Chapter 21: Wanna Join Us?

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Y/N L/N was finally accepted back into Luna Nova Academy. At first, the professors tried to refuse him... by trying to close the door in his face. But thanks to Diana, who told how he helped her return to school, he was accepted back, but with the condition that Y/N would follow certain rules. There were only two: he mustn't use his power outside of the classroom and he mustn't harm his classmates.

Whatever it was, he and his friends were very happy to see each other again... Even when Amanda tried to beat him up for hiding his secret from everyone.

Y/N: Q_Q Please! Wait! Can we talk about this?

Amanda: No!!!

As for Ursula, then... Have you ever seen that someone was so strongly attached to someone? The professor asked him to come to her after school to talk, to which the boy agreed. But instead of talking, she was pinching his ears.

Ursula: I told you to be more careful!

Y/N: Q_Q I am sorry!!!

But of course, she calmed down after that, hugged him, and didn't want to let him go into this harsh world anymore.

Ursula: I missed you so much.

Y/N: I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.

Later, he fell asleep in her room with her and stayed there all night.

He was dreaming about an event from his past. Like most of the time.

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A red-haired and bearded man, with a robust body and full of tattoos, was standing in front of the ten-year-old Y/N.

The man was drunk and was not thinking about what he was doing or saying. He staggered and his words were cut off between hiccups.

Red-haired man: You- Hip! -wanted to steal my hammer! I saw how you picked it up off the- Hip! -ground!

Y/N: Q_Q You dared me to do it!

Red-haired man: Hip! You will suffer- Hip! -the wrath of- Hip! -thunder!

Y/N: Q_Q Damn alcohol!

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The wizard was having that dream/memory. He was going to continue suffering if it weren't for Akko's voice waking him up. Akko and Professor Ursula were talking about a new Word: Lyonne. One of the most precious words there is. Only those who understand its true meaning can see the light at the end of their paths.

Akko: Professor, have you seen Y/N anywhere? I can't find him.

Ursula: W-who?! Y/N?! No, I didn't! Maybe he is practicing magic right now? You know how powerful he is, right?

The teacher nervously flexed her biceps.

Akko: Right. Thank you. I will see you later. I have to go find information about the Word! Bye!

Ursula: G-Goodbye!

She left the room and Y/N approached her from behind.

Y/N: Only two Words left...

Ursula: Eeeeh!!! Don't scare me like that!

Y/N: Sorry.

Ursula sighed when the wizard asked when she would tell Akko who she really was.

Ursula: What exactly? That we're a couple or that I'm her idol, which she's always looking for?

Y/N: Both of them.

Ursula: I don't know. Maybe when the time will come.

The boy hugged her from behind.

Y/N: Everything will be fine.

She turned her head, smiled and kissed him on the left cheek.

Ursula: Thank you for supporting.

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In the cafeteria...

Y/N: She didn't want you to go to Wagandea? Why?

Akko: I know why. Because she is such a worrywart. She's always so timid and nervous. How am I supposed to take her seriously?

Y/N: -_- Don't call her like that. She is older than you.

Akko: So what?! What if she just overreacting?!

Y/N: I am doubting at that. Ursula knows more than you, so take seriously her words.

Akko:... And?! You are the same age as us and you still know more than anyone in this... um... dimension. That means you don't have to be old to be smart.

The wizard was going to reply, but he didn't know how to respond to that argument.

Y/N:... Touché.

Y/N sighed, turned his head, and noticed how every student there stared directly at him. He deadpanned and whispered:

Y/N: How long have they been looking at me like that?

Sucy: Since you came here.

Lotte: I think they are just curious.

Sucy: Or not...

Sucy gives the boy a newspaper.

Y/N: -_-

⟨Is the return of Y/N a threat or advantage to Luna Nova?⟩

The wizard turned his head to Wangari while she awkwardly waved to him. The wizard returned her waved with his signature expression.

Y/N: -_- Are they all kidding me? They look at me as a monster.

Lotte: Y/N, did you forget what I told you at the first of school? "Just ignore them."

Y/N: -_- ... Anyway, what are you two think about me?

Lotte: Well... It was unexpected, but...

Lotte's eyes sparkled.

Lotte: It's amazing that we have a superhero from another world in our school!

Y/N: -_- I'm not a superhero, but thank you very much, Lotte.

Lotte: Can you demonstrate us your powers?

Y/N: Well... Teachers warned me, so...

Lotte made pleading eyes while intertwining their fingers.

Lotte: Please!

Y/N:... Fine. But once.

Y/N waved his hand and in second, beautiful flowers grew on all the tables, from which all the girls were delighted. A rose and a sunflower grew on the table of the Red Team.

Lotte: It's so cool!

Akko sniffed the Rose.

Akko: -_- Yeah. Kinda...

Sucy: What about-

Before Sucy could complain, a rotten mushroom of dark purple color jumped out in front of her. She blinked in surprise.

Sucy: This species is not known to me...

Y/N: That's because it's not from here.

The witch tried to take the mushroom, but the wizard beat her to it.

Y/N: Don't touch. Otherwise, you'll rot alive too. The only way to get rid of it is to burn it.

He burned the mushroom and blew away the remains. The girls around made a sound of praise and clapped, seeing his abilities.

Y/N: Thank you! Thank you!.... You all must be my first fans in a long time.

Lotte: See now? They don't think you are a monster. They just don't know much about you.

Y/N: Maybe you are right. I-

Suddenly, someone covered his eyes with their hands and asked.

???: Guess who?

The wizard thought.

Y/N: Dr. Herupu?!

???:... Who?

Y/N: My childhood psychologist! You have helped me solve many of my problems! What are you doing here?!

Akko: •_•

Lotte: •_•

Sucy: I can't be surprised anymore.

???: No... It's me.

When the wizard turned around, he was disappointed to see the rebel of the academy in front of him.

Y/N: Oh no. It's just Amanda.

Smack

Y/N: -_- Ouch.

Amanda: Hmph. What's up?

Y/N: I'm okay.

Everyone froze from the uncomfortable silence and didn't know what to say.

Amanda: We need to talk in private?

Y/N:... ·_· Why? We can talk her-

Amanda: I said... Private.

Y/N:... Alright. See you later, girls.

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Both magicians came out outside the school next to the statue. The wizard was afraid that Amanda would try to challenge him. But he was surprised when she turned to Y/N with a grin.

Amanda: Dude! You are the strongest one! It's cool!!! You know everything about magic and can beat every single student here!

Y/N: About that...

Amanda: Come after me! We have to have some fun! Let's blow up something or prank Akko! I do that sometimes.

Y/N: No.

Amanda: What!? Why?!

Y/N: The headmistress showed me the rules that I have to follow. And if...

Amanda: Rules. Fools. Who cares at all? When the hags aren't around anything is allowed.

Y/N: -_- No.

Amanda: Oh c'mon, dude! I want to see what you can do! Don't you want to have fun at least once?

Y/N: -_- No.

Amanda:... You have such power, but you don't have fun? This is stupid.

Y/N: This is called having common sense, dear, deal with it. No means no.

Amanda gritted her teeth as the boy looked at his nails and "chewed a bubblegum" like a stereotypical sassy girl.

Amanda: Grrr...

Anyway, she smirked.

Amanda: Whatever. But I hope that one day we will have so much fun that the earth will tremble under us.

Y/N: Dream, girl, dream.

The rebel pretended to be surprised.

Amanda: Being sassy, I see.

Y/N: What do you mean?

The wizard pretended to be sawing his nails. Amanda chuckled and hit his shoulder.

Amanda: You know what? I am happy that you come back! See you later! Have some mercy on Diana!

Y/N: -_-

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Y/N, many years ago.

Black Lord: AAAAAAAAAAAH!!

The man of darkness was thrown towards a large rock, cracking it from the impact.

Black Lord: Impossible!! It's cannot be!! How can there be someone with so much strength?!

Looking forward, the evil being looked at a boy with torn clothes, deep cuts and blood. The young man looked tired and very hurt, but not as much as the Black Lord. That young man was walking towards the Black Lord.

Y/N: I don't know. What if we ask someone who knows?

The Black Lord tried to back away, but the large rock prevented him from doing so.

Black Lord: W-wait, we can negotiate!! We can be partners!! I can have half the universe and you the other half!! What's more, you can choose first!!

Y/N: What, exactly?

Black Lord: Whatever you want!!

The boy was left thinking.

Y/N: Can you... help me find my parents?

The Black Lord was speechless.

Black Lord: Your parents?

Y/N: Yes. I really want to hear from them.

The Black Lord had no idea that this could be his wish. But it occurred to him to use it against him.

Black Lord: S-Sure. Come on, take my hand... and I will help you.

The kid approached to be in front of him. He looked at him on the ground. Hopefully, he reached his hand towards the Black Lord's. When he took it, the Black Lord smirked.

Black Lord: You fool!! Take this!!

That man pulled the child and began to hit him against the ground several times.

Black Lord: Hahahaha!!

Y/N: Argh!!

The boy was whipped.

Y/N: You-

BAM

Y/N: -said-

BAM

Y/N: -you-

BAM

Y/N: -would-

BAM

Y/N: -help-

BAM

Y/N: -me!!

Black Lord: I lied!! It was your mistake that killed you, and I will be the master of the universe!! Of the two, one will come out alive!!

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Y/N went back to his girlfriend's room to talk to her about Croix. She didn't immediately agree. The teacher said that once they were inseparable friends, but everything changed after Woodward gave her The Shiny Rod. Out of envy, Croix began to think Ursula's idea of making people happier was nonsense and that's why she was so interested in Y/N.

Y/N: That's rough... Envy blinds everyone. I can relate to you.

Ursula: What do you mean?

Y/N: In all my "adventures", I've seen some of my friends and allies betray me to get my powers, but they didn't succeed. Some are now in a cage, some would no longer breathe, and the fate of some is unknown.

Ursula: Oh, sweetheart...

Ursula opened her arms wide and wrapped him in a strong embrace. Y/N felt a large amount of warmth from which a soft smile appeared on his face. He hugged her back, putting his head on top of hers. This would have continued like this if Ursula's pet, Alcor, hadn't entered the room.

Alcor: Caw! Caw!

Ursula: What the matter, Alcor?

Alcor: Caw! Caw!

Y/N/Ursula: Croix took Akko?!

Ursula: I'm after her!

Y/N: I'll go with you. Who knows what might happen?

She stared at him a bit before responding.

Ursula: Fine. But I'm begging you to be more careful.

Y/N: Don't worry.

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The wizard and witch abruptly flew out of the portal into the forbidden forest. In the place, what caught the most attention was a huge tree that went beyond the clouds.

Y/N: Is that Wagandea?!

Ursula: Yes! Akko must be there!

Y/N: It looks very old... URSULA!

Ursula: Huh?!

One of Croix's drones pushed her off balance and headed down.

Y/N: Ursula!

When the professor managed to raise her head after a heavy fall, she saw her ex-friend with the same grin.

Croix: Do you remember, Chariot? When we first come to this forest? I remember it all too clearly.

Suddenly, Y/N landed from the sky and swung his right fist straight at the witch. But she was ready for it and thanks to those strange cubes she repelled his powerful blow.

Y/N: Croix!

Croix: Y/N...

Y/N: Why are you doing this?! What do you want?! The staff?!

Croix: No, silly. I have no more need for that toy anymore.

Y/N: Then why?

Croix grinned widely.

Croix: It's because Akko is the last hope of Ursula's dream.

Y/N: Grrr... Listen well, you nerdy girl! I-!

A black entity jumped out of nowhere and quickly dragged the wizard away. Croix remained composed and mocked.

Croix: I'm listening.

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The teenager bounced off the ground because of the great force that pushed him. Fortunately, the tree in his path stopped him and he made a sound of pain.

Y/N: Ouch.

Grabbing the back of his head, he got to his feet and looked ahead. He saw a dark scary creature on all fours, whose form could be called both liquid and solid. Its fur melted his skin and dripped to the ground. It had no eyes, just a mouth with sharp teeth and claws at the end of its fingers.

Y/N: The fuck?

The creature laughed very loudly, which attracted the teenager's attention. In his laughter, several voices could be heard at once.

Y/N: You can talk? Who are you?

The creature stopped laughing, but didn't remove the toothy grin.

Monster: It's me! Baba Yaga!

The boy's eyes widened.

Y/N: Furui?.... ._. You've become less ugly.

Monster: Idiot! I'm talking through a monster!

Y/N: ·_· Ow... This is your new weapon? Not that I wouldn't have seen something like this before.

Monster: Not at all. This is the effect of my old potion, which you poured out after you killed me. It wasn't ready yet, so nothing happened then.

Y/N: And you think you can beat me with this?

The wizard approached the creature.

Y/N: It will take me literally one strike.

Swinging his fist, the teenager hit the creature through the head and his hand came out from the other side.

Y/N: Nothing complicated. It is only...

The wizard pulled on his arm, but he did not come off the creature.

Y/N: Uh...

The wizard tried again.

Y/N: Wait a second.

The wizard made another attempt.

Y/N: ._. ...........

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven and eight more times he tried, but he couldn't get his arm out.

Y/N:..... -_- .....

He made one last attempt...

Y/N:...... ·_· Fuck.

But he couldn't.

Monster: Not very lucky... DIE!!!

It brought its paw to Y/N's face and a dark light emitted from it.

Y/N: HELL NO!

After this, a large amount of dark energy shot at the wizard so bright that anyone would have closed their eyes. The powerful beam of energy lasted for a few seconds before it finally began to fade. Monster got shocked seeing that Y/N simply leaned his head back to avoid the deadly blast of energy.

Y/N: -_- Bad aim.

Monster: IMPOSSIBLE!

Y/N: -_-

The wizard pushed off with his feet from the creature's face, pulling out his hand. Landing on the ground, he looked at his hand and then at the threat.

Y/N: Not so surprising.

Suddenly, from different directions, small dark drops crept up to the monster and began to penetrate its skin. After a few seconds, it grew even bigger and growled so much that the branches of the trees began to shake.

Y/N: Alright.

He cracked his neck.

Y/N: Let's do it.

Y/N rushed forward with a large energy ball in his right hand. The creature didn't wait to be killed, so he grew a bunch of long arms and tried to damage the teenager. Leaping into the air, the wizard dodged the incoming attacks.

Y/N: 0_o It can grow and enlarge its hands?

After landing, he threw the ball at the monster's head. The fresh hole in its head healed as quickly as it formed.

Y/N: Hm... What about fire?

He raised his hands and the flame headed towards the creature like a breeze. It dodged with a yell, but one of the hands still came under fire. The creature growled in pain as its hand turned to dust.

Y/N: Yeah! No one has ever survived the fire!

It growled again and grew more arms on its body, which immediately rushed to Y/N. He, in turn, stood on his hands and began to repel the attacks, slowly getting closer to the monster. After enough time, he brought both hands and released the fire forward. The creature screamed in pain like a demon and turned into dust.

Y/N: Yep... Weak as water... It was too easy. Easy as pie.

Croix: This is surprising. There is nothing that can beat you.

Y/N looked at her irritably and asked:

Y/N: Really, Mrs. Obvious? I didn't know.

Croix:...

Y/N: Well...

The wizard lit his eyes and hands with fire.

Y/N: It's time to remember how the ancestors of witches suffered.

She raised her open hand, stopping him from attacking.

Croix: I have an offering.

Y/N: -_- I'm not interested in anything but stopping your breath right here.

Croix: Just listen. If you refuse, you can do whatever you want with me.

Y/N: Hmm... You have a few minutes.

Croix: Join us.

Y/N: Huh?

Croix: Help us to take over the world.

Y/N: -_- And why the fuck should I do this?

Croix: I know your past, that's why I offered it to you. Just imagine what you will do after you get half the world. Furui may want to kill you, but I... I believe that you are the rarest rarity of humanity and the world of magic. With the help of my technology, Furui's magic, and your abilities, we can easily take over the world.

Croix offered him a hand.

Croix: Join us-

The teenager slapped her hand, thereby responding to her offer.

Y/N: -_- For a girl who used to be the best student at the Academy, you're pretty stupid. Even though you are a "genius" here, you had a stereotypical villain story, and were able to find out my secret... I will always fight for justice. I'm not here for praise or applause. Not for glory or power over the world. I just want to finish what I started and live like a normal person. That's why I'm here to kill the bitch who prevented me from achieving that! And I will do it! Whether you want it or not! And I assure you, Croix, you know nothing about me! You don't know anything about my past! And don't try to find out!

Croix was silent at first. She didn't think he was going to reject her offer. Furthermore, she was struck by the complete change in attitude when he said those last words. Bringing up the subject of his past may be one of his least favorite things, and Croix could tell that. Croix sighed.

Croix: You have chosen the path of Chariot...

And having said this, Croix wanted to inquire about his past.

Croix: Tell me, have you ever snapped?

The wizard blinked, his expression annoyed.

Y/N: What?

Croix: Were you so furious that you almost became a common threat to both good and evil?

The wizard's gaze hardened at the question.

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Retrospective, a short time ago...

Y/N: I am... The Predator...

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Y/N: It's not your business.

Croix: No... Just tell me. It will stay between you and me. Remember what I said? Soul to soul.

Y/N:... I was wrong about you.

Croix: Seriously?

Y/N: Yeah. You are not pretty stupid... You are a living definition of the word "airhead" if you think I will tell you something again.

He approaches her with fire in his hands.

Y/N: Say bye to the world.

Croix: Abababab!

The wizard growled.

Y/N: What now?

When Croix pointed to the sky, the wizard saw Ursula clutching Akko in her left hand and flying away like a meteorite.

Y/N: 0_0

Croix: You have only two options. Kill me or save them.

Y/N gritted his teeth, throw a fireball at the witch, and flew away on his broom. Strange cubes saved the girl again. Seeing how the teenager already left the place, she dropped her head.

Croix's Mind: (So... He was snapped... At least once...)

Croix thought, entering into a great intrigue to know more about the past of the most powerful wizard.

Croix's Mind: (Why? Just why did you choose their side?)

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Y/N went around the whole forest all evening and didn't find them. Croix's question kept spinning in his head all the time, not leaving him for a minute.

"Were you so furious that you almost became a common threat to both good and evil?"

Y/N: Grrr... Huh?

His attention was attracted by a bright emission of light nearby. Flying up there, he saw Ursula hugging Akko while The Shiny Rod we're shining brightly like the sun.

Y/N: Ursu... Professor! Akko!

The brunette turned her head.

Akko: Y/N?

The Wizard came up and hugged them.

Y/N: You two did it! You found the sixth Word!

Akko got surprised by his unexpected action, but hugged him back.

Akko: Y/N...

Tears began to fall from her eyes.

Akko: Thank you...

Y/N: ._. For what?

Akko: For not hiding any secrets from me anymore.

Y/N: Yeah... Right... You are welcome.

He brought her to his chest and looked at Ursula, whose face expressed guilt and understanding.

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Furui: Did he refuse?

Croix: Yes.

Furui: I told you.

The old witch took a sip of her tea.

Furui: He doesn't care what they offer. Money, authority, even if you offer him the moon and the sun, he will still refuse with the words "Why do I need those?"...

Furui lowered the cup when she noticed that Croix was distracted, thinking about something.

Croix's Mind: (So he has broken...)

Furui: What are you thinking about?

Croix: Huh?

Croix snapped out of her thoughts. She shook her head.

Croix: Nothing. By the way, I don't need the Shiny Rod or seven Words anymore. I will use the most forceful method I can think of, take the seal on the Grand Triskelion...

Croix turned her head to Furui.

Croix: Are you ready to meet it?

Furui: I think so. I need to test my new abilities on him. The "creatures" can shoot their beam only once. I'm no exception. I need to save this for later.

Croix nodded, but she still hadn't forgotten Y/N and his words.

Croix's Mind: (Boy... What was your life like before? Why? How? I need to know...)

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A/N: The final saga has begun.

End of chapter 21.