After school, Seiji arrived at the underground practice field of the student council president's residence.
Seiji reached his maximum progress here, paid the required points, and learned [Beginner-level Barrier Technique]!
* Ding! * A system notification appeared in front of him.
[Character reward card 'Hoshi Amami' Additional ability 5 has been fulfilled. Beginning to take effect.]
Seiji checked and saw that the Hoshi Amami card, which had previously been a question mark, now had a final ability.
[Additional ability 5: Protection of Light (Beginner-level Barrier Technique required).]
[Barrier Enhancement Technique. Cast this technique on your own barrier, increasing its standby time by twenty-four hours, doubling its defensive strength, and adding additional effects such as exorcism, purification, and healing. If the above effects are already present, the effectiveness will be doubled. Using this technique consumes Mana and stamina, and can only be used once per day (+ one additional use per day). Holy Light will protect me!]
The Holy Light Society's trickery … after Overwatch's Edge, it's World of Warcraft's turn. System, aren't you regressing now?
Even though he was inwardly commenting, Seiji was quite satisfied with this new ability.
It increased the standby time of a barrier, increased its defensive strength, and added additional effects. It was truly powerful!
The only downside was that it could only be used twice per day.
Seiji chose [Beginner-level Barrier Technique] again to check out its advanced levels.
There were [Defend], [Break], [Reflect], [Amplify], [Delay], [Exorcism], [Purify] … and so many more!
And unlike the advanced levels of [Beginner-level Astral Vision] and other spells, these advanced levels weren't special effects, but special effects. In other words, they could all coexist on the same barrier!
Correspondingly, the more special effects he cast at the same time, the more energy he would have to expend. This was only natural.
Seiji closed this window after looking through it once and started examining all the Spiritual Abilities he possessed.
Attack, defense, and healing … he had learned all the basics.
Should he continue practicing spells, or should he start making progress towards becoming a Yin-Yang Master?
Back then, he had wanted to become a passable Spiritual Ability user … did he pass now?
Seiji felt that it was hard to say.
But in order to defeat the people he wanted to defeat, he would have to reach that level. Back then, he hadn't felt that becoming a Yin-Yang Master was urgent, but things were different now.
After some consideration, he came to a decision.
"I'll work hard towards becoming a Yin-Yang Master, and I won't stop practicing my spells either.
…
After leaving the practice field and returning to the main hall of the house, Seiji saw Summer Night and Hitaka.
The scene of the beautiful Grand Mistress and the beautiful Spirit-branded Retainer drinking tea together in silence was quite beautiful, but the gloomy aura that the former gave off affected the beauty of the scene.
Seiji greeted them and asked what was wrong.
"We just came back from our home. We talked about some things there. It wasn't very pleasant." Summer Night said in a low voice.
"Oh … thank you for your hard work."
Seiji knew that there was something between Summer Night and her family. Summer Night had expressed that she didn't want to talk about it and hadn't mentioned it until now.
Should he take advantage of the situation and ask? Or was it better to leave quietly?
Before he could think this through, the student council president continued with another sentence.
"It's about the Yuen Hwa Secondary Awakened."
Seiji's eyebrows moved slightly, and his eyes flickered.
"… Can I listen to it?"
This matter concerned the Awakened in the school, which meant that it concerned Genji and Hoshi. He needed to know the situation!
"Sure." Summer Night looked directly at him.
Seiji sat down across from them and picked up a cup. Just as he was about to pour some tea for himself, he saw Hitaka pick up the teapot.
The red-haired girl poured some tea for him.
"Thank you, Shuho-san."
"No need to be polite, Haruta-kun."
Seiji sipped some tea and maintained a calm expression on his face as he indicated for Natsuya to explain.
"My family requested that I find all the Awakened in the school. I refused, but was unable to do so." Summer Night spoke in a heavy tone. "Tomorrow, my family will send someone to the school to 'assist' me in finding the Awakened."
"What will happen to the Awakened who are found?"
"Register them … and take them in."
"Taking them in is actually capturing them?" Seiji furrowed his eyebrows.
"You could say that." Summer Night sighed.
Everyone fell silent.
"Is there no way to stop it?" After a moment of silence, Seiji asked.
Asking such a question was equivalent to admitting that he knew an Awakened.
Summer Night pretended not to realize this.
"I've tried my best to refuse, but … I can't."
Her heavy tone contained the bitterness of failing to resist.
Seiji stared at her face.
"You've worked hard."
Hearing these gentle and comforting words, Natsuya, who hid a deep unwillingness in her heart, suddenly felt the urge to cry.
Summer Night tried hard to suppress her gaffe, but she still made a nasal sound. Her eyes were slightly red, and she lowered her head to hide her emotions by drinking tea.
Seiji looked at the Grand Mistress like this, and his heart surged with pity.
Resisting her family for the sake of the Awakened in the school had no benefits for Wanhua Summer Night, but she chose to do so.
Was it because of her sense of responsibility as the student council president? Or was it because of her dignity as the master of her territory? None of these were right.
The fundamental reason was that this Grand Mistress of the Wanhua family was a gentle girl.
Just like what he had always known.
He wanted to say more comforting words to the gentle Grand Mistress, but … he felt that it was better to keep quiet, because she was also a strong girl.
After a moment of silence.
Summer Night calmed down and faced Seiji again.
"Unfortunately, I can't stop it … as a member of the Wanhua family, I can't go against my family's will."
Her tone was low, and it was filled with frustration.
"It's a foregone conclusion that the Wanhua family will send someone to the school … so is it possible to interfere with the search process?" Seiji asked.
"I have to cooperate with the search. If I act improperly, I'll be reported to my family …"
"Then don't do it, let me do it!" Seiji pointed at himself. "You secretly provide me with information about how the people are searching, and I'll try to stop them."
"That … might work." Summer Night thought about it.
"Then let's do it! You'll be in charge of providing information, and I'll be in charge of interfering. "Something flashed in Seiji's eyes.
"Even if I'm not sure if I'll succeed, I still have to try.
Let's call this operation 'Outwardly Agreeing But Secretly Opposing'! "
Summer Night was rendered speechless.
* Pfft. * She chuckled lightly.
"Outwardly agreeing but secretly opposing … Yes, even if I can't stop them, there's still something I can do."
"Yes, so don't be in such a hurry to be depressed. The real battle has only just begun!"
"Although you make it sound cool, you're actually encouraging me to secretly go against my family."
"Er …" Seiji paused for a moment.
Summer Night smiled as she looked at him.
"Not only did I not resist at all after being encouraged to rebel by a bad boy, I even felt quite good about it … I really am a bad girl."
"Summer Night …"
"If my actions are discovered … you'll have to take responsibility."
"Yep, if the operation is discovered, I'll take all responsibility in the name of Haruta Seiji!" Seiji had a serious expression.
"That's not what I meant … but, that's the answer I wanted." Summer Night's eyes were filled with tenderness.
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