"Daddy!"
The blue-haired girl, who had been staring intently at Tina Sprout just a moment before, suddenly turned and launched herself at a tall figure who had just entered the morgue.
"..."
Tina Sprout silently watched the scene unfold, while Mahiro found himself somewhat helplessly catching the pouncing girl in his arms. He wasn't quite sure what had happened. After he'd brought the unconscious Tina Sprout to the basement, this girl—the one who had been Scorpio—had woken up with no memory of her past. She didn't remember her name, her origins, or anything else. The only thing imprinted on her mind was that he was her 'Daddy'…
I swear I didn't do anything! Seriously!
However, noticing Tina Sprout's complex gaze, he gently set the girl back down on her feet, despite her clear reluctance and pout.
He then cleared his throat, his expression shifting to something more formal.
"Ahem… Miss Tina… no. Tina Sprout. As 'Black Wind,' IP Rank 98, you have officially been recorded as Killed In Action by IP Rank 134. You understand what that means, correct?" His voice was calm, almost clinical. "That is to say, from this moment forward, you are my prisoner. My spoils of war. My responsibility. Do you understand?"
While he felt a deep sense of pity for her tragic circumstances, he would not forgo the necessary… recompense. In practical terms, this meant she would remain by his side, much like Enju and Asaka, and would continue to operate as an Initiator, but under his command.
Of course, he would never force her to do anything as morally dirty as assassination. He would handle that kind of filthy work himself.
However.
Even after he had spoken such domineering, almost cruel words, Tina Sprout showed not a flicker of resentment. Instead, a radiant, serene smile blossomed on her face.
"Hai. I understand," she whispered.
She gently clasped her hands together in front of her chest, as if in prayer, her eyes softly closing. She spoke her next words with the solemn gravity of a sacred vow:
"Mahiro-san… you have given my life new meaning. Therefore, I, Tina Sprout, hereby swear—I am willing to be your captive. Your spoils of war. My entire body, my very soul… they all belong to you now. And I will forever love and revere you."
"Ooh~ What a bold and passionate declaration~"
Sumire Muroto chose that exact moment to saunter back in, having overheard Tina's explosive statement. She looked at the young man's back with a deeply amused, teasing glint in her eyes.
"Uguu…!"
For some reason, the blue-haired girl suddenly puffed out her cheeks in a huff. She tightly wrapped her arms around Mahiro's leg, looking up at him with a pitiful, possessive expression.
"No! I love Daddy the most too!" she declared.
Oy, oy, don't just add fuel to the fire…
Mahiro patted the girl's short blue hair with a wry, internal sigh. It's nice to be popular, but I'd rather this kind of popularity came from beautiful onee-sans, not little girls!
He took a closer look at the girl clinging to his leg. Wait… is it just me, or does she look a bit like a younger version of Rem? From Re:Zero? …It must be my imagination.
"Fufufu~ As expected of the King of Lolicon, Mahiro-kun~" Sumire Muroto purred, seizing the opportunity. "Having Enju-chan, Asaka-chan, and Kaya-chan wasn't enough? Now you've extended your demonic claws to poor Tina-chan and even our little Scorpio-chan here. You truly live up to your infamous reputation."
Facing the doctor's merciless teasing, Mahiro maintained his usual composure. He even managed to fire back a playful retort:
"Doctor, why are you acting like Kaya all of a sudden? Could it be… you're jealous?"
...
The Next Day.
Mahiro received a call from the Seitenshi early in the morning. However, it wasn't to arrange a second informal meeting. Instead, she informed him that the escort mission was officially concluded.
The reason? Sōgen Saitake had boarded a private jet at dawn, abruptly preparing to leave the Tokyo Area. Although the Seitenshi had received the news, it was clear he was fleeing in a great hurry. Even a ruler often dismissed as a mere 'beautiful vase' could easily guess the reason behind his hasty departure.
"Heh," Mahiro scoffed, a cold smile touching his lips as he stood by his apartment's floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the distant, towering Monolith. "With that pathetic level of resolve, he dreams of ruling the world? He's not even close to being qualified."
...
"Kuso! Damn it! Didn't An Rand guarantee it was foolproof?! How could it fail?!"
Onboard his private jet, Sōgen Saitake furiously slammed his meaty fist down on the armrest of his plush seat. His thick hand crumpled the intelligence report, his face contorted in rage.
"It's that Yotsuba Mahiro again…!"
Both last time, and now this time. The same thorn in his side.
He couldn't comprehend it. Why did that bastard have to appear everywhere, ruining his meticulously laid plans?!
Indeed, it had been his idea to propose dispatching Yōji Yūhe and his team to replace the late Hiruko Kagetane, seize the Seven Stars Legacy, and summon the Zodiac Scorpio. Originally, Hiruko Kagetane had been one of his subordinates, who just happened to also be hired by that hate-blinded old fool, Kikunojō Tendo. He had simply gone with the flow.
But he never expected that before the plan could even properly begin, Hiruko Kagetane would be eliminated!
That's why he had sent in the Five Wings Syndicate team.
His ultimate goal? To completely eliminate Kikunojō Tendo, and then, after Scorpio had finished devastating the Tokyo Area, he would sweep in and seize total control, claiming the immensely rich Varanium resources for himself! He had even gone so far as to sabotage the Tokyo Area's ultimate weapon, the "Sky Ladder" orbital bombardment system.
It was a flawless, foolproof strategy.
And yet, it had all failed because of one, tiny, unforeseen variable.
That supposedly invincible Zodiac, Scorpio, had actually been slain by a rookie Promoter who had been active for less than a year, using some unknown, terrifying method!
And now, this time, he could have taken advantage of Kikunojō Tendo's absence to assassinate the Seitenshi and also eliminate that brat who had dared to refuse his generous offer and ruined his plans.
But he had failed. Again.
...
With two consecutive, catastrophic failures branded onto his record, Sōgen Saitake knew his fate was sealed. The disgrace was absolute. Demotion was inevitable. To be stripped from the esteemed rank of Five Wings down to Four… to be reduced to the level of those livestock slaves he so despised!
"—I'm not reconciled!" he snarled, his voice a raw, guttural thing as he gnashed his teeth, his entire body trembling with impotent rage.
Just then, a shrill, panicked alarm blared through the aircraft's cabin. The entire frame of the plane began to shudder violently, throwing Sōgen from his seat and sending him crashing onto the cold, hard floor.
"What's going on?! You incompetent fools, what are you doing?!" he roared, scrambling to his feet. But his anger evaporated in an instant, replaced by a cold, primal terror that drenched him in a freezing sweat.
The scene before him was one of pure, unadulterated annihilation.
In the center of the cabin, a scorching orb of light had manifested. It was tiny at first, no larger than a ping-pong ball, but it suddenly began to expand at an impossible rate, emitting a heat so intense it superheated the air, creating visible shockwaves that rippled outwards. The very matter around it—the alloy walls, the reinforced glass, the seats—simply melted and evaporated before his eyes. In the span of a single, horrifying breath, the ball of light transformed into an all-consuming inferno that swallowed the entire aircraft.
From the ground, it appeared as a second sun, hanging ominously high in the sky. It parted the sea of clouds with its sheer presence, illuminating the heavens and the earth with its blinding, judgmental light. And then, as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone. It rapidly contracted into a single, insignificant point and vanished without a trace. No debris, no smoke, not even a hint of radiation remained. It was as if it had never existed at all.
"Fuu~ Who would have thought 'Material Burst' would be this convenient?"
Standing triumphantly atop the Monolith, Yotsuba Mahiro watched the now-clear blue sky and couldn't help but let out a low, impressed whistle.
Material Burst—the ultimate expression of decomposition-type magic. A supreme spell that directly deconstructed mass itself into pure energy. This was no simple matter-antimatter annihilation. By bypassing that process and converting mass directly into energy according to that old classic, E=mc², there was zero energy loss. The efficiency was terrifying. Even a single, insignificant drop of water, a mere fifty milligrams, undergoing mass decomposition could release thermal energy comparable to one thousand tons of TNT.
Its power and after-effect cleanliness are truly outstanding, Mahiro mused. Using it over the ocean might cause a tsunami, but here in the sky? Nothing but a gust of wind. Not even a hint of residual radiation. Its precision far surpasses those messy, radioactive heavy metal bursts.
He allowed himself a small, smug grin. Shiba Tatsuya probably never imagined someone could deploy his strategically-classified magic without the long-range targeting aid of the "Third Eye" CAD. Or… perhaps the great Mahesvara had considered the possibility all along? Yotsuba Mahiro didn't know, and frankly, he didn't care. His grand performance of vengeance had only just begun.
His second stop was the United States. With the helpful hints from Tina Sprout, combined with memory fragments pilfered from various high-ranking magicians within ROMA, he successfully located the clandestine laboratory of that mad scientist, An Rand. There, he unleashed another Super-Range Material Burst. But the effect wasn't quite as… impactful as he'd hoped for a statement of his wrath.
So, he decided to deploy a different type of strategic magic, one rooted in gravitational force.
"Have you ever witnessed the spectacle of a 'Starfall'?" he whispered to the uncaring wind.
High above, a solitary meteorite, once peacefully orbiting the planet, was forcibly seized by an unimaginable gravitational pull. Through a complex, thirty-two-layered sequence of gravity magic, its trajectory was brutally corrected, dragging it down into the atmosphere where it burned a brilliant, apocalyptic red. Like a fist of divine retribution, the fireball screamed across the sky and struck the North American continent with world-shaking force, recreating the kind of cataclysm that once wiped out the dinosaurs.
The ensuing shockwave of panic that reverberated through the world's intelligence agencies was almost as powerful as the impact itself. Why had a meteorite suddenly fallen? No one had an answer. The calculations required for such a feat were astronomical, and even for Yotsuba Mahiro, executing it left him deeply drained, his magical reserves scraping the bottom of the barrel.
But his American trip wasn't just about destruction; he also brought back souvenirs.
He gathered the Cursed Children—the Initiators—wandering the desolate landscapes of the former United States. Their numbers were tragically few, not even reaching ten thousand. To be honest, the global population of Cursed Children was now only in the hundreds of thousands at best. Between the world's plummeting population after the Gastrea War, a critically low birth rate, and the… "efforts" of the normal humans, their kind was teetering on the brink.
The greatest surprise, however, was for Tina Sprout herself. Mahiro didn't just bring back random children; he brought back her sisters, the other products of An Rand's horrific experimentation.
There was Ashley Springsteen, IP Rank 100, codenamed 'Giga‑Hedgehog'; the quietIrene Spencer (IP Rank 95), codenamed 'Meteorfall'; the sharp-eyed Fay Krummiller, IP Rank 88, codenamed 'Fer‑de‑Lance'; the fiercely defiant Louise Salazny, IP Rank 70, codenamed 'Blood Creek'; and the strongest of them all, IP Rank 21—Rita Sosberry, their leader, codenamed 'Pluto'.
Just like Tina, they were all homeless orphans, captured by An Rand and subjected to countless brutal surgeries that cost innumerable young lives to create the few powerful, traumatized girls that remained.
Of course, these children weren't as soft and easily managed as his dear Tina-chan. Having been forcibly "rescued," they were initially incredibly hostile towards their mysterious new "benefactor." But Mahiro found it didn't matter much. They were, at the end of the day, just children. And if they didn't listen, a few sharp lessons in physical education usually sufficed to make them see reason.
And so, under his… enthusiastic tutelage, all of them, with the sole exception of the proud Louise, quickly learned to be obedient. The self-styled 'Blood Creek' required a few extra, private tutoring sessions before her spirit was thoroughly broken and her temper completely lost.
...
With his impromptu escort mission concluded, Mahiro realized he hadn't shown his face at the office for a while. Deciding it was time to make an appearance, he headed to the Tendo Civil Security office the next day to punch in.
The shop downstairs was as it always was—quiet and nearly empty during the day, but a bustling hub of activity once night fell.
When he stepped into the office, President Kisara was already seated in her imposing boss's chair.
"Yo, good morning, President Kisara," he greeted casually, his tone light.
"Ah… Mahiro-kun, good morning." Kisara looked up and forced a weak smile. She looked utterly drained, with dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept properly for days.
"What's wrong? Work hasn't been that heavy lately, has it?" Mahiro asked, plopping down onto the sofa. He tilted his head, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Could it be insomnia? If it's insomnia, I actually know a great remedy. Someone with your… assets, President Kisara, just needs to find a boyfriend. I guarantee you'd be too… preoccupied to suffer from insomnia every night."
"W-What kind of nonsense are you spouting, you baka!
Damn it!
Dim-witted pervert!" Flushing a brilliant scarlet from a mix of embarrassment and fury, Kisara slammed her hands on her desk and shot to her feet.
Hmm, there it is, Mahiro thought with an inward smirk. That's the real Tendo Kisara. Much better than the tired zombie from a moment ago.
Just then, a soft voice chimed in. "Mahiro-sama, please have some water."
"Oh, thank you, Tina-ch—."
He accepted the cup and took a generous sip, only for his brain to finally process the scene. His eyes widened in shock, and he immediately spat the water back out in a spectacular, undignified spray.
"Ahn!" With a startled shriek, the petite girl swiftly raised a serving tray like a shield, expertly deflecting the watery assault. She slowly lowered it, her large, calm eyes peering over the top. "Mahiro-san? What is wrong with you?"
"I should be asking that! Why are you here?!" he sputtered, wiping his mouth. He distinctly remembered assigning Tina to night security duty at the Arcadia Company under Kayo's watchful eye.
"Heh heh, I hired her~"
It was Kisara who answered, her previous anger replaced by a smug, cat-like smile. She walked over and rested her hands protectively on Tina's shoulders. "That's right. With Rentaro-kun still in the hospital, you refusing to let poor Asaka-chan do any real work, and Enju-chan attending school, our office was critically understaffed. So, I took the initiative and hired Tina-chan as a new employee!"
"And Kayo-chan just… agreed?" Mahiro asked, one eyebrow arched in suspicion.
"Mm, of course she did. That child is surprisingly reasonable once you talk to her."
Though she said that, a cold sweat trickled down Kisara's back as she recalled the "negotiation." Kayo had initially been vehemently opposed, citing Tina's status as a former assassin and a Cursed Child, her expression a mask of cold refusal… that very clearly screamed 'Make me a better offer.'
And so, Kisara had been thoroughly extorted, parting with a cool one billion Japanese Yen—the entirety of the Scorpio incident reward money—to secure Tina's temporary transfer.
"From today onward, I am a formal employee of Tendo Civil Security. Please take good care of me, Mahiro-sama," Tina said, offering a perfect, deep bow.
"...Sama again?!" Mahiro's eye twitched. "Miss President, setting that aside for a moment… are you fully aware of exactly who Tina is?" He had already pieced together the shady financial transaction that must have occurred.
"Mm, I know," Kisara replied breezily. "She's the skilled little assassin who tried to take out the Seitenshi-sama, right? So what?"
"So what? It's just…" His mouth worked soundlessly for a moment. He had planned to formally take Tina to the Holy Residence to apologize and receive a proper pardon from the Seitenshi herself before integrating her into public life. And this meddling, idiotic woman had gone and jumped the gun, potentially causing a diplomatic incident!
"What, you have a problem with it?" Kisara's smile was infuriatingly bright. "Tina-chan is very happy to be here."
Tina nodded vigorously, her expression utterly earnest. "Yes. I very much wish to work with Mahiro-sama. After all, I am Mahiro-sama's slave. It is my duty and my purpose to remain by his side and alleviate his burdens."
Yotsuba Mahiro: "..."
Tendo Kisara: "...?"
The air in the office froze solid. The bold, utterly shocking declaration completely short-circuited Tendo Kisara's brain. Her face paled from flushed to sheet-white as she stared at Mahiro, her hands trembling as she fumbled her phone from her pocket.
"Po… Police… I need to call the police," she stammered, her voice a horrified whisper.
"WAIT! Hold on! Time out!" Mahiro lunged forward, clamping his hand over hers and the phone. "I can explain! This is all a huge misunderstanding! It's just a… a figure of speech! A disciplinary term! It's not what your dirty mind is immediately jumping to!"
A cold sweat broke out on his own brow. It was a bit of his own twisted humor, yes, but if he'd known the girl would take the 'slave' label so literally and publicly, he never would have said it!
"Let go of my phone, you lolicon! Hentai! I can't believe you! She's only ten years old!" Kisara shrieked, struggling violently against his grip.
It took several minutes and a calm, clarifying explanation from Tina herself—about how Mahiro had saved her, given her a home and purpose, and how the term was her own way of expressing ultimate loyalty—for Kisara to finally, reluctantly, calm down. She still fixed Mahiro with a glare that could freeze hell and issued a stern warning. "I'm watching you, Mahiro-kun. If you do anything even remotely strange to Tina-chan, or Asaka-chan, or any child, I will personally castrate you with a rusty spoon. Are we clear?"
Mahiro could only sigh in profound speechlessness. If he were truly that kind of monster, the utterly devoted and unresisting Asaka would have been "eaten" by him a long time ago. But he wasn't. His tastes, while questionable to some, had their own lines he wouldn't cross.
Once the storm had passed, Kisara settled back into her boss's chair, the playful atmosphere evaporating into something heavy and serious. She let out a slow breath, the weight of the world seeming to settle back onto her shoulders.
"…Mahiro-kun." She propped her chin on her steepled fingers, her gaze intense. "There's something important I need to discuss with you. Something… only you can help me with."
"Whoa, that's some serious mood whiplash. This must be big."
"Mm…" She gave a single, sharp nod, pulled open a drawer, and retrieved a thick manila folder. She rose and walked over to him, her movements stiff. "Because… there's no one else I can trust with this."
As she extended the folder, he could see her entire body was trembling, a fine, unnatural shiver she was desperately trying to suppress. Her grip on the documents was white-knuckled, her fingertips bloodless from the pressure. When she looked up, the expression on her face was one he had seen only in fleeting, dark moments—a chilling, vengeful smirk that didn't belong on the face of the usually righteous Kisara.
It was the smile of the vengeful spirit that slept within her, now fully awakened and burning with a cold fire.
"Hey, Mahiro-kun…" she whispered, her voice a blend of triumph and mania. "Thanks to you… I've finally found the key to destroying the Tendo Family!"
A small, almost hysterical laugh escaped her lips. She tried to stifle it, but it bubbled forth uncontrollably. Her shoulders shook, and her face was lit with a sickly, euphoric grin.
His eyes dropped to the document in his hands. The header was stark and clear:
'Structural Integrity Report: Monolith No. 32'
The contents detailed a litany of failures—substandard materials, corrupted Quintessence infusions, structural non-compliance. But his eyes skipped to the most damning line, the one that explained everything:
'—The primary contractor for the construction of Monolith No. 32, commissioned post-Gastrea War, was the Tendo Corporation, under the direct supervision of the current Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Kazumitsu Tendo—'
The rest was just details. For Kisara, the combination of a death-trap Monolith and her uncle's name was all the proof and weapon she would ever need.
"Hey, Mahiro-kun… with this…" Her voice was trembling with barely contained ecstasy. "I can finally tear them down, right?! This is the beginning of my revenge, isn't it?!"
But the moment the triumphant words left her lips, her body betrayed her. A low, pained groan escaped her as her face went deathly pale. She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, one hand flying to her lower abdomen as her legs gave way beneath her.
"Hey!"
Mahiro's sharp cry was the last thing she heard before the world dissolved into darkness and she collapsed.