ABSOLUTE POWER
A Tensura Alternative: The Rise of Yuuki Kagurazaka
Chapter 5: The Demon's Miscalculation
PART I: THE FRAYING ALLIANCES
The conference room in Tempest's administrative building carried a tension thick enough to cut with a blade. Rimuru Tempest sat at the head of the table, his slime body compressed into his human form, fingers steepled as he listened to yet another report that made his stomach—metaphorical as it was—sink further.
"The Farmenas Kingdom has withdrawn their trade agreement," Shion reported, her usually cheerful demeanor replaced by poorly concealed frustration. She clutched the document so hard the paper crinkled. "They cite 'security concerns about monster nations' as justification."
"That makes three this month," Benimaru added from his position at Rimuru's right. The kijin's crimson eyes flickered with barely restrained anger. "Blumund is wavering. Our contacts in the Western Nations Council report increased anti-monster rhetoric in every major city."
Rimuru felt Raphael's presence in his mind, cool and analytical as always.
<
Yeah, I figured as much, Rimuru thought back. The question is who.
Soei materialized from the shadows, his expression grave. "Lord Rimuru, my intelligence network has uncovered the source. The Western Nations Council has a new chairman."
The room went quiet. Even Shion stopped fidgeting.
"Yuuki Kagurazaka," Soei continued, and Rimuru felt his blood run cold. "He assumed the position two weeks ago following what our sources describe as a 'miraculous resolution' to the Rosso family succession crisis. The previous Council leadership... disappeared under suspicious circumstances."
No. Not Yuuki.
Rimuru's mind raced back to their last meeting in Jistav. The fear in Yuuki's eyes when Granbell had attacked. The gratitude when Rimuru had protected him. The bond they'd shared as fellow Japanese souls in this strange world.
Had it all been an act?
"Rimuru-sama?" Shuna's gentle voice pulled him from his spiraling thoughts. "Are you alright?"
He realized his hands had clenched into fists. Forcing himself to relax, Rimuru looked around the table at his most trusted subordinates. Benimaru, stern and loyal. Shion, fierce and protective despite her scatterbrained moments. Shuna, whose kindness masked razor-sharp intelligence. Soei, ever vigilant. Hakurou, wise and patient. Diablo, whose fanatical devotion sometimes worried him.
These people—no, these friends—trusted him to lead them. To protect them. And he'd been blind to a threat that had been growing right under his nose.
"The policies," Rimuru said carefully. "What specifically is Yuuki promoting?"
Soei pulled out a scroll. "His rhetoric focuses on 'human safety' and 'monster containment.' He's established new tariffs on goods from monster nations, restricted travel visas, and is pushing for what he calls a 'Defensive Alliance' of human kingdoms specifically to counter 'existential threats from non-human entities.'"
"That bastard," Shion snarled. "After everything you did for him in Jistav! You saved his life!"
"We don't know the full situation," Rimuru said, though the words tasted like ash. "Maybe there's an explanation. Maybe he's being coerced or—"
"Lord Rimuru," Diablo interrupted, his usual playful demeanor absent. "Forgive my bluntness, but you're allowing sentiment to cloud your judgment. This Yuuki Kagurazaka has systematically dismantled our diplomatic efforts over mere weeks. Such efficiency requires planning, resources, and—most importantly—intent."
The demon's golden eyes gleamed with barely contained menace. "Shall I pay him a visit? I'm certain I could extract the truth from him quite thoroughly."
"No." Rimuru's voice carried more force than he'd intended. Everyone at the table straightened. "No one touches Yuuki. Not yet. Not until we understand what's really happening."
Even now, he thought bitterly, I'm making excuses for him. When did I become this naive?
<
Rimuru sighed. Even Raphael was telling him to wise up.
"Soei, I want eyes on Yuuki at all times. Don't engage, don't let him know he's being watched. Just... observe. Report any suspicious activity directly to me."
"Understood, Lord Rimuru."
"The rest of you, focus on damage control. Reach out to our remaining allies, reinforce trade agreements where possible, and for god's sake, don't give them any ammunition to use against us. We're going to weather this storm through diplomacy and patience."
Benimaru looked like he wanted to argue, but simply nodded. "As you command."
As the meeting dispersed, Rimuru stayed in his seat, staring at the map of the Western Nations spread across the table. Little flags marked their allies—and one by one, those flags had been changing color.
All roads seemed to lead back to one name.
Yuuki... what happened to you? What happened to us?
The question hung unanswered in the empty room.
PART II: THE DEMON LORD'S PATIENCE BREAKS
Guy Crimson sat upon his throne in the Ice Continent, his male form lounging with deceptive casualness as Rain delivered her report. The Primordial of Blue stood before him with perfect maid posture, but her usually carefree internal thoughts were unusually serious.
"—and the Western Council has instituted martial law in three border cities under the guise of 'monster defense,'" Rain concluded. "Yuuki Kagurazaka's influence has grown exponentially. In just two months since Clayman's death at the last Walpurgis, he's consolidated more political power than most achieve in centuries."
Guy's crimson eyes narrowed. For anyone else, it might have been imperceptible. But Rain, who had served him for eons, recognized the subtle shift in his demeanor.
He was annoyed.
"Two months," Guy repeated, his voice carrying that dangerous edge that made even Primordials nervous. "In two months, this... child... has disrupted the balance I've maintained for two thousand years?"
Rain wisely said nothing. When Guy was in this mood, silence was the safest option.
"Rudra and I," Guy continued, standing from his throne with fluid grace, "spent millennia crafting a delicate equilibrium. Humans and monsters in tension, yes, but controlled tension. Enough conflict to keep things interesting, enough stability to prevent world-ending catastrophes."
He began to pace, something Rain had only seen him do perhaps a dozen times in all their long existence together. Each step seemed to lower the temperature in the throne room by several degrees.
"And now this Japanese otherworlder, this child with delusions of grandeur, thinks he can reshape the world order in a matter of weeks?" Guy's laugh was sharp and utterly devoid of humor. "Did he really believe I wouldn't notice? That I wouldn't care?"
"Master Guy," Rain ventured carefully, "what would you have me do?"
Guy stopped pacing, turning to face her fully. In that moment, Rain was reminded viscerally that she served the oldest and strongest Demon Lord, the Primordial Rouge himself—a being who had fought Veldanava to a standstill and lived to tell the tale.
"The Western Council meets tomorrow evening to ratify Yuuki's 'Defensive Alliance,'" Guy said, his voice now cold and precise. "You will attend."
Rain blinked. "Attend? Master, I'm not—"
"You will enter the council chambers during their deliberations," Guy continued as if she hadn't spoken. "You will eliminate three council members. Choose them randomly—I don't care which ones. Make it brutal enough to be memorable, efficient enough to send a message."
Despite centuries of service, Rain felt a chill run down her spine. This wasn't just about Yuuki anymore. This was Guy asserting his dominance, reminding the world that the balance of power ultimately rested in his hands.
"The humans have forgotten to fear me," Guy said, almost conversationally. "They've grown comfortable behind their walls and armies, believing themselves safe from the monsters they once cowered before. Yuuki Kagurazaka has encouraged this delusion. It's time to remind them of reality."
"And if Yuuki interferes?" Rain asked.
Guy's smile was predatory. "Then you'll have your answer about his true capabilities. That boy has been hiding something. His growth rate is... unusual. I want to know what he's truly capable of."
Rain processed this. So it wasn't just about sending a message—it was also reconnaissance. Guy wanted to provoke Yuuki, to see what cards he was hiding.
Sneaky bastard, she thought fondly. This was why he'd ruled for so long.
"I understand, Master Guy. Though I must point out that deliberately terrorizing human leadership might push them further into Yuuki's arms."
"Let them run to him," Guy said dismissively. "Let them cry to their new savior about the terrible Demon Lord Rouge. And when Yuuki inevitably fails to protect them from actual threats—because that's what will happen when you prioritize politics over power—they'll remember why we ruled for millennia while their kingdoms crumbled to dust."
He returned to his throne, settling back into his casual sprawl. But his eyes remained sharp, focused.
"There's something else," Guy added. "I want you to observe Yuuki directly. Threaten him if the opportunity presents itself. Don't kill him—not yet. But make him show his hand. I need to know if he's genuinely dangerous or just dangerously foolish."
Rain bowed. "As you command, Master Guy."
As she turned to leave, Guy's voice stopped her. "Rain."
"Yes, Master?"
"Be careful. That boy defeated Granbell Rosso, or so the rumors claim. Granbell was no True Hero anymore, but he was still formidable. If Yuuki has grown powerful enough to kill legends..."
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.
Rain nodded, understanding the unspoken warning, and departed.
Well, she thought as she prepared for her mission, at least it won't be boring.
If only she'd known how catastrophically right that prediction would be.
PART III: THE FEAR OF A GENIUS
The Western Council chambers were exactly as pretentious as Rain had expected. Marble columns, vaulted ceilings, tapestries depicting human triumphs over monsters—the usual self-aggrandizing nonsense that human nobility loved.
She'd infiltrated the building easily enough. Her demonic nature allowed her to suppress her presence to near-invisibility, and what few detection wards existed were child's play to bypass. Rain had been doing this sort of thing since before most of these councilors' ancestors had learned to use tools.
Through a gap in the decorative stonework, she observed the council session in progress. Twenty-three humans sat around a circular table, debating the finer points of Yuuki Kagurazaka's proposed alliance.
And there, at the head of the table, sat the boy himself.
Rain studied him with professional interest. Yuuki appeared exactly as the intelligence reports described: perpetually youthful, with an easy smile and casual demeanor that made him seem harmless. But Rain had lived long enough to know that appearances were the most effective weapons.
He's good, she admitted internally, watching how Yuuki guided the conversation with subtle redirects and careful word choices. Not trying to dominate, just... steering. Like he knows exactly where he wants this to go.
"—concerns about economic impact are valid," Yuuki was saying, his voice earnest and reasonable. "Which is why I'm proposing a three-year transition period for the tariffs. We're not trying to destroy trade, just ensure human kingdoms aren't dependent on potentially hostile monster nations."
Several council members nodded. One—a portly man with an excessive number of medals—raised his hand.
"Chairman Kagurazaka, some have suggested that these policies might be... shall we say, premature? The Jura-Tempest Federation has shown no hostile intent."
Yuuki's expression became somber. "You're absolutely right, Councilor Hartmann. Rimuru Tempest has been nothing but cordial in our interactions. But consider: in less than two years, his nation has grown from a small forest settlement to a major power. He's a True Demon Lord now, with forces that could devastate entire kingdoms."
He paused for effect. "I'm not saying Rimuru is a threat. I'm saying we'd be foolish not to prepare for the possibility that he could become one. Isn't it our responsibility to protect our citizens?"
Masterful, Rain thought. He's using fear without making it explicit. Making them think it's their own conclusion.
She'd seen enough. Time to complete her mission.
Rain selected her targets with the randomness Guy had requested: Councilor Hartmann (because he'd just spoken), a younger woman with sharp eyes who'd been taking notes, and an elderly man who'd dozed off twice during the proceedings.
She began channeling her power, preparing to materialize in a burst of demonic energy that would freeze their hearts before they could even scream—
And then she made a critical mistake.
She looked directly at Yuuki Kagurazaka.
And for just a fraction of a second, his eyes shifted toward her hiding place.
He can't possibly—
But those eyes. There was something in those eyes that made Rain, a Primordial Demon who had existed since the dawn of time, feel a primal spike of unease.
Then Yuuki's gaze moved on, returning to the council discussion as if nothing had happened.
Did he notice me? Impossible. My concealment is perfect.
But doubt gnawed at her. Guy had warned her that Yuuki was hiding something. What if—
No. She had her orders. Complete the mission, send the message, gather intelligence.
Rain materialized in the center of the council chamber.
The effect was immediate and dramatic. Several councilors screamed. Others fell backward in their chairs. Yuuki himself went rigid, his eyes going wide with what appeared to be genuine terror.
Good, Rain thought savagely. You should be afraid.
"Greetings, human councilors," she said pleasantly, her maid outfit and composed demeanor at odds with the deadly aura radiating from her. "I bring a message from Lord Guy Crimson, the oldest of Demon Lords and master of the Ice Continent."
She pointed at Councilor Hartmann. "You."
The man's face went white. "I-I-I don't—"
"You have forgotten your place in the natural order," Rain continued. "You've forgotten that this world belongs to those with power, not those with pretty words and political machinations. Allow me to remind you."
She raised her hand, demonic energy crackling around her fingers.
And that's when everything went catastrophically wrong.
"EEEEEEK!"
The sound that erupted from Yuuki Kagurazaka was not the calculated cry of a mastermind or the defiant shout of a warrior. It was the high-pitched squeal of someone who had just seen a spider and possessed exactly zero courage about the situation.
Rain turned toward him, startled by the sheer terror in that sound.
Yuuki had his hands raised defensively, his face pale with genuine fear. "Stay back! Don't—don't come any closer!"
He's... actually terrified? Rain thought, confused. This didn't match the profile at all. Where was the mysterious power? The calculated composure?
But she had a mission to complete. Rain turned back to her targets—
And suddenly, the world turned wrong.
It hit her like a tidal wave of pressure she couldn't identify. Her magic, which had been flowing smoothly just moments ago, simply... stopped. Not suppressed. Not countered. It just ceased to function, as if the universe had decided that demonic energy was no longer a valid concept.
What the—
Before she could process what was happening, something else latched onto her mind. It wasn't a mental attack, exactly. It was more like... desire. HER desires, specifically, being twisted and redirected in ways that felt fundamentally wrong.
Her mouth wouldn't open to speak. Her body wouldn't move forward to attack. Every instinct screamed at her to flee, but her limbs refused to obey.
This is—this is impossible! What kind of power—
Then she felt it. A second force, washing over her in waves of pale blue flame that didn't burn physically but seemed to set her very soul ablaze. Her spiritual body—the core of her existence as a Primordial Demon—began to disintegrate under the assault.
Rain's eyes snapped back to Yuuki, and she finally understood.
The boy wasn't cowering. His raised hands weren't defensive. They were directed at her, and from his palms poured flames of a color she recognized from ancient battles and older legends.
Hope King Sariel, some distant part of her mind supplied. The Ultimate Skill that grants authority over the cycle of life and reincarnation itself.
But there was more. The nullification of her magic, the manipulation of her desires—those weren't Sariel's powers. This was something else. Multiple Ultimate Skills, working in concert, wielded by someone who had absolutely no idea how to properly control them.
Which made the situation infinitely worse.
"I'm sorry!" Yuuki was babbling, still looking terrified even as he accidentally destroyed her. "I'm sorry, I don't—I can't—please just—"
The blue flames intensified. Rain felt her form beginning to collapse, her core destabilizing. In moments, she'd be reduced to nothing more than scattered particles, facing a resurrection that could take decades or even centuries.
I'm going to kill you, Rain thought furiously at Yuuki. I'm going to resurrect and then I'm going to hunt you down and make you suffer for this embarrassing—
But survival came first. She had perhaps seconds before complete dissolution.
Rain did the only thing she could think of: she abandoned her body.
The technique was old, dangerous, and rarely used even among Primordials. It involved severing her astral self from her material form and fleeing into the spirit world, where she could find a new vessel to inhabit.
The problem was that such vessels needed to meet specific criteria: high magicule capacity, compatible spiritual wavelength, and physical proximity. In this room full of low-level humans, finding a suitable host would be—
There.
Rain's astral form, moving at speeds impossible to perceive with physical senses, detected exactly one being in the immediate vicinity who met all the requirements.
Unfortunately, that being was standing right next to Yuuki Kagurazaka.
Fuck my life, Rain thought as she dove into the nearest compatible vessel.
The possession process was instantaneous. One moment Rain was a discorporated astral entity fleeing obliteration, the next she was slamming into a new body with all the grace of a meteor hitting a pond.
Sensory input flooded her consciousness:
Female body. Not bad.
Moderate height. Fine.
Flowing robes that felt expensive. Acceptable.
Currently holding a stack of documents about agricultural policy.
Wait. What?
Rain's new eyes snapped open, and she found herself staring directly at Yuuki Kagurazaka from a distance of about three feet.
The boy was still panicking, his flames having consumed her original body completely. He was hyperventilating, looking around wildly for any sign of the demon who'd been about to murder his council members.
Rain became very, very still.
Through this body's recent memories—which she could access as a side effect of possession—she learned several things in rapid succession:
This body belonged to someone named Kagali
Kagali was Yuuki's personal secretary and assistant
Kagali was also the former Demon Lord Kazalim
Kagali led the Moderate Harlequin Alliance
Kagali was fiercely loyal to Yuuki
And most importantly:
If Rain revealed that she'd just possessed Yuuki's most trusted subordinate, the clearly unstable and terrified boy with multiple Ultimate Skills would probably panic-incinerate her AGAIN.
Okay, Rain thought, forcing herself to remain calm. Okay. This is... this is fine. I just need to stay quiet, maintain the illusion that I'm still Kagali, and figure out how to escape this situation without dying permanently.
"Y-Yuuki-sama?" she heard herself say, and mentally cursed at how easily this body responded to established patterns. "What happened? I saw a flash of blue light..."
Yuuki spun toward her, and Rain saw raw terror still etched across his features. "Kagali! Thank god you're okay! There was a—a demon—I think I—did I kill her?"
He sounded horrified at the prospect, which was almost funny. You don't accidentally incinerate a Primordial Demon with Ultimate Skill-level flames unless those flames are VERY deliberately deployed.
But Rain had centuries of experience with deception. She let Kagali's memories guide her performance.
"You protected us," Rain said, injecting admiration into her tone. "Whatever that creature was, you destroyed it before it could harm anyone. Are you injured?"
"I don't... I don't know what happened," Yuuki admitted, looking at his hands as if they belonged to someone else. "I was just so scared and then these powers just... activated? I didn't mean to—"
You didn't mean to casually deploy the flames of an Ultimate Skill that can permanently destroy spiritual entities, Rain thought acidically. Sure. Completely understandable accident.
Around them, the council chamber had descended into chaos. Councilors were screaming, running for exits, or simply cowering under the table. Someone was crying. Another had fainted.
"We should leave," Rain suggested, gently guiding Yuuki toward a side door. "Before panic completely overtakes them. You can send officials to calm the situation once you've recovered."
Yuuki nodded numbly, allowing her to lead him away.
As they exited into a private hallway, Rain's mind was racing through possibilities.
She could try to escape now, but where would she go? Her original body was destroyed, and this body belonged to someone Yuuki knew intimately. The moment "Kagali" started acting out of character, he'd know something was wrong.
And then those flame
s would come out again.
No, her best chance for survival was to maintain the deception. At least until she could figure out a way to either:
A) Create enough distance to safely abandon this body, or
B) Find some way to suppress Yuuki's powers long enough to kill him
Both options would require time, planning, and acting skills she hadn't needed to employ in centuries.
"Kagali," Yuuki said quietly as they walked, "what if... what if I hurt someone I didn't mean to hurt?"
Rain forced sympathy into her expression, channeling every memory of Kagali's devotion to this boy.
"You won't," she assured him. "Your power activated to protect us. That's what it does—it protects. Trust yourself, Yuuki-sama."
The boy looked at her with such genuine gratitude that Rain felt a twinge of something that might have been guilt if she'd had the capacity for such emotions.
This is going to be a nightmare, she realized with growing horror. I'm stuck pretending to be this boy's loyal secretary while he unknowingly possesses the power to obliterate me on a whim.
They turned a corner and nearly collided with three individuals wearing harlequin masks.
"Yuuki-sama!" The one in the lead—Laplace, based on Kagali's memories—exclaimed. "We felt an enormous surge of power. Are you and Kagali-anego alright?"
Anego? Rain thought. They call Kagali big sister? How... oddly cute.
"We're fine," Rain heard herself say, falling into Kagali's speech patterns automatically. "There was an incident with a demon, but Yuuki-sama handled it."
Laplace's mask tilted slightly. Behind him, Footman and Tear shifted uneasily.
"A demon?" Footman rumbled, his cheerful tone not quite masking concern. "What kind of demon?"
"A powerful one," Yuuki said, his voice still shaky. "Blue hair, maid outfit. She was going to kill council members."
Laplace went very still. "Blue hair and maid outfit. Was she... particularly beautiful? With an air of lazy competence?"
Rain felt her blood—or rather, Kagali's blood—run cold.
They're Cerberus. They have intelligence networks. They know about Guy's subordinates.
"You know her?" Yuuki asked.
"If I'm correct," Laplace said slowly, "that was Rain. Primordial Blue. One of Guy Crimson's oldest and most powerful servants."
The silence that followed was profound.
"Guy Crimson sent her?" Yuuki whispered. "Why? What did I do to—"
"Master," Tear interrupted, her childish voice unusually serious, "if Guy Crimson is moving against you directly, we need to assume other Demon Lords may follow. This is very bad."
Rain wanted to scream. She wanted to reveal herself, to explain that this had been a simple intimidation mission that had gone horrifically wrong due to Yuuki's panic-induced Ultimate Skill activation.
But she couldn't. Because Rain was officially dead, consumed by Sariel's flames. And Kagali was standing right here, loyal and concerned for her master's safety.
"We need to increase security," Rain found herself saying, because that's what Kagali would say. "If the Demon Lords view you as a threat, we can't rely on conventional defenses."
Yuuki nodded, some of his composure returning. "You're right. Laplace, Footman, Tear—I want you coordinating with our Cerberus assets. Establish a perimeter, increase surveillance, prepare contingencies."
The three clowns bowed and departed.
Once they were alone again, Yuuki turned to Rain. "Thank you, Kagali. For always being here. For always knowing what to say."
Rain felt the sincerity in those words and wanted to throttle him.
I'm not Kagali, you oblivious child! I'm the demon you just accidentally murdered while panicking like a five-year-old seeing a bug!
"Always, Yuuki-sama," she said instead, because that's what Kagali would say.
They continued walking through the building's corridors, and Rain tried to formulate an escape plan.
But then they reached Yuuki's private quarters, and Rain discovered something that made her situation infinitely worse.
Curled up on a cushion near Yuuki's desk was a small azure dragon no larger than a housecat.
The creature's eyes opened as they entered, revealing golden irises that immediately fixed on Rain.
"Velgaia!" Yuuki's face lit up with genuine joy as he approached the dragon. "Sorry for leaving you alone. We had some excitement today."
The dragon—Velgaia, apparently—chirped. Then it looked at Rain and chirped again, more insistently.
Through the body's memories, Rain learned two horrifying facts:
Velgaia was a True Dragon infant that Yuuki had somehow resurrected from the Chaos Dragon
Kagali had been assigned as the dragon's primary caretaker when Yuuki was busy
Velgaia hopped off the cushion and trotted over to Rain, looking up expectantly.
"Looks like someone missed their mama," Yuuki said with a smile.
Mama? Rain thought, her internal horror reaching new heights. MAMA?!
Velgaia chirped again and nuzzled against her leg.
And Rain, operating on Kagali's muscle memory and the instincts of this body, found herself reaching down to gently scratch behind the dragon's horns.
Velgaia made a pleased sound and settled against her feet.
I'm going to kill Guy Crimson, Rain thought as the full magnitude of her situation crashed over her. I'm going to resurrect, return to the Ice Continent, and strangle my master with his own intestines.
"Kagali?" Yuuki's voice was concerned. "Are you alright? You look pale."
Rain forced a smile. "Just... processing everything that happened. It's been quite an eventful day."
"That's an understatement," Yuuki said, collapsing into his chair. "A Primordial Demon tried to kill our council, I accidentally destroyed her with powers I barely understand, and now Guy Crimson probably wants me dead. How did my life get so complicated?"
You have no idea, Rain thought as Velgaia demanded more petting.
And thus began what would either be the greatest or worst period of Rain's extremely long existence.
Possibly both.
PART IV: CONSEQUENCES AND COMPLICATIONS
Three hours later, Rain sat in what had been Kagali's personal quarters, trying to process the absolute disaster her life had become.
The room was neat, organized, with shelves of books on magical theory and a small desk covered in paperwork related to the Moderate Harlequin Alliance. A vanity in the corner held cosmetics that Kagali apparently never used.
Rain stared at her reflection—Kagali's reflection—and fought the urge to scream.
Okay, she told herself. Think this through logically.
Option one: Reveal herself to Yuuki, explain what happened, hope he doesn't panic and incinerate her again.
Pros: Honesty. Potential alliance. Ends the deception.
Cons: Yuuki's powers activate when he's scared, and nothing is scarier than learning your trusted subordinate has been possessed by the demon you thought you'd killed.
Option one was suicide.
Option two: Maintain the deception indefinitely, wait for an opportunity to escape.
Pros: Survival. Time to plan.
Cons: Acting as someone else's secretary. Caring for a baby dragon. Dealing with Yuuki's trauma-induced Ultimate Skill accidents.
Also, the longer she maintained the deception, the angrier Guy would be when she eventually returned. And Guy's anger was not something to take lightly.
Master thinks I'm dead, Rain realized with growing horror. He sent me on a mission and I died embarrassingly to a panicking child with Ultimate Skills he can't control.
She could just imagine Guy's reaction. First disbelief. Then annoyance. Then that cold, calculating fury he got when something disrupted his carefully maintained balance.
He might even mourn her. In his own terrible way.
No, Rain decided. I need to get back as soon as possible. Before Guy does something drastic.
A knock at the door interrupted her spiraling thoughts.
"Kagali-anego?" Tear's voice called out. "May I come in?"
Rain's heart—Kagali's heart—jumped. Right. She had to maintain the act around Yuuki's subordinates too.
"Of course," she called back, forcing Kagali's tone and mannerisms.
The door opened and Tear entered, her mask hiding her expression. The young-looking girl (who was actually 2000+ years old) carried a tray with tea and small cakes.
"I thought you might need some comfort after the incident," Tear said, setting the tray down. "Footman's making a fuss about security protocols and Laplace is off doing... whatever Laplace does. But I wanted to check on you."
Rain felt a surge of unexpected emotion. Kagali's memories showed genuine affection for these three—her "children" whom she'd created through forbidden magic.
They care about her, Rain realized. They actually care.
"Thank you, Tear," Rain said, meaning it more than the girl could know. "Today has been... challenging."
"Yuuki-sama seemed really shaken," Tear observed, pouring tea with practiced grace. "I've never seen him scared like that."
"He encountered something unexpected," Rain said carefully. "It rattled him. But he's strong. He'll recover."
Tear nodded, but something in her posture seemed uncertain. "Anego... is Yuuki-sama really okay? I mean, really? Sometimes I look at him and I see... I don't know. Shadows. Like he's carrying something heavy that he won't share."
Rain wanted to say, "Oh, he's carrying multiple Ultimate Skills he has no idea how to properly use, plus enough trauma and ambition to destabilize entire continents."
Instead she said, "Yuuki-sama has his struggles, like anyone. Our job is to support him however we can."
It was exactly what Kagali would say. And somehow, despite everything, Rain found herself meaning it.
What is wrong with me? she wondered. I'm starting to think like her.
Possession had its side effects. The longer she stayed in this body, the more Kagali's personality would bleed into her own. It was unavoidable when occupying a vessel with such strong memories and established patterns.
END OF CHAPTER 5
To be continued...