Congratulations, you've come into contact with the Abyss... After hearing those words, Luo Shu repeated them several times, then frowned and asked:
"So if all three flames show abnormalities, does that mean you've encountered an Abyssal Artifact?"
"Not necessarily. Or rather, it might not be an Abyssal Artifact."
Natsuki Minamiya closed her insulated mug, leaned against the edge of the lectern, and explained:
"Being affected or controlled by an Abyssal Artifact, entering an area where the Abyss's aura has distorted natural phenomena, or even being attacked by an Abyssal monster can all cause abnormalities in the three flames."
"When large numbers of ordinary people show abnormalities in all three flames at once, that's practically proof that the Abyss has begun to descend."
"And these phenomena have become increasingly frequent in recent years. That's why SDS was established."
At that point, Natsuki Minamiya reminded Luo Shu:
"You brought these two girls here to learn so they'd have some ability to protect themselves, right?"
Luo Shu didn't deny it. After all, that was exactly what he wanted Natsuki Minamiya to think.
"If you want to avoid monsters, artifacts, or whatever other strange things emerge from the Abyss, learning a basic skill like Spirit Vision and observing the Essence, Energy, and Spirit Three Flames will give you a good chance of staying out of danger."
That was also Natsuki Minamiya's main reason for making this the subject of their first lesson.
With that in mind, Natsuki Minamiya added a warning:
"One more thing: in this world, ordinary people can generally only damage the red flame. The same goes for some ability users. Those capable of damaging the blue flame are usually fairly powerful, while the yellow flame is something all sorts of uncanny beings are fond of."
"Um..." Remembering what had happened two days earlier, Utaha Kasumigaoka raised her hand somewhat awkwardly. "By uncanny beings, you mean..."
"Yes, exactly what you're thinking of. Ghosts, demons, monsters, things like that. Human life force-or the life force of any living creature, really-is nourishment to them."
Natsuki Minamiya gave Utaha Kasumigaoka an amused look, then teased:
"Of course, some powerful nonhuman beings can damage the blue flame as well as the yellow one. Those generally aren't simple foes. You need experts among experts to handle them."
"Aside from that, there's one special case that only happens to males, and it makes all three flames waver."
Hearing Natsuki Minamiya say that, Luo Shu and Utaha Kasumigaoka both sensed something was off. Only Eriri walked straight into the trap, looking utterly bewildered:
"Huh? Seriously? How can there be something that only happens to males? It doesn't happen to females?"
"Of course there is," Natsuki Minamiya said matter-of-factly. "Ejaculation, for one."
"As for women, you'll have to wait until you enter an obstetric operating room. But that's another case of all three flames wavering that only happens to women."
"!!!"
If Eriri had been drinking anything, she would have sprayed it straight out of her mouth.
"W-wait! How can you say something like that so casually?!"
Eriri slapped the desk in a frenzy, her face bright red.
"I'm twenty-four."
Natsuki Minamiya gave Eriri a calm glance, the look of an adult watching a child:
"In this country, that's normally old enough to be a mother. Isn't it perfectly normal for me to talk about this?"
"B-but, but..."
Eriri began to stammer, but Natsuki Minamiya merely waved a hand dismissively:
"All right, that's it for the introduction to the three flames. By using Spirit Vision on yourself or someone else, you can easily assess their current condition."
Natsuki Minamiya glanced at Luo Shu, considered for a moment, then addressed the three of them:
"I'll give you another way to identify danger."
As she spoke, Natsuki Minamiya pointed to the yellow flame on her shoulder:
"An ordinary person's yellow flame usually burns continuously. In some people who are overworked, it burns so rapidly that it almost seems to pulse. And since it can move, naturally, it can also remain still."
As Natsuki Minamiya spoke, the yellow flame on her shoulder first blazed, then flickered and danced, before abruptly settling down. It floated there motionlessly, like a flame-shaped ball of light.
Then Natsuki Minamiya narrowed her eyes and said meaningfully:
"In modern society, there aren't many people whose flames remain stable."
"A stable yellow flame indicates stable life force. That's the mark of a sorcerer."
"Except for Luo Shu, if any of you encounters someone with a stable yellow flame, run if you can."
A stable yellow flame meant stable life force, and awakening an ability was the best way to regulate the body and stabilize the yellow flame. Or, viewed the other way around, only with a stable yellow flame could one awaken an ability.
So anyone whose yellow flame remained completely motionless on their right shoulder was undoubtedly a sorcerer.
After warning Utaha Kasumigaoka and Eriri, Natsuki Minamiya glanced at Luo Shu and explained:
"The same applies to a stable blue flame. Those people are even more dangerous. But powerful individuals skilled in manipulating the 'spirit flame' can often disguise the state of their three flames, so it's usually difficult to spot anything unusual about them."
As Natsuki Minamiya spoke, the three flames on her shoulders and head began to burn steadily, looking almost like pasted-on images.
At the sight, Luo Shu narrowed his eyes slightly and looked up at his own three flames. He watched for two or three seconds before seeing a slight flicker.
"This way of identifying
danger is really convenient!"
"But come to think of it, Natsuki-chan, how many people know this method?"
"This is my exclusive technique." Natsuki Minamiya calmly picked up her insulated mug, her eyes half-lidded. "And don't add 'chan' when you're addressing your teacher."
"But you aren't that old, are you, Natsuki-chan? Besides, didn't you say before that you'd be coming as a student..."
Clink, clink, clink!
The sound of sliding chains rang out as metal chains suddenly appeared around Luo Shu's hands and feet.
Natsuki Minamiya gritted her teeth and said in a deeply displeased tone:
"That was all a mistake by the officials. They saw my photograph and decided I was a student. Hmph. If you ask me, every last administrative worker in Kyoto should be fired."
At that revelation, Luo Shu immediately shut his mouth.
Good grief, so the staff had mistaken her for a student? No wonder she was so angry.
"Pfft!"
Hearing that, Eriri couldn't hold back her laughter, her shoulders shaking:
"Sorry, I didn't mean to. It's just-oh, right, I just didn't expect Teacher Nangong to run into the same situation as me. No, wait, I actually am a student... Uh..."
"Sawamura, I think you'd better stop talking," Utaha Kasumigaoka hurriedly warned her, noticing Natsuki Minamiya's decidedly unsettling expression.
Eriri looked up at Natsuki Minamiya's darkened face and quickly covered her mouth.
Then Natsuki Minamiya said icily:
"Your assignment for today is to learn how to use Spirit Vision without relying on 'essential oil.' The essential oil on the desk is the only tool you have. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll check your progress."
Natsuki Minamiya's face remained expressionless as she spoke, her gaze settling on Eriri as though singling her out:
"Please make sure all three of you are ready to hand in your homework."
We even have homework? And she's obviously targeting me? This... Is it too late to get on my knees and apologize?
Eriri thought, looking as though she had lost all will to live.
After setting that little trap for the three of them, Natsuki Minamiya suddenly addressed Luo Shu:
"Luo Shu, come with me to Lycoris after class."
Luo Shu was puzzled, but he still nodded:
"All right."
Before you continue