"Hey hey, is it really okay to barge in directly from the front like this?"
Standing dead center in Tengu Square, Shido looked around and couldn't help but speak with so anxiety.
He didn't know that Miku's domain of control had already expanded to a very exaggerated extent. The mont he stepped near Tengu Square, his figure had been captured by low-flying helicopters. Several searchlights shone directly on him, and subsequently, a sea of people acting like zombies surged from all directions, tightly trapping him and Kurumi.
Not knowing whether they were observing or waiting for Miku's orders, the crowd of people didn't charge over. They just continuously tightened the encirclent. At the forefront of the encirclent were ard police officers and heavily built n.
"We've obtained the necessary intel. No matter what we do next, we have to co here, whether it's conquering Miku-san, regrouping with Yutsuki-san, or rescuing Tohka-san."
"I know that even without you telling . But there's no need to co up so directly from the front!"
"What does it matter? This is the most clean and direct way to notify them~ And besides..."
Kurumi said with a relaxed face, seeming completely unconcerned about the situation that could be called a dead end.
She even revealed a smile that could be described as joyful.
"Really... delivering so much food right up to . I'm so happy! I can hardly hold back!"
"Kurumi...?!"
Just as Shido felt sowhat puzzled by Kurumi's words, a sudden intense feeling of lethargy struck him.
Not only that, in the pitch-black night, a giant dark shadow silently lurked beneath everyone's feet.
Looking around, the burly n surrounding Shido were swallowed by the swamp-like black shadow, falling to the ground and groaning in pain.
Next, the surrounding ground, despite being illuminated by searchlights, was shrouded in a layer of blackness.
Shido had a feeling of déjà vu regarding this scene.
That's right, three months ago—during the ti Kurumi was attending the high school—Shido had experienced it once.
"City of Devouring Ti..."
"Ufufu, hihihi. That's right. I'm impressed you still rember, Shido-san."
Kurumi twisted her lips and looked at Shido. The golden clock face drawn on her left eye was spinning rapidly in reverse.
'City of Devouring Ti.' Whenever she used the power of her Angel, Kurumi had to consu her own ti. This was her thod of replenishing ti from the outside. It caused people who stepped into the shadow to fall into a coma state, absorbing their ti—that is, their lifespans.
Kurumi looked at the crowd before her, revealing a bewitching smile.
"It's rare for so many people to gather at once, so let make good use of them."
(That Kurumi, she really will do anything...)
Looking at Kurumi openly absorbing ti through the cara, Yutsuki sighed sowhat helplessly in her heart.
Although this was her first ti seeing Kurumi use such a move, it didn't affect Yutsuki's understanding of Kurumi's thoughts.
Even though she had told Kurumi she could use any ans necessary as long as she brought Shido over, Kurumi's thods still made her feel slightly uncomfortable.
(Well... we already made an agreent not to slaughter innocents indiscriminately. Kurumi shouldn't go too far.)
Since showing too much panic would only expose her identity, Yutsuki couldn't possibly run over to stop Kurumi. She could only pray that the girl knew how to hold back.
"W-What is... that...?"
Seeing the images transmitted by the cara, Miku, who was originally sitting in the VIP seat enjoying the life winner treatnt of being embraced by Spirits left and right, let out a cute scream.
"That girl... could she be a Spirit too...?"
Miku squinted, looking at the girl on the monitor and saying.
"Mhm... Her na is Tokisaki Kurumi, a Spirit codenad Nightmare, Onee-sama."
Yutsuki, while massaging Miku's shoulders, showed extre kindness by answering Miku's question.
However, Miku couldn't relax her expression because of this.
The humans she controlled through her domain of control not only failed to capture Itsuka Shido, but instead fell to the ground like soulless dolls.
Under these circumstances, without a doubt, that man had anticipated this to so extent and kept a Spirit by his side. How incredibly sinister and shaless! Miku clenched her fists in regret.
Yutsuki calmly looked away, signaling 'this has nothing to do with ~'.
Being able to arrive here ant that girl had also heard Miku's performance but wasn't manipulated by her. Even though the other Spirits had already beco her captives... Did that girl also have the sa ability as Shido?
However, Miku didn't have much leeway to think about it.
Itsuka Shido and the girl nad Tokisaki Kurumi were continuously approaching Tengu Square. It looked like very soon, they would arrive in front of Miku.
—To seal Miku's power.
"...Kuh, how can I... let you get what you want..."
Miku clenched her fists, speaking with a squeezed voice.
Yutsuki silently watched Miku. Hearing Miku's words, she felt as if she understood sothing.
The girl's words weren't the stubbornness of a child holding tightly onto their toys; rather, it was more like... the mournful cry of soone desperately grabbing onto their last straw of hope.
However, after an imposing shake of her head, Miku quickly recovered her montum and stood up from her chair.
"Onee-sama, what is your next plan?"
Yutsuki, who was originally massaging her, wasn't surprised at all. She asked in a calm and steady tone, acting just like a dependable butler.
"Returning to the stage. Follow ! I am going to start performing again!"
Thanks to Kurumi, the path that could have been considered as difficult as climbing Mount Everest was easily crossed by Shido.
Through a passage leading directly to the Tengu stage—originally blasted open by Yutsuki's railgun—he advanced while being princess-carried by Kurumi, flying through the air.
Despite feeling that his male dignity was sowhat bruised, Shido tried his best to ignore such a trivial matter.
"So, Yutsuki's plan is to infiltrate Miku's side in order to gather intel on her?"
"Mhm... Yutsuki-san said: 'If, after the competition, Miku doesn't show signs of yielding, it ans we are still lacking certain conquest conditions.'"
Kurumi chuckled lightly, mimicking Yutsuki's tone as she repeated.
"Therefore, once this situation arises, we must take action to facilitate the second playthrough strategy for Izayoi Miku."
Thus, Yutsuki had asked Kurumi to accompany Shido in searching for intel on Miku's past.
On the other hand, Yutsuki would feign being controlled, posing as a captive to lower Miku's guard, allowing her to understand the real Miku up close.
"Yutsuki really thinks far ahead..."
After hearing this, Shido couldn't help but express deep admiration for Yutsuki's careful consideration.
Indeed, after investigating Miku's house for a while, with the help of Kurumi's Angel Zafkiel and the ability of its 'Yod' (Tenth Bullet) to convey a target's mories, they learned about Izayoi Miku's past. They also vaguely understood the reason why Miku was unwilling to have her power sealed, even if it ant breaking her promise.
"Mhm... However, Tohka-san's situation is truly an unexpected developnt. Looking at it this way, Shido-san probably can't focus solely on conquering Miku-san either. But please do your best to persuade Miku-san not to interfere with our rescue of Tohka-san..."
"...Yeah, I'll do my best."
Thinking of Miku's extre disgust towards n, Shido felt a bit uncertain, but he still spoke words of encouragent.
The brief conversation quickly ended; the path had reached its end.
The central stage was also perated with a bizarre atmosphere. Although the audience seats here were full of girls—after being invaded by Kurumi's shadow, they were all crouched on the ground.
Then, on the deepest part of the stage.
With the pipe organ as a backdrop, a girl shining like a star stood there calmly.
Izayoi Miku, the Spirit who controls music and sound, the master of this place.
Looking further back, he saw Yoshino and the Yamai sisters dressed in maid outfits, as well as the figure of Ryougi Yutsuki dressed in a butler's attire.
The two exchanged a glance, and Yutsuki used her eyes to convey her words...
(Why did you take off the won's clothing, you idiot Shido! 凸(艹皿艹))
It must be that he opened his eyes the wrong way; Shido silently told himself in his heart. Then, feeling sohow guilty, he averted his gaze.
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