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In the dimly lit alleyway, standing beneath a streetlight, Natsuki Minamiya stared at the girl across from her—the one wearing a junior high uniform from Saikai Academy.
"So, what does a business rival want with me?"
The Lion King Agency was a special ops organization created by Japan's Public Safety Commission. Unlike the publicly known National Attack Mages, the Lion King Agency handled sensitive matters that couldn't be made public. Naturally, that meant frequent conflict between the two sides—and as a result, a whole lot of mutual disdain.
"Trying to play dumb now, are we, Natsuki Minamiya?"
Koyomi Shizuka's tone was calm and distant, her words as cold as her eyes.
"You brought Number Twelve to this island. That alone qualifies you as a potential Elector."
Elector.
The shadowy benefactors who funded and supported the twelve Fourth Primogenitor candidates—like powerful nobles in ancient times who backed royal heirs in exchange for future influence.
By propping up their chosen candidate to ascend as the Fourth Primogenitor, Electors stood to gain massive benefits.
And one of the requirements to become an Elector… was to possess a Fourth Primogenitor doll.
From the perspective of Japan's top brass, Natsuki was already toeing that line.
But in the face of Koyomi's accusation, Natsuki only sneered.
"Please. The ones scheming to become Electors are gutter rats like you."
"To host the Blazing Banquet, someone has to provide the platform."
Her voice dropped, eyes narrowing as she glared at Koyomi. "To avoid giving the general public the wrong impression of the Primogenitor's resurrection, Itogami Island—being under direct administrative control—became the ideal platform."
"Let me guess… all your precious higher-ups already signed off on it, didn't they?"
"Sacrificing the fifty-six thousand people living on this island to awaken the Fourth Primogenitor... what a brilliant plan."
The Fourth Primogenitor, Cyrora Florestina—also known as the Nightmare Progenitor—was called a phantom vampire for a reason.
She had a unique ability to drain massive amounts of memory and convert it into time—essentially increasing her magic capacity by absorbing people's memories.
And to fully awaken the sealed Fourth Primogenitor, a "sacrifice" was required.
Natsuki scoffed at the thought. "Let me guess—it'd take two to three years of memory, right? Once she fully awakens, everyone on this island loses their memories from the last few years. Real nice of you."
'It's just memory loss,' Koyomi wanted to argue. 'Better that than losing their lives.'
But she knew Natsuki would never accept that logic.
Despite being a witch, Natsuki had both the conscience of a teacher and the righteousness of a magical law enforcer. Asking her to look the other way? Not happening.
Losing three years of memories could change someone's life forever. And we're talking fifty-six thousand lives here.
Koyomi fell silent for a moment before adjusting her glasses. "You could refuse, you know."
"Yeah," Natsuki murmured, half to herself.
Truth be told, what she cared about most were her students. As long as they were safe, she could tolerate a lot of things.
She wasn't the type to play superhero or save the world. Just keeping the people close to her safe was enough.
But then she thought of him—Ryo Yagami—and quietly said:
"That man... he's way more dangerous than you people realize."
Natsuki had no illusions. Ryo might act like a lazy goof, but once he got serious, his destructive potential could easily surpass even the most fearsome Primogenitor.
He claimed to be "just a bit stronger" than the Fourth Primogenitor—but who the hell actually believed it was just "a bit"?
Koyomi frowned. "So negotiations failed, huh?"
She sighed as if checking something off a list. "Well then, I've fulfilled my orders to attempt official negotiation on behalf of the higher-ups."
Natsuki raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That's it?"
Koyomi's tone remained calm.
"Now... let's begin the Lion King Agency's personal negotiation."
"Oho?"
Now that piqued Natsuki's interest. Not because she cared about what they had to say—but because the Agency was choosing to act outside official channels.
"You people really don't play by the rules, huh?"
Skirting around the government to talk to her privately? Oh, she got the message loud and clear.
So even the obedient lapdogs of the higher-ups had their own agenda?
Koyomi didn't flinch.
"We're offering full support for your bid to compete for the position of the Fourth Primogenitor. In return, you'll be expected to prevent the real Fourth Primogenitor from causing any large-scale disaster. That's it. That's the deal."
Natsuki couldn't help but laugh. "So you're giving up all your rights... just for the safety of the public? Didn't expect the Lion King Agency to turn into a bunch of saints."
To put it plainly: they were giving her free rein.
They'd support her in everything—so long as she kept the island safe from anything catastrophic involving the Primogenitor.
That kind of condition was barely even a condition. Most powerful beings didn't go around committing mass murder just for kicks.
The Strike the Blood world stayed relatively peaceful because the major powers—like the Three Primogenitors—wanted it that way.
All the Lion King Agency was asking for was the same unspoken agreement.
And that's why Natsuki sarcastically called them "saints."
Koyomi calmly replied: "Protecting the common people has been our guiding principle since the Lion King Agency was founded. We're just sticking to our original ideals."
"You come all the way here just to make me laugh?" Natsuki rolled her shoulders, smiling wryly.
The whole world treated their chosen girls as tools—ready to be weaponized when necessary. And yet these guys talked about ideals and protecting the people?
The Lion King Agency really was a weird organization.
Still, despite her mocking, Natsuki's hostility toward them faded a little.
Their stance on this mess was surprisingly decent. At least compared to the higher-ups, they were less like butchers and more like people.
She sighed again. "Too bad, though. I'm not the one calling the shots here."
"I figured..." Koyomi frowned slightly and glanced at the street, where people bustled by.
So he's the real decision-maker, huh? Just as expected.
She exhaled slowly and spoke in a low voice: "In that case… what's your answer?"
Koyomi had no illusions that Ryo didn't know she was here. Talking to Natsuki had always been a roundabout way to reach him, to test the waters.
Now that she'd succeeded—now that they knew who was really in charge—it was time to hear from the man himself.
"Interesting."
Like fireflies flickering in the dark, tiny lights gathered in the alley, slowly forming the outline of a translucent figure.
Ryo Yagami.
A projection of his consciousness had just arrived.
.
.
.