I Sealed Sukuna’s Finger#366+367: The Power of the Fourth Progenitor—A Plan? There Is No Plan Anymore~

From the blazing noon sun to its slow descent into crimson twilight, the apartment finally fell quiet.

Hours of battle had dragged them from the kitchen to the living room sofa, and then finally into the bedroom.

The place wasn’t large—it was a single-occupant arc-shaped unit, like every other in the building. But after an afternoon of constant “fighting,” the whole apartment was steeped in the heavy scent of smoke and aftermath.

It was like someone had cracked eggs into disinfectant and smeared it across the entire floor.

Inside the bedroom, Bokue Keikain lay with Nagisa cradled tight in his arms. The True Ancestor girl clung to his neck in return, holding him as though she’d never let go.

Off to the side, Yukina sat with her back to the headboard, her face still flushed. She stole glances now and then, too embarrassed to look directly, yet too restless not to.

She knew very well what Nagisa and Bokue were doing. She’d felt it herself before—the heat, the overwhelming joy.

“Nguh...”

A soft, breathy sound escaped Nagisa, like the hiss of air from deep in her chest. Her arms loosened as her strength finally gave way.

“Ha... hahahaha...” Her lips curved into a tired but blissful smile. “As expected... Nagisa still loves big brother most~”

Her eyes were red, as if she’d just been crying. Her voice trembled. But the satisfaction in her smile was undeniable.

Still, she wasn’t oblivious. Her gaze flicked toward the window, to the reddening sky.

“...But it looks like it’s getting late. Big brother, don’t you have to go pick up Asagi-senpai from work?”

“Yeah. It’s already four. I’ve got an hour. No rush.”

Even as he spoke, Bokue pushed open the “palace gates” once more, sending the last of today’s newborns across the threshold.

“I’ll take you to wash up before I head out.”

“Fine—then please wash Yukina-chan first.”

Nagisa’s suggestion came unexpectedly.

“...Wash Yukina first? What about you?” Bokue blinked.

Normally, Nagisa always insisted on joining in for baths, using the excuse that three was more “fun.” In truth, she just wanted to squeeze out every extra second of intimacy.

But today she stepped back, volunteering Yukina ahead of her.

“I’ll... go later. It’s fine.” She turned in his arms and planted a quick kiss on his lips, giggling softly.

“I just don’t have the strength right now—I can barely stand. And Yukina-chan started earlier but hasn’t gone again since. Big brother’s about to leave soon, right? Shouldn’t you ‘take care’ of her properly before you go?”

“Eh? I don’t need—”

Caught off guard, Yukina’s face went crimson. She waved her hands quickly in denial.

Yes, she had started earlier, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t been filled. Her total intake hadn’t been less than Nagisa’s. Sure, her body had recovered some strength after resting, but that didn’t mean she could just dive right back in!

Like cardio—sweat comes with exertion, and when you sweat, you drink water. But that doesn’t mean you can keep running forever just by drinking endlessly. That way lies collapse.

But before she could finish protesting, Nagisa’s teasing voice cut in again:

“If big brother actually believes that, then he’s an idiot. Our Yukina-chan is the queen of tsunderes. You think she’ll ever admit out loud, ‘I want more’? Not in a million years.”

“...”

Bokue fell silent.

...She wasn’t wrong.

After a brief pause, he scooped the flustered Yukina straight into his arms, ignoring her sputtering denials, and stood.

“Then I’ll take Yukina to wash first. I’ll be back for you after.”

“Mm~ no problem. I can wait.”

Nagisa waved cheerfully, watching them leave the bedroom. Only when they were gone did she finally exhale, collapsing back onto the bed. Her whole body was heavy, her limbs jelly, her mind hazy.

“Mm... that should count as payback for teasing Yukina-chan at lunch.” She yawned softly, mumbling to herself. “God... dozens of times back-to-back all afternoon. Now that big brother’s not here, I’m actually... kinda sleepy... But he’ll come wake me later anyway...”

Sleep crept over her swiftly. Her breathing evened, eyes closing peacefully.

And then—

The closet door, which had been shut tight all afternoon, creaked softly.

Without a sound, it swung open from within, right beside the bed.

A girl slipped out silently, cheeks flushed scarlet. Yuuma Tokoyogi.

She tiptoed carefully across the floor, her pant legs stained dark in places.

“...Seriously. How can they even keep going like this? Look at the state of things.”

Her whisper carried a faint bite, though her expression betrayed something else—half exasperation, half envy.

She’d spent the entire afternoon hidden in that closet, listening helplessly as the “battle” raged from kitchen to living room to bedroom.

Thank goodness she’d been clever enough to sit down in there early on. If she’d tried standing through all of that, her legs would’ve given out long ago.

Not that they weren’t wobbly already.

But that was another matter.

With a sharp breath, Yuuma shook her head and summoned her Stand.

“Le Blue.”

The towering azure knight emerged silently at her back.

❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁

Twenty minutes later, steam drifted out of the bathroom as Bokue carried Yukina back into the apartment, her face crimson, her body limp in his arms. Another “daily summary,” complete.

But when he stepped back into the bedroom, he stopped.

Nagisa was already sitting up on the bed, wrapped snugly in a towel.

“Huh?” Bokue blinked.

Nagisa usually kept the towels folded neatly away in the closet. Why was she wearing one before she’d even bathed?

“Aha... I got a little cold waiting, since I sweated so much earlier. I just grabbed one to wrap up for now,” she said sheepishly, smiling awkwardly.

“Got it.”

Bokue nodded, not pressing the point. He set Yukina gently down on the bed, then stood again.

And that was when “Nagisa’s” eyes widened. For the first time, she saw him fully, unobstructed—saw the massive “bus” that had been ferrying passengers all afternoon.

Her breath caught.

That size... that can’t be real...

“Alright. Next up is you, Nagisa.”

Before “she” could react, Bokue scooped her up, towel and all, and cradled her firmly against his chest.

<><><><><><><><>

Twenty minutes earlier—

Inside a luxury suite at a central Itogami Island hotel.

Shnnk—

Without warning, a towering knight of azure flame shimmered into existence. Space itself rippled, the air vibrating with familiar magical distortion.

Nagisa appeared next—though in truth, it was Yuuma Tokoyogi inside her body, clutching the unconscious true Yuuma against her chest as she stepped through the transfer.

“Hmph. Finally.”

The disdainful scoff came instantly from the sofa.

Two witch sisters—Emma and Octavia Meyer—rose from their seats, sharp glares fixed on the girl who’d just arrived from the teleport.

“Yuuma Tokoyogi, your efficiency is pathetic. We’ve been waiting here an entire afternoon for you.”

“Oh? My apologies. That must’ve been... very tiring for you.”

The girl smiled faintly. It looked like she was offering apology—perhaps even sympathy—but her next words made both sisters stiffen.

“But before you complain again, maybe remember who brought you the Fourth Progenitor’s power. In other words—I hold the leash. And if you keep testing me, I won’t mind using the two of you as practice dummies while I learn to control it.”

“Wha—??”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

The sisters stumbled back a half-step in unison, disbelief etched across their faces.

They were feared worldwide after their ritual had erased an entire province from the North Sea Empire. Listed as Tier-One criminal magi by the Itogami Administration.

And yet, in front of the strongest vampire in existence—the Fourth Progenitor—such feats meant nothing. They knew it. They needed the Progenitor’s borrowed strength just to have a shot at breaching Itogami’s prison barrier.

“Don’t get cocky!” Octavia snarled, temper flaring. “Using the Fourth Progenitor’s power is your plan. Our original design didn’t need it. We could’ve sacrificed a hundred thousand souls from this island and still—”

“I suggest you don’t.”

The sharp interjection froze her.

“Let me remind you—Bokue is here, on this island. And he intends to claim it as his own territory. If you slaughter ten thousand citizens under his nose... tell me, what kind of ending do you think awaits you?”

“Bokue again?? Always your precious childhood crush—”

“Shut up.”

Yuuma’s tone cut clean, merciless.

“I know you hate hearing it, but facts don’t care about your pride. The only reason I joined this little operation was to prevent a massacre. I’ll borrow the Fourth Progenitor’s strength, break the barrier, free ‘Mother’—then I’ll take responsibility with Bokue afterwards. You? You just leave once she’s free.”

Silence.

Her words burned with too much truth to argue.

Even with Le Blue, she’d been able to restrain the Progenitor’s body briefly, but Bokue’s will hadn’t budged an inch. That alone proved his power was far beyond their reach.

“...Tch. Fine.” Octavia clicked her tongue, irritated but conceding. “So what’s the next move? Do we strike immediately, or wait?”

“Patience,” Yuuma said softly, smiling again.

“When the time comes, you’ll take the 539th Grimoire to the Keystone Gate. Cast from there—at the island’s exact center—and scramble all spatial coordinates. Just like last night. That will paralyze transportation and security for a short while.”

“And you?” Emma’s voice was calm, though skeptical.

“I’ll use the window to reach the prison barrier and free Mother with the Progenitor’s power.”

“Then why wait?” Emma pressed. “Why not just do it now? What changes?”

Yuuma shrugged lightly. “If we move now, the city center goes into chaos. Bokue will sense it. And tell me—when he realizes what’s happening, will he come for me... or for you?”

The witches exchanged uneasy looks.

“You don’t need to guess. He’ll go for you. He doesn’t know who you are. And he won’t hesitate. One strike—and you won’t even have time to beg.”

She spread her hands as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

“But if we wait until Nagisa wakes up, she’ll realize her body’s been swapped. She’ll tell Bokue. And then—he’ll come straight for me instead. You won’t die pointlessly.”

“...Do you actually think you can beat him?” Octavia asked, half-mocking, half-anxious.

“No.” Yuuma answered plainly, shaking her head.

“But it’s still the highest chance we have. The only path that avoids total slaughter. Unless, of course, you still want to try staring down a power greater than the Progenitors themselves.”

Silence again. No objections this time.

“Good,” Yuuma said finally. “Then that’s the plan.”

❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁

Back to the present.

The hotel bathroom steamed thick with fog.

Water splashed ceaselessly, spraying against the glass, streaking it with beads.

Inside the blurred silhouette of the shower, Yuuma’s body arched, trembling, her breath tearing ragged from her throat.

Heat seared her from the inside out, overwhelming every fiber of her being.

Her reason frayed. Her composure shattered.

She tried to remind herself—Follow the plan. Stick to the plan.

But what was the plan again?

Plan... plan...

There was no plan anymore.