《From Another World (A Hololive Fanfiction)》 Prologue: Be careful on rainy days! (Volume 1) It was a dark and cold night. Rain fell down from the sky. A boy was walking on the street and was happy with his purchase. He was excited to play the new game he bought and his mind was filled with nothing but expectations. The boy didnt mind getting wet by the rain as he hummed happily home. His day has been quite good so far. The boy and his friends were the first ones to clear a raid in a popular online game and now, he bought the latest game in his favorite series. Despite waiting for hours just to get a copy of the game, he felt happy. If it werent for the rain, his day would be perfect. Nothing could possibly go wrong for him. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Or so he thought. The boy suddenly flew as light shone on him. He was knocked a few meters away and bounced a few times like a ball before finally landing on the ground. It took a few seconds before the pain registered. Red liquid appeared in his vision. He couldnt move his body. Judging from how he felt like a refrigerator just hit him, he thought that he was a victim of a car accident. He was having trouble breathing. The rain didnt help since it made him feel cold. His vision was slowly dimming. My game, those were his last thoughts before the darkness claimed him. It鈥檚 a good thing if you woke up in a hospital, right? I used to be a delinquent. Because of that, I would make frequent trips to clinics and hospitals to treat my injuries from fights. It wasnt because I liked fighting or anything. Apparently, my eyes had a natural mean look on them that irked other delinquents. Just one look at them and people would pick a fight with me. And since I always won my fights despite being outnumbered, I became a legendary delinquent. Luckily, my family moved to another city when I was about to enter high school. There werent any delinquents in that city and so, I was able to start a new life. I lived a low profile and developed a liking for video games. The people there didnt judge me by my eyes and so, my peaceful days as a video game nerd started. Until one day, I got hit by a car. It was raining hard so I couldnt possibly blame the driver since he probably couldnt see properly. If I had been more mindful of my surroundings instead of getting too excited for my new game, I wouldve avoided it. The last thing I could remember was the coldness of the rain while blood flowed down my body. Now, I was probably in a hospital room. It was surprising that I didnt have any fractures and I couldnt feel any stitches in my head despite the fact that I was bleeding during the accident. Its been quite a while since I was in the hospital. If I remember correctly, the last time I was hospitalized was before I moved to my new city. I got involved in a little incident and was beaten up badly. A few broken ribs, cracked bones, and a massive blood loss was the result of that incident. I was hospitalized for a whole week. Ah. Youre already awake? a voice called out. She was probably a nurse... I think. Her outfit wasnt like the white uniform nurses usually wear. Instead, she was wearing a long blue dress with a white apron. A white cap with an embroidered silver cross was on her head. How are you feeling? she asked. Im fine... I guess, I answered. This was an odd hospital now that I thought about it. For one, there was no air conditioning or even an electric fan. Also, the bed wasnt the usual metallic beds but instead, it was a wooden one. And now there was a nurse in a weird uniform. Please wait here for a moment. I was told to inform them if you woke up, the nurse said. After a while, a silver-haired woman entered the room. Could she be the one who hit me? Is she a cosplayer who is about to go to an event or something? I mean.... She was wearing fancy-looking clothes. Not to mention that she was wearing armor on her arms, legs, and chest and a mace was hanging on her left waist. Good day. I am Noel Shirogane, captain of the 13th unit of the Westa Knight Order, she introduced herself. Is she trying to stay in-character? Or could she be one of the people who hasnt graduated from their chuunibyou? She looked 18 years old or something. What should I do in this situation? Should I call her out or go along with it. H-Hello. Im Mikage Kamishiro, I managed to keep a straight face and introduce myself. Could you please tell me about yourself? she asked. That was a weird question. Shouldnt she apologize first for crashing into me? Im just a regular student of Sanada North High School. I was on my way home until the accident happened, I said. Sanada North High School? Where is that? Are you not from Westa? This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Westa? Where in the world was that? Was that a place in her fantasy or something? It would be a pain if she was actually a chuunibyou. I knew a guy who had slight chuunibyou tendencies and they were difficult to interact with. If she was one of his people, then I needed to choose my words correctly. No... You know, the school near the mountainside? Sanada North? I tried to tell her where my school was. Noel frowned. She looked like she had no idea what I was talking about. Was she for real? I never thought I would meet someone who was completely immersed in their own fantasies. Sanada North! Come on. Its one of the few public high schools in this city, I tried telling her again. There are no schools with that name here in Westa, she replied. What the hell was Westa? Was she trying hard to stick to her character? If that was the case, I would be really angry. She just hit me with her car and now she was trying to make me go along with her fantasies? That was too much. I might be a nice guy but I deserve to be respected. I got up from my bed and headed to the nearest window. When I opened it, I couldnt believe what my eyes saw. Normally when looking out, tall buildings would be seen in the city I lived in. However, instead of concrete buildings, I saw brick and wooden houses. In the distance was a huge wall. No matter how I looked at it, I was definitely not in my city. Even if the people were wearing clothes that looked modern, the buildings were weird. I thought that it was the weirdest part until I saw a passerby who had an animals ears and tail. I would usually just think they were cosplayers or something but the ears were twitching and the tail was moving. Either technology was advanced or... Hey... How did you find me? I asked. We were investigating a summoner who had gone rogue and found out that he was attempting to do a large-scale summoning ritual. However, when we arrived at the site, we found you lying down on a magic circle while the summoner was nowhere to be seen, Noel answered. I had a hunch on what happened to me but it was impossible... But from what she said, there could be no other explanation. Do you know of a place called Japan? I asked her just to be sure. No. I havent heard of such a place, she shook her head. Unless this was a really far place from Japan without any connection to other countries, it only meant one thing: I got summoned to another world. I never thought of it as possible. I mean, I didnt think that other worlds existed. But once I eliminated the impossible, whatever remained, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.. And the truth was that I got summoned. Ummm... You might think of me as crazy but... I explained my situation to her. It was the only option I had. I needed information about this world and possibly a bit of help too since I was an outsider who didnt have anybody. Another world? Are you saying that youve been summoned? Noel asked. Yeah. Its hard to believe but its the truth. This city is far too different from my city. Not to mention that in my world, there are no animal-eared people. This is the only possible explanation even if you might think its too far off, I answered. If she would think of me as someone who was out of his mind, it would be bad. I hope that mental asylums here will take good care of their patients. I see, Noel said after thinking for a while. Wait. You believe me? I asked. Well. You wouldnt have a reason to lie. Besides, its too tiring to think too much about it, she answered. Wasnt she supposed to be a knight captain or something? An irresponsible attitude like that would be bad. So what are your plans? she asked. I actually have no idea. Right now, I have no home, no family, no friends, and no money, I said. This is a tough situation. There are no known protocols about dealing with people from other worlds and you cant possibly stay in this hospital forever. Noel pressed her finger on her forehead as she tried to think. Currently, I am broke and have no information about this world. I needed a place to stay and maybe a job to support myself. But what could I possibly do? I didnt have any noteworthy skills. Maybe I could be a janitor in a company or something but would that be enough to support my daily life? What were the living expenses in this world? Also, would I be allowed to live here? I didnt have any birth certificates and other identification. Say... How about becoming a knight? she suggested. .... What? The 13th unit of the Westa Knight Order Wake up! somebody shook me. I opened my eyes and saw a blond guy standing at the side of my bed. The sun wasnt up and I was already awake. My new life in another world was too different from my daily routine. Morning, the blonde guy greeted. His name was Temma Kishido, my roommate in the 13th units barracks and the vice-captain of the unit. Temma was one of the few people who knew about my situation and helped me out in my studies. When Noel suggested that I become part of her unit, I had no choice but to accept. She then bargained with her superiors to allow me to join. After knowing about my situation and deliberating, they decided to hold a test for me to decide what position I would have. Temma helped me in my studies and taught me basic swordsmanship. Good thing that math and science were almost the same in both worlds. It was also convenient that I could read their language. For some reason, their language was already registered in my brain. Could it be part of the effects of being summoned? I learned that this world was like a fantasy world. Different races such as elves and dwarves coexist together and magic thrived along with science. Thats the reason why things look modern and medieval at the same time. For example, the architecture of the buildings in this world resembled those of medieval times but the clothes of the people were surprisingly modern-looking. There were also modern-looking appliances like televisions and refrigerators. The only difference was they were made from a mix of science and magic. There was actually a field of study known as Magical Science in this world. The difference between science and magic was simple actually. Science used the natural laws of the world to create a phenomenon. For example, they used the effects of friction to produce heat. Magic interferes with the laws of the world to create a miracle. A mage could produce fire without undergoing the natural laws. Both of them had advantages depending on the situation. Science could produce events without the use of mana and extra effort from the user while magic could produce events without completing all of the conditions. For example, one could light a match by rubbing it and thats how one could produce fire using science. But in a situation where one doesnt have a match, one could use his/her mana to produce fire from nothing. Magical Science combined magic and science to create a phenomenon in the most efficient manner. Anyways, I somehow passed my test. Apparently, my high school level education was already college level in this world. Citizens werent necessarily required to go to school since they could just become adventurers and hunt monsters for money. My algebra and pre-calculus knowledge were already on par with scholars in specialized colleges. The things they teach in the high schools of this world were just general knowledge. That was why when I scored high on the test, I became the Administrative Officer of the 13th unit. Basically, my job was to handle the paperwork of the 13th unit. It wasnt that much of an inconvenience. All I had to do was make sure that the expenses were properly accounted for and read the individual reports of each knight. When I first entered the captains office, there was a huge stack of unread reports. As the administrative officer, it was my job to sort out the reports and make sure that the expenses stayed within budget. Youre open! Temma hit my head with a wooden sword. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Before I could begin my day as an administrative officer, I was required to undergo daily combat training. Despite being a guy assigned to do paperwork, I was still a knight. Knights were expected to fight. At first, I thought being a knight would mean that I would be somehow a warrior that was recognized by a royal family and would render my services to them. That wasnt the case. Knights were more of a civil servant like police officers. One could become a knight by going to the Knights Academy. I was just a special case since I didnt have any jobs. You said your world is peaceful and has no monsters. Then how come you have fighting experience? Temma asked. Lets just say I got into fights often, I answered. I was a former delinquent and had a fair share of fighting. It wasnt that I liked fighting or anything but I was good at it. I even went toe-to-toe with a group of thugs and won... Not that I was proud of it or anything. The speed of your improvement is amazing. Its like your calling is to be on the battlefield or something. Really? Yeah. Compared to our first match, you have less obvious openings and I have to get a bit serious to land a hit on you. I dont know if he was just trying to boost my confidence or something but I gotta admit, Ive gotten the basics of fighting. It was a mistake to copy what I saw in movies. The lesser movements you made, the better your swordsmanship was. At least thats what I noticed from Temmas fighting style. We continued training for an hour and after taking a quick shower, I headed to the Captains Office. Mikage!! Help me out here! Captain Noel said when she saw me enter. Captain Noel... I told you already, I already did my job in simplifying those reports and paperwork that needs your approval, I told her. But look at this stack! This is inhumane! she complained as she showed me a tall stack of papers piled up on her desk. Yeah. Were months behind in paperwork because you barely do administrative work. If were comparing workloads, then I win by a large margin, I countered as I pointed at my larger stack of papers. Seriously... Captain Noel was a musclehead. According to Temma, she was one of the strongest knights in Westas Knight Order. Thats why she commanded an entire unit at a young age. The problem was that while she was a powerful ally in the battlefield, she was completely useless when it came to paperwork. I went to my desk and started sorting out the papers. My task for today was compiling the reports of each knight for the past months and see if there were any incidents that needed a follow-up investigation. Most of the reports were Everything was normal or that there was a problem involving a lost child. That was why I could easily sort them to the folder where nothing needed to be done. There were some cases like a certain building being structurally dangerous but still a home for a family and some robbery cases solved with the help of a detective. I would then compile those reports and send them to Captain Noel so that she would decide what would happen. Although I was 100% sure that job would fall on Temma since he was the vice captain. Noel would often try to make excuses to get out of the room but I was forcing her to go over the reports. She would grumble about how the words and numbers were hurting her brain but I wouldnt pay it no heed. Temma was happy by the change that I brought in the unit even if I was only there for a week. How did the unit survive when the captain doesnt do any paperwork? Captain! Temma suddenly barged into the room while looking extremely anxious. Whats wrong? Captain Noel asked. Its her! She sent another notice! Captain Noel was a cheerful and relaxed girl. Seeing her scowl was rare for me. Another one huh? This time, well catch her! Noel declared. Ummm... Whats going on? I asked. Oh yeah. Youre new in this world so you dont know. A thief is coming to steal an important treasure, Temma answered. And how did you know about the planned robbery? This is her style. She would send out provocative messages and even tell us to tighten the security before she would steal the treasure, Noel said. Who is she? The phantom thief, Spade Echo, Noel and Temma told me in unison. Notifying in advance is always good manners In this world, the year was divided into 12 months like my old world. The months were Jania, Ferrus, Marth, Artix, Maio, Junio, Hulto, Agrustus, Settherius, Octavius, Nierro, and Deus. They were named after the major gods/goddesses of the world. Currently, it was Marth 30. I arrived in this world on Marth 24 and was adjusting well to my new life. Now, my first challenge in this world arrived. Spade Echo? I asked. Yeah. Shes a famous phantom thief. She would often target precious gems and incredible artifacts that come in Westa. And the 13th unit has quite a history with her, Temma answered. Thats right! She would boldly send in declarations that she would steal an item from us as if challenging me, Captain Noel added. And have you ever come close to catching her? No. Even if she would appear right in front of us, she would get away with the treasure, Temma said. Aggh! This time, Ill catch her for sure! Captain Noel declared. So what would she steal this time? Temma showed me a piece of paper. It had a spade symbol on it. Captain Noel went closer and looked at the contents of the paper too. Artix Grace! When the moon divides two people, under the name of White Star, pushed by the waves, I will arrive -Spade Echo So her target this time is the White Star, huh? Captain Noel muttered. I have heard of it despite being new in this world. It was a huge white star-shaped gem. The White Star was a very rare gem since its star shape was its natural shape. It''s as tough as diamond and was really expensive. Currently, it was stored in Westa Northern Exhibition Hall and was scheduled for public viewing at Artix 5. After that, it would be sold in an auction. Everyone, lets head to Westa Northern Exhibition Hall. Gather all knights except for those in patrol duty and fortify the security of the hall, Captain Noel ordered. Yes maam! Temma immediately ran off to do what Captain Noel ordered. Mikage, lets go there in advance, she told me. Huh? Im also a part of this? I asked. Of course. Shes challenging the entire unit. All available men will go after her with full force. In other words, you need all the help you can get... Or are you just trying to get away from doing paperwork? O-Of course not! Capturing Spade Echo is just that important. I already made good progress in my work so I guess I could take a day off. Captain Noel and I headed towards the exhibition hall and surprisingly, other knights were already there. Spade Echo sure was popular. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. The knights saw Captain Noel and me and they let us pass. I guess Captain Noel was that famous. Ah. Captain Noel. If youre here, then you must have received the notice too, a middle-aged man with brown hair said. Captain Reagan, Spade Echos going to strike again. This time well get her, Captain Noel replied. I see. This must be Captain Reagan Liam of the 3rd unit. They were officially in charge of Westas northern district along with the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th units. Now that I thought about it, why would the 13th unit be in a place outside of our jurisdiction. And this must be our guest from another world, Captain Reagan turned his attention to me. Hello. Im Mikage Kamishiro, 13th units administrative officer, I introduced myself. How are you adjusting to this world? he asked. Im doing great. Just spending my days doing the reports that were way overdue. Captain Reagan let out a snicker, It would be a tough journey for you especially with Captain Noels... attitude. Stay strong. Hey! Why do I get the feeling that you guys are making fun of me? Captain Noel said. We are not doing that. Ah yeah. I have a question though, I changed the topic. What is it? Captain Reagan asked. This place is out of our jurisdiction, so why are we here? Captain Noel and Captain Reagan looked at each other. Westa could be divided into four districts which were Westa North, Westa South, Westa East, and Westa West. Each district had 5 units in charge of it. Westa North had the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th units, Westa South had the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th units, Westa West had the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th units, while Westa East had the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st units. The 1st unit was a special unit that had the entire Westa as its jurisdiction. Oh yeah. Youre new in this world so its normal for you to not know. You see, while the units have their own jurisdictions, they also have special tasks handed down to them by the higher ups, Captain Reagan said. When Spade Echo first appeared, her target was in the 13th units area. Since then, we were a unit that was supposed to help whenever Spade Echo would strike. Its better that way since we record every known method used by Spade Echo, Captain Noel added. I see. Having a unit with the experience of dealing with Spade Echo would greatly help the investigation. And what do we know about Spade Echo? I asked. Not much. Just that shes a young woman who uses unconventional tricks, Captain Noel answered. Unconventional tricks? You see. Thieves often use magic to hide their tracks or even teleport to a room where the treasure was. Thats why we place anti-magic barriers on valuable places. However, Spade Echo manages to steal the treasure without using magic at all, Captain Reagan answered. The only magic that she uses is an artifact that makes her unrecognizable, Captain Noel added. Unrecognizable? She nodded, Weve seen her face many times already and she doesnt bother wearing masks. However, once she gets out of your sight, her facial features would be wiped off your memory. You would only remember a blur on her face. Its quite a powerful and rare artifact. That sounded like a really convenient artifact. I wonder what would happen if we were going to snap a picture of her. Captain Noel. The men are already assembled, Temma arrived along with some of the other knights. Good. Make sure they report any suspicious activity. Spade Echo must be already doing some groundwork and investigation now, Captain Noel said. You see. There is one suspicious individual already. Shes making a ruckus at the entrance demanding to be let in. Really? Whats her reason? Captain Reagan asked. She said she could help in catching Spade Echo. After all, shes a detective. Turn her away. We dont need any strange individuals, Captain Reagan said. Wait a minute. A detective? Please hold on, what is her name? I spoke out. Her name is Amelia Watson. Preparation for an illusion How many times have I already told you? I can help with the investigation! a blonde woman was arguing with a knight. Civilians are not allowed in this high-risk area, the knight argued. We arrived at the scene to see a girl in a brown coat and hat arguing with one of the knights. Her description matches with what Ive read. Ah! You two must be the knights in charge! Let me help you catch the thief! the woman said. And you are? Captain Reagan asked. Amelia Watson, a detective. For a phantom thief like this, you need a detective to catch her, she grinned. Captain Noel. She could help us out, I vouched for her. Are you sure, Mikage? she asked. Shes the real deal, I nodded. Have you heard of me? Amelia asked. Yeah. Youve been pretty active in the 13th units area. There were reports from our knights that youve been helping them catch robbers and find missing items for the past month. Really? How come Ive never heard of her? Captain Noel asked. Its because you dont do your job of reading the reports. Her name keeps on appearing on the knights reports as a great help for the investigations. So are you saying we should trust her? Captain Reagan asked. In my opinion, we need all the help we can get. Heck, even me, whos just an administrative officer, is here. Were in no position to reject a helping hand, I answered. He thought for a while. Okay then. Amelia Watson, youre in. Mikage, you keep an eye on her since youre the one who vouched for her, Captain Reagan said. Alright! So what do we know about her? Amelia asked. She is a phantom thief who relies on magicless tricks to steal her target. She sent us a message declaring that she will steal the White Star, Captain Noel said and showed her a piece of paper. Hmmm... Artix Grace! When the moon divides two people, under the name of White Star, pushed by the waves, I will arrive. -Spade Echo, Amelia had a serious face. From what weve decoded, she will definitely strike on Artix 1, the day of Artix Grace. We dont understand the rest of the code, Captain Reagan said. Hey. Whats Artix Grace? I whispered to Temma. Artix is the god of entertainment and mischief. Artix Grace is a day where people would joke around and do harmless pranks on each other. It happens every first day of Artix, Temma answered. So it was like April Fools huh? Its kinda weird how some holidays in my world reached this world. For example, they have Snowfall, an event that happens on Deus 25 where people give gifts to each other and also have Day of Love, a Valentines Day-like event on Ferrus 14. Hmmmm.... Amelia was staring at the paper real hard, What are your plans until Artix 1? Were going to tighten the security of this hall until Spade Echo appears. But it is bothersome that we dont know what her message meant, Captain Noel said. Im going to take a look around, is that okay? Amelia asked. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. As long as Mikage accompanies you, you can go anywhere, Captain Reagan said. Well then, lets go! I followed her around as she walked all over the place. Sometimes she would take a look at the coded message and rub her chin then she would continue walking around. Do you have any idea what her coded message meant? I asked her. Nope. Not a clue. Im just trying to look around and see any possible place she would arrive, she answered. Hey, Mikage. Its almost time for lunch! You wanna grab a bite or something? Temma approached us. Amelia then ran to the nearest window and took out a pocket watch. What are you doing? I asked. Im trying to know the direction using my clock, she answered. You could do that? Temma asked. Yeah. Its actually simple. First you have to point the hour hand to the sun. Because Westa is in the northern hemisphere, the south is between the number 12 and the hour hand. She then grinned. Hey, Mikage. Do you have an Excellular? she asked. An Excellular was a device that could send text messages and call other people. It was similar to a cell phone back in my world except that it uses magic. Yeah, I answered. Let me see it, she said and I gave it to her. She looked outside the window again and then pressed the buttons. I placed my contact there. I also registered your Excellular to mine too. Ill call you if somethings up, Amelia said and began to walk away. Wait. Where are you going? Back to my office. Ill see what I can find out about Spade Echo. If something urgent happens, dont hesitate to call me. ### It was currently 11:30 in the evening of Marth 31. Most of the knights were at the exhibition hall guarding the White Star. Meanwhile, I was in the barracks doing the paperwork. Unlike the other knights, I was not that good in fighting nor do I have an experience of catching thieves. Thats why I told Captain Noel that Id stay behind and do administrative work even if she wanted to bring me along. My Excellular rang and when I looked at the screen, it showed that Amelia Watson was calling me. Hello? I answered her call. Ah! Mikage! Are you busy right now? she asked. Not really. Why? I need to go to the rooftop of Westa Monument Tower but I need someone with authority to allow me to go there. If its okay with you, could you accompany me there? Is this related to Spade Echo? Yep. I looked at the time. Why would Amelia need to go there? Well, she was my responsibility so I guess I should follow her. And besides, this would probably help her out in the investigation. Okay then. Wait for me there, I said. When I arrived at the Westa Monument Tower, Amelia was already waiting at the entrance. I went to the front counter and showed them my Knight Crest so we were given permission to go to the rooftop. When we arrived there, it was dark and empty with only the light of the moon and stars shining on us. Why are we here anyway? I asked. Why? Its to meet Spade Echo of course, Amelia said. What she said surprised me. What? Shes coming here? How did you know? She said it herself in her message. You decoded it? The two people in the When the moon divides two people" must be a satellite and the sun. "The moon divides" refers to the eclipse created when the moon gets in between the two. After researching a bit, I found one satellite that fits the bill on Artix 1, which was the Westa Satellite. It fits since its initials are WS which is the same for White Star, hence the under the name of the White Star part of her message. Thats right. Satellites exist in this world. They were used for broadcasting the television channels and communicating all over the world. The satellites were created from a mix of magic and science. From Artix Grace, Spade Echo should be arriving between 12:30 to 4:30 AM on Artix 1 when the satellite forms an eclipse. The waves in "pushed by the waves" mean magical waves produced by the satellite so she would be coming from the direction of the WS broadcast signals. Westa Satellite signals are sent south west, 42.3 degrees above sea level. The only place that is within view of Westa Exhibition Hall from that direction is the rooftop of Westa Monument Tower, she continued. Then why did you only bring me here? If you told Captain Noel or the others, we could have trapped her, I said. No worries. I got it all planned, she showed me a rocket and a lighter, and besides, Im kinda curious about the thief who would boldly give that much information. I tried to remain calm and looked around. It was currently 12:28 AM and if Amelias deduction was correct, she should be arriving soon. And when I looked behind me, I saw her. Without disturbing the stillness of the night, she landed silently in front of my eyes, along with that fearless smirk that said she had foreseen everything. The phantom thief Spade Echo arrived. The white illusion under the night sky It was a night with a full moon. The stars were shining brightly overhead. And in front of us was the famous phantom thief, Spade Echo. She had pink hair and mint-colored eyes. Her white dress fluttered in the evening breeze. Spade Echo was a petite girl and looked harmless. Good evening. What are you two doing in such an empty place? she asked while smiling. Good. It seems that she didnt notice that we were a knight and detective pair. This is a good spot for lovers to hang out, dont you think? Hey Mikage. Do it already, Amelia lied as naturally as she breathed. Oh yeah. Our plan was to launch fireworks when Spade Echo arrives. Flying over the Westa Exhibition Hall were Floaters. Floaters were vehicles that could fly. They look similar to an aliens disc-shaped spaceship. They were a mix of magic and science like the technology used in satellites. If we launch the firework and grab the attention of a Floater, Spade Echo would have a hard time getting away by flying. From previous cases, she used a wing-shaped artifact that allowed her to fly. I lit the rockets fuse and it launched in the sky. It exploded in flower-like sparks. Wow! Seeing it up close sure is wonderful! Amelia exclaimed. One of the Floaters hovering above the exhibition hall was coming closer towards us. Oooh! A Floater! Looks like theyve seen us! Amelia was waving at the approaching vehicle. Youre lying. Youre not a couple. Who are you? Spade Echo asked. With the floater coming nearer, she would have a hard time escaping. Amelia Watson, a detective, Amelia introduced herself. So you decoded my message. Congratulations. I had a hard time making it so it feels nice that someone got it, Spade Echo clapped her hands. Shouldnt you be worried, Spade Echo? If you dont run fast, the Floater would get here, Amelia grinned. Spade Echo looked like a small girl so I could probably overpower her. The moment she turns around and starts making a run for it, whether flying away or heading to the door, I would tackle her and pin her to the ground. Now then, Spade Echo.... Hurry up and get ready to run. But what she did next was completely outside of our expectations. She brought out a small rectangular device called a Communicator. Communicators were like radios that could send out messages to those who were tuned in to its frequency. Spade Echo cleared her throat and then Captain Noels voice came out, This is Noel. I have sighted Spade Echo on the rooftop of Westa Monument Tower. Attention all units patrolling nearby and all Floaters: Go to the scene swiftly and stop Spade Echo. She changed her voice? Is that magic?! I asked in surprise. No. Its purely her skill. What are you planning?! Amelia shouted. Spade Echo cleared her throat once more and... "It is I, Reagan. To all knights in patrol nearby Westa Monument Tower, Spade Echo is on the rooftop. All knights converge on the roof, Reagans voice came out of her mouth. Impossible. She could also mimic a mans voice?! "Are you satisfied now, Miss Detective?" Spade Echo smiled. A spotlight shone on her from one of the 3 Floaters flying directly above us. Then, the door busted upon with Temma, Captain Noel, Captain Reagan, and other knights arriving on the scene. The empty rooftop became crowded with knights as they surrounded the phantom thief. Dont move, Spade Echo! Noel shouted and drew her mace. "My my, if it isn''t Captain Noel. You sure move fast, Spade Echo replied. "Give up on the White Star, you have nowhere to run! "Tonight is just a practice drill. I have no intention of stealing it." "What?" "Oh? I made it clear at the top of the note." Wings appeared on her back. Could she be trying to escape by flying? But there are Floaters nearby so they could chase her. And getting away from a Floaters sensors was hard especially if youre using a mana-powered artifact. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Artix Grace. In other words, its a joke, she said and a small crystal dropped from her wrist. Crap! Captain Noel cursed as the crystal emitted a blinding flash. Everyone covered their eyes. Miss detective, did you know? A thief is a creative artist who takes her prey in style. But a detective is nothing more than a critic who follows our footsteps, Spade Echo said. The light died down and the phantom thief was nowhere to be found. She disappeared? I asked. Thats impossible. There''s no way a person could disappear that easily, Amelia said. Floaters! Use your sensors to see where she went! Captain Noel barked orders on her Communicator. This is Floater No. 3. We arent picking up anything on our sensors. Theres no one else in the skies aside from the present Floaters, her Communicator said. No way. She disappeared that easily? Did she perhaps use teleportation magic? Temma asked. No. She didnt use any magic. There are no traces of mana lingering in the air, one of the knights said. Damn it! We let her get away again! Captain Noel said. There was a note on the ground and Amelia picked it up. I went closer to take a look at it. On Artix 6, on the Westa Northern Exhibition Hall, I will arrive to steal the real White Star while its being auctioned. -Spade Echo, ### That night was a chaotic night. With Spade Echos sudden disappearance, the knights tightened security once more. Amelia was also fuming with rage since she met face-to-face with a thief and failed to capture her. Not to mention that she disappeared in front of her eyes without using magic. Oh, and I got scolded big time. Captain Noel told me that I shouldnt have tried to capture Spade Echo without help. But at least it proved that Amelia was useful. Thats why she was invited on Artix 6. The White Star was going to be auctioned off during Artix 6. Influential nobles and rich merchants would be coming to attempt to buy the said gem. Even if there would be tight security, there was still a chance that Spade Echo could slip in among the crowd. I was walking outside as a patrolling job. With almost every available knight in my unit posted on Westa Northern Exhibition Hall, even an administrative officer like me was forced to patrol. It was currently time for lunch and my shift was over. There was nothing noteworthy that happened so all was good. If I head for the barracks now, I could probably arrive in time for lunch. A wonderful aroma entered my nose. It reminded me of the smell of the fastfood restaurants back in my old world. I followed the smell and I saw a restaurant with the words Kiara Fried Phoenix. What the heck was a Fried Phoenix? I entered the shop and saw that it was filled with people. They were eating burgers and fried chicken. Looking at them made my stomach growl. I just received my first paycheck so I guess its okay to eat here. Kikkeriki! Welcome to Kiara Fried Phoenix where phoenix is everything but on the menu, an orange-haired girl greeted me. Her name tag read Kiara Takanashi and she was the manager. I looked at the overhead menu. The fried chicken came in sets of 5, 10, 20 and 53. There were 3 types of burgers: Cheese burger, Phoenix burger, and Kiara burger. Potato fries and onion rings were also available and there was a thing called Fried Salman. Ill take a 5 piece chicken and a medium-sized potato fries, I said. And what would be your drinks? she asked. Ill have a.... Tokino soda. After receiving my food and paying for it, I went to a free seat. The food was delicious. The chicken was very crispy and juicy while the potato fries were cooked at just the right temperature. It reminded me of the fastfood restaurant I used to go to back in my old world. Ah! Fancy meeting you here, a female voice said. I looked up and saw Amelia Watson carrying a tray filled with her own food. Mind if I joined you? she asked. Go ahead, I replied and she sat down. Amelia began eating her meal. Do you go to this place often? I asked. Ah yeah. The owner of this place and I go way back. Anyway, why is an administrative officer like you in this area? Well. With most of the knights in my unit guarding the White Star, even an administrative officer like me had to patrol the area. I see. And how is the security of the White Star? Because of the upcoming auction, they officially asked help from the 4th and the 5th units too. Also, I heard that they would have something prepared against the thief. I see. But I wonder if thats enough. We are up against someone who could disappear without a trace even without magic... Amelia munched on her fries, Nah. She didnt disappear without a trace. She just tricked us. Wait. You found out already? Yeah. I wondered why she bothered to call those knights to her position. At first I thought she was just humoring me and was showing off her skills but I found out that the knights were crucial to her escape. What do you mean? When the Floaters and the knights arrived, she showed us her wings. This made us assume that she would flee to the skies. But in reality, she just disguised as a knight and slipped among the crowd. With everyone in panic, she could easily sneak out anytime she wanted to. I see. Wait a minute. If she could disguise herself, then adding more knights would be to her advantage. Yeah. By having more people from different units cooperate, she has a higher chance of sneaking in. But if there are less guards, she could easily enter. Its quite a problem actually. And theres also a chance that she could impersonate a noble or a rich merchant. Then how can we stop her? We dont. We invite her in. And Ill find out who she is and make sure she goes to prison, Amelia said. And so the days passed and it was already Artix 6. Amelia, Captain Noel, Temma, and I along with the other knights were in the auction hall. Now then, Spade Echo. How would you move? A Phantom Thief is a creative and tricky artist. The Westa Northern Exhibition Hall was a huge place known for hosting events. They would place marvelous paintings, detailed sculptures, and even rare gems. Thats why it had a strong anti-magic barrier placed on it 24/7 to avoid having their prized possessions getting stolen by thieves. In that hall, there was going to be an auction. They will sell some prized paintings and rare artifacts with the White Star being the main event. However, the White Star was Spade Echos target. The 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 13th units of the Westa Knight Order were guarding the hall and its surroundings. Security was really tight that even a mouse would have a hard time entering. It was already time for the auction as various people entered. They all wore expensive-looking clothes. I always had trouble with people who had authority. Back when I was a delinquent, I wouldnt care who picked a fight with me. There was one time when I picked a fight with a random guy, I ended up fighting two gangs at once since his older brothers were leaders of the said gangs. Whew. We sure have a crowd tonight, Temma said. There are around 200 guests right? And Spade Echo is among them, I replied. I walked around to kill time. We were dealing with nobles so I couldnt just act rude. If one talked to me, I wouldnt know how to act. Excuse me, a voice said. I turned around and saw a silver-haired woman staring at me. She was wearing a blue dress with her navel exposed. I heard that a thief will attempt to steal the White Star. Are you prepared for it? she asked. W-Were doing our best, maam. We have guards all over the place and the anti-magic barrier is active, I answered. Yes. The anti-magic barrier is indeed active... But what about you? Me? Her eyes were scary. It felt like her stares were piercing right through me and were seeing every nook and cranny of my soul. Oh. It seems its time for the auction to start. Thank you for your time, she bowed and walked away. What the hell was that about? Woah. Do you have any idea who you talked to? Temma asked. Nope. Not a clue. Her names Reine Pavolia, the Lady of the Peafowl. Her familys quite influential and she is a very powerful mage. When she was studying at a magic academy, an accident occurred that sent her to another world. She said that the world limited her magic but she still found a way back. I then saw a small pink-haired girl. She was wearing a pink dress and had a crown on top of her head. Is that girl important? I asked. Ah. You must mean Princess Luna. Yes, shes the second princess of the Candy Kingdom. You know, the neighboring country north of Westa. The White Star must have grabbed her attention. Everyone, before we begin, we would like to inform you that Spade Echo, a phantom thief, is planning to steal the White Star. Since she could disguise as anyone, we would like you to go to the person you trust the most and have a secret password between the two of you, the broker said. Everyone paired up and said their passwords to each other. My password would be Alexandrite, Temma told me. My password is Demon May Cry, I replied. The auction started. First was a painting of a famous artist. Next was a sculpture of a griffon. Time passed as the auction continued. I saw Amelia walking around and I decided to approach her. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Hey. Do you have any idea on who Spade Echo is? I asked her. No. But shes definitely in this crowd, she answered. How can you tell? My intuition says so. Thats why the password shouldnt be trusted. Its meaningless since she already infiltrated and is among us. It was finally time for the White Star to be sold. Captain Noel was holding the case containing the gem and when she opened it, everyone was captured by its beauty. Even I, who have zero skills in appraising gems, knew it was expensive. It was shaped like a star and its whiteness was so pure it looked like it was glowing. Then, the lights went out. Darkness consumed the room as many people were panicking. After a few seconds, the lights returned. The broker, Captain Noel, and Temma were standing near the case of the White Star. And inside the case was a white piece of paper. Amelia and I went closer to take a look at the note. The White Star is in my hands. Thank you for your patronage -Spade Echo. Everyone! Confirm your passwords with your buddy! Captain Noel shouted. Mikage, my password is Alexandrite, Temma told me. And my password is Demon May Cry, I replied. Everyone else followed suit and talked among themselves. Hey, whats that? a merchant asked when he saw a black box with runes engraved on it. It must be a magical device that could go off! Temma shouted. The crowd panicked and almost everyone went out of the room despite the knights trying hard to contain them. Not good! Spade Echo could be among them! We mustnt let them escape! Temma said. I got it! Mikage, Temma, follow me. I know where Spade Echo is, Amelia said and we followed her as she ran. We arrived at the basement. Ummm... Amelia? Wheres Spade Echo? I asked since there was no one else in the room. Oh... Shes right here. Isnt that right, Temma Kishido? Or should I say Spade Echo? she pointed at Temma. W-What are you saying? Theres no way that I am Spade Echo. Besides, my password with Mikage matches, isnt that right? he asked. That password is meaningless if you already infiltrated before we came up with the passwords. But even if thats the case, why would you suspect me? I was the first one who got to the case and protected it even in the dark. Thats right. In the complete darkness, you went to the case in a short amount of time without bumping into anyone as if you were expecting it all along. Now that I think about it. It was indeed strange. I couldnt even see my own hands in front of me in that darkness. You were probably wearing contacts that dimmed your vision beforehand. When the darkness came, you took it off and since your eyes were already adjusted, you could navigate and easily steal the White Star, Amelia said. Temma was being unnaturally silent. Also, your reaction to that black box was unnatural. You suddenly shouted that it could explode without even getting nearer to inspect it. You just want people to panic and then use that confusion to slip out, Amelia grinned. Our Communicators beeped, This Hatori. S-Spade Echo is in the plaza! What? Even Amelia looked a bit confused. She took my Communicator and spoke to it. Are you sure? she asked. Yes. Shes right in front of me a-and...hey! the mans voice was cut off. Hello hello, Westa Knight Order. Such a shame that you couldnt stop me. And is the detective there? You didnt even come close to catching me unlike last time. Maybe you were just lucky and it wasnt your skill, Spade Echos voice taunted. What?! Amelia fumed. Are you sure you should be yapping to me right now? I could be escaping from the plaza at any minute. Mikage! Amelia! We have to go! Temma said and began to run. We followed him and then we rendezvous with other knights. When we arrived at the plaza, Captain Noel was already there. Where is that damn thief?! Amelia shouted. Shes not here.... Instead, we have this, Captain Noel pointed at a sleeping man. It was none other than our vice captain, Temma Kishido. He was snoring soundly and a Communicator and a recorder was near his body. Amelia picked it up and played it. This Hatori. S-Spade Echo is in the plaza! a mans voice said. After a few seconds of silence, the mans voice returned, Yes. Shes right in front of me a-and...hey! Hello hello, Westa Knight Order. Such a shame that you couldnt stop me. And is the detective there? You didnt even come close to catching me unlike last time. Maybe you were just lucky and it wasnt your skill, Spade Echos voice said. After another few seconds of silence, her voice returned, Are you sure you should be yapping to me right now? I could be escaping from the plaza at any minute. Hey Amelia, theres something on your back, I pointed out when I saw a small paper on her back. She took it off and began reading. Captain Noel, the other knights, and I were curious so we got close and took a look at it. So close! You should have trusted your deduction instead of a prerecorded message! -Spade Echo And so the White Star was stolen with the Westa Knight Order and Amelia suffering a humiliating defeat. After a robbery comes a murder, how fun. A week has passed since Spade Echos heist and I already adjusted to the new world. My routine consisted of training with Temma early in the morning and then doing paperwork for the rest of the day. I was proud to say that the 13th unit no longer had any backlogs with the reports and our expenses were properly accounted for. According to Captain Noel, the higher ups were impressed by the quality of my work. Everything was fine until Captain Noel and Temma arrived at the office with grim expressions. Should I ask whats wrong? I asked. You know the murder case that happened yesterday? Temma asked me. I nodded since I was the one who read that report and submitted it to Captain Noel who had to decide the proper course of action. If I remember correctly, a guy was murdered that night. There were no witnesses and a claw mark made from the victims blood was left in the scene. Have you heard of the Familiaran and the Kageyama Clan? Captain Noel asked and I nodded. They were called informal groups but in my world, they could be considered as mafias. They have influence over Westas politics and have military might that rivals the Westa Knight Order. The Familiarans territory was the southern and western districts while the Kageyama Clans territory was in the east. Although I heard that the Kageyama Clan here in Westa was a branch group and their main headquarters was at Miyako, a city in an eastern country called Yamato. The victim is one of the executives in the Familiaran. And the claw mark formed from the blood of the victim is one of the symbols of the Kageyama Clan, Captain Noel said. The Familiaran has a strong bond among its members and that executive was a personal friend of Arurandeisu, the boss. And they are pressuring the Kageyama Clan to surrender the murderer or they would declare war on them, Temma added. If I was correct, the Familiaran was as strong as several knight units. But whats special with the Kageyama Clan is that all of its members were beastmen and beastmen had the strength of several normal humans. If they would go to war, there would be multiple casualties and the streets would be littered with bodies. And I dont think the knight order could stop them if they ever decide to go to war, Captain Noel said. And what did the Kageyama Clan say? I asked. They denied having relations with the murderer. We received orders from the higher ups that we are supposed to defuse the situation. Although I dont know if we could calm both sides down, Temma said. Which brings us to this... Mikage, I want you to help in the investigation, Captain Noel said. Wait, me? Why? All knights will have increased patrols especially in the evening which means that were understaffed. You could use any resources you could have since this is a high priority mission. Temma will assist you. It seems that the higher ups were counting on you since you are performing well, Temma added. But that''s administrative work! Its like saying a monkey should swim while a fish should climb a tree! I have no experience in investigating! Well... The real reason is that when the higher ups consulted an oracle, she said an irregular guest would help solve the problem. And youre the only irregular guest from another world here. Dont worry! You can do it! Captain Noel said. Its okay if I ask for help from anyone, right? ### Temma and I were in front of a two-floor building. We climbed up the stairs and knocked on the door that had the sign Watson Detective Agency. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Welcome, welcome! Its nice to see you again, Amelia greeted us as she opened the door. Hey, Amelia. How are you? I asked her. She was fuming with rage the last time I saw her since Spade Echo made a fool out of her. I sure hope she was taking things well. Fine. I swear that Ill catch that damn thief the next time. But youre not here to talk about that, are you? We got a case for you. Temma and I sat down on a couch while Amelia sat on a chair opposite to us. I told her everything about the case and the rising tension between the Familiaran and Kageyama Clan. Amelia also looked over the pictures of the crime scene and the autopsy report of the body. So all we got is that there are no witnesses and it was the dead of night. Hmmm, our main suspect is the Kageyama Clan. Can we arrange a meeting with them? Amelia asked. If we contact them in advance, we could question them since we have the authority of the knights, Temma answered. Then lets go! We were in front of a huge wooden gate. Temma already informed them of our arrival and we were invited inside. After a few minutes of waiting, a woman entered the room. She had long gray hair and gray eyes. Animal ears were on her head which showed that she was a beastman. The girl was wearing a black fur coat with a black sleeveless shirt with white stripes. A golden necklace was hanging on her neck. Good day, I am Temma Kishido, vice captain of the 13 unit of the Westa Knight Order. This is Mikage Kamishiro, the lead investigator of the case and this is Amelia Watson, a private detective helping out, Temma introduced ourselves. My name is Botan Shishiro, the head of Kageyama Clan Westa Branch. You must be here because of the murder case, arent you? Yes. A claw-shaped mark was made from the victims blood. We believe its the victims dying message saying that someone related to your clan is behind this, Temma said. As Ive said before, we have no relations to the murder. We are not stupid enough to pick a fight with the Familiaran. And did all of your members have alibis last night? Not everyone has alibis. If you truly want to suspect us, here is a list of our clansmen and where they were last night, she handed a brown envelope to us. Nah. Theres no need for that. I also think that its unlikely for the Kageyama Clan to be the murderer, Amelia said. What do you mean? I asked. You see... I looked over the pictures of the crime scene. The victim was stabbed in his right lung with a sword. The sword was immediately pulled out so the victim died of blood loss. Its normal to think that the victim wrote it since it was near his body but his fingers were clean and had no blood in it. So in other words, the one who made the claw mark was the murderer. Someones trying to pin the blame on the Kageyama Clan, she explained. So why are we here if you think that they are not involved? I didnt say they are not involved. Im guessing that the murderer is someone who holds a grudge against the Kageyama Clan. The Familiaran is too powerful and could wipe out this clan if they wanted to. Although theyll also suffer heavy losses. Which brings us to my question, do you know of anyone who might have a grudge? Botan thought for a while. In our business, we have many enemies, she said. How about former members? Is there someone who was kicked out of this clan and possibly is holding a grudge? Since coming here in Westa, we havent removed anyone. Well. If you ever have an idea on who might have a grudge, contact us. Even if its just a hunch. We left the Kageyama Clan and walked to the crime scene. Amelia said that she wanted to see the scene for herself since there might be overlooked clues. When we arrived there, Amelia began snooping around. With no witnesses, this job is going to be hard. We cant even narrow down our suspects except that they have a grudge against the Kageyama Clan, Temma said. Yeah. This area is not a place normal people pass by late in the night. I wonder what the victim was doing in this place, I replied. Amelia walked towards us after a few more minutes of looking around. Found anything? Temma asked. Nope. There are no clues left in this place. And there are no signs of fighting so either the murderer overpowered the victim or it was a sneak attack... But I think the former is the case, Amelia said. So youre saying our guy is a skilled swordsman? I asked. Amelia nodded, Its hard to think that someone could do a sneak attack using a sword. If I were the murderer, I would use a knife since its easier to use in this situation. Not to mention that they attacked from the front. If they were using a knife, itll be easier to hide it in the darkness and stab the victim. But they used a sword which meant they easily overpowered the victim in seconds and stabbed him. So the murderer is a skilled swordsman... That narrows it down... Somehow, Temma said. The sun was already setting so we decided to end the day. We will meet up again tomorrow to continue our investigation. However, we were met with another murder. Investigations are a series of steps. It was my first time seeing a dead body outside a coffin. Surprisingly, the scene didnt bother me that much even if it was bloody. Well that was to be expected. Ive been through many bloody battles and Ive even seen bones stick out of the flesh. Although seeing the victims eyes filled with pain and horror was kinda unnerving. If I was unlucky, those eyes would haunt my dreams. Ive seen people who had despair on their faces. Like there was a time that I fought a group of thugs and their faces were filled with despair as I took them all down. But that was a story for another time. Good morning, Mikage. Although this event doesnt make this morning good, Amelia greeted me when she arrived. Yeah. We just arrived and its a mess. Lets ask them for the details, I said and we approached a knight. He had brown hair and blue eyes. The knight had a sword strapped on his side and was wearing the standard white knight uniform. Hello. Im Mikage Kamishiro, an administrative officer of the 13th unit and the lead investigator of this case. This is Amelia Watson and this guy is Temma Kishido, the vice-captain of our unit, I introduced ourselves to the knight. Although calling my vice-captain, who was technically a superior, as this guy might sound a bit unprofessional. But if I think about it, I was his superior in this investigation since I was the lead investigator. Ah. Im Theodore Sen, a knight from the 14th unit. Our victim is a man named Victor Ri. Theres also a claw mark made from the victim''s blood in the scene and Victor is part of the Familiaran, he said. Victor Ri, age: 39. Hes an executive of the Familiaran, Amelia said as she inspected the body. How did you know his name? I asked. When I took on this case, I memorized all of the important members of the Familiaran and Kageyama Clan. Since the murderers victim was an executive of the Familiaran, I had a hunch that he would target another one, she answered. We approached her as she was touching the body. Three stab wounds. One in the stomach, one in the heart, and one in the brain. The murderer must really hate this guy, Amelia muttered. What do you mean? Temma asked. Ive read about this before but in the southern parts of this world, a murder that involves stabbing both the brain and the heart meant that there was a deep grudge or hatred between the murderer and the victim, she answered. I see. To stab the body 2 more times after he died, it must be deep hatred, Theodore said. I think I should rethink the profile of the murderer, Amelia muttered as she stood up. What do you mean? I asked. I assumed that they had a grudge on the Kageyama Clan since they were pinning the blame on them. But from this murder, it seems the grudge is with the Familiaran. Can we talk to them somehow? We could arrange a meeting with a representative. And I think they would want to talk with the investigator too, Temma answered. While youre working on it, can I see the records of some previous cases? Amelia asked. Sure. You can go over them in the record center. Mikage, can you show her the way? Got it. The record center was a building that contained all reports of the Westa Knight Order. Every case from each district of Westa would be stored in the record center. Cases from the formation of the Westa Knight Order could be found in the record center. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Amelia and I went to the record center while Temma was trying to contact the Familiaran. After the keeper saw my badge, we were granted access to the files we needed. Mikage, help me find cases that involve the Familiaran. Bonus points if the names of the victims are there. Probably cases from 10 years ago until this day, Amelia instructed me. 10 years ago?! Thats a lot of cases to search from! I complained. Well. Youd better work those eyes instead of that mouth if you want to be helpful. Besides, we could avoid a murder if we do this right, she told me. So youre saying that the murderer is involved with a previous case? Yeah. He must be part of a case that involved the victims or the Familiaran family. So find anything that is related to that and bring them to me. Even if she said that, it would still be a lot. The record center contained copies of cases that happened all over Westa. And 10 years was a huge range to search from. After a while, someone knocked on the door. It was a knight from my unit. Whats wrong? I asked. Temma said that you needed this, he answered as he handed me a map with marks on it and pieces of paper. Ah! Thank you! Amelia took the things and the knight left. Whats that? I asked Temma if it was possible to see the knights patrolling schedule and their respective areas. Good thing it was made in such a short amount of time. But why? No reason. Just trying to see how the murderer sees things. Get back to searching cases. I shrugged and continued searching. Time passed and I managed to find 23 cases that involved the Familiaran and 5 of those involved both of the victims. They were executives of the Familiaran so it was normal for them to be involved. The cases were a murder from a year ago, robbery from the same year, arson from 5 years ago, another murder from 7 years ago, and a missing person from 3 years ago. I gave them all to Amelia and she read it for a while. I see This is interesting, she muttered as she read the files. Find something? I asked. However, Amelia didnt answer while she rubbed her chin. I didnt know what she found but I hoped it would help the case. Temma arrived after a while. Hows the searching? he asked. I did my best and Amelias reading through them right now, I answered. Temma Just in time. Did the Familiaran allow us to meet them? Amelia asked. Yes. They said they will prepare a meeting with us. The boss wanted to know the current progress of the investigation. Mikage, this ones on you since youre the lead investigator. Wait I will explain everything to the Familiaran? Isnt that supposed to be your job as a vice-captain? Youre my superior. In this case, you are my superior since you are the lead investigator. Dont worry. You can handle the representative. Its probably just one of the executives so theres no need to think a lot. Just tell the truth and things will go well. We cleaned up the documents we used and left the record center. Amelia was humming while walking and Temma still had his trademark warm smile. They were relaxed since they werent the ones who would make a report to the Familiaran I wonder why I was chosen as the lead investigator when I had no experience. Unlike the Kageyama Clan that had wooden buildings and a large wooden gate, the Familiarans place resembled a huge mansion with a large iron gate. We were invited inside and were led to an exquisite room. After a while, a gray-haired man with glasses and beard entered the room. He was wearing a green coat and was quite tall. Temma tensed up and even Amelia had a serious expression. I didnt know who that guy was but he must be an important person to the Familiaran. Vice-captain Temma Kishido, Detective Amelia Watson, and a Japanese boy... This is an odd group, he said. Wait a minute... Did he just call me Japanese? Despite his greeting, Amelia and Temma didnt respond. What was wrong with them? Were the Familiarans executives really scary? I could understand their fear because if we made the wrong move tonight, there would be a war between the Familiaran and Kageyama Clan. That war would lead to many casualties. If we dont want to see the streets to be littered with bodies, I have to convince the Familiaran to at least withdraw their declaration of war. Whats wrong? Is this how the Westa Knight Order would act in a meeting? You do know that silence wont bring us anywhere, the man smiled. In order to break the silence and avoid being rude, I spoke up. Good evening. You must be the Familiarans representative. Im Mikage Kamishiro, an investigator for this case. The man chuckled and I saw sweat drop from Temmas face. Mikage... That man is not just a representative, Amelia said. Technically, I am still a representative from the Familiaran. Although it could also be said that Im the boss, he grinned. Hes the boss? Oh crap... Mikage... This is Arurandeisu, the head of the entire Familiaran, Temma said. Caught red-handed Ever wondered if you ever did something rude to an important person without knowing it? Sometimes, you wouldnt show the appropriate amount of respect to a person until he would reveal that he was a very important person. Thats what I felt for talking casually to Arurandeisu, the boss of the Familiaran. No wonder Amelia and Temma tensed up. The guy in front of me was practically the boss of the mafia that has half of Westa in his territory. He commanded a group of people who could go against the Westa Knight Order and was friends with many influential nobles and politicians. Its okay. I dont really mind it since you are a guest from another world, he said and sat down. Guest from another world? Amelia looked at me. Thats right. Im from another world. Apparently, I was found after Captain Noel and the 13th unit were investigating a rogue summoner. They saw me lying on a magic circle and after some events, I became an administrative officer, I told her. But youre not here to reveal that to her, are you? Arurandeisu asked. Err no. Were here about the case. Were wondering if you know anyone who has a grudge on your family, I said. The Familiaran has a long history that it was already here the moment Westa was being built. Of course we have many enemies. I wouldnt even be shocked if the Kageyama Clan was part of that long list, he replied. But the Kageyama Clan is not the culprit. The murderer is just framing them. If you look at the first victims circumstances, there was no way he could make the claw mark as a dying message. The murderer made that himself, Temma said. I know, kid. At least I know that Shiens goal is not to go into war with us. Then why are you still threatening the Kageyama Clan with war? I asked. Its because that is the goal of the murderer. If Arurandeisu wouldnt hold that threat, the murderer might take even more drastic actions, Amelia answered. Arurandeisu nodded, Shes right. That bastard really wants to have the Kageyama Clan and my family kill each other. If I didnt make that threat, then who knows what the murderer would do? I see. Then there is no reason to be afraid then, I said. Youre wrong. Only Arurandeisu and probably other executives think that way. Who knows what the other members of the Familiaran are thinking. They might be preparing for real war, Amelia told me. The other younger members are already waiting for my go signal. I dont know how long I can hold them back, especially since another executive of mine got killed. Thats why if you have any plans on catching the murderer, Im more than happy to help. Im pretty sure you have a plan already since you approached us, he emitted an intimidating aura. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. This was bad. If I told him that we had no leads on the murderer, much less a plan, Arurandeisu would probably take things with his own hands. Of course. And I need your full cooperation, Amelia said. What? Lets hear it. ### Amelia and I were following one of the executives in the evening. I couldnt believe that Arurandeisu agreed with this plan. First, Amelia asked for 2 executives from Arurandeisu. When they arrived, she said that they were the next targets of the murderer and that if we wanted to catch him, they had to bait him out. Arurandeisu wasnt exactly thrilled with what Amelia said. But she said that those 2 along with the other victims were once involved with a case. The murderer wanted revenge by killing the 4 people and having the Familiaran suffer heavy losses. The plan was that one executive would go to this area with Temma secretly following him while the other executive would go to another area with us secretly guarding. Those executives were okay with acting as bait and managed to convince Arurandeisu to follow the plan since they also did not want the war to happen. Amelia told us the area in which the murderer had the highest chance of appearing and even told us the name of the murderer. If we want to catch him, we have to lure him out with bait. Amelia said that if we waited until we could find evidence, there was a huge chance that the war would happen first. Thats why Arurandeisu had no choice but to trust her. But still, this is a risky plan. If we cant protect the executive, we would be making enemies with the Familiaran, I whispered. Yeah. Thats why Im counting on you until Temma comes when the murderer would appear, Amelia whispered back. From what she said, the murderer must be a skilled swordsman... Ive been training with Temma but I hope that I could buy some time if he arrives. Could I really protect him? I would be facing a person who had no problems with killing. And I never used a real sword before. Ive been in many fights but this was the first time I had to protect someone... If I fail, there would be dire consequences. I felt someone touch my hand. It was none other than Amelia. Youre gonna be fine. Focus on what you can do, she said. But... Im here too, you know? The burden of protecting that man falls on the both of us. Youre not alone. A man wearing a knight uniform appeared, Hey you! Its dangerous to walk alone tonight. Where are you going? Its none of your business, the executive said. How suspicious. Theres a serial killer on the loose. Why dont I bring you to the barracks and have you interrogated? he grabbed the executives arm. For a second, I had an uneasy feeling. Like something twisted in my stomach. Get away from that man now! Amelia shouted and that brought me to action. The executive shoved the knight and ran while I drew my sword. All I had to do was swing it to scare him. The knight dodged my strike and backed away. What are you doing?! Attacking a fellow knight like this?! the knight asked. Theres no use playing dumb. Give it up, Theodore Sen of the 14th unit. Were taking you to jail! Amelia shouted and lit a rocket. The rocket flew to the sky and exploded into a flower-shaped light. It would take some time until Temma could run towards here. I have to stall this murderer until help arrives. Murderer Murderer? What are you talking about? Theodore played dumb. Simon Sen, Amelia told him the name of a person. The knights face then became serious and I could feel hostility, It seems that Amelia was right. You know that name. After all, it was the name of your brother who disappeared 7 years ago, she continued. I read that case back in the record center and gave it to Amelia since it involved the 2 dead executives. A member of the Familiaran disappeared one day and his lover reported it to the knights. She claimed that the Familiaran was behind the disappearance and the knights investigated. However, the lack of evidence and clues led the case to become cold. The girl claimed that Simon Sen failed the task that the 4 executives gave him and they executed him. But there wasn''t any evidence backing her so the knights only asked the executives alibis and let them free. You were plotting revenge against the entire Familiaran and the 4 executives. Thats why you wanted them to go to war against the Kageyama Clan. You killed the first 2 executives and you were going to kill this man tonight, she said. What are you saying? Its true that Simon Sen was my brother but thats not enough for you to say Im the murderer. And besides, I only came here by chance. I didnt even know that guy is an executive, Theodore said. You planted a tracker on the executives shoes and had them transmit their locations to a device that you have. We already checked and there was a small device stuck on the sole. Its really small and cloaked with magic so there was a small chance that it would be detected.. The uneasy feeling returned and the executive collapsed to the ground. Theodore immediately charged towards me and swung his sword but I managed to block it in time. If I was a second late, my head would be rolling on the ground already. That sheer realization pumped adrenaline to my brain and I backed away from the murderer. Dont worry about the executive! Hes just unconscious! Amelia shouted. When did you start suspecting me? he asked. Theodore looked at Amelia. He had a scowl and his eyes radiated danger. Ive seen those eyes before. They looked like a delinquent who was cornered and knew that if he lost, he would lose everything. There was a thing called Fight-or-Flight response. If Theodore would choose Flight, the Familiaran and the Knight Order would hunt him down. I might be new in this world but I knew that the Familiaran wasnt exactly nice to its enemies. That was why Theodore had no choice but to Fight and silence us. Your strange comment after I mentioned how much the murderer hated the victim was odd, she answered. I see. To stab the body two more times after he died, it must be deep hatred, that was what he said. I wondered how you knew that the victim was dead before he got stabbed two more times. Then I looked for cases that involved the executives. And luckily, Mikage found the case involving Simon Sen, a person who had the same last name as you. Theodore shrugged and then let out a laugh. Seriously? From a slight slip of my tongue, you already suspected me? This is insane... You really are an amazing detective. But not amazing enough. You should have just traced the signals coming out from my tracker to find me instead of baiting me out like this, he said as he pointed his sword at me. To trace that signal, the device would have to be removed from the shoes. Theres a chance that the device would send out an alarm if it was removed so I wouldnt bet on it. After all, Ive seen those types of devices in my line of work. Stolen novel; please report. Tch. I hate cautious people like you. Then theres no helping it. I have to kill all of you, Theodore charged at me. Our swords clashed. If it werent for my daily training with Temma, I wouldve been overpowered. However, I was barely managing to block him. His killing intent was purely directed at me as he swung his sword. I couldnt even attack. All I could do was block his attacks. Youre barely holding on! You havent killed someone before, have you?! he shouted as he continued his barrage of slashes. Theodores attacks were getting faster and stronger. I could feel my heart beating loudly but I still managed to keep up. I wasnt even thinking anymore. My hands reacted to his strikes and I was barely surviving thanks to my instinct. If I fail, we will die. That thought pushed me to my senses to the limit as I tried to block Theodores attacks. From the direction of his eyes and the location of his arms, I managed to have an idea where his next strikes would be going. His sword struck the ground and sent dirt flying to my eyes. I was blinded by the sudden sand attack. This was bad! I heard a gunshot and then a grunt. After wiping my eyes, I saw that Amelia fired a gun and Theodores left arm was grazed. Taking this opportunity, I swung my sword at him but he easily blocked it. An attack without killing intent is useless against me! he shouted. Thats right. I couldnt bring myself to become a murderer. Even if this man was a killer, I couldnt bring myself to kill him... Or could I? Wasnt it justifiable if I killed him right here? While I was distracted with that thought, his strike broke my sword into two pieces. Ah crap! I was now weaponless and I could get killed! This is the end, he said. For you that is! a voice shouted. Temma ran at an incredible speed and slashed at Theodore. The murderer blocked his strike but was blown away. Temma! I couldnt describe how relieved I was. Mikage. Stand back. Im gonna finish this, he said. His face was scary. Temma was a sunny guy and every time we sparred, he always had a smile on his face and a gentle look on his eyes. But this time, there wasnt a hint of gentleness on his face. His eyes were burning with the resolve to cut down his opponent. The Dark Knight, Temma. Youre an opponent I cant defeat in my current state, Theodore said. If you know it already, then why dont you surrender? he asked. If I surrender, Ill end up getting killed by the Familiaran. I cant run away since you already know my face and the Familiaran will hunt me down to the ends of the world. My only option is to kill all of you here!, he took a black pill from his pocket. That pill was dangerous. I could feel an eerie aura coming out of it. Theodore swallowed the pill and the uneasy feeling returned. The sclera of his eyes turned black and his iris became red. He was very fast since he closed the distance between him and Temma in just a second. I could barely follow their swords as they clashed. The sound of metal clashing with each other was very loud which meant that the force behind their strikes was very strong. Temma was still stronger than him despite the eerie power-up. I could feel a strange and dangerous energy deep inside Theodore. Temma cut off Theodores hand and stabbed him. Theodore fell to the ground. You okay? Temma turned towards us. Yeah, I answered. It got a bit dangerous when Mikages sword broke but its all okay now, Amelia added. Thats great, Temmas smile returned. I must not stop. Not until Simon is avenged. Must kill! A voice echoed in my head. My stomach twisted and an eerie feeling washed over me. Look out! Its not over yet! I shouted. Theodores body was covered in a black aura and he stood up. He charged at Temma and pinned him to the ground. He raised his fist and was about to smash Temmas head in. If Temma dies, we all die. And Temma was my first friend in this world. He helped me in my studies and he even spent time training me. If anything would happen to him, I would be saddened. I reached out my hand as Theodores hand was going down. Everything seemed to be in slow motion. I couldnt reach him in time at this rate. Then, an eerie feeling washed over me again and I noticed my shadow literally coming out of the ground. A dark substance extended from the ground and reached Theodore. It hit his neck and severed his head from his body. I didnt know what just happened. For some reason, my shadow emerged from the ground and cut off the murderers head. But one things for sure: I just killed a man. Life and death With the death of Theodore, the serial murder case came to a close. The Familiaran withdrew their declaration of war which was a relief for the knight order. All was well. Too well actually. I just killed a man and I wasnt punished. They said that it couldnt be helped since it was either him or us. I was even praised for stopping the murderer and was given a bonus. Back in my old world, if a police officer killed someone, there would be investigations and that officer would receive backlash... But in this world, I was even praised. However, that was not the thing that was bothering me the most. Despite killing someone, I felt nothing. Shouldnt I have some sort of guilt or even a nightmare from that? However, there was nothing. I was more bothered by my shadow which killed him. The feeling that overcame me when my shadow attacked was eerie. There was magic that involved controlling shadows and darkness but I didnt learn that type of magic. I dont even know how to use my mana to produce light so there was no way I could have controlled my shadow. Also, that eerie feeling was really disturbing. It was like staring at a deep dark abyss. I once asked the magicians in my unit what they felt when using magic and I dont think they said they would feel that feeling. So what in the world was that? Are there forces aside from magic in this world? What could possibly make my shadow act on its own? I looked at my shadow. It mimicked my movements like a regular shadow... What am I doing? Am I going to doubt my own shadow? It was currently late in the afternoon and I was sorting out the reports. I also had to write about the serial murder case. Writing Theodores name didnt make me feel anything. Not even anger or guilt. Was this normal? Ah, Mikage. Keep up the good work, Captain Noel entered the office. How are things with the Familiaran and the Kageyama Clan? I asked. Things are fine now. The Familiaran sent an apology to the Kageyama Clan for suspecting them. Its a good thing that the Kageyama Clan didnt make a fuss about it. Thats great, I said as I sorted out the papers. Captain Noel was silent for a while. Mikage. Take a day off tomorrow. That caught me off guard. Wait... Why? I asked. Youve been through many cases even if you were just recently summoned in this world. You need to rest for a while. Especially since you... well... did something youre not used to. She must be talking about how I killed Theodore. Although I wasnt that bothered by it, she must have noticed something off in me. I guess I do need a vacation. Also, your sword is broken right? You could buy a new one using the units funds. Just keep the expenses reasonable, she said. ### I was walking down the streets of Westas western district. The commercial area of the western district had many well-known weapon shops. However, I dont know what makes a good weapon. Temma said to try out the sword with a few swings and check how it feels with my hand. My previous sword was a bit on the heavy side and felt rather unbalanced on my hand. It was a miracle that I managed to hold on against Theodore. An uneasy feeling washed over me. It was the same feeling I felt when Theodore powered-up and when my shadow acted on its own. I looked at the distance and I somehow knew that something bad was going on there. Hey there. Fancy meeting you here, Amelia patted my shoulder. That snapped me out of it. Hey, Amelia. What are you up to? I asked. I just received payment for helping on the case. I figured Id treat myself for a job well done. How about you? I was given a day off to unwind for a bit. Thats why I decided to shop for a weapon that suits me. Oh yeah. Thanks for holding off Theodore until Temma came. It wasnt much. If I was a bit more careful, my sword wouldnt have been broken and I wouldve lasted a bit longer. No. Its amazing that you bought enough time for Temma to come. You fought against someone radiating that much killing intent. A normal person would freeze up in that situation. Is that so? Amelia thought for a while. Why dont we hang out today? I can help you out with appraising a weapon. I am a great detective after all, she offered. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I had no reason to reject her offer so we walked towards a weapon shop. Amelia recommended that shop since according to her, many famous adventurers shop there. The bell of the shop rang as we entered. There was no one there except for a man at the counter. Swords, spears, and axes lined up in the walls and racks. So what kind of weapons do you know how to use? Amelia asked. Temma trained me on how to use a sword. I think Ill stick to that weapon, I answered. How about you try this one? Its made up of a light material so you could unleash a fury of swift strikes, she handed me a sword. I swung it for a bit and it felt off. It was too light so I decided to not take it. Amelia suggested a few more swords for me. They were either too long, too short, too heavy, or too light. None of them fits me. Maybe I should just pick a random sword. Its impossible to find a sword that fits me, I said. No. A weapon is your most trusted companion. It is literally the thing that would decide whether youll live for another day. We have to be careful and find a sword that fits you, she scolded me. I walked to a barrel that was filled with swords. A certain sword caught my eye. I picked it up and took a look at it. The sword had a wavy blade and a wooden handle. I swung it a few times and it felt right in my hands. It was not too heavy nor too light and it was just the right length. Ah. A kris sword. Its rare to find one here in Westa, Amelia common. I like this one. I wonder how much is this, I said. I walked to the man and asked about the sword. It was actually surprising how cheap it was so I asked Amelia to appraise it since it might have problems. However, she didnt know how to judge it since she had no idea what it was made of. The sword felt right in my hands so I bought it. It felt really comfortable so I trusted my instincts. Its almost time for lunch. Wanna grab a bite? I asked. Then lets go to my favorite place, Amelia answered. We went to a fastfood place called Kiara Fried Phoenix. It was my second time there so I already knew how delicious their food was. When it was our turn to order, the orange-haired manager grinned. Kikkeriki! Is this young man youre boyfriend, Amelia? I thought you were too busy to find a man? she asked. Hey, Kiara. This is Mikage, hes just my friend. Mikage, this is Kiara. Believe it or not, shes a phoenix, Amelia introduced her friend. A phoenix? Arent they supposed to be flaming birds? She doesnt seem to be on fire, I asked. Im just using a human form. And being on fire 24/7 isnt good for running business, she answered. A phoenix could use a human form? This world was weirder than I thought. We ordered our food and sat on a table. So... How are you? Amelia asked. What do you mean? I heard from Temma that your world was a very peaceful one. It has no monsters and magic and that human rights were followed very strictly. You just killed a man. You can tell me everything. If its bothering you, you can let it out on me. I looked at my shadow. The truth is... Im bothered by it. Not because I killed Theodore or anything. Im bothered by the lack of guilt or anything. Go on... I know life is a very important thing. Thats what Ive been taught since I was young. But I just took a mans life and I felt nothing. I wasnt even horrified by what Ive done. Is there something wrong with me? Amelia munched on her fries. No. Its normal. In fact, its good. What do you mean? You see... Your heart already accepted that what you did was a good thing before your mind did. A good thing? How is killing a man a good thing? So what do you want? Is it okay for you that Theodore would live while Temma died? Your heart already knows that you had no other choice and that the outcome was good. Temma and I lived. Even the targeted executive lived. And its thanks to you. What she said was right... I think... Ive been in that kind of situation. I remember the first time I had to kill someone. What happened? I was on a case and cornered the criminal. However, he had a bomb strapped on him and if he pressed the button, anything within 5 meters would go boom. There was no talking him out of it so I had to fire my gun. I see... In her job, she was bound to encounter those kinds of situations. At first I hated myself for not feeling bad. I would try to think of any possible scenario that would avoid me killing him. I even thought that if I had enough conversational skills, I wouldve talked him out of it. I had many regrets... Until I received the thanks of the people around me. They didnt view me as a murderer. They saw me as the girl who saved their family from a maniac who wanted to explode. Its the same with you. Youre not a murderer. Youre the guy who saved Temmas life. I see... This was how the world viewed its things... I guess its the same in my world too. I shouldnt get hung over the life that I took but instead, I should appreciate the lives that I saved. Thanks, Amelia, I smiled. No problem... Although Im sorry I cant dissolve your worries about your shadow, she said. Its that obvious? Yeah. You look at your own shadow every now and then as if expecting it to go wild. Its my problem so theres no need to worry about it. If you say so... We finished our meal and went our separate ways. Today was a fruitful day. I found a good weapon and had a good talk with Amelia... I arrived at the barracks and saw a bird perched on the gate. There was a case on its back and when I took it, the bird flew away. I opened the case and saw a letter. To: Noel Shirogane From: Flare Shiranui I went to the office and saw Captain Noel drinking tea. Captain, Im back, I told her. Welcome back. Did you find a good weapon? she asked. Yeah. Anyways, theres a letter for you from someone named Flare Shiranui. Flare?! Lemme see it! she smiled and took the letter from me. Captain Noel was smiling brighter than usual. However, her smile faded when she finished her letter. Mikage. Do we have any cases that need to be done immediately? she asked. Nope. There is nothing to worry about. Why? I see... Were going on a mission tomorrow. You and me. Well leave Temma to take charge of the unit while were away. Flare needs my help. A friend is in need. It was dawn and I was riding a horse. The chillness of the spring morning made me drowsy. However, I couldnt afford to sleep since I was on a mission with Captain Noel. Captain Noel received a letter from a person named Flare. She said that a dragon was rampaging. One town was already attacked. Good thing that no one died but many houses were destroyed. Dragons in this world were peaceful. They dont usually attack towns unless they were provoked and if you left them alone, they wouldnt bother you. However, this dragon attacked a town without warning. Captain Noel, are you sure that only the two of us are enough? I heard that dragons are really strong, I asked her. Ive heard about adventurers who fought dragons before. In one of the history lessons that Temma taught me, there was a group of twenty skilled adventurers who faced a dragon. They were victorious in the end but fourteen of them were killed. That was how powerful dragons were. And I heard they had long lifespans. I dont like fighting either and I only want to talk to her. If the town somehow offended the dragon, then we could sort it out... But if she attacked it without a reason, then we are in for a tough battle, she answered. She called the dragon a she. How did she know the dragons gender? I wanted to ask her but she seemed to be deep in thought. It was rare for Captain Noel to be thinking so I decided not to bother her. We arrived at an encampment near a forest. A blonde dark-skinned girl approached us. She was wearing a blue-white outfit. A bow was slung on her back and a quiver filled with arrows was hanging on her hip. Taking a closer look at her, I noticed that she was an elf because of her pointy ears Flare!! Captain Noel jumped from her horse and embraced her. They seem to be ... very close with each other. The elf returned her hug. Its been too long! How many weeks have we last seen each other? Captain Noel asked. 5 weeks and 3 days. Ive been busy nowadays. How about you? Its the same as usual back in Westa. A phantom thief successfully stealing a precious gem and a serial killer who almost caused a bloody war was same as usual? What kind of place was Westa? Was it the Florida of this world? Who is this man? You didnt bring Temma along? the elf asked. Ah. This is Mikage Kamishiro, our new administrative officer. Mikage, this is Flare Shiranui, a ranger. Shes in charge of this area, Captain Noel introduced her. I see. An administrative officer huh? I guess your unit really needs it since you dont do paperwork. Temmas workload must have been lightened, Noel said. Hey! I do paperwork every now and then! You only do it when the higher ups are demanding to have your overdue reports filed. Im sorry for Noels attitude but please keep on taking good care of her, Flare bowed. Its okay. Anyways, can you tell us everything you know? I asked. We were led inside a tent. There were other rangers there and they acknowledged our presence. Most of the rangers were elves. Ive heard about them before. This unit was called the Elfriends. Yeah. It was lame, I know. Knights were in charge of protecting the peace of a city. Rangers, on the other hand, were in charge of villages, forests, and roads. Unlike knights who mostly deal in close range combat, rangers were equipped with bows. This was because their common enemies were wild beasts and monsters so they could just shoot from a distance. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Yesterday, a dragon attacked Pherae, a town a bit further on the south. The rangers in the area fought the dragon and managed to chase it away but the damage to the town was severe. Luckily, no lives were lost but its not like her to suddenly attack a town. Thats why I asked for you to come so that we can have a talk with her, Flare said as she looked at Captain Noel. Wait, you know this dragon? I asked. Yeah. Judging from the description, it would be none other than Coco Kiryu. Shes a young dragon who is our friend. Coco wouldnt attack a town without a reason. In fact, this must be her first recorded attack, Captain Noel answered. Is she really friendly? Yes. She sometimes helps out in exterminating dangerous monsters. Coco is a dragon with a big heart. She doesnt mind mingling with other races and is a peace-loving dragon, Flare told me. Where is she now? Captain Noel asked. Our rangers saw her flying to the northern mountains. They will send a message once they find her. Since we were waiting for the rangers to send a report, I decided to leave Captain Noel and Flare alone. They seemed to be close friends so I guess they needed some alone time. It was awkward to see them being intimate with each other. It was not like I was against same-sex couples. I was just not comfortable whenever there was a romantic atmosphere. I decided to walk around the forest. Since I was born in a city, being in a place filled with nature was a great experience. The air was fresh and the wind felt really cool... Like placing ice cubes in front of an electric fan. Wait a minute... It was too cold. There was something wrong. I walked in the direction where the cold air came from and saw frozen wolves. Was someone here? Judging from the puddle of water near the ice, it happened quite some time ago. There were footprints on the ground and I decided to follow it. After a while, I arrived at a forest clearing and saw a girl. She had white hair and was quite small. Wolves surrounded her and an eerie feeling washed over me. I immediately knew those wolves were not normal and could sense a weird energy inside them. The wolves were hostile to the girl and I knew she was in trouble. As a knight, I should help her out. I could probably face off against a few wild wolves. But before any of us could act, ice covered the ground and froze the wolves. The girl was quite strong. Maybe I should leave her alone. I was about to leave but I stepped on a twig. The girl looked at me and my legs were frozen. Her ice attacks were quick. I had no time to dodge at all. Wait wait wait! Im not going to hurt you! I shouted at her. Who are you? she asked. Im Mikage Kamishiro, a knight of Westa. Heres my crest if you need proof, I showed her my Knight Crest. The girl touched my frozen legs and the ice turned into water, Im sorry. This area is dangerous so I had to be on guard. Its okay. Why are you here anyway? I asked. My name is Artia, an ice mage. My teacher sent me here to investigate a strange force, she introduced herself. Strange force? Around 20 days ago, my teacher said that she sensed a foreign magic in the area near Westa. I was sent here to see what kind of magic it was. However, I found out that some monsters were affected by a mysterious energy. She must be talking about the weird energy I felt in the wolves. That energy is causing the monsters to be more aggressive. The wolves I just froze were all affected by it. Thats why I had to put them out of their misery. Wait a minute... It affects monsters... Is there a chance it could affect dragons too? I asked. I dont know. Dragons are sentient creatures unlike monsters. However, I know too little about that energy so I cant be certain, she answered. Artia left after telling me to be careful. I wonder... Could the eerie feeling that I would always have could be related to that mysterious energy? And could that mysterious energy be the reason why my shadow moved during Theodores attack? However, Artia said that the mysterious energy was making monsters aggressive. Maybe it had different effects on humans since I didnt feel aggressive. But Theodore also became stronger when he had the energy inside of him. Where did he get that pill? Was there someone who could make pills that will produce that weird energy? I arrived at the encampment while deep in thought. Maybe I should research the mysterious energy.... I might be able to find something in the Westa Central Library. Mikage, there you are! Captain Noel said. We found Coco and were going to see her in a few minutes. Be prepared, Flare told me. I dont know much about the mysterious energy so I pushed it at the back of my mind. For now, we have to confront a dragon. When in doubt, bring backup We left our horses behind as we hiked up a mountain. Captain Noel, Flare, and I were the only ones who went while the other rangers waited with our horses. The reason for that was simple: Captain Noel and Flare didnt want to scare Coco by looking too hostile. After all, you wouldnt bring an army if you were just going to talk to your friend, right? I was worried because if we had to fight a dragon, we would definitely be outmatched. However, Flare and Captain Noel didnt seem to be that worried. They must think that they could reason with the dragon. From what Ive read both in this world and my previous world, fighting dragons was dangerous and required a group of people. I dont know if just the 3 of us were enough. An eerie feeling overcame me. It was the same feeling with the wolves and Theodore.... What the heck was this? Could it be the mysterious energy that Artia was investigating? We are heading to the direction where I was feeling that eerie feeling. If I was right, there was a creature who had the mysterious energy over there. Lemme guess. The dragon is right there, isnt she? I pointed in a direction. How did you know? Flare asked. Cant you feel it? Feel what? Captain Noel asked. An eerie energy is coming from that direction. Captain Noel and Flare looked at each other. Flare closed her eyes and Captain Noel looked around. We dont feel anything... Maybe youre just too nervous, Captain Noel said. Dont worry. We can reason with Coco. Maybe the town did something bad without knowing about it, Flare added. That was strange... I may be nervous but I dont think I was imagining things. Could they not feel that weird energy? Its the same feeling that I felt around those wolves... If I was correct, then the dragon must be involved with that energy. An orange object could be seen in the distance. Upon closer look, it wasnt an object. It was a dragon. And I could feel the strange energy deep inside her. I could feel her trying to fight the energy. For some reason, I knew that she was in deep pain. We approached the dragon and she looked at us. She was quite huge and had claws that looked sharp enough to cut me into 2 pieces. The rangers said that the dragon could breathe fire so I had to be wary of where her mouth was pointing. According to the rangers, the dragons flames were hot enough to melt stone bricks. So that meant her flames could go as hot as 1500 Celsius and come out of her mouth to melt me. Coco! Its me, Noel! Captain Noel shouted at her. N....Noel? she asked. Yeah... Its me. Flares also here... Weve come to talk! T...Talk? Somehow, I felt there was something wrong. The strange energy was definitely inside her but she seemed to be fighting it... If she was able to hold on, then why did she attack a town? How did she even get the mysterious energy? Theodore took a pill before that energy consumed him. Did the dragon eat anything strange? Why did you attack a town? Did they do something bad? Flare asked. M...Me?... Attack? the dragon asked. Stolen story; please report. Kill them, a voice said in my head. My stomach twisted and an even stronger eerie feeling overcame my body. I could feel cold sweat running down my face. The energy inside the dragon got stronger and she roared. This was bad! Captain Noel! Look out! I shouted. The dragon raised her claws and swung it at Captain Noel. However, she just caught it and stopped it using her own strength. For some reason, I could feel that something was giving commands to the dragon. Could someone be able to place the mysterious energy in a creature? It was probably not a coincidence that there were also wolves with that energy which were in this area. Was someone giving out that energy to random creatures? But why would they do that? However, it was no time to think about stuff. The dragon just attacked so she was definitely hostile. What should we do? We couldnt possibly fight a dragon with just the three of us. Coco... You seem to be out of yourself. Also, did you get a bit stronger?, Captain Noel said. Coco opened her mouth and tried to breathe fire but Flare shot an arrow. The arrow hit the dragons face and exploded. Captain Noel jumped up to an impossible height and punched Cocos face. The sheer force of her blow caused the dragon to be knocked away... I heard that Captain Noel was strong but I didnt expect her to actually blow a dragon away. She didnt even do magic so I guess her muscle strength must be extraordinary. Is she even human? I muttered. There was another source of the strange energy. It could be found a few meters away from us... I had a bad feeling about it and since Captain Noel and Flare were busy with the dragon, I decided to investigate it alone. When I got closer, I saw a man wearing black robes. His entire face was covered with bandages and a wooden staff was on his hand. The aura he was emitting was scary. It was like staring at a stranger who was in the dark. There was a feeling of uneasiness creeping on me since I didnt know anything about that man. I know youre there. Get out, he said. I walked out of my hiding spot. His eyes were unnerving. It was like he could see everything inside me. I gathered my courage and unsheathed my kris sword. A knight from Westa... This would be a good experiment, he said and pointed his staff at me. Red orbs of light were circling around his staff and one by one, they launched at me. The orbs exploded when they came in contact with the ground after I dodged them. Those orbs were fast but they traveled in a straight line so I could predict their movements. Temma was right. Fighting in close range was harder than avoiding ranged attacks. I could predict the orbs paths and avoid them in time. My enemy was a mage and for some reason, he also has that strange energy inside of him. If he had that strange energy, then why wasnt he rampaging? Were the effects different per creature? What race was he from? More red orbs appeared on his staff but I didnt wait for them to go for me. I charged at the man. Mages spend most of their time researching magic so they relied on long-ranged attacks. They werent that good in close combat. I could win if I get close. A red rope-like magic came from the ground and wrapped around my legs. The orbs were on their way to me and I couldnt avoid them in time. And so I had no other choice but to hit the orbs with my sword like baseball. I then cut the rope-like magic wrapped around me and I continued my charge to the bandaged man. He didnt even attempt to run away but instead, he charged at me. I swung my sword and his staff blocked it. Werent mages supposed to be weak in close-ranged combat? They were supposed to have no time left for training their reflexes or even their muscles since they were too busy with researching magic. How come this guy was strong? You lack killing intent. Are you truly a knight? he asked. He pushed me back with his staff and more red orbs appeared. The orbs attacked me but I either blocked them with my sword or avoided them. It felt odd. I already experienced facing someone gushing out with killing intent so I could tell that the bandaged man in front of me wasnt really serious. He said that he would experiment with me.... Something was not adding up. What are you after? I asked him. Our goals are beyond a mere knights understanding, he answered and a magic circle appeared on the spot I was standing on. Chains wrapped around me and I couldnt move. This was bad! When did he set up a magic circle? The bandaged man walked towards me casually. Even if he was close, I couldnt even attack him. Ive already assessed your combat potential. Lets see how you would improve, he unwrapped the bandages on his hand which revealed an arm oozing with darkness. His arm was ringing alarm bells in my mind. I could feel a massive concentration of the strange energy on his arm. Artia said that the strange energy made monsters more aggressive. Could the experiment he was talking about was this? He touched my forehead, Release yourself. Darkness A dragon attacked a town which made Flare contact Captain Noel. We traveled a bit and I found out that they knew the dragon personally. Her name was Coco and she was supposed to be a friendly dragon. While waiting for information on the dragons whereabouts, I met Artia, a mage who was investigating a strange energy which was causing monsters to become more aggressive. I suspected that the strange energy was affecting Coco. My suspicions were proven correct when the dragon attacked us when we were attempting to talk to her. Captain Noel and Flare were doing well in fighting her so I investigated another source of the weird energy. And now a bandaged man wearing robes was touching my forehead with his arm that was coated with darkness. If my theory was correct, he would be attempting to give me a bit of that strange energy. I dont know what the effects on humans would be but I had no choice but to find out the hard way. Release yourself, he said. But nothing happened. The man was so surprised that the chains wrapping around me weakened and I could move again. I broke the chains and I swung my sword. My strike hit his torso and I managed to wound him... However, instead of blood, darkness oozed out of the wound. That was creepy. The man didnt even look in pain and was looking at me in confusion. I backed away and pointed my sword at him. To be unaffected by the Dark Corruption.... What are you? he asked me. What am I? Wasnt it supposed to be a who instead of a what? Although I only heard it from them, the Dark Corruption is supposed to affect humans too. But seeing you unaffected by it... How interesting, he said. The eerie feeling returned as a dark aura emerged from the man. He was probably serious now. I could feel a cold sweat running down my face. The bandaged man faced his palm towards me and a wave of darkness surged out of it. It covered a huge area and I couldnt possibly avoid it. That was why I braced myself for whatever pain it would bring. However, there was nothing. It felt like having a breeze blow through me. What kind of attack was this? The wave of darkness disappeared and the bandaged man looked at me. Even that amount of darkness did not faze you... What exactly are you? he asked. His eyes looked straight at me. He seemed to be analyzing everything about me. This was fun... But I have to take my leave now, he said and a magic circle appeared on the spot where he was standing. Wait! I charged at him. We will definitely meet again. After all, you are an interesting existence, he disappeared after a flash of light. Tch. He teleported. What was he doing here? I then felt the strange energy near Captain Noel become stronger. Ah crap... I totally forgot about them! When I arrived at the place where they were fighting, I saw an impossible sight. The dragon was lying on the ground while Captain Noel was panting with her right fist raised. She had dirt and soot over her clothes and the area around them was filled with debris. Her armor was removed and I found it weird. They probably had a tough fight while I was busy with the bandaged man. Captain Noel! I ran towards her. Mikage... she had a grim expression. Hows the dragon? Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Its no use. No matter how many times we tried to talk to her, she only attacked... Something is definitely wrong with her, Flare said. I looked at the dragon and she was weakened. She was probably trying hard to fight the strange energy inside her. I could feel her life force getting weaker and weaker. If we leave her in this state, she might cause more trouble... I dont want to kill her but... Captain Noel held her mace. The dragon was their friend so I could understand what they were feeling. If only I could do something... I walked towards the dragon and touched her head. Then, I felt something flowing to my arm. It was like getting injected by a syringe or something. Mikage! What are you doing? Captain Noel asked. I didnt even know it myself. For some reason, a dark aura was coming out of the dragon and was transferring to me. The strange energy inside her weakened... Was I draining the energy out of her? I focused and tried to take all of the strange energy inside her... If this was the one causing her to rampage, then things would get fixed if I take all of it. Smoke came out of the dragon. And in front of me was a naked woman... Before I could fully process what was going on, I got smacked in the face by Captain Noel and passed out. ### When I woke up, I found myself inside a tent. I could still feel a sting on my cheek. A ranger saw me and immediately ran... She must be going to inform Captain Noel and Flare that I already woke up. Three people entered the tent. They were Captain Noel, Flare, and an orange-haired woman. That woman was tall and had horns coming out of her head. A tail was coming out from her behind... Where have I seen her? Coco, this is Mikage Kamishiro. Mikage, this is Coco Kiryu, Captain Noel introduced us to each other. Thank you for saving me, the woman said. I then remembered where I saw her. She was the dragon who transformed into a woman, I didnt even know what I did... Glad I could somehow help, I replied. We were about to talk about what happened to her when you woke up, Flare said. You see... I dont remember much from a day ago. One day, I was just chilling in the mountains when a weird man approached me, Coco said. Weird man? Captain Noel asked. He was wearing a robe and was covered in bandages. Even his entire face was wrapped with bandages. I could feel that he was dangerous. A bandaged man?? Could she be talking about the man I just fought? He took me by surprise and before I knew it, I was chained up. The man unwrapped the bandages on his hand and his arm was emitting darkness. When he touched me, I felt strange and I could no longer remember much. All I know is that a strange force was inside me and was controlling me. I tried to fight with it and it disappeared when Mikage touched me, Coco said. Which brings us to this: Mikage... What did you do? Captain Noel asked. I met a mage named Artia. She was investigating a weird magic that appeared in the area near Westa. When we met, there were wolves with a strange energy inside them. Artia said that the strange energy was making monsters more aggressive, I answered. So that explains the increased monster attacks, Flare commented. As for saving Coco, all I did was take all of that strange energy from her body... Although I dont know why I could do that. You said that the strange energy would make monsters aggressive. Even Coco, a sentient dragon, attacked a town... How are you after taking all of that energy? Captain Noel asked. I dont feel any different. Even that mans attacks were ineffective to me. That man? Flare asked. I fought a bandaged man while you and Captain Noel were busy fighting Coco. I found him since I could feel another source of that energy and when I fought him, his dark attacks didnt affect me. Could that bandaged man be the same man that attacked me? Coco asked. Unless wrapping yourself in bandages was fashionable, I think its the same man. Flare had a serious expression and even Captain Noel was deep in thought. Mikage... When we get back to Westa, were going to examine you, Captain Noel said. Will it be painful? I asked. I will forbid any painful procedures... But you will be undergoing many examinations... Also, we need to keep an eye out for that strange energy and the bandaged man. Well keep an eye out here and well tell you when something happens, Flare said. Okay... How about you, Coco? What are your plans? I dont know. I dont have enough energy to transform back into a dragon so Im going to be in a human form for a while. You can live with me in Westa until you recover. Also, we need to examine you too since youve been exposed to that strange energy, Captain Noel said. After everything was finished, we decided to stay the night in the encampment. When morning came, the three of us went back to Westa. We will definitely meet again. After all, you are an interesting existence, the bandaged mans words echoed in my ears... I hope that the examinations will reveal something about me... Judging from his reactions and from how I could feel that weird energy, I think I was no longer human... A bar fight is a common occurrence. Everything was dark. Where am I? I saw a girl sleeping. She had long wavy brown hair and was quite small. Hmmm? Who are you? a girls voice echoed around me. Could the voice belong to the small girl sleeping in front of me? To think someone could interrupt my sleep... Who are you? the voice echoed again. I tried to talk but my voice wouldnt come out. Everything began to shake as a distant light was coming nearer. Maybe its almost time for me to wake up again, those were the last words I heard before I woke up. ### My day started out like any other day. I did my daily training with Temma and I did my tasks as an administrative officer. When it was afternoon, a letter arrived for me. An envelope filled with papers was in my hands. It was my examination results. I got scanned many times by machines and magic. Even my blood was analyzed. And now I got the results. I read their contents and couldnt believe it. I was a completely normal human. All of my results state that there was nothing abnormal in me. I looked over my results again. Blood pressure: Normal. Mana level: Very High. Everything about my results told me that I was a normal human. This was odd... Normal humans couldnt sense the strange energy and according to the bandaged man, humans were also affected by it. Seeing that it was not the case with me, there must be something odd in me. However, there wasnt anything according to the results... Maybe its something that the examinations couldnt detect... I decided to take a walk when I finished my tasks. Having no destination in my mind, I wandered the streets of Westa. Everything was peaceful. 3 weeks have already passed since I arrived in this world and many things have happened. From Spade Echos heist to the serial murders to Cocos rampage, Ive been through a lot of events. What are you? the bandaged mans words returned to my mind. If I think about it, why did I get summoned in this world? Could it be an accident or a failed summon so I got here? Or could they have planned to summon me all along? The man who summoned me disappeared so I couldnt have any answers to my questions. Help! Youre a knight, right? a woman ran towards me. Whats wrong? I asked. A man tried to protect me and is now surrounded by thugs! I ran towards the direction the woman pointed. As long as those thugs were human, I could probably take them on. After all, Ive been training hard with Temma these days. Im... Sorry... a mans voice croaked. When I arrived at the scene, I saw a tall dark man lifting another man up using just one of his hands. Four other men were grovelling on the ground and some of them had their arms twisted in an unnatural way. The tall dark man looked at me and grinned. His teeth were sharp and he has one horn coming out from the side of his head. I could feel that he was very powerful. He was probably a demon. This was bad.... Demons were powerful creatures. Thats enough punishment for them, isnt it? I asked. I dont know... Some people really need to experience true fear so that they wont target defenseless women again, he raised his fist as the man he was holding yelped. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Dont underestimate us! one of the men stood up and took out a knife. The demon didnt even look surprised as the man charged at him. When the man got closer, a black fist rose up from the ground and hit his chin. The black fist was made from the demons shadow... That move! I couldnt help but shout since it was similar when I killed Theodore. Like it? I call it my Shadow Fist, he grinned. How did you do it? How? Well, I just poured mana into my shadow and then commanded it to form a fist. Then I made it move, he explained as the fist made of shadow was making a thumbs-up. A knight arrived on the scene and after talking with him, the thugs were sent to a hospital and the demon got off lightly. Although he said to keep the injuries to a minimum, I dont think the demon would take the knights warning too seriously. Thanks for vouching for me. If you werent around, that knight would probably think I was the bad guy, he said. No problem. You were just cleaning up the trash in society, I replied. Hey... I like that. Im Oga Aragami.Whats your name? Mikage Kamishiro. Alright, Mikage. Im taking you to a good place! he placed his arm on my shoulder and dragged me away. ### We arrived at a bar called ROBEL. I never drank alcohol before and I didnt think that I would start doing so in another world. When I told Oga that I never drank before, he then made it his mission to make sure I get a taste of the adults drink. It was still closed but Oga barged in. Hey, Roberu! You got a customer! he shouted. An orange-haired man wearing a bartenders outfit got out of the backroom. He had a purple left eye and orange right eye. Were those natural or was he wearing contacts? Oga... How many times have I told you to wait until its opening time? he sighed. Im just going to have a drink with my new friend. Hes pretty cool and has no problem talking with a demon like me. Oga then talked about how I helped him explain his side of things to a knight after he brutally beat up some thugs. Another fight? I thought you would avoid fights since you already retired from the battlefield, the bartender said. Retired? Was Oga a war veteran or something? My names Roberu Yukoku, the barkeeper of ROBEL. Whats your name? he asked. Mikage Kamishiro. Nice to meet you, I answered. Oooh. Youre that Mikage, huh? Have you heard of me? Yes. Temma would often talk about you. You are doing well for an administrative officer. You know Temma? Yep. Hes a regular here. Often comes during the weekends. Temma went here? I never expected him to be the type to drink. Listen here, Roberu. Mikage never had a drink before so youd better make his first a good one, Oga cut in on our conversation. Im honored you chose ROBEL for your first drink... Although I think Oga dragged you here. He poured a liquid into a glass and I looked at it nervously... Well, I guess one drink wouldnt hurt me. I drank it. How is it? Oga asked. Bitter... But in a good way, I said. Of course! Roberu is the best when it comes to alcohol. As an owner of a bar, Ill take it as a compliment, Roberu grinned. Oh yeah... I had to ask Oga about something. Your Shadow Fist... What kind of magic is it? I asked him. Its called Dark Magic. Its not really a type of magic that most mages like since its hard to use. Even though I had a hard time mastering it... Why are you asking, anyway? I told him about the incident where my shadow killed Theodore. Thats odd. Youre saying that you didnt command it to attack and yet it did it anyway? Oga asked. Why? Is that really strange? Yes it is. Judging from your story, you probably used magic without knowing it. Ive heard many stories like that... But in their cases, the best they could do was produce a very strong shockwave, Roberu said. Yeah. With a vague resolve like that, its near impossible to command your shadow. You see, the reason why Dark Magic was hard to master was because it lacked an image. Wind and fire could be easily used since a mage knows what fire and wind does. Even producing darkness could be a challenge for new mages. Thats why commanding your own shadow to fight in that situation is impossible, Oga explained. But it happened. Oga thought for a while... Mikage, stand there for a while, Oga pointed in the middle of the room. I followed what he said. He stood in front of me and cracked his knuckles... Wait a minute... Die! he shouted and bone-chilling killing intent radiated from him. His punch was headed towards my face and I knew that it was dangerous. Then, an eerie feeling overcame my body. My shadow rose up and turned into a huge spike. It lunged at Oga but he caught it with his hands and stopped it. This is interesting... he grinned. Training My shadow returned to the ground and Oga stretched his arms. Sorry for scaring you like that. I planned to stop my punch when I was about to hit you but your shadow acted first, he apologized. Its been some time since I last saw you go serious. It must be dangerous, Roberu said. Oga was serious? So that meant my shadow was that dangerous? Yeah. If I didnt use my full strength in stopping that shadow, it wouldve pierced right through my face, Oga grinned. So you were testing me? I asked. Yeah. I thought that if you were placed in a situation like that, your shadow would react. Glad it worked! Oga unleashed a really terrifying killing intent. I was sure that he would kill me. Who was he? Not everyone could freely do that. I didnt expect it to attack me though. I thought it would just form a wall or something. Thats a good reaction if I think about it. Kill or be killed, Oga said. Sorry... I dont really have control over it, I apologized. Thats odd. Its like it has its own life, Roberu said. Nah... Its still you. Youre just controlling it subconsciously... Although having no control over killing someone is dangerous, Oga told me. He was right... If Oga wasnt alert, I could have added another body in my kill count. Is there a way for me to control it? I asked. Hmmm... Why dont we train together? Oga suggested. ### After finishing my work for today, I was supposed to meet up with Oga. He told me that I should learn how to control my shadow. I dont want to accidentally kill someone again. That was why I agreed to train with him. Our training area was an empty lot near ROBEL. Oga was already waiting for me when I arrived. Okay... So... How do we start? I asked. Hmmmm... Lets try placing mana on your shadow first, he said. And how do I do that? You didnt have magic training in the knights academy? Oh yeah.... Ummm... Actually..... I told him about how I was from a world without magic and was an administrative officer because of a special test. I see... In that case, you never let out your mana before... Hmmm... How should I explain this? he rubbed his hand on his chin. He then grinned, I got it... Lets practice letting out your mana. First, you gotta know what mana feels like. Ill be letting out a bit of my mana and let you experience what mana is. The air then began to tremble. Even though I was in an open space, I had a hard time breathing. I could feel it. A powerful force was gushing out of Ogas body. So... this was what mana was like. Within the shaking space that showed no signs of calming down, Ogas mana was swelling up along with the strength of the vibrations. The small rocks on the ground were lifted in the air and the weak ones crumbled into dust. Many small lightning bolts danced in the air like an electric current. I could feel my knees weakening and cold sweat forming on my body. It felt like I was being crushed by a huge hand. The pressure coming out from Oga was too much. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. And then it stopped. Everything became peaceful. You got an idea on how mana feels? he asked. Y-Yeah... I answered. Good... Now that kind of force is inside you too. Imagine a dam of water inside your body. Now, open that dam and let the water out. I did what he told me. I imagined that there was a gush of water coming out from all over my body. Then, I felt it... My body felt like having blood getting drained from it using a syringe. I could also feel that I was getting tired even if I didnt move my body. Good. Youve successfully unleashed your mana! Now then, I have something to ask you: what did you feel when your shadow moved? What I felt? You see... Magic is powered by two things: an image and your resolve. Fire mages would imagine heat coming out of their hands and boom! They made fire! Magic that amplifies your strength requires one to imagine their own muscles getting stronger. As you use your magic, you would feel a certain thing. Whether its an emotion or an image, mages would emulate what they felt to cast their magic. I remembered what I felt the first time my shadow moved. It was an eerie feeling like looking into a deep and dark abyss and getting a thought that something else was looking back at you. Once you get it, try directing your mana to your shadow. You know how you unleashed your mana, right? Now imagine building a path from your body towards your shadow and having your mana travel there. Remember what you felt when your shadow moved and thats how you do it. I imagined a river flowing from my body downwards to the ground where my shadow was. I then remembered that eerie feeling I felt. My shadow in the ground turned into a circle with me in the center. It also became darker and had darkness oozing out of it. The eerie feeling returned and I fully embraced it. Youre a fast learner. Good job! Now, imagine forming something from your shadow... Like youre making something out of clay. For now, imagine forming a wall. I tried what he said. I poured mana towards my shadow and made it rise. My shadow slowly emerged from the ground and formed a thin wall. Oga punched the shadow and it shattered to pieces. I felt having my connection with my own shadow being forcefully destroyed. Its kinda weak... Very different from last time. It must be because of your lack of training, he said. What do you mean? I asked. Look at yourself. Youre catching your breath and youre sweating even if all you did was make your shadow do a simple task. Your mana control sucks. I could feel excess mana leaking from your body. Is that so? Yep. Look... Mana control is important for mages. Lets say a spell requires you to use 10% of your mana. An inexperienced mage who has no control would use around 30-40% of his total mana and make a spell that an expert would only use 10%. The excess mana dissipates from your body and goes out to the surroundings... Well, all you need is training. How do I improve? Practice that spell until you manage to make your shadow move with minimal mana. The reason youre wasting too much mana is because youre trying too hard in gathering it. Once you get the feeling of controlling your mana burned into your mind, youll be stronger. So all I need is time and practice... Dont worry about it. It took me thousands of years to be this strong. Youll get there someday! Wait... Thousands of years? How old are you? 5030 and counting, he grinned. I knew that demons had longer lifespans than humans but 5000? That was too much. So youre like a grandpa? I asked. What?! No! Im eternally 30 years old! Dont ever call me a grandpa! Oga then had a serious look on his face. Whats wrong? Be quiet. Im trying to focus, he said and closed his eyes. He faced his palm towards the sky and a black ball appeared a few meters above us. Oga closed his hands as if he was crushing something and the black ball shattered to pieces. What was that? I asked. Spying magic... And a pretty well-made one too. Somebodys been spying on you. And he must be quite a powerful mage. I didnt even detect it until I got close to you, Oga answered. The bandaged man flashed in my head. If he would appear again and fight me seriously, I would be defeated... I need to get stronger. Whats a good way to get better with magic? I asked. Oga thought for a while, Why dont you visit Westa Central Library? They got a lot of books that talked about magic. There might even be books about Dark Magic. I see.... I could use my next day off for that. At least, that was my plan until my Excellular rang. The screen showed that Amelia was calling me. Excuse me, gotta pick this up, I said. Hey, Mikage. Been a while, Amelias voice greeted. Whats up? I asked. Say, how good are you with girls? Ever got a girlfriend? I can talk to girls just fine. I didnt bother answering the last question. After all, it would reveal my embarrassing past that I never had a girlfriend or even held hands with one before. Thats great. Are you busy the day after tomorrow? she asked. I dont really have anything urgent to do. Why? Then can you go on a date on that day? ............ What? First dates are always rough. I was waiting in front of a fountain. It was the weekend so I had the day off. My work hours as an administrative officer was from morning to afternoon on weekdays. I could have the day off whenever it was the weekend. It was an ideal schedule and I was completely satisfied with it. Good day, Mikage, a woman greeted me. She had blue hair and was wearing a cute white dress. A pair of glasses was on her face and her smile was gentle. For one day, she was going to be on a date with me. Although I never had a date before, I had no choice but to accept it. Yep. I was a complete amateur in these kinds of things. I know that I told Amelia that I had no problem with girls but... talking to popular idols was a hurdle. Thats right. The girl in front of me was a popular idol named Suisei Hoshimachi. ### It all started when Amelia asked me to go to her office. I wondered what was wrong since Amelia never asked for help unless it was offered first. It was great to think that she views me as someone capable of helping her but at the same time, I was nervous. When I was finished with work, I went there and saw Suisei sitting on a couch. Mikage, glad you could come, Amelia greeted me. You said you needed help... And I admit Im a bit confused why you need me to go on a date, I said. About that... Let me introduce you to my client, Suisei Hoshimachi. Suisei?? Sounds familiar... Of course it sounds familiar. Shes a popular idol! Ah. I remembered seeing some of her posters on the streets. Also, some of the knights in my unit would talk about her. I think I heard some of her songs before when some of the knights would play music in the barracks cafeteria. She had a nice voice and her singing was great. So? Why would a popular idol hire you? I asked. Its better if I show this to you, Amelia showed me several photos. There were pictures of Suisei walking on the streets and visiting shops. They were shot from a distance and I could tell they were stolen shots. It was quite good actually. Kind of like what paparazzis do. I kept on receiving pictures and letters about my whereabouts. For example, in this letter, it showed my location at a given time. And at the end of every letter, the words Im always watching you are there, Suisei said. So you got a creepy stalker. And you hired Amelia to find out the stalkers identity? I asked and she nodded. And this is where you come in, Mikage... I need you to go on a date with Suisei, Amelia said. So that the stalker would get jealous and we would lure him out... I see. But why me? First of all, youre a knight so you could easily protect her if the situation becomes rough... Also, youre the only guy I knew who I could trust with the safety of my client. And youre okay with this? I asked the idol. I trust Amelias decisions so if she says that youre a good person, then I will believe it, Suisei answered. ### And so we decided to meet up today in front of the plaza. Although this was just pretend, I still felt nervous. I was once a delinquent and a video game nerd. Back in my world, people would look at me and say, That guys not gonna get a girlfriend since I would geek out with my friends on video games. I never thought I would get a date in another world. So... What should we do? I asked her. To tell you the truth, Ive never been on dates before so I dont know, she said. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Ah crap.... Its her first date too? Wait a minute... This was just pretend so it doesnt count. Thats right.... So there was absolutely no pressure on me. I was just a guy who was on a pretend date with a popular idol who just happened to be on her first date... Now that I think about it, a woman would complain online that all men are trash/ cheapskate and throw whatever insults when their date would mess up their outing back in my old world.... Ah great... I was practically representing every man out there. If I mess up, Suisei would think bad of men. And if she would talk bad about men, her female fans would also think bad of them. So the fate of every mans reputation was on my hands?! This was too much pressure!! Are you okay? she asked. Y-Yeah. Just fine... For starters, why dont we walk around? I said. Since this was just a pretend date, I didnt make any plans. However, the reputation of every man was on my hands and I couldnt afford to mess up. Suisei and I walked down the streets. What do guys do on dates? I remembered a dating simulation game that I once played. Although I got the bad endings and couldnt get a girls ending without a walkthrough, they might be helpful. Now then! My limited knowledge on gal games! Come to me! Three choices appeared in my mind. 1: Talk about the weather. 2: Compliment her outfit. 3: Shall we hold hands? So... Nice weather were having, I said. Wait a minute... Why did I choose that option?! Talking about the weather was lame! Choice 3 was too risky and choice 1 was too lame. It was obvious that choice 2 was the safe one! Aaaggh! Why am I having a post-choice clarity?! Yeah. Its a great day, she replied. More choices appeared in my mind. 1: Spending your day off with me must suck. 2: Ask about her work. 3: Lie that youre a huge fan. Is being an idol difficult? I chose the second option. Choice 1 made me sound like a sad boy and that would ruin the mood of the date. And if I choose choice 3, the mood would become awkward if I slip up and she would find out that I was lying. Its tiring. I have to keep my body fit so that I can dance and I have to train my voice so I can sing. But seeing the smiles of my fans make it worth it, she answered. I see. Im just a plain old administrative officer so I wasnt that active in protecting Westas peace. But I get how you are feeling since our vice-captain could relax since his workload decreased. What about your captain? Captain Noel is really reliable on the battlefield. Heck, she can even go toe-to-toe against a dragon. But when it comes to paperwork, she would just let them pile up. Thats why our vice-captain was really happy that I was assigned to their unit. I heard about Noel Shiroganes exploits. Many young girls look up to her because of her strength and how she breezed through the knight academys practical examination. Its also quite amazing how she became a captain at a young age. Another set of choices appeared in my mind. 1: Praise Captain Noel. 2: Complain about Captain Noel. 3: Youre as amazing as her. Shes amazing but youre just as amazing as her. You actively pursue your dreams while making people happy, I said. Wait a minute... Was I flirting? Wait... Did that even count as flirting? Did that creep her out? If it was creepy, I would dig a hole and never come out of it. Thanks. Im happy with where I am right now. Being able to sing my heart out feels great, she smiled. Silence ruled between the two of us... How come no choices were appearing in my mind?! Hey!! I have a question for you, Mikage. Ask away. Whats your type? That was a hard question. Why are you asking? Its my first time interacting this much with a guy. So I wondered what kind of girls you like. Hmmm... I never really thought about it. Im not really that picky with girls. If I like her, then I like her. So that means I have a chance with you? Wait a minute... Was she flirting with me? Theoretically, yes. But this is just a pretend date, I said. Why dont we ignore that part? Ill treat this as a real date, Suisei winked at me. Uhhhh... O-Okay... Yeah... We might be overcomplicating things if we think its just pretending. And that stalker wouldnt get jealous if we dont do it properly. I saw a poster with the words, Polka Circus in Town! Polka Circus? I asked. I heard its a pretty popular traveling circus. What great timing. Should we go watch it? Suisei suggested. Okay then. Then lets go, she grabbed my hand and led the way. I never thought my first hand-holding experience would come in this world. My first date went pretty well. Welcome! Youre a real lucky one! Guests of the great Polka Circus, get ready for the greatest show youve ever seen in your life! a blonde girl shouted. She was a beastman since her animal ears were poking out of her head and a tail was on her back. The girl was wearing a clown-like costume and has one of her animal ears covered by a jester hat. Thats Polka Omaru. I heard shes a really great circus master, Suisei said. Instruments played as the crowd cheered. Polkas energetic smile was infectious. My, my, thank you for your patience! We have all the happy little animals! Cute and amusing! Even demons and elves are welcome here! You wont see this on TV! Its only at this circus! she said as she juggled some balls. I noticed that the balls had a fuse on them and was lit up. They were thrown to the air and they exploded into flower-like sparks. Its showtime! Im the ringmaster! My names Polka Omaru! Im gonna turn that frown upside down! Smile! Now then, time for the show! Stick with me to the end now! I hope youre ready for this! she snapped her fingers and flames shot up from all around the stage. The first act was a performance of clowns. They would run around and slip on banana peels. One was juggling knives while balancing on a ball and then threw the knives at one clown. But the knives bounced back since they were retractable. After the clown act was a tiger doing an obstacle course. Suisei said that Polka was a user of Animal Magic. Animal Magic is a magic that allows a user to feel an animals emotions. Skilled animal mages could talk to animals. Magic that forces complete control over any living being was forbidden. That was why talking and convincing animals to do tricks was a great skill. The tiger jumped over flaming hoops and Polka rode it while it was balancing over a ball while doing the obstacle course. More acts followed such as a trapeze performance where two guys swung from very high places and a tightrope walking performance where Polka walked on a thin rope above a flaming net. There was even a magic show where they placed an anti-magic barrier and had a magician perform tricks. Tricks like being in a box and still be fine after getting skewered by swords and teleporting from one box to another. With Polkas energetic voice exciting the crowd, we couldnt help but have fun. Every act was thrilling and Polkas jokes cracked us up. Overall, it was very entertaining. It was already late in the afternoon when the show was over. We were walking down the street. Man... That was fun. I never thought that circuses could be that great, I said. Yeah. Polka was quite amazing. Animal mages were rare since they werent useful in combat but those animals love her, Suisei replied. I used to think that using animals in circuses was cruel. But I could tell that those animals were treated well. We arrived at a park and sat down on a bench. It was almost night. The trees around us seemed suspicious since they could hide a person. It seems that we failed today, I said. Eh? What are you talking about? she asked. Were supposed to be on a date to bait out your stalker.... But it was ineffective. Thats true... But I had fun today so it was not a total waste. But your problem is not yet solved... We couldnt lure out the stalker. I wonder... Was our act as a couple not that convincing? Then should we step up our dating act? How should we do it? We already held hands. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. We thought for a while. Could that stalker be even watching us right now? The park was empty... And would that stalker even reveal himself? I mean... He was doing a good job in hiding... An idea formed in my head. Im gonna go buy some drinks. Want anything? I asked her. Ill have water. Got it. I walked a bit until I reached a secluded area in the park. If I was right... In the corner of my eyes, I saw something was heading towards me. I managed to dodge it and found out that it was a rock. A man emerged from behind a tree. Sheesh. At least let me finish my train of thought before you show up, I said. You were expecting me? he asked. Well yeah. If youre a stalker, then you must have been following us all day. And if youre like one of those die-hard idol fans back home, you would wait until Im all alone and attack me. I knew all about how its just a pretend date. I mean, I saw my goddess consult with a detective. And I know youre just a knight doing his job. Wow... So if you know that much, why are you talking to me? I cant stand how unfair it is! Loyal fans like me spend a lot of money just to talk and shake her hands for a few seconds and a scrub like you get to go on a date with her?! Its unforgivable! he unsheathed his sword. You do know stalking is a crime, right? If you promise to stop, I will let you go. I wont mind that you attacked me first. Youre telling me to stop? Not seeing my idol is the same as not breathing. And if I kill you right here and now, my identity will be safe. Ah great. I thought I could reason with him but I guess there was no talking out of this mess. I unsheathed my kris sword and waited for him to attack. Ropes made up of energy appeared from the ground and wrapped around me. My enemy was a mage?! Dang it. I didnt expect him to use magic since he drew his sword. The ropes started pulling and I was kneeling on the ground. I couldnt move at all since the ropes were restricting me. The man approached me. Sorry about this. Its retribution for spending time with my goddess, he raised his sword. I closed my eyes and imagined a path going from my body towards my shadow. Then, I poured mana over it and imagined a fist. Oga told me that the foundation for magic was an image and resolve. The reason why my magic was weak was because my resolve wasnt enough. However, I was more than determined to defeat the man in front of me. Thats why I reproduced that eerie feeling and imagined a fast moving fist rising from the ground. And then it appeared. A black fist made from my shadow hit his chin and sent him flying through the air. The ropes disappeared and I immediately stood up. I approached the man and saw that he was knocked out. After a while, Amelia, Temma, and Suisei arrived on the scene. I called Temma to have him take the stalker to prison and I told Amelia about the success of her plan. I see... This guy would be charged for attempted murder and stalking. Hell definitely be spending some time in jail, Temma said. How did you lure him out, Mikage? Amelia asked. I thought that this guy must hate me for going on a date with Suisei. However, hes still trying to keep his identity a secret so he wouldnt show up when she is around. So I created an ideal situation for him to attack me, I answered. Thats reckless. What would you do if he was stronger than you? You wouldve died Suisei said. Its the only way to get him out. I dont want you to have stalker problems so its worth it, I gave her a thumbs up. But that does not excuse you for doing something like that. Im sorry... Is there a way I could make it up to you? Suisei thought for a while. Give me your number, she said. What? I asked in confusion. Just do it, Mikage. Its not everyday you could get an idols contact information. As for me, Im going to Westa Jail to lock up this weirdo, Temma told me and left. I exchanged contact information with Suisei. Ah! I still have voice lessons for tonight. Thanks for capturing the stalker, Suisei smiled. No problem. She skipped towards me and gave me a hug. Suisei smelled very nice.... I couldnt help but blush. See you on our next date! she said and ran off. Next date?? I felt a cold glare coming from Amelia. What? I asked her. Nothing. I guess idols are really charming, she pouted and walked away. At least thank me or something.... I wonder whats wrong with her. ### I thought my girl problems would end that day but in the next one, I was in a dangerous situation. So... Care to explain this? Temma asked me. I had no explanation. After all, a girl with brown hair was sleeping on my rooms floor. My trusted partner is a little girl. Everything was normal when I woke up. My body was refreshed and I could take on another day of work. I was getting used to waking up early. There were even days that I would wake up earlier than Temma. I stretched my arms as I got out of bed and saw a young girl sleeping on the floor. She had brown wavy hair and was quite small in size. I think she was a child but her feminine features were developed. To make sure that I wasnt seeing things, I rubbed my eyes. The girl was still there and I was pretty sure that I wasnt dreaming since I pinched myself already. Temma got up from his bed and yawned. Morning, he greeted me. Then he saw the girl sleeping in front of me. Temma rubbed his eyes and then pinched himself. He looked back and forth between me and the sleeping girl. Mikage... Did you kidnap a girl while I was asleep? he asked. Why in the world did you arrive at that conclusion?! So... Care to explain this? I had no explanation. Temma slept earlier than me since I was wrapping up the reports to be filed. After that, I locked our room and crashed into my bed. I couldnt explain how a girl got into our room. Our room was on the second floor of the dormitories and there were no trees or anything that could help in getting to our room. Not to mention that we always locked the window from the inside so there was no way she could have entered the room without breaking anything. She seems kind of young. I never thought youd be into little girls, Temma said. I did not kidnap her! Im as confused as you! I told him. The girl groaned and opened her eyes. She let out a huge yawn and sat up. Her large purple eyes looked sleepy and she stretched her arms. Good morning, she said. Good morning... Sorry to be rude but how did you get here? I asked her. You dont know me, Mikage? Mikage..... Youre the type who forgets a girl? Temma asked. No! I never met her in my life! Really? You bought me and forgot about it? the girl yawned again. Mikage... I never thought you would buy a slave. You do know thats illegal, right? Temma looked at me with cold eyes. What? I never bought a slave in my life! I said. Hes right. Im not his slave. Im more like his partner, she agreed. Anyway, who are you? I asked her. It cant be helped if you dont know me... Be in awe! I am the legendary Anya Melfissa! she exclaimed. She puffed out her chest and looked really proud. Anya who? I looked at Temma. Never heard of her, he said. I guess its normal for you to not know about me. I''ve been sleeping for more than a thousand years already, she said. But how are you related to Mikage? I told you already. Hes my owner... Technically. So shes your slave? Temma looked at me. Never bought a slave, I told him. Mikage took great care of me. He even used me quite nicely, she said. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Wait... What do you mean by used? Dont tell me he did weird things to you. Hey! I treat all women with respect even if they are just a child. And besides, its my first time meeting her. What kind of things were going through Temmas mind right now? I was a bit disappointed that Temma would think that I would do weird things to a girl. Weve been through a lot of fights together... Well, not that many fights but its enough to form a bond, she said. You bring a little girl to a battle? Temma was judging me with his eyes. Hold on. I never did that, I told them. Yes, you did. Im your weapon after all. .... Excuse me, but can you say that again? I said. Oh... This is my true form, she said and she began glowing. When the light died down, a sword with a wavy blade was in her place. Youre my kris sword?! I couldnt help but be surprised. Yes. I told you we were partners, her voice echoed in my mind. But you should have started with saying that youre my sword! Now Temma has weird ideas about me! I complained. Sorry. Its been some time since I last had a conversation. And I already met you in your dreams, she said. Now that I thought about it, I did meet her in my dreams. She was the brown-haired girl who I met while I was sleeping. If I remember correctly, she said something about waking up soon. Mikage... Youre talking to a sword? Temma asked. Wait... You cant hear her? I asked back. When Im in this form, only my master could hear my voice. You could also channel your thoughts towards me and we could have a private conversation, she said. The sword glowed and transformed into the brown-haired girl again. Say, Mikage. Why dont you take me out? Ive only seen Westa from your memories and I really want to see it with my own eyes. Im also curious about how the world changed while I was asleep, she said. I thought for a while.... For some reason, my sword was alive. I guess I need answers. Well go out once my work is done, I told her. Okay then. For now, Ill sleep, she crashed into my bed and started snoozing. So she is your sword... Never heard of swords that could turn into humans, Temma said. Really? Phoenix and dragons could turn into humans. I think a sword turning into a girl is not that impossible, I replied. Phoenix and dragons are sentient beings. Turning into humans is not that far off. But an object? Thats unheard of. So as long as its sentient, it could be a human? Well yeah. If a creature is sentient, then it could use magic. And transformation magic is possible although its hard. I wonder... How could a sword be alive? And how does it die? We couldnt get any answers by standing around so we gave up and decided to go to work. My day went on and when work was finished, I was strolling the streets with Anya. So... Youre a legendary sword... What can you do aside from turning into a girl? I asked her. Hmmm... Im good at mana manipulation. Each and everyone of my masters could use complicated spells with ease if they are near me. I could even compress my masters mana and release it as a powerful attack. And with your weird mana, I think I could shoot off very strong attacks, she answered. Wait... What do you mean by weird mana? Theres a strange thing inside you. Its really deep inside your soul. Whenever you try to use Dark Magic, you unknowingly tap into it and it becomes stronger... I dont know what it is and when I looked in your memories, you were not even aware of it. Something was deep inside my soul? If I was tapping into it whenever I was using Dark Magic, could it be the eerie feeling that I would often feel? It often makes me doubt whether youre a human, Anya said. But I am a human. I mean... My mom and dad are humans... And unlike in this world, the only sentient creatures in my world were humans, I replied. I dont doubt that. Ive seen your parents in your memories and they look like regular humans. But remember, you died already. You could have turned into something else when you were resurrected in this world. Wait... I died? I was pretty sure I got summoned here. You got hit by a car, right? That was the last memory you have in your old world. If I analyze that memory carefully, I could sense that you lost your life there. So youre saying that I died? But Im right here and alive. Im saying that the body you have could possibly be not a humans. Your soul has been safely transported from your world to this but it requires a vessel. Who knows what kind of body you have? But I went through an examination. Everything about my body was examined and the results said that Im human. I said its just a possibility. Also, there are things that the examination might have missed. If I died back in my old world, then that must mean only my soul was sent to this world. Then my family must have buried me already... I thought that I just magically disappeared so mom and dad must be worried sick. If that was the case and they already held a funeral for me, then I shouldnt worry too much about my old world. Oh? Its Mikage! What are you doing around here? a voice greeted me. I turned around and saw a tall dark man. It was Oga. Hey, Oga, I greeted him. Taking out a little girl huh? Never thought you were... he trailed off when he saw Anyas face. Oga? Are you Oga Aragami? Anya asked. A-Anya?! What? How? Oga was surprised. Do they know each other? Talking about the past is not always nice. We were sitting near the counter at ROBEL. The bar was empty since it was a bit before opening time. Oga had a weird expression on his face. It was like he saw someone he used to owe a debt and was reminded that he needed to pay. Seriously, Oga... You should come when ROBELs open. Even bringing a little girl into a bar like this is almost criminal, Roberu complained. Heh. This little girl is older than your grandma, Oga said. Its been some time since I last saw you. How many years have passed already? Anya asked. Around 4000 years... I never saw you after that battle. You went into a deep sleep, after all, he said. Ummm... How do you two know each other? I butted in the conversation. Anya used to be my former comrades weapon. We went on a journey together to fight someone, Oga answered. 4000 years ago? Wasnt that during the Dark Times? Roberu asked. The Dark Times was a period of time when a king tried to take over the world. They said that he was armed with powerful magic and all of his minions had the strength of several warriors. The reason why it was called Dark Times was because the kings minions used Dark Magic. They were really powerful and almost conquered the world. Yeah. I fought in that war. Not a really good memory to reminisce, Oga said. Id like to hear all about it, a voice behind us said. When I looked back, I saw a gray-haired man with glasses was standing at the doorway. He was wearing a green coat and was quite tall. Why in the world was Arurandeisu here? Isnt it opening time already, Roberu? Or are there delays for tonight? he asked. I see He must be a regular here. What kind of bar was ROBEL anyway? It had a powerful demon, a vice-captain of a knight unit, and even the boss of the Familiaran as its regulars. Was Roberu really that good at making drinks? Ah... Let me switch the signs first, Roberu headed towards the door as Arurandeisu sat on a stool beside me. Hello, Mikage. I havent seen you since the serial murder case, he greeted me. G-Good evening, Arurandeisu. I hope youve been well, I greeted back. Roberu returned to the counter, Youll have the usual, right? Yes, Arurandeisu answered and Roberu began mixing some drinks. Ill also have some too, Roberu. Ill need it if I will tell the story, Oga said. Got it. How about you, Mikage? Ill have what I had last time, I answered. If you have any juice, Ill take it, Anya said. After serving our drinks, Oga told his tale. 4000 years ago, there was a king who wanted to rule over the world. He waged war over many countries and countless lives were lost. It was known as the Dark Times, Oga said. Yeah. Thats what the history books said. You even said that you fought in the war, right? Roberu asked. He did not just fight in the war. He was one of the heroes who stopped the king and ended the Dark Times, Anya said. Really? Youre that great, Oga? I asked. What Anya said is true. I was part of the group that killed many of the kings generals and even fought against the king himself. You could say that I was a hero. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Now thats interesting... Why is your name not in the history books? Arurandeisu asked. Because what I did was not really heroic. I was the sole survivor of our group when we raided the kings castle, Oga answered. Thats right. My master, and all of our other comrades sacrificed their lives to end the battle. Even I went into a deep sleep just to defeat that man, Anya added. You see, the king wasnt exactly trying to take over the world. That was just an excuse to start a long and bloody war. What do you mean? I asked. The king wanted to bring a Primordial Being to this world. Whats a Primordial Being? Roberu asked. Primordial Beings are ancient and timeless beings. They are very powerful and control an aspect of reality. For example, Death is a Primordial Being and the Primordial Fire is a Primordial Being who controls the aspect of fire, Anya answered. What was the difference between Primordial Beings and gods? I wanted to ask that question but they were still busy with telling their stories. Maybe I could look them up in the Westa Library. Ive been telling myself that I would go to the library but I always ended up cancelling that plan. Primordial Beings all have wills and all of them could destroy this world if they would unleash a bit of their power. Thats why if they want to appear on this world, they have to limit their powers and take on a vessel, Oga added. I see. But why would the king want to summon a Primordial Being? Arurandeisu asked. I dont know... But he found a way to summon a Primordial Being without placing a limiter on it. That spell required countless lives to be sacrificed so he waged war and killed many people, Oga answered. The Primordial Being he was trying to summon was the Primordial Dark. He and his men were also tapping into the Primordial Darks powers and so they got stronger. Even the king was a formidable dark mage. He killed everyone except Oga. My master sacrificed his life energy and I had to use a lot of energy to kill him. I used so much of my own mana that I fell asleep, Anya said. So thats the truth of the Dark Times... Never thought Id see a hero in the flesh. This world is more interesting than our world, dont you think so, Mikage? Arurandeisu asked me. Wait... Did he just say our world? Now that I thought about it, how did you know that I was a Japanese boy? I asked him. When I first met him, he called me Japanese. Simple. Im from your world too, he answered. Really? The head of the Familiaran was from another world? Roberu asked. So you died too? I asked. No... To be more specific, I was spirited away. I was sent to this world because of a natural phenomenon. Unlike you, I wasnt summoned. I was taken in by the Familiaran 23 years ago and I rose through the ranks. Now Im the boss. Thats odd. They let an outsider like you into the boss? I asked. I could feel the room becoming colder. Mikage... Be more careful with what you say, Anyas voice echoed in my head. Anya was right. I shouldve watched what I said. Aruran mustve done some unsavory things to gain control of the Familiaran. I dont know what he did but I had a rough idea. There was a thing known as a duel for succession. To put it simply, if a member would kill the boss, they would immediately become the next leader. Well. Im not here to talk about that. Im just here for my friend who died a long time ago, Arurandeisu said and the tension in the air disappeared. Oh... Its almost that time of the year, Roberu said. What happened? Oga asked. My friend was a victim of a serial murderer around 20 years ago. If Im right, there should be a documentary about it showing right now. Roberu turned on the TV and sure enough, there was an interview with a man. Whos that? Oga asked. Thats Arthur Karalis. The lead investigator for the case. Heard he just retired last year, Arurandeisu answered. The interview went on and discussed the victims. There were 3 victims and all of them were males in their mid 20s. They were all stabbed at the heart and each victim has a number carved on their backs. The first victim had the number 1, the second victim had 2, and the last victim had 3 on their backs. Each number was made from using a knife to carve out a wound. He also injured a Westa Knight when he was caught fleeing the scene. The Westa Knight Order had no leads on the guy except that he received a slash wound on his back when he fought against the knight. But they couldnt possibly strip every man in Westa to see if he has a scar or not. My friend was the third victim... If I had the power of the Familiaran twenty years ago, maybe I could have found the killer. But its too late now. Its a cold case, Arurandeisu said. So... The case is almost twenty years old. What do you think about the killer? the interviewer asked. Lets just say that he must be hiding somewhere like the coward he is. Hey! If you are watching this, why dont we settle this tomorrow? Come and kill me if you can! Ill be sure to put you behind bars! Arthur challenged the killer. Brave guy. Must be tough for him if he tried so hard to catch him but let the case go cold for almost twenty years, Oga commented. I learned about the serial killer case with roots almost 20 years ago. And I never thought I would be part of it. 1,2,3 and X. It was supposed to be a regular day. I was just doing paperwork while Temma and Captain Noel were relaxing. Then, someone knocked on the door. Hey there! Amelia entered the room without even waiting for our response. Amelia. What are you doing here? I asked. Well... Im bored since there are no noteworthy cases coming up. So Im here to ask you guys if youve got something for me, she said. Theres nothing here. Westa is fortunately peaceful for now, Temma told her. Well... If you want to help, maybe you can solve the serial murder case from 20 years ago, Captain Noel said. Its a cold case already... But Ill gladly hear any details about it, Amelia replied. The case is about 3 victims. The first victim was a 30-year old doctor named Borres Kae. He was found dead in his home with the number 1 carved on his back. The second victim was a 38-year old teacher named Muriem Ast. He was also found dead in his home with the number 2 carved on his back. The last victim was a shopkeeper named Niel Sierra. Like the two other victims, he was found dead in his home and had the number 3 carved on his back, Captain Noel narrated the case. Hmmm... If they were all murdered in their homes, theres a chance that the murderer was an acquaintance, Amelia said. But according to Arthurs investigation, they dont have anything in common, Temma told her. Oh yeah. Arthur provoked the criminal last night... I wonder if the criminal would take the bait, I said. One clue we have about the murderer is that he was humming an old song. This detail wasnt released to the public, Captain Noel added. Old song? Amelia asked. Yeah. When the murderer attacked the second victim, Muriems son was in the house. He said that he heard the murderer humming a song. It went like this, Captain Noel started humming. Ah! That song! Whats its title? a voice behind us asked. Coco was standing at the doorway. I think its called the Ravens Night. Why did you ask? Captain Noel asked her. You see, I got locked out of your home and didnt have any keys. Thats why I decided to go here to borrow yours. But on the way, I heard a man in a mask humming that familiar song. It sort of stuck inside my head, she answered. Wait... Coco, are you sure you heard it correctly? Captain Noel asked and her face was getting paler. Whats wrong? Temma asked. Arthur is my neighbor. And a strange man was humming the song that the murderer once hummed. Oh no... We ran towards Arthurs house. If it was actually the murderer, then Arthur was in danger. Did he perhaps respond to the provocation? The door to his house was open and Captain Noel entered without knocking. Arthur? Are you okay? she shouted. We arrived at his room and saw the lifeless body of a man. It was none other than Arthur. His body was bloody and he had an X-shaped wound on his back. An X? I thought it would be a 4, Amelia said. She then got close to the body and moved his hand. There was a - symbol written with his blood. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. What do you think this means? Temma asked. I dont know. It must be a dying message since he hid it with his hand to avoid the murderer from seeing it, she answered. Id better call the other knights to have this place investigated... So, Amelia, are you up for this case? Captain Noel asked. Im more than ready to take this on, Amelia grinned. Thats great. Take Temma and Mikage with you. They should have enough authority to help you in your investigation. ### We decided to interview the past victims relatives. Amelia said that there was a chance that a connection could be found if we mention that Arthur was a victim. Our first destination was Borres wife, Natasha Kae. Hello there, is it alright if we ask you some questions with the case that involved your husband? Temma asked her. Why do you need to do it? Its almost 20 years since he died, she said. Actually, another victim was found today. His name was Arthur Karalis. Do you think your husband knows him? Temma asked as he showed her a picture of Arthur. I dont really know... Hey... Does your husband regularly go out on certain days? Like maybe secretly meeting with someone? Amelia asked. Oh... Now that I think about it, he would go out every weekend night and come back in the morning. Although I have no idea what he did or where he went. I see... Thanks for the information. Our next interviewee was Erk Ast. We arrived at his house and were welcomed. I see... There was another victim. Whats his name? Erk asked. Arthur Karalis, I answered. Arthur? Sounds familiar. He should be. Hes the lead investigator for the case when it happened 20 years ago. Anyway, do you think your father knows him?, Temma said. Im not sure... He never really talks about his friends. Hey, does your father go out on weekend nights? Amelia asked. Hmmm... Well, yeah. He would leave our home and arrive in the morning. My mom even thought he was cheating on her and had an argument with him. Our last interviewee was a dangerous man. Niel Serra had no living relatives in Westa so we had no choice but to interview him. That was why we were inside a familiar room inside an extravagant mansion. So... Youre here to ask about Niel, Arurandeisu said. Y-Yeah... Do you think he could be related to Arthur in any way? Temma asked. Hmmm... If I think about it, they were the same age 20 years ago. Theres a chance that they could have been classmates in the Knight Academy, he answered. Niel went to the Knight Academy? I asked. Yeah... But he dropped out. I didnt know why and when I asked him, he didnt give me a real answer. Did Niel go out during weekend nights? Amelia asked. Hmmm... I think so. Every time I ask him to hang out on weekends, he would say he was busy. I see... Thanks for answering, Amelia said. Hey... I have an offer for you, Miss detective. Why dont you work with the Familiaran for this case? Since the serial killer returned and Im the boss of the Familiaran, we could catch him easily. And what would you do if you got your hands on him? she asked. Lets just say he wouldnt get off lightly. Amelia thought for a while. No thanks. Id rather live with a clean conscience. If possible, Id rather have the criminal sent to prison than having him tortured, she said. I see. What a shame... If we had you on our side, it would be a lot easier. We left the Familiarans mansion and walked down the streets of Westa. So all we got is that the victims possibly met on weekend nights. The question is: where could they have met and what did they do? I asked. I dont know. There are too many unknowns in this case. Im starting to doubt Arthur Karalis, Amelia said. What do you mean? Temma asked. In his investigations, he said he didnt find any connection. However, we managed to find out that they were possibly meeting somewhere on weekend nights. Either he is a sloppy investigator or he must be hiding something. We saw a burning house in the distance. Ah great... First a murder then an arson. Maybe I jinxed it when I said that Westa is peaceful, Temma groaned. Hey... Whose house is that? Amelia asked a bystander. I dont know. Its an abandoned house. Nobody saw the owner, he answer. Temma. Can you find out who owns that house? Got it, Temma took out his Excellular. Why are you asking, Amelia? I asked her. An arson and a murder on the same day might be related. If thats the case... Amelia, according to the records, Arthur Karalis owned that house, Temma said. I knew it... This case runs deeper than I thought. We just stared at the burning house until the authorities arrived and put out the fire. In the dark and cloudy night. While the authorities were extinguishing the fire, we headed to the record center. Amelia made me find strange cases from 20 to 25 years ago. Even if it didnt involve the 4 victims, I still had to check it as long as it was out-of-the-ordinary. There would be bonus points if it was investigated by Arthur. For starters, what was out-of-the-ordinary for this world? Werent all cases out-of-the-ordinary? Could she mean something different from a murder or robbery? I skimmed through the files and tried to find anything strange. Hours passed as we searched around and I could only find one strange case: a series of disappearances that happened 20 years ago. There were no witnesses and no connection between the victims. However, they all disappeared during weekend nights. It was strange enough since around 35 people disappeared and it was investigated by Arthur himself. However, after the 35th victim, it stopped. I gave the file to Amelia. I see... This is indeed a strange case, Amelia said. Amelia, I compiled what I found out about Arthur, Temma handed her a piece of paper. I looked at it and saw many words scribbled. Arthur graduated from the knights academy as the top student. He was excellent in swordsmanship and was pretty decent in Dark Magic. Also, the fire has been put out and its safe to investigate the building. Then lets go back. Ive seen enough. We returned to the remains of the burnt house. I could still feel the lingering heat seething from the burnt walls. Everything was burned down. There was nothing left. What could we find here? Everythings gone already, I asked. Amelia entered a room and we followed her. Her eyes darted around the room. Dont you think that bookshelf is suspicious? she pointed at a metal bookshelf that was bolted to the ground. Why? Its common to see bookshelves in a house, Temma said. For one, its made out of metal unlike the remains of the other wooden bookshelves. And why is it bolted to the ground? Amelia approached the bookshelf and began investigating it. She then took out a screwdriver from her pocket and removed a false bottom. What? Howd you know that there was something there? Temma asked. Arthurs dying message. Most of the screws on the bottom were *-shaped except for one --shaped screw right at the center. So I removed that screw and the surrounding 8 other screws and found the fake bottom, Amelia explained. She pulled out a black box. It was locked by magic. What do you think, Temma? Amelia asked him. I dont know... Ive never seen this kind of magic before. Is that a safe? Why dont I take it to the Mage Guild? Arthur must have placed a powerful lock in it a knight said. Good idea. Here, Temma gave him the box and the knight jogged off. When he was out of our sight, Amelia spoke up, Who was that guy? Is he from your unit? Amelia asked. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Theres no one in our unit who looks like that. Hes probably from 12th, 14th, 15th, or 16th unit, Temma answered. Then how did he know that this house belonged to Arthur? Im pretty sure you asked your own unit for that information and I dont think there is a reason for the others to know that quickly. Ah crap! Dont worry. I placed a tracker on that box. We can follow him discreetly. ### The trackers signals stopped at a warehouse. We peeked from the entrance and saw the knight approaching a robed man. It was a dark and cloudy night so I couldnt see his face... Until I felt an eerie feeling... No way... What a creepy man. Wrapping bandages all over his face. Hes probably the mastermind, Amelia muttered. The two spoke for a while and then the man pointed at us, I know you three are over there. Get over here. He found out already? Impressive, Amelia walked forward and Temma followed. This was bad, I havent told them how dangerous that man was. However, I followed the two as they walked towards him. Temma already unsheathed his sword and I did the same. Anya, if you sense anything odd, tell me immediately, I told her using my mind. Hmmm? Who are we facing? Ah... I see... Geez. And here I was having a good nap, Anya replied. You have failed me. Because of you, the Unkindness runs the risk of being exposed, he told the knight as he was frozen in fear. The Unkindness? I see... I now get everything, Amelia said. What do you mean by that, Amelia? Do you know what the Unkindness is? I asked. Nope. First time I heard of it, she said. And I actually got my hopes up. But the four victims were all members of this Unkindness, werent they? Borres Kae, Muriem Ast, Niel Serra, and even the investigator Arthur Karalis. Thats why Arthur let the case go cold. Thats because his organization would be exposed, Amelia deduced. But why would Arthur let that case go cold? He must want to find out the identity of his friends killer, Temma asked. Not if hes the killer, himself. I was surprised by what she said. All other victims have 1, 2, and 3 on their backs. However, he was the only one who had an X. I wondered why the murderer didnt place 4. Remember: He was wounded by a Westa Knight according to the interview with Arthur, right? I see. If they see that wound, theres a chance theyll find out that he was the murderer, Temma said. And by camouflaging it as an X, the new killer could pin the blame on the already dead one and the knights would be chasing a dead killer. But why would he kill the three?, I added. It has something to do with the case that involved the disappearance of 35 people. They were probably behind it since the victims disappeared on weekend nights, the same time the four would leave everyone they knew and secretly meet each other. So... Am I right, Bandages? Amelia pointed at the bandaged man. The man clapped his hands, You are correct, young lady. Those four kidnapped all of the victims during the weekends. Until the three no longer wished to continue... They planned to turn themselves over to the knights. We could not have the organization exposed so we had Arthur dispose of them. But after 20 years, Arthur felt guilty and planned to confess. So you disposed of him too. And you had someone witness the murderer walking and humming the same song so that the knights would chase after a dead killer, Amelia said. That is correct, the bandaged man replied. Ill take it as a confession. Youre under arrest under the authority of the Westa Knight Order, Temma stepped forward. The bandaged man grabbed the knight who was still frozen in fear. An eerie feeling washed over me as darkness came out of the knights body and transferred to the bandaged man. The knight turned into ashes. What did you do?! Temma asked. I was merely disposing of the useless pawn. You say you will arrest me? the man spread his arms. A stronger eerie feeling overcame my body. Mikage! This is bad! Anya shouted in my mind. Many human-shaped shadows emerged from the ground. They were black and had sharp claws for fingers. There were more than 20 of them while there were just 3 of us. None shall live after knowing the Unkindness! the bandaged man snapped his fingers and the shadows charged at us. Bad decisions. We were completely surrounded...There were around 36 shadows while there were only 3 of us. Amelia only has her gun and she couldnt possibly have unlimited ammo. I could probably handle one or two of them but I doubt they would attack in pairs. They were getting nearer and I didnt know what to do. Until Temma stepped forward. Fortress Howl! a red aura emitted from his body and all of the shadows attacked him. Minds Eye! Temmas eyes began glowing and he managed to dodge and even land counters on his enemy. Amazing... Fortress Howl and Minds Eye. No wonder hes the vice-captain, Amelia said. What do you mean? I asked. Fortress Howl is a spell that causes you to look dangerous for non-sentient beings. They are useful for making sure that monsters are lured away from your allies as you take them all on. Then, your allies could freely attack a monster without fear of getting attacked by the others. But isnt that dangerous? Yeah. But thanks to his second spell, Minds Eye, its not as bad. Minds Eye allows you to see the trails of the future movement of your enemies. You could avoid their attacks and even plan your next moves. However, it costs a lot of mana and prolonged use causes your mind to have a headache due to information overload, Amelia said. I charged at one shadow and slashed at it. Anya! Im leaving the mana manipulation to you! Youre an amazing sword since you could do that, right? Of course I can. Let your imagination and resolve go wild! Ill make sure you wont lose any excess mana! I imagined my shadow piercing five enemies at once. My shadow rose and split into 5 spikes. It lunged at the shadows and hit them. I slashed another shadow. When I looked at Temma, he was doing well. He was avoiding all of their attacks and even defeated three at once. However, the defeated shadows merely reformed into new ones. Severed limbs just grew back and when I counted, there were still 36 of them. Theyre not dying?! I asked. It seems we gotta defeat the caster for them to disappear, Amelia said. I doubt theyll just let us do it though, Temma panted. Yield and I will grant you a painless death, the bandaged man said. Nah... We bought enough time. If youre planning to come out, then nows a good time! Amelia shouted. The door of the warehouse broke down as a group of men entered. Leading them was a tall man with glasses and gray hair. A golden sword was on his right hand and a gun was on his left. Arurandeisu? Why is he here? I asked. He planted a tracker on your shoes. Well, Im pretty sure that he now knows the situation, Amelia said. I looked at the sole of my shoes and sure enough, there was a rectangular device stuck on it. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. I never thought that Niel would be responsible for those disappearances. However, youre still responsible for his death. As his friend, I will have your head, Arurandeisu pointed his gun at the bandaged man. Familiaran!! In front of us is my enemy! Be a dear and take him out, he added and the men roared. They each fought a single shadow while Arurandeisu charged at the bandaged man. Temma and I followed him. The bandaged man shot off red orbs and we dodged them. He was quick on his feet since he managed to avoid our combined attacks. Even my shadow couldnt reach him and he used a barrier to avoid Arurandeisus gunshots. He could even block Temmas strikes with his wooden staff. Hes pretty good... Is he really a mage? Temma asked. Probably a battle mage like you. How annoying, Arurandeisu said. What should we do? I asked. Ive had enough, the bandaged man said and another wave of the eerie feeling washed over me. A giant black magic circle appeared on the ground and everyone was wrapped in dark chains. Whats this?! Temma asked. I-Its draining my strength, Amelia said. Draining their strength? I didnt feel anything aside from being pulled to the ground. Its time to end your pitiful lives. This is for the Unkindness, a black ball of energy hovered on his palm. If this magic was powered by the strange energy, then that could explain why I wasnt affected. After all, the bandaged man once tried to put that same dark energy inside me but I wasnt affected. Wait a minute. I managed to absorb the strange energy in Coco when she was rampaging. If I could do that, then I could set everyone free. Magic required an image and resolve. My resolve was not lacking since I want to save everyone here. I imagined being a drain for a sink and that the strange energy was water. I began sucking all of the strange energy Mikage! What are you doing?! Hey! Its dange-. My stomach twisted. The dark ball of the bandaged man, the shadows, and the black magic circle all went towards me as I absorbed them all. The eerie feeling became strong enough to consume me. Whats going on? the bandaged man said. I felt powerful. Too powerful. The bandaged man tried to conjure another ball but it got absorbed. Darkness was coming out of my body. That guy... He had no problems with killing. He was also more or less responsible for the disappearance of the 35 people. Then, there was no problem if he died, right? My shadow turned into a huge snake and bit off his arm. He howled in pain and I couldnt help but smile. Ahhh... His blood was so red... How wonderful... I willed my shadow to turn into a giant muscular man. The bandaged man tried to run so I turned his shadow into chains and bound him. You tried to kill us.... Hope youre ready to die for that, I snapped my finger and the giant shadow swung his fist. The fist was huge enough to crush his body but I made sure he wouldnt die from just one hit. The giant continued punching him repeatedly with each blow getting stronger from the last. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. The ground shook as the punches landed and I couldnt help but laugh. He should suffer more. Its because of people like him, many suffered. Because of their selfish desires, my peace would always get disturbed. All they wanted was my power for stupid things. Feels great to vent out a little. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. Smash. I wouldve kept on until I felt somebody tackle me. Mikage! Stop it already! Hes dead! Amelia told me. .... Dead? I killed another one? Wait.... My head hurts. The eerie feeling inside me got stronger. Anya!! I shouted. Youre back! Thank goodness! But there is something inside you thats... I know! Quick! Make me pass out! I dont think I can control myself! Okay okay. I dont know whats going on but youre gonna be in a world of hurt! I coughed up blood as all of my senses overloaded. My vision turned blurry and I felt dizzy. The last thing I remembered was seeing Amelias troubled face as she was calling out my name. Epilogue: The man behind the scenes (Volume 1) A man was silently reading a stone tablet. However, he was no ordinary man. Bandages wrapped around his entire body with a black coat over them. And then he felt a strange energy appear in his mind. It seems that Mikage finally began to awaken, he said. He knew that the creature named Mikage just tapped into his real powers since the spell he placed inside him would tell him if that happened. The spell he placed on him when he summoned the creature finally kicked in. If all goes well, he will search for the Primordial Memory. I hope the Unkindness will not figure out what he is before he becomes ready, he said. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The man continued translating the stone tablet. He still had one more job to do. He summoned Mikage because he was forced to do so and he wasnt sure that the boy would follow his plans. That was why he was working on a backup plan. In case the Unkindness would find out that Mikage was the one they were looking for and manage to capture him, he had to be prepared. That was why he was working hard on his new project. He was successful with Mikage and he knew he could pull off another summon. But for now, he had to rest. He had no idea what pushed Mikage to awaken his powers but he was sure that the Unkindness was somehow involved in it. He put down the tablet and read his written translation for it. I hate doing this but I will have to borrow your power... This is for the sake of the world. I will bring you here, Primordial Light. Prologue: A mischievous princess (Volume 2) Under the cover of the nights darkness, a young blue-haired girl with rabbit ears sneakily walked through the hallways of a castle. She was carrying a small pouch that was filled with money and a magic bag that could fit all of her necessities. When she knew it would be safe, she jumped out of the castles window and landed on the ground. The girl then walked towards the back of the castle grounds and opened a secret exit. Peko peko peko. No one knows of this path but me. Im glad Moona still hasnt found this so I can easily sneak out, she grinned. Stolen story; please report. After passing through the secret exit, she sprinted away from the castle and enjoyed her freedom. Now then. What should I do first, peko? she asked herself. She didnt plan anything but she wanted to do something fun. But first, I have to get as far away as possible from this place. Moona will have fun finding me, peko. And so, the blue-haired rabbit girl began her journey. You鈥檒l never know what you forget. The rays of sunshine entered through the cracks of the window. I rubbed my eyes while having a slight headache. Where in the world was I? I looked at the side of my bed and saw a blonde woman sleeping on a chair. Now that I thought about it, she looked sort of familiar. Was she watching over me while I was unconscious? The door opened and a blond man entered the room. He had a warm expression on his face that made me feel safe and secure. A tray filled with food was on his hands. Ah. Youre awake already. Thats good, he smiled at me. He then placed the tray at a table. You know... Amelia was worried sick. She didnt want to leave the room even if the doctors said you were stable already. What was that last night? Even I got the chills from what you did, he took a chair and sat down. Last night? What happened last night? I tried to recall but my memories were a blank. Not just the memories from last night but everything was a blank. Ummm... Who are you? I asked him. Hey hey... Dont joke around like that, Mikage. Its me. Temma Kishido, he said. The girl opened her eyes and let out a yawn. Her face beamed when she saw me. Mikage! Youre finally awake! I knew you would be fine but I had a feeling that something inside you was wrong. It looks like I was worried for nothing, she said. Amelia, there might be something wrong with him, Temma said. Sorry but... Who are you? I asked her. ### The examinations were finished and I sat down on the bed. A silver-haired woman, the blonde from the morning, and Temma were looking at me. So you have no idea on who I am or who you are? the silver-haired woman asked. Sadly, I dont remember anything, I answered. Amnesia... This is a problematic thing, Temma said. It must be because of what happened last night. I had a hunch that it would have a bad effect on Mikage... This is one of the rare times where I hate that Im right, the blonde girl told us. Well... For now, you should rest. Maybe your memories will just come back in time. Take a week off or something, the silver-haired woman said. Thanks... Ummm... Sorry but I dont really know your name. Oh yeah. Im Noel Shirogane. The captain of the 13th unit of the Westa Knight Order, she patted my shoulders and then left. Amelia, can I ask you for a favor? Temma asked. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. What is it? the blonde girl asked. Can you take Mikage out? His memories might come back if he sees a familiar sight or something. Thats worth a shot... So Mikage, are you willing to go out with me? she turned to me. Ummm... Am I Mikage? I asked. Something tells me that this is going to be a long day, she groaned. ### We were walking down the streets of the city. From what Amelia told me, my name was Mikage Kamishiro. I wondered why they didnt send me to my relatives so they could fill me in about my life until they told me that I was from another world. I was found when they were investigating about a rogue summoner. Noel and her unit found me lying on a magic circle and after taking a special exam, I became the administrative officer of the 13th unit. After that, I got involved in many cases as I tried to live my life in another world. Remember this place? she asked when we were in front of a building. A sign that had the words Westa Northern Exhibition Hall was placed above the entrance. I didnt feel anything coming to my mind so I shook my head. This was where you and I first met, she said. Is that so? Yeah. I just moved here and was trying hard to make a name for myself. There were no cases coming for me and I had to actively search for it. There were even times I had to bum Kiara for leftovers from her restaurant. Thats rough. Yes it was. After almost catching Spade Echo, my reputation among the knights improved. Cases came one after the other and I could finally afford to buy food and pay my overdue rent. And its all thanks to you. Me? Youre the one who vouched for me and convinced the authorities to make me help with the investigation. If you werent there, I wouldve been sent off as an annoying civilian. I never told you this before but... Thank you, Mikage, she smiled. I could feel my face blushing. There were no malice or ulterior motives in her words. All I could feel was her sincerity and gratitude. It was the first time I got thanked like that... I think. I see... Well, lets continue our walk. Too bad you couldnt remember our first meeting. Something told me that she was disappointed. I felt bad for letting her down. After walking for a while, we sat down on a bench. Ah. Mikage. Hey there! a tall dark man greeted me. He had a single horn growing out of the side of his head and his teeth were sharp. Is that your girlfriend? Ah... Must be good to be young. Wait... That made me sound like an old man, didnt it? he asked me. Are you Mikages friend?Amelia asked him. Hell yeah. What about it? Amelia told him about my situation. You have amnesia? Then that means you forgot that you owe me money? he asked me. Oh. I owed you? How much is it? I took out my wallet. Stop stop... I wouldve pulled that trick on anyone but it feels bad taking advantage of an amnesiac man, he said. So I dont owe you anything? Nope. That was just a joke... What happened anyway? Amelia told him about what happened last night. It was my first time hearing that tale too. Apparently, I absorbed the dark energy from the enemies and then lost control. After that, I coughed up blood and passed out. Hmmm... You absorbed dark magic? Is that even possible? Oga said. It looks impossible but it happened alright, Amelia told him. My sword began to glow and turned into a girl. Woah! Morning... she said. Amelia and I looked at her wordlessly. Why do you look like you have seen a ghost? she asked. Anya... Can you take a peek at Mikages memories? the tall man asked her. Whats this? Oga, why are you making me do it? Just do it already! The small girl walked towards me and touched my head. You lost your memories?!!! Reading for a solution Could it be... my fault?! the small girl whimpered. Anya... What did you do? the tall man asked. Mikage couldnt control himself and asked me to make him pass out. So I used his mana to overload his senses and make him unconscious. I never thought that his memories would be affected. No... Its not your fault. If all you did was overload his senses, then it wouldnt make sense for his memories to disappear too. I think its because he absorbed that strange energy, Amelia said. Oh yeah. I have a blade to pick with you, Mikage! Why in the world did you think that absorbing that strange energy is a good idea?! You were practically playing with an inextinguishable fire! she scolded me. I have no memories about that so I dont have an excuse, I replied. Sheesh... What can we do about your amnesia? she grumbled. Cant you just stimulate his mind? You can peek at memories so maybe you can just make him remember things, the tall man suggested. Normally, I could do that. But his mind was wiped clean. Instead of it getting sealed or buried like what normal amnesia does, his memories were completely erased. I cant stimulate something that isnt there. Wait. His memories were completely erased? So theres no chance of it coming back? Amelia asked. Unfortunately, no. Amnesia would normally just make your memories inaccessible. There is a lot of magic that could make the patient regain his memories. But in Mikages case, theres nothing to remember. Its like someone stole it, the small girl said. So... I would never remember my past? My heart felt heavy. Memories were the things that make up a persons identity. Was there absolutely no hope in recovering them? Mikage..... Amelia looked at me sadly. She must have noticed how I felt. How about you go to the Hall of Memories? the tall man suggested. Oh yeah! Its a pretty helpful place, the small girl said. Hall of Memories? I asked. They said its where the Primordial Memory lives. The Primordial Memory is said to have every beings memories, whether dead or alive, the tall man answered. Thats a great idea. So... Where is it? Amelia asked. I dont really know. Why dont you head to the library and see if there are things about it? Thanks... Umm... Whats your name again? I asked him. Oga Aragami. Good luck, Mikage, he waved his hand as Amelia and I headed to the library. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The library was a huge building. Countless bookshelves were filled to the brim with books. There were long tables with citizens reading books on it. There was even a second and a third floor and it had books too. There are a lot of books here. Can we find anything related to the Hall of Memories? I asked. In times like this, we should ask the librarian, Amelia said and headed to a counter. A black-haired girl with a round hat was seated behind a counter. She was wearing a white uniform and had a monocle. Her blue eyes were reading a book intensely. Amelia cleared her throat and the girl looked up from her book. Oh. Amelia, didnt see you there, she said. Hey there, Rosalyn, Amelia greeted her. The girl looked at me, You know... A library is not really a good place to have a date. Its a place for keeping quiet and reading books in peace. Nah. This is Mikage Kamishiro. Hes just my friend. Mikage, this is Rosalyn. Shes the librarian, Amelia introduced us. Hello, I greeted her and she just smiled. Well... What do you need, Amelia? she asked. Im looking for books that mention the Hall of Memories. The Hall of Memories huh? Rosalyn thought for a while, Can you wait over there? Ill bring those books to you. We sat down on a chair as Rosalyn left. Isnt she going to use a machine or an index to find the book? I asked. Nah. Rosalyn read all of the books here in this library. She knows them by heart. Thats why shes a really convenient librarian, Amelia answered. Rosalyn returned while pushing a cart of books. I have around 7 books that mention the Hall of Memories. On another note, there are 8 books here that talk about the Primordial Memory. It might help you out, she said. Thanks, Rosalyn, Amelia told her. No problem, she went back to the counter and continued reading her book. Now then. Lets research! Amelia took a book and started reading it. I took a book and opened it. It was about the different primordial beings. The Primordial Memory, Primordial Fire, Primordial Moon, Primordial Star, Primordial Dark, and others. I flipped the pages and apparently, the primordial beings have appeared throughout history. Some of them chose to inhabit a vessel and explored the world Others have been summoned and had other people use their powers. The page landed on the Primordial Dark and I read about it. The Primordial Dark was the oldest primordial being. After all, in almost every creation myth about the world, everything started with darkness. Because of that, the Primordial Dark had no will of its own and could barely be considered as alive. However, it was one of the most powerful primordial beings. Its symbol was a raven. Mikage... Find anything on your end? Amelia asked. Err... No, I put down the book and took out another one. Time passed as we read and Amelia took out a map. I got an idea on where the Hall of Memories is, she said. Really? Where is it? I asked. Theres a riddle for the Hall of Memories. Here, she handed me a book. North of the land of the rabbit people The valley of the red river Pass through the black sandstorm Head towards the blue cave The Hall of Memories will be ahead of it Whats this? I asked after reading it. Mikage, pack your bags. Were going on an adventure, she said. Wait... Youre coming along? Of course. A riddle like this needs a great detective to solve it. And besides, youre an important person to me. Ill gladly help you out, she patted my shoulder, Now lets clean up and start preparing things. Ill pick you up tomorrow. And so we decided to head on a journey for my memories. Traveling is fun You got everything? Clothes? How about money? Do you have enough? Temma asked me as I packed my things. I think so... Youre too worried. Ill be alright, I told him. Youre from another world and to make things worse, you lost your memories. Its dangerous for you to leave Westa. Ill be fine. Im not traveling alone. My sword glowed and transformed into a little girl. Mikages right. He has me so there will be no problems! Anya said. I was actually talking about Amelia... But Anya was also here so I guess it was good enough. I would come along if possible. But... You have responsibilities here. Westas peace is much more important as a knight. Dont worry, Ill be back before you know it, I patted his shoulder. I left the barracks carrying my bag and Anya walked beside me. When we arrived at the gates, Amelia was already there waiting for me. Anyas coming along? she asked. Shes my sword. Of course, shes coming, I answered. Oh yeah. Ill just turn into a sword so that we wont have to pay for extra seats. Just wake me up when you need something, she glowed and turned into a kris sword. So... What should we do now? I asked Amelia. First, we gotta hitch a ride to Pekoland. I already bought tickets for a caravan there. It should depart around 2 hours from now, she said and began walking. Pekoland? Remember the riddle? North of the land of the rabbit people. The only place that fits the bill is Pekoland, the kingdom of rabbit beastmen which was east of Westa. Well ride along a caravan on our way there. We walked until we reached Westas eastern gate. There were many people and carts there. Amelia talked to an old man and showed our tickets. The man pointed to a carriage and we dropped our bags there. The world was a dangerous place. Traveling alone would attract bandits and fighting monsters would be difficult. That is why when traveling long distances, people join caravans. Caravans were protected by powerful adventurers and so bandits wouldnt dare to attack them. Monsters wouldnt attack large groups of people so caravans were a popular method of traveling. After some time passed, the caravan began moving. A group of carriages moved in a line across the road. It was quite slow but that was to be expected when traveling in large groups. Adventurers were on their horses and were alert for any danger. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Amelia was looking at a map and I scooted towards her. What are you doing? I asked. Im trying to decode the rest of the message about the Hall of Memories, she answered. North of the land of the rabbit people The valley of the red river Pass through the black sandstorm Head towards the blue cave The Hall of Memories will be ahead of it I recalled the riddle. There are two valleys near Pekoland. But there are no deserts near both valleys, she said. Why look for a desert? I asked. Well... The part with the black sandstorm says so. Sandstorms only happen on deserts so its logical to look for deserts. But there are no nearby deserts in Pekoland. A black sandstorm... Maybe it doesnt really talk about deserts. Maybe its about a black thing that obstructs your vision like a sandstorm. There are too many unknown things... Red river, black sandstorm, and blue cave. Unless they are talking about their appearance, the colors must mean some other thing.... Could it be talking about a story involving those places? I left her alone since I couldnt possibly help her out. The breeze felt great when I poked my head out of the window. The caravan continued traveling until night came. They went to the side of the road and set up camp. The good thing with caravans was that our meals were already included. While waiting for the cooks to finish preparing the meals, I sat down on the ground after I put down my sleeping bag. Hey there, Amelia approached me and put down her sleeping bag next to mine. So... Hows the riddle? Got any clues? I asked her. Nope... The only thing I could do now is gather information in Pekoland. The meal arrived and we began eating. After eating, we were getting ready to sleep. The stars above were really pretty. It was as if it was the first time I saw that many stars. Hey, Amelia, I called out her name. What is it? she asked. Why are you helping me out this much? I told you already. Its because youre my friend. But dont you think this is already too much? I mean... You left Westa for me and even tried to solve a riddle. Nah. Its totally reasonable for friends to do this. Really? Yep. Besides, I owe you a lot. Think of this as my method of repaying you. Thanks... We really gotta find the Hall of Memories. Dont worry. Well definitely find it and restore your memories. Now go to sleep, we have to wake up early tomorrow. I stared at the stars above me. It didnt take long until I fell asleep. ### It took us 3 days until we arrived in Pekoland. Nothing really happened during the trip so everything was fine. We departed from the caravan as we headed into Pekoria, the frontier town of Pekoland. Pekoland was a rather large country. Amelia planned to go to Pekorias, the capital city and gather information. We walked around the streets of Pekoria and tried to find a place to stay the night. It was almost time for lunch and we were about to eat at a restaurant when we saw her. A blue-haired girl was lying on the ground. Two carrots were stuck on her braided hair and rabbit ears were growing out of her head. Hey.... Are you okay? I asked her. I heard a loud rumbling. Food... she muttered. She looked at me and said, Please give me food, peko! Encounter Thanks for the meal, peko, the blue-haired girl said after eating. Amelia and I found her lying on the ground. She looked so pitiful that we agreed to buy her a meal. That was why we were in a restaurant. Thanks for helping me out, peko. I thought I would be a goner, she said. Youre welcome. What happened to you anyway? Judging from your clothes, youre not a homeless person. Did you get robbed? Amelia asked. This is embarrassing but I blew all of my money in gambling, peko. The stall said that I could win a really cool prize so I spent all of my money trying to get it, peko, she answered. You spent all of your money in gambling? Thats a stupid move, I couldnt help but tell her that. Its been some time since I last got outside so I got a bit carried away, peko. Anyways, whats your name? she asked. His name is Mikage Kamishiro. Im Amelia Watson. Whats yours? Amelia introduced us. Hmmm... You can call me Pekora Usada. Yep... Thats a good name, peko, she replied. Good name? Was she using an alias or something? So... What brought you here to Pekoland, peko? Pekora asked. Were actually looking for the Hall of Memories, Amelia answered. Why would you need the Primordial Memory, peko? This guy lost his memories. Thats why we are looking for it. Were hoping it will help restore what he lost. You lost your memories? Pain peko. Yeah.... One thing led to another and I lost them. Thats why were trying to solve the riddle and find the Hall of Memories, I said. Whats the riddle, peko? North of the land of the rabbit people The valley of the red river Pass through the black sandstorm Head towards the blue cave The Hall of Memories will be ahead of it, Amelia recited the riddle. Pekora thought for a while. Land of the rabbit people definitely talks about Pekoland... And the valley of the red river probably meant Krev Valley, peko, she said. Krev Valley? Its true that its north of Pekoland but why do you think its the valley were looking for?Amelia asked. More than a thousand years ago, Krev Valley was a place where two great armies fought. They said that none of the two armies surrendered so they ultimately killed each other, peko. The fight had so many casualties that the blue river turned red for many days because of all the blood. Its a pretty famous story here in Pekoland, peko, Pekora answered. I see... Thanks for the information, Amelia said. The red river could mean the story where the river got filled with blood. That made sense. Amelia looked at the map and asked, What about the pass through the black sandstorm? What could it mean? I dont know... But I think the Peafowl Duchy could have an idea about it, peko. After all, the Krev Valley is near it, Pekora answered. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. So we dont need to head to Pekorias. We have to head to Krev Valley, I said. Say, can I come with you, peko? Pekora asked. Why do you want to come with us? Amelia asked. Im actually bored, peko. Finding the Hall of Memories sounds fun. You know were not on a trip, right? I know. Memories are important, peko. I want to help the people who gave me food. Think of this as my way of repaying the favor, peko. But we arent going to travel with caravans all the time. We might have to fight monsters on our way, I told her. Dont worry, peko. I can handle myself pretty well in a fight. Well, what do you think? Shall we bring her along? I asked Amelia. Hmmm... I suppose we could use an extra hand, she said. Alright!! You wont regret this, peko! We left the restaurant. Krev Valley could be found north of Pekoland right near the Peafowl Duchy. If we were to travel there, it would take around a day or two. For now, we gotta stock up on supplies here, Amelia said. I know a lot of good shops, peko, Pekora told us. While Amelia and Pekora went shopping, I waited at the plaza. Rabbit people were walking around and I just watched them. Have you heard? The princess disappeared from the castle, a rabbit woman gossiped to another rabbit woman. Really? Shes quite a troublemaker, isnt she? I feel sorry for the Peko Knights, the other rabbit woman said. A princess disappeared from her castle? That sounded like trouble. However, they didnt look anxious. From their conversation, the princess was a troublemaker. Could it be a common occurrence? I felt my stomach twist and an eerie feeling came over me. What was this feeling? The source of the eerie feeling was nearby.... What should I do? I decided to check it out. The eerie feeling was too much and it could cause trouble. Where have I felt this feeling before? The source of the eerie feeling was an alleyway. I entered it and cautiously walked forward. It was getting stronger and stronger as cold sweat dripped down my face. So... You have come, a voice said. I turned around and saw a robed man. He had bandages all over his body and a wooden staff was on his right hand. I was surprised to find out that Hector was killed. Although he still hasn''t fully embraced the darkness, he was still a powerful mage, he said. I unsheathed my sword. Everything about him was sending alarms in my mind. And there was something about him that was unsettling. The eerie feeling became stronger inside me. I have researched about you since our last encounter. Mikage Kamishiro, was it? It seems you are from another world, he said. Last encounter? Have I met him somewhere before? The interesting part is that you were summoned by him. Him? Shiroe, a former member of our organization. He was a powerful man who was in charge of our greatest ambition. Unfortunately, he disappeared after taking all of our research materials. Our only lead is you, the person he summoned in this world. Sorry but I dont remember anything like that. Of course you do not remember anything. I heard that you lost your memories. He knew that too? How did you know? We have eyes and ears everywhere. Also, it is interesting how you absorbed the Dark Corruption. Even absorbing the vestiges was a great feat. However, you still lost control over yourself. I thought you were unaffected by the Dark Corruption. It seems you only have a high tolerance for it. Maybe I should see how much you can handle before going out of control, he unwrapped the bandages around his arm and darkness oozed out. His black arm was definitely dangerous. How can I get out of this situation? Mikage!! Where are you?! Amelias voice shouted just outside the alleyway. This was bad. If Amelia would get dragged into this battle, I dont know what would happen. I was not confident that I could protect her against a dangerous guy like him. Maybe Pekora was a strong fighter... I will leave for now. This is not a good place to experiment, he said and his shadow swallowed him up. The bandaged man disappeared. My tensed up muscles relaxed as I sighed. Mikage!! I heard my name getting called. Im here! I shouted. Amelia and Pekora arrived at the alleyway and saw me sitting on the ground. What happened? Amelia asked. I told her all about the bandaged man and our one-sided conversation. I see... So hell come for you. We have to leave this city, Amelia said. Thats right, peko. If he attacks you, then itll be better if there are no civilians, Pekora added. The Dark Corruption, huh? Amelia muttered. Whats wrong? I asked her. Nothing... For now, lets leave. We already stocked up on supplies. And so we left the frontier town as we headed north towards Krev Valley. Raiding a bandit hideout We left Pekoria and traveled north with Krev Valley as our goal. When traveling on foot, it was recommended to stay on roads. It was because monsters avoid roads since they were enchanted to ward them off. Although the strength of the magic in the roads vary from place to place, it was still good to at least know that there would be less encounters with monsters. The only problem with traveling on roads was that there was a higher chance of encountering bandits. Pekoland may be a peaceful country but bandits lurk everywhere. They target small groups of travelers and rob them of their money and/or life. Pekora led the way while we followed her. It was normal since she was a resident of Pekoland so she knew the way. Our only lead is you, the person he summoned in this world, the bandaged mans words echoed in my head. He said that my summoner, Shiroe, was in charge of their organizations greatest ambition. Then why in the world was I summoned? Judging from what the bandaged man said, I was definitely not their greatest ambition. If I was, then they would have taken me already. Mikage... You okay? Anyas voice appeared in my mind. Yeah... Just having some thoughts... Having no memories is hard, I replied. Are you worried that you might not be human and might be something else? I dont really know much about myself since I lost my memories... Its true that you are a weird existence. I once told you about the weird thing inside your soul. It became stronger ever since you lost control of yourself that night. Inside me? Yeah. Theres a strange energy inside you. I have seen it somewhere before but I just cant remember where. Night arrived and we decided to camp out. Pekora tended to the fire and was cooking some meat. Somehow, I felt weird thinking about rabbit people eating meat. I saw Amelia scribbling on a piece of paper and approached her. Are you still trying to solve the riddle? I asked. No... This is different. Im trying to decode Arthurs documents, she answered. Whos Arthur? Oh yeah... You lost your memories... Basically, hes a member of the Unkindness and we investigated his murder together. Anyways, we found a safe that was locked with magic. Before we left Westa, the knights unlocked it and gave me a copy of what was inside. And did you manage to decode it? Sort of... It uses a really old method of encryption. Although there were some parts that turned out to be weird characters. Weird characters? Like they look like runes but I dont know any runes that look like them Can I see them? Knock yourself out, she gave me her notes. Basically, the documents talked about the Unkindness. How their leaders had bandages wrapped around their bodies and how their goal was to summon the Primordial Dark and control it. Arthur Karalis was actually a spy of the knights and was already deep in the organization before he got murdered. The one in charge of finding a way to summon the Primordial Dark was a man named Shiroe. He disappeared while taking most of his research materials. The only thing left in his lab was a coded message. Katachinaki mono jiga mo motazu, I recited. The letters were weird and were created from lines that were connected to each other. Wait... Can you read it? Amelia asked. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Sort of... I just looked at the letters and the words form in my mouth, I answered. Read all of it, she told me. Jiganaki mono ishi mo motazu. Ishi naki mono wo seifukushikanezu. Mu wo tashika na mono ni katadoru to genkei ga hitsuyou to nari. Hitotsu no jikuunai de wa onaji sonzai ga hitotsu shika orazu no wa yo no kotowari. Yue ni betsu no jikuu kara no genkei ga hissu to naru. Ijou no jouken soroeba, yami ga shuchuu ni osameru, I read out loud. And do you have an idea on what it meant? she asked. Nope... Im pretty sure I know this language but I dont know how to translate it, I answered. It must be a language from another world... We definitely need to get your memories back and have it translated. Hey, the foods ready peko! Pekora called out and we headed towards her. I munched on the meat as I stared at the stars. Having no memories was hard. Even if I knew how to read that language, I couldnt translate it. I wonder what kind of guy I was before I lost them. The next morning came and we continued walking. There was nothing interesting in sight until we saw a rabbit girl run towards us. Help! she shouted. Whats wrong, peko? Pekora asked. Bandits took my family! I just escaped from their hideout, she told us. This was bad... Lets help her out, I told Amelia. Are you sure? We might be outnumbered, she said. But itll be hard living with our conscience if we just ignore her. Well said, peko. Where are they? Pekora asked the girl. Their hideout is a cave in the forest ahead, she answered. Okay... Heres what well do... You go and get help from Pekoria. Well go ahead and scout, Amelia said. Thats fine. Well keep track of the bandits movements, I agreed to her plan. The girl went on her way to Pekoria while we headed towards the bandits hideout. We arrived at the forest and cautiously moved forward. There were two men standing in front of a cave. We hid behind the bushes to avoid alerting them. What are we going to do with the people we captured? the first bandit asked. Theyre pretty useless and they are all men. The boss would probably kill them later, the second bandit answered. They are going to kill them? Amelia, what should we do? I asked. If we wait for help, it might be too late... No choice... We gotta storm in, Amelia answered. Mikage... Use your shadow to knock them out from a distance, Anya suggested. Use my shadow? How? Just imagine your shadow rising up and turning into a whip that would hit them. Your resolve to knock them out should be solid too. Ill handle the rest. I did what she told me and my shadow lunged at the two men. It wrapped around them and slammed them at each other knocking them out. Nice one, peko, Pekora said and we entered the cave. There were no bandits until we came across a huge room where everyone was gathered. They were eating and the captured men were tied up in a corner. Amelia readied her gun and I unsheathed my sword. Pekora took out the carrots that were in her braids and they turned into two orange-colored swords. Thats a pretty neat weapon, Amelia said. Thanks, peko. I got it as a birthday present, Pekora replied. So we charge in like this? I asked. Yeah. Go ahead, a voice behind us said. Three bandits were behind us and had their weapons pointed at us. I wondered what happened to the guys guarding the hideout... Turns out we got a few brave souls, he said. They pushed us to the center of the room and all of the bandits stared at us. Whats this? a man with an eyepatch asked. We got a few people attempting to attack us. They were pretty careless though. Anya... Can I make my shadow attack everyone? I asked her in my mind. Mikage... I only made you use your shadow since we had to sneak in but every time you use Dark Magic, the thing inside you grows stronger. If we attempt to use a large-scale magic like that, I dont know what will happen to you, Anya answered. But we dont have a choice... Im going to make my shadow attack everyone at once. And with that distraction, we could turn the tides. We got a few girls here... Well have a fun time, the eyepatch guy grinned. A ray of silver light shone from the entrance and then balls made of silver light hit the bandits who were near us. Whats going on?! a bandit asked. Taking it as my cue, I used Dark Magic and let my shadow spread out all over the room. Fists made of darkness landed an uppercut on every bandit. However, I didnt knock out everyone. Some of them went back up and drew their weapons. A silver ray of light came from one direction and hit two of the bandits. We looked at where it came from and a purple-haired girl was there. A silver aura was enveloping her and her face was visibly bored. HEY MOONA! Pekora shouted. You really like attracting trouble, Princess, she said. Wait.... Did she just call Pekora a princess? A talk with a vessel Hey Moona! How did you find me, peko? Pekora asked the purple-haired girl. I tracked you down until Pekoria. While I was following your trail, I met a girl who said that a group of people was trying to attack a bandit hideout. I wouldve ignored it but I found out a rabbit girl with carrots on her hair was part of that group, she answered. Its great that you guys reunited but we still have bandit problems, Amelia reminded them. The bandits were ready to attack us. With the element of surprise gone, this would be a tough battle. Then lets give them hell, peko! Pekora charged as she swung her two swords. It was a chaotic fight. Amelia fired her gun, Pekora chaotically swung her two swords, the purple-haired girl shot silver rays, and I slashed at the bandits using my sword. One by one, the bandits fell. When it was over, there were many bandits lying on the ground. The purple-haired girl covered us and defeated any bandit that came close to hurting any of us so we got off without having any injuries. Mikage... You have no problems with killing? Amelia asked. Why would I? Its a kill-or-be-killed situation, I answered. I guess this is an effect of your amnesia, she muttered. Did I have problems with killing? I really didnt feel anything when I ended those bandits lives. Besides, they probably dirtied their hands with blood already. If they kill people, then they should be prepared to be killed too. Thats over, peko. Are you guys alright? Pekora freed the prisoners. T-Thank you very much, one of the prisoners said. The girl who escaped is waiting in Pekoria. Go, the purple-haired girl told them and they left. Thanks for the rescue, Moona, Pekora said. Pekora... Who is she? And why did she call you a princess? I asked. I am Moona Hoshinova, the chief of the Peko Royal Guards. This troublemaker is the princess of Pekoland, Pekora Francoise Ru... Belolicht? Moona asked Pekora. My real name doesnt matter. Besides, Pekora Usada sounds more friendly, peko. Moona, I order you to call me by that name too, Pekora said. Anyway, its time to return to the castle. No! Im going on an adventure with Mikage and Amelia to find the Hall of Memories! Hall of Memories? Why would you need the Primordial Memory? she turned her attention to me. I actually lost my memories so Im hoping that the Primordial Memory could help me out, I answered. Moona stared at me like she was looking at a weird creature. You bastard... Dont think you can get away with this! a bandit rose up and charged at Amelia while holding a dagger. Amelia was too far from us and I couldnt possibly reach her in time. Even if I were to use my shadow, it wouldnt be fast enough. However, I had one desire inside me and that was to save Amelia from the bandit. An eerie feeling entered my body and the bandits shadow turned into a huge spike and stabbed him. The bandit groaned and died. His shadow returned to the ground as he fell down. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Excuse me for a bit, Moona walked towards me and started patting my body. She grabbed my hands and stared at the palms. After that, she went to Pekora. You wont change your mind in trying to find the Hall of Memories? Moona asked her. Nope. I owe them a debt, peko, Pekora answered. What kind of debt? They gave me food when I was really hungry. Gotta repay that favor, peko. Why didnt you just buy food? You took some money before you ran away. Umm.... About that... Pekora started fumbling with her fingers. She lost all her money while gambling, Amelia answered Moonas question. Wait until Her Highness hears about this, Moona said. Please dont! Mama is scary when shes angry, peko, Pekora pleaded. We left the bandits hideout while Pekora was trying hard to convince Moona to keep her mistake a secret. So? What are your plans, Moona? Pekora doesnt want to go back unless we find the Hall of Memories, Amelia asked her. My role as the chief of the Peko Royal Guards is to make sure that the royal family is safe. If this is the princess desire, then I have no choice but to accompany her, she answered. Youre coming along, peko? Hooray! We have a strong fighter! Pekora cheered. Well. Its great we have the chief of the Peko Royal Guards on our side, I agreed. With Moona joining us, we continued on our way to Krev Valley after burying the dead bandits. It was already late in the afternoon when we continued our journey again. We didnt encounter any more problems as we were getting nearer to our destination. If all went well, we could arrive at the Peafowl Kingdom in a week. We really didnt have to worry about monsters or bandits. Moona already showed us her strength and Pekora said that Moona was really strong. If she felt like it, she could have taken out all of the bandits by herself. Night came and we camped out again. Amelia and Pekora tended the fire while I sat down on the ground and stared at the stars again. Do you have a moment? Moona approached me. Whats wrong? I asked. Are you a normal human? Or are you just like me? What do you mean? Theres a reason why I am this strong. I am actually a vessel of the Primordial Moon. A vessel? Its more like a medium actually. The Primordial Beings all reside in a different plane than us. I could tap on the powers of the Primordial Moon and use its powers. The silver rays of light I shoot out are condensed moonlight. Also, Im more powerful at night. I see... And youre saying Im like you? Dark Magic only allows you to control your own darkness. From earlier, you made a bandits shadow go against him. There was no way a regular human could control another persons shadow. Thats why I thought you were not using magic to control the darkness but instead, you were controlling it by your own will. So youre saying that.... Yes. You might be a vessel for the Primordial Dark. That was when some things made sense. Shiroe was in charge of their organizations greatest ambition which was summoning the Primordial Dark. But instead, I got summoned. The only explanation that I could think of was that I was summoned as a vessel for the Primordial Dark. Thats interesting, my sword transformed into a little girl. Despite seeing a sword turn into a girl, Moona didnt look surprised. Now that I thought about it, the strange thing inside Mikage was similar to the energy used by the enemies we encountered during the Dark Times. I see. Its the Primordial Dark, Anya said. Wait... If youre a vessel, does that mean that you could interact with it? I asked. Why yes. I talk with the Primordial Moon every now and then, Moona answered. Then how come the Primordial Dark never talked to me? Moona thought for a while. Maybe its because the Primordial Dark had no will of its own? It existed before free will was created so I guess thats why, she answered. The foods ready! Amelia shouted at us and Moona went to the campfire. Wait a minute... If they just needed a vessel for the Primordial Dark, wouldnt anyone do? I mean, why was I summoned just to become a vessel? It would benefit them better if they used someone from their organization. Why me? I decided to push that question back to my mind since I couldnt arrive at an answer no matter how much I thought. I have to get my memories back first. In the right place at the right time We already reached the northern boundary of Pekoland after around a week of walking. We either camped outside or rested in an inn of a city we passed through. It was a long journey but it was far from over. I wonder how Temma and Noel were back in Westa. After a few more days, we arrived at Pavolian, the Peafowl Kingdoms capital city. It was great that we found it since it meant that we could stay in an inn. I was getting tired of sleeping outside and I felt bad for Moona who had to stay up and keep watch. A bit further north of Pavolian would be the Krev Valley. But before we have to go there, we had to find information about the black sandstorm part of the riddle. That was why we had stopped by Pavolian. Hopefully, we could find something in their library or a citizen would recognize something. We entered the city and many people were walking around. It was easy to differentiate between the tourists and the citizens. The citizens were wearing elegant clothes. I heard that Pavolian was a prosperous city since it was a trading center between different kingdoms. So... What should we do, peko? Pekora asked. First off, we have to secure a place to stay, Amelia answered. Sounds like a plan, Moona said, We walked around and found out that most of the inns were full. Apparently, there was going to be a festival in Pavolian celebrating the kingdoms 300-year founding anniversary. There was even going to be a parade around the city. It took us some time until we found an inn that had some rooms but... You only have 2 double bed rooms? Amelia asked the innkeeper. Sorry. Most of our single rooms are taken already, he answered. Our arrangements in the inns we came so far was that I would be in a separate room from the girls. If possible, Amelia would also be in a single room. Pekora and Moona would always share the same room since it was Moonas duty to keep an eye on Pekora. What should we do? Find another inn? I asked. No... Were already lucky that we found one with vacant rooms, Amelia said. If thats the case, Im sharing a room with Moona, peko, Pekora chimed in. So that means... Amelia looked at me. W-Well... Its just for one night, right? I asked her. Yeah. I know you wont do anything inappropriate, she replied. And so we rented the rooms of the inn. Everything was solved... At least that was what was supposed to happen until we dropped our bags in our room. Wait a minute... I thought our room was a double bed, Amelia said. I couldnt comment on anything since I could feel the awkwardness. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. We thought that the double bed room meant two beds... But instead, we got one huge bed that was meant for 2 people. Lets ask Moona and Pekora about their room. Maybe they would agree to switch with us if they got separate beds, I suggested. We went to their room and found out that they also had one huge bed instead of two small beds. Well... Theres no problem, peko! You two are friends, right? Pekora asked. Y-Yeah... Friends totally share beds, Amelia was flustered. I dont really know about that since I lost my memories, I replied. Dont tell me you have feelings for each other and are afraid that things might escalate, Moona said. N-No! Mikage and I are just friends, right? Amelia said. Y-Yeah. I wouldnt have any problem sharing a bed with her, I added. Then the problem is solved, peko. Now lets find some information about the black sandstorm! Pekora went outside of the room. I guess it was better to focus on trying to find information. We went to the library and researched on the books that talked about Krev Valley and the surrounding areas around it. Pekoras story about the Krev Valley was true. The battle between the two armies did change the rivers water from blue to red because of the blood that was spilled. However, it didnt have any other information so I returned the book. In the bookshelf, I saw an interesting book. It was a book about Dark Magic. I picked it up and started reading it. Basically, Dark Magic involves controlling your own darkness using mana. One could compress darkness and shoot it out, control their shadow, and even make a room dark with artificial darkness. One could even wrap darkness around their body part and make it move like a puppet on strings. That way, a dark mage could fight despite having his bones broken. I wonder if that was what the bandaged man did to his black arm. Speaking of the bandaged man, I thought he would come after me but its been several days. We even entered the Peafowl Kingdom without any troubles. It wasnt that I was complaining. I actually liked it when there were no problems... But they had answers to the questions I have. I was the vessel for the Primordial Dark... It made me wonder why it was specifically me. Moona was a vessel for the Primordial Moon and she was a citizen of this world. So why was I summoned to become a vessel? I returned the book to the shelf and continued searching for books related to Krev Valley. Grabbing a few books, I returned to the table to continue reading. This is boring, peko, Pekora complained. Do your job of finding information, Moona told her. Hey. Im the princess here! You shouldnt order me around, peko! Right now, youre not Princess Pekora. Youre Pekora Usada. You said it yourself. I hate it when youre right, peko. I sat down near them and placed the books on the table. Find anything? I asked. Unfortunately, no, Moona answered. I found out that the Peafowl Kingdom has delicious eggs and turkey meat. The turkeys they raised here are all high quality since they were fed with lots of boosters and raised with magic, peko, Pekora said. ...... Thats helpful, I didnt bother scolding her. No clues in the books so far... I guess we need to ask someone, Moona said. I already asked the librarian and she had no idea. Even the books here are not helpful... I got spoiled by Rosalyn, Amelia joined our conversation. We were stumped... What could the black sandstorm mean? Huh? Mikage, is that you? a voice behind us asked. I turned around and saw a blond man. His warm smile made me relax. Where did I meet him before? Temma? What are you doing here? Amelia asked. Ah! He was Temma. My roommate in the 13th units barracks. He was also the vice-captain of our unit. Amelia. Good timing! We could use your help, he said. Help? What for? she asked. Spade Echo is coming again. Another illusion That thief is coming? Amelia asked. Yeah. Her target this time is a gem called Red Rose, Temma answered. Ive heard of it, peko. Its a large red gem right? The Red Rose was found in ancient ruins and was said to have mysterious magical properties, peko, Pekora chimed in. Who are you? Temma asked. I am Pekora Usada. And this girl is Moona Hoshinova, she introduced themselves. Wait... Shes THE Moona Hoshinova? The chief of the Royal Peko Guards? Temma exclaimed. Yes. Thats me. And you must be Temma, the Dark Knight. I had fun watching you fight in the Dance of the Blades, Moona replied. Why is the chief of the Royal Peko Guards traveling with you two? Its complicated, I answered. Back to the topic at hand, Spade Echo is coming for real? Amelia asked. Yes. She sent out a notice three days ago. And since the 13th unit has the most experience in dealing with her, the Peafowl Kingdom asked for our assistance. Will you help us out? You almost caught her twice already. Maybe the third times the charm. I would like to help but.... I have my hands full with Mikage, Amelia said. She sounded really disappointed. From her reaction when she heard Spade Echos name, she must have a history with her. Maybe it was her pride as a detective to catch a thief. Its okay if you want to help out, I told her. Really? But what about your memories? she asked. We can search for my memories after you try catching Spade Echo. Its not going to take long, right? I said. Spade Echo will appear tonight. So you can try catching her later and then proceed to searching for Mikages memories, Temma added. Amelia smiled, puffed out her chest, and adjusted her hat. Tonight is Spade Echos last heist, she grinned. Were going to catch a thief, peko? Sounds exciting, Pekora said. I heard about Spade Echo. Shes a formidable foe, Moona added. Lets head to the place where the Red Rose is guarded. I need to find any possible entrances and escape routes, Amelia said. And so, we headed to the location of the Red Rose which was the Peafowl Kingdoms Royal Palace. It was a huge marble structure with several towers. The whiteness of the marble made it look like it was glowing and the design of the castle was grand. The green-tiled roofs matched the white walls and the statues of peacocks were beautifully sculpted. So the Red Rose belongs to the Royal Family. Spade Echos got guts trying to steal from them, I said. She is impossible to catch so she probably doesnt fear much, Temma replied. No. Theres no such thing as impossible to catch. Ill definitely get her this time, Amelia told us. With Temma around, we had no problems entering the Royal Palace. When we arrived there, I saw a familiar silver-haired girl. Captain Noel. Im back and I brought help, Temma told her. Whats Mikage doing here? Noel asked. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. It just happens that our goal is nearby. When we found out that Spade Echo will strike, we decided to help, I answered. Oooh! Amelias here too! We now have a better chance of catching her, Noel cheered. Thats right. Ill be more vigilant this time, Amelia said. A white-haired woman walked towards us. She was wearing an elegant dress and a hairpin with three blue feathers. I see you brought help, Temma, she said. Yes. Amelia should be a great boost, Temma replied. Who is she? I whispered to Amelia. Shes Reine Pavolia, the Lady of the Peafowl, she whispered back. Ive seen you before. Youre the man with the weird mana. At that time, Spade Echo was also targeting another gem, Reine turned her attention to me. Weird mana? I asked. Yes. Even if the anti-magic barrier was deployed, I could still sense your mana. Its as if you were unaffected by the barrier, she answered. I was unaffected by the barrier? So that meant I could do magic even if it was a no-magic zone? And this must be Amelia Watson, the detective who almost caught Spade Echo twice, she looked at Amelia. More like the dumb detective who let her get away twice. Although I wouldnt make the same mistakes as last time, Amelia said. I suppose you need to see the Red Rose. Follow me, she started walking and we followed her. We climbed a circular staircase and after a lots of steps, we reached the top room. There were several knights from the 13th unit and the Peafowl Kingdom who were guarding the Red Rose. They were spread around the room. The tower had one window which was sealed with bars and the only exit was the door leading to the long staircase. In the middle of the room was a glass case that had a palm-sized red gem inside of it. This is the Merak Tower of our castle. Its the highest tower in the castle and it only has one exit which was the staircase we just used. The window here is sealed which makes it impossible to enter, Reine said. Is there an anti-magic barrier here? Amelia asked. We just finished deploying the anti-magic barrier. Although I think its useless since Spade Echo doesnt rely on magic, Temma said. Amelia was deep in thought as she looked around. What time will Spade Echo strike? she asked. This is her notice, Temma handed her a note. I looked at it and saw a strange message. A day before the peacocks birthday, When the soldier digs the earth, I will arrive. -Spade Echo Tomorrow is the Peafowl Kingdoms founding anniversary... So if we take the peacocks birthday to be that, then that means shell strike tonight, peko, Pekora said. But at what time? Do we have to be alert all night? Moona asked. Shell arrive at 11 tonight, Amelia answered confidently. You decoded it already? I was surprised. Its actually kind of easy to the point its disappointing. When the soldier digs the earth actually tells us about the time shell arrive. When you dig, you use a shovel which is also known as spade. So you have a soldier, also known as a jack, and a spade. Therefore, shes talking about the Jack of Spades in a deck of playing cards, she started explaining. Wow... I never wouldve thought about it that way. And she decoded it in just a few minutes? But what does that have to do with 11 tonight? Noel asked. I see... In a deck of playing cards, there are Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, and King. If we take Ace as 1 and continue counting, then Jack would be 11, Moona answered. Thats right. And since she didnt come at 11 this morning, then shell strike at 11 tonight, Amelia added. So this is the ability of Westas famous detective. Even our scholars had a hard time decoding the message and yet she did it in just one look, Reine said. Although her code is kind of disappointing. Her previous message was more of a challenge than this one.... Unless... Amelia grinned. What is it, peko? Pekora asked. Nothing... Lets standby until 11. Time passed and the time when Spade Echo would arrive was getting closer. It was a few minutes until 11 but there was nothing strange in the room. I looked at the watch I borrowed from Temma and it was only a minute until the clock hits 11. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... It was now 11:00 in the evening. The light crystals that were illuminating the room shattered and everything was covered in darkness. Whats going on?! Noel shouted. Its Spade Echo. Somebody get the lights! Temma barked orders. When a knight illuminated the room with a light crystal, we found out that the Red Rose was missing from the glass case. And when we looked outside the window, a white figure with wings was flying away. In a few seconds of darkness, Spade Echo took the gem and escaped despite having us standing guard at the staircase and without destroying the bars sealing the only window. Cornered! The white figure was flying further away. Lets go! Noel shouted and the knights were all about to give chase but... Wait. Dont leave the room, Amelia said and blocked the exit. What are you doing, Amelia? Spade Echos going to get away, Temma asked. Even if we give chase to that, by the time we reach the ground because of the long staircase, that thing would be gone already. We dont even have Floaters on standby, she answered. But that doesnt mean we shouldnt try, Noel told her. Nah. Theres no need to chase after it if we want to catch Spade Echo, Amelia grinned. What do you mean? I asked. Its all part of her plan... Right, Spade Echo?! she pointed at a Peafowl knight. Me? the knight pointed at herself. I was disappointed by how simple your code was compared to the previous one... However, you can look at the When the soldier digs the earth in another way, she said. Another way? Reine asked. I deduced the Jack of Spades from that message... But if you think about the phrase digging the earth, you could think about digging graves. In other words, it could mean that a soldier was digging the grave of this case. Spade Echo would disguise as a knight and make us fail in guarding the Red Rose, Amelia explained. But what makes you say its me? Spade Echo could be anyone, the knight argued. Thats right. Why would you doubt Sheila? Shes an outstanding knight, another Peafowl knight asked. Thats true... When I realized the codes second meaning, I had to suspect every knight here. So Ill demonstrate it. Mikage, she called my name. What is it? I asked. Take a good long look at her. Make sure to remember her face, Amelia instructed. I did what she told me. The knight had brown hair and green eyes. I burned her face in my mind. Now look away and describe her, Amelia said. I turned my head away and was about to describe the knight. But I couldnt remember anything about her. Even if I took a good long look at her facial features, all I could remember was a blurry image. I cant describe her, I gave up after trying real hard to think. I encourage everyone to try it too. Take a good long look at her face and then try to describe her when you look away, Amelia said. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. This is strange. Why cant I remember her face? Noel wondered and everyone murmured in agreement. I see... Its because of Spade Echos artifact, isnt it? Temma asked. Yes. Spade Echo uses a rare artifact that makes people forget her face even if they see her. Thats why she doesnt use a mask or wear anything that would hide her identity. So when I suspected the knights, I looked for someone whos face I couldnt remember and it just happened to be you! Amelia pointed at the knight again. It was a dangerous situation for Spade Echo. The door leading to the staircase was blocked and there were no other exits. She couldnt possibly overpower everyone here. It was the ideal situation to catch her... Until an eerie feeling washed over me. One of the walls of the tower crumbled as something crashed into it. It was a huge bird made up of darkness. Riding on its back was a man who had bandages wrapped around him. Whats going on?! Noel asked. Several humanoid shape shadows with claws formed from the darkness of the bird. Mikage Kamishiro... I have come for you, the bandaged man said and landed on the floor. Oh come on! Why do you have to attack just when I was about to capture Spade Echo?! Amelia complained. The humanoid shadows attacked the knights and the room was chaotic. Amelia stood by the doorway to prevent Spade Echo from fleeing while everyone was ready for combat. I thought this was a no-magic zone? I asked. Its supposed to be that way... We have no choice but to fight using swords, Temma said and slashed at a shadow. Pekora and Moona were also busy fighting. The bandaged man walked towards me as several dark balls hovered above him. If you come with me quietly, I will let everyone here live, he said. Anya... Can I use magic? I asked her. Youre wondering because of what Reine told you? Yeah... Also, that bandaged man can use magic despite the anti-magic barrier. Im thinking I could do the same. Lets try it. Nope. Ill defeat you myself! I unsheathed my kris sword, A foolish response, the dark balls launched towards me. My shadow rose up and created a wall between us. The dark balls hit the shadow wall and exploded. You can use magic?! Temma asked. Somehow, I answered. I then charged at the bandaged man and swung my sword. He made his shadow block it. As expected, you are indeed related to the Primordial Dark, he said. What makes you say that? I asked him. I will let you in on a little secret. Anti-magic barriers are useless when you tap on the bottomless power of the Primordial Dark. More balls of darkness headed towards me and I dodged it. I was standing near the hole in the wall. It was a long way down and I didnt want to fall. But of course, I fell anyway when a piece of the floor crumbled and I lost balance. Mikage! Amelia screamed. A brown-haired girl jumped after me and then caught me. Her wig came off revealing pink hair and her knight outfit came off and was replaced with frilly white-pink outfit. Hold on tight, she told me and wings appeared on her back. We were flying in the air and getting away from the chaos. Spade Echo?! Why? I asked her. Im a courteous thief. As much as possible, I dont want anyone to get hurt in my heists. Although this one was too much of a failure because of the sudden interruptions, she answered. Look out! I shouted when I saw a dark ball heading towards us. Spade Echo didnt dodge in time and the dark ball expanded and swallowed us. Behind the illusion Everything was dark. Even if it was 11 in the evening, there should be some light from the stars and the moon. But currently, we are surrounded by darkness. All I could feel was someone holding me. That someone was Spade Echo. Yeah. Westas most notorious thief was holding me. When I fell off the tower, she jumped off and saved me. She then activated her wings and started flying away. Unfortunately, the bandaged man shot a ball of darkness which she failed to avoid. That was why we were surrounded by darkness since the ball swallowed us. It took some time until the darkness faded away. We used to be flying over Pavolian but now we were above a sea of trees. Spade Echos wings started glowing and we slowly descended. We landed on a forest clearing. Whats going on? We were just flying over Pavolian and now were in a forest? I asked. That ball probably had a teleportation spell embedded on it. When it swallowed us up, it transported us to another place, Spade Echo answered. So that means were in a place where the Unkindness wants me to? I became alert and looked around. If all went well, then we could be in a place they want us to be in. But I foiled them, she said. What do you mean? My wings are an ancient artifact. Aside from letting me fly using little mana, it also prevents me from getting forcefully teleported. It would use up its power to teleport me a few kilometers in a set direction from the place I was forcefully teleported from. This time, I set it so that I would get teleported a few kilometers east. So we only need to travel west. Why do you have that precaution anyway? There are some rooms that have a teleportation trap. They would send the intruder to a prison or another room. Thats why I have a precaution to avoid that. A thief can never be too careful. She took out a compass and began walking. Come on now. We need to go back to Pavolian, she said. Are you sure you want to return there? This is a good chance to escape, I asked her. And what? Leave you here to die? Its true that I could just fly away but having you try to travel alone would leave a bad taste in my conscience. Besides, you dont look like you have a compass so you might get lost, she grinned. We began walking west. I never thought that I would be walking with a famous thief. She was really short and in the darkness, her white clothes was really eye-catching. So... Why is your name Spade Echo? I asked her. Are you that curious about me? Just trying to start a conversation. Is it about an echo of a shovel? No! The Spade part of my name clearly talks about the spade suit in a deck of playing cards! Its NOT a shovel. Sheesh. What about the Echo part? The Echo meant Trace and Vestige. Sounds cool right? I thought Echo meant the echo of sounds. Thats what most people think. She stopped on her tracks. A large beast was in front of us. It sniffed the air and then found us. The beast let out a deep growl. Ah great. A monster, she said. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. The beast charged at her and I made my shadow form a wall between the two of them. It crashed into the shadow wall. I turned my shadow into a spike and it lunged at the beast. My shadow stabbed it and it howled in pain. Spade Echo took out a card and threw it at the beast. The card glowed and exploded. Exploding cards? I asked. Like it? I call it Dangerous Gambit. I dont normally use it when Im on a heist since explosions are not that elegant. But a thief must always be prepared and I have to be able to defend myself, she grinned and took out another card. The beast backed away and managed to have the impaled shadow removed from its body. Spade Echo threw another card and it exploded. I charged at the beast and swung my sword. It raised its fist and swung it at me but I blocked it with my shadow. Spade Echo threw a card at its face and blinded it with an explosion. Taking it as my chance, I stabbed its face and killed it immediately. Nice work, she praised me. Youre also amazing yourself, I returned the praise. I looked away and then for some reason, I could remember her face. She has pink hair with two buns and has green eyes. This is strange. I could remember your face. Does your artifact have a time limit? I asked. Ahh!! I dropped the Mirage Mirror! she ran towards the ground and picked up a small pendant. Mirage Mirror? Its the artifact that makes my face unrecognizable... Although you probably remember my face already. Sure do. You got pink hair tied in two buns and green eyes. You are kind of cute too. Being called cute is nice but this is bad for a thief like me. Id better be careful and not meet you in Westa. So your base is in Westa? Ah crap. Why did I reveal that to you? Although I guess its an easy guess since most of my targets were in Westa. We then continued our walk. Why are you helping me out this much? If you just lend me your compass, you could fly away in peace. Is it part of your courteous thief persona? I asked. You could say that. Although I also have a personal reason to save you, she answered. Personal reason? You see, you look a lot like my old friend. He used to be my neighbor when I was young. I look like him? How? Everything about you looks like him to the point its creepy. Your hairstyle, your eyes, your voice, and even your height. I even mistook you for him when I first met you. Until I remembered that he was probably older than you now. What happened to him? 5 years ago, he moved right next to my house. He was a summoner, a mage that specializes in bringing summon creatures to this realm and making them do his bidding. Then 2 years passed and he said he was asked by an organization to do something important. That was the last thing I heard from him. He mysteriously disappeared. I see... Thats part of why I became a phantom thief. He would often talk about a thief from his world and how he was a popular game character. We even came up with the name Spade Echo together. Thats why I thought if Spade Echo became famous, he might contact me. And whats the other reason? Im looking for a rare gem called the Alexandrite. It is said to be able to grant a wish of a person once a certain comet passes through. One way to find out if a gem is the Alexandrite was to put your mana on it. If it makes a pure white light, then it is the Alexandrite, she took out the Red Rose. However, it didnt glow. Another dud... Oh well, she continued walking. We continued walking until we reached the exit of the forest. It was already 12 AM and the only light we had were the moon and the stars. Mikage!! a familiar voice shouted. I saw Amelia, Pekora, and Moona walking towards us. And luckily, Spade Echos here too, Amelia grinned. Those three are your friends? Spade Echo asked me. Sort of. Theyre my companions, I answered. Amelia and the others stood a few meters away from us. What are you going to do, miss detective? Are you going to catch me? Spade Echo asked. Normally, I would. But if you return the Red Rose, I will let you go as thanks for saving Mikage, Amelia answered. Oh my. Letting me go this easily? Are you sure? Yep. I hate owing a debt to a thief. Ill be sure to catch you next time. Alright then. I look forward to it, Spade Echo tossed the Red Rose which Amelia caught. White wings appeared on her back and she flew away. Are you okay, peko? Pekora asked me. Yep. How did you find me anyway? I asked back. Its one of my abilities as the vessel of the Primordial Moon. As long as I know the face of the person, I can find them anywhere whenever they are underneath the moonlight, Moona answered. Anyway, its good that you are safe. Lets head back and return the Red Rose, Amelia said. We headed back to Pavolian and returned the gem. Everything was going fine... Until I remembered I had to share a bed with Amelia. Night conversations are meaningful This is great! You foiled Spade Echo! Noel cheered when Amelia gave the Red Rose back. Yeah. If she didnt save Mikage, I wouldnt have let her go, Amelia said. What you did was honorable. Besides, you will have a clear conscience when you try to catch her next time since you cleared your debts, Temma told her. After that, we returned to the inn. Pekora said she was already tired and headed off to bed with Moona following her. I decided it was a good time to take a bath. For some reason, I really like taking baths. A day without having one made me uncomfortable. I dipped in the huge bathtub. The warm water relaxed my muscles. Inns didnt have private baths in each room. Instead, there were two huge baths for the inn patrons that were separated by gender. There were no other people in the bath since it was currently 1 in the morning. This was bliss. Having the entire bath all for myself was great. I could even fall asleep here. For some reason, I felt that I was forgetting something. It couldnt be helped since I was involved in many things today. Besides, if I forgot, then it wasnt important. Turns out it was important. I was immediately reminded that I had to share a bed with Amelia tonight. This was awkward. Amelia was sitting on the bed after taking a bath... She must have felt conscious about herself. Maybe I should just sleep on the floor, I said. And what? Get a cold? No way. Youre sleeping next to me, Amelia immediately shot down my suggestion. We turned off the lights and lay down on the bed... It wasnt that big of a bed so I could feel Amelias shoulders touching mine. We were too close to each other. I was not sure whether I move around too much in my sleep since I never thought about it. Even if I took a bath, I still felt conscious of how I smelled. I used the free soap that the inn gave out earlier so I didnt know whether I smelled good or not. Not good. I just have to close my eyes and sleep tight... At least I tried. My heart was beating too fast for me to relax and doze off to dreamland. Amelia was probably really mature since she had no problem sleeping next to me... Was I overthinking things? Hey Mikage... Are you still awake? Amelia asked. Yeah... Whats wrong? Nothing... Im sorry for not being helpful. What makes you say that? I couldnt solve the riddle for the Hall of Memories. And now we got sidetracked in chasing after Spade Echo. Now now... We just have to look harder for information related to the riddle. And besides, our side quest did not take long. It might have gotten a bit too dangerous but I was saved thanks to Spade Echo. What do you mean? When the dark ball swallowed both of us, we were supposed to be teleported to another place. But thanks to Spade Echos artifact, the location was changed. If it wasnt for her, I wouldve been in a place where the Unkindness wants me. I see. What happened after I was gone anyway? The bandaged man teleported away after you two disappeared. No one was seriously injured which was great. But we were worried about you. Noel wouldve launched a search party if Moona didnt find you using her abilities as a vessel for the Primordial Moon. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. I was silent for a while as I thought... This was probably a good time to tell her. You know, I found out that Im not exactly a normal human, I said. What do you mean? she asked. Moona said that I might be a vessel for the Primordial Dark. Remember how I made the bandits own shadow attack him back when we attacked the bandits hideout? She said its impossible for a mage to control another persons shadow since Dark Magic only allows you to use your own darkness. I see... And you believe her? It makes sense. I mean, some questions about myself have been answered thanks to that. What questions? You see... The bandaged man I encountered back in Pekoria told me many things. Like how my summoner who was in charge of their greatest ambition disappeared and left me behind. It makes sense since his mission was to summon the Primordial Dark and I got summoned as its vessel. But why you? Cant they just make anyone a vessel? Thats the remaining question I have. Why was I summoned? From how Moona was the vessel for the Primordial Moon, they could make citizens of this world as vessels. They could have turned a member of their organization into a vessel for the Primordial Dark... So why was there a need to summon me? We wont know anything unless we find your summoner. There might be a hint in his coded message. When we get back your memories, we could have you translate it. I tried to fall asleep but it was still no use. Cant sleep? Amelia asked. Yeah, I answered. Same for me. Then lets talk until were tired. What should we talk about? I dont know... Do you want to know something? I thought for a while. Amelia once said she underwent difficulties while she was trying to make a name for herself in Westa. Oh yeah... I dont think I have heard about this... What were you doing before you moved to Westa? Were you still a detective? I asked. Well, I was trained by a great detective who was active in the east. His name was Ranpo Doyle. He found me passed out in front of his office because of hunger and took me in. Ranpo was like my second father. He taught me everything I know about detective work, she answered. And what were you doing before he found you? Why were you found passed out in front of his office? Amelia was silent. I was considered a genius. I even finished school before I became a teenager and became a licensed doctor at 15, she answered. Really? Thats amazing. It also explains a lot since youre really smart. But my home country got involved in a war. I became a medic in the military and tended to wounded soldiers all day. What happened next? Lets just say I managed to survive thanks to external interference. I also gained an incredible ability. An ability? Yeah.. But I wasnt responsible with it and I got punished. I learned how to be responsible the hard way. I could hear the sadness and regret in her voice. She must have been punished really hard. Amelias soft snoring then rang across the room. I guess I should try and go to sleep. There werent any incidents when we slept together. Except that one time I woke up because her arms were hugging me tightly and found out that her face was too close to mine. I couldnt move away since I might wake her up so I endured it. Morning came and luckily, I was no longer embraced by her. Or maybe she woke up and found herself hugging me since she didnt look at me in my eyes. There was an awkward silence between the two of us which was destroyed by the sound of someone knocking on our room. I opened the door and saw a Peafowl Knight. Good day! Is this where Amelia Watson and Mikage Kamishiro are staying? he asked. Thats right, I answered. Lady Reine is inviting you two along with Pekora Usada and Moona Hoshinova to a tea party, he said. A tea party? Even if there was going to be a grand celebration tonight because of the Peafowl Kingdoms founding anniversary? Amelia asked. Hey dont ask me. Im just a messenger. Heres your invitation, he handed me a blue envelope and left. What should we do? I asked. It couldnt hurt to attend her tea party. And its dumb to turn down a royaltys invitation. Besides, we can ask her about the riddle, Amelia answered. I see. She might know something. And so we agreed to go to the tea party in the afternoon. I hope Reine has some clues. Tea time We were walking towards the royal palace since we were invited to have tea with Reine. Each of us has an envelope containing the invitation. Despite going to have tea with a royalty, we all wore our everyday clothes. Well, in my case, my everyday clothes were my knight uniform. It was kind of weird to parade around in my uniform when I was not on duty. But it couldnt be helped since I supposedly never shopped for clothes. So... Did anything happen last night, peko? Pekora asked. Nope. Nothing happened. We just talked, Amelia answered. Thats boring, peko. Mikage, did you do anything to her while she was sleeping? Nope. Nothing happened at all, I said despite remembering that Amelia hugged me while sleeping. Ill bring that secret to the grave. We arrived in front of the Peafowl Royal Palaces gates. When we showed the invitation to the guards, they led us to the royal garden. A round table filled with sweets such as chocolate and cake was set up in the middle of the garden. Blue and white flowers were surrounding it and a fountain with a peacock statue was beside it. Good afternoon. Welcome to my tea party, Reine greeted us. Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting us, Amelia bowed and I copied her gesture. A maid poured tea as we sat down around the table. So? Why did you invite us, peko? Pekora asked. Im curious about the person who stopped Spade Echo. Also, I was wondering what you were up to, Pekora, she answered. You two know each other? I asked. Despite how she acts, Pekora is still a princess, Moona answered and then bit a cookie. What do you mean by despite how she acts? Im a legit princess, peko. Reine giggled. Were both princesses of neighboring countries so we met on several occasions. Its nice to see that you havent changed, she said and then sipped on her tea. Same for you, Reine... Or at least you got a bit taller, peko. They shared a light giggle together. You are a great detective. How come we never heard of you until now? Reine asked Amelia. Im curious about that too, Moona said. Well... I used to be just a detectives assistant in Miyako, she answered. So youre from Yamato? Who was that detective, peko? Pekora asked. His name was Ranpo Doyle. Everyones eyes widened when they heard his name. I heard about him. He was a legendary detective who solved baffling cases. I heard he died last year though. It makes sense how youre that skilled since you trained under him, Reine said. Yeah... He was a great man, Amelia said. Her voice sounded sad and I could feel a hint of regret mixed in it. Can you tell me about the cases you solved? Reine asked. Amelia started talking about the cases she got involved in. From her stories where she helped Ranpo Doyle solve murder cases to her cracking down an illegal drug deal, her stories were entertaining. There was a time when she and Ranpo Doyle stopped a serial bomber in Miyako and figured out all locations of the criminals bombs 3 hours before they would explode. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Also, her story about her and her mentor when they tracked down a thief who stole an ancient relic in a shrine was thrilling. Time passed by without me noticing it. And then? What happened next? Reines eyes were filled with awe. Even Moonas face looked entertained and Pekora was leaning close to Amelia. With the blade of grass left on the scene, Ranpo narrowed down the thiefs entry route and when we went there, a witness said they saw a strange man carrying a huge bag. After a few more questioning and tracking, we found the thief and arrested him. Miko was really happy that the relic was found, Amelia said. That was awesome. He found the culprit because of a blade of grass? Thats amazing, Moona said. Ranpo Doyle is cool, peko! Pekora exclaimed Ive never been this entertained before, Reine took a sip of her tea. Amelia smiled when she heard their praises. However, her eyes looked sad despite her cheery smile. I noticed it whenever she talked about Ranpo Doyle, I could feel a hint of sadness in her voice. Maybe she really admired him and was sad over his death. Well... What kind of reward do you want? Reine asked Amelia. What do you mean? she asked back. You protected the Red Rose from Spade Echo and now you spent your time telling me your stories. Name anything and I will do it. Amelia thought for a while. Then... Can you use your authority as a princess to have your scholars find information about the Hall of Memories? Hall of Memories? Why would you need to go there? Reine asked. Mikage lost his memories. Were hoping that the Primordial Memory would help in restoring it. If I remember correctly, the riddle for the Hall of Memories was: North of the land of the rabbit people The valley of the red river Pass through the black sandstorm Head towards the blue cave The Hall of Memories will be ahead of it, Reine recited the riddle. You know about the Hall of Memories? I asked. Well yes. Ive been there before. Wait... So you know the meaning of the riddle, peko? Pekora asked. Tell me... What do you think about the riddle? Reine asked Amelia. The land of the rabbit people meant Pekoland since it was the only country filled with rabbit demi-humans. The valley of the red river was talking about Krev Valley since it has a story where a fight occurred in that place which turned the blue waters into red because of the bloodshed. It fits since it was north of Pekoland, Amelia answered. You are correct so far. The Hall of Memories could be found in Krev Valley, Reine replied. But I am stuck in the Pass through the black sandstorm part of the riddle. There are no deserts near Krev Valley or anything related to sand at all. Reine thought for a while. How about a hint? Dont think the sandstorm is black. Think of something black which acts like a sandstorm, she said. My brain started thinking. What could be something that was black and acts like a sandstorm? Darkness, Amelia muttered out loud. Darkness? Moona asked. Ahh!! Its so simple I cant believe I overlooked it! Amelia slammed the table. Why did you arrive at that answer, peko? Pekora asked. Sandstorms make it hard to see and move. Darkness is a black thing that makes it difficult to see and move around, she answered. So we just wait for it to be night? I asked. No. Even if its night, there would still be light from the moon and stars. We need total darkness. Something that could be done by magic, Amelia looked at me. Thats right. You need to create that darkness yourself. And when the entire Krev Valley is covered by that darkness, the blue cave will show itself, Reine told us. Thank you for the information, I bowed my head. No. It wasnt much. And besides, Amelia got the answer from just a small hint. So it doesnt count as my reward. Thats why Im going to ask you again, Amelia Watson. What do you want as a reward?, she asked again. Well then... Theres something I want you to do. ### We were in Krev Valley and were overlooking the entire scenery. A river was flowing between two mountains. The water looked so clean and it would probably feel good to take a dip there. But we were not here for a vacation. Are you ready, Mikage? Amelia asked. Anya... Can we do it? I asked her in my mind. Just producing darkness is easy. Its the most basic thing a Dark Mage could do. The only problem is the area. Youre going to cover the entire valley? Thats the plan. Well... If I work hard enough, I can make your mana last for an hour. But thats it. Thanks. Darkness oozed out of my body and covered the entire valley. And in the distance was a glowing blue light. We must Pass through the black sandstorm and Head towards the blue cave. That riddle is quite good, peko, Pekora said. It sure is. And the Hall of Memories will be ahead of it. I hate how simple it actually was, Amelia replied. And so our journeys goal was finally in sight. The Hall of Memories We got to the glowing cave. Apparently, the reason why it was glowing was because there was a portal open there. Are we sure that its safe? Moona asked. If we trust the riddle, then the Hall of Memories is just ahead, Amelia answered. Theres only one way to find out, peko, Pekora ran towards the portal and disappeared. Why is she always so reckless? Moona followed after her. Up ahead was a chance to restore my memories... I took a deep breath and entered the portal. I found Pekora and Moona standing in the middle of a white hallway. Amelia appeared behind me. This is the Hall of Memories? I expected it to be more grand, peko, Pekora said. Well... It looks sacred because of the whiteness of the walls and tiles, Moona told her. Lets follow down the hallway and see where it goes, Amelia said and we started walking. There was a huge door at the end of the hallway and when we opened it, we arrived at a wide room. The room had many large clear crystals which reflected us and at the center was a glowing ball of white light. Welcome to the Hall of Memories, the ball said. The Primordial Memory, Moona muttered. I could feel it too. The ball radiated a powerful pressure as if I was staring at a powerful being. Come forward and state your desire, it told us and we walked towards it. My name is Amelia Watson, a detective in Westa. Our desire is simple. We wish to have you restore Mikage Kamishiros memories, Amelia spoke up. I could feel the Primordial Memory looking deep inside me. It was like being naked and having someone look at every nook and cranny of your body. There is no one named Mikage Kamishiro who needs to have his memories restored, it said. What? What do you mean? Amelia was also confused. As I have said, Mikage Kamishiro does not need to have his memories restored, it told us again. My sword glowed and turned into a small girl. Please wait a moment. Mikage did lose his memories. Ive checked it myself. Take a look inside me if you have to, Anya said. The orb was silent for a while. Very well. I now understand the situation. You will now see his past, a ray of light shone upon me and everything turned black. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ### Mikage collapsed to the ground when the ray of light hit him. Amelia and the others were alarmed and she rushed to his side. What happened to him? she asked as she inspected his body. He was still breathing and she could feel his pulse. It was great to know that he was alive but she was still worried. Worry not. He is just reliving his past. The sword can tell if he is in danger, it said. The Primordial Memory is correct. Mikages consciousness is going at a rapid pace and reliving his memories, Anya said after touching Mikages forehead. So all we have to do is wait? Thats boring, peko, Pekora complained. If you wish to relive a certain moment, then you may request it, the Primordial Memory said. That gave Pekora an idea. I want to relive what happened on my birthday six years ago, peko! Pekora raised her hand. Very well, a ray of light shone on her from the ball and she collapsed to the ground. Do you two wish to relive a moment as well? it asked the remaining two people. Im fine, Moona said. Me too. I dont need to relive a memory, Amelia told the ball. She looked at Mikage who was sleeping peacefully. From what Anya and the Primordial Memory said, he wasnt in any danger. He would just relive his memories. Wait... If he relives his memories, he would experience everything and feel whatever he was feeling at that moment, right? Anya asked. That is correct, the Primordial Memory answered. What about the part where he died? Would there be no problem if he experienced that again? Moona got curious about what she said. What do you mean by that? Moona asked. You see... Mikage died before he got sent to this world. He got involved in an accident and lost his life. Would there be no aftereffects if he would relive that part? There is no problem. His memories continued when he arrived in this world. He would continue his experience even after he died until the moment he arrives here, the Primordial Memory answered. Thats a relief, Anya said. Amelia then noticed an important detail. I thought Primordial Beings require a vessel to exist in this world? she asked. Thats the rule. Why do you ask? Moona said. Then what is the vessel of the Primordial Memory? They looked at the orb of white light. If you wish to know, then I must tell you. My vessel is the entire Hall of Memories, it said. The entire building is the vessel? Ive heard that Primordial Beings can inhabit nonliving things but I never thought it was possible to make an entire place as a vessel, Amelia asked. To think Ill see 2 vessels of my fellow Primordial Beings here. This must be fate especially if it involved this man, it said. What do you mean? Moona asked. As the Primordial Memory, I know this man. And judging from his situation, he would be entangled in a complicated fate. Too complicated that even your vow and ideals would be tested, it said. Amelia felt that the Primordial Memory was talking to her. She looked at the sleeping Mikage. He was a normal boy who was summoned to become a vessel of the Primordial Dark. In more than one way, he was similar to her. ### Please... Have mercy... a teenage boy was on the ground. Another one was holding his bloody nose and one was groveling on the ground. That white uniform which is stained red because of blood, we wouldnt have messed with the Chizome no Byakko if we knew you! Were sorry! they prostrated on the ground. Beat it, I said. The three people ran away as I picked up their victims wallet. Here, I gave it to him. Y-You can have it. Just spare me please!! the victim also ran away. Ah great... Now I have another mans wallet... My schools bell rang in the distance. I was late again... This was bad... Oh well, my day couldnt get any worse than this. The Bloody White Tiger of the West I opened the door of my classroom. All of my classmates looked at me and the teacher stopped his lecture. Kamishiro-san... Late again? the teacher asked. Sorry. Got involved in another troublesome thing, I apologized. They all had an idea on what happened. I could see it in their faces. After all, I was a well-known delinquent. Well, whatever. Just take a seat, the teacher told me and I went to my desk. I was known as the Chizome no Byakko. The reason I was called Byakko was because I wore my schools white uniform and I went to Amezakura West Middle School. The Chizome part came when one day, a group of thugs challenged me and it ended up with them heading to the hospital. Witnesses said that my white uniform turned into red because of all the blood that was spilled because of the fight. The truth was I didnt become a delinquent on purpose. My eyes had a natural mean look on them that irked other delinquents. They would always pick a fight with me whenever they would see my eyes and since I always win my fights despite being outnumbered, I eventually gained a reputation. What should I do? At this rate, I would be stuck with that reputation until I graduate high school. My dad kept on scolding me about the fights I involved myself in. Even if most of them were self-defense, it was still bad to injure people... Well, I do admit that breaking their bones was going a tiny bit too far for self-defense. But according to him, I would be in trouble if I didn''t fix up my act. I wouldnt be accepted in reputable schools if they would find out my reputation as a delinquent. Chizome no Byakko sounded cool and all but it was a name that I didnt want. It was lunchtime and I opened my lunch box. There were sausages, meatballs, and of course, white rice. I was about to enjoy my lunch until someone went towards me. Yo, Chizome no Byakko, she grinned. She had red hair with white streaks. She was wearing a modified girls uniform of our school which was black... Her modifications included turning the black uniform into a crop top and turning her ribbon into a red-white combination. Also, instead of wearing a skirt like every other girl, she was wearing short shorts with a red belt. Her hands have fingerless gloves and her arm has bandages. I told you not to call me that, Yogiri-san, I said and took a bite of my lunch. Her name was Yogiri. Like me, she was also a delinquent. Everyone respects her and wouldnt dare get in her way. Even teachers wouldnt reprimand her modified uniform because of her reputation. It was said that she took out 5 high school students on her own without using any weapons. Despite being younger and a girl, she defeated all of them at the same time. She even leads a gang of female delinquents called Reika Mutsuki which means Dark flower of the Mist Moon. Since Yogiri meant Night Fog, her gang was named that way. So... Why were you late again? Got involved in a fight? she asked. I saw a group of delinquents harassing a guy and took his wallet. One of them saw me and didnt like how I was looking at them. Long story short, I beat the crap out of them, I answered. Yogiri laughed, And what happened next? Did the guy thank you? Nope. He ran away and left his wallet behind, I said and showed her the guys wallet, I really want to quit this life. Its too late. Everyone in this town knows the Chizome no Byakko. The reason Im having this problem is because of my eyes. Why do I have mean-looking eyes? If you want, you could start losing fights. The only reason why they challenge you is because youre almost impossible to beat. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. You want me to purposely take punches? I dont wanna get hurt. Besides, the title suits you well. You wouldnt even bat an eye in fighting a girl. She was talking about the time she and I first met each other. It was around 3 months after the name Chizome no Byakko got stuck with me. She challenged me since her title as Amezakura West Middle Schools Strongest was in danger. I wasnt interested in a fight no matter how much she taunted me. But when she punched me, I delivered a strong right hook on her face. Her followers were all like, You punch a girl? and You didnt even give a warning. I yearn for true gender equality. You punch me, I punch you back, thats what I told them to shut them up. So yeah... Yogiri and I brawled with me getting the title of Amezakura West Middle Schools Strongest. Ever since then, she became my friend. What are you going to do with that wallet? she asked. Im gonna ask my uncle to return it, I answered. My uncle was a police officer. There was a time where I tried to return the wallets of other people by myself and it didnt turn out quite well. That was why I relied on my uncle to return them for me since people would feel safer to have the police return their items to them. However, I have a chance of starting a new life. My dad just got a new job offer in a far away city. We would move next week and I was processing my transfer. If I play my cards right, I could bury my past and start fresh. No one would probably miss me and the school would probably like it if I leave. What are you thinking? Yogiri asked. What? Whenever you think hard, your eyebrows are furrowed. Whats the problem? Oh... Im leaving this city next week. Wait... Really? Yeah. Dad has a new job and were moving. This might be a good chance of leaving behind this delinquent life. Yogiris grin disappeared. Really? How come you never told me earlier? she asked. Well... I figured you wouldnt really care that much, I answered. Is that so? she walked outside of the room. What was wrong with her? The day went on normally... Or at least my day in school was normal. After school was an abnormal time for me. I was surrounded by delinquents. There were around 15 of them... Some of them were carrying metal rods, baseball bats, and wooden swords. I heard you took great care of my bro, a guy wearing sunglasses said. Who? I asked. Umm... This guy? Ring a bell? he pointed at a guy beside him. Nope. You just beat the crap out of him this morning! How could you forget that?! Do you remember how many breads you have eaten in your life? The guy in sunglasses sighed. Look. I understand that getting into fights was normal. Heck, I would even praise him for having the guts to face the Chizome no Byakko, he said. So whats the problem? I asked. The problem is that you overdid it! Seriously? Knocking out five of his teeth in one punch and then taking out 4 more in the next? Learn some restraint dude! Maybe he just needs to take better care of his teeth. I know a dentist who could give out some tips. Well, whatever. What you did was too much. This is personal, the sunglasses guy snapped his fingers and everyone charged at me. ### My head hurts and my body stung. I touched my head and noticed that there was blood flowing out. Ah great... I need to go to a clinic again. I literally just went there yesterday and the day before that. Now that I think about it, I almost go to the clinic every day. Maybe I should ask for a discount next time since I was a regular. Owww... the guy in sunglasses groaned. His arm was twisted in a horrible way and his nose was bloody. You... Beast, he said. I grabbed his collar and lifted him up. Clenching my fist, I punched him straight on his face and shattered his sunglasses. Seriously though. Dont pick fights with people. Also, your sunglasses are lame, I said and left the scene. My head hurts like hell though. To think I beat up 15 people who were carrying weapons, the legend of the Chizome no Byakko would be more famous... Ah great... This meant that there would be more people who would challenge me again... I was on my way to the clinic to get treatment when my phone rang. It must be mom trying to make me buy something on my way home again. But it was different... At Warehouse #3 of Amezakura Town, well be waiting. Dont make us do drastic things, Chizome no Byakko. That was what the message said and along with it was a picture of an unconscious Yogiri who was tied up. The Legend of the White Tiger. I remembered the first time I met her. +Flashback+ Hey you!, a voice called me. Hmmm? I looked back. There was a red-haired girl standing behind me. There were also five more girls who surrounded us. Youre the Chizome no Byakko, arent you? she asked. Well no... My name is not Chizome no Byakko. Im Kamishiro Mikage, I answered. Those eyes that look like a hungry tiger looking for a fight tells me otherwise. Im Yogiri, the leader of the Reika Mutsuki. I had an idea on what she wanted and I didnt want to get involved with her any further. Good for you... If youll excuse me, I got somewhere I need to be, I was about to leave but 2 girls blocked my path. Not so fast, Chizome no Byakko, she said. Look here... I didnt ask for this. I just want to be left alone, I told her. You should have thought of that before taking the title of Amezakura West Middle Schools Strongest for yourself! What? I dont remember taking a title like that. Chizome no Byakko is already a scary title for me. Doesnt matter if you remember it or not. Im challenging you! I refuse. I was about to leave when she punched my stomach. Dont underestimate me because Im a girl, she growled. Alright... Thats it... No more Mr. Nice Guy. I clenched my fist and delivered a right hook. She got knocked away and dropped to the ground. What?! You would hit a girl?! one of the girls surrounding me asked. You didnt even give out a warning! another shouted. I yearn for true gender equality. You punch me, I punch you back, I said and the girls quieted down. Yogiri laughed, Gender equality?? Thats a good one! I sighed as she stood up. Are we doing this? If you guys are coming at me, then go already. I still need to study for this afternoons quiz, I said. Dont worry. My girls wont make a move. Im taking the title of Amezakura West Middle Schools Strongest by myself! she charged towards me. Our brawl ended with me standing up while Yogiri was lying on the ground. Damn it. You really are strong, she said. Youre pretty good yourself too, I replied. Good? I could barely land a hit on you. No. I could tell your punches are strong. Thats why I did my best in avoiding them. Wait... You were watching me closely? Yeah. I do it for every opponent I face. Doesnt matter if theyre young or old or a boy or a girl. I never underestimate my opponents. Yogiri laughed, You know what? I like you. I dont mind handing over that title to you. Oh please.. I dont want to have another scary title added to my reputation. We both then had a laugh. Wait... She wasnt serious about handing that title to me, right? +End of Flashback+ I ran as fast as I could... Why would Yogiri be caught by some people? Why did they send that message to me? I had so many questions. However, I was sure about one thing: my friend needs my help. The sun was almost setting when I arrived at Warehouse #3. 4 people were standing outside. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Are you the Chizome no Byakko? You look a bit ta-, he couldnt finish what he said since I punched him in the face. If he knew who I was, then he was part of the group who lured me in. Where is Yogiri? I asked. I didnt wait for the others to answer as I charged at them. It was the first time that I picked a fight on my own. I never felt this angry before. I just want to beat up anyone who dared to hurt her. More people ran towards us but I continued fighting them despite being outnumbered. I didnt count how many I defeated. It didnt matter anyway. The fact was that they hurt my friend and so they were at fault. The number of unconscious bodies lying near me increased as I continued punching the others. It didnt matter how many hits I got. I didnt even feel any pain as adrenaline pumped my body. Hes a monster, one of them said. Hes just one kid! Hell eventually tire out! another shouted and they charged at me. It didnt matter how many of them would come towards me. I would be sure to take them all out. After all of them were knocked out, I went towards the warehouse. There were 4 people waiting there and Yogiri was lying behind them. Seriously? We had around 35 people waiting outside and you still got here? You really are a legend, one guy wearing a white bandana said. Why did you harm Yogiri? I asked. Shes the one who challenged us saying that she needs to prove shes the strongest. Dumb broad thinking she could take on the White Square. When we found out she was related to you, we just had to issue a challenge, he answered. Im guessing youre not going to let her go. If we take down the Chizome no Byakko, we would be even more famous. So come over and- I punched his face before he could continue. I was sick of it. I didnt mind if people would harm me or anything. But because they found out that Yogiri was my friend, they harmed her.... That was unforgivable. You look like a dead man who rose up from his grave and yet you still want to fight? Youre as crazy as we thought you were. Get him!, the man rubbed his bloody nose as the other guys charged at me. It was a tough fight. They were clearly more experienced and had longer reach than me. One guy managed to hit my head and I collapsed to the ground. Hes a monster... one of them said. My head hurt and my body felt heavy. Maybe this was for the best... If I lose here, then my legend would end... I could leave behind my delinquent life... Lets make sure he gets hurt enough to prove that we actually won, the guy in the white bandana picked up a wooden bat. Damn. Hes still conscious despite receiving a beating... He sure is scary, a guy commented. The guy in the white bandana stood near me and swung the bat. If you want, you could start losing fights. The only reason why they challenge you is because youre almost impossible to beat, Yogiris words echoed in my mind. What?! all of them were surprised. They were surprised since the guy they worked hard on beating up managed to stand up and avoid the bat in time. Screw losing purposely. I dont wanna get hurt. If you think this tiger is going down that easily, then youre wrong! I used up whatever energy was left in my body. Round 2 of the fight began and my body did its best. By best, I meant having all of them unconscious on the ground. However, my body hurt like hell and I was getting lightheaded. I walked towards Yogiri and she couldnt look me in the eyes. Now then... Can you tell me why you challenged them? I asked as I untied her. My hands were getting shaky so I fumbled a bit. ........ Its because youre leaving, she answered after a moment of silence. What? Since we were friends, the Reika Mutsuki wasnt harassed anymore. With our infamy combined, almost no one was messing with my friends... If you leave, people might think that it was a good time to attack my group. And so you challenged this gang to raise your reputation. Yeah. And one of them recognized me to be your friend so they thought of luring you in. I landed a chop on her head. What was that for?! she asked. Why are you that scared of other people? You can protect your friends even without me. Thats what you have been doing before we met, I said. Sorry... Because of me, you got beaten up pretty badly. Why did you even push yourself that hard? Idiot. Do you need a reason to save someone? The truth was that I just didnt want to get hurt and somehow defeated everyone. I was getting dizzy and passed out. ### I spent a whole week in the hospital. I had a few cracked ribs and lost a huge amount of blood. When I was released, we were about to move away. Despite being released recently, I was forced to do manual labor as I loaded some boxes in our car. I heard footsteps behind me and when I turned around. I saw Yogiri and her group. Schools still on. Why are you skipping class? I asked. And dont see you off? Were friends so its natural for me to say goodbye to you, Yogiri answered. She stood straight and after snapping her fingers, she and her group bowed. HAVE A SAFE TRIP! they shouted. I smiled... I thought no one would miss me since I was a thorn in everyones neck but it seemed that I made friends. Oh yeah. I got something for you now that youre here, I said and handed Yogiri my white school uniform. Whats this? she asked. You take on the name, Chizome no Byakko. I would be happy if you were the one to inherit it. So youre telling me to wear a white uniform despite having the girls uniform of our school to be black? Hey... You already modified your uniform and got away with it. Changing colors is not a big deal. Yogiri grinned, Fine then. Ill gladly take the name. Chizome no Byakko is now a girl. And thats not a bad thing. We gave each other a fist bump. Im gonna miss you, Mikage, she said. Same here, Yogiri, I replied. I rode in our car and we left the city... Now that I thought about it, that was the first time Yogiri called me by my name.... Oh yeah, I never heard Yogiris full name. Well whatever.... It was time for a fresh start in a new city. My past I was now in my second year in high school. Sanada City was a peaceful one without any delinquents so I managed to graduate from my delinquent life. The difference between Sanada City and Amezakura Town was that people didnt really care how you looked as long as you didnt bother them. Back in Amezakura Town, people would avoid or pick a fight with me when they see my eyes but in Sanada City, they wouldnt mind at all. It was a great city. What a great day I had in school. We were at 5 minutes until class was over. And today was Friday. Going to give homework, kids, the teacher grinned. Dont mess with me!! NOOO!! The entire class groaned. Weekend homework was a drag. I was planning on spending it playing games. Yep... Thats right. The Chizome no Byakko became a video game nerd. It was a great way to remove stress. Platform games, puzzle games, RPGs, and online games, I played all of them. The teacher gave us a sheet of paper filled with questions. We were supposed to pass it on Monday... Oh well, I was going to cram it on Sunday evening. Classes were finally over and I stretched my arms. A male classmate of mine approached me. He was wearing our schools black uniform and his hair was black with a few white streaks. It sucks that we have homework. Dont you agree, Mikage-kun? he said. Yeah... Ill do it after tonights raid. You coming, Haruto-kun? I asked him. His name was Haruto Domyoji. He was the one responsible for making me a game nerd. It all started when I saw him play Deity Eater on his PFP and he let me play a stage. From then on, I would play games he would recommend and developed a habit of playing video games. This is the first raid where you would take command. Im looking forward to it, he said and walked away. Haruto and I were devoted players of a game called Ancient Tales. It was the first MMORPG that Haruto recommended to me and after a year of playing, I reached the level cap which was Level 90. We joined a guild known as White Blade Warriors. Time passed and I was in my room. I booted up my computer and logged in Ancient Tales. My character was a Level 90 Enhancer. Ancient Tales had 12 main classes and mine belonged to the Mage Class. Unlike the Summoner and the Wizard, the Enhancer focused on supporting their party members by giving buffs and managing the entire partys mana. Because of this, Enhancers would have difficulty in clearing dungeons since they only have a small number of offensive skills. The reason why I chose the Enhancer class was because I wanted to be a support role instead of being the one in the spotlight. The years of being a legendary delinquent cause me to avoid being famous again. My log in area was our guilds base and there were already several people online. Oh... Shi-kun! Youre already online? Nian, our guildmaster, asked me. Yeah... Im excited for tonights raid, I answered. Im looking forward to your commands. Were one of the first people who would challenge the Abyssal Chasm, he said. Ancient Tales recently had an update and one area that was added was a raid zone known as Abyssal Chasm. No one cleared it yet since it was a Full Raid. Full Raids required 24 players to work together. Monsters were stronger than the ones in the fields and so, players had to make sure they know each other well enough to watch each others backs. A man wearing heavy armor walked towards me. It was Harutsugu, Harutos game character. Yo, Shi-kun! Are you ready to lead us? he asked. Its my first time but Ill do my best, I answered. We talked for a while until it was time for us to move to the raid zone. After traveling a bit, we arrived at a huge door. Everyone... We are going to make history today! Lets clear the Abyssal Chasm! Nian shouted and everyone cheered. It was my job to guide the raid to victory. ### The raid was going well. I was worried that no one would obey my orders but it seemed they had no problem with me leading the raid. My tactics were good and our MP was at reasonable levels. Since Enhancers were rare being that there were only 2 of us in the entire group, I thought our MP would be low. I was glad that was not the case. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. We arrived in front of a room. It seems that the raid boss is here, Haruto said. Shi-kun. What do you think? Nian asked. Based on the monsters here, the boss is probably a Psychic-Fire type. We need to drink potions that would enhance our defenses against those types of attacks, I answered. You heard the commander! Drink up those potions! he shouted and everyone drank Fire Resistance and Psychic Resistance potions. After that, we opened the door and we were transported to a huge room. There was a giant humanoid man waiting for us. [Erebus Level: 110 (Raid Boss)] It was 20 levels above the level cap and was raid-ranked. This would be a tough battle. Everyone. To your positions! Lets do it as planned!, I shouted. Haruto charged in front and activated a skill called Fortress Howl. In Ancient Tales, there was a system known as Aggro. As players do damage and use skills, their Aggro Levels increase. Monsters would target the player with the highest Aggro. Haruto was a Titan, a class that had high HP and DEF. Their job was to take on all of the damage while the others would safely attack the enemy. Fortress Howl was a Titans skill that significantly increases the users Aggro and so, all enemies would direct their attention at him. The fight was going well so far. After a few moments of fighting, I finally figured out the raid boss attack pattern. However, raid bosses often change their tactics whenever they reach 50% of their HP. And when its HP reached 50%, it began glowing. That light is bad! Nian shouted. One look at the light, I knew what it was since other raid bosses weve fought before had the same animation. Its an instant-kill AoE! Get away! I shouted. Even if the others got away, beams of light followed them. It hit 6 players and they were killed instantly. No way... It cant be dodged and it selects randomly? Haruto asked. We lost 2 Tanks and 4 DPS. Serauchi and Mimori, use your revival skills on them! I ordered. Marian, Boot-Up Heal everyone! I shouted. Got it! she responded. Boot-Up Heal was a healing spell of the Cleric class that would heal 20% of a players HP the moment their HP drops below 25%. It was greatly helpful. Tetys! Do your thing! I ordered another cleric. Got it, she activated a skill known as Angelic Heal which heals 30% of the HP of every player and removes debuffs. Front ranks for parties 1 and 2, increase DPS to the limit! And Spirit Mediums, put a barrier on each of them in order! Everyone else, keep your HP up and attack in waves, I gave out a command. When the raid boss HP dropped to 25%, it glowed again. That AoE is coming back! Haruto shouted. If we get attacked now, we would be annihilated! one panicked. The light hit the front ranks of parties 1 and 2. However, they didnt die thanks to the barriers and Boot-Up Heal that was placed on them beforehand. I thought it was random. You knew who it would attack? Nian asked me. Yeah... I wondered why it attacked 2 Tanks and 4 DPS, I figured it out. Its an attack that targets 6 players with the highest Aggro, I answered. So it targets those who generated the most Aggro during its cool down? I see, Haruto said. In this crazy battle, you kept track of every skill the raid used and the Aggro they generated? Marian asked. Yep. Its something the raid commander should do. And so the raid continued on. After the raid boss had its HP drop to below 25%, it didnt change its attack pattern anymore and so, we won. It was a long fight but we managed to be the first players who cleared the Abyssal Chasm raid zone. After splitting up the loot, we celebrated and had a party. It was already 4 AM when the party was finished and when I woke up the next day, it was already afternoon. I checked my phone to see that there was a message from Haruto. Good job on the raid! Also, Demon May Cry 5 is going to be released later. Will you get a copy? ### Demon May Cry was a very popular game series. When I got to the store, there was already a long line. It was already night when I got my copy and it was raining hard. The weather forecast didnt say it would rain... Sheesh, I muttered. The rain didnt look like it would stop anytime soon and I really wanted to play my game. Maybe I should just go ahead. I was walking down the street while humming a song. First there was a successful raid and now I got to play Demon May Cry 5. This sure was bliss. Light shone on me and I got blown away. Ive been hit by many things already but it was the first time I was knocked several meters away. I landed on the ground and after a few seconds, the pain registered. Red liquid appeared in my vision. Judging from how that hurt, I must have been hit by a speeding car or something. It was getting more difficult to breathe and the rain made me feel cold. I was losing my consciousness... My game, those were my last thoughts before the darkness claimed me. ### I was in a field of grass and remembered everything. From my birth to my time in Westa, my memories returned. But where was I? The Primordial Memory said that I would relive my memories but I dont remember being in this place. A cloaked man was standing in the middle of the fields and I walked towards him... Maybe he knows something. We finally meet, he said. His voice sounded familiar. He turned around and he was covered in bandages. However, unlike the other bandaged men, I didnt feel anything weird from him. Who are you? I asked. This isnt technically the first time we met but you were unconscious at that time. It couldnt be helped that I had to leave you the moment you were summoned, he answered. Wait... Could he be?? Thats right. My name is Shiroe, your very own summoner, he bowed. End of a journey After reliving my past once again, I was now facing the man who summoned me. What is this place? I asked. This is a link between you and me. I placed it in you when I summoned you and it would activate once you recover your memories, Shiroe answered. So you predicted that I would lose my memories? More like I was the reason why you lost it. When you lose control of your powers for the first time, I made it so that you would lose it. Why though? So that you would go to the Primordial Memory. This link required the power of a Primordial Being to work. Sorry if I gave you trouble but I needed to somehow talk to you. He was silent for a while as he stared at me. What is it? I asked. Nothing... Anyway, Im here to talk to you about the Unkindness, he said. He pointed at me. Theres only one reason why I summoned you and that is to destroy them. Destroy them? As you might have noticed, youre closely related to the Primordial Dark. The Unkindness will want to find you and use you in their goals. In other words, you are a vital part in their plans. What is their plan? I dont know. I was just forced into summoning you to this world. But from what I know, they are planning to use your powers... Theres one way to stop them. And that is? You know the executives of the Unkindness? You must have met one of them. They all wear bandages. I remembered the bandaged men I fought, Ive seen a few of them. Yep... Underneath those bandages are immortal beings. They traded their bodies to become living darkness. They are immortal. The only way to kill them is by absorbing their darkness. Only you can do it, he said. I have a question. Go ahead. Why did you summon me? Why cant it be anyone else? Was it because I just died and my soul would be easily transferred from my old world to this? I know you can do it. After all, I know you better than anyone else. I even know that you wet your bed until 7th grade. My face became red from embarrassment. That was a secret that I wanted to bring to my grave. Everything was starting to fade. I dont have much time left. Listen, learn how to control your powers. Train like hell! A time will come where you will face them... And learn the truth of what you really are, he said. The truth? Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Wait! What do you mean by that?! I shouted but everything faded already. ### I opened my eyes and got up. My body felt stiff as if I was lying on an uncomfortable bed for a long time. Turns out, I was lying on the cold hard floor. Oh. Youre already awake, peko, Pekora said. Mikage... Do you remember everything? Do you feel weird? Amelia asked. No worries. I remember everything. Feels weird reliving my life all over again, I answered. We were getting worried actually. Youve been out for almost 8 hours. Thats 8 times longer than Pekoras sleep, Moona said. Pekora slept? Thats right. I wanted to relive a certain memory of mine so I asked the Primordial Memory, peko, Pekora told me. How was the experience of living your life again? the Primordial Memory asked me. Its like one huge dream but I could remember every detail. Why are you asking? Were you expecting something else? Amelia asked. This is the first time this happened. I am asking to see if nothing went wrong. Mikages not just a normal human. Maybe the Primordial Memory might have done something that affected him unexpectedly since he is a vessel of the Primordial Dark, Moona said. I see. Is that why you didnt want to relive a memory? Anya asked. Yes. Im worried that the Primordial Memory would somehow affect the Primordial Moon inside me. I looked at the Primordial Memory and I could tell that it was hiding something. Thank you for everything, I bowed my head. You are most welcome, it replied. Now that our mission was done and my memories were restored, we left the Hall of Memories. It was already dawn when we got out. Oh yeah... Mikage, your memories returned, right? Can you now translate the message? Amelia asked. I remembered about the coded message. Arthur Karalis had documents about the Unkindness that we recovered after he was murdered. One of the documents was the encrypted message that was found in Shiroes lab. Amelia handed me the message and I read it. Yep... They were definitely Japanese characters. Katachinaki mono jiga mo motazu Jiganaki mono ishi mo motazu Ishi naki mono wo seifukushikanezu Mu wo tashika na mono ni katadoru to genkei ga hitsuyou to nari Hitotsu no jikuunai de wa onaji sonzai ga hitotsu shika orazu no wa yo no kotowari Yue ni betsu no jikuu kara no genkei ga hissu to naru Ijou no jouken soroeba, yami ga shuchuu ni osameru The words entered my mind and I easily translated it. The translation for it is this: Shapeless things have no sense of self. Those without self have no will. Those without will cannot be subjugated. To mold nothing into a concrete something, an original mold is needed. In one dimension, the same existence is limited to one as the world''s law dictates. Therefore the original mold must be from another dimension. If the above-mentioned conditions are fulfilled, then the darkness is within our hands, I recited. I see, Amelia wrote down what I said. Now that I thought about it, Shiroe spoke to me in Japanese when I met him in that dream world. He made a code in Japanese and he spoke to me in that language... Was he Japanese too? And for some odd reason, I felt that I have heard his voice before. Now then, Pekora... We managed to find the Hall of Memories. Will you return to the castle now? Moona asked. I guess youre right, peko. I cant worry Mama all the time, Pekora answered. She looked at us, It was a fun journey, Mikage and Amelia. Lets hope we meet each other again, peko! Same here. Dont cause trouble to Moona, okay? I grinned. No promises! Moona sighed and Amelia let out a small laugh. We separated ways since Moona and Pekora were headed to Pekorias, the capital city of Pekoland, while we were headed back to Westa. Oh yeah. Now that my memories are back, I could tell Temma about the good news, I said. Go ahead and do it. He must be worried sick, Amelia told me. I turned on my Excellular. My Excellular had a password in it so I couldnt use it when I lost my memories. That was why I just turned it off as we traveled. When I unlocked it, a barrage of messages appeared. They were all from Suisei. Epilogue: A certain idol鈥檚 problem (Volume 2) Suisei Hoshimachi was troubled. A contest would take place soon and she wanted to win badly. After all, the rewards for the winners were very appealing to the idols of Westa. That was why she tried to look at her fan clubs and other sites that showed a list of her fans. She needed a strong champion if she wanted to win. Her Excellular rang and when she looked at it, there was a message from someone she hadn''t talked to after a long time. Hello, Suisei. I need your help. Can you give me a call? Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. She dialed his number and when the call connected, she heard a mans voice. Its been a long time! I heard you disappeared from Westa and I was worried. Im glad to know youre safe! she told him. Yes. It is. But Im in a dangerous situation and I need your cooperation, he said. Anything for you. You saved my life so I want to repay you. Thank you. Ill explain everything in a second but I need you to do something big for me. What is it? Make Mikage Kamishiro your champion in the Idol Fan Tournament. Prologue: Call for an investigation (Volume 3) A teenage boy walked towards a building in Miyako, a city in the eastern country called Yamato. He opened the mailbox as part of his daily routine and saw an extraordinary letter. He took it out and saw that it had the Peafowl Kingdoms crest which meant that the royal family seeked out the help of his master. Seeing that it was great news since his master rarely gets any cases, he ran towards the office. Master Shellin! Y-You have mail! he shouted. However, there was no one in the office despite being past opening time. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. The boy walked towards his masters desk and saw a little note. Im out for a little walk. If there are any clients, please tell them to leave their contact details -Shellin Burgundy Geez. What kind of a master detective is he if he has bad timing? the boy sighed. He looked at the letter of the Peafowl Kingdom and wanted to open it. But he decided to not do it since carelessly getting into the affairs of a royal family was a headache. I wonder how surprised Master Shellin will be. The boy placed the letter on his masters desk and began to do his daily work as a detective intern. One journey ends and another problem starts We finally arrived in Westa after several days of traveling. After hitching up with a caravan, we were now at Westas gates. Feels great to be home, dont you agree? Amelia asked. Yeah. Im worried about the stockpile of paperwork waiting for me, I answered. Ive been gone for more than 2 weeks and I was sure enough that Captain Noel didnt touch any of the paperwork while I was gone. Maybe Temma worked on some of them... My head was starting to hurt thinking about working overtime again. Amelia and I separated ways and I headed straight to the 13th units barracks. My Excellular vibrated and another message from Suisei appeared. Suisei and I have been messaging each other regularly after our date. Although she would just vent out her stress in her idol career while I would listen. She would also ask what I did for the day. Ever since I lost my memories, I couldnt access my Excellular. Suisei sulked that I wasnt replying to her messages. Although I managed to clear up the misunderstanding, she said I owe her a favor for not telling her. Girls were unreasonable so I didnt bother arguing. Mikage! Youre back! Temma smiled when he saw me enter the barracks. Hey, Temma. Sorry for worrying you, I said. Mikages back! I will no longer have to worry about paperwork! Captain Noel cheered. Yeah. I brought souvenirs too, I took out some things I bought from Pekoland. Captain Noel got a pack of beef meat that was raised in Pekoland. I heard their meat was tasty since they ate special grass that grew in that country. Temma received a bottle of wine from Pekoland. Roberu told me Temmas favorite wine and Pekoland had a great selection. Nice. Coco would love our dinner tonight which is beef bowl, Captain Noel said. Thanks. I could use a wine or two, Temma smiled. I talked with Temma about my travels and after that, I headed to bed. My bed felt really comfortable and I immediately snoozed to dream land. Morning came and my routine started again. I had to train with Temma for an hour or so to polish my sword skills. Hey, Temma, I called out. Yeah? Can I also train with my magic? I dont really mind... But why? Lets say I needed to get stronger. I have to be able to fight using Dark Magic and swords as soon as I can. Its good that you want to be stronger. Okay then. Come at me! We sparred for a while. Even with Anyas help, I was having a hard time using both my shadow and sword while fighting. In my previous fight, I only fought using either my sword or my shadow at a time. It was hard to control my shadow while swinging my weapon. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. We should probably stop for today. Wouldnt want to use up all of our energy first thing in the morning, Temma said. Ill train a bit more, I told him. Okay then. Dont overwork yourself. You still got paperwork to worry about, he left the training area. I tried doing some moves that involved me swinging my sword and using my shadow but it didnt work. Either my shadow was too slow or my sword strikes would be too weak whenever I tried it. Using magic required an image and resolve. If I was in the heat of battle, I wouldnt have time producing a solid image in my mind while I was wielding a sword. This was bad. I didnt have an idea on how to do both at the same time. You seem to be stuck, Anyas voice echoed in my mind. My sword glowed and transformed into a small brown-haired girl. Yeah. Im having a hard time doing both at the same time... I need to learn how to do it or else I wouldnt be stronger, I said. Its because of what Shiroe said, isnt it? she asked. She must have seen my memories already. Shiroe was right. I didnt know when or where the Unkindness would attack so I have to be strong as soon as possible. Yeah. I have to be capable of parallel processing as soon as possible, I answered. Ill help you out then. All of my previous wielders were battle mages so you could say this is my specialty, she said. Battle mages? Youve seen how Temma fights, right? He could use magic and martial arts at the same time. I remembered the time when we were investigating Arthur Karalis murder. It ended with us fighting the Unkindness. Temma used magic such as Fortress Howl and Minds Eye. Battle mages are similar to his style except that they use active magic more than passive magic, Anya said. Passive magic? Active magic? I asked. Passive magic is a type of magic that doesnt require conscious effort to use. For example, Minds Eye would enhance the users senses to the point that they could predict an opponents moves for a duration of time without consciously managing his mana. Active magic is a type of magic that needs your mind to pay attention to it. Like how you would pay attention to controlling your own shadow, she explained. I get it.... Passive magic is like a buff while active magic is a skill. If you put it in video game terminology, then yes. However, battle mages can do active magic while doing martial arts without any drawbacks. Its what you are trying to achieve with parallel processing, right? I nodded. You see... Everyones subconsciously doing parallel processing on a daily basis, she said. Really?? How?? I asked. Imagine a guy riding a horse. Its not like hes always known how to ride. Balancing, posture, taming the horse, processing whats ahead of and behind him at all times, and several other actions are done at the same time subconsciously. He learned each of those one by one then practiced until he could do them all subconsciously. So I have to learn them one at a time? Yep. Start by learning to do something subconsciously. When youre done with that, add on a second. What youre trying to do is built on a foundation of smaller parts, stacked on top of each other, one by one. There might be geniuses out there but for the rest of us, growing one step at a time is the only path forward. So you think Im rushing? Yep. Stay calm. For now, learn how to use your shadow subconsciously. Once you achieve that, learn how to fight using both your sword and shadow. As you accumulate experience, itll be easier. Got it. For now, I have to be able to control my shadow without any delays. Anya transformed back into a sword and I picked her up. I headed to the bathroom to take a shower and it was back to paperwork. At least, that was the plan. When I arrived at the captains office to do my work, there was an unexpected blue-haired guest. Suisei? What are you doing here? I asked. Ah. Mikage... Just in time, we were talking about you, Captain Noel said. Me? What for? How good are you in competitions? she asked. ...... What? Never underestimate the power of popularity The Idol Fan Tournament was a tournament between an idols chosen fan. People would represent their idol and fellow fans to prove which idol has the stronger fans. And I was representing Suisei. #A few days ago# How good are you in competitions? Captain Noel asked. I tried remembering the Sports Festivals that I participated in when I was in my world. My athletic skills werent good enough to be called exemplary but they were at least on a decent level. I could do well, I think. Whats wrong? I asked. Suisei grinned and showed me a poster. The 69th Idol Fan Tournament! Watch your idols champions duke it out to prove whose fan is the strongest! Those words were written in colorful letters and several idols were on it. Idol Fan Tournament? I asked. Its like one huge tournament. Idols would choose among their fans and have them compete, Temma answered. And I want you to represent me, Suisei smiled. Me? Im not really good with idol stuff, I said. Oh... Its not exactly an idol stuff. Its like the Dance of the Blades, Captain Noel. I was even more confused. What was the Dance of the Blades? What Captain Noel meant is that its going to be a contest of strength. Thats why idols would look for fans who were adventurers, knights, or whatever profession that involved fighting, Temma told me. Why me? Im not that strong and Im busy with paperwork, I asked Suisei. You owe me one favor, remember? she brought out her Excellular. #Present Day# And so I was forced to become Suiseis representative. I arrived at the waiting room of the stadium and was waiting for Suisei. While waiting, I tried to find out as much as I could about the tournament. The top 8 popular idols for the past year would have to choose their own champions to represent them. If the idols champion would reach the semifinals, they would be invited to the Westa Grand Music Festival and perform on that huge stage. The first place would perform two solo songs, the second place would perform one solo song, and the third and fourth place would perform a duet. Also, the top 4 would have increased opportunities in their careers and would be guaranteed to have a solo concert in the Westa Grand Stage. That was why they would choose to have powerful champions. I wonder why Suisei would choose me though. Mikage! Over here! Suisei waved at me. I walked towards her. Are you sure you want me to represent you? Im just an average guy, I asked her. Dont worry. I consulted with the stars and they said you are a good choice, she answered. Consulted with the stars? Yep. Im pretty good at Star Divination. Do you want to have your fortune to be told? Ill pass. Anyway, what are we going to do? For now, well have to meet with the other contestants. Follow me. We entered a room and there were already a few people there. I even saw a few familiar faces. Suisei! Is he your champion? a gray-haired girl asked. She looked cute and had a horn coming out of her forehead. I have seen her face on TV before. Her name was Civia, a unicorn idol. Since unicorns represent purity, many people love her. Yep! His name is Mikage! And that girl is your champion huh? Standing beside Civia was a familiar face. She had orange-hair and was wearing an orange outfit. A sword was strapped on her side and a shield was hanging on her back. It was none other than the owner of Kiaras Fried Phoenix, Kiara Takanashi. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Oh? Youre fighting too, Mikage? she asked. I got dragged into this. I also didnt expect you to be a fighter, Kiara, I told her. Im more of a pacifist but since Civia asked for my help, I have to help her out as a fellow mythical creature. I wont hold back if I fight you, she smiled. Oh yeah... Kiara was a phoenix. It would be interesting to see her fight. Your champion looks normal. Are you sure he could fight? a cyan-haired boy asked. He was short and looked really sweet and frail. I heard about him. His name was Kira Kagami, a male idol who was getting popular. Most of his fans were older women who claim that his youthful appearance would make their motherly side go wild. No... Hes pretty strong. His eyes look like a hungry tiger looking for a fight. Ill look forward to fighting you, a tall white-haired man said. A kimono was draped on his back and he was carrying a katana. One look at him and I knew he was a formidable foe. Wow, Kira. You managed to get Suzaku? Suisei asked. I gulped down. I have heard about him. His name is Suzaku Yakushiji, an adventurer who was active in Yamato. He cleared many dungeons and defeated powerful monsters using only his sword. Yeah. Suu is a huge fan of mine and when he came to Westa, he asked for my autograph. I took it as a chance to make him my champion, Kira boasted. The door opened and four people entered the room. My eyes widened in shock. Oh? Mikage, youre also competing? a tall dark man asked. Youre that investigator... Its been some time since we last saw each other, a white-haired beastwoman said. The tall dark man was none other than Oga Aragami. This was bad... I had a taste on how powerful he could be when he showed off his mana. Also, he was a hero of the Dark Times. It was also quite surprising to see the Kageyama Clans Westa Branchs head would join. Botan Shishiro must be quite a good fighter since she was leading the Kageyama Clans branch. A black-haired boy stood beside Oga. His name was Izuru Kanade, the solemn idol. His songs were said to be able to touch your soul and you could feel his raw emotions while singing. Oga... Do you know him? Izuru asked. Of course. Never thought of him to be an idol fan though. Looking forward to seeing how much you have grown, he grinned. Botan. How are you? Kiara asked. Im good. When my friend asked for my help, I had no choice but to help her out, she answered. A blonde girl went to her side. Of course! With Botan around, I wouldnt lose! she said. Her name was Nene Momosuzu, the energetic idol. Her live shows were always cheerful and her fans could cheer for her and not get tired. Nenes signature was her cheerful smile and energetic dance moves. It was amazing how she could dance that much while singing. How come the people I know are coming together? I asked. You would be surprised by how small the world is, a familiar voice said. Thats right, Mikage. You got your work cut out for you, a womans voice added. If my jaw could drop to the floor, they wouldve done so already. Two familiar people entered the room. One was a silver-haired woman who was a musclehead while the other was a blond man with a warm smile. Dont tell me... Captain Noel and Temma are on this too?! I asked. Surprised? I was more than overjoyed when my idol personally asked me, Temma said. A black haired girl stood beside him and had a warm smile. She had pink marks underneath her eyes and she was very beautiful. It was none other than AZKi, a two-time awardee of the Famous Idol award in the Westa Music Awards. I was more than honored to have the Dark Knight to be my fan. When I found out, I had to make him my champion immediately, AZKi smiled. I didnt expect to see you here, Temma, Suzaku said. Oh? Suzaku, youre here too? This would be a challenging match, Temma replied. Ill be sure to have my revenge from the Dance of the Blades. Im looking forward to it. Did they have a history? Oh yeah, what about you, Captain Noel? Who are you fighting for? I asked. Its me, a soft voice said and she walked forward. She had long brown hair and had a smile that could make you lower your guard. I knew her of course. She was the shining star of Westa. Her face could be seen everywhere from posters to TV ads. She even had a softdrink named after her. It was none other than Sora Tokino. Im already a long time fan of her but this is the first time that I tried to contact her and offer her my strength, Captain Noel said. Im really happy to have you fighting for me, Captain Noel, Sora bowed. Oh please! Dont bow to me! I should be thanking you for this opportunity! I wont let you down! Captain Noel looked really happy. Oh... Everyones gathered already? a pink-haired girl entered the room. Oh wait... That wasnt a girl. It was a boy. Despite having a feminine face and long pink hair, he was 100% a boy. His name was Kaoru Tsukishita, the trap idol who was recently becoming popular. Despite revealing that he was a boy, he still had a lot of male fans. So Civia has the manager of the Kiaras Fried Phoenix, Kira has Yamatos S-class adventurer, Suisei has this man, Nene has the head of Kageyama Clans Westa Branch, Izuru has a demon, AZKi has the Dark Knight, and Sora has a captain of the Westa Knights. This year sounds like a good tournament, Kaoru said. It was sort of sad to be just called this man but I agreed with him. Who is your champion, Kaoru? Nene asked. Oh... Hes quite a gentleman but I heard he was strong, he said. Whoever it is, I wouldnt get surprised anymore, I told him. Well yeah. You know almost everyone here, right? Temma asked. Are you sure about that? a mans voice said Turns out, I was wrong. Standing at the entrance was a tall man wearing glasses. He had a green suit and a sword tied on his left side. This is getting out of hand, Botan said. Indeed it was. Why in the world was the Familiarans boss joining a tournament of idol fans?! The Idol Fan Tournament Seeing Oga and Kiara in the tournament? It was understandable. Botan would be part too? It was still within reason. Temma and Captain Noel would join as well? It was a creepy coincidence but I could see it happening. But Arurandeisu, the boss of the Familiaran, is competing? It was too much of a shock. Thats... an amazing champion, Temma said. I never thought that the Familiarans boss would be an idol fan. Why are you here?, Botan asked. Im even amazed at it myself. Im more of a classical music kind of guy. But the youngsters of my family kept on talking about him. Before I knew it, Im a fan, he answered. The Familiaran members are really great fans. The security of each and every one of my concerts is top-notch and no one would dare to mess with me. I knew I just had to contact Aruran if he wanted to be my champion and he immediately agreed, Kaoru said. Of course. The Familiaran will support Kaoru in any way. Its an honor to fight for him. So all of us are going to fight, huh? This is interesting, Suzaku said. I looked at everyone in the room. They were all formidable foes. Now that I thought about it, most of my fights in this world were losses. My fight against Theodore was technically a defeat since he snapped my sword into two. The bandaged man managed to tie me up. I only won against another bandaged man because my powers rampaged. The only victories that I have were against Suiseis delusional fan and the bandits in the hideout. And I only won against the fan because of a surprise attack and I defeated the bandits since Moona helped out. It was my first time to face off against someone one-on-one. A man entered the room. He looked around in his late 30s or mid 40s. Everyone was silent. Hello, everyone. I am Yagoo, the organizer of this event. Thank you for coming and participating, he said. Yagoo looked at all of us one by one. Then, he smiled. Everyone looks strong and I know your love for your idols made you come here. Fight well and your idol will receive opportunities that will help his/her career. Show them how powerful you are, Yagoo told us. A blue-haired girl walked beside him, Hello. My name is Asuka and I am in charge of this event. Please enter the stadium one by one as we will announce the rules there. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. We did what she said and headed off to the center stage. The Idol Fan Tournament was held at Westa North Colosseum. It was a huge open-air arena that could hold over 40 000 people. And today, it was a full house. We were supposed to be called one by one. First off was, Oga. Be in awe! The Nothing gangs representative: a 5000-year old demon, Oga Aragami! Soras fans are on the edge today. Their representative is none other than the Captain of the 13 unit of the Westa Knight Order, Noel Shirogane!! Not only is the captain of the 13 unit here but also its vice-captain! The Dark Knight, champion of last years Dance of the Blades, and now AZKis champion, Temma Kishido!! Kirarians! Your idols champion is someone famous! The S-class adventurer of Yamato, Suzaku Yakushiji!! Youve heard of her before since she runs a famous restaurant, The manager of Kiaras Fried Phoenix and the representative of the Dum Dum Knights, Kiara Takanashi!! For Suiseis fans, your representative is the administrative officer of the 13th unit. He was trained by the Dark Knight himself, Mikage Kamishiro! I walked to the open stage and stood in line next to Kiara. There were many people and my hands were shaking. I could feel the eyes of the audience looking at me. Heres a scoop for you, Nenes fans! Her champion is her long time friend and also the head of the Kageyama Clans Westa Branch, Botan Shishiro! And with the Kageyama Clan here, we shouldnt forget about the other one! No one should mess with Kaoru since the Familiaran is on his side! And with that, the boss of the entire Familiaran, Arurandeisu, is his champion! Asuka stood next to the referee and was carrying 8 blue ribbons. The tournament is simple. There would be a one-on-one match between the champions and the winner would proceed to the next round and fight the other winners. However, theres a twist! The referee took a ribbon. The champion must tie this ribbon to their right shoulder. There are four ways to win. Making your opponent surrender, making them unconscious, knocking them out of bounds, and removing their ribbon are the ways to win a round! Asuka handed us our ribbons and we tied them to our shoulders. Anything goes in this fight. Magic, swords, artifacts, and whatever tricks are allowed. However, you are not allowed to kill your opponent. Doing so will disqualify you and you will be arrested! This is just fun and games! Now then. We will announce the brackets! There were four screens all around the stadium. And the match-ups were shown there. Round 1: Temma Kishido vs Yakushiji Suzaku Round 2: Mikage Kamishiro vs Kiara Takanashi Round 3: Botan Shishiro vs Noel Shirogane Round 4: Oga Aragami vs Arurandeisu. I gulped down and looked at Kiara. Our eyes met each other and she waved at me. Round 1 will start soon! The other contestants should wait in their respective waiting rooms to prepare and strategize against their opponents! Good luck! Clash of two swordsmen I was in my waiting room. There were drinks and snacks and there was a comfortable couch. A television was at the center of the room and was broadcasting the current fight. Now then, its time for the first fight! the referee shouted and the crowd cheered. Representing Kira, the S-class adventurer, Suzaku Yakushiji! And facing off against him is AZKis champion, the Dark Knight, Temma Kishido!! Temma and Suzaku looked at each other. Ill be sure to defeat you this time, Temma, Suzaku said. Lets see you try, Temma replied. There was a special barrier placed in the arena. Their voices could be heard by the people in the audience and the people watching TV. Let your blades dance and magic go wild! The first round of the Idol Fan Tournament.... Start!! The distance between Temma and Suzaku was closed in one second. Suzakus katana clashed with Temmas sword. The sheer force of their strikes caused sparks to fly from their swords. Minds Eye! Enhancement: Arms! Enhancement: Legs! Temma shouted and a blue aura wrapped around his body. He managed to push Suzaku back and he backed away. However, Suzaku closed the distance again and unleashed a barrage of slashes. Temma managed to block them successfully but he couldnt find an opening to attack. I wonder... Why does Temma shout out his magics name? I asked. My sword glowed and turned into a small girl. It helps in forming an image, Anya answered. Forming an image? You know that one of the requirements of magic is an image. By giving it a name, you can easily associate it with an image. Maybe I should try it... But shouting out the names of my moves sounds weird. What should I even call my shadow manipulation magic? Suzaku is strong. Temma is in trouble, Anya said after watching for a while. What makes you say that? I asked. Minds Eye allows you to see the trails of the future movements of your enemies. Its a very powerful spell that only a few mages could use. Once you activate it, you could easily dodge or even parry your opponents attacks. But take a look at what Temma is doing. Temma blocked another strike from Suzaku. We know how skilled Temma is in combat but if all he could do is block against Suzakus attacks, that speaks a lot on how skilled his enemy is, Anya said. Even if he could predict Suzakus next attack, all he could do was block? Whats wrong? All youre doing is blocking my attack. Is your heart not in this fight? Suzaku asked. ... And thus the mist came. Creating something from nothing and turning something into nothing. Bewildering the enemy and making me untouchable. Let it be known, the Mist of Deceit! Temma finished chanting. A huge magic circle appeared and covered the entire stage. Despite being a clear day, mist covered the battlefield. It was just a light mist so everyone could still see the battlefield. However... There were 5 blond men on the field and they all looked like Temma. Amazing... He managed to chant while blocking his enemys attack. Not to mention, its the Mist of Deceit, Anya said. Whats going on? Why are there 5 Temmas on the field? I asked. The Mist of Deceit is a barrier-type magic. Once the area is covered by the mist, the user can bring out any illusion he wishes to make, Anya said. One of the Temmas clashed with Suzaku. Two more followed and Suzaku avoided their strikes. Then, the ground underneath him cracked and a pillar of fire erupted from it. However, Suzaku managed to avoid it. Stolen novel; please report. Does Suzaku not know that its just an illusion? Why is he trying hard to avoid them? I asked. The illusions of the Mist of Deceit are dangerous. If you are not a hundred percent sure that its fake, then your brain will think it is true, Anya answered. What do you mean by that? For example, he would feel pain if he got stabbed by one of the fake Temmas. His brain would think of them as real. Thats why Suzaku has no choice but to avoid them. Also, the real Temma is hiding among the illusions. If he would just blindly take attacks, he might get injured by the real Temma. So he doesnt know which one is the fake and the real thats why he gave up on thinking and considered everything to be real? Thats right. As long as he doesnt get hit by any of the illusions, he would be fine. We continued watching the match. Suzaku was doing his best in avoiding the Temmas. When he would manage to hit one, it would turn into mist. A new one would then appear and continue their onslaught of attacks. I would have problems facing off against one Temma. Five of them at once is a scary thought. Chains came from the ground and wrapped around Suzaku. The Temmas charged at him. This is a fake!! he shouted and the chains turned to mist. He managed to hit two Temmas and they turned to mist as well. However, two new Temmas appeared. What mental fortitude, Anya said. What do you mean? I asked. He managed to convince himself that those chains were not real and forcefully disrupted the illusion. Despite being in battle, he could condition his mind. Why dont he just convince himself that the other Temmas are fake like what he did to the chains? The Mist of Deceit makes really believable illusions. All of your senses would be fooled. He probably convinced himself that those chains are fake since thinking logically, Temma couldnt probably make chains come to life without magic. However, he knows that the real Temma is among the 5 Temmas. As long as he cant get rid of his doubts on whether the Temma he is facing is the real one or an illusion, he cant forcefully dispel it. So what can he do? Defeat everyone. Thats a tall order. Can he do it? I think its about time he would show the reason why he was an S-class adventurer. Suzaku went backwards and sheathed his sword. The eight mountains and seven seas constitute one world. A thousand of them form the universe. And when I gather the strength from that universe, theres nothing I cant cut! he chanted and assumed a stance as if he was about to draw his sword. The Temmas charged at him. It all happened in under one second. Suzaku disappeared and appeared a few meters away from his position as if he teleported. His stance was exactly the same except that his katana was partly unsheathed. Shiten Ittou Ryuu: Thousand World Strike, he sheathed his sword and all of the Temmas turned into mist. The magic circle was cut into two and faded away with the mist. Temma was then revealed to be sitting in one corner. I knew it... Managing five clones of yourself is hard and its almost impossible to be fighting alongside them. You were just hiding out, huh? Suzaku asked. Amazing... Mikage, do you have an idea on what he did? Anya asked. Its too fast for my eyes but I was pretty sure he cut all of the Temmas at once, I answered. Its not just that. The mist cleared away. Do you know what that meant? I tried to think but I had no idea. Anya was shivering from awe. He literally cut the intangible Mist of Deceit and forcefully dispelled it without using any magic, Anya said. Wait. What? How do you cut something like that? I asked. There are several planes of reality. First is the Physical Plane, then the Spiritual Plane, and lastly, the Astral Plane. Regular sentient creatures can see the Physical Plane and skilled ones could see the Spiritual Plane. The Astral Plane is only for a select few of people who were vessels of Primordial Beings. The Mist of Deceit, like the anti-magic barriers and other disruptive barriers, are found in the Spiritual Plane. They use the Spiritual Planes powers to toy with a person. What Suzaku did was transcending his attack from the Physical Plane to the Spiritual Plane without using any chants, magic, or whatever. It was pure skill, she explained. Now thats amazing. Temma stood up and pointed his sword at Suzaku. You must be pretty exhausted from fighting all of my clones. Not to mention, you used a lot of energy in that one strike, Temma said. Youre not one to talk. Your mana must be really low since you used Minds Eye and Mist of Deceit, Suzaku replied. They walked to the center of the stage and there was a few meters of distance between them. Why dont we end it in one shot? Temma asked. Proving whos the better fighter by cutting the other ones ribbon. Nice and simple, just how I liked it, Suzaku smiled. They both took a stance and the entire stadium went silent. Both warriors concentrations were at their peak. And then, they moved at the same time as if they agreed on it. It all happened in a split-second. They crossed each other and swung their swords. However, they didnt look like they hit each other. Or so it would seem. A blue ribbon fell to the ground. Suzaku smiled. It seems its my loss this time, the white-haired man said and sheathed his sword. Suzakus ribbon was cut and fell to the ground. Temmas ribbon wasnt touched except that there was a small cut on the lower part of Temmas shoulder. The victor is: Temma Kishido!! the referee announced and the stadium went wild. Darkness vs Fire Temma and Suzakus fight was amazing. If I win in my fight, I would have to face Temma. But for now, I should focus on my current opponent. Someone knocked on the door and when I opened it, Suisei was there. Its your turn. Dont push yourself, she said. You came to cheer me on? I asked. Of course. You are my champion and I want you to win. Its every idols dream to perform in the Westa Grand Music Festival. But dont get too hurt. Id hate it more if you get seriously injured. Dont worry... Ill do my best. Lets hope its enough to beat Kiara. I walked down the hallway and saw a familiar blond man. Nice fight, I praised Temma. It was a tough one. If you win, Ill face you. Im looking forward to it. Yeah. Ill do whatever I can. My opponent was Kiara Takanashi. From what I saw earlier, she uses a sword and shield combination. Also, she was a phoenix so there was a chance that she would use fire. I racked my brain for the possible weaknesses of a phoenix. The lore of a phoenix changes in every RPG I have played but there was one thing that they all had in common: they were immortal. Also, Kiara was in her human form so her mobility was probably the same as a normal human. Representing Civia, the manager of the famous KFP, Kiara Takanashi! Kiara walked to the stadium and waved at the crowd. And facing off against her is Suiseis champion, the administrative officer of the 13th unit, Mikage Kamishiro!! I stiffly walked to the stadium. All of the audiences eyes were on me and that made my heart beat faster than a horse. Dont be too nervous, Mikage. Just focus on surviving against me, Kiara said. Y-Yeah... Wait... What do you mean by focusing on surviving against you? I asked. Play with fire and youll get burned, she unsheathed her sword and raised her shield. Flames danced around her sword. I knew it... Fire... Let your blades dance and magic go wild! The second round of the Idol Fan Tournament... Start!! The moment the referee said start, a huge blast of fire headed towards me. I made my shadow rise and turn into a wall to protect me. The flames died down and my shadow returned to the ground. So youre a Dark Mage... This should be fun, Kiara said. Well... Im not exactly an expert but Ill have you know, I was trained by Temma, I replied. I charged at her and swung my sword but she blocked it with her shield. This was going to be a tough match. Her sword and shield combination was a troublesome thing to deal with. Kiara could easily block my strikes using her shield. Her sword looks cool though. It was orange in color and looked really futuristic. Her blue shield also had a cool design. Our swords clashed and I could keep up with her. My daily training with Temma paid off. However, her strength was no joke. Even if she was a girl, I could feel my sword vibrating so much whenever our blades hit each other. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. She pointed her sword at me and shot flames. I dodged to the right and turned my shadow into a spike and made it lunge at her. Kiara blocked my attack using her shield. Thats it... If I didnt fight her without the intent of seriously injuring her, I wouldnt win. She was strong enough to be able to handle my serious mode. I began swinging my sword faster and started aiming on her vulnerable spots. Youre getting serious. I like it, Kiara said. Cant really disappoint Suisei, I replied. She then made an unexpected move. Instead of using her sword, she bashed me using her shield and I got knocked away. A wave of fire went towards me but I managed to put up a wall made from my shadow. Think Mikage, think! I cant possibly defeat her using only my sword skills. What else could I do with Dark Magic? I tried to remember all of the Dark Mages that I have encountered so far... Wait a minute... Hey, Anya... Can we do it like what the bandaged man did? I asked. What are you planning? I explained my plan to her. I could handle one without placing any burden on you. But I wouldnt be able to help you if you ever decide to cast another Dark Magic while I am doing it, she said. Then Im counting on you. My shadow rose from the ground and turned into a humanoid creature. It was around the same height as me but it has sharp claws. I remembered the time when the bandaged man made us fight 30 of them. However, it was hard controlling them and managing your own mana while fighting. Thats why I left the controlling part to Anya. Is that supposed to be a summoned creature? Kiara asked. Yeah. I cant defeat you on my own so I need help, I answered. You ready, Mikage? Anya asked. Lets go! The shadow and I charged at Kiara. I would attack her from behind while the shadow would keep her busy in the front. Kiara was actually doing well in dealing with the two of us. She managed to hold her ground against our continued onslaught but she did all she could to defend herself. Her flames were useless against my Shadow Companion. Yep. Im calling it Shadow Companion. Shadow Clone reminded me of a certain ninja and I didnt want to be called a copycat. I was worried that her flames would somehow affect it. After all, fire emits light and darkness is weak against it. At least thats how it went in most games I played. But Kiaras flames didnt do anything to my Shadow Companion. Even if it was hit directly, it still continued fighting. Anya, are you okay? Do you get hurt whenever the Shadow Companion gets hit? Im fine. My senses are not completely merged with it so I dont feel any pain. Focus on the fight instead of worrying about me! Our combined strikes were pushing Kiara back. There was a moment when Kiara had a clear opening where I could cut her ribbon. This should end it. I lunged forward and Kiaras eyes met with mine. It was probably my imagination but I could feel that something wrong was going to happen. The Shadow Companion pushed me away just in time as an inferno was unleashed. Kiaras flames covered her body and everything in a 4 meter radius. The flames formed a pillar and rose to the skies. When it died down, Kiara looked more intimidating. Wings made out of flames sprouted from her back and her hands and feet were burning. Her smile was different. It was no longer a warm smile that could make me relax. Instead, it was a fearless smirk that showed how she was confident. You actually pushed me this far. Its been some time since I last used this, she said. So... This was the power of a phoenix. As expected of an immortal creature... I could feel my chances of winning turning slim. However, there was something new that awakened inside me. My heart beat fast and my hands were shaking. But it wasnt out of fear. I was getting excited. The creature in front of me was powerful and there was a huge chance that I would lose. But if I win against these odds, it would be a great story. So? Are you surrendering? she asked. Are you kidding? I will fight until I can no longer move, I replied. I see. Dont come crying to me later when you get burned. She took a stance and I was ready to receive her attack. Will she shoot out flames or will she lunge at me with her sword? There were many possibilities and I had to react properly. T-This is unexpected. Kiara Takanashis ribbon was burned! the referee shouted. Eh? Kiara looked dumbfounded. Eh? I looked at her right shoulder and her ribbon was gone. The winner for the second match is: Mikage Kamishiro!!! Eh? Man vs Beast With my unexpected victory against Kiara, the match moved on to the third round. To be honest, I was kind of disappointed. Kiara was finally serious and I thought I would have a challenging match but by technicalities, I won. It wasnt a satisfying victory. I walked towards my waiting room and saw Suisei. Mikage! That was an awesome fight! she said. Yeah. I thought I was screwed when Kiara unleashed her wings... Luckily, her ribbon burned off, I replied. Now I can perform in Westa Grand Music Festival. Although I would like it if you reach the finals so I can sing a solo song. If you really wanted to, you could have someone stronger than me to represent you. I mean, Im just an administrative officer. Heck, I was only lucky that I won against Kiara. I have my own reasons as to why I wanted you to fight. Is it because of the stars again? You could say thats one of the reasons. Then whats the other? Seeing you do your best for me makes me happy. Any girl would be happy if the man shes interested in would fight for her, she smiled and walked towards the door. Hey. What do you mean by that? Take it however you want it to be. A secret makes a girl into a woman, she winked at me and left the room. Suisei was interested in me? How else was I supposed to take it? Now then... Its time for the third match!!! the referee announced and I watched the TV. Representing Sora, the captain of Westa Knight Orders 13 unit, Noel Shirogane!! And her opponent is Nenes champion, the leader of Kageyama Clans Westa Branch, Botan Shishiro!! The two girls looked at each other. This is interesting. I never thought Id fight a captain, Botan said. Ive fought beastmen before but Im sure you would give me a challenge, Captain Noel replied. Thats right. Shien wouldnt trust me to become a leader if I was weak. Then I guess I need to be careful. Let your blades dance and magic go wild! The third round of the Idol Fan Tournament... Start!! Botan lunged at Captain Noel and delivered punches. I see. She was a hand-to-hand combat specialist. Captain Noel responded by dealing with her in hand-to-hand combat as well. They blocked each other''s punches and kicks. Captain Noels punches were fast but Botan could dodge or block it. Why are you not using your mace? Are you underestimating me? Botan asked. If youre not taking me seriously, then I have no reason to fight you seriously as well, Captain Noel replied. Botan is not taking her seriously? I asked. My sword glowed and turned into Anya, Its her style. Botan is using human-style martial arts. Human-style martial arts? See her punches and kicks? Thats how a regular human fights. Beastmen use a different style. I looked at the screen again and Botan smiled. Im just warming up. How about you? Are you done? she asked. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Oh my! Youre giving your opponent a chance to warm up? Captain Noel asked her. Yeah. I want a total victory. If I win because you were not fully ready, then its not a satisfying victory. Thats fair. I think Im more than ready for anything you could throw at me. Then... Ill be serious, Botan took off her jacket and was on fours. Botan fought like a beast. Instead of punching, she scratched Captain Noel. Her nails were glowing and looked dangerous so Captain Noel avoided it. Botan was attacking Captain Noels lower body and Captain Noel drew her mace to block her strikes. Why is she so wary of Botans nails? I asked. Her nail is glowing thanks to a Beastman Magic called Beast Art: Claw Nails. Her nails are as sharp and as tough as a wild beasts. Its the common weapon of Beastmen whenever they are fighting, Anya answered. I see. And since Beastmen have the strength of several humans thanks to the beast blood inside of them, they have an advantage. Thats right. But Noel is no pushover either. Botan became faster and Captain Noel was doing her best in blocking her attacks. After a while of fighting, it was clear it was a stalemate. You are strong to be able to keep up against me, Botan said. Thanks, Captain Noel replied. But play times over! Botan bit her hand and blood fell down. Marks appeared all over her body and her eyes turned red. Primal Awakening. And she did it voluntarily... Shes strong, Anya said. Primal Awakening? Whats that? I asked. Primal Awakening is a state of frenzy that Beastmen would sometimes have. Their strength and speed multiplied several times and they became more bloodthirsty. Only a few Beastmen can enter that state freely and maintain control over themselves. You mean that Botan, who already has the strength of several people, became stronger thanks to that?! Thats right. Botan was very fast and scratched Captain Noel. Captain Noel managed to block it but she was forced to be on the defensive as Botan continued her attack. Why dont Captain Noel use magic? She could possibly do it, right? I asked. Thats impossible, a voice said from the doorway. Temma waved at me. Temma. What are you doing here? I asked. Just wanna congratulate you for winning, he answered. Youre gathering information against Mikage, arent you? Anya asked. Maybe... But I want to see you before we fight. You know... To make sure that there are no hard feelings if I win. Thats cool but this is just a tournament. Besides, Im not really fighting for personal reasons, I replied. If thats the case, then you wouldnt be able to win against me, Temmas smile faded. What do you mean? I asked. Mikage... In a fight, the one with the stronger resolve always wins. If you fight with a half-hearted reason, then theres no way you would win against someone who is resolved to take you down, Anya said. What she said was right. If you cant find a reason to defeat me, then its impossible for you to win. I gulped down. Anyways... For your question, Captain Noel cant do magic, Temma said. Really? Then how did she become the youngest captain ever? Anya asked. Its because of her brute strength. She had poor grades in academics and magic back in her student days but her physical strength and combat abilities are beyond this world. Just watch, Temma answered. The fight between Captain Noel and Botan continued. Captain Noel was pushed to a corner and would be out of bounds if she moved backwards. Is this all you can do, Captain? Botan asked while grinning maniacally. This is bad... Captain Noels gonna lose, I said. Hey, Mikage. Have you ever seen Captain Noel do a proper stance? Temma asked. What? If youve noticed, her battle stance is full of openings and is not efficient. Heck, she is even swinging her mace freely while her other hand is doing nothing. Now that I think about it, she never took any battle stance in all of the fights Ive seen her. Even against a dragon, her footwork was the same as standing normally. Everyone takes a battle stance to adjust their balance and bring out the maximum power their muscles can create. But Captain Noel isnt doing any of that and she still holds on. Now look at her maintaining a proper stance. Captain Noels feet were planted firmly on the ground and both her hands were holding her mace. Hey. Did you know? If you use both hands in delivering a swing, it would be more powerful especially if you have a proper stance, Captain Noel asked. Botan looked a bit confused but then smiled. Everybody knows that! She then began running towards Captain Noel. I dont think you do, Captain Noel raised her mace and swung it. At that moment, Botan probably sensed danger. I mean, I could feel it too. When I saw Captain Noels mace going down, Botan hesitated and backed away. After finishing her swing, a powerful gust of wind blew. The sheer force of her swing created a powerful shockwave and blew Botan away. It was like a Detroit Smash of a certain anime character. Everyone in the arena was stunned into silence. The winds died down and Botan was blown several meters away from the stage. B-Botan is out of bounds! The winner is: Noel Shirogane!! the referee announced. Money vs time How the... I couldnt form the proper words. Thats ridiculous, Anya said. This is the first time that you saw Captain Noel use her both hands, right? I remembered how shocked I was when I saw it too, Temma told us. But thats absurd! She didnt use any magic but she managed to make a swing that powerful?!! Is she even human?! I asked. I wonder about that myself. Anyway... Ill see you in the next fight, he left the room. I thought that Kiara was a powerful opponent. Each and every one of the participants could be considered as monsters. Suzaku could cut through the Spiritual Plane. Temma could use the Mist of Deceit. Kiara was a powerful phoenix. Botan could freely enter Primal Awakening. Captain Noel had monstrous strength. Not to mention that the next match was going to be an interesting one. Its the final match of the first round! the referee announced and the crowd cheered. Representing Izuru, the 5000-year old demon, Oga Aragami! Oga walked towards the stage and waved at the crowd. He was grinning like crazy and was really confident. And his opponent is Kaorus champion, the boss of the entire Familiaran, Arurandeisu!!! Arurandeisu walked towards the stage. GOOD LUCK, BOSS!!! a large group of suited men in the audience cheered. Like Oga, he was really calm and had a smile on his face. A sword was sheathed on his side and a sling bag was on his body. Wow... You have a lot of fans, Oga said. Yeah. Cant disappoint them now, Arurandeisu replied. Im looking forward to how strong you are. Im also looking forward to your performance. Let your blades dance and magic go wild! The fourth round of the Idol Fan Tournament... Start! Dont mind if I make the first move! Oga charged at Arurandeisu. Darkness gathered around Ogas fist and he threw a punch. However, Arurandeisu took out a piece of paper and a white barrier appeared in between them. Ogas darkness-infused punch hit the barrier but the barrier absorbed the darkness in the punch. The paper then burned to ashes. Did Oga use Dark Magic? I asked. Yes. Thats a spell known as Darkness Enhancement. Dark Mages used the power of darkness to wrap around their weapons and enhance their attacks. In this case, Ogas fists were enhanced, Anya answered. So could I do that and enhance you with Dark Magic? Like wrap darkness around your sword form? Yeah. Your strikes would be stronger if you do it. I have another question. What did Arurandeisu do? Was that paper special? Oh that? Its called Stored Magic. There are some magics which could be stored in an object and didnt require mana to activate. All it needed was a resolve from the user. They dont even need to form an image. I see... And that piece of paper has a barrier magic stored in it? Yep. Stored Magic is really convenient since you could use a complicated spell without worrying too much about forming an image and managing your mana. So why wont everyone use Stored Magic? Stored Magic is expensive. The more powerful the magic needed to be stored, the higher quality the materials of the object must be. A B-class magic needed to be stored in an object with rarer materials than C-class magic. Also, storing magic in an object is a hard process and would cost mana. It would be better if you cast that magic yourself rather than store it in an object if we were looking at mana consumption. If thats the problem, then why bother using Stored Magic? Like I said, Stored Magic lets you instantly use magic without forming an image and using mana. Also, you can use magic that you dont know provided that someone else stored the magic inside the object. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. I see... Arurandeisu took out another paper and a bolt of lightning shot from it. Ogas shadow rose up and formed a wall to block the lightning. Why are you using Stored Magic to cast a simple spell like that? Oga asked. Thanks to my circumstances, Im not good with magic. After all, the place where I came from doesnt have any magic, Arurandeisu answered. Is that so? Mikage never really talked about his world. Why dont we have a chat in ROBEL after this? A good drink is always appreciated after a good match. If youre paying, then Ill gladly accept. Why is Arurandeisu using Stored Magic? Why wont he just use simple magic? I asked. Its probably because he was from another world like you, Anya answered. What do you mean? Your world is a world without magic or at least, magic is not common. I wouldnt be surprised if the inhabitants have little to no mana capacity. But what about me? I could use Dark Magic that easily. Youre a special case. Only your soul is from that world since you died before coming here. Your current body must be an artificial one that has a mana capacity. Not to mention that you are also the Primordial Darks vessel... Remember what Arurandeisu said when he was talking about how he got here? He said something about being spirited away, right? Yep. In other words, his physical body is the same from when he was in your world. He probably has no mana capacity, that''s why he relied on Stored Magic. Arurandeisu took out a small clay statue. He threw it upwards and the statue grew in size. It began moving as it charged at Oga. Is that a golem? I asked. Thats right. Unlike your Shadow Companion, the user only has to place a simple command and the golem would obey. It didnt require a conscious effort to control, Anya answered. Maybe I should think of using Stored Magic. With your salary? I dont recommend it. How much is the cost for that Lightning Bolt Stored Magic? Oh... You need around two months of work just to afford one. WHAT? Arurandeisu is using expensive items?! Yep... The way he fights just screams out, Screw the rules, I have money. With the Familiarans funds supporting him, he could use Stored Magic as much as he wants. The golem raised its fist and swung it at Oga. However, he just caught it with his bare hands. You need a stronger golem, Oga said. I know. Its just a distraction, Arurandeisu closed in just a second and swung his sword. Oga barely avoided it. Arurandeisus sword strikes were fast and Oga made a sword out of darkness to block his attacks. Arurandeisu took out another piece of paper and a ball of fire shot from it. Oga barely avoided it and backed away. You arent half as bad as I thought, Oga said. Im honored to have a hero praise me, Arurandeisu replied. But are you sure you should be using that much Stored Magic? Youre wasting too much for a single fight. If you know how much the youngsters in my family spend for Kaorus merchandise and other things, this is just a trivial value, Arurandeisu took out five pieces of paper. Lightning, water, earth, and ice all shot out from him and Oga avoided all of them. Arurandeisu sheathed his sword and took out a bow from his sling bag. How could a bow fit in there? I asked. Its probably an artifact. There are artifacts that can store many things even if it was bigger than the container, Anya answered. Arurandeisu took a piece of paper and his body glowed. He flew above and then took out an arrow. Arurandeisu shot it. However, Oga avoided the arrow. He shot four more arrows but they didnt hit Oga as they planted themselves in the ground. Arurandeisu landed on the ground. You suck at archery, Oga said. Youre right... I should stick with a sword, he returned the bow to his sling bag and unsheathed his golden sword. They exchanged strikes and their weapons clashed. Ogas sword that was made from darkness and Arurandeisus golden sword hit each other. I should end this now! Arurandeisu took out a piece of paper and a strong blast of wind pushed Oga. Were you trying to make me go out of bounds? If so, then you need to use a stronger spell! Oga grinned. No... I just need you to be there, he ran towards one of the arrows which were stuck on the ground. When Arurandeisu touched it, the arrow began glowing. Two glowing blue lines came out of it and connected to the other arrows. They formed a star-symbol on the ground. Starlight Destruction! he shouted and everything inside the star symbol, with Oga being in the dead center, was engulfed in blue light. Thats Starlight Destruction, an A-class magic, Anya said. Is that supposed to be amazing? I asked. Starlight Destruction is a powerful magic that requires 5 mages to activate. They must be in a position that could make them form a huge star-shaped symbol. Its amazing how he managed to turn it into a Stored Magic and activate it on his own. So he stored Starlight Destruction into those arrows and shot them to form a star.... He was definitely a good archer. The light died down and Oga was standing at the center. His mouth was bleeding and he stretched his arms. Starlight Destruction focuses more on damaging the soul instead of the physical body... Its been such a long time since I felt that much pain, he grinned. This is insane... You took it on without getting knocked out? I know youre supposed to be a hero but I hoped to at least make you unconscious. Yeah well... If you lived as long as me, then you would have trained your soul to handle attacks of that level. Arurandeisu sighed. Well, that sucks.... That happened to be my trump card and nothing good came out of it. I surrender, he raised his hands. Arurandeisu surrendered! The winner is: Oga Aragami!! The Dark Knight vs the Primordial Dark Oga is scary, I said He had more than 5000 years to train himself. What do you expect? Anya asked. It was sort of disappointing how Arurandeisu just surrendered but that was to be expected. If an A-class magic could only do that much, Oga was definitely leagues above me. Not to mention that I wouldnt be in the next round if Kiara didnt stupidly burn her ribbon. Dont think too much about it, Anya told me. Why shouldnt I? I won because of luck. I shouldnt be here, I said. Do you know why they made the rules that way? Its to test everyones strength. Why would they need to test everyones strength when the point of the tournament is to show their abilities? If they just want to show each contestants absurd powers, it could just be a simple fight where there are no rules. The point of this match is not showing how strong you are but instead, its about how you use your strength. What do you mean? A fight is not always so simple where the winner would defeat the loser with sheer strength. There are fights where you cant freely move, fights where you cant blindly cause damage, and fights where you have to protect something fragile. If you win in those fights, then its still a victory no matter what. So youre saying that fighting with the ribbons on is the same as fighting while protecting something? This tournament isnt just about each contestants strength. It tests how well one can protect something. You could have overwhelming power and ironically hurt the ones you were supposed to protect. Thats what happened with Kiara. But she was just careless. I won by luck. Its all her fault for being careless. In a real fight, carelessness could lead to death. Ive seen many people lose their lives because of a simple mistake. The way she said it reminded me that she was as old as Oga, if not older. I never thought about it but my partner was actually more amazing than any other artifacts. Besides, luck is a powerful ally. Its wrong to look down on a lucky person so stop moping around and focus on defeating Temma, Anya said. Got it. Since Suisei trusts me, I have to live up to her expectations, I stretched my arms. Anya transformed into a sword and we walked towards the arena. ### Witness his control over illusions, the Dark Knight, Temma!! Temma walked to the arena with a warm smile. I sparred with him so many times but I knew that he was holding back. He was my master in swordsmanship and theres no way I could defeat him in that. The lucky administrative officer who commands the darkness, Mikage Kamishiro!! Did he really have to include the lucky part? I was ready to fight Temma and the gazes of the audience didnt bother me that much anymore. That was because I needed to pay full attention to my enemy. You never won against me in all of our daily training. Do you have the resolve to defeat me? he asked. That was in swordsmanship. This time, I can do magic, I answered. I see. You should know that I wont hold back. A fight between two knights of the same unit! Will Temma show his power as a vice-captain or will Mikage show that administrative officers can fight too? Let your blades dance and magic go wild! The first round of the Idol Fan Tournaments Semifinals.... Start!! I charged at Temma and swung my sword. He dodged it and countered with a strike but I blocked his attack. We exchanged strikes for a minute. Youve improved, he said. Yep. Its all thanks to you, I replied. Dont you think its time? Anyas voice echoed in my mind. Yep. Lets go! This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Shadow Companion! I shouted and my shadow turned into a dark humanoid being. I see. This is how you cornered Kiara, he smiled. Despite our combined attacks, Temma managed to hold on. He really was strong. Even if there were four or five of us, he could probably take us on. However, I heard Temma muttering words. Oh no... And thus the mist came. Creating something from nothing and turning something into nothing. Bewildering the enemy and making me untouchable. Let it be known, the Mist of Deceit! Temma finished chanting. A huge magic circle appeared and covered the entire stage. There it was, the Mist of Deceit. Temma must be conserving his mana, Anyas voice said. What do you mean? I asked. He didnt use Minds Eye or enhance his physical capabilities. He immediately went for Mist of Deceit. His plan is probably to finish this quickly by using the least amount of mana. Three Temmas appeared from the mist. Just three? I asked. Cant waste anymore mana. I still have other matches to fight if Im going to win, he answered. The three Temmas charged at me and I did my best in avoiding them. But even with my Shadow Companion backing me up, it took everything I had to keep up. The Mist of Deceit creates really convincing illusions. Even if I knew they were illusions, I could feel the vibrations in my sword every time I would block an attack. Also, when one of the Temmas cut me, I felt pain. Was there something I could do to dispel the illusions? Think, Mikage, think! What could you do to turn the situation around? I then remembered I was the Primordial Darks vessel. The Mist of Deceit could make realistic illusions but did Temma think I could sense whether a shadow is fake or not? For starters, could I even sense such a thing? Anya! Can you hold them off for a while? I asked. Ill try my best, she responded. While my Shadow Companion was entertaining the three Temmas, I closed my eyes and concentrated. I imagined everyones shadow all around me. A shadow was something that always accompanied a thing. As long as there was light, there would always be a shadow. And thats when I felt it. Everyones shadow was all around me. The audience, the referee, my shadow, and the real Temmas shadow. I opened my eyes and focused on a spot. That spot was empty but I knew that there was a hidden shadow there. I charged and swung my sword as hard as I could and the sound of metal hitting another metal was hard. Mist appeared and Temmas real body could now be seen. How did you know? he asked. Trade secret. But your Mist of Deceit is now useless! I answered. I locked on Temmas shadow and memorized how it felt. There was no way I was going to be fooled again. He snapped his fingers and the mist disappeared. If my illusions wont work, then I guess its time for a real showdown. Minds Eye! he shouted the name of his magic and charged at me. Minds Eye allowed him to see the future movements of his enemy. That was why he managed to toy with both me and my Shadow Companion. He would make minimal movements in dodging and landed tricky counters. After he almost cut my ribbon, I backed away. This is bad. Does Minds Eye have any weakness? I asked. It enhances the users eyes and lets them see the future movements. Even moving unpredictably is useless, she said. Wait a minute... Eyes?? Anya... Can you do this? I explained my plan to her. Im busy controlling the Shadow Companion so you need to pull your weight if were doing that, she said. Got it. I wont just be dead weight. I charged at Temma and raised my sword. If youre aiming to overpower me, then go ahead and try! he readied a stance. Now! InfiNight Darkness!! I shouted my improvised moves name. Darkness came out of my body and filled the entire stadium. It was the same move that I used in covering the entire Krev Valley. Like what Anya said, I made up a name and shouted it to help form an image. I see... This is your answer against Minds Eye, Temma said. Thats right... Minds Eye allowed its user to see the trails of an enemys future movements. So that meant that if he couldnt see the enemy, then it would be useless. Under the cover of the darkness, I charged at him. Even Temma would have a hard time trying to fight without light. I could still sense where Temma was because I knew where his shadow was. Raising my sword, I was prepared to strike him down. But then, my sword hit a metal. Did you really think you could land a hit on me in the dark? A true warrior does not rely only on his sight. I can hear your breathing as loud as a child crying and could feel the wind generated from your swing! Temma said. Without Anya helping me, InfiNight Darkness only lasted for a second. If I wanted to, I could make it last even longer but I was preoccupied with something. The darkness was gone and Temma was smiling... Until he saw what my plan was. What the- he couldnt form words. His arm and his sword were wrapped in darkness and were connected to my sword. He was completely stuck. Now! Anya!!! I shouted. My Shadow Companion appeared behind Temma and cut down his ribbon while he couldnt move. Temma smiled. You got me. I was so focused on hitting you that I forgot about the Shadow Companion. I thought you dispelled it since you needed Anyas help with your InfiNight Darkness, he said. Yeah. While you were looking out for my breathing and stuff, I made Anya go behind you under the dark. And when you strike me, I would bind you while she would cut you down, I replied. Using yourself as bait, youre a tricky guy. I completely lost this one. T-Temmas ribbon has been cut! The winner is: Mikage Kamishiro!! Strongest human vs strongest demon Defeating Temma was no easy task but at least, I was getting the hang of parallel processing. Although I could use some work on my naming skills. InfiNight Darkness was just a really lame pun. I went to my waiting room and sat on the couch. It was a tough fight but I finally secured a win against Temma. It was amazing how I managed to outsmart him but I had a feeling that he was underestimating me. If he was completely serious, I wouldnt have fooled him. The next match was about to start and I had to pay attention to it. After all, the winner was going to be someone I will have to fight in the next round. The demon who could take on an A-class magic, Oga Aragami! The human girl with unbelievable strength, Noel Shirogane! Oga and Captain Noel walked to the arena. Captain Noel had a serious look on her face while Oga had a big grin. Im not exactly a fan of fighting women but that doesnt mean I would pull back my punches, he said. You are a powerful opponent, she told him. Aw shucks. Its nice to be complimented like that. Captain Noel entered a battle stance. Was Oga really that powerful? You havent faced him before in combat, right? Anyas voice asked. My sword glowed and it turned into a small girl. Oga is not just a normal demon. Even 4000 years ago, he was a genius in combat. My previous master would always lose whenever they sparred. Who knows how strong he is now that hes 5000 years old? And Captain Noel could feel it so shes serious even if the fight hasnt started yet? This would be an interesting fight. I couldnt help but agree. Let your blades dance and your magic go wild! The second round of the Idol Fan Tournaments Semifinals... Start!! Captain Noel charged and swung her mace. Ogas shadow wrapped around his arms and he blocked it. He then tried to punch her but Captain Noel avoided it. They continued this exchange for a while but it was a stalemate. She then held the mace using both of her hands. Captain Noel raised it and swung it down. A huge blast of wind came from it and cracks appeared on the ground when it hit Ogas arm. Oga managed to catch the mace but the darkness surrounding his arm was crumbling away. Got ya now! he snapped the mace into two pieces and kicked Captain Noel away. He withstood such a powerful strike? I couldnt hide my surprise. Noel might be strong for a regular human... But physical strength could only take her so far. Oga has the physical strength of a demon and he has magic too. Noels in for a rough fight, Anya said. Oga grinned as darkness wrapped around his arms. Your weapon is broken, missy. You might want to surrender now or else youll be in a world of hurt, he told her. Youre right. My weapon is gone... Flare told me that I shouldnt do this but I think youre strong enough to handle me going all out, she said. She removed the metal bracers and metal shin guards and carefully placed it on the ground. Captain Noel did some stretches while Oga looked confused. Why did you remove your armor? Are you going for speed by removing the heavy things on your body? he asked. Maybe... I got one request for you, she said. Well... Go ahead. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Captain Noel appeared behind Oga as if she teleported. She clenched her fist and threw a punch. Oga crossed his arms and managed to block it but when her fist hit his arms, a strong gust of wind blew and he was blown away. Oga was knocked back for a few meters and the darkness in his arms crumbled to pieces. Dont die on me! Captain Noel shouted and she disappeared once more. She appeared behind him and Oga managed to barely dodge her fist. However, the force of the wind created by her punch distracted him and he got hit by her next punch. Oga was knocked to the sky and Captain Noel appeared behind him. She kicked him and sent him flying again. But before he could land to the ground, Captain Noel appeared to the spot where he was heading and punched him once again. He was thrown all over the arena like a tennis ball in a rally. Blood dripped from Ogas mouth as Captain Noel was getting faster and faster. How annoying! Oga made his shadow rise up and act as a wall but Captain Noels punch shattered it to pieces. He grabbed her arm but Captain Noel managed to swing her arm and throw him away. Oga bounced on the ground and groaned. He was near Captain Noels metal bracers and shin guards and he picked it up. Or at least he tried to. He used both of his arms to just pick up one bracer and was visibly struggling. Are you kidding me? This is insane, he said. Its been some time since I last removed my limiters, Captain Noel told him. What was going on? Were her bracers and shin guards special? I get it now, Anya said. Whats happening? Why is Captain Noel suddenly strong? I asked. Those metal bracers and shin guards had limiting magic on them. Limiting magic? They come in different forms but basically, they make an object really heavy for the person wearing them. For example, if you were to weigh Noel with her bracers and shin guards, she would probably weigh like an average woman. However, if you hold those items, they would weigh a lot more. I see. Kind of like the weights used in training. But why would Captain Noel do that? To limit her strength. If she would wildly use her full power without those limiters, she would cause death everywhere. Look at Oga, his mouth is bleeding and he is wincing in pain. He must have a few cracked bones already despite having a superior body thanks to being a demon. Oga smiled, You are really powerful. I dont sense any magic from you so your muscle strength is extraordinary. Noel Shirogane, huh? No wonder youre a captain despite being so young. Sorry... But Im ending this! she shouted as she disappeared once more. She appeared in front of him and raised her fist. Take this! Earth Shaker!!! she swung down her fist and a massive gust of wind blew when it hit Ogas body. The strike was so powerful a whirlwind formed. Cracks appeared all over the arena and I could feel the vibrations even if I was in the waiting room. When the winds died down, I saw a demon. Now, Oga looked like a demon since he had a horn coming out of his head and his teeth were sharp. However, this time, he looked very demonic. Bat-like wings sprouted from his back and a tail wagged. His muscular body grew into around 2.5 meters in size and his hair was longer. Anya gulped down. Ogas demon form.... As usual, it looks scary, she said. I read about demons before. They have 2 forms which are their sealed form and their demon form. Demons could only use around 20% of their powers when they were in their sealed form. So that meant Oga was now 5 times stronger now that he was in his demon form. Its been several centuries since I last entered this form. As respect for you, I will defeat you with all I have, he said and raised his fist. Oga and Captain Noel exchanged blows as winds blew from each of their punches. They didnt bother dodging each others attacks as they solely focused on the offense. Even if I was watching it from the TV, I knew each and every punch they threw was 100% of their strength. They werent backing down as they threw punches. Captain Noel had blood dripping from her mouth. She backed away and put a few meters of distance between the two of them. This is getting nowhere. If were going for a battle of endurance, I would lose thanks to my human limitations, she said. So what do you propose? We use our strongest attack against each other? Oga asked. Yeah... I never tried this before but Im pretty sure you would survive against this, Captain Noels right hand began to glow. This is interesting, Ogas right hand also began to glow. Whats going on? I asked. Theyre planning to end this in a single punch, Anya answered. What? That magic is called Mana Punch. Its a simple magic that strengthens ones punch depending on the mana used. Its so simple that it could multiply a punchs power up to 10 times. Wait... If Captain Noel does that, then Oga is in trouble! As if on cue, both of them charged at the same time. They swung their fist and a huge explosion occurred in the arena. Strong gusts of wind blew as a blinding light shone. The sound of concrete being demolished was heard and several debris flew away. Smoke enveloped the entire arena. Whats going on? The contestants punched each other and now the arena is covered in smoke! the referee shouted. When the smoke cleared up, the entire arena was demolished. A demon was standing at the remains of the arena while Captain Noel was outside the bounds. She was lying on the ground and a bit of her clothes were ripped, especially the right side of her upper body. N-Noel is out of bounds... The winner is Oga Aragami!! Mikage vs Oga There was an hour of rest between the previous round and the final round. That was because Captain Noel and Oga demolished the arena. The staff were working hard to repair it with magic. I didnt like my odds. Captain Noel was insanely powerful but Oga was stronger. His demon form was really scary. He could get 5 times stronger if he wanted to. I had a slight idea on how powerful he was. After all, he showed me his mana when he trained me on how to use Dark Magic. That pressure was suffocating. So? How are you going to deal with this? Anya asked. I dont really know... My only option in winning is to cut his ribbon. I dont know how else I should fight. What can I possibly do with Dark Magic? Anya had a serious look. I said this before but Im getting worried about the thing inside you, she said. Thing inside me? I asked. From what Moona said, you are probably the Primordial Darks vessel. Thats why I thought the presence inside you was it. However, every time you use Dark Magic, its becoming stronger. I feel uneasy about this, Anya answered. But what else can I do? I cant possibly defeat Oga without Dark Magic. Then would you like a hint, young man? a voice asked in the doorway. The voice belonged to Yagoo and he flashed a warm smile. Ive decided to talk to the finalists while they are repairing the stage until I overheard some things. It seems you are intimidated by Ogas strength, he said. Then do you have an idea on what I should do? I asked. You are just using your own darkness. As the Primordial Dark, you have the authority to use every darkness in existence. Use every darkness in existence? Tell me this: have you ever talked to the Primordial Dark? I shook my head. Then thats the first step you should take. A Primordial Beings power is limitless. Try cooperating with it, he said. Wait... Why do you know so much about Primordial Beings? Anya asked. Lets just say Im one of your kind, he said and left. ### Now... We are in the final round of the Idol Fan Tournament! the referee announced and the crowd cheered. Presenting the Nothing Gang, the powerful demon Oga Aragami!! Oga walked to the stage while grinning. And we have Suiseis champion, a master of Dark Magic, Mikage Kamishiro!! I arrived at the stage. The arena was completely repaired. There wasnt a trace of destruction or anything. Magic sure was convenient. Yo, Mikage. Were finally fighting each other, huh? Youve improved since the last time I saw you use Dark Magic, he said. Well... Ive been through a lot. Besides, Anya is helping me out, I replied. Oh yeah. Its been quite some time since I last fought someone who uses Anya. You should do better than her. Her? Anyas previous master. She was a pain to fight. Anyways, this is not the time for reminiscing about the past. The final round of the Idol Fan Tournament. Both fans faced off against strong opponents and reached this round! Let your blades dance and magic go wild. Final round... Start!!! Darkness gathered around Ogas fist and he charged at me. I made my shadow into a wall but he smashed it into pieces. Tch. He was strong. I wrapped darkness around my sword and swung it at Oga. Oga blocked my attack by wrapping darkness around his arms. Anya said my strikes would be stronger if I wrapped darkness around her but Oga didnt even flinch from my attack. I was definitely weaker than Captain Noel.... Heck, I might even be weaker than Arurandeisu. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Shadow Companion!! I shouted and my shadow turned into a humanoid warrior. You cant defeat me on your own so you asked for help... Thats good, Oga said. We charged at Oga but he managed to toy with us. Even my Shadow Companions sharp claws couldnt scratch the darkness wrapped around Ogas arms. Captain Noels strength must be monstrous to make it crumble since my strikes couldnt even scratch it. I could use InfiNight Darkness and cut his ribbon like what I did with Temma.... But Oga was probably aware of that and could counter it. What should I do? So you use Anya for mana manipulation huh? Oga asked as he punched my Shadow Companion. What about it? I asked as I swung my sword. You do know you can do more with Anya, right? Youre not using her full powers. What do you mean? Try to find it out yourself. Theres no way Im going to give hints to an opponent. Maybe we could talk about it over some drinks after all of this is over. Oga landed a punch on my stomach and knocked me away. I felt like throwing up my lunch but I held it in. His right fist then began to glow and he punched my Shadow Companion. It shattered into pieces. Sorry, Mikage! It seems that the Shadow Companion took so much damage that it shattered! Shall we try another one?, Anyas voice echoed in me. What should I do? Oga was menacingly walking towards me. My stomach hurt like hell. At this rate, I would lose. It was a small chance but I had an idea. I imagined that there was something inside me. Something like a swirling ball of darkness similar to the Primordial Memory. I channeled my thoughts towards it. Hey... Primordial Dark?? Are you there?? Its me, Mikage.... Sorry for not talking much but... I sort of need your help? Please respond. There was nothing. Mikage... What are you doing? Anya asked. If she could facepalm, she wouldve done it already. Oh well... It was worth a shot, I stood up and pointed my sword at Oga. I then charged at him. He swung his fist but I avoided it in time. I tried to cut him but he blocked it with his darkness-enhanced arms. Without knowing anything, I received a blow from below and flew to the air. When I looked at Oga as I was flying, I saw that his shadow turned into a fist and landed an uppercut on me. Crap... I was so focused on his arms that I forgot his shadow was also a weapon. I landed on the ground and I was dizzy. My vision was dimming. This was bad... I was going to pass out... It seems you need my help, an unknown voice echoed in my mind. ### Did I hit him too hard? Oga wondered. He thought it was sort of dishonorable to land a surprise attack but the fight was a free-for-all. Besides, he wanted to win the tournament for his friend. Oiii! Mikage! Are you still up? Or are you down? he asked. There was no response. It seems that Mikage is out for the count. The winner is- the referee was about to announce the winner until it happened. Everyone in the arena felt it. An eerie feeling appeared inside their minds. It was like staring at a deep dark abyss and having a thought that something was staring back. Oga knew that feeling well. He never thought he would feel it again. After all, its been 4000 years since he last felt it. Darkness oozed out of Mikages body as he slowly stood up. He had a blank expression. There was no emotion on his face. It was like looking at a person who just woke up from a nap. Youre not Mikage... Who are you? Oga asked. Despite asking, he already had an idea on what he was facing. It was the same feeling from 4000 years ago when he fought in the Dark Times. He knew that the person in front of him was not Mikage but instead, it was the Primordial Dark. 50 Shadow Companions appeared in the arena. There were also 30 large four-legged beasts made up of darkness. A shadow dragon flew overhead and 40 small shadow bats appeared. T-This is insane! Mikage summoned a lot of creatures!! the referee announced. A huge burst of mana enveloped the entire stadium as Oga entered his demon form. Balls of fire, lightning, water, and wind appeared above him and several icicles appeared on his side. His arms were completely wrapped by darkness. Mikage pointed his sword at Oga and all of the shadow creatures attacked at once. It was an amazing fight. Oga single-handedly fought all of the creatures. He shot magic and threw punches as each creature crumbled. No one knew how much time passed since they were focused on Ogas struggle. Mikage kept on producing shadow creatures to replace each one that was lost. This is getting nowhere! Oga charged at Mikage and threw a punch. However, a thick wall of darkness formed and blocked his attack. Oga threw 5 punches in 1 second and the wall shattered to pieces. Hey! Mikage! I know youre there! Try to keep control of yourself! Dont let the Primordial Dark take over you! he shouted. The shadow creatures surrounded him and he released a huge shockwave all around his body. He grabbed the tail of the Shadow Dragon and used it to maul the other shadow creatures. When he was done, he applied lightning magic on it and it crumbled to pieces. More creatures made up of darkness appeared and Oga clicked his tongue. Theres no end to this, he said. ### I was in a very dark room. There was a huge black substance at the center. Strong winds blew from it so I couldnt go near it. All I could feel from it was sadness. Where in the world was I? I felt something tap my shoulder. When I turned around, I saw a white-haired girl. She had red skin, pointy ears, and orange eyes. Two large horns grew out of her forehead. Youre Anyas new master, huh? she asked. W-Who are you? I asked. How do you do? My name is Yoclesh! she grinned. Passing the torch The girl named Yoclesh grinned at me. A strong gust of wind blew and I looked at the dark substance in the middle of the room. Where am I? I asked. This is hard to explain but believe it or not, youre inside your own soul, she answered. Inside my own soul? See that wild dark thing over there? Thats the Primordial Darks powers. Its inside you and going wild as we speak. Wait a minute... I was in a fight before I got into this place. Whats happening to my body right now? I asked. Well... Your consciousness is right here... That means the Primordial Dark is having a blast doing whatever it wanted, she answered and the winds became stronger. I thought the Primordial Dark had no will? What could it possibly be doing? You tried talking to it, right? That part of you responded and is now doing what you really wanted to do. So its fighting for me? Thats what I think. Although this is quite ironic. What do you mean? I fought against people who were using the Primordial Darks powers during the Dark Times. My successor turned out to be someone whos very familiar with the Primordial Dark. I wonder what Oga is feeling right now, she rubbed her chin. Successor? Thats right. I was Anyas previous master before you 4000 years ago. How in the world was that possible? From what Anya told me, her master died while fighting the mad king who started the Dark Times. What was she doing here? Youre probably wondering why Im here, arent you? she asked. Well yeah... Youre dead so you shouldnt be able to talk to me. And how are you even inside my soul? Its thanks to Anya. Shes a really amazing weapon. You see, all of her users have imprinted their souls on her. Do you know what Anya really is? I shook my head. Shes the Sword of Records, Yoclesh said and 7 silhouettes appeared behind her. Sword of Records? I asked. Tell me... How did you meet Anya? I bought her for a cheap price in a weapon shop. Why? She burst out laughing. Anya got sold as a cheap sword? Thats hilarious! I wonder how angry she would be when she finds out. Although I think she already knows since she can see your memories, she said. Now that I thought about it, Anya was really amazing. She could manage my mana and I could use complicated spells even if I was an amateur. Anyways... She is the Sword of Records. Her initial function is to manage her masters mana and make them into powerful battle mages. But she has another trick, Yoclesh said. The 7 silhouettes became clearer and they had physical bodies. If I was right, they were Anyas previous masters. They were all from different races and genders. Anya can record her masters skills inside her. If you can unleash her Synchronicity, then you will be unstoppable, she said. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Synchronicity? I asked. What if I told you that you can use our powers as if it was your own? I gulped down. Thats what Synchronicity does. You become in sync with the previous masters and could gain their skills. Im a pretty decent swordsman and if you enter Synchronicity, you can gain my sword skills, she said and did a swinging motion. So... How do I do that? I asked. Anya needs to record your soul first. As long as you keep using her, your soul will be imprinted on her. Once you make a presence here, you can enter Synchronicity. Dont worry. Your soul is totally imprinted here. The proof is that I can talk to you. All you need is to enter that state, she answered. Be warned. Synchronicity is hard to master, one of Anyas previous masters said. He was a blue dragonewt wearing a white kariginu and blue hakama. His eyes stared straight at me. Synchronicity is a state where you merge with the previous masters. Your mana would increase and your physical strength would improve. However, it requires concentration. You have to make sure your soul is resonating with the previous wielders. Also, Synchronicity is taxing on the body. You dont magically gain mana. Its merely overworking your mana production to reach levels higher than normal. Using it too much is not recommended. You also cant mimic all of the previous wielders moves. You have a body similar to a human. You cant use the natural abilities of a dragonewt, he said. Yep. What he said. Synchronicity is hard to master. It took me days of practice to even hold it for more than 3 minutes. The longest time Ive been in Synchronicity is 20 minutes and I overworked myself back then, Yoclesh added. The winds were becoming weaker. It seems the Primordial Dark is weakening. I guess its time to send you off. Synchronicity is like magic. You need an image and a resolve. Imagine yourself being like a mirror to the previous masters. You need to resonate with us. Anyway, were going to send you off now but first, well introduce ourselves, she stood straight. I am the Sword of Records 8th master, Yoclesh!, the red-skinned girl grinned. A red-haired boy stepped forward. He was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and red pants. Horns sprouted from his head. I am the Sword of Records 7th master, Ryuuki Tatsuya, he said. A black haired beastman did a salute. He was wearing a black uniform and had a red streak on his hair. My name is Merryweather, the Sword of Records 6th master, he flashed a warm smile. A short white-haired girl waved her hand at me. She was wearing a black cloak with a hood and was carrying a book on her other hand. I am Ars Almal, the Sword of Records 5th master, she introduced herself. A brown-haired beastman pounded his chest. He was very muscular and had a huge grin on his face. Heya! Im Leo Dickinson! The Sword of Records 4th master, he said. A gray-haired man stepped forward. He had two horns coming out on his head and wore black clothes. Hey there. I am Jiihn, the Sword of Records 3rd master, he waved his hands. A man with purple fur looked at me. He looked like a dog and was quite muscular. Two horns were on the sides of his head. I am the Deep Blizzard Miyuki, the 2nd master of the Sword of Records, he said. And last was the blue dragonewt from earlier. My name is Shiki Taigen, the 1st master of the Sword of Records, he introduced himself. They all looked at me... Ah yeah. I almost forgot. It was common courtesy to return the introductions. I am Mikage Kamishiro, the 9th master of the Sword of Records, I told them. Treat Anya well, alright? Ars asked. Youll go far if you train hard enough, Leo said. If you need my power, just say so, Merryweather told me. If Anya oversleeps, you can scold her, Jiihn smiled. The winds finally died down and light was shining above. One last thing.... Show Oga whos boss! Yoclesh raised her fist. The light consumed me and everything faded away. ### When I returned, I saw Oga in his demon form. That dumb expression, youre finally back, Oga said. Yeah... And guess what? I grinned. I remembered what Yoclesh told me. Synchronicity required an image and resolve. My resolve was not lacking since I wanted to defeat Oga. I then imagined Yoclesh standing beside me. Her souls presence was vibrating in the sword. I tried to tune in to that vibrations and synced my breathing with it. When a warm feeling enveloped me, I smiled. Anya said that shouting a magics name helped in generating an image. I had one name in mind. Synchronicity Release! Synchronicity A strong gust of wind blew as I felt myself getting stronger. Yocleshs soul was pulsing in my sword and I resonated with it. Then my body began glowing. Before I knew it, my clothes changed. Instead of my usual knight uniform, I was wearing a black long-sleeved top with golden lines and black trousers. My sword now had a black wavy blade. So you achieved Synchronicity. You met my previous masters and I guess you now know what I am, Anyas voice echoed in me. Yep... Youre a really amazing partner. So how about we kick Ogas butt? Lets go! That form... Synchronicity huh? This should be fun, Oga cracked his knuckles. Darkness wrapped around his arms and I charged at him. He swung his fist but I easily dodged it. Thanks to Synchronicity, my body knew what to do. I didnt even have to think much. I knew when to parry or block and I could dodge using minimal movements. I swung my sword and finally cut through Ogas darkness-enhanced arms. Lightning shot from above and I dodged it. Oga opened his mouth and a ball of red light formed. He shot a red beam but I dodged it. Even with Synchronicity, Oga is still hard to defeat. Focus on cutting his ribbon! Anya told me. He swung down his fist and I jumped to avoid it. I compressed my mana inside Anya and released a blue wave of energy at its tip. It formed a crescent shape and exploded when it hit Oga. I didnt know what I did since I just went with my instinct. And my instinct was amazing thanks to Synchronicity. I spotted an opening to cut Ogas ribbon. I was about to cut it when a massive headache attacked me. My clothes reverted to my knight uniform and I could feel my power disappearing. I landed on the ground as my body felt really heavy. The headache didnt make things better. What happened? I asked. You got too excited and stopped resonating with the previous masters. This is an effect of getting out of Synchronicity, Anya answered. My body was really heavy and the headache was annoying. Oga looked confused but he then grinned. It seems you still need to practice Synchronicity. Yoclesh had months of training before she could maintain that form for 10 minutes, he grabbed me and lifted me up. What should I do? I could use my shadow to attack him but I think he was wary of my own shadow. My body was too tired to even swing Anya. This was bad... How in the world could I get out of this situation? You are just using your own darkness. As the Primordial Dark, you have the authority to use every darkness in existence, Yagoos words echoed in my mind. Wait a minute.... Didnt Moona say the same thing too? And she found out that I was the Primordial Darks vessel when a certain thing happened?? It was worth a shot so I smiled. Ogas shadow rose up and cut his ribbon. His eyes widened in surprise because of what happened. My shadow moved on its own? No.... You! Oga finally realized what happened. Thats right. I was the Primordial Darks vessel so that meant I had authority over every darkness in existence. Manipulating the shadows of other people was possible for me. Ogas ribbon has been cut! The winner is Mikage Kamishiro!! Oga sighed and put me down. I sat on the floor and took a deep breath. Looks like I won. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ### Now then! The award ceremony of the Idol Fan Tournament shall begin! Asuka announced. Tied at 3rd place, we have AZKis champion, Temma Kishido, and Soras champion, Noel Shirogane! AZKi, Temma, Captain Noel, and Sora walked up to the podium. A bronze medal was hung over the two champions while AZKi hugged Temma and Sora shook hands with Captain Noel. AZKi and Sora will have a duet in the Westa Grand Music Festival so please look forward to it! she said. She took a silver trophy and presented it to the crowd. Next is our second place, Izurus champion. Oga Aragami! Oga and Izuru walked to the podium and took the trophy. They gave each other a fist bump. Izuru will have a solo song in the Westa Grand Music Festival. Please continue supporting him. Asuka then took a gold trophy. And now, our champion... He proved to be the strongest fan this year, Suiseis champion, Mikage Kamishiro! I walked to the podium with Suisei. She was smiling from ear to ear. Told you the stars were right, she winked at me. Yeah yeah, I said as I took the trophy. My body still felt sluggish but it wasnt as bad as before. Also, the headache was gone so it was great. Suisei will sing 2 songs in the Westa Grand Music Festival as reward for being a champion. She also proved that she has the strongest fan, Asuka said. The cameraman walked to us and snapped a picture.... After that, the contestants were invited to a dinner party. ### The dinner party was amazing. There was a buffet filled with different kinds of food and idol music was being played. Yagoo was talking to the 4 idols who were supposed to sing on Westa Grand Music Festival. Temma and Suzaku were talking to each other. Captain Noel was eating a lot of food. Arurandeisu was calmly sipping wine in a corner with Kaoru nearby. Botan and Nene were having a chat. Civia was consoling the apologizing Kiara. Oga was competing with Captain Noel to see who could eat more. Kira was talking to his Excellular while eating. I took a plate filled with food and started eating when Kiara approached me. Congratulations, she said. Thanks. Although I probably wouldnt have reached the finals if you didnt burn your ribbon, I replied. I admit that it was a careless mistake but next time, I will be more mindful. I dont think I would want to fight you again. I almost got burned after all. She giggled, It seems that luck favors you. Heres a coupon for KFP. You can get a discount the next time you go there. Wait... Really? Why are you giving one? Its my congratulatory gift, she then left me after giving a coupon. Temma and Suzaku approached me. So... This one is your student? Suzaku asked. Hes not exactly my student. Mikages more of a training partner, Temma answered. I look forward to fighting you. You managed to outsmart Temma, after all, Suzaku looked at me. Temma was underestimating me. Thats why he got careless, I said. Then he needs more training. I cant believe that you thought of this guy as a small fry. Well... I always won against him in our training. I guess I did underestimate him a bit. The party went on and when it was over, Temma and I headed to the barracks. It was a wild day and I just unlocked the ability to enter Synchronicity. I had to master it as soon as I could so I could be prepared when the Unkindness would strike once again. I placed my trophy in our room. But for now, I should go to sleep. I needed to take a break after all the fights I had for this day. ### A blue-haired girl was humming. Suisei knew that Mikage was lucky but she didnt expect him to actually win. Now she was booked to sing 2 songs in the Westa Grand Music Festival. The best part was that her goals were also achieved. Her Excellular rang and when she looked at the name on the screen, she smiled. Hey there! Did you watch the Idol Fan Tournament? she asked. Yes. Congratulations for winning, a mans voice said. I never thought that Mikage was actually lucky. Also, we were successful in dragging it out. Now the Unkindness would have an idea on what he truly is. After all, they have eyes and ears everywhere, she then had a serious look on her face. Yes. Mikage successfully entered a Primordial Awakening. However, his powers seem to be limited. He hasnt fully awakened yet. Keep an eye on him. Sure thing. Oh... And how is your secondary project going? Its going well... She is our backup plan in case Mikage would be caught by the Unkindness. Although I hate doing it, I have no other choice. Alright then. Ill contact you in case there are any developments with Mikage. Thanks, Suisei. No problem, Shiroe. A new problem Synchronicity Release! I shouted. My clothes turned into a black long-sleeved top with golden lines and black trousers. Anyas sword form turned into a black wavy blade and I felt the pulses of the previous masters souls. For now, I was borrowing Yocleshs power. Ive talked with her over the past week and I learned some things about her. Her sword style was called Oni Rush, a one-handed sword style of the Oni race. Even though I never trained that style, my body knew how to make the proper stance. Minds Eye! Temma shouted. My opponent was Temma. I asked him if I could practice Synchronicity against him and he agreed. Weve been sparring for almost a week. Even if I had Synchronicity, Temma would still be able to hold on against me. He really was a strong guy. He pressed a stopwatch and then charged at me. We exchanged blows. As usual, Minds Eye was an annoying magic to deal with. Oni Rush was a sword style that involved using swift and accurate strikes. It relied more on speed instead of overpowering an opponent. Temmas Mind Eye allowed him to see where my strikes would be and prepare a counter for that. Yocleshs Oni Rush was still amazing though. People who used Minds Eye would often dodge or parry strikes. However, Temma would often have no choice but to block my attacks since they were almost impossible to dodge. It was a great improvement. We exchanged strikes for a while. Things were going great until I felt my body becoming sluggish as the power drained from me. A migraine appeared on my mind and I crouched. I tried to catch my breath as I wobbly stood up. Temma looked at the stopwatch and pressed a button, 2 minutes and 10 seconds. You lasted 7 seconds longer than yesterday. Our daily routine was training for an hour every morning. After attempting to practice my parallel processing, I would move on with training my Synchronicity. At first, I could only last around 40 seconds but it then improved as I trained. Also, I used to be able to do Synchronicity once a day but thanks to my training, I could enter Synchronicity after 6 hours. However, it would last shorter compared to the previous transformation. Youre getting the hang of it. I think its a good improvement from last week, Temma said. But only lasting for 2 minutes is still short. I heard that Yoclesh could last as long as 10 minutes, I replied. Its sort of like cheating, isnt it? Learning the skills of the previous masters is a bit unfair for the people who trained hard. I can only use their skills when Im in Synchronicity and its really hard to resonate with them while fighting. How do you even resonate? Its a bit hard to explain... I could feel their souls in Anya and I would try to synchronize with them. Kind of like copying another persons movements. For example, I could feel Yocleshs soul whenever Im using Oni Rush. Most of the time, I just let my body do its thing without thinking too hard since I was using her skills. But sometimes, I would make a move that Yoclesh wouldnt normally do and I would stop resonating with her. I see. Your thoughts would sometimes get too strong that you would make a move that Yoclesh wouldnt do and that would cause you to get out of Synchronicity. Yes. Its hard to just let my body do its thing whenever I am fighting. Its probably because Im still trying to get a hang of trusting whatever my instincts are telling me. Although Yoclesh told me that I should balance my own initiative and trusting my instincts. Balancing your initiative? Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. You see... Yoclesh told me that I shouldnt rely too much on the previous masters skills. I should learn how to mix my own skills as well. When I get enough proficiency in using Synchronicity, I should be able to use my style of Dark Magic while in that state. I see. Oni Rush is already a formidable style. If you add your Dark Magic to it, you would be more powerful. Thats right. Its the reason why I have to get a hang of parallel processing as soon as I can. If I learn how to do it, using Dark Magic while maintaining Synchronicity would be possible. Alright then. Lets keep up this pace then. Wanna head to the showers? We then went to our barracks baths and took a shower. A cold shower always felt great after exercising. After that, I went to the captains office and sorted out some papers. I then noticed one important detail. Ummm... Captain Noel? Is this thing for real? I asked as I showed her a piece of paper. Yes. The 13th units dormitories would be renovated so the residents have to find an alternate living space. Im going to put up an announcement later, she answered. I could agree that the dormitories need to be renovated. There were leaky roofs and termite-infested walls. Also, some of the showers in the bathroom were not working so it would always be crowded during rush hours. How long would the renovations last? I asked. It should take around 3 months at least, she replied. This was tough. I think I could crash in with Temma. ### Sorry, Mikage. But I dont think you could live with me. My parents house is sort of cramped and its too far away, Temma said. Oh... Its okay. Ill just ask my other friends then, I told him. My job for the day was over and we were supposed to move next week. I should be able to find someone to help me out. I walked around the streets of Westa and found the guy I was looking for. Hey, Oga, I greeted him. Oh. Mikage. Whats up? he asked. I told him about my situation and he had a troubled look on his face. My house? I wouldnt recommend it, he said. Why not? I asked. I live in a small one-room apartment. Its barely enough for me. Unless you want to share a cramped space with a guy, then I dont think you would like it. This was bad. I was sort of relying on Oga since he was my closest friend. What should I do? How about asking your other friends? You have a contact in your Excellular, right? he asked. I dont really know. I was sort of counting on you, I replied. Well. My house is open if youre desperate. But it wouldnt be comfy, he patted me on the shoulder and left. I sat down on a bench and started browsing through my contacts. There wasnt anyone in my list that would probably want to live with me. Wait a minute... How in the world did my Excellular store Arurandeisus number? Even if I had his number, I couldnt possibly live with him. It was not good for my nerves. Suiseis number appeared on my screen and I hesitated. She was constantly on watch and it might cause a scandal to have a guy living with an idol. It was not worth the trouble. Maybe I should look for cheap apartments. Could I afford one with my current savings? I never bought anything expensive so I had lots of money saved up. If I want to, I could coordinate with the other members of my unit. We could pool some money to afford an apartment. Oh? Whats wrong, Mikage? a voice asked. I looked up and saw Amelia grinning at me. Hey there, Amelia, I greeted. Hello. I saw your fight in the Idol Fan Tournament. Its amazing how you made Kiara self-destruct. Its pure luck. I just won because I outsmarted them or was just lucky. True. But anyways, whats wrong? You had a really troubled look. As your friend, I couldnt possibly leave you alone. You see... I told her about my current situation. The dormitories are going to be renovated and you dont have a place to stay? Thats right. Temmas house is a no-go while Ogas house is my last resort. Im thinking of trying to find a cheap apartment to stay for a while. Amelia rubbed her chin and thought deeply. How about staying at my place? she suggested. .... Eh? So a knight and a detective visits an author... Come at me! Oga shouted. Synchronicity Release!, my clothes changed as I entered Synchronicity. I could feel Yocleshs soul in Anya and I resonated with her. Using Oni Rush, I attacked Oga. Darkness wrapped around his arms and we sparred for a while. My body became heavy as a strong headache entered my mind. I got out of sync again. Hmm... 2 minutes and 28 seconds. Youre improving, Oga said. Thanks... Im getting a hang of using Oni Rush, I replied. Every morning, I would go out and train with Oga because Temma was far away. I was actually surprised that Ogas house was nearby and he agreed to train me. My Synchronicity training was going well. I could last for more than 2 minutes. It was not long but its good enough to be a trump card for a battle. If I could last 2 minutes against a guy like Oga, I wouldnt have any trouble against anyone. The suns rising. You should go home and rest. You used Synchronicity so your body must be really tired, Oga said. Yeah... Thanks for today, Oga, I thanked him. No problem. This is good exercise for me. I returned to Amelias house... Thats right. I was living with Amelia. When I went to the kitchen, I saw Amelia in an apron and was cooking. Good morning. Breakfasts almost ready, she greeted. I probably couldnt get used to this. While waiting for breakfast to be ready, I went to the bathroom to take a shower. The 13th units dormitories were being renovated and every resident was forced to relocate. I had trouble finding a place to stay when Amelia offered her house. It was actually weird that a girl and boy would live together under one roof. I mean, it was justifiable since I was her friend and she was just helping but I wondered how the others would think about us. But its pointless to think about it. Amelia and I already shared a bed. Living in the same house was not that bad compared to that. Breakfast was ready after I showered. I put on casual clothes like a blue hooded coat, gray shirt, and black pants. When I lost my memories and went on a trip to find the Hall of Memories, the clothes that I wore were my knight uniform. It was weird to parade around as a knight even when I wasnt on duty so I decided to shop for more casual clothes. I was actually surprised that Amelia was a good cook. I thought she would be too busy in detective work to actually have time to practice cooking. We began eating breakfast. What are your plans for today? Amelia asked. I have no idea, I answered. It was the weekend and I had no idea what to do. When I was still in the dormitories, I would go to the Captains Office and do paperwork. It was not like I was a workaholic or anything. I just had nothing to do. But now that the barracks was far away, I couldnt just enter and do work. Maybe I should just hang out in your office, I said. Are you interested in detective work? she asked. Yeah. And I could probably help out in more ways than one. Im a knight and I can access the records center or allow you to enter restricted areas. Thats a great idea. You could come with me today. Really? Where are we going? To a famous authors house. After washing the dishes, we walked towards the eastern district of Westa. Why are you going to a famous authors house? Is it a case? I asked. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Have you heard of Chrissy Agasa? she asked back. I think shes a mystery author, right? Thats right. I read a few of her books and shes really good. She asked me if she could interview me. Why would she want to interview you? Shes a mystery writer. Shes curious about the cases solved by the great Amelia Watson. So she just invited you to her house? Yep. She heard about me and she wanted me to talk about how I solved difficult cases. She would even pay for my time. We arrived at a huge house. Chrissy was definitely a famous author since she could afford a huge house as a home. Amelia knocked on the door and a blonde maid with yellow eyes opened it. Do you need something? she asked. My name is Amelia Watson. Chrissy said she wanted to talk to me, Amelia said. Ah. You must be one of her guests. Please follow me, the maid then led us to a room. There were three people in the room. A brown-haired girl in a dress, a fat man in a suit, and an old man in white robes. Please be mindful of the anti-magic barrier, the maid said. Anti-magic barrier? Why is there an active anti-magic barrier? I asked. Lady Chrissy doesnt like magic so she always had an anti-magic barrier on the property. Who are these people? Amelia asked. They are Lady Chrissys guests. Please wait until Lady Chrissy would call you, the maid said and left the room. The fat man in the suit looked at Amelia and his eyes widened. Excuse me... But are you Amelia Watson? he asked. Yes. Thats me, she answered. The fat man and the old man looked happy. My name is Rex Talyonis. Im a huge mystery fan and I heard about you. Youre the detective who almost caught Spade Echo, right? the fat man asked. Im Hash Braun. Im also a mystery fan. I heard from my son who worked in the Knight Order that you would always help out in their cases, the old man said. Yes. Thats me, the great detective Amelia Watson! Amelias smile was wide. She really liked being praised. And who are you? I asked the brown-haired girl. I am Natasha Yizma, Chrissys editor. I am waiting for my turn to speak with her since we have to discuss her new book, she introduced herself. I heard Chrissy would interview two detectives today. I didnt expect that the great Amelia Watson would grace us with her presence, Rex said. Two detectives? Im pretty sure Im the only detective in Westa, Amelia asked. I dont really know. Chrissy said that she met an interesting man who claimed to be a detective, Hash told us. A man, huh? If that detective would set up an office here, I would have a rival. But I dont think anyone could match up against me! Amelia boasted. The maid entered the room and served tea. We talked among ourselves as time went by. Almost two hours passed and it still wasnt our turn. Actually, the three guests also waited for a while and no one left the room. Why is Chrissy taking so long? Who is her guest? he asked the maid. I dont know. She said she was just going to talk to someone so I shouldnt bother her, she answered. This is getting nowhere. Im checking on her, Natasha said and walked towards Chrissys room. We followed her since we didnt have anything better to do. Thats odd. Its locked, she said as she tried turning the knob. If youre feeling mischievous, I could unlock it, Amelia said as she showed us her lockpick. Maybe Chrissy would be surprised if a detective interrupts her. Lets do it! Rex agreed. Amelia worked on the lock and after a while, the sound of the door unlocking could be heard. Chrissy! Were here! Hash opened the door. A woman was lying on her desk. Blood was flowing out from her neck. The heater of the room was on and there was a puddle of water on the floor. Natasha screamed at the sight. Dont move! Amelia shouted. W-Whats going on? Rex asked. Amelia walked to her and checked her pulse. Its no good. Shes dead, Amelia said. Really? Why would she be- Hash was about to step into the room but Amelia shouted, Dont go in! If you go inside this room, youll be my main suspect. This is a crime scene and Id prefer it if its preserved. Mikage, call the Knight Order. This is a murder, she instructed. A few moments later, a few knights entered the room. They questioned us and we told them that we stayed in a room together. The other maids were on a vacation so Justin was the only maid in the mansion. Do you think that someone broke in and killed her? the knight asked. No... Its highly unlikely. I checked all the windows of the house and they were all locked from the inside. Not to mention that the room we waited in had a view of the front door, Amelia said. In other words, the criminal is still here, a mans voice said. We looked at the source and saw a man with long black hair. A monocle was on his left eye and he wore a black coat. The criminal is among the people who stayed in the mansion. Chrissy was killed without any resistance so she knew that person. And from what Amelia said, the chances of someone breaking in is low because of the locked windows. Not to mention that the windows of this room were also locked from the inside so the criminal could only escape from the door. There were no other people in the mansion except for the maid, Amelia, and these four people. Nobody else is here now that everyone has gathered. The culprit is among us! he deduced. Who are you? I asked. Shellin Burgundy, a detective he introduced himself. Clash of two detectives. Ah great. Its Shellin, Amelia groaned. Do you know him? I asked. Amelia and I know each other very well. We are both students of the legendary Ranpo Doyle. I was her senior student, he answered. So Chrissy met you and wanted to interview you too? Amelia asked. Thats right. After she found out that I was Ranpos student, I was invited to her house. However, I noticed that a lot of knights were in the mansion when I arrived. I managed to slip through and now Im here. I see. It must be great to meet someone you know, right Amelia? I asked. Well... Yeah. But Im not exactly thrilled that our first meeting in a long time is a murder, Amelia replied. I couldnt agree more. I find it funny how our killer murdered a person who had two detective guests, Shellin added. With both of you working together, then the criminal is as good as caught, I said. Shellin and Amelia laughed. What do you say, Amelia? Shall we do it like old times? Shellin asked. I accept your challenge. Ill have you know that Im still in the lead, Ameliia answered. Whats going on? I asked. We are detectives and we take pride in our skills. Its not every day that we would have a challenge like this and be able to compete with another detective, Amelia said. Shes right. This would be a good challenge to find out how much we improved, Shellin added. Wait a minute... Were they seriously taking this as a challenge? Did detectives see murder that way? Lets ask the suspects now, shall we? Shellin looked at the three people. Agreed. Lets interview them, Amelia said. The first one to be interviewed was Rex Talyonis. Okay... State your name, age, and occupation, Shellin said. My name is Rex Talyonis, age 33. I am currently an office worker for a company. Why did you come here today, Rex? Amelia asked. I am a friend of Chrissy Agasa. Today, I have something to show to her. And that something is the huge box near you? Shellin asked. Yes. This ones a magical tool that would have its insides to be cold. Chrissy is a fan of beer and I have an expensive beer from Yamato. Ameli and Shellin opened the box. This is odd. You have one huge box but its contents are just two small cans? Shellin asked. Why would you carry such a heavy box if youre going to just bring two cans of beer? Amelia added. I prefer to have my beer cold and I dont have other smaller boxes. Shellin rubbed his chin, What time did you arrive? I arrived three hours ago. And you only stayed in the waiting room? Amelia asked. Yes. I left the room to go to the restroom but aside from that, I never went anywhere else. Next to be interviewed was Hash Braun. Now then.. Whats your name and job? Amelia asked. My name is Hash Braun. I am a retired member of the Westa Knight Order. I used to belong in the 5th unit. And why did you come here today? Shellin asked. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Chrissy said that she thought of a murder trick and wanted to ask my opinion on it. I have experience in the knight order so I can say whether a trick is possible or not. I see.... What time did you arrive? Amelia asked. I arrived two and a half hours ago. The maid welcomed me and I was directed to the waiting room. Did you see Rex leave? Shellin asked. Yes... He left for around ten minutes and later returned. He said he needed to go to the toilet. After Hash was interviewed, it was Natashas turn. Whats your name and job? Shellin asked. I am Natasha Yizma. I am an editor of Shuu Publishing House. And why did you come here? Amelia asked. Chrissy said that she has new ideas for a book and wants to run them through with me. What time did you arrive? Shellin asked. I arrived a bit after Hash. Amelia and her friend entered the room five minutes after I arrived. The last one to be interviewed was the maid. Whats your name? Amelia asked. Justin Santana. I am one of Lady Chrissys maids. So... Where are the other maids? Shellin asked. They are on vacation. Lady Chrissy let everyone aside from me take a break. I see... Why did she force you to work? Amelia asked. Its because I was her loyal maid for almost 5 years already. Since I had the seniority, I volunteered to stay behind. After interviewing the four suspects, Amelia and Shellin talked to each other. A knight walked towards them and gave them a cloth that had blood. It seemed that the knights were leaving the investigation to the two detectives. What do you think? Amelia asked. We dont have an idea on what the murder weapon could be and there are a lot of strange points in this case, Shellin answered. Strange points? I asked. For starters, theres this bloody cloth. Why would the murderer wipe the weapon? Was it necessary in order to hide the weapon? Amelia replied. Theres also the fact that the heater of the room was turned up to the maximum. Why was the room hot? Shellin added. And theres the strange puddle of water. From how Chrissy died, there doesnt seem to be any resistance. If my hunch is correct, she was drugged and put to sleep before the murderer killed her. So why was a puddle of water there? Amelia asked. This is getting nowhere. Hey, maid! Can you show us Chrissys room? Shellin asked the maid. I dont really mind... But why? the maid asked. We have to see any possible motives. Her room is a clue, Amelia answered. We then went to the authors room. It was an elegant room with a king-sized bed, two bookshelves, a desk, and a painting. Does Chrissy keep a diary? Shellin asked. Yes.. I think it should be around here, the maid walked towards the bookshelf and we followed her. She raised her right arm and was about to take out a book but she then put it down, What year do you need? If we look for diaries that are more than a decade old, they are in another room. For starters, how about this year? Amelia asked. The maid raised her left arm and took out a book. This is her diary for this year, she gave the book to Shellin. After a few hours of investigating the room, we couldnt find anything noteworthy. We did find a hidden box underneath the bed which had pictures of Chrissy in her teenage years along with a blonde woman. The knights knocked on the door. The suspects want to leave the house already. Its almost night, the knight said. I guess it is impossible to solve a murder case in just a day. That kind of thing only happens in novels, I said. No. I know who the criminal is, Shellin told me. What a coincidence. I also know who killed Chrissy, Amelia said. Gather everyone in the living room. Well be having a deduction show, Shellin said. Everyone was in the living room. The knights excitedly talked among themselves saying it was the first time they would see a deduction show. Even Rex and Hash were excited to see one. Wholl go first? Amelia asked. Ill boldly take the first deduction, Shellin said. He stepped forward. There are three strange things in this case: the heater, the puddle, and the cloth with blood. Judging from the wound on Chrissys neck, she was pierced with a sharp object that had no blade like an ice pick., Shellin said. So were looking for an ice pick... We didnt find anything like that which had traces of blood, a knight told him. Thats right. The ice pick is gone already. It already went up to the atmosphere after changing forms, he replied. Change forms? What are you saying? Hash asked. I wondered why the heater of the room was on and why there was a puddle of water. What is something that turns into water when it is hot? Dont tell me... Natasha and the others began to realize what he was trying to say. Even I knew what he was talking about. Thats right! Ice! The murderer used ice as a weapon! It was formed in a way that it would have a sharp point like an ice pick. The ice was then used to stab Chrissy and after wiping the blood away, it was left in the room. With the heater being on, it would eventually melt and would leave no traces. Hence, the perfect murder. By wiping the blood on the ice, there wouldnt be any blood in the puddle left. Thats why the murderer had to use a cloth to wipe it. It was to hide its traces, I said. Thats right! And theres only one person capable of that. I checked the mansions refrigerator and it wasnt cold enough to form ice. However, there was one person who brought an unusual item. Something that was really huge even if it contained two small cans. We all looked at the one person who brought a magical tool that kept things cold. The culprit is you, Rex Talyonis! Shellin pointed at the mystery fan. Case closed. The culprit is you, Rex Talyonis! Shellin pointed at the man. M-Me? he asked. Thats right. Youre the only one who could do it. B-But its not me! I just happened to have no other small boxes! Its true that I dont have any concrete evidence to get you. All of it is just circumstantial. But youre the only one who could do it. I suggest you find a really good lawyer to defend yourself. No! Its not me! Please believe me! The knights walked towards him, Please go with us to the barracks. P-Please! No! Its not me! I swear! tears formed in his eyes. Amelia clapped her hand. Alright. Thats enough. Good effort in your deduction, Shellin, Amelia said. Effort? What are you trying to say? he asked. Like I said. Its just an effort. If I left you alone, we would have sent an innocent guy to prison. So are you saying my deduction is wrong? Yes... Its believable but you overlooked one important detail. To pierce flesh, an ice has to be really cold and hard. Its impossible for Rexs magic tool to do that. What do you mean its impossible? His magic tool makes things stay cold! It would be easy to keep it hard and cold for long periods of time! Yes. It would be possible to make it cold and hard... But remember, its not the only thing in the tool. If the temperature of the tool is that cold, then the other contents should be frozen solid. Shellin walked towards the tool and took out a can of beer. He opened it and spilled the contents on the floor. Yellow liquid poured from the can. See? Its not frozen solid. Thats why your ice trick is completely impossible, Amelia said. ... So I was wrong? Shellin asked. Yes. But its an honest mistake. Thats also what I wouldve suspected if I wasnt observant of the fact that the beer wasnt frozen. You said you know who the culprit is. Care to tell us your deduction? I asked her. Ill be glad to. And Ill have you know, I am not like Shellin who is satisfied with circumstantial evidence. I have evidence that will put the murderer behind bars. What kind of evidence do you have? Shellin asked. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. The murder weapon. Everyones eyes widened in surprise when she said that. You mean the murder weapon is still here? I asked. Yes... The culprit had the murder weapon with her. I was surprised how creative she was. She? Our murderer is a girl? Shellin asked. Yes. Its you, Justin Santana! she pointed at the maid. Me? the maid asked. You knew that Rex would be bringing in a magic tool containing the beers. Thats why you set up the camouflage trick to deceive the detectives here. You deliberately poured water on the room and made the heater go to the maximum. Thats how you deceived Shellin. As for wiping away the blood on the weapon, you had no choice but to do that. If you didnt wipe it away, then the knights would instantly find the weapon. But what is the weapon? Shellin asked. The weapon is still on her body. A sharpened bra wire. B-Bra wire?! Rex asked. If I remembered correctly, a bra wire was a metal placed in a womans bra. It was used to support the breasts. Thats right. Justin sharpened one end of the bra wire and stabbed it into Chrissys neck using her weight. Wait a minute! What makes you think she used her bra wire to kill Chrissy? If you said that she wiped the blood from it, then even you shouldnt be able to think of that, Shellin told her. Even Ranpo told you of your bad habit, Shellin. Bad habit? Once you think of a plausible solution, your mind becomes closed and you stop observing things around you. You became fixated on the ice trick that you missed one strange action that Justin did. You were even nearby when she did it. Strange action?, I asked. When Justin was reaching for Chrissys diary that was on the bookshelf, she first used her right arm. However, she stopped and later used her left arm. From what I observed, she was right-handed and it wouldnt make sense why she would switch to her non-dominant hand. I later concluded that it was because her wire had started poking into her arm. It hurt too much so she had to switch hands. ... Just from that... You figured it out? Justin asked. One of Ranpos lessons to us was The mistakes a person makes when in a hurry can be very important clues. The careless mistake you made caused me to realize that your movement was strange and it didnt take me long to piece things together. As expected of the great Amelia Watson... I admit defeat. ### Shellin, Amelia, and I were walking away from Chrissys house. I got it... You win this time. Whats the current record again? Shellin asked. I got 69 wins and 58 losses against you. I am the better student, Amelia answered. Its only because youre a woman thats why you thought of the bra wire. Excuses excuses. All Im hearing is the yapping of a sore loser. But why would the maid kill Chrissy? I asked. Its just a hunch but I think it involved the blonde woman in the photographs we found in the box underneath Chrissys bed, Amelia answered. Thats what I think too. Justin and the blonde woman look really similar to each other so they must be related. But what matters now is the case is closed, Shellin added. Why are you even here, Shellin? Amelia asked. Oh... Im just taking a short vacation. You see, I found an interesting case. What case? I asked. What if I told you theres a huge underground organization that existed since the Dark Times? Organization? Amelia asked. Yes. Its a really huge organization that has roots all over the world. I heard they recently appeared in the Peafowl Kingdom and after digging through, I found out that they also had activities in Westa. Dont tell me... Its called the Unkindness. Quest: Be a good friend It was two days after Chrissys death and Justin was arrested. Even the court judged her to be guilty since she admitted to the crime. Her motive was that her mother used to be a friend of Chrissys. Back when they were still young, her mother once had an idea for a book and shared it to her friend. However, Chrissy plagiarized her idea and published her book before her. This betrayal led her mother to commit suicide. Justin planned Chrissys murder for many years already and even worked under her just to kill her. When she was asked why she committed a murder when Chrissy would have two detective guests, she answered that she wanted to test out her mothers murder trick if it could fool them. She said she used the very trick her mother thought of when taking Chrissys life and challenged the detectives to see through it. Justin said she had no regrets in life and was more than happy to bring justice to her mother. Poor girl. I can understand why she wanted to do it, I said. You do? Well. I dont, Amelia replied. Really? Its really understandable for her to try and bring justice for her mother. No. Ill never understand the reason that drives someone to murder except for self-defense. And I dont think I want to. But its for her mother. She wanted to bring justice. Is justice putting an innocent man to prison? If it werent for me, Rex Talyonis would be the one wholl be facing the trial while she would continue living a free life. The moment she tried to bring an innocent person to jail, shes not a herald of justice. Shes just a dirty criminal who only ruins lives. We walked out of the courthouse and strolled the streets of Westa. I was given a day off since I had to participate in Justins trial. The trial ended quite quickly since Justin didnt bother defending herself. That was why Amelia and I were now walking around aimlessly. What are your plans for today, Mikage? Amelia asked. I dont know... Im considering going back to the barracks and continuing working despite having the day off. How about you? What are your plans? Im not in the mood to do detective work. Ill spend the rest of the day in the library. Maybe Rosalyn has new recommendations. See you back home. Amelia left me behind as she headed to the library. Now then... What could I possibly do? Should I really go back to the barracks and work? Was I really going to become a workaholic? Oh! Its Mikage! Just the person that I need! a voice said behind me. I turned around and saw a dark-skinned man grinning. Hey there, Oga. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Youre a knight, right? Yeah. What do you need a knight for? Lets have a nice and long talk, shall we? He placed his arm on my shoulders and started dragging me away. A few moments later, we arrived at ROBEL. .... You know what? Im not going to tell you to come in during opening hours. You wont listen anyway, Roberu grumbled. Im glad youre getting used to me! Oga laughed. So... Why do you need my help? I asked him. He showed me a piece of paper. Quest: Investigate the Moryo Mountains Dungeon Rank: SS Details: A new dungeon appeared in the Moryo Mountains. Countless adventurers have tried to clear it but only one returned. Powerful creatures such as minotaurs, basilisks, and others were reported to be seen thus we have to increase its rank. Destroy the dungeon core. I see... This was a quest from the Adventurers Guild. In this world, there was a profession known as adventurers. They were tasked to do odd jobs from protecting a caravan, to finding an item, and to even hunting monsters. Unlike knights who were tasked to protect normal citizens, adventurers were more of a mercenary who could do many things. I looked at the reward and my jaws dropped. It was more than fifty times my monthly salary. O-Oga... What do you need my help for? I asked. You see... Heres the problem. This quest is SS ranked. That means there must be at least 3 S-ranked adventurers who will form a party and clear it. However, I dont know other S-ranked adventurers since they are pretty busy doing whatever they want. My trusted partner is only an A-ranked adventurer so we were in a bind. But what does that have to do with me? Theres a way out of this mess. If someone from the knight order would accompany a group of adventurers, they can take whatever quests they want without checking for the rank, Roberu answered. Not to mention that if they clear it, they would immediately be promoted into higher ranks. Not that it matters for me since Im already S-ranked but my friend could use a boost, Oga added. In other words, I have to come along with you in this dangerous quest. Dont worry! You wont die. I fought you and Im pretty sure youre as strong as an A-ranked adventurer. If you use Synchronicity, you can even be as strong as an S-rank. What do you say? Will you help me out? What do I have to do? First you have to go to your captain and convince her to dispatch you. Then youll get the paperwork and show it to the Adventurers Guild. After that, well head out! .... How many days would this take? I dont know if I would want to be away for long. Dont worry! The Moryo Mountains are pretty close. If we leave at dawn, we can arrive there in the afternoon on horseback. Then we spend the entire night clearing the dungeon and go back home the next day! I think you should take the offer, Mikage, Anyas voice echoed in my mind. My kris sword glowed and turned into a brown-haired girl. This is a good chance for you to find out if youve become stronger, she said. Yep. You can try using Synchronicity in real combat. Not to mention well split the reward money equally. Im pretty sure you want to earn quick cash, Oga grinned. Im not really hoping to buy anything expensive anytime soon. But I guess I should save up in case theres an emergency, I said. Alright!! Lets go to your barracks and start the paperwork! Oga cheered. Yeah yeah. Lets hope Captain Noel would agree. And so I had to go on my first quest in this world. Getting permission An SS-ranked quest? Are you sure about this, Mikage? Captain Noel asked. Its okay to be confident with yourself but you should know your limits. You dont want to die from overestimating yourself, Temma added. I could understand their concerns but I knew what I was doing. If I dont challenge myself, then theres no point in training hard. I have to know whether I grew strong enough to be able to take care of something like this, I said. Well... Ogas there. Hes a powerful S-ranked adventurer. Weve seen how he was able to fight on equal footing even when Mikage summoned all of those shadow creatures. He can take care of him, Temma told Captain Noel. Very well then... I fought Oga and he really is powerful. I trust he can keep watch of you, she signed the order to dispatch me. I went outside and saw Oga waiting for me. How was it? he asked. She said okay. Captain Noel trusts that you can keep me safe, I answered. You have the Primordial Dark inside of you! You dont need to be protected! He was right. The Primordial Dark was inside of me. Ever since it took over me in the Idol Fan Tournament, the Primordial Dark didnt make any moves. However, I could feel it inside. Whenever I stop and close my eyes, I can feel its massive power. Even Anya told me about it. And whenever I meet the souls of the previous masters, I could see the huge orb of darkness in the distance. They said it was the Primordial Dark which was part of my soul and that I shouldnt worry about it becoming stronger. According to Shiki, Anyas first master, I was awakening. He didnt explain what he meant with that and the other masters were also silent. I had a feeling that they were hiding something from me but I didnt bother asking them. Now lets go to the Adventurers Guild and take the quest! Oga said. We arrived at a huge blue building. It had a wide lobby which was filled with armed adventurers. Some of them were sitting and talking among themselves while others were looking at a board. A black-haired beastman was waiting for us. He wore a stylish black jacket and a black sword was strapped on his back. We have Oga and a knight. So you found a way to have us get the SS-ranked quest, he said. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Thats right. Mikage, meet Yuzuya Miyazaki, the A-ranked adventurer with the title Wolf Prince. Yuzu, meet Mikage Kamishiro, the administrative officer of the 13th unit, Oga introduced us to each other. Nice to meet you, I said. No wonder you looked familiar. Youre the champion of the Idol Fan Tournament and a master of dark magic. Ive seen how you summoned all of those shadow creatures and even forced Oga here to enter his demon form. It makes me want to see how I would survive against you. I dont think I can go against an A-ranked adventurer like you, Yuzuya. Just call me Yuzu. And if Oga wants you to be part of this dangerous quest, then you must be as strong as I am or even more. Now that you guys got your introductions, lets head to the counter and get the quest! Oga marched ahead. I showed the approved letter from Captain Noel and the clerk looked at me. An administrative officer in an SS-ranked quest? she wondered. Hey. The rules only say that a knight can accompany a party and then they can take whatever quests they want despite the rank requirements, Oga said. The system was designed since the Knight Order can adequately judge a partys strength and the urgency of the quest. If the quest is really urgent and there are no appropriate adventurers, then a knight can accompany a party and they can do it. There would be no problem if the quest was B-ranked or even A-ranked... But for an SS-ranked quest, shouldnt a captain or a vice-captain be the one wholl accompany the party instead of just an administrative officer? Well... His captain approved of it so she knows that he can handle this quest. And Ill have you know this guy is the champion of the Idol Fan Tournament. Did Oga really have to say that? Oh. No wonder he looks familiar. He was the mage who can use other peoples shadows. How did you do it? she asked. Trade secret, I answered. If an exceptional mage like you is in this quest, then I have no reason to worry about it. Very well then. Ill approve of this. We went outside the Adventurers Guild. From how the clerk was worried, an SS-ranked quest must be very dangerous. I was having second thoughts. Well meet up at 2 AM in Westas Western Gates. Be sure to bring necessary things for the quest. Bring supplies that will last you for at least three days and make sure to get the appropriate rest, Oga said and Yuzu and I nodded. I returned to Amelias house and she was cooking dinner. Welcome home, she greeted me, Im home, I returned her greeting. So? Did anything happen? I told her about my new quest. I see. Moryo Mountains... So that means youll be gone for at least a day. Are you sure you can handle an SS-ranked quest? she asked. Oga will be there to protect me and Yuzu is a strong adventurer. You also have Synchronicity and Anya helps you cast magic. I think theres no need to be afraid. Yeah. Im going to sleep early tonight and leave at dawn. Alright. Just make sure to lock things when you leave. After that, we ate dinner. It was peaceful between the two of us. However, I didnt know that things would change the moment I left for the quest. The simple moments with my friend would disappear and yet I didnt even think that was possible. All I could think of at that moment was that Amelias cooking was very delicious. Dungeon crawlers prepared me for this The sun was setting when we arrived at our destination. There were four rangers waiting outside of a door and they looked at us. There were things known as Dungeons in this world. They appear almost anywhere in the form of a door. Once a person opens the door, they would be sent to a separate dimension where monsters of different kinds exist. The dungeon would remain in that place until someone would destroy the Dungeon Core. The good thing about Dungeons was that they had treasure in it. They would have precious metals that were worth a lot and sometimes had rare materials that were used in many things. Monsters of different types roam around inside a Dungeon. From what I read, the Moryo Dungeon appeared last week. There were many adventurers who challenged the Dungeon but only one of them returned. The adventurer said that powerful monsters were lurking inside the dungeon hence they had to raise the rank of the Dungeon into SS. The rangers looked at us. What do you need? one of them asked. We are adventurers from Westa. Weve come to challenge this dungeon, Oga said and showed him the permit from the Adventurers Guild. The rangers looked at us. The Dungeon is pretty dangerous. But since the Adventurers Guild allowed you to take the SS-ranked, then we will let you attempt it, he said. Can you keep watch of our horses? Yuzu asked. Very well. How many days do you think will it take for you three to clear the Dungeon? If were not back in three days, consider us dead, Oga said. We walked towards the door and I could feel my heart beating fast. If this was SS-ranked, there should be dangerous monsters in this place. Dont worry. Youve become stronger. Just learn when to use Synchronicity because you can only use it once every six hours, Anyas voice said. Oga opened the door and light shone on us. When it died down, we found ourselves inside a large hallway. The walls and floor were made with bricks and when I looked up, there was a high ceiling. Lets go, Oga said and we began walking. Our formation was that we would be walking in a single line with Oga in the front, me in the middle, and Yuzu in the back. I knew that I was the weakest among the three of us so I had to be in the middle but I still felt bad. Wasnt the reason I became stronger was so that no one would protect me? We entered the first room and three ogres were looking at us. They had large wooden clubs and were around 3 meters tall. Normally, ogres dont work in groups. They had high regenerative abilities that the only way to kill them was severing their heads from their bodies. Ogres were around C-ranked in terms of danger level. But that was only for when they were alone. If they were in groups, they could be B-ranked. So... We take one each? Oga cracked his knuckles. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Sure. Wanna race to see who''ll kill faster? Yuzu unsheathed his sword. I unsheathed my sword and the three of us charged at the ogres. The ogre I picked swung down its club. I knew about the strength of the ogre so I did my best in dodging it. Ogres only had their strength and regenerative abilities. They werent smart and didnt have other dangerous tricks. All I had to do was be wary of its attacks. I willed my shadow to turn into a spike and it lunged at the ogre. However, the ogre sacrificed its arm to protect its neck. Tch. I take it back. It was slightly smarter than the average ogre. Steam came out from its wound and it regenerated its severed hand. An idea formed in my mind. Ive been practicing parallel processing lately so I was pretty sure I could pull this off. I charged at the ogre and it swung its weapon at me. My shadow turned into a giant hand and caught the club. The strike was so strong that cracks appeared on my shadow but fortunately, it was able to handle the strike. I made the shadow hand wrap around the club and the ogres hands while I charged and cut off its legs. The ogre fell to the ground and I immediately proceeded to sever its head from its neck. That should do it. Ive seen you fight in the Idol Fan Tournament but youre much more impressive in person, Yuzu said. Hes got help in his mana manipulation, Oga told him. They were sitting on the floor with the dead ogres behind them. Who was faster? I asked. I won. Just one punch to the ogres head and it was sent flying. Yuzu had a bit of trouble since he underestimated the ogres intelligence, Oga said. I didnt expect it to willingly sacrifice its arm to protect its head. But I managed to cut off its head in the next strike, Yuzu replied. We continued walking around the dungeon and defeated the monsters there. There were minotaurs, basilisks, hydras, manticores, and other strong creatures. After defeating a group of saber tigers, we took a small rest. Oooh. Oga, Mikage! Look here! Yuzu called us. When we went to his spot, there were large white crystals growing on the ground. Are those Nokuniums? Oga asked. Most likely. As expected of an SS-ranked Dungeon. We could be rich from this! Yuzu said. Nokunium? I didnt know what it was but Ogas eyes were sparkling. In case you didnt know, one small piece of Nokunium costs around this much, Anya told me the value of Nokunium and my jaws dropped. S-S-Shall we take it? I asked nervously. If we had that amount of Nokunium, I could stop working and still have a month''s worth of salary. Of course! Everything here is free for all, Yuzu took the Nokunium and placed it on his pouch. Oga and Yuzu had a rare bag that could hold many things without getting heavy. I heard it used a special type of magic known as Dimension Magic which caused the items inside the bag to be placed in a separate dimension. Now that I think about it, what was the difference between Stored Magic and Enchantment? Could I also try to learn how to enchant things? Maybe I should take a look at the books in the Westa Library. When Oga and Yuzu finished gathering the Nokunium, we continued on walking around the dungeon. We fought a few more monsters but it wasnt that dangerous. However, we saw the corpses of the previous adventurers who tried to challenge this dungeon. Maybe the only reason why I wasnt having any problem was that Oga and Yuzu were absurdly strong. If it werent for them, I wouldnt be able to survive in a dungeon like this. Were here, Oga said. I looked ahead and saw a giant door. However, I could feel an eerie aura coming out from behind it. The boss room is just ahead. If we can defeat the guardian and destroy the Dungeon Core, we can go home without any problems, Yuzu said. Mikage... I want you to watch your back. The monsters we fought are around B-ranked to A-ranked and I saw how you were able to hold your own. If this dungeon is like a regular dungeon, I wouldnt be surprised if the guardian is SS-ranked. Just dont overestimate yourself. Got it. Ill be careful. Oga opened the door and light shone on us once more. It was time to face the guardian of this dungeon. A quest is not over until you arrive home The only way to destroy a Dungeon was to break its Dungeon Core. Dungeon Cores were found at the deepest level of the Dungeon and were guarded by powerful monsters known as Guardians. I was actually worried. We fought monsters that were almost A-ranked and Guardians were more powerful than the monsters in the Dungeon. That meant that the Guardian could even be SS-ranked. Yuzu and Oga were pretty powerful. They could easily slay A-ranked monsters as if they were used to dealing with them already. I was completely falling behind. Oga opened the door leading to the boss room and a light shone upon us. It died down and my jaws dropped. All around us were huge crystals of Nokunium. The room was filled with Nokunium and I could already see the pile of cash that would come once we sell those. Mikage... Focus, Oga said as Yuzu pointed his sword in one direction. A giant blue golem walked towards us. Glowing blue lines were all over its body and it had a crystal core on its face. What monster do you think it is? Yuzu asked. Hell if I know. Its the first time I saw something like that, Oga answered. Whatever it is, its coming after us! I shouted as the golem ran. Yuzu dodged to the right while I jumped to the left. Oga caught the golems punch with his two hands and was pushed back. While he was holding the golems arms, Yuzu and I charged at it and slashed it. However, our strikes couldnt scratch it. Ive seen how skilled Yuzu was with the sword so it was surprising that he couldnt cut the golem. Glowing blue hands came out of the golems back and stretched towards us. Blue flames shot from its arms and Oga dodged out of the way. I cut the hands but they just regrew back into new ones. After backing away for a certain distance, the hands stopped and returned to the golem. Its tougher than mithril... I dont think I could cut it that easily, Yuzu said. Its physical strength is quite strong too. Those hands are also annoying. What do you think we should do? Oga asked. Oga... Bait it out. Mikage and I will try to find its weak spot. We nodded in response to Yuzus plan and Oga charged ahead. Fortress Howl! Oga shouted and a red aura oozed out of his body. If I remember correctly, Fortress Howl was a taunting magic. The user would look more dangerous for non-sentient beings and so they would focus all of their attention on him. While Oga had its attention, Yuzu and I charged at its sides. I wrapped darkness around Anya and tried to cut it. However, I was only able to make a light scratch. Yuzu managed to make a deeper cut but it wasnt enough. Ogas arms were coated in darkness and he tried to punch the golem. However, it didnt even budge when Oga hit it. It countered with its barrage of punches and Oga managed to avoid them. Despite being large, it was fast. Flames wrapped around Yuzus sword and he tried to cut the golem once more. I did my share of attempts but it wasnt working. A mask appeared from thin air and Yuzu wore it. I could feel his mana getting stronger and he became faster. Oga roared and he entered his demon form. It seemed that they were getting serious. Things were going well when the golem started glowing. Light shone and when it died down, a barrier was surrounding Oga and Yuzu. I cant break this! Yuzu shouted as he tried to cut it. Oga also tried to punch it but it was no use. Bastard... Hes aiming to take down Mikage. We cant break out of this, no matter how hard we try! Oga said. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. What should we do? I asked. Mikage! See the small crystal on its chest? I squinted my eyes and saw a very small crystal. It was the size of a 5-yen coin. Yeah! I see it! I shouted. From what I can tell, this barrier is linked to that. Destroy it, then were free! Oga told me. Destroy it on my own? Could I do it? Before I could even answer that question, countless blue hands came out of the golem and stretched towards me. Synchronicity release! I shouted as my clothes changed. Yocleshs Oni Rush wasnt suited for many targets like this. It was more effective in dealing against a single opponent. That was why I tried to tap into another masters power. Merryweather... I need your help, I said. Merryweather appeared right beside me, It''s your first time doing this but you are correct in choosing my abilities. I shall do my best to resonate with you. A sword made up of darkness appeared on my hand and I was dual-wielding them. Merryweather was a Royal Dual Wielder. From what he told me, he was an accomplished military general who specialized in using two swords. I unleashed a fury of strikes as I cut down the hands while charging towards the golem. With my enhanced strength in Synchronicity, I was able to land deep cuts on the golem. However, it wasnt enough. I had to deal with the blue hands while keeping watch of the golems main body... What should I do? Maybe Shadow Companion would be good. But I dont think Anya was skilled enough to control the Shadow Companion to keep the hands busy... Wait a minute... A crazy idea hatched on my mind. Anya! Can you do this? I explained my plan to her. Are you insane? That will be pretty tricky to do! She told me What an interesting proposal. In theory, it should work, Merryweather said. Im up for a challenge! Yoclesh told me. Alright then. Although this would place a huge burden on your mana and you have to focus much harder on Synchronicity! Anya said. Shouting a magics name would help in creating an image so I had one name in mind. Dark Synchronicity: Merryweather Shadow! I shouted. My shadow rose from the ground and turned into Merryweathers form. Two swords appeared on its arms and it stretched around. How was it? I asked. It feels a bit weird but I can fight! Merryweather said. Shadow Companion was a difficult magic. Normally, a mage would have to manually control the shadow while also controlling their own bodies. With Anya around, I could have her control the shadow as if a totally different person. However, I was sure that Anya wasnt that experienced in combat to be able to control the Shadow Companion efficiently. That was why I used Synchronicity to make Merryweather take control of the shadow instead. Lets go!! I shouted and we charged ahead. With Merryweather supporting me, I was able to focus on the golem. The Merryweather Shadow dealt with the glowing hands while I dealt with the main body. It took around two minutes of exchanging blows when I managed to turn the tides of the battle. Using Yocleshs Oni Rush, I was able to break the small crystal on the golems chest. Just in time too... I was forced out of Synchronicity and I wouldve collapsed to the ground if Yuzu didnt catch me. Good job. Well take it from here, Yuzu said. ... Yeah... I said as my eyelids were getting heavier. ### When I woke up, the sun was already rising. My body still felt heavy but at least there were no headaches. Dark Synchronicity mustve taken a huge toll on my body. At least I had a trump card when using Synchronicity. What happened? I asked. We won. The Dungeon Core has been destroyed and we gathered all the Nokunium in the boss room, Yuzu answered. Well evenly split the rewards. Dont worry. With the Nokunium we have and the reward from the quest, we can live for a year without working! Oga said. Thank you for accompanying us on this quest Yuzu bowed his head. No. Im sorry if I held you back, I told him. You didnt hold us back. I wasnt sure if I could take on that golem alone. Thats why you managing to set us free is already amazing. Oga is right. You really are strong. I didnt know how to reply to his praise. Anyway... Lets go back to Westa already! I can imagine the money rolling in once we report that we finished the quest! Oga said. We rode on our horses as we went on our way to Westa. My first quest went pretty well and a lot of money was going to wait for me. Maybe I should treat Amelia. Should I buy her a good book or should I take her out for a meal? While I was wondering that, I took out my Excellular. There was one message from Temma and when I read it, confusion appeared in my mind. Mikage. Sorry to bother you while youre on a quest but theres something that happened while you were away. Do you know someone named Yogiri? Epilogue: Target located (Volume 3) Captain! We just received word about our target, a knight barged into the captains office of a certain unit in the Westa Knight Order. Are you sure this time? Hes been an annoying pest who keeps on evading our tracks, the captain asked. We are positive. Weve detected a huge concentration of his mana in the Westa Eastern Forest. A huge concentration? Did he summon something? We are not sure. We already mobilized our men to capture him and we are prepared to handle any resistance. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Very well. Do not try to kill him. We need him alive. Dont corner him to the point where hell take his own life. Its better to let him escape than let him kill himself. After all, we can always try to capture him again. Yes, sir! The knight walked out of the captains office in order to relay the commands of the captain. I wonder why we should capture him. I dont think hes a dangerous criminal so why would the higher-ups be interested in him? he asked himself. However, the knight decided to push that thought towards the back of his mind. Oh, well. If this Shiroe guy is supposed to be captured by the knight order, then I should just shut up and do my job. Prologue: A detective鈥檚 surprise client (Volume 4) Shellin Burgundy was reading some files on his computer. Thanks to his training under Ranpo Doyle, he could easily access restricted files as long as they were connected online. One could argue that it was illegal but Shellin believed that the path to the truth would require necessary sacrifices. Playing by the rules against someone who willingly breaks them is just simple inefficiency. When dealing with these scum of society, you dont have to worry about honor, he recited one of Ranpos lessons. Of course, the interpretation was up to the person. Amelia wouldnt resort to such tactics unless she had enough reason to believe that the person she was investigating was a criminal. Shellin, on the other hand, treated all of his suspects the same way he treated criminals. To him, innocence was something that should be proven. There were many times that he and Amelia would clash because of their beliefs. It didnt help that Ranpo didnt take any sides since he would say that he wanted them to follow their own path without him influencing them. However, Ranpo definitely influenced their love for justice and shaped them to be the great detectives they were right now. Even if he was no longer in this world, he could rest well knowing that his two successors would continue his fight for the truth. His Excellular rang and he found out that Amelia was calling him. What do you want? Shellin asked after picking it up. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. I need your help, she told him. Oh? Is the great Amelia Watson seriously asking for help from me? Yes. This was a rare occurrence for Shellin. Amelia rarely asked for help. While she would accept any help being offered to her and would request cooperation from people involved in her cases, she rarely showed any weakness in her skill as a detective. Alright. What do you need? Shellin asked. I want to see what you learned so far from that organization. ... May I ask why you want to stick your head in this? Because it involves a dear friend of mine. I see. Wait for a few days. Ill give you something. Thanks, Shellin. Stop it. Youre creeping me out. Shellin decided to hang up and proceeded to compile the information he learned about the Unkindness. He didnt know why the Unkindness involved a dear friend of Amelia but he knew very well that it was serious enough to make her swallow her pride and ask him for help. You might not be the smartest or the most skilled person in this city. But your desire to see the truth is a vital component to become a great detective. Of course, seeing the truth is not enough. You have to make sure that the way you handle the truth will be for the good of everyone, Ranpos words echoed in his mind. And as a detective, Ill make sure that my actions will benefit everyone. And that includes Amelia''s friend, he muttered. Meeting once again in another world I was confused by the message. After rubbing my eyes, I decided to read it one more time. Mikage. Sorry to bother you while youre on a quest but theres something that happened while you were away. Do you know someone named Yogiri? Yogiri... That was a name I havent read in a long time. How did Temma know about Yogiri? My face paled as an answer appeared in my mind. Mikage? Are you alright? Yuzu asked. Are you finally realizing how much money you earned? Oga grinned. Oga... Whats the earliest we can arrive in Westa? I asked. Well... Its still early in the morning. If we push our horses, we can probably arrive in the afternoon, he answered. Did something happen? Yuzu asked. Yeah... I need to come back as soon as I can. Then what are we waiting for?! Lets go! Oga said and our horses galloped. The blue sky turned orange when we finally arrived in Westa. Oga and Yuzu were going to be the ones who will report to the guild and will return the horses so I was free to do my business. I was supposed to go to a hospital in the Northern District of Westa. Because I was focused on rushing towards Westa, I couldnt reply to Temmas message. I contacted him when I finally arrived and he told me that he was waiting there. A blond man waited outside of the hospital and when I approached him, he gave me his trademark warm smile. Youre back already? Temma asked. I had to rush. Luckily, I read your message when I was done with my quest. You talked about Yogiri... Did she get summoned to this world? Temmas smile faded as a frown formed on his face. His eyes looked straight at me as if he was trying to analyze my emotions. So she is from another world too... This is the second time. Second time? Temma and I entered the hospital as we talked. The 3rd unit has been investigating a certain summoner who was acting suspicious lately, he said. Suspicious? When Captain Noel found you, the 13th unit was investigating a man named Shiroe. The higher-ups said that we had to find out as much as we can and capture him alive. Why though? This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Thats something I dont know. We werent given a specific reason why he was supposed to be investigated. We just know that it was a direct order from a higher-up and we had to bring him alive. So... What happened after that? When you were sent to the 13th unit, the job was passed to the 3rd unit and they were trying to find him. However, what they found instead was a girl named Yogiri who was lying on a magic circle. And how did you find out about my connection with her? Captain Reagan made a comment about her being a possible resident of another world and mentioned your name. She reacted to it and so we were supposed to bring you to her in order to verify things. That explains a lot of things. So all I have to do is find out if she was the Yogiri I know or not? Yes. We arrived in front of a room. Temma greeted the knight who was guarding the door and we were ushered inside. And thats when I saw her again. A red-haired girl was sitting on a bed. She was wearing a plain white shirt and white bottom. Her red hair flowed down freely while her yellow eyes stared at the window. When she heard us enter the room, she turned her head. Her eyes widened when she saw me. Chizome no Byakko?! Is that really you?! she asked. Yep... This was Yogiri. Yogiri... Long time no see, I smiled at her. Long time no see?! Thats what youll start with?! Whats going on?! she asked. You might want to relax for a bit. I pulled a chair and sat near her. Temma stayed in one corner of the room and watched the two of us. First off. Whats the last thing you remember? I asked. I went to sleep. And when I woke up, I was in this place. A nurse with animal ears greeted me and I was confused. A bunch of guys wearing the same uniform as yours talked to me and they said something about being from another world. Yes... We are from another world. This isnt Japan or even Earth. This is a different world and youre in a city called Westa. I told her the key differences from our worlds like the existence of magic and other races. When I showed her how I manipulated my shadow, she no longer thought I was joking. So... What am I going to do now? Cant I go back to our world? she asked. If I know how to get back, do you think Ill still be here? Thats right... What am I going to do? I dont have anyone here. I dont even know if I can get a job. I looked at her and I totally understood how she felt. She was the same as me when I got sent to this world. Thats why I had to step up. Temma... Is it alright if she lives with me? I asked. Sure... I think it would be better if thats the case. And besides, she looks like she doesnt know a thing about the man named Shiroe, he replied. L-Live with you? Yogiri asked. Yeah. I already have a job here as an administrative officer. While the 13th units dormitories are closed, you can live with me and find a job that can support you. Or are you saying that you have other solutions? Thats true. Its better if I stick with you. Alright then... Since thats settled, Ill talk with Captain Reagan to get his approval. In the meantime, you can ask permission from Amelia to let her live with you two, Temma said. Ah... I forgot that I have to get Amelias okay to let her live with us... She doesnt seem like a person who would turn away my friend who was in need, right? If shes not comfortable with it, I can just move out and rent an apartment myself. With the money Im going to receive from the quest, I would be able to afford an apartment for many months. But I was hoping that Amelia would be okay with me bringing Yogiri along. I took out my Excellular and sent a message to Amelia asking about what kind of dinner she would want me to buy. If I was going to talk to her, I should put her in a good mood. Hopefully, I can bribe her to let my friend stay with me... I鈥檓 rich and I鈥檓 going to learn Its been a few days since I received the news that Yogiri was sent to this world. H-Hello, Yogiri bowed as she greeted Amelia. You must be Yogiri. I am Amelia Watson, a detective, she replied. I had no problem convincing Amelia to let Yogiri live with us. According to her, my friends are her friends too and if they were in trouble, she would gladly help them. Since Yogiri had no luggage, there was no problem in moving her things. She was just sent to this world so she had no belongings or anything. Now that I think about it, Yogiri had nothing at all. Umm.. Amelia? Can I ask for a favor? I approached her. Whats wrong? she asked. Heres some cash, I forked all of the money out of my wallet and handed it to her, Can you come along with her and buy Yogiri some clothes she could wear? I dont mind. Are you okay with having me as your company, Yogiri? Amelia turned to her. Ill be glad to have you accompany me, Yogiri said. Then lets go! Now that was done, I had to meet up with Oga. They already finished selling all of the Nokunium and reporting that we finished the quest so I was supposed to go to the Adventurers Guild. I arrived there and saw Oga and Yuzu standing around. Yo, Mikage! Oga greeted me. Hey, Oga. So? Wheres the cash? I went straight to the point. He handed me a huge stack of bills. It was more than five times what I normally carry in my wallet. This is a lot of money, I said. Thats not all. Theres around twenty more times that amount sent to your bank, Oga said. T-Twenty?? I couldnt process how much money I had right now. Yes. We are very rich right now. Im going to find a good gift for my girl. See you, Yuzu left us. I can live luxuriously for three months and I would still have leftover money. What are you planning to do with your money, Mikage? Oga asked. I actually have no idea. This is my first time that I have this much money. Oh yeah. Hows the emergency a few days ago? Did you solve it? Ah.. About that... I told him everything about Yogiri and her circumstances. So shes going to live with you and that Amelia girl, huh? Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Yes. I was glad that Amelia let her live with us. Thats cool. So? Whats your relationship with her? Yogiri? Shes just my friend. Really? You had a really scary expression when you learned about your emergency back when we were on our way to Westa. I assumed she was someone way more important than a friend. No no. Yogiri is a friend of mine. Thats pretty much it. So you prefer Amelia more? Dude... Shes also another friend of mine. Uh huh. She let you live with her without any questions and even helped out your friend. Nothing suspicious there. I do admit that Amelia might be misunderstood if you are an outsider but I know that shes just being my friend. Alright then. I wont ask any more questions. Oh yeah. Ill just head over to a good restaurant and eat up. How about you? I need to find other ways to get stronger. I have enough money to buy some Stored Magic but I dont want to depend on them. Hmmm... How about learning Enchantments? What? ### Oga told me about Enchantments and I went to the library. If I wanted to learn more about it, I should read it since Enchanting was a thing that Oga didnt want to learn. The library was very huge and I had no idea where to start searching. I remembered one thing that Amelia did when we were trying to find information about the Hall of Memories. I headed towards the librarians desk and saw a black-haired girl with a round hat. She was wearing a white uniform and had a monocle. Her name was Rosalyn and if I remember correctly, she read all the books in the library and knew them by heart. Oh. Hello. Youre Mikage, right? Amelias friend? she smiled at me. Yes. Hello, Rosalyn. Can I bother you for a bit? What kind of books do you need? I need books that talk about Enchanting. She frowned. There are more than a hundred of books that have Enchantment in it. You might want to be a bit more specific. Okay... For starters, I need books that talk about the basics of Enchantment. Also, it would be great if it involved Dark Magic. Basics? Will you try to Enchant an object? Yes. Alright. Can you wait over there? I know at least fifteen books that fit your criteria, she pointed at a desk and then left. I sat down and my sword glowed. Anya appeared in her human form. So... Youre going to try Enchantment? she asked. Yes. Have you ever done something like that? Thats right. I had one master who was good at Enchantment and creating Stored Magic. Her name was Ars Almal. Ah. That short girl? Dont say that in front of her or shell get angry. But yes. Her. What do you know about Enchantments? I know lots of things about it but I dont think I can explain it to you that easily. However, I am sure that I can help you out when youre going to Enchant an object. So try to learn as much as you can, okay? Got it. Its assuring to have an amazing sword like you. Praise me more. I like it. Rosalyn arrived with a cart filled with books. There are 17 books that talked about how to Enchant an object and there are 5 books that talked about Dark Magic and Enchantments, she said. Youre the librarian, right? Anya asked. Do you need my assistance? I need history books about things that happened in the past 4000 years. Oh? The period after the Dark Times? Yes. Just find the best book you can think of and Ill be satisfied. Alright then. Youre going to read? I asked. Hey. Youre going to stay here for some time, right? I might as well learn about important things that happened while I was sleeping. I turned my attention to the cart filled with books. Alright. Time to learn how to Enchant something! It was enchanting to do this. Enchantment was different from Stored Magic. They may be a magic that was placed on an object but there was one key difference between the two of them. Stored Magic was placing a preset magic on an object. Most of the time, it was only a one-time use. A mage could place magic on it and another user could use the Stored Magic without spending mana or having an image and a resolve. For example, a mage could make a Fireball become a Stored Magic in a paper. Another person could use that Stored Magic and without spending mana or having the prerequisites for magic, they could cast that Fireball. They didnt need training or even have mana in the first place. As long as they had that paper which had Stored Magic, then they could use it. Enchantment may be the same with Stored Magic since it involves placing a preset magic on an object. However, as long as the object wasnt completely destroyed, a user could use the Enchantment as many times as they wanted to. But unlike Stored Magic, they would need to use their own mana. The only plus side was that they no longer needed an image or a resolve. For example, a mage could enchant a stick to shoot out Fireball. Another user could take the stick, pour mana on it, and shoot Fireballs as much as they wanted without worrying about the prerequisites of magic. Fireball could be a Stored Magic or an Enchantment. If one didnt want to worry about using mana, they could use Stored Magic. But if they didnt want to be restricted to using it once, then they should use Enchantment. After reading a few books, I found out that Enchantment was more like programming a software. Using an Enchantment language, a mage could write on the object they were enchanting and grant it magic. The complexity of the enchantment is dependent on the quality of the materials used in the object. If the materials were of high quality, then like Stored Magic, one could place complicated Enchantments on it. I found one object that was made from high quality materials and was something that I used every day. The object I was enchanting was my knight uniform. With the help of Anya and after consulting Ars, I was busy enchanting my knight uniform for the past few days. Ars was amused by my idea and after many consultations, I was finished with it. Alright! This should work! I said. What are you up to? Amelias voice asked from behind. Amelia? Since when were you there? For a few minutes. I wanted to get your attention but you looked too focused on it. Are you done enchanting it? An idea formed in my mind. This would be a good test. Amelia. Attack me, I told her. What? This is to test my Enchantment. Attack me. She pointed her gun at me and fired it. My shadow immediately rose and formed a wall despite me not commanding it. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Did you just fire a gun? I asked in disbelief. You said that I should attack you. But a gun?! I expected you to just throw an object at me or something! Be more specific next time. Im guessing your Enchantment worked? Yeah. Thankfully, it worked without any problems. What does your Enchantment do anyway? Well... My Enchantment is like an automatic defense system. As long as I am not using Dark Magic, my shadow will automatically react and form a wall to shield me from any attacks. Thats amazing. The only downside is that it drains a lot of mana compared to me manually making my shadow move. However, it is good at warding off surprise attacks. I see... However, it wont react if youre using Dark Magic? Yes. Ars said that it would be very complicated if I do it and I would need better materials. Thats why I had to compromise with that. I get it. Anyways, dinner is ready and Yogiri is already waiting for us. When we went to the dining room, Yogiri was already seated. What happened? Why was there a gunshot? she asked. Amelia was being dangerous, I answered. Its more like Mikage wasnt being specific, Amelia argued. Come on! What kind of person would willingly shoot her friend with a gun? The person who has complete trust in her friend so she would shoot without question. Yogiri looked back and forth between us. You two are close with each other, huh? she asked. Weve been through a lot. I mean... We shared a bed together, Amelia answered. Shared... A bed? We had no choice! The inn was full thanks to the Peafowl Kingdom having a celebration so we had to share a bed together! I cleared things up. I see, she still didnt look like she believed me. Anyways... Lets eat! Im starving! Amelia changed the topic and we started eating dinner. ### I was in the barracks sorting out the papers when Temma approached me. Mikage... How good are you at speaking in front of the public? he asked. Well. I did several presentations in class already. I wont be that nervous. Why are you asking? Westa West High School is having a career talk. Of course, the 13th unit will try to talk about a knights job and other things. Captain Noel will talk about the jobs of a captain while I will talk about the jobs of a vice-captain. Another knight from our unit will talk about the jobs of a regular knight. So I will talk about the jobs of an administrative officer? Yes. I want you to prepare a speech about how an administrative officer worked on a daily basis. But I was a special case, right? The only reason why I was an administrative officer was because I passed a special test. How can I tell them that I was qualified? Thats why I want you to research the qualifications of an administrative officer. You can read the knight orders documents. But youll mostly talk about the responsibilities and the duties of an administrative officer. I see. When will we have the career talk? Its next week. Captain Noel is doing her best trying to come up with a speech. Alright. Ill manage somehow. Okay then. Just make sure to be educational in your speech and hopefully, there will be someone among them who would want to become administrative officers too. I couldnt imagine myself inspiring someone else. Career talks huh? Before I came to this world, I had no idea what my career should be. It was thanks to my strange circumstances that I became an administrative officer. Well whatever... Ill do my best as always and hopefully, itll go well. An unexpected illusion Careers were important. After all, they would stick with someone for life. It would take lots of consideration to change a career. That was why people had to make sure they chose correctly. The education system of this world was a bit lower compared to mine. People werent even forced to go into high school. As long as they finished middle school, they could start working already. Adventuring was a legitimate occupation in this world so normal citizens didnt need to be smart in order to get a job. However, there were much more specialized colleges. Magic colleges, science colleges, law colleges, and other colleges were options for people. And if a person graduated from any of those colleges, they would have higher chances of getting jobs. Right now, I was in Westa West High School. I remembered my days as a student. Thinking about it, I wasnt a good example. I was a delinquent known as Chizome no Byakko back when I was in middle school. That said enough. Although my high school days were a bit okay. I was a regular student who developed a liking for video games. My grades were not the best but they were at least somewhere average. Are you ready? Temma asked. Oh sure. All I have to do is talk about the job of an administrative officer, right? Thats right. Then Im good... Were allowed to have notes during the speech, right? Yes. If we werent, Captain Noel would have a hard time. Captain Noel was too busy reading her script to even notice us. We were walking across the school grounds when I saw a familiar pink-haired person. When she met my eyes, she immediately turned away. Hey Temma... Can I catch up with you later? I asked. Whats wrong? I saw someone and I think I should talk to her. Oh? A friend? Sure. You know where the gym is, right? Ill ask her. I tried to chase after the girl I saw. If my memory was correct, then she should be that person. I couldnt believe my luck if that was the case. It didnt take long until I caught up with her. You! I called out her name. She walked even faster to get away from me. I was about to chase after her when a blonde girl blocked her path. Momo. That knight is calling you, she said. Ah... I think hes mistaken, Haato, the pink-haired girl replied. No. Im calling you. So your name is Momo, huh? I wondered how the great Spa- Alright alright! Lets go somewhere else!! she interrupted what I was going to say and dragged me away. We were on the schools rooftop and no one was around. The door leading to it was locked but she easily got through it. Simple locks like that were nothing to what she was used to dealing with. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Thats right. I was talking to the one and only Spade Echo. I knew I should have been absent today. Knights were coming for a career talk and I couldnt believe that the person who saw me without the Mirage Mirror would come. This is really bad, she muttered. I was surprised too, you know. When I saw your face among the students, I instantly remembered you. Really? Was my face that cute for you to remember? Yeah. Eh? Also, I would do my best to remember the face of a famous thief. Not to mention that you also helped me out when we got teleported back in the Peafowl Kingdom. Thats true. So... What are you going to do now? Will you arrest me? Momo was holding a card. Her preferred weapons were exploding cards called Dangerous Gambit. And by leading me to this rooftop, she could easily use her wings and fly away. She calculated things perfectly. No... Ill leave that part to Amelia, I said. That detective? Yeah. Shes determined to catch you and I dont think she would like it if I just went ahead and told your identity to the knights. Youll seriously let go of the chance to catch Spade Echo just for your friend? Thats right. Amelia really liked solving mysteries. Every time a question would appear in front of her, shell do everything in her power to solve it. And her satisfied expression whenever she answers one is really nice to look at. Do you think she can catch me? The only reason why were even talking right now is because of just one huge coincidence. I know she will. And I want to see her face when she does. Ill look forward to it then. Momo had the same expression that Spade Echo would have. Despite wearing a school uniform, I could feel the presence of the famous phantom thief. Her expression was the same when I first saw her back in Westa Monument Tower. It was the same fearless smirk that mocked me and Amelia. This is so creepy, she then said. What is? Your expression. Its totally like him. Ah. Your friend? I recalled that she said that I resembled her friend who was a summoner. From my hairstyle, eyes, voice, and even my height, she said I looked a lot like him. Im curious about that guy. Whats his name? Mitsukage Yachiyo. Although he said thats not his real name. What do you mean? Hes from another world. When he was on his way home, he got involved in an accident and lost his life. When he woke up, he found out that he was summoned to another world and decided to discard his old name. He became the adventurer known as Mitsukage Yachiyo. Another world? Is it common for people to get sent to this world? Its not common but it has happened a lot of times already. Its taught in history lessons. Did you not have it? Im from another world. I dont know what lessons you guys will have here. Is that so? Whats your name again? Mikage... My names Mikage Kamishiro, the 13th units administrative officer. Mi... kage... Momo had a serious expression on her face as I could see her thinking deeply. Whats wrong? Nothing. My name is Momo. Im also known as the phantom thief Spade Echo. Lets see if your friend can catch me. I know she can. We shared a laugh. By the way, do you know where the gym is? I asked. Ah. We forgot about that. ### Meanwhile, a teacher finished his meeting with the staff. Things were going well and they were going to start the career talk soon. He went out for a smoke break and went to a spot where no one could see him. He took out his Excellular and dialed a number. Yes... The administrative officer is here. The preparations are complete. We were foiled last time but this time we will capture him, he said. Very well. Do not fail us. One wrong move and we will be exposed, the voice on the other side of the call commanded. Of course. This is for the Unkindness. Career talk A blond man was waiting at the entrance of the gym. When he saw me, he flashed a warm smile. So this is your friend, huh? he asked me when I walked towards him along with Momo. Yes. This is Momo. Momo, meet Temma Kishido. Hes the vice captain of the 13th unit, I introduced them to each other. Good afternoon. Its nice to meet you. Now then, if youll excuse me, Ill be heading to my class, she bowed and walked away. Temma was deep in thought. Whats wrong? I asked. Its nothing. I just had a feeling Ive met her somewhere before, he answered. Of course you met her. Shes the thief that brought trouble to your unit many times already. Its probably your imagination, I said. We then walked towards the backstage. I gulped down when I peeked at the audience. There were many students and I was expected to deliver a speech in front of them. I could take on many thugs and even fight monsters but somehow, talking in front of many young people made me nervous. The school principal went forward and began talking about the importance of careers. He talked about the Westa Knight Order and gave the stage to Captain Noel. She walked straight to the center of the stage, removed the armor on her right arm, and threw a punch. A strong gust of wind blew after she swung her fist and she grinned. Captain Noel put on her armor and grabbed the mic. Thats the power of a captain, she said. The students were speechless. Of course they would be. Captain Noel didnt use any magic. That meant the wind that was produced from her punch was all because of her brute strength. My name is Noel Shirogane, the captain of Westa Knight Orders 13th unit. The Westa Knight Order has many units with its own jurisdictions. The 2nd to 6th units are in charge of Westa North, the 7th to 11th units are in charge of Westa South, the 12th to 16th units are in charge of Westa West, and the 17th to 21st units are in charge of Westa East. She walked towards the podium and continued talking. As the captain of the 13th unit, I am in charge of the major decisions involving our operations. For example, I review each and every report the knights in my unit would make and see if everything was going well. That was a lie. I was the one who would read their report and decide if I should forward it to her in order to make her decide on the proper course of action. The responsibilities of a captain are huge since you are managing an entire unit and protecting Westas peace. Thats why its not easy to become one. The process for becoming a captain is difficult. First, you have to be recommended by two captains. And then youll be sent to do an A-ranked quest from the Adventurers Guild all by yourself. Once you finish the quest, youll be facing another captain in one-on-one combat. A student raised her hand and Captain Noel pointed at her. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Whats your question? Umm... I heard you were the youngest captain in history. Can you tell us your story? Very well. I am from a family of knights. My father and brother are members of the 1st unit and my grandfather used to be the captain of the 13th unit. When I was a child, I was blessed with amazing battle instincts and strong muscle strength. That was why I was placed in the Knight Academys accelerated program. Accelerated program? The accelerated program is a program in the Knight Academy that takes in students who just graduated elementary and train them as knights. Normally, you have two chances to enter the Knight Academy. Once you graduate middle school, you can enter the Knight Academy. Another option is entering the Knight Academy after finishing high school. However, the accelerated program would take children who just graduated elementary and train them. From what I read, the Knight Academy trained its students for four years. Once they finish those four years, they would get assigned to a unit and spend their lives working. If Captain Noel went to the Knight Academy after elementary, that meant she became a knight when she was 16. Thank you, Captain Noel, the student bowed and returned to her seat. As I was saying, I became a knight when I was 16. After a year of service, I was recommended to become a captain and when I passed, I became the youngest captain at the age of 17. She walked to the center of the stage. A captains job is difficult. Thats why we have an assistant called the vice captain. My vice captain is a man named Temma Kishido. Itll be his turn to talk about his job. Temma walked towards the stage and received the microphone from Captain Noel. He gave the audience a warm smile. Hello. My name is Temma Kishido, the vice captain of the 13th unit. A vice captains job is simple. We assist our captain. Our duties are the same like managing the unit and making important decisions. However, a vice captains duty is to be the bridge between the captain and the regular knights. He pointed at himself. As the vice captain, I have to be very approachable. Any concerns that the knights in my unit would have, I should be the one who should know first and would talk to the captain. Also, if the captain is away, it is my job to lead the unit. A student raised his hand. Yes? How does one become a vice captain? Do you have to undergo a tough trial too? Temma smiled. No. The vice captain is chosen by the units captain. There are no requirements to become one. Why? Its because the vice captain and the captain have to get along with each other. We would be working closely with each other and so, our compatibility must be amazing. Captain Noel chose me because I was her grandfathers vice captain before he retired. I see. Thank you very much. The student sat down and Temma continued with his speech. Now then... As the vice captain, I have to deal with things that aren''t urgent enough to get the captains attention. However, the workload would sometimes become so large that we would get overwhelmed. Thats why we have another special knight called an administrative officer. Ill be passing the mic to the 13th units administrative officer. I walked towards the stage and I could feel their stares. It wasnt that much of a problem. I fought in front of an audience back in the Idol Fan Tournament. It shouldnt be that tough. Hello. Im Mikage Kamishiro, the administrative officer of the 13th unit. I looked at the students. My job as an administrative officer is reading all of the knights reports. Captain Noel said that she had to read the reports, right? Theres a bit more than that. I was the one who would sort the reports for her. If I find anything urgent, then I would pass it to her and let her decide what the unit should do. Captain Noel looked away in guilt. Another job I have is that I should keep track of the units expenses. From the living expenses of each knight in the dormitories to weapon purchases to salaries, I was the one who made sure that everything stayed within budget. I was about to explain more when my shadow automatically rose up and formed a wall. A ball made of darkness crashed into it and exploded. What?! I couldnt contain my surprise after my enchantment activated on its own. An eerie feeling appeared in my gut as creatures that looked like my Shadow Companion appeared on the stage. There were around 15 of them. Capture him, I heard a voice in my mind. And all of the Shadow Companions charged at me. School attack The Shadow Companions headed towards me and I unsheathed my kris sword. It seemed that they were focusing on me so I had to stay away from the students. In other words, I had to stay on the stage. Anya. I need assistance, I told her. Got it, she replied. Shadow Companion! I shouted and another creature made of darkness appeared. With Shadow Companion backing me up, I managed to survive long enough until Temma managed to reach my side. Temma was busy dealing with the Shadow Companions and I noticed one weird thing. Why arent you using magic? I asked. Ive been trying to use Minds Eye for the past few minutes but I cant! Theres an anti-magic barrier active! he answered. An anti-magic barrier? From what I learned in this world, anti-magic barriers were difficult to set up. In other words, someone planned this attack. But who would attack a school using Dark Magic? I then noticed that somehow, they managed to use magic and summoned these creatures even if there was an anti-magic barrier. There was only one organization that could do it. The Unkindness was here! Captain Noel was leading the evacuation of the students. However, I saw that the walls and doors of the gymnasium were covered in darkness. No one was allowed to leave. This was very bad. Why did the Unkindness choose to attack me now of all times? Temma couldnt use his magic thanks to the anti-magic barrier and Captain Noel was prioritizing the lives of the students so she couldnt recklessly use her strength. At least the Shadow Companions were focusing on me. More Shadow Companions appeared and they charged at me. It seemed they were too focused on trying to get me to even notice the students. That meant I should stay as far away from them. The Shadow Companions continued their onslaught and I managed to hold them back. Temma and my Shadow Companion also helped out but there was one problem. Every time we would defeat a Shadow Companion, a new one would replace it. There was no end to them. You are just using your own darkness. As the Primordial Dark, you have the authority to use every darkness in existence, Yagoos words echoed in my mind. I had an idea on how to solve this. Temma! Anya! Can you guys hold them off for a minute or two?! I asked. Ill try! Temma said. I closed my eyes and imagined the darkness in each and everyone around here. After concentrating my senses, I could feel the Shadow Companions. All of them were connected to one person. If I focused on that connection, I could find the person who was controlling them and hopefully defeat them. It didnt take me long until I spotted the person who was controlling them. I opened my eyes and saw the person who was responsible for this mess. He was a middle-aged man wearing a teachers uniform. The Unkindness had members in this school? However, I had no time to debate about it as I willed my shadow to turn into a spike and lunge into him. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. He was surprised by my attack and he raised his own shadow to turn into a wall. That confirmed it. If he was able to do Dark Magic in a place where an anti-magic barrier was active, then he was involved with the Unkindness. Temma! Captain Noel! That person is the one behind this mess! I shouted. Captain Noel charged at him and he made his shadow into a wall between them. She then punched the shadow and it crumbled into pieces. Some of the Shadow Companions directed their attention at Captain Noel. Temma and I cut through our enemies and were slowly approaching the man. This was great. We could beat him! Kyaa! a voice shouted. I couldnt believe I just jinxed myself. Two Shadow Companions were holding a student each. One had a blonde girl while the other had Momo. If you continue your attacks, I will kill those two, the man threatened. Professor Trex? You are an enemy? the blonde girl asked. Im sorry, Miss Haato and Miss Momo. But desperate times call for desperate measures, he said. Because of the hostages, we couldnt attack him. The two Shadow Companions walked towards him dragging the girls along with them. My demands are simple. I want the administrative officer to come with me, Trex said. Do you think you can escape from us? Temma asked. A magic circle appeared nearby. Yes. All I want is the administrative officer and we will teleport ourselves away from this. I shall release these two girls once I have successfully captured him. Did he say teleport? Do you think well gladly give up one of our own?! Captain Noel asked. Captain Noel. Its fine, I told her. Mikage? Temma looked at me. You want me? Fine. As long as you promise to let go of the girls once we teleport away, Ill let you capture me. Im glad you are a logical person, Mister Mikage, he said. I walked towards him and all the Shadow Companions disappeared except for the two that were standing near me. The blonde girl and Momo were still held by the Shadow Companions and we began walking towards the magic circle. Anya. Can you call Ars? I asked her in my mind. Do you need something? Ars voice echoed in my mind. I am the Primordial Darks vessel. I have authority over every darkness. Do you think I can do this? I explained to her my plan. I have never thought of it but fundamentally, it should be the same as forcefully controlling another persons summon creature. This is what you need to do. Ars explained to me how to execute my plan as we stood in the magic circle. Trex snapped his fingers and the scenery changed. We were in the middle of a forest and Trex looked confused. Whats going on? We are supposed to be teleported to our base, he asked. YOU FELL FOR IT, FOOL! I shouted and I unleashed my magic. The Shadow Companions holding the blonde girl and Momo released them and charged at the man. He tried his best to regain control of them but it was useless. I was the Primordial Darks vessel and controlling them was very easy. A Shadow Companions arm turned into a sharp blade and stabbed him. He was a dangerous person and I knew that he should be killed. If I wanted to escape safely, he had to lose his life. This was simple self-defense. Trex groaned but he faced his palm up to the sky. A ball of darkness shot from it and exploded. Thats a signal for other Dark Mages. The other members of the Unkindness now know where you are! Anya told me. You should have gone for the head, Trex smirked and he took out a crystal. We were blinded by the light when the crystal glowed. After it died down, Trex was lying dead on the ground. However, there was one problem. Hey, are you alright?! Momo asked. Even without using magic, tiny bits of darkness were oozing out of my body. An eerie feeling appeared in my gut along with sadness. Also, I felt power surging through my veins. It was similar to when we were investigating Arthur Karalis death and fought the man from Unkindness. This was bad. The Primordial Dark inside me was agitated. A fight against the Unkindness. The blonde girl closed her eyes and did a silent prayer for the professor named Trex. Meanwhile, I was trying to control the darkness oozing out of me. Despite trying hard, I couldnt fully control it. The eerie feeling along with sadness was growing stronger and stronger inside me. Are you going to be okay? Momo asked. Y-Yeah, I answered. Dont bluff, Mikage. Im barely controlling your mana and preventing you from getting consumed by it. You need to rest, Anya told me. Do you think I can rest right now? The Unkindness must be heading towards me and I have to protect these two. So? Whats your plan now? Momo asked. Im sure your artifact messed up the teleportation. So where exactly are we? Thats the problem. I dont know. Normally, I would set a location where I would be teleported in case Ill be a victim of forced teleportation. But I didnt prepare anything this time since I didnt expect this to happen. So we were randomly teleported? Thats what I think. The default setting of my artifact is that if Im not going to be teleported to a set place that I prepared beforehand, then I would be teleported a few kilometers away in a random direction from the destination of the teleportation. So we have no idea where we are? This is fun. I sort of relied on you. I know. I hate how you used the fact that I have a rare artifact that can mess up teleportation spells. But I wouldve done the same thing if I was in your shoes. The blonde girl finished her prayer and walked towards us. Even if that professor threatened her, the girl still cared for him. That realization made me wonder how deep was the Unkindness. The bandaged man said that they had eyes and ears everywhere. What is our plan, mister administrative officer? she asked. Just call me, Mikage. Were close in age, I told her. Alright. Then feel free to call me Haato. As for the plan, we should get out of here as soon as we can. Thats great. Very specific and will definitely solve our situation. Well. Im sure the Unkindness is coming here at full speed so we gotta scram. Where exactly are we? A pair of wings appeared behind Momo and she flew up. After a few minutes, she returned to our spot. I saw the Moryo Mountains in the distance. Judging from the position of the sun and the direction of the mountains, we must be west of Westa, she said. You have wings, Momo? Haato asked. Y-Yeah. Its an artifact. Please keep it a secret. No problem! Its like Spade Echos artifact, right? T-Thats right. I just happened to have a similar artifact. And so, we traveled east in order to reach Westa. It didnt take long until we saw our first problem. A green humanoid creature was standing in front of us. It was an ogre and was holding a club. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Momo. Protect Haato, I told her and she nodded. I charged at the monster and on instinct, I willed my shadow to turn into a spike. However, my shadow went out of control and turned into multiple large spikes and skewered the ogre. You idiot! The Primordial Dark is agitated inside you! Why did you even think of using Dark Magic?!! Anya scolded me. Sorry. Bad habit. More darkness oozed out of my body and the eerie feeling became stronger. Are you okay? The Primordial Dark inside you is going wild. Shouldnt you calm down first? Haato asked. Theres no time for me to calm down. We have to get out of here or else, well- I couldnt finish my sentence as several magic circles appeared around us. An even stronger eerie feeling entered my mind and I gritted my teeth. Men in robes appeared from the magic circles. There were around 15 of them. Also, a larger magic circle appeared and a man wrapped in bandages stepped out of it. I could feel a strong energy inside that bandaged man. It seems that our experiment worked nicely, he said. This was very bad. I wasnt allowed to use Dark Magic so I couldnt beat these men on my own. If you surrender yourself, I promise I will let those two girls go, he said. Wanna know my answer for that? I asked. I pointed my kris sword at him and grinned. Synchronicity Release! I couldnt beat these men on my own so I had to rely on the previous masters strength. Then you are a big fool, the man snapped his fingers and the robed men shot balls of darkness at me. I managed to avoid the balls in time and swiftly dashed to one man. I punched him in the face and threw him to another robed opponent. After that, I went ahead and rampaged around the battlefield as I swung my sword and fist around wildly. Not too shabby in our first connection! A semi-transparent brown-haired beastman grinned beside me. Youre the best fit for this situation, Leo. You got that right! Now let Leo Dickinsons Wild Sword Style do its magic! Yocleshs Oni Rush was good for overpowering a single opponent with swift and precise strikes. Merryweathers Royal Dual Wielding was good against multiple opponents. However, I couldnt use Dark Magic to create another sword so I had to use Leos Wild Sword Style. Wild Sword Style used the entire body instead of just relying on the sword. I had to do kicks, punches, and even headbutts in addition to my sword swings. It was unpredictable and so it earned that name. The sword style was good for fighting when you didnt have to worry about watching your back. Momo was protecting Haato so there was no need to worry. After killing three men, I glared at the remaining twelve. They stepped back and were clearly intimidated by what I did. If they thought that they could beat by forcing me to not use Dark Magic, they were completely wrong. I see. So you are the master of the Sword of Records. This is interesting. But I believe it is time for us to be serious, he snapped his fingers and each of the men took out a crystal. The crystals glowed and I couldnt move my body. Power was coursing through my veins as an eerie feeling entered my mind. It was strong enough to make me stop resonating with the previous masters and get out of Synchronicity. Darkness was coming out of my body and I could feel myself getting hot. M-Mikage! Im barely controlling you... Focus and dont let the power take over your mind! Anya shouted. IM TRYING.. AAAAAHHHH!!! I screamed in pain. The more I resisted the power, the more pain I felt. My body felt like it was burning, my bones felt like it was melting, my mind felt like it was splitting in half, and my heart felt like it was being crushed. But I had to endure it. I couldnt risk losing control again. This is hopeless. I guess I have no choice but to help you out, Haato stepped forward. What are you doing, Haato? Its dangerous! Momo shouted. You clearly dont know who youre talking to, so let me clue you in. I am not in danger, Momo. I AM the danger! The bandaged man looked at her as she walked in front of me. And who might you be? he asked. Hello there. My name is Haato Akai, a regular student of Westa West High School, she said. Haato raised her arm and snapped her fingers. HAACHAMACHAMA!!! HAACHAMA! HAACHAMA! HAACHAMACHAMA!! Those loud words echoed in my mind. The crystals stopped glowing as things became strange. Some of the men were laughing uncontrollably while others were screaming. There were around three of them who started crying and two of them collapsed to the ground while their mouths frothed. Im also the Primordial Insanitys vessel, she smiled. Insanity, Darkness, Muscles, and ???? HAACHAMA! HAACHAMA! HAACHAMACHAMA!! Those annoying words continued ringing inside my mind. From how Momo had an uncomfortable look on her face, she was also hearing those words. But Id rather hear those words repeat endlessly in my mind than be subjected to the pain I felt earlier. Darkness was still oozing out of my body but I didnt feel much pain anymore. Haato managed to defeat all of the robed men with just a snap of her finger. If I heard her correctly, she said she was the vessel of the Primordial Insanity. Now then... Do you mind telling me why you want the Primordial Dark? Haato asked. Our goals are beyond your understanding, the bandaged man answered. Oh really? I talk to the Primordial Insanity regularly. If I can understand the unpredictable and chaotic mind of the Primordial Being that controls the aspect of insanity, then a mere humans goals are not a challenge. This is none of your business. We only want the Primordial Dark. None of my business? YOUR GROUP kidnapped me. YOUR GROUP threatened to take my life TWICE. Only an insane person would think that its none of their business once those things happen to them. And what are you going to do? Will you unleash your wrath upon us? Is that something a vessel of a Primordial Being should be doing? Thats true. I should only act in self-defense and should only fight if there was someone foolish enough to challenge a person who is a vessel of a Primordial Being. The robed men screamed and began scratching their faces. They continued scratching and scratching until their faces began to bleed. Some of the men collapsed to the ground with their mouths frothing while the others either laughed or screamed as they inflicted injuries on themselves. But Im the Primordial Insanitys vessel. Do you think Ill be logical enough to follow made-up rules that have no consequences if they were broken? she grinned. I do not wish to fight with a vessel but you do not wish to back away peacefully. Heh. Classic villains. You had no problems kidnapping and threatening to take my life. But when you find out I am powerful enough to end your life, you start talking about peace. I am merely trying to negotiate a way for us to leave this place without any inconveniences. Do not underestimate me. Several dark orbs hovered around the man and Haato was nonchalantly standing. You pride yourself as a mage and gather knowledge about the world. Lets see how well youll do once you lose your precious mind, she snapped her fingers. However, nothing happened. Haato was confused and snapped her fingers again. Is something wrong, vessel of the Primordial Insanity? I hope you will learn your lesson in the next life! the man shot the dark orbs at her. Haato managed to dodge out of the way. She snapped her fingers again and nothing happened. Several abominations appeared beside her and they charged at the bandaged man. The man didnt move a muscle as one of the abominations tried to slam him with its large hands. A mere illusion wont harm me, the man scoffed and the abomination harmlessly passed through him. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Whats going on? Your mind should be consumed by insanity unless... Haatos eyes widened in surprise. It seems you now know the situation, the man made more orbs float near him. Youre not a regular human. You dont have a mind. Youre not even a living thing! Haato shouted. That is correct. My name is Julius, one of the 13 Living Darkness of the Unkindness. Living Darkness? In exchange for immortality and mastery over Dark Magic, we traded our bodies and souls to become darkness. We have walked over four millennia in this world and watched civilizations rise and fall. The Unkindness is everywhere and our ambitions shall be achieved. You sure are blabbing a lot for a secret organization. You will die here so I do not care if you know something about us. We are the Unkindness. A mere vessel like you cannot defeat us. A strong gust of wind hit the bandaged man and blew him away. Something landed in front of Haato and when the dust cleared, a silver-haired woman was standing on a crater. Then how about a captain? Captain Noel asked. I noticed that there was a red-haired girl hanging on her back. Wait... What was Yogiri doing here? Mikage! Are you okay? she asked. Y-Yeah. Body feels sluggish but Im managing, I answered. Balls of darkness shot towards us and Captain Noel grabbed Yogiri, Haato, and me and dashed out of the way. A captain... the bandaged man said. You have some nerve attacking a school when the 13th unit was there. And how dare you try to take our administrative officer! Do you think Ill gladly give up the guy who reads all of those boring reports?! Captain Noel cracked her knuckles. Seriously? Thats what I was to her? I noticed that Captain Noel wasnt wearing her armor so that meant that she was using all of her strength. The bandaged man shot more balls of darkness and Captain Noel avoided them. She ran so fast she looked like she was teleporting. After hitting the bandaged man, she managed to run faster than him and landed another punch before he crashed to the ground and made him fly across the field. He bounced off the ground like a ball but Captain Noel wasnt done beating him up. She continued throwing one powerful punch after another when she pinned him on the ground and after a few minutes, she caught her breath. Your physical strength is amazing. But it is not enough to defeat me, the bandaged man said. Darkness came out of him and knocked Captain Noel away. Whats up with this guy? His bones should be crushed already but hes still moving around! she asked. That man is not a living creature! He doesnt have a physical body that can be destroyed! Haato shouted. Then what can we do? I dont know! Even Haachama has no idea how to deal with him! They were living darkness? If I was the Primordial Darks vessel, does that mean I could command them? I closed my eyes and focused on that man. His body was completely made up of darkness and I could probably control it. It was the same as forcefully taking control of Shadow Companions, right? Even if I asserted my will over him, nothing happened. Foolish one. You cannot control me! I am superior to you! he took out a crystal and it began glowing. My body began heating up once more as darkness oozed out of my body. You bastard! Captain Noel leaped towards him but several Shadow Companions appeared and blocked her path. I will win if I can get the administrative officer! The man charged towards me. I couldnt move my body because I was trying hard to control myself. If that man and that crystal gets any nearer, I would have a tough time. It is all over now! the man was near enough and I couldnt move out of the way. Then, a huge blast of white light hit him. He howled in pain as darkness oozed out of his body. The light intensified and forced me to close my eyes. When I opened them again, the light was gone and on the ground was a pile of robes and bandages. The Shadow Companions also disappeared. I looked at the direction where the light came from and saw Yogiri with her outstretched arm. Umm... What just happened? Yogiri asked. NICE conclusion... I think Its been more than two weeks since Yogiri was sent to another world and she was adjusting quite nicely. The world was very strange for her since it had magic and science. She could see appliances like TVs, refrigerators, radio, cellphone-like devices and even air conditioners. However, Amelia and Mikage told her that they worked differently compared to their other world counterparts. They were products of a mix between science and magic. Also, the architecture of Westa was weird. The western and southern districts were filled with buildings that resembled European medieval cities. However, they were solidly constructed and were equipped with modern appliances. The eastern district had wooden buildings that looked like they came out of feudal Japan. Amelia said that they tried to copy the buildings found in Yamato, an eastern country in this world. The northern district all had buildings that could be found in a modern city. It was the technology center of Westa so it wasnt a surprise why they had tall buildings and other things. Westa was the central place in the western side of the world. That was why it had a diverse style of architecture in order to accommodate the preferences of the different people who visit and stay there. Yogiri was reading a book and trying to learn as much as she could about the new world she was living in. She learned a bit about magic, races, history, and other things that she might need. Her time was quietly passing until she heard the doorbell chime. She opened the door and saw a black-haired man. He was wearing a black coat and had a red cravat on his neck. A single monocle was over his right eye. Oh? I expected Amelia to open the door. Who might you be? he asked. Im Yogiri. For several reasons, I am staying with Amelia. And you are? I cant believe myself. I once chided Amelia that one should introduce themselves before asking for another persons name. It seems that Im too occupied with my thoughts. Yogiri didnt know how to reply to him so she just nodded. And now Im just rambling on. In any case, my name is Shellin Burgundy, a detective. Do you want me to call Amelia? Shes in her room right now. Theres no need for that. Im just here to drop off something that I compiled. Can you give it to her? Shellin handed her a sealed brown envelope. Whats this? Yogiri asked. Just tell her that this is something she begged from me. Normally, I wont easily share the findings of my investigation especially if I only have speculations but she told me that anything about the organization that was hunting down her friend would be good. Investigation? Organization? Hunting down her friend? Im not sure if Im allowed to share it with you so youre better off asking Amelia. I dont think youd want to be involved in this mess. Yogiri looked at the brown envelope and was curious. However, she didnt want to be involved in another mess, especially since she just got out of one. Ill be taking my leave. I trust you can give it to her without fail, Shellin bowed and left. The red-haired girl walked towards Amelias room and knocked on its door. She was on good terms with Amelia and so, she wasnt nervous in talking to her. Mikage would often talk about how the blonde girl was amazing which caused Yogiri to develop an admiration. Come in, Amelias voice rang out from the other side of the room. Yogiri opened the door and she saw Amelia sitting at her desk scribbling down on a piece of paper. Her room was fairly normal. There was a bookshelf filled with books, a desk, two filing cabinets, and a single bed. A whiteboard was above the desk and there were several notes and scribbles on it. A guy named Shellin told me to give this to you. He said its a compilation of his investigation, she walked towards her and placed the envelope on the desk. I see... This would be very helpful, Amelia glanced at the envelope and then returned to looking at a piece of paper. Yogiri took a peek at the paper and was surprised to see Japanese characters on it. Are you trying to decode Japanese? she asked. Oh. This one? Mikage already gave me a translation of it. The problem is that the translation is a weird message. Since youre here, can you try to translate it? Maybe Mikage had a different translation. Yogiri looked at the message. Katachinaki mono jiga mo motazu Jiganaki mono ishi mo motazu Ishi naki mono wo seifukushikanezu Mu wo tashika na mono ni katadoru to genkei ga hitsuyou to nari Hitotsu no jikuunai de wa onaji sonzai ga hitotsu shika orazu no wa yo no kotowari Yue ni betsu no jikuu kara no genkei ga hissu to naru Ijou no jouken soroeba, yami ga shuchuu ni osameru If I were to translate it, it would be: Formless things have no sense of self. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Those without self have no will. Those without will cannot be subjugated. To mold nothing into a concrete something, an original mold is needed. In one dimension, the same existence is limited to one as the world''s law dictates. Therefore the original mold must be from another dimension. If the above-mentioned conditions are fulfilled, then the darkness is within our hands, she recited. Hmmm.. Its more or less the same as Mikages translation. I already figured out the first part and the end. The middle is a pain, Amelia grumbled. Figured it out? How? The first three lines talked about controlling something. Formless things have no sense of self means that an abstract thing cant have an individuality. Those without self have no will means that an abstract thing that has no individuality cant have freewill or even do anything. Those without will cannot be subjugated means that its impossible to control those abstract things that have no individuality and freewill. After all, how can you control their minds if they have no minds in the first place? I see... I have no idea what the fifth and sixth lines mean. But Im sure the last line talked about the Primordial Dark. And with that in mind, the entire message is like an instruction on how to control it. Primordial Dark? Thats correct. Primordial Beings are representatives of a certain aspect of reality. The Primordial Dark is the representative of all darkness in existence. As such, it can control any and every darkness. Oh. The last line is a dead giveaway. If the above-mentioned conditions are fulfilled, then the darkness is within our hands means that if you accomplish the other conditions, then you can control the darkness, hence, the Primordial Dark. Correct. Also, its said that the Primordial Dark existed before freewill and thus, it has no will. The first part of the message clearly talked about the problems in controlling something that has no freewill. An eerie feeling appeared in Yogiris mind and she stared at a direction. Whats wrong? Your face looks troubled, Amelia asked. I could sense an eerie feeling coming from that direction. I cant describe it but the feeling is really unsettling. Its like... Staring at a deep and dark abyss and getting a feeling that something is staring back? Yes. How did you know? Mikage told me his share of.... Amelias face paled, Mikages supposed to be at Westa West High School, right? Yeah. Hes supposed to give a career talk. Amelia dashed out of the room while taking her coat and cap. Yogiri chased after her since she was bothered that Mikage might be involved in that strange energy. When they arrived at Westa West High School, they saw many knights walking around. Yogiri immediately thought that something was wrong. Amelia walked towards a blond man. Temma! Wheres Mikage?! Amelia asked. Amelia? What are you doing here? he asked back. Just shut up and answer the damn question. Temma began explaining what happened a few minutes ago. A teacher of the school summoned many shadow creatures and caused chaos. He teleported away with Mikage after taking two girls hostage. We have no idea where Mikage could be, Temma said. If I know where they are, then I could go and rescue him, a silver-haired woman said. The Unkindness attacking again. And this time they got Mikage... Amelia began muttering. Yogiri looked west and could sense an eerie feeling. Thats it! Yogiri! You can feel an eerie feeling, right? Amelia walked towards Yogiri. Yes? What about it? Mikage said he could feel a strange energy thanks to his connection to the Primordial Dark. If we follow your senses, we can go to the source and hopefully find Mikage. Do you think it would work? the silver-haired woman asked. This is only speculation but its the best bet we have. What could be her connection since she could feel what Mikage feels? Temma asked. Theres no time to think! Captain Noel, you can run faster than any horse once you remove your limiters. Can you take her? Alright, the silver-haired woman started removing her armor. Amelia handed Yogiri a rectangular device. This is a tracker. Keep it on you and Temma and I will arrive there with backup. Can you find Mikage for me? she asked. I will, Yogiri nodded. Alright. Whats your name? the silver-haired woman walked towards Yogiri. Im Yogiri. Alright, Yogiri. My name is Noel Shirogane. Hang on tight, she then piggybacked the red-haired girl. Ummm... Arent we going to ride on a horse? You might not want to talk unless you want to bite off your tongue. Bite off my- Noel leaped from the ground at incredible speed. Yogiri screamed as she hung tightly on Noels shoulders since she didnt want to fall off and get hurt. What direction is he in? Noel asked while running at full speed. Keep going straight!! ### And thats how we ended up saving you, Yogiri explained. For some reason, Yogiri could also sense the strange energy. How could she be related to the Primordial Dark? I also had one more question. That light. How did you do it? I have no idea. All I thought was I cant let this man get Mikage! and when I stretched my hands, that light shot off. It was the same as me. Maybe she used magic subconsciously. Thats what happened to me back when I first used Dark Magic to save Temma. What matters is that were all safe! That bandaged man is now history and Mikage and the two students were successfully rescued! Now, lets go home! Captain Noel stretched her arms. Will we just walk? I think I lost a few years of my life because of you, Yogiri asked her. Dont worry! I cant carry four people at once. Well just walk. I guess thats that. I managed to survive against an attack from the Unkindness. However, I knew that there was something up with Yogiri. After all, she was summoned by Shiroe, the same guy who summoned me, a vessel of the Primordial Dark. I wouldnt be surprised if she had a few tricks in her sleeve which she didnt know yet. Im with you in this one, Anyas voice said in my mind. Glad to know Im not overthinking things. If Yogiri is here, then she must have a part to play in Shiroes plans. I think you should teach her how to fight using her abilities. Having the Primordial Dark and the Primordial Light... What could be Shiroes plans? I have no idea. For starters, you can ask Haato how she used her powers as the vessel of the Primordial Insanity. I looked at the two girls. Momo was keeping some distance from Captain Noel while Haato was humming a tune. I was glad that all of us were safe. All should be well, right? ### It seemed that I jinxed myself again. I thought everything would be back to normal. But a few days later, a few people wearing black uniforms barged into the captains office of the 13th unit. Noel Shirogane, captain of the 13th unit. You are under arrest for involvement in acts that threaten Westas peace, they said. The Westa Knight Order It was a regular day and I was minding my own business while sorting out reports. A week has passed since that career talk incident and things have calmed down. There was lots of criticism for the 13th unit because they let a school get attacked. Captain Noel already had a press conference and made a public apology for that. There were also rumors that a certain man in our unit was being targeted by a dangerous organization but she denied it. And by certain man, I meant myself. I couldnt believe the Unkindness was bold enough to attack a school. Then again, I had no idea how they were thinking. If they wanted to, they could just attack me when I was alone like when I was sleeping or something. But I should be happy that they werent the type to just attack me like that. The last thing I needed was to add more to Amelias troubles by having the Unkindness attack me in her home. Captain Noel arrived in the office along with Temma. She looked really tired while Temma had an uneasy expression on his face. How was it? I asked. Giving a report to the other captains was a total pain!! she complained and sat down on her seat. In each of the units barracks, there was a room where captains and vice captains could transmit astral projections of themselves and have meetings with one another. The reason they would use this painstaking method was because having all of the captains and vice captains in one location would be dangerous, especially if there was someone who would be able to create a spell that could seal a group of individuals in a room. They were grilling her since they thought that her reputation wasnt good enough to scare anyone threatening Westas peace, Temma said. Its not my fault that Im the youngest captain in history! They think that I was being underestimated because of that! This is unfair!! she shouted. The captains of the Westa Knight Order, huh? I memorized their names and I am a bit familiar with their faces. But I dont exactly know any of them, I said. Youve met Captain Reagan, right? Temma asked. Yeah. Hes the captain of the 3rd unit. We first met when we were preparing against Spade Echo who wanted to steal the White Star. Yes. Captain Reagan is the captain of the 3rd unit. Hes a master of Mind Magic and Illusion Magic and was given the title The Trickster. Captain Reagan had the highest ever recorded grade in those fields of magic in the Knight Academy. I see. If Im right, the 2nd to 6th units are in charge of Westa North, the 7th to 11th units are in charge of Westa South, the 12th to 16th units are in charge of Westa West, and the 17th to 21st units are in charge of Westa East. Yes. And the knights are in charge of maintaining public order. We also act as Westas military force in case of war. Then what about the 1st unit? Whats their jurisdiction? The 1st unit is a very special unit. Their jurisdiction is the entirety of Westa and they handle cases that cant be handled easily by a regular unit. They also have more authority than any other units and each of their members have strength equivalent to a captains. Thats pretty impressive. So theres a unit thats filled with monsters like Captain Noel? Hey! Dont call me a monster! Im right here, you know?! Captain Noel retorted. Temma and I shared a laugh. Captain Noels strength is simply absurd. What I meant by having strength equivalent to a captains, I said they can pass the trial to become a captain, Temma explained. Trial? Like accomplishing an A-ranked quest from the Adventurers Guild all by themselves and facing a captain in one-on-one combat? Thats correct. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. They must be monsters. So how does one become a member of the 1st unit? Members of the 1st unit are scouted by the higher-ups themselves. If you have an amazing record in the Knights Academy, youll instantly get sent to the 1st unit. If you did a good job as a knight, youll be given an option to be transferred to the 1st unit as well whether youre a captain, vice captain, administrative officer, or a regular knight. Oh yeah. How does one get assigned to any of the other 20 units? When you graduate from the Knight Academy, do you have to apply to any of the units you want to join? Every unit has different functions. For example, the 6th unit focused more on research and development so they need smart knights. The Knight Academy would submit your data and grades to all of the captains in the unit and theyll see if youre a good fit. Theyll then show you a list of the units you would qualify for. You will then choose a unit from that list and youll spend your career there unless you apply for a transfer. I see. And once you graduate, youll start wearing this white uniform and working for Westas peace. Yes. All of the 20 units have white uniforms. The 1st unit wears a special black uniform to signify how different they are from the regular units. The door burst open as three men in black uniforms entered. They had a sword strapped on their waist and they were wearing red armbands on their left arms. Like those guys? I asked. Yes. What is the 1st unit doing in our barracks? Temma asked them. Noel Shirogane, captain of the 13th unit. You are under arrest for involvement in acts that threaten Westas peace, they said. Wait... What? Acts that threaten Westas peace? Captain Noel asked. We have gathered evidence that you are involved in those. We have been ordered to bring you to the 1st unit for questioning. If you resist, we are allowed to eliminate you, one of them said while the others drew their swords. There must be a mistake! Captain Noel wouldnt do anything like that! I told them. Its okay, Mikage. Im sure theres a mistake somewhere. Ill come with you for questioning, she said and walked towards them. Captain.... Temma had a worried expression on his face. Take charge of the unit while Im gone, okay? One of the men approached her and placed handcuffs on her arms. As for the members of the 13th unit, we will question you one by one. If there are any suspicious contradictions, we will bring you to the 1st unit, he said and after that, they left the office. A few minutes after that, I could feel Temmas mana oozing out. His eyes were burning with anger and his gentle expression was nowhere to be found. Temma? I called out his name. His mana disappeared and he took a deep breath. Its okay. Im fine now, he said. What was that about? Why would Captain Noel be arrested? I dont know but I have a feeling things wouldnt end quietly. What do you mean? The 1st units investigations are top-notch and their loyalties are with Westa. They arent stupid enough to get fooled by fake evidence that easily nor can they be manipulated. So you mean that someones framing Captain Noel? Thats probably the case. Do you believe that she is someone who would threaten Westas peace? Of course not! Thats what I believe too. However, theres someone who managed to plant good fake evidence to make the 1st unit believe that Captain Noel is a criminal. I dont think things will go smoothly from here. So what should we do? I dont know. But Ill figure something out. Im sure this isnt the last move our enemy would make. ### It was already evening and I was on my way home. There was someone from the 1st unit who came to our barracks and questioned every single knight. Their questions were very vague like asking if Noel was doing something suspicious or if she ever left for a long time without telling anyone. What in the world was going on? Why would someone target Captain Noel? Who was able to fool the 1st unit? The more important question was: what could I do about it? Would I be able to figure out who was the enemy and prove Captain Noels innocence? Hey, you! Youre Mikage Kamishiro, right? a voice behind me asked and tapped my shoulder. I was surprised since I didnt even sense anyone getting near. When I turned around, I saw a silver-haired man wearing the 1st units uniform. And you are? I asked warily. If he was from the 1st unit, could he be here to question me about Captain Noel? That wouldnt make any sense since I already cooperated with them. And for some reason, I felt like I''d seen him somewhere before. My name is Roland Shirogane. I need your help. Asking for help Roland Shirogane? I asked. It then clicked to my mind. The silver-haired man in front of me looked familiar, like a certain person who shared the same last name. That person once told an audience that her father and brother belonged to the 1st unit. Since he looked quite young, I could safely assume that the man in front of me was Captain Noels big brother. I need to talk to you. Do you have the time? he asked. We walked towards an alleyway and after confirming that no one else was around, Roland started talking. I need your help to investigate my doubts, he said. Doubts? Do you honestly believe that Noel is someone who would threaten Westas peace? Of course not! Im glad to know that. I also believe that Noel isnt like that. Can I trust you to help clear my doubts? Why me? Its not like I dont want to prove Captain Noels innocence but cant you do it better than what I can do? Youre a member of the 1st unit along with your father. You are family. Why would you trust a delicate matter to a stranger like me? I cant do it because Im a member of the 1st unit and Im her family. What do you mean? Noel is involved in a serious crime. Anyone related to her is suspicious. Im sure the 1st unit has interrogated each and every member of the 13th unit already. They also interrogated all of Noels friends and our family. The only reason why Im not being monitored right now is because Im in the 1st unit. I cant do anything or else theyll think Im also a suspicious person. They wont monitor you because youre in the 1st unit? Thats right. Each and every member of the 1st unit had a thorough background check and our loyalties are with Westa and Westa alone. We would kill ourselves before we would threaten Westas peace. The only reason why Im not in the suspect list is because the 1st unit prides itself with its members. They dont want to think they made a mistake in checking their own members. Then how about your father? Shouldnt he be doing his best to prove Captain Noels innocence? Why cant he or you help her out? I said it before but our loyalties are with Westa and Westa alone. The Shirogane family is a family of knights. We take our duties seriously to the point we will prioritize our job over our family. If father received news that the 1st units investigations proved that Noel is a criminal, then hell do his duty as a knight and punish her. It doesnt matter if shes related to him or not. Seriously? Just because the 1st unit said so, he wont believe his own daughter? The 1st units investigative abilities are exemplary. We take pride in that. Its almost impossible to fool us. If the 1st unit''s investigation says that Noel is a criminal, then all of the members will believe that to be the truth, including our own father. Then why are you here? From what you said, you should be valuing your job over Noel and you should be believing that shes a criminal too. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! I dont want to believe that my little sister is a criminal. However, I cant take any action based on those doubts. If I openly act, then Ill only make things worse for our family. Thats why Im asking you to check my doubts. I want you to prove the 1st unit is wrong and help my little sister. I dont mind doing that. But why me? Shouldnt you trust Temma for this? I trust Temma, of course. But Im relying on you or to be more specific, Im relying on your connections. My connections? You know Amelia Watson. Im sure you can convince her to help you in investigating the truth about this whole incident. If you need payment, I can just pay you after this incident is resolved. I promise you that. Just help me clear up my doubts, he bowed down his head. Dont worry. I would do it even if you didnt bow down. I want to get to the bottom of this and help the first person who helped me when I got sent to this world. Thats right. I owed Captain Noel a lot. She was the one who gave me my means of survival in this world. If it werent for her, I would be dying on the streets instead of sorting out papers as an administrative officer. Here. This might help you, he handed me a small rectangular device. What is this? I asked. This contains a copy of the 1st units investigations about Noel including the evidences they have against her. This is the only way I can support you. The rest is all up to you and Amelia. Thank you. This will surely help. Roland bowed once more and left the area. ### I arrived home and Amelia was cooking dinner. Yogiri was also helping out. It was great to see them getting along with each other. Mikage, welcome back, Yogiri greeted me. Im home, I said. Dinners almost ready, Amelia told me and I sat on the dinner table. After a few minutes, we began eating dinner. So? How was your day? Amelia asked. Actually... I need your help, I said. Go on... I explained everything to Amelia while she listened intently. By the time I finished explaining, we were already done eating dinner. So Captain Noel is being framed? Amelia asked. Thats probably whats going on. Will you take the case? Ill pay you for your services. I want to help Captain Noel and I dont think I can prove her innocence on my own. Dont worry. Ill gladly help you. Captain Noel is your friend. The friend of my friend is also my friend. I learned to be a detective so I can help the people in need. Ill make sure to get to the bottom of this. I swear under my pride as a great detective. Thanks, Amelia. So what do we have so far? Id like to know as much as I can so I can plan out the investigation. Oh yeah. Her brother gave me this device. He said it contains information about the 1st units investigation, I showed her what Roland gave me. This will greatly help. Well go check it out... After were done with the dishes. Dont worry. Ill take care of the dishes tonight. This is the least I can do, Yogiri said. Thanks, Yogiri, I said. Its no problem. Do your best on the investigation. The doorbell of the house chimed several times and Amelia and I walked towards the front door. Upon opening it, we saw a tall black-haired woman with wolf ears. She was wearing a quite revealing outfit but I had a feeling that I saw her somewhere before. Is Amelia Watson here? she asked. Youre talking to her. Whos asking? Amelia asked back. My name is Vein, the captain of the 8th unit. I need your help to prove my friends innocence. Ah. Captain Vein, youre here too? Temma walked towards the front door. Temma? I asked. Im also here to hire Amelias services, he answered. It seems our goals are aligned, Temma, she said. Im glad to know that we have your support, Captain Vein. Amelia looked between Temma and the wolf girl. I get it now, she muttered. Whats going on? I asked. Alright. Lets all get inside and brainstorm how we can help Captain Noel. Thats a good plan, Captain Vein walked inside. Pardon my intrusion, Temma also followed. I sighed and followed them. If I was correct, then they also wanted to prove Captain Noels innocence. Having more allies should be beneficial, right? The 20th unit of the Westa Knight Order We finished reading the files in the rectangular device. That device contained information about the 1st units investigations. To be more specific, it talked about the crime Captain Noel was involved in. For the past month, there were cases of attacks in Westa East. People would use Dark Magic and cause chaos. Physical descriptions said that darkness would ooze out of their bodies. The sclera of their eyes would turn black and their irises would turn red. The 20th unit were the ones who dealt with all the cases and upon investigation, they found out that people drank a certain pill before they lost control. Wait a minute Pill?? I asked. Its almost like that person, Temma said. Yes. Like Theodore Sen, Amelia added. Theodore Sen? Captain Vein asked. Hes the serial murderer who almost caused a war between the Kageyama Clan and the Familiaran. Theodore Sen also took a strange pill and almost killed Temma, Amelia explained. Theodore Sen was a skilled swordsman. And when Temma arrived, he took that strange pill. I could feel the strange energy inside him when he drank it. His appearance matched the descriptions of the people in the investigation. The pill also made him stronger and more dangerous. We continued reading the file. The 20th unit tracked down the production of the pills but there wasnt any luck. But when they learned of a knight who took a pill, they officially asked help from the 1st unit. The 1st unit managed to figure out the source of the pills and they cornered the man. However, that man took the pill and fought hard. They managed to capture him but he entered a vegetative state after the effects of the pills faded. When they probed the mans memories, they saw a memory where Captain Noel was the one giving him instructions. The 1st unit analyzed the memory and they could conclude that it wasnt falsified. Its not a false memory? There must be something wrong, I said. Can we get the data about the memory? Temma asked. The 6th unit was probably the one who did the analysis. If we want, I can schedule a meeting with that guy, Captain Vein said. Alright. Please do so, Captain Vein. Can we also have an interview with the 20th unit? Id like to ask some questions involving their investigations, Amelia asked. Arranging a meeting with the 20th unit is easier. We can go there first while I try to make Magus find time to accommodate us, Captain Vein answered. Thank you, Captain Vein. Lets try to interview them as soon as we can. The longer we wait, the more difficult it is to find the hole our enemy made. Not to mention that Captain Noel might receive her punishment before we can find the truth. Ill do my best. ### We were walking in Westa East and on our way to the 20th unit. Captain Vein managed to open up a schedule with them and they were fine with answering our questions. Whats the 20th unit? Is there anything I should know about them? I asked. The 20th unit is sort of bizarre, even if they were among the 20 regular units of the Westa Knight Order, Temma answered. Bizarre? How? All of the knights in the 20th unit are magical knights. So they can use magic and stuff? Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Not only magic. They can transform their knight uniforms into cute outfits and use strange magic. T-Transform?? The captain of the 20th unit, Dai Shima, is an immortal who can grant powers to people in the form of contracts. Once a person signs a contract with him, theyll receive power and can transform. Transformation sequences and contracts reminded me of the magical girls in my original world. Were they like that too? Were here, Captain Vein said. The 20th units barracks were in front of us and we were led inside by one of their knights. We arrived in the captains office and saw a black-haired boy drinking tea. Hey there, Vein, he smiled. Yo, Dai. Sorry to bother you at this hour, Captain Vein said. And these three must be the ones who wanted to talk to me. Lets see We have the Dark Knight of the 13th unit, the great detective of Westa, and the champion of the Idol Fan Tournament. Im glad we no longer need to do introductions, Amelia sat down. We followed her lead and sat down too as Captain Dai poured tea. To what do I owe the pleasure of you guys visiting me? he asked. We want to know more about your investigations involving the strange pills, Amelia said. I dont mind telling you about it but why? If we play this right, well save Captain Noel, Temma said. Oh I shouldve expected that. When I heard that the 1st unit arrested Noel, I shouldve thought that she was related to the pill cases I dealt with. And were here to prove that shes not a criminal, Captain Vein told him. Okay. It all started around a few weeks ago. My knights said that they encountered a mad man who rampaged in Westa East. That man was killed since he couldnt be reasoned with and we thought that was the end of the case. But it wasnt. More and more attacks popped up, Amelia said. Thats correct. As more and more attacks appeared, we noticed the similarities between each of them. And one time, we managed to catch a person who drank a pill before they rampaged. I see. What happened next? Amelia asked. I investigated the pills and I found out a case that was handled by the 13th unit. The first ever recorded person who drank a pill and changed the appearance of their eyeballs was on Artix 15. I believe you three were also involved in that case. Yes. Theodore Sen. We know about him, Temma said. When I found out that the knight order could be involved in this, I contacted the 1st unit and they officially took over the investigation. About the pills, did you guys manage to get a sample? Amelia asked. Yes, we did. However, I sent the sample to the 6th unit since they are more suited in analyzing it. I see Thanks for your time, Captain Dai, Amelia thanked him. Its not a problem. Im glad I could help. I also dont think that Noel is someone who would be involved in a plot against Westa. Really? Captain Vein asked. If shes involved in it, then shell be one of the grunts. I cant imagine that musclehead to be someone who can pull the strings. I hate how youre right on this one, Captain Vein chuckled. In any case, I wish the best for your investigation. If you need any help, just say so and the 20th unit will assist. Thank you, Captain Dai, Temma bowed down and we left the office. We were walking towards Westa North when Captain Vein asked a question. Why did we need to interview Dai? Everything he said was in the files we saw last night? she looked at Amelia. Its to check if the files were real. If Mikage was given false information, then our investigation will be in trouble, Amelia answered. Do you think Roland will give us false information? Temma asked. Its better to be safe than sorry. Someone might be pretending to be Roland and jeopardize our investigation under the guise of helping it. As a detective, I have to make sure that all suspicions are cleared. I see So our next job is to ensure that the 6th unit will be consistent with the thing in our file? I asked. Yes. I also want to see a much more detailed analysis of the memory about Captain Noel. And I need some answers from them. We arrived at the front of the 6th units barracks. Captain Vein was about to ring the doorbell when an explosion occurred. Whats that?! I asked. However, Temma and Captain Vein ignored that and rang the doorbell. Dont worry, Mikage. Thats just a normal occurrence in the 6th unit, Temma said. What kind of dangerous place was I about to enter? The 6th unit of the Westa Knight Order The gates of the barracks opened and a knight ushered us inside. There were many tall buildings in the 6th units compound and a bunch of weaponless knights were walking around. If I remember correctly, the 6th unit is filled with smart knights, right? I asked. Thats correct. The 6th unit is in charge of research and development for magical technology. They are partners with all laboratories and research circles in Westa and they would often lend their equipment and personnel for the sake of advancing knowledge, Temma answered. Then why are they knights? Wouldnt it be better if they were from technology or magical colleges? Its because Westa needs to control the research and development happening in this city. All research must be approved by them and they would monitor the progress to make sure the budget and other safety procedures are followed. Also, they will make sure that there are no dangerous experiments happening without their supervision, Captain Vein told me. I see The Westa Knight Order is in charge of protecting Westas peace. And supervising dangerous experiments and making sure research is going smoothly is part of protecting the peace. I think I understand it now. Another job the 6th unit is good at is forensic analysis. They would analyze the evidence and other important things that might be helpful to the investigation. With smart knights and high-end equipment, they greatly help the investigation of the other units, Amelia added. The knight led us to a room and walked away. Captain Vein didnt bother knocking as she opened the door. Magus! Were here! she shouted as she barged in. There was a white-haired man hunched over a desk. He was wearing a red coat while reading two thick books at the same time and scribbling down notes. Captain Vein walked towards him and landed a chop on his head. Ah. Vein. I didnt see you there, he said after looking up. Busy as always, Magus? she asked. If I was correct, the man in the red coat was Captain Scarlet Magus. He was the one who revolutionized Magical Technology and helped in improving and creating new magic. Captain Magus was a respected figure among mages and scientists alike. What do you need me for today? he asked. We have several questions for you, Captain Vein replied. He looked at us and his eyes widened when he saw me. This man is Mikage Kamishiro, right? The dark mage who can use other peoples shadows? he asked. Thats me, I answered. How did you do such a thing? Im the vessel of the Primordial Dark. And the Primordial Dark commands every darkness in existence. Thats the secret. Oh. I shouldve known. I thought you invented a new way to use Dark Magic but the truth is disappointing. I dont really want to research the Primordial Beings since Im not interested in them. We have several questions involving the strange pill cases, Amelia interrupted our conversation. Ah. Yeah. I can faintly recall that Vein asked me to talk to you. What do you need? What exactly are they? Captain Magus stood up from his chair and went to a cabinet. He took out several folders and gave them to Amelia. This is the data we got from analysing a sample of the pill. Also, the others are the data we got from analysing the corpses of the people who took the pill, he said. How does it work? Temma asked. From our analysis, we can conclude that the strange pill would convert the users Life Force into a strange form of energy that would greatly enhance the persons physical and magical capabilities. From Temmas lessons, I learned about the Life Force. Every single being had an energy inside them called the Life Force. This energy would be responsible for a persons stamina and mana. However, that strange energy is harmful and will deteriorate a persons mind. They will slowly lose their sense of reason and become savage beasts. The first ever record of this energy can be traced back in Artix 18. The 13th unit asked us to analyze a dragon and we recorded remains of this energy in her body. I believe her name was Coco Kiryu. Ah. So that meant he was talking about the strange energy that I could feel that caused monsters to be more aggressive. I had no idea that it could affect the Life Force of a creature. And since it converts the Life Force of a creature to that strange energy, then people who drank that pill will end up losing their life, Amelia said as she read the files. There is one survivor. However, hes in a vegetative state. Like I said, that energy will deteriorate a persons mind. Even if you will survive, youll become an empty shell without a working mind, Captain Magus said. Everything adds up. I have another question for you. Yeah? Can you show me the memory that caused Captain Noel to be arrested? Oh, that? Sure. Captain Magus turned on his computer and showed us a video. The video was like a first person point of view. The camera looked at the ceiling and it panned to show a wall. It then showed a pair of hands cleaning up the bed and preparing breakfast. After that, it showed the streets of Westa when it got out of the home and it followed a path until it reached a dark alleyway. A silver-haired woman was standing there and she approached the camera. Ive been waiting for you. Here is the supply for the pills. Be sure to distribute them, she said. Got it, a mans voice replied. Be very discreet. We cant risk getting exposed. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. The woman left and the camera returned to his home. The video ended with him going back to bed. That woman looks and sounds like Captain Noel, Amelia said. But it has to be fake. Someone must be impersonating Captain Noel, Temma growled. Unfortunately, that doesnt seem to be the case. We analyzed everything in that memory and the person couldnt detect any form of magic surrounding that Noel, Captain Magus explained. You know that? I asked. Why yes. Our forensic analysis is top-notch. Heres how it works: we first get a person and probe their memories. Once we have their memories, we can analyze what kind of things they can sense in the form of wavelengths. If someone was using transformation magic around them, then their senses should show a wavelength that says that there is transformation magic. The same is also applicable for false memories. If its a false memory, then there should be a wavelength that would exhibit the obvious patterns of a false memory, Amelia added. And with the knowledge we have right now, its impossible to make a false memory look genuine. Believe me, I tried. No matter what youll do, a person will exhibit wavelengths that would say that the memory is tampered, Captain Magus said. Im guessing the wavelengths of the memory are natural? Amelia asked. That seems to be the case. We analysed the senses of the man and the wavelengths of the memory. The man did experience that memory and there is no way it is a falsified one. Can you show me more memories of the man? Sure. But some of them are damaged. The pill deteriorated the mans mind which caused him to lose some of his memories. But there are multiple memories that showed Noel was the supplier of the pills. To prove his point, Captain Magus showed us more videos of the mans memories. In all of the memories, the man would wake up on his bed and then meet up with Captain Noel. She would supply him with the pills and give him instructions. After that, he would return home and go back to sleeping. All of them showed natural wavelengths. Its impossible to make a false memory look like a natural one with our current knowledge and its out of this world that someone could make multiple false memories that look natural and have consistent patterns for the wavelengths for every single memory, Captain Magus said. Amelia looked at the videos once more. She rubbed her chin and thought deeply. Can I get the raw wavelengths for each memory that you guys analyzed? Amelia asked. Raw wavelengths? Sure. Let me just print them out, Captain Magus began operating his computer. Also, Captain Vein. Can I ask you for a huge favor? Amelia turned to her. As long as I can help in proving Noels innocence, Ill do anything. What do you need? I need the mana wavelengths of all knights who are good in Mind Magic in the Westa Knight Order. If possible, I would want the mana wavelengths of all mages who are known to be skilled in Mind Magic. I can easily get the mana wavelengths of the knights by today. As for the mana wavelength of all other mages, it would take at least a day since I need to do the proper procedures. Then do what you can. Captain Vein left the room while Captain Magus was printing the raw wavelengths. When things were finished, we left the 6th units barracks and returned to Amelias office. Amelia sat down at her desk and began looking at the raw wavelengths. Her eyes were carefully analyzing each piece of paper. Temma and I looked over at what she was reading and all we saw were weird lines. Normally, you need a machine to understand these things. Are you sure you are not overworking yourself? Temma asked. Ranpo taught me how to analyze these kinds of things. A detective shouldnt rely too much on machines to understand evidence because there will be times a machine wont be available. Im also trying to make sure that the 6th unit is telling the truth so I requested the raw data and tried to see if Ill arrive at the same conclusion, Amelia answered. Do you think the 6th unit is manipulating the data? I asked. Well never know. This is a complex case where I dont know who is the real enemy. I have to see the truth with my own eyes even if I have to use my own hands to arrive there. Hours passed and Amelia finished looking at everything. She even scribbled down calculations on a piece of paper and she had a grim look on her face. How was it? Temma asked. From my analysis, I can arrive at the same conclusion as the 6th unit, she said. So the memories weren''t falsified at all? Does that mean that Captain Noel is really guilty? I asked. No. At least, its not safe to arrive at that conclusion yet. For some reason, my gut feeling is telling me that somethings wrong. So all we have is a gut feeling. Do we have any other leads? Temma asked. Dont underestimate your gut feeling. One of Ranpos lessons is that a good detective values her gut feeling. My subconscious can see the inconsistencies and odd parts in this situation before my logical mind can fully notice and understand them. There is something wrong and I just need to find the right angle to crack this case down. Someone knocked on the door and when I opened it, Captain Vein arrived. She was carrying a large bag filled with folders. All you need is the wavelengths of the knights who are good with Mind Magic, right? Here they are. I also requested the Adventurers Guild and the Mage Guild for their data and they should give them sometime during this week. Amelia took the bag and placed it on her desk. Why would Amelia need the wavelengths of the people who are good with Mind Magic? I asked. Didnt I tell you that you can see if a memory is falsified if there are unnatural wavelengths, right? You can analyze those unnatural wavelengths and by using several complicated calculations, you can get the mana wavelength of someone who used the magic. I think Amelia wants to see people who are good with Mind Magic so that she can find a matching wavelength, Temma explained. So why Mind Magic? Its because thats the field of magic where memory manipulation is used. Although its supposed to be impossible to make natural-looking false memories with the knowledge we have right now, Amelia might be assuming that someone is able to do that. If someone was able to do that, then how will Amelia know? If a false memory looks natural, then what kind of calculations and analysis could she use to see the truth? Captain Vein asked back. That. I dont know, Temma sighed. We looked at Amelia who was looking at the pieces of paper. I felt useless since I couldnt help her out. Even Temma, who was more capable than me, couldnt help Amelia. All we could do was watch her work. What else can Mind Magic do? I asked. Mind Magic deals with magic that tampers a targets mind and emotions. Its practical application in battle is inducing negative emotions in the mages enemies and disrupting their concentration. A skilled Mind Mage can also make false memories but it can easily be detected. They can even manipulate the dreams of a sleeping target. Amelia slammed her head on the desk without any warning. Whats wrong?! I asked as I ran towards her. Amelia looked at the wavelengths of the memories and started scribbling down. Her eyes were completely focused as the three of us watched her silently. When she was done, she let out her loudest laugh. I cant believe it. Why didnt I think of that?! Our opponent is a genius! Amelia grinned as she looked at her calculations. Did you figure it out? Captain Vein asked. Yes. Its a very simple trick. And judging from the files of the Knight Order, I know who is the prime suspect. Then what are we waiting for?! Lets get them! Captain Vein cracked her knuckles. Wait! We need to set things up first. We cant just accuse them unless were 100% sure. I need to talk to Captain Magus as soon as I can. Can we return to the 6th unit by tomorrow? Ill be sure to do that. What else do we need to prepare? I need you to drag the criminal to our trap. Can you call him over? Our criminal is a he? Temma asked. Yep. Also, I need you to do something, Temma. Can you bring someone from the 1st unit to our deduction show? If I can have a member of the 1st unit see the truth, then things will be easier. Got it. I know who to call. Amelia took out her Excellular and dialed a number. Shellin. I need you to investigate someone. I think hes involved with your case too so hes already on your watch list. Give me all the dirt you can find about him. After explaining everything, she hung up. What was that for? I asked. I already have an idea about the masterminds motive. Oh yeah, its all coming together. She looked at us and grinned. There it was. Amelias trademark expression whenever she solved a mystery. Captain Noel is innocent!" she declared. The truth of the case It was around 1 in the afternoon and Amelia and I were in front of the 6th units barracks. Even though another explosion happened, I decided to just ignore it as I rang the doorbell. A knight ushered us inside and led us to the captains office. When we entered it, Captain Magus was reading a thick grimoire. Amelia cleared her throat and when Captain Magus didnt respond, she threw a coin and hit his forehead. Captain Magus finally looked up from his book and saw us. Oh yeah. Vein told me that you have something to tell me, he said. Captain Noel is innocent, Amelia told him. Oh? Are you saying you found something wrong with our analysis? No. Your analysis is correct. I checked it myself and I arrived at the same conclusion as you guys after I took a look at the raw data. The memories arent falsified and no one was using transformation magic in those memories. Then how can you say that Noel is innocent? Did we miss something? What if the culprit did this? Amelia began to explain the trick used by the criminal. When she was done, Captain Magus laughed loudly. Thats genius! Why didnt I think of that?! Captain Magus grinned. I analysed the wavelengths and they were encrypted. However, I applied several tests and can safely conclude that that kind of magic was used. Also, I managed to figure out who was the one who casted that magic after further analysing the mana wavelengths. Of course, my calculations might not be reliable so I want you to analyse it yourself and see if you can arrive at the same conclusion, Amelia said as she handed him an envelope. Captain Magus took out the papers inside the envelope and read them. Wait All of these are handwritten Did you manually analyse the raw data? Without any machines? he looked at Amelia. Im confident in my skills since I was trained by a legendary detective. But if you feel uncomfortable, you can go ahead and rely on your machines. Im pretty sure the 1st unit will only take analyses from high-end machines operated by the 6th unit, she said. From a quick glance, I dont spot any obvious errors in your calculations. But Ill still analyse it on my own to see if its correct. Like you said, the 1st unit is very picky with their sources. Thank you, Captain Magus. This is actually very interesting. If you are correct and this trick is actually possible, it would change how memories should be analysed and bring lots of possibilities for criminals. But this is the only method that can frame Captain Noel. Im sure of it. Alright. Ill analyse this myself. It shouldnt take long. After that, we returned to Amelias office. We opened the door and saw Shellin sitting on the sofa. Did you gather all the information you can get? Amelia asked. Yes. And Im confident that hes part of them, Shellin answered as he gave her an envelope. I knew it This is concerning. They really have eyes and ears everywhere. And if theyre taking out a captain, then they are becoming bolder. That just shows how desperate they are to get Mikage. Ill return to my apartment now. I hope you guys will catch the criminal. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Thanks, Shellin. ### It was already evening and Amelia, Temma, and I were standing on an empty lot. We were waiting for Captain Vein and another person. Yo. Were here, Captain Vein arrived along with another man. That man was wearing the uniform of a regular knight and had brown hair. Despite his unimpressive appearance, he was a knight captain. Captain Vein said that someone wanted to meet me no matter what. How can I help you? he asked. Welcome, Captain Reagan. Im the one who wants to meet you, Amelia said. Oh. Amelia Watson. Its been some time since we last saw each other. It was unfortunate that Spade Echo escaped you. What do you need me for? Oh. Its not that much of a big deal. Im just here to prove Captain Noels innocence. I see Ive heard about Captain Noels situation. How can I help in proving her innocence? Its actually very simple I just need you to admit that you are the mastermind! she pointed at him. Captain Reagan wasnt fazed by what she said. Me? The mastermind? How can I do such a thing? I understand that you might suspect me because of my expertise in Mind Magic but I believe the 6th unit said that the memories werent falsified. Are you saying that I developed magic that can make false memories look like natural ones? If thats the case, how did you know that they were false in the first place? he asked. Thats right. The memories werent false. The person did experience those events and met Captain Noel who gave him instructions. Then are you saying someone impersonated Captain Noel? The 6th unit said that transformation magic wasnt detected in the memories. Unless someone managed to disguise as Captain Noel without any magic but if thats the case, why would you suspect me? There was one odd thing thats present in all of the memories that involved the person meeting Captain Noel. Mikage, can you give me a quick rundown on the events that happened in those memories? In all of those memories, the man would wake up from his sleep and fix his bed. After that, he would go out and meet Captain Noel. When he received instructions, he would go back to his home and sleep, I said. Thats correct. Dont you think its odd, Captain Reagan? What do you mean by that? Captain Reagan asked. A person woke up from his sleep and immediately went to meet Captain Noel. After receiving instructions, he would go back to sleep. This person must really love sleeping or its required for the trick. Trick? Are you saying that I managed to trick the 6th unit? What method could I use to make a false memory look like a natural one? Dreams. Captain Reagans face turned serious when he heard her say that word. The person did experience those events. Thats why the wavelengths of his memories were natural. However, the events themselves were falsified. The person only dreamed of those events. The reason why the person would wake up and go to sleep is to make sure that the transition between dreams and reality would be smooth. If thats the case, then the persons memories should show him going to bed and he must have memories about me, Captain Reagan argued. Thats why the person took the pill. Captain Magus said that the pill would deteriorate the mind. If he just turned himself in and the 6th unit analyzed his memories, the gaps in his memories would be suspicious. Thats why you erased all of the memories involving you and made sure to protect the memories about Captain Noel so you can successfully frame her. Because the pill would deteriorate the mind, the 6th unit would just ignore the missing pieces of the mans memories. Good deduction. But you forgot one part: the pill would kill the user. If I wanted to frame Captain Noel, I would use a less riskier method. That trick would be useless if the person died since probing the memories of a dead person is impossible. Not unless you give him a weakened version of the pill. Youre involved with the creator of those pills. It would be easy for you to just tell them to make a weak version of the pill to make sure that the user wont die but instead, enter a vegetative state. Captain Reagan was being unnaturally silent. Give up. I told Captain Magus about my deduction and he said its possible. Hes analysing the memories right now and Im sure he can decrypt the wavelengths and arrive at the conclusion that everything was a dream. And once he is sure of that, he can further analyze the wavelengths and see that your mana wavelength is present in the memories. That is enough to prove Captain Noels innocence and pass the suspicion to you, Amelia said. ... The motive. Why would I want to frame someone as amazing as Captain Noel? I dont have any grudge against her and I wont gain anything from making her a criminal, Captain Reagan said. Thats true. You dont have a grudge against her. But the organization you belong to does. Captain Noel killed someone important in your organization and you will not let her get away with it. And she helped in foiling your plans to capture the Primordial Darks vessel. Thats right Captain Reagan Liam was a member of the Unkindness. The traitorous captain Captain Reagan clapped his hands. I knew you were an amazing detective but I didnt expect you to deduce the trick so easily. And it was completely surprising that you found my connection to the Unkindness, he said. So you admit to those things? Amelia asked. Yes. I framed Captain Noel since she is a dangerous existence. She somehow killed a Living Darkness and so, the others want her out of the way. As I expected. You guys are afraid that Captain Noel found a way to kill those immortal Living Darknesses. Thats why you had to make sure she becomes confined and out of your business. But the truth was: Captain Noel wasnt the one who killed the Living Darkness. It was Yogiri. Amelia must be aware of this and she was probably trying to redirect the attention from Yogiri since she couldnt protect herself yet. Our plan was to remove Captain Noel and make another member of ours become the new captain of the 13th unit. That way, it would be easier for us to monitor and even capture the Primordial Dark, Captain Reagan explained. Why are you guys obsessed with the Primordial Dark? What are you up to? Temma asked. Our goals are beyond your understanding. Reagan, you bastard! You were deceiving the knight order all this time?! Is your loyalty as a captain to Westa fake?! Captain Vein growled. No. I truly love Westa and I will protect it to the best of my abilities as a captain. However, I have my responsibilities as a member of the Unkindness. What the hell is the Unkindness?! she asked. It is a powerful organization that has existed since the Dark Times. I am quite proud to be part of it. In any case, you admitted to the crime. That means we can arrest you under the authority of the Westa Knight Order, Temma unsheathed his sword. Arrest me? I can deal with you four easily. How about making it five? a voice rang out from nowhere. A silver-haired man appeared beside us as his invisibility magic wore off. He was wearing a black uniform that belonged to the 1st unit. R-Roland Shirogane?! Captain Reagans face paled when he saw him. I had Roland standby and listen to your confession. After all, the 1st unit will believe their own members, Amelia smirked. Ill have you know that I recorded the entire conversation, including your confession. And if that''s not enough, Ill let the 1st unit analyze my memories, Roland said. Theres no escape, Captain Reagan! Why dont we just make things easy for all of us and have you surrender? Temma asked. Captain Reagan took a deep breath and composed himself. Even if the famous Roland Shirogane, the Dark Knight, and the Wolf Lady are here, I can still win. Ill deal with Captain Magus as soon as I dispose of your bodies, he said and unsheathed his sword. We charged at him but before we could reach him, mist surrounded the area. This is the Mist of Deceit! Temma exclaimed. Seven copies of Captain Reagan appeared and they charged at us. If that wasnt enough, an inexplicable fear appeared in my mind and I almost ran away screaming. W-Whats going on? I asked. This is Mind Magic! Captain Reagan mustve used it to make all of you feel intense fear! Anya explained. My arms and legs were heavy and my heartbeat was distracting me. It took everything I had to focus on a single Captain Reagan and fight him. Minds Eye! Roland shouted and splendidly dealt with three copies of Captain Reagan at once. Temma and Captain Vein were also doing quite well. Amelia was observing the fight from a distance but I could tell from her expression that she was afraid. Damn it. I have to pull myself together and not be a deadweight in this fight. I then noticed one odd thing in the fight. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Anya. Why is Temma not using magic? This isnt like him! I asked. This is the effect of Mind Magic. One of magics requirements is resolve. With this much fear, I could understand why Temma doesnt have the necessary resolve to cast magic, she explained. If that was the case, then Roland must be seriously amazing. The battle became more dire as three more copies of Captain Reagan materialized. We were already having problems with seven of them and now, there were three more. This would be a difficult battle since only one of us could use magic. Mikage! Why arent you doing that?! Temma asked. Do what?! I asked back. You have a method to deal with the Mist of Deceit, right? You used it back in the Idol Fan Tournament! Damn it. The fear was messing up my mind that I didnt even think of that. Buy me a few seconds! I shouted. I closed my eyes and began to focus. The fear was messing up my concentration but I managed to find the real Captain Reagans darkness and I charged towards him. He managed to block my attack and he smirked. Even if you find the real me, you cant hope to defeat me one-on-one! he swung his sword. It was really difficult to fight him. The fear inside me amplified since he was focused on me and it took me a lot of willpower to just move my body. This is impossible. I cant defeat him. His Mist of Deceit was troubling the others and I was the only one who could find him. But even if I could find him, I couldnt hope to match his skills one-on-one. Mikage! Snap out of it! Hes placing despair on your mind along with fear! Harden your resolve and use Synchronicity! Anya scolded me. Tch. Mind Magic was annoying. I even forgot about Synchronicity thanks to the fear. I bit my lip which caused it to bleed. Thanks to the pain, my mind became clearer. Synchronicity Release! I shouted as my outfit changed. So its my turn, huh? A semi-transparent red-haired man appeared beside me. My body relaxed as the fear and despair inside me disappeared. I could feel power coursing through my body thanks to Ryuukis skills and I lunged at Captain Reagan. Ryuuki Tatsuya was Anyas seventh master. The reason I chose him was because his style was placing enhancements and protection on his body to turn the tides of any battle. My arms and legs were enhanced and my mind was protected from any Mind Magic. Thanks to those things, I was an even match. No I had the upper hand. Captain Reagan backed away after I almost landed a direct hit against him. And thanks to him being focused on me, Captain Vein, Roland, and Temma defeated all of the illusions. Give up, Reagan. Lets not drag this on, Roland pointed his sword at him. If Im going down, Ill take you along with me! he took out a pill and drank it. An eerie feeling appeared in my mind as darkness oozed out of Captain Reagan. The sclera of his eyes turned black and he roared. Amazing The power is amazing! he grinned. Amelia knelt on the ground and her face was filled with fear and despair. Even Temma and Captain Vein looked troubled. Oh dear His Mind Magic became stronger. Be careful, Mikage. This man is stronger than before, Ryuuki told me. I thought the pill would deteriorate the mind and turn the user into a mindless beast? I asked. Im guessing this is an improved version of the pill, Roland said. Captain Reagan managed to close the distance between me and him in under a second. If Roland didnt react in time and blocked his attack, I wouldve been injured. Four Shadow Companions and thirteen copies of Captain Reagan appeared. This was bad. Mikage Can you handle the real Reagan? Roland asked. If youre telling me to leave the Shadow Companions and the illusions to you, then I can do that, I answered. Alright. Temma! Vein! Lets go! Roland shouted and that snapped them out of it. Amazing. Roland is an exceptional fighter, Anya said. Whats up? I asked. To counter the despair and fear Captain Reagan is producing, Roland used Mind Magic to support both Captain Vein and Temma. If that was the case, then they should be fine. I charged at Captain Reagan and we clashed swords again. His strikes were stronger and faster and we were evenly matched. Things were going well until the eerie feeling inside me became stronger. Captain Reagan screamed as a powerful burst of darkness came out of his body. The Mist of Deceit disappeared and the Shadow Companions vanished. What happened? I asked. Im guessing the pill isnt perfect yet, Roland said. Waves of darkness continuously came out of Captain Reagans body and we couldnt get close. Im warning you that this is a dangerous situation. A strong amount of Dark Magic is gathering inside the man. At this rate, it would explode, Ryuuki advised me. Roland! Hes going to explode if we dont stop him! I shouted. Thats a problem. But we cant get close to him while his darkness is pushing us away, he said. Darkness. I found a way to get out of this. Roland! I can create an opening. Be prepared to cut him down, I told him and he nodded. I focused on the darkness surrounding Captain Reagan, I was the Primordial Darks vessel and I could command each and every darkness in existence. The darkness coming out of Captain Reagan wrapped around his body and solidified after I asserted my will on it. Now! I shouted. Roland lunged as his sword glowed. In one swift motion, he beheaded Captain Reagan. The case ended the moment Captain Reagans head rolled on the ground. The resolution of the frame-up Upon receiving Captain Magus analyses and hearing the story from Roland, the 1st unit released Captain Noel. All was well except that I was getting crushed by someone who had ridiculous muscle strength. MIKAGE! TEMMA! THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME!! Captain Noel was crushing me and Temma with her arms even though she was just attempting to hug us. Its a vice captains duty to help his captain, Temma said. You wouldve done the same for me, I added. And thank you, Amelia! I would be in a real pinch if you didnt investigate, Captain Noel hugged Amelia. Y-Yeah. Mikage wanted to help you so I had to pinch in. And even if he wont, Temma and Captain Vein would still hire me, she responded. And Vein! Thanks for believing in me! Captain Noel raised her hand. Thats what friends are for, Captain Vein gave her a high five. How did the 1st unit treat you? I asked. It was horrible! They didnt question me. They put me through a machine and analyzed my memories. And when they couldnt find the memory they were looking for, they simply concluded that I erased them and was more suspicious of me! she answered. Figures. Erasing memories is easy so they would assume that. And since youre the main suspect, they wont question you since you can just lie your way out. Amelia said. Will they even give her a fair trial if thats the case? Maybe Maybe not. The evidence they got already proved her guilty and she couldnt produce evidence that proved that she was innocent. Thats why I was worried. If we didnt move fast, Captain Noel would be locked up in a high-security prison, Temma answered. The door of the captains office swung open and Roland entered the room. Hello, Noel. Im glad to see youre still cheerful, he smiled. Big brother! she tackled and gave him a hug. Roland patted her head and it was a refreshing sight to see two siblings getting along. Thank you for believing in me, Captain Noel said. A big brothers job is to be the ally of his little sister even if the entire world is against them, he replied. Thanks for helping us in fighting Captain Reagan, Temma said. No. I should be thanking you, Temma. You completely believed in Noel. And Im glad you trusted me to help you in fighting against the mastermind. Beating up the person who dares to mess with my little sister is completely satisfying. By the way, Roland. You overpaid by a lot, Amelia told him. Consider it as a tip for your services. You did prove my little sisters innocence. Pocket change like that is not enough to express my gratitude. Pocket change? I asked. When I saw the money Amelia received, my jaw almost dropped. It was almost the same amount as I received when I finished the Moryo Dungeons Quest. The 1st units salary is like a captains if not greater. Im sure Roland is rich, Temma answered. Since were talking about money and its almost lunch time, my wallet is out. Im treating all of you with lunch, Roland smiled. Then lets go to the usual place! Captain Noel raised her arm while Captain Vein grinned. ### Captain Noel and Captain Vein finished their fourth bowl and they had no signs of stopping. I could understand their enthusiasm to eat since the beef bowls in this restaurant were delicious but I was already full after one serving. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. They just finished their fifth bowl and they moved on to their next. What kind of monsters are they? I asked. Captain Vein and Captain Noel are friends because they would often have eating contests in this restaurant, Temma answered. Are they seriously on their sixth bowl? Amelia muttered. Ive seen worse. Besides, being strong means you need lots of fuel, Anya said as she took small bites of her beef bowl. But the results of the contest were shocking. Even if Captain Noel ate twelve beef bowls while Captain Vein ate eleven, she didnt win. The winner was Roland who ate seventeen bowls. Captain Vein was surprised but was not as surprised as the rest of us. Only Captain Noel was the one who looked proud of her older brother. You really are amazing, big brother, Captain Noel said. Your appetite has become bigger, Noel. Im glad to know youre still healthy and growing, Roland replied. Someone was actually able to beat Noel, Captain Vein muttered. Is being a monster in their genes? I asked. Physically speaking, Captain Noel is way stronger than Roland. But if magic was involved, then Roland far outclasses her, Temma said. I just cant wrap my head around magic, Captain Noel told us. Thats true. Magic takes a lot of patience so you can improve your mana control. Thats why I gave up on being a mage and decided to be a doctor, Amelia said. So that means Im completely lucky to have Anya, I said. Praise me more! Anya smiled. Im surprised to see the Sword of Records. You are seriously lucky to be her master, Roland looked at me. Oh? You know me? Anya asked. Yes. Ive read of your legends. My favourite is the tales of Merryweather, the unbeatable general. Theres also Leo Dickinson, Ars Almal, and Ryuuki Tatsuya. All of them were legendary people in history and wielded the Sword of Records. Im happy to see a living legend. Heh. Even if I was asleep for 4000 years, my legends still lived on! We walked out of the restaurant after Roland paid the bill. He even gave a massive tip to the owner and bought lunch for all of the cooking crew. Im going back to my unit. Im sure my vice captain is going to scold me for acting on my own again, Captain Vein said. Thanks again, Vein. Ill be sure to pay you back, Captain Noel told her. Heh. Try to stay out of trouble next time. We were walking back to the 13th unit when Roland started a conversation. What is the Unkindness? he asked. Not much is known about them except that they are an organization that existed since the Dark Times and that their goal is to get the Primordial Dark, Amelia answered. The Primordial Dark If Im correct, youre the Primordial Darks vessel, right? Since you can control the darkness of other people, Roland looked at me. Yes. Im the vessel of the Primordial Dark. Thanks to that, the Unkindness is out to get me.This wont be their last move, I said. Since you now know their existence, is there a chance that the 1st unit can help in investigating them? Amelia asked. I would want to investigate them since they dared to harm Noel. But the 1st unit wont make a move unless Westa is in danger, Roland answered. A member of the Unkindness is a captain. Thats pretty alarming and dangerous if you ask me,Temma said. They have connections everywhere. Thats what you can expect from an organization thats more than 4000 years old, Amelia replied. I want to beat them up. Not only did they attack a school, they also framed me, Captain Noel cracked her knuckles. We arrived at the 13th units barracks. Im going back to the 1st unit. Thanks for your help in proving Noels innocence, Temma, Mikage, and Amelia. Ill never forget this debt, Roland bowed. Dont worry. This is why I became a detective in the first place, Amelia said. Its my job as the vice captain to believe in my captain, Temma added. Captain Noel is an important person to me. Of course, Ill help her out, I told him. Roland left after patting Captain Noels head and our day continued as normal. ### One night, I found myself in a strange place. The last thing I could remember was going to bed so this must be a dream. The place I was in was the same place where I would communicate with Anyas previous masters. However, they werent around. Instead, there was a massive ball of darkness in front of me. It radiated power and one look at it, I knew it was the Primordial Dark. The Primordial Dark never talked to me again ever since the Idol Fan Tournament even if I tried hard to communicate with it. However, it decided to break its silence. Omega is coming. Does the Primordial Dark have communication disorder? Meditation was something I never really tried before. The thought of me sitting still and not moving at all while focusing my mind was not that exciting. But I still went ahead and did it. I tried to calm my breathing and mind. The Primordial Dark should respond if I were to focus all of my attention on it. And thats when I saw it. A massive ball of darkness was swirling in front of me. The sheer power it radiated made me gulp down and know that it was the Primordial Dark. Hey, Primordial Dark! Its me, Mikage. Do you wanna talk? I asked. There was no response. All I could feel from it was sadness. However, I knew that it was aware that I was nearby. They said that the Primordial Dark had no freewill. But I knew that it was capable of talking. After all, it once talked to me and even took over my body during the Idol Fan Tournament. So Ummm I wanna know more about you. Can you tell me more about yourself? I asked. Silence. Ummm.. Have no idea what to talk about? Lets start with one thing thats been bothering me. Youre the Primordial Dark so you should be able to command every single darkness in existence, right? Then how come I couldnt control the Living Darkness? Silence. Ah. Could it be that they are superior to you even if youre an actual Primordial Being? I then heard a females voice laughing. What are you trying to gain by insulting the Primordial Dark, Mikage? a red-skinned oni approached me. Yoclesh? Why are you here? I asked. Its because youre inside your soul. I and the other masters live here without worrying about the rent. Anyways, what are you up to? Im trying to talk to the Primordial Dark. But it doesnt respond at all. It existed before freewill. What makes you think it can talk? It talked to me back in the Idol Fan Tournament. Thats why I know it can talk. For some reason, its just ignoring me. Are you sure it was the Primordial Dark who talked and not yourself? Do you think I would talk to myself? Who knows? Heres a question: who exactly are you? The tone of her voice made me think about what she asked. It was like she was trying to tell me something. What do you mean by that? I asked. Oh Its nothing. I shouldnt bother you since this is a problem of the living, she answered. I looked at the Primordial Dark and tried to think of ways to get its attention. Maybe I should annoy it by throwing a punch. No one would ignore someone who just punched them so I thought it was a good idea. It wasnt a good idea. Darkness wrapped around my arm when I touched the Primordial Dark. I tried to pull out my arm but it was dragging me inside. If that wasnt bad enough, I could feel an intense wave of sadness and power surging through my body. My body was almost completely wrapped with darkness and I could feel my consciousness fading. I wouldve beenconsumed if it werent for that annoying sound. HAACHAMACHAMA!!! HAACHAMA! HAACHAMA! HAACHAMACHAMA!!! When I opened my eyes, I saw the bright blue sky. A blonde girl was looking down on me. What happened? I asked. You were just meditating when a strong wave of darkness came out of your body without warning. Haachama told me that I should knock you out before you go wild, Haato answered. Note to self: never touch the Primordial Dark again. If Haato didnt interfere, I wouldve been consumed by the power and lost control of myself. So? Did you have any luck in communicating with the Primordial Dark? she asked. No. It wont respond no matter what I tried, I told her. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Im not surprised. When you waited for me in the gates of Westa West High School, I knew you werent asking for an easy job. Even Haachama says you should give up since its impossible to talk to the Primordial Dark. The Primordial Dark was really unresponsive. But beside that, there was one thing thats been bothering me. Who is Haachama? I asked. Oh? Her? Thats the name of the Primordial Insanity, she smiled. The Primordial Insanity has a name? What? Did you expect me to just call her Primordial Insanity? She prefers being called with a proper name. Do you want to be called administrative officer instead of your name? She had a point. But this is bad. How can I get the Primordial Dark to cooperate and let me use its powers if I cant even talk to it? I asked. Haachama said that youre a special case. You dont need to use the normal method to use your powers, Haato said. What does she mean by that? I dont know. She doesnt feel like explaining and its impossible to change the mind of someone like her. How does it feel like having a conversation with a Primordial Being? I dont know about the others but Haachama is called the Primordial Insanity for a reason. Ive been with her for almost my entire life and I still have trouble understanding her. Really? How hard is she to read? One minute shes the loudest thing that I ever heard and in the next, shes more silent than a feather falling from the sky. There are times when she would spout random facts and times when she would make gibberish noises. Thats rough. Oh yeah? Wait until she wakes me up in the middle of night just because she can do it. I wonder If I was able to have a conversation with the Primordial Dark, would we be able to get along? Since my attempt failed, I no longer had any reason to keep Haato here. Anya told me to consult with her since she was also a vessel of a Primordial Being but apparently, I was a special kind of vessel. ### Thanks for the meal, Yogiri and I said before eating dinner. Is that what you guys do in your old world? Amelia asked. Yeah. Its like thanking you and Yogiri who worked hard to prepare the meal, I answered. And thanking the people who worked hard to grow the vegetables and prepare the meat. Its appreciating that the meal is a collective effort by many people just to give you satisfaction, Yogiri added. Thats an interesting concept, Amelia said. We talked about our day. Yogiri did the housework while studying more about this world and Amelia dealt with minor cases such as doing background checks on people. When it was time to reach my part, Amelia and Yogiri were curious. So why do you need to talk with the Primordial Dark? Yogiri asked. Because I need to use its full power. Right now, Im just borrowing its power so I have limited authority over darkness. If I can get it to cooperate with me, I would be really strong, I answered. Do you really need to cooperate with it? As a vessel, you are merely letting the Primordial Being dwell inside you. While you can draw out their power, it would be easier and more efficient if the two of you are going to help each other, Amelia answered. I see After eating dinner and washing the dishes, I headed to my room and crashed on my bed. My kris sword glowed and turned into Anya. What are your plans now? she asked. I dont know how to get the Primordial Dark to work with me. I need its strength so I can fight against the Unkindness, I answered. You cant defeat the Unkindness on your own. Thats what Shiroe thinks so he summoned Yogiri. What do you mean? Yogiri is most likely the vessel of the Primordial Light. Thats how she was able to kill a Living Darkness. You need to train her so that the two of you can bring down the Unkindness. Me? Train her? Im not the best teacher. The only magic Im good at is Dark Magic and thats thanks to you. Anya thought for a bit. Then how about Oga? He mustve mastered Light Magic already since hes more than 5000 years old. Im sure hell be a good teacher, she said. Ah. Youre right. I should give him a call. Oga was surprised to hear me call out of the blue. After I explained everything to him, he agreed to train Yogiri under the condition that she was completely willing to learn. As long as she had the motivation to become stronger, he could train her to be strong. Since I got that out of the way, I fell asleep. When I opened my eyes, I saw a swirling ball of darkness in front of me. The sheer power it radiated told me that this wasnt a dream but instead, I was facing the Primordial Dark. I had no idea what it wanted from me. Was it finally responding? But instead of a hi or hello, I was greeted with a warning. Omega is coming. The entire room was fading and I could feel the Primordial Dark was done with its business. H-Hey! What do you mean by that? I asked. As usual, I received silence as a response. Wait! I bolted up from my bed. Anya turned into her human form. Mikage Its dawn. Its bad manners to shout like that, she yawned. The Primordial Dark just talked to me, I told her. What did it say? Omega is coming. Anyas face became serious. Are you sure you heard it right? Are you sure it was Omega? she asked. Yeah. Is something wrong with that? Its been a very long time since they last made her move. If thats the case, the Council is also going here. Do you know them? Of course I know them. I, the Sword of Records, was created by Omega. The calm before the storm An orb of white light appeared on Yogiris palm. Wow! You did it pretty well! And your mana control is decent for a beginner. Its like youre a genius! Oga praised her. It was morning and I just finished practicing Synchronicity against Oga. It was easy to convince Yogiri to practice magic. Even if I didnt tell her that she might fight the Unkindness, she was willing to do it because magic interested her. Things were supposed to be fine except for one thing. Anya told me about her creator named Omega, a supreme being who was the overseer of the Council. I had several questions but Anya didnt have any answers for them. She didnt know much about Omega even if she was created by her. But I know it was a big deal. After all, it was enough to make the Primordial Dark break its silence and warn me about her. Dont you think its time to go home, Yogiri? I asked her. Oh? Its almost time for breakfast. Im sorry, Oga, Yogiri bowed. Nah. Its okay. Its fun teaching you and youre actually learning fast. If you want, I can recommend some grimoires you would want to study. Im pretty sure Westa Library has them, Oga said. Please do. After Oga wrote down a list, Yogiri and I returned home. Yogiri was actually very skilled at Light Magic and I was even more sure that she was the Primordial Lights vessel. My problem now was telling her that she might have to fight an organization that was more than 4000 years old. By the way, Yogiri, I called out her name. Yeah? Was I really going to tell her that she would be placed in difficult fights? Youre pretty good with Light Magic, huh? I decided to not tell her yet. As much as possible, I have to be able to deal with the Unkindness on my own. I was their target since I was the Primordial Darks vessel. As long as they wouldnt pursue Yogiri, she should stay out of this dangerous situation. I dont really know but its like second nature to me. Its as if I was practicing it for my entire life, she replied. Youre probably just a genius. I had problems with my mana control back when I started. Its only thanks to Anya that Im a skilled Dark Mage. Is it that hard? Yeah. We arrived home and Amelia already prepared breakfast. While we were eating breakfast, Yogiri told Amelia all about her training. It was great to see them getting along with each other. After that, I took a shower and put on my knight uniform. It should be a regular day as always. ### Im sorry, Temma. We miscalculated, one of our barracks chefs bowed down. Its okay. Its not much of a problem. Well just post an announcement. Its just one day, anyways, Temma told him. Apparently, there was a mistake in checking our ingredients. The chefs found out that there werent enough ingredients to feed the 13th unit during lunch time and they were worried. But like Temma said, it wasnt a big problem. Can you post this in the announcement board? Im sure our knights would want to be informed as soon as possible that we wont be serving lunch today, Temma gave the chef a piece of paper. I will. Im sorry, Temma, the chef bowed down again. You can make it up tomorrow by cooking a delicious meal, okay? I will! The chef left the room in order to post the announcement. This was troubling. Since the barracks wont be spending money to serve lunch today, there would be excess money in our budget. Should I consult Captain Noel? She would most likely tell me to put the excess money to the salaries of the knight as a little bonus or to use it to buy better ingredients to make one meal more luxurious than normal. Knowing her, she would probably tell me to do the second choice. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Speaking of Captain Noel, she was having a meeting with the captains today. She was in the room where she could transmit an astral projection of herself and talk to the other captains. They were most likely talking about the lack of a captain for the 3rd unit thanks to Captain Reagans death. Mikage, what are your plans now? Temma asked. Ill probably consult Captain Noel about the excess funds even if I already know the answer, I answer. Not that. Im talking about lunch. Ah. Im probably going to find a restaurant. No Id probably head to KFP. KFP? You know Kiaras Fried Phoenix, that restaurant that sells fried chickens. Their food is pretty delicious. I see. Do you mind if I join you? Sure. Having company is nice. When it was time for lunch, Temma and I left the barracks and headed straight to KFP. We were having a conversation when someone approached. Excuse me. Do you know where Kiara''s Fried Phoenix is? a small white-haired girl asked. She was wearing a blue outfit and a shark-like hat. A fish tail was growing out of her back and she was holding a blue trident. Yeah. Were on our way there. Do you want to come along with us? Temma answered. Thanks! the girl smiled, Calli!! These men know where KFP is! A tall pink-haired woman in a black outfit walked towards us. She was holding a cool-looking black scythe. She looked at me and I could feel something from her pink eyes. It was as if she was seeing everything inside me. And upon paying attention, I could feel tremendous power inside each of them. Another one like that damn bird, huh? the pink-haired woman said. What do you mean, Calli? the white-haired girl asked. Its nothing. My name is Calliope Mori and this girl is Gura Gawr. What are your names? Im Temma Kishido and this man is Mikage Kamishiro. Anyways! Lets go to KFP! Im starving! Gura shouted. When we arrived at KFP, the orange-haired manager saw us and immediately leaped towards Calliope. However, Calliope just sidestepped and let her crash to the floor. You meanie! Why did you dodge?! she asked. Id rather not make a scene in public, damn bird, Calliope answered. Hey there, Kiara! Gura greeted her. Gura! Youre here too? We got called by that old man. He said that theres an emergency so hes trying to gather as many of us as possible. I think Ina is coming too, Calliope answered. Whatever emergency that was, I hope it wasnt a big deal. I could see Temma looking worried because Westas peace might be threatened again. However, I pulled him away and ordered food from another employee. We sat down on a table and began eating. What kind of emergency is it? Temma asked. The knight order didnt report anything bad happening, right? No. Or at least, I havent heard anything. Then its probably a private affair. When people say emergency, its not as if Westas peace is threatened. Thats true. But you sound like youre convincing yourself. Its less than a year since I was summoned and I got involved in lots of incidents already. Id like to catch a break while the Unkindness isnt trying to attack me. We continued eating until someone entered KFP. A lot of people whispered among themselves since a popular blue-haired idol entered. Our eyes met and she walked towards me. I wasnt sure if this was something like a sixth sense where I could automatically sense bad news coming or if it was just plain anxiety. I went to the 13th units barracks and I heard you guys were in KFP. I need to talk to you, Mikage, Suisei said. Before I could complain, Calliope made an unexpected remark. So the Primordial Star knows him. Im guessing hes one of us, she said. Oh? Calliope and Gura! Youre here already? That was fast, Suisei looked at her. If the Primordial Dream tells us that trouble is coming, I have to respond. I dont know about the others though, Gura said. Whats going on? Temma asked. Calliope called me as one of them. Not to mention that Suisei just got called the Primordial Star. I have a rough idea whats going on, I answered. It was a surprise to know that Suisei was the vessel of the Primordial Star. But I could sense the same enormous power in her like in Gura and Calliopes body. Now that I think about it, how come I could sense that power inside them? I never felt anything from Suisei before. Was something happening to me? Allow us to introduce ourselves once more. I am Calliope Mori, the vessel of the Primordial Death, Calliope said. And Im Gura Gawr, the vessel of the Primordial Water! Gura added. Two more vessels of Primordial Beings are here in Westa? Temma asked. And therell be more to come. Yagoo sent out a message to everyone because theres an emergency, Suisei said. I sighed. By everyone You mean I was hesitant to finish it because I knew it would be troublesome. Yes. The vessels of Primordial Beings are coming to Westa to prepare to fight an enemy, Suisei said. Gathering I looked at the time as I was finishing up work for today. A week had passed since I found out that the vessels of the Primordial Beings would gather and tonight was the time when we would meet up. An enemy that requires the vessels to team up and fight. And then the Primordial Dark warned you about Omega. I dont think its just a coincidence, Anya said. Theres one thing thats bothering me. If Yagoo is trying to gather all the vessels of the Primordial Beings, then how come Yogiri wasnt informed? I asked. I already asked Yogiri whether someone told her to go somewhere but she only looked at me in confusion. Maybe Yagoo didnt know that shes the Primordial Light. And its better that way, Anya said. What do you mean? The Unkindness has eyes and ears everywhere. Im sure an event like this will get their attention and if they find out that Yogiri is the Primordial Light, theyll piece things together and target her. Thats something I definitely dont want. In any case, the meeting is later at the headquarters of Yagoos company, right? Yeah. I should be prepared to take on really strong enemies. If an enemy managed to make the Primordial Beings gather and prepare, they must be stronger than any of the enemies I fought. Definitely. And with you having little control over the Primordial Dark, youre at a huge disadvantage. I sighed as I agreed with what Anya said. While my companions in the future fight were powerful vessels of Primordial Beings, that only meant that I would get in their way if I wasnt in their level. At the very least, I should try to not be a dead weight. After finishing up work, I headed straight to Dream Records Corporation, Yagoos company that focused on producing music. I shouldve noticed that the name of his company was a hint to him being a vessel of the Primordial Dream. I went to the receptionist and told her that I was going to meet Yagoo. She gave me directions to the meeting room and it didnt take long until I arrived in front of its door. Cold sweat ran down my face as I felt the tremendous power behind the door. Each and everyone there were creatures who host a powerful being inside them. And the moment I would open this door, I would be involved in the hardest fight I would ever have. I gathered my nerves and opened the door. And I felt the stares of the seven people in the room. The first person I immediately recognized was a purple-haired woman. She was one of my companions back when I lost my memories. Hey there, Moona, I greeted her. I actually hoped our next meeting would be in a more casual situation instead of like this, she replied. So hes a new vessel, huh? Why would the Primordial Dark give a contract to him? a gray-haired girl in a purple witchs outfit asked. Shishiron told me about him. He seems to have a decent control over darkness and won the Idol Fan Tournament, a blue-haired elf said. I would make a joke about him being the vessel of the Primordial Dark but I dont think DARK jokes are appropriate here, a black-haired girl carrying a book grinned. Oh come on, Ina! Why?! Gura shouted. Its not even an hour yet and you already made a joke like that, Calliope groaned. Please dont make jokes like that. Haachama is laughing loudly, Haato added. But the black-haired girl chuckled while everyone else sighed. In any case, who are you? the gray-haired girl asked. Im Mikage Kamishiro, the vessel of the Primordial Dark, I answered. Hey, Shion. Dont you think its rude to ask for a name before introducing yourself? the blue-haired girl asked. Ack Im Shion Murasaki, the vessel of the Primordial Magic, she introduced herself as several glowing magic circles appeared around her. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I looked at the blue-haired elf and she smiled at me. My name is Lamy Yukihana, the vessel of the Primordial Ice, she said. If were giving introductions, then I should do so too! Im Inanis Ninomae, the wielder of the Primordial Knowledges vessel! Just call me Ina! the black-haired girl winked at me. Wielder? I asked. My body is not the vessel but instead, its this book, AO-chan! Ina showed me a purple book. I remembered that Primordial Beings could take nonliving things as vessels and even buildings like what the Primordial Memory did. The door opened and a black-haired man in a suit and a blue-haired girl in a gray outfit entered. So the one who gathered us has arrived. What do you want, old man? Shion asked Yagoo. No. Theres one more person missing. I tried to invite all of the vessels but only nine responded to this emergency. Shell arrive soon, he answered. As if on cue, we heard footsteps thundering down the hallway. And my eyes widened when I saw who the last vessel was. A blonde girl entered the room. She was wearing a brown coat and hat that I already saw a million times. After all, that girl was my dear friend. Sorry Im late, Yagoo. It took me some time to settle things with a client, Amelia said. A-Amelia?! What are you doing here?! I asked. Why? Because Im a wielder of a Primordial Being too, she said as she showed me a pocketwatch. A wielder? Thats right. Im Amelia Watson, the great detective of Westa. Im also the wielder of the Primordial Times vessel. Amelia was a wielder? And the Primordial Time?? What kind of revelation was that?! If Mikage was surprised, then we can safely say that time often gives surprising things, Ina said. Uggh Is that even considered as a joke, Ina? Amelia groaned. Nice to see you again, Ame! Ina grinned. Ame! Its been some time since we last saw each other! Gura beamed. Ive heard about you from the dead people. They often tell me how you helped put their souls to rest because you gave them justice. Good work as always, Ame, Calliope smiled. Maybe we should eat at KFP together after this. We have lots of catching up to do, Amelia replied. We have all the TIME in the world while talking about what we KNOW and we wont worry about getting thirsty because we have WATER and we can hang around until DEATH stops us, Ina grinned. Amelia, Gura, and Calliope groaned. Yagoo cleared his throat and everyones attention was focused on him. Ill cut straight to the point and tell you why I gathered all of you here, he said. The atmosphere in the room changed as everyone tensed up. Yagoos invitation told me that an enemy only the Primordial Beings can stop would appear. I already knew how powerful the vessels of the Primordial Beings could be so I was worried as to what enemy we could be facing. Do you guys know the Council? he asked. Everyone looked at each other to see if somebody knew but almost all of us were confused except for Ina who glanced at her book. Yes. So they are our enemies this time, huh? Ina asked. Do you know them, Ina? Gura looked at her. Of course! I have a contract with the Primordial Knowledges vessel. Whatever knowledge that exists in this world, I know it. Then Ill leave the explaining to you, Inanis, Yagoo said. For now, try talking to the Primordial Beings and mention the Council. You will feel hostility, Ina instructed. I didnt bother doing it because the Primordial Dark wouldnt talk to me but the faces of the other vessels became serious. Why is that? Calliope asked. Because they are our, or to be more specific, the wardens of the Primordial Beings, Ina answered. Wardens? They can stop us if they want to? Lamy asked. The Primordial Beings are more powerful than the Council. However, they cannot exist in this place unless they take a vessel and when they do, their powers arent even a fraction of what they had. So that makes the Council dangerous. So what do you mean by wardens? Why are the Primordial Beings hostile to them? Shion asked. Because they will stop the Primordial Beings if they ever do something they dont want. For example, they would kill vessels who are too dangerous to be alive. And their definition of dangerous is not something we would agree with, right? Amelia asked. Correct. And tonight, they have a new target. As the Primordial Dream, I have the ability to accurately predict the future using prophetic dreams. And I consulted with Suisei and her star fortune telling and she agreed that the Council is targeting a new person, Yagoo said. And who is the unfortunate soul? I asked. Ina had a troubled look after taking a glance at her book. She couldnt make eye contact with me. Ah Seriously? Mikage From Yagoos dreams and my fortune telling, the Council is after you, Suisei said. Just what I needed: a bunch of powerful beings who could defeat the vessels of literal gods going after me. Insanity and Magic against Civilization In front of us were five floating screens made from magic. Each of them showed different locations where the Primordial Beings vessels were. The first screen showed Gura and Lamy, the second showed Ina, the third showed Moona and Amelia, the fourth showed Calliope, and the last showed Haato and Shion. So this is our plan? Lure out the Council and beat them up? I asked. Thats right. I had Shion and Ina cooperate to invent a magic that would conceal you, the Primordial Darks vessel. But thats not enough. I also had them create a magic that would show a false presence similar to yours, Yagoo explained. But why would they risk their necks to protect me from the Council? Why would they fight them just for my sake? Its not that they want to fight for you. They are just using you as an excuse. Im sure the Primordial Beings inside them are willing to take any reason to beat the crap out of the Council. Suisei answered. From my prophetic dreams and Suiseis star fortune telling, we know that the Council will strike tonight. Thats why I had the magic which gave off a similar presence to the Primordial Dark in all of those locations and hopefully, we can lure the Council and give them a beating, Yagoo said. Bright light shone from Shion and Haatos screen. Shes coming, Shion said as several magic circles appeared near her. A brown-haired girl descended from the sky. She was wearing a brown cloak that draped over her body and as she descended, she was eating a berry. What am I doing here again? she asked. However, Shion and Haato didnt drop their guards down. Baelz said Im supposed to do something but I forgot, she muttered. Bolts of purple light shot from the magic circles near Shion and grotesque monsters appeared after Haato snapped her fingers. However, a stone fort appeared out of nowhere and shielded the brown-haired girl. Cannons appeared and fired at the grotesque monsters. After a minute, the fort and cannons disappeared. I remember! Im supposed to find the Primordial Dark! the girl exclaimed and then munched on another berry. She looked at Haato and Shion. Do you know where the Primordial Dark is, Primordial Magic and Primordial Insanity? she asked. Why should we tell you? Shion asked back. You have the presence of the Primordial Dark. Thats why I was sent here. You have to beat us if you wanna know, Haato told her. Then thats an easy goal to clear! Cannons and guns appeared beside the brown-haired girl and began firing. The ground in front of Shion rose up and turned into a wall which protected the two of them. Who is she? I asked. Mumei Nanashi, the Guardian of Civilization. All of mankinds achievements and legacies are part of her. From technology to magic, anything made by mankind is under her command, Yagoo answered. Magic circles appeared near Mumei and brown bolts of light shot from it. In response, Shion clapped her hands and a purple barrier shielded them. Damn it, Primordial Insanity! Cant you shut that loud and annoying noise up?! Shion shouted. Sorry! My abilities target everyone around me, Haato replied. Oh? So this Haachama Ive been hearing is from the Primordial Insanity? Mumei asked. But thats not all I can do! Haato snapped her fingers and grotesque monsters appeared near Mumei. They swung their fists and Mumei flew up. Cannons appeared near her along with magic circles. And then, she made a pained expression and touched her head. This opening allowed Shion to land a direct hit using her magic. Owww. That hurt, she said as she dusted herself. Mumei took another berry and ate it. However, her eyes looked more serious as she glared at the two. You really are intending to hurt me More cannons and magic circles appeared near her. Not only that, there were also guns floating above her. Then you wont complain if I were to hurt you too, right? she pointed at them and her weapons and magic began firing. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Barrier of the Immovable Guardian! Shion shouted and a round barrier surrounded the two of them. Isnt she a bit too strong? I asked. Thats what you should expect from a member of the Council. Normally, the Primordial Magic would be able to defeat her but unfortunately, its power isnt even a fraction of its original power, Yagoo said. Also, Mumei isnt just using magic. She has the backing of technology. They have their work cut out for them, Suisei added. If a single member of the Council was able to push two vessels like this, then what kind of monsters were they? But theres a reason why I paired up Haato and Shion, Yagoo said. A reason? I asked. Did you know? Haato was once paired up with Shion and she was able to defeat a group of dragons, Suisei answered. I gulped down when I heard that. Dragons were powerful creatures that even a group of skilled adventurers would have trouble dealing with. While there might be monsters like Captain Noel and Oga who could deal with them single-handedly, I was sure that even they would have problems defeating a group of dragons. Haato! Were doing it! Shion shouted. ... Fine! Im counting on you! Haato shouted back. She took a deep breath and then began laughing loudly. HAACHAMACHAMA!!!! Haato had an eerie grin on her face. Haato became unbelievably faster. It took her a few seconds to close the distance between her and Mumei. She didnt even hesitate as she dove right into the barrage of attacks. A brick wall appeared between the two of them but Haato delivered a punch. Her fist smashed the wall and landed a direct hit on Mumeis face. After that, a strong gust of wind blew which knocked the Guardian of Civilization away. Haato started running but Mumei materialized some guns near her. The guns began firing but Haato didnt make much effort to dodge it which caused her to be grazed by bullets. Mumei decided to go for defense as a stone fort appeared and protected her. But Haato continued charging even if the forts cannons were firing at her. If a cannonball was heading straight to her, Haato would just punch it and the ball would be shattered into pieces. When she got near, her right fist began to glow. I saw that magic before back when Captain Noel used it in the Idol Fan Tournament. It was called Mana Punch that could multiply the force of a punch up to ten times. HAACHAMACHAMA!!! Haato shouted and the moment her glowing fist touched the walls of the fort, an explosion occurred. Mumei got out of the smoke but her clothes had dirt on them and her head was bleeding. Her face was completely serious as she warily looked at the smoky remains. Haato got out and it was a scary sight. Her clothes were stained with blood and her body had scratches thanks to the bullets that grazed her. Her right arm was bleeding badly and was purple in color. But despite all those injuries, she was smiling eerily. Whats going on? I asked. Full Lunacy. The greatest ability of the Primordial Insanity, Yagoo said. My sword began to glow and transformed into Anya. I see. Thats a terrifying power, she said. What do you mean? I asked. A humans body has limiters placed by the mind. After all, the basic instinct of a living creature is to survive. Thats why our muscle strength and mana capacity is limited to make sure we wont harm ourselves, Anya told me. Full Lunacy is a state where a person will ignore the limiters placed by their mind. They can use the full extent of their body such as overproducing mana and getting impossible muscle strength, Yagoo added. But theres a catch: they are called limiters for a reason. If a person would willingly ignore their limiters, they will self-destruct and end up harming themselves more than they can harm their enemy, Anya explained. So its an endurance battle? Its up to whether Haato can last long enough after delivering self-destructive attacks or if Mumei can survive until Haato loses? I asked. In normal cases, yes. But with Shion around, shes an unstoppable beast, Suisei answered. Full Heal! Nature Pulse! Indomitable Vitality! Shion shouted as Haatos body glowed. Her wounds disappeared and Haato looked healthy once more. I see! Since Shion is the Primordial Magic, her Healing Magic is top-notch! She can support Haato and they dont have to worry about Haato killing herself because of her self-inflicted injuries! I exclaimed. Its a simple combination but quite unbeatable, Yagoo smirked. Mumei chuckled as Haato began charging. She snapped her fingers and an army appeared. All of them looked like blue spirits in the form of humans and other sentient creatures. They were wearing all kinds of armor and wielding all kinds of weapons. And to make things worse, I could tell there were hundreds of them. A tower rose with a throne materializing on top of it. Mumei sat on the throne and munched on another berry. Armies are always a part of civilization. Do you want me to lessen the numbers from a thousand to just a few hundred? Or do you want me to include siege weapons too? she asked. But Haato ignored her as she clobbered the army. Thats a cheat! Theres no way Haato can defeat an army on her own! I complained. Thats just how life works, Mikage. And from what Mumei said, she can even make more soldiers appear. The Council is really frightening, Anya said. They are our wardens, after all, Suisei had a bitter smile on her face. And shes not our only problem, Yagoo told us as he looked at another screen. A green-haired woman was standing in front of Calliope. I was sure that they were in the plains at the east of Westa but for some reason, trees were surrounding them. Oh dear. I thought the Primordial Dark is here but all I see is the Primordial Death, she said. Sorry but Ill be making sure youll regret coming to this world, Calliope said as a black aura surrounded her. Oh my. How scary. But even if she said those words, I couldnt sense a hint of fear in her voice and expression. Calliope Mori, the vessel of the Primordial Death, Calliope charged as she introduced herself. Fauna Ceres, the Keeper of Nature, the green-haired woman raised her arm and thorny vines grew from the ground. And so the second member of the Council arrived. Deaths are part of the natural order The black haze from Calliope touched the vines which were heading towards her. In a span of a few seconds, the green vines turned brown and decayed. Shouldnt you try harder, Keeper of Nature? Calliope asked as she charged. A thorny bush grew in between them but Calliopes black haze caused it to decay in a few seconds. However, the few seconds bought with the bushs sacrifice allowed Fauna to make some distance away from Calliope. What is that black haze? I asked. Deaths Embrace, the authority of the Primordial Death. Any creature touching it will have their Life Force drained causing them to die. Its only limit is that it only has a short range, Yagoo said. So Calliope will win if she gets close to Fauna? No. The Councils dont count as living creatures. They are deathless creatures with an infinite Life Force. While they can get tired, they cant die. Theyll still feel pain and discomfort though as you can see in Haato, Shion, and Mumeis fight, Suisei added. More plants grew out of the ground and tried to get close to Calliope. Her Deaths Embrace wasnt fast enough to decay them and so, she had to cut them down with her scythe. If youre draining my plants Life Force, then Ill just have to create ones with powerful Life Forces. Lets see if your black haze can decay my children fast enough before they can hurt you, Fauna smiled as she snapped her fingers. More plants grew and headed towards Calliope. The sheer number of plants was overwhelming and her Deaths Embrace couldnt decay them in time. But she was keeping up thanks to her amazing movements with her scythe. The Primordial Death is cutting plants. Quite fitting for a scythe, dont you think? Fauna asked. This scythe is meant for reaping lives. And Ill be sure to reap yours, Calliope replied. Chill for a bit. Why dont you touch grass? And then the grass in their area grew longer and stretched towards Calliope. Even if the Deaths Embrace was decaying them, they had enough Life Force to whip her body. Calliope backed away and glared at Fauna. Calliopes not doing well. Is this the limit of the Primordial Deaths ability? I asked. Its just a bad matchup. Against anyone, Deaths Embrace is a formidable and deadly ability. Even dragons and demons would die in mere seconds against that. It just so happens her enemy could freely sacrifice creatures with powerful Life Forces, Yagoo answered. Thats right. Even Oga wouldnt last a minute in Deaths Embrace and youve seen how powerful he is, Anya said. So Oga cant beat Fauna? I asked. No. Oga is strong. He can hold his own against Fauna and he might be able to win if he gets serious. Like Yagoo said, its a bad matchup. Calliope doesnt have enough firepower to deal the necessary damage, Anya answered. Calli relies too much on Death''s Embrace so she doesnt know how to do other attacks. Her scythe mastery is exceptional but it would only take her so far, Suisei added. A large creature emerged from the ground. It looked like a massive tree but its branches coiled and turned into arms and its roots were in the same shape as legs. Its a bit tiring to create a living creature like this instead of just plants. But its worth it if youre going to lose, Fauna smiled. This is bad. Thats a treant. They are difficult to kill since they will just regenerate as long as they have Life Force.. Either you make them stop regenerating or youll completely erase their body, Anya said. And since Calli has no strong attacks that would obliterate it, shes in trouble, Suisei looked at the screen worriedly. The treant raised its arm and was ready to smash Calliope. Her Deaths Embrace probably wouldnt decay it fast enough and so, her only option is to avoid it. And without warning, a flaming object hit the treant. Since it was a plant, it easily caught fire and burned to ashes. Emerging from those flames was an orange-haired woman holding an orange sword and blue shield. Her arms and legs were wrapped with flames and fiery wings were on her back. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Calli!!! she tackled Calliope and gave her a tight hug. Guh! Kiara? What are you doing here? Calli asked. Ame said youre fighting a dangerous enemy so I came to help out! Ame said that? Well, whatever. I appreciate the save but this is none of your business. This is the problem of Primordial Beings, Calli shoved her away and glared at Fauna. True. I have no idea why youre fighting and I wont be directly affected by the results of your fight. Kiara stood beside Calliope and flames danced around her sword. But Ina, Gura, and Ame are fighting. You are fighting. And the fights of my friends are also my fights. So were sticking together! Kiara pointed her sword at Fauna. I cant change your mind, can I? Calliope asked. I can be very stubborn. And besides, I know how you hate fighting side by side with people because you dont want to be worried about them getting affected by Deaths Embrace. Lucky for you, Im a phoenix. Im a deathless creature. Fine, you damn bird. Lets do this! Oh? A phoenix came by? Fauna asked. I have no idea who you are but I have one tip for you, Kiara pointed her sword at her. And that is? Dont play with fire or youll get burned! Kiara flew up and Calliope charged at Fauna. A wave of plants grew and extended towards Calliope and her Deaths Embrace was decaying them. Kiara shot flames and thanks to them, the plants were destroyed. Calliope finally got close enough to Fauna and swung down her scythe. However, a wooden staff emerged from the ground and Fauna used it to block her attack. Even with Deaths Embrace, the wooden staff didnt decay. But I could see Faunas face getting uncomfortable as the black haze touched her body. Kiara dived from the sky and a powerful blast of flames erupted from her. The amount of flames she was emitting was way too different back in the Idol Fan Tournament and I was finally realizing that Kiara was seriously holding back against me when we fought. You damn bird! You almost burned my clothes off, Calliope said as she got out of the pillar of flames. Im not aiming for that! Trust me! I was taking my opponent seriously! Kiara winked as she flew towards her. Whatever. Did that get her? To answer her question, a heavy downpour started and doused the flames. Strong winds blew and thunder roared. Kiara and Calliope managed to dodge in time before a lightning bolt from the sky hit them. Oh dear. I have to be serious now, huh? Fauna had a scary smile on her face and the winds became stronger. Lightning crashed from above and Kiara and Calliope did their best in avoiding them. A strong gust of wind pushed Calliope away which caused Kiara to be distracted. And in that second of getting distracted, a lightning bolt hit Kiara. Plants grew all over the field and then ice rained down from the sky. You two have been very naughty girls who are being mean to Mother Nature. You deserve a spanking, Fauna said. Kiara shakily stood up and Calliope pushed back against the wind. Thanks to the heavy rain, Kiaras flames weakened and since she was no longer dealing with living creatures, Calliopes Deaths Embrace was useless. Whats going on? I thought Faunas ability is just to create plants? I asked. Fauna is the Keeper of Nature. And nature is not just limited to life. The weather is part of nature, Yagoo answered. And storms like these are often described as natures wrath, Anya added. Kiara and Calliope were strong on their own but they could barely hold on against Fauna. Was our plan going to succeed at this rate? Look! The third one has arrived! Suisei pointed at a screen. A brown-skinned woman with long white hair tied into twintails descended from the sky and landed in front of Gura and Lamy. The Primordial Dark isnt here. I have bad luck, she muttered. The Primordial Water is angry. Shes part of the Council, huh? Gura asked. It doesnt matter who. Ill show them the terror of the cold, Lamy said. The brown-skinned woman did some stretches and smiled. Im Sana Tsukumo, the Speaker of Space, the brown-skinned woman introduced herself. Gura Gawr, the Primordial Waters vessel, Gura pointed her trident at her. Lamy Yukihana, the vessel of the Primordial Ice, Lamy said as the ground underneath her feet froze. Nice to meet you two! And now Sana pointed her index finger at the two of them. Kneel. Gura and Lamys bodies collapsed to the ground and a round crater formed with their bodies at the center. You cannot defy space, after all, Sana smiled. It was just the start of the fight and the two of them were already in trouble. Cold water takes up space A trail of ice formed from Lamys body and headed towards Sana. At the same instance, countless drops of water appeared above Gura and launched themselves at her enemy. Sana snapped her finger and the drops of water and ice curved away from her. How formidable. Shes distorting space itself, Anya said. Then that means shes untouchable? I asked. After standing up, Gura rode a wave of water and lunged at Sana. Meanwhile, sharp icicles hovered above Lamy and shot themselves. Spatial Rejection, Sana said. Gura and the icicles were all pushed back by an invisible force. But Lamy didnt falter as she launched more icicles at Sana. The icicles all missed Sana as she expertly dodged them. After that, she pointed her index finger at Lamy and the blue-haired elfs body fell to the ground. Gura got up and charged once more. Drops of water appeared and shot themselves at Sana. However, all of them curved away and didnt even get near to her. A large shadow casted over Sana and when she looked up, she saw a large chunk of ice falling towards her. Spatial Rejection, she said and the chunk of ice was blown away. Gura, who was near Sana at that time, was also knocked back. Lamy created an ice path and slid on it which allowed her to get near Sana in a few seconds. A sword made up of ice appeared and Lamy used it to attack her opponent but Sana dodged it once more. Kneel, Sana said and Lamys body was on the ground. But while Sana was distracted with Lamy, Gura managed to conjure a large wave of water and direct it to her. Sana managed to put up some distance but Guras attack still caught up with her. However, the wave of water curved away and couldnt touch her body. This is a stalemate, I said. Sana could repel them away if they ever got close, curve their attacks away, and even stop them from moving. She was completely untouchable. No. Take a look at Gura and Lamy. Their eyes didnt give up yet, Anya told me. Do you have an idea, Lamy? Gura asked. She has limitations on her power. For starters, she cant use two abilities at the same time. If shes pinning one of us down, then she cant curve away our attacks unless shell stop using that ability, Lamy said. And theres a cooldown between her Spatial Rejections. Four? No. Three seconds, Gura added. Sana clapped her hands. You two were analyzing my abilities. Ill give you props for being correct. Its dangerous to tamper with space so I cant use both abilities at once. As for my Spatial Rejection, space needs time to reconstruct itself after I twist it around. It would be dangerous if I were going to keep twisting it and not letting it recover , she said. Oh? Are you dumb? Why are you telling us your limitations? Even a child knows that your limitations are the last thing you should say to an enemy, Gura smirked. The answer to that is simple. Even if you know, you cant defeat me. Lets see about that, Lamy swung her arm and everything in front of her froze as a large ice formed. Spatial Rejection Sana said and the ice crumbled to pieces while getting pushed away by her abilities. The moment Sanas Spatial Rejection was over, Gura jumped right in and attacked her. She kept thrusting her trident and swinging it but Sana managed to avoid her attacks without much difficulty. Spatial Rejection. While Gura was blown away, chunks of ice headed towards Sana. However, she moved around the battlefield and managed to get away from those attacks. Are you even taking this battle seriously? Your attacks arent even hitting me! she said and then pointed her finger at Lamy which caused her to fall to the ground once more. No. We got you right where we want you! Gura smirked and planted her trident on the ground. There were chunks of ice all around Sana. And all of them turned into water and launched themselves at her. One drop managed to hit her but after that, the rest curved away from her. Her wet body began to freeze as Lamy faced her palm at her. Sana was almost frozen solid when she shouted. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. SUPREME SPATIAL REJECTION! A crater appeared with her in the center as everything else was blown away. I didnt expect the ice to become water, Sana was no longer smiling. The Primordial Ice and the Primordial Water often have overlapping authorities. Technically, ice is still water so Gura can assert dominance over them, Lamy said. Im the Primordial Waters vessel. Ice, water, and even the moisture is under my control. Your enemy is the entire heaven itself, Gura boasted as all of the ice chunks scattered in the battlefield turned into water. Sana sighed and cracked her knuckles. Then I suppose I should stop playing on the defensive and actually try to hurt you. Sana disappeared in front of their eyes. In less than a second later, she appeared behind Gura and delivered a powerful punch which blew her away. Spatial Push, she faced her palm at Lamy and knocked her away with an invisible force. She faced her palm towards Gura who landed several meters away. Spatial Attraction. And then Guras body floated and swiftly moved towards her. Sana grabbed her neck and threw her up in the sky. After that, she pointed her finger at her and Gura swiftly crashed down as if gravity became unbelievably strong. Sharp ice headed towards Sana after Lamy got up but she didnt even faze. Spatial Rejection. Once more, everything around her was pushed away, including Guras body. Gura! Lamy shouted. But there was no response. Dont worry about her. Shes just unconscious. I dont think shes that weak to be killed by attacks of that level, Sana smiled. ..Strong, I said. Even if it was a two-against-one, she still had an advantage, Anya muttered. This was bad. Our plan was to separate the Council and force them to fight on their own. If Lamy and Gura get defeated here, then Sana could go towards Fauna or Mumei and help them. And everything would go downhill if they were going to band together like that. Individually, they were able to push the vessels of the Primordial Beings. If they were going to work together, we would be crushed. But you should worry about yourself. Try not to die in this attack, Sana said as a small black orb appeared on her palm. The orb rose to the sky. And then the ground crumbled. Pieces of the ground, along with everything else on it, rose up and went to the orb. Dont worry about your friend. Im keeping her pinned to the ground like this. If she gets crushed by my Planetary Creation, shell definitely die. Id rather not have unnecessary deaths while Im around, Sana said. Lamy rose up to the sky as she stood over a rock that was being pulled towards the orb. Her body could no longer be seen as the rocks covered the orb. A few minutes later and there was a sphere made up of compressed ground floating above the field. Thats a shame. I actually expected her to put up more of a fight. But it couldnt be helped that she gave up. After all, it only took me less than a minute to show them their places, Sana giggled. A drop of water appeared and shot towards her but it didnt touch her body as it curved away. Youre conscious already? It would be in your best interest to lie down like that. You two have clearly lost, Sana frowned. ... The Primordial Ice is often called the inferior version of the Primordial Water. While the Primordial Water can control ice, the Primordial Ice cant control water. They thought all it could do was turn any form of water, whether liquid or gas, into ice, Gura shakily stood up. Whats your point? My point is The Primordial Ice is more than that. Its authority isnt just limited to turning water into ice. Thats a misconception, Gura pointed at the large sphere floating above the battlefield. Sanas eyes widened as she saw that the sphere was frozen solid. Gura snapped her fingers and the ice turned into water. And Lamy descended. The moment her feet touched the ground, it completely froze. We could even see white mist coming out of Sana and Guras mouths whenever they breathed thanks to the cold. The Primordial Ice isnt just limited to turning water into ice. It can freeze anything and everything and turn them into ice as if it was alchemy. Thats why your sphere of dirt turned into ice which I turned into water, Gura pointed her trident at Sana. Lamy took out a bottle and drank from it. Sake is good. It really warms me up. I hope you have your own way to warm up, Speaker of Space, Lamy glared at Sana. Who said we already lost? Were just getting serious! Gura charged. The ground of the entire battlefield turned into ice. And Gura converted parts of the ground into water and wielded it as her weapon. I see.. What a fearsome combination, Anya said. Yeah. If Lamy could convert anything into ice, Gura would get stronger because she has more water to use, I agreed. I looked at the other screens and I was still worried. There were no clear outcomes yet. Haato was beating up Mumeis army while Shion supported her. Kiara and Calliope were holding on against the storm that Fauna conjured. And now Gura and Lamy were fighting seriously against Sana. And the fourth one has arrived, Yagoo pointed at Inas screen. A red-haired girl with mouse ears was walking in midair. If that wasnt weird enough, she was upside down. Looks like I got baited out, huh? she asked. Like a rat getting lured to a trap, Ina answered. Is that supposed to be a reference to how Im a rat? Are you not? You have rat ears and your clothes have the word RAT on it. I assumed you already accepted that youre a rat. You got a point. Now, then I dont think youre going to tell me where the Primordial Dark is without a fight, are you? I might be the wielder of the Primordial Knowledges vessel but I wont freely give knowledge like that. Oh? Primordial Knowledge? Then this should be easy. The red-haired girl grinned as she pointed at Ina. Ill show you how useless your knowledge is in front of Baelz Hakos, the Chaos! Chaotic knowledge. Magic circles appeared above Ina and they shot flames. However, Baelz wasnt fazed. What is left is now right. Everything shall shatter under my chaotic might, she chanted. And then something weird happened. When the flames touched Baelz body, water dripped down. Her clothes looked damp and she laughed. Thats a refreshing bath! Baelz said. Ina stopped firing her flames and glanced at her book. After that, she conjured a small flame on her palm and touched it with her finger. Her face had a look of surprise when she saw that her finger was wet. Its a rule that whatever that is touched by fire will get burned. But as Chaos, I can twist the rules of reality itself. In this case, fire wont burn you but instead, it will drench you, Baelz explained. So flame attacks are now useless, Ina muttered. She glanced at her book and smiled. Then Ill have to fire something else then! she then faced her palm at her enemy and Baelz landed on the ground. Altering gravity huh? That''s powerful magic Baelz looked like she was struggling to stand up. Her eyes then glowed and she grinned. What is left is now right. Everything shall shatter under my chaotic might. Ina and Baelz were floating. You changed the rules of gravity?! Ina asked. Correct! Gravity used to attract things together but now, they are repelling each other! A magic circle appeared below Ina and she was sent upward at a rapid pace. So if I were to use a more powerful version of your Gravity Magic, youll be flying all the way to the sky, Hakos grinned. A flash of light appeared and Ina teleported a few meters away from Baelz. Magic circles appeared above her and lightning shot from it. What is left is now right. Everything shall shatter under my chaotic might, Baelz chanted once more and when the lightning touched her arm, ice formed. She sighed and chanted again. What is left is now right. Everything shall shatter under my chaotic might. The ice around her arm turned into a white mist and disappeared. Baelz then grinned as she pointed at Ina. You may know every single magic in this world but its all useless when the rules are twisted like this, she said as a magic circle appeared in front of her. A bolt of lightning came out from it but Ina put up a barrier in time. The barrier froze as electricity danced around it and after a second, the ice turned into mist. Another magic circle appeared above Ina and a large torrent of water came out. Ina put up a barrier to protect herself again. What is left is now right. Everything shall shatter under my chaotic might, Baelz chanted. Smoke was coming out of the barrier while it was touching the water. Just so you know, water now acts like fire. Youll get burned if you touch it, Baelz grinned and pointed at her. Ina flew upwards to the sky as a large magic circle appeared below her and she crashed to the barrier she made. This is bad. Shes pinned, Yagoo muttered. Shes getting crushed by the force of repulsion below her and her barrier. If she releases her barrier, she would get burned by water, Anya said. Inas book floated and flipped its pages in front of her. Pietros Shield! she shouted and a blue barrier appeared above the barrier she was getting crushed into. Lishbaums Gate! Ina shouted once more and a portal appeared between the space of the two barriers. The barrier that Ina was stuck on disappeared and she flew up to the portal. Another portal appeared a few meters away from Baelz and Ina got out of it. I see. If her problem was that the water could burn her if she would dispel her barrier, she just had to make another one above it. And then she could escape by placing a portal between those two barriers. Thanks to the repulsive force below her, she would fly straight to the portal and teleport somewhere else. So you got out of it. Pretty impressive. But I believe the battle is as good as over. You cant hope to defeat me with what little mana you have left, Baelz smirked. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Ina has mana problems already? I asked. Lishbaums Gate and Pietros Shield cost a lot of mana. But I wonder I heard that vessels of Primordial Beings have a large amount of mana thanks to their Life Force, Anya said. That is only applicable for vessels. Inanis is limited thanks to her being only a wielder, Yagoo told her. Unlike us who have our own bodies being vessels of the Primordial Beings, a wielder only has the body of a regular creature. Their Life Force is average, Suisei added. So Ina is going to lose this one? I asked. Baelz walked forward while cracking her knuckles. White light gathered at her fist and she began running. Ill knock you out with a punch! she shouted. Ina wasnt moving as she closed her eyes. Was she giving up? Arcanum Primera, she muttered and a strong gust of wind came out of her. Baelz stopped in her tracks while her face had a look of confusion. The sound of the cannon roars. The firing of the guns shall commence. Come forth, Rapid Bombardment! Ina chanted and several magic circles appeared above her. Wait a minute That magic Bolts of energy shot from those magic circles and Baelz grinned. Light Magic huh? What is left is now right. Everything shall shatter under my chaotic might, Baelz used her powers again. And the bolt of energy hit her and her expression became a mix of surprise and pain. More bolts of energy hit her as she howled in pain. When Inas magic was over, Baelz was kneeling on the ground. Blood was coming out of several parts of her body and the ground near her had craters. W..Why? I changed the rules such that compressed light wouldnt harm me. H.. How? she panted. Baelz stood up and dusted her clothes. However, she no longer had that confident aura. She was looking at Ina warily as she took a formal battle stance. Wait a minute. Somethings odd. Your mana production is too fast and yet your Life Force is still the same! Whats going on?! she asked. Information will become knowledge once a person will believe it without any shred of doubt. Maybe theres a logical explanation that would erase any question about a concept. Or if a person experienced the phenomenon with their senses while having a clear mind, Ina answered. She walked forward while holding her open book. Say You are aware of the existence of parallel worlds, right? she asked. Yeah. There are lots of cases where people from another world got sent here. Theres even a country in the east that was founded thanks to a large number of otherworlders, Baelz answered. All this time, it was believed that there is no magic in that other world. All knowledge recorded by the Primordial Knowledge says that magic isnt proven to exist since no one from that world saw magic. Oh? Youre saying magic does exist in that world? Some time ago, theres a certain administrative officer who returned to his original world. And then he brought wonderful knowledge. Magic does exist in his old world and its far more sophisticated than I thought. What do you mean? In this world, we rely on the interference of concepts that follow the rules of reality. For example, if were casting Fire Magic, were just using fire. No matter what our scale could be, in the end, were following the rule that fire would burn. And thats why your magic is screwed up thanks to my Chaotic Authority. Correct. Every single magic in this world follows the rules of reality. We use our mana to manipulate the concepts around us. For example, to create illusions, we tamper with the senses of our enemies. To use Mind Magic, we assert control over other minds. To use teleportation, we link one space to another. And youre saying the magic from the other world is different? Legends tied behind words. Curses hidden between meanings. The magic from the other world is far more intricate than commanding the concepts of reality. It uses the mages consciousness to interfere with the laws of the world to make magic that suits their needs. Fire Magic here will only burn things no matter how grand the scale is. But Fire Magic there can do more miraculous things than burning. They could burn underwater, burn memories, and even burn the soul. Huh? What are you saying? Thats impossible! Fire will only burn physical things. Thats the rules of reality! Youre saying that a mere human can twist reality like I do? If others can do it, then why cant we? Thats the very foundation of seeking knowledge. Youve seen that I was able to ignore realitys laws and yet Im just a mere wielder of the Primordial Knowledge. You made realitys law such that compressed light wont do much damage and yet my bolts of light put you in that state. If you are going to deny the events that happened in front of your eyes, then you are lower than a mindless creature. Baelz then laughed. She sounded like an old man getting impressed with a new trick made by the next generation. Wielder of the Primordial Knowledge, whats your name? she asked. Inanis Ninomae. Very well, Inanis Ninomae! I, Baelz Hakos, declare you to be an interesting person able to surprise Chaos herself! And then everything got distorted. The clouds were becoming spirals and other shapes. Rocks floated and duplicated while forming complex patterns. The wind was swirling around and curving up and down. Cracks appeared in the space around them. And as a reward, Ill take you on seriously like an equal. I gulped down as I saw reality getting twisted like that. The Council is really scary, I muttered. Now I know why the Primordial Dark warned me about them. And the last one just appeared, Suisei pointed at Amelias screen. Moona and Amelia were pointing their weapons at a black-haired woman. One noticeable thing about her was the weird contraption on her head that had three rods rotating like a clock. She was wielding two swords that looked like a clocks hands but the one on her left was shorter than the one on her right. Amelia fired her gun and the black-haired woman deflected it with her sword. Her swing was too fast and yet she looked like she didnt place much effort in it. Is this how youll treat people after not seeing them for a long time, Watson? the black-haired woman asked. Amelias face was serious. It wasnt like her usual serious face when she was thinking about cases and mysteries. Her face somehow had a hint of anxiety in it which worried me since this was the first time I saw the confident Amelia like that. She then took a deep breath and pointed her dagger at her. Long TIME no see, Kronii, Amelia grinned. Time spent under the moonlight. You know each other? Moona asked. Weve met each other occasionally, Amelia answered. I am Kronii Ouro, the Warden of Time. Ill always meet with Watson whenever shes being irresponsible with her powers, the black-haired woman added. She pointed her sword at Amelia. This time, however, is different. Im not here to warn you about the consequences of your actions. Im here to get the Primordial Dark. And the Primordial Dark is my friend. I wont let you have him, Amelia said. Are you going to defy me again? You do know that Im always right even back then when you ignored my warnings and caused the death of your teacher. That is that and this is this. Ill protect whatever I can protect. And Ill fight anyone and anything if that means I can get the future I want. And here I thought you learned your lesson. Kronii lunged and swung her sword. However, Moona got in between them and blocked her attack. Im right here, you know? Dont ignore me! she shouted as a silver light appeared on her free hand. Moona shot the silver light but Kronii moved out of the way. Amelia fired her gun but they were deflected by Kroniis sword. Moona swung her sword down and clashed with Kroniis weapons. Kronii was too fast for someone who was doing minimal effort in her movements. Is she speeding herself up? I asked. Good eye, Mikage. As the Warden of Time, I think its possible for her to do that. Her movements are too fast and yet she doesnt look like shes trying to make her muscles move fast, Anya answered. But Moona is doing well. She is not just the chief of the Royal Peko Guards for nothing, Yagoo added. The two of them continued exchanging strikes and it was a stalemate. Amelia fired her gun multiple times but Kronii managed to either dodge or deflect it even if she was busy dealing with Moonas attacks. Amelia charged at her and tried to stab her with a dagger. However, Kronii backed away. Moona took it as a chance and fired a beam of silver light at her but Kronii easily dodged it. You know her, right? Is there a chance you know her weakness? Moona asked. We only met a few times and this is the first time Im fighting her. Without any clues and hints, even a great detective like me cant deduce her weakness, Amelia answered. Is that so? Then I suppose I have no other choice but to get serious. Moonas purple hair began glowing a silver light. She swiftly charged forward as a silver aura surrounded her entire body. Kronii was pushed back when their swords connected. Lunar Blessing. Moona is serious now, Suisei muttered. Whats that? I asked. As the Primordial Moon, Moona is stronger in the evening while the moonlight is shining down on her. Tonight is a night with a full moon so Moonas power is at its peak, Yagoo answered. Amelia tried to assist Moona by firing her gun but despite their combined efforts, Kronii was still uninjured as she dodged and deflected all of their attacks. And then Kronii became faster. Her strikes were inhumanely quick while she was unleashing a barrage of slashes. Moona was somehow able to keep up with her but all she could do was block her attacks. Youre quite good to be able to keep up. But lets see if you can handle me going faster! Kronii shouted. After a few seconds of her onslaught, she managed to break through Moonas defenses. Her sword was about to stab Moonas chest and I thought it was all over. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. And in the next second, Kronii was standing a few meters away from Moona. Also, Amelia was in front of Moona and was pointing her dagger at Kronii. W-What just happened? I asked. I was sure that Kronii was about to stab Moona but for some reason, their positions changed in less than a second. Playing with time again, Watson? Do I have to warn you again about what happens if you keep abusing your powers as the wielder of the Primordial Time? Kronii asked. Like I said, Ill protect whatever I can protect and Ill protect them using any means necessary, Amelia answered. I noticed that she was no longer holding her gun but instead, she was holding her pocket watch. I get it! She stopped time! Anya exclaimed. Oh. So thats why their positions changed in the next second. I thought they were too fast, I said. So why wont Amelia just stop time and finish off Kronii? She can do that, right? Suisei asked. Its probably because Kronii is a member of the Council who was specifically born to counter the Primordial Time. As the Warden of Time, she must have some authority over time too and so, Amelias abilities as the Primordial Times wielder wouldnt have much effect, Yagoo answered. Amelia and Kronii were then clashing their weapons against each other in the next second. After that, they moved all over from one spot to another in the battlefield as if they were teleporting. Youre stopping time too much, Watson! Cut it out! Kronii warned her. If this is what it takes to stop you, then Ill do it over and over again! Amelia shouted. They continued popping from one place in the battlefield after another as they exchanged strikes. From what I can tell, they must be stopping time and fighting each other. That was why they looked like they were teleporting all over the battlefield. Amelia was then kneeling on the ground with Kroniis sword pointing against her neck. Even if you can stop time, you are not a warrior. You cant hope to defeat me in a swordfight, Kronii glared. You got that right. Im more of a detective than a warrior. I never fought like this before, Amelia panted. Kronii was now a few meters away and Moona was standing in between the two of them. Thats why Im letting Moona join the fight, Amelia grinned. It feels weird to move when time is stopped but Ill take anything to make the playing field equal, Moona said. Watson. Stop it now. Its already dangerous whenever you move while time is stopped. If youre going to make that girl an exception, youll be facing dire consequences as punishment for ignoring the natural order, Kronii warned her. Ill take any punishment as long as I can protect my friend. Im NEVER letting anyone die on me ever again, Amelia got up. Even if your actions will lead to future tragedies that will affect many people? Then Ill just figure a way to turn the situation around when those tragedies occur. In the next second, Moona and Kronii were clashing swords and they moved around the battlefield while time stopped. Moona and Amelia had the situation under control I think. Thats why I looked at the other screens to see what was happening. Haato was still beating up one soldier after another while Shion was healing her. However, Mumei was still far away and was relaxing on her throne while eating berries. Calliope and Kiara were dodging the lightning and wind while trying to get close to Fauna. On the other hand, Fauna was keeping the distance by summoning plants to get in her opponents ways. Gura and Lamy were charging towards Sana who was now gigantic in size. Whenever Lamy would try to freeze Sana, the ice would be repelled by an invisible force. Ina was firing Rapid Bombardments while Baelz was manipulating reality. Their surroundings were completely distorted which gave me a headache just by looking at it. Im glad our plan worked, Yagoo said. Yeah. All five of the Council were baited out. Lets just hope they can defeat one of them and run as backup for the rest, Suisei muttered. Anya paled when she heard that. Wait Youre saying you think that you baited all of the Council? she asked. Why, yes. Inanis said that there were only five members so I split the team into five groups, Yagoo answered. I then remembered the Primordial Darks warning and that person still didnt appear. Youre wrong! Theres one more person! And theyre the most dangerous! Anya said. And then something descended from the sky and landed in front of us. Upon further inspection, it was a person. That person had long white hair and a triangle-shaped object was floating above her head. Her outfit was completely white and her emotionless eyes were unnerving. I found you, Primordial Dark, she said. Anya transformed into her sword form and I grabbed her. I could feel the Primordial Dark inside me getting agitated as I prepared for battle. Omega has arrived. Omega蓱 The white-haired person looked at us as I entered a battle stance. This was bad. I could feel Anyas anxiety. Out of all the fights Ive been in, Anya was always calm. Even if facing a seasoned warrior in a tournament while being watched by many people and even if facing a captain of the Westa Knight Order, Anya was always calmly advising me. There might be rare occasions where she would get surprised and panic but she would instantly compose herself. But this time was different. I could feel Anyas unease. It might be because we were fighting her creator and so, she knew what Omega was capable of. Anya, are you okay? I asked. I-Im fine. Its just that this is the most dangerous fight Ive had, she replied. So she is that strong? Omega has no gender so its more appropriate to refer to them as they. As for your question, you will lose the moment they touch you. Our opponent crouched and touched the ground. I had no time to ask what Anya meant by what she said since Omega unleashed their attack. The ground will form spikes in a forward line, they said. And then sharp spikes popped from the ground and were swiftly heading towards us. We moved out of the way and managed to avoid their attack. Not wasting any chance, I charged at them. I willed my shadow to rise up and form into a sharp spike. It then lunged towards them as I was aiming to seriously injure them. The ground will give me an orichalcum sword, they said and a green sword came out from the ground. Omega used the sword to deflect my attack. I expected them to be able to deal with my attack that easily since I was just trying to buy enough time to get close to them. Darkness wrapped around my arms and Anya as I prepared to swing down my sword. This was a type of Dark Magic called Dark Enhancement that would make my attacks stronger and faster. Our weapons clashed and I somehow pushed Omega back. I didnt let them have enough time to recover as I lunged towards them but before I could, they touched their own arm. Omega will be stronger and faster, they said. They swung their sword and I barely blocked their attack. The sheer force of their swing caused cracks to appear in the darkness that covered Anya. Even the vibrations caused by their attack made my arms numb. Omega continued their barrage of attacks and I was barely keeping up. I commanded my shadow to turn into a fist and land an uppercut on them but they dodged it by backing away. Thanks to that, I managed to catch my breath. What kind of magic is that? I asked. Thats not magic. Thats their ability, Absolute Authority, Anya told me. Absolute Authority? Anything they touch will obey their commands. Thats why the ground turned into spikes and gave them a sword. If they touch you and they command you to stop living, youre dead. So thats what you meant by I shouldnt let them touch me. I could now understand why Anya was anxious. This was bad. Fighting while not letting them touch any part of my body was something I wasnt capable of. The other vessels were still busy fighting the Council so I couldnt hope for any backup. Could I even defeat this person on my own? Blue light came down from above and Omega moved out of the way. Then, Suisei charged at them and swung her golden ax. Wait Suisei was capable of fighting? Dont worry, Mikage. Youre not alone in this fight, Yagoo told me. Suisei was actually good at fighting. She managed to avoid all of Omegas swift and strong strikes. However, Omega also dodged both her ax and the blue light that came from the sky. It wasnt the time to be impressed so I joined the battle. The two of us would probably be a challenge for Omega. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. But before I could get near, Omega faced their palm forward. The wind will rapidly swirl around me, they said. And like what they commanded, a mini tornado appeared and knocked both me and Suisei away. I didnt think that they could touch the wind and do that. Synchronicity Release! I shouted as my outfit changed. Oh dear. Youre facing a strong foe, Mikage, Yocleshs silhouette appeared beside me. Thats why I need your help, I said and I charged at my enemy. But even with Oni Rush, I couldnt land a decisive blow against Omega. After a minute of exchanging strikes, I thought I saw an opening. Suisei also saw that and lunged forward with her ax. And then I saw a strange spark in Omegas eyes and it was too late for me to realize that it was a trap. Suisei! Get aw- Omega touched Suiseis arm and pulled her along. And then their mouth moved as they used their Absolute Authority. The Primordial Stars vessel will sleep for three hours. Suisei closed her eyes and collapsed to the ground. My heart was relieved that Omega didnt command her to die and I wasnt complaining on that. However, the second I wasted by breathing a sigh of relief allowed Omega to get through my defenses. With Yocleshs soul resonating in me, I managed to dodge their hand. But the situation turned dire when they touched Anya. The Sword of Records cannot cut Omega. Damn! Anya could no longer damage them so my options were limited. And then, Omega stopped moving. Mikage! Get Suisei and move away! Yagoo shouted and that brought me out of my confusion. I managed to pick up Suisei and run away while Omega was staring blankly. Yagoo was facing his palm at Omega and his face was visibly sweating. He must be doing something in order to let us regroup. Whats going on? I asked. Daydream. As the Primordial Dream, I am capable of manipulating the dreams of people. I was trying to find an opening to put Omega in a daydream and it appeared when she dropped her guard down when she thought she was about to get you, he answered. Omega then moved and touched their arm. Omega will not dream, they said. I figured she would do that. Sorry, Mikage. But this is the best of what I can do for now, Yagoo told me. What should I do? Suisei was asleep. Yagoo couldnt put Omega in another daydream. Anya could no longer cut Omega. My Dark Magic wasnt good enough to defeat her. Wait a minute Magic. Anya. Yoclesh We can only do this, I said as I explained her plan. That seems to be what we can do. But the last time you did it with Merryweather, you got tired and blacked out, Anya said. That just shows how desperate we are, Yoclesh said. Dark Synchronicity: Yoclesh Shadow! I shouted. My shadow rose up and turned into Yocleshs shape. It had a sword made up of darkness on its hand and it did some stretches. How does it feel, Yoclesh? I asked. Its uncomfortable but I can manage, she said. The Yoclesh Shadow charged at Omega and they exchanged strikes. Anya may not be able to cut her but the Yoclesh Shadow, which was made from darkness, should be able to do the job. However, I knew that the Yoclesh Shadow wouldnt be enough. That was why I called for another one of Anyas previous masters. Ars. Lets do this, I said. Very well. Youll be using too much mana so this wouldnt last long, Ars replied. Magic circles appeared above me and fire, lightning, and ice shot out from them. If I couldnt use Anya to harm Omega, I had no other choice but to rely on magic. But even then, all we could do was put the fight in a stalemate. Omega managed to hold on against all of our attacks. This was bad. I could feel my body getting tired as I was nearing the limits of Synchronicity. At this rate, I could get killed. The atmosphere shall solidify and become a controllable figure that is 1000 times my size, Omega commanded. They then swung down their hand and I felt an invisible force crushing me. It was like getting hit with a truck. The pain I felt from that and the fatigue from using Dark Synchronicity and magic caused me to stop using Synchronicity. Omega approached my body and I couldnt even move a muscle. It seemed that we failed. Looks like this was the end of my journey. It was fun to be able to spend a new life in this world. They touched my forehead and I was resigned to my fate. I had no idea why the Council targeted me in the first place but I didnt have the chance to find out. The Primordial Dark will hasten its awakening, Omega made an unexpected command. And before I could question it, darkness came out from my body as I felt a strong surge of power coursing through my veins. ### A/N: The plot just got twisted. The next chapter is the last chapter of Volume 4 before the Epilogue so look forward to it! Awakening Two figures were rapidly exchanging sword strikes against each other. The two of them were inhumanely fast and that was because their time wasnt normal. The first one was wielding two swords. Her name was Kronii Ouro, the Warden of Time. Thanks to her abilities, she was able to speed herself up and unleash a barrage of swift and precise strikes. However, her opponent, Moona Hoshinova, was keeping up with her. Normally, she would be overwhelmed by Kroniis quick attacks but thanks to her allys support, her time was sped up too. Amelia Watson was away from the two and was exerting energy to her pocket watch. She was using her ability as the wielder of the Primordial Times vessel to speed Moona up in order to fight Kronii. She knew she was playing a dangerous game by speeding up Moonas time but she had no other choice. This was the only way in order to defeat their opponent who was also manipulating time. Since both of their times were equal, the fight would be decided by their swordsmanship. Kronii had millennia of experience in wielding dual swords but even with that advantage, Moona was managing to hold on in their fight. Damn it, Watson! Youre getting too irresponsible! Kronii shouted. If that means I can protect my friend, then Ill break any rules! Amelia replied. And then she felt an eerie feeling in her mind. It was as if she was staring at a deep and dark abyss and getting a suspicion that something else was staring back. And to make matters worse, the powerful being living in her watch talked to her. The Primordial Dark is awakening, the Primordial Time said. Moona stopped moving as her face also looked surprised. Amelia could easily deduce that the Primordial Moon may have said something to her too. And in the next second, a pillar of darkness came from the direction where Mikage and the others were hiding. Omega succeeded. Looks like its time to go back, Kroniis stance relaxed and she was about to walk away. Did one of us lose?! Is Mikage dead?! Moona asked worriedly. No. The Primordial Time said that the Primordial Dark is awakening. Whats going on?! Amelia glared at Kronii. Arent you supposed to be a detective? Why dont you get the answer yourself? Kronii smirked at her. Everything became quiet as the world became still. Kroniis body began to move after a second and she sighed. Stopping time again? she asked. Amelia didnt reply as she sprinted towards where Mikage could be. Time repeatedly halted and continued as she ran. There was a limit to how long she could stop time. As a wielder, she had to sacrifice her mana in order to use the abilities of the Primordial Time. And another side effect of it was that she would get hungry. The first time she time traveled was back when she formed a contract with the Primordial Time. She was about to get killed during the Dark Times but the Primordial Time found her. Amelia then made a contract with it and she was sent 4000 years to the future. That was why when Ranpo Doyle found her, she was too hungry and tired to think. Her body was getting tired and her stomach was growling as she stopped time again and again. She knew it was an emergency because the eerie feeling in her mind was getting stronger. Amelia had to get there as soon as possible even if it meant stopping time repeatedly. And when she arrived, she saw Suisei fighting Mikage. Darkness was oozing out of Mikages body and even wrapped his limbs. His face was emotionless as if he was in a trance. Amelia saw that face before. It was the same face that Mikage made back in the Idol Fan Tournament when the Primordial Dark took over his body. So this is what the Primordial Time meant by awakening, Amelia thought. Mikage raised the darkness-enhanced Anya and was about to cut down Suisei. If it werent for Amelia stopping time and grabbing her, Suisei would be cleaved in two. Amelia! Great timing! Yagoo shouted. Whats going on?! she asked. A girl named Omega touched Mikage and commanded the Primordial Dark to hasten its awakening. After that, Mikage started attacking anyone in sight! I had to control Suisei and even then, Im barely holding on! Amelia noticed that Suiseis eyes were closed and she was snoring. If Yagoo was using the Primordial Dreams Sleepwalk ability, he must be very desperate. Shadows formed into spikes and lunged at Amelia and Suisei. Time stopped once again and Amelia moved out of the way. What should we do? Amelia asked. I have no idea, Yagoo said. Mikages shadow rose and lunged towards them and Amelia stopped time to avoid it. However, she was reaching her limit. She already used too much energy in her fight with Kronii and she even had to extend her authority to make Moona an exception to the rules of time. The situation was getting dire. Mikage! Snap out of it! Dont let the Primordial Dark take over! Amelia shouted. It was a desperate move and she wasnt surprised that it had no effect. Mikages shadow lunged once more and Amelia was about to stop time when a flaming object descended from the sky. This looks very bad, Kiara got out of the flames and pointed her sword at Mikage. Kiara! Thank goodness, youre here! Amelia breathed a sigh of relief. It seems theres no time to explain. Mikages really aiming to kill all of us, Kiara said as she dodged Mikages shadow. Hes not himself! We have to knock him out! Can we even do that? My instincts are telling me hes the most dangerous being I fought in my entire life. Stolen novel; please report. Kiara got Mikages attention and managed to hold on against his attacks. She might be a pacifist but her experience from her long life in this world made her a formidable foe. The situation looked like it was manageable since Kiara was doing well against Mikages relentless shadow attacks. But things took a turn for the worse when the eerie feeling in Amelias mind strengthened. Several creatures made from darkness appeared. Bats, wolves, serpents, and even dragons surrounded them. Even if Kiara was a powerful phoenix, there was no way she would be able to defeat all of them on her own. If we retreat here, theres no guarantee that Mikage would calm down on his own. Theres a huge chance that hell cause a tragedy with his powers. We dont have a choice but to stop him here, Amelia thought. Bolts of light hit the creatures made from darkness as a girl in a purple witchs outfit descended from the sky. Hey! Why is that man attacking you? Shion asked. Shion! Wheres Haato?! Amelia looked at her. Haato is resting. When Mumei left without warning, she got out of Full Lunacy. Shes experiencing extreme fatigue now. Amelia was actually hoping that Haato could help them. Her Full Lunacy would be able to give them a fighting chance against Mikage and his army of darkness. With Shions magic and Kiaras flames, they managed to hold their ground against Mikages shadow creatures. However, the odds were against their favor. For every shadow creature they defeat, a new one will appear. Their enemies were endless while their stamina was limited. Even if Shion, Yagoo, and the sleeping Suisei were vessels of Primordial Beings with powerful Life Forces, they couldnt fight forever. The sound of the cannon roars. The firing of the guns shall commence. Come forth, Rapid Bombardment! a females voice chanted and several bolts of light hit the shadow creatures. A large wave of water flooded down and pushed the army of darkness away. In the next second, the water froze and the battlefield turned into a frozen wasteland. Amelia turned around and saw Inanis, Gura, and Lamy. I would make a DARK joke but this is not the TIME for that. It would turn the already dire situation into a COLD and awkward atmosphere that even MAGICAL WATER cant wash away. Ill just DREAM of a day when my jokes would make the STARS laugh, Ina grinned. Ina! Gura! Lamy! Just in time! Amelia felt hope blooming in her heart. Mikages shadow rose up just in time to shield himself from getting hit by a silver beam of light. I finally caught up, Moona said as she jogged towards the battlefield. Whats the situation, Ame? Gura asked as she stood beside the blonde detective. Mikage lost control again. We need to knock him out, Amelia answered. So this is what the Primordial Ice meant when they told me that the Primordial Dark is awakening? Lammy wondered as an ice sword appeared near her. This is odd. The Primordial Knowledge is refusing to give me information about Mikage, Inanis frowned. What do you mean? Ame looked at her. They are saying they dont want to anger the Primordial Dark. Its not the time for that! Hes coming! Moona shouted and they all prepared for battle. Even with all of them working together, the battle was still a stalemate. Moona and Kiara were able to get near Mikage and force him to fight in close quarters. Shion, Gura, Amelia, Lamy, and Suisei, who was being controlled in her sleep by Yagoo, were dealing with the shadow creatures and making sure that Moona and Kiara could focus on Mikage. What the hell is wrong with him? He''s using that much darkness and hes still not tired? Gura asked while panting. How strong is his Life Force? Lamy asked. Even more creatures made from darkness appeared and the rest of them were getting worried. Amelia felt that she was fighting an unstoppable machine who had total control over every single darkness in existence. A pink-haired girl jumped in and swung her scythe. In one swift motion, she cut down a shadow that had the form of a dragon. Am I late? Calliope asked. Its okay! Were going to need all the fighters we can get! Gura told her. The eerie feeling in Amelias mind became stronger as a powerful wave of darkness came out of Mikage and pushed Kiara and Moona away. Amelia. Now that Calliope is here, we have to be prepared to do the worst solution for this problem, Yagoo had a grim expression. Dont tell me that youre planning to kill him?! Amelia glared at him. Thats the worst solution. If he doesnt calm down before all of us get defeated, we might have to use Deaths Embrace in order to put him down for good. Even if his Life Force is strong as a vessel, its not infinite. But that would make this entire thing pointless! Were supposed to protect him! Amelia. Do you want us to get killed? Do you want him to walk around in this world like that and cause chaos and destruction? Amelia bit back her words. Logically speaking, it would be for the best if they would do that. She was even sure that Mikage would agree and forgive them. But for some reason, she was refusing to let her friend die. She hated losing people who were important to her. No Thats not the worst solution, she thought as she stared at her pocket watch. She was the wielder of the Primordial Times vessel. Her authority with time would let her get out of this situation as long as she was prepared to face the consequences. Calliope charged at Mikage as a black haze came out of her body. W-Wait! Calli! We still havent decided to kill him yet! Amelia shouted. But it was too late. Deaths Embrace touched Mikages body and Amelia was prepared to use her last resort. And then nothing happened. Mikage didnt even look bothered by the black haze as he commanded his shadow to rise up and impale Calliope. Thinking fast, Amelia stopped time and moved Calliope out of the way. Thanks, Ame, Calliope said. What were you doing?! Amelia asked. Im just testing things out and just as I feared, we cant do Yagoos plan. What do you mean? Yagoo looked at her. Hes like those Council and Kiara. He has an infinite Life Force. He is a deathless creature. The gears in Amelias brain started to work rapidly as she tried to come up with an explanation. She could feel that she already knew the reason because she already saw the necessary clues. But the more she tried to grasp it, the faster it fled away. So we cant do a thing? Shion asked. No. We still have a chance. All five of us are here, Kiara grinned. Oh yeah. Its been some time since all of us are together, Gura exclaimed. With the five of us, its common KNOWLEDGE that we would defeat any enemy in no TIME. No WATER can douse out the powerful FLAME called our teamwork and we can even bring DEATH to anyone who stands in our way, Inanis said as her book floated in front of her. Very well. Shall we go with Formation C? Calliope asked. Lets do this then, Amelia answered as she gripped her pocket watch harder. Kiara went to the front as Gura and Calliope were on her sides. Inanis and Amelia were at the back and were ready to support them. Just you wait, Mikage. Ill be sure to save you, Amelia swore in her mind. Then, the eerie feeling in their minds became stronger as all of the shadow creatures in the area turned into waves of darkness and surrounded Mikage. Whats happening? Moona asked. The darkness along with the eerie feeling disappeared. And Mikage was nowhere to be seen. Epilogue: Things with shape have a sense of will (Volume 4) A red-skinned oni charged at a black-haired man with eyes that had a black sclera. The mans shadow rose up and turned into a wall which blocked the onis sword. His shadow turned into a fist and hit his enemy which caused her to be blown away. Gotcha! a red-haired man managed to catch her. Thanks, Ryuuki, the oni said. A little bit on their right was a black-haired beastman who was wearing a black military uniform and fighting several creatures made from darkness. He was able to push them back using his exceptional skills in wielding dual swords. Merry is doing well and pushing those creatures back. So lets work together on beating that pseudo-Mikage. Stay calm, Yoclesh, Ryuuki told her. Yoclesh could feel a very bad vibe from their enemy. An eerie feeling was on her mind and while she knew that feeling very well, she couldnt remember where she felt it. All she knew was that the person in front of her was someone she should get angry at. Enhancement: Legs! Enhancement: Arms! Ryuuki shouted as Enhancement Magic surrounded his limbs. The two of them charged at the black-haired man but his shadow rose up and turned into spikes. Ryuuki blocked the shadow and Yoclesh even managed to avoid them and got close once more to her opponent. She swung her sword and was about to cut down her enemy when her shadow rose up and punched her. A strong wave of darkness came out from the black-haired man and pushed the three away. Judging from your attack, you were seriously aiming to hurt me. Then youd better not complain if I return the favor, he pointed his index finger at her and his shadow transformed into hundreds of spikes. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. The spikes lunged at the three and they had no time to get up and defend themselves. Barrier of the Immovable Guardian! a womans voice shouted and a round barrier protected the three. A blue dragonewt stepped forward while a girl with white hair, a man with purple fur, a man with two horns, and a beastman with brown hair followed him. Yoclesh. Stand down, the blue dragonewt commanded her. S-Shiki, Yoclesh muttered. You are a fool for taking on an enemy you cant hope to beat. And you even dragged Merryweather and Ryuuki into your hopeless fight. But that person is an invader! He suddenly appeared here in Mikages soul and from his aura, I can feel that hes dangerous! Enough is enough, Yoclesh. Youre being disrespectful to the one who was here before us. He was here before us? The man with the purple fur chuckled. Whats so funny, Miyuki? Yoclesh glared at him. Oh. Its just that you got so angry that you didnt notice one obvious thing thats missing in this room, he replied. And thats when Yoclesh realized that the important part of Mikages soul was gone. Every time they would materialize in Mikages soul, they would see a huge swirling ball of darkness. And yet this time, it was nowhere to be seen. No wonder that person is too powerful, Merryweather sighed. Im guessing even if all of us would work together, we cant beat him, huh? Ryuuki asked. The blue dragonewt walked forward towards the black-haired man and knelt down. I apologize for the rude actions of my colleagues, Primordial Dark. Anniversary Q&A Special Today is the first anniversary of From Another World (or at least, when it was published for the first time in Wattpad). That is why I opened up a Q&A there and collected questions from my readers to ask any character they wanted. And here are the results!!!! [From: BoltBlaster_2245] To: Mikage ''this man'' kamishiro Did you wash anya regularly?(in her sword form of course) Mikage: I actually dont need to do it. Whenever Anya would transform from her human form into her sword form, she would be in perfect condition. Temma even told me that Im lucky I dont have to do maintenance on her like any other sword. [From: Sento_Build] To: Mikage and Amelia Do you both plan getting on a Romantic Relationship and be Happy with each other Pls answer me honestly. Amelia: I may not be planning on that right now but theres no reason why I shouldnt date Mikage. But Im sure that there are better girls for him out there. Mikage: Assuming those better girls would fall for me in the first place. Amelia: Come on. Be more confident in yourself! You have lots of redeeming qualities! You deserve more than just a detective who doesnt trust anyone and will investigate things the moment doubts form in her mind. Mikage: But youre not just any detective. Youre a master detective. And if youre the type to investigate things the moment you think something is wrong, then you must be an amazing partner who can fix things without me gathering up the courage to say that theres a problem in the first place. Amelia: O-Oh. Thats an interesting way of looking at things. [From: Axieathoth-Verse] To: Ayame Yo dayo! When will you appear in this book? (if I haven''t forgoten) and can I have a hug? Ayame: What book? I dont even have time for hugs since Im dealing with troublesome things in the Demon Realm. To: Suisei Can I have a hug? also, how are you? Suisei: Sorry. Im an idol so the best I can give you are handshakes. As for how Im feeling, Im worried about Mikage since he disappeared like that. But Im going to trust Ina since she knows that Mikage is not in danger. [From: Knoxxunor] To: Noel How did you get so strong?! I wanna know your secret. Noel: I was born with good muscles. But thats not enough. I trained hard in order to use my muscles to their full potential. Im not going to say that if you work hard, you can become as strong as me. However, keep in mind that I am this strong because I worked hard. To: Mikage How do you handle stress with your job? Surely the paperwork gets overwhelming. Mikage: I got used to it. I also talked to Temma every night back when we shared a room in the barracks. When I lived in Amelias house, I just talked to Oga whenever we had training sessions. They are good listeners and I can vent my stress. To: Ina Does Ao-chan talk? Like out right just talk to you, no riddles and cryptids bullshit. Just a conversation. Ina: AO-chan talks to me a lot. We would theorize together on many things and shes a fun conversation partner since she knows everything. And we often have pun battles but I never beat her cause she knows every single pun out there. To: Amelia What''s your worst and best case you have experienced? Amelia: The best case I experienced was my first case. Ranpo left on a business trip while Shellin and I were watching over the agency. A client came by saying her child was kidnapped and Shellin and I had a contest. That was my first fight and first win against Shellin. His frustrated face was fun and memorable. As for the worst case It has to be that case where I was powerless despite having authority over time and caused Ranpos death To: Anya How do you spend your days if you''re not in battle? Anya: I try to stay beside Mikage at all times. I even help him out with his job. But if I have nothing fun to do, I just wander around the 13th units barracks and talk to cats. To: Spade Echo Teach me some tricks on stealing stuff. You were always good at it and I wanna know. Spade Echo: Your poker face is very important. Dont let anyone think that you are stealing or have stolen something. Always have that natural face that makes your victims not suspect anything before and after you take your prey. To: Temma Your always my fave so have a cookie. Temma: Thank you! I wont refuse free food and a compliment like that! To: Oga What was the most memorable quest you have taken? Oga: Oh. Thats an easy question. The quest to end the Dark Times! When I graduated from the Underworld Academy, I was offered lots of jobs like being a general of the army, a teacher, and even the Leaders bodyguard. But I rejected all of them and just became a regular adventurer. A few years later, I was given a quest to join a group of heroes to end the Dark Times once and for all! [From: RocketBlade] To: Mikage Have you ever played any games from the yakuza series? If so, can you sing 24 hour Cinderella for me? Mikage: Yakuza?? I dont know any games like that. But 24 Hour Cinderella reminds me of that song called All-Day Cendrillon from a game called Mafia. It was a game that was about a serious crime drama involving the Italian syndicate. Pretty fun game with wacky moments despite the serious plot. [From: BlazingTempest] To: Mikage Do you like almonds? Mikage: I dont dislike or like it. But I would eat it whenever Pekora would offer one back when we traveled together to find the Hall of Memories. [From: Plz_Respawn] To: Mikage Did you try to take something from secret stash Mikage: Secret stash?? I know lots of secret stashes. Which one are you talking about? [From: Hakuno2568] To: Amelia How did you meet kronii? Amelia: I first met her when I attempted to time leap to the past for the first time in order to prevent a case from happening. She warned me about the consequences of my actions but she didnt stop me. And now I know why she was warning me all those times. I learned my lesson the hard way. To: Noel Who was the toughest opponent you''ve ever encountered? Noel: In a serious fight where the loser died, it would be that bandaged man who attacked Mikage. I had no idea how to beat him since my punches couldnt do anything. And since I dont know any other ways to fight, I wouldve lost. But thinking about it, there are more dangerous people out there even if my punches could damage them. I couldnt beat my big brother despite being physically stronger than him and if Oga was seriously aiming to kill me, things wouldnt have gone that way in the Idol Fan Tournament. Theres also that monster who is the captain of the 1st unit. Even if it was just a casual duel, I was just toyed around with! It was so frustrating! To: Anya Who has been you''re most skilled wielder? Anya: Everyones strong in different ways. Its like comparing apples and bananas or praising a monkey for climbing a tree better than a dog. Yoclesh is formidable in one-on-one combat with her Oni Rush. Ryuuki cant be overwhelmed once he uses his Enhancing magic. Merryweather can take on an entire army with his Royal Dual Wielding. Ars is a powerful archmage. Leo is an unstoppable force. Jiihn is one of the best battle mages in history. Miyuki united all of the demon tribes and founded the Demon Realm. Shiki saved the world. I still have to see what Mikage is truly capable of but hes been impressing me and my previous masters. To: Mikage If the Unkindness offered you a chance to go home but you will lose all your memories that you''ve made in this world. Will you take it? Mikage: No. From what Anya said, I already died in my old world from a car accident. It would bring lots of problems if a dead man just returned to the world like that, right? And even if they somehow fixed that problem, I still wouldnt take it. The bonds and memories I made in this world are important. I may forget Amelia and my other friends but they wont forget me. It would just be selfish. [From: NotSeki404] To: the Unkindness Are there benefits to joining? And do you have insurance? Bandaged man: So You are interested in joining us? The Unkindness does not exist on paper. Thus, we have no employee benefits or even insurance. However, you will be surprised with the benefits you can receive from the unexpected connections you can make. Member A: Like one time, I went to the supermarket and I made an off-hand comment about our operations in the Demon Realm. The cashier looked me straight in the eyes and said, For the Unkindness, as he didnt scan some of my expensive items and just placed them in my bag. Bandaged man: You also get free knowledge about advanced Dark Magic. To: Spade Echo How would you react to another phantom thief in town? Would you join forces with them? Would you fight? Spade Echo: I would just ignore them. Im not someone who would pick unnecessary fights. However, if that phantom thiefs target is also my target, itll be a contest on who can steal it. I may not pick unnecessary fights but when I do, Ill do my best to win. To: Anya Give me your secrets to sleeping pls, I need it- Anya: Its simple. Just get tired. Use up all of your energy during the day so that when you lie down, you will instantly fall asleep. I know because I once used up too much of my energy and fell asleep for 4000 years. [From: Holoficfan] To: Mikage Any girl you fancy? ;) Or not thinking of having a relationship yet? Mikage: I dont really try to think about relationships. Even if I want to, I have no time because for some very odd reason, incidents happen around me. The Unkindness is also out to get me so I dont want to drag a person into this mess just because they have a special bond with me. [From NokutokaMomiji] To: Amelia What are some tips for becoming a better detective? Amelia: Having an open mind is very vital. Learn the difference between what is impossible and what is improbable. Because once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. To: Anya Do swords dream? And if they do, what do they dream of? Anya: I dont dream. When I fall asleep, I can choose to just let time pass by or hang out with my previous masters. I was surprised to find out that I fell asleep for 4000 years. It felt like yesterday when I fought with Yoclesh in the Dark Times and then when I opened my eyes again, I saw Mikage. To: Mikage Harem or no harem? Mikage: If I love someone, I would dedicate my entire self to them. And since that level of dedication is hard to do, Id rather just do it to only one person. To: Noel How is it like to be super strong? Noel: Its a responsibility. I know that I can easily hurt someone if Im not careful. And its hard because Im expected to solve the problems at hand since Im strong. But at least its satisfying to see my opponents tremble in fear when they realize that the crushed walls made by my punches couldve been their bones! To: Mikage If you were forced to go back to your world and take one person with you, who would you take? Mikage: I will definitely take Yogiri back with me. Im sure her family is worried about her. Theres no way Im leaving her behind in this world. [From Enity1007] To: Primordial Dark Do you have communication problem? Also, do the other Wielder of Sword of Record host a welcome party for you since you are technically living in this definitely not an apartment inside Mikages heart from now on? Primordial Dark: I dont have communication problems! I didnt talk to Mikage because I had no idea I could talk. I couldnt even think! But if I feel a strong emotion or if there is danger, words would form in my mind and I would talk to him.. Now that I can talk to him thanks to having freewill, Ill be bothering him lots of times. The other wielders of the Sword of Records didnt host a welcome party though. But at least Yoclesh apologized to me so all is well! [From: baelzsimp] To: Omega What''s your relationship with Primordial Dark? Omega: He is my twin. He may claim to be older than me but no one knows what the truth is. To: Mikage What was the worst injury you got in your original world since people tend to start fights with you? Mikage: Hmmm If I were to choose, its when I was stabbed by a knife for the first time. I made the mistake of pulling out the knife which caused me to fight while bleeding badly. I even had to receive a blood transfusion back then. Ever since that day, I would enter the clinic with knives still stabbed on my body. I still wonder why they think that a guy walking with a knife poking out of his body is worse than a guy bleeding. To: HoloMyth How did you all meet and did you five start out straight away as friends or were you five enemies at some point? Amelia: Kiara and I met during the Dark Times. Kiara: And I got involved with Calli when I died for the first time! She was confused since she was still a newbie Grim Reaper and made a fuss to her mentor that I was breaking the natural order. Calliope: Oh yeah. Back when Teacher Death was still the vessel of the Primordial Death. Those were good times. Ina: I met Gura when I went to Atlantis and helped out in researching new magic that would detoxify their water system. Gura: Ina! That was when we first met each other as a group and worked together. Ame and her master along with that other detective were called to investigate the poisoned water supply! Kiara: Oh yeah! Thats also when I met Ame again after she disappeared for more than 4000 years! I remembered how Calli was confused since she couldn''t find Ames soul among the dead people and no records said that she reincarnated. Calliope: Yeah. And speaking of us meeting in Atlantis, I came there because you tricked me to go and hang out with you! Kiara: No, no. I didnt trick you to hang out with me there. I tricked you to go on a date with me there! Amelia: Anyways, all of us got tangled in a complicated case that involved a political power struggle along with a hidden army of rebels. Ina: And thats when we kicked their butts and noticed that we got along well! We had lots of adventures ever since that day, right? Gura: And therell be more to come! [From: HeroJani] To: Spade Echo It was mentioned you had a friend which Mikage reminds you of. May I ask if you will search them or accepted that they won''t appear again for you? Spade Echo: Im sure Mitsukage has a reason why he disappeared. And whatever reason it was, I will respect it. I just want him to know that Im doing well and that Im still the same old mischievous Momo. He may or may not appear again but he will still be in my memories as the one who helped me think of the name Spade Echo. To: Temma How did you meet Noel for the first time? What was your first thoughts about her and did that change over time? Temma: The Kishido Family and the Shirogane Family are close with each other since they are both families which are filled with knights. I first met Captain Noel when I accompanied my father on his visit. My jaw dropped when a girl younger than me was able to smash open a wooden door with just a little punch. Our interactions increased when I became the vice captain of the 13th unit, which at that time was being led by her grandfather. My cousin was the former vice captain but he was killed in action so I had succeeded his position. She would occasionally visit her grandfather along with her older brother who was recently scouted by the 1st unit. At first, I thought of her as an idiotic musclehead and honestly speaking, I groaned when a younger girl with that kind of attitude became the captain of the 13th unit when her grandfather retired. But there was one incident where she showed her real strength and her natural charisma to just bring the entire unit together which made me slowly respect her. Whats that incident? Its a long story. In any case, I totally respect her. I just wish she would take paperwork seriously though. To: Noel It was stated your family is a big tier in Westa. Was there once a situation where you would have liked to be looked at differently, not for your reputation but rather just as a normal person? Noel: I dont think I felt that before. All my life, Ive been satisfied being a member of the Shirogane Family. I like fighting and being a knight so I didnt mind being forced to continue the family business. But if I had one complaint, it is that I can feel Flare trying hard to match up with me. Shes amazing on her own but people are more likely to believe my words as a knight from the Shirogane Family as compared to her, a half-elf ranger. If they knew her secret, people would respect her because of her lineage but Flare doesnt want to use that. And thats why she is amazing. My familys reputation had a major role in my authority today while Flare did all of the work herself. That is something I could never try as long as I carry my name. To: Amelia If there was one thing in your life that you regret, which would it be and would you change it if you were able to? Amelia: If theres one thing I learned as the wielder of the Primordial Times vessel, is that changing the past is a very dangerous game. That is my deepest regret all this time. If possible, I would want to change the past and make my younger self realize that lesson before I would create tragedies. I dont want to gamble with it anymore unless I absolutely have no other ways to save the people important to me. To: Mikage How do you view the primordial darkness? Is it more like a rent-free being or rather helpful like the previous owners of Anya? Mikage: The Primordial Dark hasnt been responding to me before Omega awakened him. Before he awakened, he was helpful since he lets me command darkness. My only complaint is that he took over my body several times already and rampaged. To: Anya How is/ was your favourite owner you had so far and why? Anya: Everyone of them had their own charms and quirks. There is no perfect owner since they are all flawed one way or another. But if I were to choose, it would be Ars because I had fun experimenting with magic with her. All of my other wielders prefer fighting and violence over learning new things. To: the Unkindness I am interested, would your organisation be what it currently is if you were more widely known? Would you like to change anything about your organisation or do you think it is perfect as it is? Bandaged man: The day the Unkindness will be known is the day we have accomplished our goals. We cannot accomplish them if our existence is known so secrecy is a must. But if I were going to change something about the organization, I would change the system of knowing our members. Our connections run deep but we are a forbidden secret. Only the Living Darknesses know who the members are. The rest of the organization has no idea. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Member B: I was surprised that the girl I hooked up with on a dating site was also a member! Member C: No way! We really do have connections everywhere! Bandaged man: Maybe a secret handshake will do To: Omega and the Council Can we consider your doing as a threat to the current status quo between the primordial beings and you? Do you have morals and if yes what would be considered as a point of no return for you? Kronii: I just bonk whoever is the wielder of the Primordial Times vessel. Thats how I interacted with Watson. Sana: I just follow Baes lead. Fauna: Same. Mumei: I forgot why though. Baelz: Theres a reason for everything. I just follow Omegas orders. They have a good reason, right? Omega: Yes. Baelz: And do you want to share it with us? Omega: No. Fauna: At least you tried, Bae. To: Ina You have knowledge even about other Universes. Is it possible for you to find out the fates of other people? Where lies your limit as a being who possibly owns every knowledge there is to the world? Ina: My knowledge is only about this universe. The only reason why I knew about the magic of another world is because Mikage returned from that world and brought new knowledge with him. I can only know what other sentient creatures know. And what counts as knowledge is very strict. Like a sentient creature must whole-heartedly believe without even a single shred of doubt that an information is true in order for it to become knowledge. And sometimes, Ao-chan wont give me the knowledge I seek. She has many reasons and I dont want to waste time debating against someone who knows everything from the dawn of time until today. To: Yagoo Where lies your responsibilities? Has a dream of you told you of possible dangers which will soon emerge? Yagoo: Yes. My prophetic dreams are accurate and Ive averted many crises with it. I have the necessary power to make the world live another day. And Im going to use it in the right way. To: Yogiri Is Mikage still the same from back then or has he changed? And do you think you should help him and the others more? Yogiri: Its been years since I last saw him before I met him again in this world. He seems to have mellowed down and acts more rationally. But I can still see the bloody white tiger hidden inside him. I know hes dealing with dangerous things and I want to help him more. But the way I am right now, I might be a burden. Thats why Im practicing Light Magic like theres no tomorrow. So that I can help my friend! [From: Kdburke2] To: Amelia What do you think of Mikage? Any perhaps romantic feelings for him? Amelia: Mikage is an amazing person. He easily adjusted to this world even if he says that his previous world was a peaceful place. I dont think my feelings for him right now are romantic but Im not going to deny that I would sometimes think about a potential future with him. Its just a girl thing, after all. To: Suisei What do you think of Mikage? Any perhaps, romantic feelings for him? Suisei: Mikage reminds me of the person who saved my life and gave me a chance to live a good life. That is why I have nothing but respect and admiration for him. Besides, Im an idol! I cant just sing for one person! To: Mikage What do you think of Amelia and Suisei, any perhaps, romantic feelings for either of them? Mikage: Both of them are amazing girls so I wont be surprised if I fall for one of them. Amelia might be a difficult partner though since I cant hide secrets from her. That means Ill have a difficult time surprising her. As for Suisei, while she might act like a cute idol, I have a feeling that shes hiding something from me. Like she knows something important about me but shes not telling anybody. To: Baelz If according to your Rule Of Chaos, if doing something to you will do nothing, then if somebody were to sit there and do nothing, will that do something? Baelz: You misunderstood my ability. I can twist the rules of reality however I want. And if I twist something, the rest wont be affected. For example, if I twist the rule that fire would make things wet instead of burning them, only fire would be affected. Water will still be water and not burn things unless I twist it too. To answer your question, I can twist the rule so that doing something will do nothing to me. But as long as I dont twist things further, doing nothing will still be doing nothing. To: Amelia Have you ever heard of Rihoto Sasaki? If so, what do you think of him as a Detective? Amelia: You mean Rihito? Hes Shellins student, right? Shellin would sometimes brag about how he has a brilliant student who might even surpass Ranpo Doyle. Im curious to meet him and see why Shellin said that. Shellin might be Shellin but if he is saying that, then Rihito must be an exceptional person. [From: acroyang] To: Ina Have you ever had a dream that, that, um, that you had, uh, that you had to, you could, you do, you wit, you wa, you could do so, you do you could, you want, you wanted him to do you so much you could do anything? Ina: This is unbelievable. AO-chan does not know what you are trying to say. I should bring you into my lab and analyze you as a creature that even the Primordial Knowledge doesnt understand. [From: Damascus_1271] To: Anya if you had to describe Mikage in one sentence what would it be? Anya: Someone who gets things done, one way or another. [From: VorpalCall] To: Noel, Temma, and Mikage Whats the weirdest thing that youve done or encountered in your time at the 13th unit? Mikage: All Ive seen are weird things Westa is a rowdy place. Noel: Really? Its just business as usual here. Mikage: Wait. Those things are just normal?! Noel: While I do agree that there are more incidents than usual after you got summoned here, its not weird. Temma: But if I have to name one weird thing that happened It would be the time when Captain Noel officially took over the unit. Noel: That was weird?! Temma: You blabbed about getting the respect of your subordinates since they wouldnt agree that a young girl would be the captain. So you made us do that thing. Mikage: What did she do? What kind of thing did she do that would make all other events in this city normal in comparison? Noel: I just beat all of you in an arm wrestling competition! Its not that of a big deal! Mikage: Oh.. Temma: But you faced two people at once. And you didnt even lose or budge as you defeated everyone! Mikage: That is weird. To: Anya, Sword of Records Wielders, and maybe Primordial Darkness? What''s it like living in Mikages Magnificent Mindspace? Do you guys have any sort of entertainment like checkers or cards? Maybe a TV that''s just Mikages memories or something? And how do you like Mikage? Anya: The wielders dont live inside Mikage. They live inside me. We only visit Mikages mind whenever we want to. Ars: However, there is a way to see Mikages memories and its like a huge screen that Anya can control. Primordial Dark: Its pretty cozy though! And Mikage seems like a fun guy from his memories! Yoclesh: He is a fun and creative guy. Shiki: Hell go far if he trains hard. To: Anya What was a legendary weapon from the Dark Times doing in a bargain bin in a random weapon shop in Westa? Anya: I have no idea. I fell asleep for more than 4000 years and I woke up to see that Mikage bought me for a cheap price WHO WOULD SELL A LEGENDARY SWORD LIKE ME IN THAT PRICE?! I SWEAR IM GOING TO MAKE AMELIA TRACK DOWN WHO PUT THAT PRICE ON ME AND ILL LET THAT PERSON SEE WITH THEIR OWN EYES HOW IM THE LEGENDARY ANYA MELFISSA!! To:Anya What''s it like to be a sword? How does it feel when you cut or clash against something? Mikage and your previous wielders took good care of you right? You havent rusted or gotten dull at all right? If you have, I''ll have to silently judge them for it behind this wall Anya: When Im in my weapon form, I dont feel anything unless I want it to. Thats how Im able to calmly advise my wielders no matter how intense the fight is. And Ill have you know I am the Sword of Records. I dont rust or get dull. Thats just one of the many legendary abilities I have. To: HoloMyth Howd you all meet? I could see the primordial vessels all meeting for some reason like with the council arc but what about Kiara? And how many formations do you guys have? Amelia: As answered in the previous question, we met in Atlantis because of a case. Ina: Yes. It was an interesting case with politics involved. Calliope: And hidden rebels. Kiara: And incompetent and corrupt government officials. Gura: Instead of badmouthing Atlantis like that, lets focus on the second question! We have many formations for lots of situations. Ina: I devised all of them with Ames help! Amelia: Callis Death Embrace is powerful and with Kiaras firepower, we can beat anything. Gura can also support them and act as a mid-range fighter. Kiara: Ina and Ame would support from behind with magic and guns. And if things go really bad, Ame could manipulate time and bail us out. Gura: We are a legendary team. We can beat anyone. To: Haato Are you okay? How do you deal with being the vessel of literal insanity itself? Need a snickers or whatever counts for that in this world? Haato: I just got used to it. Its like being born with a disability. Its inconvenient but you get used to it. But unlike disabilities, I have a benefit such as being an expert Mind Mage and being able to make anyone insane with just a snap of a finger. To: Ina How does the Primordial Knowledge feel about puns? Do you use them as a joke book in your spare time? Ina: AO-chan loves puns. For you see, puns are artworks made by smart minds. It just shows how complex the communication process is and how finely crafted languages and words are! Thats why we have pun battles despite me never winning once. To: Kiara Do you have any KFP franchises and if so how many? And I probably shouldnt ask but how many...usual rooms are there? I mean the usual room isnt a thing in this universe right?...right? Kiara: Theres only one KFP and thats in Westa. I do plan on expanding and building new shops in several locations though. And what do you mean usual room? I have kitchens, employee lockers, a dungeon, and an office like any other restaurant. To: Amelia, Suisei, and Yogiri What''s your opinion/how do you feel about: The Traverser of Worlds, Administrative Officer of the Westa Knight Orders 13th Unit, Assistant Detective to Amelia Watson, Befriender of Demon(s) and Dragon(s), 9th weirder of the Sword of Records, The Chizome no Byakko, Supporter of Gender Equality , The one who lead the charge on the Abyssal Chasm Raid Zone, Reclaimer of Lost Memories, Champion of Suisei Hosimachi, Winner of the Idol Fan Tournament, The one who Prevailed Against a Hero of Old(By technicality), The one who faced the Council''s Strongest(and lost), Conqueror of Moryo Dungeon, Epic Gamer, Vessel to Primordial Darkness, Mikage This Man Kamishiro? Suisei: As Ive said in the previous question, I admire him since he resembles a man who saved my life. Amelia: He is amazing for someone who came from a peaceful world. And its never boring whenever hes around because like it or not, hes a trouble magnet. Yogiri: Hes the first person who didnt underestimate me because Im a girl. And for that, I have nothing but respect and admiration for him. To: Mikage Which of your titles do you like the most? Throughout your time in the new world what are you most proud of doing? Mikage: The 9th wielder of the Sword of Records sounds awesome. Every single one of Anyas wielders are legendary. And being able to have the same title as them is an amazing thought. For your second question, my greatest accomplishment in this world is managing to finish months worth of paperwork in just days. The higher ups were even impressed with me! But thats something I dont want to do again. To: Amelia What do the words ground pound mean to you and how do they make you feel? Amelia: It means pounding the ground, right? It makes me imagine someone smashing something to the ground. Like a hammer. Speaking of smashing something to the ground, I remembered one sad case where a young man pounded his mothers head to the ground. That was a tragic murder case that was born out of a misunderstanding and mismanaged emotions. To: Amelia Have you ever had a pet? I feel like a pet doggo could help with your investigations (Please dont tell me Bubba existed 4000 years ago because that means Bubba got frickin deleted :c) Amelia: I always thought of getting a pet but Im afraid I wont be able to take proper care of it. I am a detective. Who knows when Ill meet my end because of a mistake in my investigations? Id rather not have a pet that will wonder why Ill never return home. To: The Unkindness (Anyone weve met so far. So uh all the dead ones. I think) Who decided your name? Was it like a joint effort over a brunch or did one of you just decide to be called The Unkindness? Bandaged man: In many literature, the raven is often the symbol of the Primordial Dark. That is why a group of people who are involved with the Primordial Dark is called the Unkindness. We decided on that name because we drew lots. I forgot the other suggestions since it was more than 4000 years ago. To: The Unkindness Oh and how do you join? Is it a recruitment thing where you come to me or is there like an abandoned building somewhere where I sign up? If I do end up joining, what''s the pay like? And is there a union or insurance? Bandaged man: We scout our members. If we believe you can contribute to our goal, then you are invited. And if you do end up joining, you get to keep your life. We also make sure that the living expenses and other needs of our members are met as long as they are still beneficial to our group. For the last question, there is no insurance. But I believe the benefits youll receive makes up for that. Member D: I once gathered up lots of debt in a casino in Pekoland and was about to be sent to prison. But the next day, the people I owed disappeared without a trace! No one was suing me anymore! Bandaged man: We are using our members. It is only right that they can use us. To: Suisei Why do you have a golden axe? Better yet, who taught you to use an axe like that? And where do you keep that thing? Suisei: The golden ax is just Conjuration Magic. I can conjure a golden ax out of nothing thanks to Mitsukages lessons. Conjuration Magic is just like Summoning Magic so Mitsukage was an expert with it. As for learning how to use an ax, I had to take self-defense lessons because there are some dangerous fans out there. And since I need to be physically fit in order to perform for a long time on stage, its like killing two birds with one stone. To: Shellin Burgundy Maybe I missed it but, why are you looking into Unkindness? Client? If so Im sure they wouldnt mind if you told us their connection or who they were Shellin: The princess of the Peafowl Kingdom, Reine Pavolia, requested me to investigate them. According to her, a person who helped protect the Red Rose asked her to use her resources to investigate the Unkindness. And thats how I got involved in this. To: Spade Echo Howd you get your artefacts and whats your favourite one? Oh and how many of these things do you own? Spade Echo: They are all gifts from Mitsukage. The Wing of Space and the Mirage Mirror are all artifacts he got from his adventures. He gave them to me as a reward for doing well in school. My favorite is the Wing of Space since that lets me fly with minimal mana. It just feels good to soar in the sky. To:Mikage Dante or Vergil? Or maybe you''re a Deadweight kinda guy? Either way, please explain yourself If you dont mind Mikage: Vergil. Because in Demon May Cry, I can understand why he wants power. Also, his theme song is just awesome. To:Mikage What do you like to do for fun when plot stuff isnt happening? Mikage: When Im not working, I walk with Anya down Westas streets as we enjoy the rare peace we would be blessed with. To: Mikage In the new world are there any crappy off brands of brands from your original world? For example in your original world you had Demon May Cry, does this world have something like Devil May Cry? Mikage: I was surprised to see things like cards and chess here. Mahjong and other games are also here along with some game consoles that are similar to my previous world. Amelia explained that those things were invented by people who came from my world too so Im not surprised. I wonder how copyright works when it comes to different worlds To: Mikage Whens your birthday? According to the wiki your still 17 and I wanna know when and if theres a chance Ill get to see a nice wholesome birthday special for you Mikage: In my old world, my birthday was on July 17. If I were going to convert it to this worlds calendar system, it would be Hulto 17. Oh no. My birthday is coming soon. I just hope I can rest on that day. To: Mikage Do you have any nicknames for your friends and do any people have nicknames for you? Mikage: I dont give nicknames to people unless they want to be called that way. But many people have nicknames for me. My friends in Ancient Tales called me Shi-kun since its a shortened form of my in-game name. I also have other nicknames like Chizome no Byakko but thats in the past. To: Mikage + plus any characters that wanna judge him for his answers Question: Speed round time! Feel free to answer as briefly as you want, this is mainly to see if your cultured or an intellectual, hopefully both A billion lions Vs. The sun. Who wins? Mikage: Neither. The sun cant fight since its not a living thing and lions cant go to space. Do you pour your cereal or milk first? Mikage: Cereal.That way, I can put back excess cereal in case I pour too much. Do pineapples belong on pizza? Mikage: Yes. But will I eat them? No. Do you wear socks in your sleep or not? Mikage: No. I wear shoes all day. Id like to let my feet taste fresh air while Im sleeping. Is soup a drink? Mikage: Depends on how you eat it. From a thermos? Its a drink. In a bowl? Its a meal. Are hotdogs a sandwich? Mikage: If you place them in a bun, then yes. Are spoons spades/shovels? Mikage: They can be spades/shovels since you can dig using them but most of the time, they are utensils. Whats the best letter of the alphabet? Mikage: E Whats the best colour? Mikage: White Whats the best month? Mikage: December Cats or dogs? Mikage: Dog Waffles or pancakes? Mikage: Pancakes Favourite anime? Mikage: One Kick Man DMC or Ancient Tales? Mikage: Ancient Tales. Losing with the bros is better than winning alone. Two trains of length 150 m and 170 m respectively are running at the speed of 40 km/hr and 32 km/hr on parallel tracks in opposite directions. In what time will they cross each other? Mikage: Errr I dunno since the only given are the lengths of the trains and not the distance between them. To: Noel What the heck does your training regimen look like? Has anyone else tried it? Noel: My training regimen is not recommended for regular humans since its created with my muscle strength in mind. My older brother once tried it and he didnt even last five minutes. To: Noel Who made your limiters? How much of your power is limited by them?! Seriously, the sheer amount of strength and speed you possess is just just I dont even know. I wish my pea brain could do the proper physics and math to figure out how much an average punch from you could do and a mana punch without the limiters could do. I mean with you creating shockwaves with your punches must mean your striking at supersonic speeds since thats what creates shockwaves. This means with your limiters you can move/strike at speeds greater than 767 km/h. But then that number probably doubles or even triples without the limiters, only to have the force amplified by a factor of 10 with a mana punch. Noel: My limiters are an artifact created by a legendary smith. Its a sacred treasure that was used to chain down dangerous creatures like demon kings. Its weird that its being used as a limiter and I can still move around despite putting it on. To: Oga You''re an old man right? Throughout your years, whats a memory thats just sorta stuck with you for no apparent reason? Alternatively, whats the most bizarre thing to happen on your adventures? Oga: It must be when I first saw Yoclesh in the entrance exams for the Underworld Academy. She didnt look like anyone special and she barely passed the exams. And during our school days, she was an average student at best. The most bizarre thing to happen in my adventures was when I met her again when we were gathered to end the Dark Times. Imagine my surprise when that average girl became Anyas wielder! To: Yogiri Have you had any communication with the primordial light yet? Oh and how do you like the new world? Yogiri: Primordial Light? Whats that? But I do like the new world. Im having fun learning new things such as Light Magic! To: Yogiri How was life after Mikage left and you became the successor of the Chizome no Byakko title? Yogiri: Like I predicted, many people tried to attack the Reika Mutsuki. However, I didnt bring shame to the title as I beat every single one of them. And that wasnt enough. I united all of the territories in our city and became the leader for every single gang. I can confidently say I did justice to Mikages name. To: Yogiri What was the date when you got summoned to the new world? Yogiri: I think it was Maio 31. Yeah. I think it was. To:Yagoo Hows the dream going sir? Hopefully better than on this side Yagoo: My dream is to make all the dreams of the idols I am supporting come true. And so far, I believe I am doing a good job. To: Yagoo Who the hell made the arena for the Idol Fan tournament?! Whoever it was give them a medal, a raise, or both! Yagoo: The last Idol Fan Tournament had the arena destroyed every round. Thats why we decided to invest in creating a stronger one for this year But it still got destroyed in Noel and Ogas fight. Cant they hold back? To: Cenonn A billion lions vs the sun? Cenonn: Sun. The sun can last long enough until all those billion lions die. Heck, it can last until lions go extinct. And by the time the sun dies, it would be taking the entire solar system with it. To: Cenonn Firstly, how are you? I hope lifes treating you well! Cenonn: Fine. About to suffer in midterms But at least, I somehow relaxed in my break. Ill be back to regularly updating fics so I hope youll continue supporting me. To: Cenonn Howd you fall down the rabbit hole and how long have you been down here? Its is a pretty nice hole Cenonn: Kizuna Ai dragged me down. And I followed OG Vtubers like Mirai Akari, Game Club Project, and a bunch of others. Although I fell deep enough when Coco started her Asacoco news. I started reading fanfics when HoloALT dropped and I started writing them when I got inspired from Holonatural Occurrences. To: Cenonn How do you find inspiration for your writing? Cenonn: Fun. I have fun writing scenes that pop in my mind and connecting them together. Aside from that, I read a lot of books and consume a lot of content. So yeah. To: Cenonn Do you have any general writing advice for amateur writers? Cenonn: Read. Read stories you like and see why you like them in the first place. After that, read stories you dont like and find out why you dont like them. Understand how each story works and what makes them likeable and unlikeable. That way, you''ll create a story that you can say you''ll like. My next tip is to not beat yourself up for having a simple idea or pressure yourself to come up with a good idea. An idea is just an idea. Its neither good nor bad. It all boils down to your execution if your story would be a masterpiece or another trash. To: Cenonn How far do you plan your stories in advance? Cenonn: Im generally a plantser. The only story I planned out completely is FAW. The rest is that I have a general direction and I just wing it. To: Cenonn Whats your favourite line that youve written? Cenonn: Ugggh This ones a toughie. Because I cant remember any line that stuck with me like that. But I think my favorites are Inas puns because I love puns. To: Cenonn Out of the17? Yeah that looks about right, out of the 17 arcs weve had so far whats been your favourite? And out of the 4 volumes whats been your favourite so far? Cenonn: My favorite is the Framed Captain Arc because Im a sucker for mysteries and it was even better because magic was involved. Volume 4 is my favorite since things are more interesting and plot-related as compared to the three other volumes. To: Cenonn Whod win in a fight between Mikage This Man Kamishiro and Felix Takeada? Mikages grown stronger since their last meeting but I dont know about Felix since I only about him through the special chapters in FAW and his brief appearances in Holonatural Occurrences where he isnt in combat anyway Cenonn: At their current state, Felix can still win because his magic is more sophisticated than simple Dark Magic. Mikage could put up a fight if he uses Synchronicity but its only for a limited time. However, Mikage has the potential to be far stronger than Felix and youll know why as long as you continue reading FAW. To: Cenonn Out of all the primorid beings, which is the weakest? By that I mean which gives the crappiest buff to their vessel/wielder? Cenonn: Hmmmm All of them have their own strengths and if the situation is right, they could become formidable foes. But if I were to choose, it would be the Primordial Insanity. It could just create illusions and make people insane. However, its ineffective against things without a mind like the Living Darknesses. And Full Lunacy is only dangerous if Shion is around. Otherwise, Haato would just be rushing to her death. To: Cenonn What are the chances of us seeing another tournament arc in this book or another? I sorta wanna see the Dance of the Blades since its been name dropped a few times Cenonn: Unfortunately, there would no longer be a tournament arc since I already planned out Volumes 5 and 6. But it could become a special chapter if we reach a thousand votes milestone and if I have nothing else to write (I already have plans for the next special chapter). I always wanna see how Temma defeated Suzaku in the previous Dance of the Blades. To: Cenonn Do you plan on making anymore one shots? Before you die and 15 years of writing about you made me shed some tears man Cenonn: I will if I get inspired. Before you die was written as a compromise since I didnt want to turn it into a series. 15 years of writing about you was created because of my frustration over Rushias drama. Not that Im waiting for another member to graduate just to write a oneshot. Ill just wait until I get a new idea. To: Cenonn Favourite Hololive song? Whether that be original or a cover Cenonn: Tenkyuu, Suisei wa Yoru wo Mataide. Suiseis voice along with the instrumentals just blew me away. To: Cenonn Why is Suisei your favourite Vtuber? Good pick by the way Cenonn: Because I just like girls who work hard to reach their dreams. And Suiseis determination and willpower made me respect and admire her. Because if she didnt give up and got that far, then that means life isnt really that unfair and unjust. Hard work can pay off. To: Cenonn Got any recommendations on Vtuber fanfics? Other than your and the two I mentioned at the beginning Cenonn: Oh boiii This ones going to be a long loooong answer so bear with me. I would normally recommend my students books such as naru_esmeraldas [Hololive | Tokoyami Towa] ːħǤ | Are You Really a Devil and Knoxxunors Holo:Anomaly since well.. they are my students. naru_esmeraldas grammar is far above average than regular Wattpad stories and the main heroine is Towa, which is a rare choice. Knoxxunors grammar might be lower than naru_esmeraldas but his worldbuilding and his plans for his fic are kinda interesting and Ill be guiding him so his execution would be passable. However, those two rarely update so unless you wanna play the waiting game, Ill recommend other fics. The next I would recommend is Monochrome_Library. His grammar and prose is just plain amazing and his series Caretaker of Hololive was announced to be finished already. His Holo-Worlds was good but unfortunately, it got discontinued. He had oneshots too so you can enjoy them. Another one I would recommend is Rushiaboinboins Kusamonogatari which is also nearing its first anniversary next month. It has an interesting world and the characters are fun. And from what he said, hell try to update more regularly once he gets a laptop. Next up is LunaRen112s Our Own War which is filled with fun fights. Although his grammar needs work, its an enjoyable read as long as youre okay with chapters that are more than 5k words. I also have honorable mentions like Fumuyoshis The Mage with an Existential Crisis and A New Life, Maki_kurosakis Everywhere at the End of Hololive, Suisei_Simps Stellar Diaries, Meatballhinataas Rebirth (Book One), Vtuberislifes Manager-san is Trying to Stay Sane Today, Jin_Writes WATSON vol. 1 and WATSON vol. 2, and Shurivers The HoloMyth Story: Genesis. Oh. We dont forget about Minecuberif. His Shirazaki Yamada in Hololive has many praises and his Misogynistic Hololiver has a fanbase But I havent read his stuff since Im not into lewding the Holomems. But hey If youre into that, Ill just place that tidbit here. I tagged them all here so you can just go to their profiles and read their stuff (and hopefully, support them too like how you supported me.) Theres also my alt account which has a certain Holofic but it would be weird to self-promote my VRMMORPG Holofic like that Meh. [From: Kolkqne] To: Cenonn when primo tentacle hentai Cenonn: The Primordial Dark will have a major role in Volume 5 so just read on and find out! To: Cenonn When the second tournament arc Cenonn: There are no more tournament arcs since I already decided all of the arcs for both Volume 5 and 6. However, if we reach a thousand vote milestone, I might write a Special Chapter for it. (I already decided what I wanna write for the 4K vote special so I might do a tournament chapter for the 5K vote special assuming we reach it.) To: Cenonn Where is suisei you suisimp, what have you done to her Cenonn: I am legally obliged to say that I have done nothing to her and that shes safe and sound in Japan. :) To: Cenonn did suisei appear recently and i just forgor?? Cenonn: Yes. Scroll up and you can see she answered some questions. Pffft. She appeared in the last arc of Volume 4 and even fought Omega. You got short-term memory, bruh? [From: Rushiaboinboin] To: Cenonn is the unkindness a name that you were inspired by the banning of kinder eggs in america? Cenonn: Normally, I would just wing it and say Eyyy. Youre right. You got that one, huh? But since youre the one whos asking, Ill speak the truth by saying No. Unkindness is inspired by Detective Conan. The main antagonist of Detective Conan is an organization with crows as their motif. I thought it would be cool if the antagonist here is an organization with another black bird so I decided to name them as the Unkindness, which is the term for a group of ravens. ### Alright, everyone! That''s it for the Q&A!!! Thanks so much to the guys who participated and even more thanks to you, who has supported it until now!! It''s really amazing how I was able to commit to a fic like this for an entire year and I''m sure it''s all thanks to your support! I hope you guys will continue taking care of me as I churn out one chapter and story after another. Let''s march on and do what we can this year too!!!!!! This Anniversary Special was sponsored by RAID: Shadow Legends??. RAID: Shadow Legends?? is an immersive online experience with everything you''d expect from a brand new RPG title. It''s got an amazing storyline, awesome 3D graphics, giant boss fights, PVP battles, and hundreds of never before seen champions to collect and customize. I never expected to get this level of performance out of a mobile game. Look how crazy the level of detail is on these champions! RAID: Shadow Legends?? is getting big real fast, so you should definitely get in early. Starting now will give you a huge head start. There''s also an upcoming Special Launch Tournament with crazy prizes! And not to mention, this game is absolutely free! So go ahead and check out the video description to find out more about RAID: Shadow Legends??. There, you will find a link to the store page and a special code to unlock all sorts of goodies. Using the special code, you can get 50,000 Silver immediately, and a FREE Epic Level Champion as part of the new players program, courtesy of course of the RAID: Shadow Legends?? devs. See ya in the next chapter!!!! Prologue: A strange disturbance (Volume 5) A white-haired girl stood in front of a man who was laughing maniacally. She was wearing a black-red kimono and two katanas were strapped on her back. The most noticeable part about her was that she had two horns growing out of her forehead. The man who was laughing maniacally also had a horn coming out from the side of his head. His right eye, however, had a black sclera and a red iris. A strange and eerie aura could be felt coming out from the man as he grinned. Im sorry but Im going to hurt you for a bit, the girl said and charged forward. However, the man noticed her advances and threw a nearby bench at her. Sword of Carnage: Asura! she shouted as she unsheathed a katana with a red blade. The red blade glowed as a silhouette with long white hair formed from purple flames. She continued charging straight ahead as the bench was cleaved in halves by the silhouette before they caught on fire. When she got close enough, the girl unsheathed her other katana. Dark mist came out of the blade of that katana and she was about to strike the man. In a single fluid motion, the girls katana hit the torso of the man. She didnt want to hurt him since he was a fellow student of the Underworld Academy and so, she used the back of her blade. But that didnt mean that she would have a hard time. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The dark mist of the katana wrapped around the man the moment he got near enough. She didnt mind spending a bit more energy if it meant that her opponent could no longer fight and cause damage. Cursed Sword: Rakshasa! the girl shouted and more dark mist came out of her katana. It didnt take long for her opponent to collapse to the ground and pass out. President! How are things over here? a female demon ran over to her. The situation is solved now. Please take this man to Dr. Choco, she replied. Yes, maam! After saluting her, the demon picked up the man and ran back to the Underworld Academy. Things are becoming dire. What the hell is going on? she muttered and was about to go back when she felt it. An eerie feeling appeared in her mind. It was like staring at a dark abyss and getting a suspicion that something else was staring back. And she knew that feeling very well because her classmates, along with the other demons in her city, were losing their reasoning and all of them were emitting the same feeling as that one. I have a bad feeling about this, she muttered as she sheathed her katanas. But no matter what would happen, the girl swore in her heart that she would protect the Demon Realm. Artix Grace Special: Am I from another world? I opened my eyes and saw a white ceiling. The Primordial Dark will hasten its awakening, Omegas words echoed in my ears. Crap! The battle! I jumped up and looked around for any danger. But I realized that things were somehow wrong when I saw a black-haired boy who was around my age. Mikage-kun! Youre finally awake! he smiled. H-Haruto-kun? I couldnt believe my eyes. He was the one and only Domyoji Haruto, my gaming friend in high school. What was he doing here? Was he summoned too? I was surprised to find out that you got involved in a car accident just after you bought Demon May Cry! I wondered why you werent online in Ancient Tales and when I visited your house, your mom said that you are in the hospital! he patted my shoulder. What was going on? Accident? Ancient Tales? I ran towards the nearest window and opened it. Modern buildings were nearby and I could see cars. But the most surprising part was that when I saw the people, all of them were humans. No one had horns, animal ears and tails, and all other weird things. They were wearing clothes that should be expected in the 21st century. And then I saw that there were signs with Japanese words. Hey Haruto-kun What happened? I asked. You got involved in a car accident, dude. It was a rainy night so the driver couldnt see clearly so he accidentally hit you. He immediately drove you to the hospital and you were saved. But you were unconscious for an entire day, Haruto answered. What? Whats going on? Was this a plot of the Unkindness? Could this be an illusion or a falsified reality? I felt pain when I touched my head that had stitches. Anya once told me about one surefire way of getting out of falsified realities and that was the only thing I could do. After taking a deep breath, I slammed my head on the wall. Hey! What are you doing?! Haruto-kun ran towards me. Blood came out of my head and the pain made me grit my teeth. Aside from that, nothing happened. This is reality, I muttered. I began laughing. So thats what it was! It was all a dream! Primordial Dark? Unkindness? Westa? Administrative officer? Those were just fantasies. I wasnt involved in anything strange. My life was just being a regular high school student who loved playing video games! I wasnt in danger and I had no responsibilities like managing the paperwork of an entire knight unit! There was no organization who was out to take me and the Primordial Dark inside me! The Primordial Dark didnt even exist in the first place! Mikage-kun Are you okay? Haruto-kun asked. Why wouldnt I be? All my worries and anxieties are gone! Im so relieved! I continued laughing. Then why are you crying? I noticed a different warm feeling on my face. It was a different feeling from blood and when I touched it, I saw a clear liquid. If that was all a dream Then Anya, Temma, Captain Noel, Oga, and all the other friends I had werent real That meant Amelia also wasnt real. Tears flowed down my eyes as an indescribable pain clenched my heart. Why? I should be relieved that I was just a normal high school student so why was I wishing to be back in that dangerous world? No I knew the answer. I just wanted to see my friends. ### Are you okay, Mikage-kun? Haruto-kun asked as we walked out of the hospital. Yeah Im fine, I answered. Three days have already passed since I woke up in this world and little by little, I was beginning to accept reality. Everything matched up to what I can remember before I was summoned. This was really my world. We can play Ancient Tales tonight! Its been some time since we partied together so we can kick ass! Haruto-kun said. Yeah, I replied. We arrived at the park and saw a black-haired man looking for something below a pole that had a clock on it. Even though the last time I saw him was the day before I got into an accident, it felt like several weeks had passed. It was most likely because I spent so much time in that little dream I had. What are you doing, Takagi-san? I asked. He looked up and saw Haruto and me. His name was Kamishiro Takagi, my older cousin who was a police officer. Ah. Mikage-kun! And Haruto-kun! Fancy meeting you here! he said. What are you looking for, Takagi-san? Arent you supposed to be on duty? Haruto-kun asked. I could see sweat forming on his face as he had a troubled expression. After thinking about it, he sighed and moved close to us in order to whisper something. I lost my police notebook, he said. Ah This was troubling. A police notebook was important for officers like him since they contain sensitive information about the cases they were handling. I could imagine how much trouble he could get into if his superiors find out. Ive been looking all over this park the whole day but I cant find it, Takagi-san sighed. Why this park? I asked. This is the last time I was sure I had it. I stopped a fight between two men by showing my police notebook and telling them Im a cop. I already turned my apartment upside down and I still couldnt find it so I thought this park might have it. Then couldnt those men have picked it up? Haruto-kun suggested. I dont really remember their names. All I knew is that one of them was a singer of some sort threatening to kill the older man who might be his manager because his MV wasnt going to be published. I stepped in because murder threats are serious business. You didnt get their names? I asked. I wanted to go home as soon as possible so I let them off with a warning. But if I remember correctly, the singer was named Musashi. Thats really helpful. Lets just knock all the houses that had people with Musashi in their names. If were lucky, theres only like hundreds of them in Sanada City, Haruto-kun sarcastically said. If Amelia was here, what would she do? What kind of deduction could she make from the limited information? Do you remember what their feet were wearing? I asked. Takagi-san thought a bit. The older man was wearing black leather shoes while Musashi-san was wearing sandals, he said. Then that means Musashi-san lives nearby, I replied. Ah! Takagi-san and Haruto-kun exclaimed when they heard me say that. After all, shoes were a common footwear for most adults in Japan. The only time when an adult would wear sandals was when they were taking a casual stroll in their neighborhood. We walked towards a nearby payphone and read the phone book. But despite spending several minutes reading it, we couldnt find someone named Musashi. Maybe its their first name? Takagi-san asked. This phone book has more than 1000 pages with even more names. Its not even guaranteed that Musashi-san would place his number in a public document like this, I answered. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Then why dont we ask the music companies in this city? We can narrow it down, Haruto-kun suggested. It wont work. There are like many music companies here and they might not be willing to give information even if we got a cop on our side. Hey, Mikage-kun. Since when were you this reliable in investigations? Takagi-san asked. This is what Amelia would do. Whos Amelia? Haruto-kun was confused. Ah She was a friend, I answered. Thats right. She never existed in the first place What should we do? Ask the locals in case they might know him? Haruto-kun asked. Lets try to find it in the park again. Theres no guarantee that Musashi-san has his notebook so lets not invest too much in finding him, I said. We returned to the park and were about to continue looking for it when we saw someone approach us with a smiling face. Its the police officer from yesterday! How are you? the man said. Y-Youre Musashi-san! Takagi-san exclaimed. Ah. Looks like we were blessed by luck today. Luck is still my ally. You are right, Anya, I smiled. Is something wrong, police officer? Musashi-san asked. Did you by chance see a police notebook here yesterday? Takagi-san looked at him desperately. Sorry but I didnt pick up a notebook. If youre looking for it, I can help you! Musashi-san immediately crouched down and started looking. He seemed to be very enthusiastic. My manager has an appointment with me today but he hasn''t arrived yet. Hes a huge drinker so Im not surprised that he got drunk again last night. I decided to kill time by walking around here, he said. Then why didnt you go to his apartment to check? Takagi-san asked. He lives alone far away and itll be a one hour drive if I take the car! He is really helpless and useless but I will not give up on him. Really? You were threatening to kill him yesterday though. I was just angry. Thats why I am thankful that you stopped us before I did something stupid that will make me regret things for the rest of my life. With that, Ill make sure to thank you by sticking with you until you find your police notebook! Theres no need for that. I already looked all over the park so its hopeless. Ill just apologize to the chief. Whats that on your pants? Haruto-kun asked. We looked down and saw a green paste on the bottom part of his pants. Musashi-san wiped it and smiled. Its probably shampoo. I cleaned my bathroom so it probably got there, he explained. Is that so? I asked. By the way, officer. What time is it? Its 1 PM, Takagi-san answered after looking at his watch. Ah, crap! Its already 1 PM! I havent had lunch yet! Lets go to the nearby buffet place! Its an all-you-can-eat for two hours! Ill be treating you three! Sorry. I already ate lunch and I need to find my police notebook in other places. Pass, Haruto-kun said. Same here, I added. Musashi-san sighed but after that, he smiled. Ill be eating lunch at that buffet store! Ill be spending two whole hours there and eating my heart out! After waving goodbye, Musashi-san skipped while smiling happily. Hes a creepy guy, Takagi-san said. Creepy? My gut feeling says hes suspicious, Haruto-kun added. Its just a gut feeling anyways. Lets ignore that. No! Dont underestimate your gut feeling. A good detective values his gut feeling. Your subconscious can see the inconsistencies and odd parts in this situation before your logical mind can fully notice and understand them. There is something wrong and we just need to find the right angle to crack this case down, I said. Takagi-san and Haruto-kun looked at each other and frowned. Thats a cool quote. Where did you hear that one from? Haruto-kun asked. Ah. From a friend Thats what she would say if shes here, I answered. Wait a minute If Amelia was here, she could see what was wrong. I just needed to think like her. I closed my eyes and tried to think about what I observed. Every single thing was a clue. I just needed to piece things together Musashi-san is a murderer, I muttered. What? Takagi-san was confused by what I said. Isnt it weird that he asked you what time it is? If he lives near this area, then he should know that theres a clock in this park. And that makes him a murderer? Haruto-kun asked. The shampoo on his pants. Its common knowledge that people would roll up their pants when they are cleaning their bathroom. But he said that shampoo got into his pants despite that. It could only mean that hes lying. Takagi-san had a serious expression on his face and Haruto-kun looked interested. Musashi-san probably brought his manager along to his apartment and killed him. After that, he went to this park to find someone who can solidify his alibi. Thats why he asked you what time it is to leave an impression on your mind and will help him greatly in his trick. But what is his trick? Haruto-kun asked. He killed the manager and walked around town. Once the night comes, he would move the corpse to his managers house and leave it there. Hell make it look like its an accident and since the manager lives alone, the bodys discovery will be delayed. I see! If the police would do forensic analysis on his body, they can conclude that he died sometime around 1 PM. Musashi-san said that its a one-hour drive from here to his managers apartment so if hes spotted walking around like this, his alibi will be good! Takagi-san sighed and patted my head. Good effort in the deduction, Mikage-kun. But its not enough, he said. What do you mean? You said its common knowledge that the pants should be rolled up when cleaning the bathroom, right? I dont do it cause its a hassle. Oh yeah. Dad doesnt do it too, Haruto-kun muttered. Also, its an accident that I lost my notebook. So if he was going to solidify his alibi, he shouldve gone to the restaurant immediately instead of talking to me like that, right? A deduction is only good if the foundations are solid. Otherwise, youll be making far leaps of logic. I clenched my fist as I acknowledged that he was correct. But for some reason, I wasnt satisfied. My gut feeling was telling me that something was wrong. Lets just ask him then! Haruto-kun walked towards the restaurant. H-Hey! Takagi-san tried to stop him but he failed. It didnt take long for us to arrive at the buffet restaurant. But more questions appeared in my mind when I saw Musashi-san who was seated in the window seat. Thats weird. Hes not touching his food. What is he doing wasting time in a buffet like that? Haruto-kun asked. The more important question was what Musashi-san was currently doing. He was anxiously looking at the clock as if he was waiting for something. And then it clicked to me on what might be happening. Im just half-correct, I muttered. I sprinted from that place and desperately asked the locals for Musashi-sans address. There was no way I could ask him that since he would just try to buy time. After all, his plan was very simple. It was a mistake to not let him introduce himself. I had problems trying to learn his location because all I could ask was about a singer who had the name Musashi. The problem was that he wasnt really famous because no one even heard of him. I see. That could be the motive, I thought. An old lady was walking and I approached to ask her the same question Ive been asking for the past few minutes. Excuse me Do you know where a singer named Musashi-san is living? I need to talk to him, I asked. Musashi-san?? Ah! That enka singer! she exclaimed. Jackpot! Do you know where he lives, maam? No. I just see him hanging around here. Damn. That wasnt a jackpot. But he is a weird one. Last night, I saw him buy a huge block of ice. After he left the store, he took a concrete brick from a nearby construction site. I then realized what kind of trick he was going to use and that made things even urgent because there was no time left! I had to find his apartment if I wanted to save his manager! Sakuyake Apartment Complex, Takagi-sans voice said behind me. Eh? Musashi-san lives in Sakuyake Apartment Complex. We just asked a nearby pub which he visits regularly. Why are you here? Its the first time I saw you putting on that serious expression, Mikage-kun. Thats why I convinced Takagi-san to help you, Haruto-kun answered. I then sprinted towards the Sakuyake Apartment Complex while Haruto-kun and Takagi-san were following me. Are you really sure that hes a murderer? Takagi-san asked. No! Hes not yet a murderer! We can still save the manager! I answered. What do you mean by that? Haruto-kun asked. Last night, he bought a large block of ice and stole a concrete brick! Hes going to hang that brick using a rope and tie it to the ice block. Over time, the ice would melt and once its weak enough, the brick will fall on the managers body! So thats why he was anxious about the time! He is trying to build a good alibi. If the brick falls down while he was seen doing something, then hell be out of the suspect lists! Haruto-kun exclaimed. Thats right! Once the manager is dead, hell just place his body at a different place and make it look like an accident! And even if the police would suspect any foul play, he is still off the suspect list! We arrived in front of his apartments room and as I expected, the door was locked. Lets go, Anya! I shouted. However, a kris sword didnt appear. I then realized that I still didnt move on from my fantasies and clenched my fists. Thinking there was no other choice, I kicked down the door and dashed inside. I entered the bathroom and I was relieved to find the manager tied up inside the bathtub with a piece of concrete hanging above him. Wait I was relieved to see him still alive. I wasnt happy that he was in that situation. I got him out of harm''s way and untied him. Takagi-san was surprised to see that I was correct while Haruto-kun looked amazed. Thank you, Officer Kamishiro, he bowed down after he was safe. Wait. How did you know my name? Takagi-san asked. Well, of course. I saw it written here. The manager took out a notebook from his pocket and Takagi-san laughed. Looks like two cases were closed. ### Everything was resolved nicely. Takagi-san reported this to his chief and Musashi-san was arrested. All should be well but Takagi-san was reprimanded for lying to the chief that he was sick so he had to take a day off and he got in even more trouble for losing his notebook. When the chiefs lecture was finished, Takagi-san dejectedly walked towards us. This isnt a completely happy ending, huh? Haruto-kun grinned. Lets just be glad that we saved a life, I said. Its thanks to you, Mikage-kun. You really are amazing, Takagi-san patted my shoulder. Yeah! Youre like a really cool detective! You should pursue a career in that! Haruto-kun agreed. Im still not good enough. I know a detective who can easily solve a case like this in a flash. What are you saying, Mikage? Youre already exceptional! If there are better detectives, they must be in fiction or a dream! Takagi-san laughed. Dream. Good job, Mikage. Im proud of you, I heard Amelias voice. From the distance, I thought I saw several people. Anya, Temma, Captain Noel, Oga, Suisei, and all other people I met in that dream were smiling back at me. In front of them was a blonde woman in a brown coat and cap. She took off her cap and winked at me. Goodbye, I could hear Amelias voice. A car sped by and I could no longer see them. Thats right. I am just Kamishiro Mikage, a former delinquent and now an avid video game fan. I got involved in an accident one rainy night and had the best dream I ever had. It was a dream I could never forget and even if they werent real, I knew my feelings for the friends I made there were. This is my story. I am just another person in this world. I am not from another world. [FROM ANOTHER WORLD END] A new tenant in my mind. When I opened my eyes, all I could see was darkness. The Primordial Dark will hasten its awakening, Omegas words echoed in my mind. Oh crap! What happened to the battle?! I bolted upright and my head hit the darkness. What? This was solid? Was I trapped inside a dome of darkness? You finally figured it out. I wonder how you survived this long with that head, a voice inside me said. This darkness Is someone else controlling it? I asked. Does it matter? You can control any darkness with my powers. Oh yeah. I willed the darkness to fade away and the first thing I saw was a large beasts claws going down towards me. Woah! What the hell?! I managed to roll away. GAHAHAHAHA! You shouldve seen the look on your face! the voice laughed. I unsheathed my sword and faced the beast. It was a purple-furred beast that looked like an oversized rabbit. However, its front teeth looked like fangs instead. It also had sharp claws but the most noticeable thing about it was the large red gem on its head. I swung my sword and managed to cut its skin. Was its skin this soft? Maybe the only good thing about it was its size. Go, go, Mikage! Go, go, Mikage! the voice inside me cheered. Youre distracting me too much, Anya! I scolded them. My shadow rose up into one large spike as I willed it to impale the beast. However, its flesh was tough so I couldnt fully impale it. Come on Your imagination is lacking. Youre not using darkness properly. Im ashamed to share a body with you, he said. That was when I realized that the voice I was talking to was a familiar-sounding males voice. I wasnt talking to Anya all this time. Let me show you how to use darkness! Several spikes popped out from my shadow that impaled the beast. If that wasnt enough, the shadow of the beast moved on its own and turned into multiple spikes that further skewered it. You can control any darkness in existence. So you might as well learn how to use it! The beast disintegrated except for the red gem. I didnt mind that. I had one important question I wanted to ask. Who are you? I questioned. A semi-transparent man appeared in front of me. He had black hair and he was wearing a white uniform similar to what the Westa Knight Order would wear. The sclera of his eyes were black and his irises were red. But his face was very familiar. The one and only Primordial Dark!, he gave a bow as an introduction. Excuse me, what? Just as he says. Hes the Primordial Dark, Anyas voice said. My heart felt relieved when I heard Anya. And from how she acknowledged his existence, I wasnt going insane. Gahahaha! I win the bet, Anya! He didnt notice something was wrong until I had to drop a major hint like that! the Primordial Dark laughed. Whats going on? I asked. Oh, that? Youve been snoring for some time so I decided to break the ice with Anya. We had a little talk which ended up with me betting that you are too airheaded to notice that theres an entirely new and different person speaking, he explained. No. Not that! Why is the Primordial Dark talking and having a familiar-looking appearance? I asked. Oh? You have no idea why Im familiar? Have you looked at the mirror recently? This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. I then realized that he looked exactly like me except for his eyes. Wow. You really are an airhead, huh? he smirked. Thats not the important part! Its thanks to the Primordial Rea errm Their name is Omega now, right? Yeah. Yeah. Thank them! Hold on Explain like Im five. Heres what happened while you were unconscious, Anya sighed. She then explained what happened. When Omega touched me, they commanded the Primordial Dark to awaken. In the next second, Yoclesh, Merryweather, and Ryuuki fought a strange being who appeared in my mind. The fight was broken up by Shiki and the other masters and after talking it over, the Primordial Dark said that he somehow had free will. Wait Why did Omega do that? Werent they out to kill me? I asked. I have no idea. I was trying hard to calm you down to even notice that the Primordial Dark gained free will. I was surprised when Shiki introduced me to him, Anya answered. Well never know what they are thinking. Besides, shouldnt you be more worried, Mikage? the Primordial Dark asked. Worried? Why? Really? Youre that much of an airhead? Look around and youll see! And then I realized we were nowhere near Westa. All around us was a barren wasteland. There were no trees or even any plants. Only dirt and rocks greeted my eyes. Where are we? I asked. We are most likely in the Demon Realm, Anya said. And what makes you say that, Anya? the Primordial Dark asked. The creature we fought disintegrated except for the gem. Thats the characteristic of a Crystal Beast whenever they would die. And Crystal Beasts can only be found in the Demon Realm. I see. Thats another thing to add to our knowledge. Wait. Why are we in the Demon Realm? Did we get teleported? I asked. That I dont know! I was busy fighting the other masters and then had to sit down and talk to them so I have no idea how we ended up here. But I know one thing we have to do. And that is? Anya asked. Cant you feel it, Mikage? That energy. Its being gathered in the south. Its as if its calling us. I then noticed what he was trying to say. A massive concentration of that strange energy was in the south. It was the very same energy I could feel back when Theodore Sen and Captain Reagan took that pill. In other words Is the Unkindness here? I asked. I can arrive at that same conclusion since whenever that strange energy is involved, the Unkindness was pulling the strings, Anya answered. Unkindness? Whats that? the Primordial Dark asked. An organization thats trying to get me and you. I have no idea what their plans are but I dont want to find out, I told him. Oh. Thats a pain. And what are you going to do? Go straight to it? Probably. If they are gathering that amount of energy, it must not be for a good reason. Besides, that was the only hint I had. There must be a reason why I got teleported here and if I just walked back to Westa as if nothing happened, it would be like I was running away. I began my walk down the barren wasteland with the south as my destination. There were many questions in my mind and the only way to get them was to move on forward. And speaking of questions, I had one important one. Hey, Primordial Dark? I called out. Whats up? he asked. Whats your name? Haato once told me that the Primordial Beings have their own names. In her case, she said that the Primordial Insanitys name was Haachama. I felt the need to learn the Primordial Darks name since I was sure that hed rather be called with a proper name. I have one? he asked. Wait. You dont? Not that I can remember. Then again, I remember nothing. My first memory is when I opened my eyes and saw a red-skinned oni charging at me. Yoclesh really attacked you without warning? In her defense, she fought in the Dark Times. So when a stranger with the same aura as the Primordial Dark would appear unannounced, she would fight without a second thought, Anya said. So uncivilized, the Primordial Dark clicked his tongue. Were getting off track. If you have no name, then do you want me to give you one? I asked. Do I need one? I dont know. Im thinking it would be nice if you have one. I would rather be called Mikage instead of this man or administrative officer. Things might be different for you though. Then go think of a name for me! I tried to think as I walked forward. Since he was the Primordial Dark, I should give a fitting name. It would be too lazy if I was going to just name him Kuro and naming him Yami Mikage made me sound like the main character of a childrens card games anime. Black Kuroe?? No. That was still lazy. But what about other languages? Noir, I muttered. Hmmm? the Primordial Dark didnt catch what I said. How about Noir? That sounds cool. The Primordial Dark was silent for a whole minute as I wondered whether my naming sense might be bad. Alright then! Nice to meet you! My name is Noir, the Primordial Dark! And so, my journey with Noir in the Demon Realm began. Special Chapter: Origin In a time before countries were formed, people only lived in small villages or cities each with their own lords. Thanks to that, each city was on its own against monsters. Normally, monsters only attacked on sight and were rarely working together. However, there were several instances when monsters of different races would work together and cause chaos. In a certain village, a blonde woman was hammering a sword. She was wearing a black-white outfit and red goggles protected her eyes. Her name was Kaela Kovalskia, a blacksmith. She was a student of a respected blacksmith who recently retired. And with how the monster attacks were getting more dangerous, she was commissioned by the lord of her village to create weapons. However, she was taking a break from her massive order. Instead, she was working on a different sword which had a wavy shape. Its blade was red as she hammered it again and again to fix the imperfections while her focus was at its peak. A blue dragonewt entered the forge. His name was Shiki Taigen, the local shaman in their village. He was Kaelas friend and was her client for the wavy sword. He cleared his throat but the blonde woman continued hammering the sword. Thinking it was pointless, he sat down and read a book. After a while, he heard the sound of water sizzling and saw that Kaela was looking at the sword with a satisfied expression. Youre finally done, Shiki said. Ah. You were here, Shiki? Kaela asked. Yes. I wanted to ask you about my sword since I heard that you received a bulk order from our lord. But it seems you were working on it. Im just taking a break. Its boring to mass produce iron swords. This ones my next masterpiece! Says you but your previous masterpiece shattered into pieces. Youre just a bad swordsman, Shiki! How could you use a sword as a way to manage your mana?! Enhancing Magic is only wrapping your mana around the weapon in order to enhance its effectiveness! So why are you channeling your mana INSIDE your own sword in order to cast magic?! Youre just going to break it! Im experimenting. After all, its okay to channel your own mana into staves and other items in order to cast magic, so why is a sword not a good idea? Because those items are compatible with mana! Iron and all other materials for blades are not good with mana. Thats why Stored Magic is not commonly used with those materials unless its a high quality one like orichalcum or mithril and even then, they couldnt be stored with powerful magic. Ill figure out a way. Failure is part of innovation. This is the 13th time you made me create a sword for you. I treat every creation of mine like my own babies so it breaks my heart whenever you come here and say my masterpiece shattered! Kaela gave him the wavy sword and Shiki looked at it. As always, her work was amazing and Shiki knew it was a very good weapon. A wavy sword, huh? Shiki asked. Im calling this type of sword kris. The wavy blade may look strange but its effective for stabbing. By moving the wavy blade inside your opponents body, youll be damaging their organs more effectively, Kaela answered. I see. So youre also experimenting by inventing a new type of sword? Youre going to break this one anyway so tell me how it feels. Youre going out to fight, right? Is it that obvious? Yeah. You came here to make me rush your sword because you want to go out and fight the monsters. Shiki sighed and swung the sword in the air. He was trying to get a feel of the blade and when he was satisfied, Kaela gave him its scabbard and he sheathed it. I think the King of the Monsters is nearby, he said. He had a theory that someone was commanding the monsters to work together. After all, it was strange to see that monsters that were normally hostile to each other would ignore their differences and fight together. The only explanation he could think of was that someone was commanding them. But how did you know and why are you moving now? Kaela asked. I met someone and they are going to move today with or without my help. That was why I wanted to make you rush the sword because I dont want them to face the King of the Monsters alone, Shiki answered. Are you an idiot? If the King of the Monsters is capable of commanding monsters, then it must have an army protecting itself. No matter how strong you two are, its still a suicide mission. I know And even if they arent powerful, I would accompany them so that when they realize that its hopeless, the chances of escaping would be higher. Your kindness will be the death of you. And Id rather die as a kind man than live on as a heartless coward. Kaela sighed. Dont you die, you idiot. Your tabs arent paid yet. Shiki chuckled and walked out of the forge. And when he did, he saw a person with long white hair who was wearing a white outfit. Several triangles were floating around that person and they had an emotionless expression. So you waited for me, Shiki said. I follow my agreements, they replied. Then lets go, Omega. ### When he saw the white-haired person descend from the sky, Shiki knew that they werent a regular person. Their eyes were devoid of emotion and yet they looked like they understood everything. And when they said they were on their way to kill the cause of the incident on their own, Shiki somehow convinced them to take him along. After all, he knew that it was impossible to just mow down an army all alone so he was resolved to help them escape. But the events happening in front of his eyes made him believe that he severely underestimated them. The ground will rapidly form spikes that will impale all the monsters in front of Omega, they said after touching the ground. And in the next second, more than half of the monsters died because spikes came out from the ground and killed them. The monsters flying above lunged down towards them but they faced their palm towards the air. The air will be shaped into sharp blades and cut down the monsters flying near Omega, they commanded. And like they said, the monsters bled after they got cut by invisible wind blades and fell down to the ground. Shiki was surprised to see that the army of monsters that could easily wipe out his city was defeated in less than a minute. It wasnt even ten seconds since they walked into that place and all of the monsters were dead. He then heard someone clapping and when he looked up, a young man with long green hair descended from the sky. Dragon-like wings were on his back but aside from those, he looked like a regular human male. You are becoming too dangerous, vessel of the Primordial Monster, Omega said. Shiki finally realized what was going on. His father told him the stories about Primordial Beings, god-like existences that represented an aspect of reality. It wasnt far off that the Primordial Monster could command all of the monsters in existence. The Primordial Monster is scared of you. I suppose thats only normal. After all, youre the Primordial Reality itself! he pointed at Omega. And as the Primordial Reality, I will make sure you are coexisting properly in this world, they stepped forward. The Primordial Monsters vessel charged forward but Omega didnt even move. He threw a punch and Omega dodged it before grabbing his arm. The Primordial Monsters vessel will- Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Before they could finish their words, he cut off his own arm and backed away. He glared at them and smirked. I see. You need to touch something in order to use your ability as the Primordial Reality, he said. His injuries were gone as he regenerated a new arm. Then, both of his arms turned into crystals and he fired shards at them. Barrier of Spirits! Shiki shouted and a wall made out of yellow light protected Omega . He then unsheathed his sword and charged towards the Primordial Monsters vessel. Tch. An annoyance! Shiki tried to stab him but his crystal arms couldnt be pierced. A tail grew out of the back of the Primordial Monsters vessel and hit him. He then grabbed that tail and took a deep breath before shooting out flames from his mouth. When the flames died down, his opponent smirked. That hurt a bit but its not enough. Im the Primordial Monsters vessel. You cant kill me with simple flames, he said. I know. But they can, Shiki grinned. The Primordial Monsters vessel turned around and saw Omega was close enough to touch him. When their hand grabbed his shoulder, he spit out a crystal. His body then became green liquid and turned into a puddle. This is Shiki realized what kind of enemy he was facing. Green liquid came out from the crystal and surrounded it as it became a round object. A slime? Shiki asked. A slime has the ability to change its shape and form. By adding in the powers of the Primordial Monster, that slime can become any monster in existence, Omega explained. The slime changed its shape and turned into the green-haired man from before. He smirked at the two of them and taunted them by moving his index finger as if telling them to come close. This is troubling, Omega said. Youre powerful but you cant defeat it? Shiki asked. My Absolute Authority can only affect those I touch. The Primordial Monster chose a slime because it can easily get away by throwing away its core. Even if I can touch it, it can escape before I can command it to die. Then that shows that even if youre powerful enough to defeat an army of monsters on your own, you cannot do everything. Its great that I am here, right? What do you mean? Simple. If you cant defeat it on your own, then Ill help you find the path to victory! Shiki charged forward and the Primordial Monsters vessel was about to move away. However, with a snap of a finger, a magic circle appeared above him and shot out lightning. In response, the vessel decided to lunge at Shiki. Back then, the requirements for magic were image, mana, resolve, and a catalyst. Mages needed an item to channel their mana through such as staves and other items. These items would help in mana management which would hasten the casting process. However, Shiki was among the skilled mages who could use magic without a catalyst. These mages only needed a free hand in order to cast magic and the vessel was aware of that. That was why he decided to get in close and force Shiki in hand-to-hand combat. Magic was dangerous to use at close range and if Shiki could only use Enhancement Magic on his sword, the vessel could just heal himself as long as his slime core wasnt destroyed. Shikis sword glowed and the vessel was aware of that magic. It was an Enhancement Magic that would raise the sharpness and force of a weapon. And he thought it was his victory. As a slime, his slime core could be easily shifted all over his body. The vessel knew that there was no way that Shiki could hit the slime core so he let him stab him through his chest. Its my victory! he grinned and raised his arms. He planned to change his arm into a dragons and use his claws to rip Shiki to shreds. However, his body felt stiff and he couldnt move even by an inch. T-This magic This is Slime Freeze!! he exclaimed. Kaela said its stupid to turn a sword into a catalyst for magic since iron is incompatible with mana. But this was the only way to let me hit you with Slime Freeze. Youre probably keeping a close eye on my free hand so you arent expecting that my sword could cast magic, Shiki said. Omega touched the vessels body and he couldnt move away. Slime Freeze was a special type of magic that would make a slime unable to move. Since slimes could move their own slime cores within their body, Slime Freeze was created in order to make killing them easier. The only downside it had was that it needed close and continued contact with the slime in order to make it work. You may have the Primordial Monster inside you but in the end, youre still a slime. Im sorry but its your loss, Shiki told him. The Primordial Monsters vessel will die, Omega commanded. And after she spoke those words, the man turned into a puddle of green liquid. Then, Shikis sword shattered into pieces as an effect for using it as a catalyst for magic. Its finally over, Shiki breathed a sigh of relief. No. Its not, Omega told him. In the distance, Shiki could see a swarm of monsters coming towards them from all directions. As a last ditch effort, the Primordial Monster commanded all the monsters within this continent to come here and kill you, they said. It can do that?! I have no reason to lie. You played a major part in foiling its plan to turn this world into a paradise for monsters. You are the hero who saved the world and you will face the wrath of the villain you stopped. Shiki looked at the approaching swarm and gulped down. He had no weapons and while Omega might be powerful, there was no guarantee that they could protect him while fighting. However, this fight has proved something. I may be the Primordial Reality but I cannot do all things on my own. That is why I shall create beings who can match with me! They raised their hand to the air and grasped the empty space. By the Absolute Authority of the Primordial Reality, I command all laws in this universe to obey the orders I shall speak with this mouth of mine. Create five beings who are able to fulfill the duties I shall bestow upon them! Five glowing balls of light appeared in front of them and Omega continued speaking. The first shall be the one who oversees time. Time is absolute and cannot be stopped. With this in mind, creatures will attempt to defy and change time to reach the future they want. Thus, I command reality to show me a Warden of Time. She shall make sure that time will flow as it is and warn those who are foolish enough to defy it. Show yourself, Kronii Ouro! A woman with black hair appeared from the first ball of light. There was a strange clock-like contraption on top of her head while she wielded two swords that looked like the hands of a clock. The second one shall be the one who will keep check of space. Space is the very foundation of order and without it, nothing can exist. Therefore, space needs to be stable at all times or else, destruction awaits. Thus, I command reality to bring forth a Speaker of Space. The responsibilities of maintaining order will fall on her shoulders. Come forth, Sana Tsukumo! The second ball of light formed into a woman with brown skin. Her white hair was tied into twintails which were bound together by three spheres on each part. The third one shall be the one who guides life itself. Space and time are merely nothing if there is no life that will thrive within them. Life brings forth infinite possibilities that will make reality more meaningful. Thus, I command reality to give birth to the Keeper of Nature. All life will be her responsibility and she can use the very forces of nature to make sure that life will go on. Be born, Fauna Ceres! After speaking those words, the third ball of light turned into a green-haired woman. A branch was on each side of her head and a golden apple was on her hand. The fourth one shall be the one who is the embodiment of civilization. One of the infinite possibilities brought by life is civilization. It is the one that separates sentient beings from mindless beasts. Thus, I command reality to create the Guardian of Civilization. She will represent all of mankinds achievements and has authority over it. Appear, Mumei Nanashi! The fourth ball of light became a brown-haired woman. She wore a brown cape and two feathers stuck out of her head. The last one shall be chaos itself. Order cannot exist without chaos such as how one cannot recognize cold without being aware of warmth. The necessary chaos in this world is what makes order exist in the first place and those two cannot be separated. Thus, I command reality to gather all disorder and form her into a creature called Chaos. She shall be the leader of the four beings I created who are maintaining the order of reality itself. Lead, Baelz Hakos! A red-haired woman came out of the last ball of light. She wore a white outfit and had two rat ears on her head. By the time they finished creating the five girls, the monsters were already close enough. Omega pointed their finger at the swarm and issued their first command to their new subordinates. Show your power as the Council and defeat those monsters who dare lay a hand on the worlds savior. Kronii swiftly moved across the battlefield and cut down all monsters in her path using her swords. With her time sped up, her opponents could only bleed to death before they could even touch her or even realize theyve been cut. Sana pointed her finger at a group of monsters and they were crushed by overwhelming gravity. When some monsters got close to her, they were repelled by an invisible force and sent flying away. Fauna smiled as thorny vines grew out from the ground and choked the monsters. And those who didnt get caught by her plants were hit multiple times by lightning from above as they died one after another. Mumei munched on a berry while spectral soldiers fought the swarm of monsters in her path. And occasionally, she would shoot out beams of light from a magic circle that appeared on her free hand. Baelz grinned while all the monsters around her died one by one. She twisted the rules of reality such that those who would inflict harm on her would be the ones getting hurt instead. And since the monsters were too stupid to realize that, they died one after another as they attempted to kill her. And with that, the swarm of monsters were reduced to a pile of corpses thanks to the sheer power of the Council. Shiki Taigen, I thank you for your assistance in this matter, Omega said. All five girls walked towards them and were waiting for their next orders. With those girls, you can take care of any problems you will have in the future, Shiki told them. No. The Council will only move if it involves Primordial Beings vessels. Any other problems that will pop up in this world must be solved by its own residents. You cannot expect us to solve all problems. Thats true. However, I shall give you the power to save this world if trouble appears once more. Omega walked towards the remains of the shattered sword and they picked them up. I command reality one more time to bring forth a miracle. This sword is no longer a regular sword. It shall be the record of the valiant heroes who wielded it. The world may move on and forget but this sword will remember the people who fought using it. I grant this weapon with the title The Sword of Records. It shall be the bridge between the past and the present and with its power, the one who wields it shall bring great change in this world. Watch over this world with your own eyes, Anya Melfissa! The sword glowed and turned into a little girl with wavy brown hair. She wore a black dress with golden patterns and was touching the ground with her bare foot. This is my gift to you, Shiki Taigen. I trust you can use it well. Omega and the Council disappeared with a flash of light and Shiki was left alone with Anya. Youre Shiki Taigen, my master, right? Anya faced him. Thats who I am. Wake me up if you need me. Im going to sleep for now. Anya turned into a sword while Shiki didnt understand what was going on. The only thing he knew was that Kaela would freak out once she found out that she did make a masterpiece. And thus, the story that happened a long time ago ended with the creation of the Council and the Sword of Records. The Demon Realm I walked through the barren wasteland while the stars shone above. It was annoying how during the day, the wasteland was uncomfortably hot but during the night, it was unbearably cold. Three days have already passed since I woke up in the Demon Realm and I didnt find anyone else except for Crystal Beasts. All I did was fight and walk for the entire day. This really is the Demon Realm. Its very fitting to call it like that since the land is downright demonic, I muttered. Crystal Beasts are everywhere and are attacking us on sight. There must be something wrong, Anya said. What do you mean? Arent Crystal Beasts hostile? I asked. Yes. But they only attack if they are hungry or provoked. Mikage knows the answer, Noir said. I do? Yep. Surely you felt that energy inside them, right? he asked. Ah. I see. Didnt Captain Magus say that the energy is turning people into aggressive beasts? Anya asked. Yeah. It even turned Coco into a rampaging dragon. So the Crystal Beasts were also affected. What is the Unkindness planning? I would like to ask the locals for information but we havent reached a town yet, she said. There are towns here? Noir and I asked. Yes. The Demon Realm is a country filled with demons, onis, and other creatures. Yoclesh and Oga were born here. And like any other country, there are cities and towns, Anya answered. No wonder I can feel a large concentration of darkness in a certain direction, Noir said. Wait. What do you mean by that? I asked. Oh? You cant feel it? I can sense the shadows of many creatures in that direction, Noirs semi-transparent form appeared in front of me and pointed to the left. You can sense it all this time and you didnt tell me?! I asked. Did you even ask? Besides, I thought that they were probably Crystal Beasts so I just ignored them. Also, you can sense them too, you know? My powers are your powers. What Noir said made me decide to test things out. I closed my eyes and tried to feel the darkness of the night. Aside from the concentration of energy in the south, I felt what Noir was feeling. And I almost threw up after collapsing to the ground. Gahahaha! You actually tried it?! What kind of a careless idiot are you?! Noir laughed. Mikage! Whats wrong?! Anya transformed into her human form and worriedly shook me. Its nothing special. He just got overwhelmed by the sheer number of darknesses he felt. Judging from his reaction, he felt all of the shadows here in the Demon Realm, Noir explained. All of the shadows in the Demon Realm?! Thats more than hundreds of thousands! Actually Its hundreds of millions if we count non-living things. Besides, hes lucky he only felt the shadows in the Demon Realm. He would have it worse if he felt all of the shadows in the world. And his human brain would explode if he accidentally felt all of the shadows in this universe. Despite the massive headache and nauseating feeling inside me, I managed to listen to their conversation. After a while, I calmed down and shakily stood up. A warning would be great next time, Noir, I groaned. Oh please. Its better if you learned the dangers yourself. Humans are more likely to trust their experiences than the words of a stranger, he snickered. But to think you are capable of doing such a thing, Anya muttered Hes the Primordial Dark. He has authority over all of the darkness in existence. Of course he can easily do something like feeling darkness, Noir replied. Noir is probably telling the truth that there are shadows to the left, I said. You confirmed it? Anya asked. No. I was overwhelmed. But I confirmed that it is possible to locate shadows like that. So Im going to trust Noir. Of course you should. If youre in danger, Im in danger. I got nothing to gain if you somehow died. Youre saying that but you made him do something that might make his brain explode, Anya growled. And? Did his brain explode? Thats not the point! The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Well yeah. He wont die from something like that. Huh? What do you mean by that? Nothing~~ Im sure Mikage knows what Im saying, right? Lets try to go to the concentration of shadows. We might get more information there, I said. Anya transformed into her sword form and I picked her up. Hopefully, we will be able to get information on what was going on. ### Two pieces of bread were handed to us and I gave one to Anya. I munched the cold and hard bread but I didnt mind the taste. At least they were somehow treating us humanely. Gahahaha!! You landed in prison! Thats a memorable event for sure! Noir laughed. When I went to the gates of the city, the guards asked for my identification. And when I said I had no papers, they tried to ask for my story. Things were going well until I blurted out about the strange energy. One of the guards tried to attack me but my shadow automatically rose up and landed a counter attack. And since I attacked a guard, I was arrested. To think your enchantment worked like that! And when you tried to explain that it was your enchantment, they confiscated your uniform to analyze if youre telling the truth! Noir said. Its great that I was in my human form. If I stayed as a weapon, I would get confiscated too, Anya sighed. But this is bad. If we stay here, we wont be able to do anything. Will I serve my sentence here? I asked. Who knows? If you want, you can just bust out of here easily! Wanna do it? Before I could answer, the door of my cell opened. The guard glared at me but at least, he didnt attack me. Someones here to talk to you, he said. Anya and I followed him to a room. When we got there, we saw a white-haired girl sitting at a table. Two horns were on her forehead and she was wearing a black-red kimono. There were also two katanas on her back. The door closed behind us and there was no way out. Was I supposed to talk to this girl? Are you my lawyer? I asked as I sat down. Lawyer? Are you saying you need one? she asked back. If I have to defend myself in court, then yeah. I dont know any of the laws of the Demon Realm so Ill need a lawyer if I want to prove my innocence. So youre still claiming that youre from Westa and got teleported here? Thats what happened. The girl picked up the paper on the table and began reading it. You claimed that you are Mikage Kamishiro, an administrative officer from the 13th unit of the Westa Knight Order, she said. Thats me, I replied. From the analysis of the Mage Guild, your clothes were indeed enchanted to have a defense mechanism that used Dark Magic. While you might get in trouble for an unregistered enchanted item, you can get away with it if your claim of being teleported here against your will is true. So I have a high chance of winning in court. Assuming the Demon Constabulary would press charges. But we can avoid that if you answer my next questions honestly. Ask away. Youre saying you can feel a strange energy in the Crystal Beasts? Her red eyes stared directly at me. I could feel her analyzing every single movement I made in order to catch any sign of dishonesty. Yeah. Its a bit hard to explain but Im a special kind of human. Thanks to that, I can feel a strange energy thats been in the Crystal Beasts. To describe it, its like staring at a deep dark abyss and- Having a suspicion that something else is staring back, she continued. I knew it. Something was happening here. The white-haired girl thought deeply while I waited for her to continue interrogating me. Shes quite a troubled one, huh? Noir asked. What do you mean? I asked back. Oh? You still arent used to my powers. Understandable. Have a good one. Something exploded outside and the white-haired girl looked alarmed. Hey! Whats going on?! she shouted. The door opened and the demon from earlier entered the room. Another demon is rampaging. Darkness is coming out of his body, he said. The two of them ran off while I didnt move from my spot. I could feel the strange energy outside so I was certain that it was a problem. However, I was still a prisoner so if I were going to unnecessarily involve myself, I might get in trouble. Ah. That dude is a goner, Noir said. What do you mean? Anya asked. He has a massive concentration of that energy inside him. Its eating away his Life Force like a rabid dog chowing down on meat after being hungry for a whole week. Its sad that hes suffering in the last hour of his life. Anya. Lets go, I told her. She transformed into her sword form and I grabbed her. It didnt matter if I were going to make things worse for myself. If I were going to let that demon die, I would be living with a guilty conscience for the rest of my life. This was what Amelia would do anyways. I got out of the prison and saw the white-haired girl pinning a male demon to the ground. Dark mist surrounded the two of them and was going towards the katana of the girl. President! a demon in a uniform shouted worriedly. Stay away! Im overusing Rakshasa right now! Youll just become a casualty if you get near! the girl told her. Impossible. That person is still conscious despite being under Rakshasas influence? another demon in the same uniform muttered. Rakshasa To think Id meet it again, Anya said. Whats that? I asked. Before you go have a long and boring infodump, you might want to save that demon first. That sword is draining away his stamina. However, the strange energy inside that demon is replenishing the lost stamina at the cost of his Life Force. If this keeps up, he wont even last ten minutes, Noir interrupted us. Since Noir had a point, I decided to just ask questions later and walk towards the two of them. You! What are you doing here?! Get away! the white-haired girl told me. I faced my palm at the demon and focused. In the next second, darkness came out of the demon and was absorbed by my hand. When the last ounce of the strange energy was drained from that demon, he closed his eyes and passed out. The dark mist disappeared and the girl sheathed her katana. She had a confused look on her face but her eyes were warily looking at me. Who exactly are you? she asked. Mikage Kamishiro, the vessel of the Primordial Dark. In the Underworld Academy Primordial Dark? the white-haired girl asked. Anya transformed into her human form. Everyone looked surprised except for the girl. His body is the vessel of an annoying guy who commands all darkness in existence, she said. I love it when you praise me like that, Anya, Noir chuckled. No wonder she looked familiar. Youre not just a regular human if you have the Sword of Records, the white-haired girl looked at me. More demons arrived on the scene. Now that things were resolved, I should do what I was supposed to do. Im going back to jail, I said. That sounds so wrong out of context, Noir commented. Wait. The jail isnt a good place to talk. If what you say is true, then Im going to have to take you to the Underworld Academy. Im sure Dr. Choco would like to talk with you, the white-haired girl told me. And who is the one taking us? Its unfair if were the only ones who introduced ourselves, Anya said. Only Mikage introduced himself. That girl knew who you are without you telling it, Noir muttered. Shut up, her voice echoed in my mind. Can you guys not fight inside my mind? I asked them. Im sorry. My name is Ayame Nakiri, the student council president of the Underworld Academy, the white-haired girl introduced herself. Wow. The Demon Realm must be in serious trouble if a student council president is doing things like these, Noir said. Ill be bringing this man to the Underworld Academy. Are there any objections? she faced the other demons. None, maam, one of them said. The demons in the same uniform picked up the unconscious demon who I just saved. After that, Ayame motioned me to follow her and she walked forward. Youre pretty influential. I thought it was only in fiction where student council presidents have impossible authority, I tried to start a conversation with her. The Underworld Academy is an elite school that was built the moment the Demon Realm was founded. 4 out of 5 influential people in the history of the Demon Realm graduated from it. Thats why being the student council president of the Underworld Academy gives me a lot of authority, she answered. Yoclesh and Oga are alumni of the Underworld Academy. If I remember correctly, Oga was the top student in his entire batch, Anya told me. Oga is that amazing? Ayame stopped in her tracks as her eyes beamed when she heard what I said. Oga?? Are you saying you know Oga Aragami? she asked. Yeah. Hes my friend, I answered. You have that person as your friend?! Why is something wrong with him? Nothings wrong with him! Its just that hes a legend in the Underworld Academy! He had the highest recorded grades in the Underworld Academy and achieved the highest possible rank before the end of his first year! He is also one of the rare demons who is able to go into his demon form! Are you looking up to him? Anya asked. Any demon looks up to him! Hes a legend! Although he disappeared after the Dark Times, his legends lived on! To think hes still alive now! Was Oga really that amazing? He just looked like an approachable and nice dude. Then again, he wasnt even taking me seriously in the Idol Fan Tournament. He easily defeated me with a surprise attack with his shadow. If Noir didnt take over my body, Oga wouldnt even need to use his demon form. Pssh. Hes nothing. No fighter can win if their own shadow betrays them, Noir scoffed. We continued walking towards the center of the city. And I realized the greatness of the Underworld Academy when we arrived there. I thought that the building in the center of the city was a palace where the king of the Demon Realm lived. It was a black-white castle that was far larger than the castles I saw back in my old world. There were many towers and each of them were higher than the Merak Tower in the Peafowl Kingdom. However, the sign in front of the gates told me otherwise. Now then, Mikage Kamishiro and Sword of Records, welcome to the Underworld Academy! Ayame grinned. ### A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. I faced my palm towards a restrained demon and darkness came out of his body. After a minute, I drained all of the strange energy from him. Amazing. You really can drain that energy, a blonde woman said. Two black horns were on her head and a pair of black wings were on her back. She was wearing a white lab coat over a pink blouse. Do you believe me now, Dr. Choco? I asked. Ive seen you do it many times already so its safe to arrive at that conclusion, she said. Her Excellular rang and she picked it up. While she was talking to whoever else it was, I went to the next demon and absorbed the strange energy in him. I already cured thirteen demons. There were still thirty of them. If these many people had that strange energy inside them, the Demon Realm was in danger. Are you okay, Mikage? Anya asked. Why wouldnt I? I asked back. If Im correct, youre absorbing that energy. The last time you did, you went out of control and lost your memories. I dont feel anything weird right now. Maybe I have a tolerance for it. Or maybe because Noir is here, I wont go out of control. Right, Noir? Huh? What? he asked. Were you even listening? Anya asked. Sorry. Lots of things are on my mind. What are you thinking about now? I asked. Its nothing important. Dont mind me please. That was odd. Noir was being timid right now. What could he be thinking about which made him like that? Time passed and I finished draining the energy from all of the demons. All of them passed out but according to Noir, their lives were no longer in danger. Thank you, Mikage. I was worried that I might lose another life thanks to that strange energy, Dr. Choco bowed down. Lose another life? Its best if we exchange information in the nurses office. We can have the rest of the staff take care of these demons, Ayame interrupted us. We went to the nurses office and Dr. Choco brewed some coffee. She handed Anya, Ayame, and I some cups and we took a sip. From the analysis of other professors who used advanced machines, we can say that all of the patients you cured before have no trace of that strange energy inside them. Thank you, Mikage, Dr. Choco bowed down once more. So what exactly is happening in the Demon Realm? Why is everyone getting that strange energy? I asked. It all happened more than four months ago. One demon started attacking anyone in sight. And when he was detained and taken to professionals, we found out that theres a strange energy inside him, Ayame explained. We dont know anything about the strange energy except that it converts the Life Force into power. I already cooperated with many magicians and scientists but the only thing we could do was weaken the strange energy and slow down the conversion. Thanks to our lack of ability, many demons have already died, Dr. Choco added. Which brings us to you. How are you able to drain that strange energy? I honestly dont know. All I know is that the strange energy is somehow related to the Primordial Dark inside me since I can freely manipulate it. I think its some sort of Dark Magic since I can control it as the vessel of the Primordial Dark, I answered. No. Its not Dark Magic. Its different, Noir said. What do you mean? Anya asked. If it was magic, then they could easily find ways to remove it. There are many ways to remove magic, after all. You guys are dealing with something different. Something that is a part of me. A part of you? The Dark Corruption. Excuse me but are you talking to someone right now? Ayame asked. Ah. Oh yeah. They cant hear Noir, Anya said. Do I have to pass the message to everyone? I groaned. Theres no need for that. Mikage, enter Synchronicity and call that white-haired shorty, Noir told me. You mean Ars? I asked. You know, shell kill you if she finds out you called her short, Anya said. Just do it, Noir told me. Anya held my hand as I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing. Synchronicity Release! My clothes transformed into a black outfit and Anya began glowing. Oiii! Shorty! Get over here! Noir shouted. There was no response. Ummm Ars? I need your help, I said. Are you implying that Im short? her annoyed voice rang in my mind. Im sorry. Im seriously sorry, I apologized to her. I call it how I see it! But thats not important right now. Lend me a bit of your power. I would want to do it myself but I can only control darkness, Noir chuckled. If you want someones help, be more respectful to them! Im sorry for telling the truth that you are a short girl. Now can we please move on? Mikage cant possibly keep Synchronicity for a long time. Fine. Id rather not argue against something that can easily overpower me. Noir explained his plan to her and Ars instructed me on what I should do. And then, a black-haired man appeared in the room. He looked exactly like me except that the sclera of his eyes were black and his irises were red. Is this Mind Magic which lets us see illusions? Dr. Choco asked. Got that correct, Dr. Choco! That saves a lot of explanation so Im going straight to the point, Noir said. All of us were ready to hear what he had to say. Since he was the Primordial Dark and he could manipulate the strange energy, he must know something. Now lets have a crash course on the thing known as the Dark Corruption! The origin of everything is nothing A long long time ago, even before time began its supposedly endless march, there was nothing. Or to be more accurate, there was something that was nothing, Noir said. First two sentences in and I had no idea what he was talking about. I dont understand what you are trying to say, Dr. Choco frowned. If even a smart demon like Dr. Choco couldnt understand him, maybe Noir was the one who was in the wrong. Hmmm If I were going to put it in modern terms, there was something that represented nothing, Noir said. The Primordial Nothing, Anya told us. Bingo! Or to be more accurate, it was the Primordial Void. For something to be born, there must be nothing. After all, everything starts from zero. Even before the darkness, there was nothing. But how does this relate to the strange energy? Ayame asked. We get there when we get there! Sorry. Anyways The Primordial Void existed. Its impossible to know how long it existed because time wasnt there yet. But the Primordial Void split itself into two parts. Those parts are twins called the ever-so-amazing-and-completely-lovable Primordial Dark and the Primordial Reality. Wait. I thought you started existing at the same time as the Primordial Light? Anya asked. Thats wrong. The Primordial Light is way younger than me. Not that Im old or anything but lets not focus on that. Yes. Lets not get sidetracked until this man reaches the explanation for the strange energy, Ayame agreed. So The Primordial Void split itself into two which are the Primordial Reality and the Primordial Dark. The Primordial Reality received the ability to have potential. That one is able to bloom and grow towards the infinite possibilities. I see. And the rest of the universe was created like that, right? The Primordial Time and the Primordial Space were born at the same time thanks to the Primordial Reality. As the universe evolved, more and more Primordial Beings were born, Dr. Choco said. Yep. When the first living creature was created, the Primordial Life appeared. And when the first creature died, the Primordial Death took its life. When sentient creatures learned how to use their mana, the Primordial Magic was born. And when the first sentient creature lost its mind, the Primordial Insanity dropped by. But all Primordial Beings couldnt exist without the Primordial Reality. As time goes by and more and more Primordial Beings appear, the Primordial Reality grows stronger. So the Primordial Reality is the part of the Primordial Void which has the potential to bloom into infinite possibilities. Then what about you? What are you? Anya asked. I am nothing. Darkness is the lack of light and thats exactly what I am. The Primordial Reality was able to grow and mature over time. They even created creatures that would act like a Council and keep watch of the other Primordial Beings. Meanwhile, I had nothing until they decided to give me freewill. That is unfortunate but are we getting to the part about the strange energy? Ayame asked. You know the conservation of energy, right? Energy is neither created nor destroyed. Its only transformed from one form to another. But theres no such thing as a perfect transformation. For example, if you transform your mana into electricity, not all of your mana would become electricity. No matter how skilled you are, you cant transform everything 100%. That is simply impossible. I think Ars researched that and she arrived at the conclusion that the energy that wasnt converted would become an unusable energy. She tried hard to detect and find a way to interact with that energy but no matter what she did, she wasnt successful. Even other mages of her time mocked her because of an outrageous theory about a supposedly existing form of energy, Anya said. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Wait a minute. Then that strange energy is that energy? I asked. Got that right, Mikage. The energy that is causing these problems in the Demon Realm is that one. Its called the Dark Corruption, Noir answered. I can understand that But how is it related to you and why does it do such a thing to creatures? Dr. Choco questioned. Like I said, I am the part of the Primordial Void that is nothing. The final form of energy is the Dark Corruption. It could no longer be transformed into anything else. It could be said that something came from nothing. So it would be safe to say that it would also return to nothing. As the Primordial Dark which is nothing, I have authority over it too. That somehow makes sense But why is it doing such a thing to the demons? Ayame asked. The Dark Corruption turns something into nothing. The very first step to that is losing the sentient and rational mind. Thats why people become rampaging lunatics. They are slowly losing their minds. Not only their minds but their Life Forces too. Fortunately, they wont completely become nothing. The moment their Life Force is gone, their soul would be released from their bodies that had the Dark Corruption. So they have a chance for rebirth. But why would it make them stronger? From witness reports, the affected demons became stronger and are capable of Dark Magic, Dr. Choco looked at some papers. Its because of the conversion. Theres no way that something would be 100% converted into the Dark Corruption. Thats why they became physically stronger and Dark Magic oozed out from their body. The Life Force is a powerful energy. Its not surprising that a fraction of it that wasnt converted into the Dark Corruption would give such strong and deadly enhancements, right? Everyone was silent as they processed the new knowledge they learned. However, I had one thing I wanted to ask so I raised my hand. Whats up, Mikage? Noir asked. I thought you had no memories. How did you know these things? Simple. I learned them the moment you absorbed the Dark Corruption. Wait. So if I absorb more, youll learn more? No. I stopped learning things after you absorbed the seventh demons Dark Corruption. I think there are other conditions but I dont think we have time to experiment. What do you mean by that? Anya asked. Mikage knows what Im saying. The Dark Corruption in the south became stronger. Dark Corruption in the south? Ayame looked at me. I then explained what I felt in the south and what I knew about the Unkindness. That is concerning. We have to tell this to the Leader and have a raid there, Dr. Choco said. Its not recommended, Anya shot down her suggestion. Why not? The Unkindness has connections everywhere. If we alert the Leader, then we would lose the element of surprise. Their members inside the Demon Realms government would delay things in order for their comrades to escape. Or worse, they could prepare a trap and create a tragedy. Then theres only one thing to do, Ayame spoke up. Yeah. We have to do it ourselves, I said. Thats too reckless. Its a safer bet to just tell the Leader and have them handle it, Dr. Choco argued. It might be reckless and unsafe but if we pull this off, we can stop this so-called Unkindness. Even if we drive them away from the Demon Realm, theres no guarantee that they wont return. And even if they wont return, that means they would just move on to another country and cause chaos there. I dont want that to happen, Ayame told her. I cant change your mind, can I? Dr. Choco sighed. No. Sorry, Dr. Choco. I love the Demon Realm but that doesnt mean I dont care about other countries. This is the best option despite being riskier. Very well. Three days. Ill need three days to prepare Mikages paperwork. He cant travel around as an illegal immigrant in this country. I still need you to talk with the Demon Constabulary so you can make them agree to have Mikage travel with you. Thank you, Dr. Choco. Wait. Youre going to save the Demon Realm? a womans voice asked. We turned around and saw a petite girl with green hair. She was wearing a blue dress with butterfly patterns. Rushia, what are you doing here? Ayame asked. If youre going to save the Demon Realm, Ill tag along too, she answered. Thats perfect! If the two best students work together, then I can sleep better at night, Dr. Choco smiled. We might die, you know? Ayame looked at her. Then Ill just revive you guys! Im not the best necromancer for nothing, she boasted. And thats how I ended up on a journey with a demon and a necromancer. Traveling across a troubled land My shadow rose up and impaled two oversized tigers. They disintegrated into dust and left a red gem. That is amazing, Rushia clapped her hands. Youre strong enough to be a Hamex. No Youre somewhere around Xesh, Ayame said. Whats that? I asked. In the Underworld Academy, we are separated into ranks. Egad, Tchaim, Zalosh, Arban, Hamex, Xesh, Xeva, Zchomone, Tezra, and Exer are the ranks a student could have with Egad being the initial rank and Exer is the highest, Ayame explained. So Im like around the sixth or fifth strongest rank? Yes. For reference, Ayame is a Xeva while Im a Xesh , Rushia told me. Wow. They must think highly of themselves if they believe they are as strong as us, Noir grumbled. Ayame has Rakshasa and Asura. Rushias mastery over necromancy is too exceptional for a student. The rankings are justified, Anya told him. Oh no. Im not saying they are wrong for thinking they are strong. They are wrong for thinking that were weak. If Mikage truly wants to, he can be a Tezra and thats for now. If he completely masters his powers, he can go toy around with Exers. For once, I agree with you. I am Anya Melfissa, his legendary partner. At the very least, he should be Zchomone. This conversation reminded me of one thing that Ayame said. Hey, what year are you in, Ayame? I looked at her. The Underworld Academy trains its students for six years. Im currently in my third year, she said. Youre in third year and youre a Xeva. If I remember correctly, you said that Oga achieved the highest rank in his first year Exactly! Thats how legendary Oga is! In just a single year, he already outclassed his seniors. I may be the youngest student council president but thats simply because Oga refused the position! Before you fangirl, lets collect the gems, Rushia said and walked towards the pile of ashes as she dragged Ayame. Whatre those gems for? I asked. These can be sold in towns for money. Defeating Crystal Beasts isnt an easy task but the gems are valuable. This is a profitable business for battle junkies, she explained. After picking up the gems, we continued our journey. Our main destination was the south where I could sense the Dark Corruption was being gathered. I already knew how dire the situation was in the Demon Realm so we had to hurry up and take shortcuts. Crystal Beasts were very hostile thanks to the Dark Corruption inside them so traveling was dangerous. I wouldve wanted to drain that energy from the Crystal Beast but even if I were going to do it, they would still be hostile to us because they were in pain. The next town is in sight, Rushia said and pointed. Wooden walls were in the distance and I felt relieved. We camped out for two days already so I was happy to be able to sleep on a bed again. Food was also something I was looking forward to because eating jerkies all the time wasnt fun. It was common to just pack a lot of premade jerkies while traveling. They wouldnt easily go bad since they last for a week despite not using any refrigeration. And despite being small in size, we could easily fill our stomachs with just one or two pieces every meal. The only downside with them was that they weren''t satisfying to eat. They were hard to chew and the spices used to make sure they would last long were not pleasing to my tongue. Ayame and Rushia looked like they were used to it and if I were going to continue traveling, I had no other choice but to adapt too. We arrived at the gates and showed our identifications. Thanks to Dr. Choco, I had a legal ID as a foreigner under government orders. It was amazing to see how much influence the Underworld Academy had. The guards saluted when Ayame showed her ID and they immediately let us pass without any problems. Ayame didnt even look bothered by how tense the other guards were around her as she walked forward. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Student council presidents are scary, I muttered. It is a heavy responsibility. I can see why Oga didnt want any of that, Rushia said. The town had many demons walking around. On the surface, it would look like everything was peaceful, especially with how some children were running around. But I could feel a sense of unease lingering in the air. After all, there were many guards patrolling the street and keeping an eye out for any trouble This is the state of the Demon Realm because of the Dark Corruption, Ayame said. Noir already explained things to us. The air of the Demon Realm was infected with the Dark Corruption. All living things here would slowly accumulate that energy inside them. Normally, the Dark Corruption would be expelled from the creatures body. However, the rate someone would absorb the Dark Corruption was different from creature to creature. And some unfortunate ones would accumulate that energy inside them faster than their body could release it. And the reason why the air had the Dark Corruption was most likely because of that concentration of energy in the south. We entered an inn and after reserving a room, we ate lunch. My mouth drooled when I saw a large chunk of juicy meat along with warm bread. There was also Tokino Soda and delicious-looking apples. You really like eating, dont you, Mikage? Rushia asked. Food is a blessing. I can understand why Captain Noel likes eating now, I answered. I wonder what happened why you suddenly appreciated food, Anya looked at me as she ate small chunks of her bread. Its to show that Im still alive. Because you are aware of that, right? Noirs voice echoed in my mind. Aware of what? Anya asked. Before I could answer, several guards entered the inn along with a demon who wore formal attire. His eyes saw Ayame and smiled. I am honored to meet the student council president of the Underworld Academy, he bowed down to show respect. I apologize for this unannounced visit. I am in an important business but I will do my best to give as little inconvenience as possible with how the Demon Realm is in disarray, Ayame said. I believe I am also in the presence of Rushia Uruha, the genius necromancer? he looked at Rushia. That is me, Rushia replied. Then who is this man? A foreigner under direct orders of the Underworld Academy. His name is Mikage Kamishiro, Ayame answered. He smiled at me and offered a handshake. My name is Kaim Goemon, the mayor of this humble town, he introduced himself. After shaking his hand, his smile faded as a grim expression appeared on his face. If the student council president of the Underworld Academy is acting like this, I believe you are trying to gather as little attention as possible, right?, Kaim asked. And if you understand that, there must be a reason why you approached me like this, Ayame said. I would like to ask for your assistance in a certain problem of ours, he bowed down. Problem? Rushia asked. A few kilometers east of here, there is a dangerous creature prowling around. Ive already led soldiers there but we were all defeated with some of us losing their lives. With how things are in the Demon Realm where demons suddenly attack others without any reason, I cant lose any more warriors. Very well. Ill eliminate that creature, Ayame answered. Hey! Why are you accepting a job when were on a much more important mission? Rushia glared at her. Its my duty as the student council president. Just tell this incident to Dr. Choco and she can arrange things to have an army defeat that creature. We cant lose time by going on side missions. Let others do it. But this town cant lose any more time as well. What are you talking about? East of this town is a major trading route. If you noticed, the price of the food we just ate is higher than regular, which means that the supplies of this town are running low. We took a shortcut by going off-road so that we can get to our destination as quickly as possible but that was only possible because we are strong enough to defeat the Crystal Beasts rampaging. ... I see. Merchants and other supplies have to use the road but with that creature prowling around, its impossible to get them to this town. The Underworld Academy may have influence but its not enough to muster an army in time with how things are right now. And even if an army gets formed, they would need time to travel to this place. Ayame stood up and walked towards Kaim. Ill accept your request. What I need now is information. You said your soldiers fought it and some of them died. That meant there were others who returned here alive with you. What is that creature? Kaim gulped down and showed his torso that had lots of bandages. The guards around him had scared expressions and one of them was even visibly shaking. A crazy zombie, he answered. Against a crazy zombie Despite the sun shining above, I felt cold. After all, there was a powerful concentration of the Dark Corruption nearby. It was weird that I didnt notice that amount was close but now that I focused, I could pinpoint where it was. Should we have a training arc? Noir asked. Do we even have time for one? Anya asked back. We could solve lots of things if Mikage knows how to use his powers properly. Maybe after we finish our business in the Demon Realm. We have to stop the Unkindness, I said. Why? Noirs question caught me off guard. Why was I stopping the Unkindness? Were they automatically the bad guys just because they were targeting me? And that was when I realized that I knew nothing about them. All I knew was that they were an organization that existed since the Dark Times and that they had members everywhere. Are they really an enemy? I thought. Mikage. Dont forget that they attacked a school and were willing to kidnap students just to get you. They also framed Captain Noel and they distributed those pills which caused trouble, Anya said. Yeah Youre right. People who do those things werent remotely good. No matter what their goals were which were beyond my understanding, it wouldnt excuse their methods. And from how things are chaotic in the Demon Realm, they werent doing things for the best interest of everyone. Are we there yet? Ayame asked. I can feel it getting closer. Were in the right direction, I answered. Why are you guys on edge? Its just a zombie, Rushia said. Its powerful enough to defeat a group of warriors. We shouldnt underestimate it, Ayame told her. Even then, its just a zombie. Im the best necromancer in our generation. I can just dispel whatever magic is keeping it alive. If I want to, I can assert my will on it and turn it into one of my minions. Necromancy was a practice frowned on in Westa. After all, most people arent keen on using dead bodies as minions and with Summoning Magic being easier, necromancy wasnt common. The Demon Realm was fine with it seeing how demons have different morals and culture. It was even a magic that was being taught in the Underworld Academy with Rushia being the best student practicing it. How does necromancy work? I asked. Its simple. A body needs energy to move. Most of the time, its powered by stamina that was produced from our Life Forces, Ayame said. But dead bodies dont have Life Forces. That is why a necromancer would place their mana inside those bodies using necromancy. As long as that body doesnt run out of mana, it can move around, Rushia added. So you can just drain that zombies mana and itll be as good as dead again? Thats the plan. Of course, necromancers can place other magic in the body to prevent such a thing but if the opponent is more skilled, they can bypass all those defenses, Rushia told me. I was about to ask more but we already arrived at our location. In the middle of the barren wasteland, there was a girl standing. She had red hair and a ripped black dress. A black sword was on her right hand and she was staring blankly at the sky. When I focused on her, I could see that her skin was gray and had stitches. The concerning part was that there was a large amount of Dark Corruption inside her. Wait a minute. Wasnt the Dark Corruption supposed to convert Life Force? I asked. What about it? Noirs voice rang in my mind. And if zombies dont have any Life Force, then why is she still alive? Hmmmm~~~ Youll find out soon enough. If you have the answer, then why dont you just say it? Anya asked. Its no fun to just give him answers. Besides, it would further prove my point of a training arc. If Mikage knew how to use his powers, then he would immediately know why. What do you think? Ayame looked at Rushia. I dont know for sure unless I get close, she shook her head. Ayame nodded at me and the two of us drew our swords and walked ahead. Rushia was behind us and keeping an eye on the zombie. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. When we got close enough, the zombie turned her head and charged at me. She closed the distance between us in just a few seconds and raised her sword. However, I blocked her attack just in time. Sword of Carnage: Asura! Ayame shouted as she charged. Purple flames appeared and formed into a silhouette of a woman with long hair. It held two katanas made from the same flames and it attacked the zombie along with Ayame. The zombie backed away from her attack but I willed my shadow to rise up and impale her. She then stiffened up as red sparks appeared around her. Then, a large burst of red light exploded. Sheesh, Mikage. You are hopeless, Noirs voice said. I noticed that my shadow turned into a wall and protected me. Ah! Ayame! I called out her name. Im fine! she shouted. Of course she is. I also made her shadow protect her, Noir told me. My shadow returned to normal and the first thing I saw was the zombies sword going down in front of me. Dont get relaxed, Mikage. I cant always bail you out if youre in trouble, Noir snickered. The zombie continued swinging her sword while I did my best to avoid her attacks. Ayame snuck up on her along with her flaming companion and managed to push her back. Rushia! How long does it take?! Ayame asked. I dont know what kind of magic is keeping her alive so Im preparing my strongest dispelling magic! Give me a few more seconds! Rushia said. Butterflies made from green light were flying around her as she stood in the middle of a magic circle. Ayame and I continued fighting the zombie as Rushia prepared her magic. The zombie was fast and strong which made things difficult. Luckily, Ayame was skilled with her swords so the fight wasnt one-sided. Im ready! I need her to be immobile! Rushia shouted. I commanded her shadow to turn into ropes and bind her in place. If there was one thing I noticed, it was that commanding the darkness of other people used more mana than usual. Anya would also complain that managing my mana was difficult whenever I would do that. The only times I wouldnt have any trouble was when Noir would help out but he didnt like placing much effort on things that didnt interest him. Rest for an Eternity! she faced her palm at the zombie. The green butterflies around her converged and headed towards the zombie. They surrounded her and green light glowed. Before it died down, the zombie stepped out and charged at Rushia. Wha- She couldnt finish her sentence because the zombie was already too close. However, Rushias shadow rose up and turned into a wall to protect her. You can thank me later, Noirs bored voice said. Ayame managed to get close and the zombies attention shifted towards her. I also rushed to her side and tried to fend her off. This is impossible! Rest for an Eternity is the strongest anti-necromancy magic! There should be no way a zombie like her is still standing! Rushia said. The answer to that is simple, Noirs voice told me. What is it? Anya asked. Shes not created from necromancy. After all, she has a Life Force. Noir says she has a Life Force! Shes not a product of necromancy! I told her. Huh?! How can a dead body have a Life Force?! Rushia asked. Ayame severed the zombies arm. However, red sparks came out of the severed parts and connected them once again. A zombie with self-healing properties?! This is outrageous! Rushia scratched her head. She then smiled as several magic circles appeared near her. Skeletons holding swords came out and Rushia had a face that made me scared. Mikage, Ayame. Capture her. Shes a very interesting subject. I have to dissect how she works and advance necromancy! The skeletons charged and the zombie cut them down one by one. Ayame and I moved close and we had the upper hand. Except that the zombie didnt even seem tired. Instead, she was getting stronger and faster. If Rushia cant dispel the magic, how can we defeat the zombie?! Ayame asked. Why are you asking me? I dont know anything! I said. Ayame cut off the zombies legs and arms. But in less than a second, red sparks connected her limbs again and she returned fighting. Interesting. She does have self-healing capabilities. I wonder what kind of magic is powering her, Rushia muttered. Hey! Nows not the time to experiment, Rushia! Youre the necromancer here! Find a way to beat her! Ayame shouted as she blocked the zombies sword. I dont know anything! And thats what makes this amazing! The questions I have are like a mountain and I can answer them if I get a hold of her body! So capture her alive! How the hell am I supposed to do that when she just reattaches herself?! Im tempted to just burn her to ashes with Asura! Do it and Ill kill you and make your body become one of my minions! Not if I kill you first! Do you want a go, you self-righteous overachiever?! Bring it on, you obsessive necromancer! Hey! Dont fight! I told them. Then can you fix this situation?! they glared at me. The fact that they were actually powerful enough to destroy my body made them even scarier. They should learn their place. If you go at it, you can kill them easily. You can even solve this situation on your own without their help, Noir said. I can solve it? I asked. If you know the answer, just tell us already! Anya told him. But its boring that way~~ Mikage should grow on his own and not rely on me. Then give him a hint! Fine Mikage. Heres a question: what do you feel inside that zombie? I focused on her, who was fighting Rushias skeletons while my two companions were bickering with each other. All I could tell was that she had a large amount of Dark Corruption inside her body. And you know that the Dark Corruption makes people act like a violent and mindless beast, right? Ah. Took you long enough, Noir sighed. The zombies shadow rose up and bound her in place again. I charged at her and touched her forehead. Noir said that I had authority over the Dark Corruption and so, I commanded it to go out from her body and go towards me. Darkness oozed out of her and gathered around my arm. After several seconds, the zombie collapsed to the ground and she no longer had a trace of the Dark Corruption inside her. That solves things, right? I asked. Ayame and Rushia looked at each other and then back at me. If you can do something like that, then why didnt you do it in the first place?! they shouted in unison. I actually had no answer except that I didnt think of it. A new but crazy party member I DONT KNOW!! a red-haired girl laughed. Her name was Ollie Kureiji, the zombie we fought a few minutes ago. How is that possible?! You should know your creator! How does a zombie like you have a Life Force?! Rushia asked. Like I said, I dont know! I just found myself in a coffin and when I got out, I found out my home turned into a ramen shop! That was so funny! Hows that even funny? I frowned. Cause the owner told me that hell give back my home if I become a super popular idol! So I swore to myself Ill become an idol even though Im a zombie! How is that related to you being a zombie with a Life Force?! Rushia asked her again. It isnt! But since were talking, we should get to know each other more! Rushia sighed and then green butterflies appeared around her. I could feel her mana swelling up as her eyes had a dangerous glow on them. Then I will have to dissect you myself then. But before she could make a move, Ayames sword was pointed at her neck while her other hand was ready to swing her second sword. What are you doing, Ayame? Rushia glared. Demon Realm Constitution Article Three Section One, Ayame glared back. The butterflies disappeared and Rushia relaxed. I was actually afraid that I had to fight Rushia in order to protect Ollie. What happened? Ollie asked. Did she seriously not understand that she was in danger? No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws, Rushia said. And by definition, Ollie is a person because she has a Life Force and a sentient mind, Ayame sheathed her swords. So what now? Ollie asked. What happens now is that we go to a vampires mansion, my voice said. Ayame, Rushia, and Ollie looked at me. Hold on Whats happ- I couldnt finish my words as I could no longer feel my body. Hmmmm This feels weird. Flesh and blood is different from being just a thought, my voice said. Noir?! I realized who took over my body. Yo, Mikage. Funny how I took over, right? Noir asked. Noir? The Primordial Dark? Ayame looked at him warily. Dont worry. This is just temporary. This body is seriously uncomfortable. One out of five stars. Wont come back if possible. I had a bad feeling about this. If Noir could freely take over my body like this, it would be problematic. He could just kill someone by taking over my body simply because they annoyed him. Now then When I say a mansion with a vampire, do you have anything that comes into mind? Noir asked. There are many vampires here with mansions. You have to be more specific, Ayame said. From the outside, the mansion looks magnificent. It has been built with white marbles and has grand porcelain gargoyle statues near the front door which was made from crimson wood that was most possibly grown on the eastern part of the Demon Realm. Tall windows with intricately-patterned frames added to the overall look of the house, especially so with their fairly symmetrical positionings. Wait What? Ayame looked confused. The mansion has several rooms along with a grand dining hall. Even guest rooms have extravagant furniture and decorations fitting for a magnificent exterior. There are balconies outside each bedroom which allows the guest to gaze upon the beautiful night sky for there are no lights of the surroundings which would normally overpower their natural and beautiful sparkles. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Noir. What are you saying? Ollie asked. You asked me to be specific on what kind of mansion it is so I complied, Noir answered. But thats too specific! You shouldve told us who owned that mansion or at least their appearance! No one would remember a mansion like that! Rushia snapped. Shes a vampire with short blonde hair framing her head with the left side having a clip in the form of a bat. Her outfit is quite revealing and the black-white color scheme made the people focus more on her beauty. On her short black skirt were ribbons with different colors and black leggings covered the lower half of her plump thighs. An orange ribbon lies straight at the center of her strapless attire which shows her navel although any man of culture will stare straight at the bountiful garden barely hidden by that outfit. Rushia and Ayame looked at each other and nodded. Who are you talking about? Ayame asked. I have no idea how to imagine her since I dont know many vampires, Rushia shook her head. Her name is Mel Yozora, Noir snickered. You shouldve said that from the start! Rushia threw a punch and I felt my cheek sting. Owww! I groaned. Ill look away this time, Ayame said as she stared at the distance. Wait! Wait! Rushia! Its me, Mikage! I shouted as Rushia cracked her knuckles. Tch. So he ran away, huh? Rushia relaxed her body after she clicked her tongue. Damn it, Noir! Whyd you do that? I asked. Cause why not? Noir laughed. That was funny! Ollie chuckled. Oh? Its over? Ayame asked. Unfortunately, it is, Rushia said. Why did you add unfortunately? Do you really want to punch me that much? I rubbed the pain away from my cheek. Then lets ask the better question: why should we go to the Yozora Mansion? Ayame helped me up. When I absorbed Ollies Dark Corruption, a memory appeared in my mind. It showed the mansion and the blonde vampire along with her saying her name. I thought it would be a good idea to investigate something like that, right? my voice said. Noir? Did you just take over my body again?! I thought you disliked it?! I asked. My goals are beyond your understanding, he had a serious voice. Rushias eyes widened and I had an idea on what was coming. Owww! I groaned as her fist punched my stomach. Let me guess. Youre Mikage now? Ayame asked. Its not obvious? I glared at her. So he runs away fast. I expected the Primordial Dark to not be a cow- Before Rushia could finish her sentence, her shadow rose up and turned into spikes. It only took less than a second for them to become those spikes and stop a few centimeters away from her body. Im only letting you hit Mikage because its fun. Dont overestimate yourself, necromancer. Just because youre Mikages allies doesnt mean Im always on your side, Noir said. Her shadow returned to normal and I regained control of my body. Rushia looked at her shadow warily and then to me. Why dont we head to the Yozora mansion then? Its still south of here so were not making a huge detour, Ayame suggested. Y Yeah. That would be for the best, Rushia muttered. This was awkward Was this another one of Noirs shenanigans? Anya Do you know what Im gonna ask of you along with Ars? I called out to her. Yes. Ill do my best, Anya replied. Oh? This should be fun, Noir said. What should we do with Ollie? I asked. She was under the influence of the Dark Corruption so I think she can get away in court. I can also convince the mayor to not push charges and just give her community service as punishment instead of having a long trial, Ayame answered. Then, can I decide what kind of community service I should do? Ollie raised her hand. I dont see a reason why I shouldnt hear you out. Then let me join you and travel with you guys! I approve, Rushia nodded. Hey! Youre just itching to dissect her if you get a chance, Ayame told her. I wont. Ill just convince her after observing her daily actions as a zombie with a Life Force. Oh? Youre interested in my body? You shouldve said so, Rushia! Ollie fidgeted. Why do I feel like Ill lose if I comment? Rushia asked. Then how about you, Mikage? Are you fine with her around? Ayame ignored the two of them as she looked at me. Yeah. Sure. Why not? I nodded. Ollie stood up and started humming. She walked past us and continued humming a melody that was oddly familiar. Ollie Kureiji has joined the party! she announced. Ah. So she was humming the sound when a new character would enter a party in an RPG. Now lets go! Ollie walked ahead. The south is that way, Ayame pointed to the left. This was going to be a long journey An audience with a vampire In my previous world, vampires were said to be creatures who feed on blood. It was still the same for this world except for the fact that there were two kinds of vampires. The first one was the Converted Bloods. If a sentient creature would drink the blood of a vampire, they would become one. However, they would transform into a human-looking creature. Beastmen would lose their animal features and demons would lose their innate strength. In exchange, they would have the abilities of a vampire such as pseudo-immortality. The second one was the Pure Bloods. These creatures were the descendants of the First Blood, the first vampire who existed. They are far stronger than Converted Bloods and their blood could turn any creature into a vampire without the risk of death. I was curious about what counted as a Pure Blood. If a Pure Blood would have children with a non-Pure Blood, would their children be also a Pure Blood? Otherwise, the family tree would be very questionable seeing how they all descended from the First Blood. But that question was something I shouldnt ask for now. We were in front of the gates of a large mansion to ask a vampire what she knew about the Dark Corruption. It was as magnificent as what Noir described though. Now what? Theres no doorbell. Should we shout? Ollie asked. Mel Yozora is a powerful Pure Blood. Ive met her several times as the president of the Underworld Academys student council. Shes someone we dont want to offend, Ayame shook her head. Its not like shes an enemy. Were here to ask questions relating to what Noir said. Im worried if he would offend her though, Rushia said. We have him under control, I told her. Or do you? Ars magic is powerful and prevents me from taking over. Im surprised that you thought of that. How are you dumb enough to think that I cant break free even if I place enough effort? Noir asked. At least you wont make that amount of effort just to mess around, Anya replied. Now watch me do it out of spite. Of course you would. I expect you to be someone who is that spiteful. . Okay. Im spiteful enough to not do something you would expect. You win this time, child. Do you want milk or should I sing you a lullaby? You might wake up 4000 years later after being sold as a cheap sword again though. Please dont fight inside my mind, I told them. So What should we do? Ollie asked. I normally send a letter requesting an audience with her but this is an emergency. Mel Yozora will hear us out, Ayame said. As if on cue, the gates opened on their own. Ayame gave a slight bow and we ended up doing the same. She then walked forward and the rest of us followed her lead. I looked around and saw that the path leading to the mansion had a nice view. The plants were cut into shapes and roses bloomed along the path. Several armored statues were also on standby and they looked like they could move. And then they moved as they drew their swords. Ayame! Rushia shouted as green butterflies appeared around her. Ayame nodded and unsheathed her katanas. I followed along and unsheathed Anya while Ollie did some stretches. The first statue swung its sword and I blocked its attack after wrapping darkness around Anya. I willed my shadow to rise up and bind it in place while I slashed its torso that had a crystal. However, the statue broke free and I somehow managed to block its slash. I shouldve known that the crystal was a dud. The statue was most likely a golem and Oga taught me that cutting off its power source was the most effective way of dealing with it. Thats why I shouldve realized that the power source wouldnt be in an obvious place like that. What should I do? I asked. Mikage, that thing is a golem. It will move as long as it has a power source or if it can still move, Noir sighed. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. I see. That was a good idea. I only need to do one thing now. Synchronicity Re- But before I could get into Synchronicity, my body stiffened and a ringing noise appeared in my mind. Dont use your trump card like that easily. If you rely too much on Synchronicity, youre just a parasite leeching on power thats not your own. Id rather not be associated with a useless 9th master when the previous ones are legendary, Noir scolded me. Noir! This isnt a good time for a lecture! This is a fight! Anya shouted. The statue raised its sword and swung it down towards me. My body was still stiff and I couldnt dodge. But before I got hit, my own shadow rose up and turned into a wall which protected me. Thats where youre wrong, Anya. This is a good time for a lecture. That golem is not strong enough for this to be considered as a fight. Mikage can handle this one on his own without Synchronicity. He just needs to be aware of his own power, Noir said. My body returned to normal as the ringing noise disappeared. I got out of harm''s way after my shadow returned to the ground. My own power Noir was right. I relied too much on Synchronicity. I was only strong because Anya was amazing. If I continue on like this, then I would never grow. I took a deep breath and darkness gathered around Anya. Magic needed an image and resolve. I was resolved to cut down my enemy using my strength. All I needed was an image for my victory. The darkness wrapping around my sword became crescent-shaped. I needed to make it as thin and sharp as possible while compressing all of the darkness I could compress. And I didnt need much effort to do that. I swung down my sword and the darkness shot forward. It vertically cleaved the statue into two and even cut down the plants behind it before disappearing. Congratulations. How do you feel from winning using your own power? Noir asked. That was my own power It felt like the darkness was willingly obeying me. I didnt need to focus as hard as before. Was what I did even magic? I looked at my other companions and they already finished beating the golems. They were just watching me. Im the last one, huh? I asked. Dont worry! It took me some time to realize that I should cut off their legs in order to make them stop moving! Ollie chuckled. I had to finish as soon as I could so I could observe Ollie, Rushia said. Rushias heated and passionate gaze was great! Why did the statues attack us all of the sudden? I looked at Ayame. I dont know. Is something happening? Ayame rubbed her chin as she thought. But before anyone could continue the conversation, I felt a presence behind me. Kapu! a womans voice said. I then felt something bite my neck and I let out a shriek. ### Im sorry! I had to make sure you arent impostors or hostile. If the real Ayame was here, then she should be able to take care of those golems easily! a blonde woman smiled. We were in the dining room and eating sweets. However, I couldnt focus well because of what happened earlier. That woman, Mel Yozora, did something that shook me to the core. Are you still hung up from being bitten like that?! I never thought you were a pure boy, Mikage! Ollie teased as she held a cupcake on each hand. Everyone has their own weaknesses. Mikage being unable to deal with that is not something to look down on, Rushia sipped her tea. I rubbed my neck as I tried to calm my heart down. Since coming to this world, Ive been in one dangerous situation after another. I even had a dangerous organization with eyes and ears everywhere target me! So why was I so flustered from that?! Its funny seeing that face make the same reaction again, Mel giggled. What do you mean? I asked. What did you come here for? I dont think its just to have a little tea with me, she dodged my question. We are on a mission to investigate the strange energy in the Demon Realm and from this mans information, we think you are a person of interest, Ayame replied. I see. So you got here from the information of the Primordial Dark. ... That means you know something. A piece of paper appeared and landed on Mels hand. I dont know if this little paper from a certain mean-eyed summoner counts as knowing something. Its just a little piece of paper, after all, she waved the paper. Well take any hints and information, I said. Mel smiled while Ayame sighed. Rushia sipped her tea again while Ollie looked as confused as me. Bold of you to assume that Im going to give it without a price, Mel said. What do you need? I can use my authority to give you what you want, Ayame told her. In this area, Im the ruler. I have a town under my command and in exchange for protecting them and making sure they thrive, Im enjoying my life in this mansion. Her face then became serious as the piece of paper disappeared. But it has become a ghost town ever since the Dark Corruption appeared, she sighed. Were they kidnapped? Ayame asked. No. They all left. All of them? In these troubled times? Rushia frowned. It happened because of a certain demon who has the Silver Tongue. Wait Dont tell me I havent heard from him for some time and hes making a move now? Ayame asked. Yes. Vox Akuma convinced my people to leave and follow him. The freewill of the people We were walking through a forest in order to do what Mel requested. According to Ayame, even the neighboring towns were empty because the citizens left. Why would they leave willingly? I asked. It was weird. The Dark Corruption was making things dangerous for everyone. Demons would rampage without warning and Crystal Beasts attacked anyone in sight. It was safer to stay in towns. Its because Vox has a Silver Tongue, Ayame said. Mel mentioned that too. Is that important? Ollie frowned. Once every 100 years, five demons would be born with one of the Five Great Abilities. The All-Seeing Eyes, the Golden Ears, the Wolfs Nose, the Winds Skin, and the Silver Tongue. They wont only just heighten the senses of their users, they also grant them special abilities. Rushia explained. The Silver Tongue doesnt only just make Vox taste food better. It can also make his words more convincing, Ayame added. Oh. I see. Thats why Mel said that Vox convinced her people to leave and follow him. So why are we heading towards a place where there is a lot of Dark Corruption? I looked straight ahead. Vox is not interested in trivial things. He disappeared a few days after the Dark Corruption appeared and started making people lose themselves. Im sure that the Dark Corruption you can feel in this forest is somehow related to him, Ayame answered. Almost every problem is related to the Dark Corruption nowadays, Rushia said. And that Dark Corruption is related to that scary organization thats been following Mikage, right? Ollie asked. Yeah. Its all the Unkindness fault, I said. It didnt take long for us to arrive at the source of the Dark Corruption and when I saw the size of the wooden fortress in front of us, I couldnt help but to be amazed. The building resembled the castles back in feudal Japan. I could even recall the buildings I saw back when I went to Kyoto as part of my middle schools field trip. And how I got into a huge trouble with Yogiri because I ended up fighting again. Those were good times, I thought. I wondered how everyone was doing well. Was Temma surviving managing the unit without me? Was Captain Noel doing her daily paperwork? Was Oga training Yogiri well? But I knew one thing for sure. Amelia was probably solving one case after another without worries. Shes a master detective. It would be easy for her to find out that I was safe and so she could continue in her daily life doing what she wanted. Halt! Identify yourselves! the guards in front of the fort blocked our path. My name is Ayame Nakiri, the student council pres- Super cute idol, Ollie Kureiji is here! Ollie cut off Ayame and struck a pose. The two guards looked at each other in confusion while Ayame sighed. Meanwhile, Rushia started writing down in her notebook while muttering something. And then, the doors opened as a woman wearing a kimono bowed and greeted us with a warm smile. Good day, Lady Ayame, Lady Rushia, Sir Mikage, and Ollie. Milord has been expecting your arrival, the woman said. Why was I the only one who didnt get an honorific?! Ollie retorted. Because honorifics are only given to people who act in a manner befitting them. Youre rude for someone bowing down and serving another person Oh dear. Are you sure thats the face a super cute idol should be making? MIKAGEEE!! THIS WOMAN IS BULLYING ME!!! Now, now. If you want to respect her, you have to become someone they think is respectable, I consoled her. So youre saying Im not respectable?! For that woman, yes. Ollie looked at the woman, stood up straight, and did a curtsy. I apologize for my inappropriate behavior earlier. May you please inform your lord that I, the super cute idol named Ollie Kureiji, is requesting him for an audience along with my friends? she smiled. No, the woman smiled back. YOU LITTLE- I held Ollie back while Rushia was writing down in her notebook once again. But Milord told us to bring Ayame Nakiri and her companions. He had been expecting you the moment he heard you arrived at the Yozora Mansion, the woman looked at Ayame. Very well, Ayame nodded. The woman led the way while we followed. Ollie was grumbling while Rushia was looking at her as she continued writing down. Ayame looked at the other people staring at us as we walked. This was very weird. Are you okay, Mikage? You seem to be uneasy, Ayame asked. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Yeah! Youre not the one who was insulted like that! Ollie pouted. Why dont you tell them, Mikage? Their reactions would be gold! Noir chuckled. My eyes met with another demons eyes and he smiled before waving at me. He was so friendly that I couldnt help but wave back. Yeah This was very weird. Everyone here has a large amount of Dark Corruption inside their bodies, I whispered to them. Ayame grabbed her katanas while green butterflies appeared around Rushia. Ollie grinned and then red sparks danced around her body but before I could stop them from doing anything reckless, a black-haired man stepped in and landed a chop on each of their heads. Can you please not do that? Youre scaring them, his deep voice echoed inside my mind and I could feel my heart calming down. All of the other demons bowed down after seeing him, including the woman who was leading us. From how I relaxed when I heard his voice, he was the person we were looking for. What are you up to, Vox? Ayame glared at him. And what do you think youre doing by attempting to attack MY people when I invited you in? Vox glared back. ### Hahaha! Choco is still slaving away as a nurse?! Vox laughed after drinking another cup of sake. We were in a grand hallway with luxurious food set in front of us. I was actually hesitant in eating the food offered by a potential enemy but Vox didnt seem like he was a bad guy. Shes not just a nurse anymore. Shes actually an established researcher of medical technology and shes the principals trusted assistant, Ayame said. That crybaby who was so shy and rewrote her love letter so many times and have me beta read each one?! Shes the right hand of that principal?! The Underworld Academy is doomed!! Vox slapped his knees as he tried to control himself. At least she helped greatly while the Demon Realm is troubled like this unlike a certain someone who just disappeared when trouble started, Rushia said before sipping her tea. Oh, please! I was doing an important job and tracking down the cause of this entire mess! Cut me some slack since I needed to go undercover! Is making a grand fort like this in the forest undercover? How much government funds did you waste from this? Ayame asked. Zero. I didnt spend a single coin in this wonderful fort. How? A fort doesnt just magically appear overnight, I tilted my head. Actually, Ars can do it with her magic, Anya told me. That shorty is capable, huh? Noir snickered. To answer your question, the people did it out of their own freewill, Vox smiled. Freewill? Didnt you enslave them? Ayame put down her chopsticks and glared at him. Me? Enslave? No way. I simply asked them if they wanted to follow me and they said yes. Ask Rushia and she can tell that theres no strange magic inside them. Ayame looked at Rushia who was calmly eating fish. Yeah. I cant sense any mana lingering around them so Im confident that theres no magic involved, Rushia shrugged. Shes right. I cant also sense anything strange about them, Anya told me. But wouldnt the Silver Tongue make them obey you? I spoke up. Unfortunately, all I can do is convince people. The Silver Tongue only makes people pay attention to my words and listen well. Its all up to how I can use my words in order to persuade them. Do you think the people would listen to me and build a fort when the entire Demon Realm is in panic? Vox is not lying. Thats the extent of the Silver Tongue. If he wanted to enslave them, he should use Mind Magic but I cant sense anything wrong with them at all, Rushia nodded. Mikage How well can you sense the Dark Corruption? Noir asked in my mind. I can sense that theres a lot of Dark Corruption in everyone here. Whats wrong with it? I asked back. Nothings wrong except that youre an idiot. Pay attention to my question! I asked HOW WELL and not HOW MUCH! Do you really have to act mysterious all the time? Whats your point?! Anya bickered. Mikage can sense that the Dark Corruption is inside of a creature but hes not paying attention to how its affecting their bodies. He seriously lacks imagination! Wait I looked at one of the guards and focused on him. And thats when I realized my mistake. Hey Why is everyone here so calm when they have the Dark Corruption inside of them? And how the hell are you smiling there and not rampaging when you have a huge amount of it inside you too? I glared at Vox. Im just one hell of a guy. Do you really think youre the only one who can control the Dark Corruption? Vox took a sip of his sake after asking me. Is something wrong, Mikage? Ayame looked at me. Everyone here has Dark Corruption spread all over their body and the source is in their heads. All this time, I saw that the Dark Corruption is like an uncontrollable flame that keeps on burning the creatures Life Force on their stomachs. I looked at everyone else in the room and then at Vox. But this time, the Dark Corruption is wrapped around their bodies like strings on a marionnette. If I focus hard enough, all of them have a tiny string leading towards Vox! So? Do you have any proof of that? Why are you accusing me based on what only you can feel as the Primordial Dark? Vox chuckled. Ayame stood up and Rushia prepared for battle. Ollie looked at us in confusion but even I realized what was going on. If thats the case, you wouldnt have problems if I remove the Dark Corruption from them, right? I asked. Hey. Do you guys want your Dark Corruption to be removed? Vox looked at the guards. No, milord! they replied. There you have it. They said their answers. Dont mess with me! I can see that your words made the Dark Corruption move their bodies! I told him. Mikage. Just drain it out of them, Rushia said. But before I could move, Vox snapped his fingers and several guards entered the room. They were heavily-armed and were glaring at us. If youre going to ignore freewill, then youre just a tyrant. Youre not responsible with your powers, Mikage, Vox smirked. Ooooh! A fight! Now were talking! Ill leave this army to Ayame and Rushia since they can handle anyone! Wheres that woman?! Ollie stood up and drew her sword. I then realized my mistake and I pushed Ollie away just in time before Ayame moved. A cold feeling pierced through my body as a sting and warm feeling appeared at my sides. A-Ayame! What are you doing?! Ollie asked. Ayame doesnt like tyrants. Thats her freewill, Vox smiled. I was too careless! I shouldve noticed that the Dark Corruption was hidden inside them and gotten stronger! Now, I was staring at Ayame and Rushia who had the Dark Corruption wrapping around their bodies as if they were puppets and the one who was pulling the strings laughed as he stood up. A tyrant can only dictate his people if he has the power. Do you have the power to ignore everyones freewill? Vox asked. Ill never know until I try! And I unsheathed Anya before I charged towards Ayame. Special Chapter: A case that sparked the beginning Two people were walking down the streets of Miyako, a city in an eastern country named Yamato. While they might look like a normal blonde girl and a tall black-haired man, those two had an unusual profession. They were detectives. The blonde girl was Amelia Watson, an ex-doctor. She was found one day by an old man who became her mentor. Even though she no longer practiced medicine, her intellect was still used in her new profession. Meanwhile, the black-haired man was Shellin Burgundy. He was Amelias senior student and her rival. When Amelia showed her skills, he became her rival since he knew that she could become an amazing detective. Shellin might have more experience than her but he didnt want to take it easy because he knew that Amelia would catch up to him if he ever did. Why are we heading to the Sakasaki manor? Amelia asked. Ranpo found this little box and he deduced that it belonged to them. He also said it must be important so they would be thrilled to have it back as soon as possible. Thats why were here while Ranpo is dealing with another case, Shellin answered. They then arrived in front of a large house. Amelia could sense an anti-magic barrier surrounding the entire area and that was a sign of prestige and cautiousness. Who are the Sakasakis? Amelia asked. Myohito Sakasaki is an accomplished Mind Mage. He has made several contributions already and has many research projects funded by big-name sponsors. His wife, Rina Sakasaki, is also a Mind Mage equal to him and their partnership has brought significant advancements, Shellin said. A scream echoed and the two of them immediately dashed inside. SOMEONE CALL THE SAMURAI REGIMENT! PROFESSOR SAKASAKI DIED! a mans voice shouted. Amelia and Shellin arrived and saw four people standing in front of an opened door. From their surprised faces, they knew that it was trouble. A young woman covered her mouth while looking at the room in horror. A middle-aged woman just stared blankly while a man was standing. There was another person there and his face was paler than a ghost. FFather? MMother? the young man whimpered. He was about to enter the room but Shellin grabbed his shoulder and stopped him from making a step. Dont take a step inside. This is a crime scene so if you want justice, dont make any unnecessary moves, Shellin told him. Amelia entered the room and put on gloves. She touched the green-haired man and the silver-haired woman who were hunched over on a table. No good They are already gone, she shook her head. NNo way, the green-haired young man knelt down. Cause of death? Shellin asked after approaching her. Judging from their purple lips, its an Asenia overdose. Most likely a concentrated one too. Shellin looked at the cups on the table and took out a bottle. After spraying on them, a purple glowing light appeared on the lids and insides. I see. So the drinks were spiked with Asenia, he muttered. They looked around the room and it was completely messy. Papers, books, folders, and envelopes were scattered around the floor. The table the dead bodies were hunched on was clean except for the cups which were lying down before Shellin picked them up. Amelia walked towards the door and saw that the door frame was damaged. She then picked up a hair clip and a plastic bag before walking back to the woman with short silver hair. Mother father They are dead? the green-haired young man whimpered. Hey! What do you think you are doing? If you mess with the crime scene, the samurai regiment will have a hard time! Who are you?! a woman shouted. Amelia Watson Shellin Burgundy They stepped forward and looked at the four other people. Detectives, they said in unison. ### The samurai regiment had already arrived and investigated the crime scene. They were also interviewing the four people who were present and discovered the bodies. However, Amelia and Shellin already did their investigations and were trying to figure things out. Do you think this is a suicide? Shellin asked. I doubt it. The tea cups clearly had Asenia but there are no spills on the table or floor, Amelia said. An obvious red herring. Whats bothering me is that theres a hair clip and a plastic bag near the door. I dont think the clip was Rinas. The two of them walked towards the door and inspected it. It had a thumbturn lock and a handle that needed to be pulled downward in order to be opened. The door frame was fine except for the damage near the lock when the four of them broke it down. They already questioned the four suspects. The first one was their assistant, Waga Wahanin. He said that he received an important document from the deceased Sakasaki couple. However, he had some questions so he came during lunch time and stayed in the longue with the two other girls. The second was a girl named Kaoru Shirasagi, a graduating student from the Yamato Central Magic Academy. She had an appointment with Rina Sakasaki in order to interview her about Mind Magic for her thesis. The third was a woman named Nicole Yizma, an editor from the Shuu Publishing house. She wanted to finalize the details about the grimoire that the deceased couple wrote for a long time already. The last was the only son of the couple, Rihito Sakasaki. They couldnt interview him effectively since the shock of his parents was too much for him. However, they could tell with their gut feelings that he was genuinely devastated so they gave him some time to process things before they could begin their interrogation. Luckily for them, the investigator in the samurai regiment that was in the scene was aware of Ranpos achievements so he allowed them to investigate freely. That was why Amelia and Shellin investigated the entire manor. Im stumped, Amelia sighed. The windows are all locked and the only exit is that door. The four of them actually confirmed it was locked before Waga kicked it down since the Sakasaki couple wasnt responding to them, Shellin said. Yeah. I have no clue. I guess its my win! Huh? The locked-room trick is very simple! All you need is a plastic bag and a hair clip! I cant believe you didnt get it. Oh? That? I figured it out already. Huh?! Im having problems in finding the evidence to convict the murderer. Wait! You know who the murderer is?! Oh~~? Dont tell me you didnt notice the weird thing that person did? Shellins eyes widened when he recalled what happened when the body was discovered. But even if that person is suspicious, we have no evidence. We cant start accusing and risk jeopardizing the investigation by making the culprit aware that we know. Lets just watch and see, he said. Are you an idiot? If we do that, then well make Rihitos mind become plagued with thoughts that his parents committed suicide and abandoned him! The samurai regiment will definitely arrive at that conclusion and its up to us to prevent that! Or are you saying you want to burden him just because you want to capture the criminal?! Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Amelia. We are detectives, not gods. We cant do everything and make things fair for everyone. We have to do what we have to do to reach the best possible future in this bad world. The thought of having your parents die and not being able to do anything about it is something I dont want anyone else to feel. And what can you do about it? Frustration is a normal emotion and its neither bad nor good. Whats bad is if youre going to let that frustration cloud your judgment. Think rationally and be calm. The truth will reveal itself to those who are patient and persistent. Give it some time. Time? Yeah I have time on my side. Before Amelia could take out her pocket watch, the two of them heard a man chuckling. They turned around and saw an old man smiling at them. What are you two doing? he asked. Ranpo, Amelias being a stubborn and reckless fool again, Shellin answered. Ranpo, Shellins being a cautious and overthinking coward again, Amelia said. Are you picking a fight? Youre better off using that energy to dedicate yourself to watching the culprit! Shellin argued. Do you think justice means striking down the evil ones? Even if that means the innocents are harmed? Is it justice to let a criminal roam around while the victims are suffering? If we cant do anything about it, then we cant do anything at all. Thats how the world works! We just need to take it slow and prepare ourselves! Thats what we can do to make living more bearable! For you, probably. But Rihitos going to lose sleep thinking that hes left all alone without a proper goodbye! Im not going to let that happen even if that means breaking some rules! What the hell are you talking about, Amelia? Before they could argue even further, Ranpo cleared his throat. The two of them looked at him and he was smiling like a grandfather watching his grandchildren having a quarrel. You two kept on arguing about Rihitos well-being. Shouldnt you learn more about him before arriving on what you think is best for him? he looked back and forth between the two of them. But what can we do? Shellin asked. Before I stumbled on you two arguing, I snooped around here because you two were late even though its just a simple errand. I happened to find out that Rihito came from his field trip just this morning And he may or may not have helped out with his parents work. Amelia and Shellin looked at each other and nodded. They figured out what they could do in order to bring justice. Then do you know what you can do as detectives? Ranpo stopped smiling and looked at them with eyes filled with righteous fury. A deduction show! the two of them said. ### No! They didnt kill themselves! Father and mother promised to go play with me tomorrow! They dont break their promises! a green-haired young man shouted. The two samurais looked at him with a frown while tears ran down his face. Sorry, kid. But this is suicide. We cant see anything wrong here, one of the samurais patted his shoulder. Youre lying! he shouted. No. They aren''t lying. They are simply not looking properly, Ranpo said. They turned around and saw Ranpo, Amelia, and Shellin entering the room. Ranpo stared straight at the deceased Sakasakis and sighed. Who are you? a samurai asked. Ranpo Doyle, a detective, he introduced himself. Everyone looked surprised when he introduced himself and the investigator looked really thrilled. Its quite convenient that everyone is gathered in this room. So allow me to show you a little deduction which involves revealing the ugly side of a person willing to rob a child of his parents, Ranpo said. You know who killed my parents? Rihito asked. Yes And its none other than you, Waga Wahanin! he pointed at a man. Everyone looked at him while sweat ran down his face. He then put on a smile after chuckling. This is suicide. The room is locked from the inside so how can I get out? Waga asked. The room is awfully messy, isnt it? Amelia asked. Yes. Papers, folders, envelopes. Theres even a hair clip that a short-haired woman cant use and a plastic bag! Shellin added. Waga looked uneasy when he saw those two items. Its quite simple, actually. First, you just need a hair clip to fasten to the thumbturn lock. After that, you place the plastic bag on the handle of the door while hanging it on the hair clip. Of course, the plastic bag has something heavy inside for the trick to work, Ranpo explained. Shellin set up the trick as explained by Ranpo and then he stood on the other side of the door. Then, you slowly close the door while making sure that the plastic bag wont fall off. When its finally closed, you just need to pull the handle of the doorknob downward and the trick is complete, Ranpo said. When Shellin pulled down the handle of the doorknob, the plastic bag fell down. The weight of the plastic bag made the thumbturn lock rotate as it fell off and then the momentum made the hair clip come off. Its locked the samurai muttered. Thats why the room is messy. If the plastic bag and the hair clip was found on the floor, the trick will be exposed, Amelia told them. The cups have Asenia on them! Its just a coincidence that a trick like that is applicable here! Even then, you have no evidence to make suicide out of the question! Waga argued. Or do we? Shellin asked as he entered the room after Amelia opened the door. Your mistake here is the tea cup. The amount of Asenia used will make any drink nasty. And yet the Sakasaki couple drank all of the tea thats supposedly spiked with Asenia. Even if they wanted to commit suicide that way, once forensic analysis would take place, we can come to the conclusion that the sheer concentration of the Asenia they drank would cause them to be in serious pain that they shouldnt be able to finish a cup of tea, Ranpo said. Then why me?! These two could do it too! Even that Rihito kid can do it! If youre going to accuse me, then show some evidence! What did you come here for? Shellin asked. I told you that I received the paper that Professor Sakasaki printed last night! I came here to ask for some clarifications! Are you sure that it was printed last night and that you didnt bring it anywhere else? Amelia glared at him. Of course! You can check the camera footage of my apartment and I didnt leave my room! And if youre that curious, you can ask the printing press and they can show that the Sakasaki couple printed this last night! This is an important document so the owner of that shop will remember printing it himself! And you didnt show it to anyone else? Shellin looked at him. Of course not! This is important and classified research! In the wrong hands, it could bring danger! Then you are indeed guilty, Ranpo said. H-Huh? Rihito. Can you please tell me what you did this morning? Ranpo asked. I came back from my field trip and ate breakfast with my parents. I also entered this room and helped organize this room. Thats why I was surprised that it became messy, the young man answered. Do you remember touching some papers here and there? Yes. I arranged them in piles as instructed by my father. Wagas face paled when he saw Amelia, Shellin, and Ranpos smirks. Then, Waga Wahanin... If we see Rihitos fingerprints on the documents you supposedly received last night and supposedly didnt show to anyone else, do you have a proper explanation? Especially when Rihito just came back this morning? Ranpo asked. ### Thank you very much! Rihito bowed down to Ranpo. Waga admitted to the crime because he knew that he couldnt explain things. Thanks to Yamatos law having the punishment being lessened if the culprit would confess before getting a guilty verdict in court, he thought that it was the best option for him. If If you werent there. Mother and father would never get justice, Rihito sniffled. Youre welcome, Ranpo smiled. How did you guys suspect him? Do you remember what he said when the body was found? He shouted that we needed to call the samurai regiment. Wouldnt a person normally ask for an ambulance when they see that scene? If he instantly assumed that they were dead and that it was a crime, wouldnt that mean he knows more than just someone who discovered the body? Rihito smiled when he saw the logic and he realized how admirable Ranpo was. You are really amazing I have a bad curse inside me so I know that I can never be a Mind Mage like father and mother And I hated how I was powerless to even save them before they died. I couldnt even accept that they already died he said. True. This world is really unfair and people die whether were aware or not. Crime and injustice happens no matter how hard we try. Ranpo stepped forward and patted his head. But if I cant prevent tragedies, Ill become someone who can turn the horrible present into a better future. If I cant save people, Ill be sure to avenge them and bring justice in a way that the victims and the survivors would live happily, he said. Amelia and Shellin stepped beside him as Rihitos lifeless eyes began to have a spark inside them again. Because Im Ranpo Doyle, a detective, he winked. A detective Rihito muttered. Ranpo, Amelia, and Shellin walked away while Rihito just watched their backs. When they were finally out of sight, Ranpo sighed. You two are still green. You have a long way to go, he looked at his two students. ... Sorry, Shellin slightly bowed down. Its all Shellins fault, Amelia muttered. Amelia Ranpo smiled at her. Fine. Im sorry too. Ranpo stopped on his tracks and rubbed his neck. You two go on ahead. I think I can smell a case so prepare dinner first while I talk to my client, he said. Amelia and Shellin walked away while Ranpo waved goodbye. And when they could no longer see him, Ranpo headed towards an alley and saw a cloaked man. Alright. What do you want? he asked. Ranpo Doyle, youre a detective who wants to bring justice to this unfair world. You seem fit to join our ranks, the cloaked man told him. If this is a case, Id rather have you approach my office than glare at us from a distance. You can give the wrong idea. Did you ever think that this world is tragic because a drama filled with suspense at the corner is going to sell well? That all of our suffering is an entire show for someones enjoyment? He then looked at Ranpo as a red rectangular object floated near him. What are you trying to say? Ranpo asked. What if I told you that And that ends the day when the four detectives paths crossed. The limits of a borrowed power Ayame! Snap out of it! I dont want to hurt you! I shouted as I charged towards her. Youre dangerous, Mikage. You can easily become a tyrant with that power, Ayame told me. I got close enough to her and raised my sword. She waited for me to swing it down in order to land a counter but I was actually waiting for her to do that. And without warning, Rushias shadow turned into a fist and hit her chin. I made sure to place enough force in it to knock her out since she was the more dangerous one between the two of them. Ayame finally realized that I baited her out and then, she lunged at me. The bad part was that I had trouble keeping up because of the wound she gave me during her surprise attack. Every time I blocked her swords, I could feel my side stinging. In the corner of my eye, I saw red sparks heading towards us. I made my shadow wrap around me and pull me away before I could get hit while Ayame dodged back. Ollie was grinning maniacally and I clicked my tongue. If she was affected too, my chances of winning would be slim. But then, she just headed straight towards Ayame and clashed swords with her. Youre not affected by the Dark Corruption? I asked. I dont know! I dont feel funny though so I can deal with Ayame! Ollie told me. The other guards headed towards us and I gritted my teeth. This was definitely the right time to do this. Synchronicity Release! After my outfit changed into a black one, I lunged at Vox. But even though I had Yocleshs Oni Rush, I had trouble keeping up with Voxs swordsmanship. From how he moved, I had an idea that this was going to be a tough fight. Oh? You know Oni Rush too, huh? he smirked. I crouched low and aimed to stab him. Yocleshs skill with Oni Rush made me know how to fight him and I trusted that skill because Yoclesh was a powerful swordswoman during the Dark Times. And thanks to those skills, I barely managed to avoid having my arm cut off as Yocleshs soul urged me to back away just in time before Vox swung his sword down in an unexpected manner. T-That move Yocleshs voice echoed inside me. Too bad for you, Mikage. Your Oni Rush is outdated! The way you fight is like 4000 years ago! Vox laughed. The wound on my side stung and I could feel cold sweat running down my face. Im sorry, Mikage. I dont know how to heal this, Ars voice told me. Rakshasa is a cursed sword. The injuries youll receive from it are very difficult to heal unless its user would release you from its curse, Anya explained. Is that all you can do, Mikage? You have all that power and that is all you can do? Wouldnt it be better to just give up the fight? It serves you right Vox asked. My arms became heavier as my will to fight slowly disappeared. Voxs words rang in my ears and no matter how hard I tried to not pay attention, I would still stop and consider his words. This is troubling. If this was Mind Magic, I can think of a way to nullify it but your body willingly listens to the Silver Tongue, Ryuukis voice said. The other guards were slowly approaching me with their weapons drawn. I could hear Ollie and Ayame fighting a few meters away but I had no time to worry about them. Youre a disappointment, Primordial Dark. To think that a mere Silver Tongue can defeat you. Have I been overestimating you? Vox asked. The guards shadows rose up and wrapped around them. They tried to struggle but they couldnt break out of their own shadows. Hey, hey. Youre seriously getting convinced to give up? Noirs voice asked. But what can I do? I asked back. If the Silver Tongue is annoying, just dont hear it. I then realized what Noir was trying to say. Ars, can you do something like this? After relaying my instructions to her, the sounds of Ayame and Ollies clashing swords disappeared. Even though Vox spoke as I slowly got up, his mouth moved without producing any sound. The entire world became silent as I used magic to make me deaf. My side still hurt from the injury Ayame gave me but I gritted my teeth. If I want to finish things, I have to bear with the pain I have right now. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. His Oni Rush is dangerous. I dont think I can compete with an evolved sword style with my outdated techniques, Yoclesh told me. Thats true But Vox is not just facing only you and me. Hes facing all the masters of the Sword of Records, I said. I charged at Vox and he readied himself. He blocked my swift and precise strikes as he predicted one strike after another. However, he was surprised when I suddenly gave him a headbutt and kneeled his torso. Nice one! Mikage! Leos voice shouted after I pulled off his Wild Sword Style. Vox charged at me while red energy wrapped around his sword. Enhancement: Arms! Enhancement: Legs! I shouted. With my Enhancement Magic, I held my ground against Voxs strike and even managed to push him back. Good choice, Ryuuki praised me. Vox snapped his fingers and then more guards entered the room. They charged at me but I created a sword from my own shadow. I then greeted them while using Merryweathers Royal Dual Wielding. Deflecting their strikes and landing counters were easy and it didnt take long for me to knock them out one by one. Then, a barrier appeared behind my back and Voxs eyes widened when he realized that I used magic to block his attack. Setting up a barrier while doing Royal Dual Wielding, thats a good tactic, Ars said. Indeed. Ill give it a passing grade, Merryweather agreed. I lunged at Vox and using Yocleshs Oni Rush, I was pushing him back. And when he was getting used to my attacks, I would switch between Wild Sword Style, Royal Dual Wielding, or magic. And without warning, I felt a headache. Vox saw this opening and put up some distance between us. Youre pushing yourself too much. Rapidly switching in Synchronicity takes too much toll on your body and mind. This is your first time and yet youre already taking on too much work, Shiki scolded me. Vox was completely still. His eyes were completely focused on me as his sword was ready to cut me down. I cant see any openings, Yoclesh told me. True. Oni Rush is for swift and precise strikes. Now that its evolved, I dont think any of us could get inside his territory without getting hurt, Merryweather added. The dangerous part is the magic on his sword. He coated it with some sort of nullification so magic wont help Mikage, Ars said. I see. So even if Mikage will use Enhancement: Steel Body, will he still get hurt? Ryuuki asked. Not only that, that demon is also skilled. Hes calmly waiting for Mikage and Im sure he can get away unless he completely lets his guard down, Leo muttered. So even if Mikage would take the risk and jump in, Vox can get away. This is dangerous, Anya said. Vox was still focusing on me. He was completely ready to kill me once I got in his range. Even though I had the powers of Anyas previous masters, I still had difficulty. And that was because I was still lacking. Noir I called out to him. Whats up? he asked. Im not human Am I? .. Only one way to find out. What are you two talking about? Anya asked. Hes probably thinking of a way to win using his own power, Noir answered. The Dark Corruption inside Vox was powerful. At this distance, I couldnt take it away. I have to get close but once I do, I would get injured while he could run away. The only way to win was to make him completely drop his guard. Sorry, Anya. I have to do this on my own, I said. My clothes returned to normal after I got out of Synchronicity. The previous masters experiences would get in the way of my plan. After all, they were people who were skilled in avoiding death at the last second. I faced my palm at him and his own shadow rose up. Vox cut it down and while he was focusing on them, I charged at him as fast as I could. He then smirked as he moved his sword. I could see the path of his strike. Even though I could see and predict it, there was no way for me to dodge it as it headed towards my right lung. And then I winced after it pierced through my flesh. Mikage!!! Anya shouted worriedly. Im fine I gritted my teeth. Vox looked confused after I grabbed his arm. THIS IS PART OF THE PLAN!!! I shouted. Using all of my authority as the Primordial Dark, I absorbed the Dark Corruption inside Vox. I could feel anger, sadness, resentment, and fatigue as I drained away his Dark Corruption. And after the last bit of the Dark Corruption was drained from his body, Vox collapsed to the ground. The pain in my body was unbearable and I had trouble breathing. However, I knew this wasnt the time to relax so I headed towards Rushia. An eerie feeling appeared in my mind as the Dark Corruption in Ayame and everyone else rampaged. Without Voxs Silver Tongue, they were now going to be reduced into savage people who would attack anyone in sight. Thats why I drained Rushias Dark Corruption and whispered the magic words in her ears in order to wake her up. Someone said that while youre a genius, you cant solve your flat chest, I said. Rushias eyes opened and her mana oozed out. Ayame told me that I should say those words to Rushia if I wanted to get her attention and if I wanted to face the consequences. After looking around and seeing Ollie getting overwhelmed by the rampaging Ayame and other demons, Rushia sighed as green butterflies appeared around her. Ill leave the rest to you, Rushia, I said. .... Got it, Rushia extended her arm and the green butterflies multiplied. The last thing I saw before I passed out from pain was an army of undead soldiers appearing around the genius necromancer. A message of some sort Thanks to Ars healing magic, I no longer felt pain. All I was doing now was absorbing the Dark Corruption from the demons who followed Vox. Speaking of Vox, he was still asleep after I absorbed his Dark Corruption. It mustve taken a huge toll on his body controlling that energy. Thanks to his efforts, the Dark Corruption of his people didnt seriously harm their bodies and all they needed was to have a few days of rest in order to completely recover. After absorbing the Dark Corruption of the last demon, Ayame approached me while looking troubled. Im sorry for getting controlled like that, she said. Dont worry. We got out of it alive. You also removed Rakshasas curse on me so I no longer had trouble healing myself, I told her. I didnt expect the Dark Corruption to appear like that inside me. We fell for Voxs trap. If I knew how to use my powers, I wouldve noticed something was wrong and prevented that in the first place. If you say I told- I told you so, Noirs voice snickered after interrupting Anya. Rushia was also sleeping while a woman was apologizing to a smirking Ollie. If it werent for Ollie keeping Ayame busy, I wouldnt have been able to focus on Vox and if it werent for Rushia and her undead army, the rampaging demons wouldve caused too much destruction. Those two are amazing, I said. Rushia is a genius necromancer. Her Night of the Dead is a powerful S-rank Necromancy Magic that can summon an entire army of undeads that can take over a fort. And Ollie is an unstoppable fortress, Ayame told me. Must be nice that they know how to use their own power. Youre dangerous, Mikage. You can easily become a tyrant with that power, Ayames words surfaced in my mind again. I had no idea what I was No I had a suspicion but its still a suspicionNo matter how low the chances were that my suspicion was wrong, I shouldnt assume things. Amelia would scold me for not considering other possibilities. It took me some time until I absorbed all of the Dark Corruption from the unconscious demons. The entire fort was completely destroyed as if a war happened. But a war did happen though, Noirs voice said. I expected Anya to say something but there was nothing. Anya? I called out. Whats wrong? she asked. Oh. Its nothing. I just thought you were too busy to retort to Noirs stuff. What are you talking about? That was weird. Anya might be the Sword of Records but she cant see everything inside your soul. You and I are far more intertwined than you think, Mikage, Noir said. So youre saying that you and I can have a private conversation? I asked. Of course we can. You know what we really are so you really shouldnt be surprised. Mikage? Are you okay? You havent answered my question, Anyas voice asked me. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Its nothing. Dont mind it, I told her. We heard someone groan and then we saw Vox getting up. Now then, why dont we ask the mastermind of this entire event? Rushia glared at him. Preferably, in Mels mansion, Ayame added. ### When the first rampage caused by the Dark Corruption happened, the Leader personally requested me to investigate things, Vox explained. We were in Mels dining room and several sweets were on the table. Ollie was happily eating one muffin after another while Rushia calmly sipped tea as she observed the living zombie. Ayame and Anya were listening intently to Voxs story while Mel was silently waiting for Vox to finish talking. In my investigations, I found out about the Unkindness. I thought I managed to corner some of them since I made reports to the Leader. Unfortunately, some of the people in the government are with the Unkindness so I was the one who got lured into a trap, Vox said. So they are that deep? Ayame asked. Yes. A man wearing bandages approached me and placed the Dark Corruption inside me. However, my Silver Tongue interfered and I became something like that. The bandaged man also showed a crystal and I suddenly had the desire to take over the entire Demonic Realm using my army of followers. He then faced me and slightly bowed down. After that, he did the same gesture to Ayame, Ollie, Rushia, and Mel. I have vague memories of what I did when I had the Dark Corruption but that doesnt excuse my actions, he said. Excuse me but how sure are we that you arent on the Unkindness side and youre actually telling us the truth? Ollie asked. I cant believe it. I failed to think of that, Rushia frowned. Awww, shucks! Youre actually capable of using your brain and have suspicions. From my observations, I thought you were just simply living in the moment and dealing with things when they happen. It seems I misjudged you. Hey!!! But why wasnt Ollie affected while Rushia and Ayame suddenly had the Dark Corruption appear inside of them? I asked. Before I went away and started my conquest, the man with bandages gave me a black powder and told me to mix it into the food Ill give to my victims, Vox answered. I see. So thats why you served us dinner Mikage is unaffected because hes the vessel of the Primordial Dark but Rushia and I are vulnerable, Ayame said. Hmmm. Does that mean that the food Ollie eats doesnt get digested? Rushia asked. So does that mean Ollie doesnt use the restroom? my voice asked. The entire room became completely silent as everyone, including Ollie, looked at me with disappointment. Worth it!!! Noir laughed. Its all Noirs fault! Trust me! I tried to reason with them. I see. Understandable, Ayame nodded. It seems he really is more troublesome than I thought, Rushia sipped her tea. I see. Thats how they think of me, Noir said. Its your fault for being like that, Anya told him. Thanks to me, Mikage can go ahead and do something weird then pass it off as my fault! Huh?! Why would you even allow something like that to happen?! As long as its interesting, Ill allow it! After all.. thats one good thing I should experience when my entire life is like this. Noirs voice sounded different as nothing entered my mind. Or to be more specific, I felt empty as I couldnt form any emotions nor thoughts. In any case, you four have done your part of the deal so Ill give you what you want! Mel smiled as a piece of paper appeared near her. Whats that? Vox asked. Ayame and the others are trying to reach the source of the Dark Corruption. They somehow got information from Mikage that a certain summoner appeared here and I told them that I have a piece of paper from him. She then gave the paper to Ayame and winked. I trust you guys can figure out its message. Thats what Mitsukage told me to tell to you, Mikage, Mel said Mitsukage. Yachiyo? I asked. Yes. The Mean-Eyed Summoner. What are these? Ayame asked when she looked at the paper. Ayame. Those are lines. You know? Two points directly connected? Ollie frowned. I know what lines are! Im asking what they mean! Even though I tried to think hard, all I could see were just lines drawn in random directions. I cant detect any magic on it so theres no hidden message coated in an illusion, Anya said. This was a good detour, Rushia grumbled. Lets just figure it out as we keep on moving! Ollie grinned. Yeah. Lets just continue on in our mission, Ayame sighed. Even though we said that, Ollie insisted that we take Mels offer to stay for the night since the food she offered was amazing Nothing is happening A large tiger growled but Ollie just charged at it. Ayame went for its left side while I sneaked up behind it. It raised its claws and swung it down towards Ollie but I commanded its shadow to restrain it. Ayame cut off its legs as red sparks gathered around Ollie. Meanwhile, green butterflies came out of Rushias palm. A giant skeletal hand came out of the spot where the green butterflies gathered and it smacked the Crystal Beast away. The red sparks around Ollie wrapped around her sword and after she swung it down, they headed straight towards the Crystal Beast and cleaved it in half. A crystal remained after it crumbled to dust and Ollie made a peace sign. YEAH!!! she shouted. I see. Those red sparks are an interesting form of energy, Rushia said as she took down notes. Really? Ollie asked. Yes. They seem to be able to deconstruct the objects it touches, both living and nonliving. The interesting part is the source of the energy. Rushia walked around Ollie as she observed intensely. That energy is from your Life Force. However, your Life Force recovers what you lost from using the red sparks in just a few moments. The rate of recovery changes and I have several theories for its pattern, Rushia said. I see I dont understand a thing, Ollie nodded. Just leave her alone, Ollie. Rushia is a mage whos obsessed with learning magic, Ayame told her. To gather knowledge is the basic instinct of a mage. I want to understand the mystery of life and in order to do that, I need to learn more about its shadow, death. Is that why you study Necromancy? I asked. Yes. Necromancy deals with placing an artificial Life Force on a dead body after you place a soul there. Most of the time, I am creating an artificial body out of my mana and then placing a Life Force and a contracted ghost on it. Wait The skeletons you summon arent real? Ollie frowned. It would bring many issues if I were going to dig up graves and steal skeletons, right? Necromancy has been advanced and those methods are outdated. While a dead body will be more durable and efficient than an artificial and temporary body, the inconveniences such as getting permission to use the dead body and then finding a place to store it will make any necromancer choose to learn how to make artificial bodies. But how could Necromancy make you learn more about life? I raised my hand. Dont you get it? Necromancy right now is making an artificial body and placing a Life Force on it. But alchemy lets you do that as you make homunculi, right? Isnt that a better alternative when you wanna make lives? Ollie asked. Rushia doesnt want to just create life. She wants to learn how to bring back the dead, Ayame joined the conversation. Rushias smile faded after she heard Ayame talk. However, her usual poker face returned as a green butterfly appeared and landed on her finger. It is possible to summon ghosts but those arent the people you know. They are just fragments of their identities and will slowly deteriorate over time. Placing a ghost in an artificial body is possible but they are not the same people. The butterfly disappeared and Rushia faced us. If I learn more about the Life Force, then spending an eternal life with the people you love is not a dream anymore, right? ### We continued traveling south towards the gathering of the Dark Corruption. It became stronger ever since we started our journey and I had a bad feeling about it. Not only that, there has been something different ever since I absorbed Voxs Dark Corruption. How was Vox able to control himself when he had the Dark Corruption? I asked. It must be because of the Silver Tongue. There are still many things we dont know in this world, Anya answered. The Dark Corruption can be affected by that? I asked. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Youve seen how Vox was able to command his people. It is possible. Ollies body was somehow immune because she couldnt digest the food with Dark Corruption. Its an energy we dont know anything about so we have to be careful. Such as Voxs Dark Corruption being different from the usual, Noir chimed in. What do you mean by that? Anya asked. I dont know! I know nothing. An empty feeling appeared in my heart. Cause we are nothing, Noir told me. Well be staying at this inn for tonight, Ayame said as she stopped in front of a wooden building. I could see the effects of the Dark Corruption in this town. The town guards looked tired but they were still patrolling and observing every single demon. Children didnt stray from their parents and everyone was carrying some sort of weapon. We entered the inn and Ayame booked some rooms. As usual, I was in a separate room from them which was completely understandable. Do your own thing until dinner. Secure your supplies and buy what you need to buy. Just have a receipt so the government can reimburse it once this quest is done, Ayame told us. Ollie and Ayame went out of the inn while I headed towards my room. When I laid down on my bed, I took out a copy of the paper that Mel gave us. I still didnt understand the random lines no matter how hard I tried to think. Anya transformed into her human form and laid down beside me. She also looked at the paper and frowned. You couldve just asked and I couldve given it to you, I told her. Dont worry, I still wont understand it, Anya said. I sat up and stared at the paper. If Amelia was here, she wouldve solved it already. But shes not here so theres nothing I can do about it, I muttered. Who? Anya asked. Amelia. Youre concerned about her? Im not. I know shes capable of surviving without me over there. On the other hand, I think I relied on her too much when it comes to these things. And whats wrong with that? I have to use my own power if I want to survive Anya stood up and walked in front of me. She stared straight into my eyes while her face was serious. Mikage Is something happening to you? she asked. Huh? I have a bad feeling I cant explain it but because of the connection I have with you, I know that theres something more going on. And I had this feeling eight times already in my years of existence. That isnt a lot. I only had eight masters before you She then grabbed my hand and I could feel her slightly shaking. You can tell me anything. Im the legendary Anya Melfissa. You are my ninth master. We can overcome anything together. Okay? she whimpered. I patted her head after I stood up from my bed. Anya really was an amazing partner. However, I could only do one thing. Dont worry. Nothing is happening, I assured her. After telling those words to her, I walked out of the room to get fresh air. Thats a nice answer for her. Youre pretty smooth with words, Mikage, Noir said. Before I could reply to him, I saw a green-haired young woman walking towards me. Oh. Mikage. I was about to get you, Rushia said. What do you need? I asked. Why dont we head somewhere private? I actually needed some alone time right now so maybe next time. Alright. Can you just answer my questions? Itll be quick. Sure. Mikage Kamishiro What are you? Her question caught me off guard and then green butterflies appeared around her. She was glaring at me and I had an idea on what was happening. You shouldve died back then in Voxs castle. You lost too much blood and you overworked your body. However, your Life Force didnt decrease by one bit and youre fully healed right now. What are you? she asked. I Im Mikage Kamishiro, the administrative officer of the Westa Knight Orders 13th unit. You didnt say youre a human. She continued glaring at me but I didnt step down. For some reason, I wasnt afraid. While she could beat me now that Anya wasnt nearby, I wasnt even the slightest bit intimidated. No I knew the reason I couldnt die at all. Are you an enemy? she asked. I dont know Rushia sighed and the butterflies disappeared. If you ever become a threat, Ill personally cut you down. Ill protect the Demon Realm no matter what the cost is, she said. She walked near me and gripped my arms tightly. Her mana oozed out as green butterflies formed around her again. I also havent forgotten that you called me flat! IM BOING BOING! GOT THAT?! Rushia shouted. Looks like Ill have to think twice when I should use those emergency words again. A talk with nothing When I opened my eyes, I saw a doppelganger of myself smirking at me. There was only one difference between the two of us which was our eyes. That doppelganger had black scleras and red irises which was unnerving. And from how he smirked at me, an eerie feeling appeared in my mind like I was staring at a deep and dark abyss while having a suspicion that something else was staring back. What do you want, Noir? I asked. Just a private talk. This way, Anya cant listen in, Noir answered. After raising his finger, two chairs and a table formed out from the darkness that came out of his body. He then sat down and I did the same. So Hows it hanging? Noir asked. Did you just bring me here for a small talk? I asked back. I brought you here because I can and now were gonna have a small talk. Just because you can doesnt mean you should. And why? Whos gonna stop us? Omega. Puh-lease! They mightve gotten stronger as they made one Primordial Being after another but thats not enough! Theyre pretty unbeatable. Anya said that nothing can beat them. And what are we? Noir smirked while I clenched my fist. What are you planning to do? I asked. Nothing. Darkness came out of his palms and it formed into birds. They flew upwards before growing into several dragons. This world is pretty fun. Messing with people is fun! he said. How come I cant feel anything from your words then? From how he acted, it seemed like Noir was trying hard to have fun. Even though it meant earning the anger of others, as long as it was interesting, he would do it. I wonder why he sighed. Noir stood up and looked at the empty white space above us. When he raised his arm, darkness consumed the sky. Mikage When you were summoned into this world without your permission, what did you feel? he asked. Confused because I thought a chuunibyou was seriously in character. I then heard him chuckling. Noir faced me and put on an expression that I didnt expect him to make. Must be nice to have a fun first impression like that, he said. Once again, my heart became empty. No There was an emotion inside it. Sadness. Noir Are you You can leave now. Im not in the mood to talk anymore. Really? I can still listen. Do you want me to ask about Amelia Watson? Im leaving now. Everything was slowly fading away while Noir was waving his hand. He had a smile on his face but I knew very well that nothing was behind that expression. ### Mi. Mikage. Mikage. Mikage!!! I felt someone shaking my body and when I opened my eyes, I saw Anya worriedly tugging my shoulders. Five more minutes I groaned. I couldnt feel you for a few minutes! What happened?! she shook me even stronger. I had a deep dream? Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Thats not how it works! Is Noir doing something?! Youre damn right for being suspicious about me, Noir chuckled. What did you do? Anya growled. Just some boys talk. Mikage ran away the moment I asked about Amelia. Did you just throw me under the bus? I asked. Amazing. You did a good job for your first attempt in starting a private conversation with me. Anya didnt look like she was satisfied but I patted her head. Dont worry. Im fine, I assured her. She was glaring at me and I could feel her connection with me becoming stronger. However, we were interrupted when someone knocked on the door. Come in, I said. The doors opened and Ayame entered the room. Were about to eat breakfast but you werent coming down, she told me. Oh. Give me a few minutes to prepare, I said. After changing my clothes, Anya turned into her sword form and I picked her up. I got out of the room and saw Ayame waiting for me. When we got down, the inn was crowded. Rushia was taking down notes while Ollie was eating. There were other patrons too but they looked anxious because of the Dark Corruption. Ayame walked ahead and I followed her. However, she went past our table and headed straight towards a small person wearing a hooded cloak. And without warning, she unsheathed her katana and pointed it at that person. What are you doing? a womans voice came out of that cloak. Im wondering why the president of the Celestial Academys student council is here in this town, Ayame said. That person took off her cloak and revealed her short silver hair. She wore a white outfit that looked like a school uniform along with a yellow armband on her left arm. There was a pair of small white wings on her back and a halo with four sharp points was floating above her head. The other people in the inn looked concerned. I heard that angels and demons werent on friendly terms so I was worried that a fight might start. Ayame laughed and the girl followed. They then gave each other a high five while having warm smiles. How have you been, Ayame? the angel asked. Doing my best, Kanata. How about you? Also trying to do my best. Ummm Whats going on? I raised my hand. That girl is Kanata Amane, the student council president of the Celestial Academy, Rushia answered. ### Heaven thinks that were going to become another Rivella? Ayame asked. Yes. Thats why I was sent here to investigate. There are many reports about the strange energy here in the Demon Realm so they are preparing for the worst case scenario, Kanata nodded. Whats Rivella? Ollie raised her arm. A long time ago, the Demon Realm was a country called Rivella. A certain demon united all of the demon tribes and ruled with an iron fist. If that wasnt enough, he then declared war on Heaven and all of the world in hopes for world domination, Ayame explained. He must be very strong, I said. Of course. He wielded an exceptional sword and decimated armies using it. Wait Exceptional sword. And with his menacing dog-like appearance, people feared him as a beast who destroys anyone who gets in his way, Kanata added. Oi, I called out the one person I was reminded of. Everyone has a phase where theyll go, If I were the one running the world, I can fix it, right? Deep Blizzard Miyukis voice told me. And you just let him do it, Anya? I asked. I knew he can do a good job and since Shiki chose him as the second master, I decided to trust him, Anya answered. Now, now. Thats in the past. Lets just move on, Shiki said. Many angels and creatures died from that bloody war and because of it, demons have a bad name attached to them. While I admire Miyuki for uniting the demon tribes, nobody.. nothing is perfect, Ayame sighed. Aint that great? Im perfect! Noir laughed. In any case, can you tell me whats going on? Kanata asked. Ayame looked at me and I shrugged. If she could trust Kanata, then I see no reason why I shouldnt. This man is Mikage Kamishiro, the vessel of the Primordial Dark, Ayame introduced me. And the Primordial Dark is an annoying prick too, Rushia nodded. Theres a strange energy called the Dark Corruption. Long story short, it degrades a creature into nothing while giving them incredible strength. I see. And if youre moving like this, there must be a solution already, right? Kanata sipped her tea. Yes. Mikage has detected the Dark Corruption gathering in the south. If we head there, we can get a clue about this and the organization behind everything, Ayame answered. Organization? The doors of the inn opened as a pink-haired young man walked in. Everyone focused on him since he looked really scared and panicking. Anyone! Please! Get me someone who has authority over the Demon Realm! This is an emergency! If we do nothing, the Demon Realm will be destroyed! he shouted. Ayame stood up and headed towards him. He looked at her and looked relieved. And you are? Ayame asked. My name is Rikka. I need your help because if we do nothing, the Demon Realm will be destroyed by sunrise! And now we have another problem How nice. This world is a pain. A nonhuman who looks like a human Ever since I came to this world, I didnt bother much with how things worked. I already had a tough time figuring out how electronics worked in my old world so magical technology was something I didnt dare to learn more. There were papers that could store magic, there were machines that could read memories, and there were even satellites that broadcast information. I just simply nodded and said Magical technology whenever I saw something weird. But this was the first time I saw someone like the pink-haired man in front of me. I dont sense any Life Force from you. What are you? A golem? Rushia asked. Im not just a golem. Im the holoroid ver. RIKKA. Feel free to call me Ri- Before he could finish, Kanata grabbed his arm and pinned him to the ground while Ayame unsheathed her swords. A silhouette of a woman made from purple flames came from Asura and black mist came out of Rakshasa. W-W-Wait! Im not dangerous! Im a non-combatant unit! the man shouted. Only a dangerous creature will say he is not dangerous, Ayame said. Hey, Ayame. Can I crush him? Kanata asked as she used three fingers to grab the mans neck. P-Please, just listen! If you destroy me, the Demon Realm is going to be obliterated!! Ayame and Kanatas shadows rose up and pushed them away. They glared at me but the mans shadow moved and bound him in place. Nice control you have there, Mikage! Noir praised me. Lets give him a chance, shall we? He wont be able to do funny business like this, I said. That thing is a holoroid! Its dangerous! Kanata shouted. If hes dangerous, he couldve killed us already, Ollie told her. Exactly! He can choose to kill us anytime! Ayame said. Can you give us the reason why you two are afraid? I asked. Ayame and Kanata looked at each other and nodded. A long time ago, there was a mad mage who wanted to create the perfect being. He is obsessed with surpassing the limits of the organic body that he focused more on golems, Ayame said. That person is named Arief, a legendary golem maker. There are many stories where he created a golem only to have it endure so many trials that itll become disassembled. Then he will take down notes on what he should improve before moving on to the next project, Kanata added. If hes legendary, then how have we never heard of him? Rushia asked. Because his masterpieces, the holoroids, are too dangerous. When he created them, the countries wanted to take that power for themselves and tried to negotiate with him. They even resorted to underhanded methods, Ayame answered. And since he couldnt do his experiments with them being annoying, Arief commanded his holoroids to destroy one empire in just a single night to show a message. After that, he disappeared and the surviving countries swore to never mention his name again to give him the peace he wanted, Kanata said. Sounds like someone I can chill with, Noir chuckled. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Are you saying that this person is one of the holoroids? I asked. If what he claims is true, then you can see why were wary of him, Ayame glared at the pink-haired man. This information was only passed down through selected people. Ayame and I are the presidents of the student council so we know this, Kanata said. If If Arief knew that you broke your promise to not tell anyone about his existence the pink-haired man stopped smiling. I was ready to enhance my Dark Magic and bind him even more while putting up a wall of darkness to protect the bystanders who were watching us. At the very least, I should be able to protect them. He really cant do anything since hes dead! the man laughed. Huh? Ollie asked. Everyone was prepared for combat. Ollie had her sword drawn, Ayame took a stance, Kanata looked like she was ready to crush something with her fingers, and Rushia had green butterflies fluttering around her. But when the man said those words, they looked confused. Besides, Arief was not the one to make a big deal out of things like this. As long as you leave him alone, he wont harm even a single fly, the man smiled. Hes the mad scientist who destroyed a country just because he wanted to! Ayame shouted. I can remember that he politely refused the messengers and diplomats demanding me and my brothers and sisters. He even served them tea and sent them home without any harm. It was until they barged in with soldiers that Arief had enough and decided to destroy the country those soldiers belonged to. Thats a justifiable act of self-defense, right? If you put it that way Kanata muttered. And for the record, the reason why Im here is because Arief still cared about the world. The Legion is going to activate tonight and I wanted help to stop it. Legion? Ollie asked. No way It was completed?! Ayames face paled. Before I say anything, what do you think it is? the man frowned. During the negotiations, several diplomats saw Arief building a robot army. He answered their questions with They are a backup plan in case I need to destroy something so the diplomats knew he was dangerous and needed to get him on their countries sides, Kanata said. That sounds like Arief! He is easily misunderstood because of his words! the man laughed. What do you mean by that? Rushia asked. The Legion is a defense system! Arief created it in case a threat happens and needs to be destroyed! Its a backup plan in case another country wants to aim for world domination! Hes always been the type to ask What is my legacy in this world? so he wanted to make something like that! Wait Are you saying that theres a threat that activated it? I looked at him. Yes. So are we going to talk about it or do you need more convincing? I looked at Ayame and Kanata. They sighed and nodded which gave me enough reason to release the man from his shadow. Alright. Now thats out of the way, my name is Rikka, holoroid ver. RIKKA. I can recognize the student council presidents of the Underworld Academy and the Celestial Academy and I can see the genius necromancer of this generation. But who are you two? he looked at me and Ollie. Im Mikage Kamishiro, someone whos under the orders of the Demon Realm, I introduced myself. Super cute idol, Ollie Kureiji is- I see. Your name is Mikage Kamishiro and Ollie Kureiji, noted, Rikka nodded. LET ME FINISH MY INTRO- What do you mean by a threat that has been activated? Ayame asked. Ollie just sulked in the corner while we focused on Rikka. Over the past months, I have detected a presence of a strange energy in the Demon Realm. However, a concerning event happened a few days ago which led to the Legion preparing their activation sequence, he said. And what will happen if they activate? Kanata asked. The threat is that strange energy that causes demons to become dangerous beasts. Ariefs Legion is only good for destroying things ... That means every single demon who had that strange energy will be destroyed?? Rushia asked. We only have until sunrise before they finish their activation sequence. I tried real hard to shut them down but Arief didnt really put a failsafe so I have to destroy the Core Mind. But why didnt you? Ayame was still wary of him since she didnt sheathe her swords. Because it has its own defense system. Im a non-combatant unit and the other holoroids are dormant. You can guess what Im trying to say here, right? The rest of us thought. I already had an idea what Ayame was going to say and Rushia seemed to have no choice but to agree with it. Can we reach it before sunrise? Ayame asked. Yes. Its not that far. Thats why I went to this village since this is the nearest one, Rikka nodded. Another side quest, huh? Noir snickered. One after another, I replied. Lead the way, Ayame said as she sheathed her swords. Thank you, Rikka smiled. This world really doesnt want to give me a break. The Core Mind is... The sun was beginning to set and according to Rikka, we were getting close. In the distance was a mountain range and that was the place where the Legion was supposedly hidden. Ayame and the others were preparing a meal and we were resting up. There was a chance that we would have to fight a robot army capable of destroying the Demon Realm in a single night. Yes. Arief is capable of making things like that, Ars voice told me. Do you know him? I asked. We were classmates in a magic academy. He was always an eccentric fellow, she said. Hey, Mikage. You look relieved. Got something in your mind? Rikka sat down beside me. Im just happy to have a man around. Being surrounded by girls is not really fun, I replied. Why would you think like that? I dont know. I guess theres some sort of distance because of the difference in our bodies. Or bodies are different too, you know? Im a holoroid and you treat me like a man. Is it because of my appearance? The way I talk? The way I act? Come on now. Are we going to have a discussion about complicated things like that? Rikka laughed and patted my back. His hand was as hard as iron so it felt like I was being tapped by a hammer. However, it was a gentle tap that didnt bring any pain at all. Its been a long time since someone treated me like a human, he said. Really? How long has it been? Ever since Arief died. ... Im sorry. Dont be. Deaths are a natural part of this world. While Arief created holoroids like me that withstood the test of time, he never once modified his own body. He had a sad smile as he looked at the orange sky. If Ars and Arief were classmates, then that meant it was more than 4000 years since he died. Rikka most likely has spent those 4000 years all alone. How were you able to handle it? I asked. What do you mean? Being able to live with nothing for that long. What made you not want to just end things there and then? Its simple. I wasnt living with nothing. Rikka raised his arm and moved his fingers. And then, he pointed at his head and smiled warmly. I have this body created by Arief. This body contains the memories of the person who cherished me and my siblings. Millennia might pass but Arief blessed me with this body that will never forget even the little moments of happiness I have, he said. I see Thats the difference, huh? I thought. What do you mean by that, Mikage? Anya asked. Nothing. I clenched my fist as I wondered what I really was. And what I should do to this world now that I was slowly remembering things. How are you coping up, Mikage? Rikka asked me. Thats a weird question. Im a non-combatant unit. Arief designed me as a support so Im very good at gathering information. My sensors are telling me that you are really troubled with something so Im just asking. Letting people talk and knowing more about them is my specialty! How was I coping up? What exactly was I? Ive always been swept by the flow. With my mean eyes, people challenge me to fights and I end up becoming a delinquent. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. And despite that, I managed to befriend Yogiri. I wonder how she was doing living with Amelia? Hopefully, Oga wouldnt be too harsh in her Light Magic training. When I moved to a peaceful city, I got swept up by the flow again and became a video game enthusiast. I even became a respected player for an online game as I had fun hanging out with people all over the world. It was heartbreaking to find out that Ancient Tales shut down. I thought for sure that it would last eight or nine more years. Was Haruto having fun in a different game and hanging out with other players? And then this world is a serious pain. I get dragged to one incident after another and I have no choice but to deal with it myself. Because I have nothing to do. Yeah I have nothing to do So I was trying to get something by doing anything. Do you want to go back to your world? Rikka asked. I dont know. This world might be dangerous and all but I don''t think going back is the solution. I already died in my old world so there will be so many problems if I just come back, right? Then is destroying this world the solution? With how this world is making you do things and how the Unkindness is giving you inconveniences, do you think destruction is the only way youll get peace? ... No. This world might be dangerous and have evil people but thats how it is. My old world is also the same. Destroying things because of something normal is just not good. Rikka sighed and patted my shoulder. After that, he got up and stretched his legs. I see. I understand you more now, Mikage Kamishiro, he smiled. HEY! DINNERS READY! Ollie shouted. Our conversation ended there and we continued preparing ourselves. ### We were walking inside a cavern with Rushias magic illuminating our path. When we were done with dinner, we immediately headed towards the mountain range and found a secret path. There were many twists and turns but Rikka continued guiding us without any problems. The Core Mind has its own defense system such as guns and blades. It is also capable of moving around and releasing shocks of electricity, Rikka explained. Then, Mikage, you can support us with your Dark Magic. Ollie, you can go and get its attention, Ayame said. Got it, I nodded. LEAVE THE DANGEROUS JOB TO THE UNDEAD! Ollie grinned. Kanata and I will be the ones attempting to deal damage. Thats good. I dont want to be dragged down, Kanata cracked her fingers. Rushia, youre going to have to support Ollie and summon soldiers who can be distractions too. Yeah yeah, Rushia replied. A few minutes after Ayame instructed us, we arrived in front of a large mechanical door. It had many complicated runes and I was sure I couldnt easily break it using force. This is the place, Rikka said. Everyone prepared their weapons as Rikka touched the door. Blue lines appeared on his arm and spread all over and connected the runes. And a few seconds later, the door slowly opened. Dont worry! Well win as long as the Legion isnt activated! Ollie chuckled. When we entered, it was dark. I could feel that the room was spacious and that there were many objects hidden in the darkness. To be more precise, there were around a hundred golems in the same room as us. Where is the Core Mind? Ayame asked. Rikka tripped over a metal bar and I went to help him up. And without warning, my shadow rose up and protected me from a glowing ball of light. Youre welcome, Noir said after the ball exploded. Not wasting a second, Rikka lunged towards me as a knife came out of his left arm. However, I commanded my shadow to block his attack and bind to his arm. But he simply detached his limb and a pair of wings came out of his back as he flew away before I could capture him. Legion: Activate, he commanded. We heard a low humming sound before the lights of the room flashed. There were many golems with different shapes and sizes and all of them were ready for combat. Huh? I thought that we have until sunrise before the Legion is going to activate?! Ollie asked. This really is the worst case scenario, Ayame sighed. Told you we shouldve crushed him there and then, Kanata groaned. I knew it It was strange for Rikka to coincidentally find the student council president in a regular town like that. Then he asked me about the Unkindness when we never once mentioned them to him. He also said that the threat appeared a few days ago but I remembered that Ayame said that the Demon Realm had this problem for a long time. There was only one thing that Rikka meant when he told us that. As the holoroid ver. RIKKA and the Core Mind, I order the Legion I was teleported here in the Demon Realm a few days ago. to eliminate the threat that is Mikage Kamishiro!!! A threat that can destroy the world Several golems headed towards us while we prepared for a fight. Even though I expected something like this to happen, I still felt disappointed. Because its expected of this world to be a disappointment, right? Noir said. I unsheathed Anya and looked at the approaching army. The Legion was supposed to be a defense system capable of destroying a country overnight. With only six of us, this was going to be a tiring battle. Or at least, thats what I thought. Kanata walked forward and cracked her knuckles. A large golem lunged at her and swung down its fist. But using her three fingers, she stopped the attack. Not bad, she grinned. Cracks appeared on the golems arm and Kanata swung it around to mow down the other attackers. After that, she threw the golem away and pointed at Rikka. Is that all you got, Core Mind?! she asked. In response to her taunt, Rikka snapped his finger and several cannons popped up from some golems. But I somehow managed to make her shadow rise up and protect her from compressed mana beams. You can thank me later, I told her. I didnt really need it but okay, Kanata replied. Red sparks appeared around Ollie and she charged at the golems. Following her was Ayame, who unsheathed both of her swords, and some skeleton soldiers which were summoned by Rushia. Hey, Ayame! Are we doing that battle tactic?! Kanata asked. With our current resources, that seems to be the best one! Ayame answered. Wait Are you serious?! Rushia shouted. Interesting. What kind of strategies do the student council presidents of the Underworld Academy and the Celestial Academy have that is the best fit for this situation? Anya muttered. Ayame and Kanata nodded to each other before going separate ways. DONT GET IN MY WAY!! they shouted. Now thats a fool-proof tactic! Noir snickered. Ollie grinned as large waves of red sparks came out of her body and hit the golems. Green skeletal hands made from magic floated near Rushia and swatted away her enemies while her skeleton soldiers were fighting. I then tried to charge straight at Rikka but some of the Legion blocked my path. One golem swung its arm but I commanded its shadow to cut off its limbs. But while I was busy with that, more golems prepared their cannons and fired their attacks. There were also some large golems that were blocking my escape routes so I had no other choice. Synchronicity Release! I shouted. My shadow protected me from the compressed beams and once they were done, I created a sword made from Dark Magic and struck down three golems limbs with Merryweathers Royal Dual Wielding. A large golem swung down its weapon but I switched to Yocleshs Oni Rush. Using swift and precise attacks, I managed to immobilize the golem before going back to Merryweathers Royal Dual Wielding. Interesting. The Sword of Records is a powerful weapon, Rikka said. I knocked back one golem using Leos Wild Sword that had Ryuukis Enhancement Magic. A beam of white light came out of my hand and froze the other golems using Ars magic. But despite defeating a few of them, there were still many more golems waiting for a chance to kill me. Do you know why the Legion is scary? Rikka asked. He pointed at Ayame who was having trouble with a golem. She tried to slash and stab but her opponents dodged her No Are they predicting her attacks? Anya asked. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. I told you, didnt I? Im a support who specializes in gathering information. Attack patterns, skills, abilities, magic I already know many things about you. And while you fight the Legion, the Legion is gathering data to be sent and analyzed by me, the Core Mind! Rikka shouted. I switched to Wild Sword Style but a golem blocked my attack. And even though I started using Royal Dual Wielding, I could barely scratch them. RUSHIA! WHY ARENT YOU SUMMONING THAT ARMY?! Ollie asked. She was getting pushed back by a large golem while getting hit by beams of compressed mana. Her body might be healing itself using those red sparks but I could see that Ollies movements were becoming sluggish. I can only summon them once per fifteen days! It takes that amount of mana and preparation! Rushia answered. Green butterflies floated around her and more skeletal warriors appeared. However, they were easily destroyed by the Legion. Kanata was punching and crushing the Legions but that was only if she managed to get close and land a hit. No wonder the Legion didnt immediately try to overpower you with numbers. As the battle dragged on and data got gathered, they would become stronger, Anya said. And as if to crush our hopes, Rikkas eyes glowed and the doors of the room opened. More Legion golems were on standby and I didnt need to feel their shadows to know that there were hundreds of them. Im honored. An army of robots with enough force to destroy a country in a single night is actually trying hard to beat me? I asked. You are a threat that can destroy the world if you wish. This amount is justified, Rikka replied. A large cylindrical container appeared in the middle of the room and brown light seeped through its gaps. I am a master in gathering information and from what I saw, you have very high chances of destroying the world. I dont want to risk it. The cylindrical container opened and revealed a woman with short brown hair and mechanical-looking black arms and legs. How can I trust your words when you, yourself, are unsure of them yourself?! Roboco! Activate! After a bright brown light flashed, I found myself flying across the room. I could taste blood inside my mouth and it was getting difficult to breathe. When I landed on the ground, I couldnt hear much except for a buzzing noise and Ayame screaming. There was a warm feeling on my sides and I didnt have to look to know that I was bleeding. My body was heavy and my vision was hazy. Yield, Primordial Dark! So the world shall be mine!! Annoying With your power, I can achieve my goals! Annoying! The Dark Corruption is a valuable resource thatll bring immense profits! Annoying!!! If they wont leave me alone, Ill- If you werent there, I wouldve been sent off as an annoying civilian. I never told you this before but... Thank you, Mikage. My vision cleared up as I pinched myself. I entered Synchronicity once again and used Ars best Healing Magic to fix myself. Mikage! Dont push yourself! Your mana is getting low and your mind is overworked! Anya said. I knew that. But there was no room for me to take it easy. If I stop here, then I wouldnt be able to go home. Noir I have an infinite Life Force, right? I cant die, right? I asked. What are you- Yes. Your body might be in tatters and your mind might get broken But you cannot die, Noir interrupted Anya by answering my question. So why am I getting tired? Your body is still a humans. You can get tired but you cant die. Your Life Force is infinite but your stamina still recovers depending on how you command your body. Hey, Anya. Haatos Full Lunacy works by removing the limiters of her mind, right? Can I No! What are you saying?! Thatll bring too much strain to yourself! Youll be in unbearable pain! Anya shouted. With your infinite Life Force, you should be more creative, Mikage, Noir said. I refuse! Whatever youre planning, I wont- Anya This is the only way No one will die if I do this, I said. That doesnt justify it! Anya Melfissa. Are you saying you will ignore this young mans resolve? Shikis voice asked. B-But Anya Please. Hear me out. I told her my plan and all of the masters and Noir laughed. Some of them had a hint of concern in their voices but even I thought it was funny how much I was going to put myself through. You wont back down even if I say no, will you? Anya asked. This is the best way to get out of this Not the perfect one but the best available one, I answered. Fine But if it becomes too much, Ill stop. I took a deep breath and channeled my mana inside Anya. Using all of my concentration and both Anya and Ars support, I used the necessary amount of effort to create an image and gather resolve. All I needed was a name to shout out and materialize the eight images in my mind. Dark Synchronicity: Shadow Resonance!! A massive headache appeared in my mind and my body began to warm up. My eyes were stinging and my breath was becoming ragged. But in exchange, eight Shadow Companions in the form of Anyas previous masters were in front of me. Hey, Rikka Let me ask you a questionWho will win? The Legion that can destroy a country overnight? The smile on Rikkas face disappeared and the eight Shadow Companions drew their weapons. Or eight people who have legends about them when they were wielding the Sword of Records?!! A glimpse of my true power Shadow Leo headbutted a Legion robot and threw another one across the room. Meanwhile, Shadow Merryweather was cutting down Legion robots and Shadow Shiki and Shadow Miyuki were teaming up. One of the Legion robots dodged Shadow Leos Wild Sword Style. In response, Shadow Leo switched to Oni Rush and severed its legs. Shadow Merryweather used Wild Sword Style to catch his opponent off guard and immobilize them. You may have data about us But can you gather them in time before the other masters defeat your Legion? I asked Rikka. This body is weird but at least Im having fun!, Shadow Leo shouted. Its been a long time since I was on a battlefield, Shadow Merryweather said. Focus, you two. We have to finish this quickly, Shiki told them. Shadow Yoclesh freely switched between Wild Sword Style and Oni Rush as she made her way towards Rikka. With Shadow Jihn supporting her, they were getting closer towards our opponent. However, Rikka snapped his finger and several Legion robots blocked their paths and waited for them to get closer. Even though I wasnt an expert tactician, I could see what he was trying to do. My body was heating up as the headache was making me feel like my mind was being split into eight other parts. It got harder to breathe and my sense of touch was going numb. Can you last long enough until the masters defeat the Legion? Rikka asked. Grand Heal, Ars voice echoed in my mind. A warm feeling wrapped my body as a glowing white light surrounded me. The warm feeling subsided and the headache became bearable. Thanks to Ars, I could push my body beyond the limits and buy more time. I see. With the Archmage Ars around, she can heal you once your body is in tatters. That is an ultimate move fitting for you, Mikage Kamishiro, Rikka said. He took the bluff. So much for being the Core Mind, Merryweather sighed. While its true that Ars was healing me, it would only add more burden to myself. After all, the mana she used was mine. Synchronicity would only hasten my mana production and if I overwork it, I might strain my body and weaken my Life Force. But that was fine since I had an infinite Life Force. Even if I cough blood or if my heart stops beating, I cant die. Although living like a zombie or a ghost might be weird, I dont think that was whats going to happen to me. Wooh! The Legion is fun to fight with! Shadow Leo cheered. They are more challenging than the soldiers from the Dark Times, Yoclesh said. And with Mikages request, its harder to fight them, Jihn added. When I founded Rivella, I also had battles with these limits, Miyuki told them. Ummm Its hard to focus if you guys talk like that in my mind, I spoke up. Sorry about them. They are warriors who enjoy the battle, Ryuuki said. Im surprised how they were even considered as battle mages, Ars sighed. More and more Legion robots were defeated as the masters swept through the battlefield. Shadow Shiki and Shadow Miyuki were fighting alongside Ayame, Shadow Ryuuki was supporting Kanata, Shadow Merryweather led Rushias skeleton army, and Shadow Leo was having a contest with Ollie. Shadow Yoclesh and Shadow Jihn stopped when the brown-haired robot girl got in their way. Hey, hey. This is going to be tough, Jihn groaned. Mission: Protect the Core Mind, that girl said. Her arm turned into a cannon and fired at the two of them. However, Shadow Jihn and Shadow Yoclesh managed to dodge in time. Shadow Yoclesh drew close and tried to use Oni Rush but the girl just sidestepped. Even though Shadow Jihn was there to attack her, she moved away as if she predicted his action. At least, the two of them were managing to avoid that girls attacks too. But it was a total stalemate since she also predicted Shadow Yoclesh and Shadow Jihns attacks. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. I get it Its all up to you now, I said. Grand Slow! After Ars voice rang in my mind, a magic circle appeared underneath the brown-haired girl. Shadow Yoclesh then dashed ahead while Shadow Jihn blocked her. You said that the Legion can predict fighting styles and patterns right? I asked. Mist of Deceit!!! Ars shouted. She didnt have to make a long chant like Temma. All Ars had to do was to shout out the name and her magic enveloped the entire battlefield. Several copies of the masters, Ayame, Ollie, Rushia, and Kanata were all over the place. I couldn''t see myself because I became invisible. Do you think you can predict which magic I shall use next? Ars scoffed. Rikka cant hear you, shorty! Noir chuckled. So even Ars can get excited, huh? Merryweather asked. But that little show of strength only quickened the time limit. My mana production was already at dangerous levels and without Ars healing magic, my body was nearing its limit. Just one more minute I need one more minute, I thought. Im stopping this, Mikage. Youre too overworked. You might not die but that doesnt mean you will be alive! You might become an empty husk! Anya shouted. Just one more minute! The masters can win in just a minute! But- Sheesh. You two are bickering like siblings! Noir chimed in. If you have any funny ideas, nows not the time, Noir! Anya said. Okay. My funny idea of helping Mikage shouldnt be heard. What do you mean by that? I asked. Not sharing my funny ideas cause this is not the time, Noir answered. NOIR!!! Anya shouted. However, there was no response. My nose began to bleed as my vision was slowly getting hazy. The buzzing noise in my ears became louder and I could feel my arms and legs going numb. Im sorry Please tell us how to help Mikage, Anya said. Oh dear~~ The legendary Anya Melfissa is asking for help from me! I guess I can spoil my niece for a bit! Noir chuckled. And after he said those words, my body was no longer in pain. No I felt stronger than before. Whats going on? I asked. Hey, Mikage. Where do you think the Dark Corruption you absorbed is being stored? Noir asked back. Oh I closed my eyes and felt it. Right inside me, there was a massive concentration of the Dark Corruption. No It was inside me all along. That thing was always making snide remarks and making trouble to everyone. After taking a deep breath, darkness oozed out of my body. The masters movements became smoother and they managed to land blows. I like this body now! Leo shouted. Interesting. The Dark Corruption can be used like this? Ars asked. Then this is all I need! Yoclesh said. Shadow Yoclesh got close enough to Rikka and pinned him to the ground. And with her sword pressed on his neck, the fight was as good as over. If the Core Mind is destroyed, the Legion will not function. Wanna know if thats the truth? he asked. Half-truth. The power of the Legion is because of the analysis of the Core Mind. If you get destroyed, they are just a group of golems, I answered. I walked towards him and the Legion didnt block my path. They knew that one wrong move could make them lose all hopes of victory. So what are you going to do now, Mikage? Are you going to destroy me like what you did to the Legion? Rikka looked at me. Shadow Yoclesh let him go and pointed at the remains of a golem that fought one of the masters. It was squirming on the ground without arms and legs. Every golem that fought them were all immobilized one way or another. You didnt destroy them? Rikka asked. I commanded the masters to not destroy them. Thats why they had a harder time, I answered. But why? Ayame and the others walked towards me and I got out of Synchronicity. With that, the masters also disappeared and the battle was truly over. Even Rikka no longer wished to fight and he just stood up while looking at me with a confused expression. You said youre able to live this long because you have something. And that something is the legacy of your creator. The reason why the Legion is still functioning and the reason why you can continue living is because you are protecting that something, right? You maintain them every day and thats how you are able to continue living, I said. So what if I am? What is it to you? Are you going to say things like I wont take something from my friends? Are you going to make me stop doubting you over some baseless construct like morals? he asked. I know what it feels like to have nothing. Thats why I can see the importance of the something you have. I dont want my friends to feel that pain. Rikkas eyes narrowed and I had an idea that he was scanning me with whatever sensors he had. After a minute of silence, he sighed and raised his hands. I give up. I see no point in continuing this, he said. His fist touched my chest and he smiled. Unlike the smiles he showed me before, it looked like he was finally satisfied with my answer. Its not that Im stopping this because I have no resources Ill choose to believe the words that Mikage Kamishiro is saying. That''s what a friend would do, right? Rikka asked. And yet you talked about how morals are just a baseless construct, Kanata muttered. Of course! The difference between machines and living creatures is the concept of empathy. Morals are based on that concept so at the very least, Ill do what Arief wants his creations to do Rikka looked at the immobilized remains of the Legion. I commanded the masters to not destroy them but Ayame, Ollie, Rushia, and Kanata werent really in the mood to spare them. Im sorry Itll be hard to repair them, I said. Dont worry! Maintaining them has been boring! I have a new project to keep myself busy now so I should be thanking you! Rikka laughed. If it helps, I know a certain knight captain who would be thrilled from seeing these magical technology. If Im done with the Unkindness problem, Ill ask for his time. Alright Thats a promise then! At that time, I just casually made that promise But I didnt know that it was a huge IF. Chapter 104: Ahoy The smell of the salty sea breeze entered my nose as we walked down the road. It didnt take long for us to see the blue waters extending towards the horizon. And in the distance, we saw our destination. It was a seaside town with decent docks. There was even a large ship anchored there and it was well-equipped with cannons while being in excellent condition. However, there was one problem. On top of that ships mast was a black flag. There was a symbol of a heart which had an arrow piercing through it. One side of the heart was white while the other was black. Amazing. The ocean didnt change! Roboco cheered. As for why we were heading to a town occupied by pirates, it all happened a few days ago. ### In the cave where the Legion was stored, we were staring at a large computer screen. I was sitting on a chair while wearing a helmet which had wires connected to a computer. According to Rikka, that device would show us exactly where we were supposed to go. Thats an island down south. We need a boat, Kanata said. Does that mean we can ride on those large boats from the Demonic Realm Navy?!! Ollie asked. Yeah.. Sure. Were on an undercover mission so the Unkindness members wont set a trap for us. Lets just command the navy to let us ride a boat. Thats undercover, alright, Rushia nodded. THEN WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? SWIM? I can make a shadow boat. It wont be that much trouble, I offered. I refuse, Anya said. How come, Anya? I asked. It takes a huge amount of mana to do that. The island is probably an Unkindness base. Youll be tired if you use that method to arrive there. I can just use the Dark Corruption to regain energy. Thats what I dont like! My heart clenched as my connection with Anya made me feel her sadness. Was the Dark Corruption really troubling her? After I used it, I could easily command the shadows. Making a boat would be easy. Nothing else happened so it wasnt as dangerous as she thought. Then would you want an alternative? Rikka approached us. Were open for suggestions, Ayame said. Great. All I have is one condition though. If you do that, you can have information from the Core Mind. What is it? Can you please take my little sister along? He pointed towards the brown-haired robot who severely injured me. It wasnt that I had anything against her. Besides, she was looking at us with sparkling eyes so I couldnt help but think shes not that bad. Very well. Weve seen her fight so she wont drag us down, Ayame nodded. That settles it! As for my information, have you ever heard of the Houshou Pirates? ### Now, we were walking through the towns main street. Despite being occupied by pirates, it was peaceful. I even saw some guards patrolling the street and children running around. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Did you expect something different? Ayame asked. When I found out that Marine is one of the pirates with the highest bounties, I thought she was ruthless. How come this town is peaceful? I looked around once again to see if there was something wrong. But it was peaceful. There were no signs of damage and the townspeople were doing their daily routines. An old demon was even happily drinking tea with a tanned and muscular man who definitely looked like a pirate. Marine Houshou has a high bounty because shes reckless and dangerous. She does what she wants and she has the resolve to see it through the end. Thanks to that, she started one incident and had a very high bounty, Ayame explained. Shes a woman who stole one of the All-Seeing Eyes simply because she wanted it, Rushia added. Rushia once explained to me the Five Great Abilities. We even fought Vox who had the Silver Tongue that can convince anyone. The All-Seeing Eyes had dominion over another persons sense of sight such as making illusions. They also gave its user clairvoyance, enhanced vision, and other convenient abilities. Wait She stole an amazing eyeball like that? Ollie asked. Yes. The original user was sailing across the seas when the Houshou Pirates attacked. He managed to escape with one eye and drifted away after an intense battle, Rushia answered. Ever since that day, the Houshou Pirates were more successful in raiding ships. The reports of the survivors said that Marine implanted that eye to herself. A human like her took a demons eye that had one of the Five Great Abilities. Im not sure if shes brave or idiotic, Kanata added. We arrived in front of a tavern. Loud cheers were inside and I could smell booze. However, I felt something different inside. Youre learning now, huh? Noir asked. Yeah Theres a strong person inside, I answered. Ever since I used the Dark Corruption, I have become stronger. Shadows were more willing to obey me now and I wasnt tired even though we walked for hours. Another ability I got was to see how powerful someone was based on their shadow. Do we really have to do this? Rushia asked. Yeah. We need to sail with them, Ayame said. She marched forward and opened the doors. We followed her and were ready for battle. But when we got inside, we saw a loud party. Men and women from different races were singing and dancing. All of them looked like they were drunk but they were grinning from ear to ear. Food was everywhere and the waitresses were delivering more booze from one table to another. Is this one of those parties? Its been years since I last saw one! Roboco asked. I like this place! Ollie shouted and headed towards the nearest table. A pirate saw her and handed her food. They then laughed and started eating together. She fits right in, Kanata muttered. Why am I not surprised? Rushia sighed. Ayame walked towards the corner and a red-haired woman was sitting and drinking quietly. Her back was facing us but I could feel that she was the strongest pirate in this tavern. Marine Houshou. Im here to hire your ship, Ayame said. Marine took out a piece of paper and wrote on it. Without looking back, she handed it to Ayame. I saw Ayame make a grim expression and when I peeked, I saw an astronomical amount of money written on it. If you want us to sail in these dangerous waters, youd better pay up, Marine said. Can we negotiate? Ayame asked. No way. Those are my terms. My crews life is important so if you want them to risk their necks for wherever you want to go, then there should be a proper compensation. Ayame can negotiate with the government. She can ask the government to reconsider your crimes and maybe even a pardon, I butted in. Marine laughed and drank from her mug. After that, she laughed again and stood up. She looked at me with her red right eye while she was smirking. Do I look like I need the governments pardon? she asked. Mikage, theres a reason why the government didnt attack this place even when Marine is staying here, Anya told me. Yeah. I just figured it out. If Marine was capable of stealing an All-Seeing Eye, then she must be strong enough to attack a ship of an important demon. The government couldnt afford to lose more manpower now that the Demon Realm was having these problems. But if you dont have the cash, I can let you give me something of equal value, Marine said. Im listening, Ayame replied. Being in land is soooo boring. If you can give me some fun equal to that amount of money, Ill gladly let you guys set sail with me. What do you need us to do? The starting point will be the main gate of this town. Before the sun sets, you must reach me and steal my hat. Thatll give me some fun. That sounded too good to be true. And if we fail? Ayame asked. Marine grinned and pointed at her. The student council president of the Underworld Academy will be joining the Houshou Pirates! Against the Houshou Pirates We were in front of the towns gates and the docks were in the opposite direction. The game was supposed to be simple. If we managed to steal Marines hat before the sun set, she would cooperate with us and sail. But if we failed, Ayame would be part of her crew. Are you out of your mind? What makes you think we can beat the Houshou Pirates? Rushia asked. Its faster and better than trying to secretly gather that amount of money, Ayame answered. We dont have to beat them. We just need to steal Marines hat, Kanata told her. But does that mean we arent allowed to exterminate them? I believe that Captain Marine will not sail with the murderers who killed her crew, Roboco said. We cant destroy the buildings too. Bringing suffering wouldnt be fun at all! Ollie added. This was troubling. We couldnt kill them so our options were limited. We couldnt destroy the houses in our way so our routes were predictable. These rules made this fight even harder. This isnt a fight. This is a game. You gotta have fun, Noir told me. Theres only one thing we can do, Ayame said. A green smoke rose up from the distance and that was the signal to start. The sun was most likely going to set two hours from now since I could feel the night approaching. Thats why we decided to charge through the main street and get it over as soon as possible. However, several members of the Houshou Pirates were there. They all had swords and guns while completely outnumbering us. However, it was all useless when I faced my palm at them and their own shadows rose up and bound them in place. Mikage! What are you doing?! Ayame shouted. Their bodies became limp and the shadows wrapping around their necks disappeared. Ayame rushed over and checked on them but I knew I did nothing wrong. They are still alive, she breathed a sigh of relief. Of course. I pressed their carotid arteries. The lack of blood flow towards their brains will make them faint. Theyll wake up soon enough, I answered. I see! We can just knock them out! Ollie shouted. Thats right! If we are unconscious, you guys can fight freely! a womans voice said behind. I instinctively commanded my shadow to turn into a spiky shield. How could someone sneak up like that without me detecting them?! But I didnt feel my shadows piercing through something so whoever that person was, I didnt kill them. Thats great! That was dangerous! the same voice exclaimed. A woman with long white hair and wearing a blue-white dress was smiling at us. She had blue fins at the sides of her head so she was most likely a mermaid. If she was attacking us like this, then she must be one of the Houshou Pirates. You guys go on ahead! I can handle this! Ollie grinned. Be careful. That woman is Doris, the navigator of the Houshou Pirates, Ayame told her. Doris didnt attempt to attack us as we moved ahead. Instead, she charged straight at Ollie while water formed around her arms. They exchanged strikes for a while and I could no longer see them. But before we could go any further, two more people appeared in front of us. One was a black-haired woman wearing a white jacket. Her chest was wrapped with bandages and her right arm was holding a pink sword. Beside her was a young man with black-white hair. He was wearing a black fur coat while wielding a pistol on each hand. Kson, the vice-captain of the Houshou Pirates, the woman smirked. Im- Before the man could introduce himself, Kanata lunged close and tried to grab his arm. However, Kson blocked her path and the young man put up some distance between the two of them. Blah, blah, blah, blah. Were on a deadline here so we have no time for introductions. Lets head straight to the fight, Kanata cracked her knuckles. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Understandable, the young man shrugged. Roboco grabbed me and Ayame. Using her robotic strength, she threw us over our two enemies. The young man was about to shoot us but Roboco fired her energy cannon at him. Thanks to that, Ayame and I safely landed on the ground and we continued running towards the dock. There were more Houshou Pirates in our path but I made their shadows knock them out forcefully. A solid hit to their heads was enough to make them unconscious and it didnt take long until we finally arrived at our destination. A red-haired woman was sitting down on a barrel with her backs turned behind us. Her darkness was the same as the one I felt earlier so I knew for sure that she was our target. That zombie is an energetic one, huh? Doris looks like shes getting tired but Ollie can probably do it all day. The strength of the Celestial Academys student council president is no joke since even Kson is having a hard time. That robot is also supporting well and disrupts that dumb kids shots, she said. And then, the woman stood up and stretched her arms. After cracking her neck, she pointed at us without even turning her head. And now its my time to have fun! I faced my palm at her and commanded her shadow to rise up. If I take her hat, this entire charade should be finished. Is something wrong, brat? she asked. I Impossible, I muttered. No matter how much I tried to make her shadow move, it resisted me. It was as if it was pushing me away. The harder I tried, the more it fought back. I knew it. From what I saw, youre not using Dark Magic to command the shadows. I cant see the pathway of your mana so youre not even using magic to make my comrades shadows work against them But the principle is still the same as magic, you need a certain amount of mana, image, and resolve. I saw that you use up your mana whenever you use your ability and I can see here the image in your mind where Im tightly bound by my own shadow. Wow! The possibilities of this ability are endless! You can tie me up for whatever play you want and we wont have to make complicated knots! The thing she sat on wasnt exactly a barrel. I couldnt see its handle until she picked it up and swung it. With that large hammer and her excited grin, I felt that she was going to be a troublesome opponent. Im Marine Houshou! I choose the person who I want to dominate me! Your resolve is weaker than mine because nothings sexier than consent! the captain of the Houshou Pirates shouted. ### Preach, Marine, Noir chuckled. Youre not going to help me, are you? I asked. I literally just agreed to her. Consent is nice, whether it be in having your shadow moving, getting summoned in this world, or in bed! Sorry, Ayame. I cant control her shadow, I said. Then we just have to do it in the usual way, she unsheathed her swords. Ayame charged at her while I circled around. Marine managed to lift her hammer and swing it. However, Ayame dodged and got close enough. She tried to stab her but Marine made minimal movements and avoided her attacks. Smoke came out from the small spheres she dropped and she was out of her sights. However, I could feel her darkness lurking and I knew where she exactly was standing. Thats why I didnt hesitate and headed straight towards her. Mikage! Be careful! Anya tried to warn me. It was already too late when I realized that it was a trap. I felt a strong blow hit my chest and knock me away. If I didnt create a make-shift armor made from my shadow, I mightve gotten some fractured bones. Fell for the oldest trick in the book, huh? Noir snickered. Marine was spinning her hammer like it wasnt as heavy as it looked. But the impact and pain I felt from getting hit meant that it was tough It was too tough to be wood. Using Enhancing Magic so you can lift a heavy thing like that with ease. A simple trick but quite effective, Ayame said. Or is it? Marine asked. I got up as Ayame lunged once more. Marine no longer looked like she was struggling to swing her hammer around and it was faster than before. However, I felt something strange was going on but I had to support Ayame. My shadow rose up and turned into spikes but Marine dodged and smashed one of them. Ayame crouched down and tried to attack Marines blindspot but her attack missed as Marine moved away without even looking. Even just having one All-Seeing Eye already made her have no blindspots, Anya said. However, her position and posture was what we wanted for our plan. If I couldnt command her shadow, all I had to use was the other ones I could use. And the nearest one was Ayames. Using my power, I commanded Ayames shadow to turn into spikes. The size of Marines hammer would make it better for her to block them than risk avoiding it. But once she blocked it, I would make the shadow bind it in place. Even with an All-Seeing Eye, it should be hard for her to fight us unarmed. The unexpected happened and Ayames shadow passed through the large hammer. And with that single second of confusion, Marines hammer hit Ayame and blew her across the street. Now thats creative, Noir muttered. So thats what was off all this time, I groaned. The strange feeling I had whenever Marine swung her hammer was finally explained. Normally, swinging a hammer of that size at that speed would at least cause some wind. However, there wasnt much wind and with how my shadow phased through it, there was only one reason. Marine was no longer holding a large wooden hammer. Instead, she was holding a sledgehammer made from orichalcum. Her trick wasnt as simple as what Ayame thought. Now then, do you think you can trust your eyes? Marines yellow iris glowed. And several illusionary copies of herself surrounded the battlefield. I could feel the night approaching so the sun was going to set soon. We had to finish this as soon as possible. Eyes are useless in the dark, I said. I dashed towards her and gathered my resolve. Synchronicity Release! Eye that sees all A large surge of darkness was coming and it meant that our deadline was coming up. The sun was about to set and we still hadn''t stolen Marines hat. If we failed, we wouldnt be able to reach our destination. Whats wrong? Marine grinned Despite having multiple Marines all over the place, she couldnt hide her darkness from me. Thats why even though one Marine blocked my way and swung her hammer, I simply let her phase through me as I charged towards the real one. And without warning, explosions happened around me when I got close to her. Thanks to Synchronicity and the previous masters guidance, I managed to command my shadow in time to form a protective wall but Marine put some distance between the two of us again. You can sense which one is the real among the fakes. But can you pinpoint the things Ive hidden? she asked. Dang. She got ya, Noir said. It was easy to find the darkness of living creatures. As for non-living things, I had trouble. I could only identify Robocos darkness because we traveled together. If Marine hid things I didnt know she had like those bombs, it would be difficult. After all, if I focused my senses to feel every single darkness inside me, I would be overexerting my human body. I looked at Ayame who was lying on the ground. Marines attack earlier brought her to that state and it was up to me to fulfill our mission by finding an opening. This game was annoyingly hard. I can see it. Youre doubting yourself, arent you? Marine asked. She pointed at me and smirked. Her yellow eye glowed as I felt it staring deep inside me. It was like I was put in the center of attention and had to do a presentation. Youre wondering how you can steal my hat without killing me. How sweet of you to hold back against me, she said. Wow. She sees right through ya, huh? Noir chuckled. Not now. Noir, I told him Heh. Your anxiety is showing. Youre not even thinking like how you used to think, right? Its as if youre a different person already, Marine asked. My shadow turned into several spikes and scattered all over the field. It attacked the ground indiscriminately in order to destroy whatever bombs she hid and I destroyed the crates on the docks to make sure she has no obstacles to use against me. Mikage! What are you doing?! Anya shouted. It was understandable for her to be concerned. After all, one wrong move and I could impale Marine and fatally injure her. In my defense, I could just use Ars healing magic to save Marine if she did get hit. And that was assuming I could actually hit her. Yikes! Youre being bold, Mikage! Marine giggled. She calmly evaded my shadow with her other eye closed. My attacks only had near misses while she dodged with minimal movements. Even my surprise attacks couldnt touch her hair as she calmly sidestepped. I see I said. Marine moved her body even before my shadow did. She jumped away before I could command my shadow to stab her from behind. This is a tricky opponent, Yoclesh said. Her illusions might not be as good as the Mist of Deceit but that prediction ability is dangerous, Anya agreed. No. Thats not a prediction ability. Shes merely looking at Mikage deeply, Ars told them. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Oh? The shorty understood it already? Noir snickered. . Its simple. She looks at Mikage from his mana to resolve and image. That includes the subconscious image he is telling his body to do. His shadow is part of himself so Marine can see a fraction of a second of Mikages future actions. Are those people behind you paying the rent? Or is discussing whatever stuff during battle is the payment for letting them stay in your mind? Marine asked. If she could see Ars and Yocleshs bodies behind me, she really was looking intently at me. Thats why I had to keep her attention on me and create an opening for Ayame. I lunged at her and used Yocleshs Oni Rush. But just as I expected, she easily dodged them. No matter how fast I tried to swing my sword while aiming at her vitals, she moved away before I could land a hit. After switching Leos Wild Sword Style, I managed to surprise. her. My sudden switch to using my knees and arms almost made my attacks reach her. However, it only took her a few seconds before she went back to predicting the next moves of Leos Wild Sword Style. Even using two swords while having magic support me didnt have much effect on her. I tried to do binding magic and surprise her with attack magic but Marine simply smirked while dancing around. Also, she didnt attempt to attack me so she knew that I was capable of defending from her attacks. Marine was simply buying time for the sun to set. But at least her attention was focused on me. Thanks to my attacks, she was now getting nearer to Ayame. I know that Ayame wasnt the type to be knocked out like that and she was just pretending to be unconscious. All I needed to do was to make Marine focus on me so Ayame could steal the hat with the opening Ill make. Take this! I made a large downward swing. Thats no good! Do you think you can get me like that? Marine asked after she jumped backwards. However, she was exactly in the spot I wanted her to be. Without wasting any second, Ayame swiftly got up and reached out her hand towards Marines hat. With her focusing too much on me, she wouldnt expect Ayame to do a surprise attack like that. But our hopes were smashed when Marine easily sidestepped. I commanded both my shadow and Ayames and tried to attack her but she dropped a few smoke bombs. Ayames slashes couldnt connect thanks to the smoke and even though I knew where Marine was, there was still a huge chance that she was going to evade once again. Four, Marine waved her finger, Thats the number of times you glanced at Ayame while we were fighting. Im focusing my All-Seeing Eye on you, Mikage. Did you really think that little detail can slip past me? Sorry, Ayame, I told her. Dont mind it, she replied. Ill ask you again. Did you think you could get me like that? Marine asked. Ayame stood beside me and a womans silhouette made from purple flames appeared above her. Marine just chuckled as she swung her hammer. But I noticed that she was sweating heavily. She was also panting irregularly. This is so fun. Looking at the Primordial Dark and predicting its future actions is taking a lot of my mana. Will I run out of mana or will the sun set first? This thrill of pushing myself to the limits It was a surprise to see Ayame flinch. I could understand her though. If anyone else saw Marines ecstatic face, their fight or flight instincts would activate. Her dangerous grin and the eerie glow of her yellow eye was enough to make me consider running away too. This is what gets my heart racing every time! This is why I cant quit this fun life of being a pirate! she panted. This wasnt good. The skys color already turned deep orange and the sun was almost down. Her All-Seeing Eye was too annoying and I couldnt find a good way to disable it. Why were the Five Great Abilities annoying to counter? Wait a minute Didnt I defeat the Silver Tongue? I thought. Are you thinking that you should make the entire surroundings dark and blind her? Anya asked. I dont recommend that. From what I know, the All-Seeing Eyes can see another creatures mana signatures even if its covered up. She can see your future actions so seeing your essence in the dark is easy, Ars said. I have a plan, I told them. After explaining things, Ars and Anya agreed that it could work. Marine might be able to see them debating but she most likely couldnt hear them. She was even busy fighting Ayame and she didnt show any reaction to what we were planning to do. And thus, I gathered my resolve and power to release darkness from my body. Marine frowned when she saw what kind of plan I was doing but it was already too late. My darkness was faster than how she could run because it wasnt solid like my shadow manipulation ability. The darkness disappeared after a few seconds and when the light of the setting sun shone down on us, my hand was holding her hat which was stolen by Ayames shadow. Alright! That was creative! You got me! Marine sat down on the ground and made a deep sigh. How did you blind the All-Seeing Eye? Ayame asked. I scattered myself all over the place, I answered. It was a simple trick. Marine said that she could see my mana signature and even my essence as the Primordial Dark. And so, I imbued my darkness with my mana and essence and she could see only me. She couldnt pinpoint exactly where I was and what I was doing so it was easy to steal her hat. Wow! You were literally everywhere. I thought I was seeing nothing! Marine laughed. We got your hat. The games over, I told her. Yeah, yeah. Im a woman of my word. She fired a blue flare towards the sky which signaled her defeat. At least we somehow managed to secure a boat to head to our destination. And that flare was the signal of my journeys approaching end.