"Luna... do you hate your father, Allen?" Luna asked softly.

Allen shook his head, his hollow eyes—blinded by accident—staring straight at Luna. "No... I've never blamed him. Since that day locked in the wine cellar, I understood... everything was because of me. I hold no grudge against him at all..." His voice was calm as a still well, as if recounting someone else's story.

"But... I... utterly hate my two older brothers..."

After arriving at Gryffindor, I learned the old man named Michelangelo was the headmaster. Compared to my brothers' genius, I was painfully ordinary—like a Muggle. I had no magic whatsoever. Magic should exist even in newborns, yet I was born without it. Michelangelo didn't reject me for this. He guided me to martial arts. Since the wine cellar incident, I planted a seed of revenge in my heart... I wanted vengeance against Charlotte and Alex. For that purpose, I naturally began training...

I craved strength—to never be controlled again.

Perhaps due to this dark obsession, I obsessed over mastering Frenzy like a madman. That’s why I had no friends at Gryffindor. To others, I was just a weird loner. Yet, I learned Frenzy faster than my peers—so fast they called me a prodigy. Because of this, my only memory of Gryffindor was its castle-city. Nothing more...

One day, Michelangelo asked why I pushed so hard. I confessed my revenge plan. He was stunned... eyes wide, speechless.

After a long silence, his scarred hands—marked by magic and alchemy research—stroked my head.

"Child, growing strong isn’t for selfish desires. It’s to help others... You might not understand. So, simply: those who seek strength for revenge can never obtain certain things..."

I nodded, agreeing outwardly. But inwardly, I still plotted against my brothers.

After that, my Frenzy stalled completely. Classmates materialized Frenzy into extra limbs; I only enhanced my body for superhuman stamina. My teachers just shook their heads.

I realized this was what Michelangelo meant—the unattainable things...

Time flew. My three years at Gryffindor ended swiftly.

During those years, I honed Frenzy to strengthen my body. To earn graduation credits, I took endless missions and real fights. Gradually, I gained terrifying combat skills.

Focusing solely on Frenzy made my physical enhancements unmatched. Combined with fighting prowess, I became strong...

At the academy tournament, my dominant martial arts earned me a medal from the Emperor himself.

"Why did you... later become the Hero?"

"That’s another story..."

Soon after... the old Emperor of the Ostend Empire died.

Cause unknown, but truly gone. The new Emperor immediately moved to weaken noble powers.

As Grand Duke... my father’s influence would be stripped too.

His children inherited his terrifying talent. Any could rebel someday. So, he planned to send the Grand Duke’s sons to the Church’s demon-slaying expedition—executing one as the "Hero."

The Emperor ordered my father to choose a child for this role.

Defiance meant the entire family’s execution.

That day, I’d just graduated from Gryffindor...

Hearing this, my father, Alex, Charlotte, and I gathered in one room for the first time in years. Strangely... we were calm. Silent.

Orange-red flames danced in the fireplace, dazzling yet warm. I leaned back in an armchair, silent.

I remained invisible. Father didn’t glance at me once.

He stared blankly at my brothers.

"Father... I’ll go. As the elder brother, I owe Charlotte protection. I’m already a Royal Swordsman... only I might survive." Alex spoke slowly. He deeply cared for his timid younger brother—it was his duty.

Alex shared our parents’ golden hair. Like Charlotte, he resembled Father more. His eyes sparkled like starlight.

Charlotte stayed silent, head bowed. Clearly... heartbroken.

Father said nothing. He knew this was likely best.

Then, I saw something indescribable in Father’s eyes... and my hatred dissolved.

I’d earned the title Swordmaster—two ranks above Alex. Naturally, I was the strongest.

Perhaps because of Michelangelo’s words, I decided to take this burden... even while hating my brothers.

"I’ll go... You might not know... I’m a Swordmaster now. Only I have a real chance to live."

I glanced at my brothers. They seemed shocked by my title.

Father remained silent.

I quietly left the parlor...

"After that... I came here..." Allen exhaled his story in one breath.

After pouring out his heart... Allen felt he had no wishes left.

He sat blankly on the bed.

"Luna..."

"Hm?"

"My life is over... I’ve reached the end. I should’ve died months ago... yet I lived to twenty. I have no will to live anymore. Better to die early than endure endless darkness..." Allen whispered.

"Death is release for me. I want it painless... Luna, you can do this..."

"Please kill me... I beg you..."

Tears streamed from Allen’s hollow eyes—part unwillingness, part regret.

"Allen!... Listen..." Luna said anxiously.

*Whoosh!* A black sword sang through the air toward Allen.

Beside them, Lilith condensed dark energy into a blade and shot it at him.

The sword slashed Allen’s neck—seeming to kill him—but narrowly missed his artery.

Allen wasn’t surprised. Since his confession, he’d expected death at any moment.

"I heard everything..." Lilith murmured.

Luna saw Lilith’s forehead shrouded in dark energy, eyes hidden. She knew things were dire.

"Wait... Master—"

"Do you know the price I paid to move that stone into this body?!" Lilith roared—a side of her never seen before.

"If you die, you spit on my hard work!" Her voice cracked wildly, thick with sobs.

*Slap!* Lilith struck Allen’s face.

Stunned, Allen covered his cheek with his left hand, holding back tears.

"Freedom?! No more darkness?! Fine! I’ll grant it!" Lilith truly cried now—impulsive, irrational, utterly unlike herself.

"Bring the contract..." she called softly to Luna.

"I’ll give you freedom. I’ll give you light. But work for me two years to redeem yourself. After that, go wherever you wish—I won’t stop you."

Allen sat dazed on the bed, hearing only the quill scratching furiously on the scroll.

"I..." Allen tried to speak but couldn’t.

Lilith finished the scroll swiftly, having Luna help Allen sign it.

"Good... From now on, work well..." Lilith returned to her icy demeanor, tear stains faint on her face.

"To prevent escape, I’ll restrict your mobility..." she added softly.

"Tomorrow, rise and work hard. Never again think of destroying this body..."

"I’m tired... I’ve waited too long..."

Lilith walked alone into the corridor. Allen faintly heard her words.

Perhaps from the contract’s effect... Allen drifted drowsily to sleep...