"I've come to pay the price for our deal."
Rei Ao paused,
the corner of his mouth curving as if he'd expected it. "Come in," he called.
"!!!"
At the words, Touka snapped fully awake, color draining from her face.
Miss Eto?
Sheshe was coming in?
How could that possibly be okay?!
Flustered, Touka scrambled to yank the blanket up around herself
but too late.
Click
The door swung open.
Eto Yoshimura stepped in, freshly changed into everyday clothes (no longer the bandage getup), her short green hair giving her a sharper look.
Her eyes swept the roomthe scene, Touka's panic and clumsy attempt to hide under the covers.
She showed neither surprise nor shyness,
only a faint, knowing smile.
"So even gods like to indulge in human pleasures, hm?"
Her tone carried the lightest trace of teasing.
Clearly, after the world's rules had been rewritten, her understanding of Rei Ao had risen to that of a "god."
Rei Ao merely smiled and waved a hand.
"Call it what you likelovemaking is one of the few interests I plan to keep for life."
Thump
At a flick of his will, the door swung shut.
He beckoned to Eto, casual as greeting an old friend.
"And you're just in time."
Pointing at Toukawho looked ready to bury herselfhe said with a cheerful squint,
"Perfect. Touka needs a good, long rest."
Touka: "Eh?!"
Touka was stunned.
What happened next left her even more bewildered.
Chapter 929: The Clean World of Ghoul...
Afternoon sunlight pours through Anteiku's clean glass windows, laying warm patches of light across the floor.
The air is rich with the aroma of freshly ground coffee and the sweet scent of pastries, while lazy, mellow jazz ripples like water.
The shop is full.
People speak in low voices, savoring a rare stretch of leisure.
Kaya Irimi, in a neat server's uniform and a gentle smile, deftly sets down cups with delicate latte art. The former SS-rated ghoul once called "Black Dog" now balances a tray with steady handsgraceful and professional.
Behind the counter, Renji Yomo polishes glasses with meticulous care. The ex-"Crow," once an SS-rated ghoul bristling with edge, now keeps all that sharpness sheathed; there's even a trace of everyday peace between his brows. From time to time he looks up at the others busy in the shop, and a barely noticeable warmth flickers in his eyes.
The customers are a mix of types.
By the window sits a tall, resolute manKotaro Amon. A black coffee before him, he is absorbed in a cookbook? The CCG's former model investigator seems to have found a new direction in life. He nods politely to Uta-san, the former ghoul quietly reading not far away; Uta returns a faint, friendly smile.
Hatred, hunts, fearthe memories tied to "ghouls" and the "CCG" have been gently erased like graphite under an eraser. What remains of the world is a blurred backdrop and the settled traits and feelings of individuals. It's as if someone hit resetyet kindly left intact the bonds worth cherishing.
In a quieter corner booth, the mood is a little more complicated.
Touka Kirishima cradles a steaming cup of milk tea. Taking in the almost dreamlike calm of the shop, her eyes are complicated. She murmurs, like a sigh, "I never thought we'd get to have a normal day like this."
Not long ago, this was a refuge for ghouls; an investigator might flicker past the window at any moment; the air was thick with tension and the gnawing hunger for flesh.
Now the sun is bright, the coffee sweet, and everyone's face looks easy.
All of it traces back to that golden Grail hanging in the night skyand the three wishes made by Eto Yoshimura, Kuzen Yoshimura, and Kishou Arima.
RC cells vanished completely, and every ghoul became an ordinary human. All knowledge of ghouls and the CCG was wiped from the world's memory. Those hidden sources of evilthe Washuu clan pulling the CCG's strings, the sadistic "Gecko" Yamori, the insanely fanatical Nimura Furuta, and othersanyone whose heart inclined toward evil received judgment in that night's light and slipped quietly from the world.
The world was cleansed top to bottom.
No more ghouls.
No more endless hunts and flights.
Across from Touka, Eto Yoshimura lifts a white porcelain cup and takes a delicate sip. She has shed her signature bandages for a deep-green dresssimple but chic. Her short green hair is perfectly set. She looks more like an intelligent, literary woman than the once-feared One-Eyed Owl.
"Not bad," she says evenly, as if she'd foreseen this outcomeor as if this was the endpoint she'd always hoped for in her "revolution." As for the future, she plans to write in earnestto express herself with a pen, not a kagune.
As for the older man behind the bar who sometimes glances over with a complex lookher biological father, Kuzen YoshimuraEto has no intention of revealing herself. Remaining strangers may be the best ending for them both.
Of course, she and Touka now share a new role as wellwomen of Rei Ao. Touka may still nurse a girl's romantic longing and see this as a love story, but Eto is realistic and clear-headed: she considers herself property devoted to Rei Ao, payment for their deal. For her, it isn't about feelingsjust a fair exchangeand she doesn't particularly care who owns this body.
And yet when Eto's gaze flicks over Rei Ao by the windowhis profile so perfect it hardly seems reala ripple of helplessness stirs in her chest. This god's needs and stamina are vast. Even she and Touka often feel outmatched.
Just then
ding-a-ling
the brass bell over the door rings bright and clear: a new customer.
The door swings open and a tall, stylish woman in a smart business suit steps in. She seems just off work, a little tired, but her eyes are sharp and clear. She's like a blade of light sliding into the caf's warm atmosphere, drawing more than a few glances.
Rei Ao's casual look toward the entrance brightens when he sees her.
Akira Madoformer First-Class Investigator, daughter of Kureo Mado. Of course, now she's just a professional at an ordinary company; her memories of her father and the CCG are gone.
Her eyes meet Rei Ao's across the room.
What a handsome man.
Akira's heart skips for no reason; her breath hitches. That striking face, those deep eyes that seem to draw you in, and the faint, knowing smile at his lips that suggests he sees through everythingit all leaves her momentarily dazed. She jerks her gaze away, cheeks warming, hurries to a seat by the wall, and pretends to study the menuthough her heart keeps beating too fast.
God, did she really just stare at a stranger like that? Mortifying.
She doesn't notice Eto in the corner taking it all in.
"Oh?" A glint of mischief flashes in Eto's eye.
~~~
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Chapter 930: Akira Mado...
Eto Yoshimura studied Akira Mado with keen interest.
A new and rather promising candidate for a "helper."
And judging by the look of it, her first impression of Rei Ao wasn't bad, either.
Since she and Touka couldn't quite keep up, perhaps it was time to expand the "team"?
Besides, this godly gentleman didn't seem the type to turn anyone away.
A faint, mischievous smilelike someone plotting a prankcurved at the corner of Eto's mouth.
Before she could finish sketching out a plan, the caf bell chimed again.
This time in walked a fashion-forward teen with a touch of punk to himstreaks of dyed hair, earrings, and a defiant scowl.
The moment he stepped in he swept the room with a bold stare, quickly locking onto Touka in the corner booth.
His brows knit.
He strode over in long, impatient steps, ignoring everyone else, and stopped in front of her.
"Hey! You text me out of nowhere to come here and tell me you're introducing me to a brother-in-law?"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"
"I'm busy, okay? Can you stop dragging me into dumb stuff like this?!"
Touka looked at her rebellious little brother, the corner of her mouth twitching helplessly.
Yesthis was Ayato Kirishima.
Whether as the edgy ghoul kid who idolized Aogiri Tree back then or now as a human, that chuunibyou swagger hadn't changed a bitonly the outlet had shifted from brawling to arcade games and eccentric fashion.
Touka shot a mortified glance at Rei Ao and whispered to Ayato, "Keep your voice downthis is"
That shy, reliant look she gave Rei Ao was instantly caught by Ayato.
He turned a hostile stare on the man who had been sitting quietly all along, gave him a once-over, and looked even more annoyedmaybe with a pinch of jealousy at how good-looking he was.
"Hah? So it's you?"
Chin lifted, Ayato all but challenged Rei Ao:
"You're the pretty boy tricking my idiot sister?"
He took a step closer, trying to win on presence alonethough he didn't have the height for it.
"I'm telling you, my sister's naive. Don't you dare get any funny ideas!"
"If you don't want a beating, you'd better know your place and back off!"
"Ayato! What are you sayingshut up!"
Touka went white and jumped up to cover his mouth.
She knew exactly how strong Rei Ao was, and she feared consequences her brother couldn't handle.
Besides, traditional as she was, she'd already decided Rei Ao was her man.
Even Akira, who had just sat down, couldn't help glancing over at the commotion. Hearing the delinquent announce that Rei Ao already had a girlfriendapparently the delicate-looking girlleft her with a faint, inexplicable pang. Of course a man like that wouldn't be single.
Faced with Ayato's childish, hotheaded challenge, Rei Ao showed no angerif anything, he seemed amused.
He stood, looked down at the boy trying to shield his sister, and smiled.
He didn't say a word to Ayatojust walked toward the door.
As he passed, he dropped a single line:
"Want to teach me a lesson? Then come with me."
"Hah?!"
Ayato was furious at being so thoroughly dismissed.
"Pretty cocky, aren't you!"
Teenage temper flared. He snorted and, without thinking twice, stormed after Rei Ao out of the caf.
"Uh"
Touka's heart seized. She wanted to chase after themher brother didn't stand a chance against Rei Ao.
"Don't worry."
Eto lightly caught her wrist and shook her head. "He knows his limits," she said evenly. "And letting your brother learn something might not be a bad idea."
Touka hesitated, then sat back down, still staring anxiously at the door.
Most customers barely noticed the blip. Kotaro Amon frowned on principle, but decided it was a family matter and returned to his cookbook. Akira watched the doorway, oddly worried that the flippant man might actually get beatenthough his attitude did make you want to slug him.
It wasn't long.
A few minutes later, the door opened again.
Rei Ao walked in first, as calm as everclothes unrumpled, as if he'd just taken a short stroll.
Trailing him was Ayatolike a different person.
Head down. The cocky glare was gone without a trace, replaced by a dazed awe and a deep, gnawing self-doubt.
He followed in small, careful steps, meek as a quail.
Under Touka's stunned gaze, Ayato stopped in front of her,
then bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry, Sis!"
"Before I was way too headstrong!"
"And I've been disrespectful to you for a long time. I'm really sorry!"
His voice was still a little awkward,
but it was more seriousand more shakenthan she'd ever heard.
Touka was completely floored.
Mouth slightly open, she stared at the brother who had just done a 180. Her brain stalled.
Was this really her rebellious, sharp-tongued, contrary little brother?
What on earth had Rei Ao done to him?
Brainwashing?!
Rei Ao slid in beside her, casually slipped an arm around her shoulders, and, smiling at her astonished face, said lightly:
"Well? I gave that clueless kid brother of yours a quick lesson. Not bad, right?"
"Uh"
Touka glanced from her brother's timid, fearful look to Rei Ao's easy smile, the corner of her eye twitching.
"Not bad?" This was a whole new person!
In the end, she could only manage a complicated little smile, tinged with gratitude. "Th-thanks"
Chapter 931: Imanity's Hope and Jibril's Boredom...
At dusk.
The setting sun laid a warm golden sheen over the street.
Akira Mado stepped out of the Anteiku caf, her feelings a knot of mixed emotions.
All afternoon, her attention kept drifting to that corner.
The man named Rei Aohis figure and his smilefelt imprinted on her mind.
A pity he already had a girlfriend.
She let out a soft sigh.
Burying that spark of fondness that had barely sprouted and already had to be snuffed out, she walked on down the street.
Just then, as she passed the mouth of a narrow alley, a silhouette slipped out of the shadows and blocked her path.
Akira stopped.
She looked at the person warily, and recognized her at a glancethe green-haired woman who'd been sitting with Rei Ao and his girlfriend that afternoon.
Eto Yoshimura noticed the lingering turmoil on Akira's face and let a meaningful smile curl her lips.
"Akira Mado-san," she said, her voice tinged with a mysterious allure. "Care to talk?"
Akira frowned. "Do we know each other? What do you want to talk about?"
Eto took a step forward, lowered her voice, and offered Akira a world-shaking secret.
"Let's talk about this world's 'truth.'"
The world of No Game No Life.
High above a barren land scoured by war into nothing but ash and ruins, space quiveredlike ripples spreading across a calm lake after a pebble's splash.
An instant later, a figure appeared out of thin air.
She hovered in the sky.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, yet radiated an awe that made the soul tremble.
Her long hair gleamed like polished jade, and a crystalline single horn peeked out from between the strands.
Most striking were her eyesone as limpid as the blue of the sky, the other a resplendent molten gold.
That heterochromia seemed to hold endless wisdomand chill indifference.
From her waist unfurled a pair of wings not of feathers, but woven purely from light, shining with a sacred glow.
Each gentle beat scattered motes of radiance.
Above her head floated a geometric halo, far more intricate and exquisite than that of an ordinary Flgel
nested magic circles rotating in slow layers, pulsing with vast waves of mana.
A Flgel.
In Disboard, the world created by the Old Deus and stratified by race, they rank sixth among the Sixteen Races
