Kazuki's eyes widened slightly as Aiko entered the guild hall, her presence instantly recognizable. But she wasn't alone. Walking beside her was Yuki Mori, her best friend of 14 years. Yuki, a striking figure with raven-black hair and sharp red eyes, was known for wielding blood magic, a fearsome and rare power that made her a Palladium rank adventurer—one step below the elites.

As Aiko and Yuki passed Kazuki, he noticed something glinting on the ground. Aiko's adventurer card. Without hesitation, Kazuki picked it up and called out, "You dropped this." His voice was cold, almost detached.

Aiko turned, her expression softening as she saw what he held. "Oh, thank you!" she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Let me get you a drink as thanks." She smiled warmly, oblivious to the storm brewing within Kazuki.

As she ordered, Kazuki stood silently, his mind racing. Should I tell her? The thought of revealing his true identity—of telling her he was Kazuki—warred in his mind. What if she tells the others? What if Sako and Taro overhear and spread the word that I'm alive? And those rumors he overheard... Is she really crying because I was banished, or was that just another lie?

His internal conflict was interrupted when Sako and Taro, two of his former classmates, stumbled toward him. Taro sneered, "What's with the missing arm and eye, huh? Not so tough now, are ya?"

Sako, smirking, joined in. "Hey Aiko, how about ditching this half guy and having a drink with someone who's actually whole?"

Kazuki felt a flare of anger rise within him, but before he could react, Aiko stepped in front of him, her eyes cold. "That's enough," she said sternly.

Yuki's eyes narrowed, and without a word, she raised her hand. Blood-red energy crackled from her fingertips. "Blood Bind!" she hissed, and in an instant, Sako and Taro's bodies froze. They couldn't move, their limbs paralyzed for ten minutes.

Aiko glanced at Kazuki, concern flickering in her eyes. "Let's get out of here."

The three of them left the guild together. Once they were outside, Aiko turned to Kazuki, her gaze curious. "Where are you from? You don't seem like a local."

Kazuki's voice was calm and distant as he answered, "Grimvale. It's a small village."

Aiko smiled. "Grimvale? I've never heard of it. I'm actually from another world. Yuki and I both are."

Hearing this, a small warmth sparked in Kazuki's chest. "She hasn't changed." The Aiko he once knew—the Aiko he admired—was still the same, even after three years in this strange world. He found himself smiling slightly, though he quickly hid it.

Soon, it was time to part ways. As Aiko and Yuki left, Sako and Taro re-emerged from the guild, their pride still wounded. They shouted after him, "What's so special about you, huh? We're better than you in every way!"

Taro struck first, aiming a magic-infused punch toward Kazuki. "Dust Spike!" But Kazuki easily dodged the attack. Sako, not missing a beat, created a thick cloud of smoke with his magic. "Smokescreen!"

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The air around Kazuki filled with swirling gray mist, obscuring his vision, but it didn't matter. He rushed forward, driving his fist into Sako's gut with a sickening THUD.

"These guys..." Kazuki muttered, his voice laced with disdain, "...are weak."

Taro wasn't done, though. Summoning his magic, he conjured a swirling sandstorm. "Sandstorm!" The air grew thick with grit, but again, Kazuki rushed through the storm without hesitation, landing a hard punch directly into Taro's stomach.

Sako and Taro struggled to their feet, ready to cast more spells, but Kazuki grabbed a large rock and hurled it at Sako, knocking him back. Taro, distracted by the sight, left himself wide open. Kazuki closed the distance in an instant, slamming another punch into his gut. "These guys... are weak... compared to what I've faced."

Kazuki stood over their unconscious forms, breathing steadily. "I won't kill them. Not yet." He paused, looking at their lifeless bodies sprawled on the ground. "Not yet." He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the thrill of the fight still fresh in his veins. "If they're all this lazy... surpassing them won't be hard. But if these two are the weakest... how strong could the others be?"

Kazuki turned and walked away, the tension slowly fading. His thoughts turned to Aiko. "Aiko... I can't do anything if she's around. She'll only hold me back." His steps faltered for a moment. "But... when the day of my revenge comes, will I be able to hurt her? If her kindness... if what we shared on Earth holds me back... then this revenge is pointless." He clenched his fists, feeling the rage building inside him again. "But I have to avenge Sato's death. The only way I can do that... is to rid myself of all emotions."

His journey continued until he stumbled upon a small hut in the middle of nowhere. The hut belonged to an overseer, a figure known for possessing great knowledge. Kazuki decided to ask the overseer the question that had been gnawing at him for some time.

"Why is dark magic considered a curse in this country?" Kazuki's voice was as cold as ever, but there was a trace of curiosity in it.

The overseer, a withered old man with a long white beard, looked up from his desk and smiled knowingly. "Ah, I see. You must be a dark magic user yourself, no? Very few ask about such a dangerous subject."

Kazuki remained silent, waiting for the explanation.

"Dark magic is considered a curse for many reasons," the overseer began, leaning forward. "First, allow me to explain the concept of magic awakening. When one masters all the subtypes of a magic, they can evolve it into something far more powerful. For instance, flame magic can awaken into solar magic—blessed by the gods—or inferno magic, a reflection of the flames of hell. It all depends on the user's deeds."

Kazuki's eyes narrowed. "And dark magic?"

The overseer chuckled softly. "Dark magic is unique. During the war between the gods and devils, most of the devils wielded dark magic, and they were unstoppable. It uses so little mana, yet the damage it can deal is immense. And when dark magic is infused into weapons or melee attacks, your mana regenerates with every strike." The overseer's eyes glinted. "It's a dangerous power, one that's difficult to control. That's why it's feared."

Kazuki absorbed this information silently, his mind working through the implications.

The overseer continued. "There are three subtypes of dark magic: night magic, shadow magic, and an unknown subtype. No one knows what the third is because no humanoid has ever unlocked it. But I will tell you this, young man—when you awaken dark magic, even if you've led a life of virtue, it always evolves into void magic. Pure darkness. That's why it's a curse."

Kazuki didn't say a word. He simply tossed the overseer three gold coins as a tip and turned to leave.

As he walked away, the overseer called after him. "I pray for your success on your journey, dark one."

Kazuki's hand clenched around the handle of the door. He stepped outside, the weight of the overseer's words hanging over him like a shadow. "Void magic... pure darkness."

He looked up at the sky, a mixture of emotions stirring within him. "I'll master it... and then, no one will stand in my way."