"Himeragi!"
Seeing Yukina's body suddenly wobble as if she might collapse at any moment, Rozen was startled and instinctively quickened his steps to support her.
However, before Rozen could reach out and steady her, Yukina seemed to regain her balance. As if by reflex, she quickly sidestepped and avoided Rozen's hand.
"I'm fine, Senpai," Yukina said hurriedly after regaining her composure. "Sorry, I just spaced out a bit."
"Spaced out?" Rozen frowned, looking at Yukina suspiciously.
Spaced out?
Would someone as straight-laced as this kouhai space out that easily?
Moreover…
"I feel like you're pretending to be calm. Himeragi, are you hiding something from me?"
Rozen stared directly at Yukina as he spoke.
He had reason to suspect something was wrong.
Upon closer inspection, Yukina's complexion did indeed look off. Her skin had a faint pallor, her body showed signs of weakness, her eyes were glassy like someone with a fever, and even her breathing seemed more labored than usual. The usually delicate girl looked genuinely fragile.
That was highly abnormal.
Normally, although Yukina gave a fragile impression due to her petite figure and beautiful appearance, she was in fact a tough and determined girl.
People didn't instinctively want to protect her—instead, her presence gave the impression of "small body, great strength." Dignified and valiant.
Now, this girl who had never feared even the Primogenitors and always bravely charged ahead with her spear looked genuinely frail. That alone was troubling.
Rozen locked his eyes on her, a faint blue glow flickering within—undeniably the sign of him invoking the power of his Wise Eye.
Noticing this, Yukina's expression finally revealed a flicker of anxiety.
"I really am okay. Come on, let's go, Senpai." Yukina turned as if to walk off quickly.
Too bad, she was a step too slow.
"Thud!"
A sharp sound echoed as Rozen grabbed Yukina's arm—firmly.
"S-Senpai?"
Yukina winced a little from the pain.
But she couldn't say anything else.
Because at this moment, Rozen's expression turned more severe than ever before.
"…So that's how it is. I've really been too slow. I should've noticed long ago. What a waste of my Wise Eye and Mind's Eye," Rozen muttered as if speaking to himself.
"But you planned it that way, didn't you, Himeragi? As a Shaman with heightened spirit sensitivity, you knew exactly when I'd use my powers to scan the environment. You deliberately avoided my gaze to keep me from noticing your condition. I really walked right into your trap."
Rozen's words made Yukina bite her lip.
"…I don't know what you're talking about."
Yukina tried to muster her courage to meet Rozen's gaze and keep her composure.
But Rozen wasn't buying it.
"Still trying to hide it?" Rozen glared at her. "Don't forget, I have the complete knowledge passed down by the Lion King Agency over thousands of years—including the secrets of the Mechanical Demon-Purging Assault Spear Mark Seven."
At those words, Yukina's expression changed completely.
She knew she'd been exposed. There was no hiding it anymore.
Then—
"Hand over Sekkaro, Himeragi."
Rozen demanded with an unyielding tone.
To this, Yukina gave a firm reply.
"No! I can't!"
Not only did she refuse, she even shook off Rozen's grip, leapt backward to put distance between them, and guarded the guitar case slung over her shoulder behind her.
Her stance clearly declared: I, Himeragi Yukina, will never let go of what's inside this case.
This only fueled Rozen's frustration.
"Give it to me!"
Rozen's voice rose sharply.
"I won't!"
Yukina shot back stubbornly.
Rozen took a deep breath.
"If you still won't hand it over, then don't blame me for getting forceful."
His voice turned harsh.
Yukina didn't respond. She just stared at him warily and started backing away step by step.
Rozen followed suit, step by step closing the distance.
Seeing Rozen's refusal to let it go, the anxiety on Yukina's face deepened.
"D-Don't push me, Senpai!"
Yukina shouted, desperate.
"I'm not pushing you," Rozen retorted. "You know better than anyone why I'm doing this."
Yukina fell silent.
But she still showed no signs of relinquishing Sekkaro. On the contrary, she held it even more tightly.
Seeing this, Rozen knew—this girl had no intention of backing down.
"Why?" Rozen frowned deeply. "Do you realize what could happen to you if you keep this up?"
"…I know," Yukina bit her lip and said, "But I still have something I need to do. Until I finish it, I can't give up Sekkaro."
Her stubbornness was unexpectedly strong.
"Whatever you want to do—just tell me. I'll help you."
Rozen offered.
"No. This is something only I can do."
Yukina's resolve was absolute.
Now Rozen understood completely—she truly had no intention of yielding.
Even if it meant endangering her very existence, she would not give in.
In that case—
"[ Stand still and don't move. ]"
Rozen suddenly uttered a phrase laced with jutsuryoku.
Undeniably—it was a word of power, a type of jujutsu that could forcibly override another's will and command obedience through spoken spell.
With Rozen's strength, even those at the level of the Three Saints might not be able to resist it.
But Yukina did.
No—she saw it.
As a Sword Shaman with foresight, she sensed Rozen's move several seconds in advance and reacted.
"Haaah!"
Just as Rozen cast the Word, Yukina cried out, unslung the case from her back, and drew the silver spear within—slicing through the jutsuryoku with a single slash.
Because Rozen had hastily cast the spell using raw mana without converting it into spirit energy, the sacred anti-magic spear that could nullify all magic managed to cut it down.
"Resound!"
At the same time, Yukina threw a charm, which erupted into a flurry of spectral birds that swarmed toward Rozen.
She had summoned a host of shikigami to disrupt his vision.
Then, without hesitation, Yukina turned and bolted.
Only—
"You think you can outrun me?"
As his voice echoed, the space ahead of Yukina distorted—and Rozen stepped out of the warp.
"Ugh!"
Yukina came to a sudden stop.
Against someone who could wield Space Manipulation Magic, fleeing was a terrible choice.
"That's enough. Hand over Sekkaro."
Rozen extended his hand toward her.
"Otherwise, I'll really get angry."
At his words, Yukina fell silent.