Devils were strange beings. But there was one similarity between them.
They were territorial beings and loved being in the environment that fits their power.
For example, a Devil who controlled ice loved a place with a cold temperature, filled with ice and snow. A Devil who controlled wind often ended up in the mountains.
Some Devils stayed in a place they liked, such as Abaddon, who loved flowers and trees and chose to stay near flower beds before Yamada assimilated with it.
The more they liked the place, the stronger they were. And their strength would be greatly affected when they were not in their territory.
And why Atsuku called his sister a fool was simple.
"It also affects their host. You should contact me before choosing a Devil to assimilate with…" He sighed once again as he drank a hot green tea prepared by Kuma inside a private room. "Now you messed up… Twice."
He really wanted to hit her, but something about territory wasn't written in his first novel, so he stopped himself.
"But snow girl is strong, no?" Misaki asked, narrowing her eyes. "What's wrong with that? I can just stay in Kyoto, no?"
"That's the problem. While the weather won't change anymore due to Devil's influence, you won't get much opportunity to get stronger if you stay in one territory. Also… The Trial you can join will be limited."
Misaki pouted, not expecting her brother to reprimand her after they had just met, "But this Devil has 8 horns. I will be able to advance fast, no?"
Hearing her words, Atsuku froze and raised his head, looking at his sister with a suspicious gaze. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." She nodded.
"Then the story is different. I thought you only assimilated with 6 horns or, at most 7, as I only knew one Devil who controlled Ice who had more than 7 horns. Does the Devil you assimilated have a name you recognize?"
"You didn't ask me to finish first." She said, putting down the cup of tea. "It's Cocytus."
Just like every rule in the world, there would always be an exception. And that was if they had more than one attribute they controlled or 'a name'. The territory would mean nothing, but some of them still loved to stay in a place they were comfortable with.
Cocytus was one of the Devil who would stay near a place it was comfortable with. For example, somewhere cold or somewhere with water.
So Atsuku nodded at her sister's words.
"You should be fine as long as there is water, then. If you want to leave the cold area, don't forget to bring water so your strength won't be affected too much."
This Devil's name originated from the lake found in the ninth and the lowest circle of the underworld. He got this inspiration from a certain adventure of someone; in fact, he had fought Cocytus in Fantasia but didn't manage to kill the Devil.
It was a strong and resilient one. His anger toward his sister's foolishness disappeared and was replaced with relief.
'That was a close one.' He thought, gulping down the remaining tea.
"You're really lucky." He said, smiling softly to his sister. "Be careful at refining your Core. You can freeze to death, and I won't be able to do anything to prevent that. Also, don't refine it too deeply, or you will lose sight of yourself."
"You've changed," Misaki suddenly said, looking at Atsuku with a judging gaze.
"You weren't the type who said something that cold to me. Also… that burning editorial building in the morning news… I saw you were exiting that building with a Gualtiero boy. What exactly happened to you? Are you still my foolish brother that I know?" She asked.
"A lot. I will tell you later." He just shrugged his shoulders, evading the question as there was a more pressing matter. "For now, can you tell me where the Secret is? I can't let someone else absorb it and waste my chance to advance because of their foolish behavior."
Silence fell into the room as Misaki observed her brother. It was as if she was sitting in front of a stranger instead of her brother due to the difference in the air around him. However, when she looked into his eyes, she noticed something sad.
It was something she refined when she took over the position of the empty heir. She was able to judge someone by locking gazes. And from her observation, she was sure of something.
'He's indeed the Atsuku I knew.' She heaved softly, looking out of the open sliding door that served the sight of a white landscape.
Snow was comforting for Misaki. All this time, she didn't know how great the snow and cold were. Not until she assimilated with Cocytus.
And now she hated something hot. Even the tea she drank was an iced tea and not a hot one. It was the negative effect brought by the assimilation.
And she guessed.
'I guess it's the negative effect of the Devil he assimilated with. Talking about that, I wonder what kind of Devil he chooses. Surely it's not something normal, considering he knows a lot about what happened as he's the author of the book that comes to reality.'
Looking straight at Atsuku's eyes, she revealed, "It's in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Some of my men are guarding the Secret and keeping people from closing in."
"Arashiyama Bamboo Grove…" Atsuku repeated and nodded firmly. "Got it. Thanks, Misaki."
He stood up and was about to leave.
At that moment, Misaki also stood up and declared with a firm gaze. "I am going with you."
"If I say no, then what would happen?"
"I will cry," Misaki answered immediately with a smile. "Just like a year ago when you left the house."
"Fine." He sighed in resignation.
The last thing he wanted to hear was her cry. That would be really troublesome, and it would make his position bad in the family.
In this place, Misaki's reputation was higher than his, unlike when they were in Tokyo. He also needed her trust and cooperation to fix this family.
Besides, in this kind of weather, she could be a great help when he was absorbing Secret. Because both of them were still in their First Stage Core, Misaki's ability might even be stronger than Atsuku, thanks to the terrain advantage.
So he nodded firmly and walked out of the room with Misaki in tow. As they walked out to where he parked his bike, he decided to ask something.
"You won't hesitate to kill people, right?"
"What do you think?" She asked back with a questioning gaze. "We lived in a Yakuza family." She continued.
"That was a foolish question."
"Indeed." Misaki nodded with a nod. She suddenly stopped when they reached the entrance and said, "Wait for me outside. I will change my clothes first."
'Why didn't she say so earlier?' Atsuku asked in his mind, looking at his sister with a helpless gaze.
"I'll give you 5 minutes."
"Give me ten!" Misaki shouted as she hurriedly ran inside the mansion.
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Author's Note:
If you read this novel and like it, put it in your library!
Your Power Stones and Reviews are appreciated! That will make me happy and motivated to write xD