Lori arrived at her room just as the clock struck midnight. Her face was tight with a frown, and weariness clung to her like a shadow.


    She had nned to rest immediately, but as she removed her robe, a familiar, ufortable sensation tingled behind her left eye. It was the same feeling she got whenever General Lubbot initiated contact.


    "But I should still have a few days until the deadline..." she muttered through clenched teeth.


    Despite the suddenness of it, Lori''s expression shifted seamlessly, her frown reced by a serene smile as though her agitation had been nothing but an illusion.


    Without hesitation, she activated her soundproofing artifact. "Good evening, Officer Lubbot. How can I assist you today?" she asked, her voice calm.


    The hologram of a uniformed officer appeared, his expression as t as ever. However, this time he wasn''t alone. Beside him stood a squat, rotund man with the unmistakable features of a dwarf. His face was twisted into a frown as he looked down at Lori.


    {So, you''re 280498?}


    The dwarf''s voice was gravelly.


    {I''m Caballe, mayor of Juviel City. It seems you''ve been dragging your feet with your mission... I''m sending some assistance. Make sure you coordinate well with them.}


    "... Yes, Sir Mayor," Lori responded, bowing swiftly.


    Inwardly, however, she seethed. "Backup?" she thought, biting back a groan. She knew what kind of help wasing her way, and it wasn''t good news. They weren''t sending soldiers or spies; they were sending members of the Anti-Human Movement.


    Those zealots had already failed to kill Aster multiple times. Worse still, her job was to "bring" Aster back alive, not kill him. Their involvement would do nothing butplicate her mission.


    The real reason the Anti-Human Movement always seemed to know Aster''s whereabouts was because Lori had one of Aster''s hidden guards under her control. That man sent her his location every hour, and she was ordered to ry that information to the Anti-Human fanatics.


    General Lubbot continued speaking, but Lori wasn''t paying attention. Unless there was a major change to her orders, she didn''t need to listen.


    Finally, after a few minutes, the hologram faded. The contact was over.


    Lori copsed to her knees, clutching her left eye as a searing pain red up from the back of her eyeball. The agony was unbearable, but she didn''t make a sound.


    With what little strength she had, she dragged herself to the bathroom, standing under the cold spray of the shower. The freezing water provided some relief, cooling the burning sensation. She sighed deeply, the tension slowly draining from her body.


    Her n was already in motion, and there was no turning back now. Helping the "backup" would be a waste of time.


    "But..." Lori muttered as she opened her eyes.


    Her reflection stared back at her in the mirror, her left eye glowing bloodshot red. "Everything will be over... soon."


    The sound of the shower echoed in the room, lulling her chaotic thoughts. But the days ahead would be anything but calm.


    ---


    Morning, June 1, 4533. It marked one month since Aster had awoken from his long sleep.


    "What should I wear...?" Aster stood in front of his wardrobe, frowning.


    Today was supposed to be part rest, part stress. He had to apany Tina to meet her father and assure him she would be fine adventuring with his party.


    "A suit... too formal," Aster sighed.


    He eventually settled on a cream-colored, long-sleeved shirt, navy blue trousers, and shiny ck shoes. Clothes he rarely touched. He decided not to overdo it, letting his hair stay in its usual slightly disheveled state.


    His eyes flicked over to his usual windbreaker and scarf, but he left them behind. It wouldn''t do to meet a conglomerate''s president looking like he was about to go on a mission.


    "This should do..." he murmured, ncing in the mirror.


    With his outfit ready, he made his way to the hotel lobby, where a taxi waited for him. Walking around the city in his current attire felt awkward. He was far too exposed for his liking.


    As ast-minute solution, he slipped on a pair of Wayfarer sunsses with ck frames and amber lenses, hoping they''d offer at least a bit of anonymity. But it didn''t change the fact that he felt ufortable.


    "Sir, we''ve arrived," the driver announced, pulling up in front of the guild.


    "Thanks," Aster muttered, stepping out of the car.


    A deep breath steadied his nerves as he entered the guild. Immediately, heads turned his way. The attention made him feel like he was walking on a bed of nails as he made his way to their usual corner in the lobby.


    "Sta...r?"


    "You..."


    It wasn''t even 6 a.m. yet, but Cassy and Kali were already there, seated at their table, staring at Aster with wide, disbelieving eyes.


    "You''re early, as usual," Aster greeted them with a smile, pretending not to notice their stunned expressions. "Are the others not here yet?"


    Cassy, cheeks tinged red, struggled to respond. "Ah, y-yes... they haven''t arrived yet..."


    Both she and Kali were clearly flustered. It was the first time they''d seen Aster in such chic, stylish attire, a stark contrast to his usual cloaked and bundled-up appearance.


    "Leader..." Kali spoke in a low voice after regaining herposure. "Isn''t this a bit dangerous? If people find out you''re human... you know how rare they are. You''ll be in serious danger."


    Aster smiled and waved off her concerns. "Don''t worry. I''m pretending to be a vampire. See? The only difference between us and humans is the red eyes and fangs."


    He pulled back his lips to reveal a set of slightly longer-than-usual canines. "I''m even wearing fake fangs. Pretty convincing, right?"


    *Thump!*


    Instead of reassuring the girls, his yful exnation only made their hearts race faster.


    ''I-Is something wrong with me? Why is my heart beating so fast?'' Cassy thought, stealing a nce at Aster.


    Kali, too, was struggling to keep herposure. ''He''s just the person I''m supposed to protect, and yet...!''


    Before their emotions could spiral any further, a voice interrupted them.


    "Oh, you''re that kid from earlier, right? You look dashing today~!"


    A woman with fluffy, silver-gray hair and a pair of wings on her back floated into view. It was Octavia! Enjoy exclusive content from м??