Since Mizuki was new, and none of Levi's party members had met him, Levi made sure to point out Mizuki covertly at the earliest opportunity. To his surprise, Sylvia recognized Mizuki.
Apparently, she'd noticed the top-ranked adventurer, Kent, talking to him before. More importantly, she claimed to have seen Kent and two of his party members suspiciously follow Mizuki alone out of the guild. At that point, Kent's absence had already become noticeable to everyone in the guild.
Levi never liked Kent, despite his friendly demeanor, and Levi avoided him when possible. The same way that Levi's gut told him Mizuki was an ambivalent but incredibly dangerous person, he also sensed that Kent was a malicious and violent individual. In addition, there were rumors that Kent threatened talented new adventurers into joining his party.
So, when Sylvia told Levi about Kent's suspicious behavior around Mizuki, Levi's blood ran cold. He surmised that Kent and those two others likely ambushed Mizuki and tried to use force to get their way about something…probably Nina joining their party. If Mizuki was as dangerous as Levi assumed, their ongoing absence from the guild was because Mizuki had killed them over their actions.
Feeling that Kent probably deserved it, and not wanting to risk antagonizing Mizuki, Levi kept his suspicions to himself. After all, if Mizuki alone had really killed three A-rank adventurers, that was even more reason for Levi to trust his instincts. Thus, Levi mostly ignored Mizuki and his group, and his life settled back into its normal routine.
This happy monotony was rudely interrupted when Levi and his party were summoned to the guild master's office one morning. Gerard had a personal request for them to complete an S-rank job.
To Levi's shock, Gerard informed them that the current ruler of the Empire, Emperor Belmod, had been slain in his own throne room along with over sixty of his elite guard. The S-rank job in question was to apprehend the culprits – the S-rank party of Mizuki.
At first, Levi flatly refused…he was convinced that the mission was suicide, and it stood to benefit nobody in Elmesia. However, when he learned that the Empire had threatened to invade if the job was not completed, Levi felt conflicted. He knew better than anyone that it wasn't a hollow threat.
If the Empire was turning its attention towards Elmesia, his identity might be revealed in the process, and the quiet life he'd built might crumble. Still, he thought they stood no chance against Mizuki or Nina alone, much less their party, so he persisted in refusing the job.
Eventually, however, he was swayed by Gerard's proposal to isolate and capture Mizuki with an ambush. If Levi were placed in position ahead of time while invisible, and Mizuki was strategically lured into a trap with his guard dropped, they might succeed in capturing him. Levi still had his doubts, but the threat of the Empire was enough of a motivator to at least attempt Gerard's plan.
When Melanie eventually alerted them to Mizuki's arrival and willing isolation, Levi had apprehensively taken up position for the ambush in Gerard's office, along with the rest of his party. To his surprise, however, Mizuki didn't seem to immediately notice Levi's presence when he entered Gerard's office. So, Levi had begun to hope for the best.
However, his apprehension returned when Mizuki identified Levi's party, though they'd never met. Levi's rising fear was quickly substantiated when Mizuki looked directly at him and smiled, then identified him by name. As Mizuki dryly commented on their attempted ambush, Levi noticed Sylvia preparing to draw her weapon.
When Mizuki took note of Sylvia and warned her not to draw her weapon, Levi felt his gut instincts react so forcefully that it made him nauseous. Convinced that their slaughter was imminent, Levi had dropped all pretenses and begged his party to stand down, then apologized to Mizuki profusely for good measure. To Levi's immense relief, Mizuki was surprisingly good-natured about the ambush.
Unfortunately, the situation evolved such that Levi and his party were roped into attending a meeting between Mizuki and Elmesia's council. Their role was to be extra security against Mizuki while the guild assembled as many powerful fighters as they could to capture Mizuki after the meeting.
Based on Mizuki's nonchalant attitude and his own instincts, Levi already suspected that Mizuki wouldn't be captured by that subjugation force. So, Levi decided that, if things turned violent, him and his party wouldn't be getting involved. They may feel guilty later, and they may have to start over somewhere else, but at least they would be alive.
Things took a turn for the worse when Levi and his party were left alone with Mizuki before the council meeting. When Rikard tried to confiscate Mizuki's weapons, Levi watched in horror as Mizuki summoned a strange distortion to store his weapons in. He'd heard stories, but never seen it in person…an item box spell as rare as Levi's own affinity.
However, Levi was more concerned by Mizuki foregoing an incantation. While such feats were not unheard of, they were restricted to world-class mages who still didn't do it as casually as Mizuki. Levi's unease escalated as he considered the implications of Mizuki being able to use magic at all – hiding it during the guild's assessment shouldn't be possible.
Still, the thing Levi found most terrifying was Mizuki so blatantly revealing his magic ability to them. Mizuki was obviously keeping it a secret from the guild even now, and him showing it to Levi's party felt calculated. So, why did he do it? When Sylvia voiced such a question to Mizuki, his answer only confirmed for Levi that the demonstration served some purpose. Were they being tested? Warned? Levi wasn't sure.
When the council members arrived and began conversing with Mizuki, Levi's apprehension over the situation only grew. One reason was Mizuki's jovial attitude – despite his supposedly dire situation, he seemed completely unconcerned, if not amused. It was almost as if he considered the outcome of the meeting a foregone conclusion.
The other reason was Mizuki's strangely ignorant conversation with Theresa about healing magic. Levi could not imagine anyone who grew up in the eastern half of this whole continent not knowing about rot. Almost every human he'd ever met had a friend or family member who'd been affected by it. So, why was it a mystery to Mizuki?
When Theresa asked Mizuki to elaborate on the events surrounding his party's massacre of Belmod, Levi was surprised to learn that Gerard had given the elven slave surveillance job in Cedonia to Mizuki's party. Gerard had offered it to Levi originally, but he'd regretfully declined to avoid drawing attention from the Empire.
Mizuki's story also gave Levi his first indication that he'd misjudged Mizuki. He'd previously assumed that Mizuki was ambivalent towards strangers, and generally docile. However, Mizuki's bloody freeing of the elven slaves he'd never met clearly refuted that idea. Still, Mizuki didn't seem particularly emotional to Levi when describing the elves' rescue. So, Mizuki's actions confused Levi.
When Mizuki described the meeting with Belmod, Levi saw a break in his flippant demeanor for the first time. As Mizuki conveyed the threats Belmod made to force his cooperation, he only seemed amused, to a degree that baffled Levi. However, when he relayed Belmod's reprehensible plans for the members of his party, even after Mizuki offered his cooperation, Levi saw a deep rage behind Mizuki's eyes.
Levi couldn't condemn Mizuki's subsequent massacre of Belmod. He was surprised to hear that Mizuki even offered all the guards present the opportunity to avoid slaughter by not drawing their weapons. In fact, Levi thought he saw traces of sadness in Mizuki's eyes when he mentioned that only one guard heeded his warning, and the rest died.
Overall, the story gave Levi a much better understanding of Mizuki. Levi now thinks Mizuki isn't a completely ambivalent existence…he is very protective of his friends. Moreover, he seems very attached to certain principles, like whatever drove him to free the elven slaves he'd never met and try to spare the guards who should have been his enemies.
At the same time, Levi feels that Mizuki is nonsensically binary about violence. He becomes instantly ruthless when his friends or principles are threatened too much, but his patience seems endless right until the moment that happens. Upon realizing this, Levi made it a priority to determine what motivated Mizuki's more confusing actions...Levi intended to avoid similar transgressions.
When Mizuki's backstory did not sway the council, he claimed that if the council would let his party continue their lives in peace, his party would thwart any invasion attempt by the Empire. Most gave Mizuki pitying glances, like he was trying to talk his way out of imprisonment. However, Levi didn't see a trace of desperation in Mizuki's expression…the offer seemed genuine.
Unsurprisingly, Gerard rejected Mizuki's offer as absurd, and the situation quickly devolved. Before Levi could fully process the change in circumstance, Nina and Mizuki's two other party members materialized in the room.
Currently, Levi is staring at them, trying to wrap his head around what just happened. He wonders if Nina has an invisibility spell as well, and Mizuki's party has been watching discreetly the entire time. However, a frantic cry from Gerard interrupts Levi's thoughts.
"Guards!" (Gerard)
Levi tenses at Gerard's call to action, fearing imminent violence, then glances towards Mizuki. To his surprise, Mizuki is just smirking calmly.
"No guards are coming, Gerard. There's no need to worry, though, I just want to continue our private chat." (Mizuki)
Levi feels that familiar pit in his stomach take root, and he can't help but be fearful over why Gerard's call went unanswered. Levi wonders…are the guards dead? Incapacitated? Did Mizuki or Nina seal off the room somehow?
Glancing at Mizuki, Levi notices him staring at Sylvia. Following Mizuki's gaze, he sees Sylvia reaching for her weapon. He feels the color drain from his face, and panic washes over Levi at the impending danger. Before he can try and stop Sylvia, however, a cold voice echoes in his head.
[Sylvia, stop right there. I'll give you four the same warning that I gave Belmod's guards. If you keep your weapons sheathed, you'll be fine. If you turn hostile towards us…] (Mizuki)
A shocked Levi locks eyes with Mizuki, and he feels a shiver run down his spine. He realizes that was it…Mizuki's one and only warning. Levi wonders if Mizuki revealed his magic abilities to them just so they'd feel more compelled to heed his warning.
Feeling like his party is one step away from getting everyone killed, Levi turns fearfully towards Sylvia in time to see her remove her hand from her sword. The sight causes Levi's body to flood with relief, and he's about to give his party an order to obey Mizuki, but an outburst from Nina cuts that short.
"Fufufufu…oh my, Mizuki! What fun have I stumbled into here?" (Nina)
The implication that Nina has, in fact, not been in the room until now isn't lost on Levi. As ridiculous as it is, Levi recognizes that Mizuki's party must have been instantly transported into the room somehow…a horrifying ability. Though, Levi is uncertain if it was Mizuki's or Nina's doing.
"Hey Nina, thanks for coming. Allow me to introduce you to the council of Elmesia. It seems the Empire told them that they could capture us or face invasion. This council decided that it would be best to capture me while I was alone and send me to the Empire as a prisoner to lure the rest of you there." (Mizuki)
A hysterical laugh breaks out in the room after Mizuki's statement, and Levi is surprised to see that the young wolf-kin girl from Mizuki's party is the source. Levi assumes that it's confirmation that capturing Mizuki is a laughable objective – a terrifying sentiment from a wolf-kin, he felt.
To Levi's surprise, Nina directs an expression filled with disappointment at him.
"Zara is right to laugh…you are all incredibly foolish. I expect this kind of stupidity from Gerard, but I'm disappointed to see you here Levi." (Nina)
Levi fights off a bitter sensation at Nina's words…he knows she's right. He should have never put himself and his friends on the opposite side of Mizuki in such an antagonistic situation. He hopes that he can recover from the error in judgement, but before he can respond, he hears Mizuki change topics with an indifferent voice.
"Nina, that brings me to why you're here. I tried to reassure them that we'd take care of the Empire's army if they invaded. Gerard told me that the Empire has over half a million soldiers, however, and he's convinced that you couldn't handle them on your own. What do you think?" (Mizuki)
Mizuki directs an amused smile at Nina as he poses his question, and Levi is sure that it's because Mizuki already knows the answer. As Mizuki and Nina look at one another following the question, Levi can't help but feel like a private conversation is taking place – probably through the same magic he used to warn them earlier. Nina turns back to face the others in the room with a foreboding expression.
"Hahahaha…Mizuki is correct, Gerard. I could easily destroy their army. After all, it was no problem for me a few centuries ago." (Nina)
Levi is quite thrown by Nina's statement of her age, and he's trying to piece together what she could mean. However, his attention is quickly drawn to Gerard, who now seems uncharacteristically terrified and is glancing between Mizuki and Nina.
Mizuki seems to notice the change as well, and he gives Gerard an unsettling smile.
"That's right, Gerard. Allow me to formally introduce everyone. Nina's full name is Nedonera...you may know her better as the Elder Dragon of earth." (Mizuki)
Despite his abundant wariness of how dangerous Nina is, Levi is still shaken to his core as he processes Mizuki's words. Never in his wildest nightmares would he have guessed that a being of such unfathomable power was walking freely around the guild. Yet…Levi knows Mizuki is telling the truth.
Levi can see everyone, including his own party members, staring at Nina with a mix of emotions. Some are terrified, some are skeptical, and some just look unable to process the statement. In contrast, Levi's gaze is fixed on Mizuki in terror. It's for one key reason…
Levi's gut instincts told him very clearly that, between Nina and Mizuki, the latter is by far the most dangerous. Those feelings haven't changed, and he's seen no reason to dismiss them either. So, Levi wonders…if Nina is actually an Elder Dragon, just what kind of monster does that make Mizuki?
Levi begins to tremble despite himself.