Her red hair flowed coolly in the light.
Unlike the orderliness evoked by her neatly tied hair, her eyes trembled with a deep golden hue.
The moment their gazes met, the other person instinctively knew this woman was no mere human. Her smile was gentle, but beneath it lay a strange blend of pressure and composure, the two skillfully merged.
A white shirt and a black skirt. Even in her minimalist attire, her intimidating presence was perfect, as if proving she was the one managing the world's order. Authority, danger, and calculated allure.
She became the center of the space without speaking. When she took a deep breath, a scent bordering on nostalgia and tension tickled her nostrils.
That was the woman Makima was. The Demon of Domination was just such a demon.
Today, she was heading somewhere to take possession of the Zombie Devil. Of course, it was ostensibly under the pretext of subjugation, but the reality was different. Her actions always harbored an unseen intention. That was domination.
The door to the old warehouse creaked open, and red light streamed through the gap. It was at that moment that Makima opened her eyes.
"Uh, uh…?"
The voice that escaped her lips felt unfamiliar. The world rippled slightly.
Where am I?
Why am I in this place?
And then it came.
Countless memories rushed in like a river.
A dark theater.
A dazzling screen.
The title "Chainsaw Man."
She had been on her way home after seeing that movie. The cold sound of metal. Light. And impact. She had no memory after that.
But one thing was certain.
In her past life, she had definitely loved Chainsaw Man and its characters.
"But… this body…"
Her mind began to fracture, and other memories flooded in. The smell of blood. Death. Orders. Obedience. The image of a woman standing over countless corpses. Even though she had only seen fragments of those memories, her stomach churned, and she felt like she was going to vomit.
"Ugh…!"
"Makima-sama?!"
"Are you okay?"
Urgent voices came from both sides as staff members supported her.
She wiped her mouth and forced a smile.
"…Ah, I'm fine."
A bitter taste lingered on her tongue.
The moment she tried to catch her breath, a voice echoed in her mind.
[Hmm. This Demon of Domination is dominating my body. I don't know who you are, but that's quite bold.]
The voice was unfamiliar, yet eerily familiar. It felt like another version of herself, one that argued faster than her own thoughts.
"T-This voice, these memories… this body… The Demon of Domination, Makima…!"
[Since you know my human name, you must have seen my memories. Your true identity is intriguing. Memories of a past life, the reverberations of emotions. You were human, weren't you?]
"…Can you read my thoughts?"
[Rather than reading, I should say sharing. Since you're moving my body right now, I'm trapped inside it. Perhaps we've become one. It's a very interesting situation.]
"So the current situation is that I'm controlling you?"
[Haha. That's a funny expression. Controlling the Demon of Control. You really are a strange person. But I have to admit it. Right now, your will is moving my body.]
Her laughter was a mixture of leisure, mockery, and faint amusement. She did not feel this situation was a crisis. Rather, it was as if she had gained a new toy.
"The reason you came here is…"
[Originally, I was only planning to take the Zombie Devil. But from what I've seen of your memories, it seems Chainsaw is here. In human form, of course.]
"My memories…!"
"Isn't that obvious? Just as you've seen all of my memories, I've seen all of yours. You only remember fragments of your past, but I'm different."
"You remember all of Chainsaw Man's memories completely. Thanks to that, moving forward will be much easier."
Her tone was like a cat leisurely playing with its prey.
The reincarnated girl swallowed and caught her breath. A cold chill crept down her spine.
This being is truly a demon.
A single word. A single smile. Enough to shake a person's will. Domination itself.
Makima opened her mouth again with a witch-like smile.
"Anyway, I absolutely want to make Chainsaw-sama mine. How about it? Will you cooperate with me?"
"What if I say no?"
"Hehe. You absolutely cannot refuse."
She smiled softly, but an order was embedded within it.
"Because if I don't take Chainsaw-sama here, that woman will never come to Japan either."
Her breath caught.
She knew. Everything.
The purpose hidden within the reincarnated girl. Even the reason she had opened her eyes in this world again.
[You want to meet that woman, and the man inside that Chainsaw, don't you?]
With those words, the reincarnated girl collapsed. She had been hiding it well, but the Demon of Control saw through everything.
That was her essence.
Even without exercising control, she already held everything.
[But it's annoying to keep calling you 'you.' Could you give me a name?]
"…I'll call you Nayuta."
Makima laughed at the unexpectedly absurd answer.
[Hehehe. You don't want me to die, do you?]
Her whisper was sweet, yet venomous.
[This is really funny. Yes, from now on, I'll call you Nayuta. Since we'll continue to live together as one body, let's get along, Nayuta.]
A chill ran down Nayuta's spine. Even without seeing her, she knew.
Makima was smiling beautifully and terribly.
"…Your speaking skills are truly worthy of a Demon of Domination."
Makima's smile widened slightly.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Nayuta quietly clenched Makima's hand.
She had no intention of being swayed by her.
She might be a demon, but right now, Nayuta was the one in control of this body.
"Just as you can't control me, I won't be easily controlled either. I will rewrite the ending of this world."
Makima did not respond.
She simply smiled.
As if she had already foreseen it.
At least, it seemed Nayuta could use the ability itself.
Her memories of reincarnation were fragmented and faint, but strangely enough, her memories of Chainsaw Man remained vivid. Perhaps thanks to that, controlling Makima's ability was not difficult. Her body moved as if it had always belonged to her.
"A blessing in disguise," Makima's voice echoed in her mind, low and composed.
[If all my powers had been sealed when we switched, I wouldn't have lasted a day. I have many enemies.]
"You say such frightening things so casually."
[Well, the only being in this world who can kill me is Chainsaw.]
The words were colder than air.
She was not afraid of death. Perhaps the concept of death did not even apply to her.
With their thoughts intertwined, Nayuta slowly moved the body.
Right now, she had to act as Makima.
Her tone.
Her gaze.
Even the angle of her fingertips.
Everything had to be perfect.
To save the current Denji.
To save that child.
She inhaled softly.
"…Ah. Hug me."
The words melted into the air.
At them, Nayuta hugged Denji without hesitation.
Her heart nearly stopped.
It was warm. So warm that it did not feel like Makima's emotions, but Nayuta's own heart responding.
Makima's official purpose was to scout Denji.
Denji then declared that he would become Makima's dog.
"What do you have for breakfast?" Denji asked, lifting his head with childlike eyes.
Nayuta smiled. Makima's smile.
Perfect. Refined.
"Bread with butter and jam, salad, and coffee. For dessert, I'll let you eat whatever you want."
Denji muttered softly.
"…This is the best."
Just three syllables.
Pure happiness.
Makima would never understand.
But now, she felt it.
Those words pierced straight into her heart.
"That's right. I like that smiling face."
The atmosphere shifted.
Invisible threads intertwined throughout the room.
Denji's gaze.
His breath.
His fingertips.
Everything naturally gravitated toward her.
Makima's smile bloomed within Nayuta.
Not human.
It was the perfect smile of someone who ruled the world while pretending to love it.