I don't want to be an elf!

She could certainly understand what Kurumi Tokisaki was saying.

When her heart is completely swallowed by darkness, she will be forced to become a monster unable to live in the sunlight, curled up in lonely darkness for the rest of her life.

Looking at the girl before her, Izumi Kyoka couldn't help but ask, "Sister, are you the same as me?"

"The same? No, not at all. Although we are of the same kind, you are just a lost child who has fallen into the abyss because of the deception of others. You are fundamentally different from me."

Kurumi Tokisaki laughed.

"But I was clear-headed even when I was falling into depravity."

It was I who willingly embraced the abyss.

Chapter Twenty-One: Kurumi Tokisaki's Past

Upon hearing what Tokisaki Kurumi said, Izumi Kyoka's eyes widened slightly.

For her, it was simply unbelievable that anyone in this world would voluntarily choose to fall into depravity.

She could only get pain from killing, and the deeper she went, the more desperate she felt.

Far removed from the world where ordinary people live, in the end all that remains is a cold and broken heart.

This kind of life almost drove her to the brink of collapse.

However, Kurumi Tokisaki said that she actively chose this kind of life?

"Why?" Izumi Kyoka couldn't help but ask, "Don't you feel pain, sister?"

"Such things have existed before," Kurumi Tokisaki smiled slightly. "But for the goal I must achieve, mere pain is not unbearable. Sometimes, I can even find joy in suffering, which is a kind of pleasure."

"Target?"

"That's my personal matter, you don't need to know," Kurumi Tokisaki said gently, patting Kyoka Izumi's head.

Kurumi Tokisaki, the real Kurumi Tokisaki, was originally just an ordinary young lady named Kim.

Just like she always is, she is gentle, elegant, noble, yet approachable.

Until one day, she encountered a crazed spirit and was saved by the initial spirit, Mio Suomiya, when she was almost killed.

Mio Tsugimiya calls herself a partner of justice, refers to the crazed spirits as evil beings, and invites Kurumi Tokisaki to become her partner in the fight against evil.

At that time, the young and naive Tokisaki Kurumi trusted Takami Mio. Although she knew nothing about spirits and had no clue about Takami Mio's goals, Takami Mio saved her, so she gave Takami Mio her complete trust.

At this point, Tokisaki Kurumi absorbed the Spirit Crystal and became a Time Spirit.

After that, the two of them defeated several crazed elves together, and she always firmly believed that she was doing righteous things.

Until one day, while fighting a berserk fire spirit, she discovered that the fire spirit's true form was actually her missing best friend.

She learned that the mad elves she had destroyed were actually all humans, and that the mastermind behind turning humans into mad elves was Mio Tsukimiya. At that moment, immense despair almost drove her to madness.

She angrily questioned Mio Suinomiya about her reasons for creating so many tragedies, but before this Mother of Elves, her power was so weak.

However, because Tokisaki Kurumi still had some use, Mio Takamiya did not kill her directly. Instead, she erased her memories and threw her into the world inhabited by the spirits, the Neighborhood.

When she reappeared in her original world, she had forgotten everything, even who she was.

Fortunately, the Tenth Bullet's ability is to read memories.

After using the Tenth Bullet on herself, Kurumi Tokisaki recalled all the memories that Mio Tsukimiya had erased.

For her best friend, for the sake of herself who had been deceived, to prevent more people from becoming victims, and for the sake of this world, Tokisaki Kurumi decides to kill Takamiya Mio.

Thus, a vengeful demon was born.

No matter the cost, no matter the criticism, no matter how lonely and painful she is, she will kill Mio Sumeragi.

Even if it means burning yourself out, burning others out, burning the whole world out.

Even if it means becoming the most wicked elf.

Yes, no one forced her to do it, and no one tricked her into doing it.

It was her own choice.

She herself embarked on this thorny and hellish path.

This was a path that could never end well, a path that others could not understand, a path that would be condemned by all. She was prepared to bear the consequences the moment she made the decision.

Retribution? Punishment? Trial?

She enjoyed it very much.

"Let's go, Kyoka."

Kurumi Tokisaki's smile remained as gentle as ever: "It's time to leave here."

"Yes......"

Seeing that Tokisaki Kurumi was unwilling to talk about herself, Izumi Kyoka didn't pry and obediently followed her.

They took the elevator up and soon left the dungeon.

Where are we going now?

"Let's find a place to stay first."

The elevator quickly arrived at the first floor.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Kurumi Tokisaki saw a man dressed in a black coat with a face as pale as paper.

Upon seeing this man, Izumi Kyoka, who was following behind Tokisaki Kurumi, couldn't help but clutch the hem of her clothes.

Ryunosuke Akutagawa, the black-clad grim reaper of the Port Mafia.

"Sir, could you please move aside?"

After a moment of eye contact, Kurumi Tokisaki spoke first: "We're about to go out."

"You are Tokisaki Kurumi?" Ryunosuke Akutagawa asked in a low voice.

"Could you move aside?" Kurumi Tokisaki asked again. "You're blocking my way."

"I won't give up until you answer my question."

"I have no intention of stirring up trouble here." Kurumi Tokisaki sighed. "I'm not Kurumi Tokisaki, are you satisfied now?"

“I received a message from the Boss saying that command of my subordinate, Izumi Kyoka, will be transferred today to someone named Tokisaki Kurumi, and that this person is in the dungeon preparing to take my subordinate away,” Akutagawa Ryunosuke said. “If you are not Tokisaki Kurumi, why are you with my subordinate?”

"Mori Ōgai..." Tokisaki Kurumi suddenly felt a headache coming on. "As expected, that old fox won't let go of this rare opportunity."

When she heard that Ryunosuke Akutagawa had come after receiving a message from Mori Ōgai, she understood what Mori Ōgai was planning.

Handing over subordinates is a normal thing. As long as the superior agrees, the subordinate has no right to interfere.

However, Ryunosuke Akutagawa was not a normal person.

If he finds out that the subordinates he personally discovered and nurtured have been handed over to someone else, he will definitely come looking for trouble.

Mori Ōgai wanted to see this happen.

Ryunosuke Akutagawa is the second strongest superhuman in the Port Mafia, making him a perfect opponent for Kurumi Tokisaki.

Previously at the drug factory, because the people inside were all ordinary people with such weak fighting abilities, they were unable to force out Tokisaki Kurumi's true strength.

In that case, let's change her opponent to someone who can force her to reveal her true strength.

Through the battle with Ryunosuke Akutagawa, we can analyze what Kurumi Tokisaki's abilities truly are.

This was Mori Ōgai's purpose.

Of course, it would be even better if you could accidentally kill her in the battle.

In this way, he no longer needs to worry about the Port Mafia's secrets being leaked.

"He's a man who never lets you have an easy time, no matter what."

Kurumi Tokisaki sighed inwardly, looked at Kyoka Izumi, and said helplessly:

"I'm sorry, Kyoka, my return home may have to be delayed."

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Battle Against Superpowered Individuals

"I am indeed Kurumi Tokisaki."

Knowing that Ryunosuke Akutagawa wouldn't back down easily, Kurumi Tokisaki abandoned any intention of downplaying the matter and asked bluntly, "What brings you here, Mr. Akutagawa?"

“Give me back Kyoka.” Ryunosuke Akutagawa said just as bluntly. “She is my subordinate, not your secretary. Give her back to me, and I will choose a more suitable secretary for you.”

"I think it's fine as it is, there's no need to change it."

"I don't think you understood what I was saying."

Ryunosuke Akutagawa stepped forward and into the elevator that was about to close: "This is an order, not a request. I'll say it one last time: give Kyoka back to me."

"Order?"

Kurumi Tokisaki tilted her head, and the bangs covering her left eye fell back slightly, revealing her terrifying golden clock eyes: "If I remember correctly, you and I are in the same class, right? Mr. Akutagawa doesn't seem to have the authority to order me around."

A fierce glint flashed in Ryunosuke Akutagawa's eyes, and the black coat he was wearing seemed to come alive, slowly writhing.

But in the end, he did nothing, and the man in black returned to calm.

Ignoring Kurumi Tokisaki, Ryunosuke Akutagawa reached out to Kyoka Izumi behind him and said, "Come here, Kyoka, that's not a place for you."

"don't want......"

"Hmm?" Ryunosuke Akutagawa was somewhat surprised. "You're going to disobey my orders too?"

“I won’t go with you,” Izumi Kyoka’s voice trembled slightly. “My sister helped me, and I must repay this kindness.”

"Now that you've heard what Kyoka said, I think you can leave now." Tokisaki Kurumi slapped Akutagawa Ryunosuke's hand away. "Being too clingy with your ex is annoying, don't you even understand that?"

“Shut up, Tokisaki. The only reason I’m sparing your life is to give you face,” Ryunosuke Akutagawa said coldly. “But if you dare to speak disrespectfully, even if you’re my equal, I won’t show you any mercy.”

"Oh dear, how arrogant," Kurumi Tokisaki chuckled. "So even a silent mad dog can reason?

"I am aware of my role as a lackey, and low-level provocations only make me laugh."

Ryunosuke Akutagawa was not angry, and his tone was as cold as ever: "Hand over Kyoka to me, and I will spare your life."

"There are quite a few people who want to kill me."