I am Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes.

Watching them coldly from the depths of the room was Nangong Nayue, dressed in a black tuxedo.

Although she looks like a petite woman with a youthful face, she is actually an undeniable English teacher who claims to be twenty-six years old.

"I think I told you not to call me Nagatsuki-chan. It's about time you learned your lesson, Kojou Akatsuki."

As she said this, she glared at Himeragi Yukina.

"Oh, you're here too, the transfer student from the junior high section. So what do you want to ask? Are you here to ask about how to make the children's dish?"

Jill was momentarily embarrassed; if she really said it, it might be an R18 thing.

"Ha, hai?" Although she was speechless for a moment because she didn't know what she was talking about, Himeragi Yukina immediately shook her head frantically in denial.

"Is that even possible?! What are you saying out of the blue?!" Kojou Akatsuki helplessly stepped in front of Yukina Himeragi.

"...Isn't that right? What's wrong?" Nangong Nayue sighed, sounding rather bored.

Are you trying to say how far you've gone with your approach to parenting...?

Xiao Gucheng thought to himself helplessly before immediately adopting a serious expression.

"We are looking for a man named Christopher Gattorius. If you know anything about him, please let me know."

After hearing this, Nagatsuki glanced at Gil.

Did you do this on purpose?

That look clearly conveyed that meaning.

Jill pursed her lips.

how is this possible.

Jill returned the look with her eyes.

"So it seems the news that terrorists from the War King's Domain have come to Itogami Island, according to my intelligence, is true," Gil said with a shrug.

“If that’s what Vatola said, then it must be true,” Natsuki said casually.

They probably realized that there was no point in continuing to hide it.

After all, Jill's intelligence came from Akatsuki Kojou, and Akatsuki Kojou's intelligence came from Vatora...

"And then, what's the point of asking about Gatorushi's location?"

“Seize him. Before he makes contact with Aldebaran.” Setsuna answered Nagatsuki’s question immediately.

Based on just that one sentence, Natsuki seemed to understand the general situation. If things escalated into a battle against the remnants of the Black Death Emperor's faction, Vatora would be happy to unleash his familiars.

That bastard is a complete battle maniac, and Jill knows it all too well.

Itogami Island will definitely suffer great damage because of the familiars.

But Yukina Himeragi is determined to stop this situation.

However, Natsuki's reply was quite indifferent.

"Catching that guy won't help. Let's give up. Ah, Astarothie—no need to pour them tea. What a waste. Also, pour me a fresh cup of black tea first."

"—The order is accepted."

Nagatsuki casually gave orders to the maid-dressed girl who brought barley tea.

Upon hearing the girl's voice with its strange sound, both Kojou Akatsuki and Yukina Himeragi showed expressions of surprise.

Standing to one side, holding a silver tray, is a blue-haired girl.

Symmetrical artificial features, coupled with emotionless pale blue pupils. A slightly revealing apron covers her slender and immature body.

"You are the one who brought the familiar beast with him, that uncle who killed the teacher!"

"Miss Astarothie!?"

"Ah. So you've met before," Nagatsuki said without batting an eye.

As Xiaogucheng approached, she whispered, "Why is this child at school? No, more specifically, what's with those clothes?!"

"The artificial life form Astarothie, who participated in the attack on the Central Stone Gate, is now under a three-year probationary period."

This time it was Jill who spoke. He smiled and said, "This is what I fought for. But someone else snatched it away..."

“As both a national exorcist and an educator, it’s only natural that I would become her guarantor. Besides, I happen to want a loyal maid,” Natsuki said.

"That can't be your reason for poaching people, can it?" Jill said, both amused and exasperated. "Besides, the latter part is the key, isn't it?"

"Well, as long as I'm happy, that's all that matters."

Xiao Gucheng seemed to be muttering to himself.

Astarothie, dressed in a maid outfit, began preparing black tea after being ordered by Natsuki.

Although there was no change in expression on the girl's fairy-like features, you could tell that she was enjoying herself.

Compared to when she was forced to hunt demons wearing only a coat, she is certainly happier now.

Jill took a sip of her black tea, then remained silent, preparing to continue listening to their conversation.

"—Teacher Nangong. Even if we capture Gadorush, it's useless. What's going on?"

Finally recovering from her surprise, Himeragi Yukina remembered what she had just said.

“I didn’t say it would be useless even if we caught them. What I meant was that you don’t need to do those things.”

"Eh?"

"Anyway, the Black Death Emperor's forces can't do anything. At least what if the opponent is Vatora? That guy is, after all, a monster who is called 'the closest being to the True Ancestor'."

However, the overly serious Yukina Himeragi still refused to give up.

"The Black Death Emperor's long-cherished wish is said to be to annihilate the First True Ancestor. Isn't it precisely to seek the means to achieve this wish that they came to Itogami Island?"

If the Black Death Emperor's faction were to obtain the power to kill the First Progenitor, it would mean that even Vatora, who possessed "combat power comparable to a Progenitor," could be killed. However, Natsuki, understanding all this, shook her head listlessly.

"That's right. That's why I said it's useless. Gadorush's goal is Nalakuvera."

Chapter 288 You want to die, you bastards?

"Narakwala...?"

Upon hearing unfamiliar words, Yukina Himeragi frowned.

"The prehistoric civilization relics unearthed in the Ninth Mehergar Ruins in South Asia. They are weapons of the gods that once destroyed invincible cities and civilizations," Nagatsuki explained.

Akira felt a sudden sense of foreboding.

"The weapons of the gods... what is that awful thing? You don't mean to say that it's on Itogami Island, do you?"

"On the surface, it seems impossible, but in reality, Kanou Alchemical Industry Company apparently illegally transported a sample unearthed from the ruins here. Although that thing was originally stolen by terrorists not long ago."

"There really is one!? And it was stolen!?" Akatsuki Kojou was dumbfounded.

"It's just an antique made nine thousand years ago, what's the rush?"

Looking at the flustered Akatsuki, Nagatsuki said with disdain.

"Didn't I just say that what was taken were artifacts unearthed from ruins? They were dry, broken pieces of scrap metal. Even assuming they could still function, how do you control something like that?"

"...Isn't it precisely because there are clues about the method of control that the Black Death Emperor's faction has set its sights on this ancient weapon?" Yukina calmly pointed out the key point.

Nagatsuki smiled slightly, as if pleased. "Heh, you have a good intuition, huh? Transfer student. Indeed, the stone tablet inscribed with the spells or incantations needed to control Narakvara seems to have been discovered recently."

"Then there's still a possibility that the weapon will be used."

"That's an object that has been sent to linguists and magic agencies around the world for research, but they haven't found a single clue to decipher it. It's just a small terrorist; even if they rack their meager brains, they won't be able to do anything about it."

That moon weakly and perfunctorily responded to the ancient city, which pouted in unease.

“They are nothing but weapons of the gods.” Gil scoffed and shook his head.

His bloodshot eyes seemed to burn with flames. "No matter what happens next—you should worry about yourselves instead."

“Here’s another piece of advice. Akatsuki, be careful of Dimitriye Vatola.” Gil stood up and walked out of the office.

"That guy has devoured two 'elders' who were higher in rank than him so far—that is, second-generation vampires second only to the True Ancestors." After saying this, Jill disappeared through the doorway.

"—He ate a vampire of his own kind? That guy!?" Akatsuki Kojou was somewhat astonished.

Himeragi Yukina also had a surprised expression.

"That's why that guy is called 'the closest being to the True Ancestor.' You should also be careful not to get eaten." Nagatsuki added with a casual smile.

However, because that nonchalant tone made it seem more real, Kojou Akatsuki could only nod silently.

……

The second class begins.

Jill's class was in the first period in the morning, and he didn't have any classes for the rest of the day, so after class, Jill went to the rooftop alone again.

"Drumroll..." Jill picked up the wine dish and drank the wine in one gulp.

There have been so many troubles in the past month that I forgot to curb Esther's curse... The amount of alcohol I had before was definitely not enough.

Jill wiped the few drops of wine from the corner of her mouth and looked up at the sky.

“Hmph… I cannot condone those who attempt to start a war…” Jill pondered the meaning of those words.

"That old man didn't explain it clearly, even though they were just simple riddles." Jill poured a dish of wine, drank it all, and a faint silver light emanated from her body, as if the divine wine was dissolving the curse.

With her eyes slightly closed, a faint magical light emanated, enveloping the surroundings.

A powerful surge of magical energy swept in, but Jill managed to keep it at bay.

"That guy, Akatsuki... his familiar has gone berserk." Gil shook his head helplessly as he looked at the magical fluctuations coming from afar.

"Phew...we have a guest." Jill picked up the wine jar and poured the wine into her mouth without even using a saucer.

"Looks like I can stretch my muscles a bit—it's been so long since I've had a fight, it's really frustrating." Jill stood up, and a silvery light shone from her hand.

He tossed the wine jar back into the Gate of Babylon, and Jill spoke again in the obscure Elvish language.

"Cold-blooded Queen of Steel, holy sword that slays demons and monsters—transform into a steel sword here, grant me divine power—"

Jill grasped the Demon Slayer sword, took two steps, and then leaped high into the air, jumping off the rooftop.

……