Chapter 226: The girls are free {226}
Keitaro helped about as much as he could, he yawned and stretched himself on the chair, this chair was pretty comfy. Though as he gazed landed on the mayor, all he could see was a scared old man.
The man's face was completely and utterly drained of colors, it was as if he was realising how big of a fuck up he was in currently.
His choices were quite simple really, all he really had to do was just accept Akira's deal, it was no biggy.
The man took in a deep breath making sure to grab deep within himself in order to grab enough courage to say what he had to say.
The man hesitated for a bit, he cast one final glance toward Keitaro who currently seemed to focus on the fact that his Kitsune companion was craving some food.
He wondered if she was addicted to absorbing curse energy or something, he wouldn't really bet on it, however on the other hand the option was also there.
He wondered if curse energy was like a cocaine addiction for his Kitsune companion, questions, question.
Well, he didnt care much, she was his curse energy battery, the fact that he had summoned her because his curse energy pool was low only to find out a couple of years later his curse energy pool was only low because like 90% of it was suppressing his natural energy reserves....
Well, it's not like Keitaro could do anything about it now, Akane was an excellent tracker, plus she was quite useful so she served more purpose than just being his curse energy battery.
Keitaro's eyes landed on the mayor who was now kneeling, pressing his forehead against the floor.
"I... I apologize," The man's voice sounded weak and he was stammering a lot, however, he probably valued his own life, and to think the curse did not even have to make the man go through the domain expansion for him to apologize so quickly.
"To all of you, I'm sorry. I... I will abolish the laws that have oppressed women for so long. I swear it."
That sounded quite fake, however, just because the man was lying Keitaro decided to be just a bit extra.
Deciding to let the curse out of its seal, the curse opened its domain.
You know, it was fun being right, he was quite right about all the things that indeed did happen inside the domain.
You know, watching the man go through each and every single trial was quite amusing, the curse did not kill the man and all the damage dealt by the previous stage seemed to not add up, and he wondered why.
He then realized why as in the last stage, all of the damage that the victim had taken gets poured straight back into them.
The man felt it all, you know, being put in a situation where you had no control was something no one to be in.
"Guilty"
The distorted voice of the 14 girls was heard saying, as the noose came down....wow, that was extreme.
However before it got too dark, Keitaro looked at the man before saying "Do remember, this is what you will have to deal with for the rest of your life if you keep those rules up"
From the deepest part of the man's soul, he begged Keitaro to save him.
"Swear it"
"I Donald Hathorne will not agree to do what you say, I shall not go back on my words." The man practically begged.
Keitaro watched as the chains wrapped around his heart, well it just took getting the man in a near-death scenario but the man had curse energy and with that curse energy and the way it was flaring up, Keitaro used this to make the man do a binding vow.
With that done, he shattered the curse domain with the same trick he had used on Satoru back then, he made a simple domain, expanded the range to match her barriers, and then destroyed his simple domain shattering her barriers with him.
As that happened, he made his way toward the man before saying "You just made a binding vow, if you go against it, it will kill you...do keep that in mind"
Well, that was sorted, he was acting a bit more rashly than usual, he may be acting like this because he could see the man's soul and it was twisted beyond belief.
This was the only way to get a man like this to cooperate, it was either that or expose them online, blackmail is a fun thing.
Either way the man had a 90% chance of believing what Keitaro had said considering Keitaro had let the curse open her domain expansion on the man, the man was not aware that some form of supernatural ability existed and if Keitaro was able to easily subdue the curse that meant, he should take Keitaro words seriously.
Being strong truly did make stuff easier.
Time skip
Keitaro studied the curse's reaction, the twisted forms of the girls flickering, their resentment softening ever so slightly. His calm voice broke the silence. "Deal done."
But the spirit remained suspicious, its voice a chorus of uncertainty. "How do we know he won't go back on his words?"
"He treasures his life too much. I made him make a binding vow, his life on the line, the seconds he does not say what the binding vow says, he dies"
The twisted forms seemed to settle, a faint glimmer of peace crossing their expressions. One of the girls, her voice softer, whispered, "Thank you."
Wait, he could make out more voices now.
Keitaro stepped closer, placing a hand on the spirit's head, his fingers warm as he channeled reverse curse energy through her. The curse began to disintegrate, breaking apart into thousands of light fragments, dispersing like a shower of stars.
As the fragments faded, Keitaro glanced up, catching sight of fourteen white doves soaring into the clear sky. From the corner of his eye, he saw a final, fleeting vision: fourteen girls, dressed in the clothing of their era, walking away toward the light.
The sunlight seemed a little brighter, the air a little lighter, as though the entire village had exhaled after holding its breath for far too long. For the first time in ages, peace had returned.
Well, that was one problem solved.
A/N