112 – 112. Beacon.
──Kwaaah!!
Kenichi Kitagawa and Keiichi trembled at the explosion coming from outside the warehouse.
Not only were they surprised by the sudden large scale of the explosion…
It was a very familiar energy.
While others were enjoying the festival, Kenichi, who was swinging a sword in the warehouse, quickly sprang out and looked up at the sky.
“….Wow.”
The western sky was crimson. The sky was truly burning red.
A pillar of fire rising so high that it seemed like the vicinity over there had completely blown up.
The energy felt amidst this was undoubtedly Ichimaru Shiki’s, an unexpected, noisy situation to handle.
Kenichi furrowed his brow in thought for a moment before finding a clear answer.
Oh, could it be that everyone is being called to see this?
Indeed, Ichimaru Shiki, whom he knew, had a mischievous nature like his fidgety face.
Some might think it was an event to gather all those who knew him.
Quite a plausible story…!
“Alright, let’s go! I’m on it!”
Kenichi hurriedly changed his pace.
Ep 112 – The Beacon
In this world, there exist various types of people.
There are those like Kenichi, who upon seeing a sudden pillar of fire, immediately rush towards it, while undoubtedly, there are also those who have a lot on their minds.
Eris gazed out the window at the crimson pillar of fire rising, her mind wandering.
…Why do I always end up with the cleanup duty?
“Sigh.”
Eris, exhaling deeply, glanced at the pillar of fire outside the window with a troubled expression before leaving the classroom.
To the worried children looking at her with concern, she gestured that everything was fine.
Indeed, things seemed fine for now.
Although she wasn’t sure if things wouldn’t explode later, well, for now, it was okay.
“Eris, Miss!”
Sawako Tachibana caught up with her, walking briskly down the hallway.
She couldn’t be seen where she went when she entered the classroom, but various talismans were hanging all over her uniform.
The blonde sorceress, taken aback by the inexplicable fashion, cautiously asked, “Are you going like that?”
“I have to do whatever I can!”
Sawako Tachibana replied, clenching her hands tightly.
Whatever the circumstances, she considered Ichimaru Shiki her benefactor.
However, she wasn’t as naive as Kenichi, so she didn’t think she could be of much help to the strong Ichimaru Shiki.
Thus, Sawako utilized her knowledge as a talisman maker to create numerous talismans.
She aimed to enhance her mystical abilities through the power of talismans to cope with various situations.
…The concepts of Eastern shamans and Western sorcerers are quite similar, so Eris understood Sawako’s determination as soon as she saw her, but still, isn’t that a bit too much?
Eris blinked at the dozen or so talismans hanging messily on her uniform.
They say the face completes the fashion.
Seeing such a cluttered look on someone with a pretty face, it truly seemed like an unusual fashion choice.
Lost in thought for a moment, Eris suddenly remembered the urgent situation and shook her head.
This is no time to dawdle here.
Even if she used magic to fly, the point where the pillar of fire rose was quite a distance away.
If she truly intended to provide support, she had to move quickly, even for a moment.
Regaining her composure, Eris Betelgeuse thought about Kenichi and Hotaru somewhere in the school, debating whether to bring them along, but for now, she decided to move.
If they had eyes, they would come looking for themselves at the noisy pillar of fire.
“Fly.”
The sorceress soared into the sky.
***
“…What on earth is that?”
“…Did a missile fall or something?”
Middle of the academy festival, the curtain call during the play and the festival proceedings came to a halt.
Ichinose Hotaru, who rushed out of the auditorium, saw a large-scale explosion that looked vaguely like a sunset.
The sky on one side was red.
The atmosphere felt like war was about to break out, just like the other students murmuring.
“…Is that a signal?”
Of course, Hotaru knew that it wasn’t a precursor to war or anything like that.
Even Eris, looking at the pillar of magic explosion as a sign of calamity, felt a familiar divine power.
…It was the divine power of the “Mother of Flames” that Hotaru, as a miko, revered.
Honestly, she was dumbfounded.
Were there other mikos besides herself who worshipped gods?
Why didn’t the shrine caretaker provide more details?
There were many questions, but with a firm resolve, Ichinose Hotaru decided.
She had to go to the shrine.
It was undoubtedly an act caused by abilities and monsters.
Unless it was a natural disaster, as a miko of flames, she had to intervene.
Moreover, with the shrine caretaker’s premonition, she was finally convinced.
“Sorry, I’ll be back in a moment.”
“Hotaru?”
Ignoring her puzzled friend’s voice, Hotaru ran.
She wasn’t physically gifted.
Even if I prayed for blessings, I wouldn’t gain supernatural abilities, so to arrive on time, I had to run hard or quickly catch a ride on public transport.
“Huh?”
By the time Hotaru reached the school gate, a familiar woman blocked her path.
Ichinose Hotaru, catching her breath, saw a fellow female student in the same uniform.
With her distinct green hair and a somehow familiar face reminiscent of Ichimaru Shiki.
“Hey, hi.”
Karakura High School student council president, Tokito Minami, shook hands with a smiling face.
“Where are you going without finishing enjoying the festival?”
Somehow, even her tone of voice brought forth Hotaru’s vigilance.
She wasn’t an otaku who carried around boys’ comics on fake days like her childhood friend Kenichi, but she had seen something over her shoulder.
People who speak in such ominous tones are usually villains and antagonists.
“Except for Ichimaru-kun…!”
That must have been a rare exception.
With that thought, Hotaru secretly summoned her divine power.
Of course, it was a visible maneuver for Tokito Minami, who excelled in covert operations.
She chuckled and said, “Oh, dear. It would be troublesome if you intend to fight me. After all, I’m the former commander of the Shinomiya Second Mobile Division.”
Upon hearing that introduction, Ichinose Hotaru became even more cautious.
Although she was mostly confined to the shrine, she didn’t know much about the Shinomiya, but she remembered that it was a group that captured Ichimaru Shiki.
In other words, a definite enemy.
“──Oh, Mother of Fire!”
In the midst of reciting the spell, Commander Tokito Minami let out a sigh before adding, “It’s just my background, I’m currently working for world peace.”
“…World peace?”
“Yes, world peace. I’m well aware of you through Ichimaru Shiki.”
With that said, Tokito Minami chuckled and extended his hand.
“By any chance, do you need a courier to quickly climb the mountain?”
***
As all the main characters left the school grounds and headed towards Shibuya, where the divine palace was located, Kitagawa Kenichi suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Kenichi.”
A voice he didn’t expect to hear here.
Simultaneously familiar and comforting, it was a voice he had heard many times at school, so he recognized it immediately.
Kenichi, standing still, furrowed his brow and looked across the street to see a man approaching.
“Where are you headed right now?”
“…Sensei?”
Yamamoto Baki, the Japanese teacher and homeroom teacher of Class A in the first grade, faced him with a stern expression.
Kenichi touched the cross hanging around his neck and looked at Baki with a puzzled expression.
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Thanks to his earnest running, they were quite far from the school grounds, and for some reason, he could sense real hostility from Yamamoto Baki, who was often ridiculed by students as a potential killer.
Kenichi suddenly remembered a conversation he had with Ichimaru Shiki before.
“You know, Shiki.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Sometimes at school, I feel a different kind of magic, what’s that about? Some industrial spy?”
“Oh, Kenichi. Have you become a bit smarter?”
“…What do you mean?”
Since Shiki didn’t seem concerned, Kenichi had thought it was nothing serious, just a misunderstanding.
Or maybe it was an attitude of not being a threat to himself, so he should handle it on his own.
Whatever it was, what a stubborn teacher, a friend.
Thinking this, Kenichi bit his tongue and tightly grasped the cross necklace, a memento from his grandfather.
“Hmm.”
Yamamoto Baki, eyeing the necklace intently, sighed deeply and scowled.
“Kenichi, go back to school right now. If you turn back quietly now, I’ll turn a blind eye.”
“What?”
This was an unexpected statement.
Kenichi, who had been considering summoning the demon sword right away, blinked and asked, “Go back?”
“Yes, if you don’t get involved any further, there’s no need for me to act.”
Hmm, is this the usual teacher?
He’s more moderate than I thought. Seems he’s not as ruthless as his nickname, the potential killer.
Kenichi, lost in thought with his eyes flickering, shook his head and replied, “I’m sorry, but I think I should go. I’ll apply for early leave later, so could you please let me through?”
I didn’t know the details, but I had to go anyway.
To Ichimaru Shiki, I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but it’s better than nothing.
Recently, Kenichi, who regained confidence through training, made that decision, and Yamamoto Baki, who tried to stop him, let out a sigh.
“Well, it ended up like this after all.”
The homeroom teacher looked at his student with a cold gaze.
“He was a good student even without studying. What a pity.”
As Baki clenched his fist, it seemed like a demon was wriggling through his thick forearm muscles like a snake.
At that moment, Kenichi widened his eyes.
A tremendous aura emanated from Yamamoto Baki, who had just been an ordinary person a moment ago.
“Commander of the 1st Mobile Unit, Yamamoto Baki. The highest priority target of His Majesty the Emperor, I will eliminate the descendants of the heroes.”
As he took a step forward with his fist clenched, the physical distance was instantly erased.