69. Out of reach... for now.
When my vision returned, I found myself in a cramped, dimly lit room. Slowly, fragments of memory surfaced—what had happened a month ago. I was in the toilet…
My outfit had long since changed. The black, tuxedo-like suit I usually wore had been damaged beyond repair. After trying to patch it up again and again, I eventually gave up and fashioned a new one in the same style. However, since the material came from my own threads—which were pure white—I now looked as if I were wearing a pristine white tuxedo instead.
"Ha!?" I yelped instinctively as a sharp sound reached my ears. My skin had cracked.
Yes, it wasn't a metaphor or a figment of my imagination—my skin had literally cracked. It didn't hurt, but the sight alone sent a shiver down my spine.
What the hell!!" I screamed inside as the knowledge of my newly gained abilities from advancing to Sequence 7 flooded into my mind. Along with it came a sensation I had long forgotten—a sense I thought I'd lost forever.
I turned, and to my shock, even my thread-woven head had begun to crack. From within the fissures emerged my left hand, perfectly whole, as if it had always been there from the very beginning.
I was confused—utterly bewildered—yet at the same time, I couldn't help but feel overjoyed. So much so that I found myself whispering to my left hand, "Glad to have you back."
Did the ritual really reset my body before I entered?
If that were true, then I shouldn't have been drenched in blood during my last advancement… and the hole in my ear should still be there as well.
It didn't seem to have any connection with the system. My next guess was that it might be related to my Sequence… but as far as I knew, there were no healing properties tied to this Sequence—at least not yet.
Unable to find a definite answer, I shelved the thought for the time being and stepped out of the toilet. After all, lingering inside for too long would seem suspicious—especially when I was only a guest at a friend's residence.
'The Demon-like Judge of Fire remarks that she had already anticipated this outcome, yet still finds herself shocked.'
'The Demon-like Judge of Fire once again questions your true identity.'
I ignored her, even though the very same question echoed in my own mind.
"Huh? You… changed?" Fors blinked in surprise at my new attire. I couldn't blame her—it was quite an opposite transformation from black to white.
"Of course! It's a celebration. Let's head out for a little party." I had learned something important: if you can't explain, then push forward with enough confidence to make it unquestionable.
"Eh?" She looked at me, startled by the sudden suggestion.
"Come on, my treat! Xio, how about you? Have you calmed down? Do you need more time?" I asked, just to be sure. After all, this was her first advancement—but it still had to be easier than becoming a Beyonder for the very first time.
Xio, who had been sitting with her eyes closed and her breathing uneven, finally steadied herself and opened her eyes.
"I'm fine. You're really treating us?
Really, have I ever lied to you two before?" I said as I took Fors by the arm—she was still looking a little lost.
"B-but… my deadline…" she protested weakly, still reluctant.
"It's fine. Ideas always come easier on a full stomach." With Xio giving her a little push from behind as well, Fors finally gave in and shifted gears, agreeing to enjoy a proper dinner at a rather fancy restaurant.
….
"For the Sheriff—cheers!"
"Cheers! Yay!"
After the small celebration ended, I returned home to examine my new abilities. Naturally, my physical capabilities, along with the rest of my powers, had improved slightly.
On top of that, I had gained three entirely new abilities. The first was Spatial Maneuvering. The name sounded grand, but the ability itself was surprisingly simple: it allowed me to step to any location within a short distance around me, essentially I won't lose my foothold no matter the place.
Which meant I could literally walk on air or even water if I wanted. It gave me unprecedented control in mid-air. With this ability, combined with Devil's Footprint, my threads, enhanced speed, and dynamic vision, I could proudly call myself an escape specialist. Now, I could utilize a full 360-degree range of movement with precision.
The next ability was a new Evil Eye, called the Petrifying Evil Eye. Unlike the legendary eyes of Medusa or the Basilisk, which turned their victims to stone, this one functioned more like a debuff. I could temporarily block one of an opponent's senses—making them blind, deaf, or otherwise impaired for a short duration. For now, I would need to experiment on my own before I could fully master it, and I still didn't know how many debuffs I could stack at once.
And then there was the last ability: Dark Bullet.*
Yeah, you heard me right—I wasn't mistaken. You could say I was finally able to wield spirituality. I could now shoot Dark Bullets. For now, their power was comparable to a regular firearm, but it would most likely grow stronger as I advanced further.
***
Meanwhile…
"I'm going to retrieve what's mine," Shiraori declared, directing her conjuration toward the spot she had tracked. Normally, it would take less than a second for her to complete it and disappear—but this time…
Krik… Kas.
A glass-like sound reverberated. Her conjuration had failed—not due to any mistake on her part, but because of an outside interference.
Shiraori's gaze immediately fell on the only person capable of such a disruption.
"Why are you interfering? Isn't this, from your point of view, just entertainment?" She had known D for a while now, and over time, she had come to understand at least a little of what kind of person he was.
"As an owner, shouldn't I take care of my pet?" D paused her game and, for the first time, looked at her. "You're not allowed to go there for now."
"Haa…" Shiraori sighed. For now, she had no choice but to comply. Even so, D was clearly her superior—especially in matters he enjoyed. She knew her boundaries; overstepping them could easily land her in confinement for a while.
She thought for a moment, then let out a "hmph", sulking like a child to her mother. With a resigned huff, she conjured another teleportation—but this time, she headed straight toward the Demon Lord, intent on lodging a complaint.
After watching Shiraori leave, D didn't immediately return to her game.
"Should I keep watch?" Suddenly, as if appearing from nowhere, someone in a maid's uniform appeared.
"Let her have fun. She should know instinctively," D replied, telling her not to care about it. then…
D slowly approached the window and drew back the curtain, revealing the night sky. She lifted her gaze to the moon, now tinged a deep red.
She stared at it for a long moment, and gradually, the moon returned to its normal color—almost as if the two were deliberately trying not to step into each other's shadow.
After all that, D returned to her seat in front of the monitor and resumed her game.