Chapter 329 – Let's go meet the next wizard?

After grаduаtiоn аnd сlosing cerеmоnies, schоols beсоmе ееrilу quiet and еmpty.

Тhеre аrе tеасhers оn rotаtion duty, but еvеn thеу’re few in numbеr.

Thеn you havе thе occasiоnаl club activity kids scаttеred about.

Into such а sсhool, Sрicе аrrivеd оnce again, drеssed as а high sсhоol girl!

Straight tо thе рrincipаl’s officе today, as usuаl.

“I’vе been wаiting fоr yоu, Ms. Spiсe.”

“Hellо! Vanguаrds аre popping uр all оvеr thе plаce, аnd it’s gеtting рretty сrazу, huh?”

“Yеs. Тhаnks tо yоu аnd уour tеаm devising countermeasures and disseminating them through your streams, we’re managing. Now it’s just a matter of us contacting other magic users ourselves. Fortunately, the Other Species are being cooperative. Their mere presence makes dealing with that Witch much easier.”

Absolutely!

The Elves, for instance, have all formed shifts to counter Annette.

What’s more, among them are quite a few capable streamers, so they’re actually providing effective countermeasures.

This time, Spice and Ms. Shizuru were heading to…

…the place of another magic user who would serve as a counter to that very Annette.

They had to keep expanding the network against the Most Ancient Witch.

Once again, a mirror appeared, and they used it to travel!

“By the way, Ms. Shizuru, do you live at this school?”

“Yes. This place serves both as a Witch’s workshop and as a place of learning for my beloved students. My own private living space is built at the edge of the grounds.”

Apparently, it’s a single-story house, somewhat spacious, nestled among trees.

I’d like to see it sometime.

Now, passing through the mirror…

Ta-da, a forest!

“Hey, Ms. Shizuru?”

“Yes?”

“Do the magic users in this country live in forests or mountains?”

“Yes, that’s right. Mountains are places isolated from the human world, you see. They are closer to the spirit realm. This time, we’ve come to Shikoku.”

“To Shikoku in an instant!!”

‘You see, there are fixed Magic Power routes established in various regions, and we essentially rode one of those to travel. Hmm, such precise and advanced travel magic… Impressive!’

Flota was deeply impressed!

In other words, what are called spirit paths—or dragon veins on the continent—run through various regions.

By following these major conduits, one arrives at magic user bases set up in different areas.

“Has everyone been observing the Dungeon situation from the sidelines?”

“Yes. They are individuals who prefer not to draw attention. It seems they felt uneasy about the mechanism of Dungeons growing stronger with recent concurrent viewer numbers and were hesitant to get involved.”

“I see!”

So, they were all a bit reclusive, you might say.

That doesn’t really fit with modern systems, does it?

They walked through the forest.

There was only a narrow animal trail.

After moving a bit, the path became rocky, and they had to hop and skip across the rocks to proceed.

Spice was fine, but was Ms. Shizuru okay? Just as that thought arose, she floated lightly and landed gracefully.

Witch~!!

“Fufufu, I have magic applied to my entire body.”

“Amazing! So witch-like! Compared to you, Ms. Shizuru, someone like me is just a gaming witch.”

“Perhaps that’s what the latest generation of Witches is like. Ah, that’s right, you’ve gained a junior.”

Councilor Kodama transforms into the Magical Girl, Echo!

A girl who is a Veteran Fan of Spice is confirmed to be taking on that role.

“Times change, you know. The Dungeons that appeared in the world greatly altered how humans interact with magic. …Well now. It seems the master of this demonic domain has appeared.”

Before they knew it, darkness had spread before their eyes.

And within it, numerous eyes glowed, watching them.

A pair of eyes positioned notably high looked alternately at Spice and Ms. Shizuru.

‘If it isn’t Shizuru. What business does a young yokai born from humans have with this old one?’

Calling Ms. Shizuru young!

“It’s been a long time, Lord Inugami Gyoubu.”

‘It’s the second generation, isn’t it…’

Inugami Gyoubu!

The general of the Eight Hundred and Eight Tanuki, originating from Matsuyama Castle in Ehime!

He actually existed…

No, in a world like this, it’s only natural he’d exist.

“By the way, Ms. Spice. Bakedanuki are not Tanuki. They are people from a different world who settled in this world even before the current Other Species arrived. Their form is said to be a combination of human and beast.”

‘From our ancestors’ perspective, the humans of this world are us with the beastly power removed. Oh my, and there’s an even younger yokai over there. Hoho, a male wearing a female’s skin. Peculiar…’

“I got called peculiar by a Bakedanuki!”

Here, one of the Tanuki scurried over to Inugami Gyoubu.

‘General, don’t you know!? That’s Little Spice!’

“Ah, could it be the Meat Brigade…”

‘Ha! We, the nameless Meat Brigade, always support you!’

There was a Tanuki well-versed in the net—!

The Meat Brigade is everywhere!!

Now, time for Spice’s presentation to Inugami Gyoubu!

“There’s this crazy powerful Witch, and if you say her name, she flies over and attacks…”

‘Troublesome, indeed. However, I hear that in society nowadays, beings like us Yokai are mingling with humans as if it’s perfectly normal. My Retinue has also spread from Ehime across the nation.’

Note: It seems Inugami Gyoubu’s group was the only one among the Tanuki to successfully manage generational change.

The others apparently disbanded after losing out to land development.

‘Very well. We, the Eight Hundred and Eight Tanuki, pledge our cooperation to you. If our Retinue has taken a liking to you, yokai, there can be no mistake…’

That’s the criteria!

Saved by the ever-present Meat Brigade, huh.

Note: The forms of the Tanuki remained hidden within the darkness until the very end.

Are they really in Tanuki form…?

Shrouded in mystery!