The next day, noon.
Waking up slowly from the sofa, Naoki rubbed his eyes.
"Good day, Big Brother."
Gray's voice sounded in his ear. Opening his eyes, Naoki immediately saw her sitting in front of him.
"Hmm... good day, Gray... why didn't you wake me up this morning?"
"Because... I also just woke up not long ago." Gray blushed slightly, "The time in the two worlds is different, I haven't been able to adapt well, so I slept until now."
"I see. Where are Add and Ruby?"
Gray looked at the table. Add and Ruby lay quietly there, although with their body shapes, it wasn't clear what could be called lying down.
Standing up, Gray said, "Then I'll prepare lunch for Big Brother. When we came in last night, I saw a restaurant on the first floor. They should be able to bring some food up. In the meantime, Big Brother, why don't you take a shower first? What would Big Brother like for lunch?"
"Whatever, as long as it's edible. Don't take too much of what we have to pay for, take as much as you want of what's free."
Although there would be a total reward of seven million dollars after collecting all the Class Cards, Naoki didn't plan to just take seven million. Including Ruby's mental harassment fee, damage fees from scratches during fights, a reward for saving the world in a sense... Later, Naoki would have to calculate it one by one with Zelretch.
He used to only be able to work part-time to earn money, but now, he figured he should have a decent job—opening an office, earning money by accepting Magus requests seemed like a good option, after all, most Magus were rich.
But right now, Naoki still didn't have much money, so for the meal he just mentioned, take twice Gray's portion of what they had to pay for, and take his own portion of what was free.
"By the way, Sapphire said last night she wanted to find someone to be a magical girl... it should be Miyu. I wonder if she's found her yet."
After separating from Luvia not long after, Sapphire met Miyu in the park. If there were deviations now, he didn't know if there would be problems.
'Go take a look at the situation after lunch.'
Just as Naoki thought so—
*KNOCK!* *KNOCK!* *KNOCK!*
Knocking on the door sounded from outside.
Sticking his head out of the bathroom, Naoki, with a toothbrush in his mouth, walked to the door and opened it: "Did you forget something? Gray... eh?"
What appeared before him was Sapphire floating in the air, and a black-haired girl wearing worn-out sportswear.
[Excuse me, Naoki-sama, good afternoon. I have already found another suitable person to become a magical girl and have returned.]
Sapphire greeted politely as usual, while beside her, the black-haired girl—Emiya Miyu—nodded gently: "Excuse me, my name... my name is Miyu, I am now a magical girl who made a contract with Sapphire."
"So you really found her, huh..."
Naoki unconsciously muttered softly.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Several tens of minutes later.
Seeing Gray wearing a pink lace witch hat on her head, transformed into a magical girl, and Miyu standing beside her holding Sapphire, also transformed into a magical girl, Rin and Luvia unconsciously held their foreheads and sighed in unison, then turned to look at Naoki who was eating ravenously there.
"Suddenly being called like ordering takeout, I thought there was a big problem..."
"For us, it is a big problem, but... Gray is one thing, but what's wrong with this kid?"
What Luvia meant was of course Miyu.
[Allow me to answer.]
Sapphire flew over to the two of them.
[After I entrusted Nee-sama to Naoki-sama last night, I went to look for Luvia-sama's successor. Then, some time ago, I found Miyu-sama sleeping on a park bench. Miyu-sama seemed very interested in the Class Cards and volunteered to help collect them.]
"Sapphire, did you explain the danger of collecting the Class Cards to her?" Luvia asked again, "Although there's the highest level of physical and magical protection from you, letting a little kid fight..."
"It's okay." Miyu interrupted Luvia, "It's okay if it's dangerous, let me collect the Class Cards, I will collect them all."
"But—"
Luvia still wanted to say something, but before that, Naoki raised his hand, gesturing for her to be quiet first, put down the empty rice bowl, and then said: "Regarding the danger, I already mentioned it last night. I'll take responsibility for the fighting myself. Gray and Miyu just need to open the way to the Mirror World, it won't be too dangerous."
"Naoki-san will take responsibility himself?"
Miyu frowned in confusion.
"But, with human strength, it's impossible to fight a Heroic Spirit. I'll take care of collecting the cards—"
"Humans can't fight Heroic Spirits? Why are you saying such a thing after just seeing such a scene?" Naoki suddenly asked, "Although he ultimately lost, your brother did it, fought a Heroic Spirit with human strength."
"...!"
Miyu's small face was instantly filled with shock.
'Onii-chan? Why does he know about Onii-chan? Could it be he—'
"I have nothing to do with Ainsworth, I just happen to know about you and your brother."
"Even about Ainsworth... Naoki-san, you..."
Miyu began to distrust Naoki. Although she shouldn't trust a stranger she had just met in the first place, after he mentioned her brother and Ainsworth, not only was he untrustworthy, Miyu even wanted to run away from here immediately.
Seeing the obvious vigilance and doubt on her face, Naoki sighed softly: "I understand what you're thinking, but please trust me one hundred percent, I am definitely not your enemy, Miyu."
"Ugh..."
[Wait wait! I'm starting to not understand what Young Master and Miyu are talking about! Why did it suddenly get so tense?]
"Big Brother, do you know about Miyu?" Gray asked, "Could it be that when you touched the Root before, you also gained knowledge about Miyu?"
"The Root?!"
Rin and Luvia, who were already full of doubts, finally couldn't hold back.
"What do you mean by touching the Root?! Don't tell me you're a Magus who has reached the Root?! Or could it be you're a Magician?!"
"Please explain it to me in detail! Not just about yourself, but also about Miyu and the Class Cards! My instincts tell me there's a big secret in all of this!"
"Don't bring your face so close to me!"
*SMACK!* *SMACK!*
Giving Rin and Luvia a flick on the head each, Naoki sighed: "I knew you guys would react like this. Well, it's not a big deal either, it's fine if I tell you, but before I speak, you two swear to me first."
"Swear?"
"The words you are about to hear, you must not mention to anyone other than yourselves without Natsukawa Naoki's permission—swear that in the way of a magician, then I will tell you."