Dimensional Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

When Kaguya and her group arrived at the supposed location of their "villa," they were taken aback by the majestic sight before them. Calling this a villa felt absurd—it was practically a palace.

Stretching out before them was a vast architectural complex, grand and imposing. Exquisitely crafted pavilions and towers stood alongside serene waterside corridors and elegant gardens. The buildings, with their red brick walls, green-tiled roofs, and intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes, exuded the charm of classical Chinese architecture—or rather, appeared to be directly modeled on it.

It dawned on Kaguya that she might have joked with the Prime Minister about wanting a villa inspired by a Chinese imperial palace, complete with a touch of traditional elegance. She never imagined he would take her request literally and build her an actual palace.

Regardless, this "villa" perfectly matched Kaguya's taste. Its winding paths, tranquil elegance, and unassuming sophistication far outshone the ostentatious Western-style mansions she'd grown weary of. Just being within the estate's serene atmosphere had a calming effect.

What Kaguya didn't know was that the Prime Minister had gone to great lengths to commission this residence, enlisting renowned architects and even importing construction materials via massive cargo ships. The Prime Minister, seeking to curry favor with Kaguya, saw this as an opportunity to strengthen ties with the Spirits and solidify his political standing. With Kaguya's support, his position as Prime Minister would undoubtedly become unshakable, silencing domestic opposition.

After the group finished arranging their living spaces, Kaguya barely had a moment to rest before a furious red-haired figure stormed in.

"Kaguya! Get out here right now!"

Seeing Kotori fuming with anger, Kaguya immediately realized she was in trouble. She coughed lightly, looking visibly embarrassed.

She had completely forgotten about her promised date with Kotori, having been preoccupied with Yoshino the previous night. No wonder she'd had the nagging feeling that she'd forgotten something—turns out it was this.

Before Kaguya could speak, Tohka stepped forward, hands on her hips, and snapped, "What are you doing here in our home?"

Ever since Tohka had explored the entire villa complex, she had fallen in love with its ancient palace-like charm. She couldn't stop marveling at its classical elegance, touching and admiring everything in sight. Now, she had completely claimed this place as her own home.

And since it was her home, naturally, she couldn't tolerate any random person barging in. As far as Tohka was concerned, Kotori Itsuka—who had once been an enemy—was definitely a "random person."

"I'm not here for you; I'm here for Kaguya!" Kotori replied irritably. "Move aside, you're blocking my way."

"This is my house, and you're not welcome here!" Tohka huffed. "So please leave."

"Mom, is she here to see you?" Mukuro asked softly, tilting her head.

"Ahem, well… kind of," Kaguya replied evasively. Walking toward Kotori, she said, "I'm sorry. I forgot about yesterday. That's my fault."

"You forgot?" Kotori said in disbelief. Her eyes widened before they blazed with fury. Clenching her fists tightly, she looked as though she might throw a punch at any moment.

She had waited for Kaguya the entire evening at the lantern festival, only to find out that Kaguya had simply "forgotten." Kotori could hardly believe the audacity of it.

"My bad," Kaguya said with a sheepish smile, scratching her head. "I had some things to take care of yesterday, and, well… my phone ran out of battery too."

"We agreed on a date!" Kotori said indignantly, still simmering with frustration over having been left waiting all night like a fool.

Before Kotori could say more, a shadow flashed past her, and a hand suddenly covered her mouth from behind.

Startled, Kotori struggled but then froze when she heard a familiar voice whisper in her ear.

"We should discuss this somewhere else, don't you think?"

It was Kaguya.

The spot where Kaguya had been standing was now empty.

Kotori's pupils contracted in shock. She hadn't even seen Kaguya move to her back. The sheer speed was terrifying.

"I just have some things to talk about with her," Kaguya said, releasing her hold on Kotori's mouth and smiling at the group. "You guys go ahead and start setting up the bedrooms. I'll be back shortly."

"What do you need to talk about that can't be said here?" Tohka asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes at Kaguya.

"Relax. It's nothing serious," Kaguya assured her with a smile.

Tohka frowned, considering this for a moment before blurting out, "Is she your mistress?"

Kaguya nearly choked. How did this little vinegar jar even know the term "mistress?"

Though, technically, Origami had come before Tohka. If anyone was a mistress, it wasn't Kotori.

"Stop saying ridiculous things. Don't forget we're supposed to set up the bedrooms," Kaguya coughed awkwardly, changing the subject. "Go ahead. I'll join you soon."

At the mention of setting up bedrooms, Tohka's eyes lit up. She was especially interested in the grand bedroom, nearly the size of a living room, with luxurious furnishings and a soft bed so comfortable it felt like lying on a cloud.

Mukuro, meanwhile, appeared indifferent to most things. As long as her staff and bedding were intact, she didn't seem to care much about where she slept.

Origami's expression, however, tightened ever so slightly as she glanced meaningfully at Kotori before leaving.

In a secluded corner of the park, Kaguya finally stopped and turned to Kotori.

"I take full responsibility for not meeting you yesterday," Kaguya said seriously.

Kotori raised her chin defiantly and huffed, "As you should."

"However," Kaguya continued, her tone shifting to a grave one, "I don't think there's any need for us to play mind games or scheme against each other. What exactly are you trying to achieve by doing this?"

Kotori's expression stiffened momentarily before she turned away, her voice hard. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Let's not waste time on pretense," Kaguya said firmly. "What's your real motive? I assume you're trying to use that method to seal my spirit powers, correct?"

Kotori's pupils contracted sharply at Kaguya's words.

Kaguya had long been puzzled by Kotori Itsuka's strange behavior. Why was Kotori deliberately getting close to her? What was her ultimate goal? Despite racking her brain, Kaguya couldn't come up with an answer. However, recently, she remembered the premise of the original Date A Live series: dating Spirits to save the world.

Could it be that Kotori was trying to "conquer" her?

The thought alone made Kaguya chuckle. Was Kotori joking?

Still, after laughing it off, Kaguya had to admit the possibility wasn't entirely implausible. In the original story, Shidou Itsuka had the ability to seal Spirits' powers. The origin of that ability was never clearly explained, nor was it explicitly stated that the power was unique to him.

If Shidou's power to seal Spirits was connected to Kotori somehow, could it mean Kotori herself possessed this ability? Or even if it wasn't inherently hers, might she have discovered the same method over the years? Could she now intend to use it to control Spirits?

Based on Kotori's current expression, Kaguya felt she had likely hit the mark.

It was ironic. Kaguya, who had always been the one "conquering" others, now found herself being targeted. But if this was Kotori's strategy for winning her over, it was far too clumsy. Did Kotori think she could successfully conquer Kaguya with this childish approach? Even if she did, it wouldn't work—Kaguya wasn't truly a Spirit and couldn't be sealed.

Not that Kaguya expected anything as scandalous as seduction to be on the table.

"How… how could you even think that!" Kotori shouted, her voice flustered and defensive.

"Hmm? Really?" Kaguya replied with a faint, knowing smile.

"Just answer me—are we still going on that date or not?" Kotori, now visibly embarrassed, snapped, clearly trying to steer the conversation back to her original agenda.

"Yes, yes, of course," Kaguya laughed. "But I'm curious—what is it that makes you so hostile toward Spirits?"

"Hostile? I'm not!" Kotori exclaimed, though the way she averted her gaze seemed to suggest otherwise.

"Is that so? Even about something like this, you're keeping secrets?" Kaguya smiled gently. "If that's the case, then our date loses all meaning. There's no point in continuing it."

Kotori went silent, biting her lip. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke. "If your family had been killed by Spirits when you were little, what would you do? Would you still be able to stay calm?"

Kaguya blinked, momentarily taken aback. She recalled hearing rumors about Kotori's parents having been killed in a Spirit attack.

However, a thought struck Kaguya. Frowning slightly, she asked, "You were very young when it happened, weren't you?"

Kotori hesitated briefly before nodding. "It was ten years ago. It was my fourth birthday."

"Your fourth birthday…" Kaguya murmured. So Kotori was fourteen now?

Looking at the girl in front of her, with her budding charm and graceful curves, Kaguya would never have guessed Kotori was only fourteen. Her slender yet curvaceous figure was already reminiscent of a young woman's, especially the subtle yet enticing swell of her chest—a charming allure that was almost too mature for her age.

Was this what middle schoolers were like these days? Kaguya couldn't help but muse.

Still, fourteen. A borderline age, just stepping out of the realm of childhood. Starting to understand love—but barely. Not that Kaguya cared much about laws with her power, but she certainly wasn't interested in anything so indecent.

"And do you remember what happened back then?" Kaguya asked after a pause.

"What happened back then?" Kotori furrowed her brow, as if lost in thought. "It was nighttime, and I was sleeping at home. When I woke up, the house was already engulfed in flames, and my parents were lying on the floor… Why do you ask?"

"So you didn't actually see the Spirit with your own eyes?" Kaguya immediately zeroed in on the critical detail.

Kotori stiffened. "What difference does that make? There were plenty of witnesses, and the surveillance footage confirmed it. Based on the analysis, it was definitely a Spirit—only a Spirit could cause such destruction."

"Could it have been someone else?" Kaguya suggested, her tone thoughtful.

"Someone else?" Kotori's voice grew sharp, and her eyes blazed with anger. "Are you trying to defend the Spirits?"

"Not at all," Kaguya said, shaking her head. "Don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to excuse the culprit—I only want to uncover the truth."

"The truth?" Kotori sneered, turning away. "Do you think you can learn something I couldn't after all these years? You're just trying to absolve the Spirits."

Kotori's deep-seated resentment toward Spirits was evident in her expression. It wasn't surprising, really. Anyone whose family had been killed would naturally harbor feelings of vengeance. It was human nature.

Still, the incident seemed rife with suspicious details to Kaguya. Unfortunately, she lacked the ability to go back in time and verify what had happened.

"Actually, going back in time isn't entirely impossible."

A sultry voice rang out from the woods behind Kaguya. When she turned, she saw a beautiful figure stepping gracefully out of the shadows—Kurumi Tokisaki.

Hearing Kurumi's words, Kaguya's eyes lit up. "You mean… you have a way to travel back in time?"

The moment the question left her lips, Kaguya remembered Kurumi's ability. In the original novel, Kurumi's Zafkiel's Twelfth Bullet had the power of time reversal. How could she have forgotten?

"Of course," Kurumi said, her movements languid and elegant as she approached Kaguya. She glanced at Kaguya and smiled. "If it's something dear to you, I'll do my best to help."

"You really can go back in time?" Kotori asked anxiously.

If Kotori didn't have any doubts about what had happened ten years ago, that would be impossible. She had never seen the Spirit with her own eyes, nor did she know which Spirit had killed her parents. Naturally, she wanted to know the truth more than anything.

"Absolutely," Kurumi said, turning to Kotori with a radiant smile. Raising a delicate finger, she added, "But I do have one condition."

"A condition?"

Both Kotori and Kaguya were curious, unsure of what Kurumi had in mind.

Kurumi's lips curved into a playful smile. "Yes, a condition. Using this ability isn't as easy as snapping my fingers. It consumes a tremendous amount of spiritual energy. Wouldn't it be unfair to do it without receiving something in return?"

Kaguya nodded. She knew full well how costly Zafkiel's Twelfth Bullet was. In the original series, Kurumi had killed over ten thousand people to gather the energy needed to activate it and go back thirty years. Even then, it wasn't enough.

The further back in time one wished to go, the greater the energy consumption. Staying in the past also drained energy continuously. Without sufficient reserves, the user would be forcibly returned to the present.

"What's your condition?" Kotori asked, her voice steady. "If it's something I can do, I'll agree to it."

"Oh, don't worry," Kurumi said, her smile widening. "It's something simple—nothing too difficult for you. It won't even cause you much trouble."

Both Kotori and Kaguya leaned in slightly, intrigued by Kurumi's words.

Kurumi's eyes sparkled mischievously as she finally revealed her demand.

"All I want… is your chastity."

"Huh?"

"What?"

"You—you've got to be joking!" Kotori's face turned crimson as she shouted in anger. "How can you make such a shameless and despicable demand? This is completely outrageous!"

"Ahem."

Kaguya looked a bit embarrassed. She had already guessed what Kurumi was up to, especially when Kurumi winked at her and gave her a sly, meaningful smile. It was obvious. Kaguya couldn't help but regret telling Kurumi everything.

On that night they shared a bed, Kurumi had persistently wheedled and coaxed until Kaguya finally gave in and told her everything. She revealed how she came to this world, her purpose here, and even the system's mission objectives—details she hadn't shared with anyone else.

When Kaguya finished explaining, Kurumi's reaction wasn't the shock she had expected. Instead, it seemed as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Kaguya couldn't quite figure out what Kurumi was thinking. What's more, the task item associated with her mission had been so awkward to describe that Kaguya herself struggled to say it aloud—but Kurumi didn't seem fazed at all.

"Outrageous?" Kurumi sneered, unfazed. "Do you think the ability to rewind time is so easily wielded? Using it will cost me a tremendous amount of spirit energy. Who knows how long it will take to recover?"

"That doesn't mean—that doesn't mean—" Kotori stammered, biting her lip as her flushed face grew redder with shame and frustration.

"Well, that's up to you," Kurumi replied with a shrug and a sly smile. "After all, I'm not the one desperate to go back in time. If you refuse, it's no skin off my back. But without solid evidence, you won't be able to definitively prove a Spirit killed your parents. So don't pin unfounded blame on us Spirits."

"Unfounded?" Kotori bristled, her voice rising with anger. "It's because of Spirits like you that so many tragedies happen! Are you trying to deny that?"

"Deny?" Kurumi tilted her head, her smile growing even sweeter as she playfully cupped her cheek. "Is throwing baseless accusations your only skill? If you're so sure it was the work of a Spirit, then provide evidence. If you can prove it, I'll acknowledge your claim as fact."

Kotori was momentarily at a loss for words. She had no irrefutable proof that a Spirit was responsible for the incident ten years ago.

Finally, she clenched her teeth and shouted, "Fine! If that's the case, I'll agree to your terms. If it wasn't a Spirit, I'll apologize and fulfill my promise. But I have one condition."

"Oh? And what might that be?" Kurumi asked casually.

"If it turns out Spirits were responsible for my family's deaths, they must pay the price," Kotori declared, her fists clenched tightly.

"And what price might that be?" Kurumi asked with interest, her golden-red eyes glinting as she studied Kotori's furious expression. "Don't tell me you're thinking of killing us? If that's your plan, I suggest you abandon such a far-fetched notion."

"There's no need for that," Kotori replied, her voice cold. "My demand is that Spirits must atone for their past actions. Not just you two—every Spirit must serve time in prison."

Prison?

Kaguya blinked, then couldn't help but laugh. That was a new one. No one had ever seriously suggested she serve time behind bars. Those who entertained such notions had long since become one with the earth, with weeds marking their resting place.

"Fine, I agree," Kurumi said, clapping her hands together with a grin. "Since everything's settled, we can proceed."

Kaguya stepped closer to Kurumi, whispering, "Aren't you worried that Spirits really were responsible? If we lose, we'd all end up behind bars."

"Behind bars?" Kurumi repeated, blinking. Then, understanding the slang, she chuckled, covering her mouth. "What a colorful phrase. But my dear Kaguya, if Spirits were responsible, do you really plan to go to prison?"

"Of course not," Kaguya replied without hesitation. "Why would I waste my time on something like that? Besides, it wasn't even my doing. Why should I take the blame?"

"There's your answer," Kurumi said, flashing a knowing smile.

Kaguya's expression darkened as realization dawned on her. This little minx had no intention of honoring the deal—she'd simply agreed to string Kotori along.

Then again, Kurumi had a point. Who in their right mind would willingly go to prison for a crime they didn't commit? Only a fool would do such a thing.

"Alright, let's get started," Kurumi declared, drawing her flintlock pistol. She smiled as she called out, "Come forth, Zafkiel."

With a deafening rumble, an enormous clock emerged from the ground. Its golden structure gleamed ominously, its intricate gears and faint crimson aura exuding an overwhelming power. Kotori's eyes widened, and her face paled.

She had read reports on Kurumi, but they were incomplete, containing only fragments of information. The files described her as a powerful and bloodthirsty Spirit, responsible for over ten thousand human deaths, with an S-rank danger level.

However, seeing Kurumi's power firsthand far exceeded Kotori's expectations. The sheer pressure Kurumi exuded was suffocating. Kotori doubted she could stand firm against it without donning her combat armor.

Unbeknownst to Kotori, even Kurumi herself was surprised. Since that fateful night with Kaguya, her strength had surged significantly. Her spirit power had expanded to unprecedented levels, far surpassing her previous capabilities.

Kurumi didn't fully understand the reason behind this transformation, but she was certain it was related to Kaguya. After all, her power stemmed from—

"Why are you standing so far away?" Kurumi's sly voice interrupted, her smile mischievous. She called out to the two standing at a distance. "If you're too far, there's a chance the transfer could fail. Spatial distortions might leave you missing an arm or a leg. Don't say I didn't warn you."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon: 

Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven