Outside Tokyo.
A pitch-black off-road vehicle traversed the wilderness, its heavy-duty tires crushing mountains, rocky terrain, and even monster bones as it advanced unimpeded across the western landscape.
A jet-like flying cursed spirit soared across the sky, its radar-like eyes locking onto the off-road vehicle below.
This cursed spirit lacked intelligence.
It didn't understand what kind of formidable person would dare drive so recklessly through the wilds. All it knew was that humans sat inside—and that knowledge alone made killing intent boil in its mind.
"Eeeeeeek!"
The cursed spirit shrieked, emitting bat-like ultrasonic waves as it swooped down toward the off-road vehicle.
"Screech!"
To its surprise, the smoothly moving vehicle suddenly slammed to a halt, making it hesitate mid-flight and circle warily overhead.
After the abrupt stop, the car doors opened, and two figures emerged.
No—more accurately, one person dragged the other out.
"Please! I beg you! I'll accept punishment—lock me up! I can spend my whole life in prison! Even if I did wrong, shouldn't the law judge me? Who are you to take justice into your own hands?! I had no choice—I've never hurt anyone before! I deserve a chance to reform—Japan doesn't have the death penalty—"
The man being dragged out clawed desperately at the car door, refusing to exit as he pleaded in panic.
Tears and snot streaked his face, his appearance utterly pitiful.
His words swung wildly between groveling pleas and accusations of unlawful execution, like a condemned man spouting every thought in his head before the end.
"The legal system has indeed contributed greatly to societal peace, and I deeply respect law enforcement. But personally, I don't put much faith in criminal law—it's too lenient."
Roy effortlessly pried the man's grip from the door.
"I believe in retribution—the kind where good deeds are rewarded and evil deeds punished."
"If your mistakes put others in danger, then the same danger should befall you. That's only fair, isn't it?"
"But that woman is fine now!"
"Then you're free to pray someone saves you like I saved Nino. I'm not stopping you from praying, am I?"
With a light toss, Roy flung Oumaru skyward.
"Come to think of it, this guy also got two magic apprentices transformed by Mahito, didn't he? My mistake—should've turned him into a flesh lump first."
"AAAAAHHHH!!!"
A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air—
Then cut off abruptly.
The cursed spirit circling above, seeing prey hurled toward it, instantly dove forward. It snatched Oumaru midair, ignored his screams, and crunched him down in a few quick bites.
After swallowing its meal, the cursed spirit paused.
Its savage eyes turned downward, gleaming with greed.
The man who had thrown the prey didn't even glance upward before returning to the off-road vehicle.
"Consider that revenge for you."
Roy took the driver's seat and spoke these words to Nino sitting in the back.
"Any complaints? Though even if you had them, there's no way to retaliate further."
"No, of course not! That scum deserved to die!"
Nino's face was slightly pale, but she clapped her hands without hesitation.
"I should be thanking Lord Roy for avenging me."
"I... I feel the same way..."
Itsuki's face was even paler than Nino's, clearly suppressing inner panic, yet she nodded earnestly.
Both girls looked rather unsettled.
Not because they disagreed with Roy's methods, but witnessing someone being devoured by a cursed spirit right before their eyes was too visually shocking—they'd rarely seen such scenes before.
As for sympathy? The moment they remembered how that bastard had pushed Nino out as a human shield, any softness in their hearts hardened.
Living in this world, their previously inappropriate sensitivities needed timely adjustment.
Neither girl was foolish; they understood what needed to be done now.
"Um..."
At this moment, Takina in the passenger seat suddenly raised her hand, her expression deeply conflicted.
"What? You have objections?"
"No! That cursed spirit is charging at us!"
Takina pointed at the approaching cursed spirit in the rearview mirror, her voice rising several octaves.
"No problem."
Roy waved dismissively, utterly unconcerned.
The moment he spoke, Takina saw a flash of blade light in the mirror.
With just one slash, the cursed spirit was bisected, vanishing into smoke instantly.
In its place stood a girl in pale blue haori, her executioner-cold face showing no emotion.
"Where did that girl come from?"
Chisato stuck her head out the rear window, gazing excitedly at the sword-wielding girl.
"So cool!"
"She's my familiar. Her name is Okita Souji. She'll be protecting us along the way."
"Okita Souji... Do magi usually name their familiars after historical figures?"
Itsuki, sitting in the middle of the backseat, blinked curiously, having missed the action entirely.
"No. She is the historical Okita Souji herself."
"...Huh?"
Nino, Itsuki, Takina, and Chisato simultaneously wore identical expressions of utter bewilderment.
"Seems I need to properly explain this world's common sense to you."
Roy chuckled lightly.
With nothing else to do during the trip, this would make for decent entertainment.
...
Fuyuki City.
After half a day's journey across mountains and valleys, the off-road vehicle arrived outside Fuyuki City's walls.
"Just looking from afar, it feels completely different from Tokyo!"
"It seems much more peaceful and prosperous than Tokyo!"
Nino and Itsuki gazed through the windows at Fuyuki's distant walls. At first glance, Fuyuki's walls appeared far more aesthetically pleasing than Tokyo's patchwork of colored metal sheets.
"Fuyuki City used to have many magi. They reinforced the walls with various magecraft, so there was no need to make them look like some third-rate open-air concert venue."
Moreover, there's a Spirit Repelling Barrier covering the entire city here, preventing any cursed spirits from entering. The residents of Fuyuki City don't have to worry about cursed spirit disasters at all.
Although during the recent Holy Grail War, Zouken Matou damaged the barrier points connected to the leylines, causing some gaps in the barrier, Rin has since inspected all the leylines and repaired the Spirit Repelling Barrier. So there won't be any accidents—aside from Misaki City, there's no safer place in all of Japan than here.
On the way to Fuyuki City, Roy had already given them a general overview of these details, and the four girls didn't press for further explanations.
"Vehicle ahead, please stop for inspec—Ah, it's Lord Roy! Welcome back from your trip, please proceed!"
At the city gates, standing like a goalkeeper, was a pitch-black robot over two meters tall.
It had initially moved to block the off-road vehicle heading straight for the gates, but upon recognizing Roy as the driver, it respectfully bowed and waved them through.
Nino, Miku, Takina, and Chisato were completely stunned by what they had just witnessed.
What in the world?
How was this atmosphere so completely different from Tokyo?
Why was a robot guarding the gates of Fuyuki City?
And why did it seem to possess actual intelligence?!
"That was a Variant-class automaton. There are quite a few of them—about a dozen or so. They're currently managed by an AI system. For now, just think of them as intelligent robots. I'll explain the details later," Roy said casually as he drove into Fuyuki City.