Chapter 415

"Sigh, it can't be helped. Little Yukino is in love, and the main task of the Mutual Aid Society is to improve our strength and summon Heroic Spirits. There's so much work that I'm the one whose strength is progressing the slowest. (っ╥╯﹏╰╥c)…."

Yono feigned crying, looking aggrieved.

"If you're too busy, you can hire two assistants to share the load. If you can't find any, I can recommend two."

Shizuka Hiratsuka said hurriedly.

That is true.

Nowadays, it's clear that one's Magecraft rank is becoming increasingly important.

A breakthrough in Magecraft level is stronger than ten thousand other things.

Shizuka Hiratsuka quickly changed the subject: "By the way, have you gone to the Magecraft Association for an evaluation? What level are you now?"

With the resources available to Yono's position, she definitely has at least a C-rank.

Just that delicate, flawless skin alone proves she is definitely among the transcendent.

"I haven't gone yet, but I'm probably around A-rank. Sigh, I'm almost being caught up by little Yukino."

Yono hypocritically wiped away a tear.

You...

Shizuka Hiratsuka's face darkened, and she waved her hand.

Get lost.

After all this, did you come here just to show off and flaunt your success in front of me?

A-rank, huh.

In terms of life level, that's a Third Rank life form.

In the Japan of the past, that would be a giant in the transcendent world, second only to legendary figures like Tamamo-no-Mae or Nura Rihan.

Even now, that's the level of a top-tier powerhouse; anything higher is a Fourth Rank legend.

Today is supposed to be the day she finally celebrates being evaluated as an official Mage.

"Well then, Shizuka, see you next time."

Yukinoshita Yono smiled, waved her hand, and walked out the door; her smile vanished instantly.

She looked calmly at the woman who possessed the same exquisite face and even a similar temperament, and chuckled.

"Are you lost?"

As expected, they aren't the same person.

She had no such thing as being "lost."

Because she had never had the qualification to be lost.

Words like "goals" or "ideals" had never appeared in her dictionary.

All she had was the need to respond to her mother's expectations and complete those "tasks" under the most elite education.

Putting on mask after mask, becoming the "sincere friend," the "perfect student," the "excellent Yukinoshita heir."

Nothing more.

Until even she herself forgot her true self.

Even the version of herself in front of her special, only sister—was that "pleasure-seeking monster" version of herself the real one?

She couldn't understand.

She couldn't fathom it.

When it comes down to it, does she really possess something like a "self"?

Otherwise, as the true leader of the Master Mutual Aid Society who now dialogues with the national level, what does the mother of the mere Yukinoshita family head count for?

And who else has the qualification to plan her life?

As for why she still moves along a fixed trajectory, with a fixed simulated personality, she herself cannot say.

Yukinoshita Yono looked calmly at that so-called "other self" on the Sky-Curtain.

Perhaps, compared to this "Yukinoshita Yono" who looks similar on the outside...

She might be more like that "empty" Enoshima Junko.

……..

【"Did it actually fail?"】

【The weather was quite nice; the soft sunlight cast upon her body brought a hint of warmth.】

【But this abandoned factory was too desolate, appearing somewhat quiet and cold; the shrill wind blew through the gaps everywhere, like the wailing of ghosts and gods.】

【Before the scarlet Magecraft summoning array, Sakurajima Mai frowned and muttered to herself.】

【She had specifically chosen this quiet location where very few people passed by.】

【One reason was to summon a Heroic Spirit, and the other was to deal with any potential attackers.】

【As it turned out, both failed.】

【"Is this enough, Mai~‖."】

【Fujiwara Chika raised her hand and said weakly: "How about we change places to summon the Heroic Spirit?"】

【She looked at the factory amidst the shrill wind; even in the daytime, it felt somewhat cold.】

【This factory was a famous haunted spot; it is said that the vengeful spirits of those who went missing here are trapped in the factory, wandering and looking for the next victim.】

【Oh my god.】

【She looked at Rikka.】

【Is her subordinate actually this bold? Running here alone to draw that kind of diagram that looks bloody at first glance.】

【Rikka stood in the center of the blood-red Magecraft array, far more terrified than her.】

【Just now, her pile of chuunibyou props failed as catalysts, so that terrifying woman made her stand inside.】

【A desolate factory, an evil ritual, shrill wind, and her, weak and helpless.】

【Are you sure this isn't about sacrificing her?】

【The young girl was almost scared to tears.】

【"Is using oneself as a catalyst also wrong?"】

【"There must be something wrong somewhere."】

【"Was she killed and her Command Spells stolen before she could summon the Heroic Spirit?"】

【"Or perhaps because she didn't summon the Heroic Spirit in time, the Holy Grail chose a new Master?"】

【Sakurajima Mai became increasingly anxious.】

【She had just found the entry point for the Holy Grail War; was it going to be scrapped already?】

【Humanity had already gone extinct; of the forty-eight Masters selected from all of humanity, only she and Chika remained.】

【The terrifying responsibility made it impossible for her to breathe.】

【If she had a personality that would just give up and shirk responsibility, it would be fine, but she had always been a kind girl who grew braver with every setback.】

【She simply couldn't sit idly by.】

【"Wait, those chosen by the Holy Grail must have an obsession they cannot reach on their own."】

【"In other words, summoning based on compatibility means there is a high probability of summoning a Heroic Spirit with the same obsession."】

【"Could it be that she changed her mind, causing the responding Heroic Spirit to change its mind?"】

【"I remember the Caster of the Fourth Holy Grail War was the undefeated French Marshal Gilles de Rais; what kind of shared obsession would Rikka have with him?"】

【Failing repeatedly, Sakurajima Mai became more and more anxious.】

【Feeling this atmosphere, Rikka-chan shrank her neck.】

【She was a little scared, yet a little full of longing.】

【"Lord Sakura" is really amazing.】

【Even though she clearly feels under immense pressure.】

【Even though her parents and everything she cared about have all vanished.】

【Yet, even while enduring such pain, she is determined to take everything back with her own hands.】

【By comparison, she...】

【'Time is running out, little Mai.'】

【"Then do you have any good ideas? Mr. Belly-Black?"】

【Sakurajima Mai looked helplessly at the translucent projection of the young man, a hint of expectation appearing in her eyes.】

【"Well, I don't have a good idea, but I do have a bad one."】

【At the end of his sentence, the young man smiled and looked at the young girl in the Magecraft array."】