Squeezing in Some Downtime is a Basic Human Skill

"You... knew that bastard?!"

Touka couldn't believe the Black Knight's words.

"Didn't you notice the similar way of speaking? Birds of a feather flock together."

Surprisingly, the Black Knight was self-aware about his speech patterns.

"No matter how much of a trash he was, he wasn't as bad as you."

"People grow."

"More like degenerate."

At Touka's retort, the Black Knight let out a sigh.

"Haah. Just as I heard, you really do have a foul temper."

"What...?"

"Listen up. I killed the Catastrophe that killed him. No need to go around seeking revenge."

".........!!!!!"

"That bastard couldn't even protect himself, but he saved one kid. At least he didn't die like a dog."

"That... kind of..."

Touka knew.

Even if that trash... was beyond redemption, he was still the kind of person who would make that choice.

"And if you're obsessing over power because of him, just stop. He used to talk about his little sister all the time. Seeing you push yourself like this, he probably wouldn't be too happy."

Honestly, if the Black Knight had facial muscles, he would've been grinning like a madman.

He could easily jerk off twelve times straight just from the thought of beating his little sister, who had never once beaten him, into a bloody pulp.

"...... What do you know?"

Touka asked the Black Knight with a dark expression.

"What did he usually say about me?"

"He still owes me five weeks' worth of medical bills." ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"................."

"Said it hurt like hell."

That was actually the Black Knight's own sentiment.

But Touka, unaware of this...

"I should've... apologized..."

".......?"

"I should've... apologized for punching him...

She started to sob.

"He was just trying to stop me... He did it all for me... So why... whyyyyy...!!!"

("God, why do all the female characters here start bawling at the drop of a hat?")

"Why did ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he have to diiiieee...!! Whyyyy...!!!"

"........."

The Black Knight, deciding this conversation was going nowhere, cut to the chase.

"Anyway, since I wrecked you, you should know by now that even if you push yourself, there's a limit. Just stay in your lane and behave."

"Nooooooo--!!!"

"Crying like a baby but still talking back, huh?"

"All I have left... is my power...!!! If I lose this... I'll have nothing...!!"

Creeeak...!!

"Toukaaaa--!!"

"Uka-chaaan~~~!!!"

Whoosh--!!

At that moment, two girls burst through the infirmary door.

"You... you guys?!"

"Touka...!! What's wrong with youuu...!!!"

"You pushed yourself too hard...!! Uka-chan never does stuff like this...!!!"

They were Touka's classmates.

They had been feeling guilty for not being able to stop her rampage earlier.

"Looks like you've got some left."

The Black Knight sprawled arrogantly on the bed as he spoke.

("Unlike me...")

His bitter gaze lingered on the three of them.

"You... heard everything..."

Touka looked at her two friends who had come for her and burst into tears again.

"Waaaaaahhhh~~~!!"

"We won't leave you alone anymoreee...!!!"

"We're with Uka-chan all the way~~!!"

Meanwhile, Bella and Subaru watched this scene from afar.

"That Touka girl... despite her personality, she has friends, huh?"

At Bella's question, Subaru, standing beside her, smirked.

"No matter how rough Touka may seem, she isn't cruel at heart. I'm sure if you reached out to her, Bella, you could become good friends."

"Heeh..."

"As long as Bella doesn't provoke her into a rage, that is."

"What was that?!"

Bella bristled at Siv's remark.

"Hahaha--! I guarantee it. I'm sure you'll get along."

Subaru laughed heartily, confident in the future of their friendship.

___. ___

And so, about a week passed after their battle.

"So, a Majin showed up or something?"

Fidget. Fidget.

This was the headmaster's office.

The Black Knight dug at his helmet's ear area with a finger as he spoke.

"Ah, no, I called you here for something completely unrelated."

Azaria, seated across from him, replied.

"Then what, you want us to run an errand or something?"

Bella, standing beside the Black Knight, asked.

"Something like that~!"

"Quit dragging it out and spit it out."

At the Black Knight's urging, Azaria grinned and answered.

"Starting now, you two will be participating in an S-rank mission."

"Huh?!"

"What?"

Both Bella and the Black Knight were stunned by Azaria's directive.

Magicians' missions.

And an S-rank mission at that—these were tasks of such immense difficulty that only S-rank magicians could handle them. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

They usually involved things like wiping out terrorist organizations or destroying ancient weapons—missions on a completely different scale.

And now, Azaria was assigning such a mission to Bella, who lacked experience as a magician, and the Black Knight, who did whatever the hell he wanted.

"Go fuck yourself. I just found a new spot for my dolls, and if you get in the way, I'll kill you."

As the Black Knight predictably tried to refuse, Azaria nodded as if she'd expected this.

"You can refuse if you want. But you'll regret it."

"........?"

"This mission will change you. In ways you can't even imagine."

"Are you threatening me now?"

"Change isn't always good, but I think this is something you need. So I recommend you participate."

The Black Knight was getting increasingly irritated by Azaria's attitude.

"Fuck, you're really ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠getting on my nerves. Fine, let's hear the details."

"W-wait, do I not get a say in this?!"

Bella's protest was casually ignored as Azaria began explaining the mission.

"Just go play with the kid in Stardust~!"

""Huh?""

Both the Black Knight and Bella were dumbfounded by Azaria's words.

"That girl is about to inherit the Whiteday family~! She wants to have one last carefree outing, so I'm assigning you two as her bodyguards~!"

"....... That's an S-rank mission?"

The Black Knight asked incredulously.

"No way... That can't be right."

At Bella's words, Siv chimed in.

"The heir of one of the Four Great Families—especially one whose succession as head is all but confirmed—being guarded is absolutely worthy of an S-rank mission. If we fail, the repercussions would shake the world."

"Uh... that serious...?"

Bella flushed awkwardly, realizing she'd been about to say something completely different.

"What were you going to say?"

"I thought it was S-rank because if we lost any of her expensive luggage, it'd be a huge deal..."

"And you call that a reason?"

Siv sounded exasperated.

"Hey, you little shit. Now that I think about it, aren't you an S-rank magician? Why don't you go yourself?"

At the Black Knight's sharp question, Azaria raised both hands playfully.

"Ehh~! Passing the buck is a basic human skill! Just do me this one favor~!"

"Are you serious?!"

The Black Knight was horrified to realize she actually meant it.

"Anyway, she'll be here soon~! Make sure to take good care of her~!"

___. ___

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Shala Crosshoff, Lady Norn's bodyguard magician."

This was the exit leading to the teleportation device that would take them to Stardust below.

A woman with long white hair and crimson-tipped ends stood there.

Her crimson eyes and relaxed smile carried an enigmatic charm, while her black-and-white maid-style dress, adorned with red ribbons and golden accents, added an air of elegance.

("She looks insanely strong...!!")

Bella was awed by the aura of power radiating from her.

"............"

Meanwhile, the Black Knight was glaring at her with clear displeasure.

As if... he'd just remembered something he'd rather forget.

"Oh? Is there a problem?"

Click.

When Shala asked, the Black Knight turned his head slightly and ignored her.

"Aw, are you shy~?"

Shala brushed off the Black Knight's attitude with ease.

"Why the hell are you dressed like that?"

The Black Knight asked, noting Shala's unusual attire.

"If we're going out to have fun, might as well dress comfortably!"

She was wearing a sky-blue short-sleeved shirt with dark skinny jeans.

Tap tap tap tap tap...

"I'm back from the bathroom~!"

Just then, someone came running up behind the Black Knight.

Click.

"So you're the ones guarding me~! Better treat me well from now on~!"

She was a girl with long, orange-tinged red hair and pink eyes.

A shark-themed hood was draped over her head, and her playful smile, along with slightly visible fangs, gave her a mischievous look.

Her outfit was just as unique—a black frilly off-shoulder top layered under a sky-blue hooded jacket, with a blue heart pendant choker around her neck.

"Hey, kid. What's with the weird way of talking?"

Thud.

The moment the Black Knight finished speaking.

"Stop that right now, Shala~!"

".?"

Swish.

When the Black Knight turned around, Shala was right in front of him, veins bulging on her forehead as she glared at him.

"Whoa, what the fuck?!"

Thud—!!

The Black Knight instinctively jumped back in surprise.

"I couldn't even track her movement...!!"

Bella was stunned by Shala's overwhelming speed.

"Allow me to introduce myself~! My name is 'Norn Whiteday'~! And this is 【Disaster Slayer】'Shala'~!"

Click.

Norn pointed at Shala, who had immediately relaxed her expression, and dropped the shocking title.

"D-Disaster Slayer?!?!?!?!"

Bella was shocked by the introduction.

"Hoh. So you're not just some random brat."

"My lady, perhaps this isn't the best place to reveal that."

Shala gently cautioned Norn.

"But I want to show off Shala~! Besides, they already know the headmaster is a 【Disaster Slayer】, don't they~?"

As Norn said, Azaria was a special case—both the head of one of the Four Great Families and a 【Disaster Slayer】.

Her rival and Norn's cousin, Corte, was also a magician on par with a 【Disaster Slayer】 while serving as family head.

Now, she was preparing to pass the title to Norn so she could focus on her duties as a magician...

"Anyway~! I plan to go all out and have fun today~! So you better keep up with me~!"