Ward 1!
This was the core area of the entire Tokyo Area.
Here stood a uniquely shaped palace.
"The Holy Residence..."
Stepping out of the special car, a glint of light appeared in Ayato's eyes.
'So this was the one who had summoned me. Interesting.'
Soon,
Guided by staff, Ayato passed through layers of guarded corridors and arrived at a spacious hall.
Here, there was only one person.
It was a young girl in a white dress, giving an impression of snow-like purity.
'As expected, it was her.'
Seeing her, a knowing look appeared on Ayato's face.
Seitenshi.
A few years ago, due to the Gastrea crisis, the country was divided into five parts.
And the person before him was the nominal ruler of the Tokyo Area.
Ayato sat casually on the sofa. "What do you want to see me about?"
"Although you probably know me, allow me to introduce myself. I am Seitenshi."
A smile appeared on Seitenshi's face. "Actually, I asked you to come here to confirm something."
"Oh, what's that?"
"I've heard that you possess a method to cure Cursed Children. Is that true?"
"Of course."
"Then, Ayato-sama, would you be willing to share that method? I would pay any price."
"Don't think about it. It wouldn't do you any good even if I told you."
Ayato shook his head. "After all, this is a Devil's method. Ordinary people can't learn it."
"???"
Seitenshi blinked, full of question marks.
She didn't expect that after asking so sincerely, the other party was joking with her.
"Well..."
After a long pause, Seitenshi didn't know how to respond.
'Devils' and such... the topic was simply too absurd.
'But if I didn't say something, would this guest feel awkward?'
"It seems you don't believe me."
"Although it's presumptuous, such a thing is indeed hard to believe unless you can..."
Seitenshi didn't finish her sentence.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind blew.
A pair of pitch-black wings extended from behind Ayato.
'A d-d-d-Devil?'
Seitenshi clenched her hands, her body trembling visibly.
'D-Devils were real?'
'Such legendary creatures actually existed?'
'They were synonymous with evil and chaos.'
'Meeting one alone... wasn't I walking into a trap?'
'Come to think of it... wasn't the information he spread a way to lure me in?'
Seitenshi could no longer manage her expression.
She wanted to scream, to attract the guards outside.
But,
He was too close.
'It's over. Would I be killed by a Devil today?'
Unconsciously, her eyes grew moist.
After all, although she was the governor...
She was just a teenager.
Ayato: "..."
He looked at her strangely.
'This woman... seemed to be overthinking things too.'
"Seitenshi, you don't need to worry. I won't hurt you."
Ayato smiled helplessly. "So, please calm down, okay?"
Hearing this, Seitenshi still trembled non-stop.
She looked at him and asked instinctively, "Then, can I call the guards in?"
"I'm... still a bit scared."
Ayato was stunned for a moment.
'Wow.'
'This woman was quite polite.'
'She actually asked about something like this.'
'Not bad. Very good, very naive.'
Meanwhile, Seitenshi curled her toes in frustration.
'Oh no! Why did I say that?'
'I was so useless. How could I be a good governor like this?'
"Sure, go ahead and call them."
"Ah?"
Seitenshi was stunned.
After a few seconds, confirming she hadn't misheard, she cautiously glanced at Ayato.
'He agreed!'
'If that was the case, maybe I had misunderstood.'
'If he had ill intentions, would he let me call the guards?
'Perhaps, even as a Devil, he was a good one.'
She ventured, "Then, I'll really call them, okay?"
"No problem."
Ayato nodded with a smile.
Hearing this, Seitenshi breathed a sigh of relief.
'It seemed he really wasn't a bad person.'
'But Devils... were just too unbelievable.'
"After all, I've already cast magic to drive away the crowds."
"So even if you shout your lungs out, I doubt they'll come in."
'M-magic?'
Seitenshi was stunned, her body stiffening again.
She instinctively called for the guards.
But there was no response.
For a moment, she was on the verge of tears.
'As expected... trusting a Devil to be a good person was the biggest mistake.'
Tears welling in her eyes, she looked at Ayato, on the verge of breaking down. "Mr. Devil, what exactly do you want?"