Chapter 8: Hermit (The Recluse)

When Shidou’s tightly shut eyes opened again, he found himself already in a different space.

It was a corridor, brightly lit by incandescent lamps, with walls seemingly made of a special alloy.

He briefly surveyed his surroundings, and his expression suddenly changed drastically.

Isn’t this the corridor on Fraxinus leading to the Command Room?!

Before he could fully process his shock, a sweet yet chilling voice came from behind him, “Shidou-kun, just how long do you intend to keep hugging me?”

Only then did Shidou realize the white-haired girl he was holding by the slender waist suddenly flinched away like she’d been electrocuted, lowering her head and apologizing profusely, “I’m sorry, Miss Ayase, I didn’t mean to!”

“I know you didn’t.”

Wanmie shrugged, showing no hard feelings about Shidou’s earlier actions.

Although Wanmie appeared as a girl, inside she was still a man.

There was nothing embarrassing about physical contact between men.

Wanmie ignored Shidou and instead glanced around, her brows furrowing slightly.

“Where exactly is this place?”

Logically speaking, the passive skill Void Movement should have sent her back to her apartment.

Why was she teleported to some random place again?

Then again, the description of Void Movement said it could teleport her anywhere.

Perhaps she ended up here because she hadn’t fully mastered the skill and inadvertently transported herself to a location she’d never visited before.

“Miss Ayase, this is Fraxinus,” Shidou explained from the side.

At his words, Wanmie’s face turned pale.

This…

How did she get teleported to such a place?

She looked at Shidou, then around the corridor.

It bore an uncanny resemblance to the interior of Fraxinus she’d seen in the animation!

She had unwittingly walked straight into the lion’s den!

Fully realizing the danger, Wanmie now only wanted to escape.

Although she knew Ratatoskr’s policy towards Spirits and that even if Kotori and the others found her they wouldn’t do anything excessive, she still felt a deep sense of foreboding.

Wanmie didn’t bother thinking any further.

She grabbed Shidou by the collar, lifting him up like a chick, and asked, “Do you know how to get out of here?”

Shidou was confused by Wanmie’s reaction but even more shocked at the strength of this seemingly delicate girl.

She had lifted him with one hand, apparently without much effort?!

“I… I don’t know…”

Shidou looked at Wanmie with a hint of fear.

“Miss Ayase, you’ve come all this way. Are you sure you don’t want to sit down for a while before leaving?”

At that moment, a voice came from the other side of the corridor.

Wanmie frowned deeply, put Shidou down, and looked toward the three approaching figures.

There was Itsuka Kotori with a lollipop dangling from her mouth, wearing a black headband.

Reine Murasame, looking listless with heavy dark circles under her eyes.

And Kannazuki Kyouhei, tall and handsome with long blond hair.

The speaker was Ratatoskr’s Commander, Itsuka Kotori.

“I’m not interested. I just want to leave here now.”

Wanmie once again put on the ice queen expression she’d had when first meeting Shidou, staring at the three without any emotion.

Yet inside, her mind was a tangled mess of anxiety.

She didn’t understand why she was so nervous, but leaving quickly was definitely the right choice.

However, Kotori seemed not to have heard Wanmie’s words.

Removing the lollipop from her mouth, she waved it around as she said, “Miss Ayase, perhaps you haven’t yet realized your current situation?”

“Situation?”

Wanmie frowned even more, her thoughts racing.

Was Kotori planning to take coercive measures against her?

She didn’t believe Kotori would do something like that, but still kept her guard up.

She was already prepared to summon an Angel at any moment.

If anything felt wrong, she would use Oblivion to punch a hole in the floor and make a swift exit.

“The Commander doesn’t mean what you think,” Kannazuki said beside Kotori.

“The Commander means that Miss Ayase is now being targeted by DEM Corporation. Since Miss Ayase already knows Ratatoskr, you must also know what DEM Corporation is about.”

As he spoke, a faint hint of threat flashed in Kannazuki’s eyes, though not overly strong.

“So, you want me to join you?”

Wanmie understood what Kannazuki was implying.

Being under Ratatoskr’s protection would indeed shield her from DEM Corporation’s attacks and provide her with accommodation and other conveniences.

But the thought of kissing a man still made her recoil!

Kannazuki smiled faintly and said nothing more.

Kotori then said, “Please consider this carefully, Miss Ayase. If you change your mind, you can contact us anytime.”

“Can I leave now?”

Wanmie didn’t pay attention to Kotori’s words.

There was no way she would even consider it.

“Of course.”

Kotori popped the lollipop back into her mouth and looked toward the silent Reine.

“Reine, see them off.”

“Okay.”

Reine nodded, stepped in front of Wanmie, and said, “Please follow me.”

Only after Wanmie’s figure completely disappeared down the corridor did Kotori breathe a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy weight had been lifted.

“How did Abysm get onto Fraxinus in the first place?”

Kannazuki shook his head.

“There were no signs at all. Even the Warning System didn’t detect how Abysm entered. It must be related to her Angel.”

“This Abysm is really hard to read…”

Kotori sighed again, then glanced at Shidou, whose collar was still crooked, and asked, “Shidou, you were with Abysm just now. Do you know how she got in?”

Shidou was clueless.

“I don’t know. At the moment the DEM Corporation attacked Miss Ayase, she and I were already here.”

Kotori was even more perplexed after hearing that.

What on earth was going on?!

“Commander, Abysm may know more than we imagine. Should we continue letting Shidou interact with her?”

Kannazuki asked thoughtfully.

Kotori furrowed her brows, then after a moment’s thought looked at Shidou.

“Shidou, Abysm’s level of awareness has exceeded our expectations. Her abilities remain a mystery. I’m not sure if she is a benevolent or malevolent Spirit. From today onward, do not contact Abysm anymore.”

“But I think Miss Ayase…”

Shidou was about to object, but Kotori interrupted, “I know your thoughts. We’re restricting your contact with Abysm not only to observe her but also for your safety. Besides, another Spirit has appeared.”

“Another new Spirit has appeared?!”

Shidou exclaimed.

In just one short month, three Spirits had already shown up!

Kotori nodded seriously.

“Her codename is… Hermit.”