"By the way, do you like games?"
"Games? Yes, I like them."
I placed the documents I'd received inside the envelope I'd brought and sealed it so I wouldn't drop it. Finally, my tension eased and I felt my shoulders relax. Lord Ajuka called out to me as if something had just occurred to him.
"I see, that's good. Then, would you like to participate in the 'game' I'm running? There's still a lot being adjusted, but to get opinions, it's best to hear from 'users' who actually participate. You can do it with just one mobile phone."
"Um, I'm sorry. I'm not allowed to have a cell phone yet. I'm in elementary school. There are various things my family needs to discuss like monthly fee plans, family discounts for different models, other feature settings, and my parents said I could have one when I become a high school student. Since I can communicate with magic circles for underground matters, I don't really feel much need for one right now. I am interested though, sorry..."
"No, if that's the case then it can't be helped. Something feels off about your reason for declining, but hobbies are meant to be enjoyed. Then I'll look forward to the day we can meet again."
Meet again—was it really okay for such a casual day to come when I'd meet a Maou? As I was thinking that, I was handed something like a card with a magic circle drawn on it. What should I do, this looked incredibly familiar. When I timidly asked, it turned out to be similar to what I'd received from Lord Mephisto before. Huh, so this was Lord Ajuka Beelzebub's crest. What kind of thing was he giving me? I understood that having a means of contact would be better since I was entrusted with documents and all, but still.
Somehow, different from my plans, I'd ended up meeting an incredible person. But in a way, maybe it was all's well that ends well? I'd received documents about Evil Pieces, and I'd gotten a letter from Lord Ajuka Beelzebub too. I didn't know the contents, but it might become one of the triggers to break through this situation. Lord Ajuka said he didn't want to abandon Cleria or Diehauser. Nothing could be more reassuring than that.
I bowed to the Maou once more and carefully stored the envelope in my backpack. First, I needed to properly report to Lord Mephisto that I'd met Lord Ajuka. I also had to nail down the details of the discussion with the Emperor, and wait for the day when Tannin could connect the mediation. I had to do whatever preparations I could so I'd be ready whenever that happened. The Maou said he'd teleport me from here with a magic circle, so though it felt overwhelming, I was grateful for his consideration.
"Come to think of it, when you infiltrated this floor, you deliberately stabbed the door with your spear to activate your ability."
"Eh, yes. My spear can't perform conceptual annihilation unless it pierces something. That's the only method to erase magical effects."
"...If I recall correctly, when you yourself use conceptual effects, you don't need to stab with the spear. Then I suppose I can teach you this much."
Lord Ajuka moved his index finger and deployed a magic circle in the air. He told me, who was surprised, to take out my Sacred Gear. I was startled, but I had no particular reason to object, so I obediently summoned my partner to my palm.
"This magic circle has the same construction and magic power amount as that door. Try annihilating part of this magic circle's construction the same way as before."
"No, um... the effect can't activate unless I can stab with the spear."
"Try wrapping your magic power, or aura, around the Sacred Gear. Once you do that, touch the tip of the spear to the magic circle."
Wrap magic power or aura around it? As usual, he acted abruptly at his own pace, but I thought I'd try doing as told for now. I focused on flowing magic power from the hand gripping the spear into the Sacred Gear. Since it was my first time, it took a while, but I think I managed somehow. I could probably do it with imagination if it was magic power, but with magic force I had to do it in sequence, which made it difficult. I'd probably need practice.
"Um, I did it."
"While activating the Sacred Gear's effect, try interfering with the magic circle I made along with the magic power."
"Interfere with the magic power?"
"You can concentrate your awareness on the Sacred Gear, right? The trick is the same. Pass the Sacred Gear's power through the magic power and infiltrate your awareness into the target. If you can't physically stab with the spear, just put a conceptual phenomenon in between. Actually trying it would be best."
Having said that much, Lord Ajuka closed his mouth. I gazed at my Sacred Gear wrapped in magic power and looked at the magic circle before me. Until now, I couldn't activate conceptual effects on things I couldn't physically stab with the spear. Things without clear form like magic and magic circles, liquid-type things like water and slimes. That's why the amoeba-like creature that appeared when I went to the underworld before had been a bad matchup for me.
I could apply annihilation effects to myself as long as I was touching the spear. Then maybe I could use the power on my magic power and aura too. Against conceptual phenomena, just hit them with equally conceptual phenomena. I firmly gripped my Sacred Gear with both hands, and as I touched the spear's tip to the magic circle deployed in the air, I simultaneously flowed my magic power into the magic circle Lord Ajuka had made.
...This was pretty difficult. I didn't think it was impossible though. But flowing your own power into something that another person's power had passed through required considerable concentration and stamina. When I stabbed directly I could trace the Sacred Gear's effect itself, but when I stabbed while wrapped in something conceptual, I felt the burden more. A magic circle was the answer itself that caused phenomena to occur. If something else intruded into that completed answer, naturally it would be resisted.
The opponent's magic power exerted force trying to repel my power, and I couldn't smoothly flow my magic power into the magic circle. If it was water or something without another person's power working in it, it would probably be a bit easier. My breathing gradually became labored from the high difficulty, and nervous sweat reached down to my chin. With this much resistance, how long would it take to be able to interfere with this entire magic circle...
"Wait, hold on."
That's right, my magic power was currently flowing through my Sacred Gear. If the Sacred Gear's effect could pass directly through magic power, why not just erase the concept of the resistance from the magic circle itself? If it was trying to repel because it was a completed answer, I should just annihilate that answer and make the magic circle's answer one that my magic power had infiltrated. That way, I should be able to smoothly annihilate the construction.
Magic was calculation. The power of logic that reproduced supernatural phenomena and all phenomena by manipulating laws like formulas and equations. What I'd been doing until now was trying to forcibly insert the absolutely impossible formula '1+1(+1)=2' into the equation '1+1=2'. Of course that would be resisted. So I should just erase the answer. If I erased the answer '2' and made my formula the correct one, the resistance should disappear. If I turned it into a magic circle that was '1+1(+1)=(3)', it should work.
"Answer Delete!"
I wrapped the annihilation effect around the magic power I was flowing from my Sacred Gear. I'd erase this magic circle's answer and flow in my magic power all at once. Then, though quite a lot of magic power flowed away, the resistance I'd felt until now disappeared, and I could completely interfere with the magic circle with my power. Oh, I did it! Now I could conceptually annihilate any part of this magic circle's construction!
"I did it, Lord Ajuka Beelzebub! Amazing, I really did it. Now with conceptual things and liquids too, if I flow magic power I can activate the effect!"
"....."
"...Lord Maou?"
"...If you were just erasing part of the construction, you could've done it immediately by interfering with just that part and annihilating it. Like when you first erased the door's magic circle construction."
"Ah."
That was true. If it was like a "Remove" feeling where I just erased a part, I should've just touched the spear to that part and activated the annihilation effect while directly flowing in magic power. There was no need to interfere with the entire magic circle and rewrite the answer. Ugh, I worked hard but it was a waste.
"Do you understand what you just did?"
"What do you mean, I just put my magic power into this magic circle, right? When I only needed to do a part."
"It's way beyond the level of erasing construction—you made this magic circle your own. In other words, you stole it. By having its answer rewritten, that magic circle is no longer my magic. I could steal it back, but for others there'd be nothing they could do once the answer was rewritten. This form with your magic power infused has become the completed form."
"Um, I don't quite understand?"
"Would you understand if I said it's a pseudo version of the 'Kankara Formula' that I use?"
I see, so like pseudo-immortal techniques or pseudo-presence concealment, I could pseudo-use power like Lord Ajuka Beelzebub's.
"—Huh? Is it okay that I can do that?"
"If you think about it normally, it would be problematic."
"...It's problematic?"
"You can hijack others' formulas. Furthermore, since you're erasing answers and creating new equations, if you master this conceptual annihilation and build your ability as a magician, you'll not only be able to steal opponents' formulas but also manipulate them, change their format and use them. It's a power that seems to have various other applications too."
In the original story when Lord Ajuka was dominating, he was doing things like that. He manipulated the Old Maou faction's magic power as if it were his own and defeated them. He could apply all phenomena like magic power, magic, and supernatural abilities to formulas and equations and control them. For wizard types and supernatural ability users, he was like a natural enemy.
"...What should I do?"
"....."
"I really didn't intend to do this at all, I didn't think about activating my ability this way. I just thought it would be convenient if I could conceptually annihilate things I couldn't physically stab, I didn't want to do something like the Maou does. Was it because I treated it like a joke, thinking it was like the siscon Maou's Sacred Gear... Because I was stupid and thoughtless and foolish..."
"Wait, don't cry. I'm troubled if you cry here. Hey, don't actually start crying. I'm sorry, my foresight was lacking too. I just intended to show you one trigger as thanks for moving for devils' sake... I understand, it's my fault. Everything wrong was on this side. I'll give you tissues, so don't let your nose run."
I never imagined the transcendent being called bewitching and mysterious would end up wiping my runny nose. Furthermore, I hadn't expected to see the rare sight of Lord Ajuka Beelzebub sighing and hanging his head like it hurt. I'd definitely wash the expensive-looking handkerchief he lent me, get it dry-cleaned, and absolutely return it. I'm truly sorry. I caused you trouble.
Moreover, because he clearly stated "everything is my fault," he earnestly agreed to support this matter. I did it, everyone. Through my stupid actions, I firmly secured Lord Ajuka's cooperation. I was happy, but also incredibly sad.
Incidentally, when I reported this matter to Lord Mephisto, his mouth dropped open and I got a response that I couldn't tell if it was praise or exasperation: "So Ajuka did that, in a way as expected of Kana." Tannin was definitely exasperated. When I reported to Azazel-sensei, he laughed until he was clutching his stomach and choking. Someday I'll tattle various things to Shemhaza and get my revenge.
And so, my visit to Lord Ajuka Beelzebub's hideout ended up in an extremely chaotic state with unexpected developments piling on unexpected developments, but somehow it came to an end.
Today's Mil-tan: ViVid
That day, Shidou Touji saw an angel.
"Papa! Hey, look, look!"
Before his eyes was his beloved daughter smiling happily. Her usually single-tied chestnut hair was in twin tails, and a miniskirt fluttered lightly. His mischievous daughter who was at the age where she wanted to play always wore clothes that boys liked because she preferred easy-to-move-in outfits. Therefore, that figure wrapped in girl-like attire was truly an angel, even with parental bias. Shidou Touji saw Eden.
"Um, does it suit me?"
"Of course it does, Irina!"
He took numerous photos with a camera he'd gotten at super speed while giving a thumbs up in response to his daughter asking somewhat shyly. A white hat and pure white outfit. A sleeveless design exposing her shoulders, with dress gloves reaching to her upper arms looking beautiful. As if checking the unfamiliar outfit, Shidou Irina spun around.
"Ehehe, yay! Mil-tan, I became a girl too!"
"Glad daughter is happy, so was good to prepare. Next will gather fantasy power to make girl power stronger."
"Fantasy power? Hmm, I don't really understand, but I should gather that next, right? Papa, I'll think about Mil-tan's problems together and help Papa!"
"Pastor, Mil-tan will come again to consult about becoming a girl. Please take care of Mil-tan."
The figure of an earnest daughter trying to work hard to help her beloved father, and a cat-eared giant. It was unexpectedly matching outfits. Eden vanished. And then, Shidou Touji suddenly doubled over from stomach pain and was transported to the hospital.
"Huh, Shidou. You got a stomachache?"
"Was told will be okay after getting medicine. But worried."
"...I see, Shidou. He was agonizing so much over whether to purge Yaegaki that he might get a hole in his stomach. Thanks for the report, Mil-tan. I'll work hard so Shidou doesn't suffer any more."
"Mil-tan will work hard too. Will go to church every day to pray so pastor gets better."
The two sources of the problem renewed their determination while worrying about Pastor Shidou Touji's wellbeing.
"Just who was Mil-tan... More than that, Irina was a girl? I didn't know."
Furthermore, Hyoudou Issei, who ended up helping with Mil-tan's problem consultations thanks to Shidou Irina, came to know his childhood friend's true gender ten years early while watching Irina's papa, who had suddenly collapsed and was being transported in a princess carry by Mil-tan.
***
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