"Leave it to me."

An old, abandoned house. A dilapidated room showing no signs of recent life, save for a lone, crying girl. It was a suspicious scene by any measure, but Lorraine approached the girl with unwavering confidence.

The girl was still weeping, her face buried in her knees. Stopping a short distance away, Lorraine offered a gentle smile designed to lower a person’s guard.

"Hello?"

The crying stopped.

"What are you doing here? Where are your mom and dad?"

A heavy silence, like the calm before a storm, descended upon the room. Simon swallowed hard, watching. His every instinct screamed to drag Lorraine away, but if she was right and this was a stranded person, they had to help.

-Why.

The girl’s mouth opened.

-Why did you leave only me behind?

"...Huh?"

Hearing that, Lorraine’s expression turned grave.

-Why did you leave only me behind? Why did you leave only me behind? Why did you leave only me behind?

The chilling voice echoed around them. Simon’s face hardened, and Lorraine hesitated for a moment before asking, "Did your mom and dad leave you here?"

-...No.

"Then who?"

The girl, who had been burying her face in her knees, snapped her head up.

"You guys left me behind!"

A monstrous shriek tore from her throat as her mouth gaped open, her dislodged pupils spinning a full 360 degrees.

They say you can’t speak when you’re truly terrified. Simon felt his body and thoughts freeze for a moment. ’It’s a wraith. I have to counterattack...!’

Right then, he felt something soft press against his body.

’?!’

He looked down and saw the top of a black-haired head. ’...L-Lorraine?’

Simon was dumbfounded. It seemed she had jumped without thinking, because she looked just as surprised and quickly pulled away. Then, squeezing her eyes shut, she grabbed his wrist and started running.

With a deep rumble, the house began to collapse. The two of them dove outside just as the abandoned structure crumbled behind them.

"Hah... Hah..."

"Hooo..."

Drenched in cold sweat, they stared at the collapsed house. ’What was that...’

The whole thing felt surreal. Seeing the ghost. Lorraine clinging to him. It all felt like a dream.

"Lorraine, that..."

As Simon started to speak, she shouted urgently, "Run!"

A large hand shot out from the ruins. Using it to prop itself up, the girl from before—now a twisted, zombie-like creature—emerged.

-Why did you leave only me behind? Why did you leave only me behind? Why did you leave only me behind?

"Run, Simon, quickly!"

Simon ran frantically after her. The cold night wind on his face helped him regain some composure. ’If it’s a wraith, I can take it down with my Chaos!’

Simon’s only means of attacking a spirit was the Chaos Spear, but it took time to prepare.

"Simon! Go on ahead!" Lorraine yelled, suddenly stopping. She thrust her hand inside her shirt, found the locket at the end of her choker, and twisted it forward. "I’m worried about Eshe and Toto! I’ll take care of this!"

’Click!’

She released the seal. A red glow flickered in her ruby-like eyes, and her hair billowed into the air, wreathed in crimson-black Jet-Black.

’She’s using her Innate Ability!’

If Lorraine was using her Innate Ability, there was nothing to worry about. Simon turned his back, preparing his Chaos. "I’m counting on you!"

"Okay."

As Simon ran, Lorraine summoned a single dagger from her subspace. It looked like an ordinary weapon, but the eye embedded in its blade marked it as a summon. She channeled the power of her Innate Ability into the dagger.

The blade began to hum, glowing like a crimson flame. Lorraine gracefully adjusted her grip and watched the approaching wraith.

"Hah!"

With a sharp hiss, she lowered her stance and swung the dagger, carving a crimson arc through the air. That was all it took. The wraith’s body was sliced clean through and disintegrated on the spot.

"Don’t tell me...!"

Lorraine’s expression hardened as she watched the last remnants of the spirit fade away.

---

Simon was running frantically. Even in his haste, he focused his concentration, charging his body with Chaos before bursting through the bushes.

"Guys!"

But Eshe and Toto were nowhere to be seen at the meeting spot. They had promised to wait here no matter what.

"Toto! Eshe! Where are you?" he shouted, scanning the area.

In the distance, he heard Eshe’s scream.

"Over there!"

Simon immediately turned and ran toward the sound.

’Ssssss-!’

He hadn’t gone far before he stopped abruptly. The figure of a girl emerged from the bushes.

-Why.

It was the same girl from the abandoned house.

-Why did you leave only me behind?

Simon immediately drew the Chaos Spear from his waist and threw it without a moment’s hesitation. A rough thunderclap shook the air as the purple spear flew, piercing through the girl’s form.

"I got it...!"

Suddenly, Simon’s vision was plunged into darkness. Without a sound, two hands had come from behind him and covered his eyes.

"Why did you leave me behind?"

Simon yelped in surprise and hastily pulled away. Just as he was about to counterattack with another Chaos Spear...

He was met with the sight of a woman trying to stifle her laughter.

’Ahahahaha!’

Simon’s face, which had been tense with shock, flushed red with embarrassment. "Serne!"

It was Serne. Wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, she laughed, her velvet-like hair flying about. "That’s hilarious. That was the second-best expression I’ve seen on your face all year. Ugh."

"What is all this? This is too much for a prank."

Instead of answering, she gave a mischievous smile and approached with light, floating steps. "Hee-hee-hee—"

Then she took Simon’s hand, which was holding the Chaos Spear, and stared at it intently. "So this is Chaos."

"...What?"

"Try throwing it," she said boldly, extending her hand toward the forest. "There’s a target right there, isn’t there?"

The same ghost girl she had just tricked him with was wandering nearby.

Simon let out a deep sigh. Since he had already summoned it, he might as well use it. He readjusted his grip on the Chaos spear and threw it.

Purple lightning shot out. As it touched the girl’s body, the illusion vanished with an impact of scattering feathers.

"...Are you satisfied now?"

"Simon." Serne suddenly stepped closer, meeting his eyes. "You can use Divinity, can’t you?"

The color drained from Simon’s face. Serne gave a meaningful smile, then clasped her hands behind her back and walked lightly. "Actually, I’ve been wondering ever since we fought the Saintess together back in our first year." She wagged her slender index finger. "How was it that you, Simon, were able to take a direct hit from the Saintess’s ’Divine Flame’ and be perfectly fine?"

"Huh..." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"A normal necromancer would have been incinerated in a single blow. So why were you okay?"

This was dangerous. Being able to use Divinity was a completely different problem from his identity as a Legion Commander being revealed. Simon forced himself to remain calm. "I’m not sure what you’re talking about."

She couldn’t have figured it out just by seeing Chaos. Divinity was only a small component of Chaos, and it was mixed with blood. She had to be bluffing. There was no basis for her claim...

"Actually, Future Simon told me."

For a moment, Simon wanted to smack himself in the head.

"Future Simon said that Chaos is just a baby step before using the Void."

Simon felt a tingle run down his neck.

"Teach order to Chaos. When Jet-Black and Divinity are purely fused without any other elements..." she recited, spreading her hands as if creating something, then bringing them together with a ’smack!’ "...a miracle is born."

"Huh..."

"The name of that technique is Void. Future Simon could even change its properties," she finished with a giggle. "Right?"

He couldn’t deny it. And Future Simon wouldn’t have told Serne that for no reason. Simon just nodded silently.

"I think it’s a hint from ’Future Simon’ to ’Present Simon.’ He probably wanted to deliver that message through me." Her cheeks were faintly flushed as she clapped her hands together. "That must mean he thinks of me as someone he can trust, right?"

"...You staged this whole show just to tell me that?"

"That, and..." She stuck out her tongue and made a ghostly face. "Nyah-nyah! ’Why did you leave only me behind?’ I was a little mad, so this was revenge, too."

"...Professor Aaron told us to move with our teams."

"My team is no fun. I want to hang out with Team 10," she pouted.

Just then, Serne tilted her head to the side. A flash of red flickered in the space she had just vacated, and a tree behind her split with a crack. Serne’s fox-like eyes curved into a smile. "My, my. If you use that power so carelessly, won’t your mother give you a spanking?"

’Thud... Thud...’

Lorraine, wreathed in her crimson Innate Ability, was approaching through the darkness. "...You dare trick me?"

"I saw that precious little scene earlier," Serne taunted. She strode over to Simon and collapsed dramatically into his chest. Simon’s face turned red. "Was it like this? Acting all tough in front of Simon, only to be such a mess..."

Sparks flew from Lorraine’s eyes. "You...!"

"Lorraine! Simon!"

Just then, Eshe and Toto’s voices cut through the tension. Lorraine, who had been on the verge of lunging, let out a "Tch!" and bit her lip. She retracted her Innate Ability and locked her locket back in place. A moment later, the two of them came running out. Judging by the twigs and leaves stuck in their hair, they had also been through quite an ordeal.

"Is everyone okay... Huh?"

Both Toto and Eshe’s eyes widened at Serne’s unexpected appearance.

"Ta-da!" Serne clapped her hands. "A training camp isn’t complete without a test of courage, right? It was a fun event, wasn’t it?" She waved her arm, and ghostly figures popped out from all over, comically pretending to sob.

The two, who had been dazed for a moment, finally collapsed in relief.

"Y-You really scared me," Toto said, clutching his chest.

"Wow! It was all an illusion? Hahaha! That was terrifying, but so much fun!" Eshe was practically bouncing, the prank having been perfectly to her taste. Lorraine was clearly annoyed but seemed to be holding it in for the others’ sake.

"Serne! Let’s bring the other kids from our department tomorrow! It’ll be hilarious! They’ll all freak out!"

"Oh, that does sound fun," Serne replied.

Eshe was even getting friendly with Serne. ’She has amazing social skills,’ Simon thought. ’Or maybe Serne has become a little more merciful.’

"Well then." Serne extended a hand. "As an apology, I’ll guide you to the real village. Let’s go."

---

And so, the five of them arrived at an actual village in the Frigod Autonomous Region. Even at night, the market was bustling with energy. They sold a variety of goods, and the currency of the Dark Alliance was accepted. There was, however, one small problem.

"ŀ&^%#%!"

"&#^%&?"

They couldn’t understand the language. Eshe stepped forward to try. "I want to buy some carrots. Where should I go?"

"Ⳗ&%!"

"What did you say?"

"%^ⴶ&Ⳗ&%!!"

"Hey, why are you getting mad!"

Lorraine smiled and pulled Eshe back. Serne plucked a feather from her hair. "There’s a very easy way, you know."

"...Don’t," Simon said with a sigh. It seemed they would have to communicate through gestures to buy their groceries. He also planned to procure the necessary supplies for their Dullahan project here.

"Oh! Over there!" Toto pointed. "It’s Aseraz’s team!"

"Really?"

Everyone’s gaze shifted. They could indeed see Aseraz’s Team 8 in the market. For some reason, White was with them, too.

"Looks like everyone came to this village," Toto muttered, then looked at Simon. "What’s wrong, Simon?"

"No, it’s nothing," Simon replied, breaking into a cold sweat. He had just spotted a blue-haired boy behind Aseraz’s team as they passed.

’What is that idiot doing?’

A boy who looked exactly like Simon was following White.