From Kaiser's Perspective:
The sun had barely finished rising over the horizon when I cracked my eyes open.
Golden rays seeped through the wooden panels of the cabin, the scent of pine still hanging in the air. Morning had arrived—quiet and unbothered. Not like last night.
I stretched in the chair by the window, my spine cracking like firewood under weight. A deep exhale escaped my lungs.
Then I turned to see Lucas passed out on the table.
Drool? Check.
Arm hanging off like a corpse? Check.
Snoring like a dying animal? Definitely check.
After all we talked about last night—the crests, Elfie, hell itself—this guy just sleeps like he's on vacation. Typical.
What a hassle.
I moved through the cabin, each footstep light, silent. Habit. You never know when the world decides it hates you again. Walking past the creaky boards and scuffed floors, I reached the hallway when I saw her.
Celia.
Standing by the window, bathed in soft morning light. Her long silver-white hair danced gently with the wind. Her posture was relaxed… almost too relaxed.
Her head tilted slightly when she noticed me.
"Good morning," she said sweetly, with that tiny smile that always looked a little too innocent.
"Good morning," I replied, walking over.
I noticed the bandages were gone.
She followed my gaze and gently tapped her arm. "Took them off a little while ago. Used cursed magic to speed up the healing. The scar's fading too. I'll get rid of it soon."
I nodded. "Not bad. Guess all that crying paid off."
She pouted at that, of course.
I sat across from her, watching how proud she looked, her lips curled in a satisfied smirk.
"Look at you, Miss World. Relax, we're not going to war."
She giggled, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Says the guy who was bandaged for two weeks."
"Touche."
After that, I brought up what Lucas and I discussed last night. Told her everything, without skipping a detail. The beasts. The soul crests. The risks.
She didn't interrupt me once.
When I finished, she just nodded—calm, collected, not even blinking. Then with a soft voice, she said,
"I'll join you."
No hesitation. No questions.
I frowned slightly, leaning forward. "Why so willing?"
The breeze passed through the cabin, lifting her white hair like petals in a storm. She smiled, eyes glimmering like starlight.
"Because I'll be there with you, Kai. I'll go anywhere… as long as you're there."
I blinked.
A moment passed.
"…Clingy girl."
"Hmph!" she puffed, turning her head with the sass of a school girl.
"I'm not clingy! I'm just caring for you! Without me you'd get kidnapped again or get hurt!"
"First of all," I grinned, "You think I'm stupid enough to get hurt again?"
"You fell into my heart pretty quickly," she replied smugly.
I paused.
Okay, fair.
"You sure you're not trying to make me yours before the hunt beings?" I teased.
Her face flushed instantly.
"W-WHAT?! N-No! I just…!" She stumbled, lightly slapping my arm. "Stop saying things like that, idiot!"
"Oh? But didn't you say I was handsome when I was bleeding that one time?"
"I—I DID NOT!"
"You said my injuries made me look dramatic. Like a prince cursed by fate."
"Stop—!" she smacked my arm again, blushing furiously.
I grinned wider and leaned closer, whispering, "Should I get injured more then? So nurse Celia can take care of me~"
"Kaiser!" she yelled, flustered as hell.
I stood up, casually backing away with a smirk. "Too late, I'm already planning everything.."
"I will end you—!" she grabbed a pillow and hurled it at my face with demon-level strength.
I twisted to dodge.
Thwump.
"GAHHH—" Lucas shouted from the table as the pillow smacked him square in the face.
He shot up, half-asleep, hair spiked, looking betrayed by the universe. "Bro! What'd I do?!"
I gave him a thumbs up. "Wrong place, wrong time."
Celia just blinked at him. "Oops?"
Lucas rubbed his face. "You two are finished."
I should've known something was off the second Lucas smirked.
With one dramatic flick of his wrist, he summoned two pillows from thin air like he was casting a forbidden spell.
"Revenge time," he declared like a battle cry, and hurled them at us.
I tilted my head to the left, letting the pillow skim past my ear with perfect precision. Celia, on the other hand, whipped her arm back. A black cursed chain burst from her shadow, snagging the pillow midair like it owed her money.
Then—with that cute little scowl on her face—she reeled it back and launched it at Lucas with double the speed. "Take that!"
"Seriously?!" Lucas yelped, barely jumping in time.
He spun midair, channeling wind magic around the pillow to redirect it right back at her.
Celia twisted her body gracefully, her chain circling around her like a cursed ribbon. It grabbed the pillow mid-flight, wrapped around her arm like a spring, and she flung it again, even harder this time.
Lucas grinned. "You're asking for it."
He did the same, now using multiple gusts to curve it mid-air.
I stood there, deadpan.
"…I did not party up with these two just to watch them host a high-level pillow war."
"You'll pay for throwing one at me!" Lucas shouted, already preparing another.
"Yeah? I'll do it again!" Celia snapped, summoning yet another one and firing it like a cannon.
…Interesting.
Ten minutes. Ten full minutes of cackling chaos, air magic, cursed chains, twirls, dodges, and an ungodly number of pillow casualties.
The cabin looked like a warzone. Feathers floated through the air like it had snowed indoors.
Both of them sat slumped on the floor, backs to each other, breathing heavily. Celia's bangs were messy, Lucas's shirt was halfway off his shoulder. They looked like they'd just survived a world-ending raid.
"You two done yet?" I asked casually, arms folded.
Both turned their heads toward me, too breathless to even speak.
I smirked. "How adorable."
Their eyes narrowed.
Lucas pointed at me dramatically. "Celia… let's team up to hunt this guy."
Celia nodded with surprising conviction. "He annoys me too."
Oh. Shit.
I turned, calmly at first.
Then I RAN out of the cabin.
"GET BACK HERE!" they screamed in unison.
I leapt over the railing, flipping off the side and hitting the ground with perfect balance. Lucas jumped after me, wind launching him faster, while Celia ran like a damn curse-fueled storm.
Pillows whizzed past me.
He was still summoning them out of thin air?!
Dodging left and right through the trees, I smirked to myself. They didn't know.
They forgot who I was.
I tapped the trigger mark on a hidden rune etched into the side of a tree trunk.
Snap.
"Wha—AHH!" Celia yelped as a net trap swung down and snatched her mid-sprint. Her arms were pinned and her legs kicked furiously as she dangled upside down like a very cute, very angry bat.
"Kaiser!" she yelled, face red. "You monster!"
Lucas didn't even look back.
"Can't slow down! I'm almost on his tail—!"
CRACK.
The ground beneath him gave way. His eyes widened. "No—"
Thud.
Right into a pit trap.
"YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME—"
I stood at the edge of the pit, hands in my pockets, staring down at him with the most smug grin I could muster.
Lucas glared up, pillow still in hand. "You're a cheater."
I turned my head toward Celia, still struggling in the net. "You good up there?"
"I swear, when I get out of this I'm gonna—!"
"Love me more? I know."
She growled.
I dusted my hands off and looked up at the sky. Peaceful morning, again.
Some call me the E-Ranker. Others, a dirty tactician.
But to them?
I'm just that annoying bastard who always wins.
The sun had fully risen by now—warm golden rays cutting through the trees and painting the edge of the cabin in orange. Around 9 AM. Still early, but after the chaos of last night and the war that broke out between cursed pillow strikes and wind-enhanced throws… yeah, breakfast sounded real good.
I sat at the wooden table with Lucas and Celia. We hadn't said much. Just the peaceful kind of silence that comes from knowing you're not alone.
Then—growl.
My stomach betrayed me.
"…Man, I'm hungry," I muttered, stretching lazily with a sigh.
Suddenly—ggrrrkkk.
Celia blinked rapidly, her cheeks tinting red. "That wasn't me."
Lucas raised an eyebrow, arms crossed, leaning back with that smug look. "Heh. Seems like you two are hungry."
I looked at him. "Yeah? What're you gonna do about it? Go hunting?"
Lucas leaned in with a grin that instantly made me suspicious. "You don't know me very well, do you?"
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out… three pieces of thickly folded paper.
Celia and I glanced at each other.
"What is this?" I asked.
"Open it," Lucas said, handing us each one and keeping one for himself.
"…Is this another trap?" Celia said, poking it.
"No, it's edible. Probably."
"Probably?" I echoed.
Lucas didn't wait. With a dramatic flare, he unwrapped his—layer after layer after layer. I swear it had more folds than a cursed contract. And then—
Out of thin air… a steaming cup of tea and a perfect slice of strawberry cake appeared in his hand.
I stared, eyes wide. "What the hell—?!"
Celia blinked so fast I thought her eyes might glitch. "Is that… real?"
Lucas took a slow, smug bite of the cake and sipped the tea with his pinky up like a damn noble. "I told you. I'm the Strongest sorcerer. You're both lucky to be teamed up with me."
Celia opened hers, carefully unfolding the paper, and just like that—cake and tea. She didn't even question it, just took a bite.
"Mmm… not bad. You're a good maid. You can provide us nice breakfasts every morning."
I leaned back and tapped my chin. "Yeah, you might wanna quit sorcery. You've got real potential. Help the poor. Pass out magic paper breakfasts."
Lucas glared at us, deadpan. "You two are pushing it."
I opened mine with one hand, slowly—half expecting it to explode. But nope, there it was. Warm tea and perfectly intact chocolate cake. I blinked, shook the paper, checked under the table.
"I hate how convenient this is."
We dug in.
Celia hummed softly with each bite, occasionally sneaking glances at me. Her smile was soft. Relaxed. Maybe even… happy.
Lucas muttered something about how we were freeloaders, but I caught the grin behind his sarcasm.
"You didn't poison this, right?" I teased.
Lucas rolled his eyes. "Not yet."
I held up my tea. "To us. The Queen of Curses, the E-Rank, and the Magical Maid."
Lucas threw his fork at me. Celia snorted, laughing with her mouth full.
It was quiet again for a moment. Birds chirping. Leaves rustling. Three strange people, stuck between trying to save celestine and find their purpose.
And yet… for a fleeting second, it felt like peace.
"I could get used to this," I muttered.
Celia nodded with a smile. "Me too."
Lucas looked at us, took another bite, and smirked.
"Next time I'm charging you both rent for this."
The cake was gone. The tea, lukewarm now, sat untouched in front of Celia. Her fingers played with the rim of the cup, eyes lowered in thought.
Lucas leaned back on his chair, arms crossed, his usual sarcastic grin replaced with something more calculating.
We were no longer in our morning peace.
"Alright," Lucas began, finally breaking the silence. "So, where do we start with hunting the Leviathan?"
Celia looked between us, confused. "I don't know much about it. I've only heard… rumors."
"That's all most people have," I said. "Rumors and graves."
Lucas nodded. "Leviathan—the Earth Womb. A centipede-like monster buried beneath the continent's roots. Long enough to wrap around an entire city if it wanted. Its armor? Completely impervious to magic. And those that tried close combat?"
He glanced at Celia. "No remains left."
"That's why they call it the Silent Reaper," I added. "Anyone who hears its movements… doesn't get the chance to run."
Celia went still. "I remember now… Kaiser remember the monster that saved the Silent Executioner a while back. When Ronan and Kiel were trying to hurt me?" She frowned, brow furrowed. "I assumed it was a spell technique… But it might've been Leviathan. I felt like it rose from the east when it arrived."
"Interesting... It could've came from the West?" Lucas muttered. "That checks out. Most sightings were around there. Forests near the collapsed ruins of old Kingdoms. Whole terrain shifts have been blamed on it."
"That's because it doesn't move like a monster," I said. "It swims through the earth like it's water. Its movements create tremors that collapse valleys, shatter rivers, devour whole ecosystems. It's not just big."
Celia looked stunned. "Then how are we supposed to find something like that?"
Lucas leaned forward. "We can't. Not directly. But—if it's being controlled by someone, or manipulated... that changes things."
I nodded. "The Cult of Nemesis."
Celia blinked. "What's that?"
Lucas's tone dropped. "A four-century-old cult. Originating after the Great Divide War. Their leader's name… no one knows. They've left no survivors, no evidence, only history. They've hit every major nation at least once—Asura, Valerion, even Celestine."
Her eyes widened. "You mean… they were behind the fall of Valerion's southern fortress? The collapse of the Starspire Towers?"
"Exactly," Lucas said. "Strategic, silent, religious cultists who believe the world must be 'returned to chaos' through the rebirth of ancient monsters."
"They've had dealings with Leviathan before," I added. "Ritualistic marks found on crushed city remains… They weren't made by humans. They're left like warnings—like the cult is saying: 'We control what you fear.'"
Celia's voice dropped to a whisper. "Then… if we find them… we can find Leviathan."
"Easier said than done," Lucas sighed. "They don't leave trails. No names. They burn their dead, erase their paper trails, and only act through proxies. Even their magic isn't traceable. Half of their mages use dead languages to cast."
"They're ghosts," I said simply.
"But," Celia said, tapping her finger against the table, "if Leviathan is moving—and it's been seen near the west—then it must've left something."
Lucas gave a rare approving nod. "Exactly. The beast is too big not to leave marks. Sinkholes. Unnatural soil density. Crops dying above unseen tunnels. We could track tremor data from the villages west of Lumerith."
"...Lumerith?" Celia asked.
"One of the frontier towns between Celestine and the no-man's region west of the demon border," I explained. "Most avoid it. It's lawless, mostly scavengers, exiled mercs, and desperate guilds."
"That's where we start," Lucas said.
Celia narrowed her eyes. "But if the cult has already taken control of Leviathan again… won't they be watching the area too?"
"They will," I said calmly. "But if they're watching… that means we're close."
Lucas smirked. "Sounds like fun."
"No," I said, standing. "It sounds like death."
"But it's death worth chasing," Celia said quietly. "If it's to protect you."
Lucas snorted. "And here I thought you were the most sane one here."
Celia smiled sweetly. "I'm only sane for him."
I looked out the window, past the treetops and the distance beyond.
A monster beneath the earth. A cult in the shadows. And a girl staring at me like I was her whole world.
Yeah. Just another day in Celestine.
"Anyways," I said, shifting my weight as I pushed up from my chair, "we'll be heading toward Lumerith… but before that, you two will need your adventuring passes. Without them, you can't legally cross into the lawless border."
Lucas and Celia exchanged looks. Both raised an eyebrow.
"Adventuring pass?" Celia asked, tilting her head slightly.
Lucas took over, like the nerdy system-infected sorcerer he is. "It's an official license, basically. Judges your skills, combat ability, magic control, and potential. You get ranked from E—the bottom tier—to S-rank, which means you can solo disaster-level threats. You need a pass to operate in most major zones, especially Celestine's dangerous ones."
Celia's eyes sparkled. "Woah… that sounds kind of cool."
Then she looked right at me.
"So… why are you E-rank?"
Lucas leaned forward, both eyebrows raised. "Yeah, seriously. I figured you'd be... I dunno, beyond S-rank? Like, what are you doing in E?"
I sighed, leaning against the table. "Man… I'm just an E-rank nobody. Nothing special. I can think a little. Set traps. Outsmart idiots. That's about it."
They both stared.
Celia blinked once. Lucas narrowed his eyes like I just insulted his bloodline.
"…Alright, fine," I muttered, waving it off. "But it's not about me. It's about you two."
"We'll be heading to Sylvaris."
Celia turned toward me. "Why there?"
"Sylvaris is one of the evaluation cities. It's neutral, has a private adventuring guild under the Astral Order. Known as Requiem. You two can get assessed without dealing with the Red Insignias or Demonkind barrier laws."
"And I've got… something I need to do there too," I added.
Lucas smirked. "Lemme guess. You're gonna meet Sylvia there?"
My eyes snapped to him.
Bro.
Don't.
You.
Dare.
Celia's head whipped toward me. "Who's Sylvia?"
My jaw tightened. I stared at Lucas, mentally pleading for mercy. His grin widened. The guy lived for this.
Lucas put a hand on Celia's shoulder and said, "Celia. You see, Kaiser and Sylvia are… very close friends. Very… very… very—"
Celia's hand twitched on the table. Her smile dropped.
"Kaiser." Her voice was sweet. "Who. Is. She?"
I raised both hands in surrender. "She's just an old friend. From the past. That's it. Really. She's going to help evaluate your ranks and—"
"What kind of relationship? Do. You. Two. Have?"
It was no longer a question. Her tone dropped, and I felt it. The air… got heavier.
The cursed energy around the cabin spiked. My skin prickled.
Lucas's chair screeched back.
He winked at me. "Welp! Good luck, lil bro. Gonna go check my mana levels—bye!"
And the traitor vanished, slipping through the side door without a trace.
…He left me.
That absolute snake.
"Kaiser. Answer. Me."
I exhaled. Slowly. "She's just an old friend, Celia. Nothing romantic. She helped me during a rough time. That's all."
She stared. Quiet for a moment. Her face relaxed again into her usual expression—sweet, kind, bright-eyed.
"…Is that so? Alright then," she said, smiling as if nothing had happened.
"I'll go get a few things ready before we leave for Sylvaris. See you in a bit~"
She waved, turned, and walked out.
Interesting.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
I slumped back into my chair, hand rubbing the side of my face.
That smile…
It wasn't something normal.
It was a warning.
"…I'm gonna die someday, aren't I?" I muttered to myself.
Still—Sylvaris was next. Leviathan's trail wouldn't stay cold forever. The hunt begins soon. But first… I might need to ask Lucas to not get her jealous again.
From Rose's Perspective:
I sat quietly in my chambers, the scent of white chrysanthemum tea gently lingering beneath my breath. Its warmth didn't reach my heart, though—it hadn't in years. Through the wide-paneled glass of my imperial balcony, the capital stretched beneath me like a painted tapestry—sharp rooftops glowing gold under the rise of dawn, spires crowned in crimson silk, and the grand obsidian walls of Asura veined with immortal runes.
A realm built on order, ambition, and my iron hand.
My empire.
A knock came at the door, precise and hesitant.
"Enter," I said softly, not turning.
The noble knight stepped inside and bowed respectfully, hand across his chest. "Your Majesty. A letter arrived… from the Celestial Kingdom."
My gaze finally left the skyline. Celestial Kingdom? How tiresome.
Still, I accepted the scroll, its seal still untouched. I cracked it open.
"The next ruler of the Celestial Kingdom shall be chosen soon among the four siblings. The Kingdom wishes for a representative of the Asura Empire to witness the ceremony…"
I closed it.
"Shall I pen your refusal, Your Majesty?" the knight asked cautiously, already expecting what had been tradition for years.
I had never once attended foreign selection events. Too beneath me.
But this time...
"No," I said gently. "Tell them I will come."
He blinked, startled. But he bowed without a word and exited.
I turned again toward my empire, cupping the tea.
Stone bridges sliced through clear rivers. The crimson-leafed Thornspire trees swayed gently with the wind above the city squares. Courtyards roared with early merchant cries and the temple bells of Yurei's flame cult chimed in intervals across the higher sectors.
The imperial palace towered at the city's heart—white marble, eternal flames dancing on its roof, and beneath it... the black archives.
The heart of Asura. The legacy of the warborn. And mine to protect.
But the moment my eyes narrowed toward the horizon, it wasn't Asura I thought of.
It was him.
Kaiser.
Of course, you'll be there. The final selection of Celestia's crown… it's the perfect hunting ground for you.
You're chasing the Cult of Nemesis, aren't you? Not out of heart. Not for some noble cause.
But vengeance.
I sipped my tea again and allowed the thoughts to flow—the deductions I had been calculating for days now.
You manipulated every guild into repositioning, forced the battlefield into Rinascita—a town that was never meant to bear that kind of war. You risked hundreds of lives… for bait. To lure the cult out of the shadows.
You outplayed the Crimson Eclipse and even turned Valhala into pawns.
You even tried to go against Adonis. I didn't think you'd be reckless enough to engage him directly. But you didn't just fight.
You wiped his entire squad mercilessly.
He hasn't sent a report since.
That… was unfortunate. I quite liked Adonis.
You saved that cursed girl. Used her loyalty. Used Lucas. Used the guilds. Used Rinascita.
All for your vengeance. All for her.
You lost Elfina because of the cult's interference during the Asura Crisis.
So now… you've sworn to burn them to the ground.
And you're doing it with surgical precision.
28 confirmed crisis events in Celestine over the past two years... not a single one completed.
Suppressed in the shadows.
All by your hand. Alone.
You stopped them all, didn't you?
What a marvel of obsession.
You're using others as pawns. Manipulating the board.
But I see the real reason you'll attend the coronation.
Because the cult will act. Because the ruler change in Celestia is their moment of chaos.
And that chaos… is your trap.
You'll be there to mark names. To add new "pieces" to your game.
You'll smile. Bow. Shake hands.
But you'll be just finding your next easy prey to manipulate and use.
Calculating. Always calculating.
I stood from my chair, walking slowly toward the balcony edge.
We'll meet there, dear brother.
This time...
I'll win.
I'll take everything from you.
Because unlike you, I wasn't born inferior. I wasn't cursed into perfection.
You're a self-engineered anomaly. The lone survivor of the Second Generation of Decay.
A false genius—your mind sharpened by adaptability, not brilliance.
And as your sister… I can read you better than anyone.
I'll carve your truth apart with a smile.
"I'll keep your grave prepared, Kaiser," I whispered.
Then I smiled—graceful, composed, villainous—as the rising sun bathed my empire in bloodlight.
Perspective: Lucas (1st Person)
Finally got everything prepped.
I sat on the edge of the bed, exhaled slowly, and stretched out my arms like I was about to run a marathon—not because I needed it, but because it looked cool. The morning air was sharp through the cracks of the old cabin wood.
Kaiser was yelling my name from outside, probably ready to throw us into another near-death bonding experience.
"Coming!" I called back.
Not really.
I flicked my finger, and my Status Menu popped up, hovering in front of me like a hologram made of magic.
Status Menu
Name: Lucas
Class: Supreme Sorcerer
Level: 21
Age: 15
Attributes – 0 Left
Strength: 12
Agility: 15
Endurance: 10
Perception: 15
Intelligence: 13
Mana: 16
Divine Creation: 5
Skills
Light-Elemental Magic
Mana Control (Lv. 4)
Divine Protection: Fate
Divine Protection: Chaos
Divine Protection: Adaptive Venom Synthesis
Lightstep II: 175% Speed Boost
Visionary Sight: Perfect Dark Vision
Divine Protection: Poison Nullification
Divine Protection: Grotesque Slaughterer
Notes
HP: 1000/1000
MP: 1400/1400
「All stat points allocated. You're ready now, gangster.」
Thanks, System. You're really making me feel like I'm about to drop a mixtape, not fight a god-tier centipede.
But before I walked into another 'casual' deathtrap with Kaiser and Miss Yandere, I leaned back and sighed.
"System, assess something for me."
「Go on. I already feel my processor regretting this.」
"I wanna know how I stack up. Just... my top 5 skills. Be honest."
The system took a moment before a wall of text dropped in front of my eyes.
Top 5 Skills – Analysis: Lucas
#1. Adaptive Spell Control –
The ability to cast multiple elemental and celestial-based magics in silent succession while modifying their structure in real time. Lucas creates unseen combinations and manipulates them through creative, physics-defying spell blueprints on the fly. Battle IQ ranked at Tier-Synthetic. Precision: 98.7%.
#2. Divine Protection: Fate –
A literal manipulation of probabilities. Lucas can cause the improbable to occur with high emotional strain and situational clarity. May reduce fatal encounters into slim survivals. Dangerous if emotionally unstable.
#3. Rapid Integration –
Lucas's unique magic/mind synchronization enables him to master new spells within seconds, adapting his elemental repertoire through instinct and prediction. Includes battlefield simulations performed within the subconscious.
#4. Range & Proximity Dual Combat –
Lucas can switch between long-range light magic and close-quarter sorcery using Lightstep and spatial anchoring light daggers. He performs evasive footwork while casting silent spells. Efficiency calculated at 94.3% under pressure.
#5. Divine Layering –
Stacking multiple Divine Protections for situational enhancement. At present, 5 Divine Protections active. Most mages can handle 1 or 2. Lucas carries them like extra limbs. Risk of mental backlash: 2%. Flex Rating: Max.
「Conclusion: You're a walking paradox. You improvise at S-tier and pretend you have a plan. You don't. You just figure it out as you go. Scary. Disgusting. I'm proud.」
Damn. That sounded cooler than I thought. Guess I really am him.
"Alright. What about Celia?" I asked.
The room dimmed slightly as the system shifted tone, more serious now.
「Evaluating observed data… Celia analysis—compiled from live combat scenarios, especially Swarm Tyrant engagement.」
Top 5 Skills – Analysis: Celia
#1. Demonic Adaptability –
Celia learns enemy attack patterns at hyper-speed, adjusting her cursed energy output and movements mid-combat. She mimics aspects of enemy skills and uses her cursed chains to replicate effects.
#2. Element-Curse Synergy –
Her chains can be linked with elemental attributes, enabling hybrid-style magic. Earthquake Chains. Flame Binds. Frost Piercers. Her attacks are personalized, aggressive, and designed to maim instantly.
#3. Cursed Regeneration –
Her cursed energy sustains regenerative cycles that actively heal wounds without interrupting her casting. Capable of regenerating while moving at full speed. Efficiency: 100%. Recovery Threshold Unknown.
#4. Infinite Curse Reservoir (Unconfirmed) –
Data during extended combat suggests her cursed mana has no ceiling. System did not detect a depletion state during high-intensity events. Further observation required.
#5. Deathcraft Detonation –
Her strongest attacks blend suicidal curse energy with trigger-bound devastation. Able to sacrifice her own blood/magic to amplify a cursed explosion capable of melting high-tier monsters. Usage Probability: Low. Emotional Trigger Needed.
「Conclusion: She is a menace. If she was any more in love with Kaiser, she'd turn into a continent-wide fear. Recommend avoiding romantic entanglement. And not standing too close when she is angry.」
I blinked. Damn.
Yandere with infinite mana and chains?
What is this, a boss fight simulator?
Still... I couldn't help but smirk.
"Guess we're not so weak after all, huh?"
「Lucas. You three are one bad decision away from becoming an apocalypse. I love it.」
I stood up, hearing Kaiser's voice again.
Alright. Showtime.
As I stepped outside the cabin, the sunlight brushed against my skin, warm and honest—completely opposite of everything this journey was about to become.
I paused for a second, glancing back at the old walls. The laughter. The stupid pillow fights. The cake. The teasing. The damn paper-tea magic trick.
A moment of peace.
But then reality returned—like a blade sliding between ribs.
"…System," I muttered. "Before we go… assess Kaiser for me."
Silence.
A full five seconds passed before I heard the answer.
「…Difficult request.」
"What? Why?"
「He hasn't revealed his true potential yet. Most of his capabilities are locked, sealed, or veiled in layers I can't analyze directly. His mind is fog. But I can pull his historical combat and decision records from two years ago—during his time in the Asura Academy.」
"That's fine." I braced myself.
「Analyzing Kaiser: 3rd-Year Archive Pull... Compiling Data.」
Top 5 Threat Parameters – Kaiser
#1: Flawless Memory & Flawless Decision-Making
From Day 1 of the Academy, Kaiser displayed a photographic memory and unshakable cognitive control. During the Year 1 Finals—Island Survival Arc—he manipulated his entire class into sacrificing themselves to protect one girl: Elfina Lunaris. She alone survived, perfectly untouched. Not out of luck.
「He sacrificed 29 lives. For one. No hesitation. That wasn't love. That was cold calculation in the name of caring. I still get processor lag thinking about it.」
#2: Mind Reader
Kaiser can read people down to their speech rhythm. During Year 2, he predicted your battle strategy without magic, facial cues, or even body language. Just speech pattern shifts. He dissects emotion like a surgeon. There is no hiding from him.
「I process 300 terabytes per second. And he figured out your plan before I did. That's... terrifying.」
#3: Magical Excellence
Though he has no magic of his own, Kaiser can deconstruct and analyze nearly every magical type he encounters. Strengths. Weaknesses. Casting behavior. Reaction delay. He creates natural counters—calculating win conditions with brutal, mechanical clarity.
「He's not a mage. But I'd trust him to teach magic over 99.99% of archwizards. His brain is like mine, except he has a soul. And it's twisted.」
#4: Absolute Physical Dominance
During the 2nd Year Final Exams, Kaiser fought an entire class—24 elite trainees—alone. He didn't hold back. He fought with a mixture of over 13 martial arts forms, paired with aerial acrobatics, ground control, and precision limb breaking.
Weapons he is proficient with:
Daggers
Swords
Twin Blades
Tonfas
Staffs
Chain Sickle
Chakrams
Throwing Needles
Whipblade
「He has no magic. But his body moves like he's sculpted for malice. His pressure alone makes other systems glitch.」
#5: Marionettist
Kaiser sees people as Dolls. Strings. And he's the angel that pulls them. He speaks with just the right tone to inspire loyalty—or fear. Whatever benefits him. During Year 3, he declared war on every student in the academy… including Elfina. We may not know his agenda behind it, but he can be heartless when it comes to his goals.
「He used the Rinascita war to gather everyone. Played savior. Used the Guilds. Used You. Used Celia. Even sacrificed hundreds to make the cult of Nemisis show themselves. All for his goals.」
「He's the only being I've analyzed that rivals me in calculation. And… he's your only path forward. No one else is capable of hunting the Primordials with you.」
I swallowed dry.
Yeah. I already knew that.
Kaiser wasn't someone who saw people as people.
He doesn't love like others do. He protects like a madman. And if Elfie's life is the reward, he'll do anything to bring her back.
I sighed, long and slow.
"I really signed a contract with the devil, didn't I?"
「Worse. You signed with the anomaly.」
Just then, I met them near the edge of the trees. Kaiser, arms folded, unreadable as ever. Celia beside him, smiling too sweetly to be harmless.
Kaiser looked at me with those quiet blue eyes, then finally spoke:
"Let's begin then."
And just like that—we walked.
The three of us. Me. The Queen of Curses. And the E-Rank Anomaly.
Side by side. Into a journey that would dictate the fate of Celestine... and the future of the world.
And maybe—
just maybe—
Rewrite it.
Kaiser's Perspective:
The dirt crunched under my boots as I moved beside them—Lucas to my left, Celia on my right. Sunlight bled through the thin clouds above, and the wind rolled gently through the trees.
I walked. But my mind wandered.
Aldric. Arius.
They weren't just puppets. I gave them just enough individuality. Crafted from my consciousness, they were fragments—personas built to confuse fate itself. Pieces of me, fractured with purpose.
Yet…
They didn't act like me when it came to her.
Both of them—cold and calculative—broke character. Obsessively protecting Celia. Like she was something precious. Something… irreplaceable.
They even saw glimpses of her.
Of Elfie.
It wasn't just coincidence. No, fate didn't play dice with me. I'd long since shattered those games.
My gaze drifted toward Celia.
She tilted her head and smiled—small, innocent, like nothing dark had ever touched her soul. Her red eyes shimmered like blood-lit rubies, and her snowy-white hair flowed beneath the morning sun like silk caught in a gentle blaze.
Beautiful.
But I wasn't fooled.
Behind that softness…
Something rots.
Elfie was possessive, yes. She'd hurt others to keep me safe, do anything to keep me. But even then—she had a gentleness. A morality I could still trace.
Celia?
She'll kill them.
No hesitation.
Anyone who tries to pull me away from her?
Gone. Erased. Smiled through.
It's not love. It's obsession carved from abandonment and stitched together by the only person who ever held her hand.
Me.
That's what I am to her—not a person.
A reason for her to live.
And even I feel a chill when she stares too long.
That smile she wears like a mask… sometimes it doesn't feel like she's hiding anything.
It feels like everything else is fake.
A girl broken by a cursed world. Rebuilt by love she never thought she'd get.
Now willing to destroy that same world just to keep it.
Between me and Lucas… she has the highest probability of world-ending behavior.
No contest.
I glance at her again—she's still smiling, a little blush painting her cheeks now as our eyes meet.
Her reaction's almost too perfect.
So I winked.
She stiffens, eyes widening like I just told her I loved her. A heartbeat later she turns away, hiding the red on her cheeks with a little puff of her hair.
Still…
She's always soft around me. Always too cute.
Maybe she really does only care for me.
Maybe she really does hate everyone else.
Wouldn't surprise me.
"Fear of Celestine…" I muttered under my breath, gaze drifting to the road ahead.
"…might not be the Primordials after all."
Celia glanced at me, curious. I just smiled.
Celia.
Ending of Curses.
Let's hope you don't live up to the title.
Because if you do…
Even I might not have prepared for that.
Celia's Perspective:
Hmph.
Kaiser really winked at me.
Right after saying another woman's name earlier at the cabin.
Old friend, huh?
Liar.
I should skin her alive. Maybe hang her pretty head from the highest tree.
I already want her gone.
Ugh, I swear if one more woman tries to even smile at him, I'll rip her eyes out with a rusted fork and feed her heart to Crownless.
He's mine. Mine.
I already lost him once when he went with Emma that day.
Smiling with her.
I'll never forgive that. Never.
I clenched my hands tighter, nails digging into my palm as I walked. My curse energy pulsed gently under my skin, eager. Hungry.
I won't let him go alone again.
Not even once. I don't care if it's just to buy something necessary.
The moment I'm not there, someone else might try to take him again.
Emma was a mistake. I trusted. I smiled. I let him go with her.
And when I saw him not return, almost being killed by a grotesque…
That was the last time.
Some part of me still wants to punish her.
To break her fingers one by one… and see if she ever touches another man again.
Heh...
I don't know why it's becoming so easy to think like that.
Killing someone used to sound scary. Wrong. Now it's just a matter of how and when.
I look up to my side—and see him.
Kaiser.
He's looking forward, eyes fixed on the trail, but then glances at me with those stupid, perfect blue eyes and smiles.
Oh... my heart.
I'll kill the world if it means those eyes stay on me. Forever.
Then I glance to the left.
Lucas.
He's walking close to Kaiser…
I don't mind him. Not really.
He's… different. A bit strange, but he doesn't look like he'll be a waste of space. And he's smart.
Maybe I'll pry more from him later. I'm sure he knows things I don't. Especially that he knows Kaiser's past.
But then—I saw it.
A wagon.
A dumb wooden wagon coming from the other direction. Pulled by two plain horses.
Nothing strange, right?
Wrong.
The driver was a girl.
Black hair. Pale skin. Maybe 19. Pretty.
Oh hell no.
I glanced at Kaiser.
Please, Kai. Don't say anything. Just walk past her. You don't need to talk.
You have me. Why talk to anyone else?
But then—
"I'll ask her for directions," he said casually.
NO.
"Excuse me, miss," he said, stepping forward.
I held my breath. My hands curled.
The girl turned her head. She smiled back at him. A full smile.
What the hell is she smiling for?!
"Y-Yes? Can I help you?" she asked sweetly.
Kaiser spoke again. "Are you coming from Sylvaris?"
She nodded. "Yes, I am. Just left the city a few hours ago."
"Thanks for telling me that. Oh, you look beautiful, miss. What's your name?"
…
FUCK. NO.
Her name?! He asked for her name?!
He smiled. She smiled. I watched his lips twitch.
…Crownless. Go.
From beneath my feet, a thin ripple of cursed shadow slithered like a whisper through the earth.
And then—CRACK.
The left wagon wheel snapped, splinters flying, the cart leaning. The girl screamed, toppling sideways.
Lucas moved quickly, catching her with a gust of wind and his arms.
Of course he did. Gentleman behavior.
Kaiser moved forward to help too—But I had already grabbed his arm.
My hand, around his. Mine.
He turned to me, confused.
I smiled gently. Sweet. Lovely.
"Lucas can take care of her," I said. "Don't worry."
"…Uhh. Sure?"
I wrapped my other hand around his arm. Tight. Possessive.
"I'm a little scared, Kai. I think there's a monster around here… the one that broke the wheel." I said with a pout.
His eyes softened immediately.
He squeezed my hand gently, his voice warm. "I think so too. Stay close to me, okay?"
I nodded.
"Protect me, okay?" I said softly, moving a little closer to him.
He nodded again. "Always."
I looked over his shoulder—straight at her.
The dumb girl still in Lucas's arms, looking this way.
Smiling like nothing happened.
I smiled back.
Enjoy standing, sweetheart. Because I'm breaking your legs next.
And I'll make sure Kaiser never even hears your name again.
Just then, I felt Kaiser gently nudge my forehead with his.
I looked up—he was smiling again.
I melted a little inside.
He really does care for me.
He's always cared for me.
And no one else deserves even a second of him.
Only me.
After a few minutes, Lucas bent down and started fixing the broken wheel.
Of course he did it easily, like magic.
Tch. Show-off.
The girl stood nearby—too close—brushing dirt off her arms.
When Lucas finished, she smiled.
She blushed.
"Oh… thank you so much," she said sweetly.
Lucas smiled, ever the gentleman. "It was my pleasure. Stay safe on the road."
Ugh. Lucas, please—She nodded, but then… she turned her head.
Right. At. My. Kaiser.
You. Bitch.
Don't look at him.
Kaiser moved a step forward, opening his mouth like he was about to speak.
I could see it—his lips parting.
Oh no, you don't.
I tugged his hand, quick and tight, until he faced me. My voice cracked just right, soft and sweet and scared.
"Kai… I-I saw something move again."
His eyes widened, all focus instantly back on me.
"Lucas," he said, serious. "There might be a monster using invisibility. Tell her to go while I look for it."
Lucas, unfazed as ever, nodded.
"Miss, you should leave this area. It's not safe right now."
She looked worried, then nodded and hurried off with her stupid, clunky wagon.
Good girl.
Run along.
I'll break your legs in a second.
Once she was out of sight, the three of us resumed our path to Sylvaris.
I didn't let go of his arm. Not once.
Lucas side-eyed me in a teasing fashion. "Hey, why are you holding Kaiser's hand like that?"
Kaiser chuckled.
"She's clingy," he said with that damn smirk of his.
I pouted, swinging our joined hands slightly. "I'm just a little scared, okay?"
Lucas laughed. "Scared of what? You could destroy a swarm if you tried—"
"Relax, Lucas," Kaiser cut in smoothly. "She's just being cute. Let her be."
Lucas sighed like a tired old man. "If you say so…"
Then Kaiser turned to me, his smile soft, warm.
Like it was meant only for me.
"You can hold onto me until your fear's gone, okay?"
My heart—
My. Freaking. Heart.
It fluttered like cursed butterflies exploding in my chest.
I swear I saw stars for a moment.
God, he's so—Perfect.
Mine. Only mine.
I whispered into the shadow beneath me.
"Crownless. Come back to my shadow. No need to breaking her legs."
From far behind us, I felt the cursed ripple change direction.
「As you wish, my queen,」Crownless whispered into my mind.
Yeah, yeah.
She'll live another day…
Maybe.
I looked at Kaiser again.
He's mine.
He. Is. Mine.
If another girl ever smiles at him again—If they even think of talking to him…
I won't hesitate.
I'll snap their jaw clean off with my chains and bury their cursed corpses in the dark forests of Sylvaris.
Let their souls rot where no light touches.
And if anyone questions it?
Oops.
Monsters must've gotten them. How tragic.
But I'll be crying and clinging to Kaiser, so no one will suspect me.
…Hehe.
Still, I need to plan smarter.
I glanced at Lucas walking ahead of us.
Hmmm.
Yeah. I can use him.
If I can nudge the attention of other girls toward him...
Make them think he's the mysterious one. Or the handsome one. Or the hero.
That'll keep them away from my Kaiser.
I'll even make Lucas seem like he's single and flirtable. Help him accidentally shine in public, get his name into tavern whispers.
A decoy.
While I hide my true intentions.
Yes. I'll manipulate if I have to. Use every tactic. Every trick.
Charm, lies, deception, curses, death.
Because he's mine.
And I won't share him.
I held onto his arm tighter, pressing my cheek a little closer. The warmth of his sleeve felt like safety.
"Kai…" I muttered, almost too soft for even me to hear.
He turned his head toward me. "Hm?"
"…What am I to you?" I asked shyly, eyes on the ground, scared to meet his.
There was a pause. One of those gentle, floating pauses like the world stopped to listen.
Then he said it.
"You're my heart, Celia," he replied, voice low and honest. "So keep yourself safe, okay? Because if you get hurt… I'll be in pain."
Ah—You heart-stealer.
You idiot.
My chest did something weird again and I tried not to smile too wide.
He turned to me, grinning like a smug prince.
"You're blushing."
"No I'm not!" I snapped—but my voice cracked like an embarrassed kitten.
He laughed gently, and I gave his arm a tight squeeze, holding on like it might disappear.
"…Mine," I muttered.
"Hm?" Kaiser blinked. "Yours?"
"Yes."
That's right.
No one else gets to have you.
He stared at me for a moment. Then smiled.
One of those soft, warm ones he doesn't show to anyone else.
"Okay then," he said. "All Yours."
My heart fluttered again like a butterfly caught in a storm. I nodded and held him tighter.
We continued to walk forward.
Lucas, a few steps ahead with his usual calm air.
Me, holding Kaiser like the whole world wanted to steal him from me.
Kaiser.
You're.
All.
Mine.
[Next Arc: Asura Academy - 5 Years Ago]