32 Haku's Back

"He is Serge Lachapelle, a former French special forces unit and an International class A fugitive. Why is he here?"

Haruka's brows furrowed as she observed Serge's partially frozen body. Three ice spears protruded from him, spreading through his body like a lethal poison, freezing him in place.

The questions swirled relentlessly in her mind, demanding answers that seemed elusive.

How could someone with such a notorious background manage to slip past the tight security country's border?

Tatsuya examined the spears, a serious expression on his face.

"It seems he still isn't taking the duel that time seriously," he thought.

These ice spears surpassed even the modern magic, Oscillation-type [Freezing Magic] which had an area-of-effect attack, a magic mastered by Miyuki.

"Wow, this spear looks interesting," Erika remarked, her finger inching closer to it, but Tatsuya grab her wrist.

"It's an ice elemental ninjutsu exclusive to bloodlines. I don't know what would happen upon direct contact, but the worst-case scenario isn't something we want to find out."

Tatsuya pointed towards the frozen parts of Serge's body, where the ice continued to spread.

"O-oh, sorry~," Erika said, rubbing her arms in uncertainty.

The rapid advancement of modern magic, coupled with the emergence of magic engineers, had surpassed ancient magic in terms of speed, convenience, and equipment.

The decline of ancient magic was also due to its practitioners being overshadowed by their great ancestors. Kokonoe Yakumo was a testament to the ancient magical civilization of Ninjutsu. Sometimes, Tatsuya would consider certain forms of ancient magic as [Real Magic] While modern magic drew inspiration from mythical tales, the production of artifacts like Antinite remained beyond the reach of the modern magical world.

"Morisaki-kun! Are you alright?" Honoka's concerned voice broke the silence.

"Y-Yes... I'm fine...," he replied, but his pale face revealed the truth.

"Morisaki-san, where is Haku?" Miyuki's direct question made everyone's eyes turn to Morisaki, awaiting an answer.

"After he killed that man... h-he's... he's gone... I don't know where he went," Morisaki stammered.

"He left?" Erika questioned, uncertain about the reason for Haku's departure.

"Enough," Haruka interjected. "I already know where Yuki-kun went. Take Morisaki-kun to the medical room; he needs it more. And remember, the terrorists are still here."

It had been twenty five minutes since the terrorist attack.

"But I didn't expect Haku to anticipate the terrorists' intentions," Leo acknowledged Haku's cleverness.

However, Tatsuya believed that Haku had known all along but hadn't been motivated to take action.

What had changed his mind?

Honoka, Shizuku, and Eimi left to escort Morisaki to the medical room, while Haruka, Tatsuya, and their group remained behind.

"According to Ono-sensei, if you know where Haku is now, I would guess it's the Blanche base," Tatsuya stated, causing Miyuki, Erika, and Leo to flinch. However, Haruka's subtle nod confirmed their suspicions.

"That's stupid! Why would Haku do something so reckless!?"

"Going alone to the terrorist base... he's crossed the line."

"Onii-sama... what should we do?"

Erika and Leo expressed their concern, calling Haku careless. Ultimately, they were worried because even though magicians excelled in combat, they were still vulnerable to bullets.

Erika's grip tightened "Tsk! I won't stay here!" Erika stormed out of the library, her expression filled with a desire to unleash her anger.

"Ono-sensei, you know where it is, right?"

Tatsuya gazed at Haruka, his expression urging her to reveal what she knew.

"You know where it is. Show me."

"The terrorists are still here," Haruka replied, her eyes widening as she sensed a sudden shift in the atmosphere.

Not only she, but the others also turned their attention toward the outside. The cacophony of magic and weapons had abruptly ceased as if someone had pressed the mute button.

As they hurriedly made their way out, they witnessed a sight that explained the sudden calmness—a sight that became the catalyst for the cessation of chaos.

---

The sky burned with a sickly reddish-orange hue, casting an eerie glow over the chaos unfolding at First High.

Teachers, staff, and students, each with their own unique talents, fought valiantly against the terrorists.

However, amidst their valiant struggle, a sense of hesitancy pervaded their actions. The presence of the [Egalite] Activist Alliance, comprising students who vehemently opposed them, compelled even the most capable individuals like Juumonji Katsuto to restrain themselves from taking student lives.

"Kirahara, what's the situation elsewhere?" Katsuto asked, his voice tense as he shielded himself behind the protective barrier of [Phalanx], blocking the barrage of bullets.

"No problems, chief! It seems the corruption has spread inside the Kendo Club," Kirihara Takeaki replied, his voice laced with concern.

Lowering his guard for a moment, Kirihara wondered silently, Where is Sayaka?

Suddenly, an eerie silence fell upon First High, drowning out the chaos and commotion.

"Shouldn't we intervene?" someone whispered, their voice laced with fear.

"Is that our leader?" another questioned in disbelief.

"How can this be?" their voice tinged with confusion.

The scene that unfolded before them, had crossed a moral line, in an era when people's sense of morality had reached its peak, its brutality and depravity shocked those who witnessed it.

From the road leading to the school gate, a figure emerged, walking slowly but purposefully.

This figure, far from exuding physical strength, appeared delicate, seemingly incapable of maintaining calm composure while dragging a grown man's body with one hand.

Flying from Blanche's base, Haku had brought Tsukasa Hajime to the courtyard of First High.

With a firm grip on the hair of the leader of the Japanese branch of Blanche, his left hand drenched in blood, Haku's expression cold.

-Drip, drip, drip, drip.

Blood dripped from Hajime's blue-pale face, his voice weak as he pleaded, his parched mouth betraying his exhaustion.

Yet, he dared not stop begging for mercy.

"P-Please... s-spare me."

Hajime had never imagined a scenario like this unfolding before him.

He had never anticipated that his organization would crumble in an instant, or that he would be dragged to the very place he had intended to attack, in such a pitiful state.

Even if he were to be captured, Hajime held onto the belief that the Japanese government would treat criminals humanely, or that the Ten Master Clans, due to the public perception of magicians as monsters, would refrain from committing acts of cruelty.

Hajime had never considered it.

Yuki Haku, known throughout the entire school as an orphan with a reputation for being skilled in combat, was seen as nothing more than a nobody. Students, in their arrogance, believed that Haku's expertise in fighting stemmed from his background as a street kid who frequently engaged in brawls. It was nothing more than idle gossip circulating among them.

It had never crossed Hajime's mind that Haku would subject someone to such cruel treatment.

"I-I was wrong. Please, spare me this time, Yuki-sama. I will pledge my allegiance to you, dedicating my organization to your cause. I will serve you like a faithful dog. Please, show me mercy," Hajime pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation.

Hajime's instincts warned him of the impending danger. He had witnessed his best men being ruthlessly slain, their agonized cries lingering in his ears. It seemed he had been granted a temporary reprieve from their fate.

Haku remained silent, unmoved by Hajime's pleas. The desperate man continued begging, teetering on the edge of life itself.

Then, suddenly, Haku halted, bringing Hajime's bloodied face crashing into the ground. Despite the splatters of blood, Hajime clung to life, his moans the only signs of his existence.

Within the chaos of First High, Haku's grip tightened on Hajime's hair, revealing his battered visage to the crowd.

"The person I hold before you is Tsukasa Hajime, the leader of Blanche's Japanese branch. He orchestrated today's terrorist attack,"

Haku proclaimed, his words causing whispers to ripple through the crowd, eyes shifting from Haku to one another.

"You should also know that the objective of this attack was to steal research data from the Magic University, using the international fugitive Serge Lachapelle. By using his dirty magic, [Evil Eyes], Hajime manipulated the memories of innocent students, turning them into unwitting pawns for today's attack."

-murmur

Disbelief hung in the air as people whispered amongst themselves.

Some students, wearing the tri-colored bracelets of the Egalite movement, dropped to their knees, releasing their weapons in shock and disbelief.

[Quest!]

[Drag Tsukasa Hajime into the midst of the chaos at First High and expose his crimes.]

[Quest Successful!]

[Wardrobe to another world has been saved in your storage!]

As if attuned to Haku's thoughts, the system presented him with a quest that perfectly aligned with his intentions. He had desired to bring this man, Tsukasa Hajime, to the party he had unexpectedly thrown at his school—a party where Hajime would taste the bitter defeat he had sought to inflict on others.

But Haku's intentions did not end there.

-Slam!

A sudden slam resounded through the air as Hajime's face met the ground, blood spattering in all directions, yet he remained alive, his moans persisting.

-Crackle!

[Purple Lightning]

"Serge Lachapelle met his end, and now Tsukasa Hajime shall meet his demise," Haku declared, his gaze cold and unwavering.

"Noooo! Someone! p-please, help me!" Hajime screamed, his voice filled with desperation.

"Students, stop this madness!"

"Stop!"

The screams of the teachers and students surrounding them filled the air, mingling with the dark purple lightning crackling in Haku's right hand, transforming it into a sword.

With the [Purple Lightning] sword poised to strike, Haku prepared to execute Hajime, severing his head from his body.

-Swosh!

[Gram Demolition]

In an instant, the concentrated psion energy dispersed, canceling out the [Purple Lightning].

Haku's eyes widened as he turned to face Tatsuya, who stood far before him, wielding his CAD, Silver Trident.

But that wasn't all.

The Juumonji clan's [Phalanx] magic flies toward Haku with incredible speed.

Nevertheless, Haku evaded the oncoming [Phalanx] effortlessly.

The truth was that the magic had been intended only to separate Haku from Hajime.

Several meters away from Tsukasa Hajime, Haku reappeared, having utilized the [Body Flicker] technique.

"Move aside," Haku's voice brimmed with icy determination.

Tatsuya and Juumonji stood their ground, blocking his path.

"You must stop. Many eyes are new to witnessing such brutality," Tatsuya argued.

"Yuki, leave Tsukasa Hajime's fate to the Ten Master Clans. You have accomplished what you set out to do," Katsuto added, admiration for Haku's merciless nature is evident in his eyes.

'A predator... This person is deserving of a seat among the Ten Masters.'

Katsuto liked Haku's brutal style, a small smile playing on his lips.

Haku's gaze darted between the two of them.

Should he stop now?

"Haku, please, stop! There's no need for you to dirty your hands like this!" Mayumi pleaded, her breathing heavy, her eyes teetering on the verge of tears.

Haku let out a long sigh. "Ah... alright. Alright, you win, I'll stop. Sigh..."

Had it not been for Mayumi's timely intervention, he might have learned a thing or two from Juumonji Katsuto's [Phalanx], but that opportunity vanished with Mayumi's pleading gaze.

With Mayumi's surprising arrival, the terrorist raised their arms in surrender, their fighting spirit crushed in the face of the terrifying Haku's action.

Unbeknownst to Haku, his actions had inadvertently shattered the barriers that labeled Bloom as superior and relegated Weed to the role of sidekick, and through this display of raw emotion, he captured the attention of the influential figures within the Ten Master Clans.

---

Some time had passed since the terrorist attack on First High.

Within the confines of a luxurious room, the atmosphere was draped in dim lighting. A distinguished butler with short white hair carefully poured tea into two delicate cups, his movements precise and refined.

"Haha! Who would have thought he'd drag him right into the heart of the school and slam his face into the ground? It's quite entertaining, wouldn't you agree, Nee-san?" Maya's voice resonated with amusement as she received her cup of tea from the butler, Hayama-san. He bowed respectfully in response.

Miya sat across the round table, her eyes fixed on Maya, a hint of curiosity lacing her words.

"So, you're showing interest in my children's friend?"

"Eh~ You mean Mei's friend?" Maya's voice carried a playful tone as she sought clarification.

"Are you referring to Mei-san's friend, Nee-san? I've heard that he and my daughter have joined the same club and become friends." Her smile widened, a glimmer dancing in her eyes. "Well, considering that girl's temperament, I highly doubt she would appreciate any disruptions to her life."

"Maya-sama, Miya-sama, I apologize for the interruption, but the virtual meeting with the Master Clans is about to commence. I suggest that you prepare yourselves," Hayama interjected, bowing once again as he informed Maya of her impending schedule.

"Hmm, what can I do? It seems I'm not the only one intrigued by this boy."

Maya's smile curved like a crescent moon as her gaze fixated upon Haku's face, which appeared on the large screen before her.

---

Hey, guess what? We've reached the end of the Enrollment Arc!

Honestly, I didn't think I'd be able to write this far when I first outlined the story. So far, I've only managed to cover up until this arc, but, progress is still progress!

I've read some reviews where people say that the MC is just a third wheel to Tatsuya and all that jazz, but you know what? I had a blast writing this and I hope you enjoyed it too. My sis and your support for this fanfic mean a lot to me, and it's what keeps me going. So, thank you!

But wait, I'm not planning on stopping here.

What do you guys think? If you have any ideas or suggestions, let me know.