Private Toyosaki Academy.
Following behind Natsuki Minamiya, Luo Shu once again felt gazes brimming with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
With his five senses growing sharper by the day, Luo Shu could clearly hear remarks like these:
"He already has that younger girl Kasumigaoka, and now he's even making a move on the new teacher, Teacher Nangong."
"He's just a third-year delinquent, damn it. I'm so jealous!"
"Why does Teacher Nangong have to be with that delinquent exchange student in third year? She should just leave him on his own..."
"She only just got here as a substitute teacher. Is that legal loli already going to be taken?"
Luo Shu turned to look at Natsuki Minamiya's petite figure ahead of him. For a moment, he had the strange impression that his little sister was leading him along.
Of course, he had no such thing as a little sister. He hadn't had one in either lifetime.
"I heard that when you first started high school, your classmates ostracized you for being an exchange student, so you beat them up. Then you even got some 'friends' from Chinatown to corner them outside school?"
Walking ahead, Natsuki Minamiya recited Luo Shu's history as though she knew it by heart.
"Come to think of it, those friends of yours in Chinatown came here from your hometown and joined gangs, didn't they?"
Luo Shu didn't deny it. He simply replied calmly:
"You rely on friends when you're away from home, and on people from your hometown when you're abroad. That's perfectly normal. Provided they aren't out to scam you, of course."
Abroad, the people who scammed Chinese people most often were other Chinese people, because you never knew which dynasty their ancestors had emigrated under.
After all, there were plenty of Qing loyalists overseas, and even some Ming loyalists... With that in mind, Luo Shu rarely interacted with other Chinese people unless something unexpected came up.
The reason he had managed to find "friends" willing to corner people was that "Luo Shu's" parents had been executives who went abroad from their hometown to work.
Companies capable of arranging overseas postings like that were naturally Chinese-owned too. Back in Luo Shu's hometown in Fujian, business was all about forming cliques, and certain big companies still had lingering ties to major gangs.
As a result, Luo Shu knew a few "people with connections."
Thanks to one little outing with those "people with connections" to corner someone when he first enrolled, Luo Shu had successfully become Toyogasaki Academy's number-one dangerous individual. In return, he had avoided the most disgusting part of school life in Japan: bullying.
In a way, the "Luo Shu" whose memories hadn't yet awakened had also understood that you had to give something up to gain something else.
"It must have been hard, living abroad all alone."
Natsuki Minamiya spoke with her back to Luo Shu as she walked ahead.
Luo Shu's smile didn't change at her words. He simply bounced them back with twice the force. "Are you talking about yourself, Natsuki-chan?"
Natsuki Minamiya faltered, stopping for a second or two before continuing onward and calmly changing the subject.
"I heard you acquired an Abyssal Artifact. Have you had its danger level assessed?"
"Assessed? Danger level?"
Luo Shu looked puzzled. He was putting on an act, of course, but only partly, since he genuinely didn't know what danger levels Natsuki Minamiya was talking about.
Still facing away from him, Natsuki Minamiya seemed to sense his confusion and said matter-of-factly:
"Simply put, they're categories used to distinguish how dangerous Abyssal Artifacts are, jointly defined by the special departments of various countries."
As she continued walking, Natsuki Minamiya went on to explain in a quiet voice:
"Level one is safe to use-the safe class. The abilities in this category vary wildly, and many are downright bizarre. Fortunately, artifacts at this level are very safe and have minimal side effects, so they can be used regularly."
"Level two allows limited use, but requires multiple people to supervise. These artifacts are capable of causing mass-casualty incidents."
"Level three is not to be used in principle and must be kept under strict security. These artifacts can cause city-scale harm."
"Level four forbids both use and investigation. Only heads of state are permitted to know of their existence, and only their identification numbers are disclosed to the UN's five permanent members. It's currently the highest danger rating."
Having finished her explanation, Natsuki Minamiya looked at the ruby ring Luo Shu had been wearing on his right hand all along, unnoticed by anyone else.
"Based on the information deliberately disclosed by that Seven-Star Demon Hunter from the Demon Hunters who was driven off yesterday, the Demon Heart on your hand should be a level-two Abyssal Artifact."
The Seven-Star Demon Hunter deliberately disclosed information? Then how do you know it was deliberate...? Luo Shu frowned at her words, then gave Natsuki Minamiya a curious look.
"Were you the one who drove off that Seven-Star Demon Hunter yesterday, Natsuki-chan?"
"How many times have I told you not to add 'chan'?"
Natsuki Minamiya turned back and frowned at Luo Shu, snapping:
"If you don't want me revealing that the thing on your hand is a fake, address me properly as 'Teacher Nangong' from now on. 'Teacher Natsuki' is the least I'll accept. Understood?"
With a remarkable willingness to court death, Luo Shu replied:
"Yes, Natsuki-chan. Understood, Natsuki-chan."
Natsuki Minamiya's gaze sharpened.
Luo Shu immediately added, "We're outside school now, Natsuki-chan."
He meant that he would obediently call her "Teacher" on school grounds.
Understanding what he meant, Natsuki Minamiya snorted.
"Not outside school either. Always call me 'Teacher.' Understood
?"
"Yes, yes, yes." Luo Shu hastily agreed, then looked at the ring on his hand in "confusion." "But you said this is a fake, Teacher? Is it really?"
At those words, Natsuki Minamiya turned around and gave Luo Shu a serious look, seemingly trying to determine whether he was lying.
"I forgot to tell you earlier. The blue flame that represents your mind flickers slightly when you lie."
"Really?" Luo Shu put on a shocked expression beneath the blue flame above his head, which hadn't budged at all.
Natsuki Minamiya glanced at the completely unchanged blue flame over his head and gave a soft chuckle, sounding rather pleased.
"A genius, are you?"
"All right, stop dawdling. Unless you want your superior to give you an earful, you'd better hurry up and follow me."
Without hesitation, Luo Shu quickened his pace to keep up with Natsuki Minamiya, heading straight for the Lycoris café through the nearest alley.
Ding-a-ling-
As the door swung open, the wind chime gave a clear ring.
"Sorry, we're closed today... Huh? Luo Shu?"
Dressed in a deep-red kimono and holding a broom, Chisato Nishikigi apologized toward the entrance, then immediately realized it was Luo Shu. She tilted her head.
"Did you get the message too?"
"What message?" Luo Shu gave Chisato Nishikigi a puzzled look after entering, unsure what was going on.
Just then, Natsuki Minamiya walked in behind Luo Shu and said calmly:
"Your Chief Tachibana can't bear to put this fellow to work just yet."
Natsuki Minamiya swept her gaze over Chisato Nishikigi before adding:
"You look healthy enough, Chisato."
"Huh? Natsuki-chan!" Chisato Nishikigi's face lit up at the sight of Natsuki Minamiya, and she immediately reached out to hug her. "Wow! So you're the teacher the boss said she'd found for Luo Shu!"
"That's right." As she spoke, Natsuki Minamiya tried to wriggle out of Chisato Nishikigi's embrace. "All right, don't cling so close. Standing on tiptoe is tiring."
Watching them, Luo Shu turned curiously to Takina Inoue, who stood nearby holding a feather duster. "They know each other?"
Takina Inoue explained:
"When we first arrived here, the response team we encountered was led by Chief Tachibana and Teacher Nangong."
"But afterward, some things happened, and Chief Tachibana almost fell out with the Metropolitan Police Department. We haven't seen much of her since."
Takina Inoue thought for a moment, then added, "Let's see... It's been almost half a year, hasn't it?"
Hearing this for the first time, Luo Shu wore a peculiar expression.
"What a coincidence."
Not noticing Luo Shu's strange expression, Natsuki Minamiya freed herself from Chisato Nishikigi's embrace and addressed a familiar face making coffee in the kitchen.
"So, Tachibana Kirika, where do things stand?"
"Which things do you mean?" Tachibana Kirika picked up a coffee cup and replied with a smile.
Natsuki Minamiya's gaze sharpened. She studied Tachibana Kirika intently before asking:
"Where exactly was that document containing the Demon Incantation sent by the Demon Warlock who died?"
Before you continue