"Wow! So many people!"
Upon entering the arena, Komurasaki was the first to exclaim in awe.
"So many famous figures from outside the academy came."
Even Irori had a tense expression, looking unusually nervous.
It was the first time the two had participated in the Night Party. In the past, they had only watched from the sidelines with Shouko, never stepping into the Night Party's battlefield. Now that they were not only participating but also performing in front of such a large crowd, it was only natural for them to be overwhelmed.
Not even just Irori and Komurasaki—Yaya herself was full of surprise.
"There are not only so many participants but also so many spectators. And we're only at the matches for those ranked below 50."
This alone showed how special this Night Party truly was.
Of course, even though the current participants were only those ranked beyond 50th, among them were individuals who far surpassed the usual level of that tier.
Rozen, for instance, needed no explanation. Before voluntarily lowering his rank, he had been the second strongest, just behind the top seat. There was also Charl, who had been ranked 6th, and even Loki, who had ranked 7th. All of them were high-ranking, powerful Magus belonging to the "Thirteen," now appearing after voluntarily lowering their ranks due to the Knights of the Cross incident. Naturally, they would draw a great deal of attention.
Besides them, there was yet another Magus present whose strength rivaled that of the "Thirteen."
That was the one known as the Last One, ranked 100th—August Veyron.
At that moment, Veyron stood in a corner of the arena, leaning against a pillar, detached from everyone else. At his side was his Automaton Doll—Sleipnir.
However, like the others, Veyron had his eyes fixed firmly on Rozen, never looking away for even a second.
All the other participants, meanwhile, had gathered in another corner. Their gazes toward Rozen were filled with fear, hesitation, nervousness, anxiety, and outright hostility—a clear sense of bracing for an overwhelming enemy.
As for Charl, Loki, and Frey—they had not arrived yet.
"Could it be Miss Charlotte and the others haven't come back yet?"
Yaya also noticed this and moved closer to Rozen, whispering by his ear.
"No, they've already returned," Rozen replied firmly.
He had already observed the mana auras of Charl, Loki, Frey, and even Henri with his "Wise Eye," confirming they had returned and were on their way to the arena.
Rather...
"Hinowa, Subaru, and Mutsura haven't returned."
Indeed.
Among Rozen's acquaintances, only Hinowa, Subaru, and Mutsura were still absent.
Rozen couldn't see their mana auras. Not only were they not visible within the Academy, but not even anywhere in the Machinart City of Liverpool, suggesting they hadn't returned to the Academy—or even to the UK.
"Could something have happened?"
Rozen thought back to a few things from when he left.
He remembered that around that time, something had happened involving the Izanagi clan, which had made Hinowa incredibly busy.
Hinowa had decided to return to Japan over the summer break, apparently to deal with that issue within the Izanagi clan.
Rozen had asked Hinowa about it, but she responded vaguely, and both Subaru and Rokuren had outright refused to talk.
Now, Hinowa hadn't returned to the Academy—not even for the important Night Party. Even if she wasn't scheduled to fight yet, it still felt suspicious to Rozen.
"I'll ask Shouko about it when I get a chance."
Rozen resolved to do so.
He was quite concerned about Hinowa.
"After all, she was the first girl to give me a token of affection."
That bell-adorned ribbon she had gifted him—Rozen still carried it with him to this day, rarely parting with it except during baths.
Thus, Rozen harbored a pure, almost first-love-like feeling toward Hinowa.
Naturally, now that he had returned, he really wanted to see her again.
"I wonder how she's doing now."
Rozen thought.
At that moment, for some reason, a chill ran up Rozen's spine.
Snapping out of his thoughts, he saw Yaya standing right in front of him.
"...Were you just thinking about that vixen, Rozen?"
Yaya's gaze had turned pitch black.
"Scary!"
Even Rozen, for all his strength, couldn't help but feel a little afraid of that look.
He was speechless.
"This girl is always so strangely perceptive... but only in moments like these."
Yaya's magic circuits should've been "Mind Reading," not "Kongouriki."
Just then, a small commotion broke out within the arena.
Because...
"S-Sorry! We're late...!"
The timid voice came from a girl who ran out from the entrance tunnel—a girl with a stunning figure, pearl-colored hair, and a scarf wrapped around her neck.
"Miss Frey!"
Yaya called out in delight.
It was indeed Frey.
And if Frey was here, then of course—
"The Night Party hasn't started yet. We're not technically late."
That cold voice came from a boy with the same pearl-colored hair and scarf, whose entire demeanor screamed keep away.
Who else but Loki?
"L-Long time no see, Rozen."
Frey walked up to Rozen, softly greeting him, her eyes sparkling with emotion, on the verge of tears.
"Don't cry so easily, you idiot sister."
Loki was still as cold as ever, but even his gaze drifted to Rozen.
"Long time no see, you two."
Rozen raised his brow and smiled suddenly.
"You two seem... quite different from before."
And it was true.
With just a glance, Rozen could tell that this sibling pair had undergone great changes.
Take Frey, for instance. The mana that had once seemed unstable from artificial tampering now felt extremely steady. Thirteen Garm-series Automatons stood around her, obediently sitting, standing, or wagging their tails.
At first, Frey could only control one Garm unit. Later, after Rozen rescued all fourteen, she had chosen five to fight with and had risen quickly through the Night Party ranks, becoming known as The Surround Roar, and considered a top-50 contender. Even then, she couldn't control all fourteen—only five.
But now, she clearly had full control of thirteen Garm units. The only one missing was the oldest of them all, which was said to be nearing its operational limit. So it wasn't that she couldn't control fourteen—it was that only thirteen were still operational.
This was undeniable proof: Frey had grown stronger.
As for Loki, he seemed much the same as always at first glance.
But Rozen could tell—Loki's mana was even more refined and condensed. His movements carried a faint but unmistakable aura.
And that aura was all too familiar to Rozen.
"Mind's Eye..."
Yes.
Mind's Eye.
That transcendent aura could only belong to a Magus who had achieved enlightenment through the power of Mind's Eye.
And what did that mean?
It meant that Loki had reached the final stage of being a Magus, having awakened the power of the Mind's Eye.
"This just got a lot more interesting."
Rozen smirked slightly.
His mood... lifted a little.