Soon, it was time for school to end.
Following their previous agreement, Rozen and Kojou went together to the second-year middle school classroom to find Nagisa. The three of them then left the school together.
As for Asagi and Motoki, they didn't join them. Being affluent, they had their own concerns. Asagi, occasionally hired by various state-owned companies on Artificial Island, and Motoki, usually busy, rarely tagged along.
Despite their concerns about Nagisa being followed, seeing Rozen, a mage, accompanying them, Asagi and Motoki felt less worried and chose not to follow.
Therefore, Rozen, Kojou, and Nagisa took the train together to Kojou and Nagisa's home in a nine-story apartment building in the southern part of Itogami Island.
The apartment was a bit far from Saikai Academy, requiring them to take the tram. Since they were investigating whether Nagisa was indeed being followed, they couldn't use Rozen's luxury car as it might make it easier for the pursuer to be revealed.
Thus, Rozen, for a rare occasion, took the tram home with Kojou and Nagisa.
Of course, Rozen had already informed Natsuki about this through a phone call. Otherwise, if Natsuki found out that Rozen didn't take his car home, it might lead to some unexpected trouble.
The three of them chatted and laughed along the way, getting off at the station and walking towards the direction of the apartment, just a little over ten minutes away.
The topic of their conversation was the basketball game at noon.
More precisely, they were discussing a decision made by Kojou.
"Kojou-kun, are you really planning to leave the basketball club and stop playing basketball?" Nagisa looked at Kojou with some concern.
Yes, Kojou had recently decided to leave the basketball club and stop playing basketball. This was a decision he made not long ago.
"That's how it is." Kojou, as if recalling something unpleasant, spoke in a rare, somewhat subdued tone while pretending to be casual. "Staying there would only reopen everyone's wounds. It's better to leave decisively."
Ignoring Nagisa's thoughts for now, Rozen felt somewhat helpless. Because anyone who knew Kojou would know.
"You love basketball so much. Do you really not feel regretful about giving it up?" Rozen said.
Since the past, Kojou had been passionate about basketball, investing a lot of effort into it. Even his overly critical father admitted that he was decent at basketball, and Kojou was very active in the basketball game at noon. It showed his deep affection for the sport.
However, Kojou had his reasons for giving it up.
"I only know how to play basketball by myself. I have no idea how to play with everyone else," Kojou said somewhat self-mockingly.
That was his reason.
Because of Kojou's involvement, the performance of Saikai Academy's middle school basketball club surpassed that of previous years. They even made it to the national tournament, and not long ago, they reached the final round of the regional competition, preparing to advance to the national tournament again.
However, the spirited Kojou, after the last game of the regional competition, decisively gave up basketball.
During the match that day, Kojou's performance was exceptionally exaggerated. Not only did he display extraordinary jumping ability and reaction speed, but his shooting accuracy was also remarkable. The few mistakes in passing were mainly due to teammates struggling to keep up with Kojou's speed.
Even so, Kojou managed to significantly widen the score gap for the team and was on the verge of securing victory. However, the opposing team resorted to fouling to stop him, leading to Kojou being substituted.
After that, Kojou sat on the bench, watching helplessly as the team continued to fall behind and eventually lose. He even witnessed his teammates calmly accepting the outcome and casting fearful glances at him. It made Kojou realize something profound.
"In the past, I only focused on my own performance, completely ignoring the guys around me. Even if they couldn't keep up with me, I didn't think it mattered since I could win on my own. With this mindset, I kept playing in the basketball club, and unknowingly, I isolated myself from everyone."
Kojou spoke, seemingly reflecting on his foolishness while maintaining a casual tone.
"Moreover, by always outclassing everyone and winning continuously, it led to the belief that others didn't need to make an effort because I could secure the victory. They neglected regular training, causing a decline in their skills. So, without me in the final game of the regional competition, we suffered a humiliating defeat. But my teammates had already accepted the result when I was substituted, showing no regret."
In other words, Kojou's presence took away the enthusiasm and dedication of the basketball club members for the sport, and they no longer poured sweat into it, losing all motivation.
Combined with the fear and isolation he experienced, Kojou decisively left the club.
"Anyway, I'm about to graduate from middle school. I need to focus on studying for the entrance exams to high school. I won't have time for basketball, so isn't it better this way?"
That was Kojou's rationale.
"But, but, our school has a continuous middle and high school system. As long as Kojou-kun smoothly advances, you can directly join the high school basketball club. There's no need to leave the club, right?" Nagisa felt regretful.
"You enjoyed the basketball game at noon, didn't you? It might be nice to continue like this," even Rozen offered a few words of advice.
However, it seemed that Kojou had already made up his mind.
"I'm just leaving the club. It doesn't mean I dislike basketball. If there's a game like today where I'm needed, I can join anytime." Kojou shook his head and said straightforwardly, "Moreover, it felt so comfortable playing at noon, especially with you keeping up with my speed. Yaze also put in a rare effort. The feeling of winning together with you guys made me truly happy. It also helped me understand that if I stay in the club, I'll take away that shared joy of victory. So, don't try to persuade me anymore."
Hearing Kojou's words, Rozen and Nagisa knew that Kojou had truly made up his mind, and there was no turning back.
"Such a pity." Nagisa sighed regretfully. "Clearly, Kojou-kun looks particularly handsome only when playing basketball. If you stop playing, won't you just be a useless guy in the future? As your little sister, I can't help but worry about it..."
"Hey!" Kojou immediately protested. "Who's a useless guy? Besides basketball, I have many other strengths, you know?"
"Is that so?" Nagisa looked at Kojou with a skeptical gaze.
That look deeply hurt Kojou.
"No... if you don't believe it, ask him. Nichiyo, didn't I also..." Kojou was about to make a counterargument and shifted the topic towards Rozen.
However...
"Nichiyo?"
"Nichiyo-kun?"
Both Kojou and Nagisa suddenly froze.
Because, as they walked alongside Rozen, he suddenly stopped and looked coldly to the side.
"I didn't really expect someone to be following us."
Rozen muttered to himself in such a way.
"————"
Rozen's words cast a freezing chill over the atmosphere, making the air feel as if it encountered a sudden drop in temperature.
"W-What?"
"Huh? Really? Is someone really following us?"
Both Kojou and Nagisa reacted, suddenly startled. It was as if they had just remembered this fact. One took a defensive stance, while the other instinctively hid behind Rozen with a hint of timidity.
However, neither of them noticed any strange movements around.
That was quite normal.
Because the real anomaly wasn't about any movements but the magical energy permeating the air.
Rozen sensed it. The space around him and the others not only had an excessively dense magical energy but also experienced fluctuations in air density, with an eerie change in atmospheric flow.
This change wasn't concealed from Rozen, who possessed the ability called Mind's Eye.
Therefore, Rozen could see it.
"Turning oneself into mist, diluting to an invisible degree, spreading throughout the entire space to track—clever trick."
Rozen spoke with a smirk.
A slight magical energy, like flames, started burning on him.
Almost simultaneously...
"Woosh————!"
A gust of wind surged around them. No, it wasn't wind; it was mist.
Diluted in the air and now forming at a visible speed, the mist condensed and swiftly moved in another direction.
"Trying to escape? Too late!"
Rozen didn't hesitate. He snapped his fingers.
"Hum————!"
The surrounding space instantly became turbulent, like boiling water. It constantly bubbled on one side and rippled on the other.
At this moment, the space completely descended into chaos, causing the mist within it to be violently stirred, rolling intensely.
"Ah...!"
In the next moment, a wail echoed from the mist.
Under the chaotic spatial fluctuations, the opponent seemed unable to maintain the mist form and involuntarily gathered together, taking on a human shape.
It was a young girl wearing a tight leather black suit along with a trench coat, giving off an eerie vibe. She appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen, with waist-length elegantly braided hair, brown in color, and a pair of deep crimson eyes.
Upon closer inspection, the girl wore a metallic bracelet on her wrist.
"Demon Registration Certificate...!?"
Kojou's expression tensed.
"D-Demon... a demon?"
Nagisa was equally surprised.
But the opponent wasn't an ordinary demon; she was a vampire.
"The only demons capable of mist form are likely vampires, right?"
Rozen stared at the opponent, calmly voicing his thoughts.
"Speak up. You've been following Nagisa. What's your goal?"
Rozen questioned.
However, the girl not only didn't answer but glared back at Rozen.
"Detestable demon killer's brother...!"
The girl spoke impatiently, mixed with a hint of fear.
This made Rozen narrow his eyes.
Rozen squinted his eyes.
"I'm surprised you recognized me? It seems you're quite knowledgeable about our situation here," Rozen smiled at the female vampire.
"How about joining us for a meal and a chat?" The deeper meaning behind his words needed no consideration.
At least, the vampire understood.
Rozen had no intention of letting her go, thanks to his spatial control magic, she couldn't escape as mist.
With the absolute control over space, Rozen believed no one could escape.
"Please!"
The vampire pleaded.
"Ganglot!"
With her call, magic surged through her body, mixed with blood. The blood turned into mist, gradually forming a monstrous creature – a three-headed hellhound with flaming jaws.
"Roar!"
The three heads roared, unleashing a magical force that heated the air around.
"Beast vassal...!?" Kojou was astonished.
"Releasing a beast vassal on the streets?"
Nagisa was equally alarmed. "Summoning a beast vassal in broad daylight?"
"Dung-dung-dung-dung!"
The magic registration on the vampire's wrist flashed a warning, triggering alarms.
Despite having the rights of ordinary citizens in the demon sanctuary, the registration had sensors and communication devices. Using magic in public, let alone summoning a beast vassal, would lead to arrest and interrogation.
Yet, the vampire, disregarding all this, summoned the beast vassal, indicating she considered Rozen a formidable enemy.
"Roar!"
The summoned three-headed hellhound growled at Rozen, spewing magma-like flames that scorched the ground.
This level of power is definitely beyond what an ordinary vampire can possess.
"An old generation or pureblood..." Rozen immediately made this judgment.
Though not on the level of Liana, the vampire undeniably had strength comparable to an ancient or pureblood vampire.
"Nichiyo!"
"Nichiyo-kun!"
Kojou and Nagisa simultaneously called out to Rozen. Facing a vampire's beast vassal, as ordinary citizens, fear was inevitable for them.
Rozen protected the brother and sister duo behind him.
"Interesting."
Gazing at the colossal three-headed hellhound, Rozen smiled.
"Come to think of it, I've never fought a vampire's beast vassal before."
Rozen murmured without any fear, considering the beast vassal, renowned as the greatest threat among various magical creatures.
"Let me see what threat a vampire's beast vassal can pose to me."
Upon hearing this, the vampire was suddenly provoked.
"Don't... underestimate me!"
Shouting, the vampire unleashed the power of her beast vassal. The three-headed hellhound spewed flames from its mouths, converging into a rolling red wave, covering the direction where Rozen stood.
"————!"
Behind Rozen, whether it was Kojou or Nagisa, an inaudible scream or shriek escaped. In this situation, an invisible barrier, adorned with intricate patterns and magical formations, suddenly appeared, blocking the flames. The flames split and rushed to both sides of the barrier, grazing Rozen and the others, surging towards the rear.
The flames scorched the ground, evaporated the air, and exploded on the doors of a restaurant. However, Rozen and the others remained completely unharmed under the protection of the invisible barrier.
Vous aimerez peut-être aussi
Commentaire de paragraphe
La fonction de commentaire de paragraphe est maintenant disponible sur le Web ! Déplacez la souris sur n’importe quel paragraphe et cliquez sur l’icône pour ajouter votre commentaire.
De plus, vous pouvez toujours l’activer/désactiver dans les paramètres.
OK