The English lesson had been proceeding with its usual rhythm until the atmosphere was shattered by a sudden, violent surge of mana. A localized gale had swept through the room, and when the dust settled, Asuna Kagurazaka stood exposed in her underwear.
It was a public stripping of the most literal kind. Ayaka's forehead visibly pulsed with a protruding vein as she prepared to tear into Asuna—likely over some perceived lack of decorum—but she stopped short. Her eyes flickered toward our corner of the room.
Evangeline, sitting right beside me, met the Class Rep's gaze with a small, knowing smirk and a subtle nod.
"Eva?" I muttered.
"Hmm? Even Yukihiro Ayaka noticed it, yet you were blind to the cause?" Evangeline looked at me with a mix of exasperation and amusement. She let out a long, weary sigh before explaining. "You noticed the mana go into a minor state of flux when the boy sneezed, didn't you?"
"Yeah, that much was obvious."
"Well, for reasons I haven't quite parsed yet, that runaway energy triggered Flos Ungulatio—a disarmament spell."
"You've got to be kidding me," I said, leaning back.
"I am not."
A single sneeze from the kid could trigger a magical surge that forcibly stripped those nearby. Negi was still just a child, so people might laugh it off as an accident for now, but if he grew up and kept doing this? He'd be behind bars in a heartbeat. Or perhaps not—how do you even prove a crime like that in a court of law? Would the victim be the one arrested for public indecency instead? The legal logic of this world was a headache waiting to happen.
"I need to have a word with Takahata or the Headmaster about his mana control. This needs to be fixed immediately," I said.
"Hmph. Do as you like," Evangeline replied dismissively.
Still, if you're going to use magic, control should be the absolute priority. I wondered what exactly they were teaching at that magic academy of his.
I watched as Ayaka quickly draped a spare uniform over Asuna. Asuna was an orphan and worked part-time to make ends meet; I doubted she had the spare cash to just replace a ruined uniform. Regardless of her hidden potential, she was still just an ordinary girl who knew nothing of the supernatural world. I made a mental note to tell Konoe Konoemon to provide some financial support for things like this.
Despite the unexpected "show," the rest of the periods passed without further incident.
"Auu... I really messed up," Negi whimpered, approaching me once the final bell had rung.
"You did," I said bluntly. "But there's a bigger problem here than just the magic."
"A problem? Did I do something else wrong?" Negi looked genuinely distressed.
I knew he hadn't meant any harm, but good intentions don't excuse bad results.
"I know you didn't intend to make fun of Kagurazaka. But that's your perspective, Negi. It's not hers. You singled her out in front of the whole class, and then she ended up being humiliated."
"I... I see..." Negi's shoulders slumped.
"So, what's the move? Are you going to stay here and vent to me, or are you going to do what a man—and a teacher—should do?"
"Right! I'm going to apologize to Asuna-san!"
He bolted out of the classroom at a speed that would have made a sprinter jealous. I watched him go, only to hear a voice dripping with amusement from my side.
"The life of a guardian is a taxing one, isn't it?"
"Well, asking a kid like that to play teacher was a reckless move by the higher-ups to begin with. Someone has to keep him on the rails."
"Hmph. You're surprisingly soft for a man like you."
"Soft? You're making me sound like I'm some kind of saint. I'm pretty sure 'merciless' is the word you're looking for."
"A truly 'soft' person wouldn't kill an intruder or an enemy without a moment's hesitation," Evangeline countered, her eyes narrowing. "From where I stand, you have the unmistakable scent of someone with a great aptitude for evil."
The "aptitude for evil," huh? I couldn't exactly argue. Back in my own world, I'd been a member of Shadow Mirror—the enemies of heroes like Kyosuke and Ryusei—and now I was the one leading what remained of them. If the world was divided into heroes and villains, I knew exactly which side of the line I stood on.
"Anyway," I said, changing the subject. I subtly wove a veil of cognitive interference around us to ensure our conversation remained private. "How did the talk with the Headmaster go? You met him after the party last night, right?"
"Ah, that. I suppose I can share the details with you. To put it simply: we've staged a 'final showdown' for when the boy reaches his third year. If I win, I get to drink his blood to break this wretched curse—on the condition that I don't kill him. If he wins, I stop hounding him about the secrecy of his mission."
"Sounds like the Headmaster negotiated a very favorable deal for his side."
Even if Negi lost, the only one suffering would be Negi (and his blood count). The Headmaster wouldn't lose a thing. Sure, the son of the Thousand Master losing might bruise some egos in the magical community, but that was about it.
"It doesn't matter," Evangeline smirked. "The breaking of my curse is a foregone conclusion. Do you honestly think that brat can defeat me?"
"Don't get overconfident," I warned. "Underestimating a 'hero' is usually the first step toward a very long, painful defeat."
I pulled out my phone and dialed a familiar number.
"Hello? Axel-kun, is that you?"
"Yeah. I have a question for you, Old Man. Do you have a minute?"
"Ho ho, for you? Certainly."
"It's about Negi. During class today, his mana spiked and he accidentally cast a stripping spell on Kagurazaka. Stripped her right down to her laces."
"Heh—?!"
"What exactly are they teaching at that magic school regarding mana control?" I asked, my voice dropping an octave.
"..."
"Kagurazaka is tough; she'll move past it. But what if it had been someone like Miyazaki? A girl like that would be traumatized, and the whole class would turn on Negi in an instant. Is that the 'education' you had in mind?"
"Mmm... as you know, Negi-kun inherited massive mana reserves from Nagi. Because of that, fine-tuning his control is significantly harder than it is for an average mage. Surely you, of all people, understand the difficulty of managing great power?"
I understood it better than he knew. My "mana"—my SP—was something I'd had to master through grueling experience, whether it was boosting my Slime's output or imbuing the threads of the Gleipnir with cutting properties. I'd only ever truly fumbled it once: that very first time I tried a simple "ignite" spell in Evangeline's house.
"I get the excuses," I said. "But if your side isn't going to do anything to fix his control, I'm going to step in and handle it my way. You okay with that?"
"Wait! Now just a moment! That would be a breach of our contract!"
"Is it? My contract says I intervene when necessary. I'd say preventing a ten-year-old boy from becoming a serial public stripper qualifies as 'necessary' for the well-being of this class."
The incident hadn't caused a riot, likely due to the passive cognitive damping that blankets Mahora, or perhaps because Class 2-A is just naturally chaotic. But we'd been lucky. If that had happened anywhere else, parents would have been called, and Negi's career would have ended before it began.
"Umu... I see your point. Fine. I will personally see to it that Negi-kun receives supplemental training in control. Will that satisfy you?"
"Don't let there be a next time."
"I understand."
I hung up, hearing the Headmaster's weary groan before the line went dead.
"Kuku... 'Don't let there be a next time.' And what would you have done if there were?" Evangeline asked.
"Who knows? I don't have any real desire to hurt the kid. It was just a bit of leverage."
"Right. You're far too soft for your own good."
"Whatever. Break's over." I checked the clock and dropped the interference field.
The rest of the day went smoothly, though Asuna did spend most of it glaring at the back of Negi's head with enough intensity to set his hair on fire.
"Hey, Axel-kun! Remember that beef bowl place by the station I mentioned? You want to go today?"
Class was over, and Madoka Kugimiya was calling out to me as I packed my bag. Behind her, Kakizaki and Shiina were watching with expectant looks. I didn't have any particular plans, and I did owe them for the invite earlier.
I caught a glimpse of Negi leaving the room, his shoulders slumped in dejection. I thought about following him to offer some advice, but then I saw Miyazaki, Ayase, and Saotome scurrying after him. Miyazaki clearly had a crush on the kid; she was likely worried about him. I decided to leave his emotional well-being to them.
"Oh, beef bowls?" Ayaka appeared at my side, her eyes sparkling. "I have heard much of this dish. May I join you?"
"It sounds like a lovely idea," Chizuru added, smiling gently. "But Axel-kun, make sure you don't eat so much that you ruin your appetite for dinner."
Natsumi, who was heading to theater practice, looked at us with pure envy. "Gyudon... lucky. I wish I could go, but I've got rehearsals."
"Well then, why don't we get some takeout for Natsumi-chan?" Chizuru suggested. "Kugimiya-san, does this shop offer carry-out?"
"Oh? Uh, yeah. It's a chain, so they definitely do takeout."
"Then I'll take care of Natsumi-chan's portion. You should hurry, Natsumi, or you'll be late for practice!"
Natsumi checked her watch and gasped. "Crap, you're right! Okay, Chizu-nee, I'm counting on you for that beef bowl!" She sprinted out of the room.
"My, such energy," Chizuru giggled.
"So... Chizuru-san and the Class Rep are coming too?" Kugimiya asked, her voice wavering slightly.
"Indeed," Ayaka said proudly. "I have never partaken in 'gyudon' before, but I am eager to experience the culinary culture of the common people."
"I've had it a few times with Natsumi-chan," Chizuru said. "It's quite delicious."
Kugimiya and Kakizaki exchanged a look of pure dread.
"Hey, Madoka," Kakizaki whispered. "Their expectations seem... really high. Are they going to be okay with a cheap chain restaurant?"
"I know what you're thinking, Misa," Kugimiya replied, "but they should be fine. Um, Chizuru-san, Class Rep? You realize we're going to a standard chain place, right? It's not exactly a five-star dining experience."
Ayaka nodded regally. "I am aware. While I have never been to a beef bowl establishment, Asuna-san has... forcefully introduced me to the world of fast-food hamburger chains."
"And I'm already a fan," Chizuru added.
"See? They're refined, but they aren't completely out of touch," Kakizaki said, though she still looked nervous. "Well, let's get going before more people join and ruin Madoka's 'date' vibes."
"Nyahaha! I can't believe Madoka is actually moving in on the Class Rep's territory!" Shiina teased.
"Wait! Misa, Sakurako! Don't say things like that in front of Ayaka-san!" Kugimiya turned bright red.
"It is quite alright, Kugimiya-san!" Ayaka declared, pointing a finger at her. "I recognize you as a worthy rival for Axel-kun's attention!"
"See! This is what happens!" Kugimiya groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I keep telling you guys, I'm not a shotacon..."
Despite her constant grumbling, she didn't leave. She was too good-natured for her own sake. And so, the six of us—myself, Chizuru, Ayaka, Kugimiya, Kakizaki, and Shiina—headed toward the beef bowl shop by the station.
Post-script:
The following day, Chachamaru told me a story about Negi trying to brew a love potion that ended up turning Class 2-A into a den of absolute madness. I, however, maintained a policy of "See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil."
Evangeline also mentioned that the Headmaster gave Negi a legendary scolding over the mana surge and the potion incident. It seems my phone call had some teeth after all.
As for the beef bowls? They were excellent. I may or may not have ordered three extra helpings.
Character Profile: Axel Almar
Level: 38
PP: 625
Melee: 262 | Ranged: 282 | Skill: 272
Defense: 272 | Evade: 302 | Hit: 322
SP: 462
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Consumes SP to enhance Slime performance)
Growth Type: All-Rounder / Special
Terrain Adaptability: Air: S | Land: S | Sea: S | Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accel (SP 4)
Effort (SP 8)
Focus (SP 16)
Direct Hit (SP 30)
Awaken (SP 32)
Love (SP 48)
Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9, SP Regen, Concentration)
Psychokinesis Lv.10
Attacker
Gunfight Lv.9
In-fight Lv.9
Morale Limit Break
Geass (Grey)
Magic (Fire)
Magic (Shadow)
Magic (Summon)
Total Kills: 376
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