"I guess my work here is done. I have nothing left to teach you."
"Thank you so much, Master Yugo. You didn't just give me combat techniques; you taught me something far more important. I can't find the words to express my gratitude."
After parting ways with Cyan, Misery had headed straight for Yugo's dwelling. She bowed low to the young man, who watched her with a gentle, supportive smile.
Misery had already mastered the fundamentals of her new fighting style. From this point forward, her growth would depend on her own ingenuity, her own training, and the refinement of her own strength.
Now that she had cast aside her hesitation and made a fresh start, she no longer required his direct guidance.
It wasn't quite as formal as a master granting a secret scroll of succession, but Yugo had exhausted everything he could teach her. The time had come for Misery to leave the nest.
"Give it your all, Misery. That dream of becoming a magnificent Magic Knight like your father—make sure you fulfill it!"
"Yes! Thank you! I will absolutely make my dream come true!"
"...Hey, I hate to ruin the mood of this touching graduation ceremony, but it’s not like Misery is actually going anywhere, right? She’s still going to be living and studying here at Luminous Academy tomorrow, so you can see her whenever you want."
"Don't be so tactless, Melt. The parting of a master and disciple is always an event of great emotional significance..."
"...Hey, Marcos? Are you crying?"
"Don't be absurd! Why would I, the proud eldest son of the House of Borg, shed tears over something like this? I simply... got some dust in my eyes, that's all!"
"Ahaha... Marcos-san got even more invested in Misery-san than my brother did. I guess seeing her move on brings up a lot of feelings for him."
It wasn't exactly a final farewell, but the master and disciple were certainly treating it like one. As Fee watched the exchange with a wry smile—and noted that Melt and the others seemed even more worked up than the principals—Yugo spoke again.
"Oh, right. One last bit of meddling. There’s someone I want to introduce to you, Misery. Though, I suppose you've already met."
"To me? Who could it be...?"
"Me! Seriously, I thought I was going to be left out of the spotlight until the very end!"
The person who stepped forward in response was Hex. He hadn't had much to do with Misery until now.
Misery blinked at him, looking a bit confused, before turning an inquiring gaze toward Yugo. Her master nodded.
"From here on out, you'll be taking on practical lessons and requests, right? I thought it would be easier if you had a partner to watch your back. You've only just learned this new style, and if you’re aiming to be a Magic Knight, you need to learn how to coordinate with others. I think Hex is the perfect fit for that."
"Well, Misery specializes in high-speed, single-target strikes, while I'm a bit slower but powerful enough to handle crowds. We can cover each other's weaknesses. I'm still getting back on my feet myself, so having a partner would be a huge help."
"I see. That makes sense. In that case, I have no objections. I look forward to working with you, Hex-san."
Misery realized Yugo wasn't just finding someone to take care of her; he had matched her with someone based on their individual strengths and needs. She nodded firmly and extended her hand.
Hex took it, though he looked a bit flustered and nervous as they shook hands. Watching the two of them, Yugo grinned.
"Great! Well then, Misery, I’m leaving Hex in your care!"
"Yes! Leave him to me, Master!"
"...Wait, am I the one being taken care of? Isn't that backwards? Yugo? Hey, Yugo!?"
Hex barked out a protest at his treatment, but Yugo and Misery both ignored him with practiced grace.
As a sympathetic Fee tried to comfort Hex, Misery turned back to Yugo with a serious expression.
"...Thank you for everything, Master Yugo. I will carry your teachings in my heart forever. To me, you are a master I respect from the bottom of my soul, and my greatest benefactor. I will continue to train so that I may one day repay this debt. Please, watch me as I catch up to and surpass my father!"
"Yeah! I'll be looking forward to it!"
Yugo gave her a thumbs-up and a clear smile, cheering her on.
It had been a hectic few days, but he was truly glad he had been able to help Misery find her way. In response to his gesture, Misery beamed at him with the brightest smile she had ever shown and returned the thumbs-up.
"Man, I really did end up with an extra. What am I supposed to do with this?"
Watching the group from afar, Lost sighed as he toyed with a giant needle in his hand.
He lamented the fact that his plan to amplify the darkness in Misery’s heart and transform her into a Magic Armor Beast had been completely dismantled by Yugo’s interference. Even so, his voice sounded oddly playful.
"That guy who fought Misery-chan was a total loser, after all. It’d be a waste to just give this to some random person now. What to do, what to do?"
He still had the item he’d intended for the plan, but it was currently dead weight.
He could save it, but he felt like he would just keep missing the window to use it... As he pondered his options, a high-pitched voice rang out from behind him.
"Kyahahaha! A total failure, Lost! You really messed up!"
"Sigh... It’s you, Drop. What do you want? Just so you know, if you’re only here to mock me, I’m going to get annoyed."
"So cold! And here I was thinking I’d help you out since you bungled your plan!"
"I know perfectly well that you aren't that kind of person. So? What's the catch?"
The girl Lost called Drop was dressed in jet-black gothic lolita fashion.
Long black hair obscured half of her face, but the visible right half was twisted into a smile of pure madness. She looked at Lost.
"Give that to me, won't you? I'll make it worth your while... You don't have any use for it anyway, right?"
"I don't mind, but what are you going to do with it?"
"I'm putting together a really interesting plan! If it works, it’s going to be so much fun! I thought I might as well add a little extra spice to the mix!"
Drop spoke in an innocent, childish tone, but her eyes were brimming with malice and insanity.
Sensing the sheer wickedness radiating from her, Lost let out a short sigh and tossed the needle toward her.
"Fine, I'm in. In exchange, I want you to incorporate my ideas into your plan."
"Kyahaha! Score! Then let's think of it together, shall we? A scenario for a wonderful game where we punish trash and make everyone miserable!"
With an innocence that was utterly hollow, the masterminds let their malice grow.
Their voices reached no one as they vanished into the darkness, taking their shadows with them.