Mariella's hand paused mid-motion as she held her cup of water. A puzzled look crossed her face as she glanced at Rebecca, clearly not understanding why she would ask such a question.
"Yuuki… would never say 'thank you' to me," Rebecca said, forcing herself to stay calm despite taking a step back, her body trembling slightly. "He always says, 'Sorry for the trouble.'"
Hearing this, a flash of realization flickered through Mariella's pupils.
So that was it—a tiny detail. Yuuki's relationship with this woman must have been extremely close. In that case, polite words like "thank you" would indeed be unnecessary.
But that wasn't all.
From Rebecca's expression, Mariella could tell she was absolutely certain that she was not Yuuki. That level of certainty couldn't have come from just one small detail.
Still—
Mariella had already lost interest in uncovering the rest. As an assassin, the moment one's identity was exposed, the only proper response was to silence the witness.
Whoosh!
A cold glint flashed through the air.
Before Rebecca could react, an ice blade was already pressed against her neck. The man who looked gentle a moment ago now radiated pure killing intent, his eyes filled with icy indifference.
They were the eyes of someone looking at a corpse—as if Rebecca would be killed in the very next instant.
The chill seeping through her skin made Rebecca shiver instinctively. Even so, her pale green eyes remained stubbornly defiant.
"Who are you?! What did you do to Yuuki?!"
She stared straight at Mariella, her voice laced with worry rather than fear.
Mariella looked down at the red-haired girl before her, her gaze still cold. If she wished, killing her would be effortless.
The reason she stopped wasn't mercy.
This tavern was a place Yuuki used to conceal his identity. Killing Rebecca here would likely cause unnecessary complications.
"…Perhaps we can talk," Mariella said flatly after a brief moment of thought, retracting the ice blade.
On the beach.
Noelle sat dejectedly atop a rock. After so many days of effort, she still couldn't further develop Sea Dragon's Roar.
"You're still training, Noelle?"
Asta approached from a distance, Demon-Slayer Sword slung over his shoulder.
"You are too," Noelle replied, snapping back to reality. She paused, then lowered her head, clearly discouraged.
"Then let's train together!" Asta said energetically.
"If your magic goes out of control again, I'll stop it with my sword!"
Seeing Noelle's dejection, Asta shouted with his usual fiery enthusiasm.
Noelle thought it over. It wasn't a bad idea. The full moon was only days away—if she couldn't master it soon, then once they reached the open sea, everyone could end up sinking to the ocean floor together.
She had always wanted to contribute to the Black Bulls, to truly help everyone.
"Hmph. Without Yuuki's Chain Magic to help with training, I guess your way will have to do," she said haughtily. "But I won't lose control again."
Even as she thought this, her tone remained proudly tsundere.
After speaking, Noelle noticed Asta wasn't responding. She turned to look at him.
"…Do you hear something?" Asta asked first, his expression puzzled.
The next moment—
They both heard it.
A song drifted in from afar, growing clearer by the second. Exchanging glances, Asta and Noelle rose and headed toward the source.
Under the moonlight, a black-haired girl with a ponytail stood singing.
"Ah—oh~ ah—oh~ oh~"
Her voice flowed like ocean waves, like fish gliding across the water's surface—clear, light, and mesmerizing.
As she sang, countless bubbles rose from the sea, floating around her. Bathed in moonlight, they reflected faint glimmers, lending the girl an almost dreamlike aura.
At the same time, Asta and Noelle noticed someone else was already there—a slender young man standing quietly beneath the moon, listening intently.
No one spoke. The three of them simply listened until the song gently came to an end.
Then—
The tranquil, ethereal atmosphere shattered instantly.
"Ah! You heard me—how embarrassing!"
The ponytailed girl clutched her face and let out an excited squeal.
Noelle and Asta both froze, as though something precious had just broken apart.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Yuuki applauded sincerely.
"That was a beautiful song."
"Ehehe~ You're making me blush," the girl said, clearly delighted. She hopped down lightly from the rock.
"Since you heard me anyway, I might as well introduce myself. I'm Kahono. And you?"
Noelle glanced at Yuuki briefly before turning her attention back to the girl.
"I'm Noelle. And this idiot is Asta."
"Idiot Asta? That's a funny name," Kahono giggled.
"Don't take it seriously! That's just a nickname!" Asta shouted hurriedly.
Kahono laughed and nodded, committing their names to memory.
"Kahono, what are you doing out here?" Noelle asked curiously.
"Practicing my singing! I love singing here," Kahono replied cheerfully.
"Practicing… singing?" Noelle blinked.
"That's right! I have a dream—to become an idol who can sing, dance, and use magic!"
Kahono spread her arms wide, her face glowing with excitement.
"What's an idol?" Asta asked blankly.
Yuuki smiled.
"It's a term that's been gaining popularity in the common realm and parts of noble society. Simply put, it refers to someone who's loved and admired by many people."
"And I hear it pays pretty well," Noelle added.
Realization dawned on both of them.
"Exactly!" Kahono nodded vigorously. "I'm going to be an idol—and become super rich!"
"You know a lot, Amu!" Asta said familiarly, laughing as he stepped closer to Yuuki.
"I just happen to know a little," Yuuki replied with a faintly helpless smile.
"Hmm?" Kahono suddenly examined Asta more closely.
"Asta, your body doesn't look too great. Your muscles are packed with fatigue."
"Guess I trained too hard," Asta said, scratching his head.
Kahono smiled mysteriously.
"Song Recovery Magic — Healing Lullaby."
She hummed softly as magic gathered, forming transparent bubbles of various sizes in the air. They floated around Asta before merging into his body one by one.
"Whoa! Amazing! All my fatigue's gone!" Asta exclaimed.
Song Magic, huh…
Yuuki observed calmly.
It was a solid recovery spell, but still far inferior to Phoenix Robe. Most healing magic could only restore wounds, while Phoenix Robe and Beast Magic could regenerate severed limbs entirely—an entirely different tier.
As Kahono turned to demand a "treatment fee" from Asta, Yuuki smiled, pulling out a sheet of paper and a pen.
"Miss Kahono," he said earnestly, "may I have your autograph?"
"Eh?!" Kahono gasped, staring at the paper and pen in shock.
"With such a beautiful voice, and such precise control over magic," Yuuki continued modestly,
"I believe you'll become a remarkable idol mage someday. So I thought I should get your autograph now—before you become famous."
"R-Really?!" Kahono's eyes sparkled.
She quickly composed herself, putting on a calm façade—but the smile she couldn't quite hide betrayed her joy.
This was the first time someone had acknowledged her dream so sincerely—asked for her autograph, no less. She felt genuinely moved.
Kahono eagerly took the paper and pen, scribbling her name across it.
"Here! Treasure it, okay?"
"Of course," Yuuki replied.
"It's getting late. I'll take my leave."
With a gentle smile, he signaled to Asta and Noelle before turning back toward the inn.
Noelle noticed Asta staring at Yuuki's retreating back in a daze and smacked him on the head.
"What are you staring at, idiot Asta?"
"I dunno… that guy named Amu feels kinda familiar," Asta muttered.
(End of Chapter)
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