Chapter 59: Are You Teaching Me How to Do Things?
Both of these women were famous figures in Italy. Not only did they possess exceptionally beautiful looks, but their strength was also among the absolute top tier in the world of magic. Now, Princess Alice, Erica Blandelli, and Liliana Kranjcar—three women of immense power and stunning beauty—had all become subordinates to this "King."
"Welcome, King Orihara, who has traveled from Italy to Tokyo... and Her Highness, Princess Alice..."
Although Sayanomiya Kaoru had rehearsed the scene of facing this Demon King countless times in her mind, when the moment actually arrived, her heart pounded abnormally fast. Her breathing became shallow and short; it felt as if the air in the room had turned thin the moment the "King" arrived.
Kaoru's body trembled slightly.
Even though she had never personally witnessed the might of a Demon King, she still felt a profound sense of awe. As a "Hime-Miko" of the Sayanomiya family—one of the four great houses—her spiritual power was stronger than that of an ordinary shrine maiden, even if it didn't reach Mariya Yuri's level.
Thus, she could naturally perceive the massive, ever-present pressure emanating from this "King."
It was an invisible weight that only a God-slayer—one who had defeated a "Heretic God" and usurped its power—could possess, a natural suppression exerted over mages, knights, and ritualists.
It was the pressure that the strong naturally brought upon others; simply imagining the divine Authorities capable of easily obliterating a continent was enough to make her shudder with terror.
Shirou looked at Sayanomiya Kaoru and the "Hime-Miko" standing beside her, Mariya Yuri, and smiled.
"It seems you weren't stupid enough to try and play clever by hiding her. For Marquis Voban to find a shrine maiden with powerful spiritual energy is an incredibly simple task."
Shirou's words sent a shock through Kaoru's heart. A chill ran down her spine, and cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
She had indeed entertained such thoughts, but she had ultimately rejected them because she didn't believe Japan had the ability to hide a "Hime-Miko" from a God-slayer wielding divine Authorities.
That would have been a suicidal act!
Even if she had succeeded in hiding Mariya Yuri so that Marquis Voban couldn't find her, what would have happened then? A Marquis Voban facing failure in this tiny island nation would undoubtedly have flown into a rage and, in his anger, sunk the entire island into the sea. If that had happened, she would have been Japan's greatest criminal.
"However, what is the purpose of proactively bringing her before me now?"
Shirou looked at Kaoru with a smile, those pale gold eyes seemingly seeing through everything about her in an instant. Princess Alice, hearing Shirou's words, chimed in as if she had realized something.
"Could it be that you wish to trade her for the 'King's' protection?"
Stared at by the four of them, Sayanomiya Kaoru couldn't help but groan inwardly.
Her small scheme had been easily seen through and even explicitly called out.
She took a cautious glance at Princess Alice, the "White Princess" and the most powerful witch in Europe.
"Looking at your face, I must have guessed correctly, haven't I?"
Princess Alice revealed a confident and beautiful smile. To Kaoru, that smile felt as bright as an angel's; with clear eyes like blue waves and a perfect crescent-like curve of the lips, she seemed capable of chasing away any gloom.
However, Kaoru's mood plummeted to rock bottom.
"..."
The air conditioner was blowing cold air, but Kaoru couldn't feel any coolness at all. Her body froze in place, her forehead now covered in fine beads of sweat. She didn't plan on dragging this out any longer; for the sake of Japan's survival, a decision had to be made immediately!
Sayanomiya Kaoru took a step forward, lowered her head to Shirou, and gave a deep, formal bow.
"Respected King Orihara, we are willing to offer you Japan's most spiritually powerful 'Hime-Miko.' We only beg that you take her and leave Japan."
At Kaoru's words, the girl dressed in the shrine maiden outfit showed a face of pale confusion and tension. However, the scene Kaoru had envisioned—of the "King" agreeing—did not happen. Instead, she received an answer she had never expected.
"Are you teaching me how to do things?"
Those sudden words sent a chill through Kaoru's heart.
Mariya Yuri was a "Hime-Miko," a surviving sacrifice from the last summoning ritual Marquis Voban had performed. No matter which "King" took her this time, she couldn't possibly be as lucky as she was before. Not only would Mariya Yuri be unable to escape death, but the
entirety of Japan would suffer from the fallout of the battle between God-slayers and "Heretic Gods."
Looking at the "Heretic Gods" that had appeared in the past, which one did not possess the power to destroy a country at will? The surface area of this island nation simply couldn't withstand the devastation of a Demon King. Now, her every word and action might determine the fate of this country. At that thought, Kaoru's face turned white, her lips trembled, and her body began to shake.
"O King, please forgive our transgressions!"
"Transgressions? And just what mistake have you made?" Shirou asked with a smile, looking at Kaoru with interest.
"I... I..."
The girl stood there stunned, stuttering and unable to come up with a reason for a moment. Mariya Yuri, standing behind her, spoke up nervously at this point.
"O King... please, appease your anger..."
Shirou looked at this "Hime-Miko" and said with a bit of a chuckle, "They're planning to sell you out, and you're still speaking up for her?"
"I..."
Mariya Yuri lowered her head in distress, mist gathering in her eyes as if she were about to cry. Shirou shook his head slightly at the girl the [History Compilation Committee] intended to use as a bargaining chip. With Princess Alice, the "White Princess," by his side, why would he need a "Hime-Miko"?
If Marquis Voban learned that Princess Alice's body had recovered, he would surely covet her. Therefore, from the moment they both stepped onto this island nation, a battle between them became inevitable.
Shirou bypassed the respectfully standing members of the [History Compilation Committee], entered Sayanomiya Kaoru's office, and sat in her office chair.
"Immediately disperse all non-essential personnel in the vicinity. Do not let them stay on the streets; otherwise, you will be responsible for the consequences."
When Shirou gave this order, everyone realized what was about to happen.
Whether their decision to welcome this "King" was right or wrong would soon be revealed.
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