Becoming an Eminence in Shadow in the New World (DxD / StrikeTheBlood) Chapter 129: Yukina Himeragi’s Ominous Premonition

In the empty office, Natsuki Minamiya's expression turned serious as she fixed her gaze firmly on Yukina Hiragi.

"Speak."

Unlike her usual quiet deanor as a teacher, Natsuki Minamiya, no longer acting in that role, exerted imnse pressure with just that single word.

"…I'm sorry, Minamiya-sensei, but I don't want my personal matters to drag my friends into this."

Under that overwhelming pressure, Yukina Hiragi nearly blurted out everything about Sayaka Kirasaka. But in the end, relying on the discipline she had built through her Sword Shaman training, she steadied herself. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to endure and chose to keep it hidden for the sake of their friendship.

Seeing that Yukina Hiragi not only refused to speak but remained this resolute, Natsuki Minamiya felt a surge of irritation.

First, dozens of Security Force personnel had nearly died. Then she had the misfortune of getting beaten by Shadow. After staying up all night investigating, the trail she uncovered pointed to a colleague from another departnt, one with even higher authority.

And now, a Sword Shaman stood in front of her, clearly knowing sothing yet stubbornly refusing to report it. Did she really think Natsuki Minamiya was in a good mood after all that?

She couldn't defeat Shadow, couldn't find the Three Saints, and couldn't make a move against the Lion King Organization's Itogami Island branch.

But dealing with a single Sword Shaman was another matter.

"Whether it involves you or not isn't for you to decide. For all you know, this whole incident might have been caused by your friend."

Although anger burned inside her, Natsuki Minamiya suppressed it, maintaining a calm and composed expression. She even unfolded her fan again.

"Um… could you at least tell what happened? There might be so misunderstanding. My friend hasn't been on Itogami Island for long, and she's not the type to cause trouble."

Just arrived, huh.

Hearing that, Natsuki Minamiya scoffed inwardly.

This had nothing to do with whether her friend caused trouble. The real issue was how much trouble the Lion King Organization behind her would stir up because of that friend.

"You don't need to know what happened. Just answer my question.

And I suggest you don't dig into it. I don't know how you managed to convince the extrely insular Mitsugoshi Company, but I'm certain the price you paid wasn't small.

If you get dragged into this, everything you've sacrificed might end up for nothing."

Yukina Hiragi's repeated attempts to deflect were starting to wear down Natsuki Minamiya's patience. Even knowing that this was normal for an inexperienced Sword Shaman, her tone still carried a clear warning.

Yukina Hiragi, who had been anxious monts ago, froze when she heard this.

Her mind imdiately understood the implication. Yet at the sa ti, she instinctively refused to accept it.

A deep, overwhelming fear rose from within her. Under that pressure, her body moved on its own as she took a couple of steps back, her thoughts in disarray and her expression slipping out of control.

An impulse surged within her, to follow Natsuki Minamiya's words, reveal everything about Sayaka Kirasaka, and then stop involving herself altogether.

Yukina Hiragi knew what this was.

It was a warning from her spiritual sight, a byproduct of her strong diumistic ability. She had a powerful premonition that if she didn't follow Natsuki Minamiya's words, this vague sense of dread would beco reality.

"What is it? Your spiritual sight activated? Tell what you sensed."

With her experience, Natsuki Minamiya imdiately recognized Yukina Hiragi's state and raised an eyebrow.

"I… I…"

After more than ten seconds, Yukina Hiragi barely managed to regain control of her expression. She tried to speak, her lips parting again and again, only to close each ti without a word.

After what had just happened, Natsuki Minamiya was no longer in a hurry.

She simply watched Yukina Hiragi quietly, waiting for her to steady herself.

"I… want to know what happened."

Yukina Hiragi's words caught Natsuki Minamiya off guard. For the first ti, she looked at her with a different kind of gaze. No matter how she saw it, that spiritual vision just now was anything but a good on, yet she still had the nerve to push toward it.

"Are you sure you want to know? You might end up going back to how your life used to be, or even lose your life."

eting her eyes, Yukina Hiragi nodded firmly.

"I don't know."

Seeing Yukina Hiragi's widened eyes, Natsuki Minamiya shrugged and continued in a casual tone.

"The only thing we've confird so far is that the highest authority in your Lion King Organization, the Three Saints, are involved in this matter to so extent."

"..."

Hearing that, Yukina Hiragi felt a wave of relief for her friend, but at the sa ti, her concern toward the Lion King Organization deepened.

"In that case, Minamiya-sensei, I'll take my leave for now. I'll go to the Lion King Organization's Itogami Island branch and ask about the situation. Once I have a general idea, I'll co back and report to you."

After giving what sounded like a reasonable explanation, Yukina Hiragi turned and walked toward the door. But just as she was about to step out, several golden chains suddenly appeared out of thin air and blocked her path.

She stopped and turned back.

Natsuki Minamiya sat in her chair, gently waving her fan. Her eyes were sharp as she stared at Yukina Hiragi. In the air around her, incantations traced out a spatial magic circle, while golden chains coiled around her like living serpents.

"You don't actually think you can fool , do you?"

Her cold, emotionless voice made Yukina Hiragi even more tense. She knew there was no way she could bluff her way through this.

"Speak. Who is that friend of yours? Where is she staying now? Why did she co to Itogami Island?"

Feeling the overwhelming anger hidden beneath that calm tone, Yukina Hiragi didn't dare try any tricks. Knowing she couldn't hide it any longer, she hesitated for a mont before finally speaking.

"Sayaka Kirasaka."

...

While Yukina Hiragi was giving her answer to Natsuki Minamiya, trouble had also found Cid.

"Cid, this is your sword, right? Co on, give it everything you've got. I won't use the Power of Destruction. Just last three minutes against . Do your best, I believe you can do it."

Taking his sword back from Rias, Cid glanced at her a few tis, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

This kind of hellish training again. One careless move and the opponent might actually get sent to hell.

Right after magic class, he had been brought here. They said that even if he wasn't part of Rias's peerage yet, he was still considered a mber of her group and had to train with them.

To be fair, this was supposed to be a benefit. Rias's training grounds were far better than ordinary ones in both equipnt and resources.

The problem was, it was useless to him. The intensity here didn't even compare to the magic training thod he maintained twenty-four hours a day. If anything, this kind of training just drained more of his energy.

But there was no avoiding it.

He raised his sword to a precise angle. Any higher would be the optimal striking angle. Any lower would make it awkward and powerless. This exact position sat right in between, balanced perfectly.

No choice but to go.

He silently prayed that he wouldn't accidentally cut Rias down.

With that thought, Cid lifted his sword and charged straight at her.