Prologue: Darkness lurks in a Peaceful School, A Case of Missing Students!

"Just in time..."

I exhaled in relief as I left the auditorium of Midgar

Swordsman Academy. My white breath disappears into the

morning sky.

Just now, the opening ceremony of the third semester has

just ended.

"Good grief, where have you been all winter break, Sid?"

"That's right, we promised that we would all try to pick up

Mitsugoshi Shokai's ladies, didn't we?"

The mob faces of Hyoro and Jaga are also somewhat

nostalgic.

"Sorry, sorry, I have some urgent business."

With the succession to the throne of the Oriana Kingdom

and my unexpected return to Japan, my winter vacation was

filled with many fun events.

"We've been through a lot while you've been gone..."

"That's right, Sid-kun's sister tied me up..."

Hyoro and Jaga said resentfully.

"Claire-neesan?"

"It looks like she was trying to find out where Sid was. I told

her I didn't know, but she's poking me in the neck with her

sword..."

"When I said, "You're so cute, would you like me to go out

with you?" she almost put a sword in my butt..."

"Aah, is that so. Sorry sorry."

I guess I should stay away from my sister for a while.

"Speaking of trouble, the missing former president Rose is

now the princess of the Oriana Kingdom, and the whole

country is in an uproar."

"I know that one."

Fufufu, no one would ever think that I led her to become

king.

Behind the birth of the Great King, there was an unknown

involvement of "The Eminence in Shadow" ―― And his

identity is that of an ordinary student from anywhere.

This is the real thrill of "The Eminence in Shadow".

"That's not all. There was a mass outbreak of demons in the

Oriana Kingdom, or the country was taken over."

Of course I know that.

After all, it was "The Eminence in Shadow" who led the way

and solved the whole thing. You will never know that there is

a key figure in front of you.

"This will likely terminate the alliance with the Oriana

Kingdom."

Hmm?

Termination of alliance?

"Right. I never thought that former President Rose would fall

into the path of evil...Public opinion will never allow it."

"Path of evil? Eh? What do you mean?"

"I said, former President Rose summoned demons to

slaughter the heir to the throne and take over the Oriana

Kingdom. She is truly a villainous, evil woman who will go

down in history."

"She was such a good person at the academy, but I never

thought she would do something like this. Even at the War

God Festival, she killed her own father, which means that a

person is not what she appears to be. Well, if she insists, I

can marry her."

"N-Now that you mention it, she's definitely a villainous

woman…"

The story of the birth of the Great King who went down in

history had unexpectedly gone the villain route.

Well, I guess this is the way it is.

The evil Great King who shakes the world and the powerful

person who controls her from the shadow… If I do say so

myself, what a flexible turnaround, it's splendid.

"And there are some fishy rumors about former President

Rose."

"Yes, that's right. I heard that she is connected behind the

scenes with an organization called Shadow Garden or

something like that――"

"Oi Jaga, if you say anything more, it's dangerous."

Hyoro interrupted Jaga.

"Oops, that's right. I was about to get erased for talking

about this."

"Hmm? What do you mean, "erased"?"

"During the winter break, four of the academy's students

went missing. Rumor has it that it was the work of the

organization that took over the school before."

Hyoro, making a serious face, says, and Jaga also says in a

frightened voice.

"They're burying the students who tried to investigate the

organization in the dark..."

"Hmm, I wonder if they do that."

"Well, they won't."

Jaga change his attitude and pretended to be relaxed.

"The students suddenly disappeared, so everyone is playing

around with conspiracy theories. The Knights investigated

just in case, but there were no traces of intruders

anywhere."

"It's time for those who have dropped their academic credits

to escape reality. They didn't disappear, they ran away. Jaga,

are you going to be okay with your academic credits?"

"Ugh, Well, just barely. What about you, Hyoro-kun?"

"M-Mine is so so, what about you, Sid?"

"Somehow, I can manage… I guess?"

"I-I see. I'm glad that everyone seems to be able to

advance."

"Y-Y-Y-You're right."

"Right."

"By the way, what are we going to do after this?"

"We don't have classes today, just the opening ceremony.

So why don't we play cards in the dormitory?"

"Eh, playing cards?"

"This, this is a new product from Mitsugoshi Company!"

What Hyoro, with a smug look on his face, pulled out of his

pocket was the very playing cards I had often seen in my

previous life. I had no idea that such a thing had even been

commercialized.

"I got it from Nina-senpai. Let's play daifugo or poker!"

(TLN: also known as Tycoon, is a Japanese shedding–type

card game for three or more players played with a standard

52–card pack. The objective of the game is to get rid of all

the cards one has as fast as possible by playing

progressively stronger cards than those of the previous

player)

"Sid is playing cards for the first time today. Let's show him

how tough the world of competition is."

"Fufufu... Then it's poker. Let's rip off all the money he

has."

Poker, huh?

Probably Texas Hold'em. These are the rules of poker that I

taught Seven Shades a long time ago.

I have good memories of taking the girls' money and

making them cry half the time.

I taught the kids the harshness of society, so it's only right

that I get a generous lesson fee... They quickly became

stronger, so I ran away with the win.

It's a good opportunity, so let's get the lesson fee from

Hyoro and Jaga as well.

I snapped my fingers,

"I'll take it. Let's see if you can teach me the harshness of

the competition."

"The rate is ten times higher than usual. I'm getting extra

income."

"The duck has carried the leek" (TLN: It means "What a

stroke of luck!" or "Here comes a sucker")

"Fuu…"

Oops, close call. I covered my mouth with my hand.

Poker ended up being played in my room.

The sun is already setting, and Jaga is staring at the ceiling

with a soul-less face, having lost all his money.

I picked up a plentiful supply of chips,

"Raise"

"Gununu..... A-All in."

Hyoro bet all of his few remaining chips.

Naturally, I make the call.

"Kukuku... You've fallen into my trap."

Chuckling, Hyoro showed his cards.

"I see, that's a good move."

"Sid, sorry, but I've learned all your actions. This is where

the reversal begins——"

"——No, it's over."

"Heh?"

I showed him my cards.

"No way... It's a three-card… The poker I worked out with

Jaga, so easily..."

"With debt, I can still fight, I just need to get my living

expenses back for this month or... Dead..."

Jaga was muttering something in a raspy voice.

"Collect the money, collect the money"

I collected the money from the two desperate men and

kicked them out into the hallway.

"I'm sorry, I have no business with people who have no

money."

I say that and close the door.

From the hallway, "Damn it, remember this!" "Next time,

let's set him up with some cheating!" can be heard noisy

voices.

If that's what you want, I'll welcome you with cheating too.

Even Alpha couldn't see through my serious cheating.

I put the money I collected into the "The Eminence in

Shadow Military Fund Box" and turned the lamp light down.

For a while, I listen to the sounds of the night.

Then I called out to the darkness outside the window.

"I made you wait, you can come in."

"...Nn."

With a small reply, a girl appeared from somewhere.

Quite a stealth skill. You've improved your skills, Zeta.

She is a slender beastman dressed in a jet black bodysuit.

She stares at me with cat-like ice-purple eyes.

"Long time no see, Master." (TLN: Aruji)

"Un, it's been a while."

"A little taller."

"Is that so?"

"Nn."

She gave a small nod.

Then she offers a dried fish.

"Souvenirs"

"Souvenirs…..?"

"A horse mackerel"

"It's a horse mackerel."

"I went offshore to catch it."

"It was hard, wasn't it?"

"It's fatty. The best horse mackerel of the season."

"I see."

She is a cat beastman and the sixth seven shades.

Zeta is smart for a beastman. And a cool person who

doesn't talk much.

It is the exact opposite of a certain dog.

Zeta stares at me as I accept the dried horse mackerel.

It's like a cat waiting to be fed.

"Thank you. I'll grill it and eat it later."

"Nn."

Zeta wagged her golden tail a little happily.

"Well..."

I suddenly made a serious face.

"So——has there been any progress on the case?"

When I asked her, her cat-like eyes became very confident.

"The movement of the cult is as expected"

"——Fumu."

I stand by the window and hold a wine glass in one hand.

Zeta moves quickly and pours wine into my glass.

Nice moves as always. This is the spy act that Zeta loves to

play. She has always been good at stealth and infiltration.

"The right arm is being revived."

"——I see."

"The hand of Diabolos is about to wither. The cause of all

this is there."

"——So, is there?"

"The sealed right arm is in the ruins of the academy"

"——As expected"

"They are getting impatient. They're afraid we're going to

intervene."

"——It's within expectations."

"There's not much time left. We'll definitely make a move."

After saying that, Zeta looked up at me as if asking for

instructions.

Before I knew it, materials written in ancient characters

were spread out on my desk... though I can't read it.

"What about the missing students?"

"Not yet."

"Four people, huh..."

"Yes."

"It won't be enough."

"Probably."

We squinted at each other to give the impression that we

were sensing something, and looked out the window at the

lights of the girls' dormitory.

"——There's going to be a fifth victim."

"Yes... What do we do?"

Zeta looks at me with an upward glance.

"... I don't care."

"Is it okay?"

"Zeta, you'll find out."

"Hmm... What?"

"The future... and beyond that, what needs to be done"

"... If Master desires it."

A solemn atmosphere flowed between us.

It was nice of me to improvise and connect it to the missing

student case to create a sense of reality.

Behind the peaceful school life, the Diabolos cult's grand

plan is in motion——Me and Zeta look at each other as if we

understand each other.

I nodded, and Zeta nodded too.

"Master, leave it to me. I will surely find it out."

Then, with a gust of wind, she disappeared into the

darkness of the night.

But I didn't miss Zeta's unnecessary behavior. She rubbed

her golden tail on the bed.

"Even though I already told her to stop with the marking."

I brush off the hair and look up at the night sky.

"Eternal darkness or waking up from eternity——"

I muttered to myself, with the thought that it was late today,

so I'd better get a good night's sleep and wake up feeling

good tomorrow.

"I'll never forgive him!"

Claire Kagenoh puffed out her cheeks in her room in the

girls' dormitory.

"Sid, how many times do you have to break your promises?

Even though we promised to go home together on winter

break..."

The lamp light illuminates her somewhat sulking figure.

She had a steel collar for some reason.

"I will never, ever forgive you. I'm dragging you back for

spring break."

She played with the collar and laughed when she made sure

it was properly locked.

"You can't run away next time."

"——Tsu"

At that moment, she frowned.

The collar falls to the floor with a heavy thud.

"My right hand... hurts..."

She held her right hand and her face contorted.

"Why... even though it had been subsiding lately."

Since that day when the magic circle was engraved on her

right hand, she had been feeling aching a few times.

But lately, things should have calmed down.

"What is this... Aurora, answer me."

Even though she asks, Aurora has never responded to her

since that day.

Could it be, she thought, that it was all just a dream.

But under the bandage wrapped around her right hand, the

magic circle is indeed engraved.

Claire opens a desk drawer and spreads the materials out

on the desk.

"I did some research. The fact that the same magic circle as

mine is engraved in the documents of the Devil Diabolos."

The magic circle depicted on the unfolded document and

the magic circle engraved on her right hand bear a striking

resemblance.

"What does this mean... What connection do Diabolos and

I have? What will happen to me? Hey, please, answer

me..."

At that moment, she thought she heard something.

Claire raises her head and looks around.

"Eh, now..."

[...ay!]

"! Aurora!? Is it Aurora?"

A voice that seems to echo directly into her head.

[...Ru...way...da...]

Little by little, she can hear it clearly.

[Run away...danger...]

"Eh...? Run away?"

Just as Claire's expression of bewilderment appeared on her

face, there was a cracking sound like something cracking.

"What is this...!"

The landscape in her eyes was cracked.

The world collapses like a broken mirror shattering.

Even the desk she tried to grab at the moment is shattered.

And beyond the shatters, a new world unfolded.

"My room…..isn't it"

No doubt it was her own room.

However, for some reason, there is a strange white mist in

the air.

The sound is somewhat distant, and only Claire's breathing

can be heard.

No——Behind her, she heard the faint rustling of clothes.

"——Naive"

The next moment, Claire turned around and released an

elbow that shattered the attacker's jaw.

"Gugah"

The assailant nearly collapsed to his knees, but he barely

stayed on his feet.

But that turned out to be a mistake.

Claire's knee slammed into his face, which was in just the

right position.

"Sid's direct teachings."

With a flutter, the skirt of the uniform danced.

The man collapses on the floor, unconscious with white

eyes.

She doesn't recognize him.

"I wonder who he is"

Claire crouched down to examine the man.

But suddenly, the man's body cracks and shatters.

"Wha, the same as earlier…!"

All traces of the man were gone.

"What is this? Hey someone! Anybody here?!"

Claire stepped out into the hallway and opened the door to

the next room.

But the familiar schoolmates are nowhere to be seen.

The one next to it, and the one next to it.

There is no one.

Claire was the only one left in this world.

"What does this mean… Hey, Aurora, you're here, right?"

[I am not]

She said with a troublesome voice.

"You're here, aren't you? This is no time for jokes."

[Even though I told you to run away.]

"It can't be helped. No way I could move on the spur of the

moment like that."

[I'm reluctant.]

"This is an emergency!"

[I have my circumstances, too.]

"What's the circumstances?"

[I didn't want to drag you into this.]

"――! It's a little late for that, isn't it, you carved this kind

of magic circle!"

Claire stared at the magic circle on her right hand.

[It was to protect you.]

"I understand, but you could at least tell me the reason."

[I was going to tell you. But now I can't.]

"What do you mean?"

[Because he's trying to protect you.]

"He…..?"

[He's trying to protect you. He's trying to keep you out of

danger. That's why I can't talk.]

"You said it before, but who is he? I don't think anyone is

protecting me."

[You have always been protected. Always have been, always

will be. Always, even to the point of making me envy you.]

"…..I'll say it again. I don't know who he is, but I have no

intention of being protected by anyone."

Claire's voice was filled with anger.

[That's fine. As long as you stay safe and don't know

anything. Because that's probably what he wants——]

"——That's enough! I don't want that!"

[I never talk about it. Because I owe him a great debt.]

Aurora's voice is also somewhat displeased.

"I'll definitely make you talk."

[How?]

"Etto..."

Claire suddenly calmed down.

I wondered what can she do to the person who only echoes

the voice in her head.

"Etto... Etto. I'm going to keep yelling loudly until Aurora

speaks."

[Feel free to do so]

"I'll break ties with you."

[Go ahead.]

"... I'll speak ill of you."

[So what?]

Claire bit her lip in annoyance.

[Are you done now?]

"I'm getting more irritated."

[Rest assured, I can tell you how to get out of this space.]

"What is this place anyway?"

[I can't tell you that.]

"Aah, mou, it's already annoying."

[For now, just go straight ahead.]

"No."

[If you don't move on, you'll be stuck in here for the rest of

your life.]

"Yes, yes, I understand. I just need to go ahead, right?"

[Yes, yes, go ahead and make three turns.]

"Three turns?!"

[Just kidding.]

"Someday I'm going to blow you away."

The black-haired girl walked out into a world of white fog.

Behind her, a woman with violet eyes could be seen

overlapping faintly.

Classes for the third semester begin today.

Perhaps because the exams at the end of the school year

are approaching, everyone in the class seems to be

somewhat serious.

"I heard that today's class on the theory of magic

manipulation will be on the test every year."

"As expected of Jaga, you're well informed."

"It's time to get serious, because if I don't, it will be bad. If I

repeat the year, my parents will kill me."

"I think it's time for me to get serious. I guess I cut corners a

little too much."

"If I put my mind to it, I can easily manage it."

"If I put my mind to it, I can easily manage it."

Hyoro and Jaga's eyes were bloodshot.

"Sid, you're not getting good grades either, are you? It's

time to get serious."

"Ah~ you're right, I'll get serious too."

I keep my grades around the lower middle.

To be honest, I don't know most of the tests because I'm

usually training magic during class.

But if I'm serious, I can cheat very easily, so there's no

problem.

I don't even know the content of today's class, but my

training is proof of the "Theory of a Thousandfold Increase

in Power through Magic Compression".

This is also the training to become the "Eminence in

Shadow".

I secretly tried to train my magic as usual.

——At that time.

The classroom door rattled open and a silver-haired girl

appeared.

It's Alexia.

"The weather is nice today."

I said so and casually looked up at the sky outside the

window.

It was cloudy.

I could feel the eyes of the whole class on me.

When Alexia comes, everyone looks at me for some reason.

I'm just an ordinary, plain mob guy.

"Hey."

"Ah, there's a bird flying in the sky."

Ordinary everyday scenery is in the sky.

"Look over here, Pochi."

"The clouds are being swept away by the wind"

And so the day would pass peacefully.

"Don't ignore me."

She grabbed me by the chin.

Crack crack, I heard a weird noise coming from my neck,

and she forced me to turn around.

Alexia's red eyes are right in front of me.

"Yaa~, Princess Alexia."

I greeted her in a mob-like manner.

"Hello, Sid Kagenoh-kun."

"Aren't you coming to the wrong class, Princess Alexia?"

"No, I'm not mistaken. I was looking for you, Sid Kagenohkun"

"Ah, the class is about to start. I'm sorry, but we'll continue

another time."

"It doesn't matter. I'm going to borrow this guy for a

moment."

Alexia said to Hyoro and Jaga and grabbed me by the neck.

"Go-go-go-go ahyead"

"A-A-As you wiish!"

Listening to their heartless voices, I was taken away.

For some reason, I was taken to a girls' dormitory.

"Can we come in without permission?"

"I've got permission."

"But I'm a boy."

"It's okay because you're related to her."

"Related to her?"

Alexia stopped in front of the door.

If I remember correctly, this is Claire-neesan's room.

"Your big sister, apparently she didn't show up for

breakfast."

"Hmm."

"A concerned student paid a visit and found the room

unlocked."

With that said, when Alexia opened the door, the room was

indeed empty.

"I think we went through all the places she might have

gone, but she was nowhere to be found."

"Ho~n."

"Do you have any idea?"

"I don't."

When I answered immediately, Alexia looked at me with a

look that said, "Is this guy okay?"

"Aren't you worried?"

"It often happens."

"Often?"

"Since childhood, she has often gone missing."

"That's called having an idea."

"I see. Indeed."

"Where did your missing sister go?"

"Who knows, because she'd come back on her own."

After the Seven Shades came, they rescued my big sister.

Zeta must have been nearby this time. Zeta is a good

person, so if there is no action from her, it must be okay.

"I guess it's like running away from home."

"Maybe."

"I hope it's simply a run away from home, but I'm a little

concerned about something."

"What are you concerned about?"

"Look at this."

Entering the room, Alexia picked up the collar from the floor.

"Is that a collar? It looks pretty sturdy."

"And it also has an effect of sealing the magic. It's not

something you'd find in the normal schoolgirl's room."

"Whether nee-san is normal or not is disputable."

"Someone may have broken into this room and tried to take

her away using a collar."

"But the collar fell right here."

"Perhaps they dropped it when struggling. And there's one

more thing that bothers me."

Saying so, Alexia looked down at the materials on the desk.

The moment I saw it, I guessed.

"This is..."

Ancient letters, cool magic circles, spells that seem to make

sense but don't make sense at all.

This is that.

It's a black history notebook of chuunibyou.

"Do you have any idea?"

"N-No, not at all. I don't have any idea about any of this."

"Really? Your eyes are swimming."

"I-It must be your imagination."

"I hope so."

Alexia turned her attention back to the black history

notebook of chuunibyou again.

"I don't think she wrote anything that makes sense."

"Is that so."

Alexia is seriously examining the notes.

Unfortunately, all that is written there is black history.

Come to think of it, the magic seal collar is also a

chuunibyou item, and my sister used to play with writing a

chuunibyou magic circle on her right hand and hiding it with

a bandage.

Maybe nee-san's chuunibyou sickness has finally been

triggered in full blown.

Sudden disappearance is one of the most common

symptoms of chuunibyou sickness.

"I'm sure nee-san is fine."

"I see you trust her..."

"I trust her or rather ... Well."

It's unavoidable that she has been triggered.

"I… My onee-sama…"

Alexia narrowed her eyes, as if she was looking somewhere

far away.

"I don't know what my big sister is thinking these days."

"Hmm."

"Did Pochi also experience the same thing?"

"I don't know most of what my big sister is thinking."

"That's so ... I wonder if people don't get it."

"They're strangers related by blood."

"That's a ruthless way of saying it."

"Is that so."

"I wish I could understand her."

"I see."

Alexia let out a small sigh.

"... You can go back to class now. I'll look into it a little

more."

"Nn."

I walked away, leaving Alexia doing serious investigation on

black history notebook of chuunibyou.

In the end, it seems that nee-san didn't come back even

after school.

Well, Zeta is here, and if something happens, it won't be a

problem.

I am in the backyard of the dorm, grilling dried horse

mackerel that Zeta gave me. It's already past lights out and

it's dark.

"I think it's ready to roast."

The crackling and delicious sound of horse mackerel fat

falling onto the fire.

"Should I grill it a little more?"

It is not so bad to make an open fire alone like this.

It purifies the mind. People rot their hearts just by being

alive.

As I gazed at the fire in a daze, I felt a presence approaching

at a ridiculously fast pace.

"Boss!! I finally found you!!"

It was Delta who appeared, wiggling her dog ears.

"Yaa~. It's late at night, so let's be quiet."

"Delta hunted the black jaguar!!"

"I see. It's late at night, so let's be quiet."

"Then Alpha-sama praised me!!"

"That's so. It's late at night, so let's be quiet."

"I want my boss to praise me too!!"

"Yo~shi yoshi. Good girl."

When I patted her head softly, Delta's tail wagged.

"It's late at night, so let's be quiet."

"I'll be quiet!"

Replying energetically, Delta hurriedly covered her mouth

with her hand.

"Delta will speaks in a small voice."

In a whispered voice, Delta said.

"Unn, do that."

"Delta dug the hole as Boss told me."

Little by little, her voice becomes louder.

"A hole? Did I say that?"

"You said it!"

Her voice went back to usual.

"Is that so. Well, fine"

"Then I found this! It's just like the boss said! It's amazing!"

Delta smiled and chewed on what looked like a bright red

gem.

"Why are you chewing it?"

"So I don't lose it!"

"It's a genius idea."

"Nishishi"

When I received the gem covered in delta saliva, it shone so

beautifully red.

"This is... Oh, it might sell for a high price."

The size is about that of marble, but the brilliance is

extraordinary.

"Delta did her best!!"

"Yo~shi yoshi. Good girl."

I patted Delta's head messily.

Delta has a melting smile.

"I want a reward!"

"Hmm, right."

"Hmm, it smells delicious!"

The moment I looked toward the fire, the horse mackerel

disappeared.

"Is this Delta's reward?"

Delta was holding it.

"No, it's a Zeta souvenir..."

"Thank you!"

She didn't listen.

"It's delicious~"

Delta looks happy as she takes a bite.

Well, it looks like Delta did a great job.

"Oh, well."

Just when I thought that, I heard the snapping sound of a

tree branch breaking behind me.

"Doggie... What are you eating?"

When I turned around, I saw Zeta standing there with icy

cold eyes.

"Hmm, female cat!! Delta is eating her reward!"

Garuru, Delta, with its gurgling, throaty, menacing voice.

"That horse mackerel I gave to Master. It's not yours,

doggie"

"Go away! This is Delta's reward!"

After saying so, Delta swallowed the horse mackerel whole.

"Ah...."

Zeta's scream, like a sigh.

"It was delicious~"

Nonchalant Delta.

"This...."

Fuuh, Zeta's throat rumbled.

"The female cat is in the way, If you don't go away, I'll blow

you away!"

"Even though I prepared the best horse mackerel for Master

... I won't forgive you."

"Well, well, well."

Sensing that it was going to be a somewhat troublesome

situation, I intervened between the two of them.

Their gazes focused on me.

"Etto... I was just grilling horse mackerels as usual, and

there is no evidence that I gave it to anyone else——"

When things become bothersome, the first thing to do is to

protect yourself.

It is important to appeal that it is not your fault and that you

have nothing to do with it in order not to get involved.

"——So it's not my fault."

"Nn, it's not Master's fault."

"Boss is not to blame!"

"Right right, it's not my fault."

I was taking good care of the horse mackerels. It was just an

unfortunate misunderstanding that resulted in it being

eaten.

""That's why——""

Zeta and Delta point at each other,

""——It's her fault!""

They said.

"Heh?"

The next moment, their magic power exploded.

I was blown away by the blast and flew through the air in a

spectacular manner.

When the impact was cleared and I landed, Zeta and Delta

had also landed a short distance away.

"A stupid dog who stole the gift for Master ... I will never

forgive you."

"The female cat that messed with Delta's reward ... I will

never forgive you!"

"Ah~ etto, I don't know what it is, but it's not my fault."

I quietly moved away.

The two had always been incompatible and fought

frequently. The house and farm were half destroyed, and

Alpha would be so mad that even she would lose her

temper.

"Don't overdo it, but in moderation."

It was a blessing in disguise that the blast left the dormitory.

"I'll beat it out of you."

Delta readies her sword and gets into a battle stance.

"I'll punish you."

Zeta narrowed her cold eyes —— and she disappeared.

Without warning, she disappeared without a trace.

"Did she run away?"

Delta tilts her head.

At that moment, a black blade appeared behind Delta.

"——"

Just before being slashed, Delta dodge.

She dodged recklessly and rolled on the ground.

There, zan zan zan, black blades raining down.

"...Fuh"

Delta avoided all of them.

She crawled on the ground, flipped, and jumped with

movements that were almost impossible for a human being

to perform.

"... Where are you?"

Zeta is nowhere to be seen.

Only countless black blades floated in the darkness.

——This is it. It's the "Blood Queen's" technique.

I never thought Zeta could do it, but I feel like she would.

Zeta is the most dexterous person I have met.

No matter what I ask her to do, she can handle it all with

dexterity, even if it's her first time doing it. And so, she's

growing fast, she's got a great sense, and she may be the

ultimate genius type.

Her talent alone is top-notch.

But there's a big flaw in Zeta's "talent".

"...Areh?"

It's Zeta's voice.

Her tail was floating in the darkness.

Same as always.

She is capricious, easily bored, and incapable of mastering a

single art.

"Oh shoot, lack of practice."

"——That's where you are!"

Just before Delta's powerful sword cut her in two, her tail

turned into a black mist and disappeared into the darkness.

"Dangerous. It's so close"

Only Zeta's voice can be heard.

"... I'm going to get serious a little bit."

Saying that, the black mist gathered and created more than

10,000 small blades.

Small blades surround Delta and soar.

"Technique, a thousand blades."

It is a modest declaration, even though it clearly exceeds

10,000.

But its killing power was tremendous.

More than 10,000 blades slice through Delta, sending her

body into the air.

"Gah, Guh...Guuh"

Delta is slashed one-sidedly in the night sky.

It seems that she barely protects her vital points with her

limbs, but it may be a little dangerous.

Zeta is stronger than I thought.

Even though she's a newcomer to the "Seven Shades," but

she's a monster who has grown at a breakneck speed...

"GugaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

The roar of Delta thundered through the air.

Tremendous magic power rushes through as a shockwave.

And ten thousand blades were erased.

"Eh...Lies."

A dumbfounded Zeta fell from the mist.

She landed like a cat, and her gaze was on the bloody Delta.

Splat.

Delta spat out a clump of blood and glared at Zeta.

The color of playfulness disappeared from her eyes.

"...."

Every hair on Zeta's body stood on end.

Delta manipulates slime and creates a giant black sword.

No, it's too rugged and huge to be called a sword. We used

to call it the "Lump of Iron" of Delta.

Delta usually imitates us and fights with similar weapons.

But that's not what her real style is like.

This massive lump of iron is her true weapon, and proof that

the "Tyrant" Delta is serious.

"Gurururu"

Delta growled low in the back of her throat.

Cold sweat dripped down Zeta's cheeks.

I turned around and worried about the dormitory and the

school building.

What should I do, I feel like she is going to blow the place

up.

But it would be so annoying to be stopped in the middle of a

grueling battle.

Let's not do to others what I don't like to have done to me.

So, goodbye Midgar Academy, and rest in peace, Hyoro and

Jaga.

I held my hands together in my heart.

"Kill"

The magic power of serious Delta gathers in the iron lump.

I take a distance with a relatively serious back step.

And Zeta is... flew in the sky.

It wasn't metaphorical or anything, she simply flew purely in

the sky.

When I look at her with enhanced vision, I can see that she

is covered with a fine black mist.

Is it possible to use it that way?

"Bye Bye, doggie."

With these words, she took flight and disappeared into the

clouds.

After a momentary pause, Delta roars, her whole body

shaking with anger.

"W-Wait, female caAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!"

And Delta also disappeared, leaving behind a gust of wind.

"In the end, it's the same as usual."

Their fights have always been unsettled.

Either Zeta will run away or Alpha will get mad. By the way,

I am a silent spectator.

Well, let's go back and go to bed.

"Hmm?"

I noticed multiple signs of approaching.

Is it natural after all that fuss?

"This presence... Alexia and her guards, I guess."

I decided to erase my presence and see what was going on.

Alexia was running in the backyard of the dormitory.

Even though it is called a backyard, it is a forest with trees

and almost no maintenance. Her boots become damp with

dew at night.

"Come on, hurry up!"

Alexia looks back behind her as she runs.

"Alexia-sama, that magic power is dangerous! Let's wait for

the reinforcements!"

The guards were frantically pursuing Alexia.

"They're going to get away from us because we're being too

leisurely."

"Please wait, Alexia-sama!"

She ignores the guards and rummages through the bushes.

There she found traces of the battle.

"This is..."

A number of scratches have been carved into the ground,

grass and trees.

There were traces of strong magic power.

"Who in the world has this much magic power..."

"Alexia-sama! Ugh, this is...!"

The guards who caught up with her choked on their voices

due to the magic power.

"It's dangerous. The culprit may still be nearby."

"It's your job to catch them."

"T-That's ... that ...."

The guards looked away and exchanged looks with each

other.

Alexia sighs without noticing it.

"This is blood."

She follows the blood stains on the grass.

"They're bleeding a lot. Maybe they have deep wounds.

Maybe it's the culprit in the case in question..."

A case of a series of missing students rumored in the school.

The investigation by the Knights was sloppy. Several pieces

of evidence were disregarded and deemed "no case".

Alexia suspected that there was something behind the

incident.

"First-class swordsmen fought here... Why in this place?"

This is not a battlefield. It's just the backyard of a student

dormitory.

"It's natural to suspect a connection to the case. There is

some great power behind it..."

"A-Alexia-sama."

A panicked guard's voice interrupts her thoughts.

"What's wrong?"

"O-Over there...!"

A figure in a long jet-black coat stood where the guard

pointed.

"Since when"

They shudder at the fact that there was no sign of him at all.

"Y-You..."

A figure with a deep hood wiped the bloodstains on the

grass and trees with his fingertips.

Then he mutters in a voice that seems to echo from the

depths.

"Is this the price of battle——"

"Shadow….."

Alexia's words are stifled by his somewhat sad tone.

"Were the lives scattered here a necessary sacrifice for the

world…..?"

"Shadow, are you involved in this?"

Shadow was just immersed in deep thought, oblivious to the

presence of Alexia and the others.

"A-A-Alexia-sama, it's dangerous. Let's retreat and call the

knights——!"

The guards pull out their swords, trembling.

"It's no use, stand back. Our swords cannot reach him."

Knowing that, Alexia pointed her sword at Shadow.

"Answer me, Shadow. What happened here?"

As she said that, and put magic power into her sword,

Shadow finally turned around.

The red eyes behind the mask look at Alexia.

"——And what would you do if you knew that?"

"I'll arrest you. I won't let you do whatever you want."

Shadow laughed a little behind his mask.

"It's useless."

Saying so, he disappeared.

No, he's not.

He appeared in front of Alexia.

"Wha——?"

She could not feel his magic, his presence, or anything else.

The next thing she knew, he was right in front of her,

holding a sword to Alexia's throat.

The sword looks familiar.

Because it is her sword.

"My, sword..."

She didn't even realize that it has been taken away from

her.

"——The world we live in is different."

"What does that mean?"

She clenches her back teeth strongly.

She has been working hard since then.

She thought she had closed the gap a bit.

"Two sides of the world, there exists a world where people

from shadow and light should not be involved with each

other"

Saying that, he drew back his sword and turned away.

His long jet-black coat flutters as he walks slowly through

the darkness of the night.

"——It's time."

"Time? What are you talking about?"

"They started moving——"

A black liquid gushed out from under Shadow's feet.

It swirls around and covers his body.

Then the wind blew, and Shadow disappeared into a black

mist.

Only Alexia's sword had fallen where he had been.

"He disappeared... Who are 'they'?"

There are so many things she doesn't know.

Still, it is a step forward to know that Shadow is involved.

It's a very small step.

Alexia mocks herself and turns around.

"The reinforcements are still not here? Quickly preserve the

scene..."

She stood there aghast.

"No...way"

All the guards were knocked unconscious.

Shadow used that split second to mow down the

consciousness of all the guards.

She was totally unaware of it.

"There's still such a difference ... I also ... I also."

Alexia looked down and clenched her fists tightly.