"So this is the information you wanted to give me? Since he came to me, I'm well aware of his fate." Touko Aozaki finally pulled out the cigarette she had been longing for, lit it, and even exhaled a hint of emotion as she smoked while facing Takashi Kuroda.
Of course, she didn't blow the smoke directly at him.
"The failure at the apartment was just a setback for him, not the end. He's already found a replacement. And unfortunately, that replacement is currently in that room." Takashi Kuroda pointed toward the room and spoke.
"You mean... that child, Ryougi? Come to think of it, from the very beginning, you claimed you could give the Ryougi family an all-knowing, all-powerful being. What you rely on isn't just your unique ability, is it?" Touko narrowed her eyes slightly, exhaling a light puff of smoke.
"Mmm, actually, that child is special. If the Mage's Association were to learn just how special she is, it would likely stir up quite a storm. That's also why Araya Souren has his eyes on her," Takashi Kuroda said.
"Special? How special?" Touko couldn't immediately see what made Ryougi so unique, but after Takashi's words, she was beginning to form a vague guess.
"It's normal not to notice. Very few can discern that child's true nature. But to avoid causing too much trouble, allow me to speak in riddles for now. In any case, Araya Souren has gone through quite a bit of planning and scheming to obtain her, and now... well, you get the idea." Takashi chuckled.
"Hmph, now that you've snatched her away, given that guy's personality, he'll probably come after you soon. So... what's the value of this information to me? Don't tell me you expect me to deal with Araya Souren for you?"
"Do I look like the kind of person who tries to get something for nothing?" Takashi spread his hands and smiled.
"Like hell you don't," Touko muttered inwardly before fixing her gaze on Takashi. "So, what exactly do you want?"
"The information stands as is. But I also have a little show I'd like to invite you to." Takashi stood up. "Later, I'll take Ryougi for a walk around the vicinity of the Ogawa Apartments, far from your workshop. You follow us secretly—just make sure you aren't spotted."
"You plan to deal with Araya Souren yourself?" Touko raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. So, is this little invitation worth the price?" Takashi grinned.
"Deal." At this point, Touko's greatest interest was uncovering the true nature and abilities of the man before her. Getting to see him in action would be the best opportunity yet.
"You've been dragging me around in circles this whole time. What exactly are you trying to do?" Ryougi, her small hand held by Takashi, had been led through the alleyways over and over again, and her patience was wearing thin.
He had deliberately left Sakura Matou behind, bringing only her out for this so-called "exercise." What kind of exercise involved slow, meandering walks like this?
"You're not treating me like some kind of pet you're taking for a stroll, are you?" Ryougi's blunt remark nearly made Takashi choke on his water.
"Cough, cough... What kind of nonsense are you spouting?" What kind of madness was this? Treating the Root-connected Ryougi as a pet to parade around? The thought was... actually kind of thrilling.
Takashi quickly shook off the dangerous idea and turned to his System. "Araya Souren is way too patient. He still hasn't shown himself? And System, you're sure you detected traces of him at the Ryougi residence earlier?"
"Absolutely. The System guarantees that traces of Araya Souren were indeed found. Therefore, as long as the host doesn't reveal his full strength and takes Ryougi away, he will definitely lure that guy out. Right now, Araya Souren is probably setting something up. After all, his magecraft isn't particularly outstanding—his true expertise lies in bounded fields. He might be busy preparing one right now."
"Fine. In that case, System, use that random active skill card I drew earlier. Let's see what we get."
Ding—Skill draw in progress... Ding! Draw complete~ Congratulations, Host has obtained the skill: Flash Step - Flash Movement (Nanaya Assassination Arts).
A flood of information poured into Takashi's mind, and in an instant, he had mastered the technique and its applications. "Huh? No need to level it up? It's already maxed out?" He was surprised to find the skill already at its peak.
"Compared to the host's other abilities, this skill is relatively weaker. The amount of Villain Points required to upgrade it isn't much, so reaching max level in one go is normal," the System explained.
"Fair enough. Before, I was just brute-forcing things. Now I at least have a flashy skill to work with. But Nanaya, huh... Heh, what a coincidence. If a fight breaks out later, I might have to borrow Ryougi's knife... Tch, speak of the devil."
Just as Takashi was discussing with the System, his Spider-Sense tingled—danger was approaching.
He first activated the puppet charm Touko had given him, signaling that the bait had been taken, then drew his Black Keys, channeling energy into them to form dark blades. With a swift swing, he dispersed the incoming magical flames.
"Since when did the Cornelius family resort to underhanded tactics like ambushes? Or should I take this as the Mage's Association's declaration of hostility?" Takashi smirked, shielding Ryougi behind him with his left hand while extinguishing the flames with the three Black Keys in his right.
"A member of the Holy Church's Executors? I never expected to encounter one in such a backwater place. Though, your face is unfamiliar to me." A red-clad man with long golden hair descended gracefully from above, tipping his hat in an elegant greeting. "Cornelius Alba. I bear no hostility toward you or the Holy Church. My flames were merely meant to purge some insignificant pests. I didn't expect to cross paths with you."
"To make amends, would you care to accompany me? I'd like to extend my hospitality." Alba leaned forward slightly in a gentlemanly manner.
"Heh, you don't honestly think I'd be foolish enough to follow a mage into his workshop, do you? If that's all you have to say, I'll take my leave." Without hesitation, Takashi hurled three Black Keys at Alba with terrifying speed, forcing the mage to react in alarm.
"Be forgotten—Darkness!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Rings of flame erupted around Alba, barely deflecting the attack, but the sheer force still left him disheveled.
This enraged the prideful mage. Summoning his black hound familiar and gripping his staff tightly, he began chanting another fire incantation:
"My left hand holds the light, my right hand holds the truth—"
"I am the truth of all things."
"Before me, you—"
"Shall meet your end!"
Magical flames surged once more, coiling like serpents as they spiraled toward Takashi, intent on engulfing him.
"Ryougi, get on. Hold tight." Takashi crouched slightly, and Ryougi, understanding the situation, immediately leapt onto his back, her small legs locking firmly around his waist.
"Flash Step - Mizuki."
In Takashi's eyes, every surface became a viable path. He kicked off the walls, flipped midair, and moved with the eerie grace of a spider—Alba's flames couldn't even graze him.
"Ryougi, lend me your knife." Without waiting for a response, Takashi drew the short practice blade from Ryougi's waist and flipped it into a reverse grip. His gaze locked onto Alba.
"Flash Sheath - Nanaya."
Like an arrow loosed from a bow, Takashi shot forward, faster than even the Black Keys he had thrown earlier. Alba's frantic defenses were full of openings in Takashi's eyes. With a sharp whoosh, droplets of blood arced through the air as Takashi appeared behind Alba.
"GAAAHHH!!! IT HURTS!! IT HURTS SO MUCH!!!" Alba clutched his waist, collapsing to the ground in agony, his earlier elegance utterly shattered.
"Time to end this. Flash Sheath - Mayoi Satsujin."
In an instant, everything around Takashi slowed to a crawl—even his own movement as he leapt toward Alba. His hand rose deliberately, the blade descending in a flash.
Seventeen slashes, each capable of cleaving flesh, passed through Alba's body in the blink of an eye.
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