Chapter 46

How did Zangyo activate autonomous magic without Kuu noticing during the battle?

For this, the notebook that Zangyo had, which he called a magic guidebook, played a crucial role. The mechanism was extremely simple. The magic guidebook created by Zangyo had a magic activation device built into the spine of the book, and each page was inscribed with the magic array and incantation for autonomous magic. Zangyo showed the magic array in the guidebook to the shadow spirit and instructed it to deploy a replica of the magic array above the target's head or back using shadows. In autonomous magic, the magic array serves as a blueprint, and the fact that no special procedures such as channeling magic power were required made it possible to use the shadow magic array.

To execute these, the target had to remain relatively stationary; otherwise, the magic array would shift, and the magic would not activate. In the worst case, the presence of the spirit might be detected, or the magic array itself might be seen. Therefore, Zangyo had to endure to the limit and lure Kuu.

Why wasn't such a simple method developed in the world, at least within the scope of Zangyo's knowledge? The reasons include: the discovery and development of spirit magic had only been around for about two hundred years; there were few entities with a high affinity for shadow spirits; shadow spirit magic was not very useful and was ignored outside of the underworld; it was believed that complex things like magic arrays could not be conveyed to spirits, unlike simple words; and the idea of using spirit magic to activate autonomous magic did not arise because autonomous magic, life spirit magic, and spirit magic were independently systematized. Another reason is that there were few people who possessed a large number of original texts of autonomous magic.

The autonomous magic that Zangyo used on Kuu, such as 'Magic Power Release,' 'Magic Power Arrow,' and the magical poison 'Thousand Changes,' was activated using shadows so that Kuu wouldn't notice. While Zangyo couldn't maintain four layers of physical and magical barriers of autonomous and life spirit magic during a proper battle, the situation where he had to endure like a turtle made it possible.

The autonomous magic that Zangyo used on Kuu included 'Magic Power Release,' 'Magic Power Arrow,' and the magical poison 'Thousand Changes.' By stabbing himself, Zangyo stopped Kuu's movement and captured her with earth hands, simultaneously covering Kuu with shadow spirits like a coffin. At the moment Kuu used spirits to dispel the earth hands, Zangyo activated 'Magic Power Release' using the magic array deployed above her head with shadows. When Kuu's magic power was nearly depleted and she could no longer move, Zangyo attached 'Thousand Changes' to 'Magic Power Arrow.' 'Thousand Changes' required a magic array, magic activation device, and a long incantation, making it difficult to use, but it allowed the user to determine the effect of the poison to some extent. Therefore, Zangyo injected a paralyzing poison that only deprived the body of movement into the two. Magical poisons cannot be detoxified with ordinary medicine; they must be neutralized with magic. To detoxify, a suitable key must be created with magic to fit the keyhole of the magical poison in the body.

Why did Zangyo take such a troublesome method to keep Erika and Kuu alive?

Zangyo had realized during the battle that Hayato was approaching. While protecting himself like a turtle, he asked the shadow and wind spirits to scout as a precaution and quickly caught sight of Hayato, who made no effort to hide. The spirits told him that a massive force was coming, and he immediately knew it was Hayato.

He had expected it would happen sooner or later.

Therefore, Zangyo couldn't kill the two.

Hayato could kill Zangyo anytime.

He was only being helped by the changes in Hayato since he came to this world.

The unstable and easily agitated mind of a high school student.

"Move! Don't move!"

Zangyo shouted, trying to intimidate the approaching Hayato. He fired a light spirit into the sky, showing the arrows and knives piercing the backs of the two.

Hayato was also using spirits to investigate the situation.

He knew that Erika and Kuu were fighting someone.

But he never expected it to be that janitor.

Erika and Kuu had been acting strangely since the morning.

Erika, who usually followed him everywhere, said she would wait and went to tour the village with Kuu, who didn't seem to be particularly close to her.

While it was nice that the two were getting along, Erika's unnatural behavior was a nagging worry.

It wasn't until the lightning strike at the end of the trial that he finally realized the gravity of the situation.

He couldn't believe that despite noticing the changes in Erika and Kuu, he couldn't do anything about it.

Seeing the arrows and knives piercing the two, Hayato was about to lose control, but he managed to stop at the sound of Zangyo's voice.

"Let them go!"

Hayato sent waves of anger and killing intent.

Zangyo was struggling to stand, having been drained of magic power and will during the battle with Kuu. The unreserved killing intent and pressure were overwhelming.

Zangyo slowly and as calmly as possible sat down on a small rock nearby. He didn't cut off the magic power supply to the arrows and held the knife embedded in Erika with one hand. Snow White approached Zangyo.

Zangyo stroked Snow White's hand with the back of his hand holding the magic guidebook.

"I didn't do anything. I just retaliated after being attacked."

Zangyo said nonchalantly, which only increased Hayato's frustration.

"Why did you do such a cruel thing! Speak quickly!"

"I don't want to. If I do, you or they will kill me. It's not cruel; I was the one attacked. I'm the one who deserves sympathy."

"Who would kill you! If you let them go, I won't kill you!"

"You can't be trusted."

Zangyo said firmly.

"We made a promise the other day. You wouldn't attack me."

"I didn't know."

"How could you know such a thing?"

Zangyo said coldly.

Hearing this, Hayato dispelled his 'Holy Sword' and reached for the red-black longsword on his back.

Squish.

Hayato moved forward slightly, just a little.

After all, that man's words were just bluffs. He couldn't kill another Japanese person. Hayato thought so.

"Aaaaaah!"

But Erika's scream stopped Hayato.

"Don't move."

Zangyo twisted the knife embedded in Erika.

"First, drop your weapons. You're too careless. Don't worry, they're both still alive."

Hayato couldn't drop his weapons.

"By the way, if you kill me at a speed I can't react to, they will die too. I can't kill you, but it can't be helped. If you can beat Snow White in a speed contest, though."

"It's a bluff!"

"Is it?"

Zangyo stroked Snow White's white fur to calm her, who was reacting to Hayato's killing intent.

Hayato, while raising his voice, glanced at Snow White.

She was fast. He had heard rumors about the White Phantom.

If the magic beast interfered before he could reach Zangyo, Erika and Kuu would be in danger.

Hayato casually discarded his longsword and the magic gun on his belt.

Then he showed Zangyo a hateful expression.

"If you secretly commit suicide in some secret place, everything will be fine."

Erika and Kuu, lying on the ground, twitching, moved their eyes restlessly. Kuu directed a gaze that seemed to say she would kill Zangyo, while Erika just streamed tears and drool, sending a pleading look.

"If you release them, I won't attack you."

"…Alright."

Hayato's face momentarily showed a hint of joy at Zangyo's words.

But Zangyo smiled mockingly, toying with Hayato.

At this point, Zangyo himself might not have realized the frustration he had built up towards Hayato, which was now awakening his sadistic tendencies.

"Do you think they will promise never to attack me again? They ignored your advice, didn't they?"

The situation was advantageous, but there was no way out.

Perhaps the sense of being cornered was further accelerating Zangyo's madness.

"That's… for my sake. Forgive me."

"Would you say that in front of my dead body?"

Zangyo's words made Hayato catch his breath.

There was a creeping, eerie quality to it.

"One in a thousand, and only at the beginning. That's when I can beat them."

Zangyo said definitively.

"Trying to kill someone like that and then asking for forgiveness? You might attack again, and there's nothing I can do about it. Isn't that a ridiculous story?"

"… I won't let that happen again."

Zangyo sighed at Hayato's broken-record-like response.

"You can't even stop them now. Do you understand? Or are you just stalling? I don't think it will do much good."

Zangyo's eyes caught sight of Hayato's party rushing to the campsite, Maxim, Aki, and Aoi carried by Maxim, and Ophelia.

Those who saw the scene couldn't believe what was happening.

Zangyo, who had taken Erika and Kuu hostage, was sitting arrogantly on a rock.

Hayato, the hero, had discarded his weapons and was pleading for the release of the hostages.

Even though the situation was not as straightforward as it seemed, people imagined a straightforward story.

Especially Hayato's companions would think so.

"Erika! Kuu!"

Kaede, Fon, and Alice tried to speed up.

"Don't move!"

Zangyo's loud voice.

Aki felt like she was hearing it for the first time.

She was someone who rarely raised her voice, even while living together.

That made her even more overwhelmed by the force of his voice.

But the three didn't stop at Zangyo's voice. They finally came to a sudden stop when they saw Erika suddenly scream in agony.

"Are you that stupid? Or are you blind?"

In Zangyo's hand, the knife embedded in Erika's lung was being twisted.

"Let Erika and Kuu go!"

"From there…"

Zangyo looked exasperated.

"Explaining it over and over is a waste of time. Listen carefully, okay?"

Zangyo looked at Hayato, Kaede, Fon, Alice, Aki, Maxim, Ophelia, and Aoi.

"I was playing in the mountains when these two suddenly attacked me. I barely managed to fend them off and capture them."

He looked at them to see if they understood.

Kaede, Fon, and Alice looked at Hayato.

Hayato frowned and nodded.

Then the three women made faces similar to Hayato's, as if they had bitten into a bitter pill.

Aki, Maxim, and Ophelia understood.

Zangyo looked like a typical villain, but that was just how he appeared.

At least, there was no reason for Zangyo to attack them first.

If Hayato, who was involved, didn't argue, then Zangyo's story must be true.

"That's… right, the janitor."

Aoi hadn't forgotten about Zangyo.

"He was here too, wasn't he?"

Aoi said with a hint of regret.

When the two heroes ran off, she felt something was wrong.

They weren't strangers, especially Aki, who was close to her.

There were only seventy-eight, no, seventy-nine of them in this world.

She didn't want to regret not following them.

So Aoi trusted her intuition and followed them.

And it turned out to be the right decision.

The janitor, who had been missing, was there.

The janitor who had been summoned without the blessing and had not been summoned with them.