Chapter 130: Five Pounds of Study Materials Per Month
"Where to?"
"Within the Tokyo metropolitan area. Don't worry—my sister is still in your hands. I won't run away."
"Heh, Sherry, don't overthink it. You're a codename member of the Organization, and a key figure in drug development. How could you betray us? Don't joke around."
Sherry clearly wasn't going to engage further, remaining silent and waiting for his reply.
"Okay, wait a moment. I need to confirm with Gin. I can't make this decision on my own."
The other end acknowledged silently.
Actually, Sherry just couldn't reach Gin directly. Otherwise, she wouldn't have called Tequila.
Natsukawa hung up and dialed Gin's number.
Gin was obviously available—the call was answered immediately. Natsukawa reported Sherry's request, emphasizing that it had nothing to do with him. It was mainly Sherry's own desire to go out, and Gin shouldn't misunderstand. Getting silenced by Gin over this would be a real loss.
"What's so interesting about those test subjects?" Gin's disdain was palpable.
To be honest, if asked who he'd forced to take that poison, he really couldn't remember.
APTX-4869 had always been used as an untraceable poison, and he no longer cared about the recipients when administering it.
"Aniki, I have a list here. The people at the top are those who've taken the drug within the Tokyo metropolitan area."
A voice faintly came through the receiver. At this moment, Natsukawa finally understood Vodka's purpose.
So besides being a driver, assassin, and Gin's personal bodyguard, Vodka also serves as a living notebook and memo pad.
After a few seconds, Gin replied, "Fine. Inform Sherry about this. I'll arrange for someone to escort her out in a couple of days, but only within Beika Town and Beika City. She can't go anywhere too far."
Clearly, Gin still had reservations.
Hanging up the phone, Natsukawa shook his head.
As expected, Gin still doesn't trust me. Otherwise, he should've said something like at the last meeting: "Tequila, this matter is entrusted to you."
The rainy season had arrived, bringing continuous drizzle.
Cherry blossom petals were blown by the wind and scattered across the ground.
The waterfall appeared even more magnificent due to the rain, its roar as it crashed against the rocks drowning out the patter of rainfall, making it difficult for guests to fall asleep.
"Conan, aren't you going to sleep?"
Natsukawa turned over and noticed Conan taking notes, staring at them intently.
Geez, no wonder he's a famous detective. Still analyzing cases at this hour.
He glanced at the clock on the wall.
It was three in the morning.
"It's fine," Conan yawned but forced himself to stay awake.
He'd secretly questioned a few of the young monks about Tunnian, but to no avail.
Clearly, Abbot Tennei held absolute authority at Mountain Mist Temple. Even if the young monks gossiped about him behind his back, they wouldn't dare speak openly.
It was strange, though—the monk Shunian, who'd arrived at the temple a year ago, didn't seem to be in his room. Conan had knocked for ages, but the door remained closed.
Afterward, Conan used the temple's landline to call Professor Agasa and obtained the case files for Tunnian's death two years prior.
With all the clues and information gathered, Conan's detective instincts were irresistible. He'd unknowingly worked until 3 AM, with dawn fast approaching.
Conan felt the time pressure, but he—Shinichi Kudo—loved this kind of challenging deduction. His goal was to solve this bizarre death case from two years ago before leaving tomorrow.
Natsukawa rubbed his eyes, then turned over, ready to go back to sleep.
Tunnian's death was too long ago. Even if Conan finds clues now or directly identifies Tennei as the culprit, it won't matter much. His deductions are just that—deductions.
The evidence has long been destroyed, and Abbot Tennei clearly isn't the type to confess easily. Unless concrete evidence is presented, he'll never admit it.
Just like Koizumi Akako said at dinner—Abbot Tennei has no intention of explaining. That's the confidence he gains from complete evidence destruction!
Knock knock knock.
A knock came at the sliding door. Natsukawa looked up. "Who is it?"
"Papa, do you need to use the restroom?" Anya's voice came from behind the door. It slid open a crack, and Anya poked her head in. "Ran-neechan says that if lots of people go to the bathroom together, it feels more like a fun group trip!"
The door opened fully, and Natsukawa glanced at Yor, who gave a wry smile.
Yor was clearly somewhat helpless with Ran as well.
"..."
Natsukawa reluctantly got up and followed the three girls to the restroom.
Conan followed behind. Having studied for so long and drunk quite a bit of water, he also needed to go.
With so many people at the restroom, Ran was clearly much more at ease.
Monsters must be afraid of groups of people, right? I've called so many people to the bathroom together. I probably won't run into a Tengu.
She'd originally wanted to call Koizumi Akako too, but they'd only known each other for a few hours. It would be a bit rude to wake someone up just to go to the bathroom together.
"Hey Conan, have you found anything yet?"
Boys usually finished faster at the restroom, so Natsukawa and Conan stood in the corridor watching the waterfall while waiting for the three girls to come out.
"Little by little. I've discovered that Abbot Tennei has the strongest motive. Natsukawa-san saw it today, didn't you? Abbot Tennei is extremely sensitive about this matter. If Tunnian had committed suicide, Tennei wouldn't need to remain so tight-lipped.
Actually, I found out something else! A similar case occurred at Mountain Mist Temple over twenty years ago. A monk named Tenfu was also found hanged from a ceiling beam.
It's said that Tenfu was competing with Tennei for the abbot's position and had already been chosen, but he died in his meditation room under mysterious circumstances. The police confirmed the cause of death as suicide as well.
Of all the monks from that period, only Abbot Tennei is still alive today, and that case repeated itself two years ago.
Therefore, it's clear that..."
Conan stopped abruptly before finishing, then revealed an innocent, pure smile. "Hehehe, that's how Uncle Mouri deduces things! What do you think of the deduction techniques I learned from Uncle Mouri, Natsukawa-san?"
Natsukawa said, "Oh," and teased, "Conan really is smart. When you grow up, you'll definitely become a great detective like Kudo Shinichi. But how did you know about that case from twenty years ago at Mountain Mist Temple?"
"Because I saw it on TV! Nichiuri TV occasionally broadcasts stories about unsolved mysteries."
And another thing! Come on! My name is Kudo Shinichi, not Kudo Inoue!
Conan breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been careless—his behavior just now was nothing like a child's.
But judging from Natsukawa's expression, he probably didn't care.
"I see. I'll make sure Anya studies harder when we get back and watches more educational programs on Nichiuri TV."
Natsukawa didn't press the issue but turned to look down the corridor, pointing toward the meditation room. "Strange. When we went to the restroom after dinner, I remember seeing two streams of water flowing from that direction. Now there's only one."
"Really?" Conan frowned in surprise, leaning out halfway to stare at the meditation room for a long time. The more he looked, the more something seemed off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Speaking of which, that meditation room looks a bit like a reservoir. If the waterfall were channeled into it, the temple probably wouldn't run out of water even during the dry season."
Natsukawa felt his hint was obvious. Now it was up to Conan to figure it out himself.
Seeing the famous detective working overtime until 3 AM investigating the case, he was genuinely moved by his dedication.
Ding! Your Uncle Natsukawa has provided you with a clue.
Conan's mind suddenly clicked, all the pieces connecting. His expression instantly turned serious, and ignoring the three girls still in the restroom, he turned and bolted.
Based on his direction, he was heading straight for the meditation room!
Just as Conan left, Natsukawa saw a tall figure emerge from the depths of the corridor.
It was Koizumi Akako.
This girl seemed to have been hiding behind them from the beginning.
"Is it really okay to let a little kid go to a place like that alone? What if he gets scared?"
Koizumi Akako had no intention of hiding any longer. She walked straight to Natsukawa's side, her hands resting on the railing. The night wind ruffled her hair and lifted the hem of her short skirt, revealing black safety shorts underneath.
Disappointing.
No wonder Kaito never bothers looking. She's wearing safety shorts.
Not cute at all.
"Conan isn't an ordinary kid. Surely Koizumi Akako, heir to red magic, can see that much?" Natsukawa chuckled, glancing toward the meditation room. "You could sense Abbot Tennei's impending death, but you couldn't sense anything unusual about Conan?"
Koizumi Akako caught the mockery in Natsukawa's smile.
"You really are a mage, aren't you? I used red magic to probe you before, but I couldn't see through your soul's essence. You must be an incredibly powerful mage." Koizumi Akako stared intently at Natsukawa.
Few could withstand her red magic, so Natsukawa must be an exceptionally powerful mage.
As for Yor, a mage's girlfriend must be a mage too.
She still vividly remembered the black-clad phantom behind that woman. It was likely a newly emerged summoning spirit in the magical world.
However, she was disappointed. Natsukawa's expression remained unchanged, looking at her calmly as if she were a junior.
Natsukawa naturally wouldn't answer that question.
He didn't know why Koizumi Akako couldn't see through him. Perhaps it was related to his transmigration.
"You should be able to take the Tengu mask away tomorrow." Natsukawa thought for a moment, then asked, "But I'm curious—what do you plan to use it for?"
He didn't foolishly ask whether the Tengu mask was a magical artifact or if it truly sealed the Tengu within.
Asking would be tantamount to admitting he wasn't a mage.
Neither confirming nor denying was more appropriate for the current situation.
Koizumi Akako clearly considered Natsukawa one of her own kind and began explaining without hesitation:
"My magical ritual requires this mask. Otherwise, I wouldn't even bother coming here. But what surprises me is meeting so many interesting souls in one place. This trip was worthwhile."
Needless to say, the interesting souls she referred to were Natsukawa's group.
Natsukawa understood partially, initially thinking Koizumi Akako was referring to him and the two Grim Reapers.
Koizumi Akako hadn't originally intended to retrieve the Mist Tengu mask. Her decision to come to Mountain Mist Temple stemmed from the witch's magic mirror.
Last night, Koizumi Akako had been indulging in self-admiration at home, momentarily moved by her own beauty. In her excitement, she'd asked her magic mirror a question:
Koizumi Akako: "Magic mirror, magic mirror, who is the fairest of them all?"
Magic Mirror: "Of course, it's you, Lady Koizumi Akako! Everyone in this world will be your captive."
The magic mirror paused for a moment, and just when Koizumi Akako thought it had short-circuited from her overwhelming beauty, the mirror added another sentence.
Magic Mirror: "Except..."
The magic mirror's voice was choppy, like a radio with poor reception. The static was annoying.
Koizumi Akako: "Except what?"
Magic Mirror: "Except for him."
A few seconds later, a picture of Kuroba Kaito dressed as Phantom Thief Kid appeared in the mirror.
Just as Koizumi Akako was preparing a plan to conquer Phantom Thief Kid, the mirror's next sentence made her lose her composure.
Magic Mirror: "Inject more magic power to unlock additional uncapturable targets."
Koizumi Akako: "..."
There's MORE THAN ONE person the most beautiful woman can't capture?! This magic mirror must be broken!
There must have been too few materials used when making it.
Then, still as a statue one moment, swift as a striking snake the next—
CRASH!
The magic mirror shattered in a radial pattern, originating from Koizumi Akako's high heel.
The crashing sound made her assistant outside unable to resist opening the door, but after confirming the witch was alright, she silently closed it again.
"It's fine. That's just how Lady Akako is. I'm used to it. As long as it doesn't interfere with her magic."
Koizumi Akako regretted breaking the magic mirror. It was quite precious, and what witch didn't have a magic mirror? It wouldn't be proper.
So she was currently collecting materials to rebuild one. The Tengu's whiskers were one such magical material.
However, her goal was to create an even more powerful mirror. The Tengu's whiskers alone weren't enough. Ideally, the entire mask should be used as magical material.
That was the gist of the story.
"Eh, Akako-sama, what brings you out here?" Ran exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Koizumi Akako.
Why doesn't the witch change her clothes before sleeping? Isn't she cold in that bikini-like outfit?
"We're the same age—just call me Akako. Mouri-san, you're too formal," Koizumi Akako chuckled, covering her mouth.
Following Ran were Yor and Anya.
These two weren't surprised by Koizumi Akako's presence.
With Yor's assassin instincts and Anya's telepathic radar, both had long since detected Koizumi Akako following them.
Especially Anya, who'd absorbed every word of the conversation between Koizumi Akako and Natsukawa.
"Akako-neechan, can you teach me the magic that makes you immune to the cold? I don't need to learn anything else, but Anya really wants to learn that magic!"
Anya walked up to Koizumi Akako confidently. "I will definitely study very hard! I definitely won't disappoint my teacher!"
"Let's not. You're still too young. If you want to become a witch, you have to wait until you're at least ten. Besides, we witches need to learn and memorize enormous amounts of magical knowledge."
"How much do I have to memorize?" Anya felt that paying a small price for magic was acceptable. Although she hated studying, she was willing to sacrifice some free time to become a magician.
"Let me think... when I first started learning, my father gave me about five pounds of practice materials. Introduction to Alchemy, Fundamentals of Magic, Magical Theory and Differentiation, Magical Applications—if you want to learn, that's five pounds of magical study materials every month. First, you need a basic understanding of the magical world. That's how all apprentices are taught. We'll teach you advanced techniques when you turn ten."
"Five pounds... of introductory magic books?" Anya's mouth dropped open. She stammered for a while before turning to look at Yor. "Aunt Yor, Anya's sleepy. I want to go to bed."
End of Chapter 130
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