On the way back to school, since there was no way to hide Nina, Shichen handed her over to Natsuki Minamiya so she could teleport her back ho.
Natsuki showed no particular wariness toward Nina—perhaps Nina looked harmless enough.
After teleporting Nina ho, Natsuki asked Shichen, "Speaking of which, why did you suddenly go to that place? You knew there was Wiseman's Blood there?"
"More or less." Shichen answered honestly.
"So you said you just 'accidentally' wound up on Itogami Island before? Were you lying to ?" Natsuki's face went cold.
"I wasn't lying—being accidentally transported to Itogami Island and knowing there's Wiseman's Blood here aren't contradictory." Shichen answered confidently.
"Hmph, you'd better be telling the truth."
"Heh heh, I wouldn't dream of lying to you, Natsuki-chan." Shichen moved in closer, smiling cheekily.
"…" Natsuki pursed her lips but didn't back away. She then changed the subject. "By the way, those stray cats over there—what's the story?"
"Oh, that's a little girl nad Kanase Kanon who took them in," Shichen replied offhandedly.
"Huh? A little girl?" Natsuki eyed him warily again.
"…Why're you misunderstanding again!" Shichen exclaid with exasperation. "She's just an elentary school kid. A human can't—well, or at least shouldn't—"
"Ha, but aren't you now a vampire? You're not a human anymore," Natsuki retorted coolly.
"Natsuki-chan, quit saring my na. I'm still human; the vampire stuff is just a power I have."
"…How does that even work?" Natsuki frowned.
She could see that he was indeed not a genuine vampire yet sohow possessed the aura of a True Ancestor. It made no sense at all.
"It's simple," Shichen said proudly, "I have a special constitution, that's all."
A God-body compatible with a True Ancestor-body, effectively swallowing it and absorbing its powers. That ans while he isn't a vampire, he wields a vampire's power.
Unfortunately, at the mont, that power doesn't amount to much.
The most straightforward power of a True Ancestor is the destructive Familiars, but since he has none, he can't really be called a genuine True Ancestor—just the title, nothing more.
"A special constitution, is it…"
Natsuki had long sensed that Shichen was special: an extraordinary aura, a flawless body, the ability to put others at ease.
But she didn't press the matter. "All right, we'll see how good you are at learning magic tonight."
"I guarantee you won't be disappointed!"
"Hmph, I hope not… Right, you said that little girl—what does she look like?"
"… …"
"Speak up!"
"Uh…like a saint."
"A saint…?"
"Natsuki-chan, what's with that look? I'm honestly just describing her, I don't have any designs on her. If you don't believe , you can co see for yourself after school!"
"You even set up a ti to et her after school?"
"… …"
…
That afternoon, after school, Shichen first bought so snacks for the kittens, then headed alone to the school's rear hill.
Nothing much seed to have changed in the ruins, except that the once-visible relief carving was gone.
"ow~"
The kittens still rembered Shichen. Seeing him approach, Snow-chan took the lead, scampering up to him.
Shichen squatted down, scooping Snow-chan into his arms. He wasn't worried about them being dirty; he snuggled his face against her soft, fuzzy head and doted on her. "Snow-chan, did you miss ?"
"ow~" Snow-chan happily let him rub her, blinking big round eyes with amber pupils, wing softly.
"So you did miss ." Shichen laughed heartily.
He couldn't understand cat language, but since she didn't resist, that had to an agreent.
"ow~"
"Heh, what a good girl~ Then I'll wait for Kanon to arrive before giving you all your snacks, okay?"
"ow~"
"Nice, so well-behaved—"
"You sure do like cats, don't you?" Suddenly, Natsuki's voice echoed again.
Shichen didn't seem the least bit embarrassed. He turned to see the petite girl behind him and answered, "Of course. They're adorable."
"Hmph, just so you know, you can't keep animals at our place."
"I know—but still…our place." Shichen winked at Natsuki.
"What's that supposed to an?" Natsuki glared at him.
"Nothing," he said with a laugh.
"You're getting more and more brazen." Natsuki sighed.
"Whose fault is it for being so eloquent?" Shichen said, shifting bla.
"Shut up!"
"Yes, yes… By the way, Natsuki-chan, do you like kittens? Want to hold one?"
"I'm not interested in small animals," she replied calmly with her arms folded.
"Oh? Then how about I hold you?"
"Oh, so now that you have magic, you're getting bold?" Natsuki's eyes narrowed at him.
"Hey, I've always been this bold. I'm just speaking my mind."
"Hmph! Keep dreaming. Maybe you can do it in your sleep."
"Fine, I'll dream about it tonight."
"…"
Natsuki couldn't be bothered. She turned away, just in ti to spot a wondrous little girl approaching—a holy, angelic sort of child.
"That's the girl you ntioned?"
"Yeah, Kanon's here." Shichen stood up with Snow-chan in his arms and waved.
Noticing him, Kanase Kanon smiled like a pure little saint.
Natsuki remained expressionless, looking at Kanase Kanon as she walked over. "You weren't exaggerating; she really is like a saint."
"Told you so!"
"What are you so proud of?" Natsuki shot him a glare.
"Uh-huh…" Shichen stopped smiling.
"Sensei." By then, Kanase Kanon had stepped in front of them.
"You're here, Kanon."
"Yes. Who is this?" Kanon seed nervous gazing at Natsuki's stern face.
"She's my sister, Natsuki Minamiya—also a Teacher at our school, but in the high school division."
"Sensei's sister…?" Kanase Kanon's eyes widened in surprise.
Quite the normal reaction.
"Heh heh, don't be fooled by Natsuki-chan's small build—she's already an adult," Shichen teased.
"Call 'Onee-chan' in public!" Natsuki swung her lace parasol, smacking him slightly.
"Okay, okay, Natsuki-nee." Shichen had no choice but to oblige, though in a tone suggesting he was indulging a younger sister. That only made Natsuki angrier.
Kanase Kanon, who'd been watching their banter, beca more at ease, believing Natsuki was indeed an adult.
"Hello, Natsuki-san. I'm Kanase Kanon." Kanon bent forward politely in greeting.
"Mm." Natsuki nodded slightly, maintaining an adult's dignity.
"Kanon… May I call you 'Kanon'?" asked Shichen.
"No problem." Kanon smiled softly.
"That's good. Kanon, you don't have to be too polite. You can think of us like your big brother and sister. It's not like we're your Senseis."
"Big brother and sister…?" Kanase Kanon repeated, blinking as if intrigued.
"What's wrong, don't like that?" asked Shichen with mock sadness.
"No, I do!" Kanon quickly replied.
"Then how about calling Onii-chan?" Shichen said, barely stifling a grin.
"…"
Natsuki rolled her eyes on the side, feeling exasperated.
"O-okay… Onii-chan," Kanase Kanon said shyly, her fair cheeks turning pink.
"Yes!" Shichen nodded, satisfied. "If you ever need help with anything, just co see . I'll help however I can."
"Really?"
"Of course. I'm your Onii-chan, right?"
"I understand."
"You—can't you be more subtle?" Natsuki interjected. She couldn't stand it anymore.
"Huh? Natsuki-chan, do you want her to call you Onee-chan too? Kanon, why not?"
"Onee-chan," Kanase Kanon called obediently.
"…"
Natsuki opened her mouth but couldn't find words. This pure, adorable little girl calling her "Onee-chan" so sweetly…she'd never experienced anything like it before.
It was surprisingly heartwarming.
"Okay, that's enough. Shall we feed Snow-chan and the others? I'll bet they're all waiting," Shichen suggested.
"Yes!" Kanon responded enthusiastically.
She clearly adored small animals.
~~~
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