"Disaster…?"
My voice came out weak.
Ken stood near the window, looking at the ruined town outside.
"The real disaster… is not the Demon Commander."
"It's what comes after."
I slowly turned my head.
Outside…
The town of Marish no longer looked the same.
Burnt houses stood like broken skeletons.
Smoke still rose from the streets.
People moved slowly… silently… like shadows.
No laughter.
No life.
Only fear.
And in their eyes…
Blame.
"After the incident," Ken continued,
"people believe the destruction happened because of you."
My chest tightened.
"The Demon Commander came for you."
"And he admitted it himself."
His words felt heavy.
Too heavy.
Like something pressing down on my chest.
"The government has already labeled you as a threat," Ken said.
"They are afraid."
"Not just of the demons…"
"But of you."
"…Me?"
"In a few days, your case will be presented in the Royal Court."
"Until then…"
"You are not allowed to leave this town."
Silence filled the room.
Even the air felt suffocating.
So this…
Was my reality now.
"You're right…" I said quietly.
"All of this happened because of me."
"If I didn't exist…"
"Maybe none of this would have happened."
Memories flashed through my mind.
The orphanage.
The empty nights.
The feeling of being unwanted.
"My parents knew it…"
"That I was useless."
"That's why they abandoned me."
My voice cracked.
"And now…"
"Even this town…"
"Kai."
Ken's voice cut through everything.
I looked up.
"When did I say this is your fault?"
His eyes were sharp.
Firm.
Unshaken.
"You didn't destroy this town."
"You fought to protect it."
"You stood against something far stronger than you."
I clenched my fists.
"But I still lost."
"Yes," Ken said calmly.
"But you stood."
"And that matters more."
For a moment…
I didn't know what to say.
Chill appeared beside me, floating in the air.
"Hmph," she crossed her arms.
"If they try to execute you…"
"I'll freeze the entire court."
"Tch… and my golems will smash everything," Taina added, stepping closer.
"You saved me. I won't let them hurt you."
I looked at them.
At their faces.
At their determination.
"…Why?"
"Why are you all doing this for me?"
Rin walked in, stretching his arm.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"You're our friend."
Katty smiled gently.
"You always protected us."
"It's our turn now."
Klen leaned against the wall.
"And besides… I owe you my life."
My throat tightened.
For the first time in my life…
I wasn't alone.
The day came faster than I expected.
Royal guards escorted me to the court.
The building was massive.
Tall white pillars stretched toward the ceiling.
The marble floor reflected every step.
Each sound echoed.
Cold.
Empty.
Heavy.
Five judges sat at the front.
Watching.
Waiting.
But one thing was missing.
The king.
I had heard the rumors.
The king and queen had lost their son years ago.
A prince who disappeared.
The entire kingdom searched for him.
But he was never found.
After that…
They changed.
They rarely appeared in public.
Most decisions were now controlled by ministers.
There was another rumor.
One that people whispered quietly.
The prince…
Was special.
Both the king and queen had three traits.
But the prince's trait was never revealed.
Now…
Everyone believed he was dead.
"The trial will begin."
The first judge looked down at me.
"State your name."
"Kai."
"Your trait?"
"…I don't have one."
Murmurs spread across the court.
Confusion.
Disbelief.
"Then how do you use spirit magic?"
"…Chill."
She appeared beside me.
Floating gently.
Her blue glow lighting the room slightly.
"This is Chill. My spirit."
Shock filled the hall.
"A spirit…?"
"Impossible…"
"How did someone like you obtain a spirit?" the judge demanded.
I took a deep breath.
"The God gave her to me."
"Because… I was born without a trait."
Silence.
Then—
"You expect us to believe that nonsense?"
I knew they wouldn't.
But I couldn't tell them the truth.
"Enough."
Another judge spoke.
"You are accused of being responsible for the destruction of Marish."
"Objection."
Ken stepped forward.
His voice calm.
Controlled.
"The destruction was caused by the Demon Commander."
"Kai is not responsible."
"But the commander came because of him," a judge replied.
"That is true," Ken admitted.
"But he fought him."
"He tried to protect the town."
"He saved lives."
"That does not change the fact that he is a threat."
The words felt sharp.
Like knives.
"What if the demon returns?"
"We cannot risk the kingdom."
Ken stepped forward again.
"And what if you execute him?"
"Who will fight the demon then?"
Silence.
"We lost 40% of our army in the last war."
"30% of our land."
"And we have no spirit users."
He pointed at me.
"But now… we have one."
"He is still weak," a judge said.
"Yes," Ken nodded.
"But with training…"
"He can grow."
"He can become stronger than the commander."
The judges exchanged glances.
"And don't forget the legend," Ken added.
"It says…"
"Only someone with a unique power can defeat the Demon King."
He looked at me.
"…Isn't he that person?"
"…Please."
"Do not execute him."
"Use him."
The room fell silent.
Finally—
"We had decided to execute him."
"But after hearing this…"
"We will reconsider."
Hope flickered.
"If approved…"
"He will be spared."
"But—"
"He must serve in the Royal Army."
A few days later—
I was taken again.
This time…
To meet the Army Commander.
"Sirus."
The name itself carried weight.
A legend.
A warrior with two traits.
A master of weapons.
A genius of magic.
I stood outside his room.
My heart pounding.
The door opened—
And suddenly—
A man rushed toward me.
"So you're Kai?!"
"I've been waiting for you!"
"What kind of magic do you use?!"
"You have a spirit, right?! SHOW ME!"
"…Chill?"
She appeared.
"WOW!"
"She's beautiful!"
"Hello, Miss Spirit!"
"…Kai," Chill whispered.
"…Is he okay?"
"…I don't know."
"Haha! Sorry!" he laughed.
"I got excited."
He stepped back.
Smiling.
"I'm Sirus."
"Commander of the Royal Army."
Then—
His expression changed.
Serious.
Sharp.
"From now on…"
"You work under me."
The room felt different.
He wasn't just playful.
He was dangerous.
"We have one goal."
"To kill the Demon King."
He smiled again.
But this time…
It felt different.
"And don't worry."
"We'll get there."
"Oh—and your friends?"
"I recruited them too."
For the first time since everything happened—
I felt something again.
Not fear.
Not guilt.
Hope.