Senju Haruto glanced at Kaguya, who was silently following behind him.
"Alright then," he muttered.
He wasn't heading to Kamar-Taj to stir up trouble anyway—this was simply about completing the sign-in mission and gathering intel about this new world. And besides… now he even had a perfectly valid excuse for going there. Having Kaguya with him wouldn't cause much of a problem.
Still, to avoid unnecessary complications, Haruto instructed her to stay close at his side. Kaguya gave only a faint nod, indicating she understood.
With that brief interlude settled, Haruto led Kaguya straight toward Kamar-Taj.
"Kamar-Taj…"
Once nothing more than a remote little village, it had transformed into a legendary sanctuary as the Ancient One rose to prominence as Sorcerer Supreme. From then on, the name "Kamar-Taj" was spoken with reverence throughout the Marvel universe.
Countless apprentices had come here to learn magic, walking the path under the Ancient One's guidance. Even Doctor Stephen Strange himself had trained here, sharpening his knowledge until he rose to become one of Earth's greatest sorcerers.
And yet… Kamar-Taj was not a place open to everyone. Even if one sought it, Kamar-Taj had to choose the seeker in return.
More precisely—it was the Ancient One herself who did the choosing. Without sufficient fate or affinity, a person could spend their entire life searching and never once glimpse the threshold of Kamar-Taj.
But none of that mattered to Haruto. Based on everything he knew of his sign-in system, it would never assign him a task he couldn't complete.
"This should be the place," Haruto murmured under his breath.
Even though the Hidden Continent had fused with this Marvel world, his chakra, ninjutsu, and every other ability remained completely intact.
Byakugan—open!
As the veins flared around his eyes and his perception expanded to the absolute limit, Haruto immediately pinpointed the true entrance to Kamar-Taj hidden within the humble little village.
"These people…"
Kaguya's brows furrowed slightly. The sheer number of humans in this world surprised her—far more than even in the shinobi world.
And yet… not a single one radiated chakra.
For a moment, she had thought this must be some untouched realm where the Ōtsutsuki clan had never set foot. But as she followed Haruto into Kamar-Taj, she finally sensed something unusual.
In a small handful of individuals, there was a strange energy. Not quite chakra—yet not entirely different from it either.
"You noticed it too?" Haruto asked casually, though his expression betrayed no surprise.
It was only natural. Kaguya, the progenitor of chakra herself, was born with the Byakugan and unmatched sensory abilities. Detecting the Ancient One and her disciples was hardly unexpected.
"Yes," she said softly. "I sense it within them. Since you came here to gather information… why not begin with them?"
Haruto didn't bother answering. Instead, he stepped forward without hesitation.
To his mild surprise, the great gate of Kamar-Taj did not resist his touch. With the lightest push, it swung open. He and Kaguya entered without effort.
What's more, despite their unfamiliar clothing—completely out of place here—not a single villager gave them a second glance.
Was this deliberate? Had the Ancient One cloaked their presence in order to observe them?
It wouldn't be strange. As Sorcerer Supreme, she was one of Earth's greatest defenders. Perhaps she had noticed the fusion of the shinobi continent and Marvel's world from the very beginning.
The thought made Haruto strangely calm.
Congratulations, host! You have successfully reached Kamar-Taj!
Commencing sign-in!
Do not exit midway!
1%… 23%…
The familiar mechanical voice of the system rang in Haruto's ears the moment he stepped inside.
But almost instantly, the space around them shifted. Though he had only pushed open a door, within two or three breaths, both he and Kaguya now stood within an ornate, high-ceilinged hall.
The doorway they had entered was gone.
All around them, men and women in crimson-brown sorcerer robes formed a tightening ring. Even without studying them closely, Haruto could see the weapons and relics gripped in their hands, eyes sharp and wary.
He had concealed his own aura and strength carefully.
But Kaguya had not.
To these sorcerers, her very presence was unbearable—like a god from an ancient age walking among mortals. The pressure made their skin crawl.
Even so, though they had surrounded the intruders, none dared attack without direct orders from the Ancient One herself.
Haruto simply used the time to continue his sign-in, ignoring their hostility.
After all, until the Ancient One herself appeared, there was no reason to worry. A few apprentices were hardly worth concern. Even a mere pulse of chakra could obliterate them all—including…
Kaecilius and Mordo, who stood among them.
Sign-in progress… 77%
Haruto's gaze flickered toward Kaecilius.
"So he's still an apprentice? That means he hasn't yet been tempted by the dark dimension. The timeline must be fairly early…"
Just that one look made Kaecilius stiffen in terror. In an instant, he felt utterly exposed, as though every thought, every secret within him had been stripped bare under Haruto's gaze.
An invisible weight pressed down on him, and within two breaths, sweat beaded across his brow.
"Kaecilius!"
Mordo noticed immediately and pulled his comrade behind him, misinterpreting the cause. He assumed Haruto had invaded Kaecilius' mind with overwhelming psychic power.
But when Mordo himself met Haruto's eyes, he realized with dread that it had only been… a glance.
Just one dismissive look—and Kaecilius had nearly crumbled.
"What is this man…?" Mordo's throat tightened. He gripped his relic more firmly, holding his breath, terrified that a single wrong move might doom them all.
But Haruto paid them no mind.
92%… 100%!
The moment the progress bar hit completion, the system chimed again in his ears.
Congratulations, host! Sign-in successful!
Reward obtained: Limitless Spiritual Power and Magic!
"Spiritual power… and magic?" Haruto frowned, his sharp brows drawing together.
Even as he wondered, a tidal surge of unprecedented strength poured into his body.
And then, before he could even adjust, the system's voice came again.
New sign-in location assigned: the Kamar-Taj Library.
Complete the sign-in to receive your reward!