Crash—!

Fragments of their broken barrier flew at me.

Clang—!

My staff, now a white blade, blocked their sword inches from my neck. I glanced at their blade, 5 cm from my eyes, holding firm. They held the stance, laughing softly. “Not number one for nothing… right?”

“……”

Flattering me when I’m aiming to lose? Guess I looked like I went all out. I’ll take it.

Staring blankly, they smiled. “Drinking that drug and attacking me…? No, you stopped. For me?”

“……”

“And… how’ll you handle this?”

They pulled their sword back, snapped their fingers. True to Pleroma’s space, the air began restricting Magic Power. Pain hit my core.

Seeing them move as I wanted, I nearly smiled but played the right expression.

‘How do I confirm their hidden info, buy time for my strategy, and lower their guard?’

They could escape, and I could call friends since I shared my plan, but…

Having met them, I can’t waste this chance.

Creating a submissive position, physically and emotionally—that’s my answer.

Thud— Crash!

Knocked down by Vitriol, my vision tilted. Feeling black Vitriol from my head coil around my hand, I thought, ‘In short, stall until I can execute my plan.’

I stifled a hollow laugh.

This situation’s absurd—reality hitting hard.

Anyway…

Their behavior when their desires aren’t fully met.

I’ll learn their info in the process. What artifacts block my Divine Power, who knows I’m Nicolaus, how they found out.

If the Grand Hotel targeted Korea, how’d they connect me to it?

‘Find that out, then rewind time.’

Their method to achieve their goal won’t be something I can just walk away from.

Black Vitriol, like with Strauch and Ainsidel, started choking my neck.

They smiled, grabbed their skirt, and knelt on one knee.

Then chanted a short spell.

—Blessed are those who hope to find peace in the sea of temptation.

With dwindling air, their Magic Power fully trapped my mind.

* * *

Opening my eyes, I was shockingly on my bed. They’d used space magic to isolate the room.

I slowly raised my arm. No blood drawn, no Magic Power restraints, ear artifact intact.

Nothing had changed.

Feeling questions surge, I turned my head.

A Leo ancestor-lookalike, trespassing in Leo’s family home, stared down at me.

After a tense stare-off, I focused on their appearance.

‘Where the hell’s this guy from?’

Even if it’s not their real body, their origin’s intriguing.

‘Really a Wittelsbach Old Human ancestor?’

No, probably not.

Wittelsbach Old Human ancestors have dark hair.

Matching beauty standards makes people look similar, so maybe just a coincidental lookalike. But why do New Humans all look different?

They smiled, eyes crinkling. “Like this look?”

“……”

“No one dislikes this one. Surprising a New Human likes Old Humans.”

Not like I prefer Old Humans.

I just stared.

“Got a lot of questions, huh? You didn’t drink that drug and come at me with Divine Power confidence, right?”

They sat beside me.

I glared with contempt.

They’d played into my hands, so I wasn’t mad—more amused—but to deny them everything, I had to act repulsed.

“Why that look?”

They tilted their head, puzzled. Their long hair brushed me. Pressing my carotid artery, they stayed still.

Beyond their sociopathic behavior, they were…

Raising an eyebrow smugly, they smiled. “…You want to find a way to drive me off. How much do you hate me to drink a love drug to meet me? I’m right, aren’t I?”

“……”

From the notes, they wouldn’t admit this outright.

My heartbeat probably tipped them off that the drug worked.

Thinking they could mold me with a bit of sweet-talk, my current state didn’t matter to them.

Then, absurd words came. “I followed you to help you, and it hurts that you hate it.”

“Help?”

I nearly laughed, forgetting to act.

What’s this bastard saying? Their signature mental victory now justifies stalking?

“Yeah. Can’t you tell? Why’d I be in this estate, where an attack could break my space magic, with you?”

That’s surprising.

Fleeing to an unknown city earlier, now back in Berlin?

“No idea what you’re misunderstanding, but I just wanted to help you survive. Still do.”

“Help from who? I’d live better without a criminal watching my every move.”

“You’ll understand why I said this in time…”

Struggling to explain, they ended with two words. “Too bad. You won’t get it now.”

“……”

I narrowed my eyes, staring.

Nonsense. Sounds like nonsense, but…

‘Gotta remember this.’

I pressed the suspicious point. “If you’re such a saint, why steal my stuff?”

“…Haha~”

They laughed, dodging the topic. “What, don’t trust my protection as an Old Human? No need. My real form’s probably bigger than you.”

“……”

What does size have to do with protection? I didn’t want to picture them as a New Human, so my face naturally twisted in disgust. Unfazed, they reached for my face.

“Let’s hear what you want to negotiate.”

They mumbled, sociopathically touching my eyelid.

I slapped their hand away. “You got what you wanted. I followed your song lyrics. Stop bothering me. I’ll meet when you want.”

“……”

Blinking big eyes, they said, “Not enough…”

“What?”

Their face twisted into a sly smile.

My “meet when you want” didn’t carry enough affection. Even a stage 10 drug wasn’t enough, huh?

Grinning, they said, “Wanna see an opera?”

* * *

“……”

Watching the lavish stage, I glanced beside me.

The still-nameless stalker was engrossed. Unlike earlier, their hair was tied up, adorned with a purple velvet hat and flowers.

They didn’t bite on negotiation.

Didn’t matter. Why?

I just need to stall. Negotiation was always about buying time.

‘Stall to extract info and strike.’

Honestly, like Abraham’s goons did to me, I expected a beating despite incomprehensible reasons, or their madness leading to crazy experiments with my blood.

I didn’t tell my friends, but I was prepared for insane possibilities.

‘What?’

This is it?

All they wanted was *this*?

Floored, I stared blankly at the stage. A velvet glove touched my elbow. Wearing an ornate mask like at a masquerade, they smiled.

I pulled my arm free and walked out.

In the clearly Pleroma-run theater, masked Pleroma pairs roamed.

Following me, the stalker eyed a wall poster. “What’s next? Salome? Elektra? Saw Fidelio recently, so not that…”

“……”

“How’s Elektra? It’s the closest, day after tomorrow.”

I just stared down instead of answering.

They glanced between the poster and me, urging a decision. “Why so quiet? Was it boring?”

“Let’s wrap this up.”

If it was like Abraham’s case, I’d extract info efficiently, though bad for my mental health.

But this? It’s just wasting time. What info do you get from this?

‘Gotta pick another fight.’

As I checked my watch, mulling crazy ideas, another insane comment came. “It’s Monday, so that’s why? Don’t worry, I’ll get you back to the estate before 5 a.m.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep