Suddenly, the Mortal Sin, Aden-Lada, began laughing hysterically. Altair and I looked at each other before both of our gazes went to the woman.
"What's so funny?"
[She's an idiot. She could be laughing at anything.]
"N-no, i-it's just that y-your mortal enemy was near you the whole time a-and you didn't know about it?!"
She began calming down.
"W-well, when you put it that way..."
Then, I noticed something.
I don't ever remember mentioning anything about going to Altheria. I'm not wearing the uniform either.
So... How does she know that I go to Altheria?
I glared at her.
"Woah, relax. I've been looking into you ever since after the attack Gilheld launched on the school."
Gilheld? Me? Why?
"Why?"
"Because a little favourite girl of mine said that her older brother was amazing. She didn't show it most of the time but she absolutely loves you."
"Older brother... Oh, you're talking about Yumeko, aren't you? Is she alright?"
I heard that she was caught but I don't know what her punishment was.
"Yeah, she is. If you call being a servant okay."
"Come again?"
"Well, she had a trial in court and because she was kidnapped at a young age and was brought up within Valhalla, it was classed as coercion. Plus, she only has little crimes such as breaking and entering and theft. Yumeko hasn't murdered a single person."
"Oh, that's good then. Being a servant isn't too bad."
Aden-Lada grimaced as I said that.
"If you grow up as a Streia, then becoming a servant is worse than going to any prison. It breaks the person's honour and humiliates them. She's a servant for a year though."
Altair coughed and we went back to the subject at hand.
[Anyway, Rose, what would happen if you reported that Weissmann Mori is Regulus to the others?]
Aden-Lada glared at him.
"My name is Aden-Lada now."
[What would happen?]
The woman pouted as she began thinking.
"Well, you'd probably..."
Then, she suddenly looked over at me and smirked.
"You know what. I'll save the surprise."
[No time for joking, Rose, if Regulus is on the move then--]
"I'm going to kill you."
Her words sounded colder than her usual tone. Aden-Lada glared at Altair and I with slant eyes.
"Huh?"
"I said, I'm going to kill you. Why else would I have come here originally?"
She asked, jokingly.
[Rose, you know what would happen if Regulus gets to--]
"Then I'll kill you before he gets to you. Are you happy?"
Altair growled slightly under his breath.
"You know, ever since we killed you the first time, I haven't killed you again. But I have heard some stories from Aether. He said that once they sense you, they kill you on the spot."
Altair stayed silent.
"I'm the only one who's sensed you. Think of yourself as lucky. Anyway, do you want to know why they've always killed you on the spot?"
The Black Emperor didn't reply.
Aden-Lada sighed.
"You already know, don't you?"
[Because I was also a threat to the balance of the Emperors.]
"Yes, exactly."
So, there was also an ulterior motive behind killing Altair? Or is the whole Regulus thing an excuse?
"You were the most powerful Emperor, being able to negate all of our Singularities. When you stopped the Emperor's War single-handedly, we knew that you were dangerous."
An Emperor stopping eight others...
I don't want to say it but... I guess, even as an Emperor, I'd be scared knowing that one guy could beat the others by himself.
"The whole Regulus thing was a reason to kill you but their real reason was because they didn't want you coming back at full strength."
Aden-Lada smirked.
"That's why I want to have my turn with you. I've never killed you. I've only lost in duels. So, next time we meet, I'll kill you for sure."
[I'm sorry, Rose, but I'm not dying with this vessel. Shoya's growth is much more impressive than any of my previous hosts. That's why, I--no, we shall get stronger and stop Regulus' rampage. We know why he wants my Black Exodia but we don't know for what purpose he'll use it. We will stop him. Even if we have to face all of the Emperors.]
I was slightly angry that I didn't get a say in this but I didn't want to die. If Weissmann is coming for me, I have to be on guard.
Aden-Lada scoffed.
"Okay. Try not to die, Vessel, Altair. I'll see you... Well, whenever. Bye..."
And the woman blended into the darkness.
[She's out of your mindscape. You're about to wake up too.]
Altair said.
[Shoya, make sure to avoid direct contact with Weissmann or his maids from now on.]
"Why his maids?"
[They're probably Familiars if I'm correct.]
Familiars for the White Emperor? Faith and Ophelia?
[Try not to seem obvious and don't tell anyone. Not even Kuro.]
"Okay, I'll--"
Before I could finish my sentence, my consciousness faded. Or, should I say, I woke up.
--
"Ah, you're finally awake."
A woman's voice said.
As I opened my eyes, I saw someone familiar.
God, I'd recognise those red eyes, blonde hair and boobs anywhere.
"Ayaka."
I said, sitting up.
I'm in the nurse's office. Half-naked, if I must point out.
The nurse was wearing glasses. It does kind of suit her but I like her without them better.
Ugh, what am I thinking?
I've been lusting over Ayaka ever since I woke up.
I shook my head and slapped my face so that I would remove any lustful thoughts.
"Anything wrong with your head?"
She asked, noticing my actions.
"A-ah, no..."
"Well, I must say, Shoya, you're one lucky boy."
"Hm?"
Ayaka walked over to my bed and sat on the side. She looked at the clipboard and grimaced slightly.
She's not talking about herself so...
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, first of all, you've been asleep for a day, or so, where I've been doing checks on you."
I looked at my body. Nothing visibly looked wrong.
"What happened? I don't see anything wrong with you."
"Yeah, that's right. There isn't anything wrong with you."
"Oh..."
"And that's the problem."
I stared at her and she stared back.
"So, me being fine is a problem?"
Ayaka pushed her glasses onto the bridge of her nose and continued.
"Both yes and no. I'll say the obvious first. Since you're okay, that means you can continue with life normally and that means I succeeded at my job."
I nodded.
"But it's strange that nothing happened to you."
"Could you elaborate?"
Ayaka nodded.
"When I first tested you, it showed signs that your mana nexus was strangled to its limit but you were still, strangely, able to use magic. When I asked the principal for details, he told me that the boy, Qin's, Singularity is to seal anything. He sealed your mana nexus and you somehow squeezed mana out and used Black Exodia on his seal."
"Yeah, I remember that part."
"But your mana nexus was strangled. Meaning that you could've--no, you should've indefinitely become crippled."
Ah.
"By crippled, do you mean--"
"Yes, you would never be able to use magic again."
"Judging that you said everything is fine, that means I am okay, right?"
The nurse nodded and I sighed.
I'm glad that I'm not crippled in terms of mana.
"Do you know why I'm not crippled?"
"No, by my calculations, that would've crippled any Emperor or Mortal Sin. Meaning that something enabled you to not become crippled but I don't know what..."
She got off my bed and took a deep breath in before breathing out.
"In the end, the results matter. I'm glad you're fine. Today is Sunday so rest up in here until tomorrow, just in case. I'll bring lunch later."
"Thanks for the request, but I think I'll go to the dorms."
I said, getting up from the bed and putting my training uniform spandex on. I held the jacket in my hand.
"Oh, are you sure?"
"Yeah."
After talking with Aden-Lada and Altair, I'm paranoid that I may meet with either Weissmann or Aden-Lada. Staying in my dorm room would be the safest option for me.
"Well, see you around, Ayaka."
"Oh, ah, yes, see you around."
She waved at me, embarrassed.
Maybe I shouldn't have waved at her.