Ryo promptly entered the hotel. Remembering what he looked like he began to gather for some clues.
The first step would be to gather information about that person's whereabouts.
And the person that first comes to mind, is Fujimoto Kyouko. The first thing he did was go back to their classroom, and once alone in the bedroom area, dialed Kyouko.
...
"Fujimoto Kyouko here. What do you want?"
"Do you know anything about a Hanzo Jin?"
"Hanzo Jin? No, why?"
"Haven't the third seat told you yet? That is the leading suspect in this case."
"Stella-Senpai hasn't told me yet. Anyway, try asking Airi and her friends. They are affiliated with the other classes."
"Alright, thanks."
...
However, it comes with a dilemma. As much as possible, it's better to keep the case a secret to not alert the suspect.
It would be straightforward to just ask class E, however, it would be a risky move.
The whole reason for him doing this is to keep the case hidden as much as possible. The leakage of such an incident could fear the students and could affect their morale and skills in the upcoming test.
Ryo pondered for a moment. He needs an excuse not to make them suspicious.
I think I got it. He mumbled before proceeding to go outside the bedroom, and find Airi.
Like he saw earlier Airi was with her middle-school classmates. Haruto, Hina, and Arata were right in the living room, laughing and talking.
He slowly walked up to them, and Hina managed to notice his incoming presence.
"Hello there, Kyosuke-san!" She greeted enthusiastically.
Now, all of their attention is shifted towards Ryo.
"Hello there," Ryo responded nonchalantly.
"Hello there, Kyosuke-san. What brings you here?" Airi asked with a smile, in her gentle voice.
Ryo took a seat across them before replying.
"I'm trying to learn more about the magic types of students here in this school. And I've discovered that dark and light are rare, so I was wondering if you guys know someone who uses that kind of magic."
"That kind of magic, you say... I don't know anyone with light magic." Haruto replied while the others agreed with him.
"How about dark?"
"Well, no one really comes to mind... However..." Airi pondered for a moment before speaking again. "Oh, There's someone in class E who's a dark user."
"Who?"
"Hmm... I forgot his name..."
"Is it... Hanzo Jin?"
"Oh, him! Yes. Though, how did you know him?"
"That. Kyouko told me about him. Can you tell me more about him?"
"Let's see... He's usually alone and usually keeps to himself. A man of a few words... Well, at least that's what my friends tell me."
So, Hanzo Jin is quite well-known. However, everyone may be oblivious to his doings.
"I see. Thank you. However, I thought that having more Dark and Light type people would be much more efficient. So, do you guys know anyone aside from him?"
Everyone tried to think of someone, but all failed. It seems like Dark really is something rare.
If Hanzo Jin is the only Dark User in Classes A-E, it wouldn't be a surprise if Airi knew him. Being a user of dark magic is a rare aptitude after all.
Ryo promptly said goodbye and left the room.
Suddenly, his phone rang. He grabbed it, and It was Kyouko.
"Hello."
"Greetings, this is Oinamu Stella. I'm at the surveillance right now, and I don't see him anywhere."
"I'll keep my eyes peeled."
"Okay. Don't hang up the call. However, do hide your phone."
"Noted."
He closed his phone and placed it in his pocket without hanging up.
Where would I go if I like to be alone, and I usually keep my hands to myself?
The usual that comes to mind is sleeping alone in the bedroom.
Is he there right now?
He grabbed his phone back.
"Hey, Oinamu-Senpai"
"What is it?"
"Is he not in the Class E room?"
"I checked the whole CCTV system in their room. He's nowhere to be found.
Not in the room...
Suddenly, a group of girls came passing by Ryo. He happened to overhear their conversation.
"The view on the rooftop is beautiful!"
"I know right, though, it's quite hot there right now."
"That's why there were no people there!"
The hotel rooftop would be a great place to hide, especially if no one is there.
Ryo immediately goes to the hotel elevator and presses the button to the highest floor. Then, from the highest floor, he rushed towards the stairs, leading to the rooftop, since the elevator doesn't reach the rooftop.
As he was going towards the rooftop, his phone began vibrating like crazy, as if it a loud sound was trying to escape from his pockets.
He grabbed his phone, and as expected, Stella was speaking over and over again.
"Hey."
"I've been talking for a few minutes now." She said through the phone, clearly annoyed.
"My bad, I've gotten an idea."
"What is it? I still haven't seen him anywhere."
"My guess is, he's on the rooftop."
As he said that, he slightly opened the door, and peeked through that opening.
Nothing. It was empty.
"Okay. If an opportunity presents itself, lead him to the forest, Ryujin and Kyouko are waiting."
With that, Ryo closed his phone and quietly went outside.
The place was eerily... Quiet. Aside from the common sounds of trees and leaves swaying, and the strong wind whirling around.
He cautiously took steps and more steps.
There really is no one here...
But, Ryo can't shake the feeling of being watched.
He prepared himself to engage in battle, ready to summon his weapon anytime now.
He continued walking around the rooftop, and suddenly, out of nowhere, a shadow lunged towards him.
Of course, Ryo was aware. At the last second, he drew his sword out.
The sound of blade clashing echoed, throughout. With great force, he pushed the shadow back.
The shadow smoothly jumped back and landed on top of the rooftop building.
It wore a white uniform for the school and a black mask that hid its face.
"What kind of cringe get-up is that? Are you trying to cosplay some nasty villain?" Ryo taunted.
However, the shadow didn't speak. It only stared at Ryo.
"Are you the one behind the exousia incident, along with Atsumasa Ayumi?"
Again, he received no response.
"Then, let's resort to force-" Mid-way Ryo's speech, he flickered towards the mask at a speed that is unseen to the naked eye.
The shadow didn't manage to dodge, allowing Ryo to strike him in the mask, completely shattering it, and simultaneously launching a kick towards his stomach, causing the shadow to be thrown towards the ground, landing violently on his back
The mask was destroyed, revealing his face. It was none other than Hanzo Jin.
"What's that? You're way too slow." Ryo once again taunted, as he slowly walked towards Jin.
Jin frantically forced himself up. Just from that kick alone, his whole body ached like a whole ton was dropped into him. Jin in desperation, launched several dark orbs towards Ryo's direction.
But they moved... slowly, at least from Ryo's perspective. It was sloppy and easy to parry.
"This is a child's play. My mother's dog can do better than this. Ablaze" Ryo remarked as he parried them all with ease, disintegrating them upon contact with his blazing sword.
However, this was all a distraction. As Ryo parried them, he took the time to run away. He felt nervous. He recognized Ryo.
After that incident with Ryo catching them, Ayumi went on to report everything to him. Ayumi described his face to him. And so, he planned to "teach Ryo some lesson", or so he thought.
In his current situation, his breath is almost out, as he tries to run in great distress. This wasn't in his plan. Surely, a surprise attack from his blindside would surely be lethal. However, he underestimated Ryo.
Ryo easily caught up to him, and using the back of his sword, he swung towards the back of Hanzo's neck. But just before it could reach him, Hanzo was able to quickly turn around and summoned a dark magic that enveloped his hand in a darkish aura, strengthening it.
Using that hand, he managed to stop Ryo's strike, and eventually, using his magic abilities, he was able to push Ryo off.
He then hurriedly rushed back up and ran towards the edge of the rooftop, and without hesitation, he jumped high, over the fence, and off towards the forest.
Meanwhile, Ryo, who was forced back, lets out a sigh.
"Do your jobs now, council members." He mumbled under his breath as he retraced his sword back. He calmly walked down the stairs, remaining his cold aura as he did.
I wonder what urged me to help that girl. He thought to himself, as he continued walking.
...
Using levitation, mixed with dark magic, Hanzo was able to slow down his descend onto the ground, allowing him to land safely. And from there, he planned on leaving the school for now.
And so, upon landing, he immediately ran towards the hotel. A smug smile slowly curled on his lips, relieved that he didn't get caught by his own witness.
But that smile wouldn't last for long. As he ran, he heard a male voice from behind him.
"Hey, don't you think running off is quite awkward? That's cowardly." The male voice said. He peeked through his shoulders, and yet, no one was behind him. But as he turned his head back in front again, he came face-to-face with the fourth seat, standing just a few feet away from him, with a murderous smile plastered on his face.
"You thought you were safe, didn't you?" Ryujin uttered a cold, murderous voice. A cold, aura surrounds him, adding a tense atmosphere that sends shivers down Jin's spine.
Jin stopped in his tracks, his heart now beating nervously. But, this is far worse than he thought. Not long after, another figure showed up behind him.
"How unpleasant." A female voice mumbled. It was a mumble, yet it was enough to shake him out of his mind. Behind him was Kyouko, staring at him with indifferent eyes, holding a sparking sword in her hand.
He didn't dare turn around. Even if his back was turned to Kyouko, he could feel her cold gaze right through his soul.
"You know, things would have ended quite positively if it was only the two of us here," Ryujin said. As he did, another figure appeared from the right side.
It was none other than the third seat, Oinamu Stella, with Atsumasa Ayumi, hiding behind her.
Jin glowered at Ayumi. Yet, fear is setting in. He can't be angry.
He doesn't recognize any of the figures around him. However, their aura tells him everything.
They are none other... Than the Honorable, and the strongest in the whole school.
"Let's have a talk, Hanzo Jin." Stella calmly said despite the murderous expression on her face. "What can you say about Atsumasa's injuries?" She asked.
"W-What injuries? W-Why me?! He tried to play dumbly.
"Trying to play dumb? Shall I drill right into your head to remind you of the horrendous things you've done to her?"
As she uttered her disgusted feelings, she slowly walked towards Jin, a growing, greenish aura enveloping her. Jin took a step back in feat, all his hair standing upright, his body shaking all over, that it was almost refusing to listen to him.
"Of course, I have proof that it was your doing, Jin Hanzo. I have enhanced senses, whether it's auditory or olfactory. And let me tell you, how badly you reek of the strong scent of an exousia stone."
Sweat dripped from his forehead. He tried to look around for an opportunity to escape, however, he was surrounded.
"The injuries she had intensely emitted a foul energy within them. Do you want to know what it was? It was... the energy of a dark magic..."
"B-B-But... I-It could be anyone b-but me! I-I mean-"
"You surely are underestimating the secretary of this school, aren't you? I hold the information of each student here. Right now, the only people here are the first-years... and the council. And out of the hundred, if not, thousands of students, you are the only dark-magic user here. It is unfortunate, that your stupidity, turned your unique skills into your downfall. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Jin could only clench his teeth in frustration. A man, driven to a corner, will succumb to desperation and will do anything to get away.
He slowly grabs onto his pocket. As he slowly pulled his hand up, the reek of the exousia stone's power grew.
"You are planning to use that stone. How stupid." Stella taunted.
Kyouko and Ryujin unsheathed their weapons and entered a fighting stance, ready to use physical force if the situation forces it. On the other hand, Stella only grabbed her phone, which is still connected to Ryo via a call, and whispered on it.
"Kyosuke-san. Kyosuke-san."
...
Ryo yawned as he walked towards the elevator when suddenly, he felt a vibration from his pocket. Confused, he grabbed it and was surprised to see that the call was still connected. Stella was whispering Ryo's name over and over again.
"Okay, stop repeating my name like that, Senpai. You're not summoning an otherworldly demon."
"Keep the other students off from the forest. A magic shockwave will erupt."
His eyes widened in surprise.
"Erupt, you say?"
"Just do it. No one will get hurt, aside from Jin.'
"Sure..."
And with that, he ended the call and placed the phone in his pocket.
Hanzo Jin, you dumbass. Because of you, I lost my time to sleep. What a hassle. He mumbled to himself, as he brisk-walked downstairs, towards the main hall of the hotel.