Before heading out, Li Mo had intended to live as an ordinary person, free from overthinking. But after encountering Jashin-chan, he couldn't help but ponder one question:
How did the "Filter" work?
Perhaps it was due to his reincarnation as a Magician, with 108,000 grimoires etched into his mind, granting him vast knowledge. He now felt compelled to analyze every mystical phenomenon.
Yet, he couldn't begin to fathom how a "Filter" encompassing all of humanity—one that operated dynamically—could even exist.
A shame.
After a moment of contemplation, Li Mo glanced at Hachiman beside him. After Yurine dragged Jashin-chan away, the two of them had left the arcade and found a bench to wait for updates from the others.
Hachiman's expression was odd.
Li Mo asked, "What's wrong, Hachiman?"
"That person… her stomach was punched through. Is she really okay?" Hachiman recalled the scene vividly—Yurine's fist had cleanly pierced Jashin-chan's torso, leaving a gaping hole and a pool of blood on the arcade floor.
Then again, she *was* a demon. Of course she wouldn't die from that.
Hachiman looked up to find Li Mo staring intently at him, chin in hand.
"Wh-What is it, Li-san?"
"Nothing. I'm just moved that Hachiman suddenly cares about other people's domestic affairs. I should share this heartwarming news with Hiratsuka-sensei immediately."
"Domestic affairs?"
"Between a dark magician and a demon—isn't that accurate? Besides, demons don't die." Li Mo shrugged.
Hachiman thought for a moment, then nodded.
The "Filter" lasted longer than Li Mo expected.
Maybe it was because Hachiman remained uninvolved? If Hachiman ever experienced death and revival, would the "Filter" still hold?
As a transmigrator, Li Mo wasn't affected by the "Filter," so he had no idea how Hachiman or others perceived it. What about espers? Did *they* see through it?
Yurine clearly didn't.
His curiosity waned just as Yukinoshita messaged the group. Li Mo tugged Hachiman along to meet them.
The girls had chosen a yakiniku restaurant. Nearing lunchtime, the place was already bustling, the sizzle of meat on hot plates filling the air with mouthwatering aromas.
Li Mo's appetite stirred—though, strictly speaking, he didn't *need* to eat. In a way, he could survive on photosynthesis alone.
During the meal, Li Mo "casually" brought up the arcade incident, vividly describing Jashin-chan and Yurine's dynamic. The others barely reacted, shutting him down with a curt, "Don't talk about that while eating."
They seemed unfazed.
The odd normalcy persisted even on the train back to Chiba.
It wasn't rush hour, so the carriage was quiet. Passengers listened to music or scrolled through their phones. The clink of a coin hitting the floor would've been deafening in such silence.
Li Mo idly browsed his phone for traces of the supernatural—but of course, all he found were movie promotions.
*Makes sense. If even collective human subconsciousness has a "Filter," the internet would be scrubbed clean. Who still believes cyberspace is free? Just look at that so-called "beacon of freedom" country—censorship is easier online.*
Then, a LINE notification popped up—from Yukinoshita.
**Yukinoshita:** Given up on dreams and started hunting for the supernatural in reality now?
**Li Mo:** You're peeking at my phone. I'm calling the police.
**Yukinoshita:** Present actual evidence first, Li *Jun*.
**Li Mo:** Tch. Fine, you're right. But to clarify, I'm not just chasing the supernatural—I'm searching for others like me.
**Yukinoshita:** Shouldn't you be past your chuunibyou phase by now?
**Li Mo:** The dark calamity sealed within my arm, heed my—
**Yukinoshita:** You couldn't even finish typing that without cringing. Let's leave it at that.
The conversation died there. Li Mo didn't glance at Yukinoshita beside him. They sat with a careful distance between them.
As Li Mo mused, he realized the "Filter" had faded.
But it raised another question: What if supernatural forces injured or killed someone? He'd never considered it before—the "Filter" felt like a world setting, as arbitrary as "Why do Kobayashi, Yurine, and Yukinoshita exist on the same Earth?"
This Earth hid too many secrets. Unlike the self-contained worlds from his system transmigrations, this one was a chaotic blend of multiple settings.
Why was *this* Earth the exception?
The question surfaced, then sank back into obscurity. He still had two monumental tasks ahead—mastering *Impact Staff* and *Spiritual Binding*. The former was within reach now. Who had time to unravel the world's mysteries?
At the station, the group split up. Since Li Mo and Yukinoshita were neighbors, Hachiman and Yuigahama left together—their homes weren't far, though in opposite directions. Li Mo "persuaded" Hachiman to escort Yuigahama by invoking Komachi's name.
*Yuigahama must've been pleased.*
Hands behind his head, Li Mo strolled leisurely. After today, he could focus on his magical research. As for academics? Cramming and "alternative methods" would suffice.
There were many paths to Rome, and a mere exam couldn't stump him. His repertoire of "creative solutions" numbered at least ten.
"Li Mo."
"What is it, President?"
Yukinoshita didn't react to his casual reply. "Was today just a whim for you?"
"Of course."
"You were more impulsive today. More… aggressive."
"Me? Aggressive?" Li Mo pointed at himself, earning a nod. "Well, maybe it's because I feel at ease around you, Yukinoshita."
"Around *me*? For the record, I can call the police at any time." She set boundaries upfront.
Li Mo grinned. "In a foreign land, your unchanging figure is the only familiar constant. It's comforting."
Yukinoshita nodded. "A reasonable enough explana—Wait."
Noticing his smirk, she paused.
*Unchanging?*
She glanced down, just catching the tips of her shoes—then recalled Li Mo's usual antics.
"*You—!*"
"Only an idiot would stand still now."
And so, the two raced down the street, one chasing the other.