Chapter 436: [434] Question
It was well past midnight when Natsuki Minamiya finally returned home. Kasane Yase had already gone to bed, leaving the house quiet and still.
The exhaustion on Natsuki's face was unmistakable. The day had clearly been a troublesome one, as was often the case in the Demon District. The island of Itogami was home to countless supernatural beings, all possessing immense power. Despite the strict regulations imposed on them, tensions naturally arose.
On Itogami Island, incidents were as common as the tides. Brawls, robberies, and even murder were part of the daily chaos. As the Attack Mage Instructor, Natsuki was constantly summoned to restore order.
Especially with her title as the Witch of the Void, Natsuki's spatial manipulation magic and her Prison Barrier made apprehending rogue demons an effortless task. But even so, the relentless pace of her duties wore her down.
"Those damned beastfolk," Natsuki muttered irritably as she stepped inside, slipping off her boots. "Can't they go a single night without causing trouble?"
Though her form was a magical construct—a clone of her true body—even she could feel fatigue after the day's madness.
"Yo, Natsuki-chan. You're finally back," came a familiar voice from the couch.
Natsuki's sharp eyes snapped to the speaker. It was August, lounging comfortably, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
"Huh? August? Why aren't you asleep yet? What are you doing up?"
"Waiting for you," he replied casually, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
"Waiting for me? Why?"