Chapter 63: 63 Puppet Master
Volume 2: The World Stage
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Two months ago.
Tokyo.
"Hey, old man, are you the one following me?"
At a corner somewhere in the city, the young, energetic girl full of life suddenly stopped in her tracks, waiting for the strange man who had been tailing her without any attempt to hide it.
From the moment school ended until she was nearly home, this strange man had been following her but kept a respectful distance, never approaching recklessly.
Was he afraid of the two bodyguards by her side?
Though the two bodyguards with her were indeed skilled members of the Ryougi group, top-notch fighters, she felt like that wasn't the reason.
"Miss... that strange guy has been following us since we left the school gate. He must be up to no good."
A hint of caution appeared on the bodyguard's face.
"A trafficker?"
"No, a kidnapper wouldn't be this stupid. There's no way they'd approach with us by your side."
"Do you think it could be someone from another organization trying to harm the young miss?"
"Do they have the guts to make a direct move on the young miss?!" The older bodyguard's eyes gleamed with a hint of menace.
"Better to be cautious. You take the miss and leave, and I'll stay behind to teach this guy a lesson."
One of the bodyguards wiped his sunglasses, pulled a baton from his pocket, and prepared to confront Roy, intending to question his motives for following them.
"Miss, let's go."
The other bodyguard prepared to escort Shiki Ryougi away.
"No need. I'll stay here with you and wait for that guy to come over."
Shiki Ryougi shook her head, rejecting the bodyguard's suggestion.
"I have a feeling this situation isn't as simple as it seems."
"But if there's danger..."
One of the men tried to persuade her again, hoping to dissuade her from this risky decision. But Shiki Ryougi swiftly shut him down.
"Hmm? Are you saying you two can't handle one man?"
"Uh, well... senpai?"
The younger bodyguard exchanged an awkward glance with the older one, who sighed in response.
Since the young miss had spoken, if they continued to refuse, it would only imply their incompetence. Besides, with himself, a seasoned veteran, and a capable junior, he didn't believe Roy could cause any trouble.
"Alright... You stay here and protect the miss."
"Understood, senior."
The younger man, probably in his twenties, nodded in agreement and followed the older man's instructions. He scouted the surroundings for places to hide and led Shiki Ryougi to a relatively safe spot. He too took out his baton, prepared to intervene if things went south, even though he trusted his senior's abilities.
With their plan set, the three of them stopped at the corner, waiting for Roy to approach.
...
A few minutes later.
At the corner, a middle-aged man stood in front of Shiki with a baton in hand, while another young man protected her side, glaring fiercely at Roy.
Holding a glaring weapon in his hand, his attitude was already very clear.
It expressed the sentiment, "If you dare to come over, don't blame us for being rude."
In contrast to the highly vigilant bodyguards, Shiki, who was sandwiched between them, was quite curious about what this man, who had been following them all the way, actually wanted.
This place was currently under the jurisdiction of the Ryougi family, and nearby members could arrive in a few minutes. If he truly wanted to kidnap her, it would be too dismissive of the Ryougi family to act here on their home turf.
What exactly was he here for?
As she focused, Shiki frowned.
She felt something strange about this man. Although his figure seemed familiar and that face looked like someone she had seen before, she was certain this was the first time she had met Roy.
"Hey, old man, what are you really trying to do by following us? Or do you have something you want to do? This is the Ryougi territory. Even if you want to kidnap me, you wouldn't be foolish enough to choose this place, would you?"
Staring at Roy's face, Shiki felt increasingly familiar with it, but no matter how much she tried to recall in her mind, she couldn't find any impression of this person.
"Old man, are you stalking me?"
"Not stalking, just following."
Roy, who was being closely watched by three people, showed no signs of nervousness. Instead, he raised his hand to correct her, "If possible, please don't call me 'old man.' I'm just over twenty; you can call me Roy."
"Oh, so you do know me, old man. So, you're stalking us after all."
"Guess? Or interpret it however you want, but I did come to find you, Shiki."
"Why are you suddenly calling my name directly? Are we that familiar, old man?"
"Well, we met briefly not long ago, but for you, today can be considered the first time we meet."
"Bastard! So you really are someone sent by another organization, huh? Let's subdue him together!"
After the simplest exchange, although they hadn't talked much, some felt there was no need for further communication.
In the next moment, the two bodyguards beside Shiki immediately charged at Roy, weapons in hand, swinging their batons directly toward his face.
Their moves were swift and ruthless.
If it were an ordinary person, they would probably take that hit hard and pass out.
However, for someone like him, it was too naive.
Roy merely smiled slightly, remaining motionless, and then...
*Snap*
He raised his hand and snapped his fingers, causing the pupils of the two bodyguards to reflect a vivid blue butterfly pattern. Their movements also synchronized and slowed down until they stood dazed in place, without any motion.
"This is no longer your business. Consider it as if nothing happened, and leave."
"Yes."
The two bodyguards, still dazed, nodded blankly and walked away from Roy.
"What is this?!"
Shiki seemed to have discovered something interesting.
"Just a simple suggestion magecraft. However, I added a bit of my own understanding to it."
"It feels like a dirty trick used by villains in movies to easily deceive unsuspecting girl." Shiki blinked, looking at Roy, who had now come in front of her.
"Old man, you're not some disgusting lolicon, are you? Are you planning to use tricks like this to hypnotize me into doing something like that?"
"…"
Roy was somewhat speechless.
"Are elementary school students nowadays this open-minded? What exactly are they teaching you in school? Or is it… all self-taught? SHIKI, I have some doubts about the upbringing level of your Ryougi family."
"You know me?!"
Upon hearing her name casually spoken by Roy, SHIKI felt a bit surprised.
SHIKI is another alter ego that Shiki Ryougi possesses.
It represents masculinity, denial, and the positive aspect and possessing the right to use her body.
With a boyish tone and actions, the alter ego SHIKI has the right to use the body but not control over it, appearing only when Shiki loses consciousness, has weak awareness, or actively exchanges personalities; usually, it remains dormant.
This kind of thing shouldn't be known to anyone except herself and her family. How did this guy know? This person is definitely not simple!
"I know more than you can imagine."
Roy glanced at the surprised SHIKI and reached out to pat her head.
"Aren't you afraid? Aren't you going to try to resist? For example, take out that little knife hidden in your sleeve and stab me or something? Aren't you worried I'll really do something strange to you?"
"Tch, being afraid doesn't help."
SHIKI shook her head, discarding the little knife from her sleeve, and confidently said, "You can easily hypnotize those two bodyguards just now; such little tricks definitely won't work. If you want to hurt me, I definitely can't escape."
"You see things very clearly."
"No choice. If I didn't see things clearly, I wouldn't have survived to this age."
"Really a small person with a big spirit."
"Don't worry, I won't do anything strange to you. Just accompany me for a bit, and I'll let you go afterward. As compensation, I can also teach you that little trick from earlier."
"That hypnosis trick?"
Roy shook his head, "Correction, it's not a hypnosis trick; it's called suggestion magecraft."
"Aren't they the same? Aren't they all dirty tricks to trick young girls into bed?"
"Damn brat, what do you take me for?" Roy covered his face, "You're just an elementary school student; this kind of knowledge is too early for you."
"I'm not a brat! I'm already in junior high!"
"Well, that still makes you a brat."
...
"Where are you taking me?"
"To a coffee shop, just to meet someone."
Meet someone? Why does it feel a bit like a trafficker bringing an ignorant girl to a den for accounting?
SHIKI was somewhat cautious, tightly gripping the small knife hidden in his sleeve. If he hadn't secretly tested the man before him several times and confirmed that he absolutely couldn't defeat him, he would have rebelled long ago.
However, for now, he needed to look for an opportunity; at least he had to show weakness and demonstrate obedience.
"Oh, what kind of person? Someone like you who possesses magical powers?"
"Yes, she's quite similar to me; we are both magus. However, in terms of magecraft mastery, she is currently a bit stronger than I am. Besides, she's a tough woman. In any case, you'll understand once you meet her."
"Is she a dangerous person?"
SHIKI blinked, feeling somewhat curious about the person Roy mentioned.
"Yes, you could say she is one of the most dangerous individuals in this world, a wanted criminal by the Mage's Association. But there's no need to be afraid or nervous. As long as I'm by your side, there won't be any danger; I still have a bit of combat power left."
"A bit?"
"That's right, just a bit."
Roy raised two fingers and smiled in response.
…
After the recent negotiations, Roy and SHIKI's interactions had been quite pleasant.
However, there were some small incidents. Once he confirmed that Roy didn't have his guard up when walking ahead, SHIKI decisively made a move against him. But before his knife could strike, a finger was firmly placed against the blade, and right before his eyes, the knife was snapped in half.
Nevertheless, Roy didn't seem to mind the little incident. He simply discarded the broken knife and continued leading the way, as if the attempted strike aimed at his waist had been nothing more than a joke.
After losing his weapon, SHIKI attempted to escape twice, but each time he was caught and brought back within seconds. Realizing he wouldn't be able to escape, he eventually gave up on causing more trouble and obediently followed Roy.
Through these failed attempts and being quickly apprehended, he recognized that this person truly meant him no harm, and there was no way he could escape.
So, he simply forgot about those incidents and chose to communicate with this intriguing man.
Unexpectedly, they seemed to hit it off well?
After the recent negotiations, Roy and SHIKI's interactions had been quite pleasant.
Although he remained cautious, there was now a sense of curiosity and exploration; this kid was very interested in him.
But this was just the independent individual named SHIKI.
The attitude of the other main character towards him was quite strange.
In the café, Roy sat at the table, watching the suddenly cold and indifferent girl beside him, who had switched to the personality of Shiki, feeling a bit of a headache.
Compared to SHIKI, who could communicate freely with him, Shiki had difficulty completing even three sentences with him.
Or rather, it was strange that Shiki wasn't cold towards him, considering he had forcibly brought her to this café.
However, the difference in their personalities was too stark; where was Touko Aozaki?
This atmosphere was far too awkward.
Just as Roy was contemplating how to communicate with Shiki, a chair suddenly slid out in front of him, and then a tall figure sat down across from him.
"Ah... sorry to keep you waiting. You must be the magus who contacted me?"
Touko Aozaki sized up Roy a few times before shifting her gaze to Shiki.
"And who is this? You didn't mention bringing someone else over the phone."
"Sorry, Miss Aozaki. This is my friend; she's just an ordinary person and won't affect our conversation. Besides, the commission we're discussing is related to her, so she needs to be present."
"Related to her?" Touko Aozaki seemed somewhat surprised.
"Yes, if you're worried, we can directly sign the geis."
"Not necessary."
Touko Aozaki took a deep drag from her cigarette, held it in her mouth, and then slowly exhaled.
"I still have some confidence in my own strength."
"Meow~" In response, a cat's meow came from the suitcase at Touko Aozaki's feet, which was her source of confidence.
Noticing the killing intent and magical power emanating from the box, it was clear that whatever was inside was a very powerful phantasmal species.
However, Roy didn't pay it much attention. He simply frowned slightly, reminding her about the smoke rings she was exhaling.
"Miss Aozaki, this area is considered a public space. Is it really appropriate to smoke here?"
"There's no problem with that. Didn't you put a magical suggestion over the entire shop? No one will pay us any mind, so why worry?"
Upon closer observation, in this bustling café filled with customers, both the patrons and the staff had blue butterfly patterns reflected in their eyes. At this moment, they were all busy with their own affairs while subconsciously avoiding the table where Roy and his companions were sitting.
This was because Roy had raised his hand to cast a large-scale suggestion magecraft as soon as he entered, causing them to overlook this area.
"Let's get straight to the point. I'm a young magus who claims to have no forces behind me. But first, I must make it clear that I no longer wish to get involved in the chaotic matters of the moonlit world."
"I've also said that this is just a personal commission from me."
In response to Touko Aozaki's warning, Roy showed no signs of hesitation and stated directly, "My request is simple. I want to hire Miss Aozaki to look after this girl for me during my time away from Tokyo."
"Look after this little girl?"
Touko Aozaki was taken aback, then followed Roy's hand to glance at the equally bewildered Shiki Ryougi, before her gaze snapped back to Roy, and she said angrily, "Are you provoking me? I'm not a babysitter!"
"Wait, please don't get angry, Miss Aozaki. This is a café, and acting recklessly could harm innocent people."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"It would leak our secrets and expose your whereabouts. While the number of magus in Tokyo isn't large, they do exist."
"Then before you refuse, why not hear what I can offer as compensation?"
"Oh, go ahead and tell me."
Touko Aozaki raised an eyebrow and lowered her hand, clearly not taking Roy's words too seriously.
Who is she, Touko Aozaki? A prominent magus. What kind of thing hasn't she seen? What could this kid possibly offer to hire her as a babysitter for a little girl? No matter what he offers, it couldn't possibly impress her.
"I'll give you this."
Roy took a shard of a colorful jewel out of his pocket and displayed it to Touko Aozaki.
"What is this?!"
This time it was Touko Aozaki who couldn't sit still.
Although she had never seen the colorful jewel in his hand, she recognized the unique aura it emanated. Without a doubt, this was a jewel containing True Magic.
This aura was completely different from the Fifth Magic possessed by Aoko Aozaki, indicating another form of magic.
And in this world, aside from the Magician of the Fifth Magic, the only known magician who possessed such magic was that one.
Though her movements were mysterious and she traversed numerous parallel worlds, Touko Aozaki had been fortunate enough to meet that significant figure a few times at the Clock Tower. The magical energy she exuded upon her arrival was identical to that of this jewel.
So this is… the Second Magic?!
"It seems I don't need to prove the authenticity of this jewel."
Noticing the surprise on Touko Aozaki's face, Roy knew he had achieved his desired goal and pressed the jewel onto the table, handing it to her.
"This is a fragment of a mystic code infused with the Second Magic... the remains of the Jeweled Sword. The value of this item in the magical community should go without saying, right?"
"Indeed, such a thing is truly invaluable. Whether it's used to create a new magical furnace or to keep for oneself to produce a brand-new mystic code with the characteristics of the Second Magic, it's an excellent choice. Even selling it to a lord could fetch an astronomical price."
Touko Aozaki nodded. "What a rare and precious treasure! It's making my collector's instincts act up. If I couldn't see your depth, I might have directly snatched it from you here."
As her words fell, Touko Aozaki's gaze sharpened, and at that moment, the suitcase at her feet emitted a meow sound.
The sense of oppression came rushing in, causing even Shiki Ryougi, who had been quietly listening beside Roy, to tense up.
This woman is a monster.
However, Roy was not intimidated by such pressure.
He reached out to pat Shiki Ryougi's head, gently saying, "It's okay. As long as I'm here, you won't be in any danger."
"Mm."
The oppressive atmosphere that enveloped them dissipated with Roy's words.
Another unique magical energy dispersed the pressure brought by Touko Aozaki.
It was so easily dispelled.
This kid…
Watching Roy remain unfazed, Touko Aozaki ceased her meaningless probing.
"You jest. Although this jewel is significant, compared to hiring you, it's only barely sufficient."
"Oh? You dare to say that? To offer such a precious treasure, you must not be some so-called magus without any force behind you."
"No, as I said before, I only represent myself."
"Then can you continue to increase the stakes? Although I'm a bit tempted, it's not enough to make me feel compelled to accept just yet. I plan to stay in this dull city for a while."
No, you will.
Though he wanted to respond directly, Roy maintained his polite smile and replied again.
"Of course, I can offer an even more satisfactory price."
"Oh? Let's hear it." Touko Aozaki's interest was piqued.
"If you clash with your sister, the Magician of the Fifth Magic, Aoko Aozaki, I can assist you in suppressing her firepower. While I may not be quite her match at the moment, it won't be long before I am not inferior to her and may even surpass her."
Suppress Aoko's firepower?
"Are you kidding me? You think you have the power to suppress that monster Aoko?"
This condition caught Touko Aozaki off guard.
In fact, this condition made her more intrigued than the jewel containing the Second Magic, but it was mostly disbelief.
After all, very few in the magical community possessed the power to suppress Aoko.
Though she was intrigued by this condition, Touko Aozaki still felt a sense of lingering dissatisfaction over losing to her sister Aoko Aozaki after all these years.
If she could truly fight back, trample that annoying Aoko underfoot, and see her defeat with her own eyes…
That would really be… quite nice.
But she wasn't a fool.
The power to suppress Aoko? How could this nameless kid in the magical community possibly possess such strength? He must just be trying to con her.
"Do you think I'm easy to fool?"
"Of course not. I have no reason to deceive you about this, nor am I joking."
Roy shook his head, responding earnestly, "I indeed possess that kind of power. Because, like your sister Aoko Aozaki, we can be considered the same kind of person."
"The same kind of person? What do you mean by that?"
Touko Aozaki furrowed her brow slightly.
"Literally what it means. Look closely."
Saying this, Roy's eyes flashed with a white light, and then he raised his palm, illuminating both their faces with a pure white radiance.
He revealed his magical aura without reservation to Touko Aozaki.
"This is my proof."
Such a magical aura? Such a characteristic?! Is this a joke?!!
"Is this?!"
In an instant, her heart surged with tumultuous waves. Touko Aozaki looked up in shock at Roy, swallowing the smoke rings that hadn't yet escaped her mouth.
"Does this prove it?"
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