Kasumigaoka Utaha only half-understood what Roy had been explaining.
He had said quite a lot.
What she could grasp was that the magic of this world was entirely different from the magic she had read about in novels—far more intricate, complex, and difficult to comprehend. It could almost be considered an entirely separate system.
But if the assessment of Maguses now included a test of strength, and Roy was ranked as a Lastborn—the lowest tier—did that mean he was considered the weakest among Maguses?
Yet he had just effortlessly taken down a magical beast larger than a lion in a single move?
And if that was the case, why had that Open-Rank Magus at the refugee shelter treated Roy with such warmth?
"You should take a bath."
Roy's voice broke her train of thought as he walked out of the kitchen, hands still damp.
He pointed in the direction of the bathroom. "I'll bring you some clothes in a bit."
"…Alright."
Kasumigaoka was silent for several seconds before standing and heading toward the bathroom.
The bathroom was traditionally Japanese, with an air of old-world charm that she found beautiful despite its age. Thankfully, the utilities were still functional.
As she began to unbutton her shirt, she suddenly paused.
Looking down, she realized her shirt had long since become soaked. The outline of her underwear was faintly visible through the fabric—not entirely clear, but the subtle suggestion was somehow more alluring.
Had he noticed this during dinner?
A flush rose to her cheeks, whether from embarrassment or anger, she wasn't sure, as she crossed her arms over her chest, looking both flustered and unexpectedly captivating.
After a while, she sighed, smiling bitterly, and began to rinse herself off.
Her fair skin and voluptuous figure were impossible to ignore, yet her expression remained troubled, her thoughts far from the task of bathing.
"I've brought your clothes."
Thump!
In the silent bathroom, the sudden loud heartbeat seemed to echo, as a surge of tension flooded Kasumigaoka's mind, making her feel as though she were sitting on pins and needles.
"I left them by the door. If they don't fit, you'll just have to make do."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the sound of footsteps gradually faded away.
Kasumigaoka let out a sigh of relief, her smooth shoulders sagging in exhaustion.
An hour later…
Kasumigaoka sat properly by the kotatsu, wearing an oversized, pure-white pajama set. Her hair was down, still slightly damp from her bath, and her complexion appeared even more delicate than during the day.
Her expression was serious, as if deeply pondering something important.
When she heard Roy's approaching footsteps, her body instinctively tensed.
It was as though she had made some critical decision as she looked up to meet his gaze.
Roy was dressed in a simple white T-shirt and dark blue pants. Without his usual baseball cap, his wet, white hair fell into slight, elegant curls that gave him a refined, almost fashionable look.
His glasses were also off, and for the first time, Kasumigaoka saw his face clearly.
His features were striking—almost like a work of art. He didn't fall strictly into the category of handsome or beautiful, but seemed to possess a blend of both, his appearance transcending traditional gendered notions of attractiveness. He was more captivating than any idol she had ever seen on TV.
Under the light, his pale skin seemed almost blindingly white, not inferior to hers at all. His slender frame gave off a fragile, almost sickly air.
As she stared at him, Kasumigaoka felt a sudden sense of unease.
She couldn't quite place it, but something about his face felt… off.
Just as she was lost in thought, Roy turned his head toward her.
Their eyes met, and Kasumigaoka was instantly locked in place by his gaze—his blood-red eyes.
A shiver ran down her spine, her body instinctively trembling. It was as if she had been caught in the gaze of something dangerous. A deep sense of panic welled up from within her.
For some reason, Roy's red eyes seemed far more sinister than they had during the day. His expression, once soft and gentle, had taken on a colder, more distant edge.
"You're here."
Roy noticed her sitting by the kotatsu, put his glasses back on, and smiled.
The moment that warm smile appeared, the chilling atmosphere that had surrounded him vanished completely, replaced by the gentle demeanor she was used to.
"You can sleep in the side room tonight."
Kasumigaoka still wasn't fully accustomed to his sudden mood shifts but didn't dwell on it.
She let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thankfully, Roy hadn't asked her to share his bed.
As a refugee, she knew her status in this world was extremely low, as the shelter's attitude had made very clear. Even the smallest offense could lead to punishment—or worse, execution.
If Roy had asked her to sleep with him tonight, she wouldn't have had much choice. Refusing him could very well have led to her death.
And who knew if Maguses had methods like hypnosis to compel people?
But Roy hadn't made any such demands, which eased her anxiety considerably.
Kasumigaoka silently thanked her luck that the person she was serving wasn't driven by lust.
Under Roy's arrangement, Kasumigaoka was given a side room to stay in. Even though it was labeled a "side room," it was still larger than the master bedroom of most ordinary households, complete with a bed, bedding, and wardrobe.
After turning off the lights, Kasumigaoka lay in the bed, her mind racing.
She recalled the scene at the refugee shelter earlier that day. That Open-Rank Magus with the dark skin and golden hair had clearly taken an interest in her, planning to claim her for himself.
Then Roy had arrived, using the same excuse of interest to take her away from that man.
But after bringing her here, Roy hadn't done anything.
If Roy had wanted something, she would have been powerless to resist. There was no need for him to act like a gentleman. So, why had Roy taken her from that black-skinned man if he had no intentions?
It wasn't that she wanted Roy to do anything, of course—she just found it strange.
If he wasn't interested in her in that way, what had been his purpose in taking her?
To be honest, she hadn't liked the dark-skinned man at all. The way he looked at her, it was as if he were evaluating a product rather than another human being.
By comparison, Roy's gentle and respectful demeanor was a thousand times better. Naturally, she preferred being Roy's servant rather than that man's.
As for Akiyama from her school, she figured he was probably fine. After all, he was a guy, so he likely wouldn't be in as bad a situation as hers.
Too much had happened today. Kasumigaoka was utterly exhausted, and soon, her mind became a muddled haze as she drifted off to sleep.
"I hope I wake up tomorrow and find out all of this was just a dream…"
---
That night, after settling Kasumigaoka into her room, Roy grabbed a bottle of liquor and went to sit under the eaves.
He looked up at the sky, but the thick clouds blocked everything out, making it impossible to even see the moon. Drinking under the moonlight was clearly a luxury here.
Tilting his head back, he took large gulps from the bottle, the harsh flavor of the alcohol burning its way down his throat and into his stomach. His drinking style was casual, completely at odds with the gentlemanly image he projected.
"It's about time to begin…"
---
Later that night, Roy had changed into a black robe, his face concealed by a mask. Shrouded in darkness, he slipped out of the residence.
Only his blood-red eyes were visible.
Without the glasses to shield them, his gaze was far sharper and colder than it had been during the day.
Without a sound, his figure disappeared into the night.
On the western outskirts of Fuyuki City lay a small mountain, barely a hundred meters tall. There was only one long staircase leading up the mountain.
This mountain was called Ryuudou Temple.
Years ago, there had been a temple here—Ryuudou Temple—but it had burned down during the Great Calamity ten years ago. The head monk and his family had all perished in the flames, and to this day, the land remained nothing more than scorched earth.
"So many barriers…"
Roy halted at the base of the mountain, having made his way there without alerting anyone.
"But they're meaningless."
A cruel smile tugged at his lips beneath the mask, his voice laced with malice.
He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again.
A brilliant light, like the gleam of gemstones, flashed within his crimson irises.
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