Part 1: Fate
Ken turned toward Haruto, his expression firm as he gestured down the grand corridor of the palace.
"Haruto, show the way to the underground base."
"The priest requested to personally inspect that area."
Haruto maintained an unreadable, flat expression, his tone devoid of any emotion.
"Fine."
"Follow me, Priest."
The Former Priest silently stepped forward, his heavy clerical robes rustling against the polished stone floor as he trailed behind Haruto.
They descended into the damp depths beneath the castle, navigating the dimly lit passageways where cold moisture seeped through ancient masonry.
Upon reaching the massive, rune-carved entrance gate of the underground base, Haruto stopped and turned around slowly.
"It has been a long time, Suho."
The Former Priest froze, his eyes widening slightly beneath his deeply lined brow.
"How did you recognize me as Suho?"
"I have aged significantly over the years."
"I assumed you would never be able to discern my true identity."
Haruto looked at him with cold, detached eyes.
"Did you truly believe I would forget a high school classmate so easily?"
"Especially one who constantly attempted to undermine my reputation back at school."
"However, explain what you are doing here in Tenzu."
Suho let out a tired, raspy sigh, adjusting his ceremonial collar.
"I should be asking you that exact question."
"As you are aware, sudden spatial teleportation anomalies began occurring across Japan."
"I was swept away into Tenzu during one of those chaotic incidents."
"I was summoned here many years ago, which explains my advanced age and my current standing as a priest in the Fate Church."
Haruto stared at him without a single flicker of surprise.
"I recall your academic performance was notoriously poor."
"Attaining the position of a high priest requires extensive intellectual study."
"It is somewhat surprising that you managed to achieve all of this."
Suho grimaced, a hint of annoyance breaching his solemn demeanor.
"I was not as incompetent as you make me out to be."
"I simply harbored an intense dislike for standard school academics at that time."
Haruto shifted the topic directly, his voice calm and unyielding.
"How are you capable of utilizing rituals?"
Suho raised his hands slightly, looking at his palms.
"I possessed the natural capability to manifest them from the very moment I arrived, though the underlying mechanics remain unknown to me."
"However, let us set that aside for now. Tell me truthfully—did you steal the Peter Saint Book?"
Haruto answered instantly, his expression completely blank.
"Yes. I stole it. Do you have a problem with that?"
Suho blinked, caught off guard by the abrupt confession.
"At the very least, you possess the honesty to admit it."
"Return the book to me immediately."
"If you hand it over now, I will personally ensure you escape official punishment."
Haruto's voice remained flat and steady, devoid of any warmth or warmth's opposite.
"I am well aware that even if I return it, you will still enforce a punishment upon me."
"I know your character far too well."
Suho remained silent, his inner thoughts confirming the evaluation.
He read my intentions precisely.
Haruto continued speaking without shifting his posture.
"Furthermore, I no longer possess the Peter Saint Book."
"Upon activating its underlying authority, the physical book was completely destroyed."
Suho's face twisted in sudden disbelief and rage.
"What on earth are you talking about!"
"That sacred, prestigious tome was destroyed so easily?"
"This leaves me with no choice. I must sentence you as a criminal and impose severe retribution."
Haruto looked directly into Suho's eyes, his tone cold and threateningly calm.
"You possess absolute zero physical evidence pointing toward my involvement."
"Furthermore, if you expose me to the public, I will publicly reveal the true, hidden nature of your ritual power to the entire kingdom."
Suho completely froze in place, his breathing catching in his throat.
Haruto pressed forward with absolute, emotionless clarity.
"Cease the investigation regarding the disappearance of the Peter Saint Book immediately."
"Do so, and I will keep your secret permanently hidden, as I possess a logical explanation for everything."
Suho clenched his fists tightly beneath his wide sleeves, his jaw trembling with hesitation before he spat out his words.
"For now... I shall comply with your demand."
"However, remember this well—I will extract my revenge upon you one day."
Haruto replied coldly, his face an immovable mask.
"We shall see."
Following their silent confrontation, the Former Priest officially declared the investigation into the Peter Saint Book closed, completely clearing Haruto of any official suspicion.
Shortly after returning to the main courtyard, Flora approached Haruto, carrying a long object wrapped in dense protective cloth.
She unwrapped it to reveal a magnificent, custom-crafted weapon.
It was a long, slender longsword featuring a straight, double-edged steel blade that tapered to a lethal point.
The blade bore a smooth silver finish, marked by a subtle central ridge running along its length.
The hilt boasted an elongated grip tightly wrapped in dark leather, perfectly balanced for both one-handed and two-handed execution.
Its sleek crossguard angled slightly downward toward the blade, composed of polished silver metal adorned with intricate geometric engravings.
At the base of the hilt sat a solid, rounded metal teardrop pommel.
When channeled with narrative energy, a brilliant, glowing white-and-blue aura surged violently across the entire steel blade.
Flora lifted the weapon toward him with a proud expression.
"The structural material of your original staff possessed extreme durability."
"The master blacksmith was forced to deploy a high-tier Dragon Crafting Ritual to successfully forge this blade."
"The artisan officially bestowed it with the name Dragon Slayer."
"With this, you can seamlessly combine your ritual applications alongside advanced swordsmanship."
"Now, accompany me to the central training grounds to begin your instruction."
Before Haruto could step forward, Ryuk and Leo walked up from the adjacent corridor.
Haruto turned toward Flora, his tone completely flat.
"Mrs. Flora, I will join you in a few minutes."
Flora nodded understandingly and departed toward the practice grounds.
Once she was out of earshot, Ryuk stopped in front of Haruto, his eyes narrowed with deep suspicion.
"What exactly transpired down there?"
Haruto responded without a trace of emotion.
"What are you implying?"
Ryuk stepped closer, his voice low and accusatory.
"I am fully convinced that you were the one who stole that book."
"You somehow manipulated or blackmailed the Former Priest into abruptly shutting down the entire investigation."
"Otherwise, why would an official inquiry suddenly vanish immediately after he met with you privately?"
"My doubts regarding you are growing. I recall vividly how you manipulated us in the past solely to secure personal advantages."
Haruto looked back at Ryuk, his expression remaining perfectly cold and unbothered.
"Your conclusions are based on a misunderstanding."
"Why would I attempt such a risk against him?"
"He is a Former Priest of the church—an exceptionally powerful figure."
"How could someone like me possibly blackmail an entity of his stature?"
"The castle underground was simply the final uninspected location."
"Finding nothing of note, he naturally concluded the perpetrator had long since fled the perimeter, leading him to terminate a fruitless search."
"Apply basic logic—why would a thief remain lingering at the exact site where an active investigation is taking place? The culprit undoubtedly escaped long ago."
Leo listened carefully, nodding his head in rapid agreement.
"I believe Haruto raises a valid point."
Haruto looked toward Ryuk without any change in his neutral tone.
"Even Leo recognizes the logical inconsistency in your suspicion. You are doubting me without foundation."
Ryuk exhaled sharply, throwing his hands up in mild frustration.
"Fine. For the time being, I will treat you as innocent."
Haruto turned on his heel and walked away toward the training field without uttering another word.
Ryuk turned his head toward Leo, his expression filled with deep disappointment.
"Why do you surrender to Haruto's words so easily?"
Leo looked confused, blinking innocently.
"What do you mean by that?"
Ryuk shook his head, his tone harsh and uncompromising.
"It is due to your sheer naivety."
"Haruto constantly operates in the shadows, executing dubious acts for his own benefit."
"Yet you perpetually take his side without a second thought."
"Do you not possess sufficient intellect to analyze situations independently and formulate your own conclusions?"
"A person who lacks the courage to hold their own independent opinion is nothing short of a complete failure."
Ryuk turned away and walked off into the castle, leaving Leo standing entirely alone in the silent hallway.
Leo remained motionless, his head hung low as Ryuk's blunt critique echoed in his mind.
A deep sense of shame and guilt washed over him as he confronted his own immaturity, resolving firmly that he would no longer rely blindly on others to make decisions for him.
Haruto arrived at the vast, stone-paved training grounds.
Flora was waiting for him, holding a set of specialized garments tailored specifically for high-mobility combat.
It was a functional, dark-toned martial artist suit that seamlessly blended traditional Eastern robes with light structural combat armor.
The upper piece featured a high-collared, dark grey cross-over tunic tightly bound at the waist with a thick, dark sash.
Over his left shoulder rested a sleek, angular black pauldron secured to short, structured sleeve caps.
His forearms were encased in fitted, dark leather armguards accompanied by reinforced gloves.
Below, he wore loose, dark grey hakama-style trousers tucked securely at the calves into sturdy, calf-high black combat boots.
Haruto silently changed into the gear, adjusting the leather bindings on his forearms.
Flora observed his appearance, nodding in approval.
"Since you are transitioning away from a pure caster role into a practitioner of the South Sword Style, I selected attire suitable for aggressive movements."
Haruto adjusted his grip on the leather hilt of Dragon Slayer, his face entirely blank.
"The attire is acceptable."
"Begin the training."
Flora hovered upward slightly, coming to rest gracefully atop her flying broomstick.
"Are you familiar with the fundamentals of swordsmanship?"
Haruto replied coldly, his eyes tracking her movement.
"I possess sufficient foundational knowledge."
"Very well. Your objective for this session is to engage me directly in active combat."
"Let the battle commence!"
Without a moment's delay, Haruto initiated the offensive.
Understanding that his new blade served as a powerful conduit for his rituals, he channeled his energy through the steel, launching a roaring sphere of flame straight toward her.
Flora smiled subtly, flicking her wrist to manifest a shimmering bubble ritual that instantly swallowed and neutralized the fire.
Haruto closed the distance at maximum speed, his combat boots cracking against the stone floor.
He leapt into her space, swinging Dragon Slayer in a swift arc aimed at her flank.
Flora effortlessly tilted her broom back, dodging the steel blade by a hair's breadth.
Haruto instantly altered his momentum, unleashing a high-pressure water cannon ritual at point-blank range.
Flora leaped backward through the air to gain distance, exactly as Haruto anticipated.
Exploiting her temporary airborne trajectory, Haruto deployed his most lethal ritual—a barrage of high-speed stone drills thrusting violently from the ground toward her location.
Flora's eyes widened in brief surprise at his tactical foresight.
Yet, with incredible aerial grace, she maneuvered between the rising spires, directing the stone drills to collide directly into one another, shattering them into harmless dust.
She descended slightly, looking at Haruto with a stern glare.
"You are failing to synthesize your swordplay with your rituals!"
"The absolute essence of the South Sword Style relies on combining blade strikes and ritual activations simultaneously, crafting creative, unpredictable patterns."
"Currently, you are executing sword attacks and ritual spells as two entirely separate actions."
Haruto reset his stance, his breathing steady and unhurried.
"I understand."
"However, deploy a genuinely powerful ritual against me."
"You are merely evading my attacks."
Flora raised her eyebrow, her smile returning.
"As you wish."
She raised her wand, weaving a rapid ritual sequence that generated a violent, howling tornado across the training arena.
The intense wind pressure instantly swept across the stone floor, pulling Haruto off balance and trapping him within its turbulent vortex.
Struggling against the crushing wind currents, Haruto instinctively gripped Dragon Slayer with both hands.
He poured his internal flame and wind energies into the blade simultaneously, coating the steel in a blazing, roaring tempest.
With a powerful, instinctual swing, he executed a full heavy rotation.
BOOM!
A blinding flash of radiant blue-and-white light erupted from the arc of his sword, slashing directly through the vortex.
The violent energy instantly disrupted the ritual structure, violently dispelling the tornado into harmless gusts of air.
Flora clapped her hands in genuine admiration.
"Outstanding! You have successfully manifested the fundamental technique of the South Sword Style!"
"That move is known as the Flare Sword Rotation."
"The definitive advantage of the South Sword Style lies in its supreme capacity to tear apart opposing rituals through creative, unpredictable blade strikes."
Haruto looked down at his smoking blade, his face completely devoid of excitement or emotion.
"It is adequate."
"However, I require a significantly stronger wind ritual."
"Mrs. Flora, unleash a tornado at maximum output."
Flora hesitated briefly, but seeing his firm, unyielding posture, she complied.
"Do not blame me if this gets overwhelming!"
She raised her catalyst wand, pouring immense energy into a massive ritual formation.
A monstrous, towering tornado materialized instantly, turning the sky dark as it roared with catastrophic force.
The sheer pressure instantly overpowered Haruto's defense, sweeping his body directly into the heart of the storm.
The wild vortex dragged him violently through the air, throwing his body forcefully into the base of a nearby mountain peak.
CRASH!
The destructive wind force completely obliterated the rocky cliffside, causing massive boulders to cascade downward.
When the storm finally subsided, Haruto lay unconscious amid the rubble, heavily bruised and bleeding from multiple impacts.
A short while later, Flora finished casting a high-level healing ritual over Haruto, closing his surface wounds and restoring his vitality.
She looked at him guiltily as he sat up.
"I apologize for my carelessness... I pushed the output too far."
Haruto stood up slowly, wiping dried blood from his jaw with an unreadable expression.
"It is of no consequence."
"Even while holding back, your strength is formidable."
"Tell me, Master... do you believe I possess the potential to surpass your level of power?"
Flora smiled warmly, resting her hands on her hips with immense pride.
"If you maintain this level of dedication, you will undoubtedly become far stronger than I could ever hope to be."
As night fell over the Fate Kingdom, a dense, eerie silence settled over the castle corridors.
Inside her private, opulently decorated bedchamber, Princess Ariel sat at her wooden desk, writing a letter under the dim glow of an oil lamp, clad in a thin silk nightgown.
The door opened softly, and Ken stepped inside, keeping his voice muted.
"Another individual has been brought for tonight, Your Highness."
Ariel did not stop her quill from moving across the parchment.
"Direct him inside and lock the doors securely behind him."
A well-built, exceptionally handsome man stepped into the room, his posture confident.
Ariel placed her quill down, turning her chair to face him with a cold, detached gaze.
"Are you prepared for tonight?"
"Have you ever shared a bed with a woman of royal blood before?"
"I have lain with countless men before you."
Driven by intense, nightly physical desires that plagued her sleep, the unmarried princess utilized Ken to secretly deliver selected men to her quarters every evening, accumulating a staggering tally of two hundred body count.
Ariel unfastened her nightdress, allowing the silk to slide completely off her body onto the floor.
Standing completely naked before the man, her eyes narrowed.
"I prefer extreme intensity... so do not dare to hold back."
Suddenly, the handsome man's eyes turned sharp and ruthless.
He was no ordinary civilian—he was an assassin operating as the Sloth Commander in disguise.
Lunging forward with lethal intent, he aimed a concealed strike directly at her neck.
Ariel's reaction was instantaneous.
Instinctively sensing the sudden surge of bloodlust, she deployed a lightning ritual without casting a single incantation.
A blinding flash of electric blue arc struck the assassin directly in the chest, paralyzing his muscles for several critical seconds.
Ariel lunged forward, grabbing the paralyzed intruder by his throat, dragging his weight across the floor, and violently hurling him out into the stone hallway.
She slammed her heavy chamber doors shut, locking them securely from the inside while shouting for Ken to neutralize the threat.
Before Ken could reach the upper corridor, Leo happened to be walking through the adjacent hallway, grappling with his own thoughts.
He suddenly spotted a figure in dark clothing stumbling frantically away from the Princess's quarters.
Leo's eyes locked onto a distinct mark visible on the intruder's exposed arm—a detailed Sloth tattoo.
That is definitely the Sloth Commander!
He bears the mark of Sloth!
What should I do? Should I run and inform Haruto immediately?
Leo stopped in his tracks, Ryuk's harsh words echoing loudly within his mind.
A person who lacks the courage to hold their own independent opinion is nothing short of a complete failure...
Leo clenched his fists, his eyes burning with sudden determination.
No... I do not need Haruto to make my choices for me!
I am fully capable of handling this on my own!
Seeing the disguised assassin sprint toward the open balcony to escape into the night, Leo unleashed his full beast transformation.
Surging forward at terrifying, high-speed acceleration, Leo closed the distance in a fraction of a second, his combat blade drawn.
"Die!"
Leo plunged his blade directly into the intruder's chest, driving the thrust with such massive kinetic force that both of them burst straight through the stone balcony wall and glass windows, tumbling out into the open air.
They crashed violently onto the stone courtyard below, surrounded by dozens of Fate Kingdom guards and citizens who were patrolling the lit perimeter.
Standing over the bloodied body, Leo let out a victorious breath, his heart racing with pride.
I did it! I killed the enemy right in front of everyone!
They will all acknowledge me as a hero!
Leo looked down at the fallen figure to verify his kill.
However, as the moonlight illuminated the corpse, the magical illusion disguising the body flickered and dissolved entirely.
The Sloth tattoo vanished, revealing the true face of the deceased man.
It was not the Sloth Commander.
It was one of the most highly decorated, fiercely revered Honorable Knights of the Fate Kingdom.
Leo's breath hitched in his throat, his mind turning completely blank as his hands trembled over the bloody sword.
He had just publicly murdered a beloved national hero in cold blood.
The surrounding crowd of citizens and knights stared in utter horror before their expressions twisted into pure, unbridled rage.
A deafening chorus of furious shouts erupted throughout the courtyard, all directed at the paralyzed Leo.