To become a king and a magician

"Xia Chuan?"

Seeing that Natsukawa Torato's expression was a bit off, Sajo Ayaka couldn't help but wonder, "Is there something wrong with this amulet?"

“No…it’s nothing wrong, it’s just that this is completely broken.” Natsukawa Torama returned the amulet to Sajou Ayaka. “If you don’t go to find the Jewel Elder, you probably won’t be able to go back to your original world.”

"Huh?"

Ayaka Sajou was taken aback.

Does this mean I have to stay in this world for the time being?

That's good—that thought immediately popped into Ayaka Sajou's mind, but she quickly realized some problems: "I can't go back? What about my Modern Magic course? And I still have elective courses in Mineral Arts and Spirit Conjuring to take..."

Is this what you care about first?

Xia Chuanhu smiled helplessly: "It's okay, I think the old man with the gem will help you. You can stay with me here for now. I'm a teacher at the Clock Tower here and live in London."

"Teacher, Xia Chuan, you?"

"The instructors of self-defense courses basically train the new generation of magicians to improve their ability to withstand blows and dodge attacks, thereby forcing them to exercise their physique and improve their physical fitness."

It's a really simple and brutal teaching method. If you don't want to get hurt, you have to exercise. And exercising fits the original meaning of self-defense courses—using physical ability to demonstrate vitality.

After considering Natsukawa Torato's abilities, Sajo Ayaka could roughly imagine the miserable lives the magicians here were enduring.

But, will he live with Natsukawa Tora?

"Just like before when you lived in my house?"

"Pretty much, but there are quite a lot of people living in my apartment, so you'll probably have to squeeze in with them... I think Lingyi would be happy to."

"Zero clothing?"

The unfamiliar name made Ayaka Sajou frown: "Who is that? A girl you met in the last two years?"

"You could say we just met, but you're not a stranger to me."

"I know them too?" Ayaka Sajo thought about the people she knew, but there was no one named "Zero" among them.

Seeing her puzzled look, Natsukawa Tiger couldn't help but laugh and say, "Do you remember what I told you a long time ago? Your sister didn't die at that time; she might still be alive."

“At that time, I only said it was possible, but in reality, your sister’s abilities are greater than both you and me. Even under those circumstances, she still survived by residing in other containers.”

Is it related to my sister?

Residing in other containers?

"Could it be that Lingyi is... the older sister?"

"Well, now she's called [Sajō Rei]. Her soul and consciousness have merged with my puppet-type Mystic Code, and she's currently living as my... uh, not-so-respectable maid."

Sister? Attendant? Maid?

Ayaka Sajou's mind was filled with questions.

When did my older sister start working as a maid? And when did she become Natsukawa Torami's maid?

What exactly happened between her sister and this man during those two years, unbeknownst to her?

51. Out of personal grudge

A few hours later.

Inside the apartment.

When Aozaki Touko and Chiel, who had finished their own business, returned from their investigation, they saw Natsukawa Tora sitting on the sofa in the apartment, and Sajou Ayaka, who had just come out of the bathroom and was drying her hair in her pajamas.

[I accidentally wandered into the room of a young boy and girl who had just finished having sex]

This impression immediately came to their minds. It wasn't that they intentionally thought this way, but Natsukawa Tora and Sajou Ayaka's behavior was just too fitting for the situation, coupled with Natsukawa Tora's attitude towards women...

Aozaki Touko took two steps back: "Tora, are you so thirsty that you would bring home a girl you've just met?"

"Why would you think that, Orange?" Natsukawa Tora rolled his eyes at her, annoyed. "Let me introduce you. This is Sajou Ayaka, a friend I met in a parallel world. She's Rei's younger sister."

Sajou Rei's younger sister?

The younger sister of the maid who followed Natsukawa Tora on the Magic Eye Collection Train?

Aozaki Touko's gaze towards her student suddenly took on a different meaning, and even Hiel's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

"Tiger, you... uh... never mind, whatever makes you happy. Anyway, you've been doing this for more than a day or two."

"I think you need to reflect on your behavior, Xia Chuan."

Hearing their sudden and inexplicable words, Natsukawa Torama was momentarily confused, completely unaware of why they were saying such things. However, unlike Natsukawa Torama, who was as dense as a rock, Sajou Ayaka, who had her own little schemes, was quite able to understand the meaning behind their words.

After giving Natsukawa Torato a meaningful look, Sajo Ayaka bowed slightly to Aozaki Touko and Ciel and said, "Hello, I am Sajo Ayaka. Due to some issues with the Jewel King, I have temporarily come to this world from a parallel world. I will stay here until I can go back. Please take care of me."

"What a polite and well-behaved child. I am Aozaki Touko, a puppeteer. You can just call me Touko."

To be honest, Aozaki Touko has encountered very few good kids. Apart from Sajou Ayaka in front of her, there is only Gray. The others are either like Natsukawa Tora or Ryougi Shiki—although this is partly because she herself doesn't make friends much.

“Hello, Ms. Ayaka Sajou, I am Hiel. I used to be a member of the church, but now I am just an ordinary person who has nowhere to go and has been taken in.”

Hier responded politely.

(Hiel... is she my senior from this world?)

Ayaka Sajou had heard from Jewel King that there might be a different version of the same person in different parallel worlds. The person in front of her now must be the parallel world counterpart of her senior from high school, right?

Compared to the one in Ayaka Sajou's memory, the one in front of her, Hiel, looked more mature. Even though her appearance hadn't changed much from her student days, her overall demeanor was quite different.

(He has the aura of a seasoned warrior. If he's a member of the church... then he must be an agent, right?)

Over the past two years, Ayaka Sajou has had some contact with the church and has gained a certain understanding of the agents. She has even dealt with them several times. To put it bluntly, it was a rather difficult process because those agents would never speak to her properly.

This is the first time I've ever met someone who can speak so well.

"Speaking of which, Orange and Hiel, does your return mean you've finished your business?"

"Well, it wasn't anything serious, just catching up with old friends." Aozaki Touko said as she sat down on the sofa and lit a cigarette. "Witches are really rare. No matter how much time passes, they don't change at all, they're exactly the same as when they were young. Beo hasn't changed either, but for a fantasy species, a few years is probably no different from an instant."

Did you visit the Kuonji residence and then go see Beo?

Judging from Aozaki Touko's expression, Natsukawa Torato knew that this meeting between Aozaki Touko and that witch had been relatively harmonious.

"What about Hiel? Any progress in the investigation of the Dead Apostles?"

"There hasn't been much concrete progress. We've only managed to gather scattered clues, such as the recent vampire attacks."

Since one of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors personally stated that an Ancestor existed here, Hiel did not believe that these vampire rumors were just rumors. However, if it was an Ancestor, so much time had passed that it should not have caused such a small impact.

When Floff first appeared, he caused immense tension throughout Misaki City in just two days, and later caused massive casualties. The same was true for Nero Chaos, where almost every resident of an entire hotel was killed.

Of the twenty-seven patriarchs of today, apart from those who are already widely known and whose exact locations are known, the rest are elusive and cause a stir wherever they go, and this time will likely be no different.

However, the city of Misaki was unexpectedly peaceful, and the rumors about vampires remained just that—rumors, mixed in with many other rumors, just one of many urban legends.

"There are no clues... No wonder, after all, the nature of the Tatars is different from other ancestors, and it does not have a lasting impact."

"Tatali?"

The name that Xia Chuanhu uttered made Xier frown: "Xia Chuan, do you know who the ancestor we're dealing with is?"

"Although I only found out recently, some things happened after we parted ways."

Natsukawa Tora explained to Aozaki Touko and Hiel about being attacked by Tatali disguised as Arthur, as well as about Tatali.

After hearing the explanation, both Hier and Aozaki Touko showed thoughtful and deep expressions.

"A Dead Apostle who doesn't actually exist... and from a parallel world at that. Just as Rita Rogan said, it's a rather special case."

"It exists as a phenomenon, and it only temporarily appears where rumors gather—this Dead Apostle is really a bit tricky to deal with."

Over the past few years, Hiel had indeed killed some Ancestors, but that was based on the Church having a certain level of intelligence and the experience gained from previous victims. Tatali, however, was different. He was an unfamiliar Ancestor from a parallel world, one that didn't exist in this world, or perhaps a newly born Ancestor.

The only way to defeat him is to start from scratch and work your way up. However, he only exists for a few days. If you can't defeat him, you don't know when you'll be able to defeat him again.

"Thinking about how to deal with Tatali?" Natsukawa Torato asked, looking at Hiel. "Your thinking hasn't changed yet, Hiel. No, it should be said that it has changed a little, but you still prioritize solving it on your own—at least consider me here."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of Tatali—out of personal grudge."

52. Lingyi: Why is my little sister here?

Xia Chuanhu's words made Xier fall silent for a moment.

His decision to confront Tatarli did not surprise Hier, but hearing his words still left Hier feeling helpless.

"Xia Chuan, you just said not to let me act alone, and the next second you said you would be the one to defeat Tatali... Aren't you just like me?"

"Huh? Really? I guess I'm just used to it."

It's not that Xia Chuanhu is incapable of cooperating with others; it's just that in recent years, the opponents he's faced haven't required him to cooperate with anyone. He can basically handle things on his own, so he's started to revert to his old habits.

"Let me put it another way. If you want to deal with Tatari, Hield, I'd be happy to help you. I think Orange and Ayaka feel the same way, right?"

"Yes, that's exactly why I came here."

Ayaka Sajou answered decisively.

Aozaki Touko scratched her head, looking somewhat conflicted. "Don't include me in this... Well, I don't mind offering you some help, but I'm not interested in fighting that Tatari. You guys can handle that. With Tora around, you can take on whoever you want, right?"

“Orange, you really trust me. There are people in this world that I can’t handle.” Natsukawa Tora smiled wryly. “Besides Orange and Ayaka, Hiel, don’t forget whose name we’re living in right now.”

“The True Ancestor... Arcueid.”

Hier had not forgotten this point. As an enemy, Arcueid was undoubtedly the strongest and most difficult type to deal with, but if she could be made an ally, the situation would undoubtedly become overwhelmingly favorable to him.

Is it even possible?

"Natsukawa, do you think the True Ancestor will help us?"

"I think it should be fine. If it really doesn't work, I'll threaten her by not going shopping with her."

Threat?

Why don't we go shopping together?

What kind of threat is this?

(No, considering that True Ancestor's personality... it will probably really work, Natsukawa's threat.)

Arcueid is a true progenitor who has lived for eight hundred years, but in those eight hundred years, her actual active time may only add up to one month. In addition, she rarely communicates with people, which means that she is still a child in a certain sense.