Author's Note:
This chapter is heavier than usual, both emotionally and psychologically. Read at your own risk.
***
Leonardo was a legendary painter, one of the brightest humans to ever exist. Mona Lisa is a testament to his genius. But I wonder… what could have led this world's version of him to create this painting?
An angel with broken wings… being hugged by a devil.
What vision did he see in that? What was he trying to convey?
I don't know why, but every time I see it, it reminds me of myself. And the devil is obviously Makima.
It's unnerving, unsettling… and downright creepy.
For someone who wants to reshape the world in her vision, Makima is certainly fond of bad paintings, huh?
I brushed my thoughts away and refocused on the present.
Right now, I was on the couch, lazily lying down without purpose.
After what happened, I had to reflect on myself. I had to look back at how I've been and how I've acted so far. And in all honesty… I could've done a better job.
Glancing sideways toward the woman responsible for my current predicament, she was sitting on the carpeted floor with a book resting quietly in her hands.
Without thinking, my hand reached toward her damp hair, and I found myself holding a few strands between my fingers. They felt smoother than silk. Her light-red strands… they reminded me of someone I used to know.
Feeling my touch, Makima turned around with a small smile. And then our eyes met.
Seriously… why are all hot women crazy?
Makima chuckled softly, a faint amusement in her voice.
"Because otherwise, they'd all be boring, Aleks-kun~."
Did… she just read my mind? No, she didn't—but the fact that she replied as if she knew exactly what I was thinking was… unbelievable.
I exhaled slowly, my eyes narrowing but my lips curved faintly. Maybe this is the perfect time…to ask her.
"Makima… tell me something."
My voice came out lower than I expected.
"In the world you're creating, will you allow bad paintings to exist?"
Makima blinked once, slightly tilting her head.
"Bad paintings? That's an odd question."
She cast her gaze over the collection, as if weighing the worth of each piece, before letting her eyes meet mine again.
"All the paintings I've chosen to keep here… none of them are 'bad.'"
I sighed. I had to admit…nothing about this woman was ordinary, her tastes in art were as twisted as her ambitions.
"That's not what I asked," I said, my tone tinged with boredom. And then begrudgingly sat back up from the comfy sofa.
Looking back at her concentric red ringed eyes, I said with frustration sipping in my tone.
"You know exactly what I meant Makima. Tell me this, will you allow bad paintings to exist in your world?"
My question had a second meaning. I wasn't particularly asking about the paintings but all things she considered "bad." She likes humans for now…even if it's as pets..but who knows maybe one day she will deem all of them bad? The idea is not far-fetched.
Makima let out a quiet sigh and then smiled again, her eyes never leaving mine.
"Quite impatient aren't you? " She said softly, "Alright then, to answer your question, I won't allow anything "bad" to exist in the world I am creating. War, disease, pain, poverty… even bad movies or paintings, there's no place for such things in my world.." She replied with a soothing tone that was enough to cause my heartbeat to spike up.
"I see…" I muttered, my tone faintly bitter. "Didn't expect anything else. You're insane, you know that?"
Makima didn't reply. Her smile was still on her face, as unwavering and beautiful as ever.
Then, without warning, she moved closer and sat beside me. Her hand reached up, cupping my face with her delicate fingers and before I could react, she drew me into her embrace.
"And yet…" she whispered, her voice brushing against my ear, "you fell in love with me. Are you not crazy too, Aleks-kun?"
Her fingers traced slowly down my back…her touch was gentle, affectionate, and impossibly cold all at once.
Yes… I'm crazy too. That's probably how I ended up like this. I didn't want to admit it, but deep down, I knew it was my fault. And I refused to give her the satisfaction of agreeing with her assertion that I'm crazy… just for loving her.
I didn't answer her….for a minute or so I just stayed like that and let myself relax in her embrace.
"There are bad humans too Makima.." I began, my voice barely a whisper. "..I am one of them aren't I? You hate bad things…so will you discard me too?" I finished while pulling myself back and making eye contact with her.
Makima didn't answer right away. The room fell into a deadly silence, so silent that even the ticking of the wall clock felt loud.
Her expression changed, and all the warmth she had vanished from her face. Her eyes became cold and serious. They seem like they could strip me bare, and stare straight through my soul.
Then, she spoke.
"Never compare yourself to the likes of other humans, Aleks-kun."
Her voice was calm, almost tender, but there was no warmth this time.
"You are not one of them. You are… superior."
Superior, huh? So that's how you see me.
I don't even know whether to feel flattered or insulted. Sure, being called superior, especially by someone like her, should've felt like a compliment worth treasuring. But being denied as human… that hit differently.
Something within me was urging me to recoil at her words, to lash out at her blatant disregard for humanity. Was this Path's doing? It had to be. Otherwise, I wouldn't have this constant nudge to lean into human extremism growing with me.
I shut that thought down and forced myself to stay composed.
I let out a humorless chuckle, while my eyes lowered.
"Superior, huh?" I murmured."Honestly, I'm flattered."
Then I looked back up, meeting her gaze without hesitation.
"But if that's true…" I leaned slightly closer, enough for her reflection to shimmer in my eyes. "…then maybe you should answer me something."
"Why are you obsessed with ending human suffering?" I asked quietly.
"Why humans? Why not the other supernatural beings?"
"Devils, Angels, Youkais, they all suffer too. In the end…they all meet the same end."
***
Makima's lips curved in amusement. She had expected him to question her about her fascination with humans, and she had just the perfect reply.
"Because I like humans," she said as she traced her fingers on his cheek, caressing it gently.
Aleks froze. "…You like them?"
Makima's smile widened as she leaned in closer, "Yes." Her tone was light and playful. "In the same way, humans are fond of dogs."
Her eyes softened, but her words didn't. "They're loyal, easily handled, clever, and stupid all at once. And.."
She tilted her head, letting the words hang for a moment.
"Just watching them… is fun."
Aleks exhaled slowly, taking in everything Makima had just revealed. He wasn't surprised. He had expected her reasoning to be like this, yet a foolish part of him had hoped for something more…something more noble and grand.
I guess some things never change.
"Fun, huh? I'm not surprised. That's exactly what a control freak like you would say," Aleks said, letting out a chuckle…though this time it lacked its usual liveliness.
He continued, his voice firm but tinged with uncertainty. "But… I guess that makes me your exception, doesn't it? The one human who's not just… another dog to you."
Makima's smile widened at his words. She loved it when Aleks understood her, when he realized he was special. Her attention, her care, it all showed him that.
Her Aleks was her special.
To Makima, his presence, his praise, kept her from feeling the emptiness she often carried.
"A very special human indeed~" she said, her voice melodic and magnetic. Aleks felt it, felt it pulling at him, and he did not resist.
She leaned in, their faces only an inch apart. Their breaths ragged, any more and their lips would touch. She moved closer, poised to kiss him, but Aleks's hand shot up, covering her mouth and sealing her lips from touching his.
"Don't."
He commanded with a sharp and confident tone.
Makima blinked. How had things come to this? She thought. With a puzzled expression, she asked, "What are you doing?"
She had thought he liked it when she took the initiative, when she showed her affection…but his sudden resistance had shattered any illusions she had.
Aleks looked away, trying to avoid her gaze, his eyes dropping to the floor. "Just…get off me already," he said with a distant voice.
For a split second, Makima's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly regained her composure. "Let go?" She asked. "You make it sound like I'm holding you captive," Her tone was calm and smooth, but it carried a faint edge of curiosity.
Those words snapped something inside Aleks. She didn't even realize the control she had over him. One command, and he would be finished. How was this different from being a captive? He thought.
Aleks couldn't help but laugh bitterly, the sheer absurdity of this itony..it made him laugh. Meanwhile, Makima remained still, letting him be himself, saying nothing.
"Well now, didn't you?" he said with his voice rising. "You poisoned me, Makima. You threatened to kill me if I even thought about going against you."
"You call this love, but all I see are chains, chains all around me. The truth is…you can't resist controlling someone you 'love.'"
Aleks finally let go of everything he had been holding in. He had tried to restrain himself, he really really tried, but this time, he'd reached his limit.
He shook his head and met her gaze again. Makima could tell just from his eyes that he was at his breaking point.
Maybe she had gone too far without realizing it.
"You know what's funny?" he said, his voice trembling as it climbed. "For someone who claims I'm superior… I've never felt this weak in my entire life." He pressed a hand to his chest, as if gesturing to the fragile thing beating inside.
He looked down dejected, his voice trembling and cracks forming in every word.
"I talk about power. I act like nothing can faze me. But the truth is… I'm pathetic."
"I keep talking big, pretending I've got everything under control… when in reality…"
He took a shallow breath.
"I can't even control myself."
Makima said nothing. She simply watched him. There was no pleasure in seeing him break. She never wanted him to feel this way… but she didn't know how to love any other way.
Her love was tangled with control. It was devotion built on dominance and care rooted in command. She loved him, she really really did, but she was still the Control Devil. The concept of submission or giving in did not exist in her world.
So, she let her human break down.
When Aleks looked back at her, even Makima could see it, he looked miserable. There were no tears, but the emptiness in his eyes said enough. He looked like a man who had lived through his biggest failure.
"I thought… I could change you," he said quietly. "Break you out of that isolation you've trapped yourself in. But guess what?"
He laughed once more, and it was devoid of any humor.
"I fucking suck."
"I'm naive."
He paused, face tightening as if he'd swallowed something bitter.
"And I…I absolutely hate myself."
He had finally said it, the truth buried deep within all that pride and pain. The self-loathing that had festered since she poisoned him was now resurfacing.
He looked at her with eyes that were filled with fury and hurt. His eyes said more than words ever could.
"You turned me into your slave, Makima." His tone grew louder. "So tell me… what's left for me now? What am I supposed to live for? Your affection? If this is what love means to you… I'd rather die than live like this."
When he finished, his strength finally gave out. His body went slack, and he fell into her arms. He was mentally exhausted and he did not want to deal with her anymore. He knew..no matter how much he tried…things would never work the way he wanted.
Makima caught him without hesitation, pulling him close and holding him tighter…tighter than she ever had before.
"You really don't understand, do you, Aleks-kun?" she whispered, her voice laced with tenderness, yet it hid something maddening beneath it.
"I love you."
But her confession fell on deaf ears. Aleks didn't react; his body remained still in her arms.
"That's precisely why I can't let you go," Makima continued, her breath brushing against his ear. "If I set you free, you'll disappear from me… fade away into this world of suffering. You'll drift further and further until I can't find you again."
She rested her head gently against his shoulder, her fingers intertwining with his. Meanwhile, Aleks didn't resist. He let her hold him, let her do as she pleased like she always did.
"I can't bear that thought. You're mine, Aleks-kun." Her tone softened, yet the possessiveness behind it was impossible to ignore. "You and I will be the only ones with control over this world…the world I'm creating. And I promise… you'll never suffer again."
Aleks's heart and mind raced at the same time hearing her confession. He had never expected Makima to open up like this. Hearing her say it, instead of merely inferring it, hit harder than he'd imagined.
Knowing her and hearing her were two entirely different things.
And in a strange, almost pitiful way… he felt glad that she tried to comfort him, even if it was in her own twisted way.
A yandere to the core, huh… as expected, Aleks thought, as the faint warmth of her embrace contrasted with her twisted manner of love.
They pulled back from the hug and looked at each other in silence. Neither spoke. Both knew what they wanted from the other.
Aleks felt conflicted at the thought of accepting her affection again. After being poisoned… he still couldn't bring himself to fully trust her. But what could he do? Denying her wasn't an option. Betraying her was unthinkable.
But instead of another embrace or act of affection, Makima's voice cut through the silence.
"If you despise my love so much," she began softly, her tone deceptively calm, "if you hate these chains that bind you…"
She leaned closer, her breath ghosting against his ear. And then she whispered…the kind of whisper that could only belong to a devil
"…Then tell me, Aleks Constantine."
Her voice dropped slightly, smooth and almost affectionate.
"What is it you truly desire?"
Her questioning tone made it sound as if she was asking him to be more specific.
"If I tell you, will you make them come true?" Aleks finally spoke, his voice carrying a faint trace of hope.
Her sudden shift startled him, but he decided not to waste the moment. He had to be honest with her, otherwise, nothing would ever change.
Makima slowly blew warm air into his ear, causing him to shiver involuntarily. Then she whispered, "Anything… reasonable, of course."
At her words, he let out a sigh of disappointment. Of course, she wouldn't grant his absurd wishes. If he asked her to remove the poison, would she comply? Absolutely not.
Maybe… just maybe, I can use this to my benefit, Aleks thought as an idea sparked in his mind.
If this worked, he wouldn't have to worry about his deepest concerns anymore. Sure, he would still have to help her achieve her goal, but he always had that moral wiggle room.
Conquering the supernatural world didn't have to rely solely on violence or force—there were better and more 'peaceful' ways to achieve it. Right? At least that's what he thought
He placed his hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back. Their eyes met, and Aleks didn't hesitate.
"My wish is… to make a contract with you," Aleks finally revealed.
Makima tilted her head in amusement, her lips curving into a small smile.
"A contract? You know it will cost you, right? We might be lovers, but that doesn't mean I can grant you favours for free. So tell me, what kind of contract do you wish to make with me?" Makima said in a tone that made her sound like Satan's lawyer.
Aleks sighed. Of course, everything had a price. Makima would never let such an opportunity go to waste. She would take something from him..something that would only tighten her control over him.
"Fine then… what I want is…"
He only wanted two things from her.
The first, make Makima unable to use the poison as long as he never betrays her.
Sure, she had promised she wouldn't use it unless he stepped out of line, but he wasn't willing to put his trust in her again. He had done that once, and now he was paying the price for it.
The second was far more important.
Reze.
He cared about her more than anything else. Her happiness, her smile, her goals…he wanted to protect all of it. To keep her safe from Makima.
After all, Makima was a Yandere. And what is a Yandere good at? Eliminating every trace of competition.
And this was Makima..
She would probably use the process of elimination once to strip him of everyone he cared about until only the two of them were left.
He couldn't prove it, but deep down, he knew Makima must have already planned to kill Reze during this mission.
Reze…if I can at least keep you safe… then I don't need anything else, Aleks thought to himself.
Aleks knew Makima would never easily accept his second condition. She would either resist or deny it outright. But to his disbelief…Makima agreed.
"What?" Aleks froze, staring at her in shock.
Makima met his stunned expression with quiet amusement, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. Watching him react like that gave her a strange kind of pleasure.
"Am I hearing this right?" Aleks abruptly got up and cupped her face, forcing her to look at him.
"Even if it's just for fifty years… are you really fine with me being with Reze? You won't try to separate us?" he asked, his voice carrying an unusual blend of hope and disbelief.
Even if the second clause would only last fifty years, the fact that Makima agreed at all was more than enough. Fifty years was a long time, long enough for Aleks to become strong enough to stand against her without relying on tier three characters.
Makima chuckled softly, her tone calm and strangely soothing.
"You heard me right. As long as you do what I ask of you… the second clause remains valid."
In exchange for the Reze clause, Makima wanted something from him. Aleks hadn't asked what it was yet, but he could already guess.
She either wanted someone dead, or she wanted to make him do something that would break him a little inside.
But Aleks had already made up his mind. The world could burn for all he cared, if Reze was safe, nothing else mattered to him.
Besides, he could always bring them back later using Elixir's template.
"What is it you want me to do, Makima?" Aleks asked finally, his voice firm but hesitant.
His heart pounded in anticipation, each beat echoing the tension in the room.
He prayed, just this once, that her answer wouldn't be something too cruel.
But reality reminded him once again how cruel it can be.
Makima smiled. This time it was the kind of smile that sent chills down his spine.
"You must commit a grave act of immorality," she said, voice soft and even. "You must erase the most innocent of angels from existence."
His heartbeat stalled. All the resolve he had been clinging to began slipping away.
He already knew who she meant, but a desperate part of him still wished he was wrong.
His hands slowly fell from her face. His expression changed; gone was the calm, now something colder settled in its place.
***
We walked through the empty streets of Kyoto. The city felt like a ghost town, not a single soul in sight. It was an obvious outcome after all the whole city was plagued with Youkais just few hours ago.
I kept walking, step after step, led by Makima's hand gripping mine tightly, guiding me to the place where I would lose whatever humanity I had left.
My heart thumped louder with every step that brought me closer to our destination.
Makima walked a few paces ahead, her fingers still locked around mine, pulling me forward like a convict being led to judgment. Her light red hair swayed gently in the evening breeze, and the faint shimmer of her dark green dress traced the outline of her curves. From a distance, she could have passed for a saint who appeared to be both kind and beautiful.
Only if they knew.
Finally arriving at our destination…the church stood before us, more desolate than I imagined. Its stone walls were cracked, its windows clouded with dust. It could have been mistaken for an abandoned chapel…if not for the holy aura I was sensing from within.
We stopped at the doorstep with Makima finally releasing my hand from her grasp.
Then, resting her palm gently on my head, she leaned in close and whispered, her voice soft enough to almost sound kind:
"You don't have to think about a thing, Aleks-kun. Trust me."
I looked up at her. Her eyes were colder than ever, yet she had the brightest smile on her face.
"Go on…" she said, her breath warm against my ear.
"Open the door."
I stood there, frozen.
For a moment, everything went silent.
I wonder… what sins did I commit in my previous life to end up like this?
Being bestowed with two of the most broken powers I could ever think of… how did it all come to this?
Seriously… Goddess,
Why did you choose me?
***
***
***
Author's Note (Again):
It's a tragic day for our poor Aleks. The guy only wanted a normal life with Reze, maybe explore a little with his powers… and yet, Makima has to ruin that fantasy.
What a hopelessly tragic soul he is… may he suffer just a little more. 🙏
See you next time.