251. Temporarily Back to Normal Life in Academy City.
In the next few days, Kaito and others' lives quickly adjusted back to normal. Every day, Kaito himself is still going to the test facility to learn more about her creation ability in the morning (especially to discover what kind of improvement that personal task reward him), Sakuya is taking care of both apartments and Est, and Ravel is apparently now busy learning magic from Aika.
Apparently, in this world, she has long given up on having a proper date and advancing their relationship in this world, so Ravel decides she might as well make herself stronger.
As for Manaka? She made the most shocking development among them. Out of nowhere, she informed Kaito and others that she and Aleister made another cooperation privately about exchanging magic, and then she became one of the new Members of the city's Board of Directors, replacing the dead one.
With Manaka's vast knowledge about the magic of her world (being the princess of the root), Aleister became much more honest and cooperative with the Kaito group; he fully ensured he wouldn't do anything again to them as long as they didn't disrupt his plan.
Aleister was especially interested in the Heroic Spirit concept and wanted to fully manifest such a being in this world, which has great potential to help him against the magic god.
Vice versa, Manaka and Aika have also learned some useful magic from him and even earned their magic name themselves in this world. Of course, now that Manaka has become a Director, things have become much easier for them to do anything in this city, and they basically have a lot of money to use.
>>>>>
Besides Manaka, another example of Aleister's genuine cooperation with Kaito is that he allowed him to open a new business in a popular spot in the city and also gave Kaito manpower, which is a remnant from the dark side of Academy City. With ITEM, SCHOOL, and many darkside faction organizations basically 'destroyed' that night, some of their members can finally escape the dark side and then decide to join Kaito's side, which offers full protection against their past.
Why did Kaito want to open a company? That's because Aika suggested that he make money legally, as Kaito's ability creation is already well known to the city. If Kaito owned a big company, then the public wouldn't question where his money came from; but beforehand, the public always been skeptical about his source of money.
He also has a selfish motive for it, which will be explained soon.
...
Within days, Kaito's creations were highly sought in the city, as his business focused on small, useful props that could be sold and used by normal people. Of course, all the creations were highly regulated by the Academy City to ensure nothing about them would be dangerous to use in public.
"So, what do you feel about your new job, Frenda Seivlun, Kaibi Gokusai-san?" Kaito asked. Right now, both of them were in the warehouse, full of boxes with items that Kaito had created to sell in the Academy City.
"It's already a much better job than my old one." (Frenda)
"Indeed. With high pay, there's no need for me to entangle with the compensation date with the old man anymore." (Kaibi)
"That's good to hear. Please cherish yourself, Gokusai-san." Kaito said seriously. He knew this girl actually wasn't a real gyaru (never had sex with an old man), but still heard such activity made his heart cold.
"Don't worry, boss. If you want to date me, I would let it for free~ Also, just call me by name." (Kaibi)
"Kaibi-san, please be serious." (Frenda)
"I am serious. I don't think it's a coincidence that our boss is offering such a good job to us. He must have some intention." (Kaibi)
"Ah yeah..." Kaito looked away, felt a bit guilty.
The two blonde girls from the famous darkside organization were recruited by Kaito personally as managers of the company, and they quickly accepted the offer without hesitation. Frenda Seivelun, Kaito's first woman friend in this world from ITEM, and the other one is Gokusai Kaibi, a beautiful blonde woman who used to work at SCHOOL. Although Kaito admits he recruited them because of their pretty appearance, their abilities are also very notable and worth investing in.
Especially Kaibi, who used to be in management within the SCHOOL and loves money so much she would occasionally do compensation dating with a rich old man in the Academy city.
Both of them were tempted after Kaito offered a high salary and a high status within Academy City, and more importantly, ensured their safety in Academy City. The latter is very important, because often people who tried to escape from the dark side would end up killed, but with Kaito backing (Esper number 1 and his girlfriend is a director), they were confident no one would dare to offend them. After all, it's an open secret within the Darkside organization that Kaito and his friend singlehandedly destroyed almost the entire Darkside organization.
...
"Anyway, did you guys have any difficulty in managing the whole company so far?"
"Except for the pricing and stock issue, everything is okay." Frenda answered while looking at the book note full of the props that Kaito wanted to sell, "Your ability is really enviable, Kaito-san. You really can do anything with it, huh?"
"Anti-wet gloves, Anti-slip sandals, Knives that can heat up, a wheelchair that can fly..." Kaibi nodded in agreement, there's also excitement in her tone, "These are sounds ordinary, but they were really helpful things... You are going to be a rich, Kaito-san!"
"Money doesn't matter that much to me. You guys can set the price wherever you like. " Kaito shrugged, since he got creation ability, money has never been an issue ever since... in any world he has visited.
"Of course you do, especially with your ability, and when one of your girlfriends is the Director." Frenda scoffed, "You could even make the money directly!"
"Pffft! That's true." Kaibi nodded in agreement and then suggested, "By the way, Kaito-san. Can you make our dresses anti-bullet or something like that? That would be really helpful."
...
Although their background now is very powerful, backed up by Kaito, both Kaibi and Frenda still do not feel very secure since they couldn't really protect themselves with their ability if they were exposed to danger. Kaibi has learned what Kaito's ability is capable of, and believes Kaito wouldn't mind giving some of his employees the means to protect themselves.
...
"Ah, protection props? sure. I will give you guys some benefits since you are my employees." Kaito accepted her request easily, knowing how dangerous this city is, "I'm also gonna give you guys WWU props, the ultimate escape item."
"What is WWU?" Kaibi asked.
"It's a prop that would allow you to teleport away instantly in case of emergency."
"For real? Is it not Esper's ability?"
"Yeah, but it will consume your 'energy' to use it. Don't think you can use it as much as you want." Kaito warned.
""Roger, Boss!""
After that, Kaito created some of those useful props for protection on the spot, X-ray eyeglasses, petrify knives, a single-rule breaker, and the famous WWU (which can only be used by them after registering their energy and DNA). Thanks to Lala joining them, now Kaito can also make sci-fi items under her guidance, enriching his ever-growing arsenal of creations.
>>>>>
Leaving the warehouse and letting the girls try out their props, Kaito now returns to District 7 to meet an appointment with Manaka, where he reports on the matter of the business they are starting here.
...
"Honestly, you are too kind, Kaito." Manaka, in her adult form, wearing a black suit look like a lady boss, commented while looking at the report paper, with a hint of envy, "Don't try to lie. I bet you literally create a company to help those girl leave their past life."
"Well... I just want to help, you know." Kaito shrugged, didn't even try to hide it, "They were also future helper that I will eventually bring to our base world."
"Well, Aleister won't mind since those people aren't part of his plan." Manaka nods in understanding and promises him, "I will take care of all the administrative matters; you just need to report occasionally to me~"
"Really? I mean, I don't have many things to do."
"No, mean no. It's supposed to be a vacation for you, so you better behave, Darling~" Manaka warned with a suggestive tone, "Otherwise, I will personally punish you~."
*Gulp*
"Alright." Kaito surrendered, "I will leave it to you then."
"I am glad you are not so stubborn. I almost thought you were addicted to work."
...
As the headmaster, leader of the biggest city in the base world, and also literally the main resource provider, Kaito has the most work out of all the chat group members.
Honestly, although Manaka admires Kaito's attitude, which is willing to do anything to help others, she's also one of the members who is concerned about her lover's well-being, especially mentally, after what he did in Black Bullet world.
In that regard, all of the chat group members agree to help Kaito reduce his work, but the point is Kaito just loves adding more responsibility to his plate... which is causing all members to be kinda distressed. For example, he really doesn't need to cooperate with Academy City to improve his creation ability, and yet, Kaito still insists on doing it every day because he wants to get stronger in every possible way.
This kind of behavior genuinely stressed everyone out, but they couldn't force Kaito to change. The only thing they can do is to help their leader as much as they can, like Manaka personally eradicate the Kihara family to solve the problem at the bud.
...
"Anyway... Thanks, Manaka-san."
"We love to help you as much as we can, Darling. Just take a proper break in this world, okay?" Manaka persuaded, "I will also meet those two girls and take care of them too."
"But isn't that my responsibility?"
"Yes~" Manaka nods, "But you are here to vacation and date with Ravel, not to work. Yet, you love to work so much~."
"Ah, Ravel-sama." Kaito felt guilty and depressed. "I feel bad about ruining her date in this world, but I promise to properly take care of her feelings after we go back to our world."
Their promising date turned out to be a continuous disaster for Kaito, which he truly regrets. Kaito knows he should have realized that this world isn't a good spot for a date at all when the Chairman of this city literally treats everyone in it like a pawn piece.
...
"Speaking of which, when will Index arrive in the city? Did Aleister inform you?"
"Ah, about that, from the sign, it's about a week from now on." Manaka informed, "So, you may have a proper break until then. Do you want to have a date with Ravel or Aika, or with me?"
Kaito's mouth twitched, knowing the answer was obvious, "Of course, you, Manaka. But aren't you quite busy?"
"I can also use clone magic, you know?" Manaka smirked, "So please accompany me to the shopping district."
"Hell no!"
"Pffft! I was kidding!"
Manaka knew Kaito hated the shopping district, so she decided to do casual walk dating. Manaka decided to bring Kaito strolling along in the city, literally for hours across several districts-- enjoying the scenery, buying new clothes for Ka,ito, talking, and occasionally eating snacks or drinking.
Manaka also reported to Kaito the good news about the Black Bullet world after they left, how the society slowly built up under their chat group order, with the Gastrea virus slowly dying out. The only 'bad news is that Tendo Kikunojo has passed away, apparently because of fatal insomnia, as Tendo Kikunojo just has deep trauma about sleep.
His death was so abrupt that it forced Seitenshi to temporarily come back to the Tokyo Area to stabilize the city until a new leader is chosen.
Hearing of his death, Kaito felt sorry, but he honestly didn't feel guilty that much because this old man had wanted to threaten his friends back then. The only regret is that he just chose the wrong method to punish the old man (way too cruel), but this experience also let Kaito know how dangerous his trump card is.