The second night of summer vacation quickly arrived. The temperature gradually dropped, and a light breeze blew across the rooftop of the tall building, bringing a refreshing coolness.
However, for Stiyl and Kanzaki, whether it was daytime or night, or whether the temperature was high or low, made no difference.
No matter the time of day or the season, as long as Index remained there, the two magicians would stay at that spot, either taking shifts or keeping watch together over the student dormitory in the distance.
At this moment, both were keeping watch together.
Stiyl had put on his priest robes again, holding a telescope in hand, observing the target room.
Through the telescope, Stiyl could clearly see Index lying on the bed in a shirt, breathing deeply in sleep.
This seemed to irritate Stiyl.
Perhaps noticing his mood, Kanzaki, standing nearby with a longsword in hand, asked, "Are you angry because the card you sent, meant to take advantage of that child's kindness, didn't work?"
"That doesn't matter," Stiyl replied, biting on the last stub of his cigarette with visible annoyance. "I only get mad seeing that child so completely trusting and unguarded."
"Is that so?" Kanzaki seemed to understand Stiyl's feelings, his gaze shifting toward Index.
Unlike Stiyl, who needed a telescope, Kanzaki's own eyesight, without any magic, was ranked at 8.0. Even from such a distance, he could still clearly see Index's condition.
So Kanzaki spoke: "Indeed. Knowing a magician is watching her, and yet she takes off her 'mobile church', it's far too careless."
By "mobile church," Kanzaki was referring to the spiritual item Index always wore, a monastic garment with papal-level defensive power.
It was precisely because of this top-rank spiritual item that Index had remained safe all this time. Now, lying in bed and sleeping so soundly with it removed, she was completely unguarded.
"That shows how much trust that child has in that person," Kanzaki said, his voice unintentionally lowering. "She always so easily believes in the goodwill of others. I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing."
"Isn't that good?" Stiyl said dismissively. "It's because of that that so many people have wanted to protect her all this time, right?"
"…True," Kanzaki nodded in agreement, closing his eyes.
Their expressions, like Stiyl's, were tinged with nostalgia and memories. If Index were here to hear them, she would absolutely be surprised.
Because the tone Stiyl and Kanzaki used when discussing her was far too intimate and familiar. It was as if they had known Index for a very long time, and their relationship wasn't bad at all.
Of course, Index, having lost memories from a year ago, could not know this.
But just because she didn't know didn't mean others didn't.
"You two have done well, playing the role of villains, acting as that girl's enemies for a whole year."
A sudden voice from the balcony startled both Stiyl and Kanzaki from their reverie.
"Tch…!"
"We were careless…"
They both turned sharply toward the rooftop entrance.
There, a figure stepped onto the ladder and slowly walked up to this level, entering from the doorway.
"Good evening, both of you," Fang Li greeted them casually, as if he was meeting old acquaintances.
"Thanks for keeping watch over my room since yesterday."
Despite Fang Li's relaxed greeting, neither Stiyl nor Kanzaki lowered their guard. On the contrary, it only made the two even more alert.
"…Stiyl." Kanzaki stared at Fang Li and asked Stiyl, "Didn't you set up a 'People-Clearing Field'?"
"…Yes, I did set it up." Stiyl flicked the cigarette butt to the ground, his gaze never leaving Fang Li. Speaking almost to himself, he said, "That's why I'm surprised. How did this guy even find this place, and how did he end up here?"
Fang Li provided the answer to that question.
"You're talking about the 'People-Clearing Field,' which should be the Magical Method Bond you set up around here, right? Its effect is probably just to make people nearby feel like they don't want to come closer, isn't it?"
Fang Li's tone remained calm as he met their gazes and shrugged lightly.
"There's really nothing strange about it. Don't look at me like that, I have a few subordinates around here. I just sent them to walk around the area to check for any suspicious characters. Every one of them searched everywhere, but none dared to come close to this spot. With that alone, you can figure out there's something going on here, even using your knees to think, right?"
Using this method, Fang Li discovered Stiyl and Kanzaki's location.
Although he was sure they were nearby, watching Index, he didn't know their exact positions, so he had to use this method to find them.
"As for that 'People-Clearing Field' magic, it only makes people feel reluctant to approach. But from the beginning, I knew this was the place. No matter how much anyone tries to avoid it, if I know you're here, I simply must come and the spell effect just wears off."
Fang Li smiled at the two of them as he spoke.
"So I just barged in."
The casual tone left Stiyl dumbfounded.
It seemed even Stiyl hadn't expected his magic to be bypassed in this way.
Moreover, considering Fang Li had previously taken him down with a single bullet, this magician of some reputation had now fallen to an ordinary person twice in a row.
Even Kanzaki became more cautious, watching Fang Li intently.
Fang Li casually glanced at Kanzaki and smirked.
"Called a 'Saint,' yet you treat an ordinary person with such caution and wariness. Has no one told you your personality is way too rigid?"
Those words made Kanzaki's pupils suddenly constrict.
'Does this person know me?'
While Kanzaki was thinking this, Fang Li didn't continue on that topic.
"Anyway, enough of that. Let's get straight to the point."
Fang Li lifted his gaze and declared to the two magicians in front of him:
"From today onward, I will take care of Index."
"You two can get the hell out of here now."
(End Of This Chapter)
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