February had arrived. It was the time of year when the winter chill begins to lose its edge, and one starts to yearn for the first signs of spring.
…Or so I'd like to put it. In reality, it was still the beginning of the month, and it was still freezing.
"Axel-kun, shall we have hot pot tonight?"
I was packing up my things after the final bell when Chizuru, who always seemed to finish her preparations with supernatural speed, approached me.
"Hot pot?" I asked.
"That's right. I thought you might appreciate a proper Japanese meal for a change. How does sukiyaki sound?"
"I'd love it, but are you sure? That's not exactly a budget meal."
Sukiyaki required a fair amount of ingredients; the cost would certainly be a step up from our usual fare.
"It's fine," she said, her voice dropping slightly. "I wouldn't say this in front of Natsumi-chan, but it's meant to be a bit of a celebration."
"A celebration?"
"Yes. You've finally settled on your Activation Key, haven't you?"
Ah, right. For about twenty days now, I had been diligently practicing my magic. Thanks to the "cheat" talents I'd received as reincarnation perks, I had progressed at a rate that even Evangeline found exasperating. I was finally ready to move from a mere beginner to a proper apprentice, and Eva had told me it was time to choose a "Start Key."
In my mind, the Activation Key was essentially a psychological switch. By speaking the word aloud, you subconsciously trigger the refinement of your mana. That was my personal interpretation, anyway—there was likely a much deeper, more metaphysical meaning to it.
The danger was choosing a common word. If you chose something mundane, you risked accidentally triggering a spell in the middle of a casual conversation. If your key was "Sunset," for example, simply chatting about the scenery with a friend could result in an unintentional discharge of magic.
Because of this, most mages chose words far removed from daily life. Eva's key, for instance, was "Lic Lac La Lac Lilac." Not exactly something you'd blurt out at the grocery store.
On the other hand, the key has to be spoken before the actual incantation, so brevity is a tactical advantage. After weighing my options, I had settled on my keyword:
"Arianrhod."
She was a goddess of Welsh mythology, presiding over time, fate, and the moon. She was said to dwell in a tower within the Otherworld. For a man like me—the leader of the Shadow Mirror, whose headquarters, the White Star, drifted in the rift between dimensions—I couldn't think of a more fitting name.
Besides, "Arianrhod" wasn't exactly a word that came up in casual conversation. The risk of accidental casting was zero.
"So," Chizuru continued, "could I ask you to handle the shopping? I wanted to go myself, but I'm volunteering at the daycare today."
"Sure, I don't mind. What do we need?"
"Shirataki noodles, shiitake mushrooms, and some crown daisy. We have everything else in the fridge, and Ayaka said she'd provide the meat, so we can expect something high-quality. Here you go."
She handed me a thousand-yen bill.
"Oh, Axel-kun! Grandpa's looking for you," Konoe's voice rang out. "He wants you to come to the Headmaster's office."
I was just about to head out for my grocery run when she stopped me.
"Got it. I'll head over there first and hit the store afterward. Good luck with your volunteer work, Chizuru."
"Thanks, I'm counting on you."
"You know," Konoe chimed in, watching us, "watching you two interact is like watching a pair of newlyweds."
"Oh my," Chizuru teased with a smile. "Do you really think so?"
"Eh? I'd say it's more like a mother and her son," a voice interjected. It was the Narutaki twins. Or rather, the older sister, Haruna. The younger twin was really just an innocent bystander at this point.
Chizuru's smile didn't falter, but the sheer pressure she began to radiate made the twins visibly break into a cold sweat. Sorry, kids, I thought. You brought this on yourselves. I wasn't about to get dragged into that crossfire.
Leaving the "sacrifices" behind, I made my way to the Headmaster's office.
Come to think of it, I still didn't understand why the Headmaster's office was located inside the girls' junior high building.
Probably just Konoemon's personal taste, I mused as I knocked on the door. For a man of his stature, he certainly seemed to enjoy being surrounded by middle school girls a bit too much.
"Who is it?"
"Axel Almar. I heard I was summoned."
"Ah, come in."
I opened the door to find the office's master, Konoemon, waiting inside. Seated on the guest sofas were Takahata and Shizuna Minamoto, the assistant homeroom teacher for Class 2-A. Seeing the three of them together, I took a seat.
"The 2-A leadership council is all gathered. What kind of plot are we hatching today?"
"Easy now, Axel. No one's plotting anything," Takahata replied with a wry grin.
"Ho-ho-ho. I called you here for a specific reason," Konoemon said. "Do you remember the conditions of your employment?"
"My employment? Right..." I searched my memory. "You mentioned that a child fresh out of magic school would be joining the faculty this month as a teacher. You wanted me to provide backup if things got out of hand."
"Precisely. That child's name is Negi Springfield. It's been confirmed that he arrives in Japan the day after tomorrow."
"I get that part. But why are Takahata and Minamoto-sensei here?"
"I'm an old friend of Negi's," Takahata explained. "I have a history with his father as well. And Shizuna-sensei is aware of the existence of magic, so she's in the loop."
"His father… you mean Nagi Springfield? The man who sealed Eva here in Mahora?"
"The same," Takahata nodded. "He looked after me when I was young. I take it you heard about Nagi from Evangeline?"
"More or less."
According to Eva, Nagi Springfield was the leader of a group called Ala Rubra (Crimson Wing), the heroes who ended the Great War in the Magic World twenty years ago. In that world, he was a living legend.
I could see why Konoemon and Takahata were being so cautious about his only son. Still, using someone like me as an "insurance policy" felt like a questionable move.
"Negi-kun has just graduated, and his talent is equal to his father's," Takahata continued. "Though, frankly, your own talent is just as surprising... but that's a conversation for another time. Because of his age and power, he might be tempted to use magic too casually. I want you to discreetly keep him in check."
"Does that qualify as an emergency?" I asked.
"In this world, if a mage is caught, they get turned into an ermine and sent to a specialized camp. I'd say that qualifies as an emergency," Takahata said, his expression dead serious.
"...An ermine?"
"Yes. An ermine."
I stared at him, but he didn't blink. Why an ermine? I put the thought aside for now and listened to the Headmaster.
"However, it wouldn't be good for Negi-kun to know he has a handler from the start. Therefore, you will be introduced to him as an ordinary student—a test case for our co-ed integration and skipping grades. Since you're close in age, I want you to be a friend he can talk to about daily life—outside of magic."
I took a moment to process. If the kid was really the son of the "Thousand Master," his potential was likely through the roof. Fortunately, neither Konoemon nor Takahata seemed worried that he was the type to let power go to his head; it sounded more like they were worried about him being green.
"Alright, I've got the gist of it. If this Negi kid looks like he's about to blow his cover, I'll step in and steer him away from trouble."
"Good. However," Konoemon added, his voice turning grave, "there is one exception to the secrecy rule. My granddaughter Konoe, and Asuna-chan."
"May I ask why?"
"I cannot give you all the details, but there are... complications. Konoka, in particular, possesses a latent mana capacity that may even surpass the Thousand Master himself. At the request of her father—my son-in-law—we have kept her away from the magical world. But with that much power, she cannot stay hidden forever. You remember the mages who trespassed when you first arrived? Their target was the Library Island, but there are others who would infiltrate just to use Konoka's power. Specifically, the hardliners of the Kansai Magic Association."
"The Kansai Magic Association?"
"Indeed. Japan is largely divided between two organizations: the Kanto Magic Association, of which I am an executive, and the Kansai Magic Association based in Kyoto. As it happens, Konoka's father is the head of the Kansai Association..."
"Wait a second!" I interrupted.
"Hmm?"
"So you're telling me the heads of the East and West associations are related by marriage?"
"That is correct. My son-in-law feared that Konoka would be used as a pawn in the internal politics of his organization, so he entrusted her to me here at Mahora."
"And the 'hardliners' who don't like that arrangement are coming for her."
"Exactly."
"And just how 'friendly' are the East and West branches currently?"
Konoemon frowned slightly. "I couldn't call the relationship 'good,' even if I were lying."
"I'm amazed he thought sending the leader's daughter here was a good idea," I remarked.
To the members of the Kansai Association, Konoka was their "Princess." Seeing her sent away to a rival organization would look like she was being handed over as a hostage. It made the Kansai Association look subservient to Kanto. It was no wonder a hardline faction had emerged.
"I'm not one to talk," I said, thinking of my own questionable track record as the leader of the Shadow Mirror—wandering off or going MIA like I was now—"but is this father of hers really fit to lead an organization?"
"Don't be too hard on him," Takahata said with a sigh. "Eishun-san—Konoka's father—has his reasons."
I leaned back and let out a long breath. "Fine. And what about her current situation? Are we just leaving her as she is?"
"What do you mean by that?" Konoemon asked.
"I mean guards. If there's a real threat from Kansai, the rest of Class 2-A is going to get caught in the crossfire."
"Ho-ho-ho, don't you worry. We have a guard in place. Why do you think I've gathered so many people connected to the magical world in Class 2-A?"
A guard? I thought back. I had noticed Setsuna Sakurazaki trailing Konoka with an almost obsessive intensity lately.
"Is it Sakurazaki?"
"Correct. She is a swordswoman of the Shinmei-ryu, a school with deep ties to the Kansai Association. She and Konoka have been friends since childhood. It was my son-in-law who requested she act as her bodyguard."
"...Childhood friends?"
I had been in this school for twenty days, and I had almost never seen them speak. Konoe would try to strike up a conversation, but Sakurazaki always brushed her off with cold indifference. Then again, after the basketball game incident, it was clear she didn't actually dislike Konoka.
But "bodyguard"? My idea of a bodyguard was someone who stayed by their ward's side. Sakurazaki acted more like a stalker lurking in the shadows. Was she really that skilled, or was her method just... unorthodox?
"Well, I have my doubts about those two, but I'll take your word for it. Am I right in assuming you've packed the class with mages to create a unified front for emergencies?"
"Indeed. There are other reasons, but security is a major factor. Especially now that we have someone like you in the mix."
Konoemon said it with a smile, but the slight twitch of his brow suggested that "packing the class" might have been a desperate move born from a lack of manpower.
"So, what's my first move?"
"Come here the day after tomorrow, in the morning," Takahata said, standing up. "I'll introduce you to Negi-kun then."
I nodded and rose from the sofa.
"I've also asked Shizuna-sensei to assist Negi-kun, so please coordinate with her if anything happens."
"I look forward to working with you, Axel-kun," Shizuna said kindly.
"Likewise. I'd prefer to avoid the drama if possible, but I understand the situation."
I gave them a brief nod and stepped out of the office.
Status Report
Name: Axel Almar
LV: 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: Air: S | Ground: S | Water: S | Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate (4 SP)
Effort (8 SP)
Focus (16 SP)
Direct Hit (30 SP)
Awaken (32 SP)
Love (48 SP)
Skills:
EXP Up, SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9 & SP Regen & Concentration), Telekinesis Lv.10, Attacker, Gunfight Lv.9, Infight Lv.9, Morale Limit Break, Geass (Gray), Magic (Fire), Magic (Shadow), Magic (Summon), ???, ???
Kill Count: 376
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