Zeroy glanced toward H.A.M.P.
"Shirone..."
Realizing her little sister had really come, Kuroka's fierce expression froze.
Hesitation and retreat soon replaced it.
Of course, she wanted to see her sister—she had even been planning how to one day take her away. Regardless, she was always unsure whether she could truly protect her, and so she had never acted.
And the fact that she had once abandoned her little sister alone in the Underworld made her afraid to face her again.
She felt guilty toward that little kitten who had trusted her, who had relied on her.
Nonetheless, Zeroy didn't care. No matter how you looked at it, the only right choice was to clear up the misunderstanding as soon as possible.
So she simply hoisted Kuroka onto her shoulder.
"You don't have a choice right now. Just come quietly."
"..."
Kuroka hesitated, then fell into a complicated silence.
Even if she wasn't ready, could she resist now?
All her teammates had been flattened by one opponent. Even her strongest captain, Vali, was lying there unconscious, with no telling when he might wake.
And she was just a weak, helpless little cat. How could she defy the Red Dragon Emperor?
"Anyway, Red Dragon Emperor, what exactly do you mean by misunderstanding?"
She could guess. Surely it was about the reason they had been separated—what else could it be?
That said, the specifics of it, and how Shirone felt, she didn't know.
"I can only say it's serious. The details—you'll have to see for yourself."
"And, my name is Zeroy."
After a pause, seeing Kuroka had nothing more to say, Zeroy brought up something else she cared about.
"Almost forgot. Before you meet Shirone, little wildcat, you need to accept punishment."
"Uh... punishment?"
A bad premonition welled up in Kuroka's heart. From her position slung on Zeroy's shoulder, she strained to turn her face and see her expression.
And what she saw made her fur stand on end.
"Those who persecute the innocent, whether out of arrogance, stupidity, or sheer malice—I see them as nothing but trash and pests."
Kuroka could only see that smiling face devoid of warmth, and hear that icy voice overflowing with killing intent...
She had seen much—fleeing the Underworld's hunters, even joining a group of troublemakers.
Anyhow, this… this killing intent was unlike anything she had known.
It was almost tangible, stabbing her skin like invisible blades, piercing her mind like iron spikes.
And it wasn't even aimed at her—she could feel that clearly.
If it had been aimed at her...
Kuroka felt it would truly become a blade of killing intent, one that could actually harm.
Just how much did this person despise the "pests" she spoke of? Or... how many had she killed?
She was sure—this wasn't a special power, no other force at work. It was pure killing intent.
"For those pests... I'd flay them alive, cut them to pieces a thousand times, and it still wouldn't be enough."
"Whenever I think of those innocent, lovely people suffering under them, my killing intent only burns hotter..."
Boss! Calm down! Please calm down! I can't breathe!
Zeroy was angry, truly angry—although not out of control.
She was just scaring the little wildcat a bit, letting slip some genuine feeling.
She soon reined in the killing intent and smiled innocently at Kuroka, as if perfectly approachable.
"Don't be afraid, little wildcat. You're not a pest. My Hellfire senses the karmic taint on you hasn't reached that level."
"...."
Kuroka exhaled in relief.
She had never harmed humans. It brought her no benefit, only worsened her instability, feeding her bloodlust. It would twist her personality, make her a true stray devil.
Yet, relief lasted only a second.
"You're not a pest, but you still carry karma. Evil must be purged. So let my Hellfire burn you."
"This is your punishment—however, Hellfire can also cleanse the shadows in your heart. So think of it as both punishment and healing."
"I-is this really okay? Can I refuse?"
Kuroka was on the verge of tears.
"Don't worry, you won't die. Only true pests burn to death in my Hellfire."
"Though it will hurt. A lot."
"And if you really did die... well, then it would mean I misjudged you."
Crimson flames burst over Kuroka's body.
They wrapped her whole form, not harming her flesh but searing her soul with pain.
Almost instantly, she let out a scream of agony.
It lasted about a minute.
When it was over, Kuroka lay limp on Zeroy's shoulder, barely alive.
Zeroy then turned to Arthur and Bikou.
"You two as well."
Hellfire ignited them too. Bikou screamed immediately, just like Kuroka. Arthur also hurt, yet endured it.
Not because his tolerance was higher, but because his karma was lighter.
When it was done, Zeroy carried Kuroka to H.A.M.P.
She dispelled the construct, and Shirone rushed to her side, worry filling her golden eyes as she looked at her sister, limp and weak.
After all, she had seen her engulfed in Hellfire.
Zeroy laid Kuroka down into Shirone's arms.
"Don't worry. Your sister's fine. Now go and talk."
Kuroka, leaning on Shirone for support, clung to her and wept.
"It's so hard, Shirone..."
Seven parts acting, three parts real.
After being beaten and burned by Hellfire, she truly did want to cry.
However, with Zeroy right there, she dared not speak her mind. She could only say she suffered—but not how.
...
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