Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou (LN) - Volume 8 - Chapter SS3

Forbidden Evolution Magic 

“Oh yeah, how are you guys making use of evolution magic?” Hajime casually asked Yue and the others as he tinkered with a mysterious chunk of ore. He was sitting in the restaurant underneath their inn and sipping some Verbergen-style coffee as he worked. There was still a lot he needed to test when it came to evolution magic. Yue, Shea, Kaori, Tio, and Shizuku were all together with him for once, so he figured it was a good opportunity to ask. The girls all pondered his question. However, Yue was the first to answer. 
“Mmm, I’m still getting used to it, so all I can do is double the power of my spells. Still, I have some ideas I want to test. I can use it to make more complex compound spells so maybe... give my dragons restoration magic so they revive infinitely?” 
“That’d be scary to fight against.” 
Yue’s dragons were terrifying enough as they were, but if she managed to give them the ability to regenerate automatically, then they’d become the stuff of nightmares. Shea and the others were still practicing with it too, so none of them had come up with any innovative ideas just yet. Hajime’s expression turned pensive and he questioned them. 
“Remember what Haltina said? Evolution magic can enhance all forms of power. The knowledge we got from the magic circle just showed us how to enhance the more obvious forms of power like physical abilities or magic.” 
“I see. You mean to say the definition of power is broader than that? Do you believe there are other things evolution magic has the power to enhance?” 
“Yeah, basically. Though I guess we have to get good at enhancing the more obvious forms of power before we start thinking about more complex ideas.” However, Hajime’s inventor’s spirit wasn’t willing to let the matter rest. It was in his nature to try and find exploits for everything he got his hands on. Shea and the others were just as curious, and they too started thinking about how else they could apply evolution magic. After a few minutes, Yue nodded to herself and shot to her feet. 
“My love for Hajime is as strong as it gets.” 
“Where the heck did that come from, Yue? Did you hit your head somewhere?” 
Yue replied to Kaori’s taunt by shooting a sphere of wind at her, but Kaori easily dodged it. 
“But what if I could evolve it further? They say it’s the power of love that forges bonds, so isn’t that a power that can be enhanced with evolution magic?” 
“Wow. You’re just going to continue the conversation like nothing happened, huh, Yue-san?” 
“Kaori’s listening like nothing happened too. Even though she moved so fast I could see afterimages... You’ve really grown strong Kaori...” 
The two girls had fought so often they’d polished their skills against each other. Shea and Shizuku gazed at their respective best friends with awe. In a way, Shea and Shizuku were in sync as well. 
“I-I must say, that does sound like an intriguing experiment. If evolution magic can be used on emotions as well, there’s an endless amount of possibilities.” 
“Yue, you sure you want to try it? I feel like you should get some more practice with evolution magic in first.” 
“Mmm, I’ll be fine... If it goes wrong, Kaori can always heal me with restoration magic.” 
Kaori gave Yue a confident nod, and Yue nodded back. 
“Let’s try it... Make me love Hajime even more, moe moe kyun!” 
A vampire from parallel world acting like a maid cafe waitress was about as surreal a sight as it got. Yue made a heart with her hands and moved it around in a circle. Finally, as the spell came to an end, she winked. She really had the choreography down perfectly. Kaori and Shizuku both gave Hajime accusing glares, and he looked away awkwardly. In an attempt to change the topic, he turned toward Yue and asked her about her condition. 
“Yue, how do you feel? Is anything different?” 
As Yue looked over at Hajime, her eyes glazed over. 
“Divine Shackles!” She used one of Kaori’s favorite spells to bind to Hajime in place. 
“Huh!? Hey, Yue, what are you—” 
Everyone blinked in surprise. They watched as Yue then pulled a necklace out of her Treasure Trove. Timidly, Shea piped in to question her. 
“Y-Yue-san? I don’t know why you have a Necklace of Vows on you, but what are you planning on doing with it?” 
Yue’s head swiveled around like a doll. Her unnatural movements combined with her empty eyes made her appear terrifying. 
“I was wondering how I could make sure I would be with Hajime forever.” 
Cold sweat poured down Hajime’s forehead. He had a bad feeling about where this was going. 
“Then, I realized it was simple. I just have to bind him so he can never leave.” 
“Someone stop Yue! Kaori, use your restoration magic, please!” 
“Uwaaaaaah, Yue, come back to your senses!” Kaori cast restoration magic faster than she ever had in her life. Silver light rained down on Yue. 
“Are you... trying to get in my way?” 
However, it had no effect. 

“Why isn’t it working!?” Kaori screamed. 
Yue turned to Kaori and cast Divine Shackles on her as well. They tied her up in perfect bondage art fashion, and Shizuku and Kaori were left wondering where she’d learned that technique. 
“Y-Yue! What are you doing!? Let me go!” 
“Don’t worry, Kaori... I won’t leave you alone.” 
“Huh?” 
“We’ll be together forever too. Foreveeeeeer. I won’t ever let you run away.” 
“Hiiiiiiiii! Someone, save meeeeee!” 
Yue then turned to the rest of her comrades. Her eyes were still glazed over, but her lips had curled up into an ecstatic smile. 
“Shea, Tio... even you Shizuku, if you want. We’ll all be together forever. Fufufu...” 
Shea, Tio, and Shizuku, who incidentally did not want this, shivered. Yue had completely transformed into a yandere. 
“What are you all standing around for, Shea, Tio, Yaegashi! Hurry up and stop Yue!” 
The remaining three girls snapped back to their senses and jumped Yue. However, Yue was even stronger than before now that her emotions had been unleashed. She repelled the three girls with ease. Still, they had managed to buy enough time for Hajime and Kaori to escape their bonds. The two of them joined the fight, and together they were able to restrain Yue. After a while, the evolution magic wore off, and the light returned to Yue’s eyes. She looked down and saw Kaori’s chains wrapped around her. 
“I-It’s not what you think. I just enhanced my passion a little too much.” 
For the first time in living memory, the party saw Yue trying to explain herself. 
“Tio, explain what happened, please.” 
“Understood. I believe that since Yue’s love for Master was already so high that when she enhanced it, it caused her feelings to spiral out of control. In other words, these are desires she harbors, but normally manages to hold back.” 
“Mmm!? Objection!” 
Everyone ignored Yue’s objection. 
“Hajime-san, what do you think of this revelation?” Shea held an imaginary mic up to Hajime. 
“Her love might be a little too deep, but I’m okay with it.” 
It appeared Hajime was willing to accept even a yandere Yue. The vampire princess blushed. Kaori was used to these little scenes of flirting at this point, so she didn’t even comment. There was something that was bugging her, however. 
“How come she wanted to tie all of us up too, though?” 
“Well, to put It simply... This is rather embarrassing to say, but... it appears Yue loves us all so much she wants to be with us forever.” 
Kaori had more or less guessed that was the case, but hearing it said outright was definitely embarrassing. 
“I-Is that so...” Kaori muttered and turned away, her cheeks red. 
“Oh, Yue-san...” Shea said with a smile, her bunny ears flopping back and forth. 
“W-Wait, does that include me, then?” Shizuku pointed to herself in shock and said. 
“Well, she did ask whether you wanted to, so I suppose she’s not quite as infatuated with you just yet, but... I suppose she likes you enough to want you as well if you’re willing.” 
“I-I see...” Shizuku wasn’t sure if she should be happy Yue liked her or terrified. Either way, everyone now knew Yue loved them so much she wished she could lock them up and make them hers forever using spirit binding artifacts. 
Hajime and the others exchanged glances. They then undid Yue’s restraints and gave her an almost pitying look. 
“Just kill me now...” 
Her freedom restored, Yue squatted down and hid her face between her legs. It was both an unbelievably cute and unbelievably rare sight. 
Afterward, Kaori got curious enough to try enhancing her own emotions. She, too, became a rather extreme person, but in the opposite direction. 
“I don’t mind at all. Hajime-kun, you can love everyone. Yue, Shea, in fact, even the whole world should be loved by you. After all, we’re all just one big, happy family. The world is a beautiful place, so why should any of us be fighting?” 
Under the influence of evolution magic, Kaori had evolved into a saint that forgave all. Her divine radiance was so dazzling, Hajime started to become convinced the body of an apostle suited her more than her own. At any rate, both Kaori and Yue were girls who had extreme personalities even without evolution magic, so it was no surprise evolution magic tipped them over the edge. After those particular incidents, Hajime and the others all agreed that evolution magic should never be used on emotions.