Chapter 373: You're Acting Just Like a Stalker Girl
Originally, Yuuma intended to call out to Aiba Asagi, at the very least to try and buy some time, then figure out a way to wake Father.
At worst, she could swap her own soul consciousness with Aiba Asagi, thwarting the Black Death Emperor Faction's plan to take Asagi away.
Although that required a lip-to-lip kiss, given the urgency of the situation, there was no time to worry about such details.
But now, she no longer needed to worry.
Because Father had already woken up!
"Who's there?!"
The moment the words fell, the gazes of all the Black Death Emperor Faction members in the classroom fixed on the boy in the corner by the window.
The moment their eyes met, the Beastmen's nerves instantly tensed.
At that moment, their innate beastly intuition warned them—this seemingly ordinary boy was actually dangerous!
Not only them, but even the other students felt a chill run down their spines when they looked at Mahiro.
Only Yuuma knew that this was Mahiro's morning grumpiness acting up.
"..."
Asagi opened her mouth to say something, but Mahiro stopped her, giving her a reassuring look.
Then, he turned his gaze to the Beastmen gathered in the classroom, a cold smile curling at the corners of his lips.
"One, two, three... eleven... I never thought the Black Death Emperor Faction would still be so foolish. It seems the lesson from Gozo Island wasn't enough."
As he spoke, Mahiro stretched heavily.
The Beastmen wanted to speak, but they found their mouths inexplicably unable to open, silenced by the fear rising from deep within their bones.
Only the middle-aged man who had tried to take Asagi away had a radio on his chest that crackled for a moment before Gardos's voice came through again.
"...If I'm not mistaken, you must be the renowned Yotsuba Mahiro, correct?"
"Oh? So someone still recognizes Daddy?" Mahiro's voice was mocking, but he immediately shook his head in denial. "No, no, how could I have a beastly son like you? Isn't that right, Christopher Gardos, the new leader of the Black Death Emperor Faction?"
The radio fell silent, with only the faint sound of heavy breathing audible.
After a moment, Gardos responded with a grave tone:
"Lord Mahiro, although I am the new leader of the Black Death Emperor Faction, I bear no grudge against you. In fact, it was your killing of that fool Golan Hazaroff that allowed me to rise to this position.
I am grateful to you and hold you in high regard.
This matter has nothing to do with you. We merely wish to invite Lady Aiba Asagi as our guest to help us decipher an ancient stone tablet. I ask that you kindly step aside."
Upon hearing these words, all the Black Death Emperor Faction members in the classroom, including those on the other end of the radio, held their breath.
Beastmen were proud, and their leader was even prouder.
Never before had he spoken so humbly to a human.
At this moment, Gardos was also conflicted, because he knew all too well just how troublesome the human before him was.
If Natsuki Minamiya was a Demon Slayer, then Mahiro was a terrifying existence dozens of times more fearsome than a Demon Slayer.
"How about it? Could you possibly..."
"What if I refuse?"
Before Gardos could finish speaking, Mahiro interrupted him, causing Gardos's expression to darken instantly.
"Since you refuse to agree, then we of the Black Death Emperor Faction have no choice but to take Aiba Asagi by force."
Upon hearing this, Mahiro couldn't help but let out a scornful laugh.
"Hah, you really dare to say that... Then come and try, Christoph Gardos. And please wash your neck while you're at it, because I'll be taking your head soon enough!"
"Kill him."
As soon as the words fell, the Black Death Emperor Faction soldiers in the classroom raised their guns and aimed at Mahiro.
Amid the screams of the students in the classroom, just as they were about to pull the triggers, Mahiro snapped his fingers.
Snap!
Immediately, space shattered.
It cracked like glass.
Then, the Beastmen were stunned to find that all the students around them had vanished!
Including their target, Aiba Asagi!
Already clueless about Space Magic, they were now utterly bewildered.
"Damn it!"
As the leader of this operation, the captain reacted first and immediately charged toward Mahiro's position.
Like a wild beast, he abandoned his weapon, dropped to all fours, and lunged at his opponent.
His sharp beastly claws tore through the air with a whistling sound.
Mahiro made no move in response. The Beastman thought this strange human was frozen in fear and attacked even faster.
Until he noticed a strange smile appearing on Mahiro's face.
Sssshh—
A flash of white light suddenly sliced across the charging Beastman's neck, accompanied by the sounds of flesh tearing and bones shattering.
The Beastman, who had been in mid-lunge, seemed to lose control of his body and tumbled forward.
Thud! He crashed into the seats like a bowling ball.
A round Beastman's head rolled to Mahiro's feet.
It was then kicked away, landing perfectly in a trash can.
"Lord Mahiro, please forgive my tardiness. I'm glad you're safe."
"Nu?"
Beside Mahiro, a woman clad in black tactical gear knelt on one knee.
Her lowered head made it impossible to see her face, but the fresh, hot blood staining her high heels made it clear she was the one who had slain the Beastman.
However, she wasn't the only one who had appeared here.
Unnoticed, the space had been enveloped by a shadowy presence.
From all directions, seated or standing, appeared members dressed identically to the kneeling woman, all of them female without exception.
Each of them radiated an overwhelmingly powerful Magical Power.
Strong, purely strong!
Even the Beastmen couldn't help but shrink back in fear.
But the space had been sealed. They had no idea where they were, nor where they could possibly escape to.
"We are the 'Shadow Garden.'"
The one who spoke was Alpha.
She stepped forward with graceful strides, her waist-length golden hair swaying like flowing gold, her ethereal voice captivating enough to enchant all living beings.
"We lurk in the shadows, delivering divine punishment to sinners."
Next to speak was the silver-haired Beta, who stood beside Alpha.
Then came Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta.
A total of seven figures gathered.
"Grant, divine punishment."
As the words were spoken, a pale golden figure dashed out from the other side of the seven.
It was Beatrix.
The woman gripped her sharp blade tightly and, in an instant, appeared before one of the Beastmen. Her sharp heels cracked the ground as if performing a waltz.
She turned and swung her sword.
All in one fluid motion.
Accompanied by a fierce sword wind, the Beastman before her was instantly slain.
Even the other members of the Black Death Emperor Faction nearby had no time to react!
"Kill... kill them!"
"As long as we kill them, we can get out alive!"
Animal instinct drove the Beastmen to seek advantage and avoid harm, urging them to flee this place quickly.
But rationally, they knew all too well that there was no escape.
So now, they had no choice but to fight with their backs against the wall!
As long as they killed these women.
Killed them.
They could survive!
The moment they understood this, the Beastmen revealed their ferocious sides, channeling the maximum Magical Power within their bodies, ready for a desperate struggle.
"How pathetic, how weak."
Gamma watched everything with cold eyes, her gaze filled with disdain and scorn.
Alpha, equally cold-eyed, spoke softly at this moment:
"Delta, deal with them."
"Hehe, leave it to me, Alpha-sama!"
A cruel, hunting smile curled on Delta's lips as she immediately charged toward the cornered Beastmen of the Black Death Emperor Faction.
A bloody feast unfolded within the space.
Unfortunately, everything happening inside the space remained completely undetectable from the outside.
The classmates in the classroom had already begun evacuating one after another. Aiba Asagi, who insisted on staying in the classroom, anxiously waited, her worried gaze repeatedly scanning the now-empty room.
Even with Yuuma and Tsukishima Rin constantly comforting her by her side, the anxiety in her heart did not diminish in the slightest.
She was afraid.
Afraid that something might happen to Mahiro.
After all, in her eyes, Mahiro was just an ordinary student who had been held back for years.
Even knowing he had the identity of a Demon Hunter, how could a human possibly face so many demons alone!
"Fa... Mahiro-kun is back!"
Yuuma sensed the spatial fluctuation and was so overjoyed she nearly called him "Father-sama," thankfully correcting herself in time.
However, Asagi's attention was entirely elsewhere at that moment, so she didn't notice the slip of the tongue.
The moment Mahiro's figure reappeared, she immediately threw herself at him.
"..."
Just after emerging from the closed space, Mahiro felt himself enveloped by something soft and large.
Looking down, it was actually Aiba Asagi!
"Um, Asagi-san? Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
"What's inappropriate about it! You idiot! Why did you have to face so many demons alone, and from that terrifying organization, the Black Death Emperor Faction! What if... what if you got hurt! What if you died! You idiot, idiot, idiot!"
Aiba Asagi tearfully accused Mahiro of his irresponsible actions.
She admitted that in the moment Mahiro spoke up to save her, she thought Mahiro was truly cool.
But if possible, she didn't want Mahiro to step forward at a time like that!
She had already lost her mother and didn't want to lose someone she cared about again!
"Asagi-san, are you perhaps underestimating me a bit too much? I am a Demon Hunter, after all."
Mahiro freed one hand and gently patted the head of the girl in his arms.
Asagi looked up at him, her eyes blurred with tears.
"What does being a Demon Hunter matter? Do Demon Hunters never die, never get hurt?! Are you saying you're even stronger than Natsuki-sensei?!"
"You actually noticed—I really am much stronger than Natsuki-chan."
Mahiro nodded seriously, as if stating a fact, which made Aiba Asagi burst into a soft laugh.
Clearly, she didn't believe his words at all and simply took it as a joke.
Until a light, graceful voice came from behind Mahiro.
"...According to your instructions, Shadow Garden has fully assembled."
Hearing this unfamiliar voice, Aiba Asagi was startled and immediately pulled away from Mahiro's embrace.
Then she saw an unbelievably beautiful woman appear beside Mahiro.
Both her figure and appearance made Aiba Asagi feel utterly inadequate, and she even began to stammer.
"Wh-wh-what did she just say? Shadow Garden? And who is she?"
"She is Alpha, essentially the leader of Shadow Garden. Since they've assembled, let's proceed as planned. The Black Death Emperor Faction has already made a move—find that bastard Christopher Gardos for me!"
"Yes!"
Alpha nodded, and her figure vanished instantly. At the same time, several other figures emerged from the classroom shadows and departed.
Aiba Asagi was left stunned, or rather, Mahiro's words had shaken her heart like never before.
What did he just say?
Shadow Garden?!
She knew of this organization—it was said to be a terrifying group that didn't even regard the three Progenitors with fear.
They had once attacked the Warlord's Empire and the Chaos Zone, and even the Ninth Prince of the Dynasty of Destruction, Iblisveil Aziz, had died at their hands!
It was said that even the Third Progenitor, the Chaos Bride, had been defeated by this organization.
"Just who are you?"
Aiba Asagi looked at the person before her with a complicated expression.
She realized she knew almost nothing about Mahiro.
Yet, Mahiro simply smiled faintly and said:
"Me? I'm just an ordinary, unremarkable Demon Hunter, nothing more."
Ordinary and unremarkable?
Aiba Asagi no longer believed such nonsense, but before she could press further, the classroom door swung open again.
"Senpai, are you alright?!"
Yukina, carrying a guitar case, rushed in from outside. Seeing that Mahiro was unharmed, she let out a slight sigh of relief.
"Senpai, I heard the Black Death Emperor Faction attacked the school…"
"Yes, they did come, but I've already dealt with them," Mahiro replied matter-of-factly.
"Dealt with them? Senpai, we agreed I would handle this—why did you act on your own?!"
"I can't just let Asagi be captured by those people and have them decipher the Nalakuvera operating system."
Faced with Yukina, who seemed to be throwing a bit of a tantrum, Mahiro helplessly spread his hands.
Hearing their conversation, Asagi swallowed back all the questions she had intended to ask and instead asked in surprise:
"Wait, what did you just say?! Nalakuvera? Where did you hear that name? And what's your relationship with Mahiro?"
Asagi strode forward, stepping directly between the two and positioning herself in front of Mahiro, looking down at the junior student before her.
Her sudden move startled Yukina, who immediately explained:
"...Nice to meet you, I'm Himeragi Yukina, a third-year middle school student. I was sent by the Lion King Organization to monitor Yotsuba-senpai..."
Hearing her introduce herself like that, Mahiro couldn't help but facepalm.
Why is this kid so straightforward?
Originally, he hadn't planned to reveal these matters to Aiba Asagi just yet, but he never expected this girl to spill everything all at once.
Including her own identity, as well as Mahiro's identity and past actions.
After hearing all this, Aiba Asagi was completely stunned, sinking into deep shock.
"So... you're saying the tremor that erupted on Itogami Island about three years ago was actually caused by you? The attacker at Keystone Gate before was also you? The hacker who breached all of Keystone Gate's surveillance systems was also you?!"
"Uh... if there isn't a second person named Yotsuba Mahiro, then that would be me."
Mahiro awkwardly scratched his head.
Aiba Asagi, on the other hand, was completely frozen, lost in deep self-doubt.
She never imagined that the hacker who had managed to hold her off for so long was right in front of her!
At the same time, a girl stood on the rooftop of a building near Saikai Academy.
She was a girl with long hair, and at her feet lay a large black instrument case.
The girl's gaze was fixed on the school building across several buildings on the opposite shore.
Through the eyes of that bird, she was watching them converse.
"Too... too shameless..." murmured the girl's lips.
Her fair cheeks flushed slightly, whether from unbearable anger or shame.
She continued muttering under her breath.
"It seems there really is a need to administer proper punishment to that man. Not only did he take Yukina, but he's also flirting with other girls. He hasn't cultivated the noble character and personality worthy of Yukina, nor has he given her eternal love and absolute obedience. Someone like this, who will ultimately hurt Yukina, is absolutely unforgivable!"
Sayaka's light chestnut hair fluttered gracefully in the strong wind as she glared fiercely at Mahiro.
The girl's figure was slender and graceful, but unlike last time, today she wore a pleated skirt paired with a cool summer short-sleeved top.
Her chestnut hair tied into a ponytail, with a pure and delicate beauty like blooming cherry blossoms.
As a Dancing Princess—an assassin for the Lion King Organization—the moment she saw Mahiro embracing another woman, she couldn't help but want to immediately draw her Six-Style Heavy Demon-Bow.
Show Mahiro what's what!
Little did she know, her actions were practically like those of a stalker.
Only crawling in the shadows where no one could see.
"But this time, for Yukina's sake, I'll let you off for now."
Shifting her gaze away from Mahiro, Sayaka once again took control of her shikigami and began searching for the whereabouts of the Black Death Emperor Faction and the secret weapon.
In the end, she held back.
Because she had promised Yukina to help investigate matters related to the Black Death Emperor Faction, not to mention that the faction's demons had already begun to move.
Although Yukina was more important in her heart, this was a request from Yukina, and she had no choice but to carry it out.
However, just as all parties were tracking down the Black Death Emperor Faction...
Gardos, lurking in the shadows, was already preparing to use the incomplete system deciphered from Aiba Asagi to awaken Nalakuvera.
"Major, are we really going to do this? Without the complete system, the weapon cannot be controlled at all."
"There's no other way. Besides the Demon Slayer Natsuki Minamiya, both the Lion King Organization and Shadow Garden have their eyes on us. Only by unleashing Nalakuvera to wreak havoc can we make a clean escape!"
As he spoke, a desperate, ruthless glint flashed in Gardos's eyes.