After ordering tea a black cat jumped on the shelf behind me. Its the cat that stuck its head out of the window.

Im sorry for the trouble Aivis.

.?

Misha looked at the black cat in surprise which then started talking.

Please forgive the disgrace of showing myself to you in such a form my lord.

I dont care.

Because we cant have people knowing that Aivis is alive hes taken this form. We also dont want Avos Dillheavia to notice either so we are meeting up in person and not talking through magic.

Yesterday Aivis flew through the city disguised as an owl which was our signal to meet.

When I transferred my memories to him using Thought Transmission <Liikus> I also gave him these instructions. Thats why me and Misha were wandering around the city today until Aivis contacted us.

Have you found anything out?

Its one of the old seven demon emperors Melheys Boran. He belongs to the unification faction but hes not the leader.

Fumu. That certainly is strange. He supports the unification faction but the most powerful of the old seven demon emperors is not at the top?

So who is at the top?

I investigated but never found them. The leader never appears at meetings. From what I can find no one in the unification faction knows who they are.

Even Melheys?

So it seems.

Even more suspicious.

Well, it could turn out to be another one of the old seven demon emperors. If it was known you were the head of the unification faction you might lose your seat as one of them.

Just because you are one of the old seven demon emperors it doesnt mean you cant be replaced.

If its a mazoku from the age of myths it wouldnt be surprising if you couldnt catch their identity.

Could it be Avos Dillheavia? If thats the case what could they be plotting? Could they be trying to control the balance of power between the royal factions and the unification faction?

I learnt something as well. Melheys has also lost his memory and only had one origin.

Have you made contact?

Aah. After examining my origin directly he recognised me as the demon king of tyranny. Its very likely that hes an ally but I didnt mention you to him.

Aivis waits for my orders.

Investigate Melheys and try to find the head of the unification faction. Play it safe and only investigate the top layer of his memories. Its possible his origin is still fused but with a method unknown to me so I couldnt see it.

Your will.

Have you learnt anything else?

Just one thing. It might possibly lead to the leader of the unification faction.

Our tea was bought over by the clerk so Aivis waited until they had left before continuing.

Theres a magic clinic called [Lognoss] in this town. One of the demon emperors called Elio built this with their own money and it has the reputation of providing the best treatment in Deiruheido. Demon emperor Elio is just a puppet though. Theres another Mazoku pulling the strings from behind.

Even after investigating you cant find them huh?

Aivis nods.

Its the same wall I encountered when investigating the leader of the unification faction.

Understood. Anything else?

There is but I havent confirmed the information yet.

One more thing. Investigate the demon sword tournament and especially any of the old seven demon emperors involved in it.

You will.

Aivis left through the window.

An unidentified mazoku, an unknown leader for the unification faction and a magic clinic with unknown purposes.

Are they connected or different people?

I dont know but either way, I must make sure I dont underestimate them.

After finishing our tea Misha leads me to the Lognoss magic clinic.

Here.

Fumu. Its a pretty big building.

It has a lot of patients.

I see. It also doesnt appear to be suspicious.

I looked the building over with my demon eyes but I could only see weak magic power.

Arnos.

Misha points off to one side.

Its Ray. He seems to have just come out of the clinic.

Yo.

Ray saw us and came over calling out to us.

That you Arnos? Whats wrong?

Im just passing by. Have you caught a cold or something?

Ray smiles as if troubled.

Ive just visited my mother.

Is she hospitalised?

Is it bad?

She was born with a weak body. Its nothing to worry about.

He doesnt look particularly down.

If the doctors cant do anything Ill help.

Ooh. Are you good at healing magic as well Arnos?

I wouldnt say it was a strength of mine but I could make a seriously ill patient healthy enough to conquer the Neil mountain range tomorrow.

Ray smiled a bright smile.

That might be a bit too healthy.

Genuine medical magic not only heals the patient but makes them healthier than they were before.

In all honesty that a bit scary so Ill just accept your feelings at the moment.

Fumu. It cant too bad an illness then.

Aah. Thats what I wanted to tell you. I might not be participating in the demon sword tournament.

Rays expression becomes cloudy for an instant before his smile returns almost immediately.

I see. Well then, we can settle our match another time.

.Dont you want to know the reason?

Eh?why?

I thought youd be interested.

I appear to have caught Ray off guard.

..I just thought you were doing what you wanted like always.

I thought youd call me out on it by saying I was trying to get out of settling our match or something.

I dont like forcing other people.

Fumu. Seems like thats the story hes going with.

See you at school.

Ray left.

What do you think? I asked Misha

..Different than normal.

Thats what I thought.

He was acting very suspiciously. Whats going on?

Normally I wouldnt be too bothered but Ray acting like that at this place bothers me.

Lets have Aivis check on him just to make sure.