Chapter 390: The Upcoming Visit of the Three Saints of the Lion King Agencies
Not long after, Giada left, saying she needed to make some preparations.
And so, Mahiro lay on the rooftop for a while, basking in the sunlight.
When thin clouds covered the sun, he slowly got up, preparing to return to the classroom.
But as soon as he pulled open the door, he saw a familiar girl sitting on the steps with her back to him.
"Sayaka? What are you doing here?"
Hearing this, Sayaka glanced back at him and replied in a muffled voice:
"Of course, I'm keeping an eye on you."
"Oh."
Mahiro's response was flat, and without another word, he walked past Sayaka down the stairs, ready to head back.
But after just two steps, Sayaka suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
"Is there something else?"
Sayaka didn't speak, only glaring at him with a hint of anger. After holding back for a long time, she finally said:
"I can let Yukina be with you, but can't you treat her well and stop getting involved with other women!"
Clearly, Sayaka had just witnessed his interaction with Giada.
It was just unclear how much of it the girl had overheard.
Not that it mattered.
He even shrugged calmly and replied:
"I'm sorry, but that's probably not possible."
Such a straightforward refusal left Sayaka stunned for a moment before her anger flared up, and she scolded:
"You scumbag! Why?! Yukina treats you so well, with all her heart and soul, so why do you still go after other women?!"
"Sayaka, your question is quite adorable."
Mahiro chuckled.
To him, this kind of reasoning was nothing short of laughable.
But he still patiently explained:
"You're right, I am a scumbag, but at the same time, I want to give everyone a complete home."
"You—!"
Sayaka was so furious she was about to lash out, but he stopped her with a gesture.
"Look at you, getting worked up again. I know you're in a hurry, but don't be in such a hurry now. You're not the King of Hurryland, so what's the rush?"
His barrage of "hurry" left Sayaka dazed.
Seizing the opportunity, Mahiro continued:
"As for why I get involved with other women, there are three reasons—"
"First, the one who first established a relationship with me wasn't Himeragi Yukina, but Tokoyogi Aya, the one you call the Witch of the Notaria. She was my first woman in this world. If I weren't unfaithful, your Yukina probably wouldn't even have had a chance to get close to me and might even have been considered my enemy.
You should understand, right? How I deal with enemies."
Coming back to her senses, Sayaka swallowed hard at his words.
She knew all too well the methods of Mahiro, this demon king.
At their first meeting, he fought an ancient weapon alone.
Shortly after, Dimitrie Vatler, the "Snake Charmer" and the plenipotentiary ambassador of the Warlord's Empire stationed at Itogami Island, was sent to the Prison Barrier, where his fate remains unknown.
Not long ago, he single-handedly dealt with an angel that had completed its divine descent.
It's said that a few years ago, this man also stood out at The Banquet of Flamelight, fighting the Third Progenitor to the brink of death all by himself, leaving her to recover for an entire year.
And when the Third Progenitor Giada visited Itogami Island for the second time, he showed no mercy, intending to kill her.
In the entire world, only the Yotsuba family would dare treat a Progenitor in such a manner.
Moreover, during the Banquet of Flamelight, the Ninth Prince of the Dynasty of Destruction—a direct descendant of the Second Progenitor, the Eye of Extinction—also died at this man's hands.
It could be said that he single-handedly offended three Dominions.
Yet, until now, neither the First Progenitor of the Warlord's Empire nor the Second Progenitor of the Dynasty of Destruction have made any moves.
Giada, the Chaos Bride of the Chaos Domain, is even actively pursuing this man...
"Secondly, Himeragi Yukina was not someone I actively pursued. She was deliberately sent to my side by your Lion King Organization under the guise of surveillance. Do you know what that signifies?"
"In ancient times, this would be considered a concubine. To put it bluntly, what right does a concubine have to dictate matters in the master's household?"
"And what identity do you, Kirasaka Sayaka, have to interfere in this matter? As a close friend? Then I'm sorry, but that's simply not enough."
Sayaka's face flushed and paled in turn at his words.
No matter how much she disagreed, she could find no grounds for rebuttal, because what he said was true—the Lion King Organization had intentionally sent Yukina to this scoundrel's side.
Even though she had strongly opposed it, it had no effect; instead, she was punished.
"And then, the third point—the most crucial one."
As he spoke, he suddenly moved closer to Sayaka, causing her to blush and step back half a pace.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
"Third, I am not from this world. I am a world traveler. As for women, I could have plenty more."
Mahiro whispered these words into the girl's ear.
Whether it was due to the influence of arriving in this world or the carefree and indulgent attitude cultivated from traveling through many worlds, he now resembled an absolute villainous antagonist. Apart from enjoying the pleasures the world offered through the storyline, he had begun to disregard everything else.
He was almost on the verge of transforming into a "Happy Superman" or "I Don't Eat Beef."
Upon hearing his words, Sayaka's originally flushed cheeks instantly turned pale, her pupils filled with confusion.
"You say you're not from this world...?"
"Mhm, so don't try to bind me with your world's moral standards... Oh, wait, your world's morals aren't that noble either. Using your closest relatives to gain benefits—it's downright laughable."
Akatsuki Kojou was like this, and Kanase Kensei was even worse.
Everyone touted lofty reasons, using words of goodwill toward their closest relatives while committing the cruelest acts.
One used his own daughter as a spiritual medium to make contact with the Fourth Primogenitor.
The other was even more extreme, taking the only remaining bloodline of his sister and transforming her into an angel, claiming it was to help her escape this filthy world.
It was utterly nauseating.
In comparison, the Lion King Organization seemed like a great benefactor.
At the very least, they genuinely worked to maintain world peace and uphold the Holy Ground Treaty.
Truly, one's own shortcomings are highlighted only when compared to others.
After he finished speaking, Sayaka tremblingly released his sleeve, lowering her head so that her bangs fell and obscured her face, making it impossible to discern her expression.
But judging from her trembling shoulders, this girl was probably crying.
However, Mahiro had no intention of comforting her—their relationship wasn't close enough for that.
So he simply waved his hand and said:
"If you're fine, then I'll be going."
Sayaka still didn't respond, quietly sobbing until Mahiro left, at which point her body slumped weakly onto the steps.
"Yukina, how can I save you…"
Her tear-filled voice echoed softly in the stairwell.
Yet the next moment, Mahiro's voice came again.
"I'm not sure how to save her, but if you think Yukina won't be well off, why not join us instead?"
"Since you can't win against us or out-argue us, you might as well join."
Sayaka looked up in shock, and through her tear-blurred vision, she saw Mahiro standing before her once more.
But his words…
"Get lost! Who wants to be with you, join your harem?!" Sayaka's face flushed red as she shouted angrily.
"Tch, fine, don't join then. No need to yell so loud."
Mahiro muttered under his breath as he left.
This time, he really was gone.
When he reached the lower floor, he found someone else waiting for him.
"What, are you guys like boss battles? Coming one after another?"
Blocking his path was none other than Alpha, her golden hair swaying.
She didn't quite understand Mahiro's words.
But Mahiro noticed that it wasn't just Alpha waiting there—Aya was also hidden in the shadows of the corner.
A pair of bright crimson eyes stood out eerily in the dim light.
"Why are you here too?" Mahiro asked.
Aya slowly stepped out from the corner, holding in her arms an ancient book wrapped in a black leather cover.
Even without analyzing it with his Copy Eyes, he knew what it was.
"Is the Grimoire complete?"
"Not yet."
Aya shook her head.
"But it's close. It should be ready in two more days."
"I see."
After speaking, Mahiro's gaze shifted to Alpha, his eyes lingering between the two of them.
"So, what brings you two to the school specifically to find me?"
Hearing this, the two exchanged a glance, nodded slightly, and then Alpha spoke:
"Someone broke into Kanase Kensei's apartment, forced open the safe, and took the Philosopher's Stone inside."
"???"
Mahiro couldn't process it at first.
After a moment of thought, he finally remembered.
"Oh, you mean the Philosopher's Stone made from Spirit Blood, right?"
"Yes."
Alpha nodded and continued, "We've already identified the person who took the Philosopher's Stone. It's a man suspected to be a magician, wearing a pure white cloak, a red-and-white checkered shirt and hat, and carrying a silver cane engraved with a skull in his left hand.
His name is Kou Amatsuka.
Zeta is currently tracking him."
"Oh ho."
So he really did come after all.
Kou Amatsuka, the disciple of the legendary alchemist Nina Adelard, was expelled from his master's tutelage for attempting to resurrect the Sage.
But he had already strayed onto a dark path, and his obsession with Spirit Blood had never ceased.
Even his entire body's flesh and blood had been transformed into the Sage's Spirit Blood, becoming a completely inhuman creature.
His soul no longer belonged to Kou Amatsuka; the entire person had long become the Sage's puppet. Yet this fool still stubbornly believed that everything he did was right.
However, since this guy had come, it meant the Spirit Blood plotline was also being set in motion.
"What should we do next?" Alpha asked.
But Mahiro's answer took both Alpha and Aya by surprise.
"There's no need to do anything. Recall Zeta, and send a few people to protect Asagi and Kanon, as well as that little princess."
Come to think of it, spirit mediums in this world were like damn power banks.
For almost every incident, the support of a spirit medium was basically required, especially top-tier ones like the Aldegyr royal bloodline.
Upon hearing this, Alpha didn't ask anything, nor did she object.
There was no need for that. She was well aware of Mahiro's capabilities. All she needed to do was follow Mahiro's arrangements.
Aya, however, slightly furrowed her brows and asked:
"Is this arrangement really fine? Thou hast personally faced mindless, frenzied Spirit Blood. Thou shouldst understand its terror. I believe we cannot allow such a dangerous existence to roam freely."
It was truly hard to imagine that Aya would one day say something like "cannot allow such a dangerous existence to roam freely."
If Natsuki-chan heard this, she'd probably be moved beyond words, right?
"Why dost thou look at me so? Have I said something wrong?"
"No, not at all."
Mahiro waved his hand with a smile, then said nonchalantly:
"It's fine. Leaving that kind of trash out there actually makes it easier to deal with. At least that rat is in the open, while we're in the shadows, able to monitor him at any time. Aya, you should also know that if we can't kill a rat like that in one strike, it'll cause even more trouble."
Most importantly, he really needed that fool Kou Amatsuka to release the Spirit Blood.
That way, he could liberate Nina Adelard.
That doll-like girl, as small as a single eye and 270 years old, was quite useful to him. For instance, she could help him study the so-called Wiseman's Blood in greater detail.
Hearing him say this, Aya didn't object either. She clearly understood Mahiro's temperament—he must be plotting something again.
"So when shall we begin implementing that plan?"
"As for implementation, let's wait two more days. By then, your thing should also be completed."
Aya was just about to say "okay" when a clear, cold, and authoritative voice quietly sounded.
"What plan? Complete what? Implement what?"
It was Natsuki Minamiya.
She was as petite as ever, but standing at the higher part of the staircase, she still wore her signature three-piece set: a black Gothic dress, opaque black pantyhose, and high heels.
Only now, her brows and eyes carried a grave and imposing air.
"What are you all researching behind my back again?" Natsuki Minamiya asked sternly.
Before Aya and Alpha could speak, Mahiro stepped forward with a playful smile:
"Nothing much. It's just that Shadow Garden discovered that the alchemy core from Kanase Kensei's apartment was stolen. The culprit is an outsider on Itogami Island named Kou Amatsuka, the former Great Alchemist Nina Adelard's disciple."
The term "disciple who left the sect" left the several women present momentarily stunned. They never expected Mahiro to come up with such a title.
But it wasn't entirely wrong.
A disciple expelled from the sect—calling them a "disciple who left the sect" seemed perfectly reasonable.
Natsuki was also suppressing a laugh but still asked with a serious expression:
"How did you know about this? And you even managed to uncover the identity of the criminal?"
In response, Mahiro shrugged nonchalantly.
"Of course. Who do you think I am? Is there anything in this world I don't know?"
"Really?" Natsuki Minamiya's tone was skeptical as she asked, "Since you know so much, could you tell me what exactly Cain is? And about the Sin God Priestess and the Itogami Island altar?"
Mahiro: "..."
He truly had nothing to say.
Didn't she know this would kill the conversation, friend?!
He really wasn't familiar with this Cain thing.
Even the name itself was something he only learned after coming to this world.
As for the Itogami Island altar and the Sin God Priestess, don't even mention them!
The original work never got that far, okay!
This is making things difficult for me!
Seeing him at a loss, Natsuki Minamiya was in an unusually good mood.
"Alright, enough joking around. But regarding Kou Amatsuka's matter, don't get involved. Leave it all to the Demon Hunters under my command."
"Why?"
Mahiro instinctively asked, only to receive a fierce glare from Natsuki Minamiya.
"Why? You dare ask why? Don't think I don't know you're after the Wiseman's Blood! The Wiseman's Blood is taboo, something absolutely not to be touched!"
"But didn't you say before that as long as I don't touch the Prison Barrier, you wouldn't interfere with whatever I do on Itogami Island?"
Natsuki was immediately choked by his words.
Her fair face instantly flushed bright red as she said indignantly:
"Then I'll revise that statement now. Aside from the Prison Barrier and the Wiseman's Blood, I won't interfere with whatever you do on Itogami Island!"
"Even if I become Happy Superman on the streets? How about being an Ancestor Person? And maybe perform a 'I don't eat beef' routine..."
"Get lost!"
With an angry roar, Natsuki Minamiya's figure instantly vanished.
Although she didn't understand what those words meant, she could be certain they were definitely not good things!
Especially that "Happy Superman"—just hearing it made her temples throb!
"That bastard! Astarte, make me some tea!"
"Command accepted."
In the office, Minamiya sipped black tea while continuously cursing Mahiro's shameless behavior.
As for Mahiro himself, he felt quite innocent.
"I didn't say anything."
In response, Alpha simply gave him a gentle, faint smile.
As for Aya, she simply left the school.
Neither of them wanted to bother with the messy business between these two; it was better to go do something else.
However, over the next two days, quite a few things still happened.
First was Sayaka. After their conversation on the rooftop stairwell, she seemed like a different person. Her attitude toward Mahiro, while still somewhat aloof, was no longer as confrontational as before.
Instead, it had softened considerably.
Moreover, she often compared Yukina to the girls around him—from Tokoyogi Aya to Natsuki Minamiya, then to Nagisa Akatsuki, Kanon, and Avrora, and even brought up Est and Alpha, among others.
In the end, she even dragged Asagi and La Folia into it.
Naturally, Alpha and the others didn't mind such trivial matters—or rather, Alpha didn't care, while the others simply didn't pay them any attention.
After all, how long had they been with Mahiro, and how long had these girls been by his side?
There was simply no comparison.
If anything, they should be compared to the assassination squad on Mishima Island!
They were the real counterparts!
As for the others, they weren't so easygoing.
Take someone as petty as Natsuki Minamiya, for example...
However.
Even someone as mild-tempered as Aya couldn't help but teach Sayaka a lesson after hearing about it.
Every time she got beaten up, Sayaka would run to Yukina to complain.
Yukina felt somewhat helpless, sensing that Sayaka had become more attached to her than before.
She wasn't sure whether that was a good or bad thing.
On the night before the plan was set to unfold, Yukina received a new letter delivered via a Shikigami from the Lion King Organization.
The contents were clear: the Three Saints of the Lion King Organization would be paying a visit to Mahiro.
The time was set for midnight tonight, and Yukina was asked to relay the message!