To Be a Power in the Shadows! (LN) - Volume 5 - Chapter 5.5

Part 5

Alexia takes the lead as the group explains the plan to the rest of the students.

“You’re just gonna abandon us?” some of them cry, but there’s no time to make them see reason.

The group of six sneaks out the auditorium’s back entrance, taking great care not to draw attention. There are a couple of spirits that look like they might be trouble, but Claire and Alexia quickly dispatch them and urge the group onward.

All the while, Christina subtly observes Suzuki.

There’s no telling when or where spirits might attack them from out of the white fog, yet his composure doesn’t so much as waver.

“It doesn’t make sense…,” she murmurs, too quietly for anyone else to hear.

She and Suzuki are classmates and distant relatives. There’s nothing more and nothing less to their relationship than that, and they haven’t exactly spent loads of time together.

Even so, she has a firm handle on what kind of person Suzuki is. He’s neither the kind of guy who would ever act that brazenly around Princess Alexia nor the kind of guy who can keep his cool in active combat. It’s almost like he’s become an entirely different person. The change is so profound, that’s the only way she can think to describe it.

However, his face and voice are the exact same as ever.

“Was he keeping his talent on the down-low?”

Perhaps he wanted to avoid getting wrapped up in the conflicts between the main house and his branch family. It’s weak, as far as motives go, but it’s certainly not impossible.

“Could he be using an artifact or some sort of drug?”

Those are the only other possibilities she can come up with, but neither of them sits right with her. Still, there’s no doubt in her mind that something must have sparked the change.

If Suzuki is going to become a threat to the main house, Christina won’t hesitate to get rid of him.

Right as she steels her resolve, she feels it.

“Be careful.”

Someone gives her shoulder a gentle tug.

A moment later, a spirit sword slashes right before Christina’s eyes.

“Get away from me!”

She reacts as anyone would, drawing her blade and hacking the spirit apart. It crumbles into bits and vanishes.

“I see your sword work’s just as impressive as always,” Suzuki says.

She turns to him. “…Thanks for the save.” If he hadn’t been there, that attack would probably have hit her head-on.

“I was just fulfilling my duty as a branch-family member,” he replies curtly. Then he hurries ahead.

Christina can’t read him one bit.