"Don't joke like that, Asami. I'm not in the mood. Teaming up with you isn't exactly what I want."
The woman shrugged as entered the vacant warehouse. She had a sadistic smile that defied her nonchalant attitude.
2-AB followed Asami into a room on the second level of the warehouse. She opened the door. Music rushed both 2-AB and Asami. It was being played on a speaker.
It was a wonder why they were never able to hear it when they were climbing the stairs. They were in the control room. In the seat in front of the cameras and controls, a girl was sitting in it.
The girl was bopping her head to whatever she was listening to on her headphones.
"What's the point of listening to music on your headphones if you're already blasting it on your speakers? God, you don't make sense."
Asami exhaled.
She leaned behind the girl and took off her headphones, whispering into her ear.
"Boo!"
"Nice try, Asami but I've been tracking you ever since you exited the taxi."
The girl said with a smug tone. She snatched her headphones back and turned around, putting her legs on the controls in a conceited manner.
"So, who's this?"
The girl was small. She looked old enough to drive but her height betrayed her beauty. She wore a black crop top and jacket, accompanied by shorts that highlighted her figure. Her pink hair was tied into a ponytail and she had a condescending look in her sky-blue eyes.
"She's the Mage Killer."
"Eh..."
She breathed.
"The one that's been killing those magicians in Kyushū? Aren't you supposed to be a guy? Well, you look masculine enough."
"..."
2-AB stared at the girl with no signs of being tempted by her provocation. She smiled.
"That's good, you're not simple-minded like some sadistic bitch."
"Who could you possibly be talking about?"
Asami asked, trying to pull the girl's cheeks. She blocked her attempts.
"Who are you?"
"Me? I don't like using my real name since it has no relevance. Everyone calls me Hacker. What's your name?"
"Subject 2-AB."
She answered.
"Hm? Is that your name? If so, then we should think of a new name for you."
"Can't we just use Mage Killer?"
Asami asked.
"That's a mouthful. I'd rather something shorter."
Hacker glanced at 2-AB.
"Something like Yui."
The blonde-haired woman narrowed her eyes.
"Why Yui of all names?"
Asami asked.
"Why? Because she's a delusional dreamer who doesn't know when she's outmatched."
The woman scowled as she hears Hacker's words. Her hair flowed as energy sparked around her body in her torrent of rage.
"What did you call me?!"
"You know why we're black magicians? Because society wants to keep us locked away from changing things. In other words, black magicians are people who make the impossible, possible. I'll help you with your delusion."
"Wait... but how do you know about my goal? I haven't said anything."
2-AB doubted her. Hacker spun on the chair.
"I bugged Asami's phone, so I can hear whatever conversations she has."
"Where's the bug?"
Asami wondered, searching her phone.
"I'll remove it. It's fine."
Hacker said, looking at the phone. Between her eyes and the phone, a line of electricity formed.
"There it's gone. So, will you accept my help, Yui?"
2-AB wasn't used to be called that. Either way, she accepted the name. There was nothing else she could do about it. A name was a proof of existence, similar to the title, Mage Killer. The name, 2-AB could be considered a shackle for her.
"Yes, I will, Hacker."
"Good."
The girl smiled.
She turned to the computers at her side and touched the keyboard with her hand. For a second, they were shrouded in a cloak of electricity. They turned on and began processing information.
"My Magic Seal is electromagnetism. I can do lots of stuff with electricity and magnetism. It's quite a versatile ability. I can do stuff from hacking, manipulating electric currents, controlling metals and a lot more stuff."
A bunch of profiles appeared on the screens. They were all people from the same group—NEXUS.
"I know that you want to target Ayato Kyouya, who's currently at the Seven Star Tournament. I checked the servers of the hotel near the Stellar Sky arena and he is registered under Auralia Magic High School but he isn't participating in any events."
"That doesn't matter. As long as he's there, that's all I care about."
Yui announced with the famished expression of a wild beast.
"Why do we need these NEXUS guys though?"
Asami asked, looking at their profiles in detail. Hacker confidently smiled.
"They're our scapegoats."
"Wow, you're so evil!"
Asami commended her.
"I am a black magician. We can't just stage the attack all by ourselves in a place with a multitude of magicians, even if they are only students."
She pointed out.
"These guys from NEXUS bear a generational grudge against Akari Chiori and want revenge. Since she's the one who made the Seven Star Tournament, they want to destroy it."
"You're saying we should take advantage of their grudge."
Hacker nodded. With another flash of electricity, the screen changed. It showed a man, who seemed middle-aged, covered in scars.
"This man is Yuuji Kaido. He's the leader of NEXUS and holds a grudge against Akari Chiori. NEXUS has around 200 members who want to overthrow modern society. They want black magicians to rule rather than normal ones."
It wasn't much different from Yui's goal. However, their goal would intervene with hers, since she wanted to throw the entire hierarchy into chaos.
"We—when I say we, I mean Asami and Yui—are going to sneak in on the first day of break, which will be in two days. They check everyone who goes into the hotel to stay, excluding those transporting weapons and magic items there. We'll have you two disguised as the drivers and make you stay in the hotel."
Hacker said to them. Asami grabbed Hacker's shoulders.
"Aren't you coming as well?"
"I'm not suited for combat."
"Don't lie. You've beaten me before, right, Hacker-chan?"
"I don't care. I'd rather not take the risk."
Hacker was a cautious person. If something had a dangerous amount of risk, she wouldn't take the route. However, that was only the case with herself. If it involved someone else she knew, she would use everything in her power to lower the risk rate.
"Yui,"
Hacker called out to the blonde-haired woman. She wasn't used to her name yet, but that was only natural.
"It's important that you don't do anything until the final day of events. If you blow your cover before then, this plan will go up in smoke. Do you understand me?"
"Let's say on the off chance that someone attacks me and I retaliate, is that fine?"
Hacker sighed.
"It should be, as long as no one sees your face. Now, onto..."
·———·
"Okay, we'll go and start the preparations!"
Asami announced, grabbing ahold of Yui's hand and pulling her along out of the warehouse.
As they left, Hacker exhaled and sunk into her chair.
"The Ma—no, Yui is intense. To think that she wants to attack Ayato Kyouya that badly."
Suddenly, there was a shift in the shadows and a peculiar noise. Again, the girl sighed.
"What do you want, Pride?"
A masked jester appeared behind Hacker. She turned around with an unbothered expression.
"Nothing, I was just listening in on your conversation about helping the Mage Killer to kill Ayato Kyouya."
"You know, I won't compromise. Yui is someone who's going to change this world. Isn't that what the Court of Jesters' goal is?"
Pride put his index finger on the mouth of his mask.
"The Court wants to remove the true evil from the world. The Mage Killer is on that exact path but not close enough. You should know that better than anyone, Hacker. Or should I call you the Jester of Sloth?"
Hacker winced when she heard Pride's smug chuckle.
"I've already left the Court. Besides, I thought you said the next time we meet, you would kill me?"
"I'll let you off this time. For old-time's sake. Bye, Sloth. Make sure you and the Mage Killer don't cross our path."
Pride melded into the shadow and disappeared. Hacker was left in a bad mood.
"Oh well, time to play Flappy Dog."