"So, what would the principal of Altheria Academy want to talk to a student, such as myself, about?"
I sarcastically asked her.
She smiled and sat in the seat that Ayaka gave her.
"I'll wait outside then."
Ayaka said.
"No, I'm the one intruding, so you can stay, Ayaka."
Principal Kamish told her.
"Oh, I see."
Ayaka stayed in her chair and watched the two of us talk.
"Anyway, I came here to talk to you about someone."
"Who?"
I asked.
Instead of speaking, Principal Kamish went into her pocket and took out a small piece of paper.
It was a photo.
"We believe this man is a part of a group called Major Arcana."
"Major Arcana?"
Like the group that one Chariot guy was in.
"Don't they work under some guy named Father?"
I looked at the photo she gave me.
"No way, this guy is..."
"Do you know him?"
She asked me.
I began panicking. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears and the desperate breaths I was taking.
"He looks a little different but I'm sure it's him!"
The guy in the photo was slightly tall. He had black hair and scarlet eyes, just like Ayaka. He had red markings around his eyes. He was dressed in a trenchcoat with a black fur neck.
"No way. Then... Then... Maki, she's not safe."
I told myself.
If this guy is a part of the Major Arcana like Principal Kamish says then... Maki's in danger.
"Hey, Shoya, calm down."
Ayaka said to me.
I tried to listen to her words.
I slowly calmed myself down by taking deeper and deeper breaths and, before long, my heart settled.
"Okay, Shoya Sasaki, tell me, do you know this man?"
"Yes. Or at least, I saw someone with the same features as he has, without the red marks, hanging out with a former friend of mine. She could be in danger."
"Do you have a name?"
It wasn't that long ago when I talked to Ken about him again. I believe he said...
"Ragnar Judge."
Swiftly, Principal Kamish got her phone out and called someone.
The phone picked up almost instantly.
"Minato. On the system, search up the name, 'Ragnar Judge.'"
"System?"
I repeated.
"Every person, who is living in Japan, has their details recorded onto the system. If Ragnar Judge is a fake, then--"
Ayaka was cut off by Principal Kamish.
"He's not on the system. Minato, send people to..."
She then looked at me.
"Oh, it's the house on the right of mine. The house should belong to the Homura family."
"Go to Shoya Sasaki's address and the house to the right of it. Homura family house."
She then cut the phone and stood up.
"Thank you, Shoya Sasaki. I thought that I would get some information if I came to you first."
"Why did you come to me?"
"I was going to go to your other friends, Tatsuya Aikura, Emika Kaneko, Anastasia Kou Sabre Reishville and Kuroha Kuroika since they know about the Major Arcana."
She came to me because I'm an Emperor. Or, that's what her face is saying, at least. That faint smile on her face is annoying.
"Ah, actually, speaking of which, I forgot."
"What?"
"There's been an emergency in a cave on the mainland. A high-ranked mana beast has taken residence there."
She wouldn't... Would she?
"So, what you're trying to say is... You want my team to get rid of the high-ranked mana beast?"
The principal nodded.
"Why don't ask a third-year group?"
"Truth be told, I did. But they declined since they thought they couldn't take it on. I would ask Hysaka but she's on a mission and she won't be back for at least a week."
That's more like a vacation than a mission.
Wherever she's staying must be amazing.
"I've determined that your group is the strongest second-year group, which is why you have to do it."
I sighed.
She's going to force me no matter what.
"When do we have to go, since I need to recover from my mana exhaustion."
"By Wednesday."
"Only two days?!"
"Three. Today is Sunday."
Ayaka pointed out.
Ah, I thought it was a school day.
"Yeah, I'll tell my teammates and we'll go as early as we can."
"Thank you, Shoya. Well, I'll be going. Bye, Ayaka. Bye, Shoya."
She waved as she left the nurse's office.
Ayaka waved back at her but I didn't.
She's so troubling. I can tell that she's using me to her advantage.
One day, one day, I'll get back at her.
---
At night, in a derelict building in Osaka, the five Tarots relaxed.
They had nothing to do in particular until Tuesday when they would start their plan to release their sealed Master.
"I was wondering, Ragnarok."
Ishtar began talking, looking over at the man resting against a stone pillar.
"Why did you bring a human to our hideout?"
She asked, glancing over at the corner of the space.
A girl sat in the corner with her hands and feet tied and a cloth tied to her mouth to stop her from talking.
"Because someone was not being discreet."
Ragnarok looked over at the man in the corner.
"Shut up. You're the one who met her first. How was I supposed to know you didn't accidentally let information slip?!"
The man, Asmodeus, argued.
Ragnarok stayed silent.
"Say, why don't we kill her already?"
Ephraim suggested, closing the book he was reading.
The girl, Maki, began squirming as Ephraim stood up and tossed his book away.
"There's no merit in keeping her ali--"
"STOP!"
Ragnarok roared.
Everyone looked at him, surprised.
His scarlet eyes glowed as his face tensed in his fit of rage.
"Touch her and you die by my hand."
"Woah, woah, woah, did you really get attached to a human?"
Asmodeus asked, ready to jump at Ragnarok.
"Don't take me for a fool."
He spat at the white-haired man.
Ragnarok sauntered toward Asmodeus. His emotionless face and pale skin only illuminated the aura of fear he produced.
These five Tarots were generally on the same level in terms of strength, however, Ragnarok was the strongest after receiving a Yuna from King Solomon.
"We need her to lure Shoya Sasaki. She's his friend."
"Ah, so that's why you got close to her."
Titania said.
She looked over at Maki.
Maki had frozen, most likely because she heard the name, 'Shoya Sasaki.'
"Hm. I don't get it, why are we after this Shoya Sasaki again?"
Ishtar asked.
"That's because he's the Black Emperor."
Ragnarok said, looking at Maki.
"We need to kill him so we can unseal Master..."
Maki shivered while looking up at Ragnarok.
(Shoya... I'm sorry...)