I who was reincarnated as the shadowy villain with the power to antagonize the nation, worked hard since infancy to avoid the flag of ruin, resulting in an extraordinary magical power that made me the strongest.

“Hey, how long are you planning to sleep?”

A soft, childlike voice and a gentle touch on my cheek roused me from my slumber. As I opened my eyes, I found myself staring at the familiar ceiling.

I sat up and quickly realized that I was in my own room.

“Why am I in my room? I remember being at the Kujou residence just a moment ago…”

I hesitated, then suddenly remembered that I had succumbed to a wave of exhaustion during the ritual for the Expanded Magicd Energy Rite. The abrupt depletion of my magic power had taken its toll.

“But why does it feel like someone was here? Could it be my imagination?”

I scanned the room again, but there was no one in sight. Had it all been a dream? My head still felt hazy.

Just then, I heard a voice that carried annoyance and disbelief.

“You’re quite the ingrate, young master.”

Startled by the sudden sound, I let out a yelp.

“Ouch!”

“Hmph, you never notice anything.”

The voice was accompanied by a jolt on my cheek.

“Ouch! What the…?”

I had raised my voice in surprise.

As I turned my gaze towards the sound of brisk footsteps, I saw a small fox with a silvery coat. Its golden eyes met mine.

“…Ah.”

“Even though I helped you, you’re still so ungrateful.”

I recognized the true identity of this small fox, who had been observing me from my shoulder and providing timely assistance during my confrontations with Tenji in the game. She transformed into a human-like form during the final battle, becoming a formidable attacker alongside Tenji.

Her name was Ginko, the silver-haired fox girl who had annihilated the demons at the Kujou residence.

“…It’s the real deal.”

“…? What are you talking about?”

Seeing me overwhelmed with emotion, Ginko tilted her head.

“…Well, never mind. More importantly, I’m currently your shikigami.”

That’s right. She had definitely mentioned that before. She had become my shikigami.

And she had asked me a question.

“What is your wish?”

“My wish…”

I had decided on my wish long ago, ever since I was born into this world and made up my mind. I wanted to be with my favorite person, that girl.

I wanted to be with her, with Tenji, without either of us dying, and I wanted to grasp a future where we could laugh together.

That was why…

“I want to become stronger. Strong enough to fend off any danger that comes our way, strong enough to protect everyone I care about.”

“Heh, that’s a good wish. I’ll grant it for you.”

Ginko said with a smile as she hopped onto my head.

“Although I’d like to get started right away…”

Ginko hesitated, then tapped her forehead as if lost in thought.

“Hmm, I guess you should rest for now. Your magic power hasn’t fully recovered yet, and trying to train in this state wouldn’t be wise.”

“Got it. Oh, by the way, is it okay if I call you Ginko?”

“Why are you asking such a thing?”

The reason was simple—Ginko didn’t like it when others called her by her name. The details of why that was the case would be revealed later in [Part III]. Well, I hadn’t played the game beyond and my knowledge only extended to the point when Tenji died, so I couldn’t say for sure.

However, when players had asked the official source about it at that time, they had received the response, “You’ll find out eventually.”

“Anyway, it’s different now. Ginko is right here in front of me. Maybe I should take it slow, get to know her better, and wait for the right time to ask.”

I thought that while feeling the warmth from Ginko on my head.

“…Do as you wish.”

Ginko responded before hopping off my head and curling up by my side.

Yeah, she was incredibly cute. It was no wonder she had become the game’s mascot despite originally being an enemy character.

I suddenly remembered the time when I had seen the words “SOLD OUT” on an online shopping site and cried, wanting a Ginko plushie.

*********************

The next morning, the sun was already shining as I stepped out into the garden for my morning exercises.

Stretching and flexing my body, I recalled what Ginko had told me yesterday.

“I’m going to start training from tomorrow onwards. First, I’ll teach you how to release your magic energy properly.”

That was why I was here, preparing myself for this moment.

“…Alright, I think it’s about time.”

I took a deep breath, my body beginning to glisten with a light sheen of sweat. Ginko, perched on my shoulder, glanced at me.

“I’ll get started then.”

As Ginko spoke, something inside me shifted. Magic energy began to flow and circulate throughout my body, and it felt like my heart was both expanding and contracting.

Gradually, the energy converged in my arms, and after a brief pause, it started to radiate heat, spreading from my hands.

“So, this is the release of magic energy…”

“How does it feel? Can you grasp the sensation?”

“I’m not sure… Let me give it a try.”

I mirrored my earlier movements, extending my arm and closing my eyes, focusing on the sensations coursing through my body.

(Magic energy flows through my entire body, then gradually accumulates heat. I need to concentrate that heat in my arms.)

Slowly, step by step, I manipulated the swirling mass of magic energy within me. I accelerated its flow, and soon enough, the energy started to generate heat.

“Hmm… you’ve done it.”

Ginko murmured, and in an instant, a small fraction of the magic energy was released, as it had been minutes earlier.

“Well, I suppose that’s a passing grade.”

“Thanks!”

I accepted her praise with a smile.

“Next is spellcasting. I’ll demonstrate it for you.”

As soon as Ginko mentioned it, I felt like control over my body had been seized from me.

I was taken aback, unable to even voice my surprise.

Why? Because at that moment, my body was no longer mine.

“Now, I’ll use the spell engraved within you,” Ginko spoke in my voice.

Suddenly, crackling purple lightning burst forth from my body. The lightning, like thorny vines, entwined around my entire form, intensifying its ferocity.

“It’s called ‘Shiden,'” Ginko declared.

In an instant, a massive sword materialized from the void. Ginko grasped the hilt, transferring the Shiden’s power to the blade. She then assumed an Iaido stance and swiftly unsheathed the sword with a resounding Zan!

At that moment, a blinding flash of brilliant purple light overwhelmed my vision, rendering me unable to open my eyes.

“This is your spell. Well, with practice, you’ll be able to handle it effortlessly,” Ginko said.

Gradually, control of my body was restored. I looked up into the sky through the lingering traces of the lightning.

“No way…” I muttered.

What I saw was the sight of the azure sky above, where the clouds had split in two.