5

Knock-Knock-Knock

The sound of fingers tapping on the desk echoed steadily throughout the room.

In the direction of the sound, a large man sat indifferently, staring at the woman standing in front of him.

"My hearing's not so great, you see. Could you repeat that for me?"

"…The murderer possesses the strength to easily overpower an adult male. According to reports, he is a man nearly two meters tall."

The large man thought the woman was quite audacious.

"Heh heh… Is that so? Have you pinpointed his location?"

"I'm sorry. We're still in the process of finding information regarding his whereabouts."

The woman bowed her head, genuinely appearing apologetic as she sought forgiveness.

"Hmm…"

Knock-Knock-Knock

After a brief moment of contemplation, the man effortlessly lifted the desk as if he were picking up a feather.

"It seems people everywhere are underestimating me."

"…Boss?"

In the blink of an eye.

The desk flew toward the woman's face, accompanied by the man's grin.

"…!"

Unable to evade, the woman raised her arms, trying to protect her head.

Crash!

"Ugh!"

Unable to withstand the impact, she collapsed onto the floor.

"Isn't that right, Dania?"

"Urgh… Boss… What is this…"

"A girl with immense strength."

"…!"

"The story I've heard seems very different from the one you're telling me."

"You knew…"

"Hahaha! Do you think you're the only subordinate I have?"

The large man, Bram, grabbed Dania by the hair and yanked her head up to look at him.

"Ugh!"

"What could have made such a clever girl act so foolishly?"

Tremble. Tremble.

"Did you, perhaps, see that girl and think of your own sister?"

As if to confirm Bram's accusation, Dania's eyes began to shake violently.

Bram yanked her hair even harder.

"Do you know why I keep you by my side even though I know you want to kill me?"

"Aaahh!!…"

"Is it because you're a capable subordinate who gets the job done? Or is it because you're one of the few mana users in this city?"

"Let… go!"

Dania glared at Bram with wide, furious eyes.

"Because your sister, who you value far more than your own life."

"....."

"It's not even a challenge for me to ruin her."

Finally, Bram let go of her hair, causing Dania's head to fall toward the floor, on the verge of smashing against it.

"You pretend to be obedient to me because you know that, don't you?"

"Sob… Sob…"

"Tsk… Disgusting."

Brushing the torn strands of hair from his hand, Bram walked out the door.

"I'll let it slide this time, but you'd better make sure nothing like this happens again."

That is, if you want your sister to stay safe.

Once he left with a grin, only the woman's sorrowful sobs remained.

***

Plod, plod.

Dania walked with exhausted steps.

Her eyes were filled with deep sorrow and helplessness.

After walking for a while, she arrived at a shabby, dilapidated house in front of her.

Though the building was poorly constructed, it was still a precious home to Dania.

'I can't show this side of me to Lily.'

Slap.

Dania slapped both of her cheeks with her hands, shaking herself out of her thoughts. She then forced a smile on her face as she opened the door.

"Lily~ Your sis's home."

When I opened the door, the one who greeted me was my little sister, who I wouldn't mind spoiling endlessly.

"Sis!!!"

Lily ran towards me and jumped into my arms.

"Why are you so late today?"

I patted her head as I replied.

"Sorry… I had a lot of work today. But I'll make your favorite potatoes for dinner as an apology."

"Really? You're the best, unnie!!"

Lily beamed at me with a bright smile.

Seeing her sunny and innocent smile, I almost felt tears welling up in my eyes again without realizing it.

After dinner, I was cleaning up when Lily approached me.

"Unnie! I have something to brag about!"

Lily looked at me with a proud smile.

"Hmm? What could it be~?"

"Hehe… watch this!"

Lily picked up a cooking knife and walked over to a wide space.

Then, she tightly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and…

"OF!"

She swung the knife vertically with great force.

At a glance, it just looked like she was swinging a knife, but to my eyes, which could sense mana, it was clear.

"The magic you taught me, unnie. Now I can do it too!"

'Lily… has magic power?'

The technique Lily just used was a simple enchantment spell that imbues a weapon with magic power.

Because there would be no one left to protect her if something ever happened to me, I had been teaching Lily how to use mana and self-defense techniques whenever I had the chance.

Fortunately, Lily had the talent to sense mana.

Perhaps with a few more years of training, she would be fully capable of using mana.

But she was already able to wield magic power now.

This was proof of her exceptional talent.

A glimmer of hope began to rise in a corner of my heart.

'This makes it possible.'

The goal I had been grinding towards under Bram's oppressive grip—getting Lily into the Academy.

Regis Academy values meritocracy.

If you can sense mana, you have the qualifications to enter, and they adhere to the principle that status doesn't matter at all.

Even though Lily had lost her place in society and had no status, she could still get into the Academy if she had the skills.

Once Lily entered the Academy, Bram would no longer be able to touch her.

I embraced Lily and praised her.

"Our Lily. You're so amazing. I'm really proud of you."

Lily giggled in Dania's arms.

"If anyone tries to bother you, I'll punish them! Don't worry!"

Maybe it was because of the tough day.

Dania felt like she might burst into tears again at Lily's kind words.

Swallowing back the tears that threatened to overflow.

"Sniff… I have no worries at all!.. Thanks to you, Lily.. Thank you."

She smiled brightly, following her precious little sister.

That day, Dania was able to fall asleep with a smile.

"Sis… Are you asleep?.."

Lily carefully called out to her sister.

Her sister was deeply asleep, likely due to exhaustion.

'She definitely cried.'

Though her sister tried to hide it, she couldn't conceal the traces of tears around her eyes and the smell of blood on her.

Lily bit her lip.

To become stronger, Lily practiced the techniques her sister had taught her tirelessly while Dania was away at work.

Until she could use mana herself.

"I'll kill him… I'll definitely kill him…"

No matter how strong that man is. As long as he's human, if I stab him in the back of the head with a knife, he won't escape death.

The hatred growing inside her fueled her resolve, and the coldness in Lily's eyes was something Dania could never have imagined.

***

"You're going to repay it, right?"

A boy who was pressing me about a debt.

"I'll pay it back…"

It's so unfair.

I've never caused any trouble over money in my life.

Why should I be scolded over money I never borrowed?

'Isn't he lying?'

He could be exploiting the fact that I have amnesia to create a debt that never existed.

'But he doesn't seem like a bad guy… He even gave me bread earlier…'

Oh, whatever.

Money? I'll just pay it back. I can't be petty about something like this.

If I just regain my special power, money won't be an issue.

What I need right now is not money, but information.

"I promise I'll pay it back. Just help me regain my memory."

The boy looked at me for a long time and then sighed before saying.

"What is it that you're curious about?"

I listened intently to the boy's words.

The body I have been possessed by is named Hera.

Apparently, she had been living as a pickpocket here for some time.

Ah.

The boy who gave me the bread—his name is Charlie.

We met two years ago when we tried to steal from each other by chance.

Since then, we've met occasionally to talk.

From what I hear, both Charlie and I were skilled thieves.

This place we're in is called the lawless zone of Drax.

We're in the western district, which is located on the western side of Drax.

In this district, a king called Bram rules, and his word is the law here in the west.

"So even if you're stealing, never mess with anyone related to Bram."

Charlie crossed his hands widely, making a gesture of prohibition.

The lawless zone of Drax. I remember it.

The name of the city that collapsed when Athena fought the monster 'Argentina.'

Though the monster was subjugated, the city was destroyed.

The emperor decided that the city couldn't be restored, so as a form of monster subjugation compensation, he handed Drax over to Athena.

But Athena, who didn't care about others, paid no attention to the abandoned city and its citizens. Naturally, the city turned into a lawless zone.

'In the novel, Drax was merely one of the many hints related to Athena's hidden past.'

It was just a plot device used to reveal Athena's backstory.

Ah. There was Lily, too.

One of the heroines, Lily, also came from Drax.

An assassin with a yandere tendency, always sticking close to the protagonist.

They said her obsession with love grew worse after she lost her sister, right?

From the last part of the novel I read, there was a scene where Lily freaks out upon seeing Athena, which confirmed that Athena was the hidden mastermind.

Anyway.

Drax was merely a setting created to describe the characters' pasts and had nothing to do with the protagonist. It was a place that perfectly matched my goal of not interfering with the protagonist's actions.

Although the city is managed by Athena, that one doesn't care about Drax in the slightest.

'Just right.'

A plan for the future began to take shape in my mind.

First and foremost, I need to be able to use my unique ability. If I can manage that, I should be able to live comfortably even in this place.

Drax is a region where the homeless and criminals of uncertain ability gather. People like that wouldn't stand a chance against someone with abilities. And in this lawless zone, the strong are the law. I would be able to enjoy quite a lot of privileges.

'I'll rule this place, relax, and wait until the protagonist reaches the ending.'

Great.

It's a perfect plan.

As expected, I must be a genius—

"Hey!"

"Huh?"

Charlie's shout instantly pulled me out of my reverie.

"Are you spacing out or what?"

"Uh… sorry. What were you saying?"

"Sigh… I told you not to mess with anyone connected to Bram."

"Uh…"

Sorry, Charlie… but that's going to be difficult.

There can't be two suns in the sky.

As long as Bram is standing tall, I won't be able to enjoy a prosperous life here.

For the sake of my plan, it seems Bram is someone I'll have to step on. I don't feel guilty; he's just another criminal anyway.

"Hmm. Hmm…"

Charlie cleared his throat a few times and looked at me cautiously before starting to speak.

"And there was something I didn't get to say earlier."

"…?"

Seeing Charlie suddenly turn serious, I perked up and focused on his words.

"You probably don't remember but…"

"Hmm? What is it?"

It seemed like he was about to tell me something I didn't know.

Could there be more debts I owe besides Charlie?

That would be a bit of a problem…

"You… actually promised…"

"Yeah?"

Could it be the opposite, that there's someone who owes me money?

"You promised to marry me."

"What?"

"You said you'd marry me."

Boom!

"What the…?!"

My foot slammed into the left side of Charlie's face.

"Don't play games with me."

Who do you think you're messing with, you *&$#@.

Wait.

Did I just… use my ability?