Chapter 327: Retsu Kudo's Roadblock
After the conversation in the reception room, Mahiro did not go back on his word.
To avoid making too big a scene and frightening the Chiba family, they acted under the cover of night, on the evening before Chiba Toshikazu's body was to be placed in the cremation furnace.
Chiba Toshikazu naturally came back to life, along with his assistant Inagaki.
Although the two were confused when they first revived, they quickly learned everything that had happened from their shocked family members.
While the entire Chiba family was immersed in the joy of having their loved ones returned, Mahiro quietly slipped away, keeping his contributions and name hidden.
However, it was easy to guess who was behind such a thing, especially since news of Miya's resurrection had already spread like wildfire throughout Japan's magical community.
Even the Saegusa and Juumonji families had stepped forward to confirm it.
Thus, the reason for Chiba Toshikazu's revival naturally pointed to him.
As a result, this incident once again caused a huge uproar in Japan's magical world.
After all, reviving the dead was something that transcended the realm of magic, a level even Shiba Tatsuya's "Regrowth" could never reach.
Many had already begun to refer to Mahiro's power as divine.
Yet Mahiro himself remained completely unaware of all this.
While Chiba Toshikazu was reunited with his family after being revived, Erika hurriedly pulled Mahiro away from the Chiba residence, moving so quickly that even Miyuki couldn't react in time.
"So, Miss Chiba, where exactly are you taking me?"
Watching the neon scenery flash by outside the car window, Mahiro asked teasingly.
Ever since leaving the Chiba residence, Erika had remained silent the entire way, saying nothing.
Even now, she still didn't utter a word.
"Oh, I get it. You must be trying to kidnap me and harvest my kidneys, right? Let me tell you, even though I also know Shiba Tatsuya's 'Regrowth' magic and could regenerate them even if I lost them, kidney harvesting is really painful. Make sure to give me anesthesia when the time comes."
Mahiro continued to joke nonchalantly.
But his incessant chatter only irritated Erika, causing her to tighten her grip on the steering wheel slightly.
"Shut up! Who wants to harvest your kidneys?!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Erika finally blurted out those words.
Yet after that, she said nothing more.
It wasn't until she drove the car into a hotel that Mahiro was momentarily stunned.
"Wait, what are you doing? Shouldn't kidney harvesting be done at a hospital? Why are we at a hotel?"
Erika didn't respond, simply grabbing his wrist and pulling him out of the car, just as she had after witnessing Chiba Toshikazu's revival at the Chiba residence, letting her lead him.
He had considered countless possibilities—perhaps Erika needed an emotional outlet and had brought him out for a drive, or maybe she wanted to treat him to a meal.
But he never expected her to drag him straight to a hotel!
Even in his dazed state, Erika had already checked in at the front desk and was leading him upstairs.
The front desk attendant's gaze as they passed was somewhat peculiar.
Aside from Erika's attractive face, it was mainly because she was dressed in a black formal suit for mourning, along with her somewhat resolute gaze.
In the deep night, he was led by Erika into the newly opened room, directly brought to the bedside and pushed onto it.
At the same time, she slowly began unbuttoning her clothes.
Hearing the rustling sound of fabric rubbing against fabric, Mahiro finally snapped back to reality.
Looking up, he saw that Erika had already shed her dress, straightforwardly revealing her somewhat plain undergarments.
At this point, even a fool would understand what Erika intended to do.
"Erika, are you really that impatient right now?" Mahiro remarked expressionlessly, even feeling a bit amused inside.
What kind of drama involving offering oneself in gratitude was this, and how did it end up happening to him?
Moreover, given Erika's temperament, normally at a time like this, if he teased her like this, she would surely blush and retort or scold him.
But in reality, he was overthinking it.
His words had no effect; instead, they made Erika's movements even swifter.
She actually straddled him directly, like a knight riding a warhorse.
A pleasant, delicate fragrance of a young girl wafted into his nostrils.
The girl looked down at him from her superior position, her sharp, reddish-brown eyes swirling with an intense, unreadable emotion.
Under the moonlight that seemed to flow in like melted ice water, the girl's fiery red shoulder-length hair and her cool, pale skin fully entered his view.
Although she usually dressed in a boyish manner, it had to be said that Erika's figure was indeed excellent. Perhaps due to her mixed heritage, her tall stature rivaled that of a model.
Bathed in the silver moonlight, Erika's entire body seemed to emit a halo-like glow, appearing as if it were shining with a fine, soft, and perfectly sized ideal hemisphere; her tight waist possessed a perfect sculptural beauty, and her slightly indented navel looked small and cute; though slender, her limbs gave no impression of fragility, resembling those of an antelope.
Her attractive face, though not as perfect as Miyuki's or Alpha's, still held considerable charm.
Truly worthy of being the [Phantom Sword Princess] of the Chiba family. If only her disciples knew Erika was doing this kind of thing with him here, they would probably cry, right?
Of course, he wasn't the type to just sit back and take it.
Just as he was about to rise and resist, Erika suppressed him with a backhand move. Her slender, slightly cold fingers grasped his palm, playfully intertwining with his fingers in the darkness.
Afraid of hurting her, Mahiro didn't use too much force. Moreover, Erika, skilled in swordsmanship, was also highly proficient in grappling techniques.
Thus, he was completely immobilized and unable to move.
"Erika, I think you're really hungry."
"Mahiro, are you scared? With so many girlfriends and fiancées, you should be quite experienced, right?"
This time, Erika finally shed her earlier seriousness, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of her lips.
Hmm, the experience is indeed rich, rich enough to support an entire doujin circle... my ass!
"Let's put aside whether my experience is rich or not, are you sure you want to do something so impulsive?"
He had completely given up on struggling, only wanting to have a proper talk with this decisive fiery-haired girl.
Although he had always been open to all comers, that didn't mean he would accept something so unclear.
However, Erika's response surprised him somewhat.
"It's not an impulsive act, Mahiro-kun. You could understand it as something long-planned. Last time in the bathroom, you saw me completely naked. Don't you want to take responsibility?"
Mahiro: "..."
Just one look and he has to take responsibility? What kind of clichéd drama is this?
"Why don't you mention that I'm also the benefactor of your Chiba family?"
"I know."
Erika took over the conversation, speaking softly:
"You saved my foolish older brother, that's true. But you should also know that I don't like owing others. And you should know that my status in the Chiba family is just that of an illegitimate daughter.
A huge favor like this is simply impossible to repay... no, the entire Chiba family can't repay it.
So when you decided to save my foolish older brother, I had already decided—I will devote my everything to you."
"Stop joking."
"I'm not joking."
When he met Erika's eyes again, the expression within was unprecedentedly serious.
Not a trace remained of her usual liveliness and somewhat frivolous attitude.
"I also understand that this might just be a casual act for you, but the favor of saving a life is real. If possible, please don't refuse."
Erika's words essentially blocked all his escape routes.
But the problem was, he never intended to take those routes in the first place.
"Fine, do as you please."
Mahiro gave up resisting, or rather, meat delivered to your doorstep—if you don't eat it, it's a waste.
That night, the battle wasn't particularly intense.
Because it was Erika's first time, Mahiro didn't demand too much, but under the girl's strong competitive spirit, they still launched four major assaults.
Unfortunately, they completely failed to breach Mahiro's armor, instead being pushed back step by step.
As a result, she slept until noon the next day and was still limping when leaving the hotel.
However, because of this relationship with Erika, the Chiba family's desire to repay the favor, and the recent movements of the Yotsuba family, the Chiba family chose to submit.
They came under the management of the Yotsuba family.
They were also the first among the Hundred Families to bow to the Yotsuba family.
And Erika, as the representative of the Chiba family, took up residence on Burned Island, opening a Chiba-style kendo dojo on the newly reclaimed land to widely accept disciples.
It became the second dojo in Arcadia.
Moreover, Erika's chosen position remained unchanged—she still chose to work at the school, teaching basic swordsmanship and magic.
What Mahiro didn't expect, however, was that Shibata Mizuki and Mitsui Honoka had also advanced their employment plans.
Originally, they were supposed to wait until after graduation, but they ended up taking up residence on Burned Island early.
Accompanying them was Kitayama Shizuku, who had quietly reached a permanent cooperation agreement with Shiba Heavy Industries.
March 15, 2098.
This day marked not only the official dissolution of the USNA but also the graduation season for First High School, affiliated with the National Magic University.
Perhaps due to the gradual stabilization of the international situation and the fact that Esdeath, known as the Witch, chose not to continue her campaigns, graduation ceremonies were not limited to First High alone today.
Except for Third High and Sixth High, the graduation ceremonies for all other affiliated high schools were held simultaneously on this day.
Amidst the witness of many parents, siblings, and attending guests, the awarding of graduation certificates proceeded with solemnity and dignity.
Among them was Mahiro, who sat in the audience alongside Lina, watching Miyuki deliver her speech on stage.
"Hey, don't you feel a bit regretful?" Lina asked.
"Regretful about what?"
"That you should have been up there on stage, receiving your graduation certificate under the proud gazes of the parents in the audience."
"It doesn't matter."
Mahiro shrugged. "I'm not particularly interested in that sort of thing."
If anything, he had already been handing out elementary school graduation certificates to the largest group of children in Arcadia.
Naturally, he didn't care much about such ceremonies.
But in Lina's eyes, it wasn't quite like that.
"Stubborn."
"Heh, what about you, Miss Lina? Not getting a graduation certificate must feel like a real pity, right?"
"Not at all. I don't care about such things either."
Lina crossed her arms and turned her head away, speaking as if in a huff.
Clearly, she was the stubborn one here.
However, Mahiro had no intention of calling her out. Instead, he gazed at the group standing on the auditorium stage, a hint of nostalgia and reminiscence flickering in his eyes.
People who had been strangers upon enrollment had, by graduation, become inseparable friends.
Just like him—he had arrived alone, but after this grand graduation ceremony, he now had many people by his side who needed his protection.
Miyuki Shiba, Chiba Erika, Shibata Mizuki, Mitsui Honoka, Kitayama Shizuku, and the already-graduated Saegusa Mayumi and Mibu Sayaka... even Lina.
Hmm, looking at it this way, wouldn't "harem" be a more accurate term?
Though even now, he hadn't made a move on Shibata Mizuki, the occasionally airheaded girl.
Walking along the tree-lined avenue with the girls, Mahiro couldn't help but think this.
Just then, Erika suddenly quickened her pace and stepped in front of the group. Turning around with her hands clasped behind her back, she suggested:
"Hey, how about we go to the café in front of the station one more time? It's perfect since Mahiro-kun is here too."
The café in front of the station was where their group's fate had begun.
If you excluded the ridiculous incident with Morisaki Shun at school, their first gathering had indeed taken place there.
"Aren't you planning to return to Burned Island first?" Mahiro teased.
"No way! I finally have some free time—don't even think about dragging me back to do hard labor!"
Erika displayed a rare, girlish demeanor.
But what she said was indeed true. Ever since the Chiba dojo moved to Burned Island, she had been constantly busy.
Not to mention flying back here for school on weekdays, she also had to manage the dojo during breaks and occasionally make appearances at the Arcadia school.
So busy that I barely had time to be intimate with him.
In this regard, everyone else was the same, except for Lina.
"I think Erika's suggestion is good. Let's all go together; it can also serve as a celebration after the graduation ceremony."
At this moment, Kitayama Shizuku, who usually preferred silence, suddenly spoke up in agreement.
And the others shared the same opinion.
Under the principle of majority rule, Mahiro naturally had no way to refuse.
"By the way, Lina, I heard that the USNA has disbanded. Aren't you planning to go back and take a look?"
The one who said this was Shibata Mizuki.
However, as soon as the words were spoken, everyone stopped in their tracks. Their gazes fell on Lina and also on Mizuki.
"Ah, Mizuki, in these three years, you still haven't learned to read the atmosphere," Erika spread her hands, sighing softly while teasing her.
"...Huh? Huh? Is... is that so? I didn't mean to..."
Under the gaze of everyone, the girl flusteredly waved her hands. With her shy and easily embarrassed personality, her face flushed red at this moment.
"It's fine."
Lina stepped forward to defuse the situation: "I don't mind, and there's no need for me to go back to the USNA. They gave up on me long ago.
Besides, if I wanted to go back, a certain big devil would have to let me go."
The "big devil" Lina referred to was naturally Mahiro, and as she spoke, her gaze kept sizing him up.
Unfortunately, Mahiro feigned ignorance in response, looking up at the sky as if admiring the beautiful weather.
Lina had long expected this attitude from him, so she didn't say anything more.
The group set off again, planning to go to a café, but just as they reached the school gate, a black extended executive sedan blocked their way.
The black car window slowly rolled down, revealing a face that surprised everyone.
"Is... is that Mr. Kudou Retsu?!"
Honoka and Mizuki opened their mouths wide enough to fit an egg, even covering them with their hands to hide their shock.
Even the others were surprised.
Because it seemed that Mr. Kudou Retsu was waiting for them here.
However, they quickly realized and turned their gazes to Miyuki and Mahiro, as the two of them represented the Yotsuba Family.
"You must be here for me, right?" Mahiro stepped forward and said calmly.
"Heh, as expected of a child of the Yotsuba Family, quite clever indeed." Kudou Retsu didn't answer directly, speaking ambiguously without confirming or denying.
But Mahiro's attitude remained as indifferent as ever.
He met the other's deep, unfathomable eyes, which revealed no trace of emotion or thought.
He wasn't the least bit surprised by Kudou Retsu blocking their way; in fact, it was within his expectations.
After all, the Yotsuba main family, having gradually subdued most of the Ten Master Clans as well as the candidate Eighteen Families, Twenty-Eight Families, and Hundred Families, was now preparing to take action against the Kushima Family.
"How about we have a chat? Give this old man on his last legs ten minutes."
Seeing his less-than-friendly attitude, Kudou Retsu sighed helplessly.
"Great, I was just about to meet up with some friends. How about we have our talk there?"
Mahiro suggested.
However, Kudou Retsu did not refuse his proposal—in fact, he had no right to refuse at all.
It was as if their positions had reversed since their meeting at the Nine Schools Competition back then; now, Kudou Retsu could be said to be the one begging for a meeting.
This scene completely stunned Honoka and Mizuki.
After all, in their eyes, Kudou Retsu remained a symbol of legend.