"Hahaha, did you hear that? Kusanagi Sora! This Miko is very smart and made the most correct choice. You can leave now!"
In a great mood, Marquis Voban laughed heartily and triumphantly, feeling that he had gained enough face this time and had no intention of arguing with the other party.
Of course, although he was very satisfied with the Miko's performance, the old Voban would not let her go because of this. His ritual needed a sacrifice to succeed. Being able to dedicate her life to him, who was a King, was also this Miko's supreme honor.
Although the other party herself might not care about this honor at all…
"Hmph… King Voban, I still have a few words to say to my friend, is that alright?!"
Finally recovering from his astonishment, Sora took a deep breath and said in a deep voice to Marquis Voban. Although he used seemingly pleading words, his tone carried an undeniable dominance.
"Heh… Interesting, this King allows it!"
Feeling that it was quite interesting, Marquis Voban was also a little expectant of how things would develop next. With a playful arc at the corner of his mouth, he waved his hand and agreed.
Feeling everyone's gaze on her, with astonishment, disappointment, and anger, each one like a needle piercing the girl's heart, Yuri bit her lip tightly and lowered her head, desperately holding back the tears that were about to fall, only feeling extremely uncomfortable in her heart.
However, she had to do this, and she didn't regret doing it…
"Yuri, tell me, why did you choose him? Are you out of your mind today and looking for death?!"
Walking in front of Yuri, Sora stared intently at the girl and shouted in a low voice.
Her entire body couldn't help but tremble. Whether it was Yuri or Erica and Liliana on the side, they could all clearly feel how angry Sora was at this moment. Let alone Yuri, even Erica on the side couldn't help but feel a hint of fear in her heart.
This kind of Sora, or rather, this kind of King, she was seeing for the first time…
Although she often acted like a little girl, pouting or teasing Sora, Erica knew that if she were facing the King in such an angry state at this moment, she would absolutely not dare to disobey him in the slightest!
Whether it was Erica or Liliana, looking at the trembling Yuri on the side, they couldn't help but feel a hint of worry for her in their hearts. Although they were also a little angry and upset about her choice just now, however…
However, under everyone's waiting and gaze, the Miko Yuri gradually calmed down, raised her head, as if she had made some kind of decision—
"Lord Kusanagi Sora, you don't really think that by taking the authority of the God of War, defeating the King of Swords, Lord Salvatore, and defeating the Heretic God Athena, you are invincible, do you?"
"Do you know who is standing in front of you? He is Sasha Dejanstahl Voban, the oldest and most powerful Demon King! His authorities are only more, not less, than yours! His divine power is several times yours! His experience is richer than yours! His methods are more ruthless than yours! His…"
"Ha… Ha… Mariya Yuri appreciates your kindness, Lord. Please leave."
With an extremely agitated tone, Yuri almost roared these words. She was breathing heavily, but her whole person looked relieved.
Completely different from the gentle and innocent girl she usually was, Yuri at this moment seemed to have completely changed, with a look of indifference and coldness. And it seemed as if she had let go of the last shackles in her heart, speaking without any mercy.
This kind of Yuri left Sora, Erica, and Liliana, who were familiar with her, completely dumbfounded!
However, the next moment—
Slap!!!
A slap, Sora directly slapped the girl's face. The loud sound echoed continuously in the air, and the entire room fell into a deathly silence.
Marquis Voban on the throne pulled a playful arc at the corner of his mouth. Interesting, interesting, he really didn't expect it. This mortal Miko could actually bring him so much fun!
Kusanagi Sora, what are you going to do? Do you want to forcibly take the Miko away with force? It's really something to look forward to…
Instinctively covering her face, as if she had completely not expected such a result, Yuri was completely stunned. Erica and Liliana on the side were the same. Even with their sharp minds, their little heads were like paste at this moment, completely unable to figure out what was happening!
Although he was a little willful and very domineering about things he had decided on, there was no doubt that Sora was exceptionally gentle to the people around him. To Shizuka, Erica, Arianna, and even Athena, whom he often called his cuddle bear!
But, it was this kind of Sora, who now…
Clenching his hand, Sora couldn't help but show a wry smile. As a man, he had just hit a woman or something, which was really terrible!
However, why did he have a familiar feeling about this kind of thing? It seemed like it wasn't the first time he had done this? (Please recall the plot related to Karasuba in the Sekirei Arc, sigh…)
But, Sora didn't regret it. If he hit her, he hit her. Even if he did it again, he would still do it, to wake this stubborn girl up!
"Alright, Yuri, now tell me your reason. This time I don't want to hear any perfunctory lies. What I want to know is Yuri's true thoughts!"
"Don't tell me this is your true thought, and don't try to argue, because I am Kusanagi Sora, and you are Mariya Yuri, so you cannot deceive me."
Looking at the faint red palm print on the girl's face, Sora gently stroked it with a hint of heartache, and said to Mariya Yuri with a smile.
His voice was not loud, not at all like the undeniable domineering feeling from before, but when it reached the Miko-san's ears, her expression couldn't help but tremble.
"Wuwuwu…"
The layers of defenses that had been so painstakingly built up in her heart completely collapsed. No longer able to bear it, Yuri directly threw herself into Sora's embrace, holding him tightly and bursting into tears.
Tears fell like broken strings of pearls, smudging the girl's face and soaking Sora's clothes…
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
She kept apologizing in a low murmur, her frail body trembling, as if trying to vent all the negative emotions that had accumulated in her heart.
Looking at the helpless and pitiful girl, Sora felt an endless surge of tenderness in his heart, gently stroking her back. This was a girl who seemed fragile but was incredibly strong, and at the same time, a girl who was so pure and flawless that she didn't know how to hide her feelings.
Facing her like this, would Sora still pity or blame her? No, he would only have a greater appreciation for her!
"Whether it was practicing together before, or fighting with Athena, every single time, I always became a burden to everyone and couldn't do anything! I hate this self, this self that can't do anything!"
"Even when I was captured and used as a sacrifice for the summoning ritual, I always firmly believed that Sora would come to save me. Even when facing the oldest and most powerful Demon King, I always firmly believed that Sora would never back down and would never fail! But—"
"I don't want to hide behind you every time anymore, I also want to fight once myself, I also want to be a little useful, I also want…"
Clutching Sora's clothes tightly, the miko kept pouring out her feelings, kept pouring them out.
She didn't want to treat her friends with that cold attitude, and she didn't want to stay and become a sacrifice for the ritual or anything, but she even more didn't want to face the self who always hid behind everyone and couldn't do anything!
Marquis Voban on the throne had already put away the smile on his face, his brows deeply furrowed. This development was not what he had expected…
Erica and Liliana on the side exchanged glances, and both secretly breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts, but then they both looked speechless.
What kind of messy things were going through that simple-minded Yuri's little head?!!!
They had thought that only smart people like them would have worries, and that simple-minded fools like Yuri would always be carefree. Now, the two girls realized that they were wrong, and greatly wrong!
Getting tangled up in such matters and complicating a simple problem, it had to be said that being a simple-minded fool was not much easier than being a smart person…
Of course, neither the two girls nor Sora had the slightest intention of looking down on or despising the girl for her self-inflicted troubles. On the contrary, in the eyes of the three, this miko-san, who was simple-minded and also unusually serious in personality, seemed even more adorable!
Wanting to find her own value, not wanting to hide behind everyone, not wanting to be a burden to everyone, wanting to use her frail body to fight against the powerful Demon King. You could say she was foolish, but you couldn't deny that she was admirable!
"Are you done talking? I'm very satisfied with this answer. This is the Yuri I know!"
A slight curve appeared at the corner of his mouth, and looking at the still sobbing miko-san, Sora said.
"Mm…"
Nodding, the girl said softly. At the same time, as if remembering something, she quickly let go of her hands and withdrew from Sora's embrace.
Feeling much lighter after speaking her mind, her face was red, and recalling the previous scenes, Yuri was so ashamed that she wished she could find a hole to crawl into!
"Hehe, in that case, let's go home!"
Patting the girl's little head, Sora grinned.
"Eh!!!"
Raising her head in astonishment, the miko-san's face was full of surprise. Had she not made herself clear just now? Why was he still…
However, when she saw those sincere and expectant eyes, an endless surge of emotion couldn't help but well up in the girl's heart…