After feeding the kittens, Shichen took Yukina Himeragi and left the ruins.
The little girl was still young and shouldn't stay out too long after school.
Shichen could guarantee his own conduct, but he couldn't make Yukina Himeragi believe him.
Although that guy wasn't worth gaining his trust, he wasn't acting up yet and could take care of Yukina Himeragi.
It would be great if he could just abduct Yukina Himeragi, but the little girl probably wouldn't rely on him that easily.
Yukina Himeragi didn't react to the disappearance of the relief sculpture; it was possible she hadn't noticed, or perhaps she genuinely didn't care.
Nangong Nayuki also didn't go back alone; she followed behind the two, like an adult supervising two children.
It was just that her height was a bit mismatched.
However, on Itogami Island, almost everyone knew her, either as a teacher or as the "Witch of the Void."
Her Gothic Lolita dress was too famous.
After leaving the back mountain, Shichen parted ways with Yukina Himeragi, and only after watching her figure disappear did he and Nangong Nayuki walk towards the apartment.
"Can you teach me spatial control magic when we get back?" Shichen couldn't help but get excited at the thought of learning magic soon.
"Mhm." Nangong Nayuki looked straight ahead: "Go back, take a shower, make me a pot of black tea, and I'll teach you."
"That's great!"
"Hmph~ Don't get too happy too soon, whether you can learn it is still a question," Nangong Nayuki snorted lightly, looking at him to remind him.
"I believe in myself."
"Then you'd better work hard."
Back home, Shichen took a shower, made black tea for Nangong Nayuki, and then began to learn spatial control magic.
As for the magic Frieren had taught him, he wasn't in a hurry, as it was basically geared towards daily life and small pleasures.
Unlike spatial control magic, if he learned it, he could test whether his magic could be useful to himself.
If it was useful, he could experience the joy of spatial movement.
Go wherever he wanted, without needing to walk, just a thought away; work and shopping would both be easier.
Spatial movement was one of a man's romantic fantasies.
He didn't bother with Nina, who had been home for half a day; what could a little person do?
As long as she was obedient, she could do whatever she wanted.
Nina indeed didn't have much to do, other than needing to thoroughly understand the changes of the past two hundred years.
She also had her own private room where she could freely search for information, and she didn't need to eat anyway.
...
In the evening, Shichen and Nangong Nayuki sat opposite each other eating dinner, one with unconcealed joy, the other a bit unhappy.
The unhappy one was Nangong Nayuki; she frowned, now somewhat questioning life.
In contrast, Shichen was naturally overjoyed; he had made this dinner himself, and it was very rich, and he even brought out his specialty dishes.
When something happy happened, it was natural to celebrate.
The table full of dishes was very delicious, but Nangong Nayuki didn't have much appetite.
Shichen, on the other hand, ate with relish, and from time to time, he looked at Nangong Nayuki triumphantly, as if showing off.
"What's there to be proud of? Isn't it just that you learned a bit faster?" Nangong Nayuki glared at him, annoyed.
That's right, Shichen's talent for learning magic was a bit too good; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he learned it instantly, and the key was that his own magic was useful to himself.
He had already tested it; he had just taken a trip to the Saikai Academy office, which took a few seconds.
This was why he was so happy.
He finally had magic power, finally could learn magic, finally was no longer ordinary; at this moment, he truly felt that he had transmigrated.
"This is just happiness~" Shichen replied with a smile, unable to suppress the corners of his mouth.
"You, you couldn't have known spatial magic already, could you?" Nangong Nayuki asked, refusing to believe it.
It wasn't that she was unhappy that Shichen could learn her spatial control magic; she was even happy for him, but learning it so quickly made it hard for her to accept.
"How could that be?" Shichen shook his head: "Didn't I say I wouldn't lie to you?"
"Tsk~" Nangong Nayuki couldn't help but click her tongue, accepting reality.
Having spent a considerable amount of time together, she naturally believed what Shichen said; although his origins were unknown, he was somewhat unreserved with her.
She didn't know whether to be happy about this kind of thing.
"Alright, don't be unhappy, quickly try my braised pork ribs, they're tender and flavorful, the meat falls off the bone with a single bite~" Shichen comforted her dotingly, then picked up a piece of rib and placed it in Nangong Nayuki's bowl.
"Hmph~ I can pick it myself." Nangong Nayuki didn't dislike it, picking up the rib from her bowl and putting it into her mouth.
"How is it?"
"So-so." Nangong Nayuki chewed expressionlessly.
"Oh dear~ Nayuki-chan, can't you be a little more honest?"
"Shut up and eat your food!"
"Yes, yes."
After dinner, Shichen returned to his room and continued to study magic.
Finally able to learn magic, he was now in high spirits and couldn't stop, wishing he could learn all the magic.
However, he couldn't learn much; Frieren hadn't taught him too much magic back then.
That night, Shichen didn't sleep, engrossed in learning magic, mastering all the convenient-for-life magic.
Although he might not need it, people around him could use it in the future, and having more magic never hurt.
The most proficient magic Shichen mastered was the one that could create a field of flowers; this was Frieren's favorite magic, so he naturally had to master it well.
Moreover, Shichen remembered that when Frieren taught this magic, the smile on her face was pure and beautiful, unlike her usual strict teacher demeanor; she was completely like a little girl sharing something she liked.
He suddenly missed them; when he left this world, he would go see them.
Now that he had magic power, it could be considered fulfilling his promise.
He just didn't know how long it had been, and whether Frieren was angry about his unannounced departure.
But thinking about it more was useless; he would only know when they met.
The magic that could create a field of flowers couldn't be used at home, so the next day at noon, when Shichen went to see Yukina Himeragi, he conveniently showed her this magic.
In just an instant, the original ruins were covered with fresh flowers, fragrant and colorful.
Yukina Himeragi was overjoyed: "Big brother, you're so amazing, I love this magic!"
"Right, right." Shichen crossed his arms proudly.
No little girl disliked this magic; although simple and unexciting, it was so beautiful and refreshing.
Even the kittens loved the flower field; they rolled around and played noisily in it.
"Did you do this?" At this moment, Nangong Nayuki also arrived.
"How is it? Isn't it amazing?" Shichen looked at her proudly.
"How did you do that?" Nangong Nayuki frowned.
"This is magic my master taught me."
"Your master? A woman?"
"How did you know?"
"I don't even need to think about it." Nangong Nayuki pouted.
"Ahem, you're smart."
"But your master is really amazing; this kind of magic isn't something just anyone can use," Nangong Nayuki exclaimed.
"Is that so?"
Shichen thought about it and understood what she meant; this was already a different system of magic, and it even created organic matter, which might not be achievable in this world.
"Nayuki-chan, do you want me to teach you?"
"No thanks, I definitely won't be able to learn it." Nangong Nayuki shook her head and refused.
"Alright."
Shichen didn't force her, but Yukina Himeragi seemed a bit interested in learning; she tugged at Shichen's sleeve and softly asked: "Big brother, can I… can I learn this magic?"
"Shizuku, do you want to learn?"
"Mhm…" Yukina Himeragi nodded shyly.
"Alright then, I'll teach you to try, but you might not be able to learn it."
"I understand." Yukina Himeragi's expression was serious.
"Haha, don't worry."
Shichen couldn't help but rub her head; it felt so soft and smooth.
"Even if you can't learn it, it's alright; I'll make a flower field for you every day from now on, okay?"
"From now on… every day… Is what big brother said true?" Yukina Himeragi's eyes sparkled.
"I won't lie to you."
"Thank you, big brother!" Yukina Himeragi smiled brightly.
"…" Nangong Nayuki, who was beside them, couldn't help but roll her eyes.