After finishing my business, I left the Adventurers' Guild.
The Receptionist had pleaded with me to take on a request since she’d gone to the trouble of teaching me so much, but I wasn't under any obligation to listen, so I turned her down. None of the requests seemed particularly appealing, and frankly, it just sounded like a hassle.
She had made a face as if to say I was being incredibly unreasonable... but well, whatever. I’m sure anyone could handle a D-rank request even if I didn't do it.
"Still, the Assassin's Guild... I actually clashed with them once back in my adventurer days," Sylpha murmured as we walked home. "I was guarding a carriage when members of the Assassin's Guild attacked under the cover of night. I didn't notice their presence at all until they were right on top of me. I managed to repel them that time, but it was a desperate struggle."
"You struggled, Sylpha?"
That was hard to believe. Even when I tried to hide somewhere to read a book, Sylpha could find me in an instant if she put her mind to it. For her to be caught in an ambush was unheard of. If such a thing were possible, it couldn't have been achieved through mere skill. It was highly likely they were using some kind of magic I wasn't familiar with.
I had thought assassins were little more than common thieves, but now I was suddenly intrigued.
"Sylpha, do you know where the Assassin's Guild is located?"
"No. It’s not as if they have a building standing out in the open. I’ve heard rumors that there are hidden passages all over the city, and one of them leads to their headquarters. ...Master Lloyd, you aren't planning to go there, are you?"
"O-Of course not... Why would I do that? Haha, hahahaha..."
"...I wonder."
Sylpha stared at me suspiciously as I laughed to cover my tracks. No, really, I meant it. I just thought if it were nearby, I might drop by on the way home. But if we didn't know where it was, there was nothing to be done. I’d still like to go if I ever get the chance, though.
That night, I woke up suddenly from my sleep.
I felt a presence. Or rather, to be precise, I felt the absence of one.
This world is usually filled with the signs of life—insects, animals, people. Yet, from one specific spot, I could unnaturally feel nothing at all. I only noticed it because the flow of mana in that area was distorted. It was as if a piece of the world had been cut away.
A void of presence, one might call it. It was a slight ripple that I likely wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't heard Sylpha's story earlier. As proof of its subtlety, even Shiro—who would usually jump up at the slightest sign of an intruder—was sleeping soundly, letting out soft, rhythmic breaths.
"The presence is moving..."
As I sharpened my senses, I could tell it was definitely moving with intent. This must be the assassin everyone was talking about. Severing not just one's presence but their mana entirely was a fascinating technique I had never seen before.
...Alright, since they’ve come all this way, I’ll catch them and ask a few questions. I don't know what their goal is, but since they broke into someone's home without permission, they should be prepared for an interrogation.
Having decided that, I got up and headed toward the presence. Fortunately, the intruder was in the courtyard; even if I made a bit of a scene out there, nobody would notice.
"My opponent is a specialist at erasing their presence, so there's a high chance they'll notice me moving. ...In that case, I'll use this."
Double Casting: Wind System Magic 'Flight' and 'Gale'.
The moment the incantation was complete, swirling winds enveloped both my legs. With this composite magic for high-speed movement, I should be able to reach them before they can react.
"—Hup!"
The moment I kicked off the ground, I went flying toward the target at a terrifying speed.
Whoa, fast—way too fast! I have zero control!
Flying straight like a fired bullet, I slammed on the brakes just before impact and managed to stop mere inches from the ground.
"Whoops... that was close."
I almost crashed. I have a Magic Barrier, so I wouldn't have taken damage, but if I destroyed the garden, the groundskeepers would never let me hear the end of it.
Right in front of me as I landed softly, a figure was cowering in the grass, having lost their balance from the shock.
"Wh—!?"
The one letting out a cry of surprise was a person dressed head-to-toe in black assassin garb. Through the gaps in the black hood, I could only see toxic purple hair, purple eyes, and tanned skin. It was an unmistakable outfit. There was no doubt this was the intruder.
"Why is a child in a place like this?"
"Guh!"
Ignoring my question, the figure immediately scrambled up and leaped backward. But it was futile. I had already activated the Wind System Magic 'Sky Canopy' around them.
They slammed their head hard against the wall of air.
"Ow... owww...!?"
Clutching their head, the intruder crouched down in pain. They tried to flee again immediately, but their face paled when they realized they were trapped inside a barrier.
"It's no use. I've completely enclosed you. Now, you’re going to tell me everything."
At my words, the intruder closed their eyes as if resigned.
"Magic... fine. I didn't want to use this power against a kid, but..."
Saying that, the intruder stripped off the black garb. Underneath the dark outfit, the clothing was the complete opposite—highly revealing, looking more like a garment made of mere strings. The chest, hidden by a few scraps of cloth that looked like they might slip at any moment, was slightly swollen.
It wasn't a boy, but a girl.
As I stood there surprised, a faint, flower-like fragrance wafted into my nose. It was a very sweet scent.
"Black Mist...!"
The girl whispered, and the world before my eyes suddenly swayed and distorted. Nausea, dizziness, and heart palpitations hit me all at once.
Is this poison?
Before I knew it, a black mist had begun to roll off the girl's body. Had she used some kind of poison pouch? No matter; I could just use detoxification magic.
Healing System Magic: 'Purification'.
This spell erases various poisonous components found in insects, plants, and beasts. Since it also works on chemical concoctions, any poison should be neutralized instantly—!
"The poison... isn't disappearing?"
The toxin, which should have vanished immediately, showed no sign of fading. The girl looked down at me as I dropped to my knees from the dizziness.
"It's no use. No one can purify my poison."
'Purification' works by erasing existing poisonous components. Inversely, that means it cannot erase things that aren't actually physical toxins. Which meant the true identity of the poison the girl was using was...
"—It's made of mana, isn't it?"
"Bingo. Not that knowing that will do you any good," the girl answered, looking down at me coldly.
There are a certain number of people born with mana, and most learn how to control it as they grow. However, some cannot. Their mana quality is so peculiar that it is difficult to control on their own. My sister Alieze's ability to attract animals is a type of that. Such individuals cannot control the activation of their mana, and depending on the ability, many lose their lives before reaching adulthood.
People look at those with abilities that harm their surroundings with contempt, and some call them by a specific name:
"A Cursed One... Just as you suspected, that's what I am. I was born with a constitution that scatters poison; thanks to that, I'm known by the dishonorable name 'Ren of the Poison Moth'. Normally, I cover my body with thick clothing, but if I remove it, this happens. If you take a direct hit, you'll succumb to the poison. ...Well, you only breathed in a little, so you won't die—"
Mid-sentence, Ren widened her eyes.
I, who had been on my knees looking as if I were about to collapse, stood straight back up.
"W-Why? Why isn't my poison working...?"
"Oh, it's working. I'm just recovering faster than it can kill me."
By simultaneously performing the Healing System Magic 'Recovery Breathing' and the 'Ki' breathing I had learned from Tao—both of which promote physical recovery—I was constantly healing and offsetting the damage from the poison in real-time.
That said, the logic behind her power was a complete mystery. It was likely a Nature Transformation of mana, but... just what kind of transformation was it? Did she use tools? Was there a reason she had to show her skin, or was it something else...? I was dying to know.
"Sorry, but I'm going to have to investigate you thoroughly."
With a smile on my face, I took a step toward Ren.