Chapter 404

One hundred thirty-ninth, isn’t this voice more familiar?

“Tap tap tap tap—”

“Tap tap tap tap—cough!”

Under the streetlights lining the road, two figures ran after each other, one in front of the other, heading towards a distant direction. Only the sound of footsteps echoed through the dull night, making their heartbeats even more apparent as he fled and she pursued.

“Huff—huff—ah, I can’t anymore.”

Running to an abandoned bridge, the chest of Ash burning with pain, leaned against a bridge pillar, grasping his heaving chest, breathing heavily with fresh air.

I really can’t do it… aging means my physical functions are deteriorating; slight intense exercise protests from head to toe, from bone to muscle. If not for all these penalties, this little distance would be nothing more than a stroll after a meal for me!

“Really, although it’s no big deal to bet my life, that which weakens me should probably not be used again next time.”

“Haaa—haa—”

Similarly, running the whole way, the back of Lily’s white dress was already soaked, becoming transparent due to sweat. The girl, supporting herself with trembling hands on her shaking knees, gazed at the person before her with unclear eyes.

The sudden escape of Ash revealed something obvious, but scenes from the past, his motivational words, the happy routine despite being jokingly forced were still flashing in Lily’s eyes.

How should I react? What do I say to him? Is it true or false? Should I hate him or beg for him?

No one can give Yuki Kagami Lily a definitive answer now.

“Haaa—haha, why you! Why you of all people!”

“Cough cough! I also have something I want to accomplish.” Adjusting his breath, Ash looked up and saw black clouds silently covering the formerly high-hanging moon. “Living in this world often doesn’t allow one to live as they wish. There’s no help for it.”

Even though the reason I do this might not be self-serving.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, there’s no choice. Just believe I have grand plans and reasons,” said Ash, clasping his hands together and bowing to Lily in pleading. “So pretend you saw nothing and spare me?”

“Then explain everything clearly, and return the Heart Seed!”

Doing so would mean everyone… I could forgive you too!

“The problem is, it seems like it won’t work.” Knowing the negotiations have failed, Ash reached behind to grab the driver. “I might not enjoy playing mystery man… but there was no reason to tell you everything, right?”

“Boss, is this truly… the last?” Hearing Kayin’s voice from within, Ash nodded resolutely. “Isn’t this natural? It was decided long ago.”

“These matters…”

“Well, at this point, no one would believe if we treated you as fools anymore.”

Brushing off the dust, Ash placed Kayin’s driver onto his waist under Lily’s tearful gaze.

“[DEMONSDRIVER]!”

“How convenient, it’s better to go all out somewhere secluded.”

Pulling out an aging Evil Seal from a belt storage, Ash activated an effect by pressing “[SPIDER]” and smiled as he released it, inserting it into a slot above the belt.

“[Deal]”

Facing a man wearing a belt—a once familiar manager now transformed into a stranger—Lily felt neither acute sorrow nor anger, only a profound disorientation except for her tear-filled eyes.

“Henshin.”

On the belt’s dot matrix screen, a spider appeared. From the darkened moon above, a shiny metal spider descended, encircling the man in silk forming a cocoon.

“[Decideup! Deep! Drop! Danger!]”

Emerging from the cocoons, breaking the webs, was the familiar face of Kamen Rider Demons, adorned with white-netted armor covering the chest, and a scarlet living muscle flowing with the power of demons.

“Transfigured… into this?”

“Kamen Rider Demons… And I am, Ash.”

Yuki Kagami Lily standing straight behind him, facing the transformed man, tears streamed down her cheeks leaving deep streaks.

“Cough!”

Neck-cracking sounds echoed as Ash, pulling at his collar armor, transmitted his voice from the rider, which instantly altered into a voice they had often loathed.

“Or is this voice, which you’re more familiar with?”

Snap—

Silent glass shattered, as though Lily’s most cherished memories, falling from a rooftop, shattered into countless shards, beyond repair.

“Lily!”

“Never talk to me with that voice!”

In unbearable anguish, several teardrops hovered mid-air behind Lily.

For an instant, silver moonlight transformed Lily into CureMoonlight, her body convulsed, and she didn’t bother with the transformation chant. The unbearable pain drove her forward in a blind fury.

“This…”

Multiple web-like shields opened continuously and were scattered by Lily in one blow. The spitting webs shattered within 0.1 seconds under Lily’s wrath.

Supporting herself with fists, she dodged another critical hit with a somersault. Despite having sturdy armor, the thin girl’s punches sent the knight flying.

“Haha! Can’t let you fight properly. Impressive, Lily, seeing you grow like this makes me glad!”

“Not possible!”

Not returning a rough retort, Lily frantically wiped away her tears with petal-sleeved arms, yet more continued to flow.

Why… why… why!

A thousand questions stormed Lily’s mind yet none could be voiced.

“But—”

Twirling twice to rise up, hunting like a spider, Ash retrieved four seals from behind and swiftly stamped them onto the belt.

“Now as a flower bud, you’re just not mature enough.”