By Zephyria 
A grip as hard as plaster seized the man’s hair and yanked it back. Simultaneously, Asher found the joint of the shoulder hidden by the cloak and twisted it with a force that threatened to dislocate it instantly.
Pushed against a pillar by Asher’s strength, the Bird Mask still refused to answer. He merely let out stifled, sobbing whimpers before bursting into a repulsive laugh, as if he could no longer contain himself.
“Kee-hik, kick, kikik, ugh-hum…!”
Asher’s eyebrows arched. It was a reaction closer to contempt than bewilderment. Watching the unpredictable man’s behavior, she yanked his hair back once more and muttered through clenched teeth.
“Answer me. I’m asking you.”
Beneath her calm voice lay a murderous intent that bordered on genuine. The beak of the mask was tilted so sharply it almost pointed toward the ceiling. A choking groan escaped the man’s overextended neck, as if his airway were being crushed. The wretched noise seemed to subside for a moment, only for a feeble chuckle to leak back out from the holes of the mask.
“Huk, hee-hik, kikik… Ah, I’m sorry. Keu-hup… puhik! Your reaction is, kik, more amusing than I expected.”
He was truly a madman. Even in this state, he clutched his stomach and writhed his entire body, as if he were about to pass out from laughter rather than resist.
When he eventually went as far as rolling his eyes back behind the mask, Asher, feeling that he was mocking her, decided not to give him any more leeway.
“Keu-hup, kick! How about it? Do you feel like making a deal now? Now that you know my identity, you probably have no other choi—”
Crunch—
The mask shattered like a flimsy piece of board. The sharp beak was crushed so miserably that it was unrecognizable. In its place, a new hole the size of Asher’s fist appeared. Unbothered by the sharp fragments, she raised her fist again and struck the same spot, repeatedly widening the hole.
Thud, thud, thud—
Armed only with calluses and bandages, her fists—heavier than a sledgehammer—easily crushed the man’s cheekbones. She caved in the skull with her bare hands, striking relentlessly until the eyeballs turned a vivid crimson. Finally, she shoved her fingertips into the pupils, stirring the eyeballs and optic nerves.
She felt no hesitation in her brutal actions. Inside the mask, of which only the rim remained, were teeth, flesh, and fishy bodily fluids. The sharply fragmented pieces of the mask mixed in, gradually becoming a pulp.
With every squelching sound of friction, blood splattered in all directions, and Asher’s face, staring directly at him, was no exception.
With her wide, staring eyes and a face drenched in blood, she looked like a ghost. Blood dripped from her disheveled hair and the tip of her chin, forming a deep puddle beneath the shadows. Only when the intruder’s wheezing breath finally stopped did Asher cease her one-sided assault.
“…….”
A terrible silence fell over the locker room. The Bird Mask, which had slid down the pillar following the barrage of punches, collapsed like a corpse, having lost its original shape. Asher stared down at the man’s mangled remains before shaking off her hands as if she had touched something filthy.
As the massive body was tossed to the floor, the metal gauntlets clinked as they slipped from the wrists. There was no human body inside them.
Asher straightened her knees, which she had bent to crush the face, and stood up. She wiped her blood-stained fists on a towel still hanging on the pillar. Then, she turned and walked toward the cabinet that had been dented by her lack of strength control.
Everywhere her feet brushed, bright red blood was dragged along, leaving vivid footprints. However, those prints gradually turned into a black slime, clinging to the soles of Asher’s feet and stretching viscously.
Asher paused and turned her head. The cloak of the man sprawled before the pillar began to shrink and droop, as if ice were melting. Turning into a liquid, it mixed with the blood in the puddle and was sucked cleanly into the crevices of the floor. In its place, only the Bird Mask—its fragments reassembled and complete—and a staff remained.
Without much reaction, Asher took new bandages and a towel from the cabinet. She plopped back down on the bench, unwound the blood-stained bandages, and repeated the same process as before.
After tying a knot on the back of her hand, she asked the empty air.
“Who are you?”
A snickering laugh floated unpleasantly from all directions.
The Bird Mask lying on the floor rattled on its own.
“I am called Anonymous. I shall be waiting.”
Judy, who had been looking for Terzio, peeked her head into the maze-like corridor. Among the numerous entrances lining both sides, not a single door was open. Since there was no sign of anyone, she tilted her head and cautiously took another step forward.
Just then, a familiar voice sounded from behind.
“What are you doing?”
“Eek!”
Startled, Judy jumped up like a cat. Clutching the doorframe, she whipped her head around to find Terzio standing right there, his hair wet as if he had just showered. He was so close that his shadow cast over her face, and she noticed the corners of his mouth and his scar curling upward together.
“Did I scare you?”
Coming back to her senses a beat late, Judy stammered.
“Wha—what!”
“What do you mean? It’s the handsome Terju you’re looking for.”
Bending his waist, Terzio gave a sly smile and flicked Judy’s forehead with his finger.
“How is it that you’re surprised every single time? You should be used to it by now.”
“Why should I be used to it!”
Her face flushing red, Judy huffed and swatted his hand away. She also pushed away his scar-covered chest, which he presented as if he believed himself to be fatally charming.
“Since when were you here? You were hiding on purpose just to prank me!”
Though Judy raised her voice, her eyes were actually shaking with anxiety. She was terrified that Terzio might have seen her hiding a page from the ledger.
Since his specialty was approaching stealthily from behind, he knew better than anyone that people couldn’t perceive him if he consciously hid his presence. In that sense, his current behavior was undoubtedly intentional. As Judy chattered her complaints, Terzio simply shrugged with brazen indifference.
“Why would I do something so pointless? Am I the type to hide just to tease you? Ah, more importantly, where is our Prince? I don’t think there were any matches today.”
I went up to his room, but he wasn’t there.
He muttered, spinning the chain on his finger while scanning left and right. At his sudden mention of searching for Leonardo, Judy’s already tense shoulders stiffened further. She feared that Terzio might suddenly seize the list from the ledger and rush to show it to Leonardo.
Fortunately, however, Leonardo was not expected to be at his residence for the time being. Gauging Terzio’s mood, Judy answered vaguely.
“Uh… Leo isn’t here right now.”
“When is he coming back?”
“I don’t know. He said it would take three or four days.”
The spinning chain suddenly stopped.
“Three or four days?”
The golden gem that had been drawing circles slowed down abruptly and was snatched by Terzio’s hand. Tilting his head slightly, he asked again in a cold voice.
“Where did he go? Don’t tell me it’s Kajard?”
“N-no!”
Startled, Judy hurriedly shook her head and explained calmly.
“You know how you and Leo mentioned going to a certain village before? He said he was going to look for information he obtained there. The timing was right, so he said he’d be back before the league finals start.”
“Ah.”
Terzio’s serious expression relaxed instantly. He began counting the dates by folding his fingers.
“Was it already that time? Time flies.”
He then immediately started walking toward his own room, as if to prepare himself. His demeanor didn’t suggest that he had noticed any change or was choosing to overlook anything. It seemed true that he had gone up to Leonardo’s room.
Watching Terzio’s receding back, Judy followed him with quick steps.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to go with him. Who knows where that place is? I’d be worried if I let him go alone.”
Terzio turned around with an uncharacteristic smile and waved the sun hanging from his fingertip.
“I have to give him a present, too.”
Judy had thought their relationship had grown distant. Yet, he revealed his blatant feelings the moment the party involved wasn’t there. Even though he knew where Leonardo’s gaze was directed.
Watching that relationship, a corner of Judy’s heart remained uncomfortable. Hesitating, she parted her lips.
“I think it would be better if you didn’t go this time.”
“Why?”
Terzio stopped abruptly. Clutching her apron tightly, Judy answered.
“Leo probably didn’t go alone.”