“Is… that really him?”
“I think… no, I am sure of it. It’s Nathan… um, Onii-sama.” Akane’s voice was soft but resolute as she nodded, the conviction in her words growing stronger with each passing moment. The more she allowed herself to remember, the more certain she became.
Ayaka, still reeling from the shock, could barely process what her sister was saying. Her mind raced with a thousand questions, each more unsettling than the last. Before she could speak, another voice broke the heavy silence in the tent.
“Ayaka-san is right.”
The unexpected voice drew the attention of everyone in the room. As they turned toward the newcomer, a collective gasp filled the air.
Ryuuki’s mouth hung open in disbelief. “Kaguya-san…”
In the midst of their despair, Kaguya’s arrival was like a breath of fresh air. Her presence, so radiant and commanding, seemed to infuse the tent with a renewed sense of hope. Her white eyes, calm and perceptive, swept over the group, assessing the state of the Heroes who had been so thoroughly beaten.
‘It’s worse than I imagined,’ she thought, her heart sinking as she took in their despondent faces.
When the Goddess Amaterasu had informed her of the events that had transpired, Kaguya could scarcely believe it. That all of her Heroes had been overwhelmingly defeated, with one slain and another kidnapped by the Hero of Darkness, was a reality she hadn’t been prepared for.
But now, seeing the aftermath firsthand, she began to understand the gravity of the situation—and why Amaterasu had sent her here with such urgency.
“What are you doing here, Kaguya-san?” Ryuuki voiced the question that was on everyone’s mind.
Kaguya’s gaze softened as she addressed them. “Goddess Amaterasu told me about what happened. I sincerely apologize for what happened to Taketa-sama.” She bowed her head lightly, a gesture of respect and sorrow for their fallen comrade.
“It’s not your fault, Kaguya-san. It’s that Hero of Darkness!” Yumiko spat, her voice thick with anger and grief.
Ayaka and Akane exchanged uncertain glances, their earlier resolve now wavering. If Samael truly was Nathan, how could they possibly bring themselves to fight him? The thought of facing their brother, let alone killing him, was unimaginable. Their hearts, once filled with determination, now hesitated in the face of this new, cruel reality.
Kaguya sensed their inner turmoil but pressed on. “The Hero of Darkness has proven to be far more dangerous than we initially thought. It’s our failure for not properly assessing his true strength, but now we can prepare ourselves,” she said, her voice steady and reassuring.
“He has Rena. We have to save her,” Kazuto interjected, desperation evident in his tone.
“Of course. Rena-sama is still alive. I will take care of saving her,” Kaguya replied with such lighthearted confidence that it took everyone by surprise.
“Kaguya-san?” Ryuuki echoed, his surprise evident.
Kaguya smiled gently, her expression full of quiet determination. “I apologize for not being more present. I have trained and been blessed by the Goddess Amaterasu for many years. Managing Kastoria has taken much of my time, but I can no longer remain idle. I will defeat the Hero of Darkness and bring back Rena-sama. However, I will need your help.”
“What do we have to do?!” Yumiko’s voice trembled with urgency, her hands clenched into tight fists as she looked to Kaguya for help.
“The army of Tenebria is still here, bolstered by the Hero of Darkness,” Kaguya replied, her tone calm but firm. “This time, I want you to completely decimate them. Don’t worry—while you take care of the army, the Hero of Darkness will be occupied with me.” Her eyes hardened as she continued, “Taketa-sama’s death will not go unanswered. The Demons must suffer the consequences.”
The determination in Kaguya’s voice ignited a fire in the hearts of the Heroes, and they nodded in unison, their resolve renewed. But amidst the collective agreement, Ayaka and Akane exchanged troubled glances. The weight of their recent revelation about Samael—Nathan, their brother—hung heavily over them, complicating their emotions.
Kaguya noticed their hesitation but chose to focus on the task at hand. “Please prepare yourselves and attack when ready. I’m counting on you, Ryuuki-sama,” she said, her gaze locking onto Ryuuki. His expression had shifted from the naïveté she once knew to something more determined, something more dangerous—a change she welcomed.
As Kaguya exited the tent, she glanced up at the sky, her mind already on the battle to come. “Amaterasu-sama, I will punish the Hero of Darkness and bring you his head,” she muttered solemnly, her words a promise to her goddess as she vanished into the shadows.
Her destination?
The cave where Yanagi Rena was being held.
°°°°°
Morning broke over the landscape, the light casting long shadows as it crept across the land. It was the morning after my confrontation with the Heroes of Kastoria, the morning after I had beaten them and taken one of their own captive. As I lay in bed, my thoughts drifted to what might come next. Would they gather reinforcements and launch another attack?
Or would they beg for Rena’s release, perhaps even swear never to set foot in Tenebria again?
I rose from the bed, noticing immediately that Semiramis was no longer beside me. After our I fucked her hard the last night, she had fallen asleep, but it seemed she had awoken before me and likely gone to join Kratos and the army.
My thoughts shifted as I turned my attention to Rena’s side of the room, expecting to see her still asleep—or at least restrained—but instead, my gaze met a pair of heterochromatic eyes, one green, one red, staring back at me.
“Good morning, Lord Samael,” Medea greeted me with a smile, though her eyes were dark, almost smoldering with something unspoken.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out why she was upset. She must have realized what had transpired between Semiramis and me while she was away.
I looked past her, scanning the room for Rena, but she was nowhere to be seen. My expression turned cold, my gaze sharp as I fixed it on Medea.
“Where is she?” I asked.
Rather than shrinking under my glare, Medea seemed to revel in it. Her cheeks flushed, her breath quickening as she responded, “She needed some fresh air, so I let her take a walk. But don’t worry, Lord Samael—I made sure she can’t go too far. She knows what will happen if she does.”
A mix of irritation and relief washed over me. I couldn’t entirely trust Medea’s motives, but I also knew she wouldn’t risk Rena’s escape, especially not when she was clearly vying for my attention in her own twisted way.
“Any news from Kratos?” I asked, shifting gears as I stood and began pulling on a fresh shirt.
“Yes,” Medea replied, her tone returning to business. “It seems the Heroes are preparing a new attack.”
“Has someone joined their side?” I asked, buttoning my shirt.
“Not any news about reinforcements has leaked,” Medea reported. “But as you requested, Samael, I surveilled the area and detected a very strong presence near the Heroes before it suddenly vanished. It’s likely heading in our direction.”
A cold sneer twisted my lips. “I knew it.”
Was it the Goddess Amaterasu herself coming to confront me, or perhaps one of her retainers? Either way, it was clear that this new presence was someone with the power to pose a significant threat. My instincts told me it was someone capable of challenging me.
Before I could contemplate further, Medea’s attention snapped to the entrance of the cave. “My Lord.”
I followed her gaze and sensed it too—a powerful force drawing near. The air around us seemed to crackle with an almost palpable energy. “He or she has arrived, huh?”