"This is taking forever."
Inside the shipping container, Aiba Asagi sighed at her phone, talking to herself.
A voice actually answered her: "Miss, you're surprisingly calm. That's not like you."
It sounded electronic; Asagi wasn't on a call. It was her phone's AI—Mogwai—replying. There was no signal, but Mogwai lived on her device anyway.
"Is there a problem?"
"Problem? You've been kidnapped," Mogwai said, exasperated and almost human.
"Of course I know. But Shichen-sensei will definitely come save me." At the mention of Shichen, Asagi's lips couldn't help curving into a sweet smile.
Just remembering what happened over the weekend sent a thrill through her. Working up her courage had paid off—she and Sensei had finally taken another step forward.
Otherwise, who knew how long it would have dragged on. The best—or worst—part was how far it had gone; she could still recall the heat where his hand had held her. His hands were… a little too skilled. And that mouth—she had small, lingering complaints about how good he was with it.
"Shichen-sensei, huh? You sure he can find you? Maybe he doesn't even know you've been taken. For all you know, he's off flirting with that transfer student from the middle division."
"Mogwai, quit it with the annoying comments, or I'll delete you."
"Yes, yes… If you're that calm, I'm relieved. You do know why you were taken, right?"
"What else would it be?" Asagi sighed. "They must have a job for me."
"How clever of you, Miss."
"Oh, please. Besides hacking, what skill of mine would they be after? My looks?"
"Miss really does have… self-awareness."
"They said they were the Black Death Emperor Front, right? European terrorists? Why target me?"
Bored, Asagi opened the selfie cam and fixed her bangs. When Sensei came to rescue her, she had to look good.
She didn't know Shichen's true identity—Fifth Primogenitor; she only knew he was strong. Still, she believed he would come.
"…Miss Aiba, you seem oddly unaware of your celebrity," a voice said just then as the container door swung open. It was Gardos.
Asagi looked over and frowned. Besides Gardos, two guards in urban camo—both beastmen—stood behind him. She hadn't even noticed when the truck stopped.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Hehe. Among the technicians we employ, there isn't one who doesn't know your name. Though I doubt they pictured the Cyber Empress as such a cute young lady," Gardos said with a smile.
"Flattery gets you nowhere. You think I'll just help for no reason?" Asagi stared him down, unafraid.
Gardos chuckled, unbothered. "I admire your calm resolve. But whether you help or not isn't really up to you."
"Oh? Planning to force me?"
"That depends on your attitude. But rest assured—we're a disciplined paramilitary. No one will commit vulgar acts against a noncombatant."
"Is that so…"
She didn't buy it, but she also didn't have the luxury of refusal. What if they did try something? First ensure her own safety, then wait for Sensei to get her out.
"Well, Miss Aiba—have you decided?"
"Fine, I—"
"Decided? Decide what, exactly?"
A voice came out of nowhere. Gardos' face changed; he snapped to high alert, but a quick scan found no one suspicious.
Asagi, on the other hand, lit up. She knew that voice too well—"day and night" would hardly be exaggeration.
"Sensei—!"
"I'm right here. Look up."
Asagi looked up—and her surprise faded into a faint scowl.
"You are—?"
Gardos looked up too, and saw Shichen descending slowly, holding hands with two girls, one on either side.
The two beastmen behind Gardos immediately raised their weapons at Shichen.
Yukina and Kirasaka Sayaka drew theirs as well—Schneewalzer and Kōkaryū.
"Oh? Pointing those at me? I don't care—but what if you scare Yukina and Sayaka?" Shichen's face cooled, his tone flat.
"Who are you?" Gardos lifted a hand to have the beastmen lower their guns. He couldn't gauge any threat from Shichen—who had brought two girls, at that—but dropping from the sky put him on guard. And those girls clearly weren't simple either.
"You make trouble on my turf and still ask who I am?"
"Your turf? What do you mean?"
"Hmph."
Shichen vanished—and reappeared right in front of Asagi.
"Asagi, you okay?" he asked gently.
"I'm fine," she said, shaking her head with a smile. The two pretty girls at his sides annoyed her a little, but him coming to save her trumped everything.
"Come on, I'll get you down." Shichen opened his arms.
"Mm." Asagi dove into his chest; he lifted her easily. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tucked her face against him.
"Hold it."
Just as Shichen was about to walk out as if nothing had happened, Gardos blocked him.
"You're stopping me?" Shichen looked at him without expression.
"Who are you?" Gardos asked again, uncertain.
"I just told you. I'm the master of this place. Not very bright, are you?"
"The master… No way. That can't be…"
A rumor flashed through Gardos' mind—but it couldn't be. The Fifth Primogenitor… actually real?
"You're… the Fifth Primogenitor?"
"At least you're not completely stupid," Shichen nodded.
"Eh?" Asagi looked up at him, surprised.
"I'll explain later. Didn't I say I would?" he said, patting her back.
"Oh." Asagi burrowed back into his chest, sweetly content.
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible," Gardos shook his head.
"'Impossible'?"
Shichen's eyes went crimson; mana surged violently from him.
Vmm—
Even the air seemed to vibrate—and the ground actually did.
"This is… How… It's real," Gardos muttered, staring, shaken. That vast, crushing magic—there really was a Fifth Primogenitor on Itogami.
One thought filled his mind: it was over. He couldn't even handle Vatler, that vampire—he'd barely escaped with his life. A true Primogenitor was out of the question. And he didn't have the ancient relic; he had no means to slay one.
"Any last words?" Shichen asked, one arm holding Asagi, the other extended toward Gardos as golden flame gathered in his palm.
He wasn't letting this one go. He'd had no particular plans—but kidnap Asagi, and you're done.
"Sensei, leave these two to us," Yukina said.
"I'll help too!" Sayaka added, moving to engage the beastmen.
"W-wait! I—I didn't mean to offend the Fifth Primogenitor—" Gardos stammered, frightened.
"Didn't? You kidnapped my Asagi and dare say you didn't?"
"T-that… I did nothing offensive to Miss Aiba…"
"For your manners, I'll make it quick."
Shichen stopped wasting words and cast the flame.
"N-no— Aaaagh—!"
Gardos had never seen golden fire. He turned to flee, but there was no escape; the flames wrapped him in an instant. His scream cut off as he burned to ash.
Asagi tightened her arms around Shichen—she must have been startled. He patted her back, soothing. "Don't be afraid. Don't look."
"I'm not scared…" She raised her head and stared at him, serious.
"Yeah?" He smiled.
"Sensei, you look very pleased," came Yukina's cool voice behind him.
"Holding her that tight," Sayaka added, dry as dust.
They'd handled the two beastmen without breaking a sweat.
"Ahem. You two okay?" Shichen turned to them, all concern.
"Thanks for asking… But how long do you plan to hold her? Maybe put Asagi-senpai down? She's not injured," Yukina said.
"Exactly," Sayaka nodded.
"Sayaka?" Yukina glanced over.
"Ahem—Yukina, I'm just helping you out," Sayaka said quickly.
"Is that so… Asagi-senpai, how long are you going to keep pretending?" Yukina asked.
"Pretending what? I was clearly scared! I can't even stand right now!" Asagi shot back, glaring.
"You're obviously fine…"
"First-year, you're sticking your nose in too far, aren't you?" Asagi said with a brittle smile.
"I'm just worried about Sensei getting tired. Unlike you, I'm not only thinking of myself."
"…"
~~~
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