Ayanokoji exited the cellar, his mind already weaving the new data into a threat map.
The existence of a female accomplice changed everything. If Elsa had been a lone wolf, time would be on his side. But an accomplice meant a witness—and a potential second strike. Whether she came to rescue Elsa or finish the assassination, the threat was no longer theoretical; it was imminent.
"Ram, Rem. Relay the interrogation results to Lord Roswaal," Ayanokoji said, turning to the twins. "The manor's perimeter needs to be reinforced immediately."
"As you command, Lord Kiyotaka," they replied. Though suspicion still clouded their eyes, they recognized the tactical weight of his findings.
Ayanokoji spent the next hour patrolling the gardens. He scrutinized the estate's layout, identifying entry points, blind spots, and fallback positions. To most, the world was full of "possibilities." To Ayanokoji, once every variable was accounted for, "possibility" became "certainty."
"Kiyotaka? What are you doing out here?" Emilia's voice drifted over the hedges. Puck floated beside her, looking equally curious.
"Scanning for security risks," Ayanokoji replied simply. He informed her of the accomplice. In their current alliance, withholding this information would be counter-productive; Emilia needed to be alert.
"Another one?!" Emilia gasped. "Did you find anything?"
"Nothing yet," he said.
"Don't worry too much," Puck added, tail twitching. "The people in this house aren't as helpless as they look. Their combat power is... significant."
Ayanokoji nodded. It confirmed his theory: the maids were the true "garrison."
"Emilia, I have a question," Ayanokoji transitioned seamlessly. "How do magic users in this world manifest their power?"
"Lia isn't a 'magic user' in the traditional sense," Puck interjected. "She's a Spirit Arts User. She uses the mana in the atmosphere through our contract. A true magic user uses their own internal mana via their 'Gate.'"
"A Gate?" Ayanokoji's brow twitched.
"It's the valve in your body that lets mana in and out!" Puck explained, miming a opening motion with his paws.
"So, it's a hydraulic regulator for energy," Ayanokoji summarized. "Can I use it?"
"Probably. Let's see your affinity." Puck floated to Ayanokoji's forehead, pressing a soft paw against his skin. A faint, violet light flickered. "Oh. You're 'Yin' affinity."
"Yin?" Ayanokoji noted that this wasn't one of the four primal elements.
"Shadow magic," Emilia explained. "It's used for obscuring vision, isolating sound, or slowing down an opponent. It's quite rare."
Ayanokoji was satisfied. Shadow magic lacked raw destructive power, but its strategic utility—stealth and psychological disruption—perfectly suited his methodology.
"Can I learn a spell?"
"The simplest one is Shamak!" Puck chirped. "Let's give you a taste! Shamak!"
Suddenly, the world went pitch black. A thick, ink-like fog swallowed the light and sound.
Superior to a phosphorus smoke grenade, Ayanokoji thought. He didn't panic. He closed his eyes and relied on his internal compass. Puck: one meter forward. Emilia: one meter left-front. The oak tree: three paces to my direct left. He walked forward with mechanical precision and tapped the bark of the tree. Purely visual and auditory interference. It doesn't affect spatial orientation or muscle memory. Highly effective against amateurs, less so against elite combatants.
The darkness vanished as Puck ended the spell.
"How was it, Kiyotaka?" Emilia asked, running over.
"Impressive utility for such a simple spell," he replied, his face as still as a lake.
"Most people scream or stumble the first time," Puck laughed. "You're disturbingly calm."
"I'd like to try casting it."
"Sure, but be careful! I'll guide your mana. If it goes haywire, you might just pop like a balloon," Puck joked, though his expression sharpened. "Visualize the flow... feel the valve opening..."
Ayanokoji closed his eyes. He treated the sensation like a new mathematical formula. He felt something surging within his chest—a river of heat trying to breach a dam.
Is this the mana flow?
He pushed.
Puck's fur suddenly stood on end. "Wait! The Gate is—!"
Before he could finish, a violent eruption of black smoke blasted out of Ayanokoji. It wasn't a spell; it was a detonation. The dark mist surged outward with enough force to engulf the entire courtyard, vibrating with raw, unrefined energy.
Ayanokoji felt a crushing weight press against his lungs. His legs buckled.
"Kiyotaka!" Emilia caught him as the smoke cleared, helping him to a nearby stone bench.
He felt a bone-deep exhaustion, similar to when Beatrice had drained him, but more jagged. His mana had drained in a single, uncontrolled burst.
"Well... it seems your Gate is a bit... stubborn," Puck scratched his head. "You have massive reserves, but zero control. You just dumped your entire tank at once. Maybe don't try that again today."
Ayanokoji didn't feel discouraged. He felt a need for data. "How does one recover mana faster? If every attempt leaves me incapacitated, the training efficiency is too low."
"There is a way!" Emilia nodded eagerly.
In a suburban apartment...
Takanashi Rikka was practically vibrating. "The Shadow Affinity! The Dark Flame Master would be proud! His Gate is a portal to the abyss itself!" She swung her umbrella, nearly knocking over a lamp. "We must find the method of mana restoration before the Organization realizes his power is awakening!"