Chapter 341: Is This Thing Really the 12th Kaleid Blood?
A quiet night passed without any particular incidents, everything remained peaceful.
Only the next morning, Yuuma was somewhat panicked.
Discovering herself in an unfamiliar room with no trace of her mother or father, she immediately burst into tears.
It was only after Mahiro came to the room to comfort her that she finally calmed down.
Other than that, everything else proceeded as usual. Natsuki Minamiya brewed herself a fragrant cup of black tea early in the morning, while Tokoyogi Aya sat silently on the sofa, her gaze slightly cold.
It wasn't until Natsuki Minamiya took Mahiro and Yuuma out that Aya reluctantly followed.
She didn't want to recall the terrible things that would happen if she strayed more than five hundred meters away from Mahiro.
As the Grand Librarian and leader of the LCO's library organization, having her freedom restricted was naturally unpleasant.
Fortunately, the current environment was better and freer than prison, so she could reluctantly accept it.
Unfortunately, the man she thought would help her actually obediently followed Natsuki Minamiya's arrangements. Even though she had agreed to let him stay with her for a night in prison, was it because he and Natsuki had kissed?
Her mind felt chaotic, her emotions difficult to control—unlike her usual self.
In any case, seeing Mahiro and Natsuki Minamiya walking together stirred an indescribable irritation within her.
"Senior Natsuki, you're here! Who are the people behind you?"
Halfway there, Natsuki Minamiya found it troublesome, so she used spatial control magic to transport them to an office.
The office was luxuriously furnished and spacious, so much so that it could easily be mistaken for the principal's office. Unfortunately, this was Natsuki Minamiya's private domain.
The speaker was a young woman with red hair styled in a bun and braids, wearing a qipao-style top paired with a miniskirt and tight pants underneath. Her outfit was sporty, and her figure was full and captivating.
Yes, a purely Chinese-style girl's attire.
Though somewhat stereotypical, this was how it was often portrayed in Japanese anime. After experiencing the world of Lelouch, it no longer seemed strange.
However, at this moment, the Chinese-style girl was examining Mahiro with great interest.
"No way, is Senior Natsuki going to start dating?"
Her tone was teasing, her gaze ambiguous. Just as Natsuki Minamiya was about to lose her temper, the woman reached out and excitedly patted Natsuki's head, as if soothing a child.
"Stop touching me! Besides, they're just here to apply for Demon Registration Bracelets for the three of them!"
Natsuki glared fiercely at her colleague, unable to handle her enthusiastic advances.
The so-called Demon Registration Bracelet was the device worn on the wrist of the vampire Liana earlier, containing a biometric sensor, a magic detection device, and a transmitter.
Those wearing it were not ordinary people.
They were special registered citizens of the Demon District—in other words, non-humans, demons.
Registered demons wearing the bracelet rarely harmed humans.
If they did such a thing, the Island Guard's demon-hunting officers would immediately swarm in. By wearing the bracelet, demons could live in the city with the identity of normal people.
Knowing this, Mahiro looked at Natsuki Minamiya with a strange expression—after all, he was a pure-blooded human.
"She's Sasasaki Misaki, my colleague."
Natsuki Minamiya introduced the tall, youthful-looking woman to Mahiro and the others with evident displeasure.
Minamiya then introduced Mahiro and Yuuma to the girl, deliberately omitting Aya.
However, Sasasaki Misaki seemed to have some recollection of Aya, her eyes even showing traces of wariness and alarm.
Because five years ago, she had studied at Saikai Academy, graduating from the school just like Minamiya.
She had witnessed the battle between Aya and Minamiya five years ago.
"By the way, he'll be our colleague from now on. Let's get the procedures done together," Minamiya added.
"Really?!" Sasasaki Misaki immediately grew excited, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Mahiro—she couldn't believe she'd get to work with such a handsome young man.
"Stop daydreaming, you silly dog!"
Natsuki Minamiya picked up her fan and tapped Sasasaki Misaki's head a few times in frustration.
But the latter seemed accustomed to it, completely unfazed.
As for Mahiro, he showed no reaction, simply watching as Sasasaki Misaki walked over to the computer and began operating it.
He understood Natsuki Minamiya's temperament and had long guessed that Natsuki-chan would unilaterally make decisions for him.
After all, on the surface, both he and Aya were still under Natsuki-chan's supervision.
Sasasaki Misaki connected to the computer and started handling the relevant procedures.
During the process, she asked about the identities of the three of them.
She received the answer: two Witches and one human.
Hearing this, Sasasaki Misaki was momentarily taken aback, then looked at Natsuki Minamiya with a confused expression, as if saying, "This doesn't follow the rules, does it?"
Indeed, it didn't follow the rules. After all, the Demon Registration Bracelet was meant exclusively for demons—no human had ever received such a thing before.
But Natsuki Minamiya insisted and forced Sasasaki Misaki to input their information into the system.
There was no other way; she couldn't explain.
If she were to say that Mahiro could freely enter and exit the Prison Barrier and had personally brought Tokoyogi Aya and Meiga Itogami out of prison, it would only invite more trouble.
"The procedures are done. Congratulations on becoming residents of Itogami City!"
Sasasaki Misaki handed them three bracelets—proof of demon status.
"Especially you, Mahiro-chan. I look forward to working with you. Being a Demon Hunter is tough, you know."
Sasasaki Misaki looked at him with keen interest.
But after taking the bracelet, Mahiro felt somewhat puzzled.
"Demon Hunter? Not a teacher?"
He had no idea what was going on.
To be precise, Natsuki Minamiya had told him on the way that he would be a teacher at Saikai Academy with her—she hadn't mentioned anything about being a Demon Hunter.
"Hmph, brought it upon yourself."
Aya seemed to have anticipated this, letting out a somewhat mocking snort.
Meanwhile, Minamiya explained nonchalantly:
"Oh, I forgot to mention. We're not just teachers—we're also active professional Demon Hunters in the Island Guard."
Mahiro: "..."
What else could he say?
"Fine, whatever. It's not a big deal anyway."
He had never been a Demon Hunter before.
As for the teaching position, naturally, he hadn't given it up. Natsuki Minamiya said she would assign him a very suitable subject tomorrow.
As she spoke, a subtle curve appeared at the corner of Natsuki Minamiya's lips.
A flicker of pity flashed in Misaki Sasasaki's eyes.
Oh dear.
As Natsuki-chan's colleague, having worked alongside her for so many years, she knew Natsuki-chan's temperament all too well. It was clear that Natsuki-chan in her current state was up to no good.
Afterward, arrangements were made for little Yuuma's transfer and class assignment.
Even Tokoyogi Aya was not spared, being assigned as a librarian in one of the academy's libraries.
For this, Natsuki Minamiya even relaxed the confinement range, extending it from the original five hundred meters to one kilometer.
Not too far, yet maintaining a suitable distance, making it impossible for Tokoyogi Aya to escape.
Then, everyone left, leaving him alone in the vast office.
Since no work had been assigned to him yet, he could only stay here for the time being.
But that didn't mean he had nothing to do.
He retrieved the ice coffin stored in his ring and, with a loud thud, placed it in the center of the office. At the same time, he summoned Est.
"Mahiro, why did you call me out so suddenly?"
He pointed at the "Fairy's Coffin," which was emitting a piercing chill, and asked, "If I were to release what's inside, how confident are you in subduing it?"
The Fourth Primogenitor was violent and insane.
Mahiro had learned this clearly while researching the materials.
And the twelfth vessel, Avrora Florestina, was an exception among all the vessels.
She was not only the carrier of the twelfth Beast Vassal, the Azure Ice Princess, but also bore two souls.
One of them was rebellious, cruel, and defiant.
The other was the complete opposite—gentle, obedient, and timid, making it hard to associate her with a Progenitor.
The former was created artificially by the Celestial Ministry using the "Azure Ice Princess" as the foundation, serving as the Fourth Primogenitor's overseer.
The latter was the Fourth Primogenitor's original soul—the true soul of the Fourth Primogenitor who had slain the gods in ancient times.
This was why, unlike the other vessels, she could not awaken at will. This gentle girl was blocking the existence of the rebellious one.
Preventing her from wreaking havoc upon the world!
Yes, the gentle twelfth was the guardian!
To prevent this, he had specifically summoned Est, preparing for all possibilities.
Est gazed at the ice coffin emitting cold air, pondered for a long while, and then declared with certainty:
"If I'm with Mahiro, one hundred percent."
As she said this, there was no fluctuation on Est's small face.
She was proud.
Even more confident in her own strength.
After all, she was the highest-ranking sword spirit, the Demon King Killing Sacred Sword, Est, Terminus Est, and the legendary Holy Sword that slew the Demon King, the guardian deity of the spirit realm.
Although the existence before her was indeed extraordinary, it was far from reaching a level she could not handle.
"Alright, then I'll begin."
He was in no hurry to act. Instead, he first snapped his fingers, setting up a spatial barrier similar to the Prison Barrier within the office as a precaution.
Only then did he place his hand once again on the lid of the "Fairy's Coffin."
A bone-chilling cold once again spread from his palm, but this time, his expression showed no change at all, and his pupils gradually turned crimson.
Light bloomed.
Ancient inscriptions traced out an obscure magic circle.
"Copy Eyes" were activating!
"Mist Dispersion!"
Whoosh.
In just an instant, the "Fairy's Coffin" sealing the Twelfth Primogenitor shattered, transforming into a cloud of dust.
The ice block erupted with white light, exploding with a roar into a shower of crystalline ice shards. The ice coffin, shattered into powder by immense force, was enveloped in pure white mist, revealing the girl within—
like a spirit born of ice and snow.
But the moment it lost the restraint of the "Fairy's Coffin," a terrifying, dense chill suddenly erupted from within, spreading to every corner of the barrier. Ice spikes surged from the ground, instantly turning the once tidy office into a frozen hell!
At the same time, the entire Saikai Academy was affected. The previously sweltering temperature plummeted to freezing, and heavy dark clouds gathered in the clear sky.
Pure white snowflakes began to drift down.
Alarms blared, instantly echoing throughout the academy!
These were alarms designed to detect demonic presence and magical fluctuations. But even without them, Natsuki Minamiya had already sensed it.
She halted her lecture, turning to gaze out the window with a mix of shock and gravity.
"What's going on?!"
Her gaze pierced through the window, as if seeing through the walls to her own office. That intense magical surge had originated there—and it was still ongoing, showing no signs of weakening, even hinting at intensifying!
Yet, in her office at that moment, there should have been only that man.
Could it be...?
Natsuki Minamiya seemed to realize something. While instructing other teachers to evacuate, she activated Spatial Control Magic to return to her office.
Only to be blocked outside the door.
She discovered her office was enveloped in a spatial barrier!
Outside the barrier, she also sensed a terrifyingly frigid chill and magical fluctuation—undeniable Progenitor-level power!
Moreover, this spatial barrier was identical to her own Spatial Control Magic.
What was happening?
Without time to ponder, she immediately opened a breach in the barrier and rushed into the room.
At first glance, she saw her office covered in frost, everything within frozen solid.
Except for one man.
He appeared around eighteen years old, with a handsome face.
Who else could it be but Mahiro?
Yet beside him stood a girl, her silver hair billowing in the chilling air, ethereal and natural.
Her serene face was as perfect as a divine creation.
Her aura was both icy and sacred, breathtakingly beautiful.
Most crucially, the girl radiated a magical presence identical to Mahiro's!
Could this girl be a Beast Vassal?
But since when did humanoid Beast Vassals exist?
As she pondered this, her peripheral vision caught another figure.
A girl standing in the center of the office.
Her build and age were similar to the girl beside Mahiro, equally exquisite in appearance. The difference was that this girl had iridescent hair with a golden base, reflecting myriad colors under the light.
Has the twelfth vessel been released?
That was Natsuki Minamiya's first reaction, because when Mahiro invaded the MAR Research Institute with Aya, she had also seen this girl. Even though they were separated by the ice coffin at the time, she remembered clearly.
Just then, the twelfth vessel awakened.
She slowly opened her eyes, their color a pale blue like a glacier!
Blinking widely as if just waking up, she looked at the people before her, first with confusion and bewilderment, then with fear.
"Ooh..."
Accompanied by a frightened whimper, the chill that had filled the air instantly vanished, and even the massive magical fluctuations dissipated completely.
In its place was the girl's terrified expression. In her panic, she used both hands to shield her chest, helplessly retreating a few steps.
Just as she appeared on the surface, she was merely a powerless and helpless child.
"You..." The expression the girl displayed made Mahiro feel somewhat strange.
Looking into her pure eyes, an inexplicable sense of guilt and intense anxiety washed over him.
If an uninformed person saw this scene, they would likely mistake it for this loli encountering a suspicious uncle peeking at goldfish.
Could this really be that Avrora, the watcher of the Fourth Primogenitor, the vessel bearing the twelfth Beast Vassal, the Demoness of the Blue Ice?
For the first time, Mahiro began to doubt his life.
He even wondered if Akatsuki Kojou hadn't actually dug up the twelfth vessel but had instead unearthed some other strange thing from underground.
Probably even a rabbit would be braver than the girl before him.
But the "Fairy's Coffin" couldn't be fake, and the twelve characters engraved on it couldn't be fake either.
The problem was, he really couldn't see, couldn't imagine any connection to the legendary twelfth Blazing Shining Night.
Not only him, but anyone else who saw this would probably think the same.
Even Est cast a questioning glance his way.
Just moments ago, her presence had been quite impressive, like a major boss in some game. How had she suddenly deflated into a civilian NPC?
"N-no, do not cast such strange gazes upon me..."
Just as he was pondering her authenticity, that weak and timid voice rang out. Avrora turned her back to Mahiro and protested feebly.
Although her wording was quite haughty, her timid tone made it almost impossible to feel any sense of intimidation.
Instead, it made one want to bully her even more.
At least, that was the impression Mahiro got, and he even felt a bit of a stirring urge himself.
"Bullying the weak is not acceptable, Mahiro."
Est tugged on his hand, looking up to meet his gaze.
The moment this thought crossed his mind, Est had keenly sensed it.
But before he could say anything, a voice colder and more biting than the previous chill drifted eerily from behind.
"I've been gone for less than an hour, and you've already caused such a huge mess again. Don't you have anything to explain to me?!"
Turning around, he met Natsuki Minamiya's eyes, which seemed almost capable of shooting fire, her folding fan creaking angrily in her hand.
At this moment, Mahiro had only one reaction in his heart, and that was—
It's over!