Chapter 269: The Terrifying Kure Yakusha, Hermione, and the Trio
Kasugano Sora felt a momentary lapse in her hearing. Climbing Mount Everest? Was that something a person could just decide to do on a whim? In her limited understanding of the world, that was an impossible feat reserved for elite professionals.
She stared at the woman before her. As expected, Sora thought, this is the kind of person it takes to keep those two in line.
Sōryūin Shion let out a soft sigh, a playful smile touching her lips. "I must say, Auntie Yakusha, you shouldn't scare Sora like that. It wouldn't do if she becomes afraid of you in the future, you know."
Kure Yakusha nodded, her expression softening almost imperceptibly. "Hmm. As expected of Shion. So reliable," she said, her voice smooth and even. She turned her gaze to Sora. "Don't worry, Sora. I'm just a mountain climbing enthusiast. For people like us, Mount Everest is... well, you understand."
Kasugano Sora nodded numbly. It made a certain kind of sense, she supposed, though the image of this seemingly delicate woman conquering the world's highest peak was still staggering.
"Sister Kirukiru, I've filled it out," Sora said, handing over the form. "What else do I need to do?"
Amou Kirukiru accepted the document, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled. "Hmm? My, my, Sora has grown."
Sora blinked, then nodded earnestly. "I think I've gotten a little taller, too. I need to buy new socks soon..."
Sōryūin Shion shot her a sidelong glance, her voice laced with amusement. "I have a feeling Kirukiru isn't talking about your height. Am I right, Kirukiru?"
A playful glint entered Amou Kirukiru's eyes as she looked at Sora and gave a slow, deliberate nod.
Sora froze. Her gaze drifted downwards to her own chest, and a faint blush crept up her neck. "These are the figures from the test report Sister Lucifer gave me," she mumbled, a hint of pride mixing with her shyness. "It really does seem like I've grown!"
Watching the bashful yet clearly happy girl, Kure Yakusha smiled. "Hmm. But if Sora's figure becomes too good, she won't be as cute anymore."
"Eh?!" Sora's head snapped up.
"She's right," Shion chimed in with a grin. "Have you ever seen a doll with a great figure?"
"Ah... No! But I'm not a doll!" Sora protested, her voice rising in pitch.
It was a well-known fact that Kasugano Sora was deeply concerned about her figure. Even with Amou Kirukiru as a fellow petite member of their group, she couldn't help but feel inadequate compared to the generally well-endowed women who surrounded her.
Sōryūin Akemi, who had been listening quietly, tilted her head in thought. "Sister, Sora's transfer from Katagiri High hasn't been processed yet, has it?"
Shion paused, then retrieved her phone. With a few deft taps, she brought it to her ear, her eyes calmly scanning the enrollment form Sora had just completed.
The call connected almost instantly. Before the person on the other end could even speak, Shion stated in a casual, non-negotiable tone, "There's a student at your school named Kasugano Sora. I've decided she's more suitable for our institution. I'll have my secretary visit you shortly to collect her file. That will be all."
She hung up without waiting for a response.
Kasugano Sora stared, her mouth slightly agape. "Eh? So... this is how transferring works?"
Sōryūin Akemi scratched her head, looking just as bewildered. The entire exchange had been a completely one-sided declaration.
A faint, confident smile played on Shion's lips. "It's just Katagiri High. Poaching one student isn't an issue. Besides, their principal wouldn't dare to object."
Kure Yakusha offered a small, approving smile. "Hmm. As expected of Shion. So reliable. Ah, I have to get to class now. I'll see you later, Sora."
"Ah? Oh... Goodbye, Teacher Kure Yakusha!"
Yakusha nodded. Just before she left, she turned her head slightly, her gaze locking onto Shion. "Make sure she's assigned to Group A, understood?"
The corners of both Shion's and Kirukiru's mouths twitched, but they nodded in unison. Satisfied, Kure Yakusha pulled open the door and departed. The moment it clicked shut, the two powerful women let out a collective, quiet sigh of relief. The pressure Kure Yakusha had just exuded was terrifying.
More precisely, a smiling Kure Yakusha with her eyes open was terrifying. All members of the Kure Clan possessed unique eyes, with sclera as black as night. But where most had light-colored irises, Yakusha's pupils glowed with a demonic red, a feature that was deeply unsettling to behold.
Just as Sōryūin Akemi was about to speak, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and her eyes widened. "Sister! Sister Kirukiru! Hibiki and the others are almost at the school! I'll take Sora and go meet them!"
"Eh?! Can't I just stay here?" Sora pleaded.
"Nope!"
"Sister! Sister Kirukiru! Bye!" Akemi called out, already dragging a despondent Kasugano Sora by the hand. As they hurried down the hall, however, Akemi began to describe the girls they were going to meet, and Sora's initial reluctance slowly gave way to a budding curiosity. Perhaps, she thought, this would be interesting after all.
Meanwhile, Ren and the others had already begun their breakfast. It was a simple meal of pan-fried buns and warm porridge, but the group ate with gusto, especially Courage and Cerberus.
"Ah, so delicious!" Courage exclaimed between bites. "I feel like I won't be able to live without your cooking, Ren."
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling.
Ren simply smiled. "Then eat more. It's quite simple to make sure you're always satisfied."
Courage didn't fully grasp the deeper meaning layered within his words, but she didn't care. She was simply happy. Based on their previous conversations, even a fool could understand her intentions, and Ren hadn't rejected her. He hadn't explicitly agreed, either, but in her book, that was a monumental victory.
She was blissfully unaware that Ren was merely indulging a rare, dark-humored side of his personality. If she knew, she might have truly felt foolish.
"Hmm? Lucifer, why aren't you eating?" Ren asked, turning his attention.
Lucifer's face flushed a deep crimson. "How can I possibly eat anymore! My stomach feels like it's about to burst! You rotten man! I've decided not to speak to you for the entire morning! You went too far!"
Ren tilted his head. "Aren't you all going out to play today?"
"That's why I said I'm not speaking to you this morning!" she snapped back immediately.
"So you're coming back this afternoon?"
"We'll talk about the afternoon this afternoon! And it will depend entirely on your attitude this morning!"
Ren sighed and shook his head. He never understood why Lucifer was so convinced that the dragon-slaying hero would one day become the dragon, yet she could never manage to stick to her own "harsh words" for their promised duration.
Seeing the look on his face, Lucifer's cheeks puffed out in indignation. She was determined. She wouldn't be near him all morning, so there was no way she could fail this time! Once she succeeded, there would be countless more victories to come!
'Received,'Cerberus thought from her place at the table.'Preparing to backstab.'
"Ah? Why do you need me to come along...?"
"Hey! What you're suggesting is very dangerous!"
"Huh? You want to see that door? No, no, no! That's far too dangerous! Headmaster Dumbledore himself said that door must never be touched under any circumstances!"
"Just a look? I'm still not going with you to look!"
At that moment, in a stone corridor of one of the academies, a girl with a mane of bushy, curly hair was looking at the two boys before her with an expression of utter disbelief.
The blond boy beside her laughed. "Oh, come on, Hermione! I bet it's not dangerous at all. I just saw Headmaster Dumbledore come out of there with a few jars of jam!"
"And how would you know that?" Hermione demanded, her hands on her hips.
The bespectacled boy pushed his glasses up his nose and smiled. "Are you doubting his sense of smell? I think it's probably just a storage room, but there might be some interesting magical items inside."
"This is completely mad! I... I still can't agree to this!"
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