"You are the child that Ayin bestowed her power upon."
Okumura's breath hitched, his mind reeling. What was this supposed to mean? He had some kind of power? But there was no sensation—no surge of energy or mysterious strength pulsing through him. He just felt like… himself.
"Y-You might have the wrong idea, President!" he stammered, a twinge of panic rising in his chest. "I-I've never had any powers before, so what you're saying is impossible!"
He thought back to his childhood—years of feeling utterly normal, with not even a hint of anything unusual in his veins. Sure, there was a time when he had deluded himself into thinking he had powers, but that was just middle-school fantasy. And those dreams shattered long ago, leaving him with the cold grip of reality. Now, he knew the difference between illusion and truth.
But Sarushima was looking straight at him, dead serious, as if she was reading his every thought. She's saying I have power. This has to be a mistake. He felt a cold sweat on his back. Maybe she's confusing me with someone else.
"I haven't even told you what your power is, have I?" Sarushima's voice cut through his spiraling thoughts, her tone sharp. "If you don't have any, then how is it possible that you can touch Hina? Even if you were special, there's no way a normal human could touch a succubus—much less a primordial one. Primordials are direct descendants of the original she-demon, Lilith, you know?"
Okumura's mind went blank at the name Lilith. He had no idea who she was, but primordial rang a bell—something ancient, from an era that reached far back into the past, existing before time itself.
"The Saonji Clan is the last remaining family of the Primordial Succubus," Sarushima continued. "And with Hina as its only member, that means her clan is on the brink of extinction. If Heaven wins, the Primordial Succubus clan will cease to exist—along with Hina. Are you okay with that?"
Okumura sucked in a sharp breath, his heart pounding against his ribs. The thought of losing Saonji made his chest tighten with a painful ache. Of course he didn't want that. He'd do anything to keep her safe, but how the hell was he supposed to do that when he didn't even know what strength he was supposed to have?
"Your power is something greater than you realize," Sarushima pressed, her voice taking on a sharper edge, weaving into his thoughts like a whisper. "It's something you can't see, but it's far more potent than you think. You can save Hina if you use this power—and lend it to us."
Her words dug deep into Okumura's mind, seeding doubts and desires. She was skillfully tugging at his emotions, zeroing in on the part of him that ached to protect Hina. It was working. He felt her sincerity wrap around him like a vice, squeezing tighter with each word. If he really was the Child of Anti-Prophecy, then Hell might have a fighting chance against Heaven—and, by extension, against Yesh.
I need to bring him to our side. If not, the angels might track him down and kill him before he even knows what's happening, Sarushima thought.
This was no trivial matter—they couldn't afford to lose something this vital. For millennia, demons had been crushed by the angels, barely clinging on thanks to Ayin's desperate support. Yesh hadn't even entered the fray yet, and Ayin's hold was slipping. It was only a matter of time before things fell apart.
Now that we're the ones leading this generation, I won't let our people fall again, Sarushima resolved.
"H-How am I supposed to use this power?" Okumura stammered.
Yet behind the wavering tone, there was a spark—a determination to protect Saonji, no matter the cost.
Sarushima's lips curled into a sly, almost wicked smile. "Well then, would you mind coming with me somewhere after school?" she asked, her voice dripping with an enticing edge.
Okumura, despite the swirl of unease, nodded. Little did he know that where she was taking him... would turn his expectations upside down.
***
"W-Why am I here...?" Okumura's voice shook as he perched on the edge of a bed, the plush mattress beneath him feeling foreign, too soft, too intimate.
From the bathroom, the sound of water echoed—Sarushima washing up, the steam drifting into the air.
The surroundings left no room for doubt. He was in a love hotel, the dim, suggestive lighting casting shadows that seemed to dance on the walls.
His veins felt like they might burst, his heartbeat pounding so loud he was sure Sarushima could hear it even through the bathroom door. E-Eh? A love hotel? How did I end up here with her? H-How did I just follow her in without thinking?
He had trailed behind her after school, and before he could even process what was happening, they were already here. Sarushima strode confidently to the front desk, booked a room without so much as a second glance from the receptionist—no suspicion, no hesitation, just a nod to let them through.
"I cast an illusion on the receptionist to make him think we're working adults. Pretty clever, huh?" Sarushima had whispered as they walked down the dimly lit hallway, her voice smooth and confident.
"E-Eh?! P-President, why are we here?!" Okumura's voice wavered, desperation creeping in.
"You don't have to worry. I already got Hina's permission," Sarushima replied smoothly, a seductive smile playing on her lips.
"P-Permission... what?" Okumura stuttered.
"Tonight, I'm going to help you discover your powers," she purred, her voice dripping with seduction.
She had promised him this earlier, and now, with a playful grin, she added, "I'm going to take a quick shower," before strutting off and leaving Okumura alone on the bed.
"Is it even allowed to be in here...?" he mumbled to himself, glancing around the room, the walls seeming to close in on him.
But his attention quickly shifted as he caught sight of the mirror. In the reflection, he could see Sarushima in the shower, her silhouette outlined by the glass walls. She was completely naked, the water cascading over her curves, glistening on her skin like liquid silk.
He averted his eyes, but the image was seared into his mind.