The next morning found me in the Headmaster's office well before the first bell. Currently, the room held only myself and Konoemon; Evangeline was nowhere to be seen. As I had predicted, early mornings were a bridge too far for a high-tier vampire.
"So, do you have a proposal for how to proceed?"
It was 6:42 AM. We had about twenty minutes before our guest of honor was scheduled to arrive. Perhaps it was a side effect of my current youthful physiology, but a persistent, dull sleepiness clung to me as I leaned back into the plush guest sofa.
"A proposal?" I repeated, stifling a yawn. "My take is simple: if she wants to step into this world of her own volition, let her. She'd likely end up as an associate of Negi's rather than mine. If she decides she doesn't want that kind of heat, then we wipe her memory with her consent. That's really all there is to it."
"Mmm. I suppose that is the only logical path," Konoemon sighed. "Still, I expected Konoka to stumble into the truth eventually, but I never imagined Asakura-kun would be the one to catch us out like this."
"Do you have any idea when Kagurazaka found out?" I asked.
Konoemon gave a wry smile and shook his head. "I don't spend every waking moment monitoring young Negi, you know."
"According to Ayaka—who's his 'rival-friend' of sorts—it was quite a while ago."
"Is that so? Quite a while..."
"For all we know, she caught him on the very first day he arrived at Mahora," I remarked.
"Ho-ho-ho! Surely not. The boy couldn't possibly be that careless... he... wouldn't..." Konoemon's laughter trailed off into an uneasy silence. Judging by the look on his face, he realized that was actually the most likely scenario.
"Whatever the outcome of today's meeting," I continued, "Negi needs to be told about me."
"Oh? About you specifically?"
"Yeah. He's already seen me with Ayaka and Asakura when he was using magic. If you tell him you've 'handled' their memories, but Ayaka still treats me the same way, he's going to get suspicious. Besides, Eva's already been dropping hints that I'm more than I appear."
Konoemon furrowed his brow. From his perspective, I was likely a growing pile of paperwork he hadn't asked for.
"I suspect Eva is trying to drag me into her game," I said. "Whether it's for a tactical advantage or just her own amusement, I can't tell. But Negi isn't stupid. He knows I'm not a normal kid. Why not just label me a 'magic student' and be done with it? Leave out the interdimensional traveler bit, obviously."
"Mmm... that might be the cleanest solution."
As we deliberated, the clock struck seven. Right on cue, a sharp knock sounded at the door. We shared a brief look, wordlessly agreeing to shelve our private discussion for later.
"Come in," Konoemon called out.
The door opened, and Asakura stepped inside. Her face was tight with tension, the usual breezy, inquisitive aura she projected completely replaced by a stiff, uncharacteristic silence. Ayaka followed closely behind her.
"Headmaster, about yesterday... wait. Axel-kun?" Asakura stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she spotted me lounging on the sofa.
"Come, sit," Konoemon urged, gesturing to the seats opposite me. "It's difficult to have a serious conversation while standing."
Asakura sat down without a word. Ayaka took her place beside me, looking perfectly at home.
"Now then, Asakura-kun. I believe you know why you've been summoned."
"It's about what I saw last night," she said, her voice steady despite her obvious nerves.
"Indeed. Now... where to begin?" Konoemon stroked his long beard, closing his eyes for a moment. Asakura seemed to grow more restless by the second. Finally, she couldn't take the silence anymore.
"Negi-kun is a mage... isn't he?"
The room fell into a heavy silence. Konoemon didn't blink. He simply nodded.
"Correct. Negi Springfield is a mage. More specifically, he is an apprentice who recently graduated from a magic academy in Wales."
"And Eva-chan is the same?"
"She is."
"And you, Headmaster... you're one too."
Konoemon smiled broadly. "I hold several titles, one of which is Director of the Kanto Magic Association."
Asakura's eyes flicked over to me, then to Ayaka. "And I suppose the Class Rep and Axel are part of it, too?"
I gave a small shrug. "I fit the description. Ayaka, however, does not. She's a civilian who happens to be in the know."
Asakura's eyebrows twitched, but she kept her voice low and controlled. "So Mahora is... a city of mages."
"A city where mages exist," Konoemon corrected gently. "Now, Asakura-kun. You have two paths before you. The first is to have your memories of these events erased and return to your normal life. The second is to accept the truth and step into the world of magic with your eyes open."
Asakura turned to Ayaka. "Which one did you choose?"
"I chose to stay," Ayaka replied firmly. "I wanted to see the truth for myself."
"Wait, so that makes you a mage too?"
"No," Konoemon interjected. "Yukihiro-kun remains a civilian. The difference is that she is under Axel-kun's protection."
I noticed Konoemon omitted the fact that Ayaka was actually training in magic. Whether he was keeping that secret from Asakura or if Eva just hadn't reported it yet, I wasn't sure.
"So," Asakura said, her brain clearly working through the logistics. "Even if I choose to know, I don't have to become a mage?"
"Precisely. However, magic is bound by a strict code of secrecy. If you were to break that secrecy..."
"What happens?"
Konoemon let out a soft, low chuckle that sounded unnervingly like a stage villain. "I'll leave that to your imagination."
Asakura visibly winced at the Headmaster's dark humor. She turned her gaze back to me. "You said the Class Rep is under your protection. Does that mean you're someone important in the magic world?"
"Not really," I lied easily. "In terms of magic, I'm just a novice. Within the walls of Mahora, I have a bit of standing, but that's about it." I had only recently mastered the Shundo flash-step, after all.
"If I choose to stay... would Negi-kun be my protector?"
"Most likely," Konoemon replied. "Since he is the one who revealed the secret to you."
"What about Eva-chan?"
Konoemon's expression shifted. "Evangeline is... a special case. One with a very complicated history."
"I see. 'Complicated,' huh?" Asakura leaned back, a bit of her old spark returning to her eyes. "Can I have a day to think about it?"
"Of course," Konoemon nodded. "But keep in mind that until you give us an answer, you will be under a degree of surveillance. For the sake of the secret, you understand."
"Understood."
The meeting concluded shortly after. Asakura bowed and left, followed by Ayaka. Once the door clicked shut, only Konoemon and I remained.
"So, about Negi," I said. "When do you want to introduce me as a 'magic student'?"
"Whenever you feel the timing is right. If you're going to explain last night to him, you might as well lay your cards on the table."
I nodded. "And if he asks for my help with Eva? He was terrified last night. If he finds out I'm a combatant, he's going to ask for backup."
Konoemon hummed thoughtfully. "I would allow it... with conditions."
"Conditions?"
"First, you are forbidden from using any technology or abilities that do not originate from this world."
I nodded. That made sense. If I started using the Slime, the Spatial Storage, or my Telekinesis, Negi would realize I wasn't a standard mage. I could probably pass the Slime off as a chantless summoning, but it was better to keep things simple.
"And second," Konoemon continued, "I will give Evangeline permission to use her blood-servant abilities. Only on students of Class 3-A, and only as long as no permanent harm is done."
"Are you serious?"
"Quite. If a combatant of your caliber joins Negi's side, the scales become too skewed. Eva is currently under a powerful curse that shackles her mana; without minions, she wouldn't stand a chance. Besides, knowing Eva, she won't actually hurt the girls."
I realized then that vampires in this world were a different breed than the ones I'd encountered in other dimensions. Here, "vampirism" was something that could be cured with a simple potion.
"You're playing a dangerous game," I remarked.
"It's a matter of numbers, Axel. Currently, it's Negi and Asuna against Eva and Chachamaru. If you join Negi, Eva is overwhelmed. But if she can press-gang a few classmates into service... it becomes a proper test for the boy. And I suspect Asakura and Ayaka will end up on Negi's side regardless."
It was a cold, calculated bit of balancing by the Headmaster. He was treating a potential vampire attack as a teaching moment.
"Well, it's your school," I said, standing up. I glanced at the clock; homeroom was about to start.
"Go on then," Konoemon waved a hand. "Asuna will probably have to drag Negi to class by his ears today anyway."
I could perfectly envision the scene. With a wry smile, I walked out of the office and headed toward the classroom.
Character Profile: Axel Almar
Level: 38
PP: 625
Stats: Melee: 262 | Ranged: 282 | Skill: 272 | Defense: 272 | Evasion: 302 | Accuracy: 322
SP: 462
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Consume SP to enhance Slime performance)
Growth Type: All-Rounder / Special
Terrain Ratings: Air: S | Land: S | Water: S | Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accel (SP 4) | Effort (SP 8) | Focus (SP 16) | Direct Hit (SP 30) | Awaken (SP 32) | Love (SP 48)
Skills:
EXP Up | SP Boost (SP Up Lv. 9, SP Regen, Concentration) | Telekinesis Lv. 10 | Attacker | Gunfight Lv. 9 | In-fight Lv. 9 | Morale Limit Break | Geass (Gray) | Magic (Fire, Shadow, Summoning) | ??? | ???
Kills: 376
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