Chapter 86

"Yuki-kun, if you have some time after school, there's something I want to talk about, okay?"

In the morning, just as I thought another gloomy school day was about to begin, I received such an invitation from the class representative.

The girls were squealing and fussing over me, while the boys glared at me with eyes that seemed ready to shed blood.

I feel like I've been in a similar situation before. Am I in a time loop?

"Um, of course it's fine!"

"Thanks, then see you after school."

As Takigawa shouted, "Kousuke... you, traitor, aaaaaah!!" and kicked me in the shin, another peaceful school day began.

◇

After school. After a meeting with the class representative during break time and dispersing the Mizuki-san fan club, we met on the school rooftop.

"Really sorry. I should have invited you somewhere where no one could hear."

"No, Mizuki-san and I are both being watched by everyone, so it wouldn't have made a difference no matter where I was invited."

The class representative is constantly receiving passionate gazes from the fan club, and I, being acquainted with all the beautiful girls in the school, am receiving intense hostility from every group.

Therefore, whenever these two meet, trouble is inevitable.

It was a bit difficult to disperse the fan club, but since I haven't had a chance to talk to the class representative recently because she's been busy, I'm actually happy to have this opportunity, so it's not a problem.

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Something I've wanted to say for a long time, maybe."

"Something you've wanted to say for a long time...?"

While I responded in a way that might make me seem dense, my brain was working overtime to predict what the class representative might say.

Content that I don't want others to hear, a one-on-one situation, and the class representative's good impression of me... the answer derived from these pieces of information is already clear.

"Thank you so much for everything! Not just for the overnight excursion, but for the Shinkan match and for helping the Cat God too!"

The class representative bowed deeply and expressed her gratitude.

I thought so. I thought it was a thank you, not a confession.

"If you ever have any problems, even if you think Yuki-kun won't, I'm here to help. Don't hesitate to ask."

"That's not necessary, really."

"It's not a matter of not caring. So if you have any problems, please let me know right away!"

"Your willingness to help is enough. Thank you, Mizuki-san."

After that, she told me that Runa, Owl, and Ryuukai also showed similar gratitude, and that my identity as the masked magician was revealed quite early after the Shinkan match.

"Wow, that was exposed? Embarrassing."

"It was actually your father who noticed first. Apparently, there are hardly any magicians who can completely hide their spiritual power, so it was actually unusual."

When we shook hands in the courtyard, she was actually searching for the spiritual power I emit. Similarly, when I shook hands with Ryuukai before the Shinkan match, he also searched for my spiritual power and found none, which led to the revelation of my identity.

"But I'm not intentionally hiding it. I've never even tried to hide it."

"Then maybe it's just your nature?"

"I don't know, but I think it is."

Not only can I not sense spiritual power, but I can also use magic and abilities simultaneously. It's probably thanks to the enhancements the gods gave me, but I need to investigate this properly at some point.

"By the way, there's something else I want to talk about."

After that, she also told me about the follow-up to the overnight excursion.

The collaborators have already been captured, but one of the three masterminds is still at large. Additionally, the whereabouts of the 'Evil God's Heart,' which exacerbated the situation, are also unknown.

"Could the one who escaped have taken the Evil God's Heart?"

"I think the likelihood is low. There's a youkai named Wako who has been protecting Takigawa for a long time, and they have set up a special barrier. If it were taken out, the barrier would have reacted, so it seems it hasn't left Takigawa."

Furthermore, she explained that the Evil God's Heart is a massive source of evil, and storing it requires a strong vessel and the power to suppress the evil god's malice.

"Only a hero with the power of a god, like those in myths, could secretly take it out and store it."

"Wait, do heroes from myths actually exist? Like demigods!?"

Heroes with divine blood, like Achilles or Perseus, are famous, and I've seen movies about their origins and legends.

"Apparently, it's more of a 'if they exist' kind of thing. I occasionally get to talk to youkai who have lived for hundreds of years, and they say they've never seen a demigod. But they do say there are beings close to demigods."

"Even beings close to demigods are impressive..."

Beings close to demigods... Wait, could that be me? Never mind.

Actually, the fact that the class representative gets to talk to youkai who have lived for hundreds of years is impressive too... Wait, Crow is one of them too? Never mind.

"Ultimately, it seems the Evil God's Heart has likely vanished. Oh, and there's another report about the Evil God's Heart."

The credit for defeating the magician who hosted the Evil God's Heart officially went to the class representative.

Since a freelance magician who doesn't belong to any faction would be targeted by various organizations, Ryuukai apparently changed the story to credit the class representative.

Incidentally, she has been busy recently because important people from the government and foreign countries have been visiting her.

"I'm really sorry for taking the credit."

"No, no, no! I'm only grateful. Thank you so much."

The class representative might be worried about making decisions on her own, but I am genuinely grateful for this matter.

I definitely don't want to greet important people, and being targeted by various organizations is even worse.

"So, I owe you a lot for this. Is there anything you're having trouble with?"

"On the contrary, I'm only grateful for taking the credit, so you don't need to worry at all."

"That's not acceptable."

As we continued the typical Japanese back-and-forth, an idea came to mind.

"Sorry to say 'no, no, no' and then ask, but there is something I want to ask."

"What is it? If I can help, just say it."

Anything...? No, no, no. Clear your mind!

This is why I end up in situations that feel like confessions, even though they turn out to be completely different.

Anyway, let's get to the point.

"Actually, I want to know more about the job you do as a yin-yang magician. I told Runa and Owl that I'm a freelance magician, but I don't really know what magicians do in general."

I explained that I suddenly started seeing things that aren't normal and can use magic, without mentioning the gods or the alternate world.

"Have you ever had any training? Or is your family a line of magicians?"

"I've never had any training. I didn't even know magic existed. My parents are a bit unusual, but I don't think they're magicians."

My father is a farmer, and my mother is a regular nurse. My father loves traveling, and my mother enjoys hiking, so they used to travel to various countries together, but I don't think they have any special abilities.

I've never seen that side of them in our daily life.

"People do sometimes suddenly awaken to their powers, but I've never heard of a magician as powerful as Yuki-kun... By the way, what kind of things can you see that aren't normal?"

"Well, colorful orbs that look like fairies, and if I focus, I can see white orbs that look like souls, and small old men too."

"That's an incredible talent!"

Youkai and fairies are beings made of living spiritual power, so anyone who can use magic can see them. However, the white orbs and small old men, which are essentially ghosts, are not visible to most people, even those with high spiritual power manipulation skills. It seems to require a special talent, often referred to as 'psychic ability.'

"Sometimes I get requests to exorcise evil spirits or to let people meet the deceased, but I can't do those things."

"I thought magicians exorcise evil spirits and help ghosts find peace, but that's not the case?"

I thought that based on anime and manga, but it seems different in reality.

"I'm sorry to disappoint, but that's not a magician's job. Some barriers can repel evil spirits, so for those who really need it, we can use those to see if it helps."

"Barriers can have such effects?"

Barrier magic is essential for defense, so I've been practicing on my own. I thought I understood the basics, but there's still a lot I don't know.

"If you're interested, would you like to experience the job of a yin-yang magician? I have a job coming up soon, and freelance magicians will be joining, so I think you can learn a lot."

"Really? Is that okay?"

I'm interested in the job of a magician and what freelance magicians do, but is it something I can casually experience?

"Of course, it's usually not allowed, but with Yuki-kun's skills, it's fine."

"But I'm really a complete novice as a magician?"

Thanks to the enhancements from the gods, I can copy and use various magic and abilities, but I'm just a regular person. Wait, am I a superhuman?

"You might not realize it, but Yuki-kun's skills as a magician are at a very high level. You could even get requests from foreign governments, not just in Japan."

"Requests from foreign governments...?"

I thought yin-yang magicians were a secret organization that quietly exorcised evil spirits and made the world a better place, but it seems they work on a scale that involves not just the Japanese government but foreign governments too.

It's on a scale beyond my imagination.

"But such requests are rare. This upcoming job is just a patrol to check for abnormalities."

"A patrol, huh?"

That sounds manageable. I can learn the missing skills by watching the class representative.

"Thank you very much, I would like to join."

"Got it. The date is actually this weekend, a three-day holiday."

"Three-day holiday..."

Bad timing. I planned to take Crow and the others to my hometown to explain the situation.

"Sorry, I have plans to go home that day..."

"Oh, I see. I'm sorry. It was a bit sudden for the weekend."

"I have something I can't reschedule... By the way, where is this job supposed to take place?"

"Do you know the place? It's in Takigawa City."

...I know the place. That's my hometown.

Takigawa City, Hokkaido.

Not the author's birthplace, but a nostalgic place where I spent my youth dreaming of the city. I sacrificed this chapter... to make it the setting.

A beautiful city with a tower that looks like a Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon.

It's the birthplace of a certain genius manga artist, affectionately known as the gorilla.