To Become a King and a Magician

The past two days, Ayaka felt something off about the atmosphere at home.

It wasn't like ghosts were roaming around—if there were, she could handle them herself. What felt wrong was the new arrival, Aoko.

"That's it for this morning's training. We'll continue this afternoon. I'll make lunch for you guys."

As usual, nearing noon, Naoki paused their Summoning Magecraft training, addressing Ayaka and Aoko, who was observing.

"Then I'll—"

"I'll come with you!"

Just as Ayaka was about to follow, Aoko beat her to it, trailing Naoki.

This was what felt off.

At first, when Aoko moved in, Ayaka didn't think much of it, assuming their relationship was like her own with Ciel. After all, Aoko called Naoki "junior." and even when she said she'd share his room, Ayaka didn't dwell on it.

But starting the second day, things changed.

Though subtle, their intimacy seemed to cross the boundaries of friendship. For opposite-sex friends, feeding each other food was already pretty abnormal, right?

"Thinking about something, Sajyou?"

Ciel suddenly appeared in front of Ayaka, waving a hand. Since bringing Aoko to the Sajyou residence and revealing she could sense the time loop, Ciel visited daily.

Her excuse: observing the world-saving team's progress.

Ayaka shook her head. "Nothing, just a bit curious about Miss Aoko and Naoki's relationship. Haven't they been a bit too close lately?"

"Hmm? I don't think it's any different from usual. Isn't it always like this?"

"Really?"

"I don't feel anything's off—anyway, how's your Summoning Magecraft training going?"

When Summoning Magecraft was mentioned, Ayaka reined in her wandering thoughts and answered seriously. "Naoki says I've got the basics down, but my transition speed between forms is still too slow."

Starting Summoning Magecraft wasn't too hard. Even Naoki, a third-rate Magus who only completed basic courses, could learn it. For Ayaka, an orthodox Magus, two or three days were enough to grasp it.

But applying it in real combat was another matter, with issues of proficiency. Combat situations were unpredictable, and Naoki hoped Ayaka could at least switch forms in one second to keep up with the intensity of fighting his other self.

"Right now, it takes me about three seconds."

"Kind of slow. That's a big opening."

"Naoki said the same thing." Ayaka sighed slightly. "Senpai, is that why you came today too?"

Ciel nodded. "Of course. It's all I can do right now. What can I say? The Church can't do much now, can it? Let's talk more at the dining table. Oh, by the way, what did Natsukawa say we're having for lunch?"

Mooching off Naoki's meals was another reason Ciel visited the Sajyou house daily.

"That's none of your concern. Don't you just eat curry rice every day?"

"Hehe~"

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Half an hour later, at the dining table.

"There's a massive cavity beneath Tokyo."

While devouring her curry rice, Ciel mentioned this to the other three.

"The Church discovered it yesterday. At some point, a huge cavity, roughly the size of the Tokyo Dome, appeared under Tokyo."

Of course, this was a casual fabrication. The cavity had existed since eight years ago when [Manaka] died. It seemed to be a space she created herself, and Ciel, as her created puppet, was naturally born there.

The Church lacked the ability to investigate that place.

The reason for framing it differently now was the urgency of the situation.

"Though we couldn't investigate further, I'm pretty sure that's where Ayaka's sister is."

"Proof?"

"There's only one path to that underground cavity, and it's guarded by the other Natsukawa Naoki—that's the intel from someone who escaped."

[Naoki] was there?

Naoki's eating pace unconsciously quickened.

"Also, about what you mentioned before, about not being able to leave Tokyo—you said it's covered by a barrier, right?"

"Aoko and I both think so."

"That barrier seems to have been expanding over the past two days."

Naoki and the others' brows furrowed.

The barrier—the initial form of the new, magicless world created by [Manaka]—expanding meant it was starting to replace the original world, didn't it?

"How far has the restriction spread?"

"It feels like it's almost reached Osaka. Half the main island is already covered." Ciel said gravely. "If you want to stop it, please hurry."

Osaka…

Fuyuki City is in the Osaka region. If they didn't act fast, Gray and the others would be affected too.

After a moment's thought, Naoki looked at Ayaka and Aoko. "Ayaka, Aoko, let's head out tonight."

"Tonight?"

"T-that urgent?"

Unlike Aoko, Ayaka seemed overly shocked and panicked. "My Summoning Magecraft hasn't reached the standard Naoki wants. If we go tonight, will it affect your fight?"

"Well, it might have a slight impact, but it's fine. I'll figure something out."

"I told you…" Aoko pinched his ear. "'Figure something out'… You're using those worrying words again. Stop banking on luck."

"Ow, ow, ow~ I'm serious, Aoko. Besides, if I can't handle a minor issue like this, I'd have died countless times already."

"Hmm? Is that so?"

"Naoki, is it really okay?"

Ayaka asked anxiously too. If Naoki lost because of her, this world would…

"Don't overthink it." Naoki raised his hand, pressed it on Ayaka's head, and ruffled it firmly a few times. "I swear to you and Aoko, no matter the situation, I'll never lose, and I'll definitely stop your sister's mischief with you."

"Definitely."