Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

In an instant, the sky was filled with a scarlet magic array, which hummed and trembled. Beams of black and red magic power shot out from the array's eyes, and the dense arcs of light almost filled and divided the entire tunnel space, leaving no gaps.

This was a study she conducted while studying at the Magic Association. It was based on the "Primordial Runes" that could manipulate the ether in the air on their own. She divided and restored them to achieve a similar effect of self-splitting, and then materialized them by providing magic power through a magic crest.

The experiment showed that she used only three crystal membranes and several years to expand the engraved runes to a scale of ten million.

From then on, Aozaki Touko was unparalleled in her rapid casting of rune spells and her mastery of rune splicing.

"Rune proliferation? Interesting..."

However, the man opposite him only glanced at it and immediately saw through the essence of the technique.

"However, trying to use this against me is far too presumptuous. In the face of absolute strength, quantity is far less important than quality!"

The figure, about to be engulfed by the magic, slightly raised its head, a mocking smile curving its lips, and at the same time stomped its right foot on the ground.

"boom!"

In an instant, visible shockwaves spread in all directions with lightning speed, and the etheric factors gathered in the entire tunnel collapsed like a wheat field swept by a storm.

The magic circle and runes that appeared in front of Aozaki Touko, having lost the support of the etheric factor, shattered in an instant, turning into scattered specks of light and dust.

It can disperse the etheric factors in an area with just a wave of its hand. What kind of monster is this!

Seeing her proud technique being destroyed by brute force by the troublemaker in front of her, Aozaki Touko was shocked and her expression became increasingly solemn.

"Hmm, to be fair, it's my turn to ask a question now."

Just as Aozaki Touko was shocked and her mind was in turmoil, the figure that emerged from the billowing smoke and dust murmured lazily and casually raised his hand and waved it down.

Instantly, the etheric factors that frantically gathered around the man surged and flickered.

Precious and ancient inscriptions such as cuneiform patterns, runes, Ogum, and Hebrew script appear densely, their number and variety as numerous as the sands of the Ganges.

Aozaki Touko, who was the first to be affected, suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

And soon, she found out what the so-called "topic" was.

"Buzz buzz!"

As countless runes, as numerous as stars, intertwined and combined, a dazzling array of spells—Sumerian incantations, Egyptian magic, Greek prayers, Norse blessings, Celtic restrictions, and more—were constructed and activated, surrounding Aozaki Touko and radiating an increasingly intense spiritual pressure.

This is [Mental Concussion], this is [Melting and Cutting], this is [Summoning Thunder]...

Wait, this is [Purification Baptism], this is [Ether Harmony], and why is there [Water Healing]?

Looking at the magic array diagrams, whose functions and effects were vastly different, Aozaki Touko was taken aback.

But in an instant, she understood the visitor's intention.

In this gradually forming magic circle, decompose the spells that threaten you in advance, and try not to waste time on harmless spells or even spells that have an amplifying effect.

Does he really treat this like an exam?

Aozaki Touko clenched her teeth, making a grinding sound, as a strong sense of humiliation churned within her.

Proud as she is, she has never become someone else's entertainment.

However, faced with the dense array of magic circles surrounding her, and the smiling "examiner" standing on the outside with his arms crossed, Aozaki Touko could only take a deep breath and suppress her anger.

You want to test me, right?

The orange-haired, orange-eyed top student from the Clock Tower turned cold, slightly turned his body, and habitually pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes from the outer pocket of his trench coat. He flicked his wrist, skillfully picked up a cigarette, snapped his fingers to light it, took a deep drag, and patiently began to "solve the problem."

Facing the dense array of magic diagrams, Aozaki Touko strolled forward leisurely. With her right hand, holding a cigarette, she drew lines in the air, and one by one, the newly formed runes flew towards the "test questions" she had selected along the path, accurately penetrating the vital points of the base and wantonly destroying it from the inside.

"Puff puff!"

Instantly, wherever the orange-red figure passed, one after another, the formed offensive magic arrays collapsed and disappeared, like brilliant fireworks blooming in mid-air.

Moreover, in addition to using runes to dismantle offensive spells from within, Aozaki Touko, a creative genius who takes a unique approach, also completes some buff and defensive magic circles, turning them into her own to destroy nearby offensive magic.

Furthermore, increasing its power causes offensive magic to collapse, triggering a chain reaction of explosions and clearing mines for oneself; altering the composition of the injected ether causes elements of different attributes to annihilate, with positive and negative forces canceling each other out...

The endless stream of new ideas and imaginative solutions caused the densely packed magic arrays nearby to explode one after another, and were quickly wiped out.

"puff……"

As the last halo of light faded and shattered, Aozaki Touko, who had successfully cleared the level in less than ten minutes, looked at the target less than ten steps away, sneered, and snapped the burning cigarette butt in her hand.

"Checkmate (General)!"

"boom!"

At the same time, a large suitcase behind Aozaki Touko was pulled forward by magic and fell heavily.

"Roar!"

Then, with a sharp, piercing roar, the sealed lid of the box suddenly opened, and dozens of thorn-like tendrils shot out from the abyss-like darkness inside, coiling around the man's ankles, intending to drag him into that ferocious mouth with thousands of sharp teeth.

I hope you'll still be this arrogant even in hell.

Aozaki Touko glanced at the eerie black mist that filled the area, listened to the teeth-grinding chewing sound, raised an eyebrow and sneered, while slowly shaking out the last cigarette from the crumpled cigarette box and putting it in her mouth.

The thing she carried with her all the way was a box from a myth used to seal away demons. It was a cube larger than a suitcase and could be opened by injecting magic to connect to a certain space.

Inside, there was complete darkness, impenetrable even to light, from which two glowing eyes could be seen. The monster extended its thorny tentacles, seized its prey, and dragged it into the box, then devoured and destroyed any living creature nearby with its thousands of sharp teeth.

Because it was so brutal, she didn't use it often, but almost every time she opened it, no matter how strong the opponent was, they would inevitably die.

Once the dust settles, it will probably be a repeat of those hellish drawings from before...?

"pat..."

However, just as Aozaki Touko flicked her fingers to pluck a wisp of pale blue flame, preparing to light a cigarette and reward herself with a puff, her fingers involuntarily loosened, and the somewhat crumpled cigarette slipped from between her half-open lips and fell to the ground.

"Looks a bit like the Shoggoths. Whatever, they're probably just remnants of the Stars. Tsk, these bastards are starting to infiltrate again."

With a frustrated grumble, beneath the dissipating black mist, the figure standing in place was unharmed. Its outstretched right hand pulled and tugged at several wriggling purplish-red tentacles, as easily as lifting a squid that needed to be skewered and grilled from a tank at a seafood market.

"Woooo..."

Seeing that its main body was about to be pulled out of the box, the sealed monster, like a wolfhound facing a dragon, hurriedly and voluntarily cut off several twisted and writhing tentacles, whimpered, and shrank back into the box, quickly closing the lid.

No matter how much Aozaki Touko summoned the monsters, they refused to come out of the box and even locked it from the inside.

Are you kidding me! This is a monster that even the mythical era could only seal away, not destroy!

In this day and age, how could anyone be so frightened by it?

unless……

As a thunderbolt struck her mind, Aozaki Touko looked up in astonishment, her orange-red eyes filled with seven parts unease, two parts vigilance, and a final glimmer of expectation.

"I said, you're even using this kind of weird stuff, are you really planning to kill me?"

The figure in the tunnel casually tossed aside his dry, shattered beard, started walking, and complained melancholically as he pulled down his hood, revealing a handsome face and his signature jet-black, snake-like vertical pupils.

At this moment, the previously blurred perception was instantly projected clearly into Aozaki Touko's mind. That face, which had appeared in her dreams countless times, stood right before her.

"Long time no see, Orange..."

"Snapped!"

However, just as Samael affectionately placed his hands on the shoulders of his half-disciple, a bright smile of reunion spreading across his handsome face, preparing to relive the past, a crisp slap landed on his face.

"Oh, it really is you, teacher! It's been a long time."

Aozaki Touko smiled slightly, greeted him politely, then glanced at his lowered fingers and explained with a forced smile.

"Excuse me, I need to verify your identity. After all, there are Transfiguration techniques in the magic world that can change one's appearance. It's always better to be cautious when you're out and about. This is your teaching, teacher."

"...It's just that I stood you up on your trip, is it really that big of a deal?"

The scum snake rubbed its slightly red cheek, looked at its good disciple who was clearly seeking revenge, and complained in frustration.

"how could be……"

Aozaki Touko shook her head slightly, clarifying each word carefully, her bright smile becoming increasingly distorted and twisted.

"Isn't it just that he waited alone in Misaki City for more than half a year before finally leaving his hometown?"

Isn't it just that he went to the Clock Tower to study alone with a high-interest loan, and everything went wrong?

Isn't it just about evading the designated seal enforcers while earning money to support your child?

"How could I possibly resent you, teacher, over such a trivial matter?"

As Aozaki Touko approached step by step, the resentment between the lines almost solidified into a tangible form. Samael, feeling uneasy, repeatedly interrupted this denunciation, which was ostensibly a clarification but in reality an accusation, to protest his innocence.

"Stop, stop, stop! I only stood you up, when did I ever ask you to help raise my child?"

"Stop pretending! Those little girls from the four demon-slaying families, weren't they all put under your supervision? The day after you sneaked away, those people couldn't find a higher-level administrator in the council, so they just dumped them all on me! For the past ten years or so, I've been responsible for their subsequent lives, education, and employment!"

With her hands in her pockets, Aozaki Touko couldn't help but feel a surge of anger as she recalled the days she spent running around handling school registration and parent-teacher conferences for those girls. Her forehead veins throbbed, her blood pressure rose, and she gritted her teeth, glaring at that irresponsible scumbag.

"You yourself baptized these divine children, yet all the trouble falls on my shoulders. I'm practically their mother now, and you've even stuffed four or five of them into my lap!"

"..."

Under Aozaki Touko's sinister gaze, Samael felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively shrank back, weakly asking a question.

"What about Ritsuka and Yuika? Don't they care?"

"Manage? One of them has been promoted to head of the Far East Diocese, and the other is going to expand your council's business from scratch in Misaki City. How many heads do they have?"

Aozaki Touko gave a cold snort, her eyes full of disdain.

Indeed, this is the case. Since everyone formed a bond in Misaki City, even if they were incorporated into the Dark Council, they would naturally be regarded as a whole due to their geographical proximity.

The four exorcising families also intended to sever ties with the divine children who were sent there, adopting a completely ignoring attitude to avoid suspicion. The sisters, Ritsuka and Yuika, were busy with official duties and had no time to spare.

Aozaki Touko, who had a relatively relaxed schedule and a close relationship with a certain Speaker, became the person in charge of taking care of these children.

Choosing a suitable elite school, handling household registration transfers and school transfer procedures, attending parent-teacher meetings, and other trivial matters are basically handled by a few people in Misaki City.

If it weren't for a few strong men like Kuonji Yuzu and Araragi Kuniko, who would occasionally take turns, Aozaki Touko probably wouldn't even be able to leave the house.

"They're all Tokiomi... cough cough..."

Samael, who had accidentally blurted out the wrong thing and was about to shift the blame, coughed repeatedly, letting go of his Master who couldn't share the blame, and instead shifted the blame to the Master, righteously and sternly clearing his own name.

"It's all the fault of the four exorcist families! I only said I was going to baptize those children, I didn't say I wanted to take care of them completely! They must have framed me!"

Chapter 178 The Heartless Boss, Orange

In fact, it is true.

As a deity who disregards the moral constraints of human society, Samael, though lustful, would not stoop to the point of being aroused by a few short-legged girls. His baptism of those children was merely out of consideration for their tragic future and to provide them with a layer of security in their identity.

I've said it countless times, he likes mature women. He has so many fields at home that he can't even finish cultivating them all, so why would he have the time to go out and smelt virgins?

Therefore, as Heaven and Earth can bear witness, he truly meant well at first...

However, this divine favor was misunderstood by the group of old men who wanted to curry favor with the gods. They actually rushed to pack up their daughters and send them over to serve the deity.

As a result, the attempt to flatter failed, and it only increased the workload for Aozaki Touko and the others, giving them a premature taste of what it's like to be a mother. They were filled with resentment and had nowhere to vent it, so they slapped the instigator as soon as they met.

Samael said he was also wronged.

Hearing the defendant's solemn oath, Aozaki Touko's gloomy expression brightened slightly, and she temporarily believed Samael's story.

"I can let this matter go, but what about you abandoning me and running away from Misaki City without a word?"

But in an instant, Aozaki Touko couldn't help but grit her teeth and denounce the shameless behavior of a certain pigeon.

"I remember, you promised to come with me to study at the Clock Tower."

"Injustice!"

Upon hearing this sinister accusation and seeing the clenched fist, Samael immediately cried out in protest for his innocence.

"You saw it too, the council's people came to Misaki City to arrest me. If I didn't run, were I supposed to just wait for them to catch me and take me back to work until I died?"

"Stop making excuses! Why didn't you come looking for me after you ran away?"

"That's the Dark Council! Their intelligence network is no joke! The Clock Tower is the headquarters of the Mage's Association, and who knows how many of their spies are infiltrated inside. Going to you is like walking into a trap, isn't it?"

Samuelton then paused, before adding with self-assurance.

"Besides, I know them too well! I can guarantee that you guys are already on the parliament's intelligence network, and you're definitely being watched. As soon as I contact you, those Dark Round Table guys lying in wait will definitely catch me! If I get caught, then I'll be even less able to keep my promise, right?"

"Ha, all these years, I've graduated and I still haven't seen you show up."

Faced with this endless stream of fallacies, Aozaki Touko, who had not yet received the true teachings of her teacher in terms of debating skills, could only roll her eyes and snort, responding with spiritual contempt.

To ease the tension, Samael inquired about the condition of his "daughters."