Suyu finished her ramen and hurried off. Alistair didn't try to stop her; a good first impression was enough for a start.
Time to move. Let's find that apartment.
Alistair stood up and touched the curved horns on his head. He still wasn't used to them, but having Demi-Human features made him blend in perfectly. He was no longer in the border zones; this was the heart of the district. If humans were rare on the outskirts, they were non-existent here. He followed the navigation, observing the architecture—it was almost a carbon copy of human cities, save for the diversity of the inhabitants.
"So? Should we seize him now?"
At a roadside stall nearby, Karasuba sat in casual wear, questioning the blonde Elf beauty beside her, who was currently disguised as a Liberi.
"No rush. I did some digging; he's that old codger's grandson. He'll come to our Academy eventually, likely as a sponsored student." The blonde woman unhurriedly scooped a spoonful of tofu pudding into her mouth.
"That old codger?" Karasuba looked confused.
"You wouldn't know him. Back then, even I was just a few centuries old. Anyway, his grandfather used magic to foresee certain events. He made preparations for his descendants. Interestingly, he meant to leave everything to his son, but his son never awakened to the supernatural and died a mundane death. Due to the side effects of that prophecy magic, his bloodline was cursed with misfortune for three generations. But 'Alistair Kujo' is strange... a unique 'Providence' has overwritten his tragic fate. His growth is now unhindered. To change one's destiny so thoroughly... it's a god-like feat. I'm curious."
The blonde woman, Magnolia, produced a mask and placed it on the table.
"A mask? It contains massive mana... and something else. Something different." Karasuba picked it up. "Headmistress Magnolia, what is this? It doesn't feel like a standard 'Mystery Item'."
"I don't know. The old man made it, but the power inside is primordial. It's Shadow Energy—or Umbral Power. You see, the World has a 'Digestive System.' It seeks to assimilate anything 'different' into its own laws to grow stronger. This mask might be from another world entirely, which is why its power remains distinct. But there is a terrifyingly powerful soul inside. I wonder why that old man thought his grandson could tame such a thing?" Magnolia tapped the mask, her brow furrowed.
"Perhaps he foresaw that his grandson would be the one to master it?" Karasuba suggested.
"Maybe. The old man's Life Candle has flickered out, so we'll never know for sure. By the way, you suggested capturing him?" Magnolia looked up.
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"The old man left him many 'gifts.' Once, a Fire Dragon possessed the power to burn through mana itself. As you know, mana is the foundation of everything—spells, alchemy, artifacts. That dragon's fire used mana as fuel. It could burn the world down."
"Then he'd be the natural enemy of every supernatural being," Karasuba gasped.
"Indeed. And that flame originated from one of the old man's 'experiments.' Also, did I mention his race?" Magnolia smiled. "His son was human, yet his grandson is a Dragon. The old man used a Ring made from an Abyssal Dragon Lord to trigger the boy's awakening. But this boy's aura isn't a hybrid of Abyss and Dragon—it's pure. High-tier pure blood. If he has the Five-Colored Dragon lineage, specifically the Red Dragon, he has that mana-burning flame."
Magnolia's eyes shimmered. "I'm more concerned about his fertility. Dragon birth rates are abysmal. But if he retains human reproductive stamina combined with Dragon potency... well, our Elves are desperate. Even the Dark Elves aren't breeding enough."
"I heard that Abyssal Dragon represented 'Lust'?" Karasuba noted after a silence.
"Exactly. And he has a recommendation letter. He'll come to us. We don't need to hunt him; we just wait for him to walk through the front gates. How could a boy fueled by 'Lust' refuse the advances of the Elven race? We are, after all, quite popular with humans." Magnolia smiled, picturing Alistair surrendering to their charms.
"Are we the ones getting a bargain... or is he?" Karasuba felt a strange shiver. When she was near Alistair earlier, she felt a primal urge—an instinct to breed that was so violent it made her wonder who the real predator was.