A misfit's work is never done [Volume 1 End]

Once the dust had settled, Aino let out a sigh as she stepped out from her hiding place. "I didn't get to do a thing."

"Watching... Watching is a thing," Doku mumbled.

"You're the last person I want to hear consoling from!"

Doku pulled out his sword and began prodding the bodies of Akumama and the priestess.

"No need, I doubt they've got any hidden tricks," Shuna grumbled as she emerged from the shadows.

"You were here?" Yurika asked.

"You think I wouldn't be shadowing such a high-profile noble? With her personally showing up, it's natural we'd be suspicious as to her reasons. That all being said, I didn't think you'd actually manage to kill her so easily."

"Is that a problem?"

"Not if you play it from Ema's angle, no. You're lucky this priestess just so happened to be the one that could incriminate Akumama, though."

"If it wasn't?"

"You'd be wanted for murdering an elite noble. Not like it would effect your status at TIUMP as secession politics are all the rage in the nobility, but it would pain a bigger target on your back."

"I think the Priestess Order going down makes my life so much easier. I might even be able to just slack it and graduate normally now that I don't need to worry about getting assimilated."

"Spoken to soon," Shuna grumbled as she showed Yurika her phone.

Yurika began scowling as she read the headline. "'Yurika Nihei believed to be guilty of murdering and drugging mother according to anonymous source'... Shit, I thought she was still alive after I kicked her."

"She might have been, or might not have. What matters is now you have a murder charge over your head, even if the ones for the 12 priestesses and Akumama are annulled. Step outside the boundaries, and I have no doubt you'll be jumped by police forces aligned with the nobility."

"Alright, take back what I said; I'm becoming grand magistrate and revamping the class system."

"But I'm home free now," Shoko proudly huffed.

Shuna rolled her eyes and flipped to a different article on her phone.

"'Aria Kujihan, matriarch of the Kujihan clan, dis- DISOWNS DAUGHTER, SHOKO, ON GROUNDS OF ILLEGAL ACTION!?"

"No taking it easy now. Just because the Priestess Order is gone, doesn't mean your life no longer has any problems in it. Back to the dorms."

"Yes, ma'am."

As Yurika and Shoko dejectedly trudged away, Aino, Yabei, and Calli followed close behind.

"Th- This will go as Ema said, right?" Yabei trembled.

"If it doesn't, I played no part in this, so I'm fine," Aino huffed.

"I'll make sure to testify that you gave orders like the "general" you are if it comes to that," Calli growled.

Shuna, meanwhile stood over Akumama's corpse and frowned. "Glutonaria... One of the seven deadly artifacts of the world, said to consume all mana that comes it's way. It can amplify the power it stores and "regurgitate" it so to say with 10 times its original power. It's most fearsome ability is its ability to seal mana, effectively rendering a mage magicless if caught in its grasp. To think it could fodderize even a mage like Akumama, who was essentially the artifact minus the anti-mana properties. Those anti-mana properties make Glutonaria impossible for a mage to wield, but Yabei, who was born completely manaless, can use it with ease. So that's why the master made such a gambit," she thought.

...

18 years ago...

A young Shuna, clad in a maid dress, watched as Duke Erito held a newborn Yabei in his arms.

"Completely manaless... This is perfect. Shuna, ask me why," Duke Erito ordered.

"Why is it perfect?"

"Because, now Yabei can use Glutonaria. This is one of the most powerful artifacts of them all, one that can bring even the strongest mage to their knees! If she's bred relying on nothing but this, she'll become strong. Now, your orders are as follows; become an agent within TIUMP. When the time comes, you'll be tasked with guiding Yabei to..."

...

In the present, Shuna clutched her head. "Sealing my memories was the best course of action, but everything coming back and merging with all the memories I've made with those here at TIUMP. Ah, that's the risk of being a double agent. To stay loyal to the friend I've made, or loyal to the master that wishes for me to groom Yabein into the one that will kill Miyuu. It's always a life of problems and hard choices for me," she thought.

"You're clutching... Are you... possessed?" Doku asked.

"No, I'm fine. Now get your ass back to the dorm, the MALE dorm! I hear one more report of you strolling into the girl's dorm, and it's the dungeon on the spot!"

"The dungeon... The dungeon... is dark... The dark... is my power..."

Shuna rolled her eyes and slugged Doku in the gut, downing him in an instant. "Fine, two days in the dungeon."

...

In the early hours of the morning, Ema met with Jenkins out in front of the school.

"Young mistress, it seems the madam has passed, thus, you are to secede her as head," Jenkins bowed.

"But if I do it immediately, I'd have to quit school, yes?" Ema smirked.

"It is as you say. Being head of the family is a full-time role."

"Then keep the spot vacant. I'll manage affairs through you as proxy."

"Might I inquire-"

"I can now become head any time, but grand magistrate? I can only be that if I stick to the grind here."

"Pining for higher glory. As you wish."

...

As class rolled around, Yurika let out a sigh as she stretched out her arms.

"What's with your attitude?" Calli grumbled.

"Oh, you know. I get the biggest problem of my young adult life out of the way, but that's just stage 1. I really did think all the pressure was gone once the Priestess Order was abolished, but nope, gotta study hard again."

"At least Ema kept her word and threw her mother under the bus. If she hadn't, we'd be screwed."

"Oh I'm still screwed, thank you, very much!" Shoko fumed as she stared at her phone.

"Oi, quiet, and put your phone away," Shuna snarled.

"That demon milf. She must've told my mom about the hacking. Now if I want any status back, I have to become grand magistrate, otherwise... Magitraz... I'd be eaten alive in that hell of a prison!"

"I do know the spell for sealing mouths, so shut up, or I gag you," Shuna warned.

Shoko sighed and slumped her head down onto the desk.

"At least you don't need to learn ice magic," Aino grumbled as she stared at her notes.

"Uh, can I copy your notes?" Yabei asked.

"Why?"

"Because my hand's too shaky to write," Yabei trembled as she held up her phone.

"Tch, do it after class."

"The first years... My juniors... so much potential," Doku mumbled as he appeared in the back of the room.

"That would be my line," Miyuu smiled as she appeared behind Doku, startling him to the point where he tumbled down and let out a cry.

"DOKU! You're not supposed to be out of the dungeon!" Shuna fumed as shadowy hands rose from the ground and dragged Doku down into a puddle of shadow.

"What a lively coven. It may be comprised of misfits, but these misfits have the potential to reshape the world. But potential and results are two different things. Try to impress me, Misfit coven," Miyuu smiled before vanishing in a puff of glitter.

[Volume 1 End]