Aoko scratched her head, a bit confused, and asked, "Why?"
"Why? Because the Big Sister of the Rose Group you're looking for is sitting across from you eating BBQ..." Rin cleared her throat and said, "Um, let's not talk about that for now. Did the Rose Group do anything terrible that you can't stand? Something that made you decide to clean them up?"
"Hmm, not really." Aoko pondered with her arms crossed. "Ever since the Rose Group was established, those endless rats have actually been brought under control. Although they do collect protection money from businesses in their area, they actually step up when there's trouble, and their efficiency is even higher than the police. The public order in their jurisdiction is surprisingly good. In a way, they're providing security. I have no reason to clean up such an organization."
Is that so? Good. I was worried that idiotic guy had broken free of my hypnotic suggestion and gone to flirt with Aoko, causing Aoko to want to uproot the Rose Group.
However, hearing this, Rin's expression became even stranger. She looked at Aoko with the eyes of someone seeing an anomaly and asked, "So you're going to make such a big fuss and barge in just to fight the leader of the Rose Group?"
"That's right," Aoko replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"..."
I don't think I can communicate with her... If you weren't a Magus, I'd really wonder if my subordinates would tie you up and throw you into the red-light district. Damn, what kind of third-rate wuxia novel heroine breaking into a bandit's lair plot is this? The problem is, they haven't done anything bad. This isn't even acting on behalf of heaven; it's just for fun.
Rin sighed helplessly and said, "That's why I said you don't need to look for them. Their Big Sister isn't at the organization's base today."
"Huh? Then where is she?"
"She's currently sitting at table 63 in the Great Capital BBQ hall, eating BBQ with a black-haired, long-haired high school girl in a school uniform. And that high school girl is planning to challenge her."
"..."
This kind of ridiculous situation, where a gangster boss goes to challenge her own turf, just to fight her, even Aoko's simple-mindedness couldn't help but feel a little awkward.
"Alright, let's eat first. If you want to fight after you're full, we can find a deserted place, and I'll fight you," Rin said to Aoko, her hands not slowing down.
"Good! That's straightforward. You promised no magic! Waiter, twenty more plates of beef! Grandma's going to have a big workout soon; I need to replenish!"
"Aoko, keep your voice down. Everyone's looking at you..."
...After a feast... The manager of Great Capital BBQ, along with a group of staff, walked out of the restaurant with tears in their eyes, seeing them off. Rin, satisfied, wiped her mouth with a napkin, waved goodbye to the enthusiastic staff, and said she would visit often.
A brand new photo was hung on the "Big Eater" record board. A quiet, childlike face with pretty twin-tails broke the nightmare-like dominance of the aozaki twins!
Watching the nightmare-like petite figure walk away, the staff, who could no longer control their tears, said to the manager beside them, "Manager, our sales for this month will be in the red again..."
"Shut up! Don't mention it! This month's salary is halved! Those devil sisters were already enough, and now Misaki City has produced such a terrifying person! Call the president; the proposal to relocate the Misaki City branch needs to be implemented as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir!"
Leaving that aside, Aozaki Aoko, eager for a fight, excitedly followed Rin to the place where Rin and Shizuki Soujuurou had fought before.
Rin and Aoko stood facing each other. Rin looked at Aoko with a strange expression and said, "Aoko, are you sure you want to purely spar with me without using magic? I think it's better to confirm with you again."
"Does that even need to be said!" Aoko excitedly rubbed her hands together and stretched her limbs. "I've long heard that the Big Sister of the Rose Group is formidable, but I didn't expect it to be you. You being able to defeat Alice shows that your magic must be very strong, but let me test how strong you are without magic!"
Hearing Aoko say that, Rin's expression became even stranger. It was probably because Aoko hadn't seen Rin's fighting style during the last battle with Alice Kuonji. If she had seen Rin smash the Bridge Giant's stone head with one punch, she probably wouldn't have had the intention of fighting Rin in close combat.
"Then how much strength should I use against you?" Rin asked.
"Does that even need to be said? Of course, you use full strength in a fight! I won't hold back, and you must do your best too!"
"That's not good," Rin hesitated.
"Let's fight freely! I'll avenge Alice! Here I come!"
Watching Aoko's very unprofessional flying side kick, Rin silently prayed in her heart: May the Lord bless you. Then she met it with a punch... "Crack!" The screen went black.
(The following plot is not suitable for detailed description as it may cause psychological trauma and to prevent harmony, it will not be broadcast here.)
"Crack!" "Pop. Pop!" "Bang!" "Hiss!" "Thump!" "Snap!"
"Ah!..."
The curtain opened.
Rin stood still, eyes closed and head bowed, her right hand forming a cross over her chest, silently praying. At her feet lay a mosaic object that was once known as: "Aozaki Aoko."
"May the Lord bless you and grant you peaceful rest in heaven..."
A trembling hand raised, "Wait, wait a minute, I think I can still be saved..."
"What's there to save when you look like that? Just die!"
"Bastard! Hurry up and heal me!"
The Aozaki Aoko before them was not yet the future humanoid Gundam, the "human rocket launcher." That title referred to Aozaki Aoko after she had mastered the Fifth Magic. At this time, Aoko's close-combat ability was, at most, that of a high school girl who was good at fighting. But in a hand-to-hand fight, let alone Rin, she probably couldn't even beat a strong thug.
Aoko's close-quarters combat was originally supposed to be taught by Shizuki Soujuurou, but unfortunately, Shizuki Soujuurou had already been sent to Mihonoseki to find Kurogiri Mikiya for some bromance. And so... this scene occurred.
Under the highest level of Healing Magic, Aozaki Aoko was fully revived!
"Damn Rin, why did you hit so hard?"
"Isn't that what you asked for, Aoko? When you fight, you should go all out and enjoy it."
"Who knew you'd be so powerful? Are you really a Magus?"
"Of course, Maguss also have a specialized field called Battle Mage. But Aoko, your performance was really good. Most people, if I hit them with all my might, wouldn't even have a chance to be saved."
"Are you really complimenting me...?"
"Of course. The beautiful melody that burst forth at the moment my fist collided with your right rib intoxicated me."
"Bastard! I'll fight you to the death!"
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