"I'll reintroduce myself and ask you once more. Standing before the 'Demon Lord of the White Night'—the spirit of sun and polar light, the Byakuyasha—do you wish to 'challenge' the trial, or 'duel' me as equals?"
Byakuyasha said with a soft smile as she looked at the four individuals before her.
The atmosphere emanating from the Demon Lord Byakuyasha—something completely unimaginable from the girl's gentle smile—caused the breath of the three boys to catch once more.
The term Star Spirit refers to a primal elemental entity residing on planetary-class or larger celestial bodies. Among the highest-level beings in concepts such as fairies, oni, and demons, they are also considered the ones who bestow Gifts.
Izayoi felt a strangely pleasant chill run down his back as he stared at Byakuyasha and smiled.
"A horizontally running sun... Is that what it is? 'White Night' and 'Yasha'. That sun moving across the land and this terrain... they're your doing?"
"That's right. This lakeside of eternal daylight and the snowfield—this sun that gently illuminates the eternal world—is one of my game fields."
Byakuyasha opened her arms, and the sea of clouds beyond the horizon suddenly split, revealing a sliver of the sun.
The Spirit of the Polar Sun.
What Izayoi had referred to as "white night" is the phenomenon observable in countries like Finland and Norway, where the sun never fully sets during certain times of the year.
Yasha (or Yaksha) are deities of water and earth, but also wrathful guardian spirits known for their demonic side.
In the Little Garden where numerous gods and demons gather, Star Spirits are said to be among the strongest classes of divinity.
At this very moment, the girl standing before them—Byakuyasha—was a true embodiment of that mighty title: a formidable Demon Lord.
"This vast land... is just a game field...!?"
"That's right. So, what's your answer? If it's a 'challenge,' I'll hold back and entertain you. —But if it's a 'duel,' then that's a different story. As a Demon Lord, I will wager my life and dignity in this battle."
Asuka, Yō, and even the usually arrogant Izayoi hesitated, unable to answer immediately.
They had no clue what kind of Gift Byakuyasha possessed, but it was already clear that they had no chance of winning. Still, backing down now after issuing the challenge would be a blow to their pride.
Even Black Rabbit sighed in relief. Though the problem children could be troublesome, at least they weren't fools. They knew when to retreat.
Since even Izayoi was unwilling to take the challenge, there was no way the more composed and mature Yoru would step up, right?
While Black Rabbit was thinking this, Yoru slowly stepped forward and spoke, fixing his gaze on Byakuyasha.
"If we win the challenge… what exactly can we obtain?"
No way... There's no way he's serious about beating Byakuyasha-sama. He has to be joking.
Black Rabbit tried to reassure herself, but Byakuyasha responded earnestly.
"I already said, as a Demon Lord, I will stake my dignity and life against you. If you win, you can have everything I possess."
Why so serious, Byakuyasha-sama? There's no way Yoru would really fight you.
Black Rabbit kept trying to comfort herself with such thoughts, but she couldn't ignore the strange trembling in her legs.
Looking at Byakuyasha, who responded so casually yet with a faint smile, Yoru's expression grew more intrigued.
"Since you're capable of granting Gifts to others, can you grant me a Gift that allows free travel between worlds?"
Yoru asked calmly. Byakuyasha blinked in mild surprise, then gave him a curious look.
"Interesting. Are you dissatisfied with the Little Garden? You wish to leave?"
"Not quite. There are important people in other worlds. I just want to be able to go and bring them here."
"I see... A Gift that allows free traversal between worlds does exist. However, it's of an incredibly high level—far beyond your current reach."
Byakuyasha said this while looking at Yoru seriously.
"If you truly wish to learn about such things, then defeat me. Show me you're worthy of it."
"...As you wish."
Yoru, now standing before the small-framed girl exuding an overwhelming abyssal presence, answered word by word before taking a battle stance.
Black Rabbit still stood dumbfounded, trying to convince herself that a fight wouldn't really happen. But Yoru's statement had utterly shattered her denial and dragged her into despair.
He's joking… I must've heard wrong. There's no way he's really going to challenge Byakuyasha-sama!
She kept repeating it in her mind, until the wave of freezing air spreading across the land made her shiver uncontrollably.
"You idiot! Why are you still standing there?! Run!"
Izayoi shouted at Black Rabbit, already sprinting toward the distant horizon.
"Tch… What kind of man are you? You've got zero gentlemanly spirit."
Asuka pouted, clearly displeased. She didn't fully grasp the gravity of the situation, but her intuition warned her to get far, far away. So she followed Izayoi, and Yō pulled the still-stunned Black Rabbit by the hand.
The four of them ran as fast as they could, desperate to put as much distance as possible between them and the epicenter of the coming storm.
And Izayoi had chosen wisely. Not long after they left the area around Byakuyasha and Yoru, the accumulated cold reached its peak—triggering a spectacle that could only be described as explosive.
Massive icicles erupted from the ground in all directions, instantly transforming the once-empty world into a frozen wasteland of glistening frost.
"Oh-ho… This is going to be quite the show."
Feeling they were now at a safe distance, Izayoi stopped and turned around to watch the scene of ice spreading across the land.
Byakuyasha's realm seemed to be significantly restricting Yoru's powers. The visual impact of his attack was still overwhelming, but it was clear that his current might was weaker than when he fought the serpent god at the edge of the world earlier that day. At that time, Izayoi hadn't even dared to watch from a distance.
"This is… reckless beyond reason! There's no way to win this! Fighting Byakuyasha-sama? That's completely impossible!"
Finally snapping back to reality, Black Rabbit cried out in a voice tinged with panic and tears.
She wanted to rush back and stop the battle—but Yō held her back firmly.
"If Yoru is truly our companion, then we have to respect his decision."
Yō said this with rare seriousness as she looked into Black Rabbit's eyes.
"If he's our companion… how can we just stand here and watch him walk to his death?!"
"He's not walking to his death!"
Izayoi shook his head and stepped forward, his black eyes gleaming with an unexplainable light as he stared at the world blanketed in white.
"Just like Byakuyasha said—this is a battle where both of them are staking their lives and dignity. If you really respect Yoru and consider him your comrade… then don't get in his way!"
This time, Black Rabbit didn't argue. She only watched the icy battlefield with worried eyes, silently praying in her heart.
Please… win this, Yoru-sama.
---
Access more chapters at patreon.com/dzeref887