— — — — — —
The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.
Even the usually quiet Shido Okurayama felt that Ryo's line was too mocking.
I've crushed too many ants underfoot. Asking me to remember every single one by name is asking a bit much.
Was he saying Kato Magatoki wasn't worth remembering—like an ant?
Strictly speaking, the Fourth Primogenitor did have the qualifications to say something like that, but saying it to her face was brutal.
Thinking that, Shido couldn't help sneaking a glance at Kato's face.
'Oh crap…' Shizuri stared stiffly at her instructor.
That stiff smile, those shimmering eyes, the shoulders trembling slightly—every sign pointed to her being absolutely furious.
She wouldn't really try to fight the Fourth Primogenitor here, right? …Right?
Shizuri wasn't sure, but deep down she leaned toward the answer being yes.
Former LCO members—wiped out. And now she was facing their executioner, with that executioner openly provoking her.
How could anyone sit still?
Sayaka Kirasaka had already drawn back the bowstring on her Lustrous Scale bow, ready to shoot, and Yukina Himeragi wrapped her hand tighter around Snowdrift Wolf's shaft to prevent Kato from trying anything.
(Lustrous Scale is an all-metal, silver transformable weapon (known as Heavy Demon-Purging Type Six: Der Freischütz). As a sword, it can theoretically sever any physical matter and, as a bow, fires ritual-infused whistling arrows that project large-scale curses like curse artillery.)
Yukina and Sayaka know Ryo doesn't need protection—but "doesn't need" and "don't do it" are two different things.
As his guards, it was their duty to stand between him and danger.
But what none of them expected was Kato suddenly laughing.
"Hahaha~~"
Her shoulders shook as she lifted her hands to support her frankly ridiculous curves, laughing like a blooming flower.
"Ants, huh… fair enough. Those idiots in the Library probably did look like ants to you."
She laughed so hard tears collected at her lashes. She wiped them away and added offhandedly. "Well, your people wiping out the Library is convenient for me anyway. Those old stubborn crones were hoarding too many grimoires. I couldn't stand them."
Her comrades had been slaughtered, and yet she sounded pleased about it. Yukina's expression darkened.
"Witch," Sayaka muttered, arrow nocked and aimed at Kato.
"No need to get so tense."
Kato flashed a smile and then turned her eyes to Ryo, who was regarding her with a new kind of interest. "Looks like I finally caught your attention?"
Noticing that, Kato straightened her overly-developed chest with a sly smile.
"If it's you, spending a wonderful night together isn't out of the question."
"After all, I'm curious what kind of child a Primogenitor and a witch would make."
"Shameless!" Yukina's cheeks flared red.
"Trashy," Sayaka cursed under her breath, shooting an irritated glance at Shizuri beside her.
Poor Shizuri—dragged into the glare—could only stew in mortified silence. What could she do? That shameless woman was still her instructor.
Ryo, meanwhile, let out a quiet, "That's interesting."
Yukina and Sayaka froze.
Oi—Oiiii—Your Majesty the Fourth Primogenitor, did you just take that seriously?
'Pervert,' Shizuri thought silently, face going numb. And then despair hit—she could already imagine her future.
If "witch + primogenitor kid" was "interesting," then what about "Oni (ogre) + witch + primogenitor kid"?
'Noooo…' Shizuri sobbed internally.
Unlike the three pure maidens present, Nozomi Kamikiba widened her eyes in surprise at Ryo's reaction.
"Oh?" Kato blinked, failing to hide her surprise. She hadn't expected him to actually show interest.
But honestly, it didn't bother her.
She smiled lightly, "Seems like the hostility between us is gone then."
Ryo nodded and mused aloud. "Your suggestion is amusing. A witch-child with me would likely have strong potential."
Kato's lips curled, though her eyes held a trace of disgust.
She didn't mind giving herself to men for gain, but men who got ruled by their lust left her disgusted.
Then Ryo rubbed his chin seriously and said. "Once things settle, I'll try it with Natsuki when we get back. See if it works."
"Though doing it with only one might not be reliable. Maybe call Aya too?"
Kato's smile froze.
And every girl present stiffened with secondhand embarrassment.
So Ryo was a pervert, but apparently only toward his own lovers.
And since Natsuki Minamiya and Aya Tokoyogi were already widely known as the Primogenitor's two wives… well, being horny for your wives wasn't called perverted. It was called love.
…Even if Ryo's "love" count was a bit high.
'I got played.' Kato's face twisted, but she didn't dare explode here.
She looked at Ryo, gritted her teeth, and said. "You're really something."
One casual comment from him had just handed two assists to Aya and Natsuki—both women who had humiliated Kato before.
She took a few deep breaths and said, "So it seems a woman like me can't catch your eye."
"Correct."
Ryo nodded without hesitation, then narrowed his eyes slightly. "Witch… you didn't come for revenge on behalf of Natsuki and Aya, did you?"
"Ta… You are right."
Kato almost said "take a guess," but the instant the words reached her throat, a lethal sense of danger washed over her from Ryo's direction. She swallowed the provocation and answered truthfully.
'Why does he feel scarier than the First Primogenitor I met before…? He should've just awakened a year ago, right?'
Cold sweat trickled down her neck.
"So it's not personal revenge. Someone sent you."
Ryo smiled in amusement.
"Yes." Kato nodded.
"Order of the End?" Ryo asked.
Kato's eyes flew open. After a pause, she nodded again. "Yes."
"Good."
Ryo looked pleased. Then he said. "Give me their names and I'll think about sparing you."
He narrowed his cool eyes. "And if you satisfy me, I don't mind playing with you after."
A wave of vile disgust crawled up Kato's spine.
That feeling triggered her back-up spatial transfer immediately.
The air around her warped and blurred, and as the sensation of dread vanished, she let out a relieved giggle.
Looking toward Ryo—uncaring if her voice carried—she said. "Sorry, but I have no intention of exposing my employer."
"You may as well stay trapped in that fictional world and die with it."
Before she even finished, the warped air swallowed her.
When the world came back into focus, she recognized the scenery and smiled.
"As expected, just a Fourth Primogenitor who's only had a year of practice."
She stretched lazily, voice dripping with sultry sweetness, enough to melt men's hearts.
And then—
A hand slid across her lower abdomen, wrapped around her waist, and traced over her hot body.
Kato froze.
A baffled voice murmured against her ear, "Trying spatial tricks in front of me? Did escaping from Natsuki give you that kind of courage?"
.
.
.