Shana. This was the name of Alastor's contractor, the second Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Hunter.
Just as the protagonists of Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf were Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf, the protagonist of GG Bond was GG Bond, and the protagonist of Amazing Ayou was Ayou, it naturally followed that the protagonist of Shakugan no Shana would be Shana. After all, her name was literally part of the title—who else could possibly be the protagonist? Hirai Yukari?
In the original story, the name "Shana" had been given to her by Sakai Yūji. However, the very reason Yūji had met Shana in the first place was due to his existence as a Mystes and the Reiji Maigo sealed inside him. Yet Nitocris had already removed the Reiji Maigo from Yūji's body beforehand, reverting him into a normal human and thus eliminating the chance for him and Shana to ever cross paths.
Therefore, this time, the name "Shana" was actually chosen by Nitocris.
On the shopping street, Nitocris and Alastor had engaged in a discussion that neither Yukari nor the black-haired girl had been able to join. From start to finish, both had listened anxiously, hearts pounding in suspense. Fortunately, the two gods didn't end up fighting; rather, they seemed to have reached some kind of mutual understanding and parted on unexpectedly peaceful terms.
But Yukari had still been anxious to return home. Meanwhile, neither Alastor nor the black-haired girl wanted to separate from Nitocris so soon.
After learning from Nitocris that the werewolf Denizen who could transform into mist had already been dealt with, both Alastor and his contractor hesitated no longer, deciding to follow Yukari home.
They had no doubts about Nitocris's claim, for two reasons: First, Nitocris's upright and serious personality made it unlikely she would lie; second, since Yukari lived in this city, it naturally implied this place was effectively under the domain of the deity Nitocris. The werewolf Denizen venturing here had simply been seeking his own death.
Moreover, they'd both witnessed Nitocris's strength firsthand. While the werewolf Denizen's mist-transforming ability had proven troublesome for the black-haired girl, whose skills were limited to straightforward swordplay and flame manipulation, it was clearly insignificant in front of a genuine god. Even if Nitocris could only unleash a fraction of her full strength, a god remained a god.
Throughout their walk, the black-haired girl maintained a frigid silence, radiating an unapproachable aura that made Yukari hesitate multiple times whenever she considered striking up a conversation.
In Yukari's perception, Alastor, the God of Retribution himself, was actually far more approachable than his black-haired contractor. Despite being rather terrifying earlier due to a misunderstanding, he currently projected the aura of a dependable senior.
Though, of course, my Kami-sama is still more reliable—and cuter too… Yukari quietly added in her heart.
"Contractor of the God of Retribution, would you mind telling me your name?"
Nitocris suddenly addressed the black-haired girl. Ordinarily, since she hadn't met Sakai Yūji, this girl wouldn't have received the name "Shana." But since Nitocris's arrival had already altered so much, she felt the need to confirm.
The black-haired girl had been ignoring Yukari primarily because Nitocris had captured her entire attention from the start. Now, conflicting feelings—wanting desperately to speak to Nitocris yet instinctively rejecting her presence—tormented her heart, leaving her unbearably agitated. Her frustration made her completely unwilling to deal with Yukari at all.
Yet, at that exact moment, Nitocris unexpectedly spoke directly to her, jolting her awake and leaving her briefly flustered.
"…I don't have a name, nor do I need one. I'm merely a Flame Haze."
The girl turned her head slightly, as if deliberately hiding her eyes from Yukari and Nitocris as she spoke.
"Everyone calls me the Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Hunter. If you need something to distinguish me by, that's enough."
Yukari gave her a complicated look.
I tried to talk to you multiple times, but you wouldn't even glance at me. Yet you answer immediately when my Kami-sama speaks?
Playing favorites, aren't we?
Yet Yukari herself understood: despite being Nitocris's contractor and thus appearing quite similar to the girl and Alastor, Nitocris hadn't taught her any combat skills at all. Nitocris fought all battles personally, protecting Yukari thoroughly.
Perhaps, in the eyes of the girl in front of her, Yukari really wasn't worth acknowledging at all…
After sighing inwardly, Yukari's confusion resurfaced.
Names… weren't they precious treasures every person received upon entering the world?
For Yukari, who had been born and raised in a warm, loving family, her name was a blessing from her parents, proof of their love, the anchor defining who she was.
Thus, she couldn't quite understand the black-haired girl's indifference. Yet despite her confusion, Yukari said nothing.
Perhaps it was common among Flame Haze not to have names?
If Nitocris had overheard Yukari's internal musing, she might've responded mentally with a sarcastic: "Common, my Chaldean ass."
Nitocris simply couldn't fathom why Alastor and Wilhelmina—who clearly cared deeply for the girl—had never even bothered to give her a proper name. To Nitocris, a name carried not only the sincere blessings of the one who chose it but also anchored a person's very existence in the world. Without a name, an individual was no better than drifting rootlessly through life.
Just look at Yatogami Tohka from next door. She cherished the name Itsuka Shidou had given her, after which her aloofness vanished, replaced entirely by innocent, adorable clumsiness. Nitocris had observed similar developments multiple times, feeling that Sakai Yūji's naming of Shana was a masterstroke in terms of earning her affection.
Perhaps Alastor and the others had wanted to raise the girl into a perfectly impartial enforcer, immune to emotional bias. But in Nitocris's eyes, how could someone devoid of love for the world possibly become its protector?
Suppressing emotions, creating a flawless mechanical "hunter" and "protector"… What, were they trying to turn her into Emiya Shirou? Did they also want her to become an 'ally of justice'?
"'Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Hunter' isn't suitable as a name. It's far too long and troublesome to say," Nitocris remarked casually, feigning indifference. "Last time, I saw your weapon. It's called Nietono no Shana, isn't it? In that case, from now on, I'll just call you 'Shana.'"
Since Sakai Yūji had similarly named her "Shana" after her weapon, Nietono no Shana, Nitocris's choice didn't seem out of place.
"Shana…?"
The girl instantly froze in surprise.
"Shana?"
Even Alastor seemed slightly startled.
"Shana…?"
Hirai Yukari's face took on a thoughtful expression.
Upon hearing the name "Shana," the girl returned to her senses and furrowed her brows unhappily. "What gives you the right to name me? I don't even need a name in the first place…"
"It's just for my own convenience," Nitocris replied coolly. "Since you said you don't need a name, and that names don't matter to you at all, it shouldn't matter to you what I choose to call you, correct?"
"…"
The black-haired girl didn't respond, though the crease between her brows deepened noticeably.
Afterward, she didn't say another word. Yukari felt the atmosphere around the girl become even more unapproachable.
Once Yukari brought the girl home, her mother warmly asked the girl's name while Yukari anxiously stood by... Finally, under the gentle gaze of Yukari's mother, the girl quietly uttered her own name.
The name she gave was indeed "Shana."
Seeing this, Yukari breathed a sigh of relief, a faint smile rising at the corner of her lips.
So that's it. Shana-san's just like my Kami-sama—acting cold and dismissive, but secretly caring a lot.
Though Shana had no ability to read minds and thus didn't know what Yukari was thinking, she nevertheless felt irritated by the smile currently on Yukari's face.
Shana stayed at Yukari's home. Yukari's mother treated her warmly, like a friend or classmate of her daughter, even preparing fruits as refreshments. This kindness was difficult for Shana to handle, making her feel awkward and restless.
In the small room, two pendants were placed next to each other, and the two invisible beings within began conversing quietly among themselves.
Yukari quickly realized that Shana—named so casually by Nitocris—was obviously far more interested in the conversation between Nitocris and Alastor than in speaking with her, so she decided not to complicate things further. Rather than forcing a conversation, she simply sat down quietly beside Shana, becoming a patient listener herself.
Yukari had already learned many things from Nitocris, yet much remained unknown. Nitocris only volunteered common knowledge, and unless Yukari specifically asked, Nitocris would not share more.
From the conversation between Nitocris and Alastor, Yukari was able to piece together yet more secrets she had previously known nothing about.
"I'm very curious… As a Crimson God, this is my first encounter with a god of humanity. As fellow deities, I'm very interested in hearing your opinion of us—of the Crimson Realm."
Alastor's voice was profoundly serious. Indeed, compared to Nitocris's origin and identity, what concerned him most was her intention. Even though she currently inhabited a mortal's body and could wield only a portion of her true power, she remained a god—an existence capable of shaking the very foundations of the world, something utterly beyond the resistance of any entity lesser than a Crimson God.
And now, Alastor's wariness and respect toward Nitocris increased yet another notch… because…
"Not only do you share our status as gods who wield Authority, but you've also received full and absolute support from the human realm itself. If you ever decided to act in the human world, we Crimson Gods would have no way to stop you… It's unimaginable that a single entity could earn the approval of an entire world."
"You should think about it from another angle, God of Retribution," Nitocris calmly replied. "This support proves just how desperate the human realm has become. It is the dying gasp of one on the brink of extinction. In order to survive, to continue existing, the world has no choice but to depend entirely on me, cooperating with all its strength. It sees me as its last hope. If I fail, the human realm itself will face ruin."
Nitocris's voice became heavy with sorrow for humanity, tinged by a deep hatred toward the Crimson Realm.
"Do not ask my opinion, God of Retribution. These golden eyes of mine see only truth. Without question, without any room for doubt, you Crimson beings are invaders, sinners. The human realm's near-extinction is undeniably your doing. No noble-sounding justification, nor any self-deceiving repentance or atonement can ever conceal or whitewash your crimes. These sins shall accompany you until death strips everything away."
"…I cannot refute that. The truth is right there, and the tragedy we created has remained. All we've done afterward is mere compensation, merely attempts at atonement. Nothing we did could recover that which was already lost, nor erase the sins already committed."
Alastor acknowledged Nitocris's words openly, even somewhat regretfully. After all, as the god of judgment and punishment, lying here would mean betraying his very purpose.
"As the sole god of humanity, I have every right to take revenge against you and your Crimson Realm. Merely driving you away would be far from sufficient. Until the flames of vengeance are extinguished, until your sins have been fully paid, this fire should burn all of you away, pursuing you without mercy, annihilating you completely—leaving not one alive, destroying even your Crimson Realm entirely… Until all is fulfilled, the Avenger shall never rest, nor shall her wrath ever diminish."
Though Nitocris's words were soft, the overwhelming resolve within them caused everyone present to tense instantly… but as expected, Nitocris's tone quickly changed.
"However, I am an Avenger who bears neither grace nor grudge, not a martyr who destroys herself alongside her enemy. I do not need to burn myself away, sacrificing the future to gain power enough to destroy my foes. I must think about the future of humanity and its world. The human realm can no longer withstand more calamities, let alone the aftershocks of an entire world's destruction."
Alastor expressed profound approval of Nitocris's reasoning, visibly relaxing at her clarification.
If Nitocris had insisted on destroying the Crimson Realm, the three Crimson Gods could hardly have remained idle—they would inevitably have intervened personally. Who would win was uncertain, but both worlds would undoubtedly collapse under the conflict's pressure.
Naturally, Alastor did not wish for events to escalate to such an extreme scenario.
"Your goal is to guard humanity and the human realm, to drive out all Crimson Denizens who endanger it, wreaking havoc and distortion. Our goal is likewise to maintain balance between worlds. Perhaps… we can cooperate."
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