CHAPTER 363: CHAPTER 363: ON THE PATH OF PERVERSION

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But because they were the same age, the prideful Aoko had always called her by her name.

In two years, this was the first time she had heard her respectfully call her ’teacher.’

"...What is it?" Alice’s lips curved upwards slightly, her tone flat.

Seeing that her submission was effective, Aoko secretly heaved a sigh of relief. She adjusted her posture, squatted on the ground, and looked up at Alice.

"A node of the Misaki City ley line barrier has been destroyed!!!"

The barrier covering Misaki City had five nodes, each a crucial ley line node.

It was because she had detected that one of the Misaki City’s barrier nodes had been destroyed that Aoko had frantically kicked open every door in the mansion, searching for Alice.

And then, she had discovered the ’Transaction scene between Alice and the True Magic User.’

A lone man and a lone woman, in the same room, hugging, sitting on the same chair... besides a Transaction, what other possibility was there?

Was it possible that Alice was asking for magic instruction?

The young woman subconsciously dismissed the possibility of learning magic. With Haru’s shameless hooliganism towards her, how could he be so kind as to teach Alice magic?

————

"Another one was destroyed?" Alice lifted her index finger, tapping her chin and frowning.

"That’s right, that’s right, another ’disgusting pervert’ has come looking for trouble." Aoko nodded like a chick pecking at grain. When she said ’disgusting pervert,’ she shot a fierce glare at the onlooking Haru.

Two years ago, after Aoko had inherited the title of True Magic User, for some reason, the news that the old Aozaki True Magic User was dead and that two young women were guarding the Misaki City ley line had spread throughout the country.

Large numbers of wild mages had popped up, wanting to seize the Misaki City’s Crooked Core Ley Line, making Alice, who was responsible for guarding the ley line at the time, jump with anger.

Though the witch’s strength at the time was already quite formidable, and she had perfectly repelled all invaders, the price of using a large amount of magic was a massive financial deficit. After all, every time she cast a Fairy Tale Magic, she had to burn materials.

Just a one-time-use basic Fairy Tale Magic—Night’s Feast—was worth four hundred thousand yen. To fight a single magical battle, she had to burn at least four or five of them. It would be a miracle if she didn’t go bankrupt.

Thanks to that, the bankrupt witch, with a cold face, had vented her anger on the newly-apprenticed Aoko, using her as a scouting familiar, sending her everywhere to track down mages.

In the process of her investigation, Aoko had seen a collection of all of Japan’s ’perverts.’ So, when it came to outside mages, Alice and Aoko were on the same page.

That is—kill on sight.

"No choice, we’ll have to prioritize the outsider," Alice said, her gaze fixed on Aoko, her tone flat.

’I’ve already submitted, and you still won’t let me go? I only ruined your good time once, didn’t I?’ Aoko’s forehead was covered in a cold sweat, and she cried out in her heart.

"Need help?" Haru leaned against the desk before them, his hands crossed, propping his chin, a wicked grin on his face.

"No, it’s not necessary," Alice said, turning her head and looking at Haru calmly.

"We don’t need it. We can handle this," Aoko said, patting her skirt and rejecting him with a serious expression.

Haru shrugged. He had already anticipated the young women’s reaction. After all, as young women educated in Japan, the idea of not troubling others was already deeply ingrained in their bones.

"Well, in that case, I’ll leave it to you. But if you need help, just ask."

Thwack—!

Haru sighed, a look of exasperation on his face as he looked at the closed study door, remembering the unwavering determination in Alice and Aoko’s eyes.

"It seems they have no intention of asking me for help."

At this point in time, the only outside magus who would be attacking the ley line barrier in Misaki City was Touko Aozaki.

Compared to Touko, who had been honing her skills for years in the Clock Tower, the center of the magical world, whose magical prowess had reached the level of a Sealing Designation, and who was well-versed in the ways of the world.

Aoko, who had only recently been introduced to magic, and Alice, who, though powerful, had a limited repertoire of spells, were like new recruits facing a seasoned veteran.

What’s more, Touko was operating in the shadows, observing. Haru could already picture the defeated expressions on Aoko and Alice’s faces.

"Still, a little experience will do them good." Haru lifted his hand, and a book from a nearby shelf slowly floated into his grasp.

Haru’s divine spirit clone had witnessed Touko’s meeting with her mother. With a little thought, he understood.

Touko had promised her mother not to take her sister’s life.

Since it was a battle with no fated deaths, letting Aoko suffer a little setback was no big deal.

"Wait, Alice?" Haru raised an eyebrow. Aoko was protected by her mother’s promise. Touko probably wouldn’t go for the kill. But Alice was a different story.

Though he was worried about Alice, Haru remained unmoved.

After all, only one node of the ley line barrier had been removed so far. With a magus like Touko’s personality, she would likely only be sending out a few scouting puppets to test the waters, one node at a time.

Their real confrontation probably wouldn’t happen until the day the barrier was completely removed. When that time came, he would keep a close eye on Alice.

With that thought, Haru silently flipped through the grimoire in his hands, his expression calm.

————

The next morning.

At the main gate of the Tohno residence.

"Remember to listen to your sisters at school, okay?" Haru said, crouching down and straightening the fur coat on Asagami Fujino, a gentle smile on his face.

"Mm!" Fujino nodded vigorously and, with a cheerful smile, kissed his forehead.

"Akiha, I’m counting on you to take care of Fujino," Haru said, turning his head slightly to Akiha beside him.

"Of course, Father." Akiha, her face still flushed from the morning’s activities, nodded slightly and, with a gentle smile, took Fujino’s hand.

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