"The winner is..."

I opened my eyes to see the referee with his arm raised, announcing the winner of the bout. "...Leon Ellert of the Nurs Ancifa Empire!"

The Colosseum was quiet upon the announcement of the winner, all eyes locked on the fallen Aoife and then the heavily breathing Leon.

Then...

Booom-

The entire Colosseum erupted, cheers and waves of applause resounding throughout.

I basked in such an atmosphere for several seconds before collecting myself again. Turning my head, I noticed that Kaelion was looking at me strangely.

"What is wrong?"

He didn't answer immediately, furrowing slightly as his eyes traced the side of my face. I instinctively touched my face and that was when I felt something wet trace down my right cheek.

"Ah."

I finally realized why he was looking at me like that.

"....It's a side-effect of using my domain."

"Right."

He nodded his head in understanding.

"It was quite powerful."

"Yours wasn't too bad either."

"Just that?"

Kaelion raised his brow with a questionable look and I shrugged my shoulder. "Just that."

Well, maybe a little bit more than 'just that', but I wasn't going to outright say it.

"If you'll excuse me."

Then, standing up, I made my way out of the Colosseum. But just as I tried to leave, a hand pressed against my shoulder.

"Wait."

It was still Kaelion.

"Yes?"

"About the thing that you talked to me about before. Do you...?"

"We can talk about it later."

I dismissively waved my hand.

He was probably referring to what happened back at the strange cult, but now wasn't exactly the right time to talk about it. There were more pressing matters that I needed to attend to.

Like...

'Getting a hold of those that have been affected by the statue and erase their memories.'

I wasn't sure how much time I had, but I needed to hurry up.

If any of them were to report the situation then I'd be in a lot of trouble. Especially since it would instigate an investigation which I couldn't afford to take since I knew I wouldn't be able to pass it.

I had been preoccupied with so many things that I hadn't been able to properly plan for the aftermath of the situation.

No, I had been planning, but Evelyn's ability came as a surprise.

It made things a lot easier, but at the same time, more troublesome.

"But-"

"Later."

I dismissed Kaelion and rushed out of the Colosseum.

Thankfully, everyone was still busy applauding and basking in the after-glow of the match. Leon had already entered back into the locker rooms, but the people were still talking animately about the fight that had occurred.

It reminded me of the times back on earth when I happened to watch a really good movie with my brother and we would come out discussing it for the next hour or so.

'....Fun times.'

My heart pressed as I looked around.

This was the perfect chance for me to leave and I took it, directly heading for one of the more secluded tunnels that lead to the exits.

It was somewhat dark, and the corridor was rather narrow, but I went for it.

Time was of the essence.

"Hm?"

I was running straight for the exit when a figure appeared, leaning against the side of the

wall.

Her purple locks gently fell to the side of her face while her arms were crossed.

She seemed to be waiting for someone.

"You're here."

Who happened to be me...

I felt my heart press heavily at the sight of her. I could already imagine the reason why she was waiting for me here.

'Not this again.'

It most likely had to do with what she had previously asked me back in the mind world.

Though, to some extent, I was curious about a few of her words, this was still not the right time. There were other more pressing matters that I needed to attend to, and the thought irritated me.

What's up with her and her timing?

"Now is not the time. I have to deal with- "

"Now is not the right time?"

"So you get it."

"I do, actually."

Evelyn leaned away from the wall, brushing her purple hair behind her ears.

"Then-"

"It's about something else."

Evelyn cut me off, catching me off-guard. Not about that? Then...

Her next words took me completely off-guard.

"You're probably worried about the others spilling everything to the authorities, right?"

"Eh?"

"You're worried that they'll lock the entire city and have the Clerics check every person for any

external entity residing in their body, right?"

How did she know?

Evelyn smiled faintly upon noticing my reaction as she quietly lowered her head and

murmured, 'I thought so...'

Thought so?

Though it was faint, I could still hear her words properly. Did she knew I was going to react

like this from the start? No, wait...

"You."

Realization struck me as she raised her head back up.

"Yes, I've dealt with the situation. Besides a few people, nobody should be able to remember

a single thing."

She raised her hand, displaying a thin magic circle that flickered like a broken lamp.

"This is a spell that has been directly given to me by a Cleric. Using it, I can free people from being possessed by entering their body, but at the same time, I can do more. If I just tune up

the intensity a bit..."

Cracka!

A bolt of lightning flickered in the air.

Evelyn's hair fluttered briefly as she raised her head.

"...I can do more than just free time. I can make them lose their memories."

"Right."

I closed my eyes, already somewhat guessing what she was trying to say.

It was certainly great news, alleviating a lot of the pressure that I felt, but I didn't feel happy

at all. Especially since...

"...Your reaction also confirms what I thought. You're not-Huep!"

Evelyn's eyes shot wide open as I brought my hand forward and covered her mouth. Her entire

body flinched as her face grew red, but I didn't care and looked around, making sure that

nobody was watching.

Then, seeing that there was no one around, I pointed at my ear and mouthed,

'Someone might be listening.'

The chances were not high, but given how Delilah tended to appear randomly from time to

time, I was afraid she was somewhere in the corner of the hall looking at the conversation

between the two of us.

I couldn't afford to have her find out about my secret.

Right, not her.

Evelyn couldn't respond, but she stopped struggling and calmly nodded her head.

'Okay.'

'Good.'

I sighed in relief and prepared to take my hand away from her mouth. Our bodies were relatively close, her back against the wall with my elbow right above her. I was just prepared

to leave when...

Tak-

I felt a presence behind me and my entire body tensed. Rigidly turning my head, a pair of gray eyes met my sight. Holding onto an ice pack, his eyes

turned bloodshot as the ice pack fell to the ground.

Plack!

His head then flicked between the two of us.

Flick. Flick. Flick.

"Ah."

I silently closed my eyes while cursing.

This guy...

Flick.

Opening them back up, our eyes met.

'Intuition?'

'Intuition.'

He nodded.

Right...

'Get rid of it.'

Bullshit ability...

***

"Ahhhh."

Turbid air spewed onto the air as a man silently sat in the middle of a room; spacious and

elegantly appointed, with an array of opulent antiques and exquisite paintings.

Cra Crack!

His body squirmed, sweat streaming down his muscular back, and steam rising out from his

body.

Soon, the entire room became enveloped in thick steam.

The process lasted no more than an hour before eventually settling down.

"Huuu."

Marking the end of it all was a single and pure breath as a figure entered the room, holding

onto a dark robe with golden embroidery.

He presented it forward with his head lowered.

"1

The man slipped his hand into the robe's opening and adjusted it before cinching the sash

around his waist.

His chest was slightly exposed as his wet hair draped down his shoulders.

"How are you feeling?"

A subservient voice broke the silence that took over the room.

"...I'm doing alright."

The man replied, slowly moving toward the small sofa positioned by the center of the room

and sitting down.

Extending his hand forward, he slowly clenched it and unclenched it.

"It's holding up for now."

"That's a relief to hear."

Blonde hair framed Atlas's gentle features, but his eyes trembled as they slowly raised to

meet Atlas's as he stood opposite him.

For a moment, Atlas almost forgot how to breathe.

He felt insignificant within those vacant eyes that stood opposite him. To the point where he

found himself lowering his head to avoid eye-contact.

"Let me know if you have any troubles."

"Hm."

With a faint nod, Sithrus extended his hand. Understanding his intention, Atlas quickly retrieved a small vial that contained a thick red

liquid within.

"As you've asked."

"Um."

Without reservations, Sithrus plopped the vial open and ingested the contents within.

His entire body started to squirm again, but unlike before, it was only momentary, recovering quickly. Clench.

Shattering the glass vial in his grip, Sithrus's vacant eyes drifted to his arm. Thin lines traced

across his arm, revealing every vein in stark detail. He stood still, silently studying his body for a few moments before murmuring,

"A pity. This body will only last me for at most a month."

"...Ah."

Atlas appeared a little distraught, but he was dismissed with a wave.

"Forget about this trivial matter. There's something else I'd like to talk to you about."

"Yes...?"

Finally lifting his head, Atlas fully revealed his yellow eyes as they gleamed in silence.

Ta, tap-

Drumming his fingers over the armrest of the chair, Sithrus's eyes flickered for a brief

moment before his lips curled into a smile,

"Emmet has made a move."

"....!"

Atlas's face momentarily paused.

"I left a little something here in the past. It has only come to my attention now that it is gone.

I was busy looking for the sword, but with my failing body, it proved somewhat

troublesome."

He sniffed the air while pointing at his nose.

"...I can't smell as well."

"Do you wish for me to...?"

"There's no need for that."

Sithrus waved his hand.

"Genesis should be here too. I'll visit him since there are a few things that I need to be sorted

out now that Oracleus has made his move."

"Understood."

Atlas lowered his head in understanding. He was just about to say something else when he

stopped.

"Right, Dawn..."

Atlas immediately turned around.

"How can I help you?"

"I heard an interesting thing recently."

Sithrus swept his long blonde hair back, revealing his strong, chiseled features.

"...That you've found a successor."

"Ah."

Atlas once again felt himself unable to talk.

Right, there was that...

It was just that he was still not ready yet.

"Let me meet him."

Atals's expression paused one again as he looked up at Sithrus who smiled at him, his eyes

growing a little vacant.

"I want to see just what kind of talent makes you interested."