[ From beginning to end, Horikita Suzune believed that she and Ayanokōji Kiyotaka were partners working toward the same goal—perhaps even close companions. But to Ayanokōji, Horikita Suzune was nothing more than a tool. ]
[ Everything Ayanokōji did was solely for his own sake. No matter the process, no matter the sacrifice, as long as he stood as the winner in the end, that was enough. ]
[ In his eyes, although Emilia's personality differed greatly from Horikita's, they were functionally identical. They were both people whose thoughts could be easily predicted; and such people were the easiest to control. ]
"Is this for real?"
"Ayanokōji is actually that kind of person?!"
"But he barely has any presence in class at all!"
In the eyes of his peers, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka was practically transparent. Whether in academics or sports, he always landed squarely in the middle of the pack. How could someone so unremarkable—someone who vanished into a crowd the moment you looked away—possess such a terrifyingly cold mind?
Watching the monologue scroll across the giant screen, Horikita Suzune's eyes widened. A wave of shock radiated from her gaze, leaving her speechless for a long moment. She truly hadn't expected this.
While she knew he hid his true abilities, Ayanokōji had provided her with immense help during previous class incidents. She had grown to trust him, even considering him her only true ally in the class.
A sudden, inexplicable sense of betrayal and sorrow surged in her heart. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but her pride forced her to tilt her head back, refusing to let them fall.
"Ayanokōji!" Horikita turned to him, her voice trembling with a hint of accusation.
"It's just a video. It isn't real," Ayanokōji replied with a faint sigh. His tone was dismissive, his face a mask of indifference. It was the umpteenth time he had repeated this to her.
But despite his words, he knew. He knew the video spoke the truth. He had never once viewed any of his classmates as "friends"—Horikita included. The video was capturing his essence with surgical precision; the person on that screen was undeniably him.
His harmless appearance and "bystander" attitude were his ultimate camouflage. By wearing the label of a "total pacifist," he had fooled everyone into ignoring the calculating mind beneath.
However, he found Horikita's current anger and sadness illogical. Even if the video was a simulation of the future, the events depicted hadn't actually happened yet. Why be angry over a hypothetical? Furthermore, even if she knew his true thoughts, their goals were aligned. His actions benefited her. There was no rational reason for her to be upset.
Devoid of such emotions himself, Ayanokōji couldn't empathize with her. But, considering that he still needed to use "Tool-kun" Horikita in the future, he refrained from admitting to the screen's psychological profile.
"I don't have the energy to think about that much," he said smoothly, his amber eyes completely flat.
Horikita's gaze lingered on his face for several seconds, searching for a crack in the armor, but she found nothing.
[ Ayanokōji's reason for sticking with Emilia was simple: following a local made gathering intelligence easier. Despite his vast knowledge, he was effectively illiterate and ignorant in this world. Having a native to assist him was the most efficient way to understand his surroundings. ]
[ To Ayanokōji, Emilia was his 'utility' for understanding the world. He harbored no ill will toward her. Puck, being a Spirit, could sense that lack of malice, but even he couldn't grasp the cold truth of Ayanokōji's intentions. ]
[ "By the way, what exactly was stolen from you?" Ayanokōji asked, focusing his attention on Emilia. ]
[ "An insignia. It has a gemstone set in the center..." As she spoke, Emilia used her hands to describe the shape, worried he wouldn't understand. ]
[ "Is the gem unique? Or does the insignia have a specific meaning?" Ayanokōji pressed. Based on his observations, Emilia's attire and bearing set her apart from the commoners. She clearly belonged to a higher social stratum and likely possessed wealth. If it were just a common trinket, she wouldn't be this desperate to find it. ]
"Wait!?"
Emilia gasped, her hands frantically patting her waist. She fumbled around until her fingers finally brushed against the cold metal of the insignia tucked into her belt. She let out a long, shaky breath of relief.
"Honestly, Lia! How can you be so careless?" Puck chided, floating beside her. "That's your Royal Selection Insignia! You can't just lose that!"
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Emilia quickly took the insignia off and hid it in a much more secure place where no one could snatch it.
In the Slums.
A giant of a man, over two meters tall, stared at the sky in shock. He quickly turned to the girl standing beside him.
The girl had short blonde hair and a youthful face. Her mouth was slightly open in surprise, revealing a single snaggletooth. Her large, bright eyes were wide with curiosity, like a wild cat's. She wore a distinctive outfit: a small brown jacket over a bandeau top, and black leggings where only one side reached down to her ankle, tied with a red ribbon.
She was the exact image of the girl in the video who had stolen Emilia's insignia.
"Rom... I... I haven't even stolen it yet!"
The girl, Felt, protested immediately. "I mean, someone did contact me about stealing a girl's insignia, but I didn't know what it was... I haven't actually done it! I've just been scouting the area lately!"
The clever Felt had already deduced that the sky-broadcast was a vision of the future. Old Man Rom looked at her sternly. "You were going to steal that? That's a Royal Candidate's insignia! Do you have any idea how much trouble that would cause?"
"Turn down the job. Now! Do you hear me?"
"I know, I know!" Felt grumbled.
"Do you remember what the client looked like?"
"She was a very beautiful woman... had a mole under her left eye... I don't remember much else."
"Forget it. Let's just keep watching," Rom sighed, turning back to the sky.
[ Ayanokōji knew Emilia was holding back information, but since she didn't seem ready to talk, he didn't push. "Do you have paper and a pen?" ]
[ "No, I don't. But we can buy some at the market!" Emilia said. She led him to a nearby marketplace to purchase the supplies. ]
[ During the walk, Ayanokōji continuously absorbed data. He learned that the currency consisted of Holy Gold coins, silver coins, and copper coins. He also realized that while he could understand the spoken language, he couldn't read the script. He made a mental note to achieve literacy as soon as possible. ]
[ Furthermore, he noticed the looks of disgust and hostility the locals aimed at Emilia. He caught fragments of conversation—'Half-Elf,' 'Silver hair,' 'Witch.' Connecting these to her appearance, he wondered: was she being discriminated against purely for her heritage, or was there another reason? ]