In a dark chamber where unnatural silence lingered between every breath, Haruto and Uriel stood facing one another beneath the pale glow cast by the white walls, while shattered chains remained scattered across the floor.
A golden staff with ornate trims had been driven through Haruto's chest, and Uriel stood before him with a small pair of white wings resting beside her head while six larger pairs extended from her back.
(Shit... she actually bypassed my physical defenses.) Haruto thought as genuine surprise flickered across his face for a brief moment.
Uriel's eyes lowered toward her stomach when she noticed Haruto's open palm pressed against her abdomen, where a sphere of condensed light rapidly formed.
The next instant, she was launched backward into the wall as stone and dust erupted outward from the impact.
A hollow should have been blasted through Haruto's chest as well, but his regeneration worked so quickly that the injury vanished before it could properly exist.
"Instant Regeneration"
Uriel disappeared from sight before reappearing behind Haruto with a powerful kick aimed at his back.
Haruto immediately responded with a backward kick of his own, and the collision forced both of them apart before they launched themselves at each other again.
Uriel unleashed a rapid barrage of punches as she closed the distance, but Haruto caught her wrist and used her momentum to throw her over his shoulder.
She twisted her body mid-air and landed lightly upon her feet before the throw could fully succeed.
While Haruto still held one of her arms, Uriel snapped a kick toward his neck with her free leg.
Haruto blocked the attack with his free arm and shifted his weight forward.
Thinking quickly, he swept one of her supporting legs from beneath her.
Uriel reacted instantly by tightening her grip around his wrist before grabbing his other arm and launching both feet into his chest.
The impact forced Haruto backward across the floor until he planted one hand against the ground and stopped himself.
Thin smoke slowly rose from his chest where the kick had landed.
When Haruto raised his head, Uriel was already descending from above with another kick aimed directly at his chin.
The collision released a shockwave that spread throughout the chamber and rattled the surrounding walls.
Uriel's eyes narrowed slightly when she realized Haruto had blocked the attack again.
Before she could retreat, Haruto seized her knee and rose to his feet while spinning her body through the air.
He threw her sideways toward the ceiling, but Uriel unfolded all six pairs of wings and halted her momentum before impact.
(His skill is exactly what I expected... but why hasn't he tried to kill me yet?) Uriel wondered as her wings continued beating steadily behind her.
"Tell me, angel," Haruto asked softly as he looked up at her suspended form. "Why did you stab me?"
Uriel stared at him for a moment before understanding slowly settled within her expression.
(Oh... I see now.) Uriel thought as her eyes widened slightly. You were planning to destroy this universe.
"Is that so?" Haruto replied as he released a quiet sigh. "Then I forgive you."
Uriel visibly paused.
The answer clearly wasn't what she had expected.
"You angels are strange," Haruto continued as faint amusement entered his voice. "These people feast upon your flesh, yet you still protect them from me."
"Of course I do," Uriel replied firmly as her gaze sharpened. "All life is precious under the laws of the angels."
"Really?" Haruto asked as his expression darkened slightly. "Then do the lives from my god-born world not count as life?"
Uriel's expression softened for a brief moment as sadness appeared behind her eyes.
"They are precious as well," Uriel answered gently. "But for the safety of others, some paths must be allowed to continue."
Haruto remained silent for several moments while the atmosphere between them steadily grew heavier.
"No matter what twisted reasoning Heaven offers," Haruto said firmly, "I will never see eye to eye with them."
"Mmm..." Uriel murmured as she carefully studied his face. "Are you planning to oppose Heaven?"
"Maybe," Haruto replied as he turned around and began walking toward the destroyed entrance of the chamber.
Uriel continued watching him while FateCleaver dissolved into countless glowing particles behind him.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
(My theory was correct.) Uriel thought as she slowly descended toward the ground. (I need to report this to the Heavenly Court immediately.)
Back in Haruto's original world, where he truly belonged, the night sky stretched endlessly above the glowing city while countless lights shone from the windows of towering buildings.
Cars moved steadily along the streets below as their headlights reflected across the rain-darkened roads, giving the city a quiet sense of life despite the late hour.
"Yuna has never done this before," Reika said worriedly as she guided the black luxury car through the evening traffic.
Her hands remained firmly on the steering wheel while frightening possibilities continued running through her mind.
"What caused Yuna to stay out this late?" Haruto asked from the passenger seat as the passing city lights danced across his glass-like skin. "Is it simply because she's reached that age?"
"Maybe..." Reika answered as her grip around the steering wheel tightened slightly. "She shows so much emotion, yet it's still so difficult to understand what she's truly thinking."
Haruto quietly watched the people passing beyond the window while the silence lingered between them.
"No one can truly understand another person," Haruto said softly as his reflection drifted across the glass.
Reika lowered her eyes for a brief moment before another thought quietly surfaced within her heart.
"If Hoshika were here," Reika whispered as her voice weakened, "this never would have happened. I really am a failure as her sister."
"No, you're not," Haruto replied without hesitation as he turned toward her.
"When Mother and Big Sis died," Haruto continued gently, "I was completely lost, yet you stayed beside me and slowly healed my heart."
Reika's vision blurred as tears slowly gathered within her eyes.
"D-don't..." Reika murmured as she struggled to keep her attention on the road. "Don't say things just to make me feel better."
"I never would," Haruto replied with quiet certainty as a gentle smile appeared across his face.
He reached over and carefully wiped the tears from her cheek before lowering his hand once again.
"You're the anchor that keeps our family together," Haruto said softly. "So don't cry."
"I'm not crying," Reika replied as she quickly wiped her remaining tears away with her forearm.
A small smile gradually appeared despite the sadness still lingering within her eyes.
"Thank you," Reika said quietly. "That really helped... and I'm glad you're my little older brother."
"Huh?" Haruto replied as playful confusion spread across his face. "'Little older brother' isn't even a real phrase, Sis."
"Who decided that?" Reika asked with a warm smile as she slowly guided the car into a nearby parking area.
Beyond the parking lot, a deep-blue ocean stretched toward the horizon while the moonlight shimmered gently across the calm waves.
"There she is," Haruto said as relief softened his expression the moment he stepped out of the car.
He quietly looked toward the shoreline where Yuna stood alone beneath the full moon, her eyes fixed upon the silver light reflecting across the endless sea.
"Let's go, Reika," Haruto said as he bent down beside the car and looked through the open window, finding her still sitting quietly behind the steering wheel.
"Huh..." Reika murmured as she slowly loosened her grip on the wheel. "Not yet. I think it's better if you go ahead."
Haruto studied her for a long moment before giving a small nod.
"...Okay then."
He gently closed the car door before walking down the few stone steps leading toward the quiet shoreline.
Yuna lowered her head the moment she sensed Haruto approaching.
She slowly glanced over her shoulder and found him standing a few steps behind her with both hands resting inside his pockets.
"Why are you out here?" Haruto asked softly as he removed his white silk jacket and carefully draped it across her shoulders. "You'll catch a cold."
"Yeah... sorry," Yuna replied quietly as her fingers held the edges of the jacket. "Did Big Sis tell you where I was, Brother?"
"No," Haruto answered as he picked up a smooth flat stone from the sand. "I've always known you'd come here. I used to visit this place whenever I was feeling down."
"Mmm?" Yuna murmured as she watched him throw the stone across the water.
The stone skipped several times over the moonlit surface before finally disappearing beneath the gentle waves.
"Brother, you're really good at steering conversations toward what you want to know," Yuna said as she narrowed one eye at him.
Haruto turned toward her with a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"If you already noticed," Haruto replied calmly, "then you probably know what I want to ask, don't you, dear sister?"
(Sharp... but not sharp enough to notice the trap.) Haruto thought as he quietly watched her reaction.
"You're right," Yuna admitted as she looked back toward the endless ocean.
The small waves rolled gently beneath the silver moon, making its reflection dance across the surface.
"I guess... I'm lonely, Brother," Yuna said as she placed both hands behind her back and forced a small smile that never reached her eyes.
(Lonely?) Haruto thought as quiet surprise flickered through him.
He followed her gaze toward the ocean before speaking again.
"Why do you feel that way?"
"I..." Yuna hesitated as her brows knitted together. "I don't even know how to explain it."
Haruto remained silent for a brief moment while he carefully searched for the right words.
"Loneliness is the painful feeling created by the gap between the connection you want and the connection you believe you have," Haruto said gently.
"So... that's what this is," Yuna whispered as she placed a hand against her chest. "I have you, Big Sis, and Aria... so I shouldn't feel this way. Why do I, Brother?"
"I know," Haruto replied as he nodded slowly. "Because loneliness is a subjective feeling. You can still experience it even while surrounded by people who genuinely love you."
His answer settled quietly between them as the steady rhythm of the waves filled the silence.
Moonlight bathed their figures while the cool sea breeze drifted across the shore.
"But don't worry," Haruto said as a warm smile slowly appeared across his face. "Big Sis and I will help you through it."
Yuna froze for a brief second.
The sincerity within his smile reached her before his words did.
"Ahaha..." Yuna laughed softly as warmth gradually returned to her eyes. "How are you even supposed to help with something so... spiritual?"
"You'll see," Haruto replied with an easy smile as he stepped back and tossed another stone across the water.
"Alright," Yuna said as she tilted her head slightly. "If you say so... my hero."
"Here."
Haruto handed her another smooth stone before pointing toward the water.
"Try skipping it farther than mine," he said with an encouraging smile. "Dad taught me this when I was little."
"If that's the case..." Yuna replied as she accepted the stone. "Then thanks."
She carefully copied Haruto's stance before throwing the stone.
The stone flew straight into the water.
Plop.
It disappeared beneath the surface without making a single skip.
Haruto pressed his lips together.
For about two seconds.
Then he lost the battle.
"Ahaha..." Haruto laughed softly as he covered part of his face, though he made little effort to hide it. "W-what was that? You looked so serious that I actually believed you'd get it on the first try."
"Hey!" Yuna protested as her cheeks turned bright red. "Don't laugh at your little sister. It wasn't even that funny."
"Fine," Haruto replied with a grin as he picked up another stone. "I'll show you again. Lower yourself a little more before you throw it. That's the real trick."
"Mind if I join your little game?"
Reika's gentle voice drifted toward them from behind.
The sea breeze swept through her long hair as she brushed several loose strands away from her face while walking toward them.
"Big Sis?" Yuna said as surprise crossed her face before melting into a genuine smile.
"Of course," Haruto replied as he tossed Reika a flat stone. "Show us what you've got."
Reika caught it with one hand before taking careful aim.
She threw the stone.
Plop.
It sank just as quickly as Yuna's.
For a brief moment, complete silence lingered between the three siblings.
Soft giggles suddenly escaped from Haruto and Yuna as both of them tried, and completely failed, to hide their laughter.
"Yuna," Reika said with playful annoyance as she pointed accusingly at her younger sister. "Why are you laughing? Yours landed exactly the same."
Yuna tried to answer, but another burst of laughter escaped before she could speak.
The three of them remained by the shoreline for the next hour, talking, laughing, and throwing stones across the moonlit sea until the rest of the world quietly faded from their minds.
"Oh man... that was so much fun," Haruto said with a satisfied smile as he leaned back against the passenger seat and stretched comfortably.
"I agree, Brother," Reika replied with a warm smile as she glanced at the rearview mirror, where Yuna slept peacefully in the back seat.
The car steadily climbed the winding mountain road while the first rays of the morning sun slowly rose behind the mansion standing proudly at the summit.
Before long, they passed through the front gate as it automatically opened for them, and Reika gently brought the car to a stop beneath the mansion's entrance.
Haruto quietly stepped out before walking around to the back seat.
He carefully lifted the sleeping Yuna into his arms and gently nudged the car door closed with the back of his foot, making sure not to wake her.
"See you tonight, Sis," Haruto said softly as Yuna rested peacefully against his chest. "Good luck at work."
"Sure," Reika replied with a gentle smile. "Take good care of Yuna while I'm away, alright?"
"I will."
Reika gave a small nod before driving away, and the black luxury car gradually disappeared beyond the mansion gates.
Haruto watched it leave for a brief moment before turning toward the entrance with Yuna still sleeping soundly in his arms.
He activated "Instant Teleportation".
The surrounding scenery vanished without a ripple, and in the very next instant, Haruto appeared inside Yuna's bedroom.
He carefully lowered her onto the soft bed before gently pulling the blanket over her body.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he brushed a loose strand of hair away from her forehead.
"Sleep well," Haruto whispered before placing a gentle kiss upon her forehead.
The quiet moment lasted only a few seconds.
The mansion's doorbell suddenly echoed through the house.
Haruto disappeared from the bedroom and instantly appeared on the opposite side of the front door.
He reached for the doorknob and calmly pulled it open.
The moment the door moved, five men in black suits forced their way inside.
They immediately pinned Haruto to the floor with practiced precision while another stepped forward.
"You're suspected of being the mastermind behind the 911 incident," the man said firmly.
He appeared to be in his early thirties with short red hair and sharp eyes that carefully studied Haruto's expression.
"So I'd advise you to remain quiet."
"Excuse me..." Haruto said calmly without resisting as he looked up at the unfamiliar faces. (One thing after another.)
"Oh, right," the man replied with an easy smile as he held up an identification card. "My name is Seiko. National Investigation Forces."
"I see," Haruto replied softly after calmly reading the identification.
His expression never changed.
"Would you mind keeping your voices down?" Haruto asked politely. "My little sister is still asleep."
Seiko blinked.
For a brief moment, he simply stared at Haruto.
(Mm... strange.) Seiko thought as suspicion settled deeper within his eyes. (He's far too calm for someone being arrested.)
Without taking his eyes off Haruto, Seiko quietly gestured for the other agents to escort him away.
Before long, Haruto found himself sitting inside an interrogation room furnished with nothing more than a steel table and two chairs, while silence lingered heavily between the white walls.
Seiko sat across from him before sliding a thick file onto the table.
"Your entire class vanished without leaving a single trace," Seiko said as the file stopped in front of Haruto. "There were no witnesses, and there isn't any evidence showing how they even left the classroom."
Haruto calmly lowered his eyes toward the file without immediately touching it.
"And what exactly does that have to do with me?" Haruto asked softly. "I don't recall having any involvement with their disappearance."
"Take a look through the file," Seiko replied as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Then tell me that again."
Haruto slowly opened the file.
Several photographs stared back at him.
"Oh...?" Haruto murmured as his eyes settled on the images showing a hooded figure entering the classroom.
(Mm... I don't remember this.) Haruto thought as his gaze sharpened slightly. (Am I being set up?)
"You were caught on camera," Seiko said as his expression gradually became more serious. "The date and time match the same day your classmates disappeared."
Haruto quietly placed the photographs back onto the table before looking at Seiko again.
"You just said there were no witnesses or evidence," Haruto replied calmly. "That means you don't actually know when they disappeared."
"The students vanished at 10:30," Seiko answered as he tapped his finger against the table. "You were there."
"You know something."
Haruto leaned back slightly in his chair without breaking eye contact.
"Can you prove they disappeared at exactly 10:30?" Haruto asked. "Without witnesses or surveillance showing the disappearance itself, that time is only an assumption... isn't it?"
Silence settled across the room.
Seiko's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"...Yes," Seiko admitted after a brief pause. "You're right."
Haruto calmly placed one finger against the photograph of the hooded figure.
"Even if that person were me," Haruto continued, "how can you prove I was still there when everyone disappeared?"
Seiko let out a quiet sigh before resting both forearms on the table.
"Fair enough," Seiko admitted. "We don't know the exact time."
He paused for a moment before changing direction.
"Then let's talk about you instead. Where were you that night?"
(I was teleported away during the night.) Haruto thought as he quietly pieced the timeline together. (It's possible they were summoned during the day.)
"I was visiting my mother and older sister's graves," Haruto answered without hesitation.
"What about the hoodie?" Seiko asked as he folded his arms. "Do you still own one matching the person in those photographs?"
Before Haruto could answer, the heavy steel door suddenly opened.
Both of them instinctively turned toward the entrance.
"Seiko," a middle-aged man called out with forced composure that barely concealed his urgency. "Come here."
Seiko immediately stood up.
"You can go, kid," the older man said to Haruto before shifting his attention back toward Seiko.
Seiko's eyes widened.
"What...?"
Haruto quietly rose from his chair before walking toward the exit.
As he passed Seiko, their eyes briefly met.
Haruto offered him a small, unreadable smile before calmly continuing down the hallway where several officers moved between offices.
"Boss," Seiko asked after the door closed, "what the hell was that?"
His frustration slipped into his voice despite his effort to remain respectful.
"Do you have any idea who that kid is?" the older man barked as he struck Seiko hard against the chest.
"What?" Seiko replied in confusion as he stumbled backward. "He's just some rich kid with a good family background."
"A good family?" the older man snapped before slapping Seiko sharply across the face.
The impact echoed through the room.
"He's the heir to one of the Four Noble Families," the older man growled. "This building, your salary, your job... people like him practically own all of it."
Seiko staggered backward until his shoulder struck the wall.
He slowly slid to one knee while pressing a trembling hand against his burning cheek.
"You've nearly cost every one of us our jobs, you brainless idiot," the older man said coldly as he glared down at him. ""Without undeniable evidence, touching one of the Four Noble Families would destroy our careers. Do you finally understand?"
Seiko opened his mouth.
No words came out.
He could only watch silently as his superior turned around and left the room.
(I didn't know...) Seiko thought as horror slowly settled across his face. (None of the records mentioned that... was I just used?)
A while later, Seiko returned home.
He pushed open the front gate before slowly making his way toward the front door with exhausted steps.
A small flame appeared at the tip of his finger as he brought it toward the cigarette resting between his lips.
(Fuck...) Seiko thought bitterly as he exhaled through his nose. (Looks like the plan failed... I'll have to report this to the House of Valtor.)
He quietly unlocked the front door before stepping inside.
Seiko's eyes widened slightly as he felt a small figure suddenly crash into him and wrap both arms tightly around his waist.
"Daddy! Welcome home!" the little girl exclaimed as she looked up at him with sparkling blue eyes and a bright, innocent smile.
—Nana—
"Hey, Nana," Seiko said warmly as he crushed the unfinished cigarette inside his gloved palm before slipping it into his pocket.
He bent down, lifted her into his arms, and smiled with genuine affection.
"I missed you."
"Really?" a beautiful woman asked with a teasing smile as she walked over while carrying a baby in her arms. "What about me, darling?"
—Mana—
"My bad, babe," Seiko replied with a sheepish grin as he lowered Nana back onto the floor before leaning forward to give Mana a quick kiss.
Mana smiled and returned it without hesitation.
As they separated, her eyes drifted toward his face.
"What happened to your cheek?" Mana asked as concern quietly appeared in her expression.
She gently reached toward the faint red mark, but Seiko instinctively pulled back.
"It's nothing," Seiko answered casually as he walked past her and removed his shoes near the entrance. "Anyway... is dinner ready? I'm starving."
Mana watched him for a brief moment before quietly letting out a small sigh.
"Right on time... as always," she replied before turning toward the kitchen.
Nana happily chased after her father with tiny footsteps echoing through the house.
Dinner passed peacefully as laughter and conversation filled the dining room with comforting warmth.
Nana asked endless questions about Seiko's job, and although he avoided the difficult details, he patiently answered every question with a smile.
The worries from earlier slowly faded into the background.
A while later, Nana finally fell asleep.
Seiko carefully carried her to her bedroom before gently placing her beneath the blankets.
He brushed a few loose strands of hair away from her forehead before quietly leaving the room and softly closing the door behind him.
The sound of a crying baby drifted from the kitchen.
Seiko followed the noise and found Mana gently rocking the baby with one arm while reaching for a carton of milk with the other.
She tilted the carton over the bottle.
Nothing came out.
"Damn it..." Mana muttered with visible frustration as she shook the empty carton once more before tossing it into the trash.
"The milk's finished."
"Shouldn't you already be producing enough breast milk?" Seiko asked as he leaned against the kitchen doorway with his arms loosely folded.
Mana slowly turned toward him.
"If I could," she replied with an unimpressed stare, "I wouldn't be looking for milk in the first place."
Her sharp gaze lingered on him for another second.
"Rather than standing there," Mana added, "go buy some."
"Yeah, yeah," Seiko replied with a helpless chuckle as he pushed himself away from the doorway.
He slipped his phone into his jacket pocket before putting the jacket on and making his way toward the front door.
Seiko walked along the quiet sidewalk as the headlights of passing cars briefly washed over him, while the golden-brown evening sky slowly surrendered to the approaching night.
His footsteps gradually slowed.
A memory suddenly resurfaced.
...
Seiko stood inside a narrow alleyway where the surrounding darkness swallowed almost everything except the figure standing before him.
The man wore a spotless white suit, yet the shadows completely concealed his face.
"If you complete this job," the man said pleasantly, "you'll receive ten billion dollars."
He gave a soft chuckle before continuing.
"That's quite a generous reward for someone carrying financial burdens, wouldn't you agree?"
(Ten billion...?) Seiko thought as his eyes widened with disbelief.
(With that kind of money... I could finally give Mana and the kids the life they deserve.)
The man casually handed him a thick file.
As their hands briefly crossed, the sleeve of the white suit shifted slightly, revealing a dragon tattoo wrapped around his wrist.
Seiko quietly accepted the file before opening it with growing curiosity.
His eyebrows slowly rose.
Inside was a single photograph.
"A... kid?" Seiko murmured as he stared at the young boy in the picture, unconsciously shifting his weight onto his other leg.
"Yes," the man replied with a cheerful laugh. "Just an ordinary child."
His smile seemed to deepen beneath the shadows.
"Your task is simple," he continued as he slowly turned away. "Put him behind bars... or make sure he dies."
Without another word, the man calmly disappeared deeper into the darkness of the alley, leaving only silence behind.
(If that's all they want...) Seiko thought as a confident grin slowly spread across his face.
(This job should've been easy.)
His eyes quietly settled back onto Haruto's photograph.
Back in the present, Seiko was already making his way home from the convenience store with a carton of milk resting in one hand.
His phone suddenly rang inside his jacket pocket, instantly pulling him back to reality.
He quickly took it out and answered the call.
"Babe!" Mana exclaimed from the other end while gently breastfeeding their baby. "I can finally feed our little one! I don't know how, but my breast milk suddenly started coming in!"
Seiko's eyes lit up.
"Wait... really?" Seiko asked with genuine happiness as a broad smile spread across his face. "That's amazi..."
His voice stopped.
The smile vanished just as quickly.
A black sedan with heavily tinted windows was slowly approaching from the opposite side of the road.
At first glance, nothing seemed unusual.
Then his instincts screamed.
...
Far away, Reika sat quietly behind the large desk inside her office.
Towering glass windows stretched behind her, overlooking endless golden-brown clouds drifting peacefully across the sky.
Her phone rested on the polished desk.
The screen displayed an active call.
Jinwoo.
Beside her stood Yukito in complete silence, his reflection faintly visible across the phone's dark display.
"Master," Jinwoo reported calmly from inside the black sedan, "we've located the target."
A brief pause followed.
"We're awaiting your orders."
"Do it," Reika replied simply.
She offered no explanation.
She didn't need to.
The call ended immediately.
Inside the sedan, Jinwoo quietly lowered the phone before giving the driver a small nod.
The car smoothly accelerated toward Seiko.
The rear window slowly rolled down.
Seiko's eyes widened.
Before he could react, Jinwoo leaned out through the open window with a Suici knife already in his hand.
One clean slash.
The blade flashed through the air.
Blood burst outward as Seiko's head was nearly severed, remaining attached by only a thin strip of flesh before his body collapsed onto its knees.
His phone slipped from his hand.
It struck the pavement.
"Huh... babe?" Mana asked from the speaker as concern immediately entered her voice. "What was that sound? Are you alright?"
No answer came.
(I'm... going to die...)
Seiko's vision gradually darkened as blood poured onto the pavement.
(No... not yet...)
(I still have to support my...)
His thoughts stopped before they could finish.
"Seiko?" Mana called again as panic crept into her trembling voice. "Seiko! Can you hear me? Did something happen?"
Only silence answered her.
She had no idea what had happened on the other end of the call.
The black sedan continued driving without slowing down.
Its taillights gradually disappeared into the distance until the vehicle finally vanished around the next corner, leaving the empty street behind.