Chapter 219: Clothes-Off Version of "Mist Dispersion"?
The journey to the Sanctuary had come to an end.
The destruction of the holy city Lindwurm, along with the deaths of Archbishop Duet and Acting Archbishop Nelson, sent shockwaves through the Holy Church.
Notices were sent to neighboring nations, vowing to capture the perpetrator and bring them to justice.
However, for Mahiro, the one responsible for it all, this was nothing worth paying attention to.
After returning to the royal capital of Midgar from Lindwurm, preparations began for the upcoming Bushin Festival.
Hm? You ask about Aurora?
Aurora's current state was a bit strange.
It was true that he had forcibly kept her from dissipating, but she was like a wandering spirit—without a physical vessel, mere magical energy alone was not enough to sustain her.
Thus, she ended up attaching herself to Claire.
Although Elisabeth shared closer blood ties with her, Aurora explained that this young girl suited her preferences better. Moreover, since Claire was often near him, Aurora could manifest slightly whenever help was needed.
Of course, Aurora's lodging within Claire's body wasn't free—she was responsible for teaching Claire how to utilize the latent power within her.
As for crafting a physical body for Aurora, that would have to wait.
At present, he lacked such an ability.
Destruction was within his capabilities, replication was possible, but creation was clearly not his forte.
Aside from that, there was the matter concerning Alexia and the others.
According to Beta's account, after leaving the Sanctuary, Alexia couldn't stop thinking about the bizarre stories and the scenes she had witnessed.
She wanted to pull Rose and Beta into a thorough investigation, aiming to judge right and wrong for herself and uncover the truth of the world, rather than relying solely on Mahiro's version of events.
Naturally, Beta would not agree—even under the guise of Natsume-sensei, she would not consent.
Because Alexia's actions could very well cause trouble for Mahiro.
As for Rose, she did not agree either.
Rose's goal was simple—she had no interest in the past, as those matters had nothing to do with her.
All she wanted now was to grow stronger, continuously stronger, to the point where she could catch up to Yotsuba-sensei, rather than merely watching from afar.
Thus, the alliance of the three girls died before it could even form.
Left entirely on her own, Alexia could no longer stir up any significant trouble.
The season of the Bushin Festival had arrived.
The streets of the royal capital were bustling, filled with more unfamiliar faces than ever before.
Pedestrians of all races, nationalities, and professions crowded the roads, united by a single purpose—to enjoy the Bushin Festival.
He hadn't been in the capital during the previous festival, so he wasn't entirely sure, but this year was undoubtedly lively.
This, he supposed, was what a festival ought to be like.
"Whoa, so many people…"
The moment Mahiro stepped into the Arcadia Trading Company, he realized the commotion inside was even more intense than outside—it was nearly at the point of people squeezing against one another.
A wave of heat from the crowd washed over him.
Even though those entering were almost exclusively nobles and royalty, they now huddled together like commoners.
A few elegantly dressed noblewomen gathered, chatting and laughing as they held the latest season's handbags.
"Mahiro-sama, this way, please."
It was Nu.
Like a ninja appearing suddenly from the crowd, Mahiro was directly led to the deeper, customer-restricted areas of the merchant guild.
Walking along a corridor paved with luxurious wool carpets in a European-style hotel ambiance, soft indirect lighting cascaded from the vaulted ceiling.
Yet Mahiro had no intention of admiring the scenery.
His reason for being here today was primarily due to a message from Eta.
She claimed her research was nearly complete and hoped he could find time to come take a look.
As for what exactly she was researching—
It was, of course, the study of extracting the magical activation sequence from the "Nightmare" he had gifted her long ago and integrating it into slimes.
To be honest, he was quite curious.
In this world without computers or massive computational power, how exactly did Eta plan to extract and utilize such ethereal data?
Just as he was pondering this, he found himself led into what appeared to be a laboratory.
It was completely different from the outside.
The ceiling, walls, and floor were all made of metal, and a nearby table was crowded with various beakers and conical flasks.
It certainly looked the part.
The problem was, these were merely decorative props...
"Ah, Mahiro-nii, you're here..."
A petite elf emerged from inside, draped in a white lab coat long enough to trail on the floor. Her voice carried a mysterious drowsiness, and her dark, long hair was tousled as if she had just woken up.
She kept rubbing her eyes.
She looked utterly exhausted.
Only upon seeing Mahiro did she perk up slightly.
This was Eta.
Unlike others who addressed him as "lord" or "master," Eta preferred to call him "brother"—perhaps because she was the youngest among the Seven Shadows.
She was also the child Mahiro doted on most.
Eta relied on him greatly.
What surprised him, however, was that Eta wasn't alone in the laboratory—Sherry was there too!
Her pink long hair and academy uniform stood out starkly in the lab setting.
She followed silently behind Eta.
For some reason, her face was filled with dejection and gloom, and even the ahoge on her head drooped listlessly.
"What's going on here?"
"Yotsuba-sensei..."
Tears welled in Sherry's eyes as she began to speak, but Eta cut them off.
"Mahiro-nii, come help me test the new technological weapon."
Eta stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his, and pulled him aside.
"I-I'm fine, Yotsuba-sensei. Let's help Eta-san with her test first."
Sherry wiped away her tears and forced a smile.
But that smile looked so broken, so strained and humble.
"Alright."
Since she said so.
As for how to test it—naturally, combat would best demonstrate its capabilities.
Yet when he arrived at the combat grounds, he found the place already crowded with people gathered around the arena.
"I mean, was such a grand setup necessary?"
They all wore unified black combat attire, and each face bore an expression of anticipation.
They were all numbered members of the Shadow Garden.
At the forefront were Epsilon and Beta, both waving and cheering him on.
Alright, you win.
"I'm starting now," declared Eta, who had already walked to the opposite end of the field and stood facing him.
"Mm, go ahead."
Mahiro also slightly gathered his focus, sharpening his attention.
Were the Seven Shadows of Shadow Garden strong?
To be honest, they weren't weak at all, especially Eta and Alpha.
The others were manageable, but Alpha was the type with exceptional combat talent and magical power.
Her combat skills surpassed Delta's, her learning ability nearly matched Zeta's, her magical reserves were on par with Gamma's, and her control was second only to Epsilon's.
She was practically an all-rounder.
As for Eta...
Though she wasn't as outstanding as Alpha in every aspect, this quirky elf loli always came up with strange and unexpected tricks.
She even used aphrodisiacs in battle...
Just as he was thinking this and heightening his alertness, a faint white mist suddenly began to spread across the field.
The mist gradually thickened until it completely obscured his vision.
As expected...
"It somehow feels like a simulation battle..."
At the very least, this was something he had frequently experienced at the Fourth Research Institute.
Using mist to block vision and launch attacks, testing his reaction speed and the like.
But was it effective?
Tap.
As Mahiro activated the "Eye of the Spirit," his ears twitched slightly, suddenly catching a faint sound of landing behind him.
"Take this! Dry Meteor!"
At some point, Eta's white lab coat had vanished, replaced by a black slime combat suit.
Threads of magical energy, like meridians, flowed into the slime suit, and the emanating magic transformed into countless points of light.
But the direction from which the magic was launched wasn't from the front.
It was—
"Above!"
Mahiro looked up to see countless hailstones falling from the sky.
This was a composite magic combining aggregation, dispersion, and movement—the prototype magic that formed "Hale Particles."
But in Eta's hands, both its power and quality were no less impressive than Mayumi's "Hale Particles."
Yet, Mahiro merely shifted his body slightly and easily dodged the falling hailstones.
Compared to Aurora's skills, the density of this hail was still lacking.
The hailstones shattered into powder upon hitting the ground, even near his feet.
They began to sublimate at a visible rate.
In no time, the carbon dioxide concentration in the air around Mahiro had exceeded safe levels.
It had to be said, the tactic was clever—using dry ice to create an oxygen-deprived environment to subdue the enemy.
Eta's actions confirmed Mahiro's speculation.
"Neutron Barrier!"
A transparent, cube-shaped barrier erected around him, forming a perfect cube.
"Is it voice-activated?"
Curious, Mahiro stepped forward and lightly tapped the barrier wall. Ripples immediately spread across its surface.
It was quite sturdy.
And there was no issue with the tactic—under normal circumstances, an enemy at this stage would have no room to fight back.
If he added something like "Muspelheim" or "Niflheim," it would definitely be a sure kill.
But—
"Facing me, you're still too green, Eta!"
Mahiro lifted his foot and stomped violently on the ground.
Boom!
A powerful shockwave swept through the entire testing ground, leaving a deep footprint on the metal floor.
Simultaneously, a massive surge of magical energy erupted, swirling within the confined space of the cube.
The enormous flow of magical energy, unable to disperse, repeatedly collided within the barrier, gradually forming chaotic currents.
Like a fierce gale, it tousled his black, fragmented hair, reflecting a gradually delighted smile.
Crack!
Crunch!
Under Mahiro's continuous output, a crack suddenly appeared on the surface of the barrier.
Like a breakthrough point, the crack gradually expanded, slowly spreading across the entire surface of the cube.
Finally unable to withstand the impact of the magical energy, it shattered with a loud crunch!
The surging storm of magical energy instantly dispersed the mist, revealing Eta's figure.
At the same time, Mahiro appeared in front of Eta, a magical longsword materializing in his hand as he swung it mercilessly toward the girl before him.
He had adjusted the intensity of the magical energy—the strike would only cause pain without leaving physical wounds.
So Mahiro felt confident in attacking without restraint.
But unexpectedly, Eta did not give up. Instead, she manipulated the slime to create a massive black shield.
His sword clashed with Eta's shield.
Clang!
A heavy impact reverberated through the room.
Under the powerful force, Eta was pushed back half a step but still managed to hold her ground against his blade.
However, Mahiro noticed something unusual.
A simple slime shield shouldn't be able to block his attack, let alone one that seemed to be absorbing his sword, gradually merging it into the shield!
"Mahiro-nii, this is a new technique. It reacts to magical energy and absorbs it."
"You really managed to come up with some strange and bizarre killing moves."
Mahiro chuckled indifferently, completely allowing Eta to absorb his magical energy.
But the next moment, Eta suddenly raised her small hand toward him, her usually calm and slightly lazy face now showing a trace of solemnity for the first time.
"Mahiro-nii, you need to be careful with this next move. Even you might die."
"Is that so? Then let me see it."
A move that could completely kill him—frankly, he was quite curious.
"Charged Particle Cannon."
As she spoke, Eta's small hand gathered an immense amount of magical energy, almost entirely utilizing what she had absorbed from him.
Then, she fired a brilliant blue beam.
"Is that all?"
Mahiro tilted his head, neither dodging nor avoiding the incoming particle beam. Instead, he pressed his hand directly against it!
"Neutron Barrier."
A hemispherical protective shield, like an inverted bowl, appeared in his palm, colliding with the particle beam.
The deflected beam swept across the ground, melting the metal and tearing scorching marks into it.
Beta was utterly stunned by this style of combat.
Especially the shield that could absorb magical energy and the blue beam that was just fired.
"I've never heard of such a thing! Eta, didn't Alpha-sama say you should report immediately when developing useful new techniques?"
Not only did she not report it, but she actually used it on Mahiro-sama!
"Well... I haven't completed the safety tests yet, so I planned to report later."
"You're just too lazy to test it, aren't you!"
Eta's eyes darted away, her thoughts clearly exposed.
Though Mahiro wasn't the one asking the question, she still didn't dare meet his gaze.
"Alright now, don't lose focus during battle. Especially when fighting me."
While still resisting Eta's charged particle cannon, Mahiro exerted a bit more force, instantly reversing what had been an evenly matched situation.
He completely blocked the particle beam and grasped Eta's small hand in his.
"Ah...!"
Eta let out a small cry of pain before her entire body turned into mist, creating distance between them.
To think she even learned the vampire's mistification skill.
As for whether Eta might get injured...
With the slime's protection, Mahiro didn't need to worry about Eta getting hurt at all, especially with the additional support of potions.
Even if she did get injured, she could be instantly healed and recovered.
"You still need more practice, Eta. If you really want to develop techniques to defeat me, this level isn't enough yet."
After the fight, Mahiro proudly teased the girl, making Eta blush deeply.
"It's not over yet. I haven't used all the techniques I've developed."
She said this,
but Mahiro had already seen through what magic she was going to use.
Through observation with his "Eye of the Spirit" and "Copy Eyes," he had completely grasped the flow of magic power infused into the slime.
The spell Eta was about to use was his favorite A-rank destructive magic "Mist Dispersion."
But it seemed somewhat different from his "Mist Dispersion"?
Well, he'd block it first anyway.
"Take this—Mist Dispersion!"
"Rampart Formation!"
Their magic activated almost simultaneously.
A hemispherical protective barrier instantly covered the area above Mahiro.
If there was any magic that could resist "Mist Dispersion," aside from spell dissolution, it would definitely be the Juumonji family's strongest defensive magic "Rampart Formation."
Even Tatsuya admitted that the Juumonji family's magic perfectly countered his decomposition.
And just as expected, the moment Mist Dispersion decomposed one barrier, new barriers immediately appeared.
Unless he ran out of magic power, they would keep regenerating endlessly.
However, for some reason, the girls watching from behind started screaming.
"Eek!!! M-my clothes!!!"
What about clothes?
Mahiro instinctively turned his head, only to see a scene that nearly made blood spray from his nose.
All the girls from Shadow Garden had their black combat suits completely vanish, leaving nothing but pale white scenery before his eyes.
It was an incredibly pleasing view.
Even Beta and Epsilon at the front were no exception.
Especially Epsilon—like a sheep forcibly stripped of all disguise, her height instantly shrank to about Eta's size, while her chest became completely flat.
A secret known only to a few people was now completely exposed!
"My... mine!!!"
Startled, Epsilon instinctively covered her body and quickly channeled magic, instantly regenerating new slime that enveloped her figure.
In the blink of an eye, the reconstruction was complete.
She now possessed a tall, exceptionally developed physique.
"M-Master, did you just see...?"
Epsilon's face flushed crimson as she hugged her chest, her voice trembling.
"N-No, I didn't see anything at all."
Mahiro turned his head away, feigning ignorance.
Though if we're talking about development, Beta is undoubtedly the best—so full and rounded that even Alpha can't compare...
"Mmm~ How annoying, even the undressed version of Mist Dispersion was blocked? As expected of Mahiro-nii."
Eta gritted her silver teeth lightly, seemingly unwilling to give up, and immediately prepared for a second round.
But just as she gathered her magic—
"Stop this at once!"
With a dull thud, Eta's head wobbled several times.
"Oww... m-my head~~~~!"
Clutching her head, she crouched down, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.
It looked genuinely painful.
"Know your limits! Look at what you've done!"
A beautiful golden-haired elf appeared behind Eta, possessing a tall and graceful figure, with a Holy Sword hanging at her waist.
In her hand, she held a hammer formed from slime, her breathtaking face tinged with faint anger.
She had used this hammer to strike Eta's head.
"You... how dare you do this... once brain cells are damaged, they can't recover... my brilliant intellect..."
Eta glared fiercely up at the other.
"What's with that look?"
"Even if it's Lady Alpha, I won't forgive this..."
"Oh~ Is that so?"
Thud!
Alpha mercilessly struck again, this time knocking Eta out completely.
Then Gamma ordered her subordinates to drag Eta away.
How ruthless...
Just watching those two hammer strikes was painful.