"Who's there?"
The loud crash jolted Kamito upright from the bed, his eyes fixed warily on the broken window.
Two masked figures leapt in from outside. Under the moonlight, it was clear they were two sturdy men.
"Are you sure it's them?"
"Of course! I saw that woman earlier today with a whole pile of gold coins!"
"Then she's the one!"
Their gazes slid past Kamito and locked onto Elise, who was lying on the bed.
In the eyes of ordinary people, aside from Demon King Solomon, there were no male Elementalists. The boy before them looked weak and frail—easy enough to take care of!
"Hand over all your valuables, and maybe we'll let you live!"
The tall man pointed his longsword at Kamito. The blade gleamed dangerously under the moonlight.
"I refuse!"
"Elise, hide quickly!"
With a shout, Kamito charged the two men. Though his skills had declined, dealing with two ordinary men—non-Elementalists—was still well within his reach.
"Is that so? Then don't blame us! After taking your money, we'll sell you off as slaves!"
The men gripped their longswords, ready to teach this reckless boy a lesson. But what happened next made their expressions change drastically.
The descending blade was dodged with a sidestep. Kamito's strong kick slammed into the man's stomach, sending him crashing into the wall by the window. His masked partner was knocked aside as well!
Too strong! Was he really just a boy?
Two grown men taken down in just a few moves? If word got out, their peers would laugh them to death!
"You may be strong, but we came prepared!"
Seeing Kamito's wary stance, one masked man flicked a dagger hidden in his sleeve—its target, behind Kamito!
Had Elise escaped?
Without looking back, Kamito raised a bedboard to block the dagger. But then, he sensed something off. A new presence had appeared nearby…
Right behind him!
"Hmph, boy, you'd better surrender! I already have her!"
A third man?
So the two from the window were just bait? The real threat was this third one, entering normally through the door!
Had his senses dulled so much that he hadn't noticed?
But something else troubled Kamito even more.
"Why didn't you run, Elise?"
Indeed, Elise was still lying on the bed, hardly moving—only her body trembling faintly.
What was going on?
"We drugged the water in your room. Not sure why you're unaffected, but it doesn't matter—she's already ours!"
The third man pulled Elise into his grasp. As for Est… perhaps too small to be noticed, still hidden under the blanket?
"Kamito…"
Elise's weak voice called his name, but Kamito could see clearly—she was affected by the drug.
"Let her go!"
Kamito clenched his fists, glaring at the man holding Elise.
"Hah? And why should I?"
The man scowled and pressed a knife against Elise's neck.
"I've got a hostage! If you don't do as I say, this pretty face of hers will be ruined!"
The blade sliced through Elise's eyepatch. She quickly shut her eyes tight, turning her head away from the man.
"Hm?"
Her reaction only drew the man's attention further. Grabbing her head, he forced her to face him.
"What are you doing? Open your eyes and look at me!"
But Elise refused to open her eyes, pushing the man's temper to the edge.
At that moment, Kamito froze. He remembered what Elise had said earlier.
If ordinary people saw her eyes, their fate would be terrible?
"Wait! Don't look into her eyes!"
Even though they were enemies, Kamito tried to stop them—for their own sake, and so Elise wouldn't have to harm others.
"You think I'll stop just because you said so? That would make me lose face!"
"I'll look if I want to!"
Kamito's entire body tensed with unease, but Elise could only sigh helplessly.
Seriously, brother?
I already warned you, and you still insist on looking?
I just told Kamito what would happen to anyone who saw my eyes, and you go ahead anyway?
If your end isn't miserable enough, how am I supposed to explain it to him?
Finally, with Elise showing an expression of seeming "reluctance," the man forced open her tightly shut eyelids and looked into the depths of her gaze…
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Kamito swallowed hard, dread filling his chest. He didn't know what would happen next—but it had to be terrifying.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but the man seemed to freeze, staring blankly into Elise's eyes.
Seconds later, bloodshot veins spread across his eyeballs, his eyes bulging wide!
And then the unexpected happened—
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh—!"
The man clutched his head, screaming incoherently.
Even as he screamed, he tore at his scalp with his nails, scratching deeper and deeper. In no time, bloody streaks covered his face!
But his frenzied actions didn't stop—instead, they intensified! His fingernails dug into his own eyes!
"Elise!"
Seizing the chance, Kamito rushed forward, pulling Elise free from the man's grasp, along with Est who was still asleep under the blanket.
Turning back, he and the other two men watched in horror at the grotesque scene.
There was no sign of Divine Power, nor the aura of a spirit. And yet, this man had been driven to such madness.
His head no longer looked like a head—hair torn out, skin ripped away, his face was now nothing but a bloody mask, a corpse dripping with gore.
Utterly horrifying!
Kamito, who had witnessed countless tragic scenes since childhood, still trembled all over at the sight, gripped by fear.
As for the two lackeys, just witnessing the scene was enough to make them faint dead away.
Before long, the man's movements stopped completely. His life had run its course. He was dead.
In that instant, Kamito almost turned his head to look at Elise—but recalling the horrific scene just now, he suppressed the impulse.
"That is the consequence. Did you see, Kamito?"
Elise's voice came from the side, but Kamito could hear the deep sadness laced within it.
"…"
Kamito remained silent.
He didn't know how to face this girl anymore.