Professional Documents
Culture Documents
“He’s looks shifty. Kill him.” Said one of them while another pulled out his sword.
“—Begone.”
My pleas were all but fruitless and a sword was already making its way to cull my life.
The sword broke off in the middle flew off with a clang.
“—Wha!?”
“Come on, you could’ve at least gone “He looks shifty, capture him”.” I said to the grunts
who only kept staring eyes wide.
“All I wanted to be was a no-name citizen getting rolled up in the domestic turmoil.”
However, soon after they captured him, the soldiers of the occupying forces began to
disappear in the dark of the nights. Slowly at first, then more and more, until only that
no-name boy and the leadership of the army remained.
“Seriously, you guys are the 10 group already. This is getting bothersome.” I muttered.
One leader-seeming soldier came up front and said, “Am I supposed to believe you’re
responsible for the recent assassinations of our men? A kid like you… no matter, we
shall make sure now.”
“Too late. That won’t make me a ‘no-name’ boy.” I told the man as I sliced off his neck
with my slime sword.
His gaze, that of a decapitated head, turned to the sky. The moonlit sky from a back
alley tainted with blood splatter.
“Hey, maybe I’ll get lucky with the 11th…” I muttered after nonchalantly finishing off
the grunts.
The fight was over fast and the smell of blood permeated around me. I checked my
clothes.
I had failed in my goal yet again, but I did manage to get some clues out of the exchange.
Currently, this royal capital was being occupied by some faction and men of this faction
were being assassinated as of late.
Meaning, maybe I might get captured under suspicions that I’m a spy or assassin. Of
course, I’ll still be a lowly falsely charged mob.
If that’s the case, maybe I should’ve gotten some blood on me after all. Then again, that
itself could make it too obvious.
I was walking out of the alley while thinking, when I sensed multiple presences
approaching.
I determined their number via sound and mana signatures… 7 of them, should be
soldiers.
Soon—
“D-dead, in the alley, they’re…!” I pointed down the alley and croaked in a terrified
voice, making sure the soldiers were within earshot.
“I, I, no… I didn’t see, nothing…” I said, shaking like a frightened pup.
“You, you look like an outlander.” The soldier’s eyes turned sharp.
“I, I came to see if a friend was doing alright… I swear, please, please believe me!”
“Very well. One more thing— Why would you be walking the streets in the dead of the
night?”
“Some air eh. Do you expect me to believe someone would try to go out on a pleasure
walk in the current state of this country? And here in the capital no less?”
“I-it’s true! Wait, please don’t tell me you suspect me of causing that!? I, I could never
do something, so, so horrible!”
“Hmph…” After a final glance at me, the soldier turned his eyes towards the alley. “All
9 of them were killed by a single stroke… You’re right. You don’t look the type to have
done all that but… show me your sword anyway.”
“Yes, of course.” I presented my blade. As a mob, I make sure to equip a normal sword
at my hip.
“I will admit that the chances of you killing them all is very low.”
“T-thank you…”
“But you’re still a suspect, and the fact that you’re here itself doesn’t smell right at all.”
“Wait, no…!”
“Come on, please believe me! I’m but a simple and plain, innocent civilian!”
Nice. I went the mob-but-kind-of-suspect route and it worked out like a charm!
The kingdom of Oriana was in a state where war could break as early as tomorrow.
They obviously don’t have time to spare for a mob like me.
I had a mana sealing collar put on me and was taken to a large building.
“Camp?”
“Lord Doem1 is in the process of purging the Royalists. Prisons are all full.”
“I see.”
“Well, good luck, kid. Whether you can live or die in here all depends on your choices.”
The soldier guiding me put on a knowing grin, opened the large iron door and shoved
me inside.
What I’d been imagining was some dreary, medieval-fantasy dungeon of solid stone,
but this was certainly not that.
The floor was paved with stone, and the place was packed with prisoners.
1
Doem-sama. I won’t use honorifics.
Some of them looked to be sleeping in tattered clothes, some just sat there with dead
eyes and looked at me. Still others were standing in groups, discussing something or
other. Seems they’ve made factions here.
Actually, those walls looked like they had rooms attached to them. The prisoners
seemed to be granted free entry into them.
First of all, I needed to secure a place to sleep. I began walking with that purpose in mind.
I turned to see a tall, thuggish man with unkempt hair. My internal Bandit Radar began
tingling right away.
“You are…?”
“The name’s Zack. Long story short, I’m a nice guy who teaches new blood like you
how it works around here.” Said Zack, eyeing me like prey.
“M-my name’s Cid2. Thank you so much, I really don’t know what to do…”
“I feel ya, buddy. Them fuzz catch you and throw you in here and there’s nothin’ you
can do about it. I totally get that you’re scared.” Zack said while patting my shoulder.
He then closed in and whispered so only I could hear, “Listen, Cid. Food, bed, fun, none
of that’s equal in this here camp. Look over there.”
Zack pointed at a group of people huddled in a corner. All of them looked thin, ragged.
“The people in this camp are largely divvied up into 3 groups. Those ones you see over
2
Sid to Cid because it’s the official spelling.
there are the worst off and also has the most people. They’re what we call the Trash.
Useless trash who aren’t worth a damn. They get a few gulps of water and even less
food. Just waiting to die. They’re trash who have no power, or smarts, or even info…
Now, look over there.”
Next, Zack pointed at a group of people who were standing and talking amongst each
other.
“Those are the Royalists. They’re all idiots who went against Lord Doem and are now
in here. They get the bare minimum food and bed. They’re also our targets.”
“Our?”
“Yeah, our group. The Doem Camp. We got people who betrayed the Royalists to people
like me, actual criminals. Us in the Doem Camp gets good food, comfy bedding, and a
few other, privileges.”
“…Privileges?”
“I’ll give you and example. You see, they don’t give one damn if he beat and kill any of the
Trash— like this!” Zack kicked down a nearby man.
The ragged man cried out and ran away, and the guards on the walls watched the whole
thing happen.
Making a bemused smile, Zack once again came close and spoke into my ears. “It ain’t
like fights and killing each other are allowed in here. But the guys up top will ignore
it. Still, doesn’t mean we can go around killing every fucker that gives us the stink eye.
Even Trash can be useful once in a while. And needlessly antagonising them isn’t a
good idea. You still with me, Cid? It’s curious right? How we can get away with all this.”
“Y-yeah, it is.”
“Here’s how it works… it’s all ‘cause we keep an eye on those Royalists and leak any
info we get to the guards. Do that, and we easily get food, bed, and those nice privies.
Sweet deal, yeah?”
“I get it, really do. How’re you supposed to know anything? Think. Jog that noggin a
little. Only Royalist traitors have that kind of inside intel, right? Now, how did someone
like me get in?”
“I, uh…”
“Honestly, there’s a lotta ways to go about it. One, you could try capture one of them
and drag him in for some good ol torture. Well, they’re also on guard lately, so that
might not be so easy. And the guards can’t ignore it if you go overboard.
“Two, you could try getting in their faction and gleam intel that way. They’re on guard
for those too, so something like that can take some real skill.
“Three, eavesdrop. They won’t make it easy, but you can definitely try.
“And four, there’s that fact that they likely have people who’re pretty willing to sell.
Really, anyone would get tired of it eventually. They’d want food, booze. They’d want
to get their dicks wet. But alas, they’re still Royalists and the guards aren’t exactly
inclined to believe anything they’d say. That’s where we come in. We make it so that
they can get that food, booze, and whores they’re starving for.”
“I, understand…”
“I’m sure you do, Cid. You now understand very well that if you do nothing, you’ll be
part of the Trash. Useless, worthless trash. The only you can survive in here is either
get us some info, or try to get the Royalists’ trust.”
“B-but, how…”
“I’m a nice guy, Cid. So this is all I can do. Tell you what, you get anything good, and
you come to me. I know some real nice guys among the guards, so we can definitely
work something out.” Zack said, giving me an obviously shady grin.
“Thank you, thank you so much, Zack3!”
“Oh, uh, Zack, please wait!” I called as he was about to walk away.
“What’s up?”
“…Huh. You know, if that info’s something bogus, those jailors won’t let you off with
just a little beating. How about I hear you out, before you go to them.”
Inside were hallways of stone with cells on either side, containing prisoners here and
there.
“The only guys who get private quarters are us Doem Camp and a small part of the
Royalists. The Trash get to huddle down in the hallways, or just sleep outside. That
said, we have our own territory in these halls and outside. You sleep there just cause
it’s empty and… you might not wake up. Get it?”
“…Of course.”
“In here.” We walked some ways into the hallway and Zack opened a door.
“This here’s my crib. Not bad eh?” Zack said with grin after closing the door.
It was the size of an average bedroom4. More than enough for one person to live
comfortably. There was a clean bed, a few sets of clothes, books, a board game, and
even porn mags and a shelf with snacks.
“Well, this isn’t the even close to what the big shots have. Heck, they say our boss held
3
Zakku-san.
4
6 tatami mats = around 100 sq. feet
a stripper show at his place.” Zack sad with a dirty grin.
“Huh— wh!?”
With a single step, I got into arms length of Zack, grabbed his neck and lifted him up.
His feet now dangled in the air.
“Can’t work the body without food. I mean, I can easily survive going on nothing for a
month, but I’ll get a little weaker if I do. So I really don’t want to skip meals. I guess I
can go out into town and eat. And, sleeping outside isn’t really a problem… Oh but, I
don’t want to sleep outside in the rain, I guess.” I spoke while gradually tightening my
grip.
“St-stahhhp…”
“Mr. Zack5, you have two choices. Live, or die. Choose wisely now.”
5
Zakku-kun
[New Volume Commemoration Side Story]
Nishino Akane, an 11th grader in Sakurazaka Senior High, had a classmate she didn’t
like.
He had black hair and eyes and a plain face, yet he always looked tired, with deep bags
under his eyes.
His name was Kageno Minoru. He was the boy that Nishino Akane really didn’t like,
and to make things worse, their seats were right next to each other.
Kageno Minoru, as his name might suggest6, was ordinary to the point of blending into
the background.
With below average grades in academics and athletics, this boy had zero participation
in extracurricular clubs, had almost zero friends, but wasn’t adverse to talking with
others.
Akane hadn’t disliked him at first. But neither did she hold any special affection
towards him. She had assumed to know him as a classmate and just that.
Yet, after having interacted with him on multiple occasions, Akane had discovered an
aspect to their relationship that she absolutely loathed.
Both Kageno Minoru and Nishino Akane would arrive to school each morning, barely
6
Kageno (影野), is like shadow + plain. In Japanese, having a thin shadow means they’re inconspicuous.
Wordplay, basically.
as the gates were closed. Barely on time, every time.
And as such, they would meet at the school gates and exchange greetings.
Today too, Akane greeted this most hated boy at the gates.
Screamed Akane in her head, maintaining her smile as she situated herself to her shoe
locker.
They’d been in the same classroom three months now. This had gone on every morning
for three months.
The first month, Akane had figured that he’d correct it eventually, so when this pattern
had continued past Golden Week, she had all but run out of patience.
“Huh?”
Kageno blinked, several times, as if Akane had said something out of this world.
“Wait wait, I remember now. You’re technically not an NPC, after all.”
7
Will use honorifics, since we’re in a Japanese setting.
“NPC?”
“Uh, nevermind. Don’t worry, I make sure to remember the names of any major players,
but I tend to mess up at times, sadly.”
Akane wanted to knock the daylights out of this idiot. Her hand was balled up in a tight
fist, barely baring it.
“…Nishino.”
“…Huh?”
Akane then turned away to her shoe locker, refusing to speak any further to Kageno
for that day.
After sleeping on it, Akane thought that she might’ve been too harsh. Kageno didn’t
mean anything bad by it, and it was silly to get so worked up over someone just mistaking
your name.
She found it absolutely infuriating that Kageno was acting as if the talk yesterday
hadn’t happened at all.
He simply kept calling her Nishimura, and he simply kept never looking at her.
Any time they said good morning, any time they talked, he appeared to be looking at
her, but his eyes always seemed to be seeing something different, as if he was looking
past her.
That was the crux of it. It was never about getting her name wrong.
What Akane hated was the fact that he would never look at her.
They would still greet each other in the mornings but that was all.
They sat next to each other, yet not a single conversation passed. In cases where they
absolutely had to speak to each other for classwork, Akane would keep it to the barest
minimum.
She wanted to just completely and utterly ignore him. But she couldn’t. Due to her own
circumstances, Akane couldn’t do anything too obvious.
Her beautiful black hair and stunning looks made her popular to boys and girls alike.
The people in her class of course knew of this extravagant occupation of hers. So if it
was known that she, Akane, was in bad terms with Kageno, there was a chance that
rumors, base and baseless rumors would spring up. Akane wanted to avoid that.
Akane’s acting career began in her childhood. However, due to a certain scandalous
event in junior high, she had to take a break from the limelight.
That incident had led to Akane always wearing a mask over her true emotions.
She kept up her grades so that teachers would like her, she was sociable as can be, so
her classmates wouldn’t hate her. She made sure no one would dislike her.
As such, she couldn’t let that hateful Kageno hate her back. She couldn’t let anyone
else find out either. She killed her own emotions to achieve that goal.
Today as well, Akane said nothing as Kageno got her name wrong for the umpteeth time.
With that piece of conversation over with, Akane spent the rest of her day in the
classroom without another word to the boy.
Akane didn’t participate in clubs. She would usually go home as soon as classes ended.
Today however, she had remedials. Due to her job, Akane missed many days, and so
she needed to make up for her attendance using remedial lessons.
Due to those and other obligations, by the time she left school, night had fallen.
The early summer night breeze felt good on her skin, so Akane decided to walk.
To be honest, it had been a long time since she’d walked home. Doing the walking bus
back in elementary being the last time, she recalled.
Starting from junior high, her family had arranged a car and driver for her, and she
had gone and went like that ever since.
So, after so long, walking on her own two feet felt nice, refreshing even. She didn’t even
care that it was dark out.
Suddenly, a black van was behind her, and a burly man came out. She had noticed it all
too late.
“—Eh?”
Before she was even aware of her situation, the man had her in a stranglehold.
“Ah…”
Her neck felt tight, and within a few seconds, she was out cold.
The last thing she saw was an all too familiar classmate, running her way.
“…Ugh.”
Her hands and legs were tied down and her mouth was gagged.
She still felt dazed. Right, black van, the big man, he strangled her and… someone was
coming, she seemed to recall.
“Mm! Mmm!!” She cried for help, or at least tried. The gag didn’t help.
He was a big man, perhaps over 6 feet tall. His clothes stuck to him revealing a trained,
muscular body.
Behind him was another man. He was the man who had strangled and kidnapped her.
“We already send the ransom note to your folks, Missy8. We get the money, you get out
in one piece. Very simple.”
“Some luck eh? Precious daughter9 of the Nishino Conglomerate walking all alone at
night. It’s like you’re asking the bad men to catch you.”
Heehee, he laughed mockingly while approaching Akane who was utterly unable to
move.
“Mmm!!”
Get away!
Akane writhed in her bindings, desperate to distance herself from the man.
8
Ojou-chan.
9
Ojou-sama.
The man grabbed Akane’s slender leg and pulled her to him.
He then lifted her chin and gazed down on her face close.
“Well I’ll be. That’s the face of an actress for you. Pretty girl.”
“Mm! Mmmm!!”
“—!!”
Akane felt the texture of blood inside her mouth. Tears held back until now streamed
down her face.
The big man was breathing roughly as he moved his hand from her chin to her neck,
from her neck to her shoulder.
“Pretty girl like you shouldn’t be so careless. Ah right, this isn’t your first time being
kidnapped right?”
“Yeah, back when you were in junior high, right. Wasn’t it some stalker?”
“Heck, I can even relate, with how pretty you are. Come on, Missy, what’s gotten you so
scared?”
“…Mm! MmmMmmMmm!!”
—Help!
“Who’s there!?”
Moonlight entered through the broken window, shining down on the individual standing
atop the broken glass.
He wore a black hoodie and sweatpants with black work boots, in addition to a black
ski mask that hid his face.
This extremely shady individual in all black might as well have been one of the
kidnappers.
“Oh me—? Well, I’m the… Stylish Badguy Slayer.” He stopped walking to adjust his ski
mask.
Right as the big man ordered, and his partner, who had sneaked up behind the ski
mask man, swung down his bat.
Right from the blindspot— yet, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, the ski mask
man dodged it easily.
“—What the!?”
“I could see your shadow in the moonlight— beginner mistake.” Said the ski mask man
simply. He then turned and slugged the men behind him. Due to his black clothes and
the dark environment (among other things), his punch was practically invisible.
There was a low thud, and the kidnapper accomplice dropped. And stayed there.
The big man released Akane and stood up. He loudly cracked his neck and glared at
the ski mask man.
The big man drew his knife and lowered into a stance. He too was no amateur.
Said the ski mask man as he also lowered into a stance. A practiced stance.
As expected of a veteran, his speed belied what his large frame might suggest. His
movements were swift and minimal.
The ski mask man, for his end, raised an arm to block the knife coming for his neck.
“How!?”
The ski mask man had stopped the knife with his bare hand.
No, looking closer, he was holding something.
The ski mask man held the crowbar almost like a tonfa.
“Crowbars are great. Super tough, hard to break. Easy to have it in hand, and even if
you’re taken in for questioning, it’s just inconspicuous enough to make up a good
excuse. Best of all— I can use it just like a tonfa”
“What!?”
The next instant, the ski mask man had already drawn back his arm.
The crowbar swung an arc just like a real tonfa and struck the big man in the arm.
“Fuck!”
But gradually, the ski mask man was losing ground. Each time he would block the
powerful fists of the much larger man, he would draw back. Step after step.
“You’re not bad. I can tell you’ve been in more than a few fights. But you can’t win here.
You’re barely 5 foot 5. 130 pounds tops. Me, I’m 6’4 and over 250. I’m just bigger, that’s
it. You might have a crowbar, but I’m safe so long as I protect my head. On the flipside,
you’ll go down if you take just one of my punches. You’re out of luck, chump.”
The big man proclaimed all this with a grin.
The ski mask man replied calmly. “Correct. As I am now, I can’t handle a veteran. A sad
truth… So, let’s get serious.”
“—You what?”
“I saw great potential in the crowbar. It’s almost exactly like a tonfa, it’s light, it’s tough,
it’s portable. It truly is a weapon with great potential. Night after night, I bashed this
against the biker gangs10, finally to discover its true worth…”
“— Wait! You, you’re the freak going around bashing biker gangs with a single crowbar,
you’re the Ski Mask Berserker!?”
It’s been said that it’s because of him that the local biker gangs have adopted to all
wearing helmets. The helmet would protect their heads at least.
“The truth of the crowbar that I reached after countless biker gang bashings… that is,
that rather than using it like a tonfa, it’s better to just bash it!!”
The ski mask man then proceeded to swing his crowbar down on the big man’s face.
Almost by instinct, the big man raised his arms to block— there was a dull thud.
“Fuck, my, arm…” Groaned the big man holding his left arm.
“Broke, didn’t it? This is the true potential of the crowbar. The trick is to bash with the
corner of the L. The force gets concentrated like that.”
And so he bashed.
10
Bosozoku.
“Gah!! Wai, no…”
And he bashed.
“Urgh… oof…”
The ski mask man simple kept bashing on, and at some point, the big man wasn’t moving
anymore.
He uttered bitterly.
It was as if he was reaching for the moon itself with his bare hands, an impossibility.
He then picked up the knife the big man had dropped and came up to Akane.
11
Spoken in English.
“Mmmm!!”
Sensing as if her life was in danger, Akane struggled in futility to escape, but the knife
was already on its way.
“Mm?”
Now freed, Akane looked up at the ski mask wearing, crowbar wielding, all in back
shady individual.
“Take more care on your way home.” He said to her, and then left.
Akane could only watch him in a daze as he walked away. It was only after he was gone
that she realized that he’d saved her.
The following day, despite her parents’ worries Akane attended school as usual.
She still felt frightened recalling the events of the previous day, but then, remembering
Stylish Badguy Slayer caused her to smile somehow.
Passing the school gates, once again, there he was, that detestable boy.
“—Huh?”
Stunned, Akane stopped in her tracks.
He, Kageno, he didn’t mistake her name. Also, she also felt like he was actually looking
at her that time.
She figured she might as well try to talk to him, just a little.
Zack was struggling hard with his throat in my grasp, but my fingers didn’t budge.
“Cough… ghrr…”
Finally seeing fear welling up in the man’s eyes, I slightly loosened my grip.
“I see. Well whatever. Actually, suddenly getting myself a room will make me stand out.
I just need a roof over my head is all. I’ll sleep in the hallways I guess.”
“Also, I’ll need meals, well balanced meals. If you can’t get that, I’m afraid I won’t need
you.”
“Thanks a bunch. Next… info yeah, I’ll need that. This place looks like it’ll be fun. Lots
of intrigue.”
“…Then I suggest you don’t talk to me in public. How am I getting you the food?”
“I’ll have it in this room. I can come in without anyone noticing, so it’s not an issue.”
“…Sure.”
“Yeah, that’s enough for now. I’ll find you when I need something again.”
I let go of his neck. He sat down and looked up at me while massaging his throat.
“Who the hell are you? How come you’re this strong when we’re not supposed to have
mana…”
“Perhaps, but would I really reveal that?” I said, putting some strength in my gaze.
“Fucking politics… whatever, I ain’t involved, just do whatever you gotta do.”
“…Yeah, sure.”
I turn my back to the dejected Zack and grab the door handle.
“Ah, right. I don’t think I need to tell you, but do keep this on the hush hush.”
“…I know.”
“Just a friendly warning. You see, I honestly don’t care if I have to kill you and everyone
else in your little Doem Camp—” I said, momentarily releasing a strong helping of mana
and bloodlust.
“As if this trinket can seal me…” I said finally, opening the door and exiting the room.
Listening in to Zack’s muttering from the other side, I did another mental fist pump.
The Trash in the concentration camp get one meal a day.
All these hobo-like gents would line up in the in the courtyard and await their share.
On the menu today, we have hard bread and soup.
They think they’re not making it obvious, but it’s really obvious.
I mean, I have a good meal waiting for me courtesy of Mr. Zack, so I could just make
like a mob and get it taken from me, but I’m just a little curious about this too.
I make a show of hiding my food by cradling it and quickly make my way away from
the crowd.
Basically, I’m saying they can take it, but I’ll put up a fight.
I managed to cross the courtyard without incident and made it to the spot of hallway
Mr. Zack reserved for me.
It was garnished with vegetable scraps and just a few beans. Tasted… slightly salty.
The bread was also bad, kind of bitter too. The bigger pieces were sort of better.
Tolerable if you dipped it in the soup first.
The meal was utterly lacking in protein. The only source of protein would be these tiny
beans.
No wonder they’re all skin and bones… I can understand the desire to steal.
“Ho, newcomer.”
They were both thin and ragged, but their eyes still had a glint to them.
“Hand over the food, and you don’t get hurt. Try anything and you’re still in for pain
after we take your food. Get my logic? Now let's just make it easy for all of us.”
“N-no, I…”
“He’ll get it after a punch or three.” He said and raised his fist.
“You will stop.” Interrupted the voice of a girl.
“Wait, that’s…”
Standing there in the hallway, was a beautiful girl. She had on prisoner garb like the
rest of us, and had pink blond hair. She kind of resembled someone.
“Uh, yeah…”
“It’s all right now.” The pink blond beauty smiled reassuringly.
This camp had few female prisoners. Most of them were women prepared for the
Doem Camp, but I had a feeling this girl here wasn’t one of those.
“Food is quite scarce for everyone. You’d best eat your fill quickly.”
“Th-, yes…”
“Lady Clara, this boy was seen speaking to a man of the Doem Camp.”
A tough looking dude came up from behind pink blondie. He looked like he didn’t like me.
“…Of course.”
“Um, I, uh, Zack just told me about a bunch of stuff and, so…”
“That is fine. Um… this isn’t exactly the kindest place to be, so stay safe.”
The girl, along with the tough dude, then left. As he passed me, the guy gave me another
glare.
I made a show of being scared out of my wits and stayed like that until they were gone.
Her name was Clara huh, she really did remind me of… right, her.
She looked a lot like Miss Rose12. Maybe she’s related to Oriana royalty?
12
Rose-senpai.
I breached Zack’s room with him completely unawares.
Hehehe, nice reaction. I really liked this guy and his totally cliche reactions.
“Here’s that meal. Have at it.” He said, handing me a plate full of food.
“Be my guest.”
On the menu this time, we have bread and cream stew, along with steak and vegetables.
The bread was actually white on the inside and smelled pretty good.
The cream stew had a variety of veggies and lots of chicken in each spoonful. Not bad
at all.
The steak was big. An 18 ouncer I reckon. The meat was lean with little fat, cooked
soft and juicy. Just how I like it.
It was a far cry from real gourmet food, but it was delicious in a normal way. Best of
all was the fact that there was so much of it.
“The country may be fucked, but it’s still the Country of Art. Our average quality of
food is on the upside.”
“Makes sense.”
In the future, when it’s all over, it might not be so back to move here.
But once I do that, once I’m satisfied with it to the fullest extent, I wonder what I’ll do
with the rest of my life? I’d sometimes ponder such things during my days of constant
training.
I could become a power outside of the shadows, I could become a demon lord set on
destroying the world, or I could become something like a master who trains future
heroes. I thought on a lot of possibilities and ended up on something very simple.
I’d want a life where I could eat good food every day and sleep to my heart’s desire. I’d
be happy with just that much.
I’d spend my whole life at full throttle only to end up at a slow cruise.
I really can’t.
Doesn’t really matter when I can break down any poison with mana.
“Good nose on ya. Wish I had one. Especially that one time, back when I was still in the
business yeah, one of my boys tried to poison me. Not a fun time, let me tell ya. Made
it out of that alive, but as you can see, it all went to shit and here I am.”
“Gimme a sword and I can fight. This damned country, I tell ya, magiswords13 aren’t
worth a damn. Stealing pays more than working for some retard noble. I honestly
13
Previously Magic Swordsmen.
thought I’d make it like that… yeah, all in the past. Royalists didn’t give a damn about
magiswords and it bit ‘em back in the ballsack when Doem used ‘em to take over. Some
irony.”
Okay.
“Why do ya gotta ask me. You should know all there is to her a lot better.”
“Sure I do, but maybe I don’t know everything about the here and now. No loss in
making sure my own intel matches up with everything else. Apt diligence, leads to a
longer life…” I narrow my eyes and smile meaningfully.
“Tsk, you know your stuff. I really can’t tell you a lot.”
“Not a problem.”
“…Hmph.” Zack let out a snort and started talking. “Should be obvious from the name,
but Clara Oriana is that infamous Rose Oriana’s little sister. She tried to go against the
Doem Faction early on, got caught, ended up here. Still, she’s royalty, and they can’t
execute her right away. Even Lord Doem is having trouble on how to deal with her, but
that ain’t the real story at all apparently.”
“Go on…”
“Clara Oriana is a big face of the anti-Doem flag. She’s got a lot of people listening to
her. Even here in the camp…”
“Apparently, Lord Doem’s tryna use Clara Oriana to gather in the people opposed to
him so he can get rid of ‘em all at once. That’s it. What did I tell ya, it’s not a lot. Don’t
you know a lot more?”
“Perhaps…” I hid my mouth behind my fingers and, with serious eyes, stared directly
at Zack. “Care to know…?”
Naturally, I didn’t know a thing, so I used some insta-mana release to add on the ‘pressure’.
“—!! C-cut it out, I said I didn’t give a damn about the politics!”
“—Wise decision.”
With an attitude as if I see all and know all, I acted the part of a power in the shadows.
It’s not a matter of my speech but also my mannerisms from my eyes to my fingertips.
Zack wiped off the sweat he’d been building up and got up.
“Your boss…?”
“Good…”
Going past aged corridors that stank of rusted iron, he stopped before a large door. He
retrieved a key from his breast pocket and turned the lock. Checking behind him to
make sure he hadn’t been tailed, Zack entered the room.
I jutted some slime into the keyhole and picked the lock. Lockpicking is something I
learned in my past life so it was a breeze. What’s a power in the shadows if he can’t
open a few closed doors?
Incidentally, I have my slimes hidden inside my body so they won’t find anything even
with a full pat down.
I checked the presences on the other side and, determining it to be safe, stealthily
entered the room.
At the back of the room, there was a lit lamp with a number of men gathered around it.
I sneaked closer and hid behind a crate. I checked and the crate was empty.
The men were discussing something in the dark room. Zack was among them.
The man who the others seemed to defer to as their boss stepped forward. I’d
imagined him to be something like a boss grunt, but he turned out to be a lot younger.
He had gray hair extending down to his shoulders and was well featured. He was no
grunt. In fact, he even looked sort of intelligent.
From his musculature and posture, I could tell that he was trained in martial arts.
“Well met, brothers. The Doem Faction is pleased with your various contributions.”
The boss said with a practiced voice, casting his gaze over the surrounding men.
“I want— food. Good food and more of it. Enough for two people at least.”
And once he was done, his face turned serious for the first time.
“Brothers, we are in difficult times. Lately, there have been more attempts to cull our
numbers. Why only yesterday, a coach carrying officers was assaulted, resulting in 7
dead.”
For a moment, I thought that was talking about me, but I didn’t leave the camp yesterday,
so it must be someone else.
“He’s skilled. Every time he’s killed, he’s done so without a sound. We’ve taken to
calling him OWL.”
“And believe it or not, there are signs that this bastard OWL is in this camp.”
“N-nothin’, boss…”
Zack lowered his gaze to escape from his boss’s overpowering stare.
“This OWL likely wants to get in contact with Clara Oriana. We must find him before
he does. Is that clear?”
“Then that is all for now… no, there is one last matter. We have a traitor amongst us.”
“—You.”
Other than me, none of the men gathered could dodge a throw like that.
The knife grazed past Zack’s ears and sunk into the face of the man behind him.
“This is the fool who dared to leak our info to the Royalists.”
The other men simply looked on silently as the traitor bled and died.
“—Zack.”
“—All right. I will believe you.” The bossman patted Zack on the shoulder once, and
left the celler.
Now left alone, Zack heaved a shuddering sigh and wiped off his sweat.
“Likely, yes.”
“Yeah, sure. You think you can pass any info about OWL to me? You saw it right?
Bossman’s suspicious of me. Mainly ‘cause of you.”
“It shouldn’t take me long to find out who OWL is. I can’t guarantee if I can have you
know, however. There are few people in my line of business… those of reputable skill
often turn out to be acquaintances…”
I said this so he doesn’t ask any more questions. Since I had no clue who OWL is.
“Fuck me. You gotta help me out, man. Boss is fucking ruthless, you saw him right? You
might be fine. You can use your mana. But me, I got nothing’.”
“Oh, by the way, your boss’s mana seal coller. It’s a fake.”
“Nope.”
“— Interesting.”
I muttered cryptically.
“A note from one of my agents. I know have a very good idea who this OWL really is.”
“What!? That’s way too fast!”
“Take a look.”
“It only responds to very specific mana signatures. Namely mine. It’s also an encrypted
message.”
“…You’re sure?”
“Code 0.”
“Coat jeer?”
“Me-meaning what?”
Zack gulped.
I said while simultaneously erasing my presence and moving out of sight super fast.
“— HUH!? He’s gone!? Fuckin hell, the door’s still closed, how…”
I couldn’t check each and every person in the camp, but I was about to determine that
there were around 10 people who might fit the bill.
I did this by looking at how they walk and how they handle themselves, but that didn’t
mean much. Not really.
There are times when a weak looking guy is unexpectedly powerful, or when a
musclehead might actually be a really weak.
Okay, that out of the way, I went ahead and had the breakfast that Mr. Zack so
graciously prepared, and was currently out on a walk under the refreshing sunlight
pouring down on the camp courtyard.
I very much liked the cool winter air coupled with a beautiful, sunny sky.
The sky was clear, and, I can’t explain this well, but it sort of felt like my soul was being
reinvigorated.
“Mmm.”
Walking past the hobo-like prisoners having their bad soup and worse bread, I noticed
that I didn’t look like a mob at all.
Don’t get me wrong. I can pull off the mob role no problem in a town.
But compared to these people, I wasn’t dirty and ragged enough. Well, I’m still new
here, and blending in should come naturally with the time, so…
I squeezed my way through them. I felt like this was going to get fun and I wanted front
row seats.
Said Clara Oriana facing a mobbish dude at the center of it all. The guy was some no-
name from the meeting in the cellar last night.
Behind Clara stood people who were probably from the Royalists camp, and behind
the no-name stood people from the Doem side. Among them, I could see Zack and also
their boss.
“One of ours was murdered last night. When we found him, there were signs of an
assault and torture.”
Mother of crap. Since I was out looking for OWL, I missed a key event.
“He was tortured! You’re about the only people who’d resort to that, confess at once!”
Clara cried furiously.
“—Knave!!”
— Then.
The guy who got slapped grabbed and raised the club at his waist.
Clara can’t handle that. Worst case, the club cracks her head open and she’s dead.
Yeah, sorry, but I don’t like it if some no-name mob suddenly kills a major character.
“—Huh?”
Right before her eyes, the man who was about to swing down a weapon at her, had
spontaneously collapsed. The club he was holding was flung high into the air.
“How’d he just!?”
“…Owl?”
Both Royalists and Doem Camp went on guard.
It was simple. I had a piece of slime detach from the bottom of my shoe and burrow
underground. Then I had it shoot out from under the guy and hit him under the jaw.
No one noticed, but that’s fine. That right there was very much was a power from the
shadows would do.
Which was when I noticed it. The club that had been sent flying was coming down my
way.
I took only an instant to determine the club’s trajectory, and as it wouldn’t actually hit
me in my current position, I swiftly moved to the spot where it would land.
Having expected I’d need it at some point, I placed a small blood back in my mouth
and looked upwards.
“Bhoorfff!?”
I blew the prepared blood in my mouth from out my nose and fell back.
The blood sprayed out like a fountain, glistening in the light of the sun. Quite artistic if
I do say so myself.
To you people of the camp who wished to see carnage, I present to you a fountain of
nose blood.
While the power in the shadows aids the MC, some random mob gets the unfortunate
role of being collateral!
I was collapsed on my back, completely sated, but seeing as Clara was running over, I
quickly pretended to be out cold.
I was carried into a room and laid down on a bed.
The blood from my nose had dried due to the cold air outside, and someone was in the
process of wiping it clean.
It was another private room. While the dimensions were the same as the room Zack
was using, this room was a lot more modest, containing only necessities and no leisure
items.
Clara was beside the bed, and one of her faction men was standing at the door giving
me the stink eye.
“I’m so glad you’re alright. You were struck hard so try not to move right away.”
“Oh pardon me, I’ve yet to introduce myself. Though it’s likely you already know, I’m
Clara Oriana.”
“M-my name’s Cid Kageno. I, uh, see you took care of me. My utmost thanks…”
I spoke in a shaky voice as if trying my best not to offend the royalty before me.
“It’s all right. In the first place, you were unluckily caught up between our dispute.”
“No, I—”
That was when the man in front of the door clicked his tongue.
“Lady Clara, I believe you’ve done enough. We have no need to concern ourselves with
him any longer.”
“Guin… I understand, but he’s still not able to move with his injuries.”
“He might be a ploy to approach you, milady. We do not have time to deal with such
minor things. We have a duty to our people, do we not?”
“You’re not wrong, Guin, but that doesn’t make it fine to ignore someone so injured
right in front of me.”
“Please under—”
“I, yes. I accidentally ran into bodies left in alley by OWL. They said I was suspicious
and…”
“If I can’t even help a single injured boy, how could I possibly try to protect my country?”
“—By your will. I shall be outside.” Guin said and then left the room.
Before the door was fully closed, he gave me one last mean glare. But if I wasn’t seeing
it incorrectly, it wasn’t just at me, but also towards Clara.
“Everyone’s under a lot pressure. Even I… The one who’s supposed to have this role
isn’t even me, but…” Clara spoke glumly.
“Um…”
“Don’t worry about that. It’s really none of your concern after all. You’re, not from Oriana,
are you?”
“You have? Then do you know about the incident where she killed my father?”
“So it was…”
“Father had been strange for some time before, and I knew that she was looking for
the cause. Really, why did it have to end up like this… Everyone is calling her a traitor
to the nation now. I couldn’t believe it, I didn’t want to…”
“The way I saw it, she had an important reason for doing what she did. I don’t know
what that reason was, and I can’t say if you’ll be able to accept it even if you knew her
reasons. What I do know is that Miss Rose had done it with the utmost of resolve.”
“Resolve… is that how it looked? Haha, thank you, that made me feel somewhat better.
You know, I really loved my sister who could do anything and everything. I looked up
to her. So when I heard of the tragedy, I couldn’t, I still wanted to believe in her…”
Clara shook her head side to side, as if driving away the negativity.
“You must’ve gotten along with her well.”
“Well actually, I faced her once in the Senbatsu Tournament during the God of War
Festival.”
“I completely lost.”
“Cid, may I call you Cid? You can simply call me Clara as well.”
“Right. If Guin were to find out, I’d never hear the end of it. That aside, tell me more
about how my sister was at the Academy.”
This might not seem like the thing a mob should be doing, but not to worry. I can fix it.
I am simply one of Miss Rose’s many mob friends and because of that fact, I am a mob
who Clara can talk to.
After leaving Clara’s room, as I was randomly strolling the halls, I sensed people
approaching.
“Newcomer! Great work getting in that woman’s good graces!” Said one of them with
a toothy grin while grabbing my shoulder.
These men, no-names from the Doem Camp, had surrounded me.
5… no 6 of them.
“Listen kid, we need you to do us this favor.” Said the man after drawing close to my ear.
His breath reeked.
“W-what favor…?”
Not only was my voice the definition of wimpy, I was already bodily shaking as if I was
a lowly Slime being stared down by a Dragon.
“No need to be scared now. You do us this favor, and we’ll be best buds.”
“O-Okay…”
“Here’s the deal. We want to talk to the princess is all, but the bastards around her
keep getting in the way. That’s where you come it. You’re someone she trusts so we
need you to get her to meet us.”
“Yeah, you’re the best man for the job. Do whatever you want, but get it done. You
know what, here’s a little something that might help.”
He then took out a powder.
“This here’s a little drug that helps you get a good night sleep. Mix it in they drinks and
bam, they’re sleeping like babes.”
“Listen you little shitstain!! I’m trynna be yer friend and ya won’t even listen to one
favor!? Got’a fuckin’ death wish do ya!”
“Uhh, let’s, not get too violent, yah guys?” Zack spoke up from the back in a stiff
expression.
“No, uhh… anyway, I don’t think it’s a good idea to, uh, do somethin’ rash.”
“Fuckin’ pussy, we ain’t gonna get nothin’ done like that!! We’r gonn take the bitch
hostage and that damn OWL’s gonna show up right where we want’im!!”
The moment the punch connected, I loosened my neck, and let my body flow with the
impact.
A good punch to the head can cause a concussion, but knowing how to get hit can
prevent that with surprising success.
There’s two ways to get hit. One is stiffening up and absorbing the strike, and the other
is what I did just now, flowing with the impact.
And since it looked at if my whole head was flung away by that punch, it also doesn’t
detract from my mob role.
“Uoff…”
“You know your job. Now do it. We’ll wait 3 days. You get us the girl, and I’ll get you good
food. Don’t do it, and…”
“I see, that’s how it is. Take Clara hostage so OWL comes out to play.”
“I know you’re unhurt, but we still cool yeah? I was just there, I didn’t do nothing.”
“What… fucking hell, you knew this’d happen!? I mean, I was surprised how you got
yourself bonked to get along with the princess, but you even predicted… that we…!”
“The gears of destiny are finally in motion… all according to plan, of course…”
“…!! Y-you, who are you…! Y-you’re on the Royalists side right? You don’t look like you’re
on our side…”
“Nei, ther…?”
“I support neither the Royalists not Doem. My true enemy—”
And right there, I speedily got out of sight, only leaving echoes.
“Kid didn’t look too bright to me. Whatever, he fails, we kill ‘im. The end.”
“At any rate, tonight’s the big night. It’s almost time. Where’d Zack go?”
“The hell? Bastard’s been acting strange lately. You don’t think, he’s leaking intel to those
Royalists—”
The black haired boy standing before these intimidating prisoners looked the definition
of ordinary.
His dark eyes were looking down, staring at the shadows extending across the floor.
The boy began trembling like the weakling he was— or so the men had imagined.
The boy didn’t do that. He didn’t shake, he didn’t even move. He simply kept staring at
the shadows below.
He muttered softly.
“Isn’t coming…”
“The fuck are you talkin’ about, huh!? Ya got cold feet and came here alone, that it!?”
The man who had the knife at the boy’s neck grabbed a fistful of his hair with his other
hand and pulled his face up.
What the man saw there was the boy’s eyes, pitch dark eyes lacking in emotion.
No, not quite. The small smile on the boy’s lips had grown into a visible grin.
The man smacked the boy’s face with the butt of his knife.
Another smack.
Stronger this time. Enough to break the cheekbone, maybe even knock loose a tooth.
The boy simply kept on looking at the man with a grin across his face.
“—!”
From the side, one of the man’s comrades came up and punched the boy in the face.
“That’s how ya punch a face. Leave ‘em half dead and they’ll never— Huh!?”
But the boy just stood there as if he felt nothing. The spot where he’d been battered
had remained spotless.
Furious, the man began pummeling the boy with ferocious fists.
The man from the side took the knife and stabbed the boy in the ribs.
— But,
“What, how—!?”
The knife, penetrating only the boy’s clothes, stopped there. Even putting more strength
into his arm, the man couldn’t cut the boy’s skin.
His breathing had gone arid as the man stepped away. His eyes couldn’t believe what
he’d just witnessed.
“— So you’re done?”
The boy’s fist had punched through the man’s chest and come out the other side.
“Ah… ahyauu…”
“Wha!?”
“N-no, fuckin…”
“Hyai…!”
Splich, splich.
“— Done?”
Four shadows converged on the boy. The flame in the lamp flickered.
— Dancing shadows.
Once the flame regained its calm, on the floor of the cellar lay 5 corpses with holes for
a chest.
Splich, splich. The boy stepped over the blood as he walked away.
I had left the kingdom of Midgar where I was born and raised, and now, have ended
up in a concentration camp in Oriana. In this unknown land where not a soul knew
me, I sought to find myself.
All the actions I’ve taken in my life has been for one purpose: to be a power in the
shadows.
I’ve had various thoughts on the matter, and I’ve narrowed it down to one thing that I
believe I currently lack.
Instakill my foes— the simplest idea. But it’s dull and boring.
Show them power beyond imagination— of course I will. But that’s still not enough.
As a power in the shadows, I will let them know despair by showing that their attacks
mean nothing to me, then use power beyond imagination to instakill my foes!
The point is to make sure the enemy has exhausted all their trump cards, and being
fine regardless. That is the moment when they will drown in despair and truly lose to
me, and any witness to such a feat would surely gain an instinctive sense of
overwhelming might that is a power in the shadows.
I have not.
This was what I was lacking all this time! Overwhelming might!
With that reasoning in mind, I tested it out with those 5 hoodlums, taunting them to
give me everything they had. It wasn’t enough. It was not enough.
What am I doing trying to get some level 1 convict to throw out trump cards?
Here I was expecting those last 4 could launch a special combo suicide move or
something. Imagine my disappointment.
And for boss characters, I make sure they exhaust everything they have, that’s also
how a taepodong dongs.
Though I’d need to kill some of them faster too. Depends on how much I can handle
really. Gotta always adapt to the situation and get the best out of it. That’s how a power
in the shadows should be.
Happy with the knowledge that I’d learned and grown, I was on a stroll in the camp
courtyard.
As such, I was blending in with the all my other mob campmates when I noticed a familiar
presence.
“Hm?”
Perhaps noticing me turning around, the other party did the same.
“—Eh?”
Her prison clothes were dirty and her head was wrapped up in a cloth, revealing only
her amber eyes.
Epsilon uses her slime bodysuit to do something similar. Well, the opposite actually.
“Miss… Rose.”
“C-Cid…”
After the thing at the God of War Fest, she was working part-time for Mitsugoshi Co.
as I recall.
She quit her job and is here— to take back her country.
In the first place, her killing the king was the start of all this.
Which means that she too infiltrated this camp. And gathering all these clues, there is
only one conclusion to arrive at.
“Uh, I was worried for a friend and travelled here. Then they said I was suspicious
and…” I said in mob-like stutters, trying to get across the feeling that I got mistakenly
involved.
I just said ‘a friend’, not her in particular, but, actually, isn’t her misunderstanding sort
of convenient for now?
“Cid…” She looked at me earnestly. “I’m so sorry, because of me you ended up in this
sort of place… Still, to think you could tell it was me right away…”
“Can’t return?”
“Eh…?”
“…I’m sorry, I can’t say why. If I do, even you’d become involved…”
“Um, I don’t understand.”
“My feelings are still the same. On the last day we spoke, I said I wanted you to believe
in me. And you did. You even came all the way here. And that’s enough for me. I won’t
ask for anything more. So… please… I, I don’t want you to get hurt because of me…”
“Cid, you don’t need to worry about me anymore. I’ll make sure you escape from this
camp. So please. Just, just forget about me…”
“…Okay.”
I nodded seriously.
Yeah, she’s technically a criminal after all. A mob isn’t someone involved with criminals.
“Thank you for understanding. You and I don’t know each other… We’re complete
strangers and our paths with never cross again…”
“…Of course.”
“Farewell.”
She said, still smiling. The tears in her amber eyes rolled down her cheeks.
“Farew—”
“…Marco?”
Do I know a Marco?
“Don’t play dumb!! Yer the one those guys called out!!”
I really don’t know a Marco. People are misunderstanding things a lot today.
I made a stealthy glance at Mr. Zack, and and he just gave me a nod.
“Quiet down.”
“Boss…”
It was the gray haired handsome man I saw in the cellar. Their leader.
“I am Maximilian. I run things around here. Five men have recently approached you
for a task, no?”
“Uh…”
Yeah, they all suddenly got holes in their chests so mission failed I guess.
“A…!”
Wait, am I a suspect?
“You will tell us everything.”
“Y-yes…”
And so I nodded in assent. And with my shoulder still held, I was about to be taken
away.
Which is when,
“Move it.”
One of the Maximilian’s men shoved Miss Rose aside as she was standing blankly in
the way.
“…No.” I shook my head as she hid away her face. “I don’t know him.”
“Move along.”
I was seated down on a chair with the underling’s iron grip still on my shoulder.
Around me were faces of the Doem Camp. In front of me stood Maximilian.
“Now…” The bossman looked down at me with cold eyes. “Those five I mentioned. We
found them this morning with their chests pierced through. You don’t happen to know
anything about that, do you?”
“Then tell me, what were you doing last night? Were you not supposed to drug the
princess and bring her here?”
“So the nerves got you.” Maximilian said, his gaze turning sharper. “And then, a coward
like you had the audacity to carefreely stroll around in the camp. One would imagine
you would go into hiding… no?”
“Hm…?”
H-he’s right!
Me acting like I had this morning isn’t something a mob like me should’ve been doing.
“You certainly looked fine to me. Until my men and I arrived, you looked not the least
bit scared. Now, you will speak what you know.”
Maximilian drew his knife. The sharp blade glinted in the flame of the sole lamp.
I was about to go Shadow-mode and unleash slime hell on them when— I sensed her
coming.
“Someone’s there!!”
Wearing a pitch black slime bodysuit, with her slime sword, she launched a fierce attack
towards Maximilian.
“Damn you…!”
He quickly turned and avoided the blade coming for his neck, then jumped back to
take distance.
Some of the other men were already down on the floor near her. She’s gotten more
skilled.
“…Surround her.”
The remaining men also found swords and did as their boss had commanded.
If they’d been holding guns instead of blades, it would’ve been like some spy movie
action scene.
So exciting.
I gulped in anticipation.
The point didn’t reach her, as she had swiftly evaded with a half step and cut down a
man who came from behind her.
No risky, flamboyant movements. A logical sword. I didn’t think I’d see this sort of
sword in Oriana of all places.
So what martial art does the high class practice you ask? It’s called blade dancing.
Imagine figure skating while holding a sword, that’s basically what it amounts to.
14
‘Maai’ was used a lot in a previous translation. It’s retarded.
Being the Country of Art, in Oriana, they hold blade dancing duels and victory goes to
the most beautiful dance.
It goes without saying that blade dancing is total weaksauce in a real fight.
I mean, I can see how it could make sense, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder as
they say.
Whatever.
Basically, this is why I was surprised with Maximilian’s swordplay. It made sense. At
the very least, it made sense not in the Oriana kingdom way. One could claim it’s the
start of a new era for the nation.
Swords sparks lit up moments of the dark cellar, and he was landing glancing strikes
on the girl’s body suit.
Maximilian was using numbers to his advantage to give her no space to maneuver.
Huh, things aren’t looking too good for her. He’s a handsome guy after all.
Maximilian easily dodged, as he had much more space to work with. He was taking full
advantage of the stage.
“—!!”
If Maximilian hadn’t craned his neck to dodge, his face would’ve had a hole in it.
The slime sword only grazed him, and blood flowed from his cheek.
Maximilian had barely dodged, but that position broke his balance and he had to step
further back.
Taking advantage of the inattention, the girl swept away the men around her, cut down
the cellar door and ran out.
“After her! Now!!” Maximilian roared, and his remaining man chased after her.
“OWL takes priority. We won’t need him anymore if we can capture her. Do not let her
get away!”
“…What to do…”
Rose ran across the camp hallways, still sensing pursuers behind her.
Her mission was to take Clara, the flag of the Royalists, and deliver her to her faction’s
army waiting outside of the city.
However, currently, Rose couldn’t be considered an ally of Oriana under any pretense.
She was, after all, the traitor who murdered their king. The public already knew Rose
as such.
For that reason, she had volunteered to take part on this mission.
Cid Kageno.
The boy she had once wished to spend her life with.
That boy had worried for her, going so far as to travel to Oriana. When she learned of
that fact, the emotions hidden in her heart became turbulent.
The happiness that he had sought her out.
And mostly— grief towards his feelings that she could no longer answer.
No matter how deeply she loved him, she could no longer be with him. She was a
criminal. Getting involved with her would surely lead him to misfortune.
Thus, no matter how it tore apart her hear, Rose told him clear words of parting.
Until Maximilian took him. The inside of Rose’s head had went blank.
He was one of the Named Children of the Order of Diabolos and held the title ‘Coldblood’.
He was also allied to Doem who held the reins of the anti-Royalist Faction.
On the face of it, he was one of Doem’s underlings, but within the Order, their positions
were that of equals. As such, they were fellow competitors.
Word was that, based on the results of their occupation of Oriana, one of them may
get promoted to a seat of the Rounds.
A Knight of the Rounds apparently also has a hand in Oriana’s current turmoil— one
Sir Mordred.
Shadow Garden has been scouring everywhere for this Sir Mordred, without any results.
But this man held a very prominent position within the Order, that is known for certain.
To do that, Shadow Garden has been aiding the Royalists take back Oriana so as to
drive the Doem Faction to a corner.
But before she had realized, she had already drawn her sword at Maximilian.
—I can’t.
No matter how much she tried to reason with herself, her feelings had won out
overwhelmingly.
Surely, soon enough, the whole camp would know that OWL had infiltrated the premises.
Rose was still worried whether her sister Clara would believe in her.
Plus, the matter of the traitor among those around the princess. Rose had wanted to
eliminate that danger before contacting Clara… that wouldn’t be happening now.
“Over here!!”
Behind her were Maximilian’s men, and in front of her stood armed guards.
“Haaahhhh!!”
Guards were running every which way, and sounds of destruction could be heard from
the courtyard and halls.
Clara, who was in her private quarters, spoke. “Is it true that the OWL has appeared?”
“It appears so, milady. For some time now, the guards have been shouting that they’d
found this OWL.” said Guin standing at her side.
“Right…”
While they usually opted on the side of caution, it might also be prudent to see this as
an opportunity.
Clara had to make a decision now. For Oriana, and for the loyal retainers who had
followed her all this time.
“What do you all think we should do?” She queried the people of the Royalist Faction
surrounding her.
“We must save the OWL and escape together! We will surely be able to join back with
the army!”
“We don’t yet know whether this OWL is enemy or ally! We should wait and see!”
“The guards are all busy outside! We have to make our move now or never!”
Clara felt her chest tighten as if her heart was being squeezed.
She glanced around the room, looking at each of her people’s faces.
More of them favored the wait and see approach. It was a matter of course. They
wouldn't have a second chance. Failure most assuredly meant death.
And Clara understood that the chance of success was not favorable.
Still—
If they don’t act now, would they even get another chance so opportune?
As things stood, they were on the palm of Doem’s hand. Who knew if they’d all be sent
for the guillotine tomorrow?
Was it really fine to let go of this chance in uncertain hopes for the next?
Had those who wanted to wait not realized that the chances of a similar event
happening were exceedingly low?
Clara closed her eyes and contemplated. Her hands felt awful with sweat.
Perhaps it was that these people had gotten too accustomed to the camp? She was
sure they had a stronger sense of danger during the time when they were first put
here.
They no longer had the leisure of choosing their opportunity— was what Clara
believed.
Then again—
Yes, most did want to wait. They were older and better experienced, they were the
majority.
Weren’t their opinions more learned and wiser than her own?
Furthermore, were she to ignore the majority outright, wouldn’t they doubt her
judgement as a liege?
He was a man in his middle years, a man with skin bronzed by years of work under
the sun.
“Listening to everyone’s opinion is good. But you shouldn’t stare at their faces so much.”
His speech was hoarse and unrefined, yet had a certain nostalgic feeling for her.
He was the gardener that Clara had known since childhood. He knew neither politics,
not war. What he could do, and do well, was make the royal gardens a stunning sight
to see.
Yet it was his words that rang most true for her.
“He is because he’s here. A mere gardener had no reason to follow me here. And yet
Batt did. Because he too believed in me.”
“It’s fine. I know you always mean the best for us.”
She went to the root of it, what was her goal, what did she want to accomplish.
For a single instant, she remembered her childhood, where she, batt and her sister
played together in the beautiful royal gardens.
“We will help OWL, and escape. This is our chance, we must give it everything.”
“Very well. Men, you’ve followed Princess Clara until now, what say you? Are you ready!?”
She couldn’t use it, of course. But just the act of her holding a blade had meaning in itself.
The numerous prisoners in the courtyard where shoving over one another.
“Boof!? Agaagagaaaaa!!”
Oh, this kind of reminds me of newscasts where they report people dying in mosh pits
and such.
I wouldn’t though.
I was kicked around like a soccer ball and spat blood everywhere.
And once the storm passed, I lay there like a piece of driftwood.
While I was sated of my mobly desires, Clara came and shook me awake.
“Ugh, my head…”
“Oh, thank goodness you’re alive. I’m so sorry, you got swept up again because of our…”
“Don’t fret, I’ll come back for you soon. For now, I have to complete my duty.”
She then stood up and turned her eyes towards the courtyard.
She was watching the Royalists, her people, holding weapons and fighting the camp
guards.
And it wasn’t only those of the Royalist Faction that were fighting there. Even the
rabble, who didn’t belong to any faction, were taking the opportunity to give the
guards a piece of their fists.
To the eye, it seemed that the Royalists had the upper hand in this field.
However, I was sensing a large number of people approaching from outside the walls.
Most likely, reinforcements for the guards. Some of them were magiswords too.
All the camp prisoners had mana sealing collars, after all.
A magisword against an ordinary civilian is like pitting an adult against a child. The
child being the certain loser.
And then, mere moments before they had overpowered the guards— the gates to the
outside opened.
Revealing armed reinforcements charged with suppressing them.
Yeah, I also felt like they got here a bit too fast. But now that it’s happened, the tables
were all but turned.
“W-we’re innocent!”
The factionless who had been going with the flow, all gave up instantly.
Anyway, only the Royalists still looked like they had some fight in them. Their faces
were grim one and all, but nevertheless kept a hold on their weapons.
Clara whispered to me. Then she stood up, firmed her resolve, and stepped forward as
the Royalist leader.
And it ended just like that… or so it should have. Making sure no one was watching, I
made my own preparations.
And that’s when I, erasing my presence, used super speed and took on Shadow’s voice.
The moment when all hope seems lost, a voice from the shadows makes its entrance!
“—Know that your sister still fights. So long as you don’t falter, surely you will
reunite…”
“Eh, my sister…? Wait, who are you!?”
“You’re shadow!? The one who appeared at the God of War Festival…?”
“Shadow being here means, isn’t Shadow Garden allied with the royals…?”
I said, launching the many pieces of slime I prepared underground, and breaking every
single mana sealer at once.
“T-the collar…”
“So it’s true, he really is Shadow… why…? No, this is our chance!”
As the hundreds of collars broke and fell, I said some final words.
“—Struggle, fight. Grasp your fate with your own two hands…”
I then let off explosive mana, dying the courtyard a brilliant purple.
So began the counterattack.
The men of the Royalist Faction surged up their mana and began attacking the guards.
They shouted out their special move names like the above. This one apparently
required you to spin in the air three times before swiping down your sword.
The whole thing looked extremely retarded, but that’s what magiswords be.
“Swayback Spin!!” Yelled another man, dodging a thrust from a guard. Right, good
dodge, I’ll give you that.
Both offense and defense seemed to involve lost of dance and rhythm.
I mean, sure, as an enterprising power in the shadows, I too put value in the
performance, but too much is careless and unnecessary.
“Butterfly Step!!”
“Death Spiral!!”
It seems shouting out the name each and every time is also part of it.
Let’s just say it’s like the “Men, dou, kote!!15” in kendo.
The type of ‘strength’ I’m going for is completely different from what they consider
15
Kendo strike jargon.
strength, but actually witnessing it is sort of refreshing in a way. Just goes to how that
everyone has a different way they see fighting.
As a matter of fact, even though it looks to me like they’re messing around, they’re all
completely serious.
But along with actually winning, they also try to present beauty in their sword.
For them, true victory consists of also beating the opponent in style.
They have mutual rules that both parties agreed to adhere to.
Anything goes in a fight, and might is right— that is my way. That is how I choose to fight.
But that shouldn’t mean I can just deny any other forms of fighting.
It’s been a long time since I had a chance to observe a style so different from my own.
It’s exciting.
Go for it!!
Hey, maybe striking the crotch and eyes are forbidden or something. Can’t you like,
bend the rules a bit, and do it stylistically?
This kind of reminds me of the martial arts tourneys I used to watch on New Years TV.
I was young and immature back then.
Oh, huh, it’s almost the end of the year here too…
As I was ruminating in my thoughts, the tide of battle had once again shifted in favor
of the Royalists.
Most of the guards are down. They aren’t all severely injured but mostly exhausted of
their stamina.
Also, the Royalist guys aren’t delivering any finishing blows to the downed enemies.
Like medieval knights, or sengoku samurai? I don’t really get it, but they seem to have
a ‘way’ of the blade dancer.
Perhaps these blade dancers have developed a style of fighting much more civilized
that the rest of the world.
If all wars were fought this way, world peace might’ve been a lot less of a problem.
I love the kind of world where pure and unadulterated violence beats all. What I was
witnessing currently was frankly a bit too white dove for me.
“D-damn you…”
Yup, all's well that ends well. Wait, now that I think about it, I didn’t get much time to
shine.
Ah well, it’s just a concentration camp event. I’ll be sure to get more chances once
outside. Maybe…
So while I was considering making a forced appearance anyway, one man made his move.
He, one of the Royalist guys, muttered and then suddenly cut down one of his allies.
The middle aged man who was slashed down his back collapsed to the ground.
“Batt!! Stay with me, Batt…!” Clara screamed and ran over to the downed man.
“Guin!! What, why…” She thundered at the man who cut one of their own.
“He was an obstacle for my goals. That goes for you too, milady…”
“N-No, Guin, you told me, you said that you believed in me…”
“Well, I lied. You don’t have the right to rule over others. Didn’t you know? All your so-
called subordinates laugh behind your back every time you look at their faces for
confirmation. They call you the idiot yes-girl.”
After listening to his jeers, Clara held her head down in shame.
— And then.
“I did it for my own purposes. Following you is at least better than listening to this
foolish girl.”
“Very well. I do not care either way, so long as you do as you’re told.”
“I’m expecting to be well compensated once Lord Doem gains the country.”
Clara could only stare in mute shock as Guin and Maximilian casually conversed.
She thought, if it was my sister, something like this would’ve never happened.
If in her place it was Rose, as originally intended, they wouldn’t have suffered so many
cruel betrayals.
Because her sister was strong, dependable, and so people believed in her.
Clara couldn’t become like that no matter how much she tried.
She, a girl who knew nothing, couldn’t have stood leading others. Her sister would’ve
at least suspected Guin.
Even she had heard talk that a traitor may be in their midst.
But she couldn’t even imagine that it’d be Guin, this man who’d served her family for
so long.
Thinking back, there were many points where he seemed to be scheming something,
but she’d waved those thoughts away as imaginings.
Her people had fought so hard, and they’d even gotten aid from Shadow. Yet, she still
lost.
Clara was already shedding tears. She felt horrible for the people who’d put their trust
in her, she fest horrible for Batt.
“Do you see this, OWL! Reveal yourself now! That is, if you care for the fate of this girl!”
The wind grew stronger and the snowfall increased along with it, creating a curtain of
white.
“There is no one else to lead the Royalists once this girl dies. After all, all her other blood
kin are gone.”
Blood, that’s right, blood. Maximilian was right. Clara was only chosen for her royal
blood, not because she was a good leader.
Still, there were those who genuinely believed in her, and stayed with her.
Clara wiped away her tears and looked at the cold ground where Batt lay. The blood
that had spread out from under him colored the snow red as it fell.
“5… 4… 3…”
Behind Maximilian stood a man of the Doem Camp. The man who had warned her
about the traitor among her people.
Clara nodded.
“2… 1…”
“See that gardener lyin’ bloody over there… That’s my pops.” Zack spoke with wrath
wreathing his voice.
“Oh, so you were our traiter after all… Perhaps a survivor of the secret royal guard? I
recall they were all executed.”
“I might be weak compared to you. But even us weaklings have ways to fight. Now,
kindly let Her Highness free, boss.”
Zack had her knife at Maximilian’s neck, which Guin had his sword at Clara’s.
“I wonder, should I…?”
He saw Clara at Guin’s mercy, Batt bloodied and laying still, and of course, the knife at
his own throat.
“Well, aren’t you calm. I can slit your throat anytime I want, buddy.”
“Kuku… I suppose you think you have the upper hand now. Sad to say, I don’t quite see
it like that.”
“My only concern is how much of my power I should reveal to you lot. I’d sincerely
wanted to end this maintaining the face of a minor villain.”
“The face of a minor villain…? Wait, so you’re involved with them… the real Evil lurking
in the shadows…?”
Zack took a quick glance at the black haired boy laying propped up a side wall.
“Ho… Zack, you seem to know something you shouldn’t… how unfortunate.”
“…Unfortunate?”
“Yes, indeed very unfortunate… since now I must kill everyone here.”
“-- WHAT!?”
Suddenly, Maximilian had vanished. Having lost sight of his mortal foe, Zack’s knife
was now stuck in thin air.
The next instant, snow flurried upwards and blood rained down.
“Gahhh…!!”
At the center of them stood Maximilian with a sinister smile. He flicked his sword to
shed off the blood.
The ones that Maximilian had cut down were indeed-- the guards and other member
of the Doem Camp.
“…Indeed. They were closer as well as complacent. If I must kill everyone other than
you, then the order matters not much.”
Warm blood spray hit Clara’s face, and the sword at her own neck clattered to the ground.
“N-no… Guin…”
Just when they were supposed to be at a standstill, the situation had changed instantly
and dramatically.
Prisoner and guard alike had been cut down without distinction… as if their lives held
no value whatsoever.
“Me a monster? Surely I’m but a simple criminal, put here as punishment for my
crimes. Just your average prisoner.”
“--!”
Then,
“Gahh!!”
“Yes, I will kill you last. Writhe in agony and watch. I will now begin culling all your
comrades. I will bring you Royalists true despair…”
“Right… suppose I shall take my time with this. Come out now, OWL. The more you
hide, so much more will they die. Come out if you wish to save them. If you can defeat
me, that is…”
As for Zack--
He, despite his carved back, was crawling along the snow.
“…P-please…”
Even as blood dripped out from his mouth, Zack clawed the snow with trembling
fingers so as to approach the boy.
“Just, do something… whatever your goals are… just help us, for now…”
-- And saw,
“…Huh?”
In the middle of the snow storm, one man landed onto the ground before him. A man
in a jet black longcoat.
“You’re… Shadow…”
Shadow Garden was a recognized threat to the Order. An hidden organization that boldly
opposed them.
They had exposed the existence of the Order to the world. They couldn’t be taken lightly.
Even the combat potential of Shadow Garden rivalled that of the Order. Their
leadership, known as The Seven, are rumored to house individuals of equal measure
to a Knight of the Rounds.
And within this shadowy organization, most mysterious of all was the man Shadow
himself.
Every member of the Order said to have fought him had been eliminated, and the only
places he’d been witnessed, to date, were at the Goddess’ Challenge and the God of War
Festival.
His strength was measured at… Undefeatable.
Maximilian suddenly recalled what Doem, who had witnessed Shadow first had, had
said: “It’s hard to believe that thing is even human. He’s like Diabolos… No wonder he
noticed our existence…” Doem had rambled on like that one drunken evening.
But now, after feeling that vast magic, he was starting to understand his colleague's fears.
“Your mana, it is certainly interesting… it far surpasses anything mere mortals can
contain. And it is dense. Far denser than anything I’ve seen.”
Maximilian calmly scrutinized the mana that kept gushing out of the man like the
blizzard was carrying it away.
“I welcome you to the kingdom of Oriana. I do not know what your goals are in this
land, but your luck has just run out. I am Maximilian ‘Coldblood’. I specialize in people
boastful of their mana such as yourself… As such, I shall dissect you thoroughly to find
how exactly you hold so much!”
The ground settled snow surged upwards and a figure blurred into existence behind
Shadow.
“…How?”
Shadow simply stood there, unfazed.
Then, as if that attack had been an illusion, the man in black turned and faced Maximilian.
“That coat must be an artifact. A good one too to have blocked my sword. I shall relieve
you of it soon enough…”
“Over here.”
“Wrong way.”
“-- Weakling.”
Maximilian’s strikes came from all directions, and even from above, successively and
without pause.
Shadow couldn’t even react as he was cut away at from every which way.
Then finally--
“It is done.”
“All artifacts have a limit to their endurance. Now your precious coat is finished.”
At some point, a female form had been already standing where Shadow lay collapsed-
- dressed in her pitch black bodysuit, it was OWL.
“How sad, OWL. You’re all but too late--”
“Foolish. Shadow is finished, and the same fate awaits you next--”
“Played…?”
“…You may.”
Violet mana then blew away the debris, and Shadow slowly stood up.
Maximilian was half in a panic but in contrast, OWL was calmness itself.
“…I wished to fully judge the power of that man. For reference, as it were…”
“For reference… I understand now. I have one more thing I must ask.”
OWL asked with a tinge of anger in her tone.
OWL blew the snow at her feet away with her sword. The powdery white pulled away
to reveal a black form.
This was-- the lump of slime that had taken the form of Cid Kageno.
OWL roared as if to overpower the howl of the blizzard around them. Her voice
contained fierce resolve.
“Cid is safe…”
“--!”
Shadow and OWL stared at one another for some time. A silent tension rising between
them.
Then…
“You have saved my life, granted me power, and have shown me the path I must tread.
I… do not want to doubt you. So I shall trust those words… But.”
“If the words you said are false… If you’ve put Cid in danger… I will not forgive you!”
Shadow gave OWL as sidelong glance.
“I do not need your forgiveness. Regardless of what you may learn or think of me, my
path shall not waver…”
Shadow looked away from her, and silently drew his sword.
“OWL, you… I heard say that our people had a secret plan, is that your role in all this?”
“I am not alone. We are currently aiding your faction. I had wanted to provide a proper
explanation, but time is of the essence. Please follow me, this may be our last chance
to leave the capital.”
“Then please follow after me. We will be heading underground and meet allies en route.”
OWL hoisted Batt onto her back and headed for the camp gates.
This bloodlust that seemed to cause tremors in the earth-- was of course that of Shadow.
“Shadow--!!”
Maximilian glared back, rage building on his face. That was all he could do.
He could only watch in spite as OWL left the premises together with the Royalists.
And once the last of them, Zack, was also leaving, the bloodlust became even more fierce.
“--!?”
Zack was dripping in sweat and repeatedly nodded at the man in black.
Then, Zack left, ran away as fast as his feet could take him…
“Is that your p-plan, to intimidate me? Foolish, you don’t stand a chance--!”
His sword followed a straight path to the man at incredible speed. Its tip surely to pierce
the throat.
-- Yet.
“-- WHAT!?”
“Let, go…!”
Try as he might, Maximilian couldn’t dislodge his sword from between the man’s
fingers. It was as if the blade was stuck into a boulder. It moved not no matter how
much he pushed and pulled.
“Show me all your power-- if you don’t wish for a swift death…”
Shadow released the sword, causing Maximilian to pitch over and fall.
“Now you’ll pay for that attitude. I will have you know despair.”
Maximilian’s mana surged and his eyes were dyed blood red.
Maximilian blurred.
“-- An afterimage.”
“As I thought, you have no means of reacting to my speed. Yes, that is inevitable. I am
not your average Awakened I’ll have you know…”
“Slow! You’re too slow, Shadow!! Now taste the power of a true 2nd of the Order!!”
The myriad Maximilians in the fierce blizzard truly appeared as if he came out of a
cold and deadly kaleidoscope.
“Soon enough, that artifact of yours will be exhausted! That will be your end!!”
The endless slashes had numbered to more than a thousand now.
“WHAT--!”
As the uplifted snow slowly drifted back to the ground, the identity of the form was
made clear.
Shadow was standing there, having withstood Coldblood Kaleidoscope-- without injury.
Without a scratch on him, the man in black stood as if the fierce rush from just now
was but an illusion.
“Correct. By itself Slime is very weak as material. However, what would happen if it
were to be infused with mana of incredible proportions…?”
“H-hah, idiocy. Indeed Slimes are said to have high mana conductivity. However,
handling it as material is impossible. The mana paths aren’t even similar to that of a
human’s.”
“Ah--!”
“Combining a great number of Slimes with one’s own flesh. It is similar to attempting
to mix oil and water. But it is possible to fuse them using mana.”
“Impossible… you merged human mana paths with that of a monster… You would need
an unimaginable level of control to achieve such a feat!”
“Verily. To my knowledge, those in this world who can perform such a task-- is I and I
alone.”
“-- Y-you lie! You lying scoundrel, do you think I will believe that…”
Within the white blizzard, the jet black garment expanded to both sides like wings.
Jet black wings like that of the devil had manifested out of the coat.
Maximilian could think of only one material able to change shape so freely.
--Slime.
However, the blazing speed of his sword was easily stopped by the now transformed
devil wings.
“Slow…”
“Know this. The quantity of my mana is not so different from your own.”
“If well compressed, it only appears hundred-fold more powerful when released. I
simply do that whenever I use it… like so.”
The violet mana collected on the wings and appeared as small feathers.
“Quality easily trumps quantity when it concerns mana. And quality comes from
control. To that end, the amount of control you can exert while you release… determines
everything.”
Its light enveloped Maximilian, erased the snow and swallowed up everything.
As it fizzled out, having ended everything, only a large crater remained where the
walled camp once stood.
Then, the jet black wings flapped, taking their bearer high into the snowy sky.
Rose was quite familiar with the intricate underground escape tunnels under the capital.
After all, she’d been taught how to navigate them if it ever came to it. However, these
tunnels were not connected to the concentration camp, and so, the other members of
her squad had patiently dug a hole nearby to connect to it.
Rose, Clara and several others were now walking along those tunnels having jumped
down the hole.
Shadow would have ample strength to deal with Maximilian. Rose couldn’t imagine
Shadow losing to him. If there wasn’t that issue considering Cid, she would’ve trusted
him fully even. She might’ve even been in awe and respected Shadow for his strength
alone.
It was worrying.
But for now, she just had to trust that Shadow wasn’t lying. She couldn’t abandon her
duty and go searching for Cid.
Still, if Cid really was safe as Shadow claimed, it raised even more question.
Why was that Slime there? What reason did Shadow have to make a faux Cid?
Could it be-- Cid and Shadow were connected somehow…? Rose thought back on her
image of Cid. She couldn’t see anything about him that would be related to Shadow.
Before long, they had made it to the location where her squad members would be
waiting.
Small holed leading to the surface was the only source of light in these tunnels.
“…664?”
Rose let down Batt from her back and slowly approached the figure.
The woman in black who was sitting with her back to the wall was definitely her squat
leader, 664.
She was injured. Blood had drenched the wall behind her.
“Eh?”
From a direction where no one was supposed to be, one man suddenly came walking.
“…What!?”
He was a tall man, with hair white as snow swept to the back of his head.
“…665!?”
“--!”
Rose quickly caught 665 as she fell and checked her breathing.
“…ugh.”
“Why!?”
“Eh!?”
Rose was aghast and stared at the man, who in turn gave her a curt bow.
Behind Rose, the people following Clara stirred. Rose asked Clara to lead them a safe
distance away.
“…You have the wrong person.”
Rose glowered at Mordred, who in turn looked at her with a bemused expression.
“Shadow Garden… so the organization opposing us has come here too. Rather than the
Key of the Oriana, I personally find you bunch much more interesting.”
“…Key of Oriana?”
“Did Shadow Garden not intervene in this war for the sake of obtaining the Key? Oh,
perhaps you didn’t know?”
She had become a member of Shadow Garden, but that didn’t mean she knew
everything. Shadow Garden was a large organization. The Seven who lead them all
held unbelievable strength, and the special forces known as the Numbers all had
strength equal or surpassing that of Rose. Rose was only a single cog in the machine.
Still, this Key of Oriana seemed to be something that could concern her personally.
Would they fill her in on it if she asked?
They had many injured. Mordred was clearly stronger than she could handle, but she
could at least buy time for them. Rose drew her sword.
“Leader…”
“As one of the Order, I mustn’t let you run free. But I believe letting you go now would
be quite beneficial to me.”
“Meaning?”
“My interest in Shadow Garden is quite deep. I’m specifically interesting in your
leadership, The Seven.”
“…Enjoyable?”
“Yes, very. So much that I’m willing to let you go past me.”
As he opened his palm, something drifted down from it. Bright like spring water-- they
were strands of hair.
And rose happened to know someone with such beautiful and strange hair.
“Wait, that’s--”
“Go on, pass at your leisure. The Doem Faction and Royalists will clash soon enough.
However, this is not your ordinary civil war.”
“This is a proxy war between the Order and Shadow Garden… how fun.”
It will become an increasingly difficult battle with him around, Rose thought.