"Watch out!"

The rune inscriptions hovered above them, creating a rain of fire. Wisteria placed himself in between with a barrier spell.

He glanced at Sylvan, who stood still. Wisteria attempted one more time to send his Mana and transmit a message, which Sylvan continued to ward off.

"..."

The veins that have subsided popped back out onto the side of Wisteria's forehead. While maintaining the barrier with one hand, he gathered a large mass of Mana on the other and shot it straight towards Sylvan. Unconcerned by the incoming attack, Sylvan blocked it away from his body, allowing the Mana to disperse around him.

------Piiiiiii------

Sylvan heard the sound of static, then a voice closely to his ear.

"Hear me out, will you!?"

It was Wisteria's brazen voice. The dispersed Mana acted as signal receivers to forcefully send his voice over to Sylvan.

------Piiiiiii------

Wisteria received the static noise of a response close to his ears.

Thank goodness!

"Go on, then." Sylvan's voice was muffled due to the interference from the incoming rain of fire and his barrier.

"We're not here to cause trouble! We're looking for someone who was sent here against her will!"

"And is that any reason to trespass with un-welcomed guests?" Sylvan's voice lowered threateningly.

"That wasn't my plan! I was going to come alone, but my companions acted on their own---"

"And am I supposed to believe that?" He scoffed, "Sneaking in like a rat after I trusted you with the key to my home."

"I..." Wisteria hesitated, "I understand it looks like that, but it's because I didn't want to destroy the barrier spells and trouble you again like last time..."

"You could have contact me directly with the rune."

"... Tha----- Huh!?"

Preoccupied with the barrier spell in addition to communicating with Sylvan, he failed to notice Lupin dashing out of the barrier. Blue flames and lightning enveloped his blade as he swung his sword at his enemy.

Sylvan didn't bother to raise an arm, and effortlessly repelled the attack with the invisible barrier around him, sending him away with a blast. As Lupin struggled to balance himself mid-air, a series of rune projectiles followed behind him. He could barely manage to defend himself against the attacks as he headed straight to the ground!

"Lupin!" Wisteria shouted.

"That idiot!" Admon said under his breath, stomping on his shadow. The shadow stretched towards Lupin and cushioned his fall.

"Bring him back in here!" Wisteria requested, drops of sweat dribbling down his face.

Admon immediately retrieved his shadow along with the 'idiot' he had just saved. As soon as his shadow reached the protection of Wisteria's spell, he walked forward, eyes glaring at the enemy.

"Necromancer! There should be a young woman who was teleported here!" He shouted, "Bring her to us, and we'll leave!"

"..." Wisteria wished Admon could have used a nicer tone, especially since he was also trying to negotiate with Sylvan on his own end!

Sylvan sneered, "That girl was locked up as soon as she stepped into my domain, and you'll join her too."

"Give her back!" Lupin shouted.

Suddenly, the rain of fire came to a stop.

Did Sylvan decide to let them go?

Just as that thought crossed his mind, a golden rune activated besides Sylvan. He stretched his arm into the inscriptions, and as his arm pulled out, the figure of a young woman came into view.

"Fleur!" Both male leads called out to her.

Her arms and legs were tied up, her dress and face soiled with dirt and scratches. It was clear she was put through a lot while in his custody.

But wasn't that going a bit too far, Sylvan!?

Wisteria tightened his fist. Now that Fleur was dragged into the battlefield, it meant that it was his turn to fight. At the end of this event in the novel, Wisteria triumphs against the Necromancer and manages to send everyone home. However, from that day onwards, the Necromancer deems him an enemy he must defeat at all cost...

No longer having the energy to feign a smile, his eyes stared emptily at his predestined archenemy. Wisteria couldn't help but reminisce at the curious feeling of comfort and respect he had felt during their short meeting as Wisteria Lilac and Sylvan Goldenrod.

But now, the novel's third male lead had to fight the Necromancer.

There was no other choice.

He tried.

"You can have her." Sylvan's voice propelled, pointing his finger at Wisteria, "But he stays."

"!?"

Did he hear clearly? Was Sylvan letting go of Fleur, and making HIM stay, instead!?

"Deal!" Admon agreed, "Now hand her back!"

"!!???" That was very much like Admon, but Wisteria was still a little hurt.

Sylvan cut through the ropes binding Fleur. However, she didn't move.

"I-I'm not going!" She protested, "It was my fault, anyways. Wisteria shouldn't have to stay because of my mistake!"

"I'll be---"

"Wisteria will be fine!" Lupin interrupted.

"..." Admon was one thing, but Wisteria didn't expect Lupin to also let go of him so easily. He felt saddened once again, even though he was right. "Yeah, I'll be fine! Now hurry!"

Before Sylvan changes his mind!!

Fleur took two steps forward, but hesitated again.

Seeing no advancement, Wisteria sighed and turned to his fellow male leads.

"Take her back safely," Wisteria squeezed his fist, rays of violet light shining through the creases of his fingers. He opened his palm, revealing a small Mana gem, "This should teleport you back to campus."

"Got it." Lupin said, taking the gem, "See you later."

"Mm!" He smiled reassuringly. He wasn't sure if he should be glad that the plot was changing, or if he should be scared of what Sylvan had planned for him...

Wisteria turned back around and saw Fleur stubbornly hesitating. He gave a sympathetic sigh, and thanked her from the bottom of his heart for being the only one not willing to sacrifice him.

He lifted his hand in front of him and snapped his fingers. He now stood near Sylvan, while Fleur faced the first two male leads. Sylvan took a few steps back, increasing the distance between them.

"Wisteria--!" Realizing that they had switched positions, Fleur turned around.

Before she could run back to him, Admon and Lupin nodded to each other and held her back. At the same time, Lupin activated the teleportation spell Wisteria had left for them and left the domain.

Now, Wisteria and Sylvan stood quietly in the middle of the barren domain.

"..."

"..."

"What were you saying?" Sylvan broke the silence.

"What was I saying..." Wisteria panicked as he had forgotten amidst the chaos that preceded, "I, uh...."

"Why didn't you notify me using the rune on your wrist?"

"I-I wanted to, but I couldn't find the right time!" He recalled, "I kept my end of the deal and told no one about our arrangement. If I were to use the rune in front of them, it would have made it obvious that we knew each other..."

"I see."

Wisteria exhaled, relieved.

"What's your relation to that girl?" He asked, suddenly switching his attention to Fleur.

Wisteria's heart began to palpitate, "W-why do you want to know...?"

"..."

"She's a student at the university I'm teaching at. I'm in charge of an extracurricular class that she attends to."

"I see."

"Why do you ask?" Wisteria persisted, "And what did you do to her to be in that state?"

"...Nothing in particular." Sylvan inspected Wisteria's apprehensive expression, his fist tightened. "And she was frightened by my subordinates and injured herself when trying to run away. They were the ones who found and captured her, so I was informed about it not long before you arrived. You can ask those two for more details if you want."

"No." Wisteria avoided his gaze, "If you say so, then it's fine..."

"..." Sylvan's expression darkened behind the mask. "Wisteria."

"Y-yes...?" His heart skipped a beat.

"Do I frighten you?"

"..."

Why would he ask that?

And how was he supposed to answer?

Because, in all honesty, yes, of course he was! He was fated to die by his hands after all!!

"..." Wisteria hesitated, "It's---"

"My lord!" Jawsmine stepped in from the portal.

"..." Sylvan sighed, "What is it?"

"We informed your grandmother that the sorcerer came to visit, so she wishes to see him."

Sylvan turned to him, "Would you like to meet with her, Wisteria?"

"I-If it's okay with you..."