Isekai Mahou wa Okureteru! (LN) - Volume 3 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Anti-Magicka Dark Magic 

In the few days since making contact with the culprit behind the coma incidents, Suimei hadn’t slept a wink between treating his arm and investigating dark magic. He was now in a corner of the grand library the Empire boasted of, scowling at the spines of books. 

“Dark magic, right...” 

Dark magic. From what he had heard from Felmenia, the authority on magic in this world, it was particularly difficult to wield among the eight attributes, and was believed to be special for that reason. Since Felmenia also wasn’t an expert on the subject, her knowledge on it only extended to the conditions and effects its spells caused. And though there was someone who used dark magic even in Astel, because they were the type to not get involved with others much, she’d never had a chance to learn about it in great detail. 

That being the case, even after coming to the Imperial University Library with its extraordinary collection of books, grimoires on dark magic were few and far between. And even then, they only ever said things like that it was magic which manipulated darkness, or that it was heretical among the Elements, or that one couldn’t use it unless they had a strong affinity for it, or that it destroyed the caster’s body. There was practically nothing that could be used as reference. 

“...” 

Suimei unwrapped the bandages around his left hand and took a peek. Penetrating through the brilliant golden fortress’s ramparts, the spell that had injured his body was a black haze tinged with the raw essence of moisture—darkness. His hand and arm that were hit with it appeared to be completely dried up, and now had blackened bruises rising up on them. Just what was this? 

Fire, water, wind, lightning, earth, wood, and light were all existences with substance, the Elements. When it came to darkness, it was something that couldn’t be characterized as energy or substance. 

Normally, when speaking of darkness, it was something that absorbed light, or was empty space where nothing existed. In that sense, darkness was the absence of light, so it wasn’t like the thing known as “darkness” had its own presence. 

It was certainly true that things like dark matter and dark energy existed. They were, so to say, things that had to exist to prove the correctness of the laws of physics, apparent substances and apparent numbers that existed on top of theory. 

If one were to consider those things darkness, there was a technique to create them. Using complex numbers with numerology, one could join together numbers which didn’t exist in the world and manifest that which did not exist, after all. 

However, in this world where mathematics had not yet developed that far, things like the concept known as complex numbers discovered in modern times and apparent numbers probably didn’t exist. And even if they manifested, they would never bring about the same effects as dark magic. 

Another possibility was the absolute nihility—the avidya. But it’s wasn’t like they could manifest it here, and moreover, dark magic was an attack which had a direct effect on the astral body. It wasn’t something that could be inferred by normal ways of thinking. 

The ability to interfere with spells, the power to obstruct light, an astral attack that could deal direct damage to the astral body... Did a single power which combined all those characteristics really exist in the world? Wondering that, a laugh naturally spilled out of Suimei’s mouth. 

“Heh heh heh...” 

Yes, this was it. This was one of those times when he found himself slammed into a wall while pursuing the mysteries. This was precisely when he was able to feel that he was truly pursuing the unknown. Exactly because such things existed, he could stretch his hand out into the domain of impossibility and truly feel that he was a scholar of the mysteries. It was validating and confirmed his goals. In the end, he had to continue pursuing it. Dark magic. Everything. 

The level of civilization in this world was relatively humble compared to his own world. In that case, when it came to the common sense of theory and law here, it was necessary to put himself on that level. An age where heat was based on phlogiston theory. No, even further back than that. Based on that, what could there be? 

To perform what was commonly referred to as an astral attack, it was mainstream to use Goetia. Borrowing the power of a mystical existence, it attacked the astral body that human hands could not normally reach. This also applied to hexes from witchcraft, ancient Gand magicka, and yin-yang arts. Coagulating thoughts in the negative direction, they could easily bring harm to the spirit of another, or even their soul. Yes, in a spell. However, all the magic in this world functioned on the premise that the Elements were involved. He couldn’t think of any exceptions to that. 

But, at the time, what was going up my left arm was surely resentment. 

That was right. When he spoke out unintentionally back then, he was sure he felt it. Just what that dreadful sensation assaulting his nerves was. That power was certainly the negative power known as hatred and resentment. It was something that humans should never use in its raw form. And he remembered his hatred for those spells that didn’t take into consideration their own user’s body. That tiny body. Probably a child. Yet they still wielded such power. 

Suddenly, the image of Liliana popped into his head. Was there something to the fact that she had roughly the same childish features as the culprit? If that were the case, was this not where he should step in and correct her path down to the proper one of a magician? 

My head is a mess, huh? I need to put it in order. 

His thoughts were becoming incoherent and illogical. But this was relatively common. People tended to see connections and patterns, even where there weren’t any. It wasn’t that Suimei had divined the identity of the shadow. His brain was just on rapid fire. Liliana wasn’t that shadow, and she wasn’t the dark magic user behind his attack. She wasn’t walking down the wrong path of magicka. 

“Su... mei... no!” 

That’s why he had to think hard. Right now, he had to focus on dark magic. It was definitely the power of negativity. In that case, what did it mean that it used the Elements? No, for starters, did it even use the Elements? Perhaps that premise was false in the first place. If that were the case, the spell that manipulated it... By going up the stream of the history of the mysteries, it had to be... 

“...Suimei-dono!” 

“A-Aah, Menia?” 

Hearing a loud voice right next to his ear, Suimei suddenly lifted up his head, which had been cast down deep in thought, like he was jumping to his feet. It was Felmenia that had called to him. She continued to speak to him in a somewhat astonished tone. 

“Just Menia, huh? Just what is the matter with you?” 

“Nothing, I was just doing a little thinking is all.” 

“Augh... Was I being a nuisance?” 

She sounded apologetic, but Suimei simply waved his hand and urged her towards the corner of the desk where he’d been camped out to do his research. And then, while organizing the magickal items he’d brought to read grimoires, Suimei asked her about the information gathering he’d tasked her with continuing. 

“So, how was it?” 

“Well, I was not able to muster all that much from my side.” 

“I see. As expected, people aren’t cooperating, huh?” 

“It seems that the pious residents of the city have the ear of the others, and things are being stifled a bit in that regard.” 

Felmenia made a bitter face as she spoke. Just as Suimei had expected, it seemed it would be difficult to gain any ground by talking to the townspeople. It would be the most they could do to get a few cooperators to keep their ears to the ground. 

“Though the people from the military police were relatively cooperative.” 

“Why’s that?” 

“It seems that the military police have cause to think poorly of Elliot-dono.” 

“Oh?” 

“A little before we began our match against the hero, you’re likely aware that the hero was added to the investigation, but... When it was decided that he would join, it seems the military police were also made to cooperate with him. Using the Church of Salvation and his title as a hero, he simply had the military police hand over all of their information.” 

Certainly, hiding behind the Church and his title as the hero was a useful ploy. Though it was undeniable that it would be a great annoyance to anyone he played it on. 

“Well, from what I heard from the military police between their drinks and sobs, they were saying that all their hard work is credited to the hero. There were many of them who were unhappy, but that is likely why Elliot-dono is able to progress as he has.” 

The hero Elliot. The only time Suimei spoke with him was at the Twilight Pavilion, but it seemed he had much more of a serious personality than Suimei thought. Because he had the Church under his thumb, Suimei’s investigation was at a standstill, though the person in question probably wasn’t fully aware of what he’d done. 

“So, what, are the military police using us to retaliate?” 

“It seems that they are even taking bets on how it will end.” 

“They really have zero motivation, huh? Even though it’s their fellow countrymen being harmed...” 

Enticed by the sigh that Felmenia let out, Suimei twirled his index finger as he shoved it into his temple. Felmenia then continued as if that wasn’t the end of the story on the military police’s apathy. 

“There seems to be more regarding that matter, but I will report on it after I have grasped what is behind it.” 

“Got it. Also, what happened to that noble that was there when we showed up?” 

“It seems that he is currently recovering in his own home, but just like the other victims, he remains unconscious.” 

The man who was probably struck by the short shadow’s magicka was immediately taken away by the military police, so Suimei hadn’t gotten any details on his condition. After he finished investigating, should he look into it himself? 

“I see. I’ll leave the follow-up to you.” 

After hearing Felmenia’s report and taking a short break, they settled down side by side in chairs at the library. Suimei then casually brought up something he suddenly realized. 

“Come to think of it, we can communicate without any problems and I can even read the books here...” 

Suimei realized that he had been involved with books and conversation quite a bit lately. From the strange way Elliot talked, to the fact that he could read books in a library written in a completely different language... 

“It is because of the blessing of the hero summoning. I recall talking about this once before, I believe.” 

“Yeah, I just realized that I wasn’t really paying attention then. I missed all the details, but effectively, why are we able to communicate?” 

“Those who are summoned by the hero summoning ritual automatically have a spell cast on them to translate language, but regarding that, it’s based on the knowledge of the one who performed the summoning.” 

“Oh?” 

“In your case, that would be me, but... If there’s something you know that coincides with something that I also know of, then the words will be translated. If it’s something that you’re unfamiliar with, the word will be untranslated but match how you would pronounce it. And of course, if it is something that I do not know of, it will match our pronunciation but remain incomprehensible.” 

Which meant that there was a limit to the translation based on concepts that were or were not known. It was true that back when Suimei fought Felmenia, the words “barrier magicka” were completely unknown to her. That was likely a limitation of the translation. With regards to dark magic, it wasn’t something Suimei was familiar with, but even in this world, it was probably just a mashup of the words “dark” and “magic,” which was why Suimei heard it that way. And while Suimei was ruminating over these thoughts, Felmenia thrust out her ample chest with some sort of pride or self-confidence. 

“In other words, the one who is helping Suimei-dono with conversing, reading, and writing is none other than me.” 

While she was beaming expectantly beside him, Suimei let out a simple sigh of admiration and thanked her. Felmenia then moved the topic to something she’d forgotten to ask since she arrived. 

“Come to think of it, Suimei-dono, how is your investigation coming along?” 

“Terribly. There’s not the eensiest, teensiest thing that I can use for reference here.” 

As he pretended like he was ready to give up, Felmenia made a somewhat disappointed expression. She was melancholic. But seeing that she’d misinterpreted his joking manner, he put on a serious face to make it clear it had been a joke. 

“But as far as countermeasures go, I’m in the middle of thinking about it.” 

“Countermeasures?” 

“Yeah, that and just what on earth that magic was.” 

“When it comes to dark magic, there is much about it that is not yet known, but... Can you analyze it using only the knowledge from your world?” 

“I don’t think it can’t be done. There is no such thing as a matter in this world that cannot be explained, after all. Well, I at least have my eye on something.” 

Suimei spoke with just a hint of optimism. From all the information he’d gathered, he’d gotten a lead and thought he might be on to something. He just needed to observe it once more for himself to be sure. And then, Felmenia spoke up while tilting her head just slightly to the side. 

“I have something else that’s been on my mind in regards to that.” 

“What is it?” 

“The words used at the end when that dark mage chanted their spell... I have never heard them before. Ummm...” 

Felmenia grimaced when she was unable to pull those strange words up out of her memory. Instead, Suimei recited them for her. 

“Olgo, Lucuila, Ragua, Secunto, Labielalu, Baybaron... Right?” 

“Ah, yes, that was it. Those words. I have no memory of ever hearing anything like them. Just what were they...?” 

Felmenia’s voice tapered off as she spoke. As her pensive expression grew more and more stern, a voice called out to them from behind. 

“Excuse me. May I bother you for a minute?” 

As the two of them turned around, they were met with the sight of a male library employee with a pale complexion. He was an acquaintance of Suimei’s who he’d met when he first came to the library. 

“Mr. Librarian, huh? I’ve been making use of all sorts of materials here again today.” 

“Yakagi-kun... was it? I see you are as enthusiastic as ever.” 

As if praising Suimei’s diligence, the librarian responded with a smile. Suimei flashed a somewhat complex smile. 

“Well...” 

And as he responded to the man, Felmenia spoke up. She wasn’t acquainted with him. 

“One of the forest people? Suimei-dono, this man is...?” 

Forest people was probably a way to identify elves. Since the librarian had introduced himself as an elf, it was likely a colloquialism. 

“This is Romeon-san who works here as a librarian. When I came here before, he gave me a tour of the place.” 

“Is that so? How unusual. I have heard that the forest people in general do not involve themselves with humans much.” 

Felmenia knit her brow as she looked at Romeon like he was something peculiar. And hearing what she said, the librarian returned a bitter smile. 

“I am often told that I am an eccentric. I left the forest I was born in to make a living, after all.” 

From what he said in a self-deprecating manner, it seemed the ways of elves of this world were similar to the stories of elves that often circulated in Suimei’s world. They lived in forests and were quite insular. But the matter of elves aside... 

“By the way, did you need something?” 

“No, I was just passing by and heard you were talking about dark magic. It caught my interest.” 

Hearing that Romeon was drawn in by curiosity, Felmenia opened her eyes wide as if this was unexpected. 

“Do you know of it?” 

“Yes. Well, I have spent some time with it before, so I’m somewhat familiar.” 

Interested in the talk of dark magic, Romeon ended up sitting down at the desk opposite Suimei and Felmenia. And he took his seat, he immediately cut to the point. 

“Dark magic... To put it briefly, among the eight elements—fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, wood, light, and darkness—it is a most powerful magic. No, most fiendish may be a better way of putting it though. And so, why are the two of you looking into dark magic?” 

“It’s just... this thing, you see.” 

As he spoke, Suimei undid his bandages. Upon seeing Suimei’s hand, Romeon’s expression changed to one of surprise. 

“This is... So that’s why you are investigating dark magic, is it...?” 

Romeon corrected the position of his glasses, which had slipped a little, with his finger and let out a grim groan. It was Felmenia who posed him a question next. 

“If you can understand that much from seeing it, does that mean that you are also aware of the symptoms?” 

“Before coming to this library, I worked as a magic doctor, so I have taken on the task of treating those stricken by dark magic. Yakagi-kun, may I take a closer look?” 

Having no real reason to object, Suimei nodded and held out his unbandaged left arm. And after Romeon closely observed it for a long moment, he let out a sigh of admiration. 

“...The condition has stabilized, I see. Normally after being struck by a powerful, encroaching dark magic spell like this, it would have reached all the way to the core of your body by now... Yakagi-kun, did you do this yourself?” 

“Well, all I did was apply a healing spell I know.” 

“No, it was quite a splendid treatment method. I have never even seen such admirable medical care before.” 

After Romeon said that, his expression then changed completely. He looked quite severe as he asked his next question. 

“Where were you that you were struck by dark magic?” 

“The culprit behind the incidents that are shaking the city right now used it, you see.” 

“You... were attacked?!” 

Suimei and Felmenia summarized the situation for him. About how they ended up in a competition with Elliot due to the oracles of the Goddess, and how they made contact with the culprit a few days ago. Quietly listening to all this, Romeon’s expression remained grim. 

“Is that so? So such a thing... Certainly, I’ve heard of the rumors about someone going up against the hero, but to think that it was you...” 

After drawing a long, fretful breath over the situation that Suimei and the others had fallen into, Romeon corrected his posture in his seat and looked earnestly at Suimei. 

“Though it may not be my place to say so, please stop.” 

“Stop... searching for the culprit?” 

“Yes. It is likely not something for an outsider like me to be telling you, but if the culprit is a master of dark magic, then your opponent is far too evil. If you took a less fortunate blow from dark magic, there’s of course the chance of contracting a fatal affliction, but you very well may lose your life from the shock alone.” 

“Even so, I have two of my comrades at stake.” 

“But there is no replacement for your life, is there? Certainly it would be dangerous to go with the hero as well, but...” 

Saying that, Romeon took a glance at Felmenia. Having heard his frank opinion, a complicated expression floated up on her face. 

“Also, just earlier, you recited the word ‘Baybaron,’ did you not, Suimei-kun?” 

In response to that question, Felmenia knit her brow and raised one of her own. 

“Even regarding that...?” 

“Regarding that word, I remember having heard it quite a long time ago, you see.” 

“If you know of it, could you perhaps teach us about it?” 

After Romeon nodded heavily at Felmenia’s request, he slowly began speaking. 

“It is something called a savage name.” 

“A savage name, you say?” 

“Yes. Savage names were born into this world at the same time dark magic was. They’re cursed words that are said to have been lost in ancient times, and when used with a special attribute—in other words, when used with the attribute of darkness—they have the effect of amplifying its power.” 

“Amplifying?” 

“Yes. It’s said that dark magic with such words added to it attains several times the destructive force of regularly fired magic. I am guessing that the master of dark magic you spoke of added that word to their chant.” 

“Then they were...” 

“Yes, I do believe it is likely they’re capable of using substantially powerful dark magic.” 

As Romeon made that declaration, Felmenia swallowed her breath. 

“So let me say so once more: please stop this. No matter how many lives you have, it will not be enough.” 

“But this is something that we must do.” 

“For the sake of your comrades?” 

Suimei nodded at Romeon, and perhaps having given up on trying to convince him further, Romeon let out a somewhat exasperated sigh. 

“Then I understand that it will be impossible for me to dissuade you.” 

“Forgive me. We even had you teach us about dark magic...” 

“It’s alright. But absolutely do not forget the danger of dark magic.” 

Shortly after that, Romeon excused himself and returned to his duties. 

“Dark magic and savage names... Suimei-dono?” 

Felmenia tilted her head as she grimaced in deep thought. And then, while she muttered as if uttering some matter of distress, she looked towards Suimei, whose gaze was wandering somewhere far away. 

“Savage names... huh...” 

Since their last encounter, the culprit was still at large and had claimed another victim. Today, Suimei was walking around the city on his own to memorize the layout of the imperial capital, and was looking for cats on the side. 

The military police, the hero, and Suimei’s group. Perhaps because the people investigating the matter had multiplied, the culprit seemed to be striking less often, which made nighttime investigations less fruitful. 

Because of that, deciding that he wanted to solicit more cooperators, Suimei was looking around alleyways, thickets, vacant lots, and the like. And then, while scooping up the second cat he’d found, Suimei emerged from an alley. 

“Come on, quit nibbling me. Even if you gnaw on my finger, it isn’t tasty, now is it?” 

Just what was it so happy about after being stroked once? Suimei was slightly troubled by the cat who was playfully biting at the index finger of his right hand. The way cats chewed on things for fun was fundamentally a toned down version of the fatal bite they unleashed on their prey. But the cat he was embracing now was so relaxed that it just seemed like it wanted to be pet more. As Suimei pondered this, a familiar face appeared before him. 

“Suimei Yakagi...” 

It was unmistakably Liliana Zandyke. 

“Ooh, twintail eyepatch girl, huh? Long time no see.” 

“Twin... What? What is with that... incomprehensible nickname?” 

“Well, it kinda... At any rate, what a coincidence running into you here. What, did you end up wanting sweets after all?” 

Suimei lightly joked around with her, but Liliana didn’t seem to be in the mood. She responded to him with a suddenly frightening aura. 

“You’re wrong.” 

“So it’s not sweets?” 

“That kind of thing... doesn’t matter.” 

“Then what’s up?” 

The air about her was tense. It was something she always had, but this was somehow different from usual. She then turned her discerning eye on Suimei’s chest, and her composure crumbled. For against his chest, Suimei was clutching two cats. 

“K-Kitty... Here, here.” 

“...Huh?” 

And as Liliana spread out her arms as if telling him to hand over the cats, she drew closer. 

After being begged to by Liliana, Suimei handed over one of the cats he was carrying, and the four of them were now settled down on a bench near a fountain. 

“Meow, meow, meow, meow...” 

But Liliana didn’t pay Suimei the slightest bit of attention as she mimicked a cat’s meowing and innocently played with the cat he’d given her. Looking at her from the side as she held both front paws of the cat and made it dance to that famous nursery song, she seemed as happy as if she were in the middle of an early afternoon paradise. On her face was an uplifting and brilliant smile that Suimei had never seen her make before. 

“Meow, meow, meeeow!” 

With that, as Liliana finished the rhythm, she hugged the cat snugly. She really seemed to love cats. Seeing her with one was quite adorable. Seeing that she’d completely forgotten that he was even there, Suimei called out to her. 

“Looks like you’re having fun, huh?” 

“H-How long... are you planning to stay there... Suimei Yakagi!” 

“I mean, until you return the cat to me?” 

Liliana replied with a perturbed expression. 

“Return this child... to you?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Isn’t this child a stray? It’s not... your cat. Why are you trying to abduct this kitty? Depending on your answer... I’ll give you the death penalty in military court, you know?” 

Just what did she mean by ‘abduct?’ As she pierced Suimei with a cold and scornful glance, she even went as far as to threaten his life. It was rather barbaric of her. After all, Suimei had properly gotten a meow of consent before bringing the cat along. Well... 

“Why, you ask? Because I wanted to pet a cat.” 

“Hmph... Is that so? If that’s it... then fine.” 

Seemingly approving of his motives, Liliana once more engrossed herself with playing with the cat. He really couldn’t get his head around what had convinced her it was okay now. But either way... 

“You really like cats, huh?” 

“Not just kitties... I also love doggies. All animals... are good children, after all.” 

Liliana then posed a question to Suimei, but kept her eyes on the cat in front of her and didn’t look at him at all. 

“I heard... that you are having a match with the hero... to catch the culprit behind the incidents, right?” 

“Yeah, I’m surprised you know that.” 

“Information... naturally reaches... my ears.” 

That was likely because she was affiliated to the army’s intelligence division. And as Liliana spoke of that without an air of pride about her, she continued with a follow-up question. 

“Why... did you get involved... in something like a match... with the hero?” 

“Well, that’s ’cause my two companions are at stake.” 

Suimei stated what he thought everyone already knew, but... 

“If the Goddess says so, it’s fine to just... leave them to the hero, right? That way... you won’t get dragged into trouble, and it should be easier... for you. Also, an oracle from the Goddess... is not all that common.” 

“That’s quite the cold way of putting it...” 

“It may be cold... but it stands to reason.” 

“Reason, yeah...” 

As Suimei was indifferently parroting her words, Liliana turned a slightly irritated expression towards him. 

“Doesn’t it? Also, I’ve heard about it... but what’s wrong... with that hand?” 

“So you also heard about this too? Yeah, I got done in good by that culprit.” 

When Suimei said that, Liliana lowered her gaze to the bandages around his left hand. 

“...It’s in... bad shape... isn’t it?” 

“Well, not really. It’ll get better pretty soon.” 

“Get better...? It’ll get better?!” 

“Hmm? What, is it something to be surprised about?” 

Sensing that Liliana was unexpectedly surprised, Suimei turned the question back over to her. He cocked his head to the side, but Liliana abruptly averted her gaze. 

“N-No, I just heard... that it looked rather bad... from the Colonel...” 

“I see. Well, regardless, I’m not going to change my mind.” 

“Do you... even understand? Up until now, the culprit has... laid their hands on many people. They’re a dangerous criminal. It’s better if you... withdraw.” 

“What’s that? You’ve been snapping at me about this for a good minute now. Could it be that you’re worried about me?” 

“That’s not really the case,” she retorted in no time at all. 

“I’ve been told something similar recently, but if I had any intent of dropping out halfway, I wouldn’t have accepted the match in the first place.” 

“Why? Why do you... obsess over it to that point? Moreover... if it’s something necessary to save the world—” 

Was she saying that it was normal to just give up? For the sake of the many, sacrifice the few? With an impending crisis threatening the world, maybe that was the pervading logic. 

“Before that...” 

“What is it?” 

“Let go of it. That’s enough, right?” 

Suimei pointed at the cat that Liliana was still hugging. She hadn’t realized it, but the cat was swishing its tail left and right. 

“Cats, you see... When they’re generally unhappy, they’ll wave their tails like that. It’s probably a little hot from being hugged.” 

“...Do you not like it?” Liliana asked the cat in a disappointed voice. 

She then reluctantly let it go. It inclined its head to the side and began observing Liliana. It seemed that the cat was interested in her, and wasn’t too terribly mad at her. Realizing that, Liliana regained the sparkle in her eye as she affectionately gazed at the animal. 

“About... the question before though...” 

“Let’s see. About why I’m opposing the Goddess and hero, was it?” 

Liliana nodded. And after letting out a sigh, Suimei eventually replied. 

“Hey, do you have something you want to protect?” 

“Something... to protect?” 

“That’s right. That’s what those two girls are to me.” 

That was it. He had no choice but to do it. Felmenia came to help him even though there was no benefit in it for her, and Lefille’s case didn’t even need to be explained. To him, those two girls were without a doubt what he had to protect. 

“I don’t... really understand. I can’t see the need... to go so unreasonably far...” 

“So you don’t get it? Let’s see... For example, how ’bout your family or something?” 

“...” 

Somehow, Suimei felt like he could hear a voice with no sound. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“I don’t... have any family.” 

Her voice grew colder as she spoke those few dejected words. Had he stepped on her tail or something? He wasn’t sure what roused her ire, but if he recalled correctly, he was sure that she at least had a father. Suimei had met him at least three times, the soldier with swept-back hair. 

“That guy... is your father, right?” 

“Before the Colonel is my father, he is my superior.” 

Just what did that even mean? Even if they had that kind of relationship, during times of peace, wasn’t he a father first? And just as Suimei was about to ask that, Liliana cast her gaze down and guessed his question. 

“The Colonel is not my real father... I was abandoned by my real parents, after all.” 

“...Is that so? Sorry. Was it something I shouldn’t have touched on?” 

“Not really.” 

Still, Suimei apologized again. He then gave her the answer to the question she’d pressed to him. 

“Well, my relationship with those two may not be all that deep, but they’re truly important to me.” 

“That’s why... I’m saying it’s reckless. You’ll die an early death... as an idiot.” 

“That’s a super mean way of putting it, seriously.” 

“But... even I...” 

“Hmm?” 

“It’s... nothing.” 

Deciding it was fine in the end, Liliana shook her head. Suimei nodded in response and brought that conversation to an end. He snuck a glance at her, but the sparkle in her eye earlier was gone, and she seemed absentminded. The cat held out its front paw to her, and she continued to play with it and keep it company. She did so halfheartedly for a while longer, and while looking around, Suimei spotted a nearby food stall selling frozen sweets. He got up, walked over two it, and bought two servings. 

“Here. As thanks for last time.” 

Realizing that he was handing one to her, Liliana looked up with her sleepy-looking eye. 

“I thought I said... I didn’t need it.” 

“Well, whatever. You won’t lose anything from taking it, so just take it already.” 

“I don’t need it.” 

“I already bought it, so...” 

After hanging her head in silence for a short while, she eventually raised a melancholic voice to him. 

“Why do you... treat me kindly?” 

“Even if you ask why...” 

“You should also just treat me cruelly... like everyone else does... Just deal with me... as something unpleasant.” 

It was dark. Her eye, along with any and everything reflected in it. She was in pitch black darkness. She was abandoned and reviled. Her words told Suimei how people really treated her, and he’d seen a glimpse of it himself. 

“Aren’t I ominous? Despite being tiny... I possess mana that can harm others... And I am aggressive towards anybody. That’s why...” 

“Does everyone treat you like they did that time on the street?” 

“In the Empire, I am a symbol of fear. A great dark light... created to hide the shadow of the intelligence division.” 

“That’s why people like me don’t exist, you mean?” 

“That’s right. There are no people like you. Other than the Colonel...” 

As that mouth spurred on her twisted will, she gradually lost her composure. Liliana dejectedly slumped her shoulders and fell silent. 

“He doesn’t seem like the kind of person to chat about anything needless, but he’s a good person, huh?” 

As he summed up his impression of Rogue, he took out the soft dried meat he had in his pocket and gave it to the cat. 

“But... isn’t it painful?” 

“It is my job. I can’t refuse it... just because it feels unpleasant.” 

“That’s why you’ve resigned yourself to your current situation?” 

“I’m the Colonel’s pawn. If I reject my military duties... I will lose my place in the world.” 

There was no way a twelve- or thirteen-year-old could know her future’s course. 

“All we’re talking about is me.” 

“Do you want to hear about me instead?” 

“...Why are you in the Empire?” 

“There’s just a little something I want, you see.” 

“Where did you learn... that strange magic?” 

“My father taught me.” 

“How did you find... the culprit?” 

“By coincidence while I was searching for them.” 

“...” 

“What, is this an interrogation? Were you told by that Colonel to probe into my disposition or something?” 

“Something like that.” 

Liliana answered plainly with a somewhat guilty expression. Was she saying that there was no reason to hide it? But not a moment later... 

“What a coincidence, Suimei Yakagi.” 

As Suimei turned in the direction of the voice that had called out to him, he was greeted with the sight of Elliot. 

“Aah, the hero...” 

Was he on a stroll? Or maybe it was part of his investigation. It was a strange encounter. 

“Are you in the middle of a break? You seem to have quite the surplus of free time, I see. Perhaps your investigation has completely stagnated?” 

“Do you have the leisure to sell your oil in this kinda place? I heard you haven’t had much luck in terms of accomplishing yourself, you know.” 

“Could you not get carried away just because you found the culprit by coincidence once? Are you not sitting here yourself, playing with animals?” 

It was a rather sharp-tongued exchange, but there was no sense of hostility between them. Elliot seemed to have come over just to give his greetings, and thanks to the conversation Suimei just had with Liliana, his heart had cooled down quite a bit. He wouldn’t flare up like last time. 

“Is that magic priest or whatever not with you today?” 

“It is not like Christa is always together with me. She has her own time as well. Incidentally, you seem to be with yet another girl here, I see.” 

Having said that, Elliot turned his gaze towards Liliana. 

“You sure react to women quite a lot, huh?” 

“Is it not healthy for a man to react?” 

“Well, you’re not wrong.” 

Suimei shrugged his shoulders at Elliot’s joke, and Elliot snorted like he found it unpleasant. He then looked at Liliana again. 

“So, who is she?” 

“She’s not a companion, alright? She’s an imperial soldier. She’s interrogating me about a cat abduction.” 

“There is no mistaking that you were caught red-handed. You will do well to have yourself taken to prison.” 

“Says you.” 

Suimei stuck out his tongue, and giving him a sidelong glance, Elliot pointed a smile towards Liliana. Despite dealing with the hero, she created a wall of animosity and mana around her. Elliot seemed somewhat taken aback by that, but he didn’t really lose any of his composure. 

“My, am I hated?” 

“Who knows? This one’s always like this, so I can’t tell.” 

Suimei gave a noncommittal reply. Suimei really didn’t know Liliana’s opinion of Elliot. Watching her play with the cat, Elliot called out to Suimei. 

“Hey.” 

“What?” 

Did he have something he wanted to ask? Suimei responded in a blunt tone, but Elliot replied in all seriousness. 

“Let me ask you once more. Why do you go against the words of the Goddess Alshuna? Even if, for example, it is because the oracle is beyond understanding, is it not the will of the Goddess of the world you all live in?” 

“Conversely, I want to know why you who comes from another world so blindly accepts the word of this world’s god.” 

“It is not like I am blindly accepting it or anything. It is just that I thought it was something I must do, so I took it on. That’s all.” 

Elliot spoke as he looked far off into the cloudless sky. The way he put it sounded somehow familiar to Suimei... 

Reiji was also like this, huh? 

Even his good friend Reiji had a similar sense of responsibility to this second hero’s. He’d stubbornly said that it was for the sake of the people of this world. Suimei started thinking they had that in common, but just what did that... 

“The Goddess Alshuna is the god who created this world, right? Omniscient and omnipotent, I hear she protects the people from evil. Just take that much into consideration. Are you saying that the will of such a noble being is meaningless?” 

“A noble being, huh?” 

Suimei sounded like he’d just heard a bad joke and was scoffing at it. As for Elliot, who was being quite serious, that made him a bit angry. 

“Is something strange about what I said?” 

“Strange? Of course it’s strange. Omniscient and omnipotent? Noble? What? Are you trying to say some crap like it’s a deity full of innate goodness or something? Like hell those guys are that kinda noble being. Every last one of those fuckers mercilessly cut down all those who wouldn’t benefit them, you know? You’re really holding on to some delusions about gods...” 

“Delusions, you say? I must say your statements seem to carry no weight.” 

“...That may just be so. But in truth, even you don’t know, right?” 

Elliot was unable to say anything back to that. 

“So that’s how it is. Like hell I’ll bend over backward for some existence that nobody truly knows.” 

“Certainly, you may have a point after all.” 

Hearing Elliot accept that train of thought, Suimei looked at him with a strange face. 

“What is it?” 

“Nothing. I’m just surprised. From the flow of the conversation, I totally thought that, just like your attendant, you were gonna go on some tirade about how nonbelievers are the enemy or whatever.” 

“Even I understand full well of the presence or absence of faith in others. In my world, there is not just one god, you see.” 

In response to that, Suimei waved his hand indifferently towards Elliot. 

“That so? Then it’d really help if you took that into consideration over the oracle thing.” 

“This and that are different matters. I do not understand what significance there is in her being with us, however, if it is needed to save the people of this world, then she should come.” 

“That again?” 

“Everything in this world is engaged together with the gears known as fate. There is not a single matter that holds no significance.” 

“Maybe so, but our match or whatever has ended up being a pretty strange twist on this, huh?” 

“If you find it troublesome, then you should just withdraw.” 

“Don’t be stupid.” 

Suimei spat right back at Elliot for every one of his comments. Seemingly giving up on trying to convince Suimei, Elliot clapped his hands together once as if saying that was the end of their conversation. 

“I can tell I have been a bother. I’m glad that you are someone who can be talked to after all. However...” 

Elliot paused for a moment as if he were carefully choosing his next words. 

“I do hate you.” 

“What a coincidence. I also find you nasty.” 

As if slipping by in the opposite direction he’d come from, Elliot walked right past Suimei without another word. Had he come just to confirm whether or not Suimei was someone who could hold a conversation? Or had he just come to announce that they couldn’t get along? 

While Suimei was warily pondering Elliot’s intentions, Liliana’s long glove got caught in the claws of the cat she was playing with. When she tried to pull her hand away, it pulled her glove down. Suimei saw her exposed arm and hand. 

“—?!” 

Liliana immediately rolled her glove back up to hide her arm. It seemed Elliot hadn’t seen what was underneath that glove. 

“What is the matter? Are you alright?” 

Elliot was too late to catch a peek, but Liliana had no reply to give him. And after looking towards Suimei in a somewhat panicked state, she immediately turned her back to him. 

“Excuse me!” 

Watching her get smaller as she ran off, Suimei was unable to call out to her. For the hand under that glove was just like the skin of a demonized human—blackened and altered as if it had goosebumps. 

“Is it true that you figured out who the culprit is, Suimei-dono?!” 

“Suimei-kun, is that true?!” 

Felmenia and Lefille’s surprised voices rang out in their living room. After returning home, Suimei had given them the news. They both dropped what they were doing and came running over immediately. Felmenia was in the middle of studying magicka and hadn’t paid her personal appearance any mind, while Lefille had several cats clinging to her as they dangled down. Suimei nodded back to them in a complex mental state. 

“...Yeah.” 

“What’s wrong. Suimei-kun? If you found the culprit, isn’t that a good thing for both us and the country though?” 

“That’s true, but also not... How do I put it?” 

Suimei let out a heavy sigh with a difficult expression on his face, and Felmenia looked at him in puzzlement. 

“What do you mean?” 

“I told you before that I ran into Liliana, right? And while searching for cats, I ran into her again today...” 

As the two girls listened silently with intense concentration, Suimei unraveled the gist of the postulation he’d arrived at. As he slowly moved his mouth, the outline of what he should be doing gradually took shape in his head. What he believed in, what he had to accomplish... What he had to do as someone who held people dear in this world, in light of all this, to come out on top of this competition with the hero. No, it wasn’t even something that he really had to put that much thought into this late in the game. Just as he had been all along, if he lived earnestly, that was all that mattered. 

And when everything came together, what resounded deep in his heart... 

“Save the woman who can’t be saved.” 

Were the words of his father. 

Nighttime. One of the culprits causing the coma incidents in the imperial capital, the short shadow—Liliana Zandyke—based on information from the tall shadow, was headed to bring down “the noble who would bring harm to Rogue.” 

Although she was leaping through the night, she was also gathering mana to put to use the domain of darkness and turmoil. In other words, making preparations to construct that spell she was quite familiar with by now. Turning a blind eye to the restless sensation deep in her heart, she landed without a sound on her own shadow cast by the full moon. 

At times like this, she had to wonder... Had she landed on her shadow, or was it the other way around? Was it one or the other? When she used powerful magic, she would sometimes lose herself in such thoughts. That darkness-colored human cutout, or the figure that was illuminated by the moon—just which was the real her? 

Casting her eyes down, she looked at the warped shadow on the rugged rooftop. Somehow, it seemed to be flashing an evil grin. She knew that it was nothing but a delusion, but it may have been precisely because of that that her heart was restless. 

The tall shadow who preached their goal, sometimes in a whisper, was not with her right now. It seemed they had their own business to take care of, so she was taking independent action today. In general they moved as a unit of two, but it wasn’t all that rare for her to accomplish her goals on her own like today. She didn’t have the support of the tall shadow, but because she had experience participating in imperial military operations, she wasn’t anxious. If anything, this job was a mere trifle. Her target was someone hardly worth considering an opponent. The military police and the hero were unable to find her. But she still had one lingering anxiety. If Suimei Yakagi showed up like he did last time, things wouldn’t be so straightforward. 

“...” 

Liliana recalled what happened that afternoon, and came to a stop atop a roof. On Rogue’s order, she had made contact with Suimei Yakagi and carelessly let him see her arm. Under her long gloves was the transformation that progressed with every use of dark magic. Her horrid hand and arm. 

When he saw that, just what did he think? In the end, did he also think she was a monster? Thinking back on it, aside from Rogue, he was probably the first person who’d ever spoken to her kindly. Talking to him was the most she’d ever conversed with anyone. 

Descending from the roof, she removed her eyepatch and looked at her reflection in a glass window lit up by the moon. What was reflected was her face, her left eye, and one other thing... Something that no human should have. A right eye that was just like that of a dragon. Her eyelid was covered in small black scales, and her pupil that was standing vertically was long and narrow. The portion of her eye that was supposed to be white was all golden. Any who saw it would scorn her. A monster, they said. Even her real parents were no exception. 

If Suimei saw it, would he continue talking to her as he had been? He was different from everyone she knew. He’d never raised a harsh word against her. He was gentle. Suimei Yakagi. He could give off a rough and tumble impression, but he was really just a busybody who smiled at her gently. 

When next they met, she would be happy for him to treat her the same way. That would mean their current relationship could be maintained. And that was exactly why she didn’t want him to look for the culprit. She didn’t want him to search for her anymore. He might not be able to give up on those important people to him, but all that meant was that if she were never caught, there would be no winning or losing. 

That’s why, here and now, she prayed he would not appear. 

“Meeeaaow.” 

“...” 

Suddenly, as if cold water had been poured on her, a meow brought her to her senses. There was a cat sitting atop a wall, all its attention focused on her as it sat there with its tail wreathed around its body. 

“Huh—?” 

And that’s when she realized. There were a great many eyes in the darkness around her. Yes, she was surrounded by the golden glinting of cat eyes. She looked around. Cats. Cats. Cats. On top of walls, in the shadows of buildings, on the rooftops, in the branches, on the brickwork sidewalk... They were all over, just peering at her. Where had they come from? Just how were they looking at her as she hid herself in such darkness? Just what exactly was going on? Each and every one meowed at her. The eerie chorus of so many cats and the glinting of their eyes oppressed the darkness in the area. 

But before long, the meows came to a sudden stop. When they did, the first cat she’d seen opened its mouth. And though it opened its mouth wide as if to meow once more, no sound came out. Instead it seemed to yawn, and Liliana felt like she could hear its voice. 

“...It couldn’t be!” 

She recalled a similar encounter and came to a realization. That night that Suimei Yakagi appeared... Back then too, she’d caught sight of several cats. And she’d seen him collecting strays today. The stray cats of the imperial capital, who avoided humans like the plague, were so docile with him... She’d never even thought about what he was using them for. 

She didn’t know what kind of wiles he’d used to enlist the support of cats. It was possible he was using them as informants. But Suimei Yakagi used magic that she didn’t know about. He was an opponent beyond the norm. 

“You people... No matter what, you deny the mysteries right before your fucking eyes.” 

Those words he’d spat out at the members of the Mage’s Guild came to mind. And indeed, it was just as he said. The idea of impossibility was nothing but shackles to a mage. So if she believed that the silent voice of that cat had been calling out to him, if the cats were conveying her location to him... 

By the time she realized it, the cats had all dispersed. And in their stead, beyond the gently sloping path that she turned around to, she could see the silhouette of a human figure peeling away from the darkness. It wandered over like it was leaving a dark violet afterimage in her eye. It was more sinful than the darkness that she used. Something that only one who obtained wisdom beyond knowledge could wield. 

“So we meet again...” 

The shadow that appeared—Suimei Yakagi—quietly spoke as he approached. It was not the relaxed greeting that he would usually give, but a tone that conveyed a sense of pity. 

Liliana half gasped and half sighed. In the end, he hadn’t given up. Even though she’d told him to, though in a roundabout way. Yes, today when they met this afternoon, she’d told him that it was dangerous to get involved with her. That he wouldn’t just get away with light wounds the next time. 

“Sorry ’bout that. You went out of your way to warn me, and it was all wasted effort.” 

Hearing him say that, she felt like her thoughts were being read, and her heart skipped a beat. 

“Hey, you’re Liliana, right?” 

And just as her heart settled down from the previous shock, that question hit her. How did he know? She was never imprudent in hiding her identity. However, his eyes were filled with conviction when he asked. Those eyes said he wasn’t mistaken. That it would be useless to feign ignorance. 

“How... did you find out?” 

“You know, one way or another.” 

And despite his ambivalent wording, his answer was direct and with no hesitation. He followed up by asking her a question of his own. 

“Why are you doing this kind of thing? Even if you’re part of a special department that manipulates information, there’s no way causing these incidents is part of your job as a soldier, right?” 

“There’s no need... for me to tell you that. About why I’m doing this, about myself... None of it concerns you. If you want to hear it no matter what... then...” 

With that, Liliana manifested the mana that she had been accumulating. In an instant, the surroundings were dominated by dense mana. The brick walls of buildings and the very road began bubbling as if exposed to chemicals. She was prepared for battle. And he also seemed to know the meaning of that. 

“Ask by force, is it?” 

Having discerned that answer, without responding to her mana, Suimei Yakagi began speaking without hesitation once more. 

“Even so, there’s something I want to tell you.” 

“To quietly... get caught? Or that... what I’m doing is wrong?” 

“No. Whether what you’re doing is right or wrong isn’t for me to judge. If you don’t tell me whether the guys you cast magic on are bad, or whether you’re bad, then ultimately I have no way of knowing, and whatever I have to say about it wouldn’t be a reason to stop you.” 

“Then...” 

“But still, there’s something I don’t approve of. And that’s the magic you’re using.” 

“Dark magic...?” 

“That’s right, Liliana. At the very least, stop using that magic. It’s something humans should never touch for the sake of remaining human.” 

“On what basis are...” 

“If it’s a proper reason you’re after, I do have one. And if you want to hear it, I’ll tell you.” 

“You don’t have any right... to say that to me. I will just do... what it is that I must. That’s why...” 

Yes, that’s why... she would she strike him down here? To defend herself, using the excuse that it was for that person’s sake, would she cast dark magic on him again? Even though he wasn’t one of those nobles who were her enemies? 

“...Ugh.” 

With all those thoughts spinning in her head, her chanting lips faltered. Was this really okay? The dark whirlpool of doubt threatened to consume her. But she’d already chosen her path and started to run down it. And until she finished running down this path, or until somebody stopped her, there was no going back. 

“Oh Darkness. Thou art the fleeting black which paints this world far and wide. Mix into magnificence, transform it all to sinisterness, and pluck the sprouts of fate. Olgo, Lucuila, Ragua, Secunto, Labielalu, Baybaron...” 

After the chant, she hummed the savage names, and then let fly the keywords of her spell. 

“Transient Hope.” 

Immediately following that, all the shadows and darkness of the night coalesced in the form of swelling spheres. The many bubbles rising up in the air began to blot out the townscape, the stars, and all the light. Though they took irregular trajectories, they all flooded in unerringly towards Suimei Yakagi. He watched the bubbles come for him without a hint of impatience. He then calmly opened his mouth at the right moment. 

“???? ??????? ??? ?????? ??????????? ??????...” 

He was then buried in the dark bubbles. Not even the moonlight could reach him now. 

So was that it? Out of all her dark magic, this was an especially powerful spell. Against someone who’d been unable to block her spell last time, this was something that he could never defend against. And when the bubbles of darkness scattered, he would be left there on the ground, covered in countless wounds, his entire body blackened for eternity. All he would be able to do was to eventually lay down life’s burden while trembling. Yes, without a doubt. 

“...Stupid.” 

Was that intended for him, or for herself? That small curse with an unknown destination vanished into the darkness. This outcome was naturally not what she really wanted. However, she had no choice but to unleash a fierce attack like that. If her opponent was unwilling to yield to her, she had to make him submit. However even so, the remnants of regret that lingered in her heart pierced her chest. Suimei might have been the first friend she’d ever made. But in the end, that feeling vanished into the black bubbles. 

“So... stupid...” 

Before long, the magic was welcoming its end. The propagation of the dark bubbles came to a sudden stop, and they began dissipating into the darkness from whence they’d come. However, as the darkness broke apart, the figure of Suimei Yakagi collapsed on the laid out bricks... wasn’t what she saw. 

“Ah...” 

The first thing she saw was a brilliant magic circle firing off a white light. Filled with unfamiliar crests and words, it was beautifully drawn. Had it protected its owner from the darkness that was supposed to strike him down? Above it was a space without a single shadow or cloud illuminated by the moonlight. And just as Liliana thought that she heard the delightful sound of fingers snapping, the remaining dark bubbles rose into the sky as if blown away by that shock wave. 

Before long, as if she was recovering her sense of time, the sounds of her surroundings returned to her. The trees and shrubs began to rustle as if they were frightened by something. Rubble clattered across the ground as if it was laughing. The red brick walls and hedges, the black steel spikes, and the silver gates... Everything had lost its color and become part of one giant, dull, ashen painting. 

The area was suddenly flooded with the cool, crisp air of an autumn night. The moon took on a reddish tint as it looked down on her. And then, in the center of all of that... 

“That magic won’t work on me anymore, you know? Left-Hand Sorcerer.” 

Gazing at her strongly with crimson eyes was the visage of a magician. 

On this evening, there were two points that Suimei kept in mind as he dealt with the core of the incidents once more. 

This would be the third time he had an encounter with the culprit after dark. The first thing he kept in mind was that he now knew the identity of said culprit. The second was that the two of them would be alone this time. 

Right now, neither Felmenia nor Lefille were present. For the sake of persuading Liliana, he’d asked them to refrain from tagging along this time. If they had her outnumbered, it was possible she’d try and run away. 

“No way... How...?” 

Presumably because he’d completely defended against her powerful dark magic attack, he could hear a childishly bewildered voice slip her lips. 

The magicka he’d used was defensive magicka. A spell from the charm engraved into the belt of the goddess of the moon, Diana of Ephesus. Gods were, so to speak, existences whose bodies were composed of substances closely resembling the astral, aetheric, and the like. And since this was a charm to protect a god, it was effective against attacks which targeted the astral body. Aski, kataski, lix, tetrax, damnameneus, aision. Darkness, brightness, earth, the year, the sun, and reason. With those words, malice in the higher dimension was blocked by their power. Normally, it was magicka that was rarely used. So infrequently, in fact, that it could be said that it was never used in respectable fights between fellow magicians. 

But on a moonlit night like this, the magicka manifested its effects quite well. Now, in regards to the dark magic that failed to exert its destructive force due to this magicka... 

“The Element of darkness was something talked about quite frequently. The guys who used this system of magicka likely weren’t sure right until the very end what its origin truly was.” 

After Suimei let out a sigh, Liliana knit her brow and gave him a disagreeing looking. 

“What... are you even saying? The Element of darkness... is a servant of the Goddess... and one of the powers of a mage.” 

“Nope, it’s not what all of you think it is. Every last one of you seems to misunderstand it. That’s why, like you just saw, I have means of defending against it.” 

“Ugh... Oh Darkness. Thou art sharp like the lightning that races across the sky. Thrust of Darkness!” 

Liliana let loose another spell. It was straightforward, but stressed speed. However, in situations like this, relying on dark magic that took advantage of the darkness that obscured an opponent’s vision was an established tactic. The spell of a mage who relied on such basic tricks would never hit Suimei as he stood in the moonlight. He strode forward with confidence, and then trifled with her. 

He snapped his fingers as he took a step towards Liliana, and the bricks at her feet exploded. Her eyes shot wide open in surprise like her expectations had been betrayed, and she stood upright like a bolt. 

“When I first ate that thing, I generally had a rough idea of what it was. There aren’t all that many things that can directly and seriously affect the astral body, after all. Mysteries caused by wielding the power of wicked gods using Goetia. Suicide attacks carried out by demonomists devoted to their faith. Intrinsic curses. Hexes. The attacks of apparitions. And out of all the possibilities, the one considered to be the most antiquated technique is the one that uses thoughts of hate, resentment, and envy towards the target to directly strike at them. It’s so simple that it doesn’t even require a spell, but those hateful thoughts are powerful, and their effects were observed by many in ancient indigenous faiths.” 

“What... kind of relation are you saying that has... with the power that I use?!” 

“Are you listening? The thing called the ‘Element of darkness’ doesn’t exist. Just as stated in the saying ‘the hatred and resentment harbored by man becomes a curse and causes a real effect on the body,’ the overflowing curse of hatred that has nowhere to go in the transient world ends up coagulating in the astral plane.” 

The oldest form of a curse. That is, namely, a mass of hatred harbored by people, beings, animals, and the like. Since hatred existed everywhere, it could be used as an attack as long as there was a target to receive the emotion. This was why the rampart of the golden fortress was penetrated. Ramparts were ramparts. They were defensive walls, but they offered no protection from thoughts. If it had been weak magic, then the spell inserted into it would be defended against, and the curse would be dealt with by his natural resistance as a magician. But if the curse surpassed that resistance, he had no way of blocking the maliciousness that broke through. And that was only all the more true with more powerful magics. The difference with the power the demons wielded lay in this point. 

Suimei once more defended against a spell fired at him in irritation, and continued speaking, unfazed. 

“However, normally, that kind of thing can’t be used by just anyone. A single fragment would be a different story, but hatred and resentment often guide humans to ruin. They’re essentially the bane of humanity. However, there is one type of user that can wield it freely. And that’s someone whose heart sympathizes with hatred and resentment. In other words, you as you are now.” 

“Are you saying I harbor such feelings?” 

“I bet you do. From the odds and ends of your speech and conduct up until now, and the fact that you can use that magic, it’s something I put together. You yourself may not be self-aware of it, though.” 

“That kind of thing—” 

“Isn’t true, you mean? But you know, the proof of it is under your glove. Because you wield the power of coagulated resentment and hatred, and you sympathize with it, it alters the extremities of your body that are easy to encroach on. It’s likely that what’s under your eyepatch is the same, right? Under the influence of continuing to submerge your body into negative power, your form is deviating from that of a normal human.” 

Liliana instinctively put her hand over her eyepatch. 

“That’s right. The art you’re using is the art of curses that humans shouldn’t lay their hands on. Even if I didn’t tell you that, you who uses it would know better than me, right?” 

“But if... if I didn’t have this magic... I, I would...” 

“Stop it. That magic will destroy your body. It’s not too late now. Stop using dark magic, and prioritize healing your body. If you don’t, then one day you will no longer be yourself! So...” 

“So...” 

Just as Liliana seemed like she was about to give in, the malice she sympathized with began swaying behind her like a heat haze. And as if that brought her to her senses, her eye suddenly shot wide open. 

“Urgh, so what?! I know that full well! I at least know that... if I keep using this magic... one day I’ll be swallowed by the darkness! But that has absolutely nothing to do with you, does it?! So why... why are you fussing over someone like me?!” 

“Because as a magician, I can’t accept you walking that path.” 

Yes, the path of magicka that led to dark magic... It was something referred to by mysticology as the left-hand path. The word “sinister” came from the Latin “sinistra,” meaning left. So sinister magicians who walked down the path of ruin by manipulating immorality and evil spirits were often said to walk the left-hand path. Even in the world of magicka, that was considered to be a bad choice. That’s why Suimei couldn’t let her just continue down that road. 

“Also, it’s ’cause I’m a whimsical busybody.” 

And as Suimei flashed a troubled smile her way, Liliana looked as though she was completely taken aback. As if grilling her for her true feelings, Suimei once more spoke up. 

“Hey, are you okay with living this kind of life?” 

“What...?” 

“Destroying your own body. There isn’t a single good side to it, right? You may not have regrets about it, but if you keep using dark magic, you’ll never become happy, you know?” 

As if trying to shake away all the words reaching her ears, Liliana violently shook her head. 

“But if I do that, I won’t be able to fight! And if I can’t fight, I’m not needed by this country! Even the Colonel won’t need me! Ever since mom and dad abandoned me, I’ve been alone! Being picked up by the Colonel and coming to the Empire... For the first time, I had a place I belonged! Even if I ended up being called the human weapon! Even if everyone detested me! If I don’t have dark magic, I’ll... I’ll... Again, I’ll be...” 

“But is all that really okay?!” 

“?!” 

“It’s not, is it?! Was this what you really wanted?! To live this painful life?!” 

Yes, even Liliana should have had something she wanted. She should have something she desired deep in her heart. And that was definitely not this place of only pain. Seeing her innocent smile earlier that afternoon, Suimei knew that what she really wanted wasn’t utter ruin and misfortune. 

“What... I wanted...” 

“That’s right. What you wanted is—” 

Suimei once more called for her to come to her senses. However, Liliana... 

“Shut up! If nobody needs me unless I can fight, then I’m fine being like this forever!” 

She rejected what he was saying with stronger emotions than she’d shown before now, and yelled out a near howl. With that, the darkness clad around her went berserk. 

“A-AAAAAAAH!” 

The darkness billowing from her like smoke was a curse. No, it was malice. The pent up resentment that congealed in the astral world, using Liliana’s body as a relay, manifested with dreadful vigor. Naturally, it was because it sympathized with Liliana’s heart. Using her shout that embodied her hatred for the way the world was, it turned her emotions inside out. 

“Stop it! Don’t take in the darkness on your own, damn it!” 

A massive amount of malice burst out from her feet, and Liliana was sucking it all up. In an attempt to save her, Suimei ran forth with no concern for his own wellbeing. 

“Guuu-AAAAAAAAAAAH!” 

Perhaps having been brought back to her senses by Suimei’s shriek of anguish, Liliana’s eye shot wide open. 

“Wh-What are you...” 

“Don’t take it in... You can’t. That path... isn’t one you should walk down...” 

“S-Stop it. If you get closer, even you will be...!” 

Darkness, curses, and malice seeped into Suimei’s body. It was a strong and concentrated power that could not even be compared to the dark magic that Liliana had used on him. It was apparent that if he didn’t steel his mind, even his soul would be desecrated. But this was a race against time. He didn’t have time to postpone any actions as he began chanting for defenses from the moon. Even as Liliana screamed for him to save himself, Suimei continued to try to help her. 

“Lucem sacrum implebis, nunc perfectam formam appetes... Gah.” 

[Fill with the sacred radiance, seek out the ideal figure...] 

Suimei recited the chant from memory to drive away the curses while keeping his eyes shut. In just that much of a fluster, he could clearly feel the sensation of cold sweat pouring from his forehead down to his nose and cheeks. The dreadful vigor of the enormous curse was not weakening. As Suimei tried to pull Liliana away, the darkness surging forth assaulted his body. 

“Gah, ah... Ah... You damn—!” 

Mustering all his power with sheer willpower, Suimei’s hand reached Liliana and grabbed her. And using that momentum to forcefully throw her to the side, he tossed her out of the vortex of curses. Liliana rolled across the ground, and Suimei collapsed. Realizing what was going on, Liliana got up dumbfounded and approached Suimei. 

“Suimei Yakagi...?” 

“You idiot... No matter how you put it, you were gonna die there...” 

After adding on a few choice curse words, Suimei began gasping, but still showed her a laughing face. Seeing him like this, Liliana realized her own foolishness and fell to her knees helplessly. 

“I’m... sorry...” 

“Seriously... I’m begging you, just calm down and keep still...” 

Saying that, Suimei glossed it over with a pale smile that told her to just relax. Now that Liliana wasn’t being consumed by the darkness, she could relax. He took a breath and quietly got up, but things wouldn’t end so easily. 

“What—” 

“Huh?” 

The world suddenly shook. It was a huge quake that seemed to combine both vertical and horizontal shaking, but even as he ran his gaze over the surroundings, nothing was moving despite all the shaking. The trees, the fallen pebbles, everything was all quietly settled where it was sitting. That meant this was no normal earthquake. It was... 

Manafield vibration... 

“Tch... Did too much malice accumulate?” 

Watching the world that wouldn’t stop shaking, Suimei spat a curse. Presently, the townscape in this other world was being shaken, a side effect of a normally impossible phenomenon occurring, or a power that far overstepped its boundaries taking shape. The malice that spilled forth using Liliana as a relay had swelled up beyond the limits of what a single space could withstand. If it was that serious, it was likely that the coagulated malice would gain directionality and take on a form. 

Before long, just as Suimei predicted, things were converging both visually and audibly in that extreme direction. The haze made up of malice gradually projected a darkness tinged with a dark purple different from the deep hues of the night sky as it lurked in the air. The silhouette, which still had not taken a clear shape, let out a shrill voice of sorrow, and a deep and heavy voice of envy. It planted a discomfort that could never be forgotten in the minds of all who heard it, and sent a bitter chill running down their spines. 

“Th-That’s...” 

“It’s manifesting. Step back...” 

The space where it was about to manifest billowed out lightning. It was a portent that happened from time to time. And without any pause, the malice took on a shape and became concrete. 

What swooped down on them then was a repulsive figure. With no texture, its body was a pitch black silhouette that was far too smooth. It had limbs hanging down from it as if its skeleton had been removed. A crude, slimy substance covered its surface. Embedded in the right side of what appeared to be its head was a single blood-colored light that imitated an eyeball. This mold that looked like a personification of the ugliness of humanity was like an artlessly drawn picture. But there was perhaps no better design for a creature such as this. 

“A-Aah...” 

“Don’t lend your ear to its voice. You’ll get pulled in.” 

Being struck by the unpleasant feelings caused by its far too repulsive wail, Liliana’s body trembled. Since she was the one who evoked it, it was easy for her to be influenced by it. Knowing that, Suimei clasped his hand on her shoulder. He held back her mind and body that were being called over. 

The sinful figure moved. The bricks it touched with what appeared to be its feet all blackened. As it drew closer, the air became tainted with malice. Just from taking a single step forward, the influence wrought by this creature was unfathomable. And witnessing that, Liliana raised a distressed voice. 

“W-We have to run... That’s... We can’t...” 

What was being stirred up fiercely within her was dread. Any normal person would die of fright to stand before such a creature. Because she had an admiration and understanding of magic, she could truly appreciate the situation she was in and what she was facing. 

“What good will running away do? This thing can’t be left at large.” 

“But, it’s impossible... How would you suggest we even get rid of it? Besides, with your body like that...” 

“When you say something’s impossible, I’m just the kind of guy who wants to give it a try.” 

And as Suimei daringly stated that, as if trying to unravel human speech, the creature shrieked. 

Its repulsive voice that rang out through the residential area became a shock wave and assaulted their bodies. Obstructed by the wall of malice, the sound didn’t leak outside of the darkness, but someone would eventually sense the unusual phenomenon. The terrible creature strode forth. Both its voice and appearance were enough to drive living beings mad. The city would become a living hellscape if it got on the loose. That had to be avoided at all costs. 

The sinful figure leaped forward. Its movements were unlike that of a human running on two legs and more like those of an animal running on all fours. It was like it was striking the ground with all its strength as it leaped, and reacting to its strange movements, Suimei gently lifted Liliana in the air with magicka and moved her over to a hedge. 

Then, matching the leaping figure, Suimei jumped back. It would be bad if he was hit. No matter what it touched, be it the bricks it landed on or the walls it struck, it was clear what would happen. With each bounding step, the shadow closed in like it was spreading out. Firing strike magicka at it, once, twice, three, and then four times... It was completely unperturbed by the snapping of Suimei’s fingers, and he was forced to leap to the side to get away. 

Contrary to expectation, the terrible creature didn’t give chase. It was beyond the concept of a proper fight. It wasn’t like it was rushing at Suimei in the first place. It was just running amok. It was just digging its claws into reality. It just wanted to increase the same kind of misfortune it represented. No matter where it went, it was pure malice, plain and simple. 

The figure then artlessly swept its giant, black, gummy-like arm. The end of that cylindrical limb that couldn’t really be called a hand gave birth to wind, and as it formed a gale with both arms, one could see the destructive power it possessed as the walls and bricks on the ground crumbled to pieces. 

As Suimei put up both his arms to protect himself, he analyzed the situation through the gap in his arms while enduring the shock waves and flying pebbles. When the figure before his eyes stopped swinging around its arms, Suimei unleashed lightning from his fingertips with his hand shaped like a blade. Quietly muttering “Abreq ad Habra” and unleashing his pale spearhead of magicka, it collided against the sinful figure and dispersed. All it did was cause a single spasm. Because it was impromptu, its effect was diluted. The terrible creature then immediately regained its footing, but remained where it was while lettings its limbs just dangle loosely. 

“Look. It’s certain that thing is made by uniting all forms of malice. However, since it’s a mix of all kinds of malice and emotions, it can’t settle on what it wants to do. That’s why its movements are so abnormal. There’s no need to fear it more than necessary.” 

“But...” 

“Don’t be so fainthearted. If you’re entranced by it, then that in itself will be the end.” 

When one’s gaze was seized by that sinful figure, the latent dread within them would be stirred up. 

Yes, this was the fetters of sin that bound the hearts of men. It prowled, looking for any openings in those hearts. A filthy existence that all would run from. It was something that existed beyond this plane. Something that never should have been brought to this world. An evil influence. 

The sinful figure was still clamoring in a grating voice. Liliana sealed her ears as if pinning down her head, and was frantic to distract herself from that voice as she shook her head. She finally looked like a girl her age. One that should never be allowed to be eaten away by the worms of malice. 

That’s why, no matter what state I’m in... 

“I can’t back down.” 

The sinful figure began moving again. Raising a high-pitched, shrill scream like something was scratching sharp metal, it ran down as it tore up the ground. It was a super charge attack like an incoming meteor. Everything before it seemed frozen in time, and endless debris was kicked up behind it. If Suimei were hit by it, he wouldn’t get off lightly. Using his eyes sharpened with magicka, Suimei devoted himself entirely to evasion, however... 

“Gu... ugh...” 

Pain ran through his whole body. It was from saving Liliana from going berserk, but the malice that was eating away at his body chose the worst time to scream out. And because of that pain, Suimei lost his chance to evade. He felt like he blacked out for a few seconds. By the time he regained his senses, the monster was practically upon him. 

“Then it’s fine if I don’t dodge...” 

What he etched with his right hand shaped as a blade was a Thelema Hexagram. The sweat on his cheeks dripped to the ground. And in the face of that unending anguish, he bared his fangs. Liliana was screaming something, but right now, Suimei couldn’t hear her. He had steeled his mind. He was determined to destroy this embodiment of malice. He continued to stabilize the mana at his fingertips. Right now, it was nighttime. He couldn’t use the Bless Blade. The Azure Engraved Beheading would also be impossible to manifest. He had to select the right magicka. As he did, silence loomed. Eventually all noise seemed to stop, and within that stretched-out few seconds, there was only Suimei and his opponent. 

Wind brushed his cheek. 

“Don’t just fucking graze me.” 

All that was left after he unintentionally spat out those words was the sinful figure running past him, and Suimei with his blade-like hand stuck out as though he’d pierced through the hexagram. It even slowed down, but the terrible creature fell, tumbled across the brickwork sidewalk, broke apart, and dissipated into the darkness of the sky. 

The one to attain victory as they crossed within a hair’s breadth was Yakagi Suimei. 

And as the sinful figure vanished, the heavy air sweeping over the surroundings dispersed. In that moment, the fatigue from the battle and the pain from the malice eating away at his body suddenly assaulted Suimei. Suppressing that feeling as best he could, he approached Liliana and sat down. 

“It’s over.” 

Perhaps Liliana was unable to believe what happened before her very eyes. They were wide open in surprise, and she looked between Suimei and the place where the terrible creature had vanished. 

“Tell me your story... Why are you doing these things...?” 

“Th-That’s... The nobles are trying to cause harm to the Colonel. That’s why... that person suggested...” 

“That person? That other guy who was with you...?” 

Leaving the effect of the malice to run its course, Suimei did his best to put those words together. He could then hear the sound of the military police signal whistles in the distance. When the sinful figure manifested, it transformed the surrounding area into a spirit world, so it wasn’t like they would have heard the uproar that happened here. So why... 

Surprised by the footsteps and angry voices that were drawing nearer, Liliana’s shoulders jumped up. And before long, with Elliot in the lead, Christa and a group of military policemen appeared. 

“This way!” 

Elliot’s beautiful, gender-neutral voice rang out. He surveyed the area immediately upon arriving, and beheld the collapsed figured of Suimei with Liliana with a bewildered expression. 

“Suimei Yakagi, and if I am not mistaken...” 

“Why... are you all...” 

Just as Suimei was in the middle of asking that, he realized that Liliana was agitatedly trembling. She suddenly took several steps back. The hustle and bustle of Elliot and the military police. The malice she’d taken into her that brought on this incident. All of it pushed her to her limits. 

“Shit, what bad timing...” 

Suimei groaned at the bitterness suddenly spreading throughout his mouth. At this rate, with all these needless guys butting in, he wouldn’t be able to have a calm conversation with Liliana. As the situation gradually deteriorated, Suimei got up from the ground. 

“Whatever. It looks like it’ll become a little troublesome, but let’s go, Liliana.” 

“I...” 

Suimei stretched his hand out to Liliana as she reached heights of bewilderment. And just then... 

“Is it fine to leave like this? If you stop here, your goal won’t be accomplished, you know...” 

When that voice reached her, Liliana’s body shook. Looking up, she spied the tall shadow standing on a rooftop. 

“You’re—?!” 

Suimei raised his voice, but the tall shadow paid him no mind and again addressed Liliana. 

“What will you do? I don’t mind either way... But that’s not the case for you, right?” 

“H-Hnngh...” 

“You can’t! Don’t listen!” 

“Go.” 

The tall shadow pointed in the opposite direction. Was it telling Liliana to head that way? Not a moment later, a sudden gust kicked up a puff of dust and dirt into the air. Elliot and Christa immediately began to handle the situation calmly, but the military police were shaken by it and lost their composure. 

“Shit—Urgh!” 

Suimei couldn’t move. When he tried to step forward, his body denied him. It was because of the malice he’d taken on when he saved Liliana and the damage he’d taken when crossing blades with that terrible creature. He’d done one unreasonable thing after another, and was paying the price for it. He could no longer do anything. Liliana, on the other hand, simply didn’t seem to know what to do in the hectic situation. She trembled in confusion, and then... 

“Ah, UaaaAAAAAH!” 

Screaming as if to block out everything that had just happened, she fled down the hill in the direction the tall shadow had pointed and vanished into the darkness of the night. 

“Ugh... Liliana... Don’t go...” 

Clutching his chest and gasping in anguish, Suimei weakly reached out for her as she ran. And then, at the crest of the hill, the tall shadow appeared as if to stand in his way. 

“You fucker...” 

In response to Suimei’s groaned curse, it looked like the mouth of the tall shadow twisted into a sneer.