Suddenly, a voice rang out, startling Shichen so much that he almost jumped.
He immediately restrained his smile and turned toward where the voice came from.
All he saw in mid-air was Natsuki Minamiya, holding a purple-black parasol, standing on a magic circle beneath her feet, looking at him calmly.
"Na…Natsuki-chan, why are you here?"
In an instant, the surging magical energy around Shichen subsided, and the imposing aura he had just moments ago vanished.
He was like a child caught misbehaving by his parents—in fact, that was more or less the situation.
"Humph. Why do you think I'm here?" Natsuki Minamiya snorted coldly, asking a question in return.
"Uh…here to pick me up so we can go home?" Shichen tried joking to ease the tension.
Natsuki showed no sign of accommodating him. "What, you planning to head home at noon?"
"Well… Don't you have work, Natsuki-chan?" Shichen gave up joking.
"Hmph, I've finished it." Natsuki said with arms folded.
"Got it…"
"Alright, out with it—what's with that huge surge of magical power earlier? Why do you suddenly have magic?" Natsuki cut straight to the point.
"I absorbed the Wiseman's Blood, so I gained magic." Shichen did not intend to hide anything; he answered honestly.
"Wiseman's Blood? You mean that Wiseman's Blood?" Natsuki was a bit incredulous.
She obviously knew about the Wiseman's Blood and its effects.
"Yes, that one," Shichen nodded.
"And why would Wiseman's Blood be here?"
"You'd have to ask her." Shichen motioned at Nina on his shoulder.
"Master… who is she?" Nina asked hesitantly.
Not knowing Natsuki's identity, Nina wasn't sure how to address her. After all, Shichen had threatened to absorb her at any moment, so she had to tread carefully. If she used the wrong attitude, who knew what trouble might ensue?
She already knew Shichen was supposedly a True Ancestor—the kind of vampire who'd need the blood of a pure maiden? What if this girl was to his liking…?
"Oh? You're already calling him 'Master'? I only took my eyes off you for a morning, and you've accomplished so much?" Natsuki's tone grew colder, her expression suddenly dangerous.
"Ahem, Natsuki-chan, don't rush to get jealous."
"Who's jealous!"
"Why not hear Nina's explanation first?"
"Nina?" Natsuki repeated.
"Nina, consider Natsuki-chan as me and explain everything to her."
"Treat her like you, Master? Alright…"
Nina stood up on Shichen's shoulder, gave Natsuki a bow, and began speaking. "Well…Master… She is…?"
"Don't call me 'Master.'" Natsuki frowned.
"But Master told me…"
"Never mind. It's just a form of address," Shichen said, unconcerned.
"I see… I'll continue, then."
"Go ahead." Natsuki nodded.
"All right," Nina said. "I am Nina Adelard, an alchemist."
"Nina Adelard?" Natsuki furrowed her brow. "The alchemist from two centuries ago? The descendant of the mysterious hermeticist Hermes Trismegistus? Overseer of the Wiseman?"
"Ma…ma'am, you know me? Wait, so it's been more than two hundred years?"
"Indeed, if you are that Nina Adelard, it's been over two hundred years." Natsuki nodded.
"I see." Nina said.
Natsuki turned to Shichen. "And how exactly did you find her?"
"Don't rush. Let her finish explaining," Shichen replied.
"Master, let me explain," Nina said.
"…Stop calling me Master," Natsuki said.
"R-right. As I was saying, I once sacrificed myself to seal the Wiseman and prevent its resurrection. This is the place that sealed the Wiseman's Blood. Because Master's appearance triggered the seal, I awakened, and now—using a fraction of the Wiseman's Blood—I've formed a body."
"So, the rest of the Wiseman's Blood you've absorbed?" Natsuki looked at Shichen.
"Pretty much," Shichen said casually.
"Meaning the Wiseman can no longer resurrect?"
"Likely." Shichen was unconcerned, his current confidence soaring.
"Seems so," Nina responded, belatedly realizing the same. Since Shichen had absorbed all the Wiseman's Blood, the Wiseman had no chance to revive. In that sense, Nina was free.
"I'm asking you—did you come here specifically for the Wiseman's Blood?" Natsuki stared at Shichen, tone grim.
"Not at all," Shichen answered sincerely, meeting her eyes head-on. "My coming to Itogami Island was an accident. I only discovered the Wiseman's Blood by chance and decided to absorb it."
"Is that so? Alright, I'll trust you for now," Natsuki said, exhaling a cold snort.
"Natsuki-chan…" Shichen offered her a soft smile.
"Hmph! Don't get ahead of yourself. People have already noticed what you did." Natsuki glared at him. "That huge surge of magic just now drew a lot of attention. Quite a few folks will be uneasy. If trouble finds you, I might not be able to keep you under my roof."
"What do I do, then?"
"What else can you do? Just act as usual. Whoever has the ability to detect you will figure it out no matter what, and whoever can't detect you won't matter if you hide it or not."
"True…"
"And besides, you probably aren't afraid of any busybodies now, right? Your power's returned?"
"Not quite." Shichen shrugged.
"Hmm?" Natsuki arched an eyebrow.
"I don't have any Familiars yet—I've just got magic, but I can't even do spells," Shichen admitted honestly.
At least for the time being. He'd had no magic before, but Flamme had taught him a bit. The question was whether that magic knowledge carried over.
"I see, no Familiars… Are you planning to go around draining virgins' blood to awaken them?" Natsuki asked.
"No."
He hadn't even come to that point. His top priority now was to obtain Familiars. Those were beasts from another dimension summoned by a True Ancestor's magic. Could a fragment of divinity help? He'd have to see.
"That's good," Natsuki answered. "I just don't want to see you prowling around for blood… Also, what do you even need Familiars for? Can't you just quietly remain a teacher?"
"I can't. The Fourth Primogenitor is about to awaken. What if I get caught up in it?"
"What did you say?" Natsuki fixed him with a sharp stare. "You're sure?"
"Yep. The Blazing Banquet will start soon, right here on Itogami Island," Shichen said frankly.
No point concealing it. He'd hinted about the Fourth Primogenitor before anyway, and now was a good time to prepare her.
"…" Natsuki bit her lip, her face dark.
"That's why I need some self-defense. I really like Itogami Island and our home, so I don't want anything to happen."
"Our home…" Natsuki murmured, briefly dazed.
Because of Shichen's words, she found herself caring more about her "home." She hadn't felt that way before, but now that he said it, it really sank in.
"Listen, I swear I'm telling the truth!" Shichen raised four fingers solemnly.
"Alright, so what do you need from me? Can I help you somehow?" Natsuki looked at him, expression complicated.
"Natsuki-chan, trust me, I won't do anything that puts you in a tough spot."
"So what do you want, exactly?"
"Ahem… Could you teach me your Space Manipulation Magic?" he asked, sounding a bit sheepish.
"…You want to learn Space Manipulation?" Natsuki asked, a bit surprised.
"Can't I? I'm your otouto—learning from my dear neesan is only natural, right?"
"Now you remember I'm your sister?"
"That's only for show outside," Shichen teased, smiling.
"…Fine, I'll teach you. But whether you can learn it is up to you."
"No problem!"
"In that case, let's head back to school first, and tonight I'll teach you."
"Great! Nina, let's go."
"Yes, Master." Nina, perched on his shoulder, felt overwhelmed.
She had just overheard something big, but she'd think about it later. For now, listening obediently to her Master would ensure her freedom. Since Master didn't absorb her just now, he probably wouldn't do anything else…
But he's a vampire… Could he have certain desires for me?
Well…maybe that wouldn't be so bad.
~~~
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