Chapter 97: Even If I, Fu Yongtai, Die, I Absolutely Won't Use This!

However.

Fu Yongtai still clearly wasn't willing to accept it, stammering: "But——this side effect is too…… too……"

"The side effects are no big deal, and they're optional." The youth waved his hand calmly, indicating these were all within acceptable range.

"Wait, they're optional?" Fu Yongtai instantly got excited; if side effects had room for choice, didn't that mean he could pick one relatively acceptable?

"Of course you can choose; it just gives you the ability to transform into a magical girl, it doesn't force you to transform, meaning you can choose to transform or not……" The youth wore a naturally matter-of-fact expression.

"……"

"……"

Oh, so that's the kind of choice it is……

Fu Yongtai's expression instantly froze, his excitement and enthusiasm rapidly cooling.

But thinking it over carefully, it did seem quite reasonable; as long as he didn't choose to transform, that equaled not becoming a magical girl…… The other party's words were truly bewitching; he pondered and pondered, and unknowingly leaned toward being persuaded.

"Then let's leave it at that……"

Tanshoya Natsumi beside him closed her eyes, seemingly thinking.

Finally she showed a depressed yet cute expression, gritted her teeth, and still picked up the signature pen, signing her name at the signature line in a few swift strokes.

She was likewise persuaded, no longer struggling. If it merely gave her an extra option to become a magical girl, rather than leaving her only the option to become one, then this wasn't unacceptable.

"Tanshoya-san is really straightforward……"

Xia Zhi smiled faintly and also reached for the contract on the opposite side.

After reviewing it carefully, he nodded in satisfaction, put both contract documents away together, and right before the two of them, tossed them into a void shimmering with golden ripples.

——The Key Sword to the "Golden Capital" was probably the most versatile and useful copied Noble Phantasm he currently possessed. Equivalent to carrying a massive storage warehouse on his person, providing unimaginable convenience.

The two watched their signed documents disappear into the golden ripples, a subtle emotion surging in their hearts, as if they had formed some contract with a mysterious existence.

Just……

That mysterious existence's name…… was Kyubey.

At this moment, the youth seemed to recall something, and casually handed over two brilliantly shining gems: "Since the contract is established, please accept these; these are your two 'Soul Gems'……"

"W-wait! There's still Soul Gems?!"

Tanshoya Natsumi's eyes instantly turned shocked: "You…… your magical girl system, it couldn't be the Madoka Magica type, could it?"

That sounds terrifying!

If before she was just complaining a bit, now she was genuinely worried she'd dramatically get her head bitten off.

"Not that brutal; didn't you just mention this trope, Tanshoya-san? I just used it as an example…… This is a Mystic Code, you can also think of it as a Kaleidostick or such; you need it to transform."

Xia Zhi gave a very simple, easy-to-understand example, saying this was the mysterious marvelous tool used for transformation.

Who would use something like that!

Fu Yongtai really wanted to loudly refuse, but saw Tanshoya-san silently reach out and take the gem from the youth's palm.

Forget it……

The contract's already signed……

Finally he also deflated in one go, adopting a 'nothing left to lose' mindset, and took the other one.

……………………

After the two classmates left one after another.

Togashi Rikka, who had just been watching silently with her head down eating, blinked her big eyes.

She gently tugged his sleeve: "Hey, Xia Zhi, they…… became magical girls just like that?"

"Actually no, just giving them insurance, merely manifested in the form of magical girl transformation……"

Xia Zhi calmly headpatted while watching the two's retreating backs, withdrew his gaze, looked at classmate Rikka, keenly perceived a trace of envy in her eyes, and so explained.

Perhaps among the three, only she who completely doesn't reject chuunibyou and is immersed in it would accept such a setting, and even think the setup of cool, strong, pretty cute girls transforming hits a maiden's heart perfectly.

"Insurance?"

"It's infusing certain special Intelligence into a specific Class, letting it take effect at critical moments; I just designed this Class with a magical girl art style……"

This is actually equivalent to Jewel Magecraft combined with Servant Skills or Noble Phantasms.

He uniquely turned it into this art style.

Jewel Magecraft can become a simplified "Magic Crest" through prior processing; at critical moments, directly using the magical energy and Magic Formula inside the gem, the corresponding magecraft effect can be triggered instantly, the magecraft woven into it cast immediately.

He used the gem as the "Class" vessel, then infused modified Skill Intelligence and Noble Phantasm Intelligence into this vessel——

This inspiration came from Fujimaru Ritsuka; heard that Mash, that Demi-Servant, is an experimental product of human and Servant fusion……

Just Xia Zhi couldn't achieve that degree, temporarily lacks conditions for that degree; he didn't summon a Servant with Personality to fuse with a living person, merely triggers pure Servant-like power as a Magic Formula.

The Class Gem user can temporarily don a "pseudo-Servant" coat, and through pre-woven Magic Formulas, exercise certain specific abilities……

"Why design it with a magical girl art style?"

Togashi Rikka tilted her head, a bit unable to understand.

"Because they all dislike it; insurance is best never used; if designed in a form they like, they might get an itch and actively trigger it……"

The youth wore a matter-of-fact expression: "Wouldn't that waste my…… waste Master your magical energy? This all relies on Master your power, belongs to the Evil King True Eye's power!"

"Oh oh, I see!!"

Togashi Rikka blinked, realized and immediately became happy.

She suddenly felt nothing to envy; that's right, she herself has powerful magical energy, just has to supply Xia Zhi's existence and battles, so temporarily can only use a tiny tiny bit of power.

Watching the chuunibyou girl so easily appeased, Xia Zhi shook his head, but didn't lower his guard; instead continued throwing out another topic, striking while the iron hot to divert her attention——

"Right, Master, tonight when you go back you can suggest something to Tenka-san."

"What suggestion?"

"Let her change residence…… even buying a house right next door works, so you two sisters don't have to squeeze in one room to sleep."

"Eh? Th-this... the Holy Regulator's salary is pretty high, but it hasn't reached the point where you can just buy a whole building outright, right?" Togashi Rikka froze for a moment, then hurriedly shook her head repeatedly, indicating this was unrealistic.

Even if she has Chuunibyou, she knows this topic is comparatively realistic.

The Holy Regulator has only been working for less than three years; how could she have that much savings?

"There wasn't before today, but after today there should be enough..." the young man held a different view on this, "She might be the luckiest person in this world right now."

According to Medea, the Lucky Charms manufactured by her hand can bring Ordinary People good luck beyond imagination.

The Greek Witch asserted this so; the things she manufactures differ from those made by other Magicians by a world of difference... after all, A Rank "Item Construction" can even produce things close to an Immortality Pill.

And the Skill Xia Zhi analyzed has its specific Intelligence source from Medea.

Moreover, on him, "Item Construction" very likely doesn't stop at A Rank... counting the Origin's blessing.

"?"

Togashi Rikka wore a doubtful expression; enough after today?

What does that mean? Could it be that money will be blown in by a strong wind?

————

————

Afternoon.

The dismissal bell rang.

The classroom began to grow noisy; classmates stood up one after another, placing bookbags on desks, putting textbooks and other needed items inside.

Fu Yongtai was the same; he listlessly packed his things, then also put that gemstone in, looking at the gemstone's brilliant shine, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Yuta, let's go!"

At this moment, a force patted his shoulder. Good friend Isshiki Makoto, carrying his backpack on one shoulder, grinned and urged: "Let's go home together; the class rep probably has no special business to handle today, right? I saw Toriya-san was leaving too, no other Missions, right?"

"No more, the teacher didn't assign any Missions." Fu Yongtai responded, his gaze subconsciously turning toward the distance.

"Mori Natsu, not walking together?"

"Ah, sorry sorry, I have a bit of business today..."

Having just finished packing, Toriya-san walked briskly out of the classroom with her bookbag; hearing the voice, she turned back, her brown-gold long hair rippling and spreading behind her, her face showing a flawless apologetic expression.

"What business, so urgent?" The girl who called out was a bit puzzled.

"I'm going to get my hair done!"

Long hair shone like gold in the setting sun's afterglow; the girl answered with a serious face.

Then she nodded, turned, and walked out the classroom door.

"..."

"..."

Fu Yongtai silently withdrew his gaze.

"Huh, so pretty, where'd you get that stone?"

At this time, Isshiki Makoto standing beside him also noticed the brilliantly shining gemstone in his bookbag, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "What do you plan to use it for?"

"Won't use it! Absolutely won't use it!" Fu Yongtai seemed to have triggered some conditioned reflex, almost blurted it out, simultaneously shaking his head violently, as if swearing with incomparably firm Determination.

"Huh?"

A question mark slowly rose above Isshiki Makoto's head; what does this mean?

"Yuta, I was just asking what use this has..."

"Listen well! Isshiki, this is absolutely not going to be used!" Before Isshiki Makoto could finish, Fu Yongtai cut him off, face extremely serious: "I, Fu Yongtai, even if I die, die outside, jump from here, I absolutely will not use this once!"

"..."

"..."

"Ah ah, o-okay then..." Isshiki Makoto suspected his dead party friend got stimulated by something again, could only dryly laugh and change the subject, "Then I won't ask, how about we head back together now?"

"Mm, let's go."

Fu Yongtai nodded in response, picked up his backpack, gesturing to leave together.

But in this instant—

He suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, a fear as if targeted by something terrifying.

(Chapter End)