To become a king and a magician

"For example, the werewolf fantasy species with a lifespan of two thousand years."

"For example, the highest-ranking Grand Puppeteer."

"For example, the little girl holding King Arthur's Holy Lance."

"For example, a mage who possesses the fifth magic."

"And... me, the one you asked whether I'm even considered a human being?"

21. The Professor's Death Countdown

Several tens of minutes later.

"You really know how to handle women, young man."

Looking at Arcueid sitting on the edge of the bed, Aozaki Touko, who had just returned from shopping and reminiscing, couldn't help but chuckle and said, "First it was me, then Shiki, Aoko can be counted as well, and now it's the legendary princess of the True Ancestor. You really are good at gathering women around you."

"Could you please stop using such misleading language? Orange-sensei, by the way, why are you including Aoko in this? I simply suggested a collaboration to Arcueid, and she agreed based on the current situation."

"Yes, yes, whatever you say."

Aozaki Touko waved her hand: "So, the cooperation will last until Princess Avalon is completely healed?"

Elquite nodded in affirmation.

"The biggest reason I'm so weak is the wounds that can't be healed under normal circumstances. Putting aside the night, my healing ability isn't that strong during the day. Having a scabbard would make things much easier for me—it would probably take about three days."

Three days.

This is the time Arcueid will need to recover. Of course, this only refers to physical recovery; it will take even longer for his strength to be restored. But even with only about 30% of his strength, Arcueid is confident that he can handle almost any trouble.

"Teacher, could you please book another room?"

"Huh? Why?"

"I can't keep sleeping here, can I? There are too many women in this room. I'll sleep outside."

This is a double room, and Gray will definitely need to sleep in one of them; the child's sleep needs to be guaranteed. Arcueid is injured and also needs one. It's fine if Aozaki Touko and Natsukawa Tora both sleep on the sofa, but there's only one sofa, and Natsukawa Tora feels bad about kicking his teacher out and staying to share a room with the two girls.

In that case, he'll have to go out by himself.

"It's so nice that you have such a strong sense of self-sacrifice. You would be even cuter if you were ten years younger," Aozaki Touko laughed. "Well, I'll give you the money later. Three nights' accommodation should be fine, right? Don't be lonely and come back in the middle of the night."

"No way! Do you think I'm some elementary school student who needs someone to keep me company?!"

dong dong dong-

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Aozaki Aoko leaned against the door, which had been opened at some point, and looked at the people inside with her arms crossed: "There's no need to book another room. Junior, you can sleep at my place."

"Huh?"

Natsukawa Tora and Aozaki Touko were both stunned.

————————————————————————————

Aozaki Aoko's room was actually next to Natsukawa Tora's room.

Following her into her room, and seeing her personal belongings scattered all over the floor, Natsukawa Tora raised an eyebrow: "Um... Miss Aoko, this..."

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I haven't been tidying up much these past few days!"

She quickly rushed over and gathered her pajamas and underwear into her suitcase. Aozaki Aoko scratched her head shyly, "Just pretend you didn't see anything, okay, junior? Is that alright?"

"Okay, I understand."

Xia Chuanhu sighed helplessly.

"So, why did Miss Aoko ask me to live with you?"

"Well, I overheard what you were talking about outside the door just now. It wasn't intentional, I just happened to be looking for you and overheard it by accident," Aozaki Aoko explained after sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I've encountered some issues regarding the investigation into the vampires last night, and I thought I'd share some information with you. That's also why I asked you to come and stay with me."

"If it's just one room, it'll save you from running around, and you can also save on phone bills and accommodation fees."

"Miss Aoko, are you really that frugal?"

Aozaki Aoko shrugged: "After all, I've encountered countless troubles due to lack of money during my ten years of traveling abroad, so I'm surprisingly thrifty now. I can stretch one dollar into two."

"I understand. It's really hard to be broke. Sometimes breaking it in half doesn't help. If I could, I'd like to break it into four pieces."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Having both struggled with money, Aozaki Aoko smiled and nodded, "We really are alike! I'm growing to like you more and more, junior! Let's get along well from now on!"

"Yes, please continue to guide me from now on, Miss Aoko—so, about what you just mentioned about last night?"

"Oh right, right, we need to get down to business."

Aozaki Aoko quickly became serious and said, "Last night I was in charge of the southeast area, and during the investigation, I felt like I was being monitored."

"No, it wouldn't be accurate to say I was being monitored. It would be more like they discovered me by chance and observed me out of interest... that's the feeling."

observe?

Natsukawa Tora frowned: "Have you realized who's been monitoring you?"

"bird."

"Aozaki Aoko said in a deep voice."

"Black birds. Although they are hard to spot at night, I can see them clearly, they are birds. And it's not my imagination, those birds have been staring at me."

"Bird... What a coincidence. I encountered the same situation as you yesterday noon after we parted ways, except it was at noon."

"you also?"

The shared experience made Aozaki Aoko frown: "Who on earth...?"

"I already have some leads on this, and I've had Shi investigate it. We should have results soon."

"Huh? Do you know who did it?"

“Nero Chaos, the tenth of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostles—it should be him.”

As Natsukawa Tora uttered those words, his vision suddenly caught sight of several birds flying past the window.

Black birds.

--------------------------------

Meanwhile, in a park.

"Pfft—!"

With a single slash, she cut through the death line, instantly killing the raptor and cheetah that were attacking her. Ryougi Shiki frowned slightly in dissatisfaction.

"This is the sixth time."

This was the sixth time in the past two days that she had been attacked by this black beast. Although she could easily deal with it, strangely, Ryougi Shiki did not feel like she had actually killed it. Instead, it felt like she had killed a clone or an illusion.

This half-baked skill made her feel terrible, and she wished she could rush into the alley and beat all those thugs half to death to vent her anger.

"Tsk, forget it. I bet that idiot Xia Chuan will nag and lecture me afterward."

As if recalling some troubling matter, Ryougi Shiki pursed her lips and put away the dagger.

however--

"We're too late...no, were we beaten to it?"

At the park entrance, Hiel, dressed in a school uniform, frowned slightly as he looked at Ryougi Shiki standing amidst the still-dissipating remains of the black beast.

"Who... are you?"

22. Surprise attack

night.

"Awoo awoo awoo awoo awoo——————"

Inside the hotel restaurant, Arcueid was devouring every plate on the table at an astonishing speed, as if he hadn't eaten for days.

The wind swept away the clouds.

It could be described that, looking at the dinner that Arcueid had devoured, Natsukawa Tora couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, as if he had survived a catastrophe.

(Luckily, the restaurant provides three meals a day for free; otherwise, eating out would really be...)

The wallet will definitely be buried immediately!

Of course, Arcueid wouldn't have been able to eat so freely if it weren't a buffet.

"Glug~~~Glug~~~Ugh————!"

After finishing the last bowl of soup, Arcueid let out a long, satisfying burp: "I'm full!"

"I think so too."

Xia Chuanhu glanced at the ordinary people around him who were just as dumbfounded as he was, drew a few runes on the table, and an invisible wave instantly spread out. The people who were sitting around him stood up and left as if they had suddenly remembered something.

"Disperse the bystanders?"

“No, it’s just a simple suggestion magic, with a slight memory interference function as a side effect,” Natsukawa Torama laughed. “But it really surprises me that you can eat so much. Aren’t True Ancestors supposed to have no need to eat?”

"Well, it's not necessary. Normally, drinking blood would be enough. But I never drink blood, so I eat instead. I wouldn't normally eat this much, but if I eat more, I convert more power and recover faster."

It's similar to Arthur's gluttony.

(No, Arthur's stomach is inherently irrational... I'm a little bit like that too.)

With a smile, Natsukawa Torato stood up: "So, dinner's finished. Now, what's next—"

"Oh, there you are, you idiot."

Ryougi Shiki's voice suddenly came from behind him, and then Natsukawa Torato felt his head being pressed down hard.

Good evening, Shi. Have you eaten yet?

"I want to cut your head off and eat it as sashimi." Ryougi Shiki ruffled his hair with annoyance. "I'm out there fighting to the death with people, while you're here leisurely eating and chatting. What a decadent and luxurious life."

"It wasn't a flirtation. She's Arcueid. You saw her when you brought her back last night, right?"

"I saw it—anyway, get up, move aside, get me dinner, and then come and feed me. I'm so tired I don't want to move a single finger."

"Then why did you rub my head? I know..."