Natumi sensed the teleportation circle being used far beneath her, and a few minutes later again, before it became silent. So that was it, they had succeeded. Natsumi was proud to have helped them in their endeavor, though she was uncertain of what they would do witht their success. But now that they were gone, she would not need to be weary of being discovered anymore. Worst case, she could simply say she had gotten lost. Which also meant she did not need to make sure that she remained undetected, and could use magic to her heart's content. Though teleportation was usually blocked within the Absolute Citadel, hence the need for the circles in the first place, she oddly found that for some reason, she now could teleport. Out of habit, until now she had not even tried it, otherwise she proba would have went to the trophy room right away. But since she now could, she went just to check. Sure enough, no one was there, only shattered glass and an empty pedestal. At least now she knew what they had been after, the Book of Abilities. For it to be among these other things seemed weird, since Yamato usually kept it on him, but then again, she too would store things here if she wanted them to be safe. Under normal circumstances, at least, so she paid it no more attention than that. She then went down to the Cube, and checked there as well. But again, no one present. So they truly had escaped, which was a relief for her. The scare of Amael appearing behind her not so much, as she jumped back a bit and began preparing an excuse for being here in the middle of the night.
"A-Amael, how nice to see you! Did you come here because you couldn't sleep as well?"
"Oh, I don't sleep."
"Ah… Well, you should try it. It's really relaxing every once in awhile!"
"I will take it into consideration. God wants to see you."
"What does Yamato want at this hour…?"
"I was unable to read his mood, so I'm afraid you are on your own. Well then, I will be on my way."
"Hey, wait, I— Ah, and gone…"
Though she found the timing of this invitation to be awfully suspicious, dubious even, ignoring it was rude and suspicious as well, so she was left with no choice but to go. Leaving the Cube through the front door and flying up to the Sphere was achieved in less than a second, but mentally preparing for what could be an interrogation took her at least a minute of pep talk levitating in right beneath the Sphere. However, she eventually prepared herself with the perfect lie. Landing on the balcony, she opened her usual entry glass door and immediately noticed Yamato not in his usual seat at the desk, but instead on a couch on the left of the room.
"Yamato, I can't sleep!"
After successfully deploying her lie, Yamato was naturally silent for a moment, most likely attempting to look past her deception and multilayered strategy.
"I'm sorry to here that… Maybe taking part in less rebellious activities would ease your stress levels?"
"That could be it! No, how do you know that!?"
"I thought the message Lucy delivered for me made it obvious that I did… Well, guess this got turned into a reveal now…"
"Whatever! It doesn't matter because I already helped my friends succeed! I wonder what twisted plan you will come up with this time. Maybe you'll lose? Without Yuki here, there is no way for you to stop them. Haha, what now, Yamato? I'm dying to see."
Yamato calmly stood up from the couch, walked toward his desk and taking the crown that layed on it just to look at it. Letting out a deep sigh while brushing over the crowns engravings. His demeanor shifted to one of pity and boredom.
"You are so pathetic, Natsumi… Much like these people you came to refer to as your friends."
"…Excuse me?"
He gave her a glance, before putting the crown down. Walking through the big, empty room.
"Your petty resistance to my wishes and orders will fade, as will the hope of this resistance. I know you had a great part in this. Do you take me for an idiot? That I don't know what goes on in my own country? But don't worry. I'm not mad. You are the sister of my most prized possession, after all. I do acknowledge your importance. And your futile attempts do amuse me."
"Don't call her that. And you haven't answered me. What will you do about this?"
He walked towards the edge of the floor, onto the balcony Natsumi had entered from to let him see right down onto the city.
"Of course, by now Yuki has become much more than a mere possession to me… So I can no longer see past people and events that try to separate us or make our lifes more difficult, not to mention I have a daughter to look out for. Did you even bother to think what would happen with her if I lose everything?"
"The goal wasn't to harm you, but this institution sickens me to the core and is just a cult! If you want your daughter to grow up in such an environment, maybe she'd be better of with someone else!"
"…"
Yamato's eyes darkened in genuine annoyance, rather than expressionless boredom.
"…Fuck you, Natsumi."
"What?"
"I'm going to keep everything I have and take even more, and there's nothing you can and will do about it. Actually, what you are going to do is protect me from threats like this one, with lethal force, if necessary."
"Pft, and why would I do that? I can just fly out of here right now. I don't have a responsibility to stay here and continue listening to your ridiculous demands."
"You just don't get it… I've been patient, even trying to help you out with your situation with Yuki, because you yourself are incapable of anything by yourself with your naive and idealistic way of life. So if I die, I ordered Yuki… To kill herself."
"You… You did what?! S-she would never do that!"
"Of course she would. You know that."
"…S-so what? You don't plan on dying anytime soon, do you?"
Yamato turned around, his back leaning against the edge of the railing to look at her.
"I'm going to jump of this tower. I have no magic, Yuki sealed it away so one of my abilities can be used to its fullest. Meaning I can't fly, or save myself in any other way. Which is why you will save. Every time, I jump, you will catch me. And every time I do, you will realize that you have no choice but to save me in any other kind of situation as well. Because whether I die through a fall, or because of an revolution because people don't accept me as god anymore, it's the same outcome."
"You… You are horrible. The worst person in all of history! I hate you! I won't do anything for you!"
"Oh, I think you will. You will do exactly what I tell you to for the rest of your life."
"I will do no such thing!"
"Well, we shall see for ourselves then… Your choice."
"You're bluffing!"
He leaned backwards over the edge, throwing himself down the tower. Natsumi was shocked, but after a split second flew after him. She then proceeded to carry him back up where she sat him down.
"Good girl."
"Don't push it…"
"Let's make one thing perfect clear… I will help you with Yuki, because I think it's good for her as well, and I love her. So I need you to be a good sister, basically what you've always been to her. But you will stop with these little attempts to undermine my plans. Because as futile as each attempt is, they are annoying. Do we have an understanding?"
"Yes…"
Natsumi looked at the ground, defeated once again. It then dawned on her that no matter what she did, she would not be able to win against Yamato in a meaningful way. A wave of depression came over her, one she only felt once before. The first time Yamato had utterly outmatched her, the day the Holy Empire fell as well. For some reason, even after that deafeat, she held on to the belief that he was not completely unbeatable. She was under the impression that she only temporarily played along for Yuki's sake, because there was no immediate better path for her to take. But now it felt as though there would never be an alternative path, or a way out. What was she even supposed to do against this person? No matter what she threw at him, the best she could do was mildly annoy him. No human should be in such a position against an angel. It made her doubt whether maybe she was not as divine as Yuki after all, and that was the problem. If she had been a better angel, would she be able to beat Yamato then? But then again, even Yuki lost to him, although be it only in a game.
Horrible. Evil. Despicable. Narcissistic. Dangerous. Untouchable.
When thinking of Yamato, these words came to mind. There was not a single good thing she could associate with him at this very moment. And despite being all that, the very definition of what she was supposed to rid the world of, how was it that this last thing was among them? Untouchable. There should only be one person with that categorization. And she refused to believe it was Yamato, even if she could not help but put him on a similar level as that person. God was good. And even if he was identical to God in every way, Yamato was not good.
Yet, his voice continued capable of entering her heart with words he could not possibly mean.
"You know… I do admire that naivety of yours. Not that it is a trait I'd like to have. But it is profoundly beautiful, in a sense. If everyone were like you, the world objectively would be a better place, and there would be no need for me. I as god, or any god, would truly be obsolete… If I had the chance to pick a way for things to go, I would actually prefer that over anything. But the world is not just sunshine and rainbows. To make it so, I will force it to submit. That's the conclusion I've reached. It is not particularly elegant or beautiful. If anything, it is ugly and as you would probably say, despicable. Since you probably never heard this before… I believe you are right in most of what you do, say and belief. You are not what's wrong whatsoever, it is the world. And it's inability is to function simplistically and correctly, despite it being so obviously easy."
Somehow, those words struck Natsumi as not despicable at all. If anything, they reminded her of an exchange she had with God right before leaving to go rescue Yuki.
"Don't worry, God, I will find Yuki, and bring reason to Yamato the devil! I understand you think he cannot be reasoned with, but I shall try anyway! But I will of course prioritize Yuki…"
"That is admirably kind of you, Natsumi. You always did have that quality. Sadly, it is misplaced in this task. Yamato is an anomaly through and through. You should be careful not to underestimate him, or he will become far stronger than even an angel. It is the fate Yuki succumbed to, and that will befall you as well, if you do not go all out at the beginning."
"But I think I could—"
"Don't question me, it is the truth. I only wish to protect you. Sadly, your unwavering kindness blinds you, it seems… Maybe I should send someone else, that is less personally involved…"
"No! Please allow me to save my sister! I promise I will focus on the task at hand! I swear!"
"Very well… I wish you luck, and bless you on your way. Have faith, and you shall succeed."
Somehow, God always subtly hinted that her kindness was flawed and irrational, despite never outright stating it. For someone reason, she never questioned that. But maybe…