The Mysterious Black Magician

His hair grew a little longer, but it suits him better. Unlike the thin and sickly-looking face before, he was more manly now and he looks more handsome. His height, even from afar, she could tell that he was taller now. More about him had changed. But Almina knew, she knew it was him!

Her heartbeat was faster than normal as her longing eyes glued at the figure, who was calmly walking towards the backstage, to where all of them were waiting.

Until she couldn't wait anymore and let her feet drag her. Everyone was staring at her back as she rushed the exit towards the stage.

The surrounding noise was nothing to her. The only noise she was hearing at the moment was the noise coming from his footsteps and noise inside her.

Before Yman arrived backstage, he was surprised at the sudden figure.

 "EEEEHHHHHHH!!!"

Everyone exclaimed when suddenly, a familiar figure rushed and leaped then hugged him out of a sudden.

Yman widened his eyes. The first thing that came to his mind was that he regretted that he let his guard open. He wasn't expecting that even in this competition someone would come to ambush him. Wait, why him though? It was supposed to be Rea since she was their target. So, why did they come to ambush him? 

Hmm, maybe they wanted to dispatch him first so that no one would protect Rea anymore.

Sigh! He wondered how they knew that he was her protector.

What a blunder.

He made a blunder to himself.

He never expected that such an enemy that even his high perception ability failed to perceive would come to ambush him. He was too young to die. Why now? Why this time that he already healed his sister? It was supposed to be the start of his happy life together with his sister and friends.

Yet,

The time had come. He closed his eyes and waited. He waited for his demise. He waited for the stab. It would be painful for sure. 

However,

"I-I… I miss you…" he heard a sob voice of someone.

However, it was inappropriate in his current situation. Maybe the almighty creator was teasing him? Because he would die as a virgin? And no girlfriend since birth.

Actually, he met some lovely people this past month. And most of them were friendly to him. 

He made few friends. But why was her voice he was hearing for this last moment? 

Just then,

"I miss you…(hic)!"

"..."

Yman fell silent when he heard her voice again. Right after that, he realized the soft and warm sensation. And the fragrance of someone that was pleasing in his nose.

He slowly opened his eyes and gawked. IT WAS HER!!! Never did he imagine that it was Miss Almina who was the assassin! 

(Hic)!

'Wait, something was off. She was sobbing…? And why was she hugging me? Wait, wait, wait, this was too sudden! But fortunately, I feel so happy.' He didn't know what was happening as his mind was still murky.

After defeating that super strong enemy at the riverside, he lost his consciousness. Then he woke up a few minutes later. He only managed to regain a little of his stamina. They immediately came here in a rush as he was excited to see his sister and everyone.

But then, something happened when they were walking in the street. They encountered a group of youngsters. Because of it, he had to waste the little stamina he had.

It wasn't easy fighting with a little bit of stamina while at the same time controlling his enhanced fire dolls.

After the fight was settled, they immediately went to Miss Pai's hotel. Because his sister was staying there.

Then again, he wasted another amount of his stamina in completing the elixir and medicine.

As he could not directly heal other people. He used his special enhanced fire doll to act as the healer. 

First, he let her sister drink the Tampering Elixir made by Airi and him. Then, the special enhanced fire doll did its job right after the Tampering Elixir took effect.

The process was so heart-rending. But he remained calm. He could not make a little mistake.

After his sister's countenance showed change. He took the bean-like medicine! The Heaven Defying Medicine!

Fortunately, it was a success! Though it was a success, he prohibited his sister from using mana for a few days as she was newly healed. Even though he felt the excitement in her, he prohibited her from using her mana for a couple of days. As expected, his sister was blessed with an abundance of mana.

When her broken Hollow Cell came together, a sudden influx of mana burst out from her that knocked him for 5 minutes.

Then together tmwith Rea and his sister, the three of them came here as he was a participant also. Speaking of Rea, he felt strong killing intent from his back towards his direction. He wondered why Rea was sending such intent. 

Meanwhile, he was in a situation where he didn't know what to do.

Could it be, just a dream?

It certainly was just a dream. It was impossible that someone like Almina Amulet would come to hug him, right?

Wait, although his mind was murky at the moment, he could tell that it was real.

He stared at her and was at a loss for words. In this kind of situation, in which he didn't know why she was hugging him while saying sweet-sounding words.

Could it be a friendly greeting? Hm, but he noticed some tears in her eyes. So it's probably not just a friendly greeting.

'Almina is… she is more beautiful than usual…' he thought as he wiped her wet eyes. Yman smiled at her and slowly approached her face.

Feeling his warm hands wiping her tears, Almina felt the heat on her face. She knew that at the moment her face was redder than red. 

In one of the private rooms, Miss Ice was covering her mouth while staring at Almina and that person with who she was familiar. She knew it! She already noticed it the first time he was gone. Almina that time was at a loss. 

Ice's guessed the cause of her sadness was the disappearance of that person.

Almina felt happy. Her heart was pounding like crazy. Especially when he touched her lips and was slowly approaching hers. She waited.

Then,

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Plop!

Before their lips could touch each other, he fainted.

Darkness greeted him.

Almina repeatedly called out his name. But to no avail. She panicked and shouted for help. The stunned crowd just then started to move once again. Like when you pushed the pause button in a movie then play again.

A group of people came onto the stage with two stretchers. One was for Bruno who had his head flown away, but after the resonance with his deity was canceled, his head was intact once again. Then, the head that flew away had turned to light particles.

The other stretcher was for Yman, who lost his consciousness right before a sweet moment.

Almina worriedly followed the unconscious Yman.

Inside the backstage,

"That's Yman, right?"

"Yes, it's him?!"

"Waah! He's back!

"He changed a lot!"

"And he looked so handsome now!"

"Kyaaaahh!!"

"Not only that, he's damn strong!"

"Wait, did you see Miss Almina's reaction towards him?!"

"She hugged him!!!"

"And they almost k-k-kkisssssss!"

"So sweeeeet!!"

"Could it be! They are dating?!

"What? They secretly have a relationship?"

"Oh, noooo! Our goddess Miss Almina!"

Everyone had different reactions a moment after Almina left.

However, amid the crowd's craze, Kiko was gritting his teeth, with his eyes full of killing intent.

He never thought that guy would show up once again. Not only that! What the f##k Almina was doing?! Isn't she in love with him? Why she approached and hugged that guy.

And t-t-they almost kisssssss!!!?

A fierce glint was noticeable in his eyes. In his mind, he repeatedly chanted the word, 'i will kill you! I will kill you! I will kill you! I will kill you! I will burn you! I will crash you! I will kill you! I will burn you! I will crash you! I will kill you! I will burn you! I will crash you! I will kill you! I will burn you! I will crash you! I will kill you! I will burn you! I will crash you! I will kill you! I will burn you! I will crash you! I will kill you! I will burn you! I will crash you! I will kill you! I will burn you! I will crash you!

TOOOOAAAAAADDDD!!!

His anger made him lose his mind. And the only words in his mind at the moment was to kill him. To kill that hateful guy. Just by appearing, that person destroyed his everything.

He will surely, certainly kill him.

In Almina's group, her party members still could not process what just happened. They never expected that Almina… would do it.

Kesha was the most dumbfounded among them all. 

While the others were still dumbfounded at the unexpected event, the competition continued without a hitch.