Kitsune's POV
"Why... how come you still remember, even though I rewound time...?" Laplace said in a frustrated tone.
"Oh, don't expect your power to rewind time, Laplace. You just did some future simulations," I replied, my voice calm but firm.
"To think your stupidity is enough to not even know your own abilities..."
"But... how did you still recover your memories?" she asked, her voice faltering for a moment.
"That's a trade secret. How can I tell you?"
Her face was filled with despair and frustration.
"You'll die here, Laplace."
"Wa... wait..." she said, kneeling in front of me.
"Don't kill me. I'll team up with you..."
"Oh? Then what? You'll stab us in the back again?"
"No, no... it's sincere this time... Please, listen..." she said quickly.
"I even have some valuable information to share with you."
Information? To be honest, this demon is unmatched in gathering intel. I know she can be useful, but trusting her again is too risky.
Unless we make a pact...
"Well, if your information gathering is really great, then why couldn't you even guess why I didn't forget the memories in the simulated future you made?" I asked.
"If you give me a plausible explanation, I might consider allying with you through a pact..."
She looked at me and smiled.
"Oh, it looks like I fell from your Absolute Future Calculation... Well, it doesn't matter. Just answer the question."
She stood up and answered.
"Because your existence is so pure and unique that even Multiverse creation can't replicate you. An existence brimming with pure life force from a God. No simulations can copy nor alter your consciousness, because you are the only Kitsune Ishi across all infinite multiverses..." she said, her tone serious.
"Oh, you flatter me. But where did you even learn that information?"
"That information is a bit pricey, Ms. Ishi... Let's do the pact and I'll tell you."
"My... You're a bit of a negotiation expert, if I may say."
We made the pact, and the condition was clear: betraying us, including me, Misaki, and my daughters, in any form of malicious act or even the thought of betrayal, including telling lies would result in her immediate death.
"Your condition is quite intense, Ms. Ishi..." she said, surprised.
"Well, forgive me. It's just to ensure you will never do again what you did before."
"Now, just answer all of my questions."
She nodded, waiting for me to ask.
"Let me tell you that the information you shared about me is secret knowledge... even Misaki and some ancient spirits didn't know about it."
"So how did you grasp that knowledge? Is that why Ashura is so eager to kill me?"
"Can I assume there's a traitor among the ancient spirits?" I asked, my voice steady but filled with suspicion.
She smiled at me, then let out a deep sigh.
"Your senses and logical thinking are really the best, Ms. Ishi... that's why you attract so much attention, along with your Misaki..." she said, her voice filled with admiration.
"If I answer your three questions in one statement, then..." she continued.
"There is a man who is very obsessed with using Misaki as a weapon to annihilate demons, but he can't do anything because his life force is already depleting... so he stepped down from his pride and worked with us demons, even though he hates us."
"And you agree?" I asked, my voice calm but full of suspicion.
"Of course... that man is pretty capable himself, and after all, even though our end goals are completely different, we have a mini goal that's the same."
"That goal... is it about Misaki?" I reluctantly asked.
"Oh, so you're aware..." she said with a smile.
"Our goal with Misaki is to awaken his demon blood."
Sigh... "You knew?" I asked in surprise.
"So you also knew it, Ms. Ishi... since when?"
"Since Tsukihime found him... around one billion years ago."
According to the information she shared, there's no doubt. The person they're working with is no ordinary being. To the point that he can acquire knowledge even some ancient spirits didn't know...
"Can I assume that the one you're working with... is the Ancient Spirit of Wisdom?"
"Oh, you got it right... he is indeed..."
"The most intelligent entity in the universe..."
"Vesta Anubis."
To think that one of us ancient spirits... who are like siblings to each other... would betray us.
Well, maybe I'm the only one who thought of us like siblings.
"But there's something I don't know, Laplace... It's about Misaki's curse."
"You mean... the curse that altered his memory?"
"Yes... the one I heard... Is it true? That our Queen, Amakura Tsukihime, is the one who altered Misaki's memory?"
"Of course, you saw me die, right?" she replied with a twisted smile.
"Then, when did you learn about it?" I asked.
"To Vesta, of course... As for why Tsukihime would do that... He doesn't know. But the alteration of memory is done by the verdict of the moon. This is what Vesta named it."
"Verdict of the moon?"
"You probably saw it... the massive beam of light that came from the moon, which can alter Misaki's memory..."
"How come you are sure it can alter Misaki's memory?"
"Because I already met him before... in an attempt to bring back his lost memories... But as soon as he remembered his past—that he's a demon—the verdict of the moon fell upon him."
If this demon's words are true, then it's safe to assume that our Queen is preventing Misaki from remembering his past, which would reveal that he has demon blood... but why? Will Misaki's personality change?
"Laplace... are you familiar with the scriptures of Lunaria?"
"Yes, the prophecy made by your Queen about the time when our King of Hell will be reawakened... also the time when she will reincarnate..."
"But sorry to say, your scripture is just a sweet lie made by your Queen... because along with her, the King of Hell also perished..."
The words she just said surprised me... I knew she wasn't lying because the pact would have killed her if she had.
"Then... why did she create the scripture?" I asked.
"Vesta didn't know the real answer, but according to his understanding, the scripture is meant to make sure ancient spirits wouldn't think that the King of Hell is already dead..."
"Then, knowing that your King is already dead... what's Misaki's connection to your plan? Why do you want to awaken his demon blood?" I asked.
"Well..."
"Because his father is the King of Hell himself, Astaroth, the ruler of time."
"And we intend to make Misaki the next King of Hell."