Shinji Matou at Your Service

After confirming that Add and the monster had both calmed down, Shinji finally let out a sigh of relief. He returned the box to Gray while complaining, "You know, don't you think you all went a bit overboard? The main culprit is already down, and you're still going all out?"

"Just down, not dead. He can still be useful when woken up, and with me around, he won't die," Touko responded with a slight snort, never having shown any respect for Atrum, whom she saw as nothing more than a nouveau riche.

"Are you sure? If I hadn't intervened earlier, how many do you think would have survived?"

Shinji rolled his eyes and casually pressed a finger on Svin's forehead. The power from his soul was transferred through his finger, dispelling the fear caused by over-sensitivity in his brain.

"That was an accident, and besides, you and Katou wouldn't have stood by and watched."

Though she said this, Touko knew she was at fault, and her voice involuntarily lowered.

"We wouldn't have stood by, but only because we were nearby."

"What do you mean? Don't tell me you guys also..."

"Don't lump us together with you. Even if I lose my cool, Katou never does."

"So, what were you doing then?"

As she spoke, Katou slowly descended from the sky, handing the bag back to Touko and replied, "Master Levi took me to find someone."

Touko looked puzzled.

"Find someone? Who?"

"You'll know soon enough. Katou, please go and bring them here."

"Understood, Master Levi."

Katou nodded, but Touko grabbed her hand.

"Wait, if she leaves, who's going to protect me? If someone has to go, it should be one of your people."

Shinji scratched his head, looking helpless.

"We're still doing this?"

"Of course," Touko nodded seriously. "I don't have a habit of leaving things unfinished."

Shinji was thoroughly exasperated.

"Fine, fine. Svin, can you go in that direction and fetch them?"

"What about here?"

Svin seemed hesitant. Although he'd been beaten many times, a Grand is still a Grand, and there was also the enigmatic ninja puppet. He was a bit worried.

"I'll handle things here. I'm not hoping to defeat a Grand, but buying some time should be possible."

Hearing this, Svin didn't hesitate any longer. He leaped through the trees and disappeared into the forest.

Shinji, on the other hand, bowed slightly to Touko, showing respectful behavior as he said, "I ask for Miss Aozaki's leniency."

Keep acting. Go on.

Touko pursed her lips, giving Shinji a playful look while assuming the demeanor of a senior to a junior. She said, "Mr. Levi seems pretty confident, despite losing so much magical power."

The Holy Lance would indiscriminately devour magical power, and forcibly interrupting it had caused Shinji to lose a significant portion of his magic.

Aren't you pretending just as much?

With the same knowing look, Shinji replied without losing his composure, "You've also expended quite a bit of magic on my companions."

"Well, let's test it out, then."

Touko smiled slightly as a rune quietly formed under her feet—Thursaz (Hammer of Thor).

Shinji remained calm, turning his hand palm up, revealing the water rune Laguz inscribed on it.

Both were utilizing the atmospheric magecraft, counteracting each other.

The man and woman faced each other, exchanging smiles.

"Mr. Levi, your runes are quite well-used."

"Not at all, I'm far from your level, Miss Aozaki. I still have much to learn."

Shinji's fingers moved swiftly, tracing a line of runes in the air at a speed that would put any modern rune user to shame.

Touko wasn't as fast, but she never relied on speed to win. Her strength lay in overwhelming precision. The same spell, under her meticulous craftsmanship, saw a significant increase in the efficiency and conversion rate of magic, making the effects far more pronounced.

Simply put, Touko's low-tier magecraft could produce effects that matched Shinji's mid-tier spells, neutralizing his speed advantage. And because low-tier magecraft consumed less energy, the advantage was actually in Touko's favor.

Normally, the weaker party would change tactics to alter the situation at this point. Shinji certainly could do so; his rescue of Svin and his earlier intervention demonstrated his impressive physical capabilities, which happened to be Touko's weak point.

Yet, Shinji didn't leverage his speed advantage. Instead, he focused on inscribing runes, exchanging magecraft with Touko in what seemed like a very harmonious scene.

Some observers believed Shinji was deliberately holding back, trying to keep Touko's puppets and familiars in check, maintaining balance and buying time. Others thought Touko was aware reinforcements were coming and was simply going through the motions.

In truth, they were all wrong. The reason Touko and Shinji appeared so harmonious was that both were reminded of the time they once spent together.

Back in 1995, when he was just a child, he barged into her workshop with two girls, stepping into her life.

The four of them traveled together, exploring the mysteries of Japan, encountering all sorts of interesting things, and training together.

Among the activities they did the most, aside from making rune stones, was practicing Rune Magic through offensive and defensive sparring.

From that time on, Shinji and Touko's practice had always been in this style—one using speed to overwhelm, the other relying on quality. From single runes to runic sequences, from basic spells to low-tier magecraft, and even to mid-tier magecraft.

High-tier magecraft composed entirely of Primordial Runes hadn't been mastered before Touko left, so it wasn't included. But even if it had been, it wouldn't have changed anything, at least not in their sparring. It was part of the memories they created together.

Fingers traced, and flames roared.

Flame Spear, Flame Storm.

Toes danced, and snow and ice flew.

Ice Blade, Ice Sprite.

The unconscious Atrum and Flat were awakened by the alternating heat and cold.

Thunder roared, and the earth shattered.

Thunderbolt, Stone Blast.

Rainbows arched, and starlight sparkled.

Rainbow Missile, Cross Assault.

Reines and Byron were astounded by the constantly shifting magecraft.

Light and fire combined, and shadows took form.

Holy Flame Spear, Night Sword.

The exquisite display even drew applause from Lord Valualeta and Waver, who were the ones Svin had gone to fetch. Their arrival marked the end of this chaotic battle.

"Ah, well, now that everyone is here, I suppose I have to concede," sighed Touko, her magic almost depleted. While others thought she was yielding to Lord Valualeta's presence, only Shinji knew the truth. If she had truly wanted to, Touko could have unleashed the monster sealed in her bag and ordered Katou to go on a rampage, potentially achieving her goal.

What truly concerned her was her client, Estella the Silver Princess, who had arrived with Lord Valualeta. Estella had hired her to participate in the battle to create chaos and facilitate her escape. Since Estella's presence indicated her escape had failed, there was no longer any need to waste time or magic.