Anime Crossover: Master is Not Here Today

But a closer look reveals that beneath that smile lies endless malice.

"Come to think of it, I remember him saying something like, 'If the victim were my mother, I would hate you to the point of madness,' right?"

"Ah, suddenly I'm starting to look forward to it."

"I'm really curious, what shape would a soul driven mad by hatred take?"

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 21: The Expected Encounter, the Real Person

At night, Yoshino Nagi walked home alone. The cool night breeze gently blew her clothes, and the moonlight cast her thin, frail figure on the ground.

Normally at this time, she would be at home having dinner with her son, Yoshino Junpei, drinking a little wine, joking around, and spending a peaceful yet precious day.

But today, she had just walked out of the police station, and her usually smiling, pretty face was now filled with unease and anxiety.

"How could Shunping be involved in any murder case?"

As the sun set, she went home after buying groceries as usual. When she couldn't wait for Yoshino Junpei to come home, she called the school to inquire about the situation. That's when she learned that Yoshino Junpei hadn't been to school for the past few days.

More importantly, according to Mr. Tomura, who taught Yoshino Junpei, Yoshino Junpei seemed to have been taken away by a group of mysterious people.

In a moment of panic, she immediately contacted the police, but to her surprise, she learned from them that Yoshino Junpei seemed to be involved in a murder case and had been taken away by officials for investigation.

Upon receiving this shocking news, she rushed to the police station, hoping to see her son.

However, the police told her that Yoshino Junpei was not taken to the police station, but was taken away by another special department, and they could not provide any further details.

At that moment, she experienced emotions called 'despair' and 'helplessness' for the first time in a long time.

She didn't even know how she walked out of the police station. When she came to her senses, she was already walking home alone at night.

"Everything will be alright, Shunping is a good boy."

Yoshino Nagi kept muttering to herself to comfort herself, but such weak words seemed to have no effect.

What she didn't notice was that the streets seemed unusually quiet tonight, and her soft murmurs drifted through the empty streets, sounding strangely eerie.

But just then, a voice called out to her from behind.

"Excuse me, are you Yoshino Junpei's mother?"

Upon hearing this, Yoshino Nagi turned around and saw a very cute girl speaking to her. She was wearing a school uniform that Yoshino Nagi didn't recognize, and her bright orange-red hair was as eye-catching as a burning flame under the moonlight.

Looking at the unfamiliar, cute girl in front of her, Yoshino Nagi looked puzzled and asked:

"Yes, I am Shunping's mother. Are you Shunping's friend? Is there anything I can help you with?"

"No, we can't really be called friends. But I did come here for you."

"Eh?"

Yoshino Nagi was somewhat puzzled by Fujimaru Ritsuka's answer, while Fujimaru Ritsuka's gaze was fixed on the Special Grade Cursed Spirit, the True Man, who was fighting against Nanami Kento behind Yoshino Nagi.

so close.

Yoshino Nagi is just an ordinary person, so she can't see the other person. If she hadn't called out to Yoshino Nagi in time, the other person probably would have walked into the embrace of the cursed spirit.

After being sent back to school by Ijichi Kiyotaka, she felt uneasy, so she rushed here with Jeanne Alter and witnessed the thrilling scene before her.

"They actually predicted my actions? Have the people at the college investigated this far?"

The sudden appearance of Fujimaru Ritsuka surprised Masato, but he quickly guessed what was going on and smiled at her with amusement:

"No, if that were the case, there would be more than just one student here now."

"Is it a coincidence? It seems your intuition is quite sharp, young lady."

"But how can you stop me all by yourself?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Makoto lunged at Yoshino Nagi, ready to make his hand touch her—

A blazing flame burst forth behind Yoshino Nagi, its dazzling light illuminating the entire night for a moment!

The real person immediately stopped moving the moment he sensed the danger, and then jumped back as far as he could to escape the area covered by the flames.

But he was still a step too slow, and his outstretched right hand was accidentally stained with some flames. Then, to his astonishment, the flames quickly spread up his arm, as if they would not stop until they burned him to ashes!

What kind of flame is this? It seems to be using him as fuel!

Without a second thought, the man made a decision in an instant, tearing off his burning arm at the shoulder and throwing it to the ground.

The arm that was thrown to the ground was quickly engulfed in flames and burned to ashes in the blink of an eye!

"Whoa, those flames are terrifying!"

Despite saying he was scared, he still spoke in a flippant tone. He turned his gaze to Jeanne Alter, who had suddenly appeared behind Yoshino Nagi, and his eyes slowly changed from initial interest to confusion.

"Are you a cursed spirit? No, you don't seem quite right. But you're not a sorcerer either. What exactly are you?"

"Hmph, a mere evil spirit has no right to know who I am. You only need to be burned to ashes by me while you carry your doubts."

Joan of Arc Alter said dismissively.

On the other side, seeing the real person's arm turn to ashes by the flames, Fujimaru Ritsuka thought to herself, "Just as I expected."

After living in this world for a while, she guessed that the reason Joan of Arc Alter was summoned was because she had a high compatibility with this world.

The fundamental power of this world is incantation, a power derived from people's negative emotions.

Joan of Arc Alter herself is based on Gilles de Rais's anger, as well as prejudice and one-sided obsession, which are mixed together to create the "other side" of Joan of Arc that could not have existed in the first place.

Due to the compatibility of their attributes, Jeanne Alter is also able to actively capture cursed energy from the air and convert it into magical power, a process that looks like a cursed spirit absorbing cursed energy from the air.

This is why real people might mistake Joan of Arc Alter for a cursed spirit at first glance, because the elements that constitute their existence are indeed highly similar.

Moreover, Joan of Arc Alter's power, the flames she wields, are the name of the avenger. She magically transforms and burns the resentment around her, creating a vengeful fire that can ignite the evil, filth, and selfishness of her opponents to the very marrow of their bones.

And curse power is such a thing.

In other words, the magical power, sorcerers, and spirits that exist in this world are perfect fuel for Jeanne Alter, the most suitable targets to be burned to ashes by her vengeful flames!

This world is practically Joan of Arc Alter's domain!

"what is that?"

Ordinary people cannot see cursed spirits, but Servants do not have this limitation.

Hearing the noise behind her, Yoshino Nagi turned around and saw Jeanne Alter, who had appeared behind her at some point, with a raging fire burning in front of her. She was immediately shocked and her eyes widened.

"I know you must be very confused right now, but please believe me, I will explain it to you later, including the whereabouts of Yoshino Junpei."

Fujimaru Ritsuka walked to Yoshino Nagi's side, shielding her behind her, and said calmly and firmly.

Yoshino Nagi looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka's profile.

Although she had never met the other party before and was unaware of the current situation, the resolute expression on her youthful face made people want to trust her.

".I see."

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 22 Die, Real Person

"So what should I do next?"

A mysterious being with considerable strength whose spells are related to fire; a sorcerer whose strength and spells are unknown; and his target this time, a human who is holding him back.

While using the technique to regenerate the arm from the severed point, the real person observed the other party and considered the next strategy.

Because he had consumed a lot of magical power and human souls in the battle with that level one sorcerer that afternoon, he had not yet recovered. If he were to fight the opponent again, he would most likely be at a disadvantage.

However, his goal this time was not to eliminate the other party, but to kill that ordinary human, Yoshino Junpei's mother.

Meanwhile, the opposing side has to devote extra energy or leave someone specifically to protect them. With this shift in power, the outcome is still uncertain.

Hmm, you can give it a try.

The moment he made up his mind, the technique [Transformation of Inaction] was activated instantly, transforming his human-shaped legs into those of a springbok. With a powerful burst of force, he pushed off the ground and launched himself forward like a bullet, charging straight toward Yoshino Nagi!

However, Joan of Arc Alter's A-rank agility is by no means just for show.

While moving almost like a real person, she had already reacted. The three-meter-long flag spear was as if it were nothing in her hands. She swung it at high speed, cutting through the air with a sharp whistle, and blocked the real person's path.

If the real person cannot stop in time, then all that awaits him is a future where he will be pierced through by a spear.

"Qiang!"

But just as the two were about to meet, the real man's hands suddenly changed, turning into two sharp, cold blades. One blade smashed the spearhead from below, creating intense sparks as the metal clashed. The other hand stabbed straight toward Jeanne Alter's heart!

Joan of Arc's expression remained unchanged. Using the force of the spearhead being deflected, she spun the flagpole in her hand, deflecting the blade that was aimed at her, and then—

"boom!"

A crimson flame of vengeance completely engulfed the real person, the intense burning causing the air to crackle and pop. The real person's figure within the flames gradually twisted and eventually vanished completely in the fire.

"Kidding."

The flippant words rang out again, and the real person shed his outer shell like a snake shedding its skin, slipping away from the flames.

"It can actually burn cursed power, which is really unfriendly to cursed spirits like us. What a troublesome flame! And its physical strength is also very strong. How amazing!"

After taking his position, the real man did not continue his attack, but instead made some jokes, appearing very relaxed.

"However, you seem to know my spell? Did that blond uncle reveal my information?"

Although he spoke eloquently, he was actually rethinking things in his mind.

A simple exchange of blows immediately changed his perception of Joan of Arc Alter's strength.

Very strong, very troublesome.

The opponent's physical abilities were extraordinary. Even at his fastest speed after modifying his legs, the opponent was still able to react quickly and intercept and counterattack. It was difficult to bypass the opponent and difficult to attack him.

In addition, the opponent's formidable flames, which burn their magical power, are extremely troublesome for them as a collection of magical power, and are simply a counter to them.

That is to say, he was able to escape in time by modifying his body. If it were Hua Yu, it would probably be troublesome.

As for the human sorcerer behind her