At ten o'clock at night, after a day at the beach, the girls were exhausted and fast asleep. Samuel, ever the night owl, slipped out of the inn they'd reserved.
Timeline note: the dark side organization ITEM's attack was set for eleven, an hour away.
This place held historical weight from the shogunate era, where a warrior devoted to the Cross Church led a rebellion against the brutal shogunate—and met his end. From his legacy sprouted a religious sect: the Amakusa-Style Remix of Church.
This magical sect excelled at concealment, but modern technology had exposed their traces.
And so, it drew a watcher—Samuel.
Samuel possessed some magical knowledge, gleaned from a magician who once tried infiltrating Academy City.
Through his hybrid programs and computational deductions, this knowledge had evolved into what could be called a new magical sect—perhaps best termed the Church of Science.
In terms of magic alone, Samuel's prowess rivaled a typical sect leader, equivalent to a standard Level 5.
The Amakusa-Style Remix of Church was a minor sect, a mere branch, weak in strength but adept at hiding.
Rumor had it they'd once produced a Saint, only for the Anglican Church, a major Cross Church faction, to poach them.
A Saint, akin to the science side's Gemstones, was born close to "mystery," with physical prowess far beyond ordinary humans—combat strength at least on par with a battle-oriented Level 5.
But that was irrelevant; the Saint was long gone to Britain.
Samuel's aim in targeting the Amakusa-Style Remix of Church was to seize their magical knowledge, bolstering his own foundation.
Much like stealing espers' programs.
Tap, tap, tap…
Footsteps approached from the side. At a corner, a blonde girl dashed out, turning without looking and colliding with Samuel.
"Ow!"
She fell, her paper bag tearing, books spilling across the ground.
As mentioned before, Samuel's instincts were always calculating. He'd foreseen this and could've avoided her.
But calculations served his benefit. The favorable outcome prompted him to act.
Though the girl was… modest in figure, the collision still carried a pleasant "fragrance."
"Sorry, gotta go, quick!"
She scrambled to her feet, glancing at the scattered books with a pained expression but grabbed Samuel's hand, pulling him into an alley.
Moments later, burly men in black appeared, eyeing the books before splitting up to search.
"Phew…"
The blonde exhaled, then turned to Samuel, whom she'd dragged along.
"Oh, what a thrilling comic!"
Samuel held a book he'd grabbed—a manga, the kind banned in some countries but common here: a "doujinshi."
"Hey! Why'd you take that?"
Her face flushed, steam practically rising from her head.
She tried to snatch it… but failed.
"Tsk, tsk. Artist 'Kashiwagi Eri.' Just from the work, you can tell they're full of wild, indulgent fantasies."
"What did you say?!"
She yowled like a cat with its fur on end, glaring at Samuel, heedless of her pursuers, and snapped back.
"Oh, not satisfied? Hmm… Miss Sawamura Spencer Eriri! Quite a name—are you European?"
Golden twin-tails swayed in the breeze, her blue eyes like the sea, her skin soft and pale as milk. Even her fierce expression was adorably enhanced by her beauty.
How did Samuel know her name? A bookmark inside the manga bore it—though it could've been borrowed.
"Hmph, I'm British. And yes, I'm very unsatisfied! Kashiwagi Eri-sensei is… is…"
Eriri faltered, grasping for words.
"Cat got your tongue?"
"No way! I'll have you know, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei is a genuine, beautiful girl!"
Her fervor drew a teasing smirk from Samuel. He'd recalled her identity.
From the same anime as Katou Megumi, Saekano, she was the second or third female lead.
And indeed, she was the doujinshi artist known as Kashiwagi Eri.
"Is that so? I'd love to meet her then."
"Heh, knew you'd say that. Regret your flippant words now?"
Eriri puffed out her chest—or what little there was—like a victorious general.
"Nah. If a beautiful girl drew this, she must be lonely. Meeting her could be…"
Samuel's grin turned suggestive. On an old creep, it'd be sleazy; on a handsome youth like him, it was charming.
"Rude!"
Eriri's breathing quickened, shocked by the dreamy, princely boy's words. He was still handsome, but she was livid!
She took deep breaths, forcing some… subtle movement in her chest.
***
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