Chapter 200: Tohsaka Rin
"W-what?!"
When he saw the three Command Seals on Ethan's hand, Matou Shinji froze on the spot.
"No way! How the hell do you have that!!"
He suddenly seemed to realize something.
"Wait a second… Don't tell me you transferred to this school because you obtained that 'qualification'?!"
Unwilling to accept it, he stomped hard on the ground.
"Anyway, don't think that means you've won! You need three keys to meet the conditions to get in there, and you don't even have one yet!!!"
"Isn't one coming my way soon?"
Ethan suddenly put on a serious face as he slowly walked toward Matou Shinji.
"Damn it, don't tell me you're planning to fight right here in the lecture hall?!"
Matou Shinji didn't intend to run either. On the contrary, he took a stance as if ready to battle.
Just as Ethan approached, his expression softened.
"Relax. To thank you for the information you just provided, I won't take your key first."
Then Ethan turned to Mash and gave a slight nod.
"Let's head back to class."
"Yes, understood, Senpai."
Mash immediately followed behind and then asked in a quiet voice:
"Senpai, why do people here also have Command Seals? Could they also be Masters, able to summon and command Servants?"
"Umu, looks like I've found a breakthrough clue."
After saying that, Ethan led Mash to the classroom door of Class 2-A and stepped inside.
"Let's talk after school. Today is, after all, a precious school experience day."
...
"Ding dong, ding dong ~~~"
The bell rang, and a gentle melody echoed throughout the academy grounds.
"Where are you guys planning to eat?"
"I brought a bento."
"Eh? How about going to the convenience store? I heard there's a new ramen today."
"Ramen? No thanks, I'd rather eat yakisoba."
The classroom gradually became lively.
At that moment, Ethan was sitting on a desk, resting his chin on his hand, staring out the window.
Behind the old school building within his line of sight stood a structure that looked as if it had always belonged there.
Big Ben.
After observing through two full lessons, Ethan noticed that the movement of the clock on Big Ben was entirely synchronized with the normal flow of time, seemingly without any issues.
But if one had to say something…
The fact that Big Ben appeared in Tsukumihara Academy was already a problem in itself.
Moreover, not long ago, a dangerous creature like that black hound had just appeared, and quite a few students had been harmed, yet the academy simply issued a broadcast asking students to return to class.
Now the students in class seemed to have completely forgotten what had just happened.
This only made Ethan more convinced of his judgment — that they were NPCs.
Thinking of this, Ethan turned his gaze to the other side of the classroom.
Matou Shinji's seat was now empty.
He recalled the things said earlier.
Unlike normal NPCs, Matou Shinji possessed a Command Spell.
In other words, he was a Spiritron Hacker.
To put it simply, someone who "Spiritron-ized" their mind, body, and soul and entered the digital world as a split avatar.
This Spiritronization technique had already been perfected in Chaldea — proof being the very fact that he himself was here.
"Senpai, it looks like school's over."
Mash walked up to Ethan's desk and reminded him.
"Umu, how was your school experience?"
"It was… quite novel."
Mash thought for a moment and finally settled on this phrasing.
"Actually, back at Chaldea, the only formal knowledge I've ever been taught is about Spiritron Transfer and Heroic Spirits. Only Doctor Romani used to tell me stories about the colorful brilliance of the outside world."
Mash looked at Ethan with eyes full of gratitude.
"It was you, Senpai, who brought me outside and let me experience an ordinary student's daily life. To me, this is truly an incredibly precious experience."
Facing Mash like this, Ethan only responded with a smile.
"There'll be many more interesting things in the future."
"Of course! As long as I'm with Senpai, I'll go anywhere!"
Mash clenched her fist tightly and said that in a serious tone.
"..."
Ethan suddenly felt a warm current flow through his heart.
Having a kouhai-chan who unconditionally supports him like this—perhaps that was exactly the motivation that kept him moving forward.
"You don't need to push yourself so hard. Anyway, for now, just come with me to a certain place."
Ethan stood up.
"Go where???"
"Obviously, to get the 'qualification.'"
"But doesn't that qualification require a teacher to grant it? Ah, Senpai, don't tell me you're planning…?!"
Mash seemed to have figured something out.
"Exactly what you're thinking."
Ethan headed toward the classroom door.
"Let's go find that teacher named 'Fujimura Taiga.'"
Blending in with the students trickling outside, Ethan and Mash didn't go downstairs but instead followed the stairs upward.
The traces of battle on the walls had completely disappeared, as if the fight with the black hound earlier had never even happened.
As they approached the faculty office area on the third floor, they spotted Sesshouin Kiara coming out carrying a box.
"Ara, I didn't expect to meet you two so soon, Ethan-kun and Mash-san."
Seeing Ethan and Mash, she immediately greeted them.
"Fujimura-sensei, is your leg okay?"
Ethan looked down.
Under the hem of her nun's habit were white high heels, and her fair ankle was wrapped with several layers of gauze.
"It's already been treated with first aid, so it's fine. I made you worry, Ethan-kun."
Sesshouin Kiara smiled and nodded in gratitude.
...How strange. She got injured too?
Ethan's eyes remained fixed on her ankle.
Maybe his guess was right—this Sesshouin Kiara in this world might really just be an ordinary human.
But he couldn't jump to conclusions. After all, she was the "Demonic Bodhisattva."
It would be best to keep a close watch on her actions.
"Ah, um…"
A slight blush appeared on Sesshouin Kiara's face as she shyly said:
"Ethan-kun, staring at my leg in public like that… it's just… so embarrassing…"
"——————————?!"
Ethan immediately snapped back and quickly looked away.
"Ah, well…"
"Sen–pai?!"
Mash slowly pronounced each syllable, then smiled as she turned to look at Ethan.
So scary!
Where did the kind and understanding kouhai-chan from earlier go?!
Please come back!!!
"Ahem ahem!"
Ethan saw the medical box in Sesshouin Kiara's hands and immediately changed the subject:
"Fujimura-sensei, are you heading out?"
"Mm, because quite a few students were injured in the earlier chaos, and the academy doesn't have a nurse's office, they gathered the injured students in the gymnasium."
Then Sesshouin Kiara gave a bashful smile.
"I've learned a bit of first aid, so I wanted to go help."
"Then we'll go with you."
Ethan wanted to confirm whether the woman in front of him was truly as he suspected.
"If Ethan-kun has such a kind heart, then very well."
Sesshouin Kiara agreed to Ethan's proposal without hesitation.
"Then please, both of you, follow me."
...
The gymnasium was located to the right of the sports field behind the lecture hall. Since it was already after school, only a few students could be seen passing by here and there.
Under Sesshouin Kiara's guidance, Ethan and Mash quickly arrived at the gym entrance.
They noticed a few people standing guard at the door, not letting anyone in.
"I'm Fujimura Taiga, the English teacher. I've brought medicine."
"And what about them?"
The man at the door gave Ethan and Mash a once-over.
"They're students here to help."
"Alright."
The man nodded.
"You may enter."
"Thank you."
Carrying the medical kit on her back, Sesshouin Kiara led the two of them inside.
The interior of the gym wasn't anything unusual, with basketball hoops symmetrically set up on both sides.
The net used for volleyball in the center had already been taken down. Right now, dozens of students were lying on the floor.
These students, all in uniform, bore expressions of pain to varying degrees.
A few people who seemed to be teachers were attending to them.
"Senpai, are these the students who were attacked?"
Ethan quickly noticed something abnormal about their bodies.
Dark black marks covered their skin, as if something had corroded them, turning those areas a deep, inky black.
These were absolutely not symptoms that a normal human could exhibit.
They resembled something more like a digital virus.
"This is serious…"
Sesshouin Kiara saw a female student clutching her left arm in agony and immediately rushed over, kneeling beside her.
After briefly examining the wound, she swiftly pulled out a tube of ointment and a roll of gauze from the medical kit, then began treating the student with care.
"Ugh…"
The girl let out a groan of pain.
"It's alright, relax. That way, it'll heal faster."
Sesshouin Kiara didn't mind the black blood staining her hands and continued to gently soothe the student.
Whether it was the effect of the ointment or her words, the girl gradually calmed down and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Seeing that the symptoms had subsided, Sesshouin Kiara moved on to treat the next student.
"Senpai, can I help too?"
Seeing the students in pain like this, Mash began to feel uneasy.
"Yeah."
This kouhai-chan had always had a helpful nature. Even knowing that most of the students here were likely NPCs, Ethan still nodded.
With his approval, Mash immediately went over to assist Sesshouin Kiara in treating the injured students.
Watching Sesshouin Kiara devote herself so earnestly to helping others, Ethan was nearly convinced that the woman before him wasn't that Demonic Bodhisattva.
"Hey, how many times do I have to say it?! I told you I'm fine!"
Suddenly, a haughty voice echoed through the gym.
Ethan immediately turned toward the source of the voice.
There, a black-haired girl with twin tails appeared in his line of sight.
Just one line would suffice to describe her—a very dazzling young lady.
Unlike the other students in uniform—
Whether it was the black leather boots or the tight red outfit that accentuated her curves—
Everything about her radiated intensity and power.
She was complaining with clear dissatisfaction to someone dressed in a butler's uniform standing in front of her.
"I only twisted my ankle walking, totally different in nature from those people being corroded by a Phantasmal Beast, got it?!"
"Ojou-sama, at least let Fujimura-sensei take a look."
The butler beside her tried to reason with her.
"Who the hell would let that milk demon look at them!!!"
Almost immediately, she noticed Ethan's gaze—and promptly shot him a look tinged with hostility.
"What the hell, who are you?! First time we meet and you're already staring at my face—don't you know anything about manners?!"
Before Ethan could even open his mouth, she had already blown up.
"Oh? Or were you looking at my legs instead? I told you not to look! If you really want to look that badly, you'll have to pay—so pay up!!!"
The moment she spoke, it was that familiar sarcastic tone.
No doubt about it—Tohsaka Rin!!!
That woman, just like always, was obsessively fixated on money.
And yet she was clearly the rich heiress of a noble house.
"Sorry. It was just too noisy, so I looked over."
Ethan didn't avert his gaze, instead staring directly at Tohsaka Rin's face.
"Hah?! Is this guy some kind of genius at pissing people off?!"
Tohsaka Rin stomped straight over and stood in front of Ethan with her hands on her hips.
"Hey, I'm talking here! You don't even look the slightest bit sorry!!!"
Faced with Tohsaka Rin's complaints, Ethan decided to end the conversation here.
After all, she was just an NPC created by Mooncell using data from the real Tohsaka Rin.
No reference value.
"Hey! Are you deaf or what? Didn't you hear me?!"
Tohsaka Rin, clearly dissatisfied, reached out and grabbed the sleeve of Ethan's uniform as he turned to leave.
Instinctively, Ethan went to shake her hand off—but at that exact moment, both of them noticed—
On the back of each other's hands… Command Spells?!
She was a Spiritron Hacker too?!
"So that's how it is… interesting."
Tohsaka Rin's demeanor instantly softened.
"Didn't expect you to be chosen by a Command Spell too."
She crossed her arms and looked Ethan up and down with curiosity.
"Besides, you don't look like someone who's completely clueless about combat, unlike Matou Shinji."
"What do you mean by that?"
Ethan asked curiously.
"Don't tell me you've fought Matou Shinji before?"
"Hehe, that guy may be decent at video games, but he has no idea how to actually use a Servant in battle."
Tohsaka Rin replied mockingly.
"He's obviously weak but still insists on challenging me, trying to steal my 'Key' so he can explore the 'labyrinth'. I beat him in three moves, and yet he still wasn't satisfied and begged for a rematch, hahaha~~~"
At this point, Tohsaka Rin was laughing so hard she could barely stand upright.
"Then why didn't you just take his 'Key' while you were at it?"
"Because watching his pathetic, unwilling expression was way too entertaining~~~"
Tohsaka Rin said that openly with a laugh.
"You talk like you're pretty strong."
"Well, at the very least, I'm way stronger than that guy."
As she said this, Tohsaka Rin once again started sizing Ethan up from head to toe.
"Now that I've caught you here, why not take this chance to start a battle right now?"
"Huh???"
Ethan stared at her in confusion.
"Why?"
"Isn't it because you also want this 'Key'?"
Tohsaka Rin raised her hand and pulled out a red key that had been hanging around her neck under her shirt, clearly teasing Ethan with it.
"If you want this, then fight me for it. Come and see if you can take it from me~"