"Hey! What are you smirking at? Is it that funny watching us dance in the palm of your hand?!" Asuna yelled, her face turning red.
"No, no, you've got it wrong. The Headmaster set this whole thing up. He wanted Negi to get some real-world combat experience now that he's graduated from the magic academy."
To be precise, it was a compromise after Eva got furious at Konoe for hiding the fact that Nagi's son was coming here… but the 'training' explanation was simpler.
"The Headmaster did this?!"
"Yeah. Here, take my phone and ask him yourself."
I pulled my mobile from my pocket and handed it to Asuna. She looked at it suspiciously for a second before navigating the contacts with practiced ease.
"...Hello? Headmaster? Yes, it's me, Asuna Kagurazaka. I'm calling on Axel's phone. About this fight between Eva-chan and Negi… Yes, it's over. I guess… it was Negi's win?"
At the mention of "Negi's win," Eva's cheek twitched. Objectively, she had lost this round, even if she hadn't been able to go all out.
"Eva," I asked, turning to her. "Why did you lose your steam the second the power came back on?"
"Hmph. You might have forgotten, but I am bound to this school by the curse of 'Schooling Hell.'"
"I remember. You told me."
"Well, that curse binds me to Mahora, but it doesn't actually seal my magic."
"Wait, what?"
I was confused. In reality, her mana was suppressed to the point where she was only powerful during a full moon.
"I understand your confusion," Eva sighed. "To be honest, I didn't realize it myself until recently. The thing sealing my magic isn't the curse—it's the massive barrier encompassing the entire Mahora campus. And that barrier is maintained not by mana, but by a massive consumption of electricity."
"I see. So you took advantage of the blackout."
"Exactly. Well, Chachamaru did. I don't understand all this 'high-tech' nonsense."
It made sense now. The moment the power returned, the academy's barrier reactivated, slamming the seal back onto her.
"Still, you've been trapped here for fifteen years. It took you a while to figure that out, didn't it?"
"Shut up. I told you, I'm bad with technology."
"Master," Chachamaru interjected softly. "I am also 'high-tech.'"
Asuna walked back over and handed my phone back.
"Satisfied?" I asked.
"Yeah, the Headmaster confirmed it. Honestly… if it was all a setup, I didn't even need to make a Pactio. What do they think a maiden's kiss is for?!"
She grumbled under her breath as I tucked my phone away. I noticed a faint glow—likely the Pactio taking effect when she had disappeared with Negi earlier.
"I'm just glad," Negi said, his voice soft with relief. "I really thought Axel-kun had betrayed us."
Asuna perked up. "Betrayed?"
"Ah, well… when we got to the girls' bath, Axel-kun and the Class Rep were already there waiting with Evangeline-san. I thought for sure he'd switched sides."
That reminded me—I'd left Ayaka back there. I needed to go get her before we headed back to the dorms. But, in classic fashion, I saw her running toward us before I could move.
"Axel-kun! Negi-sensei! Are you alright?!"
She wasn't as fast as Asuna, but she was outrunning most professional athletes.
"Ayaka? What about Akashi and Sasaki?"
"People claiming to be the Headmaster's subordinates arrived and took over their care," she panted, coming to a halt.
The old man moves fast when he wants to, I thought.
"Ugh, the Class Rep," Asuna groaned. "I guess if Axel is here, his 'knight' wouldn't be far behind."
"What?" Eva squinted at Ayaka. "Yukihiro Ayaka… did you sign a contract with Axel?"
"Heheh. I coordinated the whole thing," Kamo bragged. "It's just a Provisional Contract, not a formal one, but still!"
The ermine looked far too proud of himself. He really never learns.
"So, Axel-kun," Negi asked tentatively. "This counts as my win for the mock battle, right?"
"Sure, why not?"
"Alright! I'm going to record it in the class register!" Negi beamed, pulling out his book from nowhere.
Eva wasn't about to let that slide. "Don't you dare! If the blackout had lasted, I would have won!"
"Ehh? But Axel-kun said I won. And besides, there are no 'ifs' or 'buts' in a real fight, right?"
"You brat! You're only clever when it's time to talk back! My pride won't allow this!"
As the two of them devolved into a shouting match, Asuna looked at Chachamaru.
"So… are they made up now, or what?"
"...I wonder," the android replied.
"They look like they've made up to me," Ayaka added. "Though it looks like Round Two is about to start any second."
"Oh, come on! Not in this state!" Asuna charged toward the bickering pair. "Negi! Eva-chan! THAT IS ENOUGH!"
I stood back with the others, watching Asuna dive into the fray, a wry smile on my face.
[Status Screen]
Name: Axel Almar
LV: 38
PP: 625
Stats: Melee: 262 | Ranged: 282 | Skill: 272 | Defense: 272 | Evasion: 302 | Accuracy: 322
SP: 462
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Spend SP to enhance Slime performance)
Growth Type: All-Rounder / Special
Terrain Rankings: Air: S | Land: S | Sea: S | Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accel (Cost: 4 SP)
Effort (Cost: 8 SP)
Focus (Cost: 16 SP)
Direct Hit (Cost: 30 SP)
Awaken (Cost: 32 SP)
Love (Cost: 48 SP)
Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9, SP Regen, Concentration)
Telekinesis Lv.10
Attacker
Gunfight Lv.9
In-fight Lv.9
Will Limit Break
Geass (Grey)
Magic (Fire, Shadow, Summoning)
Total Kills: 376
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