Chapter: 16. The Unsettled Ark Academy
“W-why are you here, Tsubasa?!”
Nagi hurriedly shoved what she was holding into the cardboard box in front of her.
“Because I was a little worried about my brother… ah, no, I was worried about you, Nagi-oneechan, so I came to take a look.” After slightly smoothing the wrinkles in her school uniform, she pushed open the floor-to-ceiling window of the balcony and walked into the room.
“Worried about me?” Nagi blinked, seemingly unable to fathom why her little sister would be concerned about her.
“Mm… I heard that Nagi-oneechan has been spending a lot of time with… Tsukimi-senpai, and since the dorm head of Shiki-kan isn’t here right now, I’m worried that Nagi-oneechan could be in danger when alone with Tsukimi-senpai…”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Nagi-oneechan doesn’t know? Actually, in these past two years… whenever Tsukimi-senpai is with girls, it seems to always lead to some shameless incidents.”
Realization dawned on Nagi, and images of today’s unexpected encounter with Kanade flashed through her mind.
That “lucky pervert” incident that seemed to be possessed by the “God of Ero.”
—What’s going on? What has happened to Kanade while I’ve been away?!
—Has he become the male protagonist of an ero manga?
“Well, it seems… I worried for nothing… ” Tsubasa said, casting a meaningful glance at the cardboard box in front of Nagi.
“Hey! What do you mean by that look?!”
“For someone as impatient as you, Nagi-oneechan… perhaps a body like Tsukimi-senpai’s is what you desire…”
“Th-that’s a misunderstanding! That’s not my—”
“It’s clearly ‘really hard to come by~’”
“You were eavesdropping, weren’t you?!”
“How rude, Nagi-oneechan! I wasn’t eavesdropping, just hiding in the shadow of the balcony so you wouldn’t notice me.”
“That’s still eavesdropping! W-where did you start listening from?”
“I didn’t hear much, probably starting from ‘Is this the right room?’”
“Didn’t you already know I was there from the beginning!?” Nagi’s cute face turned bright red from embarrassment.
The feeling of having her little sister witness her seducing her childhood friend made her wish there was a hole to hide in.
At the same time, she was slightly surprised by Tsubasa’s skills.
She hadn’t expected to be completely unaware of Tsubasa hiding on the balcony using her Shadow of the End abilities.
“It’s okay, Nagi-oneechan…”
“Don’t look at me with that ‘I understand’ gaze! It was just a misunderstanding! This was a gift from a friend!”
“Mm-mm, I get it, it’s Nagi-oneechan’s friend…”
“Not that kind of ‘friend’!”
After venting her frustration, Nagi declared with conviction.
“In any case, things are not as you imagine, Tsubasa!”
She then redirected the topic.
“You didn’t come here just to check up on me, did you?” Nagi’s expression became serious again; if Tsubasa was only concerned about her, she could have come in openly through the dorm entrance.
But since she chose to sneak in through the balcony, it meant she probably didn’t want anyone to find out she had visited Shiki-kan.
This was something that needed to be kept confidential from Ark Academy.
“… No, I really just worried about you, brother.” After a brief pause, Tsubasa slowly replied, “Seeing you and Tsukimi-senpai being as close as before reassures me.”
“Are you my mom?”
“Well~ compared to the current brother…” Tsubasa surveyed Nagi from head to toe with her deep crimson eyes and smiled, “I feel like I can rely on me more now~”
—It seems this has nothing to do with my brother.
—Well, my brother wouldn’t act that way; it really was just coincidence…
“Tsubasa.” Nagi’s serious tone interrupted Tsubasa’s thoughts.
“…Y-yes… What is it?”
“I know you’ve grown up and can make your own judgments, but… I, as your brother… or sister, if there’s anything you need help with, don’t hesitate to tell me.”
Upon hearing this, Tsubasa revealed a faint smile.
“… So reliable, brother… unexpectedly.”
“The word ‘unexpectedly’ is unnecessary!”
“Mm-mm, I got it,” Tsubasa lightly nodded.
—But this matter doesn’t require bothering my brother…
—I won’t let my brother get into danger again.
“… By the way, do you have time tonight, brother?”
“Tonight?”
“Mm, I have some things I want to ask you.”
At that moment, footsteps approached from outside the room.
Meanwhile, Tsubasa adeptly stood up, preparing to leave through the balcony, her silver hair fluttering as she turned.
—————–
Platinum blonde hair danced in mid-air.
With a speed that left only afterimages, multiple figures were being attacked from all directions by the floating Mana.
But as the latter’s crimson eyes scanned the afterimages, her eyes burst with dazzling light.
That was a sign of magic power surging from within.
The “Fictional Royal Authority” was fully operational at that moment.
Observing the opponent’s abilities.
Analyzing the opponent’s powers.
Reconstructing the royal authority of the abilities.
The power of the Fictional Royal Authority.
As the royal authority was reconstructed, those who were originally moving in mid-air fell from the sky like birds with broken wings.
Eventually, they all landed on the soft padding on the ground.
“A good result~ This time I’ve managed to copy and retain five powers~” The girl in the Ark Academy uniform, Tsukiumi Ayako, stood below, observing the screen with a joyful smile.
This was Zone Zero of the artificial academy island.
Directly beneath the first zone of the artificial island.
A secret base that only targeted certain ability users.
This space, equal to that of a football field, was the largest training and experiment venue of Zone Zero, decorated completely in pure white hexagons that formed an illusion of infinite extension.
As Ark Academy’s No. 2, Mana was training with Ayako here, just like usual.
“How does it feel?” Ayako asked as Mana slowly floated down from the air in her tight-fitting white outfit, manipulating the screen on her terminal.
“If I were to use five abilities simultaneously… I think my magic and mental energy could last about 30 seconds…” Mana’s doll-like exquisite face was slightly flushed from straining her magic.
She skillfully picked up a towel from the nearby railing to wipe the sweat from her forehead and neck, simultaneously nodding in thanks to the five accompanying practitioners below her.
The five individuals resting on the soft padding wore similar tight white outfits to Mana’s.
Among them were both males and females, all students from Ark Academy’s Special Division. Even among the elite of the Special Division, they were considered top-tier.
In fact, many were ranked close to the top ten in strength.
Yet even so, they were no match for the “ultimate masterpiece” before them.
“Once I can stabilize using five abilities at the same time, we can try to copy six next time~” Ayako nodded in satisfaction at Mana’s progress.
In order to enter the special circle of SEMA or the academy and obtain information about her missing father.
Mana had come to Ark Academy two and a half years ago.
She had been following Ayako ever since.
Under Ayako’s guidance, she gradually mastered her abilities.
From initially being able to copy a maximum of three abilities to now being able to copy and record five, and gradually using these different powers simultaneously.
“Setting that aside… Ayako, how’s the matter I asked you about earlier?” After replenishing her hydration with nearby water, Mana brought up her recent concern.
“Ah~ about that, I’ve already taken care of it… Although I’d like to say that, something unexpected came up,” Ayako revealed a troubled expression.
“Unexpected?”
“Ah, originally I followed your request and arranged for the new transfer student ‘Hoshimi Nagi’ to be placed in Ark Academy’s safest ‘Noah Hall.’” Ayako swiped her terminal screen, displaying the breach of Noah Hall.
“That place is the most luxurious dorm in the school, where they usually accommodate VIPs. Additionally, it houses many powerful ability users, making it the safest location…” As Ayako spoke, she lost confidence.
Because on the screen displaying Noah Hall was now marked with yellow caution tape, indicative of danger.
“However… a professor who recently came to Ark Academy for academic exchange and research was found murdered in Noah Hall last night, so it has been temporarily closed off. For now, I can only arrange for her to be placed in ‘Shiki-kan,’ which still has availability…”
Ayako glanced at the displeased Mana, adding sheepishly, “But don’t worry! I’ve temporarily assigned Seiryuu from No. 3 to stay in Shiki-kan. That should help protect her safety… so are you reassured now, Mana?”
“…I want to move in there too.”
“Huh?”
“That girl… has always faced various misfortunes… so I want to live in Shiki-kan too. Is that alright?”
“Aren’t you worrying too much, Mana? This is Ark Academy, the safest place in the world—”
“—Is that not a problem?”
“Y-yes! I understand… Are you that girl’s mother, Mana?”
