People die when they are killed.
This was a famous quote from a certain partner of justice who was on the path to becoming a man with a red silhouette.
Right now, the reality that being killed leads to death was laid bare before a certain someone.
"Could you say that again?"
"I didn't quite hear what you just said."
Magic circuits lit up on the arms of the girl named Aoko.
Star Mine, Star Bow.
These were the names of the magecraft used by Aozaki Aoko. It seemed that for her, exploding sparks and rotating stars were easy concepts to visualize, so any magecraft she cast instantaneously would invariably become a form of natural interference based on them. Aozaki Aoko could be described as a "combat-style" magus who manifested her magical energy from her elbows and actualized the formula as it passed through her fists.
Considering the nigh-infinite magical energy of the Fifth Magic User, a punch like that, whether it landed directly on a person or was launched as a magical cannonball, could easily pummel a first-rate Servant to death.
Simultaneously, a formless and substanceless mist began to diffuse through the air.
That was Alice's familiar, the dense fog monster capable of transforming into countless sharp teeth in an instant, tearing through steel and even Servants with ease—Wander Snatch.
Such an assault was aimed squarely at a certain person.
Clearly, his earlier statement had thoroughly enraged these two girls, for whom the very first piece of news upon reuniting with their lover was that the sky above their heads was a verdant green.
Generally speaking, when dealing with a cheating lover, one should first beat up the third party and then go sort out the man.
However, Aoko and Alice, who knew Li Zihan's Origin and attributes very well, would not do so. Any girl who could trigger his "Hunting" desire was bound to be the type with a good personality and an outstanding appearance.
In other words, he only made a move on good girls.
Under this overarching premise, if anything happened, placing the blame squarely on Li Zihan's head was absolutely the right call.
"Hey, hey, hey, this development is not what we agreed on in the past."
The young man, who in truth would only feel a slight sting even if hit point-blank by Ea, raised both his hands, performing a French surrender salute.
This display left Mash, who was standing to the side, somewhat stunned.
Aozaki Aoko and Kuonji Alice were exceptionally skilled on the level of magi. But that was just it—they were exceptional on the level of magi.
And Li Zihan…
Recalling the scene of him fighting the First Beast to a standstill and ultimately emerging victorious, a sense of dissonance washed over Miss Mash.
"Being a coward at home is nothing to be ashamed of."
The young man, who, aside from pulling pranks and perhaps employing some rougher methods at night, would almost never raise a hand to his lovers, turned his head and said to Mash.
A coward at home, but a tyrant outside?
Looking at the man's somewhat helpless expression, Miss Mash blinked her eyes, a strange urge to laugh welling up inside her.
The same words fell upon the ears of Aoko and Alice, but the key point they captured was obviously different.
Here, is "at home."
Reading this meaning, Aoko and Alice exchanged a glance, then retracted their aggressive stances.
It wasn't that they weren't angry or that they had already forgiven the scumbag who had apparently managed to pick up another girl in less than a month.
It was just that…
One does not air their dirty laundry in public.
"Come in."
The true owner of the mansion spoke with detached coldness, then led the way towards the living room.
Although she was a little angry, this was a situation she had long anticipated. After all, she had lost back then. Having lost the battle for supremacy in their relationship, she naturally had to endure the feeling of jealousy. Just as, back then, if Li Zihan had lost, Alice would have forced him to suppress his own chaotic impulse.
Besides, it wasn't as if she had no way of dealing with this guy.
Alice, whose physical constitution was completely outmatched by Li Zihan's but could count on Aoko to help rewind her state, exchanged a look with Aoko.
We'll just drain him dry.
If his legs turned to jelly, even if his chaotic impulse was "Hunting," he would have to restrain himself. Just like that time he was smitten when he ran into his childhood playmate—the Coal Witch, May Riddell Archelot—but ultimately gave up the pursuit.
The witch, whose information seemed to be a bit outdated, let a faint smile grace her lips.
Allowing that guy to have a harem and not letting him have the energy for a harem were two completely different matters.
"Alright, tell us what you were up to during all those days you were off the grid."
As if asking casually, Miss Aoko began to probe for information about the very cute, pink-haired girl.
"Nothing much. Just took care of a few guys with divinity, and slaughtered a beast that plays with halos."
In an understated tone, and under Miss Mash's subtle gaze, the young man casually categorized characters like Lugh, Surya, Susanoo, and Gorgon as "guys with divinity," and referred to Goetia, who could vaporize the Earth at full power (the halo's heat was stated to be dozens of times greater than that produced by incinerating the planet), as a mere "beast."
"That's it?"
Aoko, who was unaware of the details, widened her eyes.
"Going out for a trip and only causing that little bit of trouble isn't your style."
"Hey, hey, hey, am I the kind of person who stirs up trouble all day?"
Li Zihan indignantly defended himself.
His words even made Miss Alice look a little surprised.
When she was pen pals with Li Zihan, she had heard his complaints. For example, being thrown into the lower levels of Albion by Zelretch. And then, the next day, he dismantled Zelretch's entire collection of magical girl art books and anime discs bought from the future.
For example, being chased and beaten by the demonic beasts of Albion. And then, he borrowed magical energy from Aoko, blew up the bottomless pit known as the "Void Anus," and ran away. As a result, the divine beast residing within—a creature of the same origin as Cerberus and Abaddon—was awakened and proceeded to slaughter every living thing in the area.
He participates in a Holy Grail War after a long time, and it turns out he's aiming for the Servants' Saint Graphs.
This guy was practically the reincarnation of the God of Shenanigans—Brahma.
"Alright, I admit, I was planning to stir up a little trouble."
The young man, who was estimating he would next bring in the Honkai to complete his mission, sighed as he looked at Aoko and Alice's "you're definitely up to something" expressions.
"Next, I'll probably try to connect the Sea of Imaginary Numbers of two worlds, and then combine this universe with another one."
Aoko and Alice fell silent.
Clearly, this was stirring up trouble.
And…
The scale was a bit large.
"Hey, hey, you're going this big this time?"
The corner of Aoko's eye was twitching.
What the hell did he mean, connecting two worlds?!
"Whether it's big or not doesn't matter anymore."
The young man, who couldn't care less how much of a pit he was digging by bringing in the Honkai, pursed his lips and spoke as if for emphasis.
"Then what do you think is the important matter?"
For some reason, a sudden sense of crisis rose in her heart. Alice narrowed her cold eyes and looked at Li Zihan.
"Um, in the other world, I met a lot of girls."
With the courage of a suicide squad captain, the young man spoke thusly.
"You all… might be meeting soon."
---o---
Author's Note:
ps: It's decided. The next volume will be about Honkai, filling in plot holes and stirring up trouble at the same time.