Chapter 350: What Can the Lion King Agency Even Do!
The MAR Research Institute spanned a vast area, with countless buildings interconnected into a complex three-dimensional structure.
Mimori Akatsuki, the head of the MAR medical department, did not lead them toward the medical division. Instead, she bypassed the medical buildings and headed deeper into the heart of the grounds, bringing them to a cylindrical building tucked away in a corner of the estate.
Judging by its exterior, the stylish architecture was reminiscent of a resort condominium. It was originally intended as a guesthouse for visitors or researchers from off-island to stay overnight, but Mimori Akatsuki had used her privileges to claim one of the suites for herself. Since arriving on the island, she had spent most of her nights here.
As Mimori Akatsuki pressed her palm against the vein-authentication touchpad to open the front door, she suddenly remembered something. She turned back to them with an apologetic look and said, "Sorry, this was all so sudden that I didn't have time to tidy up. It might be a little messy, so please bear with me."
Natsuki Minamiya and Tokoyogi Aya, who were accompanying them, said nothing. Mahiro didn't take the comment to heart either. After all, Mimori Akatsuki was a mother who had to take care of her children; no matter how messy the house was, how bad could it really be?
Okay, let me take that back.
The moment they walked into the living room, Mahiro was utterly stunned.
You call this "a little messy"? This was more like a billion bits messy!
Yotsuba Mahiro could swear he had never seen a room this disorganized in his entire life. Takeout boxes, worn shoes, underwear, shorts, stockings, shirts, skirts, and trousers were thrown almost everywhere. Used cosmetics were scattered across the coffee table.
There was practically nowhere to step. It looked as if a storm had passed through; someone who didn't know better would think the place had been burglarized. And tell me, how on earth did you manage to hang a pair of pantyhose from the ceiling?
Even someone as stoic and detached as Tokoyogi Aya couldn't help but twitch her eyes at the scene. Mahiro took a deep breath to settle his rising irritation before speaking.
"Take me to see your daughter."
His tone was urgent—it had to be. He was afraid he might lose control of himself otherwise. As a mother, how could her lifestyle be so slovenly! He couldn't even imagine how a mother like this would care for the severely ill Nagisa Akatsuki...
Mimori Akatsuki scratched her disheveled long hair in embarrassment, her face flushing red as she hurried to lead them to the second floor.
To their surprise, however, the room where Nagisa Akatsuki was resting was exceptionally clean. The afterglow of the sunset filtered through the window into the small room. Nagisa Akatsuki lay fast asleep on the bed by the window, her flat chest rising and falling with her breath.
The girl on the bed looked unexpectedly petite. Compared to Kanon Kanase, who was of a similar age, she looked much younger, and compared to Natsuki Minamiya, she seemed even more delicate. Her long black hair was spread across the plain white sheets, and a thin arm protruding from her pajama sleeve was connected to an IV drip.
Beside the girl's bed, a boy stood guard. He sat on a stool, his face hidden beneath the hood of a white sweatshirt, looking somewhat gloomy. The opening of the door startled the boy, forcing him to turn his head toward the entrance.
Seeing the newcomers, the boy seemed surprised. Especially when he saw Yotsuba Mahiro, his gloomy expression visibly faded, replaced by a flicker of excitement. However, he quickly restrained that emotion. He stood up, addressed Mimori Akatsuki as "Mom," and then walked straight out of the room.
Mimori Akatsuki gave them an apologetic smile. "Sorry, that was my son, Akatsuki Kojou. He might be a bit shy around strangers..."
"It's fine, not a big deal."
Mahiro spoke up, cutting off the awkward apology Mimori had managed to squeeze out. "Rather than such trivialities, it's better to check on Nagisa Akatsuki's condition first."
With that, Mahiro walked straight to the window.
Her condition was indeed not good. Compared to when he had seen her on Gozo Island, the already frail Nagisa Akatsuki was even more gaunt now. Her face, which used to wear a cheerful smile, looked sickly and pale. Fortunately, her breathing was steady and her rhythm relaxed.
However, after analyzing and investigating with the Eye of the Spirit, he found that things seemed much more serious than he had imagined. He couldn't find anything! Aside from physical weakness, he couldn't detect a thing. He had to use the power of the Gate to find the abnormality.
The soul of the Root, which was supposed to be monitored by Avrora, was indeed attached to Nagisa Akatsuki. This explained why Avrora had the temperament of a child and lacked the dignity of a Vampire Progenitor; it turned out there was a problem with her soul. Furthermore, the Root attached to Nagisa was still draining her life and eroding her body.
"How... how is she?"
When Mahiro finished his examination, Mimori Akatsuki leaned in impatiently, her face, which looked like that of a twenty-year-old girl, filled with hope.
But Mahiro shook his head. "She's beyond saving. Just wait for the end. Even bringing Avrora here won't help."
A direct triple-denial completely shattered Mimori Akatsuki's hope.
"How could this be... It's all that damn bastard Akatsuki Kojou's fault! Why did he let our daughter touch something so dangerous? My poor, sweet Nagisa..." Mimori Akatsuki collapsed onto the floor like a pouting little girl, breaking down into wails of despair.
Regarding this, Mahiro really had no choice. The entanglement between the Root and Nagisa Akatsuki's soul was too deep. He could forcibly strip it away, but neither Nagisa's body nor her soul could withstand it. Once forcibly removed, Nagisa's soul would shatter on the spot.
"However, it's not like there's absolutely no way," Mahiro suddenly said. Mimori Akatsuki stopped crying and looked up at him blankly.
From this angle, he could just catch a glimpse of purple beneath Mimori's loose collar. Hmm, lace.
Mahiro looked away and said calmly, "You should know about the Banquet of Flames, right?"
Mimori Akatsuki nodded frantically. How could she not know? That was the feast for the awakening of the Fourth Primogenitor. The first through twelfth Progenitors were the entry tickets. She didn't know what Akatsuki Kojou's objective was, but his desire to participate in that feast was what had caused Nagisa Akatsuki to fall into multiple comas.
"So, let's gamble a bit. Continue Nagisa Akatsuki's treatment for now, and then on the day of the Banquet of Flames, bring her to the party."
This was a last resort. He didn't know exactly how the Fourth Primogenitor was born at the Banquet of Flames, or how it transferred to Akatsuki Kojou's body. But he felt that the Root would definitely be interested in this banquet, and she likely wanted to occupy Nagisa's body just for this day. So, as long as they held out until then, there would be a way.
Just then, however, the door to the room opened once again. It wasn't the girl's brother, Akatsuki Kojou, who appeared at the door, but a tall, sexy woman. She walked straight in with a cold expression.
"Miwa? Why are you here?"
Seeing her assistant arrive, Mimori Akatsuki quickly scrambled up from the floor. Unfortunately, Toyama Miwa only glanced at her before ignoring her, walking straight to Natsuki Minamiya and looking down at her from her height.
"Lady Natsuki Minamiya, do you understand now why I wanted to reclaim the Twelfth Progenitor from that man? This child lying on the bed, who has fallen into multiple comas, needs the Twelfth Progenitor to be cured. I hope Lady Natsuki Minamiya can understand and have that man hand over the Twelfth Progenitor."
Before Natsuki Minamiya could respond, Tokoyogi Aya, who had been watching the scene play out, couldn't help but mock, "Natsuki, thou art the same as ever. Any random person can hop in front of thee and act up. Heh... how truly amusing!"
"Aya! Shut up!" Natsuki Minamiya barked with feigned ferocity.
Toyama Miwa's gaze fell coldly upon the classical Witch dressed in a black kimono. "Tokoyogi Aya, the 'Notaria' Witch of the Library and leader of the terrorist organization LCO. You escaped the Prison Barrier without permission and are brazenly showing yourself in public. Do you think the Lion King Organization will let you go?"
As soon as those words were spoken, Natsuki Minamiya's pupils shrank. It wasn't out of anger, but concern. She wasn't worried for Aya, but for the fool in front of her who didn't know she was courting death.
Did this woman have any idea what she was saying?! Having spent the last few months with Mahiro, Natsuki knew his personality very well. He was even more protective of his own than she was!
Sure enough, shortly after Toyama Miwa finished speaking, a playful voice echoed gloomily.
"Yo, I wondered who had left their fly unzipped and let you leak out. So you're from the Lion King Organization? You sure have a lot of authority, acting like you run this corner of Itogami Island."
Hearing this, Toyama Miwa frowned in displeasure and instinctively moved to turn her head. In the next second, a sudden gust of wind struck.
"Yo...!"
Before she could even finish a word, Mahiro grabbed her by the throat and slammed her violently against the wall.
Thud!
The impact was so heavy that the wall behind Toyama Miwa buckled slightly, and a dense web of cracks spread out. If she hadn't been raised as a Sword Shaman at the High God Forest since childhood, her physical constitution wouldn't have survived the blow. Even so, blood surged into her throat and slowly leaked from the corner of her mouth.
Mahiro wore a gentle smile as he whispered, "You've got quite the nerve. It's one thing to want to take Avrora from me, but you dare to insult my woman? Do you not know how the word 'death' is written?"
My woman!
Those four words made Tokoyogi Aya's heart skip a beat. She silently turned her head away, not daring to look, though the tips of her ears beneath her black hair had turned crimson.
Natsuki Minamiya didn't stop him either. She felt the Lion King Organization people really needed a lesson. She hadn't acted before because her status made it difficult, but Mahiro was different. Although he was a Demon Hunter, she was his superior; she could just gloss it over with a report later.
"I... I am the observer of the Twelfth Progenitor, a Sword Shaman of the Lion King Organization... aren't you afraid of assassination and pursuit by the Lion King Organization..." Her voice sounded like a broken bellows. The heavy blow to her throat had ruined her voice, which was no longer cold and clear but extremely raspy.
"Heh, the Lion King Organization?" Mahiro laughed with cold disdain. He slowly lifted her against the wall until her feet left the ground, choking her. Watching her struggle for breath and seeing her face change color gave him a sense of immense pleasure. He leaned into her ear and said word by word:
"Isn't your Lion King Organization just a giant matchmaking agency? Sending women everywhere. Do you really think an organization like that poses any threat? You think you can rule the world with women? Besides, the strongest fighters in your Lion King Organization are just the Three Saints, right? Let me guess who those three are..."
After a moment of thought, as Toyama Miwa watched in terror, Mahiro spoke again slowly.
"Shizuka Koyomi, the 'Paper Noise,' the adoptive younger sister of Fujisaka Touka, surname Hinaibara."
"Endou Yukari, who specializes in training War Dancers and Sword Shamans, a blonde elf who has lived for god knows how many years."
"And a person named Shirona Kuraki, known as one of Japan's strongest Demon Hunters. Am I right?"
Was he? Toyama Miwa wasn't sure. But Shizuka Koyomi, Endou Yukari, and Shirona Kuraki were indeed the Three Saints of the Lion King Organization! Furthermore, she knew the name Fujisaka Touka—she was the hero who had infiltrated the organization of the foreign goddess to save a child and fought to the death! Her death was what had driven Meiga to madness, causing an irreparable tragedy!
However, those matters were no longer her concern. She felt she was about to die; her brain was starved of oxygen, and her consciousness was fading into darkness.
"Let... go..."
"Enough, you can let her go now."
The former was Toyama Miwa, her pride gone as her hands feebly batted at his arm. No matter how high her arrogance or how strong her sorcery, she could no longer use them. The latter was Natsuki Minamiya, who could see that Toyama Miwa was dying. She wouldn't care if she died elsewhere, but if she died at Mahiro's hands, it would be a real problem.
"No." Mahiro spoke coldly. "She dies today. Even if Jesus himself came, he couldn't save her. I said so."
With that, Mahiro's palm tightened.
Crack! With a single snap, Toyama Miwa's neck was broken. Her body hung in the air like a rag doll, and the moment it dropped, it disintegrated into dust.
"...You were too impulsive. Do you have any idea what kind of retaliation this will draw from the Lion King Organization?" Natsuki Minamiya's tone wasn't one of blame, but of frustration and tension. How could she not know Mahiro's personality? If anyone was to blame, it was that woman for repeatedly courting death. It was one thing to say those things in front of Natsuki, but she had dared to say them to his face.
She remembered when a fool from the Demon Race had once insulted Tokoyogi Aya; this man had killed him nearly a hundred times. And he did it with only his fists. From killing him to resurrecting him again. From noon until dark. From that day on, Mahiro was labeled a "pervert you must never provoke." The demons on the island knew very well that even if you provoked Natsuki Minamiya, you must never provoke this man who was like a living King of Hell. It was also from that day on that the demons of Itogami Island completely settled down and stopped causing trouble.
And now, having killed someone from the Lion King Organization, Mahiro merely tossed out a casual remark:
"What's there to be afraid of? If they have the guts, tell the Three Saints to come find me themselves. I'll deal with them all at once. If that doesn't work, I'll just go find them for a chat."
Damn, I might not know the level of those three old Progenitors for now, but am I supposed to be afraid of three matchmakers from your agency? Don't be ridiculous!
In the midsummer forest—
A blazing bonfire illuminated the grounds of the shrine deep in the night, while faint moonlight filtered into the prayer hall. The air was cold enough to make one forget the season, likely due to the barrier surrounding the shrine. The usual noisy insects were silent.
Inside the shrine, deep within the spacious prayer hall, three figures sat behind a hanging bamboo curtain. This was the place where the Lion King Organization trained its talents—the High God Forest.
The three people sitting behind the curtain were the leaders of the Lion King Organization: the Three Saints!
"Have the Electors already appeared?" Shirona Kuraki, one of the Three Saints, asked.
Endou Yukari, the blonde elf with the longest lifespan, nodded. "They have all appeared. A total of four people are participating through normal means, namely—"
"Dimitrie Vatler of the 'Warlord's Empire'."
"Iblisveil Aziz of the 'Dynasty of Destruction'."
"Her Majesty Giada Kukulcan of the 'Chaos Domain'."
"And Balthazar Zaharias of the 'Nelapsi Autonomous Region'."
"However, besides them, there are several participants who joined through irregular means. Currently, there are no clues, and their identities remain unknown."
As soon as she finished speaking, the other two looked at Endou Yukari with confusion, their eyes questioning her.
But this was something Endou Yukari herself found a headache. She was indeed in charge of the list of Electors for the Banquet of Flames, and this feast had been in preparation for a very long time. However, a few months ago, several individuals appeared out of nowhere and stole several Progenitors. It didn't matter whose hands the Progenitors were in; even Vatler of the Lost Estate had been robbed.
Most importantly, to this day, they still didn't know who these people were. Every time, they only left behind a single sentence:
"We are Shadow Garden."
God only knows what that is.
"Is it possible these people are related to Yotsuba Mahiro?" Shirona Kuraki guessed.
Endou Yukari shook her head. "Unclear. The opponent's concealment methods are very sophisticated. More investigation is needed."
At this, the other two fell silent. There were too many variables; it felt as if the entire Banquet of Flames had slipped from their control and was heading in an unknown direction. But since the Chaos Bride herself had entered the fray, it shouldn't be a major issue. Thus, they temporarily set that question aside to discuss other matters.
"What about the matter with Yotsuba Mahiro on Itogami Island? Has he withdrawn from the Banquet of Flames?"
"He has no intention of withdrawing." The one speaking was Shizuka Koyomi. She pushed up the glasses on the bridge of her nose while holding a book. Today, she wore loose white clothing, and her entire being exuded a serene aura.
"Furthermore, not only is Yotsuba Mahiro not withdrawing, but the observer for the Twelfth Progenitor, Toyama Miwa, has also been sacrificed."
"What did you say?!" Hearing the news of Toyama Miwa's death, Endou Yukari was the most agitated. Almost all the War Dancers and Sword Shamans of the Lion King Organization had been personally trained by her! To have one suddenly killed—how could she not be furious? She immediately prepared to leave the High God Forest to find the killer.
"Calm down. We are not that man's match," Shizuka Koyomi said calmly. "Currently, the Witch of the Void Natsuki Minamiya and the 'Notaria' Witch Tokoyogi Aya are both on Yotsuba Mahiro's side. Moreover, as a human, Yotsuba Mahiro is accompanied by a silver-haired girl of unfathomable power, and Her Majesty the Third Progenitor Giada is also interested in that man. Even if we could kill him, I'm afraid the price we would pay would be significant."
Hearing Shizuka Koyomi's analysis, Endou Yukari calmed down. "Then what should we do?"
"Use our advantage," Shizuka Koyomi said placidly. "Just like before, send him a fiancée. The child brought back by my adoptive sister, the previous Shizuka Koyomi, Fujisaka Touka, is a good target."
Endou Yukari frowned slightly upon hearing this. "But that child is still very young; she still needs two or three years of training."
Shizuka Koyomi adjusted her glasses. "No matter. For the next three years, I can take responsibility for monitoring Yotsuba Mahiro's movements."