To become a king and a magician

With her small hands clenched slightly, she took several deep breaths to get herself back into the state she had been in during training, and then Grey lifted Yad high.

"Yad, Phase One, restrictions lifted!"

24. One look and you're dead.

Restrictions lifted.

As an additional function installed on the Mystic Code that seals the Holy Lance Rungominiad, Ad can transform into seven or eight different forms, including a scythe, shield, and battering ram.

As Gray gave the order, Natsukawa Torama keenly sensed the magic in the surrounding environment gathering around Gray. The light of magic circuits faintly appeared on her body, and then she easily lifted a huge scythe as tall as a person.

Yad's different releases of limitations grant different abilities, among which the scythe's ability is quite unique.

It devours surrounding spirits, primal forces, or magical energy, thereby altering the user's physical abilities and hindering spellcasting to some extent. The absorbed magical energy is then used by Gray to amplify the effects of body-enhancing magic.

[Hahahaha! It's finally back to this state! The last time it looked like this was back in that run-down village!]

After a long time—actually, it had been two years—Yad, who had been freed from some of his restraints and transformed into a scythe, shouted with great joy.

[Hey! Grey! Look over there! Can I go and eat what's over there? I haven't eaten in two years and I'm starving!]

Mystic Codes do not require eating, but for Ad, who can absorb magic and spirits, this act itself is eating.

When Grey held Yad's hand again after two years, she thought she would feel a little uncomfortable, but she didn't feel any discomfort at all. Her body felt incredibly natural and relaxed, as if she was born to be in this state.

Looking up at the eight ghosts not far away and the surrounded Wutori Kirie, Gray gripped the hilt of her scythe tightly.

“Let’s go, Yad.”

The voice was unexpectedly calm and steady.

[Great! Let's eat all of them! I'm starving!]

"Snapped--!"

With her feet lightly touching the ground, Gray's body was unexpectedly light, and in just one step, she instantly covered most of the rooftop and arrived straight in front of the eight ghosts!

"Whoosh—!"

The scythe slashed down like a crescent moon, a clean and swift strike instantly slicing through the body of one of the ghosts. Then, as if evaporated, the ghost's body rapidly dissipated into the air.

[Yay! I got to eat! Hey, slowpoke Grey, next one, next one!]

"Ah."

He spun the scythe that was slashing down from above around his back, then swept it horizontally, instantly cleaving the two ghosts on the side in two, turning them into ashes and dissipating.

(Unbelievable...)

Feeling her own state, Grey couldn't help but find it hard to believe.

(The last time he swung Yad like this was before he left the village, and he hadn't trained or practiced at all in the past two years, but...)

"Whoosh—! Sizzle—!"

With a light touch of her toes, Gray quickly caught up with the remaining ghosts who had scattered like birds and beasts, and with another slash, she cleaved them in two and destroyed them.

(My body feels so light. How should I fight? What should I do next...? These thoughts kept flashing through my mind.)

One, two, three... there were only eight ghosts in total, and in less than ten seconds—

"Pfft—!"

The last ghost was cleaved in two by Gray.

After scanning her surroundings and confirming that no one had escaped, Gray looked up at the Wutsubo Mist Painting in the sky.

She was floating about four meters above the floor, a height that Gray could easily reach with a simple leap, given her current physical abilities.

[Grey! This is the last one! Let me have a big one!]

"Ah."

Gray responded calmly, but just as she was about to jump and deliver a leaping slash to Wuzhao Wuyi, an idea popped into her mind for no reason.

I want to fly.

An overwhelming thought instantly filled Grey's mind, clearing away all her previous thoughts. The intense thought propelled Grey to run towards the edge of the rooftop without looking back!

I'm going to fly, and I'll take off from here.

Gazing at the scenery below and ahead, following her heart's desires and the thoughts in her mind, Gray stretched out one foot towards the empty sky—

"Okay, that's enough."

Natsukawa Tora's voice suddenly rang in my ears.

Pulling Grey back from the edge and pulling her into his arms, Natsukawa Tiger gently patted her head and laughed, "You performed better than expected. You resolved it so cleanly and efficiently. I probably wouldn't have done a better job than you."

"Ah... wait? Brother?!"

As if waking from a dream, Gray suddenly came to her senses and looked at Natsukawa Tora, who was holding her in his arms. Her cheeks instantly burned, and she quickly lowered her head to avoid looking at him. But the thought that had just been deeply imprinted in her mind made her unable to help but ask, "Brother, what was I just doing?"

"They've just been instilled with preconceived notions; it's like brainwashing."

Looking at the Wuzhao Kirie in the sky, Natsukawa Torama laughed, "As long as you instill a certain idea into a person's consciousness, you can transcend the realm of suggestion and achieve the effect of brainwashing. If the idea instilled in them is that they are flying, then the person will naturally jump off here. Of course, the person in question should believe that they are flying."

"......"

Wu-jo Kirie looked down at Natsukawa Torato and Gray. Although she didn't understand what the two were there for, judging from their behavior just now, they were undoubtedly trying to hinder her actions.

In that case...

(Let's fly down together!)

He stretched out his hands towards Natsukawa Tora and Gray, and a powerful brainwashing effect instantly swept through their minds.

However, after just shaking his head slightly, Natsukawa Tiger stood up as if nothing had happened: "This kind of thing is useless to me. In the end, I can do short-distance gliding myself. It's basically the same as flying."

"Alright, let's get to work."

Reaching out and placing his hand on the temple of his glasses, Natsukawa Tora directly removed the Demon Eye Killer.

And the moment she saw those eyes that seemed to reach the heavens—no!—the instant Natsukawa Tora raised his hand to remove his glasses, Wujou Kirie felt her heart skip a beat! Her body began to tremble uncontrollably, fear and terror taking over her entire being!

roar------!

A translucent tiger pounced on her—this was the last thing Wuji Kirie saw before she lost consciousness.

"Pfft—!"

After re-equipping his Mystic Eyes, Natsukawa Torara looked at the demonized doppelganger of Shinobu Kirigawa, who had been severed in two by Gray's blade, and caught Gray in his arms: "Hmm, well done. That settles it. Let's go back."

"Yes, brother."

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

"Dong dong dong."

The noise from outside the door attracted Wuzhao Wuhui, who had just been awakened.

Sitting up in bed and looking towards the door, Wu Jie said softly, "Please come in."

"Witchyori Kirie, is that right?"

Standing at the door, Aozaki Touko looked at the frail woman on the hospital bed.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Aozaki Touko. I'd like to ask you some questions about the Wujo Building. Is that alright?"

"I see."

25. The letter from Meryl

"...The above is the complete picture of the series of falls from the Wutiao Building and the process of resolving them."

Inside a coffee shop in Kanbushi City.

Handing the completed document to the detective in front of her, Aozaki Touko smiled and said, "Well, although it sounds so formal, in reality, it was just my boy who went in for a walk. Just think of my boy as having the superpower to ward off all demons. Officer Akimi."

Akimi Daisuke—the police officer sitting opposite Aozaki Touko—took the report, glanced through it, and then smiled, “To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations for you guys. After all, no matter how you look at it, this is a series of murders targeting students of Reien Girls’ Academy. Even if it was disguised as a suicide, I’m convinced that some kind of method was used.”

"However... it seems that sometimes, relying on some old-fashioned methods can be surprisingly effective compared to scientific search methods."

It is now a week after the appearance of the third of the four in the Wujo Building. After dealing with the Wujo Building matter, Aozaki Touko has to give a formal report, just like now, because she accepted a private request from the police officer in front of her.

Taking a sip of coffee, Akimi Daisuke looked at the section on Wujo Kirie in the document: "However, even with your report, Miss Touko... it's truly unbelievable, such a girl..."

"Well then, I should probably head back to the police station soon. Thank you again for your help, Ms. Orange. If it's alright, would you like to have dinner with me tonight? It'll be on me as a token of my gratitude."

"I really appreciate your invitation, but unfortunately, I have a few orders on hand and simply can't spare the time..."

"I see."

Faced with Aozaki Touko's polite refusal, Akimi Daisuke simply sighed slightly: "Then I won't disturb your work any longer. Let's talk again next time if there's an opportunity."

"Okay. Be careful on the road, Officer Akimi."

Waving to Akimi Daisuke and watching him leave the cafe completely, Aozaki Touko finally couldn't keep up her professional smile and slumped back in her chair, saying, "Haa~~~~ I'm finally seeing him off. These kinds of requests are so troublesome. I'll never take one again."

"Isn't it because of Officer Akimi? — Sorry to keep you waiting, here's your special omelet rice."

Placed an omelet rice dish in front of Aozaki Touko, Natsukawa Torama, dressed in a waiter's uniform, smiled and said, "Judging from that police officer's demeanor just now, it seems he has feelings for you, teacher. Does he want to pursue you?"

"Anyone can see that, right?"

With one hand supporting her chin and the other scooping a spoonful of omelet rice into her mouth, Aozaki Touko said as she ate, "While there are precedents of magicians and ordinary people getting together, the vast majority of those cases ended in tragedy. Besides, he's not my type. To be honest, he's a bit annoying."

"But teacher, you're already at the age to get married, aren't you? If you keep putting it off, you'll become an old lady no one wants—"

Swish-!

The fork pierced straight towards Natsukawa Tora's face.

Natsukawa Tora grabbed the handle and put it back in Aozaki Touko's hand, saying with a wry smile, "Please don't throw it around like that."

"Who told you to talk nonsense?" Aozaki Touko glared at him. "I really haven't considered marriage. After all, I'm different from other magicians. I don't need to leave offspring, and I'm not interested in romantic relationships. If you really want to experience those things, just go to Kabukicho and find a host."

There's only one reason a magician leaves descendants. Unable to reach the origins in their own generation, they pass the dream on to their offspring. This is the sole purpose of a magician continuing their bloodline.

However, as a Grand Puppeteer who can constantly replace her body, Aozaki Touko already has an infinite life and doesn't need to worry about offspring.

"Speaking of which, young man, aren't you almost of age? You're twenty-one this year, haven't you considered finding a girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend... I don't have that idea yet," Natsukawa Tiger laughed. "The most straightforward reason is money. If I had a girlfriend, going out on dates would definitely cost money, and then I'd have to give her gifts on all sorts of holidays, which is a considerable expense, and I can't afford it."