"Good work. We successfully seized Edel's legacy from that location. With this, we are one step closer to achieving our plan."
"Congratulations, Master."
The one who said that was the masked woman from before.
"By the way, what happened with the Coliseum? Clam."
Beside the two stood Clam Selenberg, who was supposed to be the hero of Sacris. He stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall of the room.
"That fool Vester. He rampaged without thinking. Thanks to him, it turned into quite a mess."
"Sigh... This is why single-minded idiots are troublesome."
The masked woman was exasperated. Although she had taught him a way to escape safely just in case, he hadn't used it in the end. He had simply messed up too spectacularly. It was easy to imagine that security would become stricter from now on, making it a bit difficult for them to move.
"It's a pity. So, were you able to dispose of him?"
"Yeah. Properly with my own hands. I executed him as a great sinner."
"How did you dispose of his subordinates?"
"All of them 'died because their injuries couldn't be treated in time.'"
When Clam said it curtly, she chuckled behind her mask.
"My. How ruthless."
"Not as much as you."
"I wonder about that."
Ignoring her feigned ignorance, Clam dropped his shoulders.
"However, not everything went well. Things got a bit troublesome."
"What happened?"
"Students appeared who testified that the attack on the Coliseum was the work of us, the Masked Group. Vester probably let it slip."
"Given his personality, I thought he'd mess up eventually. That idiot."
"Hmm. It seems disposing of him was the right call after all. So, how will we deal with this matter?"
"I'll handle the cover-up on my end. I'll arrange for it to be announced to the public as the act of mere terrorists."
Hearing his words, Master Megil nodded in satisfaction.
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"That helps. Please do."
"Yeah."
"So, who are these students?"
To the masked woman asking in a cold tone, Clam answered calmly without moving an eyebrow.
"One is a first-year girl named Alice Luckin. The other is the one you mentioned, Yu Hoshimi."
"I see... Those two."
"Among them, a shocking fact was revealed about Yu Hoshimi."
"Hoh. What kind of fact?"
Due to his pretentious phrasing, she, who had been paying attention to the two from the beginning, showed strong interest. Clam himself spoke while mixing in his inner surprise.
"According to the testimony of one of Vester's subordinates, Yu Hoshimi can apparently change gender."
"What did you say!?"
She raised a voice of surprise that seemed about to crack her mask.
"Is such a ridiculous thing possible?"
"Yeah. Judging comprehensively based on the testimony, your report, and seeing it directly with my own eyes, there's no doubt it's almost certainly a fact. In other words, the two Yu Hoshimis you were investigating were actually the exact same person."
Hearing that far, Master Megil told the masked woman coldly.
"To think you didn't realize such an important thing despite investigating that much. What a blunder."
"I apologize... I never thought they were the same person."
Master Megil threw a sharp gaze at her without a word. Under his appraising eyes, she trembled inwardly, fearing what he would say. Soon, he relaxed his pressure and said gently.
"Well, fine. Honestly, even I was surprised. You are excellent. I won't say much about something of this level."
"Hah..."
"Continue to serve me from now on. For your wish too."
"Thank you very much."
Feeling cold sweat running down, she bowed her head lightly.
"Umu. Even so, that child named Yu Hoshimi is a mysterious existence."
"Indeed. If he has that much Magic Power, it wouldn't be strange if he was famous from before."
"Background completely unknown. Suddenly appeared and possesses a peculiar ability, huh? I feel something similar to an incarnation of God. My interest has piqued even more."
"If you want him, I can go capture him, but what should I do?"
To Clam's proposal, he thought for a moment and then shook his head.
"Let's not. Yu Hoshimi has Inea, a Nesura, behind him. She is not someone to be trifled with."
An existence that made him say not to meddle touched Clam's chords.
"Hoh. Is that Inea so strong?"
"No. She is certainly strong, but she probably cannot match you. However, she is troublesome."
A mighty warrior of the Nesura known to those in the know. Recalling her numerous heroic tales, Master Megil continued.
"She is a veteran warrior who has even crossed blades with the incarnation of God. If you underestimate her, you might get hurt."
"Is that so. I'll keep it in mind."
Clam accepted his words firmly, and then said while oozing regret.
"However, I didn't think they would give such testimony. Maybe I should have buried them in darkness when I was walking with them. That way, I could have made it look like Vester killed them."
"Whatever. It's just to the extent that students know, leave them be. We haven't had our tails completely grabbed yet."
"I speak knowing it is rude, but. That might be a bad move."
The masked woman raised an objection. She had been evaluating them to the maximum and wary of them for some time.
"Hoh. Why is that?"
To Master Megil who strengthened his pressure again, she, having reason, answered without flinching this time.
"Around Yu Hoshimi, there are talented people with strangely strong senses of justice. With the leak that the Coliseum attack was our doing, they might interfere in some way. Especially Argus Ozbein—if they team up with that Ozbein family, it will be troublesome."
To her stating the reason fluently, Master Megil nodded in admiration.
"I see. There might be some truth to that. Then, if they become an eyesore, let's consider initiating action from our side."
"Yes. I think that would be best."
Master Megil paused for a breath and concluded the conversation.
"Anyway, good work. If things go at this pace, preparations will be complete within a year, or half a year at the earliest. It took a long time, but finally."
He chuckled quietly behind his mask.
"The revival of Edel is near."
This concludes the first half of Arc 1! Thank you so much for reading this far.
"Childhood Arc." We will finally uncover the hidden past of Yu Hoshimi—his origins and the untold story of his younger days.
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