"Haaah~ Finally got Natsuki Subaru off my hands."
"But Reinhard actually wasn't home today. I even checked beforehand to make sure he was supposed to be off duty."
"That guy really is ridiculously busy."
Walking out through the magnificent gates of the Astrea estate, Shiro stopped and yawned.
He had planned to leave Subaru in Reinhard's care for a while.
Unfortunately, once they arrived, the Astrea servants informed him that Reinhard had taken Felt out to have a formal dress tailored.
Thankfully, they figured there were very few people foolish enough to lie while invoking Reinhard's name.
So they let Subaru stay until Reinhard returned and could decide what to do with him personally.
Otherwise, Shiro would have needed to drag Subaru around for several more trips.
Now that he had successfully gotten rid of Subaru, Shiro had nothing urgent to do for the time being.
Since it was still early, he was in no hurry to return and simply wandered around the wealthy district.
The streets were lined with exquisite shops and luxurious taverns.
Rare magical items, beautiful gold and silver jewelry, and other expensive goods filled the stores, attracting customers with refined tastes.
"Hmm?"
"What was that just now?"
As Shiro walked, he suddenly stopped at the corner of a narrow alley.
A strange sensation had just surfaced in his heart.
It felt almost as though something were calling to him.
As if proving that sensation was not an illusion, the divine markings across his back suddenly began burning hot.
The heat was so intense that Shiro almost thought his back had caught fire.
[Falna] was a gift bestowed by gods upon their children.
Extreme stability was one of its most basic characteristics.
There was no reason for it to suddenly react without cause.
At least, according to Shiro's experience, his divine markings heating up this violently could only mean one thing.
"One of my skills was triggered?"
That was right.
Only when one of his skills activated would the divine markings give such an intense response.
And it clearly was not a mostly passive ability like [Intuition].
Until now, the only other time Shiro had experienced this sensation so clearly was during Excessive Awakening.
"That time was because of [Desperado]."
"So what triggered it this time?"
Following the mysterious call, Shiro stepped into the narrow alley.
...
"You've got to be kidding me, you damn woman!"
"Keep running your mouth and I'll smash that pretty face of yours, got it?!"
Vines crawled across the surrounding stone walls.
Several wooden crates of unknown contents were stacked in the corners, while a faint sour smell lingered in the air.
Within this old and secluded alley, three gloomy-looking young men with bandages wrapped around their heads surrounded an impatient-looking girl and blocked her escape.
The girl possessed dazzling orange hair, neatly pinned back with hair clips.
A crimson dress resembling something dyed in fresh blood emphasized her voluptuous figure.
Numerous expensive ornaments decorated her neck, ears, and fingers.
Yet despite all those luxurious accessories, the girl herself was even more striking.
Even while surrounded, her scarlet phoenix-like eyes remained filled with open challenge.
Her snow-white skin gleamed beneath the sunlight, while her pale pink lips were pursed in displeasure.
She looked less like a girl trapped by thugs—And more like a ruler reprimanding incompetent subordinates.
In fact—
That was exactly what she was doing.
"Stop shouting so noisily, fools."
"Even when picking a quarrel, those without refinement possess no taste whatsoever."
Despite being surrounded by three young men, the girl calmly unfolded the fan in her hand.
She did not even consider them worthy of more than a passing glance.
"Hah?!"
"Don't look down on us, you damn woman!"
"If you truly wish to amuse me, remove those bandages from your heads first."
"At least then the sight would be somewhat easier on my eyes."
She raised the folding fan to conceal half her face.
"To approach me while displaying such ridiculous proof of your previous defeat has no value beyond offending my sight."
"Rats should crawl back to wherever rats belong."
"Would saying it that simply make things easier for you to understand?"
The girl seemed completely unaware—or utterly unconcerned—with the situation she was in.
Every sentence overflowed with merciless mockery.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"You wanna die?!"
"Who the hell are you calling rats?!"
"Standing there acting all high and mighty—what do you want?!"
The three youths froze momentarily.
Then, once they realized she was insulting them, they immediately exploded.
The leader pulled a dagger from his trousers.
Its silver blade gleamed brightly beneath the sun.
Yet to his surprise—The girl did not even look at the weapon.
Instead, she stared behind him with growing interest.
"Hey!"
"Where the hell are you looking, you damn woman?!"
Infuriated by the girl's complete disregard for them, the leader raised his dagger as though preparing to stab her.
Even then—Her gaze never shifted.
She continued staring directly behind the trio.
"B-Boss..."
At that moment, the largest of the three timidly tapped the leader on the shoulder.
"Hah?!"
"What is it now?!"
"Whatever you want can wait until we get back!"
Already furious because of the girl's attitude, the leader had no patience for his subordinate suddenly becoming meek.
"N-No..."
"B-Behind..."
"Behind?"
"What's behind me?"
Suspicious, the leader turned around.
A face that seemed strangely familiar immediately entered his vision.
Short silver-white hair.
Golden eyes.
Clothes unlike anything he recognized.
'Where have I seen this guy before?'
The young man narrowed his eyes and desperately searched through his memories.
Then—
Wait.
Wasn't this the guy who beat them into this state several days ago?!!!
'Why the hell did I forget what he looked like?!'
Oh, right.
He had apparently been knocked unconscious almost immediately after saying his first sentence to the guy.
The leader's face rapidly shifted between green and white.
It was quite the colorful sight.
They had only come out to rob someone because they needed money to cover their medical expenses!
So why had they run into this monster again?!!!
'We're screwed...'
The young man wanted nothing more than to turn around and sprint away.
Unfortunately—His legs refused to obey him.
They trembled uncontrollably beneath his body.
"It's you three again."
Shiro stood behind the young man.
His gaze wandered around the alley as though searching for something.
Then—He noticed the proud-looking girl standing in the center of the trio.
Shiro stared at her suspiciously.
"...The Sun?"
…