"KAINA! NELSIA!!"

I arrive at the maids' quarters and look around. The maids are surprised. Looks like they are in the middle of their last duties before their sleeping time.

"Shion-sama!?"

Some of them are confused while the other looks happy that I finally get out of the room. Kaina and Nelsia then appear from the crowd of the maids.

"W- what's wrong Shion-sama? It's good that you finally come out though..."

Nelsia is the only one who approaches me casually.

"Do you need meal? In that case-"

Before Kaina finishes her sentence, I cut her off with my statement.

"Never mind that! We need to get out of here now!"

All maids are once again surprised with my outburst.

Kaina suddenly looks more serious than usual.

"What happened, Shion-sama?"

"The guards outside! They suddenly attacked me after saying that they will take over this house!"

"!?"

The maids look dumbfounded. Most of them must not really believe my words considering that I'm still a child.

But Kaina and Nelsia are different. Ever since I was born, Kaina and Nelsia are the ones who watch over me the most. They know well that I know what I am talking about. Only Kaina responds to my statements.

"The guards outside... it can't be... they were new recruits recommended by-"

*flash!*

Before Kaina finishes her sentence, I hear an unknown sound coming from the direction of where the beastmen are.

I turn my back towards the door and see a light from afar.

Or rather... a magic circle. However, it's so far that I cannot really guess what kind of magic it is.

Magic circle is usually used to ease the process in activating magic. The basic method for beginners to activate magic is to write formula with their mana and let the formula concludes itself in the air to activate the intended magic.

The weakness of magic circle is that other people may recognize the spell before it is activated. However....

It is common sense that some complicated magic strictly require the help of magic circle for activation. And this case apply to the magic circle that I see. I'm not 100% sure due to how far it is for me to see... but I saw that formula of a magic circle somewhere in the library as the type of magic that only few people in this world can use...

"Teleportation...."

Kaina said that before everyone says anything. Kaina is the most skillful magic users among the maids and it seems like our assumptions fall into the same conclusion.

Just by knowing how to write the magic formula does not guarantee you to activate all kinds of magic. There are many other requirements for the magic to be activated. For example, some magic needs the user to have the required amount of mana inside their astral body to activate.

Teleportation is the magic which the requirements are completely unknown together with the existence of people who can use it. Only the magic circle formula was passed down as a magic that was once used by the Archmage of Kingdom, the person who was once regarded as the strongest magic user thousand years ago.

But it appears. The magic which should have been only seen in textbooks and stories.

Someone appears from that magic circle. From what I see, that person looks like a blue-haired man wearing metal headband and a brown chainmail outfit set. In addition to his broadsword at his back, his equipment resembles of an adventurer, guild-registered fighters that take on quests for rewards.

"!?"

I am surprised when I use my magic sense to analyse him... what's with this amount of mana...? Gestalt Hydra seems like a joke compared to his amount of mana alone.

Kaina also flinches the moment she sees him so it's definitely not my imagination.

"Hmm~?"

With relaxed voice, he looks at the beastmen who are already dead beaten by the golems.

".... pfft... AHAHAHAHA!!! I thought I ordered those golems to turn the enemy into a mincemeat but these guys got turned into mincemeat instead! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

Looks like this guy does not mind the fact that his comrades got killed.

"Everyone to battle position!"

Kaina, the head of maids, wastes no time in declaring that order to other maids.

Almost all the maids in Graize household including Nelsia and Kaina have been trained with battle experience. When that order is issued, maids with approved battle experience will take arms while the rest evacuate.

"Shion-sama! Please come here!"

One of the maids who will evacuate grab my hand so that I can evacuate together with them.

"W- wait! I-...!"

This is bad. I cannot leave this dangerous enemy to them.

That man looks at the corpses of his comrades. Then he looks towards where we stand.

"Over there huh"

*tap!*

With a single jump, he leaps straight forward to the maids' quarters.

"!? Everyone! Get away from the door!"

The maids near the door managed to hear and jump away from the door on-time due to Kaina's quick order.

*boom!!*

That man arrives in front of the maids' quarters and destroys the entrance at the same time.

I cover my eyes bit from the dust and look at that man. From his words before, he is undoubtedly the ally of those two beastmen.

He smiles confidently while looking at us.

"Ooohhh~. Lots of females here. Lucky~~"

Most of the maids prepare their weapons, including Nelsia and Kaina.

Nelsia's weapon is twin long slash claw, three blades attached to her glove. She gets two of them equipped to both of her hands. Nelsia apparently chooses that weapon in combination to her acceleration magic.

Kaina is an ice magic user. Her weapon is small wand that improve her accuracy in using magic. She is skillful enough to become Millson's teacher.

Other maids are also skillful in their own ways.

We have the advantage in number if fight were to happen. However...

Kaina approaches that man with elegant manner.

"I'm sorry but we cannot accept any guest at this hour. Please leave now."

She acts normally in front of that intruder. As expected of the head maid.

"Ohh...? Quite a big shot we have here. Were you the one who manipulate my golems?"

Instead of replying Kaina's statement, he speak to himself. Something is strange about him. He looks at Kaina but I feel like he also look at something else.

I get a bad feeling about this. Thank goodness the maid stop pulling my hand. I'll stay here and interfere if needed.

I was caught off guard by that teleport magic before but there won't be a next time. I'll use my overtake the moment he use magic.

"... Looks like it's not you. Oh well.... Greetings everyone... my name is Midora Jaeger. Too bad, but all of you need to die now. Do your best and give me the best expression of suffering..."

He licks his lips after saying that.

Midora.... so this guy is the leader that the beastmen were talking about.

No more words are needed. Kaina immediately prepares her wand in front of the enemy. Other maids also prepare themselves.

"Nice~ it would be too boring if you guys don't resist..."

Saying that he moves his hand towards his broad sword at his back.

"Now! Fire!!"

At the signal of Kaina, many maids use their offensive ranged magic towards Midora.

"Spirit Burn!!"

"Ice Lance!!"

"Rock Bullet!!"

The maids bring forward their hands or weapons and magic circles of various colours appear in front of them.

Along with other offensive magic attacks, those attacks will prove fatal once it hits him.

*BLAAARRRR!!!!*

All magic attacks hit him directly.

He never had the chance to dodge due to some of the maids' fast magic attacks.

The combination contains many types of elements. Even if he has resistance against few elements, he won't be able to get out of that attack unscathed.

*sssssss*

"!?"

Kaina's expression become more serious. I understand why though. Even if the smoke covers my vision, it won't cover my mana sense.

I can see his overflowing mana within the smoke. He's still alive even after taking all those attacks.

The smoke disperses revealing Midora still there holding his broad sword with his right hand.

Many maids become dumbfounded at that sight.

He smiles at the maids' expressions. Personality aside, his strength is real deal.

What kind of magic he use? I sense mana that is surrounding him and analyse them...

Midora shows an evil grin and talks to us casually.

"What's wrong? Finally see your awaiting fate? Kukuku..."

!? What the... It nullifies all physical and magic attacks..? What kind of magic is that!? Not only that, there are formula of functions that I cannot decipher!? This is absurd.... for a single magic to have all this effect...!

"Absolute Zero!"

Kaina quickly cast her strongest ice magic.

"!"

Midora realizes the blue magic circle below his feet but it is too late for him. He is completely frozen before he can react.

Absolute Zero... Kaina's strongest ice magic that can freeze even the time of the frozen object. Only Kaina who can use this magic after studying and practicing ice magic for so many years. Her own unique magic that others cannot copy. However...

I can see that Midora's magic resistance is preventing Absolute Zero from freezing his time.

My Overtake can only affect the magic function that I can decipher. Then I shall overtake his magic resistance to make Absolute Zero complete freeze him-

*crack! BOOOOOM!!!!*

Before I can do that, Midora already breaks free the Absolute Zero.

"Absolute Zero... that's some nice magic you have there~"

Midora is still standing perfectly fine. He would most likely realize once I overtake his magic resistance. It's better to caught him off guard using it.

"If magic did not work..."

Some of the maids most likely think that he is only invincible from magic. He still has physical resistance that nullifies physical attacks. However...

"Nelsia! Guard Shion-sama with your life!"

Nelsia nods and stands in front of me while covering me.

"Everyone else! Prepare your weapons!"

The maids already prepare their weapons. Swords, Knives, Spears, Bows and many other types of weapons can be seen from the maids' hands.

"So you guys will use those next? Nice~, try it. At least entertain me before leaving this world."

Not giving him chance, Kaina immediately order to attack him.

"Attack!!"

At her order, many maids start rushing towards Midora.

"Heh!" Midora smiles upon the upcoming attacks.

This is my chance!

I overtake his physical resistance and reverse its effect to make Midora weak against physical attacks.

"!?"

Midora feels something wrong within his body and defends against the weapons' attacks with his broad sword.

*SWAAASH!*

Despite being attacked by many people, he still have enough strength to repel the swords and spears' attacks at once.

*snaps!*

The melee attacks are followed by arrows.

"Tch!"

But Midora managed to dodge all of them but jumping back and repelling some of the arrows using his broad sword.

"Kuh...!"

I let out that sound on reflex. So he manage to evade against all those attacks...

"This is..."

Midora looks at his hand analysing what is happening with his body. But my Overtake is not that easy to get noticed.

Furthermore, I'm almost close in deciphering other part of his magic. The magic's name... it will be the clues that I need to decipher other functions of his magic.

Got it. His magic name is.... !?

"Hero.... System....?"

I involuntarily speak the magic's name out of surprise.

"!?"

Everyone including Nelsia, Kaina and even Midora looked at me with surprise.

Nelsia looks at me with confusion. But Kaina is the one who says something.

"Shion-sama... Did you just say... Hero...?"

Midora then direct his attention at me with serious expression.

"That brat..."

After saying that, he points his finger at nothing mid-air as if pressing on something.

"...! Pfft! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

...? He suddenly laugh as if he found out something interesting.

"Overtake... to think that this girl with 0 MP has this kind of magic!"

"!?"

Did he just literally spell out my magic's name!? But how!? What did he do!?

Midora shrugs his shoulders.

"So you're the one who took over my golem summoning magic.... That was dangerous~. Thank goodness I did not use any offensive magic yet."

This is bad... and not to mention... the magic's name that I just deciphered.

Kaina looks at me but then she decide to ask Midora a question.

"Are you really.... a Hero...?"

Hero... that title falls under person that made special achievements for the world... A special existence that is regarded as ideal character that saves people in need... This guy... is a Hero...?

"Heh! That's right. I'm Midora Jaeger. A hero. Remember that even after you die~"

This guy blurts out something absurd so casually. But Kaina still speaks despite the absurdness.

"Why a hero attacks this household... you do know whose house this is right?"

"Graize Household right? Of course I know. And the reason is simple... it's because I'm justice.. and all of you Kingdom's dogs... are evil."

"....!"

Kaina's expression looks scarier than before. But it cannot be helped. His behaviour and words are outrageous no matter how you look at it.

"Looks like you guys don't believe me... but I heard it from the beastmen... That it was Graize Knights led by Graize Els Victorious who raided the beastmen's village 6 years ago."

"!?"

Everyone was surprised by what he just said. But the most shocked person is Kaina as if she knows what he is talking about.

"He killed the beastmen and even took some of them to be sold as slaves. In other words, you guys' death will be the karma for that Victorious. If you want to blame someone, blame your master for being a cruel bastard. Hehehe."

This is bad... I don't know why but Kaina become speechless. At this rate, confusion will spread among the maids. Then...!

"Don't hear him guys! It's part of his strategy! He use this tactic because he got cornered by our number advantage!"

"..."

Midora just look at me with a grin while I'm shouting.

"I have the power to seal his magic! If we keep attacking, we will definitely beat this intruder. Isn't that right?! Kaina!"

"!? .... yeah.... Yeah! We need to protect this household at all cost!!"

Kaina finally regains her vigor. We can do this. As long as I can use overtake to seal his magic...

But Midora never lose his composure... or rather, he has such joyous looks as if he never know the meaning of being cornered.

"Number advantage aside... it is true that being unable to use magic puts me in a bind..... *smile* Guess it's about time to ask for my comrade's help."

If his other beastmen comrades arrives, we will be at disadvantage. Kaina understands that and decides to take him out quickly before his allies arrive. Thus, she quickly give her order.

"Once again! Fir-"

*stab!*

"Eh...?"

As a mortifying scene plays out before my eyes, my voice slip out once again.

The first thing I see... is that Nelsia's slash claw weapon got covered in blood.

The next thing I see... is that Nelsia standing behind Kaina with her slaw claw weapon piercing Kaina's back.

"Nel... sia...?"

The hope and resolve of protecting people that are precious to me disappear together with that said name into nothingness.