At a cemetery near the outskirts of Tokyo.
After dinner, Naoki arrived here accompanied by Ayaka.
The sky was completely dark. Since no one would visit a cemetery at night, it was natural that there were no lights. The entire cemetery was shrouded in darkness, accompanied by the cold night breeze signaling an impending downpour, sending chills down the spine.
As a prominent family in the area, the Sajyou family's tomb was, of course, located in the most expensive spot. This was also a burial area chosen by Sajyou Hiroki (Ayaka's father) during his lifetime. There must have been considerations regarding leylines (spiritual energy pathways) as well, to continue pursuing Magecraft or something similar even after death…
Standing before the gravestone, accompanied by Naoki, Ayaka placed a bouquet of flowers for her father and sister, then said: "I'm so sorry for disturbing you this late, Father, Sister. There are a few things we need to confirm here."
"Allow me to introduce, this is Natsukawa Naoki, a guest temporarily staying at our home because he's trapped in Tokyo."
Whether it was her imagination or not, Ayaka felt the temperature around her drop further. Was it the wind?
Naoki also stepped forward to the grave, placed a bouquet, and gazed at the names on the gravestone.
"It's unfortunate to meet under these circumstances. I'm truly sorry for disturbing you at this hour. I'll be troubling the Sajyou family for a while. Please forgive me."
"How is it? Can you use your Magecraft?"
After a moment of silence, Ayaka turned and asked.
Naoki tried using summoning Magecraft upon hearing this, but as before, the initial stages went smoothly, yet at the final step, unless he used significantly more Mana, the Magecraft would stall and fail.
However, compared to the vague feeling he had before, Naoki now had a clearer sense of his condition.
(It's not that Magecraft can't be used. This feeling… it's more like it's forbidden?)
Ayaka had mentioned that other Magus families besides the Sajyou had weakened one by one years ago. Naoki suspected it might be due to the same situation as his—if a Magus couldn't use Magecraft, they were no different from an ordinary person, something intolerable for Magi with their immense pride.
"Still no good." Naoki replied. "It seems my situation isn't the same as yours, or perhaps it's for another reason. Coming here might've been pointless."
"I see… In that case, how about I try brewing a potion when we get back? Maybe you can't use Magecraft because there's an issue with your magical circuits?"
An issue with magical circuits?
Naoki recalled the strange sensation he felt on the train earlier, a feedback affecting his magical circuits—it wasn't impossible.
"Then I'll trouble you to—"
"Pathetic, you can't even use Magecraft!"
Suddenly, a harsh voice interrupted Naoki. In the silent cemetery at night, the voice was like a thunderclap in broad daylight, shattering the calm atmosphere.
Upon hearing it, both Naoki and Ayaka froze.
Not just because of the third party's presence, but because of that voice.
Shielding Ayaka behind him, Naoki looked toward the source of the voice—the path they'd come from, empty just seconds ago, now held a figure shrouded in dense black mist.
"Yo, first time meeting, Natsukawa Naoki."
The black shadow greeted him with a voice reminiscent of a school delinquent boss stirring trouble.
"Didn't expect our first meeting to be in a cemetery. What a great place—perfect for slaughtering you. No need to bother moving your ashes afterward."
This person…
Ayaka listened to the voice, then looked at Naoki.
Was she hearing things? But that speaking voice was…
"You asked why you can't use Magecraft, right? The reason's simple—because I'm here!"
*BAM!*
The ground trembled suddenly, and a massive surge of Mana erupted from the black mist, blowing it away. It felt like a door had opened abruptly, projecting into Naoki and Ayaka's minds.
*BOOM!*
A blinding flash of flame instantly dispelled the cemetery's darkness, illuminating the face of the figure emerging from the mist.
It was… [Naoki].
Another [Naoki].
*RUMBLE!*
Casually spreading Fairy Fire coiling around his body, [Naoki] made no effort to hide his glee: "There are two reasons you can't use Magecraft. The less important one is that Tokyo itself is a Magecraft-forbidden zone. Unless you have that person's permission, no one can use Magecraft."
"But for you, the more critical reason is the second one—because I'm here!"
*CRASH!*
Flames swept the surroundings. A ferocious sea of red fire filled Naoki's entire field of vision, transforming the immense fiery power into thrust, [Naoki] charged straight at his counterpart!
*BAM!*
Their fists collided! The terrifying impact shattered all the gravestones around them!
Staring at his counterpart, locking eyes with evident shock, [Naoki] sneered: "You actually blocked it? Worthy of being the 'original'!"
"Don't you think this is disrespectful to the deceased?" Naoki glanced at the chaos around them.
"Hah! Who cares about those dead people! You and them will all be scattered soon enough!"
Pulling back his fist and raising his leg, [Naoki] launched a swift kick wrapped in a fiery explosion toward Naoki's head. The scorching wave of flames came within millimeters of grazing Naoki's chest and face!
Stepping back twice in quick succession, Naoki sighed slightly.
(This is… such a mixed feeling. I'd thought of this possibility before, but…)
Since realizing the principle behind Shadow Servants' emergence, Naoki had suspected this—could his information have been recorded by the leyline and used by someone to create another version of him?
If that happened, it would be the worst-case scenario.
And now, that worst-case scenario had come true.
"As expected of someone raised by that trash, you're great at running!" Quickly pursuing Naoki, [Naoki] conjured dozens of fiery swords behind him. "How about this, then?"
*RUMBLE!*
The fiery swords descended.
A ferocious sea of flames, like a storm, engulfed everything in its path.