As the assassin was able to block the axe strike from above with pure brute force, Obsidian said, "Still standing, I see." As he created a second battle axe to strike the first one from above and raise the pressure, it was strong enough to crack the very ground beneath the assassin. Obsidian said, "Time to end this orchestra." As the ground itself shattered.
As they checked the damage, Otiz said, "Any chance he escaped?"
Serena said, "Looks like it."
Obsidian said, "Spatial magic."
Otiz said, "There aren't many people who can take two of your battle axe strikes at once."
Obsidian said, "Damn. He escaped again. But now, at least he will think twice before going for our pupils."
Soon, Team Liebe was overwhelmed with people concerned about campus security. And in the next three days, more than three other students vanished and were found dead.
Liebe said, "Three found dead in three days? What the hell are we doing?"
Licht said, "After our confrontation, he realized he can't beat us head-on, so he has changed strategy and is trying to slow us down by throwing more than we can catch."
Liebe said, "I can see that. Our enemy has gotten bolder. And any idea who the skin belongs to from Mrs. Serena?"
Licht said, "She is working on it as top priority, but due to certain complications, it's taking so long."
Liebe said, "Ok. And till now, all five victims were half-breeds. Licht, move to Dorm 7. Till now, it is the most efficient that way. Since he knows he can't beat me, he is targeting the ones around me. Meeting adjourned."
Licht said, "Ok."
M said, "And, Licht, I have closed the central five islands, and yet the murders still keep occurring, meaning the enemy is moving between the dorms and the central campus. So he must be flying or swimming between the islands."
Liebe said, "I know. And since he can go underwater, it's almost impossible to track via routes."
Then, when they left, Liebe received a call. It was from Abel. Liebe picked up and said, "Go for Liebe."
Abel said, "Hey man, how you doing?"
Liebe said, "Been busy, working on the murders."
Abel said, "If you are free, why don't you join us for dinner tonight?"
Liebe said, "I'm not sure, since I might be busy."
Abel said, "Please, since it's my birthday, let's celebrate a bit."
Liebe said, "Fine, just for tonight."
And as he arrived with a gift and gave the gift to Abel, Abel said, "Dude, I just invited you to dinner with the others."
Liebe said, "Can't have a birthday without gifts. So here, it's nothing much. And Gaia helped me pick it up."
Abel said, "Aren't you adorable?" As he gave Gaia a small chocolate bar.
Liebe said, "Gaia, say thank you."
Gaia said, "Thank you, Mr. Nice Man."
Abel said, "Sure."
Hedin said, "Abel has been buying chocolate and keeping it in case anytime Gaia comes by."
Lumos said, "I know. He has been babysitting her like a little sister."
Liebe said, "Really, Abel?"
Gaia said, "Yeah."
Abel said, "I guess, since I never had any siblings, I thought that would be best to keep some candy on hand."
Lumos said, "Yeah, every day whenever he saw her, he would give some candy."
Hedin said, "Careful, you might spoil her rotten."
Gaia said, "Spoil?"
Abel said, "It isn't anything like that."
Liebe said, "Thanks for looking after her, man, since I'm not around."
Abel said, "Sure, dude, no problem. Like I said, we are like family, so it felt right to babysit my bro's little sister or part of his team. Anyways, plus, what's the problem if I spoil her? The problem becomes when you stop it."
Liebe said, "Way to go, man. Thanks for throwing me under the bus."
Hedin said, "Truly evil incarnate."
Lumos said, "Agreed."
As they all ate dinner, Abel said, "I wish we got more time to waste like this."
Hedin said, "Same."
Lumos said, "I would like that."
Liebe said, "Same here, but work is a bit too harsh. But when I get the time, I will definitely do so."
Gaia said, "More time with nice guys."
Liebe said, "Yeah."
Gaia said, "I like nice guy's cooking and Liebe's cooking too."
Abel said, "Thanks. And Liebe, after you catch the assassin, let's celebrate by eating some of your cooking."
Liebe said, "Sure, I will try something I'm already good at."
Hedin said, "Looking forward to it."
Lumos said, "Can't wait."
Liebe said, "You guys are far too confident in me, just assuming I will catch the assassin."
Abel said, "Of course we are. As if anything will happen to us as long as you are around. And I'm sure you will catch that ugly racist."
Liebe said, "Now that's a bit much."
After dinner, as Lumos and Hedin were doing the dishes, Liebe, Abel, Gaia, M, and Isurugi were sitting in the lobby and talking. As Gaia was playing with Liebe's dark orbs, after a while, Liebe stopped.
Gaia said, "More orbs! I want to catch it."
Abel said, "Looks like Liebe is out of magic. How about this chocolate bar?"
Gaia said, "Yeahhhh, chocolate!" As she got chocolate all over her face.
Abel said, "Be more careful, kid." As he wiped her face with a tissue. While doing so, by mistake, he removed Gaia's Mask of Ifrit, model Chameleon. As he saw Gaia's true form, and after seeing this, Abel said, "No. It can't be."
As Liebe quickly put the mask back on her face, Abel said, "Why?"
M said, "Liebe, we have to kill him. He knows too much."
Liebe said, "Everyone, goddamn stop!"
As Abel ran away, Liebe said, "M, Isurugi, take Gaia to Licht's dorm. Gaia, I'm going after Abel." As he ran after Abel, Liebe said, "Abel, I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you—"
As Abel said, "Tell me what? That she is a devil? The same that we are preparing to kill?"
Liebe said, "No, she is different."
Abel said, "How is she any different? How could I be so stupid, thinking you were so strong from your own strength? You exploited her power, didn't you?"
Liebe said, "It isn't anything like that."
Abel said, "So it was all a lie. How can I be so stupid to idolize someone like you? Don't you have any principles? What kind of a man are you?"
Liebe said, "Abel, just listen to me."
Abel said, "Lies! All of it. Is our friendship a lie, too?"
Liebe said, "No, it's not."
Abel said, "I was a fool to trust you, Liebe Faust." As Abel went to his dorms.
And Liebe went to his dorm. As Abel entered the dorm, Hedin said, "Yoo, Abel, where did you run off to?"
Lumos said, "What happened?"
Abel said, "It's nothing," as he went back to his room.
Meanwhile, in the Admiral's dorm, Liebe said, "Licht, Alysa, and M, we all need to talk."
Licht said, "What happened?"
Alysa said, "What could be so important?"
Liebe said, "Abel found out. He knows."
Licht said, "What does he know?"
Liebe said, "Gaia's secret. What do we do?"
Alysa said, "Why? How?"
Licht said, "What else can we do? Execute him and blame it on the assassin. Gaia's attribute is far more important."
M said, "He won't see tomorrow."
Liebe slapped his hands on the table as he said, "Shut up! We can't kill him. He is a good person. He doesn't deserve to die. If he dies, it would be no different than killing our own humanity."
Licht just laughed. "Humanity? What humanity? What the hell is wrong with you, Liebe? You are a man that has kills in the dozens, and you haven't even reached your twenties, and you are talking of humanity. You are fine killing dozens of people you don't know, but now your hands start to shake because he was a good person and friend? What kind of a person are you? You can kill strangers but not a friend?"
Liebe said, "No, it isn't that."
Licht said, "Then tell me, what is it then? Answer me, Liebe."
M and Alysa said, "We can't just take him out."
M said, "Regardless of the situation, unfortunately, I must agree with Licht."
Liebe said, "We can try to convince him to keep the secret."
Licht said, "Fine. But if it fails, I will do it. The only mercy I can show is doing it myself. I will make sure his blood doesn't reach your hands."
Liebe said, "Ok then."
Licht said, "Talk to him about this tomorrow. Otherwise, there is nothing to be done. Liebe shouldn't make this decision; he isn't in the right state of mind."
Alysa said, "Licht, please."
Licht said, "We need to keep the greater good in mind—something that helps everyone."
Alysa said, "But—"
Licht said, "I hate this more than anyone, but our hands are tied."
Later, after everyone left, as Liebe was sitting in his office drinking a glass of Coke, there was a knock. It stated, "It's Alysa."
Liebe said, "Come in."
As Alysa entered, Liebe said, "You want to kill him too, right?"
Alysa said, "Who, me? I'm here to just sit down. I want to sit down and see the beautiful moon. The dark office really does look nice under the moonlight."
Liebe said, "I don't know. Alysa, want to share a drink or something?"
Alysa said, "Sure."
As he threw a soda can, Alysa said, "Licht has a point, you know."
Liebe said, "I know."
Alysa said, "Fate really is cruel, having to choose between Gaia and Abel. If Abel tells everyone and the truth spreads that inside the knighthood academy a devil has been nurtured, it really does hurt."
Liebe said, "I know."
Alysa said, "Look on the bright side. Then the racism will move from half-breeds to devils to express their anger. The names change, but emotions don't."
Liebe said, "I know. It's something I can't decide. A friend or the futures of hundreds of families. I can't decide. Maybe Licht is right."
Alysa said, "Yeah, maybe he is right. But there is another way. Try talking to Abel. If he is your friend, he will listen."
Liebe just laughed till tears formed, and he said, "Yeah. Yeah, he is."
Alysa said, "A smile really does suit you."
Liebe said, "Maybe."
Alysa said, "After we get married, I will do the cooking, you do the smiling."
Liebe said, "We both know marriage is not in the stars for me."
As Liebe's communicator began to buzz, Liebe said, "Go for Liebe." It was Gelda.
Gelda said, "Lord, I have urgent news."
Liebe said, "What is it?"
Gelda said, "We need you in the coastal region. The Leviathan has awakened, and we need your help to subdue it. It has devastated the convoy for the Princess of Aldina as she was coming to Eldoria. We are assuming pirates used the Leviathan to break through the convoy. We need your help."
Liebe said, "I can't. I have my hands full with the assassin here. This one is as strong as an S-class knight."
Gelda said, "Please. If we don't do anything, the Leviathan will kill people in the hundreds in the nearby islands."
Liebe said, "I can't. Gaia's secret is out; that takes priority."
Gelda said, "And we also need Licht and M from your team."
Liebe said, "In hell we will. They who will defend the knights in training here? Our peers? Our friends?"
Gelda said, "In training, they might be, but they are still knights, and they have given their lives for the people the moment they made the choice. Please, Lord, if you stay, dozens may die, but if you leave, thousands will die. But if you come, thousands take priority over dozens. We don't have the pleasure to decide."
Licht entered and said, "Liebe, go. I promise I will make sure neither Abel nor Gaia is harmed. That is a promise."
Liebe said, "Fine. I'm coming. But Licht and M stay here."
Gelda said, "Understood, Lord. Eldrie will be there at dawn, and I will pick you up myself. And the captain, as well as S-class knight Andre, will be there."
Liebe said, "Understood." As Gelda disconnected the call.
Liebe said, "What the hell am I supposed to do?"
Alysa said, "Go. The people need you. We will make sure Gaia is safe."
Licht said, "We are here for a reason."
Alysa said, "Until you come back, Abel and Gaia will be safe, so that you can apologize to Abel and protect the secret."
Liebe said, "Thanks, guys," as he began to tear up.
Licht said, "What a crybaby."
Alysa said, "It's ok, once in a while, if it's just the three of us."
Licht said, "Guess so."