Mage of an Organization?

"Who are you talking to?"

His question made the whole place tremble in my mind. I couldn't move my body an inch. I gathered all my strength in my throat and tried to utter a few words.

"N-nobody, I'm j-just talking to myself."

My answer sounded like a lunatic's, but I couldn't come up with any other excuse.

"I see, I see, so you're one of those people who talk to themselves," he nodded as if he understood everything.

My head filled with shame when I realized I had said something stupid. I could hear Arariel sigh.

«Well, looking like a lunatic is better than being discovered,» she said tiredly.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your satisfying solitary chat, but you must know that staying here isn't very good, right?" He turned his back on me and started walking to where the Fuban had been.

Huh? The Fuban is supposed to be dead, right?

Thinking about that, I looked towards the spot where the cube had been, and there was a humanoid figure.

Impossible, impossible, no one could survive that.

"Damn brat! I'm going to... Kuh!" The Fuban appeared.

Her appearance was haggard, her green hair was covered in dirt, the black suit with green lines showed a large number of burns, one of her eyes was scorched, and she could only stand by supporting herself with one of her swords.

"Oh, I didn't think you'd survive that."

Otsumi said with a calm voice.

"Damn you... You're not a normal mage..." her voice was a mix of fear and surprise.

Otsumi tilted his head.

"I never said I was a normal mage; I don't even think I said I was one."

She opened her eyes in realization.

"It's not possible... if you're not a mage, how could you do that magic?"

He smiled and moved closer to the Fuban, his index finger to his mouth.

"A mage never tells his secrets, though I don't think 'mage' goes there."

When he finished, he swiftly pulled some blades from his sleeves.

In the moonlight, one could see beautiful marks on the sword, along with the incredible drawing technique, making a spectacle for the eyes.

"Unfortunately, I have to end the fun now."

Desperation could be seen in the Fuban's eyes.

"You think this will end if you kill me?! In the end, they just have to send stronger personnel that can't be repelled!"

"Mm... It's really a bother, but I was told to defend the house, so I can't leave any intruder alive. I'm a great defender, aren't I?"

Hearing Otsumi's sarcastic voice, all hope in her eyes vanished.

"Then, sayonara," he swung his blades horizontally.

The metal touched the Fuban's slender neck, gently tearing it and leaving a cut that let her blood escape.

Or so it should have happened.

Before one of the blades reached the Fuban's neck, she had disappeared.

"Huh?"

Sh-she disappeared...?

«Look up, silly.»

I listened to Arariel, and in the bright night, I saw two humanoid figures.

"This idiot, so much talk and she couldn't finish the mission, Line."

"It was to be expected from the insect girl, don't be so disappointed, Stella."

The figures talked to each other; one of them was carrying the insect woman.

"...D-damn brats."

The insect woman didn't seem grateful; she exuded great hostility towards her saviors.

The two figures were people, but like the insect woman, they had wings—these were eagle wings.

"Zeroi, Mom, and everyone expected you to complete a simple mission, and you didn't even kill the target."

The insect woman's face turned pale. Though it was barely visible from here.

"I-if it weren't for that mage from the association..."

The two birds stood guard upon hearing her murmurs and looked at Otsumi.

"So, I'm back on stage," he said playfully. "It's an honor to meet two young Fubans if I may give my opini..."

"Shut up."

"Huh?"

The bloodlust from one of the birds increased when Otsumi spoke.

"You damned mages from the association have annihilated a large number of us. If you're here, it's because you were ordered to kill any Fuban you saw."

The face of the eagle who called herself Stella grew grim.

«They must have killed someone close to her,» Arariel said.

The sheer bloodlust dispersed was so great it gave me goosebumps.

I really am useless.

"Stella, calm down!"

The one who spoke was the other figure, his name must be Line, and he was carrying the insect woman.

Stella was surprised by her companion's shout.

"It seems this human has no intention of killing us."

This eagle just said something utterly impossible.

I looked at Otsumi, and at some point, the blade in his hand had disappeared. He wasn't radiating an ounce of hostility and didn't flinch at Stella's bloodlust.

"I-Impossible! A moment ago you said you'd kill me!" the insect woman protested.

Hearing that, Otsumi began to laugh as I had never heard before.

"You're clever, Fuban! I just have to tell those fools that even though there was an intruder, they were killed," he burst into laughter as he spoke.

The Fuban Stella's eyes widened at the unexpected situation.

"Why would you let us live?!" she shouted angrily.

Otsumi, recovering from his laughter, spoke.

"Why, you ask?" he wiped the tears from his eyes from laughing so hard. "Because it's fun, what other reason would there be?"

Everyone fell silent at his answer. The only sound was the midnight breeze.

«He's definitely crazy,» Arariel said as if she had all the necessary evidence.

Well, it's not like I could contradict her.

"...Damn human..." Stella said, on the verge of exploding with rage.

"Stella, let's go, mission failed."

"...Damn."

The Fuban eagle Line looked at the insect woman in his arms.

"And we need a punishment for her."

The woman's face grew even paler and she began to tremble wildly.

The two Fubans aligned themselves and took off at incredible speeds, leaving a large amount of wind. It was so strong that all the trees shook, letting their leaves fall.

Good thing I had the magic dress Arariel gave me. If I had my usual skirt, a lot would be seen.

In the bright night, only a man in black and a woman who seemed to be cosplaying remained.

Well, we also had a wolf, but she's an exception.

"The fun's over," he turned to me. "Now, Miss Silver, can you tell me your reason for being here?" He offered a gentle smile.

Despite his gentleness, my whole body began to tremble as I remembered my intentions for coming here.

No, if I told him I was here to assassinate one of the members of the Kanechi family, one of the great houses, he would definitely kill me; his mission was even to kill any intruder.

Otsumi, tilting his head, seemed to realize something.

"Oh, forgive my abruptness, allow me to reintroduce myself." He placed his left hand behind his back, and with his right, took off his hat and bowed elegantly. "My name is Otsumi Akanobu, a temporary member of the mages' association."

His elegant voice made you forget that a moment ago he was speaking brazenly and laughing like crazy.

My cheeks warmed a bit at the unexpected treatment.

«Hey, at least return the greeting,» it seemed Arariel was more elegant than she appeared.

"P-pardon me too, b-being in such an e-extreme s-situation, I had f-forgotten to in-introduce myself."

I placed both hands on my skirt and lifted it carelessly.

Damn, I tried to introduce myself using my learned knowledge of etiquette, but my experience was nonexistent.

If I could curl up and die of embarrassment, I would.

"M-m-my n-name is..." I thought for a moment before saying it. "...Th-the S-silver Wolf!" I struck a pose imitating one of the magical girl shows on TV.

Otsumi looked at me in surprise.

I'm really going to die.

«Wow, that was an amazing presentation,» Arariel's sarcasm didn't help either.

I heard some chuckles; it was Otsumi laughing elegantly, recovering from my embarrassing introduction.

"It's a bit exquisite to taste a lady's embarrassment, but after all, we can't ignore the problem," he said in a serious tone.