Chapter 14...

Sorry for the qualities of the previous chapters and this one. These ones feel a bit rush, but bear with me for a while. I didn't plan carefully when I write this arc, considering too much outside interference affects the story. But don't worry, I will deal with it after a few chapters. Please be patient.

With that done, enjoy the new chapter!

Time: After the last chapter

Location: Kuro's room

"I hope you can take care of our little brother, Kuro-sensei."

"Don't worry, he's under good care. You just have to worry about yourself." The 'motherly student' nodded and said goodbye to her 'little brother', who waved back. Then Kuro closed the door before them, before sighing then turned to Kotarou and smiled: "Damn, she REALLY likes you, huh?"

Kotarou just shrugged it off: "She's alright, but too clingy. I don't like it."

Negi briefly turned to Clem, who's eating another cup of pudding. "Yeah... we have another one here." Then he asked Kuro: "About Queen of Annihilation..."

Kuro: "Like I said, she's my future self. There will be a time when I won't support you anymore... at least until a point, maybe." When the trio sat down around the table Clem was sitting, Kuro continued: "Sorry for letting all of this happened. But, think of this as the test for me to you, to test your control of magic."

Negi nodded, but Kotarou clearly disagreed: "You let the girls who's not involved in danger..."

Kuro: "IF QoA was there, then Wilhelm must have to be sure he won't hurt them. IF he did... he's not returning back to anywhere."

Clem: "Still, Dada should have made something to protect the girls."

Chamo: "Clem's right, Kuro. I know you didn't like to involve, but at least try to give a good protect spell to them."

Kuro: "And Negi wouldn't fight with his fullness? Sorry, but that's what Wilhelm wanted to see. Otherwise he would just end the fight right the moment it started."

Kotarou grabbed a piece of cookies on the table, then asked: "Hey Negi! Are you under this guy's training? I mean, he didn't look like one that could teach those moves."

Kuro: "Over a hundred years existing is enough to give Negi enough hints to improve himself." He then looked around a bit to see the room., feeling a little cramped. "Guess I have to fix the room... again."

Then he heard someone knocking on the door, causing him to walk to it. Once he opened it, he greeted... "Chao? You need something?"

"A little private talk." Chao replied shortly.

"Wellll...then... Hey, Negi, Kotarou, Clem, I'm heading out a bit."

"OKAY!"

Outside

"What is it?" Kuro asked Chao, as they're standing on the roof of the dormitory. Chao then showed her time machine to Kuro, as he grabbed it... and saw that it seemed to have been perfected somehow.

"Your work here must have affected my time machine. Now I could return back and forth whenever I want. For that, my thanks to you."

Kuro gave it back to Chao. "Well, glad to hear that. But, what else you want to say? I doubt it's just that."

She suddenly smiled and gave him a book, which he recognized. "Your family tree? I thought this one is a fake you would troll everyone else."

"It's real. But, it changed on its own due to what happened now. There is a change you might like to see." Kuro glared once at the time-traveler before opening the book... then closed it instantly, causing the girl to laugh at him. "I knew it!"

"God damn it, Chao! Do you have to show me this?" Nearly shouting up, he gently gave it back, before he changed his mind and burnt it. "I was afraid something like that would happen, and you just have to confirm it for me! WHY?"

"Well, Weiss told us that we could troll you without consequences. And the ones we could do so are facts."

Kuro crouched down and hugged his face. "Damn to all Hell! I know it's supposed to happen, but to hear it that soon..."

Chao just patted her teacher's shoulder. "At least you will have more kids to play with when you are older, right?"

Kuro: "Being old is not something I like, okay?" He's sulking now, causing the girl to giggle. "Don't laugh."

"Well, you doing this is for us to laugh at you, right?"

Kuro sighed. "I hope you're not doing anything in the Festival..."

Chao: "Thanks to you, my old plans have been thrown off the windows. But, that means I don't have to leave my friends." Silence. "Say, have you thought about Chachamaru's heat radiator?"

Kuro, returning to his normal self, answered: "I think we could fake it into breathing system. Or spreading it under the skin with nano-wires to turn it into body heat." Chao suddenly giggled, causing him to ask back: "What's wrong?"

"Are you expecting her to do something?" And immediately she received a toy hammer hit to the head, which didn't hurt at all.

"Don't bend my words. And we're trying to make her more human... okay?"

"*Giggle* Yes, Kuro-sensei."

Weeks later...

Location: Wales

"Big Sis Nekane, how have you been? I'm fine here!" The Springfield's older cousin was reading her little brother's letter. The letter was speaking for itself. "It's been four months since I came to Japan. Although being a teacher is hard, everyone's being nice to me, and I also have someone to help me as well! So I have gotten used to the job!"

While smiling at the fact her brother has grown up, she's also a bit curious about this someone. Then the record continued: "Hey, Kuro, how about you get on here as well? Clem, you too?"

'Clem? Kuro?' That's not someone she knew before. Then the faces of the two showed up, and that made her curiousness get higher.

Kuro said first: "Nice to meet you, miss Nekane. My name is Kuro, and I'm currently Negi's assistant teacher. And this is my granddaughter, Clementine Tennouboshi." The two then bowed to her.

After hearing that, Nekane had a shocked face. 'Granddaughter? Did the letter translate wrong?'

Kuro suddenly chuckled. "Told you, Negi. She was surprised after that."

"Aw, I want to know how she is now." Negi pouted at the background, causing the cousin to be extremely surprised. Then the two walked away, and Negi returned. "I can't really see you, but it's the truth that Clem is his granddaughter. But I will write more in the next letter."

'That person...could see me through the letter?' There were no records about a letter being able to transmit images of the receiver from the future. But it seemed only that person was able to do so. 'Just... who is he?'

After a few more about the class he's teaching, Negi told about his training: "Currently I'm learning more spells from a person named Evangeline, Chinese Martial Art from one of my students, and some overall strategies from Kuro as well! They have helped me a lot!" That made the girl smile. At least that Kuro was a good person. "Also, I have a new friend, Kotarou. But he's not around, so I will tell you about him in the next letter!"

'Fufu, new friend? He has a lot of people of all kinds around him...' That made her feel very happy. 'Please, do your best, Negi.'

"Also, Big Sis." Just before the letter ended, Negi added one last bomb to her: "In the next letter, can you tell me more about Queen of Annihilation? Kuro wanted to know more about what she has achieved in the past."

And with that letter closing itself, Nekane immediately stood up and ran to the Magic School. 'Queen of Annihilation? How did he know? Did that Kuro person tell him? Just what is he to know such dangerous person?'

Location: Wales Magic School

"QUEEN OF ANNIHILATION?" That caused a massive uproar in the Professor's office, as Nekane explained what happened to the Headmaster. That shout was from everyone else.

"It's true. You have seen the letter. There's nothing about it being altered."

The Headmaster started thinking about it... then ordered the other professors: "Try to find her. I believe there would be something in the Archive."

"Sir, you can't be serious! Queen of Annihilation is a mysterious figure. We can't find anything there!" One of the Magisters shouted, which earned nods of agreement.

"You might have heard that she was Thousand Master's very few stand-alone allies. Try to find from there." Not daring to disobey, everyone saluted and started working on that. The Headmaster then gestured Nekane to follow him.

During the walk, he told the girl: "Queen of Annihilation is not as dangerous as you heard the rumors. Only ones who directly interacted with her would have known her real identity. Myself included."

Nekane wanted to believe him, but with what happened in the past and the legends... "Sir, but why did a person like him want to know about possibly one of the most dangerous figures in the past?"

The Headmaster chuckled. "You have no idea, young Springfield. She, in a way, is harmless if you don't provoke her. Even her threats were not that problematic."

"How... did she threaten you before?"

"Oh, just wanting to cut my beard, or dye them into rainbow, that's all." Nekane blinked when she heard that. "Reason: it was just me trying to joke about her wearing a bit too revealing clothes."

"... When did that happen?"

"Definitely before Nagi disappeared. After that, nearly no signs of her in Mundus Vetus. In fact, none at all, considering I mostly met her in Mundus Magicus."

"Do you know why she earned such title, and what's her motivation?"

"The same as Ala Rubra. Well, about the title, it was because of her feats known to everyone. I'm sure there were more, but it happened when people's not around, for sure."

"I'm... worried..."

"Don't be. That Kuro guy reminded me of her, so there's nothing to worry about. My friend did accept him, so there's something in him that dedicates him to help Negi. Have trust in them."

"...About that girl..."

"I think that's truth, even though it's too hard to believe, but he has no reasons to lie. I did hope that's just a mistranslations."

Return to Mahora...

"The Festival is coming, huh?" Kuro spoke to himself, as the preparations for it have begun. It was still about two weeks till then, but everyone's already excited for it. "Guess time will fly like a wind soon."

"It is." Chizuru responded. "This is done by the entire school after all. The examinations are done, so it's time for preparations already. Every club and society of the college depends on the takings of the festival. And many types of stores and shows will be held during the time."

Kuro: "Guess I'm going to buy a lot for the guys back home. Or they're going to bicker nonstop."

Kotarou and Negi were also interested about all of this, as Negi asked Asuna: "Does this occur every year?"

The girl nodded. "Yeah. It's also a chance for us to get some saving as well. Have to take every single chance."

Konoka: "And have fun during that as well."

Chizuru decided to scare the kids with her 'usual tactic': "Not really. Because of how ineffective the control team was last year, the death count has reached over ten thousands..."

Kuro pinched his nose bridge when he heard that. "Chizuru, don't put wrong ideas into their heads like that." Then he knocked Negi out of his fear by saying: "Negi, we're a bit late to the meeting. How about a race there?" Negi snapped out of it, then looked around. Kuro knew what he's thinking, as he said: "Just run normally. But try to keep up." Then, with a single leap, he was five meters away from the group, causing Negi to keep up instantly.

Asuna shook her head disapprovingly. "These two... Kotarou, didn't you have class as well?"

"Yeah. Just want to see you for a while. Meet you all later!"

"Be careful, Kotarou!" Chizuru and Natsumi waved goodbye to the wolf boy, then the former sighed. "He grows so fast..."

'You're over-exaggerating.' That's everyone's thought about her right now.

Later...

"Well, the meeting's the same as always."

"Negi's class managed to keep up in the examination. Though they couldn't reach the first place like before."

"Kinda hard with a class with mixed signals, Shizuna." After marking a few more notes, Kuro asked: "By the way, have you called Blanc recently?"

"Every week. Why?"

"Oh, nothing. Just wondering." Spinning the pen a few times before putting it down, Kuro asked: "Do you think the survivors are here already?"

"With the preparations already started, it could be possible that ones want to see it through."

"Many worlds in one place. It's quite hard to keep the tracks now."

"The festivals are too overwhelming for someone like you, Kuro?"

"Not exactly, Takamichi-sensei. We have held a lot of events before, so we're used to that. I'm talking about some of my 'friends' here around Japan."

"The ones you said before?"

"Yeah, them." His phone then rang off. Kuro pulled out and saw an unknown number. Pressing the answer button, he responded: "Hello?" What came next was a high pitch sound coming from a megaphone, causing everyone inside the room to cover their ears. Then, the call just ended.

Shizuna rubbed her temples and ignored the ringing in her ears. "Did you somehow prank someone?"

Kuro shook his head to get rid of the ringing. "Do I look like someone who would prank others to the point they respond with that?" Then he tapped the screen. "Observers, track down what just caused that noise. That kind of voice could only happen in where the festival takes place." A moment later, the screen showed off the result... Kuro groaned. "For real?"

Takamachi asked: "Your friends, I take it?"

"Yeah. Why did they have to do so?" He then stood up, and walked towards the classroom sections. I'm seeing Negi first, then I might be absent in the morning. See you later."

'That raving... my god.'

You're not the only one being affected.

Did they really have to do so to you?

'Who knows? Maybe they thought I forgot them or something...'

Yeah... to be honest, it could be the case. Or because they found out that you didn't keep your promise.

'... Yeah...'

Reaching class 3-A, Kuro opened the door... only to find out the 'fan-service cafe' has started already. His reaction was to facepalm instantly. "Why?"

"Hey, Kuro-sensei! How about you join the fun?" Makie reached her arms towards him and tried to grab his arm, only for her to phase through him again. "Sensei! That's mean!"

"Sorry, not going to let that happen." Kuro was now standing next to the 'sane ones' of the class, as he asked Setsuna: "When did this happen?"

The girl pointed to the manga artist of the group. "She called that out as an idea for what we could do for this festival. And she managed to lure Ayaka into that."

"You could have known that without even asking, Kuro." Eva sent a glare of 'you know it' towards Kuro.

He just sighed. "Not that I didn't know. But recently the teachers just got sound-blasted through my phone by my friends from Paulownia Academy High School. They're already in our school's ground already."

"IS NAHO HERE?" The reporter immediately reached to him with surprisingly quick pace, causing the others to have just a small amount of time to dodge before she slammed into them.

"Seems so. Along with Aiko Niwa as well."

"No Hibiki?"

"Who knows? That's what I saw. The others could be around." He then walked off. "I will see if we could make a day for you to meet up. I'm finding them now."

"Have a nice day sensei!"

A few minutes later

Location: Somewhere in Mahora

"Kuro didn't like that for sure." Aiko giggled.

"Well, that's for dying on us." Naho responded. She then asked Mio Yuzuki: "You got the camera?"

"Yeah, I did. But why did you all want to prank him so badly?"

"Because we want him to keep his promise better." Sayaka Ooue explained. She had prepared a bucket of mixed colored liquid (nonlethal ones), as she said: "Let's see if he would dare to break promises again."

"Well certainly it backfired." Sayaka suddenly felt her head being pushed from both sides and pain crossing that. She grabbed the arms that's doing it to her and tried to pull it out with no success. Then the arms pulled out by themselves, letting her head free, and she turned back to see the foreign student from before with a lab coat as the additional to his wear. "Seriously, you did that while the teachers were standing next to me. Everyone got a full blast to their ears. And why are you here in the beginning of the week?"

Sayaka groaned while rubbing her sore spots. "Hey, we have jobs already! And this festival is not something we could pass!"

"You didn't change at all after our last meet." Kuro turned to Aiko. "From what Satoshi told us, you were dead, but it seemed he got the wrong info or so. You look pretty healthy to us."

Kuro: "Well, that's because I did die. But I got myself 'alive' to a point." He then touched the bucket and made it disappear, surprising the girls. "I am certain you have questions, but is there anyone else with you?"

"Wow Kuro! I thought you would be paler than that!" The only former male of the High School exclaimed as he walked to them. He then patted Kuro's shoulder. "You doesn't look different at all!"

Kuro: "Stuffs happened. I guess it's everyone?" Nods. "Let's find another place, instead of under a tree."

In a fast-food store

Sitting position, from left to right:

Haruyuki, Sayaka, Naho

Kuro, Aiko, Mio

"So..." Naho started. "Satoshi told us that you lost half of your body skin when they first found you. What's that about?"

"To make it simple, that appearance expresses the combinations of all victims. The wounds are quite... terrified to look for the first time."

Aiko: "But... if you died, didn't you succumb to that world's darkness?"

"Thanks to that Possession spell, my soul wasn't tainted. And due to the fact I have lived there long enough to control the Darkness that I couldn't be controlled."

Sayaka: "I don't believe one year is enough..."

Naho: "Changing the topic a bit. Satoshi told us that you could leave that place, then why didn't you visit us?"

"Sorry, but the 'leaving' part is very random. I couldn't make sure I end up in the one I want to go, but where I need to go."

Haruyuki: "That sucks, man. Also, they were 'attacked' by a pirate, which was summoned by you. Why?"

"Well, that's the prank for them... yeah, now I know why you did that to me."

Sayaka: "That's right! Scaring us like that is not cool!"

"Alright, alright. I give. So, next?"

Mio: "They also mentioned about a little baby there... that you said she's your granddaughter. And you're over a hundred years old..."

"Well... that little baby has grown..." A school bell rang, signalling that one class time was over. Kuro then drew three fingers up. "Three...two...one..." Clem appeared right between Kuro's legs and started eating his desert, causing everyone else to look at her in surprise. He chuckled and rubbed the girl's hair. "Clem, don't just always aim at my treats like that." That earned him hums of cute and childish denial from the little girl.

Aiko recovered first and asked: "Kuro... I thought Satoshi said your granddaughter..."

"Based on what Nana told me, Satoshi's group was just back a few months. However, it was over six years after we last met."

Naho: "Different timelines?"

"Yeah. Also, I thought Satoshi told you about Heavenly Host situations?"

Sayaka: "He did. I was surprised though, you managed to get almost everyone out... except the one you killed."

"You think I would save someone like him?"

Aiko: "Not really. Hearing what he could have done to us if you didn't save us proved that we couldn't trust him at anytime."

Haruyuki: "Though, may I ask who's the lucky lady?"

"Ladies, to be exact." Now everyone noticed the number of rings on his left hand. He then showed them the picture he has shown to Eva before.

Mio squeaked at the cuteness: "AWW! You have such wonderful girls with you! You are so lucky!"

Haruyuki got a little jealous: "Dude, I tried so hard just to get Sayaka accept me, and yet you managed to get three girls at the same time!" That earned him a knock on the head from the embarrassed Sayaka.

Naho saw the little baby in Kuro's arm. "Hey, is that baby your grandchild?"

"No. That's my daughter. With the girl in blue hair." That earned him looks of disbelief. "I wanted to took it slow, but Charlotte... kind of wanted to have one so bad, so I have to comply."

Mio: "She... looked like she's just nineteen though."

"Well, technically she's 27 now, 28 soon. The girl is four now."

Sayaka: "I don't believe it. And even if it's the truth, didn't her parents would go against that, considering you're way older than her?"

"First, I'm undead now, so I retain my young appearance permanently. Second, her father was dead unfortunately, but her mother agreed for it to happen. And third, she was a princess." Clem took a spoon of pudding and hovered it to Kuro, who just happily accepted it. Then, he continued: "By the way, her mother did want to have grandchild soon, so..."

"Hold up!" Sayaka stopped him. "You mean to tell us you married a princess?"

"Yeah." He just nonchalantly replied. "My son married a Goddess and I have this adorable granddaughter, so why not?"

Everyone's mind was basically a mess now. With Mio expressing it through her swirling eyes. "What... what kind of family do you have there?"

Kuro just shrugged. "One of a kind...maybe. You can ask something else now. I think I would withhold some info before everyone just comes in like tsunami."

After a few hours, on a little trip around Mahora

Kuro's phone rang up, and he picked it up. "Asakura? What's the occasion?"

"IS NAHO STILL WITH YOU?" Even with sounds of festival preparations in the background, the assistant could still hear the voice of class 3-A's reporter clearly.

"She is. Why?" Instead of answering him, she turned off the call. "... Hey Naho, you might want to prepare yourself for a hyped-up reporter."

The paranormalist sighed. "Yeah, heard that from Chiu."

"How did you even know her in the first place?"

The girl pointed to Sayaka, who sheepishly replied: "I'm a fan of hers."

"Figures." Kuro then looked left and right to check if he could find the track of the girl. "Hope she didn't slam into someone to shorten her distance... or ask Clem... I just jinxed it."

"HELLO SAENOKI!" The called girl nearly jumped in surprise and turned back to see Asakura standing right behind her with Clem, the former already having her recorder in her hand. "I'M WAITING FOR SO LONG TO HAVE A GOOD INTERVIEW WITH YOU! I did want to interview mister Kibiki as well, but THAT CAN WAIT!"

"Well, that's your time now, Naho." The girl glared at the person who spoke that. "Don't worry. She knew about our secrets, so don't hesitate to tell her everything."

Timeskip

"I just got something stuck in my ears. Can you say it again?" That's a total lie and he knew it. But he still didn't believe what the loli vampire just said.

Said person was blushing a lot. "I know you have received it, and I won't repeat. Try to make the schedule." And with that she just re-entered the fight with Negi alongside Chachamaru and Chachazero in the resort.

On the inside, Kuro's crying. 'T.O, what did I do wrong?'

Probably when you gave her what she needs. She's still a maiden so it's expected.

'Didn't she already have Nagi and Touta?'

First, none of them are here. Second, comparing to the others, you are her better chance of actually having a relationship. And third... remember that one?

'Don't remind me. My different-time-version just shouted into his face for being nine months delayed.'

That sounds a bit... wrong.

'Not you too. T.T What could I do now?'

Just... follow the flow, I guess.

'*Eyes twitched* You have no rights to say here.'

He ended the conversation, just in time to sidestep as Negi was thrown like a ragdoll towards him. "One minute... I guess it's an improvement. And why aiming him at me, Eva?"

"Just to make sure you didn't lose your focus."

'Like you're one to talk, Eva.' That blush on her face clearly betrayed her own words. 'And why did this matter get repeated again?'

Reasons.