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Shirou crept back to Twilight Manor—only the light tread of his shoes on the cobblestone path making any sound. The evening air, as it descended into night, felt cold on his skin, carrying the scent of damp wood and the smoke from the stoves drifting from the residential district. But his mind was not in Orario.
He was back—again—in the shadow of Jura.
Jura, pleading.
Jura, begging for his life.
Jura, laughing madly.
Jura, torturing, killing, toying with lives without remorse.
That figure, and others like him, struck the core of Shirou's dream with a bitter reality: There are souls not worth saving. There are people who, even when faced with the chance to change, choose to remain monsters.
"...Is the dream of saving everyone... just an illusion?" Shirou murmured in his heart.
His chest felt heavy as if a weight was slowly pressing down on him.
As he entered the courtyard of Twilight Manor, the sound of noisy voices reached his ears. On the front porch, Tiona and Tione were arguing with Bete.
"You damn annoying wolf! Can't you ever talk nicely!?" Tiona shouted in annoyance.
"Whatever, you stupid Amazoness!" Bete retorted with a loud snort.
Their voices echoed throughout the courtyard—usually bringing a small smile to Shirou's face. But this time, everything sounded distant... faint like echoes from a different world.
Shirou passed right behind them. Tione glanced his way, noticing his gloomy expression, but Shirou gave a small nod as if to say he was fine. They let him pass.
The stairs to the second floor felt longer than usual. A sense of weariness and inner turmoil slowed his steps. Arriving at his room door, he only then realized how tense his shoulders were.
Kreek... The door to his small room opened. A simple room containing a bed, a wardrobe, and a small desk greeted him. Only beginner's equipment, gifts from Lefiya, adorned his walls.
Without much thought, Shirou opened the drawer under his mattress—a drawer now almost full of magic stones from his Dungeon expeditions. He spilled several magic stones he had obtained from Goliath and other dungeon monsters into it. The clink of the magic stones colliding filled the last space inside.
Then he opened the wardrobe. He carefully stored the small pack he always carried—filled with elixirs, potions, and antidotes—inside.
Finally, he dropped himself onto the bed.
Fuuuhh...
A long sigh escaped him, as if releasing some of the burden in his chest.
But the shadow of Jura's face... and the sound of that mad laughter... still clung, unwilling to leave.
Shirou closed his eyes—not to sleep, but to seek calm amidst the inner storm that was beginning to rage.
His thoughts spun uncontrollably—remembering what would happen later that night. Rudra Familia... He imagined a dark cave west of the city, the faces of strangers who might smile with satisfaction at the evils they committed, and him... standing there with Ryuu, sword drawn.
Am I really going to slaughter them?
The word "slaughter" alone felt like a stab to his chest. But that was the reality.
Shirou's hands had long been stained.
He had killed the fanatical Evilus members who set suicide bombs.
He had mercilessly severed Valetta's neck—without mercy, without giving any room for a "second chance."
And he did not regret it. Those people... had crossed the line of humanity.
But Rudra Familia... though equally cruel... were still human. Breathing, thinking, and capable of feeling fear.
Killing monsters is easier, Shirou thought bitterly. They are just instinct. But humans?
Every swing of his sword against a human always left a small scratch on his heart—slowly forming scars that couldn't be erased.
The shadows dragged Shirou deeper into a dark spiral, sucking him in slowly.
Until—
KNOCK KNOCK.
Suddenly, a soft sound pierced through the walls of his mind—as if a small hand was pulling him out of the dark mire that had almost swallowed him.
Shirou, who had been lying down staring at the ceiling without really seeing anything, slowly opened his eyes. His breath was heavy, choked by a burden even he found hard to explain. The thoughts that had been spinning—about Jura, about Rudra Familia, about the blurred line between justice and murder—instantly froze.
The gentle knocking sounded again. Tok... tok...
Then a voice, bright and familiar, like a warm ray of light in the dim space of his mind.
"Shirou? Are you in there?"
Shirou immediately got up, steadying his still-heavy breath before opening the door. The wooden hinges creaked softly—kreeek—and the figure of Lefiya immediately appeared in the doorway, standing straight with a small, friendly smile.
But what slightly surprised Shirou was the person standing beside her. Aiz, holding a large tray covered with a white cloth. Both her hands held it carefully, as if carrying something fragile.
"Ah... Shirou," Lefiya said softly, giving a slight nod. "We... ehm, we came to bring you something."
Aiz averted her gaze for a moment, then spoke in her usually flat tone, though now it sounded a bit hesitant. "You always cook breakfast for everyone. So... I wanted to return the favor. A little."
Shirou was silent for a moment, touched by the simple but sincere intention. "Aiz... thank you. But I didn't know you could cook."
Aiz shook her head slightly. "Not much. I only cut the ingredients and shaped the dough. Lefiya handled most of it." She said without hesitation, just stating facts.
Lefiya, standing next to her, scratched her short cheek for a moment. "We thought... maybe you hadn't had dinner. So we made something together. Besides, the evening air is nice. How about we eat on the balcony?"
Shirou looked at them both—Aiz with her tray, Lefiya with her attentive gaze.
"...Alright," he said softly. "Let's go to the balcony."
The Orario sunset welcomed them as the balcony door opened. Orange light flowed slowly along the roof of Twilight Manor, reflecting softly on the walls and leaves, as if the city itself was breathing calmly as night approached. The wind from Babel Tower blew gently, carrying the scent of the market and settlements that were quieting down after a long day.
The three of them sat at a small round wooden table, narrow enough that their shoulders felt close whenever one of them moved. Aiz placed the tray in the middle of the table, while Lefiya sat next to Shirou with unconcealed enthusiasm.
Shirou, who still couldn't really guess what was on the tray, leaned forward a little. "So... what exactly did you make?"
Aiz removed the cloth. "My favorite," she said succinctly.
Inside, stacked neatly, were Jagamaru-kun—more than the normal portion usually sold in the city. They looked the same as usual, but the aromas coming from them weren't uniform: there were savory, sweet, and even slightly spicy scents.
Lefiya leaned her elbows on the table, her tone sounding like someone holding a secret. "But there's a surprise inside. Try one first, Shirou."
Shirou picked one at random. It was still warm. The texture of the outer skin was crispy to the touch. He took a half bite.
His expression immediately changed. "...Sour?"
Lefiya burst out laughing—pffft! "Got you!"
Aiz nodded slightly, calm as ever. "We made variations. Each Jagamaru-kun has a different filling. Sweet, salty, bitter... or that one." She pointed to the Jagamaru-kun Shirou was holding. "The one mixed with lemon juice."
Shirou let out a short sigh, then chuckled softly even though the taste was strange on his tongue. "I didn't expect Jagamaru-kun could be like this." He took another bite, this time without complaint. The strange taste just made him curious about the others.
Lefiya smiled contentedly. "Well then, try the next one."
Shirou—who had just swallowed the lemon-flavored Jagamaru-kun—clicked his tongue and pointed at Lefiya. "Now it's your turn. You have to taste this 'surprise' too."
"M-me?" Lefiya stiffened, but carefully picked one up. "Okay... I'll pick a safe one..."
But fate had other plans.
Bite.
The next second, Lefiya's eyes widened. "Mh—?!"
Redness crept from her cheeks to the tips of her long ears—even her light brown hair seemed to twitch. "S-SPICY! The chili in this is ridiculous?!"
Aiz promptly poured water into a small glass and handed it to her. "Drink this."
Lefiya immediately sipped it, almost choking in panic. "Why did I get the super spicy one?!"
Shirou held back his amusement. "So... are all these Jagamaru-kun filled with weird surprises like that?"
Lefiya caught her breath before answering, "Actually... there are many other variants. But the tasty ones... ehm... were already eaten by Aiz earlier while we were cooking."
Aiz bowed her head slightly. "Sorry... I couldn't help myself."
Lefiya rolled her eyes and said in a mischievous tone, "Well then, as punishment, you have to eat the most."
But Aiz nodded without hesitation. "Okay."
She immediately took two at once, biting into them alternately as if battling whatever strange taste might appear at any moment.
Lefiya watched this and cleared her throat. "A-actually, I was just kidding..."
But Aiz continued eating them both with the calm determination characteristic of her.
Shirou leaned back in his chair, watching them react to each other—Lefiya still spicy with her eyes slightly watery, Aiz eating seriously as if completing a mission.
Without realizing it, the weight in his chest... slowly vanished.
For the first time since that afternoon, he felt he could breathe lightly.
He bowed his head slightly, looking at his own hands on the table.
For a moment, the shadows of blood, screams, and Jura's pleading face resurfaced. But now, those shadows felt more distant... as if held back behind thick glass.
Thank you... Both of you.
He didn't say it out loud, but his heart trembled strongly.
If it weren't for you two, I might still be trapped in that darkness.
Shirou raised his head, watching Aiz and Lefiya busy gauging their courage to face the next Jagamaru-kun.
A small curve appeared on his face—subtle, yet full of determination.
I can't let this burden drown me. Not today.
Ryuu is waiting. Rudra Familia is still on the loose. And I... I must ensure that tragedy doesn't happen again.
He grabbed another Jagamaru-kun, whatever flavor was inside, and took a slow bite while watching the two girls.
For those who believe in me... I will finish this tonight.
***
Night cast its dark blanket over Orario as Shirou exited through the second-floor window of Twilight Manor, landing silently in the courtyard. The night air felt cold, but his mind was too focused to care. With light steps, he slipped through the shadows of the buildings, making sure no member of Loki Familia saw him leave.
On the western wall, Ryuu was waiting. Her dark green cloak fluttered slowly, and the mask covering her face made her look like a living forest shadow. As soon as Shirou arrived, Ryuu gave a short nod.
Without much talk, the two jumped simultaneously from the edge of the wall—whsssh!—sliding into the darkness outside the city. The grassy ground absorbed the sound of their landing, and then they moved quickly through the night's undergrowth towards the location Jura had mentioned.
During the journey, Shirou broke the silence. "Ryuu... about our targets. Who exactly is left?"
Ryuu let out a long breath, her voice cold as she answered, "Rudra Familia... cowards who only rely on traps and similar filth. Of all of them, the strongest was only Jura—level 3."
Shirou nodded, his mind working quickly. "So the rest are probably level two... or level three at most?"
"Correct." Ryuu glanced at him. "None among them can face the two of us. We are level four, and you..." She paused for a moment, weighing her words. "You have power that even elite fighters cannot withstand."
Shirou gave a faint smile, not proud... just accepting. "Still, let's not underestimate them."
Ryuu nodded, this time in agreement. "Of course. They don't deserve to live—but they are still dangerous."
The night wind rustled, carrying the scent of earth and leaves as they continued running towards the west side of Orario—where justice and blood would intersect that night.
They kept running through the dark fields until the ground began to slope upward and the trees gave way to large rocks leading to a range of small mountains west of Orario. Their breaths were even; their footsteps hitting the soft ground—thud, thud, thud—heard by no one but the night wind.
The line of rocky hills looked like uneven giant mouths, each with dark cave openings gaping as if waiting for their arrival.
Ryuu cursed softly. "Damn... we should have pressed Jura further. Why didn't he say which cave? Or... maybe he deliberately hid important details."
Shirou observed the contours of the caves while nodding. "Possibly. But there's no use regretting it now." He took a breath and continued, "Let's check them one by one. We have no other clues."
Ryuu stopped for a moment at the edge of a short cliff, looking towards the dark holes. "Right. And since they are having a meeting tonight... Jura's absence must have made them suspicious." Her tone hardened, full of caution.
Shirou stared ahead, his eyes narrowing. "Meaning they might be preparing... or moving locations."
"Exactly," Ryuu pulled her cloak tighter. "If we are even a little late, they might disappear again as they did years ago."
The night grew thicker, the only sound of the wind hitting the rocks accompanying them.
Ahead, the caves waited—silent, cold, and full of possibilities.
Ryuu looked at the row of caves scattered on the mountainside, then made a quick decision. "We should split up. It will be faster that way."
Shirou immediately turned his head. "Wait—that's dangerous. What if they are prepared? Or if you get ambushed inside?"
Ryuu let out a short sigh, as if she had expected that objection. "Shirou... you underestimate me too much. They are no match for me. Level two or three? I've faced far worse than that."
She said it calmly, not boastfully—merely stating a fact. But Shirou still looked unsatisfied.
With a quick movement, he raised his right hand. A faint blue light glowed—fwoom—and a small, long tube appeared in his grasp. It looked like an iron cylinder with a small lever on the side.
"Take this." Shirou offered it.
Ryuu took it, furrowing her brows. "What is this?"
"A flare," Shirou answered. "If you're in danger, pull this ring... then throw it outside the cave. Its red light will flare brightly. I can see it from anywhere."
Ryuu stared at the device for a few seconds. There was something she wanted to say—perhaps annoyance that Shirou was worrying too much, or maybe... a warm feeling because someone cared so much about her safety. But she chose to keep it to herself.
"...Alright," she finally replied, tucking the flare into her cloak.
The two of them looked at each other for a moment.
No additional words—only an understanding flowing between them.
Ryuu moved to the left, heading towards a darker, narrower cave.
Shirou went to the right, towards a path descending into a small valley.
In an instant, both of them disappeared into the shadows of the mountains, taking opposite directions.
Shirou ran into the first cave without hesitation—tap tap tap!—his breath stable, his steps firm. As soon as he entered, he immediately activated Structural Analysis.
Trace on.
Waves of prana quickly spread through the stone walls. Every crack, cavity, small passage, even mineral bones, became clear in an instant. But... no signs of life.
He exited, then ran to the next cave.
This one was deeper—still empty.
The next cave—empty again.
He no longer cared about sneaking or making noise. Each footstep echoed loudly in the stone corridors. He even deliberately let the rumble of his steps be heard widely.
"If you're still here... come out," he muttered in a cold tone, almost like a threat.
A part of him—still heated from the interrogation of Jura—wanted them to hear and panic.
Wanted them to know their hunter had come.
Wanted them to run, or fight back... so he could finish them without hesitation.
But there was nothing.
No traces of humans, no smell of campfires, no shadows moving.
"Where did they go...?" Shirou growled, turning sharply into the next cave.
The longer he searched, the more emptiness he found.
He started ascending to higher paths. The rocks became steeper, the wind colder.
"Dammit... were we tricked by Jura?" he thought, quickening his pace.
As he reached a narrow plateau connecting several caves on the upper side, a dark figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
Shirou reflexively projected a short blade—clang!—but then stopped as the figure approached the circle of moonlight.
"Ryuu?"
Ryuu withdrew her hand from behind her cloak, still in a guarded stance. "Shirou? You made it here, too?"
They looked at each other—both slightly breathless but still steady.
"...It seems we've both circled this entire area," Shirou said finally.
Ryuu nodded slowly, her gaze directed at the dark hill behind them. "There's nothing. Not a single sign of humans."
The night wind blew softly, carrying a silence that felt increasingly heavy.
Shirou rubbed his face slowly, suppressing the frustration that was beginning to boil. "We weren't thorough enough... or Jura was indeed lying," he hissed, the name leaving his mouth with a bitter tone as if he wanted to spit it out.
Ryuu didn't answer immediately. She looked over the area they had just explored—the row of caves on the mountainside, the empty corridors, and the ground showing no one's tracks. Then she said quietly, "There's another possibility."
Shirou turned.
"They might not be on the edges... but in the center of this area. We only checked the outer parts," Ryuu continued, her voice flat but logical.
Shirou immediately frowned. "So we have to go deeper into the center of the mountains."
Ryuu nodded. "This time... let's go together."
Shirou didn't object—he himself was uncomfortable splitting up again. "Alright. Let's go."
They moved into the heart of the hilly area. The ground was steeper, the rock angles sharper, and at every turn, there were dead ends that looked untouched by humans for years. The distinct smell of caves mixed with the damp mountain air filled the atmosphere—the scent of minerals, wet soil, and old mold.
Ryuu stopped occasionally to ensure there were no signs of traps. "This area... is too wild. If people lived here, there would be traces, but..."
Taptaptap.
Their footsteps echoed in sync, small echoes accompanying them along the path.
Until Shirou suddenly stopped.
Ryuu stopped a step behind him, looking at Shirou's tense back. "What is it?"
Shirou turned his head slightly, sniffing the air. Not the smell of humans, not the smell of monsters...
There was a sharp, potent aroma, though faint—a fragrance that shouldn't be in these dark mountains... a scent that reminded him of a certain aura...
A scent not possessed by mortal beings.
"...Follow me," he said curtly.
Ryuu followed him. "Did you find a clue?"
Shirou didn't answer directly. It was hard to explain that he could distinguish ordinary scents from divine ones—especially this one whose power was like a storm yet to explode. The trace wasn't a gentle fragrance that quickly evaporated, but a sharp sensation stinging the tip of his nose, like a gust of wind before lightning strikes, leaving a faint vibration in his bones as if the air itself was holding its breath.
"Something like that," Shirou answered enigmatically—because he himself wasn't sure how to explain it normally.
Ryuu rolled her eyes slightly, sighing in resignation. "I don't know about you and all these 'weird abilities'..."
Shirou just continued walking, pushing through bushes and rocks.
Ryuu followed him, though muttering softly, "Really... a strange man."
And the two of them kept moving, penetrating deeper into the mountains towards whatever Shirou was indicating.
As he ran through the increasingly dark rock crevices, Shirou felt the faint scent growing stronger—subtle, almost undetectable, but clearly not a human scent. And from every gust of wind carrying it, his mind began assembling the most plausible possibility.
If this scent is real... it means the god Rudra is present with his Familia members.
That conclusion hit his mind quickly and sharply.
A flicker of a small memory surfaced: Loki's cheerful yet firm voice giving a warning a few days ago.
"If you want to face a god, just bring me. A god must be fought by a god."
He knew he should have brought his goddess.
Should have followed instructions.
But—
The sound of their footsteps echoed in the increasingly open stone corridor.
—No time.
—I won't let them escape again.
The atrocities of Rudra Familia were too great to be postponed for even one night.
Moreover... Ryuu was by his side. He wouldn't let that girl face her past alone.
The corridor, which had been narrow, suddenly opened up, the wall rocks changing from a natural path to a wide hallway, suggesting human activity.
Ryuu slowed her steps, her eyes sweeping the surroundings. "This path... was clearly made not long ago. Even the walls are newly chiseled."
Shirou nodded, feeling the scent growing sharper. "It's straight ahead."
A few meters later, warm yellow light reflected off the walls.
Torches.
Ryuu approached one of them, feeling the still-intact wooden shaft. "It was lit recently. Less than an hour ago."
She glanced at Shirou, slightly exasperated. "Really... what even is that ability of yours. But it's effective."
Shirou only gave a slight nod, not answering.
His eyes remained focused on the dark corridor ahead, where the divine scent merged with the aura of humans.
They approached.