The soft glow of the crescent moon bathed the heavens, where immense and brilliant constellations formed a blanket of stars across the sky of Lugiri.
Inside the mansion, more specifically in Joseph's quarters, the owner sat in an imposing high-backed chair, gazing out at the night through the glass window.
Sumire was sitting casually, directly on his lap, sharing in the peaceful atmosphere.
— Sumire... How was the first day for our dear guest, Arata? — Joseph asked, breaking the silence with his calm, measured voice.
— He acted kind of strange at some moments... — Sumire reported, crossing her arms with a slightly sulky expression.
— But in the end, it was pretty obvious that he's just a tremendous slacker and lazy bum, the kind of person who wants everything handed to him without making the slightest effort.
— I see... — Joseph narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
— By any chance, did you find any clue or indication that he might be an undercover spy from the Cult of One? If there's any real suspicion, don't let Loiry know about it under any circumstances.
If she finds out something like that, we could have a little disaster on our hands.
— To be honest, he doesn't seem like a spy to me at all — Sumire pondered, shaking her head.
— He's far too carefree, annoying, and doesn't show even the slightest bit of caution or training. To me, he's just an ordinary and rather useless boy.
I just wonder how someone like him was able to help Miss Emma against a Vampire of Yumi's caliber... And at night, no less, when vampires become practically invincible.
— Indeed... That's something that deeply intrigues me as well — Joseph murmured, turning his gaze back toward the dark horizon.
Could it be... that he's that boy?...
Meanwhile, in his own quarters, Arata Ryusei lay on his back in bed, staring at the ceiling with his mind overflowing with questions.
I'm absolutely drowning in questions! he thought, exasperated.
How did the demons disappear from history, and why?
Could I really be the current wielder of the Golden Power?!
Where the hell is Marina hiding? No one can find her! Could she be sealed or something?..
And who was that guy wearing the crow mask in the forest?... Not to mention the existence of those three Kaijus!
— Oh my God, I'm going to go insane! That's way too much to process! — Arata exclaimed loudly, throwing himself onto the carpet and beginning to kick and flail around on the floor of his room, drowning in so many questions.
He stopped for a moment, staring at the ceiling as his train of thought began to fall into place.
Wait a second... I just had a brilliant idea, he reflected, lifting himself up.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Gabriel won't attack the mansion until the early hours of the fifth day.
If I stay inside, I'll end up falling into the loop again.
What if I simply leave tomorrow? I can hide outside, monitor the situation, and wait for the perfect moment to return, save everyone, and maybe finally awaken my Golden Power!
Arata clenched his fist tightly, raising it toward the ceiling with a determined look.
With this foolproof plan, I'll crush Gabriel and find out who that crow guy is!
Satisfied with his own strategy, he returned to bed, closed his eyes, and allowed himself to drift off to sleep.
The following morning, marking the beginning of the second day of the cycle, Arata was already outside the mansion, carrying a considerably stuffed backpack on his back.
Sumire, Loiry, Joseph, and Emma stood in front of him at the main entrance to say goodbye.
— What a tremendous shame, my dear Arata — Joseph remarked, pretending to sound dramatically disappointed.
— So you're only going to stay as our guest for two days before continuing your journey?
— Unfortunately, yes. Duty calls... — Arata replied, trying to sound important.
— Very well. I made sure to put only the absolute necessities for your journey inside that bag — the owner informed him with an enigmatic smile.
Arata gave the backpack a slight shake, and the distinct, heavy sound of dozens of metal coins clinking together echoed through the air. The boy's eyes immediately lit up.
— Thank you very much for this enormous... I mean, for this perfectly lovely amount of kiris, Lord Joseph!
Emma stepped forward, clasping her hands against her chest, her face filled with pure concern.
— Arata, are you going to be okay by yourself?! Will you be able to find a decent place to sleep properly? Will you be able to find food so you don't starve to death in the middle of nowhere?!
— Hey, gorgeous! At this rate, you sound just like my mom! — Arata laughed casually, waving at her.
— Don't worry, I know how to take care of myself. See you later, everyone!
— I predict you won't last even a second alone on the road and will come running back here in no time — Sumire teased, tossing her black hair back.
— Keep dreaming, Miss Black Hair! — the boy shot back, sticking out his tongue.
Beside her, Loiry remained completely isolated in her own silence, merely observing the scene from the corner of her pink eyes without saying a single word.
— See you later, everyone! — Arata said one last time.
— See you later, Arata-kun! — Emma exclaimed.
Suddenly, a bluish glow emanated from the necklace, and Buck's head emerged from it.
— See you later, Arata! Take care on the roads! — the little dragon wished him.
— Will do!
Arata turned on his heel, feeling the cool morning breeze blowing from the nearby forest, and began walking rhythmically along the dirt road.
As soon as he had moved far enough away from the group's line of sight, he entered the dense vegetation and began to run.
The sound of his sneakers hitting the damp grass and the snapping of branches beneath his feet echoed through the woods.
He continued deeper into the forest until he reached a considerably elevated and isolated area.
Approaching the edge of the wooded cliff, Arata looked toward the horizon and smiled in satisfaction.
This is the perfect spot, he thought, adjusting his backpack and sitting down on the grass.
I can keep watch over the property without being seen.
When the early hours of the fifth day arrive and Gabriel launches his attack, I'll charge down there, catch him by surprise, and save everyone...
He remained there for hours, watching the enormous mansion as the wind tousled his brown hair, his blue eyes fixed firmly on his objective.
Time passed until the sky began to take on the orange and reddish hues of sunset.
Arata remained in the same position, watching over the mansion as it began to be swallowed by the shadows of twilight.
— Leave it to me, everyone... I'll protect all of you... — he whispered to no one in particular.
Arata got to his feet, stretching his muscles.
That was when he noticed something was wrong.
The environment around him had become far too quiet—
a sepulchral and terrifying silence in which not even the sound of leaves swaying in the wind could be heard.
A violent shiver ran down his spine.
What a bizarre silence... I need to get out of here now... he thought, panic beginning to set in.
The instant he took his first step backward, the metallic and shrill sound of rattling chains echoed from among the trees.
Before he could even attempt to defend himself, an enormous scythe-shaped blade sliced through the air at an absurd speed, striking his left leg head-on.
The impact was devastating.
The blade instantly severed Arata's left leg,
sending him crashing hard against the ground as a massive amount of blood violently gushed from the wound.
— AHHHHHHHHH!! — Arata let out an agonizing, horrifying scream, his vision blurring from the pain. — Ahg... ah...
Desperate and feeling his life rapidly slipping away, he began coughing up blood, staining his own lips.
Using his remaining strength, he crawled across the dirt, trying to brace himself against the trunk of a nearby tree and pull himself back up, even as he was drenched in his own blood.
Limping horribly on a single leg and vomiting more blood from the hemorrhagic shock, he raised his eyes toward the dim forest.
— Who... who did this?... — he gasped, his voice failing him.
From between the bushes, calmly pulling back the iron chain that had sent the great scythe flying back into her hands, a female silhouette emerged.
The fading light illuminated her snow-white hair and icy pink pupils.
Arata recognized her face instantly.
It was Loiry Tsumurugi.
— You have to die here and now... — Loiry declared, her voice overflowing with murderous hatred. — You damn spy from the Cult of One.
Arata, drenched in cold sweat and on the verge of passing out from blood loss, widened his eyes.
— Loiry?... You... why are you doing this?..
— I can feel it... I can perfectly sense the smell of the Authority inside your body.
The damn ability she gave you, Stain — Loiry revealed, taking a step forward with the scythe at the ready.
— I know perfectly well that this entire appearance and body of yours are nothing more than a cheap illusion created by your Authority.
So do me a favor and show me your true face already, you bastard.
Arata blinked, completely dazed amid his agony.
— What?... Illusion?... Stain?!... What the hell are you talking about?!..
Loiry raised the blade of her scythe, her pink eyes shining with pure hostility in the darkness that was beginning to settle.
— Enough lies and games, you damned Bishop.
End of Chapter 32...
To be continued in Chapter 33...