Hikigaya spoke a few words to Yukino, then left her side, pushed open the small door, and entered the backyard.
And then he saw Haruno.
She was sitting on a rattan chair in the courtyard, dazedly gazing at the already dim sky.
The night wind blew her shoulder-length hair, exposing her fair neck.
Hearing Hikigaya's footsteps, Haruno turned her head. Her beautiful face was full of sorrowful bewildernt.
But there was no surprise in her expression. She must have expected that he would co today.
Gazing blankly at Hikigaya, tears suddenly stread down Haruno's face. She choked and said:
"I miss ho…"
"…"
Hikigaya was silent.
He walked to Haruno's side and sat down on the long rattan chair beside her.
After a long while, he finally opened his mouth.
"Whether you believe it or not… your father's death was actually unexpected for ."
It was indeed unexpected, though he didn't feel anything about it.
Dead is dead.
Frankly, he had gotten similar information from the Yomi world long ago. He just didn't interfere out of consideration for Yukino being his classmate.
He had even vaguely hinted at it to Haruno, hoping she would warn her father who couldn't read the situation.
From a martial perspective, "half a bucket of water" equals no power at all. In terms of information analysis, knowing just a little and then making decisions is no better than guessing.
"I know…" Haruno lifted her hands and hugged herself, tightly rubbing her upper arms. "It was because Father made the wrong decisions. I couldn't persuade him. But in the end, he was still my father…"
Her tears fell uncontrollably. It seed like seeing Hikigaya broke the emotional dam she had been holding back.
"Today soone told that by tonight, my enemies would be gone. They told to be strong and not cry in front of you. They must be your subordinates…"
"Yeah, I had them tell you. But I never said you couldn't cry." Hikigaya sighed and opened his arms to her. "It's okay, co here and cry. Not crying in tis like this is what's ssed up."
"I can't cry anymore. I already cried earlier today… Mom cried too…" Haruno gave a bitter smile, but didn't reject his embrace.
Like a kitten yearning for its owner, she burrowed into his arms, wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her head on his shoulder.
Then, she began to sob softly.
By normal standards, Haruno was a stunning beauty with an incredible figure.
And "normal standards" cover the vast majority of people — even so-called elites.
Once soone's looks and figure reach a certain level of appeal, there's little more that can be added; the rest depends on qualities like temperant.
Among all the girls Hikigaya had t, only the Japanese Miko Princesses and the European Witches had appearances and bodies that truly surpassed ordinary human limits — but they weren't purely human, having divine lineage.
In all of Kanto, there were only about ten Miko Princesses, and that was after the Committee gathered them.
The only one he had seen who wasn't divine-blooded but could match those levels was that scheming vixen from the original work — Erica.
Though Hikigaya didn't see much of her scheming side; she was more of a goofball.
So, to him, the Yukinoshita sisters were both exceptional beauties.
Unlike her sister, Yukinoshita Haruno not only had a beautiful face and mature figure, but her temperant balanced intelligence and charm — maybe not a peerless temptress, but definitely the type of woman most n dread of.
Holding such a beautiful girl in his arms, trembling softly like a kitten, feeling her soft and lively body — Hikigaya had to admit, it was quite pleasant.
And thinking about what might happen if Haruno made her choice tonight, even he, shaless as he was, couldn't help feeling excited.
"Actually, I ca here today to tell you sothing."
Breathing in the faint fragrance from Haruno's body, Hikigaya spoke softly.
"This is important for you. After all, you can't keep living like this."
"Mm…" Haruno made a soft nasal sound and pressed her body closer. "Please, just let hold you a little longer…"
Hikigaya felt like he was definitely getting aroused. That fire inside him started burning stronger.
Bro, stay calm! Pace yourself! Take your ti and do it right!
He silently recited Pri Numbers to himself, then stroked Haruno's head.
She imdiately let out a sound like a purring cat.
"I won't take revenge for you."
The previously soft, boneless body in his arms suddenly stiffened when he said that.
At the sa ti, Hikigaya's hand slowly moved from her head to her back, gently caressing it. As Haruno's body slowly softened again, waves of heat began to flow from his hand into her soft form.
"Mm…" Haruno's body began to tremble slightly and heat up.
"But I can make you stronger. Then you can decide for yourself whether you want revenge."
Hikigaya continued caressing her back as he explained softly.
"Though this is my first ti trying this kind of thing, so it only works if we can succeed."
His expression beca serious at this point — rembering his struggles before becoming a God Slayer, as a disciple of the Demon God Fist.
The Yomi world, with its pursuit of ancient martial values, had no warmth in its training. Whether a master loved his disciple was irrelevant.
It was a core tenet of Yomi.
The victor has full power over the defeated — to kill or to spare. The winner decides.
By the ti Hikigaya walked out of that training base, the sll of blood on him could no longer be washed away.
"Can I…?" Haruno finally spoke again.
She still buried her face in his chest, but the heavy tremble in her voice betrayed her heart.
There was longing, fear, and helpless confusion.
"To be honest… I don't really think you're suited for this. But this kind of thing has to be done by yourself — only then can it truly end. After all, it's your choice…"
Hikigaya gripped her shoulders and helped her sit up. A tear-streaked face appeared before his eyes.
"What should I do?"
Haruno stared dreamily at the face so close to hers.
She felt that if this man ever left her life, she would die.
This must be fate. Heaven had sent this man into her life.
After everything that happened, and now his gentle care — if he ever left, she wouldn't be able to go on living.
This man was like a drug.
He overturned her life, tore her old world apart, and now she couldn't imagine life without him.
If she lost him, she'd die from the pain.
Whether the future held hope or despair, she had no regrets. This was her choice.
"I'm willing. I'll do whatever you say. Please… don't abandon …"
"What the hell… Fine, but let make this clear first. What I use isn't magic or martial arts. As for what happened on Phoenix Mountain… I don't know how much you've heard about that."
Hikigaya swallowed — by now, their lips were so close they could feel each other's breath, and that intimate contact ignited his desire even more.
"Then let's first talk about this so-called 'power.' This is sothing you need to at least understand."
In the backyard of the villa, Hikigaya was still sitting on a rattan chair, but Yukinoshita Haruno was being carried in his arms.
She twisted restlessly in his embrace.
"Don't move around. Listen to properly."
Hikigaya held Haruno tighter.
They say opposites attract—that n and won are naturally drawn to each other's bodies..
"I estimate you guys still don't know just how undeserved your defeat was."
Feeling the soft and curvaceous body in his arms, Hikigaya slowly organized his thoughts.
From primitive shamanism to modern magic, spells, and Taoist arts, even if ordinary people don't believe in the existence of such things, they at least understand the concept.
But having a concept and truly understanding it are two different things.
Hikigaya thought that Yukinoshita Yukino didn't truly understand—otherwise, she wouldn't have acted so recklessly.
So, he first asked: "Haruno, what do you think magic is?"
"Magic…" Hearing that word, Haruno trembled and began to think deeply.
It was that very word that had caused the Yukinoshita family to fall from heaven to hell.
In an instant, countless thoughts passed through her mind.
She thought of those people from Tokyo whom she had seen at ho before.
She thought of Phoenix Mountain.
Although that trip to Phoenix Mountain had taught her a lot, her understanding was still vague—like knowing sothing is amazing without knowing exactly why.
Back then, she had pretended to understand while persuading her father, but in truth, it was all guesswork.
She just felt it was powerful but couldn't explain how or why.
Perhaps that's why she couldn't persuade her father after all…
Seeing her dazed expression, Hikigaya kindly helped her out.
"Being able to do what others can't—that's magic. To create and to destroy—that's martial arts. These are what you Yukinoshitas were up against."
Hikigaya felt that his summary was pretty spot on.
In this world, mages and martial artists were often confused.
Martial artists flew in the sky, while mages wielded huge swords and bows, slashing and shooting all over the place.
Though none of them were as proficient as God Slayers…
"Doing what others can't… creating and destroying?" Haruno savored the words. They sounded pretty ridiculous, like sothing those scam artists would say.
"Yeah, the first part is easy to understand. Doing things that seem impossible and illogical—that's magic. Martial arts, on the other hand, is about creating oneself and destroying others. That's what my martial arts master once told ."
As he spoke, Hikigaya, under Haruno's wide-eyed gaze, silently struck the ground from mid-air, creating a large hole.
"That's your magic, Hachiman?" Haruno couldn't help but want to stand and take a closer look.
"Both mages and martial artists use this power, then express it through magic or martial arts."
Hikigaya quickly held her back to prevent her from getting closer—because he had gotten used to showing off lately, he had just used a bit of Osiris's damp, corrosive ability to enhance the visual effect, so… the pit still contained corrosive power that hadn't dissipated!
"So just like this hole, you guys aren't even on the sa level. It's like comparing kindergarteners to college students." Hikigaya concluded.
"What about you?" Haruno seed to have lost all interest in her recently collapsed family business. Her face showed no regret.
Instead, she looked far more interested in Hikigaya himself.
This made Hikigaya wonder whether this girl also had a "Gundam" dream like her younger sister…
Still, she had asked a good question.
"?" He released Haruno—the corrosive power had dissipated, so even if she wanted to jump in and roll around, he wouldn't stop her now. "I don't know any magic, but I have sothing that surpasses all magic and martial arts."
"What's that?"
"Authority. You probably saw it on Phoenix Mountain—the power of the gods."
"G-Gods…" Haruno felt overwheld. The information was too much to process.
What was a god anyway? Aliens?
"Too complicated to explain in detail. Simply put, think of it like this: there once existed powerful, intelligent, formless beings that could only be perceived when the natural environnt changed. The ancients worshipped them, created myths, and revered them as gods. That belief allowed them to beco immortal beings."
Hikigaya had never appreciated the power of language as much as he did now. He could only hope Haruno understood him.
"So myths passed down since ancient tis are not just history—they are contracts between the ancients and the gods. They are sacred realms where gods reside. These great beings accepted those contracts, and instead of harming humanity, they beca its protectors.
They acted according to human expectations, no longer descending to bring disaster.
But gods are intelligent lifeforms too, just like humans, and sotis they get bored and slack off…"
As he said this, Hikigaya snapped his fingers.
The ground beneath them visibly softened.
The grass rapidly grew lush, then withered at its peak, decomposing and disappearing into the soil.
"Those gods that left their myths return to their pre-god state. They're called 'Heretic Gods.' If a human miraculously defeats one, with the help of a quirky, bored goddess, they can gain that god's power… That's what happened to ."
Then he noticed Haruno in his arms was completely dumbfounded…
"Why are you so quiet?" He slapped her cheek gently, dissatisfied. "Work with here. It's exhausting saying all this in one go."
"Ah… oh…" Haruno responded weakly. Her eyes slowly ca back into focus. "Sorry… um… you're amazing…"
"Say it like a human, thanks," Hikigaya said with a dark face.
"No, I just think… it's incredible." Haruno held her forehead. The information was too overwhelming for her.
Hikigaya agreed—the information load was huge.
If he hadn't already known about the Campione series, he wouldn't have been able to accept it so quickly.
After all, gods and whatnot? Everything he had been taught growing up said those things didn't exist.
Ancient people even worshipped little dicks and big boobs. You couldn't say everyone was born with a personal god, right?
"Well, as long as you understand." Hikigaya puffed out his chest, trying to appear cool. "So, although I can't use any magic, I can surpass all magic and magicians. And I can make you strong too."
"Because it's divine power?" Haruno looked at Hikigaya with complicated eyes.
As their eyes t, Hikigaya saw many things in hers.
Hope. Hatred. Perhaps even a trace of resentnt.
"So, will you accept it?" he asked.
"Accept it? Hachiman, I'm yours. No matter what you want to do, it's my greatest happiness." Haruno suddenly smiled, though her smile was full of sorrow. "Don't you believe ?"
"Alright. Then let's begin."
Hikigaya nodded, then gently leaned forward and kissed Haruno on the lips.
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