Prologue - The Hall of the King
It was a throne.
A throne which the being who governed the entirety of this world sat on.
There, he was seated.
"............."
There was a tower.
A very, very tall tower.
A spire was projected out, almost piercing the heavens,.
He sat there in the highest room of the tower.
"............"
Extending in front of the throne were long sinews of smeared red.
They continued all the way to the entrance of the room.
The door was opened and what was beyond it was air.
Where the heavens, the skys, and the streets no longer occupied by people, spread out.
That's right.
In this town— this country, there are no longer people.
Because in order to set the curse in motion, the life of all the humans here were invoked as an intermediary.
That was why there were no people here.
"...... No, in the first place,"
Always, there had never been anyone around, except for himself.
Always, alone.
Always, in solitude.
That was why always, he had been lonesome.
"............"
With a sad face, he gazed outside.
Looking down on the town below the castle with no living beings.
As he did so, a voice resounded.
Was it echoing throughout the room or was it within his mind?
He was uncertain about that.
However, the voice still resounded.
The voice resounded.
At the sound of the voice, he raised his listless face. His black hair neatly combed back, his black eyes slack yet cold, as if having given up on everything.
As he lifted those eyes, a strange creature appeared there.
Hanging down from the ceiling of the throne room— was a strange monster.
And then, it spoke.
"Hey hey, I can finally have a proper conversation with you, Monster-kun of the Other World."
"............"
"It was quite difficult, getting this far. Would you be able to understand my tribulations?"
"............"
"Well, since I've reached this far, I don't intend to discuss the process of my hardships. Then for now, I'll have you hang out with me for a little while, okay?"
"............"
"Of course its okay, 'cause you are always so lonesome. You'd even want to talk with frail little ol' me, right? 'Cause you can't help but yearn, and yearn, and yearn for someone, right?"
"............"
"That's why you would even lend an ear to unsightly, petty me. Without killing me, you leave me be."
"............"
"Well then, its about time to start— to start our world."
"............"
And then, the monster descended from the ceiling.
With eight arms and twelve eyes.
Amongst the eyes, seven turned towards beyond the doors—
"Before your troublesome best friend comes to take you back, I better somehow persuade you."
— As the remaining eyes turn back to the other person in the room, the monster asked,
"Isn't that right, Ryner Lute-kun?"
To that he gave no answer,
"............"
Ryner—