As a supreme dark spirit, Restia possessed a human form, unlike most spirits. Her unique black wings allowed her to fly freely in human guise, granting effortless travel between the human world and the Elemental Realm.

After parting with Kamito three years ago during their attempt to assassinate the Elemental Lord, Restia had wandered the world, seeking ways to restore his power. With the new Blade Dance festival approaching, she'd prepared a ragtag team and returned to empower Kamito, hoping to awaken the strongest Blade Dancer of three years past.

Perched atop the observation deck, Restia propped her face in her right hand, gazing tenderly at Kamito below, her eyes brimming with anticipation.

"Awaken soon, return to your former self. Then I can stand by your side again."

"I think your approach to motivating him is flawed. You could just return to his side now. I'm certain that if you did, he'd instantly revert to his old self."

"Hm?"

A voice beside her startled Restia. Turning, she found a radiant golden longsword resting against her neck, its blade positioned over her chest via an arm looped around her from behind, a pose reminiscent of close camaraderie.

When?!

Restia stared at the ornate sword, panic rising. She'd been vigilant of her surroundings. How had someone approached unnoticed, restraining her like this?

The arm over her shoulder, the blade at her neck, she was trapped. The power emanating from the sword was no ordinary spirit's. It could kill her. A supreme spirit, stronger than she was.

After a brief surge of fear, Restia calmed. Her captor hadn't struck, suggesting they wanted to talk.

"Who are you?"

"Greetings, dark spirit miss. I'm just a passing ordinary spirit."

Ordinary? Not human, but a spirit? Sneaking behind her and holding a sword to her neck, and he called himself ordinary?

"Currently, I'm the contracted spirit of a student at Areishia Academy. And in my contractor's team, there's a fellow named Kamito Kazehaya."

"Kamito?" Restia's pupils contracted, but she quickly masked her reaction. "Never heard of him."

"Is that so, dark spirit miss? I have a vivid impression of him. There's a powerful force slumbering within him, one that requires a specific type of spirit to awaken. Sadly, he lacks the strength to activate it now, which makes him rather useless. I'm here to help my contractor win the Blade Dance festival, and a deadweight like him only drags my contractor down."

As Altair spoke, his free hand reached for Restia's face. She grimaced in disgust but dared not move with the blade at her neck.

"My contractor's friend cares about this burden, but I find him troublesome. Don't you agree, dark spirit miss?"

Her skin was smooth, distinct from Est's or Rinslet's. The angelic face twisted in revulsion gave Altair a thrill, as if defiling something sacred.

Nice one, Kamito, he thought, thanking him internally while touching his wife's face.

"What are you getting at?" Restia asked coldly, suppressing her discomfort.

"I was about to say, sorry, almost slipped into a cliché."

Altair smiled.

"Allow me to introduce myself, dark spirit miss. I'm Nidhomir, age… well, I'm not sure, but young. I'm contracted, spending my days with my contractor and contracted spirit. I don't smoke or drink, sleep by 11 p.m. with my contractor, and bond with my contracted spirit each morning. I'm surrounded by love, living joyfully. My contractor and spirit adore me."

"What?" Restia was baffled. Was he flaunting his love life? And how could a spirit contract another spirit?

"What's your point?"

"My point is, I seek a peaceful, happy life with my contractor and spirit. That's my pursuit."

Altair's magic surged, and Restia felt a monstrous presence behind her, its chilling gaze locking her in place with overwhelming pressure. Her body froze.

What was this? She couldn't move. Such terrifying power, she'd die if she provoked him. This spirit was more fearsome than the Elemental Lord!

"But since Kamito appeared, my life's been disrupted. Trash demon spirits and berserk spirits keep showing up. They pose no threat to me, but they annoy my contractor."

Altair's hand slid to Restia's delicate chin, tilting it up. She flinched, trembling.

"In other words, Kamito is a nuisance disrupting my happy life, an enemy I must eliminate."

Leaning close to her ear, Altair whispered, his magic pressing down, making Restia shrink and shiver.

"Dark spirit miss, are you sure you want him to keep attracting these pests, hoping for your so-called awakening?"

Altair grinned, a villainous smirk learned from Mordred in another world.

"Your answer will decide how I deal with Kamito."

"Now, tell me, yes or no."

***

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