"Alright then, I hope everybody is ready, because our plans just sped up quite a bit. Me and Fred need to go get something first, we will meet up with you near the Absolute Citadel tomorrow. Clara, please take care of all the other things we need for this. The rest help Clara as best you can. And don't worry, I have a plan."
Though Natsumi was still not completely convinced, that last bit sounding like famous last words to her, she had decided to give them a chance. They did seem to have some plan going into this, if only she could distract Yuki and make her leave town for just as long as they needed, she would be much more confident in their ability to pull this off. Easier said than done, all she could do was pray. Returning to Yukimato, despite having just left, she used the night to pray for Yuki's departure towards anywhere they were not. The place they stayed was a small inn, where the bartender and owner Tom served them happily as his business seemed to go quite well thanks to the increased tourism the town experienced ever since the founding of the Absolute Empire, or rather its expansion after absorbing the Holy Empire, which was generally considered the true creation of the Absolute Empire despite Yamato having called it that ever since he took control over the town. Which was a story Tom regularly told incoming guests, since Yamato and Yuki had once been customers at his fine establishment, which he shamelessly used for publicity. Rightfully so, as he did make their lives a great deal easier at that time, thus partially helping in the creation of everything that followed. Though, of course it would have still proceeded as things did without him one way or the other. But that was no reason to not be proud of the fact that he was of help.
As the group listened to him ramble on about how great things have been, most of them just thought how brainwashed he must be. Concluding their day in a surprisingly comfortable night, tomorrow would be the day they either write history, or get erased from it.
As Natsumi woke up the next day, she went downstairs thinking she would be last again, however this time it was just Leo thst was already awake, sitting at a table by himself. It was barely 6 a.m, so Tom was not at the bar yet, though guests of the inn were permitted to sit at a table regardless. He seemed surprised to see her this early, making her think she left a bad impression oversleeping that one time, but she tried to ignore it and just sit down across from him.
"Good morning, Leo. You're up early!"
"Good morning. Aaren't you as well?"
"Actually, I usually get up around this time. A productive day starts in the morning, after all."
"I guess… But it would have been fine if you slept longer today. We only have to go out in the evening."
"It's fine, I won't get tired and mess things up, I promise!"
"That's okay, I trust you with that."
"I was going to ask about that… How come you do? I think of myself as rather suspicious!"
"Haha, well, for one the fact that you are straight forward like that. But also, throughout the short duration in which we've known each other you asked thoughtful questions, made great suggestions, and overall helped us out a lot, despite having no real reason to do so, I feel like, except wanting to help us…"
"Is that not a real reason?"
"No, I guess it is… It's just a funny one, I think."
"Hm… But didn't you speak out for me even before I got a chance to help you?"
"T-that's just for no reason… Y'know, to help you out or whatever… Do I need a reason?"
"Huh… I guess not! You must be really kind, Leo! That's great. I like that about you."
"Y-you do?"
"Sure. Kindness is a great quality. I think everyone should be a bit kinder, and swoosh, the world would be a better place!"
"Haha, that's very optimistic…"
"Is it? It seems perfectly logical to me."
"Yeah… Y'know, it may not seem like it because we don't appear all that professional most of the time, but there's actually a lot on the line here… Not just our lifes, as if that weren't enough… It's also personal for some of us, me included… So I'm glad I can count on you, even if things escalate…"
"Escalate how?"
"Nevermind… Please don't worry about that. I promise things will go just as planned… And no unwanted casualties will occur."
"That's reassuring!"
"What are you two lovebirds up to all by yourself, huh~?", Clara asked coming down the stairs.
"You've got it all wrong, stop saying stuff like that!"
"Lovebirds…?"
Somehow, hearing that made Natsumi immediately think of Yamato and Yuki. Especially Yuki was like a delicate and beautiful bird, while Yamato was… A venomous snake. Lost in thoughts, she accidentally mumbled part of that thought process out aloud.
"…snake."
"W-what!? I didn't plan for us to look like this, I swear!"
"Huh? Look like what?"
"N-nothing…!"
Clara sat down naxt to Natsumi, finding the way this escalated through her simple comment amusing.
"Pft, really, snowflake, you're cold as ice sometimes… Really makes you think I hit the nail on the head with that nickname, huh?"
"Naming me after my hair color is a bit tasteless, but since it seems to bring you such great enjoyment, I suppose I will let it slide!"
"Reminds me of Yuki, who chose her name for that same reason… Though there was some more symbolism behind it. Funny coincidence."
Time flew by and the rest of the group eventually arrived downstairs as well. They went over the details of the plan one last time, which involved them entering the Cube Section in the evening prayer session, and remaining there hidden until night when everyone would presumably be asleep. To stay hidden, Charlie had prepared a mixture. One could call it a perfum, though it had almost the opposite effect. Instead of making you smell better, it made you smell like nothing at all. Alongside that, Clara had camouflage magic, which worked as long as no one got too close to them.
With that, they should be able to remain within the Cube undetected until after it is closed off for the night. Though this plan would fail immediately if Natsumi would not also secretly cast a spell to hide Clara's camouflage magic. She would have to do this for all spells spontaneously, if she did not want Yuki or even Amael and Perisha to notice. But this was well within her abilities, so that would not be a problem. Regarding their escape, assuming they would not find another way out, the only way out seemed to be to wait for the morning. Though they might stumble upon the key or find an air vent, assuming there were any. While the blueprints showed smaller openings, it seemed some barrier was cast around them so they were both not visible or passable by anything other than air.
However, it seemed they prepared as best they could, and with the evening coming closer, they walked towards the Absolute Citadel. The evening prayer session was without any special event like the one with Aisha, it had however beautiful piano music and a heartfelt speech from Carina. Staying behind turned out easier than expected, since people did not look back when going down the viewing galleries, there being literally no reason to do so. As later nuns under Carina patrolled to make sure everyone was out of the building, Clara's camouflage worked perfectly, and Natsumi was confident she hid the presence of the spell well enough. With that obstacle passed, the lights turned off and they remained the only people in the main room of the Cube section. So they left their viewing gallery and set foot on the ground floor, from which they could simply walk up to the main stage, passed the Yamato statue which Leo, Fred, Charlie, Cindy and Boyle could not help but stare at for a moment, it being their first time in the Cube. Behind the stage, they found a long staircase leading upwards right away, so they lost no time and climbed it as far as possible. Though, they were eventually stopped by a heavily reinforced door, which of course was locked. Or was it? It should have been. But Natsumi unlocked it so fast, with the key she had gotten from Yuki once she moved in here, that it looked like she just opened a door that was never locked in the first place. Though thst key only worked for this door and the floor behind it, meaning she could not help them in the middle section at all. One could get suspicious of the door being unlocked, but then again, why would it be locked if the main door below was already locked shut just as securely? The only door that is usually locked in any apartment or house are the doors leading directly outside as well, not any internal doors. So it was not that unreasonable for this door to be unlocked, even though it was not actually. The only reason it was in the first place was because Yuki was unreasonably cautious and overprotective, which she was actually not very known for outside of her closer circles.
Now through the first door, they reached long corridors with many doors. The heart of the Absolute Citadel, where most of the bedrooms were, as well as the teleportation circle leading upwards. This was also the corridor Phoebe usually played in, as well as where all the offices were, though Yamato and Yuki now more frequently worked in the Sphere.
Natsumi knew this place therefore very well, but she could hardly openly guide them to the teleport room, but it seemed she did not need to do that anyway. Leo also seemed to know his was around, despite only having seen a map of the section above this one, he must have calculated the position of the room with the assumption that it was positioned central within the cube, or had gotten that information through some other means because that was where it actually was. So they moved right passed all the rooms which they really should not have entered on accident, and arrived in the desired room with no complications whatsoever. Natsumi was more motivated than ever, seein as the most difficult part seemed past them. But another problem arose once they failed to use the teleportation circle, as it seemed to only work on specific people, which was knew to even Natsumi. Though Clara claimed she might be able to manipulate the circle with enough time, Nastumi was not so sure. Magic circles themselves were already one of the more complex kinds of magic, so was teleportation magic. Naturally, a magic teleportation circle was even more advanced. But this went far beyond even that. A selective magic circle. No doubt, Yuki had personally invested time in this. Natsumi seriously doubted Clara possessed the skills to even begin to comprehend how this circle was designed, much less was able to change something about it without breaking something about it.
"While you do that, Fred and I need to take care of something real quick."
Leo sounded much too casual with that for Natsumi's taste, as if he had hoped they would just play along. And maybe they would have, but Natsumi would certainly not.
"What are you talking about!? We need to stay together!"
"I'm sorry, but I need to do this."
"Do what!? What could possibly be more important, that you just thought of, than this!?"
"I didn't just think of it… It's just now that an opportunity presented itself."
"What kind of opportunity!?"
Leo pulled out a shiny dagger, made of silver. Not holding it in a threatening way, just so everyone could see it.
"This can kill an angel, I'm sure of it… Whether or not they are actually angels, the people living here, I need to take this shot… For my family…"
"That thing cannot kill an angel, Leo! Stop this right now, we need to stay together or else—!"
"No! I will be back before the circle is ready, and then we—"
Clara was distracted by Leo slightly raising his voice all of the sudden, even if he did not mean to. It caused her to do something to the circle which she did not mean to, and it made a weird noise it was not supposed to make. Like something being turned off. Before Natsumi could take a look and asses the situation, it suddenly filled the room with a white flash and emptied it completely.
The next moment, Natsumi found herself alone in a place she had never been in before. It was difficult to navigate, but she was sure no one of the group was near her.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group were together, but also not sure where they were. Leo had studied the map of the middle section extensively, and he was absolutely certain no passage looked like the place they were in now. And the Cube and Sphere parts were quite easy to identify. Meaning, wherever they were, it was not within the Absolute Citadel. Or at the very least, not a part they planned to enter at all.