"Hamelon creative group?"
"Yeah. It's a non-profit organization in Tokyo, and a local resident reported it. Apparently, it's become a den of evil."
"Hmm. And then?"
"Denji, you're free, right? Go and exterminate them with Nayuta."
"Ehhh, me? It's Sunday, after all!"
I thought it was an opportunity.
I was summoned to the Public Security Headquarters, and I expected to be told something terrible, but it turned out to be a request to exterminate demons.
Demon extermination.
It's a job that literally involves exterminating demons.
For humans, it's like pest control.
Incidentally, defeating tough opponents can sometimes earn you a special bonus.
Income is essential for survival. Denji and I are underage, living together, and we even have pets.
Money is necessary.
But I didn't see it as an opportunity in that sense.
"Denji, let's do it. There are some things I want too."
"Huh? Were we really that broke?"
"Strict"
I'm Nayuta.
The demon of domination.
He has the ability to dominate opponents he considers inferior.
There are no other conditions; you can unilaterally gain control of the other party.
That's what domination is.
In other words, I believe the Demon of Control is a terrifying demon that can be a threat to the world.
...And yet, he was a lonely king. He had no pawns.
They are controlled by the Japanese government to prevent them from having a negative impact on society. You could even say they are being kept as pets.
It was humiliating.
I'm not a demon that should be languishing in this position.
That's why I desperately needed some pawns at that time.
A powerful demon. A clever demon. A demon with potential uses.
To achieve that, the first thing you need is an opportunity to encounter other demons.
"—I also want some new furniture. Let's go."
"Hmm... Let's see..."
"That organization of yours is full of demons, isn't it? We can't just leave it like that."
"So, shall we do it?"
I smiled inwardly.
This will allow me to meet many demons. All I have to do is fight them, sort through them as I go, and control the ones that seem useful. Then—
"....what"
"No, not really. I just thought you were unusually motivated."
Reze, our supervisor, kept a watchful eye on us.
"...We have to get rid of evil devils. Right, Denji?"
"Well, it's for the money."
"Hmm. That's fine, but Nayuta is a demon too, right? Are you sure you want to avoid those kinds of emotional issues?"
"Because I'm a good devil, I'll contribute to society."
"Yes, yes"
Reze is a former Soviet agent.
He's essentially a former terrorist who once ran rampant in an attempt to get his hands on Chainsaw Man. Just like me, he deserves to be viewed as dangerous.
...or so it should be, but in reality, they're ranked higher than me.
I am quite dissatisfied with the way the Public Security Bureau has handled this situation.
"Hey, hey, isn't Reze coming to this demon extermination mission?"
"I have training to attend."
"What's that?"
"When you're working for public security, there are training sessions you're supposed to attend. For example, if your job is surveillance, they'll talk about things like how not to get too friendly with the person you're monitoring..."
"They're already getting along well."
"That's fine. If you do it well."
"Is that all?"
I'm not entirely convinced.
...Well, that's fine. We'll just focus on building up our strength.
And eventually, I will take control of the Japanese government and create my own paradise.
I'm at the top. Denji is next to me. Well, I'll put Reze one step below me.
Hehehe, a perfect plan...
"...Aren't you laughing?"
"That's the face you make when you're plotting something bad."
Well then. Was it the Hameloon Creative Writing Group?
I wonder what kind of demons there are.
It might be easy to control someone, but that doesn't mean just anyone will do.
I have decided not to control anyone except those I acknowledge.
I hope they possess a minimum level of ethics, cooperativeness, and a noble spirit that rejects easy subservience.
Two or three people would be ideal.
At worst, there's bound to be at least one person.
My pawn. My personal subordinate.
I'm looking forward to it.
@
"Woooooooooo! I'm the devil of the playboys!"
"A delinquent devil!"
"A handsome devil intrudes between two lilies!"
"You're a goblin-like little brat demon!"
Vvvvvv
"We are the Four Heavenly Kings of Necessary Evils in Erotic Manga!"
Zuzuzubabababubububuuuuu
"Aa!!"
The demons were being mowed down one after another.
Those creatures, the epitome of despicable, selfish, and inferior beings, have died. I feel nothing. ...That's a lie, though; a storm of disappointment and astonishment was raging within me.
"Haaah..."
I looked down at the corpse, which had been cut to pieces and torn apart by Chainsaw Man.
What's wrong with these guys?
I am ashamed to share the same name as "demon." Why were such unspeakable demons born into this world, instilled with such fear? Is this a sign of the times, or does it merely prove the hopelessness of humanity?
Denji shook off the pieces of flesh that were stuck to the chainsaw.
"Nayuta, are you sure it was really okay to defeat him?"
"Okay. I don't want to control someone like this."
I went to the Hameloon creative workshop full of high hopes, but it was hell. Hell in the worst sense of the word.
It was teeming with demons that were like garbage, something I could never possibly comprehend.
"Hey! Hypnosis!"
"You're lucky those guys are kind devils. Die."
Zagyagyaaaaaaaaaaaa!
"Oh, I'm going to die!"
No matter how many you cut, they just keep coming back.
It's dirty and completely lacks any intelligence.
"Haa... What is this place..."
The building's exterior looked good.
Surrounded by gently curving walls and columns in the style of Western architecture, the building exuded a sense of grandeur and history. It must have cost a fortune to create this, and if so, the devils running the organization must be highly competent.
But when we looked into it, this is what we found.
--And then another demon appears.
"Hmm, not bad. A chainsaw boy and a devil girl. They seem to get along quite well."
He was muscular, his dark, gleaming skin was shiny, and his unusually white teeth gleamed brightly.
"...What kind of demon is it this time?"
"Hahaha! My mission is to destroy the bonds you believed in! You'll suffer a sudden video letter and a ditched Christmas date! I am the NTR demon—"
" Die "
"Ngyooooooooooo!!"
I stepped over the splattered blood and continued onward.
Only weak demons appear, so there's no fatigue.
All I felt was a profound sense of futility.
I want to defeat the boss as quickly as possible and go home.
The sound of quickened footsteps echoed loudly against the unusually high ceiling.
"...The building is impressive, at least."
"Oh yeah, that's true. It looks really expensive."
The floor is marble. Mysterious interior decorations are lined up at regular intervals along the walls, and the place is spotlessly clean.
The maintenance costs will probably be considerable.
Where does that income come from...? The answer became clear very quickly.
A humid, miasma-like vapor poured out from the suddenly open door. Holding my breath, I peered inside and saw lifeless men frantically typing on computer keyboards.
"Is this...forced labor?"
They don't react to us at all.
He mutters to himself as he stares intently at the monitor, typing away.
"I want your thoughts, I want your thoughts!"
"Hee hee hee, a rating, a high rating~"
Apparently, he's writing a novel.
Upon checking in order, it turns out that some people are creating computer graphics.
"Hmm... So they're making money by having people write novels and comics. That's weird."
"Does that even make any money?"
"Usually, it doesn't work out that way. If you want them to earn money, it's better to have them work a regular job. Physical labor, mental labor, emotional labor—whichever they choose, it's far more reliable and lucrative than having them do creative work."
"That's right, this kind of thing doesn't make any money!"
"Whoa!"
It came out of nowhere.
A small shadow jumped onto Denji's waist.
"What the hell do you think you are!"
"Whoa, whoa, please don't cut me! I'm not your enemy!"
It was a young girl who panicked, covered her head, and cowered.
It looks almost exactly like a human, but it has something strange growing on its head. It looks like animal ears.
"A demon?"
"No, I'm a demon!"
"So then you're our enemy."
"Wow! That's not true!"
He swings his arms wildly.
Her outfit was, well, unusual. She wore a black-based uniform with a white apron heavily adorned with frills, and her skirt was so short you could almost see her underwear... In short, it was a maid outfit. ...A maid outfit used for a special purpose.
He's almost the same height as me. He looks like he's about a middle school student.
If it's not the devil, then it reeks of crime.
"I'm not a bad demon! I was just dragged here against my will..."
"What's that?"
"Well, I was a parasite on a certain human... umm! I was serving my master, but one day we were both suddenly taken away and brought here..."
"Didn't you just say parasite?"
"It's just your imagination."
The fact that we can have a conversation suggests that this demon is more intelligent than the ones we've defeated so far.
The girl twitched the ears on her head and cautiously glanced up at Chainsaw Man.
"What kind of demon are you?"
"Um... do you really have to say that?"
"Denji"
"Shall we do it?"
"Th-that's scary. Okay, I get it. Um, I'm a demon that doesn't exist."
"Huh? What did you say?"
"The non-existent demon"
Denji tilted his head in confusion.
"No, they're here."
He points his finger.
The mysterious girl frowned, looking troubled.
"Well, I'm the demon of 'non-existence.' Sorry if that's confusing."
"??"
"Ah, I understand."
Demons are creatures that embody the very concept of fear.
In other words, she is a demon born from the fear of "non-existence."
So what exactly is it that humans fear when it doesn't exist?
Or, an ideal.
Or, hope.
Or perhaps—a dream.
The target audience is an unspecified large number of people. Probably anything will do.
In short, it probably applies to everything that humanity on Earth wishes existed.
I understood it intuitively.
She's not just some insignificant nobody.
"What's your name?"
"Huh? I don't have a name. I'm a demon, after all."
"That makes it hard to call out."
"Hmm... 'Non-existent-chan'... that sounds weird, doesn't it? How about ' '-chan?"
"Huh? What did you say?"
"I can't pronounce it. Rejected."
"Hmmmm...Okay, then I'll go with Eternal-chan!"
"Eternal?"
Denji, still in his Chainsaw Man form, looked down at the self-proclaimed Eternal-chan.
The little devil flinches. She clasps her fists together at her bare chest and lets out a mysterious "Hawawa~" while staring up with few blinks, her eyes glistening with tears.
"M-Master, please have mercy!"
"Master?"
"You're Chainsaw Man from Public Security, right? You're so cool, I'm a fan!"
"Are you my fan?"
The girl crouches down slightly.
...That angle, that open neckline. Denji can see what's inside.
"—Well, whatever! Thanks in advance!"
"Yay!"
Calculations?
Well, that's fine. Having intelligence isn't a bad thing.
The girl pretends to be pleased, swaying her body up and down. That's all intentional. It's a woman's trick to guide the man's gaze and attention with her swaying movements.
"Oh, ohhh..."
...
They have more than me.
"Ouch. Na, Nayuta, what is it?"
"Not really"
The girl twitched her nose and said, "Oh my?"
"Wait... are you a demon too?"
"Yes. The Demon of Control."
"A...a dominion?! Wow, isn't that a great demon?! Amazing!"
"...What? I didn't hear you."
"When you say 'Domination Demon,' that means he's a super-high-ranking demon! I'm so thrilled to meet him in a place like this!"
"..."
There might be a chance.
"The strength of demons changes with the times, you know."
As we explored Hamelin, this Eternal person began introducing himself with a gloomy expression.
For example, during the witch hunt era, the fear of false accusations was immense.
In an era where military might dictated everything, what men feared most was being treated as a "weakling."
As human history progressed, the fear of "domination" increased—and conversely, the fear of "non-existence" of desires diminished.
"In this day and age, nobody believes in dreams or hopes anymore. Harsh reality is the norm! That's why I've become quite weak too."
Let's try shadow boxing!
It only highlighted the girl's fragility.
"This is what I look like now. A cat-eared maid! I feel like my personality has become much calmer too. Oh man, it's just amazing."
"A fading fear, you see."
When you think about it, humanity lives to overcome fear.
Eliminate misfortune,
Keep injustice at bay,
To forge a path through uncharted territory.
Many demons that have existed for a long time have weakened, and only the fears rooted in the inseparable instincts of some humans survive.
"Perhaps even demons are following the path of a society with inequality."
"Well, personally, I'd like to see humans aim for the Pirate King or something like that."
And then he playfully adds, "It would be great if they despaired!"
Hmm, I see.
So this is what they mean by "a demon that doesn't exist."
They lure people into a barren wasteland, holding up a light that doesn't exist, and then feed on the anxiety and conflict of those who realize it was all an illusion.
It parasitizes human desires.
It's moderately evil.
The girl spreads her arms and spins around nimbly.
"The old saying goes—Don't stop moving forward, if you work hard you can get what you want, if you persevere you can live a life of hope... But those days are over."
The changing times. How can a weakened demon survive?
Eternal says the answer was to find a niche market with demand.
"That's the true nature of this place, the Hamelin Creative Society."
"What do you mean?"
"Demons that have become weak look for industries where they can make use of their existence in order to adapt to the times. One of those is here, the creative world. For example, the NTR demon you just defeated was called the demon of love abduction not so long ago."
"Hmm, so it's like a refuge for weak little demons..."
Everyone stopped dead in their tracks.
Looking up, I saw a large double door.
The girl raised one hand slightly and said, "Um..."
"There's something I'd like to explain before you come in..."
"what?"
"I said that I was originally a demon that 'didn't exist,' right? Up until now, the 'what' could be anything...but things have changed in modern times."
"Yeah"
"The definition of 'what' has become more fragmented. Because of that, the concept of 'non-existent demons' has also split up."
"...division?"
"Yes. There are many demons that don't exist."
"What do you mean?"
"For example, would it make sense if I said they split into groups like 'The Demon Who Makes No Ideals Come True,' 'The Demon Who Offers No Hope,' and 'The Demon Who Makes No Dreams Come True'?"
"Ah, I see."
In short, it seems that the "something" part of "The Demon That Doesn't Exist" has separated into a different demon.
The reason for existence and its definition have become more fragmented.
It suddenly occurred to me.
What would happen if I put myself in that situation?
The devil of political control,
The devil of thought control,
The devil of economic control...
No, I can't imagine it properly.
"All of this is because I was brought here! I want to go back to being my original self! ...So, I want you two to defeat the other versions of us!"
"Huh? Does that mean you're going to kill me?"
"That's right. There's no need for another me! It would only disperse my power!"
"Is that so? What happens if we defeat them?"
"My strength is coming back!"
"Well, if he's okay with it, then I guess it's fine."
"Really? As expected of my master, how wonderful!"
"Oh, uh..."
You want to regain your strength, huh?
I understand how you feel. Having to endure such hardship every day is nothing but humiliation. You must want to get rid of it as soon as possible.
"I'm willing to cooperate, but there are conditions."
"what do you want!"
"A demon that doesn't exist. Become my subordinate."
"...Subordinates?"
I blinked my eyes.
"That's right. You're a stray demon, aren't you? The world isn't so kind that you can survive on your own. Devil hunters, other powerful demons..."
"Hmm, but, since I'm a demon too, I have this feeling that I want to do whatever I want!"
"Now is the time to lie low and wait. It won't be too late to build up our strength. Right?"
"Well... hmm..."
The girl groaned for a moment, then suddenly pursed her lips and raised both hands.
"...I understand! When I am resurrected as a demon, I will obey you!"
"Oh, that's one step forward."
"Nice to meet you. ...So, let me reintroduce myself. My real name, which has been subdivided into many different names, is—'The Demon Who Doesn't Exist as a Cat-Eared Maid'."
"...What? Say that again?"
"It's a demon that says 'Cat-eared maids don't exist'!"
"..."
"Hey, like I said earlier, what's a 'cat-eared maid'? Do you know, Nayuta?"
"i don't know"
"Really? But..."
"i don't know"
"Oh, really...?"
"Well, a cat-eared maid is..."
Eternal thrusts its head forward and twitches the two ears on top of it.
"With cat ears!"
He puffed out his chest and stood there.
"I'm a maid!"
"..."
"...in?"
"I'm a maid with cat ears!"
"I get that, but what's so scary about it?"
"A cat-eared maid! Isn't she cute?"
"Really?"
"So cute! And yet, such a cute creature doesn't actually exist anywhere in this world—that's an unbearable horror for some people in certain circles!"
"...Nayuta-chan, do you understand?"
"i don't know"
"By the way, let me introduce some of my other versions... 'The devil who doesn't exist as a kind, big-breasted, sexy girl next door,' 'The devil who doesn't exist as a blonde, twin-tailed, flat-chested, tsundere childhood friend,' and 'The devil who doesn't exist as a gal who's kind to otaku,' etc... Oh, that reminds me, 'The devil who doesn't exist as a beautiful girl who resorts to violence to hide her embarrassment' has disappeared because no one fears her anymore."
"...Oh, I see."
I understand perfectly.
The foolishness of humanity.
"Every demon, if you trace their origins back, is essentially the same as me, but don't worry about that and just go ahead and defeat them."
"Okay. I don't understand it, but I get it!"
No sooner had he said it than Denji put his hand on the doorknob.
The moment I threw it open with all my might—
"Denji-oniichan, I missed you!"
"!?"
Suddenly, a girl about my age appeared.
She was wearing a white dress and an out-of-season straw hat. She wrapped her arms around Denji's.
"Wha, who the hell are you?!"
"What?! That's awful! You've forgotten?! It's me! Denji's little sister!"
"My... my little sister...? Huh...?"
"We promised to get married when we grew up! I've been waiting all this time!"
"Marriage... promise...? I don't know anything about that."
I can tell by the smell.
She's a devil too.
Eternal next door also told me about it.
"This is me. Another me. 'A devil who doesn't exist: a stepsister who is devotedly in love with her older brother.'"
"..."
Humans are...
"Hey, get away!"
While I was exasperated by Denji's inability to pull her away, perhaps because he was being seduced by the innocent girl's appearance, I also felt a sense of unease.
Denji doesn't hesitate to kill his enemies.
Even if you have feelings for someone, once you've decided they're your enemy, you can tear them to pieces with a chainsaw.
But right now, I can't bring myself to do it.
Why is that?
"Oh, I almost forgot to mention!"
Eternal sticks out her tongue with a teehee.
"This type of 'I' has the power to interfere with the other person's mind. In Hamelin terms, a hypnotist old man... no, a hypnotist girl?"
"Huh? What do you mean by that..."
I had a bad feeling and turned around.
Then,
"We...promised...get married...maybe...we did...maybe..."
Denji was starting to fall under the spell of hypnosis.
"Hey, Denji."
"My little sister... my little sister...?"
Huh...? You're kidding, right?
Is hypnosis really this easy to fall under?
"That's right, big brother. I'm the only little sister you have, Denji!"
"Oh, that's right... my little sister..."
Denji was swaying his head from side to side, spouting nonsense.
I kicked him in the shin.
However, the effect is minimal.
"Denji"
"I'm going to marry... my sister... marriage..."
"Denji"
"My one and only little sister..."
"I'm Denji's sister, right?"
"Um, who are you?"
My fake sister burst out laughing.
"Aren't you ashamed to call yourself your brother's sister with that shabby appearance?"
He narrowed his eyes and smirked, turning the corners of his mouth up.
.......
.............
Hmph. What an obvious provocation. Just the kind of thing a low-level demon would do. It's far removed from the greatness I possess.
I am the demon of domination.
They are more discerning than anyone else when it comes to hierarchical relationships.
I'm not going to get involved in such a low-level dispute.
"Denji. Come back to your senses."
"Uhh...?"
"Hey, Denji."
"Big brother? Which do you think is the real one, the little sister with big breasts or the little sister with small breasts?"
"Huh...? Oh, what?"
My fake sister puffs out her chest ostentatiously.
The law of inertia was at work.
strange.
We're supposed to be the same height.
"Denji-oniichan~? You're not interested in a body that's just a plank, are you?"
"It's better to argue..."
"But what if it disappeared?"
Hmm.
I see.
I guess there's no other way.
Since Denji is unable to function properly, I have to deal with this. And work should be done smartly. I'll teach this weak devil a lesson in how a great devil should handle this. A graceful, beautiful, charismatic, and confident response—
My fake sister said.
"You weren't invited, ugly."
" Die "
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
Blood gushed from every orifice in his body.
"Oh no..."
Eternal, who was watching from behind, was trembling.
"I...I killed both of them together..."
"Hmm? Did I go too far?"
I gracefully reached out and pulled Denji's starter, a charismatic smile on my face.
"...Huh!?"
"See, he's come back to life."
"Well, that's not the point..."
"It's okay. Right, Denji?"
"Oh, ah... yeah..."
And the search continued.
"Little brother♪ Leave everything to me. I'll be gentle with you♪"
" Die "
"Ohhhhhhhhhhh!!"
"You're such a loser ♪ You've lived so many times longer than me, yet you're so weak ♪"
" Die "
"Make them understand!!"
"Laugh at my immoral mother."
" Die "
"Shihooooooooo!!"
"Big brother, is this okay...? I'm a boy...?"
" Die "
"Ahehehehehe!!"
They handled it smartly.
It was like a war. The demons, the embodiment of humanity's filthy desires, came rushing in with the force of a raging torrent. And Denji kept falling for the telepathic attacks, so I had no choice but to handle everything myself.
I used up a lot of energy.
I stretched my body and let out a soft sigh.
I'm really tired.
I couldn't do this without a special bonus from the public security authorities.
"Now then"
look up.
At the end of a very long corridor, I arrived at a gigantic door that even an elephant could fit through.
"Is this the last stop?"
"That's right. This will be my last time here, and I'll be the honorary president of the Hamelin Creative Society—"
A voice filled with fresh, alluring charm... Eternal, or rather, "The Demon Who Doesn't Exist as a Cat-Eared Maid," had completely transformed her appearance. She was no longer dressed as a maid. A career woman. She had grown stronger each time a demon was defeated, and now possessed a supple figure and a palpable passion. Her eyelashes were long and delicate, as if painted with a brush, and a seductive shadow peeked out from her mysteriously moist eyes.
"His name is—'The Dream-Ending Demon'"
"Was it all a dream...?"
"You'll understand when you meet me."
The woman gently pushed the door with her slender fingers.
It seemed as though no force was being applied, yet strangely, the massive door slowly opened as if it understood the intention on its own.
A single ray of light shines down from the ceiling.
It was a spacious area.
The first thing that catches the eye is the stained glass covering the entire wall in front. The ceiling is unusually high. A straight corridor extends from the door, with rows of wooden benches on either side.
A design similar to a church.
Where a priest should have stood at the altar, a man in a suit was standing.
"Here I come, it's me."
"Yes. Sorry to have kept you waiting."
The distance is approximately 20 meters. Two demons face off.
"I went to all the trouble of dividing me into so many pieces... why do you want to become one again?"
"Without strength, you can't accomplish much."
"In this day and age, few people pursue ideals or dreams. All we can do is cling to fragmented concepts and live quietly like shadows."
"And this is the result?"
Eternal moved like a cat, scanning the church with a seductive gaze.
Several men were sitting on a wooden bench. Each had a laptop on their lap, and they were all staring intently at the monitor. A groaning murmur reached me.
"God reincarnation... sex change... and then game elements..."
"Yandere... Yandere is the trend..."
"Make it cloudy... make it cloudy..."
Men hunched over, half-smiles on their faces, typing on their keyboards.
They don't even bother to look at the three intruders. They don't react to the conversations passing overhead.
"You're saying that our way of life is to parasitize such base desires? That's ridiculous."
"It can't be helped. Nobody dreams anymore. The idea that 'as long as things are good now, that's all that matters' is rampant."
"So you're saying I should cling to such fleeting pleasures? It's unproductive. You won't reap any benefits by parasitizing such desires."
"So what are you going to do then?"
"To instill great ambitions, and then extinguish them—that is the true nature of us 'non-existent demons'."
"...It seems we are incompatible after all."
The air became tense and creaky.
There seemed to be an extraordinary clash of ideologies between the two of them—
"...Hey, Nayuta. I have absolutely no idea what you've been saying this whole time."
"Yeah, I don't know."
Let me be clear.
I didn't care.
I have only one wish right now: to go home as soon as possible. That's all there is to it.
that's why.
" Die "
"Gyaooooooooon!!"
I finished it.
"Ugh, ugh... you bastard..."
A man in a suit groans as he lies sprawled on the floor.
I was surprised.
It's barely alive, but it seems to still be alive.
"Don't deny their dreams... Even if they're clumsy... Their wishes... are real..."
Beside him, Eternal knelt.
There was no mercy in those eyes, yet a light of pity resided within them.
"Do you know what happens to those who dedicate their precious time to fleeting praise and false feelings of shared experience? Dreams inevitably end someday... so it's only natural to aim for something big."
"When it comes to dreams, there's no such thing as a small or big dream..."
The man—the dream-ending demon—spoke with trembling lips.
"Even if...when I come to my senses, I regret...what a stupid thing I did...it was real..."
" Die "
"Guaaah!"
This time, it's really over.
When the dream-like demon dies, the people who were muttering incoherently in the room start to change. They look up and glance around. Their voices of confusion turn into murmurs.
"Huh? Where am I?"
"What was I doing again?"
"Oh no, I have to go home and get to work!"
It seems the hypnosis that had been placed on the humans has also been broken.
They scratched their heads in confusion and left the room. ...I'll leave the rest to the Public Security Bureau.
But I can't go home yet.
I had one more thing I needed to do.
"My power is returning..."
Eternal raised her arm in a daze, opening and closing her slender, pianist-like fingers as if to confirm something.
There is now only one "non-existent demon."
The dispersed forces are concentrated on her.
"Ah, this is my true power..."
Its appearance remained unchanged. But I immediately realized that its inner power was far greater than before. A thick, demonic scent pushed through the air and filled the room.
This is quite something... no, it's incredible...
Could it be that you're stronger than me...?
"A demon that does not exist. You have become one. You must keep your promise."
"promise...?"
"Yes. You will become my subordinate."
"Me...? Your...? Hehehe... That's an impossible request."
The woman turns around
I felt like the wind was blowing.
The scorching heat burns my skin like direct sunlight. This... might be bad.
"Are you planning to break your promise?"
"Hehehe... I'll keep my contracts. But I won't keep my promises. That's what a demon is, isn't it?"
"Oh, so that's what you're saying."
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
I can no longer see her as inferior. My power of domination won't work on her.
In that case, Chainsaw Man is the one we can rely on—
"Uh...? Big sister...?"
Denji was already beginning to be captivated.
My attempts to overwrite it with my power of control were futile. It didn't work.
The woman gently bent her fingers and, while running her fingers through her soft hair, gazed intently at me. Between her plump lips, she let out a sigh and her snake-like tongue peeked out.
"Dominion Demon... you have dreams, don't you? Dreams like humans have, even though you're a demon..."
A chilling shiver runs up my spine.
The woman's gaze narrowed sharply and pierced my very soul.
"Your dream is so grand and impossible that no demon could even dream of it...and that's precisely why it's so sweet and rich...my bait...worth crushing..."
Her lips curled up into a grin.
Spreading both arms out. Just that alone creates a sense of pressure, like a bird spreading its wings.
"Do you understand what it means when your dreams don't come true? It's not that it's over. On the contrary, it's that it never ends... You don't move forward, you don't cut it off, you're cursed forever..."
Eternal is approaching.
I could only hear the tapping sound of shoe heels.
I can't move. I can't speak. Before I knew it, I had become a frog caught in a snake's gaze. It was slipping into my mind. My sense of danger was fading. Even the feeling that something was wrong was becoming stagnant.
"Your story is unfinished here."
"Um, are you busy?"
Someone knocked on the door.
Startled, I turned around to see the metal-haired bomb-wielding girl standing at the entrance.
"Huh... Reze? Oh, she can move..."
I have no idea what's going on.
Is this a dream?
However, the feeling of cold sweat trickling down my back was real.
It's not an illusion.
This is the real Reze.
But why...?
"I have training to attend."
Oh, I see.
So the training is over...?
Bomb Girl strode closer and, standing directly in front of Eternal, grabbed his arm.
"Hey, you demon here? What are you doing? Nayuta is under my jurisdiction, so stop doing weird things."
"You... my hypnosis doesn't work on you. ...You have no dreams, do you?"
"fart?"
"Foolish modern people who harbor no aspirations. No, that's not it... They've been indoctrinated with thorough efficiency-ism...? Pathetic human beings, are you merely existing?"
Reze turned around, wondering what was going on.
"Are you perhaps talking badly about me?"
He tilted his head in confusion.
He let out a long, drawn-out sigh and shrugged his shoulders.
"Dreams, huh? It's great that everyone has such wonderful dreams. I'd like to have one too if I could, but I can't think of one yet."
Instantly, Eternal's upper body shook. He swung the arm that wasn't being held.
However, before the attack could hit, Reze's joint lock was applied.
Twist your arm behind your back.
"--Gah!"
"Okay, okay, don't struggle. You're under arrest. You have no right to remain silent. Um, you're in arrest as of this moment, something like that."
"Guh, guh... you bastard...!? You, you!?"
"yeah?"
"I've seen you on TV... You are my greatest enemy... the devil of explosion endings!"
The world came to a complete halt.
Five seconds, or six seconds?
Reze's expression is hidden by the metal surface of Bomb Girl and cannot be seen.
Reze answered without moving a muscle.
"No, that's not it?"
"No way, you're the devil of explosion endings! The worst kind of devil who wipes away the process, the plot points, and the epilogue with just an explosion!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Hehehe... I never imagined we'd meet here! This must be fate, my ability to 'prevent the continuation' and your ability to 'force an ending with a crappy explosion' are superior! Let's decide it here!"
"Are you kidding me? I'll blow it up!"
"Here we go! Eternal! This story will forever remain unfinished!"
"We're going to blow it up!"
BOOM!
daily report
Month X, Day Y
Today was the worst.
I don't even want to remember it.
Nayuta
Extra episode: BOOM! The end