Although there had been a slight unpleasantness, the atmosphere finally returned to normal thanks to Yoshino's mediation.
Konoe Eishun brought Yoshino to another room reserved for honored guests to properly entertain them.
Because Konoe Konoka was returning today, the priestesses were preparing a welcome home celebration for her.
Knowing that Yoshino didn't like to drink alcohol, Konoe Eishun thoughtfully prepared fruit juice for her.
He, on the other hand, drank sake with Evangeline.
He still had things to do later, so he couldn't consume alcoholic beverages with high alcohol content.
Otherwise, when Konoe Konoka returned, she would scold him if she smelled alcohol on him.
"Don't people from the Kanto region know that you're a hero of the Magical World, Eishun?"
If they knew, I don't think such a thing would be happening now," Yoshino said, taking small sips of juice and looking at Konoe Eishun, who was having a drinking contest with Evangeline.
Konoe Eishun, with his reputation as a war hero, should be able to keep those troublemakers in check, so why were some people still harboring ulterior motives?
"Ah haha~ Actually, it's still somewhat useful, Yoshino.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have been the president for over a decade.
It's just that a long time ago, some people in our Kansai Jujutsu Association didn't like the Mages Association.
However, in this incident, only a portion of them took action.
I'll handle the rest of the matters properly."
"Hmph!"
Having unruly members among your subordinates also means your management is lacking.
It seems you're more suited to wielding a sword and cutting people down than to managing subordinates," Evangeline scoffed, sipping sake.
During the war, those responsible for persuasion were Erica and others; Konoe Eishun was merely a combatant.
"Oh, I'm so sorry.
As the general president, I have too many things to manage, so sometimes I can't detect the situation of my subordinates.
It's not like you, who just stays at school every day teaching classes and doesn't need to worry about so many things."
Ignoring Evangeline's taunt, Konoe Eishun simply gave her a light retort, which immediately ruffled her feathers.
Looking at the joyful scene before her, Yoshino said with a touch of emotion, "I feel like Eishun has changed a lot, Yoshinon.
I didn't expect Eishun to become so eloquent; he's almost like Al."
This kind of unconscious sharp tongue was too familiar; had he consulted Al about being sharp-tongued during her slumber?
"Ya haha~ Facing the schemes and linguistic traps of his peers every day, he's bound to have grown a bit in such circumstances.
No one is born with excellent eloquence; to better manage his subordinates, he must have specifically studied this aspect."
Yoshinon speculated, looking at the joyful scene in her mind.
"But it doesn't rule out that Konoe Eishun might have a natural talent for this.
Don't forget that Konoe Konoka is a child with a dark-bellied personality, so it's possible for her father to have this talent too."
"Yes, Konoka is indeed a lovely child.
Hmm?"
Yoshino, who was chatting idly, suddenly sensed something, then took out Waka Miyazaki's contract card.
"It seems Negi is in trouble, Yoshinon.
Waka Miyazaki just told me that Negi was attacked on her way here.
If nothing unexpected happened, it should have been Inugami Koutarou who attacked him."
"Oh~ That stray dog.
He's indeed a very capable child.
Since something unexpected happened here, it means there's a situation with Konoe Konoka.
If I remember correctly, the enemy with Kamina Style swordsmanship should be named Tsukuyomi.
Hehe~ You know, that child is voiced by Rie Kugimiya, and I'm a little excited to meet her."
Thinking of the somewhat yandere-like Tsukuyomi, Yoshinon's eyes gleamed brightly.
Such a girl is rare; she was truly looking forward to meeting her.
"Ah haha~ Kugimiya or whatever, she doesn't know her voice is dubbed by someone else."
Yoshino said awkwardly.
Rie Kugimiya was also a voice actress she liked in her previous life, and she also liked those tsundere characters she voiced.
But talking about this with her now felt a bit strange.
"So what?
Don't forget that Negi and Misaka Mikoto also share the same voice actor.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens when these two meet.
A tsundere Misaka Mikoto encountering a timid Negi will definitely be very interesting, and coincidentally, they are both masters of lightning.
However, Misaka Mikoto probably can't beat Negi in his later stages; if it were Yuriko, she might be able to try."
In his later stages, after using the Magic of Darkness, Negi had already become the highest-grade lightning spirit, so Misaka Mikoto, who controls lightning, should not be his opponent.
"Ah haha~ Different world systems, the inequality of power is understandable.
Do you think the magic of this world can compare to that of A Certain Magical Index?
A single Thousand Thunders is enough to make many people suffer.
Not to mention a cheat-like magic like Magic of Darkness."
"That's true.
However, the magical knowledge of that world still has some reference value."
"Ya haha~ Yoshino, you don't have to worry.
Although a small portion of people oppose us, there are still many experts on my side.
However, they are all busy traveling to various places due to work.
They will return by noon tomorrow, and then I will ask them to help capture those guys."
Konoe Eishun, who was bickering with Evangeline, saw Yoshino's silent appearance and thought she was worried about the enemy's situation, so he gently comforted her.
"If you let Yoshino handle it, this incident would end very quickly.
I didn't expect you to still plan to rely on the strength of your subordinates to deal with it.
Aren't you afraid that the enemy will attack you tonight?"
Thinking of Fate's attack tonight, Yoshinon asked with a hint of doubt in her eyes.
"It's okay, this place is set up with a large protective barrier, so even if they want to attack, it will take some time.
By then, we can be fully prepared to deal with them."
"Oh... I see."
It seems that the era of peace has lasted too long, and Konoe Eishun has become a bit careless.
But it doesn't matter; after all, this incident is not dangerous overall.
If Konoe Konoka hadn't been taken away, Negi wouldn't have realized his own weakness, which is a very important thing for Negi, and they didn't want to disturb Negi's rise.
Next, they began to talk about things that had happened in recent years, but Konoe Eishun was the only one recounting his stories.
"Is that so?
I didn't expect Souko to have passed away already.
I'm sorry, Eishun.
I promised you I would attend your wedding back then, but I broke my promise."
Yoshino sighed, a little downcast.
She hadn't expected to miss Konoe Eishun's wedding and not even get to see Souko; it was truly a pity.
"You don't have to be too sad; the dead cannot be brought back to life.
Please accept my condolences."
"Heh heh..."
Konoe Eishun chuckled freely, not showing any sadness.
"Actually, after so many years, I'm not as sad as I used to be.
I've come to terms with it; life and death are things no one can control.
I'm sure she's very happy in heaven now.
Besides, don't I still have Konoka now?
I need to take good care of her."
"Hmph!
Humans are truly fragile.
I think she probably passed away after giving birth to Konoe Konoka, right?
Konoe Konoka's immense magic power would absorb a large amount of her mother's life force during birth.
So, your wife could be said to have died because of Konoe Konoka.
Don't you have anything to say?"
Evangeline looked at the pale-faced Konoe Eishun with a smile, finally seeing him flustered.
It felt so good to be the bad guy!
"Kitty, don't talk nonsense!"
Yoshino tugged at Evangeline's sleeve, scolding her slightly.
She had just told him to accept his condolences, and then she brought up his sad past.
Wasn't that just asking for trouble?
She had just gotten the two of them to stop arguing; was this an attempt to start another one?
"...It's okay, Yoshino.
Even if it's really as she said, what then?"
Konoe Eishun, whose face had been pale, thought for a moment before his expression returned to normal.
He said with a nostalgic look, "Haruka had always looked forward to Konoka's birth when she was pregnant, and even Konoka's name was given by her.
I think even if she knew that giving birth to Konoka would lead to her death, she would still insist on having her.
I think Haruka's love for Konoka... you can understand it too, right, Evangeline?"
"Love..."
Turning around secretly to look at Yoshino, whose hands were tightly clasped, Evangeline's expression softened.
Yes, she also knew what this emotion called 'love' felt like.
"Bang!" Just then, a huge surge of magic power attracted the attention of the three.
They turned to look in the direction the magic came from.
"That's the location of the Movie Village, why is such a huge surge of magic power coming from there?" Konoe Eishun asked, a little confused, "Negi shouldn't have the ability to emit such a powerful magic reaction.
Could it be..."
"That's right, it's Konoka.
This magic was cast by Konoka," Yoshino said, having received news from Yue Ayase, "Because Setsuna blocked an arrow for her, Konoka's immense magic power was activated in this critical moment to help Setsuna recover from her injuries."
"She truly is a born magician, especially with such high talent in healing.
To be able to heal Setsuna's injuries without any magical instruction is impressive.
Even her master tool is related to healing, which shows Konoe Konoka's talent."
"Ya haha~ It seems your plan failed, Konoe Eishun.
You clearly wanted her to stay away from magic by sending her to Mahora Academy, but now her abilities have awakened.
For Konoe Konoka's safety, you can only tell her about this knowledge."
"It seems your wish for Konoka to live a normal life is impossible to achieve."
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