My Unique Adaptation Skill in Another world-Chapter 30 - 29: Before the Storm

Leo woke up to movement in the hallways before dawn: servants preparing, guards coordinating, and the entire compound shifting chaotically. Today marked the beginning of the Jubilee, and everyone was preparing for it.

He dressed in simple clothes and went downstairs, finding the common areas already bustling, staff moved with purpose, carrying decorations bearing the First House insignia, arranging travel schedules, confirming security details.

The delegates gathered for breakfast, but the meal was quiet, even Akane’s usual cheer was tempered by anticipation.

"Nervous?" Daichi asked Leo quietly.

"Should I be?"

"You’ll be presented as part of our delegation, that will mean scrutiny from every faction." Daichi sipped his tea calmly. "Just remember though, you represent the First House now, so conduct yourself accordingly."

"No pressure."

"Exactly." Daichi’s lips twitched in what might have been a smile.

After breakfast, the group dispersed to make their own preparations.

As Leo crossed the courtyard toward his room, he noticed something odd.

Three servants he’d never seen before, all wearing estate colors but with faces he didn’t recognize. They moved with a precision that seemed less like household staff and more like soldiers trying to blend in. When one caught him looking, the man’s eyes were cold.

Leo filed it away, he thought it was probably just extra security for the Jubilee.

He didn’t notice the figure watching him from a second-floor window, and the hand signal to someone below.

---

Mid-morning there was a knock on his door.

"Master Leo? Lady Iori requests your presence in the courtyard."

He found her there, alone, practicing with her katanas again. She moved through forms with the same precision as always, but something in her posture seemed different, she seemed Tense.

She noticed him and stopped. "Leo."

"You wanted to see me?"

"I did." She sheathed her blades, turning to face him fully. " Once the Jubilee begins, we’ll be surrounded by politics and pageantry. So I wanted to speak with you before all that."

"Alright, what’s up?."

Iori was quiet for a moment, choosing her words carefully.

"You’ll be presented as traveling with our delegation, some will be curious about you, a human among Oni. Others will see you as weakness, a sign that we’re desperate enough to pad our numbers with outsiders."

"That’s not very encouraging."

"I’m being realistic." Her expression was serious. "There will be nobles who look down on you, warriors who want to test you."

She paused, something dark crossing her expression. "And others... with worse intentions. I’ve heard whispers, threats that concern me."

"What kind of threats?"

"The kind people don’t make openly." She met his eyes with an intensity that made him pay attention. "Stay close to our group today, don’t wander off. Please."

The plea at the end was so unlike her usual commands, it sent a chill down his spine.

"Iori, what’s going on?"

"I don’t know, that’s what worries me." She looked toward the city, "Just... be careful, trust your instincts, and if something happens—"

"What do you mean, if something happens?"

"Nothing." She turned back to him, her mask of composure sliding back into place. "I’m being paranoid, don’t worry about it."

But Leo didn’t believe her.

"Hold your head up," she continued, voice firm again. "Don’t let anyone make you feel lesser, you’ve earned your place here. Remember that."

Something in her voice made Leo step closer. "Are you worried about me?"

"I’m protective," she said quietly. "Of those under my House’s banner. That includes you now."

"Just protective?"

Iori’s gaze sharpened, and for a moment, the other night hung between them, the almost-kiss, the tension.

"Don’t push, Leo," she said. "Not today."

He backed off, recognizing the line. "Understood."

She relaxed slightly. "Good, now go, and get ready. We leave in a few hours."

Leo turned to go, then stopped. "Iori?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you, really, for believing in me."

She didn’t respond immediately. When she did, her voice was softer. "You’re welcome, Just... Keep yourself safe."

---

The afternoon brought more activity.

Leo spent time with the other delegates, each interaction adding texture to relationships that had been surface-level until now.

Akane found him in the garden, practically vibrating with excitement despite the morning’s tension.

"Leo! Look!" She twirled, showing off her formal attire, a crimson and gold ensemble that marked her as Second House nobility. "Isn’t it beautiful?"

"It suits you," Leo said honestly, with a smile.

"Yours will too! I saw it earlier, very handsome." She grinned. "You’ll have all the noble ladies staring."

"That’s not really my goal."

"Maybe not, but it’ll happen anyway." She sat on a nearby bench, patting the space beside her. "Can I ask you something?"

Leo sat. "Go ahead."

"What’s it like? Being the only human in our group?"

He considered the question. "I haven’t really thought about it but... not as bad as one would expect."

"Because of Lady Iori?"

"She’s part of it, yes."

Akane studied him with surprising perceptiveness. "You like her, i mean really like her."

Leo didn’t deny it. "Is it that obvious?"

"To me, yes. To her?" Akane shrugged. "Maybe. She’s hard to read, but I’ve seen how she looks at you when you’re not paying attention."

"How does she look at me?"

"Like she’s trying to figure out a puzzle." Akane smiled. "It’s interesting, Lady Iori doesn’t usually let people confuse her."

Before Leo could respond, Akane’s expression turned more serious. "Be careful at the Jubilee, not everyone will be as welcoming as our group. Some people... they don’t like changen, and you represent change."

"I’ve been hearing that a lot today, thank you, I’ll keep that in mind."

"Good." Her usual brightness returned, though it seemed slightly forced now. "Now come on! I want to show you the sweets I bought yesterday—"

---

Daichi found him later, in the estate’s small library.

"Reading?" the tall Oni asked, settling into a chair across from Leo.

"Trying to." Leo closed the book on mana theory. "Hard to focus."

"Nervous?"

"More like... awareness that everything’s about to shift."

Daichi nodded slowly. "Big events like the jubilee has that effect, it’s a convergence point, paths cross, alliances form, conflicts ignite."

He paused. "You’re walking into a complex game, Leo. Politics between races, old grudges hiding behind diplomatic masks."

"Any advice?"

"Watch more than you speak, listen for what’s not being said. And remember, everyone has an agenda."

"Including you?"

Daichi’s expression didn’t change. "Including me. My House has interests, same as any other, but the difference is I don’t wish you harm, that’s more than most will offer."

"I appreciate the honesty."

Daichi stood, moving toward the door. Then he paused, hand on the frame. "One more thing."

"Yes?"

He looked back, expression grave in a way Leo had never seen.

"If explosions start, or panic erupts, or people start screaming..." He held Leo’s gaze. "Don’t be a hero, protect yourself first, the Jubilee may not go as planned."

Leo’s blood ran cold. "What do you mean?"

But Daichi was already gone.

---

Evening approached, and with it, the time to dress.

Leo returned to his room and opened the box containing his formal attire. The crimson and black fabric seemed to absorb the fading light, rich and elegant.

He dressed carefully, adjusting each piece. The outfit fit perfectly, tailored specifically for him. When he finished, he looked at himself in the mirror.

The man staring back was the same one from days ago, but the context had changed. Now the formal attire felt earned, he looked like he belonged.

Even if Daichi’s warning echoed in his mind.

A knock came at the door.

"Master Leo? It’s time."

He took a deep breath, checked his reflection one more time, and left the room.

---

The delegates gathered in the estate’s main hall.

Leo walked in, saw Iori stood at the center, and his breath caught.

She wore ceremonial robes, crimson and black silk that flowed like liquid shadow. Her white hair was arranged elaborately, adorned with ornaments that caught light. The red markings on her pale skin seemed to glow faintly, at six-foot-six, she commanded the space effortlessly.

The robes emphasized rather than concealed her figure, the curve of her waist, the way fabric draped over her hips, the structured wrapping that supported and accentuated her breasts. She looked regal, dangerous and beautiful in equal measure.

Her eyes met Leo’s across the room, and something passed between them, acknowledgment, and a promise.

And beneath it, worry, just a flash, quickly hidden.

Then she looked away, addressing the group.

"We leave shortly, remember your training, your dignity, and what you represent." Her gaze swept across all of them. "Am I Understood?"

"Yes, Lady Iori," they replied in unison.

Even Takeshi, who’d been sulking all day, straightened under her attention.

Carriages waited outside, ornate and bearing the First House crest. Guards in formal armor flanked them. The entire procession was designed to project power.

They departed as the sun touched the horizon, the city bathed in orange and gold light.

---

The journey took them through parts of the capital Leo hadn’t seen, districts specifically prepared for the Jubilee.

Banners hung everywhere, representing every major race and faction. Stages had been constructed in plazas, ready for performances and exhibitions, vendor stalls lined streets, selling commemorative items and festival foods.

And people. Thousands of people, all moving toward the same destination.

The Grand Arena.

It rose before them like a monument to imperial power, a massive coliseum that could hold tens of thousands. Stone and enchantment combined, every surface carved with reliefs depicting historical moments. Lights blazed from within, visible even as daylight faded.

Other delegations were arriving simultaneously. Leo saw elven processions with flowing banners, dwarven groups with polished armor, beastkin warriors in tribal regalia. Every race, every culture, converging on one point.

But beneath the spectacle, Leo noticed other things.

Security wasn’t just ceremonial. Many guards wore combat-ready armor beneath their dress uniforms. Mages on rooftops tracked crowd movements with intense focus, hands ready to cast at a moment’s notice. The checkpoints weren’t just checking credentials, they were searching people, thoroughly. Bags opened, bodies patted down, enchanted detection spells sweeping for weapons and hostile magic.

The security felt excessive, like they were expecting something.

"Is it always like this?" Leo asked Iori quietly.

"No," she said, her eyes scanning the crowd with intensity. "This is different."

Their carriages stopped at a VIP entrance, marked with symbols denoting visiting nobility.

Iori led them out, and immediately, attention turned their way.

Whispers followed. Eyes tracked their movement. Leo felt the weight of scrutiny from dozens of directions.

A human among Oni, strange, unusual.

He kept his expression neutral and followed Iori’s lead, but his hand instinctively moved toward where his beads were stored. Where his swords waited.

Inside, the Grand Arena was breathtaking. Tiered seating rose toward the sky, already filling with thousands of attendees. The central floor was cleared for performances and exhibitions. Enchantments floated overhead: lights, decorations, magical displays that shifted and flowed.

And barely visible against the darkening sky, a shimmering dome of translucent energy enclosed the entire arena, a containment barrier designed to keep powerful magic from spilling into the city during tournaments.

And above it all, the Imperial Box. Where the Emperor would sit, surrounded by his highest officials.

Attendants guided them to their designated sectionp, front row, close to the arena floor. A position of honor that placed them in full view of everyone.

As they took their seats, Leo noticed other delegations settling nearby. Elven nobility across the aisle, dwarven merchants to the left, human aristocrats behind them.

And there, several rows up in a section marked for academy representatives, he saw her.

Polished black hair, hazel eyes catching the light.

She was looking directly at him.

But not with her usual playful smile.

Her face was pale, strained.

Like she knew something terrible was about to happen.

Then someone moved in front of her, and she disappeared from view.

Leo’s heart was racing, something was wrong, he could feel it.

"Leo," Iori’s voice pulled his attention. "Focus."

He turned back to the arena floor, where preparations were reaching their final stages.

Music began, deep, resonant, building in intensity.

Lights dimmed except for the center of the arena.

The crowd quieted, anticipation building like pressure before a storm.

And then, with a flash of magical light and a sound like thunder, the opening ceremony began.

Fireworks exploded overhead, brilliant colors against the darkening sky. The crowd roared, music swelled.

The Jubilee had started.

The crowd roared its approval as performers began their opening dance, a carefully choreographed display of cultural unity.

Leo should have been watching the spectacle, should have been overwhelmed by the pageantry, but his eyes kept finding her.

The elf was several rows up in the academy section, she wasn’t watching the ceremony either.

She was staring directly at him.

And her expression made his blood run cold.

Gone was the playful smile, the teasing confidence, the mysterious allure. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with something Leo had never seen in them before.

Terror.

She stood abruptly, pushing past people in her row. Students protested as she squeezed by, but she ignored them. Trying to get to the aisle. Trying to reach, what? Him? The exit?

Her lips moved, forming words he couldn’t hear over the roar of celebration.

Run

Leo surged to his feet. "Iori—"

The explosion came from the western stands.

Not fireworks, not celebration.

Real fire. Real destruction and death.

The blast tore through a section of seating where elven delegates had been sitting moments before. Stone shattered like brittle glass, bodies flew through the air like broken dolls. The concussive force rippled across the arena like a shockwave, knocking people from their seats.

For a single, frozen heartbeat, the entire crowd was silent.

Fifty thousand people, struck dumb by shock.

Then chaos erupted.

Thousands of people screaming, surging toward exits in blind panic. Trampling each other, crushing those who fell, a stampede of terror and survival instinct.

Guards shouted orders no one could hear over the screaming, mages activated defensive barriers, but it was too late, and too slow. More explosions ripped through the arena, smaller blasts, scattered throughout the seating sections, it didnt seem designed to kill everyone.

It was designed to create panic, to herd the crowd like cattle.

Leo searched desperately for the elf in the academy section.

She was gone, disappeared into the stampeding mass of bodies.

"MOVE!" Iori’s hand grabbed his arm with bruising force, yanking him back toward their delegation. "Stay together! NOW!"

Akane was pale but composed, her earlier excitement replaced by focus. Daichi had drawn a blade from somewhere, how had he gotten a weapon past security? and stood ready. Takeshi and Yuki were already moving, protecting their group’s flanks with practiced efficiency.

Another explosion, closer this time.

Fire, blasted stone, and screaming.

Leo’s ears rang from the blast, smoke filled his lungs, and through the haze, he saw them.

Figures in dark cloaks moving against the panicked crowd, with weapons drawn.

Heading straight for the delegation sections.

They moved like professionals, cutting through the chaos with deadly efficiency.

"They’re coming for us," Leo said, voice barely audible over the pandemonium.

Iori’s eyes went hard as steel, her hands moved from her side, forming a blade out aura.

"I know."

The blades was almost solid and reflected light.

Around them, other delegations were reacting. Some fleeing, some preparing to fight. The elven section was in ruins, survivors crawling from the rubble, dwarven warriors formed a shield wall, human nobles screamed for their guards.

And through it all, the cloaked figures kept coming.

One of them pointed directly at their group.

Iori stepped forward, placing herself between the attackers and her delegation.

"Behind me," she commanded. "All of you, now."

Her voice cut through the chaos like a blade through silk.

The delegates moved without hesitation, forming up behind her.

Leo’s hand went to his beads, calling forth his swords. Defiance and Resolve materialized in his grip, familiar weight settling into his palms.

The cloaked figures drew closer and closer.

Weapons gleaming in the firelight.

Iori’s aura flared, massive, overwhelming, and terrifying. The air around her shimmered with barely contained power.

The figures didn’t slow.

Iori’s stance shifted.

And the nightmare truly began.