Chapter 2 — The Golden Stars Part 2
"The civilization of this planet is still immature, especially when it comes to technology," Yato commented casually as he walked toward Rael's house. "Though considering they experienced an early Awakening, technological progress will stagnate for quite some time."
His slow and relaxed steps contrasted sharply with the chaos unfolding only a few meters away.
For the sake of his new adventure, Yato had slightly altered his appearance.
Normally, he looked around eighteen years old.
Now, however, he appeared closer to twenty-three.
His silver hair flowed down to his shoulders, reflecting the moonlight like liquid metal. His silver eyes resembled flawless mirrors capable of exposing the deepest secrets of anyone who gazed into them. Even his pale skin looked less human and more like living marble carved by the gods themselves.
"Master, that boy appears to be in trouble," Yerin said while resting atop his shoulder in the form of a small white cat.
"I know." Yato smiled faintly. "But he's stronger than he realizes. Even if I weren't here today, he wouldn't die."
He glanced toward the destroyed house.
"Though the consequences would be… unpleasant."
Then his smile widened slightly.
"Still, I have no intention of letting some irrelevant trash interfere with my entertainment."
Yerin quietly observed Rael from afar.
'Stronger than he realizes…?'
She doubted Yato was referring to physical strength.
But then what did he mean?
"It's customary to knock before entering someone else's home," Yato said casually as he walked through the destroyed wall. "Forgive my poor manners."
Yerin stared at him silently.
'Sometimes, I truly don't understand you, Master. Despite possessing enough power to overturn existence itself… you still insist on behaving like a normal human.'
Yato's voice interrupted her thoughts immediately.
"Don't spoil the fun, my little one."
---
[FIRST PERSON POV]
"W-What do you want from me?"
My entire body trembled as I stared at the man standing inside my destroyed room.
Sweat dripped down my face.
If this was a nightmare…
…I wanted to wake up immediately.
I could barely move my body anymore. Even speaking felt difficult.
"Oh?" The man grinned. "You seriously thought I'd let you go after witnessing all that?"
He slowly approached me.
"We awakened aren't fond of unnecessary attention. But don't look so terrified."
His smile widened into something grotesque.
"At the very least, you should feel honored to die by my hand."
My mind raced desperately for a way out.
"What… are you?" I asked, trying to buy time.
"Oh?" He laughed softly. "Curious, are we?"
A crimson aura suddenly erupted from his body.
The pressure alone caused the floor beneath us to tremble slightly.
"We're humans just like you… only superior."
His eyes gleamed with fanaticism.
"We are Awakened."
"A-Awakened…?"
The crimson energy wrapped around his arm before condensing into a blade.
"Fascinating, isn't it?"
His expression became almost euphoric.
"It makes us better. Stronger. A higher form of life."
The crimson blade pointed toward my neck.
"And now…"
"Time to die."
My thoughts spiraled into panic.
'Why…?'
'Why kill people over something like this…?'
I clenched my fists desperately.
'If I scream, Obāchan might wake up…'
'I can't let her get involved.'
Damn it.
Damn it!
'Is this really how I'm going to die?'
Tock. Tock.
"Rael, dear?" My grandmother's voice came from behind the door. "I heard a loud noise. Is everything alright?"
My breathing stopped.
"No…" I muttered weakly.
"Oh?" The man laughed. "Looks like you're not alone after all."
"No!" I shouted immediately. "Please! Don't hurt her! I'm begging you!"
"Hahahaha!"
He looked genuinely amused now.
"So that's why you stayed quiet this whole time."
His crimson blade suddenly expanded.
"Well then…"
"What if I do this?"
The blade turned toward the door.
"STOP!"
I tried to move—
—but a giant hand made of crimson energy slammed me against the wall.
"Rael?!" Obāchan called anxiously from outside.
Then—
SLASH!
Silence.
My eyes widened.
My breathing stopped completely.
…
'No…'
'No…'
'Not her too…'
"NOOOOO!"
Rage exploded inside me.
"YOU BASTARD! I'LL KILL—"
"Hey now," a calm voice interrupted suddenly, "I'd appreciate it if everyone kept the noise down. The neighbors might complain."
…What?
That wasn't the voice I expected.
The door slowly opened.
A silver-haired man stood there calmly, one hand resting on my unconscious grandmother's shoulder.
She was alive.
Completely unharmed.
My entire body nearly gave out from relief.
"You…" The awakened man frowned immediately. "Who the hell are you? Which organization do you belong to?"
His expression became more cautious.
'Good… they don't know each other.'
For the first time tonight, I felt a small spark of hope.
Yawn.
"It's rather difficult to find entertaining people in such a vast cosmos," the silver-haired man said lazily. "So try not to die too quickly."
Then he ignored the awakened entirely and walked toward me.
"Now then," he smiled softly, "shall we chat?"
---
[THIRD PERSON POV]
Yato calmly approached Rael before casually snapping the crimson energy restraining him apart.
Rael floated gently toward a nearby chair.
"What… what are you?" Rael asked hesitantly. "Are you awakened too?"
His mind felt completely broken.
'What the hell is happening to this world?'
'Superhumans… powers…'
'Don't tell me aliens are real too…'
"Of course they are," Yato answered casually.
Rael froze.
"Wait… did you just read my mind?!"
"You could call it that." Yato smiled faintly. "And no, I'm not an awakened human."
With another snap of his fingers, Rael's grandmother vanished.
"You—!"
"Relax," Yato interrupted calmly. "She's asleep in her room. I erased tonight's memories as well."
"ENOUGH!"
The awakened man roared furiously before charging forward.
"You dare ignore me?!"
But before he could take another step—
"Bow."
Yerin's voice echoed coldly through the room.
BAM!
The awakened man crashed face-first into the ground.
His body refused to obey him.
No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't even raise his head.
"When exactly," Yerin asked quietly, "did you receive permission to speak?"
Her golden eyes glowed faintly with contempt.
"You insignificant insect… how dare you overestimate yourself in his presence?"
Then—
CRACK.
One of his fingers bent backward unnaturally.
"AAAAAHHH!"
CRACK.
Another.
Then another.
One by one.
Every finger twisted grotesquely.
The man screamed until his voice became hoarse.
Then Yerin forced him to look directly into her eyes.
Immediately, blood began pouring from his sockets.
His body convulsed violently.
"P-Please— STO—AAAHHHHH!"
His tongue was severed instantly.
Moments later, he collapsed unconscious.
"Noisy."
Yerin looked down at him indifferently.
"You'll spend the remainder of your miserable existence trapped within endless terror."
Then she casually erased his consciousness entirely.
Yato quietly concealed the entire scene from Rael's senses.
'My little one,' he thought with amusement, 'you're going to frighten him at this rate.'
Still…
…he didn't stop her.
Instead, he simply smiled.
'How adorable.'
---
"Anyway," Yato said while turning back toward Rael, "your name is Rael, correct?"
"Y-Yeah…" Rael nodded slowly. "Rael Kazehiro."
At this point, he no longer questioned how Yato already knew his name.
Nothing tonight felt normal anymore.
"You may call me Yato."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Yato Mugenkami."
Rael glanced around nervously.
The awakened man had vanished completely.
Only Yato and the white cat remained.
Nothing about either of them felt ordinary.
"So…" Rael hesitated. "What exactly do you want from me?"
"Hm?"
"You said you aren't awakened. Then what are you?"
"I'm someone from beyond your planet."
Rael blinked.
"So you really are an alien?"
"You may interpret it that way if you wish."
Yato slowly turned toward the night sky.
"I came here to offer you an opportunity."
"An opportunity?"
"To become a Trailblazer."
"Trail…blazer?"
"Those who climb the Tower are called Trailblazers." Yato explained calmly. "The Tower exists on a separate plane of existence. It was created to grant power, opportunity, and evolution to those daring enough to ascend it."
His silver eyes reflected countless stars.
"It is a gathering place for civilizations across existence."
Rael fell silent.
If everything Yato said was true…
…then maybe he could finally uncover the truth.
Maybe he could become strong enough to protect the people he cared about.
But—
"You could die inside the Tower," Yato said bluntly. "Power and danger walk side by side."
He looked directly into Rael's eyes.
"The choice is yours."
"If you accept, I'll give you something to aid your journey."
Rael clenched his fists.
"And what do you gain from this?" he asked carefully. "Why choose me?"
Yato smiled.
"For fun."
Then he turned away casually.
"I'll give you two days to decide."
As he walked toward the shattered wall, he added:
"Though even if you refuse… I can still provide some answers."
The next instant—
He disappeared.
"Wait—!"
Rael instinctively reached out.
But before he could say anything else—
The destroyed room restored itself instantly.
The walls repaired themselves.
The debris vanished.
Everything returned to normal as if nothing had ever happened.
Then—
A translucent blue screen appeared before Rael's eyes.
[Welcome, Rael Kazehiro]
[Analyzing…]
[Confirmed]
[I am the System]
[Created to assist designated Trailblazers throughout their journeys]
[Awaiting Decision]
[Rael Kazehiro — Not Confirmed]
[Sakura Kanami — Not Confirmed]
Rael froze.
"…Sakura Kanami?"