Chapter 23: Dark flowing movement

The dark alleyway stood in stark contrast to the lively and bustling city outside that was already stepping into dusk.

If the crowds outside represented liveliness and hope, then within this seemingly deserted alley, what was happening represented loneliness and…

Despair.

Tap… tap tap… tap.

Broken and uneven footsteps sounded from the depths of the alley, and as the sound drew gradually closer to the entrance, heavy breathing and coughing could also be heard.

“Hah… hhh— cough cough…”

As the coughing worsened, the footsteps grew heavier and slower.
It was clear that the owner of the footsteps had sustained injuries severe enough to affect her movement.

But although her pace slowed, she had not stopped even once.

“I must… stay alive!”

Emerging slowly from the shadows was a half-dragon girl wearing Kanteria Academy’s uniform.

One of the two dragon horns on her head had been completely severed, and her right leg, torn open with lacerations, twisted at an unnatural angle.

Looking further up, her right eye was tightly shut, with dark red blood trickling from the corner, sliding down her chin and dripping to the ground.

Clearly, this girl, bearing the physical traits of a half-dragon, had escaped from some battle with injuries so severe they bordered on the gruesome.

And her wish now was painfully simple.

“I can’t die… I still haven’t…”

She knew: if she could just reach the end of this alley, if a passerby saw that she was wearing the uniform of Kanteria Academy, then she would survive.

One day… even just one more day…

Live, and continue—

Yet just as she was about to reach her hand toward the edge of the alley, a silent presence behind her grabbed her by the collar.

“No—! Aaaaaahhhh!”

In the next moment, she had time only to let out a weak, despairing scream before an overwhelming force from behind flung her back into the darkness of the alley.

Silence followed.

Only the scent of blood continued to spread.

…

Outside the alley, a man chatting with his friend seemed to twitch his ear, as though he had heard something.

“Did you hear something just now?”

“Did I?”

The man frowned slightly.

“I think I heard… someone screaming.”

“No you didn’t.”
His friend even tried seriously to think for a moment.
“I told you to drink less and stop staying up late. Now look, you’re starting to hallucinate.”

“I’m being serious!”

For once, the man looked completely earnest—he was absolutely certain he hadn’t misheard.

To prove it, he even tried to drag his friend toward the nearby alley.

But the friend clearly had no intention of wasting time on such a matter.
So he came up with an idea.

“There’s a new bar that opened recently in the outer district. Want to go?”

“I’m talking about something important here, why are you—”

“I heard they’re offering twenty percent off all drinks.”

“…Say no more.”

Before his friend could react, the man had already straightened his clothes and attempted—very unsuccessfully—to flick his hair in a cool manner.

“Lead the way.”

Drunks were like that.

And just like that, the man’s attention was successfully diverted.

So he did not smell the overwhelming scent of blood drifting out from the alley.

Nor did he see the scene inside…

The scene soaked in blood.

…

Meanwhile, at Kanteria Academy on the other side of the city:

After finishing their tour for the day, Sal and Rayne arrived at the statue in the center of the Magic Division’s student plaza, as promised, to wait for Natiaweda and Vivian, who were just about to finish class.

During the wait, Sal continued holding Rayne’s right hand, as though fully immersed in the role of “Rayne’s daughter.”

She had no choice.
She had already experienced firsthand just how “passionate” the other students were.

If she didn’t have someone like Rayne—someone who looked mature and difficult to provoke—standing beside her, she feared that those overly eager women would divide her up like souvenir pieces and take turns playing with her.

She had to admit… even though Sal didn’t particularly like Rayne, having him stand here with her was… somewhat reassuring.

Even if he was clearly also lusting after her body.
He was still easier to deal with than those women.

“So… are you planning to stay here, or leave?”

Since they were waiting anyway, Sal figured she might as well take the chance to learn something about the man who had stayed with her all day without saying much.

Rayne hadn’t expected Sal to speak to him first.

When he tricked her into wearing the bracelet, he had already prepared himself to be hated.

To Rayne, being disliked for a short while was better than letting her enter Kanteria displaying the dangerously exposed magic and behavior she had shown before.

He thought it was worth it.

But unexpectedly—Sal still talked to him.

Surprise aside, Rayne maintained his usual calm expression and replied in a steady voice.

“Do you want me to stay? Or do you want me to leave?”

“Hmph.”
Sal snorted.
“Then hurry up and get lost. The farther the better. I feel sick just looking at you.”

Instead of being upset, Rayne actually laughed.

“What are you laughing at?”

Sal froze, uneasy.
No normal person would laugh after being insulted like that.
Did he have some kind of mental problem?

She tried to pull her hand free from his, but after several attempts failed—he only tightened his grip.

Meanwhile, Rayne continued laughing.
Not because of any illness.

But because the expression on Sal’s face — the “I’m totally disgusted” expression — was so unconvincing that he couldn’t help but laugh like some kind of uncle amused by a child’s tantrum.

A strange analogy — but accurate.

After confirming that Sal did not actually hate him, Rayne decided to adjust his upcoming plans.

As for how…

He decided not to tell her yet.
He wanted it to be a surprise.

“You still haven’t said where you’re going.”

“That’s confidential… but you’ll know soon.”

“…”

Sal’s eye twitched at the sight of Rayne’s smug little smile, and without hesitation, she kicked him—hard—right in the shin.

Even with her physical strength sealed by the bracelet, she had excellent aim.

She had learned this kick from watching sports on TV in her previous life.
It was extremely effective.

And indeed it was.

When Natiaweda and Vivian arrived at the plaza, what they saw was:

A shy (socially anxious) Sal nodding politely at them beneath the statue — and…

Rayne crouching on the ground, clutching his shin, eyes squeezed shut in pain.