The rustling of the trees that occurred during the battle between Soji and his friends and Io.
　That murmur indirectly became a factor in spreading Io's presence, and the mutation had spread to the entire forest where the survival recreation was held.

''What on earth is going on...''

　When I came back from the restroom, the recreation area was silent.
　It's not that no one is there, there are people there, but everyone is just standing there motionless and dumbfounded.

'Ishida! Aihara-san!

　I try to shake my body while calling out their names from earlier, but there is no response.

'People around me seem to be the same. It's kind of scary.
The teachers are all alike. I'm just saying that people, animals and insects are very similar to each other.

　Uru is on top of her head and Nia is looking around, her face peeking out of her jersey pocket.

'Are Nia and Uru okay?'
I'm totally fine!
I'm not a problem.

　The fact that me, Nia and Uru are safe may be a phenomenon that has no effect on beings with special abilities.

'Speaking of which, where is the chairman of the committee? We don't even have Junna and Aulchan here.

　If I'm right, the chairman and the others should be safe. However, I looked around and didn't see them.

''There's a sign of those girls' fairies from deep in the forest!
I see. So that means the chairman and his men are deep in the woods.

　It's no use. I'm worried about the chairman, but I guess I'll find out what's causing this phenomenon first.

Jeez...
Master, what is it that you want?

　He looks straight into Ishida's empty eyes.
　Nia and Uru look at him suspiciously, but he doesn't care to continue.

'Huh?'

　Strange. If it's some kind of unusual ability or jutsu, you should be able to understand the details with the ability to learn it. I could learn it if I wanted to, but even if I kept staring at Ishida's eyes, I couldn't get any information.

''What do you mean?''

　Ishida and Aihara-san as well as the other students stare at it but they can't get anything out of it.

''Master, something is up.
I will organize my information to help you understand the master's hobby. Please wait for me.
No, no, no! It's not! Nia doesn't have to try to understand it either!

　I explained that I was being terribly misunderstood and that it was like an analytical ability that is triggered by staring.

'Thank goodness, I thought you were having fun with your hobby in this situation!

　No way.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but I've made a mistake. Do you want to know why this is happening?
'No, I had no idea...'

　Isn't that some kind of a xenophobia or magic?
　Or is it so powerful that it can't be analyzed by the mastery ability.... It's scary to have an enemy of this magnitude. Should we be prepared just in case?

''I know we're short on time, but can I practice my necromancy skills for a bit? I'd like to try something.
"A necromancy desca?
Totally fine!
Okay, "Blade.

　I tried a few of the spirit arts I saw when I fought with Junna and Aru in Odori Park.
　I tried making an earth blade and a water spear, but the destructive power was too great for me to control. When I launched them into the sky, the clouds broke off.

''As I thought, the power of the jutsu would increase too much with Uru around, which would be dangerous.
Wait, it's my fault!
Do you want to make a proposal, or can I use a magic trick to link me to a spiritual thread?
Hmm? You mean you're going to activate the jutsu through Nia?

　I connected the spirit power thread to Nia, and Nia connected the spirit power thread to Uru. In that state, I tried to use the same Spiritual Technique as before. Thenーー

"Whoa, I've got it under control!
Nia, you're awesome!

ー ー ー Brilliantly, he was able to use a low-powered genie technique.
　Nia?

I'm going to step in and adjust the amount of magic I have, and I'm going to be able to control the output of the magic.
''I see. Sorry to be so quick, but I'd like to apply my current spirit arts to make something like this, do you think I can do it?

　As I drew on the ground, I explained it to Nia and asked her for her opinion.

'I think it's possible.
'Oh! Then can I try a few things? I think it would be a pretty powerful trump card if we could make this thing.
Is this a trump card... desca?

　I explained the effect to Nia and she froze for a moment. Uru's eyes fluttered in disbelief, too.

'If it's possible, I definitely want to be able to make it. With this thing, I should be able to deal with any kind of monster I'm dealing with.''
I'm sorry. What I'm about to tell you is very powerful, but I'm going to give it to you.
I mean, you can beat anything with ease! Let's make it, let's make it!
'Well then, after a bit of practice, let's go towards the trees rustling. If the commissioners are heading there too, that might be where the cause is.

　Despite the lack of time, along with a serious Nia and an uncritical Uru, I decided to practice the spirit art for a while.



◇



'Io, why are you doing this!
Is this...?
That's right. The mission of a sorcerer is to support the world unnoticed. And yet, what are you doing involving so many ordinary people who are supposed to be protecting them!

　Aru shows his anger towards Io, who is acting wrongly as a sorcerer. However, Io's expression remains calm and unchanged at all.

''Do you think Aul-sama would like to use the new cosmetics as soon as you buy them?
?
'Would you like to wear the new clothes as soon as you get them? Would you like to wear the accessory soon after you buy it?
What do you mean...?

　At the sudden question, Aru felt an inexpressible fear and backed away slightly. Junkanai and Junna, who were beside him, were also terrified and became more wary of Io.

''I want to use it quickly. I want to wear it, I want to put it on. Just the same. When you get a new power, you'll want to wield it, right?''
"...who are you? Are you sure it's Io?

　Although he belonged to two different factions in "Dusk and Dawn", Aru had exchanged words with Io many times, even though they belonged to the moderate and hard-line factions.
　The way Io looked, which was far different from his impressions at the time, caused Aru to question him.

''I'm Io, right? Do I want to... wield my power for revenge? That's not my purpose. Who am I? My purpose....my purpose....
Dine! 'The Wall'!

　Suddenly, Io was suffering as if she were broken, and the trees around her attacked Auru and the others, as if to protect her.
　The water barrier created by Junna prevented them, but the attacks increased in intensity in response to Io's agonizing voice.

'Awl, switch it up. You'd better focus on the battle now! 'The Wall'!
Wow, I know. Gran, it's 'The Wall'!

　At Junna's words, Aru regained his composure and prevented the trees from attacking him.

''Even so, it's amazing magic. To be able to manipulate the surrounding trees and even the soil with no chanting..........................Water, spear, shoot, 'continuous water spear'!

　Junkanai took advantage of the gap and unleashed a spear of water, but even Io's blind spot attack was blocked by the earthen wall and prevented.

''I'm glad you're here, sister. I had no choice but to stay on the defensive with just me and Aru.
'I'm sorry. I'll tell you more about it later, but I was actually going to help you before this happened, okay?

　While explaining to Junna, Junkanai performs one yin and yang technique after another.

''You guys are amazing, Junkanai,''
Is that a superpower or...?

　Shizuku and the others were unaware of the existence of Yin and Yang techniques and magic, so they were simply astonished by the scene in front of them.

''I don't know why, but I'll help you, 'Cold Fever'!
Thank you!
Thank you!

　In the midst of all this, Soji, who was able to recover a little bit of his strength, burned away the approaching trees with his alien powers and turned to cover Junkanai and the others.

''With this, we can counterattack. Sanda, 'Shot Bullet'!

　With Auru, who had been on the defensive, joining the attack, the earthen defenses created by Io were slowly crumbling.
　However, the decisive blow still hadn't reached Io, and he was still in a jittery situation.

''Kasai-kun, Junna, can you give me some time?''
I need some time to myself.
How long do you need?
Ten minutes no, three will be enough.
Me too!
"Okay, 'cold fever'!
'I'll help you. Deane "The Great Wall"!

　Soji still hadn't been able to sort out the situation, but in response to the serious expressions of Junkanai and Auru, he decided to do his best to buy some time.
　With Junna's support, the blades of the countless ivy and leaves of the trees never reached Jungana and the others.

''Still?!''
We're almost there!
I'll finish it now!

　When Jungana and Auru raised their hands after the chanting ended, enormous magical power began to gather in the air.

''Mujo, Dragon King manifestation!''
"The Greatest Giant Warrior, The Greatest Gaughan!

　A mangled dragon king and a golden, skeletal giant soldier with a golden skeleton appeared while distorting space.

''What is this?!''
'What? What is this?!
It's like a monster movie.

　Sorge and the others opened their eyes in astonishment as they witnessed the scene, forgetting their fatigue.

'We don't have time for this. Dragon King, please!''
Gogun, you must go!

　Following the orders of the two, the dragon king's tail and the giant soldier's fist slammed into Io, who was suffering with his head in his hands. The wooden and earthen barrier that was put up to protect Io was effortlessly shattered and a large amount of dust billows up in the air.

''Hey, you're relentless.......''
It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you.
I didn't guess, sir.

　Just as the two said, Io stood unharmed at the end of the dust cloud that had cleared. The Dragon King's tail and the giant soldier's fist had caught the ground a little farther away so as not to hurt Io.

''The situation is in our overwhelming advantage. Surrender quietly...''
"'Follow me,'

　Io's words, released to interrupt Aul's words, instantly reversed the war situation.
　The Dragon King and the Giant Soldiers, who had been following Junkanai and Auru just before, were now under Io's control.

''With just one word, they were stripped of their control!

　Junkanai stared at the dragon king and the giant soldier who had become an enemy with an expression tainted with despair.

''Hmph, it didn't really matter who I was. I just needed to go on for my purpose.''

　Io, who was awakened by the dragon king and the giant soldier's blow, speaks to Junkanai and the others with a radiant expression as if he is a different person than before.

''In return for waking me up, I will give you guys a painless end. Well then, 'good night'.
'Sanda! "Blast Barrett!

　Auru fired a bursting lightning bullet into the ground and roared an explosion.
　You'll be able to find out what you need to do to get the most out of your newborn baby.

'Good call. But it's a little late for that.

　Junna, who was right beside Auru, was saved by the roar, but Junkanai, Soji, Akari, and Shizuku fell to the spot and fell into a deep sleep.

''They won't wake up forever unless I cancel the order. Of course, I have no intention of canceling the order.
What are you doing to my sister? Dine! "Blast Lance!

　Junna let out a spear of water in anger, but the giant soldier's hand blocked it and the spear never reached Io.

''I didn't want to use a barbaric hand if possible, but it can't be helped. Dragon King, Golden Giant Soldier (Gogan), do it.''

　Following Io's words, the Dragon King's lunge and the giant soldier's fists are released towards Junna and Aru.

''Dine, 'Great Wall'!
Junna-chan!

　In order to protect Aru, whose magic and strength had reached their limits due to the activation of the 'Mukami, Golden Giant Warrior 《Greatest Gaughan》, Junna did her best to create a wall of torrent.

''Oh, that's lovely.''
Ggh...!

　The wall of torrent that Junna's whole body put all her strength into sublimated to many times its normal strength, and she succeeded in stopping the attacks of the Dragon King and the giant soldiers.
　However, within seconds, the wall was breached and two attacks exploded on the second person.

''By the end, it was very entertaining.

　Io sensed the end of the battle and muttered a few words to the soaring dust cloud.

''The 'triple ward'!

　However, when the dust cloud cleared, the scene was different from what Io had imagined.