Chapter 185: Chapter 184: The Following Little Tail
For Fang Zheng, the battle with that girl was not entirely without gains. At least for now, the power employed in this world could also be resisted and rendered ineffective by magic immunity.
And that sword……
“It comes with a Demon-Slaying attribute, huh? No wonder she likes to hack away with it.”
In the battle with the girl, Fang Zheng had thought more than once about settling the matter with magic. However, whenever he attempted to use magic, Future Sight would tell him that the magic he released would be sliced in two by a single stroke of her sword—understandably, with such a weapon, it’s no wonder the girl’s approach to combat was always to charge in headfirst.
Unfortunately, charging in was never the best method of combat.
Forget it, it’s her own business.
...
With this thought, Fang Zheng shook his head and cast the matter aside. He wasn’t some urban grandfather who, upon seeing a girl with an unusual skeleton, would go off to sell her a copy of the Nine Swords of Dugu to protect world peace. But regardless, finding one of the three critical elements to unlocking the Soulstone on his second day here was clearly a good thing for Fang Zheng.
But……
“Hmm…… a person is missing.”
Looking at the student roster in front of him, Fang Zheng frowned. If he had previously had no clear impression of that girl’s remarks, now Fang Zheng understood quite well. In his class register, the name “Yuji Sakai” had quietly disappeared, yet no one seemed to feel anything was amiss. In fact, if Fang Zheng hadn’t memorized the names of everyone in his class, he wouldn’t have noticed anything odd at all.
Not only that, but the students in the class also completely forgot this person, as if he had never existed at all. Even his family didn’t remember having such a person. All traces of Yuji Sakai’s existence had been erased by the power of the world—truly, he was an unlucky child.
“Click.”
While lamenting the impermanence of the world, Fang Zheng walked into the classroom. As he entered, the previously noisy and boisterous classroom instantly quieted down.
“Very good.”
Pleased with the students sitting quietly in their chairs, Fang Zheng nodded and then walked up to the podium, casually glancing around—Yuji Sakai’s spot was still empty, but there was no reaction from anyone. It was as if, in their collective memory, that spot had always been vacant.
Beyond that, everything seemed unchanged…… huh?
Just then, a girl caught Fang Zheng’s eye. She was wearing a Goki High School sailor uniform, and her face, expressionless, was staring at him. Given her height and physique, she seemed more like a middle school student than a high schooler…… what was she doing here?
“Now, let’s start the roll call.”
Fang Zheng flipped open the attendance book.
“Sato.”
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
“Present.”
“Muxu.”
“Present.”
The daily morning roll call was always the same, yet Fang Zheng found it endlessly enjoyable. Back when he was a student, he had often fantasized about how he would treat his own students if he ever became a teacher…… well, in a way, this was like fulfilling one of his dreams?
“Hirai.”
“………”
When Fang Zheng called this name, a petite girl with long black hair shot him a cold glare, but said nothing. Fang Zheng, clearly not content to let it go, arched an eyebrow and then reached out to lightly tap on the attendance book.
“Hirai? Hirai Enishi?”
“……… Present.”
Under Fang Zheng’s scrutiny, the black-haired girl finally murmured a reluctant acknowledgment. Fang Zheng didn’t mind; he just nodded and continued with the roll call. He didn’t know how the girl had managed to enter the school under the identity of Hirai Enishi, but…… well, it wasn’t surprising, considering both the Enchantment School and School of Illusions had their methods. Perhaps this girl had a similar ability?
And Fang Zheng’s suspicion was soon confirmed.
“I merely implanted the existence of that torch remnant known as Hirai Enishi, which is why I am here.”
Standing on the rooftop, the girl looked at the scenery in front of her, and without turning back, she replied.
“In yesterday’s battle, that girl named Hirai Enishi was also devoured by a Follower of the Crimson Realm, leaving only a torch, so I temporarily borrowed her identity…… It’s a common occurrence for Fire Mist Warriors.”
“Oh, that’s a shame, the kid was really cute…”
Upon hearing the girl’s response, Fang Zheng sighed. He had a bit of a memory of the girl named Hirai Enishi, even though her grades were mediocre, she was a lively and cheerful girl. Unfortunately… what’s past is past, and from the girl, he had learned that yesterday, many were devoured by Phosphorus, but he hadn’t expected one of his own students to be among the victims.
“I see… So, what’s your name then?”
“Hirai Enishi, that’s my name now.”
“I’m not talking about that; I mean your own name.”
Fang Zheng waved his hand and then walked over to the girl.
“Hirai Enishi is my student’s name, and she’s different from you, a well-behaved good child, so I think you should have a name that suits your solitary nature.”
“……”
Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s answer, the girl twitched her mouth corner, wanting to say something but ultimately just snorted coldly.
“I don’t have a name.”
“…you don’t?”
“That’s right, I am a Fire Mist Warrior, a weapon to combat the Followers of the Crimson Realm, and weapons do not need names.”
“Who says weapons don’t need names?”
Fang Zheng expressed his disagreement.
“Even weapons have the right to be named; for instance, my sword is called the Sky-Cleaving Sword. Your big sword must have a name too, right?”
“…… Zhidian Zhena, that’s the name of that sword.”
What an ugly name…
Although Fang Zheng did think so, after glancing at the girl in front of him, he thought better of saying his thoughts aloud, as it might just end up in a fight.
“Then let’s go with a homophone; how about I call you Shana… Since you don’t have a name yourself, you won’t mind me picking one for you, right?”
“……”
Hearing Fang Zheng speak, the girl frowned but remained silent.
“That settles it then.”
Since the girl didn’t speak, Fang Zheng took her silence as agreement. Then he turned around and walked towards the staircase.
“Although I don’t know why you are here, please behave yourself, especially since this place is not a battlefield.”
Although Fang Zheng said this, it was clear the girl did not plan to do as he said, and the reason for that…
“Fang Zheng, teacher! What on earth is going on with your student Hirai Enishi!”
Ah… not this again.
Looking at the pale-faced English teacher in front of him, Fang Zheng sighed helplessly. Ever since the first class, almost all the teachers who taught Year 11 Class 2 had come to complain to him, and it was always the same complaint. That was, Hirai Enishi… or rather, Shana, showed no respect towards teaching authority, not only did she not open her textbooks during class, but she even talked back when scolded by the teacher. What’s more, her rebuttals made sense, leaving the distressed teachers with nothing to say, with some feeling so inadequate they ended up jumping off the building in shame.
Good thing it was only the first floor.
“I understand.”
Looking at the excited group of teachers, Fang Zheng smiled and spoke soothingly.
“I will figure out a way to handle it, please rest assured.”
It seems necessary to let that little girl know who’s in charge here.