Hiding behind the pillar, this should be safer now, Eira thought.

Her body was crisscrossed with wounds, clothes torn to forcibly expose raw skin. What should have been pure beauty now carried a hint of dark allure from the crimson blood.

Leaning against the wall, she finally caught her breath. A moment to think—

*Slice.*

A stray paper plane grazed her left calf, tearing the surface flesh.

"What!?"

Eira swung her twin Radiant Blades. She’d already spotted the bone structure of the paper plane’s wielder. She intercepted both planes aimed at her temple and right eye.

Her weapons danced—a single arc, a precise slash—and split the paper planes in half.

But paper fragments burst on impact. Without her goggles, her eyes would’ve been pierced.

"Kitty~ Found you~~~"

That voice!?

She whirled around, shocked. A swarm of origami cranes encircled her. Had that guy found a shield?

Her body flashed—vanishing instantly as she leaped onto the rear wall.

Dual blades crossed. Their collision sparked a blinding flash.

Sword flashes solidified into barriers, shredding cranes while defending.

Explosions erupted on contact. Dust billowed, blocking her vision.

*Again? Blocked?*

"Over here~~"

The cranes vanished. Instead, a slash from behind forced Eira to twist and block desperately.

Blades locked overhead. The downward strike was halted—barely missing her.

Leyn’s sudden appearance had been a feint. He’d targeted her blind spot.

"Your ability, I said—if you can’t see it~~"

"Shut up!!!"

Eira slammed his blade aside with her left sword and lunged forward with the right.

Leyn’s arrogance cost him. Her blade pierced his shoulder.

"...Who the hell are you!?"

"Who am I?"

As she nearly grabbed him, Leyn jerked backward. But Eira’s blade hooked his arm like a grappling hook. Leyn didn’t hesitate—he severed his own trapped limb.

A paper crane swept past, cleanly cutting the arm free.

Like a gecko’s tail. How terrifying was this guy!?

"Daydreaming? I won’t stop~~"

Leyn’s paper blade slashed fiercely this time.

Eira raised her weapons. Her right blade elongated unnaturally, blocking the strike.

*If he moves faster, his patterns will become clear.*

"Don’t forget what’s behind you... young lady..."

Leyn smirked, confident he’d cornered her.

"Of course I haven’t. You should watch your back too."

If those cranes were about to shred her, she was ready.

*Just like this. My ability—*

More cranes swarmed Leyn, then something astonishing happened.

*Death? Or...?*

"I’ll crush you with swordsmanship alone."

Eira declared it calmly. Not arrogance—just stillness. She gripped her blades, radiating danger from both sides.

The cranes’ sharp tips hovered inches from her flesh. Human vulnerability against paper death.

"Already lost. This hire was useless."

Atop the mall, binoculars lowered. A figure shook his head.

*Something’s off.*

"All over. Everything resolved in an instant. Boring."

————————————————————————

"Huh. Felt something strange just now..."

Zeming crushed a water cup in his bare hand, blinking.

*Sitting here spacing out... pathetic.* But what was happening?

"Teacher Zeming, are you alright?"

Long-haired Leyn stood nearby.

"Ah, Teacher Leyn. I’m fine."

He crouched to clean the shards. *Hope no one notices my hands aren’t bleeding.*

He swept the glass into the trash without drawing attention.

*The staff lounge should be quiet... but I can’t calm down.*

"Seriously? Skipping class, and now slacking off during break?"

Shalulu teased him outright.

"Watch your tongue, will you?"

"I don’t care. Today’s joint class had three homerooms and teachers present. Yet someone monotonously read the textbook, called it boring, and told all the students to self-study. Bold move."

"Had a bad night’s sleep."

He yawned widely.

"Kicked out by your wife?"

"None of your business."

"Hmph... Say, you have a student named Yunhu Li, right?"

"Yeah. Obedient kid. Just a bit thick-headed."

"Do you know his past?"

Shalulu’s tone turned serious.

"What past?"

*Like I’d know. He had some rough history, that’s all.*

"Ugh... What to drink? Maybe get something for Elvys?"

Yunhu Li squatted by a vending machine, confused.

Footsteps approached from behind. Closer. Closer.

In the narrow alley, figures closed in from both sides.

He straightened up, glaring at the encircling men.

*Bad news. Old grudges catching up?*

"Long time no see, Yunhu Li."

"Tch. Thought it was someone important. What do you want?"

He stood, hands in pockets, chin tilted up.

"Settling a private score."

"Pay off old debts?"

"Brat. We’re ending you."