《Overwriter》 Prologue: from the beginning up to now Beyond time and space, there existed a place, inaccessible even to the most extraordinary of mortals. Only nine great beings could travel freely from that sacred abode to the nine worlds that made up their dominion. Each of these entities had their own throne. Even though more than half of them were empty, the absence of their owners did not make their seats any less regal. The sixth of the nine ultimately reached the sunset of his long life. His figure became shrouded in green electric discharges, before graying and turning to cosmic dust. In his place, on the throne, what remained was just an old, worn grimory that seemed lifeless. In the end, only three remained. "Another of our brothers leaves us... a proof that even we [Gods] can age and die." "The hundred thousand years are almost completely gone. War is at the gates. Yet no one has earned the right to sit among us." "Millennia of waiting, but still no new [God]? Perhaps this time the [Primordial] will prevail." "No, that will not happen. Time is running out, but it is not entirely exhausted. Even our enemies will struggle to gain power." "It¡¯s true, this is the law of universal balance. Have faith in the [Champions] of our brothers, comrades. In the end, new [Gods] will take our place." ****** Many years later, on the artificial island of [Fumetsu], off the coast of Japan, a man was packing all his dearest belongings into a small suitcase. His face turned pale when he heard a noise behind him; fortunately, it was only his son, who had entered his parents'' room. "Dad? What are you doing?" The boy could not have been more than seven years old. His hair was a rare silver color, while his eyes were a beautiful blue, traits that he had inherited from his mother and that side of the family. "Hajime, why are you awake?! Go back to sleep!" The man tried to send his son away without upsetting him or giving him a strange impression, but it was difficult. After all, he was about to abandon both him and his wife without being able to explain why. There was too much to explain, too many secrets he had never confessed, of a life of good and difficult actions that had left him tired and worn out. His heart ached at the mere thought of never seeing his family again, but he had no choice; he could not take them with him, he could not condemn them to a life of constant flight; it was his punishment, not theirs. "(After all the good I¡¯ve done... after all the sacrifices and lives saved, I thought I had earned a happy life... I don¡¯t want to throw away my joy... is this my punishment for leaving Yukihime alone to face the horrors of this world?)" While the father was busy cursing himself for everything, little Hajime approached his parent''s belongings without him noticing. Driven by an irrepressible childhood curiosity, he grabbed a strange book. That was the moment that would forever change the boy''s fate, even if no one knew it yet. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The object shone with a blue light while emitting green energy in the shape of lightning around it. "Hajime!!! Put it down!!!!!!!" It was too late; before the man could grab his son, the old book fused with the poor child, leaving him on the floor, powerless, on the edge of consciousness and unconsciousness. "No! No! No! It shouldn¡¯t have happened like this! What do I do now?" "P-papa.........." "You¡¯ll be fine, little one! You¡¯ll be fine!" The father placed his son on his bed. His face turned pale at the thought of what had happened. The implications almost made him vomit. "Why did that old [Grimoire] have to merge with you!? It had been inactive for decades! Why?! Why?! WHY?!" Putting his hands in his hair, the man knelt down, crying. "You could have been a normal human... leave this prison in the shape of an island, and live a life full of happiness! Now, I don¡¯t even know what will happen to you, or who you will become! I should have gotten rid of everything that tied me to my past life... I-I''m sorry, my son..." Taking his last belongings of value, Hajime''s father left his home. Hours later, the little boy''s mother, Aina Mikoto, found her son unconscious on their marital bed, next to a letter containing only one sentence: ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I never told you who I really was.¡± That very day, mother and son received a visit that would shatter their world forever. An officer from the [White Corps] delivered Aina the news no wife would ever want to hear. "I¡¯m sorry, ma''am. But we found your husband¡¯s car, burned outside the city... w-we think his body was inside... unfortunately, DNA evidence is not possible." "No! It''s not true! He can''t be dead!" How would they live now? Without their father and husband? The answer was simple; they wouldn''t survive, not for long. On the day of the funeral, a glimmer of hope manifested before them in the form of Mokuro Goto, an acquaintance of the deceased. Goto was a man in his 50s, bald with black eyes full of intent, appearing benevolent, athletic, and smiling sincerely. His continued visits served as balm for the pain of the newly widowed Aina. In contrast, little Hajime seemed almost frightened by the man, even though he had no apparent reason to be so, at least not yet. Months passed, and Goto''s visits grew more frequent, despite his important position for the entire [Fumetsu]. Eventually, the man began bringing his young daughter to the meetings. Little Mokuro Kaori was an adorable girl, with short blue hair and eyes of the same color. From the very beginning, the little girl became fond of Hajime. It was thanks to her that the boy managed to overcome his father¡¯s death. Everything was going well; Aina and Hajime were moving forward, overcoming the pain of loss after several years. The only problem in their lives was money. Hajime was an intelligent child, good at both sports and studies. Mrs. Mikoto naturally wanted the best for her son, a good school that would open the doors to a good job, and perhaps, a good opportunity to leave the island. But [Fumetsu] was an expensive place, especially for a single mother. Fortunately, help arrived, of course, from Goto. But in exchange, the man asked Aina for just one thing. "Please marry me." It was not a great surprise; Hajime¡¯s mother was not yet 40, still beautiful and young, with a shapely figure, her long silver hair and blue eyes giving her a radiant beauty that captivated many. Mr. Mokuro was not the first to make such a proposal after the death of her husband, but he was the first to receive a positive response. How could Aina refuse? She did not yet love Goto, although she appreciated him very much as a family friend (something she made clear immediately). She still loved her husband, but she had to give her son the best possible future. The bald man was her best chance; after all, he was the head of the [Black Corps], the island''s special police unit. Unfortunately, Aina didn¡¯t know what she was getting into. The marriage, at first, was beautiful; part of her believed that perhaps she could truly fall in love with Kaori¡¯s father, but after a year, things changed¡ªfor the worse. The head of the [Black Corps] was a greedy man, craving power, money, women, and fame. Goto had become enamored with Hajime¡¯s mother and wanted her in his bed and in his life. But now that he had her beside him, in his eyes, the woman wasn¡¯t of as much value anymore. It started with a slap, then came the punches, and the physical and psychological abuse. Poor Hajime realized too late what was happening. In the end, his beloved mother was under the complete yoke of her husband. What could he do? Report him? He was one of the island''s leaders, loved and appreciated like gold; no one would believe them. Could he fight? The answer was no. Goto was among the strongest on the entire island. What could a ten-year-old do against that man? Nothing. Three more years passed, and Hajime¡¯s protective nature often clashed with Goto¡¯s aggression toward his mother. The two soon began to hate each other more and more. Kaori, meanwhile, was oblivious to everything, not because she was stupid, but simply because her father''s cunning was formidable. He rarely struck Aina or the boy, preferring psychological abuse to physical. It left fewer traces. Moreover, the man had never concealed the death threats directed toward mother and son if his little girl ever found out about his actions. When he turned 16, Hajime''s anger reached its peak; his mother had fallen into depression, seeing no way out of her situation. The boy tried to throw a punch at the man in revenge. The result? A bloody beating¡ªthe 16-year-old came out with three broken ribs, two fractured, a broken femur, and a jaw shattered in multiple places. The next day, while he was in the hospital, the boy was notified of his expulsion. Since he was 11, he and Kaori had attended a prestigious school, the only good thing that had come from life with Goto, and now it was gone. It was punishment the man had inflicted on his stepson for challenging him; with false accusations of fighting, he had "convinced" the principal to expel him. Now, at 17, Hajime was preparing to enter his new school. The building was decayed and old; the worst of the worst came here, the children of the island''s criminals¡ªteachers were the scum of the scum, and just being associated with the name of such a place was a castration in every sense for anyone. The only choice was to fall into crime. "(Bastard! Just because you¡¯ve put me here, you think you can stop me!? I will find a way to bring you down from your throne! And I will save Mom and Kaori-chan from you!)" Chapter 2: Kidnapping Hajime was floating in an infinite cosmic space, without a body. His entire body was numb and paralyzed, but his mind was in a state of absolute awareness: he saw everything, felt everything, and perceived everything. The amount of information his senses transmitted to his brain was so vast that it was impossible for him to process it all. But the silver-haired boy clearly heard a voice speaking to him; it was neither feminine nor masculine but seemed otherworldly and incomprehensible to a mere human. "You are weak... you need to be stronger... use your power, Hajime... the [Grimoire] is yours, master it... otherwise, you will fall... like all those before you..." "W-who... are you?" (Hajime) "I am the one who came before you... our time has run out." ***** Hajime suddenly awakened; his face was pale, and his body sweaty. The dream he had just experienced felt so real yet also seemed like a highly elaborate illusion. As the boy struggled to catch his breath, he realized he was not in his room. The place he found himself in looked like some kind of cell. The walls and floor were made of concrete, and there was only a solid steel door as an exit. Apart from the bed he was tied to, Hajime saw nothing else. "(Where am I?! What is this place?! Have I been kidnapped!? The last thing I remember was...)" The memory of his assault on a [Black Corps] member made him tremble. The silver-haired boy didn¡¯t know if the tremor was due to fear or excitement. A part of him didn¡¯t even want to know. The metal door suddenly swung open, the light from outside briefly blinding Hajime. The figure of the assassin entered the room. "Y-you...?" "Shut up and don''t try anything funny!" The restraints binding the teenager to his bed were replaced by handcuffs that suppressed his [magic] power. Hajime was led out of the cell, under the threat of his escort¡¯s scythe. The boy felt incredibly calm; he wasn¡¯t afraid of what might happen to him. This feeling was strange and foreign to him, yet he could not deny the comfort it brought. "(A corridor of concrete with lights and no windows? Are we underground?)" ¡°Go right!¡± ¡°Yeah, I got it.¡± As they descended a couple of flights of stairs, Hajime wondered if the [Black Corps] member he had attacked had been killed by the person escorting him. The thought that he had helped someone kill him did not make him feel guilty at all; rather, he felt happy about it. "(Something is off about me...)" Eventually, they reached a spacious circular room. On one side of the room was a station filled with various computers, screens, and keyboards, also noticeable were several packages of junk food strategically placed among the various components. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Stay down!¡± Another figure appeared from one side; just like the guy in the black cloak, she also wore a mask, except hers was white. Her hair was albino, and her eyes, from what could be seen from beneath the mask, were a beautiful amethyst color. Despite it being obvious she was a girl, her flat chest made him doubt, and with her height of barely one meter fifty, Hajime could only think one thing. "(A loli, huh?)" As if she could sense his thoughts, the girl approached him while a strong murderous intent emanated from her body. The person with the scythe tensed slightly and took a step back, as though not wanting to get caught in the crossfire. ¡°....¡± (the girl) ¡°I-I didn¡¯t say anything!¡± The sound of footsteps caught the attention of the trio. From another corridor arrived another girl, this time without a mask. The newcomer was the complete opposite of the loli; she had a well-developed and toned body, long forest-green hair, and blue eyes. ¡°Kohaku-chan! Why aren¡¯t you wearing the mask!?¡± ¡°Stop it; there¡¯s no need. If everything goes well, you¡¯ll be able to take yours off too soon. And what¡¯s the point of hiding my face if you¡¯re using my name, Chloe-chan?¡± The girl named Kohaku seemed the most balanced and peaceful of the group. Her blue eyes looked at Hajime with deep understanding, as if evaluating him. ¡°I am Aomori Kohaku, nice to meet you, even if the situation isn¡¯t ideal. Kamijio Hajime-san, you are the stepson of Mokuro Goto, right? Tell me, what is it like living with that man?" There was a moment of silence before the teenager began to speak, his words heavy with disdain and disgust. ¡°It¡¯s hell! That bastard of an old man has..........¡± The silver-haired boy spoke freely, recounting everything that he and his mother had endured over the years. Hajime eventually realized he had been drugged with some truth serum or something similar because he talked without a second thought, even about his shame at being so weak in protecting the people he loved. ¡°Cloe-chan, is he lying?¡± (Kohaku) ¡°N-no... he¡¯s telling the truth.¡± ¡°See? What did I tell you? We can at least give him the benefit of the doubt and talk to him face-to-face without masks, don¡¯t you think?¡± The loli named Cloe finally decided to listen to what her friend had said and took off her mask. Hajime was slightly surprised; the girl truly had a stunning face, impeccable, and her amethyst eyes stood out even more now that he could see the brown complexion of her skin. ¡°Kuro, what do you say if.........¡± (Kohaku) ¡°No! I don¡¯t trust him. If he tries anything, he better not know at least one of our faces!¡± The boy with the scythe, named Kuro, and Kohaku exchanged silent words, looking into each other''s eyes; the moment lasted several seconds. Eventually, the girl sighed and turned back to Hajime. ¡°I apologize for him. And for the interrogation, but we must be cautious...¡± The sound of a phone interrupted the attention of all four. The silver-haired boy realized it was his own cell phone. It wasn¡¯t a big surprise to see it in Kuro''s hands. ¡°Kuro, pass it to me for a second.¡± (Kohaku) Kohaku''s eyes shifted from blue to amber as she gazed contemplatively at the electronic device. ¡°(Is she a [mage]? No, she¡¯s interacting with my phone; I don¡¯t think such [magic] exists... maybe she¡¯s an [esper]?)¡± (Hajime) ¡°Your little sister is worried about you... I¡¯ll text her that you¡¯re on your way home.¡± (Kohaku) ¡°What!? You want to let him go!? It¡¯s too dangerous; we should kill him!¡± (Kuro) As if to reinforce his position, Kuro moved his scythe a few millimeters from Hajime¡¯s neck. A small tremble was all it would take, and the sharp blade of the weapon would have slit his throat. ¡°Well, we are at a stalemate then, huh? Cloe-chan, which side are you on? Your vote will be decisive, so choose wisely.¡± (Kohaku) The white-haired girl stiffened at the gaze her friends were giving her. After a moment of hesitation, however, she made her choice. ¡°I-I... trust you, Kohaku-chan! As always! And I don¡¯t think it¡¯s right to kill him after he helped save you, Kuro!¡± (Cloe) ¡° Thank you, my friend!¡± (Kohaku) ¡°Tsk! As usual! Fine, let him go! But I don¡¯t want him to know the location of this place!¡± (Kuro) Kohaku seemingly ignored Kuro''s words as she handed the phone back to Hajime. But the boy felt that the smile she was giving him was a way to apologize. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Kuro is right. You can¡¯t know where our home is yet.¡± ¡°Wait, wha......!?¡± With the handle of his scythe, the boy still wearing the mask knocked out Goto''s stepson with a solid blow to the head. Although he would have much preferred to use the blade part. ¡°Kuro, take him somewhere near his home, then wake him up.¡± (Kohaku) ¡° Now I even have to play courier!¡± ¡°Overdramatic, and I remind you that he saved your life.¡± ***** Thirty minutes later, Hajime awakened on a bench in the park of his neighborhood. For a moment, he thought he had just had a long and strange dream, but the message he received on his phone changed his mind. "[We will find you. Don¡¯t tell anyone.] ....... I guess I didn¡¯t just imagine that then......... better go home; Kaori-chan and Mom will be worried." When he arrived home, Hajime was greeted by his stepsister, Mokuro Kaori. The girl was 15 years old, with her ocean-blue hair tied in two pigtails, and her eyes were the same color. Her body had developed well, even though she didn¡¯t have exaggerated curves yet; her physique was very balanced overall. ¡°Onii-chan! I was worried! Where have you been?!¡± ¡°Sorry Kaori-chan, I walked a bit to clear my mind... you know, with the new school and all.¡± ¡°Ah, sorry. That¡¯s true.¡± Hajime smiled at his little sister, gently stroking her hair as she blushed with embarrassment, even though her lips curved upward. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter; I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m going to bed.¡± ¡°Whatever you want, onii-chan! Just don¡¯t wake up too early tomorrow; I want to have breakfast with you!¡± ¡°Sure, good night, Kaori-chan!¡± When the silver-haired teenager finally lay down on his bed, he couldn¡¯t help but think back to what had happened today. ¡°(I don¡¯t feel guilty about what I did to that [Black Corps] member... and then that dream... what is happening to me?... those people who kidnapped me... what a damn day I¡¯ve had today.)¡± Chapter 2: Kidnapping Hajime was floating in an infinite cosmic space, without a body. His entire body was numb and paralyzed, but his mind was in a state of absolute awareness: he saw everything, felt everything, and perceived everything. The amount of information his senses transmitted to his brain was so vast that it was impossible for him to process it all. But the silver-haired boy clearly heard a voice speaking to him; it was neither feminine nor masculine but seemed otherworldly and incomprehensible to a mere human. "You are weak... you need to be stronger... use your power, Hajime... the [Grimoire] is yours, master it... otherwise, you will fall... like all those before you..." "W-who... are you?" (Hajime) "I am the one who came before you... our time has run out." ***** Hajime suddenly awakened; his face was pale, and his body sweaty. The dream he had just experienced felt so real yet also seemed like a highly elaborate illusion. As the boy struggled to catch his breath, he realized he was not in his room. The place he found himself in looked like some kind of cell. The walls and floor were made of concrete, and there was only a solid steel door as an exit. Apart from the bed he was tied to, Hajime saw nothing else. "(Where am I?! What is this place?! Have I been kidnapped!? The last thing I remember was...)" The memory of his assault on a [Black Corps] member made him tremble. The silver-haired boy didn¡¯t know if the tremor was due to fear or excitement. A part of him didn¡¯t even want to know. The metal door suddenly swung open, the light from outside briefly blinding Hajime. The figure of the assassin entered the room. "Y-you...?" "Shut up and don''t try anything funny!" The restraints binding the teenager to his bed were replaced by handcuffs that suppressed his [magic] power. Hajime was led out of the cell, under the threat of his escort¡¯s scythe. The boy felt incredibly calm; he wasn¡¯t afraid of what might happen to him. This feeling was strange and foreign to him, yet he could not deny the comfort it brought. "(A corridor of concrete with lights and no windows? Are we underground?)" ¡°Go right!¡± ¡°Yeah, I got it.¡± As they descended a couple of flights of stairs, Hajime wondered if the [Black Corps] member he had attacked had been killed by the person escorting him. The thought that he had helped someone kill him did not make him feel guilty at all; rather, he felt happy about it. "(Something is off about me...)" Eventually, they reached a spacious circular room. On one side of the room was a station filled with various computers, screens, and keyboards, also noticeable were several packages of junk food strategically placed among the various components. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Stay down!¡± Another figure appeared from one side; just like the guy in the black cloak, she also wore a mask, except hers was white. Her hair was albino, and her eyes, from what could be seen from beneath the mask, were a beautiful amethyst color. Despite it being obvious she was a girl, her flat chest made him doubt, and with her height of barely one meter fifty, Hajime could only think one thing. "(A loli, huh?)" As if she could sense his thoughts, the girl approached him while a strong murderous intent emanated from her body. The person with the scythe tensed slightly and took a step back, as though not wanting to get caught in the crossfire. ¡°....¡± (the girl) ¡°I-I didn¡¯t say anything!¡± The sound of footsteps caught the attention of the trio. From another corridor arrived another girl, this time without a mask. The newcomer was the complete opposite of the loli; she had a well-developed and toned body, long forest-green hair, and blue eyes. ¡°Kohaku-chan! Why aren¡¯t you wearing the mask!?¡± ¡°Stop it; there¡¯s no need. If everything goes well, you¡¯ll be able to take yours off too soon. And what¡¯s the point of hiding my face if you¡¯re using my name, Chloe-chan?¡± The girl named Kohaku seemed the most balanced and peaceful of the group. Her blue eyes looked at Hajime with deep understanding, as if evaluating him. ¡°I am Aomori Kohaku, nice to meet you, even if the situation isn¡¯t ideal. Kamijio Hajime-san, you are the stepson of Mokuro Goto, right? Tell me, what is it like living with that man?" There was a moment of silence before the teenager began to speak, his words heavy with disdain and disgust. ¡°It¡¯s hell! That bastard of an old man has..........¡± The silver-haired boy spoke freely, recounting everything that he and his mother had endured over the years. Hajime eventually realized he had been drugged with some truth serum or something similar because he talked without a second thought, even about his shame at being so weak in protecting the people he loved. ¡°Cloe-chan, is he lying?¡± (Kohaku) ¡°N-no... he¡¯s telling the truth.¡± ¡°See? What did I tell you? We can at least give him the benefit of the doubt and talk to him face-to-face without masks, don¡¯t you think?¡± The loli named Cloe finally decided to listen to what her friend had said and took off her mask. Hajime was slightly surprised; the girl truly had a stunning face, impeccable, and her amethyst eyes stood out even more now that he could see the brown complexion of her skin. ¡°Kuro, what do you say if.........¡± (Kohaku) ¡°No! I don¡¯t trust him. If he tries anything, he better not know at least one of our faces!¡± The boy with the scythe, named Kuro, and Kohaku exchanged silent words, looking into each other''s eyes; the moment lasted several seconds. Eventually, the girl sighed and turned back to Hajime. ¡°I apologize for him. And for the interrogation, but we must be cautious...¡± The sound of a phone interrupted the attention of all four. The silver-haired boy realized it was his own cell phone. It wasn¡¯t a big surprise to see it in Kuro''s hands. ¡°Kuro, pass it to me for a second.¡± (Kohaku) Kohaku''s eyes shifted from blue to amber as she gazed contemplatively at the electronic device. ¡°(Is she a [mage]? No, she¡¯s interacting with my phone; I don¡¯t think such [magic] exists... maybe she¡¯s an [esper]?)¡± (Hajime) ¡°Your little sister is worried about you... I¡¯ll text her that you¡¯re on your way home.¡± (Kohaku) ¡°What!? You want to let him go!? It¡¯s too dangerous; we should kill him!¡± (Kuro) As if to reinforce his position, Kuro moved his scythe a few millimeters from Hajime¡¯s neck. A small tremble was all it would take, and the sharp blade of the weapon would have slit his throat. ¡°Well, we are at a stalemate then, huh? Cloe-chan, which side are you on? Your vote will be decisive, so choose wisely.¡± (Kohaku) The white-haired girl stiffened at the gaze her friends were giving her. After a moment of hesitation, however, she made her choice. ¡°I-I... trust you, Kohaku-chan! As always! And I don¡¯t think it¡¯s right to kill him after he helped save you, Kuro!¡± (Cloe) ¡° Thank you, my friend!¡± (Kohaku) ¡°Tsk! As usual! Fine, let him go! But I don¡¯t want him to know the location of this place!¡± (Kuro) Kohaku seemingly ignored Kuro''s words as she handed the phone back to Hajime. But the boy felt that the smile she was giving him was a way to apologize. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Kuro is right. You can¡¯t know where our home is yet.¡± ¡°Wait, wha......!?¡± With the handle of his scythe, the boy still wearing the mask knocked out Goto''s stepson with a solid blow to the head. Although he would have much preferred to use the blade part. ¡°Kuro, take him somewhere near his home, then wake him up.¡± (Kohaku) ¡° Now I even have to play courier!¡± ¡°Overdramatic, and I remind you that he saved your life.¡± ***** Thirty minutes later, Hajime awakened on a bench in the park of his neighborhood. For a moment, he thought he had just had a long and strange dream, but the message he received on his phone changed his mind. "[We will find you. Don¡¯t tell anyone.] ....... I guess I didn¡¯t just imagine that then......... better go home; Kaori-chan and Mom will be worried." When he arrived home, Hajime was greeted by his stepsister, Mokuro Kaori. The girl was 15 years old, with her ocean-blue hair tied in two pigtails, and her eyes were the same color. Her body had developed well, even though she didn¡¯t have exaggerated curves yet; her physique was very balanced overall. ¡°Onii-chan! I was worried! Where have you been?!¡± ¡°Sorry Kaori-chan, I walked a bit to clear my mind... you know, with the new school and all.¡± ¡°Ah, sorry. That¡¯s true.¡± Hajime smiled at his little sister, gently stroking her hair as she blushed with embarrassment, even though her lips curved upward. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter; I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m going to bed.¡± ¡°Whatever you want, onii-chan! Just don¡¯t wake up too early tomorrow; I want to have breakfast with you!¡± ¡°Sure, good night, Kaori-chan!¡± When the silver-haired teenager finally lay down on his bed, he couldn¡¯t help but think back to what had happened today. ¡°(I don¡¯t feel guilty about what I did to that [Black Corps] member... and then that dream... what is happening to me?... those people who kidnapped me... what a damn day I¡¯ve had today.)¡± Chapter 4: Lets talk Hajime was floating in the infinite cosmic space, without a purpose. His whole body was numb and paralyzed, but his mind was in a state of absolute awareness: he saw everything, felt everything, and perceived everything. The amount of information that his senses were transmitting to his brain was so overwhelming that it was impossible for him to process it all. But the silver-haired boy clearly heard a voice speaking to him; it was neither feminine nor masculine, but rather unearthly and impossible for a mere human to comprehend. It was all too vivid a d¨¦j¨¤ vu. The only different thing this time was the unearthly voice that spoke to him, which had a hint of disappointment in its tone. "Weak... pathetic... death will come for you... if you are not ready... you will lose everything..." ***** Hajime woke up in bed, inside the school''s infirmary. His body was aching and more exhausted than ever. Despite this, the boy immediately went on high alert when he saw the glint of a knife descending toward his heart. "No! [Overwrite]: [physical enhancement]" In a burst of superhuman speed, the teenager grabbed the wrist of his attacker. With the little strength left in his battered body, Hajime headbutted his enemy''s face and used all his weight to throw him to the ground. "Tsk! You don''t even want to die in silence!" "You!? You''re the one with the scythe who kidnapped me!?" "Shut up, worm!" Kuro struggled, trying to escape from the grip of the silver-eyed adolescent. As the two fought for dominance, they didn''t notice two girls enter the infirmary until one of them spoke. "So... do you have that kind of relationship, you two? I didn''t expect that." "It''ll make things easier, right, Kohaku-chan!" "Yeah... hehehe!" The two stopped fighting and shot a hostile glance at the two girls who were teasing them. Kuro and Hajime snorted as they moved away from each other, but both glared defiantly at each other, as if to say, "this isn''t over." Kohaku''s strategy to calm them had more or less worked; it had prevented the sight of two boys tearing each other apart in front of her. "As we told you, Kamijo-san, in the end, we found you... even if it was quite a surprise that you came to our same school." (Kohaku) "Well, now that you''ve found me, what happens?! Do you want to kill me?" (Hajime) "Yes!" (Kuro) "Try it!" (Hajime) Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Kuro and Hajime resumed their glare at each other, like two dogs ready to tear each other apart at the slightest provocation. Cloe laughed a little at the scene, while Kohaku sighed in frustration; as usual, she had to play the adult. "Enough, you two. Kuro, stop provoking him! Kamijo-san, there''s no need to be so pessimistic; we don''t want to hurt you!" The visible anger on the face and tone of the girl with blue eyes sent shivers down the two boys'' spines. They both decided to settle their dispute later. "Okay, here''s what we''ll do today: we will go back to class and try to stay out of trouble. There''s been too much chaos today, even by this school''s standards. Kamijo-san, at the end of the lessons, make up an excuse and wait for us at the back of the school." (Kohaku) "You haven''t given me a good reason to listen to you yet. Even if you say you don''t want me dead, I can''t trust three strangers with unclear intentions!" (Hajime) "For now, just know this: the three of us have one goal: to destroy the [Black Corps]. And if you want to eliminate Goto, the only way is to cooperate with us. The choice is yours." Kohaku left the infirmary, followed by Kuro and Cloe. Hajime was left alone, lost in his thoughts. The boy wasn''t stupid; he didn''t know how he could get rid of Goto, he had no resources, power, or plans to confront his stepfather. But even so, was it right for him to rely on strangers? He knew nothing about those three; the only certainty was that they wanted something from him. But Hajime, how far was he willing to go to eliminate Goto once and for all? The depressed face of his mother and Kaori''s beaming smile flooded his thoughts like a battering ram. "(I can''t hesitate! That man deserves to die for what he has done to us! If I have to become a criminal to protect Kaori-chan and Mom, then so be it!)" As he was asked, Hajime made up an excuse to stay out until late. While the boy anxiously awaited Kohaku and the others, he reflected on his decision. Goto was a cancer, and he would be the scalpel that would cut it out. For the sake of his family, the silver-haired teenager would do everything in his power to eliminate the leader of the [Black Corps]. "I knew you would come... We need to talk about many things, but first I apologize in advance." (Kohaku) Hajime looked at Cloe and Kohaku with confusion, then his mind realized something was wrong. The boy felt a strong blow to the back of his head before losing consciousness. A less-than-happy Kuro grabbed him like a sack of potatoes. "There was no need to hit him that hard." (Kohaku) "Shut up, Kohaku! It''s a miracle I didn''t kill him! He saw our faces!" (Kuro) "One more reason to make him our ally. You''re just making things harder by doing that." (Kohaku) "I agree with Kohaku-chan; it will be harder for him to trust us if you keep trying to hurt him." (Chloe) "Tsk! Let''s go home!" ****** Hajime woke up with a strong headache; the last thing he remembered was the pain of being hit on the head by Kuro. "Back in a cell again, huh?" Just like last time, the teenager woke up, most likely, in the cell where they had confined him last time, except this time he wasn¡¯t tied up and the metal door was open. "(Let''s see how things go.)" The boy followed the sounds until he reached the trio, who seemed to be eating at a table in a large cafeteria. "Finally awake, sleeping beauty!" (Kuro) "Shut up!" (Hajime) Kuro and Hajime started to insult each other as soon as they saw one another. Neither seemed able to tolerate the other for more than a few milliseconds before wanting to punch each other in the face. "Come on, Kamijo-san! Eat with us; you¡¯ll find out that Cloe is a great cook!" The silver-haired boy looked at them doubtfully for a few minutes until the aroma of the food became too tempting to resist. "You kidnapped me... again." (Hajime) "No, let''s clarify. We knocked you out and brought you to our home; you¡¯re free to leave whenever you want, but we can¡¯t let you know the location of this place, I hope you understand." (Kohaku) Kohaku kept smiling cheerfully while eating, Kuro watched Hajime like a hawk, and Cloe was so focused on her plate that she was ignoring everything and everyone. This went on for several minutes. "Will you give me my answers?! I''m starting to lose my patience!" "Okay, but first you need to drink this. It¡¯s a truth serum." Kohaku brought a vial of clear liquid to the table. Hajime thought it was the same as what they had made him drink the last time he was there; the boy immediately went on guard. "You know too much about me! In contrast, I don¡¯t know anything about you!" "That''s why we''re using this. Try it; just a few drops are enough, and you¡¯ll see it''s authentic. I¡¯ll drink it so you¡¯ll be sure that what I tell you will only be the truth." "Why would you go so far?!" "To have a minimum of trust between us. It¡¯s the foundation of any relationship." Goto''s stepson was doubtful but decided to try drinking a few drops from the vial. After all, it was impossible for it to be poison; if they wanted him dead, they would have had plenty of opportunities to do so while he slept. "Okay, let me ask you a trial question: Kamijo-san, who would you rather sleep with between me and Chloe?" Silence, an absolute and heavy silence fell over the room. Kuro''s eyes nearly popped out of his head; the same went for Chloe. Meanwhile, Hajime was so taken aback that he didn¡¯t realize he was about to respond. "I would say more..." Before the boy could finish, he slapped his hands over his mouth to keep from uttering any other words. "Well, now you know it works! Eheheheh, I would have loved to know your answer!" Kohaku''s cheerful and amused face was replaced by an expressionless one, which, according to Goto''s stepson, was genuinely terrifying. He didn¡¯t notice the other two sitting at the table had tensed up with anxiety. "Okay, let¡¯s begin?" And so began the conversation that would forever change the way Hajime saw his home, the island of [Fumetsu]. Chapter 4: Lets talk Hajime was floating in the infinite cosmic space, without a purpose. His whole body was numb and paralyzed, but his mind was in a state of absolute awareness: he saw everything, felt everything, and perceived everything. The amount of information that his senses were transmitting to his brain was so overwhelming that it was impossible for him to process it all. But the silver-haired boy clearly heard a voice speaking to him; it was neither feminine nor masculine, but rather unearthly and impossible for a mere human to comprehend. It was all too vivid a d¨¦j¨¤ vu. The only different thing this time was the unearthly voice that spoke to him, which had a hint of disappointment in its tone. "Weak... pathetic... death will come for you... if you are not ready... you will lose everything..." ***** Hajime woke up in bed, inside the school''s infirmary. His body was aching and more exhausted than ever. Despite this, the boy immediately went on high alert when he saw the glint of a knife descending toward his heart. "No! [Overwrite]: [physical enhancement]" In a burst of superhuman speed, the teenager grabbed the wrist of his attacker. With the little strength left in his battered body, Hajime headbutted his enemy''s face and used all his weight to throw him to the ground. "Tsk! You don''t even want to die in silence!" "You!? You''re the one with the scythe who kidnapped me!?" "Shut up, worm!" Kuro struggled, trying to escape from the grip of the silver-eyed adolescent. As the two fought for dominance, they didn''t notice two girls enter the infirmary until one of them spoke. "So... do you have that kind of relationship, you two? I didn''t expect that." "It''ll make things easier, right, Kohaku-chan!" "Yeah... hehehe!" The two stopped fighting and shot a hostile glance at the two girls who were teasing them. Kuro and Hajime snorted as they moved away from each other, but both glared defiantly at each other, as if to say, "this isn''t over." Kohaku''s strategy to calm them had more or less worked; it had prevented the sight of two boys tearing each other apart in front of her. "As we told you, Kamijo-san, in the end, we found you... even if it was quite a surprise that you came to our same school." (Kohaku) "Well, now that you''ve found me, what happens?! Do you want to kill me?" (Hajime) "Yes!" (Kuro) "Try it!" (Hajime) Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Kuro and Hajime resumed their glare at each other, like two dogs ready to tear each other apart at the slightest provocation. Cloe laughed a little at the scene, while Kohaku sighed in frustration; as usual, she had to play the adult. "Enough, you two. Kuro, stop provoking him! Kamijo-san, there''s no need to be so pessimistic; we don''t want to hurt you!" The visible anger on the face and tone of the girl with blue eyes sent shivers down the two boys'' spines. They both decided to settle their dispute later. "Okay, here''s what we''ll do today: we will go back to class and try to stay out of trouble. There''s been too much chaos today, even by this school''s standards. Kamijo-san, at the end of the lessons, make up an excuse and wait for us at the back of the school." (Kohaku) "You haven''t given me a good reason to listen to you yet. Even if you say you don''t want me dead, I can''t trust three strangers with unclear intentions!" (Hajime) "For now, just know this: the three of us have one goal: to destroy the [Black Corps]. And if you want to eliminate Goto, the only way is to cooperate with us. The choice is yours." Kohaku left the infirmary, followed by Kuro and Cloe. Hajime was left alone, lost in his thoughts. The boy wasn''t stupid; he didn''t know how he could get rid of Goto, he had no resources, power, or plans to confront his stepfather. But even so, was it right for him to rely on strangers? He knew nothing about those three; the only certainty was that they wanted something from him. But Hajime, how far was he willing to go to eliminate Goto once and for all? The depressed face of his mother and Kaori''s beaming smile flooded his thoughts like a battering ram. "(I can''t hesitate! That man deserves to die for what he has done to us! If I have to become a criminal to protect Kaori-chan and Mom, then so be it!)" As he was asked, Hajime made up an excuse to stay out until late. While the boy anxiously awaited Kohaku and the others, he reflected on his decision. Goto was a cancer, and he would be the scalpel that would cut it out. For the sake of his family, the silver-haired teenager would do everything in his power to eliminate the leader of the [Black Corps]. "I knew you would come... We need to talk about many things, but first I apologize in advance." (Kohaku) Hajime looked at Cloe and Kohaku with confusion, then his mind realized something was wrong. The boy felt a strong blow to the back of his head before losing consciousness. A less-than-happy Kuro grabbed him like a sack of potatoes. "There was no need to hit him that hard." (Kohaku) "Shut up, Kohaku! It''s a miracle I didn''t kill him! He saw our faces!" (Kuro) "One more reason to make him our ally. You''re just making things harder by doing that." (Kohaku) "I agree with Kohaku-chan; it will be harder for him to trust us if you keep trying to hurt him." (Chloe) "Tsk! Let''s go home!" ****** Hajime woke up with a strong headache; the last thing he remembered was the pain of being hit on the head by Kuro. "Back in a cell again, huh?" Just like last time, the teenager woke up, most likely, in the cell where they had confined him last time, except this time he wasn¡¯t tied up and the metal door was open. "(Let''s see how things go.)" The boy followed the sounds until he reached the trio, who seemed to be eating at a table in a large cafeteria. "Finally awake, sleeping beauty!" (Kuro) "Shut up!" (Hajime) Kuro and Hajime started to insult each other as soon as they saw one another. Neither seemed able to tolerate the other for more than a few milliseconds before wanting to punch each other in the face. "Come on, Kamijo-san! Eat with us; you¡¯ll find out that Cloe is a great cook!" The silver-haired boy looked at them doubtfully for a few minutes until the aroma of the food became too tempting to resist. "You kidnapped me... again." (Hajime) "No, let''s clarify. We knocked you out and brought you to our home; you¡¯re free to leave whenever you want, but we can¡¯t let you know the location of this place, I hope you understand." (Kohaku) Kohaku kept smiling cheerfully while eating, Kuro watched Hajime like a hawk, and Cloe was so focused on her plate that she was ignoring everything and everyone. This went on for several minutes. "Will you give me my answers?! I''m starting to lose my patience!" "Okay, but first you need to drink this. It¡¯s a truth serum." Kohaku brought a vial of clear liquid to the table. Hajime thought it was the same as what they had made him drink the last time he was there; the boy immediately went on guard. "You know too much about me! In contrast, I don¡¯t know anything about you!" "That''s why we''re using this. Try it; just a few drops are enough, and you¡¯ll see it''s authentic. I¡¯ll drink it so you¡¯ll be sure that what I tell you will only be the truth." "Why would you go so far?!" "To have a minimum of trust between us. It¡¯s the foundation of any relationship." Goto''s stepson was doubtful but decided to try drinking a few drops from the vial. After all, it was impossible for it to be poison; if they wanted him dead, they would have had plenty of opportunities to do so while he slept. "Okay, let me ask you a trial question: Kamijo-san, who would you rather sleep with between me and Chloe?" Silence, an absolute and heavy silence fell over the room. Kuro''s eyes nearly popped out of his head; the same went for Chloe. Meanwhile, Hajime was so taken aback that he didn¡¯t realize he was about to respond. "I would say more..." Before the boy could finish, he slapped his hands over his mouth to keep from uttering any other words. "Well, now you know it works! Eheheheh, I would have loved to know your answer!" Kohaku''s cheerful and amused face was replaced by an expressionless one, which, according to Goto''s stepson, was genuinely terrifying. He didn¡¯t notice the other two sitting at the table had tensed up with anxiety. "Okay, let¡¯s begin?" And so began the conversation that would forever change the way Hajime saw his home, the island of [Fumetsu]. Chapter 6: The Choice
Chapter 12: The Omega Rank
Chapter 13: The discussion An uncomfortable silence continued for a few minutes, the time it took Yukihime to finish her drink. In a way that could only be described as noble or sophisticated, the [mage] finished her tea, actively ignoring the discomfort of Hajime and Kohaku. "Where is the other girl?" Her voice, at times childish but full of authority, made both teenagers stiffen. Their hearts were beating much faster than usual; if Yukihime''s intent was to terrify them to death, then she was doing a superb job. "C-Chloe-chan is i-in her room... she used too much of her powers and hasn''t fully recovered..." (Kohaku) "And whose fault is it that she is in this condition? Kohaku-kun, are you a sadist by any chance? Does watching your best friend suffer from your reckless actions give you some form of pleasure?" (Yukihime) "Of course not!" The red eyes of the [Omega] flashed threateningly as the hacker lost his composure due to her words. It was a clear warning sign, like a dog growling to scare away an overly aggressive prey, or at least that''s how Hajime and Kohaku interpreted it. "Really? To me, it seems like the exact opposite. Or maybe you''re just selfish, pretending to love your only two friends, but in reality, you''d send them to hell to satisfy your desire for revenge." "That''s not true... I-I would never do something like that." "But that''s what it seems like. I''ll tell you the truth, I like your initiative, but it''s reaching a dangerous point. And the worst part is that Kuro-kun and Chloe-kun don''t seem to want to stop you, I understand you have a strong bond, but it''s exactly your unity that is the problem." The girl with forest-green hair lowered her gaze in shame. If it had been someone else, anyone else, they would have found a way to talk their way out of this reprimand, but Yukihime was on an entirely different level. "You''ve been too selfish this time, your choices could have led to unpleasant consequences, not only for your small group, but also for the men and women risking their lives to change this island." (Yukihime) "M-m..." "Girl, don''t try to deny that it ended well only because of luck." "......" Goto''s stepson remained silent as he watched the scene. The [mage] was pressuring Kohaku, exploiting her guilt and shame to the fullest. It was a psychological game that Goto had played with him a few times, the head of the [Black Corps] used his stepson''s love for his mother to keep him on a leash. Hajime honestly had very mixed feelings hearing this speech. "You''ve committed three serious crimes: first, you broke into our central computer and decided on your own to take a mission. Second, you handled the whole affair clumsily, and as a result, one of your friends was severely injured, another suffered hellish pains. Third, the crime in my opinion is by far the worst, you risked the secrecy of this base, knowing full well the importance of this place in our future plans. Have I made any mistakes?" (Yukihime) Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "N-no" The girl''s voice was feverish, her gaze was directed downward as if she didn''t have the courage to look Yukihime in the eye, who hadn''t finished her speech yet. "I had high expectations for you... we all did... but you really disappointed us this time. The first time you had contact with us, you were hopeless: your parents had just died and you didn''t know what to do, we gave you a home, food, and protection, and most importantly, the chance for revenge, and this is how you repay us? You''re an ungrateful little girl." Kohaku really wanted to disappear at that moment. The little loli in front of her had completely destroyed her, and, unfortunately, she hadn''t finished yet. "I believe it''s fair that you, the one who started this whole thing, suffer as Kuro-kun and Chloe-kun did, so things will be more balanced between you." Yukihime brought her face close to the hacker''s and blew a bit of icy air on her face. The effect was immediate: the teenager''s body temperature dropped in an instant. In no time, Kohaku felt all the typical effects of second-degree frostbite on every square inch of her skin, which turned white-bluish from the cold she was feeling. Hajime stood frozen in shock. "(What did she do to her!?)" (Hajime) "The effects will pass by tomorrow, we¡¯re done for today. Go to your room." Yukihime''s cold words of dismissal made it clear that the loli was done punishing the teenager, at least for now. When the hacker left the cafeteria, Goto''s stepson knew it was his turn. "Now, let''s move on to you, Hajime-kun." "I-I..." "Don''t be afraid, I don''t bite... unless you want me to." The cold and intimidating demeanor of the woman disappeared now that it was just her and Hajime in the room. Not that it made the boy feel at ease, the way the [mage] licked her teeth while staring at him intensely was somewhere between suggestive and unsettling. "We need to talk about a lot of things, Hajime-kun, for example, explain to me why I shouldn''t kill you here and now, after all, you know far too much and, from my point of view, you''re not very reliable." It was a test. Hajime felt his heart race as he thought of an answer that would satisfy the loli in front of him. If he made a mistake, would she really kill him? Honestly, the [grimorio] holder didn¡¯t want to find out. "P-because I can be useful to you." "Huh? That''s true, but you should also explain how. From what I know, Goto-kun is definitely not your biggest fan." "You''re right. But it''s also true that, aside from those who spend a lot of time at our house, all his other subordinates don¡¯t know about our relationship... for those who know about my adoption by him, I¡¯m just the son of their boss." "Hmmm... good answer. But I''m still not convinced. Not about your usefulness, but about your loyalty. It¡¯s the most important thing when working in secrecy." "If you can¡¯t trust me, then trust my hatred for that old bastard and my love for my mother and Kaori-chan." Hajime''s head was about to explode, the young [mage] was using every brain cell to come up with good responses for the [Mage Omega]. His life was at stake right now. "Oh yes, them. I almost forgot. Little Kaori-kun could have a hard life if Goto-kun falls from his throne." A shiver of fear ran down the silver-haired boy¡¯s spine. Pretending not to notice, Yukihime continued her speech. "You know, as the daughter of a criminal, she would certainly have a hard life if her parentage were to become known." The little loli was threatening him in a very indirect way. If Hajime betrayed them, she and her group would expose Goto''s crimes and the information about his daughter. You didn¡¯t need to be a genius to know that one day a relative of the [Black Corps] victims could come looking for the young [mage]''s little sister. "(Ufufuufufu, her terrified expression is so adorable)" (Yukihime) "Y-you n-not..." "Don¡¯t worry, I was just joking, we wouldn''t be any better than Goto if we did that... our future plans don''t involve mixing innocent lives into this story, as much as possible, of course." Yukihime smiled sweetly at the boy in front of her, as if to reassure Chapter 14: Hero At Heart