Chapter 322: [322] The Marvels of Displacement Magecraft

After much commotion, Illya and Miyu finally managed to leave school early.

Caren withdrew her gaze from the school gates. Beside her, Sakatsuki idly flipped through a grimoire while steam curled up from the teacup on the table.

"There’s a little one tailing them. Aren’t you going to help?"

The priest closed his book and took a sip of tea, looking every bit the old man he pretended to be. "No need. Danzou’s been protecting them all along. Did you think Illya made it to school alive purely by luck?"

No matter how sharp her instincts or how absurd her luck, Illya was still just a child in terms of physical ability. Without Danzou secretly assisting, she would never have made it this far.

"Honestly, I’m more concerned about you right now."

Under Sakatsuki’s amused gaze, Caren lifted her chin slightly, let out a soft "hmph," and turned her head away—like a stubborn child bracing for a scolding.

Yet the reprimand never came. Instead, she felt something heavy placed in her hands.

A small, rectangular pink gift box, tied perfectly with a blue ribbon.

"...What’s this?"

"A friendly gift from your superior." The black-robed priest slumped back into his chair as if he hadn’t moved at all, teacup in hand. "Whipped it up after flipping through some books these past couple days. Want to open it now?"

"Might as well. There’s scissors right here." Without hesitation, Caren snipped the ribbon and opened the box, revealing an exquisite platinum brooch. Only then did her movements pause.

"Too bad. I was hoping for a ring."

"Dream on, you demonic saint." Sakatsuki rolled his eyes. "It’s just a quick Mystic Code I threw together—or, in Church terms, a..."

"Please refrain from blasphemous language, Father."

"Ahem. Anyway, it generates a conceptual buffer once per day. When you experience demonic reactions, it’ll absorb most of the backlash. I tested it last night—with this, ordinary demons will only feel like... well, a light pinch."

"That barely even counts as pain..." Caren murmured but obediently pinned the brooch to her chest.

"Mmm, much better. Really, all the girls around me are hopeless at accessorizing. Guess it falls to me." Sakatsuki scrutinized her attire before nodding in satisfaction. "I won’t tell you to stop working. Helping others should be voluntary—no need for me to overstep."

"But making sure my companions don’t get hurt? That doesn’t require anyone’s permission."

’Besides, I’ve already purged the Church. The Burial Agency isn’t bad... but they’re nothing compared to me. Especially in a world without the 27 Dead Apostle Ancestors.’

From now on, Caren’s workload would decrease significantly.

Naturally, he kept that part to himself. Checking the time, he ended his leisurely morning break and stood to leave the nurse’s office.

Behind him, Caren lowered her eyes, pale fingers tracing the brooch’s intricate patterns.

For some reason, her heartbeat suddenly quickened. A wave of dizziness washed over her, drowning her in an emotion she’d never felt before.

Was it a demon?

She pressed a hand to her chest, scanning the room—but the atmosphere was clear, filled only with distant laughter. No trace of anything unholy.

Not the wind stirring... but her own heart.

***

Leaving school in the morning was a first for Illya.

"Miyu, you didn’t have to skip class with me."

"It’s fine. I was worried. Compulsory education isn’t nearly as important as you are."

"Sometimes your devotion feels a bit heavy..."

"Look out!"

Miyu suddenly shoved Illya aside. The moment they separated, an iron arrow embedded itself where they’d just stood.

"What the—?!"

"An attack! From the telephone pole!"

Illya looked up just in time to see a black bird take flight, launching a volley of arrows straight at her.

"Eek—!"

Scrambling to her feet, she dodged the barrage with clumsy, comical movements—until a swift figure intercepted the assault.

"Tch! You’re fast when you’re running away."

A girl with pink hair and crimson-gold eyes stood before her, clad in that same revealing outfit but now wielding a massive black bow.

"Illya."

"I-It’s her!" Illya flinched into a defensive stance.

"She speaks?! This black one does?!"

"She has a personality?" Miyu stared in disbelief. "She’s not like the corrupted Heroic Spirits..."

"Maybe we can talk this out! Quick, try communicating!"

Following Ruby’s terrible advice, Illya shakily extended a lollipop—leaning forward but not daring to step closer, like someone feeding a wild animal. "H-Hey, I’m a friend! Not an enemy—"

The black "Illya"—Kuro—responded by hurling a dagger straight at her head.

Illya barely ducked in time. The blade impaled her school cap, pinning it to a telephone pole.

Had it struck her skull, this would’ve instantly turned into an 18+ scene.

"What’s your problem?!"

"Hmm. Dodged again." Kuro tilted her head, analyzing Illya’s reflexes. "Your intuition and luck stats are broken. Can’t kill you discreetly, I guess—"

Casually admitting she was behind the morning’s "accidents," Kuro summoned twin blades of blue light—projected weapons materializing in her grip.

"—so I’ll just cut you down properly!"

With that adorable head tilt, she moved.

"Ruby, now!"

"Prism Trance!"

Their synergy from capturing Class Cards kicked in instantly. Illya transformed mid-dodge, narrowly evading Kuro’s strike before bolting toward the distant forest.

"I don’t get it! Why am I being hunted?!"

"We need open space! Can’t fight properly here!"

"Hey! Cowards, stand still!" While the magical girls flew, Kuro gave chase violently—leaping across rooftops with speed rivaling their flight.

"Whoa! She’s hopping after us!"

The pursuit led them to the outskirts in minutes.

Landing at last, Illya steeled herself. "I won’t just roll over and die! Don’t blame me if this hurts!"

"Fire!"

Her pink energy blast shot toward Kuro—only to be swatted aside like a toy.

"Huh?!"

Before Illya could react, twin swords flew at her feet, forcing her to leap back.

"Ahahaha!" Kuro cackled, hurling projected Kanshou and Bakuya like bullets, the barrage rivaling machine-gun fire.

"You’re holding back, Illya! Hit her harder!"

"F-Fine! Fire!"

Yet again, her attack was deflected effortlessly. Kuro didn’t even slow down.

"Why isn’t it working?!"

"Your firepower’s dropped drastically! You’re weaker than a wet noodle~~"

Kuro, no longer rushing, flashed a foxlike grin.

"Of course you’re weak, Illya. Because I’m here."

The words made no sense to Illya—but Kuro was already charging, blades raised.

"So just relax—and let me kill you!"

"I said I’m not dying today!"

"Illya, move!"

Miyu intervened, firing a energy blast. But Kuro twisted mid-air, deflecting it with her swords before seizing Miyu’s wrist. A swift leg sweep unbalanced her, and Kuro pinned her down effortlessly.

"Miyu!" Illya screamed.

Trapped, Miyu struggled—but Kuro’s grip was iron. Leaning in, the blackened girl smirked.

[Displacement Magecraft locked. Replicating thaumaturgical domain.]

"Gh—?!" Miyu’s eyes widened in realization—

—then the world lurched.

[Displacement complete.]

Suddenly, Kuro found herself nose-to-nose with someone else: a white-haired priest in robes, golden eyes glinting with amusement.

"Now, now, little girl..."

He didn’t pull away.

Instead, he met her lips with his own.

***

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