Chapter 281 – The Current State of the World and the Recent Situation of the Grimoire of Power

Тhе уеаr сame tо an end.

Аnd thе new уеаr bеgаn!

This timе, I devоted mysеlf tо fаmilу servicе.

Somеhow, I feel likе Мashiro was smiling the whоlе time.

“Ah, Little Hazuki is sаving thе world again, huh?”

“To sау it so cаsuallу likе а snаck… Well, if it’s her, she рrobablу will.”

It sееms the herо whо dеfeatеd the Demоn King, before rеtiring, wеnt out into sраcе a bit and еliminated an аpрrоaching threat.

Or rаther, whаt kind оf thrеat сomes frоm sраce!?

Тherе wеrе аliеns!?

What hаs hарpеnеd to this world…!

Though, it’s strange for me to say that, since I’m a Magical Girl who streams.

“Grimoires, assemble.”

What’s this, what’s that—the Grimoires gathered.

Ignite and Marinna are bringing Homura and Minato along, floating them gently.

“You’re bringing the little ones too?”

“Mmm, they’re in a good mood when we’re nearby.”

“That’s right! Mini-Master needs me. Ohh, Mini-Master is so cute!”

You’re spoiling them!!

“A little envious, this is!”

“Showing off, aren’t they…”

“Me knows its own troublesome nature, so I’ll step back…”

Oh, the other Grimoires seem complicated!!

Anyway, moving on.

“Have you heard anything about space? Lately, with all the Kiraboshi Hazuki-related stuff, Dungeons have even spread to space.”

“That’s right. Space… or rather, the outside of this world is my specialty.”

Flota was the specialist!

Well, thinking about it, since she’s a Grimoire that manipulates gravity and such, it makes sense.

“First, while we call this world a planet here, the outside is filled with Aether. Originally, Aether didn’t seem to exist here… but ever since Dungeons started appearing in the world, space and Aether have begun to interchange. Already, the surroundings of this world are enveloped in Aether, so it’s become a situation where beings that travel between worlds using this as a medium can easily intervene!”

“These are all things I’m hearing for the first time—my brain’s about to explode!? Huh!? So this world is continuously exposed to threats like the Demon King from before…? This isn’t just anime or game talk?”

“That seems to be the case. Well, there are plenty of strong people, so it’s fine! Don’t worry, don’t worry!”

Now that I know the truth, not worrying is a bit impossible…!?

But the Grimoires paid no mind to that, instead gathering around our little ones and cheering playfully.

Homura, Minato, it seems the fate of the world rests on your future shoulders!!

I’m counting on you!

“Ah, that reminds me, about Powered.”

“I completely forgot. The Grimoire of Power hasn’t moved at all—what’s going on with it?”

“It’s doing social reform in Russia.”

“In Russia!! It’s been on a social reform journey this whole time? Just from hearing about it, it doesn’t seem like a very evil existence…”

The Witch at its core is my grandmother’s enemy, so I think I’ll have to defeat her eventually…

“Powered itself has simple, straightforward thinking. It’s a good-natured fellow who naively tries to do good deeds. However, it’s so simple that it’s often tricked into aiding evil deeds.”

“Is that so… Then, the Witch of Power being dominated by Powered was…”

“It seems the fact that she had been tricking and using Powered all along was exposed. So an angry Powered seized control of her body! Well, to obtain it, you’d have to fight once… but Me thinks it’s fine to leave it alone for now.”

“So it’s a relatively safe Grimoire as long as no bad guys put strange ideas into its head. Though, there are definitely bad guys, so it’s scary to think it might get influenced!”

“I see, I see. So we have to get the last Grimoire-chan.”

Mashiro, who was listening from the side.

She nodded, humming in understanding.

“I’d like to go retrieve it within this year. I’m worried…”

“The children, right? It’ll be a shorter stay than in Austria, won’t it? Then it’s fine! During that time, they can stay at our parents’ place or something…!”

“No, I’ll leave Ignite and Marinna here. I think they’ll be helpful. I’ll take on the challenge with Flota, Mentaris, and Karafuri.”

“Oohh!” the Grimoires exclaimed!

“When should we go? Once we have Powered, next will be the final Abazure—my former Master—so the final battle is near!”

“Ah, right. The Most Ancient Witch is coming! That’s a big deal.”

Flota’s former Master, the one who summoned the Demon King to this world and caused the Dungeons to appear—the very source of all evil for this world’s Dungeon affairs.

In other words, this is Spice’s Final Boss!!

“Why is she letting Powered roam free?”

“She was originally a Witch who didn’t get along well with Grimoires. Probably did all sorts of things out of envy, don’t you think?”

“Out of envy! She’s talent that wouldn’t be out of place in the Cardinal Sin Faction.”

“Probably didn’t get along with the Cardinal Sins either?”

“Completely lacking connection to magical events!! No wonder she went mad with envy.”

And the result was summoning the Demon King, having her body stolen, but after the Demon King was defeated, she regained part of that power and her original body.

“After the ‘Playing with Cardinal Sins’ event will be the real deal, I guess. We’ll obtain Powered then! Sound good?”

The Grimoires all replied in unison, “Okay!”

Well then, the year of Spice’s crucial moment has begun.