Midway through the Silver Era, the world shuddered with great events. If we start from our invasion of the mortal world, the first was Daylight’s Phantom Night. It was day, yet everywhere but the northern continent sank into night. The sun’s glow scratched at an ink-black sky and couldn’t peel it back, not until near noon.
From a mage’s view, a vast flood of cross-border evil mana erupted into the mortal world. It scattered the Sun’s divinity like leaves before a storm.
A pity gnawed at me. I was gravely wounded and unconscious, and missed the spectacle.
The second great event was the Demonfolk’s Dirge. Bored Hero Augustus sniffed bad omens off the Phantom Night. Wandering for answers—or just wandering—he found the Son of the Demon King Anfran, who held the Authority of War and Turmoil, and beat her back to the Demon Realm. Meanwhile, the Emerald Kingdom, Bijade, marched to exterminate the Son of the Demon King Andefar, holder of the Authority of Famine and Blight.
Andefar, that bastard, still spat his last breath in defiance: “Don’t think killing me ends it. I’m the weakest. Behind me are twenty-three stronger—urgh—”
Thus the invasion of the Twenty-Four Sons of the Demon King was declared. Kingdoms sounded the drums and launched grand Demonfolk hunts, dragging countless hidden infiltrators into the light.
Then came the third great event, the Academy Tragedy. One third of Hero Academy’s students died in that storm. Gloria Colonna, third princess of the Iron Kingdom, Raven Segrito, the future “Creator,” and Hero Stini Saya joined forces to slay Yakfarro, who held the Authority of Lust.
After that, Stini’s Hero Squad took shape.
But… as I recall, in that incident Raven was raped by Yakfarro. That’s why her temperament later frayed into madness.
This part is thorny. I don’t know the details. The original me was storming the Cangfeng Kingdom—its countryside, anyway—killing to stockpile lesser thralls.
Back on track. In a sense, the Academy Tragedy is also my chance to spike Raven’s favor. If I can save her before Yakfarro lays a hand on her, then take him out, I should win her heart.
If that’s the plan, I need to shadow Raven. Keep her kidnapping within reach of my strings. For favor points, and frankly for my own taste, I’d like to avoid rescuing her only after she’s been raped.
But I can’t guard her too closely. The villain needs his window. We could “happen” to be walking together, run into Yakfarro, and I beat him down. I’m confident I can stomp that hollow, weak-bodied creep. Yet the favor won’t match the glow of saving her at the pit of despair.
“My insidious master, may I ask—do you truly intend to pursue Miss Raven?”
Vega asked with a face like carved stone.
“Yeah. Why else would I be thinking this hard?”
“But you’re not truly invested in her.”
Why are you asking this too?
“Vega, you know?” I stroked her black hair. Smooth as midnight silk, a pleasure under my hand. “I’m a liar. I conned a lot of people to get here. Ah, I used power too. But in love, power does very little.”
“My baffling master, you mean that in the realm of love you can only use deceit?”
No.
“A swindler lives by the con. He walks on tricks, humble yet proud. He can’t use real feelings. Everything must be fake.”
Choose pure evil, or choose pure good. Hover between, and pain is all you get.
“Of course you can fall for someone. But once you do, it’s over. Story, fate, future—all turn into fixed numbers. No matter how good the anime, when the protagonist picks the right girl, that’s the end. No matter how godlike the con artist, once he chooses love, he grows a conscience and loses the nerve to con. No matter how strong the villain, once he falls in love, he shows a fatal weakness.”
Maybe—maybe when everything is done, I’ll choose a love from the heart. Maybe.
But not now.
“I don’t have the right to love yet. So I must choose: die for passion, or walk on without a heart. Vega, my aim is that highest sky.”
I said it solemnly.
“Your chance of success is… Very well, I have no further questions. Since my respected master has sworn, as a maid I should give all support. I only offered an immature view. Please forgive me.”
Vega bowed deeply.
“Mm. Thanks, Vega.”
“By the way, there’s one more report.”
My gut tightened. There shouldn’t be any more big waves.
“By my investigation, Miss Raven entered Hero Academy at twelve. She met Miss Stini in childhood. They’re very close…”
Oh? That’s new.
“And when Augustus wrecked the Academy, Miss Raven wasn’t hurt…”
Which means…
“Miss Raven is coming to visit Miss Stini.”
Me, badly hurt. A double ward. Stini is a good friend. Stini plays wingman. I bond with Raven. Afterward I have reasons to show up in Raven’s orbit. Win Raven. Recruit a high-tier thrall.
“Why didn’t you say something this important earlier?!”
To hell with Yakfarro for the moment!
“Miss Raven bought expensive pastries as a gift.”
“That’s not the point!”
“Miss Raven will reach this corridor’s corner in thirty seconds.”
“Why is that the last thing you say?!”
No time to bicker with Vega. I yanked the ward door, slipped back onto my bed.
Under Stini’s startled gaze, I had just smoothed the sheet when the door clicked. Raven pushed it open.
I tried on my kindest smile. It still sat on a corpse’s face.
