That night.
In the heart of the bustling metropolis of Tokyo stood a stately high-end apartment complex, exuding an air of grandeur.
Its modern and minimalist exterior was outlined with mirror-like glass curtain walls, forming futuristic lines that reflected the vibrant lights and shadows of the busy city around it.
Inside the apartment, no lights were turned on in the penthouse suite. Gentle moonlight filtered in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the darkness of the living room just enough to allow the resident to take in the beautiful view of the lively cityscape.
A slender girl with purple hair stood before the window, lightly swirling a half-empty bottle of milk in her hand. With a hint of mischief and delight, she gazed at the night scenery of the world.
Her name was Magane Chikujoin.
Although she didn't serve Altair, she was genuinely grateful to her for pulling her into this free world from her original one.
Unlike most other creations who desired to return to their original worlds, she had absolutely no intention of going back.
After all, why would she?
That world was nothing more than a prison built by the creators of this one, a stage where everyone's actions had to align with the logic and thoughts of their creators, manipulated like marionettes on strings.
There was nothing fun about that.
That's why, when she faced her own creator, she felt not even the slightest trace of affection—only cold-blooded indifference, without hesitation, even if it came to killing them.
But this world was different.
It was vibrant, full of color and freedom—even the food held an indescribably richer flavor compared to the one she came from.
And here, Magane Chikujoin was no longer a puppet on strings, but someone who could act on her own will.
Just like now—living in a spacious home, enjoying a comfortable life.
Not like in her original world, where she accompanied a group of high schoolers playing senseless detective games.
"See you tomorrow, dear world."
Stretching out with a yawn and finishing the rest of her milk in one gulp, Magane Chikujoin was about to go wash up for bed when she suddenly heard the sound of the door lock turning.
Her eyebrows slightly raised, and she turned toward the entryway where someone had mysteriously turned on the light.
Listening to the heavy, chaotic footsteps approaching, her heart sank slightly, and the joy in her expression faded.
"I expected that someone would eventually come looking for me again…"
She sighed and muttered to herself, "But this time, there sure are a lot of them."
She was certain—the ones coming were creations like her.
After all, she'd already been contacted multiple times by other creations.
Meteora faction had come to recruit her twice, and Altair faction had visited once. After she refused, they began sending people to harass her every other day.
Just like Yuuya Mirokuji, who had also been neutral, she too had suffered repeated disturbances from Altair creations.
But this time, at least, the visitors hadn't smashed through her window and started a fight like before—they'd actually come in through the front door, like proper guests.
Even if they were uninvited guests.
Soon, as the disordered footsteps drew closer, Magane Chikujoin saw a group of creations appear before her.
"Hey, fox lady, put some clothes on."
Yuuya Mirokuji, walking in with the group, shot a glance at the completely undressed Magane and rolled his eyes. "You're taking freedom a bit too far!"
"I'm in my own home—whether I wear clothes or not is my choice, okay?"
Faced with a group of creations—including two men—Magane Chikujoin didn't particularly mind being seen, but having a full conversation while naked was indeed awkward.
Grumbling to herself, she reluctantly put on some clothes, then plopped down onto a plush luxury sofa. Her demeanor and attitude remained relaxed, showing not even a hint of fear.
"By the way, why are you with Meteora faction now?"
Looking at her old acquaintance, Alicetaria, who was clad in full armor, she clicked her tongue and asked, "You've betrayed Altair too?"
"I have," Alicetaria answered without hesitation.
"Well, I always figured a stiff like you would eventually betray her, but I didn't expect you to be chummy with Meteora gang this quickly."
Sizing up the group, Magane Chikujoin, who had been just about to go to sleep, got straight to the point. "You didn't all come to my place just to throw a party. So what do you want from me?"
"We need your help."
Meteora stepped forward and pushed Natsumi Shino (Mirino Natsumi) in front of her. "This child is in trouble. We need you."
"Doesn't look like I have the option to say no, huh?"
Seeing the sheer number of people who had come, Magane didn't bother to refuse. She simply shrugged. "If it's within my power, I'll help."
She wasn't the kind to resort to violence.
After all, her combat ability ranked at the bottom among the creations.
Especially now that her ability, Infinite Deception of Words, had been exposed. Anyone with a phone could just search for the countermeasures and immediately neutralize her.
If she were facing just one person, she might barely manage.
Two? She'd already have to consider jumping into a crowd and gambling that they wouldn't hurt innocents.
But now? She was faced with seven creations—she didn't even have a chance to run.
"What we need from you is to remove the seal on this child."
Meteora then briefly explained what had happened.
After hearing the story, Magane Chikujoin understood why they had come to her.
"You all sure know a lot about what my ability can do."
Having others know every detail of her powers wasn't a pleasant feeling.
But in this situation, they probably had no one else to turn to.
"So, what's in it for me?"
Putting on a negotiator's smile, Magane asked, "If you want my help, surely you don't expect it for free?"
"Hah? Don't you realize the situation you're in?"
Yuuya Mirokuji sneered and banged his katana on the floor. "You can help us now, or I beat the crap out of you and you help us afterward. Those are your two options."
"I could also run away, you know."
"What are you—"
What nonsense are you talking about?
That's what Yuuya wanted to say.
But before he could, Meteora expression suddenly changed. She sharply elbowed him in his chest—right on the spot where he'd been hit by a spiritual bullet.
The wound hadn't fully healed yet. Though she wasn't very strong, the blow made Yuuya cry out in pain.
Seeing this, Magane Chikujoin quietly clicked her tongue.
"Woman, are you insane?!"
Grimacing and gasping from the pain, Yuuya glared at Meteora. "That's where I'm injured, dammit! It hurts like hell!"
"I already warned you about the activation condition of Infinite Deception of Words, didn't I?" Meteora said flatly. "You nearly let her escape just now."
"Me?"
Yuuya frowned.
He was never the sharpest—hence why he'd been manipulated by the true villain in his own world.
But even he understood what had just happened.
Magane had said, "I could also run away," which was an obvious lie.
There were seven creations present—excluding Natsumi Shino, that was still six. Unless she could teleport or melt into shadows, there was no way she'd escape.
But if he had responded with something like "What nonsense are you saying?"—thus denying her lie—then her ability would have activated.
The lie would instantly become reality.
Even surrounded by six creations, she would've escaped effortlessly.
"You sly fox lady!"
Realizing how close he came to ruining everything, Yuuya turned his anger on Magane. "I knew we should've just beat you up first!"
"Agreed," Alicetaria nodded, having disliked her for a while.
"Agreed," added Mamika, who had always solved things with fists.
"I surrender! I really surrender this time!"
Seeing the three of them ready to pounce, Magane Chikujoin raised both hands in surrender, signaling she would no longer resist.
That previous attempt was her final one.
If it had succeeded, she had planned to relocate and truly hide away.
That wouldn't have been particularly difficult for her.
At least, until Altair appeared again, she would remain hidden.
She didn't want to see either Altair camp or Meteora camp become too powerful. Once the balance was broken, as a creation belonging to a neutral faction, she would be forced—just like now—to choose a side.
Although Meteora had previously told her that Altair goal was most likely to destroy the world, and that if she didn't stand with them, she would be affected once the world was destroyed—she didn't believe it.
After all, that was just Meteora speculation.
Unless she confirmed Altair true objective, she wouldn't help either side.
But she had failed.
That left only one choice: cooperation.
"The seal on Natsume Kyouka will now be lifted," Magane Chikujoin announced.
"That's a lie," Meteora played along.
"A lie of a lie—this allows black and white to be reversed in an instant."
With the snap of a finger, the stagnant spiritual power within Natsume Kyouka, which had been still as stone, suddenly loosened.
Under the influence of an invisible force from who knows where, the seal placed by the Unsealer shattered at that moment.
The sealed spiritual power began to flow once again.
"Success."
Mobilizing the spiritual power in her body, Natsume Kyouka summoned her Divine Spirit Equipment and Angel. The nerves that had been tense all along finally relaxed.
Before arriving, she had still doubted whether Magane Chikujoin's ability was strong enough to rival the Unsealer.
But now it seemed she had been overthinking it.
Although the Unsealer was indeed powerful enough to influence Earth's rotation, in the original work, Kotoba Mugenki (Infinite Deception of Words) could temporarily create a world. Unlocking the Unsealer's seal was still within reach.
"I've done you this favor," Magane Chikujoin said with a cheerful smile. "Now, can you return my peaceful life to me?"
"No," Meteora replied expressionlessly. "Next, we'll use the Unsealer to seal your ability and take you to prison."
"That's not what we agreed on," the corners of Magane Chikujoin's mouth twitched. "You can't go back on your word, right?"
"We never said from the beginning that if you helped us, we'd let you go, did we?"
Hearing Meteora words, Magane Chikujoin widened her eyes in disbelief.
Aren't these guys supposed to be the righteous ones?
How did they become so shameless?
"After all, you are a murderer who killed two people in the real world," Meteora said. "Although you've been quiet for a while and haven't killed again, that doesn't mean your crimes can be ignored."
"Killing just two people—it's a minor mistake that can be forgiven, right?"
"..."
Meteora did not respond.
Because if she denied it, Kotoba Mugenki would activate, making the notion that "killing two people was forgivable" become truth, and the crime would no longer be pursued.
Seeing that Meteora wasn't falling for it at all, Magane Chikujoin's expression gradually darkened.
At this moment, she began to miss her original world a little.
Her ability, which was unbeatable and always managed to deceive high school protagonist teams, had now become almost useless in this world, where its description was plainly listed on Wikipedia.
"But the government has agreed—they won't pursue your crimes," Meteora continued after a brief silence. "On one condition: you help us one more time."
"And after I help, you can guarantee you'll stop interfering in my life?"
"No. Even if you agree to help, we'll still use the Unsealer to seal your ability and hand you over to the government," Meteora said. "However, the government won't send you to prison. They'll give you an official resident status, and you'll still be able to live freely."
Faced with this condition, Magane Chikujoin's eyes flickered, and she didn't reply right away.
Though her ability didn't work on people who knew about it, to ordinary people who didn't know about the creations descending into reality, Kotoba Mugenki was still a divine skill.
The luxury apartment she currently lived in had been acquired using that ability.
If Kotoba Mugenki were sealed, she'd be nothing more than a slightly skilled normal person.
"...Fine."
After a long silence, Magane Chikujoin finally nodded with an unwilling expression.
Though losing Kotoba Mugenki would cost her a lot of fun, to her, freedom was more important.
As for whether she trusted this world's government to keep their word?
What did it matter if she didn't?
It's not like she had any other choice.
Once Magane Chikujoin agreed to the deal, Meteora informed her of the content of this "small favor."
"This will be the final Kotoba Mugenki," Magane Chikujoin said somewhat reluctantly. Her voice paused, then she continued, "You now know the whereabouts of the other Natsume Kyouka."
"That's impossible."
Snap!
Magane Chikujoin snapped her fingers.
"A lie of a lie—this allows black and white to be reversed in an instant."