Chapter 366

The reason for bringing along this person and dog is not complicated.

Based on the test results and her own guesses about Teacher Haihara's condition, the two of them should be able to understand more quickly, while Kirishima Ai still needs to help take care of the teacher.

Kuroki Yuka continued eating the small cake that Ms. Kougami had given her, her face full of curiosity.

Takanashi didn't eat because she had already finished her portion.

"So, Kuroki, do you remember that time before Christmas, when we went out together at lunchtime during school? My Magic Armament suddenly sensed the presence of Snake-Type Magic, so I was very concerned at the time."

"But in the end, nothing was found."

Takanashi reminisced about what had happened some time ago.

At that moment, her head suddenly felt a little dizzy, and the Magic Armament reacted to the sudden surge of Magic Power in the city.

She almost immediately took Kuroki Yuka and transformed to search for her.

However, there was nothing to be gained.

"I remember you told me back then that a lot of strange tales were circulating in the city, and many people were suddenly affected by strange Magic, even Monster were suffering."

There's likely something fishy going on behind this series of events.

Furthermore, Takanashi seemed to have mentioned her mission on Earth at the time.

At this moment, Takanashi told Kuroki Yuka and the puppy about the results of the examination:

"During this test, the Doctor discovered the presence of Serpent System Magic Spell on Teacher Haihara. Although it poses no danger, it caused Teacher Haihara to lose her memory and her body to become younger."

"Serpent System Magic Spell?"

"Woof?"

Kuroki Yuka and the puppy were both stunned for a moment.

Keep in mind, this isn't something that ordinary Monster or evil Black Magical Girl can use.

This is quite intriguing.

Moreover, the fact that they were under a curse made Kuroki Yuka and Cangyue Yuri even more concerned.

--What kind of guy could cast Serpent System Magic Spell that would work on Haihara- san?

Even the Royal Capital such power!

At that moment, suddenly recalling what Takanashi had just mentioned about what happened a while ago, Kuroki Yuka seemed to have thought of something:

"Wait... you mean, Haihara- san's condition might be caused by that legendary Crown Magic Tool?"

If that's the case, she'll find it even harder to understand.

Given Haihara's true identity... why would that Magic Armament do such a thing to Haihara?

However, this is indeed Takanashi's current speculation.

"The Serpent System Magic Spell on Teacher Haihara is something I can't break even after I transform. It's definitely not something those Serpent System Black Death Cult who appeared before could use, so this is the only explanation for now."

"Moreover, this also explains many of the strange things that happened before."

Takanashi seemed to be remembering more things.

"For example?"

Kuroki Yuka blinked.

"Think about it, the thing that bothered me most about the Black Death Cult was their ability to create Serpent System Monster, something even the Royal Capital couldn't do. So, the reason why Serpent System Monster could be created might be due to the influence of that Magic Armament."

"Hahaha..."

Knowing a little about the truth, Kuroki Yuka could only turn her face away and give an awkward smile.

The Magical Puppy on Takanashi's lap, unable to break its promise to Haihara- san, could only remain silent for the time being.

However, the discovery that Haihara's situation was likely due to the influence of that Magic Armament helped them all gain a better understanding of the current situation.

The situation, which was originally clueless, is now different.

After the Doctor finished organizing the data, they had already spent enough time at the research institute, and the Magic girls all had their own assignments to complete.

However, what's concerning is that the president didn't arrive until the very end.

Before this, the president said that she might come today, or she might not.

What exactly happened...?

In short, they should go home now; staying here any longer won't bring any new developments for the time being.

"Well, Teacher Haihara, you'll be staying at my house in a couple of days, okay?"

Before saying goodbye, Takanashi gave Haihara earnest advice.

"Huh? You have to stay with me for at least a week, right? Was it only two or three days before?"

Kuroki Yuka was stunned.

Beside her, a dog and a bird also earnestly echoed her sentiments.

There are three of them in total: one person, one dog, and one bird.

That means it should take at least three times longer, right?

"What you're saying is ridiculous. We can't expect Teacher Haihara to stay like this for a whole month. It would be fair if we rotate her every two or three days, wouldn't it?"

Takanashi are always cautious in their thinking.

"Tsk..."

But they'd only known each other for a day or two; how could she possibly have the guts to do something wrong? She needed at least a few more days to build a relationship, right?

Kuroki Yuka somewhat unwilling to accept this.

The dog Haihara was holding and the bird on her head were also unwilling to accept this.

However, this does seem to make some sense.

Meanwhile, Haihara listened to everything silently, seemingly without any objection.

After the Magic girls disbanded, the snow outside the research institute lessened considerably, but the sky remained very dark, with a gloomy tone as if the sun might set at any moment.

Next, just like when they arrived, the Doctor drove them home.

It seemed that there was nothing tiring to do next that day.

In some corner of the city.

Weak, labored breathing could be heard, almost imperceptible.

The sound was complex and distorted, yet one could also hear beautiful female voices interspersed within it.

The sky was still snowing heavily, and the temperature was freezing cold. The streets were deserted, with hardly any pedestrians in sight.

In the dark alley, a strange figure was stumbling and wandering aimlessly.

Black blood was constantly dripping from its body.

When the blood dripped into the blood droplet, the ice and snow melted, and eerie black flowers sprouted from the ground.

It was a strange, broken Monster covered in flowers.

On the street, a woman shivering from the cold noticed him, mistaking him for a homeless person. She approached the staggering man with concern, wanting to ask him:

"Um... are you alright?"

The woman had barely begun to ask her question when, upon recognizing the figure swaying in the alley, her face turned extremely grim, and she muttered something under her breath:

"Strange... Monster..."

She muttered this to herself, then ran away in fear.

In the Snowfield- covered alley, the swaying, battered, strange Monster seemed to finally collapse. A flash of light appeared on its body, and it transformed into a disheveled yet beautiful woman.

This beautiful woman seemed completely oblivious to her surroundings.

She hugged her arms, shivering from the cold like any ordinary person.

"It's so cold..."

The woman's usually melodious voice sounded weak and fragile at this moment.

Without a doubt, this woman is the Flower Demon King who disappeared in the eyes of the Black Death Cult a while ago.

She had many visible wounds on her body, clearly indicating that she had been severely injured.

"Ah... you really show no mercy at all."

Even so, this strange and morbid Demon King still managed a slight smile.

She walked along the deserted street in a very disheveled state.

This area looks like a residential complex?

Finally, her battered body could no longer hold on, and she collapsed by a secluded roadside, as fragile as if she might die at any moment. Even the Demon King's healing abilities did not take effect on the woman in a short time.

However, of course, her injuries were not fatal.

Just after the battle with the Witch ended, as the witch had said, the Witch's current restored power was not enough to defeat her, but it was enough to severely injure her so that she could not pose a threat to the Magic girls for a short period of time.

But the Flower Demon King didn't seem flustered.

She never intended to defeat the Witch; she simply handed over the "key" the Witch needed.

Now, all we need to do is leave it to fate and the choices of desire.

That's what they say...

"My consciousness is starting to blur... I don't really want to think anymore. This pain... it feels so familiar."

The one thing the Demon King could rarely feel was pain.

For thousands of years, dear suffering has been an unforgettable companion to them.

Yes, since its birth, and even before its birth.

After being beaten to the point where she could no longer maintain her Monster form and reverted to human form, Tachibana lay weakly against the corner of the alley, gazing at the snow-covered street.

Wounds cause pain.

Coldness can also cause pain.

The Royal Capital associates everything in this world with suffering; this is their understanding of the world.

But beyond the pain is...

"Mom, it's so cold..."

On the street in the distance, a little girl dressed in thick, warm clothes was complaining and confiding in her mother.

Beside her, a relatively young woman exhaled a puff of white breath and gently stroked the little girl's small hand:

"Then let's run back quickly, we'll be home soon."

Tachibana's pupils gazed quietly at a mother and daughter jogging home in the distance.

Their voices were very clear to Tachibana's ears.

But Tachibana struggles to understand their feelings and thoughts.

I can't understand why they feel such pain from the cold, yet they seem somewhat happy.

When she can't understand something, she feels a deep sense of emptiness.

She has the shell of a human being, but nothing inside.

That's why I wanted to fill it with something.

However, she was getting increasingly sleepy due to her weakness, her consciousness was becoming blurred, and she didn't want to think about anything.

She had become somewhat sleepy since hundreds of years ago, but sleeping wasn't a good thing, because the Demon King's memories would become very bad after each sleep, and it would take them a long time to remember things from the past.

In the gloomy late winter, a thin veil of silver snow gradually blankets the woman's body.

Her consciousness was hazy.

Until I heard a confused yet concerned young girl's call:

"Um... are you alright? Sleeping on the street in this cold weather..."