festival.
It was on that golden-haired girl who had just brushed past him.