Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 7 Chapter 4 (section)

== 4.07 Youko The Last ==
All of the Zones Youko had created thus far were vanishing one after another.

With its nutrition dwindling, Genius's once-unlimited energy couldn't be contained any longer.

The domain controlled by Genius weakened, and the luster around its body thinned.

"N-no way…"

Youko rose from her suitcase, grimacing in nervousness.

Such a thing happening was way outside her calculations.

The Spirit Zones were being erased—

How had they surmised that they'd be able to stop Genius like that?

She had no intention of underestimating the ex-Demon Lord and Chronicler, Haemori Ako.

Youko had noticed Ako chasing after her. That was why Youko acted prudently, moving in a way that she wouldn't be found.

Yet before she started investigating Youko's identity, Ako had probably noticed the strange happenings in town and investigated the Spirit Zones. That was the only explanation.

Even Youko who created them knew the activation conditions and effect of only a few Zones.

And despite this Ako managed to find out nearly all of them by herself?

"Uuuhhh…!"

She bit her lips in frustration.

Even so, somewhere in her heart, she noticed herself despising Ako.

Youko got carried away, thinking that a Demon Lord of the past wouldn't be her opponent.

She was a normal girl, the solitary member of the journalism club, a girl who preached every day about the Demon Lord conspiracy. But without anyone knowing, she'd fought against Youko all alone.

"Run away, Genius…! Dig into the ground and we'll wait until you're fully grown up!"

She ordered Genius through Loci on her shoulder.

A coffin rose from the feet of the large mantis. Once Genius returned underground, nobody would be able to lay a hand on it. It would take some time, but a second chance would certainly come.

However—

"Ah…"

The coffin's movements stopped.

It was probably an enemy's ability. Taking advantage of Genius's weakness, they sealed its movements.

Successive attacks assaulted Genius.

All of them would have not left even a scratch on Genius before. Even so before Youko's very eyes, the large mantis's body was being shaved.

"Aaahhh…"

Youko, who was just a normal person, could do nothing but watch.

The future she'd dreamt of was crumbling apart.

"If only it was fully grown we would've won already…"

She clenched her fist.

"If Ako-chan wasn't there, I would've become the Demon Lord…"

She was a mere step away.

Youko without a doubt reached to the seat of the Demon lord.

She heard her own teeth grinding.

"—I haven't lost yet!"

She turned around vigorously.

"If it eats even one more Mushi, Genius should fully evolve—"

Her prey was nearby.

Haemori Ako had become a Mushitsuki. If she ate her Mushi, perhaps Genius would retrieve its previous power.

However—

"Ah…"

During the time Youko stood in place, Ako had already moved to the fence.

From the other side of the steel pipes wrapped in ribbons, Ako's eyes calmly gazed at Youko.

"Ako-chan—"

The hand she extended to the girl clashed against the fence.

That distance was outside Loci's pheromones' range. Even if she got on the fence now she wouldn't make it in time.

Ako kept staring at her direction, not saying anything. Her sad face pursued Youko even now.

"…Then!"

White particles burst from her feet.

Youko took out her rack, and put the suitcase on it. The shelves flew open vigorously as she opened it.

"I'll make MYSELF a Mushitsuki!"

This wasn't the time to act willy-nilly.

She would turn herself into food for Genius—

In the space covered by Loci's pheromones, Youko's hands moved quickly.

If Ako was a professional camerawoman, then Ako was a miniature garden-building specialist. Youko had created many worlds with her hands and played with people's hearts.

A doll symbolizing herself stood in the center.

With the smile of a Demon Lord she grabbed the pieces, and instantly created a world—

"…"

Or so she should have.

Youko's smile froze.

"Why…?"

After putting a lone person doll, her arms couldn't move anymore.

Nothing came to mind.

There were no materials in the miniature garden.

She simply created an empty space.

Youko's eyes could simply see herself left behind in this blank world.

"This is—"

Her Demon Lord smile distorted in despair.

She realized the meaning of the miniature garden she'd created.

"This empty world… is the world… I've dreamed of…?"

A lone tear streamed down her cheek.

The tear streamed down her chin, becoming a droplet that fell to the ground.

As she stood there frozen stiff, a golden light came into her sight.

The bundle of lasers shot from the ground blew away Genius's head.

The mantis's body tilted.

Its head blown off, Genius slowly collapsed—

"Loci-chan…"

Still in the position of preparing her materials, Youko couldn't take any move.

She knew Loci on her shoulder was vanishing.

"Only a bit more…"

Still shedding tears, she wore a weak smile.

If only Genius had fully grown—

If only Ako wasn't there—

Would Youko really become a Demon Lord?

"But—"

Was it really so, though?

Manipulating people.

Playing with dreams.

Eating Mushi.

She dreamt of the Demon Lord.

Even Youko herself thought that this happened through a miracle beyond her wildest dreams.

Perhaps Youko was someone who wasn't supposed to—shouldn't exist.

However, even so—

"It was fun, right…?"

Satou Youko.

The girl who feared Mushi and dreamt of becoming the Demon Lord.

While she wore a childish smile, the Loci on her shoulder vanished while raising a small shriek.

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