We’ve been receiving inquiries from the other training institutions as well……but we haven’t been able to confirm anything resembling a Destruction Factor.” “……I see.” Saika groaned with a difficult look on her face. Elluc continued with a grave expression. “Of course, I don’t mean to take the situation lightly, but we can’t do anything without any clues. The fact that the same phenomena has occurred twice means there’s a possibility that something will happen tomorrow or later. For now, we’ll have to raise the alert level.” “……Isn’t it ironic? Even though we’re trying to identify the cause, we end up waiting for the Destruction Factor disaster to occur.” It was Kuroe who responded to what Elluc had said. Her expression remained unchanged, but there was a hint of frustration in her voice. “It can’t be helped. I’m not intending to say it’s fine since it can become non-existent, but our options are limited in this current situation.” “Yes, I understand. I apologize for saying something so presumptuous.” “No, don’t worry about it. I feel the same as you do.” Elluc shook her head and then looked up. “──That’s all for the report. We don’t know what might happen next. Stay on alert, everyone.” “……Yes.” In response to those words, Mushiki could only nod. Saika and the other Knights had similar reactions. Even though they were clearly frustrated over not being able to immediately react against the world crisis, their expression and movements revealed a quiet determination to calmly prepare for the coming moment. “Well, that’s the end of this conversation. I’ll be heading back now.” It was Anviet who said that. He flaunty waving his hand and leaving the command center with a deliberate yawn. “Papa, do you want to take a nap with Su today?” “I never said anything indicating that. Besides, I have class now.” ──Although with Surya clinging onto his back, he didn’t look all that cool.
“Let’s go too. Daily training is also the duty of a magician.” Next, Kuroe spoke as if urging everyone. Mushiki nodded slightly, and together with Saika and Kuroe, they left the headquarters with him dragging Ruri along. Still clinging onto Saika, Hildegard also tagged along. “Hilde-san……?” “Knight Hildegard, you don’t have you follow us.” “Ah……y-yeah ……but somehow this calms me down……” After Mushiki and Kuroe spoke, Hildegard replied with an awkward smile. Kuroe let out a sigh as if to say, “Good grief.” “I don’t mind, but Saika-sama also has class today, so please don’t follow her into the classroom.” “I-I got it……but it’s nice……people’s backs……maybe I should hire someone to hide behind……” “Feel free to do so. But in the case of Knight Hildegard, wouldn’t it be difficult to hide behind someone you don’t know well?” “Uh……uhh……” As if struck by the truth, Hildegard faltered. “Saika-chan……would you be my wall for 10,000 yen per day……?” “Please don’t recruit the headmaster for strange jobs.” As Hildegard asked that, Kuroe spoke with her eyes half-closed. ◇ And so, the next morning had arrived. “Uh……” Mushiki’s consciousness was pulled from his dreams by the light-hearted electronic noise coming from his bedside.
This was undoubtedly his smartphone, but it wasn’t an alarm. This sound was── “…………!” Gradually awakening, Mushiki realized it was the ringtone for an incoming call. He hurriedly sat up and tapped the call button on the screen. “H-Hello……?” “Good morning, Mushiki-san.” The voice on the other side of the phone belonged to Kuroe. “Good morning. What’s the matter, Kuroe? ……Did I oversleep?” “No. I just received a call from Knight Elluc and wanted to inform you.” “A call?” Yes. “──Earlier today, another disappearance incident has occurred.” “…………────” Mushiki couldn’t help but hold his breath over what Kuroe had said. “I see…… Where did it happen this time……?” When Mushiki asked, Kuroe answered with a quiet but strong tone. “──Tokyo, Ojou City. In other words, here.” “──Kuroe!” Tumbling out of the boys’ dormitory, Mushiki spotted Kuroe standing at the designated meeting spot and loudly called out her name. “Sorry I’m late!” He quickly approached her, apologizing while still fastening the buttons on his uniform. Since he had hurriedly changed after hearing about the situation on his phone, his attire was quite disheveled. His hair was also sticking out in places from bed head. “No, I was the one who rushed you. Saika-sama and Ruri-san haven’t arrived yet, so please take your time to fix your appearance. Panicking won’t change this situation.”
“S-Sorry……” Mushiki apologized again and followed Kuroe’s advice to adjust his uniform. “Hmm……?” But then, he blinked upon feeling something slightly off. In contrast to Mushiki, Kuroe was impeccably dressed, but she was wearing the chamberlain outfit when serving Saika rather than the <Garden>’s girls uniform. “Kuroe, so you’re wearing that outfit today, huh.” “……? What do you mean by today?” Kuroe slightly tilted her head as if not understanding what he was saying. “Ah, no. It’s not a problem. But considering this emergency, we might not be able to attend class──” Mushiki stopped mid-sentence. No, to be precise, he was interrupted rather than intending to stop. The reason was simple. A mysterious figure had suddenly fell from above and tightly clung to his back, passionately rubbing their cheek against him. “Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama, Nii-sama──” “Whoa! R-Ruri!” Mushiki involuntarily screamed. Even though he couldn’t see her from behind, that voice and strength unmistakably belonged to Ruri. “Good morning, Nii-sama. I was lonely without seeing you for 12 hours. You were lonely too, right? Say you were lonely. If time apart fosters love, the moment we meet is like a charged buster. Don’t you think that it’s nonsense that there’s only boys’ and girls’ dormitories? There should be a sibling dormitory built in the middle.” Rambling on in her usual tone of voice only made the situation feel even more terrifying. “Huh……?”
It was then that Mushiki noticed something as he furrowed his brow slightly. Fluttering the edge of his vision was Ruri’s clothing, which seemed to be a different color than the girls uniform that Ruri usual wore. To be more precise, this was── “Ruri? Why are you wearing the same clothes as Kuroe……?” Mushiki had asked curiously. That’s right. Ruri was wearing the same outfit that Kuroe usually wore while serving as a chamberlain──in other words, this was a maid uniform. “Huh>” However, Ruri responded to Mushiki’s question with a puzzled look. “Same clothes? Well, of course. It’s a uniform after all.” After Ruri answer as if it was only natural, she suddenly shook her shoulders upon realizing something. “What’s this? You don’t want me to wear readily-made clothes? Are you showing your desire to dye me in your own colors? Kyaa! To throw in such a new element at this point in the game……is this a divine update? Thank you, management team. I won’t hesitate to make in-app purchases.” “C-Calm down, Ruri. My neck. You’re choking me.” “Oops, my love turned into power.” When Mushiki tapped her arm, Ruri loosened her grip with a “Tehehe” wry smile. With his airway secured and oxygen flowing into his lungs, Mushiki breathed out a sigh of relief. But there was something more concerning at this moment. He continued speaking while taking the time to catch his breath. “……Ruri, did you just call that a uniform?” “Yes. What about it?” Ruri replied nonchalantly, showing no signs of doubting the clothes she was wearing.
It was then that Mushiki finally realized. Looking back, Kuroe’s reaction earlier had also been strange. Mushiki thought she was wearing her chamberlain outfit for some reason, but she didn’t think that there was anything special about her clothes. And then Mushiki’s thoughts quickly led to a realization. Yes, just yesterday, there had been someone who had said something similar── “──Hey there. Good morning, you three. Sorry for being late.” At that moment, a voice coming from the direction of the girls’ dormitory had interrupted Mushiki’s thoughts. But it was no wonder. Standing there was…… “S-Saika……san──” “Hm? Oh, good morning, Mushiki? What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?” It was Kuozaki Saika herself, dressed in a maid outfit just like Kuroe and Ruri. “──Huh──” As soon as Mushiki’s eyes caught sight of her, it had felt as if his breath had been snatched away and he nearly collapsed on the spot. The only reason he managed to maintain his posture was because of Ruri, sensing that strength had left Mushiki’s body, supported him from behind. Incidentally, Ruri excitedly muttered, “Whoa, what’s wrong, Nii-sama? Are you trying to show that you can entrust your body and soul to me!? If that’s the case, I won’t be able to resist taking care of you.” However, Mushiki couldn’t hear well at this moment. Maid outfits were essentially work clothes for servants. Under normal circumstances, a noble person like Saika shouldn’t be wearing such an attire. But right now, those seemingly incompatible two existences had miraculously come together. Mushiki felt warm tears involuntarily stream down his cheeks. “Thank you……so very much──” “……? Why am I being thanked right now?” Saika asked, tilting her head in wonder. Unable to speak due to being so deeply moved, Kuroe replied on his behalf by saying, “Who knows?”
“Tch────, what the hell is this?” After receiving the report from Elluc and arriving at the western edge of <Garden>, Anviet grimaced in frustration at the spectacle before his very eyes. But that was to be expected. After all, a portion of the formidable wall surrounding <Garden>’s premises had vanished, cleanly sliced away and exposed the view of the outside. No, saying the word outside might be misleading. The townscape that should have spread beyond <Garden>’s premises had also been turned into an empty lot as if wiped away by an eraser. Since a while now, the sirens of ambulances and fire trucks, as well the propeller noise from news helicopters, had all been incessantly ringing. “…………” Anviet, with a stern expression on his face, approached the gaping hole in the wall. He traced his fingertips over the fresh scar. ──The cross-section was so smooth that it felt like his finger might be sliced. <Garden>’s external walls were extremely robust both physically and magically. Even if a Destruction Factor attacked it, it wouldn’t be damaged so easily. And even if it was destroyed, it was difficult to imagine it would break like this. Of course, he had heard reports describing a similar damage report in the eastern United States and southern Australia. But when looking it in person, this made the abnormality even more apparent. It was undoubtedly a Destruction Factor. But since its appearance wasn’t observed, it difficult to imagine that it was simply wreaking havoc. It was probably best to classify this as a specialgrade. “Smooth.” While saying that, Surya stroked the wall’s cross-section from behind Anviet. Today, like always, Surya remained close by Anviet’s side. For instance, when Anviet left her in the room this morning to check the scene of the crime, Surya had already managed to be waiting at the entrance while Anviet was getting ready. “……Geez.” Anviet was getting used to being followed around by Surya and knew there was no point in complaining now. But there was something about Surya’ presence that seemed to loosen the tension in the air. Anviet let out a small sigh and scratched his head.
But in hindsight, it seemed as if the several strange events that had occurred in the past few days──ever since Anviet had saved Surya from being pursued by those heretic magicians. Of course, there was the existence of Surya herself, who had claimed to be Anviet’s daughter. And then the mysterious disappearances that were happening all over the world. As for Ruri, her behavior had been highly unusual……or maybe she had always been like that. Overthinking things was one of Anviet’s bad habits. “…………” ──With that being said, this was indeed an anomaly. Anviet glanced back and strained his brow. Just like Anviet, there were teachers and students of <Garden> who had come to see the situation── However, all the female students were not wearing the <Garden> uniforms, but instead frilly apron dresses like the one worn by Saika’s chamberlain. Perhaps noticing his gaze, a group of nearby students approached him. “Thank you for your hard work, Svarner-sensei.” “……Oh. What are you girls doing?” “We’re helping Tatekawa-sensei. To prevent outsiders from accidently wandering in, we’re going to set up temporary avoidance barrier here.” “Ah──” Anviet nodded in agreement. Since the recognition inhibition barrier was still function, the inside of <Garden> shouldn’t be exposed to public view. But regardless of the intent, that wouldn’t be the case once someone stepped onto the premises. It would be wise to be cautious of the rescue teams, construction workers involved in restoration, and media personnel nearby. However, Anviet’s understanding only went that far. With his eyes half-closed, he continued. “……So then, what’s with those ridiculous outfits? The cultural festival won’t be happening for a while.” “…………?” The girls titled her heads in confusion and looked down at their own outfits.
It didn’t seem like necessary clothing for setting up the barrier. Their reactions suggested they didn’t understand what Anviet was talking about. On the other hand, the male students nearby were wearing the normal uniforms and looked just as puzzled as Anviet over the girls’ outfits. Seeing Anviet’s response, they seemed relived and sighed and said, “I thought so……” and “Good, so we weren’t going crazy……” But Anviet didn’t pursue the matter any further. He decided it was pointless to be concerned when there’s was more pressing matters to deal with. “Oh, who are you……?” “Where did you come from? You’re not from outside, are you?” The female students found Surya stroking the wall’s cross-section and began to speak to her. “Ah, she is──” Just as Anviet tried to answer, another group of girls responded. “Oh, that’s Surya-chan. She’s a good child.” “Didn’t you hear? She’s Svarner-sensei’s secret child.” “Ah……oh…….so she’s the one.” “I’m sorry, sensei. We didn’t know.” The girls who spoke to Surya bowed their heads to Anviet. Anviet frowned and narrowed his eyes. “Like I said! She’s not my illegitimate child! I don’t have any kids!” Anviet, who was already tired of denying, knew that not saying anything would seem like he had accepted the idea. Annoyed, he raised his voice. The female students all had painful expressions over the outburst. “That’s……even if you don’t want to acknowledge her, how could you say something like that in front of her?” “That’s right. It’s possible that sensei just doesn’t remember.” “Ah, sensei seems like the popular type after all.”
“Hey, Surya-chan, do you know your mother’s name?” The girls began to ask one question after another. Anviet sighed with a vein popping out from his forehead. “You guys……” However, Anviet didn’t continued. He was interrupted by the sound of Surya answering the girl’s question. “Mama’s name is──Sara.” Surya uttered that name. “──────, What did you say?” Anviet felt like his heart was being crushed. “This is……amazing.” Having somehow regained his composure, Mushiki, along with Saika and Kuroe, had arrived at the western end of <Garden>, the site of the disappearance phenomenon. Incidentally, due to it being difficult to walk, Mushiki had asked Ruri to get off his back. Ruri hesitated, but awkwardly let go when Mushiki said, “I can’t see your cute face like this.” Instead, she now struck various poses whenever they made eye contact. At the western end of <Garden> where the walls had been hollowed, most of the teachers and student helpers had already gathered to work on investigating or reconstructing the barrier. “──The marks of the disappearance match what was said in the report.” “Yes, it seems there’s no doubt that it’s the same phenomenon that’s been occurring continuously since the day before yesterday.” “Yes, but to think it’s happening so close by……what the hell is going on? Nii-sama, Nii-sama, look, look! Am I cute?” Kuroe, Saika, and Ruri, all dressed in matching outfits, spoke in turn while looking at the tragic scene. Everyone had serious expressions, but Ruri alone struck a cute pose while looking at Mushiki. With a wry smile, he replied with, “You’re cute.” “A Destruction Factor……and one that is capable of affecting the concepts and natural laws.”
Kuroe narrowed her eyes and continued. “Although it may have a smaller range of damage when compared to rampaging species like <Dragon> or <Kraken>, it can manifest special effects when certain conditions are met. And above all, unless the rules are deciphered, you can even grasp its true nature. It’s a very troublesome Destruction Factor.” After saying that, she turned her gaze towards Mushiki. “With something of this scale, it might already be affecting the world in other ways. ──Mushikisan. No matter how trivial, have you felt any sense of discomfort?” “Well, yes……I do.” Mushiki replied to Kuroe, who asked while swaying the hem of her maid outfit. Kuroe raised her eyebrows in surprise. “What exactly is it? Is something strange happening?” “It’s about those clothes. Why is everyone wearing maid outfits?” Mushiki asked while pointing to Kuroe’s clothes. Earlier, he had been rendered speechless by the destructive power of Saika in a maid outfit (even now, he couldn’t stare at her for too long), but he still recognized that something was clearly off. After all, not just Saika and Ruri, but all the female students gathered at the scene were dressed the same. What’s more, none of the girls seemed to realize that something was amiss in their attire. “Are you saying……there’s something wrong with this outfit?” “Isn’t it weird…… wasn’t everyone wearing uniforms until yesterday? Why the sudden change……it sounds like everyone is following what Hilde-san said yesterday.” “Knight Hildegard said──” Kuroe furrowed her brows slightly at Mushiki’s words. However, before Kuroe could say anything else── “──Kuozaki!” Coming from the front──a furious scream echoed near the traces of the wall’s disappearance. “Anviet-san……?”
Looking at the owner of the voice, Mushiki’s eyes widened. Indeed, it came from Anviet, who was screaming with an unusual intensity. As Mushiki and the others watched on in surprise, Anviet quickly approached at a brisk pace. And without a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed Saika by the collar. “You──how much do you know!?” With his eyes filled with rage, he glared at Saika, he furiously raised his voice. “Wha──” “Anveit-san!?” Despite Ruri and Mushiki being stunned by his actions, Anviet continued on regardless. “What is going on……! Why──why did Sara’s name come up here!? Tell me! What the hell do you know about this!?” “────” In response to Anviet’s words that sounded like a scream, Saika and Kuroe seemed to simultaneously choke on their breaths──or so it appeared. However, it was only for a moment. Saika quickly regained her composure and responded in a calm tone. “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Can you let me go?” “Don’t mess with me──there’s no way this is a coincidence! If what happened back then is involved, who else but you──” Far from letting go of his hand, Anviet tightened his grip on Saika’s collar and pressed closer. The two already had a difference in height. Saika’s body was hoisted up as it was lifted off from the ground. However, that was as far as Anviet’s yelling went. From behind, Anviet’s clothes were tightly pulled. “Papa……you really don’t want to do this……do you?” “────!”
It was Surya. When Anviet caught sight of her, he clenched his teeth and eventually roughly released Saika’s body. “Saika-san!” “……Ah, thank you. I’m alright.” Mushiki hurriedly went to support Saika’s body. Saika responded between light coughs. “…………Damn it───” Anviet glared at Saika for a while, but then he spat out those words and left the scene. Surya quickly bowed and trotted after him. “……What on earth……” “What that guy’s problem!? How dare he be so rude to Witch-sama……!” Mushiki and Ruri displayed their respective confusion and anger towards the sudden outburst. However, in the midst of all of this, Kuroe and Saika frowned as if something had come to mind. “……Rewriting events, perception manipulation……wishes──Sara……could something like that be──” “Kuroe......? What’s wrong?” When Mushiki asked, Kuroe briefly lowered her eyes before raising her face again. “I have something……I’d like to investigate. I’ll explain the details later if you don’t mind.” “……Ah, sure. I’ll do some investigating too.” As if to agree with Kuroe, Saika also spoke up. Mushiki and Ruri exchanged confused glances over their unusual demeanor. “Uhm, who exactly is this Sara……?” Kuroe slowly nodded before answering the question. “Sara Svarner. ──The wife of Knight Anviet who passed away 100 years ago.” “Papa──”
“……Shut up.” Having left the disappearance site, Anviet relied back to Surya’s faltering attempts to talk in a coarse manner. It wasn’t as if he wanted to be cruel or harsh. However, with his mind in turmoil, he couldn’t properly organize her thoughts. “Damn it, what the hell is going on……” Tearing at his hair, he spewed out those words. Then, Anviet glanced backwards──towards Surya. “……Who the hell are you? I have already confirmed that we’re not related by blood. But──why do you know Sara’s name?” “Sara……is Su’s Mama. Su has always been with her. Su knows about Papa because of always listening to Mama……” “Don’t joke with me. Sara is gone. She died back then……I saw it with my own eyes. We even held a funeral. ──Or are you going to say you come from the afterlife.” Anviet gave off a piercing glare, but Surya replied without any hesitation. “It’s okay. You’ll understand soon. Papa……has already made a wish.” “A wish……?” He raised his eyebrows from not understanding what Surya was saying. The next moment──Anviet was struck by a severe headache. “Guh……!? Ah……!?” He suddenly clutched his head and crouched down in pain. However, he quickly realized this wasn’t just a headache. It felt as if a vast amount of information was being forcefully poured into his head── “……, ────, …………──” A few minutes later, Anviet, crouched down while covered in cold sweat, slowly raised his face. “What……is this──” Then, he raised his voice in confusion.
“What the hell are these memories……!?” That rage-like howl──also felt like a lamentful wail. ◇ “…………” After the turmoil at the western end of <Garden>, Kuroe was alone visiting the underground archives of <Garden>’s main library. Off limits to ordinary students, it was a restricted area where forbidden books and important materials were stored. It was located just above the underground sealing facility that had been damaged during Tokishima Kurara’s attack two months ago, but now it had been beautifully repaired. As a small mercy, there was no loss or damages of materials due to the battle. Well, it was no laughing matter since the far more important <Ouroboros> heart had been stolen. Kuroe sat down in a seat set up in the far end of the library, placing her hand on the terminal installed there. “Authentication. Karasuma Kuroe.” In response to Kuroe’s voice, a small electronic beep rang, and then a ray of light scanned her palm and then her eyes. After next entering a complex password, a 3D image in the shape of a book was displayed before Kuroe’s eyes. It was an electronic browsing terminal, completely independent of external networks. Only Saika, the headmaster of <Garden>, and Kuroe, who had been granted special permission from Saika (at least for formalities’ sake) were allowed to freely access these materials. As it should be. It was because this document contained information about the 12 Mythologia that only Saika knew about. “──Destruction Factor No. 10. Display data.” After Kuroe whispered that, the faintly shinning book turned its pages to document selected. “…………” It took about 10 minutes to go through the document.
Kuroe felt a certain possibility lingering in her mind slowly, but surely, form a real image. “If that’s the case, she is──” At that moment, Kuroe’s smartphone began to faintly vibrate. It appeared to be an incoming call. When she looked at the screen, she could see Elluc’s name being displayed. “──Yes. This is Karasuma. Did something happen?” “Indeed. Just a moment ago, another similar disappearance phenomenon was confirmed. This time is Eastern Europe. Although it’s much smaller in scale compared to the three previous cases, this pace is fast. Having the same irregularity occur more than once a day might not be just a coincidence.” “…………” Listening to Elluc’s report, Kuroe tensed her brows and clenched her teeth. ──Although being calm and collected was a trademark for her as a chamberlain, she wouldn’t be blamed for her reaction here. There was no solid evidence yet. However, if Kuroe’s speculation was correct, there was not time to waste. She quickly resolved and determined her next actions and continued speaking. “Knight Elluc. I have a request.” “What? Go ahead.” “──Please secure Surya-san immediately. Do it as politely as possible. Make sure she doesn’t feel any hostility.” “Surya……ah, that girl. Why though?” Elluc raised a confused voice in response to Kuroe’s request. But that was a natural question to ask. Kuroe continued in a calm tone so her impatience wouldn’t leak out in her voice. “She possesses the Destruction Factor──no, its possible she has fused with the Destruction Factor just like Tokishima Kurara.” “What did you say?” Elluc continued with her voice marked by suspicion.
“Are you saying she infiltrated under the guise of Anviet’s daughter to cause harm to <Garden> just like Tokishima Kurara?” “No, it’s not even clear if she has any hostility towards us. But if my guess is correct, she could have tremendous impact on the world regardless if she wants to or not.” “What do you mean? What exactly is this Destruction Factor?” “The material-type Destruction Factor <Fortuna>. ──A device that grants wishes.” In response to Elluc’s question, Kuroe revealed its name. ◇ “──We are calling for Anviet Svarner-sensei. Please come the command center immediately with your daughter. I repeat──” The announcement echoed throughout <Garden>’s premises for the umpteenth time. While listening to this, Saika was wandering around the western area of <Garden>. No, it wasn’t just Saika. Glancing around, she could see other students who seemed to be searching for something just like her. They were probably all looking for Anviet under Elluc’s instructions. To be precise, Surya was the real target. But that information was only known to a select few like Saika and Ruri. In any case, <Garden> was now in the midst of a large-scale search due to Elluc’s command. Saika was also participating in the search as one of the students. Mushiki and Ruri wanted to accompany Saika, but when she persuaded them to split up to increase efficiency, they both shed tears of blood (figuratively of course) and reluctantly agreed. The fact that the announcement continued repeating meant that Anviet and Surya hadn’t yet been found. Judging from Anviet’s personality, it wouldn’t be hard to image that he was ignoring the announcement without any reason. In that case, there was a high possibility they were either in a location where the announcements couldn’t reach or he was intentionally hiding their presence. The former was fine. However, if it was the latter, Anviet might already have──
“Anviet──” And then, it happened when Saika uttered that name along with a sigh. A large figure appeared on the path ahead. “Hm……?” She instinctively raised her face from the sense of discomfort. The reason was simple. This silhouette felt mismatched from the surrounding scenery of <Garden>. She was a tall woman. Although it was just an estimate, she appeared to be over two meters tall. As if disliking exposing her skin, she snugly wore an out-of-season, long coat and a widebrimmed hat that covered her eyes. Long hair peeked out from underneath the hat, with its tips swaying against the wind. At the very least, she wasn’t a student. And yet, it was hard to imagine that such a person would be among <Garden>’s teachers. However, the most bizarre part was──despite her conspicuous appearance, no one besides Saika seemed to pay attention to her, “──Ojou-san.” The woman called out her while slowly approaching Saika. “I’d like to ask you a few questions. Do you know a little her about 10 years old? She has beautiful blonde hair……her name is──yes, Surya.” “……Who are you to know about Surya?” Hearing those words, Saika made her wariness evident. Then, perhaps sensing Saika’s reaction, the woman let out a small purr from her throat. “Oh dear……perhaps <Garden> has already discovered that child’s secret? Well then, I suppose there’s no choice but to proceed to the next plan.” The woman lifted the brim of her hat with her leather-gloved hand and revealed her face. “────” Saika’s eyes remained fixed on her venomous red lips and the single eye peeking out through the bandages.
──About two hours had passed since the search began. “Have you found Anviet-san!?” Mushiki shouted as soon as he entered the central command room. Elluc, Kuroe, and Hildegard, who were already gathered there, turned their gazes towards him. Hildegard’s shoulders flinched, perhaps from her being surprised by the loudness of his voice. “Not yet. ……Well, if you mean knowing his whereabouts when you say found, then that might not be correct.” Elluc spoke with a stringent look on her face. Seeing the frustrated method chosen to phrase her reply, Mushiki curiously tilted his head. While searching for Anviet and Surya, he received an urgent message on his smartphone from Kuroe. This prompted Mushiki to rush to the command center, thinking that some progress had been made. But──it seemed Anviet hadn’t been secured yet. Incidentally, Ruri was behind Mushiki. Although she wasn’t clinging to his back, she kept a moderate distance from him. Under Saika’s orders, they had split up to search for Anviet. However, Ruri just happened to be nearby. When asked about it, she replied with, “It’s a coincidence, Nii-sama. Or is it fate? This destiny of siblings.” Kuroe and the others seemed to have somewhat sensed the situation and didn’t press the matter further. “Uhm……what do you mean? Do you find his location.” “Please take a look at this. This is the communication we had just received. ──Silber nee-san, if you would please.” “Sure!” When Kuroe spoke, Silber’s voice echoed from out of nowhere and projected an image onto the table. The image displayed Anviet with Surya visibly by his side. “……! This is──” As Mushiki stared in shock, the Anviet in the recording sharped his gaze that looked ready to kill his opponent.
“Inform <Void Garden> headmaster, Kuozaki Saika. ──I challenge you to a fair fight.” “Wha──” “The location will be Mt. Mishiro training facility. There are no rules or restrictions. The only limitation is holding back. The winner will be deiced only when one of us dies or surrenders. If you do not accept this demand──” While saying this, Anviet glanced at Surya beside him. “──I will use the power of the Destruction Factor <Fortuna> to destroy this world. ……You know what this means, right?” “…………” Mushiki helplessly gasped over the threat that Anviet had made. “Destroy……the world? What is Anviet-san talking about……? Isn’t that the exact opposite of <Garden>’s objective? And besides, it’s not that easy to──” “No.” Kuroe said that and shook her head as if to interrupt Mushiki. “If <Fortuna> has truly been revived, it’s not impossible.” “T-That can’t be……” Mushiki didn’t know the specifics of what <Fortuna> could do, but he couldn’t imagine Kuroe making a joke like that. Tension turned into sweat as it dripped down his cheeks. Then, Elluc stroked her chin with a difficult look on her face. “……I don’t know what he’s thinking, but we have no choice but to comply if he has <Fortuna> in his hands. ──Saika. She’ll surely beat him to a pulp after hearing this.” “T-That’s right! He’s on a losing streak against Witch-sama, but he’s still so full of himself! Let her show the difference in their abilities!” Ruri chimed in support of Elluc’s statement. But then, Elluc curiously tilted her head. “So, where is Saika? Wasn’t she with you?”
“Huh? No, we decided to split up because it would be faster. I thought she had already arrived, but……” At the moment Mushiki replied, an alarm-like sound began echoed throughout the command center. “What is this noise?” “Communication from outside. The number is──Sa-chan.” Silber answered Elluc’s question. Sa-chan was the name Silber used when calling Saika. To Silber, who called to be the big sister of the entirety of humanity, even the headmaster was a younger sister. “From Saika……? Connect met to her, big sis.” “Understood.” As Silber spoke, an image mixed with static was projected onto the table. “…………!?” Upon seeing this, he furrowed his brows. Not just Mushiki, but also Ruri, Elluc, Hildegard, and even Kuroe wore surprised expression on their faces. That was only natural. The image showed Saika bound to a chair with ropes. “──Greetings, everyone of <Garden>. My name is Zhuyan.” A low female voice overlapped with the image. “I have taken custody of your comrade. If you want her back unharmed, then exchange her for a girl name Surya.” The woman’s voice conveyed despairful information by mentioning the name of a girl not present in the room.
Chapter 4: You Want Me to Stop? “──Splendid.” After receiving the report from his subordinate, Willows looked up to the sky and slowly applauded. “Being quick to results is a virtue above all else. Life is brief. Getting the job done quickly is the equivalent to having full appreciation for life.” Then, the subordinates by his side expressed forced smiles as if posing for a painting. “Yes, certainly.” “That’s precisely true.” “…………” ──They didn’t know anything. Willows sighed while glancing at his dimwitted subordinates. Nonetheless, this was nothing to be angry about. Even if stupid, a subordinate who has loyalty will always have a use. They had to spent their irreplaceable lives serving Willows. A more excellent subordinate would have notice this. And they would either leave Willows, ask for a higher salary──or even plan to assassinate him in his sleep. Needless to say, anyone who plotted this would have their own heads roll. Regardless, good news had just arrived. There was no need for his mood to sour now. Yes, just a while ago, they received a message from the magician Zhuyan, who they had commissioned to secure a girl in <Void Garden>. “So where is Surya now?” “Yes. She’s locked up here in the basement.” “I see. How clever.” The building that Willows and the others were currently at was one of the properties owned by a dummy company related to <Salix>. The ground floor was a normal building, but the basement was a warehouse for illegal goods. Of course, security was as strict as possible. If a helpless little girl was captured, it will be impossible to escape. “But locked up──that’s a poor way of phrasing it. I love Surya like my own child. She is a Child of Fortune that will bring enormous benefits to this organization.” Willows twisted his lips into the shape of a smile.
Right. Surya truly was a Child of Fortune. A peculiar life that was born with a special magic factor in her body. She was a child of God who brings good luck to those around just by being present. Surya’s good fortune was the reason why <Salix>, which had been nothing but a small organization among heretic magicians, grew to its current size. “Well then, let’s go. To my beloved princess.” “Yes……please come this way.” One of his subordinates lead Willows while informing him of the direction to follow. Willows nodded in agreement, and then they went to the hallway to take the elevator to the underground floor. “──Oh.” As soon as the elevator door opened, a woman standing in front raised her voice. She was taller than 2 meters, and the upper half of her face was covered with bloody bandages. She was the sort of woman who would leave a strong, lasting impression after only being seen once. In fact, the moment they saw her, the subordinates standing by Willows side were uncontrollably trembling as if engulfed by the atmosphere she exuded. “Good day to you, Mr. Willows. What can I do for you?” “I couldn’t just stand by anymore after hearing the report that you captured the tomboy princess.” “Oh dear. You sure are impatient.” With her bright red lips twisting into a smile, Zhuyan pointed to the door at the far end of the hallway. An authentication device was installed in front of the door. Willows pressed his palm against it, and the door shortly unlocked with a small electronic beep. Willows slowly opened the door and entered the room. “Long time no see. My sweet Surya? Where have you been? I was really worried. If something happened to you, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night──”
But then, Willows suddenly stopped speaking. The explanation was simple. It was because Surya wasn’t the person who was there.” “──Huh?” For some reason, a girl wearing a maid outfit noticed Willows and turned her attention to him. The image of Willow was reflected in her beautiful, richly colorful eyes. At that moment── “Abyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa──────!?” Without any shame or care for his reputation, Willows let out a shriek of terror. “B-Boss……?” “My goodness, what’s the matter all of a sudden?” As his subordinates were left perplexed, Zhuyan curiously asked for an explanation. However, that was only natural. The man who arrogantly acted as the organization’s boss until now had suddenly let out a high-pitched scream while having his legs wobble like a newborn fawn. However, right now Willows didn’t have the luxury keep up appearances with a clever façade. After all, the person there was── “Ku……, Kuozaki……Saika……! ……San……” That person was Kuozaki Saika, the Witch from <Garden> acclaimed as the world’s strongest magician. “Wha……that woman is, huh……!?” “Now that you mention it, her face does look familiar……!” In response to Willows’ remark, his subordinates began whispering among themselves. However, Zhuyan slanted her neck while looking somewhat confused. “Who is that? I feel like that I’ve heard that name somewhere before.” “You idiot! How can you possibly not know about Kuozaki Saika!?” “Well yeah. Or rather, the same goes for heretic magicians as well.”
As Willows yelled, Zhuyan shrugged her shoulders as if to saying nothing. But that was the last thing he wanted to hear right now. He approached Shaun while his face was still a slobbering mess. “The headmaster of <Garden>! The world’s strongest magician……! Why is that person……doing in a place like this……!? Didn’t you bring Surya back……!?” “Nobody said that. I couldn’t find Surya, so I took a nearby student hostage instead. Didn’t that person there explain it to you properly?” “Eh……!? I-Is that so……?” The subordinate being pointed at revealed only more confusion in turn. Willows glared at his subordinates. That being said, now was not the time to punish his incompetent subordinates. While trying to suppress his pounding heartbeat, he turned back to Zhuyan. “So……then, you didn’t do anything else unnecessary, correct……?” “Yes.” “T-That’s reassuring……” “I only sent a threatening video message to <Garden>.” “Now you’ve gone and done it!” Willows thumped onto the floor in despair. “But isn’t it convenient if she’s such an important person? As a result, the child named Surya should have to be returned, right?” “For me! Surya’s luck! Our organization’s activities! I kept it all out of sight from <Garden>! Do you understand what that means!?” Willows desperately appealed, but Zhuyan only dismissively waved her hand. “Calm down. I am pro too. As long as I’m paid, I’ll do my job.” “Like. I. Said. I’m not saying anything about your level anymore! Aaaaaaaa……! I’ve been caught by Kuozaki Saika……I can’t do this anymore……it’s all over──!” Willows’ words came to a halt. Zhuyan stretched out her long arm and forcibly grabbed Willows’ chin, pulling his face upward.
“Listen up, just leave it to me.” An eerie-colored eye peeked out from the bandages wrapped around Zhuyan’s face. “Ah……but──” Willows was paralyzed the moment he saw it. And then, he remembered. He had lost his composure when faced with Kuozaki Saika, but the woman in front of him was also a monster with inhuman power. “Good boy.” As Zhuyan’s bright red lips formed a smile, she took his hand off Willows and closed his eyes. In an instant, Willows fainted as if the string holding his body together had snapped. “Haah……haah…….” “Boss! Are you okay!” Willows managed to get on his feet by being supported by his men. “A-Anyway……! The seeds you’ve sown! I’ll have you take responsibility!” “Yes. I understand.” Zhuyan responded by agreeing with the demand. Willows, sensing an uncanny creepiness, retreated from the basement while trying not to look at either Zhuyan or Saika’s faces as much as possible. ◇ ──<Garden>’s headquarters were now in the midst of a commotion. But that was only natural. After all, Anviet Svarner, one of the highest-ranking magicians of <Garden>, had just requested a duel with Saika. Moreover, adding to their troubles, Saika had been kidnapped. The culprit’s request was the custody of Surya, a girl who claimed to be Anviet’s daughter. Two serious incidents had transpired. Moreover, it was a contradiction where the objective of each side was in the other’s hands. To the members of <Garden> caught in this dilemma, they were left at a loss over how to deal with this situation.
“──Let’s calm down first, everyone.” In the midst of this chaotic situation, the one who clapped her hands to gather everyone’s attention was Kuroe, Saika’s chamberlain. “Nothing will be achieved from panicking. Let’s deal with each issue calmly.” “It’s just as Kuroe says. Remember the basics for being a magician. No matter what happens, don’t let your heart be disturbed.” Elluc made her announcement following after Kuroe. After hearing this, everyone in the command center took a deep breath. Mushiki also placed his hand against his chest to calm down. He’s been feeling uneasy ever since hearing that Saika had been kidnapped. However, if he lost his composure here and panicked, it might expose Saika to further danger later. “……What should we do going forward? Even if we want to respond to Anviet-san’s request, Saika-san isn’t here. And even if we try to negotiate with the person who kidnapped Saika-san, Surya is with Anviet-san.” When Mushiki said that, Elluc raised her head after thinking for a while. “……The one given priority should be Anviet.” “May I ask why?” Elluc nodded in response to Anviet’s question. “It’s simple process of elimination. ──Do you think Saika would really let herself get caught? It’s natural to speculate that there’s more going on. Of course, we will continue trying to identify her whereabouts. But in terms of prioritizing, we have no choice but to go with Anviet, who is believed to be in possession of the Destruction Factor.” “…………, I see. As expected of your keen insight.” Kuroe spoke in agreement. ──However, in her extremely calm expression, there was the faint hint of frustration mixed in. Mushiki was probably the only person there who noticed it. “Then the action we should first take is to send a messenger to Knight Anviet. In order to buy time, we will tell him that Saika-sama is willing to accept the duel.” “I see. But who should we send? There’s no guarantee he’ll agree to negotiations. It’s going to be a dangerous role.”
“Yes. I hope you can entrust this role to me and Mushiki-san.” “Wha……! Hey wait, why is it you and Nii-sama!” Ruri was the one who raised her voice in surprise. “Because I am Saika-sama’s chamberlain. And I hope Mushiki-san, who is on good terms with Knight Anviet, will serve as the role of a buffer against further aggression.” Kuroe spoke in a nonchalant manner. Mushiki wasn’t particularly on good terms with Anviet, but……Mushiki had acted as Saika until a while ago, so she might be of some use──still, it wasn’t as if he could say that out loud. However, Ruri’s objection didn’t seem to be focused on that point. “Why can’t I go together with my Nii-sama!” “Since we are trying to negotiate, won’t a Knight being present further escalate the ensuing conversation?” “But even so……!” As Ruri was about to continue complaining, Elluc tightly covered her mouth to silence her. “While you two are stalling for time, we’ll search for Saika’s whereabouts and wait for her to move──is that it?” “Yes. How does that sound?” After Kuroe spoke, Elluc appraised Kuroe with her discerning gaze before nodding in agreement. “──Very well. I’ll leave how to handle Anviet to you.” “Yes. We’ll begin taking action immediately. ──Let’s go, Mushiki-san.” “Yes!” “Mhm! Mhm!” Mushiki left the command room with Kuroe while leaving behind Ruri’s muffled cries. “The designated location was the Mt. Mishiro training facility……right? Where is that?” “It’s an external training facility for <Garden>. Indeed, it offers no shortage of places to fight, and there are various lodging facilities. It’s the perfect location to wait for your opponent.”
“I see……well then let’s head there right away.” “Yes. ──However, I do have one concern.” As Kuroe was walking ahead, Mushiki’s eyes blinked over what she had said. “A concern……?” When Mushiki saked that, Kuroe only continued after confirming there was no one else watching them. “I wonder if Saika-sama has been truly captured.” “Wha──” Kuroe’s announcement left Mushiki speechless. As if to evaluate Mushiki’s reaction, Kuroe turned around. “Of course, if under normal circumstances, it’s impossible for Saika-sama to be captured by a thief. Like Knight Elluc had said, it’s natural to think there is more going on. However, when considering the current situation, I can’t think of a reason for Saika-sama to willingly become a prisoner no matter how hard I try.” “T-Then, how did this happen? A magician who can capture Saika-san──” Yes. There shouldn’t be anyone in this world. ──But, what if Saika-sama is in a situation where she can’t fully use her magic?” “Can’t use……her magic?” Mushiki looked confused for a moment, but then he shuddered. It’s been a few days since he was separated from Saika. Looking back, Mushiki had never seen Saika use magic. Let alone her everyday life, she was only observing the practical classes due to not feeling well. He had assumed it was an effect of their sudden separation, but could it be── “I should have taken this possibility into consideration. Indeed, Mushiki-san and Saika-sama’s bodies were separated into two. Mostly likely it was from <Fortuna>’s authority being accidentally invoked. However, there was no guarantee that it would completely return back to the pre-fusion state.” “No way……but Saika-san never said a word about this!”
“That’s what I’m curious about. Saika-sama acted completely natural. ──As if she wasn’t even aware of her own condition.” “Not aware……?” As Mushiki asked that with a confused look, Kuroe didn’t offer any further answers. It seemed she wasn’t completely certain about her theory and didn’t want to waste time further discussing it now. “……Anyway, we must do what we can for now. We will have no choice but to tell Knight Anviet honestly that Saika-sama is in no condition to fight right now. Cooperate in rescuing Saika-sama──that is to say, there’s no choice but to ask him to wait until the other matter is settled.” “Will he really believe that……?” “That’s……” Kuroe gave a grim look when Mushiki pointed that out. Anviet was unaware of Mushiki and Saika’s fusion and that Saika wasn’t in perfect condition. There was a high possibility he would think they were lying. Moreover, there was one matter that bothering him. This concern was the root of the problem and the premise behind everything that followed. Mushiki furrowed his brow as he asked with some difficulty. “……Why did Anviet-san do this in the first place?” Rather than calling it a question, it would be appropriate to call this an expression of doubt. Even in this predicament, Mushiki still couldn’t believe that the Anviet he knew was responsible for this incident. Nevertheless, they couldn’t know the motive without asking Anviet himself. Mushiki didn’t expect a clear answer to his question. However, after a few seconds of silence, Kuroe solemnly open her mouth. “……I can only think of one reason why Knight Anviet would cause such an incident.” “What’s that?” As Mushiki asked, Kuroe hesitated for a moment before answering. “I told you that Knight Anviet’s wife died a 100 years ago.” “Yes. What about it……?”
Kuroe took a deep breath before speaking. “──I was one who killed Knight Anviet’s wife.” The truth was spoken with Saika’s tone of voice. “Wha…..!?” Mushiki involuntarily choked on his breath at what was spoken. “Saika-san……did that?” “…………” Kuroe silently lowered her gaze. Seeing this, Mushiki let out a deep sigh to calm down his chest palpitations. It was a shockingly unexpected confession. But that’s why he needed to stay composed. And even with everything said and done, Mushiki still believed in Saika. “……Will you tell me? What exactly happened 100 years ago?” “Yes.” After exhaling a thin sigh, Kuroe began recounting the story as if having made up her mind. This was the starting point for the fate spanning 100 years for Saika and Anviet. “──And that’s the entire story of what happened.” “…………” Listening to Kuroe’s explanation, Mushiki’s was at a loss for words for a moment. He never would have imagined that such a past existed between Saika and Anviet. “Anviet originally held a strong grudge against me. It wouldn’t be surprising if he thought about taking revenge on me.” “……Does he intend to kill Saika-san with the power of <Fortuna>?” “No──if that was the case, he could just wish for my death by using <Fortuna>. The fact that he hasn’t means that he wants to defeat me with his own hands. I’ve always befuddled him
whenever Anviet challenged me to a duel. He must have thought that if he held the world hostage with <Fortuna>, I would have no choice but to fight him seriously.” “…………” As Mushiki remained silent, Kuroe tried to regain her composure by lifting her head and saying, “Anyway.” “We should act quickly. If he knows that his target for revenge is imprisoned, his actions might change. Certainly, there’s the possibility he’ll doubt the truth, but──” However. “──That won’t work.” Mushiki found himself unconsciously objecting to Kuroe’s plan. “Mushiki-san……?” As Kuroe called out his named with a puzzled expression, Mushiki shook his shoulders as if jolting back to reality. “S-Sorry. I suddenly said something weird……” “No, please tell me.” While saying that, Kuroe looked directly into Mushiki’s eyes. Unusual for the always calm and detached Kuroe, there was hint of dependence for Mushiki in their voice and expression. Perhaps she was also still trying to infer Anviet’s intentions. Mushiki didn’t have full confidence either. However, after hearing Kuroe’s story, he had a vague feeling. “……I have an idea. Can you trust me?” Mushiki said those words with his face marked by determination. ◇ “………… In one corner of the <Garden> training facility located in Mt. Mishiro, Anviet was waiting for his opponent with a stern expression and his arms crossed.
It was a vast training ground. Larger than the one in <Garden>’s western area, this one had more scars etched into it. At a first glance, it might be mistaken for a ruin due to not having any people around. Although the season was approaching early summer, the air was chilly, perhaps due to the high altitude. The wind blowing around the mountain roared as it whipped around. In a nutshell, this was the most suitable location for Anviet’s battle. The administrative staff and students visiting the training facility were politely asked to leave. Now, only Anviet and Surya remained here. “Papa──” Surya spoke with anxious look. Anviet’s stern expression slightly loosened as he looked at her. “……What’s wrong? If you’re hungry, go to the dormitory.” As Anviet said that, Surya shook her head. “Could it be, you want Su to stop……?” Surya’s inquisitive, yet also pleading, words caused Anviet to fall silent for a moment. “……My bad. I didn’t mean to involve you. But──” He furrowed his brow and clenched his teeth. His fists naturally tightened so much that his nails painfully dug into his palms. “──I shouldn’t ask for this much. But I won’t satisfied until I defeat her.” “……Papa……” At the moment Surya sadly spoke, two figures entered from the entrance opposite to Anviet. They were familiar faces. Saika’s chamberlain Karasuma Kuroe and the new transfer student Kuga Mushiki. Anviet glanced at both of them and snorted. “You finally showed up. ──So? Where is Kuozaki? Despite how vicious she is, I don’t think she’d stoop so low as to try a sneak attack.” When Anviet spoke, the two of them wordlessly exchanged glances with each other.
And after that, Mushiki took one step forward. “What are you up to? Just so you know, I’m not up for any more discussion. I refuse any sort of negotiations. If you want to stop me, the only way is to have Kuozaki kill me.” “…………” Mushiki took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and then spoke. “──I will be your opponent.” “…………What?” Unable to understand what Mushiki had said, Anviet let out a dumbfounded voice. Then, Mushiki took another deep breath, and── “I’m here in place of Saika-san! I will defeat you!” He loudly made his declaration. “……Do you even understand what you’re saying?” Anviet glared at him with eyes sharpened like a knife. The pressure from that gaze alone was enough to make a faint-hearted person collapsed onto their knees. Sweat trickled down his back and forehead, and his heart was pounding. However, Mushiki clenched his trembling fist and met Anviet’s gaze head-on. “Yes. If you want to fight Saika-san, you’ll have to defeat me first.” “So, what happened to make you say that?” Anviet asked with an irritated look. Mushiki screamed as loud as he could. “──I am here! Because I love Saika-san!” “…………What?” In response to that declaration, Anviet hung his mouth open in surprise.
Incidentally, Kuroe stood emotionlessly behind in the background, but her upright posture felt a little restless. A few seconds later, Anviet frowned as if not understanding the meaning of what he had just said. “……What are you suddenly saying, Kuga? Did you hit your head or something?” “I only hit it a little during training.” “So, you did get hit after all.” Anviet’s fervor weakened as he scratched his head and let out a weary sigh. “Get lost. I’m serious. I don’t have time to play around with your jokes──” “But what if.” “Huh?” “What would you think if I challenge some important to you, Anviet-san──for instance, Sarasan to a duel?” “……What did you say?” As Mushiki interrupted him, Anviet raised his brow in suspicion. His expression seemed to tell that he couldn’t gauge Mushiki’s true intentions, but there was a degree of surprise at Mushiki uttering the name of his late wife. “What are you getting at?” “……I know it’s disrespectful. But I couldn’t think of another suitable person.” “What are you trying to say?” “Even if such a situation were to happen──could you just stand by and watch?” “…………” Anviet choked up a little over hearing what Mushiki had said. “You won’t be able to just stand by. I am the same. ──Just like you, there is something precious that I can’t give up!” When Mushiki said that, Anviet’s expression twisted in discomfort.
“Your premise is absurd! Kuozaki is clearly stronger than you!” “If I’m weaker, I shouldn’t try to protect the person I love!?” “……──” As Mushiki shouted, Anviet’s face stiffened slightly. “…………Haah.” Finally, he let out a heavy sigh. “……I won’t be able to hold back.” And then, he spoke while sharpening his gaze. This was the reaction that Mushiki had anticipated. Knight Anviet Svarner. Out of all the teachers at <Garden he was the man with the most sinister face, foulest mouth──and the kindest heart. He would never mock the determination and resolve it took for another man to stand before him to protect his loved ones. “Of course. You can’t beat me unless you go all-out.” “…………Hah──” Without mockery or derision, Anviet let out a sigh as if responded to the provocation head on. That was the signal for the startle of the battle. Anviet, standing in the training ground, was at the center of a huge amount of swirling magical power that crackled like lightning. “Fine! I’ll settle this in an instant. Do your best to at least not end up as ashes!” Anviet lowered his hips and took a stance as if drawing a bow. “Third Manifestation──<Versalus>!” Accompanying those words, a halo of three strokes formed behind Anviet’s back. It was a beautiful looking, golden world crest. As if to match that, the magical power clinging onto Anviet’s body transformed into golden armor. Third Manifestation. The third level of the manifestation technique that emerged only for highranking magicians. Bearing the rank of <Assimilation>, the manifestation itself served as one’s armor.
The divine majesty forced Mushiki to understand he was facing an opponent who was an extraordinary monster. And then. “──Here I come.” It occurred in an instant. No, it happened in less than a blink of an eye. “Huh──?” Anviet, who should have been ten meters ahead, appeared right in front of Mushiki. It was as if Anviet’s body, which was dressed in Third Manifestation, had transformed into lightning itself. “<Vajradora>──<Deva Sharla> At the next moment, aimed at Mushiki couldn’t even respond, the four trident vajras floating around simultaneously released electric shocks aimed at his body. “…………” At the center of the training ground, an incredible explosion of electricity exploded. Witnessing this, Kuroe faintly furrowed her brow. Then, as if in sync with that, Anviet, clad in golden armor, appeared in front of her. “……He shouldn’t be dead. Hurry and take him to the infirmary. I chased away all the resident doctors, but you should be able to perform first aid.” Anviet awkwardly scratched his head while saying that. Even though both sides had agreed, he probably didn’t feel good defeating a weaker opponent. However, Kuroe quietly narrowed her eyes. “……What exactly are you doing, Knight Anviet?” “Huh? Kuga was the one who came uninvited. You have no right to complain.” “That’s not what I meant.” Kuroe slightly shook her head and continued.
“It’s unbecoming for a magician to turn his back against an opponent when the battle isn’t over.” “What──?” As Anviet frowned in confusion, a ray of light tore through the dust cloud formed at the center of the training ground and aimed directly at Anviet’s head. “────!?” Anviet’s body was momentarily shaken as he dodged the rays of light from behind. However, an attack like that alone wouldn’t have the power to give him the chills. Anviet turned around with an astonished look. In response, a figure flickered beyond the dust cloud. “Kuga, you……that form.” Anviet’s eyes widened as if he had seen something unbelievable. Of course, there was also the surprise that Mushiki was still standing, despite taking a lethal blow. But more than just that──Anviet was undoubtedly shocked by Mushiki’s current appearance. However, that wasn’t unreasonable. After all, Mushiki was holding a giant staff resembling the Earth, and his body was clad in what resembled a magician’s robe. And above his head, three strokes of the world crest resembling a witch’s hat emitted a brilliant, multicolored glow. Yes, although some details of the form were different, this was unmistakably── The appearance of the Second and Third Manifestation boasted by the Witch of Brilliant Colors, Kuozaki Saika.
◇ “──Are you insane?” Time rewound to before Mushiki and Kuroe arrived at the training facility. Having heard Mushiki’s idea, Kuroe strained her brow in disbelief. “Knight Anviet’s opponent will be Mushiki-san instead of Saika-sama……? He’s an S-rank magician. I can’t imagine it will be a fair match.” Mushiki wryly smiled over Kuroe’s blunt remark. “I know. But if I were Anviet-san, I don’t think I’d accept any negotiations or conciliation. He won’t be satisfied unless Saika-san confronts him head-on.” “But you’re not Saika-sama right now.” “……I understand that too.” However, Mushiki shook his head. “If it’s Anviet-san──I’m certain he won’t look down at my resolve.” “You don’t seem to be saying something half-mindedly. Do you have any evidence for that?” “It’s not exactly evidence, only──” “Only?” “A man should fight for the sake of the one he loves……isn’t that why?” “…………” “Kuroe, that hurts. Kuroe.” Mushiki let out a feeble voice as Kuroe pulled on his earlobe. “It’s because you’re making jokes at a time like this.” “I’m not joking.” Mushiki continued with a grim look on his face.
“……In the first place, I can’t believe Anivet-san is truly trying to do anything to harm the world.” “That’s──” Kuroe hesitated over what Mushiki had stated. She must have also had a faint feeling about this as well. “Destroying the world if his demands are meet……there’s no way Anviet-san would do that. But if it’s Saika-san, even after seeing through that, she wouldn’t disregard Anviet-san’s determination. Isn’t that what he must have thought?” Right. This was one of the uneasy feelings Mushiki had sensed. Despite everything that Anviet had done, he seemed to believe in Kuozaki Saika showing up. “…………” After displaying a gesture of thinking deeply, Kuroe sighed. “……If that’s the case, shouldn’t negotiation still be more reasonable? If the opponent has no intention of using <Fortuna>, there’s no need to fight.” “That won’t work.” “Why not?” “I’m sure Saika-san wouldn’t do that.” “…………” Kuroe fell silent as Mushiki confidently spoke. That’s right. Whatever the reason, Anviet wanted a one-on-one duel with Saika. ──And there’s no way Kuozaki Saika would disregard the feelings of such a disciple. Before long, Kuroe let out a long sigh. “……Good grief. If it were me, huh?” And so, those words were spoken with Saika’s tone of voice. “That’s true. How troublesome. By lending my body for so long, you seem to have become more like me than I am.”
“Saika-san……” As Mushiki called out her name with deep emotion, Kuroe softly smiled. “Alright. Give it a try.” “──Yes!” As Mushiki firmly nodded, Kuroe jokingly shrugged her shoulders. “Well, our bodies are now separate. Even if something happens to you, it shouldn’t affect my body. In the worst-case scenario, I’ll at least gather your bones.” “I-I’ll do my best to prevent that from happening……!” “Heh. Well, perhaps──” “Huh?” “No, just──I won’t allow you to look disgraceful if you’re going to do this, okay?” “Y-Yes!” ◇ “Saika-sama’s spell──it’s incredible that you’ve come this far.” Seeing Mushiki emerging from the cloud of dust, Kuroe leaked out those words alongside her sigh. Her tone was calm, but sweat glistened her cheeks, and her heart was beating with excitement. But that was only to be excepted considering Mushiki had manifested Saika’s Second and Third Manifestations while using his own body. The manifestation technique differed from conventional magecraft by using the human itself as the composition formula. Even if one has immense magical power, there are difference in body, cells, and genetic sequences. It’s impossible for another person to use the same manifestation unless they meet special conditions. However──while only slightly, there was a faint discomfort lingering in the back of Saika’s mind. It’s true that Mushiki and Saika’s bodies were now separated.
However, if Saika was captured by bandits due to her inability use her magic properly──where did her vast power go? The answer was now in front of Kuroe’s eyes in the clearest way possible. Manifesting like this would be impossible if it weren’t for the unnatural wish granted by the Destruction Factor <Fortuna>. Mushiki was now in a contradictory state of being both Mushiki and Saika. No, there must be more to this. Kuroe reconsidered. This miracle could only occur with Mushiki, who had been imitating as Saika, living as Saika, and using Saika’s spells to fight numerous powerful enemies for the past three months. “Mushiki-san──” Kuroe unknowingly clenched her fist while gazing at this terrifyingly devoted disciple. “……What kind of joke is this?” In the training hall, as Anviet confronted Mushiki once more, he spoke with greater suspicion. His gaze seemed to contain hostility, caution, and even a certain amount of curiosity. “This is……Saika-san’s……” However, Mushiki was equally surprised. The moment he instinctively tried to defend himself from Anviet’s attack, his body was covered by Saika’s manifestation. It was as if Saika had saved him. Mushiki almost deeply shuddered involuntarily from the idea. “…………” However, Mushiki quickly reconsidered. After all, he was taught by Kuroe that the fundamentals for a magician were to accurately grasp what happened, calmly accepted it, and utilizing it to the greatest extent. That’s why Mushiki fearlessly smiled. “──As expected, I managed to dodge that quite well. So much for intending to settle this in a single blow.” Of course, this was a bluff. Both the reason or cause weren’t fully understood by Mushiki.
Prior to this taunt, Mushiki was doing all he could to maintain Saika’s manifestation. Just by standing calmly like this, Mushiki felt his magical power, physical strength, and willpower being rapidly drained. It was a far cry from when he used spells with Saika’s body. Still, Mushiki smiled. He pretended to be relaxed and displayed an elegant expression. The reason was simple. ──Because he thought this was what Saika would do. “……Hmph.” Anviet narrowed his eyes and lowered his stance. “Imitation……illusion……I don’t quite know what sort of trick this is, but do you understand what it means to display her spells right in front of me?” “Perhaps your defeat?” “Let’s see about that.” No sooner than he had spoken, Anviet’s figure vanished in a flash of lighting. At the same time, several bolts of lightning rained down on Mushiki from above. “Ugh──” Mushiki let out a small choked breath and slammed the tip of his staff into the ground. In an instant, the staff faintly glowed as the training hall’s floor began to undulate like waves. The hard ground spread out like a membrane to cover Mushiki, blocking the lightning strike pouring down from the heavens. Saika’s Second Manifestation <Stellarium> was a witch’s wand that could transform the world at will. However, Mushiki’s body couldn’t fully unleash its power. A lightning strike approached Mushiki through the gaps in his protective barrier. Nevertheless, the Third Manifestation <Animaclad> worn easily repelled all attacks. No──saying repelled would be a gross understatement. The lightning changed coarse just before striking the Third Manifestation and flew off in a completely different direction.
The divine protection of Saika’s technique could manipulate possibilities. Those wearing this robe were blessed with extraordinary luck. Without these two manifestations, Mushiki would have probably been taken down with the first strike. “Kuozaki’s technique──this is the real deal!” With a flash of lightning, Anviet suddenly reappeared above. His figure floated mid-air with an explosive radiance just like a thunder god. “I don’t know what you did, but it looks like you’ve really sunk your teeth into Kuozaki’s power……! Then I won’t forgive you! I’ll crush you with all my might!” Anviet screamed ferociously. In his voice and expression, one couldn’t help but feel an intense anger, an unimaginable hatred──and a feeling of sorrow sweeping through that surpassed both. “……Ugh……!” While blocking or evading numerous lightning strikes, Mushiki used <Stellarium> to transform the world to attack Anviet. Mushiki shouted amidst the blinding exchange of light. “──Anviet-san!” “Wha……!?” Anviet raised his voice in irritation. “I sympathize with what happened with Sara-san……! It’s only natural you can’t forgive Saikasan for being involved! But Saika-san is──” “──Shut up!” Anviet’s roar of anger interrupted Mushiki’s words. “Acting like you know everything……what do you even know! The feeling of helplessness from not being able to protect the woman you love……! The despair of the woman you cherish most dying in your arms……!” “That’s──” At those words, Mushiki was at a loss over what to say.
It’s just as Anviet had said. No matter how many words were strung together, to those who had witnessed hell first hand, a third party’s persuasion would seem nothing more than cheap platitudes. However, Mushiki gritted his teeth. “──I know I can’t say that lightly.” However, Mushiki refused to back down. “I also have the experience of not being able to save the person I love most.” “……What did you say?” Anviet furrowed his brow suspiciously. That’s right. Mushiki couldn’t possibly know about Anviet’s sadness and despair. But Mushiki too also lost his most his beloved person twice right before his eyes. The first time was in the urban labyrinth, where he found Saika soaked in blood. The second time was──was when Saika came from the future. “I was……powerless. For countless times, I thought that if I had more strength back then, I could have saved her. But……that’s exactly why! I have to live……become stronger…….! I have to inherit Saika-san’s will……!” “What the hell are you talking about……!? She’s alive and well!” Anviet said with a confused look. But this couldn’t be helped. Anviet had no knowledge about future Saika, let alone the fusion between Mushiki and Saika. “And besides, why are you brining up Kuozaki’s name!?” “I will……! In the future, I will marry Saika-san!?” Carried away by the momentum, Mushiki let out his loudest shout of the day. “……Why yell?”
Kuroe wiped the sweat from her cheeks while watching the fierce battle that was too fast for the eye to follow. Nevertheless, this response wasn’t unwarranted, considering Mushiki had suddenly yelled something outrageous in the middle of the fight. “……………Idiot.” Kuroe felt her heart be relieved. No one else had heard Mushiki’s declaration and── No one could see her current expression. “What’s gotten into to you, saying something so ridiculous!? There’s a limit to being incoherent! Were you forced to take drugs to handle Kuozaki’s techniques!?” “How rude! I would take them willingly for Saika-san’s sake!” “That’s not the point!” Anviet screamed as their spells clashed against each other. Mushiki replied without backing down. “I’m mentioning it as an example! I’d do anything for the person I love! Even if it means having to fight Anviet-san! Wouldn’t you……do the same!?” “…………────” Anviet held his breath, repositioning his stance midair and channeling his strength throughout his body. “──I warned you. If you’re intending to go that far, I’ll consider you the same as Kuozaki and beat you down with my full strength……!” “…………” ──The atmosphere changed. Mushiki frowned from the tingling sensation as he tightened the grip on his staff. “<Stellarium>……!” The ground beneath Anviet and the surrounding air undulated and writhed, attacking him at Mushiki’s command.
However, Anviet toss that aside in the blink of an eye and held out his palm. “──By my command.” The four trident vajras circled around him like satellites. “Beyond heaven and earth. Boundaries beyond the reach of God. Build my castle in the golden garden!” Following this, the electricity surrounding Anviet grew stronger and fiercer. “Fourth Manifestation──<Akshaya Nirvana>!” A halo-like world crest appeared behind Anviet. On its outer edge, a remarkably large fourth ring of light emerged. At the same time, bolts of lightning radiating from his body transformed the surrounding landscape. “This is……!” A sea of clouds stretched as far as the eye can see. Clouds with a phantasmal brilliance were laid out like a carpet.