After finding the Killer Mystic Eye among the pile of tables and chairs and putting it back on, confirming that his Mystic Eyes had recovered and were suppressed, Naoki finally let out a sigh of relief, then turned to look at Riddel and Gray: "Sorry, I had a bit of a problem just now, but it's okay now."
"That means you can explain, right?"
Riddel said coldly.
"Tell me everything truthfully, your strange appearance just now, that Magus who suddenly attacked, and your Mystic Eyes. I really didn't expect you to be hiding so many secrets."
"Because there's no need to tell others." Naoki said with a bitter smile, "After all, all my affairs concern only myself. Basically, I caused everything myself, so I have to bear it myself."
"But now your secrets have dragged us in, do you think I'll just stay silent? Or are you hoping I'll immediately apply for a Sealing Designation for you after we return?"
Not wanting to talk would directly lead to a Sealing Designation—that was Riddel's intention.
"After all, I can be considered half your savior, right..."
Smiling bitterly, Naoki pulled up a chair and sat down: "The beginning of this problem was a local magical ritual that happened a year ago in Japan, called the Holy Grail War. Miss Archelot should have heard of it, right? Gray, I've also mentioned it to you several times."
"Heard of it, seven Magus fighting over the wish-granting machine, the Holy Grail, summoning seven Servants and killing each other."
"I was a participant in the Holy Grail War a year ago. Due to various reasons, I summoned the Servant Saber, participated in the battle, and survived. By the way, that can also be said to be the reason I came to the Clock Tower, because Professor Kayneth and I got to know each other through the Holy Grail War."
"So, your change just now, the one that looked like multiple personalities, was caused by the Holy Grail War?"
Naoki nodded: "During the Holy Grail War, I met a very special Magus. Even if her body was destroyed, as long as her soul remained, she would revive countless times. And to defeat her, I became a living seal."
Pointing to his own eyes, Naoki continued:
"Soul Eater Mystic Eye, its ability is to erode any spirit, forcibly transforming it into an evil spirit, including but not limited to ghosts, souls, Servants. And for targets eroded by these Mystic Eyes, I can also absorb them and convert them into Mana."
Hearing up to this point, Riddel already understood: "You absorbed that Magus's soul, but the Holy Grail War happened a year ago. A year's time... you haven't converted it into your Mana yet?"
"If I could, I would, but the scale of her soul is too large. Let alone converting it, being able to seal it like this is already the limit. Because of that, my Mystic Eyes have to keep functioning at all times. Otherwise, like just now, my consciousness would be directly replaced by her."
Having finished speaking, seeing the surprised and worried expressions on their faces, Naoki unconsciously chuckled: "Why are you making such faces? Don't tell me you're worried about me?"
"Not really, just a bit surprised by your spirit and willpower, as well as your low level of humanity." Riddel said, "According to your explanation, you have to activate your Mystic Eyes twenty-four hours a day, which means you're constantly using Mana... it's truly amazing that you can last. Using it continuously for just a few tens of minutes is enough to exhaust a Magus."
"I'm used to it, so it's okay."
Seeing Naoki's relaxed expression, unlike Riddel, Gray pursed her lips and couldn't help but ask: "Brother, are you... are you really okay? After your body was taken over like that... won't there be any hidden dangers?"
Naoki hadn't said everything—Gray sensed that. The power Naoki showed after being taken over just now, Gray and Riddel saw it with their own eyes. It was a power that far surpassed the level of a Magus, even a Grand-rank Magus might not be comparable to that person.
Constantly sealing such a terrifying existence, was Naoki really completely unaffected?
Gray didn't believe it.
"Of course I'm okay." Naoki laughed, "There haven't been any incidents this whole year, the only exception was just now. Because I couldn't use Mana, my Mystic Eyes stopped functioning, letting her out for a short while. Other than that, there are no problems."
This was indeed not a big problem. Sealing a Beast for a year and it only came out for less than a minute, and even that was due to an accident caused by external factors. This alone showed how effective Naoki's Mystic Eye seal was.
So...
"Don't worry about me, I'm really fine. If you're really not sure later, just have Mary do a thorough check-up on me."
"Brother... then, okay..."
Although there was still a bit of worry in her heart, since Naoki himself had said so, Gray could only give in.
And just at that moment.
"Then let's settle another debt, Naoki."
Suddenly approaching Naoki, reaching out to touch his lips, Riddel looked at him with a bit of embarrassment and anger: "How dare you forcibly take this lady's lips, have you thought about how to repay this debt?"
"N-no—this can't be blamed on me!" Naoki hurriedly turned his face away with a red face, "At that time, I couldn't control my body at all, it was all that person's doing. If you want to collect the debt, go find her!"
"But [you] were the one who forcibly kissed me, right?"
"Rounded up, that's the case."
"Then it doesn't matter." Riddel smiled, "In the current situation, it's also impossible to collect the debt from the person inside your body, so I can only collect the debt from you, any objections?"
"I really want to say a big objection, and in a sense, I'm also a victim here." Naoki said with a bitter face.
Sitting back in her chair, Riddel sighed: "Of course I know that. By the way, why did the person who possessed your body forcibly kiss me? That's so strange."
"I guess, maybe to annoy me. Deliberately ruining my social relationships. If she could make me dizzy and embarrassed because of this, she would definitely be very happy."
"What the heck is that? Is that person a child?"
It wasn't impossible to say so. Although connected to the Root, Sajyou Manaka's mental age was actually only fourteen years old. She was indeed a child.
And from the results, her goal was indeed achieved. At least now Naoki was in a difficult situation.
"About repaying the debt. Miss Archelot, how about you consider me owing you a few favors?" Naoki suggested, "As you can see, I'm just a half-baked Magus, there's nothing valuable on my body. Even if you ask me to pay compensation, I wouldn't be able to afford it, so—"
"Meaning using favors to pay off debts." Riddel unconsciously laughed, "Hmm, that's indeed a good suggestion."
"Then—"
"But I refuse."
?
That sudden famous scene made Naoki's eyebrows twitch violently.
Folding her arms across her chest, Riddel sighed slightly: "Although being forcibly kissed made me very unhappy, after understanding the cause and effect, even if I acted unreasonably and vented my anger on you, it would be useless... After all, it was just a kiss, continuing to make a fuss about it would only make me look petty."
"Treat me to a meal after we return, that alone is enough."
Although she said that, Riddel's expression and gaze didn't look like she had forgotten the incident at all—that was her first kiss.
Although she didn't know what the future held, but at least, Riddel felt that from this moment on, she would definitely remember this figure of Naoki deeply in her mind.
The kind that could never be forgotten.