What kind of wicked deed had Theo committed while I was asleep? To figure that out, I needed to trace back the events of the day from the very beginning.
Theo and I had headed out to the square early in the morning. It was still early, but the market-day square was already buzzing with energy. The vendors’ loud calls rang out from every direction, and beneath the canvas stalls, fruits and bread, fabrics and accessories were packed in tightly together. Excited children ran back and forth, while adults picked up goods and haggled over prices.
A flower stall caught my eye. Among the blooms of every color, vivid red roses stood out. The moment I saw them, the custom of gifting roses on a coming-of-age day came to mind. A special flower for a special occasion. I picked out the prettiest and most vibrant bouquet and placed it in Theo’s arms.
“A gift. Congratulations on becoming an adult.”
Theo’s face turned just as red as the roses I’d bought. He hugged the bouquet tightly and smiled brightly.
“Thank you.”
But the smile was short-lived. Something crossed his mind, and the corners of his eyes drooped.
“Is there some kind of magic that keeps flowers from wilting? You gave these to me, Lihen… When I think about them wilting someday, it already makes my heart hurt.”
The saint “Lihen” could certainly do it. He was a legendary healer capable of bringing even the dead back to life — though, of course, he couldn’t bestow the miracle of resurrection on just any departed soul; there were strict conditions attached. Either way, something like preserving a flower’s vitality would be nothing to him. But that kind of ability was out of reach for an ordinary person — and even more so for a demon.
I gently talked Theo down.
“But they’ve already been cut and made into a bouquet like this. What’s wrong with them wilting? If you press them between the pages of a book, they’ll turn into beautiful pressed flowers and you’ll be able to keep them for a long time.”
At those words, Theo’s expression brightened again. He drew in a long breath of the roses’ fragrance and smiled.
That was when it happened. The lively atmosphere of the market square died down in an instant. The vendors’ calls cut off, and the children’s laughter faded. Figures in white robes and white masks were entering the square under a knight escort. Heretic inquisitors.
They always dressed like that. An appearance that concealed not just their faces but even the outlines of their bodies. There had been a time, in the past, when inquisitors had revealed their identities openly as they rooted out heretics and interrogated demons. But the price had been brutal. Captured demons had attacked the inquisitors and killed them in gruesome acts of revenge.
Heretic inquisitors were skilled at extracting information, but in terms of pure combat ability they were far weaker than demons. The moment they were caught off guard, there was no way to fight back. After those incidents, the inquisitors had all begun concealing their faces to avoid demonic retribution.
Among the sea of white, one figure stood out conspicuously. The only man not wearing a mask — the heretic inquisitor Khalid. His head wasn’t covered by a robe either, leaving his jet-black hair in full view. His irises were in the blue family, like the saint Lihen’s, but the impression they gave was entirely different. Where Lihen’s blue eyes resembled a clear, sunny sky, Khalid’s were far more vivid and intense. It was as if blue flames were flickering within them.
He was a man who combined interrogation techniques with genuine combat prowess. When it came to capturing demons alive and drawing out information, no one could compare to him. Above all else, what made Khalid exceptional was that he exposed his face without fear of demons. His very existence was a beacon of hope for humanity.
The inquisitors began posting notices on the walls around the square. People surged toward the posters without anyone needing to signal the others.
The papers bore the likeness of a wanted individual. Strangely, there was no face — only the attire had been drawn. A black uniform and cloak, and the distinctive red pendant. It was me — in my Legion Commander form. Below the portrait, the following text was written:
<Wanted Notice>
13th Legion Commander Shane
For any individual who provides meaningful information regarding the whereabouts or movements of this person, or who contributes directly or indirectly to their capture, a reward of up to 2,000 gold coins will be issued commensurate with the merit of their contribution.
Tips may be submitted through local temples or heretic inquisition offices.
People stood in front of the posters and murmured among themselves.
“Shane? The 13th Legion Commander’s name was Shane?”
“How did they even find out the name?”
How did they find out the name? It was obvious. They’d interrogated captured demons and extracted information about the 13th Legion Commander. Through torture, no doubt.
“Listen up, everyone!”
A clear voice cut through the noise of the square. It was Khalid. He stepped forward and drew every eye to him in an instant. The air over the marketplace pulled taut. Khalid glanced briefly at the poster, then opened his mouth.
“The 13th Legion Commander, Shane. This individual operates alone, without troops. Despite having only recently assumed the position of Legion Commander, he has already inflicted tremendous damage upon our Empire.”
A low murmur of dismay rippled through the crowd.
“Statue destruction, temple arson, and most recently rendering half the Holy Knights’ weaponry unusable — and beyond what has come to light, there are certainly far more crimes that have gone undetected. These are not impulsive acts. He is an exceptionally calculated and dangerous individual.”
The square fell quiet. Using the moment when even the sound of breathing had stilled, he delivered his final words.
“As a heretic inquisitor, and as a subject who earnestly desires peace for the Empire, I declare this: the 13th Legion Commander Shane must be brought down.”
He drew his sword and pointed the blade straight at the Shane depicted on the poster.
“To the individual who makes a decisive contribution to the capture or elimination of this person, a reward of up to two thousand gold coins will be issued. Furthermore, should that contribution be deemed sufficiently meritorious, I am prepared to grant a commendation as well.”
When his words — which had amounted to something close to a speech — came to an end, applause broke out. The citizens clapped together in unison, filled with admiration and expectation. I joined them in the crowd and clapped harder than anyone.
Khalid was one of the playable characters available in the Light faction. Not as often as Lihen, but I’d used him often enough that he felt familiar in my hands. Seeing in person a character I’d controlled from behind a screen like this stirred up a wave of nostalgia.
Without realizing it, a smile must have spread across my face. Theo poked me in the side and asked,
“Lihen, do you like Khalid?”
“Hm?”
“You looked so happy. I was wondering if maybe you liked him. I mean — in the sense of admiring him.”
“Of course. In terms of ability and track record, he’s the number one heretic inquisitor in all of the Empire’s history. I can’t imagine anyone disliking Khalid.”
But as I said it, a complicated feeling crept in. The problem was that this strong, impressive heretic inquisitor was sharpening his blade to come after me. When I used to read descriptions in the game of Khalid torturing demons, all I felt was satisfaction — but the moment I imagined myself potentially being strapped to an interrogation chair, a chill ran through my entire body. This won’t do. I need to work hard at gathering points and level up Stealth as quickly as possible.
Theo looked at the poster and changed the subject.
“Two thousand gold coins… with that much, even Lihen could live the rest of his life without working, couldn’t he?”
My heart lurched. I grabbed Theo’s hand firmly.
“Don’t tell me you’re thinking about going after Shane? Don’t even dream about it. Khalid said it himself — that person is dangerous. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
The words came out sharper than I intended. Theo’s eyes went wide, and then he broke into a soft, breathy laugh. That reaction told me it had been nothing more than an offhand remark. I felt a little embarrassed for jumping ahead like that.
“Thank you for worrying, Lihen. It was just something I said. How could I possibly capture a Legion Commander?”
Still holding my hand, he continued in a more earnest tone.
“I don’t need honor or riches. I’d much rather live happily like this, just the two of us with you.”
Those words lingered in my ears for a long time.
But that can’t be. Theo is the hero. Before long, he’ll have to take up his sword and throw himself into the heart of the battlefield. The day when we face each other as enemies — me in the form of a Legion Commander, and him as a hero — will come someday. Perhaps I’m raising a beast that will one day devour me. For the sake of humanity.
Even so, I found myself hoping that the day Theo pressed a blade to my throat would come as late as possible. If I’m careful enough to keep slipping away, maybe there’s a chance we’ll never have to face each other on a battlefield at all. I let myself entertain that somewhat hopeful fantasy.
The moment Theo got home, he put the roses in a vase. The red petals stood out in vivid contrast against the white porcelain. Looking at them, his face was full of a contentment he couldn’t hide.
We went on to prepare lunch. I cooked in the kitchen while Theo wiped down the table and laid out the dishes. Then he hovered around the kitchen, looking for things to do, and ended up staying close to my side helping with all sorts of small tasks.
After we finished eating, he picked up his sword. He loosened up in a corner of the yard and ran through the basic forms over and over. Each and every one of Theo’s movements already carried force behind it, making even simple motions feel genuinely threatening. By the time sweat had beaded on his brow, the practice was done.
After that came reading time. Theo opened the old book I’d recently bought for him — an encyclopedia on the ecology of magical creatures. Whenever something caught his curiosity, he fired off questions on the spot, and I, with all the knowledge of a seasoned player, answered nearly every one.
“Thank you, Lihen. You’re the best teacher.”
He fiddled with the back of my hand and smiled shyly.
We spent the quiet hours together like that until, before I knew it, it was time for Theo to leave for work. He headed off to Madam Cecil’s Tavern, and I was left alone in the house. The door clicked shut, his footsteps faded into the distance, and the inside of the house fell silent all at once.
That was when the communication orb vibrated. I’d been wearing the orb on a chain like a bracelet for a while now — keeping it in my pocket meant risking losing it, and it was inconvenient to pull out quickly in an emergency. I touched the orb with my finger, and its surface glowed faintly as a familiar face appeared. Kairos.
“It’s awfully hard to get a look at your face. You’re aware there’s a meeting today, aren’t you? Don’t tell me you’re planning to skip every regular meeting?”
He was already starting to nitpick. He hadn’t even bothered to tell me the date of the meeting in the first place, and hadn’t had any real intention of including me — yet here he was, saying otherwise. Of course, I had no grounds to argue back. I pressed my hands together politely.
“Then… shall I make my way to the Demon Realm right now?”
Kairos gave a nod.
“Yes. Immediately.”
That single word decided everything. I gathered my magic power with full force to open a gate.
I set foot in the Demon Realm for the first time in a while. I stood before a circular assembly hall built of black stone. The place where the Legion Commanders gathered to deliberate on war and destruction — the Black Council Chamber. At the center of the round table, a flame of eternal darkness burned.
The meeting was already over. Of the twelve chairs arranged in a circle, eleven were empty. And my thirteenth chair had never existed to begin with.
You absolute lunatics. This is just workplace bullying.
“You’re late.”
Kairos rose unhurriedly. I bit back the words that it wasn’t me who was late — that he had deliberately summoned me after the fact. Those words wouldn’t land with someone like him.
“I’ll share the results of the meeting with you. It concerns you as well. We’ve decided to give you a new mission.”
“What is it?”
“The inquisitor Khalid, who doesn’t know his place — annihilate his family.”
Kairos uttered the word “annihilate” with astonishing lightness.
It was the worst order I had received since possessing this body. What made it even worse was that this mission hadn’t existed in the original game. I couldn’t begin to grasp what butterfly effect had set this into motion.
Annihilate his family — it was horrifying. On top of everything else, Khalid’s younger sister Camilla was a childhood friend of the saint Lihen. Camilla — the priestess most beloved by the Goddess of Abundance, Ceres. She had been of great help in many ways when I played as Lihen in the game. Since falling into this world, I hadn’t met her even once. I had no desire to reunite with her for the purpose of killing her.
Even if it hadn’t been Camilla — even if the target chosen for sacrifice had been a stranger with no connection to me whatsoever — it wouldn’t have made a difference. An order to massacre innocent people was one I could never obey. But openly defying Kairos here and now would also be a problem. The only option left was to put on a mask of reason and persuade him.
“Killing his entire family doesn’t seem like a particularly good idea to me. The Khalid I know is not the kind of man who would lay everything down because his family died. If anything, he’d burn even brighter with a thirst for revenge and stain his hands with far more blood.”
I spoke of death without any hesitation, hoping my argument would come across as sufficiently rational.
“In the end, rather than breaking the enemy, we’d only be awakening him. Is that the outcome you’re after?”
