587 Aren’t they supposed to be love rivals? (1/2)

”It's also possible that Spirit Worlds aren't controllable and are simply some unexplained phenomena.”

”I feel that's an incredibly low possibility.”

”Yeah, I agree.”

Several seconds of silence passed between them.

”No matter what the truth is, right now, I'm interested in seeing if the change in the Spirit Worlds has affected Kazuko-san's Domain ability.” Something flashed in Seiji's eyes.

The Spirit Worlds' disappearance would affect him as well. No matter how things developed in the future, right now he first wanted to contact Kazufuru and ask how Kazuko was doing.

Seiji immediately dialed Kazufuru's number after he finished his conversation with Natsuya.

”Good morning, Ooike-kun. I apologize for calling so early in the morning. Something major happened last night, so I want to confirm Kazuko-san's condition. Could you allow her to meet with me in a bit?”

By the street side.

Seiji walked over and greeted a brown-haired girl wearing eyeglasses and the Genhana High School girls' uniform.

Kazuko responded with a smile.

”Calling Kazufuru so early in the morning yet asking to meet with me? Harano-kun, you're such a demon.”

”How am I a demon!?”

Seiji started directly with the main topic and explained the situation—after retorting, of course.

”I don't feel like my abilities have changed in any way. But, we can test things out right now. Do you want to try immediately?”

”Let's test your abilities immediately, then.”

Seiji and Kazuko walked over to an isolated alleyway.

Kazuko raised her hand and used her ability, instantly causing a black crack which led to her Domain to form on the ground.

Seiji's vision darkened as he entered the Domain.

Instead of seeing the Genhana High School buildings as he did previously, he instead saw an ancient palace! Plants and trees were growing everywhere, with gigantic vines reaching out of the ground that glowed and spread all over the place…

This was the ”Forest Palace”!

Seiji immediately recognized this location as the only Spirit World he had visited previously.

The difference from before was that the vines here were glowing and acted as a light source.

”Things really have changed inside here,” Kazuko spoke up.

”You didn't make any modifications to the environment yourself, did you?” Seiji looked at Kazuko.

”Of course not. It seems that what you surmised was correct. My ability was affected.”

”Yet you didn't notice anything at all.”

”Yeah, I noticed nothing.” Kazuko paused for a moment. ”Demons are coming… do you want to fight them?”

”It should be fine if there's only a few of them.” Seiji prepared himself.

”Even the demons' forms have changed.” Kazuko adjusted her eyeglasses.

'An incredibly similar environment and the exact same spiritual creatures. There's no mistaking it, this is the Forest Palace's Inner World,' Seiji thought to himself.

The black wolves growled and rushed over!

Seiji fought back with his fists. Hit, hit, hit, hit, hit, hit, hit...

He defeated them quite easily.

The black wolves transformed into a dark-red mist which then evaporated. There were no strange sounds like the previous demons in Kazuko's Domain.

Another wave of wolves arrived.

Seiji experimented with his [Cleansing] against the wolves. His target black wolf received only minor damage from the [Cleansing] spell—unlike the previous demons that were instantly exploded by [Cleansing].

Seiji told Kazuko that would be enough and asked her to teleport him back outside after he finished defeating the second wave of wolf monsters.

”I once went to a Spirit World named the Forest Palace. The environment and creatures in your Domain are almost exactly the same as the Forest Palace's,” Seiji informed Kazuko back in the real world. ”That's why I believe that your Domain has now changed to become the Forest Palace's Inner World!”

”I don't feel like there's any differences in my ability… I can still use everything normally just like yesterday.” Kazuko slightly tilted her head.

”This change is quite meaningful to me. Previously, I was worried that the Hell's demons would have a negative influence on my friends. But now that they've become the spiritual creatures from the Forest Palace, I'm no longer worried about that… No, I can't say that there's no more danger.” Seiji rubbed his chin in contemplation.