The next day came and after he has done his morning daily routine, Kokonoe came up to him and gave him a set of keys with a smile on his face.
"This is a key to a two-story house and in this note is the address. Hopefully you'll become a great help to the state by sharing some of the magic sequence that you've researched." said Kokonoe and all apprentices of Kyuuchouji Temple appeared, bowing ninety degrees to him with Kokonoe included. "Thank you for sharing your insights in battle techniques, we hope you a long and peaceful life."
Snow gave them a smile as he used Profound Energy to lift their heads up and they saw him doing the same bow to them, "Thank you for making my stay enjoyable as well." before he lifted his head up and bid them farewell.
Comfortably walking down the street with his luggage trailing behind him using magic, he was able to take in the sights of the city now that he had time out of the temple.
The roads are wide and environment clean, he was extremely enjoying the peaceful time but like those of the destructive cults say and he quote, "Perfect is a word that can only be used when the one is nearing its end. It seems the same thing happens here in Japan.".
Slowly turning around, he met blood red eyes and saw a smiling Mayumi who saw how he's not in his uniform with his luggage trailing just behind him.
"Perhaps you were kicked out from home? That is indeed a valid reason for a leave of absence for a few days." she mused as Snow shook his head in denial.
"Are you that free to be able to take a leave of abscene or take a mark of tardiness whenever you want to? I'll have you know that there are other much important matters to be settled." he said but it seems Mayumi wasn't mentally present as she was humming while walking with him.
He gave up and he would be lying if he said that he doesn't enjoy Mayumi's company but there's still the wariness of the Saegusa and he wants to eliminate the degree of wariness in order to truly enjoy but that doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy what he has right now.
But theres a difference just like how you have fun and how you truly have fun, there's subtle difference between the two that may seem so small but is actually so large.
When the two finally reached his house, the doors opened automatically as it seems to have been equipped with body recognition and to scan whoever has the key.
He saw the first floor where there is the lounge, the kitchen, the dine, the bath with the laundry room before truly entering the bath, and a guest room.
The second floor has the masters bedroom which has a small personal balcony, two other bedroom, a comfort room, before one can see a huge balcony where there is a couch set up as well as tables and some appliances.
"Outdoor cooking appliances, good stuff." he caressed the wok before frowning when he saw the stove using magic sequence in order to create electricity to power it up. 'To cook using magic... truly unacceptable!'
When he got back to the first floor, he saw Mayumi using her terminal to do something before he soon heard a doorbell. She stood up and received something before looking at Snow who's looking at the two bento box on her hand.
"Don't worry, it came from the main house so there's no poison." he chuckled at the mention of poison but he simply used the Movement Systematic-type Magic to let the bento float towards the dining table and set it there with a compact Oscillation Systematic-type Magic to keep its heat from passing.
He pulled out a set of scented candle and placed them in specific points of the house using Movement Systematic-type Magic before smiling at Mayumi. "Let's eat then."
As the both were eating, Snow felt his own terminal vibrating as he continued what he was doing but a small magic sequence came to life behind him as he mentally conversed with the person on the other side.
'What is it, Mari? I'm surprised you got my terminal ID so quickly.' he asked.
[Tell me Snow, is Mayumi together with you right now?] judging by the tone of her voice, he knows it's an important matter and if he is to go by her calling him instead of Mayumi then this is conversation must not be heard by Mayumi.
'Yeah, she's together with me. The situation?'
[That's good. As for the situation, Juumonji told the student council members that the Ten Master Clans have decided to deal with you in the shadows.]
[The only clans that doesn't want to deal with you is the Yotsuba, the Saegusa, and also the Juumonji clans. These three clans seems to have judged your worth to be more valuable as an ally than to become your enemy.]
[The other clans will most likely use Egalite to deal with you as well. Do you have any acquaintance that are probably going to be in danger with their movements?]
'I do, but don't worry I got him covered.' he did not tell them that it is Mizuki since there might be someone hacking the terminal on the other side. It's best to be cautious with how technologically advanced these people are and how much influence the Ten Master Clans have.
[Good, keep Mayumi safe. Also, please enjoy breakfast~! I know your enjoying it~.] she tried to tease him but to no avail as Snow replied with, 'Yeah I'm enjoying her company alright. See you around and keep your eyes peeled to the movements of the Egalite and Ten Master Clans, maybe you'll be involved as well after giving intel to an anomaly like me.'
[Don't joke around, you're a junior of mine so of course I'll help you. With limits of course.]
'That's reassuring.' he mentally smiled before hanging up the call as he finished his meal at the same time as Mayumi. "I'll clean this up, you sort out your luggage. We can tour the city after that!"
"Be honest, you just want to go out rather than going to school." he sighed before he used a Weight-type and Movement-type Compound Magic on his luggage letting it float with him upstairs, he had already sorted his things right after that since he didn't have that much of stuff other than the things he has inside his storage ring.
"Do I need to buy anything?"
--- --- --- --- --- ---
He didn't know that a 'tour' for Mayumi means shopping so he has a lot of Mayumi's things inside his storage ring right after she knew that he is capable of storing anything to an independent space.
She's not using his money so that's a plus for him since he was planning on purchasing a few materials that will be used in making his own set of devices, maybe even a few others to use for formations.
"Hmm?" his senses caught a rare sight as he pulled Mayumi's hand unknowingly as his mind was extremely focused on a certain alley, Mayumi saw his face and understand it was unintentional and at the same time know that something caught his attention.
He opened up both his Information Domain and Eternal Night Domain, both are now at LVL93 and capable of sensing four meter radius (for Information Domain) and nine meter radius (for Eternal Night Domain) respectively.
He casted a Weight Systematic-type Spell, carrying Mayumi and jumped towards the roof tops as his senses tracked something.
'What is it that caught his attention I wonder?' Mayumi ignored the fact that she was carried like a princess but was more concerned at what Snow found and five minutes later, they stopped as Snow found what he was looking for.
A sword was floating and there was no sign of any magic sequence around them which made Mayumi extremely curious but Snow stopped her from getting anywhere near it.
"... I have only heard of it but it seems it is true, that the shape of a Celestial Spirit Blood Essence is the shape of what they can form into. And there's two of them right here." he mused as a black crimson pagoda came to life behind him and with the Royal Wood Spirit Blood Essence, attracted the Celestial Spirit Blood Essence and he had absorbed two drops before looking at Mayumi.
"You need to achieve the second stage before you're capable of this." he said as he has a nearly infinite amount of drops of the blood essence he has since they are nourished by Nature's Pagoda and generate more drops as they become much stronger at the same time becoming pure than any other.
[ Nature's Pagoda has received Celestial Spirit Blood Essence (60% Purity). ]
He nods as the third tile of his pagoda now contains an illusory drop of the Celestial Spirit Blood Essence before he felt a tap at his right shoulder making him turn around.
"What was that?" Mayumi asked as she was quite curious about what the dangers are if she was to get closer to that sword.
"That is a blood essence, it's required to have one to get to the next stage of the pagoda I taught you." he waved his hands as his jet black hair turned green and his crimson eyes turned emerald as he exuded not the eerie aura he has usually but an aura of life!
"This is what happens if you refine your blood essence, that's why the second stage is also called Myriad Transformation. It transforms the practitioner down to the very blood that's running through one's veins, the process is called Shift." he explained as he caught sight of her hands snaking its way to his long vibrant green hair that extended when he shifted to Royal Wood Spirit Blood Essence.
"You look... different but still handsome, even better maybe." she woke up from her thoughts as she moved back to make space since she came too increasingly close to his space. Not that Snow seems to mind that much.
'We just met yesterday after all. It would be strange if I suddenly became close to him.' she thought with a small disappointed face which Snow took notice quickly so he just caressed her hair before shifting back to his Royal Nightshade Blood Essence.
"By the way, nothing really changes when you shift to another blood essence." he said but internally, he kept the detail that shifting to another blood essence will improve ones comprehension towards the affinity of the blood essence. In Royal Nightshade, it would be darkness and for Royal Wood Spirit, it is both life and nature.
If it's not obvious to the others, he was able to escape pursuers because of the subtle changes the shift gives him and he stayed as a Royal Wood Spirit majority of his time thus his techniques.
Mayumi nodded before seeing themselves near the restaurant she placed reservations to and dragged Snow with him, but not before the both of them applied Weight Reduction Systematic-type Magic unto themselves and got themselves back on the ground.
When they entered the establishment, what greeted them is a quiet restaurant with quite the romantic and peaceful atmosphere that those both single and taken would enjoy.
It is much appreciated by its customers with the rich brown furniture and the old brick walls, giving it somewhat an old yet relaxing feeling they enjoy.
They are then guided to their table as Snow had some research about being a gentleman and assisted Mayumi to seat first before he took his own.
"Can't say I'm not impressed with your choice of fine dining Mayumi." he was astounded to see that even the sunlight adds in beauty to the restaurant and he could see that Mayumi is enjoying as well, he could see it in her eyes.
"You should reward me then, I did my best in finding a restaurant like these." she smiled as her eyes glimmered with hope and glee, he was thinking of a proper reward before his mind thought back to what he had read back in the library cafe.
"Shall I start perhaps calling you Yumi then?"
He didn't expect Mayumi's reaction as her blush could be seen but that just increased her charm for him as he smiled for doing the right call.
"Okay~!"