I arrive at the guild with Nina, and Zara and Alto are in tow. As we enter, I watch the adventurers present carefully to see how they react. There are probably seven or eight parties worth of people in the guild. Upon seeing us, a commotion starts to develop.
"Hey everyone! Mizuki is back again!"
"Well look at that! An S-rank party decided we were worth gracing with their presence!"
Huh…so it doesn't sound like news of our massacre in the Empire has reached the adventuring population here yet. This is just the typical fanfare since our promotion.
As we approach reception, Melanie sees us, and her eyes go wide.
"Hi, Melanie, I hope you've been well! Zara and Alto have one more A-rank job to complete before they're eligible for their ranking exam with Gerard. While they take a job, I was hoping to meet with Gerard…is he available?" (Mizuki)
Melanie looks nervous at first, then surprised.
"Uhm…just you? None of the others would be joining the meeting?" (Melanie)
"That's correct…is that a problem?" (Mizuki)
Melanie shakes her head quickly.
"N-No, of course not. U-Uhm…let me go tend to some things quickly while your party picks out a job, and then you can meet with the guild master." (Melanie)
We normally just walk up to Gerard's office, so why does she need to 'tend to things' this time? Hmm…Melanie also looks a lot more nervous than she should. I'm not a fan of this vibe.
Melanie quickly scurries into the back of the guild before I can ask follow-up questions. I sigh deeply, then turn to my party.
"Alright everyone, you can go pick whatever job you want and start it without me. I'll stay here and catch up with the guild master, and I'll arrange Zara's and Alto's rank up exam with him for when you return. How's that?" (Mizuki)
"Fufufu…excellent, I was dreading another meeting. Alto, Zara, let us depart at once!" (Nina)
Alto and Zara nod their agreement and we part ways. They walk over to the A-rank bulletin board and start job hunting excitedly.
Alto glances at me apprehensively a couple of times. So, she noticed it, too, huh?
[Relax Alto, I noticed how strange she was acting, too. I'll be fine…just worry about yourself and keep Nina in check.] (Mizuki)
After my thought message, Alto briefly gives me an appreciative smile and seems to relax. Not long after, I see Melanie returning out of the corner of my eye. She seems white as a sheet, and more nervous than before. Yeah…this is suspicious as hell.
"O-Okay, Mizuki…you can go see the guild master now!" (Melanie)
Melanie is wearing a smile as she speaks to me, but it and her enthusiastic tone seem quite forced. In addition, she sneaks several apprehensive glances towards Nina near the job boards.
I give Melanie a warm smile and my thanks, then head up to Gerard's office and knock.
"Come in, Mizuki!" (Gerard)
I feel myself tense…he said my name, which means Melanie's 'things' she took care of somehow included a chat with Gerard. They're obviously up to something they don't want me to be aware of.
I sigh deeply, then walk into his office. To my surprise, there are three adventurers standing near Gerard, who is seated at his desk. I've never seen any of them before.
Gerard smiles warmly at me, then he gestures towards the couch in front of his desk.
"Ah, Mizuki! Good to see you again! Would you like to take a seat?" (Gerard)
Oh yeah…it's unprecedented how friendly he's being – he's never offered me a seat. Also, since when do we have meetings with people I don't even know? I don't like this.
I look at the three strangers and activate magic sense – two guys with elemental class, one girl with alteration class, and all appear mid-20s with power levels close to 3. I notice something else, too, and a chill runs down my spine. So…that's how it is, huh?
I direct a warm smile towards Gerard and the strange adventurers.
"Good to see you again as well, Gerard! Err…may I ask what these fine people are doing here?" (Mizuki)
"Oh, don't pay them any mind. We were just discussing a job for their party before Melanie told me you wanted to chat, but I figured they took lower priority than an S-rank party. So, they're just waiting patiently until we're done." (Gerard)
Hmm…
"Goodness, well I certainly wouldn't have asked for a meeting like this if I knew you were busy. To the rest of you, I apologize! I've seen you around…your part of Levi's party, right?" (Mizuki)
Surprise registers on all their faces, and they remain silent and confused. For good reason…there's no way I should know who they are. However, that tells me everything I need to know to act on my hunch.
I turn away from the adventurers and Gerard to face the couch. I don't walk over to it, though, I just stare at the space right behind it…where I sensed an invisible magic presence earlier.
I smile towards the magic signature.
"Would you care to drop your invisibility spell and join your party over there, Levi? After you do, you can help Gerard explain why you'd attempt something as hostile as trying to ambush me like this." (Mizuki)
The tension in the room becomes palpable, and I notice one of the other adventurers quietly grab the hilt of their sword – the woman. She's about Nina's height with a slim but muscular build, olive skin, and brown hair and eyes.
I turn to smile at her before she can draw her weapon, and she freezes. They're all watching me carefully now.
"I wouldn't recommend that, Miss. As of right now, we can all still have a nice peaceful chat with no hard feelings. Once you draw your weapon, however, I...won't be as forgiving." (Mizuki)
As I continue looking at the female adventurer, everyone stares back at me tensely, and I can see her mulling over her options. However, a sharp voice quickly rings out.
"Sylvia, Leo, Rikard, stand down right now!"
I look towards the source of the voice to see a now visible Levi glancing fearfully between me and his party. Catching my gaze, he immediately shifts his focus entirely to me.
"Mizuki, I'm sorry. We won't be causing you any more trouble here. I hope you'll overlook this incident…I strongly advised against it." (Levi)
Oh? I'm curious about that statement. Fortunately, Gerard doesn't leave me confused for long.
"Levi, what the hell do you think you're doing!? Mizuki's not helpless, but he can't use magic and he's completely separated from the rest of his party right now. Five A-rank adventurers is more than enough to subdue him. You three, I order you as guild master to help me apprehend this man." (Gerard)
Hmm…so that's how it is. I…think I can guess why, too. Gerard must have received word from the Ralzen Empire, and decided I was a threat for one reason or another. I'd like to fix that, but this is getting dicey quickly.
I cast a silencing spell over the whole room and place a forcefield to block the office door.
Levi goes pale following Gerard's orders, but he doesn't even look at Gerard or the other three. He just focuses on me with his hands raised where I can see them.
"Ignore Gerard's order if you trust me! It's not worth your lives!" (Levi)
I raise my eyebrows curiously at Levi, then look back towards Sylvia, Leo, and Rikard with an amused smile. Sylvia meets my gaze, and she becomes visibly nervous. She still has her hand on her sword hilt, and the two guys have their hands behind their backs – presumably grabbing dagger handles.
"Oh, that's a little dramatic now, Levi. I wouldn't kill your party members. Sylvia, was it? You seem the most eager to draw your weapon. What do you say…want to give attacking me a try?" (Mizuki)
I maintain eye contact with Sylvia and smirk. Confusion and surprise flash across her face for a moment, then she sighs deeply and takes her hand off her weapon. Gerard has a bewildered expression, like he can't believe how bold I'm being or how deferential Sylvia is being.
"No, I trust Levi with my life. Regardless of what I think, I'd never ignore his advice." (Sylvia)
The other two adventurers follow Sylvia's lead and relax their postures. Levi becomes visibly relieved and smiles at me nervously. Gerard directs a frustrated tone towards Levi.
"Levi, I order you to…" (Gerard)
Levi cuts off Gerard with a firm hand gesture.
"No, Gerard…with all due respect, I refuse. I told you when you suggested this plan that it was foolish, and I'd abandon it the minute the ambush fell apart – we've reached that point. I don't care what you think…I'm not going to provoke Mizuki further. Besides…guild jobs are optional, remember?" (Levi)
I smile at Levi, then walk over to the couch and take a seat. I notice Levi move to join his party. Then, I turn my attention towards Gerard and give him a smile.
"Now, Gerard, is this any way to greet your favorite adventurer? Tsk, tsk, tsk…use your words, not your fists. What did I do to offend you so much?" (Mizuki)
Gerard places his head in his hands, and his expression is thick with emotional exhaustion.
"You mean you don't consider that mouth of yours reason enough to be hostile?" (Gerard)
Hey, now we're talking, it's almost like we're friends! I give Gerard a fake-serious expression and respond with a sarcastic tone.
"Woah, Gerard…this is no time for jokes, you know? Please show some decorum and take this matter seriously." (Mizuki)
Levi and his party are staring at me with dumbfounded expressions.
"I agree, Mizuki, killing Emperor Belmod and sixty-eight of his royal guard is a very serious matter. How did you expect us to react?" (Gerard)
Huh, so 68 is the official number…good to know. I was so close, maybe I should have killed Lobe, too.
I shrug at Gerard.
"Honestly, I fail to see why you care – it's a separate nation. Also, we tried to be nice, and he attempted to kill and enslave my party members. I wasn't about to tolerate that. More importantly, I've only been friendly to the citizens of Elmesia." (Mizuki)
Gerard gives me an annoyed look.
"Don't be naïve, Mizuki. It doesn't matter what he did, he was still the ruler of a country. More importantly, we care because your actions have consequences for Elmesia." (Gerard)
Gerard pulls out an official looking letter and tosses it at me. I give him a curious look.
The letter is addressed towards the council and adventurer's guild of Elmesia. It's from someone named Lord Krandel Severus, on behalf of the Ralzen Empire. I commit the name to memory for later.
After reading through the letter, I look up at Gerard and Levi's party.
"So, the remnants of the Empire's leadership basically told you to apprehend my party and turn us over to them, or else they'd consider your refusal a declaration of war and invade you. That right?" (Mizuki)
Gerard nods solemnly.
"Yes. I somewhat sympathize with the position you were put in, and I don't miss Emperor Belmod either, but we're not about to start a war with the Empire over your actions." (Gerard)
"You can't seriously think that the Empire will leave you alone if you turn my party over to them. Need I remind you that Belmod was likely going to invade Elmesia eventually regardless. They're still going to wage war on you if I'm gone." (Mizuki)
"I'm inclined to agree, but the council of Elmesia decided it would be best to turn your party over to the Empire." (Gerard)
I snort and smirk at Gerard.
"Bold of the council to assume that they'd be able to capture my party. Tell me, you weren't stupid enough to send people after Nina and the others earlier, were you?" (Mizuki)
Gerard shakes his head.
"No, they saw her abilities on her guild profile. So, they heeded my advice that the best strategy was to isolate and capture you. If we turn you over to the Empire, I'm sure that Nina at least would follow you into their hands in a rescue attempt. That would make capturing your party relatively achievable." (Gerard)
Hmm…that's not a bad plan, actually. They can't take me, obviously, and even if they could, Nina could solo an army from the Empire. Still…I'm impressed.
"Well, that's not the worst plan, but it obviously failed. So, what now?" (Mizuki)
"If Levi and his group won't help me subdue you now, and you get away, you'll become a fugitive of Elmesia. There will be an S-rank job and hefty reward for the capture of you and your party. I don't suppose you want to just save us the trouble and turn yourself over now? I'm getting a little old for fighting." (Gerard)
That's not going to work for me. It would be quite inconvenient to not be able to come back to Elmesia or do guild jobs anymore. What a pain…
I roll my eyes at Gerard.
"That's not going to work for me Gerard. However, I have an alternative proposal." (Mizuki)
Gerard gives me an unamused glare and responds dryly.
"Oh yeah, what's that?" (Gerard)
I smirk at Gerard.
"I think it's about time I met the council. Take me to them, and we'll have a nice chat." (Mizuki)
Gerard and Levi's group all stare at me dumbfounded for several moments.
"You…can't be serious. Even if such a thing were possible on short notice, why would they agree to meet alone with someone they're openly hostile towards?" (Gerard)
"Well, you obviously don't think much of my combat abilities, so just bring Levi's party along for protection. What's the harm? At the very least, it will give you time to mobilize all of Elmesia's forces while Nina and the others are still out. That should guarantee your ability to capture me after the meeting, right? If you phrase it to them that way, they'll probably accept." (Mizuki)
Gerard and the others just give me empty stares. To my surprise, the adventurer I assume is Sylvia snorts and speaks up.
"I thought you weren't going to turn yourself in. Why would you knowingly propose something like this?" (Sylvia)
I turn my attention to her and give a knowing smile.
"Oh, I still have no intention of ending up your prisoner, I assure you. I only stand to gain from meeting with the council." (Mizuki)
Confusion flashes across everyone's faces, and one of the male adventurers narrows his eyes at me.
"I believe Levi when he says you're dangerous, but you'd be an idiot to think you could take all the warriors in Elmesia by yourself." (…)
I shrug towards him and smile.
"If so, what's the harm in indulging an idiot such as myself?" (Mizuki)
The male adventurer becomes nervous. Gerard just sighs deeply.
"I'm putting in a request for retirement after this mess, but fine. If you want to walk yourself to prison, I'm not going to stop you. Let's take you to meet the council, Mizuki." (Gerard)
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After the meeting with Gerard, I am led to another building within Elmesia by Gerard, Levi and his party, and a couple of guards. It looks like a town hall, and I'm taken to a small roundtable council room. The table has five chairs and I take a seat at one. Everyone except Levi's party leaves, and they take up a stance on the wall.
"Well, isn't this cozy! So, which of you is Rikard?" (Mizuki)
The tallest of the three adventurers, heavily muscled with sandy brown hair, nods towards me. I smile at him, then turn my attention to the other adventurer – an average height guy with a lean frame and dark black hair. That's the one who said I must be an idiot.
"Thanks! So, I guess that makes you Leo, huh? Nice to meet you both!" (Mizuki)
Leo gives me a dubious expression, and Rikard looks surprised as well. Levi just smiles nervously. Sylvia responds sarcastically.
"Nice to meet us, huh? I thought you said earlier that you recognized us from Levi's party." (Sylvia)
I give Sylvia an amused grin.
"Oh my, you're a sharp one. Yes, obviously I lied. I just said that so I could use your reactions to confirm that the extra presence I sensed in the room earlier was Levi." (Mizuki)
Sylvia looks surprised, then narrows her eyes at me.
"That's awfully candid of you. What do you mean you sensed his presence?" (Sylvia)
I smile and shrug.
"Oh, Levi's just a really loud breather! Anyway, I'm being candid with you because I want to build a little trust. After all, when this is all over, I'd like for you four to join my party. What do you think?" (Mizuki)
Those are my true feelings, and I've been thinking of approaching Levi for a while. We need more explicit allies in Elmesia if I want to help stabilize this place in the face of the Empire's wrath. However, I'll need to probe how much I can trust them a little more first.
They all stare at me with their mouths open. Leo gives me a skeptical look.
"Our personal inclinations aside, I believe you're failing to grasp the gravity of your situation. The entirety of the Empire has declared you an enemy, and the council intends to aid them in apprehending you. As of right now, your days as an adventurer are over. Do you really think you're about to talk your way out of it here?" (Leo)
Before I can respond, Rikard nods and steps forward.
"Also, I'm sorry to say that we have been asked to take your weapons from you before that meeting. Please hand them over." (Rikard)
Levi looks nervous about the sudden request.
Hmm…that's okay. This might be a good opportunity to make them think twice about attacking me. I'd like to avoid killing them. Right now, they seem to be wary of me only because of Levi, but I doubt that alone will be enough to stop them if things go sideways in this meeting.
I smile mischievously and rise from my chair to face them…my movement immediately sets the rest of them on edge. They're all watching me intently.
I pull my katana and dagger off my utility belt and hold them out in front of me. Rikard looks surprised, and he starts walking towards me cautiously to collect them. However, before he can grab my weapons from me, I open an item box and drop them inside.
Rikard freezes, and everyone in Levi's is shocked silent. I just smirk and turn my attention to Leo.
"To answer your question, Leo, I have no intention of becoming a fugitive in Elmesia, nor a captive in the Empire. Before this meeting is over, I can assure you that the council will be singing a much different tune. Your opportunity to join my party will still be available then." (Mizuki)
The others remain silent, but Levi just stares at me intently. All signs of lighthearted banter are gone.
"I thought you couldn't use magic, Mizuki." (Levi)
"Oh, I don't believe I ever told you such a thing, Levi. All I said was that the guild's magic assessment concluded that I can't use magic. That is true, and I just haven't bothered to correct anyone. After all, I'd like to keep my magic a secret." (Mizuki)
Levi grows silent, and Sylvia narrows her eyes at me suspiciously.
"If you're keeping such a big secret…why'd you so casually share it with us just now?" (Sylvie)
That's a fair question. The truth is, I think this will help me probe how much I can trust them with confidential information, and it will hopefully make them think twice about attacking me. Even if they tell people, my obscurity isn't long for this world – I can't masquerade as a magic-less weakling forever.
I shrug and cut Sylvie a knowing smirk.
"I'd hate to deprive you of the fun of figuring that out for yourself. Besides…it looks like our time alone is just about up." (Mizuki)
I take a seat back at the table, while the others give me confused looks. Before they can inquire further, however, the door to the council room opens abruptly.
The group includes three people, led by Gerard, and they all take a seat at the table. I'm sure I can't keep the surprise off my face.
"Gerard…Zevy…why didn't you tell me you were part of Elmesia's council!?" (Mizuki)
Zevy, the merchant whose general store I frequent in Elmesia, smiles at me in amusement and shrugs.
"Fufufu…a good merchant always plays his cards close to his chest, Mizuki. If you'd been a little more discreet yourself, perhaps I wouldn't be in the unfortunate position of losing one of my best customers." (Zevy)
"You run your mouth too much for me to tell you something personal like that. Levi, did you confiscate his weapons?" (Gerard)
I roll my eyes at both of them, and I turn to watch Levi's response with an amused smile. Levi looks at me hesitantly for a few seconds, then turns to answer Gerard's question.
"His sword and dagger have been removed from his person, but I wouldn't assume that he's helpless." (Levi)
Oh ho? He's not mentioning the magic…that's good to know. Levi gets a few surprised glances from his party members, but they remain silent. Gerard simply nods his acknowledgement.
I turn my attention towards the third council member in the room. It's an early-30s woman with dirty blonde hair and calculating brown eyes. She seems to be wearing a set of white robes, and I'd guess she's a nun if I wasn't aware of the distinct lack of religion on Azura.
"Who might you be, Miss?" (Mizuki)
The pseudo-nun studies me intently for a moment before responding with an even tone.
"I'm Theresa. I run the healing clinic in Elmesia." (Theresa)
What!? This is the first time I've met someone who's Azura's equivalent of a doctor! Honestly, I have so many questions about the interface of magic and medicine – it's been practically unexplored in my own research with Alto.
I lean forward and address her excitedly, and her composed expression shatters into one of confusion.
"Oh, that's wonderful! Tell me, Theresa, do healing spells work for illnesses?" (Mizuki)
Theresa responds to me in a stupor.
"Uhm…it depends on the illness. In general, healing spells only repair damage to the body. With something like a sickness or poison, that can help keep the person alive or ease their symptoms during natural recovery. For more severe illnesses like rot, healing magic doesn't do much good." (Theresa)
"Hmm…what is this 'rot' you're referencing? Can you describe the symptoms? I've never heard of it." (Mizuki)
Theresa gives me a bewildered expression.
"I've never met anyone who doesn't know about rot. It's a sickness that is more likely to appear in those of older age, and it comes in many different forms. The body develops these foreign masses, and they can spread throughout the body until it stops functioning." (Theresa)
Yeah…that sounds like cancer. I guess it's a menace to humans of every world.
Based on what I know of the elves, they must have a natural resistance to it, given how long they live in good health. That would explain why I haven't heard about it yet. I wonder if I can use my magic and biology knowledge to help with cancer treatment for the humans in this world. Hmm…
My thoughts are interrupted by Gerard.
"Ehem…not to interrupt this incredibly boring discussion, but I assume this isn't what you bothered us all to discuss Mizuki. This meeting is costing you your freedom and probably your life, so please get to the point." (Gerard)
Damn man, that's harsh as hell! Although, I did get pretty distracted there for a minute…I forgot how serious this matter is supposed to be.
I shake my head at Gerard in exasperation, then smile at the council members and sigh heavily.
"Very well, I'll get straight to the point. You have no reason to yield to the Empire's demands regarding my party and me. Not only did they fully intend to invade you regardless, but my party's actions and presence here only reduce the overall invasion risk. I politely request that you cease your hostility towards us." (Mizuki)
Unsurprisingly, they all stare at me like I'm an idiot.
"I know you think that you're hot shit, Mizuki, but we're not about to back you against the entire Empire. I sincerely doubt they're scared of you either." (Gerard)
"I agree, you're a bad investment Mizuki. Perhaps you're right, and they might still invade if we turn you over to them. However, they'll definitely invade if we don't." (Zevy)
Well, it was worth a shot…I'll have to up the stakes. However, one of the three musketeers is tellingly silent. Theresa is staring at me nervously.
"Mizuki…I'm curious…why did you kill Emperor Belmod? In the letter, we were told that you were summoned by Belmod, then turned violent and slaughtered him and his subordinates. I'd like to hear what happened from you." (Theresa)
I narrow my eyes at Theresa. Why does she want to know? There shouldn't be anything she can learn about my motivations that would possibly change their decision, right?
"Sure. I don't think it will make much difference, but I'll tell you." (Mizuki)
So, I tell them the story our visit to the Empire, and how I freed the elven slaves and returned them to the Elven Kingdom. I make sure to emphasize how I was constantly deferential to Belmod, and what caused me to change my tune.
I leave out the demands that I gave to Lobe afterward. Telling them about those will lead to questions that I'm not ready to address yet.
After I'm done with my recounting of events, the room is silent. Theresa looks conflicted, but the others are unfazed.
"Yeah, that's a sad story, and Belmod was an ass, but nothing important has changed." (Gerard)
"Agreed…investments shouldn't be made emotionally." (Zevy)
I notice Theresa casting an appalled expression at Zevy and Gerard. However, after a moment, she seems to silently come to terms with their answers and looks back at me sadly.
I shrug and smile at them all.
"No hard feelings, I figured as much. I was just humoring Miss Theresa. So, you're saying that you won't refuse the Empire's demands because you're afraid of them retaliating?" (Mizuki)
Everyone falls silent for a moment.
"Yes, that was the nature of our decision when we received that letter, Mizuki. I'm truly sorry." (Theresa)
Well, that's not a hard fix…so long as I'm willing to expose my ability and intentions to thwart the Empire.
I sigh deeply and shake my head.
"In that case, I guess I have no choice. If you promise to cease hostilities against my party and carry on as normal, then my party and I will protect you from the Empire. If they try to invade, we'll wipe out their army if it comes to that. You won't need to risk any other lives." (Mizuki)
Everyone stares at me with a pitying expression. The exceptions are Levi, who looks strangely hopeful, and Sylvia, who looks intensely curious. Leo and Rikard look skeptical.
Gerard snorts at me and shakes his head.
"Mizuki, the Empire has almost half a million well-trained soldiers in its army. Nina may be the most formidable human to ever exist on this planet, but even she can't take on the Empire alone. I'm sorry, but our minds are made up." (Gerard)
I groan internally. I guess there's no room to be subtle anymore.
I quickly cast a silencing spell and forcefield over the whole room. Then, I stand up and smile.
"Well, I guess you're forcing my hand." (Mizuki)
Everyone immediately stands up nervously, and Levi's group visibly tenses. Levi is obviously sweating bullets.
"Mizuki, there are A-ranked adventurers and city guards all around this place. If your party were with you, that incident with Belmod makes it clear that you would be able to fight your way out of here. However, you're alone. Don't make this hard on everyone…there's no way out." (Gerard)
"Fufufu…you misunderstand, Gerard. I'm not going anywhere yet…I have other ideas. Levi…you and your party stay right where you are for now. I suggest the rest of you stay calm as well. I mean you no harm." (Mizuki)
Everyone falls dangerously silent, and I can feel them deciding how to respond. Time to make my move.
[Hey, Nina, can I bring you three to my location? Something came up, but please tell everyone to arrive calmly.] (Mizuki)
I recognize that's a huge understatement…things have really spiraled here since we parted ways. I don't want to immediately set her, Alto, and Zara on edge though.
I sense surprise from Nina, then amusement.
[Fufufu…sure, Mizuki. We're ready.] (Nina)
I reach out to them through magic sense and my connection to Nina, then promptly teleport Alto, Nina, and Zara into the council room with me.
As they appear, several squeals of surprise ring out in the room, and the council members jump back from the table. Gerard's eyes narrow at Nina, and recognition and fear flash across his face.
"Guards!" (Gerard)
His cry rings out and fades into silence, and I notice Alto and Zara frantically move their hands to their weapons. No guards enter the room, however, and confusion flashes across everyone's faces. I smile at Gerard.
"No guards are coming, Gerard. There's no need to worry, though, I just want to continue our private chat." (Mizuki)
Everyone else freezes at my words, but I see Sylvia's hand move to her sword handle. I direct a thought message specifically to Levi's party.
[Sylvia, stop right there. I'll give you four the same warning that I gave Belmod's guards. If you keep your weapons sheathed, you'll be fine. If you turn hostile towards us…] (Mizuki)
Levi and his party go pale, and Sylvia's face contorts in shock. Her hand slowly moves away from her sword. Good.
I turn back to my party and see Alto looking at me with concern. Meanwhile, Zara just looks confused, and Nina seems incredibly amused. I sigh heavily as Nina meets my gaze and gives me a dazzling smile.
"Fufufufu…oh my, Mizuki! What fun have I stumbled into here?" (Nina)
"Hey Nina, thanks for coming. Allow me to introduce you to the council of Elmesia. It seems the Empire told them that they could capture us or face invasion. This council decided that it would be best to capture me while I was alone and send me to the Empire as a prisoner to lure the rest of you there." (Mizuki)
To my surprise, Zara begins laughing hysterically. Really? Is it still that funny the third time? I fight the urge to roll my eyes at her ill-timed outburst.
The council and Levi's party all turn to stare at Zara in confusion. Hearing my explanation, Nina seems more disappointed than entertained now. She casts a condemning glare towards the others in the room.
"Zara is right to laugh…you are all incredibly foolish. I expect this kind of stupidity from Gerard, but I'm disappointed to see you here Levi." (Nina)
Levi looks away, embarrassed, and he remains silent. Gerard looks annoyed by her comment, but it's overshadowed by his concern about Nina's sudden appearance. Zevy, Theresa, and the others are just frozen in fear.
"Nina, that brings me to why I asked you here. I tried to reassure them that we'd take care of the Empire's army if they invaded. However, Gerard told me that the Empire has over half a million soldiers in its army, and he's convinced that you couldn't handle them on your own. What do you think?" (Mizuki)
[No need to hide your identity anymore, Nina. I don't see us being able to operate freely in human countries from here on without revealing at least that much to them.] (Mizuki)
Nina's eyes go wide in surprise, and she turns to me expectantly. I just nod my acknowledgement. Nina turns back to face the council with a wicked smile on her face.
"Hahahaha…Mizuki is correct, Gerard. I could easily destroy their army. After all, it was no problem for me a few centuries ago." (Nina)
Everyone else remains confused by Nina's statement, but realization flashes across Gerard's face after a few moments. He looks at me questioningly and begins to tremble.
It makes sense that he's the first to decipher Nina's comment. He is probably the only one who knows that Nina's magic power is even higher than her guild info says. Plus, he saw the Elder Dragon scales that we provided him.
I grin viciously at Gerard.
"That's right, Gerard. Allow me to formally introduce everyone. Nina's full name is Nedonera...you may know her better as the Elder Dragon of earth." (Mizuki)
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Most people who know Levi the adventurer consider him a trustworthy and likeable person, with a very docile nature. However, this doesn't match Levi's self-image…he's a man haunted by his past. Unbeknownst to almost everyone around him, Levi is a former soldier of the Ralzen Empire – Levi isn't even his real name.
Notably, Levi was no common soldier. As of a few short years ago, and despite his young age, he was one of the highest ranked members of an elite squad of soldiers handpicked by the former emperor. This elite squad specialized in covert operations.
Among humans, dark class affinities are rare in general. Meanwhile, Levi's spell affinity, which allows him to turn completely invisible, is almost unheard of. As far as he knows, there's no other human currently alive with the same affinity. It was only by a stroke of luck that he even learned about the invisibility spell as a kid.
Suffice it to say, when Levi's unique affinity was first discovered, the emperor quickly began grooming him for military service. His parents, being proud supporters of the Empire, were elated. However, Levi would not have chosen such a path for himself. In truth, military life did not agree with his gentler nature.
Still, thanks to his unique skill, Levi quickly advanced in the ranks of the covert military faction. At the former emperor's personal request, he carried out dozens of solo missions to spy on other countries and influential people.
The training was brutal, and the missions stressful, but Levi was able to find a semblance of happiness for a while. Eventually, however, assassinations became part of the requests from the emperor, and these made it harder for Levi to sleep at night.
At first, he persevered, convincing himself that he was making the world a better place. However, over time it became harder to believe that his actions were just, and he desired a way out of the life he'd been coerced into. Unfortunately, he was certain that he'd never be allowed to leave the Empire's military alive.
A couple of years ago, when he'd begun to despair about his situation, the emperor had come to him with a unique request…spying on the Elven Kingdom.
It's been a long-standing interest of the Empire to learn about the inner workings of the elves' country, but all prior attempts ended in failure. Many spies previously given the same mission were never heard from again, and those that returned to the Empire were unable to breach the country's borders.
In Levi's mind, he would end up dead, or he'd accomplish something so valuable to the Empire that his request to forego assassinations or take an early retirement might be granted. Either outcome would have been acceptable to him, if it meant he didn't have to kill people anymore. So, Levi was happy to accept the job.
After successfully infiltrating the Elven Kingdom, Levi surveilled their country from the inside for several months. The elves…weren't what he'd expected. From the way they were discussed in the Empire, he expected them to be savage and undeveloped. In contrast, their cities were more advanced than the Empire's, they wore fine clothing, and everyone appeared to be fed and in good health.
Most surprisingly, the elves were so kind to one another that their behavior seemed almost like a stage play to Levi. He'd spent much time covertly observing human settlements on his prior missions, and he felt it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that humans were villainously exploitative and hateful towards one another by comparison.
Still, it was no secret how much the elves despised humans, so Levi considered it reasonable that the Empire would want to know how much of a threat their country could be. Thus, he planned to follow through with his mission. However, Levi's feelings changed when he made it all the way to Avalon and saw the memorial statue of the elves' fallen princess, Rennalia.
Reading the memorial description of how she died, Levi was overwhelmed with an inexplicable sense of guilt. Even though he'd never heard of such a historic massacre, he didn't doubt the story of Rennalia's tragic death for a moment. After all, this was a private memorial meant only for elves…they had no reason to push propaganda. Moreover, he'd seen how people in the Empire still treated non-humans.
In the following days, Levi's mission from the emperor weighed heavily on his mind. He couldn't help but sympathize with the elves' disdain for humans. Moreover, he could no longer lie to himself about the reason for his mission – it was unlikely that the Empire was surveilling the Elven Kingdom defensively. The thought of contributing to the peaceful Elven Kingdom's invasion…Levi couldn't stomach it.
While he dreaded that reporting his surveillance as a failure would destroy any chance of negotiating out of his life as an assassin, he also knew that the emperor was unlikely to grant such a request regardless. Truthfully, success would only demonstrate his value and reduce the Empire's willingness to let him live in peace.
As Levi grappled with how to even report his mission as a failure convincingly, another idea had occurred to him. Most of the spies sent to the Elven Kingdom never returned and were presumed dead. If Levi were to disappear to somewhere remote without reporting back to the Empire, and take on a new identity, he might be able to live in peace – they'd just assume he died like the rest.
Eventually, Levi decided this was the best course of action, and he rejoiced at the opportunity. He didn't fear being caught as a deserter. He'd already accepted that death would be worth some time living on his own terms and avoiding harm to the Elven Kingdom.
It was with this resolve that he assumed the name Levi and traveled to Elmesia to start over as an unassuming adventurer. Levi revealed his invisibility spell to other people as little as possible, and he made sure to register at the guild under his assumed name. He also listed his home as a village near Elmesia.
In his first few months as an adventurer, Levi kept to himself and quietly raised his rank. To his surprise, nobody inferred his history or came looking for him, and he slowly began to relax and enjoy his new life. To most, adventuring wouldn't be considered a peaceful job, but to Levi, that applied to anything that didn't involve willfully harming others. So, he was happy.
Eventually, Levi met a female adventurer his age by the name of Sylvia, and the two would occasionally pair up for jobs that required more than one person. With time, Sylvia confided in Levi that she was a former soldier from the Empire. Unlike him, however, she was just a basic soldier from far within the Empire, so her desertion was not as dangerous for her.
With time, Levi grew closer with Sylvia, they formed a party together, and Levi finally confided in her about his past. He was relieved to find that he could trust her just as much as he expected, and their relationship naturally deepened.
As they continued to climb in rank and gain attention, Levi and Sylvia accepted others into their party. While they agreed it best to not share their histories with the others, Levi was still elated to form new friendships.
Eventually, Levi and his party advanced all the way to A-rank. He had a job that he was good at and found fulfilling, good health, access to tasty food and wine, and friends that he cherished. In other words, his life was as blissful as he'd always hoped it could be, and for the first time the sins of his past didn't weigh on him so heavily.
It was this series of events that turned a former assassin into the joyful and easygoing adventurer Levi, who Mizuki and Nina found so likeable. Similarly, meeting Nina and Mizuki also left a lasting impression on Levi. After Gerard's request for Levi's assistance, and before he even met them, he'd already been mildly intrigued by their pairing.
According to the guild info Gerard supplied before their match, Nina was a five in power level with two classes, but she was inexplicably loyal to Mizuki – someone with no magic, who was barely old enough to register, and who had no obvious physical prowess. Naturally, Levi was curious about him.
When they met on the guild's training grounds, before their match, Levi was still perplexed. Mizuki was about as unassuming as someone could be, and that only deepened Levi's curiosity. Fortunately, Gerard had asked Levi to specifically target Mizuki during their match, to try and assess his personal capabilities. It was in doing so that Levi first grasped something about Mizuki's nature.
During his time among the Empire's covert operations squad, Levi had learned the hard way that someone's appearance was a poor way to judge how dangerous they are. Eventually, through experience, he'd developed excellent instincts for sizing up opponents, and those instincts had saved his life on many occasions as both a spy and an adventurer.
Sometimes, when interacting with especially dangerous people, he'd have an unsettling sensation in his stomach. Levi was never consciously aware of what exact signals he was picking up on, but after several close calls he'd come to recognize that this gut feeling increased with the danger he was in.
Levi had experienced this sensation when he saw Nina before their match, but he had expected as much based on her guild information. Still, he was shocked by the severity of the sensation elicited by Nina – he'd never felt anything so unnerving. That is…until his confrontation with Mizuki.
Shortly after the beginning of the match, Levi had activated his invisibility spell, and he'd closed in on Mizuki to try and ambush him. Levi was planning to probe him with a non-incapacitating attack at first, to see how Mizuki would be able to respond under such unfair battle circumstances. Levi had only met a couple of people who could defend against his attacks in earnest while he was fully invisible, so he didn't want to be unfair.
However, when he got closer in preparation for his attack, he was shocked to see Mizuki turn to look directly at him. Levi had met a rare few talented people who could vaguely identify his presence, but even they were never sure of his exact location and movements. This was totally different, and he knew in his bones that Mizuki wasn't just guessing.
The second that this took place, Levi felt that familiar gut instinct with a severity so profound that it was crippling, and he froze on the spot. Looking Mizuki in the eyes thereafter, Levi had the distinct sensation of being on the edge of death, and it sent shivers down his spine.
Eventually, he was able to suppress the paralyzing fear he felt, and he began probing Mizuki's awareness by moving around. After a few moments, he was sure – there was no hiding his exact presence from Mizuki.
As he was grappling with the absurdity of that realization, he was startled to see Mizuki move towards him. Before he could decide how to respond, he'd felt a searing pain in his back – he'd been shot in the back with an arrow.
While Levi was realizing his situation, he'd looked up to see Mizuki standing over him, ready to offer aid. That interaction had been paradoxically calming and terrifying for Levi. He sensed clearly that Mizuki meant him no harm and wasn't a violent person, and yet…the man himself was deeply unsettling.
He was smiling, friendly, and helpful, but there was a faint deadness to Mizuki's eyes. Levi had the distinct impression that Mizuki was polite towards him for the same reason someone might avoid stepping on a bug.
This interaction only intensified the sensation in Levi's gut, and he decided immediately that he would be avoiding conflict with Mizuki at all costs. It was with this in mind that he'd offered Mizuki a spot in his party, though he wasn't particularly surprised when Mizuki declined the offer.
After returning to his other party members, Levi was quick to emphasize to them the importance of not being antagonistic towards Mizuki or anyone in his party. Thankfully, he'd earned the trust of his party, especially Sylvia, and they took his advice seriously.
Since Mizuki was new, and none of Levi's party members had met him, Levi made sure to point out Mizuki covertly at the earliest opportunity. To his surprise, Sylvia recognized Mizuki.
Apparently, she'd noticed the top-ranked adventurer, Kent, talking to him before. More importantly, she claimed to have seen Kent and two of his party members suspiciously follow Mizuki alone out of the guild. At that point, Kent's absence had already become noticeable to everyone in the guild.
Levi never liked Kent, despite his friendly demeanor, and Levi avoided him when possible. The same way that Levi's gut told him Mizuki was an ambivalent but incredibly dangerous person, he also sensed that Kent was a malicious and violent individual. In addition, there were rumors that Kent threatened talented new adventurers into joining his party.
So, when Sylvia told Levi about Kent's suspicious behavior around Mizuki, Levi's blood ran cold. He surmised that Kent and those two others likely ambushed Mizuki and tried to use force to get their way about something…probably Nina joining their party. If Mizuki was as dangerous as Levi assumed, their ongoing absence from the guild was because Mizuki had killed them over their actions.
Feeling that Kent probably deserved it, and not wanting to risk antagonizing Mizuki, Levi kept his suspicions to himself. After all, if Mizuki alone had really killed three A-rank adventurers, that was even more reason for Levi to trust his instincts. Thus, Levi mostly ignored Mizuki and his group, and his life settled back into its normal routine.
This happy monotony was rudely interrupted when Levi and his party were summoned to the guild master's office one morning. Gerard had a personal request for them to complete an S-rank job.
To Levi's shock, Gerard informed them that the current ruler of the Empire, Emperor Belmod, had been slain in his own throne room along with over sixty of his elite guard. The S-rank job in question was to apprehend the culprits – the S-rank party of Mizuki.
At first, Levi flatly refused…he was convinced that the mission was suicide, and it stood to benefit nobody in Elmesia. However, when he learned that the Empire had threatened to invade if the job was not completed, Levi felt conflicted. He knew better than anyone that it wasn't a hollow threat.
If the Empire was turning its attention towards Elmesia, his identity might be revealed in the process, and the quiet life he'd built might crumble. Still, he thought they stood no chance against Mizuki or Nina alone, much less their party, so he persisted in refusing the job.
Eventually, however, he was swayed by Gerard's proposal to isolate and capture Mizuki with an ambush. If Levi were placed in position ahead of time while invisible, and Mizuki was strategically lured into a trap with his guard dropped, they might succeed in capturing him. Levi still had his doubts, but the threat of the Empire was enough of a motivator to at least attempt Gerard's plan.
When Melanie eventually alerted them to Mizuki's arrival and willing isolation, Levi had apprehensively taken up position for the ambush in Gerard's office, along with the rest of his party. To his surprise, however, Mizuki didn't seem to immediately notice Levi's presence when he entered Gerard's office. So, Levi had begun to hope for the best.
However, his apprehension returned when Mizuki identified Levi's party, though they'd never met. Levi's rising fear was quickly substantiated when Mizuki looked directly at him and smiled, then identified him by name. As Mizuki dryly commented on their attempted ambush, Levi noticed Sylvia preparing to draw her weapon.
When Mizuki took note of Sylvia and warned her not to draw her weapon, Levi felt his gut instincts react so forcefully that it made him nauseous. Convinced that their slaughter was imminent, Levi had dropped all pretenses and begged his party to stand down, then apologized to Mizuki profusely for good measure. To Levi's immense relief, Mizuki was surprisingly good-natured about the ambush.
Unfortunately, the situation evolved such that Levi and his party were roped into attending a meeting between Mizuki and Elmesia's council. Their role was to be extra security against Mizuki while the guild assembled as many powerful fighters as they could to capture Mizuki after the meeting.
Based on Mizuki's nonchalant attitude and his own instincts, Levi already suspected that Mizuki wouldn't be captured by that subjugation force. So, Levi decided that, if things turned violent, him and his party wouldn't be getting involved. They may feel guilty later, and they may have to start over somewhere else, but at least they would be alive.
Things took a turn for the worse when Levi and his party were left alone with Mizuki before the council meeting. When Rikard tried to confiscate Mizuki's weapons, Levi watched in horror as Mizuki summoned a strange distortion to store his weapons in. He'd heard stories, but never seen it in person…an item box spell as rare as Levi's own affinity.
However, Levi was more concerned by Mizuki foregoing an incantation. While such feats were not unheard of, they were restricted to world-class mages who still didn't do it as casually as Mizuki. Levi's unease escalated as he considered the implications of Mizuki being able to use magic at all – hiding it during the guild's assessment shouldn't be possible.
Still, the thing Levi found most terrifying was Mizuki so blatantly revealing his magic ability to them. Mizuki was obviously keeping it a secret from the guild even now, and him showing it to Levi's party felt calculated. So, why did he do it? When Sylvia voiced such a question to Mizuki, his answer only confirmed for Levi that the demonstration served some purpose. Were they being tested? Warned? Levi wasn't sure.
When the council members arrived and began conversing with Mizuki, Levi's apprehension over the situation only grew. One reason was Mizuki's jovial attitude – despite his supposedly dire situation, he seemed completely unconcerned, if not amused. It was almost as if he considered the outcome of the meeting a foregone conclusion.
The other reason was Mizuki's strangely ignorant conversation with Theresa about healing magic. Levi could not imagine anyone who grew up in the eastern half of this whole continent not knowing about rot. Almost every human he'd ever met had a friend or family member who'd been affected by it. So, why was it a mystery to Mizuki?
When Theresa asked Mizuki to elaborate on the events surrounding his party's massacre of Belmod, Levi was surprised to learn that Gerard had given the elven slave surveillance job in Cedonia to Mizuki's party. Gerard had offered it to Levi originally, but he'd regretfully declined to avoid drawing attention from the Empire.
Mizuki's story also gave Levi his first indication that he'd misjudged Mizuki. He'd previously assumed that Mizuki was ambivalent towards strangers, and generally docile. However, Mizuki's bloody freeing of the elven slaves he'd never met clearly refuted that idea. Still, Mizuki didn't seem particularly emotional to Levi when describing the elves' rescue. So, Mizuki's actions confused Levi.
When Mizuki described the meeting with Belmod, Levi saw a break in his flippant demeanor for the first time. As Mizuki conveyed the threats Belmod made to force his cooperation, he only seemed amused, to a degree that baffled Levi. However, when he relayed Belmod's reprehensible plans for the members of his party, even after Mizuki offered his cooperation, Levi saw a deep rage behind Mizuki's eyes.
Levi couldn't condemn Mizuki's subsequent massacre of Belmod. He was surprised to hear that Mizuki even offered all the guards present the opportunity to avoid slaughter by not drawing their weapons. In fact, Levi thought he saw traces of sadness in Mizuki's eyes when he mentioned that only one guard heeded his warning, and the rest died.
Overall, the story gave Levi a much better understanding of Mizuki. Levi now thinks Mizuki isn't a completely ambivalent existence…he is very protective of his friends. Moreover, he seems very attached to certain principles, like whatever drove him to free the elven slaves he'd never met and try to spare the guards who should have been his enemies.
At the same time, Levi feels that Mizuki is nonsensically binary about violence. He becomes instantly ruthless when his friends or principles are threatened too much, but his patience seems endless right until the moment that happens. Upon realizing this, Levi made it a priority to determine what motivated Mizuki's more confusing actions...Levi intended to avoid similar transgressions.
When Mizuki's backstory did not sway the council, he claimed that if the council would let his party continue their lives in peace, his party would thwart any invasion attempt by the Empire. Most gave Mizuki pitying glances, like he was trying to talk his way out of imprisonment. However, Levi didn't see a trace of desperation in Mizuki's expression…the offer seemed genuine.
Unsurprisingly, Gerard rejected Mizuki's offer as absurd, and the situation quickly devolved. Before Levi could fully process the change in circumstance, Nina and Mizuki's two other party members materialized in the room.
Currently, Levi is staring at them, trying to wrap his head around what just happened. He wonders if Nina has an invisibility spell as well, and Mizuki's party has been watching discreetly the entire time. However, a frantic cry from Gerard interrupts Levi's thoughts.
"Guards!" (Gerard)
Levi tenses at Gerard's call to action, fearing imminent violence, then glances towards Mizuki. To his surprise, Mizuki is just smirking calmly.
"No guards are coming, Gerard. There's no need to worry, though, I just want to continue our private chat." (Mizuki)
Levi feels that familiar pit in his stomach take root, and he can't help but be fearful over why Gerard's call went unanswered. Levi wonders…are the guards dead? Incapacitated? Did Mizuki or Nina seal off the room somehow?
Glancing at Mizuki, Levi notices him staring at Sylvia. Following Mizuki's gaze, he sees Sylvia reaching for her weapon. He feels the color drain from his face, and panic washes over Levi at the impending danger. Before he can try and stop Sylvia, however, a cold voice echoes in his head.
[Sylvia, stop right there. I'll give you four the same warning that I gave Belmod's guards. If you keep your weapons sheathed, you'll be fine. If you turn hostile towards us…] (Mizuki)
A shocked Levi locks eyes with Mizuki, and he feels a shiver run down his spine. He realizes that was it…Mizuki's one and only warning. Levi wonders if Mizuki revealed his magic abilities to them just so they'd feel more compelled to heed his warning.
Feeling like his party is one step away from getting everyone killed, Levi turns fearfully towards Sylvia in time to see her remove her hand from her sword. The sight causes Levi's body to flood with relief, and he's about to give his party an order to obey Mizuki, but an outburst from Nina cuts that short.
"Fufufufu…oh my, Mizuki! What fun have I stumbled into here?" (Nina)
The implication that Nina has, in fact, not been in the room until now isn't lost on Levi. As ridiculous as it is, Levi recognizes that Mizuki's party must have been instantly transported into the room somehow…a horrifying ability. Though, Levi is uncertain if it was Mizuki's or Nina's doing.
"Hey Nina, thanks for coming. Allow me to introduce you to the council of Elmesia. It seems the Empire told them that they could capture us or face invasion. This council decided that it would be best to capture me while I was alone and send me to the Empire as a prisoner to lure the rest of you there." (Mizuki)
A hysterical laugh breaks out in the room after Mizuki's statement, and Levi is surprised to see that the young wolf-kin girl from Mizuki's party is the source. Levi assumes that it's confirmation that capturing Mizuki is a laughable objective – a terrifying sentiment from a wolf-kin, he felt.
To Levi's surprise, Nina directs an expression filled with disappointment at him.
"Zara is right to laugh…you are all incredibly foolish. I expect this kind of stupidity from Gerard, but I'm disappointed to see you here Levi." (Nina)
Levi fights off a bitter sensation at Nina's words…he knows she's right. He should have never put himself and his friends on the opposite side of Mizuki in such an antagonistic situation. He hopes that he can recover from the error in judgement, but before he can respond, he hears Mizuki change topics with an indifferent voice.
"Nina, that brings me to why you're here. I tried to reassure them that we'd take care of the Empire's army if they invaded. Gerard told me that the Empire has over half a million soldiers, however, and he's convinced that you couldn't handle them on your own. What do you think?" (Mizuki)
Mizuki directs an amused smile at Nina as he poses his question, and Levi is sure that it's because Mizuki already knows the answer. As Mizuki and Nina look at one another following the question, Levi can't help but feel like a private conversation is taking place – probably through the same magic he used to warn them earlier. Nina turns back to face the others in the room with a foreboding expression.
"Hahahaha…Mizuki is correct, Gerard. I could easily destroy their army. After all, it was no problem for me a few centuries ago." (Nina)
Levi is quite thrown by Nina's statement of her age, and he's trying to piece together what she could mean. However, his attention is quickly drawn to Gerard, who now seems uncharacteristically terrified and is glancing between Mizuki and Nina.
Mizuki seems to notice the change as well, and he gives Gerard an unsettling smile.
"That's right, Gerard. Allow me to formally introduce everyone. Nina's full name is Nedonera...you may know her better as the Elder Dragon of earth." (Mizuki)
Despite his abundant wariness of how dangerous Nina is, Levi is still shaken to his core as he processes Mizuki's words. Never in his wildest nightmares would he have guessed that a being of such unfathomable power was walking freely around the guild. Yet…Levi knows Mizuki is telling the truth.
Levi can see everyone, including his own party members, staring at Nina with a mix of emotions. Some are terrified, some are skeptical, and some just look unable to process the statement. In contrast, Levi's gaze is fixed on Mizuki in terror. It's for one key reason…
Levi's gut instincts told him very clearly that, between Nina and Mizuki, the latter is by far the most dangerous. Those feelings haven't changed, and he's seen no reason to dismiss them either. So, Levi wonders…if Nina is actually an Elder Dragon, just what kind of monster does that make Mizuki?
Levi begins to tremble despite himself.