Misaki City

It was already late November. The leaden sky overhead blocked out the sunlight, sending the already low temperature plunging even further. Pedestrians on the street were bundled up tightly as they hurried past Michael.

The air was filled with an excited atmosphere. Even in this remote city in the Far East, the booming stock market had plunged the entire country into a frenzy. Every conversation revolved around stocks, and snippets of them reached Michael's ears.

"The stock I bought hasn't been doing so well lately. I want to sell, but I can't bear to."

"Don't get attached. It's just a tool for making money. I usually buy two or three stocks that are more likely to rise than fall and make a portfolio. As long as the portfolio as a whole turns a profit, that's enough. I don't get emotionally attached to any individual stock. The moment the portfolio makes money, I sell."

"So there's a way to buy and sell like that."

"It's just a simple portfolio game. Once you see through the pattern, you can make money lying down. A few days ago, I bought a luxury apartment next to Yoyogi Shrine in Tokyo."

Japan's stock market was steadily climbing, and the entire country was in a state of mania. Even this remote little city was no exception. Michael had no interest whatsoever in what they were saying. Over the past several centuries, he had amassed countless amounts of gold, silver, and jewels, and made innumerable investments. At the very least, he had never worried about money.

Besides, Michael had lived through it before. If nothing unexpected happened, Japan's economy would collapse within the next year or two. When that happened, he could acquire some companies and real estate at low prices. Of course, that was a matter for later.

After entering Misaki City, he could sense the faint magical energy lingering in the air. Nodes controlling the Ley Line formed a Magic Circle capable of monitoring the entire city. Although the quality of this Ley Line was merely average, considerable effort had clearly gone into its defenses.

There were two ways to seize a Ley Line controlled by another magus. One was to unravel the nodes on the Ley Line and set up one's own Magic Circle. The other was much simpler and more direct: eliminate the magus himself.

Under normal circumstances, Michael used the second method. If solving the problem was troublesome, then he would simply solve the person who raised it.

He glanced at the sun on the horizon, hidden behind layers of dark clouds. There were roughly three or four hours left until sunset. Though Michael, as a Dead Apostle, would not be harmed by sunlight, fighting beneath the sun still left him somewhat listless.

Someone suddenly bumped into him, interrupting his thoughts. It was a young man who looked like a high school student, wrapped in a heavy black wool coat.

"Sorry, sorry..."

He apologized repeatedly, his face showing plain and sincere remorse. His aura was completely different from that of the surrounding pedestrians, as though he had just come down from some mountain cut off from the world.

"It's fine. But please be more careful when you walk."

The corners of Michael's lips lifted slightly into a gentle smile. He lightly patted the young man's shoulder, then walked past him.

"I'm really sorry..."

The young man scratched his head and continued on his way, completely unaware of the Monitoring Mark on his body.

"This boy really isn't an ordinary person."

Watching the young man leave, Michael narrowed his eyes and stared at his retreating back with interest. In that brief instant earlier, his magical energy had already circulated through the young man's body several times, allowing him to ascertain the basics.

His muscles were exceptionally well-trained, and even the instinctive reaction his body had made when Michael touched his shoulder was enough to prove that he had undergone harsh combat training. However, he did not carry the disgusting scent of those people from the Holy Church. He was probably not an Executor.

Someone like that appearing in Misaki City... hopefully he would not bring trouble upon him...

Michael pondered this as he walked into a noodle shop by the roadside.

The winter sun set early. Night flooded the entire city like a tide, while the cold wind howled through the streets, leaving faint red marks on the exposed skin of passersby.

People had returned early to their warm homes. Michael walked through the deserted streets, the hem of his trench coat fluttering in the cold wind, the scarf around his neck concealing half his face.

Misaki City had originally been built amid a forest. Though modernization had been vigorously promoted in recent years, vast stretches of forest still remained in the outskirts. The light of civilization had failed to erode nature's mystery, and the greenery here still grew tenaciously.

At the border between Misaki City and Misaki Hill, Michael stopped. A barrier shrouded the entire forest ahead. He paused slightly, then strode into it.

"Alice, did you feel it? Someone has entered the forest."

In the elegantly decorated sunroom, Aozaki Aoko solemnly put down the tome of magecraft she had been studying and looked toward the roommate seated opposite her, who also worked as a teacher.

Her dark, slightly brown-black hair flowed down her back, and her azure eyes were like a clear sky. The slightly loose red sweater she wore at home outlined the girl's soft, mountain-like curves. No matter how one looked at her, Aozaki Aoko was an unquestionable beauty.

"Could it be that sly fellow?"

Seemingly concerned, Aozaki Aoko pressed.

"I don't know. I've changed the Surveillance Barrier from Mansion Mode to Misaki Mode."

The slender girl seated opposite answered her question. Unlike Aozaki Aoko, Alice Kuonji wore nothing but black and white. Her pale face was expressionless, showing neither sorrow nor joy.

That black nun's habit suited her exceptionally well, perhaps even too well. It carried a dreamlike quality, making her seem like a still landscape painting.

"Since yesterday, we've gradually been surrounded. Although the progress has been slow, the intruders' intentions are quite obvious."

"When you say surrounded, do you mean the number of enemies has increased?"

Upon hearing Alice Kuonji's words, Aozaki Aoko could not help feeling a little nervous.

"Both. Aside from the one who has already been captured, there is one in the city and three in the forest."

"That sounds a little complicated—"

Aozaki Aoko sighed softly, then poured herself a steaming cup of black tea. In the cold mansion without heating, this was one of their few ways to keep warm.

"If your information is correct, which side is more troublesome?"

"Naturally, the forest. We need to find a way to capture those three people."

"Do you need my help?"

Aozaki Aoko asked tentatively. Though she could only be considered a half-baked magus, she could at least help draw some fire.

"No need. I alone will be enough tonight. If you really have time, you should practice Suggestion Magecraft more. You've mixed up Suggestion Magecraft and Yin Qi Bullets again, haven't you?"

Alice Kuonji mercilessly refused Aozaki Aoko's request. After draining the tea in her cup, she stood and headed for the front door.

"It was obviously those rice crackers that made me mix up the magecraft..."

Aozaki Aoko muttered, then opened the magecraft book in her hands again. Looking at the obscure and difficult contents, she unconsciously pursed her lips,