Chapter 1185: -1170- Finally meet
"..."
Rozen and Kojou fell into silence simultaneously, creating a somewhat uncomfortable atmosphere between them.
Both were pondering Tokoyogi Yuuma's situation, albeit from different perspectives.
Rozen was considering the relationship between Tokoyogi Yuuma and Tokoyogi Aya.
Kojou, on the other hand, was contemplating whether Tokoyogi Yuuma was truly a witch.
In reality, whether Tokoyogi Yuuma was a witch or not didn't matter much to Kojou. He believed it was the same for Nagisa.
Perhaps, in the human society, individuals like Tokoyogi Yuuma, once exposed as witches, would undoubtedly face fear and hostility from humans.
For ordinary humans, both demons and witches were dangerous beings with terrifying powers, so naturally, they wouldn't accept them.
Especially witches. They were originally humans but gained power by selling their souls to demons. Some even used their powers for malicious deeds, like the Meyer sisters. There were many such individuals within the LCO and countless more worldwide, facing rejection and curses from humans was only natural.
However, this was the Demon Sanctuary, where Kojou and Nagisa peacefully coexisted with many demons. Even Avrora was a vampire among the demons, and Astarte was an artificial life form. Their surroundings were filled with the presence of demons, yet they interacted normally with them. So now, asking them to reject witches would be even more difficult.
Therefore, for others, hearing that their childhood friend was a witch would be unacceptable, and some might even refuse to believe Rozen's words. But for those within the Demon Sanctuary, like Kojou and Nagisa, it didn't matter. Kojou didn't doubt Rozen's words.
Kojou was just thinking...
"If Yuuma is a witch, was she already a witch when we met her, or did she become one later?"
Kojou was pondering this question.
Not all witches were pure-blooded; some chose to make contracts with demons later in life for their own purposes, thus becoming witches.
If Tokoyogi Yuuma was already a witch before meeting Kojou, her reluctance to bring him and Nagisa to her house while hiding in the forest would be understandable. But was she a naturally born pure-blooded witch, or did she become one for her own purposes?
And if Tokoyogi Yuuma became a witch after meeting Kojou, what did she go through to sell her soul to demons?
Thinking about this, Kojou suddenly became restless.
"I'll go find Yuuma!"
Almost instinctively, Kojou turned around, wanting to go back to the hall and confront Tokoyogi Yuuma directly.
But Rozen immediately grabbed Kojou's shoulder, stopping him.
"If you go find Tokoyogi Yuuma now and expose her as a witch in front of so many people, it will only make things more complicated."
For this reason, Rozen stopped Kojou.
"What should I do then? Pretend nothing happened?"
Kojou became distressed.
But Rozen shook his head.
"No, I also want to talk to Tokoyogi Yuuma in person." Rozen said, "So, let's go find her together and have a private chat."
This was what Rozen wanted to do most at the moment.
After all, he had just met Tokoyogi Yuuma for the first time, and no matter how he thought about it, it wasn't the kind of relationship where he could arrange a private conversation.
But Kojou was different.
Rozen had dragged Kojou out partly for this purpose.
"You go ahead and bring Tokoyogi Yuuma here, and let's have a good chat with her."
Rozen suggested.
This was also the result of Rozen considering Kojou and Nagisa's feelings.
Otherwise, Rozen wouldn't have had to put in so much effort. If he really wanted to confirm that Tokoyogi Yuuma was a witch and suspected her involvement in the events on Itogami Island, he could have just confronted her directly.
Kojou seemed to understand Rozen's intentions and looked at him with grateful eyes.
"Then I'll go and call Yuuma now."
With that, Kojou walked back into the hall, with Rozen following behind him.
However, when Rozen and Kojou returned to the hall...
"W-Where's Yuuma?"
Looking at the empty hall, Kojou was stunned.
Rozen was equally surprised.
In the bustling hall, not only was Tokoyogi Yuuma missing, but even Nagisa and Avrora were nowhere to be seen, leaving only Kanon and Astarte tidying up the tea set.
"Ah, Minamiya-sempai, Kojou-sempai, you're back?" Kanon noticed the two returning and greeted them.
"Kanon." Kojou finally snapped out of it and quickly asked, "Where's Yuma? And where did Nagisa go?"
It wasn't Kanon who answered the question, but Astarte.
"Reporting the situation." Astarte said expressionlessly, "It has been confirmed that Tokoyogi Yuuma is temporarily residing here but lacks the necessary supplies. In addition, dinner needs to be prepared, so Nagisa is responsible for taking Yuuma to buy the necessary items."
Astarte's detailed report made Rozen and Kojou both feel uneasy.
"What about Avrora?" Rozen looked at Astarte and asked, "Did Avrora go with them too?"
"Confirm." Astarte nodded, "Tokoyogi Yuuma invited Avrora Florestina to accompany her."
"Yuma... invited Avrora?" Kojou murmured in surprise.
As for Rozen, his expression began to grow stern.
...
At this point, night had quietly descended.
For dinner preparations, at this time, it was undoubtedly too late.
But now it was the eve of the Harurouin Festival, and outside, it was bustling as if night hadn't fallen.
On the streets, stalls were already set up.
Along the roadside, people dressed up as various characters were coming and going, chatting and laughing.
Some tourists were dragging suitcases, some carrying full shopping bags, patronizing one shop after another.
Nagisa, Avrora, and Yuuma were walking on such a busy street, chatting happily.
"So, if it weren't for Nichiyo-kun helping me, I would have been possessed by an evil spirit. Back then, I couldn't be saved in the demon sanctuary in Gozo. Even coming to Itogami Island for treatment didn't guarantee recovery. I might have been lying in a hospital bed unable to move." Nagisa was talking more and more enthusiastically about her past experiences.
Is she doing this to speak well of Rozen?
At home, Rozen's behavior was somewhat unusual, always staring at Yuuma, which might have given Yuuma a bad impression.
In order to maintain Rozen's image in front of their childhood friend, Nagisa might be talking so much about her past.
Of course, Nagisa didn't mention the Fourth Primogenitor, just talking about how she was possessed by an evil spirit in the demon sanctuary in Gozo, and how she was successfully exorcised thanks to Rozen's help, allowing her to survive.
"Nichiyo-kun is also very popular at school and looks very handsome. Kojou-kun can't compare to Nichiyo-kun at all. I don't know how much luck he has to have such a friend. Right, Yuuma?" Nagisa had been talking like this.
Even Avrora rarely spoke up.
"I...I was saved because of Nichiyo." Avrora blushed a little and said, "He...he is my knight."
Expressing it like this, Avrora was really shy.
"Is that so?"
Seeing Nagisa and Avrora like this, Yuuma kept smiling.
"It seems like both of you are quite fond of him," Tokoyogi Yuuma murmured to herself.
The atmosphere between them changed somewhat.
"Yuuma?"
Nagisa was a little puzzled.
"You..."
Avrora blinked her eyes.
But...
"Thinking about what I'm going to do next, I feel a bit sorry for him."
Yuuma smiled bitterly, but there was a strange light flickering in her eyes.
In such a situation...
...!
Avrora suddenly shuddered all over, extremely frightened, and turned her head to look forward.
"Av... Avrora? What's wrong?"
Nagisa was startled, but when she looked in the direction Avrora was staring, her eyes widened as well.
Then...
"It's finally time to meet, No.12."
Saying this, a girl appeared in front of everyone, seemingly out of nowhere.
As she looked at them, flames burned in her eyes.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone