As a twelve years old child covered in rags, Ryner was sitting down in a vast plain and eating meat on a bone. The sun was setting, dyeing the sky in a crimson hue. Watching the fading ball of light, he took a bite out of his meal. He had to eat. He needed the energy for the next battle.

All around him, the cries of black crows echoed as they also had dinner, pecking at the dead meat that covered the field. One of them managed to rip out an eyeball and held it in its beak. Sometimes, metallic sounds would reach Ryner’s ears, but he paid it no mind.

He knew that it was caused by the birds pecking at the steel armors that adorned their food. There were no more enemies left on this battlefield. So, he continued to eat. Chewing the hard, raw meat, he continued to put fuel in his body. With every bite, blood would leak out and stain his mouth, but he ignored it. What was important was the food.

However, soon, no more meat was left around the bone in his hand. Still hungry, he picked up the sword next to him that was taller than him and stood up. With dead eyes, he looked at what he was sitting on as he had dinner.

A man, a corpse with light armor was lying on its back and its wide opened eyes were staring at the red sky. The left arm was missing from the elbow. Ryner raised his sword, aimed for the remaining arm and swung down. His vision suddenly blurred and darkened before his blade made contact with the flesh.

“You lost.” [Alice]

A mocking voice told him the truth that he didn’t want to think about.

Back to his twenty years old form, Ryner turned his head and stared behind him with cold eyes. He was standing in absolute darkness and Alice’s voice actually came from one direction. Normally, it would come from everywhere. Sure enough, what he speculated was true when the figure of a person in her mid-twenties suddenly materialized at his back.

“I won our little game, Ryner.” [Alice]

Levitating in the air, Alice spoke to him in a tone that wasn’t jubilant over her victory. Rather, it was like she expected it from the start. Her red eyes with vertical slits narrowed slightly and the corners of her mouth curled upwards.

“You finally took on that form again, huh?” [Ryner]

Ryner remarked and turned to face her. She had pale skin that looked unhealthy and long black hair that turned into dark smoke at the end. Her wonderful figure was clad in a black dress with long, wide sleeves that hid her arms.

Besides her face and neck, everything was covered in black. It was similar to Ryner when he shed his human skin. No, it was more so since the ends of her hair and clothes wavered and floated as if gravity didn’t exist, turning into smoke.

(*Author* She’s a bit like Eris from Sinbad seven seas.)

“Don’t try to change the subject. You lost, and it hasn’t even been three weeks since we decided on the game. Then again, considering it’s you, it’s really not that surprising.” [Alice]

Her body suddenly dispersed like smoke and reappeared behind Ryner. If it wasn’t for her frightening otherworldly aura or the eerie smile on her face, she would be a beautiful woman.

“You’ve always been like this. No matter how much knowledge or wisdom you gather, you always act on your emotions. The moment something reminds you of your past, or the moment those you care about are in danger… You snap.” [Alice]

Alice looked at him and brought her fist before her face, opening her fingers to emphasize her last words.

“If you’re here to confirm your victory, then leave. I’ll pay you soon.” [Ryner]

“No, I’m here to ask you if you want to play another little game. Who knows? The outcome might be different.” [Alice]

Ryner spoke coldly as usual while Alice went in circles around him, leaving a trail of black smoke.

“Another one so soon?” [Ryner]

“Ohh? Are you refusing?” [Alice]

“… Tell me the rules.” [Ryner]

After a short pause, Ryner asked.

“It’s quite simple… Have fragments of your soul live in different worlds.” [Alice]

Alice revealed the content of the game with a small smile on her face. On the other hand, Ryner grimaced. This was something he avoided. Ripping his soul and sending the pieces to other worlds was quite the painful process, enough to break a man or kill him outright from the shock.

Also, the feedback of living different lives simultaneously meant that his mind wouldn’t be able to rest properly when he went to sleep, though he was already tormented by nightmares.

Furthermore, he didn’t want to intrude on multiple worlds at once since the amount of life force he absorbed was proportionally the same as a single life. The more bodies he had, the more life force was required to maintain connection with them, so he was basically burning life force for nothing.

Lastly, knowing what he had been through and his rotten luck that made it all possible, if all of his lives ended horribly, if people he cared for died on him, he would taste the pain all at the same time.

In short, it wasn’t cost-effective at all.

“… Is that it?” [Ryner]

“Of course, I will decide on some things such as your birth and the world your fragments will inhabit. I’ll also give you various objectives that can go from conquering a country to simply surviving. How does that sound?” [Alice]

Alice stopped moving and watched him with her index on her cheek. Her smile that would make others’ blood run cold was directed at him.

“… Let’s set the rules and conditions.” [Ryner]

Her smile widened when she heard him. Ryner accepted. After losing that last little game that cost him his eyes and limbs, he planned on winning this one. As such, the two set the rules, chose worlds that would suit their needs, decided on the penalties and made their usual promise to obey the terms of the game.

“Well, that takes care of that. Be sure to rip out your fragments as soon as you can.” [Alice]

“Do you have other business with me? If not, then leave.” [Ryner]

“Well, I do have one more thing to say… Aren’t you tired yet?” [Alice]

Alice asked the expressionless idiot that never learned his lesson despite living for more than eight hundred thousand years. She began to float around him again, keeping her sharp red eyes on him.

“You didn’t kill that young one because his teacher reminded you of your friend. A stranger reminded you of a ‘friend’ from long ago and that was why you stayed your blade.” [Alice]

She was like a teacher lecturing her pathetic pupil, but it was a lecture that Ryner never listened to.

“Not only that, but there were the… Heroes too. You trained them, protected them and looked out for them. Huhu, deep down, you just couldn’t leave them alone, right? After all, a bunch of kids, taken from their homes, were given powers they didn’t ask for and forced to fight in a war that wasn’t theirs. Their situation was just too similar to ours that you had to step in, didn’t you? Otherwise everyone that died in that facility wouldn’t forgive you. But, what am I saying? They already don’t.” [Alice]

“…” [Ryner]

Ryner didn’t say anything and kept standing still, but that was as good as an affirmative reply to her. She chuckled, but her voice sounded exasperated.

“Also, that vampire that managed to find you… Do you think you’ll be able to live happily with her? As a family? How idiotic. If she knew why you had to leave her world, if that beastman, if anyone knew what you really were, they wouldn’t try to befriend you.” [Alice]

She disappeared in a puff of smoke and materialized right in front of him.

“The whole world would join forces to kill you.” [Alice]

She watched with a piercing gaze, trying to catch his emotions, but all that was there was an expressionless face. However, she knew. No one understood Ryner better than her. They were one and the same after all. Behind that hardened mask was turmoil.

“You try to forget your nature by visiting interesting worlds, try to distract yourself by experiencing new things, try to ease your pain by interacting with others, but it’s all useless. It will always, always, ALWAYS end in the same way. The gods themselves don’t accept your existence. You had to compromise with them. You… We… Are beings that were made to devour all life.” [Alice]

She put a hand on his cheek, mocking him for his decision, but like the past eight hundred thousand years, he rejected her.

“I’ve made a promise.” [Ryner]

His will was unwavering as always. Alice smirked at his words and turned into smoke before appearing on his right with her arms crossed.

“I’ve made a promise too.” [Alice]

“And that is why we are at war.” [Ryner]

“Yes… I swore that I would have my revenge on the unreasonable world that made all of us go through hell… On everything that dared to exist before me.” [Alice]

Her voice contained fury as she remembered their past.

“And I swore I would protect it. For those who couldn’t, who wanted to simply gaze at the sky in peace, I would do it for them. I would live and protect it.” [Ryner]

“That stupid philosophy of our big sister that there are wonderful things in the world?” [Alice]

“She was right.” [Ryner]

“She was a liar.” [Alice]

“She was the first person to have shown us kindness!” [Ryner]

“And that was a lie too! You cling to an image of her that doesn’t exist! Between the two of us, you’re the one that can’t let go of the past!” [Alice]

Their conversation that became more and more heated soon turned into angry shouts.

“I let go of my grudge when you destroyed our world!” [Ryner]

“WE DEVOURED IT!” [Alice]

“THAT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!” [Ryner]

“BUT IT DID! AND IT SHOWED US JUST WHAT WE REALLY BECAME!!!” [Alice]

Alice stretched her arms out to the sides and sternly glared at the unwilling man that was even more insane than she was. Even after hundreds of millenniums, he didn’t change. Unlike her, he didn’t grow up at all.

“This is what we are! WE are devourers! Yet, you still cling to the past! Keeping your form, your abilities, changing as little as possible, not empowering yourself with greater strength or magic, refusing to accept your change, your ascension! All so that you won’t forget who you are!” [Alice]

“That’s right! I don’t want to forget who I am, LIKE YOU!” [Ryner]

“You mean helping people to keep your mental stability, your DAMN IDENTITY that forces you to move every time something remotely reminds you of your past?!" [Alice]

Alice yelled, having watched his interactions for millenniums. She knew fully well that he didn’t save others out of kindness, but out of pain. Saving them was like saving himself. He needed saving more than them. He was too familiar with pain.

“What about you?! Drowning in nothing but hatred, forgetting what we were taught, what we wanted, what our friends hoped for! THEY WANTED TO LIVE!!!” [Ryner]

“WE, DID NOT, HAVE FRIENDS, IN THAT FACILITY!!! [Alice]

“THEY WERE JUST KIDS!!!” [Ryner]

“SO WERE WE!!! AND WE KILLED THEM!!!” [Alice]

They screamed, they yelled, they bellowed. These two monsters that brought death wherever they went fought with words, clashing because of their different paths that had the same starting points.

“Don’t preach about good or morality! You only care about the promise! JUST, the promise! IF you really did care about the world, about any worlds, then you would have ended it! You would have killed yourself a long time ago!!!” [Alice]

“I will take you down before-!” [Ryner]

“You have no intention of dying, do you?! Because you promised to live and see the world for their sakes!!” [Alice]

“…” [Ryner]

Ryner didn’t say anything. He certainly thought that it was a waste to destroy worlds, that it was sad. But, as she said, he acted on his promise. He acted for himself, for his own sake. It was so that he could keep a semblance of sanity. One of the rules that he would never break was to keep his promise, even if he had to kill himself, his friends or the world.

“You are still the same as back then! JUST A CHILD WHO BELIEVES EVERYTHING HIS BIG SISTER TOLD HIM! A child that clings to the IMPOSSIBLE! Giving massages to people?! Wanting to feel warmth?! And you actually visit whores?! You think our mother had a shred of love for us?! That prostitute that threw us in the trash right after we were born?!”

“So you’re different from me?! Then, why did you choose that form?! Why do YOU look so much like BIG SISTER?!!” [Ryner]

“…!” [Alice]

Having that pointed out, this time Alice was the one that couldn’t say anything back. Ryner, with fury, pushed on his attack.

“If you moved on, why did you choose that form?! Why do you have her face?!” [Ryner]

“…” [Alice]

“Well?! WELL?!!” [Ryner]

“ENOUGH!!!” [Alice]

With one yell that reverberated in this dark space, silence reigned supreme once more. Alice, her figure wavering like smoke, breathed deeply to calm herself and slowly unclenched her fists hidden by her sleeves. Her irises had glowing red magma in them, giving her a creepy and threatening look. She then spoke in a calm and soft voice. She reminded Ryner of the truth that had been going on for eight hundred thousand years.

“… What matters isn’t the fall, but the landing.” [Alice]

Her words practically made Ryner hold his breath. He remembered his countless experiences, memories of his life that, if not careful, would make him laugh like a maniac.

“… Our story won’t have a happily ever after.” [Alice]

She drifted near him and passed next to him, staring straight ahead instead of looking at him.

“There will be no ending, no peace. It’s a tale that will last forever. A tale about two devourers, stuck in a game of war for eternity.” [Alice]

She turned her head and looked at him. Her cold eyes peeked through her swaying black hair that seemed to be made of smoke.

“You won’t win.” [Alice]

Ryner, expressionless, walked forward and said to her without turning back only one thing, signaling the end of the conversation.

“I will pay the price today. Come pick it up.” [Ryner]

“… Very well.” [Alice]

Waking up in his room where early morning light streamed through the windows, Ryner swiftly raised his upper body from the bed and took out his black cellphone from his pocket dimension. Selecting the application that let him connect to a certain bug in a certain room, he put his phone next to his ear and listened attentively.

“(You’ve got apps for everything nowadays.)” [Ryner]

It was something he did every day out of precaution ever since he had placed it, but the reason for today was slightly different. He wanted to check up on them. Such thoughts were accompanied with Alice’s mocking smile, but he quickly shook it off. Besides soft sleeper’s breathing, he couldn’t hear anything else.

It would seem that Aria and Elena finally managed to fall asleep after yesterday’s commotion. The girls and the heroes were all greatly shaken up. Ryner didn’t help at all, not with the form he revealed to them. Of course, he didn’t tell them the truth. When they fearfully questioned him as he held a drooling Dan in his hand, he had told them that it was his second unique ability.

It was a power given to him when he arrived in this world, like his pocket dimension. Although they skeptically gazed at him, that lie was easier to accept than the truth. After that, they returned to the city where forces were mobilized to rebuild the destroyed streets. Many mourned for their dead friends or family. It was a tragedy of an unprecedented scale.

The fact that Dan had caused it was not publicized and only a few knew of it, such as the royalty, the other heroes, some nobles and some members of the church. “The rogue hero that attacked the city with dragoons and wanted to take over the kingdom.” There was no way they could tell this to the public that had just gone through a deadly and horrible experience.

“Ryner, I’m back.” [Evelyn]

“Master~, we’re back.” [Maya]

Two voices entered his ears as the door opened. Putting his cellphone away, he greeted them from his bed.

“Morning actually, how did it go? You two took a while.” [Ryner]

Ryner said casually with his sleepy-looking expression. After seeing him destroy Dan’s mind in that form that invited dread, the heroes were too scared to look at him in the eyes. Even Cain was acting awkwardly around him.

Only these two, Evelyn and Maya, treated him the same as before. No, their behaviors were slightly different from before. Maya would blush more often in his presence while Evelyn would feverishly gaze at him as if intoxicated.

“I apologize. It took a while to find the place and frankly, Maya needs to work on her stealth.” [Evelyn]

“It couldn’t be helped. I didn’t study under Master for years like you.” [Maya]

Evelyn remarked while sighing and Maya retorted as she covered her mouth and yawned.

“Actually, Master, how old were you when you adopted Evelyn? Are you really twenty years old?” [Maya]

“I’m totally not lying.” [Ryner]

Maya was given an ambiguous answer to her perfectly reasonable question. Sensing he didn’t want to talk about it, she kept quiet and Evelyn took this chance to intervene.

“No matter, we found the magic circle for their summoning. With what happened yesterday, a number of guards had been deployed to the city, so security was quite lax.” [Evelyn]

Evelyn pulled out a cellphone like Ryner’s from a pouch strapped to her thigh and tossed it at the black-haired man. Catching it mid-flight, he looked at the photos displayed on the screen. It showed various parts of a blue circle drawn on the stone floor that was composed of intricate shapes and symbols. Enclosing the circle at equal distances were eight stalagmites that were six feet tall.

“I’m sorry, Ryner. I can’t read that language, so I don’t know how it works.” [Evelyn]

Evelyn dejectedly admitted. The symbols were unknown to her. At the very least, it wasn’t written in the humankin language. Then again, no matter where she looked, she wouldn’t find it in any books.

Ryner knew what it was, but he couldn’t read it either. This was a secret securely guarded by the gods. It was their language, the language of the gods. Every character held great power and placing them together could accomplish incredible feats such as summoning thirty normal people and imbuing them with tremendous abilities.

“(Looks like I’ll need to go see the gods for this too… Ugh, it’s gonna be a pain.)” [Ryner]

“No, it’s fine. Good work, you two. Did you have any trouble getting this info?” [Ryner]

Ryner asked as he proceeded to download the images into his own cellphone.

“There was no problem. The nobles and soldiers respect us quite a bit since we helped saved their city. Furthermore, knowing that I hold power equivalent to an S rank has increased my reputation among them.” [Evelyn]

“That’s true. They were all passionately staring at Evelyn and answering her questions mindlessly. It was quite funny~.” [Maya]

Exasperated, Evelyn shook her head while Maya was giggling. Their fame skyrocketed because of the knights and heroes that saw them fight and who then reported to the higher-ups. Although they made use of their newfound reputation, they had asked that their participation in the dragoon incident was not revealed to the public so that their names wouldn’t spread.

“Truly, I’m astounded that they did not accuse me of withholding such vital information from them on our first meeting, though we did have an excuse prepared in such a case.” [Evelyn]

“Well, that’s just how men are. We get blinded by a woman’s beauty and ignore everything else, especially if she saved us.” [Ryner]

“That doesn’t seem to apply to you.” [Evelyn]

“Yeeeaah, that came back to bite me a few times, so I learned my lesson.” [Ryner]

Having finished, Ryner threw the phone back to Evelyn who had asked him if she could keep it. He had accepted after seeing her fascinated expression over such alien technology that didn’t rely on magic. Maya looked at it from the side, but didn’t seem interested. Either she didn’t understand its worth or she was satisfied with the collar Ryner gave her and didn’t want it.

“Alright then…” [Ryner]

What he was going to say next would definitely make them uneasy, or rather, they would reject it. But, he had to do it. No, he wanted to do it. Alice was wrong, or at least that was what he said to himself. It was going to happen anyway, so he might as well make use of it. Besides, it wasn’t like it was going to cause him any trouble. In fact, it would get him a few things in return.

“Maya, Evelyn, here’s the plan for the day.” [Ryner]

As expected, the two furiously protested.

“It’ll happen today.” [Jillian]

Jillian, the red-haired queen, told her husband as she stood before him inside a luxurious private room. Sitting at his huge desk, he was tackling a mountain of paperwork since yesterday and didn’t get any sleep. The queen had dark circles under her eyes as well, having slept for a few hours only.

“Yes, the details will be decided at the audience room.” [Charles]

Charles said as he looked over several reports, his focus unbroken despite the fatigue.

“This is inevitable, isn’t it?” [Jillian]

“We must properly punish him for his crimes. Even if he is a hero, no because he is a hero, he cannot be forgiven for the atrocities he committed.” [Charles]

Jillian sighed and stared at her husband that was engrossed in his work. Now that she took a look, his beard could use some trimming. His long brown hair that had streaks of grey should also be cut, but she pushed these trivial thoughts aside since they weren’t important right now.

“He is still quite young.” [Jillian]

“Even so, to prevent this from happening again, we must make an example out of him… I know it doesn’t sit well with you. You do not need to be present. Wait with our children. Carl must be quite distraught.” [Charles]

Charles stopped his hands for a moment and spoke softly to his honorable wife that admired knights when she was young and that didn’t accept his methods.

“That’s true, but I don’t intend on leaving you alone. You’re always a handful, dear. If I’m not around, you’ll go overboard every time.” [Jillian]

Jillian exhaled and lovingly gazed at her idiotic husband. At that moment, a knock was heard and the door was opened.

“Hey, is the king here?” [Ryner]

From behind appeared Ryner and upon seeing him, the two ruling figures automatically became wary. Their reaction was perfectly normal. This man with unkempt black hair had hidden his true powers all along. Despite having never used magic, he had an ability that was even more unique and incredible than the one that could store objects.

It allowed him to take on an odd form reminiscent of a reaper. Also, he could effortlessly bind multiple S ranks and break a person’s mind without hurting him. Cain had said that he didn’t believe he or the heroes could win even if they all ganged up on him.

They would have doubted the report if it wasn’t the knight commander himself that told them such a ridiculous tale. The only thing keeping them from calling the guards on him for his intrusion was the fact that he had pretty much saved the entire city in the end.

Furthermore, since he could have probably killed them all on their first meeting, but refrained from doing so, they believed that he was, at the very least, civilized enough to not slaughter everyone that pissed him off.

“… Ryner, you aren’t supposed to be here.” [Jillian]

“This is important, my queen. I need to speak to the king alone for a bit.” [Ryner]

Jillian, having gotten a hold of herself, tried to usher him away, but his tone told her that he wasn’t going to leave. Taking a glance at her husband, she asked him if he would be alright without her. He nodded solemnly to reassure her.

“… My marriage with Charles was a political marriage.” [Jillian]

Jillian, having made up her mind, said to Ryner with strong eyes.

“But, with time, I fell in love with him.” [Jillian]

She uttered such embarrassing words, making her husband fidget uneasily and look away.

“Why are you telling me that?” [Ryner]

As for Ryner, he just asked while blinking and tilting his head. Before Jillian could say anything, he continued to talk with his sleepy-looking expression.

“I already know that. After all…” [Ryner]

He suddenly flashed a useless smile and gave her a thumbs up.

“You always take good care of him every night, right?” [Ryner]

“I am glad you understand.” [Jillian]

His words made the queen nod approvingly and blush happily while the husband turned pale and shook in his boots. Ryner really was a frightening man.

“*Cough cough* I’d like to ask you, how did you know I was here?” [Charles]

Once the queen left as she muttered things like “I wonder if the whip I ordered is ready?”, Charles coughed and asked what he first wanted to know in a rather courteous manner. He was being much more careful with his conduct now.

“I snooped around, but that’s not important.” [Ryner]

“T-that’s not-?! Fine… So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?” [Charles]

“I don’t have time to investigate it slowly, so I’ll just ask you. What are the heroes for?” [Ryner]

“…” [Charles]

The king went quiet with a surprise expression on his face, not because of Ryner’s insolence since he expected it, but because of the question. However, he quickly masked his emotions and put on a calm front.

“If you want them to join the war with the demons, then you’re training them really badly. They might be S rank, but it’ll only take a few of the same rank to kill them all. The demons have soldiers on that level too, right? So, what is it that you plan to do with them?” [Ryner]

“… That is classified information.” [Charles]

“The demons hate the humans’ guts too. Do you know why?” [Ryner]

“… I can’t tell you.” [Charles]

“Hmm, looks like you don’t know that.” [Ryner]

Charles eyebrow twitched when he realized that Ryner was guessing his thoughts by observing his expression and by listening to the intonation in his voice.

“Then, do you know what they are planning? Is it something dangerous enough that you’d need thirty S ranks?” [Ryner]

“…” [Charles]

This time, the king chose to keep quiet and Ryner closely scrutinized him. It felt like he could see right through him and his back started to sweat.

“So you do know.” [Ryner]

He did see right through him.

“… I and other rulers are privy to that information. We are not revealing it to prevent the masses from panicking.” [Charles]

After sighing, he decided to reveal just a bit so that Ryner would back off.

“The heroes are needed to protect the human race. If you’re worried that I will sacrifice them like pawns, then you can be at ease. I have no such intention.” [Charles]

“That so? Also, you’ve summoned heroes before, right? What happened to them?” [Ryner]

Ryner asked as he stared at the king sitting in front of him. His eyes that were usually half-closed were giving off a sharp light.

“We can summon heroes every three hundred years. According to records, they have been treated properly as guests of the castle until they died.” [Charles]

“So, whatever it is your ancestors wanted them to do, they couldn’t do it, and it was something that required them to master high level magic, is that right?” [Ryner]

“…!” [Charles]

This man was sharper than he looked. He kept pulling information out of his vague words and asked him leading questions to get what he wanted. He really couldn’t relax around him. Charles put his elbows on the table and held his hands in front of his mouth.

“Next, why aren’t the demons using whatever secret weapon they have? It’s powerful enough to threaten an entire race, isn’t it?” [Ryner]

“… I can’t say… Except that if they haven’t used it yet, then it’s not ready. We’ve had skirmishes with them, but they’ve never brought it out.” [Charles]

“Is it so dangerous that it would be better to keep it a secret for centuries?” [Ryner]

Ryner asked, knowing that many leaders would deliberately withhold information to prevent the public from going into mass panic. He tried to probe for a clue on what the demons were using as their trump card, but the king was stubborn with keeping it a secret.

“My kingdom has been given the important task to summon and nurture the heroes. We are a vital part to ensure humanity’s survival. You may be an otherworlder, but you’re also human. I am not your enemy.” [Charles]

He said as he tried to escape from the interrogation. Ryner could tell that he wasn’t going to get anything more out of him without taking drastic measures, but he didn’t want to torture his chess rival’s dad for this. So, he scratched his head and changed the subject.

“Maaan, you’re stubborn.” [Ryner]

“Y-you’ve become quite insolent.” [Charles]

“It’s because more and more problems keep popping up, so it’s hard to be an easygoing tourist now. Anyway, we’ll leave it at that. Next, there are two more matters I need to settle with you. First, it’s about Dan’s punishment that’ll be decided today.” [Ryner]

“Tourist…? For the young hero, for the rogue hero, do you have a request for his punishment?” [Charles]

Charles raised an eyebrow and thought that Ryner wanted to ask him to perform a specific execution method. But, what came out of the white-eyed, brown-eyed man’s mouth was something else entirely.

“… You… Are you sane? Doing something like that… To so readily throw away your pride…” [Charles]

“Pride? What’s that? Is it edible? Can it fill my stomach? Protect me from the cold? Save me from danger?” [Ryner]

Ryner, standing calmly before the king who had a dumbstruck expression, waved his hand as if to dispel his doubt.

“I don’t give a damn about pride. Fame, status, authority, they can be used as tools, but to set them as goals? That’s a waste of time. They are all meaningless. You’ll realize it too if you live for as long as I have.” [Ryner]

The black-haired man spoke as he looked at the king. But, those eyes of his were watching something else. Right now, he was in a completely different place than the private room of the king of Elea Kingdom.

Charles kept quiet because of the atmosphere around Ryner. He didn’t know why he was talking as if he was an old man, but the tone in his voice actually made what he said sound convincing. He felt that he shouldn’t say anything to refute his claims and decided to ignore them.

“… I see… *Sigh* Very well. I shall see to it that it is done.” [Charles]

“Seriously? You accepted it pretty easily.” [Ryner]

“I must properly reward you for what you have accomplished. As such, if this is what you desire, then so be it.” [Charles]

“Glad to see you’re being so nice.” [Ryner]

“I’ve said this before, but I am not your enemy.” [Charles]

“Yeah? Well, you made a horrible first impression when you tried to steal my stuff.” [Ryner]

“The Holy Wings is an Artifact that the main religion of my country worships. Of course we would want it. Your other weapon, your ‘gun’, could potentially revolutionize the face of warfare. If every soldier had one, my kingdom’s military strength would greatly rise.” [Charles]

The king gestured with his hands to emphasize just how incredible the assault rifle that Ryner had was. He clearly understood its worth, though that firearm would be useless against powerful enemies, like dragoons as well as high ranked people. Magic was still the superior weapon in this world.

“I will do anything to ensure the safety and prosperity of my kingdom. That is my duty as king.” [Charles]

Charles declared as he firmly stared at Ryner, showing his resolution. However, instead of being impressed or overwhelmed by the aura he was giving off, Ryner’s eyes became colder.

“… Is that so…? You know, a long time ago, I knew a king that once told me something very similar to that. But, are you like him, ready to do anything for your kingdom?” [Ryner]

Just as Charles opened his mouth to answer in the affirmative, Ryner leaned forward, put his hands on the desk and spoke in a low voice.

“Are you willing to kill a bunch of orphans for your kingdom?” [Ryner]

His eyes opened wide and he couldn’t say anything. He didn’t expect that at all and simply froze in place. The hostility in the man’s eyes forced him to stop moving. But, he could tell it wasn’t aimed at him. That was why he wasn’t trembling in fright. It was aimed at someone else, an enemy from long ago.

“… Actually, don’t answer that. If you do…” [Ryner]

Ryner slowly stood upright again and softly spoke as he looked at the ceiling. Noticing the melancholy in his expression, Charles felt like he had seen a glimpse of this enigmatic man’s true face, but he wasn’t sure if he should be happy about his discovery.

“I might come to hate you more.” [Ryner]

Prejudice. Grudge. Hatred.

Ryner kept it from showing on his face, but he didn’t like kings. That was his first reflex whenever he saw them. Most likely, he didn’t like anyone with royal blood, because royalty wronged him greatly… And the wound was still with him.

Alice had said it before. Ryner didn’t let go of his past. He didn’t let go of his pain.

He was crazier than her.

*Author* After looking at the results of the poll, I'll be speeding things up a bit. That means I won't be going into details on the less important events and push others onto the future arcs.

Also, for those wondering, Ryner losing the game with Alice before a month even went by was planned from the start. Having an overpowered hero was planned from the start. What wasn't planned was that the arc was too long.

Make sure to vote so that I can get some feedback for the future.

Since it's against my policy to modify chapters except for fixing mistakes, I'll only add this here. The second game was left quite vague for a reason. Just know that in the story, for Ryner, fragmenting his soul hurts like hell, isn't cost-effective and is quite tiring. But, he doesn't get any weaker and frankly, though it depends on how it plays out, the second game won't really affect the story much.