"What did you mean when you said you'd soon no longer be NO.1?" Walking down the street back to Academy Garden, Misaka Mikoto took small sips from her drink. She was puzzled as to why Luo Yifang had said he would soon no longer be NO.1. Could NO.2 actually be stronger? If that was true, then was she really that weak? A rare look of dejection appeared on Misaka Mikoto's face. This NO.3 of hers seemed rather unimpressive.
"Hmm, it's complicated, but it's definitely not what you're thinking," Luo Yifang said after taking a sip of canned coffee. Seeing Misaka Mikoto's crestfallen expression, he knew what was on her mind. "That NO.2 guy is pretty strong, sure, but he's still a bit behind me." Buddy, it was more than just a bit, wasn't it? With your current dual LV.5 abilities, and Vector Manipulation infinitely close to LV.6, you were probably almost on par with Yifang when he used Black and White Wings. Were you really only slightly stronger than the current Kakine Teitoku?
"Then what is it? Can't you tell me?" Misaka Mikoto felt somewhat better upon hearing that.
"You'll find out in a while." Luo Yifang smiled mysteriously. "Oh, we're here. I'll be going, then." After seeing Misaka Mikoto back to Academy Garden, Luo Yifang waved and left on his own.
"That guy..." Misaka Mikoto tossed her empty can into a trash bin and grumbled. Then her face suddenly turned red again. "Wait, why did I let him walk me back?!"
Unfortunately, Luo Yifang had already gone too far to hear Misaka Mikoto's words. He was planning to return to the café and settle Lilith's matter. Academy City was quite quiet at night. After all, most of the people in this city were students, so there generally were not many people out at night. Only the occasional car passed along the streets, its headlights sweeping over Luo Yifang and leaving behind a lonely shadow.
"Railgun seems to have a thing for you," Paqi suddenly dropped a bombshell.
Luo Yifang, who was drinking coffee, nearly spat it out. "Cough, cough... What are you talking about?"
"How could a shut-in like me have girls who like me? Hahaha!" Luo Yifang gave an awkward laugh and hurriedly drained the coffee in his hand, only to choke again. "Cough, cough..."
Paqi rolled her eyes. Look at you, you're a damn disgrace to transmigrators. Luo Yifang awkwardly scratched his cheek, not knowing how to respond.
"Alright, alright, quit embarrassing yourself here. Hurry up and get this done," Paqi said, pursing her lips. "Don't bother me when you've got nothing to say. I'm catching up on shows."
"..." Luo Yifang was speechless. Catching up on shows, my ass. I do all the dirty and tiring work myself, and you still mock me for not being able to get a girlfriend. Aaargh! This was utterly intolerable! Luo Yifang furiously crushed his can and tossed it away. Well, the facts proved that it was merely impotent rage. There was nothing he could do about Paqi; the only thing he could do was block out her voice.
After turning through several streets, he arrived once more at the café run by the necromancer Lilith. Luo Yifang pushed open the door and entered. As usual, there was not a single customer.
"Mr. Yifang, you've come." Under Luo Yifang's vehement insistence, Lilith had still changed how she addressed him to Yifang.
"How did you deal with Corpse Fire?" After ordering a coffee and some dessert, Luo Yifang sat before the counter and asked Lilith.
"I have dealt with that demon's soul. This time, its power will be permanently weakened. That was the most fundamental part of its power." Lilith smiled lightly. Having eliminated an enemy from the Abyss, her mood had improved somewhat. "Has Mr. Yifang come to send me back now?"
Luo Yifang nodded. "Of course. Though if you're unwilling, there's no real problem with staying in this world."
Lilith decisively shook her head. "This world is indeed peaceful and tranquil, but it does not belong to me. I still have my mission."
Just as Luo Yifang was about to call Paqi and have her send Lilith back to her own world, Lilith suddenly said, "But I still haven't repaid Mr. Yifang. Please accept this small gift." Lilith took a glittering golden ring from a cabinet and placed it in Luo Yifang's hand.
Seeing Luo Yifang's puzzled expression, Lilith explained with a smile, "This is an enchanted item. Its function is simple: it stores objects. The ring is only one form; it can also become a necklace or earrings. The space inside is quite large—at least large enough to hold a car. It is also very easy to use. We inject magic power into it. I imagine that for espers, extending your ability or mental power into it should be enough to open it."
Luo Yifang picked up the ring and gave it a try, discovering that Lilith's method really did open it. "This is excellent, but wouldn't this be... too expensive for you?"
"It's fine. This is a magical creation made from Corpse Fire's soul." Lilith shook her head. "In our world, everyone gains their own storage space after awakening their power, so items like this are merely kept as backups."
"Then thank you." Luo Yifang put the ring on his finger, choosing to let its flashy gold fade into a plain silver. With a thought, he stored the cake on the table inside the ring. "Ha, this is very useful."
"I'm glad Mr. Yifang likes it. If you can find someone proficient in Space Magic, they may be able to expand the ring's capacity further. Well then, it is time to say goodbye." Lilith waved to Luo Yifang. Guided by Paqi and the power of the [Book of Ten Thousand Worlds], Lilith's figure gradually became transparent before finally disappearing into the air.
Looking at the empty café, with no one but himself left inside, Luo Yifang inexplicably felt something called loneliness rise in his heart. He sat at the counter, drinking his coffee in silence.
"She seems to have left something else for you. It's in the ring," Paqi reminded him.
Only then did Luo Yifang remember that there seemed to be something inside the ring. With a turn of his palm, a letter appeared in his hand. Luo Yifang opened it and found the handwriting elegant and graceful. He had not expected Lilith to write such excellent Japanese. It seemed that magicians truly were extraordinary when it came to learning.
"Dear Mr. Yifang, I am deeply grateful for everything you have done for me. Perhaps now I can finally return to my own world without any burdens. But I once told you that the old woman who took me in was all alone, with no relatives left alive in this world. If I leave, then this café, which has stood for nearly a hundred years, may disappear forever. Apart from Mr. Yifang, I do not know anyone else in this world. Therefore, I must entrust this shop to you. My deepest thanks."
Luo Yifang stared at the letter with a blank expression. What? Run a café?
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