Inside the highest building in that city, the supreme tower of the Demon King, multiple people gathered in the middle of it. There were about six people in that spot, and a conspicuous figure rose from his chair just now. A particular familiar was held captive by the hand of someone, and from his head-to-toe, he was afraid and eaten by despair. As if death tried to grasp him up, and that hand dried up his life, he mumbled:

"You.....bastard, why—"

His hands went to the hand which crushed his neck gradually — that was the hand of Dandelion the third — who had a smile on his face.

"See? They were obviously in their good mood."

He did not point his finger anywhere, and the proof said they were beside him right now. There were three people on his left, and now they stood in line.

First of all, stood a long dark-haired woman, and this time, she wore something different. She looked more lascivious in that dark dress, and on top of her head, there was a black and purple witch hat. She was Myu, the witch of the void.

On her left, there was Nami, a short-haired woman that now clad in foreign orange clothes. Even though she had that calm air of a sea breeze, her expression was sharp. And at the same time, a smile broke out on her face, and it also pointed through at him.

And last but not least, to her left stood a braided hair woman that held a bizarre great golden hammer in a white dress. Anyone would assume that she wanted to pick a fight with the person before her. Yet, in actuality, she didn’t have any sliver of that intention at all. She was none other than Rea, the blacksmith Goddess.

In front of them, Azazel tilted his head, furrowed his eyebrows for a slight moment. As he did so, he went back to his normal state, calmly smiled with his eyes closed.

He lets out a sigh as his hand made a facepalm.

“Damn, what was wrong with you all? Just then, I heard someone took your friends’ consciousness away, yet why are you so happy?”

At first, they didn’t answer at all. In other words, they ignored Azazel's question as if it was nothing. Perhaps, they didn’t see nor hear him, yet they only could sense his presence.

Even his presence is one of the most terrifying, they deemed that presence as a usual thing that no need to be feared.

On the other hand, The Demon King himself had a different thought. He thought that they might mock his presence by ignoring him. Annoyed, he did not give them a second warning. Then —

“Fine, if you dare to make fun of me, mine shalt summon thee —”

“Thy Empire hath come. Fourth Heaven, heed the call of mine.”

Azazel uttered as he merely waved his hand. The surrounding air momentarily gathered on his left like a harsh wind, swiftly spun as if it made a tornado.

As the surrounding air became more intense, a man finally appeared out of the light. At first, he might be a businessman, and his look said it all, covered in a grey coat and a red tie underneath.

He gently pressed his glasses as he looked at some pillars and ceilings around that made out of silver and gold. That impression was closer to a businessman, rather than anything else.

However, the truth told that he was the ruler of the Empire of the Unknown. His mere presence was also one the strongest among the Outer Realm.

Furthermore, the Outer Realm itself was far beyond all comprehension and description, as no one could know its notion even the slightest. It was no more bounded by any statement and independent beyond all logics and axioms of truth.

“Hmmm...”

The bespectacled man started talking.

“Ah, finally you came.”

“Do you have any business with me, my friend?”

"Take care of these freaks already. Imma head out anyway.”

Afterwards, the space behind him distorted, tore itself as if a paper. It also revealed the swirling darkness as the surrounding air sucked inside. As if an opened door directed him towards that foreign darkness, Azazel walked inside it, and it closed. Hence, the surrounding space momentarily went back to normal.

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Olympus Hotel

It was a five-star hotel in the town, beautifully designed as if a presidential palace. The interior itself was wide and fancy as if a government throne room. Despite its design, it was devoid of people, perhaps, due to lacking customer service.

Except few, even though they did stay there, they would not go anywhere except their own reserved rooms. One of them was a whitening-haired man — Crime Lord Ruel and a certain blonde-haired girl opposing his position.

Now, they were inside a spacious living room, sat opposing each other as Ruel sipped a glass of tea.

“Ah, this flavor. Darjeeling is the best. Oh, wanna try some?”

He asked the girl opposing him. The girl, her hands were clenched, seated before her mouth so it might hint at a shy feeling. She thought it was awkward to talk with a stranger man. On the other hand, he saved her life from the swarm of monsters. She afterwards forced herself to be closer with him.

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“N-no.” She answered as her eyes averted to her left.

Her face also blushed for a second, but nobody there was noticing her.

Even though Ruel was there, he was enjoying the tea the entire time.

"I see." Not yet stopped there, Ruel uttered afresh. This time, his gaze went upwards the girl's eyes.

"By the way..."

The girl grunted for a moment in response.

"Well, do you feel better here?"

"I guess so...I don't know."

“Hm. So what do you think about this place?”

“I have no idea. But, it kinda scares me, though.”

“Why? It should be like home. Should it be warm? At this place's current condition, we have a heater here. And there, you have a big bed so you can sleep well there. What’s wrong?”

“It’s dark.”

As the girl told him, he realized that the room only had four small lamps that emanated a dim turquoise light. Dark oak woods also made out the interior. Moreover, the room had no window. Around them were only a table between them and a fancy unkempt tv next to it. The room's design could be the reason why she was afraid. In fact, there were still many unknown reasons that made her feel so. Ruel, who almost knew about everything, still have to think about it due that girl was the one that caused him on the verge of his omniscience.

Nevertheless, he wouldn't concern about it anymore. Instead, he tried to change the subject. After that, he looked back at the girl again, and he saw the girl's eyelids were starting to fall. Her body, now it went looser than before. But, the girl didn't realize it. Right now, it was time for him to remind the young woman about that.

"I see now you are sleepy. Don't worry. First, I'll tell you a bedtime story before that."

Ruel lowered her body and addressed her with a low tone.

“Hm? What was that?”

There, he started to tell her.

“So, have you ever heard the story about actors?”

“No, neither I do know the meaning of it. What was that?”

She knew that actors were people played as a character from movies, videogames or tv series. And yet, as she momentarily felt that he won’t talk such things like that, the word “actor” might have another meaning...

“It started a few days ago. The world was now in chaos. Someone is trying to disrupt the balance of this world. He...uhh, what should I call him? That someone chose six people to observe what’s lying behind this all. Yes, these people, we call them by actors.”

He continued as his expression grew more solemn. Noticed, the girl focused her attention on him, even though she was tired.

“...Alas, they encountered them without knowing. Those people, they claimed themselves blatantly. And, they also sent those actors’ souls flying.”

Upon reaching that part, he stopped for a while. He rose from his chair, as the girl questioned him:

“So, did they die?”

“No.”

Ruel answered as he paced around the room, stood beside her. He heaved a sigh, and continued:

“I might know what happens next, but it was a secret that I can’t tell you. That’s all for today, I guess.”

“I see.”

She rose from her chair and went towards the bedroom. Before she entered the room, once again, she asked Ruel.

“Oh yes, name?”

“Hm. Just refer me as Ruel, for now.”

“I am Engeline. Then, good night.”

She closed the door and smiled at him. Alone inside the living room, Ruel slowly walked to the corner near the door, muttered slowly as his fingers held his chin.

“...Fufufu, instead of dying, you three ascended. Now, you have known all possibilities of past, future, and present, as before that, your past unfolded before your eyes as well.”

Out of a sudden, a shadow suddenly emerged behind him and talked to him. He had already known about it, and his eyes peered to the floor. It emanated a voice, spoke to him as shown it was his familiar.

“My Lord, based on what I see before, I have confirmed we will saw an unexpected, great war after this. I saw several people near this hotel, and I think you have seen them before. Apparently, they have arranged a big plan out there.”

“Hoho. Reine and her gang, huh?”

“Yes. What should we do, then?”

“Well, I think we shouldn’t interfere anymore. Those guys —the actors and such will deal with them later. They are quite the troublemakers, after all.”

“Fine, then I’ll take my leave, sir.”

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In the unconscious world, Endou ━ Ignatius was attempting to reach the point where he was conscious. Not yet arrived at his body, he stopped somewhere ━ at a point where people call it the “Dream” world. Inside there, a figure approached it out of nowhere, and as he peered, the figure was tall and muscular. From the characteristics, that was Marquise, even though his hair and face seemed blurry.

That figure went closer to him. He also spoke some words as he stretched his hand.

“...Let’s do our game together, fair and square.”