That said, Fang Li had taken care of this gluttonous girl for a long time. Considering all the meals he had wasted on her in the past, he could never throw her out; otherwise, all that effort would have been for nothing.
Thus, Fang Li allowed Index to adopt the cat she named Sphinx.
"Come to think of it, something like this also happened in the original story, didn't it?"
He was referring to Index adopting the cat. In the end, the cat was taken in by Index and arrived at Fang Li's dormitory.
"Perhaps this isn't such a bad thing after all."
At the very least, when Fang Li wasn't home, Index wouldn't have to watch the unfamiliar television and computer run helplessly, nor would she have to lie bored on the floor. Finally, she had someone—or at least something—to keep her company.
As evening fell, Index played with Sphinx after dinner.
Meanwhile, Fang Li prepared to leave.
"I've got some business to take care of, so I'll be stepping out for a while," He said as he put on his shoes in the entryway. "Don't run off anywhere. Over eighty percent of this city's population is students, and a student curfew is basically enforced at night. Sometimes, even the streets have Anti-Skill patrolling. If you run out and get caught, I won't come pick you up."
"Got it." Index seemed used to Fang Li's cold way of speaking. She stuck out her tongue and said, "Anyway, I've got Sphinx now. I don't need Fang Li."
"...Is that so?" Fang Li smiled faintly at her. "That's fine too."
With that, he prepared to leave the room.
As she watched him, Index felt a twinge of unease.
"I—I was just joking, you know! I don't really think that," she said, clutching the corner of his jacket. Her aquamarine eyes stared straight at him, full of worry. "I can't live without you, so please don't be angry."
Hearing this, Fang Li couldn't help but chuckle.
Though this girl was usually mischievous and reckless, she had a way of speaking so sincerely that she could pierce someone's heart. It's no wonder Stiyl and Kanzaki are obsessed with her.
"Don't worry," Fang Li said as he patted Index's head. "I'm not angry."
"Really?" Index asked anxiously. "You won't leave me behind?"
"No." Fang Li smiled. "Besides, even if I did leave you, you'd follow me anyway, wouldn't you?"
"Mm." Index nodded very seriously. "If you leave me behind, I'll catch up to you no matter where you go."
"Then everything will be all right." Fang Li shrugged. "Anyway, just stay obedient and don't run off, got it?"
Index nodded repeatedly.
Fang Li smiled faintly and left the room.
...
Stepping outside, Fang Li immediately saw Stiyl.
"Looks like that girl really sticks to you, huh."
The tall priest leaned against the wall of the stairwell, smoking and staring straight ahead without looking at Fang Li.
"In less than a month, she's already like this. Perhaps nothing like this ever happened with the people who used to accompany her, huh?"
His voice carried a hint of distance.
Clearly, the "people" he referred to included himself.
Fang Li didn't comment.
After all, Stiyl had said it himself: Index had been accompanied by many people in the past— people willing to sacrifice everything to protect her out of attraction or devotion. Yet, every year, Index's memory had to be wiped, and all of those people were forgotten.
However, Fang Li had successfully changed all of that by keeping Index by his side.
For people like Stiyl, who had once given everything for Index, Fang Li had achieved their dreams. He had gained what they had longed for but could never obtain.
It's no wonder someone like that inspires envy.
As the target of such envy, Fang Li had no reason to express any particular feelings about it.
So he merely said a simple line.
"Let's go," Fang Li said somewhat indifferently. "Don't waste my precious summer vacation."
With that, he stepped past Stiyl and headed downstairs.
Stiyl did not follow immediately.
"Is it okay to leave that girl here alone?"
Muttering almost to himself, Stiyl exhaled a plume of smoke and spoke calmly.
"I can leave the 'King of Hunting Strega (Witches)' here to protect her."
Fang Li's response was equally simple.
"No need." He said without hesitation. "Don't underestimate Index. With the 'Mobile Church' around, escaping is no problem, no matter what happens."
This seemingly relaxed attitude made Stiyl feel inferior to Fang Li.
The reason was simple.
No matter what, Fang Li trusted Index more than Stiyl did.
"Tch..."
Stiyl muttered in displeasure, turned around, and followed Fang Li.
...
On the way to Misawa Cram School, Stiyl pulled two photographs from his coat and handed them to Fang Li.
"Take a look at the first photo."
Fang Li casually took the photo and looked at it.
It was a man.
He had extremely pale skin and a green, slicked-back hairstyle. He was dressed in a pure white suit and expensive leather shoes and was holding a book. He radiated intellectual authority.
"Aureolus Izzard. That's his name," Stiyl said to Fang Li. "He's an alchemist and the instigator of this incident." Originally affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, he belongs to the extremely rare Cancellarius class. In short, he writes the Church's Magic Path books, a position of great power."
"He writes Magic Path books?" Fang Li raised an eyebrow.
He didn't know about this.
Or, more precisely, he had forgotten.
After all, unlike Index, Fang Li didn't have a perfect memory. Even if he knew the original story, it would be impossible to remember everything.
Stiyl continued, "They say he writes Magic Path books, but he doesn't record magical knowledge for posterity like the great magicians of the past. Instead, he analyzes existing magic, figures out ways to counter it, and documents his findings. These writings are then compiled into a book. It's more of a strategy guide for magic than a Magic Path book."
"In short, this incident involves this guy taking over Misawa Cram School and imprisoning a girl."
With that, Stiyl withdrew Aureolus's photo, letting the second photo come into Fang Li's view.
The photo depicted a girl wearing a miko outfit with long, shiny black hair and an expressionless, yet beautiful, face.
"Himegami Aisa."
Stiyl revealed the young girl's name.
"Aureolus imprisoned her and intended to use her blood to capture a certain creature alive."
"A creature called a 'vampire.'"
(End of this chapter.)
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