It was about half an hour before Setsuna realized Mokona wasn't at headquarters. While her role was covert protection, she needed to be able to see the person she was supposed to be protecting. If she couldn't even see her, who was she protecting? Consequently, the moment Mokona vanished, a primal panic seized her.

After a long search yielded nothing, she feared something terrible had happened and swiftly reported the matter to Enya Konoe. Once it was confirmed Mokona was truly absent, everyone immediately headed out to search.

Setsuna was deeply worried. The relentless attacks from the enemy over the past few days clearly demonstrated their unwavering intent to capture her. Although they had managed to repel them for the time being, and Lin Luo had assured her there was no need to worry further, a persistent unease clung to her. She couldn't shake the memory of that scene from her childhood; if she failed to protect Mokona this time...

"Damn it, if only my strength could be greater," Setsuna ground out, her heart filled with bitter frustration. Because the disappearance was so sudden, she had no idea where Mokona had gone. Her only recourse was to send out her Shikigami to search the skies while relying on her own intuition to track her.

Just as her anxiety reached a peak, she suddenly spotted an immensely brilliant pillar of light shooting skyward from a nearby mountaintop. Even with the naked eye, it was clear this was a beam composed purely of magical energy, vast beyond measure.

She couldn't say how many people in this world possessed such magical power, but she was absolutely certain that in this location, only Mokona could unleash energy of that magnitude.

"The magic has been released—could this be...?" Setsuna gasped, her heart jolting. Without a moment's hesitation, and with no time even to alert the others, she sprinted toward the location at maximum speed.

About five minutes later, she arrived at the source of the magical beam and froze dead at the sight before her. Her most cherished Elder Sister was... with a man. What had transpired, she couldn't grasp, but an overwhelming sense of loss erupted from the depths of her soul, leaving her mind utterly blank.

Similarly, when Lin Luo and Mokona saw Setsuna suddenly materialize beside them, they were stunned. Having been so completely absorbed, Lin Luo hadn't noticed when Setsuna arrived. But for her to witness this—it was undeniably awkward for all three of them.

"Se-Setsuna, that..." Mokona came back to herself, waving her hands frantically, her face flushed crimson, a mixture of panic and haste on her features, as if she didn't know how to explain.

Of course, she likely didn't need to explain, as Setsuna seemed utterly crestfallen. Lin Luo could see she had been significantly impacted. It was understandable; she worshipped her Elder Sister, and to suddenly find her intimately involved with another man—it would be astonishing if she wasn't shaken.

"Se-Setsuna, actually... actually, we... although it looks like this, it's not like that... well, there is a little bit, so..."

Frankly, Lin Luo couldn't decipher the meaning of Mokona's words; it was the pinnacle of self-contradiction.

"I apologize for interrupting you!" Setsuna seemed to finally recover from the shock, bowed deeply to them both, then swiftly spun around and fled in tears.

"Wait, Setsuna!" Mokona cried out urgently, but Setsuna paid her no mind.

Lin Luo sighed internally. As the saying went: better to dismantle ten bridges than ruin one temple, better to ruin ten temples than shatter one marriage, and better to shatter a hundred marriages than to destroy one yuri pairing... Yuri was the righteous path; breaking up a loving yuri couple was an abomination that warranted divine wrath upon anyone involved.

Shortly after Setsuna bolted, Lin Luo flashed behind her, grabbing the collar of her uniform and hauling her back. What he had decided moments ago needed no further concealment now.

"Setsuna, are you willing to sign a contract and become my servant?" Lin Luo asked, meeting the young girl's tragic expression. The statement was direct and carried immense impact.

"Huh?" Setsuna simply froze. According to the standard narrative progression, shouldn't he be explaining the situation just now? Shouldn't a teacher and his student sharing a passionate moment require a thorough explanation? Why had he jumped so far ahead, completely abandoning the expected script, and now proposing... a contract with her?

Thinking of this, Setsuna’s face instantly burned red, vapor momentarily wafting from her head. She pointed at Lin Luo with a lowered gaze, shouting excitedly, "Teacher! You, you, you, you... you are too improper!"

Lin Luo was speechless. What did he mean, improper? Signing a contract with a mage to become a servant was the fundamental setting of this world!

But before he could explain, Setsuna continued, "Y-you clearly did... did that with Elder Sister Mokona, and now you want to sign a contract with me too, you..."

Ah, that was the issue. Lin Luo suddenly understood; his previous expression must have been unclear.

"Say, where did your mind wander to?" Lin Luo couldn't help but roll his eyes, explaining, "The one proposing the contract with you is not me. It's your beloved Elder Sister Mokona."

"Be-beloved..." Hearing this, both girls flushed and averted their gazes. However, Mokona was bolder and quickly asked, "Teacher, do you want Setsuna to become my servant? That would be wonderful, but I'm not a mage, am I?"

"That's not an issue. With your magical power, even if you don't know any mage skills, you should be able to manage a provisional contract," Lin Luo stated. Contracts between mages and servants in this world weren't strictly enforced; even an apprentice mage could establish a servant contract if the other party consented.

The primary reason many mages didn't have servants was that once a contract was signed, it was essentially a lifelong bond, typically pairing male and female—much like finding a spouse. This made finding a servant difficult for mages... Of course, Negi was exempt due to his protagonist halo, and his contract was only temporary; true servant contracts were strictly one-to-one.

The function of magic power was supply; the more magic a mage possessed, the stronger the servant's abilities would become. With Mokona’s immense power, if supplied normally, she could establish contracts with at least three digits' worth of provisional servants.

"Signing a contract with Elder Sister Mokona... this..." Setsuna lowered her head even further, twisting her fingers, her face a picture of conflicted blush.

Mokona smiled at Setsuna and asked, "Setsuna, will you become my servant?"

"This, I..." Setsuna hesitated.

"You don't want to, Setsuna?" Mokona’s face immediately fell with disappointment.

"No, of course not, it's just that I..." Setsuna looked troubled, seemingly unable to articulate her difficulty.

Lin Luo couldn't help but sigh. Blooming youths always got tangled up in trivial details. Seeing Setsuna's conflicted and embarrassed state, Lin Luo spoke up, "What are you hesitating about? It's just a Bird Clan bloodline, is that something to agonize over for so long?"

"Teacher Lin Luo! Why..." Setsuna's expression shifted instantly, leaving her too shocked to speak.

"Bird Clan?" Mokona tilted her head, her mind full of question marks.

"A person's origins are not self-chosen; whether good or bad, they are decided at birth. But the path you walk in the future is yours to choose," Lin Luo addressed Setsuna seriously. "Therefore, constantly dwelling on your background might cause you to lose something most important without realizing it. Why not lay everything bare? Perhaps your fears are entirely unfounded."

"But..."

"No buts. You are Mokona's childhood friend, and you've secretly protected her for two years. Do you really think she would despise you because of your origins?" Lin Luo countered.

"Of course not," Mokona interjected immediately before Setsuna could answer. "No matter what Setsuna becomes, she is my best friend."

Mokona took Setsuna's hand, her face bright with a smile. "Actually, this time, I must thank those who tried to capture me. If it weren't for them, I would never have known Setsuna had been silently protecting me all this time. Before, I thought Setsuna had come to dislike me; it's wonderful to know everything now." As she spoke, the young girl wiped away tears of joy from the corners of her eyes. "Since I finally have a chance to talk with Setsuna again, I don't want to be separated from her."

"Elder Sister Mokona," Setsuna murmured, her own eyes welling up at those words.

Mokona asked again, "I want to be with Setsuna forever. Don't you feel the same way, Setsuna?"

"I-I certainly do, but you and Teacher Lin Luo..." Setsuna glanced at Lin Luo beside her, speaking awkwardly, "But Elder Sister, you are already with Teacher Lin Luo, so I..."

"If it's Setsuna, it's fine, because I love Setsuna the most," Mokona replied with a smile.

"Eh? Is th-this really okay?" Setsuna froze. At that moment, a highly dissonant image suddenly flashed through her mind... censored for decorum.

"Of course," Mokona confirmed without hesitation.

"What about Teacher Lin Luo?" Setsuna looked toward Lin Luo again.

Lin Luo did not answer, instead giving her a thumbs-up. Only an idiot would oppose such a thing; yuri was the most endearing!

Mokona asked, "So, Setsuna, are you willing to sign the contract with me?"

"Mm," Setsuna immediately lowered her head and replied meekly.

Lin Luo observed: Mokona was the dominant one, Setsuna the submissive.

With the agreement reached, there were no more obstacles. Setsuna closed her eyes, heart pounding and face flushed, and Mokona did the same. Their bodies drew closer, and they softly kissed.

However, when they parted, the expected provisional contract did not materialize. Mokona looked perplexed. "Why didn't it happen?"

"Idiot, how could a contract be signed without drawing the magic circle?" Lin Luo chided. This yuri pair had been so caught up in the emotion that they forgot the most crucial element: the magic circle.

"What should we do?" Mokona looked distressed. "I don't know the magic circle! Does Setsuna?"

"I'm sorry, I don't either," Setsuna shook her head.

"Hmm... let me try drawing one. I remember seeing that mischievous ferret drawing one," Lin Luo said, picking up a twig nearby and sketching a magic circle on the ground. Although he wasn't an expert, he had watched Negi and Asuna sign their contract clearly enough that reproducing it wouldn't be difficult.

A few minutes later, Lin Luo had drawn a simple contract magic circle. For a temporary contract, the requirements weren't stringent; the circle was merely a guide, and the mage's power was the most critical component.

"We have to kiss again, Setsuna, hehe," Mokona chuckled, standing in the center of the magic circle. Setsuna’s face burned red, utterly flustered. Then, as the two kissed a second time, a bright light erupted from the magic circle, and a contract card appeared between them. On the card stood a young girl with white wings, grasping a sword—it was Asakura Setsuna.

"What a cute card!" Mokona snatched it up, examining it with clear adoration. "Is this Setsuna? Such beautiful wings! Is this the Bird Clan bloodline you mentioned?"

"Yes, it is," Setsuna whispered, her head bowed in dejection. "It's because I'm not a pure human. My father was of the Bird Clan, and my mother was human. Because of my half-human, half-bird physique, I was cast out of my village. Later, the President adopted me. I'm sorry, Elder Sister Mokona, I never told you..."

"It's alright, Setsuna, because it was your secret," Mokona interrupted with a smile before Setsuna could finish. "Everyone has things they don't want others to know. But these wings are truly gorgeous! Can I see them?"

"Are you sure?" Setsuna hesitated, but unable to resist Mokona's insistence, she finally released her hidden power. Two pure white wings unfurled behind her back, looking like an angel descended from heaven, white feathers drifting in the air.

Mokona stared, momentarily stunned, while Setsuna trembled, head bowed like a student awaiting judgment for a mistake.

To her surprise, no judgment came. The girl before her lunged forward, gently caressing the wings with delight. "Such beautiful wings, just like an angel."

"Huh!" Setsuna was dumbfounded. In her eyes, her bird-winged form was monstrous; she utterly despised it, never imagining anyone could possibly like it.

"That's why I say you think too much," Lin Luo commented with a smile.

"Is that so?" A look of profound relief dawned on Setsuna's face; she finally realized her worries had been groundless. Suddenly, she felt an odd sensation throughout her body, her face immediately flushing red, her brow furrowed tight. "Elder Sister Mokona, that... don't touch that spot..."

"Why not? They are such lovely feathers," Mokona continued stroking the inner side of the wings.

"Because the wings... are a very sensitive area, so..."

"Does it hurt?"

"No, it feels quite nice to be touched like this, but..."

"Then it doesn't matter."

"This... no! Ah!"

Lin Luo was utterly speechless. He admitted he had witnessed a questionable scene. While visually there was nothing truly dissonant—just one girl touching another girl's feathers—listening only with the ears suggested something else entirely... Well, he committed it to memory: the wings were Setsuna's erogenous zone.

Watching the two play on, utterly oblivious to his presence, Lin Luo felt ignored. But a rare yuri spectacle like this made being ignored perfectly acceptable; it was quite visually appealing.

After a few minutes, Lin Luo noticed several figures moving up the base of the mountain toward them. Though distant, their silhouettes suggested three people. They had likely been drawn by the massive magical energy Mokona emitted.

Lin Luo informed the two girls. "Alright, let's head back, lest everyone worry." Since the necessary actions were complete, there was no need to linger.

"Alright then," Mokona said reluctantly, finally releasing the wings. Setsuna instantly retreated, quickly folding her wings away.

However, Mokona still held the contract card, pouting with regret. "I want a card like that too."

"This is the contract item card for a servant; only servants possess them," Setsuna explained.

"Then I'll become Setsuna's servant!" Mokona declared instantly.

"I'm not a mage," Setsuna replied helplessly.

Mokona looked disappointed, then suddenly seemed to recall something and quickly turned to Lin Luo. "Then I'll become Teacher's servant! That way, I can have one of these cards."

"We'll discuss that later."

The three walked off while talking.

Speaking of contract cards, Lin Luo felt a slight difficulty. He wasn't a mage of this era and hadn't studied its magic. The systems were different, meaning the capabilities would naturally differ too. Mokona becoming his servant seemed unlikely, as learning the magic of this era would be extremely difficult for him, an ancient mage. Setting aside the issue of mutual incompatibility, magic itself wasn't easily learned.

After integrating ancient magic, driving magic power via 'Source' had become instinctual. Trying to re-integrate different systems was almost impossible—not to mention the mutual repulsion factor. However, Mokona's contract item was no less impressive than his own healing spell; it would be a genuine shame to lose it.

Before long, Lin Luo and the girls met up with Negi and the others who had come looking for Mokona. Only when they confirmed Mokona was safe did they relax, and everyone returned to the Association headquarters together.

"Strange..." On the way back, Setsuna vaguely felt she had forgotten something important. After thinking for a long time, she finally realized: When exactly did Teacher Lin Luo and Mokona get together?!

By the time they returned to headquarters, Mikoto soon followed, dragging her exhausted body. Her face was pale and haggard, and her clothes were badly torn, making her look as if she had crawled out of a deep forest. Seeing her appearance, everyone was greatly startled. Lin Luo also felt a strange sense of unease and asked, "What happened to you?"

"Don't even ask. I chased that guy for a day and a night, fought him over a dozen times, and he still managed to slip away. Infuriating. But it's fine; I'm just a little tired. That guy, though, probably won't be able to stand up straight for a week or two," Mikoto muttered casually, then ignored the shocked gazes of the group and headed to her room.

Lin Luo was speechless. Although he didn't know the exact details, it seemed someone had run into terrible luck... Oh well, as long as Mikoto wasn't harmed, that was what mattered.

Meanwhile, in some distant location, a black-clad mage lay weakly on the ground. He reached out a trembling hand, gripping the ankle of the white-haired youth opposite him, and stammered, "Fate, I... I can't go on... Find someone to send me back to the magic world..."

"What's wrong? Your injuries aren't that severe. What happened to make you so miserable?" The white-haired youth was utterly bewildered.

The mage didn't reply, convulsing as if recalling something terrifying. "Don't make me remember! Absolutely do not let me remember! I will never, ever want to see that woman again..."

The white-haired youth tilted his head, completely unable to comprehend the situation.

...

That evening, outside a certain room in the Kansai Sorcery Association Headquarters, a figure stealthily approached. Seizing a moment when no one was watching, he quietly slipped inside.

As soon as he entered, a flash of electrical light shot toward him. As if expecting it, he leaned slightly to the side, then caught the electrical current, murmuring, "It's me."

The light flickered slightly; it was a fair-skinned arm, and its owner, a girl with short, tea-colored hair, blushed slightly upon recognizing the person before her. "W-why are you sneaking into my room?"

"Because I missed you," Lin Luo leaned in gently, pulling the girl into his embrace, and whispered, "It's been a long time."

"What's been a long time?" the girl asked.

"That incident, of course. Haven't we done it in ages?" Lin Luo said to the girl with a wicked smile.

Hearing this, the girl's face instantly flushed scarlet, and she turned her head away. "I, I don't understand what you mean."

"No need to understand it; practice will show you everything. I teach society anyway." Lin Luo gave a faint smile, effortlessly lifting the young woman into his arms, and headed toward the room... At Mahora Academy, they had been quartered separately, leaving no opportunity for intimacy. This school trip, therefore, was something he absolutely could not miss.

"Ah!" The young woman gasped instinctively, but fearing they might be overheard, she immediately clamped a hand over her mouth, turning her head away as if unable to look at Lin Luo's face.

"Relax, I cast a soundproofing barrier before coming in," Lin Luo told her with a grin. With his current abilities, the barrier he erected could muffle a clap of thunder, let alone a mere gasp.

The young woman said nothing, burying her flushed face. She already knew what was about to happen. Despite having done this countless times, she still couldn't help but feel shy whenever such moments arrived.

Lin Luo spoke no more. Setting the young woman down on the bed, he immediately pounced, pressing heavily against her lips, simultaneously stripping away the restraints binding them both... Soon after, the room fell into a profound silence.

...The five-day, five-night school trip was quickly drawing to a close, and the third-year students were already preparing for their return to school. For these ordinary students, the trip had been an exhilarating experience. For certain others, it had been quite taxing. But for Lin Luo, the conclusion was perfectly satisfying. The only slight imperfection was that Fate had not reappeared since that day; he had no idea if she had returned to the magical world or departed elsewhere.

This left him somewhat disappointed. He had been counting on Fate to serve as a sparring partner, a way to test the power of his ancient magic. It seemed he would have to wait for the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament.

"I wonder what surprises this Martial Arts Tournament will bring..." As he packed his luggage for the return journey, Lin Luo pondered. If Chao Rinne's plan unfolded as originally intended, this tournament would be spectacular. He was certainly going to participate; it would be a genuine waste to miss such an opportunity. Evangeline would likely participate too, and even if she didn't, he would sign her up himself—a true Vampire Progenitor free of curses was bound to be fascinating.

Furthermore, although the Maid Leader also maintained the guise of an ordinary person like himself, someone of her caliber might very well enter the tournament. Then there was the ill-tempered Red Wing, plus Misaka, a battle-hungry person who wouldn't possibly sit that out... Lin Luo felt a stirring of anticipation.

But then again, if things played out that way, the Martial Arts Tournament, excluding that Red Wing, might very well devolve into an internal "family brawl"... Should he then go easy on them? This was a serious question.

The time for departure was fast approaching, but just as they were leaving the Kansai Sorcery Association Headquarters, Lin Luo encountered an unexpected person: a white-haired youth... Fate Averruncus!

Seeing him, everyone except Lin Luo immediately adopted a defensive posture. Negi, Asuna, Setsuna, and the others instantly drew their weapons and assumed fighting stances. "You! Are you trying to target Konoka again?!"

"No need to be so tense; I'm not here to fight," Fate stated calmly despite the threats from so many. His gaze swept over the group before settling on Lin Luo. "I wish to invite you to the magical world—no, it's not me inviting you, but my Master who wishes to invite you."

"Huh?" Hearing this, everyone froze, and Lin Luo was utterly bewildered. What was this about? The Creator inviting him to the magical world? Was this some kind of joke?!

"What do you mean?" Lin Luo couldn't help but ask.

"I am merely a messenger. I know nothing else," Fate replied.

"Hmm... I see." Lin Luo stroked his chin in thought. While he wasn't sure how much his presence had altered events, one thing was certain: the current Creator should be Negi's father, Nagi... No, more accurately, Nagi's body had been usurped by the Creator. Although the Creator had been defeated by Nagi before, a fifteen-year-old boy defeating the Creator who invented magic seemed far-fetched, even setting aside the protagonist's halo. Nagi, who had only learned the Creator's magic, defeating the very source of magic seemed almost impossible.

So, it was highly probable that the battle back then was intentionally lost by the Creator, allowing him to seize Nagi's body at the opportune moment. The reason remained unclear, but this hypothesis explained how a weakened Nagi, fresh from a major battle, could defeat a fully powered Creator.

Given the Creator's power, it wasn't surprising he would learn of Lin Luo's existence through his previous encounters with Fate and the others. But why invite him now?

The Creator intended to bring an end to the magical world, but Lin Luo certainly did not share that goal. Moreover, because of Evangeline, he might even have to punch the Creator a few times.

...Could it be about the ancient magic?!

Lin Luo suddenly recalled the passage he had seen in the Book of Origins: The history of annihilation cannot be repeated... Let it end here... Opened by the Creator... For the new world...

If this Creator was that Creator, then as the sole link between two histories, he certainly wouldn't be unfamiliar with the Book of Origins. And since Lin Luo had learned the magic contained within it, it made sense for the Creator to want to meet him, as Lin Luo was the only practitioner of ancient magic in this world.

"So, what is your answer?" Fate asked.

"Teacher, he's definitely trying to trick you! You mustn't go!"

"That white-haired guy is completely evil; nothing good can come of it!"

"He attacked Konoka before, and now he's targeting Teacher Lin Luo!"

Negi and the others spoke up, their hostility toward Fate running deep due to past events. But Fate acted as if he hadn't even noticed them, his eyes fixed only on Lin Luo as he repeated, "I am just a messenger. Attacking the princess was just a transaction, but it's no longer necessary. So, your answer?"

"Hmm, I will go." Lin Luo nodded, a statement that instantly made the faces of those beside him change drastically.

Lin Luo waved his hand, signaling them to remain silent, then smiled at Fate. "I will go, but not right now. Once I resolve the matters here, I will naturally meet with your Master."

"Very well, I shall take my leave then." Fate nodded and turned to go.

"Wait, I haven't finished speaking." Lin Luo called him back, smiling. "You have delivered the message, and I have given you my reply. Now, let's settle the unfinished business between us."

"Unfinished business?" Fate paused, bewildered.

Lin Luo nodded, then held up three fingers. "You have committed three offenses, and I will not let you leave until these transgressions are rectified. First, you repeatedly attacked my students. As a teacher, I cannot allow my students to be bullied, so I must give you a small lesson. Second, what you did to Asuna—as her teacher, I cannot tolerate such behavior, so you must pay a price for that."

The first point seemed reasonable, but when Lin Luo finished the second, not only was Fate perplexed, but even Mana Sakurano and the others looked utterly confused, casting strange glances toward Asuna.

Asuna immediately flushed crimson, whether from anger or embarrassment, and yelled, "I already said nothing was done to me, just that I was stripped naked! How many times do I have to say it?!"

Lin Luo ignored her, raised his third finger, and stated solemnly, "Of course, neither of those two actions caused any substantial harm; thanks to you, we made some progress on our end as well. So, if you apologize, I can forgive you for those. But the third offense is absolutely unforgivable!"

"The third offense?" Everyone was momentarily stunned. Apart from those two incidents, the white-haired youth hadn't committed any other universally heinous acts. What could be so unforgivable?

"Even forgiving what happened to Asuna, Teacher's heart should be quite broad. Could he have done something even more wicked?" Kū Fe murmured.

Asuna was on the verge of collapse, her expression close to tears. "I keep telling you, I was only stripped!"

"What did he do that's unforgivable?" The others disregarded her distress, all focusing on Lin Luo, clearly burning with curiosity.

Fate on the other side also appeared deeply suspicious. He hadn't done much on this trip to the real world. Aside from the attack on Konoka and these current interactions, he had virtually no other contact. As for heinous acts, he hadn't killed anyone.

"You don't know?" Lin Luo asked, observing Fate's expression.

Fate shook his head involuntarily.

"Very well, allow me to tell you." Lin Luo cleared his throat, then pointed at the youth, a tangible killing intent blazing in his eyes, and roared, "Your greatest crime, your most unforgivable transgression... is your name! Don't you know that the name Fate can only be owned by the world's most magnificent Royal Concubine?! And you, you have a real name but willfully stole the Royal Concubine's name! Do you know this is infringement? Do you know this is blasphemy against the Royal Concubine?! Illegally appropriating the Royal Concubine's name is an unforgivable sin! Therefore, I absolutely will not let you leave until you change that name!"

When Lin Luo finished speaking, the atmosphere in the vicinity instantly froze, followed by a series of soft thuds as everyone present collapsed onto the ground.

The most unforgivable offense was his name? Were they serious? Getting arrested for choosing a name? How was anyone supposed to live? And who was this Royal Concubine anyway?

They had lost all capacity for retort.

"Nonsense," Fate stated flatly and turned to leave. He had held some expectation that Lin Luo would reveal a transgression he himself was unaware of, but after listening, he felt utterly detached from the whole thing. What was the word for it? Ah, better not to dwell on it.

"I said, you are not allowed to leave until you change your name!"

Lin Luo roared, instantly lunging forward and launching a punch toward Fate.

: I'm not very satisfied with how this chapter turned out; it's a bit padded, and there might be some lingering bugs that I'll fix later if I remember them... However, I am very pleased with the latter half. In the next chapter: A battle for the sake of the Royal Concubine!