bookcurios Chapter 833 - 833
Chapter 833 - 833
"Master, please punish me!"After deploying a camouflage barrier around them, Nina knelt on one knee, her face filled with guilt.
"Which matter are you referring to?"
"The matter concerning Nagisa Akatsuki."
Nina hung her head, her expression hesitant as she spoke.
"Her capture by Tōyama was my deliberate doing... I have disobeyed your command, Master. Please punish me!"
I see.
So that's what this is about.
Eiji understood.
He hadn't given Nina the instruction to "let them take Nagisa away."
Nagisa being taken by Tōyama was Nina's improvisation - a case of turning the enemy's scheme to one's own advantage.
Because to achieve the Master's goal, Nagisa Akatsuki needed to encounter misfortune!
But now the Master had become involved with the Akatsuki family's mother and had promised to protect Nagisa. He couldn't simply stand by and watch her be kidnapped.
Therefore, Nina had to take matters into her own hands.
After repelling Number One, she had gone invisible, pretending to have left, deliberately allowing Tōyama to take Nagisa. Her purpose was to ensure Nagisa Akatsuki would encounter misfortune, thus enabling the Master's goal to be achieved!
She knew she would be the meritorious minister who helped the Master achieve his objective, and she felt pride in this.
On the other hand, having taken independent action during the mission, she also felt she had disobeyed Eiji's command, hence her ashamed request for punishment.
Eiji reached out and placed his hand on Nina's head.
Nina couldn't help but close her eyes.
Just when she fully expected her head to be crushed, she instead felt the gentle sensation of being stroked.
"Nina, the command I gave you was to protect Nagisa's safety, correct?"
"Yes."
Nina replied obediently.
"Does Nagisa currently have your clone protecting her?"
"She does."
Nina quickly responded.
"My clone will protect Nagisa Akatsuki from any external attacks, but if the harm comes from within, then it will be powerless..."
Even though she had allowed Nagisa Akatsuki to encounter misfortune for the Master's purpose, she couldn't let Nagisa's safety be compromised, as that was precisely the task the Master had assigned.
"In that case, it means you have fully completed the mission I assigned."
What came from Eiji's mouth wasn't blame, nor was it scolding.
It was unexpectedly comforting.
"When the general is in the field, he may not follow all orders from the capital. When the situation changes, the general needs to adapt accordingly. In this regard, you did very well."
"Thank you, Master!"
"Don't do it again next time."
"Uh... Yes!"
Nina was momentarily stunned but still nodded obediently.
The Master's lack of punishment warmed her heart.
Although her loyalty to the Master had never wavered, such a Master undoubtedly made her feel even more admiration.
"We've arrived. This is the Old Southeast District."
After flying with the light sword for a while, the two arrived above the Old Southeast District.
"Kojou Akatsuki and the others don't seem to have arrived yet."
Nina looked downward, her eyes transforming into telescope-like structures that allowed her to clearly see the situation below.
"Master, what's wrong?"
Nina looked at Eiji, her face showing confusion.
For some reason, Eiji seemed to have fallen into deep thought.
"I'm thinking about how we should celebrate if we win soon."
Nina remained silent.
We haven't even started yet, and you're already thinking about what happens after we win?
As expected of my master—this is the confidence you should have!
While Nina gazed over with infatuation, Eiji spoke as if he had reached a decision.
"Nina, come here. I'll give you some lines..."
...
The Old Southeast District.
This was an old artificial island used before the creation of the four main islands—East, South, West, and North—of Itogami Island.
However, after the main four islands were established, most of the functions of this artificial island were abandoned.
Quartz Gate was one of them.
It was a massive building located in the Old Southeast District, primarily consisting of six floors.
In the past, Itogami Island housed both the city hall and the headquarters of the Artificial Island Management Corporation in this building.
But as the main islands were completed, these administrative organizations relocated their offices to the "Keystone Gate" on Central Island of Itogami Island. Now, Quartz Gate was nothing but an empty shell.
The building's exterior extensively used magically reinforced transparent diamond glass, making the entire structure look like a magnificent gemstone palace. At its center stood a massive clock tower resembling a hexagonal crystal.
Once a historic magical building that showcased the technology of the Far East's Demon Sanctuary, Itogami Island, to the world.
Now, it was merely a neglected ruin.
"Dammit, let us through!"
At the connecting bridge, Kojou Akatsuki shouted impatiently at a man in uniform.
"Absolutely not! I've already told you, there have been cases of Vampire Infection Syndrome in the Old Southeast District. The entire island is under quarantine, and no one is allowed in or out. Those are orders from above!"
The man in uniform was a member of the Special Zone Guard, a subsidiary of the Artificial Island Management Corporation.
He remained unmoved, his face expressionless, strictly adhering to protocol.
There were many others dressed similarly, stationed every few steps, completely isolating the connecting bridge. They held specially designed automatic rifles issued to the guard.
While they wouldn't use live ammunition against ordinary people, even rubber bullets carried significant force.
The tense atmosphere made it impossible for anyone to dare provoke them lightly.
"Damn it!"
Kojou cursed under his breath.
The Old Southeast District was right in front of them, just about two kilometers across the sea.
They could even see the massive Quartz Gate building in the distance, but the only road leading there was blocked by the Special Zone Guard!
Vampire Infection Syndrome, originally appearing in the territory of Niðavellir, was a virus that caused ordinary people to exhibit vampire characteristics. Somehow, it had already spread to Itogami Island!
From across the shore, they could see towering flames rising from the opposite island, the crimson fire dyeing half the sky red.
These were ordinary residents still living in the Old Southeast District, infected by the virus and now wreaking havoc.
It was said that twenty thousand people still lived there.
"In that case, we'll force our way through!"
"I'm counting on you—Ganglot!"
Veldiana shouted angrily, abruptly removing her Demon Registration Card and summoning her familiar beast.
A several-meter-tall three-headed dog materialized in mid-air, its high temperature distorting the light and sending waves of heat in all directions.
With a single spit of a fireball, it instantly startled several of the guard members.
"Charge!"
Veldiana shouted, pulling a bewildered Akatsuki along as she excitedly rushed toward the connecting bridge.
"Ahhh! I don't care anymore!"
Kojou Akatsuki stared dumbfounded at the reckless noble daughter.
They were definitely going to make the news now, and they'd probably get arrested too - his life would be ruined in a completely different way!
After a moment's thought, he decided Nagisa was more important. Kojou let out a roar to bolster his courage and charged toward the connecting bridge.