Aya stared at him, her eyes like a tranquil, deep pool.
The man before her was holding Natsuki, dressed in a simple house dress, who appeared to be in a coma.
His unpredictable methods, absolute control over the Prison Barrier, and a power she couldn't sense at all—Aya saw no chance of successfully escaping.
In fact, she suspected Aslan wanted her to resist. Like a child poking an ant nest with a stick, the ants' panic and resistance brought rare amusement to the child. The man before her was that kind of person.
Resisting was pointless. It would only bring endless torment upon herself. The fellow prisoners around her were already a lesson for her.
Before her true desire was fulfilled, Aya rejected all forms of death. Being imprisoned by Aslan in this Prison Barrier and turned into a lab rat was even more tragic than death.
Aya let out a soft sigh, glanced at Natsuki, and slightly bowed. "As you wish, I have only one answer."
The Witch lowered her noble head, declaring her submission.
Aslan looked at the classically dressed beauty before him and slightly curled the corner of his mouth. "You're much wiser than I expected."
He had anticipated Aya would likely resist and attempt to escape. That way, he could "discipline" or educate her properly. Because of Natsuki's presence, Aslan wouldn't make things too difficult for Aya, but some torment was inevitable.
Aya glanced at Natsuki, who seemed to show a hint of glee on her face but quickly hid it.
No joy, no anger—just a faint calm. She didn't consider herself a subordinate at all. If there was a chance, she would definitely try to break free from her shackles. This was the tacit agreement between Aslan and Natsuki.
For Aslan, Aya's role was merely to amuse Natsuki and, at most, to be pleasing to the eye. Her presence or absence didn't matter.
Aslan certainly wouldn't reuse someone who surrendered just because they lacked strength.
He looked at Aya, who had lowered her head. "Alright, lift your head. For the next few days, just follow us and be an apprentice maid."
"I understand." Aya said in a calm tone.
At that moment, Aslan lowered his head, looking at Natsuki, who was sleeping peacefully in his arms, and the corner of his mouth curved into a slightly wicked smile. His mischievous hand slapped Natsuki's round, jewel-like backside.
"Natsuki-chan, how long are you going to pretend to sleep?"
Natsuki glared at him with a look full of annoyance, embarrassment, and anger.
This man followed the rules when he shouldn't and surprised her when he was supposed to follow them. Truly wicked.
"No plans to keep pretending to sleep?" Aya said coldly from the side.
"Natsuki."
"Aya."
Natsuki showed an awkward expression. She had thought she could stay calm facing Aya, but she miscalculated. After the Prison Barrier's Authority was transferred, she chose to pretend to sleep, opting to avoid the situation.
She didn't know how to face her former friend.
"So that's how it is. All this was for me?"
Aya now saw Natsuki's expression, noticing the hard-to-hide embarrassment and anger on her face, but no strong rejection. She suddenly guessed a few things. She was part of Aslan and Natsuki's game…
Aya looked at the empty Prison Barrier beneath her feet and sneered. "I didn't expect you'd come to destroy the Prison Barrier for me and choose to submit to someone like this."
"That's not it!" Natsuki instinctively retorted.
It was clearly Aslan who got information from who-knows-where, saying there was an extraordinary beauty in the Prison Barrier and wanting to take her back as a maid.
"Right, that's how it is. Natsuki-chan says no with her mouth, but her heart says yes." Aslan said with a smile, ignoring Natsuki's murderous glare.
After Aslan finished speaking, Natsuki reluctantly glanced at Aya. She jumped down from Aslan's arms and stomped hard on his foot.
"I told you not to talk nonsense!"
How could she admit that she still hoped she and Aya could return to how things were before?
Aya had abandoned her desires, and their relationship could go back to when they were kids. She really couldn't say something like that. And even if she did, what was the point?
Since Aya planned to use the vitality of Saikai Academy's students to activate the Grimoire and destroy Itogami Island, they could never go back. A faint loneliness, hard to conceal, flickered in Natsuki's eyes.
Perhaps this was the final fate of a Witch. Born not human, abandoned by parents, used, losing friends, teachers, and family, and ultimately alone until old age… Aya was her only good friend in the past, her only family.
Seeing Natsuki reveal such a vulnerable side, Aya laughed—not mockingly. "Hehe, I didn't expect that after all these years, you're still as soft and weak as ever, Natsuki."
And it was exactly this soft and weak Natsuki who gave her a chance to live, spared her from torment, and allowed her to fulfill her true desire.
"By the way, as a reminder, Natsuki has violated the contract. Are you ready?"
As the key to the Prison Barrier, she allowed it to be controlled by someone else and even let others torment the prisoners inside. Perhaps the Guardian was already on its way to execute punishment.
Almost the second Aya finished speaking, something strange appeared on Natsuki's body. A faint golden light gathered behind her. Then, a knight in golden armor slowly emerged in the air.
"Rain Gold." Natsuki didn't need to turn around; she already knew who was behind her.
The Witch's protector, and also the Guardian. When a Witch violated the contract, it was the executioner who came to punish.
Aya showed a mocking expression. "If you have a backup plan, use it quickly. Otherwise, your Guardian might be killed by the Witch's loyal protector."
At this moment, Aslan, who initially had no intention of interfering in the old friends' reunion, spoke with slight surprise. "You're worried about her?"
Aya suddenly stopped talking. She stood in place expressionlessly, like an icy beauty, observing with cold eyes.
Seeing this, the corner of Natsuki's mouth twitched. She was a bit at a loss for words.
But one thing was certain—she and Aya shared the same attitude: Aslan was a great guy in every way, except for his loose tongue.
As Natsuki fell silent, Rain Gold reached out and grabbed for her head.
Aslan turned and glanced at Rain Gold.
Rain Gold halted its movement. Then, amid the creaking sound of gears, it silently withdrew its arm and knelt on one knee before Aslan.
Aslan had studied Guardians too. Otherwise, what was he experimenting with earlier? Unfortunately, the Cleansing ritual was incomplete, with no way to fully transform them into Devils. Instead, it birthed a bunch of lesser Devils.
But that didn't mean he couldn't control Devils. Both Algol and the Mother of Evil God Ahriman were ultimate big shots on the evil side. They had significant achievements in Devils. Though Aslan hadn't specialized in it, he had made considerable progress under their influence.
How could he not make use of the "old grandma" by his side? This was personal guidance from a Two-Digit big shot. Plus, Aslan was a Young Creation God, with top-tier talent. With the right teacher, his expertise in life viruses skyrocketed.
He just hadn't yet figured out how to construct a Divinity of life; otherwise, he'd have already done it.
"Become Natsuki's true protector. In return, I'll grant you true Devil Divinity."
Rain Gold was a Familiar sent by the Devil after a Witch signed a contract with it, not a true Devil. True Devils didn't exist in this world. What existed were magical aggregates resembling Familiars under equivalent exchange rules. Only after a Witch's soul was devoured by the Devil and fell would it transform into a true Devil. That was a Devil's privilege, and protectors naturally got nothing.
Rain Gold lowered its head silently, kneeling on the ground, banging its head against the floor, as if declaring submission.
"Good, Natsuki-chan's issue is settled." Aslan smiled gently and said to Natsuki.
Rain Gold's figure behind her slowly faded. Only an illusory shadow paused briefly behind Natsuki before disappearing.
"Next, it's your turn." Aslan looked at Aya and said with a smile.
Aya didn't speak. Though she sensed the desire in Natsuki's eyes and knew this was Aslan's condition for recruiting her, she still chose not to give in. She still had her true desire to fulfill, even if it meant using any means and paying any price.
Seeing this, Aslan didn't force Aya. Instead, he turned to Natsuki. "Let's go, Natsuki-chan, time to head back."
Natsuki looked at Aya, who followed behind Aslan and seemed to notice her gaze, showing a faint smile. She felt a headache coming on.
She suddenly felt that letting Aya become a maid might be the worst decision of her life.
After all, these two were clearly going to team up against her.
Wasn't this like finding two "live-in dads"? Natsuki suddenly felt her mood sour.