The transmuted butterflies swooped in to attack Aoto, leaving him with no choice but to utilize his Tao Mandalas for defense. With both hands, he conjured the Mandalas to shield himself from the oncoming assault. Upon contact, the butterflies exploded, causing Aoto to tremble. He could feel the sheer force of the explosion and shuddered at the thought of the devastation it could cause without magical protection.
This man, Shikuro, had been Danzo's head bodyguard, explaining his ruthlessness. While the Mandalas managed to halt the flying butterflies, it became evident that Shikuro's attack carried overwhelming magical power. Aoto's defense was beginning to show signs of faltering under the intense pressure.
Although there was no specific system or machine to gauge the magical aptitude of individuals present, the system had provided Aoto with a somewhat detailed understanding of his friends' magical talents:
- Arya: Medium level talent
- John: High level talent
- Corazon: Medium level talent
- Edward: Medium level talent
- Winry: Low level talent
- Shikuro: High level talent
- Aoto: Novice level talent (evolution type talent)
The general hierarchy of talent levels ranged from novice to low, medium, high, master, supreme, and god. Aoto found himself at the lowest level of talent, equivalent to Pinako. As a result, he faced significant challenges. His progress in developing his talent was slow, and if he desired to expedite the process, he would need to earn more credits by expanding his business empire worldwide.
The system's assertion that magic could only be a side pursuit and not the main focus proved to be accurate, but Aoto remained resolute. Despite the hardships he encountered, he gritted his teeth and persevered.
As the butterflies persisted even after the Mandalas broke down, Aoto evaded them by rolling to the side. He refused to be passively struck and opted to counterattack by conjuring ships to assail Shikuro. Seizing the opportunity while the butterflies were momentarily delayed, Aoto unleashed a long whip towards Shikuro. However, Shikuro was prepared. He summoned Mandalas of his own, effectively defending against Aoto's assault. With the butterflies now homing in on Aoto once again, he could only launch two attacks before being forced to evade.
Aoto continued to dodge, struggling to conjure the Tao Mandalas in one hand while the other refused to cooperate.
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"Shit," Aoto cursed, bracing himself for the impending shockwave of the blast. Shikuro effortlessly controlled the homing butterflies, preventing them from physically attacking Aoto and causing further harm.
However, Aoto had the safety net of the system in his favor, as it was his designated area. Frustrated and exhausted, Aoto finally shouted, "I give up!"
The butterflies ceased their onslaught, vanishing into thin air. Aoto let out a sigh of relief.
"Shikuro, when did you learn transmutation?" Aoto inquired.
"You've made significant progress," others chimed in.
"Our boss seems to have been beaten down quite badly."
"Shikuro and John will have to pay for the food."
Amidst congratulations to John and Shikuro, Aoto endured some friendly teasing. Though it initially soured his mood, the thought of the upcoming barbecue lifted his spirits. His friends were merely playfully teasing him, not intending any harm.
They cheered him on and encouraged him to perform better in the next arena battle. After showering, they prepared themselves for a satisfying barbecue at a nearby restaurant.
"John, why didn't you enter the section? I'm sure you're curious," Edward asked, envious of John's access to a vast array of books.
"The books aren't going anywhere, and I don't want to rush it. It's a profound magic, so I want to take it slowly," John replied.
"Shikuro, you've been quite the cheeky bastard," Corazon remarked. Over time, Corazon and Shikuro had formed a close bond and had even discussed living together to help care for Corazon's toddler.
"Well, I wanted to surprise you. Corazon, why don't you try combining your abilities with magic? You can come up with new combinations, just like me," Shikuro suggested.
"Yes, I've been considering that as well," Corazon responded.
The group engaged in lighthearted conversation, and Aoto shared the news that they would all begin working the next day. Winry and Edward would open their first automail shop, with Edward handling sales and Winry managing the making and repairing of automails.
Corazon would have his manga shop, a separate establishment. As for Aoto, he had decided to sell wine and the magical pouches in a distinct store. The bakery was running smoothly, and Hot Pie would take full control over it.
"Cheers to our new journey," Aoto proposed.
"Cheers," the others echoed, raising their glasses. Amidst hearty fills and laughter, they bid farewell to the restaurant, leaving behind a generous tip.
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The following day, everyone woke up early and began their respective work endeavors. Edward and Winry went straight to their new shop and put up the huge signboard.
"Winry's Automail Shop"
Proudly displayed its name as Corazon and Shikuro prepared to open the manga shop. The shelves were already stocked with two popular titles: "Fullmetal Alchemist" and "Demon Slayer" (Kimetsu no Yaiba).
"Law Manga,"
Aoto hoping that the touching story would resonate with the villagers. Meanwhile, Aoto moved to his newly renovated shop, which housed wines and the innovative new pouches. Aoto was confident that the pouches would be a hit, as ninjas often needed to carry food, water, and tools. The compact pouches would streamline the process, rendering bulky bags unnecessary. Furthermore, Aoto was certain that his design couldn't be easily replicated.
"Konoha's Wine Shop," the sign declared, as all the shops opened on a bright, sunny day. Despite the lingering winter chill, the warm sun brought relief to the people. Aoto had sought Fugaku's assistance for one particular case. Therefore, when Winry's automail shop opened at 10 am, a visitor appeared at its doorstep.
It was Shisui. Early in the morning, Fugaku had called him, informing him that Aoto had requested his presence at a new shop Aoto had opened with the help of his friends.
"Umm.. How can I help in this shop?" Shisui said as he showed in the huge garage looking shop.