Chapter 860: Ch 859: The Tsundere Queen’s Voice, Live!

"I accept."

With that calm, unhurried response, the girl's consciousness gradually began to fade.

In her daze, she saw a crimson world.

And standing within it was a handsome man with black hair and black eyes, as though he stood at the very center of that world.

"Are you still conscious?"

Within that crimson world, Ryo watched the girl's blurry figure with a faint smile.

She didn't answer. She merely stared at him blankly, motionless as a puppet.

"I see." Ryo understood her condition at a glance. "So only the 'Power of Existence' offered as the sacrifice has arrived?"

The process of creating a Flame Haze involved a human offering their own existence to a Crimson Denizen, leaving themselves hollow within, after which the Crimson Denizen filled that emptiness with their own Power of Existence.

And now, Ryo stood at the critical point where those Powers of Existence were exchanged.

The girl's own Power of Existence was exceptionally vast. Measured against an ordinary human, that was really an absurdly enormous amount.

But to Ryo, it was still rather insignificant.

"Even a human born with an exceptionally noble nature is being a little too ambitious if they think they can contain the power of a four-digit being." Ryo smiled as the black shadow beneath him continuously spread and stretched outward.

"And besides, making the Flame-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter disappear altogether would feel a little strange to me."

From within the shadows, a blonde, blue-eyed girl emerged as though breaking through the surface of water and came to stand beside Ryo.

She was the seventh Familiar Beast of the Fourth Primogenitor from Strike the Blood, inheritor of the Little Garden's Twelve Zodiac legacy and the Familiar Beast representing Libra.

"Hebdomos. Transfer the Authority of Judgment and Condemnation into this child."

The blonde girl rubbed her sleepy eyes, then nodded silently.

Her eyes flickered faintly, and her body immediately transformed into a gigantic sword wreathed in crimson-red flames.

The scarlet flames swayed as they intertwined with the girl's Power of Existence, the two forces beginning to merge and exchange.

Throughout the process, Ryo carefully collected the girl's original Power of Existence, preserving for her the possibility of one day becoming human again.

"Think of it as setting aside a little regret insurance."

So saying, Ryo watched the intertwining flames with the corner of his mouth curling upward.

...

..

Deep within Tendōkyū

At the instant the contract was confirmed, crimson lotus-like flames erupted from the black-haired, black-eyed girl's entire body.

"This is..." Alastor's voice rang out in shock. "The Authority of Judgment and Condemnation? How?"

The God of Retribution, the very being who wielded Judgment and Condemnation, was completely dumbfounded.

Wasn't she supposed to be contracting with the Sun God? So why did this turn into a contract with the God of Retribution?

Wait. Something's wrong here. I'm the God of Retribution, aren't I? I didn't sign any contract!

Alastor fell into profound self-doubt.

At the same time, the exchange of Power of Existence was complete, and the ritual that gave birth to a Flame Haze reached its conclusion.

In that instant, the girl's jet-black hair blossomed into a beautiful crimson, like scarlet lotuses in bloom.

"This is the Sun God's power?" The girl stared at her hands in confusion. "Why does it feel so much like your presence, Alastor...?"

That's exactly what I was thinking...

Alastor kept that thought to himself. Outwardly, he could only hide his awkwardness behind a polite silence.

Then, blazing golden flames suddenly appeared before the girl.

The fire burned brightly, and within it, an unseen will slowly awakened. "In accordance with the terms of a Flame Haze contract, choose the divine vessel you desire."

"A pendant." The girl answered without hesitation. "A pendant shaped like an eye."

Immediately afterward, a pendant appeared in the girl's hand: a black gemstone set into a silver frame and suspended from a silver chain.

She put it around her neck.

Then Ryo's voice immediately came from within the pendant. "It's a little late, but introductions are still in order. 'The Unfading Sun' is the name the Crimson Realm gave me. But, you can call me Ryo. Ryo Yagami."

"So, little one, what's your name?"

Ryo asked, despite already knowing perfectly well.

"My name...?" The girl looked embarrassed.

She had never really thought about that.

After all, life in Tendōkyū consisted of just her and Wilhelmina. If either of them called out, it was obvious who they meant. And Wilhelmina's rather glaring lack of understanding when it came to 'normal upbringing' had resulted in the girl never being given a name at all.

Unable to help herself, she looked toward Alastor.

"..."

Alastor once again deployed his mysterious silence of embarrassment avoidance.

'Why is the voice coming from the pendant male? That's a little different from the Sun God I remember...'

'Did I remember wrong? Was the Sun God, 'The Unfading Sun,' actually male?'

Meanwhile, the girl stared toward the Flame of Retribution, her expression growing increasingly flustered.

It wasn't that she was embarrassed about having no name.

The problem was that she and the Sun God were practically strangers who had just met. Rather than speak to him herself, she'd much prefer for Alastor, who seemed to know the Sun God, to act as an intermediary.

Unfortunately, Alastor was still busy wondering why his own memories seemed so unreliable.

"Little one, isn't giving your name when you first meet someone basic human etiquette?" Ryo pressed the matter. "You aren't even willing to show your contractor that much courtesy? It seems I've ended up with a rather terrible partner."

Ryo sounded deeply melancholy.

"No, it's not that, I just..." The girl's face turned red as she floundered helplessly.

"Not what? Did I say something wrong?" Ryo sighed dramatically. "To think that I'd end up with a Flame Haze who isn't even willing to tell her own contractor her name. Even I feel sorry for myself."

The girl's face instantly turned bright red.

Then she suddenly shouted, "Urusai! Damn it, at least give me a chance to talk!"

Her furious outburst brought everyone's thoughts to a screeching halt.

Alastor finally snapped out of his mental deadlock and immediately warned her in his steady, dignified voice. "Mind your manners!"

Speaking so rudely to a god was seriously inappropriate.

Alastor had instantly slipped into overprotective father mode and was preparing to give the girl some careful, heartfelt instruction.

But then, from the pendant hanging before her chest, came a voice of pure, unmistakable satisfaction. "Ahhh... now that's the good stuff. Hearing the Tsundere Queen's voice live and in person really hits different! Can you do that again?"

"..."

Both Alastor and the girl fell silent.

'Is there any way to cancel a contract?'

The two arrived at exactly the same thought.

After a brief silence, Alastor's will finally spoke, "'Unfading Sun.'"

"Hm? Oh, Flame of Heaven. It's you…" Ryo sounded as though he'd only just noticed Alastor's presence. His tone was casual, almost teasing. "From what I understand of the situation, it seems I stole your contractor? Do you want compensation?"

"Hmm…" Alastor was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "You've changed quite a lot compared to before, Unfading Sun."

"You can think of the previous Unfading Sun and the current me as two different people," Ryo explained roughly.

"I see."

Ignoring the matter of compensation, Alastor continued in his steady voice, "Then, shall I explain the current situation?"

Tendōkyū was still shaking, with the occasional sound of an explosion coming from nearby.

"That isn't important." Ryo sounded somewhat dismissive. "They're just a few bugs. I could crush them with barely a thought. Compared to that, I'm more curious why my contractor hasn't told me her adorable name."

"Uh…" Alastor once again failed to avoid an awkward subject. "Well, due to a mistake, this child doesn't have a name yet…"

"Then let's call her 'Shana.' My surname is Yagami, so she can take it too." Ryo left no room for argument.

"Huh? Why should I…"

The girl froze for a moment and was just about to protest when Ryo cut her off. "Names are generally given by one's elders. I'm older than you. Is that reason enough?"

The girl was momentarily bewildered before instinctively looking up at Alastor.

"Hmm… Constantly calling her 'Hey, you' or 'Come here' isn't exactly ideal." Alastor agreed with Ryo.

As a Crimson God of the Crimson Realm, his understanding of human customs was severely lacking. Names simply weren't something he cared much about. Otherwise, he would have thought of giving the girl one long ago.

Hearing this, the girl clenched her teeth. She wasn't particularly happy about it, but with the two gods in agreement, her name was settled just like that.

Still, Shana's first impression of her contract partner was rather terrible.

'There's got to be a limit to how self-centered you can be…'

Shana couldn't help thinking that.

...

(The "Tsundere Queen" refers to Rie Kugimiya, the voice actress who voiced Shana. She also voiced Kagura in Gintama, Happy in Fairy Tail, and many other characters. She is especially famous for her iconic high-pitched, hot-and-cold tsundere voice.)

...

At the Rift Between Both Worlds, Ryo nodded as he looked at the one-handed clock. It had already reached 9 and was slowly approaching 10.

"Oh boy. If Aishelia saw this, she'd be really mad…" Ryo smiled as he imagined the scene.

"Now I don't even have to do anything. I just leave Shana, let her go on her journey, and it'll all be counted as my influence!"

"Hmm… When I go back, I'll even introduce Shana to Kurousagi."

He paused.

"Hmm…" A sly smile appeared on Ryo's face. "With no actual relationship with any women this time, I can clear things up with Kurousagi and make myself look completely loyal."

He imagined his beautiful bunny for a moment. "Maybe I can make her wear that outfit…"

With that, Ryo's smile faded into a focused expression as he began putting everything he'd learned from Athena into practice.

He had already set the stage. Now, it was time to see what he could do.

.

.

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