Volume 12 : Chapter 9 – THE UNSEEN ABOVE (2)

Knock. Knock.

I waited, but nothing came from the other side.

After a moment, I raised my hand and knocked again, a little louder this time.

KNOCK. KNOCK.

Still no answer.

I leaned closer to the door and listened carefully. That was when I heard a faint, muffled sound from inside.

“...Mmphmmm... Mmphmpppp...”

I blinked.

“Huh?”

I pressed my ear against the door, but by the time I did, the sound had already disappeared.

Whatever noise I was hearing from inside was far too strange for me to make out. I frowned at the door for a moment before sighing.

“Don’t tell me she’s still asleep after pulling an all-nighter?”

Yesterday, I clearly remembered Alicia coming to see me. Unfortunately, I had been so exhausted that I could barely keep my eyes open. I vaguely remembered her saying something, but I hadn't had the energy to listen properly.

What could it be?

I rested a finger against my chin, searching my memories.

Did she forget her way back to the library?

A small smile tugged at my lips as another possibility occurred to me.

Or is she still too shy to ask for an extra portion of cake in the cafeteria?

I turned toward the nearby window. Beyond the glass, the first rays of sunlight were spilling over the academy walls, painting the morning sky in warm shades of gold and orange. As the sun climbed higher, its light gradually spread across the towers and rooftops, bathing the Grindelwald Magic Academy in the glow of a new day.

I stared at the view for a moment before slowly clenching my fist.

“Today... I'll finally do it. No matter what.”

I glanced back at Alicia's door.

“I guess it’s still too early in the morning. I'll come back later.”

I turned around and left the girls’ dormitory.

By the time I reached the special training arena, Miss Xu was already waiting for me.

She sat cross-legged in the center of the arena, her back perfectly straight, her hands held in a precise meditation seal. Yet, strangely enough, there was no ground beneath her.

She wasn’t sitting on anything at all.

She was hovering in midair, perfectly still and completely stable, as though gravity itself had ceased to apply to her.

The moment I stepped inside, her eyes opened, and a warm smile appeared on her face.

“Good morning, Regis.”

“Good morning, Miss Xu.”

I walked toward her and stopped a few steps away. Her usual cheerful expression remained, but there was something different about her gaze today. It was focused—serious.

“Then, shall we begin today's lesson?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“But before we begin, there's something you already know.” Her smile faded slightly. “Today is the last day I'll be training you.”

I lowered my gaze.

“As we agreed, if you're still unable to manifest your aura within two weeks, I'll stop this training. No matter who you are. Even if you're an elven princess, I won't make an exception. So today is your final chance.”

I took a slow breath before nodding.

“Yes.” My hands tightened at my sides. “And I'll abide by the condition we set.”

I looked directly at her.

“If I fail today, I won't ask you to teach me Aural Arts again.”

Miss Xu studied my expression in silence for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.

“I am glad you remember.” Miss Xu crossed her arms. “But I still don't understand something. Why are you so desperate to learn Aural Arts right now?”

Her question caught me off guard, and I wasn’t able to respond quickly.

“You know that if you're able to maintain your position in S-Class, you'll have another opportunity to learn it during your third year.” Miss Xu continued.

I remained silent.

Miss Xu slowly rose to her feet and stretched her arms before looking at me.

“You're trying to force yourself to learn something that your body hasn't been able to manifest naturally. If you continue pushing yourself without the aptitude for it, you could seriously damage your soul realm.”

Her eyes hardened.

“And that's not an injury that even healing magic can fix.”

I swallowed.

Miss Xu's stern expression softened slightly.

“I only agreed to train you because you wouldn't stop asking me.” A faint smile returned to her face. “You were so persistent that, eventually, I figured giving you one chance couldn't hurt.”

She tilted her head.

“But I still want to know. Why?”

I lowered my head, my fingers trembling slightly at my sides. I knew the answer.

I had known it from the beginning.

“I have to.” My voice came out quieter than I expected.

Miss Xu didn't interrupt. She waited.

“I want to become stronger.”

The image of Alicia immediately flashed through my mind—her smile, her confidence, and the way she always threw herself into danger without hesitation. No matter what happened, she always seemed to be several steps ahead of me.

“I can't wait until my third year.” I raised my head. “If I do... by then, she'll be far beyond me.”

My chest tightened at the thought.

“I don't want to be left behind.”

I drew in a deep breath and steadied myself before meeting Miss Xu's eyes again.

“I don't want to watch her fight from behind anymore. I don't want to be someone she has to protect.”

My eyes burned with determination.

“I want to fight alongside her.”

And if I could only be just a little greedier, then I would rather fight in her stead.

For several seconds, Miss Xu stared at me. Then, with a quiet sigh, she finally spoke.

“You do realize that if your goal is to become useful to someone, strength isn't the only way to achieve that, right?”

I blinked.

Miss Xu walked past me, clasping her hands behind her back as she continued.

“If that person is already overwhelmingly powerful, then becoming slightly stronger yourself may not be the most meaningful way to help them.” She glanced over her shoulder. “You could find another way.”

I remained silent.

Miss Xu stopped a few steps away and turned to face me.

“So, Regis…” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you certain that becoming stronger is truly the path you wish to pursue?”

For a moment, Miss Xu's words made perfect sense.

Alicia is already incredibly powerful.

No matter how hard I trained, I couldn't hope to reach her level anytime soon. Every time I watched her fight, I felt the distance between us growing wider.

But I had made a promise to the True Hero.

I would do everything in my power to make sure Alicia never had to fight a battle she didn't want to fight.

But every time I saw that cold, distant look in her blue eyes, I was reminded of how helpless I truly was. Whenever danger appeared, Alicia was always the one who stepped forward.

And I could do nothing but watch.

Because I wasn't strong enough.

So... is becoming stronger really the only way I can help her?

I lowered my gaze, thinking carefully about Miss Xu's question.

Maybe there really was another way.

But wait…

Am I not already helping her?

I was her guide. I was the one who kept track and made sure she did not lose her way while travelling.

And whenever Alicia became completely absorbed in researching magic, her room would inevitably turn into a disaster zone.

Books were scattered everywhere, with papers covering the floor and half-finished notes on magic theory piled across every available surface. More often than not, Alicia would eventually fall asleep right in the middle of the mess.

Sometimes, she would even spend an entire night in the library without realizing how much time had passed.

When that happened, I had to carry her back to her room once she finished her research and inevitably passed out asleep.

Sometimes she would become so absorbed in a book that she completely forgot to eat, forcing me to bring her food myself.

And then there was that time...

Alicia had stubbornly insisted that she wasn't sick after staying up all night eating ice cream. She refused to use healing magic, claiming that there was nothing wrong with her.

Then she started sneezing. Repeatedly.

Hana and I had to sneak medicine in her food because she was too stubborn to admit she needed it.

There had been countless little things like that. None of those things were particularly impressive.

They weren't feats of strength. They weren't accomplishments that anyone would praise me for.

But they were things Alicia needed.

And I had always been there to help her, because she is my friend.

The more I thought about it, the more memories came rushing back.

My eyes widened as the realization hit me.

Doesn't that mean...

“Regis?” Miss Xu's voice suddenly snapped me out of my thoughts. “Are you listening?”

“Ah!” I straightened immediately. “Sorry, Miss Xu. I wasn't sure until just now.”

“Yes.” Miss Xu raised an eyebrow.

“Until just now, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but now…”

“So, you finally realized what you want to do?” A small smile spread across Miss Xu’s face as if she was expecting to hear something.

“Yes.” I took a deep breath.

Then I looked straight at her, and there was no hesitation this time.

“I want to become stronger.” My hands tightened into fists. “So, please teach me how to use Aural Arts.”

Miss Xu stared at me for several seconds. Then she let out a long, exaggerated sigh.

“Ahhh...” She rubbed her forehead as though I had just given her a terrible headache. “I will respect your decision if that’s the conclusion you have reached. Let's continue with today's lesson.”

“Yes!”

I immediately sat down in the meditative position she had taught me. Crossing my legs, I straightened my back and placed my hands on my knees.

Miss Xu watched me settle into position before speaking again.

“Remember,” she said, her voice becoming serious once more. “If you're still unable to manifest your aura today, I will stop the lessons.” She paused for a second, then finally spoke. “This is your last chance.”

One last time.

I closed my eyes and drew in a slow, deep breath.

Then another.

My heart pounded against my chest, and I could feel sweat beginning to gather in my palms.

All right.

I clenched my fists for a moment before slowly relaxing them again.

I'm going to give it everything I have.

Alicia's face appeared in my mind.

The next time I see her... I'll be stronger.

No matter how difficult it was.

No matter how many times I failed.

I would keep trying.

Because I had already made my decision.

So, wherever you are...

Just watch me, Alicia.

My fists tightened once more.

I'll catch up to you.

◇◇◇

“I am finally free!”

I threw both hands into the air as I walked through the Academy Gates; the temporary leave permit Miss Karin had given me clutched tightly in one hand. After spending so much time trapped inside the academy, finally being able to step outside felt incredible.

I had Miss Karin to thank for that.

She really was amazing. I never would have imagined that she would take me to a mysterious place like that, let alone show me her special magic.

Even now, I couldn't stop thinking about the magic she had used. It wasn't ordinary magic, nor was it divine magic or black miasma. The energy I felt was completely different from anything I had encountered before, almost as if it hadn't originated from this world at all.

Like something that came from outer space.

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully as I considered the possibility.

“Maybe if I stay in the Otherworld Research Club long enough, I'll eventually figure out what that energy was.”

The thought alone filled me with excitement.

Of course, the strangest part of the whole experience had been that Miss Karin had actually forced me to use one of my swords. I hadn't expected that at all, but after seeing the way I handled it, she had seemed even more attached to me than before.

Did I really impress her that much?

I tilted my head, wondering if I had somehow managed to pass whatever test she had given me.

“I guess I passed with flying colors.”

A proud smile spread across my face before another thought suddenly occurred to me.

“I wonder how the other students who ask Miss Karin for leave permission manage to pass that test. I can't imagine what kind of ridiculous trials she puts them through.”

I shuddered at the thought. With that, I slipped the permit safely into my dimensional storage so that I would not lose it and looked toward the tiny figure sitting comfortably on my shoulder.

“All right, Ellie. Just point me in the direction we need to go.”

Ellie immediately raised her tiny hand and pointed toward the horizon.

“That way?”

I slowly turned to look in the direction she was pointing. Then, with a dramatic sweep of my arm, I pointed toward the distant horizon as if I were declaring the beginning of some grand adventure.

Ellie nodded enthusiastically.

“Got it.”

I gathered my magic, and the air beneath my feet began to tremble as magic surged through my body. In the next instant, I shot upward with a burst of speed, the academy grounds rapidly shrinking beneath me as I teleported into the open sky.

Whoosh!

The morning air rushed past my face, whipping my hair backward while Ellie clung tightly to my shoulder.

I had made sure to leave before dawn, when most of the students and teachers would still be asleep. There was no way I was going to let someone catch me sneaking out and ruin my first real adventure outside the academy before it had even begun.

Still, before getting too far away, I quickly checked my belongings one more time to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything.

“I am pretty sure I am not forgetting anything.”

Once I had steadied myself high above the academy, I turned my gaze toward the horizon where Ellie had indicated and grinned.

“Let's go!”

I surged forward, and the landscape below immediately blurred as I flew through the sky, leaving the academy farther and farther behind with every passing second.

The vast world stretched out before us, bathed in the warm golden light of the rising sun. I was finally free to go wherever I wanted, and I intended to make the most of it.

I spread my arms slightly as the wind rushed past me, a wide grin spreading across my face.

“Let's have a great adventure together, Ellie!”

…

“Wow... so this is the new city!”

I stopped in the middle of the street and looked around.

“What’s that new smell...” My nose twitched.

Something sweet and buttery was drifting through the air, mixed with the aroma of roasted meat, spices, and freshly baked bread.

My stomach immediately growled.

I had traveled all the way to the northeastern part of the Eastern Federation of Kingdoms, to one of its major cities, but this was nothing like the cities I was used to.

The moment I stepped through the gates, it felt like an entirely different world, even though I was visiting a neighbouring kingdom on the same continent.

The clothes they wore, even the styles of the weapons they carried, were different. Curved sabers, folding polearms I'd never seen before.

So this is what the northeastern part of the continent is like...

I couldn't stop looking around. There were food stalls on almost every street corner.

“That looks tasty!”

I pointed toward a stall selling pastries.

“Let's try that together, Ellie!”

Ellie immediately waved her tiny hands in agreement.

We spent the next few hours wandering through the streets.

I stopped at a clothing stall because I'd never seen fabric with such bright colors before. Then I found a shop selling weapons. Then another one selling magical accessories.

And then—

“Wait! What's that?”

I dragged Ellie toward another stall.

By the time I finally left one of the larger stores, both my hands were filled with bags.

A wide-brimmed hat sat on my head.

A freshly baked muffin was in my hand.

And Ellie was perched happily on my shoulder.

I raised the muffin toward my mouth.

This is going to be delicious.

I opened my mouth.

“Hello, Alicia.”

I froze.

That voice felt familiar. Standing in front of me was Nia.

“Oh.”

For a moment, neither of us said anything.

I completely forgot I invited Nia on this adventure.

Of all the people who could have found me like this...

Why did it have to be her?

My eyes drifted toward the bags hanging from both my hands.

Then toward the hat.

Then toward the muffin.

What is she going to think?

This wasn't supposed to be a vacation. There was an important reason we'd come here.

The communications we had deciphered from the Black Torch organization had contained messages exchanged with the Belladonna assassination organization.

If we could find a clue here, we might finally learn something that could lead us to Nia's little sister.

That was why I'd invited her.

This was an important mission. A very important mission.

I wasn't supposed to be wandering around eating sweets and shopping.

“It really isn't what it looks like,” I said quickly.

Nia raised an eyebrow.

“I was just...”

But before I could come up with a better excuse—

“Amazing, Miss Alicia!” Nia's eyes suddenly lit up. “You reached the city before me and gathered intel by roaming around the city!”

She glanced at my bags.

“You've even found a way for us to disguise ourselves and blend into the local culture.”

I blinked.

“Huh?”

She looked completely serious.

“Yup!” I nodded immediately. “You're definitely right.”

Without wasting another second, I shoved every bag in my hands into my dimensional storage.

The muffin remained in my hand.

I stared at it.

Then I looked at Ellie.

“Oh, Ellie.” I looked at her with an apologetic look and then said, “You shouldn't have sweets this early in the morning.”

Ellie's eyes widened.

“Mm?!”

Before she could react, I stuffed the muffin into her face.

Her tiny cheeks puffed out as she struggled to chew.

Goodbye, muffin.

It was a painful and sweet sacrifice. But this is serious business.

I couldn't afford to have fun when we were on an important mission to uncover the plans of two evil organizations.

Absolutely not.

...Even if the muffin had been really good.

A tiny black spider suddenly crawled onto Nia's hand. It raised its front legs and bowed toward me.

“Oh, hello.” I smiled. “Are you getting along with Nia?”

It was the same spider I'd sent to accompany Nia and her team to keep them safe in case of any emergency.

It had also been the means through which I'd contacted her and told her about this mission.

Ellie waved at the spider too; her face still completely stuffed with muffin. The black spider waved one tiny leg back.

“I hope Ivy, Prowl, and Mars are doing well. How about Caige and Maia?” I asked.

“Yes, they are all doing great. They too wanted to join to look for my little sister, but there has to be someone to protect the shop.”

“I am sure we are going to find some clue to her whereabouts, or we can capture one of them and ask them to spill their main base’s location,” I said.

“Thanks for giving me this chance, Alicia. I will be forever grateful to you, when you have done so much for us. I never know how I am ever going to repay you.”

“It’s alright; there’s no need. I am your employer, so it’s my job to take the best care of you all.” I said. Can’t have unhappy employees after all; otherwise my business will surely tank.

“Let’s discuss our next plan of action while having breakfast,” Nia said.

“Umu.” I smiled.

All right. The mission finally begins now.

◇◇◇

Deep within the ruins of an ancient temple, buried somewhere among the mountains of the northeastern Human Continent, a gathering had begun.

The temple had long since been abandoned, its origins dating back to the era of the Great Wars. Its enormous stone pillars were cracked, its walls half-swallowed by moss, and countless sections of its ceiling had collapsed, leaving the dark sky and crescent moon visible overhead.

Yet the place was far from empty.

Hundreds of black candles burned along the ruined corridors, their flames flickering restlessly against the cold mountain wind. Strange symbols had been carved into the stone floor, all of them depicting the same image—a great black circle surrounded by rays of light.

The Black Sun.

At the very center of the ruins stood an enormous stone altar. And behind it stood a towering stone carving of the same symbol, so old that parts of it had crumbled away.

A group of figures dressed in black robes stood silently around the altar. None of them spoke.

At last, an elderly man stepped forward, his slow, measured pace suggesting an unshakable calm, yet his footsteps made no sound.

His long black-and-white robes resembled something between a magician’s performance uniform and a priest’s ceremonial attire. Intricate golden patterns ran along his sleeves, while a strange black-sun emblem was embroidered across his chest. His black hair fell neatly behind his shoulders, and beneath his hood, small, round black spectacles covered his eyes, concealing his expression.

He raised one hand, and gradually, even the murmuring wind seemed to fade into silence.

“Since everyone has gathered…” His voice carried through the ancient halls. “…allow me to welcome you all.”

At his gesture, the hundreds of Black Torch cultists bowed their heads in unison.

“I am the High Leader of the Black Torch. You may simply call me that. I have no need for another name.”

He lowered his hand and smiled faintly.

“After all, I am nothing more than a humble servant of our one true god—the one who will bring salvation to this world.”

He looked across the gathered representatives before turning toward the first person in line.

“Our first guest is Lord Okarin Koichi, representative of Lord Zero’s Clan.”

Several meters away, a tall young boy sat silently upon a weathered stone. His entire body was concealed beneath a long robe, and the hood cast his face into shadow, revealing only the lower half of his features.

He offered nothing more than a faint smile.

The High Leader moved on as he gazed in another direction.

“Next is Master Warren—the Fifth Zehn Master of the Belladonna Organization.”

The man standing beside a broken pillar looked less like a martial artist and more like a walking fortress. His enormous muscles strained against the simple robe wrapped around his body, while his thick arms were nearly as large as an elephant’s legs. The garment itself was held together by little more than a single cord around his waist.

“Hmph.” That was all he had to say as he folded his arms across his massive chest.

The High Leader merely smiled before turning his attention toward the final guest.

“And finally…” His voice became noticeably more deliberate. “Our special guest of honor.”

Several black torch members who were in attendance and quietly observing followed his gaze.

“This individual is the one who helped us discover these ruins, built by our predecessors who worshipped the Black Sun.” The High Leader looked toward the darkness beyond the reach of the candles. “Even our oldest scriptures contained no record of their location.”

A low murmur passed through the gathering.

Master Warren frowned and glanced around the temple.

“So, who exactly is this guest? I don't see anyone.”

The High Leader’s smile widened.

“Of course you don't.” A voice emerged from somewhere within the darkness.

For a moment, silence filled the temple as everyone looked around to find the source of the voice.

“I prefer to keep my identity hidden.”

The sound seemed to come from everywhere at once, making it impossible to determine its true source.

Master Warren narrowed his eyes.

For several seconds, there was nothing but an empty patch of shadow between two ruined pillars.

Then—

Two tiny crimson points appeared within the darkness. Like eyes.

A crooked line slowly emerged beneath them, forming what looked like a monstrous grin, while two long horns gradually took shape above it.

“Oh, my, you have got quite impeccable senses if you can locate me in this darkness so fast. But please go easy on me, as I am so shy to reveal who I am. So, I will be only an onlooker for this event.”

Master Warren stared at the shadowed silhouette for several seconds before finally shrugging.

“Suit yourself.” He turned away. “Since you're a guest of the High Leader, I won't ask any more questions.”

“Thanks for your understanding, Master Warren. We are ever thankful to the Belladonna organisation for providing us security and prevent anyone from interrupting the ceremony.” The high leader said.

“You see, he is quite elusive, as even I have never met him in person. But don’t let that fool you; he has proven himself to be remarkably resourceful. Now, regarding the Rogue Hero’s Troupe…” The High Leader smoothly changed the subject, his gaze shifting toward the black-robed attendant standing behind him.

“Have we received any response from them?”

“Yes, Leader. But…” The attendant lowered his head.

“Don’t mumble. Tell me what he wrote.”

The High Leader’s expression remained unchanged.

“Ah… yes.” The attendant swallowed nervously. “He wrote—and I quote—‘I have no interest in kneeling to your god. If it gets in my way, I’ll kill it.’”

“What? How outrageous of that Rogue Hero…” The High Leader’s expression hardened, his calm demeanor finally breaking.

“Hahahaha…”

Okarin, the representative of Zero’s Clan, was the only one who laughed.

“Silence, foolish human! How dare you laugh at our god?”

“And so what?” Okarin replied, still chuckling. “It’s just a measly god, after all. If your god was really that powerful, then how did it end up getting sealed away? Wouldn’t the world have been better off if it had stayed that way?”

His words were laced with sarcasm as he deliberately taunted the two cultists standing behind the High Leader.

“How dare you!” One of them stepped forward. “I am the Fifth Executor of the Black Torch!”

“And I am the Third Executor,” the other declared. “Together, we will end your life for sullying the name of our god!”

The Third Executor suddenly vanished from Okarin’s sight.

In the same instant, the Fifth Executor was already at his side, a metal claw poised against his neck.

From behind, the Third Executor’s hand was wrapped in swirling wind magic, the blade-like current already sweeping toward Okarin’s head.

“Stop, both of you!” the High Leader shouted.

But it was already too late.

Okarin didn’t panic. He didn’t even try to dodge.

Instead, he simply smiled beneath his hood.

The claw closed around empty air.

The wind blade passed through where his neck should have been — through the hood, then his skin, and everything— and found nothing to cut. No blood. Not even a strand of hair fell.

For a heartbeat, neither Executor understood what had happened. Their weapons had struck true. They had felt the moment of impact in their bones — and yet Okarin stood there, untouched, still smiling, as if their blows had just passed clean through his body like he was smoke wearing the shape of a man.

“Impossible…” the Third Executor breathed, staring at her own wind-wrapped hand as though it had betrayed her. “I am sure I cut you.”

“You should probably check that again,” Okarin said pleasantly. “I don’t think that landed the way you intended.”

The Third Executor slowly looked down. Her eyes widened.

Her hand had pierced straight through the Fifth Executor’s skull.

The third executor froze for a moment before blood suddenly spilled from his mouth.

“What…?”

Then she felt something warm running down her own abdomen.

Her gaze dropped.

Three deep holes had been torn through her stomach by the Fifth Executor’s metal claw.

Neither of them had struck Okarin, as if their attacks had simply passed through his body.

Instead, they had only struck each other.

The two Executors collapsed to the ground together, gasping for breath as blood quickly pooled beneath them.

Okarin quietly laughed beneath his hood.

“Lord Okarin,” the High Leader said, stepping forward. “This was never part of the deal between Lord Zero and us.”

“You dare say that as if someone like you could make demands of Lord Zero?” Okarin replied. His single visible eye narrowed. “It is you who needs us the most to awaken that god of yours. Am I wrong?”

The High Leader fell silent for a moment.

“…You are right.”

He had no choice but to admit it.

“We need your strength, as agreed. You will help us find the source of energy capable of breaking the seal over our god.”

His unaffected gaze shifted briefly toward the two fallen Executors, then back to Okarin.

“And, as you requested, we have spread a mixture of false information throughout our branches. We have also confirmed that one of those branches has already been attacked by the people matching your description.”

“Good.” Okarin's smile returned. “Then it won't be long before we fulfill our promise.”

“I understand. And thank you for cooperating.” The High Leader glanced at the two injured Executors. “But I would now ask you to bring them back to life. They are rather valuable assets whom I have raised. It would be a shame to see them die without first serving their purpose.”

“You weasel, looks like you already have an inkling to my power.” Okarin chuckled.

“For someone who has lived as long as I have,” the High Leader replied calmly, “very little can surprise me anymore.”

Okarin tilted his head, considering the two bodies at his feet with the mild interest of a man glancing at a spilled drink.

“Hmm. Fine.” Okarin shrugged. “But you owe me now.”

The High Leader gave a silent nod, his eyes fixed on Okarin.

Okarin raised one hand.

Above each fallen Executor’s head, something flickered into existence.

A thin, translucent red rectangle hovered in the air, faintly glowing like something that had no place in the real world.

The bars were nearly empty.

With every ragged breath the Executors took, the red inside them slowly drained away.

Then—Snap.

Okarin snapped his fingers.

The bars instantly filled.

Red surged upward in a single motion, and the wounds on the Executors’ bodies began to close. Flesh knitted together, blood receding, until both Executors were left gasping on the ground, their bodies completely restored—as though the last few moments had never happened.

The Executor dropped to their knees beside Okarin, their hands trembling as they searched for wounds that were no longer there. Then they slowly looked up at him—and for the first time, the rage in their eyes was gone.

In its place was something far more unsettling.

Fear.

“Interesting…” The hidden figure in the shadows murmured the word with quiet curiosity.

“How unnerving…” The Fifth Zehn Master, Warrene, spoke next, his voice low and guarded as his eyes remained fixed on Okarin. There was no excitement in his expression—only the quiet caution of a man who had just realized he was facing something he did not completely understand.

The High Leader paid them no attention. He slowly raised one hand.

“Everyone…”

His voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried through the entire temple.

One of the candles went out.

Then another.

One by one, the flames vanished, until the last flicker of light disappeared and the ancient temple was swallowed by darkness.

Uneasy movements stirred among the gathered figures.

Then a faint, dark-purple glow appeared behind the altar.

The enormous carving of the Black Sun began to shine.

Its eerie light slowly spread across the ruins, casting long shadows across the stone floor and illuminating the High Leader from behind.

“The time has finally come.”

His voice echoed through the darkness as he spread his arms toward the ancient symbol.

“On the coming night of the new moon… when the heavens themselves are swallowed by darkness, when the light of the sun is extinguished…”

The crimson light behind him intensified, pulsing against the walls of the ancient ruins.

“…and the boundary between our world and the realm beyond is broken…”

The High Leader slowly tilted his head upward, his voice rising until it thundered through the ruins.

“OUR GOD SHALL DESCEND!”

At his proclamation, every robed follower dropped to their knees. The High Leader raised both hands toward the enormous symbol as the dark purple glow bathed the entire chamber.

“THE BLACK SUN!”

A deafening roar erupted from the gathered cultists.

“ALL HAIL THE BLACK SUN!”

“ALL HAIL THE BLACK SUN!”

“ALL HAIL THE BLACK SUN!”

Their voices reverberated through the mountains, rolling across the ancient ruins like an approaching storm.

Far above them, hidden beyond the clouds, something stirred in the night sky. A thin shadow slowly began to creep across the surface of the moon.

The High Leader smiled.

“The age of mankind…”

His voice softened as he gazed toward the glowing Black Sun.

“…the age in which we are forced to live in fear and pain…”

His smile widened.

“…is coming to an end.”

◇◇◇

“That was a delicious breakfast. I’m so full.”

Nia leaned back in her chair with a satisfied sigh, resting a hand over her stomach as she placed her fork beside her empty plate.

“I think I’ve told you everything Ellie managed to gather about the Black Torch and their activities.”

“Yes,” Nia replied. “And it wouldn’t surprise me if the Black Torch hired the Belladonna Organization to handle their dirty work. That would explain why we haven’t been able to trace most of their operations.”

Nia's expression darkened slightly.

“If I manage to find someone from Belladonna, I might finally be able to interrogate them and learn where my little sister is.”

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the table. I could tell how much that weighed on her, even though she tried to hide it.

“Don’t worry,” I said gently. “I’m glad you’re here with me. Besides, I believe this will be our first adventure together.”

Nia's expression immediately brightened.

“Yes. I’m excited too.”

“Umu. Then let’s head to the guild.”

We paid the bill and stepped outside, making our way toward the Adventurer’s Guild. We needed to find a quest that would take us to our destination. Rather than blindly entering enemy territory, we could accept a quest related to the area and use it as a legitimate reason to enter the city without alerting anyone.

For a moment, everything felt peaceful.

Then—

Something almost slammed into me.

“Huh—!”

Before I could even react, Nia grabbed me by the arm and pulled me toward her.

A small figure stumbled past us.

It was a boy.

His clothes were little more than torn rags, his bare feet filthy from the road. He didn't even glance back as he ran. His terrified eyes were fixed straight ahead.

“Alicia, are you alright?” Nia was still holding me.

I looked at her. Her face was only a few inches from mine.

For some reason, her face gradually turned red. I could tell because she was so close that I could see every little change in her expression.

“I'm fine,” I said.

“I-I see.” Nia blinked. Then she quickly released me and looked away.

I tilted my head. What was that about?

Before I could ask, a rough voice suddenly echoed from behind us.

“THERE! DON'T LET THE BRAT ESCAPE!”

I turned around.

A large man came charging down the street, a butcher's knife gripped tightly in his hand.

Behind him, several others were running after the boy.

Nia and I exchanged a glance.

Neither of us needed to say anything. There was something wrong with this situation.

We both nodded.

Then, without hesitation, we took off after them.

We followed the boy through several narrow streets until, at the next turn, his foot caught on a loose stone.

“Ahhh!” He stumbled and crashed to the ground.

By the time he managed to push himself back up, the people chasing him had already caught up.

“There you are!”

The butcher raised his knife as he approached, while the others quickly surrounded the boy.

“Please…”

The boy scrambled backward, his palms scraping against the dirt.

“Please, I’m sorry!”

Just as the butcher reached for him, a voice suddenly cut through the commotion.

“Stop.”

A young man stood at the mouth of the street. He looked to be around our age, perhaps a little older. His clothes were neat and covered with well-fitted armour, and a polished sword hung from his waist. Unlike the angry crowd, he didn't seem particularly bothered by the situation.

“Why are you harassing a kid?”

The butcher frowned.

“A kid? I'd call him a devil.” He pointed his knife toward the boy. “That brat has been stealing from the shops around here all day!”

“He stole meat from my stall!”

“Eggs from mine!”

“Fruit too!”

The complaints quickly piled up as everyone began talking over one another.

The young man listened quietly before turning his attention back to the boy.

“So you're a thief?”

“I…” The boy's face went pale.

The young man sighed.

“Ah! What a letdown… And here I was actually looking forward to it. Hmph. Then I guess I can’t help you.”

The boy stared at him in disbelief.

“Please help me! I'm sorry! I didn't want to steal, but… I thought…” The small boy’s voice broke as he struggled to finish.

The young man shook his head.

“If you're a thief, then you're not someone who is truly in need. I only help those who genuinely require it, not those who choose to do wrong.”

He then turned toward the crowd.

“I’ll leave him to you. But don’t hurt the boy. Whatever he stole, you can take the money back from him.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

I stared after him.

Seriously?

Was he really going to leave the child here? If he wasn’t willing to help, then why had he bothered stepping in and playing the hero in the first place?

“Right. You heard him.” The butcher grinned as he turned back toward the boy. “Now we've finally got you.”

He grabbed the boy by the collar and hauled him to his feet. The boy trembled in his grasp.

“Do you think those things come for free? We're going to make you pay for every single penny. And if you can't…”

His grin widened.

“We can always sell you. I'm sure you'll fetch enough to make up for what you've stolen.”

The others nodded in agreement.

My stomach tightened. This was no longer about recovering stolen goods.

They had been planning to sell him from the very beginning and turn a profit. It was plain and simple: the boy didn’t have any money. Otherwise, there would have been no reason for him to steal food in the first place.

“This is for making me run throughout the city…” The butcher raised his hand as he was about to hit him.

“Now—PUT HIM DOWN!”

A sharp voice suddenly rang through the street.

The butcher froze.

Several armored knights rushed into the alley with their weapons drawn, quickly moving between the boy and the angry crowd.

“What's going on here?” The butcher's face turned pale. “G-guard knights!”

I finally let out the breath I'd been holding.

“Haa…” That was close.

One of the knights looked around before raising his voice.

“Who was the one who called for help?”

The crowd exchanged confused glances.

“Ah…” I glanced around. So much for staying unnoticed.

What should I do?

Before I could come up with an excuse, Nia stepped forward.

“It was me.”

She winked at me as she passed.

“I already knew you were the one who called the knights. Don’t worry. Leave this to me.”

I blinked. When did she figure that out?

One of the knights looked at Nia with an impressed expression.

“Wow, ma’am! You ran incredibly fast. All we could do was follow your voice.”

Nia smiled awkwardly.

“I was only worried about the kid.” She said as she began describing the situation from what we saw.

I'm glad I brought Nia along. She is really smart.

She was quick on her feet to understand the situation and must have caught when I sent Ellie away.

Because, technically, it wasn’t me who called the guards. It was Ellie.

Earlier, while we were following the boy, I'd quietly contacted Ellie to call for the guards.

She had cleverly reproduced a human voice by vibrating her magical webs at precisely the right frequency, creating the illusion that someone was shouting for help.

The knights must have heard the voice and rushed over immediately.

Good thing I asked Ellie to handle it.

I looked toward the terrified boy, who was now surrounded by knights assessing the situation.

At least now, he would be safe.

After a few back-to-back arguments, the knights took the kid away to find out about his parents.

“I am not from this town. I am from Cabra village.” The boy shouted.

The moment Nia and I heard that name, we turned around.

“Wait, that’s way too far from here. I think it's in the valleys far north from here.” The knight said.

“Yes, I believe so. What are you doing here kid?” Another knight asked.

“I am here to get help to save my village.”

…

Holding the boy's hand, Nia and I made our way toward the Adventurer's Guild.

Cabra Village.

That was where we had been planning to go from the very beginning. The only problem was that we had no idea whether the guild would have a quest related to the village.

But now, things had changed. Thanks to this boy, we finally had a reason to go.

After speaking with the knights and negotiating with the people whose belongings had been stolen, we managed to settle the matter with a payment. We also agreed to act as guarantors for the boy, ensuring that he wouldn’t steal again.

Once everything was settled, we left together.

As we walked, the boy slowly told us his story.

His name was still unfamiliar to me, but the desperation in his voice was easy to understand.

“Cabra Village has been suffering from a strange disease for a past few months,” he explained. “People keep getting sick, and no one knows how to cure it. Even mother and father.”

His little hand tightened around mine.

“My grandfather and I spent almost all our money coming here. We thought the Adventurer's Guild would have people who could help us.”

“So what’s the matter?” I asked.

The boy shook his head.

“No one wanted to accept the request.” His voice grew quieter as he continued. “We ran out of money too. We barely had enough to buy food.”

He lowered his head.

“My grandfather is old. He can't work anymore, so…”

He hesitated before finally whispering,

“I really had no choice.”

I looked down at him.

There was no excuse for stealing, but after hearing everything, I couldn't bring myself to blame him.

“It's fine,” I said.

The boy looked up at me.

“We'll save your village.”

His eyes widened.

“If it's a disease, I can heal the people. I'm a priest, after all.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

The boy's face immediately brightened.

“But what about the monsters?”

“Don't worry about those either.” Nia placed a hand on the hilt of her sword and gave him a confident smile. “I'll take care of them.”

“You can?”

“Of course.” Nia puffed out her chest slightly. “I'm super strong, you know?”

“Wow…” The boy looked between the two of us with sparkling eyes. “Then… you can really save our village?”

“Yes, we'll do our best.”

With his worries somewhat eased, we finally arrived at the Adventurer's Guild.

The moment we stepped inside, the boy released our hands and rushed forward.

“Grandfather!”

I followed his gaze.

An elderly man stood near one of the guild's tables, speaking with a group of six adventurers.

Nia stopped beside me.

“Wait…” She pointed toward the group. “Isn't that the same man who arrogantly left and refused to help the little boy after intervening?”

I froze.

She was right.

The young man who had abandoned the boy in the street was standing there.

But that wasn't what caught my attention.

Now that I saw all of them together, I finally realized where I had seen that familiar face before.

I knew those people. All of them.

There was no way I could forget their faces.

My gaze slowly moved from one person to another. With every familiar face, my heartbeat grew heavier.

I checked their statuses. There was no mistake.

They were my classmates.

And standing beside each of them were the gods they had contracted with.

What were they doing here?

Before I could even process what I was seeing, the young man stepped forward.

“Sir, you can hire us. We'll save your village.”

The same man who had refused to help a starving child because he had committed a crime was now offering to save an entire village.

“But why would you want to help an old man, when there’s really nothing in it for you?” The old man said.

“You can trust us. We're not doing this for money.” A girl in their group said.

“Exactly.” Another boy placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. “This guy is pretty strong. You can trust him.”

The young man smiled.

“Is that so?” The old man said, still confused by the group’s eagerness to accept the job when everyone else had refused.

“How could I possibly look the other way when someone weaker than me is in trouble?”

He paused before adding,

“You should know that I'm something of a hero.”

A hero.

And that’s what his status screen said too.

“Alicia?” Nia's voice brought me back to reality.

She was looking at me with concern.

“Are you all right?”

I didn't answer immediately. My eyes remained fixed on the six people standing before me.

They were calling themselves heroes. And were proudly offering their help to a village that had supposedly been abandoned by other adventurers.

But just minutes ago…

They had been willing to leave a starving child to his fate.

My chest tightened.

How dare they say those words…

My gaze hardened beneath my mask.

…when they were the ones who turned their backs on….

◇◇◇

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the long break, but I’m finally back!

With this chapter Alicia is finally set on the new adventure, and now we have all the characters in place to kick off this brand-new arc!

In the previous arc, we focused heavily on the characters on Alicia’s side. But this time, things are going to be very different. We’re bringing together a major collaboration between some of the most dangerous and powerful evil organizations in the world.

This is going to be one massive fast paced arc.

I hope you’re all ready for what’s coming—and, most importantly, I hope you enjoy this arc!

Have a nice day and Happy Reading.