Even Yukari seemed extremely wary of that Swirl of the Root.
She had merely connected to the Root; she was not one with it. The difference was enormous.
It was said that only five magi had returned from the Swirl of the Root. However, those five had merely taken a lap before its gate and walked back out. In the end, those five magi had achieved the world's Five True Magics.
Come to think of it, if I took a glance inside, could I obtain one of those legendary magics?
If I could, it might be another massive boost in strength... Koizumi was still very interested in becoming stronger.
But then again, now was not the time to rest. Koizumi's instincts told him that poison no longer affected him.
Koizumi's eyes suddenly lit up. He slowly extended his hands as though grasping something, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Yukari's power... I've got it!"
Though he could not make a single sound, he could still move his mouth. Koizumi's form as a consciousness body was identical to his human form; the only difference was that he could not produce any sound in that state.
A strange and immense power wrapped around Koizumi's consciousness like flames.
Endless knowledge surged into Koizumi's consciousness body, but it was as though he could not comprehend any of it. His eyes furrowed, and his face twisted slightly.
Sure enough, creatures like Gap Youkai were simply impossible to understand. The power of boundaries and gaps... he could not understand them.
Although he could understand the essence of boundary power and gaps, Koizumi could not comprehend the principles behind using them.
Just as I expected, I'm not the wise type like Yukari. There are many things whose essence I simply can't understand.
All Koizumi could do was smile bitterly. There was nothing to be done... Yukari's power would require careful study.
So, he would probably have to wait until he returned to Chaldea and ask Yukari about her power. After all, she understood it better than anyone.
The principles behind gaps were likely impossible to replicate unless one was a Gap Youkai. Boundary power was even more the manifestation of a connection to the Root. After all, boundary power could create new existence and deny existing existence. Its omniscience and omnipotence resembled the Root itself.
Yukari's power really was bizarre, and so powerful that Koizumi had nothing to say.
But then again, Yukari was known as the Sage Youkai. It seemed perfectly normal for her to be this strong.
Koizumi's consciousness body began to emit a dazzling radiance, illuminating the dark space and thoroughly dispelling the darkness.
Meanwhile, in reality, the girl in the skull mask who had poisoned Koizumi into collapse stared quietly at him. Looking deeply puzzled, she tilted her head slightly, her gaze never leaving him.
"What is it?"
The skull-masked assassin spoke impatiently. She seemed to hold a leadership position among the Assassins; even this girl appeared rather subdued before her.
"He seems... not dead..." the skull-masked girl said softly.
At the same time, anticipation and delight flickered in the skull-masked girl's eyes, as though she had seen something that pleased her tremendously.
"How is that possible?!" The skull-masked leader's eyes filled with intense shock.
The skull-masked leader knew very well how poisonous the girl beside her was. Mere contact was enough to make someone's skin rot away, and the poison was lethal. It could practically be called the perfect weapon for assassination.
Yet not only had the skin on this boy's body not rotted away, they could even hear him breathing.
Though her face could not be seen, there was no doubt that the skull-masked leader was utterly shocked at that moment.
She did not notice the delight and anticipation of the skull-masked girl beside her.
Slowly, Koizumi's eyes suddenly opened, revealing a blood-red gleam.
A flash of Bloodlust passed through his eyes. Koizumi quickly moved away from the two of them and materialized Gungnir.
"You really are hard to guard against. Your whole body is poison, but it doesn't seem to work on me."
It had worked at first, but the effect had vanished quickly. Koizumi believed that was Yukari's power.
After all, neither Reimu nor Hata no Kokoro had prepared anything for him beforehand. In Koizumi's memories, Remilia had already left the stage. That meant only Yakumo Yukari remained. If this was not her power, whose power could it be?
Could it have been a power he possessed from the beginning? Probably not...
"Still hard to guard against. Your whole body is poison, but it doesn't seem to work on me."
Koizumi had to admit that he had underestimated the Assassins. If he were not so hard to kill, he probably would have been dead long ago.
Sure enough, no matter what, he could not afford to recklessly throw his life away. This time, he had really embarrassed himself.
But then again, if he could cooperate with NIGHTRAID, perhaps he could learn something from the Assassins. Things like Presence Concealment were quite useful.
Fortunately, this had only been a test. But then again, who went all out during a test?! Koizumi really wanted to complain about that. These assassins had been serious! If he had not been immune to poison, he probably would have been dead already.
"Someone actually... can ignore my... poison..."
The skull-masked girl looked at Koizumi with shock and intense delight in her eyes.
Noticing the delight in her eyes, Koizumi looked at her in confusion. Shock was understandable, but delight...
What was she so happy about? Was she happy that someone could ignore her poison? Was that really something to be happy about?
Since her entire body, even her bodily fluids, were poisonous, that had to be the strongest weapon heaven had given her...
Shouldn't she have felt deeply disappointed along with her shock when her strongest weapon failed? Why was she delighted?
Koizumi could not understand it, and the skull-masked leader did not seem to notice it either.
After all, the skull-masked leader's attention had been fixed on Koizumi. She had not looked at the skull-masked girl beside her.
"It does seem that way. The power inside me allows me to ignore this poison, though I don't know exactly what the principle is..." Koizumi curled his lip. He truly had no idea how it worked.
Koizumi knew that Yukari's power was inside him, but Yakumo Yukari's boundary power had not activated. So how had it erased the poison? Did Reimu's and Hata no Kokoro's powers contain something capable of erasing poison?
Even a vampire's vitality would be useless. He would die from poison, revive, then be poisoned to death again—an endless cycle. What would that accomplish before the poison was neutralized? Keep looping until he lost his mind?
Honestly, Koizumi had no idea what the principle was. In the end, he would probably have to ask Yakumo Yukari.
But Yakumo Yukari was not here right now, so Koizumi had no way to ask her. Besides, he still had enemies in front of him.
Immense magical power erupted from Koizumi's body, shaking the air around him. Blood-red lightning flickered across Gungnir's shaft, as though the crackling bolts would scorch even space itself.
With a casual swing, lightning formed from immense magical power swept through the air.
The skull-masked leader seemed deeply wary and could not help retreating. Although the skull-masked girl's eyes still held delight, she also understood that they stood on opposing sides. She retreated with the skull-masked leader, watching Koizumi warily.
The enemy before them was powerful, and the skull-masked girl's poison, their trump card, was useless. Even ganging up on him would achieve nothing. It could be said that the conclusion of this battle had already been decided.
It was just that NIGHTRAID's Boss had yet to appear, so they could only keep fighting.
Koizumi was cursing inwardly. Why the hell hasn't she shown up yet? Haven't you watched enough?
However, as if responding to his thoughts, a black shadow suddenly appeared and charged straight at Koizumi.
Koizumi's pupils shrank sharply as Gungnir streaked toward the figure before him like an aurora.
Boom!!!!!
The aurora flashed, and the figure immediately stopped, revealing himself.
He was a blue-haired young man with a pair of ox horns.
The unknown polearm in his hands had blocked Koizumi's attack, but the impact still sent him flying back dozens of steps.
It was nighttime now, when Koizumi's vampire power was at its peak.
Moreover, Koizumi had already gained control over his vampire instincts. His current strength was formidable.
Though he did not know the principles behind Yukari's power, that did not conceal the increase in Koizumi's strength.
That was because Koizumi had already touched the edge of Yukari's power. Simply reaching its edge was already incredibly fortunate.
After all, Yukari's power surpassed Reimu's. Koizumi still had not mastered Reimu's power, yet he could already touch the edge of Yukari's power. That was why Koizumi considered himself extremely fortunate just to have reached that edge.
Back to the matter at hand, Koizumi stared solemnly at the horned man before him.
Unless something unexpected had happened, those horns had to be an Imperial Arm. How could an ordinary human have ox horns?!
Even a mixed-blood Danger Beast would not possess such a strange feature. Besides, NIGHTRAID was backed by the Revolutionary Army. Given the Revolutionary Army's resources, having a biological Imperial Arm was perfectly normal.
However... looking at the being before him, Koizumi could not help becoming wary.
Honestly, this man gave Koizumi a very dangerous feeling. It felt as though some kind of power lay dormant inside him.
That power seemed extremely dangerous, so Koizumi would not act rashly before the other side attacked.
"Susanoo, Lord Hundred Personas, Lady Serenity, that's enough!"
The next moment, Najenda appeared before Koizumi with a pink-haired girl, her face filled with respect.
Beside Najenda stood a long-haired beauty wearing headphones and a British-style uniform.
At that moment, the girl carefully examined Koizumi with curious eyes while chewing on a lollipop.
She seemed like a girl with an abundance of curiosity... Koizumi silently gave her that assessment.
But now was not the time to focus on her. After only glancing at her, Koizumi turned his gaze toward Najenda and revealed a cold smile.
"Lady Najenda, haven't you gone a little too far this time? Such a grand welcome ceremony truly leaves me overwhelmed..." Koizumi did not relax his guard in the slightest. If they really attacked him, he might not have a chance to fight back... If possible, he needed to figure out where he could break through.
Thinking that, Koizumi swept his gaze over the surroundings. Perhaps he could make a move from the air.
"I failed to consider things properly this time. Please forgive me, Lord Koizumi. Also, Miss Reimu and Miss Hata no Kokoro are already resting at our NIGHTRAID headquarters. Why not come with us to NIGHTRAID's headquarters and discuss cooperation with me? What do you say?"
To demonstrate her sincerity, Najenda even deliberately had the two people she called Hundred Personas and Serenity withdraw.
So they were called Hundred Personas and Serenity...
And there was also... Susanoo...
Hey, hey, hey! If I remember correctly, isn't that the name of a god from Japanese mythology?!
Reimu Enjoying Fine Food
By the time Koizumi followed Najenda to NIGHTRAID's headquarters, it was already dawn. Staying awake all night had left him somewhat listless.
But then again, Koizumi had wanted to come here for a long time. If not for testing their strength, he would probably have arrived at NIGHTRAID's headquarters much earlier.
When Koizumi saw Reimu happily enjoying a delicious meal, the corner of his mouth twitched violently.
I was over there enjoying poison, while you were here enjoying a delicious late-night meal... Are we really on the same team?
Meanwhile, Hata no Kokoro was selling her masks to a bespectacled girl wearing a light-purple long dress resembling a Chinese qipao. Koizumi did not know her name, but she gave him a rather airheaded and adorable impression.
However, a pink-haired twin-tailed girl seemed extremely interested in Hata no Kokoro's masks.
Hata no Kokoro's sales appeared to be going very smoothly, so she was already wearing the Fireman Mask.
As long as she was in a good mood, that was enough. Then I can rest easy... Koizumi could not help showing a relieved smile.
However—Koizumi swept his gaze across the surroundings of NIGHTRAID's headquarters.
Then Koizumi shook his head with a bitter smile and turned his gaze toward Najenda beside him.
"As expected, the most dangerous place is the safest place. I never thought NIGHTRAID's headquarters would be located in the forest region on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital. Still, it makes sense. Who would come to such a vast, endless forest?"
It was unexpected, yet also within expectations... Koizumi thought to himself.
Najenda had once been a general of the Empire, so she must have been extremely particular about terrain from a military standpoint. It was perfectly normal for her to choose this place. In such a vast forest, even an army would find it difficult to deploy for battle.
"Of course... It is also my honor to be able to invite Lord Koizumi and the others here."
Najenda smiled and gave Koizumi a faint nod.
Najenda had already made her position clear on the way here. She strongly supported cooperating with Koizumi.
After all, obtaining their assistance with nothing more than intelligence was undoubtedly an excellent deal.
The only concern was whether Koizumi and the others harbored ulterior motives, so Najenda still needed to interact with them further.
However, based on Leone's understanding of Reimu, the shrine maiden Reimu seemed to be a good person.
Mine and Sheele had also said that Hata no Kokoro was a girl who did not like showing expressions and preferred using masks to represent them.
She seemed rather enthusiastic about selling her masks. One only had to look at what she was doing now to know that.
As for Koizumi, honestly, Najenda did not know much about him. So she could only let Koizumi join NIGHTRAID and use time to gradually understand him. In a sense, Najenda was also taking a gamble.
Birds of a feather flock together. Since Reimu and Hata no Kokoro were both good people, Koizumi, who was with them, should be a good person as well. That was the gamble Najenda was making.
"I don't mind cooperating with NIGHTRAID, but I hope Lady Najenda remembers that intelligence is essential. Otherwise, I have the right not to provide protective charms."
Koizumi was afraid that she would forget, so he added another reminder.
Najenda merely smiled faintly and said nothing more. She could tell that Koizumi was inexperienced.
Generally, someone with strength would not fear the other party refusing to cooperate, so they would not say so much.
Koizumi's extra reminder had come from concern, but it also showed that this was his first time doing something like this. Anyone who had conducted such transactions many times would clearly not ask so much.
The more one asked, the weaker one's own side appeared. Najenda had seen through that.
Before you continue