To become a king and a magician

"I didn't realize you were an S, kid?"

Aozaki Touko's tone was filled with surprise and fear.

"Well, I don't object to you wanting to unleash your repressed nature, but if possible, let's find another place. This is my workplace, and even I can't watch R-rated content while working."

"I've already said no! What kind of person have you misunderstood me to be?!"

"A pervert who goes out once and then brings back strange girls to play SM, wait, now that you mention it, isn't it quite dangerous for me and Grey, who have been living under the same roof with you all this time?"

"Grey aside. If I were really a pervert, you would have been ruined by me long ago, teacher."

"Hahaha, you really dare to say that!" Aozaki Touko, resting her chin on her hand, burst into laughter. "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. What's wrong with this kid? Did you pick up a kind-hearted girl on the street who was helping you? The one squatting in the cardboard box?"

This overly detailed description made Xia Chuanhu smile wryly: "Teacher, you know quite a lot. Unfortunately, no, it's just a problem child who ran away from home, with some mental issues."

"Hmm—who has mental problems?"

Having finally managed to free herself from the towel sealing her mouth, Ryougi Shiki glared angrily at Natsukawa Tora.

"You're the one who's mentally unstable! You barged into my house without saying a word and smashed all my things. I'm going to sue you for burglary!"

"I don't think someone who hasn't paid rent for two years and has arbitrarily cut up the landlord's estate is actually any better."

"You two are really evenly matched."

Aozaki Touko couldn't help but laugh, "Well, I think I understand now. I see. I was thinking that when I went to Ogawa's apartment before, something seemed off. So it was you living there."

"Teacher, have you been there?"

“Yes, because of Araya Souren’s inheritance.” Aozaki Touko said, lighting a cigarette. “I didn’t have a good relationship with him. I’ve even forgotten what he looks like now. But he was a first-rate puppeteer. Even though his profession was different from mine, his inheritance was a huge fortune. I really wanted to take it all back then.”

"It's like a vicious relative trying to steal an inheritance—don't throw the ashtray in there!"

Without any hesitation, she threw the ashtray at Natsukawa Torato's forehead and exhaled a puff of smoke: "Well, in the end, of course, it was a failure. That guy Araya didn't leave anything behind that I could take with me, and I didn't like the dolls lingering in that apartment building, so I just left them there. But when I went there, I saw that many of the dolls had wounds on them. Were those caused by you?"

The last sentence was addressed to Ryougi Shiki.

Nodding unhappily, Ryougi Shiki said, "Araya? Is that his name? The man I killed. Before he died, he told me that if I was interested, I could go to Ogawa's apartment. When I got there, I found that there were a lot of dolls there, and as long as I didn't kill them with my eyes, they would reappear the next day. So I just started killing them every day for fun."

"It will reappear the next day... Oh, I see. So that's why he made that request when he invited me to design the Ogawa Apartments. The cycle of life and death, the accumulated fate... Hmm."

As a fellow doll maker and a former classmate, Aozaki Touko quickly understood what Araya Souren intended to do with the Ogawa Apartments—to create unexpected changes through countless cycles of fate. Those dolls were likely for his simulation experiments; if he were still alive, he'd probably be using the residents for those experiments right now.

(Looking at it this way, it's a good thing that he was killed two years ago.)

Thinking of this, Aozaki Touko couldn't help but laugh: "But it really surprises me. Araya's strength is quite outstanding among humans. The reason he was able to reach a level similar to mine is largely due to his personal strength. How could you kill him two years ago? You were only sixteen years old then, right?"

"I'm not entirely sure myself," Ryougi Shiki replied after a moment of silence in response to Aozaki Touko's teasing. "After being attacked, I was focused on fighting him and killing him. By the time I came to my senses, he was already dead. Although I don't remember the process, I'm certain that I was the one who stabbed him in the end."

“Isn’t that even more amazing?” Aozaki Touko laughed. “She killed that guy without even realizing it. I’m telling you, Tora, she might be a monster just like you.”

Before Natsukawa Torato could even speak, Ryougi Shiki snorted coldly, "Hmph! What's this? A sarcastic remark? This guy took me down in just a few moves. You're saying we're the same type of monster? He's clearly a much bigger monster than me, you can barely see any lines on his body..."

"I'm still here, and you keep calling me a monster. Have you even considered my feelings?"

With a helpless wave of his hands, Natsukawa Torama laughed and said, "Well, my situation is a bit special. My power and magic are basically left behind by some idiot. The only thing that can be said to be my own talent is these Mystic Eyes. Speaking of which, you made these Mystic Eyes, right, teacher? You commissioned them from Kenneth-sensei three years ago."

After Natsukawa Torato mentioned it, Aozaki Touko suddenly remembered: "Oh, that's why your glasses looked so familiar. I thought it was just a similar style, but it turns out I made them. The request from Lord El-Melloi, hmm, I remember now."

"Speaking of which, young man, I understand your situation with this girl—but why did you bring her back?"

"..."

"You haven't thought about it, have you?"

After a moment of hesitation, Natsukawa Tora chuckled and scratched his head: "Well... would you believe me if I said that I find her more pleasing to the eye when she's here?"

"You've taken a liking to her?"

"Objectively speaking, yes, she is quite beautiful after all," Xia Chuanhu said honestly.

In reality, he just felt that since this was the Hall of the Sangharama, it would feel like something was missing if Ryougi Shiki wasn't there; the Hall of the Sangharama would only be somewhat complete with Ryougi Shiki present.

Of course, complete accuracy is impossible, since based on the investigation over the past three months, Natsukawa Tora has already made a complete determination.

—This is a parallel world that is different from the world he knows; the man named Kurogiri Mikiya does not exist.

20. Natsukawa Tora is a strange guy.

Several tens of minutes later.

When Grey returned from grocery shopping and walked into the office, she saw Ryougi Shiki leaning against the armrest, playing with a dagger, her face cold and aloof.

"Um... May I ask who you are?"

Looking at this older sister she had never met before, Grey couldn't help but wonder if she had come to the wrong place.

Upon seeing Grey return, Aozaki Touko stopped her work and smiled, "You're back, Grey. Come, let me introduce you. This is Ryougi Shiki, the wayward girl your brother forcibly brought back. She'll be working here as an employee from now on."

"Ah...I see...Hello, Ms. Ryougi Shiki."

Grey greeted Ryougi Shiki somewhat awkwardly, then suddenly exclaimed as if a beat late: "Eh? Did my brother bring her back? Or did he forcibly bring her back?"

"Yes, yes, yes. Your brother himself said he had taken a liking to her, so he brought her back, hoping to give you another older sister."

"Eh? Eh? Eh?"

Grey quickly looked back at Ryougi Shiki.

(This seemingly aloof older sister... is she the one my brother likes?!)

Aozaki Touko was joking—that was Gray's first thought. Having been Natsukawa Torama's sister for over two years, she knew somewhat about the type of woman he liked. Without any intention to offend, she was certain that Ryougi Shiki was definitely not Natsukawa Torama's type!

Moreover, Xia Chuanhu has only been in Guanbuzi City for a little over three months, and during this time he has been with her almost all the time. Under such circumstances, how is he supposed to go out and find a girlfriend?

Surely it couldn't have been during the time she just went out to buy groceries alone? Isn't that too fast!

(but......)

Even if the evidence is conclusive, as Yad previously stated, Natsukawa Tora is someone who can be sunk by a straight-up attack. What if that's true—

"Miss Orange, where is my brother?"

"I've asked the studio to organize my notes."

"Bang------!"

Watching Gray storm out the door, Ryougi Shiki, who had been silent all along, frowned and looked at Aozaki Touko, who was already suppressing her laughter: "Touko, this joke has gone a bit too far. When did that bastard and I become lovers?"

"Hahaha! Who told you two to act like such a pair of sworn enemies before? Besides, teasing the boy is quite fun. Isn't it good to see him suffer?"

"That's true."

Not long after.

On the table.

"Miss Orange, how many times have I told you! Grey is still a child and doesn't have the ability to distinguish right from wrong. Don't keep feeding her bad ideas! What if she's led astray!"

Seeing Natsukawa Tora glaring at her and Gray sitting next to him with a blushing face, Aozaki Touko took a big gulp of her drink and said, "What does it matter! It's not a bad thing to let her know sooner, is it? Besides, you're the one who said it's interesting."

"I was just making an objective and rational assessment of her appearance! It doesn't mean I like her!"

"Yes, yes, I know, I know. Please eat quietly at the table."

A casual wave of her hand to quiet Natsukawa Tora down, then Aozaki Touko said to Ryougi Shiki, "Come on, Shiki, try Tora's cooking. Although what he made three months ago was barely edible, it's much better now."

Whether influenced by Arthur's spirit origin or simply due to his own habits, Natsukawa Torato wasn't particularly demanding when it came to food. He valued portion sizes more than the taste. This led him to do the same when cooking for himself.

Fortunately, after more than three months of cooking, this bad habit has improved to some extent.

Ryougi Shiki picked up a piece of salmon, put it in her mouth, and savored it. Under Natsukawa Torata's expectant gaze, her face immediately fell: "It's awful. It was heated for too long, and there was too much salt. Can you really cook?"

"I'm really sorry I'm not a professional," Natsukawa Tora shrugged. "It's just that I lived alone for a while before, and I've been cooking most of the time for the past three months, so I know a little bit about it."

"Never mind, let's just eat this."

Seeing that Ryougi Shiki seemed to want to say something but ultimately held back, Natsukawa Tora sighed: "If you have any opinions, just say them. I'm not easily offended. It'll be good for me to have some feedback so I can improve my cooking next time."

"Hmm? Do I really need to bring it up?"

“Grey eats everything I make, oranges…you’ve seen it, and she drinks alcohol. So they never give me any feedback, and I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. If you can taste it, just tell me.”

Ryougi Shiki glanced at Aozaki Touko, whose cheeks were flushed from drinking, and couldn't help but regret agreeing to join the Garan no Dou.

A drunkard, a child, and a "normal person" who is not actually a normal person at all.

Is this combination really okay?

After finishing the salmon, which was clearly over-salted, Ryougi Shiki wiped her mouth and said, "Alright. Since I'm a diner here, I'll suffer if the food isn't good. I'll give you feedback on the dishes you serve in the future, okay?"

"Thank you for your help."

Strange guy.

Looking at Natsukawa Tora, who was eating across from her, Ryougi Shiki couldn't help but feel a little curious.

From the moment they met, this guy has been acting very strangely. It's not that he's suspicious, but Ryougi Shiki doesn't quite understand his actions.

Whether it was the time he saved Asagami Fujino three months ago, or this time he broke into Ogawa's apartment and brought her out, Ryougi Shiki couldn't see through his intentions. Was it simply out of kindness and a desire to meddle? Or did he have ulterior motives?

By observing Natsukawa Torama's eyes and facial expressions, Ryougi Shiki attempted to deduce some of Natsukawa Torama's thoughts.

"Speaking of which, style."

"what?"

"Do you want to go back to the Ryougi family?" Natsukawa Torato asked. "You haven't been back since you killed Araya Sōren two years ago, right? I did a little investigation before, and it seems your family has been looking for you. Don't you want to go back and let them know you're safe?"

"I'm safe... I didn't escape from any danger, I just ran away from home."

“But they are still your family, and it’s not a good thing to make them worry,” Xia Chuanhu advised. “At least, if I were you, even if I ran away from home, I would send a message to my family every now and then.”

Is that still considered running away from home? Isn't it just simple independence?

"Also, I've always been curious, why did you run away from home? Was it because you killed someone?"

"Tsk, so annoying, why do you ask so many questions?" Ryougi Shiki pouted impatiently. "...I just don't want to go back. Rebellious phase, you know? Besides, what's the point of asking all this?"

"The meaning..."

After pondering for a moment, Xia Chuanhu smiled and said, "It doesn't have any special meaning, I'm just a little curious."

He really is a strange guy.

Ryougi Shiki was convinced once again.