"Agh!"
The high-pitched, piercing notes of the flute were like steel nails driven straight into the brain. Everyone present clutched their heads, collapsing in agony.
"Damn it—! Reducto!!"
Director Croaker's eyes were bloodshot as he struggled to raise his wand, firing a curse at the monstrosity.
However—
Bang!
A magical barrier suddenly flickered into existence, intercepting the spell!
"What?!"
Croaker's eyes widened in shock as he looked at the figure standing in front of the monster.
Sasha, who had been silent until now, held her wand high, maintaining the barrier. Her eyes, once lively and bright, were now dull and hollow. She murmured under her breath:
"Don't... don't hurt him..."
"Have you lost your mind?!" the Director roared. "Why are you helping that monster—urgh!"
The flute's melody made his head throb. He fell to his knees, his grip on his wand faltering.
"He's not a monster..." Sasha swayed unsteadily. Then, her features contorted in a mask of rage as she screamed, "He is my dearest brother!!"
"What?"
Director Croaker froze, looking up.
Only then did he see a trace of something familiar in that hideous, stitched-together face.
...It wasn't just Sasha's brother. It was all of them—the other twenty-two people who had stepped through the Veil and never returned. It was as if the features of every lost soul had been kneaded together into one grotesque form.
Paul, Jessica, Cyril, Hunter...
A wave of familiarity, mixed with a sickening sense of wrongness, crashed over him.
"Hamelyn... right, you were the eldest son of the Moss family, the leader of the first expedition team into the Veil—"
"Hamelyn Moss!!"
Croaker began to tremble.
That tragedy had occurred before he was even appointed Director. In fact, it was specifically because of that disaster that he had risen to the position. Because of the recklessness of the Department of Mysteries, twenty-three lives had been thrown away.
They had never left.
They had been here all along, waiting inside the Veil.
"Ah... ahhhh..."
Croaker's pupils dilated to the limit, vibrating with terror.
Finally, the fear reached a breaking point. Under the influence of the flute, he let out a broken, agonizing wail.
He was wrong. The Minister for Magic was wrong. Everyone was wrong.
This realm behind the Veil, which required death to enter, was no place for the living. Anything with a soul that passed through those doors would be twisted into a profanity.
"Ethan Vincent... if it weren't for you, we never would have restarted this project... you've ruined us..."
The Director muttered in despair.
Fighting against the flute's song, he slowly raised his wand, pointing the tip at his own chin.
...Better to end it now than to turn into a thing like that.
Suddenly.
A clear, cheerful voice rang out from the side: "Ethan's fault? Now, I really can't agree with that."
As the words fell—
A much louder, more resonant chant soared into the air!
It surged over the flute's melody like a spring breeze sweeping away a toxic miasma. Instantly, everyone's minds cleared!
"Didn't I bring you all here to explore such an interesting place? Why the lack of gratitude?"
"The space between the Veils is the closest one can get to Death! Look, you can even see biological entities that don't exist in the world of the living!"
The "newcomer" spread his arms wide with excitement.
Ethan Vincent looked at the flute-playing monster with an expression of pure, unadulterated curiosity and academic interest.
The researchers stared at him, stunned.
For a moment, they weren't sure which side was more terrifying!
The Piper narrowed his eyes. With two mismatched pupils of different colors and shapes, he looked down at Ethan.
He took a deep breath, letting out a blissful sigh.
[You are different from them... you have a delightful scent on you...]
Hearing this, Ethan raised an eyebrow and lifted a hand politely. "I'll have to pass, thanks. I've got people waiting for me at home."
"Sigh... sometimes, having too much charm is a real burden."
Ethan sighed, dramatically running a hand through his hair.
As expected, no one could resist the allure of an art student.
The Piper: ?
Everyone else: "..."
Look at the atmosphere, for Merlin's sake!!
Director Croaker sometimes wondered exactly what corner of the earth produced such a "talent" as Ethan.
[...You possess incredibly dense magic,] the Piper's mouth twitched as he continued, [My most precious core tells me that if I eat you, I can escape this dark cage...]
[I can cross the Veil, and return once more to that beautiful sunlight!!]
The Piper threw his head back as if trying to pierce the heavens. An evil light flickered in his eyes.
[I will spread! I will gather more companions! Let more people live with me in eternal happiness!]
[Ah! The Light!!]
"Merlin help us, what kind of monster have we disturbed..."
The researchers were drenched in cold sweat, their faces etched with palpable dread. They couldn't imagine the catastrophe that would unfold if this thing were ever released...
They would be the greatest criminals in history!
"I knew it," one researcher gasped in realization. "Ethan Vincent must have wanted to use this monster to accelerate the pollution and destruction of the world—mmph!"
He was suddenly silenced.
Clutching at his mouth, he felt his lips fusing together in terror.
"Hmph," Ethan retracted his hand, muttering, "It seems some people still have a very serious misunderstanding of my character."
Destroy the world?
He was just a young wizard who loved art and wanted to spread its beauty across the globe!
How could he do something so terrible?
It seemed he would have to let them witness it with their own eyes.
Ethan spoke up: "If I understand correctly, you accidentally came into contact with the remains of Death hidden within the Veil and absorbed its power."
"That's why you didn't die like the others. Instead, you turned into this... thing. Neither human nor ghost."
Either fuse completely or stay human. This "neither-here-nor-there" monster was completely devoid of any artistic sense.
"Don't worry..."
Under the stunned gazes of the others, Ethan casually ripped off his bulky protective suit.
He raised his hand, and a card appeared between his fingers.
He spoke, emphasizing every word:
"I will help you... by repainting you into something beautiful."
[Bring that lost child to me, my dear sister.]
The Piper stroked Sasha's head, pouring wisps of black magic into her.
"Ah... ah... ahh...!"
Sasha's breathing grew heavy. A blood-red tint crept into her eyes, and hideous veins bulged from her pale skin.
Finally—
With a raspy, furious roar, she lunged forward, swinging her wand with violent force!
Boom!!
The darkness on the ground surged upward!
Like a giant, consuming maw, it swallowed Ethan whole in an instant!
"!!"
Director Croaker opened his mouth to scream.
But then he realized that, until now, he still didn't even know this newcomer's name.
...Strange. Why did he feel such a bizarre sense of familiarity?
[Hehehe...] The Piper pulled his lips back in a grin, slowly reaching out his hand. [Become my nourishment, become the power for me to see the light again—Wait?]
He suddenly froze.
His pupils contracted.
From within the mass of darkness, tiny specks of crimson light began to bleed through. Like a butterfly breaking out of a cocoon, cracks began to spiderweb across the surface!
The next second—
Whoosh!!
A massive rose made of pure flame shattered the darkness, blooming in an explosion of light!
Sizzle—
Like a meteor shower, tongues of fire sprayed out from the flaming rose. They transformed into smaller roses that bloomed around everyone, dispelling the freezing cold and bringing a bright, positive warmth.
"So beautiful..."
The researchers' eyes reflected the blossoming fire roses. Hope and courage slowly began to rise in their hearts.
They felt as though they could fight again.
[Merging "Shrine of Life" with "Heart of the French Rose"]
[You have obtained a new work: "Life in Full Bloom"!]
[Name: "Life in Full Bloom"]
[Grade: Level 4 · Blue Precious!]
[Type: Conceptual]
[Description: This heart is willing to burn for you, willing to exhaust everything it has for you.]
[Effect: Holding the torch allows the user to cast Fire Rose magic without consuming mana. It blocks all curses within a certain range and heals allies. It boosts morale, providing a 20% magic power bonus to every ally.]
[When bloomed upon an enemy unit, it will never extinguish, dealing continuous damage.]
[Evaluation: The first Level 4 painting after your promotion. Although its grade isn't high, it still possesses a portion of God-slaying power.]
"Hah!"
Ethan held a torch shaped like a shrine. Vivid crimson flames continuously bloomed from it, dyeing Ethan's cobalt-blue eyes with a dancing red hue.
"Grr..."
Sasha hovered on the perimeter warily. Looking at the fire roses, a flicker of fear appeared in her eyes.
[Truly a disobedient child...]
The Piper narrowed his eyes, looking down coldly at his hesitating sister. His multiple, spindly arms returned to the flute.
[I shall grant you great power... go. Bring that child to me, my dear... sister.]
As he finished speaking—
A low, grating flute note erupted!
"AAAGHHH!!!"
Sasha screamed in agony, curling into a ball on the ground.
From the darkness, countless pairs of blood-red eyes swarmed out, squeaking as they piled onto Sasha's body.
Fur intertwined; claws fused and lengthened.
Finally—
Like a massive helmet, a giant rat's head clamped down onto Sasha's head.
She had transformed into a grey rat monster the size of a medium-sized dragon!
Long grey fur fluttered in the air. She stood on four legs, each paw tipped with dagger-like claws.
Holy cow, a fursuit.
The image of "Lion Dancing" immediately popped into Ethan's mind.
...Though "Rat Dancing" was probably more accurate.
"I... I have to protect brother... have to take him home... Please, don't stop me..."
Fat tears rolled down Sasha's pale little face.
"He is no longer your brother," Ethan said. "Right now, he is nothing more than a monster corrupted by the power of an evil god."
The logic and calm in Ethan's voice made the other researchers stare at him in disbelief.
"He can stay this calm after seeing such a terrifying scene?" one researcher whispered in shock. "Why does it feel like he's used to this?!"
Wait, a normal wizard shouldn't be "well-traveled" in these kinds of scenarios!
"You... you're lying to me!!"
Sasha let out a piercing shriek.
Under the control of the flute, she leaped with a speed impossible for a human, snapping her jaws at Ethan!
"Good grief."
Ethan shook his head. The torch in his hand sprayed sparks of light.
He looked up, his cobalt-blue eyes reflecting the rapidly approaching, blood-red maw.
"Little lost mouse... you'd better go back to your cage!"
The next second!
The torch was thrust upward, slamming into the teeth of the rat mask!
It wedged firmly between the upper and lower incisors, instantly pinning her in place!
"Burn!"
Seizing the opportunity, the flames within the torch roared upward!
They condensed into a massive flower bud and then violently burst open!
Petals made of fire, incredibly intense, illuminated the dark realm of death. The explosive force instantly flipped the heavy rat "suit" backward!
"Roar!"
Sasha howled in pain. Crimson fire roses bloomed on her body like falling seeds, scorching the dusty grey fur.
"Restrain her, quickly! What are you all standing there for?"
Ethan said coolly.
His command snapped the others back to reality.
They hurriedly waved their wands, firing spell after spell, firmly binding the struggling colossus to the ground!
[It's useless,] the Piper said leisurely. [I control this darkness. I can generate an endless swarm of rats.]
[You felt it when you arrived, didn't you? Your magic will eventually run out. You can never burn all of my lovely children to ashes—Wait?]
The Piper paused.
Looking down at Sasha, who was struggling in agony on the ground, he finally noticed something wrong.
...Why wasn't this fire going out? It just kept burning.
"So, you finally noticed."
The clear voice rang out again.
Ethan stood with the torch in hand, surrounded by intense flames.
His eyes glowed like lanterns as he smirked at the suspicious Piper. He spoke slowly:
"My flames over here... they never run out either."
—They came from the stubborn heart of a persistent Auror.
Until the enemy was burned to absolute ash, they would never stop.
They had bypassed the cycle of Mana -> Magic. Without consuming a drop of mana, they could burn for eternity!
This was the power of a Level 4 artwork!
[What?!]
The Piper's eyes widened in shock. He looked at Sasha, who had been "parasitized" by the fire roses and now looked like a field of flowers. A flash of anger and disgust crossed his face.
[I gave you supreme power, and yet you disappoint me! Sasha, you are just as useless as you were before!]
"No... brother... I am useful... I won't hold you back anymore...!"
Sasha's eyes filled with tears.
Enduring the pain of the burns, her claws scraped against the ground as she struggled to push herself up, crawling slowly toward Ethan.
She looked up, meeting those cobalt-blue eyes.
In an instant.
Her overheated, chaotic brain felt as if it had been doused with cold seawater. Memories of the past flooded back.
...Her brother had always stood in front of her.
The brother who was always first in his class, the brother who won countless awards, the brother who was recommended to the Department of Mysteries with top marks, the brother who was the pride of their parents.
Sasha remembered clearly the grief her parents felt when they learned he was missing.
She also remembered...
The feeling of her parents' eyes truly landing on her for the first time after he was gone.
The joy that had surged in that moment had gnawed at her heart for years.
It made her loathe herself.
How could I... even for a second... think that my brother being gone was a good thing?
Brother is just lost. I have to bring him home.
This is the most that a useless sister like me can do.
"...I see. That is quite the twisted obsession."
A voice like a clear spring pulled Sasha back from her thoughts.
She stared blankly at the young man before her.
In this moment, it was as if she could see, beneath this unremarkable skin, a dazzling, brilliant soul. Regardless of his appearance, he possessed a presence that could seize a person's mind.
Ethan wasn't looking at her. He was staring at the massive, multicolored monster. He said flatly:
"I don't know what your definition of 'useless' is. By my standards, everyone present is trash."
Everyone: "..."
Why are we suddenly being insulted?
Ethan continued: "But, you and I researched the light source together, and you entered this dangerous Veil without hesitation."
"For all these years, you never gave up on your obsession with finding your brother."
"In my eyes, many who call themselves 'powerful' couldn't achieve half of what you have."
Ethan tilted his head slightly, looking at the stunned Sasha. A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips.
"You've done quite well, Miss Sasha Moss."
Sasha opened her mouth.
Before words could come out, a sob escaped her, followed by two streaks of tears.
"I... I don't want to be like this! I'm so scared!!" she wailed, desperately reaching her claws toward Ethan. "Save me—!"
She suddenly stopped.
She realized she still didn't know the young man's name.
But in this moment, a far more fitting title came to mind—
"Savior."
"Copy that."
The smile on Ethan's lips widened. He reached out and grasped the sharp claw.
"Didn't I agree to be the bodyguard? I'm a man of my word."
The moment his palm touched the claw—
BOOM!
Several fire roses the size of millstones exploded into bloom across Sasha's grey rat suit!
Like a grand firework show, the sinful fur was burned away completely!
Rip!
With a pull, Ethan dragged Sasha out of the suit.
He ruffled the girl's messy hair and turned her around to face the fuming Piper.
[You... you actually dared to kill my lovely family!!]
The Piper never expected that he, who had obtained supreme power, would suffer such a setback at the hands of a mere human!
He glared at Sasha and screamed:
[You are the most useless sister I have ever seen! To go over to the enemy's side... you don't deserve to be my family!]
"I... I..."
Sasha couldn't help but tremble, her face turning pale.
But then.
Her shoulders were gripped by a pair of strong, steady hands.
Ethan leaned down and slammed the torch into the ground beside her with a clank. He said softly:
"Give your 'brother' his freedom, Sasha."
"You can see it, can't you? He's not the brother you remember anymore."
[DON'T YOU DARE!!]
The Piper's eyes were bloodshot with rage, but a flicker of fear surfaced within them.
He blew into his flute desperately, but the rats he summoned couldn't even scratch Ethan.
...At the end of the day, he was just a mortal twisted by a curse.
Sasha gazed at the distorted monster. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't equate him with the person in her memories.
Can mortals... truly not enter the land of the dead?
"...When I was little and clumsy, I used to get lost all the time," Sasha whispered, lowering her head. "But no matter where I was, you always found me. You would take my hand and lead me home."
She looked up, her eyes shimmering with tears.
But now, they were filled with resolve.
She suddenly broke into a smile and gripped the scalding torch!
"This time, it's my turn to bring you home, brother."
—Let your suffering soul return to a place of peace and quiet!
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