Minamiya Natsuki gazed calmly at the empty space where nothing remained, then finally shook her head and withdrew her gaze.
"Can't bear to let go?" Shichen asked.
"Let go of what?" Natsuki shot back.
"You two knew each other, didn't you?"
Natsuki and Tokoyogi Aya were both witches—it was impossible they hadn't met, likely quite well.
"We did—long ago. It was her own doing," Natsuki replied evenly.
"Is that so? I was thinking if you were upset, I'd comfort you," Shichen said with a grin.
"'Comfort'? That never means anything good." Natsuki rolled her eyes at him.
"How could it not—I promise it'll make you very happy."
"Get lost… Now what? Since you caused all this, aren't you going to fix it?" Natsuki looked off in one direction.
Following her gaze, Shichen saw a sight utterly different from before.
The ancient sanctum beneath their feet had, at some point, been replaced by a strange, new structure. Thick iron walls ringed it, barbed wire fences bristled around it… It looked like a military fortress.
This was the Prison Barrier's true face.
Compared to the austere old monastery from moments before, this fortress bristled with a murderous aura befitting a prison.
"Natsuki, why did it change like this?"
"What do you think?" she shot back. Didn't he know what he'd done?
The empty sanctum had been her dream; now that she was awake, the dream was gone. The Prison Barrier is, in essence, a virtual world conjured into Natsuki's dream through magic; its form freely shifts to match the viewer's imagination. So long as the criminals exist inside another's dream, escape is impossible. That's why the Barrier is famed as a supreme prison—able to seal even the worst magi-criminals.
With its true form revealed, Aya had been able to slip out easily—and naturally other prisoners could, too. But now, even if Natsuki acted herself, she couldn't hold them anymore.
Silhouettes appeared above—strangers looking down at Shichen and Natsuki as if at ants. Shichen looked up and shook his head. Locked away this long, and they still clung to pride?
"Natsuki—leave it to me."
He reassured her, then unfolded a spatial barrier that engulfed the entire prison. From that moment, no one inside could get out, and no one outside could get in. This was the substitute he'd had in mind from the start: with his mastery of space he would replace the Prison Barrier and continue holding the inmates—more effectively. In this world, no one could break his spatial barrier, unlike Natsuki's jail which had key-and-keeper weaknesses.
He'd told Natsuki as much—his idea and all—but she hadn't agreed. With him there, there was no need to worry about a guardian pact. So why refuse? He'd ask her later. For now, he'd deal with the obstacles.
Criminals are only riskless when completely destroyed—if you keep them, accidents happen. He didn't bring Natsuki along; he rose alone to face the inmates.
There were six: an old man, a woman, an armored man, a gentleman in a silk top hat, and a petite youth with a street look, plus a frail, scholarly young man. Their ages and dress didn't match at all, and none looked particularly strange—which was more frightening. In the Prison Barrier, they were inmates: magi-criminals so vicious that normal methods couldn't neutralize them. Ordinary faces that had committed unforgivable deeds.
"Brat… you're the one who broke this detestable seal, aren't you? Let me thank you first," said the gentleman in the silk top hat. He was at least forty, solidly built and muscular, but his clothes lent him an air of intellect and calm. That was only surface-deep; a murderous aura spilled from him, impossible to hide. His eyes burned with rage as he glared at Natsuki below, wishing to tear her apart for locking them up so long.
"Just you six?" Shichen glanced around—no others—but he did sense presences deeper within. These six were the stronger ones, almost free on their own.
"Brat, who cares! Let us out, now!" snapped the petite youth with bright-dyed dreadlocks and low-slung jeans.
"Noise."
Shichen didn't even look at him. He flicked a hand; a storm swept forth with annihilating force.
BOOM—!
The dreadlocked youth had no chance. The gale lifted him; wind-blades sliced; blood sprayed. He didn't even have time to scream before he was shredded into a thousand pieces, staining the ground red.
"What?!"
The remaining five recoiled, hearts pounding. Just… dead?
"The Fifth Primogenitor?"
"What is that power?"
"…"
"And the witches died so inexplicably just now…"
"Fifth Primogenitor-sama, spare me?" one blurted.
"Heh—so you do recognize me," Shichen said with a cold smile, looking over the survivors. Even unforgivable criminals fear death; their swagger vanishes only once the coffin's in sight.
"Hehe~ we meant no offense, my lord…" the gentleman said with an awkward grin.
"No offense?"
Shichen looked straight at him, lifted a hand, and closed his fingers. The man appeared in his grasp, neck clamped tight.
"What—!" the other four recoiled in horror.
"D-don't… please…"
"Heh. Now you're afraid? That wasn't how you were looking at Natsuki a moment ago."
"N-no, I— Aaaagh—!"
Mid-sentence, the gentleman was wrapped in golden flame. He struggled, but Shichen's grip on his neck held him fast. His legs kicked, his voice rasped in pain—until he dissolved to ash.
"…"
The remaining four shook, unable to stop trembling.
"L-Lord Fifth… I hold no grudge against Natsuki. If you release me, I'll submit to any punishment. Or don't release me—I'll stay here forever…" said a young woman with blue-violet hair. She was pretty, if decadent, exuding a sultry allure; the outfit under her coat was extremely revealing—reeking of a prostitute.
Shichen didn't spare her a glance. She'd never catch his eye.
Whoosh—
Golden flame flared, pounced on the woman, and wrapped her instantly.
"AAAH—no—! It hurts—help—!" she shrieked.
"Heh. Don't think I didn't see it—your eyes were full of murder for Natsuki," Shichen said. She was gone moments later, nothing left. He glanced at the remaining three and threw three sparks of flame.
"Urragh—!"
The howls rose and fell—then went silent.
Shichen recalled the fire and dropped back down in front of Natsuki.
"You just killed them all?" she asked.
"Is there a problem?"
"…No. Not really."
"So from here on, I manage this prison?"
"As you like," Natsuki said, unconcerned. She no longer needed to hold the line.
"Mm."
He nodded and began setting the spatial barrier, wrapping the entire prison—for good. No more "accidents."
"Done."
"That's it?" Natsuki blinked. A few seconds?
"Look who you're talking to," Shichen said, pleased with himself.
"…Fine. You're amazing, okay? Then let's go back."
"No rush."
"Mm? What are you thinking?"
"Right now, all the stars are aligned," Shichen said, eyes glinting, smile wicked.
"…What are you planning? This is the Prison Barrier—there are inmates, and Tokoyogi Yūma is right there," Natsuki said, nervous, taking small steps back.
"Relax. The inmates can't see us—and Yūma won't be waking up," Shichen said, walking toward her.
~~~
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