"Onee-san, what are you talking about? The Fifth Primogenitor is just a rumor, isn't it? Even the Fourth might not be real," the crimson-clad beauty said, not believing the black witch.
"No… we can't afford not to believe it now. What we just saw was absolutely a familiar—far beyond a Primogenitor's familiar. Other than the Fifth Primogenitor, I can't think of any other possibility," the black witch said, shaken.
"How could that…" The crimson witch wanted to deny it, but she couldn't talk herself past her own fear. She didn't believe—she was afraid it might be true, because if it were, they were finished.
"Looks like you're not a total fool," Shichen said with a light smile.
"So it really is the Fifth Primogenitor… and Natsuki's brother!" the black witch said in disbelief. Now she finally understood why he'd said this was his turf—Itogami was the Fifth Primogenitor's domain.
"C-could you spare us? Fifth Primogenitor-sama, please…" the crimson witch begged without hesitation. Arrogant as she was, she knew she was no match for a Primogenitor; resisting might only mean dying faster. She had no wish to die.
The black witch wasn't surprised by her sister's reaction. She dropped to the ground, kneeling. "Fifth Primogenitor-sama, we have yet to offend Itogami. Please let us go—we will never trespass again."
If the Fifth was real, they couldn't stay—no point in plans. Their lives mattered more.
"Fifth Primogenitor-sama, please spare us," the crimson witch echoed, kneeling and pressing her head to the ground.
"Spare you? Do I look easy to deal with?" Shichen asked, expressionless. He could overlook things with Yukina and the others—but not with these two. Even if their allure was in full bloom.
"What do you mean, Fifth-sama?" the black witch asked, lifting her head, unnerved.
"You disturbed me. There has to be a price."
"A price? I understand—I will submit to your disposal, Fifth-sama!" The crimson witch, suddenly excited, began stripping off her revealing outfit, baring a seductive body.
"I get it," the black witch said, likewise shedding her clothes in an instant.
Their figures were indeed impressive—more voluptuous than La Folia's group—but that was all. Shichen watched calmly, unmoved. Even Nagisa, whose figure wasn't much by comparison, was more attractive to him than these two.
"Did you misunderstand something?" he asked.
"What do you mean, my lord?"
"Who gave you the idea I'd be interested in your bodies?"
They were clearly confident in their looks—and objectively, they were well-built and alluring. Unfortunately for them, he wasn't tempted by that sort of bait. He cared for those he knew, those he already liked—not random, pretty nobodies. Least of all unforgivable criminals.
"Fifth-sama, we…"
"You're an eyesore."
He spoke coldly, then flicked his hand; a mass of golden flame shot toward them, splitting midair into two, each finding its target.
"That's—"
"Run!"
Just the sight of the holy flame made the black witch blanch; every hair stood on end. She grabbed the crimson witch and fled, not even bothering with their discarded clothes. But the sacred fire was faster; it overtook them in an instant and wrapped them both.
"Gyaaa—!" they screamed as one. The burning seared to the soul—skin, bone, every cell. Witches were curses made flesh; the sacred fire's purification was lethal.
Within the golden flame their pale skin showed starkly—but Shichen didn't look, only listened to their howls until they weakened and vanished. The flame drifted back; there wasn't a speck of them left—scorched to nothing.
A bit cruel? Maybe. But then he thought of how many they'd harmed, and it felt simple—removing a scourge.
He recalled the flame and didn't leave. Instead, he stepped to a rooftop nearby.
"How long do you plan to watch?" he asked the empty air.
Naturally, no answer. He shook his head, reached into the void, and ripples spread; he lifted a willowy figure out of them—a girl in sportswear with short hair and finely cut features: Kojō's childhood friend, Tokoyogi Yūma.
"Shichen-sensei…" Yūma bit her lip, expression complicated. She didn't ask questions or make excuses—none were needed.
"Heh. Relax—I'm not going to do anything to you," Shichen said, seeing her tense.
"Eh?" Yūma looked up, confused.
"Don't be surprised. I'll even cooperate—help you find the Prison Barrier."
"…Why?"
"I just need someone to take the fall."
"I see. Sensei, you want to bring Minamiya Natsuki out too," Yūma said at once.
"Smarter than you look—for a clone."
"…" Yūma couldn't argue. It was true—she was a parthenogenetic copy of her mother, Tokoyogi Aya; her entire purpose was to save her.
"Don't overthink it—I'm not looking down on you. If anything, I see you as an equal," Shichen said gently.
"Eh?" she stared at him.
"To me, whether artificial life or a clone—it doesn't matter. What matters is thought. If you have your own mind, you're an equal."
"My own mind… Sensei, you're a strange one—fitting of a Fifth Primogenitor," Yūma said with a small smile.
"What's that got to do with being the Fifth?"
"Probably nothing?"
"Why are you answering with a question? Fine—here's a promise. If you complete the mission…"
"A promise?"
"I'll make sure you can live normally—together with Kojō."
"Sensei…?" Yūma looked at him, incredulous.
"I am a good Sensei," he said with a smile, then turned—and disappeared. The space he used was beyond her senses. She gave a wry smile and shook her head. It was all pointless—without Sensei's leave, she couldn't do anything. And yet… remembering his promise, her heart kicked faster.
…
The next day, Shichen got up like nothing happened and had breakfast with Aurora and the others. Yukina and her group didn't come; space was unstable—they could be thrown anywhere at any time. Safer to stay home.
"Shichen, any plans today?" La Folia asked after breakfast.
"No. What do you want to do?"
"It's so boring at home." She slipped close, hugging his arm and pleading.
"…You want to go out?"
"Hehe~ you do get me. That's my man," she said, resting her head on his shoulder and nuzzling.
"Cut it out."
"Let me goooo~"
"What if you get shunted somewhere random?"
"For you, that's easy to fix, isn't it?" she said, winking.
"…Fine. Take Sayaka with you."
"Of course. She is my guard."
"La Folia, can't you just stay home?" Sayaka sighed.
"No. I haven't properly seen Itogami—and it's the festival."
"Sigh."
"Take Kanon, too," Shichen said, catching the way she was looking at him.
"Great—I've been meaning to bond with her," La Folia said. "We'll have a 'thoughts alignment' session."
"…I won't ask what that means," Shichen thought—benefits flowed to him either way.
He wrapped a spatial barrier around the three and let them go; he wouldn't be tagging along. He had something else to do today—not rescuing Natsuki; that would be at night. Daytime was the last chance. Space on Itogami was still unstable, but only for those with strong mana or spiritual power—him included. Space kept reacting to him. Normally it did nothing if he resisted—but if he let it…
Soon he sensed a transport spot that was perfect. He stopped suppressing and rode the fluctuation—arriving in someone's home.
"S…Sensei?"
Himeragi Yukina, wearing only a cropped tank that showed her midriff, stared, stunned, at the man who had appeared before her.
~~~
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