Chapter 16: The Mask Behind the Smile

The next morning, Tokyo Magic Academy buzzed with tension.
News of the Shibuya murders had spread everywhere—even the usually carefree students whispered in fear.

Headmaster Keegan’s voice echoed through the courtyard speakers.

“Starting today, all female students will be dismissed early until further notice. This is for your safety.”

Groans erupted from the boys’ dormitory.

“Lucky girls—they get to go home early!”
“If you’re jealous, why don’t you turn into one of them?”

The laughter that followed was nervous. Fear had a way of disguising itself as humor.

Kanata, meanwhile, wasn’t laughing.
He kept thinking about the silver-haired woman he’d bumped into days earlier. There’d been something warm about her presence—something familiar, like a memory he couldn’t place.
He tried to shake it off, but the thought lingered.

Elsewhere, the city was crawling with magic patrols. Aine marched alongside the Elite Sorcerer Division, her sharp eyes scanning every corner of Tokyo.
Security wards shimmered over the streets. Mana detectors lined the alleys.

And then—cheers erupted nearby.

“Veil-sama! Over here!”
“You look amazing today, Veil-sama!”

Aine froze.
That name still pierced her chest like a splinter.

Through the sea of fans, she saw him—Veil Morgath.
Black hair brushed perfectly against his collar, emerald eyes gleaming under the sunlight, dressed like the celebrity he was. He’d just finished a commercial shoot and was waving gracefully to the crowd.

Then his gaze caught hers.

For a heartbeat, everything around her went silent.

“…Aine?”

Her breath hitched.

“V-Veil… It’s been a long time.”

“It really has.” He smiled, effortlessly charming. “You look the same. Still working too hard, I see?”

“Just… doing my job,” she muttered, trying to steady her voice.

“Ah, right. The murder cases—they must be exhausting.”
“You could say that.”

“You always were diligent.” He chuckled softly. “I heard you’re with the Elite now. Impressive.”

“Hmph. Some things don’t change.”

“And this someone you mentioned?” he asked teasingly. “Your boyfriend?”

“No,” Aine snapped, cheeks flaring red. “Just a troublesome student from the academy. Nothing more.”

“Still attracting trouble, huh?” Veil laughed. “Anyway, I should go—just wrapped up a shoot and need to get back to the hotel.”
He flashed his practiced smile, waved, and left in a sleek black car.

Aine stood there, motionless, her heart pounding in confused rhythm.
Part of her still hated him. Another part… couldn’t let go.

The academy declared an official day off.
Kanata, blissfully unaware of fate’s setup, smashed open his piggy bank with a grin.

“Finally! I can buy that game—Tides of Vanguard 3! I’ve waited forever for this!”

He threw on a casual jacket and sprinted toward Shibuya.

Along the way, he passed Aine, who was commanding a line of uniformed mages. Their eyes met for half a second; she looked away immediately.

“Tch… ignoring me again,” Kanata muttered. “Fine. I’m buying my game.”

But as he arrived, a shrill alarm blared across the city—
the sound every mage dreaded.

Emergency Code: Abduction Detected.

Shops shuttered. Wards lit up.
Kanata ran to the nearest game store—only to find the door locked, the sign hastily flipped to Closed.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” he yelled, startling a stray cat that bolted down the alley.

At the same time, Aine’s communicator lit up.
A new location pinged—a signal from the western docks, an abandoned warehouse.

“I’ll handle this.”
She drew her weapon and dashed through the empty streets.

Inside the warehouse, her footsteps echoed.
Then—whispers. Soft, desperate voices.

“Help… please…”

Aine pushed through the dark hallway and froze.
Dozens of young women were trapped in glowing crystal cages, their mana slowly being drained.

“Damn it…” she hissed, raising her gun.
A clap echoed from the shadows.

“Well, well, well. Took you long enough, Aine.”

Her heart stopped.

“…No.”

From the darkness stepped Veil Morgath—still handsome, still smiling, but his eyes gleamed an unnatural green, the same color as the runes crawling across his arms.

“Veil… what is this?”

“Oh, Aine. You always were too righteous for your own good.”
His tone was almost playful. “You see, I got tired of pretending. Humans worship me. Women adore me. Why not give them a god to believe in?”

“You’re… a Banshee.”

He laughed softly, the sound hollow and beautiful all at once.

“Not just any Banshee. The perfect one. Eternal youth, eternal adoration.”

Aine’s hands trembled—not from fear, but from heartbreak and fury.

“You used them. You killed them.”

“Don’t look at me like that.” He tilted his head, smiling faintly. “You loved me once, didn’t you?”

Her grip tightened on the gun.

“That was before you turned into a monster.”

“Oh, Aine…” Veil whispered, stepping closer. “You always were my favorite mistake.”

The floor beneath them pulsed with cursed light.

And this time—
Aine didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.