"Because Lady Leonhert is always guarded by that thief, I've changed my plan."
"What's the plan, sir?"
"Kimura, you will put Qia in great danger because that thief will surely be torn between choosing whom to protect."
"So, you mean I should put Qia in danger so the thief will focus on her, creating an opportunity to kidnap Lady Leonhert?"
"Exactly, because my main target is Lady Leonhert. She is the reason the Scarthage people are still safe until now."
"Very well, sir. I will do as you command."
"Go now!"
"Understood, my lord."
Kimura left King Arthur's underground kingdom and headed toward the Scarthage immigrant settlement.
In the Kingdom of Ashtil, the prince wanted to make a journey to welcome the immigrants from the Scarthage nation.
The prince prepared the kingdom's five best warriors for a sparring session with the immigrants.
The names of the five warriors were Steve, Yulian, Stark, Kibomba, and Mika.
These five were tasked with protecting the prince during his visit to the immigrant settlement.
"Come on, warriors, have you prepared everything I ordered?"
"Everything is ready, Prince."
"Good. Now it's time for us to depart for the Scarthage refugee area, Muhacir."
"Very well, Prince. Your orders will be carried out."
All five warriors and the horsemen were ready to escort the prince to the place called Muhacir.
And so, they began their journey to that area.
At the Muhacir settlement courtyard, Qia was waiting for Kaito's arrival, as Kaito had promised to protect her.
But Qia was also confused about who Kaito would choose to protect if both her life and Zira's were at stake.
"I wonder who Kaito would choose if both Zira and I were in danger? After all, both Zira and I are his targets."
"But is it even possible for him to protect two people at the same place and time? I think it would be difficult."
"Hey, what do you mean, Qia?"
"That voice came from …"
"Brother Leon, is that you?"
Seeing Leon in front of her, Qia immediately walked toward him and hugged him.
"Why are you here, Brother?"
"I was just wandering around. Do you know where Zira is?"
"Oh, Zira and Kaito went somewhere together, I don't know where."
"Oh, I see. Thank you, then. I'd better go find them before the kingdom's visit arrives here."
"You're welcome, Brother Leon."
Leon left Qia and continued his journey to find Zira and Kaito.
"Zira, since you're bound to be targeted, how about we hold your training tonight instead?"
Huh? Targeted?
Targeted by who, exactly?
"A king who has risen from death. The great king of the Scarthage kingdom, you know him, right?"
Don't tell me you mean King Arthur?
"Exactly, and now there's going to be a visit …"
From the kingdom?
"Yes, and you know that Kimura's ability allows him to disguise himself as someone else, so he might even pose as a prince."
Don't stress too much about him. I know how to protect myself.
"Are you sure?"
What's the problem?
"Because he's a demon, and he might have received a boost from King Arthur, making your chances of defeating him slim."
What do you mean?
Don't tell me this boost comes from the energy of the Silver Ocean?
"Maybe, but I forgot something I once explored. What was it?"
You must've forgotten.
Oh my gosh.
"The more important thing is to be careful with that demon named Kimura—and Kimera too."
I'll be fine when it comes to that.
The important thing is that my training happens.
"Oh my gosh, this girl still wants to train at a time like this?"
[Item purchased.]
[Total points used: 500,000 points.]
"Hey, what did you buy? Don't tell me you bought—!"
A set of warrior armor.
What's the big deal?
"She just got those points and already spent that much."
"Such a spendthrift."
Huh? That voice came from ...
I turned around and saw ...
You're Leon? Why are you here?
"What about that special relationship you mentioned with Kaito?"
"Hey, you! I don't have any special relationship with him!"
[Special relationship between the second system player, Kaito Deluxe, and the third system player, Zira Leonhert, is a Contract.]
[Group name: Channel 777.]
"Tch, Channel? What a unique and weird name."
"You! Watch it!"
Hey, don't fight over something trivial.
This is a public place, you know.
"Your friend here, Zira, needs to learn some manners."
I've held Leon back so many times, but his words are just like that.
They're not pleasant to hear.
His words are as spicy as chili peppers.
"You're still cracking jokes, Zira!"
Hey, instead of getting mad over something unclear,
how did you get into our channel?
What do you think?
"What benefits do I get if I join this channel?"
Benefits? That's ...
"What do you want, huh!"
"Just something small."
Huh? What's that supposed to mean?
"Of course, it's a secret."
"You!"
System, please explain!
[Benefits of joining Channel 777: You will receive 30,000 points.]
"Huh? That's such a small amount of points."
"Ungrateful human."
"Whatever."
Hey, you two!
The point is, Leon, do you want to join or not?
"What I want is ..."
What? What do you want?
"You."
"SLAP!"
"Argh, that hurts!"
Please don't joke around!
Just say yes, is it that hard?
"Alright, I'll choose to join, but I want you to share your points with me."
Are you a system player?
"Huh? Can't I get them?"
Those are just your channel points, so when I use channel points, they'll decrease too.
That's why using channel points involves me and Kaito, since we're the founders.
We're the ones who have personal points separate from you channel members.
"Fine, no big deal."
You sure?
"Yeah."
"Finally, Zira managed to tame him."
"Hey! You!"
Add him to the channel members.
[First member of Channel 777: Leonhard Howard.]
[Congratulations, the channel has gained 30,000 points due to Leon joining your channel.]
Yep, thanks, Leon, for joining our channel.
And do you know where Qia is?
"She's still at the Muhacir settlement because I just came from there."
"Is she looking for me?"
"What's your connection to her, anyway?"
"Hey! You! I'm ..."
"Calm down, sis, I'm right here."
Oh, that's Qia's voice.
I looked ahead and saw Qia standing there.
Qia, come here.
"Okay, sis."
Qia walked toward me, where Leon and Kaito were standing.
"What's up, sis? So, has Brother Leon already met Sister Zira and Brother Kaito?"
"Yeah, we've been together for a while."
"Why were you looking for us, Qia?"
Maybe she missed you?
Could be, right?
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm just worried about what you were talking about—will it really happen?"
"Oh, that might be true, but not right now. Just be careful, that's all."
"O-okay, Brother Kaito."
Qia, I want to ask you something.
Is that okay?
"Ask about what, sis?"
About whether you and your brother want to join our channel?
"What channel?"
[Channel 777, consisting of:
1. Kaito Deluxe as admin,
2. Zira Leonhert as admin,
3. Leonhard Howard as a member.]
"Oh, that's the system, right?"
Yeah, so you can access the system, but only for buying items and communicating.
And if you want to use points, you have to ask for access from me and Kaito since we're the founders of the channel.
"What can I get out of it, sis?"
[New members who join Channel 777 receive: 30,000 points.]
"Sure, sis, but I'm afraid I won't be useful."
It's okay, we'll help you if the tasks are too heavy for you.
"Alright, I want to join your channel, sis."
Add her to the system.
[Confirmed.]
[Second member of Channel 777: Qia Thagern.]
So, your full name is Qia Thagern?
"Yeah, that's my family name. Why?"
No big deal.
It's a nice name.
"Oh, by the way, Zira, please read my message in the system tonight, okay? I have to go now."
You? Where are you going?
"Something urgent came up, so goodbye, everyone."
Leon disappeared from our sight, and it seems he's off to meet someone.
Maybe that someone is ...
"I'll uncover your truth, Kimera."
Alright, now we're heading to the Muhacir settlement.
Want to come with us, Qia?
"Sure, sis."
"What are you planning to do, Zira?"
Meet the guest from the kingdom, of course.
"Oh my gosh, don't tell me you—!"
Hehe, let's get going.
"Let's go, sis."
"Oh my gosh, Zira, you!"
The three of us started heading toward the Scarthage civilian settlement, the Muhacir area.
In another dimension, Kaito visits Gabriel, the guardian of the Silver Energy Ocean.
"Gabriel, why did you call me?"
"I want to talk about those two demons, Kimura and Kimera. Do you know how powerful they are?"
"They could disrupt the kingdom, and the level of destruction they cause could exceed an entire continent."
"That's because they can receive enhancements from this energy."
Kaito looks at the Silver Energy Ocean and approaches it slowly.
"You mean King Arthur took this energy to enhance them?"
"Exactly. And do you know how significant their enhancements are? Just ask your system."
"System, explain to me about Kimura's enhancements now!"
[Data processing.]
[Found.]
[Kimura, a demon from the Archeleon world, the counterpart to the Aetheryn continent, is one of the great demons with extraordinary abilities.]
[His lightning, darkness, and sword attacks can kill many people, but now he has received enhancements from King Arthur.]
"What enhancements are you talking about?"
"As I mentioned earlier."
[Enhancements from the Silver Energy Ocean and a bit of an unknown potion were all given to Kimura.]
[This makes Kimura a formidable and powerful destroyer demon, but he still has weaknesses.]
[Analyzing.]
"A weakness? It must be sunlight, right?"
"That's a given weakness for demons, but it might be more than that. And Kaito, did you know that your mentor is still alive?"
"Mentor? Who are you talking about?"
[Kimura's weakness: Holy water from the Well of Knowledge.]
"The Well of Knowledge? In the Ashtil Kingdom, there's only one, located at the royal lake, often used by nobles."
"Then you could ask to go there. After all, you're close to them."
"But I'd need to get permission from the prince first."
"Alright then."
Kaito was about to leave Gabriel's place, but ...
He turned back and asked something.
"What did you mean about my mentor?"
"Master Zeko is still alive. The one you met was just his avatar, which couldn't last long because he's been on a long interdimensional journey."
"Could it be he ran out of energy?"
"Yes, his avatar definitely ran out of energy, but again, that was just an avatar. Besides, your world has already been destroyed. You'd better focus on two things."
"Two things? What do you mean?"
"Choose between the two of them—the kingdom's princess or Miss Leonhert."
Kaito's emotions flared upon hearing Gabriel's words. He continued his journey, but ...
"You have to choose one before both of them die."
"I know that, and how can I protect them?"
"Whoosh ..."
Kaito vanished quickly from Gabriel's presence.
Gabriel only gave a faint smile, looking in the direction where Kaito disappeared.
"Oh my gosh, this cute girl again. Hello, Zira, why are you here?"
At least let go of my cheeks, please.
"No way, because your cheeks are just too adorable for me."
Oh my gosh.
Looks like I won't escape her.
"But ..."
Huh? But?
She let go of my cheeks and started staring at me sharply.
"Kaito told me I need to train you to become a great warrior. But looking at you, it seems like you might actually have some talent."
Huh? What do you mean?
Yulian took an object from the royal carriage, and while she was still retrieving it, Prince Falman approached and asked Zira.
"Zira, may I ask you something?"
Ask about what?
"This might be a sensitive topic, so it's better if we step away from here first."
Alright.
Prince Falman and I moved a bit away from the crowd, and it seemed like the prince wanted to discuss something important with me.
"Why are you saving the people of Scarthage? You know that if fate intervenes, no one can escape it."
I know about that, so what?
"We've been targeting the destruction of Scarthage for a long time because they're one of the users of dark magical energy. And do you know how dangerous they are?"
If they're not controlled, they could disrupt the kingdom, even the entire Aetheryn continent, right?
And it could trigger the awakening of the underground kingdom, Archeleon.
"Exactly, that's precisely why I want to destroy them, and even more so because Qia is with you, along with the presence of those two demons ..."
At the royal carriage, Yulian looked busy searching for the object.
"Here it is. I'd better hurry to find Zira."
Yulian stepped out of the carriage and looked confused.
"Where did that girl go? Zira, where are you?"
From the distant crowd.
I know about that, but I still have my sense of compassion, and I'm still convinced that fate can be fought.
"Hmm, an interesting girl, but how can you want to defy fate's decision? And strangely, how do you know about the underground kingdom?"
T-that's because ...
Because I've read your story.
You said defying fate? What's with that?
"What do you mean?"
If you're afraid of that destruction, it means you're only concerned about yourself.
Besides, I'll take responsibility if those two come back here.
"Are you sure about that?"
Of course, trust me.
"There you are, Zira. What are you doing here? Hey, Prince, were you discussing something with this girl?"
"Just a little chat, right, Zira?"
Yeah.
And what about that thing you were looking for, Yulian?
"Here it is—a letter for you, Kaito, and one other person of your choice to visit the kingdom."
Huh? What's this letter for?
"For easier access to the Ashtil Kingdom, and you can be trained by great warriors like Yulian."
"Exactly, and it seems our time is up, Prince."
"Alright, goodbye, Zira."
Yeah, goodbye, Prince.
"Hey, don't get too close with the Prince. You'd better stick with Kaito. Goodbye, Zira."
Ugh, she's still going on about that.
Yeah, goodbye.
The two of them got back into their royal horse carriage and began leaving the Muhacir settlement.
But ...
I hope there's nothing weird about this invitation, and I hope Kaito agrees.
But who should I bring to the Ashtil Kingdom's palace?
Qia or Leon, huh?
At night.
In the Ashtil Kingdom's palace, a massive portal mysteriously opened in the sky.
The portal emitted a blackish-purple smoke that swiftly moved toward a room in the royal palace.
In one of the chambers, the prince was seen tidying his clothes, choosing one of the royal garments.
"Even though she's a girl I just met, there's something strange about her. For some reason, her face seemed blank—like a sheet of paper without a trace of emotion."
"One thing's for sure, she could either be one of the forces of destruction or a protector against that very destruction."
"CRASH!"
Glass shattered, and the smoke began to enter the prince's room.
"Hey, who are you? Don't tell me you're—"
"Yes, I am the demon Kimura. Now, step into this smoke."
"N-no! Please, help me!"
The massive smoke enveloped the prince's body, causing him to vanish instantly.
"Now, the show is just beginning."
"Hahahaha."