Come Forth, My Mysterious Power...!

"No, Sawamura-san... Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm a woman with the 'Soul of a Doujin Artist'! Fantasies should be unrestrained! Only then can I spread the wings of imagination and step into the abyss of manga artistry!"

She immediately got excited.

Eriri, who was once Kashiwagi Eri, almost blurted out her agreement.

Thankfully, I managed to hold back.

Otherwise, she would be the one being threatened.

"Fine! Draw whatever you want."

Eriri's mood swings lasted for a few seconds before she gave up on the idea, tossed her twin tails, and left the scene.

"Call..."

Ki Karen breathed a sigh of relief, looked around to make sure no one else was there, and carefully hid the notebook in her school uniform before returning to the News Department.

A farce that could have escalated was thus silently extinguished.

"Lord Sage?"

Dekomori Sanae brought some famous Fukuoka strawberries to offer today, but found Hasegawa in a daze.

"Could it be that it sensed some bad omen, Death?"

"No, I was just spacing out... Thank you, Sanae, you're so kind."

Hasegawa Izumi snapped out of her daze and, while picking a strawberry from the plate, praised it.

"No, it's nothing. After all, the Lord Sage took such good care of me..."

Dekomori Sanae's voice softened and grew softer with embarrassment.

Natsukawa Masuzu and Nibuya Morika gave each other a look of disdain.

While eating strawberries, Hasegawa Izumi was still thinking about what had just happened.

Actually, he was the first person to find the notebook.

Because I felt a connection to it, I looked through its contents.

I never expected anyone to be so bold...

She's almost as good as Eriri!

Unfortunately, the content wasn't exciting enough, falling far short of Kashiwagi Eri's.

What's interesting is what happened next; their reactions were quite a show.

Eriri, you're so cute!

The moonlight, like water, spilled into the tranquil night.

The streetlights on the street corner suddenly started flickering incessantly, as if something had malfunctioned.

"Just like in a horror movie."

A girl with an ordinary demeanor and a bob haircut suddenly appeared at the intersection, looked up, and made a comment in a flat, monotone voice.

"Crack..."

Suddenly, the streetlight shattered, as if struck by a heavy blow.

"What?"

She tilted her head, stared for a moment, but nothing happened.

Then, the girl crossed the sidewalk and headed home.

"Speaking of which, how many times has this happened already?"

She murmured to herself.

Unbeknownst to the girl, in a nearby detached house on the second floor, lights were on, and the outline of a figure could be vaguely seen from the outside. Suddenly, without warning, the figure reached out with its right hand, grabbed its own neck, and lifted itself up in a manner defying the laws of physics...

"We have a news report today about a suicide that occurred near Omokage Bridge in Toshima Ward, Tokyo. Our investigation revealed that the deceased had a long history of alcoholism and had recently suffered a serious illness... We hope everyone can maintain a positive attitude and take good care of their health. We should all have confidence in the future."

Early in the morning, the sound of news broadcasts came from the television.

"What kind of talk is this? Suicide is suicide, how does it relate to anything else! This is incredibly unprofessional!"

"Sigh, compared to this, the prices of many vegetables have recently risen to the point where we can't afford them anymore..."

Listening to her parents' complaints, the girl silently pulled out a chair, intending to sit down and eat, but was surprised to find that no bowl or chopsticks had been prepared for her.

She didn't say anything, and silently took out the bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen herself.

After all, the girl had long been used to this kind of thing being ignored, but it had only become more serious recently.

"Speaking of which, I think I passed by that place last night..."

The girl frowned slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"That's probably impossible."

She shook her head.

It's all because my classmates have been talking about supernatural and ghostly topics lately, and they've infected me with it.

With that thought in mind, the girl finished her meal and hurriedly rushed off to school.

It was just another ordinary day.

Just as she was about to go home after school, her female classmate, who was usually most interested in the occult, suddenly approached her.

"Kato- Kato, is that right? I... I'd like to ask you for a favor..."

"You must be Sakurai-san? What can I do for you?"

Kato Megumi was somewhat surprised, because it had been a long time since anyone could still remember her name.

"Help me."

Sakurai reached out and grabbed her shoulders tightly, his eyes pleading.

"I don't understand... what you mean."

"Among all the people I know, you are the only one who is different... because only mystery can counter mystery, so it can only be you."

"..."

Even Kato Megumi, who had been expressionless, couldn't help but show a hint of helplessness.

As an ordinary girl who is so unremarkable that she seems to have no presence, it's natural to feel distressed if someone suddenly says something like that to you.

"I see... Kato, you still don't understand?"

Sakurai seemed to understand something from her expression, his eyes widening in realization.

"Let me tell you, you're actually an Ability User!"

"Wow, I'm a superpowered Ability User!"

Kato Megumi read the sentence in a flat, emotionless tone, as if to appease her.

"So, what abilities do I have?"

54

Chapter 54 Come forth, my Mysterious Power...!

"Kato- kun, haven't you noticed? To everyone else, you're practically invisible. No normal person would do that. This is clearly your superpower! It's just that the activation of the power isn't very obvious, so you haven't realized it at all, Kato- kun."

"Isn't that because I have a low profile?"

"How could that be! Just look closely and you'll see. Kato, you have regular features, are of average height, and have smooth skin. You're perfectly proportioned, with curves in all the right places. You're the kind of girl who's adorable, just like a female lead in a TV drama. You should be loved by everyone! This situation is proof of that."

"Eh, I'm a little happy that Sakurai-san is praising me like that... But, since I can 'invisible,' why doesn't it work on you?"

"If it were me in the past, I would have subconsciously ignored your existence. But ever since I encountered something related to mystery and accidentally acquired some mysterious qualities, it seems that I have opened my 'Onmyo Eyes' and can see some Mysterious Phenomenon that ordinary people cannot see... In addition, since you and I are often in the same classroom, it is because of this that I have been able to 'observe' your existence."

Sakurai, unwilling to let go of the only lifeline he could grasp, kept pestering Kato Megumi, trying to persuade her.

Kato Megumi truly felt this enthusiasm and trust.

But.

"It sounds plausible, but I'm truly powerless; there's no way I can save you."

Her tone was very calm; she was simply stating an objective fact.

"No, Kato- kun, you just haven't realized your own power. I've seen anonymous posts online that say awakened people possess a mysterious power. As long as you can control this Mysterious Power, even an ordinary person can unleash terrifying destructive power, and it can even be effective against evil spirits that are immune to physical attacks."

Sakurai shook his head, clenched his fists, and stared intently at her.

This serious demeanor made Kato Megumi pinch her brow, and finally sighed, "Alright, Sakurai-san, I'll prove it then. I don't possess that kind of power at all."

She stretched out her right hand, revealing her slender fingers, and thought for a moment, as if she had thought of something.

"Come forth, my 'Mysterious Power'!"

As a result, nothing happened.

"..."

Sakurai looked blank and remained silent.

"Kato- kun, please stop teasing me, okay? I really came here for help."

"But..."

"There are no 'buts'. Since Kato- kun doesn't want to help me, then I'll just have to fend for myself!"

She seemed to have given up on herself, and after saying that, she fled the scene.

As Kato Megumi watched the other person's departing figure, the light in her eyes dimmed slightly. She looked down at her palms, a question forming in her mind.

Do I really possess power?

Let's put that issue aside for now, but the predicament the other party might be facing seems real.

Perhaps there really are such incredible things in this world.

The girl suddenly clenched her fist, as if she had made up her mind about something.

The Far East Magic Society has been bustling with activity these past few days due to the influx of new students.

Because of the sensation Hasegawa caused at Shuchiin, which was legendary even among the original junior high students, many people came to "pay their respects" after hearing Hasegawa's name, and some even wanted to join the club.

"Please leave. We have no plans to add any more candidates at the moment."

Nibuya Morika politely declined.

The boys and girls all looked disappointed as they watched Dekomori Sanae slowly close the door.

"Only by meeting certain conditions can we achieve our goals; ordinary people are not suitable for Death."

In addition, some freshmen who had previously received help or whom they knew also came to visit.

For example, Ishigami Yuu is now quite sunny and energetic, a transformation from his previous self.

Then there's Natsukawa Masuzu Little Sister, Natsukawa Mana, who comes over almost every day and has also expressed her desire to join the club.

However, each time he was ruthlessly rejected.

Goodbye, big brother~

After another tearful outburst, Natsukawa Mana waved goodbye to everyone warmly.

"Please stop bothering us!"

Natsukawa Masuzu, sounding very impatient.

"Someone really does have a sharp tongue but a soft heart."

On the other side, came the sound of Nibuya clicking its tongue.

"What are you misunderstanding? I'm not Sister Complex like the Club President... I just think her involvement is too superfluous."

Natsukawa Masuzu frowned and said seriously.

To keep up with them, she would have to become Awakened One, but she didn't have the ability to do that herself. As for asking the Club President for favors for such a thing, that would be far too immoral.