'Yes, I do. What do you think, Yuto?　We're trying to do something about it.

　Mizuho stood beside Marion, arms crossed, tapping on one foot as she made the call. It was very, very unlike what the young lady would do, but she couldn't help but wonder what Yuto would say.
　Then, "Ah," as Mizuho noticed, she signaled to Marion.
　Marion saw that Mizuho was making a lot of noise, so she turned her attention to him and saw that Mizuho was telling her to put her phone on speaker mode, and she reluctantly did so.
　Yuto's voice emanated from the speaker on Marion's phone.

"First of all, it's a curse, but I don't know much about its origins or the type of curse either. I've heard that there aren't many people with curse abilities to begin with, and that there are a lot of tedious procedures involved in unleashing a powerful curse from a distance, so it's no surprise that Marion-san and the others aren't familiar with anything about curses. Rather, I think they're well aware of it."

　Mizuho and Marion were discouraged by Yuto's words. They wished they could find something they could do, even if it was just a little something they could do, but as expected, Yuto wouldn't be able to give them advice on something they didn't know either.

"So I'm not sure how much targeted advice I can give you, but......."

　However, Mizuho and Marion looked at each other as Yuto, who came out afterwards, said.

''Wait a minute. Have you ever encountered a sorcerer before, Yuto-san?

"...there is."

!

　Mizuho and Marion are surprised.
　Where in the world...no, the last time they worked together at Millimer, where does this boy's level of experience come from?
　The two girls were curious about Yuto's past, but for some reason, this felt like something they shouldn't be asking about from us. It's as if they can't deal with the awkwardness that comes afterwards, hearing what they shouldn't hear.
　Also, I think of it this way.
　Marion would wait for this to be told by Yuto one day.
　Mizuho is trying to create a relationship that is good to hear one day.
　And they also think that when that day comes, that's when there will be a big change in their relationship with each other.

"Marion-san?"

Oh, I'm sorry, Yuto-san. Please continue.

"........Yeah. As far as curses and hexes are concerned, they're almost always the same thing."

What?　Yuto, say it.

"Yeah?　Huh?　Mizuho?　Did you replace Mizuho-san?"

'No, I just turned my phone's voice into speaker!　So I can hear you too.

"Heh, such a feature.... Cell phones are amazing!"

'Just ... just keep talking. What do we have in common?

"Oh, yeah. I think the thing I want to know the most is how to lift the curse, but that's almost always impossible to do without suppressing the main source of the curse. That's why curses are so tricky."

The Greatest...

"Yes, it's either the destruction of the spellcraft rituals used, or the purification of the sacrifices and other things used in the spellcraft, or... finding and defeating the sorcerer himself. That and not everything, but the more risks the sorcerer takes, the more their spellcasting power also tends to increase. It's not often that a curse is so powerful that it can even take a life, but if you let it go, it will last forever."

'Hey!　Eternity is ... well ... that sucks.

'So ... how can we save our classmates?　Can we hire a witchcraft expert here too?

"That's the thing though - that's where witchcraft is the trickiest part. As a matter of fact, this one knows a lot about witchcraft as well, well, I don't mind if you're a spellcaster, but just calling someone like that isn't going to solve the problem."

Why?　Wouldn't you know how to deal with them if you analyzed their spells?

"Yes, that's possible, but that just means we can parse it out and figure out how to deal with it. I mean, the curse or curse they're sending you won't go away. It's like taking a poison and then continuing to take the medicine that works for it. And it's often not an easy thing to deal with, and it can be a huge burden for the person being cursed. It's like living with the big side effects of the drug, although it works, but you have to live with the big side effects of that drug."

Oh no... then, Akiko-san...

'My God!　What the hell is that?!

　Listening to Yuto's story, the seriousness of the events that had occurred was beginning to make sense to Mizuho and Marion. As far as I know, Akiko is a good, innocent and naive young lady. She's not someone who would cause people to resent her. What in the world is the reason to curse her?
　For a girl with an upright sense of justice like Zuiho, curses and hexes seemed to be the most abhorrent thing to do.

''There's no way to do anything about it!　Yuto!　She.........Akiko is not the kind of girl to suffer from this incomprehensible curse!　I'm just a normal, very normal girl.

"Mizuho-san I'm sorry, I don't have any moves to make in terms of solving this right now."

Oh no...

　Marion's powerless voice leaked out.
　Mizuho clenched her fists in frustration.
　That air can be felt by Yuto as well.
　Masato, who is calmly telling the truth, is also a person who hates this curse, this curse. And moreover, the shock of Mizuho and Marion, whose victims are classmates, is considerable.

"So........we have no choice but to find the source of the curse and beat it. Don't give up, Mizuho-san, Marion-san. We don't know what kind of guy he is, but we have to find that guy."

　At Yuto's words, they look up. Heartlessly, Yuto's voice is also filled with anger.

''Yes!''
'Yes!　There's no way I'm giving up.

　Mizuho and Marion also had no choice but to do nothing here.
　After all, it's a good thing that they consulted with Yuto.

''Anyway, finding a sorcerer this time is the first thing to do, Yuto.

"Yeah, the countermeasure against spellcasters is actually all about gathering information. We'll just have to make assumptions about the person we're dealing with from that information we've gathered, and then we'll have to go through it."

Gathering information...

"Yeah. It doesn't matter how small it is, it's a wash around him and his relationships. It's not that you need a competent person in that sense. It's all about figuring it out from the information. If you're going to hire a spellcaster here too, their role is to figure out how to deal with the current situation so that it doesn't get worse for now, and to be a source of information that narrows down your opponent by knowing the type of spellcasting.

Counter?　What's that?　Yuto.

"Most spellcasters have no combat abilities. So, to prevent them from probing you, the default is to automatically trigger a mental attack or a curse to be counter-acted if a psychic vision or astrology is cast on you. Well, it's not impossible to use even that as information, but it's a risk. Anyway, I think we need to do something to identify the person we're dealing with, no matter what abilities we hire."

　Mizuho and Marion listened to Yuto's story and finally had a course of action that they could or would do.
　The two of them are gifted people who belong to the agency. And the agency also allows gifted people to run their own business as long as it doesn't go against the agency's philosophy. In that sense, they are also aspects of professional craftsmen.
　Essentially, they are supposed to accept requests, perform their work, and get paid for it. It is not a bad thing to be concerned about that. Rather, that is the main point.
　Mizuho, in particular, had received that kind of education as a member of the Shitennji family, a family of gifted people. When I say gifted people, it doesn't mean they are heroes.
　But this time, her own friend, Akiko, was suffering.
　The previous Mizuho would have taken some time to make a decision to save her friend, even if it was to save her friend, because this professionalism as a gifted person was in the way.
　The current Mizuho, however, was able to make a decision quickly.
　It might be largely because she was a Millimer and saw a boy take immediate action to his heart's content, something that was of no benefit to him.
　And then........Mizuho decided to do something.

'I see........I get it!　Yuto.

"Yeah, I may not be much help, but just tell me and I'll help you too."

'What are you talking about?　You must come here and identify us and this sorcerer, too.

"What?"

What?

　It wasn't just Yuto, Marion didn't immediately get what Mizuho was saying either.

''If I'm listening to you, then identifying the sorcerer this time would require, in terms of the institution's examination, excellent intuition and judgment, right?

"Well, well, I guess so.　But that's not the point...."

What are your grades on your intuition and judgment?

"Oh it was an A, but that's not why I'm here."

So I'm hiring you!　I will!　That's why you're going to this school!

"Huh?!"

Yeah!

"Hey!　Mizuho-san, what are you talking about!　You can't change schools, as expected!"

'Yes!　Mizuho-san, this is reckless!

I'm fine!　I have a secret!　It's just a few weeks, but I'm transferring you to this academy.

"Yee!　I don't know where Mizuho's school is, but it's an all-girls' high school, right?　I can't do this..."

No, I will!

"Nah, that's absurd!"

How would you do that?　Mizuho-san.

　On the phone, Yuto is dumbfounded by Mizuho's proposal, which can only be considered as a wild idea.

''Fufufu, let me.........leave it to me. And Yuto.........

"What, what?"

Do you think you have enough money to make ends meet?　This time the reward is ... okay?

"Nah!"

　At Mizuho's devil's whispered words, Yuto struggled to rebuild his wobbly self. Besides, as a man, Yuto also felt uncomfortable taking money from his friend, and even from a girl, even though it was his job.

"I, no, no. I mean, I'm a guy too, okay?　No matter how many requests I make........money from such a needy Mizuho-san. So, I'll help you from the outside for free!"

'Get rid of your little pride, Yuto!　You have no life skills because you talk like that!　What do you plan to do with your future?　How can you have a family like that?

"Guha!"

　A bullet of Mizuho's words shoots through the middle of what Yuto cares about, and Yuto breaks both knees.

(Dimly, no, I was aware of that!)

"No, no!　Someday I will!　I'm looking for a gentle boy who's strong enough to be poor...."

　I managed to say something back, but the last part of my voice was the tone of Yuuto's voice as he shrugged his butt off.

'You're an idiot!　I don't think there's a woman out there who would do that!　What kind of a guy is supposed to give you a hard time in the first place!

"Geff!"

　One hand also touches the ground, Masato.

''Hi, Yuto-san!　I'm fine!　I don't mind being poor. Besides, if it's money, I'll earn it!

"Bu!"

　Marion's words, which Marion mouthed with tenderness, rather pierced Yuto's heart.

''Marion!　That's the kind of thing that makes a bad man!

"Da, no man........"

'Yuto........by the way, my savings.......'

　Yuto's eyes widen. A little teary-eyed.
　What a........disparate society.

''How much does Marion have?''

'What?　No I'm not....

Honestly!

'Yes, sir!　I'm........

"Yeah!"

Got it?　Yujin. Your peers, our abilities!

"...yes."

　Yuto couldn't see the front blurred.

'I'll say it again. I'm hiring you, understand?

"Yes ... please hire me."

　Nodding widely, Mizuho laughed a bit.

''Then wait for the call. And by the way, Yuto........

"...Yes, sir."

'Don't worry about the lack of money. 'That's not going to diminish your stature, is it?　But that doesn't mean we can't keep it real.

　Mizuho's unexpectedly gentle tone of voice.

''So, you just need to work hard, because you can do it, Yuto.

"Yeah, I'll do my best."

　Somehow I can see that Yuto is wiping away tears.

''Alright!　So, please. My reward will be bouncy!

　After saying that, Mizuho hung up the phone.
　Then, Marion is staring at Mizuho's slightly smiling face with a warped look.

''Wha, what?　Marion.

Mizuho-san....

What....?

You sound like a stern mother...

Na!

　Mizuho froze.
　And Marion, who saw the unexpected side of Mizuho, was inwardly surprised and impatient.



　By the way, as for Masato after hanging up the phone........

''I'm not going to be a bad guy!　Watch this!　Future me!

　And yet, for some reason, I couldn't stay or stand, and I was running home as fast as I could.