Chapter 343: An Unexpected Guest
The first assignment was executed with great success, almost perfect.
Apart from the initial casualties, there were basically no further losses.
But this was only the beginning.
Immediately afterward, Mahiro received another task and hurried to the scene of the incident.
For the entire following week, similar attacks occurred all over Itogami Island, like a premeditated vampire uprising.
It was unclear what Natsuki Minamiya was busy with, but perhaps she saw him as free labor, as she directly handed over all the tasks to him without lifting a finger.
He personally visited almost every corner of Itogami Island.
As a result, he had no time to report to school throughout the week.
Seven days later, in the evening, the lingering glow of the setting sun illuminated the streets of Itogami Island.
After suppressing the last uprising, Mahiro, dragging his slightly weary body, returned to Natsuki Minamiya's apartment with Tokoyogi Aya.
After all, Aya still couldn't be more than a kilometer away from him.
However, after spending this week together, he felt the distance between him and Aya had narrowed a bit further.
Previously, Aya had been unwilling to get close to him and would recoil at even a hug, but after being bound by the Laeding several times, she seemed to have grown accustomed to his embrace.
Upon returning to the apartment, Mahiro threw himself onto the soft sofa.
Natsuki Minamiya, however, acted like a pampered young lady, crossing her legs beneath her black gothic dress as she elegantly sipped her black tea.
The pristine lace trim traced alluring arcs with her leisurely leg movements.
"How does it feel being a Demon Hunter?"
"Not great."
Mahiro buried his head in the sofa cushion and replied gloomily, "I feel like you tricked me. Is Itogami Island's public security really this bad?"
Natsuki Minamiya merely smiled without answering.
Because she didn't know how to explain it. Before Mahiro arrived, Itogami Island's public security had always been quite good. Although there were occasional incidents involving one or two demons causing trouble, there had never been such a high frequency.
She suspected someone was secretly stirring up trouble.
Currently, the vampires being hunted were mostly D-Type from the Warring King's Domain and T-Type from the Chaos Zone, and almost all of them were demons who had recently registered.
However, not a single G-Type vampire from the Extinction Dynasty had been seen so far.
If there wasn't something fishy going on, she certainly wouldn't believe it.
Tap tap tap
Just then, the door opened, and Avrora and Est, two little lolis, came running out with their short legs pattering.
"M-Mahiro, I... I demand that you remove the restraining rivets for me."
"...Mahiro, me too."
The voices of Avrora and Est, the two little ones, reached his ears.
Mahiro turned his head from the pillow to see the two little lolis standing timidly in front of the sofa, their eyes filled with anticipation. Their clothes were also twisted and disheveled, looking particularly messy.
They were also dragging their casual wear in their hands.
"Sigh..."
Even though either of these two could easily be old enough to be anyone's ancestor, Mahiro still sat up from the sofa and patiently helped them remove their school uniforms.
The so-called "removing the shackles' rivets" or "hammering in the shackles' rivets" referred to helping her take off or put on clothes.
Oddly enough, since Avrora had awakened, she lacked common sense in many matters, even when it came to dressing and undressing—it was something he had to teach her step by step.
However, Avrora was quite clever. At first, she genuinely didn't know how to take off her clothes, but after learning, she would still deliberately mess up her clothes in the evening, pretending to need his help.
Over time, this became Avrora's way of acting spoiled toward him.
Though it was a bit clumsy.
As for Est.
It was simply jealousy—she also wanted this special kind of favor, so she imitated it earnestly.
What two adorable and amusing little girls.
Fortunately, there was still someone who could put one's mind at ease—Yuuma Tokoyogi.
Not only did she excel academically and have a strong ability to learn, but she also never caused any worries in daily life.
If there was one flaw, it was that she was a bit clingy, always barging in while he was bathing to help scrub his back.
She even took on household chores and dishwashing duties.
In contrast, Tokoyogi Aya was like a freeloader, doing nothing all day.
When she returned home, she would shut herself in her room and not come out, only appearing for meals and washing up—her routine was hardly any different from when she was in prison.
Moreover, she was always holding a strange book to read, though no one knew what was so captivating about it.
"Is helping two little girls undress really that fun? Worth your endless enthusiasm?"
Natsuki Minamiya watched as Mahiro patiently helped the two lolis dress and undress, meticulously fastening each button one by one, seemingly quite adept at such tasks. She couldn't help but speak up in a somewhat unusual tone.
"What's wrong? Is Natsuki-chan jealous? If Natsuki-chan needs help, I can assist you too."
"Hmph, who needs it, you pervert!"
Natsuki Minamiya crossed her arms, turned her head away, and snorted coldly. "I'm just reminding you not to get any weird ideas, or I'll be the first to throw you into prison!"
"Yes, yes, yes."
Mahiro responded casually.
Conversations like this had happened countless times, almost daily.
He was already used to it.
Developing inappropriate thoughts about two little girls?
That naturally didn't exist.
With so many children in Arcadia, of all shapes and sizes, and the oldest already entering maidenhood, when had he ever harbored inappropriate thoughts?
Just kidding.
He did like women, but he wasn't a lolicon—unless the person he liked happened to be a loli.
After helping the two little ones change clothes, they happily dashed back to their rooms.
Mahiro also stood up and headed to the kitchen, opening the fridge to take out ingredients and start preparing dinner for the evening.
Ever since moving in, after accidentally revealing his cooking skills, the task of preparing dinner had completely fallen on him, with excuses like "paying rent with meals."
This wasn't a big deal for him, as he had to eat anyway—it was just a matter of feeding a few more mouths.
After dinner, the sky outside had completely darkened.
As Mahiro finished his bath and was about to head back to his room to sleep, Natsuki Minamiya suddenly tossed a set of clothes at him.
"What's this?" Mahiro caught the clothes, looking puzzled.
"You're reporting to school tomorrow. Your position has already been arranged. That's the uniform prepared for you."
"Is that so? Well, thanks then~"
Perhaps due to the accumulated fatigue lately, Mahiro didn't carefully examine the style of the clothes in his hands. He simply walked into his room, tossed them onto a chair, and plunged into the large bed, falling into a deep sleep.
Unbeknownst to him, a pair of eyes outside the window was watching from afar.
Her eyes were a deep, lake-like emerald green.
Against the backdrop of the brilliant night sky and the bright moonlight stood a girl with flowing light-green hair and thin clothing.
Yet the aura she exuded was like that of a black panther, with a face that was both charming and resolute.
As she gazed from afar at the sleeping figure inside the apartment, she couldn't help but part her thin lips, the corners of her mouth curling upward to reveal adorable fangs.
"...Giada Kukulcan, the 'Chaos Bride.'"
Suddenly appearing not far behind the girl, Natsuki Minamiya, holding a folding fan, called out her name.
Indeed, the girl's true identity was none other than the legendary "Chaos Bride"—the Third Progenitor who ruled the Night Empire of the "Chaos Zone," spanning the continents of North and South America.
"What are you doing here? Are you planning to openly violate the Holy Ground Treaty?" Natsuki Minamiya frowned, her voice low and questioning.
The surrounding space faintly twisted and stirred, as if ready to attack at any moment.
"My, my, I didn't expect to be discovered."
Showing no sign of embarrassment at being caught, the girl clasped her hands behind her back and revealed a bright, friendly smile.
"You're still as sharp as ever, Witch of the Void, Natsuki Minamiya. But please don't pin such a big accusation on me—I can't bear it. Also, I don't like such formal titles. Just call me Giada."
"Do you have nothing to say about the recent disturbances on Itogami Island? Many of them involve T-types from your Chaos Zone."
"But aren't there also many from the 'Lost Warlord' among them...? Alright, alright."
Originally, this one of the strongest and oldest Vampires had intended to brush it off with a laugh, but under Natsuki Minamiya's piercing gaze, she abandoned the idea and confessed honestly:
"To be frank, I had no knowledge of this matter. It's just that some restless individuals under my command heard that the Twelfth Prototype had appeared on Itogami Island, so they rushed here eagerly."
"Is that all?"
Clearly, Natsuki was not entirely convinced by the Third Progenitor's words.
In response, Giada simply nodded slightly.
"That's all. I'm just a little interested in that little one who managed to escape from your Prison Barrier."
As she spoke, the girl turned around again, her gaze once more falling on the sleeping Mahiro in the distant apartment.
"Who leaked the information to you? Meiga Itogami?"
Natsuki Minamiya narrowed her eyes slightly, forming a dangerous arc.
Giada, however, smiled gracefully and said:
"That's not important. What matters is that this little one will participate in the Feast of the Blazing Glory. I am very, very much looking forward to this unparalleled feast."
"By the way, let me tell you a secret—Ki Juranbarada seems to be quite invested in this feast as well."
"What did you say...?"
Hearing that name, Natsuki Minamiya's pupils trembled slightly.
The so-called Ki Juranbarada referred to none other than the ruler of the Warlord's Dominion, the dominator of Europe, the First Progenitor who had pushed for the "Holy Ground Treaty"—the Lost Warlord!
"Don't tell me that guy is going to descend in person?!"
"Well, who knows~ Tonight's chat was quite pleasant. Until next time, dear Miss Natsuki Minamiya."
"Wait!"
Before Natsuki Minamiya could even attempt to stop her, the girl who had been standing before her just moments ago had vanished without a trace, leaving not a single clue behind.
It wasn't some kind of spatial movement technique but the pinnacle of martial arts—pure speed.
An extreme speed that even the Laeding couldn't capture.
But that wasn't what Natsuki Minamiya was concerned about.
"Damn it, just how much trouble have you stirred up?"
Looking at Mahiro, still sound asleep in the apartment, Natsuki Minamiya took a deep breath to calm her agitated emotions.
...
The next morning.
Mahiro's biological clock was as punctual as ever. As soon as the sky began to lighten, he got up to wash and prepare for the day.
However, when he put on the clothes Natsuki Minamiya had brought over the previous night, something felt off.
The style wasn't very formal—it didn't quite resemble something a teacher would wear. Even his original clothes couldn't compare to this.
But then he thought about Natsuki Minamiya and Sasasaki Misaki's attire and felt relieved.
Since neither of these teachers dressed like typical teachers, he didn't dwell on it further.
After changing into the uniform, he took the three little ones and Aya, following Natsuki-chan as they vanished in an instant.
Upon arriving at the academy, Yuuma waved her hand, saying, "Come back soon, Father."
Avrora and Est walked with little Yuuma toward the middle school division.
Aya, meanwhile, was left behind in the library.
Returning once again to the familiar academy and the familiar library, a flicker of complex emotions passed through Aya's eyes.
As she gently stroked the slightly worn books on the shelves, she seemed to recall something, but in the end, she let out a faint sigh.
Then, she returned to her usual aloof and proud Witch demeanor.
Meanwhile, Mahiro closely followed Natsuki Minamiya to the high school division, entering the school building and stopping in front of a classroom.
Looking up, he saw a sign on the door labeled "Class 1-A."
Natsuki-chan instructed him to wait outside the classroom while she went inside first.
For some reason, this scene felt a bit strange, but he didn't think too much about it.
It wasn't until he noticed several people in the hallway wearing the same uniform as him that his heart skipped a beat.
Oh no, he'd been tricked by Natsuki Minamiya!
Because the few people who stopped to look at him, curiously sizing him up, were without exception all students!
Just then, the classroom door opened again, and Natsuki Minamiya called out his name.
Instinctively, he stepped into the classroom. The first thing that caught his eye was the youthful faces of over thirty students, arranged in four groups within the room.
Without exception, the boys in the classroom were wearing the same uniform as him.
On the podium, Natsuki-chan seemed to be standing on a chair, turning her head slightly to meet his gaze.
Seeing this scene, Mahiro smiled.
He smiled from the bottom of his heart.
The smile was also exceptionally radiant.
"..."
The moment Mahiro stepped into the classroom, the eyes of everyone in the room fell upon him. Their eyes widened in astonishment, and without exception, they gasped in surprise.
His exquisitely sculpted features, his handsome and refined appearance, and his artificially perfect face brought an unprecedented impact to their young minds.
Not to mention the bright, sunny smile he wore, which felt like a gentle May breeze blowing into the hearts of many young girls.
"It's true, the new transfer student… he's so handsome," the girls squealed, while the boys muttered that Mahiro was just a pretty boy.
And that smile seemed a bit too mature for his age, a little too grown-up.
They whispered among themselves, speculating that he might be a repeat student or something similar.
"This is the newly introduced transfer student, Yotsuba Mahiro. From now on, please take good care of him."
While the students were expressing their amazement, Natsuki Minamiya announced his identity with an appropriate smile.
Just as I thought…
The moment he stepped into the classroom, he knew that woman, Natsuki Minamiya, was up to no good!
He even ignored the many gazes and exclamations from below the podium, glaring at Natsuki Minamiya with dead-fish eyes to vent his frustration.
However, Natsuki Minamiya acted as if she hadn't noticed and proceeded to the next step.
"Mahiro-kun, please choose any empty seat to sit in. From now on, I will be your teacher, so please respectfully address me as Natsuki-sensei."
She even found all of this perfectly natural, standing on her tiptoes to pat Mahiro on the head.
"Natsuki Minamiya, are you messing with me?!"
Mahiro gritted his teeth and whispered angrily.
He was genuinely angry—this was the first time he had been played like this!
Most importantly, his identity was that of a Demon Hunter, and his role at the school was supposed to be part-time!
If he had to act as a Demon Hunter while being a student, wouldn't that count as child labor?!
"Hehe..."
Observing Mahiro from a distance through magic, Aya couldn't help but chuckle. A smile bloomed on her usually cold and beautiful face like a hundred flowers blossoming.
Though it lasted only a moment, it was incredibly beautiful.
"Hmph, I told you to trust Natsuki Minamiya, and now you're suffering the consequences."
"Mahiro-kun, please mind your language. Also, from now on, you must study diligently. The final exams are just over a month away, and if you fail, be careful—you might have to repeat the grade," Natsuki Minamiya said with an unperturbed smile.
"Can you tell me how I've offended you?"
He suppressed his temper and asked as calmly and quietly as possible.
However, Natsuki Minamiya remained unmoved, not even bothering to offer a single word of explanation. She simply continued to smile gently at him.
In the end, he had no choice but to give up.
"Fine, you win! Don't worry about me repeating the grade—my grades are pretty good. But as for you, Natsuki-chan, I wonder if you can even teach properly? The blackboard is so high up. It must be quite a hassle for Natsuki-chan to write on it while moving the chair back and forth, right?"
Crack!
The folding fan in Natsuki Minamiya's hand suddenly emitted a crisp sound, its frame slightly deformed from the force of her grip.
As the saying goes, strike the snake at its vital point—his words precisely hit the sore spot in her heart, instantly igniting her fury. The surrounding classmates felt their bodies trembling.
The students below the podium had no idea what this new transfer student had said to Natsuki-chan, only sensing that today's Natsuki-chan seemed a little different from usual.
Mahiro didn't give Natsuki a chance to get angry. He simply turned around and walked straight to the empty seat by the window at the back of the classroom, taking his place.
That was the king's homeland.
"Class begins now…"
Natsuki slammed the lectern with a thunderous sound, making it feel truly terrifying.
But Mahiro showed no intention of paying attention. Propping his chin on one hand, he gazed out the window, feeling the salty sea breeze blowing against his face.
Even his thoughts seemed to drift away to who knows where.
Who would have thought that after finally shedding his student identity in the Irregular at Magic High School world, he'd end up becoming a student again in the Strike the Blood world.
But it didn't matter. With the Banquet of the Blazing Lights still some time away, passing the time as a student wasn't so bad. It also gave him a chance to solidify his power of constructing so-called Beast Vassals using magical energy.
This was something he had analyzed and replicated from those Vampires, though summoning them didn't grant them life like those Vampires' creations.
Beyond that, what concerned him most was this: after disrupting the original storyline, taking Avrora for himself, and arbitrarily reviving the siblings Akatsuki Kojou and Nagisa Akatsuki, would they still come to Itogami Island?
Probably not, right?