Like the apocalypse itself, the world crumbled before Rein’s eyes. The once-opulent palace collapsed into ruins within seconds. And the girl inside stared at her with blood-red eyes, like a Demon eyeing long-desired prey.
"Run!"
Rein spun and fled without fully grasping what happened. But the wooden door she’d entered through was now choked with thorns, impassable.
"Fireball!"
She cast the most basic fire spell. Flames should’ve countered thorns. Yet upon contact, they erupted with terrifying growth—sprouting wildly as the fire burned. The door charred away, instantly buried under frenzied vines.
"Damn it..."
She turned back. The girl floated mere steps away. Up close, Rein saw she wasn’t as monstrous as imagined—just a pretty child, save for those crimson eyes. That was the problem.
"Who are you?"
The little girl’s voice was sweet but echoed strangely, as if deliberate.
"I’m Rein..."
Though the girl seemed harmless, Rein kept her guard up. Monsters wearing human faces existed.
"Are you afraid of me?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
Rein didn’t catch the nuance and simply nodded. Fear of Demons was innate, especially after the Dark Overlord War.
"Why? Why is everyone afraid of me? I’m just sick..."
A trace of tears glistened at her eyes’ corners.
"Sick?"
Facing a weeping girl, Rein had no resistance, like any ordinary boy.
"My mom said Alice is just sick..."
"...
"Why do you all stay away? Waaah..."
"Alice..."
Rein grasped Alice’s snow-white, bloodless hands. Their icy chill made her wonder if the girl was even alive.
"Alice, listen. Do you know about your illness?"
"I don’t know..."
Alice shook her head in confusion, tears like morning dew on petals.
"They avoid you because your sickness is contagious. They fear the illness, not you. Once cured, everyone will love you!"
Incurable...
More a curse than disease. Leaked Dark Overlord power from unstable seals infected touchers. Two outcomes: madness with superhuman strength, or becoming like Alice.
A Dark Overlord candidate.
Given time, she’d become the Dark Overlord. Utterly irreversible.
"Rein... sister."
"Huh? What is it?"
"Are you lying to me?"
Alice’s expression was innocently adorable. But the cuter something was, the deadlier it became.
"Of course not! I’m telling the truth!"
"No!"
Alice yanked her hand away. Her crimson eyes deepened, like blood about to spill.
"Do you think I don’t know your thoughts? You fear me too! Everyone fears the power inside me!"
Black, tattoo-like patterns crawled from her tattered clothes, instantly covering her face.
Dark Overlord transformation—the precursor to candidacy.
"...
Rein didn’t hesitate. She snapped a thorny branch, channeling all her Arcane Power into it. Strange runes flared across its surface. She raised it, pointing at Alice.
"Stellar Bind!"
Hundreds of blue Magic Circles trapped Alice! But the slightest movement shattered one or two. Even hundreds would crumble in seconds.
"Stellar Seal!"
A colossal blue Magic Circle appeared above Alice. At its center, a chained heart-icon pulsed, ringed by ancient, cryptic runes. Fear flashed across Alice’s face—as if seeing her nemesis.
"No! Big sister! I’m just a sick girl!"
"...
Unmoved, Rein chanted on. Undisturbed, she’d finish before Alice broke free. This nascent Dark Overlord candidate would be sealed forever in these ruins.
"Damn you! I waited decades! A child like you ruins it! I won’t accept this!"
"Seal!"
The staff turned to ash as the spell completed. The Magic Circle slammed into Alice. Her final scream tore through the air—not a girl’s voice, but a Demon’s!
Light faded. Only a palm-sized Magic Circle remained on the ground.
Rein pulled bread from her backpack, tore off a piece, and chewed contentedly.
"Am I late again?"
"Mhm!"
"Little Rein, you’re so capable. Why not join our Holy See?"
"Dream on..."
