The first thing that Kai saw once he entered the room was Erina disguised as Mio with handcuffs of light covering her hands.
"Kenji, you've arrived."
Although Anne spoke in an emotionless voice as per usual, her face full of anxiety betrayed her facade.
"...President, I heard that a teacher was the one who called for me."
The moment Kai said 'president', Anne flinched and her expression was a look of shock.
"A-ah, I just didn't want to cause a commotion and so I used a teacher's name but don't worry, I have more authority than most teachers."
She still tried to hide her shock despite it being in plain view. Not to mention Erina, even Kai was surprised at how she acted. Sure, Kai thought that Anne would be meek in front of him but he didn't think that she'd be that meek.
Could she be more innocent than I thought? That woman who killed thousands with a single move of her hand?
If it was like this, then all Anne needed was the final push to give in to Kai. Looking at Anne, Erina felt helplessness well up inside her. She turned her eyes to Kai with a wronged look as if she had just found her lover cheating on her with someone else, though that was very close to the situation, it was different.
Kai coughed to dispel the awkwardness.
"So, what did my friend do to be detained like this?"
Kai said the word normally but it sent waves within the two girls as if it was the most emphasized part of the sentence. One of the girls felt despair while the other felt elation. Erina's eyes were already beginning to tear up.
"Erina, it's just an act, don't look like I've abandoned you, you're making even me feel guilty."
He couldn't help but use Telepathy on Erina. Even if Anne were to sense Kai using magic, he had to clear things up with Erina or else she might really cry.
It looked like she was relieved because her face relaxed.
Was she on edge because she kept ignoring me?
Perhaps it was really just that. Erina and Amelia had intentionally been ignoring Kai so what if he actually went for Anne during the period that they ignored him? Maybe they were thinking along those lines, or at least Erina was.
Right now, Erina couldn't use her magic eye or else Anne would think she'd be trying to make a move so she still felt a little suspicion towards Kai but she at least felt a lot more relieved.
"Well," Anne coughed "your friend here got into a fight on school grounds."
She used Kai's words to take a jab at Erina, was it done unconsciously or did she do it on purpose? Either way, it was extremely effective.
"I don't think a regular fight would warrant this kind of treatment though, being cuffed and detained. Wasn't the punishment for students either a deduction in grades or at worst, a suspension? This makes it look like you're planning to haul her over to jail."
It certainly did look like that from another perspective.
"Truth be told, it may be like that, depending on your answer at least."
Anne directed those last words at Erina. She had promised to answer Anne's question but only if Kenji was present.
"Kenji, I assume you know that your friend here can transform into an angel, albeit temporarily."
Kai furrowed his brows.
Angel? Does she mean the silver hair?
"Can you clarify?"
Anne took out a book from within her desk and then opened it at a certain page.
"Here," Anne handed over the book.
Sure enough, it was a book relating to the different races. She had opened the page describing the angels' characteristics.
Kai already knew all of this information. The main points Anne most likely wanted her to focus on was the color of the hair, eyes, and some of the others.
He looked away from the book and then at Anne, he gestured for her to continue with his eyes.
"Approximately twenty minutes ago, I found her fighting the other transfer student, an angel. She had silver hair and eyes, could manipulate ice, and talked in a rather odd manner. If she was just fighting an angel spy then that was fine, I would even reward her for doing so but I also caught her with silver hair."
Anne paused for a bit to look at Erina then turned her eyes back to Kai.
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"Her eyes were black. What do you think that means?"
"That she isn't really an angel."
"That's right."
Finished with her explanations, Anne turned to Erina.
"Well then, Miss Mio, would you kindly explain the reason behind your powers?"
Not only did she have silver hair, but she also controlled ice. Ice was a fusion of wind and water, she needed to have both of the elements to create it. Otherwise, it meant she was born with only ice.
Naturally, Erina couldn't reveal the truth. The grimoire that she had been forced to read contained some of the powers of the Goddess of Frost and in turn, gave her the power. The silver hair was just an embodiment of power and just because they have silver hair, it didn't mean they were angels.
Erina was a pure human.
"Tell her what I'm about to tell you so I can easily support you later.'"
Kai spoke to Erina with Telepathy.
"...I'm actually an offspring of a human and an angel. My mother had fallen for a human man and gave birth to me. She was a follower of the Goddess of Frost and when I was born, I inherited dormant angel blood. In short durations, I can control ice with extreme control and precision but my natural element is water."
As Erina dictated Kai's words, she pondered.
The grimoire gave me the ability of an angel, to harness the Goddess of Frost's powers since I don't have a drop of her blood in me but since Kai is a direct descendant, doesn't that mean he could also...?
In all her years with Kai, she had never seen his colors change other than when he disguised himself as Kenji. What if Kai actually had the ability to harness the power of not only the Goddess of Frost but also the Demon of Hell Flame?
The most resemblance to the divines that Kai had would be when he removed the pendant on his body. He had angel and demon wings, that at least confirmed that he had their blood. When Erina's eyes turn silver, meaning that when she uses the power of the Eternal Frost to as strong as she possibly can, her output increases severalfold.
If Kai who held more power than her were to use it, then how strong would he become? Just how many secrets did Kai actually hold in his body?
"...Seems believable. And seeing that angel from before can also serve as proof, she had the same colors and powers as you after all."
Erina felt relieved.
"But..."
Anne once more took something out of her desk, it was a stack of papers containing Kenji and Mio's profiles when they enrolled.
"Satou Kenji, the name you registered with an unknown background, I managed to find some records."
Kai's expression changed.
"Soaring Eagle Continent, Satou Kenji, currently enrolled in the Royal Magic Academy, on leave from school due to personal matters."
Just how did she get her hands on such information? Not to mention that the information came from somewhere a boat would need a month to travel. It's only been a little more than a week.
"And affiliated with Satou Kenji, is the daughter of S-class, Mariko Hyosuke, Mariko Erina, endowed with the attribute of ice. Strangely, she was born with both black hair and eyes despite having no affinity to darkness. It wasn't until a few years ago did her black hair become silver."
Kai planned to fool Anne but who would think she'd be able to trace back his identity that fast?
"Tsunoda Arata, Onigawara Kei, Kuroshi Yoko, Masuhiro Date, Alteria Sachiko, Alteria Iori. Though I've yet to find out who the last woman is, she definitely isn't Alteria Natsumi, Sasaki Umi, or Takamiya Haruka."
Kai and Erina were stunned.
"Hahaha, I'm sure you're both surprised as to how I know all of this? To be honest, I didn't gather this information. Someone left it in my desk drawer while I went to subdue her in the fight. While waiting for Kenji, I went ahead and read it. Judging by your reactions, what I said was mostly correct."
There could only be one culprit.
Kai grit his teeth. He had underestimated the Soul Thief. He had definitely gathered all the information about Kai's party beforehand and brought it with him. What's more surprising is that he also had Kai's persona, Kenji on the list.
"I'm sure you all must have your reasons and as long as you don't bear ill will towards the academy, I could care less about what you're all doing but, you must answer my next questions truthfully if you don't want any further complications."
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Soaring Eagle, Alteria Kingdom, Capital
"...?"
Kazuki who was going around various places as part of his duties of being the crown prince felt a strange flow of magic in the air.
"Your Highness?"
One of the knights accompanying Kazuki asked. He was in the middle of a conversation but suddenly stopped to look at another direction.
"...Collins, get me Natsumi and Sasaki Umi within the next hour."
As it happens, they were actually pretty close. Umi's house was only about fifteen minutes away from here while Natsumi had told him that she was currently in a nearby area to scope out some things.
"Yes, sir!"
Collins made a salute and ran through the streets.
"Duke Laxius, I must apologize for cutting my visit on your new shop but something just came up."
"Not at all! Josselyn, see the prince out."
"Yes, father."
The woman with medium red hair smiled and walked in front of the crown prince as they both left the shop. After a few seconds outside exchanging pleasantries, Josselyn returned to her father.
"Listen, Josselyn. Right now, that prince is our family's ticket to getting more influence. That damned Mariko Palace has gotten too powerful recently, even the Snow Princess' brother, the one unfit to be a mage became stronger recently. Without an S-class, we have to rely on connections, do you understand?"
Hearing her father, Josselyn laughed.
"Father, you've repeated this countless times, of course, I understand. Besides, the prince's face is my type, though I would actually prefer the third princess' bodyguard, Kai, was it? I don't think he'll be easily swayed though, I'll just settle for the second best."
The pair laughed. With the prince in their control, the next generations would be as good as theirs.
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"Is this where it came from?"
Natsumi asked.
"No doubt about it, I sensed it as well. But this place is..."
Umi scratched her cheek.
"Miss Yoko's house, I didn't hear anything from Kai..."
Kazuki furrowed his brows, his chin rested on his hand.
"Well, no use brooding about it, let's go inside, we can apologize to Miss Yoko once she returns."
Kazuki took the lead and called one of the housekeepers outside to open the gates. Yoko's house was practically a small mansion with a garden in the front and a fenced backyard.
"Your Highness!"
The oldest housekeeper went up to greet them with several maids lines up behind her.
"I felt an odd flow of magic coming from here, I'm just finding the source. Have any of you cast magic within the past two hours?"
The oldest housekeeper thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"There are only about a handful of us who can cast magic and none of us had done it. Girls, do you know anything?"
She turned her head and they began expressing denial.
"U-umm..."
The one who looked to be the youngest, the same maid who took Emi from Yoko during class before, timidly raised her hand.
"The little lady actually tried channeling magic power and used a small bit of darkness..."
"The little lady?"
Umi asked.
"Yes, the little girl the young miss had adopted, Lady Emi..."