At the summit of a mountain peak that touched the clouds, Tohru's massive frame stirred as she suddenly stood tall.
"Everyone, it's time to go home!"
"Eh? We're leaving already?"
Kasugano Sora looked at the half-finished snowman she had been stacking with a hint of regret. She sighed and climbed back onto Tohru's broad back.
"I never thought I'd actually get to visit a place like this."
Hanazono Yurine silently snapped a photo of the majestic mountain range as a memento before joining the others. The green dragon soared into the sky with the group, her ascent accompanied by cheers and cries of excitement.
Kawashima Toya looked over at the vast, luxurious estate appearing in the distance and pointed it out.
"Sora, due to some... complicated reasons, that's where we'll be living from now on."
"It's so big..." Sora's eyes widened in awe. "I thought manors like that only existed in anime. Does a place like that really exist in the real world?"
"How sheltered," Jashin-chan remarked with a scoff. "You'll see far more impressive sights than this if you stay with me. Try not to act like such a country bumpkin. It's embarrassing."
"Embarrassing, is it?" Toya's expression turned cold. "It seems our great Jashin-chan-sama is quite the woman of the world. Why don't you show me exactly what a 'truly impressive' house looks like then?"
"Ugh..."
Cold sweat broke out on Jashin-chan's forehead. She had been so busy mocking the girl that she had momentarily forgotten whose sister she was insulting.
"I'm sorry! I was wrong!"
"Kawashima-kun, Sora-chan, please forgive my arrogance!"
Toya blinked, momentarily taken aback. In his experience, Jashin-chan was usually the type to die before surrendering. Hearing her apologize so readily was a genuine surprise.
"I forgive you," Sora said with a sweet smile. "Onii-chan, Jashin-chan-senpai is just like that. Can you give her another chance?"
Toya gently ruffled Sora's hair. "Since Sora said so, I'll let it slide."
"Jashin-chan, stop using that nasty tongue of yours to belittle people. Got it?"
Though he decided to forgive her, Toya felt the need to issue a warning. If she kept provoking the wrong people, he didn't want to be the one responsible for collecting her remains.
"I will..." Jashin-chan muttered with a forced smile.
Toya glanced at her once more before losing interest. He knew that no matter how many times he warned her, she'd likely forget it the moment she turned around.
"Well, let's go. Go ahead and pick out your favorite rooms."
Toya prepared to lead them toward the manor, but he noticed that everyone was standing still, looking hesitant.
"Why aren't you moving?" Toya asked. "Is the environment not to your liking?"
"It's not that..." Kasumigaoka Utaha said with a hint of hesitation. "Toya-kun, are you sure we're supposed to carry all this luggage across the grounds ourselves?"
"Fair point."
Toya glanced at the distance. Walking from the main gate to the villa would take at least thirty minutes on foot.
"Tohru, if you would."
"It would be my honor, Master," Tohru replied instantly, shifting back into her draconic form.
Her powerful body radiated the overwhelming presence of a dragon. She extended a large claw toward the group. "Everyone, please climb up. I'll carry you across."
Toya hopped onto her back. "This definitely saves time."
In mere seconds, Tohru landed them in front of the manor's main entrance. The luxury estate was spotless. It was so vast and pristine that it felt somewhat surreal, lacking the usual lived-in atmosphere of a home.
Toya watched as Sora and the others hurried off to explore the rooms. He stood at the entrance, lost in thought.
The grounds are far too large. We can't always rely on Tohru.
She is the daughter of the Emperor of Demise. If her father found out his daughter was being used as a common mount, he'd definitely come looking for an explanation.
The thought of a god-tier dragon charging up a blast of dragon breath made Toya shiver.
I'd probably have to find a new house all over again.
Maybe I should get some specialized vehicles for the grounds? No, that's too gaudy, and I'm not sure who would drive them.
After a moment, he decided to provide bicycles throughout the estate. It wouldn't ruin the aesthetic, and everyone could use them.
I need to get the Trash Fox agency back up and running, too.
Helping people is a good way to provide some living funds for Kyon-Kyon and Yurine.
Ring, ring—
His phone suddenly went off. Checking the ID, he saw it was Yuigahama Yui, whom he hadn't heard from in a while. He answered immediately.
"Yuigahama-san? Is something wrong?"
"Kawashima-kun, something terrible is happening!"
Yui's voice on the other end was frantic. "There's a maniac at Sobu High who can kill people! He's posting 'death predictions' for students online."
"Five students have already died... and it happened exactly as he predicted!"
Toya's lazy demeanor vanished. "Tell me everything. I'll get to Sobu High as fast as I can."
Yui quickly recounted the details of the five deaths.
"Five students died exactly as predicted on the internet?"
Toya's eyes narrowed.
A prophet of the future? To know exactly what they'd say and how many steps they'd take before they died... that's quite the trick.
"I'll take the case. I should be there in about twenty minutes."
"Until then, stay safe."
Hanging up, he immediately set off toward the school.
.....
Sobu High School
Yuigahama Yui put her phone away, looking worriedly at the composed girl beside her. "Yukinon, are you really going to be okay?"
"The so-called 'Prophet' online said... said you would die at the hands of the first male you encounter."
Yukinoshita Yukino's face remained as calm as a still lake. "Don't worry," she said flatly.
"This 'Prophet' might be skilled, but he must be using some kind of trick to commit these murders. No true seer would waste their power predicting specifically who will die, when, and where with such tedious detail."
Twenty minutes passed in a flash, and Toya arrived at the school gates.
The campus, usually buzzing with the sounds of students, was eerily quiet. Hardly a soul could be seen.
The Prophet's reputation is certainly preceded by fear, Toya thought, a trace of mockery in his eyes.
Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.
In an instant, his eyes shifted into the clear, crystalline blue of his special ability.
Let's see just how accurate this 'Prophet' really is.
Toya walked through the main gates of Sobu High.
As soon as he stepped onto the grounds, he felt a wisp of cold, black energy eagerly coil itself around him.