Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Letter of Challenge?

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The presidential suite of the Nikko Hotel. 

Purple neon lights illuminated the entire room, casting a hazy glow. 

'Time is running out. I didn't expect I wouldn't even make it through tonight…'

Toujou Miki opened her eyes, gazing dreamily at the neon lights on the ceiling.

Haru's lips curled into a mischievous smile as he quickened his pace. The room was filled with the sounds of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5.

Within his Center, his Core emitted invisible waves. The Life Force Rule, originally residing within the Core, began to spread throughout his Center, then slowly diffused into Haru's body, radiating a potent life force. 

When Toujou Miki awoke from her sleep, she didn't know what time it was. Opening her drowsy eyes, she stretched like she usually did after a nap, her hand shielding the neon light from the ceiling. The blanket slowly slid down as she got out of bed, her expression still hazy with sleep.

"Awake?" A male voice suddenly spoke from beside her. Her drowsy mind snapped awake. She stared wide-eyed at the figure to her right.

Still in a state of post-coital bliss, Haru admired the aesthetically pleasing sight of a beautiful woman waking up. Looking at her dazed face, he playfully said,

"Good morning!"

Memories of last night's flooded her mind: their stroll in the park, the feeding scene at the French restaurant, the tear-jerking experience of watching a movie for the first time, and the restricted scenes in the hotel room. Toujou Miki blushed furiously as she looked at the silver-haired boy smirking at her. The madness that had consumed her, driven by the looming threat of her impending death, slowly receded, and reason returned to her mind.

Reaching for the blanket, she pulled it up to cover her burning face.

Haru watched the girl burying her head in the sand, then lifted a corner of the blanket, slipping into the covers with a mischievous grin.

"Ahh! Don't put your hand in there!" A shriek came from under the blanket. After some playful banter, Beethoven returned to conduct Symphony No. 5, and the music filled the room once more.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting its pale light through the window. 

The music stopped. Haru gently caressed the girl's smooth back, looking at her flushed face and trembling eyelashes. "Still pretending to be asleep? You little sleepyhead. It seems I'll need a third round to wake you up."

At his words, her tightly closed eyelashes fluttered open. Her emerald green eyes held a deep shyness. A blush of anger colored her jade-like face as she glared at Haru. "Beware the wrath of a maiden whose modesty has been unveiled! You perverted Devil King!"

"Huh? Who was it that said she wanted to experience a passionate romance with this 'perverted' Devil King? Wasn't last night's behavior just the daily life of a loving couple?" Haru shamelessly continued to tease her.

Seeing Toujou Miki on the verge of exploding with shame, Haru quickly stopped his teasing. If he went any further, he might end up on the receiving end of her divine retribution!

"Are you wondering why you're still alive?"

Toujou Miki was taken aback by Haru's question. It was only then that she realized something was amiss. Her emerald green eyes fixed on the rogue before her.

"It seems you haven't looked into my background. But as the highest-ranking Miko, you should possess clairvoyance, shouldn't you? Take a look. See the name of the god I slew." A figure appeared behind Haru: a majestic being wielding a miniature Mount Tai, radiating a golden divine aura. 

Toujou Miki activated her clairvoyance. Her messy, deep purple hair gradually turned flax-colored as her unfocused eyes reflected Haru's figure.

'The Underworld… The Sky… Mountain… The Ruler of Judgment and the King of Hell… The Heavenly Emperor who governs immortality!!'

"You see? Now that I possess his Authority, extending a person's lifespan is a simple matter." Haru looked smugly at the stunned Toujou Miki.

Toujou Miki's face darkened. She sighed in resignation. She had only sensed that the boy was a Godslayer through her clairvoyance but hadn't investigated the god he had slain. Had she made a grave mistake?

She had only needed to offer a portion of her power to gain an extension on her life. But blinded by her fear of death, she had thrown herself into an abyss. The young Miko wanted to cry.

Haru nuzzled Toujou Miki's dazed face, gently nibbling on her still flushed ear. He said with a mischievous grin, "Do you regret it now?"

With a look of annoyance, Toujou Miki glared at the seducer, whose wolf tail seemed to be wagging behind him. She raised her jade-like leg and kicked him off the bed, then pulled the covers over herself. Her muffled voice came from under the blanket. "Go get me breakfast!"

Haru chuckled as he washed up and left the hotel room. 

At 9:00 am, Haru returned to Nikko Toshogu Shrine with a slightly unsteady Toujou Miki. 

He merged with the figure of "Haru" that was approaching them.

"A clone technique! And so realistic!" Using her clairvoyance, Toujou Miki saw through the other figure's true nature and was astonished. Common clone techniques only created a stationary image and couldn't move so freely.

Haru turned to Toujou Miki, his face flushed with embarrassment. He shrugged helplessly. "I wouldn't have needed to go to such lengths if I didn't have to sneak around to avoid Sora. It's all her fault."

Toujou Miki stared blankly ahead.

Seeing her dazed expression, Haru felt a wave of unease. He slowly turned his head.

Kasugano Sora stood there, her face expressionless, staring at the two figures that had merged together. The ears of the black rabbit doll in her hands creaked as she squeezed it tightly, crushing the stuffing inside. "I'm sorry. I just learned that spell yesterday." 

As Haru broke out in a cold sweat, unable to speak, his mind raced for an explanation.

A figure silently appeared before them, making no sound. They must have used some profound technique, the kind that could only be achieved through years of rigorous training in mind, body, and skill.

In a solemn voice, with the cadence of a Peking opera singer, the figure said, "To the revered King Kasugano Haru, may your life be as long as the heavens, may you reign for a thousand generations, and may you unify the world! I have been entrusted by my master to deliver this letter of Challenge."

The figure was a boy, about twelve years old, with short black hair and a handsome face. He wore a black shirt and black jeans. His fingers were long and slender, his palms covered in thick calluses, as if from years of training. This young boy held a letter in both hands. On the front of the letter were two large characters.

Haru recognized them immediately. They were traditional Chinese characters, and their meaning was clear – Challenge!

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