Prologue: Do You Think This is a Dream? “Oh……good morning, Mushiki. What a lovely morning.” If. If hypothetically. Let’s say there is someone who you admire from the bottom of your heart. Just thinking about that person makes your heart throb and race. The world would shine with vivid colors. A person just like that. Just from a gentle smile, the brain would overflow with a mind-numbing sensation. Just by touching the fingertips, the whole body would tremble with ecstasy. Ah, the feeling of being born for this moment──an epiphany arrived at without a hint of irony. No, this isn’t about any sort of illegal drugs. Back to the topic at hand. Now came the real issue. Assuming you have a person like this── What would you do if you suddenly woke up and found that person sleeping next to you. Moreover, that person was naked without a single thread of clothing. “…………” Such was the case for Kuga Mushiki. His eyes pried opened and froze. A huge amount of information was being sent to his retina, eardrums, and nasal cavity. Her sunlight-colored hair glistened from the light coming from the window. She can only be thought of as being blessed by the Gods’ favor. Her brilliant colorful eyes were enshrined at the center of that beauty. And smooth shoulder lines extended from her neck. “Oh────” Right. There was certainly no mistaking about this.
There stood the appearance of a girl that Mushiki longed for, continued to seek, and was never supposed to meet. ──The world’s strongest magician, Kuozaki Saika. That morning, Mushiki reunited with the girl that he had meet during that time.
Chapter 1 Were You Waiting for Su? People have moments when their concentration is sharpened. For instance, the moments when immersed in love. For instance, the moments when pushing forward towards a goal. For instance──the moments when exposing oneself to danger. “…………, …………, …………” In the midst of tension where one second felt endlessly long, Mushiki was sporadically panting while grasping the hilt of his transparent sword. The mental strain of confronting an opponent with a weapon in hand was literally indescribable. Unless personally experienced, it was impossible to convey this as a genuine feeling. All the more so if the opponent he faced counted among the top ranks even within <Void Garden>. “────” They were at the center of the training grounds located in the western area of <Garden>. Opposite of Mushiki was the appearance of a girl who had her long hair tied in twintails. Her name was Fuyajo Ruri. She was Mushiki’s younger sister and classmate. And also, she was one of <Garden>’s Knights. Right now, above her head were two strokes of the world crest reminiscent of an oni’s horn and eye. And in her hands, a long-handled weapon with a flaming blade had appeared. World Crest. And also, Second Manifestation. Both were aspects that displayed battle-readiness for a modern-age magician. “Phew──” In a split instant, Ruri moved. Despite her speed being slower than usual, her intent was genuine. As Mushiki inserted more strength into his sword grip, he began to move while conscious of the advice he had received beforehand. “Haaaah!”
With a fiery yell, he swung down <Hollow Edge>, the transparent sword in his hands. Mushiki’s Second Manifestation extinguished all other manifestations. When that transparent blade collided with the lower portion of the flaming naginata <Rinkojin>, its existence would be erased── But it didn’t vanish. “Huh──?” Ruri’s surprised voice echoed. Ruri, who was aware of Mushiki’s technique, must have acted on the premise that her Second Manifestation would be erased. However, Mushiki simply repelled Ruri’s naginata without using the technique dwelling within <Hollow Edge>. Facing Ruri who was taken aback in her disbelief, his sword slashed two, no three times in rapid succession. “I see──so that’s how it is.” With a fearless smile, Ruri instantly regained her composure and blocked each one of Mushiki’s attacks. However, that was also within expectations. “Ooooooh──!” In the next moment, Mushiki activated <Hollow Edge>’s technique to erase Ruri’s <Rinkojin>. “Tch……!” Ruri scowled. Rather than not having anticipated this, it was better to say she hadn’t foreseen this exact timing. Although barely, Ruri’s stance had collapsed. “Now……!” A golden opportunity had arrived. Mushiki swung his sword at Ruri’s defenseless shoulder. “Fu────!”
However, standing there was Fuyajo Ruri, a Knight. She kicked off from the ground in her unnatural posture and dodged Mushiki’s sword attack through sheer footwork. Then, in a flowing motion, her Second Manifestation was instantly regenerated. “Pretty good. But this is the end.” “…………!” Mushiki leaped backwards and raised <Hollow Edge>’s blade to strengthen his defense. However. “Wha……!?” In the next moment, Ruri’s voice echoed while full of dismay. The reason was simple. The moment <Rinkojin> and <Hollow Edge> came into contact with each other, Mushiki’s Second Manifestation unraveled as <Hollow Edge> disappeared. “Grr……!” The edge of <Rinkojin>’s blade grazed his arm. He might have been splattered with blood if he wasn’t wearing his tough <Garden> uniform. However, in exchange he obtained the greatest opportunity for today. Mushiki gathered his concentration once again and manifested his Second Manifestation to deliver a deadly blow onto Ruri── “Ouch.” In the next moment, along with that sentimental complaint of pain, Mushiki had fallen on the spot. It seemed that Ruri’s attack was faster than Mushiki’s manifestation reappearing. “──It has been settled. Ruri-san wins.” A calm voice echoed as it declared the winner. Looking up, the voice was revealed to come from a black-haired, black-eyed girl with her hand raised up. ──It was Karasuma Kuroe, who was serving as the referee for this match. After Mushiki stood up while rubbing his aching back, he slammed his fist into the ground in frustration.
“Curses……I was supposed to have Saika-san pat my head if I won……!” “What are you talking about?” Kuroe gave that remark with her eyes half-closed. Mushiki let out an “Ah” as he raised his face. “I’m sorry. I was just doing my best while working with that sort of assumption.” “Assumption.” As Kuroe repeated that word, Ruri exhaled out a “Phew” sigh. “How naïve, Mushiki. If I won, I would have had my ears cleaned with a lap pillow.” “Wha……!? As expected of Ruri……so this is the power of a Knight──” “That has nothing to do with being a Knight. Please don’t say things that will lead to a strange misunderstanding. Also, besides to yourself, it isn’t as if Ruri-san made an actual promise, correct?” “Ah, shouldn’t that be obvious! What the hell are you talking about, Kuroe!” “That would be mortifying……!” As the two of said that in a panic, Kuroe made a face that looked unconvinced. “……Well, leaving that aside. Anyway, I have no objections to your current mindset, Mushikisan.” As Kuroe said that to regain her composure, Mushiki nodded. “Right. Ruri is incredible after all. I was entirely driven into a corner.” “……Don’t be so pessimistic.” After Mushiki spoke, Ruri replied while taking the time to catch her breath and stretch her shoulders. “Erasing your opponent’s manifestation, repelling attacks, and now temporarily erasing your manifestation──I suppose? Just having more options to choose from has made it much more difficult. That sparring match was the best one yet. If Mushiki’s manifestation had reappeared faster, the results might have ended differently.” “R-Really?” “Yes.”
Kuroe was the one who answered. Although she remained expressionless, there was a certain amount of joy as she continued to speak. “In this premise, erasing the manifestation can be described as the natural enemy for every magician. No one would want to be attacked if possible. And from not knowing when it would come, the opponent must continuously heighten their concentration, which will inevitably create openings easy to exploit.” Furthermore, Kuroe raised her hand. “Increasing the number of options in combat is extremely important. If the intentions have been completely seen through by the opponent, responding with the best possible move might not necessarily be advantageous. Take using rock paper scissors as analogy. No matter how powerful the move, it would be simple to deal with an opponent that only uses rock. Yet, with the addition of scissors and paper, strategic value increases in the game.” While saying that, her hands transitioned from making the signs for rock, paper, and scissors. “I……I see.” “Furthermore, there’s no restriction of using only up to three moves in actual combat. Kitsune, gun, village head. Or even frogs, snakes, and snails──you can choose whatever you want.” Then, Kuroe continued. “First, it’s important to improve each level of completion one by one. Right now, Mushiki-san is in a state where shape of scissors is difficult to produce and maintain.” “……I’m ashamed for my lack of skill.” As Mushiki stated that while lowering his head, Ruri looked on while furrowing her brow in suspicion. “……Why is Kuroe acting like Mushiki’s master? Have you always been teaching like this?” “No, that’s not it. I’m only reciting Saika-sama’s teachings.” “Hmm……” As Kuroe quietly answered, Ruri scratched her cheeks. From that expression, it was the sort that was wondering who Kuroe was…….as if wondering if she could be Witch-sama……if true, that would be convincing in this situation.
“Never mind. If Mushiki doesn’t get stronger, we’ll all be in trouble.” After letting out a sigh, her eyebrows twitched as if she was remembering something. “Oh, come to think of it, Mushiki. Isn’t Witch-sama’s consciousness is sleeping inside your body right now? What do you do when you have something you need to say?” “Huh?” In response to the sudden question, Mushiki widened his eyes in surprise. “……? Was there anything surprising in what I just said now?” “No, sorry. I was just thinking about that.” “──If you have a message to Saika-sama, I will take care of it. Isn’t that right, Mushiki-san?” “Oh……yes.” After Mushiki respond back to what Kuroe had said, Ruri nodded and said, “Well, okay then.” “…………” Kuroe turned her gaze back to Mushiki. Mushiki was sweating while remembering the exchange they had earlier. ◇ “──Super fine skin texture.” “Refined behavior in each and everything.” “Perfect posture when sitting on a chair.” “Very beautiful handwriting.” “Saying “Achoo!” when sneezing.” “Huh, what did you say? That’s super cute……” “Hmph, with this magic card, the nobility of the Witch-sama on my field will increase up to 4,500.”
“Drats……as expected of Ruri. But it begins from here. ──Reverse card open! The surprise and endurance of drinking black coffee you think contains sugar!” “What!? Witch-sama should be a tea person! Where did you find such a rare card……!?” “…………What are you doing?” They were in the headmaster’s office of <Garden>’s central school building. As Mushiki and Ruri were getting more heated in their discussion, Kuroe asked her question with her eyes half-closed. “Of course, this is just what it looks like.” “This is the Witch-sama card game.” Both of them naturally answered while holding up the handmade cards. Kuroe frowned even more in confusion. “……What on earth is this strange game?” “Hah, fine then. Let me explain.” “Ah, no. That’s not necessary.” Thinking that it would take too long, Kuroe bluntly refused the offer. Ruri pouted her lips disapprovingly and said, “So you won’t even listen to my explanation?” “……Could this be what you said you wanted to talk about?” After Kuroe spoke, Ruri shook her shoulders as if remembering something important. “That’s right. ──Mushiki, let’s leave the matter of the game aside for now. Kuroe, please sit down too.” While saying that, Ruri put away the cards on the table. Then, she took a deep breath to regain her composure, and then turned her gaze again to Mushiki to Kuroe. “I haven’t taken your time without a reason. ──I want you two to explain the situation again properly.”
“…………” In response to what Ruri had said, Mushiki and Kuroe exchanged glances for a moment. Nevertheless, there was no huge surprise. It was something to be expected to an extent. “……Yeah, I’ll fess up. I think Ruri has a right to know. However, this is a huge secret not only for me, but also for <Garden>. Promise me that you’ll never speak of this to anyone else.” “……Of course, I understand. I swear I won’t tell anyone.” Ruri nodded with an obedient expression. Seeing this, Mushiki responded by placing his hand on his chest. “──My body right now is in the state of being merged with Saika-san.” And then, quietly but clearly, he told her this fact. Right. This was Mushiki’s secret. The world’s strongest magician, who was also known as the Witch of Brilliant Colors and the headmaster of <Void Garden>. Kuozaki Saika had fused her body with Mushiki. “Right now, my factors are being expressed, but if certain conditions are met, Saika-san’s factors will strongly emerge. So, from the outside perspective, it might look like I’m transforming into Saika-san.” “…………” However, Ruri display neither surprise nor dismay at this shocking revelation. Instead, she only deeply wrinkled her brows. But that was only natural. After all, during the other day, Mushiki had undergone existence conversion, changing from his own body to Saika’s right in front of Ruri. “Merging……do you mean Witch-sama used a fusion spell? Certainly, that would explain this phenomenon……but why go that far?” Ruri had a difficult look on her face as she stroked her chin. “In the first place, the fusion spell is a technique that entails a high degree of risk, especially when done on humans. Their egos may collide with each other and collapse. Even for Witchsama, I can’t imagine she would use it lightly……”
“That’s──” “It was because Saika-sama was also in a critical state.” Continuing from where Mushiki left off, Kuroe spoke while sitting next to him. “Critical state?” “Yes. Do you remember the incident where Saika-sama was attacked by someone?” “Yes, of course. That’s what you had said during the regular meeting. ──Wait, could it be.” “It’s just as you imagine. At that time, Saika-sama and Mushiki-san, who happened to be there by chance, were both fatally wounded. While knowing the dangers attached, Saika-sama used the fusion spell to connect both lives with each other.” “………..!” Ruri widened her eyes and leaned over the table. “A-Are you okay!?” “Ah, yeah……just as you can see.” Mushiki answered as he leaned back as if overwhelmed by Ruri’s momentum. Seeing this, Ruri let out a sigh. “As expected of Witch-sama. Even an advanced spell was splendidly done. ……Even so, Witchsama and Nii-sama fused together. Is such a delusional greedy setting allowed…….? One plus one becoming infinity……” While Ruri murmured that in a low voice, and then her eyebrows twitched. “So, what is the current state of Witch-sama’s consciousness. Is it hidden behind the elements of the body? If two consciousness exist side by side, it would become difficult to move the body normally unless they can coexist.” “Well, about that……” “Yes. Saika-sama’s consciousness is sleeping inside Mushiki-san. Isn’t that right, Mushiki-san?” Hearing Kuroe’s tone of voice telling him not to say anything, Mushiki nodded as if intimidated. “Y-Yeah. Well, I……guess.”
“……? What. Did I say something strange?” “Oh, no.” “It’s just as Ruri-san had said.” Perhaps wondering how Mushiki would respond, Kuroe interrupted him again. However, Ruri didn’t seem to have any doubts as she asked further questions. “Also……when will the two of you be able to separate? I don’t think you want to stay like this forever──” “Of course not.” Kuroe shook her head as if to shake away Ruri’s uneasy expression. “Nevertheless, it is necessary to make the appropriate preparations in order to split apart that which has be fused. In the meantime, I would appreciate your assistance, Ruri-san.” “Of course. This is for Witch-sama……and Mushiki…… Just tell me if there’s anything I can do.” Ruri said that while giving a salute by striking her chest. “Thank you very much. Now then, I have one request.” “Okay. What?” “I would like you to help Mushiki-san with his training.” After Kuroe said that, Ruri widened her eyes. “Training……me?” “Yes. As you know, Mushiki-san is no better than a beginner as a magician. Any danger would also mean the same for Saika-sama, who he is currently fused with.” “……You’re right.” Ruri nodded with a difficult look on her face. Kuroe then continued while folding her arms. “Therefore, <Garden> needs Mushiki-san to become stronger as soon as possible. ──And the only one to ask for that is Ruri-san, who has among the highest level of power within <Garden> and also a grasp of this situation.”
“That’s……” Ruri gave a conflicted look over what Kuroe had requested. ──While understanding the situation, this must not be easy for her who had been trying to keep Mushiki out of the fight for so long. “Ruri……” “Please. I know you love Mushiki-san very much, and I understand the feeling of not wanting to put him in danger, but──” “I-It’s not like I’m worried about that!?” When Kuroe said that, Ruri let out a scream as her face turned bright red. Incidentally, there was no denial over the words of loving Mushiki very much. Ruri looked worried for a while, but before long she let out a sigh. “……I understand. Even for me, I’ll be troubled if something happens to Witch-sama.” “──! Thank you, Ruri.” As Mushiki happily spoke, Ruri shyly averted her gaze. “Thank you for your agreement. ──Then, can you please begin right away?” “Huh?” “I have obtained permission to use the training grounds.” Kuroe said that nonchalantly. Ruri half-closed her eyes while dripping with sweat. “……You seem pretty ready. It’s like you expected me to agree.” “No, no, nothing like that.” Ruri displayed doubt in her eyes, but she immediately let out another sigh of relief. “……Well, forget it. Let’s go. I’ll use Mushiki as an opponent to vent this anger.” “Certainly. But we still need a little more preparation on our side, so could you go on ahead?” “Yes, yes. See you later.” After saying that while waving her hand, Ruri left the headmaster’s office.
After dozens of seconds had passed, the sound of Ruri’s footsteps was completely gone. Mushiki turned back to Kuroe. “……Are you sure this is going to be okay?” “What do you mean?” “Spinning a story about the consciousness when the body is in Saika mode. And also──leaving out about you, Kuroe.” After Mushiki spoke, Kuroe let out a small sigh. “──It’s fine. Revealing everything isn’t necessarily the best thing.” And then, she switched to a different tone than usual. No, it wasn’t just tone. Even her expression and behavior were like a completely different person than from before. As it should be. Karasuma Kuroe was the name of the faux body that contained Kuozaki Saika’s consciousness. “But.” “I’m not saying that Ruri is untrustworthy. Just think about it calmly. What would Ruri think if she found out the me she had been interacting with for the past few months was her older brother?” “……Ah…….” After hearing this, Mushiki grimaced. ……Certainly, that would be a nuisance. What’s inside of the person she admired the most had been replaced by Mushiki. In other words, the words and deeds done as Saika so far will be revealed to be coming from her older brother. Just thinking about that made him feel ashamed. “Besides, how are you going to explain that you’ve used my body to slip into women’s clothes and take bathes?” “Uh──” Mushiki couldn’t help but stammer. It was a force majeure that he had to slip into a change of clothes and needed Kuroe’s help to bathe. He thought he taken measures to prevent Saika’s dignity from being tarnished, but……if Ruri heard about this, she would interpret it as something completely different.
“……Understood. Thank you for your consideration.” “No, I don’t mind.” Incidentally, Kuroe continued while looking at the table with Mushiki’s cards. “……What’s so entertaining about this card game?” “Ah, are you interested?” As Mushiki said that with his eyes shining, Kuroe strained a smile and said, “……No, Ruri is waiting. Let’s talk about it later.” ◇ “──Didn’t you decide to hide the matter of Saika-sama’s consciousness from Ruri-san?” “……S-Sorry. It was so sudden……” In the training grounds, Mushiki was approached by Kuroe’s whispers, causing him to lower his shoulders in a humbling manner. “Hey, what are you two whispering about?” Behind the two of them, Ruri, who was a standing a little far away, let out a dissatisfied voice. It wasn’t good to keep this secret conversation going for to long. Mushiki and Kuroe went back to Ruri. “Pardon me. Based on the battle just now, please give Mushiki-san some advice.” “Hmm……by keeping it secret from me, does that mean you’re planning to take a point from me? How interesting.” Ruri half-opened her eyes while waving <Rinkojin> near him. Sweat dripped down Mushiki’s face. “P-Please be merciful……” “You’re faltering, Mushiki-san. Practical training is not only for increasing the proficiency of your techniques, but also for the sake of getting accustomed to your opponent’s bloodlust. If you’re overwhelmed by your opponent’s aura before the fight even begins, there’s no way you can win. ──And in that regard, Tokishima Kurara is no exception.”
“……Tsk──” “……Right.” Mushiki and Ruri both had grim looks upon hearing the name Kuroe had said. Tokishima Kurara. A former magician belonging to the magician training institution <Shadow Palace>, and a girl fused with the mythical-rank Destruction Factor <Ouroboros>. “──Tokishima Kurara has secured four new pieces of <Ouroboros> and is definitely growing stronger. This isn’t a situation where you can let down your guard in the slightest.” “What was that?” In response to Kuroe, Ruri raised her eyebrows. “Four more…….? Wait a minute. How did so many seals suddenly get broken? The security of the sealing facilities should have been strengthened, right?” “Yes. However, recently an incident has occurred where the exterior of the facilities was destroyed. ──Mainly for the facilities located in or nearby the sea.” “────!” After hearing that, Mushiki and Ruri widened their eyes. They had an inclination about the incident that Kuroe was describing. “Don’t tell me……<Leviathan>? Certainly, we thought it was due to Kurara’s spell, but──” “Yes. I was wondering why they decided to resurrect an incomplete mythical-rank Destruction Factor at such timing, but it’s become clear that Tokishima Kurara and her followers took advantage of that confusion to attack several sealing facilities. Perhaps that was their real goal from the very beginning.” “……That woman.” Ruri’s voice was full of spite as she clenched her teeth. However, it wasn’t as if he couldn’t understand Ruri’s feelings. The other day, Mushiki’s group had fought against the resurrected <Leviathan> at the magician training institution <Void Ark>. After a desperate battle, they managed to defeat it. And now, they learned that battle was just an after-thought and smokescreen for Kurara to achieve her goal. It was enough to make one want to vomit out curses.
However, a look like that didn’t suit Ruri. Mushiki slowly shook his head. “But by defeating <Leviathan> then, the curse on the Fuyajo clan was lifted. That battle was by no means in vain.” “Mushiki……” Ruri whispered his name while looking into Mushiki’s eyes. Mushiki wasn’t optimistic enough to think everything was going well. It’s true that Kurara’s threat was increasing. However, it was better to be proud over what was gained rather than lament what was lost. At the very least, that’s how magicians should be──if it was Saika, he had a feeling she would say that. Ruri must have picked up on Mushiki’s intentions. Despite lowering her eyes, she gave a small nod. “……Right. The important thing is what we do with the cards we have now.” “Correct.” Kuroe nodded in agreement with Ruri. “In other words, even if Witch-sama is out on the field wearing a uniform, if you only have the plain clothes item card in hand, synergy may be demonstrated depending on how they are combined.” “That’s……what?” Kuroe tilted her head from being confused over what Ruri had just said. However, Mushiki was exaggeratingly nodding in response. “I see. So that’s how it is.” “Why can you understand that?” After letting out an exasperated sigh, Kuroe continued. “Anyway, please focus on training now. Once again──” Then, just at that very moment, “──Hey, what are you guys doing here?”
Coming from behind, there was a voice of a man in a foul mood. “Ah……” His age looked to be in his mid-twenties. He had brown skin and thrice braided hair. Despite having a well-groomed face, his expression gave the impression of constantly being stern. He was wearing a well-tailored shirt, slacks, a vest, and glittering golden accessories around his neck and hands. He was dressed in a manner where one wrong move might have made this look like in bad taste. But perhaps due to his appearance and the atmosphere he gave, it strangely all came together non-sarcastically. Anviet Svarner. He was a teacher at <Garden> and a magician also counted among the <Knight Order> just like Ruri. “Hello. Thank you for your hard work, knight Anviet.” Kuroe was the one who responded without being surprised by the sudden intrusion. She lowered her eyes and respectfully bowed. “I’m having knight Fuyajo oversee the training of the new student, Kuga Mushiki-san.” “Kuga’s training? With Fuyajo?” Anviet frowned as he kept talking while walking over to Mushiki. “……Do you know the location of the medical building? If you’re injured, hurried up and go there. It doesn’t take long for even a broken arm to be patched up.” Anviet lowered his voice to speak to Mushiki. While his glare and language were as course and crude as ever, the contents of what he had said was very considerate for Mushiki. Right. While his appearance and demeanor were often misunderstood, the man named Anviet Svarner was one of the more sensible people in <Garden> despite what first impression might say. “Why are you working on the premise I will leave a deep wound on Mushiki!” Ruri, having apparently heard the conversation, screamed as if unable to hold back any longer. Anviet replied while rolling his eyes. “Why? I’m pretty sure you wanted to have a mock battle with this guy during his first class, right? And, in every chance you had, you kept going on about stop being a magician, stop being a magician. So, are you trying to cut off his path as a magician even if it means lopping off an arm?”
“That’s……I only thought about that!” “Oh, I see……” “So, you did think about it.” Ruri’s shoulders trembled after Mushiki and Kuroe said that. “T-That’s old news! And in any case, that was only a last resort when there was no other choice……and I was planning to reattach it properly right away!” “So, you were motivated when it came down to it…….” “So, you were quite motivated when all is said and done.” “Like I said, it’s not like that……I didn’t want it to do that and right now I definitely won’t!” Ruri chaotically ruffled her hair and then suddenly raised her head. “Anyway! I don’t intend to do that anymore! Rather, I’m now fully committed to training Mushiki! Okay!” “Huh, okay!? Even if you say that.” Anviet softly sighed as sweat dripped down his cheeks. “Well, I don’t care if you’ve had a change of heart. As long as the person in question is convinced, there’s no need for me to interfere. And if Kuozaki’s chamberlain is here, it shouldn’t end up too unreasonable.” As Anviet shrugged his shoulders, Ruri pursed her lips to give a somewhat dissatisfied look. “Come to think of it, why is Anviet-san here in the training grounds?” “Hmm? Aah……” As Mushiki asked to change the mood of the conversation, Anviet nodded as if remembering something, and then he turned to look at the group’s faces one by one. “Well, if it is you guys──it should be plenty enough. Do have time right now? I have some business outside, so I was looking for help.” “A task outside?” Outside here referred to a location outside of <Garden>.
“Yeah. That Elluc asked me to fetch a catalyst for a magic potion she ordered. It seems to be something special since it can’t be handled unless under the supervision of a magician ranked A or above.” Ruri looked confused over what Anviet had said. “Elluc-sama’s? In that case, it should be delivered regularly once a month.” “Apparently the A-rank magician in charge of transport that was caught secretly reselling the goods. “……So that’s why.” “It seems like we’re looking into a replacement right now, but she needs someone to go to the site to pick up the goods they urgently need.” Anviet shrugged his shoulders as if saying it was a pain in the ass. Despite what harsh words he may say, it was typical for him to still accept the request in the end. “I see. I understand the situation. If that’s the case, let’s go together. ──Mushiki, Kuroe. Is that fine?” Ruri looked back at them while making that declaration. Kuroe then responded with a nod. “Yes. Is it okay for Mushiki-san and me to tag along for the sake of experiential learning.” “Do you as like. But there is a condition.” “Condition……?” After Mushiki tensely asked that, Anviet continued while keeping his sharp gaze intact. “Needless to say──write an application for outside activities first.” No matter what, he was a very methodical person. ◇ Whoever described the city as a concrete jungle had good taste. The girl blankly thought so as she ran between the densely overgrown buildings.
“Haa…… haa……──” The asphalt road was a little easier to walk than the muddy ground, but that was about the only difference between a city and forest for her. Buildings and trees weren’t that much different when flowing past her eyes. And overflowing on both sides──were dangerous animals. There may be a difference in numbers, but right now this girl was being chased by a relentless pursuer. “──Here──” “──Over here──” “──Follow! If we let her escape──” Faint voices could be heard coming from behind, blending in with the noise from the crowd. The girl stepped on the pavement and walked into a narrow alley. “Haa……, haa……, haa…………!” With her long blonde hair and messy clothes dirty and disheveled, she single-mindedly ran. One the way, she didn’t even have time to pay attention to the plastic baskets and garbage cans piling up on the road that she knocked aside. With each step taken, her lungs violently contracted as warm breath was exhaled intermittently from her throat. Matching this, her limbs creaked, her chest felt numb, and her head ached. It felt as if her life was slowing spilling out alongside her breaths. But, she couldn’t stop. There was no way she could stop. If she stopped now, her body surely wouldn’t be able to move momentarily. Her pursuers didn’t intend to either kill or eat her. Rather, if they found her, she would be treated courteously and provided with fine clothes and food to along with a warm room. But in return, she would never see this outside scenery ever again. The goal of her pursuers was to, putting it bluntly, placed her in a cage. In fact, this was the first time in months where she had seen the sky. It was no exaggeration to say that this escape was her last chance. If she was caught this time, her next confinement location could be made underground or even on an isolated island. “Ha──, ha────”
By leaving the alleyway, she arrived at the main road. Pedestrians on the road seemed to have noticed the girl and casted strange glances once after the other. But the girl didn’t cling to anyone or ask for help. This was neither her pride holding herself back, nor was from disapproval of placing strangers in danger. She simply thought it would be pointless. Her pursuers were not just humans. They were all people who could use magic. Needless to say, the pedestrians, or even policemen with guns, couldn’t compete against them. So that’s why the girl ran. Following the voice of her heart── All in order to reach the side of the one she cherished. ◇ After leaving <Garden>, they were driven in a shaking car by Anviet for about 30 minutes. Upon reaching the suburbs with fewer pedestrians, Anviet pulled over and stopped the engine. “──We’re walking from here onwards. Get off.” After saying that, Anviet unfastened his safety belt and got out of the driver’s seat. Mushiki, Ruri, and Kuroe also followed suit by doing the same. The public <Garden> car that Mushiki and the others rode was a white hybrid car that could be seen everywhere in Japan. It may be difficult to find if parked in a spacious parking lot. Although they were likely aiming for this. Magicians favor secrecy. The design, which doesn’t stand out unnecessarily, was the perfect cover for a modern magician. Incidentally, Anviet’s private car, which was parked at the end of <Garden>’s parking lot, was a flashy convertible that had been remodeled. Well, one was free to do whatever they pleased with their private life. “Over here.” Anviet started walking forward to lead everyone. Mushiki and the others chased after from behind.
“Is there a store that sells magic potion catalysts in a place like this?” Mushiki whispered while looking at the scenery along the way. This was quite the ordinary town. Familiar convenience stores, restaurant chains, and bookstores were lined up and nothing suspicious could be seen. “Like I said. Just keep walking. It doesn’t look like what you expect. The scenery outside looks normal because of cognition obstruction.” After saying this, they entered a narrow alleyway. Listening to that tone of voice without hesitation, Mushiki spoke up again. “You seem used to this. Has this happened before?” “Hm? Ah……well, it’s because Elluc always thinks of me like a handyman or something. Damn, it’s not like I have all the free time in the world either.” This might be because Anviet would agree to any request. Mushiki considered this, but ultimately decided to keep the thought to himself. “……Even so, this is the first time for a magician to steal and resell goods. It’s idiotic for an Arank to do this when they should have been treated well.” “Reselling……does that mean there’s a place to buy these goods?” That was something that had been on his mind for a while now. He didn’t quite understand what a magic potion catalyst was, but it clearly wouldn’t be able to demonstrate its value unless one practiced magic. “I don’t know the details, but……well, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a group of heretic magicians.” “Heretic magicians?” As Mushiki looked confused over this description, Ruri, who was walking besides him, raised her voice to answer. “Those who failed while learning magic at a training institution, those who learned magic outside of a training institution, those who escape from battle against a Destruction Factor──they all come from various backgrounds; but in short, they are magicians who never fight against Destruction Factors and never return to being ordinary people. They use the magic they acquired for their own self-interest.” Ruri didn’t even try to hide the overflowing contempt in her voice.
“Among traditionalist magicians, there are some that only seek pursuing the path of truth……aside from these exceptions, there’s no doubt they are basically trash. There are quite a few people who get involved in illegal activities in the underworld. It’s always a headache for us.” As she spoke, Ruri snorted and crossed her arms in frustration. The source of this came from Ruri’s straightforwardness. Not taking responsibility for powers beyond human intelligence and even using them for evil deeds, such an act must be unforgivable in Ruri’s opinion. “Well, even if your description is a little spiteful, that’s generally how it is. Despite not being an active target, they are still listed for subjugation. If you ever encounter──” After speaking that much, Anviet suddenly paused. Mushiki wondered why, but he soon found the reason. As Anviet approached the corner, a small shadow jumped out and bumped into him. “Kya……!” With a short scream, the figure fell to the ground. It was a little girl. She looked to be around 10 years old. Her long golden hair glistened underneath the sunlight. “……Oops. My bad. Are you okay?” Anviet bent his knees and reached out to the girl. But the girl only widened her eyes in surprise, looking up at Anviet’s face as her shoulders began to shake up and down. “Aren’t you scaring her, Anviet?” “Knocking someone down and then glaring fiercely is wicked even for you.” “Don’t you dare…….” Anviet started sweating over what Ruri and Kuroe had said. But Anviet immediately furrowed his brow and narrowed her eyes. He probably also recognized the girl’s unusual appearance.
Her beautiful blond hair was a disheveled mess, and there were several scratches on her cheeks and hands. Her clothes looked extravagant, but they were dusty and had holes as if they had been caught and torn by something. Upon closer inspection, her shoulders trembling wasn’t due to being afraid of Anviet. She was simply out of breath. The reason why she hasn’t said a word also seems to be due to trying her best to adjust her erratic breathing. Her feet also served further proof. The girl was going barefoot without any shoes. The soles of her white feet were stained with dirt and blood. It was as if she was fleeing from something terrifying── “…………!” At the next moment, Mushiki tensed up from seeing something approach from the direction the girl was running from. They were five men wearing black suits. As soon as they noticed Mushiki’s group, they stopped and exchanged looks with each other for some reason. A few seconds later, a man who seemed to be their representative slowly walked forward. “──Ojou-sama, let’s go back to the mansion. The master is also very worried about you.” Then, after speaking in a gentle manner and calm tone, he made a gesture of reaching his hand out for the girl. Mushiki’s eyes widened over this unexpected reaction. “……Huh? What the hell are you guys doing?” However, Anviet said that as he stood up from the spot while maintain a suspicious gaze towards them. As if responding to this, the man respectfully bowed. “I apologize for disturbing you. We are servants employed by a certain person…….and have been chasing after this young lady ever since she ran away from the mansion. ──Ojou-sama, if you have any complaints, we can negotiate it later. Please calm down for now.” With a troubled look, the man spoke as if trying to make an appeal. After confirming this answer, Anviet lowered his gaze towards the girl. Then, the girl let out a hoarse voice as her shoulder kept trembling. “H-Help……me……” Hearing this voice, Anviet turned his gaze back to the men and stepped forward.
All as if to protect this girl. “Fuyajo. I’m leaving this girl to you.” “Yes. Just don’t overdo it.” Ruri, after saying that as if having guessed everything, bent her knees to kneel next to the girl. Ruri and Anviet were both knights from <Garden>. No further words were necessary. “……Good grief……” Seeing the way Anviet was moving, the man couldn’t help but sigh. And then, unlike before, he spat out words with sinister intent. “Onii-chan, don’t let your cheap sense of justice drive you to act. It’s none of our business if you get hurt. Our target is only that child. Just act as if you didn’t see anything, so hurry up and leave.” “Ha, why don’t you be more honest? If you have to resort to a group to chase a child, then you must be terrified when an adult comes forward~” “……What did you say?” The man glared over what Anviet had said. The feeling of the situation going critical filled the surrounding area. “It seems like you can’t recognize facts unless you suffer first……” It was the man who acted first. With all his strength, he thrusted the hands on his waist forward. “Haaah──!” Then, the man suddenly shouted. A glowing pattern appeared on his hand──an invisible shock wave emitted from there exploded onto the wall of a building. The concrete wall was gouged out in a circular shape, scattering around debris. “Ah……?” Anviet stared intently at the damage done. Mushiki also frowned upon seeing this. “Kuroe, don’t tell me just now……!”
“Yes. Magic──or rather First Manifestation.” Kuroe replied in an extremely calm manner. However, the man didn’t hear this as he laughed triumphantly. “Hahahaha! What do you think? There are things in this world that can’t be measured with common sense. Next time, the shot will be aimed towards your head. If you can understand that be obedient and──” “Oh……? Could it be that you bastards are heretics?” Anviet raised his chin to interrupt the man’s words. “Then hurry up and talk.” “Wha──” Then, just as the man was displaying confusion over what Anviet had said. Just as he thought something resembling a flash of light crossed his field of vision, the man collapsed on the spot. “……What!?” “What the hell happened……” After a beat, the black-dressed people behind the man raised their voices in dismay. Then, after a few seconds, they finally noticed that. One of them shouted while pointing at Anviet. “World crest……! Are you a magician!?” Right. Behind his back were two strokes of the world crest shining brightly like a golden halo. At the same time, another man trembled his hands as if he had realized something. “W-Wait. That halo on your back……could you be <Thunder Emperor> Anviet Svarner……!?” “Wha……!?” The uttered name sparked turmoil among their rank and file. Apparently, Anviet’s name was well-known even when outside.
But at the same time, he heard some words that gathered his interest. Mushiki half-consciously turned his eyes towards Anviet as if in a trance. “<Thunder Emperor>.” “How cool.” “Did you think of it yourself?” “Shut up. Of course not.” As Mushiki, Ruri, Kuroe said those words in turn, Anviet glared at them in a manner with equal parts irritation and embarrassment. But even during this moment, the men still looked fearful while trembling. “W-What should we do……there’s no way we can win against an S-rank magician from <Garden>……” “But, if the <Child of Fortune> escapes, the boss will kill us……” “D-Damn it……I’m going on ahead! Take the opportunity to──” “Ah, just go to sleep already.” Looking annoyed, Anviet snapped his fingers. In the next moment, lightning flashed from his fingertips and caused all the men to faint. After confirming this, Anviet erased the world crest from his back. “They won’t be awake for a while. Karasuma, contact <Garden> to collect them.” “Yes.” After Kuroe briefly answered, she began operating her smartphone. Anviet approached the girl while squinting. “……So? Ojou-chan, who are you and why were you being pursued by those heretics?” “……Could it be──” After Anviet asked, the girl let out a small voice. “Do you want to hug, Su……?”
“……What?” Anviet rolled his eyes over that sudden remark. Then, the girl stood up and hugged Anviet’s body. “H-Hey, what are you doing?” Anviet twisted his brows in suspicion. Then, the girl put all her strength in her hands, stuttering as her voice was overcome by emotion. “Always……you’ve always wanted to see Su, right? ──Papa──”
“Huh?” “Ha?” “What?” “Haaaaaaaaaaaah!?” After hearing those words, the four people present all let out a cry of surprise.
Chapter 2: Do You Want to Meet Witch-san? “…………” Anviet Svarner was walking through the grounds of <Garden> with terribly displeased look on his face. The reason why was simple. The students and teachers passing by were all glancing at Anviet with keen interest and whispering in low voices. “Hey, is that……” “Yeah. Just like what the rumors say……” “Huh……I’m kind of disappointed.” “I thought Anvi sensei would be more serious about matters like──” And so, the female students whispered amongst themselves. Although they lowered their voices, Anviet could still hear them clearly. “……Huh!?” He frowned and fiercely glared at the girls. “Eek……” “Oops……” The girls’ shoulders began to tremble as they hurriedly left. The other surrounding students also quickly fled in order to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. “Tch──” Anviet glared behind them and clicked his tongue in frustration. However, he didn’t chase after or question them. Anviet knew they weren’t acting out of malicious intent. And even if he did, he realize that this would keep repeating itself unless the reason was removed. “…………” Anviet stopped and looked back at the reason. A lone girl was standing there, tightly clinging onto Anviet’s back.
She had a petite body and a childish face. Her clothes and shoes were brand new, and her hair was neatly done. However, there was no doubt that this was the girl that Anviet and the others had rescued from outside a few days ago. Moreover── “Huh? Huh, huh, huh……?” The young girl peered into Anviet’s face with a complete lack of fear. “……What are you doing?” “Could it be that Papa wants to stroke Su’s head……?” “Ah……?” “You don’t have to force yourself……? It’s natural to want to love the daughter you’ve finally have the chance to see…… Right. Su understands. Su knows. This is the sympathy unique to parent and child.” “So why! Have I! Never known about a daughter like you!” Anviet couldn’t help but yell over what the girl had said. Right. This was the cause of the notoriety that had been haunting Anviet for the past few days. However, the girl didn’t fret over Anviet’s response and instead just kept her dazed expression. In contrast, whispers could be heard from their surroundings again. “How awful……” “I feel so sorry for the daughter……” “I’m sure there are several girls like that……” “Like I said, I can hear you!” When Anviet yelled, the students started running away again. Seeing this unfold, the girl spoke in a worried tone. “Are you okay……?” “No, whose fault do you think……”
“Do you want to stroke Su’s head……?” The girl jerked her head in front of Anviet’s hand. “…………” While stroking her head, Anviet remembered what had happened a few days ago. After the heretic magicians were defeated in an instant. “……Papa, you say?” Anviet frowned at the sudden words said by the girl in front of him. Rather than being uncomfortable, this simply didn’t make sense. In the first place, Anviet didn’t have any children, and the girl in front of him was too different from Anviet in terms of physical features. It was difficult to image they were genetically related. ……Yet, even after having said that. “Huh, do you have children, Anviet-san?” “Why did you leave her outside? Was it neglect?” “I never imagine you would stoop so low.” While accompanying him, Mushiki, Ruri, and Kuroe spoke in unison. “Don’t you freaking dare……” “Just kidding.” After Anviet said that threateningly, Ruri replied as if representing all three of them. Afterwards, she crouched down to match the girl’s line of sight. “Hello. Everything is okay now. My name is Fuyajo Ruri. What is your name?” “…………, Surya.” The girl answered Ruri’s question in a low voice. Ruri exaggeratingly nodded before she continued to ask. “Surya, do you know anything about the people chasing after you?”
The young girl──Surya, shook her head after glancing at the fallen men. “I don’t know……but I was locked up the whole time.” “You were locked up……?” After Ruri said that in surprise, Surya nodded slightly. “Today……they said we were moving. That’s why it’s been a long time since I was out. Then, I ran away when these people weren’t looking……” “……Yes. You did a good job.” Ruri stroked Surya’s head while turning her gaze towards Kuroe. “What do you think?” “I can’t say anything from that alone……rogue magicians who work in an organized fashion often end up doing illegal work. I can’t imagine this was for a good purpose.” “Yeah, I think so too……” Ruri let out a sigh after Kuroe gave her ambiguous answer. “Uhh, Surya. Do you know where your house is? What about your father and mother?” “Home……I don’t know. Papa is……” While saying this, Surya turned to look at Anviet. “Like I said, this is completely impossible. I have no memory of this girl at all.” “……Does this person look like your father?” When Ruri asked this, Surya shook her head. “It’s not looking alike…… My name is Surya Svarner. Anviet Svarner is my Papa. I’ve……I’ve always wanted to see you.” “Huh……huuh!?” Being stared at by such a sincere gaze, Anviet unintentionally turned his voice inside-out. This didn’t look like a lie or a joke. It seemed that she was convinced from the bottom of her heart that Anviet was her father.
Mushiki and the others must have held similar thoughts in believing that. They turned to look at Anviet again. “Anviet-san……” “Do you really not remember?” “Could it be from drinking too much?” “Like I said, it’s impossible!” After being stared with more doubtful eyes than beforehand, Anviet couldn’t help but scream. “But, the name……” “Didn’t you hear those guys call out my name earlier!? No matter how you look at it, she doesn’t look related to me!” “Perhaps the resemblance is more on the mother’s side.” “Ah.” “A beautiful blonde woman……my suspicions have deepened.” “Don’t you dare……!” Anviet said that as blood vessels started popping out from his forehead. Kuroe then clapped her hands with a sigh. “Anyway, we can’t stay like this forever. Let’s leave the cleanup to the disposal team and return back to <Garden>. It’s going to be a hassle, but knight Elluc’s request will come after Suryasan’s treatment is done.” “Ah……wait, hold on a minute. Are you saying that we should take her back with us?” After Anviet asked that, Kuroe nodded as if that was a matter of fact. “It’s temporary protection until her identity is clarified. It shouldn’t be an issue so long as memory treatment is done properly. Or are you suggesting we should just leave her here?” “Tch……” Anviet clicked his tongue as his expression turned sour. “Do whatever you want. Just know I’m against this.”
With that all said and done, he turned around and planned to head back. At that moment, the hem of his clothes was tightly tugged. ──Looking over there, he could see Surya stare at him with a straightforward and pure gaze. “Could it be……” “Huh?” “Does Papa want to hug Su……?” “……………Ha?” Hearing those words that came all too abruptly, Anviet let out a dumbfounded cry. But Surya didn’t look away or be embarrassed as she kept staring at Anviet. Seeing this situation unfold, Ruri and Kuroe spoke in sync. “What, do you have anything else to do?” “In that case, the answer should obviously be yes.” “Huh!? What the hell are you saying!? Who said that I would──” “……I see. I’m sorry.” Hearing what Anviet had said, Surya apologetically lowered her shoulders. As this situation became strangely more unbearable, Anviet began to falter. “No, that’s not why……” However. “Rather than a hug……can it be a piggyback ride?” Surya shyly said that. “…………” Her pure-hearted eyes almost made him involuntarily flinch. Anviet let out a sigh and then crouched down to carry Surya.
──And so, their current situation had begun. Although it was only a temporary measure until her identity and connection with the heretic magicians chasing her could be confirmed, Surya ended up living in <Garden>. From the start, <Garden> had a protection facility for victims of Destruction Factors. If a Destruction Factor is defeated within the reversible annihilation period, the damage it caused will be considered undone. But if the period passes, the phenomenon caused by the Destruction Factor will be recorded in the world as a result. In other words, there is the possibility of being left orphaned or people suffering from wounds incurable with normal treatment. Protect and treat such people, and eventually release them to the outside after memory processing treatment is administered. That was the role of the shelter. Well, there were some cases of individuals recognized for exceptional talent in magic and later becoming affiliated with <Garden>. In any case, Surya, having been brought to <Garden>, would also be taken there for the time being. However── “Huh……? Could it be that Papa wants to praise Su?” Somehow, Surya managed to escape and appeared by Anviet’s side, following him around everywhere. At first, he contacted the shelter to have them take her back. But no matter how many times she was returned, she would always end up by Anviet’s side again. Before long, the facility’s staff gave up and passed the responsibility onto Anviet. Moreover, since Surya kept calling him, “Papa, Papa.”, some people really thought she was Anviet’s daughter. Each time he handed Surya over to the staff, he felt as if he was being watched by eyes that said, “How could you abandon a child who adores you so much?”, “Not taking responsibility……”, and “What a heartless person……” And thus, <Garden> saw the sudden emergence of a teacher with a child in tow. However, it was impossible to work like this. As the bell rang for the start of class, Anviet glanced at Surya. “What’s there to praise. ……It’s up to you whether or not you want to return to the shelter, but don’t get in the way of my work.” “Okay.”
When Anviet said that, Surya nodded in agreement. “……Tch.” Although he wasn’t at fault, Anviet clicked his tongue from feeling as if he was doing something wrong. However, he couldn’t stay like this forever. Anviet walked down the paved road in order to prepare for class. But of course, Surya followed after him. “──No, I meant don’t follow me to class!” Anviet leaned his body back and let out an exasperated cry. ◇ “──By the way, Witch-sama. I would like to confirm something once more.” Just as fifth period class was about to begin, Ruri spoke in a strange tone. Today’s fifth period class was practical drills. In other words, this was practicing magic. The students had already changed into their gym clothes. Neither Ruri nor Mushiki were exceptions. As Ruri’s name designation had suggested, Mushiki was currently in the form of Kuozaki Saika. Although there was no specific time frame, Mushiki decided to periodically switch between the two forms. It was undesirable for either Mushiki or Saika to be absent for an extended period of time. And according to Kuroe, there were……things to learn with each body. “Hmm. What is it, Ruri?” Mushiki replied in a manner befitting Saika’s gestures and tone of voice. After all, Ruri believed that Saika’s mind was in control while Mushiki was in Saika mode. He couldn’t afford to let her know that his consciousness was currently acting. Since she hasn’t found out so far, it should be fine──there was no way Mushiki thought that. After all, Ruri was the number one member of the (unofficial) Kuozaki Saika Fan Club. Moreover, she now knew that Saika and Mushiki had fused. There was enough danger that the slightest hint of carelessness could prove fatal.
As if seeing though Mushiki’s concerns, Ruri continued in a low voice. “So, Witch-sama’s consciousness is currently in control, and Mushiki’s consciousness is in a dormant state, correct?” “……Why are you asking that?” Although Mushiki was startled, he managed to suppress his panic by responding to the question. Upon hearing this, Ruri replied by frantically hurriedly shaking her head. “N-No, I’m sorry. It’s not that I doubt Witch-sama. It’s just──” “Just?” “Just in case, if by any chance, even a small part of Mushiki’s consciousness was awake……then that means he would have witnessed Witch-sama changing clothes and taking a bath. Somehow, it would feel both enviable and unforgivable.” “…………” Ruri’s words caused Mushiki to break into cold sweat. Then, someone else spoke up in Mushiki’s stead. “There’s no need to worry. As Saika-sama’s chamberlain, I can assure you that privacy is being protected.” Of course, the reply came from Kuroe. She was dressed in gym clothes just like Mushiki and the others. “Right, so long as that’s the case.” “Yes, if we weren’t sure about that, I wouldn’t be so calm either. I recognize that Mushiki-san is a sensible person, but he is still a healthy high school boy. It’s the time in his when he’s most interested in the female body. If a Mushiki-san like that were to obtain Saika-sama’s body……” “If……?” “Well, he would undoubtedly fondle her breasts at least.” “Muuuushikiiiiiii!” Ruri’s voice erupted with anger. The classmates who were a little distance away flinched from her outburst.