The day after Kazumi Asakura pledged her cooperation to Negi passed without much incident. Evangeline, true to form, had skipped classes entirely. Negi seemed troubled by her absence, but he appeared to have accepted that he was currently in the "information gathering" phase; he didn't look quite as cornered as he had the day before.
When the final bell rang, the tension of the classroom finally dissipated.
"Nothing happened today after all, did it?" Ayaka mused, walking over to my desk.
"That's true," Chizuru added, joining her. "Knowing Professor Negi, I fully expected him to march up and challenge Evangeline to a duel, but he stayed quiet."
"Even Negi knows that haste makes waste," I said, leaning back. "By the way, what are you two up to this afternoon?"
"I have activities with the Equestrian Club," Ayaka replied.
"And since someone filled in for my volunteer shift yesterday, I have to make up for it today," Chizuru said with a small smile.
It seemed both of them were busy. As I'd told them, I didn't expect Negi to make a move so soon after his previous defeat.
"In that case, I think I'll take it easy for once," I said.
With that, we went our separate ways.
"Mahora really is a gamble. You never know if you're going to win or lose," I muttered, popping a steaming takoyaki into my mouth.
A few days ago, I'd bought some that were soggy on the outside, dry on the inside, and had octopus pieces the size of a fingernail. Total loss. Granted, at 150 yen for six, I got what I paid for.
Today's batch, however, was a different story. Crispy exterior, creamy center, and generous chunks of octopus. At 250 yen for eight, this was the jackpot.
"Glad to hear I'm a 'win,' kid," the vendor, a guy in his twenties, said with a grin. "Tell you what. Since you're so appreciative, here's a little bonus."
He dropped two extra, fresh-off-the-grill takoyaki into my paper boat.
"Thanks. I'll be sure to come by again," I said.
"Take care. You sure use some fancy words for a brat," he called out after me.
I continued my stroll through Mahora, savoring the snack. Finding them was a stroke of luck—or perhaps fate. One thing was certain: if I hadn't been there at that exact moment, things might have spiraled into something irreversible.
"Is that... Negi and Kagurazaka?"
I spotted them lurking in the shadows, moving with the suspicious caution of people who desperately didn't want to be seen. Predictably, Chamo was perched on Negi's shoulder. Their eyes were fixed on a single target: Chachamaru.
Oh, boy...
They were likely thinking of "divide and conquer"—taking out Evangeline's support to weaken her. Strategically, it was the right move. The problem, however, was whether Negi had the resolve to follow through. Chachamaru was a gynoid, yes, but unlike the mass-produced W-series dolls, she possessed a distinct ego. She was, for all intents and purposes, a person.
To "kill" her—or "destroy" her, in her case—would be a crushing psychological blow for a boy like Negi. If he were doing it with full awareness of the weight of that choice, it would be one thing. But if he were just stumbling into it...
I sighed, quickly finished the last of my takoyaki, and tossed the trash. Still huffing slightly from the heat of the food, I began to shadow the shadowers.
My job, as requested by the Headmaster, was to provide backup when things went south. If Negi attacked Chachamaru and ended up traumatized by the result, that fell squarely within my jurisdiction.
I'd like to think Negi isn't that reckless, though.
Ideally, he'd realize that "taking her out" didn't have to mean destruction. He could restrain her or lure her away. Since Evangeline's physical body was currently that of a normal child, losing Chachamaru's protection would be a massive blow to her combat effectiveness.
"Well... what can I even say to that?"
I watched from a distance, genuinely at a loss for words. Chachamaru was... incredible.
A child's balloon got stuck in a tree? She retrieved it. An elderly woman struggled with the stairs of a pedestrian bridge? She carried her across. A kitten was swept away in a box down the river? Without a second of hesitation, she dove into the water to rescue it. Now, she was in a nearby park, quietly feeding the local strays.
Even when I'd first visited Eva's house, I'd sensed it. She must have something akin to a "conscience circuit" installed. Even Negi and Asuna looked moved, their eyes shimmering with a mix of guilt and admiration.
Maybe I don't need to step in after all, I thought.
But then, Negi and Asuna seemed to steel their resolve. They stepped out from the trees to confront her. They spoke for a minute or so, but it seemed an agreement couldn't be reached. Asuna lunged forward.
"What?!" I hissed.
I knew Asuna was athletic. Her leg strength, forged from her paper-delivery routes, was world-class—even if the notice-illusion wards kept her from standing out too much. But this was different. The speed she just displayed was beyond human limits.
I focused, watching her trade blows—well, forehead-flicks—with Chachamaru. I felt it then: mana was radiating from her body.
Asuna is using magic?
The realization hit me a second later. Chamo had mentioned the functions of the Pactio cards. One of them was a mana supply from the mage to the partner. That had to be it.
While Asuna kept Chachamaru busy, Negi stood back, chanting and gauging the distance. The moment Asuna jumped back to clear the line of fire, Negi barked the command.
"Sagitta Magica: Serie Lucis!" (Magic Archer: Light Series)
Eleven arrows of pure light erupted around Negi. Not the "Arrows of Binding Wind" I had expected him to use to restrain her... but lethal light arrows.
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