"It seems I won't be able to call you Natsuki-chan anymore," Kojou said with a playful smile, staring at Natsuki, who now looked completely grown, as he helped her sit in another chair next to a stunned Yuuma.
"Hmph~ I told you not to address your teacher with 'chan,'" Natsuki puffed her cheeks in a childlike manner, glaring at Kojou with playful annoyance.
"… " Yuuma stared at the two of them, flirting openly before her with complete disregard for the world, and felt a pain in her heart. Being ignored by the man she loved while he flirted with another woman right in front of her was unbearably painful for Yuuma.
All she could do was press her lips together in displeasure and speak in a dissatisfied tone, "Is this really the time for flirting?"
"Indeed," Kojou nodded suddenly, casting a sideways glance at Yuuma before returning his gaze to Natsuki. "Help me release all the criminals, Natsuki-chan."
"Also, there's no need to restrain their powers or anything like that—release them as if you were granting them freedom."
"But!... " Natsuki wanted to object, knowing it was extremely dangerous; the Prison Barrier held dozens of dangerous criminals the government couldn't properly handle.
"No need to worry," Kojou interrupted with a confident smile, shaking his head. "Because I am the strongest..."
"...Alright, if you're sure," Natsuki exhaled slowly, then smiled hesitantly, her eyes reflecting a mix of concern and an unusual trust in him.
She stretched out her hand, closed her beautiful eyes calmly, and a golden-armored knight's shadow appeared behind her. A massive surge of magical power poured from her body, continuously rising.
"Could a human possibly possess such overwhelming magical power…?" Yuuma murmured in astonishment, feeling Natsuki's magical aura, enough to distort the surrounding space merely by existing.
Yet, despite the sheer force that should have crushed her into a pulp, Yuuma felt nothing—an incredibly strange phenomenon.
Nothing, however, was impossible. Perhaps Natsuki was deliberately restraining it, or Kojou was protecting her. Thinking this way made Yuuma feel both complicated and warm inside.
Suddenly, a purple magic circle appeared in the center of the wide hall, and dozens of silhouettes emerged from it, each with different shapes and forms.
The silhouettes cascaded to the ground swiftly, each bearing the distinct features of the criminals imprisoned inside the Prison Barrier. They looked like lost spirits seeking freedom, their muffled voices echoing across the hall.
The figures gradually became clear to the three, especially the seven standing at the forefront—they appeared to be the strongest prisoners present.
"Mother..." Yuuma whispered with awe and longing, staring at a beautiful woman who bore a strong resemblance to her.
Their features were 70% similar, with identical eye color and hair color, though Aya's hair was longer than Yuuma's.
"… " Mother and daughter stared at each other silently, neither speaking.
However… unlike Aya, who was absorbed in examining her daughter, the other prisoners began to grumble and laugh joyfully at their newfound freedom after being trapped in this timeless place for ages.
"Ahem! Welcome, legendary criminals of all ages," a light cough echoed through the hall, drawing the prisoners' attention to its source. "My name is Akatsuki Kojou, and I am the Fourth Primogenitor."
"I have freed you for my own reasons, and I will now inform you of the terms of your freedom… submit to me, or die."
His words were serious and practical, devoid of any sarcasm or moodiness, causing the prisoners to pause and process his statement.
Everyone froze for a moment, astonishment evident on their faces. This was not how legendary criminals were usually addressed. Kojou neither smiled nor mocked; his voice was firm, his absolute confidence dominating the entire space.
Natsuki stood behind him, the golden knight's shadow still looming, exuding a mysterious aura of power and protection, while Yuuma's heart raced—caught between fear and admiration for Kojou's overwhelming strength.
One of the legendary criminals, a massive man wearing a torn black cloak, stepped forward heavily, his eyes glinting with a mix of surprise and defiance: "Who… are you to speak in this tone? We have known no fear for centuries!"
Kojou raised his hand slowly; not a muscle of his body moved except his eyes, fixed directly on the criminal. "I am the one who can break all the chains here… and I am the one who freed you to be free under my authority. Choose wisely: submit to me, or die here."
A terrifying silence fell over the hall, everything seemingly frozen, the air heavy with tension. Some criminals struggled to swallow their words, while others took a step back, unable to ignore the absolute authority radiating from Kojou.
"Don't mess with me, you wretched primogenitor!" shouted a blonde-haired man, clenching his hand like a claw as he attacked Kojou. "Storm Breaker Axe!"
Slash!
A blade-like wind surged toward Kojou at incredible speed, shredding the ground along the way—a testament to the attack's immense power.
But…
"Arrrgh!" The man, resembling a winged creature, suddenly let out a painful scream as his body was cleaved in two and his attack vanished.
"Those who accept submission, step to the left…" Kojou said coldly. "I will give you ten minutes to think, after which I will start killing anyone in front of me without discrimination."
The hall filled with murmurs and hurried footsteps; some prisoners exchanged wary glances, others fell to their knees, a mix of awe and ancient fear.
"Ha–" one rasped, sensing the tension in the air, "we will submit to no one… we are free!"
"… " Kojou paid no attention, calmly staring at the irate prisoners, his words firm. Within ten seconds, anyone who defied him would become lifeless corpses.
...
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