Chapter 1 The Torrential Rain of Iketeru

The downpour in Iketeru grew heavier and heavier.

Even the Cat Boss Restaurant hadn't seen a customer walk through the door for quite some time.

The wooden house seemed exceptionally tranquil. The hanging chandelier emitted a soft glow, and the warm yellow light reflected on the antique wooden staircase, completely blocking out the storm.

Most of the customers in the restaurant were leisurely enjoying their meals, occasionally glancing at the downpour outside.

"..."

Phoenix glanced at the clock between sips of his coffee.

If his target didn't appear in another hour, he would hypnotize himself again, temporarily abandon the mission, and look for another opportunity.

Last night, after Lance brought the Duchess to this place, he went back and forth twice, and then the two of them separated.

Now, Lance was engaged in a Shadow World duel with Adams at the Iketeru Academy and couldn't get away for the time being.

Frey and the student council president were busy entertaining the academic visiting team heading to the Knight's Academy.

With the two biggest variables out of the picture, and the Duchess completely unaware of the danger that had come her way...

This was a perfect opportunity to kill the Duchess without fail.

Although the three of them were difficult to deal with together, after returning to the real world, their lives at Iketeru were too scattered and careless.

The only one who was somewhat vigilant was Lance, who had given his trump card summon, the Great Poet, to Hyperion to accompany her.

According to intelligence, this summon possessed extremely high self-awareness and wisdom and could communicate with Lance telepathically. If the summon encountered any danger, Lance would immediately sense it.

Previously, in the Academy of the Purgatory Corridor, Lillette, under the Rotten Bishop, had failed because she unintentionally killed the Great Poet at the end, causing Lance in the principal's office to notice the situation and rush to save Hyperion.

But this time, that kind of good luck wouldn't happen again.

No one could save Hyperion.

Suddenly, cheerful laughter came from the railing of the second-floor attic.

Phoenix, sitting on the first floor, looked up slightly, his eyes passing through the restaurant's exquisite pavilions and structures, and landing on the stairs.

He saw a girl wearing a well-fitting Iketeru Academy uniform, chatting with her companion.

Silver hair and amber eyes, tall, elegant, and dignified—it was Duchess Hyperion.

And beside her, another gray-haired woman with a seemingly indifferent expression, despite her excellent disguise and acting skills, was undoubtedly Lance's trump card summon, the Great Poet.

Her aura was very weak, no different from a first-tier commoner.

As they chatted, their footsteps descending the stairs naturally slowed.

"Miss Tata, why didn't you wake me up?"

Hyperion seemed a little guilty. She had never slept so soundly, waking up only after more than ten hours.

"I saw you were sleeping soundly."

Talia said blandly, each step causing her heels to tap lightly on the wooden steps of the staircase, creating a slight echo.

"Then you don't have to lie next to me and watch me all the time..."

When they reached the middle platform, Hyperion looked at the rainy scenery outside the window and muttered a little embarrassedly.

Although the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was Tata's beautiful face and golden eyes, which made Hyperion feel very at ease, Hyperion was not a child anymore. The feeling of being taken care of like a child made her very ashamed.

"I was afraid you'd be scared alone."

Talia's expression didn't change at all.

"I guess..."

It was because Tata had been sleeping next to her that she had been able to fall asleep so peacefully for the first time.

Hyperion didn't mention it again and instead asked Tata what she wanted to eat later.

If she didn't say anything, Tata might continue to stay by her side like this tonight.

Although it was a bit cunning to ask for excessive care from Tata, who had made a temporary contract and promised to protect her, this was a rare little thought of Hyperion's.

The two walked down the spiral staircase, their voices accompanying them until they reached the first floor and their figures merged into the restaurant's aisle.

"When the rain gets lighter, let's go to Iketeru Academy and take a look. Lance might be dueling with the ace of the Yaroran Academy right now."

Hyperion looked at the clock above the counter and then suggested to Talia.

"What's so interesting about that?"

Talia replied subconsciously.

But after thinking about it, she was also a little curious about what Lance was doing now.

"But if you want to see it, we can go together."

Talia said instead.

"Haha, let's go arrest Lance for his inappropriate moments."

Hyperion's laughter was light and natural. Talia, walking beside her, looked ahead calmly as they approached the counter, ready to order.

Neither of them noticed—

Phoenix's figure was sitting at the table they were about to pass in the aisle.

"..."

Phoenix slowly raised the coffee cup in his hand to his lips. It was slightly cold.

Finally.

In the instant Hyperion and Talia passed by...

Phoenix sat quietly in his seat, a faint, almost imperceptible, cold smile playing on his lips.

Under the table, a magic card radiating a colorful pink glow had appeared in his other hand.

Accompanied by a flash of lightning that cut through the dimness outside the window, the faces of everyone in the room were illuminated as if it were daytime.

Boom!!

The restaurant's gentle background music, floating in the air, was briefly drowned out by the rolling thunder outside.

And at the same time.

Unnoticed, the music in the thunder had changed its tune.

The customers in the aisle and on the chairs suddenly stopped everything they were doing, their faces devoid of emotion, their expressions stiff, their eyes empty.

They suddenly stood up in unison, turned around, and took heavy steps, all looking at Hyperion!

It wasn't just that thunderclap. Phoenix had also made his move.

The dagger in his right hand, gripped tightly, with the cold light of its blade, had been thrown with all the strength of his limbs before Hyperion even had time to turn her head, enough to cut the fourth-tier Hyperion in two!

While Hyperion looked bewildered, the floor in the distance had been split by a clear cut.

The crack in the floor disappeared completely when it passed by Hyperion, as if blocked by a stronger force.

The reason Hyperion didn't seem to be injured was that she had a life-saving card.

But this attack also struck the Great Poet, who, at only the first tier, would dissipate in an instant.

Duchess, you can't escape today!

Phoenix no longer concealed his murderous intent on his cold face, standing up and approaching Hyperion.

The civilians in the restaurant, like mechanical puppets, picked up knives and forks and charged towards Hyperion in a deathly assault.

Even now.

Even if Lance noticed the danger on Hyperion's side.

There would be no time to reach the scene!

This battle would end soon.

Next, Hyperion would engage in a deadly battle with Phoenix, who was controlling the civilians in the restaurant, with no escape.

He would spare no effort to kill Hyperion as quickly as possible, or take her with him.

However.

A strange feeling lingered in Phoenix's heart, a chill rising from his spine and rushing through his whole body in an instant.

A pair of golden pupils were staring at him, making his whole body unable to move.

It was as if he was the one who had truly turned into a puppet.

Someone seemed to be looking down on him.

It was a pair of terrifying eyes that made him shiver.

The entire space within the restaurant seemed to become pitch black, with only those demon god-like golden eyes exceptionally clear, making him seem extraordinarily small.

(End of Chapter)