This was the outskirts of a residential city, a place where foot traffic was sparse. It was filled with houses that seemed abandoned, either slated for demolition or uninhabited, giving it an air of desolation. Normally, people see these places, but unconsciously they disappear from their memories as if they had never existed.
In one of these abandoned rooms, there was a presence that shouldn't have been there.
Within the darkness, there stood a silver-haired figure with cold, piercing eyes. This was the magician who had launched an assault on Yuusuke's home early in the morning. She moved through the room as if searching for something, and suddenly, she halted in her tracks.
She sensed a presence behind her.
A warm sensation and the sensation of breath brushed against her neck, and an unusually long tongue, one that couldn't possibly belong to a human, extended before her eyes.
Even so, she remained completely still. Perhaps it was because she knew something about the entity or knew what it was, that she didn't move.
In the darkness, the tongue slowly writhed, licking the woman's cheek before splitting vertically from the center.
Then, from that distorted mouth, an eerie voice emerged.
"Hmm, why has a defeated warrior returned, for what purpose?"
"I've returned only to report. This battle was merely to assess the enemy's strength."
"I see. Words can be deceiving."
The tongue quivered mockingly.
While observing this, the woman responded with a stern voice.
"Among the enemy's forces, I encountered not only the Guardian but also another formidable warrior. Clad in full armor, on par with the Guardian. Additionally, there was a civilian man who, during the battle, vanished. Currently, with me alone, it will be difficult to overcome both of them and kill the Key."
"...Hmm, that's strange. There was no information about Guardian being in this area. Or perhaps they are a stray whose key was killed?"
Upon saying that, the tongue let out a stifled laugh.
"Just like you."
The woman replied with a determined tone.
"Yunea is not dead yet."
"Isn't it the same thing? She's within my grasp. Now that you've become my puppet, your situation has become even worse."
The tongue laughed again.
The woman understood it as well. Just because she wasn't dead, her situation was already a dead-end.
Still, she couldn't give up. She had immersed herself in the muck, clung to her divine purpose, and still, there was something she couldn't let go of.
"Okay. Then as planned, you will kill the Gun Guardian. I will take care of the armored individual."
"...I understand."
"Very well. If I get my hands on the Key again, a new force could become my plaything."
The tongue laughed. It seemed genuinely delighted, mocking the fragility and foolishness of humans.
"Now, do your best, Guardian of humanity, the pure Silver Spear Maiden. So that your sister may rest in peace. You wouldn't want to turn that cute face of hers into something grotesque, would you?"
At those words, the woman clenched her teeth in silence.
The demon bestowed with the title of "Senai (Chaos)" seemed to thoroughly enjoy even this aspect of the situation.
A puppet has no right to refuse.
* * *
When we returned home, the room had returned to its original state. Not a single shard of glass was on the floor, and even the dishes that should have been shattered and scattered were neatly restored. Although it didn't recreate the meal we had, it was still impressive.
Japanese magicians sure are something. This is magic, right?
Honestly, I had been worried about security deposits and compensation, so this was a huge relief.
By the way, I had already explained the situation to Kagami-san. I had hesitated to reveal that the Guardians had turned against us, as it could damage their overall image, but I decided to explain it thoroughly to avoid any future misunderstandings. However, since we didn't have a complete grasp of the situation ourselves, I refrained from making any unfounded speculations. Kagami-san mentioned that she would station magicians around the school and our neighborhood for some time, reducing the likelihood of a surprise attack.
But nothing happened during that night, and now it's the next day.
"Alright, Lisha, let's head to school."
"Understood, Yuusuke-san."
Whether there were enemies or not, a student's primary duty is to study. After transitioning from being a Hero to a university student, my battlefield became the classroom, and, to be honest, I was at a disadvantage in this situation compared to fighting demons.
Failing a year would result in my mother turning into the demon lord. It would mark the outbreak of the First Yamamoto War.
"Alright then, I'll take care of surveillance around the school."
Kanami went on a separate mission from us. Typically, with me around, there was no need for additional protection for Lisha, so we were given the freedom to move as we pleased.
This might not be the best time to be attending school, but if our location was compromised, it's likely that the university was too. Hostages, disruption, and reasons to target the university were all valid concerns.
So that's why we came to school, but...
"Well, for that reason, the work 'Ukigumo (1889)' marks the beginning of modern novels——"
The professor hypnotizes us as usual, Matsuda dozing off in the neighboring seat, and the obvious attention focused on us.
Smartphones, assignments from other subjects, and a few diligent students who were actually paying attention to the lecture. Yet none of these students could concentrate completely. Numerous furtive glances were directed at me——or rather, at Lisha.
Well, it was only natural. In an ordinary humanities university, the sight of an otherworldly beauty sitting there was bound to be distracting. Matsuda and Souji, whom I usually met, were one thing, but other students, especially the guys, must be feeling uneasy.
However, the person in question paid no attention to those stares and listened to the professor's lecture with genuine interest.
She was probably the most diligent student in the room right now.
I doubt the professor ever imagined that an otherworlder would be studying the history of literature. But there were no hostile glares, so there was nothing to worry about. I'm pretty sure I would stare at a beautiful girl with a tight-fitting pants if they suddenly came to the lecture.
Leaving Lisha to her own devices, I pondered our next steps.
Our assailants were demon with a title "Senai (Chaos)" and a spear-wielding Guardian. While I hadn't fought against a "Senai (Chaos)" title holder before, according to Kanami, they seemed adept at luring the attackers. Given that the Guardian had launched the initial attack, it was possible that their direct combat abilities weren't particularly high. They might either put the Guardian in the front and have the demons serve as support or employ luring techniques to disrupt our defenses and allow the Guardian to break through.
It was frustrating that we had no choice but to take a defensive stance.
As I was lost in thought, someone tugged at my sleeve.
"Yuusuke-san, Yuusuke-san."
"Hmm, what's up?"
"What kind of story is this that he's talking about?"
"Ah, yeah, you're right."
Even if this girl was attentively listening to the conversation, whether she understood it or not was another issue entirely.
"In simple terms, it's a story about why literature has become what it is today... probably."
"Literature?"
Lisha displayed a hint of thoughtfulness before tilting her head.
"Are you aiming to be a writer, Yuusuke-san? Or perhaps a librarian?"
"That's a difficult question."
"Is it difficult?"
She asked, looking genuinely curious.
Lisha, the naturally curious and enigmatic Saint, seemed to find the idea of pondering life truly intriguing. In Asteris, people typically only learned the skills and knowledge required for their occupation. It was a luxury to be able to study various subjects and broaden their options, and only a handful of people were granted that privilege. There was no concept of a "sabbatical (a rest or break from work)" in Asteris.
"Well, I guess, in a way, while I'm here, I'm thinking about life."
"About life..."
Lisha's gaze shifted from me to Matsuda, who was peacefully snoozing in the seat next to me. His blissful sleeping face was a far cry from the philosophical contemplation of life.
This guy is truly detrimental to moral education. He's the kind of youkai you shouldn't show to young children.
I gently turned Matsuda's head in the opposite direction.
"By the way, Lisha, do you have any dreams?"
The question popped out of my mouth without much thought.
Lisha looked puzzled for a moment, then replied matter-of-factly.
"After the God-Demon War is over, I will return to the church."
"Ah, I see... that makes sense."
"Yes, so being able to come to school like this is a lot of fun for me."
I responded with a vague smile to her sparkling smile.
That's right. Even now, Lisha is a Saint. Her authority and importance sometimes even surpass that of a nation's king.
The primary responsibility of a beloved child of God was to dedicate their life to prayer within the church.
While there was a unique Saint who fought alongside me in the God-Demon War, she was an exceptional individual among Saints, and it was a unique situation. Even that eccentric and unconventional individual always made a point to visit the church when she entered the city.
There was no need to ponder the devout Lisha's future.
"...I see."
I had no right to meddle in other people's futures, especially when it came to the people of Asteris. Despite Lisha's bright and cheerful demeanor, my heart felt clouded, and I let out a sigh as if to release those feelings.
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