/
Ryner was at a loss for words as he stared up at the gate in front of him.
It was the gate to Ferris’ house
 the Eris gate. And it was absolutely massive.
“
Well, it’s a noble’s house so of course it’d be big
 but seeing it really makes it sink in. She’s super rich
”
Despite his light-hearted comments, he couldn’t relax seeing something so big.
Nothing was wrong. It was just a simple, plain gate made of metal and wood. It was actually pretty plain compared to that of other nobles’.
But it just had this air about it.
“
It’s like a haunted mansion
”
That feeling may have been in part due to the stories people told him when he asked for directions, but still.
The Eris family.
They were a distinguished family tasked with guarding the king of the Roland Empire for generations and generations. They worked in mystery, preferring to stay backstage rather than enter the spotlight.
To be blunt, Ryner didn’t really know anything about the family until he met Ferris. But apparently they were pretty infamous among the nobility for their strength.
Ryner thought of Ferris and smiled wryly. “Ain’t that the truth.”
Anyone would say so after seeing her fight. Even Ryner, who had been called the strongest mage in all of Roland at one point, was completely overwhelmed by her power. And she couldn’t even use magic. She could outspeed Ryner when he was magically accelerated without using any magic of her own.
Her strength passed the limits of common sense.
How’d she even get that strong
? He doubted anyone knew.
And that was how the Eris family reached legendary status.
They were the strongest family, one that no one else could keep up with.
“How stupid,” Ryner spat, his eyes sad.
Because he could imagine how Ferris became that strong.
He knew how people became strong. It was done by throwing everything else away. By saying that they didn’t need what wouldn’t make them strong.
That meant throwing away their joy. Their sadness. Their anger. Their pain.
“

”
Their dreams. Their futures. Their hopes.
And then they called that absolute strength. They had to throw everything else away to gain the title of the strongest.
That was most likely the kind of place this was.
Ryner looked up at the simple gate. “Sooo
 how do I get in? Do I just knock and say I’m coming in? Probably not, right? Ugh, I’ve never been invited to a noble’s house before. I’ve got no idea how this works. Anyway, I’m goin’ home—”
The door opened all on its own.
“Huh?”
Ryner’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief.
The path past the gate continued onto a building that looked like a dojo, and it was flanked either side by neat and orderly gardens.
It was normal.
A bit plain for a noble’s mansion, but normal. There was nothing particularly special about any of it.
Ryner grimaced. “Still, the door opening up all on its own
 y’know, I think I better just go home
”
“I have been awaiting you, Sir Ryner Lute,” a voice said from within.
When Ryner looked over to where the voice came from, he saw an old man with striking posture and a neat suit.
“
Who’re you?” Ryner asked.
The old man held himself formally as he replied. “I am a butler in the service of the Eris family.”
“A butler
 a butler, huh?” Ryner said. He looked pretty tired all of a sudden. “So butlers hide their presence when they approach guests nowadays? You’ve been hiding it since before opening the gate, too, right? That’s a pretty bad habit.”
The butler bowed. “My, my
 it appears that I have committed a horribly rude deed. You are the first who has noticed that I was hiding my presence. I should expect no less from Lady Ferris’ acquaintance
”
“Hmm. So?”
“I will accompany you inside the property,” the butler said.
“Inside? But I already said I was gonna go home.”
“Hm? Home, you say? Despite having come all the way here?”
“Well
 I’m glad I got to see it, but I suddenly feel like this is all a massive pain, so
 I mean, the atmosphere here’s horrible. Like, that dojo is giving me a reaaaally bad feeling
 and like, this place is haunted, right?”
“It is not haunted, but
 I cannot allow you to simply leave now. My master would reprimand me.”
“That’s none of my business,” Ryner said, and turned back around without hesitation. But then he stopped. “Oh, right. I got a question for you, Old Man.”
“O, old
 er, yes. What is it?”
“Well, you just said ‘master,’ right? D’you mean Ferris’ parents?”
“I refer to the current head of the family, my Lord Lucile
 he is Lady Ferris’ older brother.”
“And their parents?”
“It is unfortunate, but
”
So they were dead.
“I seeeee.” Ryner nodded a few times in understanding. Then he looked around again, his eyes settling on the dojo for a moment before looking back at the butler with tired, half-lidded eyes. “So Ferris was freed then, right?”
The butler’s expression had remained unchanged until the instant Ryner said those words.
Ryner continued. “You guys hurt her a lot, didn’t you? I can tell just by looking at her. But even so
 even so, her feelings aren’t dead yet. I saw countless people who’d gone mad from their training in Roland’s military, but I think Ferris will be okay. Just barely, though
 So? How old was she when it stopped?”
“

”
The butler didn’t answer.
“Tell me. How old was she when it stopped?” Ryner asked, composed. No expression reached his voice.
“
Is that reason for you to be angry? Is it also, by chance, the reason why you do not wish to enter?”
Ryner shrugged. He was quiet for a moment before responding. “Nah. I already said why. It’s a pain so I’m gonna go home. See, I got pretty tired coming here, and I get in a bad mood when I’m tired
 so I’m gonna go home for today. Tell Ferris, Iris, and Arua and everyone that I said hi.”
Ryner turned to leave again.
But a few steps out

“Fourteen years old.”
Ryner stopped in his tracks.
“
Lady Ferris was fourteen years old when the previous head passed away.”
Fourteen.
Ryner looked up at the sky and sighed. “That’s a really long time
”
He said so emotionlessly.
That sort of thing was common.
The degree might vary, but in general it was common in Roland.
In this crazed world
 anyone could say it happened. They’d laugh. They could say it and laugh despite having given up.
But Ferris couldn’t laugh. She didn’t know how.
That was considered a success story.
“
Haha. Geez. All I can do is laugh
”
But his voice was strained with pain as he did.
“Yes
 yes, that is true,” the butler said. “The fact that there are people such as you and Lord Astal by Lady Ferris’ side now is my only salvation.”
“

”
Ryner turned his tired expression to the butler. “So you were saved too, huh
”
The butler laughed. “Truly
 so please, save Lady Ferris. Now then
 Lady Ferris is awaiting your arrival inside. Lady Iris, too, and Lord Arua and Lady Kuku are here in an annex
 Everyone is eagerly awaiting your arrival.”
And then he suddenly heard a voice from behind the butler.
The cute voice of a young girl. “Grandad, that’s dangerous! Don’t get too close to the beast! My sister told me! She said that the beast, right? The beast will make you pregnant if he touches you, even if it’s only barely!”
A girl of nine or ten appeared from inside the gate. She was as pointlessly loud as ever

She was a pretty girl with golden-blonde hair, and she wore a frilly dress. She was Ferris’ younger sister, Iris Eris. They looked extremely similar, but their faces were different. Because Iris’ expressions changed often, just like any other kid’s would.
Ryner grimaced at Mini Ferris. “Ugh, I said it was a pain so I was gonna leave and yet
 umm, actually I’m still leaving, so it’d be great if you closed the gate.”
The butler just smiled. “Welcome, Sir Ryner Lute.”
“Don’t just welcome meeeeee!!”
Ryner tried to escape, but this time

“Ah! Professor Ryner!! You’re back!” A boy of about six years old appeared beside Iris. He was an Alpha Stigma bearer who Ryner had taught magic before, Arua. His eyes shone. “I’m so happy you came back to us, Professor! I, I’ve been waiting for you this whole time! I learned lots of new spells
 come see them!”
“Alrighty!” Iris said. “Let’s catch the beast before he causes anyone problems by running off!! Arua, you take the left side! I’ll take the right~!”
“Yes, Big Sis!”
Another kid appeared - Arua’s girlfriend, Kuku. “Good luck, you two!”
“Good luck with what!? And what’s up with this? Is this a house or a kindergarten?”
Ryner tried to run with all his strength.
But then he heard the sound of metal sliding, something he was very familiar with by now.
“Geh!?”
Ryner turned around, but it was already too late.
Ferris was behind him, a dango wrapper in one hand and her sword in the other. “What are you doing making trouble on my doorstep?”
She whacked Ryner on the head with the blunt side of her sword - wham!
“Gyah!?”
It was the same ending as always.
Ryner twitched on the ground. He glared up at the butler, a grudge growing in his eyes. “Didn’t you say Ferris was waiting inside?”
The butler ignored him completely, instead bowing to Ferris. “Welcome home, Lady Ferris. Were you able to find good dango today?”
Ferris nodded enthusiastically. “Mm. I found some pretty good ones today. You get some too, Croseli.”
“Ooh. I do look forward to it.”
“Mm. Now, Iris, Arua, Kuku. It’s time for our dango party.”
““Yay!””
With that, Ferris entered the gate. The butler, Croseli, followed.
And then
 Ryner watched from the ground as the gate closed in front of him.
It was like no one had ever said ‘I cannot allow you to simply leave now,’ or ‘I, I’ve been waiting for you this whole time,’ as no one even spared him a second glance

“
Seriously?”
He suddenly felt ready to cry at the pointlessness of it all

But then the gate opened just a little. Ferris poked her head out, a mean smile on her face. “Heheh.”
“

”
Then Iris, Arua, and Kuku all poked their heads out, too, everyone cackling together.
“

”
The butler’s head came last. “We have been awaiting your arrival, Sir Ryner Lute. Welcome to the Eris home,” he said happily.
“

”
Strangely enough, Ryner already hated it.
---
That sort of thing was common.
The degree might vary, but in general it was common in Roland.
That’s what Ryner had thought.
But

---
He passed the gate.
Apparently the dango party was going to be held in a garden on the other side of the dojo.
So they entered the dojo. It was a spacey and dark place. A bland place with nothing in it at all.
Just eerie silence

Except for the merry voices of the kids.
“Ugh, geez, be quiet
”
Even with the kids’ voices
 there was still an eerie sense of nothingness
 that felt like it was going to swallow him up.
“What’s up with this place?” Ryner muttered. His eyebrows scrunched up. It was really just
 too quiet. It was like the wide space swallowed all sound and all emotion
 like even the kids’ voices echoing through were just an illusion.
Why did he feel like that?
Ryner looked around. It didn’t look like there was any soundproofing magic here, but
 he couldn’t help but tense his whole body.
He opened his eyes up. A shining scarlet symbol appeared in the middle - proof of the curse in his eyes. They were a brand to tell others that they would cause calamity, that they should be feared and loathed by all. They were shining red pentagrams in either eye, something called the Alpha Stigma.
They let him see and understand all the magic in the world with a glance, answering any questions he had regarding a spell’s composition, organization, how to use it, and how strong it was

He looked around the dojo.
Into the darkness. Into the stillness.
“

”
But
 it was a special stillness.
Because there was nothing there.
Nothing.
Absolute nothingness stretched on before him.
Ryner’s eyes widened. So much that it hurt.
“Ah
”
He couldn’t do anything but whimper. His whole body was wrecked with a shiver. Absolute nothingness squeezed his heart. It was like the whole world was being painted over with black.
To think that such a thing was possible

He was going mad. He really felt like he was going mad.
That was how empty it was.
The darkness swallowed his sight. It swallowed his heart.
He couldn’t see anything past nothingness.
He fell further into it, deeper into profound darkness
.
“Ah, ahhh, aaahhhhhh!”
Ryner ran. He couldn’t be here any longer.
He was scared. So scared.
What was with this place
?
He ran and ran until the darkness lifted and nothingness turned into something.
And

---
Yes.
That sort of thing was common.
That’s what Ryner had thought.
The degree might vary, but in general it was common in Roland.
“
That sort of thing
 is common?” Ryner mumbled between heaves for air.
He’d run all the way out of the dojo. He was finally out of that darkness, but his heart still felt like it was going to jump out of his chest.
What the hell was that?
Just what

Ferris entered his view. “What’s gotten into you, Ryner?”
Arua, Kuku, and Iris followed, all looking at him with uneasy faces
 like they were afraid of something.
“Huh? Oh, um
”
Ryner pressed a hand to his stomach.
“I just, uh, I’m really hungry, see. I want to eat as soon as I can.”
“Whaaat?” Arua said. “Professor, you start running when you’re hungry?”
Kuku laughed. “You glutton.”
“Oh!” Iris said. “Um, gluttons, right? They blow up like balloons and then fly away, you know? My sister told me. Right?”
Ferris pet Iris’ head, satisfied. “Mm. You really know your stuff. Remarkable.”
“Yay! You praised me!”
Arua and Kuku watched, then started gossiping right then and there. “Iris likes her sister a little too much, doesn’t she?”
“True, she does.”
And then preparations for the dango party commenced.
But Ryer didn’t move. It was like he was stuck in place

His whole body was covered in sweat. He was so afraid that he was shivering even now.
He activated his Alpha Stigma once more
 and turned back to the dojo
 no, to the darkness.
Then he looked back to where Arua was busy with dango party preparations.
“Hey, Arua. C’mere.”
“Hm? What do you need?”
“I need you to come have a man-to-man with me for a minute.” He knew that this was going to lead to more slander from Ferris, Iris, and Kuku, but he didn’t care about that right now. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Sure.”
“Can you look at that dojo with your Alpha Stigma?”
“The dojo? Sure, but why?”
“Just do it.”
“Is this part of my training?”
“Uh, yeah, totally. Anyway, have a look at it. If it’s hard then close your eyes as soon as you can. Okay?”
Arua looked at him, surprised. “Oh, um, s-sorry. I already looked at it while you were explaining.”
“Huh!? You already looked?”
“Yes,” Arua said. True to his words, there was a crimson pentagram in his eyes, the same as the one in Ryner’s.
And yet.
“So what do you want me to do now?” Arua asked.
He was calm as could be, as if he hadn’t seen the darkness at all

“But that’s ridiculous,” Ryner said. “You really don’t see anything?”
“I mean
 I see the dojo?”
“Anything else?”
“Umm
”
Arua looked at the dojo carefully. “Umm
 there’s a rock by the door
”
“Okay, that’s enough. I get it,” Ryner said. He crossed his arms. It didn’t seem like Arua saw what he saw. But if his Alpha Stigma wasn’t what made him see that, then what was?
Or maybe their Alpha Stigmas just didn’t see the same things or something.
Come to think of it, those spies from Gastark, Sui and Kuu, had said something that Ryner’s Alpha Stigma wasn’t normal
 so maybe this was a part of that?
What was going on
?
“Uh, um
 Professor, did I do okay? Or did I fail
?” Arua asked, worried.
“Huh?”
Arua looked like he was about to cry

“No, not at all,” Ryner said, flustered. “You passed! Amazing, Arua, you were amazing.”
It didn’t look like that helped much. “But you looked so serious
”
“Th-that’s because you’ve grown so much since we’ve been apart! I’m gonna have to think up new ways to train you since you’re so much higher-level than I expected. That’s what I was worrying about.”
“R, really!?” Arua asked, his eyes bright and sparkling.
“Yep. The truth and nothing but it,” Ryner said. Then he sighed. He watched Arua dash back off to where they were preparing for the dango party
 then turned to find the butler. “Hey, Old Man. Can I ask you something?”
“Yes, of course. What is it, Sir Ryner Lute?”
Ryner pointed to the dojo. “So
 what exactly is in that dojo?”
“Lord Lucile’s room.”
“Hmm.”
Ryner looked at the dojo with his Alpha Stigma again. The same nothingness was there, spreading out before him. But he was prepared for it this time. The fear in his heart had calmed quite a bit.
So he looked back into the deep darkness. “I see. Ferris’ older brother’s room, huh? I’m kinda curious about him. Mind if I go say hi?”
“I cannot grant that wish,” the butler said, apologetic. “I was instructed to not let anyone into the depths of that dojo, not even Lady Ferris or Lady Iris. For generations the only one allowed to enter is the head of the Eris family
”
“Oh, so it’s like tradition.”
The butler nodded.
“
That’s a shame,” Ryner said. He shrugged. But his eyes alone slid back to the dojo, to the nothingness.
It sounded like the preparations for the dango party were complete. But he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the dojo. From its nothingness.
He just stared and stared, trying to understand the true nature of that nothingness

---
That was the beginning.
There was no foreshadowing. It was sudden as could be, like a gear malfunctioned and ran the whole machine off track.
No
 everyone already knew that the world had gone mad. By this point, all they could do was laugh. Self-deprecating as it was, it was still laughter.
It wasn’t like the world was going to end, after all.
It might be tough, but the world wasn’t ending or anything.
But
 was that really true?
Everyone chose their own paths.
But
 was that really true?
Time continued to move no matter how much was lost.
But
 was that really true?
Familiar, nostalgic days quickly became a thing of the past. Even if one wasn’t able to convince themself that the new was better than the old
 time just kept moving. It pushed everyone’s backs, forcing them forward, forward, forward, so that they could meet the future

So that they could fulfill their ambitions.
So that they could stand in place.
So that they could turn back and look at the past.
So that they could nap
?
Were all the paths forward really mad
?
---
Anyway, something was happening.
“But what does that mean
?” First Lieutenant Milk Callaud asked, her big eyes narrowing in a way that was very unlike her. Despite being only sixteen, she was part of the Roland Empire’s effort to keep their magic secret from other countries via apprehending or even killing deserters from Roland’s army who were able to use their country’s magic. She was the captain of her team of Taboo Hunters, but she didn’t look the part - she was more girl than woman, after all.
She had a babyface and flaxen hair pulled up in a ponytail, and her petite body was standing at attention. Her big eyes were squinting just so as she mulled something over seriously.
“Ahh, Chief Milk is a good kid again today,” Sergeant Luke Stokkart said to himself. He was supposed to be Milk’s second-in-command, but he spoke of her lovingly, like a grandpa fondly watching his grandchild. He might have white hair, but he was really only twenty-five years old. He was a sharp man who’d played a major part in the revolution alongside Sion and Claugh, and yet
 in front of Milk

“I have to give her some candy later
”
Their surprierior, Major Rahel Miller, scrunched his stern face up with distaste. “Candy
”
Sigh.
They were currently in the Taboo Hunters’ Headquarters in Roland. It was an intimidating building with plain black walls.
Milk and her team had gone from the Runa Empire to the Iyet Republic on a search for a Taboo Breaker, and now they were back in Roland for the first time in a long time to give report.
“
So, Lieutenant Callaud,” Miller started. “What on earth are you making that face for?”
“

”
Milk didn’t answer. She just continued to stare up at the ceiling, lost in thought.
“O-oh, Chief. You must be tired since we’ve only just returned home
 but if we’re talking about funny faces, yours is no match for Miller’s
”
Miller glared at Luke, who just shrugged.
Then Miller sighed again. He looked back to Milk, but she was still staring at the ceiling, her expression completely unchanged

But then she suddenly came back. “Ah! Major Miller! Lieutenant Callaud, reporting for duty!” She said, just as energetic as always.
Luke looked a bit flustered, but Miller just sighed again. “Fine. Whatever. Start from the beginning then. What information do you have for me?”
But as soon as he started to talk, Milk went back to staring absentmindedly at the ceiling

“Just go home!!” Miller yelled. But it wasn’t very effective. Milk was still lost in thought, like she was trying to solve some puzzle deep inside her heart

“My promise from so long ago
 Roland’s
 Taboo Breakers
”
Miller looked over to Luke. “What’s she going on about?”
“
It’s about this morning,” Luke said, a bit troubled. “We received information that the Taboo Breaker Ryner Lute returned to Roland
”
Miller’s eyes narrowed. He stared at Milk for quite some time before speaking. “Anyway, Luke. Take her home. She’s too tired for this.”
“Oh, s-sorry,” Milk said.
“Hm? Are you back?”
“Er
 Yes, sir. I do apologize. I’ve gotten my thoughts in order. I’m fine now.”
Miller’s face got even sterner. “Your thoughts? Care to elaborate?”
“Thoughts relating to my mission,” Milk said without hesitation.
“Mission
? I believe your mission - your duty - is to accept your assignments from me and apprehend Taboo Breakers?”
“Yes, sir.”
“So why exactly did you need to think that hard about it?”
Her reply was, once again, immediate. “It was about my other mission!”
She was too honest. To the point where she could be jailed for it.
Miller couldn’t help but laugh, but he soon forced his face back into a grimace. “Hm. I didn’t assign you any other missions. I wouldn’t say you’re in the best situation right now, either
 You’re letting yourself trip over obstacles between you and your duty. You’ll put your life as well as those of your subordinates at risk acting like that.”
She reacted to that. To the idea of putting her friends in danger. She looked ready to cry at the thought alone. “I-I’m sorry,” she said and bowed.
It was fine as long as she understood that. She was perfectly free to worry about whatever else she wanted in addition to her work as long as she kept that in mind. And things would be fine as long as she valued her team.
Miller thought of the Taboo Hunters as family. Luke, Lach, Lear, Moe
 even Milk. The country would be fine as long as they were the ones who were helping run it. That was true even up the line, all the way to Sion and Claugh.
People like Miller and Luke were the base they stood on. They couldn’t let it crumble.
“
Where’s this country headed?”
It was sudden.
Milk suddenly asked that, her eyes staring right at him.
Miller smiled wryly. She really was an interesting kid.
Where was Roland headed? Was that really what she’d been worrying so seriously about? She’d only just returned, and she was already examining the country so seriously

Where was Roland headed? It was honestly caring to the point that Miller was envious

Miller had to actively try to repress the urge to smile as he responded. “I wonder. I’m not the one who decides, after all.”
Milk tilted her head. “Then who does?” She asked, just as simple and honest as ever.
He kind of felt like he was teaching a preschooler here. Miller turned to Luke for help. But Luke just watched Milk fondly
 like his face was saying, ‘Milk sure is cute, isn’t she? Fall captive to her charms, Miller!’
Miller glared, but his glare was completely unable to penetrate Luke’s satisfied smile
 he was just as much of a bastard as always.
Meanwhile, Milk was watching him with sparkling eyes. It couldn’t be helped. He had to respond. But he didn’t bother with a kind tone or anything. “I don’t really know the answer to that either. It’s a tough question. But I do think that time is what makes the path countries follow.”
“Time?”
“Yeah. Time. The era shapes the desires of the people, of the nobility, and of the world
 and then the one that those desires choose
”
“They become king
 right?” Milk finished.
“That’s right,” Miller said with a nod. Good, she understood without him needing to finish.
She was a bright kid. She’d never have become chief of a Taboo Hunter team at that age otherwise, of course, and Luke would have never followed her if she weren’t capable.
“Things will go well as long as the king that the world wished for is a good one,” Milk continued.
“You could say that.”
“Things will go well as long as the ‘hero king,’ Lord Sion Astal, leads our country.”
“That’s what I think,” Miller said.
Milk nodded. “All of our people think so.”
“He’s
 His Majesty’s the first benevolent ruler that this country has had since its founding, after all
”
Milk’s face twisted in sadness, to the point where tears nearly fell

“Why’re you making that face?”
“
Because I feel bad for His Majesty
”
Miller was at a loss for words.
“
Everyone’s been waiting for him; he’s a great king
 a hero king who’s never ever wrong
 that’s amazing. Everyone says he’s amazing. They believe that Lord Astal will change things. That bad things won’t happen anymore. And if something bad does happen
 then His Majesty will do something about it. But there’s only so much he can do
”
“

”
“Something will have to break. But I
 I was just so stupid. The pieces were all there. Something is going to break
 and
”
Her voice trailed off there. But she’d said enough for him to understand what she was worried about.
“Oh, um, I’m sorry. I went off on my own again,” Milk said, flustered.
Miller shook his head. “No, it was a good talk. Now go ahead and go home. You look tired. I’ll have Luke tell me the rest.”
She bowed, then left. She still looked worried, though
 Miller’s eyes narrowed as he watched her leave.
Then he turned to Luke. “She really is a nice kid.”
Luke smiled, honestly pleased. “And clever and sensible.”
Miller pressed a hand to his temple like he was massaging a headache. “Despite all that, she hasn’t seen His Majesty’s side of things at all.”
“Well, yes, that’s true. Sir Sion is a piece sitting on top of your very own hand drawn map. A piece that exists to change this country.”
Miller made a face. “I don’t think of him like that.”
“I don’t either, of course. I was only stating the reality of things. Sir Sion is far too capable. He exceeded all of your expectations, shining far brighter than you thought he would, even though it was all your plan. It’s like he was really born to be king.”
That was true. Sion Astal was a man born for the sole purpose of being king. Miller understood that from the first moment he saw the bright flame in him during the revolution. He was chosen. Chosen by time, by the people, by the world. Everything wanted Sion.
It wasn’t like Miller was the one who chose him. It was the opposite, if anything. Sion collected Miller and the others to stand below his shine

However.
“
Is that really the case? Did I really make the right choice?” Miller wondered.
Luke shrugged. “You’re asking that after all this time? Really, can you imagine anyone but Sion as king?”
“Nope.”
“Me neither. I have never met someone even a fraction of how suitable he is for the role.”
“Right
 so we chose him.”
“Don’t worry,” Luke said. “His heart isn’t going to break. He’s strong, and we know that best of all.”
Miller looked at Luke. He thought about how he was blessed with subordinates, especially Luke, who had always been his right-hand man. Things wouldn’t have gone anywhere near as well as they had without him.
Miller used to be called a genius. It was a thing of the old Roland now, but

People called him a genius because he was a little better at magic than others. But Luke’s magic ability far, far exceeded his own.
People called him a genius because he was a little better at fighting hand-to-hand than others. But if he fought Luke here and now, there was no way he’d win.
Luke was the real genius here. His smiling face was hard to read, and he carried out his duties with level-headed calm seldom seen in others. He cut the unnecessary things out in order to be successful at what mattered.
His abilities by and far towered above the rest, and he calmly bestowed judgement where it was needed after cutting everything else out. But it wasn’t like he was untouchable. He could still be hurt.
But right now, his current job

“
It’s tough, isn’t it?”
Luke smiled, calm as a clam. “Not at all. I love protecting my family. You’re the one who taught me the joy in it, weren’t you?”
“
You’re always going and making things up about me, aren’t you?”
Luke’s smile didn’t waver.
---
The sun had began to cloud over.
Roland’s sky was being dyed red.
Milk usually felt happy after watching the sky here from the Taboo Hunters Headquarters, but
 she couldn’t manage that now. She was too busy beating herself up over her idiocy.
She recalled their king, Sion Astal. Recalled how he looked. He had noble silver hair and strong, willful eyes. Milk had met him countless times by now, but
 he was always perfect. He always smiled kindly. He always moved gracefully.
Everything about him was perfect. She was sure that he’d stolen many girls’ hearts.
She understood why the people expected such great things of him. She understood why the country as a whole expected so much of him. Everything about him was just so put together. Was that because the times willed it? Because the world itself willed it?
He was so perfectly well-made
 too perfectly
 to the point that it felt like he’d fall apart with a single touch.
“They’re similar
”
She thought of the boy who’d saved her. He’d had unrealistic magical abilities and knowledge. His survivability and willpower both far exceeded everyone else’s.
Power had been the only justice in the orphanage she’d grown up in, and Ryner was treated as a star for his strength. For being a perfect battle machine.
He hadn’t worried, hadn’t feared, hadn’t ever lost his composure. He hadn’t died. He hadn’t wanted. He’d had it all, and yet he still appeared delicate enough to break with a single touch when he made that sad face of his.
“I’m really such an idiot
 I’ve always had all the pieces, and yet
”
Roland. Taboo Breakers. That promise from so long ago.
She made a promise with Ryner back then. It was one that he shouldn’t have been able to forget, but

Well
 it wasn’t all that clear even when she thought back on it, though. The promise to get married wasn’t, at least. But when they met again he acted like he didn’t know who she was at all. And that was strange.
Why? Why did he go that far?
Why did he say that he forgot about her? Why?
Why?
That’s what Milk was thinking about.
Ryner was wrapped up in something bad. It was so bad that he couldn’t act freely. That had to be it. It was something bad enough that he was willing to leave Roland despite knowing that he’d be branded as a Taboo Breaker and chased.
And yet the first time they met again, he said—
“W-we’re just here on Sion’s orders in the first place
”
Sion.
It wasn’t the most common name in the world, but it wasn’t unusual, either. That’s why Milk’s thought process had moved towards Sion being the name of the boss of the criminal organization he was involved with.
So how could she save Ryner from those criminals?
“

”
Stupid.
He was a genius. Why had she thought that he was caught up with criminals? She must’ve realized it all subconsciously, right? But she didn’t want to. Because it’d be too hard to save him if there was a different answer. But
 even so

“A perfect king
 A perfect killing machine
”
Milk shivered.
Their perfect king, too far out of everyone else’s reach, sunk into deep solitude and started to crack.
The perfect killing machine, too far out of everyone else’s reach, hurt his heart with his murderous hands and started to crack.
Milk shivered. Shivered at the thought of herself.
“I
”
She was appointed chief of a team of Taboo Hunters. Sion had smiled back then when he said it. It was a perfect smile constructed by their isolated king, but sadness had lain in its depths

But, but then

“It’s to save Ryner
”
The sun had already tipped over the horizon. Her surroundings were dark. It was nighttime.
It was just nighttime.
But it felt so horribly dark.
She felt it. Felt that this country’s future was horribly

The darkness of night began to swell. To rise up. To surround her.
And then it took shape.
It turned to beasts, the color of night itself

Her eyes met that of another’s. He had pitch black hair and cold eyes.
“I have come to see you, Lieutenant Milk Callaud. Will you join me for a while? It all starts from here.”
He smiled, wicked like a demon.
---
Several hours later, in the deep of night. The townspeople were all asleep, leaving the streets quiet.
Ryner ran from an inn, through downtown
 and then entered the noble’s district, where he erased his presence.
The natural light of night was dim at best due to clouds
 so it was dark.
Too dark.
That night was surrounded by the darkness of Roland itself.
It was a new moon. Only a few stars unobscured by clouds led the way. But that was all Ryner needed. He took quick, careful steps into the darkness as quietly as possible.
Even professional assassins were unlikely to be able to follow him.
Ryner’s eyes narrowed when a massive gate came into view.
It was the same gate that he’d been invited to during the day - one that led to the Eris residence.
It was tightly shut to keep intruders away. But that didn’t stop him. He got a foothold on the fence surrounding the gate, then pushed himself up. One, two, three steps
 He climbed as quickly and quietly as possible.
His hand grasped the top, then he pushed himself up
 and he was in.
Ryner surveyed his surroundings.
This was an enormous lot. He doubted anyone would notice even if he did make a little noise

Arua, Kuku, Ferris, and Iris all stayed in buildings pretty far from the gate. Apparently this wasn’t really the main gate
 It was more of a gate to the mysteries of the Eris family.
“

”
Ryner looked up at his destination: the unpleasant, dark dojo he’d crossed through before. Its atmosphere didn’t change whether it was broad daylight or the dead of night. It was in itself nothingness, like time never existed there

“Wonder where I should start investigating,” Ryner mumbled to himself. He stepped forward with a weak presence. He didn’t erase it completely, though. Because this place was just too still for that. Too quiet.
This was the first time Ryner had ever experienced that kind of quiet. It was the absolute absence of sound.
“Geez
 who even thought that was possible?” Ryner wondered out loud and grimaced.
He continued forward. Getting into the dojo was pretty easy. It was just as empty as before, wood floor stretching endlessly into the darkness. It was so quiet that he had the same urge as before to check and make sure that there wasn’t any magic here to cut off sound. It was like sound here was ripped away from reality and thrown into the depths of the darkness where it’d never be heard

Ryner smiled bitterly. “I must look like an idiot trying to be quiet here
”
He completely erased his presence and tentatively searched the area.
It was horribly, horribly quiet.
He couldn’t sense any people. Couldn’t sense any living matter at all.
He instinctively associated the place with death as a result.
Death, nothingness
 and fear.
Anyone would probably be afraid here in the dead of night, though

But real, true nothingness extended before him when he used his Alpha Stigma. It was something that he could see but Arua couldn’t. So he had to investigate it, right?
He stepped farther into the dojo. His steps were soundless. Seriously, couldn’t it at least sound like he was walking on a wood floor?
“Actually, is this even wood?”
He touched it just to be sure. It felt like wood, alright. The small tap of his finger on it made a little sound, but it disappeared abnormally quickly, not echoing like it should in a room like this.
“
This is seriously weird
”
Ryner scowled at how uncomfortable it all was. Then he stood and continued walking. He passed through countless open doors, but the scenery never changed

“This is a pretty big place
”
Just saying so didn’t really express it. The place was huge, but all there was
 were more doors.
He opened another door in the part of the dojo that the butler said was forbidden. Apparently even Ferris and Iris couldn’t go here
 just the head of the Eris family.
“

”
Ryner’s eyes widened at the door, scarlet pentagrams set in their centers.
Nothingness.
But
 this nothingness was a little different from before.
He couldn’t sense anything in it. It was just nothing. And yet, the nothingness
 hazily

“Huh?”
That was all he could say. A deafening pressure struck his chest - the pressure of fear

Ryner took a step back as if to escape from what lie inside that door. But he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
Somehow
 somehow, something had appeared

It was a lone man. He was strange.
His blond hair was conspicuously light in the darkness, and he had calmly closed eyes and an elegant body. He was suspiciously, ominously beautiful, far past how a human ought to be

He had a peaceful sort of air about him
 no, it was just nothingness. The same nothingness as the dojo.
“
Are you Ferris’ brother?”
“Yeah. Lucile Eris. And you’re Ryner Lute, right?” His voice flitted between there and not. It set off warning bells in Ryner’s head. It was overpowering despite his calm tone. It made him uneasy. “You’ve become friends with Ferris for me, haven’t you
 I’ve always, always wanted to meet you like this, just the two of us.”
“

”
Bloodlust poured from Lucile’s body. Far more than a person was usually capable of.
So this was Ferris’ brother, Lucile Eris

Ryner watched him with half-lidded eyes.
He was head of the strongest family in Roland, the Swordsman’s Clan. Would Ferris have ended up like this, too, if she hadn’t been freed?
Cruel education brought about mad students like this, after all.
“
Is this your power?” Ryner asked.
Lucile looked a bit surprised. “Hmm
 so you’re fine despite it. You’re like a willow. A different personality type than Sion. You just take it all, like it isn’t there at all
 So? Are you normal compared to him - the unmotivated type? Things just don’t excite you—”
“I hate being analyzed,” Ryner interrupted.
Lucile smiled. “Me too.”
Everything returned to nothingness.
It was like the bloodlust from before had never been there at all.
This way was more dangerous, Ryner thought. The nothingness was far scarier.
He was stronger than Ferris, wasn’t he
?
Ferris was pretty up there, but she was still on a level that he understood. Lucile was probably just a little higher. No matter the crazy training he’d endured, he was still human, after all. And there was a limit to what humans could do.
The question was that nothingness.
No presence. No sound. It wasn’t of this dimension. It was bottomless, infinite nothingness.
What was it
?
“You’re about as strong as Ferris, aren’t you? That’s nothing,” Lucile said, like he could peer straight into Ryner’s mind. “You two make a good team. It was pretty funny when Sion teamed you two up.”
Ryner scowled. “I wouldn’t call it funny
 Geez, that Sion really must hate my guts. What do they even teach the girls here? They’re way too violent.”
“Haha. It sounds like she’s caused you trouble. Right. Right, she’ll start acting like an adult woman sooner or later. This would be a good time. I’m glad that you went with her. It seems like she had fun the whole time.”
Ryner recalled Ferris’ face. It was happy, sure, but only because she was knocking him around
 “Uh, yeah, I guess she did have fun,” Ryner said. “I’ve never seen anyone as free to do whatever she wanted as her. Like when she hit me, hit me some more, and used me as a human punching bag.”
Lucile just smiled, not minding Ryner’s glum expression in the slightest. He looked like he was having fun. Like he was happy. “But you know, I sure am glad that you went with her. Will you stay friends with her from now on? Also, hey, you’ll go to Estabul as Sion’s guards, won’t you? I can’t leave Roland
 can I trust you with this?”
It was a normal conversation, just joking about family without a care in the world.
Ryner nodded. “Well, I guess you can leave it to us
 but can I ask you something?”
“Mm? What is it?”
“It’s not a big deal or anything, but
 I looked into this, and I guess you can only protect Sion inside of Roland? Like, you can’t protect him when he’s out of the country, and I was just thinking that doesn’t make any sense. If you want to protect the king then you should follow him wherever, right? But you won’t. It’s been bothering me so much that it keeps me up at night
 okay, no, that part was a lie. But it really has been bothering me. If you tell me why, then I’ll protect both Sion and Ferris.”
Lucile didn’t answer. He just smiled.
So Ryner continued. “Like, is it just an Eris family custom or something?”
Lucile just smiled.
“Or is there like, some other reason?”
Lucile just smiled. His face was kind, truly kind, and calm as could be.
Ryner glared at him. “Or another reason
 for example, something that holds you here like chains
 a curse, maybe?”
Lucile finally reacted, though his smile remained in place. “A curse
? You sure do say some funny things.” His tone was just as calm as before. And yet
 Ryner shivered.
There was undeniably someone other than the Lucile he’d been talking to in there. No
 something else.
Nothingness. Nothingness was spreading out from him. It was endless, infinite nothingness.
Its face was a perfect recreation down to the fake smile. And so the nothingness spoke. “Chained by a cursed
 interesting. You really do say some funny things. Why exactly
 do you think that?”
Ryner had to suppress the urge to shiver to keep his voice from wavering. “I’m not just thinking it. I saw it. Well, maybe it’s better to say that I didn’t see it. I can’t see you. You don’t show up at all when I look at you with my Alpha Stigma
”
The emptiness got worse and worse even as he spoke.
Ryner glared at the nihility itself, complete with its artificial smile

“What are you?”
“
‘What’ is pretty rude. I’m exactly who you think I am: Ferris’ older brother—”
“That’s not what I mean! Ferris is human. And you’re not. So what are you?”
Lucile smiled wider than before.
That was all Ryner could see.
His presence disappeared. His body disappeared.
Something gripped his neck. It took a moment before Ryner realized that it was Lucile’s pale arm. It was strong, unthinkably, inhumanly so, and strangled him without restraint.
Lucile’s grip didn’t weaken, and Ryner didn’t even think of trying to remove his hand. It was far too strong for him to be able to move it.
Lucile had moved too fast to react to. It was like his arm had come straight out of another world. Ryner hadn’t been able to perceive it at all. He didn’t understand it at all.
Just a little stronger than Ferris? How had he ever thought that?
“Kgh
 ahh, y, you
”
Lucile wrang his neck with his hand and smiled. “Ferris isn’t a monster, right? Ha, haha. Right. That’s right. Do you think I don’t know that? Ferris is different. A curse doesn’t run through her blood. She’s different from me
 and from you
”
With that, Lucile let go.
“Gh
 augh
”
Ryner fell to his knees to catch his breath.
But Lucile kept talking, his words falling all around Ryner. “So don’t get the wrong idea. She doesn’t need you.”
“Wh, what’re you
 saying
”
“She’s already freed of her cursed blood. Freed from mine. Freed from yours. So you can’t put it in her. I won’t allow it.”
“Wh-what’re you even talking about
”
“
Maybe it’s easier for you to understand if I say it like this. You’re a monster who no one is ever going to accept. Okay?”
“Ah
”
Ryner couldn’t move.
Monster.
That word left him unable to move.
A cursed
 monster

It made him feel numb even now. Nothingness. Too much of it.
The nothingness wasn’t coming from Lucile. It was coming from inside him

Lucile smiled exactly the same as before. “You really misunderstood things, didn’t you? What were you searching for here? Hope? But you know best of all that you won’t find it here, don’t you?”
The darkness spread out again. But where was it aiming? To reach in front of Ryner? To reach inside of him?
The darkness was disorienting.
Lucile’s words alone echoed inside that immeasurable darkness.
“What kind of impossible dreams do monsters have? You should already know. Monsters’ hands are already covered in blood. They can’t grasp anything
 and they can’t make it anywhere.”
It was just Lucile’s voice

“But you don’t need to be discouraged. See, this is why I’m fine leaving my sister to you. You can’t touch her
 You can’t touch anyone
 There’s no meaning at all in your life, in you living here and now
 It’s not that I hate you or anything. Raise your head, now. Get along with Ferris, okay?”
With that
 Lucile left.
Ryner was left alone in the deep, deep darkness of the dojo.
“

”
He couldn’t stand for quite some time.
---
Several days later, Ryner received a letter on waking at the inn he was staying at.
It had no return address or name of sender, and its contents were simple.
Sion Astal gave Luke Stokkart three orders.
1. Find any Heroic Relics that the Alpha Stigma bearer Ryner Lute overlooks and fails to collect.
2. Monitor the Alpha Stigma bearer Ryner Lute.
3. Should the Alpha Stigma bearer Ryner Lute go berserk outside of Roland or show signs of betraying Roland, deal with him.
Ryner read it to the end
 and looked up.
His face was the same as ever. Sleepy. Unmotivated. And he spoke in the same tired voice as always.
“

Okay. Yeah, okay.”
He smiled sadly.