Chapter 193: Younger Brother

"What should I do then?"

Tohno seemed to be asking others, but also asking himself.

Still holding onto the perspective of an ordinary person, he didn't want to face such an abnormal world. But he also knew that Touko's words were true. There would come a day when the glasses that protected his worldview and normal life would shatter. When that time came, what should he do?

As Tohno pondered, no one spoke. Everyone present understood very well that certain things had to be understood by oneself, and certain things required taking the first step on one's own. If one relied solely on others to pull them along without personally facing it, they would eventually fall into an endless abyss.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Three minutes.

Five minutes.

It wasn't until Tohno finished his cold drink that he broke the silence.

"What should I do, after all?"

This time, he didn't lower his head. Instead, he looked up at every person beside him, his eyes filled with both exploration and a plea for affirmation.

Touko sighed, seemingly dissatisfied with this answer.

"Although a bit slow, your attitude is commendable. Remember what Miss Touko said, and at least you'll pass."

Mikiya responded more directly. He pointed to Shiki beside him. As someone who always helped others when they asked, especially someone like Tohno who was like a real brother to him, he would offer his assistance without hesitation.

Shiki responded to Mikiya's gesture by casually swiping her hand on the table. It seemed like a meaningless action, not even touching the surface of the table, but in Shiki's eyes, it revealed a whole different world. If her fingernail had indeed made contact with the table, it would have split into two by now, and the swipe marked the "line of death" on the table.

Tohno stared blankly at Shiki's finger and then looked at her eyes, shimmering with mysterious radiance. Suddenly, he realized—the woman who shared the same eyes as him wasn't wearing the "Eye Killer."

"I understand. Please, Miss Shiki, teach me how to control these eyes." He stood up and bowed.

"Just call me Shiki, I permit you to address me that way." Shiki smiled, devoid of the ferocity that comes with hunting one's kind. It was just an ordinary, serene smile.

"Shiki... nee?" Perhaps unwilling to directly address someone older by their name, Tohno added a suffix.

"Just call me Shiki. That title doesn't sit well with me." Shiki spoke while giving a glare at Shinji.

Shinji held his head, whistling as if he hadn't seen anything. That title was a manifestation of his faith, and he wouldn't change it for anything.

"How about calling you, elder sister(nee-san) directly?" Tohno still hesitated.

"Sigh, your stubbornness about trivial matters is just like Mikiya. Fine, elder sister it is. Elder sister and younger brother sound good, and besides, you and I might... no, it's nothing." Shiki finally accepted the title. "So, Mikiya will be your older brother, considering how much you resemble each other."

"Sure, I don't have a younger brother. If Shiki-kun doesn't mind, you can call me older brother." Mikiya's attitude cheered up Tohno, and his already gentle smile became even softer, radiating an irresistible charm to the younger girls.

"Older brother, elder sister."

"Hmm."

"Oh."

The three individuals, who were not blood-related but resembled family more than anything, shared remarkably similar smiles.

On the side, Touko lightly tapped Shinji's arm and whispered, "Is this what you wanted to see?"

"Of course! Can't you see how happy I am? This is a historic moment!" Shinji admitted openly.

"The meeting of two holders of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception is indeed historic, but he's that idiot sister's disciple, you know."

"Yeah, according to seniority, he's your grand-disciple."

Touko expressed her dissatisfaction with Shinji's feigned ignorance.

"Hey, you know very well that I've already severed ties with my family."

Shinji was equally unyielding, directly piercing through the thin veil between the sisters.

"Don't pretend. Your relationship with Aoko-san isn't as bad as you make it out to be. It's just that both of you are stubborn and unwilling to back down, which led to this stalemate."

"Why should I back down?" A tinge of embarrassment appeared on Touko's face, but she remained stubborn. "If anyone should back down, it should be Aoko. I've already backed down enough."

"This is an internal matter between the two of you, and we outsiders can't interfere. But don't let your internal issues affect the outside."

"What internal and external matters? You just want me to help this brat."

"Yes, yes."

"Sigh, do you know how many troublesome things you've pushed onto me?"

"The capable ones have more responsibilities. If I had the Mystic Eyes, I wouldn't bother you."

"Come on, even if you had them, you would still push them onto me. I know you too well."

Touko glared at Shinji with annoyance, but Shinji had thick skin and didn't mind at all.

"Yes, yes, Touko is mighty, Touko is the greatest."

"Let's make it clear. Fujino and Kirie are the last ones. I won't take any more disciples until they graduate. Human energy is limited, and I want to run an agency, conduct magecraft research, and train disciples. Time is already insufficient."

"Thanks."

Touko waved her hand casually and turned her face towards Tohno. "Kid, do you often feel dizzy, chest tightness, and fatigue? Even after getting checked at the hospital, they couldn't find any specific cause, just saying it's anemia and advising you to rest?"

"Yes, yes, you're right. That's exactly how I feel," Tohno nodded repeatedly. "You know the reason."

"That's the price, the price of awakening the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. To see the death of all things, you must first experience death yourself. Shiki lost half of her spirit, and you lost half of your vitality. Not lifespan, but life force. An average person has 100 units of activity in a day, but you only have 50 units, which is why you feel weak."

"Is there a solution, Touko?" Shiki asked.

"Yes, there are ways to replenish both the spirit and the life force. The methods of replenishing life force can be divided into two categories: addressing the symptoms and addressing the root cause."

"Addressing the symptoms is easier. Many forms of magic can supplement the life force that is not naturally deficient. I can make a life rune pendant for the kid, which, when worn, will allow him to live like a normal person. However, the rune needs regular replenishment of mana to maintain its effect, approximately every seven days."

"Addressing the root cause is difficult. To permanently repair the deficiency in life force, you would need legendary remedies or materials like the Water of Life, Philosopher's Stone, or Leaves of the World Tree. Each of them exists only in legends, and it's unknown if they exist."

"Well, no matter which method, it's a huge expense for the kid."

"I... don't have money," Tohno stammered.

"It's okay, kid. You're still underage, so I won't make you pay," Touko picked up an eye and ruffled Touko's hair. "The bill will be covered by your teacher, my idiot sister. It's your turn to experience the taste of owing debts this time. Ohohohohoho~"

"Touko, you're so scary."

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