The night was as dark as ink, so deep it wouldn't disperse.
Kanjuro walked home alone, the image of Yukinoshita Yukino being taken away by the ambulance echoing in his mind, but a disdainful sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.
His original plan was to use Yukinoshita Yukino's fall to make her sink into darkness and become the best vessel for the awakening of the dark bible.
Unfortunately, she was not the chosen sacrifice after all.
He subconsciously touched his lower body—where a strange power had surged during his union with Yukinoshita Yukino—as if in that moment, his body could transform into the sharpest divine weapon in the world.
Unfortunately, that brief awakening had been interrupted.
Just as he was lost in thought, a figure quietly emerged from the darkness.
Her brownish-black hair shimmered with a cold luster under the moonlight; the newcomer was the girl from the Magician family, Aozaki Sakuya—the woman he had violated in the old school building.
"You were born with a constitution for practicing Black Magic; no wonder 'that woman' chose you."
Aozaki Sakuya walked closer, her tone as calm as if she were discussing the weather.
Even though Kanjuro had done those things to her, she cared more about the secrets of the dark bible.
"You still have the leisure to discuss this with me?"
Kanjuro roughly pulled her into his embrace and tore open her collar.
Aozaki Sakuya allowed him to have his way without expression, her eyes that saw through the world always remaining clear.
Even though Kanjuro exuded a charm enhanced by the dark bible, she still maintained the rationality a Magician should have.
"Don't you want to truly master the power of the dark bible?" she asked softly, her breathing becoming slightly disordered due to Kanjuro's actions.
"Of course I do. But as you saw, the President's control over the dark bible is no small matter."
"I can assist you," Aozaki Sakuya said straightforwardly.
"How will you assist?" Kanjuro didn't ask about her motive, but his movements became increasingly rough.
Aozaki Sakuya endured her body's reactions and gave a sly smile: "Judging by the ritual just now, you are fully capable of inheriting the dark bible. The ritual was interrupted only because the sacrifice was wrong."
"So?"
Her voice grew faint, and an unnatural flush rose to her cheeks. "You find a sacrifice—whether true or false—and while you are joined, I can cast a spell to interrupt the President. I want to see what kind of gift the dark bible will give you; perhaps... this is the chance to defeat the President."
The two were entangled in the shadows of the small woods, conversation and desire intertwined.
Kanjuro sneered and gave her a slap: "I treat you like this, and you're still willing to help me? What a slut."
"Say what you will." Aozaki Sakuya laughed instead of getting angry, actively catering to his movements. "Compared to personal grudges, that ancient book interests me more."
"Why?"
"Magicians spend their whole lives pursuing the Root, and the dark power contained in that book is more fascinating than the Root." She flipped over to sit on Kanjuro, her silver hair falling like a waterfall.
Kanjuro pondered for a moment and finally nodded: "Fine, I'll contact you in a few days."
"Remember, if we fail, we both die." Aozaki Sakuya whispered in his ear, her voice carrying an irrepressible excitement. "Before that, let us enjoy this moment to the fullest."
She had always been indifferent to romantic feelings; social etiquette was nothing more than a worldly shackle to her.
But after meeting someone with an antisocial personality like Kanjuro, the dark side deep within her heart was completely awakened—that pleasure of falling made her unable to extricate herself.
After an hour of dalliance, the two parted in the night.
Kanjuro walked home alone, his thoughts in disarray.
Reika Kitami was his final trump card and could not be used lightly.
Moreover, Morimoto Reina's younger sister, Morimoto Leona, was about to return—if he didn't obtain the power of the dark bible soon, the situation would spiral out of control.
It was time for the final gamble.
The next morning, Yukinoshita Yukino's seat was empty.
Yuigahama Yui clung to Kanjuro as usual, her pink long hair shimmering softly in the sunlight.
"Kanjuro, let's have lunch together today?" She affectionately took his arm, her eyes full of dependence.
Kanjuro glanced at her coldly: "No need. Go to the hospital and visit Yukinoshita."
"I... I understand." Yuigahama Yui lowered her head in disappointment, yet she couldn't suppress her longing for Kanjuro.
After the events of last night, her body still honestly craved this man.
In another corner of the classroom, Reika Kitami sat quietly at her desk eating her bento.
Her golden long hair fell smoothly over her shoulders; she kept her eyes downcast, deliberately avoiding Kanjuro's direction.
Familiar footsteps sounded behind her, and her body stiffened slightly.
"Still angry?" Kanjuro wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind, his warm breath brushing past her ear.
"Let go of me." Kitami struggled to turn her face away, her voice trembling. "I hate you."
"Do you really hate me?" Kanjuro whispered in her ear with a light laugh.
Kitami's heart was in complete turmoil.
This was the first man she had ever loved—even though she knew he was an unmitigated scumbag, she still couldn't find the heart to refuse him when he approached again.
After all, he was the only person who had ever given her warmth.
"I don't hate you... but I don't want to talk to you." Her voice softened.
"Don't be angry anymore." Kanjuro kissed the corner of her mouth in public, drawing a chorus of gasps from the surroundings.
Takashiro Hiroko watched this scene from afar with jealousy, her nails digging deep into her palms.
She didn't understand why Kitami could receive Kanjuro's tenderness.
Kitami was turned red-faced by this sudden kiss, but she felt a faint sweetness of being cherished.
She gently pushed Kanjuro away, her voice choked with emotion: "What exactly do you want?"
"Come with me." Kanjuro took her hand, a rare tenderness showing in his eyes—this was a special treatment he had never given any other woman.
He knew clearly in his heart that Kitami was the true vessel for the dark bible.
This time, he was going to use her as a stake—either succeed in killing the President and perfectly merging with the dark bible, or face the end in death.
In this life-and-death gamble, he had to appease this simple woman and make her a willing sacrifice.