The Mysterious Black Magician

(You came again…) (First voice)

(Eh? Uh. J-Just wanted to check i-if h-his still breathing…) (Second voice)

"....." (No voice)

(Miss #%^¥£$!) (Third voice)

The voices coming from around me was what brought me back to my senses.

Before opening his eyes, He tried to perceive his surroundings.

He sensed two human presence close to him and another two not too far.. 

He scanned his memory of how he was in a situation right now.

If he remembered correctly, He went to cross the barrier after distributing all the treasure chests.

Then after that, 'is this?'

'No no no.'

He also remembered some scenes in his mind. 'Regardless, what are those scenes? A dream? A lucid one?

'Perhaps…'

'Maybe I'm hallucinating?'

'Aside from that, why I am in this situation again?' He couldn't connect the dots.

Even without opening his eyes yet, he could guess that currently, he was lying in a soft-cottoned bed.

The people talking around him, he knew all of them based on their voices.

'One was from Cinder?'

The other one was unexpected. 'It's from that Artist!'

And the third and most noisy among them all, 'is no other than my deity.'

"....."

Yman wondered how a group was built up.

Regardless, he was still in the dark of how he was lying in the bed right now.

His nose twitched; the fragrances of perfumes that usually used by females had invaded him.

He slowly opened his eyes as he could not perceive any ill intent around him. 

Although his vision was a bit blurry at the moment, he could identify the people around him.

He was greeted by two pairs of beautiful eyes staring at him like they already knew he would be waking up.

'Ah my bad, it was three. Though the third pair of eyes is smaller than the rest.'

<Partner! Partner! You're awake!> said the noisest one. 

Together with her were two beautiful ladies. A red hair girl with wolf ears and an Encan with shoulder-length snow-colored hair.

Using his fingers, he rubbed his eyes to clear his vision before asking what happened.

Ella and Cinder glanced at each other before deciding who would explain to him what happened after he crossed the barrier.

In the end, the two of them alternately explained to him.

He found out that he passed out after crossing the barrier. And it was already a week since the competition ended.

After he passed out, he wasn't able to join the last part of the competition which is a duel. The duel ended just yesterday and the contestants who fought at the final were Roman and Hilion.

The last battle was held at the grand auditorium of the empire. Thousands of viewers came to watch the final fight between two of the most prestigious families in the empire. Many important people were present in the fight. 

Using their strongest Artefacts and equipment, the battle became a sight to behold.

Because of this, most people forgot what he did in the first elimination round as only the name of the people who fought in the finale remained in everyone's mind.

Their last attacks were the deciding factor. And sparks the crowd's excitement.

The battle ended with Roman's victory. Although it was a close call, Hilion was a bit short in stamina.

He wanted to see their battle with their real strength. Too bad he passed out after passing the barrier.

He didn't know whether to laugh at his pitiful luck. He wondered how to increase his luck. Maybe he needed more positive karma?

Sigh!

The two girls noticed he did a long sigh. But his eyes widened when he remembered something more important.

He quickly touched his face. And glanced at his hair.

As expected, his hair went back to brown. And his ears went back to human ears.

He glanced at Ella and saw her mouth slightly open. Probably, she wanted to force a laugh but on second thought left it hanging open.

Then she heaved and said, "Hmph! Good job for tricking us," with a pout on her face she looked in the other direction.

"Uh—er… Miss. Ella, that's not what you wanted to tell him right? In any case, if you don't want it. I also in need of a bodyguard so I will hire him!"

Cinder said like a child.

Yman knitted his brows. He wondered what Cinder meant by her words.

He noticed Ella sighed.

"I don't know why you have to disguise yourself into an Encan person. But you might have something that you wanted to hide for doing so. As long as it won't hinder your job… t -then, I don't mind hiring you…" she said while looking away from him.

"....."

"Eh?" He pondered for a moment about her words. 

"D-Do you mean, I'm hired?" He asked.

<Yes, partner! Miss Ella agreed to hire you! Hehe. We can finally buy upgrades for me!> Sistela beamed.

He glanced at Ella and saw her slightly nodded.

On the other hand, Cinder was sighing.

Well, it was a waste that he could not join the final elimination. The high-rank herb was what he truly aiming for the competition prizes. He believed that it was one of the keys to create the medicine. But no used regretting now. It already happened and he did not wish for it to happen in the first place. Though he was puzzled by how he lost his consciousness. It was just out of luck for him.

'Could it be due to exhaustion?' His thought. However, no one could give him a clarification about it.

Ella also explained that besides her and Cinder, there's only the Empress who knew about his identity of being a human. Thanks to Miss Cinder's quick assistance.

He glanced at Cinder who was currently having a proud face.

He was grateful.

In any case, since the competition prize slipped from his hands, he could only depend on the payment he would get for being a bodyguard. 

He sighed and glanced at the window. It was dark outside.

"By the way, what is this place?" He asked.

"Ah! It's one of the famous medical centers in the palace."

"But aren't you suggested to bring him into your room, Miss Ella?" Cinder said with an innocent face.

"What are you saying Miss Cinde!?" Ella shouted with a slightly red face.

"Fufu, if I did not object, you probably bring him to your domain. Right?" Cinder said with a little tease.

"I-It just…!"

For some reason, they started bantering so he chose not to listen to them anymore. He had no idea that these two had become close. In truth, while they were inside the painting, Cinder was secretly cursing Ella for making so many strong beast.

But seeing them casually bantering in front of him. He believed that they became friends in these few days. Looks like Demihumans were just like humans.

Regardless, he gathered much useful information inside that painting. Especially in his modifying ability.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment and smiled slightly when he noticed that nothing serious or injury with his body. Maybe the cause of him getting passed out was mental fatigue?

…..aside from that, he felt stronger than before. The battle inside the painting abled him to grind a good number of attributes. And he was at the peak of LEVEL 3 at the moment. Later he would become LEVEL 4 after taking the L4SOA.

He also learned some unique skills with the help of his Skill Modifying ability.

Nonetheless,

There's a lot he needed to prepare before that. And he needed to upgrade Sistela too.

Suddenly,

"Regardless, I don't want a wimp bodyguard. So get up. I know you're fine already," said Ella to him.

"Hey, let him rest for a little! And it was night time!" Cinder disagreed with Ella.

A bead of sweat appeared at the back of his head. Yman scratched his face upon noticing Sistela darted her small eyes to Ella and Cinder. Uncertain to whom she sided.

Looks like his deity was troubled by these two noisy visitors.

The competition was seemingly the wake-up call to the other kingdoms and cities.

Upon realizing the power held by the youths of the empire, every academy was now in preparation for much serious training. They could not slack off as the World Competition was coming closer.

Meanwhile,

On the rooftop of the building where the Elite girls of Human City Zone 7 were staying, Almina and Maena were in meditation posture. They were trying to master the technique known as Perfect Breathing. It was the technique originated by Almina's brother. And was learned by the current Ace of the academy.

While the two of them were sitting in the meditation posture, they were surrounded by bluish energy that swirling around them.

"Focused!" Ice voice was heard by them.

"Maena sync your breath."

"O-okay, b-big sis…"

"Almina, your breathing is out of order also, feel the energy around you and stay calm!"

"Sorry, b-big sister Ice…"

Ice beamed in joy upon hearing their way of calling her.

It's already been two weeks since they practiced the technique. Yet at the moment they could only master the First Level of it.

While they were practicing, the others also did. No one was slacking at this moment. Everyone was eager to learn.

Especially that they don't have Artefacts like the Demihumans. They could only depend on their equipment and power.