I couldn't help it; the quip escaped my mouth before I could stop it. Eva, clearly sharing my sentiment, dropped her illusionary adult form and shifted back into her usual ten-year-old self.
"Wait—A-Axel-kun?! ...And Evangeline-san?!"
"...Dammit," I muttered. My big mouth had just given away our position.
"Axel-kun... I understand the urge to comment, but you've completely ruined the dramatic tension," Ayaka sighed.
"My bad. Habit."
"...I knew it," Negi said, his gaze shifting between me and Eva. "You were working with Evangeline-san all along, weren't you?"
Eva watched us with an amused glint in her eyes. "And what makes you say that, brat?"
"When we went to see you," Negi said, pointing at me, "Axel-kun mentioned his blood was too powerful to give to you while you were sick. He said it was like a 'high-grade stimulant' or 'poison' to a weakened vampire."
"..." I stayed silent. I had definitely said too much back then.
"If I believe that story," Negi continued, "it means Axel-kun knew you were a vampire long before I did, and that he's given you his blood before. That means his offer to 'help' me was probably just a part of your plan."
It wasn't quite the truth, but looking at the facts from his perspective, it was a logical conclusion. As I was trying to figure out how to explain without making it worse, Eva spoke up—either to back me up or because she was bored.
"Listen, boy. Axel is just an observer. I am your opponent tonight. I give you my word as the Dark Evangel: he will not interfere in our battle. ...The full moon isn't quite here yet, but I've grown tired of waiting. Tonight, we settle this, and I shall feast on every drop of your blood!"
"Fine! I'll set aside my questions about Axel-kun for now," Negi declared, leveling his staff. "I accept your challenge, Evangeline-san! And I'm going to win so I can stop you from doing these terrible things!"
"Hah! Brave words. ...Go!"
Eva snapped her fingers. On command, the four controlled girls—excluding Chachamaru—leaped down from the roof to surround Negi.
"Using the rest of the class?! That's cowardly!" Negi yelled.
Eva just smirked. "What are you talking about? I told you I was an evil mage, didn't I? Now, my servants—take him!"
Instead of a magical barrage, the girls swarmed him, trying to pin him down and strip away his gear. It was more of a chaotic wrestling match than a duel. I blinked. Why does Negi have so many guns and gadgets hidden on him anyway?
"Evangeline-san, this is disgraceful!" Ayaka shouted from beside me. "You should face Negi-sensei in a fair, head-on fight!"
Eva turned her mocking gaze toward us. "Yukihiro Ayaka. Why on earth would I charge head-on when a tactical diversion is so effective?"
"She's got a point," I muttered.
"Axel-kun?!" Ayaka looked at me with genuine betrayal in her eyes.
I gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Calm down. You understand this is a mock battle, right?"
"Well... yes, I suppose."
"A mock battle is designed to simulate reality. Do you honestly think that in a real life-and-death struggle, every enemy is going to line up and play fair?"
"...Well, no." Ayaka trailed off. Eva looked impressed that I was doing her teaching for her.
In the center of the room, Negi was struggling against the four girls, trying desperately not to be disarmed—or undressed.
"Frustratio!" (Disarmament!)
Negi's voice rang out, and a wave of magical wind erupted. The spell stripped away the girls' "weapons"—which, unfortunately for the "servants," meant most of their maid outfits were shredded or blown away.
Ayaka's hand was back over my eyes instantly.
"Ras Tel Ma Skill Magister! Air and water, become a white mist. Grant these people a moment of rest... Sleep Mist!"
The following spell, Nebula Dormiens, filled the room with a thick, soporific fog. I heard the soft sounds of bodies hitting the floor. Since Ayaka still had me blinded, I had to rely on my ears. I guess I could just use a psychokinetic pulse to map the room, but that's probably overkill.
"Not bad, brat," Eva's voice echoed. "Now, shall we get to the main event? Chachamaru!"
"Yes, Master."
The roar of Chachamaru's thrusters filled the bathhouse, followed immediately by the rapid-fire chant of Eva's spellcasting.
"Ricu Racu La Racu Lailacu! Seventeen spirits of ice, gather and rend my foe! Sagitta Magica: Series of Seventeen Ice Arrows!"
The sound of shattering glass followed as the magical arrows blew out the bathhouse windows.
"Hahaha! That's it, boy! Follow me, Chachamaru!"
"Wait—Master! What about Okochi-san and the others?"
"Tch. Fine. I did promise the old man I wouldn't leave them in a ditch... hey, Axel! Yukihiro Ayaka! I'm leaving those two on the floor to you! I'm going to go play with the brat for a while longer!"
"Hey, wait! We're just guests, we aren't your clean-up cr—"
I tried to argue, but Eva and Chachamaru were already gone, chasing Negi out through the shattered windows. Ayaka let out a long, heavy sigh and finally let go of my face.
"They're gone," she said. "Evangeline-san and Chachamaru-san have taken the fight outside. ...Axel-kun, I need to tend to Akira-san and Izumi-san, but their current state is... well, 'disheveled' is an understatement. You understand what I'm implying, don't you?"
"Loud and clear. Close my eyes and don't look, right?"
"Exactly. ...And just to be safe..."
Ayaka pulled a handkerchief from somewhere and tied it firmly around my eyes, just like we were about to play a game of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey.
Character Status: Axel Almar
LV: 38
PP: 625
Kills: 376
Terrain: Air S / Land S / Water S / Space S
Spirit Commands:
Accel (4) / Effort (8) / Focus (16)
Strike (30) / Awaken (32) / Love (48)
Skills:
EXP Up / SP Boost / Psychokinesis L10 / Attacker
Gunfight L9 / In-fight L9 / Morale Limit Break
Geass (Gray) / Magic (Fire, Shadow, Summon) / ??? / ???
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