I'm Shenji, what are you doing?

"Shinji?"

The surprise on Chengzi's face hadn't faded yet, and her eyes caught another figure.

The tall man who was black, dull, and suffocating was clearly her old classmate who had just been killed.

"Araya!!! How did you-"

"If you want to solve it, you have to kill him with one strike, that's it." Araya Soren, who was confronting Shinji, said calmly. His tone was very calm, but Cheng Zi felt an indescribable irony.

"I see, was that a doll just now?" Chengzi looked at Araya in front of him, and then at the body on the other side with only half of his body left, a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes.

Araya gave an affirmative answer: "Yes. Although my skills in making dolls are not as good as yours, I have the skills of my ancestors. You probably don't know the name of the 'Monk' who made the dolls, right?" "

What was swallowed by the black cat just now was not Araya himself, but a doll that was very similar to Araya. It was precisely because of the existence of the doll that Araya did not rush forward to engage in close combat with Orange. This doll was so fake that it deceived Cheng Zi's eyes, making her think she had won and let her guard down. Araya's true form took this opportunity to move behind Chengzi and suddenly launched a surprise attack.

If Shinji hadn't stopped him in time, Orange would have had his heart ripped out by Araya with one claw, and then his head would have been removed and put into a container that could maintain consciousness, just like what was described in the chapter "Contradiction Spiral" That way.

It’s just that I don’t know when Araya replaced the main body and the doll. It may be the doll that appeared at the beginning, or it may be replaced midway. This is the temple built by Araya Soren. No matter what happens, it will not be surprising.

After answering Orange's question, Araya ignored Orange and focused all his attention on the boy who interrupted his killing blow.

"Matou Shinji."

"It's me, Araya Soren." Shenji nodded, his expression not daring to relax at all. The magic power spread throughout his body along his magic circuits, strengthening his body to its current limit.

Araya Soren, blessed by the "Sixty-Fourth Floor of the Consecration Hall", is more terrifying than any dead disciple he has ever encountered. If he is not careful, he will end up like Orange.

"Are you going to stop me again this time?"

"No, I'm here to collect debt." Contrary to Araya's medical treatment, Shenji shook his head.

"Debt collection?"

"As you said, as long as you achieve your goal, the enchantment can be given to me."

"I did say it, but my goal has not been achieved yet." Araya's voice was heavy with melancholy, sighs, and hatred.

"When you achieve it, you will no longer be alive. How can you give it to me?" Shen Er asked.

"Indeed." The black magician was silent for a moment and suggested, "Then, let's solve it in your own way and let's make a deal. I'll give you my barrier technology on the condition that you stop interfering."

"Can--"

"Shinji!"

Orange's dissatisfied voice came from behind, and Shenji waved his hand at her to signal her not to speak.

"Add another condition, I want to take Sister Chengzi away."

"As long as she promises not to interfere in this matter." Araya then put forward his own conditions.

"Even if she doesn't agree, I will keep an eye on her." Shenji replied without hesitation, "As long as we leave the apartment, I will sign the compulsory certificate."

"Can."

After getting Araya's permission, Shinji picked up the orange while maintaining a vigilant posture, and walked out of the apartment backwards. He stopped in front of the front door of the apartment and took out a piece of specially treated parchment from Shenji's pocket. The formal terms had already been written on the parchment.

"Binding Technique: Target - Matou Shinji

As long as the following conditions are met, the oath becomes a commandment and binds the object without any exception——"

Filling out the content with his own blood, Shinji signed his name at the end of the certificate and threw it to the black magician standing at the edge of the temple.

After quickly browsing the certificate and confirming that the content was correct, Araya threw two scrolls thicker than Shinji's thighs with his backhand.

Shenji glanced briefly, first put the scroll into the back seat of the red Honda, then carried Orange into the passenger seat, finally got into the driver's seat, and drove away skillfully.

Araya glanced at the car leaving, then turned and walked into the apartment. He casually glared at the suitcase left by Cheng Zi, which immediately fell into pieces.

In the broken suitcase was a machine containing lenses and films. It made a chirping sound, and it was a projector that was still running.

This is the truth about Orange's familiar - the projection monster made with a projector, even if the ether body reflected in the air is destroyed, as long as the main body machine is still operating, it can continue to be reborn, so it can render all kinds of attacks ineffective.

Araya looked at the projector at his feet, motionless, like a sculpture. He recalled his time studying abroad in London after a long absence,

In the academy, he and she were the only ones who did not belong to the group. He pursues the archetype of the soul, and she pursues the archetype of the body. He was convinced that she would be the one who would arrive first, and he also had the idea of ​​​​competing with her to see who could reach the 'root' first. He likes her very much.

But——she gave up. He gave up his goal, even gave up his identity as a magician, and gave up the past of studying for a certain goal, gaining strength, saving, and completing.

When he thought of this, his heart was filled with anger.

"You have fallen, Aozaki."

◇◇◇

In the car, the fallen woman asked: "You really don't care?"

"I don't care, the certificate has been signed, what should I do?" Shenji turned at the first fork in the road and turned into an empty space overlooking Ogawa's apartment.

"Really?" The corners of Cheng Zi's mouth curved in a playful arc, and the orange in his eyes almost overflowed, "Don't tell me that you just arrived today, just in time to save me. I don't believe it's such a coincidence, and That phone call you made to me.”

"It's really——" Shenji pulled the handbrake and raised his hands in surrender obediently, "——I can't hide anything from you, I'm afraid of you."

"Then why don't you tell me honestly, starting with when did you interact with Araya and why did you hide it from me?"

"That's why I hate dealing with smart people."

"I'm sorry for being smart. If you like fools, I can introduce my sister to you."

"."

"Wait a minute, what's going on with your weird silence?"

"It's nothing, I just feel that your suggestion just now is substandard and inconsistent with the IQ you have always shown. I am just thinking of how to complain."

"Really?" Cheng Zi carefully looked at the changes in Shen Er's expression with suspicious eyes, "Why do I feel that you are a little insincere? You are not really interested in that idiot, are you?"

"You won't believe me if I say I'm not interested. After all, she's the fourth magician who masters the fifth magic. She's known as Miss Blue. She has a humanoid rocket launcher, but it's just an interest."

"Really? Why do I think you're not telling the truth?" Chengzi still didn't believe it, his eyes as sharp as razors.

Shenji was funny and helpless at the same time: "Can you really ask me to say - no matter what happens, I will stand by your side. Although I am interested in your sister, I am more interested in you. Who can I like?" And you?"

"I'm not a little girl anymore."

Chengzi leaned back on the leather seat, suppressing his suspicion and smile, leaving only a trace of vicissitudes polished by years and changes in the world. This charm is what Shinji appreciates the most, especially when it comes to Orange, which he never gets tired of.

"But I'm still a little boy."

Shenji giggled. Only at this time would he show an expression befitting his age.