Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

"Die—!!"

Before the hall floor could engulf Ryougi Shiki's slender body like a tsunami, she leaped up to dodge the attack and rushed towards the direction where Fujino was standing.

……

……

"The Hall of the Sangharama".

Aozaki Touko woke up from a dazed sleep.

"Tsk... Can't a person get any sleep? My cold, which was only halfway recovered from, has gotten worse again. What am I going to do?"

The orange-clad magician grumbled as he dragged his weak body out of bed.

She put on her coat, then pressed the record button on the phone, and soon the boy's voicemail rang in the room.

"I'll be there soon. If you're still sleeping, just stay in bed, you don't need to get up!"

"Seriously... do you think I'll be able to sleep after all this commotion?"

Aozaki Touko smiled and picked up the coffee that Shirou had left on the table, which had completely cooled down, and drank it all in one gulp.

Just as she sat back down in her seat, she heard footsteps outside.

Aozaki Touko took off her glasses and stared at the uninvited guest who appeared at the door with a gaze as cold as a bullet.

"Cornelus Aruba, what brings the Second Abbot of Schuberthheim Monastery to such a remote rural place?"

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

Volume 3, Chapter 158: Orange: Finally, I get to enjoy the hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress treatment!

It wasn't Shirou who appeared at the entrance of the agency, but a blond man who looked to be in his twenties and was dressed in red.

As he walked into the room, he cheerfully raised his hand.

"Hey, Aozaki! Long time no see! How have you been?"

The man with a fake smile on his face stopped in front of Aozaki Touko's desk.

Orange remained seated, her expression showing no sign of welcome, only casting a cold glance at the young man.

"Cornelius Aruba, what brings the Second Abbot of Schuberthheim Monastery to this remote place?"

"Haha, is that even a question? I came all this way to see you. You took a lot of 'care' for me in London, so as an old classmate, I came to say hello. Why such a cold attitude? At least make me a cup of coffee."

Aozaki Touko remained unmoved with a cold attitude, while the blond youth didn't care and continued talking about his experience traveling in Japan.

Orange interrupted her.

"If you're going to waste your breath, you should go back. Don't ever step into other people's workshops again, or you won't be able to complain even if you get killed."

"What? Didn't you also investigate my workshop without permission? And you didn't even come in person, you sent your disciple instead, making it impossible for me to even greet you. How could I not come and complain to you?"

"Oh, is that apartment your workshop?" Aozaki Touko narrowed her eyes, trying her best not to let the other person see her surprise.

Aruba said with a proud expression, "That's right, that's my latest masterpiece, but before it was even finished, someone who fled London with their tail between their legs got their eye on it..."

"By the way, aren't you worried about how your disciples are doing now?"

"There's nothing to worry about."

Aozaki Touko clicked her tongue, thinking: This guy actually considers Shirou Kazushiki my apprentice. He still has no eye for people, just like before.

Aruba frowned slightly: "As expected of you, you're really cold-blooded... But don't worry, I haven't made a move against them yet."

Even if I were to attack your disciples, now wouldn't be the time. An undeclared war goes against my principles... unlike that certain vixen."

"........."

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Aozaki Touko's cheek.

This could not possibly be because she was overwhelmed by Aruba's imposing manner, but rather—it was a sign that she had not yet fully recovered from a severe cold.

Although she appears as dignified and solemn as ever, she is actually very weak and her head is foggy. Just sitting upright is already very difficult for her.

Moreover, perhaps because she was used to the peace of Kanbuko City, she did not place her familiars there.

In any case, Aruba must not discover his extreme weakness; she needs to find a way to get him out of there as soon as possible. But before that, the magician's curiosity compels her to ask one thing—

"Aruba, you didn't come to Japan alone, did you? That guy came too?"

"……what?"

Aruba looked displeased.

The "that guy" Orange was referring to was their classmate from the Tower of London, Araya Sōren.

Then her statement was as if to say that if he, Cornelius Aruba, hadn't been with Araya Sōren, he wouldn't have dared to stand in front of Aozaki Tōko.

"Don't look down on me, Aozaki. I don't even consider Araya a threat. My unique technique is to survive using only brain matter and the body of a doll. That apartment was also created using my power to create another world."

The youthful voice from a moment ago was gone; the magician's tone had risen like that of an old man.

"Oh dear... So, what brings you here? Did you come here just to brag?"

"We're not apprentices anymore; we've all left the association. You should show off your research findings to your students."

"Hmph, fine, we'll save our conversation for later. One day you'll come into my world and talk to me."

It's certainly hard to stay calm in your field; it's better to discuss interesting things in a more spacious setting.

Although Aruba was confident and arrogant, he still slunk away after Orange told him to leave.

He knew very well how exceptional Aozaki Touko was—she had taken the "Grand" title from him—and that he could not possibly start a war in this workshop.

"........."

Seeing Aruba turn to leave, Aozaki Touko secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Still recovering from her serious illness and without any familiars at her side, she could never be a match for Aruba...

She felt like Zhuge Liang, who was playing the zither on the city wall and scaring away the Wei army. She curled her lips and decided to brag about it to Shirou when he returned.

Orange opened the drawer, took out a cigarette she had secretly hidden from a certain junior high school student, and lit it.

"------"

However, Aruba suddenly stopped as he walked from his desk to the sofa.

His gaze seemed to be drawn to something, and then a wicked smile appeared on his face.

"Aozaki...you're still the same as ever, you just don't want to see a doctor when you're sick."

Aruba picked up the ibuprofen on the coffee table and examined it, saying...

"!"

The moment she sensed a clear killing intent emanating from the young man, Aozaki Touko decided to strike first.

She used the sparks from her cigarette to draw words in mid-air, and the elongated projection of the words overlapped with the body of the young man in red.

As the runes, which originated from a distant land and a distant world, began to rotate in a magical inscription composed only of straight lines, Aruba's body burst into flames.

"Tsk... Is the instant-cast F (Ansuz) too weak?"

The orange doll complained.

The flames that attacked the blond magician existed for only a moment before being swallowed up by even stronger flames and disappearing completely.

"I did say I wouldn't start a war without warning, but since you initiated the war, I have no reason to consider our past relationship, Aozaki."

Aruba slowly turned around, a fake smile on his face, and took out the staff that served as his magical costume.

……

……

Ryougi Shiki ran through the lobby of Ogawa Apartment.

With each step she took, the space beneath her feet distorted, and the murderous gaze emanating from Asagami Fujino's beautiful red eyes twisted the laws of the world.

Even though the Mystic Eyes travel at the speed of light, they cannot detect the girl's movements; Ryougi Shiki's speed is astonishing.

Even so, the damage caused by Fujino resulted in stray bullets that grazed her cheek.

"You're lying! How could Shirou-kun abandon me! Why would you tell such a horrible lie!"

The girl with long, straight purple hair shouted that she was going to destroy everything.

This guy... is stronger than when we spar...?

The style continues to fly.

To escape her attack range, Shiki ran in circles around Fujino.

"Hey, Fujino... We've sparred so many times, have you ever beaten me even once?"

"Stop making so much noise! ​​This time I'll win, not only will I win, I'll kill you!"

Asagami Fujino screamed hysterically.

She spun around to dodge an attack, then licked her lips: "You've finally told me the truth..."

"That's wonderful, that's really great, Fujino... we really are kindred spirits."

"shut up--!"

Although she appeared to have descended into madness, she retained a last shred of sanity.

She knew very well that she would surely die if Ryougi Shiki got close, so she did her best to restrain her and prevent her from getting near.

Under the girl's will, the lobby on the first floor of Ogawa Apartment has become a scene resembling an apocalyptic movie.

We've got it!

Fujino's eyes finally locked onto Shiki.

After a moment's hesitation, Fujino fixed her neck with her left eye and her left foot with her right eye.

Then rotate the two axes counterclockwise—bending them.

As expected, Ryougi Shiki's slender body will twist into a ball like a rag doll.

That's how it should be.

However, Shiki stopped running the instant she was being ravaged by the "distorted magic eye," and then she swung the long sword in her hand to eliminate Fujino's "distortion."

No, it was a "distortion" that completely killed the girl.

"...?"

Fujino couldn't understand what had happened.

After all, it's only natural for Ryougi Shiki to flee like a mouse in the face of her invincible power.

Shiki was breathing rapidly due to exhaustion, but her demeanor was as calm as that of an ancient swordsman.

"If I didn't know what your abilities were, and if this were our first meeting, we might have ended up in a tough fight."

But... actually, I've been trying to "see" for a long time, ever since I learned about your abilities.

Intangible things are really hard to "see," but you like to show off your power too much.

And thanks to this, I was finally able to "see" clearly—

The true nature of your "vision" is a spiral of red and green.

"..."

Shiki's words cast an even deeper shadow of despair over Fujino's heart.

Why……

Why is it always you...?

Why are you better than me at everything...?

I can't even see my own "line of sight"!

Bend, bend, bend, bend.

Fujino murmured repeatedly.

Her persistent gaze was invariably swept away by Shi with ease.