Chapter 55 ~ The Illegal
<span style="font-weight:400">After confessing to each other and bing a couple, the two stared dazedly into each others’ eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">There was no sound in the room, except the sound of their own loudly thumping heart which filled their minds. But despite their nervousness, embarrassment, and bashfulness, the immense feeling of happiness, relief, and affection for the person before them filled their heart to the brim.
<span style="font-weight:400">Mayumi stared dazedly at her new boyfriend’s beautiful, handsome countenance. The countenance that had charmed her the moment she met him. And after interacting more with him, his personality, his character, and his actions made her gravitate towards him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Before she knew it, she had been dreaming of being lovers with him. He had appeared in her dreams multiple times, and even more times in her daydreams. And now… it has finallye true.
<span style="font-weight:400">Her dreams had finallye true…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yuuji-kun…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, Mayumi-senpai?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Her heart tightened in delight the moment he said her name. It was strange… He had called her by name multiple times before. But this time… it was different.
<span style="font-weight:400">The way he said her name was filled with so much love, affection, and gentleness that made her heart skip a beat! It pierced her heart like a cupid’s arrow!
<span style="font-weight:400">How did his voice be even more velvety and captivating?! It’s making her melt in her seat!!!
<span style="font-weight:400">Suddenly, she felt a sense of danger. If this continues… she might faint! Thebo of his confession, the fact that they’re lovers now, his voice, his warmth, and his touch would be too much for her!!! She had to retreat!!!
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-I-I have some business to do, so please excuse me!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mayumi rose from her seat, and immediately ran away and escaped the room, leaving Yuuji chuckling silently in the room.
<span style="font-weight:400">Even though she was two years older than him, she was extremely cute. It makes him want to tease her and “bully” her a little. He had always felt this way before, but now that they’re lovers, there was no longer anything holding him back from teasing her to cloud nine.
<span style="font-weight:400">He couldn’t wait to see her adorable expressions when he bullies her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright, let’s get back to work.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He still needed to send the research journal Koharu requested to her, so he quickly essed the database to find it and borrowed it under Koharu’s name with the student details he had received from her.
<span style="font-weight:400">And just as he was about to report it to Koharu, a message came from Mayumi.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Saegusa Mayumi: Uhm… If possible, I would like to meet with Aika-san and Chiba-san to tell them about our… rtionship. Can you help me arrange a meeting?</i>
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Tsubakihara Yuuji: Of course, Mayumi-senpai. I will arrange it. Would you prefer to meet in my house or elsewhere?</i>
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Saegusa Mayumi: Eh? Your house?</i>
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Tsubakihara Yuuji: Yes. Aika and I are living together, while Erika often visits and stays over.</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Messages from Mayumi stoppeding for a while, before a reply finally came a few minutester.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Saegusa Mayumi: Then… Your house, if it’s not much trouble.</i>
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Tsubakihara Yuuji: Of course. Then, I will tell you the address and the timeter.</i>
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Saegusa Mayumi: Uhn… Thank you, Yuuji-kun.</i>
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Tsubakihara Yuuji: You’re wee… My dear girlfriend.</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">After that, no messages came from Mayumi, and Yuuji could easily imagine her figure being too flustered to even type a single word.
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Afternoon.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji, Aika, Tatsuya, Koharu, Kei, and Kanon hung out together after school. They visited several stores, and while the others were busy with their own shopping, Yuuji pulled in Aika for a private conversation and told her about what happened this morning.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh~? So you finally did it~?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm. And she wants to talk to you and Erika about this.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Congrats~! Uhn uhn! Of course, I’d love to~! Let’s have a meeting in our house and have dinner together~! After that, we can strengthen our “sisterly” bond over some hot baths and a sleepover~”
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika giggled mischievously, her eyes shing with perverted light when she mentioned “hot bath” and sleeping together. She was, after all, an appreciator of beautiful and cute girls as well~
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Your desires are showing.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm~? What are you talking about~?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">She feigned ignorance, but her thoughts were clear to Yuuji.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hah… Just don’t harass her. Remember, she’s still your senpai. And she’s still new to being in a… harem.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course, I know that~ I was just kidding~ We’ll treat her nicely~ After all, she’s our new sister~”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm. Thank you, Aika.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fufu~ No problem~ Oh, that’s right! Erika also said she wanted to talk to you about something.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm? Of course. What’s it about?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm… She said it’s rted to Leo, so I think she’s talking about “that”.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, I see… Wait, will she be returning to her home with him… alone?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fufufu~ You don’t have to get jealous~ She wondered if she could borrow the underground gym before, so she must be thinking of using our gym for the training.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see… Alright.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hehe~ And right after their training, you can always mark her while she’s still sweaty and make her even sweatier~”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji blushed at her words as images of Erika, donned in her Kendogi and Hakama, flushed and sweating after her training appeared in his mind…
<span style="font-weight:400">And then, the moment she returned to his room to take a bath and wash off her sweat, he’d attack her and peel off her training clothes one by one while enjoying the scent and warmth of her body.
<span style="font-weight:400">She’ll try to fight him from being embarrassed because of how sweaty she was, but he’ll keep attacking and coaxing her until she’s powerless and began drowning in his love…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fufu~ You’re imagining, right~?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...S-Shut up.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Just then, the two sensed magic activationing from outside the store they’re in.
<span style="font-weight:400">They immediately headed out, and when they exited the store, they saw Tatsuya, Kei, Kanon, and Koharu standing silently, staring into the distance. When they followed their gazes, they could see a plume of smokeing from it and a brief nce of a yellow motor scooter in the distance.
<span style="font-weight:400">Their eyes widened in realization. They recalled something simr happening in the anime, but… this shouldn’t have happened anymore.
<span style="font-weight:400">After all, in the anime, it was Koharu’s little sister who acted as a spy for the foreign invaders to get revenge on Tatsuya for failing to save her sister and causing her trauma. But now, her sister was fine thanks to Yuuji, Aika, and Tatsuya’s help. There’s no reason for her to be a spy!
<span style="font-weight:400">If it wasn’t her… then who could it be?
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tatsuya, what happened?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...There was someone watching. Chiyoda-senpai tried to chase after them, but they fled with a modified scooter…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji’s expression turned into a frown as he leaned in for a whisper towards Tatsuya.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Do you recognize them?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“He was wearing a mask… But I have an idea. I think it’s Sekimoto Isao.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sekimoto Isao… Wait, the one who will try to steal data by putting you to sleep in the anime?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hah… I might’ve gotten a bit careless. I thought this wouldn’t happen since we’ve saved Hirakawa-senpai. If I was here, I might’ve been able to capture him…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Tatsuya ced a hand on his shoulder and shook his head.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t mind it. This won’t be a problem.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Mm. But we need to increase our guard. The next arc has begun.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes.”
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">October 19, 2095. Morning.
<span style="font-weight:400">Arriving early to ss the next morning, Tatsuya was weed by his friends. They were gathered around Mizuki, who seemed to be… worried and unsettled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey, Tatsuya. You’re early today.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika greeted. She, herself, had just arrived not too long ago along with Aika and Yuuji, who had gone to their own ss after dropping her off here. They went to school together because she stayed overnight with themst night.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm. Good morning. What were you talking about?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“She says she can sense someone’s gaze.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika said, cing a hand on Mizuki’s shoulder, as she slumped down with a deep frown.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Gaze?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nn. I’ve been sensing this unpleasant gaze since this morning. Like someone secretly peering into the cracks from the shadow… It was a creepy gaze.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Like a stalker?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s not after me… But something that’s ready to cast a wide…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Tatsuya’s eyes narrowed as he kept his gaze straight at Mizuki.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So it’s not targeting a single student, but multiple students and/or instructors, or maybe something in the school, then?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Y-Yes… I could be wrong about this, of course…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No, I don’t think you’re wrong, Shibata-san.”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Mikihiko assured before continuing.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ever since this morning, the spirits have been in an unnatural frenzy on campus. I bet that someone has evoked a shiki.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shiki? Are you talking about those shikigami called Spiritual Beings?
<span style="font-weight:400">Standing with his arms crossed beside him, Leo asked to rify his understanding and received a nod from Mikihiko.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It seems to be a different spell than we use, so I can’t get a grasp on it. But there’s no question that some spell caster somewhere is sniffing around.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mikihiko, did you just say it was a different spell than yours?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Tatsuya rose from his seat all of a sudden. His voice, bringing a tinge of agitation.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, that’s right.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Meaning that it’s a non-shinto spell? Or do you mean it’s a spell that’s different from this country’s Ancient Magic?”
<span style="font-weight:400">A brief silence fell around them, before Mikihiko finally answered with a heavy tone in his voice.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t think it’s part of our country’s Ancient Magic.”
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">That afternoon, Yuuji, Aika, Erika, Tatsuya, and Miyuki headed home after their ss together. They were also joined by Mizuki, Mikihiko, Leo, Honoka, and Shizuku.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yuuji-kun, I heard you’ve not only be Hirakawa-senpai’s bodyguard, but also her assistant. Is that true?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Honoka asked excitedly. But instead of Yuuji, Aika, who was standing to his right with Erika to his left, answered her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s right~! Not only Hirakawa-senpai, but he became an errand boy for the entire team~ Whenever they’d need anything, they’d ask Yuuji to help them~”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I’m just helping them a bit. I’m not an errand boy!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Now now, just take it as apliment. That means they trust in you and your ability to help them.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika said with a wry smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Speaking of assisting them, aren’t you helping them out with the models as well, Mizuki?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Eh? Uh, yes, the second years are. I’m not actually doing anything.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mizuki answered shyly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Since Isori-senpai is the one in charge of the model, it’s only natural that the second years would be the ones most involved with building it. But I’ve also heard Isori-senpai praising you, Mizuki. So have confidence in yourself.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji exined, causing Mizuki to blush and fidget her hands together shyly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Come to think of it, I’ve also seen you working on something for them too, Tatsuya. What are you helping them with?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m helping them fine-tune the spells for the demos.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, I see.”
<span style="font-weight:400">As they walked… Yuuji suddenly felt a presence following them and observing them.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji shot a nce at Aika, who quickly nodded to him, signaling that she also noticed it. And soon, Erika, Mikihiko, and Leo also began noticing the presence following them, while the rest chatted amongst themselves.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji then shot a nce towards Tatsuya. Judging by his gaze, he seemed to have realized it as well, but he returned his gaze forward and continued to chat with his little sister. And without the need for words, Yuuji understood what Tatsuya was thinking, and continued acting as if nothing happened.
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika and the others who noticed the presence also followed suit.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, do you want to stop off here for a bit?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji suggested, arriving before a quaint little cafe in the neighborhood called Cafe Einebrise.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, I’m in!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Me too~ Fufufu~ It’ll be your treat, right~?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika and Aika eximed in excitement.
<span style="font-weight:400">“R-Really? T-Then, I-I would like to try the drinks here.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Uhn… I’m curious what kinds of desserts they have in this ce.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hah… Fine.”
<span style="font-weight:400">With Honoka and Shizuku bing excited by Aika’s proposition, he sighed in defeat and entered the cafe together with his friends. With the wealth he had umted from his daily trades, even buying the cafe and the entire building altogether won’t even put a dent to his wallet. But Aika was the one to suddenly spring this up at him, which made him a bit helpless. His girlfriend was truly a mischievous subus.
<span style="font-weight:400">Entering the cafe, the girls began ordering drinks and desserts in excitement on Aika’s encouragement. She told them not to worry about the price or the amount, because Yuuji will pay for all of it and the boys will eat what they can’t finish.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, so you’re taking part in the Magic Thesis Competition, huh? They’re hosting it in Yokohama this year, right? My parents live in Yokohama, you know? Are they holding it in the International Convention Center again? If they are, that’s right by my parents’ house.”
<span style="font-weight:400">After serving the drinks, the barmaster began conversing with them while his assistant prepared the snacks and desserts.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Where in Yokohama do they live?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mizuki asked courteously.
<span style="font-weight:400">“About halfway up the Yamate Hills. It’s a cafe called Roter Wald.”
<span style="font-weight:400">At that moment, Yuuji’s eyes widened ever so slightly at the recognition of the name.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Roter Wald… I think I’ve heard of it from somewhere…</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">He searched deep into his memories, into the Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei anime he had watched… and finally, he recalled a scene of two magic officers inside a cafe, meeting with Kyouko.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Aaaaah… that’s it. It’s the name of the cafe owned by an information broker that appeared in the anime! It’s the cafe Erika’’s eldest brother and his partner came to and met Kyouko-nee.</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Just then, Erika rose from her seat, alerting Yuuji, Tatsuya, and Aika.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Erika-chan?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll be hitting the restroom for a bit.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji nced towards the two, who nodded to him upon meeting his gaze, and rose from his seat as well.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll be going to the restroom for a bit too. Miyuki, can you help me keep an eye on Aika? Don’t let her order even more food than we’ve had.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Y-Yes.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Geez~ You can’t be stingy like that you know, Yuuji~ Or you’ll be hated by girls~”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hah… I’ll be back.”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“‘Kay~!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji headed out, not missing the figure of Mikihiko creating a talisman. He also met nces with Leo, who was looking at him with a steeled gaze, telling him that he’ll be ready to help anytime.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji nodded subtly, and followed after Erika.
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey, Mister. Wanna have a good time with me?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika said in a yful manner into the suspiciously empty street. The afternoon sun, coloring everything in a deep orange-red hue.
<span style="font-weight:400">And soon, a mustached man in a trench coat came out of his hiding and confronted Erika.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What are you talking about? You should look out for yourself more.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Huh~? All I said was “Have a good time”. But what on Earth did you think I meant by that?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You shouldn’t tease grownups. Night will be falling soon. If you hang around deserted ce like this, who’s to say that you won’t get attacked by a street attacker?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you for your concern, but it is unneeded, uncle.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The mustached man widened his eyes in shock and immediately turned around to his back, where he found a devastatingly beautiful man standing there casually with his hands in his pocket.
<span style="font-weight:400">He… didn’t even feel his presence.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Perhaps, you are the one who should be wary of some street attackers. After all… You never know when the hunter will turn into the hunted.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika took out her baton from inside her pocket, extended it to its full length, and pointed it at the mustached man who was still paying extra attention towards Yuuji.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’ve been following us all along. What are you after?”
<span style="font-weight:400">The man finally nced back towards Erika, who unleashed her murderous intent towards him as she spoke.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Isn’t she amazing? To be able to unleash such thick killing intent… I love this part of her as well.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The man slowly turned his body sideways, keeping both Yuuji and Erika to his sides so he could keep eyes on them better. He could no longer focus his attention towards Yuuji alone.
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika was in full alert and ready to attack him at a moment''s notice. Meanwhile, although Yuuji was simply standing there casually with his hands in his pockets, his instincts told him that escaping through him would be far more difficult than through the girl.
<span style="font-weight:400">With no other choice, he let out a deep sigh… and yelled as loudly as his lungs permitted.
<span style="font-weight:400">“HELP ME! I’M BEING ROBBED!!!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s no use, uncle. Right now, no one will be able toe near us.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s right. This is a barrier built on our consciousness, so unless you knock us unconscious, you have no hope of escaping.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The man fell silent. When suddenly, he threw an empty paper coffee cup towards Erika.
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika easily swatted the paper cup away. But to her surprise, the man appeared before her faster than she expected.
<span style="font-weight:400">He lunged and thrusted his hand, which was now holding a small de, towards Erika’s head. But before it could reach her, a heavy weight suddenly fell upon his body, immensely slowing his movement.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was only for a moment, but it was enough for Erika to avoid it and counterattack with her own baton.
<span style="font-weight:400">With the weight disappearing as quickly as it appeared, the man quickly tried to dodge her attack. But suddenly, her swing became extremely quick, quicker than he expected, forcing him to defend against it with his arm.
<span style="font-weight:400">“ARGH!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">He yelled out in pain before retreating back with a leap, and threw both of the des in his hands towards Erika.
<span style="font-weight:400">But before it could even reach her, his des suddenly stopped in mid air, before falling to the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What the…”
<span style="font-weight:400">His eyes were now wide in shock and disbelief. He nced back towards Yuuji, saw him with his hand raised towards him, and finally realized what’s going on.
<span style="font-weight:400">It seems like he’s using some sort of Weight-type and/or Movement-type magic that caused him to suddenly slow down and the girl to suddenly speed up.
<span style="font-weight:400">And the final barrier seemed to be some sort of wind-type spell or barrier-type spell that caused his des to lose their kic energy and fall.
<span style="font-weight:400">Now he knew why he felt so much pressure from the handsome boy. To think he could cast so many spells in session in that brief, high-speed exchange…
<span style="font-weight:400">He waved his arms strongly, causing another pair of des to slip down from his sleeves into his hands.
<span style="font-weight:400">But before he could do anything, a powerful force suddenly constricted his body like a giant hand holding his body in ce, causing him to drop his des into the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-What… did you… do…?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Calm down, uncle. We’re not interested in taking your life. All we want to know is why you were following us.”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">With the mustached man restrained by his magic, Yuuji and Erika approached him cautiously, still ready for anything he had nned.
<span style="font-weight:400">“H-Hold up. Alright, I surrender. I’m not even an enemy of yours to begin with…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji’s eyes narrowed as he tightened his hold around him, eliciting a pained groan.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You brandished your des towards my girlfriend. It could’ve killed her if she wasn’t quick enough to react.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">The man fell silent under the pressure Yuuji’s exerting, while Erika also frowned at him. If it wasn’t for Yuuji’s quick reaction that caused him to slow down immensely… she would’ve been caught by surprise and forced into being defensive, especially since the man was using ded weapons. She might even suffer from an injury or two.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Are you okay, Erika?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm. Thanks to you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji nodded in relief after seeing her smile. And only then did he stop exerting his pressure towards the man and slightly loosened his hold around him, just enough to not cause pain while still immobilizing him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Now. If you are not the enemy as you im, then exin yourself.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Released from the pressure, the man let out a deep sigh and relented to Yuuji’s words.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fine…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good. Now start introducing yourself. I’m sure you’re aware of our names already either way.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...My name is Jiro Marshall. I can’t go into specifics, but I’m not affiliated with any government organization whatsoever. Also, as I mentioned earlier, I am not your enemy.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“So you are an illegal, huh?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika asked, and he answered with a nod.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tell us what you''re after and the situation.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“My job is to monitor the Magic High School students to ensure that no cutting-edge magic technology falls into the hands of the East. If they do leak any advanced technology that could amount to a military threat, then I deal with the situation.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“The East… Meaning you’re from the west? Why would you go to all that trouble?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I thought this country was cured of its pacifistcency, but… In both USNA and the western nations, there’s been a spike in the number of Eastern spies going after magic engineering technology. Your own school is also one of the East’s targets!”
<span style="font-weight:400">““...””
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika looked at him with immense apprehension, but if his words were true… then a much bigger trouble must be brewing in the shadows, waiting to explode onto the surface…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Onest thing… Let me give you a word of advice. Tell your friends to be vignt about their surroundings. That they shouldn’t let down their guard just because they’re on school grounds.”
<span style="font-weight:400">While it sounded like regr advice to be vignt, Yuuji recognized the hidden warning he was trying to convey with his words…
<span style="font-weight:400">If he wasn’t mistaken… The “boss” of the foreign invaders and main antagonist of this arc has a spell that would cause someone to lose their way and be lost in his spell.
<span style="font-weight:400">If this is what Jiro was indeed referring to… then he’d apud the author’s ability to foreshadow such a thing.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I see. Thank you for your advice.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then… Will you let me go, now?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course… but I also have onest thing to say.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm? What is it?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jiro Marshall and Erika both turned towards Yuuji, wondering what he wanted to say.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You should also be careful to not lose your way. We won’t be chasing you, so you should be extra careful on your way back.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Eh? Yuuji?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">His eyes widened in shock for a brief moment, but he quickly nodded.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji nodded back and muttered under his breath to have Mikihiko erase the barrier. He then released Jiro Marshall from his restraint.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Go ahead. No need to throw a smoke grenade. We won’t pursue you. You have my word.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jiro looked at the young man with narrowed eyes for a brief moment, and dropped a smoke bomb under his feet, which immediately filled the area with smoke.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hah… I’ve told him not to drop a smoke bomb, but he still does it…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji quickly blows away all the smoke with some wind magic after he erected a wind barrier to protect himself and Erika.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Why did you let him go, Yuuji? Did you trust him?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Not entirely, but I think there’s no harm in believing his words about the things rted with the East and West. After all, we’ve been experiencing some strange urrences recently. This might be the cause of it all.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika fell silent as uneasiness began to fill her heart. But then, she felt a soft, gentle hand petting her head in a familiar manner.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to us and our peaceful lives.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm. I’ll help too.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course. Now, you go back first to the cafe.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Eh? What are you going to do?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Saving a life.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji said, before his form disappeared before Erika’s very eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ve been noticed by the surveince target. Send in recements!”
<span style="font-weight:400">A wave of dust and dirtunched up into the air as Jiro Marshall dashed through the quiet alleyways. The afternoon sun, now about to set and disappear into the horizon, tinted the darkened alleyways in a dark, purplish hue.
<span style="font-weight:400">His heart pumped rapidly as his vignce and alertness were raised to the maximum. He had failed his mission… something he had not done since his younger days and new to the job.
<span style="font-weight:400">He continued to run, but after a while, a realization came to his mind that caused him toe to a screeching halt and observe his surroundings.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Where am I…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">He did not recalling through this alleyway… No, perhaps he did. Or perhaps, he had been running in circles… He didn’t know.
<span style="font-weight:400">But just as he was observing his surroundings, heavy footsteps echoed through the narrow alleyway.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then… arge figure that filled his heart with disbelief, shock, and fear came out of the darkness.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The man-eating tiger… Lu Gonghu…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jiro Marshall was a tall man with an athletic, muscr body. But before him, he was but a child.
<span style="font-weight:400">Broad shoulders, muscr body, and tall, intimidating physique, his presence alone was enough to shake Jiro’s entire body in fear.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Is this… what he was talking about…</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji’s warning shed across his mind. And before he realized it, Lu Gonghu raised his hand towards him, about to rip him apart into pieces.
<span style="font-weight:400">When suddenly, a man in ck jacket and pants appeared from behind Jiro and sent a heavy punch right into Lu Gonghu’s sr plexus.
<span style="font-weight:400">The man-eating tiger widened his eyes in shock as a forceparable to a car mming into him at high speeds condensed into a size of a fist struck his body all of a sudden and pushed him several meters back before screeching into a halt.
<span style="font-weight:400">Both men looked at the neer in all ck in shock, trying to discern his identity. But he had hidden his head with a hood and his face with a ck mask. His body, while muscr and tall, did not give away any indication of his identity.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Who are you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">The man in ck didn’t answer, and seeing as he was silent, Lu Gonghuunched himself towards him for an attack.
<span style="font-weight:400">The ck jacket man kicked away Jiro Marshal into safety before dodging the series of swings and punches from the man-eating tiger.
<span style="font-weight:400">Despite his nickname, the man fought like a trained martial artist instead of a wild beast. Though his style and the use of an open palm strike and scratch did resemble that of a tiger.
<span style="font-weight:400">Lu Gonghu kept trying to hit the man in ck, but as if he was able to read his moves, he kept dodging it without any trouble.
<span style="font-weight:400">And when he went on the offensive, each of his strikes felt like a hit from a car. Each and every single one of his punches and strikes were heavy, enough to push him, the man-eating tiger, back.
<span style="font-weight:400">He was relentless, fast, unpredictable, and powerful… He was no ordinary martial artist!
<span style="font-weight:400">“RAAAAAAAARGH!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">With a bellowing roar, Lu Gonghu mmed down towards the man with both hands. And this time, instead of evading the easily dodgeable hit, the man defended against it.
<span style="font-weight:400">The power behind the m of Lu Gonghu, enhanced by magic, was enough to crack the asphalt ground beneath the man in ck upon hitting him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Lu Gonghu looked down to the man before him. Surely he would suffer from some damage.
<span style="font-weight:400">But to his shock, the man didn’t even flinch. Not even a groan or a sound was heard.
<span style="font-weight:400">And before he could recover from his shock, the man reeled in his arm, and punched him straight in the chest.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Guuuuhkkhh!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Air left his lungs as the force forcefully pushed it out of them. And after screeching into a half several meters away, the man eating-tiger fell to his knees as wheeze and cough in pain.
<span style="font-weight:400">Just from that single punch… he knew that his body, that had been magically engineered and modified for more power and sturdiness, had sustained heavy injuries. His sternum was cracked and some of his ribs, broken. He was no longer in any condition to fight him…
<span style="font-weight:400">Clenching his teeth in frustration, Lu Gonghu used thest of his energy and mmed onto the ground, shattering it andunching a cloud of dust, asphalt, and sand up into the air and towards them.
<span style="font-weight:400">And when the dust settled, the man-eating tiger was no longer there…
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Hah… So he escaped. That’s a shame…</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji, still d in his disguise that he had prepared and stored in his MCG specially for this event, let out a sigh as the dust slowly settled down.
<span style="font-weight:400">He couldn’t use his usual magic and gravity magic to restrain the man eating-tiger. After all, everyone already knows that he used that kind of magic. If he used it here, then it would defeat the purpose ofing here with a disguise.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji didn’t want the foreign invaders, the Great Asian Union, to know about him yet. Else, it might bring danger to his girlfriends and friends.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Well, I managed to test out my fighting stylebined with gravity magic in realbat, so that’s still a win.</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Using his gravity magic to make each and every strike of his extremely powerful, activating right at the moment of impact in small bursts to prevent it from being detected and countered; judging from the results, it seems to be a sess given none of them noticed his little trick.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">Speaking of which…</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji turned towards Jiro Marshal, now having picked himself up and stand before him, still looking at him with extreme vignce.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Who are you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji kept his silence, and began walking away.
<span style="font-weight:400">He turned the corner, and immediately used his invisibility spell once again and concealed his presence.
<span style="font-weight:400">When Jiro came to follow him, he was no longer visible to anyone and anything, leaving the man shocked and confused.
<span style="font-weight:400">And as Yuuji was about to leave, he heard Jiro muttering under his breath.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Thank you for saving my life.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He turned towards the mustached man with a slight smile, and headed back to the cafe to his friends.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">You’re wee.</i>