Kaguya's Conditions

"Wh-Who are you?" The Prime Minister turned around in a panic, his pupils contracting sharply.

Standing before him was an extraordinarily beautiful silver-haired girl, with hair cascading down like a waterfall, her skin as smooth as porcelain. Her face was untouched by makeup, yet she radiated an ethereal beauty, like a celestial being removed from the mundane world. A faint smile played on her lips, illusory and radiant, like a fleeting firework.

In normal circumstances, faced with such a lovely girl, the Prime Minister, known for his appreciation of beauty, would have eagerly schemed to make her his own. But at this moment, he felt no such stirrings. Instead, he saw that slight smile as something almost demonic, sending chills down his spine.

For he knew the silver-haired girl standing before him—she was the one called the most evil, and the most powerful Spirit: Kaguya.

"So, you're the Prime Minister of Japan?" Kaguya said, walking over and seating herself casually in a chair, crossing her legs as she smiled. "For a rotten gourd like you to reach a position like this in government—now that's a surprise."

"Rotten gourd?"

The Prime Minister's face turned somewhat ashen. No one had ever dared to speak to him this way. He wanted to protest, but as he glanced at the playful smirk on the girl's face, it was as though a bucket of ice water had been poured over him, chilling him to the core.

"Wh-what do you want?" the Prime Minister shouted, trying to sound bold but with a tremor in his voice. "This is the Prime Minister's office! In just a few minutes, people will be here! You're walking right into a trap!"

Kaguya couldn't help but find his bluster amusing. Were all Japanese Prime Ministers this amusing?

"If you're so eager to arrest me, go ahead and give it a try," Kaguya said with a slight smile. "You could call in all your forces and maybe even throw me in jail. You see, I'm very weak right now, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. All you have to do is pick up the phone on your right. So, what are you waiting for?"

The Prime Minister glanced at the black phone on his right, swallowing nervously.

It was true; if he just picked up that phone, troops would immediately converge here. This particular force was Japan's elite—far superior even to the units sent against Kaguya earlier. This special unit, tasked with protecting the nation's leaders, was equipped with top-notch combat skills and weaponry. Each soldier even had access to high-grade manifesting devices, effectively making them armed to the teeth. They were confident in repelling, or even capturing, any Spirit that might invade.

As he wavered, the Prime Minister fought an intense internal battle. Should he seize this chance to take her down?

After all, she must be weakened from her previous battles. Now would be the perfect moment to capture her.

His hand moved several times toward the phone, but each time his fingers touched it, he flinched as if it were electrified.

But… she wouldn't be here if she wasn't confident in her position. What if she turned the tables on them…

Finally, the Prime Minister withdrew his hand, gritting his teeth. "Why are you here? What do you want?" he asked in a low voice.

"Smart choice. Sensible people always end up better off," Kaguya smirked. "Congratulations on not making a foolish decision. Otherwise, I might have found myself chatting with the next Prime Minister."

At these words, the Prime Minister looked up sharply, beads of cold sweat forming on his brow. She had spoken with a smile, but he could hear the thick undercurrent of menace in her tone, like a chilling wind cutting to the bone.

Could it be she wasn't—

"You're not mistaken," Kaguya said, tapping her fingers lightly on the desk. "I'm not injured at all. Honestly, thinking a bunch of rusty scrap metal could take me on was quite naive. As for your dear DEM Corporation, I think you should take a look at this."

With that, Kaguya picked up a remote control and pressed a button, turning on a television screen across the room. A moment later, an image appeared, causing the Prime Minister to gasp in shock, too stunned to even wipe the sweat from his brow.

On the screen was an active volcano, erupting violently with scorching lava. Thick smoke billowed into the sky, while volcanic ash and stones rained down, striking the ground with loud crashes. Molten lava flowed across the landscape toward the sea, meeting the water with a sizzling sound and a cloud of steam.

"Breaking news," a newscaster's voice came on the broadcast, "we report that an intense volcanic eruption has occurred on an island in the Kyushu–Shikoku region. Lava has covered the entire island, though we currently have no casualty reports. Experts indicate that this island previously contained a dormant volcano. The cause of this unexpected eruption is still under investigation."

The Prime Minister stared at the screen, his face paling as his hands began to tremble slightly.

He recognized this island—it was DEM Corporation's secret base.

Could this eruption have been caused by her?

His pupils contracted sharply in realization.

"The reinforcements you were hoping for? They might never arrive." Kaguya pressed the remote, and the television screen went blank. Turning back to him, she said, "Any thoughts on that, Mr. Prime Minister?"

The Prime Minister snapped back to reality, shivering. At some point, his clothing had become drenched in sweat.

"What exactly do you want?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"What do I want? Hmm, let's see…" Kaguya tapped her chin thoughtfully, her eyes lighting up as if she'd thought of something. "How about… you give me your position as Prime Minister?"

"Wh-What? That's impossible!" The Prime Minister was utterly dumbfounded; he hadn't anticipated such a demand.

"Actually, never mind," Kaguya mused aloud. "Being Prime Minister is a little too dull, almost like being as lifeless as the dead. The title sounds way too much like something out of a tragedy. I'll pass."

The Prime Minister finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had feared she'd snatch away his title with a few words, not knowing how hard he had worked to climb to his position over his lifetime.

But wait, what did she mean by "like something out of a tragedy"?

For some reason, whenever Kaguya looked at the Prime Minister, the image of a tragic figure kept popping into her mind. Could it be because he'd spent so much time alongside political power?

In any case, seeing that she had no intention of stripping him of his title, the Prime Minister felt somewhat reassured.

But Kaguya's next condition left him completely speechless…

——

"One country, two systems?" The Prime Minister stammered in surprise, "But, how could that be? How could a single country…"

"I think you misunderstand," Kaguya said, crossing her legs and smiling. "This isn't about forcing you to step down, nor is it about seizing your power. I have no interest in that—who would want to compete with a dead mouse caught in an owl's beak?"

"Dead mouse?"

The Prime Minister's face paled a little. Only someone as powerful as her would think this way. To the average person, becoming the highest leader of a country would be a dream come true. But to this silver-haired girl, it was like a treat that could be discarded at any moment—perhaps even less than that.

"Then, what exactly do you mean?"

The Prime Minister instinctively began to use respectful language, even bowing slightly. Here was someone who clearly looked down on his power and had no desire to replace him. Perhaps there was a way…

"I don't have any other intentions," Kaguya said as she stood. "What I want to create is a Spirit Alliance."

"Spirit Alliance?" The Prime Minister repeated, still not fully comprehending.

"That's right." Kaguya gave a small smile as she approached him. "This will be an organization independent of all earthly powers, wielding supreme authority. Its members will be Spirits from across the world—every Spirit, by virtue of being a Spirit, will be part of the Spirit Alliance."

"But in that case..." The Prime Minister, dabbing the sweat from his forehead, looked troubled. "What about Spatial Quakes…?"

The Prime Minister's question trailed off, but his meaning was clear. If a Spatial Quake or Spirit attack against humans occurred in the future, how would they handle it? Given the authority this new organization would hold, declaring war against Spirits could risk conflict with the Alliance. But if they left the situation unchecked, who knew what kind of damage Spirits could cause?

"I understand your concern," Kaguya said. "Any issues involving Spirits will be handled by the Spirit Alliance and myself, so no harm will come to you. But before that, no one is permitted to attack a Spirit for any reason. If they do, it will be a capital offense."

"Y-Yes," the Prime Minister replied with a beaming smile, nodding eagerly. If this arrangement worked as promised, it could actually be beneficial for him. A dedicated organization to manage the Spirits would mean he no longer needed to worry about them constantly. And if anything went wrong, he could shift the blame to this so-called Spirit Alliance. Naturally, he was pleased.

"Don't be so quick to celebrate," Kaguya said with a slight smirk. "There's still one other thing I need you to do."

"What else is required? If it's something I can accomplish, I'll do it, even if it means going through fire and water," he replied, patting his chest.

"It's not so dire," Kaguya replied with a light wave of her hand. "It's quite simple. All you have to do is declare the DEM Corporation a terrorist organization."

"T-Terrorist organization?" The Prime Minister gasped, "Are you saying to label the DEM Corporation as…? But that's impossible!"

After all, the DEM Corporation held enormous power and influence in Japan, and globally it was one of the foremost weapons manufacturers. His own rise to office had been due largely to the DEM Corporation's Isaac Westcott, who provided the vast campaign funds he needed, along with inside information that had led to his victory in the election.

But if he were to denounce them…

Of course, the Prime Minister's concern wasn't one of loyalty or gratitude; in his position, any sense of duty had long since vanished. He was more concerned about what would happen if the DEM Corporation retaliated against him. That would be disastrous.

"Don't worry—Westcott won't be around much longer, and the DEM Corporation is about to collapse. So, you needn't fear his revenge," Kaguya said, seeing through his concerns with ease. To her, he was nothing more than a pawn.

"Th-that would be wonderful," the Prime Minister replied, rubbing his hands together with a fawning smile. "I believe with your help, Japan will be more stable, and the people will feel honored and delighted by your presence."

"Enough," Kaguya waved her hand, her expression one of distaste. "I didn't come here to listen to you spout nonsense. There's one more, much more important task I need you to handle yourself. It must be done properly."

Seeing her serious expression, the Prime Minister felt a chill. What kind of matter could possibly cause such a powerful girl to adopt such a grave demeanor? It had to be something monumental, but what?

"This is something you must handle well," Kaguya said solemnly. "Not only will I be displeased if you fail, but many other Spirits will also be unhappy. And if we're all unhappy, you can imagine what the consequences will be, correct?"

"Y-Yes," stammered the Prime Minister, feeling beads of sweat forming on his forehead again. "May I know what it is you wish, Madam?"

Though he had no idea what the task was, his years of experience told him this was not the moment to refuse. If he did, and offended her, he'd likely be dismissed as a useless nobody.

And nobodies often met very unfortunate ends—like his predecessor, who'd been taken out by the DEM Corporation in a truly unsightly manner.

The Prime Minister had no intention of ending up like that.

"The task I'm giving you," Kaguya said, stepping closer and speaking with intent, "is to get me a large villa."

"A villa?"

The Prime Minister was momentarily stunned. So that was it?

It couldn't possibly be this easy, could it?

No, that couldn't be it. A powerful figure like her wouldn't just ask for something so trivial. There had to be some additional conditions.

"Is there anything specific about it you'd like?" the Prime Minister asked cautiously.

"Let me think…" Kaguya tapped her chin with a fair finger as she pondered for a moment. "The villa should be large, the bigger the better, fully furnished with new appliances and furniture. And most importantly, it must be entirely brand new, with no previous owners. Understood?"

The Prime Minister thought he might have misheard. Was the task really this simple?

Such a trivial matter, yet it was being entrusted to the Prime Minister of the Land of the Rising Sun. It felt almost wasteful or like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. All he had to do was issue a single directive, and it would be handled—no need to use his own money, either; the national treasury could cover it.

But he dared not show the slightest negligence toward such a powerful figure as Kaguya. If he were to displease her, the consequences could be severe. This silver-haired young woman was a fearsome presence who'd shown no hesitation in eliminating entire armies recently; tens of thousands of armed soldiers had fallen at her hand, along with the thousands from DEM Corporation, whose remains were still drifting in the Sea of Japan.

"Please, rest assured; I'll see it done," the Prime Minister replied, bowing like a lackey, showing none of the dignity expected of his office. Anyone who knew him would scarcely believe it if they saw him now.

"Mhm." Kaguya nodded approvingly, crossing her legs.

This housing issue was something she'd been thinking about for a while. The apartment was getting crowded, especially with the growing number of Spirit girls. Even though Kaguya had been sleeping in the living room, it was becoming cramped—particularly now that Mukuro Hoshimiya was added to the group.

Moreover, she couldn't just consider the present situation. What if more Spirits joined in the future? There simply wouldn't be enough space.

She recalled how, in the original series, Kotori Itsuka had managed to provide Shidou Itsuka with a large house, sparking a sigh of admiration from Kaguya. How nice it would be to have such a resourceful, wealthy sister who never had to worry about money!

Yet, come to think of it, Kaguya had caused quite a commotion, so it was surprising Kotori hadn't shown up to confront her. Kotori must have her own reasons for staying close—reasons that Kaguya didn't know about.

"Take care of this, and I'll reward you," Kaguya said, standing from her chair. Before leaving, she turned and added, "But if you can't handle even something this simple, then you'll no longer have any reason to exist. Do you understand?"

"Y-Yes," the Prime Minister replied, wiping the sweat from his face with a nervous laugh. "I'll do my utmost."

For some reason, every time he saw Kaguya's faint, knowing smile, his knees went weak, and a hollow feeling crept into his chest.

With a soft laugh, a dark portal appeared before Kaguya. She stepped through, and the portal vanished in the blink of an eye.

Seeing her finally leave, the Prime Minister let out a deep breath. He still felt dazed, as if he'd just awoken from a strange dream. The chill down his back reminded him that his shirt was drenched in sweat.

Just then, the door burst open with a loud bang, and an aide rushed in, looking flustered.

"Prime Minister, sir, it's terrible! Terrible!" The aide, struggling to catch his breath, said urgently, "Outside—"

Before he could finish, a dark shadow swung toward his face.

Smack!

The aide, stunned from the slap, wobbled for a moment before dropping to the floor.

"Idiot! Who told you to barge in?" the Prime Minister snapped angrily. Still rattled from Kaguya's visit, he'd nearly had a breakdown when he heard the commotion, fearing she had returned to punish him. Once he saw it was only his aide, he became furious.

"S-Sorry…" The aide clutched his face, now red and swelling from the force of the blow. Clearly, the Prime Minister hadn't held back.

"What on earth could be so urgent?" The Prime Minister adjusted his tie, his tone cold. "Hurry up and speak!"

The aide scrambled up from the floor and stammered, "DEM Corporation's bases around the world have exploded simultaneously, with blasts equivalent to several dozen nuclear bombs. Their facilities were leveled, and nearby areas have been reduced to ruins. The death toll is reportedly in the tens of thousands."

The Prime Minister's pupils shrank as he seized the aide by the collar and demanded, "When did this happen?"

"J-Just now…" The aide, terrified by the Prime Minister's sudden outburst, stammered, "And also…"

"And what else? Speak up!" the Prime Minister snapped.

"They… they say it was a Spirit who launched the attacks. What's more, surveillance footage shows that the one responsible for assaulting the DEM Corporation… was… was a single person."

"A single person?" The Prime Minister echoed in disbelief. "What single person?"

"According to intelligence, the person attacking the DEM Corporation's global bases was an astonishingly beautiful silver-haired girl," the aide replied, swallowing nervously. "But the issue is that she appeared in all locations at almost the exact same time. This shouldn't even be possible. Intelligence analysts believe it might not have been just one person but a coordinated group."

The Prime Minister could no longer focus on what his aide was saying. A fresh wave of sweat broke out on his forehead, recently dried from his encounter with Kaguya.

If his suspicions were correct, the silver-haired attackers could all be the same person—the very girl who had just left. Only she could possess that kind of power. If the Prime Minister had been harboring any hope of secretly allying with DEM Corporation, he'd abandoned the idea completely.

To simultaneously attack locations worldwide and decimate a military powerhouse like DEM Corporation was something even the world's most powerful nations couldn't accomplish. It defied all known limits of human ability, crossing into the unimaginable.

"Prime Minister, sir…?" Seeing no reaction from him, the aide spoke up cautiously.

"Oh, it's fine…" Coming back to himself, the Prime Minister's face softened, and he resumed his usual gentle expression. "You've done well. I have another small task for you."

"Yes, sir. Please, anything you need." The aide, still uneasy and respectful, replied.

The Prime Minister smiled, picked up his now-cold coffee, and walked to the window. "Help me find a villa."

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