What the hell is that?

No, I didn’t need to ask that question. Though my eyes are at grade two hundred, I can clearly see what that thing was flying closer to the window, and it’s growing ever bigger. The real question is, ‘Why is that thing flying in our direction?’

And that thing approaching the train…

…

…

…

was a jet aircraft.

I shouted in panic, as did so the other passengers sitting on the same side as I. The curious passengers on the other side gathered to witness a scene about to unfold. Then the cabin went up in an uproar. Screams, shouts, and gasps mixed in the air, and the conductors, with all their continence, tried to calm down the passengers.

“Brace for impact! Brace for impact!” they shouted.

I bet that is what the flight attendants in the plane are saying the same right now. But are you kidding me? An unrelated plane is about to crash into a slow-moving train on a bridge. What are the chances of that!?

I can do nothing but only stare at the sped towards me as its engines’ roar increased in volume. Its high pitch sound drowned the shrieks of the terrified passengers. As for me, I could only stare at the mercy of the winged missile.

I was so close, yet so far. I can’t believe it had to happen this way.

I saw an enormous between two enormous objects, and I sat in the front seat offering a full view of my death. The plane’s nose peeking into the body of the cabin. I saw a glimpse of the pilots’ horrified faces who I hoped at least wrestled with the controls. It’s unfortunate that I won’t be able to hear anything other than the engines of the two mating vehicles.

My whole world got pushed sideways and pulled down by gravity. I didn’t see the plane in my vision, maybe some bits of it flying midair. The side of the train was now the ceiling. I looked up and the rest of the train cars get pushed off like dominoes, and the plane’s ruined shape gliding off the breaking bridge. If I took a photo of this, people would think that this was straight out of a movie, but I wouldn’t feel that way. I felt like I was the most cursed human to be ever born.

Life teasing me of the prospect of success and taking it away while I’m on my way to it. It is as they say, ‘Reality is often disappointing.’

No, this is way too much to be disappointing.

And with that, I go to my eternal slumber.

I waited…

…

and waited…

…

…and waited for the pain, or the cold water rushing into my lungs. Or maybe this is it? Is this what death feels like?

Then I felt it. Something pierced through my chest, something cold, and sharp. Then the feeling of being submerged in water. But I have long taken my last breath. And that sensation, along with the pain, disappeared, only to be replaced with another kind of pain.

But it felt less agonizing than the metal fragment through my chest, but the pain is throughout my whole body.

Wait, this feels familiar.

In my NEET days, I would be holed up in my room for weeks on end, and rarely left my seat, and never exercised. That seat was remarkable though… remarkably unpleasant. I bought it because it looked and sound cool, but in the end, it was so uncomfortable that I regretted purchasing it. Never buy these so-called ‘G-chairs.’ Not even the devil would use it as their throne.

And that feeling of muscle cramping is somehow being reminisced by my entire body. No, my mind has to be playing tricks on me right now. Or maybe I have reached the afterlife?

Concluding that this is in fact the ‘afterlife,’ I opened my eyes, but the scene is far from what I expected.

Lying down on the cold, stone floor, I saw a horrifying black creature, standing on its legs. It had a form akin to that of a human, but its presence suggested that it is not. It had a face of a man but had horns on his head. I saw black wings extending from his back. I hope I’m not imagining things. Is this the afterlife?

Then a sinister voice spoke from it, but I couldn’t understand it. It sounded like random sounds with no coherent meaning.

By the tone of it, he seems to be asking a question? No, is he declaring something?

He spoke again, then pointed his palm towards me, and something black flowed from his palm as the liquid-like substance floated midair, slithering toward me.

Firstly, that’s disgusting! And secondly, what in the world!?

It seemed that I’m the one misunderstanding.

***

“My son is born! And I shall name him after me, ‘Mielfizun!’ Mielfizun! Ah, what a wonderful name! A name of greatness!” The black thing beckons a child to rise to his feet, “Arise! For it’s the time the salvation of this world!”

A smashing of wood was heard behind the thing, and the creature pivots towards it.

“I won’t let you continue any further, you Devil!” a woman clads in heavy; iron armor points her broadsword threateningly towards the creature.

“Oh? Another hero? You think that you will be able to stop me?” the Devil snickers. “Don’t you know, I have already killed many Heroes, the likes of you? What difference can one more make?”

“Underestimate me all you want, but your miscalculation will prove to be your grave!” The woman swings her sword in the air, and a whish of wind in a form of a blade sliced towards the Devil, but the Devil effortlessly dodged it.

“Ha! Such a pointless attack! Do you think you could match up with me? Fool, as you are with the other corpses.” The Devil sends a black cloud engulfing the woman in it, but the woman emerges unharmed. “What!?”

The woman pierces through the cloud with her sword which shone like lightning, “You didn’t anticipate this, did you?”

“It’s impossible! I destroyed that sword long ago!”

“Do you think the townspeople were hardheaded? They were as crafty as you are! And now with this sword, I shall avenge them!” The woman moves with the swift speed with her sword charged towards the Devil.

The Devil attempts to protect himself from another black entity, but the lightning sword pierced through it with eases and stabs through the Devil’s exposed abdomen. The Devil coughs up red blood due to the attack.

“You should have worn armor there,” the woman mocks.

“T—that’s true,” the Devil struggled to speak with his breathy voice, “but it wasn’t there for a reason.”

The woman, realizing that she has been outwitted, hastily pulls out her sword causing the wound to bleed more. Then the woman swung her sword to the Devil’s head, cutting it off cleanly from its neck.

The lifeless body staggered backward before it fell lifelessly to the ground, and the woman approached the frozen boy.

***

S—she just sliced his head off! My eyes were frozen in place as they locked onto the mutilated body. He was already stabbed, and I saw the sword go through his back! Isn’t that overkill? Oh no, now she is approaching me… Am I next!?

Frightened, and fearing for my life, I screamed, “D—don’t kill me, please!!” I closed my eyes waiting for my head to be sliced off, or for my chest to be stabbed, again.

Wait, where am I? Shouldn’t I be dead? What’s happening? I look down at my body, and it looked unfamiliar. T—These aren’t my hands, and I was never this short! This isn’t my body!

But I snapped out of it and looked to the killer.

But she seemed to have been stopped in her tracks, and I saw her brilliant blue eyes staring at me. The moonlight that came through the building’s colorful windows illuminated her mature face though that didn’t make her any less beautiful.

She has seen many things, I’m sure. She is used to this.

Then I saw her mouth move, “Are you Japanese?”

Wait, she knows how to speak Japanese? All this time, I have been hearing gibberish. Wait—!

I quickly raised my hand to warn her, “Watch out!!”

A muscular arm sent her flying into a wall, and I hear a loud crash. Even the dust from the ceiling fell because of the impact. I realized that I’m in some kind of a chapel and that I’m at the altar of the cathedral, except that this cathedral didn’t have the signs of the cross.

Wait, who attacked her?

I looked over to the area where the woman’s enemy fell, but I only saw the pool of blood and a mutilated head.

What!? Isn’t he supposed to be dead!? With wide eyes, I searched the area, and I see the familiar black figure again, but this time something’s different.

I blinked my eyes, but the horrifying sight remained. He had three more heads on his shoulders. And the wound on his abdomen is gone.

I look to the other party who is now slowly staggering to stand. Oh, I was still on the floor this whole time. I have to stand up. My legs also felt weak. I had to support myself against the wall before I could fully stand.

Then the creature rushes its approach towards her and lifts her by her neck. In response, the woman struggled to set herself free from his grasp.

What is he doing? Is he going to kill her? I know, the woman did kill him first, but she knew where I came from. She needs to survive.

I took one step forward, and my legs trembled, but by placing my hands and slumping my posture, I walked towards the fighting pair. “Stop! Stop that! Release her, you monster!” I closed the distance between me and the creature. The creature looked upon me perplexed, and he uttered something that I couldn’t understand.

Oh gosh! Your breath smells bad! Brush your teeth or something!

I tapped on the creature’s shoulders lightly begging him to stop, and it seemed like the creature was able to understand my gesture. He set her free, and the woman gasped for breath and coughed.

***

“You are very zealous, my son. I applaud that. Now, for the first step of you becoming a demon lord, you shall kill this woman!” the Devil exclaimed.

The woman slowly faces the boy and asks, “Y—you… are you from Japan?”

“Don’t you dare utter insolence against my son, you vile human!” the Devil slapped the woman’s face, and it swung violently from impact.

The woman groaned in pain as she struggled to look upon the boy’s face, “Y—you came from Japan, didn’t you?”

***

She speaks Japanese! She is the same as me! I’m so glad! Now I need to ask her many questions.

“Y—yes! I’m from Japan, like you, right? What is this place? Why are you here? What happened to me? What is happe—”

The creature growls terrifyingly, and I flinch backward.

“I’m sorry, I can’t answer all your questions because of the situation, but it seems like you are not conniving with Milfizier…”

“Miru… what now? How do you say that? I can’t pronounce ‘l’ quite correctly.”

“Listen to me carefully. Do what the Devil says, and you will live.”

“What devi—” I glance to the creature, “oh…”

“Just promise me one thing…”

“W—wait, hold on. I don’t know what’s happening. I still don’t have the full gra—”

“Take my sword, rotate its gem piece counter-clockwise. Protect it with your life, okay?”

“W—wait, hold on. About the part where I follow the Devil, I won’t do it. I can’t!”

“You must!”

“No, I ca—!”

The creature raises his voice with an impatient tone.

He seems to be pissed with our long conversation, and I have to make a decision quickly lest I make her suffer. Wait, what’s her name?

Then the creature grabbed her once again by her neck, and with his other hand, came vicious and disgusting tentacles that emerged from it. And the tentacles’ tips became as sharp as a nail.

He is about to kill her!!

I quickly leaped to him and raised a fist, “Do not kill her, you monster!!” Then I punched him with all my strength, and the recoil of the force pushed me back to the ground.

Ouch, ouch! My butt!

I strained my eyes from my position and was surprised to see the effect of my attack.

Woah! I only punched him, and he flew to the other side!

The creature crashed into a wall across the chapel, and he held the side of his lower body seemingly in pain.

I can’t believe my mere punch did that. Though, that may be the strongest punch I have ever done since high scho—

I bowed my head to the ground. I didn’t want to recall those days.

The creature flew and floated from the ground as its voice bellowed across the chapel.

***

“What are you doing, my son!? The humans are our enemies! Did that woman trick you!?” the Devil cried out in despair.

“Heh, a little persuasion could turn your son against you? How pathetic,” the woman sneered

“You woman!”

“What can you do? You can only forfeit! Look at the result of your son’s punch. His power rivals yours!”

“Don’t you think that I will be retreating! I will return and retrieve my son back! Mark my words!” the Devil flew through the wooden roof, causing the broken planks to fall to the ground.

The woman looked upon the boy who is surrounded by a dark ambiance, one that looked like black flames. “This boy will have a tough life ahead of him,” and she closed her eyes to her eternal slumber.

***

“Hey… hey!” I took the woman into my arms and shook her gently, “wake up! Don’t sleep! Wake up! You haven’t told me your name!”

Dang it! Is she dead!? No, please, she is my only help right now!

I take her sword and placed it on her chest, then I took her hand to hold it, “Wake up! Your sword is here! This sword has a gem piece thingy, right? Hey… hey!”

I know I seemed disrespectful to a corpse, but what was I supposed to do? In a world where no one understood me, but only her. Not even the Devil knows what I was saying.

Then someone with the same armored uniform as the now-deceased woman wore shouted from the open doorway and raised his sword. It seemed to be an order directed to me, but I do not understand what it was.

Then the knight threateningly walked towards me, and a group of soldiers followed close behind him.

Woah, woah, what’s happening?

I raised my hand to gesture that I am not an enemy.

The man shouted at me while he pointed to the lifeless body.

Oh dear, this looks bad on me, isn’t it? Does it look like I murdered her? Oh, gosh.

“No, no! Listen! I didn’t kill her!” I repeated my plead slowly, “I. Did. Not. Kill. Her.” I tried to charade him about this, but he doesn’t seem amused.

Oh no, he is mad now, isn’t he? I swear to you. If you have telepathy, I tell you, I didn’t kill her!

***

The knight raises his voice, “You killed her, didn’t you!? You demon! I shall arrest you at this very moment! If you resist, I will not hesitate to execute you!!”

But the helpless boy kept gesturing, but to the knight’s eyes, he seemed to be resisting.

“Alright, I have had enough, you demon! Be grateful for I had mercy on you because you are just a child!” then the knight raised his sword against the boy.

***

Oh, I’m about to die, aren’t I?

I took the sword into my arms and dodged the knight’s swing. Using this opportunity, I run a distance and start unscrewing this gem piece. I successfully acquired and dropped the sword in my hand for it was quite heavy.

The soldiers chased me around with their menacing swings, but I dodged each one of them. Then a knight with a crossbow shot an arrow toward me.

But the arrow disintegrated in front of my eyes, and the knights stood still for a moment, in surprise.

I took this opening to look at the gem piece to remember it. The gemstone was a deep red, like that of ruby, but it didn’t have its transparency. It was surrounded by some kind of metal. And that metal had meandering designs around it.

With that in memory, I quickly spotted a crack in the wall of the church and slipped the gem piece inside of it, and ran for the exit, but another knight blocked me from escaping.

***

“This is as far as you can go, boy!” the knight knocks him unconscious with the hilt of his sword. “Restrain him and bring him to the dungeon! I’ll meet him there. Make sure he doesn’t escape! He is dark and dangerous, do you understand?” the knight shouted a command to his comrades.

“Roger that, commander!” then the soldiers gather around and brought out thick metal cuffs from a metal box another soldier held.

They placed the boy’s small hands inside the cuffs and lock them. Then a knight whispered something to the cuffs, and the cuffs shone brightly for a moment before it fades.

That knight promptly reported, “The Anti-Rion cuffs have been activated!”

“Very well,” the knight’s commander nodded.

***

Agh, my head hurts. It feels like I’m spinning. I feel the blood rushing to my head. I feel like gravity is pulling me upwards. What is this horrible smell? It smells like… metal… urine… what? It smells like death!

Slowly opening my eyes, I saw iron boots surrounding me on the ceiling. I didn’t have the strength to scan around.

Wait, iron boots on the ceiling? That can’t be right.

I budged a little and heard the sound of chains clinking against each other. With a handful of my strength restored, I probed my surroundings. I saw the knight that I saw previously in the church.

Wait, this isn’t right. He is upside down! No, I’m upside down.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

I was bound by chains attached to the ceiling preventing my head to touch the ground.

Setting a wooden stool in front of me, the knight sat face to face. He vocalized something to me in an authoritative manner, but I couldn’t understand the gibberish of the language.

I didn’t respond a word, and he grew impatient. He started to yell his unknown language causing some of his spit to land on my face.

Disgusting.

But I still didn’t respond, because I couldn’t respond. No matter what I say will be unfamiliar to them.

***

“So, you won’t speak, huh? I won’t hold off even if you are a child, for the fact that you killed the Hero makes you deserving of torture!” the knight punched his stomach with his fist, and his subordinating knights flinched but didn’t dare to oppose him.

“Speak, you demon’s child! Where did the Devil go? What are his plans?” the knight interrogated him further, but the boy doesn’t answer. So, he mercilessly continued with his blows.

Then the metal door of the room swings open, and a young girl clothed in a white, gorgeous dress entered the room. “What are you doing to the poor boy?” shouted she.

“You are not supposed to be here, young angel. This is the Mayknight’s business.”

“What you are doing is torture! Release him at once!”

“Don’t think that you can order me around merely because of your position.”

“But what you are doing is immoral! Who could have heard that a Mayknight is torturing a young boy!? That will bring shame unto the King’s name!”

“He isn’t simply a young boy. Don’t you see? He is wrapped in darkness and places the kingdom in peril! If we don’t vanquish him right now—”

“Where are your ethics? This is unheard of a Mayknight! My conscience won’t allow me to ignore this. I shall report this to the King!”

“Don’t you dare! Can’t you see that the citizen’s lives are at stake!”

“But I can’t let you excruciate him any further! By the authority of the Angels, I order you to cease immediately!”

The knight stomped his way to the girl, towering over her, and he grabbed her by her collar, “Do not get in the way of my duty!”

“This is your duty?”

“This is judgment!”

“No!” the girl pushed him away and raises her palms toward him, “don’t make me use my Subjugation!”

The knight spat to the floor, “Fine! As you wish, I will cease my righteous and fair interrogation. May the blood be in your head if he escapes!” The knight begrudgingly gestured his men to follow him. “Don’t think you are going to remain in your position for too long because of your status as the Hero’s daughter. She is already dead, and you will be soon banished from this kingdom.”

“Don’t you dare mention her! You scoundrel!”

The knight passed by her on his way to the door as he clicked his tongue, “You will never be like your mother.” Then he left and slammed the door closed behind him, “Young kids nowadays are more stupid than a beast.”

The girl clenched her fist as she tried to hold back the tears.

***

W—what happened? Did they fight? The girl seems to have lost the debate or whatever. But oh man, my stomach hurts. I coughed up a lot of blood. I think I’m about to pass out.

Through my blurry eyes, I noticed the girl approach me as she bent her back to meet me at eye level.

What is this? ‘Good cop, bad cop’ strategy? I won’t fall for it!

Then she spoke to me with a soft voice, but I can’t understand her.

And I gather up my courage to talk back since she looked like a less intimidating person, “W—what are you going to do to me? Stay away from me! You will hurt me too, won’t you?” I struggled to swing using the chains away from her, but my hands and feet are bound, and I have lost all my strength due to the beat-up.

Then she lifted her palms toward me, and a surge of light appeared from her hands and went toward the thick, metal cuffs that bound me hanging.

Is this another kind of torture?

I felt the cuffs loosen, and I fell gently to the ground. I have been set free by whatever she did.

Could it be that she will take me somewhere worse? I won’t be tricked again. I’ve known this trick in high school. They will act kindly to you, and bring you into an alley, and beat you up. No, no! I’m tired of this!

I struggled to stay away from her as she approached me with open arms. “Stay away! Stay away! Don’t hurt me! Stay away!!,” I screamed.

Oh, this is bad. I’m losing consciousness. Must not sleep! Must not….

***

“It’s alright. I’m not going to hurt you! I’m only going to treat your wounds. Please keep still!”

I think I scared him too much. I feel bad, but I must not feel too bad, or I might sympathize too much with him.

He suddenly shouts at me in a different language. One that I am not familiar with.

Wait, that sounds familiar. The accent, the tone. It’s the language of my mother’s! I should have memorized it by now. I swear, mom, this time I will learn it!

His voice and movements slowed down and weakened. Then he fell asleep.

It must have been tough on him. Even though he may be the killer of my mother, they shouldn’t treat a boy this way. I’ll treat him well so that I can execute him myself! But before that, I must pull information out of him before I dispose of him. I’ll have to learn that language.

I took him into my quarters and laid him on my bed. I took off his clothes that revealed his young but battered skin.

He has been through a lot— no! Stop it! I must not sympathize with him. Remember, he killed my mother!

I felt for his forehead and discovered that he is having a slight fever. I prepare the treatment for it as my healing abilities are not at that level of treatment, though I can heal his wounds at least.

I stretched out my arms toward him and focus on my ability to heal him.

Heal him. Heal him. Let the Rions flow freely from my body.

A bright light appeared in front of my palms.

It’s working! My practice has paid off!

The beam of light meanders toward the boy’s wounds, and the wounds slowly closed up.

I did it! Now I’ll just get my notebook before he wakes up.

***

Ugh, agh, it’s my body’s cramping again, but I do feel a little bit lighter than last time. I feel a little warm though. A fever, perhaps? What is this scent? It smells so good. Wait, I’m lying on something soft. Ah, I wish my bed were like this. Wait, I’m supposed to be hanging from the ceiling! Where am I?

I slowly woke up from my thoughts, and I see the young girl’s kind face watching over me.

Her skin is so clear and so light. What country did she come from? Wait- isn’t she the same girl in the dungeon?

I jolted up from the bed and crawled away from her, “W—w—what are you going to do with me!? Please don’t hurt me! Please! Please!”

Then the girl spoke, “C—c—calum daun. Ay— I—I amu natto a ba—ba—bad pelson…”

I froze in amazement. Is she trying to speak in my language? It sounds horrible though, but I can quite understand it. I should continue listening to her then.

She continued, “I—I am tsorry i—ifuai ha—havey scarried y—you.”

“…a—are you trying to speak Japanese?”

“Y—yesu, I am!”

I gasped. Someone else can understand me!

“Thank goodness! You are an angel sent from heaven!”

“I—I’m sorry?”

“I mean, you can speak my language! Everyone hasn’t been able to understand me so far! Thank goodness!”

“I—I see.”

Oops, I completely forgot that she is struggling just recently. I should stick to the most basic sentences, but first…

“Where am I?” I asked slowly.

“W—wait for a mu—mument, preatsu…” she gestured as she flipped through the pages of her notebook of some sort.

Wait, someone has been teaching her Japanese? I’ll save that question for later. I don’t want to overwhelm her with a barrage of questions.

“Ah!” she found the appropriate entry from her notebook. “Y—you alu… alu… alu!”

“’Are,’ that’s how you say it, ‘are.’”

“Ah, s—sorry! You are in ‘Brisieon.”

“B—brisieon…” Phew, good thing that was easy to pronounce… “Brisieon?” I repeated.

“Yes, the Kingdom of Brisieon,” she affirmed.

“A kingdom, wow.” It’s a fairly large place then. “Ah, thank you for telling me.” Wait, why is she helping me? She tried to communicate with me, then answered my question. There must be something… Ah! I see what she is doing. She will interrogate me effectively, but I can only tell her nothing.

“W—why are you helping me?”

“C—comu a—ga—in?” she leaned closer.

“Why are you helping—” Woah! Too close! She smells of perfume. I might start getting dizzy. Then my eyes land to where it isn’t supposed to.

“I—is de—dere somutsing wrong?”

“No! No! It’s nothing,” I gulped.

“Oh, are y—you thirtsutsi?”

Thirsty, right? “W—well, I guess so. May I trouble you with some water?”

“Come a—gain?”

That was complex. “I mean, may I have some water?”

She flipped through the pages again. “…m—muay… watser… I’ll watser you! P—plisu wait a maument!”

Just how many pronunciations will she generate?

She returned with a glass of water in hand and hands it over to me.

“Thank you… um…” I took a drink before I continued, “what’s your name?”

“M—my namu?”

“Yes, your ‘name.’” I pointed at her.

“My name issu a Narey S’illpoine.”

“Narey Shi—rupoine?” I attempted to echo her, but I am just horrendously mistaking the pronunciation of my letter ‘l.’

“N—no, Na. Rey. Si. Si. Il. Poen. Desu.”

Why is her name more complicated than the kingdom? “A—alright, Narey Si—ilpoen.”

“Correct!”

I weakly laughed, “Thank you.”

“Y—you must take a lest nau. You shouldn’t mouve too musch,” she gently pushed me into the bed.

Not again! Too close!

“I—I understand. I shall take a rest. Thank you for helping me.”

“N—no ploblem!”

It’s been a while since I closed my eyes, but I didn’t fall asleep. I was still wary of what she might do to me, but she hasn’t done anything in the past hour or so, so far. I finally decided to ‘wake up’ and to inquire about some things.

“Oh?” Narey glanced at me, “you are awake? I have prepared dinner for you!”

“Dinner? Wow, thank you!” my stomach grumbled at the thought, and Narey giggled. “I—I’m sorry.”

“It’s no problem! I have been prachitsing my Japanese while you slept.”

Oh, right, the decision is because I decided to wake up is because I couldn’t hold my stifles any longer. I didn’t want to be rude to her.

“I—I see. That’s great. By the way, may I ask something?”

“What itsu itsu?”

What? “Pardon me?”

“I mean, what itsu itsu?”

“May I see the notebook?”

“Here,” she showed the notebook and pointed at an entry.

“Oh… it’s ‘What is it?’ You got it?”

“S—sorry, I justsu can’t speak itsu very well.”

It seems like the letter ‘s’ is substituted by ‘tsu’ in her tongue. “It’s okay. I understand the question now.” Dang, my smooth approach is ruined, but I have to go through with it. “Who taught you this?” I asked her.

“Japanese?”

“Yes, did someone write this for you?”

“Y—yes, it was my mom. She knew Japanese.”

“Oh?” Yes, she might have come from Japan. I must arrange to meet her quickly. “May I meet her?”

But she averted her eyes away from me.

Uh oh, did I hit a landmine? “I—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that tactless question.”

“I—it’s arrights. I knew you wouldn’t know. My mother is dead.”

Crap. “I—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have forced myself.”

***

“I—it’s arright. It wasn’t your fault!” No, it was your fault. I know what you have been doing. You’ve been trying to fish out information from me! Now it’s my turn to get it out from you. “A—anyway, why were you imprisoned?”

“W—wait, you didn’t know why?”

“Well, I only heard some of the details, and I was assigned to your case, that’s why I hurried to visit you.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you for saving me by the way.”

“It’s no problem.”

“You see I… I got caught up… I got accused of murder, but I didn’t do it!” his voice rose in panic. “I—I swear! I’ll do anything to prove it!”

“Then, who did it, if I may ask?”

“W—well, there was this winged person or creature… I don’t know! But he was covered in something dark. I saw his face! It was that of a man! He had a high-bridged nose, sharp eyes, and thin eyelashes, b—but then his head got cut off.

“His head got cut off?”

“Y-yeah! The woman sliced his head off before she died.”

“But then, if she sliced his head off, how did she still die?”

“Y—you see, he grew back three more heads in its place… I know it’s crazy but it’s true!”

I don’t believe this guy by one bit! There is no such regeneration sorcery that produces more body parts more than he has!

He continued speaking, “The w—woman, before she died, she said something, about the Devil or any who.”

Wait… “The Devil? You met him?”

“T—that’s what the woman told me. He was the Devil, and she said that I should obey him so that I can live!”

He is obviously lying. My mother would never say that! “Then, what did you do?”

“I didn’t follow her advice. I couldn’t follow someone literally named ‘the Devil!’ And he was about to choke the life out of her! So, I punched him as hard as I can, and somehow, I caused damage to him. I was shocked myself, but believe me, he retreated because of it!”

Unbelievable. A fellow dark demon punching another, let alone punching the Devil himself! He must be insane! He is lying out of his teeth right now, and his story doesn’t make a bit of sense! How could a mere boy punch the Devil into retreating! But there must be more. Something is missing.

“D—did the woman tell you anything else?”

“W—well…” he averted his eyes, “nothing that I could remember. Probably nothing else.”

He is hiding something… “Are you sure?”

“…y—yes, I’m sure. Anyway, why are you asking me this? Are you going to be my lawyer or something?”

“Lawyer?” I looked down at my notebook to search for the meaning, and I found it. “Ah, yes, sort of…”

“I see,” his face brightens up, “thank goodness. You are really an angel sent from heaven!”

“It’s no problem!”

***

She seems awfully too interested in the woman. What is her connection to the woman? Wait… could it be that that was her mother? No, that’s too much of a coincidence. Maybe she is only a distant relative. In any case, I can’t bring myself to trust her. And she flipped the tables into interrogating me instead. I must know what I can, lest I die again. I don’t want to die again!

Then the girl spoke up, “C—can I asku you witsh a favol?”

Favol? Ah, favor… “I’ll try what I can, but what is it?” I asked.

“I wants syou tso tse— teach me moru abouts your language! Ca—can you h—h—hrape me?”

“What?” I become mystified, “c—come again?”

“C—can you lape me youru language?”

Phew, I think I misheard. “Yeah, sure, no problem!”

I’ll wholeheartedly teach you about my language before I escape this kingdom!

For I know… what my goal is now…

…

…

…

It’s to get out of this world as fast as I can!

***

Outside the window was the moon in its full glory. It seemed closer than I expected. Then Narey went toward the window and closed the curtains.

“I have to go back to my cell, don’t I?” I hesitatingly asked her.

“Hm?” she turned toward me.

“I mean, I am a prisoner, so, I guess you have to place me back into my cell.”

“Ah, no, no,” she shook her head, “you don’t have to go back there. You can stay here.”

“What? Am I allowed here?”

“Yes, I planned for you to stay here since I will be defending you in trial and all.”

“Really? Thank you!” I really didn’t want to return there.

“Oh, right, you have to take a bath, don’t you?”

“A bath?” I sniffed myself but wasn’t able to discern my smell. Do I stink?

“Yes, I will just call the maids to prepare it. Please wait here for a moment,” she left the room to enter the hallway.

I wonder what baths in here look like now that I realized that this is a different world. Also, maids!?

I grinned at the prospect of meeting actual maids.

Would they look like the ones I’ve been fantasizing about!? Let’s go!!

Finally, the door opens, and Narey comes with two women dressed in maid uniforms.

It’s true! They look exactly like I was imagining!! The black and white theme, and the thigh-high tights. Paired with a suggestively short skirt, making it barely decent. But maybe, that’s too short? Then with the long sleeves that extended to their wrists, appropriate for the cold climate. And lastly, but most importantly, their che—

“Hey,” Narey shot a glare, “you are staring too much.”

Whoops. I proceeded to look somewhere else, “Sorry, I was just surprised.”

“You are drooling too,” Narey remarked.

No way, I’m not drooling… nevermind.

One of the maids whispered something to Narey, but it’s not like I would be able to understand it.

***

“Rinsoille, this boy emits a dark presence. Are you sure that it is safe for you to harbor such a threat in your abode?” the red-haired maid named Marice asked me.

“Be rest assured, he won’t be able to do any harm in my presence,” I told her.

“Very well. We shall prepare the bath now,” Marice excused herself to the bath inside my room while a blue-haired maid named Suna tugged at Marice’s skirt.

Still shy as always, huh, Suna?

I turned to the boy and spoke in his language, “Please wait for them to prepare the bath.”

***

They are going to prepare the bath only at this time? I’m not complaining, but, it seems to be too late for that. Curious, I peeked inside the bathroom and was astonished.

The maid with blue hair started chanting something followed by a sphere of water forming from her palms.

What kind of sorcery is this? Oh, right, I forgot. I’m in a fantasy world now. But, still, how do you do that?

After filling the tub to its limit, the maid with red hair stepped in and started her chant. I was expecting a sphere of fire, but that never came. Instead, steam started to rise from the tub.

Thinking about it logically, of course, a fireball would explode the tub. What was I thinking anyway? And it seems that casting this ‘magic’ needs to start with a chant. Wait, the Hero nor Milfizier chanted anything, but it seemed that their attacks were magical, or maybe it was caused by their skill? How about mine? How did my punch harm Milfizier to the point of bleeding? It doesn’t make sense. Maybe it differs from person to person.

The two maids bowed toward Nareis, and the red maid cast me a glance filled with suspicion. Then both left the room.

Looks like I ‘maid’ a bad first impression…

“You may take a bath first,” Narey gestured.

“T—thank you,” I courteously bowed then entered the bath as Narey closed the door behind me. I undressed.

Wait, when did I get changed!? Did she—! Woah, where are my wounds?

I touched myself to where I remembered the pain was but didn’t find any.

Did I have any wounds after all? Or did she heal me? If she did… then my suspicions are unfounded. But why is she helping me? That keeps my suspicions.

After I gathered my thoughts, I dipped inside the tub causing some of the water to overflow.

Ah… this feels nice, especially after what just happened. I shall use this chance to analyze the situation.

First, the train I rode collided with a train… Are you kidding me!? Second, I met with the ‘Devil’ and the ‘Hero.’ The outcome of the battle: The Hero died, and the Devil retreated from my attack. Third, I was falsely accused of the murder of the Hero and was sent to prison. Fourth, I was tortured by my arrestors. But I didn’t know their demands. Then Narey came to my rescue, halting their torture session.

Something’s not right— no, everything is not right, but what is the most unusual is this girl, Narey.

She had her own room inside, in what I would assume was the castle of the kingdom. The room, in itself, is large enough for five people to be living in it, but she is living alone? And she looks like a young girl, and the comparison with the maids confirms that.

She keenly asked me about the Hero. Does she have any connections with her? I suspect that she has, and she is trying to make me disclose something I’d probably not know of.

In conclusion, she has been trying to trick me. Everyone else has been straightforward in their hatred against me because they think I killed their Hero. And Narey has been the same. She is helping me with an ulterior motive.

I have to leave this place now!

I finished my bath, and Narey took hers after me. I figured that wandering alone in the hallways would give me more trouble, but I needed to explore. So, I observed from the window instead, memorizing every visual information I can get.

Outside the window, as the moon illuminated the cobblestone surface, I scanned the surroundings.

Indeed, I was in a great castle, but I was not in a heavily fortressed section, which suggested that this area was for the inhabitants with a less important position. Figuring this out, I looked to the region outwards from the castle, but I cannot see further than the seemingly endless forest that lie beyond the castle walls.

There were several, uniformly placed, hedges made out of the foliage, and some flowerbeds were scattered along the path, decorating it. Some patrol guards roamed that cobblestone path. Then I searched the tall walls for an opening and saw a small wooden gate quite a distance from my position.

It was too small for it to be the castle’s main entrance. I figured that this was one of the minor gates. Therefore, few soldiers are guarding it. A good escape.

I crafted my plan of escape while Narey bathed.

Moments later, she finished, and it was time to sleep.

“I’ll sleep on the floor,” I said.

But Narey insisted, “No, no, it’s fine. You are my guest, therefore, you should sleep on the bed.”

“Are you sure? Are there other bedrooms in here?”

“Unfortunately, no. They have been converted into other purposes. But don’t worry, I’ll just sleep in the living room.”

But I refused, “No, it’s embarrassing for the master of the house to give up her bed to a strange prisoner. Instead, I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“No, no, please, I offer you my bed.”

“No, no, it’s shameful for me to covet your bed,” I stated.

“No, it’s not a problem at all.” she returned.

“No, it’s a problem at all.”

“Please sleep on the bed.”

“Please, I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“No.” she rejected.

“Yes,” I said.

“No.”

“Yes.”

She broke our pointless chain of exchange, “Why are you still persisting?”

Well, the reason is to place me in a perfect spot to escape without you noticing, but why do you keep persisting?

***

Why is he so stubborn? Just sleep on the bed so I prevent you from getting out. Then, I have to force you!

“You have been using that bed when you were sick. I can’t have myself catch your disease,” I began.

“E—ehhhh?” he reacted.

“Or would you rather go back in your cell and spend your night there?”

“N—no!” he shook his hands in defiance, “I would rather not!” He took a deep sight and reluctantly accepted my proffer, “Then, I shall graciously accept your offer!”

***

She really had to force me to stay in her bedroom. Gosh, what’s up with her? Well, the dungeon is underground, and it would be impossible for me to escape. I guess I’ll have to formulate an alternate plan.

“G—good night!” I greeted her as I lied down on her bed.

Crap, I didn’t take into account this bed’s scent! I don’t think I’d be able to stay cool while I smell this!

The bedroom door closes, but Narey stayed in the room.

W—what is she doing? “Why are you staying here?”

“I’ll be sleeping on the floor.”

H—huh? “I thought you said you are sleeping in the living room?”

“I—it’s… just reasons.”

Reasons my butt! Are you playing with me!? “W—well, good night.”

“Good night,” she returned.

I turned my body away from her to not make her notice that I’m still awake. I’d have to stay awake, so, I don’t miss my chance of escape!

***

I can’t let him escape! I’m afraid I’d fall asleep. I must sleep beside him— no! How did a disgraceful thought come to mind!? A Rinsoille sleeping with a boy!? No—no! Unacceptable! I can’t do that! But if I fall asleep, he will leave! Ghmrrrrrr…!

Fine, only this once! Then, I’ll figure out a plan!

***

W—what is she doing!? W—waarghh!! What is she doing, sleeping in the same bed as I!? She is making this difficult for me!

H—her back… it’s so soft. I can feel it through her clothe— wait! The fabric is so thin—! No! Snap out of it! Keep cool, keep calm! Be focused, dang it!

I should look for that window… that time window! She must soon leave for the bathroom or something…

…

…

…

It seems like she is fast asleep— wait, why is she turning this way? Woah, woah, woah! Why are her arms wrapping around me!? Is she awake or asleep!? No, she is sound asleep. Does she hug stuff in her sleep? Don’t kid around! How can I get out of this now!?

Th—this is bad, this is bad! Her— things are pressing onto my back! I’m getting too distracted! No—no, keep calm, stay focused— on her boo— dang it!!

…

…

…

S—she has been hugging me for a long time now… I—I think I am about to fall to sleep… N—no… just a little longer— I hear… the chickens crowing from afar… wait, there is a chicken pen nearby? That’s not important. What’s important right now is that, ‘when is she going to leave?’

***

…i—it’s morning already? Ha~~~ something feels so warm…

…

…

…

H—heeeeeeeeeeeeeh!!??

W—what am I doing!? Why are my arms wrapped around him!? Did I do this in my sleep!? How disgraceful! I should latch off him immediately!

I stood from the bed and spread the curtains and opened the window, letting fresh air in. The sun hasn’t fully risen yet and was only starting to break through the horizon. “Ha~~~ It’s another wonderful day today! And he is still asleep, huh?”

I peered at his face, but he was facing away from me. I hope he didn’t notice… Goodness, who would have thought that I would wrap that demon into my arms…. Khhhhhhhhh!!! He is so annoying! If he only kept like a good boy… well, whatever. It’s time to prepare breakfast.

***

Ha… She finally left! But it’s already the sun is about to rise… but it’s now or never!

With a springy feeling, I quickly stood on my feet.

Agh, I shouldn’t have done that. The blood rushed to my eyes, and I can’t see anything.

I took a few moments to recuperate and yawned.

I feel so sleepy. I hope I can stay awake.

I noticed the window that is opened, and exit through it.

Alright, that’s high! I tiptoed at the ledge on the wall, trying to balance myself to not fall. I noticed a guard patrolling near my position.

Oh no, don’t look up, don’t look up! I have to get down quickly, but quietly!

Frantically searching the area, I saw a section of the leafy hedges directly below me, and immediately jumped into it, thinking that it would soften my fall. The landing was relatively gentle, but I landed into the twigs which pricked my body.

Ow, ow! Maybe that isn’t the best idea, but I have no choice.

Tottering around, I scanned my surroundings and avoided every guard’s sight, hiding from one hedge to another to conceal my presence. I finally arrived a short distance from the gate when one of the guards shouted.

***

“My Rankor is detecting something!” said a soldier while he held some kind of device.

“Where? Where?” another soldier quickly asked.

“It’s strongest when I point over there!” the soldier pointed.

“Go there immediately! Alert all Mayknights!”

“Yes, sir!” another soldier saluted.

And they rushed to the hedge where he hid behind. Then the boy emerged from the hedge and ran.

“He is over there! He is running to the Yarn Gate! Close the gate!” a soldier shouted alerting the guards at that gate.

The gate’s guards used the spears in their hands to block his path.

***

I’m surrounded! My escape route has been blocked! I’m screwed!

I looked around as I tried to appease the slowly approaching soldiers, “W-wait, I’m not a bad person! I’m just a mere servant who has been sent to do a task!”

Of course, it was futile. Also, how did they know exactly where I hid?

Then I saw a convenient opening in the hedges, and its path unhindered by any of the guards. I ran straight to that opening and entered the area.

But I quickly realized that I have placed myself in yet another peril. Wait, this is a maze! I have to get out of here quickly! I can’t exit by the entrance now. I must find the exit!

I desperately searched for clues in the maze but figured out none. Then I noticed that the ground had a sticky feeling, Hm? Mud? Did it rain before I arrived here?

I saw footprints in the ground, and I saw the trail branching out. One had many footsteps, while the other trail had fewer.

Not sure if these would help. Maybe I can just go through these hedges. I pushed against the wall of leaves, but the foliage was too wound up making it difficult for me to go through them. I looked behind me as I heard the yelling of the pursuing soldiers.

Ah, it’s all over before it started! I’ll just follow this trail!

Dashing through the maze, I followed the trail with fewer footsteps, then I found a thinning through the leafage. That’s it! That’s the exit! I’m so lucky!

But once I stepped out from the exit, someone intimidatingly huge blocked me from going any further.

I looked up to his height and saw him drawing his sword. This was the same knight that tortured me in the dungeon. The knights soon caught up to him, surrounding me in a circle.

No… it’s him again!

***

“Ha! You fool! You’d think I’d let you escape? I knew you were conniving with that Rinsoille. Now, that I have caught you in the act, you shall not resist arrest!” the knight commander swung his sword against the boy, but the boy managed to dodge it.

“Oh? I didn’t expect you to have such reflexes, but it’s only a small miscalculation on my part!” He remarked as he pointed his broadsword against him, “Wind Piercer!”

But someone made it in time to block his attack, “Stop!”

The sound of the wind being abruptly stopped echoed through the courtyard, and the surrounding trees wavered.

After using her sword to deflect his attack, Narey pointed it against him, “Commander Mirril, I order you at once, stand down!”

“Ho? It’s you,” he mocked, “you tried to help him escape, didn’t you?”

“Do you have evidence of that?”

“Why,” Mirril looked around before pointing to the both of them, “it’s right here!”

“You dumbhead. What makes you think that I will let him escape?”

“Helping him or not, he almost escaped due to your imprudence. Because of your irresponsibility, I will be taking him under my custody. This is an arrest that you can’t resist!” With the handle of his sword, Mirril struck the boy unconscious.

“Stop!!” Nareis screamed in horror. “I do not allow this arrest!”

Mirril produced a paper and shoved it in front of Nareis’ face, “I have a signed warrant from the Court itself.”

“Wha—”

“I told you, you can’t resist it,” Mirril smirked, “angel.”

***

I heard some kind of gates closing, and I gained consciousness. Where am I?

I found myself once again imprisoned in a cell, but it wasn’t the same cell that I was familiar with. But I wasn’t relieved.

My escape failed, and now I find myself in a worse situation than before.

I heard the metal doors open in the far end of the dimly lit hallway. I see a figure.

Oh, it’s Narey. What is her business this time?

She walked in front of my jail cell to meet me, but I didn’t bother to come closer. Then she asked me, “How are you doing?”

“You knew that I would do this, didn’t you?” I spat out.

“I—”

“You waited for that chance, didn’t you?”

“Well, I—”

“I knew you were—” but this time, I get interrupted.

“Shut up! And let me talk first!” she yelled then sighed before continuing. “I knew you would attempt escaping, but I didn’t plan you to be captured by the Mayknights.”

May— what now?

“That’s why I kept you inside my home… for your safety.”

“Oh? I don’t believe you. I knew you were playing the ‘good cop, bad cop’ strategy, and this was a roundabout way of interrogation. I do not know what you want with me, or with your dead woman, but I know nothing.”

“You—! Don’t you dare insult my mother like that!”

“Oh, and now the cat’s out of the bag.”

She gasped as she realized what she had unintentionally revealed.

“So, she was your mother, huh?” I made out a little laugh. “Sorry, but I didn’t really care. She brought me trouble in the first place.”

“How could you say that?” she shook in anger.

“Why? She made me look like her killer! Then she persuaded me to take something from her, further framing me as a criminal! Can you believe that!?”

“W—what something?”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s lost now. Forever gone.”

“What thing? Tell me what thing did my mother give you!?”

“You are in no position to interrogate me any further, woman.”

“Tell me what thing!!” she kicked the metal bars of the prison in rage. “What thing!!? What thing!!?”

“Guards, guards!” I shouted. “This woman is bothering me. Please take her away!”

“You cretin! You had better answer me or I will kill you!!”

“Your threats can only reach the metal bars.”

The jail guards dragged her away as she struggled in their grasp while she shrieked in despondence.

Girl, you have manipulated me far enough.

***

It’s nighttime according to the small window blocked by more metal bars in the cell, and my arms started to cramp as they have been cuffed behind my back.

Ah, now what should I do? I’m stuck here, and my only way of escape is through those bars, and that is if my hands are uncuffed.

I grew impatient. I never had a lot of patience. When I have finished brooding about an issue, I took action for it, and the same is about to happen now.

It’s now or never… again!

But how? How do I escape? Thinking back to the chanting maids, and the battle between Milfizier and the Hero… well now, Narey’s mother, and my punch that somehow harmed him, there was one similarity.

It was all magic!

Wow, I’m such a genius!

But I didn’t know how magic worked, but I used it on accident, maybe I can try to relive that moment again.

How did I feel before that punch? What strengthened me?

’He is about to kill her!!’

It was, panic, fear, and, despair. Somehow all negative. But I didn’t have panic nor fear at this moment… can I use despair alone to fuel my power?

I tried to focus my mind and energy on breaking the metal cuffs, but I don’t succeed.

Just like what I thought, it doesn’t work that way.

After some time, the metal doors opened, and the torturing knight walked in front of my cell and called out in a vexing tone, “Oy, how are you doing in your cell? Enjoying it so far? Isn’t it much spacious than your girl’s room?”

I shoot a glare at him. Shut up. I don’t want to hear your voice right now. It’s a shame I can’t insult you with profanities in your language. You’ll get it. You’ll get it.

He scoffed. “But unfortunately, it doesn’t smell like a girl’s room, doesn’t it? You pervert,” he chortled. “It’s time for your trial.”

This late at night? That is some sketchy trial. I bet that I’ll lose the moment I enter that ‘courtroom.’

“Take him with me,” he ordered the jail guards who sprang into action.

Wait, I missed one thing… the feeling I felt before that punch. It was more powerful than all three of those emotions. It was…

Anger!

As soon as the door to my cell opened, I leaped freely from it and aimed my punch against the dumbfounded scoffer. I heard a crunching sound from his face as my fist impacted his satisfyingly punchable face. Then I turned my onslaught to the other guards before they could shout in alarm.

Dang boy! I feel so fast! And powerful!

I perceived something dark engulfing me, but it didn’t scare me. It felt like that presence gave me this tremendous power.

I rushed out of the door, ran up the stairs, and found the exit from the castle. The castle guards look at me in shock. Wasting no time, I ran past them as they scrambled toward me.

But they were too slow. I sped past their sword swings and crossbow bolts, but they kept their persistence in capturing me. No, they wanted to kill me. I can sense their bloodlust.

The guards shouted to alert the gate’s guards, and the gate guards in response used their spears and shields as a barricade against me, but I kicked both of their spears and shields blocking my way, and they flew along with their weapons.

Oooh boy! I’m getting the hang of this!

The wooden gate is closed shut, but I smashed through it like a paper wall. Its splinters merely bounced off my flesh.

I’m going to make it!

But a light flashes in my way, blinding me, and a figure appears in that light. A voice from that light

shouted, “I won’t let you pass, Mielfizun!”

Mielfizun? Only one person— or creature has called me by that name. Who else would know that?

Then I recognized the owner’s voice, “Narey!?”

“I won’t let you leave for you took away my mother’s life! I shall avenge her!”

Avenge her… yada, yada, yada. “I don’t care!” I shouted. “I don’t belong here, and I don’t deserve this! Screw you and your stupid vengeance!”

“You want to challenge me? You are only but a mere demon!” She charged at me with her sword which shone as brightly as the sun, but I easily dodged it due to the help of my power.

“H—how!?” she exclaimed.

Phew, I barely made it in time. I expected her to chant first, but she didn’t. “Hmph, I’m stronger than you think I was, but I don't have time to be wasting my strength on you!” I wasn’t sure of that taunt myself. I retreated into the forest.

But I sensed something bright above me as ran under the shadow of the trees. Looking up I saw Narey flying over me as she yelled, “Don’t you think that you can hide from me!”

S—she flies now? H—how!? I swear these people have cheats or something!

But her charges were predictable, and so I dodge every strike from her lightning-like sword. I saw a glimpse of the sword’s empty centerpiece.

Wait, that lightning sword… I’ve seen that somewhere! That means I can’t blind her with my magic while she wields it! Not as if I can utilize my magic enough to blind her or anything though…

Suddenly, I lost my footing and fell from a great height. “What the—!” I should have focused in front of me!

And I landed on a rough and stony surface.

Ouch, ouch, ouch! Why is there a cliff there? I speedily stood up. Luckily, the fall wasn’t that severe as to break any bones. Perhaps it’s because of my newfound power.

I looked back to where I fell from and discovered a mouth of a dark cave. I quickly ran to it for refuge planning to hide and wait for my pursuers to quit.

Then, Narey jumped down to where I previously have fallen.

Gah! She is here!

I covered my mouth and tried to slow my breathing to prevent myself from getting spotted. I spectated her as she looked around and into the forest, but she seemed to have suspected nothing. Then she looked behind her, which was the cave’s direction, and her eyes looked into mine.

I jolted in surprise. Crap! She saw me!

But she seemed to not have seen me, even though I was in front of her.

I waved my hand to ascertain her vision, and I confirmed that somehow, she doesn’t see me.

Wait, maybe this cave is invisible to her!

I sighed in relief and decided to walk further into the cave, and I noticed the darkness surrounding me like flames fading.

***

Where is he? He couldn’t have just gone that far? With my Truth’s Vison, I should be able to see him in an instant, but he just disappeared out of thin air! I should have expected him to be sly since he is a Dark Demon!

“Yo!” a voice called out from the forest.

And I was alerted, “Who is there? Show yourself!”

“It’s just me, your friendly commander!”

“Mirril…” I gritted my teeth in annoyance.

“So, did you lose him?” he chuckled. “You have to put that in your report. Now I wonder how will the Court react to that! Will they suspect you? Will they finally banish you?” he laughed again. “Oh, how the angels have fallen!”

“Shut your mouth! You are only but a hindrance in my search. If you feel so proud about yourself, then find him yourself!”

“Oh, so desperate, aren’t we? I am not. I’ve been waiting for this moment. For you to mess up!”

“What are you saying?” I raised my voice.

“It’s time, for the Rinsoille to abdicate their positions!”