"You can't expect to follow blindly," Alberta declared. Her voice carried a hint of defiance, and her tone shifted subtly, catching the man off guard.
His eyes glead with interest. "So, what you're saying is... you'll co with us, as long as the terms are agreeable?"
"First, let him go," she said, motioning toward Gin. "He can take my car and leave. There's no need for him to be involved in this."
The man's expression darkened. "I can't let him walk away after witnessing all this. At the very least, I'll assign soone to keep an eye on him."
"No," Alberta snapped firmly, shaking her head. "I can't trust you—not yet."
The man sighed, exasperated. "You're making this difficult. We don't have much ti, you know. Lingering here in the middle of the road could lead to complications."
"Then I guess I'll have to risk everything," she retorted, her voice sharp with resolve. "If it cos to it, I'll fight."
As she spoke, she subtly moved closer to Gin and leaned in to whisper, "When I attack, get in the car and drive. Don't worry about —they won't be able to chase you.
Just stay careful for a while."
Gin regarded her with an unreadable expression. He hadn't expected her, soone he'd only t a day ago, to go to such lengths for him. Was she really willing to risk her life for his sake?
The n crumpled to the ground in unison, their bodies stiff and unresponsive.
Not one managed even a scream before falling unconscious.
The surreal sight left Alberta and the man before her montarily stunned. Alberta's eyes darted to the scorched ground, disbelief washing over her. The old saying about lightning striking out of a clear sky—she had never thought she'd witness it with her own eyes.
"One left," Gin murmured, his voice low and calm, pulling Gin from her daze. Without hesitation, she launched herself at the remaining man.
Her movents were swift and precise, honed by years of training.
As a skilled combatant, she struck with unrelenting force. Her opponent, however, was quick to recover, blocking her strikes and countering with his own.
The two clashed in a flurry of blows, their battle fierce and unyielding.
anwhile, Gin prepared the first spell he had set aside.
As he activated it, the man's eyes glazed over, his focus slipping. For a brief mont, he was utterly defenseless.
Alberta seized the opportunity.
With a resounding crack, her fist collided with his nose, sending him reeling. She didn't stop there. Pivoting on her heel, she delivered a powerful hook to his temple.
A dull thud echoed as the man's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed like a felled tree.
Alberta stood over him, her breathing ragged, tension draining from her body as she confird that he was unconscious.
She took a deep breath, pulled out her phone, and sent a quick ssage before turning to Gin .
"You must be shocked," she said, attempting a wry smile.
"Sothing like that," he replied, his tone as even as ever.
Her lips curved into a genuine laugh, warmth sparking in her chest.
She had already been drawn to him, but this mont deepened her feelings.
"People will be here soon to clean this up," she explained. "What now? Should I take you ho?"
Gin smirked faintly and shook his head. "Let's finish what we started. I was looking forward to it."
Alberta's eyes widened in surprise, then softened as she grinned. "Alright. I make an excellent bowl of ran, so prepare to be amazed."
The two returned to her car and drove off. Not long after, two vans arrived at the scene. n in dark uniforms quickly disembarked, efficiently clearing the area.
The unconscious n were loaded into the vehicles, and all evidence of the confrontation, including damaged cars and debris, vanished without a trace.
Within minutes, the road returned to its mundane state, as if nothing had ever happened.
"Co in," Alberta said as she held the door open. Gin stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the space. The entryway led to a wide hallway adorned with paintings, and beyond that, the spacious living room ca into view.
"Nice place," he remarked.
"I've done well for myself," Alberta replied with a shy smile. She hadn't expected to actually bring him here. The thought of inviting a man into her ho felt foreign, even to her.
Gin, on the other hand, had begun to piece together why Alberta seed so drawn to him. It was his mana—and her unique constitution.
Alberta possessed a remarkable affinity for magic, a sensitivity that made her highly receptive to mana. While her magical reserves were only twice that of an average person, her ability to harness and channel mana was unparalleled. Gin had figured this out during their ti together, using magic to scan her body and analyze the flow of energy within her.
The result was clear. Her natural aptitude was extraordinary, but it had been hindered by sothing—likely the residual effects of passing through magical portals.
Each ti she crossed a portal, the stray mana that clung to her disrupted her own energy flow.
As Alberta led him further into the house, she looked back with a curious expression. "What's on your mind?"
Gin only smirked. "Nothing yet. Let's see what you've got in the kitchen."
It had beco second nature for her mana to slip away, a habit ingrained so deeply it was almost irreversible. Alberta wasn't the only one affected; other ability users likely suffered the sa fate.
Every ti they passed through a portal, their mana receded like an ebbing tide, leaving them with only the bare minimum.
No matter how much mana they gathered on Earth, the portals siphoned away anything surplus.
But Alberta stood apart from the others. Her sensitivity to mana was unparalleled, so acute that she could sense the vast, overwhelming energy surrounding Gin—though she wasn't consciously aware of it. Her potential was remarkable, and with the right guidance, she could evolve rapidly. Gin had already concluded as much through his observations.
While he was deep in thought, Alberta returned from the kitchen, carrying an assortnt of simple snacks and two chilled beers. Gin raised an eyebrow. So much for the promised ran.
The two of them settled at the low table in the living room, the snacks and drinks laid out between them. Gin studied her intently, a spark of curiosity in his gaze.
Several impulses stirred within him. They were fleeting yet powerful, but Gin reminded himself that succumbing to such whims would undermine the discipline he sought as a true mage.
Still, he couldn't help but marvel at the rapid shifts in his emotions. The Shadow Realm had altered him in profound ways.
Was it the result of that volatile mana?
He hadn't even absorbed the energy—it had rely brushed against him, lingering faintly around his body. Yet the changes were undeniable. The thought tugged at him, but he dismissed it. Answers would co in ti, as his magical skills continued to grow.
With his mind cleared, Gin refocused on Alberta. The more he observed her, the more he lanted the wasted potential she carried.
"What do you do for a living?" he asked suddenly. "You don't strike as an ordinary office worker."
Alberta blinked, surprised by the abrupt question. She had been lost in her own thoughts and hadn't expected it. Then, with a slight laugh, she nodded.
"I'm not exactly ordinary, no. But I do work for a company. My job's just... a little unusual."
"Can you share what it is?" Gin pressed, though his tone remained casual.
"You can ask," she replied with a teasing smile, "but I can't answer. It's confidential."
"It sounds dangerous," Gin remarked. "If people are coming after you like this, it must be."
Alberta tilted her head, considering his words. "It is dangerous, technically. But honestly, I've never dealt with threats like this before. Today was a first."
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