Who Was That Man Last Night?
Where the hell are those two sneaking off to in the dead of night? And what exactly is their relationship anyway? I couldn't wrap my head around why Rachel, of all people, was secretly meeting with an original-story villain like him under the cover of darkness.
I kept my distance, tailing them as stealthily as possible to avoid detection. Sure, it made me feel like a total stalker and filled me with self-loathing, but this was too serious an issue to just ignore.
From afar, all I could see were the backs of their heads—not much info there. If I could at least confirm who the guy was, that might help, but he never showed his face, leaving me to speculate wildly. Georg? Dietrich? Or maybe Ziegfried? No clue. There wasn't enough to go on for any certainty.
The one thing I could tell was that they weren't talking much. Rachel and the Drakan member just marched straight ahead toward some unknown destination. What the hell was going on? I couldn't make sense of it at all.
No matter how I stretched my imagination, I couldn't fathom why Rachel would get tangled up with Drakan—especially in a plotline that didn't even exist in the original story?
[You planning to tail them all the way?]
'Right now, it looks like my only option.'
Blindly following without proper precautions was incredibly dangerous, of course. I wasn't that reckless. But if I let them slip away now, who knew if another chance would come? The only way to solve this baffling puzzle was to see their final destination firsthand.
That's when the two ahead suddenly halted. Had they reached their goal?
[Dodge!]
The Goddess's warning hit just as a chill prickled the nape of my neck. Without time to think, I rolled instinctively to the side.
A razor-sharp icicle bloomed right where I'd been standing a split second before. A moment later, and it would've pierced my chest, turning me into one with the ice.
Drakan had only one guy who specialized in ice magic: Ziegfried.
Of all people, the most dangerous bastard in Drakan was trying to kill me.
"Dodging that? Honestly surprising."
The leisurely voice drifted from ahead. He didn't see me as an equal foe—just a pesky fly.
"So you're not just some ordinary pest?"
Not a fly, but a pest. Somehow, that felt like a downgrade.
The commotion made Rachel, standing beside him, turn around and spot me. We were far enough that she probably couldn't make out my face. Please don't recognize me. Right now, I wasn't Phantom Thief Raven or Arsene Lupin—I was Kro Morris, the extra desk mate sitting next to her in class. If she saw my face clearly, she'd know instantly.
"I don't care what pest you are. Just die."
That wasn't a threat or warning—just a flat declaration.
There was only one thing for me to do: escape, somehow.
Gathering intel didn't matter anymore. Ziegfried had declared me dead, so getting away took priority, by any means necessary. Fighting him head-on right now? I'd lose every time. Even with the gems' power boosting my growth, he was way beyond my current level.
Curiosity could wait—first, I had to survive to satisfy it. Dying pointlessly here? No way.
Of course, he wouldn't just watch me flee. The second I turned, an ice spike would probably drill into my skull.
So, what now? In this life-or-death pinch, I racked my brain for the best move. Time was razor-thin.
Ziegfried extended his hand, chanting a spell. Bitter cold began scattering across the entire street, promising to freeze everything.
I'd decided. I whipped a card from my pocket and flung it at him.
Whether out of caution even against weaklings or not, he adjusted his arm's trajectory, targeting the incoming card instead of me. An ice arrow shot out at invisible speed, piercing the card—boom! White smoke billowed up in thick clouds, obscuring vision.
"Cheap trick."
Dismissing it like it was nothing, he flicked his hand, and a gust of icy wind swept the smoke away.
That brief exchange alone highlighted the gap. His magic efficiency was on another level entirely.
But I didn't falter. I pulled another card and threw it.
This time, Ziegfried ignored the card, aiming straight for me.
Exactly the timing I wanted!
The card hurtled right to his face and erupted in blinding light, oxidizing in a flash. Anyone staring into that sudden burst in the dark night would go momentarily blind.
"Kgh!"
Caught off guard, he flinched. Seizing the moment, I poured all my remaining mana into a spell.
With lightened steps, I bolted away—
"Wait...!"
Rachel suddenly called out to me. I nearly turned reflexively but stopped myself.
Reacting now could waste the opening I'd created. I'd be dead for sure against Drakan here.
Maybe she'll stop him? If they knew each other, it was possible. But I couldn't bet my life on "maybe."
More likely, once Ziegfried recovered his sight, he'd rage and turn me into an ice statue.
So I didn't look back.
"Hah...! Huff... huff..."
How far did I run? I sprinted till my lungs burned and my legs screamed, not stopping even without sensing pursuit—just in case.
Finally, when my legs gave out, I halted and glanced back. No sign of him chasing.
Truth be told, if he'd been serious about killing me, I'd have been dead long before escaping.
Why didn't Ziegfried pursue? Probably because of Rachel—either to continue to their destination or because she held him back.
I almost died just for tailing them. The close call hit me hard in hindsight.
Surviving Ziegfried? Pure luck. I owed the heavens big time.
The guy was top-ten in this world's power rankings. Even the protagonist only beat him in the late game with allies' combined assault.
[You okay?]
"Yeah... somehow still breathing."
I wiped cold sweat and thanked the Goddess profusely.
"If you hadn't warned me at the start, I'd be skewered for sure. Thanks."
What thanks? You're my most cherished child—it's only natural, isn't it?
"Uh..."
Such an embarrassingly sweet confession out of nowhere? Kinda awkward.
But knowing her, it was probably just setup for teasing, so I brushed it off.
"If we married, you'd be a widow in a hundred years, y'know."
Hoh. What do you take this Goddess for? Ways to revive you are a dime a dozen.
Sounds reliable. Said the one who'd lost all her power and was scavenging for soul orb shards.
Worst case, we can live happily ever after in the underworld, right?
"...You serious?"
Of course it's a joke.
Figures. Deep down, this woman probably dreamed of her own harem. A goddess playing pure, devoted lover to a mere human? Unlikely.
Casino heist, stakeout, life-risking escape—today had been way too eventful. I was utterly drained. Time to head home, rest, and start absorbing that pearl.
Dragging my heavy feet back home, my mind still swirled with unanswered questions.
Why was Rachel with Ziegfried? Where were they headed?
The botched tail might mean I'd never find out—unless I asked her outright.
"...Wait. Outright?"
Why not? I wasn't Raven or Lupin right now. Just Kro, an Academy student out for a casual night stroll in plain clothes.
I'd bumped into a classmate during my walk, tried to say hi, but saw her heading off with some shady guy. Curiosity got the better of me, so I followed—only to get iced and barely escape.
Next day at the Academy? Totally normal to grill her about it.
She had no idea I'd stolen the pearl at the casino. I was just an innocent extra strolling by.
"Yeah. I'll ask her tomorrow."
Hoo. Now that's intriguing.
I was dying to know too. Had to hear her answer with my own ears.
And the next day, true to my resolve, the moment I saw Rachel in class, I went straight for it.
"Be honest. Who was that guy with you last night?"